Published Oct 03, 2026 | 10:19 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2026 | 10:19 PM
Sreeji allegedly demanded ₹10,000 from a woman for issuing a licence, and instructed her to bring the money to his rented room.
Synopsis: Public health inspector Sreeji reportedly flushed the currency notes after sensing trouble, but the anti-graft officials dismantled the fixture and recovered the cash from the drainage pipe.
Police arrested a health inspector who allegedly flushed a ₹10,000 bribe down a toilet after seeing Vigilance officials, after recovering the money from the drainage pipe at his rented accommodation in Tirurangadi, Malappuram.
Sreeji S, Public Health Inspector, Tirurangadi, allegedly demanded the bribe from a woman seeking a municipal licence for a newly opened hotel and juice stall on the Chemmad–Kodinji road.
According to the Vigilance, the complainant approached Sreeji through a friend after her online licence application was returned citing incomplete documents.
Sreeji allegedly demanded ₹10,000 and instructed her to bring the money to his rented room.
Acting on the Malappuram Vigilance Unit’s instructions, the complainant handed over the money to Sreeji and left.
The Vigilance team immediately reached the room and knocked on the door. Sensing trouble, Sreeji allegedly flushed the money down the toilet.
After initially giving contradictory answers, he later admitted during interrogation that he had flushed the cash.
The Vigilance team dismantled the toilet fixture in his presence and pumped high-pressure water through the drainage pipes.
The currency notes were eventually recovered after being found lodged in bends of the pipe.
Sreeji, a native of Kattakkada in Thiruvananthapuram, was subsequently arrested.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
