Home Blog Page 4703

‘Jack Ma will either be jailed or end up dead’: A prediction from 2019 that has gained great relevance as the Chinese billionaire disappears

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Jack Ma will either be jailed or end up dead’: A prediction from 2019 that has gained great relevance as the Chinese billionaire disappears

There was a prediction made in 2019 by a Chinese billionaire about Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Guo Wengui fled China as a fugitive in 2014 and in August 2019 predicted that Jack Ma would either be jailed or end up dead. The reason for such a prediction was that Wengui believed the Chinese government wanted to “take back” Ma’s ANT Group.

At the time, the prediction might have appeared too paranoid but in light of recent events, it does not sound too far-fetched. Jack Ma has reportedly disappeared from the African talent show that he created and was replaced by an Alibaba Executive. A spokesperson claimed “Due to a schedule conflict Mr Ma could no longer be part of the finale judge panel of Africa’s Business Heroes earlier this year (2020)”.

But the Chinese billionaire has not made an appearance in public in two months. And it is suspected that his disappearance is connected with his criticism of the financial regulators in the country. He described the regulators as a ‘pawnshop’ and an ‘old people’s club’. “Today’s financial system is the legacy of the Industrial Age. We must set up a new one for the next generation and young people. We must reform the current system,” Jack Ma said in a speech on October 24.

Following the comments, an antitrust investigation was initiated against the Alibaba Group Holding. Ma’s financial tech company Ant Group was also ordered to scale back its operations. In November, the blockbuster initial public offering of his Ant Group worth $37 billion was suspended under direct orders from Xi Jinping.

Jack Ma was also ordered to not leave the country. The antitrust investigation against his company wiped out $10 billion from his wealth. The ANT Group was ordered to redress the company’s insurance, lending, and wealth management services. The ANT Group, for its part, said that they will comply with the directives. “The rectification is an opportunity for Ant Group to strengthen the foundation for our business to grow with full compliance, and to continue focusing on innovating for social good and serving small businesses,” it said in a statement.

Observers say that such developments point towards the fact that China’s tech giants are under the radar of the Communist regime. “There is a wave of similar signals showing that China’s tech giants are staying on the radar of authorities. The anti-monopoly drafted guidance and antitrust review are just two of those signals,” said Bruce Pang, head of macro and strategy research at China Renaissance Securities Hong Kong.

Since the government investigations into the company, there has been a perceptible shift in public sentiment regarding Jack Ma. While he was earlier glorified and lionized, now he is being labelled a “villain”, an “evil capitalist” and a “bloodsucking ghost”. The businessmen has attracted comments against himself along the lines of “Workers of the world, unite!”

Meanwhile, capturing the anti-rich sentiment prevailing in the country, comments such as “An outstanding people’s billionaire like Jack Ma will definitely be hanged on top of the lamppost” are being ‘liked’ and retweeted hundreds and thousands of times on Chinese social media platforms. The Chinese government, on the other hand, is fueling such sentiments in part through its actions and taking advantage of it at the same to curtail the power of such tech giants.

It is no great surprise that China is looking to cut down the power the emerging tech giants could wield. There have been clamour in the United States of America as well to check the unparalleled power of Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter among other giants. There is bipartisan consensus in the USA as well that such tech giants operate as monopolies and there was a recent Congressional hearing on the matter.

Under such circumstances, it is not a surprise that similar sentiments exist in China as well where the government has much greater powers to solve such crisis. But pro-market forces in China fear, and with good reason, that the country could be moving back to a time when the CCP was a lot less tolerant towards capitalists.

Alibaba is touted to be the world’s largest e-commerce company with billions of dollars in turnover. Jack Ma was once Asia’s richest man before his wealth dwindled following action by the Chinese government and he has stumbled in the list of the world’s richest man.

China, under President Xi Jinping, has been ruthless against its critics and has arrested numerous dissidents of the regime. In March a property tycoon had disappeared after he called President Xi Jinping a ‘clown’ for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Ren Zhiqiang a billionaire financier, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he ‘voluntarily and truthfully confessed’ to various crimes of corruption. Similarly, Xian Jianhua, a billionaire financier, was snatched from a Hong Kong hotel in 2017 and taken to the mainland. 

