Money laundering case against Orissa HC ex-judge; Rs 3 crore the ‘rate card’

The ED case is based on a CBI FIR in the matter which had set off a judicial storm in the apex court last week. The agency had arrested Quddusi and five others on September 20 and also searched their premises.

 THE Enforcement Directorate has registered a case of money laundering against former Orissa High Court judge I M Quddusi and five others for allegedly trying to influence court proceedings over an application to grant admission rights to a Lucknow-based medical college barred by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The ED case is based on a CBI FIR in the matter which had set off a judicial storm in the apex court last week. The agency had arrested Quddusi and five others on September 20 and also searched their premises. Sources in CBI and ED said that investigations have revealed that Quddusi and his associates had demanded Rs 3 crore from the medical college, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, to get a favourable judicial order.

“It was their going rate. They have similarly taken money from other people to get them favourable orders in courts. How this was being done is a matter of investigation,” an official privy to probe details said. There are over 80 phone intercepts with CBI and ED where the accused are allegedly heard talking about the conspiracy. The CBI has already obtained voice samples of Quddusi to match those found in the intercepts.

The CBI has recovered Rs 1.86 crore cash and documents from the accused, which are being scrutinised, sources said. It is currently recording statements of various witnesses, sources added. Notably, ED has powers to attach properties belonging to the accused of the value of alleged money laundering involved in the alleged offence. Sources said such proceedings will be initiated once the probe progresses further.

All six accused are out on bail. The CBI questioned Quddusi twice after he secured bail. It told the court recently that Quddusi allegedly got “one instalment of gratification from accused B P Yadav”. Seeking further custody of the two, the CBI had said, “Their role is required to be interrogated (to know) how the amount of gratification was paid, by whom, and what was the way of transaction.”
Sources said phone intercepts of conversations regarding Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, one of 46 medical institutions barred due to poor infrastructure, prompted the CBI to arrest Quddusi, who had served in High Courts of Allahabad, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The five others arrested were B P Yadav and Palash Yadav, promoters of the medical college; alleged middleman Biswanath Agrawal; alleged hawala operator Ram Dev Saraswat; and Bhawana Pandey, Quddusi’s alleged associate.

Quddusi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal refused to comment on the fresh developments and the allegations made against the former judge. The CBI FIR alleged that promoters of the Lucknow medical college, barred from admitting students for two years, had approached Quddusi, who allegedly promised relief in exchange for bribes to influential people.

The college challenged the government order in Supreme Court. The court, the FIR said, directed the government on August 1 to consider afresh the material on record. The government heard the matter and barred the college from admitting students for 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic sessions. It also authorised MCI to cash the college’s bank guarantee of Rs 2 crore.

The college promoters moved the Supreme Court and at the same time also allegedly got in touch with Quddusi and Bhawana Pandey who, the FIR says, promised to get the matter settled. According to CBI, Quddusi advised the promoters to withdraw the petition in SC and file a petition in Allahabad HC. The promoters moved the HC on August 25.

In an interim relief, HC ordered that the college “shall not be delisted from the list of colleges notified for counselling till the next date of listing i.e. August 21, 2017”, the FIR says. The court also stayed MCI from cashing the bank guarantee until the next hearing.

The MCI moved SC against this. The apex court disposed of the matter on August 29, with the college submitting that it “does not claim any benefit from the order passed by HC”. At this point, according to CBI, Quddusi and Pandey “assured to get the matter settled” through their contacts.

Plea to direct governments to pay Rs 1 crore to ryot’s family

By Express News Service  |   Published: 17th November 2017 02:17 AM  |  

CHENNAI: A public interest litigation has been filed in the Madras High Court for a directive to the State and Central governments to pay a compensation of `1 crore to the family of an agriculturist in  Tiruvannamalai district, who died after allegedly being assaulted by recovery agents of a nationalised bank on November 5 last.

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom the PIL from S Rajinikanth, president of TN Progressive Advocates Association, came up, ordered notice to the Secretary, Union Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India Governor and authorities of the State government, returnable by November 20.

The PIL also prayed for a directive to the State government to take stern action against those responsible for the death of the agriculturist Gnanasekaran (55).

The petitioner submitted that Gnanasekaran had obtained a loan of `5 lakh for purchasing a tractor from the Sathanur branch of SBI four years ago. He had returned `3 lakh. He could not repay the remaining `2 lakh for the past two years due to severe drought.

