Overview
- The Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau carried out surprise inspections at 68 local self‑government offices, which the agency completed on Wednesday as part of 'Operation Parppidam'.
- VACB's initial review alleges about Rs 45 lakh was illegally received by officials from consultancies, engineers, contractors and agents through online transfers and UPI payments.
- Investigators identified large suspect credits including Rs 21.5 lakh paid into the Kunnamkulam municipality secretary's account and Rs 12.69 lakh linked to staff at the Fort Kochi zonal office.
- On‑site searches also recovered unaccounted cash from a surveyor and flagged repeated procedural breaches such as unlawful occupancy certificates, unauthorised regularisations and Coastal Regulation Zone violations.
- VACB says it will open detailed follow‑up probes and pursue legal action where warranted, a step that could lead to corruption charges, internal removals and tighter controls on how permits are processed.