Despite continuous crackdowns on corrupt public servants, the State didn’t get any relief from corruption in governance in 2018 compared to the preceding year.
This was revealed in the annual achievement report of the Vigilance Directorate which mentioned that as many as 182 trap cases were registered in 2018 compared to 161 in 2017, recording a rise of 13 per cent.
Besides, the Vigilance registered 94 disproportionate assets (DA) with detection of Rs 95.24 crore in 2018 against DA cases with detection of Rs 67.30 crore in 2017, recording a rise of 40 per cent.
The 182 trap cases were registered against 195 persons, including 192 public servants and three private persons. The accused officers were arrested in separate cases on charges of accepting bribe amounting to nearly Rs 16.90 lakh. The accused included 12 Class-I officers, 10 Class-II officers and 161 Class-III employees of different Government offices.
The 98 DA cases were registered against 145 persons, including 23 Class-I officers, 21 Class-II officers, 55 Class-III employees, 4 Class-IV employees and 42 private persons.
The report said the Vigilance gave more focus on registration of trap cases against public servants and high value DA cases and strengthening the prosecution system with a view to increase the rate of conviction.
The percentage of conviction in 2018 stood at 51.4 per cent as against 47 per cent in 2017. During 2018, a total of 20 Class-I officers were convicted as against seven Class-I officers convicted during 2017.
Similarly, the Vigilance registered 149 misappropriation cases against 247 public servants and 120 private persons involving misappropriation of public funds amounting to Rs 15.18 crores. Misappropriation cases were registered against 17 Class-I officers, 13 Class-II officers, 217 Class-III employees.
During the year, a total of 241 accused persons were arrested and forwarded in custody, which includes 26 Class-I officers, 19 Class-II officers, 182 Class-III employees, 9 Class-IV employees and five private persons. In 2017, 218 persons, including 20 Class-I officers, had been arrested.
A total of 234 Vigilance cases were disposed of during the year. Out of these, 16 cases were abated due to death of the accused persons and 4 cases were discharged/dropped. Out of the rest 214 cases, 110 cases ended in conviction against 20 Class-I officers, 9 Class-II officers, 90 Class-III employees, 1 Class-IV employee and 13 Private persons. The percentage of conviction was 51.40 per cent against 47 per cent in 2017, the report said.
As many as 33 public servants, including 2 Class-I officers, 3 Class-II officers, 27 Class III employees and 1 Class-IV employee were dismissed from service following their conviction in Vigilance cases.