In a significant crackdown on corruption, a sub registrar and his assistant were arrested on Tuesday for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 to register a settlement deed for a property in Namakkal.
The Arrested Officials
The accused have been identified as sub registrar Manoharan and his assistant, a document writer named Sathish. The duo was apprehended after a team from the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducted a raid at the joint-2 sub-registrar office located on Mohanur Road.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on a complaint filed by Subramani, a truck driver from Namakkal, DVAC sleuths swooped down on the office. Subramani had approached the sub-registrar office to register a settlement deed for a property that was rightfully his. However, registrar Manoharan and his assistant Sathish demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000. After negotiations, Subramani agreed to pay Rs 30,000 as the first installment and subsequently lodged a complaint with Namakkal DVAC Inspector Prabhu.
Following the complaint, a team of DVAC sleuths raided the office after Subramani handed over the bribe money. The officials seized the Rs 30,000 from the accused duo, leading to their immediate arrest. A DVAC official confirmed that more than 10 sleuths were involved in the operation, which included a thorough investigation and recovery of the bribe amount.
Impact on Public Services
The raid caused a temporary disruption at the sub-registrar office, with members of the public who had come for registration purposes forced to wait for about three hours. The incident has once again highlighted the prevalence of corruption in government offices and the need for stringent anti-corruption measures.
The DVAC has assured that a detailed investigation is underway, and further action will be taken against the accused as per the law. This arrest serves as a warning to other officials engaging in corrupt practices.
