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Shocking: Indrani Mukherjea of INX Media names P Chidambaram, claims meeting him at North Block

OpIndia Staff
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Shocking: Indrani Mukherjea of INX Media names P Chidambaram, claims meeting him at North Block

Skeletons are tumbling out of the closet as Karti Chidambaram was arrested this morning in alleged scam in INX Group, which was owned by Peter and Indrani Mukherjea, over alleged Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) violations. Karti Chidambaram is accused of receiving kickbacks in 2007 to clear foreign investment worth around Rs. 300 crore in INX Media, using the influence of his father, P Chidambaram, the then Union Finance Minister.

As per documents accessed by Times Now, Indrani Mukherjee has claimed that she had met P Chidambaram at North Block in Central Secretariat.


Indrani, who is facing jail for allegedly murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, accused Chidambaram of trying to use his influence to get Indrani to pay bribe to Karti to the tune of 1 million dollars.


Karti has been flown from Chennai to Delhi by the CBI and Delhi’s Patiala House Court has sent him for 1 day police custody. Meanwhile, P Chidambaram has canceled his lecture at Oxford and is on his way back to India from London. You can read the FIR filed by CBI against Karti here.

Shia Board chief to AIMPLB: Mosques built after demolishing temples should be handed over to Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Shia Board chief to AIMPLB: Mosques built after demolishing temples should be handed over to Hindus

The Chief of Shia Wakf Board Wasim Rizvi has written to the AIMPLB president asking them to return all the Masjids which were built on destroyed temples, back to Hindus. The letter was posted on Twitter by journalist Rohit Sardana:


Rizvi in the letter told the AIMPLB that everyone is aware of the temples that were destroyed during Mughal rule. He also highlighted that worship of Allah in mosques built over destroyed temples is not permissible.

He, as a result, seems to have made a list monuments which were either affected or were a result of the plundering by erstwhile Islamic rulers.

This is the list by Rizvi:

  1. Ram Temple, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
  2. Keshav Dev Mandir, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Atala Dev Mandir, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
  4. Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  5. Rudra Mahalaya Mandir, Jila Batna, Gujarat
  6. Bhadrakali Mandir, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  7. Adeena Masjid, Pandua, West Bengal
  8. Vijaya Mandir, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
  9. Masjid Quwwatul Islam, Qutub Minar Delhi

Mr Rizvi also asked the Sunni board to take a decision regarding the proposal of Shia board. He remarked that if the Muslims of India returned these places to Hindus, it would also show the world about the true objectives and the true values of Islam. He asserted that he was writing to them because every Maulvi was a member of their organisation and they are all well aware of the principles of Islam.

In a parting potshot, Rizvi in the letter referred to the AIMPLB as an NGO and alleged that it was dominated by people with an extremist mentality.

He finally said that they were free to take any decision on the proposals of Central Shia board, but pleaded them to answer his question listed at the end of his letter.

Do principles of Islam allow a king to snatch the places of worship of another religion and build Mosques via force?

Full letter written by Wasim Rizvi can be read below :

Wasim Rizvi letter to AIMPLB Page 1

 

Wasim Rizvi letter to AIMPLB Page 2

 

Wasim Rizvi letter to AIMPLB Page 3

It remains to be seen whether AIMPLB responds to Rizvi’s letter.

VIDEO: ‘The OpIndia Recap’ with Sham Sharma : Tripura elections and the Left’s unbridled violence

OpIndia Staff
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VIDEO: ‘The OpIndia Recap’ with Sham Sharma : Tripura elections and the Left’s unbridled violence

After the past episodes, we are back with another smashing episode of ‘The Opindia Recap’ by Sham Sharma, an MBA student at the Roosevelt University, Chicago and a sales professional.

Elections in Tripura have concluded recently and the run-up to those elections have been marred by the quintessential left violence. With results due on 3rd March, we take a look back at the violence that was unleashed in the state of Tripura by the Left government led by Manik Sarkar.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhYQzYOxWdM]

You can also watch the video on YouTube.

We thank Sham for this collaboration!

