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Live updates: Madhya Pradesh police misbehaved with CRPF personnel accompanying Income Tax officers during raids

OpIndia Staff
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Live updates: Madhya Pradesh police misbehaved with CRPF personnel accompanying Income Tax officers during raids

The Income Tax department has conducted perhaps the largest raids right before 2019 Lok Sabha elections which is just days away. As we reported, senior AICC (All India Congress Committee) official, SM Moin’s resident in Delhi was raided by the Income Tax department. A Republic report said that Moin is under the scanner for receiving Rs 20 crore from Bhopal, and the raid was done pertaining that transfer.

We will be updating this article with all the latest information pertaining to this raid and the high political drama that is ensuing owing to these raids that might put Congress in the dock right before elections commence.

9th April 3:30 PM

CRPF Commandant MS Verma said that the Income Tax raids at the premises of Ashwin Sharma, an associate of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s OSD Praveen Kakkar, are over. He also said that state police officers misbehaved with the paramilitary force. “State police did not know that such operation is going to take place. SHO might have been insecure. He asked us why we are carrying out an operation in his area without his permission,” Verma told media. He said that Madhya Pradesh Police’s SHO Chouhan and DSP misbehaved with CRPF and hurled abuses at them. “Since the matter has gone to a higher level, if I am asked about it, I will definitely tell them,” Verma added.

Madhya Pradesh CM’s private secretary Praveen Kakkar’s residence was also raided by the department. The Income Tax department started raids at the residences of Kakkar in Indore, and RK Miglani’s residence in Delhi who is former advisor of Kamal Nath, on charges of alleged tax evasion.

9th April, 12:30 PM

CBDT Chairman PC Mody and Revenue Secretary AB Pandey have been called by Election Commission on the recent raid conducted on the close aide of MP CM Kamal Nath. Both the officials have given details about raids and recovery of items, to the Election Commission, as reported by ANI.

Visuals of the ongoing raids in Bhopal have also emerged where a close associate of the OSD of CM Kamal Nath is being raided.

9th April, 12:00 PM

Indian Express and Times Now were caught casting aspersions and lying that the BJP leaders knew the details of the Income Tax raid on Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath’s aide. They said that BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya tweeted the Rs 281 crore figure on Monday morning even before the official announcement was made by the CBDT. However, the said figure was already reported by the news agency PTI on Sunday itself.

9th April, 9:00 AM

Reports have now emerged that the Deputy Secretary of the Finance Ministry has written to the Election Commission regarding the Income Tax raids against AICC functionary and the revelation that the illicit money was transferred to a “major political party”. The letter to the Election Commission says that the Finance Ministry agrees with the observation that such malpractices need to come to an end. The letter said that the Finance Ministry agrees that such operations need to be conducted ruthlessly. The letter also says that the departments have always been fair and impartial. This letter comes after several questions have been raised on the impartiality of the Election Commission and Income Tax Department by members of the opposition and especially Congress which is now under the I-T scanner.

8th April, 11:00 PM 

While Republic TV reporter Amit Choudhry was trying to report the raids from the location of Moin’s residence, he was heckled, pushed, abused and assaulted repeatedly by supporters of Moin who were attempting to stop the reporter from doing his job. It is also reported that the mob also attempted to damage the camera and equipment of the media crew.

Read details: Freedom of press? Congress supporters attack Republic journalist who was covering the I-T raids on AICC official

8th April 2019

After the raids in Madhya Pradesh, Income Tax officials have detected a racket of collection of unaccounted cash through various persons, including businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats. The amount of such unaccounted case detected so far is Rs 281 crore. Unaccounted cash of ₹ 14.6 crores also has been found so far in the raids, along with liquor bottles, arms and hide skins of the tiger.

The residence of SM Moin in Delhi, who is a senior functionary of Congress, was raided by the Income Tax department. Moin is under the scanner for receiving Rs 20 crore from Bhopal, and the raid was done pertaining that transfer.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel rushed to the residence of Moin in Delhi when I-T officers were conducting search operations there. According to the website of the Congress party, SM Moin is the Administrative Officer of AICC. Therefore, it can be presumed that the major political party mentioned in the CBDT release is the Congress party.

