Thursday, December 25, 2025

CBI arrests 2 retired Bank of India officials in Rs 2654 crore loan fraud case

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested two senior retired officers of Bank of India in connection with alleged loan fraud of Rs 2,654 crore by Vadodara-based Diamond Power Infrastructure Ltd. (DPIL).

According to CBI, V V Agnihotri and P K Shrivastava, retired GM and DGM respectively had allegedly granted undue favours in the sanction of credit limits to DPIL in year 2008. The loan was declared a non-performing asset in 2016-17.

CBI in an FIR had said that the promoters of DPIL Suresh Narain Bhatnagar and his sons Amit and Sumit were arrested in April this year. The company which manufactures electric cables and equipment, had fraudulently availed Credit Facilities from a Consortium of 11 Banks (Public Sector and Private Sector) since 2008, with an outstanding amount of Rs. 2654.40 crore as on June 29, 2016.

The Consortium includes Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank, Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank, Dena Bank, SBI, IOB, IFCI, EXIM Bank of India and Corporation Bank and other financial institutions.

It is alleged that the company, with active collaboration with officials from various banks, managed to get enhanced credit facilities, in spite of the fact that they were already appearing in the Reserve Banks of India’s defaulter’s List.

Shashi Tharoor gets regular bail in Sunanda Pushkar death case

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh with one surety in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

Shashi Tharoor had moved the court on July 3 and was granted anticipatory bail on July 5 after he was named as an accused in the case and summoned by the police.

The congress MP, informed the court that he had already been granted anticipatory bail in the case by a sessions court.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal then granted regular bail to Tharoor on a personal bail bond of Rs 1 lakh with one surety of like amount .

Sunanda Pushkar, 51, was found dead at a five-star hotel in Delhi on January 17, 2014.

England won by 5 wickets in second T20I in Cardiff

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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England beat India by five wickets in the second T20I at Cardiff to level the series 1-1. Alex Hales emerged as a star. Hales smashed a six and a four in the last over when 12 runs were required to win the match. Indian team had a bad day as their batsmen and bowlers failed to impress on the field. Indian Skipper Virat Kohli complemented the opposition team stating England were the better team on the day.

Kohli said, “When you lose 3 wickets in the first 6 overs for 30 runs it’s difficult to come back. I thought a partnership would get us to 145, and that would have been competitive. England made good use of the wicket which had some extra bounce. We were pushed back initially in the first six.”

“I think we competed quite well but England were the better side, that’s why they came through today. We need to focus on the next game,” he added.

Meanwhile, England skipper Eoin Morgan praised his boys for their all-round effort “To come back from Old Trafford, we played quite well. When there is bounce in the wicket there is certainly a chance to take wickets upfront, and we did that,” Morgan said.

“Willey did well and Jake Ball was great on debut. Alex was fantastic today. We normally play spin well, and the guys were really confident and they stuck to the plans and executed extremely well today,” he added.

Tussle Between LG and Kejriwal Continues Over Services Department

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia met LG Anil Baijal on Friday at Raj Niwas. Kejriwal and Sisodia had sought meeting with LG after Delhi Services Department refused to abide by sisodia’s order on transfer decisions’.

The meeting happened two days after the Supreme court’s verdict on Wednesday, in which the five-judge bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had ruled that the Delhi government does not need the concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor for its decisions but has to only keep him posted. The LG should not act as an “adversary having a hostile attitude” towards the government but act as a facilitator. “The LG and the council of ministers must attempt to settle any point of difference by way of discussion and dialogue.”.

After meeting Baijal, Kejriwal accused the Centre of advising LG to ignore that part of SC order, which restricts LG’s powers to only 3 subjects. “MHA has advised LG to ignore that part of SC order, which restricts LG’s powers to only 3 subjects. V dangerous that central govt advising LG not to follow Hon’ble SC’s orders,” Kejriwal tweeted,  “Have sought time from Rajnath Singh ji to urge him to follow Hon’ble SC’s orders,” he added.

Meanwhile, Delhi LG Anil Baijal assured Kejriwal of continued support and cooperation. “Met Hon’ble CM @ArvindKejriwal & Hon’ble Dy. CM @msisodia . Assured them of my continued support & cooperation in the interest of good governance & overall development of Delhi as per the letter and spirit of Constitution,” LG Baijal tweeted.

