Barely a few minutes after taking Anti-Corruption Pledge, a top officer was caught red-handed by personnel of the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) at the Cuddalore District Collectorate, while accepting a bribe from a farmer. According to sources, R. Raja (37) was in the process of buying a piece of land at his village. Registrar Officer at Kurinchipadi referred his document to Special Deputy Collector (Stamps), Cuddalore, for determining the market value of the property, based on which the stamp duty is decided. S. Doss, Special Deputy Collector (Stamps), allegedly demanded Rs.11,500 from Raja for determining the stamp duty at Rs.8,500 for the land. Raja complained to the DVAC. Relying on the complaint, the personnel laid a trap. The officer participated at a programme organised in view of the observance of Vigilance Awareness Week at the District Collectorate, and took the pledge which was administered by the District Collector. Immediately after the pledge, he went to his chamber and told Mr. Raja to hand over the amount to his driver who was waiting outside. Later the driver gave the money to Mr. Doss. The DVAC officers caught them red-handed. The officer and driver were arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The DVAC also registered a case against them under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
