20,000 rupees and scotch for building permit: panchayat engineer caught by vigilance

Assistant Engineer who demanded a bribe of Rs. 20,000 and scotch to grant a permit for a six-storey building which is part of a children's sports park constructed by a non-resident businessman at a cost of Rs. 14 crores has been caught by the vigilance department. Manjoor panchayat assistant engineer ET Ajit Kumar (38) from Irumbayam Vaikom was the one who got arrested. The application was submitted in 2020 but the permit was not received. When approached in person on the 23rd, he was told that there were some 'things' to get the permit. The businessman who had given 5000 rupees to the assistant engineer was informed that it is less than what was expected. The businessman agreed to pay whatever was required. When the assistant engineer was contacted on phone yesterday morning, he asked for Rs 20,000 and a bottle of scotch for file approval and sending it to the secretary. After that, a complaint was given to vigilance SP VG Vinodkumar.

Assistant engineer was caught with a liquor bottle and currency notes smeared with phenolphthalein by vigilance who was waiting outside while the businessman was handing over the money. The bottle was not received as it was said that the bottle should be delivered after office hours. After recording the arrest of AE, the panchayat secretary checked the documents and issued the permit as per Vigilance instructions.