The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	AgustaWestland probe Indian team meets judge, prosecutor in Italy Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 21 A CBI team, comprising a DIG and law officer, today met senior officers in the Ministry of External Affairs in Italy to explore the possibility of getting documents in the VVIP helicopter scam. These documents would help the CBI register a case against the accused, sources said. To understand the case, to get names of other accused and the legal documents, the team members also met the judge and prosecutor who are dealing with the case in a local court in Italy. The judge and prosecutor can also help the team by providing the names of the Indian contacts of the accused who have been arrested in Italy, the sources said. The Italian authorities have arrested Giuseppe Orsi, chairman of Italian Finmeccanica, and Bruno Spagnolini, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland, on charges of alleged kickbacks in the copter deal case. The CBI team also met the top official of Italian Finmeccanica to know the details that have been submitted by the Italian investigating agency in court after the arrest of Finmeccanica’s CEO. The CBI team is getting help from Italian lawyers who have been hired by the Indian Embassy there. The lawyers acting as liaison between the Indian team and the Italian authorities there. The lawyers have presented India’s case before the Italian Government and the local courts to get evidence in the case. The CBI’s decision to send a team to Italy came after it virtually drew a blank from the Defence Ministry while trying to get official inputs regarding the alleged kickbacks.
	Cash-for-vote Scam Residences of 5 MLAs raided New Delhi, February 21 The CBI today carried out searches at the residences of five MLAs of Jharkhand after registering a case into the alleged cash-for-vote scam during 2010 Rajya Sabha elections. CBI sources said here the searches were carried out at residences of Simon Marandi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Umashankar Akela of the BJP and Rajesh Ranjan, Yogendra Sao and Sawna Lakra of the Congress. The agency has filed FIR in the case relating to a media expose where six MLAs were allegedly caught on tape expressing willingness to vote in favour of a particular candidate in return of monetary gains. In January, the Jharkhand High Court had directed the CBI to take over probe into cash-for-vote allegations linked to 2010 Rajya Sabha elections and also look into whether any vigilance official was hindering progress in the case. The case was handled by state vigilance department which had lodged an FIR against six MLAs of different political parties after a TV channel showed a CD footage purportedly having voices of some MLAs soon after the 2010 Raj Sabha elections. — PTI
	11 yrs after Parliament attack, House gets spl security unit Shaurya Karanbir Gurung Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 21 When Parliament meets on Thursday, a new specialised security unit called the Parliament Duty Group (PDG) will be in place to protect it from terror attacks. It took 11 years to create this unit with a strength of 1,540, including women, after the deadly December 2001 terror attack on Parliament in which nine security personnel were killed. The five terrorists, who were armed to the teeth, failed in their mission to target Parliamentarians. The planner of the attack - Afzal Guru - was hanged on February 9 this year. The PDG, which was deployed a couple of weeks ago, is an integral part of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), one of the many central armed police forces of India. The CRPF is involved in anti-Naxal and counter-insurgency operations across the country. Some years ago, it had replaced the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jammu and Kashmir in countering insurgency there. The fighting arm of the PDG consists of nearly three-fourths of its personnel. The group will act as a quick reaction team in case of any contingency. “They have been deployed on the premises of Parliament as well as inside it,” added sources. After joining the group, officers and men undergo a specialised two-month training. The Special Protection Group (SPG), which is responsible for the security of the Prime Minister and other persons with Z-plus protection, trains the unit. Besides being trained in traditional weapons and unarmed combat, the PDG has been trained in latest counter-terrorism weapons such as the Glock pistols, which are semi-automatic, sniper rifles and the X-95, an assault rifle that the CRPF uses in its anti-Naxal operations. “They are also trained in close battle and commando tactics,” said sources. In view of the globally changing terrorism scenario, these personnel have also been trained in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) security preparedness.
	Ishrat Jahan encounter Gujarat police officer held in Ishrat case New Delhi, February 21 The CBI has arrested Gujarat police officer GL Singhal in connection with the alleged fake encounter of 19-year old student Ishrat Jahan by a team of Ahmedabad crime branch officers in 2004. CBI sources here said Singhal, an inducted IPS officer, who was then Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Branch, was arrested by the agency in Ahmedabad and searches are going on at his residential and official premises. The CBI in its FIR has alleged that Singhal who is now Superintendent of Police at State Crime Records Bureau played active role in the encounter which was later found to be fake by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Gujarat High Court. Jahan along with three others --- Javed Sheikh, Zeeshan Johar and Amjad Ali Rana --- were killed by a team of Ahmedabad city crime branch officers on an empty road stretch between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on June 15, 2004. After Jahan’s mother complained about the alleged fake encounter, Gujarat High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team which concluded that encounter was fake. Following the report, the High Court handed over the matter to the CBI and is monitoring the investigations. — PTI
	NHRC seeks report from M’rashtra on Bhandara murders New Delhi, February 21 The National Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to Maharashtra Government asking it to submit a report on the alleged rape and murder of three minor sisters in Bhandara district. Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report in this regard, the Commission issued the notice to the state Chief Secretary seeking the report within four weeks. The three minor sisters, all below 11 years and missing since February 14, were allegedly raped and murdered at Murwadi village in the district. The bodies were found later in a well on February 16. Though police initially registered a case of accidental death, postmortem conducted yesterday at Bhandara confirmed sexual abuse and murder, police said. — PTI
	HYDERABAD BLASTS Govt had intel input, but no details, says Shinde Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 21 Central intelligence agencies had an input about a possible terror attack but had drawn a blank on specific leads on terror groups and the location of the attack. The terrorist group responsible for the Hyderabad twin blasts is yet to be identified, sources told The Tribune. Initial inputs suggest the use of timers to trigger the blasts. The Union Home Ministry has sent teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) to the site. The Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) unit in Hyderabad has been tasked to collect forensic evidence. The Prime Minister has termed the blast as a dastardly act and approved Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the families of those deceased. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the government had some intelligence inputs about a possible terror attack for the past two days, but there were no specific details. He said that intelligence inputs had been shared with CMs of different states. Home Secretary RK Singh said, “Our NIA team has a hub in Hyderabad and it has reached the site. An IG-level NIA official is also going from New Delhi. The post-blast investigating team of NSG is also going.” The teams will take a aircraft and will reach the spot around midnight.
