Tightening the noose around those indulging in corrupt practices, the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has registered 542 inquiries during the period from October 26, 2014 to October 18 this year.

Giving details, a spokesman of the Vigilance Bureau said that during this period, 338 inquiries have been finalized.

On the basis of these inquiries, 54 criminal cases have been recommended against 62 gazetted officers, 58 non-gazetted officers and 74 others and departmental action against delinquent officials in 119 inquiries. Criminal and Departmental action was recommended in 18 inquiries, he said. The spokesman said that during the period, 530 criminal cases including trap cases had been registered against officers or officials. The Bureau had also conducted 426 raids in which 40 gazetted officers, 411 non-gazetted officers and 57 other persons were caught red-handed while accepting illegal gratification.

Criminal cases under section 7 and 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 have been registered against them in the police stations of the Bureau, he added.

The spokesman further said that during the period from October 26, 2014 to October 18, 2018, Technical wing of the Bureau headed by XEN level officers carried out 362 assessments throughout the state. On the basis of these checkings, the Bureau has recommended action against 552 officers or officials of various departments along with a recovery of an amount of over Rs 14.45 crore which has acted as a major deterrent against mis-utilisation of government funds, in 289 assessments out of 362 assessments, he said.

During the same period, 139 cases have been decided by the Courts, in which 152 officers or officials and 47 other private persons have been convicted under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in the cases filed by the Bureau, he added.

The spokesman said that those sentenced included 30 officials of Revenue Department, 28 of Police Department, 16 of Education Department, 14 of Power Department, 10 of Cooperation Department, eight of Health Department, seven of Urban Local Bodies Department, five of Public Health Department, four each of  Transport and Irrigation Departments, three each of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, HUDA and Agriculture Departments, two each of Panchayati Raj, Labour, Wakf Board, Treasury, Excise and Taxation and Industries Departments and one each of Food and Civil Supplies, Social Justice and Empowerment, Sports and Youth Affairs, Development and Panchayat and Administration of Justice.