West Bengal: BJP’s Krishnendu Mukherjee survives attack by gunmen, blames TMC

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Bengal: BJP’s Krishnendu Mukherjee survives attack by gunmen, blames TMC

Days after newly inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was targeted by Trinamool Congress workers, another BJP leader, Krishnendu Mukherjee, narrowly escaped an onslaught of bullets in Asansol, West Bengal.

As per reports, the incident took place on Sunday night when three unidentified men, allegedly from the TMC, open fired at the BJP leader’s convoy near his residence in Hirapur in Asansol. According to Mukherjee, he was returning home from Kolkata and had stopped his car outside his residence. When his driver stepped out to open the gate, three armed gunmen fired bullets at his car, the marks of which are clearly visible on the vehicle.

The BJP leader narrated that he locked himself inside the car, which failed their attempts to break open the door. Mukherjee said that he kept on pressing the horn to alert his neighbours. When the driver alerted the family, the family began screaming from inside the house. The gunmen had no option but to flee the crime scene. His claims are validated by the CCTV footage, which showed one of the gunmen running away from the car.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/ Zee 24 Ghanta)

Reportedly, a complaint has been filed with the Hirapur police station and an investigation has been initiated into the case. However, no accused have been arrested so far. Mukherjee informed that he has apprised senior BJP leaders about the possible assassination attempt.

Political reactions on the incident

While accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of masterminding the attack, he said, “This is a political conspiracy to eliminate me, by miscreants belonging to the TMC. They know that my existence is a threat to their consistent attempts at striking terror in Asansol.”

BJP West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh, said, “There was a fear that such an attack might be carried out against Krishnendu. Following his arrival, the political equation in Asansol has changed.” He further added that the West Bengal government had released several hardened criminals from jail to execute such attacks where the BJP have been spearheading a movement for change.

While dismissing the charges levelled against the party, TMC MLA Tapas Banerjee claimed that Krishnendu Mukherjee had been involved in murder, smuggling and extortion and the incident was a ‘fall-out’ with his old rivals. “We do not keep miscreants in our party”, he told Zee 24 Ghanta.

Suvendu Adhikari attacked by TMC goons in Nandigram 

Last month, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP party workers were attacked allegedly by TMC goons in Nandigram in East Midnapore, on their way to Janakinath Temple from Tenga. As per reports, Adhikari had set foot in Nandigram for the first time after defecting to the BJP from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Although he was en route an apolitical programme, several BJP supporters had flocked to welcome him in Nandigram. BJP workers had arrived in buses and cars to commemorate the event. However, at the Bhuto junction, Suvendu Adhikari and party workers came under attack allegedly from the TMC goons. While targeting Adhikari, the miscreants threw rocks and stones at him and his supporters.

During the attack, a bus carrying BJP workers was also vandalised. Several people, including a girl child, sustained head injuries. They were then taken to the Nandigram Hospital for medical treatment. According to Suvendu Adhikari, a total of 10 people were injured during the attack. BJP has also informed that they are unable to trace some of their workers, post the ambush.

Muslim ruffians allegedly associated with Maha cabinet minister accused of encroaching Hindu houses in Mumbai’s Malwani: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Muslim ruffians allegedly associated with Maha cabinet minister accused of encroaching Hindu houses in Mumbai’s Malwani: Details

Something akin to Kashmiri Pandit exodus from Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s and more recently the Kairana exodus of minority Hindus is underway at the Mumbai suburb of Malwani, Malad. Hindus, including many belonging to the SC/ST category, have been targeted by the Muslim ruffians in the neighbourhood, forcing them to flee the place they have been calling their homes for decades.

In Mumbai’s Malwani, a Muslim majority region, the Hindu minority is constantly threatened and intimidated by the Muslim hooligans to force them into leaving their homes and lands. From once having more than 100 Hindu families, the locality now houses a mere 8-10 Hindu families and even they are planning to leave the area for the fear of persecution from the Muslim thugs.

