Tiruppur district’s anti-corruption wing arrested a Deputy Block Development Officer (General) in Vellakovil for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 to process bill payments for contract works.
Police said the complainant, Ravichandran (46) from Sivagiri in Erode district, had taken up four works in the Vellakovil union area, including construction of a school kitchen, drilling a borewell and building a tank. After completing the works, he applied at the deputy BDO office seeking release of the bill amount, which remained pending for approval.
According to the complaint, Ravichandran approached the office again through his supervisor, Nandakumar. At that time, Deputy BDO Senthilkumar (43) allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 as illegal gratification to clear the payment.
Though the bill amount for the four works was later released, the demand for the bribe allegedly continued. Ravichandran then lodged a complaint with the Tiruppur District Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) police.
On August 4, acting on DVAC instructions, Nandakumar handed over the money to Senthilkumar at the Vellakovil BDO office. A team led by DSP Ravichandran, who was stationed nearby, caught the official red-handed and arrested him. Further inquiry is under way.
