HARTFORD, CT (TIP): Two students–one from Wanaparthy in Telangana and another from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh–were found dead in their Connecticut accommodation, a family member said on Monday, January 15. The students were identified as G Dinesh (22) from Wanaparthy in Telangana and Nikesh (21) from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
Family members of the Telangana student are clueless about the cause of his death and also of his roommate’s.
“Dinesh’s friends who live in a nearby room called us on Saturday night and informed us about his death and his roommate’s. We have no clue as to how he died,” Dinesh’s family members said.
According to a family member, Dinesh went to Hartford, Connecticut in the US for higher studies on December 28, 2023, while Nikesh reached a few days later.
Incidentally, they were mutual friends of some common friends and became roommates after going to the US.
A member of Dinesh’s family noted that they have sought the help of Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to bring back Dinesh’s mortal remains.
Wanaparthy MLA Megha Reddy has also chipped in to help bring back Dinesh’s body. He called on the family members of the deceased student and comforted them.
Further, a member of Dinesh’s family said they had no contact with Nikesh’s family members as the two went to the US only recently.
Similarly, even the Srikakulam district administration does not have any information on Nikesh yet.
Srikakulam Police Special Branch DSP K Balaraju noted that even the district collectorate did not receive information on Nikesh or his family members.
Expressing grief over the death of the student, Wanaparthy MLA T Megha Reddy met the deceased student’s family members in Wanaparthy town and conveyed his condolences.
The MLA spoke to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy with regard to bringing the student’s dead body to India from the United States.
The Chief Minister responded positively and stated that arrangements would be made to bring back the body to his native place.
The student from Wanarpathy had gone to US on December 28, 2023 for higher studies, the MLA was informed.
Tag: Indian-Origin
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Two Indian students found dead in Connecticut under suspicious circumstances
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Sixteen Indian Americans elected fellows of National Academy of Inventors 2023 Class
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): As many as 16 Indian American inventors figure among 162 academic inventors in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2023 Class of Fellows. Election as an Academy Fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.
The 2023 class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the NAI 13th Annual Meeting on June 18, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Indian American inventors in the list are: Arvind Agarwal, Florida International University; Sanjoy Banerjee, City University of New York; Ashok Gadgil, University of California, Berkeley; Balakrishna Haridas, Texas A&M University; M. N. V. Ravi Kumar, The University of Alabama; Prashant Kumta, University of Pittsburgh; Prashant Mali, University of California, San Diego; Dinesh Manocha, University of Maryland, College Park; Arumugam Manthiram, The University of Texas at Austin; Seemantini Nadkarni, Massachusetts General Hospital; Jagjit Nanda, Stanford University; Ravindra Pandey, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York; Niketa Patel, University of South Florida; Anil Sood, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Srinivas Sridhar, Northeastern University; and Karthikeyan Sundaresan, Georgia Institute of Technology.
The 2023 class of Fellows represents NAI’s foundational and continuing commitment to diversifying innovation on all levels, with underrepresented inventors comprising 33% of this year’s class, according to a media release.
This year’s class also showcases regional diversity with Fellows representing 35 US states and 10 countries, exemplifying the Academy’s belief that great innovators can be found everywhere.
“This year’s class of NAI Fellows showcases the caliber of researchers that are found within the innovation ecosystem. Each of these individuals are making significant contributions to both science and society through their work,” said Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI.
“This new class, in conjunction with our existing Fellows, are creating innovations that are driving crucial advancements across a variety of disciplines and are stimulating the global and national economy in immeasurable ways as they move these technologies from lab to marketplace. We are honored to welcome these highly regarded innovators to the Academy and look forward to formally inducting them at our 2024 Annual Conference in the Research Triangle of North Carolina.”
The 2023 Fellow class hails from 118 research universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide. This class includes 89 individuals from the Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions and 128 individuals from R1 universities that boast very high research activity.
Collectively, the 2023 Fellows hold over 4,600 issued U.S. patents. This year’s class includes 2 Nobel Laureates, 3 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees, 22 members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and individuals holding other honors and distinctions as well as senior leadership from universities and research institutions.
Their work spans across disciplines and exemplifies their dedication and inspiration to translating research into commercial technologies that benefit society, the release stated.
Since its inception in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 1,898 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 63,000 US patents and 13,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3 trillion in revenue and generated one million jobs. -
Indian man gets 4 years jail, six strokes of cane for molesting British woman: Report
SINGAPORE (TIP): A 25-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to four years of jail and six strokes of the cane for molesting a British woman at a night club in Singapore in 2022, according to a media report on Friday.
