Thiruvananthapuram: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption chief Vinson M Paul said in a statement here on Thursday that he was only guided by “the strict legal limits and constraints” in the bar case probe and had not exerted any pressure nor was aware of any extraneous pressure on the probe officer.
“I have not given an opportunity to bring pressure or interference from any quarter on the bar case probe. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had provided all help to the officer to conduct an independent and impartial probe.
“On the basis of SC judgment and the law, I considered the report submitted by the probe officer after his comprehensive investigation and further reports submitted by the legal wing and the Vigilance ADGP in compliance with the Vigilance law.
“I asked the probe officer to submit his final report to the court after directing him to consider the factual and legal inaccuracies in the probe and on the basis of his own admission that he had not been able to find proof of components integral to legal sustainability of a corruption case.
“The CrPC enjoins on the superior officer the responsibility to issue such directions. Neither any Vigilance officer nor I had instructed the probe officer to file the report in a particular manner to the court.
“I had pointed out the factual errors and legal inadequacies in the report after taking all legal precautions. The probe officer submitted the final report to the court after considering my opinion on facts and legal issues and based on his own conviction of facts.
“During the last 32 years in Kerala police, I have never done anything illegal or that I was not personally convinced of for the sake prestige or to win applause. I have always sincerely strived not to let my personal beliefs and opinions to influence the nature of my investigations and the discharge of duties.
“I can say loud enough though with humility and self-confidence that the thought of encomiums or allegations have not been allowed to affect the truth of case investigation. I have never taken seriously either approbation or the disapproval of the outcome of actions, undertaken with honesty and self-confidence.
“There have been baseless references from several quarters to tarnish me for having discharged my official duties and responsibilities with the best of intentions and confidence in the bar case probe.
“I have only pointed out legal and factual issues, without looking at the stature of the accused or social repercussions and confining myself to legal framework and pointing out the factual and legal issues to be followed by the probe officer.
“In the bar probe case, I was guided by strict legal limits and constraints. My firm belief is the legal soundness of actions would be established when the court assesses the facts, whatever be the delay.
“The order for a re-probe into the bar case does not affect me personally or officially but I see this in the context of the criticism in the court order. Allegations questioned my credibility as the Vigilance chief.
“I believe people’s faith is also import along with truth and justice. I am particular that the criticism against me, Vinson M Paul, should not affect the image of the great institution of Vigilance and Anticorruption Bureau.
“It is not morally correct that I continue to head Vigilance while a re-probe is held in the bar case and lest it should give rise to any further doubts. I step down to ensure that nothing dents the transparency and fair name of the Vigilance establishment”.
