The Income Tax department conducted searches on the premises of a textile manufacturer in Mumbai and Delhi, unearthing suppression of sales figures by routing transactions through other benami firms.

The raids, which were conducted on Monday and Tuesday, yielded an admission of concealed income to the tune of Rs one crore, IT investigation wing officials said. They were, however, unwilling to reveal the identity of the group. Sources in the Kalbadevi market, however, said the group was Ramkumar Dharampal, and that a particular gowdown had been sealed by IT officials. The department has identified 20 benami entities through which the group routed the transactions for suppressing true figures of sales. Accounts were opened in 16 banks for the purpose. Four bank lockers have also been sealed.

Radiography course

The Garware Institute of Career Education and Developement is offering a one-and-a-half year diploma course in radiography for students interested in makingtheir careers as X-ray technicians or radiographers. The lectures will be held at the institute and practicals at the city's leading hospitals. Candidates who have passed their HSC, preferably in science with at least 45 per cent aggregate marks, are eligible for admission. Students from other disciplines can also apply, provided they have at least a 50 per cent aggregate. Those who are already in service as radiographers in public institutions and are on deputation need to have passed their SSC and have three years of experience in public hospitals to apply.

Selection for the course will be on the basis of a written test and personal interview. The number of students per batch is 20. For details, contact the Garware Institute of Career education and Developement, Vidyanagari, Kalina, Santacruz (east) or call on 6121229/6106899. Priyadarshni award for 1998n THE Priyadarshni Academy's `public service award' for 1998 will be presented to the regional passport officer, Mumbai, Vishnu Hade, for hiscontributions to the field. Hade started his career with the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, in 1980. He has served as second secretary at the Embassy of India in Tehran and performed duties as head of Chancery, consular and political field. He was also first secretary, political affairs, at the Embassy of India, Rome.