RBI initiates probe in Citibank fraud

Chandigarh: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said it has initiated a probe into the Rs 300 crore fraud at Citibank's Gurgaon branch and would soon issue a statement in this regard. "Any bank where fraud (has taken place), we cannot (ignore)...and from banking side we have to do our own job…how it (Citibank fraud) has happened and what are the implications," RBI, Executive Director, G Gopalakrishna told reporters. He was replying to a query on whether the RBI has undertaken any probe in multi-crore Citibank scam.

 

Acknowledging that RBI has stepped in with regard to Citibank fraud, he said that either RBI Governor or Deputy Governor would make a statement shortly pertaining to the bank scam.

 

"Any transaction related to bank certainly we are concerned…most probably RBI Governor or Deputy Governor will issue statement today or tomorrow in this regard," Gopalakrishna who was here to attend a financial inclusion programme said.

 

The Rs 300 crore fraud had been detected in Citibank s branch in Gurgaon

 

The accused, Shivraj Puri, who is the bank s relationship manager had been arrested in this connection.

 

He allegedly sold investment products to High Networth Individuals claiming they would generate very high returns.

 

According to Police, Rs 200 crore belonged to corporates including Hero Group and Rs 100 crore to individuals.

 

"Some of the Hero Group entities, along with some others, are victims of the fraud conducted through one of the Citi branches in Gurgaon," the Group said in a statement earlier in the day.

 

An enquiry is in progress and the next steps will be decided post enquiry, it said.

 

It is also alleged that Puri showed a forged notification of market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India for obtaining funds from customers.

 

He also allegedly routed the fund garnered from the HNI customers to stock market through brokerage firms like Religare Securities. He also claimed that these products were authorised by the bank's investment product committee.

 

"We reported the matter to all the relevant regulatory and law enforcement authorities.

 

Identified suspicious transactions have been isolated and we are providing full assistance to the authorities in their investigations", the Citibank India spokesperson said.

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Customs duty on onion imports reduced to zero

 

New Delhi: With onion prices skyrocketing to as much as Rs 85 per kg in some retail markets, the Indian government on Wednesday said it has brought down customs duty on imports of the commodity to zero from 5 per cent.

 

"The customs duty on onions has been brought down to zero," Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

 

The step comes amid a sharp rise in the price of onions up to Rs 70-85 per kg in retail markets across the country from just Rs 35-40 a few days ago on account of damage suffered by crops in the key-producing states of Maharashtra,

 

Gujarat and a few Southern states due to excessive rains, which has led to large-scale hoarding by some traders.

The steep hike in onion prices set alarm bells ringing in the government, which has imposed a ban on onion exports till January 15, 2011, with a view to increase availability in the domestic market. However, it is likely to take at least three weeks before the common man gets any relief from the measure.

 

"Onion prices will remain high for the next 2-3 weeks and the situation is likely to improve only after that," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.

 

While Pawar had indicated the government did not have any plans to import onions to bring down prices at home, small 450-tonne consignments of the commodity from neighbouring Pakistan have been making their way into the country across the Punjab border since Tuesday.

 

Compared to the exorbitant domestic prices, the price of the onions imported from Pakistan is just Rs 18-20 per kg.

 

A worried Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose government has been grappling with high inflation for much of the past year, has also stepped into the picture and asked the agriculture and consumer affairs ministries to take effective steps to rein in onion prices.

 

"The Prime Minister desires all necessary steps to effectively deal with the extraordinary price rise of onions and bring the prices down to an affordable level," an official source said, quoting letters written by Singh to the ministries concerned.

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Gujjar protest intensifies, affects road traffic

 

Jaipur: The Gujjar protest in Rajasthan intensified on Wednesday after the Rajasthan High Court turned down the state government's petition for five per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Gujjars have blocked traffic on the Jaipur-Agra and Jaipur-Ajmer highway.

 

They also pelted stones at the state roadways buses. Bus services on these roads were suspended. Earlier the protestors had also blocked rail routes to Rajasthan.

 

The Centre rushed 15 paramilitary companies to Rajasthan to control the agitation.

 

While turning down the government's petition the court directed the it to provide data on Gujjars in a year's time. 

