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| Saturday,
November 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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ICAR chief removed
for fair probe Notice to Centre in lease case Cong CMs may grant quota to minorities EC official to
probe charges Rajkumar’s release |
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MCC ultras blow up rail track
CCL Chairman
office raided Mulayam will turn around: CPI BJP morcha’s office-bearers Marandi expands Cabinet Illegal constructions: CBI registers FIRs SIMI raises head in Uttaranchal Myanmar, India hold talks 2 MTNL officers arrested Two ESIC officials convicted US, Indian defence officials hold talks Hearing begins in Verma case Govindacharya’s statement ‘not objectionable’ Kerala scribes call it betrayal 10 US missionaries told to leave India
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ICAR chief removed
for fair probe NEW DELHI, Nov 17 — The government today took the decision to remove Dr R.S.Paroda as Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director-General of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), in order to ensure a fair probe into complaints of irregularities in the purchase of computers and other equipment in departments headed by the agriculture scientist. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet last evening put Dr Paroda on compulsory wait in the Department of Agricultural Research and Education till further orders. Mr Bhaskar Barua, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, has been asked to hold the additional charge of the Post of Secretary, DARE, till further orders. Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and DG, CSIR, will hold the additional charge of the post of DG, ICAR. Union Agriculture Minister, Nitish Kumar, said here today that Dr Paroda had been placed on compulsory wait to ensure an impartial and fair probe into the investigations being conducted by the CBI as well as the departmental vigilance wing. He said during preliminary investigations by the CBI and the departmental vigilance wing, it was alleged that necessary documents were not being made available to them to facilitate the probe. He said Dr Paroda’s shifting was purely a temporary arrangement. Dr Paroda has been decorated with Padma Bhushan. He holds eminent positions in several international and scientific bodies. He is the President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. |
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Cong CMs may grant quota to minorities NEW DELHI, Nov 17 — Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states today discussed the possibility of extending reservation in educational institutions and jobs to minorities. At a meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to review the progress of schemes for minorities, SCs and STs, the Chief Ministers agreed to prune the schemes to avoid overlapping and mobilise more resources for their implementation. Taking note of the existing reservation for minorities in Kerala and Karnataka, the CMs deliberated if these could be extended to their states. The eight-hour meeting, the first of its kind, was attended, among others, by Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chattisgarh and Pondicherry, Congress Working Committee members and General Secretaries. The meeting is being seen as an effort by the Congress to revive its traditional support base, specially in view of the coming Assembly elections in several states. Though CWC member Ghulam Nabi Azad, who briefed about the deliberations, said that matters pertaining to Assembly elections were not discussed, the meeting gave enough indication of the Congress President’s resolve to get support of the sections which have traditionally supported the party. It was the first meeting convened by Mrs Gandhi after she was elected President of the Congress. While Mrs Gandhi will tour each of the Congress-ruled states to see implementation of the schemes, the General-Secretaries in charge of these states have been told to be in touch with the Chief Ministers for regular monitoring of the schemes. Mr Azad said efforts to fill the backlog in vacancies of SCs and STs were discussed as also the progress regarding working of the Minorities Commissions. Among other issues discussed were appointment of Urdu teachers, implementation of the Sri Krishna Commission report and the SC/ST Act. Issues relating to empowerment of women were also discussed. Mrs Gandhi, Mr Azad said, was quite satisfied with the performance of the CMs but emphasised the need to change the mindset of those implementing the schemes. |
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EC official
to probe charges NEW DELHI, Nov 17
(UNI) — The Election Commission today deputed senior official S. Mehndiratta to look into complaints and allegations of bogus voter identity cards in the Saidapet assembly constituency of
Chennai. Commission sources here said the decision to send Mr Mehndiratta to Chennai was taken following the return of Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill from Tamil Nadu today. Mr Mehndiratta will visit the Saidapet constituency on Monday. He will look into the complaints and submit his report to the commission for further action.
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Notice to Centre in lease case NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking enhancing premium and rent of a bungalow leased out to British High Commissioner here for residential purpose. A public interest litigation (PIL) has sought the increase of the premium and the rent for the 2-Rajaji Marg house with effect from 1990 on the ground that the British Government had since 1994 substantially increased the premium and annual rent for 9-KPG London house leased to the Indian High Commissioner. Issuing notices to Ministries of External Affairs, Urban Development and Finance, a Bench comprising Mr Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Mr Justice D.K. Jain asked all respondents to file their replies by January 18, next year. While the Indian Government had paid Rs 69.48 crore as premium since 1994 and the annual rent for 9-KPG London house was fixed at
Rs 4.96 lakh, it failed to revise the same for the British High Commissioner’s Rajaji Marg residence spread over 3.6 acre, the PIL by advocate B.L. Wadhear alleged.
