Data operator held in Arakkoknam over bribery charges

According to Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) sources, an assistant data operator employed with Arakkonam Taluk police in Ranipet was apprehended for accepting a bribe of ₹400 to expedite a passport verification process. The complainant, K. Sridhar, is a resident of Arakkonam and works for a private firm based in Dubai, where his family resides.

Sridhar sought to apply for a passport for his wife, but the Arakkonam police forwarded the application for verification to the local police. During the online verification, K. Raja, the assistant data operator, demanded a sum of ₹500 to clear the verification process, despite the applicant's refusal to pay. Sridhar subsequently lodged a complaint with DVAC in Chennai.

A subsequent investigation by a DVAC team from Arakkonam revealed that Raja had indeed received ₹400 online for facilitating the process. A case has been instituted against him, and an ongoing probe is being conducted.