March 2023 Issue of The Integrity Bulletin News Magazine

ThesecondPlenaryoftheFATFunderthePresidencyofT.RajaKumarofSingaporeconcludedon February24,2023.Photo:FATF An Editorial Initiative of Raman Media Network (RMN)

Editor:RakeshRaman

Main Stories in This Issue

PoliticalCorruption

CorruptionReports

G20Anti-corruptionGroupMeetinginIndia Crime,Corruption,andImpunityinIndia

GrandCorruption

U.S.ActionAgainstCorruptioninBulgaria INTERPOLConferenceonCorruptionCrimes

AdaniFraudCase

SurveyforCorruptionResearchProjectinIndia MediaReportsonCorruptioninIndia

ActiononCorruption

DDAAllowsFARConstructionCrimeinDelhi FATFSuspendsMembershipofRussia

CorruptionCases

GeorgeSorosSaysAdaniCaseWillWeakenModi SCCommitteetoGiveSafePassagetoAdani

DelhiCourtExtendsCustodyofManishSisodia ShortStoriesofCorruptionintheWorld

Delhi Court Extends Custody of AAP Politician Manish Sisodia

SisodiaandhisaccompliceSatyendarJainshouldbeincarceratedinaharshdetentioncamp or a concentration camp outside Delhi so that they do not enjoy theluxurioustreatmentin DelhiʼsTiharjail.

AcourtinDelhionMarch4extendedthecustodyfortwodaysofManishSisodiawhobelongs totheAamAadmiParty(AAP)ofDelhichiefminister(CM)ArvindKejriwal.

Sisodia was arrested on February 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his interrogationinamassiveliquorscamcaseinDelhi.InastatementreleasedonFebruary26, CBI said that Sisodia was arrestedbecausehegaveevasiverepliesanddidnotcooperatein theinvestigationdespitebeingconfrontedwithevidence.

SinceSisodiahadalsoappliedforbail,thecourthasfixedMarch10asthedateforhearinghis bail plea. That means if the CBI custody ends on March 6, Sisodia will be sent to judicial custodyatDelhiʼsTiharjailuntilthecourttakesadecisiononhisbailapplication.

Reports suggest that Sisodia was produced in a court on February 27 and the court had granted a 5-day custody to the CBI for his further interrogation sothatotherculpritsinthe criminalnetworkcouldalsobecaught,convicted,andjailed.

ManishSisodia.Photo:DelhiGovernment

ItislikelythatsoonotherAAPpoliticians-includingKejriwal-maybejailedforvariouscrimes and acts of corruption that they may be committing secretly. In fact, under the Kejriwal government,DelhihasbecomethecorruptioncapitalofIndia.

Similarly, AAPpoliticiansinPunjabledbyCMBhagwantMannmaybearrestedandjailedas Sisodiaʼs dubious Delhi liquor policy is being implemented in Punjabalso.Thepresidentof the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD)SukhbirSinghBadalhasurgedthePunjabGovernortoholda probeintotheallegedRs 500-croreliquorpolicyscamcommittedbytheAAPGovernmentin thestate.

IMPRISONMENTOFAAPPOLITICIANS

Sisodia-whoistheprimeaccusedintheliquorscandal-shamelesslywentinaprocessionto the CBI office on February 26 with a crowd of AAP supporters who shouted slogans in his favourasifheisachampioninsomecompetition.

In a dramatic manner, Sisodia also went to Raj Ghat - a memorial dedicated to Mahatma GandhiinDelhi-toostensiblyshowthathefollowsthetruthfulpathofMahatmaGandhiand heisinnocentinthiscase.

Insteadofshowingproofofhisinnocence,SisodiaandhisaccomplicesinAAPareresortingto allsortsofdeceptivetrickstomisleadtheinvestigatingagencieswhichareprobingtheliquor scandalandotherscamsinwhichSisodiaisallegedlyinvolved.

Surprisingly,Sisodiaalsosaidthatheisnotafraidofgoingtojail,becauseheknowsthatjails provide all types of luxurious facilities to top politicians whoareimprisonedfortheircrime andcorruptioncases.

Another jailed AAP leader Satyendar Jain - who is a colleague of Sisodia - is enjoyingaVIP treatmentincludingfull-bodymassageinsidethejailcell.Jainwassenttojaillastyearforhis allegedinvolvementinaseriousmoneylaunderingcase

Obviously, Sisodia is not scared of going to jail because jail is a kind of picnic spotforAAP leaders There is also a possibility that in the night when other prisoners are locked inside theircells,thecorruptpoliticiansarereleasedbycorruptjailofficialssothattheycouldenjoy nightlifeandcomebacktojailaerafewhours.

In fact, conventional imprisonment is not the right punishment for corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.TheyshouldratherbecagedinaprisonsuchastheGuantanamoBaydetention camp,whichisaU.S.militaryprisonknownforitsharshtreatmentofprisoners.

FALSESTATEMENTS

Earlier, in a tweet written in Hindi, Sisodia had said on February 18 that the CBI had summoned him for questioning. Without any substantiation, he addedinhistweetthatthe law-enforcementagenciesfailedtofindanyproofofhiswrongdoingandheisbeingstopped fromprovidingeducationinschools.

Sisodia-whowasaneducationministerintheKejriwalgovernment-hasbeentryingtohide behind school education which is so bad in Delhi that the studentsfailtolearnanythingin schoolsthatcouldhelpthemintheircareers.Sisodiahasdestroyedthecareersofmillionsof studentsashefailedtoprovidequalityeducationinschools.

