Corruption Watch

[Guest]

Goa leader's pals: Russian mafia <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Land grabbing is one of the biggest issues dominating the Goa Assembly polls this time. And amid speculation about possible links between top Goan politicians and a foreign mafia, especially the Russian land and drug mafia, <b>Atanasio  Monserrate</b>'s name is whispered both at the political and public domain.


On the basis of confessions by unscrupulous chartered accountants, lawyers and real estate dealers, a CNN-IBN Special Investigation bares this deep-rooted nexus .

Gajanan Korgaonkar, a real estate lawyer for foreigners, including the Russian land mafia, told the CNN-IBN Special Investigation team that he paid Rs 12 lakh bribe to Babush Monserrate for a land deal.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Augustus Monteiro, who fixed a land deal for Leonid Beyzer's Artlibori Resorts, says politicians were bribed to convert the farmland into settlement land. "Lots of ministers were involved. Lots of money was involved in the conversions," Monteiro confesses.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Documents available with CNN-IBN show that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) may have bent rules to give a 55-acre plot of land to Deshmukh's charitable trust.
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Maharashtra CM land(s) in trouble

[Guest]

While CM Deshmukh is gobbling public property, poor farmers are again getting short end of the stick. Please read about sorry state of affairs, looks like another Nandigram and Singur in making:

Nagpur women tonsure their heads to protest farmland acquisition

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->After rocking West Bengal for months early this year, the issue has now entered Maharashtra. <b>The government here has acquired 14 villages in Nagpur for a planned 30-billion-rupees cargo hub spread over 2,556 hectares near the airport. </b>
But this has not gone well with the villagers. And, to mark their protest, women in Shipangaon village, which is home to about 10,000 people, have tonsured their heads. This unique protest move came a week after authorities did not respond to a similar protest by their menfolk.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Our village is not getting benefits of farm culture, what else can we then do? We want our village... men have been getting themselves tonsured, no one noticed, so ladies have got down to it now... we are facing lots of problems, how do we farm, eat, feed our children?" said Maina Bai Khobragare, a protester.

"We still haven't got any compensation. Because of that, we are being stretched to feed ourselves...tonsuring was done to send a message to the government about our problems... no official has come till now," said Ram Rao, another villager.
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[Guest]

4 lakhs seems to be very low amount but then
IIM-A study praising Lalu’s Railway turnaround was paid for by Lalu’s Ministry
NEW DELHI, JUNE 23:The “critical appraisal” by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, on the “turnaround” of Indian Railways, which sang paeans to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s “astute understanding of market reality,” was paid for by the Railway Ministry.

The amount: Rs 4 lakh plus service tax plus “expenses of research assistance, computer usage and overheads at IIM-A/Ahmedabad.” The author of the study, IIM-A professor G Raghuram, was also provided “rail travel (complimentary passes)/air travel, accommodation (rest house), local hospitality, data covering and analysis support.”
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[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>How a broker turned jhuggi tokens into gold cards </b>
Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
Vigilance to probe Ashok Malhotra's JJ resettlement plots scam

Property agent Ashok Kumar Malhotra, who came into the limelight after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recovered<b> 52 cars and 10 motorcycles, all bearing fancy VIP numbers, from his residence in Mukherjee Nagar</b>,  <!--emo&:o--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ohmy.gif' /><!--endemo--> ran a super-profit business of trading in slum colony plots. Starting as a chhole-kulche vendor, Malhotra used his contacts in politics and bureaucracy to operate a machinery which ensured that an innocuous cheap metal jhuggi token, which entitled its holder to a plot, was turned into a gold mine. 

Sources said that thousands of plots, meant for allotment to slum dwellers in resettlement colonies, were fraudulently purchased by Malhotra and then resold at exorbitant prices. The modus operandi was that he would first purchase demolition slips (which came in the form of a metal token with a jhuggi number embossed on it) from slum dwellers once their jhuggis were cleared. Thereafter, he took possession of the plot against the token in the DDA resettlement colony. The supporting documents were forged with the connivance of DDA and Government officials. The DDA follows a policy of providing land measuring 25 and 12.5 square metres to slum dwellers in resettlement colonies.

<b>For instance, Hudson Line and Dhirpur slum dwellers were relocated by the DDA under the Kingsway Camp slum relocation scheme to Gandhi Vihar colony near Gopalpur in North-West Delhi. This scheme was introduced for the refugees from Pakistan. Malhotra had purchased tokens and demolition slips from slum dwellers and later taken possession of the plots from the Authority on behalf of dwellers. </b>

Similarly, Dhirpur slum dwellers were relocated by the DDA under Kingsway Camp slum relocation scheme to Gandhi Vihar colony near Gopalpur in North-West Delhi. Malhotra had purchased coupons and demolition slips from slum dwellers and taken possession of land on their behalf from the Authority.

Several slums were relocated under the Kingsway Camp relocation scheme in the surrounding areas of Mukherjee Nagar. Sources said that Malhotra and the four DDA officials named in the scandal fraudulently purchased most of the plots in Gandhi Vihar. "Several agencies such as the Slum and JJ Department and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) besides the DDA were involved in the allotment of plots to slum dwellers," the source said.

The slum trade brought him quick money and he made big killings in the late 1990s. His lifestyle changed with ostentation becoming part of his personality. The cars recovered from him are either in his name or in the name of his family members. <b>The canteen contracts, which he had in the Vidhan Sabha and the DDA, were a front for his slum trade operations. </b>Problems began when he started bullying his neighbours in Mukherjee Nagar and tried to grab their properties.

