Why suspended IAS couple Arvind and Tinoo Joshi chose Guwahati to reportedly purchase 18 flats?

SUSPENDED IAS couple of 1979 batch, Arvind and Tinoo Joshis’ reported amassing of assets worth Rs 300 crore has been the talking point among bureaucrats across the country on Wednesday, but what has intrigued many is why this Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS couple with stints at New Delhi and Bhopal chose to purchase 18 of out of 25 flats in far-flung North-East city of Guwahati? What’s their Assam connection? Or has Guwahati with its new property boom become a safe route to park unaccounted money of politicians and bureaucrats? No wonder, Guwahati’s property market witnessed a boom even when there was a dip across major metros thanks to global downturn and economic uncertainty.

According to a 7,000 page Income-Tax report that was submitted to Madhya Pradesh chief secretary Avni Vaish and Lokayukta PV Naolekar recently, Joshi couple have properties, investments and valuables worth at least Rs 300 crore. They allegedly have exposure to agriculture, real estate and stock market. According to the I-T report, the couple purchased agricultural or non-agricultural land in places like Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks, Raisen, Balaghat, Sehore and Bhopal. Also, they allegedly bought six flats in Bhopal and one in New Delhi.

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Joshi couple’s date with key Delhi ministries

Maya reviews bureaucratic hurdles

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has said that bank accounts of the beneficiaries of welfare schemes should be opened and the fund be credited directly into their accounts, bypassing corrupt bureaucracy. This adverse remark against bureaucracy came during a review meeting on Tuesday to take a stock of development work. Divisional commissioners, district magistrates and district police chiefs among others attended the review meeting.

Action and Appointments

a) Ms Sheela Thomas, a 1985 batch Kerala cadre IAS has been appointed as chairman of Rubber Board, Kottayam, Kerala at the rank of a joint secretary. She will replace Sajan Peter, a 1983 batch Kerala cadre IAS.

b) SC Sharma, a 1979 batch Central Secretariat Service officer has been appointed as Deputy Director General in the department of telecommunications. Sharma is presently working  as joint secretary in the ministry of development of North Eastern region.

c) Prakhar Viplava Gupta, a 2000 batch IRS(I-T) officer has been appointed as deputy

secretary in the department of higher education.