THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : It is a matter of utmost concern that Information contained in CAG report was leaked even before the document reached the Assembly, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan adding that, the treand is distasteful. The matter has been now written into Assembly records. The CAG report leak is a hard fact. CAG Report is meant for tabling at the Assembly. A leak of this kind is unhealthy precedent, said CM.
CAG report findings stated disappearance of police guns and bullets ; the govt has taken serious note of the matter. said CM. However, the part of missing guns never happened as has been confirmed by the Crime Branch, CM clarified.
Bullet proof vehicles were purchased after inviting tenders. They were purchased from companies that quoted the lowest rates, said CM. Open tenders were avoided for security reasons. Six manufacturers signaled their interest and the current vehicles were purchased against lowest bids quoted., CM said.
Bullets went missing in 2015. A probe into this is is underway. CAG report talks of callousness on part of the Board, constituted for probe at that time. An official in charge, during UDF tenure , placed fake shell casings in place of missing bullets, He has been incriminated in the case, CM said. The official was arrested as is being kept in remand. In all, 11 officials have been accused in the case and currently face departmental action.
In 2015 a 3-member Board was set up for looking into the case. It wound up the matter stating there was no shortage of bullets in terms of their count. However the case of missing bullets was established even before the Board took up probe. The Board never actually opened the sealed box containing bullets all through their probe. It was a clear attempt of cover up. However findings surfaced later in 2016 and was was viewed with concern by the present govt, CM said.
Responding to Opposition demand that the probe be handed over to CBI, the CM said that we have our own agencies looking into the case and shall wait until they conclude their findings.
