Rs 31.5 cr unaccounted cash seized in poll-bound Karnataka
Bengaluru, May 10: A total of Rs 31.5 crore unaccounted cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 5.83 crore were seized by the Income Tax department in Karnataka since the state assembly election was announced on March 27, said an official on Thursday.
"Since the Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 27 after the Election Commission announced the May 12 assembly election, the department has seized Rs 31.5 crore unaccounted cash and Rs 5.83-crore worth jewellery," said Income Tax Joint Commissioner G. Ramesh in a statement here.
Noting that the illegal amount seized during the last six weeks was six-fold more than made in the May 2013 assembly elections, he said the seizures were likely to go up by the voting day on Saturday.
"In the present election, we were able to unearth incriminating evidence of misuse of money power from raising unaccounted funds to the distribution of cash and freebies by the contesting candidates," said Ramesh.
The department's investigation wing had shared the evidence with the Election Commission, the state's Chief Electoral Officer) and district election officers for action under the Representation of People's Act, 1951.
"The raids are carried as per rules and after ensuring that a particular search was required. The proceedings cover the entire political spectrum and are conducted impartially, respecting the privacy of the searched person in the presence of witnesses," said Ramesh.
The department has been keeping a watch on cash transactions, including bank transfers, contract payments and deals by realtors and non-banking finance companies during the monitoring period.
"Our intelligence at airports, railway stations and bus terminals has been strengthened and is functioning in coordination with other law enforcement agencies," the IT Department pointed out the statement.
Affidavits of candidates submitted with nominations are verified with their income tax returns and that of their family members.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
