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ED claims Karti Chidambaram negotiated with Roger Federer’s current coach on behalf of shell company to invest in shell company: Reports

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ED claims Karti Chidambaram negotiated with Roger Federer’s current coach on behalf of shell company to invest in shell company: Reports

Trouble mounts for INX Media scam accused Karti Chidambaram as intelligence agencies have claimed that they are in possession of emails allegedly sent and received by Karti Chidambaram relating to investment decisions of a “shell company” Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL), reports Economic Times.

As per the report, the agencies claimed that the mails clearly demonstrate Karti was issuing instructions to CBN Reddy, one of the directors of the company, and his chartered accountant S Bhaskararaman, who is also a co-accused in INX media regarding such decisions of the company.

Even though Karti has denied any kind of business involvement with the company, the two directors, Ravi Visvanathan and Padma Bhaskararaman have revealed before the ED that Karti was the “actual owner and controller” of the company.

Last year the ED had confronted Karti with a host of emails and documents relating to the company allegedly recovered from his computer. During the probe, one such email (October 3, 2014) was allegedly written by Karti Chidambaram to Croatian tennis player Ivan Ljubicic and his wife Aida Ljubicic for negotiating investment in a company to be set up in Monaco in partnership with ASCPL. Ljubicic is now tennis player Roger Federer’s coach.

“The purported email could refer to communication with Ivan Ljubicic, a famous tennis player who is currently Roger Federer’s coach. CBN Reddy and I have shared a passion for tennis. I have been involved in advising Reddy in potential tennis-related investments. I am aware of all tennis activities of his company (ASCPL),” Karti had said in response.

Reportedly, in this Monaco based company, former Tennis player Ivan Ljubicic has 40000 shares and Karti’s another London based company Totus Tennis Ltd. has 9500 shares. In this agreement, Totus Tennis is represented by Karti Chidambaram.

According to PGurus, the IT and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials’ in a joint raid had found an investment proposal of five million Euros from a computer in Karti’s company. As per the proposal unearthed from the computing device, Advantage Strategic Consulting Singapore Private Limited has proposed to invest Euro 5 Million in Hotel Mozart at Opatija in Croatia.

Hotel Mozart is a famous hotel in Croatia. Coincidentally, the major shareholder of this hotel is Ivan Ljubicic.

When quizzed over the recovery of confidential documents relating ASCPL from his computer, Karti told ED, “I am not involved in making decisions regarding ASCPL investments.” He said that since the directors of the company consulted him frequently for “friendly advice”.

The ED had also cornered Karti on emails sent by Bhaskararaman of bills and expenditure for ASCPL from Karti. Confronting him with documents recovered, ED had asked Karti to explain as to why vendors, customers, business associates, lawyers etc., routinely dealt with him for affairs of ASCPL and its subsidiaries.

Denying any involvement with ASCPL, Karti reportedly said that he “advised” them on investments on a “friendly basis”. The ED had also questioned Karti on how so many confidential documents of Advantage, including all its agreements, etc., were recovered from his computer/hard disc.

“I am aware broadly of their investments. They seek my advice often, particularly regarding the tennis sector,” said Karti.

Karti Chidambaram was also reportedly questioned over a joint venture involving the company and was shown an email written by Reddy to Bhaskararaman on December 2, 2014, which read “Will sign tomm. Request u to check that K’s name does not appear anywhere.

Denying any role in the joint venture or “hidden interest” in Reddy’s company, Karti told ED, “ASCPL is an independent company with distinct shareholders and directors.” Karti has said that he has no financial interest directly or indirectly in the company.

INX Media Scam case: P Chidambaram faces ED arrest as Supreme Court refuses anticipatory bail

OpIndia Staff
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INX Media Scam case: P Chidambaram faces ED arrest as Supreme Court refuses anticipatory bail

In a huge setback to former finance minister P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused him anticipatory bail in the INX Media case. This means the Enforcement Directorate can take him into custody for interrogation. The ED can approach lower court for custody following which the ED can take him in for custodial interrogation.

