THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has finally realized that corruption and bribery are becoming so widespread as the Vigilance Department is providing loopholes to bribe-taking government officials to get promotions and a proper retirement. It was found that Vigilance was not investigating the cases against the government officials in a timely manner and not filing chargesheets against them.

From now onwards, the Vigilance should complete the investigation within six months of receiving a complaint against a government official. Currency exchange trap cases to catch bribery should also be completed within six months. The time limit is three months for preliminary investigation and one month for secret investigation and lightning inspection. Investigation in other cases, including illegal acquisition of property, should be completed within 12 months. Vigilance is dragging on the probe in almost 2000 cases involving government officials. Cases since 2006 are pending without investigation or charge sheet.

Investigations are still dragging on even after Vigilance Chief Manoj Abraham gave strict directions to the Vigilance officers to complete the probe in all cases older than three years by December. Following this, the government decided to set a deadline for the investigation.

Although Vigilance officials are claiming that delay in obtaining documents from the departments and non-availability of evidence is the reason for the delay in the investigation, several cases are being dragged on using political influence. No charge sheet is being filed even in cases where bribe takers are caught red-handed. Even if a charge sheet is filed, it will take 8-10 years to complete the trial and announce the sentence. By then, the accused will be promoted and retired. Some will be dead. Although those arrested in bribery cases are remanded for a week and suspended for a year, they often return to the service and continue taking bribes. One section considers the arrest by the Vigilance as a license for taking bribes.

Vigilance is receiving nearly 700 cases each month. Earlier it was only 40-50. Most of the complaints contain information to trap bribe takers.

This year
Vigilance Cases.............................93

Secret inspection...................................46

Preliminary investigation...............................43

Vigilance investigation...................42

Lightning inspection...................................489

Trap Cases.................................................33

Complaints...................................................5279

(82 Vigilance cases in 2021, 79 Vigilance cases in 2020)

Trap cases

2015-----------20

2016-----------20

2017----------21

2018-----------16

2019-----------17

2020-----------24

2021-----------30

2022-----------47

2023-----------33

(Till June)

Revenue Dept in front in corruption cases

Revenue--------------23

Panchayat-------9

Health---------7

Local Self Government--------------7

Urban Affairs------6

Police-----------4

Registration---4

Survey-------------3