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Cash paid for tickets, difficult to prove Bhandari-Vadra link: I-T sleuths

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Cash paid for tickets, difficult to prove Bhandari-Vadra link: I-T sleuths

Income tax officials say Paharganj-based travel agency which booked Vadra’s business class air tickets for Zurich had received cash payments

While the Congress and BJP trade charges against each other over a Times Now report which claimed that absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari had, in August 2012, booked business class air tickets for Robert Vadra’s travel to Zurich, tax officials claim that the said air fare was paid for in cash and no trail of where the money came from could be proved during a probe.

The claims by I-T officials who spoke anonymously to The Indian Express appear to take the steam out of the political attacks made by the BJP against the Congress party’s first family at a time when the saffron party too finds itself in a spot over allegations that Jay Shah, son of BJP national president Amit Shah, saw a 16000-times hike in his company’s turnover in the years that followed Narendra Modi’s stunning rise as the country’s Prime Minister in May 2014.

The Times Now ‘expose’ against Vadra, the controversial husband of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi, had come days after online portal The Wire published the report about Jay Shah’s meteoric rise in wealth. The Congress has questioned the timing of the report over Vadra, claiming that it was deliberately being circulated by the BJP to deflect media and public attention from the allegations against Jay Shah.

However, while the conjectures arising out of the article on Jay Shah are largely based on tax returns and official filings made by the company of the BJP national president’s son, the allegations being made against Robert Vadra over his alleged links with Sanjay Bhandari are reportedly based on an email trail exchanged between the two, with little evidence to actually prove the money trail.

On Wednesday, The Indian Express said that income tax officials believe that the probe into the alleged payment by Sanjay Bhandari of air tickets for Vadra’s travel to Zurich had “virtually reached a dead end”. The newspaper claimed that: “when tax sleuths approached the Paharganj-based travel agency (International Travel Home) through which the air passage had been booked, they were informed that the payments were received in cash and they had no recollection whether the money was handed over to them by someone from either Sanjay Bhandari’s side or Robert Vadra’s side.”

The Indian Express report also anonymously quoted a senior I-T official as saying: “If the payments for the flights had been made by cheque, we could have traced the person who made the payments. But since the payments were made in cash there is nothing to dig deeper. And an amount of between Rs 8 lakh-Rs 10 lakh is too small an amount for us to call Robert Vadra over for questioning.”

The report added that the mail trail of ticket bookings for Zurich were located by them shortly after searches were conducted along with other mails connected to the renovation of a property in London ostensibly being done by Sanjay Bhandari for Robert Vadra.

Vadra and his lawyers have reportedly claimed that they had no communication with Sanjay Bhandari during the period for which the arms dealer is facing multiple probes by Indian agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the I-T department.

The Times Now ‘expose’ however claims that: “According to the email trail, Bhandari bought tickets for the tainted businessman (Vadra) at a time when the arms dealer was being investigated for his role in swinging a jet trainer deal for Swiss company Pilatus. The fact that one of the tickets booked for Vadra was to Zurich, the financial capital of Switzerland, hints at his involvement in the Pilatus deal. However, there is no clarity on the issue as of now, and Times Now is awaiting a reply from his side.”

The BJP has latched on to the Times Now expose in an attempt to directly attack Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son, party vice president Rahul Gandhi over the Bhandari-Vadra links. On Tuesday, the BJP had fielded Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman to lead the party’s broadside against the Congress on the issue.

Sitharaman had said that the “studied silence” of Sonia and Rahul on the charges being leveled against Vadra will be construed as their acceptance of the allegations being true. Citing the Times Now report, Sitharaman had alleged that a London house linked to Vadra had been refurbished by Bhandari and that 7.5 lakh Swiss francs were deposited in a bank account of the arms dealer- possibly as payment for the renovation of Vadra’s London home.

“Why is the Congress vice-president, who has been emulating the Prime Minister in his tweets, maintaining a silence on this,” the defence minister had asked.

The Congress party had hit back at the BJP with its chief spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala claiming that the allegations against Vadra were being raked up by the saffron party to “distract people from the accusations hurled against Jay Shah”.

“An unnerved and running scared BJP is on a ‘save Shah-Zada’ (a reference to Jay Shah) mission. Instead of ordering an inquiry into the business dealing of company owned by Amit Shah’s wife, daughter-in-law and son, which is being demanded by people in Opposition and even RSS, Nirmala Sitharaman is on an agenda of diversionary tactics but they will never succeed (sic),” Surjewala had said.

The Congress spokesperson had added that “the vicious witch-hunt and vendetta against Robert Vadra has continued for 41 months by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and yet not a single wrongdoing, violation of any law or a criminal misconduct has been established (against Vadra).”

India News

Trouble for AAP Government in Punjab: Congress drops hints

Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa hints at the possible collapse of the AAP government in Punjab. With BJP’s alleged involvement and corruption claims, the political tension in the state is rising.

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Pratap Singh Bajwa, leader of the opposition in Punjab, has sparked major political speculation, hinting at a possible collapse of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Bajwa claimed that more than 32 MLAs of the AAP are in contact with him, and some may even be in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, he stressed that the Congress will not be responsible for toppling the government. Instead, he pointed fingers at the BJP, suggesting it would orchestrate the downfall.

