
Minister orders action in Rs 25 lakh fraud
Investigations confirmed irregularities amounting to Rs 24.52 lakh in this project.
The probe revealed that the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO), assistant engineer (AE), junior engineer (JE), and the contractor were directly accountable for the misappropriation. Sond said that the investigation report clearly established their guilt. He announced that the implicated officials would face immediate suspension and chargesheets.
He also said that the government would recover the funds from the contractor and other parties responsible.
The scam was exposed by complainant Santokh Singh Bainipal, who obtained details through a Right to Information (RTI) request. In 2023, Bainipal submitted a written complaint to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, following which a probe was carried out.
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Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
States raise revenue loss concerns: GoM backs Centre's plan for GST rate rationalisation
The Group of Ministers on Rate Rationalisation gave its in-principle support Thursday to the Centre's proposal to overhaul the Goods and Services Tax (GST) design, even as member states raised concerns about potential revenue loss on account of the rate rationalisation. Six days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, announced the next big phase of reforms under the GST regime by Diwali, a gift for the common man, small entrepreneurs and MSMEs, in terms of reduced tax burden. The Centre has suggested replacing multiple slabs – 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent – with a broad two-slab structure – 5 per cent and 18 per cent – in addition to a 40 per cent special rate for sin and demerit goods. States said they do not oppose the 'pro-people' proposal, but it may result in revenue losses that will ultimately leave them with less resources to spend on common people in their regions. While Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister and GoM convenor Samrat Choudhary spelt out the panel's support for the GST overhaul proposal, he said observations made by states will be referred to the GST Council. Detailed discussions on items will be taken up in the Council, he said. 'We have deliberated upon the Centre's proposal to remove the two GST slabs, we have given our support and recommendations. Now, the GST Council will decide. All states gave their views, there were some observations by some states. Those will be referred to the GST Council,' Choudhary said. The differing views and observations of states on revenue loss and concerns over profiteering by manufacturers and companies will be part of the note that the GoM will send to the Council along with the Centre's proposal. Some states were also of the view that the work done by the GoM over the last few years will now essentially be wasted as they would be simply handing over the Centre's proposal to the GST Council. 'We have neither approved nor rejected it. Centre cannot give its proposal directly to the Council, so we will be just handing over the Centre's proposal to the Council,' a top state government official told The Indian Express. States are learnt to have sent their suggestions for the GoM's note on a mechanism to compensate states that will address their revenue loss concerns. States are anticipating annual revenue loss of Rs 6,000-10,000 crore, the official said. West Bengal's Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya echoed a similar view and said they are 'okay with the pro-people proposal' but it is not an agreement. The Centre's proposal has not outlined the figure for revenue loss on account of the GST rate rationalisation and the proposal should not move ahead without detailing a mechanism for compensating states for revenue loss. 'It's not an agreement in that way. If it's there, it is okay. If it is pro-people, then it's okay. But it has to be discussed in the Council's meeting also. There is no benefit in discussing it item-by-item in the GoM meeting. It will be discussed item-by-item in the (GST) Council meeting. While presenting a report to the GST Council, they will give a note of what we have said,' she said. Bhattacharya said no state had any issue in accepting the pro-people GST overhaul proposal. 'All states are pro-people. There is no doubt about it. It's nothing to talk about in politics. They are pro-people, let us take it for granted. But when the states lose their revenue, that also ultimately goes back to common people. That has to be looked into. That is what we have said,' she said. 'Because to give relief to common people should not mean that there isn't much left to spend on them after that, we have to think about that. That's why we have said that while you give the presentation, you must quantify it (revenue loss),' she said. She also said that ministers from BJP-ruled states have concurred with the suggestions. 'But we have said we are there, if it benefits people, we are okay. On the one hand it reaches people and on the other hand see what is the loss we (states) are facing. Ultimately if a state suffers any loss, that ultimately boils down to the suffering of the common man,' she said. Uttar Pradesh's Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the Centre's proposal was welcomed by all member states saying it is in the interest of the common man. 'States were asking that they should be compensated for revenue loss. The revenue loss will be calculated. Ultra luxury goods and sin goods will attract 40 per cent,' he said. Revenue loss concerns of states stem from the plan to prune the list of items in the 12 per cent slab and shift them to 5 per cent. There is also a concern that most items the existing 28 per cent slab. The Centre plans to introduce a special rate of 40 per cent, which will apply only to 5-7 sin, demerit and luxury items. States revenue loss concerns stem from the plan to prune the list of items in the 12 per cent slab and shift them to 5 per cent. There is also a concern that most items in the existing 28 per cent slab will shift to 18 per cent slab except sin and demerit goods. The Centre plans to introduce a special rate of 40 per cent, which will apply only to 5-7 sin, demerit and luxury items. Some states have suggested amending the GST laws to allow for an additional levy going beyond the current cap of 40 per cent (20 per cent Central GST plus 20 per cent State GST). Some of the items right now attract GST of 60-70 per cent, Bhattacharya said, adding that the law should be amended to ensure that the current tax incidence, especially on sin goods, remains at the current level.


