THANJAVUR: In a shocking development, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) police here arrested M. Varadaraj, commissioner of Thanjavur city corporation, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 75,000 from one Mr. Sambandam (60) of Keelavasthathchavadi, retired railway employee, for fixing the property tax amount for a vacant site measuring 15,509 sq ft belonging to him at Vandikara Street.
According to the police, Sambandam gave an application in August last year, appealing to the authorities to fix the tax for his vacant site. As there was no action, he approached Pon.Nagaraj, a former AIADMK functionary of North Main Street of Thanjavur.
Pon. Nagaraj allegedly took Sambandam to the city corporation commissioner Varadaraj, The commissioner, allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh for fixing the tax. When Sambandam said that he would not be able to pay that much amount, Varadaraj, reportedly asked for Rs 75,000.
A reluctant Sambandam informed the matter to the DVAC police. A team of police led by Ramadoss, DSP, DVAC, laid a trap and caught the commissioner red-handed on Friday.
The police waited outside, while Sambandam and Pon.Nagaraj went inside the commissioner's room. When Sambandam wanted to hand over Rs 75,000, Varadaraj asked him to give it to Pon. Nagaraj. When Pon.Nagaraj took the amount, the police went inside and arrested him. On interrogation, he said that he got the money on behalf of Varadaraj. The police arrested both of them, took them to Kumbakonam court and remanded them to custody. Following this, the police raided the office and house of Varadaraj, sources added.
