Month: August 2022

Amid the row over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the alleged role of top Congress leaders in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said the Gandhi family’s track record is corrupt and three of its members are out on bail.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia raised five legal points regarding the National Herald case.
“Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are out on bail on charges of corruption and even after being accused, they are in public life. if someone is accused, then the law of our country says that he or she will be also interrogated like the common people. The way Rahul Gandhi and Congress are behaving is not good. The way the investigating agency is being intimidated is also not fair. Why should ED go to Sonai Gandhi’s residence to talk to her? PM Modi has ended the VVIP culture. They should remember, that they got bail in the lower court in which they are considered accused.”

“Is it not true that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold 38 per cent shareholding each in Young Indian? It means both of them hold 76 per cent stake in Young India and the law says that if you are controlling more than 50 per cent stake then whatever decision is taken is done by the majority shareholder. Now, when the controlling stake belongs to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, then the blame should not be put on such a person who is not in this world today. So who did the money laundering and the scam?” stated the BJP spokesperson.

Bhatia said a company called Dotex gave a loan of Rs 1 crore to Young India that did not have Rs 1 as an asset and value was zero. He alleged that assets worth Rs 2,000 crore of AJL were transferred to Young Indian.

“Rahul Gandhi did not spend a single penny from his pocket but became the owner of assets worth Rs 2,000 crore. If Rahul Gandhi has the courage, then he should answer. Why did the Gandhi family loot the country? The Gandhi family’s track record is corrupt. Three members of the family Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are out on bail,” Bhatia said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday termed the sealing of the Young Indian office at the Herald House building in the national capital as an “intimidation attempt” by the ruling BJP and asserted that he is “not scared” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suppressive government.

Speaking to the reporters here, the Wayanad MP said, “You are talking about National Herald, it is an intimidation attempt. They think they will be able to silence us with a little pressure. We will not be intimidated. We are not scared of Narendra Modi. They can do whatever they want.”

Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday sealed the Young Indian office at the Herald House building in the national capital.

The central agency sealed the Young Indian office at the Herald House building in Delhi as no one was available in the office during the search and thus they were not able to complete the search. The order put outside the Young Indian office read that the “premises not be opened without prior permission” from the agency.

ED took action a day after it carried out raids at 12 locations in the national capital and at other places in connection with the National Herald case in which top Congress leaders are accused of violating norms.

“Delhi Police blocking the road to AICC Headquarters has become a norm rather than an exception! Why have they just done so is mysterious,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

The National Herald case pertains to the alleged financial irregularities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi owned 38 per cent shares each.

Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress.

The raids were conducted days after the investigative agency questioned Congress interim-president Sonia Gandhi for nearly three hours on July 27. It was the third round of questioning of the senior leader in the case.

Following the summoning of Sonia Gandhi by the ED, Congress workers and leaders staged protests in various parts of the country alleging misuse of probe agencies by the government. Sonia Gandhi was questioned by ED on July 26 also. She had reached the ED office accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Officials said on that day, the party president’s response was sought to around 30 questions regarding her involvement with the National Herald newspaper and Young Indian Pvt Ltd. During her questioning, the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli was asked about the functioning and running of the newspaper, the role of its various office bearers. Prior to that, she was also questioned by ED on July 21.

Further, in June this year, the ED questioned Rahul Gandhi for five days. Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the ED for over 27 hours for three straight days from June 13 to June 15 and was again summoned on June 20. On June 20, he was questioned for around 14 hours.

The Congress leader deposed before the ED investigators in the case for the first time on June 13.

He initially sought an exemption from appearance on June 16, following which he was called on June 17. But the senior Congress leader wrote to the ED to postpone his questioning citing the illness of his mother Sonia Gandhi.

The ED then allowed him to join the probe on June 20 at his request. (ANI)

A couple in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur has sought police protection from the administration alleging a threat to their life by the family of the woman.

