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Monday, August 5, 2013
A mix of fresh and veteran to take oath tomorrow
A
mix of fresh and veteran to take oath tomorrow
VIJAY
DEO JHA
Impatient
son-in-law a political rookie in his bare 30s; apparently forced his father-in-law,
a political veteran, to sacrifice his ministerial ambition, or it may be father-in-law
grudgingly agreed, the JMM remained dynastic succession story last night, before the puzzling cabinet expansion
tomorrow.
As Hemant Soren government today submitted list of six MLAs to Raj Bhavan this afternoon to be sworn-in as ministers of the Hemant Soren led government, JMM MLA from Mandu Jay Prakash Bhai Patel who is son-in-law of Tundi MLA Mathura Prasad Mahato) surprised those who had ruled out his chance. In the past 13 years Patel is going to be to be youngest (he was born in 1982) minister in any government of the state so far.
Six
MLAs; four from JMM, one from Congress and RJD each will take oath tomorrow as
ministers of the Hemant Soren led JMM-Congress-RJD government. They will be
administered oath by Governor Syed Ahmed at Raj Bhavan around 11, Raj Bhavan
sources confirmed. Other ministerial candidates in the JMM are Champai Soren
(Seraikela), Hazi Hussain Ansari (Madhupur) and Simon Marandi (Littipara). From
Congress Gitashree Oraon (Sisai) and Suresh Paswan (Deoghar) from RJD will be
administered oath.
Last
night, sources in the JMM confided, Patel made a final and successful bid with
‘come what may’ approach saying he would not settle less than a ministerial
berth. The party left it on Mathura Mathura
“Mathuraji ko kursi dahej me dena pada. Ek
pariwar se do log mantri nahi ho sakte. Pichli baar Arjun Munda ki sarkar me
wah apne samdhi ka patta gol kar mantra bane is bar damad ne badla le liya.
(Mathuraji was forced to gift the
post as political dowry. Two from same family can’t be accommodated in the
ministry. In previous Arjun Munda he could become after spoiling chance of his samdhi, son-in-law settled score this
time),” a senior JMM leader said.
Married
to Lalita, younger daughter of Mathura
On
being asked about son-in-law unexpectedly stepping in his shoes, Mathura
Simon
Marandi was given preference in second cabinet expansion of the Hemant Soren
government over other two of the party; Hemlal Murmu and Lobin Hembrom. If not
owing to his age and seniority, the JMM chief Shibu Soren agreed to his name to
avoid any possible rebellion from Marandi. Marandi is a named accused in 2010
Rajya Sabha horse trading case and his house was twice raided by CBI in this
regard. “I am founder member of the
party. I deserve a berth,” he said. Both
Champai and Hazi Hussain were minister in previous Arjun Munda led BJP-JMM-AJSU
Party-JD (U) coalition government.
But
tomorrow’s cabinet expansion has left many baffled in the Congress as central
leadership has said that the remaining three ministers from the Congress quota
will be inducted during third and final expansion expected anytime after August
10 or before.
The
party is yet to settle mind over Mannan Mallik and Sarfaraz Ahmed both facing
criminal or corruption charge directly or indirectly. The party has yet not
burnt bridge with independent MLA Bandhu Tirkey who is seeking ministerial
berth to join the Congress.
JMM plays second fiddle
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Six takes
oath as minister
VIJAY DEO
JHA
Ranchi;
August 4: The second cabinet expansion of the Hemant Soren government this
morning at Raj Bhavan, with six ministers sworn in by Governor Syed Ahmed, was
marked by glaring absenteeism of probable hopefuls whom today’s expansion left
high and dry or those doubtful about their chance in third and final expansion of
the cabinet likely anytime after August 10.
Only the initiated and the interested came.
None among
JMM’s front runner for ministerial posts; Hemlal Murmu, Lobin Hembrom, Polush
Surin were seen in the exclusive gallery of politicians. That was the case with
a couple of leaders from the Congress like Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mannan Mallik,
Chandrasekhar Dubey and KN Tripathi who said personal reasons behind their
non-attendance.
