Karnataka BJP demands CBI probe into recovery of huge amounts of cash during I-T raids
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka BJP on Tuesday staged a demonstration here demanding a CBI investigation into the recovery of huge amounts of cash in the recent I-T raids in Karnataka and some other states.
The BJP had also held protests in Karnataka on Monday targeting the Congress government linking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar with alleged corruption in the backdrop of the I-T raids.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes said on Monday that the Income Tax Department has seized Rs 94 crore in cash as well as gold, diamond jewellery worth Rs eight crore and 30 luxury watches following raids on government contractors and real estate developers in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.
In Karnataka, the I-T sleuths seized about Rs 42 crore in cash from a contractor and his son, sources in the department said.
"We are seeing that the Congress is working with a single agenda to loot, collect money and send it to other poll-bound states," alleged former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who led the party leaders at the demonstration at the Freedom Park here.
The party leaders raised slogans against the Congress government, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the party's central leadership.
Speaking to reporters, Sadananda Gowda alleged that "the loot that is happening in Karnataka has never happened anywhere in the country".
He said the Congress had initially said it will not release funds to the contractors for pending bills, only to build pressure on them to pay (bribes) them.
"Karnataka is like an ATM for the assembly elections in five states. An investigation by the I-T will not suffice. Those unseen hands behind it should also be brought to the fore. A CBI probe must be ordered to expose those who are behind the loot," Gowda said.
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SC to hear on May 4 PIL seeking stringent guidelines for issuing Aadhaar to adolescents, adults
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea seeking a direction to the Unique Identification Authority of India to issue new Aadhaar cards only to citizens up to the age of six years, and frame stringent guidelines for its issuance to adolescents and adults to stop infiltrators from masquerading as Indian citizens.
As per the apex court's causelist of May 4, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay has also sought a direction to the authorities to install display boards at common service centres stating that the 12-digit unique identification number is only a "proof of identity" and not a proof of citizenship, address or date of birth.
Besides all the states and Union Territories, the plea has made the UIDAI -- which is the authority that issues Aadhaar -- and the Union ministries of home, law and justice, and electronics and information technology as parties.
The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, said Aadhaar, originally intended as a proof of identity, has increasingly become a "foundational document" enabling individuals to obtain other identification documents, such as ration cards, domicile certificates and voter identity cards.
"The UIDAI has issued 144 crore Aadhaar and 99 percent Indians have been enrolled. Therefore, the petitioner is filing this writ petition as a PIL under Article 32, seeking a direction to UIDAI to issue new Aadhaar to children only and frame new stringent guidelines for adolescents and adults, so as to stop infiltrators from getting it and masquerading as Indian citizens," the plea said.
It said the need to file the plea arose when the petitioner came to know the manner in which infiltrators are able to procure Aadhaar through a verification process that is weak and can be easily manipulated.
"Foreigners apply for Aadhaar under the 'foreign' category. But infiltrators apply for Aadhaar under the 'Indian citizen' category and get it easily made. Thereafter, they obtain a ration card, birth and domicile certificate, driving licence, et cetera, essentially becoming indistinguishable from Indian citizens…," it said.
Besides seeking other directions, the plea has raised legal questions, including whether the Aadhaar Act 2016 has become "temporally unreasonable" for failing to keep up with the legislative intent of distinguishing foreigners from Indian citizens.
It said the alleged misuse of Aadhaar undermines targeted welfare delivery and leads to diversion of public resources.
