Mangaluru: A village accountant at Chelairu gram panchayat was arrested by Lokayukta sleuths while accepting a bribe of Rs 13,000.

The arrest came after a villager lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta alleging that the village accountant, identified as Vijith, had demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 for issuing a death certificate.

According to the complaint, the villager's mother owns 42 cents of land in Chelairu village in Mangaluru taluk and was keen on selling five cents in that to their neighbour. When enquired at the DC office, officials had insisted on the death certificate of the grandfather and a copy of the family tree.

The complainant submitted an application for the grandfather’s death certificate at Chelairu GP in September. However, the village accountant kept delaying the process and eventually demanded a bribe.

Following requests from the complainant, the village accountant reduced the amount to Rs 13,000. When the complainant was paying Rs 13,000, the Lokayukta sleuths laid a trap and arrested Vijith.

Lokayukta Superintendent of Police C A Simon said that the village accountant has been arrested and further investigations are underway.