Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Corruption

AAP initiates ‘Bribe-Free Karnataka,’ launches helpline to report complaints of bribe

by

aap

Bengaluru: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit of the state has launched a helpline owing to its ‘Bribe-Free Karnataka’ programme that will begin from October 13.

Freedom Fighter HS Doreswamy who launched the helpline urged the people to call the given number and get their work done without paying any bribe.

The helpline number launched is 9342522223 and people could call on the number for reporting instances of corruption.

Sources say that the helpline would be active on all working days. People from the state can call the number and report the demand of bribe.

At the same time, the AAP workers will also pay visits to government offices and urge officials not to take bribes; apart from this, if any official did not complete the work, the matter would be taken to the seniors in the department.

The AAP has come up with the initiative after the Lokayukta had become headless.

An AAP leader said that the Lokayukta had not returned for work and had also not assigned any duty to the Upalokayukta.

(Agencies)

Kejriwal sacks food minister for ‘corruption’

by

Asim Ahmed Khan

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday sacked Food Minister Asim Ahmed Khan on charges of demanding a bribe from a builder.

Announcing the sacking at a press conference where he played a recorded tape of a conversation purportedly between Khan and the builder, Kejriwal said the case was being referred to the CBI.

“We won’t tolerate any corruption, even if it is our minister or legislator,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said.

“Till the CBI completes the investigation, he (Khan) will not be a minister,” he said. The food portfolio will go to AAP legislator Imran Hussain, he said.

(Agencies)

Former Goa minister Churchill Alemao arrested in Louis Berger bribery case

by

Churchill Alemao

Panaji: Former Goa Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao has been arrested by the crime branch in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case.

Alemao was arrested under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code. The former minister claimed his arrest was part of a political conspiracy and said he was innocent.

“I am happy they have arrested me.This is a political game. I have not done any wrong,” Alemao told PTI while being taken for medical examination during the wee hours today.

“Why should I go for anticipatory bail.I am innocent. I have not done anything wrong,” said Alemao when asked why he didn’t move anticipatory bail plea.

Crime Branch officials said the team had gone to arrest Alemao at his residence at Varca in South Goa. “But Alemao was at Agassaim village for a private function from where he was picked up.After initial questioning at crime branch office, he was placed under arrest,” a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

The former minister was questioned twice along with former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat by crime branch in past. Kamat had moved the court yesterday fearing arrest in connection with the case.

Alemao was state PWD minister when US-based company Louis Berger officials allegedly paid bribe to win consultancy for water augmentation and sewerage pipeline project under Japan international cooperation agency (JICA).

“This is politically motivated case.When it comes to politicians all the books of law are kept on the shelf,” said Mike Mehta, lawyer for Alemao, who had come to meet him at crime branch office during the wee hours.

He said Alemao had anticipated the arrest and was ready for it anytime. “He could have gone for anticipatory bail but he refused to go for it. He wanted to face the investigators,” said Mehta.

The crime branch officials took Alemao for medical check up at Goa Medical College and Hospital during the wee hours and the former minister was later sent to police lock up.

“Alemao was reluctant to go for medical examination due to which it was delayed by almost three hours,” said a crime branch official. He would be produced before a local court later today.

(Agencies)

82 percent rise in corruption complaints; Railways tops: CVC

by

Railways

New Delhi: An unprecedented over 64,000 corruption complaints were received by the Central Vigilance Commission last year, a rise of 82 percent than the preceding year.

The Commission received 64,410 complaints, including 2,048 brought forward, during 2014. Despite the manifold increase in the volume of work being handled by the Commission, there has been no increase in the staff strength, the CVC said in its annual report 2014, which was tabled in Parliament recently.

The anti-corruption watchdog had received 35,332 complaints in 2013. There has been a rise of 82.29 percent in the corruption complaints in last year.

“It is for the first time that the Commission had received such a high number of corruption complaints,” a senior CVC official said.

Of the total of 64,410 complaints received by the CVC, 36,115 were vague or unverifiable, 758 were anonymous or pseudonymous and 24,012 were for officials not under CVC.

There were 1,214 verifiable complaints which were sent for inquiry or investigation to Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) who act as distant arm of the CVC, and CBI.

Railways has topped the list of government organisations against whom maximum number of complaints of alleged corruption–over 12,000–were received by the CVOs in last year.

As many as 12,776 complaints of alleged corruption against Railways employees followed by 6,836 against bank officials, 3,572 against Delhi government employees and 3,468 against Income Tax officials were received in 2014, as per the annual report.

About 45,713 complaints of corruption were received by the CVOs against government employees. Of these, 32,054 were disposed and 13,659 were pending. A total of 6,499 complaints were pending for more than six months, it said.

