MADURAI
In a trap, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police team arrested an employee identified as Titus from the office of Local Planning Authority (LPA) and seized ₹ 40,000 from him on Monday.
The office of LPA, which is the approving authority for building plan approvals of 2000 square metres and above, is situated in the Aringnar Anna Maligai, where the Corporation of Madurai functions.
The Collector is the chairman of the LPA and a member-secretary oversees the functioning of the office.
Under such circumstances, based on a complaint from Kasiviswanathan of Tirunagar, the DV&AC police had registered a case.
The complaint was that the petitioner had submitted a building plan for approval and since it was pending for a long time, he had approached the staff, who had allegedly demanded a hefty sum as bribe to get the work done. As part of the ‘deal,’ the petitioner was told to come with an advance.
Frustrated, the applicant approached the police seeking action. After receiving chemical-coated currencies, when Kasiviswanathan went to the office and handed over the cash to the staff, the police team led by Inspector Kannan, who were waiting at a distance, secured the accused red-handed.
After recording a statement, the accused was produced before the Magistrate Court.
Further investigation is on.
Meanwhile, many applicants claimed that the LPA, which was to convene meeting at regular intervals, had not been holding meetings and disposing of the applications. When contacted, an officer responsible at the LPA office pleaded ignorance.