The incident happened in August 2022 when Erugula Eswara Reddy, who is in Singapore on a student pass, met the victim at a Turf Club road restaurant while she was intoxicated and waiting for her friends, The Straits Times reported. Taking advantage of the situation, Reddy forcibly lifted the victim from the chair and took her to a nearby field even though she constantly kept asking him to let her go.
He then molested the victim, laid her on the ground and undressed himself, the report said.
However, one of the male friends of the woman who was searching for her reached the spot after he heard screams of the victim calling for help. The victim’s friend on reaching the spot saw that Reddy was naked with the partially dressed victim lying face up and weeping. The friend then alerted the police. Officers arrived at the scene to arrest the offender. During the hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor John Lu told the court, “While Reddy was forcibly taking the victim to the field, she constantly told him to stop and stay away from her”.
Reddy took away the mobile phone and molested the woman before undressing himself.
On Friday, Lu urged the court to sentence Reddy to four years’ jail and six strokes of the cane, adding, “During his interaction with the victim, the accused must have noticed that the victim was drunk, alone, and vulnerable, which is why the accused chose to take advantage of her.”
For committing the offence, Reddy could have been jailed for two to 10 years and caned.
(Source: PTI) -
Indian American official Sanjay Virmani to lead FBI counterterrorism division in DC
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): : Sanjay Virmani, a senior Indian American FBI official, has been named the special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Counterterrorism Division of the Washington Field Office by Director Christopher Wray.
He most recently served as deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC, according to an FBI press release.
Virmani joined the FBI as a special agent in 2003 and was assigned to the San Francisco Field Office where he worked on cyber and counterterrorism matters. In 2007, he was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Counterterrorism Division.
In 2010, he was selected as the supervisory special agent to lead the San Francisco Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in the Oakland Resident Agency. In that role, he led a squad of agents, analysts, and task force officers working on international terrorism investigations.
In 2013, Virmani was selected to serve as Director of the INTERPOL Digital Crime Center at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. In this role, he led the directorate in providing operational support to INTERPOL’s 190 member countries to address cybercrime threats.
In 2016, Virmani returned to FBI Headquarters as a unit chief of the Cyberterrorism unit, which was focused on identifying, obtaining intelligence on, and disrupting cyberterrorists and their networks globally.
In 2018, he was promoted to assistant section chief of the Counterterrorism Division’s Internet Operations Section, where he worked to foster partnerships within the US intelligence community and with international partners. In 2018, he also returned to the San Francisco Field Office as the supervisory special agent of the Private Sector Engagement squad, then was promoted to assistant special agent in charge over the Cyber Branch.
In 2021, Virmani returned to the Counterterrorism Division as section chief of the Strategic Partner Engagement Section, where he oversaw the FBI’s liaison efforts with the law enforcement community, US interagency, and private sector partners on counterterrorism-related matters.
In 2022, he served as the acting special agent in charge of the Tampa Field Office. The same year, he was promoted to deputy assistant director in the Counterterrorism Division.
He earned a bachelor’s in industrial engineering from California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and received a master’s in business administration from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. -
Indian American community leader Tara Sreekrishnan running for California State Assembly
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Indian American community leader Tara Sreekrishnan, currently serving on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, is running for California State Assembly from District 26.
“Silicon Valley fosters innovation and attracts the world’s brightest,” she stated announcing her run. “I believe in Silicon Valley, yet it’s crucial to acknowledge the challenges our residents face: housing affordability, climate change, traffic congestion, and an education system that needs strengthening.”
“Addressing these challenges – and spending tax dollars efficiently and effectively – is why I’m running for State Assembly,” Sreekrishnan added.
Sreekrishnan, 30, has served on the county board of education since 2021. She currently serves as state Sen Dave Cortese’s deputy chief of staff and legislative director. She was previously Cortese’s chief of staff when he was a county supervisor.
She is also the co-founder of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action—a nonprofit that seeks to combat climate change through education and public policy initiatives.
Sreekrishnan is endorsed by State Sen. Dave Cortese, state Sen. Nancy Skinner, Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Cupertino community leader Mahesh Nihlani, Ajay Bhutoria, White House Commissioner on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Affairs, among others.
“As a child of immigrants growing up here, I benefited from the diversity and energy in this District,” she states on her website. “With an aim to pay it forward, I founded a non-profit organization that has empowered hundreds of students across Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale to actively engage in the environmental sciences and conservation.”
“Connecting good schools to jobs of the future is why I serve our children as a Trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education – overseeing 270,000 students and balancing a budget of $300 million. I earned the confidence of our families and was re-elected in 2022,” Sreekrishnan stated.
“With professional experience across all levels of local government – school district, city, county, and state – I’ve written and passed legislation that developed housing for the homeless, modernized our schools, curbed youth drug overdoses, and expanded job training and apprenticeship programs,” she added.
