Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Mumbai Crime Branch today took the custody of Parvez Tak, one of the prime accused in the killing of starlet Laila Khan and her four family members in Mumbai last year, from Kishtwar police after a local court in Kishtwar gave four days transit remand of the accused.
Official sources said Mumbai Crime Branch team, which had reached Kishtwar yesterday, appeared before CJM Kishtwar along with relevant documents seeking four days transit remand of Parvez Tak. The CJM forwarded the application to the Munsiff, who have four days remand of Tak to Mumbai team.
Immediately, Kishtwar police handed over Tak to the Crime Branch, Mumbai.
Sources said the Mumbai team was exploring various options to take Tak to Mumbai including hiring a chopper as or take a flight tomorrow from Jammu to New Delhi on way to Mumbai in view of security considerations.
Kishtwar police had arrested Tak few days back from Bagh-e-Bahu after the recovery of Laila Khan’s Mitsubishi Outlander car from his possession in Kishtwar. During sustained interrogation, Tak had disclosed that he along with Bollywood financier Asif Shaikh, real estate developer Afghan Khan and two shooters had killed Laila, her mother Selina, siblings Imran and Zara Patel and cousin Reshma Patel alias Laila Khan in February last year at an isolated place in Mumbai with a view to capture the family’s huge assets.
Mumbai police had yesterday arrested Shaikh and was hunting for Afghan Khan.
Mumbai CB takes Tak’s custody
Amandeep case IO dies
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: An investigating officer (IO) who was among three police officers arrested in fudging of evidences in Amandeep Singh murder case, today died at Government Medical College hospital here.
Sub Inspector Satnam Singh, who was an IO in Amandeep murder case, died this morning at Government Medical College, Jammu, where he had been admitted by the jail authorities on July 3 following multiple ailments including diabetic, acidity etc.
Satnam Singh, then IO was among three police officials including former SSP Jammu Manohar Singh and former SHO Gandhi Nagar Inspector Sultan Mirza, who were suspended by the Government and arrested for their role in fudging the evidence and changing the weapon of offence in Amandeep murder case.
Amandeep was shot dead outside his residence in Shastri Nagar on August 29, 2009.
Satnam Singh had retired from the services within months of his arrest.
His family members alleged that Satnam Singh died due to negligence of jail authorities, doctors, police and the Government, which failed to provide him timely treatment.
They said Satnam was ailing for past quite sometime but authorities failed to arrange his treatment.
Two ultras escape in encounter
Arms, explosives seized
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Two militants reportedly escaped after an encounter with security forces at village Kwath under the jurisdiction of Chatroo police station in Kishtwar district in early hours of this morning leaving behind arms, ammunition and explosive material.
Reports said a joint team of Army and police launched a search operation at village Kwath in upper reaches of Chatroo early today after developing reports that at least two militants could be present in the area.
Reports had been pouring in that a fresh cadre of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit Abu Akasha and a local recruit Babbar Hussain of village Kushal could be hiding in village Kwath.
An encounter ensued between the two sides, which continued for sometime. The militants escaped leaving behind arms, ammunition and explosive material, which have been seized by the security forces and police.
A joint search operation continued in Chatroo forests to trace the militants, reports said.
Recoveries made from the site of gunbattle included one Self Loading Rifle (SLR), three rounds, one Chinese grenade, six packets of explosives, two magazines and 40 rounds of AK and about a dozen detonators.
Reports said security forces and police had inputs that Abu Akasha, a recently inducted militant of the LeT outfit and new local recruit Babbar Hussain of Kushal could be hiding in Kwath. It was on the basis of this information that the search operation was planned.
Reliable sources said security agencies and police were still verifying whether there were really the newly inducted militants Abu Akasha and Babbar Hussain in the encounter or some other militants of Kishtwar and Doda.
Some agencies had reports that a Lashkar militant with the name and style of Abu Akasha had been inducted into Kishtwar to boost the sagging morale of militants, who were on the run.
