Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been mentioned in a chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe into an allegedly dubious purchase of land in Haryana from a Delhi-based real estate agent, who was also hired by CC Thampi, an aide of fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, and is also a close associate of Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra. The chargesheet also explains in detail the close association between Robert and Thampi. While Robert’s name has surfaced in the chargesheet filed against Thampi and Sumit Chadha, who are the co-accused in the money laundering case against Bhandari, it is Priyanka’s mention which is likely to provide a lot of political gunpowder to the BJP ahead of the General Election. However, neither Priyanka nor Robert have been listed as accused in the matter.
The chargesheet says, “Robert Vadra purchased three pieces of land measuring 40.8 acres at Amipur village in Faridabad district of Haryana from Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2005-2006 and sold the same land to Pahwa in December 2010. Further Priyanka Gandhi also purchased agricultural land measuring 5 acres in Amipur village from Pahwa in April 2006 and sold it back to him in February 2010. Pahwa was receiving cash off the books. It was also noticed that Robert did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa. The investigation in this regard is underway.”
Incidentally, the chargesheet says that “during the course of investigation, it has been found that a long and thick relationship exists between Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond, but common and similar business interests have also been found between them…. In his statement recorded on June 19, 2019, Thampi said he knew Robert for the last 10 years and he (Robert) was initially introduced to him by Madhavan, PA to Sonia Gandhi.
Source: TNS
Tag: Sanjay Bhandari
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra named in ED chargesheet on 2005-06 land transactions case
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Modi speaks to Sunak, raises embassy attack
New Delhi (TIP)- Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought “strong action against anti-India elements” in the UK and progress in the return of economic offenders who have taken refuge in Britain, during a phone conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday, April 13.
The two leaders also agreed on the need to speedily conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) between both countries, according to an Indian readout of the conversation, which came against the backdrop of anger in New Delhi over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Britain.
Sunak and Modi reviewed progress in several bilateral issues that are part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and expressed satisfaction at recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, especially in the trade and economic sectors, the readout said.
Modi “raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK government”, according to the readout.
Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the “unacceptable violence” outside the Indian mission in London and “stressed that extremism had no place in the UK”, according to a statement from the UK Prime Minister’s Office.
Sunak updated Modi on steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian high commission staff.
The Indian readout said Modi raised the “issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK” and “sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system”.
The readout didn’t provide details on the offenders. The list of high-profile fugitives in the UK wanted by Indian authorities, whose current location are known and against whom extradition proceedings are either completed or are at an advanced stage, includes former liquor baron Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, Iqbal Mirchi’s wife Hajra Memon and their sons Asiq Iqbal Memon and Junaid Iqbal Memon. Modi and Sunak further “agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries”, according to the readout.
Source: HT -
Air India denies 85-Year-Old Lady boarding despite a confirmed seat reservation
Family rejects offer of compensation; demands punishment to the guilty
November 16, 2021
3.45 PM
I.S. Saluja
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Kamani Bhandari, an 85-year-old lady who is a US Citizen and an OCI card holder had a taste of Air India mismanagement on November 15 when she was denied boarding because the airline said there was no seat available. The lady was having a confirmed seat Number 9F in the Business class. The boarding agent said the seat was defective, and no other seat was available.
Passenger Kamani Bhandari Kamani Bhandari was booked on Air India Flight AI184 from San Francisco to Delhi, and for onward flight to Jodhpur. She was to fly out on November 15 at 8.30 PM (PT).
After the check-in and obtaining a boarding pass with Business class Seat 9 F the special assistance took her for security check and then to the boarding gate. Meanwhile, the son of Kamani, Sanjay Bhandari, a former President of Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) who had come to the airport to see her off left for home,
It was at the boarding gate that a boarding manager informed Kamani Bhandari that she will not be boarding the flight because some seats are unserviceable and because of overbooking, no alternative seat could be found for her. Mrs. Bhandari was taken to the lobby where her luggage was handed over to her.
The worried lady informed her son of the development.
Mr. Prem Bhandari, a well-known Community leader, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA and associated in important capacity with several other organizations called the offices of The Indian Panorama this morning to narrate the story of harassment to the old lady. Mr. Bhandari is known to have helped Air India and Air India passengers on many occasions, particularly during COVID-19. He told the editor that the old lady’s son Mr. Sanjay Bhandari would call him to give the details.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari narrated the sequence of the event and said Air India offered to send his mother to Delhi by a United Airlines flight on November 16. But then there was no connecting flight available for onward flight to Jodhpur until the 19th, almost 30 hours after her arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport. It meant she was to have over 30 hours’ lay off. It could not have worked for the old lady.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari got in touch with Anju Sahani, Air India Station Manager for a convenient flight for his mother but found Sahani evasive. Incidentally, Anju Sahani was present at the boarding gate when the boarding manager was telling the lady that she could not go by the flight AI 184 because of non-availability of a seat.
The Indian Panorama editor called Anju Sahani on her number 650-942-3131 at 8 AM (PT) on November 16. The phone was not answered. A message was left in the voice mail detailing the reason for the call and a request was left for a call back. There has been no call back more than 4 hours after the message was left.The Editor of this newspaper then called Air India Regional Manager Mr. Sunil Daware to have the update. Mr. Daware said he would get back after getting the information. He called back in a few minutes and informed the editor of the arrangements being worked out with the family of Kamani Bhandari to put her on a convenient flight. Mr. Daware said the family preferred to go by an Air India flight to Delhi from where a convenient connecting flight to Jodhpur was available, and that Monday, November 22 was the date they were working on.
Asked if it was not a serious case of mismanagement, Mr. Daware said Air India considers the safety and comfort of passengers of paramount importance, and therefore, when the seat was found to be unserviceable, the passenger was told about non availability of the seat. Asked if the airline will give a compensation to the passenger for the loss of time and inconvenience, Mr. Daware said “Yes, as per regulation”.
Mr. Sanjay Bhandari, Kamani Bhandari’s son said in a note: “They (Air India) said $1550 .00 is the compensation but I never agreed to the amount. My mother already had a Business Class ticket before the incident. This incident has caused so much trauma to my mother that no amount of money can compensate for what Air India has done with her”.
The Bhandari family insists that an inquiry into the incident be held and the guilty be punished.
The Indian Panorama has been told that the incident is not the first of its kind. Air India has earned a certain amount of notoriety for being deficient in providing services and treating passengers rather callously. A friend who is a lifelong friend of Air India admitted that Air India itself is responsible for its doom.