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CVC report cites RAW intercepts to slap corruption charge on Verma leading to his ouster

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a 1Corruption and dereliction of duty flagged by the Central Vigilance Commission in its enquiry report, citing telephone interceptions by external spy agency RAW, led to the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma as the CBI chief, the first in the probe agency’s over 50-year history.

According to officials, the high-powered panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi considered the CVC report which levelled eight counts of charges against Verma, who had been reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The panel’s decision to remove Verma was based on a majority vote of 2:1 with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge opposing it and Justice A K Sikri siding with the government, they said.

The CVC report spoke about the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi’s case and claimed that CBI team looking into the case wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused in the case but Verma never gave clearance.

The probe in this case was led by special director Rakesh Asthana, who along with Verma was sent on forced leave on October 23.

The CVC report also contained intercepts from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the external snooping agency, in which “money changing hands with number one in the CBI” is talked about, the officials said.

Incidentally, Sana is the complainant for a case registered against Asthana in which he has given graphical details about how he had paid bribe to his middlemen.

He has also mentioned the name of Samanta Goel, the second-in-command at the RAW, of being involved in protecting the middleman, Manoj Prasad.

The other case relates to a Preliminary Enquiry registered by the CBI about acquisition of land in Gurgaon. The CVC alleged that Verma’s name had figured in the case and at least Rs 36 crore had changed hands.

The CVC had recommended a thorough probe into the case.

The CVC, which has a supervisory role over the CBI, had also alleged that Verma tried to save an officer in the IRCTC case involving former Union Minister Lalu Prasad.

The commission also alleged that Verma was trying to bring in tainted officials into the CBI. It claimed that efforts seeking cooperation from the CBI chief did not yield results as he continued to keep the files away from the CVC.

India to work with Iran without violating any international laws: Prabhu

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prabhuIndia would like to trade with Iran without violating any international laws, Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Thursday.

“India will not violate any international law and within the framework of international law, we would like to work with Iran in a manner that we can deal with Rupee trade wherein both countries can trade the items of mutual interest.

“So Iran wants to buy something from India and we want to buy oil,” the minister told reporters here.

In May last year, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, reimposing economic sanctions against the Persian Gulf nation. Some sanctions took effect from August 6, 2018 while those affecting oil and banking sectors kicked in from November 4.

UCO Bank and IDBI Bank have been identified to route the payment as the two have no exposure to the US financial system.

Iran is India’s third-largest oil supplier behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It was India’s second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11 but Western sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme relegated it to the seventh spot in the subsequent years. In 2013-14 and 2014-15, India bought 11 MT and 10.95 MT, respectively from it.

Iranian oil is a lucrative buy for refiners as the Persian Gulf nation provides 60 days of credit for purchases, a term not available from substitute suppliers of crude — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria, and the US.

Bilateral trade between India and Iran increased to USD 13.8 billion in 2017-18 from USD 12.9 billion in the previous fiscal. However, India’s exports were only worth USD 2.5 billion to that country.

Talking abut trade with China, he said India has a “historical trade deficit” with the neighbouring country.

He, however, said there is a significant progress to export products like pharmaceuticals and rice to China.

“We have also told China to bring in investments in India. They will set up industrial parks and manufacture goods which are beng imported by India,” he added.

The trade gap with China has increased to USD 63.12 billion in 2017-18 from USD 51.11 billion in 2016-17.

CBI vs CBI: HC to pronounce verdict on Friday on pleas of Spl Director Rakesh Asthana

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The Delhi High Court is scheduled to pronounce on Friday its verdict on pleas of CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others seeking quashing of FIR against them on bribery allegations.

Justice Najmi Waziri had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 after concluding the arguments in which CBI Director Alok Verma maintained that all mandatory procedures of law were followed while registering an FIR against Asthana on bribery allegations.

The complainant Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in a case.

Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Asthana.

The FIR was also lodged against DSP Devender Kumar.

Harassment in Handicapped Stall distribution: Manjule assures to punish culprits

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Under the disability welfare scheme, the Thane Municipal Corporation has decided to distribute stalls to the physically disabled individuals. But the authorities in the distribution department have been harassing the handicapped applicants showing excuses for insufficient or incomplete documents. Owing to this harassment, representative of the Brihanmumbai Divyang Vikas Kamgar Sanghatana and Mohammad Yunus Faruq Khan, a member of Hamrahi Education and Charitable Trust met the Commissioner of the Disabled Welfare Balaji Manjule and lodged a written complaint against the TMC authorites. Manjule assured him to take appropriate action against the accused. A correspondence with the TMC will also be followed in this regard.

