Senior clerk of village office arrested for demanding bribe to cut teak

THRISSUR: A senior clerk of the village office was arrested while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 initially and later Rs 10,000 to cut a teak tree. The vigilance team led by DySP Jim Toms arrested Chandran of Veloor, senior clerk and village officer in charge of Kottappuram Chittanda Village Office.

Kottappuram Chittand village officer was on leave for departmental training. Chandran was in charge of the post. The village officer was to resume office today. So Chandran planned to sign the document sanctioning permission to cut the tree in the morning itself.

Kamaruddin applied for permission to cut the tree worth Rs 55,000. When approached Chandran initially, he demanded only Rs 2000. Kamaruddin approached the vigilance when Chandran hiked the amount to Rs 10,000. Chandran came to the village office in his own Qualis car. He accepted the bribe money with gloves worn hand. However, as the vigilance team was stationed nearby, he was caught red-handed.

Kamaruddin handed over Rs 10,000 notes smeared with some powder to Chandran. A chemical test proved bribery and he was arrested immediately.