Page 1933 - Law Crime
PNB scam: CBI questions 13 PNB officials
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday questioned 13 officials from Punjab National Bank (PNB) in the Nirav Modi fraud case.CBI questioned officials at the General Manager level from that period. Four employees from Nirav Modi's company were also quizzed today.Further, the law enforcement agency is still searching Brady House in Fort in Mumbai.Ravi Gupta, Chief Financial Officer of diamond merchant Nirav Modi's firms was also questioned by CBI.On a related note, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) asked the PNB and Ministry of Finance officials to submit a report on how the scam took place, despite monetary regulations being in place.CVC has given the bank 10 days to prepare and submit the report.Earlier, officials from PNB, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Department of Financial Services gave a two-hour long presentation to CVC about the case.The law enforcement agency has asked for names of officials who were involved in the scam and sought identification of ...
TN court sentences techie to death for rape
A 23-year-old techie was today sentenced to death, the maximum punishment under law, by a court for the rape and murder of a seven-year old girl last year. The Mahila Court in nearby Chengalpet also sentenced Dashwanth, an engineering graduate, to 46 years of rigorous imprisonment on different counts. He had burnt the body of the girl, his neighbour, after he raped her on February 6, 2017, which drew widespread public outrage. While out on bail in the rape and murder case, he had allegedly killed his mother and escaped with her jewellery in December before being caught in Mumbai. Proceedings in that case was pending. The Mahila Court Judge Justice P Velmurugan held Dashwanth guilty on all charges under the Indian Penal Code and those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). In the 135-page judgement, the judge referred to the Nirbhaya case in Delhi (in which a paramedic student was raped in December 2012 by a gang of six persons) and said that the instant
HC Advocates Assn expresses 'deep concern' over delay in
Kerala High Court Advocates Association today moved a unanimous resolution expressing 'deep concern' and 'anxiety' over delay in implementing the Supreme Court collegium's recommendation over the elevation of Justice K M Joseph, Chief Justice of Uttarkhand, to the apex court. In a resolution, the association also appealed to the Union government to forward the name of Justice Joseph to the President as the delay would send 'wrong signals'. The collegium in their January 10 meeting this year recommended the name of Justice Joseph for elevation as judge of the Supreme Court, but the Union Government had not yet forwarded it to the President, it was stated. "The recommendation is in the public domain.Justice Joseph is known for his integrity, honesty, knowledge in law and independent discharge of his judicial functions. He had all along discharged his duties as a Judge, in letter and spirit of the oath he had taken.Such qualities cannot become a taboo for the appointment of
Sr advocates in SC slug it out over 'pressure' in Loya case
Senior advocates for petitioners seeking an independent probe in case relating to the death of Special CBI Judge B H Loya, today slugged it out in the Supreme Court over alleged pressure being put on them. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was told by senior advocates Dushyant Dave and Pallav Shishodia that pressure was being exerted on them to leave the case. While Dave said the Bar Council of India had recently issued a show cause notice to him for appearing in the case, Shishodia accused Dave of writing an article in the media to put pressure on him for recusing from the matter. Dave is appearing for Bombay Lawyers' Association, the writ petitioner which has filed the plea originally before the Bombay High Court, which was later transferred to the apex court. Shishodia is appearing for Maharashtra-based journalist B S Lone seeking an independent probe in the matter. At the fag end of the hearing, Shishodia told the bench "Mr. Dave .
Those arrested in youth Congress worker's killing are CPI-M
Kerala Police today rejected charges that the real culprits had not been booked in the killing of a Youth Congress functionary and said two CPI(M) workers were arrested on the basis of clear evidence about their involment in the crime. M V Akash and Rejin Raju have been arrested last night in connection with the killing of Shuhaib, the Mattanur block Youth Congress secretary in Kannur on February 13. "The accused were flushed out from their hideouts and are involved in the crime", Northern Range DGP Rajesh Dewan told reporters in Kannur. The arrests were made only after police was convinced that the two, who are CPI(M) workers, were involved in the crime, he said. "It was not surrender... it is absolutely arrest from the spot", he said replying to a query if the two had surrendered. The arrest was on the basis of clear evidence against them and the two, who are hardened criminals, have direct role in the murder, the official said denying charges that "dummy accused" had .
Panel on data protection law to submit report soon: Prasad
Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said the B.N. Srikrishna Committee on data protection will soon submit its report, after which a law will be drafted.
