The Mumbai Grapevine
Connecting Mumbaikars with Mumbai
(Published by Mumbai-Central.com)
Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and co-workers
who might be interested in it. The instructions to join the Mumbai
Grapevine are at the end of the message.
HC admits appeal against Lalu, Rabri acquittal in DA case
Patna, Mar 20 (PTI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi suffered a jolt today when the Patna High Court admitted for hearing the Bihar government's appeal challenging their acquittal in a disproportionate assets case, an off-shoot of the multi-crore fodder scam.
The order by the single judge bench of Justice R K Dutt is also being considered a setback for the CBI, which had decided not to move a superior court against the trial court verdict acquitting them in 2006.
The judge, who had on February 18 reserved his order on the state government's appeal on conclusion of arguments by the prosecution and the defence on the question of admissibility, admitted it for hearing and called for the documents from the special CBI court, which had acquitted the duo.
"It appears that the CBI court has solely relied on Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) order exonerating the respondent (Lalu/Rabri duo)," the judge said.
During the arguments, senior Supreme Court lawyer and state counsel Surendra Singh claimed that the trial court had virtually ignored the evidences produced by the CBI in support of the DA case against the couple.
"The learned counsel for the respondents strongly argued that the 94 defence witnesses had presented incontrovertible evidence (of innocence) during their examination. Unfortunately, the same is not reflected in the judgement of the special CBI court. In this circumstance, the High Court has no option but to reappreciate the entire evidences at the hearing of the state government's appeal in order to come to a proper conclusion in the matter," the judge said. PTI
Manipur militants threaten to kill engineer if ransom not paid
Imphal, Mar 20 (PTI) A militant organisation today threatened to shoot dead an assistant engineer it had kidnapped if ransom was not paid.
The 51-year-old assistant engineer of the minor irrigation department, Lalji Singh, was kidnapped from Kanchipur in Imphal West district while he was going to office about five days ago by the People's United Liberation Front, official sources said today.
The sources said that negotiations were underway through emissaries with the militants, who have demanded Rs 70 lakh.
The outfit issued the threat through a statement in the local media.
Meanwhile, people at Kanchipur protested the kidnapping. PTI
Anand to meet Morozevich in fifth round
From Our Chess Correspondent
Nice (France), Mar 20 (PTI) Fresh from a day-long break after a disappointing fourth-round loss, World champion Viswanathan Anand will take on Russian Alexander Morozevich in the fifth round of the Amber Blindfold and Rapid Chess Tournament here.
After a racking start that gave him victories with black pieces against Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, the Indian ace slipped a bit in the standing list when he lost to Hungarian Leko in the fourth round but the rest day after that should help Anand recover.
With seven rounds still to come in the event that has one blindfold and one rapid game in each round, Levon Aronian of Armenia, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria share the lead with 5 points each in the combined standings and Anand is now sole fourth on 4 points.
In the rapid section, Aronian is at the top with 3 points while Anand shares the joint second spot in this section on 2.5 points along with Topalov, Leko, and Ivanchuk.
It's a four-way lead in the blindfold and Ivanchuk, Carlsen, Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia are sitting pretty at the top on 2.5 points each. With 2 points from four games here, Anand stands joint fifth.
It will be a test for Anand against Morozevich. In the previous two editions of the Amber tournament Anand has been on the receiving end against the Russian losing 0.5-1.5 on both occasions. The Indian will be looking forward to setting the records right this time especially with Morozevich out of sorts. PTI
Mohun Bagan footballer arrested
Kolkata, Mar 20 (PTI) Mohun Bagan footballer A C Jose Barreto was today arrested by the customs authorities at the NSC Bose international airport here for violation of certain provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Barreto, detained at the airport since 9 am on his way to Brazil, was interrogated extensively by the airport customs officers after he was found carrying dollars in excess of the permissible amount under FEMA, customs sources said.
He was later arrested, sources said, adding that he was being produced in a court in North 24-Parganas district.
