E-Paper
Multi-crore house tax scam hits municipal corporation
MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER Ram Bodh Maurya has served show-cause notice on the former and the present tax superintendents for under-valuation of a property of Mohan Meakins.
MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER Ram Bodh Maurya has served show-cause notice on the former and the present tax superintendents for under-valuation of a property of Mohan Meakins.
It may be recalled that former tax superintendent Ashok Singh, on directives of then assistant municipal commissioner KA Faridi, assessed the property of Mohan Meakins for house tax. Ashok Singh had valued the property at Rs 2.22 crore but the municipal commissioner smelt a rat.
He handed over the matter to its newly constituted internal vigilance cell of Lucknow Municipal Corporation. A team of higher officials in the vigilance cell went about the task quietly and assessed the property of Mohan Meakins at Rs 20.78 crore.
The property turned out to be 10 times more than the evaluation by Singh.
Shocked over the manifold devaluation of the property, an angry municipal chief decided to serve notices on the tax superintendent who is now transferred to Allahabad and on the tax inspector whose name is yet to be traced. The role of former assistant municipal commissioner in the whole incident is also under scrutiny.
“Without his involvement, the property could not have been evaluated at such low rates. We are also going to call for an explanation from the assistant municipal commissioner if required,” said a high official of the LMC.
According to the sources, KA Faridi has always been infamous for shady dealings in the LMC tax departments. In the past too, fingers have been pointed towards him on the fake receipt racket unearthed by former municipal chief in zone III. If a proper probe were conducted into the matter then the skeletons are expected to tumble out of the cupboard.
