CBI comes in aid of Chadha, JP group
5 Jun 2012 1:59 AM GMT
The sudden arrest of a commissioner of investigations, Income Tax Department, Kanpur range, Kunal Singh, the joint director of investigations Ratan Singh and two other IT officials has raised eyebrows in the finance ministry circles.
The IT commissioner in question – Kunal Singh – was supposedly arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) for taking bribe from an infamous builder.
Singh was the brain behind the investigations against the businessman Ponty Chadha and the JP group. People have alleged that the CBI is being used to stall probe against the two powerful real estate groups of Uttar Pradesh.
The Ponty Chadha group had earlier made a disclosure of Rs 175 crore of undisclosed income. Kunal Singh’s investigations prepared the ground for further disclosure by the Chadha group to the tune of Rs 700 crore, which is likely to happen soon.
Kunal Singh’s investigations of the JP group is pending for clearance, which can unearth tax evasion of more than Rs 100 crore. Further investigations were stalled by top revenue ministry officials.
But what was more shocking was that when the IT officials raided the houses of three Noida authority officials, who had supposedly invested more than Rs 100 crore each into different housing projects of top builders, they were told that they had divorced their wives on whose names the investments were made. However, these women were found to be living in the same houses.
Further investigations were in progress to nail these officials for their alleged nexus with Noida’s most powerful builders. Sources say that at the crucial moment Chadha was ready for a disclosure from Rs 175 crore to Rs 700 crore. When the IT investigation was at the final stage comes the arrest of Kunal Singh and Ratan Singh.
With the arrest, serious questions are being raised about the political will of the government. It is being alleged that the IT raid on Chadha was leaked by one top revenue ministry official, against whom even after receiving complaints the Central Vigilance Commission is yet to start an investigation.
The official in question was in close connection with various ministers during his stint in the commerce ministry. But, how the CBI was taken for a ride has raised alarmed bells in political circles. It is alleged that some senior CBI officials, even after receiving numerous complaints against Chadha and the JP group, kept investigations under wraps.
The association of some low-level officials with the builders’ lobby is not being ruled out.
The IT commissioner in question – Kunal Singh – was supposedly arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) for taking bribe from an infamous builder.
Singh was the brain behind the investigations against the businessman Ponty Chadha and the JP group. People have alleged that the CBI is being used to stall probe against the two powerful real estate groups of Uttar Pradesh.
The Ponty Chadha group had earlier made a disclosure of Rs 175 crore of undisclosed income. Kunal Singh’s investigations prepared the ground for further disclosure by the Chadha group to the tune of Rs 700 crore, which is likely to happen soon.
Kunal Singh’s investigations of the JP group is pending for clearance, which can unearth tax evasion of more than Rs 100 crore. Further investigations were stalled by top revenue ministry officials.
But what was more shocking was that when the IT officials raided the houses of three Noida authority officials, who had supposedly invested more than Rs 100 crore each into different housing projects of top builders, they were told that they had divorced their wives on whose names the investments were made. However, these women were found to be living in the same houses.
Further investigations were in progress to nail these officials for their alleged nexus with Noida’s most powerful builders. Sources say that at the crucial moment Chadha was ready for a disclosure from Rs 175 crore to Rs 700 crore. When the IT investigation was at the final stage comes the arrest of Kunal Singh and Ratan Singh.
With the arrest, serious questions are being raised about the political will of the government. It is being alleged that the IT raid on Chadha was leaked by one top revenue ministry official, against whom even after receiving complaints the Central Vigilance Commission is yet to start an investigation.
The official in question was in close connection with various ministers during his stint in the commerce ministry. But, how the CBI was taken for a ride has raised alarmed bells in political circles. It is alleged that some senior CBI officials, even after receiving numerous complaints against Chadha and the JP group, kept investigations under wraps.
The association of some low-level officials with the builders’ lobby is not being ruled out.
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