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PM, Gujarat minister linked to firm duping banks of Rs 2,654 cr: Congress
New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) The Congress on Saturday alleged that the directors of a Gujarat-based company, DPIL, which duped 11 of Rs 2,654.4 crore, have links with a state Minister and are close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Murky dealings, hidden under cultural fests and crony businesses of a Gujarat-based company duping 11 banks to the tune of Rs 2,654.4 crore, now stands exposed.
“Diamond Power Infrastructure Ltd (DPIL) and its directors — Suresh Narain Bhatnagar and sons Amit Bhatnagar and Sumit Bhatnagar — have active links with Gujarat’s Energy Minister Saurabh Patel,” said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera.
Khera said: “Numerous photographs in social media suggest that one of the fraudsters — Amit Bhatnagar — is very close to PM Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and even present Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.”
“Fifty-one days, 13 bank loot scams and counting. Even the President (Ram Nath Kovind) is now talking about it, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not uttered a word on this saga of corruption, cheating and connivance of his people, unravelling on daily basis,” he added.
The party said that “even as the banking sector is hurt by successive jolts by the banking scams, Modi and his party do not let the Parliament function for 25 days in a row”.
“Is it because the PM is either trying to brazen it out or because he has utter disregard for institutions and constitutional values? Or is it because some of his ‘own people’ are involved?” Khera said.
The party alleged that DPIL had fraudulently availed credit facilities from a consortium of 11 banks, Axis Bank being the lead bank, by submitting false stock statements and extensively utilising cash credit limits for obtaining large number of Letters of Credit (LCs).
According to the Congress, Bhatnagar is believed to have been one of the chief financers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Vadodara.
“BJP government in the state showers public money on Amit Bhatnagar’s cultural fest in Vadodara – ‘VAD FEST’. According to Bhatnagar’s own admission, Rs 26 crore were spent on the first VAD FEST in 2016 and a large proportion of it come from the BJP-ruled state government,” said Khera.
“Bhatnagar is no stranger to financial frauds. In March 2015, he was arrested and released on bail by the Central Excise for alleged fraudulent misuse of CenVAT credit and evading excise duty worth Rs 40 crore.
“In July 2016, another complaint against DPIL was filed for allegedly selling off shares owned by a woman,” he added.
The party also sought to know what was the plan of the Modi government to recover the humongous amounts of public money from their businessmen friends.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.