Saradha scam: Arrested ex-union minister sent to judicial custody (Lead)

Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Former union minister Matang Sinh, arrested by the CBI for his alleged complicity in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha chit fund scam, could not be presented in court Sunday as he was admitted to a hospital. He was later sent to judicial custody till Feb 13.


 The court of acting Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S. Chakraborty ordered Sinh -- who was admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital -- to be sent to judicial custody till Feb 13 after the prosecution presented documents regarding his custody.

 The former minister of state for parliamentary affairs in the P.V. Narasimha Rao-led Congress government (1991-96) was arrested Saturday on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds. He was subsequently hospitalised after he complained of illness.

 The counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the court that Sinh would be presented once he was released from hospital.

 "After his arrest, Matang Sinh complained he was unwell. He is now under treatment at the SSKM Hospital. We have intimated the court that he is in hospital and we will present him in court once he is released from the hospital," the CBI counsel told the media.

 The counsel also pleaded before the court that it should consider the plea for remand once Sinh was presented before it.

 "We will seek either police or judicial custody for him once he is brought to the court from custody. We have also prayed before the court that it should seek a report about his health from the SSKM hospital."

 The defence counsel urged the court to grant bail to Sinh as he was a liver transplant patient and unwell due to related complications.

 Saradha Group chief and purported scam kingpin Sudipta Sen, now behind bars, in a letter to the CBI, had accused Sinh of cheating him of Rs.28 crore on the promise of a 50 percent stake in a media house owned by the former Congress MP from Assam.

 Sen had also accused Sinh's wife Manoranjana of duping him of Rs.25 crore in return for some shares in a TV channel owned by her.

 The CBI earlier grilled Manoranjana besides attaching Sinh's properties and raiding his offices and residences.

 The Enforcement Directorate, which too is probing the scam, had interrogated Sinh about his alleged links with Sen and the Saradha group.

 Sinh's arrest came a day after the CBI grilled Trinamool Congress general secretary and former railway minister Mukul Roy.

 Probing the multi-crore-rupee scandal that came to light in April 2013, the CBI has arrested a host of influential people, including Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Srinjoy Bose, former IPS officer Rajat Majumdar, West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra and Assamese singer Sadananda Gogoi.

Rs.1,500 crore business generated at Stonem

Jaipur, Feb 1 (IANS) The eighth edition of the India Stonemart 2015, which ended here Sunday, generated business worth Rs.1,500 crore which was 25 percent over the last edition, said a Rajasthan government official.


 Addressing the closing ceremony, Principal Secretary, Industries, Veenu Gupta, who is also the chairperson of the Centre for Development of Stones (CDoS) which organised the event, said the business generated saw a jump of Rs.300 crore from the last edition held in 2013.

 "As many as 18,000 business visitors came to the Stonemart for interaction, networking and transacting sales. Not only this, over 500 foreign buyers came from 50 countries and 500 architects attended the first-ever Jaipur Architecture Festival (JAF) held alongside," she said.

 India StoneMart 2015 is one of the largest international expositions on stone industry, which comprehensively showcases the wide variety of natural dimensional stones, ancillary products and the services provided.

 The event brings together various stakeholders of the stone industry - domestic and overseas producers, exporters, importers, consumers and buyers, experts, technology providers, architects, builders, developers, corporates, among others.

 The four-day exhibition was organised by CDoS with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce amd Industry (FICCI) as co-organiser. The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) were the Principal Sponsor of the event.

12 killed in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria

Abuja, Feb 1 (IANS) Boko Haram militants killed at least 12 people Sunday as government forces repelled multiple attacks by the group in Maiduguri city, capital of Nigeria's Borno state, hospital sources said.


 Some 37 people sustained injuries in the attacks that started early Sunday, Xinhua quoted sources at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri as saying. Another state-run health facility said the casualties included civilians who were hit by stray bullets.

 A doctor treating the injured said a man and two of his workers were brought in dead after the Boko Haram fighters fired a grenade which strayed into their apartment.

 However, it could not be confirmed if the other casualties were government forces, Boko Haram fighters or the youth volunteer force, who joined in the gun fight to assist the military in pushing away the insurgents.

 Government troops responded quickly to the attacks, said a senior military officer. He said the attack had spread to Mulle, Dalwa and Ngom areas of the northeastern state.

 The attacks have caused panic in Borno state, particularly in Maiduguri and the surrounding communities. Major roads have been cordoned off by security operatives and residents were advised to stay indoors.

 A military personnel said the Boko Haram fighters were pushing hard to take control of the major city but met a stiff opposition in the government troops. The government forces had done more harm to the insurgents, the military personnel added.

 Last week, a similar attack on Maiduguri by the Boko Haram group forced the Nigerian defence headquarters to impose a curfew on the city.

 Maiduguri is the known headquarters of Boko Haram, which has proved to be a major security threat in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

 The militant group has killed thousands of people in its five-year insurgency in Nigeria.

I-League: East Bengal beat Shillong Lajong 2-1

Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Nigerian striker Ranti Martins sparkled on the pitch for local giants East Bengal as he provided both the first goal and the winning header to sneak past Shillong Lajong 2-1 in an I-League encounter at the Salt Lake stadium here Sunday.


 Trinidadian forward Cornell Glen pulled one back for the visitors.

 It was Lajong who came close to scoring the first goal, as a free-kick from Boithang Haokip flew inches wide off target in the opening minutes of the game.

 The home side took a long time to settle down but finally in the 29th minute, Martins struck his first as a cross from New Zealand midfielder Leo Bertos found the Nigerian in the box, and his looping header over the top of the goalkeeper found the back of the net.

