News Analysis India

Tag: CBI

  • CBI takes over investigation into censor board bribery allegations levelled by actor Vishal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has lodged an FIR against three persons and unidentified officials of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the allegations of actor Vishal that he had to pay Rs 6.5 lakh to get a certificate for his film “Mark Antony”, officials said on Thursday.

    The action was followed by searches at four locations in Mumbai, including the premises of the FIR-named accused persons.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged the FIR against private persons Merlin Menaga, Jeeja Ramdas, Rajan M and unidentified public servants of the CBFC.

    “It was alleged that during the month of September 2023, a private person entered a conspiracy with others to obtain a bribe of Rs 7 lakh and to get the required censor certificate from CBFC, Mumbai for a movie dubbed in Hindi,” a CBI spokesperson said.

    He said it was also alleged that in furtherance of the said conspiracy, the accused initially demanded the bribe on behalf of CBFC-Mumbai officials, the amount of which was reduced to Rs 6.54 lakh after negotiations.

    “…she allegedly accepted Rs 6,54,000 as bribe on behalf of CBFC, Mumbai officials in two bank accounts of the two other accused. Thereafter, on 26/09/2023, the required certificate was allegedly issued by CBFC, Mumbai for said movie dubbed in Hindi. It was also alleged that in addition to the said amount, the said accused obtained Rs 20,000 in her bank account from the account of a private company as coordinating fees for herself,” the spokesperson for the federal agency said in a statement.

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has lodged an FIR against three persons and unidentified officials of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the allegations of actor Vishal that he had to pay Rs 6.5 lakh to get a certificate for his film “Mark Antony”, officials said on Thursday.

    The action was followed by searches at four locations in Mumbai, including the premises of the FIR-named accused persons.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged the FIR against private persons Merlin Menaga, Jeeja Ramdas, Rajan M and unidentified public servants of the CBFC.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “It was alleged that during the month of September 2023, a private person entered a conspiracy with others to obtain a bribe of Rs 7 lakh and to get the required censor certificate from CBFC, Mumbai for a movie dubbed in Hindi,” a CBI spokesperson said.

    He said it was also alleged that in furtherance of the said conspiracy, the accused initially demanded the bribe on behalf of CBFC-Mumbai officials, the amount of which was reduced to Rs 6.54 lakh after negotiations.

    “…she allegedly accepted Rs 6,54,000 as bribe on behalf of CBFC, Mumbai officials in two bank accounts of the two other accused. Thereafter, on 26/09/2023, the required certificate was allegedly issued by CBFC, Mumbai for said movie dubbed in Hindi. It was also alleged that in addition to the said amount, the said accused obtained Rs 20,000 in her bank account from the account of a private company as coordinating fees for herself,” the spokesperson for the federal agency said in a statement.

  • Killing of two students: CBI arrests four in Manipur

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four persons, including two women, from Churachandpur in Manipur in connection with the abduction and killing of two students that kept the Imphal valley on the edge for the past few days.

    “I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today,” Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on X, previously Twitter. 

    “As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law,” Singh further wrote.

    He said the government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, to the culprits for the “heinous crime” they had committed.

    I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today.As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long…
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) October 1, 2023
    It was learnt a CBI team, assisted by Manipur police and Army, arrested the four accused from a road in the Henglep subdivision around noon when they were travelling in a Bolero along with two minor girls – daughters of one of the accused women. 

    Subsequently, all six were taken to Imphal airport from Henglep in an Army helicopter. Around 5 pm, they were taken further to Guwahati in a routine commercial flight. Ten personnel of the Manipur police accompanied the CBI team. 

    The CBI was apparently tracking the phone of one of the two slain students which was being used by one of the two accused women.

    Hemanjit (20) and Linthoingambi (17) were reported missing in the early part of July when the ethnic violence was at its peak. Their photos surfaced on social media on Monday evening, just days after mobile internet services were restored in the state after over four months.

    In one photo, the two were seen sitting on a grassy compound with two armed men in the background. Another photo showed their bodies with the head of Hemanjit appearing to be missing. 

