Vigilance detects irregularities in Kasaragod port office

Four alleged irregularities including unauthorized appointment, diversion of sand permits, use of ships with expired sand mining licenses and irregularities in financial records were found during the Vigilance inspection at Kasaragod Port Office.

The Vigilance team has found that since 2017, employees have been appointed on a daily wage basis without government regulations or approval from competent authorities. Such employees were deployed to work on the river ghats and also in the Port Authority. The team examined documents related to these appointments.

The inspection also revealed that sand was being allocated to individuals under planning permission without the knowledge or consent of the actual owners. Permits issued in the name of the owners of the objects were allegedly used by other persons to obtain sand.

Another discrepancy related to licenses for ships used for sand mining at authorized ghats. The team found that the licenses of ships currently used for sand mining had expired on 31 August 2026. The circumstances under which ships with expired licenses continued to be used for this activity were investigated.

The fourth irregularity concerned irregularities in the office’s cash book. The cash book was only updated up to 14 August 2026, with financial transactions for almost three subsequent months remaining unrecorded.

Vigilance authorities are examining the findings and the documents collected to initiate further action.

Published – 13 Nov 2026 21:50 IST