Maharashtra government receives legal notice over ₹1.58 crore unpaid bill for Davos trip
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has received a legal notice from SKAAH GmbH, a Switzerland-based service provider, regarding an unpaid bill of ₹1.58 crore. The payment is allegedly due for hospitality services rendered to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other officials during the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos earlier this year.
The notice, dated August 28, was addressed to several entities, including the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the Chief Minister’s Office, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the WEF. According to SKAAH GmbH, while the MIDC has cleared ₹3.75 crore of the total amount, the remaining ₹1.58 crore is still pending despite multiple payment reminders.
Responding to the matter, MIDC CEO P. Velrasu stated, “I am not aware of any such notice. However, MIDC will check the vouchers and take necessary action. The matter based on merits will be decided at the earliest.”
The Davos trip has come under fire from opposition leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray from Sena UBT and NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, who have accused the government of overspending on the event. Pawar argued that the government’s actions could harm the state’s image at an international forum like Davos, which is vital for attracting global investments.
State Industries Minister Uday Samant confirmed the receipt of the legal notice but denied any excessive expenditure. “We have not overspent. It is MVA MLAs who are making these allegations. Our legal team will reply to this notice and see what the issue is,” Samant stated.
SKAAH GmbH has warned of potential legal action and claimed that the delay in payments has caused substantial financial damage, affecting their credit and overall financial situation. The firm also raised concerns about the potential impact on international relations between India and Switzerland if the issue is not resolved immediately.
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Minor boy strangled to death for ransom in UP's Sultanpur
Sultanpur (PTI): A debt-ridden neighbour allegedly kidnapped and murdered an 11-year-old boy boy at Sultanpur, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Asif alias Sonu, demanded a ransom of Rs 5,00,000 for releasing Osama alias Sahil to repay his debts, Kotwali police station SHO Naradmuni Singh said.
"The incident took place in the Gandhinagar locality of Sultanpur. The victim's father, Mohd Shakeel, said his son went missing on Monday night after he left to attend a wedding procession. Despite searches, there was no trace of the child," the SHO said.
On Wednesday morning, Osama's body with strangulation marks was found at the residence of the accused whom the police arrested, he said.
Asif, who lives in the same neighbourhood as the victim, exploited the trust built between the two families to carry out the crime, the officer said.
The killing of the minor boy has triggered outrage in the area with the residents demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
The victim's family has called for death penalty for Asif.
