The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Model accuses IPS officer of rape Tribune News Service Mumbai, July 24 A Mumbai-based model has filed a police complaint against a senior IPS officer for allegedly raping her over a prolonged period. In the First Information Report filed at the Malvani police station in suburban Mumbai on Wednesday night, the model alleged that Deputy Inspector General of Police Sunil Paraskar had assaulted her several times, including once at a three-star hotel in the city. After the complaint, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria today ordered an inquiry into the incident. Sources said the model had earlier filed a complaint of impersonation after her pictures was posted by an escort service. A woman who allegedly posed as the model was also arrested for prostitution. In her complaint, the model alleged that DIG Paraskar who was at the time Additional Commissioner of Police (North) had mentally tortured her and forced her to have sex with him on several occasions. The model alleged that the officer had threatened to file prostitution charges against her if she did not oblige him. Paraskar is currently posted at the Mumbai police headquarters as Deputy Inspector General (Protection of Civil Rights Units). The charge * The model in her complaint alleged that DIG Sunil Paraskar had mentally tortured her and sexually assaulted her on several occasions * She alleged the officer had threatened to file prostitution charges against her if she did not oblige him * Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria on Thursday ordered an inquiry
	Nithari killings SC rejects Koli’s plea against death penalty Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 The Supreme Court today rejected the plea of Surendra Koli for reviewing the death penalty awarded to him in a case relating to the serial rapes and murders in Nithari village on the outskirts of Delhi during 2005-06. The crimes had taken place at the house of his businessman-employer Moninder Singh Pandher, who is also a convict in some of the cases. Koli (42) had brutally killed children and cut them into pieces and thrown them into the drain outside the house. The death sentence awarded by the trial court and upheld by the Allahabad High Court had been confirmed by the SC in February 2011. Of the 16 cases filed against Koli, he has been given death penalty in four of them so far. The trial in other cases is on. Last week, President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected his mercy plea in one of the cases.
	Oppn targets govt on Budget in RS Girja Shankar Kaura Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 The Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha today flayed the maiden Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier this month while the Treasury Benches members praised it, calling it a composite and comprehensive budget that would a long way in improving the health of the country’s economy. As the discussion on the Union Budget continued for the second day, there were charges and counter charges traded by the Opposition parties and the BJP and its allies. The Opposition voiced its disappointment and said that the Union Budget was in total contrast with the promises made by the BJP before coming to power. While the debate continued late into the evening, Congress, CPM, JD-U and BSP hit out at government saying that there was “no financial clarity” in its vision and how the funding of the proposed projects would be done. Alleging that the promises made by the BJP have not been fulfilled, members said that there were a number of contrasts between the things announced in the BJP’s manifesto and the provisions laid out in the budget, dubbing it as “pro-rich and anti-poor”. Congress member Ashwani Kumar mocked the General Budget, saying many of the proposals were impractical and would only add to the woes of the people. He described as baseless the charge made by the NDA regime that the previous UPA government had left the treasury empty. Facts and statistics would clearly show that the previous government had brought down the fiscal deficit and the current account deficit, substantially increased the country’s foreign exchange reserves and brought crores of people above the poverty line. “We have repeatedly heard that there was a policy paralysis when the UPA was in power... How can so many achievements be made if there was a policy paralysis,” he wondered. One must rise above ‘partisan politics’ and candidly acknowledge the achievements of the previous government too, the member from Punjab said. Kumar was of the view that the defence outlay was not adequate to meet the security threat to the country. He also asked if an allocation of Rs 7060 crores was sufficient to set up 100 smart cities as proposed in the budget. The budget allocation for women safety also was not adequate. “The slogan of this government was ‘acchhe din aane wale hain (good days are about to come)... I don’t think good days are round the corner if one takes into account the Budget proposals,” he added. R Lakshmanan (AIADMK) expressed the hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help change the face of India in the coming times. Lakshmanan’s mention of the 2G Spectrum scam in his speech saw sharp exchanges between AIADMK and DMK members. Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said he should restrict himself to the Budget rather than talk about corruption and cast aspersions on political opponents.
