As per directions from the vigilance team, the complainant met Ullas near the NGO Quarters at Vellimadukunnu on Saturday, 29 November.
Published Dec 01, 2025 | 3:57 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 01, 2025 | 3:57 PM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Kerala’s VACB arrested Olavanna village officer Ullas Mon KR red-handed while accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe — the first instalment of an Rs 8 lakh demand (originally Rs 16.2 lakh) for converting 1.62 acres of land. This is the bureau’s third successful trap in a week, taking its 2025 tally to 52 cases and 70 arrests.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Saturday arrested Ullas Mon KR, village officer of Olavanna here, after he was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000. According to officials, he demanded the amount as the first instalment of an Rs 8 lakh bribe to complete the procedures for land conversion.
The arrest followed a complaint by a Chevarambalam native who approached VACB after Ullas allegedly demanded a total of Rs 16,20,000 to process the conversion of 1.62 acres of his land, reported OnManorama.
The village officer reportedly told the applicant that his property had legal issues since the land document was mortgaged and demanded money to “ignore” the issue.
When the applicant said he could not arrange such a huge amount, Ullas allegedly reduced the demand to Rs 8 lakh and asked for Rs 50,000 upfront.
As per directions from the vigilance team, the complainant met Ullas near the NGO Quarters at Vellimadukunnu on Saturday, 29 November. VACB officials surrounded the officer as soon as he accepted the amount and took him into custody.
This is the third successful trap by the VACB within a week.
On 28 November, a village assistant in Ernakulam, Jibi Mathew M, was arrested for accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe to settle land tax and complete ‘pokkuvaravu’ (updating ownership of property) procedures.
On 26 November, Devaswom Board employee Sreenivasan was arrested for allegedly taking Rs 5,000 as illegal gratification from devotees for offerings at Kunnathoor Sree Durga Devi Temple in Alappuzha. He is the receiver of the temple and the sub-group officer of Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple.
With these cases, the VACB has recorded 52 trap cases in 2025, arresting 70 individuals, including officials and intermediaries.
