Love Me, My People..!

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July 28, 2022

A faint breeze around the UN building in New York, had all the world flags slightly swaying, except the Indian flag who moved more vigorously, “Hurrah!” she shouted.

“What’s with the hurrah stuff?” asked the American flag stiffly, “You feeling you’re back home, with this terrible New York heatwave?”

“Nah!” beamed the Indian flag, “I’ve just heard that now I can be flown both day and night, and in any home, anywhere in my country! Just like you’re flown here!”

“I must say that’s going to make your country quite a colorful sight!” smiled the British flag, “Saffron, white and green all over, that’s gonna look pretty!”

“It won’t happen,” said the Chinese flag gruffly, its red background growing redder, “Unless your government passes a law that every home should fly a flag, it won’t happen!”

“Pass a law, cut off their heads if no flag is flown!” smirked the North Korean flag, it’s red stripe getting more the color of blood, “You’ll have people hoisting you in every room!”

“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the flags of China and North Korea together and they were joined by a distinct chuckle coming from the red, white and blue Russian flag.

The Indian flag shuddered, “I would not like to be flown because of a law,” she said, “I would like to be flown….”
The flags of the democratic world stared at her as she stopped. “What were you going to say?” they asked together.

“I would like to be flown, in every home and building in my beloved country, because they love me!” she whispered even as China, Russia, and North Korea guffawed and a few others who kowtowed to them, sniggered.

“Love?” asked China.

“Yes love!” said the Star and Stripes.

“Love for the color? Love for the fabric?” sniggered China, looking disdainfully at the khadi flag.

“No, love for the country!” said the Union Jack, “A country that gives equal opportunity for all, that, as in my country, anybody, even an Indian origin Hindu can try to become a Prime Minister! Where it is not just those of one faith whose opinions matter but that of every single person, whatever faith he belongs to!”

There was a hush as the Star and Stripes spoke, “Be careful oh Tricolor, of those who hoist you up selfishly for themselves. Last year we had a President who shouted, ‘Make America great again!’ But what he meant was to make me a symbol of the white man!”

The Indian flag looked across the ocean in the direction of India, and whispered, “I want to fly in the hearts of every Indian, whatever his or her caste, creed or community! Love me my people!”

“Jai Hind!” whispered the same faint breeze from the East River, as the heatwave cooled with the heartfelt cry of the khadi Tiranga..!

CBI recovers paintings of renowned artists, expensive watches worth crores in Yes Bank

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ANI

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July 28, 2022

cbi — CBI recovers paintings of renowned artists, expensive watches worth crores in Yes Bank 4

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday recovered paintings and watches worth several crores during further searches conducted in the Yes BankDHFL (Diwan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd) scam case.

The CBI said articles worth several crores were purchased from diverted funds. These recoveries were made during further searches in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged loss of Rs. 34,615 crore (approx.) to consortium of 17 banks led by Union Bank of India.

Two paintings made by FN Souza (1964) and another by SH Raza (1956) worth Rs 5.50 crore (approx); two watches of Jacob & Co & Frank Muller Geneve worth Rs 5 crore (approx) and Gold & Diamond Jewellery including Bangles and Necklace worth Rs 2 crore (approx) have been recovered.

It was also alleged that the Promoters had acquired expensive items using the diverted funds.

During the investigation, the CMD and then Director, both of private companies based at Mumbai were arrested and both are presently in CBI custody.

A case was registered on June 20, 2022 on a complaint from Union Bank of India, Industrial Finance Branch, Mumbai against private (Borrower) company based at Mumbai, its then CMD, then Director and others including a private person, private companies, unknown public servant(s) & private persons on the allegations that the accused cheated a consortium of 17 banks led by Union Bank of India to the tune of Rs. 34,615 crore (approx.) by siphoning off loans availed from the said banks & falsifying the books of said private (Borrower) company and creating Shell Companies/false entities, which had come to be known as “Bandra Book Entities”

It was alleged that the said private company & its promoters had created a number of shell companies & fictitious entities (the Bandra Book entities) and siphoned off huge funds by disbursing funds to such fictitious entities.

It was further alleged that separate audits conducted by other private audit accounting organisations had identified multiple instances of diversion of funds by the accused for personal benefits and falsification of books of accounts to camouflage & conceal dubious transactions.

