Concerns have been raised over alleged irregularities in granting city status to G. Thinadhoo, prompting a call for the Local Government Authority (LGA) to investigate the matter.

Thinadhoo Uthuru MP Saudullah Hilmi has formally requested the LGA to examine potential fraudulent activities related to the island's population records used to justify its city status. In a letter sent to the LGA, Saudullah highlighted discrepancies, including the inclusion of deceased individuals and long-term Male’ City residents in Thinadhoo's population registry.

“Serious mistakes have been made, with fraudulent cases reported that warrant police investigation,” Saudullah stated, urging the Maldives Police Service and relevant authorities to take action against those responsible.

The controversy was initially brought to public attention by former Deputy Minister of Environment Mohamed Ragib Ahmed, who alleged that Thinadhoo was granted city status unlawfully. Ragib filed a constitutional petition in the High Court, arguing that Thinadhoo’s population was inflated to meet the requirement of 10,000 residents necessary for city designation. According to Ragib, records obtained from the Department of National Registration (DNR) under the Right to Information Act showed the population stood at only 7,000.

Ragib also revealed irregularities, including duplicate names, deceased individuals, and long-time Male’ City residents counted in the population. He criticised the reliance on unverified lists provided by the island council, labelling the situation a “major fraud.”

Following his petition, Ragib was removed from his ministerial position. Despite this, he has continued to push for investigations, filing complaints with the Maldives Police Service, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and other government bodies.

The issue dates back to August 2022, when President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced Thinadhoo’s city status via a government resolution. However, ongoing allegations and investigations now cast doubt on the integrity of this decision.

The outcome of the investigations could have significant implications for governance and transparency in the Maldives.