New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) East Delhi Commissionerate on Friday arrested two men after unearthing a big network of fictitious firms working to generate and avail fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) of the GST.
“The network of fictitious companies was being operated by one Naresh Dhoundiyal in connivance with one Devender Kumar Goyal, who is a Charted Accountant by profession. Both are former employees of the Essel Group,” read a statement by the Ministry of Finance.
“Naresh Dhoundiyal and Shri Devender Kumar Goyal hatched a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy with the intent to defraud the government exchequer and knowingly committed offences specified under sections of CGST Act, 2017, which are cognizable and non-bailable.
The investigations indicated that a layer of fictitious intermediatory companies was created to pass on bogus ITC from non-existent firms to the companies of the Essel Group without actual supply of any goods or services.
Finance Ministry also informed that this was apparently done to enable the Essel Group to avail inadmissible ITC, book expenses to evade Income Tax and inflate their turnover to push the share prices of their listed companies.
“The total fake ITC passed on by these fictitious companies is quantified to be Rs 92.18 crore. Whereas, the total fake ITC passed on by other fictitious and non-existent firms pertaining to the larger network is quantified to be more than Rs 300 crore,” the ministry added.
The syndicate has thus defrauded the government exchequer of more than Rs 392 crore by issuing bogus invoices of more that Rs 3,000 crore without actual supply of any goods or services.
The arrested have been sent to judicial custody of 14 days till March 18. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

Chandipur (Odisha) [India], March 5 (ANI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully carried out a flight test of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) missile propulsion system from Integrated Test Range here in Chandipur.
All the subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected, stated an official statement from the government-run DRDO.
“Successful demonstration of Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology has provided DRDO with a technological advantage which will enable it to develop long range air-to-air missiles. At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world,” the statement read.
“The performance of the missile was monitored using the data captured by Electro-Optical, Radar and Telemetry instruments deployed by ITR and confirmed successful demonstration of the mission objectives,” it added.
DRDO officials said that many new technologies, including Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet Technology, were proven during the test.
The launch was monitored by senior scientists of various DRDO labs, including Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory(HEMRL).
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated the scientists of DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the successful flight test of SFDR.
On February 28, the Sindhu Netra satellite developed by DRDO was successfully deployed in space. The satellite is capable of automatically identifying the warships and merchant ships operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). (ANI)

Kevadia (Gujarat) [India], March 5 (ANI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited the newly-built Statue of Unity and paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Singh earlier today attended the Combined Commanders’ Conference as well.
“Reached Kevadia this morning to attend the Combined Commanders’ Conference. Started the day by visiting the ‘Statue of Unity’ and paying tributes to the ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This place has now become an important destination on India’s tourism map,” informed the Union Defence Minister in a tweet.
Singh visited the Statue of Unity along with Chief of the Army Staff General MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Kadambir Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and IAF Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
“Leaving for Kevadia, Gujarat on a two day visit. Shall attend the Combined Commanders’ Conference, where India’s security situation and defence preparedness would be reviewed. Looking forward to it,” tweeted Singh earlier today.
On March 2, Rajnath Singh had taken the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at RR Hospital in the national capital. (ANI)

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], March 5 (ANI): The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will be holding protests in all constituencies of the state on March 8 to demand an explanation from the Congress government for reneging on all promises made to the people.
The ‘dharna’ will be held under the banner of the ‘Punjab Mangda Hisab’ campaign of the SAD.
On March 8, the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government will present the budget in the Vidhan Sabha.
It will not only expose the Congress government for betraying all sections of society but will also launch a sustained agitation to force the government to implement the promises made to the people, SAD informed in a media release on Friday.
SAD Senior Vice-President Daljit Singh Cheema said, “The party will demand an immediate reduction of VAT (Value-Added Tax) on petrol and diesel by Rs 5 per litre as well as the withdrawal of massive hike in the power tariff to provide relief to the common man.”
Cheema further said that the party will also demand an immediate disbursal of Rs 2,500 per month as unemployment allowance promised to the youth.
“The promised enhanced old age pension of Rs 2,500 per month should also be released along with arrears to all the beneficiaries. Shagun scheme benefits of Rs 51,000 should also be released to all eligible beneficiaries in a similar manner,” he added.
Speaking about the discrimination being meted out to the weaker sections, the SAD leader said, “The government should restore lakhs of blue cards and old age pension cards immediately. The promised tea leaves, sugar and cooking oil should be given to the disadvantaged as promised.”
He further said that the dharnas would also call for the immediate repeal of the three central agricultural laws, besides asking Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to take up the issue for the repeal of the laws forcefully with the Centre.
“The ‘dharnas’ would also demand an immediate start of a scholarship scheme for scheduled caste students along with payment of arrears to them. The party would also demand the government to fulfil its promise for providing houses for the unfortunate,” he added.
Cheema said, “SAD would also demand independent inquiries into all scams of the Congress government, including the Rs 6,500 crore excise scam, end to sand and liquor mafias and bringing the law and order situation under control.”
He mentioned that the party would also demand the immediate release of Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears to employees as well as the finalisation of the Sixth Pay Commission report and an end to recruitment on central pay scales. (ANI)

Mohali (Punjab) [India], March 5 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh took his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday at Civil Hospital in Mohali.
“I got my first shot of #Covid-19 vaccine today. I urge all above 60 years of age or above 45 years with co-morbidities to get the vaccination done as soon as possible. We all need to come together to defeat #Covid19 and I am sure we will. #MissionFateh,” tweeted the Punjab Chief Minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday kicked off the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country by getting the vaccine shot.
Several prominent political leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, have already taken the vaccine.
India commenced its second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive to inoculate people above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities against the coronavirus from March 1. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Slamming the opposition, particularly the Congress party, for ‘doing politics, creating confusion’ during the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the country, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it is the duty of every politician, across party line to stand together during such ‘historic’ time, but all that the opposition did was to keep ‘taunting the government’.
Addressing the media here on Friday, Patra said the opposition created confusion in the country about the efficacy of ‘indigenous Covid-19 vaccine and taunted the Prime Minister and other ministers to take it.
“In order to create confusion in the county, the opposition used to question the efficacy of our indigenous vaccine. They used to say if the country trusts the vaccine then the Prime Minister should get the vaccine first. We saw that when the turn of the Prime Minister came, he went to AIIMS, stood in the line, and took the shot of the indigenous vaccine,” BJP spokesperson said.
He added that not only the Prime Minister but also the President, the Vice-President, and other cabinet ministers were vaccinated when their turn came, and opposition should not have done politics at such a delicate and historic moment in history.
“It is the duty of every politician, every political party, that at a time when historic work like vaccination is going on, an atmosphere of suspicion should not be allowed in the country. One should always stand together in such times,’ he added. (ANI)