The Maharashtra government is looking into several transactions by two limited liability partnerships incorporated by top bureaucrat K.P. Bakshi, whose name has cropped up in a report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on suspicious transactions worth over ₹2.5 crore during and after demonetisation in 2016.
As reported by The Hindu on February 17, Mr. Bakshi, who was the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) when some of the transactions were carried out, had transferred large sums into Oracon LLP and Crimson Park LLP, in which his sons Shivesh and Anjan, and wife Neelima Bakshi, are partners. In his explanation to the government on January 31, 2019, Mr. Bakshi had informed the government of the existence of only one (Oracon) of the two firms, while keeping the incorporation of the other off the declaration note.
‘Records revealed’
While Oracon was incorporated on May 28, 2016 with Shivesh and Neelima on board as designated partners, Crimson Park LLP was incorporated on January 28, 2014 with an ‘obligation of contribution’ to the tune of ₹1,00,000, and Bakshi Anjan and Bakshi Neelima as designated partners. The registered address of Crimson is shown in the records of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to be 1404, Greenwood Hiranandani Estate, Ghodbunder Road, Thane. In his explanation forwarded to the government, Mr. Bakshi said the records of the Oracon LLP have been revealed to the government, and the said company had applied for the opening of a Dmat account to buy tax-free infrastructure bonds for saving income tax.
“Since the process of the opening of the account was getting unduly delayed, my wife and son requested me to buy the above tax-free infrastructure bonds through my Dmat account, for which the LLP Co transferred the required amount to my bank account. Once the account was opened, the ITF bonds were transferred by me to the company’s newly opened Dmat account,” he said in his letter, responding to letter of Chief Secretary D.K. Jain dated December 18, 2018. The response talks of cheque or NEFT transactions but does not mention Crimson Park LLP at all.
Earlier, as reported by The Hindu , the CVC report has also highlighted transactions made by a senior civil servant of the Bihar cadre.
The total volume of transactions made by Mr. Bakshi, being scrutinised by the government, could exceed ₹6 crore, sources in the government said.
