Vigilance academy to come up in Bhubaneswar: CM Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Hailing the achievement of Vigilance department which recorded a conviction rate of 51 per cent this year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressed on capacity building of the anti-corruption wing to improve the skills of officers.

While addressing during the State-level Vigilance Awareness Week 2018 event in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik informed that Odisha government is taking several measures to improve the investigating skills and prosecution system of the department.

As per the annual report, the vigilance department has recorded 51% conviction rate within first 10 months this year which is nearly 4% higher than the rate of conviction in past two years.

“Anti-corruption and transparency are the two key elements to ensure probity and accountability in the public sphere and are also critical to ensure development and good governance. A vigilance academy will be set up in Bhubaneswar to upgrade the knowledge and skills of vigilance officers,” said Patnaik.

Patnaik congratulated the vigilance department for its excellent track record in combating corruption and urged all public servants to maintain high standards of integrity and serve the people in the true spirit of service.

The chief minister also appealed to the people of the state to join the fight against corruption and build a better society for the future generation.

According to senior officials, Vigilance has registered 287 criminal cases against 413 persons, including 37 Class-I officers, 33 Class-II officers, 238 Class-III employees till October 31, 2018.

Out of the registered 287 cases, 55 cases were registered against 57 public servants and 23 private persons for acquisition of disproportionate assets amounting to Rs 57.26 crore.

The highest ever total assets seized by the Vigilance department in a single disproportionate asset case amounting to Rs 7 crore (approx) was also registered this year.

Similarly, 148 trap cases were instituted against 155 public servants for demand and acceptance of bribe amounting to Rs 12.71 lakhs.