Political Career for Indian Youth-Center submits to the Supreme Court list of 627 persons having illegal accounts in foreign banks

Center submits to the Supreme Court list of 627 persons having illegal accounts in foreign banks

The Centre today gave to the Supreme Court a list of 627 Indians who have accounts in HSBC bank, Geneva. The documents containing correspondence with French authorities, names of the account holders  and the status report of the probe conducted so far in black money cases have been submitted in separate sealed covers by the Attorney General.  However, the Apex Court did not open the sealed covers.  It said  that  the envelopes will be sent to the Special Investigation Team, SIT and will be opened by Chairman M. B. Shah and Vice Chairman Arijit Pasayat, both former judges of the Supreme Court.  They will decide on the future course of action.   It asked the SIT to conduct probe against the account holders and submit its status report of its probe as expeditiously as possible by the end of November.

The Centre has submitted that almost half of the account holders are resident Indians, who can be prosecuted under the Income Tax laws and rest of them are Non-Resident Indians. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that some of the account holders have already admitted to having accounts and have paid taxes. Most transactions in these accounts took place during 1999 and 2000 and the last date for completion and assessment in all these cases is March 31, 2015.

The apex court yesterday directed the Centre to submit all the names of Indian account holders in foreign banks . The court has been monitoring the investigations into black money since 2009. In 2011, the court had asked for complete disclosure of information on Indians holding black money abroad.

Bangaru Laxman sentenced 4 years for a bribery case

Bangaru Laxman sentenced 4 years for a bribery case

A Delhi court has sentenced former BJP President Bangaru Laxman to four years rigorous imprisonment for taking one lakh rupees as bribe in a fictitious defence deal case. Turning down his plea for leniency, Special CBI Judge Kanwal Jeet Arora also imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on Laxman. Later he was taken to Tihar Jail. His counsel said they will move the high court to challenge his conviction. The sentencing comes 11 years after Bangaru Laxman was caught taking bribe in a sting operation by Portal Tehelka.

Holding corruption as worse than prostitution, the Judge said it endangers the whole society. He said one has to shun the attitude of 'sab chalta hai,' where nothing moves without bribe. The court said by accepting the bribe, Laxman had agreed to compromise with the security and safety of the nation and the lives of lakhs of soldiers, who without fearing for their lives, fight for the nation.

He had also agreed to help a company - M/s Westend International - coming to him for getting a supply order of defence related equipments to Indian Army. The court, thus convicted him under section 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The judge in its 14-page order on sentence said the case was one of political corruption as Laxman had committed the crime when he was the chief of a political party which was the largest constituent of the then NDA government.

This is the first instance of a national party president getting convicted and sentenced to a jail term in a corruption case for accepting bribe in his office chamber in the party headquarters in 2001.

The BJP has termed the conviction of its former Party President Bangaru Laxman as a decision of the court on his personal conduct and not on the party. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain said that BJP is against corruption and never covers up any type of corruption.

While reacting on this issue, the Congress said that it is a matter of concern that a national president of a party was convicted in a fictitious graft case. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, the party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said that BJP should introspect about his organisation

News- Finance Minister is for a change in the system

Finance Minister says there is a need for a change in the system to fight corruption; Members also call for reforms in Judiciary

Winding up the debate in the Lok Sabha, Mr Mukherjee said there is a need for a change in the system to check corruption and the government is doing so. He, however, said one single law how much strong and empowered it may be cannot completely eradicate corruption.

“Lokpal bill alone cannot root out corruption. We need multi-layer laws to deal with the corruption at various level. In addition to the lokpal bill, we are willing to strengthen the judicial accountability bill, whistle blower's bill and the includes of Shri Anna Hazare and his associates will be taken into consideration. We are also working on a grievance redressal bill to tackle corruption at the local level”

Mr Mukherjee hoped that with the unanimous adoption of the resolution Anna Hazare will break the fast and the agitation will come to an end. Participating in the debate Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj while pledging full support to the three demands of Team Anna called for bringing Prime Minister in its ambit with except for national security and public order and also advocated to bring a separate legislation for setting up the National Judicial Accountability commission.

Sandeep Dixit from Congress strongly supported the points brought into focus by the Finance Minister and pleaded for sometime to prepare the required mechanism for operationalisation of citizen charter. He also stressed the need to create a separate mechanism to deal with malpractices in corporate sectors and NGOs.

