Corruption in Arms Deals - News and Analysis

[Philip]

The former "Saint" is hopelessly out of depth and clueless as to how to deal with this "Armsgate" N-blast,which is expanding in size by the day.He now states that "everything" must be made in India.Has he forgotten his words just a few weeks ago at Aero-India where he publicly chastised the DRDO/HAL for the 20 year delay in the LCA? The man is displaying his "Peter Principle" limit,that he has reached the highest level of his ...incompetence.He should be turfed out immediately.he sat on the Tatra scam for a whole year "speechless",and is now making up for it with his asinine comments;"yevrywon vill be punished,no von vill be spared,ve vill cancell yevrything,juzt see".Now "yevrything ve vill make...",Lord,does he not give one a real gutache?

The most dismaying fact is that he takes his cue from his boss,the speechless wonder,who emulated the Bamiyan Buddhas.He spoke only when prodded in the nether end when scam after scam threatened to engulf his regime.The MOD requires a seasoned minister ,incorruptible,who knows how to handle wrongdoing and punish the guilty while seeing to the vital needs of the armed forces so that we are now unprepared and illl-equipped when the next Sino-Paki adventure takes place.

We are now told that AV and Pippo Orsi had dinner together to rap up the deal.The Italians aren't cooperating for obvious reasons.They don't trust the GOI a cent!

[ramana]

So Hyd blasts have chopped the chopper scam details?

[SaiK]

It is always an event that takes the focus away from any scam. K-angrez will just jump into anything to save their @$$.

[RamaY]

Fate has it that Hyderabad blasts happen on the day parliament session begins...

All is peace only

[SaiK]

It is sad, we have to be driven by fate, but not established legal processes. least corruption leads to least instability in the society, and most harmony.

[SagarAg]

This man Abhishek Verma.
The timing of this blast is bugging me to no end.

[vic]

How did corruption party miss this fact for 9 years that indigenisation is the answer? Saint was just providing the cover of innocence for massive corruption. Just as mumble Singh did his job in 2G, coal scam, CWG etc.

[chetak]

How did corruption party miss this fact for 9 years that indigenisation is the answer? Saint was just providing the cover of innocence for massive corruption. Just as mumble Singh did his job in 2G, coal scam, CWG etc.

Have been involved in "indigenisation" for over a decade. Been associated with many reputed organizations doing this.

Considered opinion??

it's a nasty can of worms with a great capacity to derail projects. The level of organized corruption is unbelievable. It's a very lucrative gourmet food chain and self sustaining, rich eco system.

saint has become taint antony, crossed the final frontier.

[chetak]

All defence manufacturing must be privatised. HAL must be forced to close down the shop.

I envy you, saar. life is simple choices onlee. Black and white. No gray at all.

[Lalmohan]

lets not score an own goal here by assuming a conspiracy related to the bombings. indian politicians are brazen enough to bluff their way through any political scandal. our birathers on the other hand maintain a relentless vigil to strike at us when they can. no doubt the netas will exploit it to the full, but we need to ensure that we track down who is really responsible

[Sanku]

lets not score an own goal here by assuming a conspiracy related to the bombings. indian politicians are brazen enough to bluff their way through any political scandal. our birathers on the other hand maintain a relentless vigil to strike at us when they can. no doubt the netas will exploit it to the full, but we need to ensure that we track down who is really responsible

Strongly agree.

[SagarAg]

Supreme Court permits Italian naval guards to go to Italy to cast vote
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 625654.cms

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today permitted two Italian naval guards, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, to travel to their country to cast vote in the upcoming elections there. This is it. Now I don't think they will ever return.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said that the accused naval guards, Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, would travel to Italy under the control and custody of the ambassador of Italy in India, to cast their ballot in the elections scheduled for February 24 and 25.

The bench also comprising Justices A R Dave and Vikramajit Sen allowed the plea of the two marines and the Italian government to allow them to travel for four weeks to Italy.

