Corrupt Village Administrative Officer

A corrupt Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Shanmugam who had demanded a bribe of Rs.3000 from a farmer Venkatesan residing in Kudianallur village Kallakurichi Taluk. Subsequently Mrs Asothammal another neighboring farmer applied for electricity connection for irrigation purpose, and when she produced her land patta for proof of residence she was denied connection as her land was registered on a different name by the corrupt VAO. Hence she realized that there was a substitute land patta fabricated by the corrupt VAO that was provided to another member of the conspiracy ring. Mrs. Asothammal along with Venkatesan approached 5th pillar and our co-ordinators including Vijayanand, Anitha Ramalingam, Selvakumar approached the Collector and SP of Villupuram Dist to register a complaint on the malpractices committed on the innocent citizens documents. A FIR was filed on 21st February, 2009.

The collector ordered an enquiry into the situation, the local police station at Varanjaram was hand in glove with the corrupt VAO and his conspiracy ring until the SP and Collector intervened. 5th Pillar also sent telegrams to the director of vigilance and anticorruption, DVAC of Villupuram dist which initiated a surprise raid at Kallakurichi Taluk office and eventually converged a lot of attention on the issue of doctored land patta. Ten of the villagers were housed in 5th Pillar Chennai office for more than 2 weeks as they feared backlash in the village by accomplices of the corrupt VAO in the light of escalation of the issue to the higher officials. Once the higher officials intervened and confidence was assured the people started to get back to the village. The VAO was arrested and suspended.