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Sathya Sai Central Trust: Police Notice to Two Members

The Police has issued legal notices to two key members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust in connection with seizure of huge cash that was allegedly being diverted from Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of late Sathya Sai Baba. The members who got legal notices are Ratnakar Raju who is the grand nephew of Sai Baba and Venu Srinivasan who is a member of the Sathya Sai Central Trust. The Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday demanded that the two members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust be arrested immediately. The main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh also demanded an inquiry by a Supreme Court judge in the diversion of treasure from Puttaparthi and the involvement of some political leaders. The TDP into pointed out that there were doubts in the minds of devotees about involvement of a state minister and the son of a Union minister in the illegal diversion of Trust funds. A car, allegedly belonging to the Sathya Sai Central Trust, carrying Rs 35.5 lakh in cash, was confiscated during checking at Kodikonda check post under Chilamanthur Police Station limits bordering Karnataka on June 18. Police suspect the money was being transferred from Puttaparthi where Sai Baba's personal wealth is being audited. Police had already arrested three persons, including its driver Harishnanda Shetty, besides Venu Srinivasan's driver Chandrashekhar alias Shekhar and one engineer Sohan Shetty in connection with the cash seizure. Amidst allegations that the seized cash was reportedly being shifted from Yajur Mandir at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi to Bangalore, a group of 12 Sai Baba's devotees in a representation to police, claimed that the money belonged to them. It was meant for the construction of Sai Baba's Maha Samadhi and was being sent to Bangalore for purchasing marble.    

Minister Shankar Rao, MP Sarve Satyanarayana Street Fight

Hitherto we have been hearing about political leaders fighting with each other in the Assembly and Parliaments only. Now they have started fighting on the streets as well! Something bizzare like that happened at a public event in the Secunderabad Contonement area today. Malkajgiri MP Sarve Satyanarayana and Handlooms & Textiles Minister Shankar Rao have almost fought on the road over the order of their names on the school inauguration plaque. Minister Shankar Rao attended as chief guest to an inauguration function of a school building in Secunderabad Contonement area. Local MP Sarve Satyanarayana also attended the function. He got flared up when saw that his name was placed at below below the names of officers at sixteenth place. As per protocol, his name should have come after the minister. Satyanarayana raised his voice on the concerned DEO for the goof up, when the minister Shankar Rao intervened and spoke in favour of the officer. This led to a verbal duel between MP and the minister. The duo used choicest abuses and pushed each other. The MP fell down in the scuffle and minister left the place in a huff thereafter.    

Lokpal Bill: Differences Between Team Anna And Govt

Lokpal Bill panel's final meeting is taking place this afternoon. This being the conclusive meeting of the Lokpal bill drafting committee, curiosities are rising in the public about the outcome of this meet. Though Team Anna and the Government were able to settle some disputes on Monday, some new differences have emerged, that are to be addressed today. Let's have a look at the key points that divide the civil society representatives and the Government. View Gallery:- www.teluguone.com/news/gallery/newsgallery-12.html The Differences * The civil society wants the Prime Minister and higher judiciary covered under Lokpal. The Government agrees to bring the PM in the Lokpal ambit but with riders, and it is against bringing the higher judiciary under Lokpal. * Team Anna recommends removal of any minister barring the Prime Minister. The Government has partially given in on the issue and says Lokpal can prosecute ministers if prima-facie culpability established. * Civil society wants conduct of MPs in Parliament to be included but the Government is against it. * Team Anna wants the CBI, vigilance wing and CVC to be merged with the Lokpal, but the Government disagrees. * The activists want CAG and CEC to be part of Lokpal selection panel as they feel otherwise this would also become a political appointment, but the Government disagrees. * Team Anna wants all bureaucrats be included, but the Government agrees to bring only the higher bureaucracy under Lokpal cover. * Team Anna wants Lokpal to have prosecution powers and power to tap phones, but the Government disagrees on prosecution powers and also said Lokpal needs to take permission from Home Secretary on phone tapping * The civil society wants maximum life imprisonment, but the Government says the maximum imprisonment should be 10 years. * Team Anna wants all citizens empowered to refer complaints for removal of Lokpal to the Supreme Court, but the Government says only it should have the power to refer complaints against Lokpal to the apex court.  