The Supreme Court bench comprised of Justice R Bhanumati and Justice AS Bopanna pronounced the verdict on senior Congress leader Chidambaram’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s verdict denying him anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the ED.

“Granting anticipatory bail at the initial stage may frustrate the investigation. It’s not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail. Economic offences stand at the different footing and it has to be dealt with a different approach,” said a Supreme Court bench while rejecting Chidambaram’s plea seeking anticipatory bail.

The Supreme Court also said that P Chidambaram will not be shown materials collected by the ED at this stage. “The ED does not need to produce the transcripts of Chidambaram’s questioning in the court,” Supreme Court added

With the Supreme Court rejecting Chidambaram’s bail plea, the Enforcement Directorate is now free to arrest him in the INX Media case.

On August 29, the Supreme Court bench had reserved its order on the petition filed by former finance minister P Chidambaram against the August 20 judgement of the Delhi High Court that had refused him the pre-arrest bail in the INX media scam.

CBI had rounded up Chidambaram from his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi after he dramatically conjured up at the AICC headquarters and addressed the media after remaining hidden for more than 24 hours. He was finally arrested from his residence on August 21, 2019. He has been in the CBI custody for 12 days now.

Chidambaram is being probed by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate over alleged financial irregularities under his supervision while he was serving as India’s Finance Minister under UPA regime.

Swimming coach Surajit Ganguly caught molesting minor athlete in video, MoS Kiren Rijiju takes cognisance

OpIndia Staff
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Swimming coach Surajit Ganguly caught molesting minor athlete in video, MoS Kiren Rijiju takes cognisance

Video of a shocking incident surfaced on social media on 4th September 2019. In the video, swimming coach originally from West Bengal and currently residing in Mapusa, Goa, Surajit Ganguly could be seen brutally molesting a 15-year-old national level swimmer. Images from the disturbing video were shared by many to bring the issue to the authority’s notice.


Following widespread outrage, Kiren Rijiju has vowed strict action against the swimming coach who can be seen molesting the minor athlete.

Rijiju wrote, “I’ve taken a strong view of the incident. The Goa Swimming Association has terminated the contract of coach Surajit Ganguly. I’m asking the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that this coach is not employed anywhere in India. This applies to all Federations & disciplines”.


Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Youth Affairs & Sports also urged the police to take stringent action against the coach for the heinous act.

US body commends India for UAPA and designating Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi as terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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US body commends India for UAPA and designating Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi as terrorists

The United States of America has backed India’s move to declare Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim as terrorists under the newly enacted UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).


In a tweet, the United States Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) commended India for utilising the new legal authority to “designate four notorious terrorists”. “This new law expands possibilities for joint #USIndia efforts to combat scourge of terrorism,” the tweet signed by Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells read.

In a notification issued on September 4 by the Ministry of Home Affairs and signed by Piyush Goyal, Joint Secy, the announcement was made by the Government of India. Maulana Masood Azhar became the first person to be designated a terrorist under the amended UAPA.

The anti-terror UAPA Amendment Bill 2019 was recently passed by the Indian Parliament after Amit Shah took charge as the Home Minister of the country. Amidst considerable resistance by the Opposition parties, the Bill was passed to give greater power to the Indian government to combat terrorism.

Both Azhar and Hafiz Saeed are UN-designated global terrorists.

Uttar Pradesh: Hindu father registers complain against one Salman Suhel for kidnapping and forceful conversion of his daughter

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Hindu father registers complain against one Salman Suhel for kidnapping and forceful conversion of his daughter

A complaint has been filed by the aggrieved father of a Hindu girl against a Muslim man in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh for allegedly kidnapping his daughter and forcefully converting her to Islam.

Reportedly, the father of the victim, Rajesh Kumar has registered an FIR in Barabanki Poice station alleging that a Muslim man named Salman Suhel had forcefully converted his daughter Khusbhu after blackmailing her about exposing some private images. The father has also complained that the Muslim man, who is already married, could force her to marry him or some other Muslim person.

However, the daughter Khusbhu has said that she has left the house on her own. But, Rajesh Kumar insisted that her daughter has been forced to issue these statements as she is being threatened by Salman.

