Official held for seeking Rs 5K for releasing cheque from CM Relief Fund

CHENNAI: DVAC sleuths on Monday arrested a junior assistant at the District Revenue Office, Tondiarpet, for demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 for releasing a cheque from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The cheque for Rs 1 lakh was issued as solatium by the State government to complainant Saravanan in connection with his father’s death. However, Junior Assistant Murugan allegedly sought Rs 5,000 from Saravanan for releasing it. Saravanan approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), who laid a trap for Murugan. On Monday, when Murugan reiterated his demand for Rs 5,000, DVAC sleuths, who were at the spot, surrounded Murugan and arrested him. Further investigation is on. Meanwhile, Rs 21,000 unaccounted cash was seized from the sub-registrar office in Karambakudi in Pudukottai during a surprise raid by the DVAC sleuths.