COIMBATORE: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) sleuths arrested a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) on Wednesday for demanding and receiving Rs 2,000 as a bribe to facilitate the issuance of a death certificate.

According to police, G Balaji (45), an actor in television serials from Vidyanagar in Salem, had applied for a death certificate for his aunt and sister at the Salem Corporation office a few months ago.

As the application was pending verification at the Periyeri Village Administrative Office, Balaji approached VAO Rajasekar to inquire about its status.

The VAO had allegedly demanded Rs 2,000 as a bribe to forward the application to the Revenue Inspector for further processing. Unwilling to pay a bribe, Balaji complained to DVAC sleuths, who laid a trap by asking him to give chemical-laced notes.

When the VAO received money, a team of DVAC sleuths, waiting in hiding, caught him red-handed. Further investigations are ongoing.