A very interesting debate has been started with certain business bosses expressing their opinion that only bribe-takers are to be punished and not bribe-givers. Their contention is that in the present bureaucratic and corrupt system they are compelled to give bribe for settling matters. The argument seems to be partly correct. But it does not mean that the bribe-givers should be allowed to go scot-free.
There is another side to the argument. If every body decide not to give bribe, when where is the question of any body receiving bribe.
The argument of the business leaders have started after many of the corporates czars have been summoned by the CBI and the PAC in the 2G and other scams.
If justice is to be meted out, both the person taking bribe and the person giving bribe should be punished. In the latter case, of course, the real situation has to be assessed very carefully to the extent that whether he has been compelled to such a situation by the bribe taker.
Under the law, (Prevention of Corruption Act), the bribe giver can escape punishment if either he turns approver or has given the bribe in a trap case. Let the Indian Corporate zzars, turn approver and describe full and complete truth in the court. Otherwise, they ought to be booked as co-accused. But our rulers are not going to force them to do so. It is election time and all political parties badly need corporate benevolence for funds to fight elections.