According to the residents of the region, the goons enjoy political patronage from the local Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, who is also a cabinet minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Allegedly, emboldened by their leader’s support, the Muslim hooligans have unabatedly encroached their lands and built madrassas and dargahs on government lands, the victims’ claim.

Damage roof of a victim’s house in Malwani

The victims also asserted that the police have so far not taken any credible action against the culprits despite a number of FIRs filed in connection with the unlawful encroachment of their houses by the Muslim thugs. Besides appropriating their houses, the victims alleged that the Muslim goons were also responsible for rampant drug peddling, unauthorised constructions and other illegal activities in their neighbourhood.

Mumbai BJP President Mangal Prabhat Lodha visits victims of oppression by Muslim goons in Malwani

BJP Mumbai President Mangal Prabhat Lodha took cognisance of the plight of the Hindu minority in Malwani and paid a visit to the region yesterday. Lodha, along with other local BJP leaders, met with the residents of the area and took stock of the situation.

Lodha said that the condition of the Hindus, including Dalit victims, in Malwani is similar to what happened to Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir in the early 1990s. He also urged the local administration and police officials to shun favouritism and act impartially against the perpetrators for coercing the Dalit minorities into vacating their houses.

BJP leaders meet the victims of encroachment by Muslim thugs in Malwani, Malad

Lodha took to Twitter to inform about his visit to Malwani on Sunday.

Muslim goons enjoy support from local MLA and Maha cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh: BJP Mandal President Sunil Koli

Following the visit of Lodha to Malwani, OpIndia got in touch with Mandal President Sunil Koli, who spoke about the travails faced by the Hindus and Dalits in the Muslim-dominated region of Malwani. Koli stated that the Muslim goons who are threatening Dalits to leave the place, enjoy support from the local leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Aslam Shaikh.

“These Muslim goons who go around threatening people to vacate their houses and land and pressurise them into selling them at nominal rates operate under the tutelage of local MLA Aslam Sheikh. They have their photos printed below Shaikh’s picture on big hoardings across the area. They are strengthening Muslim vote-bank for their leader by forcing others to leave,” Koli said.

The leader also alleged that once upon a time more than 100 Hindu families lived in the area but now only 8-10 Hindu families exist. Most of have them fled the place after being threatened by the Muslim hoodlums. He also added that now the focus of Muslim goons have shifted to Dalit families living in the region and they are being subjected to similar kind of threats and intimidation as witnessed by the Hindu families.

BJP Mumbai President Mangal Prabhat Lodha visits Malad and Malwani

Madrassas and Muslim shrines illegally built on Maharashtra government-owned land: Sunil Koli

“The Muslims goons have illegally occupied the houses of Hindus in chawl no. 7 behind the Bhaji Market. They are now harassing Dalits to vacate the place. Their houses are being attacked. Their women are being molested,” Koli said.

Koli further added that unauthorised madrassas and dargahs have sprung up at a number of places in Malwani. He stated that these madrassas and dargahs were built on the land owned by the Maharashtra government.

“Another important point to be noted here is the sudden emergence of several unsanctioned madrassas and dargahs in these chawls that are under the jurisdiction of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority(MHADA). A dargah and a madrassa have come up in chawl no. 5 in Chheda complex,” Koli said.

Speaking on the further course of action to be taken by the BJP, Koli informed us that they have given an ultimatum to the police officials to initiate action in the matter and submit them a report of the same to them by January 15. If the police fail in addressing the grievances of the victims, the saffron party would hit the roads and protest against the harassment of Dalits at the hands of the Muslim thugs in the region, he added.

Why tasteless jokes on Hindu gods feel not like free speech, but colonialism

Abhishek Banerjee
-
0
Why tasteless jokes on Hindu gods feel not like free speech, but colonialism

After the arrest of a comedian in Indore the other day, Indian liberals are asking their favourite question all over again. Why do Hindus these days have no chill? Why can’t they just take a joke? And what about free speech?

Funny that the question of free speech never comes up when other religions are involved. In 2012, Catholic organizations had demanded the resignation of censor board Chief because they had approved a movie showing a Catholic priest in poor light. They had also demanded a permanent representative from the community to sit on the censor board to avoid such incidents in the future.

