Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance has launched an investigation into the suspected misuse of AI traffic cameras by some Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials to track enforcement teams and warn colleagues ahead of raids.

The suspicion is that cameras installed to detect traffic violations were instead used to monitor the movement of Vigilance vehicles. Officials are believed to have entered the registration numbers of Vigilance vehicles into the camera system, enabling real-time alerts whenever those vehicles passed through monitored locations.

The system allegedly sent notifications directly to the mobile phones of MVD officials. Those receiving the alerts are suspected of passing on the information, allowing officials under Vigilance scrutiny to prepare in advance and leaving raiding teams empty-handed.

Although Vigilance appears to have begun an inquiry, it has not officially confirmed the allegations.

The suspicion arose after MVD officials on Vigilance's watch list appeared to receive advance warning of inspections on multiple occasions.

During a recent Vigilance drive involving local bodies, officials in Kollam district reportedly became aware of the inspections even before they began. This allegedly enabled them to prevent intermediaries from entering offices and suspend unauthorised transactions before Vigilance teams arrived.

A recent Vigilance inspection at the MVD Enforcement Wing in Kollam was also linked to these suspected information leaks.

For statewide inspections, Vigilance typically deploys officers by sending vehicles to different regional offices. Investigators suspect these movements were tracked through AI cameras installed along national and state highways, allowing details of planned raids to be leaked in advance.

Several MVD offices in Kollam are already under Vigilance scrutiny over alleged irregularities, including suspected anomalies in welfare fund re-registration and the avoidance of inspections of heavy vehicles. It is believed that this may have prompted the alleged misuse of the camera network to monitor Vigilance operations.

How the camera system allegedly worked

The suspected misuse involved Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which are designed to identify vehicle registration numbers.

The system allows users to upload the registration details of vehicles that need to be monitored into the camera software. Whenever one of those vehicles passes an ANPR camera, the software automatically generates an alert.

The control rooms for the AI camera network, developed by Keltron, are operated by Vehicle Inspectors. Investigators are examining whether this access was used to monitor Vigilance vehicles instead of enforcing traffic regulations.