A press release issued by the CBDT said that a part of this amount was transferred to the head office of a major political party located at Tughlaq Road in Delhi, which included Rs 20 crore transferred through hawala route. This amount was moved through a senior functionary of the party.

Read details: I-T dept says ‘major political party’ received Rs 20 cr through hawala, Ahmed Patel arrives at residence of AICC official being raided

7th April 2019

Income-Tax (IT) Department had conducted raids on more than 50 locations connected to Kamal Nath, MP Chief Minister’s OSD, Ratul Puri (Kamal Nath’s nephew), Amira Group, and Moser Bayer. The IT Department had recovered a diary during these raids, which has revealed the money trail between shell companies to convert crores of rupees into dollars using bogus bills. The seized diary suggests that nearly Rs.242 crores were transferred to five ‘shell’ companies owned by Parasmal Lodha. A Kolkata-based company was also used for infusion of bogus capital to the tune of Rs.125 crores. Reportedly, Moser Baer group also bought shares worth Rs.250 crores through shell companies from Mauritius. The diary also reveals that Deepak Puri had allegedly collected money from various sources to get it converted into dollars through issuing bogus bills.

The Income Tax department had conducted raids in over 50 locations with over 300 Tax sleuths

Read details: Brother-in-law of Congress leader Kamal Nath converted nearly Rs. 242 crores to dollars using bogus bills

Freedom of press? Congress supporters attack Republic journalist who was covering the I-T raids on AICC official

OpIndia Staff
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Freedom of press? Congress supporters attack Republic journalist who was covering the I-T raids on AICC official

In another shameful incident where Congress and their supporters have indulged in blatant attack and assault on media persons, a Republic TV crew attempting to report the ongoing I-T raids at the residence of an AICC official named SM Moin.

As per reports, a team of I-T officials had raided the South Delhi residence of one SM Moin, a Congress worker who is under the scanner for allegedly receiving Rs 20 crores through hawala money from Bhopal.

The raids were in connection with the multiple raids on the aides and supporters of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamalnath, where the I-T department alleges that over 281 crores were allegedly collected through a well-organised operation.

When senior Congress functionary SM Moin was being raided by I-T officials, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had also rushed to his residence in South Delhi. It was later reported that the raid at Moin’s residence, a cash book with records of Rs 230 crore, siphoning of more than Rs 242 crores using bogus bills and evidence of more than 80 companies in tax heavens were found in the raids. Income Tax officials also found several unaccounted and benami properties at posh locations in Delhi.

While Republic TV reporter Amit Choudhry was trying to report the raids from the location of Moin’s residence, he was heckled, pushed, abused and assaulted repeatedly by supporters of Moin who were attempting to stop the reporter from doing his job. It is also reported that the mob also attempted to damage the camera and equipment of the media crew.


It is notable here that the person Moin is listed in the official Congress website as an Administrative officer of the party.

As per reports, reporters from other media outlets were attacked too. A female reporter has stated that she was chased away from the location by supporters of Moin who used filthy abuses and misbehaved with her.

The I-T department had raided over 50 locations related to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath on Sunday. Kamal Nath’s OSD, his brother in law Deepak Puri who is the chairman of Moser Baer group and several other locations in Bhopal, Indore, Delhi, and Goa were raided by over 300 I-T officials.

Documents seized from Deepak Puri’s location have revealed that the Moser Baer group had been involved in converting Rs. 242 crore of money to dollars by raising bogus bills, as reported by News18.

I-T dept says ‘major political party’ received Rs 20 cr through hawala, Ahmed Patel arrives at residence of AICC official being raided

OpIndia Staff
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I-T dept says ‘major political party’ received Rs 20 cr through hawala, Ahmed Patel arrives at residence of AICC official being raided

Yesterday the Income Tax department started conducting raids at 50 locations connected to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath. I-T officers had conducted searches at the locations of CM’s OSD, and several other locations in Bhopal, Indore, Goa and Delhi. More than 300 officials of the Income Tax department took part in this massive operation.

