Despite going into a highly active mode in the last quarter of the year 2020, after the government offices started functioning normally following the relaxation in lockdown, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered only 298 cases throughout the year, 24 per cent less compared to the previous year when the agency registered 392 cases.
Chennai: In the last four years, the agency has been showing increased activity. From just 160 cases in 2016, the DVAC increased the number of cases in which it could act against corrupt government officials to 263 in 2017. It went on to register 270 cases in 2018, and 392 in 2019.
The Vigilance officials noted that there were no major activities for months together after the COVID-19 lockdown started in the last week of March 2020 and that could have impacted the total number of cases registered in the year.
In the last three months, the Vigilance teams had made over 130 surprise checks in which over Rs 7.5 crore cash and over 7 kg gold were seized. The agency also trapped and arrested at least 35 government employees red-handed during the same time.
Among district detachments, Vellore unit registered a maximum of 23 cases of corruption against government employees while Krishnagiri and Cuddalore came second with 15 cases each and Chennai city team II and Coimbatore unit in third place with 13 cases each.
The Vigilance officials noted that there were no major activities for months together after the COVID-19 lockdown started in the last week of March 2020 and that could have impacted the total number of cases registered in the year.
In the last three months, the Vigilance teams had made over 130 surprise checks in which over Rs 7.5 crore cash and over 7 kg gold were seized. The agency also trapped and arrested at least 35 government employees red-handed during the same time.
Among district detachments, Vellore unit registered a maximum of 23 cases of corruption against government employees while Krishnagiri and Cuddalore came second with 15 cases each and Chennai city team II and Coimbatore unit in third place with 13 cases each.
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