---
title: "Kerala Vigilance Arrests Tahsildar, Two Others in ₹10 Lakh Bribery Scheme"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-tahsildar-arrested-bribery-case-nexus-acfqp
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-14T08:00:19.007Z
modified: 2026-08-14T10:30:03.600Z
language: en-IN
---

# Kerala Vigilance Arrests Tahsildar, Two Others in ₹10 Lakh Bribery Scheme

Kerala's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested a tahsildar and two alleged middlemen in a ₹10 lakh bribery case. The arrests have revealed a scheme involving officials and agents extorting property owners over alleged violations.

## Key takeaways

- A tahsildar and two alleged middlemen were arrested in Kerala by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
- The arrests are part of an investigation into an alleged ₹10 lakh bribery demand related to land records and property conversion.
- The operation has revealed a suspected nexus between revenue officials and agents who allegedly threaten property owners.
- The VACB is investigating the potential involvement of other revenue officials in the scheme.

The Ernakulam unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala has apprehended a tahsildar and two individuals accused of acting as middlemen in an alleged ₹10 lakh bribery scheme. This operation has brought to light a network that allegedly targets property owners by threatening action for perceived violations and then soliciting bribes for settlement.

The arrested individuals include Kanayannur tahsildar Jose Antony Hartis, 52, and alleged agents Rajesh N.S., 49, and Jose Shibyin, 44. They were taken into custody on Thursday. The VACB alleges they demanded ₹10 lakh from a property owner in Kaloor to resolve a complaint concerning his land and to facilitate its reclassification from 'paddy land' in official records.

According to VACB sources, the alleged agents were apprehended while receiving ₹2 lakh in cash and an ₹8 lakh cheque. The tahsildar was arrested subsequently. Investigations are ongoing to determine the involvement of other revenue officials in this operation.

The reported modus operandi of this network involves identifying supposed violations by individuals who submit applications to the office. Complaints are then filed against these applicants, with the aim of extorting bribes for resolution, a senior VACB official stated.

The complainant, a resident of Kaloor, reportedly became a target after an anomaly was detected in the records of his 1.4-acre property at Elamakkara, which he inherited. Despite the family paying land tax since 2018, the Elamakkara South Village Office indicated it was still classified as 'paddy land' in revenue documents. The complainant had begun adding soil to the land for residential construction.

In June, an individual identified as Shibyin, described as a driver, filed a complaint at the village office alleging the complainant was illegally filling the land. Following this complaint, Mr. Hartis allegedly contacted the complainant, threatening repercussions. Although the complainant offered to rectify the situation and pay any fines, the tahsildar allegedly directed him to meet with Shibyin to settle the issue and then apply for land conversion, assuring assistance with village and taluk level procedures.

Shibyin, along with Rajesh, is accused of demanding ₹10 lakh, with a portion allocated for revenue officials. The tahsildar reportedly confirmed this demand to the complainant via phone. The complainant opted to contact the VACB instead of paying the bribe, leading to the agency's trap.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/kerala-tahsildar-arrested-bribery-case-nexus-acfqp
Reported from: Multiple Sources