Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s anti-corruption drive deepened on Saturday after Chennai municipal authorities suspended seven officials and registered an FIR against them over alleged corruption in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

The action followed surprise inspections conducted by the GCC last week, during which officials allegedly found unaccounted cash and unexplained digital transactions.

India Today reported that the inspections were carried out in Zones 6 and 9 of the civic body, covering areas such as Kolathur, Ayanavaram, Perambur, Thousand Lights, Mylapore, and Nungambakkam.

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What did the surprise inspections uncover?

A senior GCC official said, “One assistant executive engineer was unable to explain GPay transactions amounting to Rs 2.39 lakh during the surprise inspection.”

The officials were suspended and booked under anti-corruption provisions after the corporation received a report from the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday.

The latest action comes days after six other GCC officials were suspended over allegations of bribery, fake billing, and a cash-for-jobs racket, indicating that the probe inside the civic body is widening rather than slowing down.

No gentle rap on the knuckles this time

GCC Commissioner Sameeran said the action was in line with Vijay’s stated policy of “zero tolerance towards corruption.”

The corporation is also considering removing the accused officials from service after inquiry if they are found guilty, rather than restricting punishment to suspension alone.

Several of the suspended officials had spent years in the civic body, with some having served for nearly two decades. That detail adds weight to the crackdown, suggesting the administration is not limiting itself to fresh appointments or low-level functionaries.

A wider sweep begins in earnest

The anti-corruption push has also gone beyond the civic body. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) recently expelled a panchayat leader after a purported video showed him allegedly accepting a bribe, even before an FIR was registered.

The party has also launched a WhatsApp helpline, managed by the DVAC, for citizens to submit complaints and evidence related to corruption in government offices.

With the GCC suspensions, the earlier action against six officials, and the new reporting channel, Vijay’s administration is signaling that corruption cases will be met with quick disciplinary and legal steps as the campaign expands across departments.

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FAQs

Q1: Why were seven Chennai Corporation officials suspended?

The officials were suspended after surprise inspections allegedly uncovered unaccounted cash, suspicious digital transactions and other suspected irregularities, prompting an FIR.

Q2: What is Vijay’s anti-corruption campaign in Tamil Nadu?

The campaign is the Tamil Nadu government’s zero-tolerance initiative against corruption, involving surprise inspections, disciplinary action and public complaint mechanisms.