Tripunithura municipality suspends revenue inspector over misuse of authority

Kochi: Tripunithura municipality suspended revenue inspector Jayasankar and revoked a sealing order issued against a restaurant following protest by owners, who alleged abuse of official authority.The revenue inspector had sealed the restaurant, citing pending tax dues of Rs 41,000. However, the municipal secretary clarified that the action was taken without his knowledge or approval of the council, prompting immediate corrective measures. Restaurant owners, Abhilash Devassy and his wife Tintu, alleged that soon after the premises were sealed, unidentified persons attempted to demolish the building on Wednesday. Fearing further damage, the couple staged a protest on the road the next day, drawing public attention to the issue. According to municipal officials, the dispute appears to stem from a contractual disagreement between the landlords and the restaurant owners over the land on which the hotel operated. The couple said they invested nearly Rs 80 lakh in constructing the establishment on the leased premises and sought additional time from the landlord to vacate. A senior municipal official said the land does not belong to the municipality and that the revenue inspector had no legal authority to seal the property. The decision to suspend the official was made by the municipal chairman P L Babu.