“I’m running for Assembly because I understand what it takes to make California financially responsible, improve our education system so that our children have future career opportunities, and to make sure our communities are safe, clean and affordable,” Sreekrishnan stated.
Her inspiration for public service came from her immigrant parents: they taught her the value of education and to give back to her community, according to her website.
She carries on the legacy of her mother, who worked hard in our schools as a librarian and volunteer fundraiser. Tara herself is a former piano teacher at a Cupertino music academy.
Sreekrishnan graduated from Mills College, the oldest women’s college on the West Coast. After college, she set out to work as a community and political organizer for grassroots campaigns in the community and across the Bay Area. -
Indian-origin man, his girlfriend sentenced for their “wicked conspiracy” in London
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin man and his partner have been sentenced for breaking into gym lockers and stealing bank cards to pay for their lavish lifestyles in southeast London.
Ashley Singh (39) and Sophie Bruyea (20) of Widmore Road in Bromley, would visit gyms and rifle through victims’ lockers as they got busy in their workouts, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday.
The pair would then max out their victims’ credit cards on expensive tech and designer gear, before selling them on and using the cash to buy bags, shoes, holidays and a pedigree puppy.
The duo was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on January 10 to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between January 2022 and January 2023 with a total value of 250,000 pounds.
Singh was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment while Bruyea received a 20-month sentence at a young offenders’ institute, suspended for two years.
The court also asked her to undergo a rehabilitation program and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
The pair’s spree was noticed by a local officer, who realized there was a pattern and flagged it to detectives who are experts in economic crime.
A Lewisham-based team traced the pair’s phones, cars, and faces on CCTV and linked them all together.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police arrested them at Gatwick Airport on January 27, 2023, as they returned from Paris with 2,000 euros worth of designer goods.
At least 18 people were targeted in what the sentencing judge branded a “wicked conspiracy”.
The judge described the impact the pair’s “wide-ranging spree” had had on people, including instances where people no longer felt safe around strangers, or had suffered professionally due to the stress.
DC Luis Da Silva, from the Met’s economic crime team that investigated this case, said: “We know Londoners are worried about theft. It’s a horrible crime, and it causes a lot of stress, pain, and financial loss. That’s why we take this crime seriously and a whole team of us were committed to catching Singh and Bruyea.
“You couldn’t fail to be moved by the devastating impact their callous behavior had on people, and we hope that by catching them this offers victims a little bit of solace.” He urged anyone who has had something stolen to get in touch and said that the proceeds of the duo’s crimes will be used to help compensate the victims.
There were 18 fraud reports in total, with 14 in the Metropolitan area, one from Sussex, one from Hertfordshire and two reports from Cambridgeshire. -
Indian-origin Singapore lawyer Kasturibai Manickam suspended for falsely attesting documents
SINGAPORE (TIP): An Indian-origin lawyer who falsely attested that she had witnessed the signing of several property-related documents despite those not being signed in her presence was handed a one-year suspension.
The Law Society of Singapore argued for a 30 months’ suspension for Kasturibai Manickam—a lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience—acting for two siblings who were the registered owners of a condominium unit.
However, the Court of Three Judges, led by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, said this was an instance of a “grave error of judgement” rather than a character defect, according to a media report.
There was no dispute that the documents were signed by the intended signatories, Chief Justice Menon said.
Kasturibai’s error was to decide to attest that she witnessed the signing because she knew the parties and thought no harm would ensue, he said.
Santha Devi V Puthenveetil Kesava Pillay and her brother Raman Puthenveetil Kesava Pillay had sold the property in September 2020 to two individuals.
Kasturibai’s firm—East Asia Law Corporation—had acted for the siblings in several matters prior to the sale of the property. Raman’s wife was also a long-time employee of the firm.
In the course of acting for the siblings, Kasturibai prepared six documents for the transaction, all of which were signed by Santha Devi.
Between September 7, 2020, and November 5, 2020, Kasturibai signed as a witness to Santha Devi’s signature, even though the lawyer did not witness the signing.
Five of the documents, including a transfer instrument, were sent to the law firm acting for the purchasers.
Santha Devi later lodged a complaint with the Law Society of Singapore against Kasturibai and a disciplinary tribunal was appointed in May 2022 to formally investigate the matter.
The tribunal’s report, issued in October 2022, did not elaborate on the events leading to the complaint.
During the tribunal hearing, Kasturibai admitted that she signed as a witness to Santha Devi’s signature despite not having witnessed the signing.
Senior Counsel N Sreenivasan, Kasturibai’s lawyer, argued that she did not act for her personal benefit and that her motivation was to help her elderly clients avoid travel during the Covid pandemic.
