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Hasan Ali Got Kickbacks in Boeing-Air India Deal

According to Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hasan Ali Khan has made a killing as consultant in when he had earned a commission of US $ 11.5 million for a Boeing deal with Air India in 1986-87. At the exchange rate then, the amount works out to over Rs 14 crore not a small sum considering that the Bofors kickback was of Rs 64 crore and brought down a government. This startling information is part of a 2007 Enforcement Directorate (ED) Case Information Report filed as an annexure in the 1000-plus-page charge sheet filed recently by the ED in a special court under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act against Khan and his associate Kashinath Tapuriah. The civil aviation minister at that time was Jagdish Tytler. The report says that as consultants of Boeing Commercial Airplane Co, Seattle, USA, an amount of US $ 11.5 million was earned as commission from the sale of two Boeing 727 aircraft to air India in 1986-87. The deal was worth US $ 230 million. The charge sheet mentions that the amount was not repatriated to India by RM Investments & Trading Co, a firm owned by Tapuriah. The charge sheet, however, does not specify who among the accused earned the commission. There are clear-cut indications of corruption money involved in mega transactional deals representing commissions received on sale of Boeing Aircrafts held by Air India. It involves loss to the exchequer, the ED has said.  

CPM Party Trying to Align With Jagan

The CPM Party in Andhra Pradesh is trying to align with Jagan. The CPM party, which got routed in West Bengal by Mamata Banerjee led Trinamul Congress in the recently held assembly polls, sensed that to keep up its existance, it has to invariably float along with some stronger party. Previously, the state CPM has aligned with Telugu Desam Party, but TDP position itself is grim in the state. There's no way it can align with ruling party at this juncture. So, the best and available way for it is to tie-up with YSR Congress party. Since Jagan Mohan Reddy has the capacity to pull on crowds and give a tough fight to the ruling Congress, the CPM leadership in state is very keen on aligning with him. As part of trying to get closer to Jagan, it has already announced its full support to all the protests Jagan started against the government.    

Cabinet Nod For Caste Based Census

The government today approved a proposal to conduct a survey based on caste, religion and economic conditions that will help in identifying people living below and above the poverty line and their social backgrounds. The proposed census was approved at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today. The survey is expected to begin soon, official sources said. Congress president Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) had proposed a separate survey on these parameters. Census enumerators will distribute questionnaires regarding caste and religion asking just two questions to respondents: What is your caste and what is your religion. But the enumeration of people on poverty lines is a technical process and would involve many questions like the number of family members, daily income and expenses, sources said. The poverty census was earlier carried out in 2002 but it would be the first time that this information would be clubbed with data about caste and religion.

Chiranjeevi, PRP Leaders Booked For Cheating

The Jubilee Hills police yesterday registered an FIR against PRP leaders, including party chief K Chiranjeevi, following the orders of XVII additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Nampally. The court had given direction to the PS to register an FIR on May 15 following a complaint of PRP's U-turn on Telangana issue and statements made by the leaders against Telangana. According to Jubilee Hills inspector K Narsing Rao, a case was registered under Sections 415 (cheating), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 504 (provoking breach of peace), 505 (public mischief) and 306 (abetment to suicide) against Chiranjeevi, Allu Aravind, K Vidhyadhara Rao, Kala Venkat Rao, C Ramachandraiah, M Satyanarayana, Shobha Nagireddy, Yalamanchali Ravi, G Srinivasa Rao, K Subbarayudu and T Trimurthulu.  

TJAC to Grapple With Cong, TD MLAs

TJAC, which is closely observing political happenings in the state, is planning to grapple Congress and Telugu Desam MLAs. The TJAC wants to bring all Telangana leaders, irrespctive of which party they belong to, under one roof again and involve them in the third phase of Telangana agitation. Congress and TDP leaders from Telangana stopped participating in the T movement launched by the JAC and TRS after the legislators from the ruling party and main opposition refused to quit their elected posts as demanded by the JAC during the second phase of the movement last year. Telangana JAC chairman M Kodandaram told in the meeting held yesterday that they have discussed the political developments taking place in the Congress and TDP and thought it best that they all come together onto one platform in order to strengthen the T agitation. "The JAC will meet the leaders of the Congress and TDP shortly and urge them to exert pressure on their party leaders in support of Telangana continuously and invite them to join the next phase movement," Kodandaram said.

