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IIT-Kharagpur fetes ‘conman’, later files FIR

• The Statesman
• 24 Aug 2014

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 23 AUG: In a queer case, IIT Kharagpur felicitated a person, who claimed to be an alumnus and Director, Corporate Finance at Deutsche Bank, but soon came to know from various sources that he was a conman. He was felicitated during the IIT’s 63rd foundation day celebrations on 18 August.
The man - Vijay Kumar, who also claimed to be an ex-Vice President of Microsoft, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur (2003 batch) from E&ECE Department and IIM, Ahmedabad (2005 batch) even proposed to donate Rs 1.56 crore towards some Institute initiatives which were announced by the Institute at the foundation day function.
Later, the IIT authorities received information from various sources alleging that the credentials of this person appear to be questionable and false. Accordingly, IIT Kharagpur filed an FIR with local police authorities urging them to investigate the identity and credentials of this person.
The incident comes at a time when the IIT, KGP authorities are planning to set up a sophisticated digitalised ‘Hall of Fame’ to document the evolution of the IIT system and record contributions of everyone associated with it.To make the people and IITians  aware of the fraudster, the institute’s registrar Mr T K Ghosal put up the fact in the notice board urging “all concerned not to be influenced by any projected details or any presentation on the association of this individual with IIT Kharagpur”. When asked Mr Ghosal said, “The man first approached us claiming to be an alumnus. As we always give special treatment to our alumni, we announced his name in the function where he proposed to donate a huge sum of money towards some Institute initiatives. Later, we were alerted about his credentials from our sources and then we filed a complaint against him with the local police authorities”.
Ms Bharati Ghosh, SP, West Midnapore said, “We have received a complaint from IIT authorities and have started a probe into the matter. We are trying to establish his real identity and locate his whereabouts. But, it is also surprising how the IIT authorities even felicitated a man without checking his credentials and identity.”
As soon as news spread in the IIT faculties, numerous mails were circulated among the IITians who later found that the man pulled off a similar scam some years ago. According to reports, the accused man, who allegedly posed as Microsoft Vice President and cheated several students by promising them admissions in IITs, was arrested in New Delhi in 2010.
He was apprehended from Najafgarh following investigations into a complaint filed by a victim Rajiv Ranjan Kumar from Bihar that he was cheated of Rs Rs. 3.11 lakh by the accused who promised admission to his son in IIT-Kharagpur.
During interrogation, it was revealed, Vijay Kumar used to target IIT aspirants and influence them by showing fake degrees and projecting him as an engineer and an IIT-Kg topper.

Bengal

Contai woman’s death: Autopsy report suggests suicide

• The Statesman

• 20 Aug 2014

Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Contai, 19 August
Amidst the controversy over the death of a CPI-M leader’s wife at Sunia village in Contai where the family members alleged that the woman was tortured, gang-raped and murdered by the Trinamul Congress backed goons, the post-mortem report, however, suggests that the woman had committed suicide.
“There was no wound in the body, no injury marks in her secret parts and her death was due to hanging. This was the report of the post-mortem report which we have received this afternoon,” said Mr Sukesh Kumar Jain, SP, East Midnapore.
Mr Jain also said: “Though prima facie evidence suggested the victim was not sexually assaulted and committed suicide, we arrested three people and booked them on charges of abetment to suicide last night. They were produced before the additional chief judicial magistrate court in Contai today where the magistrate remanded them in police custody for five days.”
But local CPI-M leaders and family members alleged that the post-mortem report has been slanted at the behest of Trinamul Congress leaders. As some TMC workers and leaders are directly involved with this case, there was an effort to show it as merely a suicide case. The doctor who was to conduct the post-mortem was changed all of a sudden and another doctor conducted the post-mortem, alleged the CPI-M leaders.
The body of a CPI-M leader’s wife was found hanging from the ceiling of the verandah of her two-storied mud-house yesterday. The family alleged that the woman was dragged out of her house, paraded naked, gang-raped and then murdered, allegedly by TMC workers, on Sunday night. In the written complaint, a CPI-M local committee member, who is staying outside the village along with his son and brothers since 2011 after the change of guard in the state as TMC supporters allegedly threatened him with dire consequences, charged that the victim had been raped and killed.

