Two Mangaluru scrap dealers arrested for creating fake bills to avoid up to Rs 15 cr GST

Crime

Officials said the duo fraudulently generated Input Tax Credit from business firms and entities without obtaining any goods in reality, saving up to Rs 15 crore.

Harsha Raj Gatty

Two scrap dealers from Mangaluru were arrested by officials of the anti-evasion wing of the Central Goods and Services Tax Commissionerate in the city for evading GST on goods worth up to Rs 84 crore. PK Abdul Raheem and Abdul Khadar Kuloor Chayebba, who run the firms Thouheed Scrap Dealer and MK Traders respectively, created fake invoices and Input Tax Credit (ITC) to evade tax. Officials investigating the duo stated that they had fraudulently generated ITC from business firms and entities without obtaining any goods in reality. This helped the duo save up to Rs 15 crore. “The fraudulently obtained ITC was then utilised by the duo for evasion of GST payable by them (to the tax authorities) on their supplies of metal scrap procured from local unregistered dealers without payment of GST, to the manufacturers of aluminium/MS/copper rods/ingots/castings, etc.,” the Commissioner of Central GST for Mangaluru, Dharm Singh, stated. For instance, if a manufacturer of an iron box produces an invoice showing that GST was paid while obtaining the parts used for manufacture, then while filing company taxes there will be an exemption from paying GST tax again. According to investigating officials in Mangaluru, the duo faked the invoices to show that they have paid GST. Further, the GST Commissionerate alleged that Raheem and Khadar were also involved in raising fake invoices to transfer ITC further in the fake invoice chain. Through their modus operandi of fraudulent ITC and fake invoices, the duo had evaded GST to the tune of approximately Rs 15 crore on goods valued at approximately Rs 84 crore. “The offence involved falls under the cognizable & non-bailable offence as per provisions of Sec. 132 of the CGST Act, attracting inter alia, the provisions for arrest under Sec. 69 of CGST Act,” Dharm Singh said in a press statement. According to the officials, further investigation is underway to identify other individuals and firms who have benefited from creating fake invoices and a trail of ITC. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)  

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Bengaluru airport to have two battery operated ambulances inside the terminal

Airport

The ambulances will be equipped with oxygen cylinders and other essential equipment.

TNM Staff

The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has now launched an Indoor Ambulance Service with two vehicles, to provide quick medical emergency response. The ambulances will be equipped with oxygen cylinders and other essential equipment, ad will enable faster medical care before moving patients to Aster Hospital built within the compound for further care. The two battery operated vehicles will ply with professionally trained and experienced emergency medical technicians from KIA's medical partner Aster Hospital. They will provide 24/7 emergency medical service within the domestic and international terminals. "We launched this Indoor Ambulance Service to provide rapid response during medical emergencies in the terminal. Treatment starts as soon as the patient is onboard the ambulance and continues on the journey to the hospital. Our aim is to provide the best care for passengers who need emergency support," said Thomas Hoff Andersson, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited. The Bengaluru airport began operations in May 2008, and offers a wide air-route network, with over 37 passenger airlines and 12 cargo airlines connecting Bengaluru to the rest of the world. It is currently the busiest airport in South India and the third largest in the Country, having welcomed 33.3 million passengers in FY 2018-19, registering a 23.8% year-on-year growth. The Kempegowda international airport in Bengaluru was built as a private-public partnership. Private promoters hold 74% (Fairfax 48% and Siemens Projects Ventures 26%) stake in BIAL, while the government holds the remaining 26% – through Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited – 13%, Airport Authority of India – 13%. Currently the airport is going through a Rs 13,000 crore expansion project which includes a new terminal, widening of roads, metro access and cargo bays.  

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Fearing loss of money deposited in schemes, hundreds protest against Bengaluru's IMA Jewels

Protest

According to the scheme, IMA Jewels promised to pay its depositors a return of upto 3% per month, if the company made profits.

