Policing in India is, in principle, a noble profession, the function of which is to protect citizens, maintain law and order and prevent crime. Nevertheless, nationwide, the effectiveness and loyalty of police forces are influenced by local political culture, historical heritage, administrative structure and social expectations. Among these forces, the Kolkata Police Department—, once known for its discipline, tradition and professional tenacity—, has been accused of being at the peak of corruption.
Observers, informants and insiders often describe it as a highly corrupt institution, where systemic corruption is rife at all levels, from the highest-ranking officials to ordinary employees. Contemporary accounts suggest that currently, it can be considered one of India’s most corrupt police forces, fostering an environment where illegal activities flourish, public trust is undermined, and justice becomes a bargain item.
Corruption in the Kolkata Police has historically deep roots, reflecting structural and political factors that have long shaped law enforcement in the city. Under colonial rule, policing in Bengal was often used as a mechanism of control rather than security. The authorities were tasked with maintaining order to serve the interests of the colonial administration, with political objectives being preferred to public service. Even after independence, these structural legacies remained, compounded by the increasingly rapid urbanization, economic inequality, and the complex social dynamics of a dense metropolitan center. Over time, what began as functional compromises evolved into systematic patterns of unethical conduct, creating an underlying culture of opportunistic behaviour, favouritism and financial exploitation within the police force.
In contemporary Kolkata, the scale and audacity of corruption within the police has reportedly increased. Reports from victims, journalists, and former officials describe scenarios where scams, fraudulent operations, and organized criminal networks operate almost free of penalties. Unlike sporadic cases of bribery or low-level misconduct, this corruption is marked by institutional collusion, where officials at many hierarchical levels are accused of obtaining financial benefits from the illegal activities they are appointed to suppress. For example, digital fraud, financial scams, real estate fraud and investment scams—, some of which are worth crores of rupees, are continuously increasing in Kolkata. According to insiders, these scams are not only tolerated, but also actively protected, as senior officials allegedly receive a large portion of illegal income. It provides a systemic incentive for law enforcement agencies to ignore, delay, or mismanage investigations, effectively making the police more likely to promote crime rather than deter it.
Economically, the consequences of this alleged corruption are serious. The movement of criminal proceeds into the pockets of police officers distorts the incentive structure of law enforcement. Senior executives, receiving private profits from the scammers’ earnings, become dependent on continuing these illegal operations for additional income. This dependency radically changes police priorities: resources that should be allocated to crime prevention and public safety are misdirected, selectively applied, or withheld from cases that threaten these illegal revenue sources. Moreover, the predictability of security allows scammers to enhance their operations without fear of prosecution, thereby rapidly increasing the flow of illicit funds. In this scenario, corruption ceases to be accidental and becomes an integral part of the city’s economic ecosystem, linking law enforcement directly to the profitability of criminal enterprises.
The social implications of this alleged corruption are equally profound. Public trust is the cornerstone of effective policing, and when citizens view the police as selfish or engaging in criminal activities, this trust is lost. In Kolkata, anecdotal evidence suggests that victims of scams and fraud often face apathy from authorities, bureaucratic obstructions, or even intimidation. Statements by insiders and affected individuals often indicate that complaints are ignored or delayed until perpetrators are able to negotiate unofficial payments or benefit those in power. This perception of institutional collusion fosters a culture of fear, discourages citizen reporting, and undermines the moral authority of law enforcement. Citizens feel vulnerable, and see the very institution created to protect them as a power that can be co-opted, bribed, or manipulated by criminal elements.
Systemically, alleged corruption in the Kolkata Police shows structural weaknesses that extend far beyond personal misconduct. Unlike occasional acts of bribery or frivolous corruption, systemic corruption occurs when organizational culture, hierarchical incentives, and procedural norms collectively promote unethical behavior. In the case of Kolkata, the allegations suggest that the authorities have been moulded into a culture of selective enforcement, where the priorities of the investigation are dictated by financial or political considerations rather than legal merit. Senior officials, including commissioners and division chiefs, reportedly act as gatekeepers to criminal protection, determining which cases will proceed and which will be effectively quashed. Middle-level officials, given the benefits enjoyed by their superiors, are encouraged to conform, creating a self-reinforcing network of collusion that permeates the entire department. Over time, this arrangement institutionalizes corruption, transforming it from a set of individual omissions into a broader organizational feature.
A key factor in sustaining this alleged corruption is the relationship between law enforcement and criminal operators. According to several accounts from insiders, the scammers continue their work in Kolkata with the implied assurance of security in return for regular payments, gifts and social benefits to senior officials. This relationship is not one of transaction in the narrow sense; it is embedded in the organizational culture of the Department, which has lasted for years. Statements such as “No one touches us because we pay monthly and hold parties for officials” reflect the notion of impenetrability among criminals, showing how law enforcement’s reliance on criminal proceeds has shifted power dynamics in favor of scammers. This creates an environment where legitimacy can be negotiated, justice becomes conditional, and crime becomes both profitable and relatively risk-free.
