CHENNAI: Five high-value foreign liquor bottles allegedly gifted by contractors were seized from the office of a Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) executive engineer, while unaccounted cash concealed inside a printer and unexplained digital transactions were revealed during a Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) surprise inspection conducted in the first week of July.
The joint surprise check at the GCC Zone 6 office in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar was carried out by DVAC sleuths as part of an anti-corruption drive across the state.
Officials said five liquor bottles, valued at an estimated Rs 32,000, were found in the office and anteroom of executive engineer R Saravanan. The opened and partially consumed bottles included premium liquor brands, including Grant's Scotch, Johnnie Walker and Remy Martin, among others.
During questioning, Saravanan reportedly told investigators that contractors had gifted him the bottles. As the explanation indicated receipt of an undue advantage, the bottles were seized for investigation.
Searches at the Revenue Section also led to the recovery of Rs 6,990 from the work area of junior assistant M Manikandan, including Rs 4,490 concealed inside a printer and Rs 2,500 kept in a drawer. Investigators said he failed to explain the source or purpose of the cash satisfactorily. His GPay records also allegedly revealed unexplained transactions worth Rs 27,500 during June.
DVAC officials further seized Rs 12,600 from Zonal Health Officer Dr S Mohanasundaram, Rs 7,000 from tax collector R Ramya, Rs 12,000 from a tax consultant who was present at the office, and Rs 3,200 from assistant engineer T Saraswathi after discrepancies emerged during questioning.
The inspection also uncovered unexplained bank and digital transactions involving several officials, including cash deposits of about Rs 10.61 lakh in Saravanan's bank account. Documents relating to jewellery purchases, savings schemes and financial records were also seized.
Overall, unaccounted cash totalling Rs 41,790 and several documents were seized. The unexplained financial transactions and other materials recovered during the inspection have been taken up for further investigation by the DVAC.
In the last one week, the GCC has suspended at least 14 officials, including executive engineer R Saravanan, assistant executive engineer Ravivarman, assistant engineer T Saraswathi, junior assistant Manikandan, superintendent accountant A Sriramalu, sanitary officer A Manjith, conservancy inspector R Kothandan, zonal health officer Dr Devika of Manali, senior entomologist in the office of the regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) Siva Porkodi, assistant executive engineer of Madhavaram zone Anandarao, road worker from Kodambakkam zone Baskar, bill checker Durga and NULM worker Kanna.