Mananthavady: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Tuesday arrested a village officer while he was accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 to issue a land-related certificate in Payyampalli, Wayanad.

Payyampalli Village Officer KT Jose was caught red-handed by the VACB team led by Deputy Superintendent Shaji Varghese near Valliyoorkkavu. He will be produced before the Vigilance Ad-hoc Court in Thalassery on Wednesday.

The anti-corruption agency's action follows a complaint by a resident who applied for a certificate to execute a gift deed transferring 73 cents of paddy land and 53 cents of dry land at Ondayangadi, Mananthavady, from his father’s name to his own. The certificate was to be submitted at the sub-registrar's office, Mananthavady.

The complainant had applied to the village office on July 26. Despite multiple follow-ups, the certificate was withheld, with the officer citing vague technical issues. Repeated attempts to get clarity over the phone also failed.

On Tuesday, the officer informed the complainant that a land survey was required before issuing the certificate. The survey was conducted on the same day. Later that evening, the officer contacted the complainant and asked him to visit his cottage, where he demanded ₹50,000.

Initially reluctant, the complainant agreed to return with the money and immediately informed the VACB. Acting on the tip-off, officials laid a trap near the location and arrested Jose as the bribe was being handed over.