Just think about it. A movie should be censored because it showed a Catholic priest in poor light? The scheming Hindu priest is a Bollywood staple. Without it, an entire genre of movies and their plots would come to an end. Why not the same standards for everyone in public discourse?

I know what liberals are going to say. Don’t do “whataboutism.” In any case, two wrongs would not make a right. Let us examine this further with an illustrative example.

Let me ask you this question: Is it ‘wrong’ to buy a shirt that is made in the UK?

Of course not. But imagine this conversation between a British imperialist and an Indian subject back in 1921:

Indian : I want to stop you from selling shirts in India.

Brit: That’s so unfair. It is against the idea of free trade.

Indian: But you don’t let me negotiate trade terms with you, set our own tariffs and trade with whoever we want.

Brit: Now, now, that is a completely separate issue. Don’t do whataboutism.

Everyone can see the problem here. Indeed, free speech is just like free trade. It has to be a two-way street to have any value. When you close both streets, it becomes like Communism. When you allow only one-way traffic, it becomes like colonialism.

I cannot speak for all Hindus, but I do know why more and more Hindus are getting angry about slights to Hindu gods. It is because they have figured out by now that free speech in India is not set up for the free exchange of ideas. We all know the consequences of mocking any religion other than Hinduism. For a certain religion, the consequences can be so terrifying that I dare not even name that religion in this article. Whether left-wing or right-wing, we all know which one it is.

This double standard has been out there in the open for decades. And you can’t hide it any more. “One-sided free speech” feels like bullying because it is bullying. One-sided free speech is like one-sided free trade. It is not a form of free trade at all. It is colonialism.

So when it comes to the matter of alleged comedians insulting Hindu gods, free speech is not even on the table. It would be great if we had free speech, but we have never had it. The only question here is whether Hindus will continue to put up with the bullying.

The Indian state provides a legal route to address such grievances. You can get people into trouble for “hurting religious sentiments.” For 70 years, the privileged religious groups have used these provisions to insulate themselves from all forms of criticism. Now, more and more Hindus want to use this provision of law. Who can blame them?

Delhi: Absconding Bilal Malik had hired men to kill ex-girlfriend and her mother, arrested after a month

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: Absconding Bilal Malik had hired men to kill ex-girlfriend and her mother, arrested after a month

In a major breakthrough, the Delhi police have arrested 27-year-old Bilal Malik and his three other accomplices for the gruesome murder of a woman at Mansarovar Park in Northeast Delhi in November, as per a report in Times of India.

As per reports, Bilal was in a relationship with a girl named Mehad. However, he had concealed the fact from her that he was already married. When Mehad learnt about the truth in August last year, she broke all ties with Bilal. However, he became obsessed with her and continued to insist on marriage. But Mehad turned down all his requests. A disenchanted Bilal then sought the help of three people, namely, Abdul Salam, Sahil and Kamil and offered them ₹4 lacs to kill her.

On November 30, Bilal went to the residence of Mehad, and his accomplices, in Mansarovar Park and insisted that he wanted to marry her. The accused also vowed to divorce his current wife. But, when Mehad rejected the marriage proposal, his aides open fired at the girl and her mother Shama Khan. While Shama was killed, Mehad sustained critical injuries. On being informed, the police reached the crime spot and rushed Mehad to a hospital for further medical treatment.

The hunt for Bilal Malik

Bilal and his hired gunmen were absconding ever since the incident. Although the police conducted raids at several hideouts, they were unable to trace him. The cops had registered a case based on Mehad’s statement. After a month from the incident, the police received a tip-off that Bilal could be found at Bhopura road area near Loni in Ghaziabad. As such, the police laid down a trap and was successful in arresting Bilal. They had also recovered a pistol and five bullets.

Bilal had past criminal record

During interrogation, the accused revealed the location of his accomplices, whom the cops apprehended from Chandpur near Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. It has now come to light that Bilal, a resident of Nand Nagri, had earlier been involved in theft and possession of illegal firearms. He had met his co-accused while attending a relative’s marriage and soon became friends. One of his accomplices, Abdul Salam has a murder case lodged against him in Seelampur in 2006. The other two accused, Sahil and Kamil had no past record.

