After learning about 50 per cent discount on high-priced silk sarees offered by some cloth stores in the Laxmi Road, the department maintained a strict vigil on the shops with the help of five separate squads throughout the week.

The squads, in the process, unearthed the octroi evasion by several prominent shops. They confiscated Banaras, Bengali and Paithani sarees worth Rs 3,82,000, a press release issued by the Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor said.

In another swoop on silver jewellers on Laxmi Road and M G Road, the squad confiscated silver ornaments and wares weighing 40 kilo and worth Rs 3.5 lakh for non-payment of octroi.

PCMC corporators pitch in for martyrs
Corporators of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation will donate their two months' honararium for the families of the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives while fighting the Pakistani aggression in Kargil.

Also, the officers of the civic body will donate their one day's salary towards the fund. A decision to this effect was taken during the general body meeting of the corporation held on Saturday. The proposal was tabled by corporator Nandu Jadhav and seconded by standing committee chairman Shamim Pathan. During the discussion Commissioner B E Nagarale announced that one-day salary of Corporation officers will be cut towards the fund.

Man murdered
A man was allegedly murdered at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Indapur taluka on Friday night. Agarnna Kale suspected Kobya Kale of having illicit relations with his wife. Kale allegedly attacked Satpal Kobya Kale (40) with an axe after an, the police said.