US appoints Mitul Desai as senior advisor in State Department

Aug 1, 2011

WASHINGTON: Indian-American Mitul Desai, an expert in international finance law, has been appointed as Senior Advisor in the US State Department's South and Central Asia Bureau to cement ties with the Diaspora groups here.

"Mitul and I are working extremely hard to figure out ways where we can put together a coalition and an alliance of groups to make it easier for Indians in the Diaspora here and other Diaspora communities as well, to make contributions to development and all the other things that are important things we're working on," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said at a public meeting recently.

Blake said the State Department is trying to develop tax deductible mechanisms that will allow for a lot of these people-to-people collaborations that they talk about.

"Once we get this in place I think it's going to be a really tremendous way to match and really publicise a lot of the terrific opportunities that are taking place in India.

"We will be able to do due diligence on them, to be able to assure donors in the United States that these are in fact worthy projects that they can contribute to and that they can be assured that the money is going to the right place without any fears of diversion of money or corruption or anything like that," Blake said.

In an interview to a news magazine, Desai said his appointment was an outgrowth of what Blake had seen "during his service here and in India -- the need for a position dedicated to engaging with the diaspora, NGO and private sector organisations, who are so central to the US-India relationship."

Desai's parents - Indirajit and Surekha Desai -- came to the US in the 1960s. He received his BA in Chemistry and Philosophy at Rudgers University and his JD from the Boston University School of Law.

Why packing on pounds is riskier for Indians

Aug 2, 2011
TORONTO: Packing on pounds is riskier for Indians and other South Asians than white people, says a study.

While white Caucasian people store their extra body fat in their waistlines, Indians and other South Asians carry this extra fat into their internal organs like liver and abdomen affecting their normal functioning.

It is this disruption of normal organ functions among Indians and South Asians that triggers diabetes and heart problems, says the study conducted by a young Indo-Canadian researcher.

Sonia Anand, who is professor of medicine and epidemiology at McMaster University, says that the prevalence of diabetes and coronary diseases among South Asians is due to their body adding " the organ-hugging fat" that leads to these diseases.

"South Asians have less space to store fat below the skin than white Caucasians. Their excess fat, therefore, overflows to ectopic compartments, in the abdomen and liver where it may affect function," says Anand.

She says this visceral fat is associated with metabolic problems such as elevated glucose and abnormal lipids which lead to coronary artery disease.

Her study support previous research which shows that, even with the same body mass index (BMI) as Caucasians, people from the Indian subcontinent have more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including type 2 diabetes, low 'good' cholesterol, and more abdominal obesity.

Arya Sharma, director of the Canadian Obesity Network and a co-author of the study, added, "This study helps explain why South Asians experience weight-related health problems at lower BMI levels than Caucasians. For the clinician, this also means that individuals of South Asian heritage need to be screened for the presence of heart disease and diabetes at lower BMIs."

19 Indians indicted in health care fraud in US

PTI | Aug 3, 2011, 11.05AM IST

NEW YORK: A federal grand jury in the US has indicted 26 people, including 19 Indians, for their participation in a multi-million dollar health care fraud and drug distribution scheme to facilitate the submission of false claims to Medicaid and private insurers.

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Detroit charged 26 individuals, including doctors and psychologists, United States attorney Barbara McQuade announced on Wednesday.

An Indian-origin pharmacist is accused of being at the center of the conspiracy.

The 34-count indictment alleges that 49-year old pharmacist Babubhai Patel, the beneficial owner and controller of some 26 pharmacies, concealed his ownership and control over many of the Patel Pharmacies through the use of straw owners.

The indictment alleges that Patel would offer and pay kickbacks, bribes and other inducements to physicians, in order to induce those physicians to write prescriptions for patients with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, and to direct that those prescriptions be presented to one of the Patel Pharmacies for billing.

"Today's arrests and the allegations in the indictment bring to light one of the largest diversion conspiracies ever uncovered in the state of Michigan. These individuals abused their positions of trust and endangered the lives of countless people by illegally distributing more than six million doses of opiate painkillers and depressants throughout southeast Michigan and beyond," special agent in charge of drug enforcement administration's Detroit Field Division Robert Corso said.

The indictment further alleges the individuals conspired to distribute controlled substances at the Patel pharmacies, in order to facilitate the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.

Patel and his associates paid physicians and podiatrists associated with the scheme, kickbacks and other inducements in exchange for the medical professionals writing prescriptions for controlled substances for their patients, and directing those patients to fill the prescriptions at a Patel Pharmacy.

Patel Pharmacies billed the Medicare programme not less than USD 37.7 million for medications purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries since January 2006 and not less than 20.8 million dollars for medications purportedly provided to Medicaid beneficiaries over the course of the scheme.

In addition to Patel, those named in the 34-count indictment are physician Paul Petre, pharmacists Dineshkmar Patel, Anish Bhavsar, Ashwini Sharma, Pinakeen Patel, Kartik Shah, Viral Thaker, Hiren Patel, Miteshkumar Patel, Lokeh Tayal, Narendera Cheraku and Chetan Gujarathi.

Arpitkumar Patel, Sumanray Raval, Harpreet Sachdeva, Ramesh Patel, Rana Naeem, physician Mustak Vaid, psychologist and patient recruiter Sanyani Edwards and business associate Komal Acharya have also been named in the indictment.

