National
Tax officials quiz Karnataka Minister, kin over assets
Bengaluru, Nov 6 (IANS) Income Tax officials on Monday questioned Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his family members over seized documents pertaining to their assets including cash, jewellery and other properties, an official said.
“Shivakumar and his family members were questioned in continuation to his properties seized during the raids in August. They were asked for clarifications regarding the assets,” the senior tax official told IANS here.
Those questioned at the main Income Tax Department Office included Shivakumar’s mother, wife, daughter and brother D.K. Suresh.
Speaking to reporters after the questioning, Shivakumar said: “The Income Tax officials wanted more information from me and my family members and questioned all of us individually and took our statements.”
Calling himself an “open book”, the Minister said he had “violated no law”.
“I respect the law of the land and have been cooperating with officials throughout,” Shivakumar said.
Shivakumar is the Congress MLA from Kanakapura segment in Ramanagara district near Bengaluru. Suresh is a Congress lawmaker from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency.
Raids were conducted at the Minister’s residence at Kanakapura in the city and south Delhi on August 2 and continued till August 5.
Over 100 IT sleuths raided about 60 locations in the state, Delhi and Chennai and seized several documents and cash of Rs 10 crore from some locations.
As per declarations made in his nomination papers to tne Election Commission for the 2013 assembly elections, Shivakumar is said to be the second richest politician in the state with assets valued at Rs 251 crore four years ago.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.