Bribery: Panchayat head clerk arrested

KONDOTTY: Pulikkal panchayat head clerk Subhash Kumar, who demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to settle the fine for a house that was completed without obtaining a permit from the panchayat, was arrested by the Vigilance.

The panchayat authorities had imposed a fine of Rs 52,000 on Kondotty native Mufeed for completing the construction of his house without obtaining a building permit. When the complainant, who is an NRI, approached the head clerk to settle the fine quickly as he had to go back after his leave, the head clerk demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000. Following this, Mufeed lodged a complaint with the Malappuram Vigilance. Subhash Kumar was arrested while Mufeed was handing him over the money given by the Vigilance. Subhash Kumar, who was earlier the panchayat assistant secretary, was demoted to head clerk after he was involved in another case.