Home Blog Page 6693

Punjab National Bank recovers Rs 16,000 crores from bad loans, Q3 reports profit of ₹246.51 crore

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Punjab National Bank recovers Rs 16,000 crores from bad loans, Q3 reports profit of ₹246.51 crore

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has posted 7.12 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 246.51 crore for its third quarter ended December 31, 2018, and has brought down its Gross NPA from 18.32% to 16.33% indicating a sharp drop in provisions for bad loans. This despite the 100% provision made for the Rs 13,000 crore scam in which Nirav Modi is the prime accused.

According to the reports, Punjab National Bank, the second largest government-owned lender has reported a surprise profit in the October-December quarter, aided by lower provisioning for bad loans. PNB recovered about Rs 16,000 crore in the quarter helping the bank improve its balance sheet.

The provisions decreased 67 per cent from Rs 7,733.27 crore in the previous quarter to Rs 2,565.77 crore in the current quarter. During the quarter, the percentage of net non-performing assets declined to 8.22 per cent from 8.90 per cent in the September quarter.

“We are back in (the) black, after 100 per cent provisions for all our commitments,” PNB chief executive Sunil Mehta said in an earnings briefing. “We have honoured all our commitments. Our bank, as on date, has provided all for that incident (Nirav Modi fraud). We suffered because of the one-off incident which has now been absorbed by the bank,” Mehta said.

The total provisions excluding for income tax, made during the third quarter of the current financial year were ₹2,753.84 crore as against ₹4,466.68 crore in the year-ago period.

Veteran Congress leader O M George surrenders in sexual abuse of a minor case

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Veteran Congress leader O M George surrenders in sexual abuse of a minor case

The Congress old-hand O M George has surrendered before Manandavady’s deputy superintendent of police Kuberan Namboothiri in a case regarding the sexual assault of a 17-year-old Adivasi girl several times in a span of two years. A case had been registered under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the district Congress committee (DCC) member O M George.

The incident came to the fore after the victim tried to commit suicide. Following it, the Childline activists assured that the victim was safeguarded and informed the police of the development. The victim’s relatives have alleged that the police didn’t heed their complaints and showed no interest in arresting the culprit. They have also accused the police of seeking to settle the case by bribing the victim and her family.

Owing to police’s callous response, the victim’s mother proclaimed of going on a hunger strike in front of the police station to protest against the “inaction and disinterest of the police in daughter’s assault case”. The incident provoked George to surrender.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran has announced George’s suspension from the party. The DCC president of the Sulthan Bathery constituency assured strict action against George if he is found guilty. George had reportedly tried to settle the matter with police but to no avail. He was absconding since the incident came to light but has now surrendered himself.

While Rahul Gandhi waxes eloquence about ‘women empowerment’, his own party members are found guilty of serious offences undermining the modesty of women. This is not the first time that such appalling incidents have emerged involving Congress office-bearers. A former Kerala Chief Minister from Congress was named in a rape case in October 2018 and youth congress workers were accused of molestation during the Kathua and Unnao rape protests, among several other cases. 

Weeks after she was asked to resign, Arvind Kejriwal ‘unfollows’ Alka Lamba on Twitter, removes her from WhatsApp groups

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Weeks after she was asked to resign, Arvind Kejriwal ‘unfollows’ Alka Lamba on Twitter, removes her from WhatsApp groups

On Monday, AAP MLA Alka Lamba claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unfollowed her on Twitter. She further claimed that she has also been removed from the official WhatsApp group.

According to the reports, the Chandni Chowk MLA expressed disappointment over deliberate sidelining her in the party. After being removed from the official Whatsapp group, Alka Lamba said she has sent a message to the party leaders asking them to clear their stand on her position in the party.

Read also: AAP’s Alka Lamba makes insensitive, crass comment on Parrikar’s health to spread canards about Rafale deal

“I have a strong feeling that the party does not need my services at all. But till I am an MLA, I will continue serving the people of my constituency,” said Alka Lamba.

