Karnataka top cop worse than Gaddafi, says court; strikes down appointment

Bangalore:  The Karnataka High Court has struck down the appointment of Shankar Bidari as the state's Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Mr Bidari was drawn into a legal battle after A R Infant, the Director General (Home Guards and Fire Services), filed an application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), seeking quashing of the former's appointment. Mr Infant contended that his seniority was overlooked.

In scathing observations related to the alleged atrocities committed by Mr Bidari and his team during the hunt to nab forest brigand Veerappan, the High Court today compared the DGP to dictators like Saddam Hussain and Moammar Gaddafi. There were several allegations of rape, torture and ill treatment made by tribal women against the Special Task Force headed by Mr Bidari when the team was conducting search operations for sandalwood smuggler Veerapan. Mr Infant, in his petition, to the court had stated that Mr Bidari did not disclose this to the Union Public Service Commission when he was the Deputy Commander of the Special Task Force.  

The court said today "If what the two women have said in their affidavit is true, he is worse than Saddam Hussain and Moammar Gaddafi."

The High court even struck down Mr Bidari's contentions "absolving himself of the responsibility" of atrocities, by stating he was only the Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and not "omnipresent and omnipotent like Saddam Hussain or Moammar Gaddafi."
 
 
On March 16, the CAT set aside Mr Bidari's appointment as the DGP and IGP of Karnataka and ruled that Mr Infant should be appointed the ad hoc police chief till the government decided on the new appointment. 

With regards to the verdict of the Central Administrative Tribunal the court added "It is just".

With this order Mr Bidari who is considered to have been handpicked by former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa will have to make way for Mr Infant.

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Jayalalithaa revokes expulsion of former aide Sasikala

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK Chief J Jayalalithaa today revoked the expulsion of her close aide Sasikala. In December, Ms Sasikala, who lived with the Tamil Nadu chief minister in her home, was expelled by Ms Jayalalithaa from her party, the AIADMK.

"VK Sasikala has sent a letter to me. She had also issued a statement with the same content. I accept the explanation," Jayalalithaa said in a statement here.

"The disciplinary action against Sasikala is cancelled," she said.

Ms Jayalalithaa's decision comes days after Ms Sasikala snapped ties with her own family for 'betraying' the party supremo.

"I've snapped ties with all those who betrayed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa," Ms Sasikala had told Jaya TV on Wednesday, the official channel of the Chief Minister's party. "I can't forgive my relatives who worked against her," she added. Ms Sasikala's husband Natarajan and brother Diwakaran have been arrested for alleged land-grabbing.

Ms Jayalalithaa, whose move expelling her long-time confidante sent ripples in state political circles, however, said the action against Sasikala's relatives, including her husband M Natarajan, stands.

"Party workers should not have any contact with them," she said.

Though Ms Jayalalithaa had not discussed the reasons for her estrangement with Ms Sasikala, party sources say that the Chief Minister had got tired of her friend interfering with administrative issues, including the postings of bureaucrats. AIADMK sources said those close to the Chief Minister had warned her of  a plan by Ms Sasikala's family to take over the party if Ms Jayalalithaa is convicted in a corruption case. 

Ms Sasikala is on trial for allegedly misusing her earlier terms as chief minister for vast personal gains.

In her letter Ms Sasikala had said, "I don't have any ambition to enter politics, nor to become an MLA or a Minister. I've dedicated my life to my sister, Jayalalithaa."

The statement had hinted at a possible reconciliation, which took place today. "I've not thought ill of Jayalalithaa even in my dream," said Ms Sasikala. "I lived at Jayalalithaa's residence for 24 years. She too accepted me as her sister."

The main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, had described Ms Sasikala's estrangement from the Chief Minister as a staged drama. The DMK had alleged that Ms Jayalalithaa wanted to distance herself temporarily from Ms Sasikala so the latter could serve as scapegoat in the corruption case against the Chief Minister.

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Big food brands hide harmful effects, claims Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment

KFC is one of the 16 food brands accused of hiding the harmful effects of its products by the Centre for Science and Environment. Some other brands in the CSE list includes Maggi, Top Ramen noodles, MacDonald’s foods PepsiCo products and Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia.

NEW DELHI: Delhi-based NGO, Centre for Science and Environment, has alleged that leading food manufacturers are guilty of "large scale misbranding and misinformation" by claiming that their food contained zero trans-fats even though tests showed that they have heavy doses of it.

