Sleuths of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested a head constable who was on bandobust duty at Government Higher Secondary School in Madukkur when he took a bribe to return the mobile phone seized from an accused.

Madukkur police arrested R Vijayakumar (52), resident of Vadakku Madukkur and working as reporter for Ekalaivan, a monthly Tamil magazine, for allegedly attacking and damaging an auto in a drunken state on March 11. Though he was let off on bail on the very same day, police did not return the mobile phone seized from him during the enquiry.

Vijayakumar’s brother Singaravadivel went to the police station to get back the mobile phone. But, the head constable, S Cheran, reportedly demanded Rs. 5,000 as bribe for returning the phone. Cheran also instructed Singaravadivel to hand over the amount at Government Higher Secondary School where he is on bandobust duty for the ongoing SSLC Examinations.

Singaravadivel who did not wish to give any bribe, reported the matter to DSP Sridhar, DVAC, Thanjavur. Based on his complaint, police registered a case and decided to lay a trap. As instructed, Singaravadivel went to the Government Higher Secondary School at Madukkur and handed over the bribe to Cheran. When Cheran took the bribe, the DVAC sleuths led by DSP Sridhar caught him red-handed and recovered the money.