Prior approval of authorities not necessary for Vigilance probe in bribery cases: Kerala HC

KOCHI: The High Court has said that vigilance investigation in bribery cases does not require prior approval of the authorities.

Justice K Babu stated this while dismissing the petition filed by former SI TA Abdul Sathar of Kattururthi police station to quash the case registered by the vigilance for allegedly taking bribe from the relatives of the accused in a domestic violence case.

The single bench said that vigilance inquiry requires prior approval in connection with allegations of corruption in decisions taken by public servants as part of their duties.

The events started when the Kattururthi police registered a case against an expatriate, who a native of Palakkad, on a complaint filed by his wife, a native of Kurupunthara. ASI Anil Kumar took a bribe of Rs 5,000 from the expatriate's father and Rs 15,000 from his brother after talking about the case. Later, the court granted anticipatory bail to the expatriate in the domestic violence case.

When this was reported to the station, ASI Anil Kumar again demanded a bribe saying that Abdul Sathar had taken Rs 15,000 from the earlier payment. Following this, a complaint was lodged with Vigilance. Anilkumar was arrested on August 12, 2021 by setting a vigilance trap. Anil Kumar and Abdul Sathar are the first and second accused. Abdul Sattar filed the petition stating that a prior permission from the authorities was not sought to file a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The High Court dismissed the petition stating that there is no merit in this argument.