Thiruvananthapuram | The Vigilance has seized unaccounted cash of Rs 44,140 during simultaneous surprise raids at six sub registrar offices in Thiruvananthapuram district, officials said on Thursday.

The raids were conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) at Pattom, Chala, Thiruvallam, Sasthamangalam, Kazhakkoottam and Nemom sub registrar offices at around 3.30 pm on Wednesday following information that officials were allegedly receiving bribes through document writers for various services, officials said.

The raids were conducted as part of "Project Zero", an initiative of the VACB aimed at preventing corruption and irregularities in government offices, on the instructions of Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham, officials said.

During the raid at Chala Sub Registrar Office, Rs 35,310 was found kept inside registers in the office record room and was seized, VACB said.

Another Rs 5,000 was seized from a vendor found in the office, who could not give a clear explanation about the money. Vigilance suspects that the amount might have been brought to be handed over to officials, they said.

The Vigilance team also seized Rs 3,130 in unaccounted cash from the record room of Sasthamangalam Sub Registrar Office and Rs 700 from the record room of Pattom Sub Registrar Office.

Further investigation is underway, officials said.