A 49-year-old Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) of Alangayam police in Tirupattur was arrested by sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for demanding and taking a bribe of ₹5,000 to release a vehicle that was seized in an accident case.

DVAC sources said that the complainant M. Manjunathan had lost control of his car and hit a couple on July 19.

They said that Kavalur police inspected the spot and seized the car that was involved in the accident. A case was registered. Since then, complainant Manjunathan had been visiting the police station for release of his car after formalities.

He was told to meet Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) G. Ramakrishnan, who was in-charge of Kavalur and Alangayam police on accident-related cases. Initially, Ramakrishnan reportedly demanded ₹15,000 but settled for ₹5,000.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, Manjunathan filed a complaint with the DVAC (Tirupattur). Subsequently, a DVAC team laid a trap and caught SSI Ramakrishnan red-handed. A case has been registered against him. Later, he was arrested and lodged at sub-jail in Tirupattur town. A probe is under way.