Complaints were lodged against him and questions were asked about his possession of a fleet of cars. A case was filed in the Delhi High Court, which directed the CBI to investigate the matter. Following the raids by the CBI, DDA vice-chairman Dinesh Rai has ordered a Vigilance probe in the matter. He has asked the Authority's Chief Vigilance Officer to gather all the facts pertaining to the documents of plots that were allegedly recovered during raids on the premises of Malhotra. The CBI has booked Malhotra for forgery and cheating. The CBI during the raid on Wednesday night had recovered 5,500 tokens of plots, which had been allotted to fictitious persons in JJ clusters, from his residence. 
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[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>CBI handling of Malhotra case raises eyebrows </b>
Pioneer.com
Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
Gave broker over five days to set house in order
The truth about the shady dealings of Ashok Kumar Malhotra may never see the light of the day. According to well placed sources, the CBI officials allowed Malhotra more than five days to put his house in order before laying hands on him on the night of August 1.

Sources said that a team of CBI officials had visited Malhotra's residence on July 26 to enquire about the complaint received against him.

The CBI officials also informed Malhotra that an FIR was registered against him in connection with a case of forgery, cheating and fraudulent sale of the plots meant for slum dwellers in resettlement colonies. Soon after the CBI officials left, Malhotra is reported to have told his confidants that the matter had been sorted out.

The CBI team returned only five days later allowing Malhotra time to remove many incriminating documents and also go underground. "A team of about 35 CBI officials visited his residence at 7 am on August 26. They talked to Malhotra for more than 3-4 hours and left," the sources added.

<b>According to top sources, at the time of filing of the FIR about 75 cars were parked in front of Malhotra's mansion. Many of them had `disappeared' leaving only 17 cars behind to be 'recovered' during the CBI raids</b>.

The obvious questions that beg to be asked are why was Malhotra not questioned and raided when the case was registered on July 24 or when the sleuths visited his Mukherjee Nagar residence on July 26? Why was the search conducted nine days after the registration of the FIR? Did the CBI sleuths leak information about the agency's plans giving Malhotra ample time to take precautionary steps? Whether the agency was under pressure to go slow against him? Whether the agency will interrogate politicians and police officials who are considered close to Malhotra? <span style='color:red'>The CBI had recovered some videocassettes from Malhotra's residence which reveal his links with several politicians and police officials.</span> 
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[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Malhotra scam worth Rs 5,000 cr </b>
Pioneer.com
Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi
CBI recoveries only tip of iceberg
The actual value of the slum car-obar scam could well run into a minimum of Rs 5,000 crore. The CBI during its raids on August 1 had managed to lay its hands only on the documents of the plots in Gandhi Vihar, which is valued at Rs 825 crore, just a fraction of the whole value of the scam. The CBI sleuths on Sunday again conducted raids at main accused Ashok Kumar Malhotra's residence at 1311, Dr Mukherjee Nagar and seized all the 52 cars alleged to have been purchased with the scam money. 

Sources said that CBI as of now is scrutinising only the documents pertaining to relocation of Hudson Line and Dhirpur slum dwellers in Gandhi Vihar resettlement colony under Kingsway Camp slum relocation scheme between 2000 and 2002. The cost of a plot measuring 25 yards in Gandhi Vihar resettlement colony is between Rs 15 lakh to 17 lakh. The agency recovered 5,500 coupons or demolition slips (which came in the form of a metal token with a jhuggi number embossed on it) from Malhotra's residence during its raids on August 1. These tokens alone are valued at Rs 825 crore.

A close aide of Malhotra told The Pioneer that Malhotra has also procured a number of plots in Nehru Vihar near Mukherjee Nagar, Sarita Vihar, Yamuna Vihar, Badarpur, Molarband and Narela in fictitious names.

In Nehru Vihar, he is reported to have purchased over 400 plots measuring 25 yards and then resold at exorbitant prices. The plots in Nehru Vihar are valued at Rs 80 crore. At present, the market prices are between Rs 22 lakh to 25 lakh per plot here. Similarly, Malhotra owns a number of properties in Mukherjee Nagar, Model Town and Yamuna Vihar worth over Rs 800 crore.

<b>Sources revealed that Malhotra had also managed to get a number of allotment letters from Yamuna Pushta's slum dwellers that were relocated in Bawana and Narela during Delhi Assembly elections in 2003. </b>

The preliminary investigation also revealed that he had bought properties, flats and plots in Nehru Vihar, Sarita Vihar, Molarband, Narela and Yamuna Vihar. The modus operandi used by Malhotra was similar in most of the cases where he purchased demolition slips and allotment letters from slum dwellers. Till 2004, DDA used to issue demolition slips to residents as documentary proof for making them eligible for allotment of a plot at an alternative site. Sources said that these slips were bought by builders and land mafia along with original documents.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Lets see homw many MP and MLAs are involved in this scam.

[Guest]

I told you <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Cong tries to hush up Malhotra connection </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi 
Embarrassed by Delhi Congress' petty politicking and rivalries coming out in the open, the party high command on Monday tried to hush up the matter by reprimanding both the sides and denied that land scam accused Ashok Malhotra's episode was an attempt to topple Sheila Dikshit Government in the Capital.

<b>According to Congress sources, the party high command has been very upset with various rumours triggered by State Congress leaders about the politicial implication of Malhotra episode. </b>

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Delhi Ashok Gehlot also held parleys with Delhi leaders. Sources said that both the sides were reprimanded and told not to wash their dirty linen in public.

The camps have been told to work together and portray a united front in public. Sources said that Dikshit was asked to formally deny the conspiracy theory of an attempt to topple her Government.

<b>As a face-saver, the Congress formally denied all charges levelled by both the camps in the mud-slinging match played over the last three days. </b>

Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "Individual criminality (of Ashok Malhotra) has nothing to do with the Congress party."

