Latest news with #Shahnawaz
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘Sad to see trial has not started in 7 years': Judge to AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel James
Hearing an application moved by Christian Michel James, an accused and alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court said on Thursday that it was 'sad to see that the trial has not started in seven years'. James, who was extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018 and has been in Tihar jail for close to seven years, had moved an application earlier requesting adequate security measures in prison, alleging that his tea was being poisoned and that there were threats to his life. 'I feel sad for you every time you appear before me,' the Judge said to James. 'Do not feel sad, sir. I have learnt a lot in jail. I now know what I want to do with my life. Jail changed that for me. I have made some tremendous friends in Tihar. One official protected me in jail… he put in 110 per cent effort to keep me safe,' James replied. In a report submitted by Tihar authorities on James's fellow prisoner Shahnawaz, it was stated that he had '41 punishments' against him for his conduct in jail after 2020 during his stay in multiple jails in Tihar. The punishments were under 'disorderly behaviour' and 'prohibited articles', it said. The Tihar authorities also mentioned in the report that Shahnawaz was in Tihar jail cell number 1 from November 2018 to October 2019, during which no complaint was lodged against him. This was the period during which James alleged that there were attempts to 'poison him'. 'How can you keep a foreign prisoner with someone dangerous?' Judge Aggarwal asked the jail authorities. 'We have multiple security arrangements on the basis of the kinds of prisoners. We could not have kept him in solitary confinement,' a jail official responded. 'This is six years old. An enquiry was made and, in its report, it was stated that there is no threat to the accused person's life,' the official added. The court noted that '…it is a matter of serious concern that the accused states that there was an attempt on his life by an co-inmate, who was a desperate criminal, thereby putting his life to peril and further, as stated by him that it was an pre-planned conspiracy to eliminate him in the jail by his enemies related to this case by poisoning him'. It then sought the inquiry file on the basis of which the inquiry report dated August 29, 2019, was given, 'be called from the Senior Law Officer, Prison Head Quarters, New Delhi, through DG (Prison)' and posted the matter for hearing next on June 6. After he was granted bail in both the money laundering case linked to the alleged scam, being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the corruption case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), James had told the court that Delhi, for him, was a larger prison than Tihar. As per the CBI probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, a contract for the supply of 12 VVIP/non-VVIP helicopters was awarded to AgustaWestland for Rs 3,726.96 crore, and an agreement to this effect was executed on February 8, 2010, between the defence ministry and the UK firm. The agency alleged that former chief of air staff S P Tyagi, between 2005 and 2007, approved reducing the altitude ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 to 4,500 metres. This allowed AgustaWestland to enter the fray after being disqualified in 2002, as per the CBI probe. The central agency also alleged that undue favour was given to AgustaWestland for awarding the contract of procurement of VVIP helicopters in its favour by accepting illegal gratification from it through middlemen.
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sec 4B of income tax law: SC asked to dismiss appeals of cos, big units
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has been asked to dismiss appeals of the companies and big industrial entities and uphold the verdicts of the provincial high courts regarding Section 4B of the Income Tax Ordinance. A five-member SC Constitutional Bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, on Monday, heard the petitions of Islamabad High Court (IHC)'s five judges, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, and Karachi and Lahore Bar Associations. Upon the completion of arguments of departments counsels, Justice Amin inquired from petitioners' lead counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan, whether he would like to rebut the arguments of respondents. The bench; therefore, adjourned the case until May 22. If a case is subjudice proviso of Sec 174 (1) of ITO will kick in: SC Earlier, Dr Shahnawaz argued that the levy of super tax is a separate charge under Section 4B, whereas, the tax paid under FTR is a separate charge under Section 4 read with Section 8 and Section 169. He contended that the history of income taxation and literature thereto is fraught with examples where separate taxes are incorporated in income taxation to achieve progressivity in tax burden for ensuring vertical equity. The income taxation, besides revenue collection, has other objectives also which include redistribution of income to help impoverished people of the country. The progressivity in taxation, in addition to progressive tax rates, is secured either through levy of surcharge or super tax. These levies are also imposed when there is need for additional revenue for specific purpose such as war. Dr Shahnawaz stated that the contention that super tax is violative of Article 25 of the Constitution also reflects lack of basic understanding of income tax system. He submitted that the progressivity in tax rates for achieving equity in tax system is the cardinal principle of good tax system and it could be achieved when the individuals with different levels of income are taxed differently. Thus, discrimination is mandatory for achieving equity and consequently securing a good tax system. He emphasised that super tax is not a new feature in Pakistan's income tax law. It was also part and parcel of Pakistan income tax system under repealed Income Tax Ordinance, 1979. He mentioned that many countries have been using super tax for many reasons. Currently, super tax is part of income tax system in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, he added. Dr Shahnawaz stated it is justified to say that legislature should classify the persons on reasonable basis to achieve the purpose of good tax system. In the case of super tax, the classification is quite logical as only the super rich are required to bear this burden of helping those impoverished and displaced victims of war of terror who are our fellow citizens. He argued that the allegation that agriculture income of Rs500 million is not subjected to super tax is also irrelevant because the agriculture income, being a provincial subject, is not charged to tax under Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and we are not even aware and even doubt that any agriculturist in Pakistan has the assessed agricultural income of Rs500 million. Additional Attorney General for Pakistan (AAGP) Aamir Rehman told the court that he would file three judgments of the apex court regarding the matter, adding in light of those decisions the government can levy additional tax. Justice Amin told him to file the written submission. The case has been adjourned until May 22. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Two arrested for fabricating 'love jihad' case to extort money in UP's Muzaffarnagar
Police have arrested two individuals here for allegedly falsely implicating a man in a 'love jihad' case and extorting over ₹1 lakh from him, officials said. The incident occurred in the Ladhowala locality under Kotwali police station, where a woman alleged that she was raped and forcibly converted to another religion by a man posing as Hindu, who also made a video on the pretense of marriage. Circle Officer Raju Kumar told reporters that the investigation revealed that the 'love jihad' case was fabricated. "Accused Shahnawaz, Sadakat, and the woman were found to be involved in a conspiracy to extort money, totaling over ₹1 lakh, from accused Babar alias Sonu," said the CO. Police are currently searching for the woman who filed the false FIR. A case was registered against Babar alias Sonu on April 21, based on the woman's complaint, alleging rape, religious conversion, and the making of a video under pretense of marriage. "The investigation uncovered that the false case was lodged in collusion with Shahnawaz and Sadakat, resulting in the extraction of ₹1,25,000 from Babar alias Sonu. Shahnawaz and Sadakat were arrested on Saturday, and ₹25,000 has been recovered from them. The woman remains at large," said the CO.
