List of Top 10 Most Corrupt IAS Officers in India

Corruption in the Indian bureaucracy is something with which we all are well acquainted. A 2012, report by the Hong Kong-based “Political and Economic Risk Consultancy,” termed the Indian bureaucracy worst in Asia. Barring a few honest officers, bureaucrats generally go to any limit appeasing their political masters to gain favors from them. Frequent transfers and sinecure postings, even turn the initially passionate officers into scoundrels. It becomes easier for them to bear the fruits of sycophancy rather than fighting the system. With the rising cases of corruption in the bureaucracy, it seems that the sole motive of joining the services is of wielding power, enjoying the perks, and making easy money. Here are some of the most corrupt IAS officers in India:

1. S. Malaichamy

In December 2012, a 72-year-old former MD at Khadi Gram Udyog was given a five-year jail term and fined Rs. 10 lakh by a Delhi court for possessing disproportionate assets of over Rs. 52 lakh. He was an IAS officer of 1971 batch (AGMUT Cadre), who had also worked as Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer. The CBI had alleged that after becoming an IAS officer in 1971, the value of his assets grew from Rs. 46 lakh to Rs. 1.3 crore, which was highly disproportionate to his known source of income. ^[1]Indian Express

2. Nitesh Janardhan Thakur

In March 2012, Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths conducted a raid on his Duplex flat in Mumbai. It was discovered that he had properties and cash worth more than Rs. 200 crores, that too within 12 years of his service. Apart from properties, he owns 10 luxury vehicles including Land Rover, Mercedes, and BMW. When he was Collector of Alibaug, he tampered with the land records. After that, he got suspended. Nitesh, along with his wife, has been accused of establishing several shell companies, while still in service, and pumping Rs. 300 crores into them. On the basis of a complaint DCB CID Crime Branch of Mumbai registered an FIR against Nitish Thakur and others under Section 387, 467, 471 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), on the charges of forgery, cheating, and extortion. Nitish Thakur had fled abroad before the initiation of an investigation by the ED and is presently reported to be in Dubai. ^[2]Business Standard

3. Arvind Joshi (Husband)

4. Tinoo Joshi (Wife)

This 1971 batch IAS couple was dismissed from services for amassing disproportionate assets. Born the same year, these two did their MBA together from an Australian University, were selected for the elite Indian Administrative Services the same year and were allotted the same cadre. However, the couple is currently cooling their heels in jail. Tinoo Joshi tried to take bail on health grounds after surrendering in September 2015, but the court rejected her plea. ^[3]Outlook

5. Neera Yadav

She was convicted by a CBI court in 2012; however, the Allahabad High Court has upheld her conviction. Neera Yadav passed the UPSC exam in 1971 and got her home state, Uttar Pradesh, as the service cadre. She has been named in various land scams, throughout UP and NCR. As the Chairman of Noida, she had allotted land plots to politicians and people in business in posh localities in lieu of huge money. She maintained close political contacts due to which the authorities were reluctant to order an investigation against her. In August 2017, the Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction of the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Neera Yadav and awarded her two-year jail imprisonment in connection with the corruption and possessing disproportionate assets case. ^[4]Business Standard

6. Babulal Agrawal

The Chhattisgarh Government in 2010, suspended Babulal Agrawal, a 1998 batch IAS officer who was then serving as the State Agriculture Secretary. In IT raids, it was found that his total assets were inflated to more than Rs. 500 crores. In his 446 Benami bank accounts, he had Rs. 40 crores. Also, he owned 16 shell companies, which he used for hawala transactions. After a thorough investigation, the Enforcement Directorate attached his properties. ^[5]NDTV

7. T. O. Suraj

He is a senior IAS officer of Kerala Cadre. Since 2003, his name has cropped up in many controversies. His name appeared in abetting Hindu-Muslim riots in Marad when he was serving as the District Collector of Kozhikode. Later he was accused of many land grabbing cases and amassing disproportionate assets. While conducting raids at his residence, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau found Rs. 20 lakh cash and details of assets worth Rs. 30 crores. It is reported that he owns seven luxury flats in Kochi, a flat in Dubai and other such undeclared properties. He is also believed to be involved in Benami transactions. ^[6]The News Minute

8. Rakesh Bahadur

Rakesh Bahadur is a tainted senior IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh Cadre. He has very close links with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. He was suspended in 2009 by the Mayawati Government when irregularities were detected in the Noida land allotment project. According to the Mayawati Government, he was involved in a land scam worth Rs. 4000 crores along with his associates. But after two and half years of suspension, Akhilesh Yadav reinstated him and awarded him with the post of Chairman of Noida Development Authority. ^[7]The Economic Times

9. Subhash Ahluwalia

Subhash Ahluwalia, a senior IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh, was the Principal Private Secretary of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He and his wife (a college principal) were questioned by the Vigilance Bureau over charges of amassing disproportionate assets. They were later suspended from their service and arrested by the Anti-corruption Bureau. But after some time, the Congress Government cleared him of departmental inquiries and re-instated him. ^[8]The Indian Express

10. Rakesh Kumar Jain

While serving as the Director of the Commerce Department, Jain was suspended on charges of corruption in the year 2010 and later arrested. For being accused of taking bribes of  Rs. 7.5 lakh, he was also fined a sum of Rs. 2 lakh. His name appeared for misusing his post by taking bribes to assist the transfer of coal linkage that was acquired by a Jharkhand-based company- SISCO (Shivam Iron and Steel Company). Under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, a CBI court held him guilty on charges of conspiracy and other crimes. ^[9]Indian Express