Independent
MLA and Congress’ new found friend, Bandhu Tirkey, who is jostling for
ministerial post from Congress quota decided to stay-off the ceremony along
with MLA friend Chamra Linda. As one prominent absentee later remarked: “Attending
such ceremony twice and thrice is not necessary when your presence is not
required…this was only a continuation of what they couldn’t finish at one go.”
Hemlal Murmu
was rhythmical yet forthcoming. “Party ka
nirnay sarvopari. Sahi samay par sahi baat,” he said. Sarfaraz Ahmed will
throw an iftar party in his
constituency. Tripathi is in Delhi on personal visit. Mallik is in Dhanbad
observing Ramadan. Chandrasekhar Dubey today is learnt to have threatened state
leadership imminent revolt if the party does okay his name for third expansion.
The oath
taking formalities remained too short even for those who this event was arranged
— close to one and half minute of first personal singular monosyllabic lead-ins
from Governor— “main” and then “main” again —repeated 12 times
over. Six took oath today: Gitashree Oraon (Congress), Suresh Paswan (RJD), Jay
Prakash Bhai Patel, Simon Marandi, Champai Soren and Hazi Hussain Ansari.
Around 10.55
Governor, Syed Ahmed, occupied the seat. He wisely decided to administer them
oath en-mass rather than summoning them one by one. Gitashree Oraon with her
impressive and booming voice was dominating others as thought they taking part
in some reading competitions. Champai and Jay Prakash Bhai Patel were rather
muttering and Simon Marandi was in no hurry to finish the text along with them.
He took extra half minute to finish.
Happy to be
minister Simon later on provided valid reasons. “Jab oath hi lena hai to harbari kya hai. Dekhoji jaldi kaam shaitan ka
hota hai.” But in the process Simon had afforded the occasion a rare relief
from routine.
None seemed
more pleased than the oversized contingent of Jay Prakash Bhai from Mandu and
Hazaribagh. Around 30 of his relatives turned out at Raj Bhavan as special
invitees. Rest were not far behind who had carted their supporters in SUVs. Jay
Prakash Bhai Patel scored a first today as youngest minister in any of the
state governments in Jharkhand; Patel the younger son of former JMM leader
Teklal Mahato wasn’t permitting anyone to leave without that uniqueness
underlined.
For
Gitashree, it seemed like a restart of her family tradition in politics after
her father and late Congress stalwart Kartik Oraon. “From housewife to minister
is never expected this thing to happen.”
Soon after
the oath senior JMM and Congress leaders huddled in a close door meeting to
finalize portfolios including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress chief
Sukhdeo Bhagat, CLP leader and minister Rajendra Prasad Singh.
The oath
ceremony gave ample hints to JMM and Congress bosses about seething unrest in
the party. “Three more ministers from Congress quota are to take oath. It will
be declared very soon. The party takes into account all factors,” Bhagat said.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Ahmed’s media talk a gentle snub for disgruntled leaders
Ahmed’s
media talk a gentle snub for disgruntled leaders
VIJAY
DEO JHA
Ranchi;
May 29: When Governor Syed Ahmed, a week back, planned to meet state media he
decided to send a veiled message to his critics in the Congress through the
press conference that he holds control over administration and governance and
has center’s baking too.
Sources
in the state Congress admitted that Ahmed’s yesterday press conference was a
kind of snub for his bashers in the state party unit who have been lobbying for
his removal from Jharkhand and those who accused his for delivering a dud
during four months of President’s rule.
“There
is no coordination between Governor and two of his advisors…little development have
taken place. In such a condition the Congress will face disadvantages during
elections because we have nothing to showcase as achievements. The press
conference is an elaborate reply for us,” a senior state Congress leader
accepted.
