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| Monday, June 11, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Fraud case against 4 DD, Prasar Bharti
officials Rebel MLAs
ready to return to WB Cong
IAF to upgrade MI-35 copter
gunships PM’s condition
satisfactory PM congratulates
Blair, Khatami Tehelka panel rejects Army official’s
plea |
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Chances of repeal of
IMDT Act ‘remote’
Lansdowne: an unexplored
haven Rajan case: CBI refused custody of files Fishermen freed,
pirate leader shot
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Fraud case against 4 DD, Prasar Bharti officials New Delhi, June 10 The case has been registered against Ramesh Gandhi, proprietor of M/s Arambh Advertising and Marketing Private Limited, his two employees, the then Station Director of Kolkata Doordarshan A.K. Biswas (since transfered as Station Director AIR, Kolkata), the then Assistant Director of Kolkata Doordarshan Kalyan Gosh, Controller Sales of Prasar Bharti Anurag Mishra and Assistant Controller of Sales Prasar Bharti Shashank Mishra, the spokesman told reporters here. The CBI investigations found that they caused pecuniary benefits to the tune of Rs 1.51 crore to the company from March 1999 to February 2001, he said. During the investigations, the CBI found that while granting commercial or marketing rights to M/s Arambh, Doordarshan did not invite competitive bids in gross violation of the regulation, he said. He said even after giving the contract to the company, Doordarshan did not make any comparative assessment of the likely revenue earnings with the revenue generation in the preceding period and awarded the marketing rights to the accused company. The CBI also carried out searches at 15 places, including the office and residence of Gandhi and residential and official premises of the other accused, the spokesman said. The operations were carried out at various places in Kolkata, Delhi, Dhanbad and Agartala, he said. However, no one was arrested and Gandhi, who is already facing four to five CBI cases, continues to be in a nursing home where the doctors denied permission to the CBI officials to question him, the spokesman said. He said Gandhi had been admitted to this nursing home since March 1 when CBI wanted to arrest him in another case pertaining to coal mafia in Bihar. In the Capital, raids were conducted at Gandhi’s office “M/s Rainbow Production”, the residental premises of his manager in Delhi Manish Bindal (also named in the FIR) and premises of Mishra and Narain, he said. The investigations found that Doordarshan earned a revenue of about Rs 39 lakh for the period between March 1999 and February 2000 as compared to the average monthly revenue of Rs 52 lakh for the period between February 1997 and January 1998 when the telecast bids were awarded on the basis of competitive bids, he said. The spokesman said this put a loss of over Rs 1.5 crore to Doordarshan in 11 months and the accused officials did not even make a periodic review although the contract had been given for only six months.
PTI |
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Rebel
MLAs ready to return to WB Cong Kolkata, June 10 Ms Banerjee returned to the city, virtually incognito, on Friday night from New Delhi after secretly meeting Mr George Fernandes and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani. Her meetings with these leaders had been construed as an attempt to return to the NDA which the TMC leaders here denied. A TC leader and a close associate of Ms Banerjee said on condition of anonymity that these MLAs and other leaders had already send feelers to the AICC through Mr Pranab Mukherjee and they had been welcomed back. The MLAs and the leaders who want to return to the Congress include Mr Saugata Roy, Mr Ambika Banerjee, Mr Satya Bapuli and Mr Sultan Ahmed (both defeated in the elections), Mr Sanjay Bakshi, Mr Tarak Banerjee, Dr Sudipta Roy (defeated) and a host of others. Kolkata Mayor Subrata Mukherjee says he is still in the Congress and hence there is no question of his returning to the party. A Congress MLA, Mr Mukherjee, became the Mayor with the Trinamool Congress support, but he won the recent Assembly election from the Chowringhee seat as a TC candidate with the support of the Congress. On
the other hand, a rebel TC leader, Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, MP, claimed
that a large number of MLAs, MPs and other party workers now stood by
him and supported his stand against Ms Banerjee. He is confident that
soon the TC will be divided with a large number of leaders and workers
revolting against her. He further claimed that five out of the eight
MPs were already to join the NDA to strengthen Mr Vajpayee’s hand. Mr Panja denied that any TC MPs and MLAs were returning to the Congress. He said the Congress does not exist in reality in the state. The Trinamool Congress is the real Congress, which would once again be revamped with the change in the leadership, indicating that a new group under his leadership would be formed, which would remain a partner of the NDA. Mr
Panja does not think Ms Banerjee will be acceptable to the NDA. “She
has proved herself to be a betrayer who has stabbed Vajpayeeji in the
back”, remarked former Union Minister of State for External Affairs. Meanwhile,
the state Congress, aggrieved at the report of Ms Banerjee rejoining
the NDA, is getting ready to snap ties with the Trinamool Congress.
