Corpn to set up 3 anti-corruption vigil wings

According to a city Corporation source, a proposal to strengthen the vigilance wing has been sent to the State government for approval. Presently, the vigilance and anti-corruption wing is functioning in the Ripon Buildings. As per the proposal sent by the government, each of the three regions in the Chennai Corporation would have separate teams to investigate corruption allegations against the officials working in respective regions. “The regional level teams would be headed by police officials in the rank of Inspector and a Superintendent of Police would monitor the regional-level anti-corruption wings,” according to the proposal.

An official said that the State government has sought some clarifications on the proposal and the vigilance wing would be expanded after the civic body sends clarifications. After the expansion, the strength of the vigilance wing would increase to 58 from the present strength of 14. As of now, the vigilance wing is being headed by deputy Superintendent of Police.

Meanwhile, the civic body records suggest that the number of corruption allegations against the Corporation officials had increased from 420 complaints in 2018 to 500 complaints in 2019. As on Monday, the vigilance wing had received 40 complaintsin 2020.

The move has been taken after the High Court recently opined that the present strength of the vigilance wing is inadequate and instructed the civic body to send a communication to the deputy general of police for deputing adequate number of police personnel in the vigilance wing.