Kottayam (Keralam), Oct 16 The Vigilance on Friday conducted a surprise inspection at the office of the Circle Inspector of Police in Vaikom here over allegations that he received bribes through a bank account opened in the name of an Assam native.
According to Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) officials, the inspection was carried out following a tip-off that the officer allegedly used a newly opened Canara Bank account to receive payments through UPI transactions from people linked to the soil mafia, tipper and trailer lorry operators, and accused in various criminal cases.
VACB officials said that the officer allegedly opened the account at the Vaikom branch of Canara Bank on September 5 in the name of an Assam native.
The VACB received information that the officer was using both the account’s ATM card and the SIM card linked to the contact number and had allegedly received bribes through the account.
Around Rs 2.28 lakh was reportedly credited to the account within a month, and the officer allegedly withdrew the money from ATMs in Vaikom and Kuravilangad on several occasions, officials said.
During Friday’s inspection, the VACB team found that the SIM card registered in the name of one Arun was being used in the officer’s mobile phone, officials said.
The ATM card linked to the account opened in the Assam native’s name was also found tucked beneath the officer’s mobile phone cover, they said.
VACB is conducting further investigation, they added.
(PTI News)
