Demanded Rs 3 per flowerpot; Chairman of Pottery Manufacturing, Marketing and Welfare Development Corporation removed from post after being arrested by Vigilance

THRISSUR: CITU leader KN Kuttamani has been removed from the post of Chairman of the Pottery Manufacturing, Marketing and Welfare Development Corporation after being arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 at a rate of Rs 3 per flowerpot. The action was taken on the direction of Minister OR Kelu. Kuttamani is a member of the CITU state committee and the general secretary of the Clay Pottery Workers Union (CITU). The minister also instructed the Scheduled Tribes Development Department Secretary to investigate the incident and submit a report.

The Vigilance arrested Kuttamani on Wednesday at the Indian Coffee House near Thrissur North Stand, following a complaint from a Kozhikode native. The bribe was linked to a contract given to a pottery unit in Paliakkara, Thrissur, for supplying 5,372 flowerpots to Valanchery Municipality.

On September 21, Kuttamani allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 over the phone. Later, he said that Rs 20,000 via Google Pay would be enough, and insisted on an additional Rs 3 per pot. He reportedly assured that bills would be cleared quickly. Following this, the complainant informed the Vigilance DySP. Kuttamani was caught red-handed while accepting the first instalment of Rs 10,000 in cash. He was produced before the court and remanded.