Download 2 - Central Bureau of Investigation

The responsibility to protectAsound whistleblowers' protection law is long awaited. It languishes in Parliamentat the system's perilSHEKHAR SINGH ANDANJALI BHAR WAJQuadrilateral Corridor Project ofthe National Highways Authorit,of India, hadsparked the demandforan effective bill toprotect whistieblowers.However, over nineyears and innumerable attacks onwhistleblowerslater, the bill remainsstuckin legislative morass.TheWhistleblowersProtectionNANDI SINGH, aresident ofaremotevillageinAssam, wasbrutallyattacked with axes in September2012as aresultofacomplaintfiledby him regarding irregularities inthe functioning of fairprice shopssupplying rations under thepublicdistribution system. Hesuccumbedto his injuries on the way tothe hospitaland his wife was seriouslyinjuredin the attack Nandi Singhhad also been attacked a monthprior to his murder and had filed acase and sought protection. His"wife and twochildren await justice.Ram Thakur from Bihar'sMuzaffarpur districtwasshot deadlast mbnthbyrelatives ofthe mukhiyaof his village.He had exposedembezzlement of funds in theMGNREGA in Ratnauli panchayatusing muster rolls and otherinformationhehad accessed underthe RTI Act.He had also allegedthat the mukhiyaof the village hadsiphonedoff thefunds.Prior tothefatal attack, there hadbeenseveralincidentsof attacks on him and hehad repeatedly sought protectionfromthepolice.Nandi Singh, Ram Thakur andthousands like them across thecountiy have been threatened, assaulted,even killed forraising theftvoices against corruption andwrongdoing.Following the passageoftheßl'lActin2oos,itisn'tjustofficialswithin the system who haveaccess to government information—ordinarycitizens across theconntryare holding local officials toaccount in ways that were unfathomableevena decadeago. liufortunatefy,for these whistleblowerswho dared to show truth to power,there has beenno justice.Neitherhave their attacks and murdersbeen properly investigated, norhave the cases of corruption andwrongdoing they exposed beendealtwjth.Thewell-knowncaseofsatyendra Dubey, a graduate from UTKanpurwhowasmurderedin 2003,after he exposed financial and contractualirregularitiesin the GoldenBill, introduced in Parliament inAugust2010,waspassedbytheLokSabha in December 2011 and hasbeen awaiting discussion and passageinthe Rajya Sabha.The bill providesfor a mechanism to concealthe identity of a whistleblower,where (s)he feels that revelation ofidentitywould lead tovictimisationor harassmentby vested interests.The bill makes itan offence torevealthe identity ofthe complainant andprescribes imprisonmentand finefor anyone who reveals the identity.In addition, there are provisions toprotect the whistleblowerfromvictimisationresulting from the disclosuresmade.There are, however, severallacunae in the bill that need to bediscussed and addressed in Parliament.One of the most significantis the lack ofa clear and adequatelyTHE LAW must covercomplaints against the PMand alt other publicauthorities. Also, it isimportant thatcomplainants against theprivate sector getprotection under this act.broaddefinition ofwhatconstitutesvictimisation.It iscritical toensurethat under the law, incase ofacomplaintof victimisation, the chargeshould stand established if theaction or inaction that led to thecomplaint violates any law, rule,policy, order or is not inconformitywith the general practice, proceduresand norms in the matter, oris not based onsound reasons.The bill is also silenton penaltiesand compensation vis-a-visvictimisation. Jfthe legislation isexpectedto effectivelydetervictimisation,it must provide for strictpunishment and penalties tobeimposedon anyone who victimiseswhistleblowers.It must also ensurethat wherever a whistlebloweriskilled or suffers grievous injuiy asaresult ofmaking a complaint, actionis taken on a priority basis on

AG not only sawvetted also: CBIVahanvati proposedchanges to statusreport, says affidavitPIONEER NEWS SERVICENotjust the Law Minister, but theAttorney General too saw the statusreport in the coal allocation scam beforethe CE! presented the same to the SupremeCourt in a sealed cover on March 8. Thislatest revelation, which forms part of theCE! affidavit to be filed in the apex courton Monday, could put Attorney GeneralGE Vahanyati in serious trouble. The AGhad told the court that he did not see thereport despiteattending a meeting chairedthe Law Minister to discuss the report withthe CE! director.In addition, the contents of the latestaffidavit discussedby the CE! director withCR! special counsel UULailt mayalso Indicatethe changes proposed by the LawMinister. According to sources, CR!Director Ranjit Sinha is expected to pointout in his affidavit that the Law Ministerhad proposeda 'dilution' oflanguage in thedocument. The agency may Indicate thatthe objection of the Minister was withregard to a final view being taken by theagency onrules fbr allocationof coal blocks.One ofthe petitioners in the coal scamPIL, Common Cause, had informed thecourt on April 30, thelast date ofhearing,that the changesproposed In the reportconcerned shielding of three companies.The bench had takenserious exception to thischarge and wérned the CS!of taking an "adverse view"of the same. But the moredamning aspect of CBI affidavitcouldbe the commenton the AG, Sinha's affidavitmay acknowledgethe fact that the AG hada greater role to play thanmere seeing of the report. Accordingto sources, the AG too 'proposed" changesto the status report, after having gonethrough it.Appearing In court on the previoushearing in the coalgate, the AG referred tothe March 5 meeting where the CBIdirector shared the probe report with theLaw Minister and said, "I agree I was sittingtheret but Ihave never seen the draft(report):' a comment that may haunt himon his next appearance in thecourt onMay8. Already, sufficient embarrassment wascaused to the AG following theresignationof law offlter Harm Raval who appearedfor CEI in this case. Raval, whowrote a letter to the AG and theLaw Ministe1prior to tisresignation had accusedthe AG of lying to thecourt on having seen theCBI report.Giving details aboutthe meeting with the LawMinister,bval had said"At the said meeting,during the course ofdiscussions, the draftof only one of status reports of thepreliminary enquiries was shown to theLaw Minister and was perused by him aswell as by you (AG). Certain suggestionswere made, Includingby you, to the CBI,some of which were accepted:'Continuedon PageRelated report on P5AG not only saw,vetted also: , CBIThe -From Page 1 March 12%y stating that theletter further revealed, status report was not shared"You will recall that as you with the political executive.wanted to leave, to attend Howeyer. on the court's querycourt.., other status report ofwhether the CRI CR1 Manual pertheinvestigations of the nine mited agency to share-theregular cases (in the coal block probe reports with Lawscam) were' requested to be Minister or any other offidal ofshown to you in the evening... Government, the agency jsIn compliSce ofthe above, thelikely to justify its act by ugCRI CR1 officials broughtthe drafts,geslingthat its Manual is silentwhich were perused and settledin this regard.by you. Sir, I was present in Besides, the affidavit ofyour residential office?':;The CRI CR1 affidavit is expecte4to confirm this fact and alsopoint out to the court that 'ASGItaval had misled the court onCRI CR1 would also name the twoJoint Secretaries in the PMOand Coal Ministry with whomtheCRI theCR1 shared the probereportas desiredby them.-