War of Words Raging Between Congress, TDP, TRS

A war of words is raging between Congress, TDP and TRS parties in the wake of Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal's statement about seemandhra legislators and ministers' proposed trip to Delhi to meet the party president Smt. Sonia Gandhi. MP Rajagopal had said "The seemandhra delegation headed by minister Shailajanath is going to Delhi only to appraise the Centre with the feelings of the people of entire state and not to compete with anyone. I'm still sticking on to my earlier words that I am ready to contest from Telangana region, if the high command tells me to do so." Reacting sharply to MP Rajagopal's statement, TRS leader K T Ramarao said that Rajagopal has lost his mental-balance and speaking like this. If he really has guts let him contest from Banswada on 'Samaikyavadam' (United Andhra) banner. Let him atleast get back his deposit and show that there are takers for his 'samaikyavadam' in Telangana, it's a challenge. Speaking at a meeting in Karimnagar, TDP politburo member Kadiam Srihari said that separate Telangana can be achieved only by creating political crisis and advised the T leaders to submit their resignations.      

Seemandhra Leaders To Meet Sonia on T-issue

Now it's the turn of seemandhra Congress leaders to meet the party president Mrs. Sonia Gandhi over the Telangana issue. The decision was taken by seemandhra leaders in view of Telangana region Congress leaders' delegation putting pressure on the high command to take a quick decision on bifurcation of the state. Speaking to the media, state primary education minister Mr. Shailajanath said that the congress leaders should have maintained restraint till the party high command takes a decision. We the seemandhra congressmen too have decided to approach madam Sonia and request for a quick decision on bifurcation of the state. We are also waiting eagerly for the issue to get resolved soon.    

Lokpal Meet Springs up Two More Differences

Lokpal draft committee meet sprang up two more diffrences today. The committee comprising 5 cabinet ministers from the government side and 5 members of civil society headed Anna Hazare met for the ninth time today. The ministers working on the Lokpal Bill feel their meeting today with civil activists was a significant step forward. While agreeing that today's talks  were "cordial," the activists said that all key points of differences remain, and in fact two new ones have emerged. After the meeting, Mr Kapil Sibal said there was consensus between the two sides on "80-85%" of the issues. He also said that both sides have agreed not to generate two drafts of the same bill. "Both sides feel we should move towards a consensus... in areas of divergence, we will formulate a draft in which those areas will be spelled out. So that when the matter goes to the political parties who are to be consulted in July, areas of divergence of opinion and the alternatives are put before political leaders and political parties," he said. Arvind Kejriwal, an activist-member of the committee, said that the earlier sticking points - like whether the Lokpal bill should cover the Prime Minister and senior judges were discussed but not resolved. He also said that new differences have emerged over who will select the 11 members of the Lokpal. The ministers, Mr Kejriwal said, want politicians - mainly those from the government - to choose the Lokpal. "This could be very dangerous for India," said Mr Kejriwal. He also said that the ministers want the government alone to have the right to ask the Supreme Court to investigate charges of corruption  against the Lokpal. Team Anna believes that all citizens should have the right to move the Supreme Court for the removal of a Lokpal member. The committee will meet again tomorrow at 4.30 pm. Before then, the ministers and activists will swap drafts of the Lokpal Bill.    

