9 Newz:

Taliban leader Omar sent letter to Barack Obama

jennie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:47:34 +0000

The White House received a letter last year purported to come directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant prisoners whose transfer is now at the heart of the Obama administration’s bid to broker peace in Afghanistan.

The unusual message kicked off a debate within the administration about whether it was truly authored by the mysterious one-eyed preacher believed to be directing the Taliban from hiding in Pakistan — and its meaning for US efforts to forge a negotiated end to America’s longest war.

“As we have engaged various interlocutors as part of the reconciliation process, we have received a variety of messages that were represented as being from senior members of the Taliban,” an administration official said on condition of anonymity.

“However, we haven’t received a letter that we are certain is from Mullah Omar.”

`Taliban leader Omar sent letter to Barack Obama`
The message, conveyed through an intermediary and intended for President Barack Obama, reportedly expressed impatience that the White House had not yet transferred five former senior Taliban officials out of Guantanamo Bay military prison.

US officials have been considering moving the detainees to Afghan custody in the Gulf state of Qatar as one of a series of good-faith measures that, if successful, could lead to talks on Afghanistan’s future between militants and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The accelerating efforts to set such talks in motion are a central part of the Obama administration’s strategy for leaving behind a modicum of stability as it winds down the US combat mission in Afghanistan.

A former imam and mujahideen guerrilla, Omar has not participated in initial US contacts with insurgent representatives, which have been focused on confidence-building measures. But his public support would be crucial for any peace agreement if substantive negotiations can be had.

After over 10 years of war, Washington and its Western allies are announcing plans to steadily withdraw their troops amid doubts whether the chronically weak, corrupt Afghan government can confront ongoing violence.

The administration official said the White House was “sceptical” the letter was actually from Mullah Omar. But others within the administration believed it was authentic.

“There’s no signature. However, it expresses views consistent with what Taliban interlocutors have told us all along,” the official said.

`Taliban leader Omar sent letter to Barack Obama`
Taliban intentions unclear

While the impact of the purported missive last summer is unclear, a sign that the Taliban’s political and spiritual leader was eager to get the peace process going – or at least engage in steps the United States hopes will lead to real talks – would be an encouraging sign for the high-stakes initiative.

It might also go some way to dispelling doubts dogging the State Department-led efforts about whether the people US diplomats have held initial meetings with over the past year do in fact speak for the leadership of the shadowy militant group, believed to be based in Pakistan.

While some statements attributed to the Taliban indicate a willingness to take part in peace talks, others suggest the opposite, or indicate the group will not accept US conditions for a deal, including allegiance to the Afghan constitution.

While the Taliban regularly issues statements, communication from Mullah Omar himself, who has not been seen in public for years, is more rare. The cleric, an ethnic Pashtun, is believed to have been born into a poor Afghan family around 1960.

After losing his right eye fighting Soviet occupiers, he became a leader of the ultra-conservative Taliban movement and was named ‘Commander of the Faithful’ by a group of Islamic scholars made up of Taliban in 1996.

His Taliban government was known for oppression of women and ferocity against those seen as violating its strict interpretation of Islam until it was toppled in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Today, Mullah Omar is not only seen as leader of the ‘Quetta Shura’ Taliban, named for the Pakistani city of Quetta where many Taliban leaders are believed to have resided for years, but is revered by other factions of the militant group, such as the Haqqani network that is active in eastern Afghanistan.

In the past, Omar rejected peace talks, saying they were a bid to “throw dust in the eyes” of Afghans, while the Taliban has denounced Karzai’s government as illegitimate.

`Taliban leader Omar sent letter to Barack Obama` Last November, however, a statement attributed to the cleric on the occasion of a Muslim holiday indicated an openness to accept Afghans willing to renounce their support for the West, even as he praised the continuing ‘jihad’ against a foreign enemy.

The Taliban then made a surprise announcement last month it would open a political office in Qatar, suggesting the group may be willing to engage in negotiations that would likely give it government positions or official control over much of its historical southern heartland.