“Such things, like removing from WhatsApp groups, unfollowing on Twitter and not inviting in meetings make me feel that I deserve the same position and respect as other MLAs have. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for me to continue. I cannot compromise my self-respect,” she further told PTI.

Read also: AAP MLA delays rescue operation, later laughs on Twitter quoting the news

Alka Lamba has also denied allegations that she was getting closer to the Congress party, Lamba said, “It is being assumed that I am going to join the Congress though I have not uttered a word against the AAP or its leaders. But on the other hand, efforts to ally with the Congress through a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ are considered okay by them.”

Recently, MLA Alka Lamba was reportedly asked to resign from the Aam Aadmi Party over a resolution that was presented in the Delhi Assembly on December 21. Alka Lamba had protested against an alleged proposal to revoke Bharat Ratna awarded to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Recently, former Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Khaira tendered his resignation from AAP citing Kejriwal’s ‘dictatorial attitude‘. Prior to that, AAP leader HS Phoolka, who was against the formation of an alliance with Congress also resigned from the party. Years after AAP founding members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav were kicked out of the party, in August last year, AAP senior leader Ashutosh and Ashish Khetan had also quit the party.

Uttar Pradesh: SP-BSP members create ruckus, throw paper planes, paper balls in the Vidhan Sabha

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: SP-BSP members create ruckus, throw paper planes, paper balls in the Vidhan Sabha

Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs today protested against the state government in the state assembly today by throwing paper planes and paper balls towards the governor Ram Naik.


They also held banners likening the CBI to a caged parrot and raised slogans as Governor Ram Naik addressed a joint session of Uttar Pradesh Legislature in Lucknow on Tuesday.

However, this is not the first time SP and BSP members have resorted to this sort of unschooled and trifling behaviour to stall the UP assembly proceedings. Last year too, the opposition had resorted to throwing paper planes, paper balls and balloons at Governor Ram Naik, agitating against Yogi government over encounters of dreaded criminals.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has been conducting encounters against dreaded criminals at a remarkable frequency since Yogi Adityanath took over as the Chief Minister of the state. Thus far, over 1,100 encounters have been conducted and 38 criminals have been eliminated. Hundreds of others have been arrested.

Although the public has been supportive of the Chief Minister’s drive to root out lawlessness from the society, oppositions like SP and BSP were troubled with the prompt actions taken by the UP police and thought it prudent enough to have recourse to protests in the Assembly, holding placards with slogans such as “Nirdoshon ki farzi encounter band karo (stop fake encounters of innocents)” and “Kansganj ke sampradayik hinsa mein nirdosh logon pe zulm bandh karo (stop harassing innocents in Kansganj)”.

Previously also, the Samajwadi party has initiated this kind of ludicrous act. In May 2017, the Budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature had begun on a turbulent note as the opposition parties created a ruckus during Governor Ram Naik’s address to the House. The SP, BSP members were seen throwing papers at the Governor’s face as he tried to complete his address.

In 2014, during the Uttar Pradesh assembly session, RJD legislators, in what could be called the most uncultured act, took off their shirts protesting against the incumbent government.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government will present the budget for the year 2019-20 on February 7. Subsequently, the discussion on Budget will take place on four days beginning from February 12. On February 6, February 7 the house will discuss Governer’s address. The Session would discuss and put to vote from February 18 -22.

West Bengal: Congress state unit plans massive protests even as Rahul Gandhi extends support to Mamata

OpIndia Staff
-
0
West Bengal: Congress state unit plans massive protests even as Rahul Gandhi extends support to Mamata

The bonhomie between the Opposition parties was palpable at the dramatic ‘Dharna’ organized by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following a team of CBI officials being detained by the state police.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi was quick to lend his support to the Trinamool supremo, making a remarkable U-Turn from his earlier stand on the matter where he had accused her of protecting the accused.

