J&K Police arrest two in Anantnag for threatening man with fake NDPS case

Jabalpur, Aug 21(IANS) In a landmark judgment, the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Jabalpur has convicted three individuals – Vineeta Gaur, Shishir Gaur, and Sunita Gaur – for laundering proceeds of crime linked to a massive Provident Fund scam designed by the late Suryakant Gaur, a former Assistant Accounts Officer in the Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA), Jabalpur.

The court, in its order dated August 20, sentenced each of the accused to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. The main accused, Suryakant Gaur, passed away during the trial, but the court held that his family members knowingly participated in concealing and projecting illicit funds as legitimate income.

The Special Court found that the convicted individuals—Shishir, Vineeta, and Sunita Gaur—were complicit in laundering the proceeds of crime.

They were directly and indirectly involved in acquiring, possessing, and using the illicit funds, and actively assisted in projecting them as untainted property.

The court concluded that their actions met the threshold of money laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002. His (Suryakant Gaur’s) role involved handling Provident Fund claims, preparing cheques, and ensuring disbursement after approvals.

Instead, he diverted funds meant for genuine PF account holders into bank accounts held by himself, his family members, and close associates.

During the check period between April 2005 and July 2010, Gaur amassed assets worth Rs 90,85,901—an amount grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income, with a staggering asset ratio of 304.86 per cent.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which initiated its investigation in 2011 based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR under Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Suryakant Gaur abused his official position in the Bill Processing Section of the CDA.

The ED subsequently provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 50,38,678 on March 28, 2013, a move later confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA in New Delhi.

A prosecution complaint was filed by the ED on March 21, 2014, and after years of legal proceedings, the court has now delivered its verdict. The conviction underscores the judiciary’s resolve to hold not only corrupt officials but also their enablers accountable under the law.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the systemic vulnerabilities in public financial management and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding public funds.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, Nov 4 (IANS) Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday slammed state Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s derogatory remarks targeting the late senior Congress leader Buta Singh, calling the incident a “crime born of caste arrogance” rather than a mere mistake.

He dismissed Raja Warring’s subsequent apology, made after being confronted by the public, as an attempt to simply “bury the issue”. Cheema emphasised that Warring, given his vast political experience as a former All India Youth Congress President, three-time MLA, Cabinet Minister, and current Member of Parliament, should know better.

Cheema stressed that targeting a notable political figure based on his caste by an individual with such deep experience is not an error but a “crime born of caste arrogance that has wounded the hearts of countless people and warrants legal punishment”. The Finance Minister highlighted the stature of the late Buta Singh, noting he was not an ordinary individual but a highly educated and prominent leader within Raja Warring’s own Congress party.

Cheema told the media here that Buta Singh served as a teacher and journalist before becoming renowned as a powerful Union Home Minister for the country. He described it as “extremely unfortunate” that such a great personality was subjected to caste-based insults by a self-professed caste-arrogant leader from his own party.

Cheema referenced previous casteist statements by leaders like Pratap Singh Bajwa and Sunil Jakhar against another party leader. He called on the Congress to immediately expel Raja Warring, warning that failure to do so would only reaffirm the party’s longstanding anti-Dalit policies. He affirmed that the land of Punjab, guided by the message of its Gurus and Saints, will never permit defamation in the name of caste.

The minister said the state government is engaged in propagating the message of human equality delivered by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur during the 350th martyrdom anniversary events. Furthermore, the government is honouring the history of figures like Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita-ji), who was given the title ‘Ranghreta Guru Ka Beta’ (Guru’s son) by the tenth Guru Sahib, and is actively working to transmit their legacy of respect to the next generation.

Cheema described the Congress party’s behaviour as showing its “true mentality”, which he found to be extremely unfortunate when the AAP government is honouring the descendants of these revered personalities.

–IANS

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Mumbai, March 13 (IANS) Maharashtra State Agriculture Department issued a critical advisory for farmers and citizens on Friday, following a preliminary weather forecast predicting turbulent conditions across various regions of the state between March 17 and March 20. According to the MeT department, several parts of the state are likely to experience overcast conditions, primarily during the noon. The regions that may be most affected include Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh and Central Maharashtra.

“These areas may witness thunderstorms, lightning strikes, and high-velocity winds. There is also a distinct possibility of hailstorms in certain pockets. Current data suggests that the intensity of these weather events is likely to peak between March 18 and March 20,” said the advisory.

With the Rabi harvest currently in full swing, the Agriculture Department has urged the farming community to take immediate precautionary measures including crop protection, planning and safety to mitigate potential losses.

“Farmers are advised to move harvested crops to secure storage or ensure they are properly covered with waterproof materials to protect them from rain and wind. Agricultural activities should be scheduled after closely monitoring daily local weather updates. Precautionary steps must be taken to shield standing crops from the predicted hailstorms and squalls,” said the advisory.

“Given the forecast for lightning and gusty winds, we appeal to all farmers to prioritise the safety of their produce and remain vigilant regarding updated weather bulletins,” stated an official from the Agriculture Department.

According to the official, this weather pattern is typical of the “Pre-Monsoon” transition period in Maharashtra. During mid-March, increasing heat over the landmass often leads to localized atmospheric instability. When moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea collide with this dry heat, it results in the formation of convective clouds, leading to the “afternoon thunderstorms” mentioned in the report.

“For farmers, this is a high-stakes period as crops like wheat, harbara (gram), and various fruits are either ready for harvest or lying in open fields,” he stated.

The official further advised that the farmers should move harvested crops to a safe, covered storage area or warehouse immediately, use plastic sheets or tarpaulins to protect crops if indoor storage is unavailable, install hail protection nets over high-value orchards to minimize physical damage, ensure proper drainage in fields to prevent water logging after melting hail and secure livestock in sturdy sheds and avoid keeping animals under trees.

–IANS

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