Connect with us
Thursday,23-January-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

I-T detects illegal properties worth Rs 130 Cr in Mumbai raid

Published

on

The Income Tax (I-T) Department on Thursday said that the recent raid conducted by them against the BMC contractors and a Shiv Sena leader have exposed an international hawala racket. The BMC contractors allegedly evaded income to the extent of Rs 200 crore.

The raids were conducted at more than 35 places in Mumbai belonging to certain contractors executing contracts of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and Shiv Sena corporator and Standing Committee chairperson of BMC, Yashwant Jadhav.

The Income tax official said that particulars of about three dozen immovable properties, worth Rs 130 crore have also been detected, which includes properties acquired either in their name or their associates or ‘benamidars’.

Evidence of their involvement in international hawala transactions and routing of the ill-gotten money to certain foreign jurisdictions have also been recovered.

The preliminary investigation indicates that these contractors have evaded income to the extent of Rs 200 crore on account of the above malpractice. During the search operation, undisclosed cash of Rs 2 crore and jewellery of Rs 1.5 crore were seized.

“During the course of the search operation, numerous incriminating documents, loose sheets and digital evidence have been found and seized. The evidence so seized strongly indicates a close nexus between these contractors and the said person,” said an I-T official.

Loose sheets and excel files with details of unaccounted cash receipts and payments aggregating to several crores have also been found and seized, which have not been recorded in the regular books of account.

In the case of contractors, the seized documents revealed the modus-operandi adopted by them for large-scale suppression of taxable income by inflating their expenses. For this purpose, the prominent recourse is over-invoicing of sub-contract expenses through a maze of entities and by claiming non-genuine expenses. Certain instances show that cash has been taken out from these entities and the same has been utilised for obtaining undue favours for awarding of contracts and also for making unaccounted payments for investments in properties.

Further investigations in the matter are underway.

Crime

Police accused of murder in Somnath Suryavanshi’s death case, demand for action

Published

on

Mumbai: Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s national president Adv. Prakash Ambedkar has made serious allegations terming the death of Somnath Suryavanshi as the result of assault by the police. He tweeted a news of a daily newspaper in this matter and demanded that a case of murder be registered against the guilty policemen under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

Allegation on Chief Minister

Adv. Ambedkar has accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of giving wrong information in the assembly. He said that the Chief Minister has given wrong information about the death of Somnath Suryavanshi. According to the postmortem report conducted in the government hospital of the valley, Somnath Suryavanshi died due to a serious injury on his spinal cord.

Demand for action against the police

Adv. Ambedkar demanded that a murder case be registered against the policemen who severely beat Somnath Suryavanshi. “If the Chief Minister lies in the assembly, then who will follow the law of the state?” he targeted the Chief Minister by asking this question.

The matter is getting bigger

The case of Somnath Suryavanshi’s death is now embroiled in controversies. Due to the postmortem report, the Chief Minister’s statement and Adv. Ambedkar’s demand, a new turn can be seen in this case. This is increasing the pressure on the police administration and the state government.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has shown readiness to take this matter forward and has resolved to fight for justice. All eyes are on whether justice will be served in the Somnath Suryavanshi case and action will be taken against the guilty policemen.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

We will take initiative on the problems of Mumbai University – Ambadas Danve

Published

on

Mumbai: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said that the government will take initiative regarding the vacant posts of teachers in Mumbai University, enrollment of colleges, and pending development works by MMRDA. Today he visited the Kalina campus and took stock of the problems and current situation of the students.

Delay in development works of the university

An agreement was signed between Mumbai University and MMRDA for the beautification of the Kalina campus and construction of buildings for educational purposes. But this work has not been done till now and concerns were raised about the completion of these works.

Issue of safety of students

Every day five to six thousand students visit the Kalina campus, but incidents of attacks on female students are increasing due to outside elements. Also, the Bit Chowki near the main entrance was demolished in the name of widening the road, which increased the threat to the safety of girl students, this issue was raised by Senate member Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth.

Issue of cancellation of teacher recruitment

Instead of improving the quality of education, the decision to cancel the teacher recruitment is proving to be harmful for the students, Senate member Milind Satam reported.

Challenge to the international recognition of the university

Despite getting international recognition, the students are facing problems due to the problems of Mumbai University, which is unfortunate, said Ambadas Danve. Students from all over the country and abroad come here to study, so it is important to solve these problems, he said.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Ajay Bhamare, local MLA Vilas Potnis, Senate members Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth, Milind Satam, Kisan Sawant, Param Yadav and other dignitaries were present in this meeting.

Danve resolved to raise voice with the government on the problems of the university and play an active role in the interest of the students.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

‘Water Grid’ project for Marathwada: Gulabrao Patil

Published

on

Mumbai: The ‘Marathwada Water Grid’ scheme is being implemented to permanently solve the water shortage in Marathwada and ensure robust water supply. Under this project, 11 major dams of Marathwada will be connected through pipelines and drinking water will be provided to cities and villages across the region. Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil gave information about the project and said that this project will provide sustainable water supply to Marathwada.

The cooperation of global level banks will be taken to implement this scheme, Patil said. A review meeting was held with representatives of global banks in the ministry regarding this project. Many important officials including Principal Secretary of Water Supply and Sanitation Department Sanjay Khandare, Member Secretary of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Abhishek Krishna, Chief Executive Officer of ‘Mitra’ Praveensinh Pardeshi, Director of Jal Jeevan Mission Abhiyan E Ravindran, and Secretary of Water Resources Department Sanjay Belsare were present in this meeting.

Long-term water supply to Marathwada will be ensured through this project. Along with this, as per the advice of the central government, the project will be set up and implemented by taking loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank. The implementation of the project will be coordinated by the ‘Mitra’ institution, as told by Minister Gulabrao Patil.

The ‘Mitra’ institution has taken the initiative to discuss the project further and coordinate with the concerned banks. Patil expressed confidence that the project will significantly help in solving the water problem of Marathwada.

Continue Reading

Trending