Engineering Scandal: Officer Nabbed for Bribery in Contractor Licensing

An executive engineer with the Idamalayar Irrigation Project Division has been arrested for accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe to issue a contractor licence. This marks the fourth government official trapped for corruption in a series of consecutive cases by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

An executive engineer was apprehended on Monday after allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 to issue a contractor licence, according to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

The engineer, identified as Wilson P M from the Idamalayar Irrigation Project Division No 1 in Angamaly, was trapped by the bureau after a complaint was lodged. The complainant, who sought a contractor licence, claimed Wilson demanded the bribe when progress on the application stalled.

A sting operation was conducted, resulting in Wilson's arrest as he accepted the bribery cash at his office. Officials confirmed he would face trial at the vigilance court in Kottayam. This incident marks the fourth consecutive corruption trap by the VACB, which has reportedly arrested 71 individuals in 53 cases this year, highlighting rampant corruption across various government departments.

(With inputs from agencies.)