Jaikishan Aswani, the main accused in the case of illegal diversion of explosives, was felicitated by the Madhya Pradesh government on April 21?three weeks after road vans headed for the state started disappearing during transit.
An award of Rs 50,000 and a certificate were given to BM Traders, a company owned by Aswani, for being the second-highest commercial tax-payer from Rajgarh district in 2008-2009.
Aswani is now under police custody for his alleged role in the diversion of explosives. Between April and June, as many as 163 trucks, carrying tonnes of explosives, headed for Sagar and Ashoknagar districts in Madhya Pradesh but never reached their destinations.
The function to felicitate winners of the Bhama Shah Award was held at Ashray Hotel in Ujjain and attended by senior officers of the commercial tax department, traders, tax advisors and prominent citizens.
Three winners each from Rajgarh, Shajapur, Ujjain and Dewas districts were felicitated with cash prizes by Finance Minister Raghavji. The first prize carried Rs one lakh in cash while the third prize carried Rs 25,000 besides certificates.
Addressing the gathering, Raghavji had said: ?The age of raids and litigation is gone. Instead of dragging to court people who fill state coffers, we are felicitating them by sending them invites.? Congratulating the winners, he urged them to contribute more while patting his effective economic policy. Sources in the Commercial Tax department told The Indian Express that Aswani?s BM Traders paid a tax of Rs 29 lakh.
Deepa Heda, an accused who is at large along with husband Shivcharan, was the original proprietor of the firm based in Biaora, Rajgarh.
The Bhopal-based office of the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives said the ownership was transferred in the name of Aswani who is now in police custody. The police have also arrested Gopal Shakyawar, an employee of B M Traders.