“If Ms Banerjee returns to the NDA to join hands with the BJP, we
will have no option but to leave her”, said Mr Somen Mitra, former
WBPCC president, who won the Assembly seat for the seventh successive
time from Sealdah in the May 10 poll, adding that the Congress had
joined her party only when she snapped her ties with the BJP. |
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IAF to upgrade MI-35 copter gunships New Delhi, June 10 The upgradation of the gunships is part of a massive IAF campaign to modernise its entire helicopter fleet, including induction of the advanced light helicopter along with its low-cost attack helicopter version christened “Lancer” and acquiring more of the improved MI-17 V-1 medium lift choppers, according to the latest report of the ministry. The report said work had begun on upgradation of both IAF squadrons of the MI-35 gunships consisting of incorporation of night vision goggles (NVG), compatible lighting and advanced avionics such as forward-looking infra-red TV cameras and laser-range finders. “The project is in an advanced stage”, top IAF officials told PTI, saying that flight demonstration trials had already been conducted and that fleet modification would commence soon. Though the MI-35s have been labelled as “crocodiles” for their long life and capability to evolve throughout their life, both experts of Rostvertol, the makers of the gunship, as well as Indian engineers have failed to give the helicopter capability of mountain flying. It was because of the gunships failure to break the 10,000 feet flying ceiling that the IAF was unable to use them in the Kargil conflict as also Russians not being able to use them in higher altitudes during the Afghan campaign. “Inducting the attack version of the advanced light helicopter is now our topmost priority,” highly placed IAF officials said, adding that the IAF had already received its first batch of limited serial produced ALH for user trials.
PTI |
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PM’s condition satisfactory Mumbai, June 10 Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) spokesperson Ashok Tandon said Mr Vajpayee was recovering well after the knee replacement surgery and was responding well to the treatment. A team of doctors is constantly monitoring his health, local BJP MLA Mangalprabhat Lodha, who is party’s camp in charge at the Breach Candy Hospital and Research Institute, said. He also congratulated Tennis duo Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for winning the French Open men’s doubles title. In his message he said the victory would “serve” to put India back on top of sporting excellence.  |
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PM congratulates
Blair, Khatami New Delhi, June 10 Extending an invitation to Mr Blair to visit India, Mr Vajpayee in a letter yesterday said: “Please accept my heartiest felicitations on your historic re-election for a second term.” In his message to Iranian President Mohammed Khatami on his re-election, Mr Vajpayee said his victory reflected the faith of his countrymen in his leadership. Renewing the invitation to Mr Khatami to visit India, the Prime Minister said: “It gives me a great pleasure to extend my warmest felicitations on your re-election as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Your victory reflects the continuing faith of the Iranian people in your inspiring leadership and the progress achieved by the country under your wise guidance.” |
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Tehelka panel rejects Army official’s plea New Delhi, June 10 Justice K. Venkataswami, who began public hearing on June 6, dismissed the plea of Col Anil Sehgal, a former Director in the Ordnance Services, saying: “No order needs to be passed at this stage on his request for his protection under Article 20 (3) of the Constitution”. According to the constitutional provision, “No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself”. Sehgal is one of the defence officials, who had admitted to having been approached by the web portal tehelka.com, but had denied having received any money. Sehgal, who was neither present himself nor through his counsel during the hearing, had sought protection as he was facing a court of inquiry, which prima facie found him guilty of “misconduct” for his statement recorded by the web portal. Commission sources said with the dismissal of his plea for protection, now Sehgal has to file an affidavit in response to the panel’s notice within two weeks.