The couple got married on February 22 in court as they were neighbours who belonged to different communities.
Narendra Saini, who belonged to a Hindu community has accused his wife’s father of trying to kill them by running them over with his autorickshaw.

“He attempted to kill us with his auto. Even after the police arrested them on our lodged complaint, her relatives continued threatening us. Hence, we have come to the Commissioner seeking protection,” he said.

On July 28, when the pair was returning from a hospital visit, his wife Nagma’s father tried to hit the pair with his autorickshaw, which was also captured on the nearby CCTV camera.

On the incident, the woman Nagma (who 4-5 months pregnant) mentioned that the police too were supporting her family and asked them to leave stating “they will kill you.”

She said, “Considering our request for protection, Rajasthan High Court Jaipur on March 4, had directed the Kotwali administration to deploy personnel for our protection but that has not been provided to us. I have pleaded to the Collector that there is a threat to our life from my family members and the people of my community.”

Additional District Magistrate Beena Mahawar revealed that a similar incident was reported via newspaper some time ago.

“As the pair explains, the life of the couple is in danger from the end of the girl’s family and both sides have been spoken to. An investigation under section 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is already underway in the court,” Mahawar said.

“A Station House Officer (SHO) was already deployed for their protection but since they have come again, the Superintendent of Police and a concerned SHO have been directed to take necessary action,” she added. (ANI)

Numerous villagers from five villages badly affected by wastewater reservoir at Gorano in Pakistan held a protest on the arrival of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday.

The protests were held in Mithi region in opposition of toxic wastewater release from the reservoir which is located in the Gorano area of Tharparkar district in Pakistan and how it has affected the lives of locals.
“The Sindh government has failed to meet its promises made to local people. Our homes and grazing lands for animals have vanished and we have become homeless due to the dumping of highly-toxic water from the reservoir,” said advocate Leelaram Meghwar and other protestors, Dawn reported.

The toxic water had wreaked havoc on the ecology and environment in the area, the advocate said, adding that it did not fall within the limits of Thar coalfields.

Over 500 families were paid annual compensation of Rs 100,000 each for a few years although the chief minister had promised release of compensation funds every year against huge losses suffered by villagers.

The villagers complained that more and more water was being released in the Gorano wastewater reservoir, increasing environmental issues for the residents of the region, their livestock and wildlife species, according to Dawn.

Notably, the enraged protestors also stopped the power company’s vehicles before the arrival of the chief minister to showcase their plight and also threatened to widen the scope of their protest if their demands were not met.

According to the recently released United Nations (UN) ‘Global Land Outlook’ report, Pakistan is part of the 23 countries in the world that are suffering from a “severe and prolonged drought.”

The situation is drought-like in several parts of Sindh and desert areas of South Punjab, including Cholistan, Thal etc. Not only this worsening water crisis in Balochistan and Sindh is leading to the unavailability of water for human consumption and agricultural purposes but it is also causing health issues.

Moreover, non-availability of potable water has also become a matter of grave concern for Sindh as the number of patients, including children, are being brought to hospitals in Karachi and other parts of Sindh due to acute gastroenteritis, continues to rise due to the government’s failure to provide safe sanitation. (ANI)

Rajya Sabha member and Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha on Thursday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to demand a rollback of what he termed as GST imposed on hotel accommodation, which also includes Sarais meant for devotes of the Holy Shri Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar.

At the latest GST Council meeting held in Chandigarh in late July, recommendations were made to impose 12 per cent GST on “hotel accommodations” priced up to Rs 1,000.
Reports claimed that 12 per cent GST on the accommodation was imposed in three Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee-run “Sarais” — Baba Deep Singh Yatri Niwas, Mata Bhag Kaur Niwas and Sri Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas — all located outside the shrine’s premises.

“I will be meeting the Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ji today to demand rollback of 12 per cent GST imposition on Sarais meant for devotes of the Holy Shri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. Will discuss several other issues pertaining to Punjab as well,” Chadha tweeted moments before meeting the Union minister Sitharaman.

