Briefly Region

Over Rs 1 crore penalty slapped on two firms for VAT evasion

Two Kapurthala-based firms have been awarded penalties totalling to more than Rs 1 crore for evading Value Added Tax (VAT) and tampering with balancesheets. The fine was imposed by the excise and taxation department. While M/S PK and Company,New Sabzi Mandi,Kapurthala,has been fined Rs 64.26 lakh,the M/S SS trading Co,Jama Masjid,Kapurthala,will pay a penalty of Rs 45. 61 lakh. An order dated February 9,2011,released by Excise and Taxation Officer Harmesh Lal,says less tax was deposited by the both firms. The order also states that there were inconsistencies in purchases shown by the firms for the year 2007-08. The order also reads that purchases made by the firms do not include sales made by their respective dealers. The official in his report also underlines that sufficient time was given to the firm owners to defend themselves but they did not present relevant documents to substantiate the information they had filed in their VAT forms.

Cong seeks probe into tubewell project

Paonta Block Congress Committee President,Surjit Singh and Congress leader,Krinesh Jung have written to Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal demanding an independent inquiry into the alleged misuse of government funds by former Union minister Sukh Ram for the construction of a tubewell and water sprinklers on a plot. They allege that the former minister,apart from getting a Rs 40 lakh project approved for the land,had also claimed subsidies worth Rs 1.27 lakh for sprinklers.

Clerk ends life,DAV principal booked

The Principal of DAV college,Ferozepur,Pushpinder Walia was booked on Wednesday in connection with the suicide of a college clerk. The body of Bharat Kumar,an employee of the college for the last 25 years,was recovered from the college premises on Tuesday. The police have recovered two suicide notes from his house. SSP Kaustav Sharma said Kumar had alleged in his suicide note that he was pressurised at work.