Kochi civic official arrested in graft probe over building complaint

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) arrested a Kochi Corporation official on Thursday in connection with alleged bribery charges. The overseer is accused of seeking a bribe to dispose of a complaint that had been lodged against a commercial structure within the corporation's jurisdiction.

According to preliminary investigation details, the official allegedly demanded payment from a complainant to facilitate the settlement of the grievance. The complaint pertained to alleged irregularities or violations related to the commercial building in question.

The arrest comes as part of the VACB's ongoing efforts to curb corruption within municipal administration in Kerala. Such cases involving civic officials demanding bribes to resolve public complaints have drawn increased scrutiny from anti-corruption authorities in recent months.

The arrested official has been taken into custody for further questioning. Investigations are underway to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct and determine if other officials were involved in the matter. The VACB is examining whether similar complaints have been made against the accused in the past.