The State would have a Vigilance Academy to upgrade the knowledge of sleuths engaged in anti-corruption drives on a continuous basis so as to retain their professional edge.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while addressing a ceremony organised at the end of the Vigilance Awareness Week on Saturday, informed that the academy would be set up in Bhubaneswar soon. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and Vigilance Director Debasish Panigrahi were present.
“It has also been the firm resolve of the State Government to eradicate corruption in implementation of welfare and development schemes,” the CM said.
He pointed out that there has been a four-per cent rise in the conviction rate in Vigilance cases in the first 10 months of this calendar year compared to the previous two years.
“My Government has taken a series of measures to improve the investigative capacity and the prosecution system of the State Vigilance,” he said.
As per its annual report, the Vigilance Directorate has recorded a 51-per cent conviction rate within first 10 months this year which is nearly 4 per cent higher than the rate of conviction in the past two years. Official sources said the State Vigilance this year has registered 287 criminal cases against 413 persons, including 37 Class-I officers, 33 Class-II officers and 238 Class-III employees till October 31, 2018.
Of the 287 cases registered, 55 were made against 57 public servants and 23 others for acquisition of disproportionate assets (DA) amounting to Rs 7.26 crore.
The highest-ever total assets seized by the Vigilance Directorate in a single disproportionate asset case was of Rs 7 crore, which was also registered this year. Vigilance officials also conducted 148 trap cases against 155 public servants for demand and acceptance of bribes amounting to Rs 12.71 lakh.