The raids had revealed that Deepak Puri, the chairman of Moser Baer group and brother-in-law of Kamal Nath, was involved in converting Rs 242 into dollars by raising fake bills. A diary was recovered during the raids, which had revealed the trail of the money.

Now, more details have emerged about the raids. According to CBDT sources, the Income Tax officials have detected a racket of collection of unaccounted cash through various persons, including businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats. The amount of such unaccounted case detected so far is Rs 281 crore. Unaccounted cash of ₹ 14.6 crore also has been found so far in the raids, along with liquor bottles, arms and hide skins of tiger.


The Income Tax department tweeted that meticulous records of collection & disbursement of cash in form of hand written diaries, computer files & excel sheets were found and seized during the raids, which corroborate the findings of unaccounted money transactions.


A press release issued by the CBDT said that a part of this amount was transferred to the head office of a major political party located at Tughlaq Road in Delhi, which included Rs 20 crore transferred through hawala route. This amount was moved through a senior functionary of the party.

Although the department didn’t name the political party and the functionary, it was reported that the residence of SM Moin in Delhi, who is a senior functionary of Congress, was raided by the Income Tax department. A Republic report said that Moin is under the scanner for receiving Rs 20 crore from Bhopal, and the raid was done pertaining that transfer.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel rushed to the residence of Moin in Delhi when I-T officers were conducting search operations there. According to the website of the Congress party, SM Moin is the Administrative Officer of AICC. Therefore, it can be presumed that the major political party mentioned in the CBDT release is the Congress party.

The searches in Moin’s residence yielded more evidence of unaccounted money. A cash book with records of Rs 230 crore, siphoning of more than Rs 242 crores using bogus bills and evidence of more than 80 companies in tax heavens were found in the raids. Income Tax officials also found several unaccounted and benami properties at posh locations in Delhi.

Muslim law student who had alleged sexual harassment during college trip suspended from college

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim law student who had alleged sexual harassment during college trip suspended from college

A law student from Dewan law College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh who had earlier alleged that she was harassed sexually during a college trip to her Muslim identity by fellow students who carried BJP caps, has now been suspended by her college authorities. According to a student from the college OpIndia.com spoke to, she has been suspended for allegedly levelling false allegations. “All the evidence was against her and she doesn’t have any proof,” said the source.

According to Khanam, a few students, under the influence of alcohol, allegedly harassed her while the professors who were with them were mute spectators to the same. After the allegations went viral, two students she had accused of harassing her were rusticated from the college.

Students we had spoken to earlier were outraged by the college’s decision to rusticate two male students of the College on the basis of Khanam’s allegations. We were told repeatedly that nothing of the sort had happened. Two students had told OpIndia that Khanam was extremely good friends with one of the two she had accused of harassing her.

The student told us, “Of the 55 people who were present there, no one saw anything. Only two people apart from Khanam claimed to be witness to the events. At least 30 of us presented evidence in front of the authorities who were hearing the matter and yet, the two boys were suspended.”

Refuting Khanam’s allegations that she was ‘targeted’ on the basis of her Muslim identity, the student said, “Khanam has been here for 8 months. If her Muslim identity was the reason, why hasn’t anything happened to her until now? Why was she chosen as Miss Freshers?” The student again vehemently denied that she was harassed.

Note: This is a developing story and we shall update it as and when we get more information.

Whole country will burn if Article 370 and Article 35A repealed, Indian Constitution will not apply on J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

OpIndia Staff
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Whole country will burn if Article 370 and Article 35A repealed, Indian Constitution will not apply on J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

Apparently rattled by BJP’s commitment towards abrogating Article 35A and Article 370 from the Constitution in its manifesto presented by the party today, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has responded to it by threatening the BJP that if they repeal Articles 35A and 370, the whole country will burn along with J&K.