	corrupt judge charge Two PILs in SC demanding probe Legal Correspondent New Delhi, July 24 Two PILs have been filed in the Supreme Court pleading for a thorough probe into the elevation of a district judge of Tamil Nadu to the High Court despite an adverse report by the Intelligence Bureau. The petitions have been filed by three advocates contending that the UPA-I government had kept the President in the dark about the IB report and got him appointed as a permanent HC judge in 2008. One of the petitioners, ML Sharma, sought an urgent hearing of his plea, but a Bench headed by Justice HL Dattu today said it would be taken up in due course. The President had appointed the judge without verifying the true facts which were not placed before him, Sharma said in his petition. The other PIL, filed jointly by N Rajaraman and R Krishna Murthy, also sought a probe into the allegations of improper conduct by three former Chief Justices of India in allowing Justice Ashok Kumar to continue as an additional Judge of the Madras High Court for five years by giving him extensions. The PILs have come in the wake of a statement by former SC judge Markandey Katju, who now heads the Press Council, on the elevation of Justice Kumar, who died in October 2009 shortly after retiring as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh HC, allegedly under political pressure from the DMK headed by M Karunanidhi. Justice Katju had avoided naming either Justice Kumar or Karunanidhi. The SC has already disposed of a PIL filed by senior advocate Shanti Bhushan on the issue. It found fault with the appointment procedure, but refused to quash the appointment elevating the district judge to the HC.
	Govt consults parties on collegium system New Delhi, July 24 The Narendra Modi government has written to political parties seeking their views on the proposed law to replace the present Collegium system of appointing judges. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asked leaders of major political parties to give their suggestions for improving the provisions of the Bill on the issue. Prasad had told Parliament just two days ago that the BJP-led NDA government was committed to improving the system of appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court to ensure that only those with merit and integrity made the grade. Prasad’s statement had come after Justice Markandey Katju alleged that a district judge of Tamil Nadu was elevated to the HC and allowed to continue as an Additional Judge for five years before being made permanent under political pressure put on three successive CJIs. The previous government had introduced a Bill to constitute a Judicial Appointments Commission, replacing the Collegium system. Sources say the government will seek to get the Bill passed in the ongoing session. — TNS
	BJP goes into huddle to finalise Shah’s team Modi meets RSS leaders; MPs from North to meet him today Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 BJP president Amit Shah’s new team is ready and the announcement is expected soon, around the time the party’s national council meets, possibly on August 9. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have finalised this evening the contours of Shah’s team with top RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosabale who earlier today also discussed its modalities with BJP president Amit Shah and his predecessors Nitin Gandkari and Rajnath Singh. The PM has tomorrow invited MPs from several states, including election-going Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and also Punjab, Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Sources say the list also includes MPs from Jharkhand and Maharashtra. There is a possibility that J&K Assembly elections may be held along with Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, they say. His election rally in Haryana is likely in Jind, though the date is not been decided yet. Ahead of the elections, the party and its ideological fountainhead RSS is taking all care to ensure foolproof coordination among all wings of the saffron outfit. Shah who met senior RSS functionaries is believed to have also discussed a host of issues including better coordination between the two organisations as well as the government and the Sangh. Besides the BJP has also finalised the team for Shah. The names for a new team of party office-bearers were also discussed during the deliberations held at the residence of Gadkari. Appointments to a number of key organisational posts are likely to be made in the coming days as their incumbents have been made ministers in the Modi government. The RSS had recently deputed its two senior RSS leaders, spokesman Ram Madhav and Shiv Prakash to the BJP. A prominent organisational role is expected for Madhav- the most prominent RSS leader to join active politics in recent days. Sources say he may be made general secretary, in charge of organisational matters. The BJP also has to take a call on whether it should push to form the government in Delhi or go in for fresh polls. Sources say party is in a position to form the government senior leaders are keen that Jagdish Mukhi is projected as the Delhi CM. BJP sources said Modi was keen that the ties with RSS remained strong. Party leaders believe that gap in their relationship during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s era worked to its disadvantage- one of the key reasons behind its defeat in 2004 elections.