Jaipal Reddy's Niece Dead: Parents Suspect Murder

Union minister S Jaipal Reddy's 26-year-old niece, Dr Kiran Reddy, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her residence in Jubilee Hills on Saturday. Based on a complaint lodged by the girl's parents, the police have booked a murder case against her husband, Dr Chaitanya Reddy, on Sunday. Dr Kiran Reddy, 26, was married to Dr Chaitanya Reddy five years ago and they have a four-year-old daughter. Kiran Reddy, daughter of Jaipal Reddy's younger sister Bharati, was working as a dermatologist, while Chaitanya Reddy does business. According to police, the couple went to attend the bachelor's party organized by Kiran's younger brother Sunil on Friday and returned home late. After reaching home, they slept in separate rooms. On Saturday morning, Chaitanya found Kiran lying unconscious on the bed. He immediately took her to Apollo hospital where she was declared brought dead, police said. Initially, cops booked a suspicious death case but no suicide note was found. On Sunday, Kiran's family approached police alleging that they suspect their daughter might have been killed by their son-in-law and his family. Based on the complaint, police altered the case to murder.    

TDP ZPTC Member Tatineni Ramakrishna Killed

Krishna district Challapalli TDP ZTPC Tatineni Ramakrishna alias Balaram was killed in an deadly attack by some unidentified assailants. The incident took place when he went to oversee the silt-clearance works being going on in Doravaniplaem village tank. Balaram was attackedby two assailants with hunting-sickles while he was seated in a chair. Balaram died on the spot and the assailants fled the scene. Old enmity is said to be the reason behind killing of Balaram. Earlier also, two attempts have been made on Balaram's life. Recently Balaram got involved in a quarrel with sand quarry owners in Lankapalli village, when he went there to inspect the quarry along with few other party members. Balaram was also an accused in a political murder case that took place few years ago due to political rivalry between TDP and CPI. In this backdrop, police are of the view that Balaram might have been killed because of these fueds. Balaram's body has been shifted to Avanigadda hospital for the post mortem. Avanigadda DSP told that two teams have been formed and the investgation is going on.    

Minister Kanna Laxminarayana Stranded on Way to Kailash

Andhra Pradesh minister for Housing Kanna Laxminarayana, MLA Avanthi Srinivas and 13 others on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage were Sunday trapped in a hilly area on the Nepal-Tibet border. The group will spend the night there as a helicopter to bring them to Kathmandu is expected to land only on Monday. The minister and legislator along with their family members had gone on pilgrimage on June 11 through a private tour operator. As the helicopter, which was supposed to bring them back, did not land due to inclement weather and three members of the group fell ill, the minister sought help from the state government. The minister informed the government Sunday night that they were safe and had taken shelter in a house, where they would spend the night. The Nepalese army has reportedly agreed to send a helicopter to the hilly area on Monday.    

Gopinath Munde to Meet BJP Bigwigs

Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has kept the party leadership guessing about his game plan with the announcement that he would decide his course of action after talks with BJP bigwigs on Saturday. Munde has been sulking for over two weeks over his differences with BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Gopinath Munde on Friday told mediapersons that he is "deeply pained" by the developments in the BJP and he will convey his anguish to party seniors in New Delhi. "I will decide on my next move after I meet my party leaders," Munde said on Friday. The leaders he referred to are Gadkari, L K Advani, Venkaiah Naidu (in charge of the party's organizational affairs in Maharashtra), and state BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar. The Munde camp is willing to broker peace with Gadkari if Mungantiwar steps down as Maharashtra BJP chief to make way for a Munde loyalist. While the Gadkari camp thinks that the crusty OBC leader and his intermittent pressure tactics should be ignored in order to maintain party discipline, Munde's supporters claim the BJP central leadership is keen on cutting to size mass leaders such as Munde, Narendra Modi and Vasundhara Raje.    

Dey Killers Smarter Than Police: Maha Home Minister

Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil on Friday admitted that the probe into the killing of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey is clueless. Patil's statement has come a day after the Bombay High Court intervened in the scribe's murder case directing the Maharashtra government and police to file on June 21 a status report on the probe which has not yielded any breakthrough yet. Dey, who headed the crime bureau in Mid-Day tabloid, was shot dead by four unidentified gunmen at Hiranandani complex in suburban Powai on June 11. Responding to the reporter's queries, Patil said "There are some criminals who are very smart. They are not leaving any clues. That is why investigation is becoming a little tough." He however, reposed faith in the abilities of Mumbai police and said the investigation in Dey's murder was progressing in the right direction. "We have full faith in the ability of Mumbai police. These people (police) are on the right track and will surely catch the accused. They should be given sufficient time. We don't want to do anything that will distract or divert their focus," said the minister.    