Hindu exodus in Jammu village : Villagers flee alleging torture and harassment of their children by JK police

OpIndia Staff
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Hindu exodus in Jammu village : Villagers flee alleging torture and harassment of their children by JK police

15 Hindu families from Rassana village in Jammu’s Kathua district decided to flee their homes on Tuesday, over allegations that the Jammu and Kashmir police’s crime department was harassing and torturing their children. The case pertains to an unfortunate rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. The body of the poor girl was recovered from the forests near the Rassana village on 17th January.

As per the villagers, they were under constant fear of random detention of their children under the pretext of questioning. The local villagers weren’t alone in this plight of theirs and were joined in solidarity by hundreds of people from adjoining villages.

As per local reports, the families after leaving their village took refuge under a Peepal tree near Koota’s government Higher Secondary School. As a result, they also violated section 144 which was imposed by the district administration some days back. Later the Hindu Ekta Manch, with the help of locals arranged shelter for the fear-stricken villagers and urged the administration to restore the confidence of the hapless individuals.

As per Vijay Sharma, the Hindu Ekta Manch’s president, the accused were never supported by them and a fair investigation needed to be carried out restore the people’s faith in the administration. He alleged that the crime branch was only interested to hear one viewpoint and was also implicating youths in false cases. He thus alleged that these developments were part of a bigger communal game.

The villagers allege that the police and the administration are working under political pressure. As per them, a class XI student was called for questioning twice, besides that, an elderly father and his son were allegedly pressurised to record their statements based on directives by the crime branch.

A class XII girl too alleged that she and others were being harassed on a daily basis, due to which their studies were badly affected. Incidentally, this comes at a time when X and XII standard board exams have already begun. She alleged that CM Mehbooba Mufti was politicising the matter for vote bank politics.

Besides this, it has also been alleged that the villagers were even receiving threats from unscrupulous elements.

In light of this development, the BJP’s state establishment has demanded a CBI probe in this matter. As per BJP’s state general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul, locals had raised doubts over the crime branch’s investigation, hence the government needed to order a CBI probe. The BJP though is also one of the parties blamed for the plight of the villagers.

The police, on the other hand, has played down this matter, with Alok Puri the Additional DGP Crime Branch stating that calling people for questioning is a part of the investigation. He claimed that only three people were arrested and no others were detained.

CBI registers case against Kolkata’s RP Infosystems for Rs 515.15 crore loan fraud

OpIndia Staff
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CBI registers case against Kolkata’s RP Infosystems for Rs 515.15 crore loan fraud

In another bank fraud case after the PNB scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation today lodged a case against Kolkata based RP Infosystems and three of its directors for an alleged Bank Fraud of Rs 515.15 crores. The company was known for producing the ‘Chirag’ brand of personal computers.


Republic TV has reported that the CBI has also brought charges against a consortium of 17 leading PSU Banks including SBI, PNB, Union Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Canara Bank. According to reports, the case has been registered under section 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. The charges also include criminal misconduct by a public servant.

The accused, as per reports, procured the 515.15 crore loans from Canara Bank on the basis of forged documents and fake debtor’s stock papers and later willfully defaulted on the loan by diverting the funds. Letters of Credit were issued by different members of the PSU banks consortium since 2012.

The names of the three directors of the RP Infosystems are Shivaji Panja, Kaustuv Ray and Vinay Bafna. It is notable here that the accused directors of RP Infosystems have another CBI case against them pertaining to loan fraud complaint by IDBI bank. The bank had alleged then that the three directors had availed loan on the basis of forged papers and caused a loss of 180 crores to the bank.

In June 2015, CBI had conducted raids on six properties including offices and residences of the accused. One of the accused Shivaji Panja has alleged links with Trinamool Congress. In February 2015, Panja was detained at Dumdum airport by the police while returning from Dhaka as part of the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s entourage. That time too, Panja had been arrested on charges of obtaining an 18 crore financial assistance from IFCI Factors Ltd, a government-run finance institution on the basis of forged documents.

Panja allegedly had very close links with Mamata Banerjee. He was appointed a member of a task force by the Department of Information and Culture by the TMC government. He was also made a member of the tele-academy set up by the CM. He was also convenor of the Kolkata International Film Festival and was in-charge of the CM’s painting exhibitions.