Cong rules out resignation ofBansal Ashwani KumarKVPMsADITNSCORE GROUP MEETINGNEW DELHI, MAY 5The Congress wreccnflee met at PMS residere aiissues ttcingte fate ofFirmly backing Railway Mm py Minister Paw Kumar Bansal and Lawister Pawan Kumar Bansaland Law Minister AshwaniKumar, the Congress on Sunday ruled out the possibilityof their resignations.MinisterAshwanl Kurnar. 'There Is a probe going on,let the result come. We wili decide after that,'tntormafion and Broadcasting Minister ManishTewail told reporters after the meethig.While Bansal is facingheatafter his nephew was 2 more held in bribery casearrested in a bribery case,Ashwani Kumar is in the TRIBUNE NEws SERViCE LOOKOUT FOR 2 MOREeye of a storm 6ver theJCBlhasedßalJ Icoalgate controversy. Ntw DEUII, MAY 5 Yadav and Samir San&r of"No decision will be taken Taking forward investiga Delhi. They are known tountil investigations con tions in the Railway Board Bangalore-based businessman -elude.Let the investigations bribery case, the CU! on Namyan Rao Manjunath. Afructify. Let's not prejudge," Sunday effected two more DeUii court has granted theirUnion Minister Manish arrests, taking the total CBI custody UI May 7num -Tewari told mediapersons ber of those taken into cus I The agency is on the look outthis evening after the con tody to eight, including nowfor Ajay Garg of Chandigathelusion ofthe Congress core suspended Railway Boardgroup meeting, the second member, Mahesh Kumar andsuch exercise in two days, Vijay Singla, nephew ofand Sushil Daga of Faridabad,two of the eight named in theFIR but not yet arrestedamidreportsofamajorrelief Railway Minister PawanCourier boys, Dharmendrain the form of a Chinesepull Kuniar Bansal.Kumar and Wek Kuma Theyback of troops in the Rahul Yadav and Samirai not named in the FIRLadakh region.Sandhir, residents of DelhiManjunath and Mahesh haveInterestingly, Defence Mm and who allegedly were conbeen brought to Delhi onisterAKAntony met Congress dulls for businessmanflnsft remand.president SoS Gandhi ahead Narayan Rao Manjunath,of the scheduled core group were arrested by the CBI.meeting,adayafterhebriefed By evening, the CBI had tointerrogateManjunath,whoPresident Pranab Mukheijee custody of seven of the eight was brought to Delhi fromon the Chineseincursions, accused, with a Delhi court Bangalore, Rahul and Samir.Continued on page 11 granting permissiontillMay 7 Continued on page 11

Buddhádeb lashes out at Mamata, seeks CBI probeKa,cat*, Mm 5The ongoing Left-Trinamoolwarof words in West Bengalover thq chitfund scamtodaysaw. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjetaccusing Chief MinisterMamataßanerjee oftiying todrag his name into the scandalby spreading "lies' andstating that only a CBJ inquirywould unravel the truth.''hat is she trying toprove by showing my pictures?Thai 1, my familymembers and my party membershave taken motley fromchit-fund firms Sheis tryingto spread lies: to save herown party from the scanç'Bhattachaijee said addressinga rally in North 24-Parganasdistrict.A few days back, Baneijeehad displayed copies ofnewspapers,includingCPM mouthpieceGanasakd, with the purportedphotographsof the formerChief Minister and a formerCPM MP from the state."1 was the ChiefMinisterfor10years. his nota big issue ifsomeone clicks any photographwith me. It doesrftScanthat we have takenmoneyfromthat person.Have we putour ownparty leaders into chitfund fimis to head any ving ofsuch companies?' Rhattacharjetwondered."Rather than delivering bigspeeches, let there be a CE!inquiry. A CBE inquiry canonly bring out the truth,'Bhattáchaijee said.lie alleged that the nearlytwo years of Trinamool Con.great rule had witnessed arapid decline in agricuiwreand industry.On one hand, poor lannerswere not getting right pricesfor the paddy they producedultimately pushing them tocommit suicide, on the otherthe ktting up of the steel factoryat Salboni in West Mid Snapore district by the undaiswas in jeopardy, he said.'During the last year of our(Left Front) nile i.e. 2011, anamount ofRs 9,500 crete wasinvested, but in the very neatyear, the amount came downto a paitry Rsl23 crore,"Rhattachaijee claimed.He claimed that the tallpromise of creating 10 lathjobs came unstuck.Somejobs were indeed created, butthat is in thegreen police,while otherjobs were createdby chit fund companies.'The only thing that pogressedunhindered was'goondaisin', he alleged,adding that theft and dacoityhad taken place during hisregime, but notin the magnitudeas wasbeing seen at thepresent. "Now common peopieare scared and the goondasare thinking that it istheir government,' he said.He alleged that after send'ing the bill to control chitfund companies to Delhi in2003 for presidential assent,at least 20 letters had beendespatched. bat the bill wasnot signed into law.-FIT

Hopeful ofvictory in K'taka,Cong to target BJP over graftTIMES NEWS NETWORK hauntingthe Centre. The situation might, howThe Congress leadership ever,changeagajnjftheponti.New Delhi: The Congress seems to have also weighed calheatriseslntermsofacon.core group on Sunday decid the cost of twoministerialre certed opposition onslaught.Ed to back embattled minis signations setting a prece The decision to defendters Pawan Bansal and Ash dent forsimilar accountabil Bansal and Kwnai anwaniKumar after factoring ity in the future and the nounced by information andina likely victory in the Kar fallout In terms of an em broadcasting minister Mannatakaassembly election boldened opposition that ish Tewari, is seenas a bit ofthat concluded on Sunday would trumpet the trophies a gamble as Congress seemswith the party feedback mdi as evidence that the Manmo ready to write off the recatingthat it will be able to han Singh government is on mainder of the budget sesforma government by dcci itsiastlegs. sion of Parliament. The parsivelytrouncing the BJP and The lengthy delibera ty's brains trust haswithout being dependent on tions indicate that the Con calculated that even if Banthesupport of outside par gress core groupweighed the salorKumarwere to quit, thetieslike the JanataDal (8). cost-benefit of defending the opposition would only pressA positive result in Kar ministers before deciding to for"higher value" targets.-nataka, sources said, would back them. The party leader Brazening it out has itshelp the party argue that the ship's principal motivation risks as the opposition Isoutgoing B.JP regime was seems to have been the con bound to argue that Bansalseen as corrupt while the al cern that accepting the cul cannot absolve himself ofternative was the Congress. pabiity of the duo before a the actions of aclose relativeThis will help the Congress probe report wifi be read as who Is also his constituencyblunt the argmnent that it is an admission of guilt and manager.having to pay an electoral give the opposition a prema Pbr the full report, log onprice for the scams that are ture victory to www.timesofindia.com

Coñres puts on holdSdecision on BansalTo wait for Karnataka poll resultsOur Bureauingto a CBI statementNew Deth4 May S The Congress Core GroupEven as the Opposition discussed the matter at, itsstepped up pressure on the meetingson Saturday and SunCongress to oustRailway Mmday. Bansal was summoned onister Pawan Bansal and Law Saturday and allowed to exMinister Ashwani Kumar, the plain his position. CongressCongress Party's Core Corn President Sonia Gandhi heldmittee, which met here on discussions withDefence MmSunday evening, refrained ister AX. Antony on the issue.from taking a call on the fateof The Congress had ruled outeither ofthe Ministers. Bansès resignation, saying, that it hasbecomea diseaseforSHAKY GROUND the Opposition-to seek the-reThe Congress has derided to signation of Ministers oneverytake a final call after the Kama issue.taka State election results are The exit polls in theKarnaannouncedon Wednesday. taka elections also seem toThis decision comes in the, have empoweredthe Congressbackdrop of early signals that leadership againstsuccumbingthe Congress may win the Kar to the Opposition pressure.nataka elections.Railway Minister Pawan DISRUPTIONS'-Bansal is already on a shaky The RIP reiterated itsdemandground with the Opposition for Bansal's resignation. Theparties, ledby the LIP, launch party' said the Railway Minisinga sharp attack on him after te?s claim that he had no busihisnephew, VijaySingla, was ness relations with hisnephewarrested by the Central Bureau was far from truth. The CMof Investigation (Cm) for al (M) has also demanded Banlegedlyaccepting abribe ofIts sal's resignation.90 lakh for a plum Railway The issue is likely to disruptBoard post ofMember-Electri the proceedings of bothcal.Houses ofParliament on MostThe alleged bribe was just day.part payment ofthe Es 10 croreçlemanded for the !05t accordmamuntdas@thehindu.co.injigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

