Thane: The Maharashtra State Tax Department (Thane Zone) arrested a Mira Road resident, identified as Srikanth Vaidyanath, for his alleged role in generating and passing on fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) worth Rs 8.43 crore through a non-existent firm. The arrest was carried out by the State Tax Investigation Branch, Bhayandar, following a detailed probe into suspected fraudulent GST activities.

Srikanth was listed as the proprietor of M/s Srikanth Enterprises, a firm that cops believe existed only on paper. When tax officers visited the firm’s registered business address, C-118, Mira Darshan Complex, MTNL Road, Jangid Circle, they reportedly found no evidence of commercial operations. The premises lacked essential records such as invoices, stock registers and ledger books, strongly indicating that the entity was merely a shell company used for bogus transactions.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Srikanth had obtained GST registration by submitting his PAN card, Aadhaar, and an electricity bill, completing the process via OTP-based authentication. However, during physical verification, his family members, including his parents and wife, denied any awareness of a business being operated in his name, further confirming suspicions about the fraudulent nature of the enterprise.

The investigation found that the accused availed fake ITC worth Rs 8.43 crore from M/s Vishal Enterprises and later passed on the same ineligible credit to M/s Shree Kuldevi Industries Pvt Ltd during May and June 2025. Officials stated that the entire operation was conducted using bogus invoices and electronic entries without any actual movement of goods or stock, violating provisions under the Goods and Services Tax Act.

Srikanth was arrested on November 7 under relevant sections of the GST Act and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. A senior officer from the Thane Zone told media that further investigation is underway to identify other beneficiaries and uncover additional shell firms connected to the racket. Authorities are now tracing the money trail and examining linked entities and bank transactions to determine the full extent of the fraudulent network.

Bengaluru, Nov 10: The Karnataka BJP unit on Monday staged a protest condemning the purported videos showing radical elements, ISIS operatives, and criminals inside Bengaluru Central Prison getting luxurious treatment.

The BJP leaders, led by state President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, MLAs, MLCs, and former ministers, headed to gherao the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah but were detained by the police.

Police forced the BJP leaders, including women leaders, onto buses and took them to an undisclosed location. The BJP leaders raised slogans against the Congress-led government, demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara.

Vijayendra demanded that CM Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara resign, following reports of prisoners receiving royal treatment in Parappana Agrahara Jail.

Speaking to reporters, he said that Parappana Agrahara Jail has effectively turned into a nightclub or entertainment club. Terrorists, ISIS agents, and Muslim fundamentalists allegedly enjoy luxurious treatment inside the jail. Inmates are reportedly provided with TVs, mobile phones, and even weapons, and all of this is happening smoothly, he alleged.

He criticised the state government for turning a blind eye to the situation. “It is evident from the negligence of the Congress government that luxury facilities have been provided to anti-national elements in Parappana Agrahara Jail. Even after reports appeared in newspapers and visual media, action was only taken yesterday,” he said.

“Our democracy is under threat; this is nothing short of a massacre,” he said, adding that luxury arrangements for anti-national elements have been made inside the jail by Siddaramaiah’s government.

Vijayendra warned that if nothing is done, the government will fail to pursue cases against anti-national elements. He demanded that, in the interest of dignity and public accountability, both the Chief Minister and Home Minister resign immediately.

Vijayendra stated, “Not only do radical elements and ISIS operatives enjoy a free hand outside, but even the prisons in Karnataka have been turned into government-sponsored recreation clubs for terrorists.”

“Rahul Gandhi, who frequently travels abroad and seeks external interference in India’s internal matters, is he now enabling these terrorists and using their networks to create unrest across the nation and destabilise our democracy for artificial regime change with the help of the same foreign forces?” Vijayendra questioned.

“Mobile phones, luxury comforts, and ample ‘fun time’ – no wonder these radicals find it so convenient to operate under this shameless regime and treat prisons as their favourite holiday destinations, where everything is provided to them free of cost, courtesy of the Anti-National Congress government and our poor taxpayers’ money,” he charged.

R. Ashoka alleged that calls are being made from the jail to Pakistan and Afghanistan through hotlines operated by Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar and Parameshwara.

He questioned whether intelligence agencies have been dormant for the past two years and accused Congress of turning police stations into party offices.

Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, criticised the Congress government for deciding to provide all essential facilities to terrorists within the jail.

BJP MLC C. T. Ravi stated that criminals need not go to resorts — they can go to jails instead. “They can even watch porn movies inside the prison. The criminals are being given royal treatment inside the prisons,” he said.

He further slammed the state government, saying, “Despite the National Investigation Agency (NIA) issuing a warning, the state government has shown utter negligence. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Parameshwara should resign. They cannot wash their hands of the matter by merely suspending junior-level officers.”

New Delhi, Nov 10: A notorious history-sheeter carrying a Rs 50,000 reward, identified as Haseen, was killed in a police encounter in Kapoorpur area of Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district.

The encounter took place when police intercepted him during a late Sunday night checking operation after receiving a specific intelligence input about criminal movement in the area.

According to police sources, the accused, who had more than 25 criminal cases registered against him, was allegedly planning an incident of cow slaughter (gokashi) when the police team tried to stop his vehicle. Instead of surrendering, Haseen opened indiscriminate fire on the police team. In retaliatory firing, the accused sustained gunshot injuries and later succumbed to his wounds.

Police officials recovered a pistol and a vehicle (Swift Dzire) from the encounter site. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and a detailed investigation has been initiated.

Superintendent of Police, Hapur, Kunwar Gyananjay Singh, while briefing, said: “At around 12.30 a.m. last night, we received a tip-off in the Thana Kapoorpur area about the movement of a group of suspects. Acting on this information, the Station House Officer of Kapoorpur Police Station, along with his team, proceeded towards the indicated location. During the check, they spotted a suspicious Swift Dzire car and tried to stop it. The car’s occupants fired at the police team, and the police retaliated in self-defence.”

He added, “In the exchange of fire, one of the assailants was severely injured. He was rushed to the Community Health Centre in Dhulana and later referred to Rama Medical College, where doctors declared him dead. The deceased was identified as Haseen, a resident of Manotta village under Ashmoli Police Station in Sambhal district.”

Singh mentioned that there are about 25–26 criminal cases registered against him, including serious charges such as robbery, assault, and illegal arms possession. “He was a wanted criminal with a Rs 50,000 bounty announced by the police. A pistol, live cartridges, and a car have been recovered from the spot. Further investigation is underway,” he added.

Police officials confirmed that Haseen was a notorious criminal active across western Uttar Pradesh and had been evading arrest for several months. The Hapur police, along with the Special Operations Group (SOG), had been tracking his movements based on intelligence inputs.

The encounter marks another major success for the UP Police in their ongoing crackdown against hardened criminals in the region.