Though Mamata Banerjee and TMC leaders had denied any links with Panja, further investigations are expected to reveal more details.

Congress’ self goal: Sanjay Jha’s tweet implies Karti in same league as Mallya, Nirav Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Congress’ self goal: Sanjay Jha’s tweet implies Karti in same league as Mallya, Nirav Modi

Following the sensational arrest of former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram by the CBI in Chennai earlier today, Congress has cried foul and called it a case of political vendetta. While many Congress leaders and sympathisers masquerading as journalists tried to portray Karti’s arrest as an attempt to divert attention from the PNB scam which is under investigation, some Congress leaders could not keep their foot too far from their mouth.

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted in defence of Karti saying that the fact that he returned from London (surprising to see London being a favourite hangout place for those accused of fraud, like Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi), but others, get a ‘VIP sendoff’.


By his tweet, does Jha mean that Karti is in the same league as Mallaya and Nirav Modi and others accused of swindling crores of rupees?

People even pointed it out to him that this could imply an admission of guilt, in a way.


Some even wondered if Karti was just thrown under the bus to save The Family?


While some just decided to have some fun at Jha’s expense.


Whatever it is, we here hope this is first of the many steps which will clean up the system.

Bollywood actor and serial abuser was invited as chief guest for an event by Mumbai Police?

Nithesh S
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Bollywood actor and serial abuser was invited as chief guest for an event by Mumbai Police?

A Bollywood actor by name Ajaz Khan is under fire for his sexually suggestive tweet against a Twitter user Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish). The actor has posted sexually suggestive tweets targeting @AsYouNotWish that was condemned by Twitterati. The same actor had been held for sending obscene pics to women over a messaging app. The same actor had also declared that he would prefer Quran over constitution any day.

Mumbai Police reply to Sonam Mahajan

It is also surprising to note that Twitter India has not taken action against this abusive user who has a verified account. Apparently, Mumbai police have not taken action against the actor so far.


What is even more surprising is that the same person had been invited to a Mumbai Police event as a chief guest.


The pertinent question now is whether Ajaz Khan will be brought to book by Mumbai Police and whether witter India suspends the account of this actor. Twitter has been in censoring so-called “right wing” voices overseas and in India in the spirit of “keeping the discourse civil”. We wonder if this discourse by Khan would be considered uncivil enough by Twitter to finally suspend his account.

Update: Mumbai police has denied that the guy was ever invited as chief guest and they suggested that the abusive actor was confusing some other police with Mumbai police.

Read the scathing FIR filed by CBI against Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media scam

Nupur J Sharma
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Read the scathing FIR filed by CBI against Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media scam

Today the country woke up to the news of Karti Chidambaram, son of P. Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister during Congress regime has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case. While the Congress party cried foul and as usual alleged ‘political vendetta’, it is necessary to try and understand what Karti Chidambaram is really accused of. For that purpose, it is necessary to go through the FIR filed by the CBI last year in May against the accused.

As also detailed in the court order allowing detention of Bhaskar Raman, Karti Chidambaram’s CA, INX Media Pvt. Limited vide its application dated 13.03.2007 had approached the Chairman of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking permission to issue up to 14,98,995 equity shares of Rs. 10 each and up to 31,22,605 convertible, non-cumulative, redeemable preference shares of Rs. 10 each collectively representing 46.216% of the issued equity share capital of INX Media on an ‘as converted’ basis to three NRI investors under the FDI route and the said approval was sought from FIPB.

In the CBI FIR, the proposal put to the FIP Board clearly mentioned the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (in INX Media, Director – Indrani Mukherjea) to the extent of Rs. 4,62,16,000 (Rs. 4.62 crores). The FIPB Unit also clearly stated that for downstream investment in INX a separate FIPB approval would be required.

According to the CBI FIR, INX Media (Director – Indrani Mukherjea) deliberately and in violation of the conditions laid down made a downstream investment to the extent of 26% (Downstream investment means indirect foreign investment by one Indian company into another Indian company by way of subscription or acquisition of shares) in the capital of INX News (Director – Peter Mukherjea) without approval from FIPB. The downstream investment included indirect foreign investment by the same foreign investors. INX Media also generated more than 305 crores of FDI, whereas only an inflow of 4.62 crores was approved. 