    The photos had triggered widespread protests in the Imphal valley. Students hit the streets demanding justice. Over 200 of them were injured when security personnel used force to quell them.

    GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four persons, including two women, from Churachandpur in Manipur in connection with the abduction and killing of two students that kept the Imphal valley on the edge for the past few days.

    “I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today,” Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on X, previously Twitter. 

    “As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law,” Singh further wrote.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He said the government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, to the culprits for the “heinous crime” they had committed.

    I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today.
    As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long…
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) October 1, 2023
    It was learnt a CBI team, assisted by Manipur police and Army, arrested the four accused from a road in the Henglep subdivision around noon when they were travelling in a Bolero along with two minor girls – daughters of one of the accused women. 

    Subsequently, all six were taken to Imphal airport from Henglep in an Army helicopter. Around 5 pm, they were taken further to Guwahati in a routine commercial flight. Ten personnel of the Manipur police accompanied the CBI team. 

    The CBI was apparently tracking the phone of one of the two slain students which was being used by one of the two accused women.

    Hemanjit (20) and Linthoingambi (17) were reported missing in the early part of July when the ethnic violence was at its peak. Their photos surfaced on social media on Monday evening, just days after mobile internet services were restored in the state after over four months.

    In one photo, the two were seen sitting on a grassy compound with two armed men in the background. Another photo showed their bodies with the head of Hemanjit appearing to be missing. 

    The photos had triggered widespread protests in the Imphal valley. Students hit the streets demanding justice. Over 200 of them were injured when security personnel used force to quell them.

  • CBI arrests 4 people in connection with killing of two youths in Manipur

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four persons, including two women, from Churachandpur in Manipur in connection with the abduction and killing of two students that kept the Imphal valley on the edge for the past few days.

    “I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today,” Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on X, previously Twitter. 

    “As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law,” Singh further wrote.

    He said the government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, to the culprits for the “heinous crime” they had committed.

    I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today.As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long…
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) October 1, 2023
    It was learnt a CBI team, assisted by Manipur police and Army, arrested the four accused from a road in the Henglep subdivision around noon when they were travelling in a Bolero along with two minor girls – daughters of one of the accused women. 

    Subsequently, all six were taken to Imphal airport from Henglep in an Army helicopter. Around 5 pm, they were taken further to Guwahati in a routine commercial flight. Ten personnel of the Manipur police accompanied the CBI team. 

    The CBI was apparently tracking the phone of one of the two slain students which was being used by one of the two accused women.

    Hemanjit (20) and Linthoingambi (17) were reported missing in the early part of July when the ethnic violence was at its peak. Their photos surfaced on social media on Monday evening, just days after mobile internet services were restored in the state after over four months.

    In one photo, the two were seen sitting on a grassy compound with two armed men in the background. Another photo showed their bodies with the head of Hemanjit appearing to be missing. 

    The photos had triggered widespread protests in the Imphal valley. Students hit the streets demanding justice. Over 200 of them were injured when security personnel used force to quell them.

    More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

    Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

    Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

    GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four persons, including two women, from Churachandpur in Manipur in connection with the abduction and killing of two students that kept the Imphal valley on the edge for the past few days.

    “I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today,” Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on X, previously Twitter. 

    “As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law,” Singh further wrote.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He said the government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, to the culprits for the “heinous crime” they had committed.

    I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today.
    As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long…
    — N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) October 1, 2023
    It was learnt a CBI team, assisted by Manipur police and Army, arrested the four accused from a road in the Henglep subdivision around noon when they were travelling in a Bolero along with two minor girls – daughters of one of the accused women. 

    Subsequently, all six were taken to Imphal airport from Henglep in an Army helicopter. Around 5 pm, they were taken further to Guwahati in a routine commercial flight. Ten personnel of the Manipur police accompanied the CBI team. 

    The CBI was apparently tracking the phone of one of the two slain students which was being used by one of the two accused women.

    Hemanjit (20) and Linthoingambi (17) were reported missing in the early part of July when the ethnic violence was at its peak. Their photos surfaced on social media on Monday evening, just days after mobile internet services were restored in the state after over four months.