Children home run by Harsh Mander’s NGO in the dock as NCPCR inspection reveals child sex abuse: Here are the shocking details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Children home run by Harsh Mander’s NGO in the dock as NCPCR inspection reveals child sex abuse: Here are the shocking details

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) initiated an inspection into two children homes, Umeed Aman Home for Boys and Khushi Rainbow Home for Girls, in South Delhi established by Centre for Equity Studies on the basis of a complaint received regarding a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act. Consequently, two teams were established by the NCPCR led by the Chairperson himself to investigate the matter. Harsh Mander is the director of CES, according to NCPCR.

The two homes were inspected on the 1st of October, 2020. Furthermore, the NCPCR was also aware of a case of child sexual abuse at Umeed Aman Ghar which is run by the Aman Biradari Trust according to NCPCR. The Aman Biradari Trust was founded by none other than Harsh Mander, former member of Sonia Gandhi’s National Advisory Council (NAC) and a member of an organisation with links to the Italian Secret Service and the Italian Government.

The NCPCR notes, “It was informed by the Former Member (of the NCPCR) that the said complaint was received in the Commission in 2012 but the matter was not dealt adequately at that time and that the same is required to be looked into in light of present complaint that has been received by the Commission.”

The NCPCR during its visit discovered that numerous norms and regulations were flouted at these homes. Covid norms and social distancing were not observed and apart from these, there were other serious violations.

Umeed Aman Ghar for Boys

The Child Care Institution registration was not renewed. There was no adequate counselor, cook or helper available. There were no records of recruitment of each staff, or work profile, and no medical officer was available on call. Most worryingly, “The rooms of the Home were not segregated and there was mingling of minor children with the elder children, which made the minor children vulnerable to abuse and bullying by the elder children.”

Rules violated at Umeed Aman Ghar
Rules violated at Umeed Aman Ghar

The NCPCR noted that it had come to its knowledge that there were multiple cases of child sexual abuse that had occurred within the institution at 2012, 2013 and 2016. However, during the inspection, the Commission was told that there had been no case of sexual offence at the institution and neither has been any case of child rights violation reported.

The NCPCR said, “The response given by the Staff and In- charge of the Home regarding this matter has been observed to be misleading and incorrect which is a serious violation and offence.” Furthermore, the child rights body has stated that it has knowledge of sexual abuse continuing in the shelter home and yet, it was not being reported.

Child Sex Abuse at Umeed Aman Ghar
Child Sex Abuse at Umeed Aman Ghar

The Commission also noted that a series of contradictory statements were made in regard to child sex abuse at the institutions. After initial denial of the shelter homes, CES appears to have admitted that these cases did occur. In fact, the NCPCR cites a Delhi High Court order where the state government was directed “to take appropriate action against the Manager who had failed to report the child sexual abuse incident at that time.”

In light of such events, “the Commission has taken a serious view of the contradictory submissions made by the Centre for Equity Studies and that such concealment of facts from the NGO makes it clear that the safety and security of children in this Home is jeopardized and that the children must be shifted from this institution at the earliest.”

The NCPCR notes that the children must be shifted from Umeed Aman Ghar
The NCPCR notes that the children must be shifted from Umeed Aman Ghar

The manner in which the manager was dealt with was also quite disgusting. Instead of taking stern action against the manager, he was simply moved from one home of the organisation to the other. the Department of WCD of the Delhi Government was aware of this and yet, did not take any action in this regard.

The Department of WCD (Delhi) did seek clarification regarding taking note of the fact that the action was not appropriate and yet, for some reason, no action was taken when the department did not receive a reply.

Khushi Rainbow Home for Girls

There were similar violations observed at Khushi Rainbow Home for Girls with the notable exception of child sex abuse. There were no record of recruitment of each staff, only one child welfare officer for 90 children, no classrooms, the staff residence was not as per prescribed norms. There were only 8 bathrooms for 90 children. Sanitation was a major concern and the general situation appeared to be quiet pathetic.

