India News
Three directors of real estate firm Amrapali sent to police custody
Amrapali promoter Anil Sharma and two other directors of the real estate group were sent to police custody from inside a courtroom in the Supreme Court today (Tuesday, October 9) for not handing over documents relating to accounts to forensic auditors.
A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and UU Lalit, hearing the matter in connection with a bunch of cases filed by aggrieved homebuyers said the company directors had been “playing hide and seek” with the court and told the police to keep the directors – Anil Kumar Sharma, Shiv Priya and Ajay Kumar – in custody for as long as the company doesn’t submit its accounts.
The three were taken away from the court premises.
By not providing the documents, the judges said the company directors were “trying to interfere with the administration of justice”.
The court sought to know whether the money invested by the homebuyers were diverted for some other purposes. An audit has been ordered for this, but the documents remained elusive and the bench came down heavily on Sharma and two directors who had been summoned.
“We don’t know if it will take one day or one month. But you will be in custody until all the documents are given to the auditors,” said the bench as it directed the Delhi Police and Noida Police to work together to seize the pertinent documents.
It said that the policemen will escort the trio to Amrapali offices and other places from where the documents are to be recovered.
“You will now be released only after the auditors are satisfied that they have received all the documents,” clarified the bench, as it further issued formal notices of contempt of court.
It has also ordered for confiscation of the passport of the trio while fixing October 24 as the next date of hearing.
Amrapali Group has failed to hand over possession of flats to around 42,000 homebuyers, according to media reports. The property developer has been facing the wrath of the Supreme Court after homebuyers moved the court for not getting their flats delivered on time.
On 24 September, the judges had ordered the company to hand over all documents within 24 hours after hearing the company’s former auditor Anil Mittal told the court that over Rs 2,900 crore invested by homebuyers was diverted by nine companies to buy shares in 37 other companies.
The top court was also told that no income tax returns were filed by the company between 2015 and 2018.
The judges have already brought in the state-owned National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) to complete 16 Amrapali projects in Noida and Greater Noida.
Last month, the court had also appointed a debt recovery tribunal officer to oversee the sale of unencumbered assets of the beleaguered real estate company to raise funds to complete Amrapali’s unfinished housing projects.
The judges had warned the company directors about strict action at earlier hearings also when its lawyer sought time to produce the documents. “Why are you saying this? Do you want your premises sealed? Next time we will not wait to hear you,” Justice Lalit said.
It is the third such incident in the recent past when people have been arrested inside the courtroom, said News18. It said Subrata Roy was arrested over not complying with the court order to refund the money meant for reimbursing the investors. In the same case, another person was arrested inside the courtroom over resiling from his stand to buy a property of Sahara group.
India News
Sankalp Saptaah: PM Modi today launches week-long initiative for aspirational blocks at Bharat Mandapam
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
At Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a week-long project named Sankalp Saptaah for the country’s aspirational groups.
He also conversed with attendees, including members from the panchayat and the block level.
The week-long programme, which is described in an official news release, is closely correlated with the national Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which Modi introduced in January of this year.
The country’s Sankalp Saptah programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks throughout 329 districts, seeks to increase block-level government while also improving civilian quality of life.
Chintan Shivirs were held nationwide at the village and block levels to help with the effective execution of the ABP and to create strong block development strategies. The result of these careful considerations, which will be seen in each of the 500 aspirational blocks, is Sankalp Saptaah.
On October 9, the final day of the seven-day event, a celebration of the week’s worth of effort will take place under the banner of Sankalp Saptaah – Samavesh Samaroh.
Speaking at the inaugural function, the prime minister claimed that more than 25 crore people’s lives in 112 districts throughout the nation had been improved by the aspirational districts plan. He asserted that the quality of living had changed. Now, the aspirational blocks programme will be built on the success of the aspirational districts programme, he said.
According to the statement, about 3,000 panchayat and block level functionaries and representatives of the people are expected to attend the inaugural event at Bharat Mandapam, in addition to about two lakh farmers, block and panchayat level functionaries, and people from other walks of life who will participate virtually.
Starting on October 3 and running through October 9, each day of Sankalp Saptaah is devoted to a distinct development subject on which all aspirational blocks will focus. Sampoorna Swasthya, Suposhit Pariwaar, Swachhta, Krishi, Shiksha, and Samridhi Diwas are some of the themes for the first six days, according to the statement.
India News
Madhya Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of candidates after October 5
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw nearer, sources stated on Friday that the Congress is expected to reveal its first list of candidates after October 5 as part of its strategy. A Congress source told IANS that the party will announce the names of the candidates at the ideal moment and that the campaigning for the Assembly elections is already underway.
The source stated that the party would issue its initial list of candidates after October 5, when it is anticipated that the Election Commission will have released its polling schedule.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s general secretary, will be in the state on October 5 to speak at a large public gathering, the source added, and her input will be sought before the release of the final list.
To narrow down the field of candidates for the elections, the party organised two sessions of the Screening Committee in the national capital.
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will speak at a public meeting on Saturday in the Kala Pipla Assembly seat.
Two lists of candidates from the BJP have already been made public for the upcoming elections. Along with four other current MPs, the ruling party has included three Union Ministers in its second list. On Monday, a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a public gathering in Bhopal, the second list of 39 candidates was made public.
The list also included Kailash Vijayvargiya, the national general secretary of the BJP.
The list includes the names of three Union Ministers: Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti from Narsinghpur; Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Party’s State Election Management Committee from Dimni-Morena; and Fagan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel from Niwas.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