Most popular "junk foods contain very high levels of trans-fats, salts and sugar - which inevitably lead to severe ill health and diseases like obesity and diabetes," the CSE said on Friday. It released the results of laboratory tests carried out on 16 major food brands that the young particularly like, such as Maggi and Top Ramen noodles, MacDonald's foods, KFC's fried chicken and Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia. These findings were disputed by the manufacturers.

Trans-fats clog arteries when they get deposited on the walls of the arteries making the passage narrower, while large amounts of salt leads to increase in blood pressure making the heart work overtime. CSE noted that the kind of food under test has enough trans-fats, salt and sugar to lead to an early onset of diseases in the young. It accused the companies of not disclosing the real contents of their products.

CSE's lab tested samples of popular foods such as potato chips, snacks like aloo bhujia, noodles, soft drinks, burgers, French fries and fried chicken. Their results showed that having just one serving of these foods "completely overturned one's daily diet chart." The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribe benchmarks of how much salt, sugar, carbohydrates and fats every individual can have on a daily basis to stay healthy.
Citing an example, CSE said, "The NIN benchmark for maximum salt for one person is 6 gram, while the WHO puts it at 5 gram. The normal 80-gram packet of Maggi noodles that many of us gobble up almost on a daily basis has over 3.5 gram of salt - enough to take care of over 60 per cent of our daily salt intake."
But much more than salt the real concern was the threat from the trans-fats which were disclosed by the companies, CSE noted. The WHO says that in a balanced diet, a maximum of 1 per cent of total energy should come from trans fats. Therefore, an adult male can have 2.6 gram of trans fats per day, while an adult female can have 2.1 gram and a child (10-12 years) can have 2.3 gram.
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
Trans-fats clog arteries when they get deposited on the walls of the arteries making the passage narrower, while large amounts of salt leads to increase in blood pressure making the heart work overtime. CSE noted that the kind of food under test has enough trans-fats, salt and sugar to lead to an early onset of diseases in the young. It accused the companies of not disclosing the real contents of their products.
CSE's lab tested samples of popular foods such as potato chips, snacks like aloo bhujia, noodles, soft drinks, burgers, French fries and fried chicken. Their results showed that having just one serving of these foods "completely overturned one's daily diet chart." The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribe benchmarks of how much salt, sugar, carbohydrates and fats every individual can have on a daily basis to stay healthy.
Citing an example, CSE said, "The NIN benchmark for maximum salt for one person is 6 gram, while the WHO puts it at 5 gram. The normal 80-gram packet of Maggi noodles that many of us gobble up almost on a daily basis has over 3.5 gram of salt - enough to take care of over 60 per cent of our daily salt intake."
But much more than salt the real concern was the threat from the trans-fats which were disclosed by the companies, CSE noted. The WHO says that in a balanced diet, a maximum of 1 per cent of total energy should come from trans fats. Therefore, an adult male can have 2.6 gram of trans fats per day, while an adult female can have 2.1 gram and a child (10-12 years) can have 2.3 gram.
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
CSE's lab tested samples of popular foods such as potato chips, snacks like aloo bhujia, noodles, soft drinks, burgers, French fries and fried chicken. Their results showed that having just one serving of these foods "completely overturned one's daily diet chart." The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribe benchmarks of how much salt, sugar, carbohydrates and fats every individual can have on a daily basis to stay healthy.
Citing an example, CSE said, "The NIN benchmark for maximum salt for one person is 6 gram, while the WHO puts it at 5 gram. The normal 80-gram packet of Maggi noodles that many of us gobble up almost on a daily basis has over 3.5 gram of salt - enough to take care of over 60 per cent of our daily salt intake."
But much more than salt the real concern was the threat from the trans-fats which were disclosed by the companies, CSE noted. The WHO says that in a balanced diet, a maximum of 1 per cent of total energy should come from trans fats. Therefore, an adult male can have 2.6 gram of trans fats per day, while an adult female can have 2.1 gram and a child (10-12 years) can have 2.3 gram.
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
Citing an example, CSE said, "The NIN benchmark for maximum salt for one person is 6 gram, while the WHO puts it at 5 gram. The normal 80-gram packet of Maggi noodles that many of us gobble up almost on a daily basis has over 3.5 gram of salt - enough to take care of over 60 per cent of our daily salt intake."
But much more than salt the real concern was the threat from the trans-fats which were disclosed by the companies, CSE noted. The WHO says that in a balanced diet, a maximum of 1 per cent of total energy should come from trans fats. Therefore, an adult male can have 2.6 gram of trans fats per day, while an adult female can have 2.1 gram and a child (10-12 years) can have 2.3 gram.
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
But much more than salt the real concern was the threat from the trans-fats which were disclosed by the companies, CSE noted. The WHO says that in a balanced diet, a maximum of 1 per cent of total energy should come from trans fats. Therefore, an adult male can have 2.6 gram of trans fats per day, while an adult female can have 2.1 gram and a child (10-12 years) can have 2.3 gram.
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
But CSE found that Top Ramen Super Noodles (Masala) which claims to have no trans-fats actually contains 0.7 gram of it per 100 gram. Similarly, Haldiram's Aloo Bhujia says it has no trans fats, but the study found 2.5 gram per 100 gram. PepsiCo's Lays (Snack Smart) was sold till February 2012 through huge advertisements to say that these chips are healthy because they have zero trans fats, but every 100 grams of it has 3.7 grams of trans fats.
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
The companies strongly refuted the allegations in the CSE report. Pepsico said, "All products manufactured by PepsiCo in India are fully compliant with all the regulations, including those on labelling, prescribed by the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)." It said that its products under the Lays, Uncle Chips, Kurkure and Cheetos brands are trans-fat free.
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
Nestle in its response said, "We respect the work being done by organizations like CSE to improve consumers' understanding of healthy and balanced diets. Maggi is intended as a light meal and can safely be consumed as part of diversified balanced diet." McDonald's said, "In India we take a lot of effort to ensure our food is safe for our customers and have stringent quality processes at every stage. At McDonald's stores we use RBD Palmolein oil which is naturally trans-fat free."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
CSE's contention is otherwise. Its report says, "A child eating one MacDonald's Happy Meals finishes up 90% of all his daily requirement of trans fats. The packet of Happy Meal makes absolutely no mention of this massive dosage of trans fats." As per FSSAI rules, a product can claim to be trans fats free if it contains less than 0.2 gm of trans fats per serving but CSE found several brands flouting the norm and yet calling themselves trans fat free.
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."
CSE's director general Sunita Narain said, "What makes junk food so unhealthy are the high levels of salt, sugar, fats and carbohydrates in them. Our new study, which looks at the nutritional value of these foods, is to make people aware of what these foods really contain and what they will do to our health."