Three militants, wanted by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) in connection with September 7, 2011 blast outside Delhi High Court, were also hiding in upper reaches of Kishtwar.
Three militants, whose names had figured in the blast, have been identified as Shakeer Ahmed alias Chotta Haafiz, Aamir Kamal alias Kamran and Junaid Akram Malik, all residents of Kishtwar.
Another militant, Mohammad Shaffi, who was being searched in upper reaches of Kishtwar though not being involved in Delhi blast was reportedly accompanying the wanted trio, sources said.
They added that reports available with security forces, police and Intelligence agencies revealed that Chotta Haafiz was hiding in Kidroo forests while Aamir Kamal and Junaid Akram Malik were shifting their hideouts in Dachchan area of Kishtwar. Mohammad Shaffi also kept on changing hideouts in the upper reaches but was reportedly in touch with all three militants.
Sources said security forces and Kishtwar police were in constant hunt of three militants. At one point of time, Chotta Haafiz was trapped in Kidroo but he managed to escape giving a slip to police before the arrival of reinforcement.
Plainclothesmen of police and Intelligence agencies besides some local people were also engaged in the search operations against the militants but they remained untraced.
PCI agrees on giving more flexibility to States in CSS
Thrust to be given on Mid-Term Appraisal during 12th Plan
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 7: The Planning Commission of India (PCI) has agreed on giving more flexibility to the States to spend funds allocated under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) and its Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia will take up the issue with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who is also the Chairman of the Planning Commission for final orders in this regard.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that consensus on giving more flexibility to the States in the implementation of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) emerged during a one-day workshop, which was organized by the Planning Commission at Yojana Bhawan, New Delhi yesterday and chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
The Chairpersons of the Planning Boards and Planning Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories of the country attended the workshop, which was a major initiative of the Planning Commission to improve shared understanding of how to plan better and work together.
After threadbare discussion, consensus emerged on giving more flexibility to the States within the framework of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for implementation of the schemes while taking into consideration the State-specific issues, sources said, adding “currently, the Union Government frames the guidelines and almost entirely funds these schemes leaving States with limited scope on implementation and flexibility would mean giving States autonomy to spend funds allocated under one scheme for other programmes as well”.
“This is being done as one State’s requirement can be different from others and flexibility would go a long way in better implementation of the schemes and yield desirable results on ground”, sources said in response to a question, adding “States like Jammu and Kashmir having hilly and tough terrain would be the major beneficiaries of flexibility in the implementation of CSS”.
The consensus also emerged on maintenance aspect of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for their better outcome, sources said, adding “Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission was conveyed by almost all the States that in the absence of resources the maintenance of assets created under CSS is not getting required focus”.
It was agreed by the Planning Commission that during the 12th Five Year Plan thrust would be given on comprehensive and result-oriented planning instead of only statistical planning. “The result-oriented planning is imperative particularly in the health and education sectors in order to have real impact at the ground level”, sources added.
It was decided that Mid-Term Appraisal of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes would get lot of importance during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) and State Governments would have greater role to play in the same. “During the Mid Term Appraisals, it would be decided in consultation with the States as to whether any scheme is required to be continued, modified or closed”, sources added.
Since consensus has emerged on all these vital points, the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia will now project the same before Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who is also the Chairman of the Planning Commission for final approval following which orders will be issued to all the States, sources said.
“The Commission is also in favour of pruning the number of schemes and transferring the funds so saved to other schemes”, they said.
Anti-graft fight has acquired international dimensions: CVC
HYDERABAD, July 7:
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is leading a Task Force to develop a system that would help anti-corruption agencies across the world to exchange information, knowledge and experience to fight graft effectively.
The Knowledge Management System being developed by the Task Force of the CVC, a member of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, would help anti-corruption agencies in this regard, said Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar.
“Fighting corruption is no longer a purely domestic affair as corruption has taken international dimensions. Proceeds of corruption are laundered in other countries through various forms of illicit financial transactions and it is proving difficult to take action against foreign companies that are involved in bribery in India”, Kumar said.
