Crackdown on Corruption: 24 Officials Arrested in Tamil Nadu

Major Anti-Corruption Operation in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, August 4 - The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has apprehended 24 government officials during a targeted operation conducted throughout the state in July. This initiative uncovered over ₹1.3 crore in unaccounted cash and questionable digital transactions, according to officials.

As per an official statement, the anti-corruption agency arrested officials caught red-handed for soliciting and accepting bribes ranging from ₹500 to ₹1 lakh for facilitating government services between July 1 and July 31. Among those detained were a joint commissioner from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, a tehsildar, an assistant engineer (electricity), a village administrative officer (VAO), and various officials from the police, revenue, and local administration departments.

The DVAC, in collaboration with district inspection teams, conducted surprise raids at 13 government offices in Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur, Theni, Kanyakumari, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Ranipet, Chennai, and Karur, seizing ₹13,39,080 in unaccounted cash.

Additionally, inspections at six vehicle checkpoints along the state borders yielded ₹9,87,890 in extra cash. A significant search operation across tehsildar offices statewide on July 17 resulted in the confiscation of ₹13,88,750 in cash. During this operation, officials also identified ₹94,69,887 in suspicious digital transactions made through the online payment platform 'G-Pay'.

In total, suspicious transactions amounting to ₹1,08,58,637 were detected in just one day. On the judicial front, special courts convicted five individuals in four corruption cases during July. Special courts established for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with the sessions courts in Tiruvallur and Ranipet, sentenced a tehsildar, the tehsildar's driver, a headmistress, and a police sub-inspector to imprisonment ranging from two to four years.

The courts also imposed fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹50,000 on the convicted individuals.