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Goa’s Heartbeat: Kidman comes Pg 4 clean about Botox IN BRIEF Rosary Ferns no more Well-known tiatrist Rosary Ferns hailing from Colva, breathed his last in the wee hours of Wednesday. Rosary a reputed singer, actor and playwright regularly staged tiatrs in Kuwait, where he was based for the last several years. He had recently come to Goa. Unfortunately, he suffered a massive heart attack and breathed his last at 3 am. He is survived by his wife and children. His last stage performance was in Costatin Crasto’s Tumchem Sukh Amchem Dadossponn. – (HND)
Six hurt in Delhi protest Six persons, including four cops, were hurt in Delhi when police used batons to disperse a group of people who indulged in stone-pelting to protest the demolition of a religious structure illegally built on Government land. The demolition was carried out by Delhi Development Authority.— (PTI)
Business: Pawan Hans mulls sea plane service in Goa Pg 12
(air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+4
Sports: Dhoni, Sehwag & Co Pg 16 do body art for ad
PAC, CAG slam Sibal Drug-tainted cop suspended Say remarks ‘highly improper’ PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 12
The high decibel attack on the CAG by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and Congress spokesman Manish Tewari was today countered by the PAC and the Government auditor which termed such a campaign as “improper” and one that could be contempt of the House. The PAC, which met today, considered the remarks of Sibal
But Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi produced a CD containing critical remarks of Sibal in television interviews almost suggesting that the “leak” of the report on 2G spectrum scam was from the CAG and statements of Tewari, sources said. “The sense of the PAC was that Sibal’s remarks were improper, against propriety and an attack on the dignity of PAC and CAG”, Joshi told reporters
IN THE LINE OF FIRE
The sense of the PAC was that Sibal’s remarks were improper, against propriety and an attack on the dignity of PAC and CAG. — PAC chairman
and Tewari in the context of its report on the 2G spectrum allocation and the sense of the members was that these were an attack on the dignity of the two constitutional organs. At the PAC meeting an attempt was made by a senior Congress member to distance the party from the remarks by the two were not the stand of the organisation.
Probe against former CJI’s family begins PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN 12
Troubles mounted for former CJI K G Balakrishnan today when a local court directed police to look into charges of amassing wealth by his family members into which I-T department also began a probe. Acting on a private complaint, a Thiruvananthapuram court ordered the Kochi Police Commissioner to probe the allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income against Balakrishnan’s sons-in-law P V Sreenijan and M J Benny and brother K G Bhaskaran. The directive by the judicial magistrate A M Basheer was issued on a private complaint by one Francis Pradeeplal, who sought an inquiry into the allegations. In a related development, the Income Tax investigation wing said it had begun a preliminary inquiry into the charges that the family members of Balakrishnan, who is the chairperson of National Human Rights Commission.
Making comments on matter being considered by Parliamentary panel is highly improper and may even amount to contempt. — CAG statement
here. At a press conference last week, Sibal had described as “utterly erroneous and without any basis” the estimated loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore arrived at by the CAG on account of allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators. Joshi said the forum of the Committee was available to the minister to make any observa-
tion or suggestion on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocations. Contesting Sibal’s remarks, Joshi said CAG had never said that its estimates on presumptive losses to the exchequer were final. “The CAG had only mentioned three different figures based on three different models to calculate the presumptive loss. It had never said the report was final”, he said. He said the PAC would consider steps that were necessary to avoid repeat of such incidents. In reply to a question, Joshi said there was no suggestion or proposal before the Committee today to call Sibal for seeking clarification on his remarks. The CAG also came out with a statement, second in three days, describing Sibal’s comments as “highly improper”. “Making public comments on the matter which is being considered by a Parliamentary Committee is highly improper and may even amount to contempt of the House”, the CAG said.
