Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association has said it may be forced to consider temporarily suspending digital payment collections at petrol pumps across the state, citing difficulties faced during cybercrime-related investigations.
Association president Murali said Tamil Nadu has around 7,000 petrol pumps. On average, about 40% of daily sales are made through digital modes such as credit/debit cards and UPI apps like Google Pay, while the rest are in cash.
He said dealers often have no way of knowing the source of funds behind a customer’s digital payment. When cybercrime officials probe illegal money transfers, dealers are also called in for questioning, which he said causes stress and disruption.
Murali alleged that banks, acting on cybercrime instructions, sometimes freeze dealers’ bank accounts, affecting business operations. He said if dealers continue to face harassment and account freezes for digital transactions, the association would have to consider stopping digital collections temporarily at all petrol pumps.
He urged that before any action is taken against dealers, authorities should provide transaction-related details in writing and follow proper inquiry procedures. He also called on the Union Home Ministry to issue clear guidelines on how digital payment-related probes should be conducted.