He also argued that there was very little harm caused as the transaction was legitimate.
The tribunal found that Kasturibai’s act involved an element of dishonesty and constituted grossly improper conduct. The tribunal found that the case was serious enough to be referred to the court, which has the power to suspend or disbar lawyers. During the hearing on January 16, Sreenivasan said Kasturibai wanted to tender her deepest apologies to the court and to the profession.The court allowed the suspension to take effect on March 7 to give Kasturibai time to find another lawyer to take over her files. -
Indian-origin student in London dies after ‘psycho’ Tunisian boyfriend ‘nearly beheads’ her for ‘rejecting him’
LONDON (TIP): A Tunisian national has been locked up indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital for killing and nearly beheading a 19-year-old Indian-origin student at her university accommodation in London in 2022.
Maher Maaroufe, 24, stabbed his girlfriend Sabita Thanwani, an aspiring psychologist, in the neck at Arbour House student flats in Clerkenwell area of London on March 19, 2022.
Appearing before the Old Bailey last year, Maaroufe, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter by means of diminished responsibility, saying he was suffering from schizoaffective disorder at that time.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating an emergency worker.
While sentencing him on Monday, Judge Nigel Lickley KC said Maaroufe carried out the attack during the “height” of a psychotic episode, the media reported. He said Maaroufe had been “aggressive” and “controlling” towards Thanwani during their relationship and hit her at least once, and that his behavior may have been part of his “emerging illness”. “Sabita had her whole life ahead of her. You ended her life. Your actions will continue to cause enduring pain and suffering,” the judge told Maaroufe.
The Old Bailey heard that Maaroufe, who entered the UK legally on an unknown date but had overstayed, was in the process of claiming asylum at the time of the incident. According to the prosecution, during his psychotic episodes, Maaroufe smoked cannabis and thought that Thanwani was a “male devil”.
The evening before the attack, they met outside a mosque and spent time in central London.
After they had returned to Thanwani’s accommodation, other students heard her shouting “stop”, “I can’t breathe” and “I beg you, don’t kill me”, following which emergency services were alerted.
Police saw blood stains around the bed, as well as blankets and duvets on the floor of Thanwani’s room.
She was pronounced dead at the scene at 6 am, and a post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck. Maaroufe was found by police asleep under a tarpaulin in a garden shed, and allegedly head-butted a police officer while trying to evade arrest. Thanwani’s family, in a statement released at the time of her death, described her as “our angel” and said she had a “radiant smile and incredible heart”.
The family described Maaroufe as an “evil, sadistic murderer, his actions were calculated to kill her because she rejected him”. -
Wealthy Indian-origin couple, daughter found dead in US
BOSTON (TIP): A wealthy Indian-origin couple and their teenage daughter were found dead in their USD 5 million mansion in the US state of Massachusetts in an apparent domestic violence incident, according to media reports.
The bodies of Rakesh Kamal (57), his wife Teena (54) and their 18-year-old daughter Ariana were found in their Dover mansion around 7.30 pm on Thursday, Norfolk district attorney Michael Morrissey said.
Teena and her husband, who also went by Rick, had previously run a now-defunct education systems company called EduNova. The district attorney, who described the “terrible tragedy” as a “domestic violence situation”, said a gun was found near the husband’s body. He declined to say whether all three family members were shot dead, and by whom, a newspaper reported. The couple appeared to have faced financial problems in recent years, online records show. -
Indian-origin real estate developer charged with perpetuating USD 93 million fraud scheme
NEW YORK (TIP): An Indian-origin real estate developer has been charged by federal authorities in the US with perpetuating a USD 93 million fraud scheme. Rishi Kapoor, a Miami-based developer, faces charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, January 3.
The SEC announced that it obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief concerning the alleged USD 93 million real estate investment fraud perpetrated by Kapoor. The SEC also charged real estate company Location Ventures, its affiliate Urbin and 20 other related entities in connection with the fraud scheme, a statement said.
According to the SEC’s complaint, from approximately January 2018, until at least March 2023, Kapoor and certain of the defendant entities solicited investors by, among other things, making several material misrepresentations and omissions regarding Kapoor, Location Ventures, Urbin, and their real estate developments.
The false statements allegedly included misrepresenting Kapoor’s compensation; his cash contribution to the capitalization of Location Ventures; the corporate governance of Location Ventures and Urbin; the use of investor funds; and Kapoor’s background.