Cgroupmeets 2nd time in 24 hrs2 embattled mantristö stay Onjor flowAGE CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI, MM 5The Congress core groupthat includes party presidentSofia Gandhi andPrime Minister ManmohanSingh, met Sunday eveningfor the second time in 24hours and indicated thatUnion ministers PawanKumar BansandAshwani Kumar, now inthe thick of controversy,will continue in the governinent,at least for now.The message was clearthat the UPA would not be -goaded inta action by pressurefrom the Opposition. ltwas decided that railwayminister Pawan Bansalwould stay in thö Cabinettffl the inquiry was completedin the brlbery scan.dal involving. his nephewand a senior rallway ofticial,bothof whom are nowunder arrest whlle in thecase of law ministerAshwani Kumar the governmentwofflcl await theSupreme Courts di*-ectiveson the "Coalgate" issue atits hearing on Wednesday.fle core group met at DrAshwanl KumarCBlprobe föcüs an mäney trailNew Delhl: CBI Investigations into the bribery scaminvolving railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal'nephew are now focused on establishing the monetrail that will link the two along with the otheraccused, particulariy Railway Board member (staff)Mahesh Kurnar. PAGE 2Singh's 7 Race Course Roadresidence, after whicji ministerof state for Informationand broadcastingManish 'l'ewari toldreportexs: "As far as thetailway minister is concerned,a probe is underway. fle has welcoxned theprobe. Wc cannot pre-judgethe issue till the investigationis over." Regarding thelaw miiiister, he added:"The matter is in court. ltwillcomeuponMayo.'MrTewari eVen quoted NDAconvenor aM JD(U) chifSharad Yadav's defence ofMr Bansal to attack theBJP, saying: "Resignationdoes not augur weil for"Turn to Page 2" One more held, 3 In CBIcustody tlll tomorow Page 2

Assam Bill awaits Guv nod tonip Saradha-like scams in budIANSEvenGUWAHATIas the Assam Government hasstarted the process to hand over thecases of money swindling by some companiestothe CBI, the Government has sentthe Assam Protection of Interests ofDepositors (in Financial Establishments)(Amendment) Bill, 2013 to Assam theGovernor for his assent.A statementissued by the office of theAssam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi saidthis and added that the Bill, after receivingassent of the Governor will protect theinterest of the depositors in flnancialestablishments.It will empower various authorities toreceive complaints and to start investigationsinto fraudulent transaction the statementsaid adding that the government canalso initiate investigationon its own or onthe receipt of any complaint.Once given ascent by the Governor, itwillalso make the laws more stringent makingit mandatory for the financial establishmentsto make certain disclosures andpunishment for non-compliance. It hasprovision to make the offences as cognizableand non-bailable with rigorous imprisonmehtof minimum 5 years which may beextended to 10years and fine upto Es 5 lakh.It will also have provision for fast trackor special courts to expedite disposal ofcases, the statement said.Meanwhile, as per the announcementof Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, the/Government is planning to hand overabout 15 such cases of money swindlingagainst 12 companies to the CBI.The DIII, after receivingassent of the Governor, willprotect interests ofdepositors In financialestablishments.Assam CM YawnGogol's Govt Isplanning tohand over about15 cases ofmoneyswindlingagalnst 12companiesto the CWIt may be noted that the StateGovernment had already registered 222cases against 128 companies includingSaradha Group, Rose Valley, Unipay 2 U,Jeevan Suralcsha, Prayag, Abyss AssamGroup Cc, Basil International Ltd., AllianceVision Marketing Pvt. Ltd and DaffodilsGroupof Companiesafter widespreadprotests rocked Assam.Besides 17 cases, charge sheets havebeen flied against 42 personsbelonging to15 companies while altogether 303 personshave been arrested for swindling publicmoney. The government had also seizednearlyRs 94 lakh in cash from the arrestedand 106 bank accounts with totaldeposit ofRs 24 crore have been frozenwhile a number of plots totaling more than99 bighas, besides buildings, have beenidentified and necessary steps are beingtaken p for their attachment.

Railgate: CBI probe focus on money trailAGE CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI, MAY 5cm investigations intothe bribery scam involvIng rallway ministerPawan Kumar Bansal'snephew are now focusedon establishing themoney trail that will linkthe two along with theother accused, particularlyRallway Board member(stall) MaheshKumar.CBI sources said sinceappointment as senior asthat of the Rallway Boardmembers Qannot becleared without the consentof the concernedmember, the role of MrBansal is also beingprobed. Sources alsoclaimed that ‚MaheshKumar's orders worepersonailyighd-: by -Mrflansal.The CBI 18 trylng to fig-a direct link betweenMr Bansal clearingMahesh l{umar's aflpointment am! his nephewVijay Singla taking abribe in return. Theinvestigating agency isalo busy scanning thephone call records of allthe eight accused personsto establish their link androle in the conspiracy.Sources claimed the CBIhad been monitoring thephtne calls of VijaySingla am! MaheshureKumar for more than amonth. lt was only whenlt became certain that themoney would be dcliveredto Vijay Singla inChändigarh that the specia!unit of the CIII handedover the matter to theanti-corruption unit.Shice the entire case isbaseon technical surveillancethere is no complainantin this case.During custodial inter-1 MORE HELD, 3IN CRI CUSTODY.TILL TOMORROWAGE CORRESPONDENTNEW DELHI. MM 5A court here on Sundayremanded three persons,arrested for their allegedrole in a bribery case inwhlch railway ministerP.K. Bansal's nephew isalso an &ecused, in CWcustody tffl May 7.Accused Narain RaoManjunath, managingdirector of G.G. TronicsIndia Pv Ltd, and twoothers Samir SandhiraM Rahul - Yadav wereproduced before speqalCBljbdgeSvätaM Kanta'Sharnia who senf them toCBI cnstody after theagency sah! that theircustodial interrogationwas required to unearththe entire conspiracy.[Meanwhile, the CBISunday arrested onemore accused, taking thetotal number o thoseapprehended tnine, VF!reports. Sunil Dagga wasapprehended by a CRIteam in the capital, a CBIofficial said.lrogatlon, the CBI will alsoconfront the ecused tofind loopholes in thelrversions.So far some of theaccused have been givingconflicting versionswhich CB 1 says needs tobe verified.Theinvestigatingagency also planstseckincome-tax details ofsome of the accused perSons to identify theirsource of income.

