Bribe transactions via Google Pay in RTO offices; Operation Clean Wheels uncovers corruption worth lakhs

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has uncovered illegal financial transactions involving 21 officials in various Regional Transport Offices(RTO) across Kerala. The bribes were reportedly received via Google Pay from middlemen and agents.

The operation, codenamed Operation Clean Wheels, was launched on Saturday at 4:30 pm on the directive of Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham. Raids were conducted simultaneously at 81 RT offices across the state and continued into Sunday morning.

According to Vigilance sources, digital evidence including Google Pay transaction screenshots, accessed by Mathrubhumi News, revealed that officials had received bribes amounting to Rs 7,84,598. In addition, cash worth Rs 1,40,000 was seized from various agents during the inspections.

Officials said the total value of the bribes is likely to rise as investigations progress. The findings mark a significant development in the ongoing efforts to curb corruption within the state’s transport department.