Medical concierge services for those traveling abroad for treatment

Aug 22, 2011, 01.22PM IST

NEW DELHI: For many Indians money is now one of the easiest things to arrange for a medical treatment trip abroad. What is incredibly challenging is the identification of hospitals & doctors, planning of the travel schedule, visa arrangement, compliance with the tax & medical related laws of the country being visited & several other nitty-gritties that take the patient's attention away from the treatment.

What is desperately needed at times like these is a personal assistant who can take charge of the smallest details - someone who knows the way around a foreign hospital, with foreign doctors, a foreign language in a foreign cultural setting. This is where medical concierge services come in.

These concierges - or one may call them medical travel facilitators - are people who take charge of the logistical aspects of the entire trip abroad. In short, he is your interface with the rest of the world on your medical treatment trip abroad.

So, what all will this person attend to? Here's a list of jobs you could typically expect a concierge to do for you:

> File medical records and make note of their special requirements on a daily basis.

> Liaison with various medical practitioners to ensure that patient receives appropriate non-medical services.

> Manage visit expectations. Help patients navigate and escort to hospital / clinic.

> Collects and verifies all pertinent information including insurance, identification, and applicable registration forms. Assist through the registration, insurance and payment processes.

> Ensure patient safety is maintained.

> Elevate patient concerns/immediate patient care needs immediately to the physician and effectively communicate to deliver superior service. Facilitate communication between families and the health care team.

> Provide a listing of local amenities for visitors and coordinate with hotels, restaurants, flower shops, airline information, car rental services, and pharmacies, etc. Provide correct direction and way finding (maps) for locations in the facility.

> Communicate helpful information regarding hospital services and local resources

> Promote new research, provides educational activities and initiate expectations for improved Guest relationships.

If you are interested, please call Mr .Talwar at +919899088843 or e-mail him at
mailto:atalwar.medicalconcierge@gmail.com

Time to send your dollars to India?

Aug 8, 2011, 10.57PM IST

The rupee touched a high of Rs 43.95 against the dollar recently. While the dollar was prompt to catch up, economists do not see a stronger dollar as a continuous trend.

Says Manika Prem Singh, promoter of economic research firm Orbis Economics, "While the currency has not been able to maintain its position at sub-44 levels, this recent level should not be seen as a one-off movement in the rupee."

A number of factors tilt the scales in favor of a stronger rupee. "The broad currency trend has been one of appreciation over time; the Reserve Bank's foreign exchange reserves accretion is a possible reflection of the underlying pressures for a rise in the rupee; foreign direct investment (FDI) has improved in 2011-12 so far and policies are finally being cobbled together for allowing FDI in multi-brand retail; and last, the subsisting weakness in the US economy will continue to translate into a stronger rupee, barring any major negative global development," Prem Singh cites.

But an appreciating rupee is definitely not good news for dollar repatriations, that is, money sent to India by NRIs based in the US. We look at various scenarios and try to address how to deal with them

What you should do

Scenario 1: For regular repatriations
Virat Diwanji, Executive Vice President, Kotak Mahindra Bank says, "Major remittance flows into India are for family maintenance, followed by investment into multiple asset classes including real estate. Sustenance remittance has no connect with exchange rates."

What this means is that if you need to send money home on a monthly basis for your family's expenses, there is little you can do about it, because you cannot really time such remittances according to the currency movements.

Scenario 2: For investment driven repatriations
If you are wondering if now is a good time to remit funds to India for investment purposes, Diwanji says, "While markets are volatile and one may see rupee in range of Rs 43- Rs 45, for those looking at investing in India, various long term asset classes including real estate looks attractive. Even NRO deposits have seen significant inflows as interest rates become more attractive. Hence looking at various asset classes and purpose for flows, one can continue to move money to India without looking at volatility. For others who want to hold money in India without investing or converting, they can do so through Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposit route and convert when they see a favorable exchange rate. Any rate north of Rs 45 is a good rate in the current scenario."

Having said that, if your plan is to remit in the near future of 3-6 months, rupee is not likely to rise significantly.

Indranil Pan, Chief Economist of Kotak Mahindra Bank explains, "With capital flows just about covering the current account deficit, scope for any material INR appreciation looks limited. However, we cannot totally rule out bouts of rupee appreciation, especially around times of huge inflows (near IPOs etc). Some dollars could also start coming in due to the deal of Reliance and BP amounting to USD 7 billion that was cleared. All this in a stable global scenario could lead to some appreciation bias for the rupee.

However, we do not consider these as sustainable appreciations." Pan expects USD/INR to remain choppy and trade in the Rs 44.00 - Rs 46.50 range for most part of this financial year.

An economist from a leading financial services firm also agrees. He says, "While the large interest rate differential will be positive for the INR, we fear that the global risk averse environment and its negative impact on equities will cap a large appreciation. Remitting funds now would be better than waiting for the next 3-6 months. However the advantage is not considerable because we do not expect too much INR appreciation in the near-term."

The more significant difference would perhaps arise over the longer term of 1-2 years. "On a longer horizon of 1-2 years, we are more positive on INR and expect it to trade in the range of 42-43.50. We expect the appreciation on the back of more capital inflows reflecting the growth differential between US and India. Given the large appreciation bias, NRIs looking to remit funds in the next 1-2 years, should remit funds now," the economist adds.

Scenario 3: Currency bets?
It might seem tempting in times like these to bet against the dollar to make a quick buck. But California based financial planner and NRI specialist with InvestmentYogi.com Ariadne Horstman cautions, "If you have a US based need for the money in the short term, better keep it in the USA. Betting on currency moves is a big gamble. I might prefer to see people investing in funds which hedge the dollar professionally rather than doing it themselves independently."