HC directs to release on bail UBI officer in forgery case
The Allahabad High Court has directed to release on bail Manmohan Rai Chhabra, one of the officers of the Union Bank of India (UBI) who in 2011 allegedly allowed payments against a forged 'Letter of Credit' issued by PNB. Since credit facility was allowed against many such forged letters by several officers, UBI was exposed to a risk or loss of around Rs 265 crore. Justice Manoj Mishra after hearing all the parties concerned allowed the bail petition of Chhabra. Chhabra was posted as branch manager at UBI's Main Branch in Ghaziabad at the time of the alleged fraud and was in jail since October 20, 2015. In 2012, an FIR was registered against several UBI officers for allegedly entering into a conspiracy with Ramesh Chandra Goel, one of the co-accused and proprietor of M/s Sushila Steel of Ghaziabad. Goel made some changes in letters of credit issued by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) which were later presented before UBI officials who made payments against these. Mishra while allowing ..
Arrested accused real culprits of Kannur killing: Police
The two CPI-M men arrested in connection with the murder of a young Congress worker are the real culprits and not "dummy accused", said a senior police official here on Monday.
MP: Labourer allegedly kills father during dispute over money
A 28-year-old man allegedly killed his father when the latter asked him for money, police said. The incident took place at Sadli village under the Chandpur police station limits, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vipul Shrivastava said. "The incident occurred at about 8 yesterday evening when Lalu (28) attacked his father Radhu (56) during a quarrel after the latter asked his son for some money for personal expenses," Shrivastava said. Lalu had recently returned from Gujarat where he was working as a labourer, the SP said. The dispute started when Radhu asked for some of the money his son had earned in Gujarat, he said. In the heat of the moment, Lalu hit his father on head with a stick, killing him on the spot, the officer said. Lalu absconded after the incident, he said, adding that further probe was on.
Body of a student wrapped in gunny bag found in Jammu
A 12th class student was found murdered in R S Pura sector here, following which seven persons were rounded up for questioning, a senior police officer said today. Body of 17-year-old Abhay Mahajan, wrapped in a gunny bag, was recovered from a field at Kothi Gala Bana village yesterday, a day after he went missing from his house, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), R S Pura, Surinder Choudhary told PTI. He said the parents of the boy had lodged a complaint with the police yesterday stating that their son was missing since February 17. Police launched a hunt to trace him after registering a case of kidnapping and recovered his body which bore injury marks inflicted from a sharp-edged weapon, Choudhary said. He said seven persons were rounded up for questioning in connection with the murder and further investigation was on.
PNB scam: CVC asks PNB, Fin Min for report
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Monday asked the Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Ministry of Finance officials to submit a report on how the scam took place, despite monetary regulations being in place.CVC has given the bank 10 days to prepare and submit the report.Earlier, officials from PNB, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Department of Financial Services gave a two-hour long presentation to CVC about the case.The law enforcement agency has asked for names of officials who were involved in the scam and sought identification of officials who could have taken action and prevented it.Further, after meeting with PNB and Finance Ministry officials today, the Central Vigilance Commission also had a meeting with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials.CBI told CVC that it was a system failure at multiple levels.CVC is the fourth government agency after Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI and Income Tax department which has swung into action, in the Nirav Modi fraud case.For
Ask Maharashtra to state position on Judge Loya probe, lawyers body urges SC
The Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) on Monday urged the Supreme Court to direct the Maharashtra government to make its position clear through an affidavit vis-a-vis an independent probe into Judge B.M. Loya's death in 2014.
Banking fraud: Two separate pleas in SC seeking SIT probe
Two petitions were today filed in the Supreme Court seeking an SIT investigation into the over Rs 11,000 crore banking fraud, allegedly involving billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, and also for a probe into the role of top management of the Punjab National Bank (PNB). The petitions, filed by two Delhi-based lawyers, have also sought apex court's direction to the Centre to initiate process of deportation of Nirav Modi, who has allegedly gone out of India, and others related to the case as soon as possible, preferably within two months. The plea seeking a court-monitored SIT probe in the case was filed by advocate M L Sharma who has said that the special investigation team should consist of retired judges of the apex court. He has claimed that the banking fraud has caused serious injury to the general public and the state's treasury and it should be investigated not by an agency "being controlled by the political leaders/authorities". The plea has alleged that loans were
SC to hear Centre's plea seeking modification of order on fixed tenure for DGPs
The Supreme Court would hear on April 2 the Centre's plea seeking modification of one of its directions, which were part of its historic 2006 verdict on police reforms, recommending steps like a fixed two-year tenure for DGPs. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also said it would hear other pleas, including those filed by former DGP Prakash Singh seeking contempt action against various states for alleged non-compliance of the 2006 verdict on police reforms. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said the direction that a state police chief (DGP) must have a fixed tenure of two years irrespective of their date of superannuation was needed to be modified as the IAS officers, who are appointed as the Chief Secretaries, may also seek similar relief. Venugopal said the direction on fixed tenure of Directors General of Police (DGPs) was prone to misuse as the police officers, who are due to retire, may be appointed to ..
