BSE may consider IPO by end of April

After clearing the decks for listing of bourses by the capital market, regulator SEBI yesterday said that BSE Limited may be the first to list on the exchanges soon, reports CNBC-Awaaz.

The board members of BSE Limited may consider the IPO in the last week of April.

The extra ordinary meeting may be called upon for taking approval from shareholders. BSE had been formed into a company in 2007 and now has 6,000 shareholders.

The company may be valued at around Rs 3,000-4,000 crore. Three directors currently on the BSE board may have to resign.

SEBI made it mandatory for them to have 51% public holding, but banned brokers from the board. It also capped individual holding at 5% and fixed the minimum networth of the bourses at Rs 100 crore. Restrictions have also been placed on salaries of key management.

SEBI said an exchange cannot be listed on itself, which means if the BSE were to go public, it has to do so on the NSE or another exchange and vice versa.

"The stock exchanges will have diversified ownership and no single investor will be allowed to hold more than 5% except the stock exchange, depositories, insurance company, banks or public financial institutions which may hold up to 15%," SEBI said after the board meeting.

"The Board of the stock exchanges/clearing corporations will not have any trading member/clearing member representative. However, an advisory committee shall be constituted by the board, comprising trading members/ clearing members to take benefit of experience of such members," added the market regulator.

(With inputs from PTI)

10-yr-old files RTI on Mahatma Gandhi's father of the nation status

Lucknow: A query posted by a 10-year-old girl under the Right to Information Act (RTI) regarding father of nation status to Mahatma Gandhi has raised a piquant situation before the government.

In February this year, Aishwarya Parashar, a class sixth student, sent an RTI application to the central public information officer of Prime Minister's office seeking a photocopy of the order through which Mahatma Gandhi was declared as father of the nation.

From the PMO, the application was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The MHA, however, stating that it does not comes under its purview forwarded the application to the National Archives of India.

The NAI in its reply send to Aishwarya has said that no specific documents on the information sought were available.

Mining scam: Janardhana Reddy's custody extended

Bangalore: A CBI court on Tuesday extended till April 7 the judicial custody of former Karnataka Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy and his personal assistant Mehfuz Ali Khan, arrested in connection with an illegal mining case.

Additional Civil and Sessions Court Judge and CBI special court judge B M Angadi passed the order after CBI moved an application seeking extension of the custody.

Associated Mining Corporation (AMC) and Deccan Mining Syndicate (DMC) owned by Reddy and his wife Aruna Lakshmi have been facing probe over charges of illegal mining.

Reddy and Khan, lodged in Bangalore central prison, were produced in the court via video-conferencing.

Meanwhile, hearing on bail pleas of Reddy and Khan was fixed for April seven by the Judge.

Defence Minister, Army chief pay tributes to Manekshaw

Udhagamandalam: Defence Minister AK Antony and Army Chief Gen VK Singh on Tuesday paid tributes and aid wreaths at the new gravestone of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw on his 98th birth anniversary.

Paying tributes to him, Antony said he will be an inspiration to generations of armed forces.

The Defence Minister said the people and the country will never forget his contribution, particularly the victorious 1971 Indo-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

Sam Manekshaw was appointed Field Marshal in 1973 by Indira Gandhi. He was awarded Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan.

Earlier, Antony and Gen Singh laid wreaths on the new gravestone for the late Field Marshal and attended a prayer and military memorial service which was attended by LT Gen Bikram Singh, GOC-in-chief Eastern command and Army Chief-Designate, and other top-ranking army officials.

Mankeshaw's two daughters were also present.

The wreath laying ceremony, comprised traditional presentation of arms by special guards of the Madras Regimental Centre and sounding of the last post by the band after observance of a two-minute of silence.

Antony, however, refused to take any political questions when reporters approached him on the defence procurement issue. "This is not the occasion to speak much (about it)," Antony said.

General Singh also declined to take questions from reporters.

Israeli embassy car blast: Kazmi's bail plea dismissed

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of Syed Mohammad Kazmi, accused in the Israeli Embassy car blast case, saying that there was "no substance" in the arguments of the defence counsel. Kazmi will continue to be in judicial remand.

The journalist was arrested last month in connection with the February 13 terror attack.

Kazmi, 50, who claimed to have been writing for Iranian publications, was arrested on March 7 following investigations into the incident where a magnetic bomb was stuck on an Israeli embassy vehicle in New Delhi.

Four persons, including the wife of an Israeli diplomat, were injured in the bombing incident.

NCTC: PM bends, agrees to hold CMs' meeting

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New Delhi: The Prime Minister has agreed to the demand of the chief ministers of several states for a separate meeting on National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). There will be no decision on NCTC before the meeting of the chief ministers on May 5.