But it remains unclear whether the group is truly interested in entertaining authentic political negotiations – or simply wants to recover its prisoners.

Even though US officials say no decision has been made to go ahead with the detainee transfer, some members of Congress are already objecting, warning that transferred detainees could rejoin the fight or that the Taliban could revert to past tactics.

While Congress does not have the power to block the move, the White House might rethink such a risky move if serious bipartisan friction emerged in a Presidential Election year.

According to a secret report produced by NATO, Taliban detainees in Afghanistan remain convinced they will retake the country when the foreign force of about 130,000 soldiers goes home.

Under a current arrangement backed by NATO, most foreign combat forces would be gone by the end of 2014, but as war fatigue mounts in the West, that departure could come earlier.

IPL 5 auction LIVE CSK buy Jadeja for USD 2m in IPL auction

jennie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:39:27 +0000

Veteran Australian spinner Brad Hogg is up for auction. Base price USD 100,000. Sold to Rajasthan for USD180 000.

Ramesh Powar, another KTK player, sold for USD 160,000 to Punjab.

Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle, who was instrumental in the drubbing of India Down Under, left unsold. He has not yet played in the IPL.

Indian pacer S Sreesanth sold to Rajasthan Royals for USD 400,000.

South Africa’s Lonwabo Tsotsobe (base price USD 50,000) and VRV Singh (base price USD100,000) went unsold.

Vinay Kumar sold to RCB for USD1 million. Delhi Daredevils opened the bidding for R Vinay Kumar. He was also with Kochi last year. Base prise USD 100,000.

RP Singh, with a base price of USD 200,000, sold to Mumbai Indians for USD 600,000. He was bought by KTK for USD 500,000 last year.

Mark Boucher and Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor, both with base price of USD 100,000, went unsold.

Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal went to the only bidder Rajasthan Royals for USD 50,000.

Parthiv Patel sold to Deccan Chargers for USD 650,000.

Mumbai Indians opened the bidding for Parthiv Patel among the pool of wicket keepers.Base price USD200,000.

As expected, VVS Laxman, with a base price of USD 400,000, went unsold.

Australia’s Brad Hodge, who was also with Kochi last year, sold to Rajasthan Royals for USD 475,000.

Surprisingly, West Indian Darren Bravo too went unsold in the auction. Probably because of his unavailability for the major part of the tournament.

South African big hitter Herschelle Gibbs, who went unsold last year, sold to Mumbai Indians for USD 50,000.

Ramnarsh Sarwan also failed to find any bidder.

Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal, with a base price of USD50,000, went unsold so is West Indies’ Adrian Barath.
His base price was USD50,000.

England fast bowler James Anderson, with a base price of USD300,000, failed to attract any bidders. He went unsold.

The auction for the Marquee players ended here.

Mahela Jayawardene sold for USD1.4 million to Delhi Daredevils.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene’s base price is USD300,000.

Muttiah Muralitharan, 1.1 million last year by Kochi, sold to Royal Challengers Bangalorefor USD220,000.

After a tie breaker, Chennai Super Kings won the bid for Ravindra Jadeja.

Chennai and Deccan made the maximum bid amount of USD 2 million (app 9.72 crore) for Ravindra Jadeja. It will be decided via a tie breaker.

Brendon McCullum became the first player to be sold in the IPL 5 auction. He was bought for USD 900,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders.

McCullum was with the KKR for the first three seasons.

One hundred and forty four players from 11 countries, including eight Indians, lined-up for the IPL 5 auction on Saturday.

No evidence to show Patel took bribe Canadian scribe

jennie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:33:06 +0000

A Canadian journalist, who reported on bribery charges levelled against Union Minister Praful Patel, Friday tweeted that there was no evidence to show that he took bribe.

In a series of tweets through the day, ‘The Globe and Mail’ scribe, Stephanie Nolen, made it clear that she had written only on allegations made against Patel by an Indian- born Canadian citizen, Nazir Karigar who is being prosecuted in Canada on charges of paying off Patel in a case in which a former Mumbai police chief also figures.

