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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Shiv Sena minister lands in trouble over Rapido sponsorship after crackdown on firm
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Minister Pratap Sarnaik has found himself embroiled in controversy over allegations of misusing his ministerial position to pressure Rapido, a bike taxi service provider, into sponsoring his son's Pro Govinda League 2025 event. According to the allegations, in July, Sarnaik booked a Rapido bike under a pseudonym from Mantralaya. When the bike arrived, he questioned the rider about operating without state government permission. He then reportedly called Rapido's manager, threatening to file an FIR and take strict action. However, instead of pursuing legal measures, Sarnaik allegedly secured sponsorship from Rapido for the Pro Govinda event, organized by his son, Purvesh Sarnaik. Maharashtra Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the minister of staging a crackdown on Rapido only to later strike a deal for sponsorship. Wadettiwar claimed that while the state faces financial constraints for critical projects, Sarnaik has demonstrated how to extort funds for personal events. In response, Sarnaik denied any wrongdoing, stating that connecting the Pro Govinda event with politics was "wrong." He claimed he had taken action against Rapido on July 2, while the sponsorship was finalized on May 26—before the alleged confrontation. "I fearlessly acted against the company even though it was sponsoring my son's event. Instead of appreciating this, some are opposing it unnecessarily," he said. His son, Purvesh, also denied any link between his father's actions and the sponsorship, asserting that the deal was secured a month prior. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar criticized Sarnaik for misusing his ministerial authority, calling it a breach of his oath. "CM Fadnavis must investigate this seriously and take appropriate action," Pawar said. The controversy has sparked a political row, with opposition leaders demanded Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take action against Sarnaik for exploiting his authority for personal gain.
India Today
24-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Why CAG is alarmed by Maharashtra's off-Budget borrowings
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has sounded an alert on the off-Budget borrowings by the Maharashtra government affecting its fiscal transparency. The statutory auditor has also pointed to the growing stress on the state's public finances.'Financing expenditures through off-Budget borrowings increases the public liabilities of the state substantially over a period of time, leading to a debt trap, without the legislature even knowing that such liabilities are being created,' said the CAG's report on Maharashtra State Finances for report, which was submitted to the state legislature during its recent monsoon session, explained that off-Budget borrowing (OBB) allows the government to meet its expenditure requirements without recording these debts in the Budget, thereby bypassing legislative borrowings are often raised through state-owned or state-controlled entities, with repayments ultimately covered by the state government's Budget. 'These borrowings, which are serviced through the state's Budget are effectively considered as the state's own liabilities under Article 293(3) of the Constitution. As outlined in the Maharashtra Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (MFRBM) Act and the Rules (2006, amended in 2008), the state government must provide full disclosure of its liabilities including off-Budget However, audit has observed that despite the requirement for transparency, off-Budget borrowings were not disclosed in the Budget documents,' the CAG report said. The CAG's audit noticed instances wherein the state government had resorted to off-Budget borrowing through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and MSRDC Tunnels Ltd. These entities had entered into an agreement with financial institutions, guaranteeing repayment through state budgetary allocations to cover the principal and interest payments.'The government of Maharashtra's increasing use of off-Budget borrowings not only affects fiscal transparency but also risks circumventing budgetary controls and legislative oversight. The state government needs to improve its fiscal accountability by ensuring that all liabilities are comprehensively reported in the annual financial statements. Furthermore, these off-Budget borrowings should be brought within the ambit of legislative control to ensure sustainable financial management,' the CAG report said, adding: 'The continuous mismatch between receipts and expenditure indicates rising fiscal stress.'State governments are increasingly turning to populism in their politics. For instance, in Maharashtra, after a drubbing in the Lok Sabha election last year, the erstwhile Eknath Shinde-led regime rolled out a gravy train of welfare schemes. The flagship scheme was the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which over 25 million women from indigent families were given doles of Rs 1,500 per month in a replica of a similar cash benefit scheme for women in neighbouring Madhya schemes, such as stipends for apprentices, free visits to pilgrimage centres for senior citizens, and even a waiver on the toll on passenger cars levied at the five entry points to Mumbai, served as force-multipliers in the state assembly poll held later that year, which was swept by the from the ruling coalition say the Ladki Bahin scheme led to this 'silent' voter segment of women, whose financial and social autonomy is otherwise constrained, voting for them with their feet. By June this year, a scrutiny by the state government has detected that around 885,000 women had claimed more cash doles under the Ladki Bahin Yojana than they were eligible for. The state government also struck off over 2,000 government employees from the list of CAG report said that the state has different sources of revenue receipts, such as its own tax revenue, non-tax revenue, devolution of state's share in taxes, grants in-aid from the Union government and non-debt capital receipts. From 2019-20 to 2023-24, the revenue receipts increased by 52.05 per cent, from Rs 2,83,189.58 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 4,30,596.46 crore in 2023-24, at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 11.04 per compared to 2022-23, during 2023-24, its own tax revenue increased by Rs 24,857.06 crore (8.96 per cent), the non-tax revenues rose by Rs 4,081.53 crore (24.33 per cent) and the state's share of Union taxes and duties increased by Rs 11,348.78 crore (18.91 per cent). However, the grants-in-aid from the Union government decreased by Rs 15,368.84 crore (29.89 per cent).The CAG noted that debt as a percentage of the Gross State Domesdatic Product (GSDP) has increased to 18.11 in 2023-24 from 17.42 in 2022-23. Additionally, there were off-Budget borrowings during 2022-23 and 2023-24. 'If the current trend is followed, the ratio of debt/GSDP would eventually rise, leading to reduced fiscal flexibility,' it to India Today Magazine- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Housing societies in dilemma over NA tax in absence of govt resolution