After J&K, China issues stapled visas in Arunachal PTI ITANAGAR, JAN 12
In a departure from past practice, China has begun issuing visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, over which it lays claim, but they are stapled to passports as in the case of people from Jammu and Kashmir. China’s new tactics came to light when two sportsmen from Arunachal were prevented by immigration officials from boarding a flight today from New Delhi to Beijing since they had stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy on their passports. Indian Weightlifting Federation’s Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi along with a weightlifter of the State were taken aback when immigration officials at New Delhi’s IGI Airport stopped them and turned the two men away because of the stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy. Techi and the weightlifter, who were to visit the country at the invitation of Chinese Weightlifting Association President Menguang for the January 15-17 China Weightlifting Grand Prix at Fujian
Two sportsmen from Arunachal Pradesh were prevented by immigration officials from boarding a flight today from New Delhi to Beijing since they had stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy on their passports. province, thereafter got in touch with the Chinese Embassy. Reacting to the Chinese action, the Ministry of External Affairs said India considers Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and has conveyed to the Chinese side that a uniform process of issue of visas to Indian citizens be followed regardless of applicant’s ethnicity or place of domicile. Maintaining that both the athletes are reportedly domiciles of Arunachal, the Ministry recalled that a travel advisory had been issued in February, 2009 cautioning Indian citizens that Chinese visas stapled to passports were not valid for travel outside the country.
Belgaum SP warns of ‘deeper links’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JAN 12
Observing that judges cannot act “like mere tape recorders” and Government has a duty to protect witnesses, the Supreme Court today transferred the murder trial of an engineer, allegedly shot dead by a contractors’ mafia, from Uttarakhand to a Delhi court. A Bench of justices J M Panchal and H L Gokhale passed the order on a petition filed by Vikas Kumar Roorkewal, son of the deceased Radhey Shyam, a Superintendent Engineer with Uttarakhand Irri-
gation Department, who sought the transfer on the ground that the family and witnesses were facing constant threats and intimidation from the accused. Shyam, who was dealing with Rs 240-crore Upper Ganga Link Canal Project, was shot dead in broad daylight on June 18, 2006, at his camp office in Roorkee in front Roorkewal and other witnesses. The case was pending trial in a Fast Track court, Haridwar, since 2006. The deceased’s son alleged a number of other en-
HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 12
Head constable Arun Desai, attached to the Margao police station, who was arrested by Belgaum police on Tuesday in an alleged drug peddling case was on Wednesday placed under suspension by Superintendent of Police, South Allan De Sa. Acting swiftly upon receiving a report from his Belgaum police counterpart, De Sa suspended the police head constable with immediate effect. The SP, South
Goa’s mining exports are expected to dip by almost 10 per cent this season with factors like the ban on ore transportation by Karnataka, flash strike by truckers and the prolonged monsoon playing spoilsport for this multi-crore industry. Glen Kalavampara, secretary, Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) told Herald that the seasonal export was unlikely to touch last year’s mark and would be 10 per cent lower compared to last year. “Karnataka ore has stopped coming since the last two months, there are local strikes by the truck owners while the
Karnataka ore has stopped coming since the last two months, there are local strikes by the truck owners while the over-stretched monsoon too has added to the woes of the mining industry — Glen Kalavampara over-stretched monsoon too has added to the woes of the mining industry”, Kalavampara said. The mining truck operators in the State are on strike since December 27, 2010 demanding hike in freight rates. Though companies like Fomento and
also ordered a preliminary inquiry to be conducted by DySP Mahesh Gaonkar. The inquiry officer has been directed to submit the report within a week’s time. De Sa told newsmen that he has received a report from the Belgaum SP today stating that the head constable has been arrested by the police along with four others in drug peddling, adding that hashish worth Rs 26 lakh has been recovered from the accused.