Talking about allegations that Malhotra had been roped in as a financer to help topple the Congress Government in Delhi, Singhvi said: "This allegation is just the work of an idle and overactive mind. We have talked to Delhi Chief Minister and she has confirmed that nothing of this sort has happened and has said that none of the MLAs think so."

Singhvi blamed the entire controversy on "certain elements" trying to divert attention from the real land scam case. He said: "There is not even an iota of evidence on that conspiracy theory... These are nothing but techniques to divert attention from the investigation of land scam."

<b>When asked about the involvement of Congress MLAs in recommending Malhotra's cars for allotment of fancy numbers, </b>Singhvi said: "There might have been some impropriety in allotment of some numbers here and there. But it is not fair to assign the entire criminality of the accused (Ashok Malhotra in land scam) to these individuals. It is not fair to say that these people were also responsible for the land scam. Where is the logic in this?"
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[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>More Babus are booked by CBI </b>
Pioneer.com
PTI | New Delhi
The number of Babus (public servants) booked by the CBI on corruption charges increased to 1,917 in the year 2006 from 915 the previous year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

The investigating agency booked 1,917 officials of various government agencies for allegedly indulging in corruption in 2006 while the figures for the previous year was 915, Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri said.

In 2004, 926 government officials were caught by the CBI on graft charges, he said adding that as on July 31, 2007 the number of CBI cases pending for prosecution sanction was 81.

In reply to another question, he said that the CBI has registered 34 cases for securing jobs on the basis of fake Scheduled Tribe certificates.

"Out of these, chargesheets have been filed in 22 cases and nine cases have been closed for want of evidence. In one case, regular departmental action for major penalty has been recommended and the investigation has not been completed in the remaining cases," he said.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>CBI officer's house raided </b>
Saugar Sengupta | Kolkata
... for possessing 'disproportionate assets'
A day- long raid was conducted at the house of a senior CBI official in Kolkata by a team of "superior" officials on Thursday. The official has been charged with possessing disproportionate assets.

Though the Central team refused to comment on the incident, reports coming out of the agency suggest that the Delhi team has interrogated their Kolkata colleague after finding "substantive evidence" sufficient to put the senior official in the dock
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Cat and mouse game. <!--emo&:blow--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blow.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

Wheat import is mother of all scams
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Cargill purchased good quality grains from Indian farmers at Rs 8 to 8.50 per kg while the government has placed orders for import of wheat from Cargill Inc. at Rs 16 per kg. And the quality of this imported stuff is so poor that it is not fit for human consumption. The government in the process has enriched the farmers of US, Australia and other European countries at the cost of the poverty-stricken Indian farmers who are committing suicide, on a daily basis. It shows that the government, supported by the Communists and formed in the name of aam aadmi, has no heart, sense or rationale when it comes to national good.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In a letter to the Prime Minister the CPM leader Brinda Karat wrote, “In May the government floated a tender for five lakh tonnes of wheat and the price of wheat per tonne was stated to be $263. This order was cancelled by the government on the ground that the price was too high… two months later in July the government ordered the same amount (of wheat) at $325.59 a tonne leading to a loss of Rs 127.93 crore. Shockingly this was compounded by a further import order of eight lakh tonne at an even higher rate of Rs $389.45 which meant a further loss of Rs 412 crore.” She asked for an inquiry into this faulty policy and the consequent loss. Who benefitted from all this. The Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, owes an explanation to the nation. Is he a direct beneficiary or is he a victim of the shenanigans within the ruling coalition?
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What's going on here? Seems like this story is under-reported by mainstream media?

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Grease palms and govern </b>
Pioneer.com
Joginder Singh
The Mayawati Government in Uttar Pradesh has sacked more than 10,000 policemen in September 2007 on the ground that their recruitment and selection process was not fair. The State Government has also ordered an inquiry, headed by an Additional Director General of Police, to look into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 22,000 police and PAC constables through 55 selection boards during the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.

The Uttar Pradesh Government says, "After the inquiry made startling revelations, about largescale corruption and gross nepotism in the selections, the Chief Minister felt it was appropriate to summarily sack the beneficiaries who would have only got down to misusing the uniform to retrieve whatever spent to get the jobs... Fake certificates, over-writing in the answer-sheets (of the selection exam), and even different handwriting in the same answer-sheets suggesting subsequent interpolations, besides largescale bungling in physical tests were detected during the course of the inquiry."

The Mayawati Government claims to have exposed one of the biggest recruitment scams in the State. The inquiry report has showed that in 10 selection boards, largescale irregularities were committed in the recruitment of constables. About 22,000 fresh recruitments were made during the three-and-half-year rule of the Samajwadi Party Government.

However, this is not the end of the story. A State official says, "So far we have only unearthed part of the racket; since the ongoing probe had so far scrutinised less than one-third of the recruitments, many more were bound to lose jobs." Together with constables, Ms Mayawati has also ordered the suspension of 12 senior officers belonging to the Indian Police Service, who headed the recruitment exercise. Of these officers, one was an Inspector-General, nine Deputy Inspectors-General and two Superintendents of Police. Besides, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against 58 officers belonging to the lower Provincial Police Service. These include 18 officers of the additional SP rank and 40 Deputy Superintendents of Police.

Irregularities in the recruitment of police and personnel of other departments are not new in the country. There are a lot of money-making opportunities in Government jobs for those who wish to do so. <b>It was revealed that one district police chief had paid as much as Rs 3.5 crore to the then Chairman, Ravi Sidhu, of the Punjab Public Service Commission to get his children selected in the State Public Service. Touts have confessed paying a whopping sum of Rs 16 crore to the former Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman. Randhir Singh Gill, alias Dhira, a tout, has revealed that the rate of recruitment varied between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2.8 crore.</b>

Punjab is not the only State to have a tainted Public Service Commission. A cash reward of Rs 10,000 has been announced for giving information about former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission member Amol Singh Salam. Salam has been on the run since he was booked along with former CGPSC Acting Chairman Khelan Ram Jangde for alleged corruption in the State civil services examination and recruitment process.

