NEW DELHI, June 8:
Naval War room leak case accused Abhishek Verma was today questioned by the CBI in a separate case against him for allegedly taking money from a defence supply company for an assurance to stall its blacklisting by the government.
CBI sources said Verma appeared before the CBI sleuths for questioning this morning.
The CBI had booked Verma in a fresh case alleging that he took USD 5.30 lakh from Swiss-company Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) on promise that he would use his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings intiated by the government against it after the Ordnance Factory Board scam surfaced.
The CBI booked the company, Verma and unknown persons under section eight and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, CBI sources said.
Section 8 of the Act relates to taking bribe to influence public servants and carries a punishment of six months to five years.
After registering the case, 10 CBI teams, who were later joined by the criminal investigation unit of I-T, swooped down at 10 locations in Delhi and Gurgaon which included four premises of Verma, offices of RAD in Vasant Vihar and Satya Niketan and farm house of its Director Mahinder Sahni in Kishangarh and three associates of Verma, they said.
Recently, Verma had reached a Delhi court with a complaint against his former partner C Edmond Allen accusing him of cheating him of Rs 55 crore and forging documents and emails to defame him.
Allen had filed complaint with CBI Director and other top officials alleging that Verma received funds from RAD for bailing it out.
The court had taken cognisance of the complaint of Verma, and posted the matter for recording of his pre-summoning evidence on July 21. (PTI)
CBI questions Abhishek Verma
CBI issues notice to BCCI Chief in Jagan’s DA case
HYDERABAD, June 8:
The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued a notice to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President and India Cement Chairman N Srinivasan in the YSR Congress party Chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s disproportionate assets case and asked him to appear before it for questioning next week.
Sources said under the former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure, India Cements allegedly received illegal water allocations when the then Congress Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah was holding the portfolio. In turn India Cements invested in Jagan’s companies.
The CBI has also summoned Managing Directors of Penna and Dalmia Cements to appear before it in the case.
The Penna and Dalmia cements were reportedly allotted lime stone mines by the then Revenue Minister in YSR Cabinet Dharmana Prasada Rao in return for investments in Jagan’s companies and hence the investigating agency would grill the officials to find out the exact reasons.
Apart from being the Chairman of the cricket body, Mr Srinivasan is also the owner of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings.
Mr Lakashmiah was grilled by the CBI along with senior IAS officer Aditya Nath Das for nearly nine hours at its office related to the case yesterday.
The CBI officials mainly sought the Minister’s explanation on the issuance of GOs 146 and 96 during YSR’s regime.
Mr Lakshmaiah had released GOs relating to Jalayagnam Projects and allotment of water to India Cements from the Krishna river for its manufacturing facilities in Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts.
He had issued two orders allocating about three lakh gallons of water a day from the Krishna river and 13 million cubic feet water from the Kagna river annually to India Cements to double its production capacity which invested Rs 15 crore in Raghuram Cements and Rs five crore in Carmen Asia Holdings a subsidiary of Sandur Power owned by Jagan.
The India Cements, in an apparent quid pro quo understanding, had reportedly invested Rs 40 crore in Jagathi Publications and Rs 100 crore in other companies of Jagan.
The Raghruram Cements became Bharati Cements after it was purchased by the Kadapa MP. The sources also said the allocation of water from the Krishna river was said to be in violation of the Bachawat Tribunal’s verdict on apportionment of river water between the riparian states.
The Supreme Court in March this year had ordered investigation against six ministers and eight IAS officers in connection with the 26 controversial GOs issued by the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Government.
Already the CBI had questioned Home Minister Sabita Indira Reddy, Roads and Transport Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao in connection with the illegal assets case and issuance of GOs.
The CBI has still to issue notices to two cabinet ministers—J Geetha Reddy and Kanna Lakshminaryana—in the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.
The CBI has already arrested former Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, Matrix Labs Founder Nimmagadda Prasad and bureaucrat Brahamananda Reddy in the case. (UNI)
Special provisions sought to discourage kids from eating junk
NEW DELHI, June 8:
Concerned over high consumption of junk food by students, Women and Child Development minister Krishna Tirath has asked the HRD ministry to create special provisions to discourage such eating habits.
In a letter to HRD minister Kapil Sibal, Tirath has sought provisions for sensitisation of school students against junk food and also advocated restrictions on school canteens and eateries, sources said.
“Children due to stress of studies, lack of time and activity packed day often resort to ‘grab and run’ eating habits, and include these junk/fast foods which are easily and readily available but harmful to our well being,” Krishna said in her letter.