	Storm after BJP leader calls Sania ‘daughter-in-law’ of Pak Tribune News Service & PTI Hyderabad/New Delhi, July 24 A Telangana BJP leader today stoked a controversy over Sania Mirza being made the new state’s brand ambassador, calling her Pakistan’s “daughter-in- law”, sparking outrage and drawing a fierce response from the tennis ace who said she will remain an Indian until the “end of her life”. The comments by K Laxman, who also branded the 27-year-old tennis star as a “non-local” while questioning her appointment by the Telangana Government, were roundly condemned by political parties who stressed that she is “our lady who belongs to Hyderabad”. Describing Sania as the “daughter of Hyderabad”, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had on Tuesday appointed her as the state’s brand ambassador and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore. “Sania was born in Maharashtra and settled in Hyderabad only later and, hence, is a non-local,” Laxman, leader of BJP in the Telangana assembly, said in Hyderabad. He also dubbed her as “daughter-in-law” of Pakistan, as she is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Sania, on her part, slammed attempts to tag her as an outsider and said her family had its roots in Hyderabad. “My family belongs to Hyderabad for more than a century and I strongly condemn any attempts by any person, whosoever, to brand me an outsider,” she said in a statement. “It hurts me that so much precious time of prominent politicians and the media is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed the Brand Ambassador of my State of Telangana,” Sania said. “I am married to Mr Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life,” she said. In an apparent damage control, the BJP quickly distanced itself from Laxman’s statement. “This is not the BJP’s position. Sania Mirza is a pride of India. Sania Mirza has an international standing of her own... So, we have no objection. She is a brand ambassador of India,” Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar told reporters in Delhi. The Congress rushed to corner the BJP. “Sania Mirza is the pride of India. She is a sports star. Who she marries is her personal life. Why did the BJP not remember Sania’s Pakistan connection when she won medals for India?” asked Congress’ Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh. Ironically, the Telangana unit of the Congress too slammed Sania. “Sania does not fit into the brand image of Telangana and Hyderabad,” state Congress chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah said. Tennis star hits back "My family belongs to Hyderabad for more than a century…I am married to Mr Shoaib Malik, who is from Pakistan. I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life." —Sania Mirza, Tennis player Govt distances itself "This is not the BJP’s position. Sania Mirza is a pride of India. Sania Mirza has an international standing of her own... She is India’s brand ambassador." — Prakash Javdekar, Union minister
	India gave 1,200 Pakistan nationals citizenship in 5 yrs Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 More than 1,200 Pakistani nationals have been granted Indian citizenship over the past five years, including 136 till July 20 this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said since 2010 alone the government had received over 1,000 applications from Pakistani nationals and those granted citizenship included those who had applied before 2010. Responding to a question from Punjab MP Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP), Rijiju said as against 346 applications in 2010, 137 were granted citizenship. In 2011, 307 were granted citizenship against 282 received, in 2013 the number was 355 against 222 received and till July in 2014, 136 against 17 received. Some applications are pending either due to incomplete information or for want of security clearance. Once the applications are complete in all respects, the applicant will be considered for the grant of citizenship, the minister said. As for long-term visa for Pakistani nationals, he said 3,853 have been granted such facility with 3,085 last year and 768 this year till June 30. Of these, 66 are residing in Punjab, 130 in Haryana, two in Himachal Pradesh, one in Chandigarh and 62 in Uttarakhand. The maximum (1,789) are residing in Rajasthan, followed by 855 in Gujarat, 287 in Delhi, 199 in Madhya Pradesh, 164 in Uttar Pradesh and 115 in Maharashtra. Applications received * Since 2010, the government has received 1,000 applications from Pakistani nationals * Tthose granted citizenship included those who had applied before 2010
	Tripathi takes over as West Bengal Governor Tribune News Service Kolkata, July 24 Senior BJP leader Kesari Nath Tripathi was sworn in as the new Governor of West Bengal at a function at the Raj Bahwan today. Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Ashim Kumar Banerjee administered the oath of office to Tripathi. He is the 27th Governor of the state. Tripathi succeeded MK Narayanan who resigned following controversy over the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from a foreign firm during his tenure as former PM Manmohan Singh’s National Security Adviser. He was interrogated by the CBI in connection with the helicopter purchase deal inquiry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her council of ministers, representatives of different political parties and foreign embassies, and other dignitaries were present. The 83-year-old BJP veteran is a former president of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit. He was elected to the state Assembly for a record seven times as a BJP candidate. He had also worked more than once as the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Tripathi was a lawyer at the Allahabad High Court.
