Page 13 - Corruption

CVC asks its officers not to seek perks for additional charge assignments

The Central Vigilance Commission has asked chief vigilance officers (CVOs) not to request perks and facilities from organisations where they hold only additional charge, according to an official order. The CVO act as a distant arm of the Commission to check corruption in an organisation. Every organisation is required to have a separate CVO, and major ones appoint full time CVOs. Sometimes, an officer appointed as CVO in an organisation is given additional charge of another on a temporary basis due to administrative reasons. "CVOs should not request for or avail of any facility, perks, perquisites etc. from the organisation, where they are holding only additional charge," the commission said in the order issued to secretaries of all central government departments, chief executives of public sector banks and enterprises among others. The organisations where an officer is holding the post of CVO as additional charge should continue to provide him or her the required support for ...

Congress claims corruption in purchase of laptops under Safe Kerala project

After raising allegations of large-scale corruption by the ruling Left government in the state in the procurement and installation of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras under the Safe Kerala initiative, the opposition Congress on Monday claimed irregularities in purchase of laptops under the same project. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who had first raised the issue of corruption in connection with the AI cameras, claimed that laptops for the project were purchased for more than three times what they would have actually cost. Chennithala claimed that laptops with specifications stipulated under the project contract would have cost only around Rs 57,000 per machine. However, the 358 laptops required for the project were bought for Rs 1.48 lakh per machine for a total of over Rs five crore, he contended while speaking to reporters here. The Congress leader also alleged that the same private company which was involved in the installation of the AI cameras was the one beh

Even God not spared in MP, says Digvijaya as Congress holds protests

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday said corruption was rampant in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, and even God has not been spared. During the day, the Congress staged protests in 51 districts of the state against corruption, highlighting the May 28 incident where six idols installed at Ujjain's Mahakal Lok Corridor collapsed due to the high winds, the June 12 fire at Satpura Bhawan in Bhopal where government offices are housed, and rising inflation. We could not hold protest in two districts -- Indore and Jhabua -- due to inclement weather, chairman of the MP Congress media cell K K Mishra told PTI. Elections are due in MP by year-end. When Kamal Nath was chief minister, he had sanctioned Rs 300-350 crore for the renovation of the Mahakaleshwar temple at Ujjain. A contractor from Gujarat assured that the idols installed there would remain intact for a century. But they tumbled in the light wind within just one year," Singh said at the meeting here. They are not sparing .

Alliance of corrupt will collapse like pack of cards: Thakur on Oppn unity

Firing a fresh salvo over the unity bid by opposition parties, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Saturday said they should tell the country who will be their leader and claimed that their "thagbandhan" (an alliance of the corrupt) will collapse like a pack of cards. Addressing a rally in Haryana's Panipat, Thakur said several leaders of 15 opposition parties held a meeting in Patna on Friday. Though they came together, their hearts did not meet, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting said and claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had hosted the meeting, was not accepted as convener by the parties. Neither do they have a leader nor any policy and their intentions are also not clean, he alleged. Yesterday's meeting was nothing more than a joke. Ahead of the 2024 polls, this 'natak mandli' (drama company) has come together and 'rang manch' (stage) is being decorated and characters are being decided. A drama will play out. Everybody will speak of support. "Peo

Law applies to everyone, regardless of their background: VP Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern on Thursday over orchestrated efforts by certain forces that aim to spread false narratives that are detrimental to the country. While acknowledging that the number of such individuals is small, he emphasised the need to remain vigilant. Dhankhar raised concerns about those who protest against being summoned by law-enforcement agencies, emphasising that no one is exempt from the law. He said a clear message has been given in the last few years that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their status or background. "I can tell you that these (protests on streets in response to legal issues) changes are taking place in the last few years. No one is above the law. The long arm of law will reach you. Some people in the country have taken to themselves that 'we are above law'. "If 'X' is summoned by a regulatory agency, how can you take to the streets ...," Dhankhar said at the convocation of the Jammu University here. Asserting tha

AIADMK asks ED, I-T dept to probe corruption charges against Udayanidhi

In an audio tape allegedly of then Tamil Nadu finance minister, P Thiagarajan (PTR), there were allegations against Udayanidhi and Sabareesan

Israel's former prime minister testifies at Netanyahu's corruption trial

Israel's opposition leader testified for the prosecution on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial in Jerusalem. Yair Lapid, a former prime minister himself and a major Netanyahu rival, is testifying in one of three cases against Netanyahu. The indictment claims Netanyahu used his position of power to further Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan's interests in exhange for gifts, representing a conflict between the premier's public duties and personal friendship. Netanyahu did personal favors for Milchan, including asking US officials to extend Milchan's US resident's permit and extending Israeli regulations exempting Israeli returnees from declaring foreign income, according to the indictment. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, denies claims of wrongdoing, saying he was not acting in Milchan's personal interests and even occasionally acted against them. He says the exchanges of gifts were just friendly gestures. Milchan is expected to testify in

'Corruption has become one major motive in Bengal': Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has slammed the nomination filing procedure for the upcoming panchayat polls and said that corruption has become the major motive in Bengal

BJP launches 'selfie with palace of corruption' campaign to target AAP

The BJP on Sunday launched "selfie with palace of corruption" campaign here to target the AAP over the alleged irregularities in the renovation of the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The "#SelfieWithCorruptionKaRajmahal" campaign comes at a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Kejriwal, have been targeting the Modi government over its ordinance denying the Delhi government control over services matters. The BJP has been alleging irregularities in the renovation of the official residence of the Delhi chief minister at a cost of Rs 52 crore, calling it a "Raj Mahal". During the campaign, party leaders and workers will click selfies with a model of the renovated official residence of the chief minister to corner the AAP. The campaign launch at Connaught Place was attended by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramveer Bidhuri, MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramesh Bidhuri and Hans Raj Hans, among others. Sachdeva