Tirath, whose ministry is presently battling the challenge of malnutrition in the country, said that children who consume a lot of junk food were also malnourished.
“Ostensibly these children are not malnourished as many a time we tend to confuse under-nutrition and malnutrition. But these children are also suffering from malnutrition,” Krishna told Sibal in her letter. Krishna asked Sibal to take direct measures to sensitise school-going children against adopting faulty eating habits.
“Restriction on school canteens and eateries in the school vicinities, would also send a strong message which would go a long way in discouraging excessive intake of such convenience foods,” Krishna said in her letter. (PTI)
Trial in Aarushi-Hemraj twin murder case begins
GHAZIABAD, June 8:
Four years after teenager Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj were found killed, the trial against accused dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar began here today.
The CBI, which probed the case, has sought examination of three of its witnesses which include a UP electricity department official Rajesh Kumar and a state police cameraman Chunni Lal, who had taken the photographs of crime scene besides forensic expert A D Saha.
In a setback to Aarushi’s mother Nupur Talwar, the Supreme Court had yesterday dismissed her review petition challenging the summons issued by the special CBI court here in the murder case and warned her of “exemplary costs” for any frivolous litigation in future. (PTI)
I don’t play a gangster in ‘Gulab Gang’ : Madhuri
MUMBAI, June 8:
Actress Madhuri Dixit, who has been roped in to play the lead in Anubhav Sinha’s home production ‘Gulab Gang’, says, she is not essaying a gangster and will not be mouthing bad words.
“I don’t know where all these things (about abuses) came from. There is nothing abusive in the movie. It is not even about gangsters. In the film women are not gangsters.. They are vigilantes. It is about a group of women who help other women and help solve their problem. So that is what fascinated me about that.. As it is all about women power. They are not gangsters,” Madhuri told in an interview.
‘Gulab Gang’ is a story of a gang of women fighting against social injustice. The film directed by Soumik Sen is likely to have Mahie Gill, Shilpa Shukla. Produced under Benaras Media Works banner, ‘Gulab Gang’ would go on floors post monsoon and would release next year on Womens Day.
Also, Madhuri has signed on the dotted line for the sequel of Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Ishqiya’, which is titled ‘Dedh Ishqiya’.
Abhishek Chaubey had directed ‘Ishqiya’, which got great reviews and box office collections.
The film was produced by Vishal Bhardwaj. Even for the sequel the director, producer and lead actors Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi have been retained.
“I don’t think ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ can be called women centric film. There are four characters in the movie and all are important. I am looking forward to work with Naseeruddin and Arshad. I am working with Naseeruddin Shah in a meaningful film after a long time. And it is all about one up man ship, give and take and it is very interesting. We haven’t begun shooting yet,” Madhuri said.
Post her marriage, Madhuri had relocated to the US for almost a decade. It was last year in October that she shifted her base back to Mumbai, along with her family. And on work front, she signed two films and will judge dance reality show.
“I think it is exciting time for Indian cinema as it has taken a leap. Even audiences have matured and they are ready to watch different subjects. Different kind of films is being made, films are made in more professional way,” she said.
The 45-year-old actress would also be judging the fifth season of dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhla Ja’ this is for the second time that she would be judging the show.
“When the second season came up to me I was more than happy do it. Dancing is extension of me.
Dance is important and exciting thing. There are people who have inhibitions about dance…and this is the show where lot of non-dancers comes, so it helps you shed all those things,” Madhuri said.
Besides Madhuri, ace choreographer Remo D’souza and filmmaker Karan Johar would judge the show.
“I will judge on basically how they perform, their expressions, whether they are graceful.
We have three judges and we can’t say same thing, so we have kind of divided things. Remo will look at choreography, I will look at essence and Karan will look at concept, the way they have shot it,” she said.
“We will have Madhuri step of the week, perform for audience or contestant or give contestant to do. That step can be of my film or anything new,” she said. (PTI)
Govt adds new clause for fresh appointment orders
Many youth get jobs on fake degrees
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 7: In view of a number of Universities being declared as fake by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and some racketeers from different States issuing fake degrees and certificates to the youths, the Government today decided to add a new clause to the appointments of candidates for all posts in the State.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a number of newly selected candidates as well as those securing departmental promotions were found to be in possession of fake degrees issued by various Universities or manipulated by the candidates through some racketeers, operating within and outside the State.
“To curb the menace and stop the practice of youths obtaining fake degrees and certificates to apply for the Government jobs, the Government today issued a fresh order declaring that appointments secured on the basis of fake or forged documents would be cancelled abinitio’’, sources said.