Angelina Jolie Consoles Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Highest paid Hollywood star and also U.N. envoy Angelina Jolie traveled to Turkey's border with Syria on Friday, sharing fruit and dessert with some of the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled their government's bloody crackdown. The Hollywood celebrity and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees arrived in the Turkish province of Hatay on a private jet with boxes of toys for the refugee camps and visited one of the three refugee camps in Turkey, where nearly 10,000 Syrians have sought refuge. Jolie spent two-and-a-half hours with about 1,700 refugees at a camp in Altinozu, 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the Syrian border, asking how they were in Arabic and then speaking with them through an interpreter. She also took notes, showing particular interest in the women and children. The American actress praised Turkey for welcoming the refugees, saying it is critical in these situations that people have access to safety. "The people in this camp have fled in fear for their lives, and many told me they were distraught about the safety of loved ones still in Syria." Jolie said in a UNHCR statement. A mob of children chanted "look who is here," and "welcome, welcome" as they pushed forward to shake Jolie's hand, the statement said. Many had slogans such as "freedom" painted on their foreheads. Police kept both fans and media away from the actress at Hatay's airport and most cameras were removed from rooftops and high points. One fan held a poster that read, "Angelina, kiss me for world peace." Hundreds of people, mostly women, climbed rooftops and crowded balconies and waited under scorching sun for hours to catch a glimpse of her. Jolie waved at her fans before getting back into the van to be driven to the airport in a security motorcade. In April, Jolie traveled to Tunisia during its refugee crisis as thousands fled from its war-torn neighbor, Libya.    

Police Solves DRDL Scientist's Son Murder

Hyderabad Police Saturday solved the mystery behind the kidnapping and murder of a defence scientist's 11-year-old son Pranav by arresting a young couple from Lucknow who were desperate for money. The couple confessed that they abducted the boy for ransom money as they faced financial problems. The couple Rajni Ranjan Malik and Shalini Malik lost their nerve when the boy got injured during captivity, and his father lodged a complaint with police. Jittery, the two smothered the boy to death. C. Pranav, a Class V student, was kidnapped on June 10 in Alapatinagar near his house. His body was found in an open drain June 13. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan produced accused Rajni Ranjan Malik and Shalini Malik, aged 22 and 20 respectively, at a media conference. The couple married in 2009 and migrated to Hyderabad six months ago. Ranjan, who was a salesman, and Shalini, now pregnant, started scouting for a child of a rich family to demand a ransom of Rs.10-15 lakh to overcome their financial crisis. The accused befriended Pranav, son of Rammohan Rao, a scientist at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), and lured him to their rented house. Then, they gave him milk mixed with 'bhang'. As the boy fell unconscious, Ranjan called Rao. However, before he could put forward his demand, the line got cut as Rao's phone ran out of battery. The same evening, Rao lodged a complaint with police. The victim, Pranav regained consciousness but sustained head injuries after falling down. Panicking, the couple killed the boy, stuffed his body in a gunny bag and threw it in an open drain.    

Congress May Call For All Party Meet on Lok Pal Bill

Indications are that the growing chorus over stronger Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption eventually has the Congress-led UPA government worried. There were clear signals to this effect in the meeting of the Congress Core Group at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and other senior congress leaders attended the meeting. Sources say that the Core Group decided to call an all-party meeting on the Lokpal issue, especially to debate the provisions like should the Prime Minister be brought under the ambit of Lokpal or not. In recent days, the Lokpal issue and the police crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's camp on the intervening night of June 4-5 have been like an albatross around the government's neck. It had to face a lot of criticism at the hands of the Opposition parties, especially the BJP. But of late, the movement has run into rough weather after an impasse between the two sides over drafting the bill. The activists slammed the government accusing it of turning the Lokpal Bill into a "Jokepal Bill." Mr Hazare has once again threatened to sit on a hunger strike.    

