DVAC books sub-registrar for bribe with call recording

DVAC books sub-registrar for bribe with call recording

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:8.8.2021

Recording a phone call with a government official’s broker who demanded a bribe has proven to be crucial evidence for Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to book a corruption case.

DVAC on Wednesday booked a case against A J George, subregistrar in the office of sub-registry Selaiyur, and his agent Karthik in this manner.

The case pertains a senior citizen A Venkatasamy trying to get a settlement deed registered for his plot and house in his wife’s name. V Vinoth Kumar, Venkatasamy’s son, was the one who spoke with George and Karthik to get the work done.

DVAC said Venkatasamy had prepared a settlement deed and applied with the office. He was issued a temporary receipt. His sons Vinoth Kumar and V Colombus followed up with the registry on behalf of their father. When the sons met George at his office, he directed them to meet Karthik, DVAC said. On May 5, 2020, Karthik demanded a bribe of ₹1 lakh for registering the document.

The next day Colombus spoke with Karthik on the phone. The conversation, which is about payment of bribe, was recorded by Colombus on his cellphone. DVAC said Karthik demanded a bribe for himself as well.

Later Vinothkumar met George who also confirmed the brib e amount, DVAC said.