(Source: PTI) -
Sikh medic Dr. Amritpal Singh Hungin knighted by King Charles III
LONDON (TIP): A British Sikh senior medical professional with over 30 years of general practice (GP) experience has been knighted by King Charles III in the 2024 New Year Honors list. Dr Amritpal Singh Hungin, Emeritus Professor of General Practice at Newcastle University, received a Knighthood for services to medicine on Friday night, including nearly 30 Indian-origin healthcare professionals, philanthropists and community activists honored for their selfless service to society.
Selfless service
Dr Amritpal Singh Hungin, Emeritus Professor of General Practice at Newcastle University, received a Knighthood for services to medicine
Nearly 30 Indian-origin healthcare professionals, philanthropists and community activists honored for their selfless service to society
Professor Pali Hungin, as he is known, was the founding Dean of Medicine at Durham University and a former president of the British Medical Association (BMA). “The New Year’s Honors List recognizes the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “To all honorees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all,” he said.Among the British Indian Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBEs) include Baldev Parkash Bhardwaj for services to the community in Oldbury, West Midlands; Dr Dipankar Datta, Chair of the South Asia Voluntary Enterprise, for services to charity; Munir Patel, CEO of XRAIL Group, for services to rail exports; Dr Shriti Pattani, President of the Society of Occupational Medicine, for services to occupational health; Rajwinder Singh, Principal Project Sponsor of the Prison Infrastructure Team at the UK’s Ministry of Justice, for public service; Vinaichandra Guduguntla Venkatesham, CEO of Arsenal Football Club, for services to sport.
The Cabinet Office said more than 1,200 recipients had been awarded this year for their exceptional achievements, including Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) conferred upon a cross-section, including British Indians such as Dr Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of anti-racism charity Kick It Out for services to sport and Jayshree Rajkotia, Trustee and Vice Chair of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, UK, for services to Indian culture.
Other Indian-origin recipients of MBEs include Tajinder Kaur Banwait for services to business and to the beauty industry; Dr Manav Bhavsar for services to healthcare, particularly during Covid-19; Nilesh Bhasker Dosa for services to social equality; Dr Dinendra Singh Gill for services to pre-hospital and trauma care in Wales; Dr Gian Parkash Gopal for services to the Hindu community and to multi-faith Cohesion in Oxfordshire; Jasdeep Hari Bhajan Singh Khalsa for charitable services to the Sikh community; Dr Meenakshi Nagpaul for services to the NHS; and Satish Manilal Parmar for public service, among others. Healthcare and charity work also dominates among the Indian-origin Medalists of the Order of the British Empire (BEMs) such as Chandra Shekhar Biyani for services to medical education and Harbaksh Singh Grewal for services to charity.
(Source: PTI) -
Indian American legal scholar Ved Prakash Nanda dies
DENVER (TIP) : Noted Indian American legal scholar, Professor Ved Prakash Nanda passed away on January 1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar among others condoled his death.
Nanda, who was awarded Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor in 2018 for his contributions to literature and education was a Distinguished University Professor and Thompson G. Marsh Professor of Law at the University of Denver, Colorado.
He founded the International Legal Studies Program there in 1972 and directed the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law established in his honor by alumni and friends, who have also endowed a professorship in his name.
He received Honorary Doctor of Law from Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, and Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India, and has taught and lectured at several universities in the US and abroad, according to his official profile.
Nanda was also an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Delhi, India. He held many leadership positions in the global international law community, including the World Jurist Association, American Society of International Law, International Law Association, American Law Institute, and the American Bar Associations Human Rights Center and Section of International Law.
He also served as a US delegate to the World Federation of the United Nations Associations in Geneva and on the governing council of the United Nations Association of the USA.
Nanda was an officer and board member in several international and national NGOs. He was the Chair of the Uberoi Foundation for Religious Studies.
Nanda received numerous national and international awards and authored or co-authored 24 books and over 225 chapters and law review articles in international and comparative law, writes a column for the Denver Post, and is a regular commentator in both the electronic and print media.
The American Bar Association International Law Section conferred on him the Louis B Sohn Award, for distinguished, longstanding contributions to the field of public international law in 2018.
Expressing his grief over Nanda’s demise, Modi said Nanda’s work highlighted his commitment to legal education. “Deeply saddened by the passing away of Professor Ved Prakash Nanda Ji, a distinguished academic whose contributions to the legal field are invaluable. His work highlights his strong commitment to legal education,” Modi posted on X.
“He was also a prominent member of the Indian diaspora in USA and was passionate about strong India-USA relations. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” the PM added.
“Deeply anguished by the demise of Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda Ji, an internationally acclaimed legal scholar. The illustrious career of Nanda Ji was shaped by his academic rigor and profound commitment to legal education,” Shah wrote.
“A prominent member of our diaspora in the US, Prof Nanda Ji left an indelible mark in fortifying the Indo-US relationship. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti,” he added.