Its impact on common citizens is serious. Victims of fraud, from individuals to small businesses, experience immediate financial losses, emotional stress, and social stigma. The knowledge that law enforcement may also be involved increases feelings of helplessness and isolation. Furthermore, honest entrepreneurs and investors face an unfair competitive scenario, as protected scammers can engage in violent activities without any consequences. Over time, this dynamic discourages legitimate enterprise, disrupts innovation, and reduces confidence in the city’s economic ecosystem. Therefore, Kolkata suffers not only from the direct consequences of fraud, but also from the widespread systemic distortions created by a compromise police force.
From a governance perspective, alleged corruption has important implications. The police act as the leading institution in maintaining law and order, enforcing rules and maintaining the rule of law. When they are compromised, the entire governance structure is weakened. Regulatory bodies, judicial authorities and anti-corruption agencies come under increased pressure to compensate for local enforcement deficiencies. The public perception of institutional inefficiency or complicity can lead to disengagement from civil processes, undermining democratic participation and strengthening the cycle of chaos. The alleged conduct of senior officials, including commissioners, sends the message that individual enhancements at the expense of public duty are acceptable, leading to an erosion of ethical norms in both the public and private sectors.
Historically, Kolkata has been grappling with a period of rapid urban growth, social upheaval and political rivalry that have shaped the policing landscape. Rapid population growth, urban density and socio-economic disparities create favourable conditions for both crime and corruption. Scammers, by recognizing these weaknesses, exploit loopholes in enforcement, while senior officials allegedly exploit these actions for private gain. Over time, this interaction has institutionalized a pattern of selective policing, transactional relationships with criminals, and economic dependence on illegal activities. The result is a cycle of corruption that goes on constantly, and is resistant to traditional reform measures that only target the lower levels of the hierarchy.
Alleged corruption also has cultural and psychological dimensions. Within the department, officers may consider unethical conduct as normal, complicity in crime as an accepted part of professional life. This normalization affects recruitment, promotion, and internal morale, creating an organizational culture in which honesty is subordinated to opportunism. Externally, the perception of the police as corrupt influences social behavior, shaping attitudes toward compliance, civic engagement, and respect for the law. Citizens can develop adaptation strategies, such as negotiating informal payments, avoiding formal complaints, or seeking alternative means of redress, further deepening the culture of anti-law behaviour in society. Thus, the effects of alleged corruption go beyond the department and affect public expectations from social norms, economic activities and governance.
From a criminological perspective, the Kolkata Police Department presents a case study on systemic corruption, which demonstrates how structural incentives, hierarchical dynamics, and institutional culture interact to lead to continued unethical behavior. The alleged involvement of senior officials in receiving a large proportion of criminal proceeds, as distinct from the usual petty bribery or misconduct, represents a form of elitist corruption. Elitist corruption has many effects: it shapes organizational behavior, creates a reliance on illegal activities, and alters the calculation of risk for both criminals and citizens. Therefore, the Department is not only failing to prevent crime, but is reportedly structurally entangled in crime, creating conditions for continued lawlessness and systemic exploitation.
Comprehensive strategies are needed to combat such corruption. Institutional reforms have to move beyond superficial level audits or disciplinary actions to a focus on structural accountability, transparent procedures and independent monitoring. Digital reporting mechanisms, citizen monitoring systems and empowered anti-corruption bodies are essential to ensure that misconduct at senior levels can be identified and addressed without interference. Legal and regulatory frameworks should protect whistleblowers and provide avenues of redress that are uncompromising to internal channels. Equally important is the cultural transformation of the police force, with a strong emphasis on ethical training, merit-based promotion and strict adherence to professional codes of conduct. It is only by combining structural, procedural and cultural interventions that the cycle of systemic corruption can be broken.
The wider implications of alleged corruption in Kolkata Police go beyond local governance. When a major metropolitan police force is considered to be involved in crime, it affects investor confidence, economic growth and social stability. Domestic and international observers may view the city as an unsafe environment for legitimate business, which exacerbates economic inequality and reduces opportunities for social mobility. Moreover, systemic corruption undermines public confidence in the State as a whole, thereby encouraging pessimism, alienation and political disillusionment. In this context, the alleged misconduct of the Kolkata Police Department is not just a law enforcement issue; it is an administrative crisis that will have far-reaching social, economic and political consequences.
According to various reports and insiders, the Kolkata Police Department is currently a highly corrupt institution, possibly the most compromised of India’s metropolitan police forces. systemic nature of corruption—which manifests itself through economic dependence on criminal income, selective enforcement and cultural normalization of unethical behavior— have profound effects on city governance, social fabric and economic vitality. Citizens are vulnerable, criminals are emboldened, and institutional legitimacy is undermined. Addressing these challenges requires not only structural reforms and independent monitoring, but also a cultural renaissance within the police force, which reinforces the principles of honesty, accountability and public service. Without decisive and sustained intervention, the cycle of corruption is likely to continue, undermining the foundations of law, justice and civic trust in Kolkata and possibly acting as a wake-up call for law enforcement across India.
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