This came after pressure, not just from the Opposition but also allies like the Trinamool Congress urging the Centre to devote more time to discuss NCTC. Chief ministers of many states including West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Gujarat's Narendra Modi had written to the Prime Minister asking for a separate discussion on NCTC.

Mamata on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to focus only on the NCTC issue at the meeting of chief ministers in New Delhi next month.

"I have received a letter from the Union Home Ministry about the conference of chief ministers on April 16. But NCTC is just one of the 10 items on the agenda. In such a meeting, the focus of the NCTC will be lost," Mamata wrote sources close to the chief minister said in Kolkata.

"NCTC is a very sensitive issue. It should be the only matter of discussion at the meeting so that all states can express their views properly and adequate interaction can take place. Other issues can be discussed subsequently," she said.

Bhanwari case: Maderna, Malkhan to be shifted outside Jodhpur jail

Jaipur: Congress MLAs Mahipal Maderna and Malkhan Singh, both accused in the Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case, will soon be shifted outside the Jodhpur jail following government orders, officials said on Tuesday.

While Maderna will be sent to the Jaipur Central Jail, Malkhan will be shifted to the Ajmer Central Jail as per the orders, officials said on Tuesday.

The Home Department had issued orders in this regard a couple of days ago following a CBI application in the High Court seeking transfer of both the accused from Jodhpur.

In its plea, CBI had alleged that the accused were trying to influence the witnesses, after which the court had issued notices to the state government seeking its response over the issue.

"On CBI's plea, the High Court had sought response from the government, so it was decided to shift them and the orders to this effect were issued two days back," Principal Secretary (Home) GS Sandhu said.

Delhi: Autopsy report says MoD official died of suffocation due to burns

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New Delhi: The autopsy report of Defence Ministry official Kumar Yashkar Sinha says Kumar Yashkar died of suffocation due to burns. The Delhi Police have received the report. Preliminary medical investigations had suggested that no external or internal injuries other than burn injuries were found on the victim.

The police are now probing if Yashkar was under any sort of financial burden other than the work pressure. The police are also examining the possibility of financial problems being a reason for domestic tensions.

Yashkar and his wife were found dead under mysterious circumstances in their house on Friday. The post-mortem report of his wife confirmed that she was strangled to death. Yashkar's body was found charred.

Earlier on Tuesday, the brother of Kumar Yashkar alleged foul play and ruled out that marital differences could have brought this about as the couple was happily married.

Meanwhile, the police have sent the diary recovered from Yashkar's South Delhi residence for examination to ascertain its timing.

In the diary, allegedly written by Yashkar, he has blamed two senior Army officers for driving him to despair by putting pressure on him at work.

Although three to four MoD officials have been questioned, officials investigating the case said Yashkar wasn't handling any confidential assignment.

Yashkar, who was Deputy Director in the Directorate General of Medical Services, and his wife Archana were found dead in their flat on Friday afternoon. Police had registered a case of murder suspecting that the official probably strangled his wife before committing suicide.

Karnataka government can't appoint Lokayukta, Upalokayuktas: High Court

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Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ruled that the state government has no role in the appointment of Lokayukta or Upalokayuktas in the state. Pointing out that the Chief Justice of the High Court would have the final say in the appointment of the Lokayukta, the court ruled that if the state government and other constitutional authorities disagreed with the choice for the Lokayukta, then it could send it back for reconsideration.

The court made the observations while ruling the appointment of Upalokayukta Justice Chandrashekaraiah as invalid. Saying that the appointment Chandrashekaraiah as Upalokayukta is void from inception, contrary to law, the court observed that due procedure was not followed.

The High Court observed that no consultation with Karnataka Chief Justice was done while making the appointment.

Justice Chandrashekaraiah's appointment as the Upalokayukta was challenged by two PILS filed in the High Court on February 13. The PILs were filed by advocates Ananda Murty R and Janekere C Krishna, claiming that Justice Chandrashekaraiah's appointment was illegal according to Section 3 (2) of the Lokayukta Act, 1984.

TN announces prizes for best cattle rearing

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government has come up with a novel idea to keep beneficiaries of a government scheme, under which milch cows, sheeps and goats are distributed for free to landless poor, motivated in rearing the animals by announcing prizes worth thousands of rupees for best maintenance.

In a recent order, the state Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi referred to a Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences' report which observed that most beneficiaries of were first time animal owners and skills on animal rearing were imparted to them to maximize production and productivity.

DAHVS has recommended these awards to encourage the beneficiaries to follow good management practices to rear the goats/sheep and milch cows, Bedi said.

