Puducherry registration: MVD drive nets ₹6 crore

The drive against high-end vehicles registered in Puducherry has become a money-spinner for the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) in Ernakulam.

According to officials, the department has so far initiated action against 70 luxury vehicles in the district, which were registered in the Union Territory, and collected around ₹6 crore under the head. Further, it has also identified 260 vehicle owners suspected of tax evasion and served ‘demand notices’ on them.

The notices served also include those despatched to 48 vehicle owners, instructing them to pay tax in 15 days or face action. Further, plans are afoot to publish a list of vehicles registered in Puducherry flouting norms.

As part of the drive, the department on Thursday initiated revenue recovery proceedings for ₹22 lakh against a luxury vehicle owner in Muvattupuzha. This is in addition to ₹30 lakh collected from two vehicle owners at the Ernakulam Regional Transport office. Recently, Enforcement RTO K.M. Shaji had issued directions to seize vehicles that were found plying without remitting tax. Though the department has managed to recover tax from a few vehicle owners who wanted to legalise out-of-Kerala registrations, there are several others who continue to ignore warnings.

Registering high-end vehicles in Kerala entails tax amounting to 20% of the vehicle price.