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Kamat seeks report from DGP HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 12
Upset with the recent developments involving the Goa Police personnel, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today directed Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi to file a detailed report in the matter within 24 hours. Last week Israeli drug-dealer Dudu’s (David Driham) sister Ayala handed over a spy-cam video to police showing ANC sub-inspector Sunil Gudlar selling drugs. The spy-cam video created flutters in the police department
I had a meeting with the DGP and directed him to submit a detailed report in both the matters by tomorrow evening. – Digambar Kamat wherein Gudlar is shown negotiating with two foreigner women — Ayala and Zarina - in a room at an undisclosed destination over the sale of drugs. The series of tapes which was aired on local TV channel also showed Gudlar claiming that his
seniors accepted bribe. In another case, the Goa Police personnel attached to Panjim police station allegedly tortured a 39-year old NRI Cipriano Fernandes to death. Speaking to reporters at his official residence, chief minister
said he is seized of the matter and asked for a report. “I had a meeting with the DGP and directed him to submit a detailed report in both the matters by tomorrow evening”, he said. On the custodial death case Kamat said it is a matter of concern. “The group (Utt Goenkara) met me and I have assured them necessary action”, he said. Meanwhile, the DGP has said that action against Gudlar would be initiated only after a detailed enquiry report is received from the Crime Branch.
NCP fumes over Rahul’s remarks PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 12
An NCP leader today lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for his reported comments blaming coalition politics for the price rise forcing the Congress and his own party to initiate an urgent damagecontrol exercise. “Congress party is the principal party in the UPA and any statement of the leader of that party should reflect humility and not arrogance”, NCP General Secretary and spokesperson D P Tripathi told a press confer-
gineers too were earlier murdered by the mafia who had let loose a reign of terror. It was stated that the witnesses and the family members of Shyam were facing constant threats and even the driver of the deceased, who was a key prosecution witness, had turned hostile during the trial. According to the deceased’s son, though they have made several representations to the authorities and the trial court concerned, no action was taken to protect the witnesses.
Mining exports may take a hit SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM, JAN 12
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SP Sandeep Patil (centre) and the DCIB police team along with the arrested head constable Arun Desai (circled), four others and the seized drugs and vehicle.
Govt must protect witnesses: SC PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 12
“All facts relating to the case will come to light once the inquiry officer visits Belgaum. At this stage, the facts and circumstances relating to the arrest and the case remains unknown”, he added. The SP, South, declined to comment whether the Police Department was aware that the head constable was working as a pilot after duty hours. Sources in the know said the head constable had headed to
Expressing the need for an enhanced co-ordination between Belgaum and Goa police, Belgaum Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil has stated that the arrest of a Goa police head constable could reveal ‘deeper links’ in Goa. Commenting on the arrests of Head Constable Arun Desai and four others on charges of carrying Hashish worth Rs 26 lakh in a Goa-registered vehicle in Belgaum, SP Patil said he had sought the co-operation of Goa Police in the case. Speaking to Herald, SP Patil said a team led by DCIB Inspector Sunil Savadi had set a trap after getting information and nabbed the five accused along with a Maruti van (GA-02-S 2419) along the Bauxite Road here. “The Maruti Omni van belonging to Arun Desai was also taken into police custody. The Hasish from Nepal was brought to Goa and then it was being brought to Belgaum”, said SP Patil. “I have spoken to the South
Sesa Goa have hiked rates, others are yet to take a decision. “We have already raised the issue with the Transport Department asking them to sort out the problem”, Kalavampara said. Ore exports from Goa had touched a historic 53 mt (million tonne) mark in the last season which comprised of 45 mt ore extracted from the State. The rest was from Karnataka. As per the Government figures, a total of 28 mt ore had been exported from the State till December 2010. Kalavampara denied that charging ad-valorem royalty on the ore had resulted in the projected decline in the export of (Continued on page 11)
ence here. In remarks that caused discomfort in Congress, Tripathi said single-party rule in India was not possible in the foreseeble future and that coalition was being practised in 65 countries, “including Italy”. Soon Congress reacted blaming media’s “erroneous and misreporting” of Gandhi’s interaction with students of some colleges in Lucknow yesterday. “This is completely wrong and erroneous reporting. Rahul
Gandhi has not said anything of the sort and made no such allegation as being ascribed to him in the reports. “At no point of time during the closed-door discussion (with students), he referred to any coalition partner NCP or Sharad Pawar. He has been misquoted and misreported,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at AICC briefing. He also refused to fault the NCP reaction saying this will happen if a wrong report is published.
Government subsidy that I got to paint my bus, I painted my house you see.