On Wednesday, Chadha gave a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the imposition of GST on such Sarais.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the foremost organisation of Sikhs, too demanded a rollback in GST on such accommodations.

“Sarais (inns) by SGPC are for convenience of pilgrims arriving at Gurdwaras are not commercial; any kind of tax on them is government’s injustice. This decision putting additional burden on the Sangat (pilgrims) should be immediately withdrawn,” the SGPC tweeted on August 2. (ANI)

It’s in public knowledge that Kareena Kapoor shares a good bond with Saif and Amrita Singh’s kids – Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan. On several occasions, Kareena and Sara have shared pictures from their get-together, dinner parties, and vacations. Even during several chat shows and interviews, the two have maintained that they are very much cordial with each other.

Kareena, on Thursday, appeared on Koffee With Karan’s latest episode where she shed further light on her relationship with Sara. In fact, she even revealed that Sara’s been her fan girl ever since she was a child.
Spilling some beans on how Sara (who was a kid) had a fangirl moment during the ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ trials, Kareena recalled an incident on the show. She said, “I remember at the K3G trials, she was hiding behind her mum…Amrita was like Sara wants a picture because she’s such a big fan. She loved Poo in K3G and You are my soniya so much! But I don’t understand why people discuss it so much. We are a family and like Aamir said if there is love and regard, this is it. They are Saif’s children, they are his priority.”

Speaking further on Saif’s equation with Ibrahim and Sara, Kareena added, “Sometimes we’re all together, and it’s great. Sometimes if he wants to have time alone, like a coffee or like an hour or two alone with Sara he’ll always tell me. They’ve been on holidays together. I think it’s important for them to bond. A friend just said they have everything, but they have just one father. And it’s so important for Saif also to give time to each of his children. I don’t know why it’s thought also. It’s never crossed my mind the way people discuss it. It’s not that difficult.”

Kareena appeared on the show with her ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ co-star Aamir Khan. The two lit the show with their fiery answers and witty responses.

Their film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ will hit the theatres on August 11, 2022. (ANI)

Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday explained the reason behind withdrawing the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, asserting that the aim is to bring new compressive legislation at par with technology landscape which is changing rapidly.

He further said that the Joint Committee of Parliament recommended 81 amendments in a Bill that was of 99 sections which practically, suggested for overhauling the Bill.
The government on Wednesday withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 and has decided to come up with new legislation in view of a large number of amendments suggested by the Joint Committee of Parliament towards a comprehensive legal framework on the digital ecosystem.

Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister said, the Joint Parliamentary Committee recommended major changes in the Bill, which was like rewriting the entire Bill.

“The Joint Parliamentary Committee did very extensive work. They consulted a very large number of stakeholders. After it, the Joint Committee of Parliament gave a very comprehensive report which recommended 81 amendments in a Bill that was of 99 sections, it was practically rewriting the entire bill. Apart from the amendments, they were some 12 major suggestions were there from the committee,” said Vaishnaw.

He said that it was important to withdraw the old Bill to come up with a contemporary and modern legal framework to tackle the challenges of coping with the rapidly changing technology.

“To make sure that we do a compressive Bill it was important to do withdraw the old Bill and very soon we will be coming out with a new Bill. With the whole digital economy that we have and the way the technology landscape is changing rapidly, we need a very contemporary and modern legal framework. Today telecom is the primary method by which data is consumed,” he said.

The Union Minister said that the government is working on it and Personal Data Protection Bill will be a part of that. So, there is an overhaul of the legal framework.

“Our focus on making social media accountable has given good results. There is a good response to any law enforcement agency request which comes. No question of coming under any pressure, it is a very conscious decision (of withdrawal) and a well-thought-out process,” added Vaishnaw.

Ashwini Vaishnaw moved the motion for withdrawal of the Bill in Lok Sabha.

“The Data Protection Bill 2021 as reported by the Joint Committee may be withdrawn,” he said. The House adopted the motion.