Now, it appears, while the Congress party at the national level is supporting Trinamool, their state unit is planning to organize massive protests against their supposed ally for their alleged involvement in chit fund scams.

Congress president Somendra Nath Mitra told News18, “At the national level, our stand is to be with all the parties including Trinamool who are against the BJP. But in the state politics, state Congress will fight with both the TMC and the BJP.” Mitra further claimed that Congress supporters had been killed by the TMC and their MLAs and MPs were forced to join them. “Given this, how can you expect me to join hands with the TMC in Bengal?”

The state unit of the Congress party has been at odds with the national wing of the party for a long while now. Last year in August, while the Gandhis met Mamata, the then state Congress chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, called Mamata a ‘chameleon’, ‘Trojan Horse’ and ‘Dictator’.

The national unit of the Congress party appears to be sacrificing its state unit due to its larger anti-BJP agenda. It raises a serious question about the kind of leader Rahul Gandhi is. The state unit of Congress claims that their supporters have been murdered by the TMC and yet Rahul Gandhi appears to be willing to ignore those murders and embrace the TMC due to his personal ambition of being the Prime Minister.

Ultimately, it appears the sacrifices of the Congress workers will go in vain as the national leadership has already made up its mind to lend its support to the Trinamool Congress. Since the party leadership has abandoned them, it appears to be only a matter of time before people from the state unit of Congress abandon the party as well.

AG KK Venugopal files a contempt plea against Prashant Bhushan for his malicious tweets

OpIndia Staff
-
0
AG KK Venugopal files a contempt plea against Prashant Bhushan for his malicious tweets

The Attorney General KK Venugopal has filed a contempt petition against advocate Prashant Bhushan for his vindictive and reckless tweets regarding the appointment of interim CBI director M Nageshwar Rao.

Bhushan had tweeted that the appointment of Rao had happened without the consent of the high-powered committee comprising of the PM, Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition. But, when the case was heard last week, AG Venugopal had furnished the document proving that the appointment of Rao was indeed approved and signed by the high-powered committee.


Prashant Bhushan defended his tweet, claiming that the opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge told him that no discussion regarding the appointment of interim CBI director had taken place in the HPC meeting.

Citing the minutes of the meetings extracted by the AG KK Venugopal, he claimed that the signatures of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge testify that the decision of appointing the interim director of the CBI was taken with his consent.

The relevant part highlighted and relied upon by Venugopal in his defence read as: “The Central government may post a suitable officer to look after the duties of Director, CBI till the appointment of a new Director CBI.”

He argued that since the minutes were signed by all three members of the HPC, all the three were aware of and party to the decision taken at the meeting. Thus, the proclamation made by Bhushan couldn’t be true as the leader of the opposition himself signed the document and he could not have denied it to Bhushan.

In the petition, KK Venugopal contends that without applying to the court for the minutes of the meeting, Bhushan went ahead and chose to level serious allegations against the Attorney General for India and the Government of India and questioned the integrity of the AG. “This is not only rash but also exhibits malice and dishonesty. It is obvious that Bhushan attempted to generate publicity through the press and social media”, the petition states.

The petition also stated that the actions employed by the respondent to alter the pending proceedings might grievously affect the administration of justice and hence the petition requested that contempt of court be initiated against Bhushan.

This is not the first time that a contempt petition has been filed against Bhushan. A contempt petition was filed against him for making reckless imputations against the Judiciary. Prashant Bhushan’s flip-flop regarding Alok Verma’s appointment and removal is well documented. There’s also an interminable list of instances when Prashant Bhushan had made or share unverified facts on his Social Media accounts to score petty political brownie points.

Mamata’s democracy: After Yogi Adityanath, Shivraj Chouhan and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also denied permission to hold rallies in Bengal

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mamata’s democracy: After Yogi Adityanath, Shivraj Chouhan and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also denied permission to hold rallies in Bengal

Amid the political chaos ensuing in the state of West Bengal, in yet another attempt to impede political rallies of Bhartiya Janta Party, BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Shahnawz Hussain have also been denied permission to land helicopters in the state.

