 |
Saturday,
September 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
Punjab opposes
Ravi Sidhu’s bail petition in SC SC notice to UP
on Raja Bhaiya Kalyan’s
appearance before panel stayed Zaheera’s
sister leaves Vadodara Riot victim
deposes before panel India flays Pak
comments on Kasuri visit |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Punjab opposes Ravi Sidhu’s bail petition in SC New Delhi, September 19 Punjab Government’s special public prosecutor R.S. Cheema told a Bench, comprising Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Mr Justice B.N. Srikrishana, that recording of the evidence of two approvers in the case had not yet been completed and his release would influence their evidence in the case. Mr Sidhu, accused of selling government jobs for hefty amounts during his tenure, is facing four cases arising out of the “jobs-for-money scam”. He has been granted bail in three of the cases. While his counsel K.T.S. Tulsi alleged that the cases had been split with the purpose of harassing the former PPSC chief though they were the result of the same transactions, Mr Cheema said the cause of action in each case was different. Alleging that his mother, brother and sister-in-law on whose name he had purchased benami properties had fled to the USA under mysterious circumstances on fake passports, there was every likelihood of his fleeing the country. Mr Cheema said the police had effected the recovery of Rs 13.5 crore from the accused, detected Rs 1 crore of hawala
transactions and other assets worth Rs 2.5 crore from him. Mr Sidhu’s counsel said the prosecution’s apprehension that he might leave the country, was unfounded and the allegations that his mother and brother had travelled on fake passports, were false. The court adjourned the hearing till October 31 as the arguments remained inconclusive. |
|
SC notice to UP on Raja Bhaiya New Delhi, September 19 Taking cognizance of a joint petition by three of the witnesses, who had deposed against him, a Bench comprising Mr Justice S Rajendra Babu and Mr Justice G P Mathur sought reply from the state government as to why it had now proposed to withdraw the POTA cases against the three and why the provisions of the Act were invoked earlier. The petition filed by Mr S K Shukla and two others had challenged the Mulayam Singh government’s decision to revoke POTA against Raja Bhaiya, his father Udai Pratap Singh and brother Akshay Pratap Singh, alias Gopalji, who is an MLC in UP. The petitioners had alleged that the release of the trio from jail posed a threat to their lives. Lucknow:
The Uttar Pradesh Government would soon file a reply on the notice of the Supreme Court on lifting of POTA case against Independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, claiming the charges were framed as part of a political move by the previous Mayawati government. Newly-appointed state Advocate general Virendra Bhatia said as per the court directives, the government would submit its report, which would also mention that POTA was not applicable in Raja Bhaiya’s case. Meanwhile, the state CID yesterday commenced investigation against former DM of Pratapgarh and 1995 IAS officer Mohammed Mustafa for his alleged role in framing of POTA cases against the two legislators and Uday Pratap Singh. Kanpur:
Mysterious disappearance of an important file relating to POTA case against Independent Kunda MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya and two others from the Pratapgarh DM’s office has led to the stringent security measures at the designated POTA court here. District and POTA Judge Shailendra Saxena directed officials of his court for tighter security arrangements in the court premises. He also directed that important files, carrying the charge sheet and other documents, be kept in safe custody to avoid any foul play. |
|
Kalyan’s appearance before panel stayed
New Delhi, September 19 Mr Justice A.K. Sikri stayed the commission’s order after Mr Kalyan Singh’s counsel M.N. Krishnamani sought time to file rejoinder to the reply filed by the one-man panel to his petition against summoning. The commission directed the former Chief Minister to approach the commission for the adjournment on September 23 and fixed October 17 for further hearing on the petition. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor-General (ASG) K.K. Sud supported Mr Kalyan Singh’s plea for time to file rejoinder, saying “11 years have already expired. Nothing will happen if 2-3 days are granted to the petitioner”. The commission’s counsel Anupam Gupta accused the Centre of colluding with Mr Kalyan Singh on the issue to delay the proceedings of the commission probing the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. In the written reply filed in the court through counsel Anupam Gupta, commission Secretary S.K. Pachauri had on September 16 termed Mr Kalyan Singh’s petition as “totally misconceived and not maintainable”. Mr Kalyan Singh has so far refused to appear before the panel as a witness contending it would prejudice his defence in the CBI case on the demolition. He has sought to revive his earlier petition which became infructuous on April 1 following the conclusion of recording of evidence by the commission.
— PTI |
|
Zaheera’s sister leaves Vadodara Vadodara, September 19 Police Commissioner S.K. Sinha said today that Sahera, the only member of the Sheikh family left in the city, had left as she wanted to visit her ailing mother-in-law in Madhubani district of Bihar. Sahera and her husband Abdul Kalamuddin had approached the Police Commissioner in this regard and reportedly left Vadodara with bag and baggage on Wednesday night. On September 15, police protection was provided to the couple after Sahera made a statement before the media that she did not feel safe in Vadodara any longer. Taking cognisance of media reports, Mr Sinha ordered deployment of armed commandos to provide round-the-clock security cover to the poor couple staying in the Ektanagar area of the city.
— UNI |
|
Riot victim deposes before panel Ahmedabad, September 19 Deposing before Justice G.T. Nanavati and Justice K.G. Shah, the victim, Dahyalal Raval, resident of the Vatva area, said his son Mehul had gone to check the security of his house in the Dharmabhumi society on March 1 and since the there was no news about him. “Mehul was whisked away by a Muslim mob near Burhani society and as per my information they (the mob) might have killed him”, he said. Another riot witness Dashrath Patel told the
commission that the Muslim mob had attacked his society, torched and damaged nearly 26 houses on February 28 last year and also resorted to firing from the top a masjid, wherein two persons — Satish and Amit Patel — were killed. Another victim Kishan Thakkar alleged that a mob of Muslims had spread terror and fear among Hindus by openly brandishing pistols and other weapons.
— PTI |
|
India flays Pak comments on Kasuri visit
New Delhi, September 19 “We are amused at the comments of the spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry arrogating to himself the untenable position of giving lessons in customs, tradition, practice and hospitality... Perhaps it is not required in the traditions and customs of Pakistan to ascertain the convenience and willingness of the host before barging in. Perhaps prevalent Pakistan diplomatic practice does not require that a potential host be informed in advance of the intention before rushing to the press,” a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said in response to a question. The MEA said it was beyond one’s comprehension as to what Islamabad meant by “established SAARC practice” when on several occasions in the past such invitations had been delivered through diplomatic channels and Pakistan itself had followed this practice when it had hosted the SAARC summit in 1988. “There is an old saying that you cannot fool all the people all the time. At this moment Pakistan is only fooling itself,” the MEA said. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Videos
