Anti-Corruption Bureau unearths organised fraud in allocation of CMDRF in Kerala; CM promises action

‘Will not tolerate wrong-doings’

The government would not tolerate any wrong-doings in the matters related to the CMDRF and that’s why the Vigilance Department has been entrusted with conducting a comprehensive investigation, he said.

The chief minister made it clear that directions have been given to the anti-corruption agency to proceed with further actions regarding their findings on the issue.

He also made it clear that the CMDRF is envisaged to support the poor and needy to meet their treatment expenses and to help those who are suffering from natural calamities.

Stringent action would be taken against those who made the relief amount available to underserved people, Vijayan added.

Also read: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan avoids all things black

CMO finds fake applications

Earlier, Manoj Abraham said that the chief minister’s office (CMO) gave directions to unearth the embezzlement after some of the applications they verified were found to be fake.

“We have conducted widespread raids across the state. Irregularities had been unearthed in many places,” he said.

When asked about the role of government officials in Collectorates in various districts and doctors in state-run hospitals, Abraham said their corruption angle would be verified during the time of field enquiry which would be conducted in the coming days.

When the statements of applicants were recorded, the details of those involved would be clearer, he said.

Though it was earlier considered a localised crime limited to certain districts only, it was found during the probe that the fraud was conducted in almost all districts of the state, he said.

Thus, the VACB conducted surprise checks in suspected premises across the state, he said, adding that most complaints were received in the Kollam district.

Organised fraud

“We assume that it was an organised fraud. A dedicated team was behind this. During the verification, it was found that the mobile number of one agent was given in several applications in a particular district,” he said.

The anti-corruption agency is now verifying the documents related to CMDRF in the past two years and the detailed verification would be completed in two days. As many as 2,000 files had been verified so far, the director added.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress expressed shock over the reports of CMDRF-related fraud and demanded a probe by a special team to bring out the truth.

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly VD Satheesan told reporters in Kochi that a huge fraud had been found in various districts in the preliminary inquiry itself.

It is now evident that no adequate inspections were carried out at village offices, Collectorates and the CMO before granting financial relief from the CMDRF.

“A special team should be formed to examine the entire files in this regard and conduct the investigation,” he said and charged that those who were close to the ruling CPI(M) were also behind the fraud.

If any attempt was made to protect the accused, the government would face intense agitations by the opposition, Satheesan added.

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