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Rajkumar’s release CHENNAI, Nov 16 — While both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments are elated and in a mood of self-congratulation over the happy end to the saga of the kidnapping of veteran Kannada actor Rajkumar, there is no gainsaying the fact that either government has come out with flying colours in the handling of the crisis. The Hindu editorial probably hit the nail on the head when it said: “The two state governments may want to take credit for “skilfully” arranging the film star’s release, but all they did was to meekly yield to every demand of Veerappan’s that was possible to satisfy. The Indian Express posed the question: “Is there reason at all to hope that governments that have made a habit of surrender and capitulation will be able to rouse themselves to call the bluff of the ivory poacher and sandalwood smuggler?” The Deccan Herald in Bangalore was equally harsh in criticising the two state governments involved in securing the release of Mr Rajkumar. “In plainspeak the efforts of the two state governments and official and semi-official emissaries had succeeded only in messing up the horrendous situation, “the paper said. “Another disheartening feature of the sordid but real life episode was the weak-kneed policy pursued by the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in tackling the ticklish question. The consensus appears to be that while the emissary, pro-LTTE Tamil Nationalist leader P. Nedumaran, could take credit for securing the release of Rajkumar, it was the firmness shown by the Supreme Court, which virtually censured the two state governments for its appeasement policy of agreeing to release TADA detainees in exchange for Mr Rajkumar’s freedom, and sent out a loud and clear message to the notorious brigand that he could not insist on a quid pro-quo for releasing the actor, that brought about the desired end. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M. Karunanidhi, has tried to ward off criticism of his government’s handling of the Rajkumar kidnap episode by saying that there would have been immense damage to lives and property, besides an acute law and order problem, if the two state governments had pursued a different line. Mr Karunanidhi likened the government’s approach to the removal of a cloth fallen on a thorn and said his extremely cautious and careful approach was motivated by his desire to ensure that the relationship between the Tamils and the Kannadigas in both the states was not strained. |
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MCC ultras blow up rail track RANCHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — Suspected ultras of the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) blew up a 3-km railway track in Hazaribagh district and also fired upon a police picket near Charhi today to enforce a 12-hour Jharkhand bandh, sponsored by the Jharkhand Mukti Manch (Jharkhand Liberation Front), a frontal organisation of the MCC. According to Inspector-General of Police Rameshwar Oraon, suspected MCC ultras blew up a three-km railway track in the Gola police station area of the Naxal-dominated Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand this morning. The attack was aimed at paralysing rail traffic. In another incident, extremists fired a few rounds on a police picket near Charhi to obstruct vehicular movement. Mr Oraon said barring these three incidents, no violence had been reported from the extremism-hit Lohardagga, Palamau, Chatra and Gumla districts. Other parts of the state also remained peaceful, he said. The bandh was called by the Jharkhand Mukti Manch in protest against alleged police atrocities on their activists, who, as claimed by manch Vice-President Nilambar Marandi, had assembled in Ranchi to celebrate the fifth foundation day of the organisation and pay tributes to tribal martyr Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary on November 15. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Babu Lal Marandi today invited the extremists in the state for talks and to join the mainstream. “We want harmony and development in Jharkhand and are ready to take every possible step for that,” the Chief Minister told reporters here. He said left-wing extremism in the state had been exaggerated and the
government did not consider it as a challenge. Mr Marandi said extremism would be countered in no time and any kind of insurgency would not be tolerated. |
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IA hijacking: CBI to visit various countries NEW DELHI, Nov 17 — After collecting ‘vital’ inputs in Dubai, the CBI has decided to send special teams to various countries as part of its efforts to intensify inquiry into the hijacking of the Indian Airlines IC 814 aircraft from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on December 24 last year, agency sources said today. Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanisatan, Pakistan and the UK, the UAE, and certain other Gulf countries have been identified as initial destinations for the inquiry teams. Agency sleuths from the crime branch are also likely to visit the USA which is carrying out its own probe on the basis of the deposition made by its national Jean Moore, one among the 190 passengers and crew held captive by the five hijackers during the eight-day drama ending on new year eve at Kandahar airport in Afghanistan. “We have decided to send our teams to certain countries to trace the controversy of hijacking the airliner,’’ senior agency officials told UNI. They said the move to send the investigators to these countries was afoot in view of the decision to intensify inquiry into the case, pending for almost a year. One of the major purpose of sending investigators to these countries is to track down the five hijackers in case they decide to move out of Pakistan where they are understood to be hiding. Interpol is on the lookout for the hijackers and it has alerted Pakistan to establish the whereabouts of the culprits. The international police organisation has issued a “red corner” alert to Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UAE, Nepal and Britain against the five hijackers — Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter Sayed and Shakir — and two accomplices Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf. A visit to Bangladesh has been tipped to be the most urgent in view of the revelations that the actual conspiracy to hijack the aircraft was hatched in Dhaka in August last year. It was in the Bangladeshi capital that the hijackers decided which flight to target and from which part of the world. Second on the priority list is Nepal, as the hijacking took place from this country and it was at an unidentified place there that the hijackers decided who would share what responsibilities, just a few days before the hijacking. The lack of proper security at the international airport which enabled the hijackers to sneak into the aircraft with arms was also an area needing a thorough inquiry. India has already conveyed to Nepal that it would carry out the investigation. Though a two-member team led by Joint Director R.N. Sawani visited Dubai last week, another visit to the city was possible. Britain could be visited by the agency sleuths as one of the terrorist, released by the Indian Government in exchange for the passengers, had surfaced in that country and hence the questioning of certain officials may be useful. The agency had also got indications that the hijackers might have visited Britain in the pre-hijacking period, the officials said. The problem areas for the CBI, however, are Pakistan and Afghanistan which do not appear to be very keen on welcoming the investigators on their land due to the present state of relationship with New Delhi. Neverthless, the agency was making efforts to facilitate its sleuths to probe the case in these two countries. |
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CCL Chairman office raided RANCHI, Nov 17 (PTI) — CBI sleuths today raided the office and residences of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) Chairman-cum-Managing Director B. Akala and two of his associates, sources in the investigating agency said. The raids are still on and are part of CBI’s probe into the alleged nexus between top CCL officials and the coal mafia operating in the region, the sources said. Akala’s office at the CCL headquarters here and his residence on the Station road have been sealed. |
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Mulayam will turn around: CPI NEW DELHI, Nov 17 — The Communist Party of India (CPI) today downplayed Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s rejection of the proposal for a third front, saying that “he will realise the need for it later”. Briefing mediapersons about the deliberations at the party’s four-day plenum, the National Council Secretary, Mr Shameem Faizee, said the party would continue to work towards the creation of a third front. Mr Faizee said the party General Secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, who introduced a 16-page draft political-organisational report, said the myth created that there “is no alternative to the present economic policy is a farce”. The CPI leader pointed out that the CPI and other Left parties had been continuously putting forth an alternative path of development. Decrying the drive by the BJP-led NDA government to privatise PSUs, including nationalised banks and its continuous surrender before the dictates of imperialist financial institutions and multinational corporations, Mr Bardhan said to characterise the BJP only as a communal party, a party of Hindutva, would be to miss the significance of its role, nationally and internationally. Mr Bardhan said, the fight against attempts to “saffronise” the administration, culture and education could not be neglected. Summing up the survey of the political and economic developments, the General Secretary stressed that with a right reactionary party espousing a communal-fascist ideology in power at the Centre, the challenge before the Left and the entire country was momentous. Since the Left was the most strident and active participant in the fight against communalism, in exposing the real face of the BJP-led government, in the struggle against the disastrous economic policies and in defending the livelihood of the poor, there was a calculated move and campaign to isolate and marginalise the Left, particularly communists, Mr Bardhan said. He asked the members to use the plenum meeting for identifying the organisational weakness and shortcomings and for suggesting ways and means to overcome these. The CPI meeting adopted a resolution on Kashmir strongly opposing any attempt at trifurcation of the state. The resolution reiterated the CPI stand that it was all for a dialogue to resolve the vexed problem. The party “ is for opening of talks with forces other than political parties in the valley”, the resolution said. |
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BJP morcha’s office-bearers NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — The Bharatiya Janata Party Minority Morcha’s national president, Dr M.S. Usmani, today announced the list of office-bearers which has four vice-presidents, a general secretary and four secretaries. Mr Ghani Bhai Qureshi (Gujarat), Dr Deen Mohammad Cheeta (Jammu and Kashmir), Mr Shafiq-ur-Rehman (Uttar Pradesh) and Ms Shamim Azad (Madhya Pradesh) have been appointed vice-presidents while Mr Shiekh Abdul Karim (Maharashtra) has been named for the lone post of general secretary. The morcha will have Mr M.A. Qureshi (Delhi), Mr Mohammad Ali Azad (West Bengal), Mr Gul Mohammad (Rajasthan) and Mr Babu Ampat (Kerala) as secretaries. Mr Kaptan Akhtar (Agra) will be the treasurer. The morcha announced Mr Wasim Ahmed, Mr Mohammad Afzal (Uttar Pradesh), Mr Ghulam Mohsin Jafri (Bihar), Mr Chiraghuddin Qureshi, Mr Mirza Mohammed Hussan (Delhi), Mr Rahat Hussain (West Bengal), Mr Mohammed Usuf (MP), Mr Shakeel Ahmed Ansari (Maharashtra), Mr Ramzan Khan, MLA (Rajasthan), Mr Rafiq Bhai Kundliwala (Gujarat) and Mr Basheer Naaz, ex-MLA (Jammu and Kashmir) as executive members.
