Assistant Executive Engineer caught taking bribes in Kodakara

Thrissur: Anthony M Vattoly, the deputy executive engineer of Kodakara Block Panchayat, was arrested by vigilance officers on Tuesday while accepting a bribe.

Vattoly was caught accepting Rs 6,000 from a contractor named Selvaraj. The bribe was related to the construction of a canal in Alagappanagar panchayat and was demanded as 2% of the construction bill of Rs 3.5 lakh.

The entrepreneur lodged a complaint with the vigilance department. The vigilance officers applied phenolphthalein powder on the currency notes, which Selvaraj handed over to Vattoly outside his office. Vattoly was caught red-handed by the vigilance officers.

A subsequent search of Vattoly’s car revealed the discovery of an additional Rs 50,000, which he admitted to accepting as bribe from a KIIFB contractor. Vattoly was arrested and his car was seized. Authorities said there were complaints against Vattoly related to bribes. The arrest was made by a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, KC Sethu.