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Sarbjit Case
‘Fake’ Certificates
Martyrs’ kin not allowed to meet Dy CM
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Sukhbir seeks Rs 100 cr for police modernisation
State trying to protect purchase tax on foodgrains
Subcommittee to finally meet today
1121 basmati variety opens at low, dashing farmers’ hopes
Power sector reforms to save Rs 8,000 cr
PSEB kickstarts rural project
An ‘aam admi’ gets bill introduced in RS
Rural docs threaten stir over low perks
IG orders ‘neutral’ probe into MLA-SSP spat
Govt restricts selling of stamp papers to vendors
Punjabi varsity Ropar-zone youth fest begins
Dowry Case
Nigerian held for online lottery scam
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Sarbjit Case
Amritsar, October 21 Sarbjit’s lawyer Awaish Sheikh had filed a petition in the court in which he accused the Punjab (Pakistan) Home Secretary and the jail superintendent of not allowing him to meet Sarbjit. Sheikh contended that being a lawyer, a meeting with his client in the jail was his right, which was being infringed by an “indifferent posture” of the Home Secretary, the jail superintendent and other officials. Talking to The Tribune over the phone from Lahore, Sheikh said, “It is more of a humiliation for a lawyer who is not even being permitted to meet his client despite going through all valid official channels and having followed the laid-down procedure.” He said both officials had now been summoned by the court on October 27, as his petition came up for hearing today. Sheikh had replaced Sarbjit’s earlier counsel Rana Abdul Hamid after the Pakistan Supreme Court had dismissed a review petition filed to seek revocation of the death sentence of Sarbjit. The petition, it was learnt, was dismissed probably as Hamid had allegedly failed to appear in the court to plead the case. After taking over the charge of the case, Sheikh had come to India and taken signatures of nearly one lakh citizens on an application seeking the release of Sarbjit. He had also held meetings with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Union Minister for Law in New Delhi. “I am being harassed by the authorities. I had filed an application seeking a meeting with Sarbjit one-and-a-half month ago. The letter was forwarded by the Secretary, Home Department, to the Additional Secretary of the Intelligence Wing who, in turn, sent it to the IG, Police, Special Branch (Intelligence Wing). The IG asked the jail superintendent to furnish a report in this regard,” Sheikh said. He added that the summoning of the officials could prove to be a sort of “reopening” of the case. He said he was hopeful that President Asif Ali Zardari would commute the sentence of Sarbjit. Sarbjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur said their family was happy over the development. “In fact, it has given a fresh lease to our collective hopes,” said Dalbir Kaur, while talking to The Tribune.
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‘Fake’ Certificates
Chandigarh, October 21 These teachers are among 560 teachers who are to be removed from service by the government for giving “false information” to get jobs. Principal secretary of school education GS Grewal said officers had been asked to look for the files and the records failing which action would be initiated, including lodging of an FIR, and related criminal proceedings against those found responsible for this. “Other than these 300 teachers who are from Gurdaspur, we have issued orders that the services of the rest of the teaching fellows (about 260) be terminated. The orders will be reaching these teachers in a day or two through the district education officers,” said the DPI, elementary schools, Sadhu Singh Randhawa. Gurdaspur has the highest number of such cases and sources add that a senior official of the Education Department was actively involved in “helping” the candidates get these certificates. The files having gone missing comes as a body blow to the department, including the Education Minister, who had been fighting pressures from all quarters to “take it easy” on these teachers. The state government had appointed more than 7,400 teaching fellows for elementary schools during the past six-seven months. These teachers were taken on board on contract for three and a half years after which they were to be made permanent depending on their performance. Following their joining, during detailed verification it was found that over 560 had got the job by submitting “false experience certificates” or giving some other kind of “false information” to improve their chances. The recruitment of these fellows was done in the district by a selection committee, which drew up a merit list after crediting 8 per cent marks for experience and 5 per cent for candidates from rural areas, among other qualifications. The certificates were screened by committees, which shortlisted candidates and again by the selection committees. In many districts, the role of these panels had come under a cloud, but no action has been taken against any official. It had also been decided that action would be initiated against those schools, which issued these certificates with “false information”, but the government had taken no such action.
