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Ex-IAF chief S.P. Tyagi gets bail in AgustaWestland case

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Former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi and others were granted bail by a court here on Wednesday in a money laundering case related to the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.

Special Judge Arvind Kumar asked Tyagi and others, who appeared before him, to furnish a personal bond of Rs one lakh and surety bond of like amount each.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary charge sheet in the chopper deal case against 34 individuals and foreign and Indian companies, including Tyagi, his two cousins, advocate Gautam Khaitan and Italians Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke.

Former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini, and Giuseppe Orsi, former chief of Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica, and others were also chargesheeted in the case.

The charge sheet, which mentions money laundering of around 28 million euros, named Orsi, Bruno, Tyagi’s cousins Sanjeev Tyagi and Rajiv Tyagi along with Rajeev Saxena, Director of Dubai-based firm Matrix Holdings, his wife Shivani Saxena and Khaitan’s wife Ritu Khaitan.

Among the Indian and foreign companies named are Aeromatrix Info Solution Ltd, Windsor Group Holdings, Ismax International Ltd, Cricklewood Ltd, Long Lasting Ltd, Matrix Holding Pvt Ltd, UHY Saxena, Dubai Interstellar Technologies Ltd, O.P. Khaitan and Co International Mediterranean Consulting, Tunisia Infotech Design Systems, Gordian Services, Finmeccanica SPA and AgustaWestland.

The ED said kickbacks were paid by AgustaWestland through two different channels — one handled by middleman Christian Michel James and the other by Gerosa and Haschke.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) too has filed a charge sheet in the case.

On January 1, 2014, India cancelled a contract with Finmeccanica’s British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF, over alleged breach of contractual obligations and on charges of paying kickbacks totalling Rs 423 crore.

The CBI alleged that the then Indian Air Force chief took bribes of several crores from AgustaWestland through the middlemen — and a complex set of companies in several countries — to change specifications of the contract.

(IANS)

IAF chief backs Rafale deal

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Amid the rising clamour on the Rafale deal, the Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, on Wednesday said by acquiring the French fighters the IAF was strengthening its depleting fleet.

“By providing the Rafale and the S-400 (anti-missile system), the government is strengthening the Indian Air Force to counter the shortfall of our depleting numbers of aircraft,” he said at an event here.

Pointing to IAF’s strength coming down to 31 squadrons from the sanctioned strength of 42, Dhanoa said India faced a shortage of fighter aircraft despite the threat of a two-front war with Pakistan and China.

“Very few countries are facing challenges like us. We have two nuclear-armed neighbours.We have to match neighbours Pakistan and China to tackle a two-front war,” he said.

The IAF chief’s comments come a day after former Bharatiya Janata Party ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “personal culpability” in the Rafale deal which they dubbed as the country’s “biggest defence scam”.

Earlier this month, the IAF Vice Chief, Air Marshal S.B. Deo too, had endorsed the Rafale, deal saying the aircraft will give India “unprecedented combat capabilities”.

Besides BJP rebels Sinha and Shourie, the Congress led by its President Rahul Gandhi has been relentlessly attacking the Modi government over the jet deal that was announced by the Prime Minister in 2015.

(IANS)

SC seeks details of criminal cases pending against MPs, MLAs

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Chief Secretaries of all the states, including Registrars General (RGs) of the High Courts, to furnish details of the criminal cases pending against the MPs and MLAs.

It also asked whether the cases have been transferred to the Special Courts set up in pursuance to its December 2017 order to try them.

A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Navin Sinha and Justice K.M. Joseph also sought information whether Special Courts set-up in pursuance of its order were functional.

It wanted to know whether in view of the volume of cases pending, there was need of additional special courts to try lawmakers facing criminal cases.

The court made it clear that if required it would monitor the compliance of its orders passed from time to time.

The court order binding the Chief Secretaries and RGs came as it was apparently not satisfied with the information furnished by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice in its affidavit filed on September 11.

The affidavit said that a total of 1,233 criminal cases were transferred to the Special Courts. Of these, 136 have been disposed of and remaining 1,097 were pending.

Appearing for petitioner Ashwini Upadhyaya, counsel Sajan Povvaya urged the court to see if Special Courts were actually working as he cited the example of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) courts that have been set-up by the states but were not functional as there were no presiding judges.

