Mimicry artist Thaj Pathanamthitta held for bribery; vigilance catches Ayiroor Panchayat head clerk

PATHANAMTHITTA: A head clerk of Ayiroor panchayat was taken into custody by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Saturday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 from a trader in exchange for issuing a licence to a fish shop. The accused has been identified as K.A. Thajudeen (50), also known as Thaj Pathanamthitta, who is a mimicry artist.

A Vigilance team led by Kollam Deputy Superintendent of Police S.S. Baiju took him into custody near the Ayurveda hospital close to the panchayat office on Saturday evening. He had reportedly been under surveillance for the past few days following a complaint lodged by the trader. The Vigilance team intercepted him while he was travelling home from the office. Thajudeen will be produced before the Vigilance Court on Sunday.