Smart options

Option 1: Currency futures
These are contracts devised to hedge risks that arise out of foreign exchange fluctuations. Experts suggest that today, one could sell the USD/INR 6 months forward date or 2 year forward date. This will help the customer hedge against currency appreciation.

To explain with an example, suppose you enter a contract to sell USD 10,000 2 years from now, at an exchange rate of Rs 43. Suppose the rupee appreciates to Rs 42, you would still be able to sell at Rs 43.

Of course, this is a very simple example. You would need to take into account other factors such as costs, counterparty risks and so on. Like Horstman says, "I would only recommend it to seasoned investors who can well afford to take the risk and know the risks. I would not recommend this to the average Joe."

Option 2: Cost effective remittances
What will the average Joe do in times such as these? Keep transaction costs as low as possible. After all, you don't want remittance costs eating into the already depreciating dollar value.

And if you plan ahead, you might have the benefit of time on your side. That is, you may be able to opt for lower cost remittance methods even though they may take a few days longer.

Read this for help on remittance options: Easy options for sending money to India and abroad

Whatever you do, Diwanji says, "It is advisable to look at the purpose of sending money (investment v/s sustenance) and take a decision accordingly. Further, it is also advisable to talk to your banker and seek advice on the quantum of remittance and the timing."

NRI woes on surrendering Indian passports

Aug 9, 2011, 04.32PM IST

Many non-resident Indians (NRIs) say they are facing problems because of the formalities they now have to face while surrendering their Indian passports to acquire US citizenship.

"It is mind boggling how much paperwork they have added for someone born in India to revisit India," lamented NRI Padma Golla from Houston, US. She was among scores of NRIs reacting to the IANS report about India lowering the fee for surrender of Indian passports in early July.

Rules regarding surrender of Indian passports on attaining US citizenship, introduced by India's Ministry of External Affairs in May 2010, were relaxed from June 1, 2011, after strong pressure by NRIs.

Indian consulates used to charge $175 as fee for the surrender of old Indian passports and additional penalties for various "violations". The fee has now been reduced to just $20.

"I am being put in a difficult situation where I can't get a visa while my kid has one and I can't travel with my kid who just needed an American passport with an application for a visa," Golla added.

Many Indian consulates still have no idea about the announcement.

The consulates in countries other than the US are not sure if this new ruling applied to NRIs with British and other passports. The websites of many consulates show the higher, outdated fees.

Kawal Gupta from Toronto had a similar problem. He wrote: "I heard on radio that the fees for surrender of Indian passport after obtaining the citizenship of other country has been reduced to $20 but when I called VFS (visa processing office), they said they have not heard of any such change and that I should submit my forms with the fees of $175."

Till mid-July, the visa processing office insisted on charging a higher fee from Kawal who has four passports to cancel, which means paying about $700.

Sanjay Zala of Houston, Texas (US), who became a Canadian citizen in 2006, said Trasvisa Outsourcing, which handles visa requests from the United States, insists he pay a penalty of $250 because he did not surrender his Indian passport within a year.

He made representations to the Indian ministry of external affairs, ministry of overseas Indian affairs, senior officers and the Indian consulate in the US, but to no avail.

In his letter to the ministry, he wrote, "By paying penalty and Overseas Citizenship of India fees together, is the government of India really interested to increase the interest of NRIs and their investment in India?"

"And by imposing this penalty, is the government really doing a favour to NRIs to visit India and obtain Overseas Citizenship of India?" he asked.

"I have many thousands of names of the people who became foreign nationals before 2005 and kept their valid Indian passports for over three years. On renouncing their Indian citizenship, they did not pay any penalty," Zala added.

"Why have the consular officers abroad not drawn any attention about this to the ministry of external affairs? Why is there a gross discrimination against those who became foreign nationals after 2005 with valid Indian passports?" he asked.

Zala has not received any replies.

Tilak Sen and Raamprasad in Britain found it difficult to convince the Indian consulates that British passport holders should also pay the lower penalty.

Clarence Gomes from Mississauga, Canada, wrote that the previous rule was that anyone who obtained citizenship before May 2010 had to pay only $20 to obtain a surrender certificate but those who obtained citizenship after May 2010 had to pay $175.

Gomes wrote, "There are many like me who obtained Canadian citizenship in March 2011, does it mean that I have to still pay $175 for the surrender of my Indian passport? If so, there is no change in the policy as I understand it. We will appreciate if the correct policy is confirmed as it is still not clear to many Indians who have recently been granted citizenship of another country."

Gomes sent letters to the local TV stations, newspapers and the Indian consulate in Toronto and the ministries of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs but with no response.

Indian American politicians rake in cash

Aug 12, 2011,

WASHINGTON: Indian American candidates are emerging as a fundraising force for the 2012 US elections, raking in cash from a well-heeled and tight-knit community seeking to expand its political influence, according to a media report.

While Indian Americans have established themselves in a wide range of professional fields over the last half-century, matching that success in politics has proved elusive, Politico, an influential Washington newspaper, reported.

The current crop of prolific Indian-American cash-raisers include congressional hopefuls like Ami Bera, a California physician, Raja Krishnamoorthi, a former Illinois deputy state treasurer, and 24-year-old Ricky Gill, a University of California at Berkeley law student, Politico said.

