Madurai, Oct 14:
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Tuesday arrested Saravanan, husband of former Madurai Corporation North Zone chairperson Bhuvaneswari, in connection with the alleged Rs 200-crore property tax scam, amid protests by DMK members.
The arrest came as police resumed action in the case following allegations that some zonal chairpersons involved in the irregularities had escaped arrest and several accused had secured bail. Police also searched for the husbands and relatives of three other former zonal chairpersons, who reportedly left their homes after learning about the searches.
The CCB team had taken Saravanan to its office for questioning on Monday. He was subsequently arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
The case concerns alleged irregularities in property tax assessments between 2022 and 2024, involving the misuse of officials’ passwords to manipulate tax records. When the issue came to light, then Chief Minister MK Stalin ordered an inquiry, following which the Mayor, five zonal chairpersons and two standing committee chairpersons resigned. However, a criminal investigation was not initially pursued against them.
The AIADMK subsequently filed a case before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which ordered an investigation. A team led by Madurai Range DIG Abhinav Kumar, along with CCB Assistant Commissioner Vinodhini and Inspector Annalakshmi, conducted the probe.
Police have already arrested 25 people in the case, including Pon Vasanth, husband of former Mayor Indrani, and Kannan, husband of taxation committee chairperson Vijayalakshmi.
The investigation reportedly made little progress thereafter. Recently, AIADMK councillors led by Leader of the Opposition Solairaja petitioned the Madurai Range DIG, alleging that the probe had been delayed even after a change of government.