Violations at Khushi Rainbow Home for girls
Violations at Khushi Rainbow Home for girls

The Funding Problem observed by NCPCR

The shelter homes for children were being funded by multiple sources. Apart from Center for Equity Studies, the Rainbow Foundation of India (RFI), the Association for Rural and Urban Needy (ARUN-India), the ‘Dil Se Campaign’ of Can Assist Society and Aman Biradari and an MoU between the CES and the Delhi Government’s Samgra Shiksha Abhiyan.

It is all a bit confusing but as per the website of ‘Can Assist’, ARUN-India is the parent organization of RFI although there does not appear to be any mention of it on the RFI’s website. There is also an admission in the Can Assist website that there is funding involved from the Delhi Government and the Aman Biradari Trust is involved as well.

The intersection of RFI, ARUN-India, Aman Biradari and Can Assist
The intersection of RFI, ARUN-India, Aman Biradari and Can Assist

According to the NCPCR, lakhs and lakhs of rupees were given every year to the child shelter homes every year. The Umeed Aman Ghar, particularly, received over Rs. 15 lakh in the financial year 2020-21 alone from ARUN-India. From RFI, it received over Rs. 41 lakh. Khush Rainbow Home received over Rs. 38 lakh from the RFI. And this is apart from the funding received from the Delhi Government which was well over Rs. 40 lakhs for the past couple of years for Umeed Aman Ghar.

Furthermore, the two shelter homes informed the Commission that they were receiving funds from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DSUIB) but later, CES told NCPCR that the funds were being received from DSUIB for urban shelter Homes for Homeless adults. DSUIB also told NCPCR that no funds had been made available to these shelter homes.

The NCPCR noted, “It may be noted that while it has been stated by Centre for Equity Studies as well as DUSIB that no grants were provided to the said two Homes and that the grants were given for the shelter Homes of the NGO, the Commission had received the information of the grants received from DUSIB from these two Homes itself.”

It adds, “Further, as per the information provided by the Homes as well as DUSIB, it is seen that there is a huge discrepancy of the funds disclosed by these two Homes and the funds being granted by DUSIB. While DUSIB has stated that it has not provided any funds in the year 2020-21, the Homes have stated that they have received a grant of Rs.7,48,000/- till September 2020 for the financial year 2020-21.”

NCPCR Recommendations

The NCPCR recommended that the Departments of WCD and Education of the Government of Delhi take serious view of the matter and initiate an investigation into the serious lapses and violations at the two shelter homes. The NCPCR also recommended that an investigation also be carried out against the inspection officials so as to comprehend how were these glaring flaws ignored for so long.

In addition, the NCPCR has also recommended that Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police investigate the multiple sources of funding of these shelter homes and the Ministry of Home Affairs has also been urged to investigate possible FCRA violations. It was also noted that foreign nationals had visited these homes for “voluntary service”, the NCPCR urged the Home Ministry to investigate whether any VISA violations had been committed.

Rubina Memon, a life convict in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, gets parole to attend daughter’s wedding

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rubina Memon, a life convict in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, gets parole to attend daughter’s wedding

On December 31, 2020, the Bombay High Court granted parole to Rubina Memon, a life convict in the 1993 Mumbai blasts to attend her daughter’s wedding on January 8, 2021. A vacation bench comprising Justice SS Shinde and Justice Abhay Ahuja granted the parole keeping the human rights of the daughter in mind. In its order, the Court said, “Considering the aforesaid circumstances and keeping in mind the human rights of the daughter, we are inclined to entertain the Petition.”

Memon approached Court after Yerawada Central Prison delayed the decision

Memon applied for the parole at the Yerawada Central Prison, but the authorities did not decide on the same. She then approached the High Court for the same. When the Court took a plea for hearing, the police informed the Court that the parole had been granted for two days. The police also said that before the release, payment of Police Bandobast needs to be made. The Court recorded the same and posted the case for further hearing on December 31, 2020.

