A fire, which broke out in the early hours on Friday in a private automobile workshop, resulted in a loss of at least three four-wheelers including a jeep and four two-wheelers. Police said that the workshop situated on the Sivakasi-Sattur Road was owned by Saktivel. On spotting the fire, neighbours alerted the fire station. After fighting for an hour, the fire was brought under control. However, the vehicles, which were parked inside the premises were gutted. Sivakasi East police have registered a case. The cause and the loss of the fire was under investigation.

MV Inspector held

A Motor Vehicles Inspector was arrested on charges of corruption by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sleuths here on Friday.

According to the DVAC officials, based on a complaint from a person, Soundararajan, 42, they had registered a case. The complainant had stated that for obtaining a Fitness Certificate (FC) for a heavy vehicle, the MV Inspector, whose name was given as Shanmuga Anand, had allegedly demanded ₹5,800 as bribe. Hence, he had lodged a complaint.

The DVAC officials gave the currencies with chemical coat to Soundararajan. When he telephoned, the MV Inspector had reportedly directed him to hand over the cash to Hakeem, a middleman, who was in the vicinity. Even as the police were keeping surveillance, Hakeem handed over the cash to another accomplice identified as Wahid Ali and left the place.

After sometime, when Shanmuga Anand came there and received the cash from Wahid Ali, the police caught him red handed. Interrogations were under way for about two hours. The police later said that they have registered a case.