Tamil Nadu vigilance arrests ED officer on bribe charge
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Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in Tamil Nadu has arrested Ankit Tiwari, an officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), for allegedly extorting Rs 20 lakh from a state government employee.
The DVAC officials executed an unprecedented search operation at the ED's Madurai office following Tiwari's arrest.
The arrest stems from a complaint filed by Dr. Suresh Babu of Dindigul, a government doctor facing charges of accumulating disproportionate assets since 2018. Dr. Babu alleged that Tiwari had approached him, demanding a staggering Rs 3 crore bribe to clear him of the charges. After negotiations, Tiwari reportedly settled for Rs 51 lakh.
The DVAC, acting on Dr. Babu's complaint, laid a trap by asking him to hand over Rs 20 lakh in cash to Tiwari. The exchange took place at Thomiarpuram on the Dindigul-Madurai highway, leading to Tiwari's apprehension. A subsequent search of his car revealed the seized Rs 20 lakh, believed to be the bribe amount.
The DVAC officials then conducted searches at Tiwari's residence and the ED's Madurai office, reportedly uncovering several documents. The arrested ED officer was taken to the V&AC office in Dindigul for interrogation and subsequently sent to 14-day judicial custody.
This arrest marks a significant development, as it is the first time in Tamil Nadu that an officer of the Enforcement Directorate has been taken into custody.
The timing is noteworthy, given the ongoing tension between the state government and the ED regarding summons issued to five district collectors in connection with an alleged money laundering probe linked to illegal sand mining. The High Court recently intervened by staying the summons for three weeks.