Madurai city police arrested two data entry operators, Ravi and Karunakaran, on Thursday for their alleged involvement in property tax irregularities in the city corporation. The scam came to light following an investigation by the Central Crime Branch (CCB).
Meanwhile, Madurai MP Su Venkatesan has called for a thorough and transparent probe into the scam, demanding that all officials, including higher-ranking ones, be scrutinized and punished if found guilty.
Earlier, the corporation commissioner suspended bill collector Kalimuthu Pandi, while three temporary employees were terminated due to their alleged role in the tax fraud. Six other bill collectors were also suspended for tampering with property tax records on the Urban Tree Information System (UTIS) portal.
MP Venkatesan criticized the inaction during the previous AIADMK government, suggesting possible collusion between officials and politicians. He urged the state government to address the technical flaws in the UTIS portal, which appear to have allowed the fraud and might have been hacked.
He emphasized that the government should respond promptly to avoid rumors and fake news. “A thorough and speedy probe is essential; otherwise, public trust will be eroded,” Venkatesan said. He warned that the extent of the crime remains unclear and that it’s unlikely to have been committed by bill collectors and data entry operators alone. The state government must clarify the details to the public, he added.
