Bribe for land mutation: Village officer caught by Vigilance

KOLLAM: Puthoor Village Officer Abhilash Anand, a native of Kadakkode in Kollam, was caught by the Vigilance while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for land mutation. The bribe was allegedly demanded to mutate 52 cents of land owned in the names of the complainant’s parents to the names of the complainant and his siblings.

The complainant, a native of Puthoor, had arrived in a car a few days ago and taken the village officer to inspect the property. While returning, the officer allegedly demanded Rs 5,000 as a bribe. The complainant informed Kollam Vigilance DySP S.S. Baiju about this. Yesterday at around 10.15 am, Abhilash Anand was caught while accepting Rs 5,000 from the complainant near Puthoor Mandapam Junction.

Vigilance CIs S. Jayakumar, Justin John and V. Joshi, along with ASIs Rasheed, Devapal, Shibu, Gopakumar and Ajayan, were part of the team. The accused has been remanded by the court.