Bera has raised over $545,000 this year and is one of the top-grossing Democratic candidates in the country, Gill hauled in $446,000 during the second quarter and Krishnamoorthi raised $400,000 plus during the same period.

In establishing their campaigns, the candidates are benefiting from a built-in base of donors who are invested in their political fortunes, Politico said.

It's a donor network that allows Indian American contenders to rack up impressive fundraising hauls early in their efforts, it said, citing those involved with the campaigns.

However, to date just two Indian Americans have been elected to Congress: Dalip Singh Saund, a California Democrat who served in the House from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, and now-Louisiana's Republican governor Bobby Jindal, who served from 2004 to 2007, it noted.

Indian Americans had a taste of success in 2010, when South Carolina Republican Nikki Haley, who is of Sikh heritage, became the second Indian American governor in US history; and California Democrat Kamala Harris, who is half Indian, was elected state attorney general.

But each of the six Indian Americans, including Pennsylvania Democrat Manan Trivedi and Kansas Democrat Raj Goyle, waging congressional campaigns fell short.

New York Democrat Reshma Saujani, the first Indian American woman to run for Congress, lost big in a primary against Carolyn Maloney.

NRI body wants offshore account disclosure deadline extended

Aug 12, 2011, 09.40PM IST

TORONTO: The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has sought extension of the deadline for Indian-Americans to disclose their offshore accounts from Aug 31 to Dec 31.

"We are meeting the US income-tax commissioner for extension of the deadline to December 31 because the information was not properly advertised for people holding overseas accounts to disclose this to the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS). We are making people aware to disclose this information before the penalties kick in," GOPIO president Inder Singh, who was here to launch the Toronto chapter of the global body, told IANS Friday.

GOPIO has also sought reduction in penalty for those disclosing their offshore accounts above $10,000.

It said the penalty of 25 percent of the highest balance during the year under the FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) was "a bit too much".

"US citizens holding offshore accounts are also required to disclose their IT returns and the interest earned on their offshore accounts for the past eight years - starting from 2003," the GOPIO president said.

The GOIPO is also seeking the limit to be increased to $250,000 as $10,000 is too small an amount, he said.

"Even if the annual cost of living since the limit of $10,000 was fixed is taken into consideration, the exemption figure should easily go up to $50,000."

The GOPIO president estimated that more than 100,000 Indian-Americans could be holding offshore accounts. There are more than 2.8 million Indians in the US.

"The number of those holding overseas accounts could go up if you include Indians in the US on work visa. They have bank accounts in India, but they have to disclose these if they work in the US for more than six months in a year," he said.

GOPIO has 76 chapters in about two dozen countries. Toronto is its first chapter in Canada.

11 US varsities selected for partnership programmes with India

Aug 13, 2011, 10.31PM IST

WASHINGTON: Eleven prestigious US colleges and universities have been selected for partnership programme with India as part of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative.

An announcement to this effect came ahead of the scheduled India-US Education Summit in Washington in October.

Selected educational institutions are Fort Hays State University, George Mason University, Northern Illinois University, Queens College ( City University of New York), Rollins College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Suffolk University, Thomas College, University of Kentucky, University of Oregon and the University of Montana, the Institute of International Education (IIE) has announced.

Each institution has made a commitment to form a campus-wide task force to work on prospective partnerships, conduct an institution-wide inventory of activities pertaining to India and develop a strategic plan focused on partnership with India, IIE said.

The Knowledge Initiative between the US and India, which was announced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to America last year, is aimed at developing faculty for select institutions like new IITs.

The initiative will provide USD 10 million in combined funding to increase university linkages and support junior faculty development between US and Indian universities.

"Higher education is an important area of the strategic partnership between the United States and India because of its impact on fostering collaboration on critical issues that we face today," said IIE President Allan E Goodman.

"This new phase of the International Academic Partnership Programme and the strong group of campuses will strengthen the educational ties between our two nations and pave the way for students from both countries to gain important international perspective," Goodman said.

"We aim to support the Obama-Singh goal to advance the US -India global partnership for the benefit of their countries, for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, and for the betterment of the world," Goodman said.

The International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) has been launched with an initial two-year grant from the US Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).

"India is a country of enormous importance today, and we have not had a coordinated approach to our involvement with it and its higher education institutions," said Perry Brown, University of Montana provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"India and its institutions are logical partners for the University because of the growing number of Indian students who come to the US and because UM has areas of academic strength increasingly important to developing countries such as India," said Peter Baker, the international development programme officer for University of Montana International Programmes.

Visa fraud victims hit dead end to reclaim money

After Healthyway, it’s the turn of Jet Placement Services to face wrath of job seekers

Mohali, August 22
Unable to find a job in the country despite being an MBA from Punjab Technical University, Hardeep, a Patiala resident, took out a loan of Rs 2 lakh from a “commission agent” to pay a Mohali-based firm, Jet International Placement Services, to get a work permit for Switzerland. However, his dream was shattered when he read in newspapers about several cases of fraud being slapped against the firm’s proprietors.

