
Vigilance probe on ‘Aadudam Andhra' reaches final stages
The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (Saap) has point-ed to a massive scam worth Rs 60-65 crore in the imple-mentation of the programme, which was rolled out in De-cember 2023 in the name of promoting sports such as cricket, volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho, and badminton from village to district levels.
Saap chairman A Ravi Naidu, speaking to The Hans India, stated that the district-level vigilance inquiry has been completed and a state-level probe is currently in progress, with the final report expected anytime in August. 'We have identified irregularities in procurements, cash incen-tives, food supplies, medals, and publicity. The final report will shed light on the lapses and name the individuals re-sponsible,' he said.
The state government had sanctioned Rs 25,000 per man-dal, municipality, and assembly constituency, and Rs 10,000 per ward and village secretariat to conduct the sports events, amounting to Rs 81 lakh for Chittoor district and Rs 83 lakh for Tirupati district alone.
However, the kits provided — including bats, balls, shuttle rackets, t-shirts, and corks — have been widely criticised by players for their substandard quality. Several partici-pants across various levels reported that the equipment was unusable after just a single game. Complaints of the leftover kits not reaching local schools, as per government orders, have added another layer of concern, sparking questions over their possible diversion.
Adding to the controversy are claims of political interfer-ence in the selection of winners during the programme's contests. There are accusations that the YSRCP govern-ment allegedly influenced the results to benefit its party loyalists. Vigilance officials are also examining reports that cash prizes earmarked for winners were either delayed or not credited at all, pointing to possible misappropriation of funds.
Vigilance authorities are now finalising their comprehen-sive report, which will be submitted to the government very soon. Sources indicate that the findings could trigger administrative or legal proceedings against those found guilty.

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Business Standard
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- Business Standard
Caste, feudal mindset persists in MP judiciary: HC on treatment of judge
In a strongly-worded order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has deplored the "caste system" and the "feudal mindset" reflected in the judicial structure in the state where those in the high court are considered as "savarn" or privileged ones, while the district judges as "shudras" and "les misrables". It also likened the relationship between the judges of the high court and those of the district courts to that of "feudal lord and serf", adding that a sense of fear and inferiority is consciously instilled by one on the subconscious of the other. A division bench of the MP High Court comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and D K Paliwali made these scathing remarks in its order passed on July 14 while setting aside the dismissal of a special court judge. Instances of the judges of the district judiciary personally attending to judges of the high court are commonplace as also the latter not offering a seat to the former, thereby "perpetuating a colonial decadence with a sense of entitlement", it said. "At a subliminal level, the penumbra of the caste system manifests in the judicial structure in this state where those in the High Court are the savarn and the shudras are the les Misrables of the District Judiciary," it said. "The dismal relationship between the judges of the High Court and the judges of the District Judiciary is one between a feudal lord and serf. The feudal state of mind that still exists in the State, results in its manifestation in the judiciary also," the bench said. The fear of the district judiciary is understandable, the court said. "The relationship between District Judiciary and the High Court in the State is not based on mutual respect for each other but one where a sense of fear and inferiority is consciously instilled by one on the subconscious of the other," it said. The court said this while allowing a petition filed by Jagat Mohan Chaturvedi challenging the order of August 1, 2016 that dismissed his appeal against his termination from services as a judge of a special court (SC/ST) on October 19, 2015. As per the procedure, the call to dismiss is taken by the full court of the high court chaired by the Chief Justice. But the proposal to remove him was sent to the state government for action. The division bench quashed the order terminating the services of the petitioner and imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakh on the state government through the principal secretary Law and Legislative Department and the MP High Court Registrar General, saying that Chaturvedi had to face humiliation in society, without an iota of material coming on record to establish corruption against him. It said, "The instant case reveals a malady that cannot be addressed effectively on account of the social structure existing in the