The audits also identified several instances where large value loans were provided to such fictitious entities without due diligence and without securities. Instances of sanction and disbursement of loans, merely by e-mail communications were allegedly found for which no loan files were maintained in the said private (Borrower) company.

Earlier, searches were conducted at various locations in Mumbai at the premises of the accused which led to the recovery of incriminating documents.

Dhan Kubers of India – Corruption destroying the country

By

Vaidehi Taman

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July 28, 2022

We read and hear about numerous scams by politicians. They never remain poor but make more wealth than what a common man can imagine. It is solely due to human greed where the works, especially the budgets sent to them by the Centre are misused by them and this process is not transparent to the public. Every politician is collecting money for horse trading. BJP’S coffers are overflowing, thanks to big corporation’s quid pro quo. Opposition parties indulge in scamming to collect enormous wealth. Money is the main powerbroker at present because there is no ideology or ethics in the picture. Irrespective of who is ruling it is the 60:40 formulas which runs the country.

Politicians make money by launching new schemes. Tenders are sold to those who give them more money. For example the Amravati, green fields are converted into residential places, do politicians need to have a lavish lifestyle at the parliament they are building one with people’s money and simply what they do is entertain us on TV, by making this so lavish it gives the builder some buffer to write down extra stuff in accounts and that money goes to politicians. This is an outdated way, now they earn more by buying lands in demanding areas and selling them to the government at a higher rate that way they earn a lot of money.

In spite of knowing the corrupt leaders we repeatedly elect them. Be it Sharad Pawar, Shahs and Thackeray or Banerjees. All are corrupted and possess a lot of money that India can survive for many years without paying taxes. If such Politicians are in the Govt. We will remain a developed country for another century. The demand for reservation will remain, the reservation will remain reserved. It is rightly said, “In a democratic country, you get the government you deserve” So we elect such Politicians repeatedly to rule us. In our country corrupt politicians don’t face any serious consequences for their corrupt behaviour. Take the examples of most corrupt leaders of Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena, they all now joined BJP and the ED and IT turned mute on them.

Remember when IT officials raided 36 locations, including Jadhav’s house in Mazgaon’s Bilakhadi Chambers, the home of Bimal Agarwal, and the homes of five private BMC contractors. They discovered information on at least 36 properties worth more than Rs 130 crore and recovered Rs 2 crore in undeclared cash and Rs 1.5 crore worth of jewellery. The raids also unearthed receipts indicating cash payments totalling more than Rs 120 crore in the last year, primarily to BMC corporators, prompting the department to investigate the specifics of all 26 civic standing committee members.

Former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) standing committee head Yashwant Jadhav of then the Shiv Sena ( now with Eknath Shinde) had obtained tenancy rights to 31 flats in Mazgaon’s Bilakhadi Chambers for 10 crores, according to an Income Tax Department probe. He was able to do this with the support of his assistant Bimal Agarwal’s firm Newshawk Multimedia Pvt Ltd. When questioned, he stated that the first diary entry was about him giving away watches on his mother’s birthday, and the second was about giving out presents to the poor on Gudi Padwa in honour of his mother.

The Income Tax Department is also investigating a Rs 15-crore payback of an unsecured loan to a Kolkata-based shell company that was subsequently channelled back to Jadhav aide Bimal Agarwal’s firm. According to l-T sources, Jadhav used the money to buy a hotel and a property with renters who exploited a Pagdi system. But now all this is forgotten and pardoned.

In 2017, fake currency in the denominations of Rs 500, Rs 2,000, Rs 100 and Rs 50 worth Rs 1.37 lakh were seized from the house of BJP leaders Eracheri Rajesh and his brother Rakesh, both hailing from Mathilakam in Thrissur district. But they know nothing can go wrong because central agencies are under control of BJP in the centre.

West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested on Saturday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged scam related to the recruitment of teachers in West Bengal. His arrest came after the ED conducted raids on the premises of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, and seized Rs 20 crore in cash. The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of said SSC scam. The Enforcement Directorate investigating the teacher recruitment scam raided the premises of Arpita Mukherjee, believed to be an associate of Partha Chatterjee. During the raids, the officials found heaps of cash piled up in a corner — later amounting to Rs 20 crore. There are many politicians who got caught with cash and scams but hardly anyone is severely punished. Maximum they get one or two years jail and scot free.

