Tamil Nadu municipal raids across 40 municipal and corporation offices on September 22 led to the arrest of an engineer and a sanitation worker in Sivaganga district, while anti-corruption police reported the seizure of ₹1.73 crore in unaccounted cash and the detection of ₹1.60 crore allegedly received through Google Pay.
The raids were conducted by teams from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption following complaints concerning officials in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. The operation covered municipal offices across the state, along with corporation and revenue department offices, according to a statement released by the anti-corruption police.
The most detailed action took place at Manamadurai Municipality in Sivaganga district. An engineer, Patturajan, 52, allegedly demanded ₹4 lakh from a Ramanathapuram-based contractor for releasing bills related to road works valued at ₹4 crore. The engineer reportedly asked for ₹2 lakh as the first instalment.
The contractor informed the Sivaganga district anti-corruption police, who arranged a trap. A company employee was given ₹2 lakh coated with a chemical and sent to hand over the money at the municipal office. Police said the employee gave the cash to Patturajan, who then called a sanitation worker identified as Sethupathi and instructed him to place it in a vehicle.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Thangaraman, inspectors Kannan and Jesudas, Sub-Inspector Kokila and other personnel, who were waiting nearby, arrested both men, the report said. The police action followed allegations that municipal officials were seeking bribes in connection with civic works and payments to contractors.
The anti-corruption police said their statewide searches also uncovered suspected irregularities in the collection of parking fees at the Ramanathapuram bus stand. A two-wheeler parking receipt for ₹20 was allegedly found to be counterfeit. Officials seized 59 receipt books, each containing 100 receipts, along with ₹12,750 in unaccounted cash, according to the police statement.
The operation follows earlier searches conducted last month at 38 locations, including sub-registrar offices, regional transport offices and municipal offices. During those searches, police reportedly seized ₹1.18 lakh in unaccounted cash and detected suspicious Google Pay transactions amounting to ₹89.89 lakh allegedly received by government officials and employees. More than 20 people were booked in connection with those cases, and investigations are continuing.
The report also said that nine officials, including a regional transport officer, a block development officer, an assistant executive engineer, a junior engineer, a junior assistant, an assistant electrical engineer, an Electricity Board commercial inspector, a village administrative officer and an assistant, were arrested in August over bribery complaints.
The latest searches come amid continuing investigations into alleged tender irregularities in the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department during the previous government. Anti-corruption police had earlier searched 30 locations, including the residence of former minister K. N. Nehru, and seized 241 documents, which remain under examination, the report said.
The police have not announced a final finding in the cases arising from the latest searches. Investigations into the alleged bribe demand, the seized cash, digital payment records and the suspected parking receipts are continuing.
