India

New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Friday that it has attached Rs 1.54 crore lying in bank accounts of Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had initiated the money laundering probe on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI against Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL) and others under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 11, 35 and 39 of Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act (FCRA).

The Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) had been granted permission under the FCRA in 2011-12 for receiving foreign contributions from Amnesty International. However, the same was cancelled later. The IAIT and AIIPL were formed in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively, to 'escape' the FCRA route and carried out NGO activities in the guise of service export and FDI.

The ED learnt during the investigation that upon cancellation of FCRA licence of Amnesty International India Foundation Trust, a new method was adopted by Amnesty entities to receive money from abroad, and Amnesty International (UK), sent Rs 51.72 crore to AIIPL in the guise of export of services and foreign direct investment. However, no documentary proof for the alleged exports, such as invoices and copies of agreements, were submitted during the investigation.

"It is prima facie found that Amnesty International (UK) invested in Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd in the form of 'compulsory convertible debentures'," an ED official said.

Subsequently, IAIT established an overdraft facility for Rs 14.25 crore, keeping Rs 10 crore FD of AIIPL as collateral. The overdraft facility was used by IAIT for Amnesty India's NGO activities, including paying salary and other administrative and operational expenses.

The total attachment in the case now stands at Rs 21.08 crore.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 7 (IANS) The protruding front portion of the new Mumbai-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express train -- which was damaged due to a cattle hit on Thursday -- got a new 'nose' at the Coach Care Centre of the Western Railway, here on Friday, an official said.

The nose, made of FRP (fibre reinforced plastic) suffered an ugly rip-off as three-four buffaloes were run over between Vatva-Maninagar, near Ahmedabad, around 11.15 a.m., delaying the train by 10 minutes.

However, even on Friday, the train with the new nose on the way to Gujarat suffered another similar accident with the front portion suffering a dent near Anand.

After the accident on Thursday, the train travelled between the two cities without the frontal portion and was sent to the repair workshop on Friday.

"The nose cone cover of the train's driver coach along with its mounting brackets was damaged in the cattle-hit incident.... The vital parts of the train remained unaffected. The damaged nose cone was replaced at Mumbai Central," said Western Railway chief spokesperson Sumit Thakur.

He explained that the nose cover is designed to absorb the impact without transmitting the same to the functional parts of the train, so it is sacrificial by design and replaceable.

The damaged nose cone -- of which the Western Railway has sufficient spares -- was quickly replaced during the maintenance and the train deployed back into service without delays.

It departed from Mumbai Central for Gandhinagar but en route suffered another minor mishap which dented the newly-installed nose, which will be set right, said Thakur.

It may be recalled that the indigenously-designed and manufactured semi-high speed train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 30 and is the third service under the Vande Bharat series, with a capacity to attain up to 200 kmph speeds in future.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against an IAS officer Kankipati Rajesh and others before a Special PMLA court in Ahmedabad, officials said on Friday.

As per the official, the court took cognisance of the Prosecution complaint on October 4.

The ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI against Rajesh and others under various sections of IPC, Section 43 read with 66 of IT act, and section 7 of PC Act.

During investigation, it was learnt that Rajesh used to demand and accept illegal gratifications from the general public in lieu of discharging his official duties.

In this way, he generated proceeds of crime and further utilised part of the proceeds of crime in the acquisition of immovable properties.

Rajesh was arrested by the ED on August 6 under the provisions of PMLA and was given its remand till August 12.

Presently, he is in judicial custody. The ED has also attached assets worth Rs 1.55 crore in the form of two immovable properties situated at Surat, bank balance and fixed deposits of accused in the case on October 3 under the provisions of PMLA.

Further investigation in the matter is still on.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has apprehended two key members of an international terror module, including a juvenile, who were wanted in a number of terror cases -- the RPG attack incident at the Intelligence Headquarters in Punjab's Mohali, plotting to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan & others.

Special Commissioner Police, Special Cell, H.G.S. Dhaliwal, said the apprehended accused were important nodes of the joint terror network of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda and Canada-based gangster turned terrorist, Lakhbir Singh Landa.