“I was twice told by company officials that my money would be refunded and on three separate occasions I was given dates to come and collect it. But today (Monday) I found the firm’s office locked with no none around to respond to my queries”, said Hardeep, who had come along with his friends. The latter had also paid anything between Rs 40,000 and Rs 3 lakh to the firm to obtain work visas for Canada and other countries.
Meanwhile, in belated action, the local police has so far filed over 30 cases of cheating against the firm’s owners, Deepak Arora and Karandeep Singh, for failing to arrange work permits for their clients. Both are currently absconding. Another victim, Harmandeep of Sodan Kalan village in Moga district, who also came to Mohali looking for company officials, said he had paid Rs 1 lakh to Jet Point Immigration Consultancy Services, another firm owned by the proprietors of Jet International Placement Services, to get a Canadian work visa.
As the day progressed, a number of people whom the firm had allegedly cheated, and who had come from all over Punjab, began gathering outside the firm’s Phase 5 office to get back their money. All had been given the date of August 22 to get their refunds, but when they turned up at the firm’s office they found the doors locked and the proprietors nowhere in sight. “When we went to the police we were told our money would be recovered once the suspects were arrested”, said Kulwant Singh from Amritsar, one of the fraud victims.
The police said the employees were interrogated about the procedure that was followed by the firm while processing a large number of visa applications. They were also questioned about the agents involved and the reasons as to why visas of their clients were being rejected.

“The questioning was done to gather details about the exact modus operandi adopted by the accused and to obtain the identity of all those who formed part of the conspiracy. The employees were basically involved in bringing clients and convincing them to process their applications for migration overseas,” said Joshi.

Besides, the police also recovered a number of documents from the Sector 42 office of the company, including passports and visa applications.
A police team has been sent to all 14 banks in the region, which are under the scanner for conniving with the accused while opening fake bank accounts of their clients. The fake accounts were opened to enable the clients to fulfill requirements laid down by various high commissions/ embassies to qualify for a visa considering that the applicants were required to show that they had sufficient funds in their banks while applying for student visas. The police said they would be sending a letter to the Protector of Immigrants office tomorrow seeking blacklisting of the firm.
The FIR, registered at the Sector 36 police station, has named firm employees Kuldeep and Seema Dogra among others.
When we insisted our money be returned, we were threatened by bouncers engaged by the firm. — Pavitar Singh

The police was swift to apprehend one of the angry victims who carted away computers at the firm’s office, but failed to arrest Deepak Arora and Karandeep Singh, the company’s proprietors. — Gurdeep Kaur Harmandeep Singh
When we went to the police, we were told our money would be recovered once the suspects were arrested. — Kulwant Singh
I paid Rs 1 lakh to Jet Point Immigration Consultancy, another firm owned by the proprietors of Jet International Placement, to get a Canadian visa. — Harmandeep Singh

‘Modus operandi’ adopted by firm

First hand accounts given by the fraud victims reveal that to win over the confidence of visa seekers, the firm not only released advertisements on TV channels and billboards but also signed an advisory services agreement with the visa seekers on stamp paper to lend credibility to the exercise. On the receipts of fees the company officials specifically mentioned “If this work is not done this amount is totally refundable”.
Sukhdev Singh from Patiala, one of the fraud victims, said the firm used to ask for anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 4 lakh as “token” money to process a case for a work visa. Most victims returned to get a refund after paying the token money as the visas could not be arranged. “When we insisted our money be returned we were threatened by bouncers engaged by the firm”, said Pavitar Singh.

Cops accused of conniving with firm

The gullible visa seekers who gathered at the firm’s Phase 5 office in Mohali accused the local police of failing to take action on their complaints that had been filed since January this year, giving ample time to the firm’s owners to swindle them of crores of rupees. Citing just one instance, Gurdeep Kaur, one of the fraud victims, claimed: “The police was swift to apprehend one of the angry victims who carted away computers at the firm’s office, but failed to arrest Deepak Arora and Karandeep Singh, the company’s proprietors. The cops have now suddenly woken up and have filed over 30 cases while the criminals have slipped away with our money. If the Chandigarh police can arrest the owner of Healthyway Immigration Consultants Pvt. Ltd, another firm that allegedly duped visa seekers, the Mohali police has ample resources at its command to track down the owners of Jet International Placement Services”.

Source: TNS 

Delhi rekindles interest in Iran gas project

New Delhi, August 22
Notwithstanding American pressure, New Delhi is showing renewed interest in the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline. Official sources denied that India was reluctant to pursue the ambitious IPI project and was now keen on an early fruition of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline.
“We are an energy-deficient country…to sustain our high growth rate and ensure energy security, we need energy from every possible source,’’ they added.
The clarification came following reports that Iran is peeved with India for virtually abandoning the IPI pipeline and joining the US-backed TAPI project.
Tehran has gone on record saying that it was no longer holding talks with India on the IPI pipeline but has signed a bilateral accord with Pakistan on the project. It has also from time to time given firm indications that China was too keen to replace India in the project. Pakistan also wants China, its ‘all weather friend’, to join the project.
The Indian sources sought to dispel the impression that Washington had been exerting pressure on India not to pursue the IPI pipeline in view of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.
The US has never told the Indian government that it did not want the IPI natural gas pipeline to be built. "They have said it isn't a good thing in public but never to us directly - possibly because they know the reply they will get." the sources added.
They said various important issues, like pricing of gas, delivery point of gas, project structure, payment of transportation tariff and transit fee for passage of natural gas through Pakistan and security of supply had still not been sorted out as far as the IPI project was concerned. “Once our concerns are addressed satisfactorily, we will have no hesitation in going ahead with the project.’’
Asked how the TAPI pipeline would be more viable for India than the IPI project, which was being negotiated since the nineties, the officials New Delhi had no problem with either of the projects.
TAPI project is said to be moving forward fast following the signing of an enabling agreement last year. It has overcome some earlier concerns, including technical feasibility of crossing some of the world's highest mountains and concerns about the size of Turkmenistan's gas reserves.
If completed, the Turkmenistan pipeline would also allow India to tap into the gas fields of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well.

