Sharad Pawar gets I-T notice over poll affidavits; terms it ‘love letter’

The Income Tax department has sent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar a notice in connection with the poll affidavits he had filed in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2020.
Terming the notice as a “love letter” Pawar said it showed the qualitative difference with which central agencies act towards leaders of the opposition and those in the government.
The Income Tax notice follows summons by the Enforcement Directorate to him in 2019 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Addressing the media in Pune following the swearing in of Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra’s new chief minister, Pawar dwelt at some length on the role of central agencies in harassing the government’s political opponents. “Five years ago,” he said, “not many had heard about the central agency but today even in the rural areas they know all about the ED.”
“It is being used against those who have a different (dissenting) view. The help of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and central agencies is being used nowadays and the results are visible. Many members of the Legislative Assembly say they have received notices of inquiry. We didn’t even know the name ED five years ago. Today, even in the villages people jokingly say that you will have ED after you,” Pawar said, adding: “Luckily I have all the information they need in the order.”
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Will respond to SC notice challenging Lavasa land purchase, says Supriya Sule
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on the special leave petition filed against Lavasa Corporation by Nanasaheb Vasantrao Jadhav and others challenging the Bombay High Court decision which had quashed the petitions challenging permissions granted to Lavasa Corporation to buy land for the project. NCP Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha Supriya Sule, who previously held share in Lavasa project, said, mP Supriya Sule will respond if any notice has been issued.
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Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Sandhu’s killer among two held by Punjab Police
Punjab Police on Tuesday said it arrested two criminals, including one allegedly involved in the murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu in 2020. Also read: Fearing misuse, Punjab decides to go slow on anti-gangster act State director general of police Gaurav Yadav said both the accused, Gurwinder Singh and Sandeep Singh, were allegedly involved in cross-border smuggling of narcotics and weapons.
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‘All JD(U) MPs, MLAs at consensus that…’: Nitish Kumar after his resignation
Soon after resigning as chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said all MPs and MLAs of the JD(U) are at a consensus that the party should leave the NDA. “All MPs and MLAs are at a consensus that we should leave the NDA,” Kumar after submitting his resignation to Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan following a meeting of his JD(U), where a decision was taken to quit the BJP-led NDA.
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Karnataka Governor visits house of freedom fighters, honours them
Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday honoured three freedom fighters here on the occasion of the 80th Quit India Movement anniversary and Independence Amruth Mahotsav (75 years). The Governor was accompanied by Revenue Minister R Ashok and Higher Education Minister Ashwath Narayan. Gehlot, earlier in the day visited the residence of R Narayanappa, a freedom fighter and felicitated him, which was followed by a visit to Sankaranarayan Rao, an official release said.
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Maha govt accepts proposal to reserve flats for LGBT community in Nagpur
The Maharashtra government has in principle accepted a proposal to reserve 72 flats in one of the three buildings of a housing scheme in Nagpur for the LGBT community. Social welfare department assistant commissioner Babasaheb Deshmukh added this was the first such attempt to create space for the community. He said Nagpur Improvement Trust has constructed the flats and they are ready for possession. Deshmukh said it will be the first dedicated housing scheme for the community in Maharashtra if approved.