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2G scam: Essar's Ravi Ruia, three others appear before court

The court on the last hearing while granting exemption to all Ravi Ruia and the other three accused had directed them to appear in person on March 31 saying it would be in their interest to appear in the court.

NEW DELHI: Corporate honcho Ravi Ruia of the Essar group and three others on Saturday appeared before a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court hearing of the 2G spectrum allocation case, after skipping court many times and moved their bail application. 

Special CBI Judge OP Saini put up the arguments on bail for April 21 after CBI told the court that it will file reply on their bail application.

Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia, Anshuman Ruia, and Loop Telecom promoters IP Khaitanand Kiran Khaitan were earlier exempted from personal appearance before the court three times - Jan 27, Feb 22 and March 17.

The court on the last hearing while granting exemption to all four accused had directed them to appear in person on March 31 saying it would be in their interest to appear in the court.

The third set of charges filed by the CBI in the 2G case alleged that the Essar Group used Loop as a front to acquire telecom licences in 2008. Essar, which already had a 33 percent stake in Vodafone, held substantial equity in Loop and thus violated telecom licence norms, the chargesheet said.

According to the government auditor, the 2G spectrum allocation case, allegedly masterminded by former telecom minister A Raja, pertained to biased distribution of mobile airwaves and operating licences, in lieu of kickbacks, to telecom firms that could have cost the treasury up to Rs.1.76 lakh crore in lost revenue.

Nineteen individuals and six companies are accused in the case. Fourteen were arrested, and of them except for Raja and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, the others have been released on bail.

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Jayalalithaa revokes expulsion of former aide Sasikala

CHENNAI: Signalling a patch up with her estranged aide Sasikala who was expelled last year from the AIADMK, party supremoJayalalithaa on Saturday revoked the action, accepting an explanation issued by her.

"VK Sasikala has sent a letter to me. She had also issued a statement with the same content. I accept the explanation," Jayalalithaa said in a statement here. "The disciplinary action against Sasikala is cancelled," she said.

