Kerala: A Chartered Accountant (CA) named A. Sudhakaran, who worked as a Concurrent Auditor at Canara Bank’s Mavelikara branch, was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Saturday. He was caught accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 at his home in Chinnakada, Ernakulam. This arrest was part of a larger operation called “Spot Trap,” set up by the VACB’s Ernakulam unit.
The Case Background
The case began with a complaint from a businessman based in Kochi. The businessman runs a skill development company with branches in several districts of Kerala. He had taken out a loan from Canara Bank in Mavelikara for various business purposes. Sudhakaran, who was responsible for auditing the loan accounts at the bank, first contacted the businessman over the phone. He informed him that his loan account was overdrawn by ₹1.40 crore and there were irregularities in the audit.
Sudhakaran told the businessman that the loan documents needed to be re-audited, and if he didn’t pay a bribe of ₹6 lakh, his loan would be labeled a non-performing asset (NPA). The businessman, worried about the potential consequences, initially did not pay the bribe. However, Sudhakaran continued to harass him over the phone, threatening further consequences unless he paid.
The Bribe Demand and Trap
The businessman, feeling desperate, sent ₹10,000 via Google Pay to Sudhakaran. Despite this, Sudhakaran continued to demand the remaining ₹50,000. He insisted that the money be delivered to him in person. This ongoing pressure led the businessman to file a complaint with the VACB.
The Arrest
Based on the complaint, the VACB set up a trap to catch Sudhakaran in the act. The trap was successful, and he was arrested while accepting the bribe at his home in Chinnakada. Sudhakaran is a listed concurrent auditor with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and receives payments for his auditing services from Canara Bank.
Ongoing Investigation
VACB officials have confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing. According to VACB SP Sasidharan, initial findings suggest that Sudhakaran may have been involved in similar activities in the past, and this may not be an isolated incident. The authorities are continuing to investigate the case thoroughly.
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the VACB to fight corruption and ensure that such fraudulent activities do not go unnoticed.
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