Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 24: The village account of Chelyaru was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while demanding a bribe of Rs 13,000 for the attestation of the complainant's grandfather's death certificate.

Vijith is the village accountant caught in the act by Lokayukta police.

When the complainant was preparing the documents to sell the land which is in the name of his mother, the village accountant asked him to get his grandfather's death certificate and the family tree chart for submission to the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner's office. Accordingly, the complainant went to the Chelyaru village office in September and applied for his grandfather's death certificate.

Later, the plaintiff went to the Chelyaru village office two or three times and inquired about the attestation letter from Vijith but the latter did not reply.

On November 20, when the plaintiff called on the mobile number of the village accountant, the latter responded saying that the death certificate was ready and asked him to collect the same from office. However, the accused Vijith also placed a demand for Rs 15,000 as kickback from the complainant. When the the plaintiff said he did not have that much money, Vijith gave him one more day's time.

On November 22, the plaintiff went to the office at Chelyaru and spoke to Vijith, and asked him for a concession in the bribery amount. Vijith agreed and gave him a concession of Rs 2,000 and brought it down  to Rs 13,000.

Meanwhile, the Lokayukta police who had laid a trap, caught Vijith on the spot while receiving a bribe of Rs 13,000 from the complainant. The accused was arrested and the money was seized. Vijith has been produced before the court.