Disproportionate assets worth Rs 1400 cr
CBI raids 24 premises of Chautala family

NEW DELHI, May 4: The CBI today conducted simultaneous raids at 24 premises belonging to former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his family members spread across five States and Union territory after it registered a case against them for allegedly possessing disproportionate assets worth over Rs 1400 crore.

The CBI registered the case in a designated court here and searched various location in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Chandigarh during which it seized cash of Rs 13 lakh and froze five bank accounts containing Rs 1.34 crore belonging to Chautala and his family members.

The investigating agency’s FIR listed various moveable and immovable properties belonging to either Chautala or his family members that had been acquired between July 1999 and March 2005 when they were public servants.

The FIR alleged Chautala and his family members had plots at prime locations in Gurgaon, Karol Bagh, Manali, Nanital and Chandigarh besides a hotel and a restaurant in upmarket Karolbagh, a shopping mall, six plots of agricultural land, six farm houses and cash and jewellery worth Rs 50 crore.

The CBI conducted a market survey and claimed in its FIR filed last month that the total value of all the properties was Rs 1467 crore.

Chautala and his son Ajay are at present in the United States. Ajay said that they had no knowledge about CBI searches and he would return home soon.

Chautala had said earlier that whatever properties he and his sons owned had been disclosed in their Income Tax returns and in affidavits filed during polls. He had said that whatever properties CBI finds as theirs during the raids could be kept by the investigating agency.

The CBI stumbled upon the various assets belonging to Chautalas during the searches it carried out on April seven last year in connection with alleged malpractices in the recruitment of junior basic teachers in Haryana, a case handed over to the agency by the Supreme Court.

The CBI spokesman said the assets disproportionate to Chautala’s known sources of income were "phenomenal" and would require an extensive and in-depth investigation.

The CBI also found Rs 1.34 crore in five accounts of the family in different banks were frozen. In addition, the CBI also recovered Rs 13 lakh cash at two locations, a release issued by the agency said.

The location selected for searches today were intended mainly to collect evidence and hence were restricted to residential premises and some locations like the office of a chartered accountant and the premises of a trading company run by the accused persons, the CBI release said.

During the searches, the CBI claimed to have found evidence of possession of extensive moveable assets and also documents regarding immovable assets.

The CBI also recovered licenses for 17 weapons from a farm house in Mehrauli and the agency would verify them before registering yet another case under the arms act against Chautalas, the sources said. (AGENCIES)

Azad meets Manmohan
Roundtable real forum for addressing issues: PM

NEW DELHI, May 4: A day after his meeting with Hurriyat Conference on Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the roundtable conference was the "real forum" to address all kinds of problems in a peaceful atmosphere.

This was conveyed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad when he called on Singh here after Azad’s victory in recent Assembly by-poll in Bhaderwah, an official release said.

"The Prime Minister was of the opinion that the roundtable conference is the real forum to address all kinds of problems in a peaceful atmosphere through dialogue and interaction," the release said.

During the 45-minute meeting, Azad conveyed to the Prime Minister that the State Government was set to host the second roundtable conference at Srinagar on May 25.

Both the leaders hoped that right-thinking people will work sincerely to ensure that conference becomes another milestone in the path of peace, the release said.

The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, which had a two-hour meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, indicated it was not averse to joining the roundtable conference in Srinagar.

The State Chief Minister had earlier said that the list of delegates would be pruned for the second roundtable to accommodate the Hurriyat Conference view.

The separatist conglomerate had earlier said that it disfavoured taking part in a roundtable where there are 60 to 70 participants to create a "crowd".

After meeting, Mr Azad said,"the roundtable was discussed... I conveyed to the Prime Minister that State Government is ready to host conference at Srinagar.

He said Dr Singh was of the opinion that the conclave is the "real forum" to address all kinds of problems in a peaceful atmosphere through dialogue and iteraction.

"Both of us hoped that right thinking people will work sincerely to ensure that conference becomes another milestone towards path of peace," he added.

Mr Azad, who completed six months of his tenure on May 2, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir welcomed the decision to open the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade and opening of Poonch-Rawalakot road for passenger service.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered a lot during last 18 years and the economy has come to a stand still.... Infrastructure required for economic activities was destroyed. But due to the Prime Minister’s personal interest reconstruction process of the State is presently in full swing," he added. Mr Azad said in the backdrop of the reconstruction process, the opening of Kashmir valley for trade through the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route will take Jammu and Kashmir to peak of economic growth.

"I am confident that these landmark decisions will not only accelerate economic activities in the State, but will prove highly beneficial for strengthening the backbone of the economies of India and Pakistan.

The Chief Minister apprised Dr Singh about the high turnout of the electorate in the recent byelections held in Bhaderwah, Pattan, Sangrama and Rafiabad.

"The Prime Minister appreciated that people of the State have reposed full faith in democratic process and its fairness," he added.