“Praful Patel isn’t accused of taking the bribe. Canadian accused of saying he was going to pay it. Critical difference,” she said in one tweet.

In another posting on the microblogging site, she said “I object to ppl (people) misquoting our story: regardless of what you think of Patel, evidence does not show he took bribe”.

“No, a Canadian is accused of SAYING he bribed Praful Patel. Critical difference. Pls read our story”, read the third.

The Canadian newspaper report had said that Karigar had claimed he had paid bribe to Patel in 2007 in an unsuccessful attempt to win a USD 100 million Air India contract for a computerised passenger face recognition biometrics system. The airline had ultimately abandoned the plans for such a system.

Patel, who has rubbished the charges, Friday got support from Congress and his party NCP which maintained that it was wrong to indict anybody until some material is found.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh also ruled out any investigation into the allegations.

Will Chidambaram be made accused in 2G case

jennie — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:24:35 +0000

A special CBI court on Saturday will decide on the alleged role of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the 2G scam on a petitioner’s plea seeking to make him an accused in the case. The court has deferred pronouncement of its order to 12:15 PM.

The petitioner alleged that Chidambaram was equally culpable like former Telecom Minister A Raja as he also had a role in deciding the spectrum pricing and allowing telecom companies to off-load shares to foreign firms.

With the Supreme Court leaving the issue to be decided by the trial court, the ball is now in the court of Special CBI Judge OP Saini.

Will Chidambaram be made accused in 2G case?
The court, on February 1, also halted for two days the ongoing day-to-day trial in the case for writing the much-awaited order.

A bench of justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly, which asked the lower court not to get influenced by its decision, had also refused to direct CBI to “investigate Chidambaram”.

The apex court, which came down heavily on former telecom minister A Raja and cancelled 122 2G licenses, however, did not find any fault on the part of the Prime Minister and then Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

The petitioner, who concluded arguments in the trial court in support of his plea, had said the evidence brought on record, prima facie established that Chidambaram was also culpable like Raja in the case.

Chilarai Exp derails near Guwahati 3 dead

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:33:33 +0000

An Express train derailed near Guwahati early Friday.

As per initial reports, five bogies of Bongaigaon-Guhwahati Chilarai Express derailed at Azara near Guwahati city at 9.30 am after the engine hit a JCB machine at an unmanned railway crossing.

Chilarai Exp derails near Guwahati; 3 dead
The driver of the earth-cutting vehicle and two other persons were killed when their vehicle stranded at the level crossing at Gossainghati between Azara and Mirza was hit by the Bongaigaon-Guwahati Chilarai Passenger passenger train at 9:30 AM, railway sources said.

Senior district and railway officials have rushed to the accident site. Injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals including to the railway hospital.

Chilarai Exp derails near Guwahati; 3 dead
Helpline numbers – 0361-2331621, 0361-2331622, 0361-2331623

More details are awaited.

After soccer riots Egypt police kill 2 protesters

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:12:04 +0000

Police shot and killed two protesters in Suez, Egypt, early Friday, a health official said, the first to die in clashes that erupted around the country after a riot at a soccer stadium killed 74, as sports violence spiralled into a new political crisis for Egypt.

Protesters blame police for failing to control the riot after the soccer game in Port Said. In Cairo, thousands demonstrated on Thursday in front of the Interior Ministry, which oversees the police. Demonstrators threw rocks, and police responded with clouds of tear gas. Hundreds were treated by medics. In Suez, witnesses said about 3,000 people demonstrated in front of police headquarters after news spread that one of the victims in the Port Said riot was from their city.

Police responded with tear gas and then opened fire, witnesses said. Health official Mohammed Lasheen said two men were killed by bullets. Fifteen other protesters were wounded, he said.

