Naveen lauds vig officers’ role in reining in corrupt

Bhubaneswar: CM Naveen Patnaik on Monday appreciated the efforts of Odisha vigilance directorate in curbing corruption to a great extent. “Administering integrity pledge to government employees through the virtual platform during the launch of the vigilance awareness week,” Naveen said his government is committed to show zero tolerance to corruption.
Quoting the recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, Naveen said Odisha vigilance is among the top performing anti-corruption agencies in the country with regards to registration and disposal of corruption cases and conviction of corrupt public servants.
The CM expressed his happiness over the crackdowns made by the vigilance wing in the last one year. Naveen said Odisha vigilance has created new records in seizure of highest amount of cash in a trap case, seizure of highest amount of cash during a house search and unearthing the highest amount of disproportionate assets (DA). “My government has adopted a zero tolerance approach to corruption so that basic public services are made available to the people at the grassroots level in a fair and transparent manner,” Naveen said.
He asked all public servants to show exemplary probity and integrity in their work and appealed to the people of Odisha to renew their resolve to fight against corruption and strengthen the transparency and anti-corruption initiatives of the government.
Between January and September this year, the vigilance registered 219 criminal cases against 393 persons, including 44 Class I officers, 40 Class II and 149 Class III employees. Of the 219 cases, at least 61 cases were instituted for acquisition of disproportionate assets (DA) against 68 public servants. The total DA in those cases was calculated as Rs 121.99 crores. Altogether 92 trap cases were executed during the nine months against 97 public servants and Rs 31.05 lakh in cash was seized from them.
During the period, at least 66 misappropriation cases were registered against 187 persons, including 103 public servants for allegedly embezzling public funds to the tune of Rs 16.38 crore. Altogether 78 accused persons, including 13 class-1 officers have been convicted during the nine months. “Odisha vigilance is committed to take strong action under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the corrupt public servants,” vigilance director Yeshwant Jethwa said.