Jagan Quells Expulsion Fears of MLAs

In a wise move, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy roped in constitutional experts to quell the fear of expulsion of the Congress MLAs who are to join his party. Sensing that the ruling Congress is going all out to desist the legislators from joining it by 'misinterpreting' the disqualification rule, the YSR Congress Party has roped in two constitutional experts to clarify the rule to MLAs and MLCs. The decision to engage constitutional experts, including a retired high court judge, was reportedly taken after PRP MLA Katasani Ramireddy switched sides from Jagan camp to support the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in the middle of Kadapa byelection campaign. Government chief whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who held a series of meetings with the rebel legislators in the past few months, told them that they would be 'ineligible' to contest the next election (including byelections if necessitated) if they were disqualified from the legislative assembly by the Speaker. "A ban on contesting elections for next six years could be imposed while disqualifying from the current membership," sources quoting Vikramarka warning the MLAs said. A three-time legislator and former minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy alleged that the chief whip had deliberately launched the misinformation campaign to wean away the legislators. "The Speaker can disqualify a member for anti-party activities only for that particular term. He cannot restrict the disqualified member from contesting the next election even if he desires so," explained a retired judge associated with the YSR Congress.

Rajanikanth in ICU: Responding to Treatment

Superstar Rajinikanth, hospitalised in Chennai, has been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit to improve his breathing pattern, and is now showing positive response to treatment, doctors attending to the superstar have said. A multidisciplinary team is involved, to closely watch his vital parameters to assess benefits from multi prong treatment strategies, the doctors added. The Enthiran star, who suffered from viral fever and exhaustion recently, was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre at suburban Porur days after he was discharged from another hospital where he was treated for allergic bronchitis and viral fever. He had suffered from exhaustion on April 29, the first day of the shoot of his new period film Rana co-starring Deepika Padukone, which is being directed by K S Ravikumar. He was admitted to Isabel Hospital in the city and discharged the same day, only to be re-admitted there on May 4 for allergic bronchitis and viral fever.  

Congress Losing Ground in South

Looking at the recent political happenings in the country, it may be said that the Congress Party is slowly losing ground in southern India. To begin with, it was Tamil Nadu debacle, then Karnataka crisis erupted with tussel between the Governor and chief minister Yeddyurappa and now in andhra Pradesh - the open challenge to go to polls by Congress leader turned rebel Jagan Mohan Reddy.  The Congress in Andhra Pradesh is on slippery ground again, as evident by its 19 Congress MLAs  started openly supporting former party leader Jagan Reddy. Moreover, a two-day damage control meet by state incharge Gulam Nabi Azad showed that demands for the ouster of current Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy have gotten shriller. "The party is facing a crisis. Everyone is discouraged. The party needs to change its way of functioning. There is no plan and no action," said Kothuluamma, a senior Congress MLA from CM's native Chittoor district. Though Gulam Nabi Azad said while leaving back to Delhi "I am happy to see that the morale of the Congress party is maintained and everyone is committed to strengthen the party and their support for Sonia Gandhi. I am sure together, we will be able to fulfill the people aspirations in Andhra." But the situation isn't going to be so anymore with the Telangana issue all set to heat up again in the coming weeks. The party's regional split is also bound to widen and keeping its flock together seems to be fast becoming a greater challenge for the ruling party.  

Actress Minissha Lamba: Serial Disasters

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba, who was returning to Mumbai from Cannes, France, was detained at Chhatrapathi Shivaji International Airport after undeclared jewellery was allegedly found in her possession. According to Customs Officials, during luggage check she was found carrying jewellery worth over Rs 50 lakh. However, customs officials have refused to say how much of the jewellery being carried by the actress was undeclared. Minissha Lamba who was returning from Cannes, where she had attended the opening ceremony of the international film festival, is being interrogated. Disasters seem to struck the 26 year old actress in series, whose debut film Yahaan garnered much critical acclaim, has starred in movies like Bachna Ae Haseeno, Corporate and Well Done Abba. Yesterday she tweeted: "Disaster has struck. A baggage of mine has been stolen at Nice Airport. I can't believe something like this has happened" - (17 May). "Standing at the #Emirates counter for one hour. Even with two CCTV camera's right over d baggage, police or airline still wont confirm.. - ...If it was stolen or misplaced. For some reason they, r just refusing to confirm via their CCTV. - The reason they won't go over d CCTV footage is tht there is nothing recorded on it. Sadly, sumthing like tis has happened during d festival," - (23 hours ago).  