Image Source: twitter

Salman, who is allegedly married, was working as a manager in a college. Khushbu was also working as a part-time teacher in the same college. According to the father, she was lured by Salman and her private images were captured. Later, Salman allegedly used those images to coerce her into going with him, only to forcefully convert her religion, Rajesh Kumar has alleged in a letter written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The Barabanki has now registered a complaint and assured that an investigation will be carried against the alleged kidnapping and conversion incident.

Jammu and Kashmir: 100% landline exchanges to be operationalised tonight, mobile phones to be restored gradually

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: 100% landline exchanges to be operationalised tonight, mobile phones to be restored gradually

As the Jammu and Kashmir gradually moves back to normalcy after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, the government has decided to withdraw the restrictions on communications in the state. Today the government of Jammu and Kashmir informed that all landline exchanges will be made operationalised. Landline exchanges in several areas in the state were reopened recently, and the remaining 19 exchanges will be opened tonight.


This means all the landline phones will be restored in the state exactly one month after they were suspended on the midnight of 4th August, ahead of the historic decisions on Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from this, Shahid Choudhary, District Magistrate of Srinagar, said that Mobile telephone services in the state are also been made operational gradually. He informed that mobile networks are also being restored in the state, and mobile phones are already working in Kupwara.


The communications blockade remains in Kashmir valley only, as the landline and mobile networks have been restored in Jammu and Ladakh region earlier. On 2nd September the government had announced that landline and mobile phones were fully functional in Jammu and Ladakh, and 26,000 landlines were operating in the valley. Day time restrictions also have been lifted from 90% of the valley.

Telephone and Internet connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir were suspended on the midnight of 4th August, just before the decision to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A, and to split the state into two Union Territories were announced by the union government. Restrictions under section 144 have been imposed in the state since then, and several political leaders of the state have been put under preventive detention.

Madhya Pradesh: Congress feud out in the open, Scindia says Kamal Nath should stop outside interference in govt

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Congress feud out in the open, Scindia says Kamal Nath should stop outside interference in govt

The longstanding infighting within Madhya Pradesh Congress is not a hidden secret. Now its forerunners are also not having any qualms about owning it publicly. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia today called out Chief Minister Kamal Nath stating that his administration should listen to its ministers instead of allowing interference from outside.

Scindia in an oblique reference to the public sparring between a state minister Umang Singhar and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said that “If such issues are happening, then the Chief Minister should listen to both sides and solve them,” hinting that the onus of solving the internal party issues lie on the CM.

While talking to media at an event in Mela Maidan on Wednesday, Scindia added, “There should be no interference in the government, there are no two ways about it.”

Recently, one of the ministers of Kamal Nath led cabinet in Madhya Pradesh, Umang Singhar had levelled serious allegations against Congress party veteran and former CM of the state Digvijaya Singh, accusing him of trying to destabilise the Madhya Pradesh government.

Singhar, forest minister in the MP state government, had written a letter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi Sunday accusing Digvijaya of “running the government from behind the curtain.”

Moreover, throwing light on the infighting within the MP Congress, which the party has been trying to canvas, he called Digvijaya Singh a “blackmailer involved in illegal mining and liquor trade rackets in the state” and said the CBI should investigate him. Scindia asserted that allegations raised “should be heard by the Chief Minister.”

The Congress leader also observed, “It is after 15 years and extreme hard work that Congress party has come to power in Madhya Pradesh and it has been only 6 months.”

Scindia went on to suggest that several Congress leaders have pinned high hopes on the party and are expecting development from the state administration. He further suggested the government should sit and sort all differences.

Of late, Scindia has been making headlines for almost everything no matter how small an issue. Touted to be amongst the front-runners for the post of MPCC chief, he however, fears the party could repeat the assembly election scenario, wherein he was first considered as the party’s face in the run-up to elections but was eventually trumped by Nath. Just a few days ago, his supporters threatened mass resignations if he was not made the president of the Madhya Pradesh unit.

Media reports also suggested that Scindia too had threatened to look for “other options” if he sidelined again. However, on the record, he said there is “no question” of leaving the party.

