Mining official accused of bribery

A mining inspector was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) when he allegedly accepted a bribe of ₹15,000 from an applicant for granting permission to collect and sell river sand. The official was remanded in judicial custody on Friday (July 17, 2026).

PP Sreedharan, 49, a mining inspector and a native of Kuttiyeri near Taliparamba, was arrested. This is the first arrest in Kannur under the VACB Project Zero, an initiative aimed at rooting out corruption in government offices.

According to the VACB, the complainant, a native of Cherukunnu, applied for permission to collect and sell river sand in June 2025. Alleging inordinate delay in processing his application, he approached the Kerala High Court after which the Bureau of Mines and Geology sought the required documents.

When the complainant met Sreedharan, the official allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹30,000, which he later reduced to ₹15,000 after the complainant expressed his inability to pay. The amount was to be paid during a site visit scheduled for July 16. The complainant then approached the VACB which laid a trap.

Published – 18 Jul 2026 0:17 IST