THRISSUR: An Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid occurred at the Paliekkara toll plaza. The investigation was prompted by complaints of financial fraud. Seven ED officials arrived at the toll plaza office at around 10 am today. Complaints alleged financial irregularities in certain transactions related to road construction at the Paliekkara toll plaza. The complaint suggested that illegal transactions totaling over one crore rupees were linked to the construction of service roads along the national highway and advertisement boards. A CBI case has also been filed in connection with the complaint. During the raid, ED officials confiscated the phones of the toll plaza employees. Approximately 50 employees were present in the office at that time. Notably, the ED did not issue any prior notice about the inspection. Employees were neither questioned nor allowed to use their phones; instead, the officials examined the office's documents. Guruvayur Infrastructure Limited is the contracted company responsible for the toll plaza. They also hold the toll collection contract, which spans five years. The National Highways Authority initiated toll collection at Paliekkara on February 9, 2012. The construction cost for the 62 km four-lane road was initially estimated at Rs 721 crore. As of May 2023, over 1000 crores in tolls have been collected.