KOCHI: In the wake of the suicide by a farmer in front of a village office in Kozhikode, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) conducted raids at various village offices across Ernakulam district.
During the raids, VACB sleuths recovered unaccounted cash worth ₹15,000 from the village office at Maradu. The amount was found in the drawer of an official. A report in this regard will be submitted to the VACB Director, and action will be initiated against errant officials based on the Director’s recommendations, officials said.
Similarly, an inspection conducted at another village office near Aluva pointed to considerable delay on the part of officials in clearing applications. Officials are examining if the delay was deliberate to demand bribe from applicants.
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It was also found that officials had been sitting on a large number of applications without making entries in registers at most village offices.
The raids followed a directive from the VACB Directorate to its offices at the range and district levels. Based on the inspections, reports will be submitted to the headquarters.