Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Bank on Thursday said the tender process for installing CCTV cameras and burglar alarms at its branches was conducted transparently through the govt-controlled e-tender portal and in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures.In a statement issued by Kerala Bank president P Mohanan and chief executive officer Jorty M Chacko, the bank said it had decided to install CCTV cameras and burglar alarms at branches without such security systems following strict directives from the Reserve Bank of India, Nabard, the registrar of cooperative societies and the state police to strengthen security arrangements at bank branches.The bank said its technical committee conducted a study following which quotations were invited through the govt-controlled e-tender portal after following all prescribed procedures. The bank acknowledged that only one firm had participated in the first tender. However, it said more than one firm participated in the subsequent re-tender.The bank said the tender was then finalised after negotiating with the firms that had quoted the lowest rates. According to the bank, the rates obtained through the re-tender were lower than those quoted in the first tender, thereby protecting the bank’s interests.The bank’s board decided to proceed with the installation of CCTV cameras and burglar alarms through the firms that quoted the lowest rates, subject to compliance with the existing rules and conditions and the approval of the registrar of cooperative societies, it said.The statement came a day after the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau conducted a surprise check at the Kerala Bank headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with alleged irregularities in the CCTV tender process.The VACB special investigation unit-II conducted the check based on source information and is examining the tender process and the circumstances in which the contract was finalised. Kerala Bank said it would fully cooperate with the vigilance probe.