PTI Chances of repeal of
IMDT Act ‘remote’ New Delhi, June 10 In the wake of Assam agitation on the issue of foreign (Bangladesh) nationals, the Act came into force to provide for deportation of illegal migrants only after determination by a tribunal. Solicitor-General Harish Salve, appearing for the Centre, and the previous AGP Government in Assam had both termed the Act as a “discriminatory piece of legislation” being implemented only in Assam, though other states also face the illegal migrants problem, and had favoured its repeal by Parliament. However, the Congress had maintained a steady stand in favour of continuing with the Act. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is opposed to its repeal, had earlier as general secretary of the Assam Congress, approached the apex court, which was examining a PIL seeking deportation of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Mr Gogoi had contended that it was enacted by Parliament and if at all it had to be scrapped, the same should be examined in detail by both Houses of Parliament. After taking up the chief ministership, Mr Gogoi criticised the state Governor for distancing himself from the state government’s stand against repeal of the controversial Act. Standing counsel for Assam, Vijay Hansaria said that talks were on to file a fresh affidavit informing the apex court about government’s change of stand.
PTI |
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Lansdowne: an unexplored
haven Lansdowne (Uttaranchal) Situated at an altitude of 1,706 metres above sea-level on the Kotdwarpauri route, it is one of the few places which give the visitors a taste of the “old world.” Named after Henry Charles Keith Petty of Lansdowne, the Viceroy of India between 1888 and 1894, Lansdowne can still boast of not having lost its innocence to commercialisation. Easily accessible from Delhi by both rail and road, Kotdwar is the nearest railway station from Lansdowne. The town is roughly divided between a civilian zone with a population of a little more than 10,000 and the cantonment, both adundant in natural beauty. October is the month when the weather is the most equitable and the skies crystal clear, offering the visitor an amazingly clear view of the snow-capped peaks of the western Himalayas. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) has a hotel in Lansdowne, besides which there are some private motels. There are many vantage points overlooking the valleys below from where the Himalayan peaks are best viewed. Snow View situated in the cantonment is one while Tiffin Top, at a half-an-hour trek up the main town, is another. En route Tiffin Top, one encounters the impressive old Church of Lansdowne, which has a major contribution in creating the old-world charm of the town. Though no longer frequented, the old British Church adds greatly to the beauty of Lansdowne. The new church lies midway between Tiffin Top and the cantonment. Lansdowne is the base of the Garhwal Rifles. The headquarters of the regiment is housed in buildings of solid brown stone capped with glittering red roofs. The regimental museum houses articles ranging from guns and clothes to delicate pottery acquired from France during World War I and handgrenades snatched from the LTTE during the regiment’s stint in Sri Lanka. Among the spots near the town, a prominent one is the Tarakeshwora temple, 44 km from Lansdowne. It is a 600-year-old temple of Lord Shiva, nestled in high mountains surrounded by the finest Deodar trees. |
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Rajan case: CBI refused custody of files New Delhi, June 10 About the other file, the court said, since it formed part of court records, the agency could obtain a certified copy thereof. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) called the MEA Legal Officer to receive the file as the same was not required by the court any more. “Let the legal officer of the MEA be called for receiving the records or in the alternative let the Joint Secretary CPV division depute an officer to receive the records,” the CMM said in a brief order while fixing July 2 for further hearing.
PTI |
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Fishermen freed,
pirate leader shot Diamond Harbour, June 10 South 24 Parganas ASP R. Singh said 13 fishermen had been kidnapped from River Thakurani in Kultali in the district by pirates yesterday, who demanded Rs 1 lakh as ransom by Tuesday, failing which their kidneys would be removed and sold. The police had yesterday said seven fishermen had been kidnapped. The fishermen were rescued during a two-pronged operation launched by the district police, accompanied by state Minister for Sundarbans Development Kanti Ganguly. The operation was headed by Mr D.K. Ganguly, SP, who was in plain clothes, from the Dockghat end and by him from the Kultali side, Mr R. Singh said.
PTI |
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Protest against
violence on TV New Delhi, June 10 Mr Paramjit Singh Pamma, President of the National Akali Dal, said hundreds of women members of the Dal gathered in front of Jantar Mantar carrying banners and posters. |
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Hema Malini to be questioned Kolkata, June 10 “We will send a team to Mumbai to question her. We may seek assistance of the local police for the purpose,” the police said here today.
PTI |
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Tathagat to meet
Nobel laureates New Delhi, June 10 The Director, International Division of the DST, informed him on June 8 that he had been included in the team of 17 young scientists, who would be meeting Nobel laureates this month. PTI |
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