Civic body official held for taking bribe in Kovai

According to police, Kumar (32), a resident of Nallampalayam near Ganapathy, had built a new house in the same neighbourhood. He approached the Coimbatore North corporation office three months ago seeking a new tax book. Despite multiple visits, the officials delayed providing the book to him citing the model code of conduct, which was in force due to the Lok Sabha polls.

Following this, Kumar raised the issue with Assistant Commissioner Ravi Kumar (57). However, the senior official demanded Rs 15,000 as bribe to issue the property tax book. When Kumar claimed that he did not have the money, another person identified as Balakrishnan (59) intervened and brokered the deal at Rs 12,000.

Kumar, who changed his mind on paying the bribe, then alerted the DVAC sleuths. As advised by the latter, Kumar decided to give chemical-laced notes to Ravi Kumar on Monday. Acting as per the assistant commissioner’s advice, Kumar handed over the money to Balakrishnan.

The DVAC sleuths, who were in hiding, caught Balakrishnan red-handed. He confessed to have received the money on the instructions of Ravi Kumar. Subsequently, the vigilance cops arrested both him and the senior corporation official. A search was carried out in the houses of both the persons. After police interrogations, both were produced in a local court and later lodged at the Coimbatore central prison.