In a related development, both Sisodia and Jain who were ministers in the Kejriwal government resigned from their positions on February 28 and Kejriwal has accepted their resignations.

Now,insteadoftellingthetruthabouttheliquorscam,Sisodiaismischievouslydivertingthe topictoschooleducationalthoughheistheprimeaccusedintheliquorscandal.

As most politicians in AAP are crooks, reports suggest that in order to hoodwink the investigating agencies they are exploiting school children who are being coerced to demonstrate in favour of liquor scam accused Manish Sisodia. These innocent children are being allegedly forced by AAP accomplices to appear in videos to demand the release of Sisodia.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED)-whichinvestigatesseriousfinancialcrimecases–hadrevealedthat140mobilephoneswerechangedbyover30personsallegedlyinvolvedin theliquorscamofDelhi

The ED claimed in a special PreventionofMoneyLaunderingAct(PMLA)courtinNovember lastyearthatSisodiaandothersinvolvedintheexcise/liquorscamhavechangedatotal140 phoneswiththeintentiontodestroydigitalevidenceduringtherelevantperiod.Thevalueof thesephonesisestimatedtobeRs1.20crore.

Sisodia has been telling lies frequently to escape the legal dragnet. Aer attending a CBI hearing on October 17 last year in this case, Sisodia claimedwithoutanyevidencethatCBI askedhimtoquitAAPandjoinBharatiyaJanataParty(BJP)whichwillmakehimDelhiCM.

Among his lies,SisodiaalsosaidthatCBIhasadmittedthatthereisnocaseagainsthimbut heisbeingharassedlikehiscolleagueSatyendarJain,whoisinjailforthepastmanymonths inamoneylaunderingcase.

ButinastatementreleasedonOctober17,CBIrefutedalltheclaimsofSisodiaandsaidthat SisodiawasquestionedstrictlyontheallegationsintheFIR(firstinformationreport)andthe evidence collected so far during the course of investigation. CBI added that Sisodiaʼs statementwillbeverifiedinduecourseandfurtheractionwillbetakenasperrequirements ofinvestigation

LIQUORSCAMCASE

Aer the August 19 raids by the CBI at Sisodiaʼs residence, he and his AAP accomplicesare tellingflagrantlieswiththeaimtoprotecthimintheliquormafiacollusioncase.

Sisodia–whowasadeputyCMunderDelhiCMArvindKejriwal–isfacingseriousallegations ofcorruption,criminalconspiracy,andfalsificationofgovernmentaccounts,whiletheCBIhas filedanFIRinwhichSisodiaʼsnameisatthetopofalistof15accusedinthiscase.

Theoppositionparties-BJPandCongress-inDelhihavebeenrunningaggressivecampaigns to demand the resignation of Kejriwal, as they claim that Kejriwal is the kingpin in all the scandalshappeninginDelhi.

InJuly2022,theLt.Governor(LG)VinaiSaxena–whoistheadministrativeheadofDelhi–had asked the CBItoprobeSisodiaʼssurreptitiouslinkswiththeliquormafiathatledtomassive corruptioninthesaleofliquorshoplicencesinthecity.

AnAugust22articlein

TheNewIndianExpressdetailsdifferentaspectsofthecasealongwith the names of the accused who allegedly colluded with Sisodia to run the criminal liquor networkinvolvedinanestimatedcorruptionofhundredsofcroresofrupees.

Now,insteadofansweringthemediaquestionsrelatedtoDelhiliquorscaminwhichSisodia is allegedly involved, the AAP members are unsuccessfully trying to divert the case to unrelatedissuessuchasDelhischooleducationthatSisodiawashandling.

In their media interactions on Sisodiaʼs liquor scam case, the AAP spokespersonshadbeen unnecessarily flaunting a New York Times (NYT) schooleducationarticlewhichlookslikean advertorial (advertisement or paid article) arranged by AAPʼs publicity department The articlewithoutanyresearchfalselypraisesSisodiaandDelhischooleducation.Butthearticle neverexoneratedSisodiaintheliquormafiascandal.

Now,SisodiaandhisaccompliceSatyendarJainshouldbeincarceratedinaharshdetention camporaconcentrationcampoutsideDelhisothattheydonotenjoytheluxurioustreatment inDelhiʼsTiharjail.

More importantly, all the money (possibly hundreds of crores of rupees) embezzled in the scandals along with heavy interest should be recovered from them and they shouldnotbe allowedtoworkinanypublicofficeaertheprisonsentence.

The AAP politicians should also be interrogated sternly in ordertoknowthenamesoftheir accomplices in AAPorexternaloutfitswhoareinvolvedintheliquorscamorotherscandals sothatallofthemcouldbesimilarlyconvictedandjailed.

Perception Survey for 2023 Corruption Research Project in India

IndiaCorruptionResearchReport2023(ICRR2023)

Aer releasing the India CorruptionResearchReport2022(ICRR2022)inOctober2022,RMN Foundation-whichisahumanitarianinitiativeofRMNNewsService-haslaunchedtheIndia CorruptionResearchReport2023(ICRR2023)project.

This survey is part of our ongoing researchprojecttocompileacomprehensivereportICRR 2023oncorruptioninIndia.Youcanparticipateinthefollowingsurveyandclickheretoknow thedetailsoftheproject.

IsIndiaacorruptcountry?

PerceptionSurveyfor2023CorruptionResearchProjectinIndia.Photo:RMNNewsService

AreyouaffectedbycorruptioninIndia? Yes No

WhoismainlyresponsibleforcorruptioninIndia?