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: Nearly ten months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo The abolition was a long-standing demand of housing society federations. Despite the cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Some have stopped paying tax based on the cabinet announcement, while others continue to pay to avoid potential penalties. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15. "We understand the practical difficulties societies are facing. Clear directives will be issued through the GR shortly, which would give clarity to those who have paid NA tax and those who have not," the official added. In the meantime, housing societies remain divided in their approach. "We are aware that the tax has been scrapped, but without an official GR, we are hesitant to stop payment," said a senior committee member of a housing society in Kondhwa. "We have not received any directive from the state govt. Until the GR is issued, we cannot provide clear instructions to officials or societies," said a senior district administration official. The housing federation said that the issue affects thousands of housing societies and called on the govt to issue a resolution in this regard without any further delay. "This is a critical issue for middle-class homeowners. The longer the delay, the more confusion it will create. The govt must act swiftly," said Patwardhan. Pune: Nearly ten months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. The abolition was a long-standing demand of housing society federations. Despite the cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Some have stopped paying tax based on the cabinet announcement, while others continue to pay to avoid potential penalties. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15. "We understand the practical difficulties societies are facing. Clear directives will be issued through the GR shortly, which would give clarity to those who have paid NA tax and those who have not," the official added. In the meantime, housing societies remain divided in their approach. "We are aware that the tax has been scrapped, but without an official GR, we are hesitant to stop payment," said a senior committee member of a housing society in Kondhwa. "We have not received any directive from the state govt. Until the GR is issued, we cannot provide clear instructions to officials or societies," said a senior district administration official. The housing federation said that the issue affects thousands of housing societies and called on the govt to issue a resolution in this regard without any further delay. "This is a critical issue for middle-class homeowners. The longer the delay, the more confusion it will create. The govt must act swiftly," said Patwardhan.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In absence of GR, housing socs in dilemma over paying NA tax
Pune: Nearly 10 months after the state cabinet announced abolition of non-agricultural (NA) tax for urban housing societies, confusion prevails over it due to absence of a formal govt resolution (GR) in this regard. The managements of housing societies across the state said they are not sure whether they should continue paying the tax till official guidelines are issued in this regard. The state cabinet, under Eknath Shinde-led govt, had approved scrapping of the NA tax in October 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections. The move was aimed at providing relief to societies in urban areas like Pune and Mumbai, where residents have been paying both property tax and NA tax. Housing societies have now approached the state government to issue a formal GR in this respect. "We have informed the housing societies that the NA tax has been scrapped. However, many have received payment notices post-October. There is widespread confusion on the issue. We urge the govt to issue a GR in this regard immediately," said Suhas Patwardhan, chairperson, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The NA tax, which dates back to the British era, is levied on properties situated on agricultural land within the municipal corporation or council limits, excluding those located in designated gaothan areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Despite cabinet decision, lack of an official GR has left societies in a dilemma. Senior revenue department officials acknowledged the delay, attributing it to the timing of the assembly elections. "The law and judiciary department deferred the issue of GR last year, citing code of conduct during elections. Later, it was left to the new govt to issue the GR," a revenue department official told TOI. A senior official confirmed on Saturday that the GR is likely to be taken up in the next cabinet meeting and could be notified before August 15.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Maharashtra FDA suspends MLA hostel caterer's licence after 'stale food' claim by Legislator
The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) evening suspended the licence of the caterer which operates the canteen at the Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, where a staffer was assaulted by a Shiv Sena legislator for allegedly serving stale food. The FDA, in its suspension order, stated that the contractor (Ajanta Caterers) had violated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as well as the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The violations were found during an inspection conducted at the hostel earlier in the day, said the regulator. The FDA's order directed Ajanta Caterers to cease food service operations at the hostel premises starting on Thursday (July 10, 2025). The action comes after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad slapped and punched an employee at the MLAs' hostel canteen for serving "stale food". The MLA from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led party said he had repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of food served in the canteen but no corrective action was taken. "I had complained several times about the food served in the canteen but the situation remained unchanged," Mr. Gaikwad claimed.
