Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday revealed that the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has prepared a list of officials involved in corruption and accepting bribes across various departments. 

Meanwhile, VACB is implementing an initiative called 'Operation Spot Trap' to catch officials who demand or accept bribes. The Chief Minister revealed that around 700 officials are currently on the list of suspected corrupt individuals, and some of them have already been caught by the vigilance department.

Vijayan revealed that the complaints from the public regarding corruption are being examined and followed up with appropriate action. 

"The government is continuously monitoring officials who are repeatedly involved in corruption, favouritism, and irregularities. Strict instructions have been given to the legal department of vigilance and prosecutors to ensure that cases pending in vigilance courts are completed within a fixed time frame and that the guilty receive the maximum punishment possible," he stated. 

“The issue of corruption among officials who are expected to maintain constant contact with the public and work for their welfare and relief is a very serious matter. The VACB’s Operation Spot Trap initiative is aimed at catching such officials red-handed when they solicit or accept bribes,” the Chief Minister added.

Vijayan also stated that a network of informants is being developed in all offices, and efforts are being made to monitor corrupt officials and encourage ordinary citizens to file complaints against those demanding bribes.

As a result of Operation Spot Trap, 36 corrupt officials were arrested and 25 cases were registered in January, February, and March of 2025 alone.

"The government aims to ensure that its schemes, development activities, and other services are delivered transparently and efficiently to the public. A ‘Zero Tolerance to Corruption’ policy is being implemented to achieve this goal," Vijayan said.