The state government’s Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) today (1 December) arrested Ankit Tiwari, an officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the Dindigul-Madurai highway.

According to a report by Indian Express, Tiwari was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from a person in order to drop action against him.

The DVAC intercepted Tiwari’s vehicle shortly after he had accepted the bribe, stated the report.

A picture of an identity card, said to be that of the officer has been shared widely on social media.

The arrest comes days after the Tamil Nadu government challenged the summons to District Collectors and the ED’s powers to investigate illegal sand mining in the state before the Madras High Court.

The Court had stayed the summons to Collectors but allowed the investigation to continue and decided to hear the petitions on 21 December.

During the hearing, the ED submitted that the total sale value of excess sand mined illegally in the last 1-2 years was Rs 4730 crore.