Basantgarh carnage accused escape after 4 hr battle

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, May 4: Four to six militants, reportedly involved in the massacre of 13 civilians of minority community at Lolan Galla in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Saturday, were trapped by Army and police at Lodhra Top in Bareily Dhar this morning.

In four hour long operation, a SOG constable Satvinder Singh was seriously injured while the militants managed to escape. A fresh search operation was launched this evening to trap them.

SSP Udhampur Rajesh Kumar, who had been camping at Basantgarh for last five days supervising search operation against the militants, told the Excelsior on mobile telephone that Army and police trapped four to six militants at Lodhra Top at 10.30 am today and engaged them in an encounter.

Since the militants had taken positions atop hills, they managed to escape after a four hour long heavy exchange of firing with the security personnel, he said, adding a Special Operations Group (SOG) constable Satvinder Singh was injured in the gun-battle.

A helicopter was requisitioned for the seriously injured constable. He was airlifted here in the afternoon and admitted in the Government Medical College hospital.

"The militant group, engaged in the gun-battle, appeared to be the same which was involved in the killing of 13 civilians of minority community after kidnapping them at Lolan Galla in Basantgarh on Saturday last", Mr Kumar said.

He added that since only one major group of the militants was active in Basantgarh, it was likely that the same militants had executed the killings.

While the militants escaped from Lodhra Top at 2.30 pm today, a fresh search operation was launched to eliminate them this evening by the Army and police personnel. However, no contact had been established with the militants till tonight.

As reported, six militants, believed to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, had struck at Lolan Galla on Saturday afternoon and kidnapped 13 members of minority community from Lolan Galla where they had gone along with their cattle. While bodies of four civilians were recovered on Saturday evening, bullet riddled bodies of nine more civilians were recovered the next day.

Meanwhile, Army today arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the militants, who has been identified as Lala son of Alfa, a resident of Moranch from village Kholi in Gool area of Ramban police district. He was arrested on an information given by a surrendered militant Mukhtar Ahmed of Hizbul Mujahideen

Kaka has been handed over to Gool police station by the Army personnel for questioning.

During a search operation at Thandi Kassi in Potha area of Surankote, troops recovered 40 detonators and four remote control circuits.

Hike of Rs 125 cr in IT collection

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, May 4: More than Rs 125 crore increase has been witnessed in the gross Income Tax collection in Jammu and Kashmir in the financial year ending March 31, 2006 with tax payers’ base widening not only in Jammu but in Kashmir valley also.

As per the data available with the Income Tax Department, Rs 342.83 crore have been realised as gross tax collection in 2005-06 as compared to Rs 217.11 crore of the corresponding year thereby registering 58 per cent growth in the State.

The gross collection of income tax from Jammu region was to the tune of Rs 236.84 crore as compared to Rs 106.78 crore from Kashmir valley. Gross collection registered an increase of 107 per cent in Jammu region where Rs 236.84 crore were realised in 2005-06 as against Rs 114.11 crore of last year.

The data revealed that the target for financial year 2005-06 for income tax realisation from the State was Rs 240 crore but net amount realised was Rs 258.51 crore as compared to Rs 187.71 crore of last year. In Jammu region, the total net collection was Rs 172.71 crore whileas from the Kashmir valley the same was Rs 85.80 crore during 2005-06.

Last year, 11322 cases of refunds involving an amount of Rs 29.40 crore were cleared by the Income Tax Department whileas during 2005-06, the number of refund cases went up to 27295, involving an amount of Rs 84.31 crore.

In Jammu, 16006 refunds were issued as compared to 8987 of last year. Similarly, in Kashmir Valley, 11295 refunds were issued during 2005-06 as compared to meagre 2335 of 2004-05.

The number of returns received by the Department during 2005-06 was 96971 as compared to 92242 of last year thereby increasing the number of assesses by 5.12 percent.

Commenting on the rise in the Income Tax realisation in the State, IT Commissioner J&K Virendra Singh said that the increase has been witnessed despite the fact that the Department has cleared all the pending cases of refunds and added that it was Department’s policy for 2005-06 to clear the refund cases as a part of transparency and grievances redressal mechanism.

"In Kashmir valley, the clearance of refund cases was stopped in 2004-05 due to gutting of office of the Department but in 2005-06 we laid focus on the same and at present there is hardly any case of refund pending in Kashmir valley", Mr Singh said.

He informed that 11 per cent increase has been witnessed in number of tax payers in Kashmir Valley as compared to three per cent in Jammu region.

About the future action plan, he said that like in the previous financial year, awareness coupled with the measures to check the evasion of income tax would be priority areas for the Department. He appealed the people to cooperate with the Department and deposit income tax which is their legal obligation.

It is pertinent to mention here that Income Tax Commissioner made extensive touring of the entire State including militancy infested districts to generate awareness among the people about the necessity of filing returns which led to such a rise in the tax collection.