The deaths of 74 people on Wednesday night in a post-match stadium riot in the Mediterranean city of Port Said fuelled anger at Egypt’s ruling military and the already widely distrusted police forces. Many in the public and in the newly-elected Parliament blamed the leadership for letting it happen — whether from a lack of control or, as some alleged, on purpose.

Survivors of the riot described a nightmarish scene in the stadium. Police stood by doing nothing, they said, as fans of the winning home team, Al-Masry, attacked supporters of the top Cairo club, Al-Ahly, stabbing them and throwing them off bleachers.

A narrow exit corridor turned into a death trap as crowds of fans fled into it, only to be crushed against a locked gate as their rivals attacked them from behind.

After soccer riots, Egypt police kill 2 protesters
A network of zealous Al-Ahly soccer fans, known as Ultras, vowed vengeance, accusing the police of intentionally letting rivals attack them because they have been among the most aggressive of Egypt’s revolutionaries. Ultras were at the forefront of the anti-government uprising — first against toppled leader Hosni Mubarak a year ago and now against the military that took his place in power.

“Either they will die or we will die,” one Ultra said, referring to the police, as he joined a march by some 10,000 people on the Cairo headquarters of the Interior Ministry, which oversees the security forces. He would only give his first name, Islam, for fear of reprisal by police.

The march turned into a call for the ruling military council of generals, led by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, to surrender power.

“Say it out loud, the council must leave!” the marchers chanted, shouting to people in residential buildings along the way. “Get down from your balconies, Tantawi killed your children!”

The military has faced protests for months led by secular and liberal youth groups demanding an end to its rule — and the soccer riot added to criticism that the generals have mismanaged the transition from Mubarak’s rule.

Opponents accuse the generals of being as autocratic as the ousted president and of preserving much of his regime. They say elements in the police and former regime figures have been working behind the scenes to undermine the revolution and prevent real change.

“We dreamed of change. They fooled us and brought us a field marshal instead,” protesters chanted on Thursday as they reached the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square. Some called for the execution of the military rulers. Many raised flags of the Al-Ahly club and Zamalek, another top Cairo team with its own group of Ultras.

After soccer riots, Egypt police kill 2 protesters
The crowds approached the ministry from multiple sides. Some tried to dismantle walls of large concrete blocks that had been erected on streets leading to the ministry after November clashes. Others tore away barbed wire barriers.

Protesters hurled stones at lines of riot police, who responded with heavy barrages of tear gas that sent the crowd scattering, some passing out and falling. Protesters set tires on fire, sending up black smoke as motorcyclists ferried away the injured. One young man who climbed atop a traffic light waving a flag was unmoved even as he was engulfed in a cloud of gas.

“We are just across the street from the ministry,” said one protester, Taha Mahfouz, wearing a helmet and waving a club that he had taken from riot police. “They can’t protect their own stuff. How can they protect the country?”

The Health Ministry said 388 protesters were injured, most overcome by gas. In an emergency session of Parliament, several lawmakers said the police failure to stop the rioting was intentional, aimed at stoking insecurity since Mubarak’s ouster on February 11, 2011. The aim, they said, was to create instability to justify maintaining strict emergency laws.

“This is a complete crime,” said Abbas Mekhimar, head of Parliament’s defence committee. “This is part of the scenario of fuelling chaos against Egypt.”

Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri told Parliament he had dissolved the Egyptian Soccer Federation’s board and referred its members for questioning by prosecutors about the violence. He also said the governor of Port Said province and the area’s police chief have resigned.

After soccer riots, Egypt police kill 2 protesters Tantawi told reporters on Wednesday that the country’s transition will not be derailed by the violence.

“Egypt is going down the path we planned,” he said. “We will continue down this path and we will get through this transition.”

Security officials said 47 people were arrested in Port Said. Ismail el-Iskandarani, a researcher with the private group Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights who was in Port Said, said 17 of the dead remain unidentified and at least three of those killed were residents of Port Said, and not Al-Ahly sports fans.

