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Vigilance probe ordered against Oommen Chandy

Agencies
October 11, 2017

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 11: The Kerala government today ordered a vigilance probe against former chief minister Oommen chandy in connection with the multi-crore solar scam. A decision in this regard was taken on the basis of the findings of the Justice G Sivarajan Commission, which had probed the scam and had last month submitted its report to the government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said.

The report will be placed before the state assembly within six months, Vijayan told reporters here after a cabinet meeting. Chandy directly and through four of his former office staff Jikkumon Joseph, Tenny Joppen, Salim Raj and Kuruvilla had allegedly taken bribe from Saritha S Nair, who had floated a solar company, and on that basis a case will be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Vijayan said. The government also decided to conduct Vigilance and SIT probe against Chandy's former office staff.

A criminal case will be registered and investigation by SIT will be held against former Home minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who allegedly tried to destroy the evidence and influenced police personnel to help the former chief minister. An inquiry will also be launched against former Power minister, Arayandan Mohammed, who allegedly helped the solar company, chief minister said. Two former Congress MLAs-- Benny Behanan and Thamapanoor have also been brought under the ambit of the probe. The government had also sought legal opinion of the Advocate General and Director General of Prosecutions (DGP) into the commission's findings following which it was decided to launch proceedings against them.

The state government has also resolved to initiate probe against IGP K Padmakumar and DYSP K Harikrishnan who allegedly destroyed evidence. Vigilance case will be registered and inquiry held into a letter by Sarita Nair in which she has levelled allegations of rape and sexual exploitation against senior UDF leaders, including MPs and MLAs.

The commission was appointed by the previous Oommen Chandy government after allegations surfaced about duping of several people of crores of rupees by Saritha Nair and Biju Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. The CPI(M)-led LDF, then in opposition, had launched an agitation following reports about Saritha's links with the office of the chief minister.

Several politicians, including then chief minister Chandy, were among those examined by the commission. Chandy's former gunman Salim Raj, his former personal staff member Jikkumon had also been examined, after Saritha, the prime accused, deposed before the panel. Chandy had maintained that the charges against him and his office were "politically motivated" and had denied any wrongdoing. Set up in October, 2013, the commission had held 353 sittings, examined 214 witnesses and 972 documents.

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Agencies
August 6,2020

Mumbai, Aug 6: Former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan said on Thursday that overly focusing on what sovereign rating agencies think can take one's eyes off what needs to be done for the economy.

"It is also important to convince both domestic and international investors that after the crisis associated with the pandemic is over, we will return to fiscal responsibility over the medium term, and the government should do more to convince them of that," Rajan told the Global Markets Forum.

India was placed under one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in late March for more than two months to stem the spread of the coronavirus, but cases have continued to rise steadily since the government eased restrictions in June, stymieing hopes of an economic recovery.

The government has announced several initiatives to help the poor and small- and medium-size businesses, but actual cash outgo from the government's measures has been estimated at just about 1% of GDP.

Several attribute the fiscal prudence to fear of a downgrade after Moody's cut India's rating and outlook in early June followed closely by a change in outlook from Fitch.

The central bank on its part too has reduced the key lending rate by 115 basis points on top of the 135 bps last year and is widely expected to cut rates by another 25 bps later on Thursday.

"The RBI and government have certainly been cooperating, but it seems like it is elsewhere, the ball is in the government's court to do more," Rajan said.

He said the RBI needs to focus on whether credit is reaching the stressed areas of the economy and also if the viable firms were able to access credit and not the unviable ones.

"And I think that's where it has to focus its attentions, because resources, as you well know, are limited in India today."

Recently analysts, however, have cited the growing possibility the RBI may prefer to pause and cut rates only at its October meeting.

Government officials too have suggested the possibility of any more fiscal stimulus being announced, would only come in the second half of the fiscal year, once a recovery has taken root and coronavirus cases have peaked.

"What India should focus on at this point is protecting its economic capabilities, so that when it has dealt with the virus it can go resume activity in a reasonable way. That should be the focus," Rajan said.

"And if it does that, there is no reason why the rating agencies will not see that as an appropriate policy".

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News Network
June 29,2020

New Delhi, Jun 29: India recorded 19,459 new coronavirus cases and 380 deaths in the last 24 hours.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday, the total coronavirus cases in the country stands at 5,48,318 including 2,10,120 active cases, 3,21,723 cured/discharged/migrated and 16,475 deaths.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 count touched 1,64,626 and cases in Delhi have reached 83,077.

The total number of samples tested up to 28 June is 83,98,362 of which 1,70,560 samples were tested yesterday, as per the data provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 

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News Network
February 27,2020

New Delhi, Feb 27: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday attacked the government over the transfer of Delhi High Court Judge S Muralidhar, saying the Centre's attempts to "muzzle" justice and "break people's faith in an upright judiciary are deplorable".

Delhi HC Judge S Muralidhar was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, days after the Supreme Court collegium made the recommendation.

"The midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar isn't shocking given the current dispensation, but it is certainly sad & shameful," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted. "Millions of Indians have faith in a resilient & upright judiciary, the government’s attempts to muzzle justice & break their faith are deplorable," she said.

The judge was hearing the Delhi violence case and the late evening notification came on the day when a bench headed by him expressed "anguish" over the Delhi Police's failure to register FIRs against alleged hate speeches by three BJP leaders.

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