The arrest of former Maharashtra Public Service Commission Chairman SD Karnik, too, has raised serious questions about the manner of functioning of the State Public Service Commission and the alleged corruption therein.

A study conducted by <b>'The Centre for Media Studies' has revealed in its report that truck operators have to pay between Rs 211 and Rs 266 daily as bribe to officials of the Regional Transport Department and policemen all over the country for plying their vehicles smoothly</b>. The report also reveals that each<b> truck operator on an average pays Rs 79,220 as bribe to officials annually. There are more than 36 lakh trucks in the country, operators of whom are paying a bribe of Rs 22,200 crore yearly</b>. Transport is a vital sector of our economy, and the money going into the pockets of transport officials and policemen could have been deposited with the exchequer, which the Government could use for improving the infrastructure.

It is no satisfaction for us that the malaise of scams and corruption is a common phenomenon across the world. Corruption is eating up the moral fabric of the country. If corruption, whether in recruitment or implementation of policies and programmes, is eliminated or even reduced by half, poverty and even rat race for Government jobs can be done away with. A Bench of the Supreme Court has observed: "The only solution to get rid of corruption is to hang corrupt elements. It added that today, everyone wants to loot the country. Corruption is rampant among us. Corruption has crept into all sections. If law grants us the permission, we would have announced death sentence to a few corrupt elements."

We had a spectacle of MPs being caught on camera for taking cash for asking question in Parliament. In another case, when some politicians were caught on camera taking kickbacks, all political parties in the State Assembly joined together in demanding a law to ban sting operations. Nobody said that it is good to expose the wrongdoings.

If the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who has declared an income of Rs 58 crore according to media reports, has taken this step to weed out corruption, it is welcome. If Ms Mayawati's Government is serious in ending corruption, it should implement police reforms and put in place a transparent system for recruitment to Government jobs.

The country's criminal justice system is on the verge of collapse, which has been admitted more than once by the powers-that-be. Yet, all reports for its reform, whether it is Mallimath Committee or several other commissions, remain in cold storage. Not controlling corruption is like plundering the nation for profit. The trouble in our country is that there are too many politicians who believe that they can fool all the people all the time.

The whole country suffers due to poor governance, as most citizens refuse to participate in politics. Things will improve only when all citizens start treating themselves as stakeholders in the governance of the country.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

FIR against Pawar and others
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A court on Friday ordered the police to file a FIR against BCCI  chief and Union minister Sharad Pawar and three cricket officials for alleged misappropriation of funds during the recent India-Australia ODI in the city<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Baalu admits to favouring sons </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
<b>'What's wrong in seeking gas for family-run business?'</b>
In an embarrassing disclosure made under fierce onslaught by Opposition MPs, Shipping and Surface Transport Minister <b>TR Baalu was forced to admit in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday he had asked officials of the GAIL and ONGC to divert Cauvery basin gas to firms owned by his two sons.</b>  

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, AIADMK leader V Maitreyan charged the Minister of illegally reining in the Petroleum Ministry for the favour of his kin. He was also supported by the Opposition BJP.

The House witnessed a clash between the UPA and the Opposition as the State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narayansamy came in support of the beleaguered Minister.

Stung by the charge, DMK's Trichi Shiva tried to derail the issue by raising point of order and saying the matter was sub-judice.

However, the Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien ruled that the issue would be raised and since the Minister was present in the House, he should clarify.

"There are so many matters in the Court. If it is not against the Court, no one can stop the members in raising the issue," Kurien said.

Emboldened by the ruling, and supported by the Opposition members Maitreyan waved copies of a newspaper showing how Baalu influenced GAIL and ONGC chiefs to divert Cauvery basin gas to his son's firms at discounted rates.

<b>"I put in a word with the Petroleum Minister. What is wrong in it?" Baalu retorted making everyone speechless on this blunt remark. </b>

Baalu admitted that he was the Managing Director of King Chemicals and King High Power before he became a Minister in the previous NDA Government.

<b>"The employees of the two companies met me and said that you are at the helm of affairs and you should help us when the company has been declared sick," Baalu said</b>.

He said that there were 40,000 shareholders whose money was involved, and he simply put in a word to the Petroleum Minister.

<b>A report in Chennai edition of The New Indian Express (dated April 21) said the major shareholders of the company owned by Baalu's sons are two of his wives TRB Parkodi and B Renukadevi. Baalu had accepted this fact in the affidavit filed before the Election Commission. </b>

Former Union Minister Subramaniyam Swamy had sent a petition against Baalu's high-handedness to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had directed the CBI to verify the fact as a pre-inquiry exercise.

The report said that in March last year, the CMD of GAIL UD Choubey wrote to ONGC Chairman and Managing Director RS Sharma that in a June 28, 2006 meeting with the Petroleum Minister and Baalu, "it was considered that ONGC will look into additional availability of gas" to Kings Chemicals and Kings Power.

Incidentally, the two companies were also awarded gas from Kuttalam and Narimanam zones of the Cauvery Basin in 1998-98 but the allocation lapsed and the matter is now before Madras and Delhi High courts.

The Petroleum Ministry submitted in the Delhi HC that Kings Power was allotted gas at Rs 654 per million metric standard cubic metre but they demanded the price to be reduced to Rs 250 per MSCM. The allotment was cancelled after three extensions when the company did not sign the final paper. Similarly, the allotment of the Kings Chemicals was also cancelled in 2002.

