Thiruvananthapuram: A corporation official was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 35,000 by the Vigilance court in Thiruvananthapuram for accepting a bribe to renew a restaurant licence.
Details of the Conviction
The convict was identified as T Mahesh, a resident of Venganoor. Following the sentencing, he was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Central Jail. Mahesh was serving as the in-charge of the Vizhinjam zonal office under the Thiruvananthapuram corporation when he was caught in a vigilance trap in 2020.
Background of the Case
According to the prosecution, a restaurant owner from Kottarakkara applied for renewal of his establishment's licence for a restaurant operating at Kovalam. However, Mahesh allegedly harassed the applicant, claiming that old records related to the establishment were missing from the office. He then demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 to settle the documentation issues and process the licence.
Vigilance Trap
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, which laid a trap. Mahesh was caught red-handed while accepting the money.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by former deputy superintendents V Anil and C S Vinod of the vigilance's southern range. Public prosecutor Veena Satheesan appeared for the prosecution.
