Voice clip seeking bribe puts MVD in a fix

Probe under way to identify official

An audio clip suspected to be a part of the confidential telephone conversation between a Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) inspector and a lorry owner in Kozhikode district over the payment of bribe to permit illegal service has put the MVD and its road enforcement squad in a fix. A high-level probe is under way into the incident to verify the sources of the clip and identify the officer behind the incident.

The voice clip was reportedly leaked by a group of lorry operators who were allegedly fed up with a few enforcement squad members with itchy palms. In the voice clip, the officer was heard promising to clear the way for trucks from Koduvally to Wayanad district on payment of ₹5,000 per vehicle. The owner of the voice was also found making an extra offer with some reductions if there were five vehicles at a time.

The investigation was launched after a few lorry operators took it up as evidence with the MVD and the police for action. According to the complainants, a scientific examination of the voice clip would bring to light the exploitation in the name of enforcement and struggles being faced by inter-district lorry operators.