Fakes take Flight at Srinagar Airport

Srinagar land scam: Over hundred acres of airfield sold
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: July 23, 2011 12:32 IST
Srinagar: Shocking as it may sound, India's most security-sensitive airfield the Srinagar Air Force Station and International Airport has been on sale for four years, and till recently nobody knew about it!

NDTV has exclusive documents that show bit by bit more than 100 acres of the 2,300-acre airfield has been sold to private players by land sharks who bribed their way through the Defence Estates Office and the government's Revenue Department.

These corrupt officials cleared sale agreements in such a zone that could easily fall prey to cross-border terror; selling off pieces of an area, ironically, we are not even allowed to enter.

A R Hanjura, a lawyer, bought 1.5 acres of this land in Naaru Village in 2008. He bought it from Mrs. Fazi, who claimed to be the previous landlord, and had the papers to show for it.

Mr Hanjura says these were Revenue Department records that confirmed the land was still in Mrs Fazi's name, even though the area was being used by the Defence.

Mr Hanjura was told once the plot is his he could claim rent from the Defence.

The sale was cleared by the Defence Estates Office in Srinagar, whose permission was mandatory, since the plot fell in an area under its use.

It was also verified by the Revenue Department that it belonged to Mrs Fazi and not the Defence Ministry. Mr Hanjura bought the plot at a pittance for Rs. 20,000 which he thought to be a bargain, till he was told it was a fraudulent sale of Defence land.

According to documents with NDTV, at least 60 buyers like Mr Hanjura risked purchasing village land, right inside the airfield since 2008, hoping for a rent from the Defence.

They drew assurance from the fact that a Defence Office okayed the purchases.

"I have been deceived. I have obtained a no-objection certificate from the Defence Estates Office. That way it was perfect for me to purchase this land," said A. R. Hanjura, man who bought plot in Srinagar airfield.

NDTV has accessed many of these No-Objection Certificates, issued by the previous Defence Estates Officer Ajay Chowdhary.

It claims that the plots were neither acquired nor requisitioned nor hired by the Defence Ministry.

Blatantly contradicting these documents that show the Defence Ministry acquired this whole area, all 2,300 acres, way back in the 50s and the 60s.

The catch: Only 500 acres of these acquisitions have been updated in the revenue records of the state till today because of red tape and inefficiency in both the Defence and Revenue offices.

"The Revenue Department does not give any documents required unless they get no-objection, requisite clearance from the Defence Estates Office. Once they give no objection, that means all encumbrances are ruled out," said Rafi Ahmad Deputy Commissioner and Collector, Budgam District.

The Srinagar Defence Estates now under a new officer has challenged petitions of five buyers who demanded rent. Alternately they were asked to vacate the land.

The Defence has argued these petitions be dismissed, since the purchase of these plots is a scam. It has also stopped issuing NOCs pertaining to any land sale in the area.

This is along the lines of the Adarsh Scam in Mumbai, which exposed the collusion between Defence and government officials, trying to make a profit from sale of properties occupied by the Defence. Only in this case the stakes and dangers of such a sale are much higher.
Srinagar land scam: Over hundred acres of airfield sold

Barkha Dutt Nira Radia: Shocking Relevations

'Radia tapes threat to India's growth story' CNN-IBN
Posted on Dec 12, 2010 at 10:40
New Delhi: The Nira Radia tapes controversy is worrying not just corporates like Ratan Tata but other corporate as well. HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh says they are only generating negativity which threatens to derail the India’s growth story.

The Radia tapes threaten India's growth story, says HDFC Chairman. The HDFC Chairman has come out with his views and expressed anxieties in an interview to ‘The Indian Express’.

Parekh said the recent slew of scandals has hit the image of brand India and could hurt business. His comments come at a time when 800 more conversations that allegedly expose a corporate-government nexus have been uncovered.
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In one conversation, Niira Radia described Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief Karunanidhi as a "totally confused man." Radia describes his dilemma between his daughter, Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi, and wife.In a conversation with Tarun Das, the former head of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Radia said that Congress should talk to DMK only through Kanimozhi, who has more influence on Karunanidhi. Another shocking truth was that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also used to convey his messages through Kanimozhi rather Dayanidhi Maran.
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MHA Director Internal Security breaches National Security

IAS officer held for selling info to corporates
CNN-IBN Posted on Nov 22, 2010 at 23:06
New Delhi: Delhi Police arrested Ravi Inder Singh, a senior IAS officer posted in the Home Ministry, for allegedly selling information to corporates. He was the officer handling the MHA's talks with BlackBerry.

Singh was arrested this evening in Delhi under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Singh was under surveillance for over one month.
Inder Singh is accused of leaking information of commercial interest to a few telecom companies, related to full number portability, which comes into effect in Wednesday starting with Haryana.
The raids took place after the Ministry filed a complaint against him over doubts that he leaked what they call "information of commercial value"
Ravi Inder Singh, a 1994 West Bengal cadre IAS officer, is Director, Internal Security at the Home Ministry.
Inder Singh was under surveillance for a month. His residence and office were also raised. Inder Singh is Director, Internal Security at the Home Ministry.
IAS officer held for selling info to corporates