'PM next, so Cong trying to save mantris'AGE CORRESPONDENT the EM and Ashwani BJP has decided tu boycoü tion's ire für vetting CIII deputy Leader of theNEW DELHI, MM' 5 Kumar's resignation over the meetings called by report ca the coal block Opposition in Rajya Sabhathe alleged vetting of CBIs Speaker Meira Ktunar and allocations scam, the Oppo Ravi Shankar Prasad saUContinuixig the demand für status report Du the parlianentary affairs mm sition 15 demanding Mr in Bhopal.the auster of Union minis Coalgate scan. Flut after ister Kamal Nath after it Banal's resignation after The party slammed theters Ashwani Kuniar and the bribery case in which alleged that the Opposition ins nephew was arrested Congress for having douPawan Kumar Bansal, the railway minister Pawon is not aflowed to speak an tor takmga 90-lakh bribe ble-standards when it came,BJP ÖD Sunday saU the I{umar Bansal's nephew 19 issues by the govermnent. from a senior rad ofticial. to allegations of corruptionConMress is trying to save also ar accused, die fIJP Though other Opposition "Wo are putting forward against alles. "Are therethem because "25 500fl As has found fresh ammtlni' parties are in favour -of this deniand ort behalf of two standards for corruptheseministers are out, the tion against the Ccngress Parlament flinotioning the people of India. tion for Congress ministersPrime MlNister will 1w in led UPA governnent. and raismgtheir respective Whether lt is l'awan flansal aM alles? A. Raja (formerdireet ilne of flre" The party bes also issues, both the Houses or Ashwani Kumar, they communications ministerParliament has hardly demanded Mr flansal's res have been stalled over the are trying to save thein and OME leacier) was madefunctioned in the post ignation. However, it js yet BJP's demand for the PM because they know, as samt to resign. aM that was therecess phase eicluding the tobe seen as whetheror not and law ministers resigna as these ministers are out, right thing to dc, why doespassing ofthe finance bills, Parliament is allowed to tions. Whule the law mmis the Prime Minister will be Congress have double stan---with the EJP demanding function ort Monday as the ter, is facing the Opposi in direet lineofire," dards," he asked.

1' tB* tlfielk »3Tlttft l*rIdl dI ?v4 t 41 ei4iliizii pii nit'lSiawi. lIIIFUITth?____________________ ___I -‚ at\VI4nS*____ ____________A**TT* ___ ___*RTq*alTvil*- ______rz: ;?tt-__________ wFjv,UI sraaawnea)====SS$wSg faW$W W*wmt2%rii'*____21t**-r ti fla4l *#frrnfti nmn frftfr*T_______ ____21‚nattin!IU »Ifl'rs11 iflownøm___ ¼z C: J:______— -mvztp ts?watt ntn*tt 'Pfl***hRE* aSfl urJPaB 'flI*Sn eimU' ftI9ISS twfl'n rfl.mnddstlMmqn f111199W wl4Wngaiifttnfl mI3IT?M*TRtflt*tfl diit14fl 4fllß*%?4ffqi fltM m ki4lWfll P fIPII 1Ti19964 ane- - _____tflfl4nmnti--

11ei1dtKc4ltjl 41n1q«w«k* *I~fli _______tr twMUaak__ __'qakltJlCISQIIIShU.a~:fltiiMflS*t4 viitCCk4 ftlC 9flc4'ft2 4nt%i

t3fl.*qi*tS*r___" tn';vn 11?iitl___mg4lwrnift'ifltrr .'rr--1__'4t ljlg ni \L59--_____iitn~inT* t ft *ft tfltuwrnwb*WTtl9TtlTflTt4lßl 'lITIHt *ft*Wiiki 3iiißqit ntfl*3iq* «ttiti.

CBI must questionminister, says BJPTIMES NEWS NETWORKChandlgarh:Ripping intothe Congress, the BJP onSundaydemanded that the CBIquestion railway ministerPawan Kumar Bansal for hisalleged involvement in RailwayBoard scam, as aS askhimabout the investments byhim and his family membersin the last few years.BJP's former ChandigarhliP and legal cell in-chargeSatyapaljainproduceddocumentsshowing Bansal'ssons, Amit. and Manish, aswell as nephews Rajesh andVilcram as directors of severalcompanies. One of the nephewshad shown his residentialaddressas Sector 28A,House No 64, Chandigarh,which is the railway minister'sresidence.The BJP leader also saidVikramßansalandVijay Singla,arrested by the CBI onCornered, Sibal saysmediais corruptby reportersCorneredquestioning himonIncreasing allegations ofcorruption againstthe UPAgovernment Unioncommunications and ITministerKapil Sibal hurled thecharge backsayingthe media,too,was corruptand is doingnothing tocurb corruptionwithinthe profession. Sibalsaid, "You must know aboutpaid news. Corruption is also inpaid news. Corruption is insociety and in every strataofsociety. No onecan end itbutincidents of corruption can bereduced." INNFriday night fortaking Es 90lakh bribe, are directors ofthe company JTLinfraLtd.For thefull report, log onto www.timesofindia.com

'LObbies have dictatedtop rail appointments'Pressure Groups' Clash May Have Led To ExposeMahendraSinghNewDelht:The'jobsforsale' scamunearthedby the CBI has putthe spotlight on the open secretof railway contractors and industry lobbiesmanipulating key appointments at thetop, including members in the Railway Boardand general managers of the 17 zones.Many inrailways suspectthat the arrest ofMaheshlCumar,member (staff) who was "buying"the post of member (electrical) in theRailway Board, was a result of a fightbetweendifferent industry lobbies pushing their owncandidateforthe crucialpost of member(electrical)who handles signal and telecom, alongwith electrical projects.An insider told the TO! that appointmentof officers from signal and telecom disciplineto which Mahesh l{umarbelongs has alwaysbeen met with opposition, hinting that pressuregroupswere at work and may have aroleinKumar's exposeThe intrusion of contractors - and manufacturers'lobby in railways became very evidentwhen a senior member who was viewedas "clean" in the Railway Board could not reachthe top because his candidature wasblocked by the Bengal-based wagon manufacturinglobbyrecentlyIt hasbecome a regular practice to keepmember's posts in Railway Board vacant toplace a "suitable" candidate, keeping the optionopenfor big contractors, manufacturers and industrylobbies who are keen to sponsor theirown candidate to get favourable returns afterhe/she occupies the post. The post of member(engineering), which wasfilledrecently after directivefrom the top government leadership,waskeptvacanttoaccommodateaparticularofficerforwhom differentlobbies were working.The stakes are high considering the member(electrical) is key in decision-making fortenderingand executingprojects in the signaland telecom sector where costly foreign technologyisencouraged. According to a railwayofficial, the favoured option in the railways ingeneral and in the signal, telecom and electricalsector in particular, is "to give preferencetopurchase overproduction" asit comes withhuge gratification to officials concerned intermsof cuts and commission.The "manipulations" have become so brazenthat one such incident which came to the lightwasfloating of a global tender by the board withoutthe knowledge of the general manager concernedof a coach factory The GM concernedwasembarrassed after receiving calls from embassiesregarding the tender. The tenderwascancelledafterojectionraisedby another memberThe pressure of contractors,manufacturersand industry lobbies is so high that it hasFor steps to download the free Alive app, see PlCentre worried only about'nephews & uncles': ModiNarendra Modi on Sunday slammedGujaratCMthe Union governmentforallegedly ignoringthe state government's demand aboutconstruction of gatesat SardarsarovarNarmadadam,and said the Centre wasonly concernedabout "nephews and uncles"."l alongwith our(BJP) leaders like Parsottam Rupala and L XAdvani have urged the the PM nearly 25times,seeking Centre's permission toconstruct gatesatSardar Sarovar dam, but he does not pay anyattention," Modi said while addressing agathering atDevdatown,which isfacing an acutewater scarcity. "Ifgates are installed, the waterproblemofMaharashtratoowill besolved.ButtheCongress is not concerned about its own-ruledstates as well. They are only worried aboutnephews, uncles...see how nephews have alsojumped intothegame," Modi said. INNbecome a regular practice to start procurementprocessbefore finalization and approvalof the designs and specifications. This is doneto suit a particular private company"Many a time designs and specificationsare tempered to suit a particular manufacturer,"said a railway official, adding that suchfaulty moveshave resulted in huge loss to thenational transporter as equipment worthhundreds of crores brought before approvalare dumped in stores and factories. The intrusionof manufacturers is sorampant that whilethere is shortage of EMUs indifferentrailwayszone, 150 EMUs are out of use as they are not interchangeablebecauseeach zone uses itsowndesigned EMUs. "There has been deliberate attemptto not to standardize specifications ofEMU because this suits manufactures and industryplayers,"an officialsaid.-