<b>After the UPA came to power, the Surface Transport Minister asked the GAIL CMD on March 1, 2007 to direct ONGC to supply gas to his family's companies. But the Tamil Nadu Power Producers Association challenged the decision in Courts and got a stay against the allocation</b>.

The Kings Chemicals had also defaulted Rs 4.35 crore loan from IDBI and a Rs 1.93 crore loan from IFCI.

But Baalu kept repeating "What is wrong in it?" amidst uproar in the House <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Somebody tell this moron, whats wrong?
What a fool and he is MP no surprise?

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"I put in a word with the Petroleum Minister. What is wrong in it?" Baalu retorted making everyone speechless on this blunt remark. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seems this person has a basic problem differentiating between right and wrong. Ignorant or arrogant?

It's sad that such nitwits are tasked with sensitive issues like Setu project.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Seems this person has a basic problem differentiating between right and wrong. Ignorant or arrogant?

It's sad that such nitwits are tasked with sensitive issues like Setu project.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is why he should read Ramayana and Bhagwat Geeta to learn Dharma, to understand what is Right and Wrong. Only thing they have learnt his how to suck up Karuna and his family.

[Guest]

Baalu's day of reckoning is near...
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-setu-project-meenam-fisheries-ltd.html

Why  Setu project? Meenam Fisheries Ltd. – an intl. Private company -- with shipping vessels and marine export interests.

Some leads following up on expose reported on Jaya TV on 24 April 2008 10:30 PM news based on the info. exposed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy.. See page 2 of Election affidavit. http://tinyurl.com/3hvjrf 

Meenam Fisheries Ltd. owns a shipping vessel as seen below.

One mariner claims he was for five years a mechanic Deck Hand (25 mts vessel) in Meenam Fisheries Ltd. This establishes the fact that the Intl. Private Company, Meenam Fisheries Ltd. is also a ship-owner.

http://www.gulfoilandgas.com/webpro1/Job...id=3037197

About us: Meenam Fisheries is a market leader in India with fishing oprerations in more than four countries and exports to all over the world.We export deep sea lobsters , shrimps etc which are processed in a state of the art processing unit meeting the highest possible standards in the fishing industry.

Aquatic Products ,Products/ServicesWe are exporters of Frozen Sea Food products eg: Lobsters, Shrimps, Fish etc.Our MarketsWorldwideNo. of Employees101 - 500 PeopleAnnual Sales Range(USD)Below US$1 Million

http://www.bizearch.com/company/Meenam_Fis...ited_112959.htm

MEENAM FISHERIES LIMITED

NO.9 BINNY ROAD

POES GARDEN

Phone: 91-44-28157949/91-44-28156486

Email: meenam@kingsindia.net

Current Status : WORKING

LOP NO : PER/EOB/1986/05

LOP Date: 10/22/1986

DCP : 01/09/1988  www.mepz.gov.in/list.asp?nsw=M&Categ=EOU

Date:23/04/2004 URL: Property details

In his affidavit, Mr. Baalu declared that he had assets worth Rs 2.25 crores, including a house in Kodambakkam valued at Rs 1.25 crores, Rs.3.5 lakhs in cash and Rs. 55,000 as deposits in two banks. He also held shares of Rs 47.5 lakhs in King India Chemicals Corporation Limited, Meenam Fisheries Limited and Kings India Power Corporation Limited. He owned a car — a 1993 Premier, valued at Rs 30,000. Mr. Baalu also declared ownership of agricultural land valued at Rs. 35 lakhs in Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts. He owned industrial land in Kancheepuram district worth Rs. 10 lakhs. Mr. Baalu's family members had assets worth Rs. 50 lakhs.

http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/23/stories...42306240400.htm

NAME OF THE INSTITUTION:

KINGS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,

PUNALKULAM.- 613 303

THANJAVUR (VIA), GANDARVAKOTTAI (T.K.)

PUDUKKOTTAI – DT

TAMIL NADU – 613 303

Ph - 04362 282474, 282676 Fax - 04362 282494

E-mail:- contact@kingsindia.net

Mr.T.R.B.Rajaa - Managing Trustee : Coming from a management background this young gentleman has revived and rejuvenated the whole aura of our institution since taking over as the Managing Trustee of the Trust as well as the Chairman of the college. He also holds high offices in various industries :

*** Managing Director: Kings India Chemical Corporation Limited (Listed  Company in the field of Manufacturing and marketing of Chemicals.

***Chairman: Kings India Power Corporation Limited (A company involved in the  setting up of Power Projects for generation of power)

***Chairman: Meenam Fisheries Limited (Public Limited company with Deep Sea Fishing Ventures)

http://www.kingsindia.net/profiles/mandato...0disclosure.htm

Contact PersonMr Rajaa BaaluAddress14 Vyasar Street,T.Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaZip Code600017Telephone91 44 28156486MobileFax91 44 42122861WebsiteMeenam Fisheries Limited, http://www.bizearch.com/company/Meenam_Fis...ited_112959.htm

Company Type : Exporter Contact : Rajaa Baalu Address : 14 Vyasar Street

T.Nagar

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600017

India Telephone : [91] (44) 28156486 Fax : [91] (44) 52122861 Name(s) of Principals : TRB Rajaa Commenced Business : 1989 At This Address Since : 2001 Number Of Employees : 150 Plant Size : 300,000 Plant Locations : Chennai Company Certifications : Euro Standards

The following is the list of products available at our end. You may go through the same and revert to us with any specific species that you may need. Please specify your required mode of packing, your choice of frozen, fresh(chilled) or live, tentative quantity and grade(count per kilogram/lbs) .

Iseebi:

*Spiny or Rock Lobster(Panulirus orantus) --- live or frozen

*Spiny or Rock Lobster(Panulirus Homarus) ---live or frozen.