	Govt gives flat to Delhi gang-rape victim’s family Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 21 The Union Cabinet tonight approved the allotment of a DDA flat in Dwarka to the family of the Delhi gang-rape victim. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Official sources said that the government took the decision to allot a DDA house to the family of the rape victim as a case of special allotment. An official statement said, “The cost of the flat will be borne by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi”. Sources said the Cabinet approved the allotment of an MIG flat in Dwarka. During UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit to their home, the family had requested for a flat closer to maintown Delhi. In another decision, the government announced that the minimum wages announced by the Centre for workers in the unorganised sector would be statutory for all states so as to bring parity in wages. At present, the national floor-level minimum wage is Rs 115 per day but it is not binding on state governments and employers. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved that in addition to pay and allowances admissible under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines as recommended by Dharmadhikari Committee, flying allowance shall also be admissible to pilots of Air India at different rates as per their seniority.
	Red corner notice for 5 alleged aides of Koda Ranchi, February 21 A special court today ordered issuance of red corner notices and property attachment against five alleged aides of former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda in connection with a money laundering case. The judge of the special court of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, RK Choudhary, also issued the direction impounding of passports of the five, who have been evading arrest for three years, on the request of Enforcement Directorate. The five absconders are: Rohitas Krishnan, Saubhik Chotopadhyay, Manoj Kumar Sinha, Sunil Kumar Sinha and Ajay Amol Chandra Baffna. — PTI
	Haryana takes lead in smart kisan cards Ruchika M. Khanna/TNS Chandigarh, February 21 Haryana is one of the first states in the county to have started issuing new smart kisan credit cards (KCC). Besides ensuring financial inclusion of farmers, the move will also link them to institutional finance when they start using these cards as debit cards, at ATMs and at “point of sale” machines. The scheme has been initiated in Karnal where Punjab National Bank has issued new plastic cards to over 120 farmers. Farmers in Panipat are also set to get these cards. Through these cards, farmers will be able to meet their short-term credit requirements for crop cultivation, post-harvest expenses, produce-marketing loans, besides using these for their household consumption requirements and buying farm equipment. In case of the commercial banks issuing these cards, the credit limit of each farmer has been fixed based on the scale of finance for crop, area of land to be cultivated by him; and the crop that he will cultivate in a given year. In case of cooperative banks, which will issue smart KCCs, the credit limit has been fixed at Rs 1.5 lakh for each farmer. Though most of the banks, operating in the state, were on core banking, the software had to be upgraded to change the existing kisan credit cards to the smart KCCs, and thus make these cards more effective financial instruments for farmers, officials said. It is learnt that 28.73 lakh KCCs have been issued in the state, which will all have to be converted into smart KCCs. “As of now, only Punjab National Bank has started issuing smart KCCs. Though the state cooperative banks are also supposed to issue these by April, they have still not been on core banking, and will become CBS banks only by September. Once these cooperative banks start issuing smart KCCs, it will be a game changer in providing institutional finance to farmers,” said a senior official of NABARD. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) projected a credit estimate of Rs 66,970 crore under priority sector lending in Haryana for 2013-14 during the state credit seminar for Haryana here today. The seminar was presided over by Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh. Of the total priority sector credit projections of Rs 66,970 crore for 2013-14, the major share is of crop loan at 55 per cent (Rs 36,753 crore), followed by agricultural and allied sector term loan (for land development, irrigation, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries etc.) at 12 per cent (Rs 8,062 crore), MSME at 16 per cent (Rs 10,830 crore) and other priority sector (OPS) at 17 per cent (Rs 11,325 crore). This represents an increase of 16 per cent over the plan for 2012-13. EMPOWERING FARMERS The scheme has been initiated in Karnal where Punjab National Bank has issued new plastic cards to over 120 farmers Farmers in Panipat are also set to get these cards Farmers will be able to use new cards as debit cards, ATM cards and at “point of sale” machines