Bengal

Flood causes loss of 100 crore

• The Statesman
• 15 Aug 2014

District administration report says around 2 lakh people have been affected in the floods
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Tamluk, 14 August
The flood situation in eight blocks of East Midnapore is grim, with agriculture and property worth as much as Rs 100 crores damaged.
The situation has particularly worsened due to incessant rains, triggered by a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, during the last seven days. The local Met office sources said the rains will continue for another 24 hours before the weather improves.
As a result, millions of people living in Contai-I, II and III, Khejuri-I and II, Egra-II, Ramnagar-II and Bhagwanpur-II blocks in the district have been affected with swelling river water overflowing the banks and entering the villages. Besides, there was severe waterlogging in many coastal areas due to continuous rains, affecting thousands of residents.
The district administration has already alerted the concerned government officials of these eight blocks to meet all exigencies.
“The BDOs of these blocks have been asked to evacuate the people from low lying areas and make arrangements for free kitchens for the affected people.  A total of 200 rescue-center has been set up where more than 10000 people are staying,” said a senior administrative officer.
The Chief Minister has asked the concerned departments to keep watch on the weak river embankments by deploying mobile teams in these areas, adequate stocks of fodder and make arrangements for supply of drinking water and health services, the official said.
The farmers are facing severe difficulties as paddy seedlings have been damaged by the floods. Left with no other option, they have now turned to the government for assistance. The farmers have threatened to launch a massive agitation, if the state government denies them compensation.
“Last year also during the floods, many hectares of paddy fields perished. But, we are yet to receive any compensation. This year, we are facing similar losses due to floods, but we are not sure whether the state government will compensate us or not. If the situation continues, we will launch agitation,” said Mr Prasun Bera, a farmer from Khejuri.
According to the assessment report prepared by the district agriculture and horticulture departments, the total loss has been estimated at around Rs 100 crores, of which major losses have been incurred from the damage to crops, seedlings, flowers and ornamental leaves.
The district agriculture department, however, has not mentioned the losses in monetary terms, but officials said the loss would be around Rs 50 crore.
Similarly, the district horticulture department has assessed the damages caused to flower plants, betel vines and vegetables. They have estimated the loss at around Rs 35 crore.
According to its reports, the heavy downpours have damaged 50,000 hectares of agricultural land, 1,200 hectares of flowers and 800 hectares of betel vines worth of Rs 3.67 crore. Meanwhile, people involved with fisheries are facing worst as most of the ponds and water bodies have been washed away by the flood waters.
According to the district administration report, around 2 lakh people have been affected in the floods so far. A total of 10,000 houses have either collapsed or partially damaged.
In view of the scale of devastation, the district administration has appealed to the state government for funds and to extend help in relief assistance and support for the eventual reconstruction effort in the affected areas.

