The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided to ascertain the authenticity of complainants before initiating any probe into their complaints of corruption in the Central Government departments.The move, officials say, is aimed at checking fraudulent or malicious complaints, which often crop up against a Government official being
considered for a particular posting to delay grant of vigilance clearance to him."All Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) are informed that henceforth, the Commission would be seeking confirmation from the complainant for owning or disowning the complaint, as the case may be," the anti-corruption watchdog said in a directive issued on January 23.
The CVOs, who act as distant arm of the Commission, have also been asked to seek confirmation on graft complaints received by them from the complainants. "As regards complaints received directly by the CVOs of ministries, departments or organisations, if a complaint contains specific and verifiable allegations of corruption or vigilance angle and it is proposed to take cognisance of such complaints, the complaint will be first sent to the complainant for owning or disowning," the directive said.
If no response is received within from the complainant within 15 days of sending the complaint, a reminder will be sent. 15 days after sending the reminder, if still nothing is heard, the said complaint may be filed as pseudonymous by the CVO and no enquiry or investigation be initiated on them, the anti-corruption watchdog said in its order. The CBI, over which the CVC exercises superintendence in anti-corruption cases, already follows this procedure wherein the agency does not entertain any anonymous or pseudonymous complaints.