In the latest development in the Madurai Corporation property tax fraud case, Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Tuesday arrested Saravanan, husband of former zonal chairperson Bhuvaneswari.
Police had earlier arrested 26 people, including former mayor’s husband Pon Vasanth, Kannan, husband of taxation committee chairperson Vijayalakshmi, an assistant commissioner and several contract employees.
Police said Saravanan was questioned for nearly seven hours from 8am before being arrested. Police sources said additional arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. Madurai: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Madurai corporation property tax scam arrested Saravanan , husband of ex-zonal chairperson Bhuvaneswari, for accepting bribes from beneficiaries. He was later taken for remand proceedings from the office of the central crime branch, Madurai. Based on evidence collected during the probe, the SIT arrested him and is continuing further investigation to identify other beneficiaries and those involved in the alleged manipulation of tax records. Meanwhile, DMK cadres raised slogans and staged a protest when police escorted Saravanan to a vehicle after the arrest, resulting in a brief commotion and jostling at the spot.
Following the findings, a case was registered by the CCB and later taken up by an SIT led by DIG (Madurai range), following the high court’s direction.