UP allocates Rs 20 Million to build cow shelters in prisons

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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In a major move to protect cows in the state, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs. 20 million for setting up gaushalas (cow shelters) on the compounds of 12 district jails in the state.

Additional Director General of Prisons Chandraprakash, said “We have identified the prisons and work will be started soon. Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for making cow shelters in jails.”

Following government’s order, 12 district prisons were chosen in Meerut, Gorakhpur, Kannauj, Sultanpur, Kanpur, Balrampur, Gautam Budh Nagar, Dehat, Firozabad, Agra, Barabanki, Sitapur and Raebareli.

In addition to this move, cow shelters will be opened in 68 out of 75 districts in the state on an expenditure of Rs 81.6 crore.

State Prison Minister Jai Kumar Singh said, “People will not only get milk but with cow dung, organic vegetables can also be produced. Our prisoners will get fresh milk and vegetables. It will also create a good environment.”

The Samajwadi Party MLC Sunil Sajan while opposing the decision reportedly said “Jails are already overpopulated and conditions of prisoners are extremely bad. This government has failed to focus on the issues that concern people.”

“The prison inmates, otherwise sitting idle, will have the prospect of serving cows. This will lead them in the right direction and to a clear concience. I appreciate this decision taken by the Yogi Adityanath government,” Mahant Nritya Gopal Dasji Maharaj, president of Ram Janma Bhoomi reportedly said in Ayodhya.

SC directs Jagannath temple management to consider allowing visitor irrespective of religion or faith

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Ahead of most awaited festivals of Odisha the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, the Supreme Court on July 6 directed the management of Jagannath temple to consider allowing every visitor, irrespective of religion or faith, to offer prayers to the deity.

SC division bench, headed by Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and S Abdul Nazeer, stated in the interim order that the temple’s management committee will consider whether members of other religions will be allowed to visit the temple subject to regulations.

The bench said “Hinduism does not eliminate any other belief. It reflects eternal faith and wisdom and inspiration of centuries”.

“The temple management may consider, subject to regulatory measures with regard to dress code, giving of an appropriate declaration or compliance of other directions, permitting every visitor irrespective of his faith, to offer respects and to make offerings to the deity,” division bench added.

“I would not like to comment on what the Supreme Court decides, but reasonable restrictions are allowed in our religion through the Constitution,” BJP leader Subramanian Swamy reportedly said.

“In my opinion, if the temple and court have a problem then they should stop people of other religion getting closer to the main altar. Also, it’s only the temple’s management committee who will consider whether members of other religions will be allowed to visit the temple subject to regulations,” Swamy said.

His statement came a day after the Supreme Court asked the Jagannath temple authorities to implement the District Judge report and update its website to make it ‘friendly for devotees’.

Won’t deport Zakir Naik to India: Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, 52, who is wanted in India over several allegations of terror-related activities and hate speech is living in Malaysia. However, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on July 6 has refused to send him back to India.

“As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a news conference in administrative capital Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Malaysia was reviewing India’s request to extradite him.

“At this stage, our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian side. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with the relevant Malaysian authorities in this regard,” said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs at a press briefing.

In a July 2008 TV broadcast, Zakir Naik suggested that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for flying hijacked airliners into New York’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.

Zakir, who is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) is wanted in India for allegedly conducted terror-related activities and hate speech.

India and Malaysia have an existing extradition treaty.

BJP moving fast, PDP on verge of split in J&K !

By
Rakesh Rocky
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The BJP, who withdrew it’s support from the PDP on June 19,  is all set to play a spoilsport for the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told the Tehelka that Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP is on verge of split. At least five MLAs have so far revolted with Javed Baig latest in the list.

Former finance minister Haseeb Drabu, who was shunted out by Mehbooba Mufti from her government a few months ago is playing a vital role in the present developments, sources added. It is said that former loyalist of Mufti’s Dr Drabu is considered to be close to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav. Drabu with another PDP leader was in Delhi on Friday.

A senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity told this correspondent that smelling BJP’s game plan former CM Mehbooba Mufti recently visited Delhi and met senior Congress leaders including former party chief Sonia Gandhi and tried to please them to help in forming PDP government. However, after strong opposition from some senior Congress leaders party leadership expressed it’s helplessness in supporting PDP and Mehbooba Mufti. It was PDP who broke it’s relationship from Congress in 2007 and Ghulam Nabi Azad government couldn’t complete it’s term after 3-3 years power sharing agreement between the two parties.

