ED Action : Mehul Choksi Group's 42 Properties Worth Over Rs. 1,200 cr Attached

Enforcement Directorate has attached 42 properties worth over 1,200 crore rupees belonging to Gitanjali Gems and its promoter Mehul Choksi in connection with PNB scam.
The ED has issued a provisional order for attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The attached assets include 15 flats and 17 office premises in Mumbai, a mall in Kolkata, a four-acre farm house in Alibaug and 231 acres of land at locations like Nasik, Nagpur, Panvel and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.
A 170-acre park in Hyderabad's Ranga Reddy district valued at over 500 crore rupees has also been attached, the ED said on Thursday.
Four flats in Borivali (east) area of Mumbai and nine others in Khemu Towers in Santacruz (east) have been attached as part of the action.
Choksi and designer diamond jewellery businessman Nirav Modi and others are being investigated by the ED and other probe agencies after the PNB scam came to light.
The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case.
AIR Correspondent reports, the Enforcement Directorate issued a provisional order for attachment of the properties in PNB case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
It had attached total 42 assets including 15 flats and 17 office premises in Mumbai, a mall in Kolkata, a four-acre farm house in Alibaug and 231 acres of land at locations like Nasik, Nagpur, Panvel and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.
A 170-acre park in Hyderabad's Ranga Reddy district valued at over Rs 500 crore has also been attached. The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case.

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Kerala, Punjab & Tamil Nadu Top NITI Aayog's Health Index

Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu topped the list of Healthy State progressive report released by NITI Aayog today among the larger states in terms of overall performance. The NITI Aayog released the report in New Delhi this afternoon.

While releasing the report, CEO Amitabh Kant said that Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh were the the top three three states in the terms of annual incremental performance. He said, the health index has been evolved through comprehensive study and inputs from World Bank India and Ministry of Health. Mr Kant said, State and Union territory have been ranked in three categories namely larger states, smaller states and Union territories.

He said, among smaller states Mizoram ranked first followed by Manipur and Goa in terms of annual incremental performance. The NITI Aayog CEO said, among Union territories Lakshadweep showed best overall performance as well as highest annual incremental performance. He said, the study of incremental performance of states will ensure the government for better health outcomes.

The report said about one third of the states has registered a decline in there performance in 2016 as compared to 2015. It said, common challenges for the states is to address vacancies in key staff, establishment of Cardiac Care Units and quality accreditation of public health facilities. Speaking on the occasion, Member (Health) in the NITI Aayog, Dr Vinod Paul said, absolute and incremental changes in health outcomes as measured by the Health Index, promotes cross-learning between states and captures the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism.

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Macbeth in Tamil Nadu

V K Sasikala, who followed AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa like a shadow for over three decades, may find going tough now. It is almost an enactment of Macbeth in the politics of Tamil Nadu.
Sure, the legislative party of AIADMK might have elected Sasikala as their leader to pave her way to become the Chief Minister, but neither people nor the polity are going to accept this. They will always raise questions on her capability, eligibility and ethics. And they are not at wrong if they do.
 Sasikala looks at continuing the legacy of late Jayalalithaa, but how can one overlook the fact that even Jayamma had to fight a long battle to prove her mettle. Sasikala wants to wield complete control over the party and the government, but she has neither the performance nor prowess in her side.
62-year-old Sasikala was next to the shadow of Jayalalithaa. However, this was not enough to propel her to the highest post in the state. One must have political acumen and public support   to capture power, neither of which Sasikala possess. After all, her detractors in the party had accused her in 1996 of being responsible for Jayalalithaa's disastrous election defeat during that year.
Sasikala, known as 'Chinamma', was elected as AIADMK General Secretary on December 31 after Jayamma's death on December 6. She emerged as the party's boss though CM O. Panneerselvam managed the state's affairs and that too impressively.
One cannot find any fault with her for having political ambitions. However, a little patience could have helped her. Just five years ago, Jayalalithaa expelled her for anti-party activities though she was taken in within months.
 When Jayalalithaa died on December 5, Sasikala was staying with her at Poes Garden. Hence, when today P. H. Pandian alleged that Jayamma was slow poisoned, it was assumed as a direct assault on Sasikala.
Sasikala's presence at Jayalalithaa's bed when the latter was hospitalised on September 22 and her over protectionism thereafter not only raised controversies but conspiracy theories too.
Thus, today, when the people are out on the streets protesting against her elevation, she is seen as the culprit causing disturbance in Tamil Nadu. If she is not feeling the burden of her (supposed) sins, she must be made to feel it. This seems to be the predominant mood. Sasikala could have waited for some more time, but she chose otherwise. Her swiftness has brought the unfolding of drama too soon. One just hopes this drama ends early and Tamil Nadu regains its endearing posture.

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