Mention corruption and the image that comes to mind is of a frail figure in a Gandhi topi taking on the government. At a time when Anna Hazare has become synonymous with a fight against corruption, it comes as a surprise that the maximum number of graft cases are registered in his home state, Maharashtra.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2000-09 says the state registered 4,566 corruption cases, followed by Rajasthan with 3,770, and Orissa with 2,957.
The state has been averaging 450 new complaints a year, with an average conviction rate of 27% — one of the lowest in the country. Ironically, it has the highest disposal rate. In 2009 alone, its courts disposed of 473 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act: 647 people were tried, 137 held guilty and 510 acquitted. Also, the value of property seized from corrupt babus in Maharashtra is low. At Rs 9.1 crore, it is much less than the value of property seized in Orissa (Rs 63 crore), MP (Rs 36 crore), Karnataka (Rs 20 crore), Bihar (Rs 14 crore), and AP (Rs 13 crore).
The perception-smashing data places Hindi belt states of MP, UP and Bihar at 11, 12 and 14 on the list. Bihar (617 cases) has the highest conviction rate (78%). UP with 786 cases averages a low six complaints a month. Experts say under-reporting may be the reason.
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