Ahmed
took charge of governance after imposition of President’s rule in January 18, this
year following the fall of the Arjun Munda led coalition government.
Addressing
the media for around 90 minutes at state’s Suchana Bhawan, Ahmed speaking in
chaste Urdu mixed with Hindi did not give even a slight hint of differences
cropping up in the last two months.
But
Ahmed’s opening statement was sufficient to explain as to what he wanted to
convey to the flock clamouring against him in Delhi Darbar.
“Delhi ne mujhe do behtar advisor diye hain jo
umda kaam kar rahe hain aur agar niyat sahi hogi niti bhi sahi hi hogi, (Delhi
Those
in the Congress who regularly snubbed him indirectly over claimed developments
as a mere paper truism, his back office distributed a thick document of
achievements.
Ironically,
when opposition lambasted Ahmed and his press conference as ‘a mere recital of
script prepared by the Congress’ none from the state Congress came to defend or
praise him.
State
Congress leaders have been complaining that they are not heard by the Governor and
his advisors in the matter of governance hence their appointments are not going
to help the party politically in the electoral politics.
On
May 19, during party workers meeting in Ranchi
“State
is a huge subject it should be run politically and administratively which they
should know. Former Jharkhand Governor K. Sankaranarayanan
had an understanding of this,” Sahay told The Telegraph.
Ahmed
is no more a ‘blue eye boy’ of the Congress and even Sahay seems to have
distanced himself from Ahmed. Raj Bhawan insiders confided that neither
Governor nor his advisors are willing to bend beyond a point to accommodate
personal and political wishes of state Congress leaders including in the matter
of transfer- posting of officials as well as appointments.
A
fortnight back when a state Congress leader paid a courtesy visit to Governor,
Ahmed lightly asked the leader had he any wish list for transfer and posting.
Ahmed,
who goes by every news reports as he told the media, must have gone through
those unpleasant remarks made by some of the Congress leaders against
governance during President’s rule in Jharkhand. Ahmed ended his press
conference with a polite reminder. “I may commit mistakes during my works. Let
me know about it,” he sounded suing for peace, at last.
Monday, May 13, 2013
New tribal face for state Congress |
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Ranchi/New Delhi, May 13: The
Congress today appointed Sukhdeo Bhagat (47) as the Jharkhand Pradesh
Congress Committee (JPCC) president, amid growing clamour in favour of
Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu who was hoping for an extension.
The decision,
thereby, foiled a last-ditch effort by Balmuchu, who was planning a
massive tribal rally in Ranchi on May 19 — with Rahul Gandhi in
attendance — to impress upon the party high command his “worthiness”.
The Congress
central leadership, however, was not keen to extend his tenure. With the
change in guard, the rally has also been postponed. Sources close to
party vice-president Rahul revealed he wanted the new state leadership
to take a fresh call on the proposed tribal meet.
Bhagat’s
appointment became apparent on Saturday when party president Sonia
Gandhi summoned him to her residence in Delhi and asked him to prepare
for the big job.
State Congress
in-charge Shakeel Ahmed said a notification in this regard was issued in
the afternoon today. “He is comparatively young and popular. We hope
that he will energise the party,” he said.
Soon after the
announcement was made by party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi in
Delhi today, Bhagat, a prominent tribal leader who belongs to the Oraon
tribe, said, “We have a strong base of activists in the state. The
challenge before me is to encourage them to take up people’s causes.
“I will also try to work towards better co-ordination between senior party leaders and activists at the ground level.”
A former Jharkhand
state administrative officer who did his MPhil from Delhi University,
Bhagat has been elevated to the state’s top post at a time when the
support base and electoral fortunes of the faction-ridden party have
taken a hit. In Jharkhand, the party is already divided in two major
factions lead by two party stalwarts Balmuchu and Subodh Kant Sahay,
respectively.
“It will be a
tightrope walk for Bhagat. He will get only six months to streamline
everything as the Assembly polls are expected at the end of this year,” a
Congress leader said.