Bengal

VU prof’s e-mail account hacked

• The Statesman
• 07 Aug 2014

Police unable to trace the hacker as yet
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Midnapore, 6 August
The e-mail account of a professor at Vidyasagar University, who had lodged a complaint with the police and vigilance commissioner against the former Vice-Chancellor for his misappropriation of public fund, was hacked by an unknown person.
The Kotwali police in West Midnapore have initiated a case based on the complaint lodged by Dr.Abhijit Guha, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology at Vidyasagar University regarding the hacking of his two e-mail IDs on the same day as early as 5 February, 2014, when he was attending a conference at the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata, but the investigating police officials were unable to detect the hacker till today. The case was lodged under sections 65/ 66/66C of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008. Dr. Guha alleged that he could not access his two e-mails acconts abhijitguhavu@rediffmail.com and abhijitguhavu@yahoo.com which he was using since 2002.
In his complaints to Ms Bharati Ghosh, SP, West Midnapur Dr. Guha also alleged that the hacking took place after he lodged successive complaints from his e-mail ID abhijitguhavu@rediffmail.com to the State Vigilance Commissioner  and the Inspector General of Police, West Bengal regarding the misappropriation of public funds and impersonation perpetrated by Mr. Swapan Kumar Pramanick, the former Vice-Chancellor of Vidyasagar University under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
It may be recalled that in a recent period the Vidyasagar University authorities have realised Rs 1,14,685 from the arrear  salary of the former Vice-Chancellor in connection with a misappropriation done by Mr.Pramanick only after Dr.Guha had lodged a complaint against the former VC with the IG and SP of West Midnapore on 5 November 2013.
Mr Pramanick, who was close to the former CPI-M state leadership, had enjoyed two successive terms from 2003-2011.The delay in conducting investigation and consequent detection of the criminals related with the cyber crimes only proves the lacks of infrastructure at the district police level, a senior police officer said.

Bengal

17 firms turn up for pre-bid meeting

• The Statesman
• 06 Aug 2014

Move to break a few companies' monopoly at Haldia port
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Haldia, 5 August
Despite all the confusion created by M/s. Ripley & Co and its sister concerns regarding the tender for shore handling of cargo at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), as many as 24 representatives from 17 companies from all over the country participated in the pre-bid meeting held at Haldia today :
During the meeting, written queries seeking clarification with respect to eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions of the tender were submitted by two of the intending bidders. The rest of the intending bidders was told to submit their written queries within 5 p.m. today so that Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) could post the clarifications on its website.
Soon after the KoPT floated the tender, some clearing and forwarding agents of the port trust  filed a case at Calcutta High Court challenging the decision taken by the board of trustees to hire on-shore dry bulk cargo handlers at its Haldia dock complex through a public auction.
Writ petitions filed by four companies ~ M/s. Ripley & Co, A M Enterprises, Lee & Murehead and J M Baxi were heard by Justice Mr Nadira Patheria who is said to have directed KoPT to submit necessary documents including the resolution of the board of trustees meeting held on 18 July 2014.The court has fixed 11 August 2014, as the next date of hearing of the matter. The Board meeting was held on an order of the Ministry of Shipping dated 8 July, 2014.
The Port Chairmen's Committee has already exposed the monopoly of a few handling agents.It has also stated that only four companies handle 98 per cent and 93 per cent of the total cargo handling operations at Kolkata port and Haldia port respectively.

Bengal

KoPT agents file case challenging board of trustees’ decision

• The Statesman
• 03 Aug 2014

biswabrata goswami
Haldia, 2 August: Some clearing and forwarding agents attached with the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) have filed a case at the Calcutta High Court challenging the decision taken by the board of trustees of KoPT to hire on-shore dry bulk cargo handlers at its Haldia dock complex through a public auction, fixation of ceiling rates for the cargo handlers and the consequent tender issued by the port authorities.
The KoPT Board approved tendering for shore handling work at Haldia Port on 18 July despite unexplained opposition by the majority of trustee board members who, however, had given their consent to the same proposal in the Board meeting held in 13 December, 2012.
Surprisingly, the opposition to the scheme came from government nominees on the board of trustees including Mr C B Singh , Adviser, Ministry of Shipping and Mr I Jeykumar , Deputy Chairman, Kolkata Dock System while there was a directive of shipping ministry to clear the proposal.
“The scheme was opposed by most of the trustees who said there were legal and financial infirmities in the plan and wanted the port to rework the proposal,” sources placed in the Board said. The KoPT chairman Mr R P S Kahlon, however, informed the board that the directive to clear the scheme had come from the shipping ministry and he had no choice but to comply. “So, he overruled the objections raised by the trustees and used his casting vote to clear the plan,” a port official said. But, the decision was technically not passed as there was no unanimous or majority members’ decision. Even, there was no tie before taking such decision. It appears that the board meeting was held in such a manner as to make it challengeable in the High Court”, a senior port official alleged.
Taking advantage of the feasibility of the board’s decision, the petitioners have evidently used the minutes of the BOT meeting held on 18 July, 2014.
Interestingly and most surprisingly, Ministry of Shipping has not been made a party in the Writ Petition even though Tender was floated on the Order of Ministry of Shipping dated 8 July, 2014, just to avoid an aggressive action by the Ministry, a senior port official alleged. A section of port officers feel that the issue of protecting the monopoly business of a handling agent started when KoPT Board discharged the tender for comprehensive equipping of berth nos. 2 & 8 of HDC in May, 2013 despite receiving a competitive rate of about Rs 170/- per ton from the consortium of M/s OSL and M/s. Avian. This consortium filed a writ application before the High Court praying for awarding them the contract at their quoted rate of Rs 170/-, which is still pending for disposal.
According to the port officers, the handling agent enjoying monopoly at Haldia is dictating terms so that their business interests continue. They are also thinking of stopping down port operations in case the port goes ahead with their shore handling tender.

