Thiruvananthapuram: Defending the vigilance “inspection” at nearly 40 branches of the Kerala State Financial Enterprises Ltd (KSFE), chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the action was based on a secret report. It was the vigilance director who ordered the inspection, he told a press briefing.
“It was a routine action based on a secret report received by the intelligence wing of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). It was not a raid but an inspection,” the CM said.
The vigilance received complaints from Malappuram which, based on the agency’s evaluation, would affect the credibility and financial status of KSFE. The vigilance DySP reported this on October 19. On October 27 a source report, based on a preliminary inquiry, was sent to vigilance headquarters. After verifying this report on November 10, the vigilance director himself ordered the inspection at selected KSFE branches. This was carried out on November 27, Vijayan said.
“This was an inspection and a report will be submitted to the government. The government will decide the future action based on this report,’’ he said.
The CM said such inspections do not constitute extraordinary action. “Vigilance carried out 18 such inspections in 2019 and seven this year,’’ he said.
The order was issued by the vigilance director, who has the authority to do so without any clearance. “My adviser had no role in this, as reported by the media. It has also been reported that he drafted the amendment to the Kerala Police Act. It is a blatant lie. The media is up to its old games,’’ said Vijayan, reprising allegations of the existence of a ‘media syndicate’ when he was party secretary.
Raman Srivastava has no role in the day-to-day affairs of the police, vigilance, jail, fire and rescue or home department. No official of these wings reports to him nor takes orders from him.
Pinarayi also rubbished reports that the vigilance action had strained his relations with the finance minister and the party. “The differences with Thomas Isaac and Anathalavattom Anandan are a media creation,’’ he said.