    In one photo, the two were seen sitting on a grassy compound with two armed men in the background. Another photo showed their bodies with the head of Hemanjit appearing to be missing. 

    The photos had triggered widespread protests in the Imphal valley. Students hit the streets demanding justice. Over 200 of them were injured when security personnel used force to quell them.

    More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

    Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.

    Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

  • Odisha train crash: Level crossing repair work done without approval, says CBI

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Repair work at a level crossing near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha’s Balasore where the June 2 train crash took place was allegedly conducted without the approval of the senior divisional signal and telecom engineer and without an approved circuit diagram.

    The CBI made the submission before a special court in Bhubaneswar alleging that one of the reasons behind the accident was the repair work at level crossing (LC) gate number 94 near Bahanaga Bazar station done by Senior Section Engineer (Signal In-charge) Arun Kumar Mahanta using the circuit diagram of another LC gate no.79, officials said on Thursday.

    The allegations were refuted by Mahanta claiming that LC gate no.94 at KM 255/11-13 had not been working properly, but the higher officials did not take “active action” for the same.

    He had said that the supervision work in question was entrusted to some other persons, hence he was not responsible for the accident.

    The CBI arrested Mahanta and two other railway officials on July 7, 2023, in connection with its probe in the Balasore triple train accident case in which 296 people were killed and over 1,200 injured.

    The tragedy took place when the Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary freight train at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district, and some of its derailed coaches collided with the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express, on June 2.

    A special CBI court in Bhubaneswar recently rejected the bail application of Mahanta, noting that material submitted by the CBI prima facie shows his complicity in the case.

    “The typical circuit diagram of another LC gate no.79 was being used at the time of execution of wiring work being done at North Goomty of Bahanaga Bazar railway station, for changing the operation of the level crossing gate no.94 from 110 volt AC to 24 volt DC,” the CBI has submitted before the court.

    It said as per the manual the present accused petitioner was to ensure that testing, overhauling and carrying out alterations to the existing signal and interlocking installations were in accordance with the approved plan and instructions.

    “Further it reveals since no such steps were taken by the accused, it caused the accident and in the said accident more than 296 passengers were dead and many more passengers were seriously injured,” the court noted citing the CBI submissions.

    NEW DELHI: Repair work at a level crossing near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha’s Balasore where the June 2 train crash took place was allegedly conducted without the approval of the senior divisional signal and telecom engineer and without an approved circuit diagram.

    The CBI made the submission before a special court in Bhubaneswar alleging that one of the reasons behind the accident was the repair work at level crossing (LC) gate number 94 near Bahanaga Bazar station done by Senior Section Engineer (Signal In-charge) Arun Kumar Mahanta using the circuit diagram of another LC gate no.79, officials said on Thursday.

    The allegations were refuted by Mahanta claiming that LC gate no.94 at KM 255/11-13 had not been working properly, but the higher officials did not take “active action” for the same.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He had said that the supervision work in question was entrusted to some other persons, hence he was not responsible for the accident.

    The CBI arrested Mahanta and two other railway officials on July 7, 2023, in connection with its probe in the Balasore triple train accident case in which 296 people were killed and over 1,200 injured.

    The tragedy took place when the Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary freight train at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district, and some of its derailed coaches collided with the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express, on June 2.

    A special CBI court in Bhubaneswar recently rejected the bail application of Mahanta, noting that material submitted by the CBI prima facie shows his complicity in the case.

    “The typical circuit diagram of another LC gate no.79 was being used at the time of execution of wiring work being done at North Goomty of Bahanaga Bazar railway station, for changing the operation of the level crossing gate no.94 from 110 volt AC to 24 volt DC,” the CBI has submitted before the court.

    It said as per the manual the present accused petitioner was to ensure that testing, overhauling and carrying out alterations to the existing signal and interlocking installations were in accordance with the approved plan and instructions.

    “Further it reveals since no such steps were taken by the accused, it caused the accident and in the said accident more than 296 passengers were dead and many more passengers were seriously injured,” the court noted citing the CBI submissions.