Man sentenced to death for rape, murder of minor
A court here on Monday sentenced a man to death for raping and murdering a six-year-old girl, and for also killing his own mother.
SC refuses to restrain TV channel head from carrying out a march
The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea seeking to restrain 'Bharat Bachao Yatra' or 'save India march' to give a message on population control to be undertaken by the Editor-in-Chief of a vernacular news channel. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra declined the plea against the proposed Yatra of Suresh Chavhanke, chairman and managing editor of Sudarshan News channel, saying that law and order was the subject matter of states and it cannot stop people from taking out any such movement. "We cannot stop people from movements. State governments will act if there is any law and order situation," the bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for petitioner Krishna Raj Tomar, alleged that the proposed Yatra would create disharmony in the society and hence should be stopped. The bench was disinclined to entertain the petition, leading Hegde to withdraw it. Chavhanke has proposed to carry out the Yatra .
Choksi threatened to entangle me in fraud case: Former Gitanjali Gems employee
A former employee of Mehul Choksi, the managing director of Gitanjali Gems, on Monday said the company pressured him to fabricate fraudulent accounting book, and on resisting he was threatened to be entangled in a fraud case.Speaking to ANI, Santosh Srivastava said, "In the year of 2012-13, I was working as a head of account. I scanned few discrepancies in the account book. They pressured me to fabricate fraudulent accounting book. When I talked about these issues to Mehul Choksi, he suggested to concentrate on work and to not make much fuss. It was like killing my conscience. I decided to complain in 2013 and he tried to lure me with hefty amount and then he threatened to entangle me in a fraud case".He added that as a whistle blower, they were writing to several authorities such as, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Ministry of Corporate Affairs and others."I was de-motivated, as being a whistle blower
CBI continues search in PNB's Mumbai Branch for second day
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is continuing to search the premises of Punjab National Bank's (PNB) Mid Corporate Branch office, at Brady House Fort, Mumbai on Monday for the second day, with regards to its on-going investigations in the more than Rs. 11,000 crore fraud case involving this particular branch.The branch premises had been sealed off by the CBI in the wee hours of Sunday to prevent anyone from removing or tampering with the documents or evidence. The CBI removed the seal today to continue examining the documents related to the case.CBI said the sealing was a temporary security measure and will not affect the normal functioning of the bank as today is a local holiday on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti here.Meanwhile, a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials reached the residence of former Allahabad Bank director Dinesh Dubey to question him in this case.
SIT probe sought in PNB Scam
A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a SIT probe in the Punjab National Bank scam.Vaibhav Khuraniya filed a petition in the apex court, seeking SIT probe in PNB fraud case. The petitioner who is also an investor in Gitanjali said, "We had invested in #Gitanjali & met #MehulChoksi in the process. We opened a store, within 1-2 months we realised that the company is in bad shape. Our store was shut down within 3-4 months. The company duped us & stole our stock worth Rs 80 lakh."The petitioner told ANI that had the authorities taken appropriate action earlier, the fraud would have not occured. Expressing disappointment over the manner in which the police had handled the case, he said he was left with no other option but to approach the court.The petitioner was provided the police protection, after he filed notice in the High Court to quash the FIR, lodged earlier.
No response from Nirav Modi on ED summons
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has received no response from Nirav Modi or the other accused so far in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, sources have revealed.It is also being investigated as to why Gokulnath Shetty, a retired deputy manager of PNB's foreign exchange department at the Brady House in Fort in Mumbai wasn't promoted in all these years, according to ED sources.It further said that the first Letter of Undertaking (LOU) was issued in March 2011 and it was rolled over.Assets worth Rs. 5716 crore have been seized in the 39 raids conducted so far. 10 of the raids were in Mumbai.ED, however, said that it will find out how the money laundering took place."As it is in foreign jurisdiction it will take time to investigate," sources revealed.On a related note, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) asked the PNB and Ministry of Finance officials to submit a report on how the scam took place, despite monetary regulations being in place.CVC has given the bank 10 days to ...