The Government had July 31, 2017, constituted a “committee of Experts on Data Protection” chaired by Justice BN Srikrishna to examine the issues relating to data protection. The committee examined the issues on data protection and submitted its report on July 27, 2018.

The 2019 Bill sought to bring a strong and robust data protection framework for India and to set up an Authority for protecting personal data and empowering the citizens’ with rights relating to their personal data ensuring their fundamental right to “privacy and protection of personal data”.

The bill was sent to a Joint Committee of Parliament which gave its report on December 16, 2021. (ANI)

The government on Thursday said the Network Planning Group constituted under the institutional framework of ‘PM GatiShakti National Master Plan’ has examined and recommended three important railway projects.

These projects are Doubling of Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar rail line, Katihar – Mukuria and Katihar – Kumedpur Doubling and Pachora – Jamner Gauge Conversion & Extension upto Bodwad.
All three projects are extremely important with a view to ensure faster movement of goods in the hinterland which will accelerate the logistics efficiency and bring a reduction in logistics costs.

MoR has identified a ‘high-density network’ of railway lines to achieve the target of 3000 million metric tonnes of freight movement. As part of that mission, three critically important projects have been identified as follows:

The main objective of Doubling of Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar rail line is to ensure freight flow, particularly food grain movement from western India to the North Eastern States, Gorakhpur Cantt – Valmikinagar (95 km.) is an important stretch which was having only a single railway line affecting the freight movement. From Valmikinagar upto Muzaffarpur, work on doubling is already going on. This proposed doubling project with a cost of Rs 1120 Crore is expected to improve logistics efficiency significantly.

Whereas, Katihar – Mukuria and Katihar – Kumedpur are extremely busy sections. Currently, this is a single line and it is a Rajdhani train route. This is an important link to connect Northeast and also Howrah. Doubling these sections will significantly help the movement of cargo from Kolkata Port to Virat Nagar. The cost of this project is Rs.942 Crore.

Pachora – Jamner Gauge Conversion and Extension upto Bodwad project is in the State of Maharashtra. Pachora to Jamner Gauge Conversion and extension of the railway line of Bodwad. This project would be 84 km. long at an anticipated cost of Rs.955 Crore. This project will provide bye-pass double line railway connectivity for Jalgaon and Bhusawal. It will provide faster freight movement from JNPT to Nagpur and the eastern region of the country.

It is notable that the Network Planning Group has recommended all 3 project proposals. The members of the Network Planning Group have further suggested certain components from integrated planning and synchronized implementation concepts. M/o Environment, Forests and Climate Change has assured faster clearances. All these projects have been mapped on PM GatiShakti NMP. Through PM GatiShakti NMP it shall be possible to implement these projects in the next five years within the estimated cost.

The Network Planning Group has the head of Planning Divisions of the infrastructure Ministries including M/o Railways, MoRTH, Power, MoPNG, MNRE, DoT, MoCA, and MoPSW with a special representative from NITI Aayog and MoEF&CC. Logistics Division, DPIIT functions as the secretariat of PM GatiShakti. (ANI)

India on Thursday witnessed an uptick in the number of new COVID-19 infections as it recorded 19,893 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

On Wednesday, India recorded 17,135 cases of COVID-19.
India’s active caseload currently stands at 1,36,478 at the rate of 0.31 per cent.

The Ministry informed that the COVID-19 death toll is now at 5,26,530.

As many as 20,419 recoveries were reported in the last 24 hours. The total number of recoveries from Covid-19 infection is now at 4,34,24,029, taking the country’s current recovery rate to 98.50 per cent.

The daily positivity rate and weekly positivity rate stand at 4.94 per cent and 4.64 per cent, respectively.

On the COVID-19 vaccination front, 205.22 crore total vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

The Ministry said 87.67 crore total tests have been conducted in the country so far of which 4,03,006 were conducted in the last 24 hours alone.

As India continues to report over 10,000 COVID-19 cases over the last few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country’s fight against COVID is still on, and holistic healthcare has made an impact across the globe in this fight.

