Rs 10,618 CRORES SCAM: 58 FIRs registered: ED informs HC.

Rs 10,618 CRORES SCAM: 58 FIRs registered: ED informs HC.

Matter fixed for final arguments on 22.09.2016 to decide whether the Investigation should be handed-over to the CBI & ED.

20.09.2016: Chandigarh: On Wednesday the during the hearing of the petition seeking CBI & ED investigation into the scam of Rs 10,618 Crores; the ED Informed the High Court that so far total 58 FIRs have been registered in the matter and the money laundering angle is being investigated. Mr. Pardeep Rapria, Advocate for the Petitioners argued that all the FIRs are having inter-state ramification involving states like Gujrat, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan etc. and even FIR in this connections has been registered in the Gujrat, in such situation the matter should be handed-over to the CBI&ED for investigation.

            After hearing the arguments at length J. Rakesh Jain of High Court fixed the matter for final arguments on 22.09.2016, to decide whether the matter should be handed-over to the CBI and ED. It may be recalled that the investigation by SIT conducted only in respect of 10 districts of Haryana brought to surface a staggering figure of revenue loss to the tune of about Rs.10,618 crores (Rs.Ten thousand six hundred eighteen crores) which in fact necessitates action not only against the dealers/businessmen but also against the Officers and officials responsible for criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The SIT Report consisting 345 pages was submitted on 14.01.2015 but the Haryana Government did not take any action. The petitioner’s counsellor has attached the file notings of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu and raised the question over the laxity of government in taking action in the matter and which appears to be shielding the accused.

“The accused officials of Excise and taxation department have close connections with senior bureaucrates, police officers and politicians of different political parties in Haryana”, contended the petitioner’s counsel Pardeep Rapria.

The rice processors of Haryana may also face the music as their names have also been indicted in the SIT report.

It was noticed by the SIT during enquiry that officers of Excise & Taxation Department, Haryana, at all levels in connivance with the traders and builders/developers caused huge loss to the state. The system of Tax Evasion/Refund by corrupt means is a well established and unofficially approved system which is mutually beneficial to the excise and taxation officers and traders and builders and hence nobody wants to disturb this convenient system....”

The SIT Lokayukta also mentioned “A number of other cases of builder/developer could not be examined due to non co-operation on part of the District Excise and Taxation Commissioners of Gurgaon and Faridabad, which confirms the allegations of the complainant that these builder/developers have not paid the Sales Tax/VAT as applicable on sales of flats/shops to prospective buyers. An estimated loss of about Rs. 10,000 Crores is involved in the files....  

The SIT also feelt that since the tax evasion scandal involves big names and affirms and cannot be going on without active support of Excise & Taxation Officers at all levels as it also involves jurisdictional issues as it demands enquiry in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and other states, it would be appropriate if this matter is investigated by an agency like CBI”