Kerala Bribery Scandal: Tahsildar & Middlemen Busted in ₹10 Lakh Land Deal
Kerala Bribery Scandal: Tahsildar & Middlemen Busted in ₹10 Lakh Land Deal
Major crackdown in Kerala! Vigilance arrests a tahsildar and two agents in a ₹10 lakh bribery case involving land records. Dive into the shocking official-middlemen nexus!
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala has uncovered a significant official-middlemen nexus, leading to the arrest of a tahsildar and two alleged agents in a ₹10 lakh bribery case. This expose highlights a disturbing pattern where agents reportedly threaten property owners over alleged violations to extort money.
The Ernakulam unit of VACB arrested Jose Antony Hartis, 52, a tahsildar (land records) of Kanayannur, along with agents Rajesh N.S., 49, of Kadavanthra, and Jose Shibyin, 44, of Vyttila. They are accused of demanding ₹10 lakh from a Kaloor resident to settle a complaint against his property and facilitate its conversion from 'nilam' (paddy land) in revenue records. The alleged agents were reportedly caught accepting ₹2 lakh in cash and ₹8 lakh via cheque, after which the tahsildar was subsequently apprehended.
According to VACB sources, the investigation is ongoing, and more revenue officials' involvement in this case is being probed. A senior VACB official explained the alleged network's modus operandi: they identify violations by individuals submitting various applications, file complaints against them, and then demand bribes to resolve these issues.
The Kaloor native became a target after an anomaly was detected in the records of his 1.4-acre property in Elamakkara, inherited through succession. Despite paying land tax since 2018, the Elamakkara South Village Office informed him the property was still listed as 'nilam'. The complainant had brought soil to level the land for house construction. In June, one of the arrested agents, Shibyin, a driver, lodged a complaint at the village office regarding the land filling. Following this, Mr. Hartis allegedly contacted the complainant, threatening him with consequences. This led to the demand for the bribe.
This incident comes as the Kerala government recently revamped its Vigilance Manual after two decades, aiming to strengthen anti-corruption efforts. The Kochi Corporation is also reportedly recommending a Vigilance probe into construction projects, indicating a broader focus on accountability within the state.
