Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) officers on Wednesday arrested Venkiteswara Babu, former agricultural officer of Agali, Attappady, who had been absconding for years following his conviction in a corruption case.
In 2006, Babu had allegedly embezzled funds that were meant to compensate farmers for crop losses caused by natural disasters. The Palakkad Vigilance Unit filed a case against him, and the Vigilance Court in Thrissur found him guilty in 2016, sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹10,000.
Although he challenged the verdict in the High Court, his plea was dismissed, and he was directed to serve the sentence. Babu had evaded authorities since then.
He will now be produced before the Vigilance Court in Thrissur.
Published – February 04, 2026 09:05 pm IST
