BBMP issues notices to E-Khata holders

In a major development, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued show cause notices to 26,000 e-Khata property holders for alleged tax evasion. The civic body alleges that these property owners misrepresented the actual measurements of their houses and plots, thereby paying significantly lower property taxes.

BBMP officials discovered that although the actual size of several properties was much larger, the owners had declared reduced dimensions to avoid paying the correct tax amount. The Revenue Department, under Special Commissioner Manish Moudgil, has now directed the concerned individuals to pay the appropriate taxes based on actual measurements within 15 days.

Failing to comply with the notice will result in the seizure of the e-Khata accounts, officials warned. The BBMP has a total of 22 lakh properties under its jurisdiction, of which only 5 lakhs have e-Khata registrations. Out of these, 26,000 accounts are now under scrutiny for discrepancies.

The civic body aims to tighten enforcement and increase tax compliance through the digital e-Khata system. However, the recent findings indicate significant misuse, triggering a large-scale corrective drive. Moudgil added that the remaining 80% of property owners are yet to transition to e-Khata, and efforts are underway to bring them under the digital registry. This move comes as BBMP intensifies its revenue generation measures to fund infrastructure and civic improvement projects across the city. Property owners are advised to verify and regularize their tax records to avoid legal complications.