National
Relief for Chidambarams as Karti gets bail in INX media case (Lead)
New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram was given bail on Friday by the Delhi High Court after over three weeks of his arrest in the INX Media corruption case.
Justice S.P, Garg directed Karti to furnish a surety of Rs 10 lakh and asked him not leave the country without taking prior permission from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the case.
“There appears no possibility of the petitioner (Karti) to flee from justice. His parents are senior advocates, he has family to take care of, he has roots in the society and is not a previous convict,” Justice Garg said, granting the bail.
Karti was arrested on February 28 for allegedly taking money to facilitate Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media in 2007 when his father was the Finance Minister in the UPA government.
The CBI has alleged irregularities were committed in giving INX Media clearance to receive Rs 305 crore in foreign investment.
Imposing additional conditions in his bail order, Justic Garg strongly directed Karti not to contact the prosecution witnesses or temper with evidence or criminally intimidate any witness in any manner.
The court also asked Karti not to close any of his bank accounts in India or abroad without informing the CBI about.
The prosecution had opposed his bail plea alleging that the accused had “already destroyed evidence” and was an “influential” person to influence witnesses.
Karti, 46, was arrested in connection with an FIR lodged on May 15 last year. The CBI initially alleged that he had received Rs 10 lakh as bribe for facilitating the FIPB clearance to INX Media.
The figure was, however, revised later to about Rs $1 million or 6.5 crore at the current exchange rate.
The amount was paid through private company Advantage Strategic Consulting, according to the CBI.
Karti denied the allegations, saying he was in no way related to the firm.
His arrest was triggered after Indrani Mukerjea, former executive at INX Media, recorded a statment before a magistrate on February 17, accusing Karti of demanding and receiving bribe to facilitate clearance for the foreign investment,
Mukerjea is accused of her daughter Sheena Bora’s murder and currently lodged in a Mumbai jail.
–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.