Political Leaders should ask their followers to not up illegal hoardings

By

PTI

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July 28, 2022

The Bombay High Court on Thursday said the menace of illegal hoardings can be stopped if political leaders and ministers, whose pictures are displayed on them, urge their followers not to do so.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik said that if political leaders and ministers indulge their followers, then such illegal hoardings will continue to be put up everywhere. “Ministers and political leaders whose pictures are placed in these hoardings should go to the public and ask them not to do this. They (public) will listen to them,” the court said.

The court further wondered what could be done when those who are in charge of governance themselves do not follow the rule of law.

The bench was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) on the issue of illegal banners, hoardings and posters put up by political parties across the state, which according to the pleas defaced public places.

In 2016, the high court had directed the state government and all municipal corporations to ensure that no illegal hoardings are put up in public places and had directed the authorities to submit compliance reports.

Chief Justice Datta on Thursday noted that the judiciary cannot enter the domain of the executive and implement orders.

“The high court has passed an order and we have to depend on the executive to implement it. We cannot go to the street and implement our orders,” he said.

The court noted that if there was no “genuine intention” (on the part of the government), then it will never be implemented.

The bench directed the state government to file a report by August 12 stating what measures it proposes to take to tackle this “menace”.

The court also suggested for all municipal corporations and district councils to share with ward officers and police station a list of the hoardings that have been granted permission. “If this list is shared real-time then it would help the police act against the illegal hoardings. These are all matters of the administration which officers should be abreast of,” Chief Justice Datta said.

”Give us a break, There is limit to targeting us”, Justice Chandrachud

By

ANI

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July 28, 2022

Justice DY Chandrachud, a Supreme Court judge, on Thursday, expressed his displeasure over criticism in the media about judges not taking up cases.

Justice Chandrachud was hearing a mention by a lawyer seeking the listing of a case relating to violence and attacks on Christians when the judge said that he read in the news that this matter was not being taken up.

“Give us judges a break. I was down with Covid, hence the matter was deferred. I read in the news that judges are not taking it up. There is a limit to targeting us,” said the judge.

The matter was listed for hearing on July 15 but it could not be taken up as the bench did not assemble. The plea filed by Archbishop Of Bangalore Diocese Dr. Peter Machado alleged a rising number of attacks on Christian institutions and priests across the country.

The plea sought directions to stop violence and mob attacks against the members of the Christian community in various states across the country also seeking the implementation of earlier apex court guidelines to curb hate crimes.

The petition has sought the setting up of Special Investigation Teams with officers from outside the States where the incidents set out to register FIRs, conduct criminal investigations and prosecute the criminal offenders in accordance with the law.

It further sought direction that the SITs file closure reports in accordance with the law, where false counter FIRs have been filed by the assailants against the victims. It has also sought implementation of the guidelines issued in the Tehseen Poonawala judgment in which nodal officers were to be appointed to take note of hate crimes and register FIRs across the nation.

The Supreme Court 2018, had issued a slew of guidelines for the Centre and State governments to control and prevent the increasing number of hate crimes, including mob violence and lynching.

The guidelines included fast-tracked trials, victim compensation, deterrent punishment and disciplinary action against lax law-enforcing officials.

The top court had said offences such as hate crimes, cow vigilantism and lynching incidents should be nipped in the bud.

India is ready for a match with Sri Lanka: SAFF U20 championship 2022

By

ANI

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July 28, 2022

SAFF U20 Championship 2022, Football, India, Shanmugam Venkatesh, — Image: Agencies

The India U-20 National Team will be looking to put their last defeat against Bangladesh behind them as they prepare for their next match against Sri Lanka in the SAFF U-20 Championship in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.

Speaking on the eve of the Sri Lanka game, head coach Shanmugam Venkatesh outlined the importance of all sticking together and getting the job done. “Right now, we can’t afford to look back and lament about the Bangladesh game anymore. We need to look ahead to our match against Sri Lanka. If we are able to execute it on the field, we will be able to deal with their threat,” said Venkatesh in a statement.

“As a coaching staff, it’s very important for us to make sure that the boys stay motivated. We need to encourage them to play well,” he added.

While India suffered a loss in their last game, Venkatesh had mentioned that the coaches will take stock of the errors and try to rectify them.

“We made a few mistakes in our last game. But we do not blame any individual. We play as a team, win as a team, and lose as a team. Our defence starts with the attackers, and the attack starts with the defenders, so everyone, including myself, is responsible,” said Venkatesh.