(IANS)

Hurricane Florence threatens millions on US East Coast

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Some 5.4 million people were issued storm warnings on the US East coast as Hurricane Florence builds in the Atlantic.

About 1.5 million were ordered to leave their homes and more than 5.4 million were issued storm warnings on the US East Coast as Hurricane Florence builds in the Atlantic.

Expected to be the worst storm in 30 years, it is likely to make landfall in North or South Carolina in the next two days.

US President Donald Trump has already signed emergency declarations to free up federal funds for the response.

(Aljazeera)

Team has character, lacks experience: Kohli

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Observing that the five-match Test series against England was highly competitive, India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said India played fearless cricket and the team has a lot of character but lacked in experience.

India lost the fifth and final Test by 118 runs despite heroic resistance from opener KL Rahul (149) and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (114) in the second innngs.

England, thus, won the series by a comprehensive 4-1 margin after India were bowled out for 345 chasing 464 for victory.

“We have character in the team and we just need some experience,” Kohli said at the post match presentation ceremony.

Lauding the efforts of Rahul and Pant, who raised hopes of an improbable win, Kohli said the team’s willingless to fight till the end came to the fore.

“I think a lot of credit has to go to the two young guys. The kind of cricket we have played might not show on the scorecard.

“Pant showed a lot of grit and character. When you get into a zone when you are not thinking about the result, things go your way.

“I am delighted for both the guys and it speaks of India’s future. We did not take out opportunities.”

Kohli, who has had a great series himself amassing 593 runs, added that the five games with packed crowd and some fascinating cricket on display has been a great advertisement for the longest format of the game.

“Both the teams know this series has been a competitive one. This has been a great advert for Test cricket. The basic idea was to go out there and play the cricket we are supposed to do,” Kohli said.

“England are a professional side and we realized that as the game changed with in two-three overs.

“England also don’t go for draws and they played fearless cricket and so did we. That is why you won’t see draws,” he added.

(IANS)

The Karnataka coalition tussle: Will the boat rock or remain steady until 2019

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It has been a little over 100 days since the JD(S) formed the government in Karnataka with the Congress. The train has chugged through and amicably sorted out several issues, but problems persist on a day to day basis.
First it was Siddaramaiah with his indirect hints at becoming chief minister again. Now, the threat of a revolt within the Congress by the Jarkiholi brothers of Belagavi.

The problem erupted when the Jarkiholi brothers led by Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi raised the banner of revolt after a faction led by Congress leader Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who owes allegiance to Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, tried to gain control of the Primary Land Development Bank in Belagavi.

The past couple of days witnessed several attempts being made to raise the banner of revolt and the brothers saying that they enjoyed the support of at least 12 MLAs. If this is correct and the brother do decide to pull out, the coalition would collapse as it enjoys a slender majority of 118 MLAs in the 224 member house.
Both sides- Congress and JD(S) tried to play down the issue and said that the problems have been sorted out.

Indirect talks: The Jarkiholi brothers are reportedly in talks with B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP. The BJP expects at least 7 MLAs of the Congress would likely back them. The party is however keeping its cards close to its chest. There is no move to topple the government, but yes there are several disgruntled MLAs especially from North Karnataka and the Lingayat community, a leader in the know of the developments informed media.
He also said that the BJP would not approach anyone. However we could talk if they approach us first. When asked if another ‘Operation Lotus’ was on the cards, the leader refused to comment.

Reverse Operation Lotus: Amidst talk that the BJP would look to poach MLAs from the Congress, there are moves to identify some disgruntled BJP MLAs. Some persons from the Congress are reportedly in talks with BJP leaders and attempts are being made to lure them. Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy had gone on to say that there would be a surprise waiting for the BJP. You will see some from their side will come to us, he had also said. Earlier Karnataka minister, Sa Ra Mahesh had warned the BJP against poaching. He said that there are 10 MLAs from the BJP who are in touch with the JD(S). He said that they want power and hence could jump the ship. How stable is the coalition? The BJP would hope that the boat rocks at least ahead of 2019. However it does not want to be seen as the party, which toppled the government. Hence any move from the BJP would depend on what move the Congress or JD(S) makes. Several analysts tell OneIndia that the coalition will survive at least until the 2019 elections. The recent statements by Siddaramaiah and even his comments in the past should be seen in the context of both seat sharing in 2019 and his own relevance.