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Marandi expands Cabinet RANCHI, Nov 17 (PTI) — Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi today expanded his ministry by inducting 10 ministers, all of them belonging to non-BJP constituents of the National Democratic Alliance. Of the 10 ministers inducted, six are of Cabinet rank and four state rank. The oath of secrecy was administered to them by Governor Prabhat Kumar at a simple function at the Raj Bhavan lawns here this afternoon. The Cabinet ministers who took oath are: Mr Sudesh Mahato and Mr Joba Manjhi of the United Gomantak Democratic Party, Mr Ramchandra Keshri and Ms Madhu Singh of the Samata Party, Mr Samresh Singh (Ind) and Mr Lalchand Mahato of the Janata Dal (U). The state ministers sworn in are: Mr Bachcha Singh, Mr Ramesh Singh Munda and Mr Jaleshwar Mahato (all of the Samata) and Mr Baidyanath Ram of the JD (U). The induction of non-BJP members of the NDA as ministers was part of the NDA’s strategy to retain their support. The Chief Minister said the next expansion of his Cabinet would take place after the confidence vote in the Jharkhand Assembly, whose first session starts on Monday. |
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Illegal constructions: CBI registers FIRs NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — The CBI has registered as many as 22 FIRs of corruption and possession of disproportionate assets and arrested at least six officials in connection with illegal constructions in the Capital, Union Urban Development Minister Jagmohan said here today. Briefing members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on the ministry’s drive to check unauthorised construction, Mr Jagmohan said the CBI had conducted raids at 38 premises belonging to DDA officials and property dealers after the ministry referred to it cases of blatant violations of building by-laws in affluent colonies like Vasant Vihar and Safdarjung Enclave in the city. In one case, Rs 7 crore in disproportionate assets had been found in the house of one Junior Engineer, he said. The minister also apprised the members of the 10-point guidelines issued to the civic authorities to check illegal constructions. These included recovering of cost of demolition from the builders within 15 days and launching of prosecution. In another measure to save the green “lungs” of the city, the ministry had instructed the DDA not to permit restaurants in parks and other green areas. While revocation of licences to existing restaurants was being legally examined, the DDA had been directed not to renew the permits once these expire. Mr Jagmohan said the only exception to this rule could be made in cases where there was no residential or commercial habitation within 300 meters of the park. Even here, only kiosks selling cold drinks, tea, coffee and snacks would be allowed and their working hours would correspond with the opening and closing time of the parks. Informing the members about the ministry’s scheme to rejuvenate culturally and historically significant towns, Mr Jagmohan said he had visited Madurai, Trichy, Indore, Ujjain and Hyderabad in this connection. Talking to reporters after the consultative committee meeting, Mr Jagmohan said the ministry’s proposal to the Planning Commission to launch a revolving fund with Rs 200 crore for this scheme had met with a positive response. Giving more details about the drive against unauthorised constructions, he said in the past two months, the civic authorities had demolished 581 illegal constructions, booked 472 buildings and sealed 61. Regarding the Supreme Court’s order of closure of polluting and non-conforming industries in Delhi, Mr Jagmohan said the Urban Development Ministry had submitted before the apex court that the implementation machinery was with the Delhi Government and the local agencies and as the ministry had no administrative control over the Delhi Government, it could not play any meaningful role. The ministry had also launched a drive against putting up of hoardings and posters, which were defacing Delhi, Mr Jagmohan informed the consultative committee. |
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SIMI raises head in Uttaranchal DEHRA DUN, Nov 17 — With the formation of Uttaranchal as a new state, Muslim fundamentalists have geared up their activities. The banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has created its Uttranchal wing, following which the intelligence agencies have initiated a search to arrest its office-bearers. A special team of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) arrived here on Wednesday from New Delhi and raided more than 12 locations to gather information about the activities of SIMI. The
