Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau raids unearth frauds over disbursal of CMDRF

T'PURAM: Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) unearthed major frauds in several districts where some agents, doctors and individuals were scheming to obtain funds from the chief minister's distress relief fund (CMDRF) even when they were ineligible for such assistance.
In a state-wide search titled Operation CMDRF, VACB teams found that several medical certificates were issued by the same doctor to several individuals who did not have ailments and they had then used those to seek financial assistance from CMDRF.
The applications were submitted by such individuals through agents, who had used their phone numbers as contact numbers in the application forms. They had then claimed a share from the financial assistance received to the applicant.
In Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, agency sleuths found that the phone number of a single agent was used in 16 application forms seeking assistance under CMDRF. In Kollam, it was found that one single doctor in Punalur taluk had issued 1,500 medical certificates. The doctor had also issued medical certificates to four members of the same family in a span of two days.
In Kottayam, the team found that one individual managed to obtain assistance thrice- Rs 5,000 once and Rs 10,000 twice- citing different ailments. In all three cases, the medical certificate was issued by an orthopaedic specialist in Kanjirappally government hospital.
In Idukki, the vigilance found that the applications and details were edited several times in the applications and the phone numbers shown in the application forms were that of agents and in Ernakulam, it was found that a sum of Rs 3,00,000 and Rs 45,000, were granted to two economically sound non-residential Keralites.
Vigilance director Manoj Abraham said the authenticity of income certificates and medical certificates will be verified and whether the agents and government officials have accepted commission money will also be probed. A detailed report will be furnished to the government, he said.