Corrupt cops thrive, courtesy Home Department

KOCHI: With the Home Department showing reluctance to initiate action, the police officials who have been caught in various corruption charges are reportedly going scot-free. Though the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau had initiated cases and recommended stringent punishment, the Home Department has only given the nod for taking mild disciplinary action against a few of them.The document in possession of ‘Express’ reveals that about 17 cases registered against those policemen by the Vigilance Department in the last four years are pending with the Home Department.In one of the cases, the Vigilance Director in 2008 had recommended stringent action against an IPS officer in a corruption case.But the Home Department gave the official a clean chit after just recording his version.“The Home Department often wastes a good amount of time to act against police officers. Even if we recommend strict action, the department gives them a clean chit and exonerates them. There are a number of cases in which action which remained pending with the Home Department for more than five years.In most cases, action is initiated only after the offender retires from the service,” a highly-placed vigilance official said.The official alleged that police officers escape action using their political clout.“They influence party leaders and escape punishment. Only a few get caught.It is frustrating to see when our attempts to get rid of such corrupt persons fall flat,” the official said.The departmental action is taken as per the All-India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969, which could be suspension and dismissal of the official who carry out illegal activities while in service.