Shiba Kurian

‘Mansoor Khan is dead’, ‘Mansoor Khan killed himself’ - these were some of the messages that hundreds of people in Bengaluru received on their smartphones on Monday morning. Mohammed Mansoor Khan is the owner of IMA Jewels, where many have deposited in an investment scheme. As soon as the message started doing the rounds on WhatsApp, it triggered panic among those who deposited in the scheme and they rushed to the showroom on Lady Curzon Road, Bengaluru. Since 9 am on Monday, the road saw a sea of protestors, both men and women, demanding back the lakhs (or even crores) of money they have deposited with IMA Jewels. A posse of police stood guard at the entrance of the showroom and tried to assuage the protestors. “When we came here, we learnt that Mansoor Khan is not dead,” said one woman, while another protester said, “He might have escaped as he could not return our money.” There was a reason why the message on WhatsApp caused the panic. According to the scheme, IMA Jewels promised to pay its depositors a return of up to 3% per month, that is, if the company is making profits. Hence, if a person has invested Rs 1 lakh with the jeweller, he or she would receive Rs 3,000 per month.  “But the return may also reduce by 2% or 1%, or no amount at all, if the company is not doing well. This is what the share certificate that depositors receive states,” Usma, whose family deposited Rs 11 lakh in the scheme, told TNM. “Since the last three to four months, we have been receiving only one per cent of the amount invested,” Nigar Sultana, one of the protestors, told TNM. “Last week, I received a message from the jeweller saying that the remaining amount of the monthly return has been credited to my bank account. But this has not reflected in my bank account. All we see is a closed shop.” This was the concern that brought the others to the footsteps of the jewellery showroom, established in 2016 by IMA (I Monetary Advisory) Group of Companies, led by Mansoor Khan. In fact, even before the messages on WhatsApp surfaced, the depositors got wind of the problem in March. “When I realised my monthly return had reduced, I enquired with the jeweller to see if there was any setback. They attributed it to election season and other technical issues. He (Mansoor Khan) never told us the actual problem,” said a protester, who did not wish to be named, yet emphasised that they did their due diligence before investing in the scheme. “That’s when people started applying to withdraw their money from the scheme,” added Usma. After submitting the relevant document, the depositor is supposed to get back the amount within 45 days, which, according to many protesters, has not reached their account yet.  “We are poor people. Many of us gathered here invested our money in schemes for education, marriages and medical treatment. If the jeweller cannot return our money, let him at least give us the jewellery worth the amount we invested. We can sell these and get our money back,” said Shabana, another protester, who deposited Rs 2.5 lakh with IMA Jewels.  The political angle Along with messages being circulated on WhatsApp was an audio clip, allegedly from Mansoor Khan to the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru. In the clip, the man purported to be Mansoor claimed that the Shivajinagar Congress MLA, Roshan Baig (although he did not explicitly raise his name in the clip), had taken Rs 400 crore for him to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “He refused to return my money when he did not get the ticket to contest. Instead of returning my money, he started sending his people to my office and house. There was a threat to my family’s life and so I sent them (family) to a village and I am in south Bengaluru." However, Roshan Baig soon took to Twitter to dismiss the claims. Issuing notice on the ongoing IMA issue. pic.twitter.com/GFMzDwWuLC — Roshan Baig (@rroshanbaig) June 10, 2019 In the audio clip, Mansoor Khan goes on to ask the police to use his assets - Rs 500 crore worth properties in Bengaluru, 30,000-carat diamonds, as well as gold and silver - to pay off his depositors. “The BDA (Bengaluru Development Authority) has my money worth Rs 5 crore and so does the Shivajinagar MLA. Please take that money, too, and give it to the people,” he added. A company with history of defaulting? On November 16, 2018, the office of the Assistant Commissioner had published a public notice in a newspaper against I Monetary Advisory (IMA) Private Limited and its associates. The company was accused of illegally collecting money from the public and diverting it to its directors, thereby defaulting on the repayment of the depositor's money. In this case, several cases, too, have been registered under section 5 of the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Act, 2004. According to Rahul Kumar IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) - Bengaluru East, who was heading the talks with the protestors on Monday, the police filed a case in the matter after receiving a complaint on Sunday evening. Based on 3,000 representations in the complaint, the police have registered a case under Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code, a police official at the Commercial Street station told TNM. He also urged the protestors to come forward and file a complaint with the police using whatever authentic documents, including challans, they have received from IMA Jewels. “Only if we register all your complaints will we be able to understand the amount of money lost and how much you will receive,” said the DCP, adding that they have no clarity on the whereabouts of Mansoor Khan yet. One section of protestors decided not to file a complaint. “It will only make matters worse as it involves frequent visits to courts and then spending more money,” said Basha Khan, who had deposited Rs 16 lakh. Yet there is another section of protesters who are hopeful of receiving their deposits back. In fact, a few meters away from the showroom, a tiny photocopy kiosk suddenly saw a spurt of customers - the protestors who were scrambling to make copies of their original documents to file their complaints. “Let’s see what happens,” said a protester, who was hurriedly gathering and pinning his documents to head to a church in Shivajinagar, which the police have turned into a makeshift police station to take complaints from protestors. (With inputs from Soumya Chatterjee)

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In pics: Meet Bengaluru’s bat doctor who’s repaired the bats of Kohli, Dhoni and more

Cricket

Having trained in carpentry when he was young, Ram modified the skills he’d learned to be able to repair crickets bats.