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Martyrs’ kin not allowed to meet Dy CM
Jalandhar, October 21 It was only when next of kin of the martyrs threatened to boycott the event and raised slogans that they were allowed to meet the DGP. Later, he accepted a memorandum of their demands to be handed over to Sukhbir. Angry at the turn of events, Sukhwinder Kaur, chief of the India Terrorism Victims Association, alleged that the event had been reduced only to a yearly charade. “We are invited and then turned way without even listening to what we have to say. It seems we have been reduced to mere props to be paraded on such days and to show to the people that the state is really grateful to us. We really wonder if our sons, brothers and husbands did the right thing in the supreme sacrifice for the integrity of the country,”
she added. Surjit Kaur from Muktsar said if the Deputy CM had no time for them then why they were invited. “Have we travelled from across the state to meet the Deputy CM and senior officers to be snubbed and humiliated? What is the point of holding such functions when we are not even allowed to highlight our plight? she asked. BS Hastir from Amritsar, who lost two uncles to militancy, said all welfare and rehabilitation polices had remained on paper. “We are ignored by senior police officers and made to feel as if we are at the mercy of the state. Such behaviour and treatment is not only painful but is also an insult to the memory of the martyrs,” he said. Karamjit Kaur from Ferozepur also echoed the same sentiments and added that redressal of their grievances would be a real tribute to the martys. They also added that they should be treated on a par with that of families of Kargil martyrs and be eligible for gas agencies, petrol pumps and other allied benefits.
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Sukhbir seeks Rs 100 cr for police modernisation
Jalandhar, October 21 He was in the city to pay tributes to Punjab Police martyrs at the PAP Complex today. He said equipping the force with modern technologies and weaponry would enable them to face challenges of emerging “high-tech” crime. Flaying the Centre for cutting back modernisation funds, he said despite increasing challenges to police forces throughout the country, the Union government’s total modernisation budget of Rs 1,200 crore for all states spoke volumes about seriousness of the UPA on the issue. He asked the DGP to put up a perspective-integrated plan for the modernisation of the force besides suggesting welfare measures. “We also will segregate civil and crime control duties of the department soon”, he said. Earlier, speaking at the Police Commemoration Day parade, junior Junior Badal said this day gave them an opportunity to remember those martyrs who sacrificed their lives to ensure that they all could live in peace. Commending the state police for its exemplary role in wiping out decade-long militancy, he said it was dedication and commitment of the force that saved the country from nefarious designs of inimical forces across the border. In his address, DGP PS Gill said the force had sacrificed two DIGs, three SSPs, 12 DSPs, 32 inspectors, 61 SIs, 111 ASIs, 268 head constables, 817 constables, 294 PHGs and 180 SPOs. Arms were reversed and a two-minute silence was observed in their honour at the parade.
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State trying to protect purchase tax on foodgrains
Jalandhar, October 21 Punjab earns a revenue of about Rs 1,000 crore from the purchase tax that is charged in the form of VAT from the foodgrains procured for the central pool. Haryana also earns in the range of Rs 500
crore. As both Punjab and Haryana are highly surplus states in
foodgrains, they make substantial contribution of wheat and rice to the central pool. Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are also rice surplus states and make contribution to the national pool. These states also charge purchase tax on the foodgrains procured for the central pool. “A crucial meeting of the high-powered committee of finance ministers would be held on October 30 in Delhi. We have planned to make the salient features of the GST public on that day,” said Manpreet Singh
Badal, Finance Minister, Punjab, who is a member of the panel. He said at the next meeting of the committee, which would be held on November 10, the final draft of the GST would be approved. The Union Government has already announced to switch over to the GST system from April 1, next year. Exercise to prepare the draft of the GST system, which will enforce uniformity in tax structure in the country, had been going on for the past three years. Developed countries already have the GST system. Recently, some European countries, the US and some other countries, had asked the Union Government to bring about uniformity in tax structure in the country. Punjab,
Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which are fighting collectively on the issue, have the apprehension that with the enforcing of a uniform tax structure in the country, they will lose revenue from purchase tax on
foodgrains. No other state charges purchase tax on foodgrains. In fact, no other state is as foodgrains surplus as are Punjab,
Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Punjab, Haryana have taken a stand that purchase tax on foodgrains was a different sort of tax and it should be protected as royalty charged on coal and kerosene by some of the state is also to be protected. “The empowered panel has assured to compensate us adequately in case any revenue loss is suffered by
foodgrain- surplus states on account of purchase tax,” said Manpreet Singh
Badal.
