THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have arrested three people, including the judge, following allegations of bribery at the ongoing Kerala University Youth Festival in the capital. The judge of Margamkali, Shaji (52) from Kannur Chovva, Jomet (33) from Kasaragod Parappa and C Sooraj (33) from Malappuram Tanur, who are dance instructors and mediators, were arrested by the Cantonment Police following a complaint by the university union. They will be released on bail. The police informed that the charge sheet will be submitted to the court after serving a notice to the accused as it is a crime punishable by less than seven years. Sonu Sreekumar (35), a resident of Kollam Chavara, who was with them, was found to have no involvement in this and was released. The accused have not disclosed the bribe amount.

Controversy was the outcome of Friday night's Margamkali competition at the University College Auditorium. Ivanios won first place in the 14-team competition. Sri Swathi Thirunal College Of Music got second place and University College got third place. The organizing committee conducted the inspection after the University College came forward accusing bribery in awarding the first place to Mar Ivanios college team that made a mistake in their performance during the competition. The subsequent Vattappattu competition and other competitions like Oppana, Mimicry, Mono Act and Mime scheduled to take place in the morning were called off.

Is the deal ok?

During the competitions, Jomet and Suraj made several missed calls to Shaji's mobile phone and sent messages through WhatsApp and SMS. The mobile phones of the judges were kept by the organizing committee members till the end of the competition. Organizers could not check the phone as it was under finger lock. Later, under the leadership of union chairman Vijay Vimal, Shaji's mobile phone was checked and WhatsApp messages with middlemen were found. They called back on those numbers and asked if "the deal was OK?" The reply was "OK". Jomet, Suraj and Sonu who called Shaji's mobile were called to the university college and interrogated by the organizers. The complaint was found to be valid and was reported to the police.