Cornered, says Indrani Mukerjea whose testimony led to Chidambaram arrest
Chidambaram has been accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of irregularities in the government’s approval of foreign investment in INX Media Private Limited, founded by Indrani Mukerjea and her husband Peter Mukerjea, in 2007.
By HT Correspondent | New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 29, 2019 07:37 PM IST
Jailed INX Media co-founder Indrani Mukerjea said on Thursday the arrest of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram in the corruption case involving her firm was “good news”.
Chidambaram has been accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of irregularities in the government’s approval of foreign investment in INX Media Private Limited, founded by Indrani Mukerjea and her husband Peter Mukerjea, in 2007. Chidambaram was the finance minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government then.
The senior Congress leader was arrested on August 21 by CBI in the INX Media case.
Follow live updates here
“His (Chidambaram) arrest is good news. He is now cornered from all sides,” Indrani Mukerjea said while speaking to reporters in a Mumbai court where she was produced in connection with the case of her daughter Sheena Bora’s murder.
Also Watch: CBI & ED heat on Chidambaram: All there is to know about the INX media case
A Delhi court had allowed Indrani Mukerjea, who is a prime suspect in Sheena Bora’s murder, to turn an approver in the INX Media case last month.
Indrani Mukerjea said the bail granted to the former Union minister’s son Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media case should also be cancelled. Karti Chidambaram was arrested last year by CBI for allegedly accepting money to facilitate the clearance by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to INX Media. He was later granted bail.
INX Media co-founders Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani Mukerjea have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy with Karti Chidambaram to secure clearance from FIPB for the foreign investment received by the company and evade punitive measures for not having the requisite approvals.
Indrani Mukerjea told CBI in March last year that a deal of $1 million was struck between Karti Chidambaram and the Mukerjeas to secure approval from the FIPB in favour of INX Media.
The ED the CBI are probing how Karti Chidambaram got clearance from FIPB in 2007.
BJP leaders meet Shah over Bengal poll
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:54 AM IST
Bengal BJP leaders said that Friday’s meeting was held to review the Bengal poll preparedness against the backdrop of the report five central leaders prepared for Shah. Induction of leaders from the Trinamool Congress and other parties was also discussed at the meeting, said a BJP leader.
Will go it alone in Uttarakhand, UP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:45 AM IST
Mayawati, who turned 65 on Friday, said just like 2007, the BSP will form a government in Uttar Pradesh on its own in 2022. “I have never compromised with principles for the sake of getting power. All BSP workers must unitedly start preparing for these elections,” she said.
CBI ‘bribe-for-relief’ racket was running since 2018, finds probe
By Neeraj Chauhan
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:39 AM IST
The agency has identified bribes worth ₹55 lakh paid to two of its officers– Deputy Superintendent of Police , R K Rishi ( ₹30 lakh) and Inspector Kapil Dhankad ( ₹25 lakh) – in lieu of favours extended to at least three companies.
Panel ignored advice on bidder: Officials
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:35 AM IST
The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2018 gave “in-principle” approval for leasing out six airports of the state-run Airports Authority of India through the public private partnership appraisal committee.
Army displays drone swarming prowess
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:24 AM IST
The army’s drone swarming capability is under development, though it has been tested for HADR roles, which are largely dropping medicines and essential items. The technology is being developed by the army in partnership with a Bengaluru-based start-up NewSpace Research and Technologies.
Don’t test India’s patience, Army chief warns China
By Rahul Singh
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:17 AM IST
General Manoj Mukund Naravane, in a media briefing on January 12, said the army was prepared to hold ground in eastern Ladakh “for as long as it takes” to achieve national objectives in case the ongoing military and diplomatic talks with China to reduce tensions are “prolonged”.
Kathmandu requests early provision of vaccines
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 02:07 AM IST
Both sides have worked closely to combat the pandemic, and the Nepalese side lauded India on its success in the production of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines and “requested for early provision of vaccines to Nepal”, the external affairs ministry said.
Ladakh personnel may be among first from the force to get vaccine
By Rahul Singh
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 01:58 AM IST
At least 12,000 doses of the vaccine have reached Ladakh of which around 4,000 have been earmarked for armed forces personnel to protect them from Covid-19, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
President Kovind donates Rs5 lakh for Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 01:50 AM IST
VHP’s international working president Alok Kumar, Govind Dev Giri, the treasure of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust, and former bureaucrat Nripendra Misra, who heads the temple construction committee, were part of the delegation that met the President
Delhi air in toxic zone, could get worse today
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 01:40 AM IST
Union ministry of earth science’s air quality monitoring centre, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), said the city-state was looking at the “first prolonged extreme air pollution event of 2021”.
Ninth round of farm talks inconclusive
By Zia Haq
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 01:07 AM IST
Like several earlier rounds of discussions, the farm unions demanded that the government commit to complete rollback of the laws. At Friday’s talks, the government proposed that the 41-member farmers’ delegation form a “smaller group” with “people who have expertise on laws”.
Kerala earmarks fund for mental health
By Ramesh Babu
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 12:39 AM IST
The state has earmarked Rs.64 crore for mental health programmes, usually a neglected sector. According to a survey conducted by the state mental health department last year, at least 15% of the youth between 18 and 25 years suffered from depression and other mental health problems.
Ex-CM accuses ruling Meghalaya govt of encouraging illegal coal mining
By HT Correspondent, Shillong
UPDATED ON JAN 16, 2021 12:15 AM IST
- Sangma said the mineral, weighing truckloads, which were dumped in a scattered manner, were being tallied.
Smuggled Nepalese cigarette brand dominates border areas of Uttarakhand
PUBLISHED ON JAN 16, 2021 12:01 AM IST
- ‘Khukuri’ a brand of Nepalese cigarette has captured the market in the border areas of US Nagar, Champawat and Pithoragarh. Over 90% of smokers prefer to purchase and smoke this not due to taste but its cheap prices, said an official.
Assam village sets example, holds fake buffalo fight to uphold SC ban
By Utpal Parashar | Edited by Sparshita Saxena
UPDATED ON JAN 15, 2021 11:58 PM IST
- In 2016, the Supreme Court had placed a ban on animal fights during religious and cultural festivals.