This can be seen as an implied threat from the PDP leader that if the said articles are repealed, it will be met with violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country. She also said that BJP should not play with fire.

Mehbooba Mufti also said that if Article 370 is scrapped, the Indian Constitution will not be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir anymore. She was responding to news about a PIL that has been filed in Delhi High Court to ban Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti from contesting in elections for their anti-India statements.


She said why waste time in court to ban her from elections, they will automatically be banned from contesting elections after Article 370 is scrapped because Indian Constitution will no longer apply on Jammu and Kashmir after that happens. She added, if you won’t understand, you will be finished. Even your story will not be in the history.

Earlier, Mehbooba Mufti had said that if article 370 and 35A are repealed, India will become an occupational force in Jammy and Kashmir.

BJP’s commitment towards repealing these provisions from the Constitution embodied in its 2019 manifesto appears to have stirred up the hornet’s nest. Similar threats came from National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah also, who swore in the name of Allah and said that Kashmir will secede from India and he would not allow the Indian flag to be unfurled in the state if articles 370 is repealed

Earlier separatist sympathiser Mufti had termed Article 370 as a bridge between India and J&K and said that if the bridge was broken why would a Muslim majority state want to stay with the country. Fuming over the possibility of Article 35A being scrapped, Mufti had given similar threats saying that India would see the worst times since independence if the provision was tampered with adding that the people of J&K might pick up a different flag from the tricolour.

Apparently, more than the people of J&K it is these politicians who have long enjoyed the perks of power, who are feeling threatened by the possibility of this change as they are aware that they will probably become irrelevant for the people of J&K as well for the rest of the country if this happens.

Tashkent Files 2019 Review: A story that needed to be told [Twitter Reviews Updated]

Nirwa Mehta
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Tashkent Files 2019 Review: A story that needed to be told [Twitter Reviews Updated]

Second Prime Minister of independent India wins a war against Pakistan, goes to Tashkent, after days of high-tension talks, signs a peace agreement with Pakistan and dies within few hours. There are conspiracy theories and rumours about his death and even the family members suspect foul play. However, no post mortem is carried out.

[Scroll Down For User Reviews]

The Tashkent Files, which releases on April 12, is an extremely well-researched film which tries to ask a few uncomfortable questions without demonising any politician or a political party which may or may not have had anything to do with Prime Minister Shastri’s mysterious death and subsequent lack of investigation.

Having grown up in the 90s, the only thing our school history books talked about former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri how he was the second prime minister who gave us the ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ slogan. As The Tashkent Files says, there is more information surrounding former PM Shastri’s death over the internet than in official documents of the government of India.

The film makes a few startling revelations. Just how far were the intelligence agencies of the US and the then USSR involved? How deep had they infiltrated India through the politicians and media? Why was any inquiry commission not set up after Prime Minister Shastri’s death? Why was an autopsy not carried out? Why are there two separate versions of the medical report? Why the inconsistency? Why did the two witnesses who attended to PM Shastri in his last moments ‘coincidentally’ meet with road accidents?

Prime Minister Shastri’s body had turned blue-black, there were cut-marks on his body, there were dried blood marks on the body but despite this, the government of India did not think it was necessary to carry out an autopsy. Does this not raise alarm bells? The Tashkent Files brings together hours and years of research and puts out a coherent narration which leaves you angry and frustrated at what could be one of the biggest ‘coverups’ in independent India.

The film says how Shastri was killed twice, once in Tashkent and the second time systematically from our consciousness. The film mentions Mitrokhin Archives, a book which is a collection of secret documents by secret KGB archivist that talks about the truth behind Shastri’s death. The book and film make some damning revelations (not yet verified) regarding how deep had the KGB infiltrated India by bribing the politicians, planting media articles and perhaps even killing a prime minister.

