149 bank officials under CVC scanner for graft

As many as 149 employees of various banks have come under the scanner of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Of these, 124 employees, including 13 sweepers, are working with Indian Overseas Bank. CVC has sought permission to prosecute these employees from the authority concerned, according to its monthly performance report for April.

They are among 193 officials facing corruption charges and against whom CVC has sought permission for prosecution, it said.

Out of the total of 49 cases awaiting sanction for prosecution, 23 involve public sector banks. Among banks, a highest of 10 cases are of IOB employees, three of Bank of India, two of State Bank of Patiala, and one case each of Oriental Bank of Commerce, Corporation Bank, Exim Bank, Vijaya Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, United Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.

Those found allegedly involved in corruption include sweepers, two part-time sweepers, General Manager and Chief Manager among others.

"There has been increase in cases of corruption involving banks officials. CVC has sought permission to prosecute 96 employees working with various banks. The number has now gone up to 149," a senior CVC official said.

Sanction is awaited against 193 employees, including 149 working in the banks, for more than four months. As per the norms, the matter of granting sanction for prosecution has to be decided within four months.

Not only banks but other government departments are also delaying permission to punish the corrupt officials.

As many as six cases involving at least eight government officers, most of them belonging to the elite Indian Administrative Service, are pending with the Department of Personnel and Training, which acts as the nodal authority for anti-corruption measures.

Besides these, three cases involve officers working in the Railways Ministry, two each in Defence, Home, Health and Steel Ministry, and one each in Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), among others.