Kochi Corporation official suspended for accepting bribe of Rs 15,000

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation has suspended the official who was arrested while accepting a bribe on the middle of a road for a building permit. The corporation took action against building inspector A Swapna. She was arrested on the complaint of a native of Ernakulam. There are many corruption cases against her. The vigilance had received information that the official was accepting bribes widely. The list prepared by the vigilance also includes other officials from the corporation's zonal office in Vyttila.

The complainant had come to the corporation for a permit to construct a five-storied building within the corporation limits. In the meanwhile, Swapna, a building inspector, demanded bribe. The complainant then met the Ernakulam Vigilance Central Unit SP in person and filed a complaint. On the instructions of the vigilance, the complainant reached Vyttila with money. At this time, Swapna was waiting in her own car to accept the bribe. The vigilance team surrounded the official while she was receiving the money and arrested her.

Swapna, who was in Thrissur, was transferred to Kochi Corporation in 2023. Swapna, who was in the post of first grade overseer, was also given the charge of building inspector. It is also claimed that the Kochi Corporation does not have much control over these officials, which hinders them from taking action even if complaints are raised. If action is to be taken, the corporation should inform the local government department and they have to decide. Following Swapna's arrest, the vigilance is conducting extensive inspections.