At least until 2019, one would see these skirmishes and it would stop only once both parties decide on who gets how much to battle in 2019. While some within the state unit of the BJP would be happy if they are able to install the government, the message from Delhi runs contrary to what they are thinking. The party’s top leadership do want any adventure in Karnataka as of now. The brief is, ” if the government has to topple, let it topple, but do not be responsible for it.” The party is putting in all its resources in the upcoming state elections in November/December. They feel that the Karnataka adventure can wait until that.

(ANI)

Over 70% Australians face sexual harassment: Study

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Nearly 71 per cent of Australians have been victims of sexual harassment at some point in their lives, a report published on Wednesday by the Australian Human Rights Commission said.

One in every three have experienced it at work in the last five years, Efe news quoted the study as saying.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins indicated in the report that sexual harassment is generally perpetrated by a man and “in many cases it is ongoing over an extended period”.

The main forms of sexual harassment cited in the study are sexual jokes and comments, inappropriate physical contact and rape.

At least 23 per cent of women have been victims of an attempt or an act of rape or sexual assault in their lives, the report said, adding that 89 per cent of women have also suffered other types of harassment.

The study also reveals that more than 85 per cent of women and 56 per cent of men under the age of 15 say they have been sexually harassed at least once.

The rate of sexual harassment is higher among people between 18 and 29 years old while indigenous Australians are the most vulnerable to these crimes, according to the research.

The data adds that 83 per cent of homosexuals and 90 per cent of bisexuals have been victims of sexual harassment compared to 70 per cent of heterosexuals, while 68 per cent of disabled people have been sexually harassed at some points in their lives.

The research indicates that 64 per cent of sexual harassment cases in the workplace are carried out by a single perpetrator who most often is a co-worker at the same level as the victim.

Jenkins stressed that the workplace harassment rate is “particularly high in the information, media and telecommunications industries”.

About 19 per cent of the workers who made a formal complaint on sexual harassment in the workplace were labelled troublemakers, another 18 per cent were isolated or ignored and 17 per cent quit their jobs, while the perpetrator experienced no consequences in 19 per cent of the cases.

(IANS)

Markets open on high note on Wednesday

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The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a positive note during the morning session of the trade.

The Sensex of the BSE after opening at 37,546.42 points touched a high of 37,638.16 points and a low of 37,432.66 points.

The Sensex is trading at 37,499.11 points up by 85.98 points or 0.23 per cent from its Tuesday’s close at 37,413.13 points.

On the other hand, the broader 51-scrip Nifty at National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened at 11,476.85 points after closing at 11,438.10 points on Tuesday.

The Nifty is trading at 11,287.50 points in the morning.

(IANS)

58 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

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At least 58 Taliban militants were killed and several others wounded following separate air and ground operations in Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces, officials said on Wednesday.

More than 100 Talibans attacked two security posts on Uruzgan province’s main roadway on Tuesday evening. However, they had to flee as the security forces retaliated appropriately.

It left 40 militants dead, provincial police chief Abdul Qawi Omari told Xinhua news agency.

In Talayee area of the provincial capital Tirin Kot, at least seven armed Taliban fighters were killed when the army shelled artillery on their hideouts, said Omari.

In neighbouring Kandahar province, late on Tuesday, a joint Afghan and US-led NATO coalition air operation killed another 11 militants and injured an equal number, provincial police chief Abdul Razeq said.

The sources did not give details if Afghan security forces or civilians suffered casualties.

Ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months have increased as the country prepares for parliamentary and district council elections slated for October 20.

The Talibans have not commented.

(IANS)

Six killed in explosion in UP chemical factory

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Six persons were killed and several others were injured in a chemical tank blast in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, police said.

The incident took place at the Mohit Chemical and Metro factory situated on the Dehat Marg in the morning.

Senior officials including the district magistrate Atal Rai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Umesh Kumar Singh rushed to the scene of the incident and are overseeing the relief and rescue operations, a home department officials informed IANS. One labourer is missing.

Workers at the factory allege that the chemical tank had been leaking for past many days but despite their please the management turned a blind eye. The incident happened at a time when the labourers were working to plug the leakage by welding it.

Those who were killed, are all laborers and have been identified as Chetram, Vikrant, Lokendra, Kamalveer, Balgovind and Ravi. More details on the missing are awaited, an official said.

(IANS)

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