Anti-corruption drive ‘Project Zero’ launched in Kerala.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala with state MLA V. Muraleedharan and actor Nivin Pauly (right) during the launch of the ‘Zero-Vigilance Whistle Project’, a nationwide anti-corruption campaign, in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credit:-

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who launched ‘Project Zero’, an anti-corruption initiative of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) at Loyola School here on Wednesday, said the project aims to catch not only those who take bribes but also those who give bribes. He said the government will re-examine files where bribes are found to have been paid. According to him, illegal orders obtained by bribes will be withdrawn.

He expressed the hope that Operation Zero would also gain widespread public support, as would the anti-narcotics unit Operation Toofan. “Corruption does not only mean accepting bribes but also delaying decisions on various files. Government officials should try to dispose of files as soon as possible. Public services should not be considered as generous acts of the government but as a rightful claim of the people. VACB has prepared Operation Zero with a grand plan with the sole objective of rooting out corruption from Kerala.” Mr. Chennithala.

He said the government has taken an initiative to revise the Vigilance manual after 30 years. As part of this, the practice of treating the Vigilance department as a dumping ground will end. The recent vigilance checks in local bodies that yielded ₹50 crore in unaccounted cash have a lot of public support, he said.

Actor Nivin Pauly, who made an anti-corruption pledge to the students, said Operation Zero was the kind of movement he had been waiting for. “A situation where people lose opportunities even though they study well because others get them with money and power can also be seen as corruption. It will create a feeling that there is no incentive to work hard for something honestly. This movement will hopefully help change that perception,” he said.

Published – 29 Jul 2026 20:19 IST