A case has been registered against Ramakrishnan and other officials by the Madurai branch on allegations that he along with the regional director has been conducting a periodical inspection at various hotels to issue licence and star category classification. In the process, Ramakrishnan, conspired with hotel owners and obtained an undue advance.

CBI claimed that when the team intercepted, the accused was on his way to Palani near Madurai with the bribe money of Rs 7 lakh collected from various hoteliers for issuing favourable reports.

“Searches were conducted by the sleuths in around 15 places located in Patna, Chennai, Kochi, Ernakulam and Kollam which led to the recovery of Rs 31 lakh and incriminating documents,” CBI press note said.

Though the investigation agency has not named any other official in the initial FIR, raids were carried out in premises belonging even to senior officials, who were travelling in Kerala on Wednesday.