The Delhi Police, the national capital’s protectors, tops the list of government departments whose officials were booked for corruption in 2008.

The anti-corruption bureau, which prepared the list, says at least 20 Delhi Police personnel—from constables to inspectors—were arrested in corruption cases in the past year. Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal admits corruption is a problem in his force.

“There must have been a turnover of at least 50-70 inspectors since I’ve taken over as commissioner. We are going to take very strict action as far as corruption is concerned and I can assure you that a good part of my time is spent on reading vigilance cases,” said Dadwal.

This is the first time that the anti-corruption bureau is resorting to sting operations, an effort that has helped net a number of corrupt officials.

As many as 81 government officials were arrested for corruption in the capital last year: 20 from Delhi Police, 16 from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and 10 from the New Delhi Municipal Council.

Seven officials were from the Social Welfare Department, three from the Railway Protection Force and one from the Revenue Department. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit believes corrupt officers take advantage of people who don’t know their rights.

“Most of the time it is because of absence of knowledge of knowing what their rights are that corruption takes place. All this needs very careful study and I think the entire government is very seriously thinking how we can check that,” she said.