Education officer arrested in bribery case

Trichy: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested a district education officer (in charge) while receiving a bribe of ₹30,000 to process an annual salary increment for a teacher.The accused, C Pugazhendi, who is the headmaster from Thandalai Puthur, Musiri, is serving as the district education officer for Trichy. A woman works as a teacher at Boiler Plant Higher Secondary School, Thiruverumbur. She recently cleared the TET examination and applied for the annual salary increment based on her improved qualification. The woman’s husband met Pugazhendi on her behalf to request the increment.

However, Pugazhendi allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 to approve it.Unwilling to pay the bribe, the husband approached the DVAC and lodged a complaint. A DVAC team subsequently laid a trap and caught Pugazhendi red-handed while accepting the bribe on Tuesday.