Across Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption conducted raids at 43 local body offices on Friday. During the raids, Rs. 8.21 lakh in unaccounted cash was seized.
In addition, it was found that unaccounted transactions worth Rs. 1.50 crore had taken place through a UPI app, and steps were taken to seize it.
Across Tamil Nadu, there are 21 municipal corporations, 138 municipalities, 490 town panchayats, 36 district panchayat bodies, 388 panchayat unions, and 12,525 village panchayats.
Complaints had been arising that in some offices, bribes were being taken in large amounts for various services. In particular, allegations were made that large bribes were being collected for building plan approvals, property tax name transfers, tax assessment changes, drinking water and underground sewerage connections, issuance and renewal of trade licenses, issuance of birth and death certificates, corrections in birth and death records, actions related to encroachments, approval of receipts for government contract works, contracts for development works including roads, drains and streetlights, approval of beneficiaries for government housing schemes, self-help group schemes, village panchayat administrative approvals, and inclusion of names in government welfare schemes.
Director of the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Prem Anand Sinha, ordered raids to be conducted at offices of local bodies that are most often caught in bribery complaints, as well as offices where large sums of money are handled.
Raids at 43 locations: Based on this order, officials from the department conducted simultaneous raids at local body offices on Friday. The raids were carried out at 7 places, including the Chennai Corporation’s Valasaravakkam zonal office, the Adyar zonal office, the Panchayat Assistant Director’s office at Panagal Maligai in Saidapet, and the Panchayat Union office in Chitlapakkam near Tambaram. Similarly, raids were conducted at a total of 43 locations across the state.
After the lunch hour, anti-corruption department officials conducted raids by suddenly going to local government offices. The police did not allow any of the employees there to leave until the search was completed.
Rs. 1.50 crore transfer: During the search, Rs. 8,21,750 in unaccounted cash was seized. It was also found that an unaccounted transfer of Rs. 1.50 crore had taken place through mobile phones. Following this, anti-corruption department officials have also begun action to seize it.
Explanations and documents for the seized money will be sought. Based on them, action will be taken against those concerned, the anti-corruption department officials said.