Airport customs officials said Barreto, who was bound for Brazil, was detained after it was found that he was carrying excess dollars with him "which he did not declare".
Sources said the footballer neither submitted any paper to the customs authorities nor declared that he was carrying about 14,000 to 15,000 US dollars.
"Any foreigner can be allowed to carry 5,000 US dollar and that too after making an oral declaration," customs sources said.
"He may be fined on the excess amount which can also be confiscated," they added. PTI
Legal wrangles compelled ICC to re-instate Hair
Karachi, Mar 20 (PTI) ICC reasoned that Darrel Hair was "good enough" to be re-instated in its Elite-panel of umpires, but sources claim that the step was taken to avoid further legal wrangles and the subsequent financial loss.
The Australian umpire was re-instated by the ICC at its Executive Board meeting in Dubai on Tuesday .
ICC sources said the outgoing ICC CEO Malcolm Speed briefed the members, at its Executive Board meeting, about the possible legal challenges from Hair's lawyer, if he was not reinstated.
"The CEO pointed out that ICC had already spent around USD one million on legal costs after Hair filed a racial discrimination case last year against his suspension from supervising Tests and one-dayers despite being on the Elite panel of umpires," one source told PTI.
"Speed said, despite an out-of-court settlement, there were indications that Hair's lawyers intended to initiate more court proceedings if he was not re-instated and this would have cost the ICC more and also forcing some of its top officials appear in the witness box," the source added.
The source said the logic even convinced Pakistani representative Nasim Ashraf and it was decided unanimously that Hair should be re-instated, but only for the next 12 months. PTI
Govt to cut import duty on edible oils
New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) The government is understood to have decided to slash import duties on edible oils to make them cheaper in the domestic market, as it seeks to moderate inflation, which stood at 11-month high of 5.92 per cent for the week ended March 8.
In the wake of over 30 per cent increase in the retail prices of majority of cooking oils, the government may cut effective duties on palm oil to bring them down to 10 per cent, a senior official said here.
There may also be a similar cut on imported soyabean oil.
"The decision has been taken and the notification on the duty cuts can come any day," the official said.
At present, the government levies customs duties at 45 per cent on palm oil and 40 per cent on soyabean oil. However, due to retention of the base price at July 2006 level, the effective duty rates on imported edible oils are lower than the official ones.
"Prices have gone up and the duty cut is basically designed to moderate inflation. There will be cut in duties on a number of items, all sorts of edible oil to maintain the price," he said.
The government has recently banned the export of edible oils as it did not want to take any chances on the domestic availability.
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath had yesterday said the government was considering duty cuts on imports of palm oil.
The government is faced with an uncomfortable situation of rising prices of essential commodities.
"Palm oil duties are based on the international prices. If international prices rise, one does look at it to consider duty cuts to keep domestic prices all right," Nath had said. PTI
Inflation rises to 11-month high of 5.92 pc
New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI) Inflation surged by 0.81 per cent to over 11-month high of 5.92 per cent for the week ended March 8 as essential items like fruits and vegetables and pulses as well as some manufactured items turned expensive.
The whopping rise in inflation rate would not allow RBI to go for soft monetary stance as it is way above the central bank's tolerance level of five per cent for this fiscal, analysts said.
The wholesale prices-based inflation stood at 5.11 per cent in the previous week.
The spurt in inflation rate happened despite a high base of 6.51 per cent a year ago.
During the week, food articles like arhar, gram, moong, maize, fruits and vegetables as well as condiments and spices went dearer.
Prices of furnace oil, which is an industrial oil, went up by 2 per cent.
Manufactured products like imported edible oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, also turned dearer. The Government had announced a ban on export of all edible oils with effect from March 17 for a period of one year to curb their rising prices.
The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Chairman C Rangarajan had said yesterday that inflation rate was little above comfort level, and it does not favour interest rates cut policy.