officials of the bureau are of the view that the ISI has developed its roots here and there are possibilities of violence in the near future. Bureau sources say that four office-bearers of the organisation belong to the city. Although, the special team of the IB raided many places in the city during the past 48 hours but in vain. Two other office-bearers of SIMI are from the Kumaon area and one from the Garhwal area. Sources refused to disclose the names of the suspects as the search was in progress. Intelligence officials in Delhi received information about the creation of the Uttaranchal unit of SIMI on Monday and the following day a plan was chalked out to raid places in Dehra Dun. The special team reached here on Tuesday night and raids were initiated on Wednesday. The IB team had sealed a madrassa in the city following reports that SIMI state unit was constituted there. A meeting of the office-bearers of SIMI was held at Aligarh earlier this month where the IB received indications of SIMI’s activities in Uttaranchal. Intelligence officials revealed that the state unit of SIMI was set up by two women, who were assigned the task by the ISI in August. Soon after, they arrived here and rented an accommodation. The owner of the house where the women lived, for a few months revealed to the special team that both women told him that they had come to the city to join a computer course. But suddenly they left the house last week without informing him. They told him that they belonged to Moradabad (UP). The local state intelligence agencies have also raided few places in the city and questioned more than 20 persons regarding the activities of SIMI. So far no arrest has been made. Senior officials of the state police say that security has been beefed up in the city and the Rapid Action Force has been permanently deployed. Security personnel have also been called from Uttar Pradesh. Officials carried out raids at various places in Delhi also where office-bearers of SIMI are reported to have contacts. |
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Myanmar, India hold talks NEW DELHI, Nov 17 — Indo-Myanmar bilateral ties received a decisive boost as official talks between the second-most powerful man in the military regime in Myanmar, General Maung Aye, and Indian leaders began today with Yangon displaying its resolve to step up operations against Naga insurgents. General Maung, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, was warmly received by the Vice-President, Mr Krishan Kant, and the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. ‘‘Five camps belonging to the Khaplang faction of Naga insurgents were destroyed by the Myanmar Army this year, despite the Army suffering casualties,’’ Mr Advani told mediapersons after the ceremonial reception. The visiting Myanmar delegation assured India that its soil would not be allowed to be used by the Naga insurgents for anti-India activities. General Maung, on a week-long visit to India, will call on the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and hold meetings with the Home Minister, the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh and other leaders. General Maung, who has brought with himself a high-level team of ministers which include the Ministers of Finance, Commerce, Science and Technology, Electric Power and Industry, would also hold talks on improving economic and commercial ties. The talks are taking place despite warnings to New Delhi by pro-democracy activists against any dealings with the Junta which they say is desperately seeking legitimacy. India’s move to forge closer ties with neighbouring Myanmar is part of a broader strategy to counter insurgency in the north-east, Myanmar has often been used as a base by Naga insurgents for carrying out anti-India operations. The authorities here have taken note of China’s sustained efforts at forging closer links with Yangon in the recent months. Asked how the Indian Government, a stout advocate of democracy, was having an engagement with the current military regime in Myanmar, Mr Advani replied: ‘‘we weighed all pros and cons but in international relations, we have to take into account our national interests.’’ General Maung, who arrived here last night after visiting Bodh Gaya and Bangalore, said: ‘‘The two countries have traditionally had good relations and this visit will further strengthen these.’’ The visiting Myanmar leader will call on the President, Mr K. R. Narayanan and Mr Krishan Kant, at whose invitation he has come. He will also meet the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
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2 MTNL officers arrested NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — Continuing its crackdown on corrupt officials, the CBI has arrested two Deputy General Managers of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam and an executive engineer of the Public Works Department in Delhi on charges of accepting illegal gratification, agency sources said today. The agency identified the officials as Mr S.R. Bali, Deputy General Manager (Administration), Mr R.K. Varun, Deputy General Manager (Maintenance) with the MTNL, and Mr P.R. Meena, Executive Engineer with the PWD-IV (Delhi Administration). The three officials were produced before the designated CBI court here which remanded them to CBI custody till November 29. The agency said Mr Bali and Mr Varun, both working in the trans-Yamuna branch of the MTNL, had demanded illegal gratification from the owner of two flats, taken by the Nigam on lease, for releasing payment of monthly rent. The CBI officials laid a trap and the DGM (Maintenance) was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5000. The relevant files were recovered from the office of another DGM (Administration) who had also demanded bribe from the complainant. Mr Meena had demanded a bribe of Rs 1100 from a person to clear his pending bills. The CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red-handed while accepting the illegal money. |
