June 12, 1975

Indian high ct Justice Jagmahan Lal Sinha declares Prime Min Gandhi's '71 election to Parliament invalid on ground that she indulged in corrupt practices; prohibits her from running for pol office for 6 yrs; suspends verdict to permit Gandhi to continue as Prime Min; pol analysts say Gandhi should resign; Gandhi was convicted of violating election law by apptg Govt official Yashpal Kapoor to be her campaign organizer, by availing herself of arrangements for meetings made by local officials and by using police force in campaign; Raj Narain, Gandhi's opponent in election, lauds decision; Gandhi por (M)

HR rejects any increase in gasoline tax; by 5 to 1 margin defeats Ways and Means Com bill that would have increased gasoline tax by as much as 23c; by narrower margin tentatively defeats 3c a gal tax rise to finance development of new forms of energy; seen unlikely to alter stand in 2d vote on 3c tax increase; Repr Charles A Vanick says gasoline tax is unpopular with voters; bill's floor mgr Repr Al Ullman admits setback; little enthusiasm for gasoline tax seen in Sen; debate in HR described as acrimonious and partisan (M)

NYC Fire Comr John T O'Hagan says crisis budget would cut dept's uniformed force from 10,107 to 7,391 and force elimination of 40 fire cos 'on all-across-the-bd basis which will affect every community in city,' testimony before City Council Finance Com (S)

illus of Rabin with Pres Ford

8 landlords and associates are indicted in connection with arson-related fires in S Bronx, NYC; Bronx Dist Atty Mario Merola says charges cover 4 separate and unrelated incidents involving setting or attempt to set fires to collect ins; says ins fraud has been 1 of several motives behind more than 5,500 incidents of arson in last 17 mos; some indicted men are also charged with bribery for allegedly having offered money to police after their arrest; also charged with possession of bombs made of gasoline, gun powder and timing device; Imre Oberlander of Bklyn, who owns bldgs in Bronx and Bklyn, reptdly collected $125,000 in 21 fire ins claims in both boroughs in last 5 yrs (M)