People know who is responsible for Veda Nilayam I-T raids: CM

TNN | Nov 19, 2017, 00:44 IST

 

Madurai: Who is TTV Dhinakaran?, How can he be responsible for my appointment when he was not in the party for ten years and only came into it after Amma's demise, asked chief minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami here on Saturday.

He was addressing mediapersons at the airport here on his way back to Chennai after participating in the MGR centenary function at Sivaganga. "He was not in the party for ten years, whereas I have been there since 1974 and have held many important posts that Amma bestowed on me. I have gone to prison six times for the party, how many times has Dhinakaran gone?," he said. The chief minister also listed the various posts he had held, including district secretary in 1991 and PWD minister, an appointment Jayalalithaa made. "If he had appointed me, would I not be loyal to him?'' he asked.

On Dhinakaran's charge that he (CM) and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam were responsible for the raids on Veda Nilayam, he said, "It is you (media) who are promoting T T V Dhinarakan by giving him prominence," he said adding that Dhinakaran had nothing to do with the party. "You know who is responsible for income tax raids on Veda Nilayam and why. It is a temple for us and that is why the government has taken steps to turn it into a memorial," said the chief minister. He said that it was a well-known fact that the I-T department did not come under the state government and as to who was controlling it. Income tax raids were conducted on people who evaded taxes, he said.

The great disconnect

TNN | Updated: Nov 18, 2017, 23:45 IST

 

Chennai: Picture yourself and your family sitting on the living room sofa, each of you with a smart device — phone in your hand, another in your spouse's, your child playing with a tablet. Everyone's so connected. Now, remove the phones and tablet from the scene, but stay frozen in your poses. Do you feel the disconnect?

That's what got Eric Pickersgill started on his series 'Removed' in 2015. The US-based photographer — who is now in India working on part two of this photo-documentary — says the idea came to him one night when he was lying on his bed, phone in hand. "My wife and I were lying back to back, she had her phone, I had mine. My phone fell out of my hand, and as I leaned over to pick it up I noticed that my hand was still cupped like it was holding a phantom phone. I looked over at my wife, and wondered what it would be like if I shot everyday scenes of people with their mobile phones and iPads, but with the devices removed from their hands," says Pickersgill. "Removing the phone seemed to disrupt the scene, and make the real surreal," adds the 31-year-old, whose photo series went viral. "The idea was to show that our smartphones allow us to connect to people anywhere. But what kind of connection do they afford us? Some people who viewed the photographs didn't even notice the phones were removed. That's how much a part of us our mobile phones are," he adds.

A holiday in China placed Pickersgill in a rice field, and as he watched a farmer in a straw hat, against the backdrop of green fields, stop his work to answer his phone, the universality of his series struck him. "But China had restrictions in terms of doing a series there, so India became my first lap," says Pickersgill, who photo-stopped at Delhi, Rishikesh, Shillong and Mumbai.

One of the main differences between his original series and the one in India is the infusion of colour. Though his first series was black and white, Pickersgill realised India's vibrancy could not be contained in monochrome. "India has a lot of colour, it's overpowering," says Pickersgill, who works with film. "India was showing me how mobile phones could bring people together as well. So this series, which is also being made as a feature documentary, has a more rounded approach, showing how devices connect as well as disconnect, how new technologies create new behaviours."

In Kolkata, Pickersgill came across a group of girls in a cafe, standing on chairs and taking selfies. A few minutes later, they were seated side by side, sharing the photos. "We captured those very real moments, but with their permission removed the phones from their hands," says Pickersgill, who is creating the series in collaboration with calling app Tlkn. "The people, the poses, the scenarios we shoot are real, only the phones are missing," he adds.

In Shillong, Pickersgill captured a family at the dinner table, mum staring straight into the camera, the rest of her family staring deeply at their invisible mobiles. On a hillside, Pickersgill chanced upon a busload of tourists on a photo break, asked them to remain in pose, and then removed

their cellphones.

