The officers of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC)on Monday arrested caught red-handed P.U. Karthikeyan, 59, Joint Director of Drugs Control, Food and Drug Administration while demanding and receiving ₹25,000 bribe from a soap factory proprietor for processing an application for permission.

Karthikeyan is also holding the incharge of the post of Director of Drug Control.

According to DVAC, Saravanan, proprietor of Our Green India Soap Factory, Gudiyatham, Vellore, gave an application to the Food and Drug Administration department seeking a permit for production of organic soaps. Reportedly, as Joint Director Karthikeyan demanded Rs 1 lakh as bribe from Saravanan and said his application would be taken for processing if ₹25,000 is paid as advance.

Police said unwilling to pay the bribe to Karthikeyan, Saravanan informed to DVAC, Chennai unit about this demand. The DVAC officers laid a trap proceeding. When Saravanan met Karthikeyan on Monday at latter’s office on DMS campus, the latter reiterated his demand of ₹25, 000 bribe as an advance to process the application and Saravanan also gave ₹25,000 to Karthikeyan. The officers of DVAC caught Karthikeyan red-handed while receiving bribe.

The DVAC arrested Karthikeyan and seized ₹25, 000. Further proceeding is on.