Brilliant performance by the actors. Shweta Basu Prasad shines in her role of a young journalist where her character has its own share of flaws which she overcomes because she wants a logical end to a ‘game’ that was started. She does not take any moral high ground, does not go hammer and tongs against the grand old party which chose not to carry out an investigation after Shastri’s death. She only asks questions. Pallavi Joshi as a historian and an expert on Shastri also shows how history books are also filled with just one version and there could be other versions of the same incident.

Prakash Belawadi is another brilliant actor and a personal favourite amongst all the characters in this film. The film is backed with solid research and has no over-the-top narrative building which makes it a great political drama just as the election season kicks in.

I hope the film reaches out to the younger generation and they learn more about the son of the soil India lost too soon. Hope there is an investigation carried out on former Prime Minister Shastri’s mysterious death and the family as well as the country can get some closure. In the meantime, I’m buying my copy Mitrokhin Archives to learn more about India what the school history books never told me.

***

TASHKENT FILES – CRITIC REVIEWS AND AUDIENCE FEEDBACK

The movie’s reviews have quickly become the latest battle ground between the small elite coterie of politically biased critics vs the masses. Had this been year 2001, then maybe the movie reviews and critics would have had the power to decide the fate of the movie and relegate it to oblivion.
But this is 2018 and opinions have democratised and so the power to decide this is firmly in the hands of junta.

So here are the user reviews from across the internet:

BookMyShow’s reviews:

tashkent files user reviews 

Rotten tomatoes rating: 92%

Google user Reviews 93% Positive:

movie reviews 2019 of tashkent files 

ImDB reviews 8.5/10

Here’s are some honest Twitter reviews from people who have watched it


 

Movie released on: 12th April 2019. You can follow Vivek Agnihotri, director and man behind the movie on Twitter here

Trailer: Also watch: YouTube Trailer of The Tashkent Files movie:

‘Have irrefutable evidence that Indian MiG-21 shot down Pakistani F-16’, says IAF, shows radar images as proof

OpIndia Staff
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‘Have irrefutable evidence that Indian MiG-21 shot down Pakistani F-16’, says IAF, shows radar images as proof

The Indian Air Force (IAF) briefed the press today in response to claims by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan that one of their F-16 jets wasn’t shot down by Wing Commander Abhinandan based on a dubious report.

Following the report by Foreign Policy, many Indian media outlets, with a hostile disposition towards the Modi government, lapped it up and used it to ridicule the government over the claims made by it regarding the downing of a Pakistani Falcon by an Indian MiG-21 Bison.


The IAF today stated, “One Mig 21 Bison of the IAF piloted by Wg Cdr Abhinandan shot down one F-16 of PAF. The F-16 crashed and fell across the LOC in PO J&K.” “The IAF has irrefutable evidence of not only the fact that F-16 was used by PAF on 27Feb19 but also that an IAF Mig21 Bison shot down a PAF F-16,” it added.

The IAF stated further, “The Indian Army posts in the vicinity of the LOC in the Jhangar sector (under Nowshera Brigade) have visually sighted two separate parachutes.” Comments made by the DG-ISPR and radio communications intercepts of Pakistan Army formations in the area were also cited to validate their observations in addition to radar images.

“In his initial statement on 27Feb19 DG ISPR categorically said ‘3 pilots – one in custody, two in the area’. Subsequently, DG ISPR also stated on camera in a press conference that they had two pilots. One in custody and the other had been admitted to hospital and was being given treatment. The same was further corroborated by the statement by the Pak PM on camera also indicating more than one pilot,” the statement said.

“There is no doubt that two aircraft went down in the aerial engagement on 27Feb19 one of which was a Bison of IAF while the other was F-16 of PAF conclusively identified by its electronic signature and radio transcripts,” the statement read.” The IAF has “more credible information and evidence” to prove the fact but is choosing not to do so due to “security and confidentiality concerns”.

The IAF also said in its statement that it has “achieved its objectives of successfully striking the terrorist camp at Balakot and thwarting the PAF attack against our military installations” while “PAF was unable to achieve its military objectives”.

Radar image showing presence of F-16 jetsThe Indian Air Force also showed radar images taken from Phalcon AWACS, which show the presence of F-16 jets, along with JF-17 jets of the Pakistan Air Force.


