This Article is From Nov 16, 2015

Maharashtra in Dock for Allegedly Arresting Cable Operators Illegally

Maharashtra in Dock for Allegedly Arresting Cable Operators Illegally

The two cable operators were picked up by Nagpur police and kept in jail and later sent to Nagpur jail and kept there for four days with other criminals, their lawyer claimed.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today pulled up the Maharashtra Government for allegedly keeping two cable operators, including an 80-year-old woman, in illegal custody under the charge of not paying entertainment tax.

The two cable operators were handcuffed and kept in jail for four days along with criminals, argued their lawyer.

Concerned with the arrest, the Supreme Court told the Maharashtra government lawyer: "Who did this? You can't do this. We have to take action. Tell the state of Maharashtra that we will not allow this to happen. This is a serious matter."

"We want you to produce in four weeks the records indicating when were the two persons arrested, under whose orders and why were they kept in custody along with criminals," the court said.

The top court also said, "When the government can't even determine the quantum of tax, how can you say 'non- payment' and arrest them when it is not a law and issue order."

The Maharashtra government's counsel said that he will file an affidavit on the issue based on the response of the authorities.

The two cable operators were picked up by Nagpur police and kept in jail and later sent to Nagpur jail and kept there for four days with other criminals, their lawyer claimed.

They challenged the purportedly illegal demand made by the Nagpur District Collector to pay them entertainment tax and sought quashing of a High Court order.

The Bombay High Court had granted them bail on their paying Rs 1,00,000 towards arrears of entertainment duty.

The lawyer argued that under the law there, was no due to be paid to government towards entertainment tax.
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