The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested a former agriculture officer in Bengaluru as the man was absconding without serving his sentence in a corruption case, officials said here on Thursday.
The case involved misappropriation of funds for farmers. (PTI)Former Agricultural Officer (AO) Venkiteshwar Babu of Agli in Palakkad district was arrested by the Palakkad VACB unit on Wednesday.
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According to the VACB, the case dates back to 2006, when Babu was working as AO at Agli Krishi Bhawan.
He is accused of misusing compensation to farmers for crop damage due to natural calamities by creating fake documents in the name of farmers.
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After investigation, the VACB filed a chargesheet against him in the Thrissur vigilance court, an official said.
Later, on December 24, 2016, the Thrissur Vigilance Court convicted him and fined him with three years rigorous imprisonment under various sections. ₹10,000
Babu challenged the verdict in the High Court, but the appeal was dismissed, and he was ordered to surrender before the vigilance court to serve the sentence, the VACB said.
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However, he failed to appear in court and went into hiding.
Acting on specific information, the VACB team tracked him down in Bengaluru and arrested him, officials said.
The accused, who was living in Coimbatore before absconding, will be produced before the Thrissur vigilance court on Thursday, they added.
This story appeared from a wire agency feed without text changes.