“Grieved to learn of the passing away of Professor Ved Prakash Nanda ji,” wrote Jaishankar. “Had the privilege of knowing him over many years. His contribution to the India-US relationship will always be remembered.” -
2 Indian-origin men arrested for committing Visa fraud in US
BOSTON (TIP): Two Indian-origin men have been arrested and charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in the US.
Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, allegedly staged armed robberies so that “victims” could apply for immigration benefits, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said on Friday, December 29. Patel was arrested in Seattle on December 13, 2023, and following an initial appearance in the Western District of Washington, he was ordered detained pending trial. Singh was also arrested on the same day in Queens, and had his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York.While Singh appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday afternoon, Patel is expected to appear at a later date in the same court.
According to the charging documents, beginning March 2023, Patel and his co-conspirators, including at times, Singh, set up and carried out staged armed robberies. These were carried out at eight convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants across the United States, including at least four in Massachusetts.
It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa).
A US Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video.
The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime”.
The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery. The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, the attorney’s office said.
(Source: IANS) -
Indo-British Sikh woman ‘Polar Preet’ claims record for fastest solo ski across Antarctica
LONDON (TIP): Having already broken two Guinness World Records for polar exploration, British Sikh Army medic Harpreet Chandi has said she now has a third one.
By covering 1,130 km of Antarctic ice in 31 days, 13 hours and 19 minutes, Chandi, also known as Polar Preet, claims she has become the fastest woman to ski solo across Antarctica, media reported.
“I’m tired but so glad I made it. This was completely different to my last expedition… I completely pushed myself to my limits on my last expedition, a speed attempt is completely different,” the 34-year-old said, speaking from the South Pole. “After my last expedition, I knew I could cope well on the ice which gave me the confidence to tackle this head on,” she added.
The Guinness World Records will need to verify the claim, which can take several months, and if confirmed, it would beat the previous record holder, Canadian Caroline Cote, by a day, 14 hours and 34 minutes.
For the trek, Chandi left the Hercules inlet on the Ronne ice shelf on November 26, and arrived at the South Pole at 2.24 am UK time on December 28.
She skied for between 12 and 13 hours a day on average and pulled a 75 kg sled that had everything she needed to survive behind her.
“It was definitely not a sprint, but I had to constantly weigh up my effort and how long I would ski for each day. Too long or too fast and I was going to burn out. Too slow or finish too early and I’d miss out on the record,” she told the media.
Calling Antarctica an amazing place and glad that it allowed her a safe passage, Chandi said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be here. It is not a place any person can conquer; it is a place you treat with respect and hope it allows you safe passage.”
Chandi is on a career break from military service where she was a physiotherapist providing rehabilitation for injured soldiers and officers.
Speaking about her journey, she said her focus was on what she could control, not what she couldn’t.
“I couldn’t control the conditions — the blistering sun, the whiteouts, the temperatures of minus 30 degrees C, but I can control how I dealt with them. Just keep taking it one step at a time,” Chandi, who was named Member of the British Empire recently, said.
Also honored as ‘woman of the year’ at the Women in Defense Awards 2022, Chandi made history by becoming the first woman of color to complete a 700-mile Antarctic journey — solo and unsupported — to the South Pole in 2021. Chandi said she never thought she would return to Antarctica this year but returned after realizing that this expedition was just not about pushing herself, but also about inspiring others to challenge their boundaries, and break their barriers. “One of my biggest motivations in those dark times on the ice is the thought of inspiring others to face their own challenge,” she said. -
Indian-American medical biller arrested for stealing more than USD 1 million
NEW YORK (TIP): A 61-year-old Indian-origin medical biller has been arrested for stealing more than USD 1 million from doctors who provided medical care to injured workers in New York, according to the Attorney General’s Office here. Amrish Patel and his two companies—Medlink Services and Medlink Partners—were charged on Wednesday with 27 felony counts for the thefts they allegedly committed from January 2012 through January 2019, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced. Patel and the companies were charged with one count of insurance fraud in the first degree, one count of grand larceny in the first degree, one count of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree, one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree, 11 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, and 11 counts of workers’ compensation fraud. He was released with electronic monitoring and a USD 1,00,000 bond. Patel, who provided billing services to a Brooklyn-based orthopedic surgery practice, submitted falsified claim forms to the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) to steal at least USD 1.1 million in workers’ compensation reimbursements for himself. “Doctors and health care professionals provide crucial care to our communities, and they rely on accurate and ethical billing to sustain these services and ensure our wellbeing,” said Attorney General James.
