PANAJI: Candidates are keeping up the tempo of illegal inducements to bribe voters as the state’s tryst with assembly elections draws near. On Friday, the commercial taxes department recovered mobile phones worth Rs 10 lakh from a dealer in Panaji. The dealer had no supporting invoice for the purchase and payment for the order was made by a third party.
The illegal purchase appears to be an election-related offence, said a senior official.
In addition to the mobile phones, field officers also seized 35 TVS Jupiter scooters and 40 Hero Honda motorcycles from Molem and Patradevi check-posts. Both the consignments of the two-wheelers were transported without prior intimation and therefore dubious, the senior official said.
Friday’s recovery is on the heels of the discovery of imported beer, LED TV and air coolers by the commercial taxes department at Patradevi border post on January 25.
Imported beer, viz. 75 cases of Amigo brand was found transported at Patradevi without invoice along with LED TVs (worth Rs 18 lakh) and air coolers on Thursday. The value of goods seized by the department during the two days is upward of Rs 1 crore. All the goods have been deposited with the returning officers.
Assembly elections this time are witnessing rich haul of freebies ranging from pressure cookers, sewing machines, consumer goods, mobile phones and two-wheelers
Until January 26, field officers detained 75 vehicles after intercepting more than 457 vehicles. Detained vehicles are being investigated for tax evasion, as they have not paid road tax, as well as over the possibility of use in election to induce voters.
As per election related orders issued by the government goods such as mobile phones, television sets, refrigerators, two-wheelers, computers, are included in the vulnerable list wherein dealers have to submit advance details of the consignment.
The 75 vehicles whose consignments are seized, did not give prior intimation, additional commissioner of commercial taxes Rajan Saterdekar said.
“Through experience and trend in other parts of country it is observed that some goods could be given out as freebies by evading tax by candidates or their agents,” he said.
Assembly elections in Goa will be held on February 4 while counting will take place on March 11.
Like in the past, political parties are relying heavily on freebies to lure voters.
