PC’s day one in Tihar jail: Walking, reading, porridge & visit from son

New Delhi:07.09.2019
After a restless night spent on a wooden plank in his prison cell, former Union minister P Chidambaram began his day in Tihar jail on Friday with a walk in the courtyard, some reading and then a meeting with his son Karti, sources said.

The senior Congress leader, who was taken to Tihar on Thursday evening, remained on edge the entire night, they said. His morning, which began with a walk in the jail courtyard and a light breakfast of tea and porridge at 6am, was spent reading religious scriptures and the day’s newspapers, they said.

Later in the day, the senior Congress leader got a visit from his son. His advocate was also expected to meet him. The veteran politician, who is lodged in Jail No.7 which usually houses those accused in Enforcement Directorate cases, asked for a cot to sleep on but will get it only after a medical examination by a jail doctor finds he needs one, sources said.

The Congress leader, who was also the home minister during UPA-2, was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on Thursday in a corruption case related to the INX Media group. Chidambaram, who will be 74 on September 16, could well spend his birthday in jail if he doesn’t get bail before that.

He has been given no special facilities, except a separate cell and a western toilet as specified by the court, prison officials said. Like other inmates, he has access to the prison’s library and can watch television for a specified period. Before being given his cell, Chidambaram underwent a mandatory medical checkup. His son Karti was also lodged in this cell for 12 days in the same case last year. PTI

Cong leaders not allowed to meet PC
New Delhi:

A team of Congress leaders which went to meet former finance minister P Chidambaram in Tihar Jail on Friday was denied permission to meet him.

The jail authorities told them that only Chidambaram’s family and his lawyers were permitted to meet him.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had delegated party leaders Mukul Wasnik, P C Chako, Tamil Nadu MP Manickam Tagore and Avinash Pande to visit Chidambaram in jail.

The leaders who went in the afternoon were, however, turned away.

On Friday, the former finance minister was allowed visits by his son Karti and his lawyers in the afternoon.

Chidambaram was sent to judicial custody for 14 days for his alleged involvement in the INX Media corruption case, a charge he has denied. — Swati Mathur

Rajini’s daughter loses luggage at Heathrow, recounts ordeal

New Delhi:07.09.2019

Superstar Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth has raised concerns about passenger security and safety at airports and in flights after a harrowing experience she faced at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Soundarya and her husband Vishagan Vanangamudi lost their luggage at the London airport as they waited at a lounge for their chauffeur. She took to Twitter to share her ordeal.

“How secure are passengers and their belongings at an international airport? Our hand luggage got stolen on 1/9/19 at the Heathrow airport Emirates chauffeur lounge as we waited for our car. We immediately filed a complaint with the local Heathrow patrol. We were asked to wait to hear back from the cops via email,” she wrote slamming the airlines.

“The next day we received an email from them that the CCTV cameras in the Emirates chauffeur lounge were faulty and didn’t record anything on the day of the theft. This is shocking and absolute irresponsibility from the airline and airport we trust as International passengers. We lost valuables and my husband lost his passport. This has been a very traumatic experience,” added Soundarya, known for helming films such as “Kochadaiiyaan” and “VIP 2”.

Raising question about the safety assurance of the passengers, she said: “Authorities and airlines should be accountable! This should not happen to us and certainly should not happen to anyone else.” IANS

Kerala doctor quits IMA panel over silence on doctor’s detention in J&K

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:07.09.2019

Upset over the studied silence of the Indian Medical Association’s national leadership against the detainment of Dr Omar Salim in Jammu & Kashmir, a Kerala doctor quit from the IMA’s national standing committee. However, the IMA has condemned his stand and said that a team of IMA will be in Kashmir in the coming week to meetthedetaineddoctor tofind out the real facts of the matter.

Dr K V Babu from Kannur resigned from the national standing committee on media of IMA on Thursday. Dr Omar Salim of government medical college, Srinagar was detained by armed forces, alleging that he had talked to media. He was released on August 28.

