NTPC Limited is in news again, though not for good reasons this time too. NTPC Limited and its MDO – BGR Infra and Mining Private Limited, is excavating coal from Keredari Village in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. One Meena Devi, wife of Amresh Prajapati, resident of Keredari Village, has alleged that officials of BGR Infra and Mining Limited, on May 15, last, came to her house, assaulted her and razed her house to the ground. She further says that they were neither earlier informed of this action, not were paid any compensation by the MDO or NTPC Limited. And since then, her family is staying in a tent nearby.

She has further alleged that a week later, on May, 22, 2024, NTPC’s AGM Subhash Prasad Gupta came there with his colleagues, Mukesh Kumar Sahu and Rohit Pal. They were accompanied by employees of BGR Infra and Mining Limited namely Neeraj Singh, Subodh Prajapati, Ravi Rana and others. She has alleged that she was beaten to the extent that she fainted.

Residents of the village sat on a dharna to protest against the actions of NTPC Limited and its MDO – BGR Infra and Mining Private Limited. The protest was huge and mining activity was stopped in the vicinity for some days.

Some months back, this project was started with much fanfare and was welcomed by local residents too. Deputy Collector of Hazaribagh, Ms. Nancy Sahay was the chief guest on the occasion but probably unkept promises and high-handed attitude of NTPC officials along with the management of BGR Infra and Mining Private Limited, has brought the situation to this level. Though excavation work has started again, an uneasy calm prevails.

The aggrieved woman has filed a police complaint against NTPC Limited. A copy of the complaint is given below for the benefit of the viewers of www.indianpsu.com –

Meanwhile, officials of NTPC Limited have also filed a cross complaint against 17 persons including the Meena Devi and her husband, Amresh Prajapati.

Officials of NTPC Limited are seen openly siding with their MDO and calling the locals extortionists. In the video below, AGM of NTPC, Subhash Prasad Gupta, is seen making such allegations. But what is more intriguing is that NTPC Limited has finds no mention of “extortion” against the locals in its F.I.R. filed some hours after their official levelled such accusations !

Here, It is noteworthy to mention that NTPC Limited on 1st February, 2023, awarding the single highest awarded value contract of Rs. 20,400 Crore (approx.) for Kerendari Coal Block on BGR Mining & Infra. Limited, Hyderabad, for production of 139.74 Million Tonnes of Coal in a period of 25 years.

ww.indianpsu.com called Deputy Collector Hazaribagh Ms. Nancy Sahay to ask her whether the family whose house was bulldozed, had got any compensation for displacement, but the call went unanswered. WhatsApp messages and email sent to her on May 24, 2024, also did not elicit any response whatsoever. Same was the fate of the email sent to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. Two more reminder emails met the same fate.

www.indianpsu.com also sent three emails to CMD of NTPC, Corporate Communications Head of NTPC and to officials of M/s BGR Infra and Mining Private Limited, asking the same question, to get their versions, but we received no answers.

Serious questions are being raised on the Hazaribagh district administration and Jharkhand state government as to how did they allow NTPC Limited and its MDOs to start mining of coal without fulfilling the pre-conditions of rehabilitation-displacement and acquisition along with environmental and forest clearance? NTPC Limited and its MDOs start excavation of coal arbitrarily. Another vivid example of such neglect is NTPC’s Pakri Barwadih Project where the the ‘Most Critically Endangered’ ethnic group among the eight ‘primitive tribes’ of Jharkhand, Birhors, who constitute only about 0.01 percent of the total tribal population of India, live. In the recent past, two Birhor tribals have died unnatural deaths but blasts and mining continues unabated. The basic question here is whether the Maharatna PSUs and their partner private companies should meet the conditions and then start mining or should the rules and conditions are meant to be followed after starting mining? Coal is indeed important for power generation and other activity but is it more important than human life and dignity ? And are India and Bharat two different entities ???

