Three including VAO arrested for bribery in Namakkal

Three persons, including a Village Administrative Officer (VAO), were arrested for bribery in Namakkal on Tuesday (January 6, 2026).

According to the police, a farmer residing in Pudhu Puliyampatti near Tiruchengode cut down palm trees without obtaining permission from the Revenue Department. To avoid action against him, VAO Gunasekaran (58) allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹40,000 and had received ₹20,000. But unwilling to provide the full amount, the farmer approached Namakkal Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and they set a trap and instructed him to give the bribe.

Based on their instructions, the farmer gave the bribe to the Vijayakumar (42), the husband of Devi (38), who is Gunasekaran’s assistant and they caught him red-handed. The DVAC registered a case and arrested Gunasekaran, Devi and Vijayakumar.