On March 28, Sasikala had issued a statement through AIADMK-promoted Jaya TV, stating she had snapped ties with all those who had "betrayed" Jayalalithaa.

"It is an unpardonable betrayal by those who claimed to be my relatives and friends to have indulged in activities against Jayalalithaa. Those who betrayed my sister are not needed by me", Sasikala had said.

Sasikala had also claimed innocence, saying she came to know about the happenings which were against AIADMK's interest and conspiracy against Jayalalithaa only after she came out of Poes Garden (Jayalalithaa's residence) where she had stayed for 24 years.

"This has pained and shocked me", Sasikala said, adding, all those things happened without her knowledge and this was the "truth."

Jayalalithaa, whose move expelling her long-time confidante sent ripples in state political circles, however, said the action against Sasikala's relatives, including her husband M Natarajan, stands.

"Party workers should not have any contact with them," she said.

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6 Super foods for great skin

6 Super foods for great skin (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Getting great skin is now within your reach without spending oodles of money in the parlour. Here are some food and beverages to help boost your skin's vitality

Cocoa: The bean has high levels of flavanols, plant compounds with antioxidant properties that help protect skin from sun damage. Apart from sipping it in the morning and evening you can also use it as a bath soak - add 1/8 cup ground cocoa powder and 1/3 cup fat-free dry milk in your bathtub.

Curd: The calcium and phosphorus in it helps strengthen tooth enamel and protect your teeth from cavities. It is also high in protein, which is an essential nutrient for the production of collagen, a fibrous substance that keeps your skin looking young. You can also apply it to the face to sloughing away dead skin cells and unclogging pores.

Strawberries: The vitamin C in strawberries help protect skin from environmental damage. Puree the berries in a blender and mix in chilled curd and add a half of lemon juice. This will help lighten dark spots. Strawberries have high dosage of vitamin C and ellagic acid which is essential for the production of collagen and acts as an antioxidant.

Avacado: It is the king of beauty foods. It is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, which help keep skin plump and smooth. Add avocados to salads and shakes to help bring out the shine.

Tea: All teas are good for the skin but green and white are especially beneficial because they have double the antioxidants of black tea.

Almonds: Go nuts with almonds as it contains high levels of catalase, an enzyme that may help slow the greying process.

Coffee: It helps protect skin from sun damage and prevents the breakdown of collagen and elastin that causes wrinkles and sagging. However, don't drink more than a cup per day as coffee can also cause dehydration.

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Custard apple and its health benefits

Health benefits of custard apple (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body. It is also high in potassium and magnesium that protects our heart from cardiac disease.

Not only that, it also controls our blood pressure. Custard apples contain Vitamin A, which keeps your skin and hair healthy. This fruit is also known to be great for eyes, and cures indigestion problems. It's important to include this fruit in your diet, as the copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.

As they are high in magnesium, they equalise the water balance in our body, which helps in removing acids from the joints and reduces the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. If you feel tired and weak more often than usual, then have this fruit in your daily diet, as the potassium present in it will help to fight muscle weakness.

It is also good for people suffering from anaemia, as it this fruit is high in calorie. And if you want to put on some weight, include this in your daily diet chart. Custard apple contains natural sugar, and hence make great nutritious snacks and even desserts.

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Yuvraj Singh discharged from hospital

Yuvraj Singh discharged from hospital

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NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh was on Sunday discharged from hospital after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy to recover from a rare germ cell cancer in Boston, USA.

"3rd chemo cycles over, back from hospital n I am free. Road to recovery starts now. Can't wait to be back home," Yuvraj tweeted.

"Thank you 4 all ur love n wishes from the bottom of my heart I'm sure they have worked well with the doctors therapy," he said.

Yuvraj, who has been in Boston since last month, is expected to be back on the field in the first week of May, according to his doctor. The 30-year-old has gone bald during the treatment.

Meanwhile, Yuvraj also paid tribute to his veteran teammate Sachin Tendulkar for completing a century of international hundreds.

"Overwhelmed and full of emotions Tendulkar take a bow What he has achieved is immeasurable and what he has done is unachievable@sachin_rt," he tweeted.

"He truly is the MASTER of his generation." Yuvraj has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of three home Tests against the West Indies in November.

He has so far scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 runs in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000.

He was named Player of the Tournament in the World Cup for scoring 362 runs and grabbing 15 wickets in nine matches. During the treatment, Yuvraj had been paid a visit by legendary former Indian spinner Anil Kumble.

