COIMBATORE: An Assistant Director and his deputy in Agricultural Department – arrested in connection with accepting a bribe of Rs.1.5 lakh to show an official favour – were remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday.

According to police, the official, Sukumar had demanded Rs. 5 lakh bribe from a farmer, who sought a No Objection Certificate for converting his 10-acre agriculture land into real estate some days ago.

The farmer Ashok Kumar took up the matter with Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption, the officials of which advised asked him to hand over Rs.1.5 lakh to Sukumar on Tuesday evening.

Sukumar was caught red handed while accepting the tainted currency notes. His assistant Murugan, who helped him in the deal, was also arrested.

Police seized Rs.one lakh and some documents from the residences of Sukumar and Murugan in Pollachi.

Both were produced before the Special Court and judge John Mino remanded the to custody till June 6 and were lodged in the Central Jail here.