DVAC nabs TN Warehousing Corpn official

The arrested persons were identified as civil engineer Thenmozhi and her agent Gopalakrishnan, who is also a contractor. During the search, the sleuths also seized unaccounted cash of Rs 5.92 lakh from Gopalakrishnan, who is believed to be the official’s collection agent. It is not clear that the entire cash seized from Gopalakrishnan was just one day’s ‘collection’ of the official. It is possible that he could be functioning as agent for other officials as well, said DVAC sources.

According to DVAC sources, the civil contractor was trying for the past few days to get a bill of Rs 18 lakh, for the construction work he had carried out, passed. But his efforts did not meet with any success. “It looks like the official insisted that he first pay three per cent of the total bill as bribe and only then would she release the amount. She also directed him to hand over the cash to Gopalakrishnan, another contractor,” DVAC sources said.

But as he was not keen on paying the bribe, the contractor preferred a complaint with the DVAC. Based on the compliant, the team headed by SP Baskar laid a trap. When the cash was handed over to the suspects, the sleuths caught them. The chemical laced cash bundle was seized from the suspect as evidence. Both were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Searches would be carried out at their houses if needed.