Bureaucrats

Politicians

PrivateCompanies

WhatistheimpactofcorruptioninIndia?

DeathofDemocracy

HumanRightsViolations

Inflation

Injustice

Poverty

Hunger

Unemployment

AreIndiananti-corruptionagenciesworkinghonestly? Yes No

ArecorruptIndianbureaucratsandpoliticianspunishedsuitably? Yes No

IsthereacriminalnexusbetweenbusinessoligarchsandtoppoliticiansinIndia? Yes No

AreIndiancourtshandlingcorruptioncaseseffectively? Yes No

ShouldIndiancorruptioncrimesbeprosecutedininternationalcourts?

Isimprisonmentasufficientpunishmentforcorruptioncrimes?

[Youcanclickheretoknowmoreaboutthesurvey.]

RakeshRaman

George Soros Says Adani Fraud Case Will Weaken Modi

AlthoughSorosexpectstheIndianparliamenttotakeModiʼsresponseontheallegedfinancial crimesofAdani,Modidoesnotrespecttheparliamentarysystemsandrefusestoanswerany questionraisedinparliament.

A reputed billionaire philanthropistGeorgeSoroshasstatedthatIndiaʼsprimeminister(PM) Narendra Modi will be weakened by the ongoing financial fraud case of oligarch Gautam Adani,whoisaclosepartnerofModi.

In his speech on February 16, Soros, 92, also hoped that the Adani fraud case - which is perhapsthebiggestscaminthecorporateworld-willopenthedoortoademocraticrevival inthecountry.

SpeakingattheMunichSecurityConference,Sorossaid,“ModiandbusinesstycoonAdaniare closeallies;theirfateisintertwined.AdaniEnterprisestriedtoraisefundsinthestockmarket, but he failed” Soros added that Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards. “Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questionsfromforeigninvestorsandinparliament,”Sorossaid.

Asusual,insteadofhonestlyaddressingtheissuesraisedbytheworldcommunityaboutthe autocracy and misgovernance of Modi, the Modi government baselessly dismissed the truthfulcommentsfromSorosasanattackonIndia.

Recently, a new BBC documentary,ʻIndia:TheModiQuestion,ʼrevealedModiʼscomplicityin the Gujarat violence of 2002 when Modi was the chief minister (CM) of Gujarat. The documentary shows facts which ascertainthatModiwasdirectlyresponsiblefortheGujarat massacrethattargetedMuslimsinthestate.

Instead of commenting on the content of the documentary, the Modi government said shamelessly that the BBC film is an attack on theIndianstateandraidedtheBBCofficesin IndiatosilencetheBritishpublicbroadcasterwithfrivoloustaxevasionallegations.

MODI-ADANICOLLUSION

AlthoughSorosexpectstheIndianparliamenttotakeModiʼsresponseontheallegedfinancial crimesofAdani,Modidoesnotrespecttheparliamentarysystemsandrefusestoanswerany questionraisedinparliament.

Recently, when the opposition leaders questioned Modi in the parliament on the Modi governmentʼscomplicityintheAdanifraud,ModididnoteventouchtheAdaniissue.Rather, he delivered a long rhetoric to praise himself and baselessly accuse the opposition party Congressofcorruption.

SorosexpressedhisconcernovertheunscrupulousrelationsbetweenModiandAdaniaera recent investigative report of Hindenburg Research accused Adani of commiting one of the biggestcorporatefraudsintheworld.InthereportreleasedonJanuary24,Hindenburgsaid that the Adani Group has engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud schemeoverthecourseofdecades.

Although the Adani Group issued a vague rebuttal onJanuary26totheHindenburgreport, thetroublesofAdaniandhiscompanieshavebeenmountingasinvestorsandobservershave littleconfidenceinwhatAdanisays.

It appears from his comments thatSorosexpectstheoppositionpartiesinIndiatogettheir act together to leverage the Adani case to defeat Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. However,theleadersofoppositionpartiesaresoweakandscaredthattheydonotchallenge thedespoticactionsofModiforcefully Theoppositionpartiesʼresponseislimitedtorandom tweetsonTwitter.

WEAKOPPOSITION

Since courts and law-enforcement agencies also cannotdaretotakeevenasinglestepthat may displease Modi, he is behaving as an elected dictator. In their feeble voice, opposition parties allege that Modi is misusing public money to help his corporate friends, but Modi simplyignoressuchaccusations.

It is also alleged that inquidproquodeals,AdanihasbeenhelpingModiwithhismoneyto help the latterwinelectionsunscrupulously.Therefore,ModimisuseshispositionasthePM of India to get business contracts for Adani not only in India but also in other parts of the world.

But it is almost impossible for opposition parties to defeat Modi. It is largely believed that Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win elections fraudulently by selectively manipulating the electronic voting machines(EVMs).Butthecourtsandelectionauthorities arbitrarily reject opposition partiesʼ complaints against EVMs and their demand to hold electionsonpaperballots.

ModiandBJPalsospreadhatredagainstMuslimstoenticeHindus,asnearly80%ofvotersin India belong to theHindureligion.Earlier,in2020,GeorgeSorossaidthatModiiscreatinga Hindunationaliststate(HinduRashtra)toharmMuslimsinthecountry.

He added that Modi isimposingpunitivemeasuresonKashmir,asemi-autonomousMuslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship through the draconiancitizenshiplaws.

Soros was speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Regarding nationalism,hesaidthatthebiggestandmostfrighteningsetbackhascomeinIndiawherea democraticallyelectedModiiscreatingaHindunationaliststate.

