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SC turns down Sahara chief Roy’s bail plea
BJP hunts for candidates in UP, Delhi
Maoist ambush: Three CRPF heroes cremated with honours
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CBI chief wants charges against Lalu dropped
UP police seek more forces for LS polls
Suspended DMK MP Alagiri meets PM
Saif, 2 others chargesheeted in assault case
MEA sensitises states on passport, security
Assam Govt, police rapped for encounter deaths
M’rashtra hailstorm hits fruit, veggie supply
Nilekani quits as UIAD chief
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SC turns down Sahara chief Roy’s bail plea
New Delhi, March 13 A Bench comprising Justices KS Radhakrishnan and JS Khehar said that keeping him in jail “is not a pleasant thing for us also”, but it was not in a position to consider the bail plea in the absence of an acceptable proposal, better than the rejected instalment repayment plan -- Rs 2,500 crore every three months. Arguing for the Sahara chief, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani pleaded that releasing his 65-year-old client on bail would enable Roy to mobilise the funds, besides playing Holi and spending time with his aged, ailing mother. Remaining in jail, Roy was not in a position to arrange for funds as potential lenders would be willing to help only if he approached them as a “free man”. Roy could devise a better repayment plan only through borrowings as the Supreme Court had rejected his earlier proposals involving all his assets, Jethmalani argued. Appearing for market regulator SEBI, which has filed contempt of court cases against Roy, his directors and the Sahara group for non-refund of the investors’ money, senior advocate Arvind Datar vehemently opposed the bail plea. “I am astonished to see that he wants to celebrate Holi” at the cost of 3.3 crore investors, Datar said. Two Sahara companies -- Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd (SIREC) and Sahara India Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHIC) -- had raised about Rs 25,780 crore during 2008-11. The debenture scheme was declared illegal by Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). Upholding SAT’s ruling on August 31, 2012, the Supreme Court had directed Sahara to return the investments with 15 per cent interest. According to SEBI, Sahara’s present liability stands at Rs 37,000 crore. Now, Roy will have to approach the Supreme Court by tomorrow morning with a fresh proposal in a bid to come out of jail before Holi on Monday.
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BJP hunts for candidates in UP, Delhi
New Delhi, March 13 Apart from open dissent among top leaders and grass root workers over key seats, the party is also faced with the problem of lack of winnable candidates in not just in UP which sends a major chunk of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, but also states like Delhi and Bihar. In Bihar, there is discontent in the state leadership over aligning with Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP "despite a Modi wave". Another cause fanning dissatisfaction among party leaders and workers is the entry of "outsiders" like Ram Kirpal Yadav into the party fold and their staking claim on seats that "should belong to those who stood by the BJP". The Bihar unit is also objecting to the candidature of Shatrughan Sinha from the Patna Sahib constituency. The party is faced with somewhat similar scenes in Allahabad where angry protesters sought clarity on the possible induction of an expelled BSP leader-Nandgopal Gupta (Nandi)-into the party. Sources say the BJP is desperately hunting for "right candidates" for at least 20 UP seats like Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Amroha, Banda, Bijnour, Nagina and Unnao to achieve the 272-plus target. Despite the first phase of elections less than a month away, suspense over the Varanasi seat continues. Sources say Modi's close aide Amit Shah, who is managing his campaign in UP, held meetings with state BJP and RSS leaders last night to resolve the issue. Amid reports of massive infighting over constituencies and seat distribution in states like UP and Gujarat, the party today confined itself to less controversial states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Sushma Swaraj is expected to be fielded from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, while SS Ahluwalia's name is doing the rounds for the Darjeeling seat. Yeddyurappa may contest from Shimoga in Karnataka.
Sriramulu returns Despite objections by Sushma Swaraj, the BJP on Thursday decided to take back controversial Karnataka politician BS Sriramulu, who quit the BJP in 2011 to form the BRS Congress. However, the controversial Reddy brothers will not be the part of the plan.