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I could have become Delhi police chief had I compromised: Bedi

I could have become Delhi police chief had I compromised, said Kiran Bedi

MUMBAI: India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi has said that she could have become the first woman police chief of the national capital had she made some compromises.

"I could have compromised to become the Commissioner of Police but I did not. Had I done so, my self-esteem would have gone down," Bedi said at a day-long symposium titled 'Women Changing India' organised by USA's Barnard College on Friday.

During the panel discussion on 'Conversations on Social Activism,' the cop-turned-activist said that some bureaucrats and politicians "conspired" to see that Delhi did not get a woman police chief.

Other than Bedi, the session had Mirai Chatterjee, director of social security at Self Employed Women's Association; Shaheen Mistri, founder of Teach for India, and Gita Sen, professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, as speakers.

"Women are critical stakeholders in India. They are leaders in their communities, in economic development, in activist movements, in corporate board rooms -- their influence is really at the heart of everything happening here," Debora Spar, president of Barnard College, said.

Another panel discussion titled 'Voices of the Region' saw speakers including Nandita Das, Farah Khan, journalist Mallika Kapur and architect and conservationist Brinda Somaya highlighting major contributors to arts and media in India.

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Odisha: 2 Italian tourists abducted by Maoists Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/odisha-italian-tourists-maoists-kandhamal/1/178243.html

 

Two Italian tourists have been reportedly abducted by Maoists in the Sorda area on the border of Odisha's Kandhamal and Ganjham district.

There is no official confirmation on the abduction yet. But sources say Maoists took the tourists hostage to build pressure on the state government to act on their long-standing 13 demands they made against the release of Malkangiri collector R. Vineel Krishna in February last year.

The tourists were reportedly abducted by Maoists when they were taking photographs of tribal women bathing on the riverside.

Maoists have reportedly issued a deadline to the state and Union governments to stop all combing operations in the state by Sunday evening and initiate a process of dialogue with them

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Union Budget 2012-13: Defence Budget hiked by more than 17 per cent

Govt hikes defence spending to Rs 1,93,007 crore

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NEW DELHI: With several defence deals including the one to procure 126 combat aircraft for the IAF expected to be clinched this year, the Defence Budget was substantially hiked by more than 17 per cent to Rs 1,93,407 crore from last year's Rs 1,64,415 crore.

Of the total outlay, over Rs 79,500 crore would be spent on procuring modern weapons systems and military hardware.

This allocation is based on the present needs and any further requirement for the security of the nation would be made, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

The deals which are likely to be signed this year include 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), 145 Ultra Light Howitzers (ULH), 197 Light Utility Helicopters and others weapons and systems for the three services.

Presenting the budget, Mukherjee said that Rs 1,93,407 crore has been allocated for defence forces of which over Rs 79,500 crore would be earmarked for capital acquisition.

India plans to spend over $100 billion on defence acquisitions in the next five to 10 years.

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Union Budget 2012-13: FDI in aviation by global airlines under active consideration, says Pranab Mukherjee

$ 1 billion working capital for aviation sector: Pranab

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NEW DELHI: In a bid to address concerns of the cash-strapped Indian civil aviation sector, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday proposed to allow domestic airlines to borrow up to $1 billion in external loans for a period of one year.

"To address the immediate financing concerns of the civil aviation sector. I propose to permit external commercial borrowing (ECB) for working capital requirement for the airline industry for a period of one year subject to a ceiling of $1 billion," Mukherjee said while presenting the union budget 2012-13 to the Lok Sabha.

ECB is a financial instrument used by the government to facilitate the access to foreign funds by Indian corporations and public sector undertakings.

According to Mukherjee, the proposal for allowing foreign carriers to invest up to 49 per cent in the domestic carriers is under active consideration of the cabinet.

"A proposal for allowing foreign airlines to participate up to 49 per cent in the equity of an air transport undertaking engaged in schedule and non-schedule transport services is under active consideration," he said.

Last month, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had moved a cabinet note seeking 49 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) by foreign carriers in domestic airlines.

Currently, the government allows FDI up to 49 per cent in Indian carriers by non-airline players but bans foreign airlines from directly investing for security concerns.

For reducing the ATF (aviation turbine fuel) price burden, Mukherjee said the government has allowed the airlines to directly import jet fuel as actual end users thereby escaping the state value added tax (VAT), which ranges from three to 33 per cent.

