The Income Tax Department has levied two separate fines totaling INR 23.07 crore (approximately USD 2.8 million) on ACC Ltd, a subsidiary of Ambuja Cement under the Adani Group, for alleged inaccuracies in income reporting. The first penalty of INR 14.22 crore relates to the assessment year 2015-16, while the second of INR 8.85 crore concerns the 2018-19 period. ACC has announced it will appeal both penalties and seek a stay, emphasizing that these demands pertain to pre-Acquisition periods and will not affect current operations or finances.Read more

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved four multi-tracking railway projects across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, costing around INR 24,634 crore. Spanning approximately 894 km, these projects aim to improve passenger and freight movement, connect 3,633 villages with over 85 lakh residents, and support two Aspirational Districts. The developments will enhance operational efficiency, reduce congestion, boost tourism, and strengthen freight transportation, particularly for commodities like coal, cement, and food grains, while supporting environmental sustainability.Read more

The Maharashtra Cabinet approved a major slum redevelopment initiative in Mumbai, aiming to transform slum clusters into integrated housing projects with improved living conditions while boosting private investment and construction activity. The move is expected to create employment in construction and allied sectors, supporting Mumbai's economic growth. Additionally, the state cleared a sewage treatment and reuse policy for 424 urban local bodies, allocated land for an e-bus depot in Amravati, extended career progression benefits for non-teaching staff in residential schools, and sanctioned a new senior civil court in Akole.Read more

The Maharashtra government has reclassified two parcels of salt pan land in Wadala, Mumbai, from Natural Area (NA) to Residential Zone (R Zone), permitting construction activities. The 20,318.82 square meters of land will accommodate a gymkhana for the IAS Officers Association and warehouses for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The land is not ecologically sensitive, lacking mangroves or hills, and has been temporarily used by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited. The government has invited public suggestions and objections regarding this land use change.Read more

Sushant Surve, the third accused in the Thane Municipal Corporation bribery case, surrendered to the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), joining Deputy Municipal Commissioner Shankar Patole and private individual Omkar Gaikar in custody. The case revolves around allegations that Patole demanded a bribe of INR 50 lakh from real estate developer Abhijit Kadam to remove an encroachment. Kadam had already paid INR 10 lakh through Surve, and while attempting to hand over another INR 25 lakh to Gaikar, the ACB intervened. All three face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.Read more

Karnataka's Land Beat app has identified about 1.5 lakh encroached government land parcels, covering 14.1 lakh acres, through a digital mapping and verification drive launched in early 2024. The tool enables village accountants to geo-fence land, upload photos or videos, and flag encroachments, forming a digital extension of the Jamabandi land record system. Officials clarified that totals may drop after detailed surveys, as even partial encroachments mark entire plots. The project's three-stage process-verification, drone-based measurement, and eviction under Section 104 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act-is nearing completion. In Bengaluru alone, land worth INR 5,000 crore has been reclaimed, while bi-monthly drives and periodic digital updates now sustain continuous monitoring.Read more

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets valued at INR 423.38 crore belonging to Bengaluru-based Ozone Urbana Infra Developers and its promoter S. Vasudevan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The move follows allegations that the company defrauded homebuyers of INR 927.22 crore by not delivering apartments and diverting funds to other entities and family members. The attached assets include unsold flats, commercial land, and personal properties, including 179 acres owned by Vasudevan's wife in Chikkamagaluru. This case originated from a CBI FIR filed under Supreme Court directions.Read more

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) recently sealed Sahara Shaher, a 170-acre property in Gomti Nagar, citing alleged lease violations. The LMC claims the 30-year lease, which ended in 2024, was not honored, prompting cancellation of the lease and license agreements. Sahara India disputes these allegations, stating it invested over INR 2,480 crore, developed 87 residential and commercial buildings, and paid all dues including INR 17.58 crore in taxes. The company has moved the Allahabad High Court, challenging LMC's actions, which they describe as arbitrary and unlawful.Read more

The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has launched a sealing drive in Sushant Lok 2 and 3 to address unauthorized commercial activities and structural violations. Over 60 properties had been issued restoration orders, but many owners did not comply within the 10-day deadline. The drive targets homes operating businesses such as salons, guest houses, and coaching centres, as well as properties with stilt and setback violations. DTCP officials emphasized zero tolerance for repeated offenders, aiming to maintain planned development, reduce congestion, and restore residential land use discipline in licensed colonies.Read more

Ghaziabad authorities have formed a four-member committee to identify illegal permanent constructions on the Yamuna floodplain in Loni. Led by Additional District Magistrate Saurabh Bhatt, the team includes the SDM of Loni, a zonal officer from the Ghaziabad Development Authority, and an irrigation department official. They are tasked with submitting a report within a month for clearance and action. The initiative follows recurring floods that required the rescue of around 400 people from unauthorized structures this year, highlighting risks from encroachments in flood-prone zones.Read more