A total of 3,378 corruption complaints were received against officials working in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 2,917 against employees working under Urban Development, 1,494 against those in Steel Ministry and 1,303 against Department of Telecommunications employees, the annual report said.

The CVC tendered advices in 5,867 cases during 2014. These include Commission’s advice of initiation of major penalty proceedings in 624 cases and minor penalty proceedings in 270 cases as its first stage advice. Similarly, Commission advised imposition of major penalty in 542 cases and minor penalty in 229 cases, it said.

There was a vacancy of 58 employees, as against the sanctioned strength of 296 in CVC, the annual report said.

The CVC had received 37,039, 16,929 and 16,260 complaints in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, according to its annual reports for respective years.

Similarly, 14,206 and 10,142 complaints were received in 2009 and 2008, respectively. In 2007 and 2006, the Commission had received 11,062 and 10,798 complaints, respectively. Also, 9,320, 10,735, 11,397 complaints were received by it during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as per the annual reports.

(PTI)

PMO didn’t support fight against corruption: Magsaysay winner

by

Sanjiv Chaturvedi

New Delhi: Ramon Magsaysay award winner Sanjiv Chaturvedi on Wednesday accused the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of not backing his campaign against corruption in Haryana and the AIIMS.

“PMO didn’t support (my) fight against corruption,” bureaucrat Chaturvedi told NDTV, soon after the Magsaysay Foundation announced that he and social activist and fellow Indian Anshu Gupta were among the winners of the 2015 awards.

“Zero tolerance should be against corruption, not honest officers,” added Chaturvedi, who earlier worked at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here.

“All kind of lies were spread against me when I was fighting corruption in AIIMS and Haryana,” he said.

“My mistake was (that) while fighting graft, I took (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s) ‘Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga’ slogan at face value,” said Chaturvedi.

(IANS)

BCCI suspends Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah for corruption

by

Hiken Shah

Mumbai: The Board of control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah with immediate effect on Monday after finding him guilty of breaching its Anti-Corruption Code.

The BCCI said Shah made a “corrupt” approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who plays in one of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.

Shah is a left-hand batsman and leg-break bowler who made his debut for Mumbai in domestic cricket in 2006 but has since struggled to be a regular member of the team. He has played 37 First Class matches, scoring 2160 runs at 42.35 with six centuries.

“His involvement in any form of cricket, affiliated with the BCCI stands suspended till the time the disciplinary committee of the BCCI passes appropriate orders,” the BCCI said in a statement on Monday.

The approached player informed of the approach to his franchise team which reacted by informing the incident to BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU). The ACU conducted an immediate enquiry into the matter and found Shah guilty.

“After a detailed inquiry into the reported incident, the inquiry commissioner found Hiken Shah guilty of committing breach of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; and 2.1.4 of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code for participants and recommended their provisions to the BCCI President,” the statement added.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said BCCI is committed to uphold its stance of “zero tolerance” for fixing and reacted swiftly by ordering a probe.

“BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in the game of cricket. We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game. While placing the player under suspension, I have referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI to take further action against the player involved,” Damiya said in the release.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said the governing body’s education policy was beginning to show results and the incident proves that they are on the right track.

“This particular incident demonstrates that BCCI’s education policy against corruption is showing results, as the player approached was vigilant enough to report the matter to the ACU of the BCCI.

Having said that, the fight against corruption is an ongoing battle and we will not leave any stone unturned. BCCI is committed to keep cricket corruption-free,” he said.

(IANS)

Vyapam probe will join CBI’s 6,562 pending corruption trials

by

cbi

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh’s embattled Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has welcomed the Supreme Court’s move to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into what has come to be called the Vyapam scam, but with 6,562 corruption cases pending trial, justice through the overstretched agency is unlikely to be quick.

The CBI must first investigate the Vyapam case, which will mean tracking down thousands of of suspects and witnesses and following a complex eight-year trail (the scandal first came to light in 2007). After investigation, it must file a charge-sheet. Only then will the case go to trial.

Chouhan was under pressure to accede to a CBI inquiry because as many as 35 people have died since an investigation began in 2013 into allegations of bribes paid for medical college admissions to the Madhya Pradesh Vyavsayik Pareesksha Mandal (Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board), or Vyapam.

With 2,500 people already named as accused and 1,900 in prison pending investigation, which until July 9, 2015, was monitored by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the new inquiry by the CBI is likely to challenge the agency, already struggling to cope with a rising number of pending investigations and trials in CBI courts.

Over the past four years, the CBI has brought down its case-load by no more than 9 percent, from 7,178 in 2011 to 6,562 in 2014, according to the latest government data available on March 31, 2014.