Bhagat, a former
MLA from Lohardaga, and Sisai MLA Gitashree Oraon were the front runners
for the job. But, being a rookie in politics and lesser known figure,
the daughter of former Congress stalwart Kartik Oraon had make way for
him.
According to
sources, Rahul wanted a non-controversial name from the tribal
community, preferably from the Sarna faith, to reconnect the party with
its tribal and non-tribal constituents.
Balmuchu, who was
in office for more than seven years, is a Christian belonging to the Ho
tribe and apparently, there was no known face who could replace him,
except Bhagat — considered to be close to the Gandhi scion.
By and large,
Christian tribals are still with the Congress in Jharkhand. With BJP
trying to regain its hold over tribals belonging to the Sarna faith
through RSS-backed organisations, Bhagat seems to be the Congress answer
to the saffron party’s tactics.
Followers of the Sarna faith, which, the RSS claims, is very close to Hinduism, have been seeking a distinct identity.
It was their
undaunted support that had helped Congress stalwarts like Bandi Oraon
and Kartik Oraon to rise to fame. In fact, this was why Rahul, during
his meeting with Bhagat and other senior state leaders on March 21, had
suggested programmes to win back this tribal community.
Bhagat, too, came
to limelight in 2003, banking on the Sarna issue. Still a civil servant,
he had taken on RSS leader Ashok Varshney when he had referred to the
Sarnas as Vanvashis. Bhagat had objected saying the RRS was trying to
“kill the distinct identity of the Sarnas”. Eventually, he joined the
Congress in 2005 and won the Lohardaga seat in the Assembly elections.
Though he lost the constituency in 2009, his stature and popularity in
the party had constantly grown, said party insiders.
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Balmuchu’s battle for survival
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| VIJAY DEO JHA |
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Ranchi, May 11:
The cold war between Pradeep Balmuchu and Shakeel Ahmed, two leaders
central to the Congress’s fortunes in Jharkhand, has now turned into a
shadow boxing match with both leaders trying to out-manoeuvre each other
under the watchful eyes of Delhi.
Balmuchu, in a
last-ditch effort to stay on as state party chief, is banking on a
tribal rally he proposes to hold in Ranchi on May 19 with Rahul Gandhi
in attendance.
Ahmed on the other
hand is using all his powers as Delhi’s pointsman looking after party
affairs in Jharkhand to convince anyone who is willing to listen that
Balmuchu must go. The duo has never really seen eye to eye. But, it
seems the gloves are off now.
So keen is
Balmuchu to have Rahul Gandhi, he has already changed the rally dates
thrice — from May 4, 11 and 18 — to accommodate his schedule.
He is now using
his best contacts in the national capital — Union rural development
minister Jairam Ramesh is among them — to ensure Rahul’s presence, but
according to those who are close to the Gandhi scion, he is not going to
be available for the May 19 show as well.
This apart,
Balmuchu is also trying his best to have Ahmed replaced as the
Congress’s Jharkhand in-charge. In fact, a lobby within the state party,
spearheaded by Balmuchu and Dhiraj Sahu, is pushing for Ramesh to be
made the man in charge, hoping to time their campaign alongside a
reshuffle of the central party administration now that Karnataka has
swung back to the Congress fold.
But Ahmed sounded
sceptical of any change at the top now. “There may or may not be such a
move now,” he said. “There may be some people who may not like my style
of functioning. I am a man of the organisation. Jahan party mujhe lagayegi wahan jayenge (I will fit in wherever the party shifts me).”
A Congress
office-bearer also dismissed suggestions that Ahmed’s job was under
threat. “It is a six months’ old move. Balmuchu wants a favourable man.
Ahmed doesn’t fit into his scheme of things because he knows where the
problems lie. Balmuchu never arranges any public programme for him.
Ahmed is a serious worker of the party,” he explained.
