VACB nabs village assistant for accepting bribe of Rs 25,000 in Malappuram

Kottakkal (Malappuram): A village field assistant was arrested by state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Kerala (VACB) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a contractor here on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Chandran (49), a field assistant at the Edarikode village office in Kottakkal, Malappuram. 

The incident took place around 3 pm at the village office. A team led by Malappuram vigilance DySP Feroz M Shafeeq nabbed Chandran while accepting the bribe at the building premises.

The action was taken based on a complaint lodged by Marakkara native Mohammad Mustafa, who took a contract to level the land in front of a house in Swagathamadu. 

According to the complainant, Chandran, who arrived at the spot on February 21, halted the work and demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000. Chandran also refused to entertain Mustafa's request to reduce the amount.

Following this, Mustafa approached the VACD department and set a trap on the direction of vigilance officials to nab Chandran while accepting the bribe. The accused will be produced before the vigilance court in Malappuram on Sunday.