The writer of this article is Vivek Avasthi, senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of www.indianpsu.com

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CBI registered a case on a complaint from Vice President of an Advertising company against Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, NTPC Ltd., New Delhi allegations of demanding bribe for passing the bill of complainant’s company. It was alleged that the said company had installed Booths, in Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry in the month of January- February, 2024 on behalf of M/s. NTPC Limited. After completion of work, an official of the company visited office of NTPC Ltd in Delhi in order to submit proforma invoice of Rs. 40 Lakh (approximately) and met accused who refused to accept the proforma invoice and told that work completion certificate are not enclosed which are to be issued from local authorities in Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry administration. Accordingly, the company’s representative visited local authority offices of Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry and requested to issue work completion certificate. It was also alleged that the local authorities informed that for issuance of work completion certificate, they would require email/call from NTPC Ltd. Accordingly, the complainant contacted accused and requested him to help the company in communicating the local authorities about work completion certificate. Accused, allegedly, demanded an undue advantage of Rs. 06.00 lakh from the complainant and told that he would manage everything and bill would be passed without any hindrance, if the undue advantage is paid to him.

Further, it was alleged that the accused enhanced his demand of undue advantage to Rs. 9.25 lakh. After negotiation, accused agreed to accept undue advantage of Rs. 8.0 lakh from the complainant.

A trap was laid by CBI and the accused was caught red handed while accepting Rs. 8.0 lakh from the complainant at Mumbai as accused flew from Delhi to Mumbai to accept the undue advantage. Subsequently, the accused was arrested by the CBI.

CBI conducted searches at the premises of the accused situated at Noida (U.P.).

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Use of black money, over and above political financing and accurate disclosure thereof, may disturb the level playing field in favour of more resourceful party or candidate in specific geographies. The seizures are a critical part of ECI resolve to conduct the Lok Sabha elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field. CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar, while announcing the polls last month, underlined Money Power as one of the ‘4M’ challenges. On 12th April, Commission led by CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu reviewed all Central Observers deployed in Phase -1 of elections going to poll on 19th April. Tightening, monitoring and checking were amongst the focus of deliberations to ensure inducement-free electoral process.

The enhanced seizures reflect ECI’s unwavering commitment to monitor inducements and curb electoral malpractices for a ‘level playing field’, particularly in favour of smaller and less resourceful parties.

In an incident in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, the Commission suspended the flying squad team leader for laxity in duty and selective checking of a cavalcade of a prominent leader. Similarly, officials checked vehicles in the convoy of CM of a state and also vehicle of a Dy CM in another state. Commission has also taken strict action against approximately 106 government servants who have been found assisting politicians in campaigning, thereby violating the Code of Conduct and instructions.

In the press briefing during announcement of Parliamentary elections, CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar stressed in his presentation on strict compliance of BCAS instructions on surveillance and inspection of non-scheduled aircrafts and helicopters by Income tax, airport authorities and SPs of concerned districts, border agencies to keep close watch on international checkposts and GST authorities to closely monitor godowns, especially makeshift godowns meant for storing freebies. The Commission during reviews had always emphasized that there will be multi-pronged surveillance on all modes of transport – check posts and nakas for road transport, Coast guard for coastal routes and DMs and SPs alongside agencies for air routes including checking of helicopters and non-scheduled flights.

How has it been made possible?

Election Seizure Management System (ESMS)- breaking silos and bringing all enforcement agencies on one platform through use of technology is proving to be a game changer. With the introduction of technology in monitoring process, ESMS, an ECI in-house developed portal is proving to be a catalyst. The novel innovation for real time reporting of interceptions and seizures, avoiding duplication of seizures was tested in the last round of Assembly elections.
The portal facilitates digital trails and availability of seizure information at the click of a mouse enabling quick and timely reviews at all controlling levels. As per data, 6398 District nodal officers of various agencies, 734 state nodal officers, 59000 flying squads (FS) and Statics Surveillance Teams (SST) have been on boarded on ESMS platform for exhaustive real time monitoring and updates. All nodal officials have been trained on various aspects of using ESMS. The system took firm root during Assembly elections during 2023, when Rs 2014.26 crores was seized as against Rs 239.35 crores in the previous corresponding elections. With successful implementation and feedback from the field in the last round of assembly elections, it has been reviewed and made robust before implementation in ongoing elections.

Meticulous and exhaustive planning, involvement of largest number of Enforcement Agencies: The largest number of enforcement agencies both from Centre and States have been assembled for collaborative effort among agencies.