However, the national leadership of the IMA has objected to the claims made by Dr Babu. “The IMA has a state unit in J&K andwewereunabletocontact them due to communication hurdles. If we want to react on an issue, first, we will have to know what exactly happened. For this our team is reaching this region this week and will be meeting the doctors there. Only then can we give a clear picture,” said IMA secretary general Dr R V Ashokan.

Dr Babu said despite several pleas made to the national leadership,they were not ready to come out in support of the doctor. “Hence, I felt there is no point in continuing in the standing committee on media of the IMA. I have no voice to speak to the media now when the leadership itself has taken such a stand. I cannot justify the detainment,” said Dr Babu.

Earlier, the IMA national leadership had come out in open against The Lancet editorial which flayed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The editorial had said, “Militant presence raises serious concerns for the health, safety, and freedom of Kashmiri people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vows that his decision to revoke autonomy will bring prosperity to Kashmir. But first, the people of Kashmir need healing from the deep wounds of this decade-old conflict, not subjugation to further violence and alienation.”

Dr K V Babu from Kannur said despite several pleas made to the national leadership, they were not ready to come out in support of Dr Omar Salim of government medical college, Srinagar, who was detained by armed forces, alleging that he had talked to media

NCTE Notification toi 07.09.2019

HC refuses to stop tax recovery action against tech giant
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.09.2019

The Madras high court on Friday upheld an order dismissing a plea moved by information technology major Cognizant, challenging the recovery proceedings initiated by the income tax department for non-payment of ₹2,912.25 crore dividend distribution tax (DDT).

A division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice M Nirmal Kumar also confirmed the interim order directing the company to deposit ₹490 crore, 15% of the total tax demand to be kept in a suspense account by the department pending disposal of appeal to be moved by the company before the appellate authority.

“We do not find any error in the order of the single judge with respect to the deposit made during the pendency of the interim order as erroneous. It is only an interim arrangement directed to be made pending the appeal,” the bench said.

The court, however, set aside the findings of the single judge on the nature of transaction and the scope under Section 115-O of the Income Tax Act.

The issue as to whether the tax demand order should be preceded by a procedure involving adjudication and the requirement of violation of principles of natural justice are also left open to be decided in the appeal, the bench added.

The issue pertains to the order passed by a single judge of the court dated June 25 dismissing the plea moved by Cognizant challenging the tax demand for remitting ₹19,415 crore to its nonresident shareholders in the US and Mauritius towards buyback of 94,00,543 of its equity shares in May 2016.

The dismissal was passed on the ground that the company has not exhausted all other available legal remedies before approaching the high court. Aggrieved, the company has moved the present appeal.


The court dismissed a plea moved by software giant Cognizant challenging action initiated by I-T department over ₹2,912 crore of unpaid tax

TN law univ students win sports meet

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.09.2019

Students from Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University (TNDALU), Chennai, won the overall championship at the recently concluded SPIRITUS 2019-2020 all India inter-law schools sports meet.

Around 25 law schools and universities from various states participated in the meet held at National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, from August 31 to September

2. TNDALU students won gold medals in table tennis (women), throw ball (women), volleyball, chess, tennis and football (men) and bagged the overall championship and athletics championship awards. They also emerged runners up in swimming events (men & women).

Applications called for post of physiotherapist

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.09.2019

The state government has invited applications for direct recruitment to the post of physiotherapist (grade - II) on temporary basis in Tamil Nadu medical and subordinate service. There are 77 vacancies for the post with a pay scale of ₹36,200 to ₹1,14,800.

Interested candidates with a degree in physiotherapy and less than 30 years old can apply on or before September 11. Age relaxation is applicable for those belonging to reserved communities, ex-servicemen and people with disabilities categories. Application forms are available on Medical Services Recruitment Board’s website (www.mrb.tn.gov.in). Applicants will be shortlisted based on a written test to be conducted on November 3.