The investigation was launched by an 11‑member DVAC team, headed by Inspector D. Sheela, which began the surprise check at the municipal office at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday and continued through the early hours, concluding at 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
During the raid, officials’ offices, vehicles and mobile phones were searched. The team seized ₹1,38,900 in cash that was deemed unaccounted for and, after examining the phones, identified UPI transactions amounting to ₹5,72,399, bringing the total of suspected illicit money to roughly ₹7.11 lakh.
Of the 11 individuals booked, two are private citizens while the remaining nine are municipal employees, among them the commissioner, a senior DVAC officer confirmed.
All 11 persons have been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The filing of the FIR marks the formal commencement of legal proceedings, though the DVAC has not disclosed any further investigative actions or timelines for trial.
The case underscores the state’s ongoing anti‑corruption drive, signalling that municipal officials are subject to surprise inspections and strict scrutiny of both cash holdings and digital transactions.