"We are inclined to allow the prayer," the bench said while asking the Italian ambassador to file an additional affidavit on behalf of the Republic of Italy.

While allowing the plea, the bench noted that under the Italian law, the naval guards are not entitled to cast their votes through postal ballot.

The bench said that the naval guards are only allowed to travel to Italy and remain there and will have to return to India.

During the hearing, the court was told that the trial court in Kollam, Kerala, has not handed over the passports of the two marines to ministry of home affairs (MHA) in accordance with the January 18 order of the apex court.

The bench was told that passports have been mailed on February 16 and it has not yet been received by the MHA.

Taking this fact into consideration, the bench permitted that in case the passports are not received, the marines can travel on the temporary documents and the MHA will inform the authorities at IGI Airport and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) about this order.

The two naval guards were on board the Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie', when they had shot dead the two fishermen on February 15, last year.

The apex court also said that the naval guards before leaving and after arriving back in India shall report to Chanakyapuri Police Station in accordance with the apex court's January 18 order.

On January 18, the apex court had turned down the Italian government's plea that the Indian courts had no jurisdiction in the case and had held that the two marines should be tried by the Centre by constituting a special court to conduct their trial.

"The incident of firing from the Italian vessel on the Indian shipping vessel having occurred within the Contiguous Zone, the Union of India is entitled to prosecute the two Italian naval guards under the criminal justice system prevalent in the country," the bench had said.

It had directed that the two be shifted to Delhi and would remain under it's 'custody' till the special court is set up.

The court had said that the Kerala government did not have the jurisdiction to prosecute the two foreign marines and it is to be done by the Centre in the special court to be set up after consulting the CJI.

The court had also said that all the conditions imposed on them by the Kerala court, while granting them bail will remain till the special court is set up and the marines will mark their presence at least once a week before Chanakyapuri Police Station.

Centre dragging its feet in Italian marines case: Supreme Court

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/c ... epage=true

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the government as to why it was “dragging its feet” on the issue of setting up a special court for holding trial of two Italian marines, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen.

The Supreme Court also took exception to the Centre not following its January 18 direction to consult the Chief Justice of India to set up a special court to try the case.

“Why the Centre is dragging its feet? Nobody has made attempt for consultation for setting up of court,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said.

The remarks were made after the bench was told that the issue of setting up a special court was under consideration.

“How long will it take? If the court would have been set up, the trial in the case could have been over. Why it is late? It would have by now decided whether they are guilty or not,” the bench, also comprising justices A.R. Dave and Vikramajit Sen, observed during the hearing on the pleas by the two marines seeking to visit their country to cast votes for the upcoming general elections.

The Supreme Court on January 18 had rejected the plea of the Italian government and the two accused marines that Indian courts have no jurisdiction in the case and they should be tried in an Italian court.

It had directed that the accused be shifted to Delhi and be under the ‘custody’ of the Supreme Court till the Centre constitutes a special court to hold their trial.

“Union of India is, therefore, directed, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, to set up a special court to try this case and to dispose of the same...,” the court had said in its January 18 order.

As we suspected the deal is sealed. You don't provide us names of Indians involved in the Chop-a-scam and we will give you your marines.

[SaiK]

but we need to ensure that we track down who is really responsible

Strongly agree.

Not enough. Hot pursuit for both military and civilian crimes are needed. the gap between crime and terror is narrowing day by day in desh. Take it head on be it home grown or firang or babu gullibility driven. Corruptions takes an equal seating with other crime and terror, that needs to be dealt in a similar way... jail terms that is non bailable at a minimum served real quick within 3 months.

[Austin]

India Today:Teflon Antony and the Rise of the Italian Arms Industry

[RoyG]

SagarAg, you are absolutely right. Those marines aren't coming back. In return, Italian gov will withhold critical evidence pointing to "family."

[nawabs]

[Philip]

America has its teflon don,John Gotti,now India has its own one too,don "St.Anton"!

