KOCHI: The Ernakulam vigilance unit on Friday arrested a former deputy collector for his alleged role as an intermediary in a case involving a demand for Rs 10 lakh to facilitate the conversion of land classified as ‘nilam’ (paddy field) in official records.
The arrested is N K Kripa, 59, a resident of Kadavanthra. The arrest of the retired officer was recorded after the investigation allegedly revealed his involvement in the corruption deal.
In the case, the vigilance team had earlier arrested Kanayannur Land Revenue Tahsildar Joseph Antony and two alleged intermediaries, Joseph Shibin and N S Rajesh alias Kannan. Kripa was arrested after the further investigation allegedly established his role in the transaction.
The case relates to land at Elamakkara owned in the name of the father of a complainant from Kaloor. Though the property was recorded as ‘nilam’ in the Basic Tax Register (BTR), land tax had been erroneously collected by the revenue department by classifying it as ‘purayidam’.
When the landowner attempted to sell a portion of the property, revenue officials allegedly arranged for a false complaint to be filed through agents, claiming that the property had been filled with soil.
When the landowner approached the revenue office, the tahsildar allegedly told him that a complaint had been filed against the property and advised him to meet the complainants and “settle” the matter. Subsequently, an agent who allegedly posed as the complainant demanded `10 lakh from the landowner.
Suspecting that the demand was part of a fraudulent arrangement, the landowner informed the vigilance deputy superintendent of police. Following this, the vigilance team laid a trap and arrested the tahsildar and the two alleged intermediaries red-handed on August 13.
The remand period of the tahsildar and the two alleged intermediaries is set to end on Monday.
The arrest of the former deputy collector came as the vigilance continued its investigation into the alleged corruption network.
