PIL alleges Sales Tax scam of over Rs 100 crore

The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra government’s Principal Secretary (Finance) to file an affidavit by October 8 in reply to a PIL alleging scam in refund of Sales Tax to the tune of crores of rupees in Palghar division in nearby Thane district.

The PIL also alleged that fraudulent claims of five per cent interest subsidy in the terms of loan under the Textile package scheme announced by the state government, had been made in the scam, which runs into more than Rs 100 crore.

Demanding a CBI enquiry, the PIL demanded arrest of Sales Tax officers and dealers involved in the fraud under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

A bench headed by Justice B H Marlapalle last week asked the petitioner Surinder Arora, a businessman of Thane, to make DIG and Senior Inspector of Palghar as respondents.