Now Reading: Tamil Nadu fuel dealers warn of UPI freeze over police action
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Tamil Nadu fuel dealers warn of UPI freeze over police action
The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association has condemned police detentions of dealers in an August 6 cybercrime crackdown, calling it harassment over fraudulent digital transactions. TNPDA president K. P. Murali said dealers…
The Story in Brief
The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association has condemned police detentions of dealers in an August 6 cybercrime crackdown, calling it harassment over fraudulent digital transactions. TNPDA president K. P. Murali said dealers process hundreds of UPI and card payments daily and cannot verify customers' income sources. He warned that if arbitrary account freezes and detentions continue, members will suspend all digital payment modes at fuel outlets across the state.
K. Suresh Kumar of the Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers said several dealer accounts were frozen, forcing them to struggle for days to restore operations. He urged police to instruct banks to freeze only the disputed amounts. The association said it supports legitimate investigations but rejects treating honest dealers as accused.
The Indian Opinion
The police crackdown targets real cybercrime, but freezing entire dealership accounts punishes businesses that merely accepted payments. Dealers cannot screen every UPI sender, yet their accounts become collateral damage. The demand to freeze only disputed sums is reasonable. Will the police issue clear guidelines to banks, or will the state risk fuel outlets turning cash-only and crippling digital payments? That decision will test whether enforcement protects consumers without crushing honest traders.
Source: thehindu.com
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