[YoucanclickheretowatcharelatedvideoonRMNYouTubeChannel]

While the opposition parties of India are almost silent, Soros has effectively raised the Modi-Adani collusion case in the international arena. But the Indian courts, regulatory authorities, and law-enforcement agencies will not take any action against Modiʼs friend Adani.And,likemanyothercriminalcases,thiscasewillalsobebrushedunderthecarpet.

DDA Allows FAR Construction Crime in Delhi Housing Societies

The approval for harmful FAR construction is mainly given by the corrupt officials of Delhi DevelopmentAuthority(DDA).

This story aims to inform about amassiveenvironmentalcrimethathasbeenhappeningin Delhiʼs cooperative group housing societies (CGHS) for the pastaboutsixyears.Thecrimetermed as the Widehouse Corruption Scandal - involves lethal construction which is being carriedoutunderaharmfulFloorAreaRatio(FAR)schemeofthegovernment.

DelhiDevelopmentAuthority(DDA),whichisamongthemostcorruptdepartmentsofIndia.

The approval for harmful FAR construction is mainly given by the corrupt officials of Delhi DevelopmentAuthority(DDA).SincetheFARconstructionwhichrunsforyearsspreadslethal dust pollution, noise pollution, and air pollution in housing complexes, hundreds or thousandsofchildren,men,women-includingseniorcitizens-wholiveinthesehouseshave beensufferingforthepastmanyyears.

Photo:RakeshRaman/RMNNewsService

TheFARcrimeisbeingcommittedbylocalcriminalswhooperateasmanagementcommittee (MC)membersofcooperativegrouphousingsocietiesinconnivancewiththecorruptofficials of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Registrar Cooperative Societies (RCS) office of Delhi Government,DelhiFireService(DFS),CentralPollutionControlBoard(CPCB),DelhiPollution ControlCommittee(DPCC),andDelhiPolice

InresponsetothecampaignsthatIruntostopFARconstructionandcomplaintsfiledbyme, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, has asked the Cabinet Secretariat to start investigation of 10 IAS officers who are involved in the FAR constructioncrime.

[YoucanclickheretowatchtherelatedvideoonRMNYouTubeChannelandsubscribetothe Channeltowatchmoreinformativevideos.]

TheDepartmentofPersonnelandTraining(DoPT)withitsOfficeMemorandumdated28thJune2022 hasurgedtheCabinetSecretariat,GovernmentofIndia,toinvestigatethecorruptioncasesofIAS officersthroughtheGroupofSecretaries.TheDoPThassentmultiplesuchletterstoMr.D.K.Jain, UnderSecretary(VCC),CabinetSecretariat,GovernmentofIndia.Butnoactionhasbeentaken.

I am also a victim of this heinous crime as the criminal FAR construction activity has been happening for the pastnearlyfiveyearsatDPSCGHS,Sector4,Dwarka,NewDelhi-whereI live It is happening even today - inFebruary2023-andislikelytocontinueformanymore years. Although the FAR crime is taking placeinmanyotherhousingsocietiesofDelhi,Iam

explaining the enormity of this crime with the construction work happening atmyhousing societyDPSCGHS.

While it is the responsibility of the government to protect people from FAR construction-related pollution and accidents, I urge the authorities to get this crime immediatelystoppedinoccupiedhousingsocieties

Thecriminals-includingMCmembersandgovernmentofficials-whoarecommittingtheFAR crimeshouldalsobeconvictedandjailedattheearliest

RakeshRaman

U.S. Takes Action to Counter Systemic Corruption in Bulgaria

The United Kingdom also designated three corrupt actors in Bulgaria forseriouscorruption andabuseofpublicinstitutionfunds.

The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, is taking action to counter systemic corruption in Bulgaria bydesignatingfiveformerBulgariangovernmentofficialsas well as five entities for corrupt acts that resulted in illicit personal gain, undermined the countryʼs democratic institutions, and perpetuated its corrosive dependence on Russian energysources.

The Department of theTreasuryundertookseveraldesignationsonFebruary10pursuantto Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruptionaroundtheworld:

Rumen Ovcharov, a former Bulgarian memberofparliament(MP)andministerresponsible forenergy;AleksandarHristovNikolov,aformerCEOanddeputydirectorofKozloduyNuclear PowerPlant(KNPP);andIvanGenov,formerCEOofKNPPandformerMPweredesignatedfor aseriesofillicitdealingsandtheexchangeofbribesrelatedtoenergycontractsthatrobbed theGovernmentandpeopleofBulgariaofhundredsofmillionsofdollars;

Nikolay Malinov, a former MP and leader of the Russophiles National Movement and chairman of the Russophiles forRevivaloftheFatherlandPoliticalParty,wasdesignatedfor bribing a judge to permit him to travel to Russia, even though he had been indicted for espionageonbehalfofRussian-backedinterestsandhadbeenplacedunderatravelban;

VladislavGoranov,aformerMPandformerMinisterofFinance,wasdesignatedforusinghis position to facilitate bribery in exchangeforfavorablelegislation,deprivingthegovernment oftaxrevenues;

Inter Trade 2021 EOOD, MS Konsult 2016 EOOD, the Russophiles National Movement, and RussophilesfortheRevivaloftheFatherland,weredesignatedforbeingownedorcontrolled byMalinov;

TheDepartmentofStatealsoimposedvisarestrictionsonOvcharov,Nikolov,andGoranovfor involvement in significant corruption under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. As a result of these actions, those individuals and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entryintotheUnitedStates.