“When money is illegally diverted away from doctors and providers, all New Yorkers suffer as a result. Fraud of any kind will never go unchecked in our state, and my office will continue to use every measure to hold accountable those who seek to cheat New Yorkers for personal gain. I thank our partners for their invaluable support and collaboration on this case,” James said.
“Fraud in any part of the workers’ compensation system is detrimental to trust and hurts the entire system, including medical providers, carriers, businesses, and injured workers,” said NYSIF Executive Director and CEO Gaurav Vasisht. “I am thankful for the collaboration of the Attorney General and Inspector General’s offices on this investigation,” Vasisht said.
“Workers’ compensation fraud is not a victimless crime,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang.
“The defendant compromised the integrity of this crucial safety net when he took advantage of his trusted position to ensure accurate billing for medical providers and health insurers. I am grateful to the Office of the Attorney General and the NYSIF for their partnership in rooting out this fraud.” Starting in 2011, Patel and his companies handled billing services for a Brooklyn-based orthopedic surgery practice and were responsible for submitting billing for surgeries related to work-related injuries under the New York State Workers’ Compensation Law.
Under the law, authorized providers are reimbursed for their treatment of injured workers by the insurance carrier for the employer. In total, Patel allegedly stole at least USD 1.1 million in payments originally intended for three doctors for services provided between January 1, 2012 and January 4, 2019.
Patel was arraigned on January 3 in Albany City Court. He was later released with electronic monitoring and a USD 100,000 bond.
(Source: PTI) -
Indian-origin Jashanpreet Singh appointed as Canada jail officer
VANCOUVER (TIP): A 24-year-old man, who is the son of a retired Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Muktsar Police, has become a Correctional Officer in Canada’s Vancouver.
A Correctional Officer supervises prisoners during work assignments, meals and recreation periods.
Jashanpreet Singh Brar had gone to the Maple country on a study visa in August 2017. He was an alumnus of Bhai Mastan Singh Public School here. After completing his study in Canada, Jashanpreet worked part-time as a security officer and an executive at a liquor store.
His father Kaur Singh Brar said, “I am feeling proud that my son is following in my footsteps. I had joined the state police in 1992 as a constable and retired as an ASI. My son has today (January 2) joined the duty as a Correctional Officer in Canada. My daughter is also settled in Canada and working as a private dentist. Both of my children were brilliant in their studies.”
“We belong to an agrarian family of Kotli Sanghar village. None of us had earlier got a government job abroad.”
I am feeling proud that my son is following in my footsteps. I had joined the state police in 1992… My son has today (January 2) joined duty as a Correctional Officer in Canada. — Kaur Singh Brar, father of Jashanpreet -
India-born entrepreneur Firdaus Kharas gets one of Canada’s highest honors
The annual list of 2023 appointees to the Order of Canada is released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon
OTTAWA (TIP): Firdaus Kharas, an India-born entrepreneur and thought leader, has been appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honors, for advancing social change through human-centred media. The annual list of 2023 appointees to the Order of Canada was released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on Thursday.The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honors. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.
Simon’s office announced three new appointments of “companions” — the highest level of the Order of Canada — 15 officers, including one honorary officer and 59 members.
Kharas, 68, had been appointed officer of the Order of Canada “for advancing social change through human-centered media as a social entrepreneur, humanitarian and mass communications media producer”.“I am deeply moved to receive this high honor, which is especially meaningful to me as an immigrant. Although a high achieving community, Parsis are a minuscule community numbering only 3,600 in Canada, so it is extremely satisfying to be noticed in this way,” Kharas said in a statement.
Appointees will be invited to an investiture ceremony at a later date to receive their insignia. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course. Kharas is a renowned producer of social and behavioral change communications which has been seen by over a billion people. He founded Chocolate Moose Media in 1995, a social enterprise, to create mass communications to better the human condition.
His work has been used in 198 countries, including in several languages throughout India. He is the recipient of 125 awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award and several honorary doctorates from universities.
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Indian American technocrat Suhas Subramanyam vows to keep defending reproductive rights
ASHBURN, VA (TIP) : Suhas Subramanyam, an Indian American technocrat, has vowed to continue defending reproductive rights despite Loudoun County Republican party’s calls to ban him from houses of worship in Northern Virginia over his pro-choice record.
“Millions of Virginians of every political and religious background support a woman’s right to choose, and I’m proud to have championed reproductive rights for years in the General Assembly,” said the son of Indian Americans who is running for the US Congress in Virginia’s 10th District.
“To suggest that I or any other pro-choice Virginian should be banned from practicing our faith is outrageous and contrary to the values of our commonwealth and our country,” he stated in response to Loudon Republican party committee’s call.
