Cops seek speaker’s sanction to prosecute Kripa for corruption

Mumbai police write to Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil to invoke the Prevention of Corruption Act against the beleaguered Cong leader

The Mumbai Police has sought the Assembly speaker’s permission to prosecute senior Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, three months after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking stay on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations.

The Supreme Court had in September directed Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh, who is heading the SIT, to submit a final report or a closure report before a trial court in Mumbai.

Police wrote to Dilip Walse-Patil, the Assembly speaker last week, seeking sanction to proceed against Kalina MLA Singh, who resigned as the city Congress chief last year following allegations of corruption. The Prevention of Corruption Act demands that the investigating agency seeks prosecution sanction from the controlling authority of any public servant against whom it intends to proceed.

According to the Mumbai Police sources, the SIT probe revealed that Singh amassed assets around 20 per cent more that his sources of income.

Satyapal Singh and Walse-Patil remained unavailable for comment, but police sources said a watertight case has been prepared against Singh. “Police have sought permission to prosecute a senior politician, which proves the cops have a strong case,” a source said.

Kripa Shankar Singh’s troubles started in 2010, when activist Sanjay Tiwari filed a complaint against the politician with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Not satisfied with the ACB probe, Tiwari filed a public interest litigation in the High Court, which directed the then Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to register an offence. Kripa Shankar challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, which didn't stay the probe but started monitoring the investigation.

THE ALLEGATIONS
Tiwari alleged in his PIL that Kripa Shankar was close to former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, an accused in the multi-crore hawala scam and other corruption cases.

Kripa Shankar’s son Narendra is married to Ankita, daughter of Kamlesh Singh, who was a minister in the Koda-led Cabinet. The PIL alleged that Ankita received Rs 1.75 crore from Kamlesh's bank account, and that there were huge transactions from the bank accounts of Kripa Shankar's wife Malti too.

The PIL, which Kripa Shankar termed “politically motivated”, said that the Congress leader bought a number of properties in a span of just two years (between 2004 and 2006).

In November 2009, Mumbai Mirror revealed thataNaviMumbaipropertyworthRs25crore, in the name of Kripa Shankar's wife, was not mentioned in the affidavit declaring his assets ahead of the 2009 Assembly elections.

The purchase agreement was signed by the power of attorney holder, a constable named Vishnukant Shukla (how does a constable hold the power of attorney for a plot worth Rs 25 crore bought by the Congress leader's wife in 2004, Mumbai Mirror, November 17, 2009).

Kripa Shankar is also accused of not declaring two plots co-owned by his wife, and a duplex apartment in Vile Parle, bought in the name of his wife and son, to which he said the apartment was bought by his son and that his wife's ownership was only nominal.
Courtesy:
Abhijit.Sathe @timesgroup.com TWEET @_abhijit_sathe
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Madhu Koda Scam : Bastawade got money via hawala

Ranchi: Anil Adinath Bastawade, a key aide of jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, appeared before a special court here on Wednesday and was remanded in 14 days’ judicial custody.

Bastawade, who had a red corner notice against him by the Interpol, was detained by the Indonesian police on January 21, in Jakarta and later handed over to Enforcement Directorate officials. He was brought to Delhi from Jakarta on Tuesday evening and sent to Ranchi on transit remand.

Bastawade was presented before the prevention of money laundering Act (PMLA) court of R K Choudhary. Appearing on behalf of ED, counsel S R Das said Vastavade was wanted along with Koda and 14 others, and a notice for appearing before the court was pending against him since January 25, 2012. Bastawade has been charged with receiving money from Koda through hawala channel and investing it in real estate and mining projects in foreign countries.

According to ED sources, when Koda was CM between 2006 and 2008, around Rs 3,500 crore was invested within and outside the country to legalize his illegitimately acquired wealth. Bastawade is accused of investing around Rs 250 crore in foreign projects. “The exact volume of money acquired by Bastawade through hawala and other channels to be invested in offshore projects is being calculated by the ED which is likely to run into hundreds of crores,” Das said.

Bastawade pleaded ignorance about the charges and told the court that he was not aware of the charges and how he was linked with Koda and his scam. He, however, conceded that he owns six apartments. His counsel Anshuman Sinha said they would be applying for bail and contest ED’s claims.

“In a case against Amar Singh and others in Uttar Pradesh, the ED has stated that unless other agencies complete their investigations, the directorate is not going to go ahead with the investigation of PLMA charges,” he said.
Courtesy:
Jaideep Deogharia TNN
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