	Patients have right to medical records: CIC New Delhi, July 24 Patients have a right to get their medical records from hospitals, both public and private, Central Information Commission has held while ordering disclosure of information to a former RAW official. Nisha Priya Bhatia, a former official of country’s snooping agency Research and Analysis Wing, sought her medical records from Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences where she was admitted on the orders of Delhi High Court. These records were refused to her as the Institute cited section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act which allows an authority to withhold information which would impede an investigation. Rejecting the contention, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said patients have a right to their medical records which is rooted in Articles 19 and 21 of Constitution of India and respondent hospitals have a duty to provide it. He said information commissions can enforce this right to information of patients against both Government and Private hospitals, whether they are public authorities or not, as per section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005. The Commissioner said hospitals have duty to provide the same under Right to Information Act, 2005, Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the Medical Council Act, 1956 and world medical ethics read with Constitutional rights. Bhatia had alleged before the Commission that her superiors got antagonised against her for no reason, started withdrawing her privileges as an officer, gradually and ultimately her chair was also removed leaving her with no place to sit and work. She alleged that a “deliberate conspiracy” and attempt to depict her as mentally sick person just because she had filed complaints against her superiors. “The background stated suggests that she is in dire need of the medical records to tell the world that she was not mentally sick but fit and also for defending her case before the appropriate forum,” Acharyulu noted. — PTI The case * An ex-RAW official had sought her medical records from Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences where she was admitted on the orders of Delhi HC * The records were, however, refused to her as the institute cited a section of the RTI Act that allows withholding of information that could impede probe * The Central Information Commission held that patients had a right to get their medical records from hospitals, both public and private
	Fast-track cases against politicos: PM to ministers New Delhi, July 24 Pushing for clean politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to work out a mechanism to settle criminal and other court cases against politicians within a year. The directive is in line with Modi's commitment during his election campaign that he will endeavour to see that court cases against politicians are decided within one year. If they are guilty, they should be punished, if not they should be discharged, he had said. During the campaign, he had vowed to pursue a zero-tolerance policy on graft if he came to power. In one of his media interviews, he had also said that the Supreme Court will be requested to take up such cases on a fast-track basis. The Law Ministry has already started working on the roadmap and one of the options is to follow the recommendation of the Law Commission made to the Supreme Court in March. The law panel said that for charges framed against sitting MPs or MLAs, the trial must be expedited and concluded within a one-year period. "If trial is not concluded within one year then (either) the MP/MLA may be disqualified at the expiry of the one-year period or the MP/MLAs' right to vote in the House as a member, remuneration shall be suspended at the expiry of the one-year period," the report had said. This Parliament has a record number of lawmakers facing criminal charges - 186 members or 34 per cent of the Lok Sabha - according to research by the Association for Democratic Reforms. Modi had stressed his administration would steer clear of political vendetta, but he also underscored that the law would be followed and the guilty would be punished, irrespective of their clout. — PTI
	Govt lacks resolve on financial reforms, alleges Opposition Tribune News Service \New Delhi, July 24 Congress' Veerappa Moily today initiated discussions on the finance Bill in Lok Sabha and said the government had not exhibited any resolve to go forward on the reform path. Terming the Budget as "status quoist", Moily, former Petroleum Minister said, the BJP government had failed to show the kind of aggression on economic policy as the country was expecting of them. "You have failed to take the economic reform agenda forward," he said in Lok Sabha commencing discussions. Moily also questioned the government on failing to show promise on the Goods and Services Tax issue and asked why the BJP did not support the previous Government which pursued GST for ten long years. "We formed a committee on GST and Bihar BJP leader Sushil Modi was made its chairman. We now hear the empowered committee on GST is going to embark on its seventh trip to study the subject. That's a mockery," Moily said slamming the BJP for failing to support the erstwhile Congress regime's Direct Tax Code Bill, another major reform item. Moily said the GST alone would lead to a jump of 2 per cent in the GDP and must be implemented at the earliest. He advised the Government to build subsidies in its development plan and warned it against downsizing the budget for subsidies. Black money: BJP MP embarrasses govt BJP MP Nishikant Dubey gave the Congress a talking point on Thursday when during discussions on the finance Bill he said black money cannot be brought back to India in an entire lifetime. Asked what the Congress made of this comment, party spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said: “We wish the BJP a long life so they can bring back black money.”