The Court granted 7-day parole

On December 31, Rubina’s advocate Farhana requested the Court to grant at least 7-day parole to attend marriage functions of her daughter. The Court was informed that during the 13 years of imprisonment, Memon was never granted parole. After noting the conduct of Memon in prison, the Court granted her parole for seven days starting from January 6 to January 11. Memon has to deposit Rs. 1 lakh before the release with the police headquarters at Pune.

Who is Rubina Memon?

Rubina Memon is one of the convicts in the 1993 Mumbai Blast case. She is currently serving life imprisonment in the Yerawada Central Prison, Pune for her involvement in the blasts that claimed 257 lives and left over 700 injured. She is the sister-in-law of the prime accused Tiger Memon. Reports suggest that Tiger is currently hiding in Pakistan. Rubina was convicted for the offences under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in 2006.

In 2015, the High Court had rejected her plea for furlough leave stating that if she was released on parole people will come to meet her in large numbers and it will create law and order problem. The Court also mentioned how people had turned for the funeral of Yakub Memon who was executed by hanging on July 30, 2015, for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai Serial Blast case. The Court said, “If she is released on parole people will turn up to meet her in large numbers and there would be a law and order problem, particularly in view of the fact that during the funeral of Yakub Memon, a huge crowd had turned up.”

The curious case of IT probe against a certain ‘Daljit Singh’ for money laundering and subsequent meltdown of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh

OpIndia Staff
-
0
The curious case of IT probe against a certain ‘Daljit Singh’ for money laundering and subsequent meltdown of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh

The curious case of alleged links of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh with a shell company purportedly used to route money from abroad into India is getting interesting by the day. After the Income Tax department launched a probe into allegations of money laundering against a certain Daljit Singh, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has now taken to Twitter to rant and rave against the inquiry.

In a series of tweets against the Income Tax inquiry, a seemingly rattled Dosanjh grumbled about the state of affairs in the country and shared a Platinum certificate issued by the Ministry of Finance for the year to allege that he has been one of the honest taxpayers.

Interestingly, the certificate he shared on Twitter bears his name as ‘Daljit Singh’. Perhaps, Dosanjh believes that just because he has been awarded a ‘Platinum Certificate’ by the IT department for the year 2019-20, he is immune to any probe launched against him in connection with his alleged past wrongdoings.

Dosanjh’s vehement condemnation comes on the heels of a probe launched by the Income Tax department for allegedly routing foreign money to finance farmer protests. A complaint was lodged by Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) on December 27, based on the research shared by Twitter user Vijay Patel who had alleged that a company named Speed Records and certain dubious individuals, including a certain ‘Daljit Singh’, have been prudently involving in money laundering and routing activities to fund the anti-farm laws agitation.

The curious case of a shell company owned by a certain Daljit Singh

The complaint also raised aspersions on the involvement of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh in enabling the laundering and routing of money to support the ongoing farmers’ agitation in the country. It alleged that another company named Famous Std. Ltd. was incorporated on 9th August 2016 and dissolved on 16th January 2018 with Directors Sundip Singh Khakh and one Mr Daljit Singh.

Details on Famous STD LTD

Interestingly, Mr Daljit Singh was born in January 1984, the same month and year when actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh was born. However, the complaint added that it was unclear whether both the persons are the same. But Diljit Dosanjh’s meltdown on Twitter and the IT certificate shared by him that described him as ‘Daljit Singh’ indicates that the person in question might be none other than himself.

Diljit Dosanjh’s manager Sundip Singh Khakh was a director in FSL

Curiously, the other director of the company FSL, Sundip Singh Khakh is also the manager of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh. Furthermore, Kaka Singh Mohanwalia alias Sundip Singh Khakh has been amongst the many suspected individuals who are allegedly linked to Speed Records, a company that has been registering themselves on and off from the year 2011 to 2020, under various names, but either with the same address registered or same personnel operating as office bearers, indulging in suspicious activities detrimental to Indian interests, involving Indians too in activities such as anti-CAA riots as well as farmers’ agitation.

