Periasamy, who worked as a Superintendent at Tiruchy Agricultural Regulatory Market and had retired in 2011, had applied for gratuity through the deputy director (in charge) of the Agricultural Regulatory Market, Udayakumar. The deputy director had reportedly demanded a bribe of Rs 4,000 from Periasamy to process his application for gratuity.

Subsequently, Periasamy lodged a complaint with the DVAC and Udayakumar was arrested red-handed, following which, the then principal secretary of Agriculture Sandeep Saxena permitted to initiate action against the accused. The case was being heard at the DVAC Special Court in Tiruchy, however, the petitioner, Periasamy, died while the case was still on progress.

On Thursday, when the case came up for hearing, Sandeep Saxena, who is currently the deputy commissioner of the ECI, appeared before judge Santhi as a witness. Subsequently, the deputy commissioner left for Delhi.