Chandrababu Clarifies TD Stand on Telangana

Telugu Desam Party supremo Chandrababu Naidu today clarified the party's stand on Telangana issue. Speaking to the media at NTR Trust Bhavan, he categorically told that it's the Central Government that has to deal with the Telangana isssue, not the Telugu Desam party. Like all other parties, TD will also respond in respect of T-issue according to the aspirations and sentiments of the people. Mr. Naidu said "We have made it clear several times and have given full liberty to our party members to respond to the Telangana issue in accordance with public sentiment. When all other parties are responding to the issue under their own party flags, Telugu Desam should also do the same. Whatever programs they want to take up, should do them under the party flag only." Referring to party senior leaders Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Harishwar Reddy conducting T-meetings on their own without party flag, Mr. Naidu said the matter will be discussed in the party and a decision will be taken. With TD Mahanadu going to take place at the end of this month, Naidu's remarks about Nagam and Harishwar Reddy are significant. However, Mr. Naidu avoided straight questions on action to be taken on Nagam and Harishwar Reddy. It is felt that the TD chief is will take some decision in this regard only after Mahanadu.    

Chiranjeevi Served With Legal Notice

Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi has been served with legal notice by his own party member. Laxman Naidu of Prakasham district filed a case against Mr. Chiranjeevi alleging that he has cheated the party cadre by merging PRP with the Congress party. In his notice, Laxman Naidu demanded for the refund of amounts spent by him so far towards the Praja Rajyam Party. This legal notice may not affect Chiranjeevi or the Praja Rajyam Party so badly, but it's certainly an embarrassment for the party chief, who is aspiring to make his presence in Congress more illustrious. After announcing merger with Congress, Chiranjeevi has been suffering set backs one after another. First it was Kadapa byelection fiasco, then two of his MLAs supporting Jagan, Telangana protagonists filing criminal case against him and now this embarrassing notice!

Attack on Akbar: A Conspiracy to Kill MIM

Reacting for the first time, the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and MP, Mr Asaduddin Owaisi, said the murderous attack on his brother and MIM floor leader, the Chandrayangutta MLA, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, was a bigger "conspiracy" to eliminate the leader and cut a swathe through the party that has become popular in old city. Mr Owaisi accused two Urdu dailies of being the "main conspirators" in the attack. The MIM chief said the brutal attempt on Mr Akbar's life was a most difficult phase in his life till date after the death of their father and MIM patriarch, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi. "Can you believe he (Akbar) took 29 stab wounds on his left hand, bullet wounds and survived? The blood chilling video of the attack has left people shocked," he said. According to him, Mr Akbar is still weak and needs a couple of days more before he can be discharged from the hospital. Thanking Allah for saving Mr Akbar's life, he said the attackers who are kin of the Pahelwans were mere pawns in the whole affair and the bigger conspirators were the two newspapers. "The socalled land dispute is sheer bakwas (nonsense). It is a government land and Akbar only tried to protect it from land grabbers so that poor can get a house," he said. According to Mr Owaisi, the two Urdu dailies were running a defamation campaign against the Owaisi brothers and the MIM for five years. He also said that about 70 acres of government land in Bandlaguda had been illegally occupied, which otherwise could be used as a housing colony for the poor. When asked to name the two dailies, he quipped, "I don't want to name the newspapers. Everyone, who reads Urdu newspapers knows it. It's not newspaper rivalry (Mr Asaduddin owns a Urdu daily Ittehmad), but a deliberate campaign to finish us." Mr Owaisi said his party never indulged in murder politics and the mass support was testimony to this. "Even assuming it's a land dispute, should a person be killed? It's atrocious and senseless. We might be accused of playing communal politics, which is again debatable, but we never indulged in politics of murder. We took on 'Tiger' Narendra, Amanullah Khan politically, but never targeted them physically," added Mr Owaisi.  

