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Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today said it has introduced procedural changes in the investigations of trap cases in order to improve the conviction rate besides ensuring more transparency.

A vigilance spokesman said the investigators have been advised to get recorded statements of complainants and shadow witnesses before a Magistrate under section 164 of CrPC.

This had become necessary as in some cases even the complainants had retracted their statements under threat or for pecuniary reasons, he added.

For introducing transparency in the probe, it has been ordered that the investigating officer of a trap case will not be a member of the party which goes along with the complainant and witnesses to catch a public servant read-handed receiving graft money.

These procedures are in vogue in the CBI and some other vigilance organisations, the spokesmsan said.

He said the state government was also considering a proposal to refund trap money on expiry of six months of the date of trap in deserving cases where the complainant cannot afford to wait for the refund till final disposal of the case.

The refund will be made after obtaining court orders and the government will enter into an agreement with the complainant that on conclusion of the trial, the trap money, which is the case property, would go to the state exchequer, the spokesman added.

He said the number of trap cases in which public servants were caught red-handed receiving bribe have shown a substantial increase.

More and more people were coming forward to lodge complaints against such corrupt officers, he added.

During the current year, the spokesman said 43 cases were registered by the Vigilance Organisation against 45 officers who were caught red-handed while taking bribe with the amount varying from Rs 500 to Rs 20,000.

The cases in which successful traps were laid included 13 against revenue officials (including 8 patwaris), 11 against Police officials (including one Inspector and 2 Sub Inspectors), 7 against officials of engineering departments (including two AEEs and 5 JEs), 2 against officials of CA&PD (one AD and one Supervisor ) and one each against officials of State Financial Corporation (Dy G.M.), Health, Urban Development Agency, Finance, Consumer Protection, Sales Tax, Funds Organization, Education Department (ZEO), PDD (Inspector) and Soil Conservation, he added.

During 2005, the number of cases registered was 30 and their investigations have been completed. The charge-sheet in 25 cases had been produced in the court of law after obtaining sanction from the government, the spokesman said.

Similarly, he said out of 43 trap cases registered during the current year, investigations of 24 cases have been completed. Out of these, charge-sheet had been produced in 12 cases by this October-end.

As far as possible, it was being ensured that investigations of trap cases were completed within 2-3 months and charge-sheet produced within six months, he added.

The spokesman also appealed to the people to come forward and lodge their complaints if public servants demanded money for carrying out their legitimate duties.

UNI AG SP RAI1846