“I will continue to proudly practice my faith and celebrate the diverse religious traditions in Virginia’s 10th District, and I will not back down from my commitment to defending every woman’s reproductive right from the right-wing extremists who are relentlessly pursuing a nationwide abortion ban.”
The Loudoun County Republican Committee called for Subramanyam – the first Indian American, South Asian, and Hindu ever elected to the General Assembly – to be “denied access” to houses of worship in a statement posted on Facebook.
The statement was in response to Subramanyam’s call for mifepristone — a drug that blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue — access to be protected as right-wing MAGA activists once again take their push to ban abortion nationwide to the Supreme Court.
Subramanyam, who served as a technology policy advisor to President Barack Obama, says his family’s story in America began in Virginia’s 10th District when his mother immigrated to the United States through Dulles Airport in 1979.
His mother, a native of Bengaluru, India, immigrated to the United States to unite with his father, live her American dream, and pursue a career in medicine.
Subramanyam’s parents raised him to value service to the community above all else. Whether as a Capitol Hill aide, advisor to the Obama White House, an elected official in Richmond, or as a volunteer EMT, he has taken that lesson to heart throughout his life, Subramanyam says.
“Every step of the way, he has taken on the toughest fights to deliver real results for our community,” he stated.
After leaving the White House, Subramanyam started his own small business in Loudoun County and served the community as a volunteer medic, EMT, and firefighter.
Subramanyam resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Miranda, and their two daughters. -
Indian American Ash Kalra named chair of California Assembly Judiciary Committee
SACRAMENTO (TIP): Ash Kalra, the first Indian American elected to the California State Assembly, has been appointed Chair of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary by Speaker Robert Rivas.
“At a time when California must be vigilant in protecting civil rights, fostering a just legal system, and ensuring everyday consumers are protected, it is an honor to serve as Chair of Judiciary Committee,” Kalra stated after his appointment on Nov 22.
“Having served on this committee for the past seven years under Chairs Stone and Maienschein, I am grateful for their leadership and ready to hit the ground running,” he added. “I am thankful to Speaker Robert Rivas for his confidence and this opportunity to further serve the people of California.”
“The justice system is foundational to keeping Californians safe and holding offenders accountable. I’m confident Assemblymember Kalra will fight for the rights of the people who matter most, while ensuring the system itself is just,” Rivas said.
The Assembly Committee on Judiciary’s primary jurisdictions include family law, product liability, tort liability, Civil Code, and Evidence Code (excluding criminal procedure).
Kalra had most recently served as Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee for the past five years.
He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022.
In the State Assembly, he has authored successful legislation promoting secure and peaceful communities for all residents, including protecting and preserving civil rights and civil liberties, and has dedicated his tenure in public service to equity and social justice issues, according to his website.
Kalra represents California’s 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County.
Kalra has a law degree from Georgetown University and was a Deputy Public Defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years. As a public defender, he represented indigent clients in both felony and misdemeanor matters. -
Indian American high school student Bianca Jain wins Congressional App Challenge for New York district
NEW YORK (TIP) : Bianca Jain, a 9th-grade Indian American student of Briarcliff High School in New York, has won the prestigious Congressional App Challenge for the state’s 17th District.
Bianca’s app, Cancer Awareness Hub, was inspired by the recent diagnosis of a community librarian with cancer. That revelation inspired her to think of ways she could prevent increases in cancer cases.
Mike Lawler, US Representative for the district visited the school to congratulate Jain recently. “I had the opportunity to congratulate Bianca in person at her school last week,” said Lawler. “As someone who has lost members of their family to cancer, I was personally moved by Bianca’s app, which raises awareness about different types of cancer to help detect and combat this deadly disease.”
Jain’s app was chosen by a panel of expert judges and will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app is also eligible to be on display in the US Capitol, along with the winners from across the country.
Officially launched by the US House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices.
It accepts any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or “block code.” The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.
The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. It’s open to all middle and high school students in a Congressional district. Each challenge is district specific.
US Representatives publicly recognize their winning teams, and each winning app may be put on display in the US Capitol Building for one year.
The Congressional Internet Caucus initiates the annual CAC. The Non-profit Internet Education Foundation has been appointed to provide the CAC with supplemental staffing and support. -
Terror funding case: Indian held in UK extradited to United States
LONDON (TIP): An Indian national arrested in London on a provisional American warrant as part of a US-UK coordinated action targeting terrorism financing has been extradited to the US after consenting to face trial in America, the British authorities said on Tuesday, December 19. Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan (65) was arrested from Hayes in west London on April 18. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told Westminster Magistrates’ Court at the time that Nagarajan, linked to the Hizballah terrorist organization, was a “requested person” (RP) by the US authorities for fraud and money laundering offences.
(Source: PTI)