VVIP chopper case: Delhi HC junks ED plea to revoke Rajiv Saxena’s pardon

The Dubai-based businessman was extradited to India on January 31 last year in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore alleged scam related to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea seeking revocation of the pardon granted to businessmen and accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena in AgustaWestland chopper deal case. Justice C. Hari Shankar, upholding Saxena approver status, said, “Resultantly, I find myself in agreement with the view, expressed by the learned Special Judge, that, before the recording of his statement under Section 306 (4) of the Cr PC, the application, of the petitioner (ED), as preferred before him, was not maintainable.”

The court noted that a preliminary objection had been advanced by Saxena’s counsel RK Handoo that the CrPC does not contemplate “revocation of pardon”. Handoo has said that pardon, once granted, can neither be revoked nor withdrawn or cancelled.ALSO READ: AgustaWestland case: CBI court lets ED further interrogate Christian Michel

“Strictly speaking, this contention may be correct; however, certain judicial decisions have referred to revocation of pardon, once tendered under Section 306 of the Cr PC, following the issuance of certificate, by the Public Prosecutor under Section 308 (1). Interestingly, Ratanlal and Dhirajlal, too, in their “The Code of Criminal Procedure” – which has, with the passage of time, become a classic of sorts – specifically refer to “revocation of pardon”. In any event, the impugned order, dated 5th March, 2020, does not reject the application, of the petitioner, on the ground that no concept of “revocation of pardon” exists in law, but proceeds to hold that the application was not maintainable, as no statement, of the respondent, had been recorded, before moving the application,” the court said…Read More

Drug controller cracks whip on e-pharmacies selling drugs without licences

Last December the Delhi High Court had said online sale of medicines without a licence was injuncted, and had instructed the government to ensure that the same was prohibited forthwith

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has sent a directive to the state drug regulators to take “necessary action” in accordance with the Delhi High Court’s order of December 2018 that barred online sales of medicines without a licence.

At present, no licence is issued for online pharmacies as such as there are no comprehensive rules to regulate the sector. E-pharmacies follow the marketplace model whereby they operate through a licensed medicine retailer partner to service a prescription or order that they have generated through their online platform. Sources in the government said if the current model was allowed to continue, then what was the need to have rules to regulate the space.

“The draft rules to regulate online pharmacies were released last year, but are yet to be notified. Until they are notified, the e-pharmacy model cannot be allowed to operate,” said a senior government official. A group of ministers (GoM) had recently met to discuss regulations for e-pharmacies.

The industry feels otherwise. Senior executives of leading e-pharmacies in the country said they would wait until the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) issued a formal notification saying that the current model of servicing customers through generating prescriptions online would not be allowed….click here

Rs 740-cr fraud: Ranbaxy ex-promoters Malvinder, Shivinder Singh arrested

The misappropriation came to light after an independent forensic audit was conducted by the new board

In an unprecedented development, two industrialist brothers Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, former promoters of the erstwhile pharma giant Ranbaxy and till recently counted among the richest businessmen of the country, were arrested on Thursday for alleged fraud.

While the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police arrested Shivinder Mohan Singh early in the day in a case of fraud and misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 740 crore linked to Religare Finvest, his elder brother Malvinder Mohan Singh was also taken into custody hours later. Both were former promoters of Religare, Fortis Healthcare and Ranbaxy.

The police were on the lookout for Malvinder Singh through the day, according to sources in the know. Sunil Godhwani, former managing director of Religare, as well as two other key executives Kavi Arora and Anil Saxena, have also been arrested, a statement issued by the EOW said.

“The alleged persons having absolute control on Religare Enterprises Limited (REL) and its subsidiaries put Religare Finvest Limited (RFL) in poor financial condition by way of distributing the loans to the companies having no financial standing and controlled by the alleged persons. These companies wilfully defaulted on repayments, causing a loss to RFL to the tune of Rs 2,397 crore,” the EOW said while confirming the arrests.

The EOW action followed a complaint filed by Religare Finvest, a subsidiary of Religare Enterprises. Religare Finvest had last December filed a criminal complaint against the Singh brothers, Godhwani and others for cheating, fraud and misappropriation of company funds to the tune of Rs 740 crore…

Chidambaram faces arrest after Delhi HC denies him anticipatory bail

Chidambaram was the finance minister in the United Progressive Alliance government’s first term when INX Media’s FIPB proposal was cleared

The Delhi High Court (HC) on Tuesday denied anticipatory bail and protection from immediate arrest to former finance minister P Chidambaram in a case related to alleged discrepancies in granting Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearances to the INX Media group.

Late in the evening, officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided Chidambaram’s residence in Jor Bagh here, but the Congress leader was not present. Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, too, came searching for him.

After the high court denied relief to Chidambaram, he met Congress leaders and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid in the Supreme Court to deliberate on the further course of action. Based on the directions of a Supreme Court official, the former finance minister is likely to seek an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court in the matter on Wednesday. Following the development, Chidambaram stayed away from the media, even as the Congress called the probe agencies’ action against him a “political vendetta”.

1984 riots case: Delhi HC sentences Cong leader Sajjan Kumar to life term

The judgment was pronounced on the appeal challenging the Congress leader’s acquittal

Latest News: The Delhi High Court on Monday convicted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The court asked Kumar to surrender before December 31 and imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on him.Today’s verdict reversed the 2013 trial court judgment which had acquitted Sajjan Kumar. While pronouncing the judgment the judge observed, “In the, summer of 1947, during partition several people were massacred. 37 years later Delhi was the witness of a similar tragedy. They accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial.”

The judgment was pronounced on the appeal challenging the Congress leader’s acquittal. On October 29 the Delhi High Court had reserved the order in the case after the culmination of arguments. “We welcome the judgement, however we hoped for a death sentence for Sajjan Kumar,” said BJP’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa…

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Dera chief Ram Rahim's 'girl' Honeypreet captured by Haryana Police

Honeypreet said she had slipped into depression after Ram Rahim's conviction

 

Following a month-long look for imprisoned Dera Sacha Sauda boss Gurmeet Ram Rahim's "received" little girl Honeypreet Insan, Haryana Police on Tuesday captured her.

Honeypreet, alongside another lady, was captured by the Haryana Police from the Zirakpur-Patiala street in Punjab, said Panchkula Police Commissioner A S Chawla.

Honeypreet tops the rundown of 43 individuals 'needed' by the Haryana Police regarding the episodes of brutality that left 41 individuals dead and a few harmed following Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction in assault cases.

Conversing with media people at Panchkula, Chawla stated, "She has been arrested by SIT in-control (Mukesh Kumar) from Zirakpur-Patiala street in Punjab. She is being conveyed to Panchkula for addressing regarding the occurrences of brutality".

"Her role in the violence (after Ram Rahim's conviction on August 25) will be probed...who provided her shelter or support during her run from police will also be produced. She will be produced before a court (in Panchkula) tomorrow and we will seek her police remand," Chawla said.

Chawla also said that another woman who was accompanying her was also taken into custody.

He said Punjab Police has been educated about the capture.

Honeypreet's capture came hours after she showed up on two private TV channels.

While addressing a Hindi news channel, Honeypreet said that false news was being spread about her association with her received father and depicted the bond she imparted to the Dera boss as "devout"....READ MORE