Vigilance raids sub-registrar offices in Thiruvananthapuram, seizes ₹44,000

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) seized ₹44,000 in unaccounted cash during simultaneous surprise inspections at six sub-registrar offices in Thiruvananthapuram district on Wednesday.

The inspections were carried out at the Pattom, Chala, Thiruvallam, Sasthamangalam, Kazhakuttam and Nemom sub-registrar offices as part of 'Project Zero', an initiative aimed at achieving a corruption-free Kerala. The operation is intended to detect and prevent corruption and irregularities in the service systems of government offices.

The inspections followed information that officials were accepting bribes through document writers for various services.

At the Chala Sub-Registrar Office, ₹35,310 was found concealed inside registers in the record room. A further ₹5,000 was seized from a vendor who could not clearly explain the purpose of the money. Vigilance suspects the amount may have been intended for payment to officials.

At the Sasthamangalam Sub-Registrar Office, unaccounted cash of ₹3,130 was recovered from the record room, while ₹700 was seized from the record room of the Pattom Sub-Registrar Office.

Vigilance director Manoj Abraham said the public can pass on information about corruption through the department's toll-free numbers 1064 and 8592900900, or via WhatsApp at 9447789100.