	encephalitis outbreak Central team to visit Bengal Tribune News Service Kolkata, July 24 The Centre will send a team of experts to take stock of ground situation in the north Bengal districts reeling under an encephalitis outbreak. The health ministry has assured the state of all help in combating the disease, said a communique reaching the state government from the Centre today. The death toll has risen to 133 with 25 more deaths being reported in the past 48 hours. Over 200 persons, including women and children, are now in hospitals of four districts, including the tea gardens areas of Duars and Darjeeling. The Central team will include doctors of the WHO, New Delhi’s AIIMs and officials of the planning commission and the health ministry. The team members will arrive in the city in a couple of days and visit the affected areas of Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Alipurduar and besides the tea gardens areas. The members will submit a report to the Health Ministry suggesting corrective measures. Another team of experts from Vireological Institute, Pune, has already visited the affected districts and met patients in hospitals. The doctors yesterday returned to Pune, carrying samples. The state director of health and other officials also visited the affected districts and looked into the medical arrangements for patients.
	Curfew in Bodo areas after youth leader’s murder Tribune News Service Guwahati, July 24 Indefinite curfew has been clamped in troubled Baksa district of Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council (BTC) areas of Assam following the killing of a youth leader Manoj Das from the Asom Sena by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday in the Musalpur area. Tension prevailed in the Musalpur area where the police and paramilitary forces had to resort to lathi-charge and blank fire to control a mob of protesters who tried to take out a procession with the body of the slain person demanding arrest of the killers within 48 hours.
	India-US talks in Delhi on July 31 Ashok Tuteja Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to America in late September, India and the US will hold their 5th strategic dialogue in New Delhi on July 31, it was officially announced here today. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the dialogue with US Secretary of State John Kerry. This will be Kerry’s first visit to India since the inception of the new government and his first meeting with Swaraj since the two leaders assumed office. During this visit, the American leader is expected to meet Indian leaders, including a call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also visit Bangalore. During the strategic dialogue, Swaraj and Kerry will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. On the bilateral side, their focus will be on expanding cooperation in areas of security, trade and investment, Science and Technology, energy and environment and human services. The two sides will also have deliberations on multilateral issues of common interest. Secretary Kerry will be accompanied by a high-level inter-agency delegation with representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, amongst others. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Deputy Secretary of Department of Energy Daniel Poneman, Under Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Francis X. Taylor and Special Envoy for Climate Change in Department of State Todd Stern will be part of the delegation. India and the United States launched the ministerial-level strategic dialogue in July 2009, focusing on five pillars of mutual interest, namely: strategic cooperation; energy and climate change, education and development; economy, trade and agriculture; science and technology, health and innovation. The first strategic dialogue was held in Washington DC in June 2010, followed by successive rounds in New Delhi (July 2011), Washington DC (June 2012) and New Delhi (June 2013). The 5th dialogue was earlier scheduled to be held in Washington but the venue was later shifted to New Delhi so that Kerry could visit India and personally invite Modi on behalf of President Barack Obama to visit the US capital. What’s on the table * Sushma Swaraj and John Kerry will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, besides expanding cooperation in areas of security, trade and investment, science and technology, energy and environment and human services * This will be Kerry’s first visit to India since the inception of the new government and his first meeting with Swaraj since the two leaders assumed office * He is expected to meet Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also visit Bangalore
	shiv sena’s Force-feeding incident Govt to ascertain facts, brief RS today: Naidu Ashok Tuteja Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 The Opposition sought to embarrass the government yet again in the Rajya Sabha today over the recent incident in which a Shiv Sena MP tried to force food into the mouth of a Muslim employee who was observing Ramzan fast at the new Maharashtra Sadan here. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu informed the agitated members that the government was ascertaining facts about the incident and would inform the House about its details tomorrow. As soon as the House met for day, several Opposition members were on their feet, seeking a clarification from the government on the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also was present in the House. "The government has become deaf and dumb...it is not reacting to anything," Congress member Saytavrat Chaturvedi said, drawing support from Left members Sitaram Yechuri and D Raja and Samajwadi Party's Naresh Agarwal. Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma said the matter was serious and the government could not ignore it. Yechuri pointed out that more than 24 hours had passed since the incident came to light but the government had still not inquired into it. Chairman Hamid Ansari urged the members to let the question hour proceed while directing the government to ascertain facts about the incident and intimate the House. "I do agree it is a very sensitive matter, the Chair had instructed us to ascertain the facts... We will ascertain the facts and come back by tomorrow (Friday)," Venkaiah Naidu told the members. Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare was seen in a video clip trying to force food into the mouth of the Muslim staffer. It kicked off a political storm yesterday, with Parliament witnessing uproar and repeated adjournments. Vichare has defended his action, saying he had no idea about the man's religion. However, he later expressed regret.