While so, recovery agents of the bank trespassed into his house on November 4 last, damaged household articles and assaulted him and his family members, including women. Gnanasekaran died the next day, the petitioner alleged.

Nalini did not give proof of daughter’s visit, proposed wedding’

By Express News Service  |   Published: 17th November 2017 02:12 AM  |  

 

CHENNAI: Nalini Sriharan, an accused in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has neither given a valid proof of her daughter’s visit to India and her proposed wedding, to consider her plea for six months ‘ordinary leave’, the State government said in its counter-affidavit filed in the HC on Thursday.

The counter was filed by the Joint Secretary, Home department, in response to a petition from Nalini, praying for a directive to the special prison for women at Vellore, where she is serving life term, to grant her six months leave for arranging and attending the wedding of her daughter.

Opposing grant of any relief, the counter said it was not known whether her daughter is living in India or proposing to visit the country. There was also no proof in support of the marriage claim. No material is furnished to verify the genuineness of her request. It manifests that she wants to get ordinary leave under the pretext of making wedding arrangements for her daughter, the counter said.

In her petition, Nalini had stated that her daughter Haritha lived in London with her grandparents and that she was not an Indian citizen. When the fact being so, Nalini had not given any valid proof like copy of her daughter’s travel document in support of her request for parole, the counter added.

The probation officer, to whom the request was referred, had made enquiries and filed a report to the government stating that the release of the prisoner is likely to breach peace in the locality. Based on his findings, the officer has also recommended against her request. The High Court, on earlier occasions had rejected her plea for premature release through a scheme introduced by the State for life convicts who were in jail for 20 years, the counter pointed out.

In her petition Nalini, who had completed 26 years in prison, claimed that as a life convict, she was entitled to one month’s leave, once in two years of imprisonment. So far, she had  not availed herself of any such leave. Since she had to make arrangements for the wedding of her daughter, she needed the long leave. She had already sent a representation in this regard to the CM on November 12, 2016.

No premature release

The High Court, on earlier occasions had rejected her plea for premature release through a scheme introduced by the State for life convicts who were in jail for 20 years

NRIs, persons of Indian origin need not link bank account, PAN with Aadhaar: UIDAI

By PTI  |   Published: 17th November 2017 08:16 PM  |  

NEW DELHI: NRIs and PIOs are not required to link bank accounts and other services with Aadhaar, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said today, while instructing various implementation agencies to work out a mechanism to verify the status of such individuals.

It said the Prevention of Money laundering Rules 2017 and the Income Tax Act clearly stipulate that the linking of bank accounts and PAN respectively, "is for those persons who are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar".

It said all central ministries and departments, state governments and other implementation agencies should bear in mind that Aadhaar as an identity document can be sought only from those eligible for it under Aadhaar Act, and that most NRIs/PIOs/ OCIs may not be eligible for its enrolment.

The Aadhaar-issuing body said several representations had been received about problems faced by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) where Aadhaar was being demanded with regard to various services and benefits.

It said that some Departments and implementing agencies were asking NRIs/OCIs/PIOs to submit or link their Aadhaar for availing services and benefits, despite the fact that they were not entitled to the 12-digit biometric identifier.

"The laws regarding submitting/linking of Aadhaar for availing the services/benefits applies to the residents as per the Aadhaar Act 2016... Most of the NRIs/PIOs/OCIs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment as per Aadhaar Act...," the UIDAI said in a note dated November 15 to central ministries and states.

It has further instructed the implementing agency to device a mechanism "to ascertain the genuineness of status of such NRIs/PIOs/OCIs".

NRIs Dont Need To Link Aadhaar With Bank Accounts, Says UIDAI

Most NRIs and PIOs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment as per Aadhaar Act...," the UIDAI had said.

New Delhi: NRIs and PIOs are not required to link bank accounts and other services with Aadhaar, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said today, while instructing various implementation agencies to work out a mechanism to verify the status of such individuals.

It said the Prevention of Money laundering Rules 2017 and the Income Tax Act clearly stipulate that the linking of bank accounts and PAN respectively, "is for those persons who are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar".

It said all central ministries and departments, state governments and other implementation agencies should bear in mind that Aadhaar as an identity document can be sought only from those eligible for it under Aadhaar Act, and that most NRIs/PIOs/ OCIs may not be eligible for its enrolment.

The Aadhaar-issuing body said several representations had been received about problems faced by Non Resident Indians (NRIs), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) where Aadhaar was being demanded with regard to various services and benefits.

