Thrissur: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) raided the Thrissur Excise Circle office on Tuesday and seized Rs 74,000 in cash and 12 bottles of illegally stored liquor.

According to VACB officials, Rs 42,000 was recovered from the jeep of Thrissur Range Circle Inspector Ashok Kumar, while Rs 32,000 was seized from the office premises. Additionally, 12 liquor bottles were found in the officials' jeep, which was parked within the station compound.

The raid was conducted following confidential information suggesting that money and other perks were being distributed to excise officials as part of Christmas celebrations, the vigilance team stated. Along with the cash and liquor, three cakes, suspected to have been received as part of a bribe, were also seized.

The VACB had been monitoring the excise office and its premises since Tuesday noon. The Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Jim Paul and his team launched the raid around 5 pm.