 East Bengal was firmly in control and deserved their 1-0 lead going into the break.

 After the breather, both sides tried to create goal scoring opportunities. Lajong finally broke through as Brazilian Uilliams Souza cross found its way to Glen on the edge of the area, who chested it and unleashed a sublime bicycle-kick which rattled the net.

 Glen came close to adding another with a snapshot from about 30 yards out in the 63rd minute but his effort sailed over the bar.

 The 'red and gold' brigade once again surged into the lead 70 minutes into the game as a long throw from Raju Gaikwad was headed home by an unmarked Martins at the far post to make it 2-1.

 Lajong could not build up a comeback as the home side dominated the possession and rarely gave away the ball.

 East Bengal climb to the third spot with this win, while Lajong suffered their third defeat of the season in four matches.

Four killed as bus runs over people in Andhra

Hyderabad, Feb 1 (IANS) Four people were killed and two injured Sunday when a bus ran over people near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, police said.


 The accident occurred at the Rajahmundry-Morampudi junction when the bus - belonging to a private school - was carrying people to a public meeting of YSR Congress Party in Tanaku in West Godavari district.

 A 12-year-old boy and a woman were among the dead. The condition of the injured was said to be critical.

 The bus driver apparently lost control of the vehicle which hit a car and crushed three motorbikes. The bus overturned before coming to a halt.

 Shocking images of the accident were captured on CCTV cameras.

 The government has ordered a probe into the accident.

I couldn't be overconfident about myself: Pritam Singh

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Radio jockey Pritam Singh, who exited the popular reality show ìBigg Boss Halla Bolî by taking Rs.25 lakh, says it was a wise step for him to leave the show on the grand finale as he was confidant about his defeat.


 His co-contestant Gautam Gulati was declared the winner of the spin-off of ìBigg Boss 8î Sunday with Karishma Tanna finishing as the first runner-up. Pritam stood third in the competition.

 ìI could not be overconfident about myself. Gautam was stronger than me and he had a great fan following outside. The youth was supporting him. So because of that thing, I knew it already that he will be the winner,î Pritam told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

 ìBut I'm happy that I managed to come so far in the show. Winning or losing it doesn't matter as the show will help me in building my future,î he added.

 Pritam was the favourite of most of the former contestants and audience because of his calm image inside the "Bigg Boss" house. Later, he became popular for his association with the P3G group, which also included Puneet Issar, Praneet Bhat and Gautam.
 
 Talking about his four months' stay in the show, Pritam said: ìThe contestants, who were there had some bad experience with me. But still I was there in the last three and I'm happy with that. I showed my anger in bits and pieces only, like during the tasks.î

 ìAlso I've learned a lot from the show. 'Bigg Boss' has given me recognition.î

 Talking about his gang P3G, he added: ìP3G rocks and it will continue to rock. We will continue our friendship with each other in future. P3G was entertaining the viewers at each and every point. That's why the group lasted for long.î

 Post "Bigg Boss", Pritam is planning a family vacation and says he'd love to do more shows on TV.

Worried BJP ropes in Harsh Vardhan to boost Bedi

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Troubled by reports that the voters of Krishna Nagar, the constituency of BJP chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, are not warming up to her, the senior leadership has directed local heavyweight and union minister Harsh Vardhan to "put in extra efforts" to ensure that Bedi wins here by a comfortable margin, party sources said.



 Considered to be a "traditional seat" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Harsh Vardhan - the party's chief ministerial candidate in the 2013 assembly polls and now a union minister in the Narendra Modi government - held the Krishna Nagar seat since 1993 before winning the Chandni Chowk seat in the April-May 2014 general elections.

 Sources said party workers of the east Delhi locality, home to mostly middle-class families, are "demoralised" with Harsh Vardhan being replaced by Bedi, who is being seen as an outsider.

 "The response to her road shows and public meetings in Krishna Nagar has been lukewarm. We were expecting better," a party leader, requesting anonymity, told IANS.

 "The party has realized that the face of the campaigning has to be Harsh Vardhan whosoever is the candidate. He has been asked to put in extra efforts to ensure her victory," the leader added.

 Reports of a rift between Harsh Vardhan and Bedi have also been doing the rounds for some time now. After joining the party Jan 15, Bedi had called all the seven Delhi MPs to her residence for tea Jan 20. As Harsh Vardhan arrived late, Bedi left without meeting him, reportedly leaving the minister for science and technology and earth sciences fuming, the sources told IANS.

 Harsh Vardhan however accompanied Bedi on her first road show in Krishna Nagar Jan 21, when she filed her nomination papers, and at subsequent public meetings.

 Again, earlier this week, Harsh Vardhan was absent from a rally Bedi addressed in Krishna Nagar, apparently peeved by Bedi's remark at a few days earlier: "Doctor sahib (Harsh Vardhan) has been taking care of Krishna Nagar, now I will also be your doctor."

 The rising differences between the two have left the top leadership worried and with less than a week to go for the polls, the party is desperate to ensure that they reconcile.

 "Although it is a safe seat for Bedi, the party wants her to win it by an impressive margin. Moreover, she cannot afford not to have him (Harsh Vardhan) on board as he is the local popular leader.

 "The voters can also make out if things are not right," the sources said, adding that specific instructions have been given to Harsh Vardhan to be present at all of Bedi's public meetings and rallies as well as intensify the door-to-door campaign.

 "He has been assigned the job of making sure that people vote for her (Bedi)," the sources added.

 Meanwhile, the BJP has officially denied that Bedi is facing any challenges.

 "She is not facing any problems in Krishna Nagar. She is getting the love and support from all the people and will win the seat easily," BJP state unit spokesperson BJP Ashwini Upadhyay told IANS.