Two panchayat officials held for demanding bribe

Police said Rajagopal (52) and his wife Latha from Tiruttani had sought permission from the Panchayat union to set up a rice mill on July 6. But the sanctioning authority Janakiraman failed to grant the license and instead through his assistant Paranthaman demanded a lakh to grant the permission.

Based on this, Rajagopal approached the DVAC and the Kancheepuram SP set a trap by sending Rajagopal with the lakh as sought for. However, with Janakiraman insisting that the cash be handed over to Paranthaman, the complainant handed over the money following which the DVAC personnel nabbed Paranthaman red-handed and thereafter secured Janakiraman.