  • Jharkhand HC orders CBI probe in Rs 1000 crore illegal mining case

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Jharkhand High Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) to probe the illegal mining case in Sahibganj district. The court asked the CBI to complete the preliminary inquiry (PE) and submit the report within a month.

    A single bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi ordered the probe after hearing a criminal writ filed by Vijay Hansda. Hansda through his petition demanded a CBI probe informing about illegal mining at the said place.

    Through his petition, Hansda informed the court that when he attempted to stop illegal mining, MLA representative of chief minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, threatened him with dire consequences.

    Incidentally, Hansda had filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) a couple of days back to withdraw the writ petition saying that it was not filed by him but the court dismissed his application.

    “The court in its order on Friday directed the CBI to investigate illegal mining in Sahibganj as well as the allegations made by Hansda as to how the petition was filed in the High Court in his name without his consent,” said the advocate appearing on behalf of Hansda.

    Notably, Vijay Hansda is one of the witnesses of the ED probing the laundering of money earned by illegal mining. He tried to stop the illegal mining on Nimbu Pahar When he was threatened by Pankaj Mishra, a representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

    ALSO READ: Withdraw summon in land scam case or I will take action: CM Hemant Soren to ED

    When he tried to lodge an FIR against Pankaj Mishra, the police refused to lodge the case. Later, he filed a court complaint following which the court directed the Sahibganj police to lodge the FIR. 

    RANCHI: Jharkhand High Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) to probe the illegal mining case in Sahibganj district. The court asked the CBI to complete the preliminary inquiry (PE) and submit the report within a month.

    A single bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi ordered the probe after hearing a criminal writ filed by Vijay Hansda. Hansda through his petition demanded a CBI probe informing about illegal mining at the said place.

    Through his petition, Hansda informed the court that when he attempted to stop illegal mining, MLA representative of chief minister Hemant Soren, Pankaj Mishra, threatened him with dire consequences.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Incidentally, Hansda had filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) a couple of days back to withdraw the writ petition saying that it was not filed by him but the court dismissed his application.

    “The court in its order on Friday directed the CBI to investigate illegal mining in Sahibganj as well as the allegations made by Hansda as to how the petition was filed in the High Court in his name without his consent,” said the advocate appearing on behalf of Hansda.

    Notably, Vijay Hansda is one of the witnesses of the ED probing the laundering of money earned by illegal mining. He tried to stop the illegal mining on Nimbu Pahar When he was threatened by Pankaj Mishra, a representative of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

    ALSO READ: Withdraw summon in land scam case or I will take action: CM Hemant Soren to ED

    When he tried to lodge an FIR against Pankaj Mishra, the police refused to lodge the case. Later, he filed a court complaint following which the court directed the Sahibganj police to lodge the FIR. 

  • “TMC behind Odisha train accident,” alleges Suvendu Adhikari

    By ANI

    KOLKATA: The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Monday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the Odisha train accident in which at least 275 people were killed.

    The triple train accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district on June 2.

    “This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMC’s conspiracy. They are behind the incident,” Adhikari alleged.

    “Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state? Why are they afraid of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation?” he said.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader referred to a purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials which was posted by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Twitter on Sunday.

    He further said, “These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesn’t come, I will go to court.”

    Earlier on Monday, stepping up her attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Railway Board’s decision to hand over the inquiry into the Odisha train accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying that “it is not the time to suppress the truth”.

    “I also gave Gyaneshwari Express case to CBI but no result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there,” she further remarked.

    At least 275 people were killed, while more than 1,000 were injured in the accident that took place near the Bahanaga Bazar area.

    Mamata Banerjee arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Saturday to take stock of rescue operations and questioned why the Centre’s ‘Kavach’ system was missing from the track of the collision.

    Banerjee who was the Union Railway Minister termed the incident the “biggest railway accident of the 21st century” and said that this would not have happened if Kavach system was present.”Coromandel is one of the best express trains.