The United Kingdom also designated three corrupt actors inBulgariaforseriouscorruption and abuse of public institution funds: Vassil Kroumov Bojkov, a prominent Bulgarian businessman and oligarch; Delyan Slavchev Peevski, an oligarch and former MP; and Ilko Dimitrov Zhelyazkov, the former Deputy Chief of the Bulgarian State Agency for Technical Operations,undertheUKGlobalAnti-CorruptionSanctionsRegime.

These actions reinforce prior US designations of these individuals under the Global MagnitskysanctionsprogramandtheDepartmentofStateʼspublicdesignationofPeevskiand ZhelyazkovunderSection7031(c)inJune2021.

U.S.SecretaryofStateAntonyBlinken.Photo:DepartmentofState TrilemmaConsultingLtdEOODwasdesignatedforbeingownedorcontrolledbyGoranov.

“These coordinated actions support the US Strategy on Countering Corruption and demonstrate the commitment of the United States and the United Kingdom to promoting accountabilityforcorruption,andtohelpingBulgaria,aNATOAlly,institutecriticalruleoflaw reforms,”saidU.S.SecretaryofState,AntonyJ.Blinken.

The corruption perpetuated by those designated reflects a systemic pattern of personal enrichmentattheexpenseoftheBulgarianpeople,government,anddemocraticinstitutions.

“The United States and the United Kingdom stand steadfast in solidarity with those in Bulgariawhoseektotacklecorruptionandstrengthentheruleoflaw,”Blinkensaid.

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G20 Anti-corruption Working Group Meeting Held in India

Asideeventwasheldonleveragingtechnologytocurbcorruptioninthepublicsector

ThefirstmeetingoftheG20Anti-corruptionWorkingGroup(ACWG)thatwasinauguratedon March 1st by Union Minister of State for Personnel & PMO, DrJitendraSingh,concludedon March3inGurugram,India.

RahulSingh,AdditionalSecretary,DepartmentofPersonnelandTraining(DoPT)&Chair,G20 ACWG, along with Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini, Head of Task Force, Co-chair,G20ACWG,Italy, addressedthemediaattheendoftheACWGmeeting.

RahulSinghinformedthatoverthepastthreedays,therehavebeenintensiveandproductive deliberations on several key focal areas pertaining to Asset Recovery, Fugitive Economic Offenders,formalandinformalchannelsofcooperationforinformationsharing,institutional frameworksforcombatingcorruptionandmutuallegalassistance,amongothers

ThisincludedpresentationsandinterventionsofcountrydelegatesandexpertsfromUNODC, OECD,EgmontGroup,INTERPOLandIMF TheACWGmeetingincludedkeynoteaddressesby dignitaries including Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India; Praveen Kumar Srivastava, Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of India; Nitin Gupta, Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes; Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Director Enforcement Directorate;andSubodhKumarJaiswal,Director,CentralBureauofInvestigation.

Rahul Singh further stated that it has been the endeavor of the delegates during the deliberationstoarriveataconsensusonthedratextoftheHigh-LevelPrinciplesthatareon theagendafortheACWGduringIndia'sG20Presidency.

G20Anti-corruptionWorkingGroupMeetingonMarch3,2023inIndia.Photo:PIB

He informed that considerable progress has been made in discussing the High-Level Principles on improving information sharing for fighting corruption and related economic crimes,strengtheningassetrecoverymechanismsrelatedtocorruptionandrelatedeconomic crimes,strengtheninglawenforcementcooperationforactionagainstcorruptionandrelated economic crime, and promoting integrity and effectiveness of publicbodiesresponsiblefor preventingandcombatingcorruption

He further stated that on the first day of the ACWG, a side event was held on leveraging technology to curb corruption in the public sector During this event, leading experts from India showcased how India has adapted the power of information technology to curb corruptioninpublicservicedelivery.

According to a government statement, over 90 delegates participating from 20 member countries,10Inviteecountriesand9internationalorganizationsattendedthefirstmeetingof theG20ACWG.

ShortStoriesofCorruptionintheWorld

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been acquitted of audit tampering in connection with the 1MDB scandal butwillremaininprisonwhereheisservinga12-year sentenceonothercharges.MalaysiaʼsHighCourtruledthatprosecutorsfailedtoprovethat Najib, who led Malaysia between 2009 and 2018, interfered with an official audit report aboutthescandal-plaguedsovereignwealthfund1MDB.ReadMore

Thefinancialscandal-namedaera2019Wikileaksreleasecalledthe"FishrotFiles"stretches from Namibia to Iceland, taking in government ministers and involving at least $20m (£16.6m). The southern African country is now preparing for thebiggestcorruption trial in its short history. It is all about fish quotas - not animmediatelyobvioussourceof corruption,butinNamibiatheyareverylucrative.ReadMore

The Vietnamese Communist PartyhasnominatedVoVanThuongasthecountryʼsnew president,twopartysourcestoldtheReutersnewsagency,followingtheforcedresignation in January of his predecessor as part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign in the country.ThegovernmentinastatementonMarch1saidthepartyʼsCentralCommitteehad agreedonanominationforpresidentbutdidnotnamethecandidate ReadMore

AllegedcorruptionatthetopofChinesefootballhaslePresidentXiJinping'sdreamof his country becoming a global force in the sport appear more remote than ever. China's most powerful leader in decades is a self-proclaimed footballfanandwantshisnationto hostandevenonedaywintheWorldCup.ReadMore

Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh has been charged with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment. Public prosecutorJudgeRajaHamoush has also filed charges against Mr Salameh's brother Raja andanadviser,accordingtothe NationalNewsAgency.Thebrothersdenyanywrongdoing.ReadMore