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Mobilisation of Resources
Chandigarh, October 21 The two-member committee of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Local Bodies and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia was formed on September 20 with the goal of giving recommendations to mobilise resources within one month. The committee could not meet during this period with one scheduled meeting being postponed. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, when questioned on this issue during a media interaction, said, “I have telephoned them. They should meet within a week”. Sukhbir Badal, however, later disclosed that the meeting would be held tomorrow morning. The Deputy CM, when questioned about a meeting held by him last evening at which various senior officers were present and which did not include Manoranjan Kalia, said he had held the meeting to acquaint himself with the issues at stake. “It was not an official meeting”, he said, adding “I wanted to internalise the issues so that they could be taken up in a proper manner at tomorrow’s meeting of the subcommittee”, he added. Earlier yesterday veteran BJP leader Balramji Das Tandon had decried the fact that the two-member subcommittee had failed to meet for one month and also claimed that the government had failed to come out with any assurance that it stood committed to adjusting the enhanced power bills being received by people. The Chief Minister did not reply to Tandon’s charges. Answering a separate question whether the government proposed to discontinue free power to big farmers for agricultural operations, Badal said all issues would be discussed only after the subcommittee submitted its report.
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1121 basmati variety opens at low, dashing farmers’ hopes
Chandigarh, October 21 According to reports, the variety is selling between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,100 per quintal in Haryana and Rs 1,700 and Rs 1,800 per quintal in Punjab. While farmers in Haryana have traditionally grown this variety there has been a substantial increase in acreage to around four lakh hectares. In Punjab the area under basmati and particularly 1121 has gone up dramatically to around six lakh hectares from only 3.5 lakh hectares last year. It is farmers in Punjab who are bearing the brunt of a virtual non-interest in this variety by traders. Avtar Singh of Kangrala village, who has been camping in the Khanna market for the past two days with his 1121 paddy, said traders were offering Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,700 per quintal. “I would have fared better if I had gone in for a coarse variety”, he says while talking about the cost incurred in storing and bringing the variety to the market. Punjab Young Farmers Association general secretary Bhagwan Das Gupta says there could be connivance among local traders who want to buy the 1121 variety at lower rates and export it later. “There is no reason for a scare with Iran, which is the major importer, having given a clean chit to the variety which was earlier said to have a heavy metal content”, Gupta said. Former president of the All-India Basmati Exporters Association Vijay Setia says the local market could have become sluggish because of the Iran scare. He said the fact that the Iranian Government had increased the import duty on Indian basmati from the earlier 21 per cent to 42 per cent had also led to disputes between buyers and sellers as much of the sold stocks were still lying in ports. The rice exporter said it was also a fact that everyone, including buyers, knew that a huge stock of 1121 paddy was set to arrive in the market. “No one advised the farmer not to bank so heavily on one variety alone”, he said, adding it was for government agencies in both Punjab and Haryana to enter the market and instil confidence among farmers. Setia said Hafed and Markfed of Haryana and Punjab could purchase the 1121 paddy as they had milling capacities, which could create competition in the market. Exporters also want the Centre to take up the issue of getting the 1121 variety accepted as a basmati one by the European Union so that its exports can increase. For the farmer, who has been asked to diversify, the experiment could well result in harassment as well as low prices. Farmers have already started carting their 1121 paddy variety to Haryana, where the prices are a little higher.
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Power sector reforms to save Rs 8,000 cr
Chandigarh, October 21 Addressing mediapersons Badal said the PSEB had taken a series of low-cost maintenance measures coupled with a customer-friendly approach to install 1.92 crore CFLs in 48 lakh households in the state under the Bachat Lamp
Yojna. The Chief Minister further said the board had also introduced a scheme related to a high-voltage distribution system in agricultural pump sets. The scheme involved the conversion of a low-voltage distribution system to a high-voltage distribution system on 11 KV agricultural pump sets (AP feeders). This scheme would reduce the demand for power by 200 MW and be completed by December 31, 2010. Another scheme of power factor management to install capacitors of 2100 MV AR capacity on the system was also being implemented at a cost of Rs 24
crore. This scheme would result in the reduction of 200 MW demand and was likely to be completed by December 31, 2012. To save power on agricultural
tubewells, the board had introduced a scheme to install energy-efficient pumps on AP consumers.
