N A T I O N

Iron ore export scam: CBI registers 5 cases, raids firms
Bangalore/New Delhi, Sept 15
In what could mean fresh trouble for BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy, the CBI today registered five new cases in connection with the Rs 2,500-crore illegal iron ore export scam and carried out searches at 17 locations, including the premises of associates of the jailed mining baron.

RSS former chief Sudarshan passes away
Raipur, September 15
KS Sudarshan, who needled the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other BJP leaders during his nine-year tenure as RSS chief, died here today after a heart attack.


KS Sudarshan (1931—2012)

IMG calls for de-allocation of 3 more coal blocks
New Delhi, September 15
The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on coal blocks today decided to recommend de-allocation of three more mines, taking the total number of blocks suggested for de-allocation due to insufficient progress to seven.

Kwatra murder: Sketches of 2 suspects ready
Mumbai, September 15
Investigators probing the murder of Navraj Kwatra, son of veteran Punjabi litterateur Amrita Pritam, have obtained sketches of two men who were seen visiting his office-cum-studio in suburban Mumbai minutes before the deed was discovered, police said.

Iron ore export scam: CBI registers 5 cases, raids firms
Tribune News Service & PTI

Bangalore/New Delhi, Sept 15
In what could mean fresh trouble for BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy, the CBI today registered five new cases in connection with the Rs 2,500-crore illegal iron ore export scam and carried out searches at 17 locations, including the premises of associates of the jailed mining baron.

After filing the five new FIRs and a preliminary enquiry, CBI teams carried out a coordinated search operation at 17 locations in Goa and Karnataka, which included the premises of various mining firms and exporters.

Searches were spread across Bangalore, Karwar, Hospet and Goa at the premises of ILC industries, Dream Logistics, SB Logistics, Sri Malikaarjuna Shipping, Greentex Industries, Adani Enterprises and Salgaocar Mining Industries, Swastik Cements, Rajmahal and Softex.

A 10-member CBI team also searched the houses of Karapudi Mahesh, Swastik Nagaraj and Somasekhar, who runs a transport firm, all aides of Reddy, sources said.

CBI sources alleged that over 50 lakh tonnes of iron ore was illegally exported and four exporters -- ILC, SB Logistics, Dream Logistics -- and Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt Ltd were involved in half of these exports. Adani has said in a statement that the company was a mere service provider and was not in a position to check mandatory clearances/permissions/permits as it does not have the authority to do so.

“The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered five cases and one Preliminary Enquiry against certain firms and exporters in connection with alleged illegally excavated iron ore to the tune of 50 lakh MT worth Rs 2,500 crore (approx) and subsequent export of the same from Belekeri Port in Karnataka in pursuance to the order dated 07.09.2012 of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 562/2009. Searches are being carried out today at 17-places in Bangalore, Karwar, Hospet and Goa,” a CBI press release said.

The Supreme Court had pulled up the Karnataka Government for claiming ignorance over massive illegal mining in its own forest reserves and transportation of minerals to the Belekeri port over a period of 17 months.

50L tonne exported

CBI sources said over 50 lakh tonne iron ore was illegally exported

Four exporters — ILC, SB Logistics, Dream Logistics — and Shree Mallikarjun Shipping Pvt Ltd were involved in half of these exports

The apex court had pulled up Karnataka government for claiming ignorance over massive illegal mining in its own forest reserves

RSS former chief Sudarshan passes away

Raipur, September 15
KS Sudarshan, who needled the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other BJP leaders during his nine-year tenure as RSS chief, died here today after a heart attack.

The former RSS chief, 81, known for his hardline views, died at the RSS office here at 6.50 am. He was in the city for a book launch function.

A known votary of ‘swadeshi’, Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan, who became head of the RSS in 2000 when the NDA was in power, differed with the economic policies of the BJP-led government for its continuance of the liberalisation programme started in 1991.

After the fall of the Vajpayee government, he had said in an interview that he did not not consider Vajpayee among the “best prime ministers” as he had failed to do anything on the Ayodhya issue.

He had also stirred the hornet's nest when he had then suggested that old guards like Vajpayee and LK Advani should give way to younger leadership.