Surya Darmadi, one of Indonesiaʼs biggest palmoiltycoons,hasbeensentencedto15 years in prison and ordered to repay the state the equivalent of $2.6bn for his role in a corruptionschemethatcausedthedeforestationofthousandsofhectaresofprotectedland inSumatra.DarmadiwaschargedwithbribingseveralIndonesianofficialsinRiauProvince a major centre for palm oil production to allow him to convert more than 36,420 hectares(90,000acres)offorestintooilpalmestatesundersubsidiariesofhiscompany,PT DutaPalma.ReadMore

Media Reports on Corruption in India

Punjab'sVigilanceBureauarrestedAamAadmiPartyMLAAmitRattanKotfatta'sassistant ReshamSinghfromBhatindaforacceptingabribeofRs4lakh.Thebribehadbeentakenby Singh in lieu of passing the bill of Sarpanch of Ghudda village. TheVigilancedepartment hadlaidatraptocatchhim.ThebribeamountwasrecoveredfromKotfatta'scar,following whichhewastakenintocustody.ReadMore

A political storm erupted in KarnatakaaerstateBJPMLAMadalVirupakshappa'sson PrashantMadalwasonMarch2caughtred-handedtakingabribeofRs40lakh,whichledto his arrest. Hours later, the Karnataka government's anti-corruption watchdog conducted freshsearchesattheBJPMLA'sresidenceandconfirmedtherecoveryofRs6croreincash ReadMore

The common man in India is bogged down by corruption and there is a need to fix accountability at alllevels,theSupremeCourtobservedasitdealtwithapetitionseeking debarment of those against whom charges have been framed in criminal cases from contesting elections. The top court said India will have to go back to its core values and characterifithastotrulybecomewhatitisstrivingfor.ReadMore

India'sfederalpolicehavearrestedthedeputychiefministerofDelhi,ManishSisodia, for alleged corruption. The arrest came aer hours of questioning in connection with alleged irregularities related to a liquor policy in the city. The policy - which saw new alcoholshopsopened-wasdroppedaerpolicebeganaprobe.ReadMore

Alleging the misuse of centralagenciessuchastheCentralBureauofInvestigation(CBI) and theEnforcementDirectorate(ED)toframetheirleaders,nineOppositionleadershave writtentoPrimeMinisterNarendraModiandsaidthatnoactionwastakenagainstcorrupt politicianswhojoinedtheBharatiyaJanataParty(BJP).ReadMore

The State government will constitute more special courts to dispose of corruption cases speedily. A meeting of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to deter gra that hobbledanderodedthe quality of public service delivery. Mr. Vijayan also ordered State and district forensic laboratories to proactively back the governmentʼs anti-corruption drive by lending their expertisetoVigilanceenforcers.ReadMore

Supreme Court Committee Formed to Give Safe Passage to Adani Group

While Adani is accused ofaseriousfinancialcrime,theSupremeCourtistryingtobrushthe caseunderthecarpetwiththeformationofatoothlesscommittee.

TheSupremeCourtofIndiaonMarch2formedaperfunctorycommitteewhichisexpectedto exonerate the embattled Adani Group from all the alleged financial frauds reported by credibleglobalagenciesandmediaorganizations.TheSupremeCourthasalsocasuallyasked the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI)tocompleteitsongoing investigationintotheirregularitiesoftheAdaniGroupintwomonthsandfileastatusreport.

Such deceptive measures by the court are aimed to give a clean chit to Adani.

Oligarch

Gautam Adani, who is a close partner ofprimeminister(PM)NarendraModi,haswelcomed thecourtdecision.InatweetonMarch2,Adanisaid,“TheAdaniGroupwelcomestheorderof theHon'bleSupremeCourt.Itwillbringfinalityinatimeboundmanner.Truthwillprevail.”

InthepastwhenModiorhisassociateswereaccusedinsuchcases,theSupremeCourttook questionabledecisionstofavorModiorformedcommitteeswhichcouldnotdaretopointthe fingeratModiorhisfriends.

HindenburgResearchonAdani:CorporateFraudCase.Photo:RMNNewsService

IthashappenedincasessuchastheRafalecorruptioncase,Gujaratmassacrecase,Pegasus spyware case, draconian demonetization decision, farmersʼ protests, PM-CARES FundofPM Modi,andmanyothers.

While Adani isaccusedofaseriousfinancialcrime,theSupremeCourtistryingtobrushthe case under the carpet with the formation of a toothless committee which cannot file any reportthatcangetAdaniprosecutedandconvicted.

In all probability, the findings of the report will not be made public and Adani will be acquittedofallthecharges.Subsequently,Adani,Modi,andModiʼscolleagueswillsilencethe opposition voices by saying that the Supreme Court has found that Adaniishonestandno fraudhashappenedinthiscase.

SCOPEOFINVESTIGATIONANDPROSECUTION

ArecentinvestigativereportofHindenburgResearchaccusedAdaniofcommitingoneofthe biggestcorporatefraudsintheworld.InthereportreleasedonJanuary24,Hindenburgsaid that the Adani Group has engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud schemeoverthecourseofdecades.

When the opposition leaders questioned Modi in the parliament on the Modigovernmentʼs complicityintheAdanifraud,ModididnoteventouchtheAdaniissue.Rather,hedelivereda long rhetoric to praise himself and baselessly accuse the opposition party Congress of corruption.

In fact, it is a clear case of grand corruption and money laundering for which Adani or his associates should have been taken into custody for proper investigation. The Hindenburg reportstatesthatAdaniʼsfraudsincludedtheformationofoffshoreshellentitiestogenerate artificialturnoverandmoneylaundering.

