`Rani Jhansi’ force to get cracking

PUNE, April 26: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s octroi squad confiscated goods worth Rs 12.15 lakh and recovered a compounding fee of Rs 2.17 lakh from the errant traders who evaded payment of duty. The squad has also announced the formation of a new `Rani Jhansi’ force which will train its guns on octroi evaders who bring in the goods via trains.

A statement issued by Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor on Sunday stated that items varied from clothes, tea packets, cosmetics, gold ornaments and silver utensils. Video games, calculators and expensive wrist watches were also seized as part of the nakabandi operation. The entire amount ranged upto Rs 12.15 lakh. While Rs 2.17 lakh was recovered, orders have been issued to collect the remaining compounding fee.

Kapoor also said that the Rani Jhansi force would concentrate on such traders who tried to evade octroi by bringing in goods via trains specially Pragati Express.