The Times of India            28.11.2013  

Traders evading LBT worth Rs 4.5 crore caught

PUNE: The local body tax (LBT) department caught as many as 16 traders for evasion on goods worth Rs 4.5 crore during the week-long raids.

"Action was taken against the traders evading the tax. It will go on till March in phases," said Rajendra Jagtap, additional commissioner of PMC, on Tuesday. The administration has sought the state's permission to carry out raids against LBT defaulters, who are not paying heed to the notices of LBT payment. The drive was started on November 20.

Vilas Kanade, head of LBT department, said the raids were conducted across the city. Traders including garment, liquor and small-scale industries were targeted. Traders who have not registered will have to pay five times their LBT charge, while the traders who have registered, but have not paid the tax will need to pay two times the charges.

"LBT of around Rs 18 lakh is expected from this drive. Notices were issued to these traders but they did not pay," said Kanade.