A Statewide operation conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has exposed widespread corruption in forest range offices, uncovering evidence of officials collecting over ₹1.07 crore as bribes and kickbacks from contractors. The operation, code-named ‘Operation Vanaraksha’, was undertaken simultaneously in 71 forest range offices across Kerala on Saturday. Vigilance officers seized ₹8,500 from the table of an official at the Edavanna range forest office in Malappuram. The range forest officer was also found to have received ₹14,500 through UPI payment from contractors, while unaccounted money of ₹2,900 was found in Karulai range forest office. Found drunkIn Parottukonam forest range office in Thiruvananthapuram, a driver of the office was found on duty in a drunk state.