The brazenness with which AW and our MOD are saying that everything is hunky-dory and no bribes were given,indicates the manner of defence of the Congresswallahs ...as usual deny everything.No loss in 2-G,etc., etc.This is despite Pioppo Orsi,the AW chief,being arrested in Italy and a heap of skeletons tumbling out of AWs cupboard.The UPA/Congress want to filibuster the scandal until the polls,casting as much mud on the NDA,ACM Tyagi and family.The 3 (Tyagi) stooges however look as if they've been caught with their hands in the bottle,as more details about their activities come tumbling out.By the way,is the HAL chief a relative too? One hopes not.

[Katare]

Most of the scandals in recent times have involved Brass and babus not neta's.

Italy is Pakistan of Europe! It's internal politics and corruptions may have more to do with this scandal than actual bribes...

[Philip]

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 45.xml&p=1

Finmeccanica, Indian Officials Discuss Bribery Claims
By Reuters

February 21, 2013
Credit: AgustaWestland

Italian defence group Finmeccanica and Indian officials discussed corruption allegations connected with the purchase of 12 helicopters in a meeting on Thursday that both sides said was positive.

The Indian delegation is in Italy to collect evidence relating to allegations that Finmeccanica paid bribes to win the 560 million euro ($750 million) contract awarded in 2010 to its Anglo-Italian helicopter unit AgustaWestland.

An Italian investigation, which escalated last week with the arrest of the then head of Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, is putting pressure on the Indian government, already buffeted by a string of graft cases.

It has also become a political issue in Italy ahead of parliamentary elections on Feb. 24-25.

Italian prosecutors accuse Orsi of paying bribes to intermediaries to secure the helicopter deal back in 2010, when he was head of AgustaWestland. According to the arrest warrant, the Indian tender was twisted to favour the Italian firm.

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday the government had nothing to hide.

Orsi has denied any wrongdoing.

Finmeccanica’s new chief executive officer, Alessandro Pansa, and an Indian official with direct knowledge of the matter welcomed Thursday’s talks.

“A very positive meeting for our side. The company has assured us it will provide all the papers to satisfy our concerns about the allegations ... in the shortest possible time,” the Indian official said.

India’s defence ministry has threatened to cancel the helicopter deal unless Finmeccanica can give assurances that no bribes were paid. Three AW101 helicopters, manufactured in Yeovil in the UK, have already been delivered to India.

Italian financial newspaper MF said on Thursday the group would make a writedown on the Indian helicopters order.

Finmeccanica, Italy’s second-largest private sector employer, was not immediately available to comment on the report.

The four-man delegation, led by Indian Ministry of Defense Joint Secretary Shri Arun Kumar Bal and Central Bureau of Investigation official Mahipal Yadav, arrived in northern Italy earlier this week and has already met judge Luca Labianca, who signed off Orsi’s arrest warrant.

The Indian official said on Thursday the team would also meet a high-ranking official at Italy’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in Rome on Thursday as well as Eugenio Fusco, the Italian prosecutor investigating the case, on Friday.

[RajD]

Supreme Court permits Italian naval guards to go to Italy to cast vote
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 625654.cms

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today permitted two Italian naval guards, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala, to travel to their country to cast vote in the upcoming elections there. This is it. Now I don't think they will ever return.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said that the accused naval guards, Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, would travel to Italy under the control and custody of the ambassador of Italy in India, to cast their ballot in the elections scheduled for February 24 and 25.

The bench also comprising Justices A R Dave and Vikramajit Sen allowed the plea of the two marines and the Italian government to allow them to travel for four weeks to Italy.

"We are inclined to allow the prayer," the bench said while asking the Italian ambassador to file an additional affidavit on behalf of the Republic of Italy.

While allowing the plea, the bench noted that under the Italian law, the naval guards are not entitled to cast their votes through postal ballot.