In Rishikesh, Pickersgill and crew interviewed a yogi, who spoke at length about how gestures were a way of displaying emotion and connection with the body, but the overuse of mobiles was changing body language from an instinctive action to a mere reaction. As the yogi paused in the middle of his discourse to answer his phone, Pickersgill asked him to freeze, then removed the phone from his hand, and took the shot. "The documentary is meant to open up conversation," says Pickersgill.

CBI probes Chennai firm plaint on UK co hand in multi-crore scam

Suresh Kumar | TNN | Nov 19, 2017, 05:47 IST

CHENNAI: The CBI has commenced a probe into a possible several hundred crore money laundering scam involving a UK-based venture capital firm. The suspected fraud came to light when the promoter of Chennai-based Zynergy Solar Projects and Services Private Limited approached the Madras high court seeking a probe by economic wing of the CBI, based on his representation dated October 5.

When the plea came up for hearing on October 27, special public prosecutor for CBI told the HC that action was being taken in accordance with the law based on Zynergy's representation. Recording the submission, Justice G Jayachandran disposed of the plea. The primary allegation of Rohit Rabindranath, who floated Zynergy in 2007, is that TejKohli of Kohli Ventures, a UK-based investment firm, had "cheated him and utilised Zynergy for money laundering."

Deal with UK firm had been struck in July 2015

Rabindranath ventured into solar power generation in 2010, and in July 2015, he signed a strategic investment agreement with Kohli Ventures. It was agreed by both sides that ₹30 crore would be invested by Kohli Ventures through its nominees in Zynergy partially in the form of equity capital and partly as fully compulsorily convertible debentures (FCCD) and optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCD).

"An initial investment of $4.445 million (₹30 crore) in remittances came in August-December 2015 from Kohli Ventures and Cascade Global Pvt Ltd Hong Kong, through Cyprus and Cayman Islands. Shares constituting 51% of the shareholding were allotted to Cascade Energy Pte Ltd (Cascade) as per the agreements," the petitioner said.

However, after the allotment of shares and securities in favour of Cascase Systems, it came to light that the transfers contravened mandatory provisions of master circular issued by the RBI, dated July 1, 2015, under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. As per the circular, a non-resident investor may exit after a minimum lock-in period of one year and no such investor should be guaranteed any assured exit price at the time of making such agreement and to only exit at a fair price at the time of exit. This apart, Zynergy's banker KEB Hana Bank, said the KYC report of its 51% shareholder, Cascade Systems was negative and notified the firm to conduct due diligence, and said financial assistance granted by the bank would be withdrawn if the issue was not rectified.

"A due diligence conducted by us revealed that TejKohli was involved in several criminal cases that are pending and was also convicted by the United States district court, central district California. He was also prohibited from owning or being affiliated or employed by any financial institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or from being employed in any capacity wherein he has custody, control or management of his employer's funds," the petitioner alleged.

Meanwhile, another banker of the company, Union Bank (UK), issued letters to the firm in March stating that Kohli if continued to be a shareholder in Zynergy, it would be constrained to call off the $4 million loan it had advanced.

On May 19 this year, income tax department officials attached the shares held by Cascade Systems in Zynergy under the Benami Property Transactions Act, 2016 on the ground that the act constituted a benami transaction as the investment was funded by Tej-Kohli and Cascade Global Limited, Hong Kong thus rendering the shares to be held by one person and the beneficial owner as someone else.

Drumstick price touches Rs 100 per kg

TNN | Nov 19, 2017, 06:36 IST

 

CHENNAI: After eggs, it's now the turn of drumsticks.

Prices of drumsticks on Saturday hit an all-time high of ₹100 per kg in the retail markets.

Hitherto, drumsticks were being sold at ₹ 50 per kg. However, due to reduced supply in the market, their prices have now risen to ₹100 per kg.

"Heavy winds in the drumstick growing areas had destroyed the crop and with less supply and increased demand, their prices have shot up," said P Anbuselvam, a retail trader.

Meanwhile, other vegetables too have seen a rise in prices due to reduced arrivals from the districts and neighbouring states. On Saturday, prices of broad beans touched ₹50 per kg when compared to ₹40 per kg last week. Green peas and small onions are being sold at ₹130 per kg.