"To reduce the ATF price, government has allowed the airlines to directly import ATF as end users," he said.

Even the Economic Survey for 2011-12 tabled by Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha Thursday had noted the woes of the airline industries.

According to the survey, a working group was constituted to address issues concerning the viability of the civil aviation sector had made several recommendations like rationalisation of VAT on ATF by state governments, allowing foreign airlines to invest in domestic carriers and direct import of ATF by airlines.

"The working group also decided that airlines should be asked to prepare their turnaround plans, which would be examined by the concerned departments of the government separately for each airline. Another recommendation was that fare structure should be reviewed by airlines so as to cover the cost of their operations," the survey said.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates, the Indian aviation sector would require $140 billion in the next 20 years to keep pace with the growing demand.

Other estimates have placed the current fund needs of the airline sector at $2.5 billion, with Air India alone accounting for $1.32 billion of the total

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Union Budget 2012-13: Pranab increases allocation for agriculture by 18%

Plan outlay raised 18% to Rs 20,208 cr for agriculture

NEW DELHI: The government has hiked the spending in agriculture by 18%.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee announced a substantial increase in the allocation for agriculture sector in his Budget speech.
Pranab Mukherjee praised the growth in the agriculture sector at the beginning of his Budget speech.

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Will consult allies on tough decisions: PM

Budget has addressed the rising inflation: PM

NEW DELHI: Backing the Budget proposal for cutting subsidies to 2% of the GDP, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Friday that the government will have to bite the bullet and stressed faster, inclusive growth of the economy.

Alluding to the subsidy cuts announced by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the budget for 2012-13, Manmohan Singh said it was a task that would require the government to adjust the prices of petroleum and other relevant products.

"We have to bite the bullet. There is no other way to reduce subsidies," Manmohan Singh said in an interview to Doordarshan.

When asked whether the proposal has the backing of the government's allies, the prime minister said: "We will consult our allies and take them on board."

Stressing the need for sensible decisions, Manmohan Singh said the biggest achievement of his government was that "we were able to protect the growth rate of our economy much better than other economies".

"We are in the league of frontrunners in the growth momentum," the prime minister said while stressing on "faster, sustainable and inclusive growth".

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Union Budget 2012-13: Direct, indirect tax reforms to miss deadline, says Pranab Mukherjee

Direct, indirect tax reforms to miss deadline, says Pranab Mukherjee.

NEW DELHI: Implementation of the Direct Tax Code (DTC), the proposed reforms in the direct tax system, will miss the deadline of April 1, 2012, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday.

Presenting the union budget for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said the government was taking steps for early implementation of the policy.

However, the finance minister did not give any time-frame for the implementation of the proposed reform.

"The Direct Tax Code bill was introduced in parliament in August 2010 and it was our earnest desire to give effect to DTC from April 1, 2012," Mukherjee said while presenting his seventh union budget.

"However, we received report of the parliamentary standing committee on March 9, 2012. We will examine the report expeditiously and take steps for the enactment of the DTC at the earliest," he said.

Mukherjee also said that the government was working for the early implementation of proposed reforms in the indirect tax system -- Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"The constitutional amendment bill for implementation of Goods and Services Tax was introduced in parliament in March 2011 and it is before the parliamentary standing committee," he said.

"As we await the recommendations of the committee, drafting of model legislation for centre and state GST in consultation with the state is under progress," Mukherjee said.

The finance minister urged lawmakers to extend their support in early implementation of the proposed reforms.

"I solicit support from all my colleagues cutting across party-lines for an early passage of these landmark legislation," he said.

The finance minister said the government would set up a GST network by August 2012 that will facilitate access to information in a transparent manner.

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Union Budget 2012-13: Indian economy recovering, time for hard decisions: says Pranab Mukherjee

Rs 1 billion working capital for aviation sector: Pranab

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NEW DELHI: With an assurance that there were clear signs of an economic recovery in India, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday started presenting what was his seventh federal budget, with a promise to cut subsidies, push investment and recast the entire tax regime.

In his speech in Lok Sabha that started promptly at 11 am, the finance minister said the growth of the Indian economy, estimated at 6.9 per cent during the current fiscal year was disappointing but that the road ahead appeared reassuring.

"The global crisis has affected us. India's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 6.9 per cent in 2011-12, after having grown at 8.4 percent in each of the two preceding years," the finance minister said.

"Though we have been able to limit the adverse impact of the slowdown in our economy, this year's performance has been disappointing. But it is also a fact that in any cross-country comparison, India still remains among the front-runners in economic growth."

