BJP raising Vadra issue to divert attention from Nirav, Lalit, Mallya: Congress
New Delhi, June 27: The Congress on Wednesday said BJP was raising the Robert Vadra issue just to divert attention from the questions being raised against the Narendra Modi government over "4Ms -- Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi".
Days after the I-T Department served notice to Robert Vadra to pay Rs 25 crore for evading taxes, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that his close aide Krishnan Srinivasan was appointed AICC Secretary as a "quid pro quo" for his services to the Gandhi family.
Responding to the charge, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "They are doing this just to divert attention from the questions being raised against Modi government on Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi."
Giving details of IT Returns filed by Robert Vadra's company Skylight Hospitality, she said that on September 18, 2013, it disposed off 3.53 acre land for Rs 58 crore and there was "no corruption involved in selling a piece of land".
"In the same year, Skylight filed Tax Return and said that its Capital Gains Tax is Rs 8.52 crore and also paid it. The tax return was also accepted."
"This is also above board. They followed the guidelines at a set for the every single individual in this country and every single entity who files an income tax return in this country. Now, pressure is put on him by the Income Tax authorities at the behest of BJP on the retrospective tax," she added.
Chaturvedi said: "They are arbitrarily telling him that this will be shown as business income and he cannot pay Capital Gains Tax. Now, attempts are being made to change the rules and norms for one individual."
"Skylight has filed an appeal with the Income Tax Commissioner and has deposited Rs 3 crore under due protest," she said, adding Income Tax returns can't be leaked in this manner.
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K’taka HC judge whose controversial remarks triggered controversy expresses regret before open court
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court judge, Justice V Srishananda, on Saturday expressed regret in open court after facing backlash over his controversial remarks in his recent court hearings, reported Bar and Bench.
Two purported video clips from Justice V Srishananda’s court hearing that show him making inappropriate comments went viral across social media platforms.
On Saturday, Justice Srishananda invited members of the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, and senior lawyers to his courtroom at 2:30 PM, where he read out a note expressing regret for inappropriate comments.
Quoting Advocates Association President Vivek Subba Reddy, Bar and Bench wrote, “He expressed regret for the comments and clarified that it was not his intention to offend any community or members of the Bar. He also requested the association to relay this message to all members of the Bar.”
Reddy further stated, “We also advised him to encourage young lawyers in the courtroom and refrain from making any irrelevant remarks during hearings.”
Another senior lawyer present during the session confirmed to the legal news portal that Justice Srishananda also addressed comments directed at a woman lawyer, who was seen in one of the videos being reprimanded by the judge. The judge Justice Srishananda clarified that his remarks were not intended to target her (woman lawyer) specifically, but rather pertained to the appellant she was representing. “He explained that his comment was meant to imply that the appellant seemed to know a lot about the other party,” said the lawyer.
In addition, Justice Srishananda assured those present that he would avoid making such comments in the future.
The controversy came to light on September 19, when a video clip from an August 28 Court hearing surfaced on social media, showing Justice Srishananda referring to a Muslim-majority sub-locality in Bengaluru’s Goripalya as "Pakistan." Hours later, another video from the same courtroom emerged, in which the judge was seen making a gender-insensitive remark.
Following outrage over the viral videos, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, on September 20 took a suo motu cognizance and sought a report from the Karnataka High Court Registrar General in connection with the viral video.
