CVC seeks bank officials' help in probing corruption cases

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has decided to expand its pool of officers drawn from public sector banks to help it probe corruption complaints in the banking sector.
The CVC has written to several public sector banks asking them to send a list of interested officers of Deputy General Manager (DGM) level who can serve as advisers in the commission.
The commission has been obtaining services of DGM-level officers from public sector banks to handle vigilance matters relating to the banking sector.
"Such officers are designated as advisors in the commission and would continue to be on the strength of the bank which would bear all financial liabilities pertaining to his service," said the letter to the general managers of public sector banks.

At present, there are three officers, drawn from public sector banks, working in the Commission, it said. Further need for adviser, banking are likely to arise in the near future.
"It is, therefore, requested that a panel of suitable or interested officers of DGM-level from your bank may be sent to the Commission by November 15," reads the letter issued to GMs of State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Central Bank of India, Canara Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce, among others.

The Commission had in September formed a four-member advisory board, headed by former Vigilance Commissioner Ranjana Kumar, to assist it and CBI in examining matters related to bank, commercial and financial frauds.

The CVC gets a lot of complaints of alleged corruption in public sector banks. Last year, it had imposed punishment including administrative action in 153 cases involving officials of Bank of Baroda, 127 cases involving SBI, 110 Syndicate Bank, 80 Punjab National Bank, 77 of Union Bank of India, and 73 cases involving Vijaya Bank.
A total of 7,365 complaints of alleged corruption was received against banks officials by the CVC last year. In September, the Commission had advised major penalty against 53 officials of banks for their alleged involvement in corruption, according to the CVC's monthly performance report.