	Kohinoor is ours, won’t be returned: Cameron Amritsar, February 21 British Prime Minister David Cameron ruled out handing back the 105-carat Kohinoor diamond now on display in the Tower of London. The diamond, one of the world's largest, was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 under the Empire's rule. Several Indians have long demanded its return to atone for Britain's colonial past. "I don't think that's the right approach," Cameron said on Wednesday after becoming the first serving British Prime Minister to voice regret over the massacre of unarmed civilians at Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh in 1919. "It is the same question with the Elgin Marbles," he said, referring to the classical Greek marble sculptures that Athens has long demanded be given back. "The right answer is for the British Museum and other cultural institutions to do exactly what they do, which is to link up with other institutions around the world to make sure that the things which we have and look after so well are properly shared with people around the world. I certainly don't believe in 'returnism', as it were. I don't think that's sensible." Britain's then Governor-General of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 and it was later set in her crown. If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, eventually becomes queen consort, she will don the crown holding the diamond on official occasions. When Elizabeth II made a state visit to India to mark the 50th anniversary of India's Independence from Britain in 1997, many Indians demanded the return of the diamond. — Reuters Royal gem Britain's then Governor-General of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 The diamond is set in the crown of the late Queen Mother and is on display with the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, eventually becomes queen consort, she will don the crown holding the diamond on official occasions
	Fresh blow to Jagan; properties worth Rs 120 cr attached Tribune News Service Hyderabad, February 21 In a major setback to the jailed YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has approved the attachment of his properties, worth over Rs 120 crore, in connection with the ongoing disproportionate assets case against him. The attachment orders, pertaining to two separate properties, were issued last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). After hearing the arguments of the counsels of ED and Jagan, the Adjudicating Authority upheld the contention of the Enforcement Directorate. Following this, the attached assets, which include both land and fixed deposits, will now be transferred to the ED which will hold the ownership of the assets till the case is disposed of. The banks will have to transfer to the account of Government of India held by the ED joint director, fixed deposits amounting to over Rs 14 crore held by Jagan’s publication arm Jagathi Publications besides fixed deposits of Rs 3 crore each held by Hetero Drugs and Arabindo Pharma. This will be done as soon as the ED issues the relevant directions to the banks, the official sources said. The ED is also expected to write to the revenue and registering authorities directing them to keep the attached land of Janani Infra (13 acres), Hetero drugs (35 acres) and Arabindo Pharma (96 acres) in the name of Government of India/ED till further orders. These attachments pertain to the assets listed out by the CBI in its first charge-sheet filed in connection with the illegal assets case. Since three more charge-sheets were filed by the CBI and one more is expected to be filed soon, several such attachments and subsequent likely confirmations by the adjudicating authority are in the offing. This step will ensure that the parties involved in these two cases will not be able to derive benefits of these properties by way of selling, leasing, renting or using these assets. The investigating agency had issued attachment orders after identifying them as ‘proceeds of crime’ which were accrued to the companies held by Jagan allegedly as kickbacks received in lieu of granting “favours” to private entities during the late YS Rajasekhar Reddy regime between 2004 and 2009. The attachment order, issued under stringent provisions of PMLA, was also against private companies which "illegally benefited as a result of criminal activity" and illegal sanctions granted during the tenure of YSR. Jagan was arrested by the CBI in May last year and has since been lodged in the Chanchalguda Central Jail here. Assets case The attachment orders, pertaining to two separate properties, were issued last year by the ED. After hearing the arguments of counsels of both parties, the Adjudicating Authority upheld the contention of the Enforcement Directorate. Following this, the attached assets, which include both land and fixed deposits, will now be transferred to the ED which will hold the ownership of the assets till the case is disposed of
	2 K’taka ministers quit BJP; set to join Cong Tribune News Service Bangalore, February 21 With elections to the state Assembly less than three months away, the BJP government in Karnataka is falling apart bit by bit. Less than a month after 12 Yeddyurappa loyalist BJP MLAs, including two ministers, resigned from the Assembly, the Jagadish Shettar-led government received another jolt today as two more ministers quit the ministry as well as the primary membership of the party. Forest minister CP Yogeshwar and Small-Scale Industries Minister Narasimha Nayak (better known as Raju Gowda) tendered their resignations to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. Yogeshwar and Gowda, however, have nothing to do with Yeddyurappa. The two are expected to join hands with the Congress hoping that they would be fielded by the party in the Assembly elections slated for May this year. Yogeshwar, who is facing charges of swindling over Rs 30 crore collected from people on the pretext of giving them residential sites, had come to the BJP from the Congress. Raju Gowda and Yogeshwar are slated to meet Speaker KG Bopaiah and submit him their resignations from the Assembly. Commenting on the development, BS Yeddyurappa, who has severed his ties with the saffron party and has floated the Karnataka Janata Party, said the resignations were a clear sign of the “BJP’s sinking ship”. “The BJP will not be in power in Karnataka for the next 10 years,” he predicted.