Mumbai Beat

IT raids -- Rs 11.5 cr concealed income disclosedThe raids on film personalities on Tuesday have resulted in a disclosure of concealed in...

IT raids 8212; Rs 11.5 cr concealed income disclosed

The raids on film personalities on Tuesday have resulted in a disclosure of concealed income of a whopping Rs 11.5 crore, according to the Income Tax department. The total figure is likely to go up substantially since the post-raid operations are still on, sources said.

IT officials have sealed 23 lockers and seized Rs 20 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 16 lakh from the 10 persons whose houses were raided.

The statements of Ramesh Taurani, owner of TIPs music, Vashu Bhagnani of Puja Films and dance choreographer Farah Khan have been recorded by the IT department. The questioning and investigation will continue for one week, given the volume of documents the department has to scrutinise, the source added.

US trip: Taurani seeks HC permit

Justice D K Trivedi of Bombay High Court on Wednesday reserved his order on an application moved by cassette king Ramesh Taurani, an accused in the Gulshan Kumar case, seeking permission to visit theUS for a business trip.

Taurani, was recently granted bail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Gulshan Kumar, who was shot dead by two unidentified persons at Juhu last year. The prime accused music director Nadeem Saifee is at present in London and facing extradiation proceedings.

Arguing on behalf of Taurani, senior counsel Adik Shirodkar informed the court that his client has business interests in US and has received several fax messages from his business colleagues inviting him for a meeting adding that Taurani8217;s journey is required to avoid huge losses. Shirodkar informed that while granting conditional bail to Taurani the court had observed that he cannot leave India without the court8217;s permission.

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Opposing Taurani8217;s application, additional government pleader Yasin Mirza submitted that Taurani8217;s business trip is a cooked up story adding that the accused wants to leave the country to escape the charges framed against him. Mirza further said if the accused is permitted to visit US he maytamper with the evidence.

Sena chief to address 22 rallies

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Wednesday stated that he will address 22 rallies across the state for the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly polls, to be held simultaneously in Maharashtra.

Speaking after his meeting with shiv sainiks at his residence Matoshree at Bandra on the occasion of Guru Purnima, Thackeray said he will campaign for the Sena-BJP alliance in the state adding that the Sena-BJP will wrest power in the state and will as perform well in the LS elections.

Disclosing that national issues and the performance of the Sena-BJP8217;s Shiv Shahi rule will be highlighted in the campaign, he hinted that there may be some new faces contesting the assembly polls.

Gold biscuits in shoes: Pak national held

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A Pakistani national was detained by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI at the Chattrapati Shivaji international airport on charges of smuggling gold biscuits worth Rs 12.15 lakh. The accused, Abdul Rashid MohammadIslam, was produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Usha Iyer, who remanded him to juidicial custody till August 5. Islam was apprehended after he arrived from Karachi via Dubai by Pakistan Airlines flight. Islam, who was found to have concealed 26 gold biscuits in his shoes, confessed to the police the gold biscuits were handed over to him by one Mohammad Ali at Dubai and he had undertaken the job of smuggling it for Rs 20,000. It was to be handed over to a person at the airport here. Further investigations are in progress.

No vote for Thackeray: Security beefed up

Security across the metropolis has been beefed following the Election Commission8217;s order disenfranchising Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for six years.

Joint Commissioner of Police Law and Order Ulhas Joshi said that the arrangements have been made as a precautionary measures adding that no untoward incident is expected. Sena activists have expressed their displeasure over EC8217;s order on Wednesday.

Though exactfigures were not available, policemen are likely to be posted at strategic locations. This is in addition to the alert sounded at the 73 police stations in the metropolis. Thackeray8217;s residence at Kala Nagar in Bandra E wore a sombre look in the evening after the news of disenfranchising spread. Despite a strong cordon of policemen thrown around the Matoshree residence, there were not many party activists around.