Kerala Vigilance Unearths Major Corruption Scandal in Electricity Board Offices
A major state-level inspection by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has exposed deep-rooted corruption within the Kerala State Electricity Board. The operation, conducted simultaneously across the state, revealed shocking collusion between officials and contractors.
Operation Short Circuit Uncovers Bribe Network
Dubbed 'Operation Short Circuit', the Friday raid targeted 70 electrical section offices throughout Kerala. Vigilance sleuths discovered a well-organized bribery network involving bank transactions. They found that 41 officials from various offices accepted bribes totaling Rs 16,50,000 directly into their bank accounts from contractors.
These officials were approving bills without proper inspection of contract work. They simply accepted commissions and gave their approval. The corruption extended to how projects were handled from the very beginning.
Systematic Flouting of Tender Rules
During their audit, vigilance officers found several large projects deliberately divided into smaller parts. This division allowed officials to invite quotations instead of following proper e-tendering procedures. Contracts went to unlicensed contractors and even to proxies of the officials themselves.
The irregularities didn't stop there. Officials failed to use materials according to estimates and omitted crucial tasks like muffing. Many offices maintained improper records, with scrap registers, log books, and work registers all in disarray.
Digital Payments and Widespread Corruption
The corruption reached every corner of the state. In Varkala and Parassala, sub-engineers accepted tens of thousands in bribes through Google Pay. The assistant engineer in Karunagappally pocketed Rs 31,000, while two sub-engineers in Anchal took Rs 5,000 each.
Thiruvalla saw Rs 1,67,000 transferred to an overseer's account through a shop owner acting as an agent. In Kattappana, an assistant engineer received Rs 2,35,700, with sub-engineers getting over Rs 40,000. Tripunithura revealed 12 works awarded to the same contractor, with identical signatures on all quotations.
Vigilance teams seized unaccounted cash totaling Rs 34,000 from offices including those in Manjeri and Nilambur.
Vigilance Director Announces Thorough Probe
Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham announced that bank accounts of corrupt officials, their family members, and intermediaries will undergo thorough examination. The bureau is determined to follow every money trail.
Abraham also made public the channels for reporting corruption. Citizens can use the toll-free number 1064 or send information via WhatsApp to 9447789100. The vigilance department encourages people to come forward with any information about corrupt practices.
This massive operation reveals systemic corruption within Kerala's electricity infrastructure. It shows how public funds were being siphoned through elaborate schemes involving both officials and contractors. The vigilance bureau's simultaneous raids across 70 offices demonstrate their commitment to rooting out this corruption network completely.
