DDs given for tax payment, then cancelled

A tax-payer allegedly duped the cash-strapped Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by issuing and cancelling two demand drafts obtained for payment of property tax.

H S Manjula took a demand draft from a bank, submitted it along with the property tax application at the nearest Bangalore One centre and obtained a tax-paid receipt. Then, she contacted Indian Bank, Chamarajpet, that issued the drafts, and requested their cancellation citing loss/theft. When the BBMP tried to encash the DDs, they bounced.

"We surmise a lot of residents have done this. We are trying to ascertain the reason for dishonoured demand drafts," a BBMP official said.

Manjula made had made payments with two DDs No 727555 and 727549 dated May 26, 2014 for Rs 592 and Rs 984 respectively. This was tax for the years 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The directorate of electronic delivery of citizen services (EDCS), which handles Bangalore One Centres, wrote to the BBMP to cancel the property tax transaction which was made through these DDs, as they were returned unencashed. Both the DDs were obtained from Indian Bank and the transaction was done at the Bangalore One center at JP Nagar on June 6, 2014.



The EDCS has recommended appropriate legal action to be initiated against Manjula.

When contacted, DC (revenue) I Ramakanth said the letter has been forwarded to the legal department to take further action.