Telangana Cabinet Initiates Judicial Probe into Kaleshwaram Project Irregularities

Posted on by Vividh Bharthi

Hyderabad: In a significant move, the Telangana Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has greenlit the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption within the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.

Chaired by former Supreme Court Judge Pinakini Chandra Ghosh, the commission has been tasked with submitting its comprehensive report within a timeline of 100 days, marking a commitment to transparency and accountability.

This decision, announced during the Cabinet meeting, underscores the government’s resolve to address concerns surrounding the Kaleshwaram project. Additionally, a separate commission, led by retired judge L. Narasimha Reddy, will investigate irregularities pertaining to the Bhadradri and Yadadri power projects, as well as scrutinize the power purchase agreement with the Chhattisgarh government initiated by the previous administration.

These judicial probes, initially pledged by Chief Minister Reddy in December following the Congress party’s assumption of power, demonstrate a concerted effort to uphold integrity in governance.

Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Komatireddy Venkatreddy provided insights to the media regarding the Cabinet’s decisions, emphasizing the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

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Remark on woman minister: BJP MLC Ravi’s case transferred to Special Court in Bengaluru (Ld)

Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 20 (IANS) A Karnataka district court on Friday directed the police to produce BJP MLC, C.T. Ravi, before the Special Court for MLAs/MPs in Bengaluru.

The Belagavi court judge Sparsha M D’souza passed the order on Friday in this regard transferring the case to the Special Court.

C.T. Ravi was arrested on charges of allegedly using derogatory words against Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar, in the Legislative Council on Thursday.

C.T. Ravi was produced before the court on Friday morning.

Following the order, C.T. Ravi is being brought to Bengaluru from Belagavi on a transit warrant.

BJP leaders, including state President B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and BJP MLAs are following the police convoy in their vehicles.

The prosecution had made a submission to the court requesting for producing the accused before the Special Court for MLAs/MPs.

The court, consenting to the request asked the police on how much time it’s going to take to reach Bengaluru.

The police submitted that if by road the travel time was 12 hours and by air it was two hours.

The court further directed that barring the time of journey, C.T. Ravi should be produced before the Special Court judge without any delay after reaching Bengaluru.

The court also directed the police to ensure smooth transit without any trouble.

While coming out from the court, C.T. Ravi stated, “Our day will also come. They had kept me in custody throughout the night as if we were living under dictatorship. I was taken into custody without issuing a notice to me. This dictatorship won’t last long. It has to end. A full stop will be placed on everything. The police were used to torture me and we will also get a chance.”

Meanwhile, the counsel for C.T. Ravi has submitted a bail petition before the Special Court and also in the sessions court.

Counsel Srinivas Rao has submitted the bail plea.

Earlier, C.T. Ravi stated to the court that he was assaulted and tortured by the policemen in custody. C.T. Ravi claimed that the police took him to three districts for 10 hours, throughout the night.

“The cops took me to isolated places and sugarcane fields,” he added.

Ravi further stated in the court that he was assaulted in the Khanapur police station on the head and he was bleeding.

When asked whether he would be able to identify those police personnel, Ravi expressed his ‘inability’ in doing the same.

–IANS

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Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act 2002 (Amendment) Bill, 2024, passed by legislature

Nagpur, Dec 19 (IANS) The Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act 2002 (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed by both houses of the legislature on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the state government will make efforts through the GST Council to provide relief to the farmers from GST which is currently imposed on essential commodities, fertilisers, seeds, and medicines which are related to the agriculture sector.

“Our country has adopted the concept of ‘One Nation One Tax’, through which the ‘GST’ tax system has been developed. Many concessions and subsidy schemes are being implemented by the Central and state governments for the farmers of the state. The state government will make efforts to give relief to farmers so that they will be relieved from GST payment on various items related to the agriculture sector,” he said.

Ajit Pawar further added that the government will also step up efforts to bring more coherence and transparency in the GST collection in the state.

He said that 16 per cent of the total tax collection in the country is collected from Maharashtra alone.

“Maharashtra has the largest share in the total tax collection in the country. Due to this, special efforts will be made to bring more coherence and transparency to the GST system in the state. Special precautions will be taken to stop tax evasion from areas adjacent to the state’s borders. Many concessions and subsidy schemes are implemented by the Central and state governments for farmers,” he added.

The Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act 2002 (Amendment) Bill, 2024, focuses on increasing the revenue of the state government. As per Section 37 of the existing Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002, the first burden of the state on recovery was subject to certain conditions. According to the amendments, after the unconditional first burden was established under the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, 2002, it will be possible to recover at a faster pace.

Traders purchase petrol and diesel from oil companies and supply them to boats anchored in the deep sea in barrels. The traders are exempted from paying tax by treating this supply as if it were made through other petrol pumps. This amendment will prevent tax evasion by including the definition of retail outlet and clarification of retail sales in the Act. Also, by including a suitable clarification in Section 2 (24) (five) of the Act, it will be possible to levy tax on sales made by an organisation or club to its members.

–IANS

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