The bench said that the naval guards are only allowed to travel to Italy and remain there and will have to return to India.

During the hearing, the court was told that the trial court in Kollam, Kerala, has not handed over the passports of the two marines to ministry of home affairs (MHA) in accordance with the January 18 order of the apex court.

The bench was told that passports have been mailed on February 16 and it has not yet been received by the MHA.

Taking this fact into consideration, the bench permitted that in case the passports are not received, the marines can travel on the temporary documents and the MHA will inform the authorities at IGI Airport and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) about this order.

The two naval guards were on board the Italian vessel 'Enrica Lexie', when they had shot dead the two fishermen on February 15, last year.

The apex court also said that the naval guards before leaving and after arriving back in India shall report to Chanakyapuri Police Station in accordance with the apex court's January 18 order.

On January 18, the apex court had turned down the Italian government's plea that the Indian courts had no jurisdiction in the case and had held that the two marines should be tried by the Centre by constituting a special court to conduct their trial.

"The incident of firing from the Italian vessel on the Indian shipping vessel having occurred within the Contiguous Zone, the Union of India is entitled to prosecute the two Italian naval guards under the criminal justice system prevalent in the country," the bench had said.

It had directed that the two be shifted to Delhi and would remain under it's 'custody' till the special court is set up.

The court had said that the Kerala government did not have the jurisdiction to prosecute the two foreign marines and it is to be done by the Centre in the special court to be set up after consulting the CJI.

The court had also said that all the conditions imposed on them by the Kerala court, while granting them bail will remain till the special court is set up and the marines will mark their presence at least once a week before Chanakyapuri Police Station.

Centre dragging its feet in Italian marines case: Supreme Court

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/c ... epage=true

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the government as to why it was “dragging its feet” on the issue of setting up a special court for holding trial of two Italian marines, accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen.

The Supreme Court also took exception to the Centre not following its January 18 direction to consult the Chief Justice of India to set up a special court to try the case.

“Why the Centre is dragging its feet? Nobody has made attempt for consultation for setting up of court,” a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said.

The remarks were made after the bench was told that the issue of setting up a special court was under consideration.

“How long will it take? If the court would have been set up, the trial in the case could have been over. Why it is late? It would have by now decided whether they are guilty or not,” the bench, also comprising justices A.R. Dave and Vikramajit Sen, observed during the hearing on the pleas by the two marines seeking to visit their country to cast votes for the upcoming general elections.

The Supreme Court on January 18 had rejected the plea of the Italian government and the two accused marines that Indian courts have no jurisdiction in the case and they should be tried in an Italian court.

It had directed that the accused be shifted to Delhi and be under the ‘custody’ of the Supreme Court till the Centre constitutes a special court to hold their trial.

“Union of India is, therefore, directed, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, to set up a special court to try this case and to dispose of the same...,” the court had said in its January 18 order.

As we suspected the deal is sealed. You don't provide us names of Indians involved in the Chop-a-scam and we will give you your marines.

I'd given the answer to the same kind of post by saurab_c a few pages back as follows:

Quote/I think the reason might be different because all you have said seems to have either already happened or has amicably been settled long back so, no need to arm twisting now. Those marines were allowed to go to Italy in order to celebrate X'mas with their families and they have come back for the trail also. It might be the first ever instance when an under trial accused of foreign origin have been allowed to leave the shores just for celebrations and festivities or otherwise. This magnanimity is never shown to even an Indian national by our courts, forget about when they are undergoing trail anywhere abroad. So, in all probability the things have been already worked out, and what take the cake is the recently signed bilateral treaty between India and Italy that provides for facilitating repatriation of the convicts either way so that they can serve the jail term in their respective countries ( One can read between the lines ).
This news was not given prominence at all, most probably I read it in IE last week in some obscure corner. I tried to find it in its e-paper edition but could not find it.
The malaise runs much deeper.\unquote
So, the ball is now set in motion and rolling fast and smooth
Regards.
Rajendra

[Philip]

The latest issue of the Week carries a lengthy story on the AW /Armsgate scandal,where an American,C.Edmionds Allen by name, blew the lid off the various arms deals and kickbacks,gave the info the GOI,but for almost a year the GOI/MOD did nothing at all until the Italian investigation sprang to life with the arrest of the AW chief Pippo Orsi.

