Top News
Akhilesh granted lease to 14 people, says CBI
New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Under attack from the opposition parties, the CBI on Monday said that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh granted lease of mines to 14 people in 2013 in Hamirpur district against the Allahabad High Court orders which had ratified the e-tender policy.
CBI sources released a list of 22 leases cleared by Akhilesh Yadav, who was also the mining minister during the period, and Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who succeeded Yadav as the Mining Minister.
“Yadav granted lease to 13 people in one go on February 17, 2013. And on June 14, 2013, he again granted lease to one person in the district of Hamirpur,” an official said, adding that the lease granted to all these 14 people were in violation of e-tendering policy of 2012 of the state government which was ratified by the Allahabad High Court on January 29, 2013.
The disclosure of the list came after a political row erupted two days after the agency on Saturday said that Yadav’s role in grant of licences will also be probed.
On Sunday, the SP chief had alleged that the BJP was using the CBI as a tool for arm-twisting the opposition party leaders, some of whom are trying to forge an electoral alliance.
BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday also attacked the Narendra Modi-led government of “trying to intimidate” and arm-twist its political rivals through government agencies like the CBI.
The CBI had carried out searches at 14 locations in Delhi and several cities of Uttar Pradesh in connection with its investigation into the illegal sand mining case in the district of Hamirpur between 2012-16.
The official also said that Prajapati had cleared eight mining leases between September 2013 and May 2015 in violation of the Allhabad High Court order.
According to the CBI source, all these leases were valued above Rs 5 lakh.
On Saturday, the CBI had carried out searches at 14 locations including the residence of a woman IAS officer, a Samajwadi Party leader and a BSP leader.
CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal had said that the agency registered a case on January 2 against 11 people, including a few known public servants and unknown public servants and others, under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
–IANS
aks/vsc/mr
Top News
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.