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਅਹਿਮ ਰੋਲ ਰਹੇਗਾ-ਜੱਸੀ ਖੰਗੂੜਾ

ਲੰਡਨ, 22 ਅਗਸਤ (ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਆ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਜਿੱਤ ਹਾਰ ਦੇ ਨਤੀਜਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਅਹਿਮ ਰੋਲ ਰਹੇਗਾ, ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਮਸਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਆਉਣ 'ਤੇ ਪਹਿਲ ਦੇ ਆਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਹੱਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਯਤਨ ਹੋਣਗੇ। ਇਹ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਊਥਾਲ ਦੇ ਮੌਨਸੂਨ ਹਾਲ ਵਿਖੇ ਸ: ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੇਅਰ ਈਲਿੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਰੱਖੇ ਇਕ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਰਾਏਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਜੱਸੀ ਖੰਗੂੜਾ ਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਤੇ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ, ਆਤਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੇਖੋਂ ਪਮਾਲ, ਕਮਲ ਜੀ, ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਾਊ, ਪੌਲ ਬੇਦੀ, ਸ: ਭੰਵਰਾ, ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਦਿ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਦੌੜਾ, ਜਸਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਥਿੰਦ, ਕੁਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧਵਾਂ ਬੇਟ, ਪ੍ਰਭਜੋਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਿੱਟੂ ਮੋਹੀ, ਬਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ, ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੂਜਾਪੁਰ, ਸੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੈਨੀਪਾਲ, ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ, ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਾੜ, ਕਰਮਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੁੱਸਾ, ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ, ਕਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਖੰਗੂੜਾ, ਕਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਆਦਿ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਸਨ।

ਭਾਰਤੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਨੂੰ ਦਸ ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ

ਮੈਲਬੌਰਨ, 22 ਅਗਸਤ (ਸਰਤਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਧੌਲ)-ਭਾਰਤੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ 25 ਸਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਦਸ ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਕੰਟਰੀ ਕੋਰਟ 'ਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੇ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ 'ਤੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੇ 2009 'ਚ ਮੈਰਟਿਨ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ ਟਰੱਕ ਨੂੰ ਓਵਰਟੇਕ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਟੱਕਰ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਕਾਰ 'ਚ ਸਵਾਰ ਇਕੋ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਆਦਮੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਟਰੱਕ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਸ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਕਾਰ ਬੇਕਾਬੂ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਉਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਬੈਠੇ ਅਮਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਾਫੀ ਸੱਟਾਂ ਲੱਗੀਆਂ ਸਨ। ਕੰਟਰੀ ਕੋਰਟ ਦੇ ਜੱਜ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਵੀਜ਼ੇ 'ਤੇ ਇਥੇ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਮੁੱਕਣ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਸ਼ ਨਿਕਾਲਾ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕੋਲ ਇਥੋਂ ਦਾ ਲਾਇਸੰਸ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਹਾਦਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਹ ਟੈਕਸੀ ਚਲਾਉਂਦਾ ਸੀ। ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਨੇ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਕੋਲੋਂ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਮੰਗੀ ਤੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਾਪੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਆ ਜਾਣ ਤਾਂ। ਜੱਜ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਦਸ ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਸੁਣਾਈ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਸੱਤ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ।

ਕਾਮਾਗਾਟਾਮਾਰੂ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਚਿੱਤਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਨਿਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੀਲਿਆ

ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ, 22 ਅਗਸਤ (ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ)- ਕਾਮਾਗਾਟਾਮਾਰੂ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੇ ਚਿੱਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ ਵਿਚ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਖਿੱਚ ਦਾ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਚਿੱਤਰਕਾਰ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਲੇਖਕ ਅਜਮੇਰ ਰੋਡੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਲਿਖਤਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਆਧਾਰਿਤ ਕੈਰਾਟਿਨ ਆਰਟ ਗੈਲਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਲੱਗੀ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ ਦੇ ਉਦਘਾਟਨੀ ਸਮਾਰੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਚਿੰਤਕ ਤੇ ਲੇਖਕ ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਪਰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੀ ਗਾਥਾ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੇ ਚਿੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਿਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਤੇ ਅਜਮੇਰ ਰੋਡੇ ਨੇ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਗੱਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਅਜਮੇਰ ਰੋਡੇ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਕਾਮਾਗਾਟਾਮਾਰੂ ਦੇ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਦੋਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਦਿਲਚਸਪੀ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਖਾਲਸਾ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਕਾਬਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਹੁੰਦਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਵਿਰਾਸਤੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਤਾਬਦੀ ਸਮਾਰੋਹਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਲੱਗੀ ਇਹ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਵਧੀਆ ਉੱਦਮ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਕਲਗੀਧਰ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਕੀਤੇ। ਅਖੀਰ ਵਿਚ ਚਿੱਤਰਕਾਰ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਸਾਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਤਸਵੀਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਤਾਬੀ ਰੂਪ ਵਿਚ ਛਾਪਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਕੈਰਾਟਿਨ ਆਰਟ ਗੈਲਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਚਿੱਤਰਕਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਿਰਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਨੁਮਾਇਸ਼ ਲੱਗੀ। ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਕਲਸੀ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਵੀ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਅਜਮੇਰ ਰੋਡੇ ਦੇ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਉੱਦਮ ਹੀ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਵਿਚ ਕਿਸੇ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਗਰਾਂਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਈ ਗਈ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਉੱਘੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਖ਼ਸੀਅਤਾਂ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕਾਰਲੀ ਮੀਨੇਗ, ਪੁਲਿਸ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ, ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਤਲੇ, ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ, ਮਨਦੀਪ ਵਿਰਕ, ਕੈਲੀ ਚਾਹਲ, ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੈਂਸ, ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੰਦਾ, ਸਾਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਧੇਰ ਆਦਿ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਸਨ।

Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton passes away

By The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – 3 hours ago
OTTAWA - Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has died.

The party issued a statement this morning, just weeks after a gaunt Layton held a news conference to announce he was fighting a second bout of cancer.

The party says Layton died peacefully at 4:45 a.m. ET today at his Toronto home, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Funeral details have not yet been announced.

Like some political Moses, Jack Layton led his people out of the wilderness, only to die within sight of his own Promised Land.

In the preface to his 2006 book, "Speaking Out Louder," Layton wrote a passage that turned out to be eerily prescient:

"Oftentimes, life's highs and lows are inextricably linked. That has certainly happened to me and, occasionally, the ups and downs were virtually simultaneous."

In eight years as leader of the NDP he took his party to heady heights, but fell himself to a tragic disease at the age of 61.

The end came with a terse announcement.

"We deeply regret to inform you that the honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday August 22," said the statement from his wife, Olivia Chow, and children, Sarah and Michael.

"He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones."

NRI News Headlines

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articlelist/7098563.cms

US rejects Indian-Americans' plea on disclosing offshore accounts

IANS | Aug 18, 2011, 05.59PM IST

WASHINGTON: The US Treasury Department has turned down the Indian-American community's plea to extend the deadline for disclosing offshore accounts from Aug 31 to Dec 31 and reduction in penalties for non-disclosure.

"At this time, we do not contemplate granting an across-the-board deadline extension for all taxpayers," the department said in response to a letter to US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner by Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) in June.

Turning down GOPIO's plea for the reduction in penalties, it said the 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) "provides a way for taxpayers with undeclared assets offshore to resolve their tax problems."

Referring to GOPIO's complaint that the OVDI has not been publicised in ethnic newspapers and other community media in multiple languages, the Department said it had promoted OVDI awareness by posting information about the OVDI in eight foreign languages, including Hindi, on IRS.GOV.

"We have also released information through traditional media, both national and local, as well as social media websites such as Twitter. We will continue this extensive outreach effort as the August 31, 2011, deadline nears," it said.

The Indian community groups, however, have decided to keep up their efforts for reconsideration by the Treasury and relief as requested in a July 19 letter submitted to President Barack Obama, GOPIO said.

Four organizations spearheading the move are GOPIO, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).

More Indian students seek admission in US

 Aug 19, 2011, 09.11PM IST


WASHINGTON: Reversing recent trends, prospective graduate students from India seekingadmission in US institutions increased eight percent in 2011 after increasing just one percent in 2010, according to a new survey.

Ahead of India, however, were China which recorded double-digit increases in applications (21 percent) and the Middle East and Turkey (16 percent), according to the survey by Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

Overall the number of prospective international students increased 11 percent between 2010 and 2011 with the rate of increase for fall 2011 outpacing that of the last four years.

Offers of admission to prospective graduate students from India too rose 8 percent in 2011, the first increase to occur since 2007, the survey noted.

For prospective graduate students from India, applications increased for the second year in a row and offers of admission increased for the first time since 2007.

These figures suggest that the recent trends for India and South Korea are reversing and that the numbers of these students in US graduate schools will once again increase, CGS said.

US has always been a popular destination for Indians and has become even more popular due to larger shifts in the other options available to Indian students, said Rahul Choudaha, director of development & innovation with World Education Services.

Of the 185,000 Indian students enrolled in higher education institutions abroad, US leads with a share of nearly 55 percent of all Indian students followed by Britain and Australia, according toUNESCO data, he noted.

Majority of Indian students enrol at graduate programmes, especially in engineering related fields, Choudaha said.

According to National Science Foundation 57 percent of all Indian students in the US were enrolled at master's level programme in engineering and computer science in 2009.

An interesting trend for this year is higher acceptance of Indian students by institutions outside top-100.

Number of applications from Indian students to institutions outside top-100 has increased by 6 per cent, however, number of offers by institutions has increased by 12 per cent, indicating higher willingness of institutions to accept Indian students, Choudaha said.
Source: TOI

Indian-Americans urge PM to table Anna's Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament

PTI | Aug 22, 2011, 09.57AM IST
WASHINGTON: A group of Indian-Americans has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet the demands of social activist Anna Hazare by himself tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Parliament.

"We hope you will take the call and retain the faith in parliament by yourself going ahead with tabling the Janlokpal bill to end the deadlock. Whatever decisions you make today will be remembered in our history for generations to come," said a petition submitted to him at the Indian embassy here.

Holding their protest in support of Hazare for the sixth consecutive day, the group, including students from universities in and around Washington said corruption is the greatest hurdle in the progress of India.

