Pioneer In Short

IT dept raids TMC leaders
The Income Tax Department on Friday carried out searches at multiple locations in Kolkata, including premises linked to TMC MLA Debashis Kumar and Miraj Shah, a proposer of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Raids began around 6 am at Kumar’s residence, the election office, and other associated properties, while Shah’s Elgin Road residence in south Kolkata was also searched. The residence of Kumar’s close aide, TMC leader Kumar Saha, was similarly covered. Officials said the action was part of a broader probe into unaccounted financial flows ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Kumar had recently been questioned multiple times by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a land fraud case, focusing on alleged financial dealings with a businessman under scrutiny. The Trinamool Congress alleged the timing of the raids-just days before polling on April 23 and 29-was aimed at political intimidation. Senior party leader Jaiprakash Majumdar accused the central government, led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, of misusing agencies.
The searches triggered protests outside Kumar’s residence, prompting the deployment of central forces. Polling in the Rasbehari and Bhabanipur constituencies is scheduled for April 29, with counting on May 4.
SC mandates CCTVs to curb sand mining
The Supreme Court of India on Friday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh over rampant illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, warning it would not remain a “silent spectator” to environmental degradation. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed the states to install high-resolution CCTV cameras along vulnerable river stretches and routes used for illegal mining, with live monitoring by police and forest officials. Slamming the states for their “utter failure”, the court cautioned that stricter measures-including deployment of central forces and a blanket mining ban-could follow if immediate action is not taken.
It also ordered seizure of vehicles and machinery involved, GPS tracking in mining districts on a pilot basis, and stringent prosecution of offenders. The order came in a suo motu case on threats to endangered wildlife, including the gharial and the Ganges River dolphin. The court stressed that protecting fragile ecosystems is a constitutional obligation. States must file compliance reports by May 11, when the matter will be heard next.
Twin fires in Mumbai, none hurt
Two separate fire incidents in Mumbai on Friday were swiftly contained without any reported injuries, officials said. In the first incident, a blaze broke out at 12:44 pm on the third floor of the 16-storey Sai Leela Cooperative Housing Society in the Tardeo area of south-central Mumbai. At least four fire engines, along with teams from the fire brigade, police, BEST, and civic ward staff, were deployed to the site. The fire was brought under control after nearly two hours, at around 2.38 pm. Authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported. Earlier in the day, another fire erupted at 6.13 am at Dana Pani Bular Studio near Yoga Ashram on Madh Marve Road in Malad West. Firefighters deployed four engines and managed to extinguish the blaze after nearly three hours.
The fire was confined to electrical wiring, installations, and combustible materials, including foam, carpets, PVC sheets, furniture, perfumes, office records, and shooting equipment spread across 3,000 sq ft in multiple shops within a two-storey structure. Officials said the cause of the Malad fire is under investigation.