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PSEB kickstarts rural project
Patiala, October 21 Notably, this Central scheme to provide free power connections to about four lakh houses in the state was first launched in 2005. It was to be funded under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (APDRP). But in the wake of the fact that the work began in October 2008, more than 75 per cent of BPL families have taken electricity connections on their own. Now, after so much delay, the PSEB has decided to take the project to its logical conclusion. PSEB chairman Harinder Singh Brar made the announcement, disclosing that the project would cost Rs 184 crore and the scope of work included installation of 7,014 (25 KVA) transformers, erection of 3,535 km 11KV line and 2,037 km low tension line. He added that the process has already commenced and 16,748 connections, along with infrastructure, has been released to BPL families. PSEB officials revealed that of the Rs 184-crore requirement, they had already received funds amounting to Rs 57 crore, out of which Rs 10.46 crores had been spent. “The work is likely to be completed by February 2010,” the chairman said. Meanwhile, Brar informed that in view of some of the Panchayat land not being irrigated due to lack of water for irrigation, the board has allowed the Panchayat to avail more than one tubewell connections for its land for irrigation purpose.
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Amarinder demands probe into PIMS land scam
Mohali, October 21 The former Chief Minister had appeared before a court here today in connection with the alleged Amritsar land scam case. The next date of hearing has been fixed for November 21. While talking to mediapersons, Amarinder Singh said, president of PIMS Charitable Society Surjit Singh Rakhra was very close to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and as such land worth crores of rupees was allegedly given to the institute at a throwaway price. He said once the Congress came to power in the state, it would ensure that the lease was cancelled. Attacking the Badal government, the former CM said the price of sugarcane was hiked by Rs 20 per quintal, which was a cruel joke on the farmers. He said cost of both diesel and insecticides had witnessed a steep hike, but the rate of the produce was increased marginally. He said proper lifting of paddy from the markets is not being carried out. When asked to comment on Badal’s foreign visit, he said the Chief Minister was not going abroad for any treatment, but only to give his son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, a chance to act as the CM in his absence. Ramdeep Pratap Singh, one of the three lawyers pleading the case of Capt Amarinder Singh, said the court had requested not to proceed with the framing of the charges till the Supreme Court gave its decision. He said three petitions on behalf of Amarinder, former minister Chaudhry Jagjit Singh, and former chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust Jugal Kishore were filed in the Supreme Court that had not given its verdict so far. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with an alleged scam involving land of the Amritsar Improvement Trust booked Amarinder, Jagjit, Jugal and a number of other persons. The case was registered in Mohali last year.
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An ‘aam admi’ gets bill introduced in RS
Patiala, October 21 However, Advocate Gurjit Singh, guest faculty at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, has been successful in doing the same. After a long-fought battle, he finally managed to get his petition converted into a bill that would be introduced on the opening day of the Winter session i.e., Part II of the 214th session of the House. The petition requested an amendment in Article 19(2) of the Constitution regarding the misuse of the Freedom of Speech and Expression Act by the print and electronic media. Talking to The Tribune, Gurjit Singh said, “Whenever the police nabs an alleged accused, it has become a norm for the police to inform the press and get themselves clicked with the culprit. In many cases, it happens that subsequently the alleged accused are not found guilty and are acquitted, but the stigma attached to their name remains.” Elaborating on his petition, he said, “I had earlier filed a petition in this regard with the Punjab Human Rights Commission, Chandigarh, but that was dismissed as the Commission did not have the jurisdiction to try the petition. Therefore, I filed a petition with the Rajya Sabha in 2005. The petition was given a nod by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and thereafter it was admitted to the Committee of Petitions in 2006. The committee then called the petitioner for clarifications. “After checking with the Ministry of Law and Justice, the committee heard eminent journalist Kuldip Nayar and judges of Supreme Court and high courts. The advice of Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was also sought. Finally, the committee has accepted this petition to be filed as a bill in the Rajya
Sabha.”