Perhaps the most scathing allegation in the CBI FIR was that INX Media in order to wriggle out of the situation entered into a “criminal conspiracy” with Karti Chidambaram (Promoter Director of Chess Management Services Pvt Ltd) hoping that Karti would be able to influence public servants of the FIPB Unite of the Ministry of Finance, because the Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram, was Karti’s father.

The FIR also mentions that due to the Karti Chidambaram’s influence, but virtue of being the Finance Minister’s son, the concerned officers of FIPB Unit of the Ministry of Finance ignored the serious illegalities on the part of INX Media (Indrani’s firm) and deliberately showed undue favours to INX by abusing their official position. They advised INX News (P) Ltd (Peter’s firm) to apply afresh for FIPB approval in respect to the downstream investment which had already been made by INX Media Pvt Limited. Officers of FIPB also ignored the request of the department of revenue to investigate.

The CBI FIR clearly points towards to involvement of P Chidambaram as well. It mentions how INX News Pvt Ltd had concealed that they already have received 26% investment including FDI and owing to a “criminal conspiracy”, they again approached FIPB Unit of Finance Ministry seeking permission for downstream investment. The FIR calls it a “deceitful and fallacious” proposal. It also says that this proposal was favourably considered by the officials of Finance Ministry and “approved by the Finance Minister” (the Finance Minister at the time was P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram’s father). It says that this showed the malafide and dishonest intentions of the officials.

The CBI FIR further alleges that the senior officials of the Finance Ministry misinformed the investigation being conducted by the investigation wing of the income tax department.

The situation gets murkier in the following parts of the FIR. The FIR says that Karti Chidambaram actively tried to conceal his identity. The payment that Karti Chidambaram’s firm got in return of scuttling the probe and influencing officials from his father’s ministry was routed to Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited (ASCPL) so as to keep Karti’s identity hidden. ASCPL was being controlled by Karti ‘indirectly’. The Director of ASCPL that time was Bhaskararaman who was close aide and family Chartered Accountant of the Chidambaram family.

The FIR mentions that approximately Rs. 3.5 crores worth of invoices were raised in favour of INX group in the name of other companies that were directly or indirectly controlled by Karti Chidambaram. Such invoices were falsely raised for creation and acquisition of media content. However, INX group has in its records clearly mentioned that a payment of Rs. 10 Lacs was made to Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Ltd towards “Management consultancy charges towards FIPB notification and clarification”. Here it must be remembered that Indrani Mukherjea (Director of INX Media) agreed to paying a 5 crore bribe to Karti Chidambaram.

On the basis of the above commissions and ommissions, the FIR concluded prima facie commission of offence under section 120B (read with 420 IPC), section 8 and section 13(2) (read with 13(1)(d)) of PC Act 1988 against

  1. INX Media (P) Ltd through its then Director Indrani Mukherjea
  2. INX News (P) Ltd through its then Director Peter Mukherjea (Indrani Mukherjea’s husband)
  3. Karti Chidambaram
  4. Chess Management Services (P) Ltd through its Director Karti Chidambaram and others
  5. Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Ltd through its Director Padma Bhaskaraman (who is not in custody and was also the family Chartered Accountant of the Chidambaram family)
  6. Unknown officers of the FIPB Unit of Finance Ministry

Karti Chidambaram has been arrested by the authorities today on the basis of this FIR which was filed by the CBI back in May 2017. From the contents of the FIR, the nexus between Indrani Mukherjea, Peter Mukherjea and Karti Chidambaram with the active participation of Bhaskaraman is extremely evident. What is most sordid, however, is the impunity with which the Finance Ministry under FM P Chidambaram has acted, brazenly lying, breaking rules, committing crimes, to favour son Karti and his associates. The Congress Party may cry ‘vendetta’ all they like, the fact remains if the FIR is to be believed, there seems to have been massive improprieties committed even by the highest authorities in the Finance Ministry. Not to forget, Indrani Mukherjea’s confession that she paid a Rs. 5 crores bribe to Karti. The question remains this: After the fact that the malafide proposal was favourably considered by the officials of Finance Ministry and “approved by the Finance Minister”, P Chidambaram has emerged, can the Congress and Chidambaram’s really play the victim card and feign ignorance? With the scathing contents of this FIR, one can only wonder if it is a matter of time before P Chidambaram himself is called in to question for the deeds of his ministry.