95 NRIs Wanted in Wife Harassment Cases

Around 95 NRI men are wanted by the Central Crime Station women's police station in the city for harassing their wives. Sources said that most of the accused against whom cases of harassment are pending are from the US followed by UK, Europe and the Gulf countries. The cops said that they were still receiving complaints against NRI husbands even after awareness campaigns had been taken up on a large scale. CCS women police station inspector, Ms Jyothi Lakshmi, said, "The cases are in several stages of investigation. In some cases, we have sent red corner notices to the Interpol. We have conducted awareness campaigns for brides and their parents to check the antecedents of NRI bridegrooms before marriage. But in most cases there is no proper background check done." Non-bailable warrants have been issued against several of the NRI accused. "In most cases the investigation is not going ahead as they (the accused) are not available," said a CCS official.

Karnataka Crisis: BSY Show of Strength in Delhi

The BJP, at New Delhi, yesterday demanded that the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, should recall the Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj, for recommending President's Rule in Karnataka. A delegation of top BJP leaders along with the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, and 116 Karnataka MLAs met the President and submitted a memorandum against Mr Bhardwaj. Mr Yeddyurappa also claimed he has 121 MLAs supporting him and that he can prove his majority "anytime and anywhere". After their meeting with the President, the BJP president, Mr Nitin Gadkari, said since the President was the guardian of the Constitution, the party had decided to take up the issue with her. "We met the President and demanded that she give us protection. We asked her that no action should be taken on the report submitted by the Governor, who has recommended President's Rule in the state," Mr Gadkari said. On the other hand, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj said that the Karnataka is in crisis and "imposition of the provisions of Article 356 (1) is necessary whenever there is breakdown of the constitutional mechanism in the state." He made a strategic move yesterday by disclosing contents of the special report sent to the Centre on Sunday. Interpreting the report in a communique, Mr Bhardwaj said the manipulation of numbers inside the Assembly to win the trust vote, amounted to a constitutional breakdown which was why he had recommended invoking Article 356(1).  

KCR, Azad Talk Over Phone About Telangana

According to TRS sources, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao telephoned AICC General Secretary Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad, who is in Hyderabad and sought to know what steps the UPA government is taking on the separate state issue. KCR is also said to have reminded Azad about the Congress high command's promise to take a decision on the issue after the elections in five states are over. During the four-minute interaction over phone, KCR is said to have told Azad that the TRS launched the third phase of its agitation for Telangana and that it will be intensified further, if the Centre did not respond positively to the creation of separate state by June. Strangely, from the other side Azad responded to none of these queries and merely inquired about KCR's health and his party's strength in the Telangana region.  

Azad Mission Accomplished Leaves For Delhi

AICC state party affairs incharge Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad was in city on a two day mission to assess the threat perception Kiran Kumar government is facing from Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. After the two days deliberations with ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders, it became clear to Ghulam Nabi Azad that dissidence rather than Jagan factor is what is actually plaguing the state Congress. Interestingly on the second day of Mr. Azad's tour, Rajya Sabha MP Mr. KVP Ramachandra Rao was seen very actively keeping company of Mr. Azad. Mr. Azad wanted to keep himself away from people who complained against CM Kiran Kumar Reddy. But in the evening the Kiran-baiters managed to come in between in groups and lodged their complaints. Chirala Congress MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan told Azad that more than half of the Kiran cabinet was supportive of Jagan and that this amounted to absolute indiscipline. Azad and KVP kept themselves occupied with the Telangana issue throughout the day. Various Telangana groups and Seemandhra leaders were summoned and the entire exercise lasted till the evening. Sensing disgruntle among party members towatrds the chief minister, Mr. Azad avoided to have one-on-one personal meetings. With this, several ministers in the Kiran cabinet including Botsa Satyanarayana, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Galla Aruna Kumari, D K Aruna, Vatti Vasant Kumar and former minister K Jana Reddy, who wanted to explain at length as to what was wrong with the CM's style of functioning, couldn't do so, as they were met only in groups by Azad.  