Addressing the 9th anniversary of Vigilance Study Circle here today, he said, international co-operation in corruption investigations and a concerted approach for recovery of stolen assets has to be accorded priority.
Kumar said a host of Governance reforms, which were long overdue, were being introduced in India now. “I am very optimistic that these important reforms, when implemented, would result in a paradigm shift in the approach towards fighting corruption and also improve governance”, he said.
Stating corruption has been in the mainstream of public debate in the last two years, Kumar said, it has fuelled public anger along with other factors like economic downturn and rising inflation.
“While it cannot be said definitely whether corruption has increased, the negative perception about corruption in India has certainly increased. Though the situation may seem grim, let us not go home with the impression that nothing or very little is being done.”
An Act to regulate delivery of public services was being legislated, which would go a long way in curbing petty corruption, the former IAS officer said.
“We have also recommended enactment of a False Claims Law that aims to empower citizens to fight corruption. Under this, any citizen can seek punishment and recovery of money from any contractor who charges extra money from the Government and delivers less than the contracted quality or quantity of goods and services. The government is working in this direction,” the CVC said.
The proposed ‘Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials Bill, 2011’ was aimed at discouraging corrupt practises in international business by Indian firms, he said.
Besides, a strong and effective Lokpal and a Judicial Accountability Bill to ensure integrity of the judiciary were also on the anvil, Kumar said.
“As funding of elections is a major source of corruption in India, the Election Commission has recommended various electoral reforms that are under the Government of India’s consideration”, the head of top anti-graft watchdog said.
“The Company Bill, 2011 tabled in Parliament envisages improvements in corporate governance through improved corporate social responsibility, appointment of independent directors, serious fraud investigations and investor protection, especially of minority shareholders,” he said.
The CVC said a new Bill has also been drafted in line with the Commission’s recommendations for various reforms in public procurement system.
“The Central Vigilance Commission is deeply committed to combating corruption. We are continuously trying to build our capacity, find innovative ways and integrate the expectations of all stakeholders to the governance process,” Kumar said.
Vigilance Commissioners R Srikumar, J M Garg, Andhra Pradesh Vigilance Commissioner S V Prasad, among others, attended the function. (PTI)
P C as telecom EGOM head will be ‘cruel joke’ on nation: BJP
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Reacting to reports that Home Minister P Chidambaram may be appointed as head of the EGOM on telecom, the BJP today said, this is a “cruel joke” on the nation and goes against the Prime Minister’s claim of maintaining a high level of integrity.
“There are reports about the likely appointment of Chidambaram as head of the EGOM on telecom. There has been no denial from the government. This flies in the face of Prime Minister’s statement yesterday that he maintains a high level of integrity,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
He demanded that the Prime Minister should explain how this move to appoint Chidambaram goes in accordance with his claim.
“The Prime Minister had said in Parliament that the pricing of spectrum was decided after the meeting between then Telecom Minister A Raja and Chidambaram,” Prasad said.
Chidambaram had taken this decision on spectrum pricing at 2001-rate despite his officials advising him against this.
Prasad said that Raja has claimed that Chidambaram should also be questioned while some feel he should be made a co-accused.
“How can Chidambaram be even remotely considered for EGOM and he should be a co-accused with Raja,” Prasad asserted.
He described this as a “cruel joke” on the nation and alleged that the government has set aside constitutional propriety, Parliamentary accountability and political integrity. (PTI)
Govt warns cable TV service providers against giving incorrect STB data
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Noting that it had come across many inconsistencies of data regarding Set Top Boxes(STBs) provided by the cable TV service providers, the Government today warned them that their registration could be suspended for failure to provide correct information which was vital for switch over to the Digital Addressable System (DAS) from November 1.
The cable TV services in four metros of the country-Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai were to switch over to the digitised mode from July 1, but lack of preparedness in respect of certain orders of TRAI led to the postponement of the date till November 1.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has already said there would be no further delay in the implementation of the DAS beyond November 1, and the cable service providers and MSOs would have to complete their groundwork before that.