“Our fight against COVID is still on, and holistic healthcare has made an impact across the globe in this fight. AYUSH is now gaining prominence worldwide, leading to an increase in AYUSH exports,” said Prime Minister Modi while addressing his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the last eight years has carried out 3,010 raids and attached proceeds of crime worth Rs 99,356 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, during the ongoing Monsoon Session, informed the Rajya Sabha that since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in 2014, the ED has attached proceeds of crime worth Rs 99,356 crore and filed charge sheets in 888 cases, resulting in the conviction of 23 accused.
The ED has carried out several raids this year, these include:

1. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi National Herald Case

The ED carried out raids at 12 locations in the national capital and at other places on August 2 in connection with the National Herald case in which Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi and others are accused of financial irregularities. The case pertains to the alleged financial irregularities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013. Following this, the ED on Wednesday sealed the Young Indian office at the Herald House building in the national capital.

2. Bhupinder Singh Honey in sand mining case

The ED conducted raids on the premises of property owned by former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey in an alleged illegal sand mining case. Honey was arrested by ED on February 3 from Jalandhar. The agency seized more than Rs 10 crore, gold worth above Rs 21 lakh and a Rolex watch worth Rs 12 lakh from the residential premises of Honey. This was one of the biggest raids of 2022. Channi was also questioned by the ED in connection with an alleged illegal sand mining case.

3. IAS Pooja Singhal in Jharkhand Mining case

IAS officer Pooja Singhal, an aide of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was raided in a money laundering case linked to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in state’s Khunti and Chatra districts. She was arrested in May this year. Around 20 crore cash was recovered from Pooja Singhal and her Chartered Accountant. ED had also raided Ranchi’s Pulse Hospital, owned by her husband Abhishek Jha. Pooja Singhal was the secretary of the Department of Mines and Geology and the Managing Director of Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC).

4. Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee in SSC Recruitment scam

The ED, last month, recovered around Rs 50 crore in cash, along with jewellery, from former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee’s associate Arpita Mukherjee’s residence–one in southwest Kolkata and other in Belghoria while investigating the West Bengal SSC recruitment scam. The arrest of Partha Chatterjee followed the recovery of Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister. Trinamool Congress, which has distanced itself from Chatterjee, axed him as a minister and suspended him from the party. The investigation is on and the ED is still searching other properties linked to both the accused. The ED has seized the maximum till now this year in this scam. However, Chatterjee had denied his involvement in the School Service Commission (SSC) scam and asserted that the “money does not belong to him”.

5. Satyendar Jain in money laundering case

AAP leader and Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain was arrested under provisions of PMLA by the ED in May this year after CBI registered an FIR against him in a Disproportionate Asset case on August 24, 2017. The ED said it seized various incriminating documents and digital records. The ED said that the total movable assets were seized from an “unexplained source” and were “found to be secreted” in the raided premises. More than Rs 2 crore in cash and gold weighing 1.8 kg were seized by the ED after raids against Jain and those linked to him, in a money laundering case. Last month, ED questioned Satyendar Jain’s wife Poonam Jain in connection with the alleged money laundering case. She has also been named in the FIR along with the Delhi Minister.

6. Karti Chidambaram in Chinese Visa case

The Enforcement Directorate has booked Congress MP Karti Chidambaram in a money laundering case connected with the Chinese Visa case. This came soon after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in May this year conducted nationwide searches at various premises linked to P Chidambaram and his son Karti in connection with the case. The FIR is based on allegations that Karti accepted a bribe of Rs 50 lakh from the Vedanta Group to facilitate visas for 300 Chinese nationals of a company working in collaboration with a Vedanta subsidiary for a power project in Punjab.

