Pune Beat

Crackdown on 6-seaters: 47 hauled upThe traffic police have launched a major crackdown against the six-seater autorickshaws plying in the...

Crackdown on 6-seaters: 47 hauled up
The traffic police have launched a major crackdown against the six-seater autorickshaws plying in the areas falling under the old limits of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations.

The drivers of 47 six-seater autorickshws have been prosecuted for 8220;operating without obtaining permits8221; as a part of the drive during the last six days, according to deputy commissioner of police Traffic Chandrakant Ughade.

Ughade said the police have been instructed to check the permits of six- seater autorickshaws and to initiate legal action against those who have not obtained a stay order for the ban on their operations in old limits of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations.

The decision of banning the six seater autorickshaw in old city limits was taken during the meeting of Regional Transport Authority RTA held on February 15. It was also decided in the meeting that the implementation of the ban would start after the six-seater autorickshaw drivers are served notices directing them to stop plying in areas under the PMC and PCMC limits before the merger of fringe villages within 30 days.

Plaint against Kapoor lodged
Congress corporator Nitin Jagtap has lodged a complaint with the Anti Corruption Bureau on Monday alleging irregularities in the PMC8217;s octroi department. Suspecting the conduct of the Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor, the elected member has called for an enquiry.

Jagtap has alleged that officers in the octroi department had indulged in corrupt practices while allowing Laxmi Trading Company to take away the goods and vehicle without paying octroi duty and fine. The goods imported by Laxmi Trading Company without paying octroi were seized and were let off later by accepting bribe, Jagtap has charged.

Jagtap referred to the press communique issued by Kapoor on July 16 which gave details about the detection of evasion of octroi by Laxmi Trading Company at Ganesh Peth. The press statement had stated that the said concern had imported Goa Gutkha worth Rs 2.5 lakh and had tried to evade octroi to the tune of Rs 10,000. The statement had stated that Kapoor had ordered the recovery of the amount along with a fine of Rs one lakh.

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Jagtap alleged that neither the amount of Rs 10,000 nor the fine of Rs one lakh had been credited to the municipal fund as claimed to have been recovered from the trading company. Incidentally, the complaint comes in the wake of the Kapoor8217;s allegation that Jagtap had threatened him over blacklisting of a contractor last week. When contacted, Kapoor denied the charges made by Jagtap as baseless and totally false.