ACB files three FIRs against Kejriwal
The Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) on Friday informed a Delhi court here that it has lodged three FIRs on a criminal complaint filed against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and others in an alleged public works department (PWD) scam.
Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra also directed the assistant commissioner of ACB to assess the threat perception on the complainant Rahul Sharma once again after he informed the court that two unknown bikers recently fired gunshots at him.
The court was informed that three FIRs were registered by ACB on its own on May 8.
The court said that the FIR lodged in relation to the recent attack shows that there was serious threat to the security of the complainant and directed the ACB to file a status report on June 8 in this regard.
The court was hearing a complaint filed by Sharma, the founder of Roads Anti-Corruption Organisation (RACO), seeking direction to police to lodge an FIR against Kejriwal, his brotherin-law Surender Bansal, proprietor of a construction firm, and another public servant for alleged irregularities in the grant of contracts for roads and sewer lines in Delhi.
Bansal has since passed away.
A BJP youth-wing leader on Friday claimed before a court he was allegedly defamed by CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh by projecting him as the person who reportedly assaulted former minister Kapil Mishra.
Metropolitan Magistrate Gajender Singh Nagar was told by counsel for Ankit Bhardwaj, a state executive member of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), that it was his namesake who had allegedly assaulted Mishra.
The court listed the complaint seeking prosecution of the AAP leaders for criminal defamation for August 2 for hearing further arguments on consideration.
Advocate Yogesh Swaroop, appearing for Bhardwaj who was present in the court, said his name was “wrongly taken” by AAP leaders in the media by describing him as a BJYM officer bearer who had assaulted Mishra on May 10.
He said that the person apprehended at the spot for the alleged offence, purportedly belonged to their own party.
The court questioned the counsel as to how could he say that the AAP leaders were talking about him only. “If any newspaper publishes the name ‘Ankit Bhardwaj’, will you take it upon yourself?,” the magistrate asked.
To this, the advocate clarified that on the official Twitter account and Facebook page of AAP, it was mentioned the person who attacked Mishra was Bhardwaj who belongs to BJP and was showing his identity as an assailant by putting screenshots of his Facebook profile.
The complainant has said that the defamation complaint was being filed as both Kejriwal and Singh did not reply to his legal notice in the matter.
“In fact, 14 days of carbon emissions from China alone would...totally wipe out the gains from America’s expected reductions in the year 2030, after we have had to spend billions and billions of dollars, lost jobs, closed factories, and suffered much higher energy costs for our businesses and for our homes,” he added.
“In short, the agreement doesn’t eliminate coal jobs, it just transfers those jobs out of America...and ships them to foreign countries.”
The US is the second biggest carbon emitter after China, and had contributed about $3 billion to the global climate fund. In 1991, the US had withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol after agreeing to it.
Signed in 2015 after nearly three years of negotiations, the Paris accord came at a time when scientists had called for now-ornever measures to combat global warming. That year, and the year after that, turned out to be the hottest on record.
“While the US decision is disheartening, we remain inspired by the growing momentum around the world to combat climate change and transition to clean growth economies,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Japan’s environment minister Koichi Yamamoto said: “The decision made by…Trump amounts to turning their backs on the wisdom of humanity. I’m very disappointed...I am angry.”
Syria and Nicaragua are the only other nations that are not part of the Paris accord, signed by 195 nations.
India and China were able to protect their interests by ensuring they did not have to accept any emission cuts.
“As you will recall, I had pointed out that awarding MS Dhoni an ‘A’ contract when he had explicitly ruled himself out from all Test matches was indefensible on cricketing grounds, and sends absolutely the wrong message,” the letter said.
“I think prompt and swift action on this matter is both just and necessary. CoA’s credibility and effectiveness hinges on our being able to take bold and correct decisions on such matters. The ‘superstar’ culture that afflicts the BCCI means that the more famous the player the more leeway he is allowed in violating norms and procedures. (Dhoni was captain of the Indian team while holding a stake in a firm that represented some current India players.) This must stop – and only we can stop it,” Guha said in his letter to Rai.
Guha also pointed out the “excellent” run of the India cricket team under coach Anil Kumble and the handling of his contract portrayed the Indian cricket set-up in poor light. “The way in which the contract of Anil Kumble, the current head coach of the senior team has been handled... the Indian team’s record this past season has been excellent; and even if the players garner the bulk of the credit, surely the head coach and his support staff also get some. In a system based on justice and merit, the head coach’s term would have been extended. Instead, Kumble was left hanging, and told the post would be re-advertised.
Guha also said conflict of interest is rampant in the state associations. “One famous former cricketer is contracted by media houses to comment on active players while serving as president of his state association. Others have served as office-bearers in one association and simultaneously as coaches or managers in another.”
Joshi’s win has also given hope that the long drawn tussle with the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) over Lalit Modi would resolve and cricket in Rajasthan will take a turn for the better.
The BCCI had suspended RCA in 2014 with Lalit Modi being declared as president. The suspension came in as Modi was banned by BCCI following allegation of misconduct, and such an individual cannot be a part of its affair. The suspension came as big damage to RCA as the situation of cricket in state deteriorated with no big leagues or matches, facilities and financial crunches.
The RCA elections were conducted as per the recommendations of retired Justice RM Lodha.