Anti-corruption police in Salem district arrested village administrative officer (VAO) Pakkiyaraj for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 14,000 to facilitate a patta (land record) name transfer.
According to officials, the incident is linked to the Mettur taluk. The complainant, Ilangovan, who runs a petrol bunk in Kunjandiyur, alleged that the VAO demanded money to process the patta name change.
Unwilling to pay, Ilangovan approached the Salem anti-corruption police and lodged a complaint. Based on their instructions, he later handed over currency notes treated with chemical powder to the VAO.
The police, who were waiting nearby, caught Pakkiyaraj at the time of acceptance and arrested him. Further inquiry is under way.
