PALAKKAD: The suspended village assistant Suresh Kumar, who had worked in many village offices in Mannarkkad area for two decades, collected bribes by traveling in an auto. An auto driver revealed that Suresh Kumar asked an amount of Rs 700 from the first house in Irumbakachola and then Rs 800 to 1000 from the houses he entered later.

Suresh Kumar have never asked anyone for a bribe over the phone. All his transactions were directly. The vigilance believe that this may be that no one could get evidence to implicate him. Similarly, Suresh Kumar was not in the habit of accepting money secretly, he used to accept them in front of shops and streets. This was so that no one would suspect what he is accepting is bribe. He demands bribe saying that if the matter has to be done, should give money to many including the village officer. However, the village officer said that he never knew about Suresh Kumar accepting bribe.

Meantime, the vigilance court has remanded him for 14 days. The vigilance department will seek his custody for further investigation. An application has been given. The case was considered by Thrissur Vigilance Court Special Judge G Anil.

The vigilance team produced the mainour including the money seized in the court. He was nabbed while accepting bribe of Rs 2500 from a native of Manjeri. An amount of more than a crore was seized in a raid conducted at his lodge room.