Three social welfare dept employees caught in bribery trap

Chennai: Three employees of the social welfare department attached to the Thiruporur panchayat development office (PDO) in Chengalpet district were caught by officials of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) while accepting a bribe of ₹1,000 from a woman who approached them seeking welfare assistance for her two daughters.According to DVAC officials, Sathya Priya, 30, of Karumbakkam village in Thiruporur taluk, applied for welfare assistance for her daughters through the social welfare department section of the Thiruporur PDO office.While processing her application, Jayalakshmi, 57, an assistant in the department, demanded ₹1,000 to facilitate the sanction of the welfare benefits.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, Sathya Priya approached the Chengalpet DVAC and lodged a complaint.Based on the complaint, DVAC officials arranged a trap and instructed the complainant to hand over the bribe as demanded.

On the scheduled day, when Sathya Priya visited the office, Jayalakshmi directed Sathya Priya to hand over the money to Usharani, 57, the union social welfare officer.

The cash was subsequently received by another assistant, Valarmathi, 52.DVAC personnel, led by Inspector Thiruvengadam, who were monitoring the transaction, intervened and caught the three women employees immediately after the money changed hands.

All of them were taken into custody and questioned.

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