ButtheSEBIandotherlaw-enforcementagenciesturnedablindeyetothisallegedfraudand never tried to reveal the information publicly about these shell entities and the money launderedthroughthembecauseAdaniisaclosefriendofModi.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF),whichsetsglobalstandardsonbeneficialownership transparency,hadagreedinMarch2022fortougherglobalbeneficialownershiprulestostop criminals from hiding their illicit activities and dirty money behind secret corporate structures.

ButtheIndianagencieshavedeliberatelyignoredtheFATFrulesonbeneficialownershipand did not publicly release the real beneficial ownership registers of Adani Group entities.Itis

possible that the dirty money is being used to supporttheterroristfinancingactivitiesthat FATFissupposedtomonitor.

Such reportsarealreadycoming.AMarch2,2023reportrevealsthatanentityrelatedtothe AdaniGroupfinanciallysupportedacompanythatviolatedsanctionsimposedbytheUnited NationsSecurityCouncil(UNSC)ontradewithNorthKorea

Accordingtothereport,thesanctionedcompanywasownedbysonsofChangChung-Ling,an Adani Group associate who appeared in the HindenburgreportforhisdirectorshipofAdani entities.

Now,thecommitteeformedbytheSupremeCourtandthelaw-enforcementagenciesshould investigateallsuchallegationsandlive-streamtheirinteractionwiththeaccusedinvolvedin thiscase.

TheinvestigatingagenciesshouldalsorevealifthecorruptionmoneymadeintheRafaledeal orthePM-CARESFundhasbeeninvestedintheAdaniGroup,asthesecaseshaveneverbeen probedthoroughly.

Since the Supreme Court committee or the other law-enforcement agencies such as the EnforcementDirectorate(ED)ortheCentralBureauofInvestigation(CBI)arenotexpectedto acthonestly,theAdanicaseshouldbeprosecutedininternationalforumsoutsideIndia.

TheU.S.,forexample,cantreatthiscaseofsignificantcorruptionunderSection7031(c)ofthe annualDepartmentofState,ForeignOperations,andRelatedProgramsAppropriationsActor the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. Similarly, the UK can prosecute it under the UK GlobalAnti-CorruptionSanctionsRegime.

Finally, the Modi-Adani case of grand corruption should be handled by the International Anti-CorruptionCourt(IACC)proposedbyIntegrityInitiativesInternational.

INTERPOL Conference Discusses Money Laundering and Corruption Crimes

TheAsianRegionalConferencealsobeganthereviewofINTERPOLʼsGlobalPolicingGoals.

INTERPOLʼs Asian Regional Conference ended with senior law enforcement officials supporting increased cross sector cooperation to combat a range of crimes including drug trafficking, cybercrime and terrorism. The topics such as money laundering and corruption werealsodiscussedattheConference

Among the recommendations was greater engagement with the information and communications technologysectortobetterdetectanddisrupthumantraffickingfacilitated online, as well as enhanceduseofINTERPOLʼstoolsandservices Delegatesalsorecognized the need for engagement with civil society organizations to support the recovery and reintegrationoftraffickingvictims.

TheAsianRegionalConferencealsobeganthereview of INTERPOLʼs Global Policing Goals, which were launched in2018toaddressarangeofissuesrelated tocrimeandsecurity.Morethan150lawenforcement officials from 42 countries across Asia, the South PacificandtheMiddleEasttookpartinthethree-day (7-9February)meeting.(Photo:INTERPOL)

INTERPOLʼs 2022 Global Crime Trend report highlighted drug trafficking among the regionʼs top threats. The New Zealand authorities reported one of the countryʼs largest ever seizures aer intercepting 3.2 tonnes of cocaine afloatintheocean.

“Our member countries are reporting record seizures and increased violence by organized crimegroups,whichatthesametimeareinfiltratingthelegitimateeconomywiththebillions theyaremakinginillicitprofits,”saidINTERPOLSecretaryGeneralJürgenStock.

“With each region facing its own drug-related challenges,INTERPOListheidealplatformto coordinate a global dialogue for a multi-layered and comprehensive law enforcement response to include linked crimes such as money laundering and corruption,” concluded SecretaryGeneralStock.

The INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference, to be held in Chile in March, will provide an opportunity for member countries to outline the challenges they face, and contribute to developingastrongerglobalcoalitionagainstdrugtrafficking.

FATF Suspends Membership of the Russian Federation for War in Ukraine

TheFATFreiteratesitsdeepestsympathiestothepeopleofUkrainefortheneedlesslossoflife anddestructionofUkrainianinfrastructureandsociety.

The secondPlenaryoftheFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)underthePresidencyofT.Raja Kumar of Singapore concluded on February 24. Delegatesfromover200jurisdictionsofthe

GlobalNetworkparticipatedinthesediscussionsattheFATFheadquartersinParis.Oneyear aer the Russian Federationʼs illegal, unprovokedandunjustifiedfull-scalemilitaryinvasion of Ukraine, the FATF reiterates its deepest sympathies to the people of Ukraine for the needlesslossoflifeanddestructionofUkrainianinfrastructureandsociety.

The Russian FederationʼscontinuingandintensifyingwarofaggressionagainstUkraineruns counter to FATFʼs principles of promoting security, safety and the integrity of the global financialsystemandthecommitmenttointernationalcooperationandmutualrespectupon whichFATFMembershaveagreedtoimplementandsupporttheFATFStandards.Asaresult, theFATFPlenaryhassuspendedthemembershipoftheRussianFederation.

