Cleansing in vigilance; corrupt ones please get out

• Written test and panel for deputation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is preparing to purge the Vigilance department by expelling the officers who sabotage corruption cases by taking bribes and colluding. From now on, the recruitment of CPOs to SPs from police to vigilance will be based on written examinations and character tests. Officers ranked from DySP and above are currently appointed by the government. Government has accepted the recommendation of vigilance chief Manoj Abraham that appointments should be made from a panel prepared on the basis of an examination to prevent corrupt and unscrupulous officials from entering the vigilance through political connections.

At present, there are 1400 personnel in vigilance. The exam will be conducted every year for constables to SP recruitment. Questions will be on anti-corruption laws, investigation, and collection of evidence. A panel will be formed from those who have appeared in the exam with a certain percentage of marks. Character, association, possessions, and mode of life will all be secretly inquired into before giving the authorization for deputation. The best officers will be allowed to continue for up to 5 years. An internal vigilance cell has also been formed to detect the collusion of vigilance officials with corrupt officials. The cell will also be empowered to secretly monitor officers and check phone call records, who write off more cases. The cell will function at Vigilance headquarters.

Investigation in corruption cases will be made accurate and scientific. Cases will be monitored and scrutinized by superiors. Attention will be increased in the collection of evidence and reporting to the court. Troublesome officers will be sent back to the police. The action comes in the context of special cell DYSP P Velayudhan Nair writing off the case against officials after taking bribes of half a lakh and filing an application in the court saying that it was an error of vigilance.

Corruption case if colluding

Those who conspire with the accused will be charged with the same charges as the accused. So far the punishment has been disciplinary action and suspension.

If the investigating officer is found guilty, he will be subjected to all measures including arrest, raid and remand in the bribery case.

'If collusion or sabotage is found in corruption cases, the investigating officer will also be made an accused. There will be no compromise on this. Everyone in Vigilance will be secretly watched'

-Manoj Abraham

Head of Vigilance