Astonishingly,the most sensitive secret documents,8 in number, relating to India's arms procurement,the entire IAF acquisition plan,IN's new sub procurement plans,R&AW's surveillance plans,etc. Allen had also handled a $205 million deal for a Delhi-based arms dealer in LGT Bank Lichtenstein.Allen's own words:

"I gave them enough evidence to nab these guys ,bit I saw no investigation.I do not know why they waited for the Italian investigation to start the probe." According to the WEEK,the ED/CBI reacted initially on the alert from the MOD,who were "flabbergasted" as to how such documents had reached a foreigner.All Allen would say that a "murky network of arms dealers" in India ,leaked these documents tp foreign manufacturers.

Now this means that clearly there is a leak at the very highest levels of either one or both the service HQs and/or the MOD.It is more likely that the leak is within the MOD,as secret docs. relating to procurement for all 3 services and R&AW has been leaked,info available with Allen.This would also explain how the AW scam was perpetrated,as all matters relating to financial affairs/issues are handled not by the service in question,but by the MOD itself.In all the defence scams in the past and present,very rarely has a name of a faceless top babu been mentioned,why so? If the above article is true,then the rot starts like a fish,right at the head with the MOD/DM,who has for years polished his "saintless".....sorry,
"stainless" reputation for being clean and 'oonest.

Regrettably Min. AKA,your reputation after the Tatra scam,which rendered you "speechless" when you were first told about it,and your voluble and effusive defence ,finding your voice again when the AW scam broke,has left your spotless dhoti splattered with mud.You may go to the next polls screaming about your innocence and ignorance of wrongdoing in your ministry,but frankly,as more skeletons tumble out of your closet,fewer of the people of the country by the day believe you any longer.

[merlin]

CJI is now a willing accomplice in the decision to send the marines back knowing fully well that they are not going to come back. One of the reasons why he was made the CJI.

[keshavchandra]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 667037.cms

NEW DELHI/IMPHAL: The Army has been rocked by a series of corruption and discipline cases in recent years, with land, liquor, meat, cereal, petrol and other scams involving even general-rank officers. But its reputation sunk to a new low on Sunday when a lieutenant-colonel was arrested with five others for trying to allegedly smuggle illegal drugs into Myanmar.
Lt-Col Ajay Chaudhary (49), posted as the defence public relations officer at Imphal since January 2011, and the five others were detained by police in Pallel area of the Thoubal police district of Manipur around 7 am.
"Their three vehicles, two Boleros and a Tata Safari , were packed to the roof with pseudoephedrine and other tablets estimated to be worth around Rs 24 crore. The Bolero in which the Army officer was travelling hada sticker of 'PRO Defence ','' an official said.
The vehicles were headed towards Moreh, the town on the border with Myanmar, where such drugs are in huge demand as "speed drugs'', when they were intercepted by the police. The other five accused were identified as N Brojendro, an assistant manager of Indigo Airlines posted at Imphal airport, R K Babloo (25), a Territorial Army jawan and three tribals — H Haokip (28), Minlal Haokip (25) and M Doungel (29).
The Army said "strictest possible action'' would be taken against Lt-Col Chaudhary, a Bihar Regiment officer,if he was found guilty. "The matter is being investigated. It's a civil offence. When he is produced before a magistrate, we will examine whether we want to take him into our custody or not. We are waiting for the full report,'' said a senior officer.
Lt-Col Chaudhary, however, denied his involvement in any drug racket, telling reporters that he was "shocked''to see the drug packets inside the vehicles since he was just helping a businessman whom he knew. As the Imphal PRO, the officer comes under the defence ministry's directorate of public relations. Before January 2011, he was posted with the Army's newly-raised division headquartered in Lekhapani in Assam .
Thoubal district SP Jhaljit Singh said investigation was in progress. "The accused will be produced in court on Monday,'' he said.
The drama began around 7 am when a Manipur police team led by an inspector, acting on a specific tip-off, waylaid the three vehicles near Pallel bazar. After Lt-Col Chaudhary initially refused to alight from his vehicle, the police team sought the help of a police commando unit stationed nearby in the town.
The commandos then forced the three vehicles to their complex and conducted a search that led to the recovery of 31 packets of pseudoephedrine and other tablets, which are used to treat nasal and sinus congestion.
The police said the drug haul - which included tablets ofRespifed, Omkop, Hilcold, Polyfed and Actidin -- was the biggest in the state in recent times. Drug-trafficking experts said a huge quantity of pseudoephedrine and other drugs were also being smuggled to the notorious 'Golden Triangle' of south-east Asia for use in the manufacturing of heroine.