State." "It is precisely cases like this that result in a large number of bail applications pending before the High Court as also the Criminal Appeals. Experience at Bar gives this Court the wisdom to arrive at the opinion that the District Judiciary functions under the perpetual fear of the High Court," the HC said. Like this case, where the petitioner was terminated from service on account of passing bail orders in favour of the applicants, the message that goes down to the district judiciary by such acts of the high court is that acquittals recorded in major cases or bails granted by the courts below the high court, can result in adverse action against judges passing such orders, though they are judicial orders, it said. "The body language of the Judges of the District Judiciary when they greet a Judge of the High Court stops short of grovelling before the High Court Judge, making the Judges of the District Judiciary the only identifiable species of invertebrate mammals," it said. There are instances of the judges of the district judiciary personally attending to judges of the high court (as desired by them) on railway platforms and waiting on them with refreshments, are commonplace, thus perpetuating a colonial decadence with a sense of entitlement, the court added. "Judges of the District Judiciary on deputation to the registry of the High Court are almost never offered a seat by the Judges of the High Court and on a rare occasion when they are, they are hesitant to sit down before the High Court Judge," the court said. The subjugation and enslavement of the psyche of the judges of the district judiciary is complete and irreversible, so it seems. All this in the name of saving their job, for which the petitioner in this case suffered, for thinking and doing differently, the court order said. "They have families, children who go to school, parents undergoing treatment, a home to be built, savings to be accumulated, and when the High Court terminates his service abruptly on account of a judicial order passed him, he and his entire family is out on the streets with no pension and the stigma of facing a society that suspects his integrity," the court said. On account of "gross injustice" suffered by him, the HC restored his pensionary benefits and also directed that he be given back wages from the date on which he was terminated till the date he would have otherwise superannuated with seven per cent interest. The same shall be complied within a period of 90 days from the date on which this order is uploaded on the web site of the High Court Registrar General, failing which the petitioner shall be entitled to file a contempt petition against the respondents, it said.
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Business Standard
14 minutes ago
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Agitating ASHA workers in Kerala welcome Centre's reported incentive hike
The ASHA workers in Kerala who have been agitating for the last several months against the state government demanding a hike and post-retirement benefits, on Saturday welcomed the Centre's reported decision to increase their fixed monthly incentive. They said the union government's decision would be beneficial for over 10 lakh ASHA workers in the country. There are media reports that the Centre approved a proposal to hike the fixed monthly incentive of ASHAs from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 during the recent 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG). The media also reported that the retirement benefits of the ASHA workers would be increased by the Centre, too. S Mini, state vice president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) whose members are carrying out the indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat here, said they had already carried out two Parliament marches raising the same demand. "We welcome the union government's decision to increase the fixed monthly incentive. The incentive had been the same so far since the scheme was launched 18 years ago. We have been demanding the Centre to increase this," she told reporters here. She said the Members of the Parliament from the state visited them when they began the agitation in front of the Secretariat on Feb 10 and assured them to take up the matter with the union government. The present decisions were a continuation of the assurance given by the MPs, she said. The leader said the fixed monthly incentive of the ASHA workers was now raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 and the retirement benefit was increased from Rs 20,000 to 50,000 by the Centre. "But, we will end our ongoing agitation only when the state government increases the honorarium as demanded by us," Mini said, adding that the state authorities could enhance it easily. A section of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have been protesting outside the secretariat since February 10, demanding a hike in their honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000 and a post-retirement benefit of five lakh rupees. Asha workers in Kerala receive an honorarium of Rs 7000 -- given entirely by the state. The fixed incentives are given in a 60-40 ratio by the Centre and the state.