In the Rajya Sabha the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Arun Jaitley said that while framing the legislation, care should be taken so that there is no interference or overlapping of powers between the Centre and the States. He opined that the appointment and performance of Judges cannot be left to judges alone. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister and Senior Congress leader opposed the proposal of Prime Minister's inclusion in the Lokpal. Agreeing with the basic premise that Lokayuktas need to be appointed in all States to deal with corruption he said it has to be implemented keeping in view the federal structure of the country. Several other prominent parliamentarians who participated in the in the two Houses, so far they include Mr. Sudeep Bandhopadhyay of TMC, Sharad Yadad , JDU, Revti Raman Singh ,SP, Dara Singh Chauhan, BSP, T.K. S. Elegovan, DMK, Sitaram Yechury, CPIM and Lalu Prassad ,JDU.

News- Finance Minister is for a change in the system

Finance Minister says there is a need for a change in the system to fight corruption; Members also call for reforms in Judiciary

Winding up the debate in the Lok Sabha, Mr Mukherjee said there is a need for a change in the system to check corruption and the government is doing so. He, however, said one single law how much strong and empowered it may be cannot completely eradicate corruption.

“Lokpal bill alone cannot root out corruption. We need multi-layer laws to deal with the corruption at various level. In addition to the lokpal bill, we are willing to strengthen the judicial accountability bill, whistle blower's bill and the includes of Shri Anna Hazare and his associates will be taken into consideration. We are also working on a grievance redressal bill to tackle corruption at the local level”

Mr Mukherjee hoped that with the unanimous adoption of the resolution Anna Hazare will break the fast and the agitation will come to an end. Participating in the debate Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj while pledging full support to the three demands of Team Anna called for bringing Prime Minister in its ambit with except for national security and public order and also advocated to bring a separate legislation for setting up the National Judicial Accountability commission.

Sandeep Dixit from Congress strongly supported the points brought into focus by the Finance Minister and pleaded for sometime to prepare the required mechanism for operationalisation of citizen charter. He also stressed the need to create a separate mechanism to deal with malpractices in corporate sectors and NGOs.

In the Rajya Sabha the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Arun Jaitley said that while framing the legislation, care should be taken so that there is no interference or overlapping of powers between the Centre and the States. He opined that the appointment and performance of Judges cannot be left to judges alone. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister and Senior Congress leader opposed the proposal of Prime Minister's inclusion in the Lokpal. Agreeing with the basic premise that Lokayuktas need to be appointed in all States to deal with corruption he said it has to be implemented keeping in view the federal structure of the country. Several other prominent parliamentarians who participated in the in the two Houses, so far they include Mr. Sudeep Bandhopadhyay of TMC, Sharad Yadad , JDU, Revti Raman Singh ,SP, Dara Singh Chauhan, BSP, T.K. S. Elegovan, DMK, Sitaram Yechury, CPIM and Lalu Prassad ,JDU.

News-PM calls for confronting corruption on all fronts

PM calls for confronting corruption on all fronts

The nation is celebrating 65th Independence Day today with the Prime Minister giving a clarion call for confronting corruption on all fronts. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort after unfurling the tricolour this morning, Dr. Manmohan Singh reaffirmed government's commitment for a strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places. But, he made it clear that resorting to hunger strikes and fast unto death will not help. Top priority to deal with inflation, a transparent law on Land Acquisition, strict vigilance against terrorism and extremism and an education commission are the other highlights of the Prime Minister's speech.

Dealing at length on corruption, Dr. Singh said, no single big step will be able to deal with the menace.

There is need for improving justice delivery system to tackle the menace and a Judicial Accountability Bill has been introduced in Parliament for this. A Public Procurement Legislation is also on the anvil to check corruption in government purchases.
Sharing the concern over the issue, the Prime Minister said while considering the matter an atmosphere should not be created to bring the country's progress into question. Calling for understanding and restraint, Dr. Singh said that the security and integrity of the country will get affected otherwise. One should rise against personal and political interests and build consensus on issues of national importance. Dr. Singh referred to the differences of opinion on the Lokpal Bill and said that those who do not agree with the Bill can put forward their views to Parliament, political parties and the media. But he said only Parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation should be enacted. He felt it inappropriate to bring judiciary under the ambit of Lokpal as it would erode its independence.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said, there is a need to improve justice delivery system to punish the corrupt quickly. Saying there is no magic wand to eradicate corruption, he wanted all political parties to stand shoulder to shoulder to fight the menace. The Prime Minister exuded confidence that the fight against corruption will be won only when every citizens cooperate in the battle.