Latest news with #Prakash
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
BJP MLA files complaint after row over Vande Bharat seat: Police
A dispute over a seat on the Bhopal-bound Vande Bharat Express between BJP MLA Rajeev Singh Parichha and a 50-year-old passenger escalated on Friday after purported photos and videos of the injured passenger surfaced on social media. Police said the alleged incident happened on Thursday when Raj Prakash, a Bhopal resident, declined to exchange his seat with the MLA. It is alleged that the MLA's aides later assaulted Prakash, police said. While Parichha has filed a police complaint, no complaint has been filed by Prakash so far. Parichha was not available for comment.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Another ex-IAS officer arrested in Jharkhand liquor ‘scam' case
The Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested retired IAS officer and former excise commissioner Amit Prakash in connection with its investigation into the Jharkhand liquor scam Tuesday — its sixth arrest in the case. Prakash, who was produced before an ACB court Tuesday and was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, served as the managing director of the Jharkhand State Beverages Corporation Limited (JSBCL) and retired from service on December 31, 2024. He is the second IAS officer to be arrested in the case after former principal secretary and ex-JSBCL Managing Director Vinay Kumar Choubey. This comes after the ACB had arrested Vinay Kumar Choubey and Joint Commissioner of Excise Gajendra Singh on May 20 after the agency registered an FIR alleging irregularities in awarding contracts to placement agencies using fake bank guarantees. The FIR claims that the exchequer suffered a loss of Rs 38 crore due to the alleged fraud. According to the ACB, Prakash, as excise commissioner, had the authority to encash bank guarantees from placement agencies to recover dues for JSBCL but took no action. He was allegedly evasive during questioning. On May 21 – a day after Choubey's arrest — three others, JSBCL's former General Manager (Finance) Sudhir Kumar Das, former GM (Finance and Operations) Sudhir Kumar, and Neeraj Kumar Singh, a local representative of the placement agency Marshan, were arrested in the case. According to the ACB, in November 2024, Prakash authorised payments of over Rs 11 crore to two liquor supply companies from Chhattisgarh Dishita Ventures and Om Sai Beverages without informing the excise minister. The payments, for dues pending since 2022, were allegedly made despite four Chhattisgarh-based placement agencies – which ACB claims are part of the same syndicate — being blacklisted and owing nearly Rs 450 crore to the Jharkhand government. The state has approached the Supreme Court to recover the amount. The ACB claims these payments were cleared just a month before Prakash's retirement. DGP Anurag Gupta – chief of the Jharkhand ACB – did not respond to calls and texts for a comment. Meanwhile, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the CBI's intervention in the matter, claiming that they warned the public and the state government about the scam in 2022. Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Apex court denies anticipatory bail to Haryana ‘dunki' agent
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant pre-arrest bail to a man accused of acting as a facilitator in an illegal immigration racket, popularly known as 'dunki', observing that such acts not only involve serious offences but also diminish the global value of Indian passports and harm the interests of genuine citizens. A bench of justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan was hearing a plea filed by Om Parkash, who is facing prosecution under several serious charges, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, trafficking and intimidation. 'This is a very serious offence… Such incidents lower the standing of Indian passports internationally. They also adversely affect genuine people,' remarked the bench, dismissing the plea against the Punjab and Haryana high court's order denying him anticipatory bail. The top court said there were 'very serious allegations' against the petitioner. In an FIR filed by Haryana police Prakash was accused of aiding the main accused, an immigration agent who promised to send the complainant to the United States through legitimate channels for a payment of ₹43 lakh. However, the complainant was routed through Dubai, taken to multiple countries, smuggled through the forests of Panama, and eventually pushed across the US-Mexico border on February 1, 2025. The ordeal ended with the complainant being arrested by US authorities, imprisoned and deported to India on February 16, 2025. Following this, the accused allegedly demanded an additional ₹22 lakh from the complainant's father, taking the total extorted amount to ₹65 lakh. In April, the Punjab and Haryana HC denied anticipatory bail to Prakash, taking note of the deposition by the complainant's father that directly implicated him in the fraud. The court also cited the petitioner's prior criminal history and said the case was in its 'nascent stage', warranting a thorough investigation.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Substandard BT Road in Gadwal Triggers Corruption Allegations: Youth Group Demands Action