The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Two held for hurling petrol bomb in Ranipet
Two persons were arrested for hurling a petrol bomb at the house of an agent of Vellore-based LNS International Financial Services at Sayanapuram village near Nemili town in Ranipet on Thursday. Police said the arrested persons were identified as H. Dinesh (34) and R. Mohan (20). They were relatives of the victim S. Arun (43), an agent of the financial firm. All of them are native to the village. Initial inquiry revealed that the victim Arun allegedly convinced the duo to invest their money in the private financial firm to avail high interest on their deposits. Police said that, accordingly, the duo deposited around Rs 15 lakh in the firm. In February this year, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested 10 persons in connection with a scam involving LNS International Financial Services, where the company cheated over 5046 depositors and swindled ₹800 crore. The EOW registered a case against the dysfunctional financial firm, its sister concerns, and the directors and administrators of the firms, based on the depositors' complaints. Since then, the duo had regularly visited the victim's house and demanded return of their deposit. When Arun gave excuses for the same, the duo hurled the petrol bomb. No damage was reported. Police nabbed the suspects from their hideouts in Chennai. A case was registered by Nemili police and they were lodged in Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is underway.


India Today
28 minutes ago
- India Today
Karnataka refers crowd control bill to house committee amid Opposition concerns
The Karnataka government has moved to refer the Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Place of Gathering) Bill, 2025 to a house committee after facing strong opposition from rival parties over concerns it could restrict protests and affect cultural and religious Bill, tabled in the Assembly by Home Minister G Parameshwara, was introduced in the wake of the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives. Parameshwara described the tragedy as a 'wake-up call' and said the legislation aims to ensure crowd safety and hold event organisers accountable. advertisementThe Bill requires organisers of events expecting 7,000 or more people to obtain police permission in advance, with those expecting over 50,000 attendees additionally required to provide an indemnity bond of Rs 1 crore. Applications for permission must initially be submitted ten days before the event, though Parameshwara later agreed to reduce this period to five days following opposition concerns. The legislation specifies that unpermitted events could attract penalties including imprisonment of up to seven years and fines of Rs 1 crore. Events resulting in injury or fatalities would carry up to seven years' imprisonment for injuries and up to life for or breaches of peace during events could result in three years' imprisonment and fines of Rs 50,000. The Bill exempts family functions and private events, including those in leased or hired venues, while religious events, mass marriages, and government functions are to be BJP legislator Suresh Kumar criticised the Bill as an 'afterthought' following the High Court's questions on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for crowd management, describing it as a 'postmortem Bill.'Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka expressed concerns that the Bill could become a tool for police misuse, asking, 'All political parties hold programmes or events. If something goes wrong, then what'll be the fate of that party? This must be thought about. This should not become a weapon for police. Think and frame rules.'Other legislators, including Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and BJP MLA Sunil Kumar, echoed these concerns, warning that powers granted under the Bill could be misused to target protests or certain communities, and questioned its applicability to spontaneous protests, religious festivals, or government events. Yatnal alleged the Bill seemed intended 'to target events of one religion and curtail protests' and warned it was 'more dangerous than what was done by the British.'Responding to the opposition, Parameshwara agreed to amend certain clauses, reducing the advance notice period to five days and exempting religious events, mass marriages, and government functions. Despite these assurances, opposition members maintained that the Bill required careful scrutiny before enactment and called for its referral to a house committee. The Speaker, UT Khader, subsequently confirmed that the Assembly's House Committee would review the legislation for detailed consideration.- EndsIN THIS STORY#Karnataka