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CBI probing Chidambaram role in Aircel-Maxis deal

September 19, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 19: The CBI is probing the role of then finance minister P. Chidambaram in allowing foreign investment by a Mauritius-based company, according to its charge sheet in the Aircel-Maxis deal.Chidambaram

The Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) submission came in its recently-filed charge sheet against then communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran, and Malaysian business tycoon T.

Ananda Krishnan and others. Dayanidhi Maran is chargd with using his influence to help Krishnan acquire Aircel by allegedly coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

The investigation has revealed that Dayanidhi Maran did not raise objection to the proposal of foreign investment by the Global Communication Services Holding Ltd. in Aircel Ltd. in 2006.

It added that Global Communication Services had sought the Foreign Investment Promotion Board's approval (FIPB) for $800 million investment, for which the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affarirs (CCEA) was competent to grant approval.

"However, the approval was granted by the then finance minister (Chidambaram)," the CBI's charge sheet said.

"Further investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of the said FIPB approval granted by then finance minister. The related issues are being investigated."

It added that Sindhya Securities and Investments Pvt. Ltd., the Indian partner of Mauritius-based Maxis Communication Bhd, acquired approximately 26 percent equity of Aircel Ltd. through Deccan Digital Networks Pvt. Ltd. for a consideration of approximately $7.43 million which gives it just 0.01 percent economic interest in Aircel Ltd.

Deccan Digital is a joint venture between Sindhya Securities and Investments and Global Communication Services Holding, the Mauritius Subsidiary of Maxis Communication Bhd. Malaysia. The CBI added that it appears that Maxis has given a lot of concessions to the promoters of Sindhya Securities and Investments in terms of investments.

"Further investigation is being carried out if Sindhya Securities and Investments is holding 26 percent equity in Aircel Ltd. on behalf of the accused," the CBI said.

It was alleged by Sivasankaran that Dayanidhi Maran favoured Maxis Group in the takeover of his company and in return, the company made investments through Astro Network in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family.

Four companies - Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd., Britain-based Astro All Asia Networks Plc, Maxis Communications Berhad in Malaysia, and South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd. in Mauritius - have been also named in the charge sheet filed Aug 29.

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March 24,2020

Gautam Buddh Nagar, Mar 24: As many as 96 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered and more than 2000 challans issued in Noida yesterday for violation of lockdown rules, police said. The lockdown was imposed in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has taken more than 14000 lives across the globe.

The FIRs were registered against people for allegedly flouting Section 144 and not adhering to the orders of the state government for staying indoors.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday stated that all borders adjoining Uttar Pradesh should be completely sealed.

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News Network
March 4,2020

Mar 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he has decided not to participate in any 'Holi Milan' programme as experts have advised reducing mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

"Experts across the world have advised reducing mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence this year, I have decided not to participate in any 'Holi Milan' programme," the PM tweeted.

This year, Holi is on March 10.

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Agencies
June 16,2020

As the Indian workforce navigates a shrinking job market in lockdown times, two in five professionals believe that the number of jobs and scheduled interviews will decrease in the next two weeks, a new LinkedIn survey said on Tuesday.

The news comes as bittersweet for Indian professionals as more than one in three stated they will now spend more time working on their resumes and preparing for interviews.

Professionals from healthcare, manufacturing and corporate service industries anticipate a decrease in personal spending and personal investments in the next six months, according to the findings of the fortnightly LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index based on responses from 2,903 professionals in the country.

This findings showed that while India's overall confidence remains steady, the country's confidence in jobs is beginning to trend downward.

However, employees at large enterprises (firms with over 10,000 workers) are more confident about the future of their employers when compared to their peers from mid-market and SMB companies.

The findings showed that 41 % of enterprise professionals think their companies will do better in the next six months, while 63 % think their companies will be better off one year from now.

However, "the enterprise professionals are least confident about the future of their jobs, finances and careers, when compared to their SMB and mid-market peers".

The findings showed that 52 % of healthcare, 48% of corporate services, and 41 % of manufacturing professionals anticipate a decrease in investments in the next 6 months.

Over the past three months, many organizations have shifted to a remote working model to circumvent the pandemic and ensure business continuity.

Three in five marketing professionals feel confident about being effective when working remotely, joined by more than half of project management and engineering professionals, who are also confident about the effectiveness of remote working.

In contrast to this optimism, only 39 % of HR, 36% of finance, and 31 % of education professionals think they would be effective when working remotely, said the survey.

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