3-year RI for ex-civic chief in bribery case

According to the prosecution, Ilangovan, a resident of Pattukkottai, applied for the layout’s approval to the then Pattukkottai Municipal Commissioner M Talib Sharief on April 1, 2003.

While the then Deputy Director of Town Planning in Tiruchy accorded his sanction on October 15 that year, Talib Sharief demanded Rs 25,000 as bribe from Ilangovan to handover the letter of approval.

Subsequently, Ilangaovan handed over Rs 10,000 on the morning of October 20 and promised to pay the remaining amount later that evening. However, Ilangovan informed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) officials who laid a trap. The DVAC officials caught Talib Sharief red-handed while he was accepting bribe.

The case dragged on for several years at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kumbakonam. On Monday, after hearing both the sides, Magistrate K Ayyappanpillai awarded three years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) to Talib Sharief (73), who is now retired.