    “Coromandel is one of the best express trains. I was the Railway Minister thrice. From what I saw, this is the biggest railway accident of the 21st century. Such cases are handed over to Railway’s safety commission and they investigate and give a report. There was no anti-collision device on the train, as far as I know. Had the device been on the train, this would not have happened. The dead can’t be brought back but now our work is rescue operation and restoration of normalcy,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Saturday. said while addressing the reporters in Balasore in the presence of the Union Railway minister.

    READ MORE: Odisha train accident: Anti-collision device would have averted ‘biggest mishap of the century’, says Mamata

    Kavach is an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) developed by the Ministry of Railways.

    After Mamata Banerjee questioned the Railways over the absence of the ‘Kavach’ system citing it as the reason behind the Balasore triple train tragedy, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the accident has nothing to do with the anti-collision system.

    Vaishnaw while speaking to ANI said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.

    “It has nothing to do with Kavach. The reason is not what Mamata Banerjee said yesterday. This incident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking,” the Railway Minister told ANI.”This is an entirely different issue, it involves point machine, electronic interlocking. The change that occurred during electronic interlocking happened due to it. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after a proper investigation,” he added.

    KOLKATA: The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Monday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the Odisha train accident in which at least 275 people were killed.

    The triple train accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district on June 2.

    “This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMC’s conspiracy. They are behind the incident,” Adhikari alleged.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state? Why are they afraid of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation?” he said.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader referred to a purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials which was posted by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Twitter on Sunday.

    He further said, “These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesn’t come, I will go to court.”

    Earlier on Monday, stepping up her attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Railway Board’s decision to hand over the inquiry into the Odisha train accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying that “it is not the time to suppress the truth”.

    “I also gave Gyaneshwari Express case to CBI but no result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there,” she further remarked.

    At least 275 people were killed, while more than 1,000 were injured in the accident that took place near the Bahanaga Bazar area.

    Mamata Banerjee arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Saturday to take stock of rescue operations and questioned why the Centre’s ‘Kavach’ system was missing from the track of the collision.

    Banerjee who was the Union Railway Minister termed the incident the “biggest railway accident of the 21st century” and said that this would not have happened if Kavach system was present.”Coromandel is one of the best express trains.

    “Coromandel is one of the best express trains. I was the Railway Minister thrice. From what I saw, this is the biggest railway accident of the 21st century. Such cases are handed over to Railway’s safety commission and they investigate and give a report. There was no anti-collision device on the train, as far as I know. Had the device been on the train, this would not have happened. The dead can’t be brought back but now our work is rescue operation and restoration of normalcy,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Saturday. said while addressing the reporters in Balasore in the presence of the Union Railway minister.

    READ MORE: Odisha train accident: Anti-collision device would have averted ‘biggest mishap of the century’, says Mamata

    Kavach is an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) developed by the Ministry of Railways.

    After Mamata Banerjee questioned the Railways over the absence of the ‘Kavach’ system citing it as the reason behind the Balasore triple train tragedy, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the accident has nothing to do with the anti-collision system.

    Vaishnaw while speaking to ANI said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.

    “It has nothing to do with Kavach. The reason is not what Mamata Banerjee said yesterday. This incident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking,” the Railway Minister told ANI.”This is an entirely different issue, it involves point machine, electronic interlocking. The change that occurred during electronic interlocking happened due to it. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after a proper investigation,” he added.

  • CBI lodges 110 graft cases against 166 senior officers in 5 years

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Law-enforcing agencies, including the CBI, has registered corruption cases against over 100 civil services officers in the last five years. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has also recommended actions against a large number of officers.

    According to data with the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension, the government has registered 110 corruption cases against 166 civil service officers (mostly IAS and senior state officers) between 2018 and February 28, 2023 through CBI alone.

    “Between 2018 and February 28, 2023, Maharashtra has registered the highest number of 35 cases against the civil service officers  for their alleged involvements in “unethical professional” practices, like bribery and taking undue benefits with the use  of their power and position. After Maharashtra, J&K registered the second highest number of 18 cases”, the government data showed, which has been accessed by this newspaper.