"Since decades we have seen scandals after scandals, but no politician was ever punished or held accountable," they said, "Anti-corruption activist Shri Anna Hazare has entered sixth day of his 'anshan' and there is still a deadlock between the government and the civil society members. There have been no positive developments in the past few days."

"We along with Anna are quite clear what we want, but the government is still confused. Strong 'political will' to fight corruption is the need of the hour.

Government must come clean on it's intentions and at least table the Jan Lokpal bill in the parliament. We do have faith in our parliamentary system and are proud of our vibrant democracy, so what's the harm in at least tabling the bill? What's there in it for the government to lose?" the petition said.

"This movement has moved beyond Anna and Jan Lokpal Bill. Middle class is rallying there for a cause which has been bothering them for decades. By placing a toothless bill, government 'intent' is exposed.

For days to come, we have to keep our finger crossed as a new history is in making!" said Vibhash Jha, a PhD student at the University of Maryland.

Chandigarh-based law firm to aid aviation operators

 Enters into affiliation with Donald H Bunker & Associates

Chandigarh, August 20
In a development that is bound to raise interest among players in the aviation sector across the region, a Chandigarh-based law firm, today entered into an affiliation with Donald H. Bunker and Associates, one of the few firms specialising exclusively in aviation law in the world and the only aviation law firm in the Arabian Gulf.
Ian P Veall, representing Donald H Bunker and Associates, Dubai, was in Chandigarh today to formally establish the affiliation between the two law firms.
Highlighting the services that would be rendered through this affiliation, Veall, who is a British lawyer practising as an international lawyer in Dubai, said: “There are several issues that airlines encounter like those concerning insurance, finances and other issues pertaining to services and its employees where the companies require assistance and advice apart from its in house legal system. We are primarily into providing legal support in areas that are non-contentious.”
Representatives of the two law firms added that the aviation market was forecasted to grow at exponential rates over the next two decades. The law firms are well placed to meet and exceed the requirements of aviation operators (commercial, corporate and private), governmental authorities and related organisations in India and abroad. As part of the affiliation, the firms also intend to initiate a series of lectures open to representatives from within the Indian aviation industry covering a range of topics, including aviation law, insurance and finance under the guidance of Dr Donald H Bunker, currently an adjunct professor of law at McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law in Montreal.
The signing of the affiliation agreement, which took place at Chandigarh, was presided over by Scott Slessor, Consul General of Canada and Justice SS Sodhi.

Healthyway agents still active

Claim office to reopen in 10 days

Chandigarh, August 20
Though he has allegedly raked in crores by duping clients across the region on fake promises of easy migration overseas, the owner of Healthyway Immigration seems to have learnt no lesson from the police action taken against him.
Even as the police sealed the office last Saturday, four agents of the company sitting outside the locked office in Sector 42 are still telling their clients that they will resume the work after 10 days. Some of the clients have also been told that the police will not take any action against them and no more cases will be registered now as a settlement has been effected. Scores of clients of the company daily throng the Sector 42 office of the consultancy as they have been left in the lurch and are looking for their passports, which they had deposited with the company.
Rajiv, a resident of Jalandhar, who came to the consultancy, said the agents told him that he should come back after 10 days. “When I asked them about the police case against them, they told me that Ravi Kakkar, the accused’s father, will run the firm and I can then complete my application for visa,” he said. “To my surprise, the agents said they are not affected by police action at all and will run the firm smoothly,” he added.

POLICE CONDUCTS RAIDS

The UT Police on Saturday conduced raids at various places to arrest the co-accused in the case involving fraud by Healthyway Immigration. The police raided the Dhanas residence of Kuldeep, who was an employee at the firm and had, according to the police, connived with the prime accused, Amit Kakkar, in duping scores of youths on false promises of easy migration abroad. However, Kuldeep is absconding and could not be arrested. The police has now zeroed in on Kuldeep after investigations brought to light that he was allegedly the brain behind the fraud. While Amit Kakkar was the beneficiary of all profits as he owned the company, it was Kuldeep who, the police claim, forged documents and succeeded in duping scores of youths.
Source: TNS

HEALTHYWAY FRAUD

2 yrs, 150 complaints, no action Police facilitated compromise, failed to register case

Chandigarh, August 20
Speaking volumes about the police inefficiency, cops at the Sector 36 police station failed to act in over 150 complaints that were received against the owner of Healthyway Immigration in Sector 42 in the past two years.
While seven cases have been registered against Healthyway owner Amit Kakkar earlier this week, sources said the police had been receiving complaints against the consultancy all these years. However, all of these have resulted in a compromise.
The consultancy has been functioning from Sector 42 since 2005 when it got a licence. The volumes of complaints against the consultancy that poured in all these years have put the role of the police under the scanner and reflect shoddy policing. The police never bothered to investigate these cases on whether or not the immigration firm was genuine and had emphasised only on mutual settlements. Sources allege that the owner of the firm enjoyed police patronage.
Amit Kakkar has been accused of forging bank documents while applying for visas for clients. As many as 14 banks are under the scanner where the owner opened fake bank accounts of their clients.
Police officials said in most of the complaints where visa applications used to get rejected, the affected party used to urge for refund and the police would successfully assist in reaching a compromise. However, the police never bothered to find the reason for the large number of complaints received against the consultancy and have acted only after a foreign mission informed them that their documents were fake.
Source: TNS, Chandigarh