Ketan Parekh scam report submitted

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) The Special Fraud Investigation Office has submitted its report on the Ketan Parekh scam to the Finance Ministry, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

The report, received on March 26, has been forwarded to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over the case, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam said in a written reply.

X X X TAX: Direct tax collection increase by Rs 118.39 crore from Rs 1,05,088 crore on March 31, 2004 to Rs 2,29,505 crore on March 31 this year, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.

The number of assessees increased from 3,01,78,616 to 3,19,25,822 during the period.

There were 1,357 vacancies in the Income Tax Department as on March 31 this year, he said.

X X X HYDRO PROJECTS: Three hydro electric projects and five thermal projects across the states are pending for environment clearance, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said.

X X X HIGH COURTS: As many as 91 posts of judges were lying vacant in various high courts in the country as on April 30 this year, Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj said.

UNI