    Karnataka registered 14 cases of corruption, while Uttar Pradesh lodged 13 cases against their civil service officers during the same period. Besides, the ministry had recently informed the Rajya Sabha that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recommended actions against 6,367 government officers from 2017 to 2021 for their involvements in corrupt practices. The data further shows, the CVC recommended for the criminal proceedings against 433 out of 6,367 officers.

    According to one estimate, the total number of major and minor penalties and other actions taken during the said period were 8,794. This is in addition to 817 sanctions for prosecutions ordered by the competent authorities against corrupt government officers, including civil servants.

    A senior officer of IAS here, preferring anonymity, said that cases of corruption are being registered against civil service officers at a time when the country has a shortage of 850 IAS officers in particular to touch the sanctioned strength.

    “Currently, there are 5317 IAS officers in position in India against sanctioned strength of 6789. UP faces the highest shortage of 67 IAS offices to meet the sanction strength of 378, followed by Maharashtra with a shortage of 57 IAS officers”, the government adapt shows.

    NEW DELHI: Law-enforcing agencies, including the CBI, has registered corruption cases against over 100 civil services officers in the last five years. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has also recommended actions against a large number of officers.

    According to data with the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pension, the government has registered 110 corruption cases against 166 civil service officers (mostly IAS and senior state officers) between 2018 and February 28, 2023 through CBI alone.

    “Between 2018 and February 28, 2023, Maharashtra has registered the highest number of 35 cases against the civil service officers  for their alleged involvements in “unethical professional” practices, like bribery and taking undue benefits with the use  of their power and position. After Maharashtra, J&K registered the second highest number of 18 cases”, the government data showed, which has been accessed by this newspaper.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Karnataka registered 14 cases of corruption, while Uttar Pradesh lodged 13 cases against their civil service officers during the same period. Besides, the ministry had recently informed the Rajya Sabha that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recommended actions against 6,367 government officers from 2017 to 2021 for their involvements in corrupt practices. The data further shows, the CVC recommended for the criminal proceedings against 433 out of 6,367 officers.

    According to one estimate, the total number of major and minor penalties and other actions taken during the said period were 8,794. This is in addition to 817 sanctions for prosecutions ordered by the competent authorities against corrupt government officers, including civil servants.

    A senior officer of IAS here, preferring anonymity, said that cases of corruption are being registered against civil service officers at a time when the country has a shortage of 850 IAS officers in particular to touch the sanctioned strength.

    “Currently, there are 5317 IAS officers in position in India against sanctioned strength of 6789. UP faces the highest shortage of 67 IAS offices to meet the sanction strength of 378, followed by Maharashtra with a shortage of 57 IAS officers”, the government adapt shows.

  • Trinamool MLA throws his cellphones into pond during CBI raid over teacher recruitment scam

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress MLA from Murshidabad Jiban Krishna Saha collected two of his mobile phones during the course of his interrogation by CBI sleuths on Friday afternoon over irregularities in teacher recruitment in schools, ran towards the rear portion of his house and threw them into a pond. Surprised investigators suspect evidence related to the alleged recruitment scam was stored in the cellphones.

    The central agency on Saturday engaged three pumps to drain out water from the pond and asked labourers to search the waterbody. Even after searching for 10 hours, the gadgets could not be recovered.

    The CBI swung into action and raided six places of TMC leaders shortly after Union Home minister Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Birbhum on Friday, said nothing can stop the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from probing into the recruitment scam in which former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several education department officials were arrested last year.

    A team of CBI officers went to the residence of Saha, an MLA from Burwan constituency in Murshidabad. “We came to know about a middleman after interrogating jailed and expelled TMC leader Kuntal Ghosh and while pursuing the lead, Saha’s name surfaced,” said a sleuth of the central agency.

    ALSO READ | After losing national party status, TMC exploring legal options to challenge EC decision

    CBI sources said documents related to the alleged recruitment scam were recovered from Saha’s residence and office. “We found five bags stashed with recruitment related documents in a bush adjacent to the boundary wall of his house as well. As we started interrogating Saha in the afternoon and asked him to give us his cellphones, he suddenly ran out of the room where he was being questioned and threw the gadgets into the pond,” said a CBI officer.        

