PALAKKAD: Rs 16,450 taken as bribe at Govindapuram check post in two and a half hours. Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector P Suresh and Office Assistant Santosh were arrested. Vigilance team seized the bribe money hidden under the mat and behind the chair. Meanwhile, the government received Rs 12,900 as tax revenue in twenty-five hours. Vigilance conducted a lightning check at 1:40 am on Tuesday at the vehicle check post following a tip-off that cargo vehicles were being allowed to pass without inspection after taking bribes.

On the instructions of S Shamsuddin, Deputy Superintendent of Police Vigilance, a team led by Inspector SP Sujith came in the guise of lorry drivers and monitored the check post for three hours. The lightning investigation was conducted after finding out where the money was coming from and where it was hidden. When Vinu, who runs a tea shop next door, arrived with tea, the group saw AMVI handing over a bundle of notes to him. Later on inspection, it was found that it was Rs.5000. Rs 11,450 was found from various places inside the check post counter and from the underside of a cushioned chair lying unused next to the check post. A vigilance report will be issued against the officials.

A week ago, a raid was conducted at the check post of MVD in Walayar also. 13,000 rupees kept hidden tied to a magnet was seized from there.