Wed Jul 23 17:45:46 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A court in Madurai, India, has denied bail to six individuals implicated in a significant property tax scam within the Madurai Corporation. The accused include a former Assistant Commissioner, temporary staff members, and shop owners allegedly involved in manipulating property tax records on an online platform, resulting in substantial revenue loss. The investigation, still in its early stages, involves the inquiry of numerous property owners and Corporation employees. A Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the alleged scam. The court cited the risk of evidence tampering and potential absconding as reasons for denying bail.

**News Article:**

**Madurai Court Denies Bail in Property Tax Scam Case**

**MADURAI, July 23, 2025** – The Principal District and Sessions Judge in Madurai today rejected bail petitions for six individuals implicated in a major property tax scam within the Madurai Corporation. The accused are alleged to have manipulated property tax records, causing significant financial losses to the municipality.

Those denied bail include former Assistant Commissioner of Madurai Corporation, A. Rengarajan, temporary staff members R. Sathish (Technical Assistant) and S. Karthick (Data Entry Operator), as well as three shop owners, N. Mohamad Noor, J. Saga Hussain, and B. Rajesh Kumar, operating near the Corporation office.

The prosecution argued that the fraud was discovered in September 2024 when irregularities were found in the Corporation’s records. An audit revealed that property taxes for 150 buildings had been improperly reduced through the UTIS online platform, with evidence suggesting bribes were accepted in exchange for the lower tax assessments. Investigators believe that unauthorized access was gained using Bill Collectors’ credentials and the offences were committed. So far, 80 property owners have been questioned of the 150 involved.

The Public Prosecutor emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that the potential revenue loss could reach several crores. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a senior IPS officer, to further probe the scam.

In rejecting the bail applications, the judge cited the early stages of the investigation, the ongoing inquiries into numerous property owners and Corporation employees, and the risk of the accused tampering with evidence or fleeing the jurisdiction. The court deemed the petitioners unworthy of bail at this juncture.

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