Dr Nimeshika Jayachandran

In a remote lane at the heart of Uttarahalli in a small hole-in-the wall workshop is where you can find Ram Bhandari, who is often called the “bat doctor.” Ram repairs and modifies cricket bats using techniques he learned as a carpenter.  Several legends of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and even international players like Ricky Ponting, are all clients of his. “This year for the World Cup, I have worked on Indian team captain Virat’s (Kohli) bat. He prefers that the handle of the bat is oval rather than circular in shape. I also worked on Rohit Sharma’s bat for the World Cup,” he says.  Originally from Bihar, he moved to Bengaluru in 1979 after doing a series of odd jobs in a number of states.  “Once I came to Bangalore, I had to find a way to sustain myself. I got married and had kids also, whom I had to take care of. I used to make adjustments to my own bats earlier, so soon began doing that for local players and it worked out,” he says.  He was able to transfer his skills and knowledge from working as a carpenter onto cricket bats.  Rahul Dravid was one of this first clients after having been acquainted with him during the Ranji Trophy. Following this, several others soon approached him: Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni, Rohit Sharma among others.  In addition to having worked on bats of players during the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has also worked on bats for players from the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL). From being a fan of the sport to working with well-known players, Ram has perfected his craft to earn a respectable living for himself. 

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'Slow' vehicles banned on Bengaluru airport road flyover in trial run

Traffic

This comes following the recent accident in which a car carrying a family of five was hit by an ambulance on the airport road.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

In response to the recent accident on airport road flyover in which a car carrying a family of five was hit by an ambulance, the Bengaluru Traffic Police has started a trial run of prohibiting 'slow' vehicles from travelling on the flyovers on this road.  'Slow' vehicles include cycles, two-wheelers, autos, and lane discipline will be strictly enforced on the road starting this week. Trucks and lorries will also have to restrict movement towards the left side of the road. The 'slow' vehicles can use the road below the flyover.  “Slow moving vehicles travelling at 40 kilometres per hour are obstructing the traffic on this stretch which is why we decided to ban them on a trial basis. We will observe the difficulties on this stretch for a week and then undertake road safety measures accordingly. The road is a 25 to 30 kilometre stretch and the airport traffic is heavy. High speed vehicles go at 80 kilometres per hour and get obstructed by the slow-moving vehicles,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) P Harishekaran told The New Indian Express.    The accident that occurred on May 27 was the tipping point for traffic authorities. In the accident, a speeding ambulance lost control, hit the divider and crossed into the opposite lane before ramming into a car. Traffic police are also planning awareness programmes so that the message reaches commuters.  As per statistics from the city's Traffic Police department, the number of cases of speeding has come down in the last two years from 1,30,868 in 2017 to 90,942 in 2018. However, the radar speed gun which was installed on the Airport Road last year has since gone missing. The pole on which the radar speed gun was displayed has fallen down and the LED screen which displays the speeds of vehicles travelling on the road has gone missing, as per a report by Bangalore Mirror. 

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The renaissance man: How Girish Karnad's plays called for social reform

Death

By delineating the woman’s position in the context of the contemporary post-colonial Indian society, Karnad draws parallels with the past reality and folkloristic presentation in Nagamandala.