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J&K govt lifts ban on post-paid mobile SMS

 

Jammu: In a New Year gift to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government on Wednesday withdrew the ban on Short Messaging Services (SMS) using post-paid mobile phone but the ban on sending of bulk messages remained in force.

The decision was taken at the directive of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who reviewed the overall situation in the state with senior officials as well as intelligence agency sleuths, official sources said.

 

The ban was imposed in June this year following widespread unrest in the Valley, which was further fuelled by bulk messages sent in by anti-national forces.

According to the order, which comes nine days ahead of the New Year, the state government asked mobile service operators to allow SMS services from all post-paid phones.

 

However, the ban on bulk messages sent usually from computers remained banned, the notification said. 

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mahindra thar

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Mahindra Thar Launched

 

NEW DELHI, INDIA - The much awaited utility car of the year has been launched today by Mahindra & Mahindra. This sports utility vehicle, named as Mahindra Thar 4X4, will first hit the market in Rajasthan and Kerala and later, it would be introduced in the rest of the nation.

Mahindra Thar 4X4, is expected to offer a huge competition to the dominance of Jeep Wrangler, as it would offer similar features like that of Wrangler at a much lower prize. This car is already creating a rave in the market all over Europe and South Africa, due the smooth ride it offers during the off-road journeys. Mahindra Thar would be the first non-commercial car to be launched by the company with a 2.5-liter along with a 78 kilo Watt and 2500CC turbo-diesel engine. It operates on the basis of Euro 4 emissions standards. The peak torque of the car would offer an impressive 247 Nm at 1800 rpm at its peak. The other important features that accounts for its looks are open style motoring and a removable hardtop roof. The double-action shock absorbers would facilitate a leaf-spring suspension. It also offers a 2-speed gear-reduction, along with an approach angle of 46 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees to make the car all more tempting and hardy.

 

The automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has earned a different position in the Indian market, as the only car manufacturer, that deals with mainly off-road hardy cars. Where most of its sedans could not create a popularity in the market, Mahindra Thar 4X4 is expected to be as good as its other multi-utility vehicles like Scorpio and Bolero. This car would cost something around Rs 6 to Rs 8 lakh depending on the other intricate features of its models.

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Indian forces can enter Myanmar chasing terrorists

 

Indian security forces can enter Myanmar to hunt for terrorists after taking due permission from Myanmarese authorities, it was decided in Aizawl on Monday. And to boost their crackdown on Indian separatists hiding in Myanmar, it was also decided that Myanmarese security officials have promised to learn English or Hindi to overcome communication problems.

The decisions to curb trans-border movement of terrorists, arms smuggling and prevent drug trafficking came at a meeting of officers from the Indian home ministry and Myanmar's Chin state.

 

Both sides agreed to improve border security and share information on cross-border terrorism, a Mizoram home department official said.

 

The meeting took place in eastern Mizoram's Champhai town on Friday.

 

The official said: "Myanmar authorities have agreed to allow Indian security forces to enter Myanmar territory along the border after getting permission from the (local) army post commander."

 

The Indian delegation was led by home ministry's joint secretary S. Singh and the Myanmar officials headed by U. Nay Wing, the army commander of Chin state.

 

According to Indian officials, several militants from the northeast have taken shelter in Myanmar and Bangladesh and have set up bases and training camps.

 

"After the Bangladesh crackdown against northeast militants, many Indian guerrillas took shelter in the jungles and hills of Myanmar," a Border Security Force (BSF) official said.

 

The official said that though Mizoram was the only state in the region free of separatist activities, militants from other states occasionally used its borders for safe passage.

 

The next meeting of the border liaison officers will be held in Myanmar in April 2011 to review the progress of the joint action.

 

Mizoram has a 404-km border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh.

 

Four Indian states - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram - share the 1,640-km border with Myanmar manned by Assam Rifles. The dense forests in most parts make the border porous and highly vulnerable.

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World Bank's Rs 1,072 crore for Meghalaya roads

 

The World Bank will pump in Rs 1,072 crore for road connectivity in rural areas of Meghalaya, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma said on Monday. The implementation of the projects in the state is proposed to start from 2011. Altogether 567 habitations of the total 756 habitations eligible for road connectivity will be covered under the project which is expected to be completed within five years, Sangma said.

She, however, lamented that the state needs to gear up to implement the project.

