Tax collector flees with Rs 36 lakh

Updated on: 05 November,2009 08:39 AM IST |
Manjunath L Hanji |

Civic body official collected Rs 45 lakh as property tax over six months but deposited only Rs 9 lakh

Civic body official collected Rs 45 lakh as property tax over six months but deposited only Rs 9 lakh

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It took the Brihana Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) over six months to realise that an official of its had swindled over Rs 36 lakh ofu00a0 taxpayers' money instead of depositing the money in its coffers.

The Amruthahalli police are on the lookout for BBMP tax collector K B Vijendra, who has allegedly pocketed Rs 36.76 lakh.

"The incident came to light when B N Chandrashekar, assistant revenue officer, BBMP, conducted an audit a fortnight ago and found fault in the accounts," said police sub-inspector K Veeranna from Amruthahalli police station.

An investigation in the matter revealed that out of the Rs 46.15 lakh that Vijendra collected as property tax over a period of six months, only Rs 9.36 lakh had been deposited.

Officials said Vijendra was working on contract basis with the BBMP and had produced only 266 bank receipts.u00a0

"Vijendra failed to produce evidence that the remaining Rs 36.76 lakh from 788 chalans had been deposited."

When questioned, Vijendra did not give a satisfactory justification and Chandrashekhar approached the police.

Sensing trouble, Vijendra did a disappearing act.u00a0 "This is just the tip of the iceberg. His arrest is sure to lead us to many more scams," said Veeranna.

The police have registered a case under Section 408 of the Indian Penal Code.

BBMP's assistant revenue officer B N Chandrashekar said, "It is an official matter and cannot be discussed in public."

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