[ramana]

PTI reports:

CBI names ex IAF chief as suspect and registers case

Story mentions Tyagi and ten others including T3 are named.

Looks like ACM Tyagi was tyagied (sacrificed) or chopped in the Chopper scam.

[SaiK]

not good
not good!

[SSridhar]

Nothing has been proved as yet. Still, the mere fact that the needle of suspicion seems strongly to indict the former IAF chief is in itself a shameful episode in the otherwise glorious chapters of our armed forces. Whichever way the jingos dissect this event, this is utterly disgusting and dents the fair image of the services.

[member_23629]

Astonishingly,the most sensitive secret documents,8 in number, relating to India's arms procurement,the entire IAF acquisition plan,IN's new sub procurement plans,R&AW's surveillance plans,etc. Allen had also handled a $205 million deal for a Delhi-based arms dealer in LGT Bank Lichtenstein.Allen's own words:

"I gave them enough evidence to nab these guys ,bit I saw no investigation.I do not know why they waited for the Italian investigation to start the probe." According to the WEEK,the ED/CBI reacted initially on the alert from the MOD,who were "flabbergasted" as to how such documents had reached a foreigner.All Allen would say that a "murky network of arms dealers" in India ,leaked these documents tp foreign manufacturers.

India seems to have become full of traitors again. Greed is the enemy of Indians. How long would it take for these documents to reach the ISI from the international market?

[keshavchandra]

not good
not good!

why not good saik sir. It is the best news of today's date. Corruption in the top management is the main problem which we need to address. And I'm sure behind this speedy investigation, there would be some hard instructions from antony.

[vic]

The latest issue of the Week carries a lengthy story on the AW /Armsgate scandal,where an American,C.Edmionds Allen by name, blew the lid off the various arms deals and kickbacks,gave the info the GOI,but for almost a year the GOI/MOD did nothing at all until the Italian investigation sprang to life with the arrest of the AW chief Pippo Orsi.

.

Can we have a scanned copy or a link?

[Karan M]

FYI. The opening posts on this very thread, and clearly relate to how corruption can actually affect operational preparedness if the bits about the ASRs being diluted are true.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_mi ... rm_1244938
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/ne ... s-1.273448

Antony's claimed clean image ..so much for that. He is becoming another MMS adept at looking the other way, case by case.

[Austin]

I was once told by retired CNS that it was not surprising to find CCSA meeting papers with the Arm Dealers either prior to the meeting on what is the agenda or post after that as to what was discussed.

The leaks are mostly happening at MOD babu level with the blessings of GOI , since our system is such that deals cannot go ahead without blessing of all the 3 parties involved which is armed forces , GOI and babus , there are black sheep in the services too.

Unfortunately when some odd corruption cases make it to the open its the weakest link that gets targetted , ACM Tyagi is the weakest link in Agusta deal so he would face the music , atleast till such time it remains in the limelight and eventually it will fade from peoples memory and things will go slow or forgotton for good.