 

"The institutional arrangement of the state need be made efficient to handle the funds. While the state has no separate department to implement the PMGSY schemes, the PWD department has a cell that look after it. But that cell is not functional," she said after reviewing the implementation of the PMGSY schemes in the state.

 

She expressed the need for more engineers and skilled workforce.

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Bomb blast rocks Varanasi

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Delhi Police nabbed two KCP outfit

 

New Delhi, Dec 7, 2010: The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Monday arrested two members of Manipur-based banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) here in the capital. The arrest members of KCP outfit were Huidrom Nanao Singh alias Dinesh Singh and Mayengbam Santon Luwang.  Seven mobile phones, one ATM card, 2 PAN cards, Identity Card and one Driving License has been recovered from them.  

 

Arun Kampani, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Delhi said:  “On apprehension Manipur Police was contacted and they confirmed that Huidrom Nanao Singh alias Dinesh Singh was involved in abduction of five officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Manipur”.

 

“The accused belonging to Kangleipak Communist Party Military Council [KCP(MC)] along with a senior cadre of KCP and a senior cadre of Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) hatched a plan to kidnap five officials from Senapati District in Manipur and after abduction, demanded a ransom of Rs. Two crore for their release,” added Kampani.

 

The police officials said this abduction was executed by these militants on November 27, 2010 and after negotiation, the ransom money of Rs.70 lakh was paid to them and the abducted officials were released on the night of 4/5 December”.

 

These cadres had come to Delhi on November 30 for hiding and were apprehended by the officers of Special Cell on December 6 under section 41(1)(A) Cr.P.C.

 

Manipur Police has confirmed their involvement in case FIR No. 41(11)2010 KPI PS u/s 400/364(A)/34 IPC, Sec.20 UA(P) Amdt. Act & 25 (I-C) Arms Act and they are reaching Delhi for their further interrogation, said police officials. 

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Varanasi blast: Maya calls emergency meet

 

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati held an emergency meeting of senior government officials in Lucknow on Tuesday after a blast shook the temple town of Varanasi killing a child and injuring 20 people.

 

She rushed a team of officials, besides BSP state unit president Swami Prasad Maurya to Varanasi directing them to monitor the relief measures and treatment of the injured persons at government expenditure, an official statement said.

Besides directing the officials to investigate the matter thoroughly, she asked them to take stern action against those found guilty, the statement said.

Condemning the blast and expressing grief over the death of a two-year-old child in the incident, she appealed the people to maintain peace and brotherhood and repulse the designs of anti-national elements.

 

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to make an assessment of the losses for extending proper financial help to the victims.

 

Opposition Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav meanwhile said the incident was a result of the government's "inefficiency".

 

"The prime duty of the state government is to ensure the security of life and property of its people but due to the inefficiency of the government, it has been jeopardised," Yadav said in a statement.

 

"The Ganga ghat in Varanasi is most sensitive but the state government has been found wanting in ensuring security there," he said describing the government as "insensitive".

 

State unit president of the BJP, Surya Pratap Shahi, who went to the spot, said the terror attack was the result of the "appeasement" policy being pursued by the state government.

 

"Both the Congress and BSP in power at the Centre and the state have failed to give a firm message to terrorists and disruptive elements," Shahi said.

 

In a statement, UPCC spokesman Subodh Srivasatava asked the government to take stern action against those who failed to ensure security in Varanasi leading to Tuesday's incident.

 

"Despite tall claims, the state government has failed to foil the designs of the terrorists on the anniversary of Babri mosque demolition," Srivasatava added.

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BPO rape case: Police arrests fifth accused

 

New Delhi: In another breakthrough in the Dhaula Kuan gang rape, the Delhi Police arrested the fifth accused late on Monday evening. The accused named Kamru alias Mobile was nabbed in Gurgaon.

Earlier on Monday, a Delhi court, sent two of the Dhaula Kuan gangrape accused to Tihar Jail for their identification by the victim, while remanding two others in five days of police custody for interrogation.

Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat sent Shahid alias 'Chhota Billi' and Usman to Tihar jail under judicial custody for two days after police produced them before the court following their arrest on Sunday.