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China-India Border Issue
Ludhiana, October 21 Talking to mediapersons here, the veteran Communist leader remarked that border issues being ticklish, negotiations with an open mind could pave the way for a lasting solution. "It should be left to the government to continue its efforts towards the improvement of relations with all neighbouring countries, including China." Bardhan, who made a brief halt in the city on his way to Moga to attend the "barsi" of Nachatta Singh Dhaliwal, a party colleague, commended the "sober" stand taken by the Union Government with regard to observations made by China on Arunachal Pradesh, but hastened to add that Arunachal was an integral part of India. He was critical of certain Union Ministers who, he said, were in a hurry to adopt a novel way of working and were making statements which they were forced to retract later. Citing examples of utterances by Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal and Union Minister for Environment Jai Ram Ramesh, he said such an irresponsible manner of working might harm the national interests and the Prime Minister must intervene to restrain his colleagues. Expressing concern over widespread unrest among the working classes in general and the explosive situation created by the agitation by industrial workers in Gurgaon in particular, the CPI leader charged the Centre and the state government with pursuing anti-labour policies. "Trade union rights are being suppressed and a reign of terror has been let loose against the workers by private armies of the employers which need to be put to an end immediately." Bardhan attacked the UPA government over price rise, failure to act against hoarding and profiteering in essential items in the country, diesel and petrol prices and the apathy towards farmers. As far as the poor plight of farmers was concerned, the Punjab Government also came under attack. He said in the state, which was known as the food basket of the nation, farmers were committing suicide. "The cost of inputs for traditional crops has gone up while the procurement prices have not been raised proportionately." He also expressed opposition to the proposed unbundling of state electricity boards in many states, including Punjab.
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Rural docs threaten stir over low perks
Patiala, October 21 Working on contract under Zila Parishads for the past three-and-a-half years, the association members have even threatened to submit their resignations in case their demands, the main being a similar pay package as that for PCMS doctors, were not met. Speaking to The Tribune, RMSA adviser Dr JP Narula said the state Rural Development department had, three months ago, written to the Finance department, recommending similar salaries for RMSA and PCMS doctors. But, the suggestion was not okayed. “Notwithstanding the harsh reality that owing to low salaries around 400 doctors serving in rural areas quit their jobs over the past three years, the Finance Minister fixed the pay of rural medical officers at Rs 27,000,” Dr Narula said. The association representatives claimed that when 1,193 dispensaries in rural areas were handed over to the Zila Parishads in 2006, rural doctors were given more pay than their PCMS counterparts. The move was aimed at motivating the doctors to join in rural areas. “Then, rural doctors appointed on contract-basis were being paid Rs 30,000 a month. And now in the renewed contracts, the salary has been fixed at Rs 27,000, which is unacceptable,” opined the doctors. RMSA state president Dr Aslam Parvez pointed out that the state government had been receiving huge funds from the Union government for rural development and, therefore, motivation of rural doctors “should have been the priority of the
Finance Minister”.
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IG orders ‘neutral’ probe into MLA-SSP spat
Amritsar, October 21 This was stated by former Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia while commenting on the contentious issue that had sent alarm bells ringing within the SAD-BJP top leadership. While Joshi had accused the SSP of harassing him and his supporters, the SSP had made it clear that nobody was above the law and that the rule of law would prevail. The SSP had also said that the MLA had probably got annoyed as the area SHO did not pay heed to his ‘directions’ to release certain “gamblers”. “I have taken up the matter with the IG (Border Range), Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, who has assured me of a ‘neutral’ enquiry into the matter,” said Majithia. He added that in a democratic system, bureaucracy should be responsive to people and to the elected representatives of the people. On the contentious issue of power tariff hike, Majithia outrightly denied any differences between the SAD and the BJP and added that the issue was being considered by a two-member committee comprising Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, and Manoranjan Kalia, Minister for Local Bodies Department. Earlier, Kulbir Singh Mattewal, the newly appointed chairman of the Amritsar Market Committee, assured Majithia that he would work whole-heartedly and ensure optimum utilisation of the funds of the market committee which amounted to almost Rs 14 crore per annum.
