LIVE: CBI to probe corruption allegations against Deshmukh from tomorrow

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11:28 PM

AAP alleges property-tax scam by NDMC, BJP hits back

The Aam Aadmi Party claimed on Monday that the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation had misappropriated funds to the tune Rs 1,400 crore in the collection of property tax.
 

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said the Delhi High Court on Monday reprimanded the Delhi government for not releasing MCDs' funds and claimed that Atishi's statement alleging property tax scam is an effort to cover up the damage caused by the reprimand.
 

"Today's reprimand by the high court has totally exposed the AAP government before the people of Delhi. It will be better for the Aam Aadmi Party and the Kejriwal government to immediately release all pending funds of MCDs than face public ire," Kapoor said.
 

Addressing a press conference, Atishi said the civic bodies' primary source of revenue was the tax collected from both residential and commercial properties.

According to Atishi, the NDMC mayor had said a few days ago that the civic body saw an increase in property tax due to the rise in the number of properties.

However, she added, figures revealed the opposite.
 

"In the last couple of years, the number of taxed properties have decreased from 5.75 lakh in 2017 to 4.25 lakh in 2020," she said. "Therefore, claiming that there has been an increase in tax through an increase in properties is an outright lie." "The question is where have the balance properties gone in a matter of three years," she asked.
 

Atishi said the NDMC hired an agency in 2017 to survey the number of properties and it was found there were over 12 lakh properties that had to pay property tax.
 

"These 12-lakh-plus properties were given a Unique Property Identification Code through which the property tax collection mechanism would work. When a survey of 12 lakh properties has been conducted, then why has property tax been collected from roughly one-third of that number?" she asked.
 

Atishi said this "scam worth crores" had been running in the NDMC for years now.
 

11:27 PM

Pak issues global tender for import of 50,000 tonnes of sugar

Pakistan's state-owned trading firm TCP on Monday issued a global tender for import of 50,000 tonnes of white sugar but not from 'banned' countries like India, a move described by the Indian sugar industry as "bad luck" for the neighbouring country.
 

This is the third tender Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated for import of sugar. Earlier, two tenders for 50,000 tonnes each had to be scrapped mainly due to high quotes. Faced with production shortages, Pakistan is trying to import sugar in order to boost domestic availability and check retail prices which have shot up to PKR 100 per kg.

Last week, there was sudden hope of trade reopening between the two nations in sugar and cotton after Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee allowed import of these two commodities from India. However, Pakistan's federal cabinet back-tracked on the decision.       Issuing a fresh international tender for import of 50,000 tonnes of white sugar, TCP made it clear to global suppliers that "the cargo (white sugar) should not be originated from Israel or any other banned country." 

8:59 PM

Latest News: US service sector activity index hits record high in March

 A measure of US services industry activity surged to a record high in March amid robust growth in new orders, in the latest indication of a roaring economy that is being boosted by increased vaccinations and massive fiscal stimulus.

 

The upbeat survey from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Monday followed news on Friday that the economy added 916,000 jobs in March, the most in seven months. Economic growth this year is expected to be the strongest in nearly four decades.

 

"Vigorous services activity in March sets the stage for robust expansion in the second quarter," said Oren Klachkin, lead US economist at Oxford Economics in New York. "All the right pieces for a faster services recovery - expanded vaccine eligibility, reopenings, and historic fiscal expansion - are falling into place."

8:26 PM

EC orders section 144 in all Bengal constituencies going to polls tomorrow: Official

Election Commission imposes prohibitory orders under Section 144 in all 31 West Bengal assembly constituencies going to polls tomorrow: Official

8:14 PM

LIVE: CBI officers to arrive tomorrow in Mumbai to probe allegations against Anil Deshmukh

8:07 PM

Latest News: S&P 500, Dow at all-time highs after strong jobs data

The S&P 500 and the Dow hit record highs on Monday as investors cheered strong jobs data and looked for a report on the services sector with signals that 2021 could see the best annual economic growth in nearly four decades.
 

An ISM survey for March is likely to show a jump in activity in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity. The data is due at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT).
 

The domestically focused small-cap Russell 2000 index rose 0.6 per cent as Friday's report showed US nonfarm payrolls surged by 916,000 jobs in March, well above 647,000 forecast by a Reuters poll of economists.