	Uddhav wants M’rashtra Sadan boss sacked Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, July 24 Stung by the force-feeding controversy, the Shiv Sena has sought to deflect the media attention by blaming the management of Maharashtra Sadan. Party’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray told reporters in Nashik today that Bipin Malik, Resident Commissioner of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, should be blamed for the poor quality of food served there. “Bipin Malik should be dismissed from service immediately,” Thackeray said. Earlier today, party mouthpiece Saamna demanded that the “rubbery rotis” served at the Maharashtra Sadan should be force-fed to Malik, Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan and senior officials. Not sounding apologetic over the incident where a Muslim employee who was fasting on the occasion of Ramzan was force-fed a roti, Saamna said it was an inadvertent error by its party’s MPs. “They didn’t aim to hurt the religious sentiments of anyone. They only wanted to protest the poor quality of food served there,” Saamna wrote. Today, Thackeray reiterated his stand that the Shiv Sena respected all religions.
	Coalgate: CBI files 2 fresh cases New Delhi, July 24 The CBI today registered two fresh cases in coal blocks allocation scam against two firms in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh following a direction from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The CBI had earlier decided to close the case against these two companies but on orders from the Supreme Court, the agency had to submit all papers to the CVC which was asked by the apex court to verify the reports and whether a correct decision had been taken. In these two cases, the CVC gave an oral order reasoning registering a case against the two firms whereas in other 12 cases, the Vigilance Commission had merely asked them to register a case without assigning any reason. The CBI will be informing the Supreme Court tomorrow and seek necessary directions in the matter when the matter comes up for hearing. In today’s development, the CBI alleged Ranchi-based Domco Private Limited entered into a criminal conspiracy with unnamed entities and submitted false information with dishonest intention to the authorities while applying for a captive coal block and secured allocation of ‘Lalgarh (North)’ coal block. “The then Director of the said company allegedly gained pecuniary benefit of Rs seven crores by selling shares of the company on premium after the allocation of the coal block,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement and added searches were being conducted at three places at Ranchi and New Delhi. Attempts to reach the company did not yeild any results as the phone number provided by them was not functioning and emails bounced. The second case was registered against Chhattisgarh-based company — Vandana Vidyut Limited — for alleged misrepresentation of facts. Without taking names, the CBI FIR also said the case also included members of 35th screening Committee which had met on September 13, 2007. The company was approached for comments and the Private Secretary to the Managing Director of the company had assured that a comment would be issued soon. Repeated attempts, thereafter, failed. — PTI CVC directions * Cases have been registered against two firms in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The agency had earlier decided to close the case against these two companies. * However, on orders from the Supreme Court, it had to submit all papers to the CVC, which, in turn, gave its go-ahead for registration of cases
	CWG: Forex charge against Kalmadi, six others New Delhi, July 24 Five years after charges of alleged financial irregularities had hit the CommonWealth Games in Delhi, Enforcement Directorate (ED) today slapped charges of Rs 4.64 crore forex violations in the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) event against former CWG organizing committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and six others. The agency issued show cause notices under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to Kalmadi, the then Chairman of the CWG Organising Committee(OC), the then Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, the then Treasurer A K Matoo, Director General V K Verma, Joint DG M Jeychandran, Deputy DG Sanjay Mahindroo and the officials of the OC. They have been given 30 days' time to reply to ED's notice after which adjudication proceedings under FEMA would begin. — PTI
	Bengaluru rape case School accepts parents’ demands Tribune News Service Bangalore, July 24 Vibgyor High, the school in Bangalore where a six-year-old girl student was allegedly raped triggering widespread protests in the city would reopen on Monday (July 28), after an understanding was reached among the institution, state government officials and parents here today. The expensive school with countrywide network had remained shut since July 17 after protests broke out when the July two incident came to light after a complaint was lodged by parents with the police on July 14. Founder-chairman of the school was arrested at Daman on Tuesday and brought here yesterday when he was released by a court on conditional bail. The main accused, skating instructor Mustafa, was arrested on Sunday. “Department of Education, Department of Police and the school management had a meeting with the parents. Parents had placed 11 demands and management has agreed to all the demands. On Monday school is opening”, an official said. “Yes, it is reopening. School would communicate the details by tomorrow”, Rohit, a parent, told this correspondent. The school, it is learnt, will start for students from class five to ten on Monday and from Wednesday to other students. Ramesh, Block Education Officer, Bangalore South, said, “the major demands were creating parents teachers association, security in the bus, appointment of female servants, installation of around 300 cameras in the school premises, etc. Management has agreed to it”. Stating that a task force will also be in place, he said it would include parents, teachers, management, two students –a boy and a girl – and an independent member. On Karnataka government’s letter to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations to de-recognise the school as it comes under its ambit as an ICSE school, he said, “we are waiting for the reply from the board. Only after the report from them can we take any decision”.
