Vigilance can file case, even against central govt officers: High Court

KOCHI: The High Court in a crucial statement said the vigilance officers had all authority to register cases and submit chargesheet even against central government officers under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The High Court quashed the verdict of the Vigilance Court acquitting three employees of North Malabar Grameen Bank's Vaikom Thalayolaparambu branch in a corruption case where the vigilance court followed the norm that only Central agencies like CBI and Central Vigilance Commission are empowered to take action against central government employees. HC also asked the vigilance court to reconsider the case and arrive at a judgment at the earliest.

Justice Kauser Edappagath while considering the case said there is no provision in the Prevention of Corruption Act or the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that prevent the police or state agencies from taking action against central employees in corruption cases.

The court while considering the Thalayolaparambu panchayat case acquitted three bank employees; Naveneeth Krishnna, Leena, and K Balakrishnan. According to the case, the bank employees were involved in a scam that saw the village extension officer in the panchayat embezzling Rs 1.85 lakhs from a housing project.

The fraud took place between February 27, 2006, and January 2, 2007. The single bench heard the appeal filed by the government against the vigilance court's order granting the release petition of the accused.

In another case that surfaced in 2016, interestingly, the High Court ruled that the Vigilance cannot take action against central government employees. HC then asked the vigilance officers to transfer information about central government officers to central agencies, as it was the followed norm in the rule book. It was under this pretense that the vigilance court acquitted the accused in the Thalayolaparamba case. However, the vigilance special prosecutor highlighted another case that saw SC allowing the vigilance department to move against central government officers.