News
India’s ED seizes assets worth INR 7cr of Jacqueline
India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday attached actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s assets worth INR 7.27 crore — terming them as “proceeds of crime”— in the money laundering probe involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, said a report published by the Hindustan Times yesterday.
“During investigation, it was revealed that Sukesh Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth INR 5.71 crore to Jacqueline Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities, including extortion. He had put Pinky Irani, his longtime associate and co-accused in this case, to deliver the said gifts to the actress,” the ED said in a statement.
“In addition to these gifts, he had also given funds to the tune of $ 1,72,913 and AUD 26,740 to the close family members of Jacqueline Fernandez through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well known international hawala operator,” the statement read.The conman is currently lodged in a Delhi prison. The assets attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) include fixed deposits worth INR 7.12 crore and INR 15 lakh cash.The 36-year-old actress was examined by the ED in August last year in the case.
As per reports, Chandrasekhar had gifted her several expensive items, including three designer bags from Gucci and Chanel; two Gucci outfits for gym wear, a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings, a bracelet of multi-coloured stones, two Hermes bracelets and a Mini Cooper car, which she said she had returned.
As per the ED report, the conman had paid INR 15 lakh, in cash, to a script writer on behalf of Fernandez as an advance for her web series project.
During her questioning, the actress did admit receiving expensive gifts from the conman and going on holidays in private jets, however, she claimed that she never participated in any illicit financial deals with him.Chandrasekhar was arrested by the Delhi Police in April 2017 in the infamous election commission (EC) bribery case where it was alleged that he took money from AIADMK (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran to bribe the EC officials in connection with a dispute over the AIADMK “two leaves” poll symbol.While lodged in Tihar jail, he allegedly called people, impersonating as a senior government officer from key departments of central government, an official privy to the matter said.
Adopting the spoof-call modus operandi, he contacted Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh, in 2020, posing as Union Home Secretary, Union Law Secretary, officer from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), etc., and extorted more than INR 200 crore from her over a year, on the pretext of contribution to party funds, ED said on Saturday.During her examination, Aditi Singh had claimed that she received a call in June 2020 from a man posing as a senior official of the Law Ministry who offered to help her secure bail for her husband, who was in jail at that time, in return for money.During raids at his premises in August last year, ED had found properties, including a plush bungalow in Chennai, 26 cars, valuables worth INR 45 crore.
The Department of Education has announced that the results of the 2024 General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on : www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the training of teachers required for the new education reforms will commence in May, and that contracts granted to political cronies in local government institutions will be brought to an end following the upcoming local government elections.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in the areas of Mirigama, Minuwangoda, and Katana in the Gampaha District.
Addressing the gatherings, Prime Minister stated:
“From birth to death, all the aspects of life of a person are handled by local government institutions. However, to this day, these institutions lack proper systems even to provide the people with basic facilities.
We are committed to working with a proper system, free of fraud and corruption, and managing every rupee carefully and attentively. We are identifying the needs of people and implementing projects under a systematic plan to develop rural sectors.
You elect fellow members who stand firmly against fraud and corruption through two decisive elections. First, you elect Anura Kumara as President, a leader committed to fighting corruption. Then, in the parliamentary election, you choose a group of qualified individuals who are equally dedicated to this cause to represent you in Parliament.
To ensure that the funds allocated for rural development reach the people, the local government institutions which are the closest to the villagers must also be clean and transparent. That is why this election is so important to us.
The people and the villages come to experience our corruption-free political culture through local government institutions. These institutions must properly implement, monitor, and evaluate the development projects allocated to the rural sector. The era of awarding contracts for such projects to political cronies must end.
Although early childhood development is a crucial part of education, there has never been a proper system for it. We are now establishing such a system. Starting in May, teacher training for the modern education which is being introduced will begin. We have a comprehensive plan for development across all sectors.
The Ministry of Education has received billions worth of projects, but there is no proper implementation process. For example, 1,500 smart boards were brought for smart classrooms, but the Secretary to the Ministry has not implemented a system to distribute them to schools. Teachers have not been trained to use them. Teacher training institutes still follow outdated curriculum. This will be corrected through the new education reforms,
In order to deliver all these benefits to the rural sector efficiently, it is essential to elect the right people for the right purposes. Therefore, in the upcoming local government elections, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya urged the public to vote for the candidates who are free from fraud and corruption presented by the National People’s Power (NPP).”
The event was attended by Parliament Chief Organizer of the ruling party Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Members of Parliament Ruwanthilaka Jayakody and Chaminda Lalith Kumara, along with several local government candidates and the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will represent Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City, the Ministry said.
The funeral is scheduled for today.
About 50,000 people came to pay their respects to the late Pope on Thursday, the Vatican news service said.
“Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul,” according to the Vatican news service.
“The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.”
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