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Kollam (Kerala), Jun 20 (PTI) A sub-engineer of the KSEB was caught red-handed by the VACB while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for providing an electricity connection to a newly constructed industrial unit in Kummalloor here, officials said on Saturday.
The accused, identified as Nazeer I (53), a sub-engineer at the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Chathannoor Section Office and a native of Mukhathala, was arrested during a trap operation conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).
According to VACB officials, a complainant from Pathanamthitta district, employed as an operations head in a private company, had applied online for an electricity connection to a newly established curry powder manufacturing and marketing
unit at Kummalloor here six months ago.
Although a new transformer had been installed and the accused had conducted two site inspections, the electricity connection was not provided, officials said.
On June 19, Nazeer allegedly contacted the building contractor by phone and allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to process and grant the electricity connection, VACB said.
He also informed him that he would visit the site for inspection the next day, they said.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the VACB Kollam unit and lodged a complaint.
Based on the complaint, a VACB team laid a trap and kept the premises under surveillance.
At around 12.10 pm on Saturday, Nazeer was allegedly caught accepting a bribe from the complainant at the industrial unit in Kummalloor.
The accused was taken into custody and will be produced before the Vigilance Court in Kollam, officials said. PTI TBA TBA KH
