Alex Mathew was on Vigilance radar; 100 more on hit list

KOCHI: Indian Oil Corporation DGM Alex Mathew, who was caught while taking a bribe, is on the Vigilance's 'hit list'. He was included in the list prepared by Vigilance to capture corrupt central and state officials. Alex has been aided by the fact that he has not received any strong complaints. Vigilance officials told Kerala Kaumudi that more than a hundred bribe-taking officials are on the hit list.

The Vigilance conducted searches at Alex's house and office in Chilavannoor, Kadavanthra. A 15-member team led by Ernakulam Central Vigilance SP S. Sasidharan found investment documents worth Rs 29 lakh, seven bottles of foreign liquor and cash. Other documents of financial transactions were also recovered. The Vigilance believes that Alex Mathew has amassed more assets than have been found out. The inventory of assets and investments in the names of him and his family members is in progress.

The raid that began on Saturday night lasted for hours. It is suspected that Alex Mathew had been taking bribes since he became the assistant manager of IOC. The officials of the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Special Unit 1 caught him when he was trying to take two lakh rupees from Manoj, the owner of a gas agency in Kadakkal, Kollam.

Alex Mathew suspended

The IOC has suspended Alex Mathew, who was arrested in the bribery case. The company has also started an investigation on the complaint that he has taken bribes before. Alex Mathew had demanded money from the owner of a gas agency in Kadakkal several times to get gas loads. The owner approached the Vigilance after Alex Mathew threatened to change the connections from his agency if the amount was not paid.