It said that some Departments and implementing agencies were asking NRIs/OCIs/PIOs to submit or link their Aadhaar for availing services and benefits, despite the fact that they were not entitled for the 12-digit biometric identifier.

"The laws regarding submitting/linking of Aadhaar for availing the services/benefits applies to the residents as per the Aadhaar Act 2016... Most of the NRIs/PIOs/OCIs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment as per Aadhaar Act...," the UIDAI said in a note dated November 15 to central ministries  and states.

It has further instructed the implementing agency to device a mechanism "to ascertain the genuineness of status of such NRIs/PIOs/OCIs".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Karnataka doctors call off strike after meeting with CM Siddaramaiah

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Nov 18, 2017, 3:00 am IST

Siddaramaiah claimed the doctors had agreed to call off agitation, the IMA was more cautious.

 

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister Ramesh Kumar address a press conference after a meeting with private doctors at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Friday. (Photo: DC)

Belagavi/Bengaluru: In a huge relief for thousands of patients across the state, who have been deprived of treatment over the last few days,  private doctors on strike were able to arrive at an understanding  with the government on the Bill to regulate their services at their crucial meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Belagavi on Friday.

Emerging from the four-hour brainstorming session, the Chief Minister told reporters here that a modified Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill would  be introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, incorporating the changes suggested by the agitating doctors.

“The doctors are satisfied with the modifications to be made to the Bill, which the government has decided to introduce in the larger interest of the medical fraternity and the common man,” he said.   
While Mr Siddaramaiah claimed the doctors had agreed to call off agitation, the IMA was more cautious. Unlike the CM, who had no hesitation saying, "I will tell you on behalf of doctors that they  agreed to withdraw their hunger strike at the meeting," IMA, Karnataka chapter president, Dr Ravindranath, who was present at the press conference, was more hesitant, saying he would take a final call on withdrawing the agitation after holding a meeting with association members.

Though the CM did not disclose the changes being made to the Bill, Dr H. Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal Hospitals, later revealed that the government had agreed to remove the imprisonment clause for doctors violating the provisions of the new law and have the grievance redressal committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner with doctors and various women representatives as members and refer any case of clinical negligence to the Karnataka Medical Council, which was already handling such cases.

 "It has also been decided to introduce a clause on cases filed by the people to harass doctors. Overall, it was an amicable meeting and IMA Karnataka will be resuming work from Saturday," he said. Meanwhile, explaining the government's stance, the Chief Minister said that acting on the High Court's orders, he held meetings with experts, senior cabinet colleagues and doctors on the KPME Bill over the last few days. "After a two-hour meeting with my senior cabinet colleagues Thursday night, we decided to make changes to the KPME Bill and clarify the doubts of doctors and of the people about it," he said. Asked about the deaths of 25 patients during the doctors' strike, he shot back saying, "Do you have any evidence to show that they died due to the ongoing strike?"  Dr Ravindranath, however, said he was prepared to own moral responsibility for the deaths, whether or not they were caused by doctors' agitation.

Health Minister Ramesh Kumar highlighted some of the positive aspects and advantages of the Bill , saying  it would redress the problems in the healthcare mechanism of the state.

Kidnap and release of Madurai businessman’s daughters: Rs 50 lakh ransom paid to gang

Devanathan Veerappan | TNN | Nov 17, 2017, 14:56 IST

 

MADURAI: A Madurai-based businessman paid Rs 50 lakh as ransom to ensure the release of his two daughters on Thursday, police said on Friday. The Madurai city police formed special teams to nab the gang that was on the run with the ransom amount after releasing the girls near their home on Thursday night.

K Anusri, 8, and her sister K Jayasri, 4, who are daughters of businessman Karthigaiselvan of New Pankajam Colony, were kidnapped while they were being taken to school by his driver. Karthigaiselvan, 36, is a wholesale trader of various edible items and has manufacturing units in the city.

The kidnappers had initially demanded Rs 2 crore as ransom. However, later they settled for Rs 50 lakh.

Police sources said as instructed by the gang, Rs 50 lakh was kept near Gandhi Memorial Museum in the city. The gang collected the amount. An hour later, the gang members released the children around 200 metres way from their house.

Sources said two people, including a woman from Madhichiyam, had been detained by the Teppakulam police in connection with the kidnap. Further inquiries were on. The police were yet to identify the mastermind behind the kidnap.

Madurai city police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said the gang members would soon be arrested.