*Spiny or Rock Lobster(Panulirus spp) ---live or frozen.



*Deep sea lobster tails(Puuerulus spp) --- frozen.

*Sand Lobster---(Thenus Orientalis) ---Frozen.

Ebi:

*Giant Tiger Prawns(Penaeus Monodon) ---frozen or chilled.

*White Prawn Indian (P. Indicus) ---frozen or chilled.

*Flower prawn(P. semisulcatus) ---frozen or chilled

*Deep sea shrimp(Solenoccera sp) ---frozen or chilled.

*Kuruma Shrimp(P. Japonicus) ---frozen or chilled.

*Silver Pomfrets(Pampus Argentus) ---frozen or chilled.

*Chineese Pomfrets---frozen or chilled.

*Black Pomfrets(Formio Niger) ---frozen or chilled.







Kaki:

*Oyster(Crassostrea madrasensis)

Akoyagai:

*Pearl Oyster (Pinctada spp) ---Hand Picked.

Ko-ika:

*Cuttle fish(Sepia Spp) ---dried or frozen.

Ika:

*Squid (Loligo duvaucelii) ---dried or frozen.

Igai:

*Green mussel (Perna viridis) ---hand picked.



*Hammer Head Shark(Sphyrna Zygaena) ---frozen or chilled.

*Milk Shark (Scoliodon Walbeehmi) ---frozen or chilled.

*Bramble Shark(Echinorhinus brucus) ---frozen or chilled.



*Eel(monopetrus Javanensis) ---frozen.

*Red Snapper Malabar (Lutjanus malabaricus) ---frozen or chilled.

*Seer Fish(Scomder Omorus Commerfon) ---frozen or chilled.

*Kalava(Epinephelus Sp) ---frozen or chilled.

*Mackeral(Rasprelliger Kanagurta) ---frozen or chilled.

*Crabs(Kani) (Portunus Sanguinolentus) ---Meat, whole or live.



Hope you are satisfied with our description of available products. Please feel free to place requests for specific species which may not be listed above.

http://www.fuzing.com/vci/00042111f261/Mee...sheries-Limited



Meenam Fisheries is a market leader in India with fishing oprerations in more than four countries and exports to all over the world.We export deep sea lobsters , shrimps etc which are processed in a state of the art processing unit meeting the highest possible standards in the fishing industry.

Basic Information



Company Name: Meenam Fisheries Limited 

Business Type: Other 

Product/Services: We are exporters of Frozen Sea Food products eg: Lobsters, Shrimps, Fish etc. 

Number of Employees: 101 - 500 People 

Trade & Market

Main Markets: North America

South America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Eastern Asia

Southeast Asia

Mid East

Africa

Oceania

Total Annual Sales Volume: Below US$1 Million 

http://www.alibaba.com/member/meenam/aboutus.html

Company Profile Updated: 08-NOV-07

Meenam Fisheries Ltd.

International Private company

No. 14, Eyaar St., Chennai, , India

()4428156486, fax,

Primary SIC: Canned And Cured Fish & Seafoods, Primary NAICS: Seafood Canning

Description: Manufacturing: Canned and Cured Fish and Seafoods

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-co...33511-page.html



http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=1



Shocking scandal



The Pioneer Edit Desk



Govt must investigate Baalu's deed



Union Shipping and Surface Transport Minister TR Baalu, who is also a confidant of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, is no stranger to controversies that raise serious doubts about his integrity quotient. In the past he has shown remarkable interest in pushing the disastrous Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project in defiance of popular outrage. Mr Baalu's critics insist that creating a shorter route for merchant ships is the last thing on his mind; he is more worried about idling dredgers and stalled work farmed out to contractors. The Minister's strenuous efforts, at times sly and slimy, to bulldoze the Government into going ahead with the Sethusamudram project irrespective of court injunctions, do generate a sense of unease about his true intentions. That Mr Baalu does not have a high integrity quotient is now demonstrated by his misuse of office to benefit two firms in which his wives and sons have more than a passing interest. It transpires that he 'requested' -- an euphemism for arm-twisting or political blackmail, call it what you will -- ONGC and GAIL to divert Cauvery Basin gas to these firms at a time when there was a mismatch between demand and supply. The Petroleum Ministry is with the Congress and it does not require extraordinary intelligence to figure out why a 'request' by the resident strongman of the DMK in Delhi, whose proximity to the party boss in Chennai is no secret, was more than honoured, with officials scampering to do Mr Baalu's bidding. Such is this man's inability to distinguish between that which is patently wrong and morally right, that he had no qualms about standing up in the Rajya Sabha, where the issue has been raised for two consecutive days, and asserting, "What is wrong in it?" Only those who are entirely bereft of probity and believe that misusing authority is part of the privilege of holding public office can be so scandalously callous.





It would, however, be unfair to place the entire blame at Mr Baalu's door. Politicians like him cannot be expected to act honourably when in office. But what is distressing is that a man who makes a fetish of honesty and integrity presides over a Cabinet many of whose members are perceived to be lacking in both. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cannot pretend ignorance of Mr Baalu's dubious activities, nor can he take shelter behind the argument that it is ultimately the DMK's choice as to whom it wants as a Minister. Mr Baalu has claimed that he kept the Prime Minister informed about his 'request'. If this is true, then the Prime Minister owes an explanation as to why he did not reject the 'request' in keeping with his squeaky clean image that his publicists tirelessly project to prove he is a good man undeserving of uncharitable comments. Mr Baalu cannot get away with his obnoxious disregard for ministerial probity; the scandal should be investigated by the CBI and the full truth unearthed; till the inquiry is over, he should be made to sit out. At the same time, neither should the Prime Minister be allowed to get away by maintaining stony silence. He must explain to Parliament, and thus to the nation, as to why the 'request' of a Minister with a dubious record was entertained. Stonewalling the issue won't do.





