KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate has found that Thrissur Paliyekkara toll plaza operators have siphoned off Rs 126.58 crore from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Following this, ED has frozen the bank account of the Kolkata-based contract company.

The action is a continuation of the raid conducted by the ED on September 16 at the office of the toll contractor Guruvayoor Infrastructure Private Limited (GIPL) in Paliyekkara. It has been found that between 2006 and 2016 funds were siphoned off by not completing the contractual works prescribed by NHAI. Fake documents used for fraud were seized in the raid.

Irregularities such as collection of tolls before completion of proposed roads and taking money by placing advertisements on bus bays before completion of construction were also found.

Action may also be taken against NHAI officials who facilitated the scams. The CBI is also investigating the scam.