	Britain to soon open office in Ahmedabad Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, July 24 Britain will soon open an office of the deputy high commission at Ahmedabad to help further strengthen the ties between Britain and Gujarat, the British Cabinet Minister for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey announced here today. He was speaking at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on “Changing Economics – Tackling Climate Change and Driving Growth” here today. Pointing out that the UK was home to six lakh people having Gujarati origin, Davey said Gujarat mattered a lot to his country both politically and economically. He said “Vibrant Gujarat” had become a byword for attracting investment and the UK was proud to become its active partner in 2013 and was looking forward to remain a partner in the next edition to the “Vibrant Gujarat” summit in January, next year. Referring to former Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s elevation as the Prime Minister, Davey said Gujarat must be happy to see that the new government in Delhi was “publicly following the Gujarat model of growth in the country” and Gujarat “rightly was selling this message to the world”. “And because Gujarat matters, I am delighted that the UK will strengthen our relationship further with an agreement to open a Deputy High Commission (DHC) in Ahmedabad,” he said adding that a DHC in the commercial capital of Gujarat would help to deepen and broaden the ties between the UK and Gujarat. “The Deputy High Commission will enable to build on the strong people to people links that enrich all communities,” he said. “For our vision for UK-India, UK-Gujarat isn’t about series of one-off transactions, important though individual projects might be. The vision is more powerful – it’s about an enduring relationship, of families, friends and firms growing together,” Davey said.
	Can’t give security cover to more VVIPs, says NSG New Delhi, July 24 The NSG, which protects the most ‘vulnerable’ VVIPs of the country, has decided to stop taking any more protectees under its elite ‘black cat’ commando security cover. The special force has taken this decision to ensure the most fool-proof and strict security to the existing VVIPs under its cover which includes the likes of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and a number of Chief Ministers. “We will not be able to manage more protectees under our cover. We protect the most vulnerable of the VVIPs and according to our mandate and present strength we will not be able to take anymore such duties,” said NSG Director General J N Choudhury. The elite commandos of the federal counter-terror force currently guard 15 VVIPs, who are accorded the top security categorisation of ‘Z+’, which generally entails over two dozen armed commandos with a host of gadgets and security paraphernalia. The NSG DG said it was essential to put a cap on the number VVIPs being guarded by the NSG as this allows his commandos to train and rest better, after which he or she is able to provide an “alert” and the “best” proximate security in the country as compared to other special units of Central paramilitary forces. “VIP security is not our mandate but we have been doing this as it was required and decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.We are a special force and our strength is in our compactness,” the DG stated. Choudhury said in order to preserve the elite quality of his special force, which showed its mettle recently by eliminating terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the NSG “wouldn’t want to expand” in this (VVIP security) domain. The DG said his stand is even understood by the MHA and it wouldn’t increase its task further in VVIP security duties, a domain, he said, where Central forces like CRPF, ITBP and CISF had chipped in. He said his commandos were being given “excellent training” in VVIP protection and the commando task forces deployed for this job are second to none in the country. The NSG guards CM’s like Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), J Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu), Tarun Gogoi (Assam), Akhilesh Yadav (Uttar Pradesh), Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab) and host of other political dignitaries like senior BJP leader LK Advani. It is also securing former CM’s like Prafulla Mahanta (Assam), K Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (Uttar Pradesh). The concept and thought process to reduce VVIP security duties of the elite force was mooted about two years back when the force decided to pull out about 900 commandos from its serving VVIP security duties and train them for specialised operational tasks of counter-terror and counter-hijack operations for which it was raised in 1984. — PTI To focus more on existing VVIPs * The special force has taken this decision to ensure the most fool-proof and strict security to the existing VVIPs under its cover which includes the likes of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers * The NSG Director General said it was essential to put a cap on the number VVIPs being guarded by the force as this allows his commandos to train and rest better