7. Sanjay Raut in Patra Chawl Scam

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut is currently in ED custody in a money laundering case related to irregularities in connection with the Patra Chawl case. The ED raided Raut’s Bhandup bungalow and seized of Rs 11.5 lakh in cash. It also recovered several important documents during raids including records that Raut paid Rs 3 crores in cash to the sellers for 10 plots of land in Alibaug. The Court sent Raut to ED custody till August 4. The agency has also accused Raut of trying to tamper with the evidence and influence key witnesses.

8. Yes Bank- DHFL Fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets totalling Rs 415 crore in Yes Bank- DHFL Fraud case. Of the total, Rs 251 crore assets were of Sanjay Chhabria and Rs 164 crore of Avinash Bhosale. The ED issued two provisional attachment orders under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) against the duo. With this latest attachment, the total goes up to Rs 1,827 crore, the enforcement agency said. The attached assets of Sanjay Chhabria are in the form of a land parcel located in Santacruz, Mumbai worth Rs 116.5 crore, 25 per cent equity shares of Chhabria’s company held in the land parcel, located at Bengaluru worth Rs 115 Crore, a flat located at Santacruz, Mumbai worth Rs 3 crore, profit receivable from hotel belonging to Chhabria located at Delhi Airport worth Rs 13.67 crore and three high-end luxury cars worth Rs 3.10 crore. Further, attached assets of Avinash Bhosale were in the form of a duplex flat belonging to Bhosale, located in Mumbai worth Rs 102.8 crore, one land parcel located at Pune worth Rs 14.65 crore, one more land parcel located at Pune worth Rs 29.24 crore, a land parcel located at Nagpur worth Rs 15.52 crore and another portion of land located at Nagpur to the extent of Rs 1.45 crore. The ED has also arrested Sanjay Chhabria and Avinash Bhosale in June and both are in judicial custody.

9. Nawab Malik

Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik has had links with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s D-company for a long time, according to the investigation of the Enforcement Directorate against him in connection with a money laundering case. The ED has filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) before the Special PMLA court in Mumbai. In the prosecution complaint, the ED mentioned Malik’s alleged link to the D-company, and purported conspiracy to “usurp” the Goawala building compound in Kurla West in 1996. Malik is in ED custody.

10. Farooq Abdullah

The Enforcement Directorate filed a supplementary chargesheet against former J-K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association Fund scam. The case relates to the siphoning-off of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) funds by way of transfer to various personal bank accounts of unrelated parties including those of office bearers of JKCA and by way of unexplained cash withdrawals from JKCA bank accounts. The ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of a chargesheet filed by the CBI on July 11, 2018, against office bearers of JKCA in the case dated September 21, 2015. The quantum of proceeds of crime identified by ED in this case so far is Rs 51.90 crore out of which assets worth Rs 21.55 crore have been attached by ED.

Besides these cases, the Enforcement Directorate in February attached Rs 1.77 crore of Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub in a money laundering case. According to an official, Ayyub allegedly utilized the parts of donations meant for three campaigns, for personal expenses. (ANI)

India’s Tejaswin Shankar clinched the bronze medal in the men’s high jump final with the mark of 2.22m at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old won the nation’s first athletics medal in the men’s high jump event. World championships indoor bronze medallist Hamish Kerr won the gold for clearing 2.25m and pipped the defending champion Brandon Starc from Australia courtesy of lesser fouls.
India’s Shankar started with a successful jump of 2.10m in his first attempt. Shankar took a smooth jump as he cleared the 2.15m hurdle with complete ease on his first attempt.

Shankar executed the 2.19m jump in an emphatic fashion. Throughout the game, Shankar did not find any difficulty getting over the bar once again with a 2.22m jump on his first attempt itself.

However, the Indian high jumper failed to get over the bar on his first attempt in the 2.25m hurdle and in his second attempt too. He decided to give 2.25m third attempt a miss and went straight for 2.28m but failed to clear it. With the failed attempts he had to settle for the bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022.

Former world and CWG champion Donald Thomas from the Bahamas was tied with Tejaswin Shankar at 2.22m but the Indian athlete earned the bronze for making fewer fouls. (ANI)