Kiran Bedi NGO did not cheat: Team Anna

GHAZIABAD: Coming out in strong support of Kiran Bedi, Team Anna on Monday said a case of misappropriation of funds has been lodged against the activist not for fraud and cheating but for fighting for a strong Lokpal Bill. 

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the complaint against Bedi was "completely fraud, malicious and malafide". 

"The complaint of misappropriation of funds against Kiran Bedi is false, malicious and malafide.... It was lodged against Bedi not for fraud and cheating but for fighting for a strongLokpal Bill," Kejriwal told reporters here. 

Claiming that efforts were still on to defame Team Anna members, he said, "We want to say it categorically that it is a false complaint. The court order is wrong. There is no prima facie evidence supporting this complaint." 

Kiran Bedi and her lawyer Somnath Bharti were present at the press conference and interestingly, the former IPS officer did not speak to reporters or take any questions. 

Delhi Police had slapped a case of cheating against Bedi for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for her NGOs in line with a court's directive. 

The court order came on a complaint filed by a Delhi lawyer that she had "looted" various paramilitary forces and police organisations in the name of imparting free computer training under the banner of her NGOs. 

The lawyer alleged that Bedi had received donations of more than Rs 50 lakh from Microsoft for imparting free computer training to kids and families of BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF personnel and other state police organisations under the banner of her trust 'India Vision Foundation'

Praveen out of first three ODIs, Mithun named replacement

CUTTACK: India received a setback on the eve of their five-match ODI series opener against the West Indies after pace spearhead Praveen Kumar was ruled out of the first three ODIs due to chest injury.

Karnataka medium pacer Abhimanyu Mithunwill replace him for the first three matches.

"Praveen Kumar has got a blunt chest on the left side, and has therefore been ruled out of the first three ODIs against the West Indies. Abhimanyu Mithun will replace him in the squad for the first three games," secretary Sanjay Jagdale was quoted as saying in a media release issued by BCCI.

Earlier skipper Virender Sehwag during the pre-match conference had said that Praveen had "niggle" and expected to be fit for the second ODI.

"Praveen Kumar has a niggle so he is not available for first ODI. We expect him to join the squad tomorrow and be fit for the second match," Sehwag told reporters on Monday.

In the absence of Praveen Kumar, R Vinay Kumar will lead the pace department along withUmesh Yadav and Varun Aaron.

Petrol prices may be cut by about one rupee

NEW DELHI: The state refiners could cut petrol prices by about one rupee a litre or 1.5 percent as softening Singaporespot gasoline prices have offset the impact of a declining rupee, an industry source said on Monday.

The companies cut petrol prices by about 3.2 percent earlier this month, the first reduction in retail prices in nearly three years and the first since prices were decontrolled in June 2010.

"As per current calculations, there is scope to cut the basic price of petrol by about 0.85 rupees a litre, including taxes it should be about one rupee. We have to see price movements in the next two days also before deciding the final impact," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Kanimozhi, 4 others get bail in 2G case, to spend one more night in Tihar Jail

NEW DELHI: DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others, who were on Monday granted bail by the Delhi high court in 2G spectrum case, will have to wait one more night behind the bars as release warrants could not be issued by the special judge due to procedural delay.

The delay was caused as the certified copy of the high court's order, which was required to be submitted along with the bail bonds before special CBI Judge O P Saini, could not be furnished within the working hours of the trial court.

The special judge waited in his chamber till 5.15pm on the request of lawyers appearing for the accused but the order was not placed before him in time.

Kanimozhi's counsel R Shunmugasundaram said they would furnish the bail bonds before the trial court on Tuesday morning to get the release order.

"We will submit the bail bond tomorrow morning," he said.

Earlier, in a huge relief to DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others who have been in Tihar jail for over six months for their alleged role in the 2G case, the Delhi high court on Monday granted them bail treating them on par with five others released by the Supreme Court last week.

"I grant bail to five persons. The conditions would be same as imposed by the Supreme Court," Justice V K Shali said.

Besides Kanimozhi, others who were granted bail are Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar,Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani and Kusegaon Fruits and vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Rajiv Aggarwal and Asif Balwa.

The court, however, reserved its order on the bail plea of sixth accused and former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, saying it will pronounce its judgement later as his plea has been opposed by the CBI.

"You (Behura) file your written submissions to the contentions of the CBI," Justice Shali told Behura's counsel, senior advocate Aman Lekhi.

Earlier, during the day, additonal solicitor general Mohan Parasaran said the probe agency was not opposed to grant of bail to the five persons except Behura and they can be released on the ground of parity as the Supreme Court has already given the same benefit to five other co-accused in the case.

The ASG, however, opposed Behura's bail plea saying the bail pleas of public servants require stricter scrutiny as they are the trustees of public property.

Kanimozhi and five others had moved the high court on November 23 for advancing the hearing of their bail pleas, shortly after the Supreme Court had granted bail to five corporate executives -- Unitech Limited MD Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom director Vinod Goenka and Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group executives Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara.

Their bail pleas were earlier scheduled for hearing on December 1. Kanimozhi and five others had come to the apex court challenging the trial court's November 3 order denying them the bail.

The Supreme Court had granted bail to the five corporate honchos on the condition that they would surrender their passports and will not go abroad without the court's permission.

It had further said that the accused will have to appear before the Special CBI court on each hearing and have to take prior permission for not attending the proceedings.

