VILLUPURAM: The District Collector refused to receive the money order for `2,000 sent by a man as a bribe after his efforts to obtain `12,500 in compensation following the death of his father-in-law were made futile by some greedy officials.
On Saturday morning, the postman came with the money order to the collectorate and Collector Dr L Subramanian asked him to return the amount to the sender.
The man in his letter, written separately, to the Collector had asked to distribute the money among the greedy officials who demanded bribe for releasing the compensation. The names of the accused officials were also mentioned in the letter. The Collector has ordered a probe into the issue. It is learnt that he also warned Thirupazhani, son-in-law of the deceased Thoppiyan, for the money order drama.
Thoppiyan of Aanathur village near Thirunavalur, a wage labourer, died August last year and since then his wife Kuppammal, daughter Sudha and her husband Thirupazhani were running from pillar to post to obtain the death compensation. Thirupazhani alleged that from village assistant Balaraman to an unidentified officer at Ulundurpet Taluk office as well as other revenue officials demanded bribe for releasing the amount.
Balaraman allegedly demanded `3,000 and asked Thirupazhani to “take care of others too in the office”.
The Collector on Saturday summoned all officials involved, from tahsildars to village assistants and held a lengthy-meeting as part of the probe. He also spoke to Kuppammal and Thirupazhani. Sources said there were contradictions in the statement made by the victims and officials and the Collector asked Sudha to meet him on Tuesday as she is the petitioner in the complaint.