	Turban insult in China: SAD asks govt to protest Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked the Central government to lodge a strong protest with the organisers of the Fiba Asia Cup in China’s Wuhan where Sikh players in the Indian basketball team were asked to remove their turbans before being allowed to go for the match. SAD Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra raised the matter in the Lok Sabha today and was supported by the BJP’s Jagdambika Pal. Both said the Chinese organisers of the cup meted out racial discrimination to the Sikh players by forcing them to remove their turbans. “The organisers cited rules of the International Basketball Federation which term the turban as an accessory. But for the Sikhs the turban is an extension of their identity, a deeply personal symbol. The government must take note of this insult to the turban in China,” Chandumajra said. The Indian basketball team made history at the recently concluded 5th Fiba Asia Cup with a win over China. However, the Indian squad had to suffer humiliation when two of its Sikh players Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh were asked to remove their turbans before the start of the match on Saturday, July 12. They were not allowed to enter the court till they removed their turbans. Match organisers cited the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Rules’ Article 4.4.2 which states, “Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players”, and adds: “Headgear, hair accessories and jewellery are not permitted”. Review policy on turbans, US lawmakers tell FIBA Washington: Appalled by reports that Sikh players from India were asked to remove their turbans at an international basketball match, top US lawmakers have launched a campaign asking FIBA to review the discriminatory policy. They have asked to carefully re-examine the existing policy with respect to Sikh turbans and support a change when FIBA’s Central Board next meets
	MLAs suspended Gandhinagar, July 24 Gujarat Assembly Speaker Vaju Vala on Thursday day suspended 35-odd Congress MLAs for creating ruckus. As Law Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja was speaking about budgetary allocations for his department, Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar interrupted him over the issue of pending cases in state courts. — PTI
	7-year-old ‘raped’, hanged in Bengal; mob lynches suspect Kolkata, July 24 In a horrific repeat of the Badaun rape-and-murder case, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped and then hanged from a tree at Rajnagar village in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Thursday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain said the girl was missing since Wednesday evening. Her father lodged a police complaint on Thursday against three persons from the village at the Nandakumar police station. However, before the police could apprehend the accused, villagers had severely beaten them up and set their houses afire. While one of the three died, the other two were rescued by the police and admitted in a local hospital. The body of the girl, found hanging from a neem tree, has been sent for postmortem. The body had been brought down by the villagers before the police arrived in the village, Jain said. A family member of the victim said she had gone to buy some puffed rice Wednesday evening and was missing since then. “She was sexually assaulted and killed. When we brought down the body, blood was oozing out,” said a villager. The Bengal incident happened about two months after two teenaged cousins were gang-raped and hanged from a tree in Katra Sadatganj village of Badaun district. — IANS
	Bhakra, Pong dam levels dip; BBMB calls meeting Chandigarh, July 24 The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has convened a meeting of partnering states - Punjab Haryana and Rajasthan - on July 28 to review the situation on water release due to decreased water level in Bhakra and Pong reservoirs after "deficient" rains. The three states get water from Bhakra and Pong dams for various purposes including irrigation. The inflow of water in Bhakra was much lower at 19,957 cusecs as against inflow of 59,118 cusecs last year and water level at the dam today stood at 1,634.45 feet, which was 8.83 feet less as compared to last year. According to an official of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the situation was "worrisome" in case of Pong dam, as water level was 1,324.76 feet, which was 30.94 feet short by the level it had in the corresponding period last year. Pong dam is dependent on rains in its catchment areas for filling up of its reservoir. The outflow of water from Bhakra reservoir was 25,558 cusecs as against 36,367 cusecs last year while outflow from Pong dam was 14,006 cusecs as against 12,004 cusecs, the official said. The power generation by power houses of BBMB is also lower by 19 per cent at 430 lakh units per day, official said. Last year, BBMB power houses generated 529 lakh units a day on an average. "As far as Pong dam is concerned, the situation is worrisome as the level this year is much lower against last year," Chief Engineer in Punjab Irrigation department, Amarjit Singh Dullet said. — PTI