Madurai: The Madurai Corporation property tax irregularities case, which caused a major political stir during the DMK regime to the extent that the mayor and zonal chairpersons resigned, has now gained momentum again. Following this, crime branch police are questioning Saravanan, the husband of former zonal chairperson Bhuvaneswari, after taking him to the police station.
In Madurai Corporation’s 100 wards, various irregularities have been taking place for the past half century in connection with the assessment of property tax for marriage halls, commercial complexes, lodges, hotels, and hospitals. In particular, an investigation into the irregularities that occurred from 2022 up to July 31, 2024, revealed that irregularities worth more than Rs. 1.50 crore had taken place.
At that time, the fraud had taken place by stealing the passwords of Dineshkumar, who was then the municipal commissioner, causing shock among officials. To investigate this, Dineshkumar filed a complaint with the cybercrime police. He also took action by suspending four bill collectors. The bill collectors staged a protest against him.
As Dineshkumar came under political pressure, he withdrew the suspension orders. After that, the police left this property tax fraud complaint pending without investigating it.
In this situation, Chitra, who came in as Commissioner, dusted off the property tax irregularities and began investigating them again. She pressured the police to investigate the cybercrime complaint that had been lying dormant.
Based on that, the police arrested up to 25 people, including former mayor Indrani’s husband Pon Vasanth, Taxation Committee Chair Vijayalakshmi’s husband Kannan, assistant commissioners, a former assistant commissioner, municipal corporation employees, and contract workers. Chitra, while serving as Commissioner, brought the property tax irregularities to light by taking action and suspending 19 people, including an assistant commissioner.
Furthermore, he obtained details of buildings that had received commercial electricity connections (Commercial EB connection) from the Electricity Board (TANGEDCO) and conducted field inspections based on that. As a result of his action, the corporation’s revenue increased by 10 percent.
During the last Assembly session, when M.K. Stalin was Chief Minister, Mayor Indrani asked the five zonal chairpersons to resign, saying they should cooperate with the inquiry. They too resigned from their posts.
Since then until now, the Madurai Corporation administration has been functioning without a mayor or five zone chairpersons. Taking the Madurai Corporation’s property tax reassessment as a precedent, surveys were initiated during the previous DMK regime to reassess all house taxes and property taxes in all corporations across Tamil Nadu.
In a case filed by the AIADMK, the Madurai High Court issued an order stating that action must be taken impartially in the property tax irregularities case. Crime branch police, led by Madurai Range DIG Abhinav Kumar and including Central Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner Vinodhini and Inspector Annalakshmi, investigated the case.
However, this investigation was also left pending. Allegations arose that the police had let some zonal heads involved in irregularities escape, and had also indirectly helped several related officials secure bail quickly.
At present, after the change in government, the investigation into the property tax irregularities has intensified again, and it is said that a charge sheet in this case is to be filed within a week. For that purpose, some municipal officials linked to the irregularities have been summoned again and questioned.
In this situation, it is said that the Central Crime Branch police are planning to question four zonal chairpersons, including one male zonal chairperson directly involved in the property tax irregularities.
Regarding this, district crime branch police said, ‘‘Under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Vinodhini, police went to the house of the former chairman of Zone 3 at around 5 a.m. yesterday.
They woke up her husband Saravanan, who was sleeping, took him to the Central Crime Branch police station in the cavalry section, and are questioning him.
Similarly, police have gone to the homes of former zonal chairman Mukesh Sharma, Zone-3 zonal chairman Pandichelvi’s husband Misa Pandian, and Zone-5 zonal chairman’s husband Vimal to question them and bring them in.
It is said that they had already learned that the police were coming and had left the house. It is also said that their cell phones have been switched off. Their family members have been advised to appear in person and cooperate with the inquiry, they said.
Police sources have said that a key VIP who acted as a bridge between officials and zonal leaders in this property tax irregularities case is also likely to be caught.
