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ED questions three persons in money laundering case against journalist Upendra Rai

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New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned three persons as part of its investigation into a money laundering case against senior journalist Upendra Rai.

Rai was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation on May 3 for dubious transactions of over Rs 100 crore in his bank accounts during 2017-18 and for using false information to obtain access to sensitive areas through Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP) for all airports in the country.

ED had registered a case against Rai on the basis of CBI’s First Information Report.

“Three persons are being examined by the agency in connection with the case,” an ED official privy to the investigation told IANS. The agency had earlier examined two associates of Rai.

Senior ED officials said they were waiting for the CBI to file the chargesheet in the case so that it can attach the properties of Rai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The officials also said that during joint raids carried out at eight places in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Mumbai on May 3 in connection with the case against Rai, they recovered call data records of a senior ED official, an IAS officer earlier posted in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, besides confidential communication between Singapore-based Indian High Commission and a former ED chief.

According to officials, they also recovered income tax assessment orders of various companies and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) generated by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

An ED official requesting anonymity said that the agency had seized a confidential communication between the Indian High Commission in Singapore and former ED Director Rajan Katoch in connection with a case related to industrialist Naveen Jindal.

The official said that a letter written by Jindal to Katoch in 2015 has also been recovered.

The official further revealed that over 100 STRs generated by the Financial Intelligence Unit to check dubious, black money and terror-financing linked transactions, have also been seized from a pen drive at Rai’s premises.

According to ED officials, the confidential STRs of the 2015-16 are connected to the firms which are being probed by various investigating agencies for money laundering, black money generation and export/import frauds.

The official also said that the agency is now looking at entries in over 14 bank accounts in the name of Rai, his family and three firms linked to him.

The agency is also looking into transactions related to eight luxury cars registered in the name of Rai and his family members.

According to the financial probe agency officials, three id cards issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in the name of Rai are being looked into even as he is being probed for allegedly using a fake AEP.

In its case filed on May 1, the CBI had named Rai, aviation firm Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, its Chief Security Officer Prasun Roy, some unidentified public servants of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and others.

The ED officials also said that they have sent the mobile and other electronic gadgets for forensic examination to get more data about Rai’s links.

–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

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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.

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