The arrested accused, Arshdeep, was wanted in the IED recovery case of Shahabad, Kurukshetra and IED recovery case of police station Sirhali in Punjab's Tarn Taran.

The official said the juvenile was also wanted in the murder of a builder, Sanjay Biyani, which took place on April 5 in Nanded city of Maharashtra, and in the murder of gangster Rana Kandowalia, outside a private hospital in Amritsar on August 4.

"The apprehended JCL has also disclosed the task given to him along with absconding Deepak Surakhpur and Monu Dagar (in jail) by Lawrence Bishnoi regarding the elimination of film actor Salman Khan. While the JCL was being handled by Rinda, Arshdeep was being handled by Landa Harike," the official said.

How they were caught

Dhaliwal said that they had been working to nab the culprits for a long time. They identified people who were providing logistics support to the accused. Finally, both the accused, Arshdeep and the juvenile, were arrested from Jamnagar in Gujarat.

Rocket Launcher attack

On May 9, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at Punjab Police's Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali. During the course of the investigation, it was established that the attack was a conspiracy of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and local gangsters.

The juvenile held by the Special Cell was also involved in the conspiracy. The police has learnt that the attack was conspired by gangster turned ISI stooge Harvinder Singh alias Rinda.

Another fugitive gangster, Lakhbir Singh Landa had joined hands with Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. They were sharing manpower, logistics and resources. Rinda's name had already cropped up in the grenade attack at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) office in Nawanshahr and in the arrest of four suspected Pakistan-linked terrorists in Haryana's Karnal earlier this year.

Salman Khan murder plot

The official said that the juvenile was involved in the conspiracy along with other accused to carry out an attack on Salman Khan. They couldn't conduct a recce due to some reasons. Later, the juvenile was asked to kill Rana Kandowalia, a businessman.

Dhaliwal said that they will move a plea before the court with a request to try the juvenile as an adult. The official said that when the juvenile is over 16, the court can decide whether to try him as an adult or not.

--IANS
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Itanagar, Oct 6 (IANS) The army on Thursday paid tribute with full military honours to the mortal remains of Lt Col Saurabh Yadav, who was killed when a Cheetah helicopter of Army Aviation crashed in a forward area near Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang.

Defence spokesman Lt Col A.S. Walia said that a wreath was laid on behalf of a grateful nation for the officer's untiring service to the country.

The mortal remains of the 37-years-old pilot have been dispatched to Delhi in a special military plane.

Lt Col Walia said that the other injured pilot in Wednesday's incident was air evacuated to 151 base hospital in Guwahati and he is being treated by the best medical staff. The pilot is out of critical danger and is recovering well, he added.

--IANS
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Guwahati, Oct 6 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda will visit Assam on Friday to take part in a mega party workers' meet here, a senior party leader said on Thursday.

Bhabesh Kalita, BJP's Assam unit president said the two senior party leaders will also inaugurate the newly-built Assam state BJP headquarters on Saturday followed by a booth-level workers' meeting.

The BJP has formed a new core committee along with a few others including an election management committee for upcoming elections. Shah and Nadda will meet core committee members on Friday evening to discuss various issues related to the state.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Kalita said that at least 40,000 booth-level party workers across the state will take part in the meeting.

All Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and district-level office bearers will also attend the meeting. A few veteran party workers will be felicitated during the occasion.

It is believed that the programme is scheduled to kick-start the Lok Sabha poll preparation in Assam and other northeastern states.

Three north-eastern states -- Meghalaya, Tripura, and Nagaland are going for poll early next year. In Mizoram, elections will be held in the last part of 2023.

BJP is facing a sweet and sour relation with Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP) with Sangma announcing for going to elections without any pre-poll tie with the BJP in Meghalaya, while in Nagaland, the BJP has been enjoying a more favourable alliance with the ruling NDPP (National Democratic Progressive Party).

In Mizoram, though the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is a part of the NDA, there were some clear discomforts between the allies.