Congress cries vendetta even as Kejriwal maintains deafening silence on Karti Chidambaram’s arrest

OpIndia Staff
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Congress cries vendetta even as Kejriwal maintains deafening silence on Karti Chidambaram’s arrest

Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, was today arrested in Chennai by the CBI, as soon as he stepped out a British Airways flight while returning from London. This arrest is in connection with the INX media scam where the father-son duo has been under scanner regarding the FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) approvals being provided to INX media, allegedly in exchange of bribes given to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Limited, a firm controlled by Karti Chidambaram.

The political response to Karti’s arrest has been interesting, with the Congress party openly crying vendetta politics and AAP supremo Kejriwal deciding to maintain silence.

As earlier reported, Indrani Mukherjea currently in jail for allegedly killing her daughter had admitted to paying a Rs 5 crore bribe to one of Karti’s firms. In brief, INX media in 2006 had received FIPB clearances to bring in foreign investment worth Rs 5 crores. But in 2007 it was discovered that the company had decided to illegally bring in Rs 305 crore of investment instead. They, as a result, got in trouble with the Income Tax authorities.

The Karti Chidambaram angle comes in this matter with the allegation that, after the Income Tax notice arrived, Indrani gave a Rs 5 crore bribe to firms owned by Karti for acquiring “dubious and illegal” post facto FIPB clearances given to INX media by then Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Post facto approval means that approval is given after any project has either begun or completed.

Even though the charges against Karti Chidambaram are pretty serious, rather than pondering upon the facts, the Congress party’s in-charge of communications Randeep Surjewala, outright decided to cry vendetta:


Surjewala alleged that the arrest of Karti Chidambaram was a diversionary tactic by the Modi government, to hide scams and colossal corruption like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. While attacking the Modi government for Choksi, Surjewala though didn’t dwell upon the allegations of Chidambaram allegedly helping Choksi in 2014.

While spokespersons like Surjewala were crying foul over the arrest, party President Rahul Gandhi was seen evading the media when questioned about Karti’s arrest.

Also interestingly supposed anti-corruption crusader and current AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has decided to maintain silence on Twitter over Karti’s arrest, even though it might potentially mean trouble for P Chidambaram himself.

This was unlike the Kejriwal of 2012-2013 where he was seen taking on Chidambaram at the slightest hint of foul play:


The BJP on the charges of vendetta politics has asserted that the law is taking its own course.

UBS says Modi’s victory ‘key’ to rich stock valuations, Investors have already priced in Modi’s victory in 2019

OpIndia Staff
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UBS says Modi’s victory ‘key’ to rich stock valuations, Investors have already priced in Modi’s victory in 2019

UBS Private Ltd says that Narendra Modi’s victory in the 2019 General Elections is key to India’s rich stock valuations. Most investors, however, have already priced in Modi winning a second term at the office. UBS has complimented Narendra Modi’s economic agenda and said the optimism towards it has helped investors brush off weak earnings.

While not trying to predict the outcome of the general elections, UBS has advised investors to keep an eye on three factors. The alliances formed by the opposition party have the potential to ruin BJP’s chances at retaining power at the Center. The analysts observed that the BJP may not have won as many seats as it did in 2014 if key opposition parties had joined hands. The analysts also remarked that the results of state elections this year could indicate the mood of the nation. However, they admitted that results of state elections do not necessarily reflect people’s sentiment on national issues as they did not “consider differences in voting patterns for state and national elections.” Opinion polls are the third factor that has to be taken into account.

The analysts further wrote, “With the election still 12 months away, only one thing is clear: uncertainty (either around the timing or party agenda). If portfolio flows slowly due to election uncertainty or the recent rise in US inflation (and yield), then the rupee could come under pressure.”

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