Infra firm, former CMD booked by CBI in ₹3,847.58 crore bank fraud case; conducted searches at four locations in Mumbai

The CBI booked infra firm, former CMD in over ₹3,800 crore bank fraud case; searches at 4 locations.  CBI searches Mumbai locations after FIR against Unity Infra projects for allegedly defrauding banks of ₹3,847.58 crore.  CBI came into action after a complaint was filed by the State Bank of India, one of the consortium members which alleged that the fraud took place at its commercial branch in Mumbai.  The bank fraud came into force when a forensic audit conducted by BDO India LLP reported irregularities in its audit report.  The…

The growing tensions between Canada and India: India expels Canadian diplomat

Canada’s prime minister, announced that there was “credible” information linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June.  Canada expelled India’s top intelligence agent in the country on Monday, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said, without providing details.  Earlier, India dismissed the Canadian accusation as “absurd and motivated”  India had expelled a Canadian diplomat with five days’ notice to leave the country, just hours after this action.  On 18 June this year Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in…

Gita Mehta, eminent author, journalist, and Odisha CM’s elder sister, breathed her last

Gita Mehta, renowned writer-filmmaker passed away on Saturday in New Delhi. Mehta, who died at 80, was the sister of Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and daughter of Biju Patnaik.  Gita Mehta will be remembered for her coverage of Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war for NBC and her acclaimed documentary “Dateline Bangladesh”.  Born in 1943 to Biju Patnaik and Gyan Patnaik in Delhi, she pursued her higher studies in India as well as at the prestigious Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.  Gita Mehta was the elder sister of Naveen Patnaik…

Congress prods SEBI to act against Adani firms, demands probe by JPC

The Congress on Saturday questioned SEBI’s move of not acting on money laundering allegations against “Adani-linked entities”.  It called for the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to discuss the issue during the special session of Parliament.  Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wondered whether SEBI will act now that the Mauritius financial regulator has revoked the licenses of two such entities.  “Even as SEBI professes helplessness, ironically Mauritian regulators have taken stringent action against suspect Adani-linked entities,” the Congress leader said.  The Congress and several other opposition parties have been…

The five-day “Amrit Kaal” session of parliament begins; “Small in Duration, Big on Occasion”: PM

The five-day “Amrit Kaal” session of parliament begins today.  Monday’s discussion on 75 years of parliament will be opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha and BJP’s senior leader Piyush Goyal in the Rajya Sabha.  Earlier this week, the government announced the agenda, putting an end to days of speculation about the country’s name change or a bill on “One Nation One Election”.  After Tuesday’s function at the Central Hall, the sitting will be shifted to the new parliament building.  Calling the special session of parliament, a “diversionary…

₹ 800 Crore Tax Evasion Suspected After 3 Days of Raids Against Azam Khan

The IT Department suspected tax evasion of more than Rs 800 crore by Azam Khan after it carried out raids on him and his associates.  Income tax sleuths reached Khan’s residence on Jail Road in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, and the search concluded on Friday evening.  On September 13, the Income Tax department conducted raids at more than 30 premises in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as part of a tax evasion probe against Khan.   The department conducted raids in Rampur, Saharanpur, Lucknow, Ghaziabad and…

Judges’ appointment process to be more transparent, says Chief Justice

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has responded to the criticism over the appointment of judges to Supreme Court and High Court.  Chief Justice said there’s a “Centre for Research and Planning”, headed by an officer from the Haryana judicial services.  “We have prepared a broad platform where we have assessed the top 50 judges of the country who would be considered for appointment to the Supreme Court of India.” He said.  He said the aim is to lay down objective parameters for the selection of judges.  “Now as per…

Rahul Navin appointed in-charge director of Enforcement Directorate, Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure ends

•     The Centre appointed special director Rahul Navin as in-charge director of the ED till the name of the regular director is announced or until further orders. •     Rahul Navin, a 1993-batch IRS officer, has taken charge as the acting director of the ED replacing Sanjay Kumar Mishra, an IRS officer of the 1984 batch. •     In July, the Supreme Court granted an extension of tenure to ED chief Mishra till September 15 but made it clear there would be no further extension. •     Mishra was first appointed the ED director for two years…

India to draft new policy in push for EV investment, the commerce minister said

India will come up with a new policy to attract electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and encourage greater investment in the sector.  A news agency reported last month that India was working on an EV policy that would cut import taxes for automakers that committed to some local manufacturing, citing sources.  Asked about the government’s plans, the minister said consultation on the new policy will be held with the industry.  Tesla’s senior executives with an interest in building a factory in India met Goyal in August.   Tesla plans to produce…

The Opposition bloc INDIA has reached out to the Telugu Desam Party leadership: in an attempt to pursue Naidu!

The Opposition bloc INDIA has reached out to the Telugu Desam Party leadership, days after the arrest of its chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu in an alleged corruption case.  The TMC, a leading constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA, contacted the TDP leadership since Naidu’s arrest.  In the last four years, the TDP’s principal rival in Andhra, the state’s ruling YSR Congress Party, has supported the central government in Parliament on crucial bills.  The BJP state unit stayed away from Monday’s state-wide bandh called by the TDP…