Cops with disproportionate assets will face action, Vigilance to extend probe into benamis

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance investigation has been intensified to find the police officers who have made huge amount of illegal wealth under benami names. 34 people including DySPs were found to have amassed disproportionate assets. The phone records of the officials will be checked to find out who the benami are. Vigilance chief Manoj Abraham told 'Kerala Kaumudi' that bank accounts and gold investments will be checked for this.

The investigation follows allegations that police officers are taking money as middlemen in huge land deals and financial fraud cases. There are also complaints that money has been made by compromising cases, including thefts. Assets of policemen who are accused in criminal cases and have gangster and mafia connections are being checked first. The cooperation of departments including revenue will be sought to find the houses and things that have been bought.

The probe was extended to phone contacts as it is difficult to find benami investments. The intelligence wing of vigilance has prepared a list of such persons. Bank accounts, income tax records and property information of ten years including those of their relatives will be checked. In November 2021, the house of former Idukki district police chief KB Venugopal was raided and the accounts in the name of his wife and family members were frozen. Their lockers were sealed. 57 land transaction documents were also seized.

Suspension and criminal case

A vigilance case will be filed and the accused police officer will be suspended if disproportionate asset is acquired

A criminal case will be filed if money is made by colluding with gangsters

Suspected troublemakers would be removed from the charge of law and order and transferred to less important posts.