Photo: Screengrab/Mathrubhumi News
Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Kerala (VACB) has inferred that a well-plotted fraudulence in allocating funds from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the undeserving applicants has taken place. Vigilance has exposed an unholy nexus between the officials and agents, who pose as middlemen in order to embezzle the funds in CM’s relief fund.
VACB reported that the collectorates acted as centres for swindling the relief funds in many districts.
Surprise raids of VACB were held in various government offices under the direction of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. As per the collected evidence, the extent of scandals has been expected to increase by putting government offices under suspicion. Over 5000 applications filed for the relief funds are currently under the scanner. The government has mulled to resort severe action following the preliminary probe.
The guidelines to make the CMDRF safer will soon be forwarded to the state government as a report, said vigilance director Manoj Abraham. A considerable number of cases surfaced when the vigilance scrutinised the applications of just two years. Most of the fake applications have been reported from Kollam district, said the director.
Certain applicants who faced delays in receiving funds had contacted the chief minister’s complaint redressal cell to inquire regarding the status of their applications. Along with this, the revenue department identified that often same doctors have attested many of the medical certificates attached to the applications received by the department. Following this, the revenue minister requested the chief minister to roll out a probe. The CM ordered vigilance to conduct raids under these circumstances.
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