The Ernakulam unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) arrested nearly 25 government and public sector employees on corruption charges in the last six months.
As many as 18 cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, are under investigation. The employees held on charges of accepting bribe worked in the departments of Local-Self Government, Agriculture, and Motor Vehicles, according to official sources.
“More officials were caught red-handed while accepting bribes in recent months as there was a rise in the number of complaints received during this period,” said S. Sasidharan, Superintendent of Police, VACB Ernakulam unit.
“Once people start responding to such illegal acts by sharing information with us, the number of corruption cases will come down,” he added.
The VACB found that officials of the departments of Local Self-Government and Motor Vehicles came under the scanner after they started demanding bribe for various clearances. In the case related to the arrest of former Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer T.M. Jerson, investigations showed that he had reportedly delayed issuing vehicle-related documents until he received the bribe money.
The VACB had reportedly detected savings and investments worth around ₹84 lakh and seized cash amounting to ₹64,000 along with 74 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor during the nearly 15-hour-long raid at Mr. Jerson’s house on February 20.
VACB officials said that increased surveillance had helped in catching officials associated with public sector companies and banks, besides governments employees. A chartered accountant associated with a nationalised bank was arrested after he allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹6 lakh from a Kochi-based businessman. A senior official of the Indian Oil Corporation was arrested while accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a gas agency owner.
The VACB has urged the public not to offer bribes to any official as it is a violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Published – May 08, 2025 09:51 pm IST