Newsprint import scam uncovered in Delhi Ajmer Singh Saturday, December 31, 2005 (New Delhi):
A multicrore newsprint racket was busted at the Inland Container Depot at Tughlakabad on Friday. Officials of the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Delhi raided the depot and dug up the scam that runs into several crores. Soon after the racket was uncovered, DRI offices across the country were alerted with searches in ports across India. Newsprint is a restricted item and newspapers registered with the Registrar of News India (RNI) can import it at a concessional customs duty of five per cent. Tax evasion But for non-RNI certificate holders and for importers of other types of paper, a 35 per cent customs duty is levied. DRI sources say that high-quality paper used in photo films, tissue paper for medicinal packing and wallpaper were amongst those being passed off as newsprint to evade the 35 per cent customs duty. According to sources in the DRI, at least a hundred small and medium news organisations could be implicated in the racket. They say the RNI certificate was being misused for newsprint import and some news organisations were charging Rs 40,000 per container from buyers in the open market. According to the export-import policy, these restricted items are for registered users and not for sale in the open market. Many actual beneficiaries have been arrested and many news organisations will now be questioned by the Revenue Intelligence authorities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