The letters for distribution of stalls have been given on December 3. The applicants have been asked then to deposit Rs 1000 and Rs 979 as rental amount and asked to contact the Estate department of TMC for signing an agreement. When the applicants approached the authorities, they have been ignored and bashed out of the office. The complainants are being avoided and harassed by the office bearers. Khan also mentions that the TMC has fallen for the political pressure and has distributed the stalls to the applicants close to politicians. The complaint also points out an illegal distribution of a stall to a so-called handicapped political leader.

Manjule ensured the committee that the complaint will be taken seriously and appropriate action would be taken against the accused. Action will also be taken against the culprits who repeatedly took benefits of the distribution process.

Modi running ‘PM’s mediation scheme’ for industrialists: Cong

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shinde 1The Congress Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “Michel mama” barb, claiming “Modi mama” and the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal were “business rivals”.

Speaking to reporters here, former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Modi had launched “Prime Minister’s loot the country and run away” scheme for businessmen like Vijay Mallya.

Reacting to Shinde’s allegations, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said it was part of Congress’ strategy of making “baseless allegations”.

British national Christian Michel, alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland deal, was arrested in the UAE last month and extradited to India.

Speaking at a rally in Solapur Wednesday, Modi had cited media reports to allege that Michel was lobbying for rivals of the French firm Dassault which manufactures Rafale, and demanded that Congress explain which of its leaders was connected with “Michel mama”.

Countering the prime minister’s barbs, Shinde alleged that Modi was helping his industrialist friends.

“Modi, who has launched ‘Prime Minister’s Mediation Scheme’ in Rafale and other matters for his industrialist friends, does not want any competitor in the business and hence this outburst,” he said.

“Michel mama and Modi mama are business rivals. Hence Modi is making baseless allegations,” the senior Congress leader said.

Shinde, who hails from Solapur, also said the prime minister made a “poor attempt” to tell the people in the south Maharashtra district that he was doing great work for them by launching several schemes.

“He should have also told people about his ‘Prime Minister’s loot the country and run away scheme’ meant for his industrialist friends such as Nirav Modi, Mehul bhai (Mehul Choksi), Mallya and Lalit Modi,” Shinde said.

 

BJP raked up temple issue as it failed to bring development: Prithviraj Chavan

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chavanFormer Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said that since the BJP “failed” to bring development, it raked up the Ram temple issue ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, but people will not get misled by such “poll tactics”.

Targeting the BJP-led central government over the controversial Rafale jet deal, the senior Congress leader said the issue would not fade and that the “truth will come out”.

While the Opposition Congress has been alleging corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, the government has denied any wrongdoing.

Chavan was speaking to reporters in Nagpur district of Maharashtra after the Congress began its fifth leg of the ‘Sangharsh Yatra’ to highlight “failures” of the central and state governments, ahead of the forthcoming general polls.

“The BJP has no issues. It has failed on the development front and hence, has raised the Ram temple issue just six months before the elections. But, the public won’t be misled by these poll tactics,” Chavan said.

Asked if the Ram temple issue and reservation for general category poor were meant to divert the attention from the Rafale jet deal row, Chavan said, “The Rafale issue is in the Supreme Court and the public is also well aware of it.”

“Whatever the government may do, the issue is not going to fade and truth will ultimately come out,” he said.

To a query on the impact of 10 per cent reservation to general category poor on elections, he said its affect on polls will be seen later.

“The bill has been passed but what impact it will have on Maharashtra, specially on the debate over Maratha reservation, there is no clarity on it. We will able to comment when the Maharashtra government clarifies on the impact of 10 per cent quota in the state,” he said.

The Parliament had on Wednesday approved amending the Constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation to general category poor in government jobs and education.

 

TMC plans fortnight Democracy Celebration from January 26

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thane 5Thane Municipal Corp. has announced a fortnight celebration from January 26 to February 10 for the proclamation of the spirit of democracy in Thane city. As part of the celebration, the Thane MNC will appeal the first time voters to register their names in the voters list. The celebration is going to be held to awaken the citizens about democracy, elections and good administration.