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A person namely Manoj Kumar S/o Sh. Gulshan Kumar has been arrested. A total of 45.855 kg Diphenoxylate mix prepared drug. 7.240 kg of Diphenoxylate tablet in loose form and 19,000 tablets of Nimesulide tablets were recovered and seized. The Nimesulide tablets were used as ingredient in the Narcotics powder.

Diphenoxylate is a Narcotics Drugs and its commercial quantity is 50 gm, as specified in NDPS Act. Further, in follow up action, one person named Mr. Mahesh Kumar S/o Mohan Lal Prop/o Modern Medical Store, Nissing, Karnal, supposedly man behind this illegal manufacturing has also been arrested on 07/07/2022. A case under section 8 read with section 21, 25, 27A, 28, 29, 30 and 35 of NDPS Act 1985 has been registered. They are involved in selling the Narcotics powder containing Diphenoxylate for intoxication purpose to various states. Further investigation is under progress.

Narcotics Commissioner Shri Rajesh Fattesingh Dhabre stated that Central Bureau of Narcotic shall find out the main supplier of the drug soon.

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Specific intelligence was developed by DRI that illicit manufacture of chemical drugs was taking place at a clandestine factory in the rural areas adjoining Yamnunanagar, Haryana. During the searches carried out at the factory premises over a period of two days, starting 29th July 2022, a large consignment of Ephedrine weighting 661 kg was recovered along with over 5,200 kg of raw material, which was to be used for the manufacture of ephedrine. Equipment like centrifuges and glass line reactors, which were being used to manufacture the chemical drugs were also recovered. Three persons, including one of the financiers, have been arrested in this case and further investigations are underway.

In another case, DRI officers intercepted a person at Bengaluru Railway Station, search of whose bag led to the recovery of 16 kg heroin valued at Rs. 112 crore in the international illicit market, which was ingeniously concealed in the false cavity of the trolley bag. This person had arrived in Bengaluru by the morning flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and was on his way to New Delhi, when he was intercepted. The said person has been arrested and further investigations are underway.

Busting of a factory manufacturing illicit drugs deals a body-blow to the drug syndicates engaged in manufacturing, sale and distribution of such drugs, which have the potential to harm India’s youth. DRI is committed to making utmost efforts to protect India from the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that have wide ranging socio-economic implications. In the financial year 2021-22, through its operations conducted across the length and breadth of India, DRI seized 3,463 kg of heroin, 208 kg of pseudoephedrine and 321 kg of cocaine, together valued at almost Rs 19,800 crore in the international illicit market.

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It was alleged that the said private company & its promoters had created a number of shell companies & fictitious entities (the Bandra Book entities) and siphoned off huge funds by disbursing funds to such fictitious entities. It was further alleged that separate audits conducted by other private audit accounting organisations had identified multiple instances of diversion of funds by the accused for personal benefits and falsification of books of accounts to camouflage & conceal dubious transactions. The audits also identified several instances where large value loans were provided to such fictitious entities without due diligence and without securities. Instances of sanction and disbursement of loans, merely by e-mail communications were allegedly found for which no loan files were maintained in the said private (Borrower) company.

Searches were conducted today at 12 locations in Mumbai at the premises of accused which led to recovery of incriminating documents.

Investigation is continuing.

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During the course of the search operations, various incriminating documentary and digital evidences have been seized. The analysis of such evidences indicates that the assessee group has indulged in large-scale tax evasion exceeding Rs. 400 crore by debiting non-genuine purchase bills in the books of account of varied businesses. These non-genuine purchase bills were either obtained from its regular material suppliers or from accommodation entry providers. On gleaning, the seized evidences have also revealed that the payments made to the material suppliers through cheque have been received back in cash for making unaccounted investments and also for other purposes.

The group is also found to be controlling, back-office operations of its international chain of hotels, from India.

So far, the search action has led to the seizure of undisclosed cash of Rs. 3 crore and unaccounted gold jewellery worth Rs. 2.5 crore. 

Further investigations are in progress.

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Apart from these foreign origin packets of Indian brand cigarettes containing a total of 30,21,500 nos. sticks were also found. These brands were ‘Gold Flame, Gold Clock, Flame, Fun Gold, Impression, Pelicans, and Gold Fighter’.

