CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested six people, including five govt officials and a private individual, in four separate bribery cases reported in Salem, the Nilgiris, Chengalpet and Karur districts on Monday.The arrests followed trap operations conducted by the respective DVAC detachments after complainants approached the agency over bribe demands for processing routine govt services.In Salem, village administrative officer (VAO) Saravanan of Sekkadipatti village in Pethanaickenpalayam taluk and private individual Madhavan were arrested for demanding and accepting Rs 4,000 to recommend the issuance of a separate patta.The complainant, Ramamoorthy, had applied for a separate patta at the VAO’s office. Saravanan demanded Rs 4,000 to recommend his application. Ramamoorthy approached the DVAC’s Salem detachment, following which a trap was organised. During the operation, Madhavan received the money from the complainant on Saravanan’s instructions. Both were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.In the Nilgiris, Ithalar panchayat secretary A Karthick was arrested for accepting Rs 20,000 from contractor Raja for processing a payment for completed construction work. Raja had constructed a water tank at Osatty village under Ithalar panchayat and submitted a bill for Rs 6,90,955. Karthick initially demanded 5% of the bill amount, around Rs 35,000, before reducing it to Rs 20,000. He was caught during a DVAC trap operation and remanded in judicial custody.In Chengalpet, Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited assistant engineer Jayarani and foreman Saravanan were arrested for demanding Rs 20,000 to provide six new electricity service connections. The complainant, Sambath of Singaperumalkoil, had applied for the connections in his son’s name. During the trap, foreman Saravanan received the money on Jayarani’s instructions. Both were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.In Karur, corporation bill collector Logeswaran was arrested for accepting Rs 3,000 from Annapoorani of Gandhi Gramam South to prepare a property tax assessment worksheet for her mother’s newly constructed house. Following her complaint, the DVAC organised a trap and arrested him while he received the money.
