Sri Lankan government to review Adani Group’s projects
Colombo: The Sri Lankan Ministry of Power and Energy has announced plans to form a committee to review the Adani Group’s projects in the country. The committee's formation is expected to be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting, with an emphasis on evaluating the estimated costs of the projects, as reported by Newsfirst.
Previously, the Sri Lankan government had set up a separate committee to investigate the Adani Group’s wind power plant projects in the country. These plants, located in Mannar and Pooneryn, are projected to generate 484 megawatts of electricity.
The announcement follows the Adani Group's withdrawal from a $553 million loan agreement with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for a port terminal project in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. This decision came amidst allegations of bribery against Adani and his associates, which surfaced in US courts last month.
The Adani Group has been under scrutiny due to accusations that it paid over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials for solar energy contracts. The conglomerate has denied these allegations and pledged to fight the claims in court. Additionally, the Group has faced challenges in Kenya, where $2.6 billion worth of infrastructure contracts were cancelled.
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'Strong evidence' available against Saif attacker, police tell court while opposing his bail plea
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.
Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.
These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).
Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.
The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.
Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.
The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.
If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.
In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.
Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.
The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.