Baalu controversy: RS adjourned; Jaya demands PM's resignation

New Delhi, April 24: The issue of Shipping Minister T R Baalu allegedly asking GAIL to provide gas to companies with which his family was associated today snowballed, leading to adjournment of the Rajya Sabha for the day, while AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for ''aiding and abetting'' him. During the Question Hour in the Upper House of Parliament, AIADMK member V Maitreyan was asked by Chairman Hamid Ansari to leave the House after the AIADMK member repeatedly disrupted the proceedings on the issue. The Rajya Sabha plunged into pandemonium today for nearly 90 minutes in the post-lunch session after which it was adjourned for the day with the opposition BJP and SP members vociferously demanding revocation of the eviction of the member.

The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha said,''I have witnessed a situation I have never witnessed before. A senior member of the House is deliberately violating procedures. Under the relevant Rules of the House, the Chair may direct any member who in his opinion is violating. I am invoking this rule against the member.'' Thereafter, the AIADMK member left the House which then carried on with its normal business.

Yesterday too, the AIADMK member had raised the issue in the House. Dr Maitreyan alleged that the minister had 'armtwisted' the ONGC and GAIL for favouring the companies 'Kings India Chemicals' and 'King Chemicals and Kings High Power' with which his family was linked. He claimed that 'Kings India' was on the 2004 list o Tamil Nadu bank defaulters and urged the Prime Minister to come clean on the matter.

Mr Baalu then said he was the managing director of the two companies before becoming a minister. The companies, he said, were referred to BIFR and its employees and shareholders were in trouble. ''In 1999, Kings High Power had entered into an agreement with GAIL for the supply of 10,000 cubic metres of gas to it. But the gas company went back on its word as part of revenge taken by the NDA government and the BJP as I quit the alliance in 2003,'' Mr Baalu said. ''The employees and shareholders approached me with the problem.

I then put in a word with the petroleum minister for supplying gas to the ailing company. I was trying to save the company. What is wrong in it,'' he asked. Meanwhile, in a statement in Chennai today, Ms Jayalalithaa sought Mr Baalu's sacking and demanded the resignation of Dr Singh for ''aiding and abetting'' him in ''arm-twisting'' the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry.

She alleged that never before had such a grave charge been levelled against a Prime Minister who had not reacted to the reports in this regard in a section of the media.

Quoting reports, she said Mr Baalu had arm-twisted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry over the past two years to provide gas from the Cauvery basin to two companies, Kings India Power Corporation and Kings India Chemical Corporation, owned by his two sons T R B Rajkumar and T R B Selvakumar.

''Interestingly, Mr Baalu's two wives, Ms Porkodi and Ms Renuka Devi, hold huge stakes in these companies'', she also alleged.

Ms Jayalalithaa said this was a grave charge of misuse of office, nepotism and corruption relating to Mr Baalu's tenure as Union Minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas during 1996-98.

''Not only is there a documented charge that the Union Minister was indulging in nepotism and corruption, there is also a charge with proof that has not been refuted that the Prime Minister is actively aiding and abetting this crime'', she alleged.

Dr Singh was according ''unequal treatment'' by bending rules to favour a Cabinet Minister merely because that Minister's party was necessary for his government to continue in power, she alleged.

Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsi...ATEGORYNAME=CHN

Baalu scandal: Opp tastes blood

Pioneer News Service | New Delhi

The demand for sacking of Road and Shipping Minister TR Baalu, in the dock for arm-twisting GAIL and ONGC to allot gas to companies owned by his two sons, gathered momentum on Thursday and dominated the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha for better part of the day.

For the second day in row, AIADMK leader V Maitreyan stole the show in the Rajya Sabha by demanding Baalu's removal from the Union Cabinet and a statement from the Prime Minister on the scandal. The RS Chairman's decision to expel Maitreyan from the House for persisting with his demands, acted like fuel to the fire and united the opposition. With the BJP, Samajwadi Party and the TDP throwing their weight behind Maitreyan, the Government may find it tough to protect Baalu, who himself admitted on Wednesday to seeking gas for the family-run business.

But surprisingly, despite such serious charges, there is no official reaction from the Government. While this could be open to interpretation, but it is well-known that even a section of the Congress is unhappy with Baalu and would like to see him go.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed uproarious scenes and then adjournment as the Opposition objected to Maitreyan being asked to leave the House by Chairman Hamid Ansari.

The Chairman invoked the rarely used rule 255 when he asked Maitreyan to "withdraw' from the House for persistent defiance of the Chair. Stating that "it was disorderly conduct unbecoming of a member", Ansari said the member was "deliberately violating the procedures of the House."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was present in the House when Maitreyan raised the issue as soon as the question hour commenced and said the Prime Minister should reply on the irregularity committed by his Minister.

Ansari reminded Maitreyan that he had been allowed to raise the issue and had got a reply from the Minister on Wednesday but the AIADMK leader and his party colleagues were in no mood to oblige the Chair.

Unable to calm down Maitreyan, the Chairman asked for the Rule Book and announced: "I am invoking Rule 255 of the Rajya Sabha rules and asking the member to withdraw from the Council of States." Maitreyan left instantly.

According to Rajya Sabha officials, Rule 255 states that the concerned member has to withdraw from the House the moment the Chair invokes the rule. The member has to stay away from the proceedings of the House for that day. The last time the rule was used in 1989.

As soon as the House re-assembled for the post-lunch sitting, the BJP and the UNPA members were on their feet protesting against Ansari's ruling and insisted that the issue be resolved before any other business was taken up.