The two were remanded in judicial custody as police told the court that they have to be put to Test Identification Parade (TIP) by the victim. To rule out the chances of any allegation that they were shown to the victim by the police prior to their identification by the victim, they need to be kept in judicial custody, police said. The duo are to be produced before the magistrate again on December 8 after their TIP on Tuesday. The two others, Shamshad and Usman who were produced before the court after their identification by the victim on Saturday, were remanded in police custody to enable sleuths interrogate them and gather various evidence of their involvement in the crime. The two had been first produced before the court on December 3, when they were sent to Tihar for their TIP.

The rape took place on November 24 when a Mizo woman working in a BPO was abducted from her way back home and gangraped by five miscreants in a moving vehicle. She was walking towards her residence in Moti village near Dhaula Kuan in South Delhi along with one of her colleagues when the accused pounced upon her, put her in their vehicle and sped it off with her. They allegedly took turns to rape her in the moving vehicle and later dumped her near Mongolpuri in West Delhi. During the arguments, Delhi Police, seeking seven days custodial interrogation of the two accused - Shamshad and Usman - submitted that they need to arrest the fifth accused Kangru.

The police also submitted that they need to recover the country made pistol, allegedly used by the accused to threaten the girl and the clothes worn by all the accused during the commission of the offence. Defence counsel, however, opposed the prosecution's plea saying that the police does not have to recover anything now and they are simply taking custody of his clients for harassing them. The defence counsel also alleged that police had resorted to unfair ways for getting his client identified by the victim during TIP. Acceding to the arguments of the prosecution, the court, however, remanded Shamshad and Usman in five days police custody till December 11.

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Is the LTTE re-grouping in Kerala?

 

Tiruvananthapuram: A documentary screened a few days back at a hall in the heart of Trivandrum city has sparked suspicion that the LTTE might be regrouping in parts of Kerala.

The film exhibitors were questioned by the Kerala Police who fear that it could be a garb for the outfit to regroup.

Mullaiteevu Saga, a film about Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka towards the end of the civil war has been dragged into an unwarranted controversy.

 

A popular Malayalm daily quoting IB sources reported that the screening of the movie which the organizers say was well advertised was actually a secret meeting for regrouping of the LTTE. The state police immediately launced an investigation.

 

"It is very strange. We do not know how it happened. The newspaper tells us that the IB asked them whether they knew about such a program and thats how they reported it. But how come the IB did not ask us about the program and asked the media? And how did the paper give such distorted information to the public?" said Elizabeth Philip, Organizer, Pedestrian Pictures.

 

At a press conference attended by social activists and senior journalists in the city the organizers raised many such questions.

 

"I don't know why this screening has shocked the establishment here. It is extremely unfortunate. Sections of the press and the police owe an explanation to the filmmaker," M G Radhakrishnan, senior journalist.

 

The police said they are only trying to find out whether the report was true.

 

"There was a discussion after the movie screening. We are finding out who all were present. Whether there was anybody from outside the state or country. There is nothing wrong in screening a documentary as long as it doesn't affect the country's integrity," said Ajith Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Trivandrum.

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Archie and GI Joe artist John D'Agostino dies

 

Philadelphia: John D'Agostino Sr., whose work in comic books ranged from Archie and Jughead to the Incredible Hulk and G.I. Joe, has died. He was 81.

D'Agostino died on 28th November of bone cancer in Ansonia, Conn., publisher Archie Comics said in a statement.

Born in Italy in 1929, D'Agostino emigrated to the United States and got his first job as head colorist at New York City's Timely Comics, the forerunner of Marvel. He worked with Stan Lee, who went on to co-create numerous memorable super-heroes, including Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.

While working at Timely, D'Agostino — his nickname was "Jon" — helped supervise another artist, Stan Goldberg, who later became synonymous with the high school adventures of Archie, Reggie, Veronica and Betty at Riverdale High School.

 

D'Agostino later joined Goldberg, hired in 1965 by Archie Comics managing editor Richard Goldwater, and began a long and enduring career drawing numerous characters until his death, becoming one of the company's most prominent artists.

Besides Jughead, D'Agostino also drew for titles like "My Little Margie," ''G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero," ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and "Sonic the Hedgehog," among others. D'Agostino also did the letters for the first three issues of Marvel's "The Amazing Spider-Man."

"Jon was concerned about doing the best job possible. He would always be available to help young artists improve their artwork and draw the Archie cast of characters," Archie co-president and Editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick said. "He was very dedicated to his work and Archie Comics. I had the privilege of working with Jon for over 40 years and considered him a good friend. I will truly miss him."

