The officials attached to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) caught red-handed a Sub-Registrar (In-charge) in a trap operation at Paramakudi Sub-Registrar Office on Monday evening.According to sources, the DVAC police action was based on a complaint lodged by a person against Mahalakshmi who was holding the position of Sub-Registrar (In-charge). On June 19, the complainant approached Mahalakshmi to secure release of some registered deeds.Mahalakshmi allegedly demanded ₹30,000 as bribe to process and release the documents. Following negotiations, she reportedly reduced her demand to ₹27,000.Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached Ramanathapuram DVAC unit and lodged a complaint.Acting on the complaint, a special DVAC team set up a trap at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The DVAC officials said instead of taking the money directly, Mahalakshmi instructed the complainant to hand it over to a conduit.The money was subsequently given to one Sikkandhar, an assistant employed at a nearby private office who was acting on the orders of Mahalakshmi.The DVAC sleuths secured Sikkandhar and recovered the chemically treated money from his possession. Following the recovery, Mahalakshmi was arrested.The DVAC issued an appeal urging the public to stand against administrative malpractice. People, who encountered demands for bribes or witnessed corrupt activities in government establishments could report such incidents to the DVAC unit in Ramanathapuram district, it said.Complaints could be lodged in person or by dedicated hotline numbers 9498215697, 9498652166, 9498652167, 9498652169 or landline number 04567-230036.The identity of the complainants would be kept strictly confidential, and immediate legal action would be initiated upon verification of facts, the anti-corruption agency said. Published - June 23, 2026 10:02 pm IST