No documents could be shown by the owner of the goods about the procurement of such goods. The owner of the goods, who got the premises hired, has been apprehended. Further enquiry is on.

The Chief Commissioner of Delhi Customs (Preventive), Mr. Surjit Bhujabal, I.R.S. said that “there is zero tolerance in respect of smuggling of cigarettes into the country. Further strict measures are being followed in respect of provisions under Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003. Smuggling has a deleterious impact on our economy.”

Indian Customs have been making continuous efforts for combating illegal smuggling of cigarettes into India. The officers of Delhi Customs Preventive commissionerate, on receiving a specific intelligence about unlawful storage of prohibited Cigarettes of Foreign Brand and also illicit supply of country made Cigarettes without payment of GST, the officers of Delhi Customs Preventive searched the Godown premises at an Industrial Area in Delhi.

Smuggling of Cigarettes involves the illicit transportation of it between Continents, Countries and Provinces via air or sea transport, usually with the aim of circumventing taxes and other restrictions on Imports and Exports. This enables smugglers to re-sell this item at a reduced price and/or recuperate the cost that would typically be paid to the state in the form of customs duty.

Presently, more than 100 International smuggled cigarette brands are flooding the Indian market from all over the globe. The smuggled cigarettes are approximately 5 times cheaper than the duty paid cigarettes. E.g. legally duty paid cigarettes would cost Rs. 330 per ten cigarettes and smuggled cigarettes would cost Rs.60 or 80/- per ten cigarettes.

Delhi Customs Preventive has been doing Ernest effort to stop a illegal import of a single cigarette into India. The details of seizers made during the last two years are given below-

Almost every day Enforcement authorities in India are making seizures of such unlawful cigarettes in the country. Details of foreign brands cigarettes smuggled into India are given as-

Apart from above Delhi Customs Preventive Commissionerate has handed over seizers of manufacturing fake/counterfeit Indian origin cigarettes to CGST authorities. The details are given below-

Social Impact and its Counter:

1. It may be noted that the smuggling activities are criminal offence and disobeys various Indian laws including Customs Act, GST laws, COFESPOSA, LMA etc. and attract severe penal punishment.
2. Obviously, smoking is hazardous to health but consumption of smuggled cigarettes may be more drastic since such cigarettes do not carry heath warning in terms of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA Act) and maybe prepared by substandard/toxic ingredients i.e. dust etc.
3. Indian Law Enforcer i.e. Police, local administration within respective jurisdiction may be sensitized to report any incident of sale of such foreign made cigarettes to nearby Customs/GST office immediately. Staff of respective COIN formation may be requested to provide due assistance in unearthing the possible role of overseas manufacturer of cigarettes which are also involved in smuggling of the same in to India.

Mr. SK Rahman, Principal Commissioner of Delhi Customs (Preventive) said that our department is always alert and takes immediate action on any kind of information. The constant vigil is being kept towards protecting our economic sphere and also on the matters relating to tax evasion and preventing violation of the Customs Act.

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During the course of the search operation, a large number of incriminating evidences including hard copy documents and digital evidences have been found and seized. A preliminary analysis of the seized documents indicates that substantial portion of sales have been made in cash, which have not been found recorded in the regular books of account. The search action has also revealed that the Group has resorted to large scale tax evasion through undervaluation and under-reporting of stocks. Unaccounted stock of more than Rs. 4 crore has been detected in Delhi alone.

The group is also showing exports from India to its various concerns located in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, the business in the UAE is found to be carried out in the name of third parties, with informal profit sharing arrangement.

The group is found to have made huge unaccounted investment in large number of immovable properties not only in India, but also abroad. Investigations have further revealed the group’s investment in a luxury hotel which is not fully disclosed in the regular books of account.

The search action has led to the seizure of unaccounted cash of more than Rs. 46 lakh.

Further investigations are in progress.

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At least 10 residential and business locations are being covered by the officials of the federal probe agency under the searches.

Satyendar Jain, 57, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is in judicial custody at present.

The probe agency had seized “unexplained” cash worth ₹ 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins after similar raids were conducted against Satyendar Jain’s family and others after his arrest.

Satyendar Jain, a minister without portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal government, is being probed by the agency under the PMLA on charges of alleged hawala dealings.

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