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Maoist ambush: Three CRPF heroes cremated with honours
Nawanshahr, March 13 CRPF DIG Sunil Thorpe, Nawanshahr ADC Amarjit Pal, SSP Dhanpreet Kaur, SDM Banga Arvind Kumar, DSP Hansraj and other officials attended the funeral. His pyre was lit by his son Varinder Singh. The martyr, who had joined the paramilitary force after retiring as Subedar Major from the Army in 2007, had lost his wife in 2001 and was the sole breadwinner of the family. He is survived by two sons, both unemployed, and two daughters. The kin of the jawan, who had fought in the Kargil war, sought financial help and a job for elder son. Sarpanch Gurbaksh Singh insisted that an announcement be made on the spot, but the ADC cited that the election code was in place. He, however, said the administration would help them prepare a case for getting help from the CRPF in accordance with the provisions. Jind: The body of Subhash Chander Dalal was consigned to flames in his native village Nagura here on Thursday. Hundreds of residents of Nagura and other villages along with senior officers of the CRPF, civil administration, NGOs and ex-servicemen attended the funeral. CRPF IG Suraj Bhan and Assistant Commanders Dilawar Singh and Raj Singh, Jind DSP Suresh Kumar, tehsildar Rajender Singh, INLD leader Surender singh Barwala, Congress leader Balram Katwal and other senior officers of civil administration attended the cremation. “He has sacrificed his life for the country and we are proud of him,” said the deceaseds’ father, Maman Singh. Subhash had shifted his all family to village two months ago and joined his duty on February 20. Before joining duty, he had engaged both his sons Viraaj and Deepak and had plans to come to village in November to marry his sons. Jawali (Dharamsala): Lakhbir Singh, an ex-Army para-commando and a CRPF Havaldar, was was cremated with full state honours today. His body was brought to his native Buskwara village in Jawali block of Kangra district earlier in the day. Deputy Commissioner Kangra Paul Rasu and Kangra SP Balbir Thakur paid tribute to the martyr on behalf of the state. Former Congress MP Chander Kumar and Minister for Agriculture Sujjan Singh Pathania also attended the cremation. A CRPF contingent and police personnel fired several rounds in the air as a mark of respect, as his son Robin lit the pyre. People from the area attended the last rites. Lakhbir’s father Harman Singh said it was a difficult time for the family but he was proud of his son. “We have to support his son and daughter, who are still undergoing schooling,” he said. Lakhbir had joined Army in 1987. He remained as a para-commando in Army. After his retirement three years ago, Lakhbir joined the CRPF as Havaldar. Lakhbir had talked to his family on Monday and talked of completing their incomplete house in the village. Lakhbir is survived by his wife Laita, son Robin, daughter
Archi.
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CBI chief wants charges against Lalu dropped
New Delhi, March 13 In recommending that the charges against Yadav be dropped, Sinha differed not only with Director of Prosecution (DOP) OP Verma but also other senior officers of the Patna Branch, including the head of Patna Zone. The matter has now been referred to the Solicitor General on the "specific" request of Sinha even though the Attorney General is the designated authority in case of difference of opinion between the CBI director and the DOP. "(Most of) the evidence in the case and most of the accused persons are common, including the ingredients of charges in the said cases. "I am of the view that a person may not be tried for the same offences in another case for which he has already been convicted when the evidence is the same," Sinha said. "I disagree with the Branch, HOZ and DOP. Let the matter be referred to the Solicitor General for his opinion," he had said on February 26. — PTI
Fodder scam cases
* CBI Director Ranjit Sinha has recommended the dropping of charges against Lalu in three cases that were the offshoot of the fodder scam *
These are connected with the alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury, Rs 84.53 lakh from Deoghar Treasury and Rs 33.13 crore from Chaibasa Treasury
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UP police seek more forces for LS polls
Lucknow, March 13 The first phase to be held in the state for 10 seats in western Uttar Pradesh on April 10 comprises districts that recently saw widespread communal violence. They include the constituencies of Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr and Aligarh. Citing the sensitivity of these constituencies, the DGP office has said the 180 companies offered were inadequate and at least another 120 companies were required. These districts had witnessed violence and a large number of people still remained displaced and were living in relief camps where temporary polling booths were to be set up.
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Suspended DMK MP Alagiri meets PM
New Delhi, March 13 The former Union Minister, elected from Madurai Lok Sabha constituency, described as a "courtesy call" his meeting with Singh who regretted that DMK left the UPA. "Please wait for two months. I would reveal my stand after after consulting my supporters," Alagiri, who is the elder son of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, told reporters after meeting the Prime Minister. Refusing to commit whether he would launch his own party, Alagiri, however, stressed that he would play a role in the upcoming elections. "I would surely play a role. But, I cannot indicate the kind of role," the sulking leader stated. Alagiri said he thanked the Prime Minister under whom he served as a cabinet minister for four years between 2009 and 2013. The meeting comes amidst reports that Alagiri, dejected over his expulsion from the DMK, was considering floating a new political party. He is also believed to be dismayed over his supporters not finding a place in the Lok Sabha candidate list of DMK, which was declared this week. The DMK has not only denied ticket to Alagiri but also two of his loyalists for the April 24 Lok Sabha election. The former Union Minister is learnt to have discussed the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu, where the Congress has not found an alliance partner for the Lok Sabha polls. During the meeting, Alagiri requested Singh to name the Madurai airport after freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar. Sources said Alagiri informed PMO officials that he and two of the DMK MPs - D Napolean and J K Riteish - will vacate the official bungalows allotted to them. —PTI
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Saif, 2 others chargesheeted in assault case
