Patna, Jan. 19: The Bihar government has decided to create a separate cadre for the special vigilance unit to tide over its manpower crisis.

Vigilance department principal secretary Ashok Kumar Chauhan said: “We have started the process of creating a separate cadre for the special vigilance unit, carved out to take action against the gazetted employees involved in corrupt practices.”

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had constituted the unit in 2006. Its assignment is to net corrupt big fishes.

Chauhan said the decision to create a new cadre had been taken in the wake of shortage of retired CBI officers, who were supposed to be employed on contract for carrying out investigation in disproportionate assets cases.

“Though some former CBI officers have shown their interest, the number is far less than required,” he said.

According to sources, the state government would appoint officers for the special vigilance unit. Later, CBI officials would train the recruited officials.

“The posts will be advertised and appointments made on the pattern of the recruitment of the police personnel in the state,” the principal secretary said.

The special vigilance unit has registered six cases of disproportionate assets since its inception and submitted chargesheet in most of the cases. Additional director-general of police Abhay Kumar Upadhyay heads it. Recently, some officers were posted with the unit to expedite the investigation.

Sources said the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, which is headed by additional director-general of police P.K. Thakur, lodged 394 trap cases since 2006. As many as 458 public servants have been booked on corruption charges.

In 2011, total 74 trap cases were registered. Till date (2012) three cases, including two against gazetted employees, have been lodged at the vigilance police station.

The highest amount demanded as bribe by any public servant was reported in 2011. Then district manager of state food corporation Manoj Kumar was arrested. Posted in Vaishali, Kumar had demanded Rs 1.5 lakh as bribe.

In 2011, 17 public servants were convicted in 11 trap cases, the sources said.

Total 43 complaints under Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009 have been lodged and unaccounted wealth worth Rs 35 crore was confiscated on the order of the vigilance court. So far, confiscation of disproportionate assets has been ordered in four cases.