Gulam Nabi Azad Facing Tesing Time in State

AICC incharge of state affairs Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad, who has come to take stock of the situation in the state after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's landslide win in the Kadapa bypolls, is facing a tough time with number of complaints pouring in against CM Kiran Kumar Reddy's style of functioning, besides the simmering Telangana issue and more number of party MLAs starting to openly align with Jagan Mohan Reddy. Among the ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs who flocked to the Lake View Guest House to meet Azad included Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, G Kutuhalamma, Pidamarthi Ravi (all MLAs from CM's Chittoor district), J C Diwakar Reddy (Tadipatri MLA), Katasani Rambhupal Reddy (Panyam MLA), ministers D L Ravindra Reddy , Sabita Indra Reddy, J Geeta Reddy and Vatti Vasant Kumar, former council chairman A Chakrapani, MPs Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, J D Seelam, Mohammad Farooq and Sirajuddin, and Mahila Congress president G Ganga Bhavani. Azad, accompanied by his deputy and AICC secretary K B Krishna Murthy, preferred one-on-one interaction as opposed to group meetings. Interestingly, Azad preferred that PCC chief D Srinivas sit out of the meeting with the office-bearers as he wanted them to air their views and concerns freely. The anti-Kiran campaign happened even before the CM could host a dinner for Azad at his Camp Office yesterday. For Azad too, his maiden visit to the state as AP in-charge began on a sour note with at least 13 Congress MLAs openly aligning with Y S Jaganmohan Reddy during his 48-hour hunger strike for farmers at Guntur.    

Jagan Deeksha Draws More MLAs Towards Him

Even as AICC incharge of AP affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad is in Hyderabad to take stock of the party affairs post Kadapa poll rout, several Congress MLAs, in an act of open defiance, hobnobbed with YSR Congress party chief Jaganmohan Reddy at the deeksha camp at Guntur yesterday. Putting the Congress high command in an embarrassing situation, former minister and Jagan loyalist Pilli Subhash Chandrabose said that they were not worried about disqualification or suspension for aligning with Jagan. With nine more Congress legislators joining Jagan's deeksha on the second day, the strength of the ruling party MLAs supporting him reached 17. In addition, five MLCs and Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohana Reddy were present. Apart from Bose, Dharmana Krishna Das, Congress legislator from Narasannapet constituency in Srikakulam and Korla Bharathi (Tekkali) attended Jagan's deeksha. Kakinada legislator Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy and Udayagiri MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhara Reddy were also present along with MLAs Baburao, Srinivasulu, Akepati Amaranath Reddy and Terlam Balaraju. Congress MLAs, Konda Surekha, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, Mekathoti Sucharitha, Gadikota Srikanth Reddy and Buchepalli Sivaprasada Reddy, TDP MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy, five Congress MLCs Jupudi Prabhakara Rao, Pulla Padmavathi, Konda Murali, Meka Seshu Babu and Desai Tippa Reddy, were present at the camp. Deepening the crisis in the ruling Congress, Congress MLA and brother of minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Krishna Das on Monday hailed YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy as the "leader of people". Das went on to say that he has decided to walk along with Jagan and has no hesitation to quit the assembly if asked by his 'leader'.    

Akbaruddin Attackers Sent to Jail

Four persons who were arrested in connection with the attack on the MIM MLA, Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, were produced before the XIV additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Ms R. Rama Devi, on Monday morning as their three-day police custody expired on Sunday. The magistrate remanded the accused -Mohd Bin Omer Yafai Mohamed Pahalwan, alias Mohammed Pahalwan, Hussain Bin Omer Yafai, Esa Bin Omer Yafai and Yahiya Bin Younus Yafai -to judicial custody till May 18. They were also charged under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 341 (wrongful restraint), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault) read with 149 (unlawful assembly) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Section 27 (1) of the Indian Arms Act. The Central Crime Station sleuths, who seized some incriminating material, including live cartridges from their possession, said the custody had helped them in reconstructing the scene of offence and sequence of events by interrogating the accused.