Bansals nephew frequented ny board officeCBI Vetting GuestList As Hunt StartsFor Another NephewNeerajChauhanNew Delhi: The CBI has launched amanhunt for another nephewof railwayminister Pawan Bansal, Amy-Garg, who was reportedly presentalong with Vijay Singla and SandeepGoyal when the bribe amount of Rs90 lakh was being delivered in the'jobsforsale' scandal.Garg has been named by the CBIin itsFIR and is said to be the mainlink in the scandal. Agency sourcesclaimed that another accused, Bangalore-basedNarayan Rao Manjunath,was seen in the Railway Boardoffice several times in the past fewmonths and it is also believed thatmember (staff) Mahesh Kumar hadpremised a major railwaycontract toManjunath'scompanyGGTronics.In the past too, MaheshKumarhadfavouredhim, a source said. Sourcesadded that Sin glaand Goel were alsoseen in the railway board office inDelhi several times, All the accusedPawan Kurnar Bansal with his familymembers and nephew Vijay Singla(in circle)after taking charge ofthe railway ministry last yearwere confronted on Sunday eveningon these aspects.Manjunath's company G C Tronteais engagedin the business of manufacturingrailway signal productsand automation of railway componentswlaileGoel'scompanypyramidElectronics in Chandigarh makeselectrical equipment for the railways.Sourcessaid Coolwasthemainpoint ofcontactbetween Mahesh Kumararid Manjunath for delivery ofmoney while Singla and Garg tookthemoney in.Goelspresence.The agency is in the process oftaktngthevisitors' regtsterof PawanBansal's and member (staff) MaheshKuinar's officetofind out who visitedthem in the past few months. Theagency maintained that Bansal wasunder the radar in the lobs for sale'scam as the member (staff) positionis supposed to be the fourth mostpowerful seat inrailway board officeafter the minister, minister of stateand chairman of the board and nofile at that level moves without therailways minister's approval.The agency meanwhile, arrestedtwo Delhi based businessmen SamirSandhirandßahulYadavanda b'aridabad-basedbusinessman Sushil Dagawho are dose associates ofMmunat]iand had arrangedtheRs 90lakh whichwas deliveredto SinglainChandtgarh.l3ansal's Chandigarh-based reintiveAjayGarg,saidto be instrumentalinthe deal, is yet to be arrested. Sandhit;Raliul and Majijunath, who wasbrought from liangalore, were In-e--duced in the courtof special 081judgeSwarm KantaSharma at PatialaHouse courts on Sunday evening andwere sent to two dayspolice custody031 sources said they confrontedManjunathwith Singlaand MafleshKumar later in the evening and noneof them had a satisfactory reply ontheßs 90lakh bribe. "They were confronted withtapped conversations aswe]l, which formed the basis of arrestingthem,"said a source.Agency sources said they werealsoinvestigating thecontracts Manju--nath's company G G Tronics got Inrailways in the past, tofind out anyprevious link of Singla and MaheshKumar in thebribery row,031 investigations have revealedthatKuinar was in touch with Manjunathfor initial payment of Its 2 croreto Ooel. On being asked by KumaiMauj unath offered to arrange and payItsicrore toGoelas partof illegal gratification.Mahesh Kumar has assuredManjunaththat he would extend officialfavours in lieu of which Manjunathagreed toarrange and make paymentalbribe amount,"a source said.'Manjunathmanaged toarrangeonly an amount of Its 90 lakh, whichwastobepaidtoGoeionMay3,23l3atChandigarh onbehalf of Mahesh KumarRahul Yadav of Lajpat Nagar,Samir Sandhir of East of Kailashand Sushil T)aga of Green Valley laridabadin conspiracy with MaheshKumar, Manjunath and others arrangedto deliverthe bribe amountofRs 90 lakh. The remainingamountwas to be arranged by Mahesh Kumarafter threeourdays," he added.

I3R*tOU9ZITftITtfIItl9r tT** 5*Er fflt i'ii'in*i'iitlk Ml*ni* ti' 11t tlTt*iqiiAt Ijßcl #fI*WE *IWTT 3*t_____ISi*l*ikkfltlfs*It4'lHt w li« «*E914*t1w*4*F*I flkf«viflfft4aflfl___tt*Tfwzi* rfiMt 4 fi4t nrtt*i4 4*9t '1 Tti I* fk'W4 f wiM 41: N9f$'i

