Sports Council corruption: Vigilance conducts inspections at offices across Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has launched an investigation into alleged corruption in the Kerala Sports Council. Vigilance teams are conducting surprise inspections at the Council headquarters and district offices across the state. The inspections are being carried out under Operation Kalikkalam. The inspections come after reports that sports kits purchased for athletes were allegedly kept in storage without being distributed.

The investigation covers transactions carried out by the Sports Council over the past 10 years. The Vigilance received serious complaints regarding the money spent on various projects, participation of ineligible athletes in competitions, lapses in providing food and stipends, preparation of fake competition results, irregularities in hostel management, travel by Council members and diversion of government funds.

Complaints received by Sports Minister O.J. Jeneesh were also forwarded to the Vigilance. District SPs will submit reports after the inspection and examination of seized documents. Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham said that if a case needs to be registered, directions will be issued to do so with the government's permission.