Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

When the Indian Penal Code was enacted it also defined and provided punishment for the offence of bribery and corruption amongst public servants. But later on, i.e., during the World War II it was realized that the existing law in Indian Penal Code was not adequate to meet the exigencies of the time and imperative need was felt to introduce a special legislation with a view to eradicate the evil of bribery and corruption and thereby the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 was enacted which was later on amended twice; once by the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1952 and later in 1964 by the Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, 1964 based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee. Inspite of the 1947 Act being amended on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee it was found to be inadequate to deal with the offence of corruption effectively. To make the anti-corruption laws more effective by widening their coverage and by strengthening the provisions the Prevention of Corruption Bill was introduced in the Parliament.