According to earlier reports, India had shared vital evidence of Pakistan’s use of F-16s in the attempted strike against India after the Balakot airstrikes with the USA. The IAF has consistently maintained that it has undeniable evidence of the downing of the F-16. Pakistan has been in denial ever since the jet went down as they were in violation of its treaty with the US which bars it from using the F-16s against other countries.

Abdullah, Mufti and their fake Jammu and Kashmir highway outrage

Ashish Shukla
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Abdullah, Mufti and their fake Jammu and Kashmir highway outrage

Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), the father and son Abdullah duo (NC) and Sajid Lone (People’s Conference) are calling upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir to defy the ban on access to Baramullah-Udhampur 270-km highway which came into force on Sunday.

Mufti has threatened to drag the government to court; Farooq Abdullah feels Kashmir is being treated as a “colony”, and Sajid Lone is viewing it as a humanitarian disaster.

They all are shedding copious tears and Lutyens Media, as if on prompt, is beating its breast at the alleged humanitarian disaster, quoting inconvenienced people who are visiting railway stations and hospitals or shopkeepers who flank the sides of the highway.

Since the ban is to remain in effect till May 31, well after elections are over, you could be sure they would be holding more demonstrations and defying the ban as they did on Sunday. Lutyens Media, as if on cue, would create a sustained noise to brainwash unsuspecting readers and feed their international echo chamber.

None would tell you the readers that:

  • It’s for army convoys to move between Jammu and Kashmir Valley and avoid a Pulwama-type tragedy.
  • The ban is only on Wednesday and Sunday for 13 hours, 4 am-5pm.
  • VVIPs are outside the purview of the ban (Omar Abdullah and Mufti held their campaign rallies in Uri and Beerwah on Sunday).
  • School children, government employees, emergency services and tourist vehicles are allowed after due scrutiny.
  • Civilian traffic is allowed once an army convoy has passed by.
  • Civilians can seek passes from the offices of district magistrates.
  • Civilians can have a day-pass in case of emergency.

Lutyens Media would be ready aids to these rumour-mongering politicians, without questioning if the country could afford another Pulwama attack or an Indo-Pakistan war which could ensue in its wake. Whether the government could be roasted in case Pulwama 2.0 happens. Whether an unfortunate incident could blow up our brave soldiers and bereave their families.

Neither the Lutyens Media nor vile politicians would rise up in fury on Pakistan for stating that the Modi government could “stage a new mishap” and thereafter “attack” Pakistan in order to win the 2019 General Elections. If you look at Indian Express this morning, you could think it’s a newspaper published from across the border. Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is second lead story, with a photo to boot, while a livid India and its’ reaction on this “preposterous statement” intended to “whip up war hysteria” and “a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India” is buried deep inside the story.

Don’t politicians and Lutyens Media have any sentiments for India’s armed soldiers? Another Pulwama is just like fodder to their scheme to put Modi government in an awkward spot on the cusp of 2019 General Elections? Is this a loyalty towards your own motherland or those who want it in pieces?

So keep an eye on these politicians and Jammu & Kashmir over the next few weeks. Watch your newspapers avoid the inconvenient facts such as that it was Modi government which enforced a unilateral ceasefire during Ramadan last year. See how a fake human rights campaign is raised to a feverish pitch. And if you could urge the government to have a harsher ban on the highway. Inconvenience is no cost compared to the blown up soldiers on the highway.

UK court denies Vijay Mallya permission to appeal against his extradition to India

OpIndia Staff
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UK court denies Vijay Mallya permission to appeal against his extradition to India

In the latest development in the extradition process of Vijay Mallya to India, a UK High Court on Monday denied permission to appeal against the extradition order. The development comes after he offered to cut down his expenses to pay back debt his defunct Kingfisher Airlines owes banks in India. Vijay Mallya had sought to appeal against his extradition order issued by the UK government, after getting the go-ahead from the Westminster Magistrates’ Court.