In an exclusive interview, Bajwa made it clear that the Congress, despite its claims, will not take steps to destabilize the AAP government. He explained that Congress wants the AAP to complete its five-year term so that the public can judge its performance. “The BJP will handle the rest,” Bajwa said, distancing his party from any direct involvement in the collapse.

Bajwa also accused the AAP of being involved in corrupt practices, with allegations of money laundering through hawala channels. He claimed that crores of rupees have gone to foreign destinations such as Australia under the AAP’s rule. Additionally, the Congress leader alleged that the Delhi model employed by AAP encourages looting.

In a strong rebuttal, the AAP accused Bajwa of already securing a ticket to join the BJP. AAP leader Neel Garg alleged that Bajwa had met senior BJP leaders in Bengaluru and warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to keep a close eye on him.

The AAP government has come under intense scrutiny since its defeat in Delhi earlier this month. Amidst this, the Punjab government has ramped up its anti-corruption initiatives, dismissing 52 police officers for corruption. Senior officers, including Varinder Kumar and Rajesh Tripathi, have also been suspended or reassigned as part of the government’s effort to clean up corruption in its ranks.

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A captivating evening of literature: Dr Karan Singh discusses his novel, The Temple of Shiva

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Dr Karan Singh book The Temple of Shiva

Parchment Publications hosted an engaging literary discussion on Saturday at Kunzum Bookstore, featuring Dr Karan Singh, statesman, scholar, and philosopher, as he delved into the themes and inspirations behind The Temple of Shiva, his first and only work of fiction.

In conversation with journalist and writer Sanjula Sharma, the evening offered profound insights into literature, philosophy, and storytelling. Published by Parchment Publications, The Temple of Shiva intricately blends history, mythology, and devotion, creating a rich narrative around faith and self-discovery.

During the discussion, Dr Singh shared a fascinating insight into his protagonist, Ashok, describing him as an alter ego—what he might have been, had he not been born into his current circumstances. “Your first novel,” he reflected, “always reflects the inner life of the author.”

Adding to the evening’s charm, when asked about the secret to his youth and energy, Dr Singh wittily held up the Shiva bracelet on his wrist, calling it his “secret weapon” that keeps him going. His deep spiritual connection was further reflected in his discussion of the novel’s characters, particularly Maharaj, the Mahant of the Temple of Shiva. Inspired by two real-life individuals whom Dr Singh had known, Maharaj serves as a conduit for many of Shiva’s teachings that resonate throughout the book.

Speaking on the occasion, Shubhi Arya, Founder of Parchment Publications, said, “Publishing The Temple of Shiva is a privilege and a deeply personal honour. Dr Karan Singh’s wisdom, depth, and storytelling deserve to reach younger generations, inspiring them to explore India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.”

The event was made possible with the support of Ajay Jain, the owner of Kunzum Bookstore, and Shivam, the event manager at Kunzum, whose contributions helped create a welcoming space for literary discussions. Parchment Publications is committed to bringing thought-provoking literature to readers, and this event was yet another step in its journey of celebrating distinguished voices in writing.

The Temple of Shiva is available for purchase on Amazon.

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Overcrowding in Prayagraj: Locals urge devotees to halt their visits to Maha Kumbh

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Mahakumbh

As the Maha Kumbh draws to a close, Prayagraj residents are facing an overwhelming surge in crowds, and many are pleading for relief. In a public appeal posted on Reddit, a local resident expressed frustration at the massive influx of pilgrims, which has overwhelmed the city and disrupted everyday life. With only days remaining in the grand religious event, the plea for a break from the chaos is growing louder.

The resident shared their experience of the city’s transformation for the event, where major infrastructural upgrades such as new roads and flyovers were made to accommodate the crowds. However, what was once seen as an opportunity to showcase the city’s development has now turned into an exhausting ordeal.

Overcrowded roads and tensions rise

According to the post, the streets of Prayagraj are now so congested that even basic tasks like commuting have become nearly impossible. The city’s highways, public transport, and even narrow lanes are jammed with an unrelenting flow of people and vehicles. Locals are feeling trapped in their own city as they struggle to navigate through the chaos.

In an incident shared by the user, they recounted a moment when they were blamed for the congestion while trying to take a break from the chaos. “Aap logon ki wajah se jam lag raha hai!” (The traffic is because of you), they were yelled at by strangers, despite being residents of the city. The frustration and exhaustion are palpable in the community, with tensions running high as the local population feels the strain of hosting such a large gathering.

A desperate plea for mercy

In a heartfelt conclusion, the user made a desperate appeal to devotees: “Please, for the love of God, STOP COMING. Ganga ji aur Sangam kahin nahi ja rahe. (The Ganga and Sangam aren’t going anywhere). You can come peacefully later. Have some mercy on this city and its people. We are begging you.”

This plea underscores the toll that the Maha Kumbh is taking on the locals. Not only are the streets congested, but there are reports of pilgrims littering and disregarding basic civic norms. While Prayagraj welcomes visitors, the burden of such a massive gathering is beginning to feel unbearable for those who call the city home.

The Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, began on January 13 and is set to conclude on February 26. While the event is a spiritual and cultural highlight for millions, the ongoing surge in visitors is threatening to overwhelm the city’s infrastructure and residents.

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