Following the statements issued since March 2022, the FATF reiterates that all jurisdictions should be vigilant to current and emerging risks fromthecircumventionofmeasurestaken againsttheRussianFederationinordertoprotecttheinternationalfinancialsystem.

FATFmemberstookimportantstepstoenhancethetransparencyofbeneficialownershipand prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity behind opaque corporate structures.Inamajor milestone, the FATF agreed on revisions to Recommendation 25 on transparency and beneficialownershipoflegalarrangements

ThesecondPlenaryoftheFATFunderthePresidencyofT.RajaKumarofSingaporeconcludedon February24,2023.Photo:FATF

Crime, Corruption, and Impunity in India

Politicians, bureaucrats, police, and judges have formed a criminal gang in India. The following cases depict how they collude with criminals and commit crimes and corruption with impunity while the ordinary citizens are suffering. Click the following links for details.

Cabinet Secretariat Case Ministry of HomeAffairs (MHA) Case

Prime Minister Office (PMO) Case Delhi Lokayukta Case

DoPTCase CBI Case

Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Case Supreme Court Case

Delhi Govt Case Delhi Petitions Committee / CVC Case

NHRC Case School Education Case

Environmental Crime Case Lokpal Removal Case

Judicial Corruption Case RCS Corruption Case

AAPCorruption Case Widehouse Scandal

NHRC Case at UN HRC IAS Group Corruption Case

CPGRAMS Cases PGMS Cases

IAS Corruption Record UNCAC Petition

Delhi Police Case DoPTProcesses

RCS RTI Violations DDACorruption Case

Petitions and Representations by Rakesh Raman. Up to January 2023

Appeal for Donations

As I have launched a comprehensive research project to compile an exclusive report on corruption in India, you are requested to support this project financially with your donations. You can click here to know more about this project and details for donations.

ThankYou. Rakesh Raman

February2019

About the Editor

The editor of The Integrity Bulletin news magazine Rakesh Ramanisanational award-winning journalist and founder of the humanitarian organization RMN Foundation. Besides working at senior editorial positions with leading media companies, he was writing an exclusive edit-page column regularly for The FinancialExpress(adailybusinessnewspaperofTheIndianExpressGroup).

Nowadays, for the past 12 years, he has been running his own global news services on multiple news sites. He runs various environment protection, education awareness, and anti-corruptioncampaigns,andpublishesdigitalmagazinesandresearchreportsondifferent subjects. Earlier, he had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businessesusetechnologyforbrandmarketingandbusinessdevelopment.

Atpresent,RakeshisassociatedwiththeVarietiesofDemocracy(V-Dem)ProjectasaCountry ExpertforIndiatoprovideexpertresearchinputsonmultipletopicspertainingtodemocracy and governance. The V-Dem Project is managed by V-Dem Institute under the University of Gothenburg,Sweden.Currently,heisalsoworkingasaneditorforWikipedia,whichisafree onlineglobalencyclopedia

Donate: You can click here to donate to RMN News Service.

In order to inform the Indian citizens and the global community about the extent of corruption in India, he compiled and released in October 2022 a comprehensive report on corruption in the country. Under the title “India Corruption Research Report 2022 (ICRR 2022),”theresearchreportcoversdiverseaspectsofcorruptioninIndia.

Advertising and Marketing Options on RMN News Sites

Raman Media Network (RMN) Company has been working in diversified content creation, management, and distribution businesses on a global scale for the past 12 years. Among other content-based activities, the company runs 4 global news sites and produces digital magazines and research reports on different subjects. RMN Company offers various advertising and marketing options to companies, organizations, and brands in all parts of the world.

You can click here to study the details.

He has launched a nationwide campaign to introduce social democracy inIndiainorderto build an egalitarian society in which all citizens could enjoy equal rights, opportunities, freedoms,andaccesstojustice.Heisrunninganeditorialsection/microsite“PowerPlay:Lok SabhaElection2024inIndia”tocovertheelectionnews,events,andpoliticalcampaigns.He is also running a nationwide campaign to save school students of India from directionless educationsothatstudentscouldacquiremodernskillsthatcanhelptheminthejobmarket.

He runs a community-driven anti-corruption social service “Clean House” to help the residents of Delhi raise their voice against the growing corruption and injustice in housing societieswheremillionsofpeoplesufferbecauseoframpantcorruptionandlawlessness He hasalsoformedanenvironmentprotectiongroupcalledGreenGroupinNewDelhi,whichis themostpollutednationalcapitalintheworld.

As Rakesh has been facing constant threats including death threats for his editorial and anti-corruption work, the Paris-based international organization Reporters Without Borders

(RSF)thatdefendsfreedomofjournalistshasurgedtheIndiangovernmenttosavehimfrom threatsandpersecution.Youcanclickheretoreadhisfullprofile.

AboutTheIntegrityBulletinProject

The Integrity Bulletin content project is being managed by RMN Foundation, which is the humanitarianinitiativeofRMNNewsService.TheIntegrityBulletinnewsmagazineisbeing circulated among the top UN agencies, globalanti-corruptionorganizations,international law-enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, lawmakers, social activists, politicians,andothersinIndiaandabroad.

As the founder of RMN Foundation and editor of RMN News Service, I am managing this projectindependentlywithoutanyfinancialorothersupport.RMNNewsServiceislooking forcollaboratorsacrosstheworldwhocanjoinhandswithittocarryoutmajorcampaigns andprojectstoengagewithdifferentstakeholdersintheanti-corruptiondomain.