THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A reply to an RTI query has revealed that the Central Government was unaware of state police chief Lokanath Behera being made the vigilance director.

It further reveals that Behera was made the chief of vigilance without taking any permission from the Central Home Ministry.

As per IPC rules, the permission from the Central Home ministry is required even to appoint an officer in a post for more than a month in leave vacancy. The RTI reply says that the state government has neither sought any permission nor even officially intimated the Centre about Behera’s appointment.

Lokanath Behera was appointed as the vigilance director after removing Jacob Thomas from the position on March 31, 2017.

Meanwhile, there is also criticism that Behera is not efficient enough as the vigilance director. After Behera taking charge, the vigilance had given reports to the court stating that there aren’t enough evidence in 13 cases involving prominent officials. Also, the suspension of about 30 officers including officers at the Pettah station were cancelled in the 11 months since Behera took charge as the vigilance chief.

There is also another criticism that incidents of officers in charge of investigation being changed in cases involving prominent people has become common in vigilance.