Gadwal: Substandard 5 km BT road laid below the Mucchonipally Reservoir in Gattu Mandal using just a paper-thin layer of tar – Allegation of Corruption – Macherla Prakash, District President, All India Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham Jogulamba Gadwal District, Gattu Mandal – Macherla Prakash, the District President of the All India Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham, has alleged that a blacktop (BT) road laid over 5 kilometers below the Mucchonipally reservoir in Gattu mandal was constructed with poor quality material. The road, according to him, has been built using a thin 'paper layer' of bitumen, indicating gross negligence and corruption. He demanded that both the contractor responsible for the construction and the officials who failed in their supervisory duties be booked under relevant legal provisions. Prakash pointed out that across the Gadwal constituency, substandard roads — including BT and CC (cement concrete) roads — are being laid frequently, reflecting systemic corruption and misuse of public funds. He urged the District Collector of Gadwal to respond immediately and take stringent action against the culprits. He further stated that a formal complaint will be submitted to the Collector during tomorrow's public grievance hearing (Praja Vani). Participants: The protest and press meet included participation from Puttaprasad, Krupakar, Mark Praveen, among others. Overview: A wave of public concern has emerged in Gattu Mandal of Jogulamba Gadwal district following revelations that a 5-kilometer blacktop (BT) road laid under the Mucchonipally Reservoir is of substandard quality. The issue was brought to light by the All India Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham, led by its district president, Macherla Prakash. Allegations: The road was allegedly constructed with just a "paper-thin" layer of bitumen. Public funds meant for infrastructure were misused. There is suspicion of corruption by the contractor. Officials failed to enforce construction standards or supervise adequately... Macherla Prakash emphasized that this is not an isolated incident. He claimed that across the Gadwal constituency, such substandard road works are common — especially in rural mandals — where contractors, with or without collusion from local officials, allegedly execute works that visibly deteriorate within months. Demands: 1. Immediate registration of criminal cases against the contractor. 2. Legal action against government officials who failed in their supervisory responsibilities. 3. An independent quality audit of the newly constructed road. 4. Prompt action from the District Collector. 5. Use of quality materials and proper thickness as per government norms in future road projects. Public Impact: The poor condition of rural roads affects: Commuters and transport services — especially during monsoon. Farmers who rely on these roads for market access. School-going children and emergency services (ambulances, etc.). Such substandard work not only puts lives at risk but also signifies a breach of trust between the government and citizens. Next Steps: Prakash announced that his organization will submit a formal complaint during the Praja Vani (Public Grievance Day) to be held tomorrow. They also plan to mobilize the local public if no action is taken within a reasonable time. Political Implications: This complaint comes at a time when the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government is under pressure to uphold transparency and curb corruption. Public grievances like this, if not resolved swiftly, could dent the administration's credibility, especially in rural development initiatives. Conclusion: The allegations from the All India Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham demand immediate and unbiased inquiry. If substantiated, strong punitive action must be taken to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in infrastructure development. Note: The district administration has yet to issue an official response. Further developments are awaited.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India Space Congress to begin on June 25 in Delhi; bring together policymakers, industry leaders
Policymakers, diplomats and industry leaders from several countries will gather here for the fourth edition of the India Space Congress (ISC) on June 25 to deliberate on the advances and challenges in the nascent but burgeoning private space sector in the country. The three-day event, organized by the Satcom Industry Association-India, is expected to see participation from 40 countries including Italy, Norway, Australia, and Hungary, the organisers said. "ISC 2025 will serve as a matchmaking hub for institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms keen to tap into India's expanding space economy, projected to reach USD 44 billion by 2033," Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India , said in a statement here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Belly Fat Removal Without Surgery in India: The Price Might Surprise You Belly Fat Removal | Search Ads Get Info Undo The theme for the three-day conference is 'Pioneering Innovation in Space Tech: India's Journey Towards Global Partnerships'. A special US-India roundtable will focus on accelerating innovation and collaboration through emerging opportunities to assess India's progress in extending Earth Observation solutions to the Global South for shared prosperity, further cementing international cooperation, Prakash said. Live Events "The discussions will also spotlight curated defence sessions and India's space contribution to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), especially in light of present geopolitical challenges ," said Subbarao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India.
