Anti-corruption police conducted surprise raids on corporation and municipal offices across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, following complaints that bribery was rampant in routine civic services.
Allegations have long persisted that citizens are forced to pay bribes for services such as birth and death certificates, property tax-related work, and approvals for building and house construction.
According to officials, raids began around 3 pm at corporation offices in Chennai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Erode and Salem. Similar checks were also carried out at municipal offices in places including Pollachi and Kovilpatti.
In Chennai, teams inspected zonal offices at Anna Nagar, Teynampet, Perungudi, Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar, Royapuram, Tondiarpet and Kodambakkam. During the operation, doors were shut and staff were not allowed to leave while officers searched desks, seats, files and storage cupboards.
The teams reportedly seized unaccounted cash suspected to be bribe money and some key documents. The raids come after recent checks at Regional Transport Offices and Sub-Registrar offices, where Rs 65.56 lakh was recovered.
