Asst Geologist arrested for demanding Rs 2 lakh to issue certificate

TIRUVANNAMALAI: An assistant geologist who demanded a bribe fo Rs 2 lakh and accepted a first instalment of Rs 50,000 to provide a ground water clearance certificate for a packaged drinking water company in Tiruvannamalai was arrested by the district vigilance police on Tuesday.

Police said that Liaquath Ali (46) of Pudu Vaniyankulam Street in Tiruvannamalai town applied to the Chennai based TNWRD on September 15 for ground water clearance certificate for his packaged drinking water unit located on the Kanji Road.

The department asked Tiruvannamalai assistant geologist Sinthanaivalavan to inspect the premises. The latter demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to provide the necessary clearance.

An aggrieved Liaquath Ali approached the Tiruvannamalai vigilance officials who provided him with chemically treated cash to be given to the culprit. On Tuesday when Liaquath Ali handed over the currency to Sinthanaivalavan, vigilance sleuths arrested him red-handed and registered a case.