Traders say the prices of vegetables will see a further rise in the next few days. Even tomatoes from Mulbagal in Kolar district of Karnataka were seen in fewer quantities at the Koyambedu wholesale market, thanks to a drop in supply

Two leopards die at Tirupati Zoo

TNN | Nov 18, 2017, 22:25 IST

 

TIRUPATI: Two leopards that were recently rescued were died at Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati.

The 8-year-old leopard was rescued from poachers trap at Mallarupally of Irala mandal in Chittoor district around a month ago. Another leopard was a cub aged about 10 months was trapped in the cage set up by the forest department officials at Kapilateerdam near Alipiri.

The cub leopard died on Monday and the bigger one died on Friday night. The cub that was caught in the cage has minor injuries on it but it has stopped taking food since it was caught. It became weak and died eventually. The doctors later found that live tape worms and round worms in its intestines. These worms leads to loss of appetite, anaemia and malnourishment.

The bigger one also stopped taking food. This one received injuries all over on its body after getting trapped in wires. It has not responded to the treatment given by the zoo officials and died after a month. The zoo curator Y Srinivasa Reddy told that both the leopards came to us in hopeless conditions. Our efforts went in vain as they succumbed to injuries he said.

Class X girl faints in school, doctors find her pregnant

TNN | Updated: Nov 19, 2017, 06:40 IST

 

 

CHENNAI: A Class X student who collapsed at a government school in the city two days ago was rushed to a private hospital which confirmed she was pregnant. On Saturday, police arrested a 27-year-old neighbour of the girl on charges of raping her and a court sent him to jail.

After a private hospital confirmed the pregnancy, the girl's mother took her to a government hospital where doctors, after an examination, alerted police about a school student brought there to abort a pregnancy.

Based on the information, police rushed to the hospital and questioned the girl and her mother before taking them to the police station for further inquiry. She told police that she had fallen in love with a construction worker who lives next to her house.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the two had known each other for the past three years. They often met after she returned from school and the man returned from work. The girl's father is a coolie and the family lives in rented accommodation in a north Chennai neighbourhood.

The case has been to transeferred to an all-woman police station and a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Jaya inducted aide into several companies

Siva Kumar | TNN | Nov 19, 2017, 07:01 IST

 

 

Police personnel guard Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence during an I-T search on Friday night.

CHENNAI: Income tax searches on the premises of jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, family members and associates are set to continue as I-T officials are still ferreting out details from the documents seized so far.

On Friday night, they searched parts of Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence, especially the rooms used by her personal secretary S Poonkundran and Sasikala. Still, the room used by Jayalalithaa was not searched, said I-T officials. Poonkundran was appointed director of certain firms when Sasikala was sent out of Poes Garden in 2011. When she returned, she had him replaced.

I-T officials believe Poonkundran, who was said to be a glorified gatekeeper at Veda Nilayam, could lead them to information on businesses of Sasikala's extended family. "Nothing transpired at Veda Nilayam without Poonkundran's knowledge. He used to filter even Jayalalithaa's appointments," said an AIADMK source.

"We are going through the documents relating to the shell companies owned by Sasikala's extended family and business associates. We got some leads while questioning Poonkundran. It is in this connection that we entered Jayalalithaa's residence on Friday night. Though we searched 188 premises for 5 days, more places could be searched when we get additional information in the coming days. Veda Nilayam is the first among them," an I-T official told TOI.

I-T officials did not respond when asked why Jayalalithaa's residence, and her Kodanad and Siruthavur bungalows were not searched in the initial round. Sasikala had been using all these premises for years. I-T officials had dropped into the Jaya TV building adjacent to Veda Nilayam more than a week ago, but they took more than a week to enter Jayalalithaa's residence.

"In Friday night's search, we have seized some original documents of companies owned by Sasikala's family members. The photocopies were seized from various other places earlier. Some photocopies were seized from a shop in Chennai, where they were dumped when searches were going on last week," the official said.