VELLORE: His meticulous money-making methods will put even pawn brokers to shame. He had a currency counting machine at home to count the ‘collection’. But like any other corrupt officer, Vellore Corporation commissioner T Kumar too ran out of luck on Wednesday.
He was arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a contractor to release Rs 10.09 lakh for the works carried out as part of anti-dengue drive and remanded in judicial custody for 15 days. On Thursday, the Directorate of Municipal Administration placed him under suspension.
After the arrest, the DVAC officials searched his Vellore residence and seized Rs 9.40 lakh in cash, 26 sovereigns of gold and the counting machine. They also seized Rs 1.04 lakh unaccounted cash from his office. In addition, they learnt that Kumar had Rs 1.30 lakh bank deposit. Kumar has not given any explanation on his source of income, said DVAC sources. The DVAC officials also raided Kumar’s house in Thanjavur,. But no cash was seized.
Explaining the way Kumar handled the money received as bribes, an official said, “After collecting the money from the sources, he would take it to his house and count it using currency counting machines.” He ensured that no fake note was handed out to him.
Besides, corporation sources told Express that all middle level officials were told to demand bribery for every work and pay 25 per cent share to the top officials in the Corporation. “To sanction an approval for circus in Vellore ground, Corporation officials demanded Rs 1 lakh as bribe. After the organiser fell on the official’s feet citing financial constraints, the bribe amount was reduced to Rs 10,000,” said sources.