The soccer violence — the world’s deadliest in 15 years — began when Al-Masry pulled out a surprise 3-1 victory over Al-Ahly, Egypt’s most powerful club. Al-Masry fans stormed the field, rushing past lines of police to attack Al-Ahly’s Ultras.

“I saw death with my own eyes. I saw people take their last breath,” said Samir Saad, a 27-year old Al-Ahly fan who was stabbed in the leg as he fled into the stands. “The security opened the doors for Al-Masry fans and closed (them) in our face.”

Others reported Al-Ahly fans being thrown from the stands or jumping to escape. Some said Al-Masry supporters carved the words “Port Said” into the bodies of stricken fans.

Authorities shut off the stadium lights, plunging it into darkness. In the exit corridor, the fleeing crowd pressed against a chained gate until it broke open.

“Everyone was pushing. Under me were more than three people and I am being pushed. Everyone is pushing trying to breathe,” said Mahmoud Ibrahim, who was trapped in the corridor. He spoke at Cairo’s main morgue where many of the dead were taken, including two of his friends.

There was bad blood between the two teams even before the match, and many were itching for a fight. Early in the game, Ultras raised a banner reading, “Port Said is a garbage city and has no men”, before it was quickly taken down.

Ultras accused police of failing to do the usual searches for weapons, and witnesses reported fans in the Al-Masry stands had clubs and knives. El-Iskandarani, the rights worker investigating the violence, said witnesses reported that some of those carrying knives were known locally as thugs-for-hire.

Pedro Barny, a Portuguese assistant to Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose, complained of a lack of security as the tensions mounted during the game. “The atmosphere was very aggressive. It was very intimidating for our team,” Barny told Radiotelevisao Portuguesa. “There were opposition fans walking up and down unchallenged in front of our bench during the game and the police did nothing.”

He said there was a charge across pitch toward the Al-Ahly fans that collided with the players and coaches. “I ran and ran to get away from it.”

He said he was punched and kicked as he sprinted for the tunnel.

The Ultras are among Egypt’s rowdiest fans and are proud of their hatred for the police, who were the backbone of Mubarak’s authoritarian rule. During matches, they are known for their obscenity-laced anti-police songs and chants, which usually go viral on the Internet, an expression of the hatred many Egyptians feel toward the security forces.

The network is highly organised across the country, but they were long apolitical, resenting the police for friction at soccer matches. When the uprising began, the Ultras used their years of experience in clashing with police at stadiums to help defend protesters against attacks by security forces and regime supporters.

After soccer riots, Egypt police kill 2 protesters After Mubarak’s fall, they joined protests against the military, and in November and December, they fought back against troops cracking down on demonstrations in clashes that left dozens dead. Ironically, the revolution has united the Ultra backers of the Al-Ahly and Zamalek clubs, the country’s most bitter soccer rivalry.

Ahmad Saqqar, a 22-year-old Ultra wearing a red Al-Ahly shirt, said the Ultras are “all about resisting police suppression”.

“The military plotted yesterday to take revenge on us,” he said. “We know how to respond … after we recover from our wounds.”

Can India avoid another whitewash today

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:05:11 +0000

Stung by a prolonged losing streak in what has turned out to be a nightmarish tour, a hapless India will now look to avoid a Twenty20 whitewash when they lock horns with Australia in the second match on Friday.

Completely outclassed in the humiliating 0-4 Test loss against the hosts, India had hoped for redemption in the limited over format but they again succumbed to a 31-run defeat in the first Twenty20 yesterday.

The young legs did show some energy on the field but at the batting crease, they were no different to their Test seniors and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has to do something to inspire his team tomorrow.

In the bowling department too, the Indians failed to make early inroads in the Australian line-up and now that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin`s card has been shown up to be blank by a rampant David Warner last night, Zaheer Khan`s return would be crucial to India`s chances.

The wicket at the MCG also might not suit spinners tomorrow so overtly as it did in the ANZ Stadium last night. It`s a batting wicket and the skills of the bowlers would be tested utmost.

