COIMBATORE: The sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Friday arrested Coimbatore North tahsildar K Gokilamani, 51, while taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a man for issuing solvency certificate.
According to sources, M Chinnaraj, 61, has been functioning as a vice-president of Naickenpalayam village panchayat. He is a member of state general body of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. He is also an RTI activist.
“The Periyanaickenpalayam town panchayat authorities were planning to auction shops at Indira Gandhi commercial complex at Periyanaickenpalayam on January 20, 2022. So, I had planned to participate in the auction and decided to get a solvency certificate for Rs 5 lakh from the revenue department. I applied for the solvency certificate online on January 2. The village administrative officer (VAO) and the revenue inspector (RI) inspected my properties and documents thoroughly and cleared my application on January 13. They mentioned that a solvency certificate for Rs 15 lakh can be given to me,” said Chinnaraj.
After the Pongal holidays, Chinnaraj visited the Coimbatore North Taluk office to get the solvency certificate. He was asked to pay Rs 6,000 to issue the certificate. He paid the amount to the government. But he was not given the certificate. Other revenue department officials asked him to approach tahsildar Gokilamani to get the certificate. Meanwhile Periyanaickenpalayam town panchayat authorities postponed the auction of the shops.
“I approached the Gokilamani. She demanded Rs 25,000 in cash as a bribe to issue the solvency certificate. I am against bribe and corruption. So, I approached DVAC officials who laid a trap,” said Chinnaraj.
He visited the Coimbatore North Taluk office on Friday afternoon and met the tahsildar Gokilamani. He handed over Rs 25,000 in cash, laced with phenolphthalein powder, to her. The tahildar received the bribe, and Chinnaraj alerted the DVAC officials who rushed to her chamber and caught her red-handed while accepting the bribe. The officials seized the amount from her. A phenolphthalein test was conducted, and it was positive.
She would be produced before the special court for the DVAC court.
According to sources, M Chinnaraj, 61, has been functioning as a vice-president of Naickenpalayam village panchayat. He is a member of state general body of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. He is also an RTI activist.
“The Periyanaickenpalayam town panchayat authorities were planning to auction shops at Indira Gandhi commercial complex at Periyanaickenpalayam on January 20, 2022. So, I had planned to participate in the auction and decided to get a solvency certificate for Rs 5 lakh from the revenue department. I applied for the solvency certificate online on January 2. The village administrative officer (VAO) and the revenue inspector (RI) inspected my properties and documents thoroughly and cleared my application on January 13. They mentioned that a solvency certificate for Rs 15 lakh can be given to me,” said Chinnaraj.
After the Pongal holidays, Chinnaraj visited the Coimbatore North Taluk office to get the solvency certificate. He was asked to pay Rs 6,000 to issue the certificate. He paid the amount to the government. But he was not given the certificate. Other revenue department officials asked him to approach tahsildar Gokilamani to get the certificate. Meanwhile Periyanaickenpalayam town panchayat authorities postponed the auction of the shops.
“I approached the Gokilamani. She demanded Rs 25,000 in cash as a bribe to issue the solvency certificate. I am against bribe and corruption. So, I approached DVAC officials who laid a trap,” said Chinnaraj.
He visited the Coimbatore North Taluk office on Friday afternoon and met the tahsildar Gokilamani. He handed over Rs 25,000 in cash, laced with phenolphthalein powder, to her. The tahildar received the bribe, and Chinnaraj alerted the DVAC officials who rushed to her chamber and caught her red-handed while accepting the bribe. The officials seized the amount from her. A phenolphthalein test was conducted, and it was positive.
She would be produced before the special court for the DVAC court.
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