KOZHIKODE: District Collector U V Jose on Tuesday suspended special village officer M Basheer and field assistant Ragesh Kumar, both of Raroth village office, Thamarassery, following their arrest by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on bribery charges. The District Collector informed that the officers have been suspended on account of the ongoing investigation against them and to ensure a fair probe.
The VACB led by Kozhikode unit DySP G Sabu had arrested the Revenue officers based on a complaint by a quarry owner that they had demanded `50,000 as bribe for issuing possession certificates for three quarries he owned in Thamarassery.
The complainant Sivakumar, of Shine Villa, was asked to provide a sum of `15 lakh or 25 per cent stake in the quarry in return for the certificates. The accused also asked Sivakumar to pay `50,000 as first installment when he agreed to their terms and conditions.
Based on the quarry owner’s complaint, the Vigilance team on Monday intervened when Basheer handed over the amount to Ragesh.
The Collector informed that directions have been given to transfer all officers above the rank of villageman, who have been working in the same village office continuously for three years.
He also informed that special squads have been formed to inspect villages having quarries and surplus lands.