Rangarajan's statement had come when inflation rate was 5.11 per cent. With the figures, released today, a possibility of such cuts have become more remote, analysts said. PTI
Govt clears 6 SEZ proposals
New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) The government today cleared six proposals for setting up special economic zones, taking the total number of such enclaves approved to more than 450.
The Board of Approval (BoA), chaired by Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai, took up nine proposals, of which five were granted formal approvals and one in-principle.
Excluding the nod given to six today, the board has granted formal approvals to 449 SEZs, of which 206 have been notified.
Of the five formal approvals granted today, four are for setting up IT/ITES zones by Brigade Enterprises in Karnataka, Wellgrow Buildcon and Sunwise Properties in Haryana and Smart City (Kochi) Infrastructure in Kerala.
The in-principle approval granted to Smart City (Kochi) Infrastructure was converted to formal nod today.
Also, a biotech project in Andhra Pradesh by Vivo Bio Tech Ltd was given formal approval.
An Engineering SEZ in Maharashtra by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) was granted the in-principle approval. PTI
Stock markets remain close
Mumbai, Mar 20 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange remained closed today on account of "Milad-Un-Nabi" holiday.
However, markets which include commodities, financial and bullion were opened for regular trading.
All the markets will be closed for next two days on account of "Good Friday" and "Holi". The market will re-open for regular trading on Monday, March 24. PTI
China asks Dalai to create conditions for talks
Raghavendra
Beijing, Mar 20 (PTI) As global pressure piled on it to hold direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama, China today asked the Tibetan spiritual leader to undertake "a thorough review" of himself to create conditions for talks as it voiced "grave concern" over British Premier Gordon Brown's planned meeting with him.
Brown telephoned his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao and spoke about the Lhasa riots which claimed at least 13 lives on Friday last.
The British Prime Minister, who plans to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to the UK in May, said in London that he appealed to Wen to apply restraint in dealing with protests.
However, Beijing expressed "grave concern" over Brown's plans to meet the Tibetan leader.
"During the conversation (with Brown), Wen reiterated China's position on the dialogue" that the Dalai Lama must abandon the "proposition of independence" of Tibet and cease his "separatist activities," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters here.
"It is only under these preconditions will the (Chinese) central government talk to him. It is only on that basis that the doors of the dialogue will be open," he said, making it clear that Beijing held on to its well entrenched position.
Asked why China is reluctant to hold direct talks with the Dalai Lama despite his categorical statement that he was not for Tibet's independence and speaking against the violence in Lhasa, he said, "we should not only listen to what he says but also pay attention to what he does." "We request the Dalai Lama to truly give up his proposition for Tibet independence and stop separatist activities to split the motherland," he said. "He should undertake a thorough review of himself so as to create conditions for the dialogue." PTI
Choice of PM should not be left to one man: Fahim
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Mar 20 (PTI) In a fresh salvo against PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari, senior leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim has asked parties set to form a coalition government in Pakistan to jointly choose a Prime Minister instead of leaving the choice to an individual.
Amid intensified fighting in the Pakistan People's Party over premiership, party vice-president Fahim, who was once touted as frontrunner, made the observation while presiding over a meeting of the joint parliamentary group of the PPP, PML-N, Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam at the Parliament House yesterday.
Coalition partners had earlier told Zardari that they would accept a PPP candidate for the top post.
In an obvious reference to Zardari, Fahim said the leadership of the parties in the new alliance should jointly name a candidate for premiership instead of leaving the choice to an individual.
About 240 parliamentarians, including 10 independent lawmakers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, attended the meeting.
Senior PPP leader Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, pitted against Fahim in the race for premiership, objected to Fahim presiding over the meeting in the absence of Zardari.
He said the gathering should be presided over by PPP's chief whip Khurshid Shah before walking out in a huff. He refused to speak to mediapersons.