PJ Kurien, who was in the chair, however, said the ruling of the chair could not be challenged. BJP members led by Sushma Swaraj and SS Ahluwalia said they were not questioning the ruling but they were raising the "question of rights of members".

Sushma said "almost everybody in the past had raised issues during question hour, it is not something

new." Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh said he was "not questioning the ruling, or the procedure or the system. What I want to know is why rules are used selectively against party members other than the Congress and the BJP."

The chair then asked the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to explain the ruling party's stand, but by now the Opposition members were in no mood to listen to him. They began shouting slogans, "Raksha karo, raksha karo, hamare adhikaron ki raksha karo (Protect our rights)". At this, ruling party members V Narayan Swamy and Jayanti Natrajan protested saying how can they question the ruling of the chair in the House.

Sushma Swaraj suggested to the chair that the House be adjourned and the matter be resolved in the Business Advisory Committee. Kurien, however, refused saying "I am in the chair. How can I adjourn the House on the question of chairman's ruling." Sushma said "I am only saying that this issue cannot be resolved in this heated atmosphere."

She then recalled how in this session itself a similar situation had arisen when names of 11 SP members were notified and the SP members did not allow the House to proceed. The matter was finally settled with discussion by party leaders in the deputy chairman Rehman Khan's chamber.

CPM MP Brinda Karat also said that she was also present when the incident happened as her party had supported the SP members then. Finding the issue not getting resolved, Kurien in chair adjourned the House for the day.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=4
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Bodhi]

Beginning of the end for this dharmadrohi?

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It is expected that it may be necessary for PM to respond in a day or two in the Parliament on this subject.

To prepare himself for this contingency, PM has reportedly asked for specific enquiries by CBI.

Reliable sources state that four important enquiries have been posted for investigation.

1. Using a firm based in Andhra Pradesh as benami, for dredging operations in Setusamudram project, have contracts been given to TR Baalu's family members? Have any members of TR Baalu's family benefited from such benami contracts?

2. In Golden Quadrilateral Project, complaints have been made that low-level politicians are involved in illegalities in many states. What is the truth in these allegations?

3.To what extent have TR Baalu family-related concerns have benefited from ONGC? What special privileges and facilities and concessions have been provided by ONGC to these entities? Have there been any illegalities in these facilities provide by ONGC? Details should be gathered.

4. Large bank loans have been taken in the name of TR Baalu's sons' firms and have not been repaid; is this allegation based on fact? To prevent banks from initiating action to recover the dues, has any abuse of office occurred by TR Baalu's attempted interventions? Are there cases pending  in Bank loan recovery tribunals?

Reliable sources infom that the Prime Minister's Office has asked for the above-mentioned details to be gathered by CBI at the earliest.

http://www.dinamani.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=D...=No+Title&Dist= Translation from this Dinamani 26 April 2008 newsreport in Tamil.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>PMO not wrong in forwarding letter eight times: Congress </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Baalu row stalls both Houses
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) forwarded as many as eight letters to the Petroleum Ministry for allotment of gas to the firms owned by the two sons of Shipping Minister TR Baalu, but the Congress sees nothing wrong in that! 

As the issue continued to rock Parliament, the party defended the PMO and said that forwarding letters is a common practice and did not necessarily mean endorsing the contents.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "The PMO had forwarded the requests to the Ministry. There is no question of endorsing or agreeing with the contents."

The Opposition is unlikely to buy this line of argument because it is understood that few officials will have the courage to go against a letter forwarded by the PMO. Also, it is difficult to believe that eight letters on the same subject could have been forwarded by the PMO to a Ministry and no one notice any thing unusual about it.

Caught in a difficult situation, the Government is hoping that the controversy will subside after Parliament Session with political parties getting busy with Karnataka Assembly poll.

<b>Senior Congress leaders said that the party would not press for Baalu's resignation, as it was an internal matter of DMK and not the Congress</b>. However, it is obvious that Baalu's had committed a gross misconduct in seeking favour for his sons and the Government needed to at least order an inquiry into the whole episode.

When asked to comment on the Congress views on Baalu's conduct, Singhvi said, "<b>We want probity in public life and do not want anything less than that." </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
PMO is telling Prime Minister is just a rubber stamp what a big deal.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->as it was an internal matter of DMK and not the Congress<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Who gave the Cabinet post to Baalu? Manmohan Singh or Karunanidhi? What's preventing Manmohan from stripping the cabinet protfolio from Baalu?

[Guest]

'Corruption is now official for Congress party'

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But there’s no indication at all that the Manmohan Singh government has approached the German government for looking at that data. Is he not aware or has he forgotten about the wealth hoarded by Indians in the areas of commerce, politics, arts, entertainment, even the military, in foreign banks for the last five to six decades? How can he, as a former RBI Governor and India’s Finance Minister, be unaware when it is common knowledge that trillions of dollars of Indian money are lying in various tax havens, such as Antigua, Switzerland, Bahamas, Liechtenstein, Isle of Man, St Kitts, and so on?

<b>R Vaidyanathan, Professor of Finance and Control, IIM, Bangalore, believes the amount involved, according to back-of-the-envelope calculations, can be at least ten to twelve times our current GDP. This will run to several trillion dollars, which can be used to write off the loans of all marginal farmers of the entire world. </b>

Tragically, our PM only very recently asked the finance ministry to inquire into the operations of sovereign wealth funds in India after the RBI Governor suggested that India should consider setting up its SWF. He and the RBI Governor seem strangely acting oblivious to the fact that in places like Leichtenstein lie the real sovereign wealth of our country belonging to billions of our poor. That is our Sovereign Wealth Fund, already existing and waiting to be tapped only if the UPA top brass is willing and the Opposition is not sleeping.

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