The Kottayam Vigilance Court sentenced Martin Antony, a former Assistant Engineer of Kottayam municipality’s Kumaranalloor Zonal Office, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment on Saturday. He was found guilty of demanding a ₹15,000 bribe for issuing a building permit. Special Judge (Vigilance) K.V. Rejanish issued the verdict by sentencing Antony to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine, plus an extra four years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The court ordered that if Antony fails to pay the fines, he must serve an additional three months in prison. The verdict was based on direct and circumstantial evidence, as the complainant had passed away before the trial started.