TNM Staff

When Girish Karnad was 35, he folded a love letter he had received from his cook and shoved it into a draw before hurrying off for a film shoot. On his return, he was shocked to find the note missing. “There was a letter here. Did you see it?” Karnad asked his mother. “I have torn it and thrown it out. What were you planning to blackmail the poor girl?” his mother yelled at him. His mother Krishnabai Mankikar was not a stickler for conservative ideals, Karnad had noted in a documentary made by the Sahitya Akademi, where he acknowledges the colossal influence she had on the ideologies he grew to hold dear, which are aptly portrayed in his works. Popularly known as a renaissance man, Karnad became one of the torch bearers to Indian playwrights in the realm of contemporary drama. From Yayati his first play, to Nagamandala, The Fire and The Rain, Tale-Danda, Rakshasa Thangadi and Tughlaq, Girish Karnad used classical fables as talismans to explore the modern, existential questions plaguing Indian society. As Mariya Latif notes, Karnad had delved into myths and folklore, harnessing the hidden sources of shared meaning relevant to contemporary social structures, whilst shaking up the prevailing perceptions held by various communities, thereby identifying the problems plaguing them. “The energy of folk theatre comes from the fact that although it seems to uphold traditional values, it also has the means of questioning those values, of making them literally stand on their heads,” Karnad had said in an interview to The Tribune in 1999. His childhood exposure to street plays in Karnataka’s Sirsi and his familiarity with western dramas staged in Bombay induced him to pen stories of secularism and equality to suit modern India, according to the documentary. In his renowned 1988 play Nagamandala, Karnad explores the patriarchal establishments of marriage and relationships and the stigma carried by women who dared to explore their sensuality. By delineating the woman’s position in the context of the contemporary post-colonial Indian society, Karnad draws parallels with the past reality and folkloristic presentation in Nagamandala. “Aren‘t you ashamed to admit it? I locked you in, and yet you managed to find a lover! Tell me who it is. Who did you go to, with your sari off?” a burley Appanna speaks to his captive wife Rani. In just a line, Karnad weaves a societal truth of a male-dominated society, where only the woman has to observe and prove her chastity, while the man remains unquestioned about his own loyalty to his wife. A crucial feature of Karnad’s plays is the creation of female protagonists, who are forced to adhere to their societal roles women and struggle to take care of their desires and to achieve them by finding their own ways as PD Nimdarkar notes. In ‘Yayati’ it is the relationship that is torn between the King, Devayani and Sharmistha; in ‘Hayavadana’, it is between Padmini, Devadutta and Kapila; in ‘Nagamandala’ it is between Rani, the Naga and Appanna; in ‘Broken Images it is between Pramod, Manjula and Malini; in ‘The Fire and the Rain’ it is between Vishakha and Yavakri and Parvasu and between Nittilai, her husband and Arvasu, where Karnad weaves a tale of women in society and the demand to be selfless and helpless. For a post-colonial playwright, Girish Karnad has made several breakthroughs in establishing his idea of a secular India through his plays. In his 2018 play Rakhsasa Tangadi, Karnad portrays the life of Aliya Rama Raya (1485-1565), the last ruler of Vijayanagara. Rama Raya, a man who managed one of the most powerful kingdoms in south India, was never coronated, despite his Machiavellian wiles, because he was an Aruvuri, a member of a so-called lower caste. “A certain megalomania had set in Rama Raya. Is that contemporary? You decide. But I am not interested in deliberately echoing the present. If I am relevant, if my consciousness is relevant, then the play will be too,” Karnad had told Indian Express in 2018. The famous dialogue between two sentries in his play Tughlaq hint at the threat posed by authoritarian regimes. It’s a scene of Tughlaq, where the dreams of an idealistic and visionary king have dragged his armies through suffering. “No army could take this,” the younger sentry says, to which the wiser one replies, “Invariably, forts crumble from the inside.” The play connotes the regime of Indira Gandhi and compares the Emergency to the despair brought about by Tughlaq’s idea of a perfect nation. In Rakshasa Tangadi and Tughlaq, Karnad brings to his ideas of modern India to the forefront, including communalism, societal divide and the megalomania he sees surrounding the heads of state. “We were, as young men, proud of India. We were the only newly democratic country where illiterate people had the vote and where everyone — Hindu, Muslim or Christian — was an Indian. It has been transformed into this utterly futile and dangerous game in this dream of becoming a Hindu rashtra. We already had Pakistan and this way we are creating another one. It is dangerous because Hindutvawadis never tell you how this Hindu rashtra will accommodate untouchables, tribals, women,” Karnad had said in a 2018 interview.

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Bengaluru rider performing stunts with woman riding pillion held after video goes viral

Crime

A special police team constituted to nab the man in the video that was widely shared online eventually arrested Noor Ahmed, a 21-year-old from Yelahanka.

TNM Staff

YouTube Screenshot

Bengaluru police tracked down and arrested a youngster who appeared in a video performing death-defying stunts on a two-wheeler with a woman riding pillion. A special police team constituted to nab the man in the video that was widely shared online eventually arrested Noor Ahmed, a 21-year-old from Yelahanka in the city. Noor is a B.Com student at Yelahanka Government First Grade College.  In the video that was shared on Saturday, Noor was seen doing a wheelie at very high speeds on the Devanahalli-Nandi Hill Road. He was not wearing a helmet.  Behind him, a woman, who was also not wearing a helmet, dangerously grabs his right leg to prevent him from falling backwards as trucks and heavy vehicles are seen going past them. The stunt was filmed by a third person accompanying the man and woman appearing in the video.  As per Times of India, Noor Ahmed is the son of an auto-rickshaw driver and could not afford a two-wheeler. He learned to perform the stunts by borrowing scooters from his friends. For close to 10 months, he would go with friends on weekends and train to do wheelies with them for up to three hours each day. Sometimes, they would train on weekdays too. He hooked himself up with other 'stunt riders' and practiced till he believed he was an expert," a police official who is part of the investigating team, told the Times of India.  Noor also told the police he did not know the woman sitting behind him and that she volunteered to be part of the shoot after she was impressed by his skills. He told the police that her name is Veda. Police traced down Noor through the registration number seen in the video.   

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