Former telecom minister A Raja, who is the main accused in the scam, has so far not approached any court for bail.

Other accused in the case include Raja's former private secretary R K Chandolia and Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa.

Three telecom firms Reliance Telecom Ltd, Swan Telecom and Unitech (Tamil Nadu) Wireless Ltd too have been listed as accused in the CBI chargesheet in the case.

The CBI had chargesheeted 14 persons in the scam, with Raja being the first to be arrested on February 2, along with Chandolia and Behura.

Karunanidhi elated over Kanimozhi getting bail 

In Chennai an elated DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Monday expressed happiness over his daughter Kanimozhi getting bail in the 2G case and said the party would organise a big welcome for her, when she arrives here.

"I am happy that Kanimozhi has been granted bail. She spoke to me soon after the court gave her bail and both of us shared the happiness," Karunanidhi, who met his daughter thrice in Tihar Jail, where she was lodged after her arrest on May 20, told reporters here.

"I am not an autocrat. Party will decide on giving new position to Kanimozhi," he said when asked whether she would be given a new position in the party.

To a question on former telecom minister A Raja seeking bail, he said if Raja spoke to him, "I will discuss about his bail."

Hazare comment on Pawar attack angers Congress

New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) Anna Hazare's initial reaction to the attack on union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar angered Congress party leaders enough to question the activist's Gandhian tag.

Asked by reporters about his view on the attack on Pawar, who was slapped by a Sikh man. Hazare said: 'Was it only one slap?'

As the gathering burst out laughing, Hazare left.

But he must have realised the gaffe he had committed, and returned to clarify.

'He (the accused) could have been angry, but it is not right to hit someone. Our democracy does not allow such attacks,' Anna said.

The Congress, however, was not amused.

An angry Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said: 'If they condone violence, then people will take a call on their claim of being Gandhians.'

'The Congress condemns the attack in strongest terms,' Tewari added.

The youth had only four days ago kicked Sukh Ram after the former minister was sentenced in a corruption case.

Tewari in August had said that Hazare is 'involved in corruption from top to bottom'. Hazare served him with a legal notice, following which Tewari wrote him a letter of apology.

After the controversy, Tewari opted out of the parliamentary standing committee which is examining the Lokpal bill.

Hazare has led two successful campaigns campaigns in New Delhi in Aopril and August to press his demand for a strong Lokpal that checks corruption in high places. He is pushing the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government for early passage of the Lokpal bill in parliament.

India gold down half a pct; silver falls 1 pct

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India gold futures fell half a percent on Friday afternoon, retracing to a level seen earlier in the week, following a similar trend overseas, though a weaker rupee cushioned the fall. Silver extended losses for a third day.

* The most-active gold for December delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange was 0.48 percent lower at 28,411 rupees per 10 grams at 2:23 p.m., after hitting a low of 28,377 rupees earlier, a level last seen on November 21.

* Overseas gold edged down below $1,700 an ounce, heading for its second straight weekly fall. The rupee, which plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the yellow metal, weakened on Friday.

* Physical buyers stayed on the sidelines in the middle of the wedding season, which will last peak in December and continue till April.

* "There is no demand in the market...Gujarat has imported only 2 tonnes in November as against 12 tonnes last year," said Haresh Acharya, head of bullion desk, Parker Bullion, adding "demand is zero for silver as well."

* The most-active silver for December delivery was 1.12 percent lower 54,631 rupees per kg, after falling 3.2 percent in the previous two sessions.

* Silver imports to India, the world's biggest consumer, would be marginally lower in 2011 from last year's 3,030 tonnes as traders are uncomfortable with prices ruling above 50,000 rupees per kg, a senior official at ScotiaMocatta said.

At 1:15 p.m., the following were prices in rupees being quoted by HDFC Bank in the spot market:

Friday Thursday

Gold .999/10 grams 28,781 28,960

Silver .999/kg 56,290 57,115

At 2:21 p.m., following were prices (in rupees) on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.

Contract Current price Net change

Dec gold 28,421 -128

Dec silver 54,558 -693

KBC winner Sushil Kumar turns down 'Big Boss' offer

Patna, Nov 24 (IANS) Sushil Kumar, the first to win Rs.5 crore on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 5', has turned down an offer to enter thereality show 'Bigg Boss' for the sake of his image as an youth icon.

'I was approached by the officials of the Endemol India and offered a place in 'Big Boss', but I refused,' said Sushil. 'More than any thing, my image is important for me. I don't want to do anything that affects my image.'

Endemol India has been producing 'Big Boss' that comes on Color channel. In the reality show, celebrities from different walks of life are locked inside a house for 14 weeks.

The fifth season of the show, which went on air Oct 2, sees a mixed gag bag of the aggressive and argumentative celebs like Akashdeep Saigal, Amar Upadhyay, Siddharth Bharadwaj, Pooja Missra, Shraddha Sharma, Mahek Chahal, Juhi Parmar, Pooja Bedi, Shonali Nagrani, and porn star Sunny Leone.

'If I joined 'Big Boss' and stayed there for some days, it would have changed my mindset and diverted me from my goal,' the 27-year-old told IANS.

Sushil is happy to be the brand ambassador for the Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee SCheme (MNREGS) and said: 'It is a matter of pride for me to work for common people.'

Before winning the top prize in KBC hosted by mega star Amitabh Bachchan, Sushil worked as a computer operator for the MNREGS in Motihari, his native town in East Champaran district of Bihar