PATNA, July 8 -- The conviction rate in corruption cases registered with Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) has increased six times in the last 25 years, director general (DG) Jitendra Singh Gangwar said at a function held at the Bureau's office on Monday, officials said on Tuesday. Between 2000 and 2024, an average of 5.6 accused were convicted annually during the last 25 years, but in 2025 alone, 30 accused were convicted. It has increased six times. So far this year, 10 accused have been convicted, with punishment rates expected to be higher than previous years. Development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh who was present as the chief guest, said that while identifying cases, there is a need to classify them and conduct speedy trials on priority basis. He said, "Action against corruption by VIB has a positive impact on government departments. Such an initiative needs to make a sustainable change. This will initially increase the number of actions against corruption, but their number should be reduced." Gangwar said under the upcoming scheme, a police station or out post will be opened in each district. A proposal will be prepared and sent to the department soon. A proposal has also been prepared to open one regional office at each divisional level. At present, there is a VIB in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur districts. Its number also needs to be increased, he added. He said if we talk about top six departments in the action taken against corruption, then highest action has been taken against 44 office-bearers of revenue and land reforms department. Apart from this, action has been taken against 32 in police department, 10 each in the health and education departments, and six each in rural development and panchayati raj departments. Gangwar said there were an average of 72 FIRs registered against corruption with VIB from 2000 to 2024. Last year, it increased by 70% and the number of FIRs rose to 122. This has doubled in the current year as compared to the previous year. In the last 25 years, an FIR was filed in two days on average, but now the average has come down to 1.4 days. Similarly, trap cases averaged 49 per year in the last 25 years, rising to 101 in 2025 and is likely to triple this year. The DG said that action is also being taken against public servants who earned property illegally. So far, the process of confiscating assets worth Rs.102 crore has been initiated. In this, assets worth Rs.32 crore have been seized....