Last month, a
group of pro-Balmuchu Congressmen in Delhi had nearly succeeded in
convincing the central leadership about sending Ahmed to Bihar to
counter RJD’s Lalu Prasad. But Ahmed wasn’t interested.
As national
spokesperson for the Congress, Ahmed holds charge of Bengal, Andman
& Nikobar, besides Jharkhand. During the last two years, Ahmed has
won the appreciation of the party rank and file here for his down to
earth nature who is loath to promote factionalism.
Balmuchu’s dislike
for Ahmed is perhaps understandable. Last year, after his visit to
Jharkhand, Rahul Gandhi asked him to speak to the party rank and file
and furnish a report on the reasons behind the Congress’s electoral
failure in Jharkhand.
Ahmed’s report went against Balmuchu, and rightly so.
Balmuchu wanted to
form a new team last year. Ahmed put his foot down, saying that only
the central party leadership could take such a call.
He even opposed
Balmuchcu’s move to appoint loyalists like Keshav Mahato Kamlesh,
Kalipad Soren, Nita Devi and Madan Mohan Sharma as chiefs of
boards/corporations after President’s Rule was imposed.
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IPL fever bowls capital
- Hey, look at Gayle, Gambhir
VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi
courtesy The Telegraph
“Hotele
ki hochchhe? Eto Bheed keno?,” Bharat Bose (70) a former bank employee, puffing
bidi with tea, curiously asked the tea stall owner about hundreds peeping
inside Hotel Radisson Blu this afternoon.
“Dada,
IPL er bheed. Era sobai player dekhte eseche? Apni dekhte jaben na ki?
(This crowd is for IPL. They have come to see players? Will you not got to
watch the game?).
Bose was quite unmoved by frenzy of cricket
and the fight of purple of SRK’s ‘Kolkata Knight Rider’ with red of Vijay Mallya
Royal Challenger this evening at International Cricket Stadium, Dhurwa. “Ei
crickete amar interest nai, (I have no interest in this kind of cricket),” Bose
seemed to have problem with 20-20 format of cricket that he said a ‘money making
game’ that has taken toll over class cricket and test matches.
But, Bose remained an isolated voice as
others joined the discourse occupying wooden bench of the tea stall much in the
fashion of Hindu pantheons arranged in a row. “Only you are getting crazy, rest
is rejoicing it. Have you seen how Chris Gayle sending every ball out of
boundary? Just see people waiting to
see the players. Many of us are going to watch,” a young man interrupted.
Crowd erupted all of a sudden in front of
the hotel, with deafening decibels of sloganeering much in the fashion of a the
rally of the Mamta Banarjee — Gambhir,
Gambhir, Gayle tu khel — as soon as players left for the stadium in the
afternoon. The local police and the IMG Security Limited soon pushed them back
to make way for the players.
“It is happening daily sir. Hundreds come
everyday requesting us to allow them to go inside to see the players. They even
offer us good bucks if we could manage their autograph what a craze for cricket
sir. Very tight security sir…it will remain till Thursday till the players will
leave the hotel,” a hotel security guard said. Ranchi has reasons to regale as the city will
host another IPL match on Wednesday between Pune Warrior and Kolkata Knight
Rider.
“Today, Gambhir will not smile on the
ground he has said to the media. He will deliver his best to make the game a korbo, lorbo story. But Gel is going to bring
hell upon his opponent,” Prabhu Kumar a student said. Kumar lamented he could
have seen them playing on the ground if his pocket would have allowed to
purchase ticket. Gambhir is leading the Kolkata Knight Rider against Virat
Kohali of the Royal Challenger.
The team of Gambhir, he said, has lost
eight matches out of 13 played so far and the victory tonight is quite required.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the
hotel authorities for the players of three teams staying here. “Good
arrangements have been made. Food is prepared according to their choice to
serve them during Super Breakfast. Items prepared at the Kabab Factory in the
hotel are loved by all the players,” a manager of the hotel said.