Reason why odd Honest People like VKS was a thorn for GOI that needed to get rid of him quickly since such odd strong headed honest people are rare , now it will be business as usual.

[Philip]

Vic,unfortunately,my copy has been borrowed and the Week has a "subscriber only" access to the whole artiecle.However,I think that the Deccan Chronicle/Asian Age or TOI had the same story/same quoted Yanqui,just in an issue just a couple of days ago.This should be available on the paper's online edition in the Op-Ed/Opinion page.

What appears to be an open secret in Delhi,not being chased enough by the media,is Abishek Verma's intimate Congress links and that of his family.A brother of a Coongress MP or Minister is also supposed to be linked to one of the Chandigarh "IT" companies,where kickbacks were allegedly paid through the guise of payments for IT work.THis ARmsgate/AW scanfal has the fingerprints,footprints and imprint of the Cngress "familia" all over it!

[ramana]

Vic a Few Internet links on that person:

New York Times:
NY Businessman alleges corruption in Indian defence deals

Navbharat Times 118 page pdf:

Commission in Defence Deals

and Hindu dated July 2012!!!

Abhishek Verma under CBI scanner

Must be broken optics if they couldnt trace his Augusta deals! Unless CBI was to coverup the case.

...All recent off-shore and intra-country transactions made purportedly by and at the behest of businessman Abhishek Verma, who is being probed along with his newly-wed Romanian wife Anca Neascu, for allegedly receiving $530,000 from the blacklisted Swiss company Rheinmetall Air Defence (RAD) AG, to reverse the process of blacklisting by bribing public servants, has come under the scanner of the investigating agencies.

Apart from the transaction of the amount in question between Ganton Limited USA and RAD, that took place on January 31 last year, the rest of the aspects listed in the complaint lodged by his former business associate and president of Ganton Limited USA, C. Edmonds Allen, are now being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Directorate of Enforcement and the Income-Tax Department, to ascertain if the charges of money laundering and tax evasion have any ground.

In one of the complaints to the Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Allen listed the charges, alleging that Mr. Verma made illegal deposits in U.S. bearer bonds, and cash of $175,000,000, that he purportedly claimed to be his own. Accusing him of having accepted money from foreign companies for alleged favours in the Defence sector, the complaint also alleges that Mr. Verma had requested the lawyer to open accounts (bank), and a company in the United States, for a government official. It was also alleged that unaccounted-for money was channelled through Mauritius, Dubai, the United Kingdom and India.
Mr. Allen, in the complaint, also staked a claim on the reward, if the information shared by him led to seizure of the assets in question, subsequent to the investigation.

In another complaint, Mr. Allen claimed that all withdrawals from the Ganton Limited bank account were made in India through two debit cards. Purportedly at the instance of Mr. Verma, he allowed one of his dormant companies to “compensate” the Chief Operations Officer of Ganton India Private Limited, for which another account was opened, and a debit card issued. Another company was set up in 2010, purportedly for his then-fiancée, Ms. Neascu, and a separate bank account for the company was created, against which a debit card was also issued.

The lawyer also urged the Indian agencies to probe Mr. Verma's role in a purported agreement by an Israeli company, to pay him huge sums of money to influence public servants, and get an anti-dumping duty levied by the Commerce Ministry cancelled. A joint venture was also formed with another U.S.-based company, purportedly on behalf of Mr. Verma, for which a bank account was opened. It is learnt that monetary transactions made through these bank accounts would also be probed. According to a CBI official, “although we are investigating the case pertaining to RAD, all the information shared by Mr. Allen will be verified. The Enforcement Directorate and Income-Tax Department are probing the relevant aspects”.

Mr. Verma had, earlier this month, moved a city court accusing C. Edmonds Allen of cheating him of Rs. 55 crore, and forging e-mails to defame him. The court has taken cognisance of the complaint.