Mumbai, March 13 "The court today framed charges against Khan and his two friends - Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi - under section 325 (assault) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code," public prosecutor Wajeed Sheikh said. However, the three pleaded not guilty after the metropolitan court read out the charges to them. Saif and his friends had been arrested following a complaint filed by NRI businessman Iqbal Mir Sharma after the two allegedly got into a fight at the Wasabi restaurant in Taj Hotel on February 22, 2012. The three were later released on bail. Saif (42) was accompanied by his wife Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma Kapoor, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora and some male friends at the hotel when the brawl broke out. According to the police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif allegedly threatened them and subsequently punched Sharma in the nose, fracturing it. The NRI businessman had also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel. However, Saif had maintained that Sharma made provocative statements and rather used abusive language against the women accompanying him and this led to the ruckus. The police had filed a charge sheet against the trio on December 21, 2012. — PTI
The case
* Actor Saif Ali Khan (in pic) had allegedly assaulted a South Africa-based businessman and his father-in-law at a Colaba hotel two years ago *
Saif allegedly threatened them and punched the businessman in the nose after he protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends
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MEA sensitises states on passport, security
New Delhi, March 13 “There is a remarkable transformation that is taking place across India and in order to leverage this in our foreign policy, it is critical that we all work together to further our foreign policy goals,” Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh in her opening remarks at the four-hour meeting. The objective of the meeting was to sensitise the states about the requirements of foreign visitors and their protocol. It is understood that representatives of various states asked the MEA to evolve a suitable mechanism to speed up the verification process so that passports could be issued in time. They also wanted that the procedure of attesting documents should also be speeded up and made easier. Senior MEA officials emphasised that the states must ensure fool-proof security arrangements for VVIPs visiting their states in coordination with the Centre. Trade and investments, matters relating to the welfare of Indian nationals, consular issues relating to despatch of mortal remains of Indians who die abroad and transfer of compensation to people involved in accidents were some of the other issues that figured at the meeting. During the lunch recess, the chief secretaries and resident commissioners also interacted with MEA officials in-charge of neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and important Western nations like the US, UK, France and Germany. Today’s meeting was preceded by three days of intense interaction between MEA officials and protocol officers of the states. Dinkar Khullar, Secretary (West), and Chief of Protocol Ruchira Kamboj were among those who explained to the state representatives what the MEA expected of them when foreign dignitaries are visiting states. The resident commissioner of a northern state who participated in the meeting said it was a ‘very useful exercise’ and hoped such meetings would be organised more frequently by the MEA.
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Assam Govt, police rapped for encounter deaths
Guwahati, March 13 The NHRC has directed the Assam government to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to the families of two persons killed in an encounter with a joint team of the Assam police and the Army. Also, the High Court has described the government and the police “undemocratic” over the killing of a student in a “fake encounter” by the police and directed the Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police to appear before the court on April 3. In a communiqué, the NHRC informed that it has recommended that the Government of Assam pay Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of Munindra Kalita (26) and Pingal Deka (27), who were killed in an encounter by the Assam police and the Army in a joint operation and asked for a proof of payment on or before April 17. The commission has held that the government has no explanation to offer to its various observations raising doubts about the genuineness of the encounter. The commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and registered a case on the basis of the information given on the website of the Assam police.
NHRC orders relief
* The NHRC has asked the Assam Government to pay Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of two youths - Munindra Kalita and Pingal Deka - killed in an encounter by the Assam police and the Army *
In another case, the Gauhati HC criticised the Assam government and the police over the killing of an 18-year-old student in a ‘fake encounter’ on August 19, 2007 .
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M’rashtra hailstorm hits fruit, veggie supply
Mumbai, March 13 Officials at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Navi Mumbai said most parts of Maharashtra barring Mumbai and the Konkan have been severely affected by hailstorms. "The supply of papaya, watermelon, bananas, etc will be severely affected as the standing crop has been destroyed across Maharashtra and Karnataka," says Bhaskar Jadhav, a fruit trader at the market. Apart from fruits, vegetables like tomatoes, brinjals and cereals like jowar and wheat grown in the state have been hit, he added. The state agriculture department said standing crop on more than 12 lakh hectares had been damaged by hailstorms. With the state government reporting severe crop damage, a team of experts from the central government visited many parts of Maharashtra as the state government is working out a relief package. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters that he would appeal to the Election Commission not to hinder provision of relief on account of the model code of conduct ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Some estimates prepared by the government indicate that total damage caused to horticulture farmers would be in the region of Rs 1500 to Rs 1600 crore. The opposition Shiv Sena today joined the Congress party in appealing for quick provision of relief to farmers affected by the calamity.
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Nilekani quits as UIAD chief
Bangalore, March 13 His exit has left a question mark on the future of the ambitious programme to give identity card to people and put an end to pilferage of subsidy provided by the government. Nilekani, who will contest Lok Sabha polls on Congress ticket, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He confirmed that he had sent in his resignation to Prime Minister. After his exit from Bangalore headquartered Infosys in 2009, Nilekani had taken charge as head of the UIDAI, mandated to give all Indians an identity card. Nilekani took political plunge on Sunday, when he joined Congress, a day after the party named him as its candidate from Bangalore South.
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