Bribery Bust: Panchayat Clerk Nabbed for Demanding Kickback

A village panchayat clerk, Sreejith Gopinath, was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for accepting a bribe to issue a residence certificate. The setup followed a complaint from a local resident. Gopinath was caught near the panchayat office and will appear in Thrissur's Vigilance Court.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) apprehended a village panchayat clerk on Thursday, who was allegedly caught accepting a bribe of Rs 2,500 for issuing a residence certificate. The incident occurred in Palakkad district.

The clerk, identified as Sreejith Gopinath, was detained near the Puthussery grama panchayat office. He allegedly demanded the bribe from a resident seeking a certificate to secure a bank loan for purchasing a tipper lorry. Officials described the victim's reluctance to pay, which led to the VACB's intervention.

Sreejith Gopinath is slated to appear before the Vigilance Court in Thrissur. This arrest highlights persistent issues of corruption in local administration.

(With inputs from agencies.)