Violence erupts during final phase of West Bengal polling
Kolkata: The seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal has been marred by violent incidents across the state. Reports indicate clashes between party workers and instances of vandalism, including an attack on a spare EVM in South 24 Parganas district.
In the Jadavpur constituency, clashes erupted between activists of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), with both sides resorting to hurling crude bombs. The situation escalated to a point where police intervention became necessary, resulting in the dispersal of the crowd. Authorities later recovered crude bombs from the scene.
Meanwhile, in Kultali, South 24 Parganas district, booth numbers 40 and 41 witnessed an alarming incident of mob violence, leading to the vandalization of a spare EVM and a VVPAT machine. The Election Commission has called for a report from the Returning Officer regarding the incident.
BJP candidate Tapas Roy faced hostility from TMC workers during his visit to booths in Cossipore, Kolkata North constituency, where slogans of "go back" were raised against him.
Accusations have also been leveled against TMC workers and police regarding alleged intimidation tactics employed in the Barmajoor area of Sandeshkhali. The BJP claims that polling agents' houses were visited, and threats were made. Women in Sandeshkhali have reportedly protested against these actions.
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CBI books IRS officer for demanding 250 gm of gold coins in bribe
New Delhi (PTI): The CBI has booked a deputy commissioner of customs for allegedly seeking a bribe in the form of 250 grams of gold coins to de-freeze bank accounts of a businessman's jewellery company, officials said Monday.
In the FIR, the CBI has named 2014-batch IRS officer Vikas Pal, then posted in Chennai, and his alleged accomplice Mohammed Sabahuddin in the case.
The CBI took action on a complaint filed by S Shreeganth, the director of Aalaya Jewel Industry Pvt. Ltd, in 2021 which he alleged that Pal, currently posted as Deputy Commissioner, Central GST Noida (Appeals), allegedly demanded gold coins through his representative Sabahuddin, "in lieu of de-freezing of the bank accounts of his company".
A query e-mailed to Pal seeking his reaction remained unanswered.
Sabahuddin, who himself was a GST defaulter, allegedly called Shreeganth thrice regarding the fulfilment of said illegal demand of gold coins, according to the FIR.
The Directorate General of Vigilance (DGoV) Customs referred the matter to the CBI after concluding that there is sufficient corroborative evidence to support the
allegations.
The DGoV also said Pal took undue financial favour from Sabahuddin, who was an offender of GST by getting flight tickets booked, hotel bookings and cab bookings through him.
