Karur: Sleuths from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) apprehended a Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in Karur on Tuesday for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 from a private bus owner. The bribe was demanded to reduce the tax assessment on an ageing bus.
Details of the Arrest
The accused, identified as Dharmanandham, was caught red-handed by DVAC officials after a complaint was lodged by Rajendran, a private bus operator from Pasupathipalayam. According to officials, Rajendran had approached the Karur RTO to remit taxes for one of his older buses. Dharmanandham, who was serving as the officer-in-charge at the time, allegedly demanded ₹5,000 to lower the tax assessment. Unwilling to comply with the illegal demand, Rajendran promptly alerted the DVAC.
How the Trap Was Laid
Acting swiftly on the complaint, a DVAC team devised a plan to catch the corrupt officer. The team instructed Rajendran to hand over chemical-laced currency notes to Dharmanandham. As soon as the accused accepted the money, he was taken into custody by the DVAC officials. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the DVAC to combat corruption in government departments. The use of chemical-laced notes is a common technique employed by anti-corruption agencies to gather evidence against bribe-takers.
Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against the accused as per the law. The case serves as a warning to other officials engaging in corrupt practices.