Delhi tops the list with 765 corruption cases pending before the courts. Maharashtra is next with 691 cases followed by West Bengal (646), Uttar Pradesh (596) and Tamil Nadu (474).

Over the past four years, the CBI registered 2,220 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The agency has completed investigations in 1,512 cases, while 708 cases are pending investigation.

During 2013, the conviction rate for corruption cases tried in CBI courts was 69 percent, according to latest data available with the National Crime Records Bureau.

Slow progress in high-profile cases

The Vyapam inquiry is likely to be a high-profile probe, involving top government officials and ministers.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav is also alleged to be involved. A notice has now been issued against the governor by the Supreme Court. One of the accused in the scam has also filed a police complaint against union minister Uma Bharati.

Over the past four years, the CBI has registered a total of 45 cases against central government ministers, members of parliament and ex-ministers of state and central governments.

While 25 cases are under trial, 12 cases are under investigation. Five cases have been closed by CBI. In one case, the agency has appealed against the order of the court, according to government data.

The Supreme Court steps in

On July 9, 2015, the Supreme Court ordered that all criminal cases and deaths connected with the Vyapam scandal be transferred to the CBI.

On July 24, the Supreme Court will decide if it will monitor the CBI inquiry. Criticising the Madhya Pradesh High Court for postponing a state government request to hand over the case to the CBI, Chief Justice Dattu said the High Court will not “touch the Vyapam case” now.

Vyapam is a self-financed, autonomous body of the Madhya Pradesh state government, organising competitive entrance tests to professional courses. Its website says it is the only institute of its kind in India.

More than 7 million candidates have appeared for the exams conducted by Vyapam over the past six years.

The first death related to the bribery scandal was reported in 2009, when a medical student accused of being a middleman by the police died of an illness and adverse drug reaction. About 500 people connected to the case are missing.

(IANS)

Lokayukta corruption row: Opposition mounts pressure for CBI probe

by

Bhaskar-Rao

Belagavi: Keeping up pressure for removal of Lokaykuta Bhaskar Rao and a CBI probe into alleged bribery scandal in the anti-graft body, Opposition BJP and JDS members today staged a walkout from the Legislative Council, accusing the government of shielding the corrupt.

As the House proceedings began, BJP and JDS sought to move an adjournment motion on the scandal that has rocked the Lokayukta office and demanded removal of Rao, alleging his son was involved in corruption amounting to crores of rupees.

In their joint notice for adjournment motion, both parties said several social organisations, legal fraternity and its associations had expressed their dismay against the “corrupt” Lokayukta which was weakening the very institution and he should be removed.

As BJP leader K S Eshwarappa began speaking, he was interrupted frequently by the ruling Congress members which enraged his party members who staged a walkout, followed by their counterparts in JDS also.

Minister and Leader of the House S R Patil told reporters it is very unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) members walked out only because some from the ruling bench interrupted them.

“The government has no intention of protecting anyone. But government has no power for removal of Lokayukta as per the Lokayukta Act 1984,” he said.

Later, Eshwarappa told reporters that the government should seek opinion from legal experts on the charges levelled against Lokayukta.

A situation had arisen where all officers are scared of Lokayukta due to threat from his son, Eshwarappa said. The was protecting a corrupt Lokayukta, he alleged.

JDS senior member Basavarj Horatti wanted to know as to why government is protecting the Lokayukta.

An FIR was filed yesterday against the Lokayukta’s son in connection with the alleged scandal on the basis of a complaint that an executive engineer was asked to pay Rs 1 crore bribe to avoid a raid.

Rao, a former High Court Chief Justice, has rejected allegations that his son was involved in the scandal and said he would resign if the charge was proved correct.

The case has been handed over to a Special Investigation team by the government on the request by the Lokayukta.

(PTI)

Interpol issues six wanted person alerts over FIFA case

by

Two former FIFA officials, including Jack Warner, and four corporate executives wanted over racketeering and corruption.

Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice [File pic - Reuters]

Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice [File pic – Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Interpol has placed six people, including two former FIFA officials and four corporate executives, on its most wanted list on racketeering and corruption charges at the request of US authorities.

The former FIFA officials are ex-vice president Jack Warner and former FIFA executive committee member, Nicolás Leoz.

The Red Notices issued by Interpol are not international arrest warrants.

However, they are used by the organisation to inform its member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority and who seeks the location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.

Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150m in bribes.

Meanwhile, FIFA President Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US authorities as part of their corruption inquiry into football’s governing body, the New York Times (NYT) has reported.