It today sought to underline that in the Cable Television Network Rule, 1995(Second Amendment) Rule, 2012, a new rule, namely, rule 10A Obligation to furnish information, has been inserted making it mandatory for MSOs and cable operators to provide information as and when it is sought for by the government agnecies.
The obligation to furnish information under the amended rule 10 A has been incorporated as one of the terms and conditions of registration of cable operator under the Act.
As per sub-section (7) of section 4 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Central Government may suspend or revoke the registration of cable operators or MSOs if they violate one or more of the terms and conditions of registration.
(UNI)
Different shifts for courts to clear backlog of cases broached
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Courts may have to work in different shifts to clear heavy backlog of pending cases estimated over three crores, Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid said today.
Mr Khurshid said his Ministry was working out a mechanism for having different working shifts for courts to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases.
“We are working very rapidly towards ensuring the disposal of pendency in courts and to see how can we address this through nights, morning and evening working shifts of courts and even by having courts sit over weekends and by having more of alternative dispute resolution,” he said.
“There is also a need to look at what cases pertaining to what laws actually clog up the courts, like the section 138 in the Negotiable Instruments Act that is clogging up the trial courts and etc”, said Mr Khurshid while addressing a national conference on ‘Law and Economics’ organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
Sharing the concerns over the issue of delay in appointment of a member in the legislative tribunals, he said it was an issue of serious concern and the problem being faced by the government was that these were the specialist tribunals and the people mandated to select a personnel for these tribunals had to ensure that their conscience allowed them to make that selection.
“We cannot appoint a generalist for a specialists’ task this is the reason why it’s taking some time and now since there is a proliferation of tribunals we will have to see that the supply base for the tribunal’s personnel is also widened and we will see what can be done about that,” the Minister explained.
About the inter-ministerial panel’s report that the government will miss the deadline on spectrum allocation set by the apex court, the Law Minister said the telecom ministry had a very hard task to perform and the government was hopeful that everyone would co-operate in this regard.
“Since the Supreme Court has categorically said that we won’t be given any extension this time round lets just hope that we meet the target,” he said.
Talking about the government’s stand on the 2G spectrum, Mr Khurshid said, “We will go by the directives given by the honourable court, there are certain issues that need some clarification and we have gone to the constitutional bench by the way of presidential reference and we will wait for the advice given by the court.”
Responding to concerns regarding the government’s seriousness towards passing the two key anti-corruption bills—The Whistleblower Protection Bill and Grievances Redressal Protection Bill, Mr Khurshid said all these Bills were in Parliament at various stages of processing and the Government was absolutely committed to passing these Bills.
Speaking at the conference acting Chief Justice, Delhi High Court A K Sikri talked about the necessity to have economic analysis of law.
“It is imperative for the lawmakers and the policy makers to regulate the conduct through law. Besides, it is equally important for the judges to understand the economic impact of their decisions while deciding about the cases,” he said. (UNI)
Police seeks clarification on DNA report of French Diplomat
BANGALORE, July 7:
The police team investigating the alleged rape of a four-year-old daughter by French Diplomat Pascal Mazurier have decided to seek clarification from the State Forensic Scince Laboratory as there were several ambiguous and vague sections that need clarification.
Police sources said the DNA test report was received yesterday evening.
Some findings in the report are negative and some others positive, Hence they were seeking certain clarifications from the Lab.
French Diplomat Pascal Muzurier (39), on Tuesday morning, has been arrested by Bangalore Police over the charges of sexually assaulting his minor daughter.
His Indian wife Suja Jones had made a complaint against him.
Mazurier is the deputy head of chancery in the French consulate who was accused of sexually assaulting his own four-year-old daughter.
He was booked under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
(UNI)
Bailable warrant against Ramadoss for avoiding summons
NEW DELHI, July 7:
Former Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, charge-sheeted for granting illegal permission to a medical college for admitting students, was today issued bailable warrant by a Delhi court for “intentionally avoiding” its summons and failing to appear before it.