    Saha was questioned by the CBI sleuths for over 24 hours at his residence.

    The CBI also raided five other places in Kolkata, East Midnapore and Birbhum districts on Saturday.

    In its first charge sheet filed in September last year, the ED, which is also probing into the alleged irregularities along with the CBI, said it traced cash, jewellery and immovable property worth Rs 103.10 crore linked to former minister Chatterjee and his associate Arpita Mukherjee, who was also arrested.    

    At Friday’s rally, Shah referred to the seizure of around Rs 50 crore in cash from Arpita’s apartments, and said, “The ED had to hire two trucks to carry the seized cash. They money belonged to unemployed youth in Bengal. TMC leaders should be ashamed.”

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress MLA from Murshidabad Jiban Krishna Saha collected two of his mobile phones during the course of his interrogation by CBI sleuths on Friday afternoon over irregularities in teacher recruitment in schools, ran towards the rear portion of his house and threw them into a pond. Surprised investigators suspect evidence related to the alleged recruitment scam was stored in the cellphones.

    The central agency on Saturday engaged three pumps to drain out water from the pond and asked labourers to search the waterbody. Even after searching for 10 hours, the gadgets could not be recovered.

    The CBI swung into action and raided six places of TMC leaders shortly after Union Home minister Amit Shah, while addressing a rally in Birbhum on Friday, said nothing can stop the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from probing into the recruitment scam in which former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several education department officials were arrested last year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    A team of CBI officers went to the residence of Saha, an MLA from Burwan constituency in Murshidabad. “We came to know about a middleman after interrogating jailed and expelled TMC leader Kuntal Ghosh and while pursuing the lead, Saha’s name surfaced,” said a sleuth of the central agency.

    ALSO READ | After losing national party status, TMC exploring legal options to challenge EC decision

    CBI sources said documents related to the alleged recruitment scam were recovered from Saha’s residence and office. “We found five bags stashed with recruitment related documents in a bush adjacent to the boundary wall of his house as well. As we started interrogating Saha in the afternoon and asked him to give us his cellphones, he suddenly ran out of the room where he was being questioned and threw the gadgets into the pond,” said a CBI officer.        

    Saha was questioned by the CBI sleuths for over 24 hours at his residence.

    The CBI also raided five other places in Kolkata, East Midnapore and Birbhum districts on Saturday.

    In its first charge sheet filed in September last year, the ED, which is also probing into the alleged irregularities along with the CBI, said it traced cash, jewellery and immovable property worth Rs 103.10 crore linked to former minister Chatterjee and his associate Arpita Mukherjee, who was also arrested.    

    At Friday’s rally, Shah referred to the seizure of around Rs 50 crore in cash from Arpita’s apartments, and said, “The ED had to hire two trucks to carry the seized cash. They money belonged to unemployed youth in Bengal. TMC leaders should be ashamed.”

  • Home Ministry recommends CBI probe against Oxfam India 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Thursday recommended a CBI probe into the affairs of Oxfam India for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, sources said.

    The home ministry claims that it found that Oxfam India continued to transfer foreign contributions to various entities even after registering under the FCRA, which prohibits such transfers.

    During a survey carried out by the Income Tax department, multiple emails were found which revealed that Oxfam India was allegedly planning to circumvent provisions of the FCRA by routing funds to other FCRA-registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route, sources said.

    The survey also “exposed” Oxfam India as a probable instrument of the foreign policy of foreign organisations or entities, which have funded the organisation liberally over the years, they said.

    Oxfam India, which is registered to carry out social activities, allegedly routed funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates and employees in the form of commission, sources claimed.

    Following these findings, the home ministry recommended a CBI probe into the affairs of Oxfam India, they said.

    NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Thursday recommended a CBI probe into the affairs of Oxfam India for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, sources said.

