Thanjai corpn chief held for bribery

According to the DVAC, D Sambandam (60) of Keezhavasthachavadi, Thanjavur, a retired railway employee, had approached the Thanjavur city corporation for tax assessment of a vacant site measuring 15,509 square feet in Vandikara Street.

However, the officials made him to run from pillar to post for the last four months.

Meanwhile, Pon Nagarajan (58) of North Gate area, a middleman, approached Sambandam and offered him help in getting the tax assessment done for his site and that too at a lower slab.

Following this, Nagarajan reportedly took Sambandam to the commissioner M Varadaraj (57), who demanded Rs1 lakh as bribe for completing the official formalities. After negotiations through Pon Nagarajan, the deal was finalised at Rs 75,000 and Sambandam was asked to meet the Commissioner with the money.

However, Sambandam approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) office in Thanjavur and lodged a complaint. The DVAC personnel with a plan to catch the Commissioner red-handed gave notes laced with chemicals and asked Sambandam to hand it over to Varadaraj.

On Friday morning, when Sambandam went along with Pon Nagarajan to the Corporation, Varadaraj asked him to hand over the bribe money to Pon Nagarajan. When Sambandam handed over the money, the DVAC personnel, who were waiting near the office, barged into the room and nabbed Varadaraj and Pon Nagarajan.

Following investigations, Deputy Superintendent of Police of DVAC S Ramadass and his team registered a case and arrested the duo. The DVAC team also conducted a raid on the house of the Commissioner.

It is reliably learnt that several complaints alleging bribe demand have been lodged against Varadaraj but he had all along been tactically evading the DVAC.