The Print
27-04-2025
- The Print
Two arrested for fabricating ‘love jihad' case to extort money in UP's Muzaffarnagar
Circle Officer Raju Kumar told reporters that the investigation revealed that the 'love jihad' case was fabricated. The incident occurred in the Ladhowala locality under Kotwali police station, where a woman alleged that she was raped and forcibly converted to another religion by a man posing as Hindu, who also made a video on the pretense of marriage. Muzaffarnagar (UP), Apr 27 (PTI) Police have arrested two individuals here for allegedly falsely implicating a man in a 'love jihad' case and extorting over Rs 1 lakh from him, officials said. 'Accused Shahnawaz, Sadakat, and the woman were found to be involved in a conspiracy to extort money, totaling over Rs 1 lakh, from accused Babar alias Sonu,' said the CO. Police are currently searching for the woman who filed the false FIR. A case was registered against Babar alias Sonu on April 21, based on the woman's complaint, alleging rape, religious conversion, and the making of a video under pretense of marriage. 'The investigation uncovered that the false case was lodged in collusion with Shahnawaz and Sadakat, resulting in the extraction of Rs 1,25,000 from Babar alias Sonu. Shahnawaz and Sadakat were arrested on Saturday, and Rs 25,000 has been recovered from them. The woman remains at large,' said the CO. PTI COR CDN CDN MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Tihar cops rapped for jailing Agusta accused with hardened criminals
A Delhi court on Thursday pulled up the Tihar Jail authorities for lodging Christian Michel James, accused in the Agusta Westland chopper scam, in the same cell as a hardened criminal, saying such instances give a bad name to the country in the international press. The court also cited the instance of a United Kingdom court denying the extradition request for arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari on similar grounds. Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court made the observations while dealing with an application filed by Michel, alleging attempts to poison him inside his cell by a fellow inmate. Earlier this month, the courthad sought a report from the jail authorities on how Michel, a UK citizen, was kept in the same cell as Shahnawaz, an accused in cases criminal cases. According to a report filed in the matter, the Tihar authorities had said that there were 41 complaints of 'prison misconduct' against Shahnawaz. Irked over the report filed by the jail superintendent, the courttold the jail superintendent, 'Look at the media image of Tihar example the Ankit Gujjar case where he was killed for denying extortion money to jail officials...a UK court has denied extradition of Sanjay Bhandari due to the unsafe conditions in Tihar jail'. The report said that in 2019, an inquiry was conducted after Michel complained to the British High Commission that he had been lodged with a dangerous criminal. The report concluded that there was no threat to Michel's life. Now, Michel and Shahnawaz are lodged in different jails, and the British citizen is 'safe in jail', the report said. Shahnawaz remained in the same ward as Michel for 10 months in 2019, before he was shifted to another jail, the report added. But the court asked, 'Won't keeping Shahnawaz, a person with nine cases lodged against him, including one under the Gangsters Act of Uttar Pradesh, with a high-risk foreign prisoner like Christian James be safe?'. Citing examples of a UK court rejecting Sanjay Bhandari's extradition request and 2021 Ankit Gujjar case, the court said, 'You (jail authorities) should have a humane conduct. You can't keep hardened criminals with him (James). He is accused in a money laundering case and is yet to be proved guilty'. Taking the report on record, the court directed Michel's lawyer, Aljo K Joseph, to file a separate application if there were any other grievances. The court had earlier taken cognisance of the 'grave' allegations made by Michel on attempts being made to poison him in jail. Michel who allegedly played a middleman in the Agusta Westland deal and faces charges under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was extradited from the UAE in December 2018. He remained in custody until the Delhi high court was granted bail in this March. He was released after furnishing a personal bond of ₹5 lakh and one surety of the same amount. Michel had earlier told the trial court that Delhi was like a 'larger prison' for him, as his family could not visit him, and that he feared for his life outside jail.
