Coimbatore: Sleuths from the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) on Thursday arrested a special sub-inspector attached to the Kattoor police station for accepting a bribe of ₹70,000.The arrested has been identified as Boopathi. He was arrested while receiving the bribe near the Ukkadam bus stand on Thursday evening.According to DVAC officials, the complainant, Rujaina Fathima of Tenkasi, had mortgaged her husband’s off-road sports utility vehicle to Ravikumar of Tirunelveli and received ₹6 lakh from him. They had agreed that the vehicle would be returned once Fathima repaid the amount.A week ago, when Ravikumar visited Coimbatore in the vehicle. Fathima and her husband tracked the SUV using the GPS device fitted in it, came to Coimbatore and took the vehicle using a spare key. They later parked it at a parking facility in Pollachi.Ravikumar then lodged a complaint with Kattoor police and a case was registered. Police subsequently secured the vehicle and brought Fathima to the station for inquiry. They also took her mobile phones, citing investigation. Fathima subsequently settled the amount with Ravikumar and reclaimed the vehicle. However, Boopathi allegedly contacted her and demanded ₹70,000 to close the case and return her mobile phones.Unwilling to pay the bribe, Fathima approached DVAC officials on Wednesday evening, following which they handed over chemical coated currency notes to her.On Thursday evening, Fathima met Boopathi near the Ukkadam bus stand and handed over the money. DVAC sleuths, who were waiting nearby, caught Boopathi red-handed after he accepted the bribe and arrested him.DVAC officials have registered a case and are investigating further.