Mayor Meenakshai Shinde and Municipal Commissioner of Thane Sanjeev Jaiswal have appealed the youth to become active part of Democracy. During the fortnight, the college students will be informed about democracy through, Radio, posters and hoardings, street plays, etc. Moreover, the local channels and newspapers will widely be used to propagate the idea. College level essay competitions and oratory competitions will also be organised to propose the idea of democracy among the democracy . Newly admitted college students would be asked to register themselves in the voters list.

“The 73rd and 74th amendments in the Constitution plays a big role in democracy and thus to ensure participation of every citizen in the electoral process the events will be organised to imbibe the importance of democracy,” said a concerned TMC cofficial.

 

 

No pressure to shift ‘Manikarnika’ release date, says Kangana on clash with ‘Thackeray’

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Kangana Ranaut-fronted “Manikarnika” will clash with “Thackeray” and the actor has said that no one approached or “pressured” them to shift the release date.

Earlier, “Manikarnika”, “Thackeray” and “Cheat India” were slated to be released on January 25.

The Emraan Hashmi-starrer, “Cheat India”, however, advanced its date and would now release on January 18.

When asked if there was any pressure considering her film’s face-off with the biopic of the late Shiv Sena founder, Kangana told reporters, “No one told us any such thing. Neither anyone told us to postpone the release date nor there was any kind of pressure on us.”

“No one even approached us. So, we are very happy that we have a sort of a big window, there is a vacation around,” she added.

The actor, who has co-directed “Manikarnika” with Krish, said the film is “kind of a festive release” and both the movies can find space successfully.

Kangana was speaking at the launch of her new song from “Manikarnika”.

Taking over ‘Housefull 4’ wasn’t tough: Farhad Samji

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sajid

Writer-director Farhad Samji, who replaced Sajid Khan to helm the fourth installment of “Housefull” after the latter was named in the #MeToo movement, says taking over the comedy film mid-way was not a “big creative jerk”.

“Housefull 4” was being directed by Sajid and was supposed to be his comeback to direction after his 2014 box office debacle “Humshakals” but he stepped down from the project following multiple sexual misconduct accusation against him.

Farhad, who also directed the third installment of the hit franchise, said since he was involved in the writing process of “Housefull 4”, things were easy.

“It (taking over) wasn’t difficult at all. I was already writing screenplay and dialogues for the film. I have a habit of narrating a film with voice modulation, mimicry. I am also present on the sets. I was on sets even on the earlier schedules (of the film).

“I also have a good equation with Akshay as I’ve worked with him in ‘Entertaiment’ and ‘Houseful 3’. So it wasn’t a big creative jerk but technically, when you become a director, fifty other departments open up. It was a pleasant technical experience,” Farhad told an agency.

The writer, who has penned more than 35 films, said the mood on the set didn’t take a dent as they were making a mad capper and everyone came together to make a good film.

“We were making a mad capper so the mood had to be that way from day one, since I joined and started to shoot. So there was no question of any mood change. We had fun shooting it and we completed the film, laughing along the way,” he said.

Farhad is currently elated with the response to his recent Rohit Shetty directed “Simmba”, which has touched RS 200 crore mark at the box office.

Farhad says the team didn’t intend to use rape as a trigger but hit home a larger point about doing the “correct” thing.

“When we had our story sitting, we thought what is that issue which will relate to every woman, every man, every family. Rape is something which still happens and we wanted to highlight this menace in the society.

“It was never meant to be used as a trigger to make Ranveer go from bad to good. We wanted to hit home the larger point,” he said.

Sussanne Khan wished her ‘soulmate’ Hrithik as he turned 45

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sussanne

Sussanne Khan on Thursday wished ex-beau Hrithik Roshan on his birthday and referred to him as her “soulmate” in an Instagram post.

Hailing him as her Best Friend Forever, Khan posted three pictures of Roshan with herself and their two kids.

“Happiest happy birthday to my BFF ??from and through this world…and onto other realms..the force will always be with you. #shineonunlimited #thisman #bestBBF #10january2018 #bestdadintheworld? #soulmate” she wrote.

The two split five years ago and have since remained close and amicable towards each other. From dinner dates to vacationing with their kids Hridaan and Hrehaan, the estranged couple is giving major co-parenting goals.

Sussanne and Hrithik had tied the knot in 2000 and were officially divorced in 2014. However, they have been spotted together regularly and have often been clicked spending time with their two sons.

 

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