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Govt restricts selling of stamp papers to vendors
Ludhiana, October 21 According to the new directions of the Revenue Department stamp vendors will not be allowed to buy stamp papers worth more than Rs 20,000 for every revenue- related document. The latest directions come in the wake of the stamp-paper scam reported in Ludhiana as a stamp vendor allegedly prepared fake stamp papers and sold these to unsuspecting people, thereby causing a loss to the state exchequer. The directions are aimed at ensuring that the vendors do not buy revenue documents of big denominations and the chances of selling fake documents of high denominations are minimised. The State Bank of India has been entrusted with the responsibility of selling stamp papers with a value of more than Rs 20,000. The government has asked the sub- registrars and registering offices not to accept stamp papers above Rs 20,000 from vendors. They have been asked to accept these only if these are issued by SBI branches. Mahaveer Singh, president of State Stamp Vendors Union, who took a delegation to Chandigarh and met Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar today, said stamp papers provided a job avenue to vendors and the move would affect their bread and butter.
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Punjabi varsity Ropar-zone youth fest begins
Kharar, October 21 Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar was chief guest on the occasion. Renowned singer Satwinder Bitti was the guest of honor. In
giddha, team from SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, secured first place, Rayat & Bahra College of Education,
Mohali, stood second and Government College, Ropar, secured the third place. Best dancer award went to Harjot Kaur from Government College,
Mohali. For group shabad event, SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, stood first, Government College Mohali secured second place, Shivalik College of Education Research,
Mohali, secured third berth and Government College, Ropar, was adjudged at the fourth position. In classical vocal event Government College,
Mohali, secured first place and Government College, Ropar was adjudged second.
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Dowry Case
Ludhiana, October 21 The judicial officer was posted at Amritsar at present. The same court also dismissed the regular bail appliactions filed by the judge's mother, Surjit Kaur, and his maternal uncle, Iqbal Singh. The court disagreed with the submission of the defence lawyer that a matrimonial dispute has been falsely converted into an attempt to murder case, just to malign the image of a judicial officer. However, the court granted anticipatory bail to a married sister of the judge, namely Paramjit Kaur. She had pleaded that she had nothing to do with the matrimonial dispute of his brother. A case under Sections 307,406, 498, 323 and 506 of the IPC had been registered at Division no. 7 police station on October 4, 2009, on the statement of Kirandeep Kaur, daughter of a senior Akali leader, Pal Singh Grewal (councillor). The mother and maternal uncle of the prime accused were arrested on the same day. They remained in police custody for two days. Thereafter, they were remanded to judicial custody. Since then, they were behind bars. The complainant had stated to the police that she got married to the judicial officer one year back. Her parents had given sufficient dowry at the time of marriage including one luxury car. But the behaviour of her in-laws was not good. She was being maltreated and subjected to harassment. She had levelled accusation of demand of cash of Rs 50 lakh on her in-laws. The local police had recorded her statement at the civil hospital. She had alleged that on the day of the incident, she was taken in a car on the Chandigarh road. The accused were in the car. She was given a beating by Iqbal Singh with a baseball bat. She had accused her husband of trying to kill her by
stragulation.
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Nigerian held for online lottery scam
Amritsar, October 21 About a dozen persons, majority of them belonging to Nigeria, have been booked in this regard and a case under various sections of the IPC besides Information Technology Act 2000 has been registered at the Police Station Civil Lines. Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, SSP, while detailing the modus operendi of the accused revealed that the gang, based in and operating from Nigeria, used to send emails and SMSes to various people all over India that they have won millions of dollars in a lottery. After alluring the victims, they took lakhs of rupees from them on the pretext of charging processing fee so that the lottery amount could be given to the winners. The matter came to light when one of victims, Rajwinder Singh, a local resident, lodged a complaint with the police that he lost Rs 4.25 lakh when he was promised five million dollars in a Nigerian lottery scheme. Rajwinder Singh said the accused had various accounts in Indian banks, carried PAN numbers and mobile numbers. The emails were sent from Nigeria, Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. In one of the accounts of the accused Rs 91 lakh was deposited from March 2008 to January 2009. He said during investigations it was found that the man who trapped the victims through the Internet was given 50 per cent of the collection; the bank account holder in whose account the money was deposited got 10-15 per cent and the man who acted as the diplomatic representative got 15 per cent. The accused, Amaechi, acted as a diplomat.
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