In its report to Special Judge Talwant Singh, the CBI said the summons could not be served to PMK leader Ramadoss as he was not available at his Chennai residence and had gone to Bengaluru for medical treatment.
“I want his presence in the court. It appears that accused (Ramadoss) is intentionally avoiding the service of the summons issued to him. Issue bailable warrants in the sum of Rs 10,000 against him to be executed under the supervision of DIG of concerned branch for July 20,” the court said.
Ramadoss has been charge-sheeted for allegedly abusing his official position in permitting Indore-based Index Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (IMCHRC) to admit students without having sufficient faculty members and clinical infrastructure.
The judge also said the reports for non-service of summons to Ramadoss were not satisfactory and sought presence of a CBI official and a Chennai police personnel before it on the next date of hearing to explain as to why summons were not served to Ramadoss.
“Apparently the reports regarding non-service of the summons on accused no. 1 (Ramadoss) are not satisfactory and convincing.
“Let Inspector K Madhusudhan as well as Police Constable P Murugeshan be present in the court on the next date of hearing to explain the reasons as to why they could not serve the summons issued by this court on Ramadoss,” the court said, directing the CBI Superintendent of Police, Chennai to ensure the presence of the two officials before it on July 20.
The CBI in its 36-page charge sheet had named Ramadoss and nine others including two senior government officials and two doctors of Safdarjung Hospital here and five persons associated with the private hospital in Indore which allegedly gained “pecuniary advantage” in 2008.
Besides Ramadoss, who was the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare from May 2004 to April 2009 in UPA-I government, the CBI has also named in its charge sheet Cabinet Secretariat Director K V S Rao, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s (MHFW) Section Officer Sudershan Kumar and Dr J S Dhupia and Dr Dipendra Kumar Gupta of Safdarjung Hospital.
Charge sheet was also filed against Chairman of IMCHRC Suresh Singh Bhadoria, ex-Dean of the college Dr S K Tongia, Medical Director of the college Dr K K Saxena, Nitin Gothwal and Dr Pawan Bhambani.
In response to the summons, accused Rao, Kumar, Dhupia, Gupta and Bhadoria appeared in the court and filed their bail pleas. Bhadoria is already on bail.
The court issued notice to the CBI to file replies on their bail applications and kept it for further hearing on July 20.
The other four accused Tongia, Saxena, Gothwal and Bhambani sought exemption from personal appearance for the day’s proceedings, through their counsel, and the prayer was allowed by the court.
The judge did not issue fresh summons or warrants against the four accused, who sought exemption from personal appearance, after their counsel assured the court that they would be present on the next date of hearing.
According to the charge sheet, Ramadoss and other accused conspired with each other in permitting IMCHRC admission for second year despite the fact that the Medical Council of India (MCI) and a committee appointed by the Supreme Court had “repeatedly recommended” that IMCHRC was not having sufficient faculty and clinical material required as per MCI norms.
Ramadoss, Rao, Kumar and the two doctors of Safdarjung Hospital have been charged by the CBI under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC along with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Bhadoria and other four have been charged with offences of cheating and forgery. Bhadoria also faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the CBI, the accused had entered into a conspiracy in which IMCHRC gained pecuniary advantage in the form of grant of permission for admission of second batch of MBBS students for academic year 2008-09 ignoring the recommendations of the MCI.
The MCI had made it clear that permission may not be granted to IMCHRC due to deficiencies observed by its inspectors.
In its charge sheet, the CBI had said Bhadoria conspired with employees Tongia, Saxena, Bhambani, Gothwal and the HR manager and submitted a fake list of faculty members and false bed occupancy reports.
The agency had said Dhupia and Gupta got the signatures of “dummy faculty members” which were forged just to show full strength of the faculty members.
The charge sheet had also said Dhupia and Gupta, who were the inspectors of the central team, had “obtained hospitality from the IMCHRC and failed to verify the records and persons produced before them.” (PTI)