.TRACK (S CLEAR As of now, there is norole of the minister. The trail of themoney ends at Vijay Singla and Sandeep Goyal: CBI spokespersonThe Signal CamefroniAnlnsider- . - '" ?rt4:j )a______ ___ ________BJPPointsto" BansalrSmglaBizLinksTHE PROTECTION FORCE. COPS outside PIC Bansal sresidenceln New Delhi onSundayPTIwastippedtoreplace Mittalas the board chiefAMAN SHARMA CBI on Sunday confronted Singla and VINEY SHARMANEW DELHIKumartoascertaintheuithnatebeneficiary CHANDIGARFIA tip-off from a disgruntled officer three of thebribeamountandtoprobehowsingia- As railway minister Pawan KumarmonthsagoledCßltoeventullyairestrai. planned to swing the appointment in Bansal'sfatehunginbalance,localßJpwayministerPKßansal'snephewvjjaysjngia Kumar'sfavourmeagencyplaimedtoques. leader Satya Paljalnledthe opposition'sred-handed while accepting a bribe, plunging tion Bansal and his twosons,an official said, campaign to derailthe railway minister'sthe governmentinto yet another crisis, adding that it waspreparing a writtenques political wagon. While Bansal had veheThe officer was feeling slighted by the ef tionnaire that itcould pose toBansaL mently dented having any business dealfortsof the Western Railways' general man A CBI spokqsperson told 11?the agencyhad Ings with his sister's son, Vljaysingla,Jainager Mahesh Kumar to secure the post of foundnothingagainstßan'ofnoth presenteddocumentsreveallngclosebuslmember(electrial) onthe Railway Boardby Is norole of theminister Thetrailof themoney nesslinks between the two.paying off a hefty sum toSingla, a personfa ends at Vijay Singla and Sandeep Goyal who Jam, who heads BJP's legal cell and Is amiliarwith the mattertoldET. The CBlwas were apprehended accepting the bribe former MP from Chandigarh, claimedtold that Singla was in touch with Kurnar amount," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra Bansal's twosons were directors in through compa-his conduit Sandeep Goyal and a said.—She deniedreports that the CBI director flies floated by Singla. He also claimeddeal wasbeingworked out,the personadded acted against Kumar due to a Singla'scompanies had given the address ofCBI director Ranj itSinha, who had earlier. grudge against him during his Bansal's house In Chandigarh's Sector2Sflfserved as the directprgeneral of theRailway CDI con stint inRPF "Sinha has never they axe using his address for their compaProtection Ebree, put his best sleuths on the fronts Singla lmownKumai"Miinsai& flies, howcan there notbe abusinessllnk,"job. The agency tapped the phones of both and Kumar AsperaCßlFlß,Kumarwas Jainasked. "We demandßansal come outKuniar and Singla, recording hundreds of to ascertain unhappy at being appointed and give details of all the companies hisminutes of their cell-phone conversations, the ultimate member(stafl) of the Railway wifeandsons aredirectors o1" saidJain.before nabbing Singla accepting !90 laith as beneficiary Board on May 1. Kumar trieti He a]legedthat a seniorlAS officeiz Rahulthe firstinstalmentof the agreed amount of of the brib, toget the additional charge of Bhandarl, who Is the son-in-jaw of Bansal'sfib crore in Chandigarh on Friday GMof both Western Railways sister and Is therailwaYthlnister'sprivateWith the Railway Board chief Vinay Mittal and Signal& Telecommunication, for which secretary had also bought properties In and -retiringonJuneaoandseveralotherpostsalso he wasaskedto pay another 2 crore. Kumar around Chandigarh recently "His rolefalling vacant, Kumar was eyeing the position asked aßangalore-based railway contractor, should alsobe investigated bythe(]BL" Jointhat could pavethe way for him to head the Narayan Rao Manjunath, to arrange the said. Saying that finances and assets of theboard before hisretirement in two years. The amount In lieu of contracts that he promised Bansal family and theirrelatives In recentpost of member (electrical), which happens to toaward Manjunath in future. When thefirst years should be investigated, the BJP leaderbethemostlucrativepostsinceithandies instalment of !90 lakh arranged by app]audedtheCßlfbr'dsflig'toarrestasenprojectsworthcj-ores of rupees, wasslatedto Manjimath reached Singla and Gupta,CBI iormlnlster'skmn.-fallvacant sincethe incumbent,Kulbhushan, waspatientlylying in wbit__________________________

Embattled Congress Refuses'to Get Rid ofBansal & Kümar___________________ GOP's_____'ċ„ a PR RAMESH Manish Tewari told the media after Tip-OfffromThe- ___________forI LawMinsterMbwaniKumaitigln-The piling party dug Its heels in-',.-'IA--ft eninga. '.'hardened stand to prolong Parliament gridlockrfIJRE POUTformation & Broadcasting Minister-"NEWDELHIthemeetingofthecoregroupattlie "governinenthas decided agalnst PM's residence. On Ashwani Kumaz .'canway Dauu;giving In to the Opposition's demand Tewari said the matter was sub judihmnediately sacking Railway Ccanda decision would be taken afterMinister Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Supreme Court's decision,'-the parliamentary gridlock even as BJP ratchetedand further dimming hopes of legis - up its attack onBansal,"lationin the ongoingbudget session. There is by coming out with hisThe Congress core committee, growing family members' busi- ________________which met on Sunday evening totake uneasein ness dealings with hisa call___on the demand for the resigna congress arrested nephew\'y :-k "'tc-'-... tionoftheministersamidclosejudi overthe Singla -a charge de Atip-offfromadis,-tcialscrutinyofk" theflinctloningofthe backingfor niedbytheministerbe gruntled'' 'officerthree-::- -,, - Central Bureau of Investigation, felt thetwo fore the:."-ere commitmonthsago lid thethat succumbing to the Opposition's tee on Saturtlay Singlajr "', --;'--.-" , pressurecouldmakethe government had allegedly accepted too lakh for Blto arrest the rail;-" ' morevulnerable.Thepartywfflhave fixing a better position forrailway H Wayministersnephew;.tobrazenitoutasanysignalof weak boardmemberMaheshKumaxt VljaySlngla,report-' ness can embolden the Opposition" - further, a Congress flinctionar%who PMShieidingTainted:Anhi Shastri *25 IWflfltattended the meeting, toldET.FACiNG OPPOSrnONWRATH:Raiiway A probe (in the railway briberyongres n eps up.Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal (top) & scandal) is going on, let the result Exitpolishavepredicteda AttackwpageaLawMinisterAshwaniKumar come. We will decide after that," In Congwin in Kamatak&o2PMShieldingtheTainted: Anil ShastriIIHFront Page 2"The government has no morals. TheCongress has converted the governmentinto a money-making machine. Everythingis putonsale by TJPA ministers. Wewill not co-operate with this government,"saidRay! ShankarPrasad, deputyleaderof the BJP in the Rajya Sabha.Left leaders, including CPI(M) politburomember Sitaram Yechury, havealso demandedaction that includes prosecutionprodeedingsagainstBansal.The government's decision cameahead of an affidavit expected tobe filedby the CBI in the Supreme Court thatmight provide proof of the law minister'sintervention to dilute the agency'sfinding that the governmentdid not followthe rules in the allocation of coalblocks. This is likely to put the focus onthe prime minister's offke as the ministrywas under the direct charge of thePM. The CBI had last week told the apexcourt that the law minister and an officialeich fromthe PMO and coal ministrywereshown the status report on theinvestigations "attheir desire".The growing unease within the Congressover the backing for the twoministenbecame public when Anil Shastri, aspecial invitee tothe Congress WorkingCommittee, on Sunday evening blamedthe prime minister for shielding thetainted. 'PM should follow the sameyardstickforhisminlstersasdidSoniajiinthe case ot JBPatnaik, Ashok Chavan& Shashi Tharoor," tweeted Shastri. Healso said the government's omissionsand commissions had brought the effortsof Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Congress president and vice-president,to naught.

Ashwani Kumar, Bailsalwill stay, says Congress-B. Muralidhar Reddy is the most corrupt and ineptgovernment since IndependNEWDELHI: After going into ence.huddle for two consecutive At a hurriedly conveneddays,the Congress decided on press conference at his resiSunday to reject the demand dence, Mr. Tewari outlinedfor the resignation ofRailway the logic behind the decision.Minister Pawan ICumar Ban He almost suggested thatsal and Law Minister Ashwathose who were demandingni Kumar, who are in the eye their ouster were talkingMa political storm.through their hat. As for Mr.Leaving no scope for any Bansal, Mr. Tewari arguedsuspense even amongits rankthat it was "inappropriate" toand ffl fthe party fielded In pré-judge the charge when theformation and BroadcastingMinister Manish Tewari tomake a formal announcementinvestigation was underway.The Railway Minister is introuble after his nephewVijayon why it believed that the Singlawasarrestedbythe CBIOpposition had no case for onFridayforaliegedlyacceptseekingthe resignation.According to a senior leader, the party had little choicebut to back the two Ministersleast in the case of Mr. Ashwani Kumar wou'd-lend tothe doors ofthe Prime Minister's Office as the CBI affidaing Rs. 90 lakh forfixing abetterposition for Railway BoardMember Mahesh Kuniar, whohas been suspended.as conceding the demand -at "Unfortunately, there aretwo parallel processes in thevit to the Supreme Court onthe coalgate was also showncase. One is being played ou1inpublic domain and theoth!er by investigating agencies.Afterall the charge sheet hasto be filed in a court of law,"to a senior officer in Manmo Mr. Tewari said.han Singh's ecretarint. As for the Law Minister,By deciding to back the who is at the centre of a rowMinisters, the party manag after it emerged that he haders have effectively sealed the asked the CBI toshowhim theprospect of' any business in affidavit on the coalgate,the remainiogpart of the bud whichwas meant to be shownget session of Parliament. only to the Supreme Court,which ends thi May 9. Mr. Tewari said the matterThe Congress will now wassubjudicabank on the outcome of theKarnataka Assembly elections-in which the party is CBI to quiz Bansal: Page 12;-expected to fare weli to- ______________________Editorial: When itcounter the aggressive Oppo -- rains, it pourssitioa campaign that UPA-Il-