No Deadline For Achieving Telangana: Jana Reddy

Reacting on Congress MPs, MLAs and Ministers' delegation failing to get pucca assurance from the central leadership during its Delhi sojourn, Panchayati Raj Minister Jana Reddy said that there are "No lines and deadlines for achieving separate statehood. We will continue to fight till Telangana state is formed." Though none of the central ministers Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee and A K Anthoney could give Telangana Congress leaders assurance of separate state formation, they kept their word by putting forth delegation's demands in the core committee meeting. After deliberations the core committee has decided to hold talks with leaders of all parties in the region. Another Congress MP from state Madhu Yashki said that the Delhi trip has been successful in a way. Earlier some leaders from Telangana have misled the high command over Telangana issue. In this trip, we have cleared all the mis-conceptions high command had about the Telangana issue.    

Way Cleared For Information on Swiss Bank Accounts

Now India can get information on secret Swiss Bank accounts easily. The Swiss Parliament today gave approval to amendments to tax treaties with countries, including India, making it easier for to access information about the illegal funds held by their nationals in Swiss private banks. The upper house of the Swiss Parliament endorsed amendments to double-taxation agreements in line with internationally applicable standards. The beneficiaries from the new amendments include India, Germany, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Uruguay, Kazakhstan, and Poland. The Swiss Parliament approval comes at a time when the Indian government is facing intense pressure from the opposition, the Supreme Court and civil society to bring back black money stashed away in tax havens. As per the revised taxation treaty with Switzerland, India can get information on secret bank accounts from Swiss authorities for cases dating from January 2011. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Swiss Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey signed a "protocol" to amend the double taxation agreement (DTA) in the area of Taxes on income on August 30, 2010. Meanwhile in Bangalore, Ambassador of Switzerland to India, Philippe Welti said that India could get banking details of its citizens in tax frauds and evasion cases once the Swiss Parliament ratifies the revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the two nations.    

Congress Core Committee Discussion on Telangana

The Congress core committee, which met at the residence of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 17 June, also discussed demand from Congress leaders in Telangana for a separate state. Earlier Union Finanace Minister Pranab Mukherjee had assured a delegation of Telangana leaders including ministers, MPs and legislators that he would put their views to Sonia Gandhi after she returns from her visit abroad. The meeting was attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president. With all its leaders in Telangana putting sustained pressure for a separate state, the core committee also discussed the demand for a separate Telangana. Party sources informed that no conensus has been arrived on the Telangana issue except that to hold discussions with leaders of all parties in the region.    

Wife And Husband Become Brother And Sister

Wife And Husband Become Brother And Sister - No it is not a movie story but happened really in life. A newly wed wife Aarti made her husband Nitish her brother by tying 'Rakhi' in Rudrapur of Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh. It so happened that, initially Aarti's sister Neha and Nitish were engaged but Neha loved someone else and got married to him. To keep his word of 'Kanyadan', Aarti's father forced her to marry in place of Neha. Everyone thought that the problem has been solved untill Aarti dropped the bomb after marriage. She told Nitish that she is already married to her lover Vinit Sharma and beseached Nitish to treat her as a sister and re-unite her with her first husband. Kind hearted Nitish accepted her as his 'Rakhi-behn' and performed re-marriage of Aarti with Vinit Sharma. It is said that Aarti's father got enraged with Nitish for his kind deed and is threatening him with sending Nitish and his whole family to jail. Nitish says that Aarti's father is a cruel man and sought police protection for himself and his family.    

Super Small Bike Attracts People's Attention

Afterall, necessity is the mother of invention. A loving father wanted to make a small bike, not a toy but a real one for his toddling son. And he did make one such bike in reality. Anees, a bike-mechanic of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh has made a small bike that can take a payload of 90 kgs. It is just 16" inches high and 37" inches long and gives an average consumption of 60 to 70 kms per litre of petrol. Though many people have offered him fancy price for the tiny bike, Anees refused to sell it and says it has been made exclusively for his son.