On February 3, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditiyanth had to call of his two scheduled public rallies in the state, in wake of denial of permission by the state government. Despite this, he had addressed a public rally at Balurghat in West Bengal’s district of South Dinajpur, via telephone.

According to reports, Yogi Adityanath was scheduled to address a rally at South Dinajpur’s Purulia district today. But, as he was denied permission to land at the district too, he has decided to take a road trip to the venue. Yogi, reportedly, is scheduled to fly from Lucknow to Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi, and then take a chopper to Bokaro district. From there, the UP CM will travel to Purulia by road, covering a distance of around 53 km.

There is still uncertainty hanging over Yogi’s scheduled rally as the permission for the rally has been reportedly cancelled after the permission for helicopter landing was denied.

Yogi Adityanath had, however, shared a Tweet earlier today that he will address the people of Bengal in Purulia today.

Former CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan was supposed to address a public rally at Kharagpur on February 6, but which seems tough as field permission to land at Kalaikunda (defense airbase) has not been granted. Shahnawaz Hussain was also scheduled to address a public gathering at Murshidabad district’s Lalbagh area. But, similarly, like Yogi Adityanath and Shivraj Singh Chauhan, he has also been denied permission to land, putting his events at jeopardy.

The state of West Bengal is witnessing a massive political turmoil as the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had resorted to ‘dharna’ politics on February 3, to allegedly save herself from Saradha chit fund scam investigation. In unprecedented scenes, the Kolkata Police had forcefully detained eight CBI officials who had gone to visit police commissioner Rajeev Kumar to obtain crucial information regarding the Saradha scam. Subsequently, the central agencies had approached the Supreme Court, alleging the state machinery and police of deliberately obfuscating facts and hampering the investigation into the Sardha Chit Fund Scam.

It is indeed ironic, that the CM of West Bengal claims to fight for democracy while not allowing leaders from opposition parties to address rallies in her state.

After facing a massive setback, Mamata Banerjee tries to downplay by claiming a ‘moral victory’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
After facing a massive setback, Mamata Banerjee tries to downplay by claiming a ‘moral victory’

Suffering a massive setback after the Supreme Court directed Rajeev Kumar to appear before the CBI, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tried to downplay the embarrassment by claiming a ‘moral victory’ while expressing her respect for the judiciary, reports ANI.

Taking a cue from the Congress party, Mamata Banerjee speaking to the media said, “I think it’s our moral victory. We have respect for the judiciary and This order was passed earlier also that they can call mutually. Rajeev Kumar never said I will not be available. If you need any clarification, you can come.”

“They came to arrest. The court said no arrest. We are grateful for the order. We welcome the verdict. Our case is strong. We never said we will never cooperate. We have sent five letters.” said Mamata after the SC order on Kolkata top cop Rajeev Kumar.

A three-member bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi ordered the Police Commissioner to make himself available for the investigation and cooperate fully. The CJI further clarified that Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar cannot be arrested by the CBI. The Supreme Court issued a notice to Commissioner Of Police Kolkata, DGP and Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government on contempt plea. The court has asked to file their response by 20th February. The Supreme Court has said that the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar will appear before the CBI in Shillong, Meghalaya as a neutral place.

The Central Bureau of India (CBI) on Monday had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging that there are several incriminating material and correspondence collected during the investigation by the CBI against the senior police officials as well as senior politicians.