Now Mehbooba Mufti is trying to play “Kashmir card” to garner support for her but it seems that she has failed. Sources said that one of her close aide also tried to woo those who are revolting, but for all in vain. National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has already claimed that his party wants early dissolution of the state Assembly so that people could give fresh mandate. There had been a very low turnout in the recent election in the state. 

It is said that the BJP is trying to garner support of at least dozen PDP MLAs. BJP have 25 members in the 87 member house. Ram Madhav, influential BJP general secretary had already camped in Srinagar. BJP chief Amit Shah have also visited Jammu after the fall of PDP-BJP government. This indicates that BJP is trying to focus on Jammu & Kashmir to win next parliamentary elections, which are due next year. However, here also there are words doing the rounds that BJP is planning to hold Lok Sabha polls in December along with few state assembly elections. 

Sources said that BJP is trying to split the PDP and in condition it succeeds in managing MLAs equal to majority, it will project a senior leader from the breakaway group as the chief minister. Party is also trying to woo a senior leader Sajjad Lone, minister in the previous government. Others whose name is doing the rounds in the BJP camp is Haseeb Drabu. Sources said that BJP also tried  to get support of PDP founder member and former deputy chief minister Muzzaffar Baig, however it is not yet clear that what was his response. If he revolts against Mehbooba Mufti in open, PDP may land in serious trouble. When Azad was heading the Congress-PDP government in 2006, Baig, then deputy chief minister in the government, had come very close to Azad which had annoyed Muftis. 

Now political developments are fastly taking place in J&K. Next few days are very crucial. BJP want to form a government whose chief minister is not from their party but their rubber stamp, so party could fast work on its agenda before 2019 elections. Sources said that BJP wants to make J&K it’s main poll plank in these elections. 

CJI ‘Master of the Roster,’ has power to allocate cases: SC

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Supreme Court on July 7 ruled on a petition challenging the existing roster practice of allocation of cases that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the “master of the roster” and has the power to assign cases.

“The Chief Justice (CJI) has the role of first among equals and is empowered to exercise leadership in administration of the court which includes assignment of cases,” said Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, confirming the verdict by two previous benches.

“There is no dispute that the Chief Justice is the master of roster and allocates cases to Judges. The constitution is silent on the Chief Justice. Conventions and judgements over the time and accepted by all stake holders that the Chief Justice is first among judges and senior most,” said the judges.

“The erosion of judiciary in the minds of people is greatest threat to judicial system,” he said, adding that CJI, being the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is the “spokesperson and leader of judiciary,” Justice Sikri added.

A judgment is based on the plea filed by former law minister Shanti Bhushan challenging the existing roster practice of allocation of cases.

“There are rich conventions and practices of the Supreme Court that are time-tested and should not be tinkered with,” Justice Bhushan said.

Congress alleges multi crore ‘Bitcoin Scam’ in Gujarat, Seeks judicial probe

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Congress Party on July 5 has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into the alleged multi-crore (more than Rs. 5,000 crore) “bitcoin scam” that has surfaced in Gujarat with suspected involvement of BJP leaders for converting black money through Bitcoin transactions.

While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said, “A new mega bitcoin scam has been unraveled in Gujarat. The finger of suspicion of this massive scam of illegal cryptocurrency directly points to several top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and a mastermind — an absconding BJP leader and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya.”

Congress alleged that Bitcoin (digital currency) is used for illegal hawala transactions, kidnappings post-demonetisation and the scam came to view following the abduction of Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt.

While terming Congress allegations ‘laughable’ BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said: “nothing can be more unfortunate as it is the state police which has cracked the case and acted against several persons.”

“The dirty tricks department of the Congress is at work to spread confusion and lies. It is blaming the police who have uncovered the case. I wonder if the Congress is trying to help somebody in this case as part of a conspiracy,” Baluni said.

The scam began with a complaint made to Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, by a Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt against Gujarat’s Amreli District police of alleged extortion of “200 bitcoins (Rs. 10 crore) and demanding Rs. 32 crore in cash. Later probe agencies found Amreli District police involvement in extortion and action was taken against several officials.

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