Nearly a month after the general election, the PPP is yet to announce its prime ministerial candidate. PTI
India hopes Sarabjit Singh would be granted clemency
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Mar 20 (PTI) India today said it hoped its national Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row for alleged involvement in terrorist attacks, would be granted clemency on humanitarian grounds following the staying of his execution by the Pakistan government.
President Pervez Musharraf yesterday deferred the hanging of Sarabjit, scheduled for April 1, by a month after receiving an appeal for clemency from the Indian government and the condemned man's family.
"The government of India continues to hope that Sarabjit Singh will be granted clemency on humanitarian grounds," said a statement issued by the Indian High Commission here.
"The reprieve now allows time for the appeals for clemency to be given proper consideration from all angles, including by the new government expected to take office in Pakistan soon," it said.
The statement said the Indian government was "pleased to learn that Sarabjit Singh's execution has been stayed".
"The news was received with appreciation in the Indian Parliament yesterday. Sarabjit Singh's family has also expressed its gratitude for all the support received for Sarabjit's cause," it said.
The breather for Sarabjit coincided with the release by India of Pakistani national Jamal Qureshi, who arrested in India in October 2005 on charges of spying and possessing fake currency.
Qureshi was handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah land border yesterday after being acquitted by a fast-track court in Uttar Pradesh. PTI
UN asks Nepal to ensure free and fair polls
Dharam Shourie New York, Mar 20 (PTI) The United Nations has asked the Nepalese government, security forces, political parties and electoral officials to make all efforts to stem resurgence of violence which could affect holding of free and fair polls next month.
The world body monitoring team noted a improvement in security and inclusiveness as the country heads towards the election but warned against fresh violence which could mar the April 10 elections.
The statement by the team came after its fourth visit to Nepal to assess the electoral process.
"Every effort should be made to guarantee that the current positive conditions prevail not only before and on election day, but also during the counting and announcement of results," the five-member team, appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and led by Rafael Lopez-Pintor, said.
Meanwhile, the UN mission in Nepal, which helps monitor human rights in the country, expressed "deep concern" over the killing of Rastriya Jana Morcha candidate, Kamal Adhikari, last evening in the mid-west region.
"Violence and threats against candidates represents a serious obstacle to the creation of a free and fair atmosphere for the election, and all efforts must be made to bring those responsible to justice," the mission said in a statement made available here.
UNMIN said its officers in the region, along with staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), would continue to work in support of an atmosphere conducive for a credible poll. PTI
Art, the safest investment on long term basis, say experts
Snehesh Alex Philip
New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) With volatile markets being the trend and interest rates low on return, art seems to have come back as the safest investment option for many, says leading art curators and investment analysts.
"Art is the only commodity other than gold which is constant in giving steady returns from the very beginning. Art can make its own money over a period of time," says Neville Tuli of Osian, one of the largest art auction houses in the country.
"This means, art should not be taken as a short investment of just few months. Give it some time and this does not mean lifetime but at least around three years. It will give you good returns," he adds.
While paintings were earlier bought because of interest in such forms of art, experts say that many are now coming forward for just pure investment purposes.
"If you pick out good paintings and study their progress in the last few years, you will find out that they have given very good returns. In some cases, certain pieces of art has given 100 per cent returns and more," says Minal Vazirani of Saffronart, an auction house cum gallery.
Agrees, S Kalra, a leather exporter who regularly invests in art. "I had a Rameshwar Broota's painting with me which I had bought for a very small amount in 2000. I sold the painting in 2004 and it gave me a return of around 75 per cent," he says.
Though Kalra did make a decent profit, he ruefully adds, "I should have waited a little longer. The same painting would have given me more than 100 per cent return now." PTI
I want to make movie on my dreams: Jhanu Barua
Soma Chakraborty
New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Following the footsteps of the legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, ten times national film award winning director Jahnu Barua wants to make a film based on his dreams.
"Just like Kurosawa, may be someday I will also give shape to my dreams in the form of cinema," says director Jhanu Barua of 'Maine Gandhi ko Nahin Mara' fame.
