Former Deputy Collector held in bribery case in Keralam’s Kochi

Money was allegedly sought for settling a complaint against a person’s property and facilitating its conversion from ‘nilam’ (paddy land) in revenue records

Published - September 05, 2026 02:27 am IST - KOCHI

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Friday arrested a retired Deputy Collector in connection with a bribery case in which three people, including a tahsildar, were apprehended on August 13. Kripa N.K., 59, a resident of Kadavanthra here, was arrested for allegedly playing a middleman in the ₹10 lakh bribery case, the VACB said.

The VACB zeroed in on Mr. Kripa while probing the case in which Kanayannur tahsildar (land records) Jose Antony Hartis and two alleged agents—Rajesh N.S., 49, of Kadavanthra and Jose Shibyin, 44, of Vyttila— were arrested for allegedly demanding ₹10 lakh from a man from Kaloor.

The money was allegedly sought for settling a complaint against the man’s property and facilitating its conversion from ‘nilam’ (paddy land) in revenue records. The alleged agents were reportedly caught accepting ₹2 lakh in cash and ₹8 lakh through a cheque, while the tahsildar was subsequently arrested in the operation.

Published - September 05, 2026 02:27 am IST

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