Health Inspector held on charge of taking bribe

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday arrested a Health Inspector with the Kochi Corporation on bribery charges. The arrested was identified as T.P. Roopesh, 38, a Health Inspector attached to the Elamkulam Zonal office of the city corporation.

According to officials, the accused allegedly demanded bribe from a dental doctor who runs a clinic in the city, for issuing a Dangerous and Offensive (D&O) trade licence. “The doctor had been asked to pay a bribe of ₹1,000 over and above the stipulated fee of ₹2,200 for the licence. Following this, the complainant approached us and a trap was laid for the official to be caught red-handed,” they said.

On a direction by the Vigilance, the doctor handed over phenolphthalein-applied currency notes to the accused when he arrived at the clinic around 10.30 a.m. Soon after the currencies were handed over to Roopesh, the Vigilance team, which was waiting outside, entered the place and took him into custody.

The accused had dropped in at the clinic while on his way to the office. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded.