Anti-graft stir to be intensified in Kozhikode

The Azhimathi Virudha Janakeeya Munnani has decided to step up its agitation demanding the expedition of the ongoing Vigilance probe into the allegations of corruption against the previous and present City Corporation councils.

July 30, 2014 12:42 pm | Updated 12:42 pm IST - Kozhikode:

The Azhimathi Virudha Janakeeya Munnani has decided to step up its agitation demanding the expedition of the ongoing Vigilance probe into the allegations of corruption against the previous and present City Corporation councils.

The anti-corruption forum submitted a petition in this regard to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday. “We hope that Chief Minister will look into this pending issue. We will wait till Onam and if nothing positive materialises, we will resort to an indefinite hunger strike either in Kozhikode or Thiruvananthapuram,” K.P. Vijayakumar, general convener of the forum, said.

14 cases

He said that the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had registered 14 cases since it started probe into the allegations in December 2011. But it had not filed a single charge sheet so far, he said. The Chief Minister had assured the anti-corruption activists who staged a hunger strike in November that charge sheet in the case would be filed within six months. Incidentally the Home Department appointed a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) as special officer to expedite the cases. The activists demand the appointment of an additional Dy.SP to speed up the investigation process.

Action sought

The forum also demanded that the State government initiate action against the investigation officer as he was reportedly trying to protect the corrupt. Even after eight months of his appointment, the VACB had failed to submit charge sheet in the cases that had already been registered, Mr. Vijayakumar said.

Of the 14 cases, one related to the misuse of funds of the civic body for improving a private road in Pottammal. Four cases had been stayed by the High Court of Kerala. “We have moved the court seeking to vacate the interim stay,” Mr. Vijayakumar said.

Some other cases related to irregularities in the utilisation of relief fund, irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of aid to the physically challenged, diversion of funds for Cherottuvayal slum development, misappropriation of funds in buying accessories for the computerisation of the Corporation office, and misuse of public money in connection with air travel by councillors.

Other cases

The other cases include irregularities in handing over night shelter on lease at Palayam, corruption in the preparation of City Development Plan, irregularities in the allocation of space for setting up an ATM counter in the Corporation Office compound, and irregularities in the purchase of stationery items for Corporation during 2006-2008. Misappropriation of Kudumbasree funds, and irregularities in the implementation of waste disposal plant at Njeliyanparamba are among the others.

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