Cabinet approves a more stringent anti-corruption law

The Union Cabinet today approved amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, that provide for classifying corruption as a heinous crime and longer prison terms for both the bribe giver and the bribe taker.
The refurbished anti-corruption law will stipulate that all corruption trials will be completed within two years. The penal provisions have been increased from minimum 6 months to at least 3 years in jail and the maximum sentence has been increased from 5 years in jail to seven years.
The ambit of the existing act will be enhanced to make commercial entities liable for inducement of public servants. The proposed amendment bill also provides for issue of guidelines to commercial organisations to prevent persons associated with them from bribing a public servant.