Ten prizes for best maintained milch cows in each district, 15 prizes for best maintained goats/sheeps in each district and merit certificates to five committed veterinary Assistant Surgeons in each districts who have taken special efforts at motivating owners under the schemes will be awarded, he said.

Shruti comes into her own with '3': Kamal Haasan

Mumbai: Kamal Haasan watched his actress daughter Shruti's new film '3' and says he was elated after realising she looked like him in the film and that he was so enamoured by her performance that he hugged her.

"It was most considerate of Mr Dhanush. He quietly left the theatre. For the first time in her career, I hugged my daughter after watching her performance. Besides her performance what really thrilled me to bits is that Shruti looks like me in the film. So far everyone thinks she only looks like her mother (actress Sarika)," Kamal said from Los Angeles.

He admits he has offered tips to improve the products and added: "Again I've never done this before. But then this is a very special film."

IBNLive

Last week just before Kamal flew out of Chennai to Los Angeles to supervise the sound-mixing for his new film 'Vishwaroop', Dhanush arranged a very special screening of the much-awaited Tamil-Hindi film '3'.

Delhi maid torture: Bail plea of doctor couple rejected

New Delhi: A Delhi court of Tuesday rejected anticipatory bail plea of the doctor couple, who allegedly left their minor maid locked up and starving in their house while they vacationed in Thailand.

Delhi police said that the couple are not in India right now. However, the lawyer informed the court that the couple was in India and willing to cooperate with the cops.

Earlier, a look-out notice was issued against the doctor couple on Monday. Sanjay Verma and his wife Sumita were to return to India on Saturday but they had not reached Delhi, a

senior police official said.

Police had initiated the process of issuing the look-out notice against the couple.

"The lookout notice has been issued against the couple," the official said.

The couple had left for Thailand on a vacation leaving their 13-year-old maid allegedly locked up and with very little food in their Dwarka flat.

26/11: US announces $10 million bounty on LeT chief Hafiz Saeed

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New Delhi: The US announced a $10 million dollar reward for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, giving a major boost to India's fight against the plotters of 26/11 terror attacks.

Saeed is believed to be the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks and is currently roaming free in Pakistan despite the evidence against him.

Saeed is on India's most wanted list. After the 26/11 attacks that left 166 people dead, India has asked Pakistan to hand him over.

US under secretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman who is on her maiden visit to India told Indian officials that Lashkar co-founder, Saeed's brother-in-law, Abdul Rehman Makki also carries a bounty of $3 million on his head.

IPL 5 set for a gala opening

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Chennai: A galaxy of stars, including Amitabh Bachchan and American pop star Katy Perry, will set the ball rolling for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a glittering opening ceremony that promises to enthral the audience here on Tuesday. High-octane Twenty20 cricket will get underway on April 4, promising excitement and entertainment for the audience in the next 54 days when nine teams featuring international stars and unheralded players will be competing.

Having proved its success in the past four editions with growing popularity, the Indian cricket board's money-spinning event will formally be launched with the IPL Opening Nite. The dazzling show will be graced by Bachchan and other Bollywood stars, including Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan.

Two Guys coming out

Two Guys coming out of the examination Hall with chips and coke in hand. 1st guy: Which paper was it? 2nd guy: I think maths. . 1st guy: (surprisingly) you read the question paper? 2nd guy: No I see a girl sitting besides me using calculator.

IPL 5: Tendulkar quits MI captaincy

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Mumbai: Two days before the start of the fifth season of the IPL, Sachin Tendulkar has announced that he will not captain Mumbai Indians, and that Harbhajan Singh will lead the team.

In a press release issued by the Mumbai franchise, Tendulkar said: "The Mumbai Indians is more than a team. It is like a family to me. At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. After due consideration, I discussed my intention to hand over the Captainship of the team to Harbhajan Singh, with Mukeshbhai [Ambani, team owner] and Nita bhabhi [Ambani]. I was touched by the graciousness and wholehearted support they offered me while emphasising that they would accept any decision which helps me to continue enjoying the game. Harbhajan will have my wholehearted support as the senior most player in the team."

Regional trade best way out to break from past: Gilani

Beijing: Trade can be a useful instrument to break free from the legacy of the past and to bring about regional harmony, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday, apparently referring to his government's move to step up economic ties with India.

"If we do not establish a regional harmony based on trade, investment and economic growth, we fear we will remain hostage to the past. We can break free of this past," he said while speaking at the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in China's Hainan province.

Apparently referring to his government's move to restore trade ties with India he said Asian countries should establish regional harmony and sustainable development through increased trade and economic growth.

Gilani was invited take part in the prestigious forum by the Chinese government in which over 2,000 economists, academicians, policy makers and businessmen took part.