LRO complaint alleges shell companies linked to Daljit Singh involved in funding ongoing farmers’ protests

Speed Records, UK, was incorporated with UK Director Kaka Singh Mohanwalia alias Sundip Singh Khakh, which was a dormant company. One Mr Dinesh Auluck who is the owner of Speed Records India resigned from his office on 5 August 2013 just a month after the establishment of the company. The company was later dissolved on 9th September 2014.

Similar irregularities were also witnessed in other supposed shell companies put up by suspected individuals. Another company with the name Speed UK Recs Ltd was incorporated on 21st June 2013. The same Mr Dinesh Auluck joined this company on 8th July 2013 and resigned from his office in just 12 days on 20 July 2013. This company, too, was dissolved on 3 February 2015.

“It is to be noted that the curious case of this vanishing companies and bobbing up of its office bearers in subsequent in later companies show an elaborate network established with a well-thought-of stratagem to hoodwink Governmental Authorities there and also facilitate convenient mode for funding and supporting anti-national and secessionist activities in India,” the complaint filed by LRO said.

Diljit Dosanjh’s NGO Saanjh Foundation’s links with Sukhbir Singh Badal under the scanner

Diljit Dosanjh is also under the scanner of the IT department for his NGO Saanjh Foundation. Diljit Dosanjh receives an honorarium for music events conducted through his Saanjh Foundation, which does not have an FCRA Registration to operate in India. The complaint filed by the LRO also alleged that the NGO’s address is the same as that given by former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in a defamation case.

It is also pertinent to note that Diljit Dosanjh has been a vocal supporter of the ongoing farmers’ protests and has also donated Rs 1 crore to the farmers’ cause. It is also submitted that the IT sleuths had had already raided the houses of popular Punjabi singers Diljit Dosanjh, Miss Pooja and Gippy Grewal and the premises of two Punjabi film-producing firms in the year 2012 and they are alleged to have been associated with Dharam Seva, Speed Records and other dubious companies in the UK.

Kerala: Mohammad Noufal and Shamim from Wayanad arrested for sexually abusing two minor Adivasi girls

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Kerala: Mohammad Noufal and Shamim from Wayanad arrested for sexually abusing two minor Adivasi girls

Two teenage youths named Mohammad Noufal and Kaniampatta Shamim from Wayanad have been arrested by the Kerala police on Sunday. The youths, aged 18 and 19 respectively, hail from Kambalakkad, one of the small towns near Kalpetta in the Wayanad district, Kerala. They are accused of sexually abusing two minor Adivasi girls on new years eve.

The incident came to the fore when a parent of one of the girls lodged a missing complaint with the police. It is alleged that the two accused persons used to talk to the two minor girls over the phone and gradually established a relationship.

On new years eve, the youths took the girls to a lodge in Mysore where they raped them. The boys have been arrested and charged under the POCSO Act and the Prevention of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Violence Act.

50th anniversary of victory in 1971 war: Bangladesh Army delegation to take part in Republic Day parade

OpIndia Staff
-
0
50th anniversary of victory in 1971 war: Bangladesh Army delegation to take part in Republic Day parade

India will be celebrating 50th year of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war this year. Defence Ministry officials have said in a statement that a Bangladesh Army delegation would be present in this year’s Republic Day parade on January 26.

The 1971 war was one of the fastest and shortest campaigns in military history. A new nation was born as a result of the swift campaign undertaken by the Indian Army against the Pakistani Army that was committing atrocities in then-East Pakistan under the leadership of General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi.

Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, after facing defeat in the 1971 war, had surrendered to the Indian Army.

Covid-19 restrictions to affect celebrations

The government may scale down the number of visitors for the Republic Day parade 2021 to avoid overcrowding and ensure Covid-19 restrictions are followed during the celebrations. Keeping in mind the concerns over new virus strains, the agencies are more vigilant.

72nd Republic Day celebrations

On January 26, India will celebrate 72nd Republic Day honouring the historic date when the nation completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after the Constitution came into effect. On December 11, the government of Uttar Pradesh announced that Ram Mandir and Ayodhya to be the theme of Uttar Pradesh’s Republic Day tableau and the proposal for the same was approved.

1...4,7024,7034,704...7,651Page 4,703 of 7,651