7:35 PM

Dilip Patil will head Home department: Uddhav informs Maharashtra governor

CM Uddhav Thackeray forwards Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's resignation to governor, also informs that Dilip Walse Patil will have charge of Home department now: Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office

7:09 PM

We have requested EC for deployment of more forces in Bengal: Union Minister

Mamata Banerjee is not only threatening voters but also threatening central forces who are there to ensure free and fair polls. Voters are being told that what will happen to them after central forces go back. We have requested EC for deployment of more forces: Union Minister Naqvi

6:56 PM

Latest News: March third warmest in 121 years, says IMD

March was third warmest in 121 years in terms of monthly average maximum temperature, the India Meteorological Department on Monday said.

 

The IMD, in its review for the month, said the observed monthly average maximum, minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during March this year are 32.65 degrees Celsius, 19.95 degrees Celsius and 26.30 degrees Celsius, respectively, against the normal 31.24 degrees Celsius, 18.87 degrees Celsius and 25.06 degrees Celsius based on the climatology period 1981-2010.

6:30 PM

LIVE: Maharashtra govt and Anil Deshmukh to request Supreme Court to cancel CBI probe, say reports

Maharashtra government and Anil Deshmukh to request Supreme Court to cancel CBI probe over allegations of corruption and misconduct, say reports

6:16 PM

Latest News: Stage set for Assam's final phase of polling in 40 seats on Tuesday

Assam is all set to witness direct and triangular contests in 40 assembly constituencies that are going to polls in the last of the three phases on Tuesday to decide the fate of 337 candidates, including senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his five cabinet colleagues and BJP state unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass.

 

A direct contest between nominees of the BJP-led NDA and Congress-headed Grand Alliance is on the cards in 20 constituencies while there is a triangular fight, including friendly contests, in the remaining seats with the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) being considered as the third force.

 

The newly floated AJP is contesting in 22 seats while there are 126 independents in the fray in the final phase of the election in which the BJP-led coalition is seeking to return to power for the second term in a row.

5:56 PM

Amit Shah meets one of the security personnel injured in Chhattisgarh Naxal attack

5:50 PM

Latest News: Maharashtra govt to respond after studying HC order on Deshmukh, says Raut

The Maharashtra government will come out with its response after studying the Bombay High Court judgement ordering a preliminary CBI probe into the allegations of corruption against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Monday.

 

Earlier in the day, the HC directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry within 15 days into allegations of corruption and misconduct levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh.

 

Deshmukh, a senior leader of the NCP, a key ally in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, resigned from the cabinet after the HC order, his party announced.

5:46 PM

Latest News: RBI to go for a dovish pause on Wednesday, say Analysts

The Reserve Bank will go for a "dovish pause" at Wednesday's policy review announcement amid developments such as a rise in inflation, government maintaining the inflation target band and a likely impact on growth due to local lockdowns on rising COVID-19 infections, analysts said on Monday.

 

Economists at American brokerage Bofa Securities said price stability, growth and financial stability will become the prime focus areas for the central bank going forward. "The RBI MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) should deliver another dovish pause on Wednesday," it said.

 

The policy announcement, the first for the fiscal, will come days after the government maintained the RBI's target to ensure inflation to be within 2-6 per cent band for five more years. Also, there has been a higher price rise to over 5 per cent after three consecutive months of cooling and the lockdowns like the one imposed by Maharashtra.

5:19 PM

Latest News: Two Bengal districts hold key to TMC's return to power

With the BJP seeking to breach TMC fortresses in Bengal, two of the biggest districts -- North and South 24 Parganas -- seem to hold the key in the state's action-packed electoral battle.

 

Together, the two districts send 64 representatives to the 294-member assembly -- North-24 Parganas having 33 seats and South-24 Parganas 31.

 

The TMC had swept both the districts in 2011 and 2016, and had successfully cemented the foundation of the Mamata Banerjee camp in the state. In 2016, the party had bagged 27 of the 33 seats in North 24 Parganas, and all but two seats in the minority-dominated South-24 Parganas.

 

The saffron party, during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, managed to make a dent in the TMC's citadel in North-24 Parganas, but failed to chart its course in South-24 Parganas.