Tirupur: Sleuths from the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) on Monday arrested a village administrative officer (VAO) in Tirupur for taking a bribe of Rs 4,000 for issuing a legal heir certificate.The complainant, Govindarajan, 36, of Rayapuram in Tirupur, had applied for a legal heir certificate through the Thottipalayam VAO office. The VAO, identified as Gnanasekaran, 37, demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to process and issue the certificate. After negotiations, Gnanasekaran agreed to lower the demand and settle for Rs 4,000.Unwilling to pay the bribe, Govindarajan approached the district DVAC unit and lodged a formal complaint, following which the anti-corruption police laid a trap. They handed over chemical-powder-coated currency notes totalling Rs 4,000 to Govindarajan and instructed him to deliver them to the officer.Govindarajan went to the Thottipalayam VAO office on Monday and handed over the tainted cash to Gnanasekaran. As soon as Gnanasekaran accepted the money, the DVAC team, led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ravichandran and inspector Geethalakshmi, swooped in, caught him red-handed, and seized the chemical-coated cash. He was arrested, and further investigation is underway.