Dhoni believed it was the uneven surface which did his batsmen in and MCG might reflect their preparedness in a better light.

As things stood though, Indians checked in at their hotel in Melbourne this morning and would stay indoors though there was a word that a few youngsters might visit the MCG later in the afternoon.

It`s better they do, for if Australia seizes an early momentum, they would be difficult to put down in the one-day internationals. The corresponding effect of despondency in Indian ranks would be palpable too.

The variety and the options Australia has in bowling is equally befuddling. George Bailey, the home captain, said as much when he said he has quite a few bowlers who could bowl in the death overs.

“It could be Lee, Doherty, Hogg or Faulkner – anyone,” said Bailey.

The hosts are well-served by explosive left-handed openers in David Warner and Matthew Wade and the two are likely to be top draw this whole summer.

Australia: George Bailey (capt), David Warner, Travis Birt, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Matthew Wade and Brad Hogg.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Rahul Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja and Manoj Tiwary.

Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel

Match referee: Andy Pycroft.

The match will start at 2.05 p.m. IST.

Baby Falak taken off ventilator still unconscious

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:51:55 +0000

Two-year-old Falak, who has been battling for life at the AIIMS here, has shown signs of improvement and taken off ventilator on Friday.

Baby Falak taken off ventilator, still unconscious
Doctors said if she responds positively for another few days, they will be able to conduct another life saving surgery on her.

“She was put off ventilator at 6 am. After checking her blood parameters we can say that her septicaemia problem might be responding positively to the antibiotics. But she continues to remain critical and stable,” neurosurgeon Dr Deeepak Agarwal said.

“She is unconscious and continues to remain critical. We are waiting for her culture report now,” said Agrawal.

Baby Falak taken off ventilator, still unconscious
She was brought to the hospital on January 18 with severe head injury, both her arms broken, bite marks all over her body and her cheeks branded with hot iron.

The teenage girl, who brought her there claiming to be her mother, had cited a fall from the bed as the reason for the child’s pathetic state.

Falak has already undergone two life saving surgeries till now.

Doctors had yesterday stated that the child has developed high chances of multi-organ failure as the organism that has caused infection in the brain are there in the chest and entered the blood.

Army Chief age row SC adjourns hearing till Feb 10

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:45:14 +0000

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing till February 10 on Army Chief General VK Singh’s plea for a direction to the government to declare May 10, 1951, as his date of birth in place of May 10, 1950.

Army Chief age row: SC adjourns hearing till Feb 10
While hearing the case Justice RM Lodha asked Attorney General to seek instruction from the government on withdrawing its order rejecting the statutory complaint of Army Chief on age issue.

The apex court also questioned the procedure adopted by the govt in passing the December 30 order in not allowing the complaint of Army Chief Gen VK Singh.

Gen Singh’s plea accuses the government of treating him in a manner, reflecting total lack of adherence to procedure and principles of natural justice in deciding his age.

Gen Singh took the unprecedented step of dragging the government to the apex court after the Defence Ministry had insisted upon treating May 10, 1950, as his official date of birth, necessitating his retirement on May 31 this year.

Challenging the government’s decision to determine May 10, 1950, as his date of birth and not May 10, 1951, Gen Singh, in a 68-page petition, has maintained that his acceptance of 1950 as the year of his birth was given in good faith at the behest of the then chief of Army Staff and not due to agreement with the conclusion of the Military Secretary’s Branch.

“The respondent (government) needs to explain as to why the senior most officer of the Army could be treated in a manner which reflects total lack of procedure and principles of natural justice and that too on an opinion obtained from the Attorney General,” his petition said.

Praful Patel fights bribery charge writes to PM

jennie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:32:24 +0000

Union Minister Praful Patel on Thursday found himself at the centre of pay-off allegations concerning a USD 100 million Air India contract during his tenure as Civil Aviation Minister, but he rubbished the charges as “baseless and preposterous”.

