Kerala Mining Inspector Arrested for Accepting ₹15,000 Bribe Under VACB's Project Zero
Kannur: A mining inspector was arrested by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Thursday for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹15,000 from an applicant seeking permission to collect and sell river sand. The accused, identified as P.P. Sreedharan, 49, a native of Kuttiyeri near Taliparamba, was remanded in judicial custody on Friday.
This arrest marks the first in Kannur district under the VACB's 'Project Zero' initiative, which aims to eliminate corruption in government offices across the state.
According to the VACB, the complainant, a resident of Cherukunnu, had applied for permission to collect and sell river sand in June 2025. Citing undue delay in processing his application, he approached the Kerala High Court. Following the court's intervention, the Mining and Geology Office called for the required documents.
When the complainant met Sreedharan, the official allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹30,000, later reducing it to ₹15,000 after the applicant expressed his inability to pay the higher amount. The payment was to be made during a site inspection scheduled for July 16. The complainant then approached the VACB, which laid a trap and caught the official red-handed.
The VACB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigations are underway.