Kurosawa's 'Dreams' (1990), which was a much critical acclaimed movie, was based on eight of Kurosawa's dreams. The movie dealt with subjects including terrors of childhood, parents who are as Olympian as gods, the seductive nature of death, nuclear annihilation and environmental pollution.
"My dream", Baruah says, "is to make northeast an united and a peaceful region." Though he admits it to be a difficult one, but he says, "my experiences of life has made me realise that nothing is impossible." "I am a dreamer and I considered myself to be a lucky one," he says.
The turmoil through which the northeast is presently going can be ended, feels Barua.
"All the human tragedies which the region is facing at present can be avoided. We should learn from our mistakes and stand together without losing one's identity," says Baruah.
Terming Northeast as the "best socio-cultural" part and the people there as "most humane", the filmmaker says, "leaving behing all the differences, the northeast should compete with the world as one united team." PTI
Manipur may re-impose Armed Forces Special Powers Act
Imphal, Mar 18 (PTI) Alarmed by heightened militancy the Manipur government has warned that it may re-impose the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Imphal municipal area if the law and order situation did not improve.
The AFSPA (1958) was withdrawn from seven assembly constituencies in municipal area following a series of agitations after the alleged rape and killing of a Manipuri woman Th. Manorama by security personnel in 2004 although the Act is still in force in remaining 53 assembly segments in the state.
"The government may even go to the extent of recommending re-imposition of the AFSPA in the seven assembly segments in the municipal area," Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh said recently.
"If such incidents like the bomb attack on the Manipur assembly continue, there is no guarantee that the APFSA 1958 (which empowers security personnel to 'shoot any suspect even causing to the death') would not be re-imposed in the Imphal municipal area," Sing said.
Official sources say there has been sharp increase in the activities of the different militant groups particularly in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishenpur and Thoubal in the past some weeks.
They say looting, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, killings of persons by militants have shown increase in recent weeks.
Manipur was also cut off from the rest of the country for about a week early this month as transporters cancelled all passenger bus services between Manipur and neighbouring states protesting against huge extortion demands by some militants.
Some militant outfits allegedly were demanding between Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per month per shop. PTI
Second shaadi: a hope for second timers
Ashwini Shrivastava
New Delhi, March 17 (PTI) While finding a spouse a second time might never have been easy to accomplish, people looking out for partners after having failed to find conjugal bliss in their first now have a reason to smile.
With matrimonial websites finetuning their services to provide personalised assistance to men and women looking to tie the knot yet again, finding partners a second time has just got easier.
Matrimonial websites are now offering their services exclusively to help widows/widowers, single, seperated and divorced individuals wanting to start a second innings anad are getting good response.
"We help people to overcome social, cultural and intra-personal apprehensions and start a new life. Our efforts are to eliminate the taboo associated with second marriage in India," says Ankur Warikoo,managing director secondshaadi.Com, a matrimonial website exclusively developed to help people in getting married for second time.
Revealing that as many as 35,000 people were already registered, Ankur says the website was drawing tremendous response across the country.
Considering the demand and need of the members, the website provides advanced search options that allows its members to search for suitable match using 19 different search criteria, so that the search can be specific, say the promoters.
"We also have counsellors to give personalised service round the clock to our members," Ankur says. PTI
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________
______Market_______
To get regularly updated NIFTY (NSE) quotes by email, join the NSEData
mailing list by sending an email to NSEData-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To get regularly updated BSE quotes by email, join the BSEData mailing
list by sending an email to BSEData-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Sensex: 14994.83, +161.37
The sensex closed at 14994.83, up 161.37
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________
______Forex_______
1 U.S. $ = 40.355 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.4051 INR
1 British Pound = 79.977 INR
1 Canadian $ = 39.359 INR
1 Singapore $ = 29.026 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 10.988 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 10.776 INR
1 Euro = 62.324 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 11.096 INR
___________________________________________________________
This is the Mumbai Grapevine
___________________________________________________________