NEW DELHI, August 8, 2025:
Delhi Congress chief Shri Devender Yadav voiced serious concerns over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) decision to hand over property tax collection to private firms. He alleged that this move, supported by the BJP, is a strategic gateway for large-scale corruption, especially when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had already misused MCD funds during its two-year stint in power.
He claimed that the BJP is enabling a system where private companies will earn 5% to 10% commission from taxpayer money, turning the property tax system into a business venture rather than a public service. The Congress Party has demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged tax scam under the AAP government, and urged accountability for the misuse of public funds.
Yadav highlighted a major concern: out of 40 lakh properties in Delhi, only 13 lakh owners have paid taxes this year, generating Rs 2,163 crore. He warned that the remaining 27 lakh property owners may face unnecessary pressure and harassment under the pretext of a property survey. The Congress Party firmly opposes this tactic and calls it a deliberate ploy to impose distress through notices.
He further rejected the terms of the upcoming “Property Tax Settlement Scheme,” which requires lump-sum payments for previous dues, including waivers of interest and penalties. According to him, such schemes are likely to replicate the irregularities seen in the unauthorised colony surveys, leading to potential illegal recoveries of Rs 500–1,000 crore annually.
Yadav suggested that instead of outsourcing tax collection, the MCD should first address internal corruption. He urged the BJP to honour its promises from the 2022 Sankalp Patra, especially the commitment to clear pending taxes prior to its current tenure. He recommended using Geospatial Services Limited data to identify unregistered properties and strengthen in-house systems rather than relying on contractors with no understanding of Delhi’s structure.
He also referred to the 2023 Fifth Municipal Valuation Committee Report, which, despite changes in base unit area values, clearly highlighted that corruption was the key factor behind poor property tax recovery. He linked the responsibility to the AAP regime and noted that Shri Naveen N.D. Gupta, son of N.D. Gupta, was a part of that committee.
Lastly, Yadav warned that with a revised tax collection target of Rs 4,000 crore, nearly Rs 184 crore could be diverted as commission to private agencies. He accused the BJP of replicating a “liquor scam-style model”—a reference to previous allegations against AAP’s excise policy. He alleged that the same corrupt framework is now being rolled out in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Odisha, under BJP-led governments.
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