Fish curry allegedly demanded as bribe: Tamil Nadu Village Admin Officer Suspended

IN an unusual bribery case that has attracted widespread attention, a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district has been suspended after allegedly demanding homemade fish curry and a meal as a bribe from a farmer seeking a land patta.

The official, identified as Karthik, the VAO of Devarmalai village in Krishnarayapuram, reportedly told the farmer that bringing fish curry and rice would help speed up the processing of his application for the land title.

According to reports, the officer allegedly suggested that the farmer either bring home-cooked fish curry and meals or purchase fish curry from a nearby eatery. The conversation was reportedly recorded by the farmer on his phone and subsequently submitted to senior officials along with a complaint.

The audio recording later circulated widely on social media, drawing considerable attention because of the unusual nature of the alleged demand.

Following the complaint, authorities suspended the VAO and initiated action against him. The incident has once again highlighted concerns over demands for unofficial benefits in connection with routine government services.

While bribery cases involving cash are not uncommon, the alleged demand for a meal and fish curry has given this particular case an unusual twist, prompting a wave of humorous reactions online.

The case is expected to be examined by the authorities as part of the disciplinary proceedings against the suspended official