Mylapore tahsildar seeks Rs 25k for legal heir certificate, arrested

The sleuths from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested the official, identified as Subramani, while collecting Rs 10,000 as bribe for issuing the certificate.

Subramani was arrested from his office on Greenways Road on Tuesday afternoon while accepting the first instalment of the Rs 25,000 that he sought for issuing the legal heirship certificate.

According to the DVAC sources, the complainant, Ravichandran, had approached the government official to get a certificate for his sister. When the tahsildar sought Rs 25,000 as bribe, he approached the DVAC after which the sleuths laid the trap. They asked Ravichandran to pay Rs 10,000 as the first instalment. As he collected the money at his office, DVAC officers caught Subramani red-handed, sources said.

Meanwhile, the anti-corruption branch of the CBI has started a probe into the alleged receipt of bribe of Rs 40,000 by Customs appraiser to clear two containers of polyester rolls imported from China.

The CBI has registered a case against appraiser Munusamy at Customs House and his agent Vinoth for criminal conspiracy, and demand and acceptance of undue advantage by public servant under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI FIR noted that Madhukumar, who is running a firm named UBM Shipping for clearance of import of goods, had engaged a Customs House agent for clearing a consignment from Chennai Port. On November 11 and 12, his employees CHA Manivannan and Jagadeesh approached Munusamy, who allegedly demanded Rs 80,000 as bribe to clear the goods. It was later reduced to Rs 50,000.

As the client insisted clearing of goods immediately fearing demurrage and detention charge, Madhukumar asked Manivannan to give Rs 40,000 to Munusamy on November 12 night. The official directed him to hand it over to one Vinoth.

But after receiving the amount, Vinoth kept calling Madhukumar’s staff asking them to pay Rs 40,000 more, threatening that their business would get affected if it was not paid. The CBI received a complaint on Monday and registered the FIR.