Walajah Municipality cashier caught in bribery scandal: what it means for local governance

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by NDTV, click this post to read the full article.

A 52-year-old cashier at the Walajah Municipality in Ranipet district was arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for demanding a bribe of ₹5,000 from a sanitary staff member to release salary arrears. The complainant, S. Gopalakrishnan, reported that his mother, Eramma, who worked as permanent staff, was owed back pay that had been approved by the Municipality during council meetings.

Despite the Municipality clearing her dues, the cashier, K. Devaraj, initially demanded ₹15,000 from Eramma to release the payments. After negotiations, he lowered the demand to ₹5,000, which represented a significant portion of her limited income. Eramma was reluctant to pay the bribe and confided in her son, who subsequently filed a complaint with the DVAC.

A seven-member team from the DVAC, led by Deputy SP S. Ganesh, set up a trap at the Municipal office, where they caught Devaraj in the act of accepting the bribe. A case has been registered against him, and further investigations are ongoing.