Tearful adieu to Pramod Mahajan

MUMBAI, May 4: Thousands of mourners bid a tearful adieu today to one of the country’s promising politicians and BJP’s master strategist Pramod Mahajan, who was cremated here with full State honours in the presence of a galaxy of dignitaries led by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Slogans such as ‘Pramod Mahajan Amar Rahe’ (Long live Mahajan) and ‘Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega, Mahajan Tera Naam Rahega’ rent the air as the mortal remains of the 57-year old ‘Gen Next’ leader of the Opposition BJP was consigned to flames at the Shivaji Park cremation grounds here.

The former Union Minister’s son Rahul lit the funeral pyre amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. The buglers sounded the last post and Maharashtra police personnel reversed their arms and fired in the air as a mark of respect to the leader, who died yesterday at the Hinduja Hospital here after battling for life for 12 days after his younger brother Pravin pumped three bullets into him.

Rahul hugged and consoled his sister Poonam as Mahajan’s mortal remains went up in flames. Mahajan’s brother Prakash, brother-in-law Gopinath Munde and close associate Sudhanshu Mittal broke down and were comforted by party leaders and workers.

Present at the cremation grounds to pay homage to the departed soul were Vice-President Shekhawat and a shocked BJP top brass led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and leaders of Opposition in Parliament L K Advani and Jaswant Singh. The Government of India was represented by Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Congress leader Motilal Vora, Union Ministers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel, RSS Chief K S Sudarshan, VHP firebrand leader Praveen Togadia, NDA Convener George Fernandes, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Chief Ministers of all BJP-ruled states including Gujarat’s Narendra Modi and Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray were present, reflecting the late leader’s popularity across the country’s political spectrum.

A wreath on behalf of President A P J Abdul Kalam was placed on the casket containing Mahajan’s body. Other leaders too offered floral tributes.

While Mahajan’s younger brother, Pravin, who shot him is in jail, his (Pravin’s) wife and their children kept away from the cremation.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and son Rahul were among the pall bearers who kept the body in a flower-bedecked truck.

Mahajan’s body was brought to the cremation grounds in a funeral procession which wound its way through the streets of Mumbai from his Worli residence, where he was shot at and injured by Pravin on April 22.

Relatives, senior leaders cutting across party lines and people from all walks of life made a beeline to his home where the body was brought this morning.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani and his family were among the first to pay tributes, followed by RSS chief K S Sudarshan, BJP president Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his son.

Mahajan’s party colleagues, who paid homage, included Jaswant Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Sahib Singh Verma, besides VHP leader Praveen Togadia, Najma Heptullah, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Communications and IT Dayanidhi Maran and NDA Convener George Fernandes also paid their last respects. Industrialists Anil Ambani, Naresh Goyal, media baron and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, Lok Sabha MP Haren Pathak, Bollywood personalities Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon, Madhur Bhandarkar, Ashok Pandit, Janmorcha President Raj Babbar were among the people who paid homage to the departed leader.

Earlier, Mahajan’s body was kept at his residence at Worli this morning to enable family members, relatives and friends pay last tributes before cremation.

Mahajan’s mother Prabhawati was particularly inconsolable and fainted after she had a glimpse of her departed son. Mahajan’s son Rahul remained composed and consoled grieving family members.

Along the route to the crematorium, hundreds of people joined the procession, while a large number of people lined up along the road and threw petals as a mark of respect.

Shops and establishments also remained closed along the route. Since the procession went along Annie Beasant road, the arterial road linking south Mumbai with the suburbs, traffic of officegoers was closed and diverted on alternate route. (PTI)

A wedding that landed a groom in prison!

SRINAGAR, May 4: His marriage to a girl loved by a surrendered militant landed him in a prison in Kashmir.

Mohammad Yasin Rather was arrested by the police allegedly at the behest of a surrendered militant, Manzoor Ahmad Ganai, a resident of Ganderbal, about 25 km from here, on May 1.

Ganai allegedly did not approve of Rather’s marriage to Firdousa.

Rather’s parents then approached the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), seeking its intervention in getting their son released, sources said.

In their complaint, the parents alleged that their son was arrested by the police at the behest of the surrendered militant as Ganai did not approve of Rather’s marriage to Firdousa.

Taking cognizance of the matter, SHRC chairman Justice A M Mir directed Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir K Rajendra Kumar to probe the matter.

The parents also pleaded Rather is a student and not involved in any "anti-national activity".

"If the allegations are correct then the act is very much violative of the right to liberty of Mohammad Yasin Rather," Justice Mir said in his order.

He directed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar Munir Ahmed Khan to look into the matter.

The police should proceed strictly in the case in terms of law, the SHRC chairman said.

He asked the IGP Kashmir to furnish a report in the matter soon.

The case has been listed for hearing on May 25. (UNI)

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