The Government order vide No. 17 GAD of 2012 dated 7/6/2012 was issued today by the General Administration Department.
It read as: “if on verification, the certificates produced by the appointees are proved fake or forged, the appointment shall be cancelled abinitio’’.
The Government order said on verification, the testimonials/certificates of some candidates selected by the Services Selection Board (SSB) recently were found fake and forged. Consequently, the concerned authorities cancelled such selections, it added.
“As a matter of abundant precaution and to avoid unnecessary litigation, it was found advisable to include a new clause in the appointment orders itself’’, sources said, adding with new clause in the orders, the candidates won’t be able to go for litigations if their documents were proved forged even after their names figured in the selection list.
Sources said a major problem has cropped up for the recruitment agencies with a number of unrecognized /unregistered Universities coming up across the country, which had been issuing degrees/certificates to students even without appearing in the examinations. Some of these Universities have been taking guarantee of getting the candidates passed on charging a handsome amount.
They said the UGC has now listed some of the Universities, which have been designated as fake, on its website. However, names of only those Universities have been listed on website, whose degrees/certificates have come to the notice of the UGC or recognized Universities.
“There were a number of other Universities, which were operating across the country especially in the States like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc, which were enrolling students and providing degrees/certificates to them. All these Universities were fake’’, sources said, adding this new phenomenon has compelled the Government to issue revised instructions for the recruitment agencies of the State on appointments.
In addition to fake Universities, some degrees/certificates have also come to the notice of recruitment agencies, which had been issued by the racketeers on the name of recognized Universities, which have been listed as not fake by the UGC on its website. However, the degrees were fake. The racketeers had issued them by charging money from the youth, sources said.
“Once selected on fake/forged testimonials/documents, the candidates knocked the doors of the court taking recruitment agencies into litigation’’, they said, adding since there was no fun of giving jobs to the fake degree holders, the recruitment agencies devised a new clause to be added to the appointment orders, which has finally been approved by the Government and a circular issued to this effect.
“It was not only in the case of fresh appointments but departmental promotions as well wherein the fake/forged documents have been used by some candidates. In some cases, the Government had to cancel promotions obtained on fake documents while in some other cases, the officials have gone to the courts against denial of promotions’’, sources said.
New Army chief to visit J&K this month
NEW DELHI, June 7: In his first visit as Army Chief, Gen Bikram Singh will travel to Jammu and Kashmir later this month to review the security situation in the State.
The Army Chief will visit the State in the third week of June where he will discuss the security situation with top commanders there, Army officials said here.
It is familiar turf for Gen Singh who had served as the Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, which handles all the counter terrorist operations in the Valley, and the 10 Division in Akhnoor.
During the visit to the formations under the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur, the Army Chief will be briefed about the prevailing situation there.
His visit is coming at a time when the violence levels in the state have come down significantly and demands are being made for the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The State Government has also been contending that certain parts of the States are peaceful and the withdrawal of AFSPA from these areas would send the right signal to the people. (PTI)
DB directs IGP Traffic to file compliance within month
Removal of black films from vehicles of VIPs/ VVIPs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Dr Davinder Singh Jasrotia and others seeking removal of tinted/black films from the vehicles and check on road traffic accidents, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice JP Singh and Justice Hasnain Masoodi today directed IG Traffic to report compliance of the directions of Supreme Court delivered in a case titled Avishek Goenka Vs Union of India on April 27, 2012.
Advocate Rohit Kapoor, who along with Advocate Nadia Qadir appeared for the PIL, pointed out that certain Government vehicles were still using tinted/black films without any authority or support of law.
He referred the operative part of the Apex Court judgment, which says, “the cases of persons who have been provided with Z and Z Plus security may be considered by a committee consisting of the Director General of Police and Home Secretary of State/ Centre. It will be for that committee to examine such cases for grant of exemption in accordance with law and upon due application of mind. These certificates should be provided only in relation to the official cars of VIPs/VVIPs, depending upon the category of security such person has been awarded by the competent authority”.
Munir Khan, IGP Traffic, who was present in person, assured the Division Bench that requisite steps would be taken by the Traffic Police to ensure implementation of directions of Apex Court by next date.
After hearing Advocates Rohit Kapoor and Nadia Qadir for the PIL and AAGs Jagdish Parihar and Gagan Basotra for the respondents, the DB directed IG Traffic to report compliance of the directions of Supreme Court delivered in Avishek Goenka Vs Union of India case within one month.