A spokesperson for the UK judiciary said that “the application for permission to appeal was refused by Mr Justice William Davis on 05/04/2019.” The spokesperson added that “the appellant (Mallya) has five business days to apply for oral consideration. If a renewal application is made, it will be listed before a High Court judge and dealt with at a hearing.”

The single judge court rejected permission for appeal based on papers submitted with the application.

Now that Mallya’s application has been rejected by Judge Davis, he has the option to submit for a “renewal”. The renewal process will lead to a brief oral hearing, which will include representations from the sides, Vijay Mallya and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on behalf of the Indian government. This process will determine whether the appeal can go for a full hearing.

The State Bank of India, which lent £1.142 billion ($1.5 billion) to Mallya for his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has been reassured by his lawyers that their client is willing to curb his spending to £29,500 a month, SBI’s lawyers told a London court on Wednesday. He is currently spending about £18,300 a week.

Mallya is facing criminal charges of money laundering, fraud, and violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).  Mallya has now the option to appeal to the Supreme Court which may take at least another six weeks.

Back in India, the investigative agencies have come down hard against the liquor baron for defaulting on the loans borrowed by him. The investigating agency ED had informally conveyed to Heineken NV, the part-owner of United Breweries (UB), that it intends to allow banks to auction Vijay Mallya’s shares in the company that the banks had attached once the court grants its approval to the agency for the same.

A day after Mayawati appeals for consolidation of Muslims votes, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi cancel 3 rallies in areas with large Muslim population

K Bhattacharjee
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A day after Mayawati appeals for consolidation of Muslims votes, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi cancel 3 rallies in areas with large Muslim population

Imran Masood, the Congress candidate from Saharanpur, has announced that rallies of the Nehru-Gandhi Parivar have been cancelled due to ‘bad weather’. Masood said, “For now the program has been cancelled at all three places (Shamli, Bijnor, Saharanpur), due to bad weather. We are planning Priyanka ji’s roadshow tomorrow.”


The Congress president and his sister, Priyanka, were supposed to address a rally at the Gandhi Park in Saharanpur to seek support for Masood. The constituency has a 42% Muslim population. The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ has fielded Fazlur Rahman from Saharanpur which includes five Assembly segments — Behat, Saharanpur, Saharanpur Dehat, Rampur Maniharan and Deoband. Bijnor district has over 43% Muslim population and the constituency has over 60% Muslim-Yadav-Dalit vote equation. Similarly, Shamli tehsil too has a large Muslim population. Shamli falls in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency that has a substantial Muslim population as well.

It is pertinent to mention that only days after confessing his profound love for Prime Minister Modi, Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to campaign for a candidate who threatened to chop Narendra Modi into pieces.

Intriguingly enough, the cancellation comes merely a day after BSP supremo Mayawati exhorted Muslims to vote for her alliance as the Congress wasn’t strong enough in the state to compete against the BJP. Mayawati had said, “I want to say this to the people of the Muslim community that you should not spilt your vote. You should consolidate your vote in the favour of the candidates of SP and RLD and make them win.”

Certain speculations have been doing the rounds that the Congress is working towards taking Upper-Caste votes away from the BJP. However, it appears Upper Caste votes may not be the only vote-bank the Congress is tapping into as the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ appears concerned by the split in Muslim votes. The introduction of Priyanka Gandhi into the equation appears to have strengthened the party much more than what the Mahagathbandhan would have ideally preferred.

There have also been rather blatant attempts by Congress allies to curb the influence of the party, which the party naturally wouldn’t have taken kindly to. The SP-BSP alliance first embarrassed the Congress by leaving only two seats for them in Uttar Pradesh. Then, Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy donated a top JD(S) leader to the BSP so that the party could win more states. Under such circumstances, the Congress was staring at staring down the throat of a permanent loss of influence in the national scene.

However, with the cancellation of Rahul and Priyanka’s rallies a day after Mayawati’s attempts to prevent a split in Muslim votes, it appears an agreement has been successfully brokered between the two factions.

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