Hyderabad: As many as 315 shops in Hyderabad’s oldest commercial hub, Jagdish Market, were seized on Thursday by the GHMC’s Abids Circle officials for defaulting on property tax. The market, known for electronic gadgets, wore a deserted look on Thursday.

A team of 80 officials from the GHMC’s tax department, entomologist and even the sanitation wing seized all 315 shops even before the owners opened them in the morning.

A. Shailaja, deputy commissioner, Circle 8, GHMC, said, “All the 315 properties in the said complex were attached on Thursday for non-payment of property tax. The total amount to be collected is around Rs 1 crore with arrears. Later, 82 shop owners paid Rs 20 lakh. Around 148 properties are yet to pay their tax.”

The 82 shop owners made the payments late in the evening at the circle office. According to GHMC officials, the shop owners had not paid taxes for the past two years and had not responded to multiple notices served on them.