    The home ministry claims that it found that Oxfam India continued to transfer foreign contributions to various entities even after registering under the FCRA, which prohibits such transfers.

    During a survey carried out by the Income Tax department, multiple emails were found which revealed that Oxfam India was allegedly planning to circumvent provisions of the FCRA by routing funds to other FCRA-registered associations or through the for-profit consultancy route, sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The survey also “exposed” Oxfam India as a probable instrument of the foreign policy of foreign organisations or entities, which have funded the organisation liberally over the years, they said.

    Oxfam India, which is registered to carry out social activities, allegedly routed funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates and employees in the form of commission, sources claimed.

    Following these findings, the home ministry recommended a CBI probe into the affairs of Oxfam India, they said.

  • CBI grills Tejaswi while ED questions his sister Misa Bharati in the land for jobs scam

    Express News Service

    RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejaswi Yadav on Saturday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the land for jobs scam.  Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharati faced the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the same case.

    Tejaswi Yadav was grilled by CBI sleuths at the agency’s headquarters in Delhi. The central investigating agency is probing the role of Lalu Yadav, the former Railway Minister in the UPA Government, and his kin in the land for jobs scam.

    According to the CBI, job aspirants were offered jobs in the railways when Lalu Yadav was the railways’ minister from 2004 to 2009 in exchange for land allegedly surrendered by them to the Yadav family and their associates.

    Tejaswi was summoned by the agency to appear on March 4 and 11, for questioning in the case but he skipped the summons and had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the action of the agency to call him for questioning. The matter was taken up for hearing on March 16 when Tejaswi through his lawyer agreed to appear before CBI as the agency said that there were no plans to arrest him in the matter. Tejaswi left the CBI office around 8 pm.

    The CBI action was in continuation with the questioning of Lalu Yadav and his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi earlier this month. 

    Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa, also a Rajya Sabha MP, appeared before the ED officials for questioning on Saturday morning. She left the agency headquarters in the evening. According to sources she has not been given a date yet to reappear before the agency again. She however maintained that she has been assisting with the investigations and would continue to do so.

    The ED’s action is a follow-up on the CBI’s investigation, which is now probing the acquisition of assets by the Yadav family in the wake of the proceeds generated by corrupt practices in wake of the scam.

    Earlier in October last year, CBI had filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad, the former railway minister, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure in the Railways.

    Lalu’s daughter Misa and a former general manager of the Railways were also named as accused in the charge sheet filed before a special CBI court recently.   

    RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejaswi Yadav on Saturday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the land for jobs scam.  Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharati faced the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the same case.

    Tejaswi Yadav was grilled by CBI sleuths at the agency’s headquarters in Delhi. The central investigating agency is probing the role of Lalu Yadav, the former Railway Minister in the UPA Government, and his kin in the land for jobs scam.

    According to the CBI, job aspirants were offered jobs in the railways when Lalu Yadav was the railways’ minister from 2004 to 2009 in exchange for land allegedly surrendered by them to the Yadav family and their associates.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Tejaswi was summoned by the agency to appear on March 4 and 11, for questioning in the case but he skipped the summons and had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the action of the agency to call him for questioning. The matter was taken up for hearing on March 16 when Tejaswi through his lawyer agreed to appear before CBI as the agency said that there were no plans to arrest him in the matter. Tejaswi left the CBI office around 8 pm.

    The CBI action was in continuation with the questioning of Lalu Yadav and his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi earlier this month. 

    Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa, also a Rajya Sabha MP, appeared before the ED officials for questioning on Saturday morning. She left the agency headquarters in the evening. According to sources she has not been given a date yet to reappear before the agency again. She however maintained that she has been assisting with the investigations and would continue to do so.

    The ED’s action is a follow-up on the CBI’s investigation, which is now probing the acquisition of assets by the Yadav family in the wake of the proceeds generated by corrupt practices in wake of the scam.

    Earlier in October last year, CBI had filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad, the former railway minister, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure in the Railways.

    Lalu’s daughter Misa and a former general manager of the Railways were also named as accused in the charge sheet filed before a special CBI court recently.