Thiruvananthapuram: A sales tax official, who was caught on camera accepting a bribe, was today suspended by Kerala Revenue Minister K M Mani. In a sting operation by a private TV channel, P Santhosh Kumar, intelligence inspector at Vazhikkadavu checkpost in Malappuram, was caught on hidden camera taking bribe from a mediator to allow the channel’s vehicle to pass without checking.
As the channel aired the visuals, Mani ordered an inquiry by the Tax Commissioner, Suman Billa, who found Kumar was prima facie guilty of the charge, an official release said. He was immediately placed under suspension. The Minister said stringent action would be taken against corrupt officials in the tax department. The suspension order came just 30 minutes after the TV channel aired the news, the release said.