Moreover, going against his party’s rhetoric, Scindia had expressed his support for Modi government’s recent decision to abrogate Article 370. While most members of the Congress including ex-president Rahul Gandhi have been toeing the Pakistani line and speaking against the move, few like Scindia dared to go against his party’s regular habit of downplaying whatever BJP does and voiced his opinion in favour of the conscientious.

Shashi Tharoor ‘irritated’ with reports of him praising Modi, says he never supported the PM

OpIndia Staff
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Shashi Tharoor ‘irritated’ with reports of him praising Modi, says he never supported the PM

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor has been forced to make a U-turn after his own words have come to haunt him. On the sidelines of an event organised by NSUI at Delhi University, Tharoor said it ‘irritates’ him a lot when it is reported that he has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Give me an example, which statements I have supported. The problem is media reports are completely unfounded. Frankly, it irritates me greatly whenever the media talks about ‘Tharoor’s praise for Modi’,” he told reporters. He claimed that his words were misunderstood as he had only suggested that Congress should introspect why people voted for Narendra Modi again in 2019.

Tharoor, who has been compelled to eat his own words, has been drawing flak within his party for his recent remarks in support of party colleague Jairam Ramesh.

Recently, Congress veteran Ramesh had begrudgingly admitted mistakes made by his party by blindly ridiculing PM Modi. He had said that demonising the PM all the time is not going to help Congress and Modi’s governance model is not an “all negative story.”

Echoing Ramesh’s sentiments, Tharoor had claimed that he has always been a proponent of praising PM Modi for his right policy decisions. Tharoor stated that lauding PM Modi for correct decisions will also add to the credibility of the opposition. “As you know, I have argued for six years now that Narendra Modi should be praised whenever he says or does the right thing, which would add credibility to our criticisms whenever he errs. I welcome others in opposition coming around to a view for, which I was excoriated at the time,” Tharoor had said.

These remarks by Tharoor had drawn state party unit president’s ire, who had proceeded to assert that Tharoor would be asked to explain his comments regarding PM Modi. Since then Tharoor has been hounded by Kerala Congress to clarify his remarks.

Probably backtracking due to party pressure, Tharoor today, reiterated his challenge to his critics to give examples of his praise of Modi. “What I have said is that our principle should be that we should understand why people voted for Mr Modi. We as an opposition party got 19 per cent votes in 2014 and 19 per cent in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BJP under Mr Modi got 31 per cent in 2014 and 37 per cent in 2019. Many of these people who used to vote for us in the past went to the BJP,” he said.

The Congress needs to win back these people who left it to vote for the BJP in 2019, he asserted.

“See, we do not know why they left us and how to win them back. So, I said let us try and figure it out, I am not praising Mr Modi, I am saying let us understand why he attracted these votes,” Tharoor argued.

Giving examples of Modi’ schemes for construction of toilets and Ujjwala Yojna for cooking gas connections to poor households in the country, which possibly contributed to BJP’s victory, he said that Congress needs to point out “mistakes and failings” in these schemes.

“If it’s toilets, then let us understand that 65 per cent of these toilets do not have running water if it is gas cylinders let us acknowledge that it was a good thing to do but 92 per cent of the beneficiaries have not been able to afford refills,” he added.

Tharoor like most of his party members has generally been extremely critical of PM Modi. However, besides this, Tharoor had once more gone against his congenital nature and backed Modi after US President Donald Trump’s controversial statement on Kashmir. He had then stated that he does not believe Trump’s statement and it is impossible that India’s PM will ever ask anyone for mediation in the Kashmir issue.

One is left to wonder when this ‘slip-up’ of his will also come to hound him and force him to take another U-turn as this one.

Kartarpur Corridor: Pakistan wants to charge service fee for visiting the Gurudwara, India says no

OpIndia Staff
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Kartarpur Corridor: Pakistan wants to charge service fee for visiting the Gurudwara, India says no

The third round of talks between India and Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor ended without reaching an agreement today. However, the two sides did agree on visa-free travel for pilgrims and allowing Indians holding the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib through the corridor.


