Ex-Mayor slams MCD for issuing ‘unjust’ property tax notices

New Delhi, July 9

Raja Iqbal Singh, Leader of the Opposition and former Mayor of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, voiced serious concerns over corrupt practices within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday. Along with senior councillor Pravesh Wahi and a delegation from Lajpat Rai Market, Singh formally complained to the MCD Commissioner regarding alleged extortion activities by certain officers and employees within the property tax department.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Commissioner, Singh criticised the issuance of notices demanding outstanding payments from property owners who have already settled their dues under the amnesty scheme introduced during the BJP’s tenure in the MCD.

“Some corrupt officers and employees of the Delhi MC want to extort illegal funds in the name of property tax,” Singh said. “Issuing notices for outstanding payments when property owners have already made payments according to the rules is wrong,” he added.

Singh elaborated that the amnesty scheme waived off outstanding amounts for commercial property owners after seven years, residential unit owners after six years, and property owners in irregular colonies after four years of property tax payments. Despite this, notices amounting to crores of rupees have been issued to compliant property owners, which Singh deems completely unjust.