The Times of India: Kochi: Thursday, 12 November 2026.
Vigilance and anticorruption bureau (VACB) has arrested 10 Kochi corporation officials in the past six years. However, none of them have been convicted; an RTI reply shows.
As per the RTI reply given to Raju Vazhakkala, health inspectors, building
inspectors, clerks and officials with the revenue department were arrested in
corruption cases. Of the 10 cases, initial procedures are being taken in four
cases while chargesheets have been submitted in the remaining cases.
“It is just a tip of the iceberg. Corruption is rampant in the corporation. It is to facilitate corruption that the corporation authorities recently sought a vigilance probe against RTI activists. It is through RTI replies that data regarding various projects being introduced by the corporation are revealed. This causes inconvenience for the corrupt persons at the helm of the corporation office,” Vazhakkala said.
“It is ironic that an RTI reply exposed the quantum of the corporation officials to a certain extent,” he added.
Mayor V K Minimol said the corporation is taking steps to curb corruption among the local body’s officials. “I personally monitor the files movement. If a particular file is pending before an official for a long time, I would seek an explanation,” Minimol said.
“After the introduction of K-Smart, the quantum of corruption has come down,” she added.
At the same time, Minimol said there is a lobby which facilitates corruption using RTI replies. “After securing data regarding various projects and proposals through RTI applications, those who are living outside Kochi corporation limits would lodge complaints regarding such projects. Some of the officials also facilitate this corrupt practice,” Minimol said.
Opposition leader V A Sreejith said corruption is a major problem. “It has been there for the past several years. It should be curbed,” he said.
Vigilance and anticorruption bureau (VACB) has arrested 10 Kochi corporation officials in the past six years. However, none of them have been convicted; an RTI reply shows.
“It is just a tip of the iceberg. Corruption is rampant in the corporation. It is to facilitate corruption that the corporation authorities recently sought a vigilance probe against RTI activists. It is through RTI replies that data regarding various projects being introduced by the corporation are revealed. This causes inconvenience for the corrupt persons at the helm of the corporation office,” Vazhakkala said.
“It is ironic that an RTI reply exposed the quantum of the corporation officials to a certain extent,” he added.
Mayor V K Minimol said the corporation is taking steps to curb corruption among the local body’s officials. “I personally monitor the files movement. If a particular file is pending before an official for a long time, I would seek an explanation,” Minimol said.
“After the introduction of K-Smart, the quantum of corruption has come down,” she added.
At the same time, Minimol said there is a lobby which facilitates corruption using RTI replies. “After securing data regarding various projects and proposals through RTI applications, those who are living outside Kochi corporation limits would lodge complaints regarding such projects. Some of the officials also facilitate this corrupt practice,” Minimol said.
Opposition leader V A Sreejith said corruption is a major problem. “It has been there for the past several years. It should be curbed,” he said.
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