Higher the rank, higher the bribe! Arrest of high-ranking IOC official

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is known as one of the top-performing public sector enterprises in the country, offering excellent service and attractive salary. From the lowest-level employees to the highest-ranking officials, the organization ensures fair compensation. Typically, IOC officials do not need to resort to unethical practices like taking bribes. However, as in any institution, some individuals are exceptions to this standard.

A shocking example of corruption in the IOC was recently revealed when Deputy General Manager Alex Mathew was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh. This incident paints a grim picture of greed infiltrating even the highest levels of such reputable organizations.

Mathew was arrested by vigilance officers after being trapped in the house of a woman - who was a gas agency owner in Kuravankonam, Thiruvananthapuram - whom he had demanded the bribe. The corrupt official had initially demanded ₹10 lakh, threatening to reallocate a significant portion of the agency’s customers to competitors if his demands weren’t met. When the gas agency owner’s husband claimed financial constraints, Mathew reduced the amount. His luck ran out when he visited the house to collect the money, leading to his dramatic capture by vigilance authorities.

Instances like this, where high-ranking officials from esteemed institutions like the IOC are apprehended for corruption, are indeed rare. It underscores just how far some individuals are willing to go in their unrelenting pursuit of wealth.

Unfortunately, the issue isn’t confined to the IOC. Many other public sector institutions, where opportunities for bribery are abundant, are home to similar unethical practices. Recently, a senior engineer from the National Highways Authority was embroiled in a bribery scandal. These cases reveal a pattern: as the financial stakes rise, so does the size of the bribes. Reports often surface of crores of rupees being seized during raids at the homes of corrupt officials. Despite frequent raids and arrests, the problem of bribery persists, with only a small fraction of offenders being caught.

Strengthening the vigilance system and increasing surveillance in corruption-prone areas are critical measures to curtail bribery. Public cooperation is equally vital—citizens must report officials who demand bribes without hesitation. These unethical individuals, who exploit their positions to extort money from those striving to support their families, have no right to remain in service. They belong behind bars, and every rupee gained through bribery should be confiscated.

Tolerating such corrupt practices only encourages others to follow the same path. Reports suggest that Alex Mathew was a habitual bribe-taker. The vigilance operation that led to his arrest highlights the importance of exposing such individuals before they can do further harm.