Port chairmen committee exposes agents’ monopoly

• The Statesman
• 01 Aug 2014

at a time when CBI is probing into shore-handling operations scam
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabrata@thestatesman.net
Haldia, 31 July
At a time when the CBI is probing into the scam related to alleged irregularities in the shore-handling operations of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) which has caused an estimated loss of thousands of crores to the exchequer, the Port Chairmen Committee has exposed a clear monopoly of a few handling agents who enjoy major bids of cargo handling.
In the report of the Port Chairmen Committee constituted by the Ministry of Shipping in June, 2014, the KoPT has stated (Page-23 of the report ) that there were 146 handling agents at Haldia Port alone. It has also stated that only four companies have shared 98 per cent and 93 per cent of the total cargo handling operations at Kolkata port and Haldia port respectively. Hence it establishes the monopoly of a few players at the Haldia and the Kolkata ports.
Interestingly, in previously, the  KoPT authorities and the former Union Shipping Minister had tabled different figures about the number of handling agents involved with the KoPT either before the court or before the government, to allegedly prevent the government from taking any action against the monopoly.
Mr Ashim Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Secretary (I/C), KoPT, in the Affidavit-in-Opposition to the PIL No.24799 (W) of 2012  sworn before the Calcutta High Court on the 13th of February 2013, stated that there were 27 handling agents that were operating at both the Haldia and the Kolkata Ports.
In reply to Unstirred Question No 596 dated 8 August 2013 (Pages 13 & 14), Thiru G K Vasan, the former Union Minister of Shipping had stated on the floor of the Rajya Sabha that there were 25 handling agents at the Kolkata Dock System of KoPT and 15 handling agents at the Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT.
This time, the Port Chairmen Committee in response to the query of the Shipping ministry revealed that just few players are being awarded the major bids of the total cargo handling.
The Port Chairmen Committee has already endorsed KoPT’s action on fixation of ceiling rates for the cargo handlers.
According to reports, Ripley & Company and its sister concerns owned by the Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha member Srinjoy Bose and his father Swapan Sadhan (Tutu) Bose, a former MP, have duped the government of an estimated Rs 24,500 crore over the past 35 years.
The scam pertaining to shore handling of cargo has allegedly took place with the help of muscle men and under the nose of the top port authorities, sources said. They said these companies have been realising an
estimated Rs 500-Rs 700 crore per year from the exporters and importers without
paying a farthing to the Kolkata Port Trust, the parent body of the Haldia Dock Complex.
“I have been consistently vouching for regulation of monopolies in cargo handling at the Major Ports
of India well within the framework on MPT Act,1963 (Sections 42(1), 42(4) and 48) and Regulation 7 of TAMP Guidelines 2005 with a view to make the Major Ports cost competitive with
respect to Non-Major Ports (where the cost of cargo handling is much lower compared to Major Ports). In 2006-07, the market share of Major Ports in total traffic was 71.49 per cent. This has come down to 57 per cent during 2013-14,” a senior port official said.