National
Let Centre show overseas assets and seize them, Karti tells SC
New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Denying he held undisclosed assets abroad, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Centre should disclose any overseas assets held by him or his family and seize them.
“My father, mother, wife, and myself are income tax payees. If the government or its agencies can tell we have these properties, we will execute decrees in their favour and the government can take their possession,” Karti Chidambaram told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
Senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the bench, also comprising Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, that the Central Bureau of Investigation was levelling “reckless and wild allegations” and that nothing had emerged during the course of his client Karti Chidambaram’s questioning by the the central agency that pointed to the existence of undiscovered overseas properties owned by the family.
Sibal said this as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, produced in a sealed cover what he said were details of properties linked to Karti Chidambaram. He said information about these had surfaced during the course of his questioning by the agency.
Sibal objected and said the CBI could not place before the court the documents allegedly linked to his client without filing a separate FIR.
He told the court that nothing, as claimed by the CBI, had emerged during the course of Karti Chidambaram’s questioning.
He said the CBI could only produce documents relating to the case in respect of which a lookout notice was issued to ensure that Karti Chidambaram did not leave the country.
Mehta told the court that he would establish that the details of all the assets submitted in the sealed cover were linked to the matter under investigation.
The court then adjourned the matter, saying it would hear it on September 18 and take a final decision.
The court is hearing the CBI’s plea challenging the Madras High Court order staying the lookout notice against Karti Chidambaram and others. The High Court order was in turn stayed by the apex court.
The matter relates to alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media when P. Chidambaram was the Finance Minister in the United Progressive Alliance government.
Karti Chidambaram is alleged to have received Rs 3.5 crore from Mumbai-based INX media, now 9X Media, for helping it get FIPB clearance when it was run by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, both accused in the Sheena Bora murder case.
The FIR in the case does not mention Chidambaram senior, though it said he cleared the FIPB approval for Rs 4.62 crore of Foreign Direct Investment in the firm at an FIPB meeting on May 18, 2007.
–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.