A leading Canadian, Globe and the Mail, reported that an Indian-born Canadian citizen, Nazir Karigar, is to be prosecuted on charges of paying off Patel in a case in which a former Mumbai police chief also figures.

Karigar is accused of paying bribes and being involved in a bid-rigging scheme in 2007 in an unsuccessful attempt to win the contract from Air India for computerised passenger face recognition biometrics system. The airline ultimately abandoned the plans for such a system.

According to the newspaper, investigators allege that in early 2007, Karigar met Patel, now Minister for Heavy Industries, along with one of his political allies Laxman Dhoble.

Later, Karigar described to others, including one cooperating witness from CryptoMetrics, the company bidding for the contract, how he allegedly gave USD 250,000 to Dhoble “to pass on to Mr Patel so the Minister could use his influence to make the project happen,” the report said.

Part of the movement of that money has been documented in a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New York where CryptoMetrics sued Karigar, saying that it had paid him USD 250,000 on the condition that Air India contract would be signed within days, it said.

However, the newspaper also stated that there is no evidence in the court records that Patel received the money.

Stoutly denying the allegations, Patel, when contacted for his reaction, said the claims of bribery appeared to be “a perfect con job” by somebody trying to convince his company that he could deliver a contract if he is paid.

Patel disclosed that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon after the Delhi bureau chief of Globe and Mail had sought his reaction to the allegations on Monday.

He told the Prime Minister that he had made it clear to the journalist that the allegations were baseless and preposterous and that he would be constrained to examine all legal options to counter them.

Meanwhile, he had made some “preliminary enquiries” with Air India which had informed him that in 2006 the airline had floated a tender for the equipment. The tender was, however, scrapped “virtually at the inception”, he wrote.

The Minister requested Singh to direct Air India to forward all relevant information and documents of the tender to PMO or to any agency “nominated by you”.

He also wanted “factual position” to be conveyed to the authorities in Canada in order to avoid any embarrassment to the government or to him personally.

The newspaper said that the Canadian Justice Department was planning to prosecute Karigar on charges that he violated the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, a law that forbids payment of bribes abroad. The case is scheduled to be heard in September.

According to the newspaper, the case has been in the making for more than four years and involves Karigar, the bankrupt Ottawa-area tech firm, former Mumbai Police Chief Hasan Gafoor and Patel. The newspaper quoted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as alleging that Gafoor who was then Director of Security at Air India, had conspired with Karigar, his childhood friend.

In a telephone interview to the newspaper, Gafoor denied helping Karigar rig the contract in favour of CryptoMetrics, saying that another department at Air India was responsible for awarding such contracts.

Gafoor stated that he had not spoken to Karigar in two or three years and was unaware that he had been implicated in a criminal conspiracy along with him. “My God”, Gafoor said, when told about the allegations.

He also pointed out that CryptoMetrics did not get the contract, “nor did anything come out of it”.

The newspaper claimed that interviews with a number of sources close to the investigation as well as a review of documents filed in two legal proceedings in the US have revealed that the charges related to Karigar were on behalf of CryptoMetrics, a company which had offices in New York area, Ottawa and Mumbai and which declared bankruptcy shortly after Karigar was charged.

Quoting RCMP, it alleged that CryptoMetrics had received an internal draft copy of the Air India tender two months before it was officially released to other potential bidders.

It also alleged that at least USD 250,000 was wired by CryptoMetrics to India and distributed to Gafoor’s Air India “co-workers, including a deputy in the security division.” Gafoor denied knowing about any bribes paid by Karigar to his staff.

Police sources were also quoted to say that Karigar and CryptoMetrics invited Air India officials to become part owners in the company and were offered shares. Police said the inducement ensured that only two firms were shortlisted for the contract, CryptoMetrics and a lesser known Canadian firm, Ipcon, the latter being a dormant company founded by Karigar.

Dhoble, described as Patel’s political ally, had declined to comment on the allegations in detail, the paper said.

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