D'Agostino's latest work in comics is scheduled to be published in the December issue of "Jughead Double Digest (number) 166" and several of his covers will be seen through 2011.

"He came into the offices every week to work with other artists and continued to visit the offices even in the recent weeks before his passing," Archie co-CEO Jon Goldwater said.

D'Agostino is survived by his second wife, Vivi Test D'Agostino; three sons; two sisters; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday.

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Opened 13 days ago, Rs 650 cr bridge falls in UP

 

Banda (UP): A Rs 650 crore bridge over river Yamuna in Banda district, inaugurated only 13 days ago by the Public Works Minister of UP, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, fell on Wednesday.

Sources told IBN7 that a major chunk of concrete fell from the middle of the bridge, raising serious questions on the quality of the work. The minister, in his inaugural address, had proudly claimed that the bridge was constructed in a record time of two years.

The accident again brings into focus the nexus between PWD and UP Bridge Corporation officials and the contractors hired for executing such projects.

 

The District Magistrate of Banda has ordered an enquiry into the incident.

It should be noted that there are four ministers in UP cabinet from the Banda region of Bundelkhand. Yet, the process of development has been neglected in the region.

Earlier, a pontoon bridge was used to connect Banda with Kanpur and Fatehpur.

This is, however, not the first instance of the corrupt contractor-government nexus threatening the lives of people in UP.

 

 

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In pics: Toyota Etios - made for India

Toyota's entry-level sedan Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched the Etios Sedan marking the company's entry into the highly competitive B Segment in India.

According to Toyota Kirloskar, the Etios has been developed specifically for Indian customers with more than 2000 engineers from Japan and India have working in close collaboration over the last four years.

The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, priced between Rs 4.96 lakh and 6.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Etios has a 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission

.

The sedan boasts of a mileage of 17.6 kmpl.

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Vodafone might take till 2020 to make Indian business turnaround

 

New York/New Delhi, Dec.1 (ANI): British mobile operator Vodafone''s foray into India has been a disaster, so much so that insiders and experts have gone on record to say that it could take the firm until 2020 to make an economic profit.

 

According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, in 2007, Vodafone paid 5.5 billion pounds to acquire 67 percent of Hutchison Essar. In 2010, it was forced into a 2.3 billion pound write-down after regulatory changes flooded the market with an unprecedented level of competition and sparked a price war. Now, it faces a disputed tax bill and possible retrospective charges on licenses, which could amount to a monumental 500 million pounds.

 

Vodafone entered India with high expectations, paying 16 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for its majority stake. Including the cost of 3G licences, it has invested 7.2 billion pounds in the country to date.

 

It is committed itself to a further 3.1 billion pounds for the final 33 percent of the Indian business if Essar Group decides to sell its stake before May.

 

With the bill rising. India is chasing Vodafone for 1.6 billion pounds in tax charges which the mobile operator is contesting.

 

If it decides to impose additional charges for 2008 licenses, the market puts Vodafone''s likely bill at 500 million pounds.

 

Vodafone insists it is committed to India, but the best it can promise now is that it will cover its cost of capital sometime before 2020—and that distant target assumes double-digit revenue growth as mobile penetration and data use rises, market consolidation, and capital expenditure falling to midteens as a percentage of sales.

 

The Indian unit delivered 48 percent revenue growth in 2009 and still booked an operating loss.

 

Capital expenditure is currently almost 30 percent of sales, with a scheduled 3G rollout next year maintaining pressure on investment. Regulation remains highly uncertain and market consolidation some way off.  (ANI)

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Two arrested in BPO staff rape case in Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi Police have arrested two people for allegedly raping a 30-year-old call centre employee from Mizoram in a moving vehicle on November 24.

Sources say a third suspect has surrendered in Ballabgarh court in Haryana. Police say the duo, identified as Shamshad and Usman, has a criminal background and was involved in other similar cases. The truck in which the rape allegedly took place has also been recovered. "Two accused have been arrested in rape case.

Both have been involved in similar case earlier also. A vehicle also has been seized," said Delhi's Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), HGS Dhaliwal. Sources say the two men were earlier arrested in at least three more rape cases. The hunt is still on for the remaining accused. 

