Vigilance Cases

Vigilance & Anti-corruption Bureau registers Cases under the P.C. Act 1988 on finding prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct by Public Servants after conducting Vigilance Enquiries/Confidential Verifications/Surprise Checks and on receipt of information of demand of bribe by Public Servants. Vigilance Cases are registered by the Unit Offices on getting sanction from Director of the Bureau after assessing the evidence available. In Trap Cases, the unit officers are authorised to register Cases suo-motu.

For the purpose of registering and investigating cases under PC Act 1988 and IPC, all the buildings, in which the unit offices (District Units, Range Units and Special Units) and Directorate are functioning, are notified as Vigilance Police stations in exercise of the powers conferred by clause(s) of the Section 2 of the code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974). [Consolidated notification issued vide Government notification No. 10058/C1/2000/Vig. dated 4.12.2000].

Vigilance Enquiries

Vigilance Enquiries are ordered by Government based on complaints received. This Bureau does not initiate Vigilance Enquiries on its own.

Confidential Verifications

Besides Vigilance Enquiries, this Bureau conducts Confidential verifications also on its own initiative or as per Government directive. Confidential Verifications are conducted mainly on the allegation of amassment of wealth by Public servants through corrupt practices.

Surprise Checks

The Vigilance & Anti-corruption Bureau on its initiative conducts Surprise Checks upon receipt of petitions and source reports. The Superintendents of Police of this Bureau are also empowered to order Surprise Checks based on information received by them.

Investigation Teams

The Bureau works through investigation teams. An investigation team consists of one Deputy Superintendents of Police/Inspector, one Sub Inspector/Assistant Sub Inspector, one Head Constable and two Constables. Each team is provided with a vehicle (Car or Jeep).

System of Scrutiny

In the Vigilance & Anti-corruption Bureau, we have a very elaborate system of scrutiny in order to ensure that innocent officers are not harassed while the corrupt ones are brought to book. The Investigating Officer prepares a very detailed Factual Report after completing investigation. This is then forwarded along with the legal opinion of the Assistant Legal Advisor to the Supdt. of Police who forwards it along with his detailed comments to the Directorate, where it is subjected to exhaustive scrutiny by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police/Dy. Inspector General of Police. It is only at the end of this elaborate procedure that the case is put up to the Director for his decision as to whether prosecution sanction should be sought from the Government.

State-wide Special Drives undertaken by VACB.

Operation Saraswathi.

A special drive was conducted by officers of this Bureau along with officers of the Geological/Revenue Departments to check corruption of officials responsible for controlling illicit sand mining from the protected river banks of Kerala, from May 13 to 23, 2002. 267 Lorries and 7 country boats carrying sand without any license or documents were seized from various parts of Kerala.

All the seized vehicles were handed over to the concerned RDOs/ Police Stations for necessary action under the Sand Mining (Control) Act- 2001 the Mines and Metals Act (Regulation and Development) 1957 and Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1963.

Operation Maruthi.

Based on various complaints from the public, VACB launched this operation at 20 selected Road Transport Offices throughout the State on 9.8.2002. Several grave irregularities such as unaccounted cash, possession of RC books with out any record, presence of touts and agents and irregular record maintenance were detected.

Two crime cases were registered in Kollam and Thrissur against six officials and departmental action was recommended against 60 officers. 66 officials were placed under suspension by the Government for irregularities detected .

Operation Amar.

During the night of 12.8.02 and early morning of 13.8.02, surprise checks were conducted simultaneously at 4 Sales Tax Check Posts in Kerala, viz -Amaravila, Aryankavu, Walayar and Mancheshwar. The teams were lead by IGP and DIG of Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau and unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 2.5 lakhs were recovered from the possession of several Sales Tax, Motor Vehicle and Forest officials.

Five cases were registered against 38 officials who were placed under suspension by the concerned departments.

Operation Ragini.

On 21.11.2002, Officers of VACB with officers of Registration Department conducted surprise checks at 26 Sub Registry Offices throughout the State. Several grave irregularities such as possession of unaccounted cash, irregular maintenance of records, presence of unauthorized document writers etc was found. In one office, a register named 'Daily Bread Register' was seen maintained, which recorded the payment of bribe received from public/document writers.

Five cases were registered against 7 officials under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 30 officials were placed under suspension and disciplinary action was taken against them for departmental irregularities.


Operation Sakthi

The operation was launched in February 2003 to unearth irregularities in the field  electricity supply operation of the Kerala State Electricity Board. Raids were conducted on 42 offices and as a result departmental disciplinary action was recommended against 274 officers.

Operation Soma

This operation conducted in March 2003 targeted the Excise Department and % district level offices were raided in the five Corporations of the state. 6 Vigilance Cases were registered and departmental action was recommended against 19 officials after the raids.

Operation Nirmaan

This operation was launched to look into the numerous complaints raised against the functioning of the City Corporation in the State on July 2003. As a result Vigilance Cases were registered against 6 offices and departmental action was recommended against 19 officials.

Operation Annapoorna

This operation was conducted in September 2003 against the Taluk Supply officers. Raids were conducted against 11 offices which resulted in the registration of 2 cases and departmental action was recommended against 32 officials.

Operation Naveen

Complaints were received about irregularities and corruption in the Traffic Police Stations and a raid was conducted on the main Traffic Police Stations of the five Corporations in December 2003. Vigilance Cases were registered against 3 Police officers and departmental action was recommended against 11 officers.

Operation Amar-II


This operation targeted the check posts for a second time on a State-wide scale and was conducted in June 2004. 7 check posts in the inter-state borders were raided and departmental action was recommended against 25 officers and 1 Vigilance Case was also registered.

Operation Nirmaan-II

This was conducted to look into wide spread allegations about irregularities in the collection of cess for buildings by the Labour Department. 7 district level offices were raided across the state in August 2004. Irregularities running into lakhs of rupees were found out at various places and the reports are being processed for further action.