New Delhi, March 11 (IANS): In a case of alleged mismanagement by officials in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), residents of Asian Games Village have accused the civic body of destroying records of property tax collection to harass house owners.

"From what we learnt is that some mischief has taken place in SDMC office of the Assessor and all old records have deliberately been destroyed to harass house owners," Ajay Agnihotri, retired Indian Revenue Service officer, told IANS.

Agnihotri claimed that several others in the society and near-by areas have also received such letters.

In one such letter accessed by IANS dated February 26, 2020, the civic body writes, "Whereas, as per available record, self-assessment property tax returns, as required u/s 123 A and 123 B of the DMC Act has not been found filed by you, for the period of 2002-05 & 2006-07 to 2010-11."

However as per Agnihotri, he shifted to his Asian Games Village residence in 2010 and when checked on SDMC site, there were no arrears of property tax.

"We are supposed to pay Rs 2200 per year as property tax, but when I bought this premises the website showed zero arrears. It means the tax was paid then. Now all of a sudden after ten years, you claim tax has not been paid," Agnihotri added.

Agnihotri now demands a CBI inquiry into the matter as he claims there could be a huge scam.

The SDMC has chosen not to respond on the matter, as call made to the PRO of the civic body went unanswered while message left on his Whatsapp number was also left unreplied.