Assistant Electrical Engineer Arrested in Trichy for Bribery in Agricultural Power Scheme
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has made a significant arrest in Trichy, targeting corruption in government schemes. On Wednesday, an assistant electrical engineer, identified as Parthiban, was apprehended at his office in Marungapuri for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 from a farmer. The incident highlights ongoing issues with graft in public services, particularly affecting agricultural communities.
Details of the Bribery Case
Parthiban, who served as an assistant electrical engineer at the Marungapuri office in Trichy district, is accused of demanding a bribe from Mariappan, a local farmer. Mariappan had applied for a free agricultural electricity connection under a government scheme designed to support farmers. Initially, Parthiban demanded ₹10,000 to process the application, but later reduced the amount to ₹5,000. Unwilling to comply with this illegal demand, Mariappan took a stand against corruption by filing a formal complaint with the DVAC's Trichy unit.
DVAC's Swift Action and Investigation
Following Mariappan's complaint, the DVAC registered a case on March 4 and launched a meticulous operation to catch the accused red-handed. Under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent Manikandan, a team including inspectors Sakthivel, Xavier Rani, and Balamurugan set up a trap. The operation culminated in Parthiban being caught while accepting the bribe at his office. This arrest underscores the DVAC's commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring that government schemes benefit the intended recipients without illegal hindrances.
Further investigation is currently underway to determine if there are additional instances of misconduct or if other individuals were involved in this bribery scheme. The case serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to maintain integrity in public service delivery, especially in critical sectors like agriculture where timely access to resources can impact livelihoods.
