WATCH Cop Tell Students 'If Police Take Bribe, It Gets the Job Done' in India's Uttar Pradesh

Bribery is quite rampant in almost all departments in India. According to a report by the global civil society Transparency International that was published in November 2020, India has the highest rate of bribery — 39 percent — across Asia.

While the Indian government talks of trying to end the bribery culture with new laws or regulations in the country, a police official in Uttar Pradesh state has been captured in a video clip justifying such a culture.

The 36-second video, shared on Monday by various journalists, shows a police official interacting with schoolchildren during a workshop.

"Even in your experience, you'll realise that there is no better department than the police. If the police take money (or bribe), it also gets the work done. Go to another department, they take money, but the work will not happen", the official said.

उन्नाव में ईमानदारी का पाठ पढ़ा रहे दरोगा। पुलिस की पाठशाला कार्यक्रम के दौरान का वीडियो वायरल। पुलिस पैसा लेती है तो काम भी करके दिखाती है। पुलिस से अच्छा कोई विभाग ही नही बना है। दूसरे विभाग में जाओ पैसा ले लेंगे, काम नही होगा। मास्टर साहब लोगों को देखो घर में रहकर पढ़ाते हैं। pic.twitter.com/9RVuyRJ0pz

— sanjay tripathi (@sanjayjourno) December 20, 2021

However, soon after the video went viral, the state's Unnao District Police, in a tweet, said: "The higher official was informed on the case and the whole matter will be investigated".

क्षेत्राधिकारी बीघापुर को संपूर्ण प्रकरण की जांच कर रिपोर्ट प्रेषित करने हेतु निर्देशित किया गया।

— UNNAO POLICE (@unnaopolice) December 20, 2021

Some social media users in a lighter vein said that this may be the first time police have accepted the truth with such honesty. "Why an inquiry for speaking the truth".

One has to have guts to accept the truth and speak with such an honesty. It's a reality and he is entirely valid. 👍

— Subhash Sharma (@Subhash33875762) December 20, 2021

Sacchai Bolne ke liye inaam dijiye Jaanch kyn kar rahe hai ?

— TOO MUCH DEMOCRACY (@L0ST_IN_CINEMA) December 20, 2021

100 marks for honesty. Tell me one party, the government department which has 100 percent clean record and never came under attack for taking money. Bribery Culture Much Prevalent In India https://t.co/KfeGH6Zctw

— Geekyblogger (@Deexa19) December 20, 2021

To end bribery in India, the federal government has made changes in laws over the last decade, including through the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2018, The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, among other steps.

But the implementation of these laws is still a big question, as India ranked 80 out of 198 countries in a corruption perception index report from 2019.