The DB also exempted IG Traffic from personal appearance.
AAG Gagan Basotra submitted that District Administration of Doda and the State Government would see to it that the directions issued by the Court on March 27, 2012 for providing life saving equipments to the divers in Doda were complied in letter and spirit.
Upon this, the Division Bench allowed a month’s time to AAG as well as Deputy Commissioner Doda to file compliance.
In another PIL regarding regulation of traffic in City of Temples, Division Bench allowed IGP Traffic a month’s time to report compliance of the directions passed by the High Court on December 29, 2011.
When this PIL was taken for consideration, battery of senior advocates started making submissions in the public interest and drew the attention of Division Bench towards the grave problem being faced by the public due to the digging of streets and roads in the name of sewerage and non-metalling for months together.
In view of the concern shown by Senior Advocates, the DB directed that proper application be filed in the matter.
Azad approves Rs 37 cr for SKIMS, Rs 6 cr for SMHS
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 7: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, (SKIMS) Soura would get Rs. 37 crore for further strengthening the healthcare facilities from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
This announcement was made today by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his visit to the institution. He further announced Rs. 6 crore for procurement of upgraded and latest diagnostic equipments to Department of Oncology, Cancer Centre at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar.
Minister for Medical Education R S Chib accompanied the Union Minister during the visit.
Mr Azad, who was on the tour of the State to take stock of the healthcare facilities in the State, asserted that Union Government would provide all possible financial assistance to the State Government for modernizing and upgradation of health care sector, adding that in this regard so far liberal financial assistance have been provided to the State.
Earlier, Mr. Azad visited SKIMS, Soura and inspected various wards of the premier health institution. He interacted with patients and enquired about the medical facilities being provided to them in the hospital. During his visit, some individuals also met him and apprised him about the problems being confronted to them in the hospital. They demanded additional beds in emergency ward and establishment of additional latest diagnostic equipments for the convenience of the patients.
Chairing high level meeting of officers in SKIMS, the Union Minister said that the capacity of students for SKIMS, Medical College, Bemina would be enhanced to 100 from existing capacity of 50 students. He sought proposal from Director, SKIMS for conversation of Advanced Trauma Centre into Poly Trauma Centre for making it resource centre. He also directed for formulation of proposal for establishment of full fledge cancer ward in the institute.
Meanwhile, Mr. Azad visited under construction building of up-coming Super-specialty hospital and took stock of the pace of construction work on the project. He asked the executing agency to accelerate the pace of construction work so that it could be completed by the end of this year and could be commissioned for the benefit of people.
Later, the Union Minister visited Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital and took stock of the functioning of the hospital. He went round various wards including emergency ward, emergency surgical ward and Radiation Oncology block, a Cancer centre established in the hospital. Interacting with the patients, he said that free medicines and diagnostic facilities would be provided to the patients belong to BPL category provided the certificate should be issued from a competent authority.
Briefing media, Mr. Azad said that the Union Government has sanctioned Rs. 37 crore upgradation of infrastructure and procurement of latest diagnostic equipments for SKIMS. He also announced Rs. 6 crore for further strengthening the existing Department of Oncology, Cancer Centre at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar. He said certain latest diagnostic equipments and required services have already been introduced in the centre for the treatment of patients suffering from fatal disease cancer. He said the Government is also working for the establishment of another cancer centre for the facility of the cancer patients in the Valley.
Among others, Union Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Vishwas Mehta, Union Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Anuradha Gupta, Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M K Dwivedi, Director, SKIMS, Dr. Showkat Zargar, Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Qazi Masood, besides other senior officers of the department accompanied the Union Minister.
Justice Kumar to be sworn-in as CJ today
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court will sworn in as new Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court tomorrow evening.
According to the notification issued by the Department of Justice, Union Ministry of Law and Justice, President of the India, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil has appointed Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar as Chief Justice of the State High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.
Sources said that Justice Kumar will sworn in as Chief Justice of J&K High Court at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar at around 5.00 pm tomorrow.
Born on January 5, 1953, Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar did his LLB in 1977 and was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh in the same year. After practicizing for a brief period at the District Courts, Sangrur, Justice Kumar left for England for his Master’s Degree and he was awarded degree of LLM by the University of Birmingham in 1982.
Justice Kumar also worked as part-time lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Punjab University, Chandigarh from 1984 to 1990. He authored book titled “Control of Exclusion Clauses in England and India” published in London in 1985. In 1991-92, he was elected to the office of Vice-President, Punjab and Haryana Bar Association.
He was elevated to the Bench on July 2, 2001.