KOTTAYAM: Pollution Control Board District Officer AM Harris, who was arrested while accepting a bribe, has been suspended. The order was issued by the chairman of the Pollution Control Board. A vigilance investigation is underway against Harris and senior engineer J Josmon for illegal acquisition of property. Rs 1.5 lakh was seized from Josmon's house.

Harris accepted the bribe from Pala native Jobin Sebastian, owner of PJ Trade. The neighbour had lodged a complaint with the Pollution Control Board against the establishment for noise pollution. Officials who came to inspect the complaint found that the complaint was not valid. However, they refused to renew the license.

Harris then demanded Rs 25,000 from Jobin to renew his license. Following this, Jobin lodged a complaint against Harris with Vigilance SP VG Vinod Kumar.