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Two ESIC officials convicted NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — The designated CBI court in Indore has convicted two officials of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and one Postal Assistant for cheating and forgery. The CBI investigation revealed that B.P. Tiwari, Manager and another official V.K. Pathak, both of ESIC, Jabalpur, had entered into a criminal conspiracy with an outsider, Dr Dharampal Tungal, and prepared bogus maternity claim papers and received payment to the tune of Rs 40,000 by forging the signature of an insured woman. The CBI filed the charge sheet against all accused in the designated court, Jabalpur. The special judge, Jabalpur, has convicted all accused and sentenced them to undergo 3 years’ rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 15,000 each. In another case, the special magistrate, Indore, convicted Aniruddh Majhi, Postal Assistant, in Sehore postal division, Madhya Pradesh, and sentenced him to undergo 3 years’ the rigorous imprisonment. The accused secured his appointment in the department by submitting bogus marks-sheet of B.A. |
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US, Indian defence officials hold talks NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — Mr James M. Bodner, US Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to India. Mr Bodner yesterday met his Indian counterparts to develop greater cooperation and understanding on defence and security issues. A US Embassy note said his discussions with senior Indian officials had strengthened the foundation of Indo-US cooperation discussed by US President Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr Bodner reviewed a range of security and geopolitical issues of bilateral interest and discussed areas of military cooperation, such as peacekeeping and environmental security, which could be pursued notwithstanding constraints arising from India’s nuclear tests in May, 1998, an embassy press note said. Mr Bodner’s trip would build on the recent successful initiation of joint working groups on peacekeeping and counterterrorism, the note added. |
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Hearing begins in Verma case NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (PTI) — A city court yesterday began hearing on a FERA violation case against Abhishek Verma, son of former Rajya Sabha MP Veena Verma, on a day-to-day basis, pursuant to a Delhi High Court direction. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate V.K. Maheswari started a pre-charge trial of Abhishek with the examination of two officials of the Regional Passport office and the Foreigners Regional Registration office here. The Enforcement Directorate had filed a complaint against Abhishek for allegedly depositing $1.6 lakh in General Credit Finance in the UK during 1991 and 1992 in violation of FERA as the money was deposited without
the prior permission of the Reserve Bank of India. The high court had ordered the lower court on October 19 to complete the hearing against him as early as possible. Abhishek had claimed that he was implicated in the case and being a non-resident Indian he was exempted from FERA. |
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Govindacharya’s statement ‘not objectionable’ NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (UNI) — The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday found nothing wrong in its former general secretary Govindacharya expressing his views on globalisation even though they contradicted policies pursued by the National Democratic Alliance government. Senior party leader J.P. Mathur told mediapersons that Mr Govindacharya’s speech was a “natural corollary” of his two-year sabbatical for pursuing studies on the effects of opening up markets and globalisation on developing economies. He was reacting to the lecture by Mr Govindacharya which tended to be critical of the government policies. Once the party allowed its worker to pursue studies, that person was free to express views dispassionately in an academic manner. Mr Govindacharya’s lecture was very much in that framework. The BJP had absolutely no objection to such an exercise and there was no violation of party discipline, he contended. |
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Kerala scribes call it betrayal THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 17 (UNI) —The Kerala Union of Working Journalists
(KUWJ) today claimed that the Centre and Manisana Singh Wage Board had ‘betrayed’ media personnel by backtracking on a promise to ensure justice to them. Terming the package as “unsatisfactory,” union president Jacob George, general secretary N. Padmananbhan and secretary C. Gowridasan Nair, in a statement here, said the proposals had not made a proportionate increase over the present scales. |
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10 US missionaries told to leave India MADURAI, Nov 17 (PTI) — The Union Home Ministry has asked 10 American missionaries, who are staying in the Rameswaram Island, to leave the country before Sunday, as they did not renew their visa, official sources said here today. The American Evangelists were in India on a 10-year visa and working for the Meyyampul Church in Rameswaram, they said. The missionaries were required to renew their visa every six months. But they did not do so for the past six months and had been asked to leave the country before November 19, they added. |
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