Sudarshan, a bachelor, who is survived by a brother and sister, had gone for an early morning walk and suffered a heart attack while doing Pranayam in his chamber in the RSS office, doctors said.

Sudarshan’s body is being kept in the RSS headquarters in Nagpur for the people to pay their last respects, RSS members said. —PTI

IMG calls for de-allocation of 3 more coal blocks

New Delhi, September 15
The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on coal blocks today decided to recommend de-allocation of three more mines, taking the total number of blocks suggested for de-allocation due to insufficient progress to seven.

“The IMG has recommended de-allocation of three blocks namely — Gourangdih ABC Coal Block allotted to Himachal EMTA Power Ltd & JSW Steel Ltd, Rawanwara North Coal Block allotted to SKS Ispat and Power Ltd and New Patrapara Coal Block allotted to Bhushan Steel Ltd and others,” an official statement said today.

Bhushan Steel was allotted New Patrapara block in Odisha in January 2006. The block has an extractable reserve of 316.09 million tonnes. It was meant to be used for making sponge iron, which finds application in steel manufacturing.

The blocks also finds mention in the CAG report which had estimated that the company got undue benefit to the tune of Rs 9,338 crore.

“The IMG has recommended deduction of bank guarantee in three cases,” the statement added. PTI

6 killed during protest against desecration of scripture 

Ghaziabad, September 15
Six persons were killed and 12 injured, including two critically, in violence and arson during a protest against alleged desecration of a holy book in Dasna yesterday as curfew continued in the area today.

The Uttar Pradesh government ordered an inquiry into the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those killed, Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to those having minor injuries.

The protest was triggered after torn pages from a holy book were found at Adhyatmik Nagar station platform in Dasna.

"Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has termed the incident as unfortunate and has said that stern action will be taken against guilty officers," an official spokesman said in Lucknow.

He said on the Chief Minister's directive, Divisional Commissioner (Meerut) has been asked to conduct an inquiry.

District Magistrate Aparna Upadhyay and Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar said in Ghaziabad that six persons were killed in yesterday's incident besides 12 injured. A Sub Inspector and a Head Constable suffered serious injuries and are in critical condition. —PTI

Kwatra murder: Sketches of 2 suspects ready
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, September 15
Investigators probing the murder of Navraj Kwatra, son of veteran Punjabi litterateur Amrita Pritam, have obtained sketches of two men who were seen visiting his office-cum-studio in suburban Mumbai minutes before the deed was discovered, police said.

Residents of the Wilderness Building at Borivali's LIC Colony where Kwatra maintained his office-cum-studio told the police that they heard a sharp scream emanating from the ground floor flat of the deceased on Friday afternoon. Minutes later, they saw two men rush out. Kwatra’s body was discovered shortly afterwards, bound and gagged. "We have prepared sketches to two men and circulating the same among our informers," the duty officer at the MHB Colony Police Station said.

Kwatra (65), who was a photographer, had shot the portfolios of many aspiring movie actors and models. The police are trying to trace those whose 
portfolios were found at Kwatra's residence.

BRIEFLY

kharagpur
IIT Kharagpur convocation: President Pranab Mukherjee awarded degrees to over 2,000 IIT students of IIT Kharagpur on Saturday. Mukherjee called upon young scientists and technologists to dedicate themselves to the task of re-building India. —TNS

chennai
Kudankulam project:The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd is still in the process of complying with the pre-conditions laid down by the atomic regulator for fuelling the first reactor at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. —IANS

mumbai
Kwatra murder: Investigators probing murder of Navraj Kwatra, son of veteran Punjabi litterateur Amrita Pritam, who was found dead on Friday, have obtained sketches of two men who were seen visiting his office-cum-studio in suburban Mumbai minutes before the deed was discovered, police said. —TNS

lucknow
Katju slams electronic media: While all professionals are governed by a set of regulations, violation of which could jeopardise their career and credibility, electronic media is unregulated, said Press Council of India chief Justice Markandey Katju, at a discussion on “Growing tendency of monopoly in the media”. —TNS

mumbai
HC upholds ban on gutkha: The Bombay High Court on Saturday upheld its decision to ban tobacco flavoured gutkha and pan masala in Maharashtra from July 19. —IANS