And Uty of Cumberland honors Edmond Allen

The guy is no joker if he graduated from Philips Academy, Andover

Its Boston Brahmin pen.

[MadhuG]

If even half of our righteous internet forum warriors stepped out under the bright sun and participated in elective politics, take the reins and lead our country to a brighter and honest tomorrow, these scandals would not even occur in the first place.

That aside, I am slightly disappointed with the unabated slurs and sarcasm in BR. Discussions could have been plainly objective but alas.

[SagarAg]

If even half of our righteous internet forum warriors stepped out under the bright sun and participated in elective politics, take the reins and lead our country to a brighter and honest tomorrow, these scandals would not even occur in the first place.

That aside, I am slightly disappointed with the unabated slurs and sarcasm in BR. Discussions could have been plainly objective but alas.

[Karan M]

Ah yes, the plebs on BRF must forget about their everyday concerns of roti, kapda aur makan, survival in the corrupt ecosystem that is India today, and must now aspire to become politicians and lead the country to a magical wonderland. Never mind anyone common who bucks the status quo ends up crippled as a demonstrator at Ramdevs
fast discovered. Of all the whimsical, pompously unrealistic suggestions one has heard on the forum so far, the above takes the cake. And of course, like good well natured curs, we dare not even question our betters, let alone be sarcastic, woo hoo, and not be objective as well...
At least now I know what sort of geniuses supported the creation of this corrupt edifice in the first place.

[negi]

If we join politics who will pay tax for country's growth ?

[MadhuG]

...self defeating sardonic disdain...

“Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” - Plato.

[Karan M]

An impressive sounding copy pasted quote which does nothing to address the realities expressed in Karan M's prior post.

Why don't you go into politics, Madhu G, and save all those on BR or even elsewhere? By doing so, you would graduate from being an "internet warrior", to quote your own words, to being a true messiah of the masses.

Please do follow your own prescription, achieve some success doing so, and then come back & proffer your advice. Sorry, but till you do so, your statements have little to no heft behind them. And your criticism of those who are outraged regarding the topic, sounds elitist.

Meanwhile, let us folks continue with our criticism of the jerks who stole from the public exchequer. Pardon us if that "sardonic disdain" offends your "objective" sensibilities. However, that disdain may perhaps keep public outrage alive & stoke awareness of the rampant loot of the public exchequer, which has a more practical aspect of influencing change. As versus utopian ideals of entering politics & effecting change, "one day".

[MadhuG]

An impressive sounding copy pasted quote which does nothing to address the realities expressed in Karan M's prior post.

Why don't you go into politics, Madhu G, and save all those on BR or even elsewhere? By doing so, you would graduate from being an "internet warrior", to quote your own words, to being a true messiah of the masses.

Please do follow your own prescription, achieve some success doing so, and then come back & proffer your advice. Sorry, but till you do so, your statements have little to no heft behind them. And your criticism of those who are outraged regarding the topic, sounds elitist.

Meanwhile, let us folks continue with our criticism of the jerks who stole from the public exchequer. Pardon us if that "sardonic disdain" offends your "objective" sensibilities. However, that disdain may perhaps keep public outrage alive & stoke awareness of the rampant loot of the public exchequer, which has a more practical aspect of influencing change. As versus utopian ideals of entering politics & effecting change, "one day".

I do participate in politics. I am asking others on this forum to take part too. No, 'criticism' on an internet forum or a social network is not going to change public opinion. It is not going to affect the change that we wish for. I fervently hope many like you would soon take an active part instead of assuming 'others' would do it for you. It is this attitude among our educated people that has slowly degraded our political system and left us with the current state of affairs.

I am never sarcastic and have never been if you take time to read any of my posts. Whatever I wrote I meant it with sincerity. Copy pasted or not, I did not want to get into a personal argument on an internet forum which isn't quite like it was 5 years ago.