Form SIT to probe tax rip-off in Madurai Corporation: High Court

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday (July 17, 2025) directed the Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) and the Madurai Commissioner of Police to represent a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a senior IPS officer with confirmed integrity, to conduct an investigation into the alleged property tax rip-off within the Madurai Corporation.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete sought a report from authorities whereas listening to a public curiosity litigation (PIL) petition filed by AIADMK Councillor T. Ravi (ward 83) of Madurai, who sought the switch of the probe into the alleged rip-off to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The petitioner mentioned that final 12 months, data relating to the alleged rip-off surfaced wherein a number of individuals had benefited. Based on a grievance given to the Madurai Corporation Commissioner, a committee had been constituted to detect any irregularities.

After receiving the report of the committee, the Corporation Commissioner lodged a grievance with the Madurai City Commissioner of Police. The rip-off, which occurred between 2022 and 2024, had brought about a lack of round ₹200 crore to the civic physique, the petitioner alleged.

Though the grievance was lodged by the Corporation Commissioner in 2024, a case was registered solely in 2025, after about seven months. There was an extended delay in registering the case, he mentioned, including that motion was being taken in opposition to the low-profile individuals and never the actual culprits.

During the course of the listening to, it was contended that individuals with political connections have been concerned within the rip-off, and as per the directions of the Chief Minister, the Zonal Chairpersons had resigned from their posts.

The courtroom mentioned a rip-off of this magnitude needed to be investigated by an IPS officer, and the probe needs to be monitored by greater authorities to make sure that there have been no lapses, and that nobody was overlooked of the ambit of prosecution. All these liable for inflicting the massive loss to the civic physique needs to be prosecuted, the courtroom mentioned, and posted the matter subsequent week for additional listening to.