Three receive bribe to sanction mortgage loan in Tirupur, held

COIMBATORE: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) sleuths on Friday arrested an official of the co-operative housing society and two others for accepting a bribe of Rs 55,000 to sanction a house mortgage loan.

Police said Loganathan (49) from Chamundipuram had approached the Anna Cooperative Housing Society at Ganga Nagar to obtain a loan of Rs 22 lakh by mortgaging his house.

The society’s secretary, Jothimani (52), demanded Rs 60,000 as a bribe and, after negotiation, agreed to reduce it by Rs 5,000. Police said Loganathan paid Rs 10,000 as the initial amount. After the loan was credited to his bank account, Jothimani, however, demanded the remaining amount.

Acting on a tip, the DVAC sleuths laid a trap and directed the complainant to give Rs 45,000 in cash laced with chemicals. On the instructions of Jothimani, Thirunavukkarasu (64), a broker and office assistant, Dakshan (21) took Loganathan to a tea shop and received the money.

A DVAC team then caught the duo, who confessed to having received the money on the directions of Jothimani. The police registered a case and arrested the trio. Further investigation is under way.