A survey inspector from the Revenue Department in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram was apprehended by the District Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) wing for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe from a farmer involved in the Parandur Greenfield Airport project. The accused, Sundara Vadivelu, 50, residing in Tirukalimedu, Kancheepuram, was part of a team responsible for verifying land documents and managing compensation claims for landowners affected by the airport development. The proposed airport, spanning 4,800 acres across 15 villages, including Parandur and Ekanapuram, is currently undergoing land acquisition processes.
The complainant, Ranjith Kumar, a farmer from Kullappan Street in Kancheepuram district, offered 64 cents of his land for the project and sought compensation from the government. During document verification in Parandur ‘A’ Area 4, the inspector allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh to expedite the compensation release. Refusing to comply, the farmer reported the incident to the DVAC and lodged a formal complaint with Deputy Superintendent of Police Kalaiselvan. In response, vigilance officials advised the farmer to offer Rs 50,000 as an advance and promise the remaining amount post the compensation procedure.
As part of the operation, the vigilance team marked the currency notes and set up a trap. Late on Tuesday, at Chengazhu Neeroda area in Kancheepuram, the farmer handed over Rs 50,000 to the inspector, leading to his immediate arrest by monitoring officers. The accused was taken to the DVAC office in the Velligate area for further questioning and has been remanded in judicial custody under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Authorities are investigating to ascertain if similar bribe requests were made to other farmers affected by the airport project.