The affidavit further states that while the SIT was carrying out the investigation, crucial evidence such as laptops and mobile phones were handed over to the main accused in Saradha scam case, Sudipto Sen, by the investigating officer of West Bengal Police working under direct supervision of Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

Major setback to Mamata: CJI directs Kolkata Police chief to appear before the CBI and cooperate in the investigation

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Major setback to Mamata: CJI directs Kolkata Police chief to appear before the CBI and cooperate in the investigation

The Central Bureau of India (CBI) today filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging that there are several incriminating material and correspondence collected during the investigation by the CBI against the senior police officials as well as senior politicians. The affidavit further states that while the SIT was carrying out the investigation, crucial evidence such as laptops and mobile phones were handed over to the main accused in Saradha scam case, Sudipto Sen, by the investigating officer of West Bengal Police working under direct supervision of Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.


The CBI further stated that such return of crucial evidence to main accused by the SIT, despite High Court monitoring the case, shows connivance of SIT to a larger conspiracy wherein local authorities obstructed the probe and also attempted to destroy evidence prior to transfer of the case to the CBI by the Supreme Court.

Read also: What did Sudipta Sen write in his 2013 letter that Mamata Banerjee is so nervous about Saradha scam investigation?

The three-member bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi said that the Supreme Court will direct the Police Commissioner to make himself available for the investigation and cooperate fully. The CJI further clarified that Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar cannot be arrested by the CBI. The Supreme Court issued a notice to Commissioner Of Police Kolkata, DGP and Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government on contempt plea. The court has asked to file their response by 20th February. The Supreme Court has said that the Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar will appear before the CBI in Shillong, Meghalaya as a neutral place.

Mysuru: Minor girl sexually abused, Church officials held under POCSO Act

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mysuru: Minor girl sexually abused, Church officials held under POCSO Act

On Monday, the Mysuru police have arrested three pastors (religious leaders associated with protestant Churches) for allegedly raping a teenager in Mangaluru. All the three Christian priests have now been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, reported Star of Mysore.

According to the reports, the mother of the victim hails from Mysuru had approached the Karnataka High Court alleging that three pastors had raped her daughter. The court had ordered the Karnataka police to take up the case. The Narasimharaja Police had registered an FIR on Sunday and arrested the rape accused pastors on Monday.

The victim’s mother had told the court that the pastors had approached her and promised to provide her daughter employment in Mangaluru, 200 km away from Mysuru. They also promised the mother Rs 1 lakh as assistance towards building a house. The trio has also been booked for kidnap and abuse in the name of caste under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

KT Balakrishna, the Mysuru police commissioner, had reportedly said the girl was taken to Mangaluru by the priests in November. “Subsequently, when the mother visited the girl she saw that her daughter was used as domestic help and she found out that she was also sexually assaulted,” he said.

The mother had also alleged that the rape accused pastors had kept her daughter captive in a house and sexually abused the minor girl. The accused were identified as Bennet Amman, Joshua Amman, and Sebastian, who hails from Balmatta in Mangaluru.

However, the police team has now arrested the priests but they could not find the victim. “While the victim was not there, we have apprehended the priests,” said the police officer.

According to the Narasimharaja Assistant Commissioner of Police C. Gopal, the victim’s mother has not been traced so far as they could not find her at the address. He said that the complaint was registered on the directions of the High court.

The country has been rocked by repeated rapes and other abusive incidents at Churches, as recently Franco Mulakkal, a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, was arrested and released on bail later for allegedly raping a 44-year old nun at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014. Similarly, Father Johnson V Mathew, a priest of Malankara Orthodox church was accused in the rape and sexual abuse of a married woman belonging to the fold was arrested in July.

In another incident, a 60-year-old pastor named Chandra Kumar belonging to a local church in Nagaland was arrested for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.

In another incident, a 33-year old Catholic priest, Father Prakash Damor was arrested in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh for abetting a 17-year-old girl’s suicide.

Recently, a special Mahila Court in Cuddalore had sentenced a church priest to 30 years in prison and nine others to life in prison for their involvement in the horrifying 2014 Tittakudi rape case, which involved two minor girls.

1...6,6926,6936,694...7,672Page 6,693 of 7,672