At the same time, Mukherjee also said the Indian economy was at the cusp of a revival, as agriculture and services have continued to grow at a decent pace. It was industrial performance that was acting as a drag.

"While we do not have the aggregate figures for the last quarter of 2011-12, numerous indicators pertaining to this period suggest that the economy is now turning around. There are signs of recovery in coal, fertiliser, cement and electricity sectors."

Among the proposals, the finance minister assured that he would cut subsidies to no more that 2 percent of GDP, and that the policy now would to directly transfer such doles to farmers, based on the recommendations of the Nandan Nilekani report.

He also assured that a network necessary for a uniform pan-India goods and services tax (GST), covering federal and state levies, would be ready by August this year and that the process will be expedited to introduce it as soon as possible.

He said the government was also examining the recommendations of a parliament panel on the Direct Tax Code and that this regime will be introduced soon.

The finance minister said it was the government's objective to reform and simplify norms governing capital markets, in a bid to enthuse and improve the investment climate in the country.

Mukherjee said as India enters the 12th Five Year Plan, beginning April 1, the focus of his government would be on five key areas:

-Framing policies that trigger domestic demand recovery

-Ensuring rapid rise in private investment

-Removing bottlenecks in agriculture, energy, transport, coal, power and national highways

-Addressing malnutrition

-Finding ways to expedite implementation of decision, prompt delivery and good governance with transparency, while curbing black money and corruption

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Union Budget 2012-13: Indian economy recovering, time for hard decisions: says Pranab Mukherjee

Expect GDP growth at 7.6% in '12-13: Pranab

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NEW DELHI: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed trimming the government's subsidy burden and called for speeding the pace of economic reforms, which have been stalled by political gridlock, in his budget speech on Friday.

High oil prices have swelled India's subsidy burden to roughly 2.5 per cent of GDP and Mukherjee called for reducing that to less than 2 per cent in the fiscal year that starts on April 1.

"We have to accelerate the pace of reforms," he told Parliament.

India is under pressure to trim the country's fiscal deficit amid cooling economic growth and a crisis of stability for the coalition government.

Mukherjee set a target of selling Rs 300 billion ($5.96 billion) worth of stakes in state companies in the next fiscal year, roughly in line with forecasts. India has raised just Rs 139 billion in the current fiscal year from stake sales, far below its budget target of Rs 400 billion.

The government's move on Wednesday to raise railway fares for the first time in eight years sparked an intense backlash from a key coalition ally, further eroding its ability to make politically tough decisions such as raising diesel prices in order to ease its fiscal deficit.

Pranab Mukherjee said he expected the Indian economy to grow by 7.6 per cent in the fiscal year starting in April, up from an expected 6.9 per cent in the current year but below the 8.4 per cent growth of the previous fiscal year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government was already reeling from a dismal showing in recent state elections and more than a year of corruption scandals that have resulted in policy gridlock.

With federal elections set for 2014, the budget a year from now is expected to be laden with populist spending measures. Friday's budget is thus viewed as a last opportunity for Singh's government to roll back a yawning fiscal gap.

India's fiscal deficit for the year that ends this month is expected to exceed the target of 4.6 per cent of GDP by more than a percentage point after economic growth slowed, the subsidy bill ballooned on higher oil and commodity prices and weak markets undermined efforts to sell state assets.

High inflation forced the central bank to continue raising interest rates even as its counterparts elsewhere turned their focus towards reviving growth. While inflation is no longer near double digits, it rose to 6.95 percent annually in February.

On Thursday, the central bank disappointed market hopes that it would begin cutting interest rates after 13 increases between March 2010 and October 2011, and warned of renewed inflationary risks from high oil prices, a depreciation of the rupee and "fiscal slippage", a reference to the government's defici t.

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Union Budget 2012-13: Pranab Mukherjee proposes change in IPO guidelines

 Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget speech announced a change in Initial Public offering ( IPO) guidelines to increase participation in small towns.

NEW DELHI: The finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget speech announced a change in Initial Public offering ( IPO) guidelines to increase participation in small towns.

Pranab also announced qualified Forifn Institutional Investors (FII) into corporate bonds. A new scheme to boost savings and the launch of Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme was also announced.

He expects tax free bonds to raise Rs 60,000 crore in the next financial year as compared to the sanction for Rs 30,000 crore this fiscal.

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