CBI to quiz Bansal in jail scam caseDevesh K. PandeyL proof' ofhis complicity in the Garg. This, sources added,was'-" crime. On the basis of that allegedly an interim paymentNEWDELHI: Determined to drill they had set out to probe thethat Mr.Kumar made in orderdeep into the layers of con case and arrest the accused, to secure the additionalspiracy behind the purported the sources added. With this,' charge of General Managerdeal struck by Railway Board nine persons have been ar (Western Railway and SignalMember (staf Mahesh Ku restedin this case sofar.*7 and Telecommunication) tifimar with Railway Minister The electronic and other he was appointed as RailwayPawan Kumar Bansal's neph material evidence gathered\ Board Member (Electrical),ew Vijay Singla and his ac priortothe arrest of Mr. Sin thepostthathesought.complices for securing the gla and his accomplice Sandpostof Railway Board Mem eep Goyal would be placed ,Morearrestsber (Electrical), the Central before the court for perusal While Mr. Kumar and Mr.Bureau of Investigation is all whenever needed. Manjunath were arrested inset to "interview" Mr. Bansal. The CBI has registered the Mumbai and Bangalore reOn condition of anonymity case under Section 7 (public Pawwi Kwnar Bansal spectively, the CBI also arCBI officials on Sunday said servant taking gratification), rested the two courier boys,that in order to prepare awa Section 8 (taking gratification estswillalsobe scrutinised. Dharmendra and Vivek, betertightcase they would 9n to influence public servant) The CBI, which seized sides Mr. Manjunath's busivestigatethe case toits logical and Section 10 (Punishment piopertyand investment doc ness associates Rahul Yadavend" and probe all those con for abetment by public ser uinents of the accused during and Samir Sandhir. The agennectedwith the main con rant)ofthe Prevention ofCor raids in New Delhi, Chandi cy also arrested Sushil Daga,spirators. Since Mr. Bansal is ruption Act, besides Section garh and Eangalore following anotheraccusedinthecase.the Railway Minister and re 120-B (conspiracy) of the In the arrests on Friday night, Sources said afterthe deteclatedto one of the accused, than Penal Code. has also sought their Income tion of the close-knit networkthe agency would have to ap Since the Prevention of tarreturn details, of alleged middlemen, indusproachhim for clarifications Corruption Act provisions in The FIR alleged that Ma trialistsregulartydealllgwithas the investigation progress yoked are regarding sched heshKumar had arranged the the Indian Railway and a topes, they said, tiled offences under the bribe amount with the help of RailwayMinistryofficiai, theyCountering Mr. Singla's Prevention of Money Laun his accomplice Narayan Rao received positive responsesclaim, made before a Delhi dering Act, officials said the Manjurlath, the managing di fromwithin the Ministry. "Wecourt, that the money (Its. 90 Directorate of Enforcement rector of Bangalore-based are expecting more' informalakhcash) seized from him would also probe the money (IG. Tronics India Private tion on cartels operating inwas meant for some land deal, trail. Transactions made.Limited, to immediately pay connivance with unknown insourcesin the agency said through the companies in Mr. Singal and his accomplic siders to bag lucrative contheyhad "incontrovertible which the accused haVe inter es— Sandeep Goyal and Ajay. tracts,"saidan official.

More troublefor Ashwani?Cl To Tell ScMmChangedcoal ReportTIMES NEWS NETWORKNew Delhi: The CBI, In afresh affidavit on Mondaywill tell the Supreme Courtthat the law ministerchanged itsstatus report onInvestigations into allegedIrregularities in allocationof coal blocks, In whatcouldhave a potential bearlng onAshwani Kuniar's position.Sources said CBI has alreadyconveyed this to thecourt In a sealed cover filedthrough counsel U U Laliton April3o and itsaffidaviton Monday will repeat thesame. The court had takenthe sealed cover report onrecordonLalit'surging.The affidavit is also likely to mention that theMarch 6 meeting was calledby the law minister becausehe wanted toperuse the contentsof the status report.Significantly,Congresssources quoted l{umar asmaintaining that the meetingwas called by attorneygeneral GE Vahanvati.The Aprll 30 report didnot shed anylight onwhetherthe law ministry's interestIn the CBJ's investigationsandthe contents ofthestatus report predates theMarch6meetingandtheaffHowever, the CBI'sstatementthat the law ministercarried out changes in theCoalgate status report mayprove to be sticky for Kumarifthe bench treatsit asan interference with the investigatingagency'sprobeinto a case, which thecourtwasfollowing.

Ansal MovesSCAgainst CBI Moveon Uphaar CinemaCo seeks release ofthe cinemabuilding, which hasbeen seized by CBISAMAN WAVA RAUT RAYthecrlmlnaltrialwasover.-The Misal brothers, Sushiland Gopal Ansal, were convictedalong with 10 others Inthe case. The siblings w&esentenced to two years In jailfor "causing death by negligence",but the sentence waslater commuted by the highcourt to one yeaxt An appealagainst it Is pending In the SnNEW DELHI preme Court. They wereAnsal Theatres & Clubotels grantedbail by the apex couflhas moved the Supreme Court on January 30,2009.against the Cliis "illegal" sel Now a director of the compazureof the ifi-fated Uphaar ny Vinod Kumar SaigaL hascinema In South Delhi and moved a fresh application tosought itsrelease sothatIt can have the theatre released frombe renovated and used. The the "iflçgal possession" of theAssociation of Victims of Up" CBI, which has been investihaarTragedy (AVUT) said it gating the case since July 26,would resist the plea. The 1997. He claims that since theAVUT has also sought a more company wasnotan accused Insevere sentence for the ac the case, the CBI cannot seizecused inthe case.the property He claimed itwasThe cinema building -ona unnecessary tokeep the build-2,480-square-yardproperty in ing sealed when the investigattheGreen Park Extension ar ing agencies bad extensvelyea has been sealed since inspectedthepremises.June - 13, 1997, when a fire Thelowercourthadheldthatclaimed 59 lives and injured since the primary evidence inanother 100 persons during the case was the scene of thethe screening of the movie offence and because all strucBorder, The prosecution had thres cannot be reflected Inattributed the high casualty to the site plan, it must be sealedviolations of thebuilding plan so as to allow the trial judge toas some exits were blocked in inspect the scene and examinethe moviehail,the evidence.The Supreme Court, onOctober11,, 2004, allowed the4iisals to mortgage theproperty to financial institutionstoraise 3 crore. Theamount was tobe paid to thevictims and kin of the tragedyascompensation.But the court had disallowedAnsal Theatres fromcreating any other thirdpartyinterests and directedthat the building remainsealed as directedby a lowercourt onOctober 16.1998, till

q,Igc1i__jwit:ffiitftzi?wff ('nut): tigt 1iIttkT eftIN12aThfld14'iI1IfRiRifI*aij Fiz S cii'l*nftftfl~1t int:taffttbi*ft ftiftia*!g$flflffift fi~Iici ciiift pnrt t iBft ift-tocii f -qlqlvtq 1'$r1191ftB5* *119 T1V4 t diThg4I IS k i, "IbTh! ffltanPikt qcvifrpn9fl*itt 4g u ei ftM .vqçItj31{ft'w tisftainr1fir

