the goan I network
PANAJI
Dipak Bandekar, commissioner of commercial taxes, said, “We are checking movement of goods within local areas. We are also checking stocks of various dealers with the average stock they had in same period in last two years. In case, we find a significantly different number, we ask the concerned dealer to explain.”
In the last few days, the commercial taxes department had also seized pressure-cookers and sewing-machines because the consignment did not have required documentation leading to a suspicion that these goods were meant to be given as freebies to voters by a politician.
Bandekar added, “The seized pressure-cookers have already been handed over to the returning officer (RO). The RO will retain these cookers till February 5, which means one day after the elections. Meanwhile, 192 seized sewing machines are also being handed over to a RO.”
In its January 22 order, the commercial taxes department had said that any dealer bringing consignment of goods like TVs, appliances, water bottles and even biscuits is required to give intimation to the department. These goods are typically given to lure voters.
Menino D’Souza, excise commissioner, said, “We are also stepping up checking to ensure that alcohol isn’t distributed by anyone to get votes. If we find any stock of liquor and the person is unable to explain, we are seizing it.”
He continued, “From January 4 till today, Rs 7 lakh worth of alcohol has been seized because it wasn’t backed by proper documentation.”
As documentation, the tax departments need proper invoice, name and address of buyer and seller, which if unprovided makes the goods liable to be seized.
He also highlighted other issues that are under the scanner of the commission.
Liquor, drugs seized till January 25 in State
PANAJI: The raids by the State election machinery and its teams in the state have continued to bear fruit with liquor and narcotics seizures taking the total worth of liquor seized to Rs 40.83 lakh and drugs to Rs 16.43 lakh.
Interestingly, in what could be seen as an effect of demonetisation, elections authorities are yet to make any cash seizures.
Information provided by the Election Commission has also revealed that on January 25, the police department seized 17,417 litres of liquor while the State excise department seized 536.98 bulk litres of liquor. This takes the total seizure to 30.9 bulk litres valued at Rs 40.83 lakh since the code of conduct came into force.
Also on Wednesday, the Police seized 274 grams of MDMA and 47 grams of ganja.
The Election Commission has looked into eight complaints of violation of the code and only two required further investigation and involved detaining vehicles at Patradevi
In South Goa, the flying squad stopped the work of installing a prefabricated bus shelter as it was found to be in violation of the model code of conduct. Authorities also located a consignmen of liquor on a Karnataka registered bus while attempting to smuggle liquor into Karnataka and is investigating a complaint by the Tiatr Academy of Goa that tiatrist Agostinho Temudo was canvassing on behalf of Navelim independent candidate Avertano Furtado.
Details were not available if any arrests were made.