The day being Sunday, the city road bore
a deserted look, shops remained closed and the Firayalal Chowk that defies
silence on any day obliged the call of the day. “But you see the rush of people
and traffic on the road leading to the ground. People are very passionate about
cricket. We have deployed good number of traffic cops and dedicated QRT and
control units,” Ranchi SP Manoj Ratan said.
Auto rickshaws drivers found it a day fit
for brisk business. “Players are earning in crore out of game, at least, we
should earn a thousand. I have already hired my auto to ferry some crazy game
lovers of my mohallah near to the stadium. If they can spend thousands on
ticket they should give us something too,” Munilal an auto driver said.
The Dhurwa stadium witnessed a torrent of
red and purple flags and the flash of cameras as the game started.
But Bose an
ardent cricket lover of his time will keep you arguing such IPL teams
represents private and profitable club headquartered at Mumbai and Bangalore
which has nothing to do with national pride and sentiment.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
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Monday, April 8, 2013
Cash haul sullies poll mood Congress in thick of money muddle
Cash haul sullies poll mood
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| VIJAY DEO JHA | |||||
Ranchi, April 7: Police
seized over Rs 20 lakh in cash, the money put in hundreds of envelopes,
from a city hotel, casting a shadow on tomorrow’s civic polls in Ranchi
in a replay of last year’s Rajya Sabha election when crores were seized
from a car linked to one of the candidates.
Today’s raid on Hotel City Palace
was carried out around noon soon after a group of Congress leaders,
including former mayor Rama Khalkho — also a candidate this time — and
others wrapped up a meeting there, prompting an election commission
observer to comment that it was a blatant attempt to influence polls.
However, the
election commission clarified that tomorrow’s vote in Ranchi and Bundu
was on. A final decision on the fate of the civic polls, however, would
be taken only after it received a written report from observers, the
police and the income tax department.
The money, Rs 22.6
lakh in all, was seized from two second floor rooms (Nos. 202, 205)
booked by Ranchi Congress vice president Niranjan Sharma. Around 50
bundles of poll material were also seized.
SP (city) Manoj
Ratan said since the rooms and the conference hall where the Congress
leaders held their meeting had been booked in the name of Sharma, he had
been arrested. An employee of his, Sudhir Sahu, is in the net too.
“We are in the process of filing FIRs. There are evidences against Rama Khalkho as well,” he said.
Elaborating on
today’s operation, the SP said the Lalpur police raided the hotel
following specific intelligence inputs that big money had been brought
in for distribution. “The cash was put in hundreds of envelopes meant
for distribution. We are trying to find out the people behind this.”
Apart from
Khalkho, those who were at the hotel and left from a side exit as soon
as police arrived, were Sunil Sahay, younger brother of Ranchi MP Subodh
Kant Sahay, and Congress president Surendra Singh.
Police reached the
hotel at noon and went to room 205 where they found two bags of
currency notes with Sudhir Sahu, the employee of Sharma, who brought the
bags to the hotel. They then checked with hotel staff and moved to room
202. They broke open the lock and seized the third bag.
While Rs 18.05 lakh was found in the bags in room 205, the third bag in room 202 had a little over Rs 4 lakh.
Expenditure
observer of the mayoral election Sarvjeet Safalta said he had reported
the matter to the poll panel. “It is a blatant attempt to influence the
polls,” he said.
State election
commission chairman S.D. Sharma said he would take a final decision on
the polls only after he received a report from the police, IT officials
and his observers.
“Information on
recovery of cash from a Ranchi hotel barely 24 hours before civic polls
in Ranchi and Bundu has been received over the phone. Our observers are
already on the spot since early morning. In addition, personnel from the
state intelligence, state police as well as from the investigation wing
of the income tax department are there. We will wait for a written
report before we initiate any action,” Sharma told The Telegraph.
He said the
commission was keeping tabs on other places and added that guilty
candidates faced disqualification and strict action under the Indian
Penal Code, income tax laws and provisions of the Jharkhand Municipal
Act.
