Crime Branch yet to get pay panel benefits

KOCHI: The Kochi Crime Branch (Economic Offences Wing) unit, which is investigating the money chain cases is in troubled waters as the officials have not been paid the benefits recommended by the Pay Commission last year. More than 480 money chain cases are being investigated by less than 15 officials and even after repeated requests their arrears have not been paid.According to the EOW officials, the civil police personnel are yet to get around `20,000. “All the officials in the Police Department and other Crime Branch units have been paid all the allowances recommended by the Pay Commission last year. But our arrears have been kept pending. A civil policeman has to get at least `18,000. We have  sent a request to the higher officials but there has not been any response yet,” a police official said. When ‘Express’ inquired about the issue, a higher official of the Crime Branch (EOW) said that a clerk who is handling the file related to the arrears had fallen sick and was on a long leave. Staff shortage is also a problem. “In the absence of the clerk, there is no one to release the funds to the officials. We have taken up the issue with the Crime Branch IG and the DGP. If  an order is not issued now, the officials will have to wait for a few more months to get their benefits,”  the official said.  “It is true that the department is facing severe staff shortage and every new money chain case is being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing. Denying the allowances will affect the morale of the officials who are investigating important cases,” a police official said.