“Of course, we will take a look at our last game and analyse the areas where we can improve and do better,” he said.

Sri Lanka has lost both their matches so far. While they had lost 0-1 to Bangladesh in their first match, they went down 0-3 to Nepal in their second.

India’s match against Sri Lanka in the SAFF U-20 Championship will kick off at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Bombay HC asks Maha govt for not setting committee for Fire Safety

By

PTI

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July 28, 2022

The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked why the previous and present governments in Maharashtra did not get the time to form a committee to implement fire safety rules though it reportedly issued 400-odd government resolutions (GRs) recently.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and MS Karnik directed the state government to file an affidavit detailing the steps it had taken to constitute such a committee and implement fire safety norms in vulnerable buildings since previous orders passed on April 11 this year.

The court’s direction came after state counsel Hiten Venegaonkar said the government was in the process of including the safety draft rules framed in 2009 in the new Development Control and Planning Regulations (DCPR).

Venegaonkar told the court a special committee needs to be constituted before the draft rules can be included in the DCPR and setting up such an expert committee will take three to four months.

Asserting that this was “too long a period”, the HC said, “Three and a half months for setting up the committee? We read in newspapers that recently 400 GRs were issued. But a simple committee could not be constituted even when the lives of countless people are at stake?” The HC then asked Venegaonkar to produce by Friday relevant records to show “what progress had been made post its directions issued in April.”

‘ The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Aditya Pratap seeking enforcement of draft special regulations for fire safety in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters. The regulations were issued in 2009 in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

Man arrested for rapping his 6-year-old sister-in-law in Uttar Pradesh

By

PTI

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July 28, 2022

2 arrest for attack, Representative Image, Rape, minor rape, Manoj Pandey — Image for representative purpose

Man arrested for an allegation of rapping 6-year-old sister-in-law, police said on Thursday.

Following a complaint filed by the victim’s sister and the wife of the accused, a case was registered on Wednesday, they said.

The woman claimed that her husband assaulted and raped her sister four days ago while she was not at home, Additional Superintendent of Police Manoj Pandey said.

The minor has been admitted to the district hospital, police said.

Assam cops arrest 10 linked to B’desh radical outfit

By

ANI

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July 28, 2022

Arrested, Assam cops, B'desh, Morigaon district, — Image for representative purpose

Assam police on Thursday claimed to have busted a major terror module with the arrest of 10 people linked with Bangladesh-based radical outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

Hiren Nath, ADGP (Special Branch), told in a media report that in the last 24 hours, the module based in the Barpeta district was busted and arrests were made from various parts of the state.

“We have arrested seven persons from Barpeta district, one each from Moirabari area in Morigaon district, Guwahati and Bongaigaon districts. An investigation is on,” Nath said.

He added that police had recovered some incriminating literature and documents as well. The top Assam police officer said that the person arrested from the Moirabari area also ran a Madrassa. “We are investigating the matter,” Hiren Nath said. Further details are awaited.

24 kgs of ivory seized, 2 held in West Bengal

By

ANI

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July 28, 2022

Two people were arrested and two pieces of elephant ivory, weighing 24 kgs were seized by Ranger Sanjay Dutta and his troops in West Bengal on Wednesday.

Hari Krishnan, Divisional Forest Officer, Baikunthupur forest division said, two people were coming from Malbazar area with a synthetic bag loaded with wildlife articles and their team intercepted them.

“During a search operation, they found two pieces of elephant tusk in their possession. They were planning to smuggle the elephant tusks to Nepal.

The accused persons, named Gobinda Pradhan, resident of Alipurduar and Bikash Lama, resident of Jalpaiguri of West Bengal state were brought to Range Head Quarter for further interrogation.

“On interrogation, they disclosed that they were supposed to deliver the elephant tusks to a counterpart at Kakurvita, Dist- Jhapa, Nepal…,” said Forest Range Officer, Sanjay Dutta. He further added, “Both the accused confessed that both the persons have close nexus of an International Wildlife trafficking syndicate.

The elephant was trapped and killed in the Government Forest of Assam during the divesting flood for extraction of the Ivory. Efforts are going on to communicate the matter to Assam Wildlife Authority to ascertain the exact location.”

The accused persons have been arrested under section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act,1972. Both the accused persons will be forwarded to Jalpaiguri district court.