Shah tears into YSRCP in Andhra; says it has done nothing but corruption

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday tore into the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh, saying it did only corruption and slammed it over the alleged farmer suicides in the state. Addressing a public meeting here to commemorate the nine years of the BJP-led NDA government, Shah also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring internal security and bringing pride to Indians all over the world. "There is a government running here (headed) by Jagan Mohan Reddy. This government has in the last four years done nothing other than corruption and scandals," the veteran BJP leader charged. Questioning the YSRCP regime's claims of being a farmer-friendly government, Shah alleged the state ranked third in the number of farmer suicides. Chief Minister Reddy should be "ashamed" of this, he added. Claiming that Prime Minister Modi has ensured the country's overall security, Shah said soon after "Pakistan-inspired" terrorists who had the habit of carrying out attacks in the country launc

AAP rally Kejriwal's attempt to cover up his corruption, alleges BJP

The BJP on Sunday accused AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal of trying to cover up his government's corruption with his rally at Ramleela ground. In a press conference at BJP headquarters, Delhi state president Virendra Sachdeva and MPs Manoj Tiwari and Ramesh Bidhuri said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under Kejriwal has transformed into a "Khas Admi Party." Tiwari said the Ramleela ground needs to be purified with Ganga Jal after Kejriwal's rally there. "I recall Kejriwal sharing dias with Anna Hazare during India Against Corruption days at Ramleela ground and claiming to be against corruption. He was again heard screaming from Ramleela ground, this time to cover up his corruption," Tiwari said. The northeast Delhi MP also accused Kejriwal of being a "political tourist" visiting different cities of the country while turning blind eye to such problems of Delhi as dirty water supply and pollution in Yamuna. Sachdeva said AAP was no longer working for the common man and its only aim now is

Sachin Pilot targets former CM Vasundhara Raje over corruption cases

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday targeted ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje over alleged corruption cases.

UP rid of all corruption in recruitment process in 6 years: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said his government in its six years eliminated "corruption, disorder and anarchy" from the recruitment process. The CM made the remark at an event where he handed over appointment letters to 7,182 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) selected through the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission. "We have not accepted rigging, disorder, anarchy and corruption in any selection process within the last six years," he said. Be it the several state commissions or the Basic Education Council, recruitment process everywhere is now transparent, an official release quoting the CM said. Congratulating all selected ANMs, he urged them to discharge their duties honestly. "Instead of protesting, you trusted the government and after the process of selection, waited for the decision of the Supreme Court to come in your favour," he said. "People tried to obstruct the selection process, but we have attacked their unethical action

9 years of BJP at Centre dedicated to welfare of poor: PM Modi in Ajmer

Congress' strategy has been to trick the poor. People of Rajasthan have suffered due to this, said PM Modi

Pak court extends Imran Khan's bail plea in corruption case for three days

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday extended former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's bail in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case for three days and directed him to approach the relevant accountability court. The order was issued by a division bench headed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. Tight security was put in place at the high court premises.

Sisodia liable for corruption in Delhi excise policy formulation: BJP

The BJP on Monday welcomed the denial of bail to former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia saying the politician is "liable for action" against him for "corruption" in framing of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The Delhi High Court earlier in the day dismissed Sisodia's bail plea in the alleged excise policy scam being probed by the CBI, observing that he is an influential man and the allegations against him are "very serious" in nature. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma denied the relief to the AAP leader, who was arrested on February 26, saying he has held the post of the deputy chief minister with 18 portfolios and the possibility of witnesses being influenced cannot be ruled out. Addressing a press conference, BJP leader and Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi said: "There is a very famous proverb which says, fence eating the crop. This comes to my mind because there is a strong suspicion that those who are supposed to protect and uphold the law have become the violators of law ..

CBI files case against defence firm Rolls-Royce in alleged corruption case

The CBI said that the case is related to alleged corruption by public servants in the procurement of 24 Hawk 115 Advance Jet Trainer Aircraft

Kerala proud to have the distinction of being the least corrupt state: CM

Kerala has the distinction of being the least corrupt state in the country but there are still "certain rots in service who are unable to change with time," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. While inaugurating the state conference of Kerala police officers' association, Vijayan said those involved in corruption will be brought to justice. "Kerala is proud to have the distinction of being the least corrupt state in the country. But we cannot say that our government service is completely free from corruption. Why? Because there are certain rots in the services who are still unable to change with time. Such people are there in all services. We will not tolerate such people in any manner," Vijayan said. He said such "rots" are engaged in illegal matters and should be brought before justice. "Officials should oppose those who are corrupt in the service and inform such malpractices to higher authorities. That should be considered as a responsibility," he added. Vijayan .

There are some in govt service who have doctorate in corruption: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said there were some persons in the government service who have a "doctorate" in corruption and that the problem can be addressed only by a collective effort, including by those working with such individuals. Vijayan said that the LDF government's stand was that there would be no compromise where corrupt activities are concerned and those engaged in it would not be protected. Therefore, while stringent measures are being taken by the government and the vigilance, even the concerned departments and those working with such persons -- who are engaged in corrupt practices -- should also intervene. The CM was referring to the recent arrest of a field assistant at Palakkayam village in Palakkad district of the state for allegedly accepting a bribe. Cash and bank deposits documents worth over Rs 1 crore were allegedly recovered during a search from his rented accommodation. Vijayan said that the official in question was allegedly using t

French court upholds Sarkozy's 3 year sentence in corruption case

The Court of Appeal of Paris has upheld a prison sentence of three years, including two suspended, against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy for corruption and influence peddling