In a significant anti-corruption operation, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) apprehended a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) in Trichy on Monday. The official was arrested for allegedly demanding a bribe of five thousand rupees from a daily wage worker in exchange for issuing a crucial succession certificate.
The Bribe Demand and the Complaint
The accused has been identified as P Prabhu, aged 42, who served as the VAO of Pachaperumalpatti north in the Uppiliyapuram block of Trichy district. The case originated from a complaint filed by Kanthasamy from Vairaperumalpatti. Following his mother's demise, Kanthasamy had applied online for a succession certificate on December 24.
When he visited Prabhu's office on December 31 to check the status of his application, the VAO allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹5,000 to process the document. Unwilling to succumb to the illegal demand, Kanthasamy took a firm stand and approached the DVAC unit in Trichy to lodge a formal complaint on January 2.
The DVAC Trap and Red-Handed Catch
Acting swiftly on the complaint, a dedicated DVAC team laid a trap to catch the corrupt official. The team provided the complainant with ₹5,000 in chemically treated currency notes and gave him precise instructions for the handover.
The plan was executed on Monday morning. As soon as VAO P Prabhu accepted the marked bribe money from Kanthasamy, the waiting DVAC team moved in and caught him red-handed. The entire transaction was documented, providing concrete evidence against the government servant.
Legal Action and Judicial Custody
Following his arrest, Prabhu was formally booked under the relevant sections of the stringent Prevention of Corruption Act. He was subsequently produced before a judicial magistrate, who ordered his remand in judicial custody.
This incident highlights the continued vigilance of anti-corruption agencies in Tamil Nadu and serves as a stern warning to public officials who misuse their authority. It also underscores the importance of citizens reporting corruption, as demonstrated by the complainant's courage, which led to the successful operation.
