CHENNAI: On a tip off, sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) havecarried a surprise search at the assistant commissioner’s office in Thirumangalam and seized unaccounted money amounting to Rs 5.08 lakh.
The allegations were against the assistant commissioner (AC) of Thirumangalam range, P. K. Kamil Basha, claiming that he was receiving a bribe of nearly Rs 5 lakh from a contractor involved in a land purchase.
DVAC sleuths reached the spot on Friday night to confirm the allegations against the AC. The contractor, identified as Selvam, reached the station around 10:30 pm, following which the DVAC officials rushed inside, sources said. According to police, cash amounting to Rs 2.50 lakh was found on Kamil Basha’s table. On questioning, when the AC stammered, he was immediately taken into custody for further enquiry and the cash was seized.
Also, the contractor, hailing from Kodungaiyur had Rs 2.58 lakh cash when he entered the station to talk to Kamil. He was also taken into custody, said police.
After searching the entire office, the sleuths left Thirumangalam station in the early hours of Saturday with seized cash amounting Rs 5.08 lakh.
It is alleged that the assistant commissioner, during interrogation told police that the contractor handed money to him for personal financial assistance. The sleuths had given him time till 5 in the evening to submit a proper proof for the possession of cash. Since the investigations are still on, the DVAC officials have not arrested Kamil Basha yet.