"""Qfltu1CIflt3115tQUidfl3llf .54cql.i1q5-ei%: jciufltia"it fi *WII 1IZ1v9:w2_5("P Qgi$k t fk4t4-' *1I*ra41U4rtI.i'l6Il1W1Tl__rQI1MIiii**iMtr4clilcimi u)cu1...frffii *r M a4zift4itll lpiginiRdi*l3TI 4 m Ii'ft lksrw. ttM14ic w çig 4tln1 tufflftftq'it~rfliti iqtgi idirIflirt

!flwuffiI?R!IWH.1I___rui&ii tii £ku4ei, 3P1ñ_______fltr triiwi________ ____ _____ ___ __ ___V jf tSn;ii aii ti___ ________S$1I]qi r 41tVff tHI 2013HW4ttRa 11413U k,ici flsuru 311? _üD ;ñcici iift tdk flciii1ir___z*tstc4CIJRtzMI'lCDI1 aUtU31It3fffl1fl3U.1cu 'nncii31? 34ix141z&i fulNr 3lwRarr¬V1Rw1ttFU1dKtIijt saflr-qt*iawiafli___iR4ili___Tctcic,12R1 /!91ffTRg Iq 4O%lflzqiTfl flIIItudrJ4 qg1 flj!j£Icijk-IPT S # 1T F19T, *131*4ffiT ftinr aa FT T1UT tsi t1114h1fl * fñ t iii aMf'z19T**tTfl?l#31$* UILIlIHIiIft DItlt9 IT*II~ o'4nq'ttnt1wftPiiaq r 4 ,lflflJlI3fl9flt I. '4 A3utRiCilu 'PUaq çuj.gq,jfj R-R ftin'n ta i 1NQ1 tW itd 1T fritinzli t fl8i qgcgjaiiUMj

tf u,igi tIt atg thi'ft awipit 4 t 3mPtIrif4isk ti4ia1 q,eiiii tilltftniinii tiltq D'IvW1ffiiftfliaIfMr tiI wt cqç T ii*ii W* 'iiiq,ii IRT1?ITI !1TI1flMItiTtiUk 7:45Ei ii4 ijgl4irni vi4pq,i kTti4TrI

neeip 2cici cp15 T__wii):t flfThiiweii 3i N191___k9~ ftai it4 uWi41 wiPv4cIld 4ffrtk l%R1 it*ii nmi4ft flat4j *siti tif c1rtiirgi ? fti 4N1D1ttttflaflaW r4izl1Tflffi%fWrtnmt nttifla$k44t%NT'nhIalimkIt Wit 'ftP'di iinlft 9t 91W I1 4iT ti*___.1*WT1Wifl.1iJ1k1*N9pcII3ik*t*1 fizitti*thUwtcu

SEEKIHGACCOUNTABILITY As per CVC data, Railways is the most corrupt govt departmentRailways' Wagon ofCorruptionVA RAN IAMAN SHARMA-NEW DELFIIThe CentralVigilance Comnthsion, takinghoteofthe overwheming number of corruption casesagainst railway employees, had asked therailwayministry to speed up action against erring seniorofficials, documents reviewed by EtshowThe watchdog's annual report for 2011 says Itreceived8805 complaints against as many railwayofflcia]s, compared with 8,330in the previous yeazsharpening the spotlight ona government departmentthatready II tma bribery scandaLDocuments accessed by ET underRn show thatthe owrwhelming number of complaints promptedCVCPradeepRum rto ask therailwayministrytoftc accountability of theirseniorofficers."Since the number of composite cases in therailwaysishigh, CVC emphasised that senior officersmaynot be spared in case irregularities are establishedagainsttheni,"thenijutesofKumar's meetng withthe minisirylast year sayThe (NC report saysthat of the 772 railway officialswho facedpenal action in 2011,31 wereprosecutedfor corruption whilethe rest faced compulsoryretirement, dismissal, orcut in Increment, orwere denied promotion. In 2010, the departmenthad taken action against911 erring officials.Railwaysa1sotopsthewatchdog'sflstforthe}.Jg.est number of officials In any single departmentagainst whom action wastaken for improprietyorcorruption. Citing delayin processing vigilancecasesas a morproblem, thereport saysthe ministryfailedtotakeaction against 191officials for oversix months despite the CVC'sadvice to doso,"CVCpointed out the huge pendency in ministryof railways In implementation of CVC'sadvice toact oncompjaints and aiso delays In completingregular departmental action cases. CVCfurtherdesired that efforts should be made toensure thatcases more than two yearsoldare finalised at theearliest," the minutes of thereviewmeetingsay

ttrftzM151________ U-.4a..an*___ -.4a..an8'1;*ffa IMIT *int1141 tiiqioji I5'(Nici '1 :PTT IW11I 3ft r'aft Th4a Th alani Wtaa*tifr4f3R1WT*flRq1I I1NT1 1w ('nT) 9TZ1T 1P11 ti1n fffl *1 flan fri av1)wI__it friPk4liRlitnidttI"* aII *itftMtafldl atPgStRfli ftzTwt*tIfwfl 1gq,flail 'wç t (ar)wanra1*irgg'5IT 1 iWI t aft rggfliOU*hflr Mnrnnn*#.iiflai4Ifl kgIQ1itft 'krk4rV**TPRIg fcttTh

Hiou'i1'iii *1WI3u4AiutqITvj*I- " dWt3miT5C1(P1HIgIRe1gPffffIflTt4t3nMitffii*1nWt fPdfrfttfttl'fl %ti1ivRNflI I?ItñkU4T{" Z-'iq"1IMI9tf WplMTRflhlt4fli aitzq w* 4t4Iufcufl1tTN t*5W1 1I1'1gttiWIti41k1t4tiita Iiwm5fftI14f 31R1qg afr flinmit'W__81R ft iiq,ici ft %'fqT* 'ii Iuflll*IwffiutRT*Ift1 t49tI4fl63thTftq1W ?jjii44ftii*r.S'uqig S fh 4o*v412*______ UTir1t utRqci 3*i* ii B

afdmfr/ ttigi4I______ntft %qwk iq smiii*'th ai ~aij______ql*izirMtqitczg*______APAttgw*hflT!tnpn'nitIB1flna1t

Irkcii: Rfr1i4l'f f'4t_(iiMt)'&Ic 11I21ttj-49.— -. -,a 4'lick R )I 1T ii I"_ __'I a*Q)IC, 1 ECVPhlflIt4I'uiPtaItIQwfltIt4qg(Mr2)

12ar2IR4Pi ,

9ftc4c1ij1 41c?1"Ri iI(H1I[lW(it4aii)(dIt) iit9 fta'th iimtam%rf'gqag*419*J71Ij 1fl1qTRT 31fl1 *1WU fIWI311S :pirlit iti aflhi7 9IkNld1ftTI (Mr2)

niT1c13flfai4jtr.it aiiLI~i aiaPgaz*cq4 fl4 Widqagn'ti,'tR1RItI