INVESTIGATION AND ENQUIRIES
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
Operation Soma
Operation
Nirmaan
Operation
Naveen