How to File a Corruption Complaint in India — A 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
Editorial Team·5/23/2026·2 views
A practical citizen guide to filing a corruption complaint in India — what to write, where to file, and how to follow up with CVC, CBI and state Lokayuktas.
Filing a corruption complaint can feel daunting. This guide breaks the process down into four steps any citizen can follow.
Step 1 — Build your factual record
Write down dates, places, officials involved, money demanded, and any witnesses. Specifics matter — vague allegations are dismissed.
Step 2 — File on the public registry first
Using a public registry like CorruptionComplaint.com creates an immutable, public timeline of your complaint. If anything happens to you later, the record is already there.
Step 3 — Escalate to the right statutory authority
- Central employee involved — file with the Central Vigilance Commission and CPGRAMS
- State government officer — file with your State Lokayukta
- Serious / multi-state — CBI Anti-Corruption Branch
- Tax / GST — IT Vigilance
Step 4 — Follow up using RTI
File an RTI after 30 days to ask the status of your complaint. If no action, escalate to the State / Central Information Commission.