While the police
raid was going on, a team of income tax officials, led by additional
director, investigation, Sandeep Rai reached the hotel and questioned
Sharma and Sahu.
In his statement
to the police and IT department, Sahu said he was carrying out Sharma’s
instructions. “I was not aware of what was inside these bags. Sharma
asked me to carry bags and food packets to the hotel rooms,” he said.
Sharma admitted
the Congress was holding a scheduled meeting to discuss the civic
elections, but remained tight-lipped about the money seized.
The Congress dismissed the whole affair as a “conspiracy” against its party nominee (Khalkho).
The former mayor
herself alleged it was a conspiracy hatched by her opponents to tarnish
her image. “We had our meeting. We had booked the fourth-floor for the
meeting not the second floor from where the money was seized. My
opponents are behind it,” she told The Telegraph.
Congress’s
principal rival, the BJP, jumped at the opportunity to target the party.
It demanded immediate arrest of Khalkho and others involved. “Does the
commission need more proof?” BJP candidate for mayor Ajay Tirkey said.
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Sunday, March 17, 2013
CBI locks horns with Assembly
CBI locks horns with Assembly- 2010 RS poll probe stuck over missing file row | ||
| VIJAY DEO JHA | ||
Ranchi; March 16: A CBI investigation into the cash-for-vote-stink that sullied the 2010 Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand has apparently hit a hurdle over some missing documents concerning one of the elected MPs and the state Assembly secretariat seems to be in the thick of it.
The all-important file, that contains the opinion of then advocate general on whether JMM Rajya Sabha MP K.D. Singh was holding an office of profit at the time of his election, has gone missing from the secretariat.
Pressured by the CBI on its whereabouts, senior officials of the Assembly secretariat were now trying their best to wriggle out of the mess by pinning the blame on a grade III employee working as personal assistant to one of them.
Reacting to two reminders issued by the CBI, the secretariat issued notices to secretary and returning officer Kaushal Kishore Prasad and deputy secretary and assistant returning officer Ramsagar on March 7.
Both denied any knowledge of the file, but pointed an accusing finger at Pankaj, a grade III Assembly employee. They said Pankaj, who was Prasad’s private assistant, was the one who had received the sealed envelope containing the AG’s legal opinion.
“The file containing the legal opinion and proceedings are missing. The official entry suggests that Pankaj had received the dispatch. But an office clerk won’t sign and receive something unless it has been seen and okayed by the authorities concerned,” claimed an Assembly employee.
Days before the 2010 Rajya Sabha polls, the secretariat sought the AG’s legal opinion on June 13 after BJP candidate Ajay Maroo challenged Singh’s nomination, alleging that as chairman of national meat and poultry processing board (NMPPB), under the Union ministry of food processing, he was holding an office of profit during the time of the Rajya Sabha elections.
The AG’s opinion came in on June 17, the day of voting. Singh and Dhiraj Kumar Shahu (Congress) were declared elected the same evening. Later, Maroo challenged Singh’s election in Jharkhand High Court, which ruled against him.
The CBI is conducting a probe into the 2010 cash-for-vote affair that is based on a damning television sting operation that allegedly showed five MLAs seeking money in exchange for their votes in favour of a particular Rajya Sabha.
An FIR was lodged against the MLAs — Rajesh Ranjan, Yogendra Sao and Sawna Lakra (all Congress), Uma Shankar Yadav Akela (BJP) and Simon Marandi (JMM) — under Sections 8, 9 and 171 B of Prevention of Corruption Act along with Sections 120(B) and 34 of IPC on the instructions of the Election Commission.
Later, the high court asked the CBI to take over investigations.
The CBI believes the file containing the AG’s opinion was crucial to the case. The results of the election could not have been declared unless the returning office (Prasad) had gone through his opinion. “Also, you cannot blame a clerk just because he received it,” said an investigating officer.