Party sources said Shah and Nadda may discuss these issues with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the chairman of Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) -- launched in 2016 with the objective of uniting the non-Congress parties in the region.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Oct 6 (IANS) After a WHO product alert, authorities in Haryana have taken samples of cough syrup from Sonepat-based factory of Maiden Pharmaceuticals, and sent to the Central Drug lLboratory in Kolkata for analysis, state Health Minister Anil Vij said on Thursday.

He said if samples failed to meet the standards, strict action will be taken against the company and its owners.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Maiden cough syrup could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in the west African nation of The Gambia.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan will be in the US from October 6 to participate in the High Level UN Security Council Debate, on "Peace and Security in Africa: Strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources", an official said.

The UNSC meeting is a signature initiative of Gabon's Presidency of the Security Council, and is likely to be presided over by the Foreign Minister of Gabon.

On October 7, the Minister will also attend an event to commemorate the fifth anniversary of India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

Established in 2017, the $150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund is supported and led by Central government, and implemented in collaboration with the UN system.

The fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states.

During the visit, Muraleedharan is also likely to meet senior UN officials as well as ministers of other member states attending the UNSC meeting.

He is also scheduled to visit Atlanta for Indian community related engagements.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Oct 6 (IANS) The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Thursday arrested Assistant Inspector General of Police Ashish Kapoor, posted as Commandant, 4th IRB, Pathankot, for taking a bribe of Rs 1 crore through cheques.

DSP, Intelligence Pawan Kumar, and ASI Harjinder Singh are also among the accused in the case.

A Vigilance Bureau spokesperson said a case under Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code have been registered.

Giving details, the spokesperson said during posting as the Superintendent at Central Jail in Amritsar in 2016, Kapoor had got acquainted with Poonam Rajan, of Haryana's Kurukshetra, who was under judicial remand in a case.

When Rajan, along with her mother Prem Lata, brother Kuldeep Singh and sister-in-law Preeti, was in police remand in a fraud case at a police station in Zirakpur town, Kapoor went to the police station and fraudulently convinced Rajan's mother to help her in getting bail and acquittal from the court.

Later, Kapoor in connivance with then SHO Pawan Kumar, and ASI Harjinder Singh got Preeti declared innocent in the case. In lieu of that favour, Kapoor obtained signatures of Prem Lata on different cheques amounting to Rs 1 crore, deposited them under the names of people known to him, and got them encashed allegedly through Harjinder Singh.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS) The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it would develop a model builder buyer for sale containing 'core' clauses in consonance with the mandatory provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016, for the protection of home buyers.

A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli noted the suggestion brought on record by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, and advocate Devashish Bharuka, who is amicus curiae in the matter.

In its order, the apex court noted the ASG and the amicus curiae, have suggested the following road map: "(i) Based upon the responses, the Central Government along with the amicus curiae would prepare a model agreement for sale containing - Part A: 'Core' clauses in consonance with the mandatory provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016, for the protection of the home buyers. These clauses cannot be altered by any State/UT and must necessarily be a part of every agreement for sale."

The bench noted that the model agreement for sale would be submitted for consideration and for its approval. "The states/UTs shall then incorporate in the agreement for sale. Part B: Additional clauses based on individual needs and exigencies of each State/UT as permissible within the scheme of the 2016 Act. However, these clauses must not be contrary to or dilute in any manner the clauses in Part 'A'," it said.

The Centre's response came on a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking a direction to protect home buyers from exploitative practices adopted by the real estate developers. The plea sought a direction to the Centre to frame model builder-buyer and agent-buyer agreements to ensure uniformity across the country.

The apex court noted that 11 state governments have not filed their replies in the matter, while 13 states and two Union Territories have filed their responses so far. Responses from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are awaited.

"The states which have not filed their responses shall do so positively within a period of four weeks from today, failing which the Principal Secretaries of the State Government in the Ministry of Urban Development/Affairs shall personally remain present before this court on the next date of hearing to explain as to why they should not be proceeded with under the coercive arm of law," said the apex court.

It added that the copy of the present order shall be communicated by the Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to their counterparts in the above 11 states which are yet to submit their responses.

The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 28.

--IANS
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