As per records available with Herald, 19 complaints have been converted into First Information Reports (FIR), all of which are under investigation. However, though the number of complaints have increased manifold over the last decade, the staff strength has stagnated at a meager seven officials comprising superintendent of police (SP), DySP and five police inspectors.
In the calendar year 2013, the agency received 245 complaints, the highest ever, on corruption at a time when the manpower was not even seven. Of the total, 162 cases are still pending inquiry, while in 83 complaints inquiries have been completed and 12 FIRs registered. The backlog is coupled with daily hearings on different appeals where one officer per case has to be compulsorily present before the court. “For us, it is race against time to complete inquiries into every complaint we receive, in addition to investigation of FIRs and trap cases, etc. More of our investigation officers have to attend cases under section 156 (3) before the special court (under the Prevention of Corruption Act). Many of these get disposed…” Superintendent of ACB Bosco George told Herald. “It is time consuming, but we ensure we attend hearings of all complaints and cases.”
Among the competed inquiries, which included job scams in various departments unearthed by the ruling coalition there are two cases linking the former Home Minister Ravi Naik and former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. However, despite reports indicting both for making irregular appointments in the departments of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, and Health respectively, the concerned department are yet to lodge a formal complaint.
Records indicate that in the 17 criminal miscellaneous applications already disposed of, ACB sleuths attended 181 hearings, while 13 appeals are currently pending before the Special Court wherein the investigation officers have attended 192 hearings thus far.
From 2003 till date, the ACB has successfully laid 14 traps, two disproportionate assets cases including the one against Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavalekar and 33 other corruption cases. The above factors have impacted to such an extent that
only three cases have been charge sheeted so far, while
in two separate cases, FIRs were closed.