The two arrested men were detained for questioning by the Haryana police in connection with the abduction and rape of the girl late Wednesday night from Haryana's Mewat district. 

Police said they resembled the sketches of the three suspects released by them. The incident took place on November 24 when the Mizo woman was walking towards her home in Moti village near Dhaula Kuan in south Delhi along with one of her colleagues at 1:15 AM when the men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her. She was held captive for about 40 minutes and later dumped in Mongolpuri at around 1:55 AM after which she approached police. She filed an FIR on November 25 and her friend helped police prepare sketch of one of the accused.

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MIZO GIRL RAPE CASE: DELHI POLICE DETAINS FOUR

Four persons were today detained in connection with the rape and abduction of a Mizo woman in south Delhi with the investigators saying these people were very relevant to the case.

15 teams of Delhi Police were working on the case and they were looking into all possibilities. On November 24, the victim was walking towards her home in Moti Village near Dhaula Kuan in the morning along with one of her colleagues when some men in a vehicle abducted her and took turns to rape her.

She was later dumped in Mongolpuri after which she approached police. Police said they have released two sketches of suspected culprits, besides questioning several suspects, surfing through CCTV footage and recording statements of three witnesses. Investigators had also rummaged through mobile phone records of a number of "possible" suspects residing in Mongolpuri area as they believe that the culprits were "very familiar" with the locality and they could be staying there.

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Rs 1.5 crore recovered from rapist Tantrik's home

 

Mumbai: Police has recovered Rs 1.5 crore in cash and jewellery worth more than Rs 50 lakh from the house of the tantrik who raped six girls and the maid of an affluent Mumbai family. The tantrik, identified as Javed Nadeem Khalid alias Mehdi Hassan, lived in a rented house. The cache of money and jewellery has left the cops stunned.  sources revealed that the tantrik used to be a teacher. He gained access to the family by offering to teach Urdu. He was soon able to gain the confidence of the mistress of the house by claiming to know magic. 

 

That woman took the tantrik to her sisters who had physically-challenged sons. The women thought the sons were cursed and asked the tantrik for help. He said he could prevent the birth of deformed children in their families if he had sex with their daughters.

The women reportedly agreed, and even rented a flat to send their daughters to meet the tantrik there. It was at this flat that the girls, all related, and their maid were repeatedly raped by the tantrik for four years. Sources said two of the girls had to undergo abortion.

Police is looking for the woman who first introduced the tantrik to the two women.

Going by the cache of money and jewellery recovered, cops feel that there may be more families which might have been duped by the tantrik. 

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DDA to give 90 pc of CWG flats to bureaucrats

 

New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) caught up in controversy again. Sources say the agency is planning to give away 90 per cent of the CWG flats to the same bureaucrats who could have been involved in corruption. If the Delhi Development Authority has its way, then the babus of Delhi will be getting a lion's share of the luxury apartments in the Games Village, with only 10 per cent of the total flats in DDA's possession left for the public. At present, the DDA owns over 700 flats out of the total of 1,168 flats built to house Commonwealth Games delegates at the Village. According to officials, the DDA in a revised proposal is planning to auction 100 flats in the Games Village to the public. This will be done to determine the market price of the apartments.

Once a price is fixed, the remaining flats would then be sold to the Delhi government at the same price. This will then be distributed to the MPs and bureaucrats as government accommodation- a direct contrast to the original plan of auctioning all the Games Village flats to the public. But Delhi's Urban Development Minister said the babus in the city need these apartments more than the aam aadmi.

"There is a shortage of accommodation for the ministers and the senior officers. We require more houses," said Urban Development Minister of Delhi AK Walia.

Earlier this month, the DDA had clarified that it will not allot the Games flats to bureaucrats or ministers. The statement came following news reports that the DDA had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Urban Development to allow these flats to be allotted to government agencies like the Delhi Police, Public Sector Units, MPs, CVC and CAG's office. But it looks like the DDA has changed its mind.

"I have to check with the DDA which is the concerned agency," said Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy.

The DDA's share in the Village had originally been one-third of the total flats, around 390. But after the financial bailout to Emaar-MGF, the number of flats in the land agency's kitty increased considerably.

With most of the apartments owned by Emaar MGF already sold out, the public now has little choice but to battle it out for a hundred odd flats in auction.

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