Economic Times
14 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Rs 437 crore tax collection: For crypto traders, evading income tax is getting difficult as Tax Dept uses AI, data analytics tools
ET Online Crypto tax In India, avoiding taxes on bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other virtual digital assets is becoming increasingly difficult. The Income Tax Department is increasing its efforts to monitor transactions related to the virtual digital assets (VDAs) made by individuals. This is being done through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other data analytics tools. According to the government's reply in the Parliament, the government has collected Rs 437 crore in taxes for FY 2022-23 from VDA-related income. The government implemented income tax rules for crypto and other VDAs from FY 2022- 23. In FY 2022-23, the government collected Rs 269.09 crore in taxes from VDA income. Also read: Indian Railways has deactivated 2.5 crore IRCTC user IDs: Has yours also been deactivated? Check now Members of Parliament asked several questions regarding tax collection, potential revenue loss due to under-reporting/mis-reporting from VDAs' income and the technological tools being used to monitor crypto activity. ET Wealth Online breaks down the government's responses on the use of data tools, centralised systems for matching crypto tax data, and ongoing training programs for tax officers. Questions on income tax collection from VDAs, cryptocurrency Parliamentarians Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and G M Harish Balayogi, Members of Parliament, Lok Sabha, asked the following questions and the government's response in the Parliament. a) The total revenue collected from income tax on VDA/cryptocurrency-related income during the last three years, year-wise; The government in the Parliament replied: The tax on income from transfer of Virtual Digital Assets (VDA), under section 115BBH of the Income Tax Act, 1961, was introduced from FY 2022-23. The collection of tax on income from VDA, for last three years is as under:Table (b) whether any estimates have been made by the Government regarding the projected revenue loss due to under-reporting/misreporting of income from VDA/cryptocurrency transactions; The government in Parliament replied: No such estimates have been made. (c) Whether the government is using AI/ML/data analytics tools to identify tax evasion in VDA transactions, if so, details thereof; The government in Parliament replied: The government is utilising data analytics tools to trace and detect tax evasion from VDA-related transactions. The analysis includes the use of Non-Filer Monitoring System (NMS), project insight and internal databases of the Income Tax department, to correlate available information on VDA transactions with the transactions disclosed in the return of income by the taxpayer.(d) Whether a centralised system has been established by the Government for real-time matching of VDA-related ITR filings with TDS returns filed by Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), if so, the status of its implementation; andThe government in Parliament replied: Real time matching of VDA related transactions, filed in income tax returns, with information filed by Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) is not being carried out. However, TDS returns filed by VASPs and income tax returns filed by the taxpayers are analysed to identify discrepancies in reported VDA transactions. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has initiated the NUDGE (Non-Intrusive Use of Data to Guide and Enable) campaign to identify such discrepancies for further action. Under NUDGE campaign suitable communications, to review and update their income tax returns, were issued to all taxpayers who did not report VDA-related transactions in their income tax returns, despite tax being deducted at source for such transactions by VASPs, where the quantum of such discrepancy was more than Rs 1 lakh. (e) Whether the Government has undertaken any capacity-building initiatives to equip tax officials for effective compliance monitoring and investigation in the VDA/cryptocurrency ecosystem, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?The government in the Parliament replied: Several capacity-building initiatives are being undertaken by the Government to equip officers for effective compliance monitoring and investigation of VDA related transactions. Training programs, specialized workshops, Chintan Shivirs and hands-on workshops are regularly conducted by various training institutes under the Income Tax Department. At local level, field offices conduct training sessions and webinars on digital forensics, blockchain analysis, legal frameworks, and handling of digital evidence. The officers and officials are also imparted short term training on digital forensics, in partnership with National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Goa, which empower them to identify and trace VDA related transactions from data captured during intrusive actions. Penalty for not disclosing crypto earnings According to a report in The Economic Times, the Income Tax Department has sent bulk notices to taxpayers who have either not paid the correct income tax amount or failed to report income from cryptocurrency in their tax returns. Also Read | Didn't report your crypto earnings? Income tax dept sending tax notices, conducting search undefined know your options If an individual taxpayer fails to report crypto transactions, they may be liable to pay a penalty under Section 270A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Under this section, a taxpayer is liable to pay a sum equal to fifty per cent of the amount of tax payable on under-reported income. If the under-reported income is in consequence of any misreporting of income, then it is equal to two hundred per cent of the amount of tax payable on the under-reported income. N.R. 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