Moa Jamir
Dimapur | May 10
Officially, Nagaland remained largely ‘corruption-free’ in 2024, with the State reporting zero fresh graft cases during the year, according to the latest Crime in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau.
The data pertained to offences registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and related provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
This is the second time in the last three years that Nagaland has reported no new corruption cases, after a similar zero in 2022. The State had reported just one case in 2023.
An analysis of NCRB data compiled by The Morung Express over the last decade shows a sharp decline in corruption case registrations in recent years.
After recording 11 cases in 2014, it declined 2 the next year before increasing to 12 in 2017.
The cases peaked to 16 in 2018, before decreasing drastically to near zero since then except five cases on 2020.
There were none in 2022 and 2024.
Meanwhile, the latest NCRB data showed that Nagaland entered 2024 with 19 corruption cases pending investigation from previous years.
During the year, three final reports were submitted, however, no case was chargesheeted, leaving 16 cases still under investigation at the end of the year.
As per the report, no fresh cases were registered by the State’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Vigilance, or Lokayukta during 2024.
In terms of corruption cases pending trial, the 2024 report noted that only two cases were pending trial at the beginning of the year, and the status remained unchanged at the end of the year.
National status
In contrast, anti-corruption enforcement remained active nationally. According to the NCRB, a total of 4,053 corruption cases were registered in 2024 by State Anti-Corruption Bureaux (ACBs) across India, compared to 4,069 cases in 2023, reflecting a marginal decline of 0.4%.
Out of the 4,053 cases, 2,796 cases or 69.0% were trap cases, followed by criminal misconduct cases at 14.3% (579 cases).
There were 418 disproportionate assets cases and 260 were designated as ‘others.’ The one case registered in Nagaland in 2023 was categorised ‘others.’
Meanwhile, a total of 4,042 persons were arrested, 978 persons were convicted, and departmental action was taken against 560 persons across India in 2024, the report added.
At the investigation stage nationwide, 11,318 corruption cases were pending investigation from previous years at the start of 2024.
During the year, 4,053 fresh cases were reported, while final reports were submitted in 770 cases and chargesheets were filed in 3,554 cases.
Despite this progress, 11,273 cases remained pending investigation across the country at the end of the year.
.jpg)