The mystery over the missing file has, in the meanwhile, deepened as sources in the Assembly claimed there was no mention of it in record books, something that could have helped the CBI track it.
Secretary in-charge of the Assembly Samrendra Kumar Pandey admitted the file was missing. “The CBI wants this file and we are searching for it. Hopefully, we will get it. We have sought information from the returning officer and assistant returning officer,” he said.
Prasad, however, refused to comment on the missing file. He has been under suspension since last year in connection with a controversy over his leave travel allowance claims.
On Wednesday, a CBI team collected video footage of the MLAs’ speeches in the House from the Assembly secretariat. Sources claimed the officers would match these with voice samples from the recording that was aired by the television channel.
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Saturday, March 16, 2013
Man who conned a country
Man who conned a country
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| VIJAY DEO JHA | ||
A 35-year-old man, claimed to be among the country’s few ethical hackers and one who helped police of several states, including Jharkhand and Bihar, crack cyber crime, actually seems to have taken governments, media and police for a ride.
Deepak Kumar, a native of Bihar’s Arwal district, has used his public relation skills, impressive CV that says he is an IIT alumnus and cleverly posed pictures with top police officers to con several individuals and institutions of big money.
His dubious honour came to light in Ranchi on Thursday, when Emerald Hotel lodged a complaint with the local Doranda police, saying Kumar disappeared from his room after running a bill of Rs 35,000 over a month.
“Deepak Kumar checked in on February 15 and was allotted room No. 307. He showed us his pictures with top Jharkhand police officers and made us believe he was on an official assignment. However, when one of our regular visitors expressed suspicions over his tall claims, we mounted pressure on him for payment of bill till day. Yesterday, he suddenly disappeared. When we called him on his phone, he threatened to use his clout against us,” said hotel manager Anil Jha.
Kumar also seems to have swindled thousands of rupees out of half a dozen students of Doranda College, who came looking for him at the hotel on Friday. According to them, he had charged between Rs 14,000 and Rs 20,000 as advance for giving them laptops at 50 per cent discount under a special IIT scheme.
The students had come in touch with Kumar in February, during a college seminar on hacking where he was the guest speaker. The seminar was attended by several top police officers, including DGP G.S. Rath and IG Sampat Meena, who were photographed with Kumar.
Using these pictures, the latter had claimed to be training Jharkhand Police’s cyber crime division. He told policemen in the state that he had helped central agencies crack the Varanasi blast case. He told Kanpur Police he had developed a software to help them retrieve lost data.
ADG S.N. Pradhan, who looks after the cyber cell, on Friday denied any association of the police department with Kumar. “He neither provided any training to Jharkhand Police nor is he associated with the department. Deepak Kumar is a fraud who has been fooling people,” the senior police officer said.
Among the duped students are Mohit Kumar and Janual Abdin. “He took Rs 14,000 on February 21 from me. He even lied about having returned the amount to my account through cheque transfer when I asked where my laptop was,” Abdin told The Telegraph.
Mohit, on the other hand, has been cheated of Rs 15,000.
It is learnt that Kumar, on the same pretext, had taken Rs 16,700 from Chaibasa boy Sumit Gupta in 2011 while the latter was studying at an engineering cradle in Bhubaneswar.
Sources in Patna said he had fleeced many there, including a journalist.
Police are yet to locate Kumar. When contacted on his phone, he claimed to be at three different locations — Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Calcutta — around the same time.
“I don’t know which case and what act of fraud you are talking about. I am in Calcutta right now,” he told The Telegraph. Students were told he is in Ranchi and would meet them later, while the hotel authorities heard he was in the steel city.
That Deepak Kumar has outsmarted everyone is obvious from a Google search.
A newspaper report hails him as “a renowned ethical hacker, invited to Australia to train local officers in solving cases of cyber crime”. It says he has trained officers in Germany, has a book on ethical hacking to his credit and has received awards from several state governments.
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