India rejected Pakistan’s proposal of charging a service fee for visiting the Gurudwara. Pakistan was also unwilling to allow the presence of Indian Consular or Protocol Officials at the Gurudwara premises. These hurdles prevented an agreement from being reached.

“Pakistan has insisted on charging a service fee for allowing pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, which is not agreeable in the spirit of smooth and easy access through the corridor. Pakistan has also shown its unwillingness to allow the presence of Indian consular or protocol officials at the gurdwara premises. Pakistan’s side has been urged to reconsider its position,” a government source was quoted by The Hindu as saying.

“Both sides agreed to build the bridge at Budhi Ravi Channel. Pending the construction of the bridge on the Pakistan side, both sides agreed to the crossing point coordinates of the temporary service road being built. Both sides also agreed upon emergency evacuation procedures, especially medical emergencies. A direct line of communication between Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers will be used for the same,” officials are reported to have said.

“We are hopeful to give a final shape to the draft agreement of Kartarpur corridor in today’s talks with India. Some 90 per cent work on the project has been completed and Pakistan is committed to opening the corridor in November,” said Foreign Office spokesperson and Director General of South Asia and SAARC Mohammad Faisal, the leader of the Pakistani delegation on the matter.

Union minister Harsimrat Badal said, while reacting to Pakistan’s demand, “I’m shocked that Pakistan is making such a demand; they want to charge a community which wants to offer prayers.” She added, “It’s evident that they are trying to create roadblocks, as the plan has been in the works for one-and-a-half years and only two months are left for the corridor to open.”

This was the second meeting on the Kartarpur Corridor issue between the two countries after the abrogation of Article 370. Amidst tensions between the two countries, it was reported earlier that the Pakistani establishment wants to revive Khalistani terrorism through the corridor.

NDTV uses old video to claim riders without helmets are walking with two-wheelers to avoid enhanced penalty after 1st September

OpIndia Staff
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NDTV uses old video to claim riders without helmets are walking with two-wheelers to avoid enhanced penalty after 1st September

Controversial media house NDTV published an old video claiming it to be recent video after new traffic rules came into effect on September 1. The video shows a number of riders without helmet walking with their two-wheelers on a road where cops are checking traffic rule violations. The graphic on the video claims that Driving without helmet is illegal, but walking is not. The people who are pushing their vehicles are not stopped by the police, as pedestrians don’t come under the purview of Motor Vehicle Act. NDTV claimed that after the new penalties became applicable, people in some place used this tactic to avoid enhanced fines.

NDTV’s report was based on a tweet posted by Pankaj Jain, an IPS officer from Haryana cadre. He had posted the video and commented, “This is hilarious. Innovative ways to avoid traffic challans.” He also appealed people to follow traffic rules and avoid such situations. He did not mention that this video was recent, or that it is the result of new rules.

But while reporting the video, NDTV assumed that it is recent and after the new fines became applicable. It says that “tightened rules have led a number people to find innovative ways to cock a snook at an expensive challan”, talking about the video. Although NDTV mentions that the video is undated, they claim that the incident is the result of tightened rules.

But the video is not from this month, this is an old video which had gone viral on social media earlier. A copy of the video was updated on Youtube on 1st February 2018.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g46TrRAJ9tU]

The same video has been uploaded by numerous users on Youtube and social media sides earlier.

Indian Express also reported the video, but they noted that it is old. But like NDTV, Indiatimes also didn’t check the video, and claimed that just three days after the new rules came into effect, Indians have found a jugaad to avoid fines for not wearing helmet.

From 1st of this month, the amended Motor Vehicles Act came into force, which imposes enhanced monetary penalties for traffic rule violations. The fines for violations like not having various documents, not wearing helmet or seatbelt, driving under influence, violating road traffic rules etc have been increased many times. This has resulted in some travellers fined astronomical amounts, when they were caught violating multiple offences. After a scooter rider was fined ₹23000 yesterday for such multiple violations, today a Trolley was fined ₹59,000 and an auto driver was fined ₹47,500 today.

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