Blatter, who announced on Tuesday that he will be resigning from his position, has not been directly implicated in the parallel US and Swiss criminal investigations into FIFA, which were announced last week.

Unidentified US law enforcement officials, however, told the NYT that “they were hoping to win the cooperation of some of the FIFA officials now under indictment and work their way up the organisation” in a bid to build a case against Blatter.

Nine FIFA officials and five business executives were indicted by the US last Wednesday on corruption charges, with seven arrested in Zurich ahead of FIFA’s annual congress on Friday.

Blatter announced his decision to resign on Tuesday, just four days after the congress that saw him win a fifth termas the body’s president.

“I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football,” Blatter said at a news conference in Zurich on Tuesday.

“FIFA needs a profound overhaul. I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress.

“I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA president until that election.”

Domenico Scala, head of FIFA’s independent audit and compliance committee, said there would need to be four months’ notice for any new presidential election.

At the FIFA meeting in Zurich last Friday, Blatter, 79, had been re-elected when his only rival, Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, withdrew after gaining 73 votes to Blatter’s 133 in the first round of voting.

A day later, Blatter came out fighting, implying that the US timed the announcement of a major corruption probe to try to scupper his re-election bid.

Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Office of Attorney General (OAG) has confirmed that it is not investigating Blatter.

Swiss authorities have launched a separate criminal investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups that are set to be held in Russia and Qatar.

No sooner had Blatter announced his decision to resign than English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke raised the possibility that the controversial vote that awarded Qatar the tournament could be rerun.

“If I was the Qatari organisers I wouldn’t sleep very well tonight,” the former TV executive told British media.

In response, Qatar Football Association’s president, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Thani, said in a statement that Qatar had been cleared of any wrongdoing in the FIFA-commissioned Garcia report on corruption.

“Having already cooperated fully with Mr Garcia’s investigation – and been subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing – we welcome the Office of the Swiss Attorney General conducting its own work into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups,” the statement said.

“We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.”

Former US Attorney Michael Garcia was appointed by FIFA in 2012 with the priority of probing the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.

He resigned in 2014 after a FIFA judge cleared the World Cup bids, based on his findings – which were never fully released.

At the time, he claimed the judge’s decision contained “numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations” of his investigation.

Senior FIFA officials indicted on corruption charges

by

US indicts 14 people as Swiss authorities announce criminal investigation into 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.

FIFA

by Al Jazeera

Swiss authorities have arrested seven leading FIFA officials in Zurich on racketeering and bribery charges brought by the United States and announced they have opened a criminal case in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The arrested officials are among 14 people named in a 47-count indictment that was unsealed in federal court in New York City on Wednesday.

Among those charged in the indictment are FIFA Vice President Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner – the current and former presidents of CONCACAF (the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the US).

The 14 officials and executives were charged with a bribery and kickback scheme that spanned a 24-year period.

The Justice Department revealed that four individuals and two companies have already pleaded guilty, in a case that has rocked football’s world governing body.

“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was not among the men arrested, FIFA spokesperson Walter de Gregorio confirmed. The governing body’s officials are in Switzerland for the congress as its gets ready to elect  its next president.

“The General Secretary and President have not been arrested,” de Gregorio said in a press conference. “FIFA welcomes this process as it initiated it last November, lodging a legal complaint with the federal attorney.”

“The 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be played in Russia and Qatar. One thing [arrests] has nothing to do with the other and the election will take place as planned.”

The US Department of Justice released a statement confirming the intensity of the investigation, saying that the bribes in question mounted to “well over $150m”.

“The defendants also include US and South American sports marketing executives who are alleged to have systematically paid and agreed to pay well over $150m in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments,” the statement said.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted, both abroad and here in the United States,” added US Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

World Cup investigation

Separate to the US indictment, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General (OAG) issued a statement saying it has “opened criminal proceedings against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Football World Cups”.

The OAG said it has seized data and documents from FIFA’s IT systems on Wednesday as part of its investigation.

“It is suspected that irregularities occurred in the allocation of the FIFA World Cups of 2018 and 2022,” the OAG statement said.

“The OAG and the Swiss Federal Criminal Police will be questioning 10 persons who took part in voting on the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as members of the Executive Committee in 2010.”

The US is expected to seek extradition of the officials who have been arrested.

Elections still on

FIFA called the arrest a “difficult moment” but said it would not derail President Sepp Blatter’s bid to win a fifth term in an election on Friday.

“It is certainly a difficult moment for us,” added De Gregorio.

“There was never such an idea to postpone the congress nor the election, one thing has nothing to do with the other.”

He said that Blatter was “not dancing in his office” following the arrests but remained “calm” and was prepared to cooperate fully with investigators.

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives