Archives for June 2019

The ED had summoned IMA group founder Mansoor Khan multiple times but he did not depose before the agency and it is suspected that he has left the country.

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: The ED on Friday attached assets worth Rs 209 crore in its money laundering probe into a ponzi scam involving Karnataka’s IMA group, in which thousands of depositors have allegedly been duped.

The central agency said its Bengaluru zonal office has issued a provisional order, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, for attachment of immovable assets worth Rs 197 crore and about Rs 12 crore deposits kept in bank accounts.

The total amount of the attachment is about Rs 209 crore, it said. The agency recently filed a criminal case of money laundering against the IMA group of companies and its absconding main promoter and Managing Director Mohammed Mansoor Khan after reports emerged that he has gone underground fearing investments worth crores of about 40,000 investors have tanked.

Khan, it said, had promised returns ranging from 2.5 to 3 per cent month to the investors, who are mainly from the Muslim community. The scam had come to light after a video of his purported statement claiming that the investments have been lost surfaced.

The ED had summoned Khan multiple times but he did not depose before the agency and it is suspected that he has left the country. The agency is working towards getting an Interpol arrest warrant issued against him and get him declared a fugitive economic offender by a court.

The Karnataka government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) of the police to probe the case.

On Friday, Shreevats Sanjay, Deputy Director General and Regional Director-South, from the Ministry of Tourism said that as many people visit Bengaluru for business, it was an ideal MICE destination. 

BENGALURU:  Karnataka, which has in the past been promoted as wildlife and a heritage destination, will now reach out to prospective tourists, pushing several destinations across the state through their cuisines. Additionally, Bengaluru, the state capital and a major hub for the IT and BT industry in the country, will also be promoted as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination by the Tourism Ministry. 

On Friday, Shreevats Sanjay, Deputy Director General and Regional Director-South, from the Ministry of Tourism said that as many people visit Bengaluru for business, it was an ideal MICE destination. 
“There is however a need to set up convention facilities across the state so that other cities are equally promoted,” he said. 

Speaking to The New Indian Express, on the sidelines of the three day long Asia Skal Congress 2019, Sanjay said, “Similarly food is something that is closest to people’s hearts. Just like other parts of India, Karnataka also has many cuisines to offer which also need to be popularised to attract tourists.” 

He said that while the heritage and spirituality of Karnataka is popular, there is need for more promotion. The state is gaining popularity for wellness tourism. “The ministry is working closely with the state tourism department to promote Karwar as an ideal family destination. Since Goa is over full and not suitable as a family destination, Karwar is ideal,” Sanjay added. 

At the inaugural, Mahesh said that the state would explore opportunities to put Karnataka tourism on the international map. He said that festivals of the state as well as Hyderabad- Karnataka region as ideal tourism destinations will be showcased to international guests, apart from the pristine Western Ghats and virgin beaches. 

The conference was inaugurated by tourism and seri-culture minister Sa Ra Mahesh, Skal International President Lavonne Wittmann and Skal- Bengaluru President Manoj Mathew were present. Around 250 delegates from 10 countries came together to promote friendship and fellowship through tourism. Skal conference is being held in Bengaluru after 35 years.  

 In its objections, the State said that in Bhagamandala village, there are about 500 houses and about 40-50 houses situated close to river are generating sewage and is collected it in the soak pit.

BENGALURU: Observing that it is the constitutional duty of the State to protect environment and rivers from pollution, the Karnataka High Court on Friday asked the state Government to file its response explaining the proposed steps to clean Cauvery at Bhagamandala in Madikeri. Hearing the public interest litigation filed by S E Jayanth and others from Kodagu district, the division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice H T Narendra Prasad issued the direction to the State to explain the proposed action to be taken to clean the river in the additional objections. 

The court also indicated that it will issue the directions if the state government is not accorded sanction for resuming work and to release the funds to ensure that the sewage water is not entering the river, as the same is pending before the government. 

 On March 9, 2018, the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu held a meeting with officials concerned and it was discussed that the Temple authorities have released Rs 5 lakh to Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Underground Drainage Board to prepare action plan to ensure the sewage water system in Bhagamandala Grama Panchayat and does not join the river. In fact, action plan was prepared in 2014-15 by the Board and the cost of the project was Rs 4.51 crore as per the revised plan. But it was not materialised as same is pending before the government.

Referring this, the petitioner has prayed the court to issue directions to the authorities to ensure sewage system to be properly laid Bhagamandala to ensure no pollution is caused either by the sewage water or by solid waste disposal in surrounding radius of 2 kms around Triveni Sangama. 

 In its objections, the State said that in Bhagamandala village, there are about 500 houses and about 40-50 houses situated close to river are generating sewage and is collected it in the soak pit. There will not be any discharge from these houses and sewage would join the river during summer. 

Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued a notice to Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Zameer Ahmed Khan, in connection with the IMA Gold multi-crore fraud case.

BENGALURU: Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued a notice to Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Zameer Ahmed Khan, in connection with the IMA Gold multi-crore fraud case. The ED has already provisionally attached properties worth Rs 209 crore belonging to IMA. On Friday, ED officials issued notice to the minister asking for his reply before July 5.

Speaking to reporters, Zameer confirmed that he had received the notice. “Is there anything wrong in issuing a notice? They are doing their job. I had sold a property to him (IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan) and maybe that is why they have issued the notice. I will reply to it before July 5.”

Though the minister has admitted to receiving the notice, it is not yet known what clarifications the ED has sought from him. Mohammed Mansoor Khan has been absconding for more than 20 days now and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the government of Karnataka is investigating the case and is on the lookout for him.

Rachakonda traffic police strongly believes this move will spread happiness among safe drivers as their honesty is recognised.

HYDERABAD: Motorists following traffic rules in Hyderabad are set to be honoured with certificates by the city police under a novel initiative.

The Rachakonda Police Commissionerate here Thursday launched the programme “Patrol for Happy Driving” to mark the completion.

As part of the initiative launched by Rachakonda Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat, the traffic police will identify drivers who follow traffic rules as a habit and take safety measures in driving vehicles.

“So far the police have been trying to identify traffic violators and impose fines and to seize vehicles and so on.

Now as a token of recognition to the people following traffic rules, Rachakonda police launched a unique programme which is the only one-of-its-kind in India “Patrol for Happy Driving,” Bhagwat said.

Such drivers will be given stickers and certificates of appreciation.

Rachakonda traffic police strongly believes this move will spread happiness among safe drivers as their honesty is recognised, he said.

It is observed that as a result of providing awareness on following traffic rules many people have started taking safety measures like wearing helmet, using seat belt, giving proper signals from their vehicles and maintaining safe distance from other vehicles and so on, the top cop said.

After launching this programme, Bhagwat checked some vehicles and found one woman doctorand a senior citizen along with other autorickshaw and lorry drivers as safe drivers and pasted ‘Safe Driver’ stickers on their vehicles and honoured them with a certificate.

Henceforth, Rachakonda traffic police will identify 8000 safe drivers and they will be honoured with a sticker on their vehicle as a safe driver and a certificate as a token of their sincerity.

“The main aim of launching this programme is to encourage the law-abiding citizens by honouring them and bring changes among others to make them obey the law,” Bhagwat added.

Hours after Vivek Tankha quit as the party’s Chairman for Law and RTI cell, many others from Delhi, MP and Haryana too gave up their posts.

NEW DELHI: A spate of resignations took place on Friday after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asserted that he took the onus of the debacle in the Lok Sabha election and expressed unhappiness that senior leaders fail to own responsibility for the party’s poor performance.

Meanwhile, the party decided to appoint Kondagaon MLA Mohan Makran as the party chief in Chhattisgarh in place of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who had asked the party to relieve him from the duty as his hands are full.

More changes are expected as the party is expected to appoint new chief in Madhya Pradesh where Chief Minister Kamal Nath is leading the state unit.

The first to tender resignation was Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, AICC Department chairman Law, RTI and HR, on late Thursday. Soon, over 120 party leaders, including AICC secretaries, working in-charges of Delhi and Telanaga, and other state office bearers, signed mass resignation letters.

“We all should submit our resignations for party positions and give Rahul ji a free hand to choose his team. I welcome Kamal Nath’s statement to that effect. I unequivocally submit my resignation as AICC Department chairman Law, RTI and HR. Party cannot afford a stalemate for too long,” Tanka tweeted.

“Rahul ji please make drastic changes to revive the party as a fighting force. You have the commitment and determination. Just cobble a good, acceptable and influential nationwide team. I am with you in all situations,” he added.

Rahul himself remains adamant on his decision to step down as the party chief. During a meeting with leaders from Haryana on Thursday, the Congress president said that he owns up the responsibility and would work for the party.

Government says that days with good air quality have been on the rise in the past three years

NEW DELHI: The issue of dangerous levels of air pollution was flagged by members in Lok Sabha. The government on Friday claimed that there has been nearly a 15 per cent decline in particulate matter 2.5 and 10 levels in Delhi in the last three years and that the number of days with ‘good air’ quality has also been on the rise.

Raising the issue Suresh Kodikunnil, Congress member from Kerala said that one out of every seven deaths in India is attributable to air pollution and asked if the government was aware of this.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government was aware of the situation and pointed out that vehicle pollution needs to be contained for better results.

“Vehicle pollution has to be contained immediately… We are giving out clean fuel in Delhi from this year and entire country from the coming year. The peripheral highways have been built completely in 4 years. 60,000 vehicles now don’t have to come to Delhi to pass through,” he replied.

Speaking further the minister said that Badarpur thermal power plant has been closed and State coordination committees have been created.

All polluting industries now have online monitors and that emission level reports have to be submitted by them every 15 minutes.

“We are part of the global solution… In Delhi, the problem started from 2007 but was addressed only in 2014,” he added.

Manoj Tiwari, a lawmaker from Delhi said that in the city, Ayushmann Yojana had been stopped by Delhi government and hence had fallen in the health index.

Minister Ashwini Choubey said that on September 23, Ayushman Bharat was implemented and that since then around 50 crore people have benefited from it.

Although the rains did not much affect the normal life in the city, at least five persons were injured in rain-related incidents, officials said.

MUMBAI: Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai and its neighbouring areas for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

Although the rains did not much affect the normal life in the city, at least five persons were injured in rain-related incidents, officials said.

The suburban local trains, called the lifeline of Mumbai, remained largely unaffected and were running as per their schedule.

However, in view of IMD’s heavy rainfall forecast, the Central Railway (CR) cancelled some express or passenger trains, especially those between Mumbai and Pune.

A press release issued by the CR said Mumbai-Pune Pragati Express, Mumbai-Pune Sinhagad Express, Bhusaval-Mumbai Passenger, Pune-Panvel Passenger have been cancelled on Saturday and Sunday.

The Bhusaval-Pune Express has been diverted through Daund-Manmad.

Mumbai-Bhusaval Passenger will remain cancelled till July 1, it said.

According to the officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), 39 incidents of short circuit, 104 incidents of the uprooting of trees or falling of tree branches were reported from various parts of the city.

Five persons were injured in two different incidents of wall collapse in the city, they said.

“While three persons were injured in Dadar on Friday, two others were injured in Govandi last night. They were treated in nearby hospitals and discharged,” they said.

According to the civic officials, a tree was uprooted as a result of incessant rains on Friday night, in which some cars got damaged.

Meanwhile, the weather department predicted rains in Mumbai, Thane and the coastal areas on Saturday.

Latest satellite images showed active monsoon conditions over the west coast with deep westerlies, it said.

In the last 24 hours, Colaba observatory recorded 81.2 mm rainfall, while the Santacruz weather station recorded 234.8 mm rainfall.

The Ola cab driver Faisal Usman Khan was thrashed by at least four-five persons, in a drunken state, who came on two-wheelers.

THANE (MAHARASHTRA): An Ola cab driver was assaulted and almost lynched by some persons who also forced the victim to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, officials said here on Friday.

While three accused have already been arrested and remanded in police custody till June 29, Mumbra Police are on the lookout for some more suspects in the incident that occurred last Saturday.

According to police, on June 22 night, the Ola cabbie from Mumbra, Faisal Usman Khan, 25, had gone to pick up some passengers from Diva on the far end of the Thane district, adjoining Mumbai.

En route, his vehicle broke down on the Agasan Road and he was trying to repair it with the parking lights blinking.

Suddenly, at least four-five persons, in a drunken state, came on two-wheelers and entered into a petty argument with Khan and started thrashing him, even as the scared passengers fled from the cab.

At one point, when he invoked the name of ‘allah’, the attackers realized that he belonged to a community and forced him to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The injured and bleeding victim, in order to avoid further thrashing, obliged them by repeating ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and fell unconscious as they continued to beat him up.

Later, when he revived he was in the cab and his mobile phone was stolen, he said.

Later, he narrated the entire incident in a video clip which went viral, attracting condemnation from various quarters and coverage in the local media.

Mumbra Police swung into action and nabbed three persons from Diva – Jaideep Munde, Anil Suryawanshi and Mangesh Munde – and booked them under various sections of IPC.