Govt for burial of ‘Q’ case, urges SC to stop prosecution

The ghost of Bofors pay-off may finally be given a legal burial with the Government today telling the Supreme Court that it has decided to withdraw case against Italian Businessmen Ottavio Quattrocchi. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishanan, that all efforts to extradite Quattrocchi, an accused in the two-decade-old case relating to payment of Rs 64 crore as commission in the Swedish Howitzer deal, have failed.

He said the CBI has taken the decision to close the case by also taking into account Delhi High Court judgement which had held that no case of corruption was made out in the Bofors deal.

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Only unionised pilots to get incentives: Praful

Amid the deepening crisis over Air India pilots' strike, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told on Tuesday that only unionised employees will be paid their salary and incentives; a decision on payments to executive pilots is still on hold.

"There will be no salary and Productivity Linked Incentives (PLI) cuts for unionised employees. However, decision on PLI cuts for executive pilots is on hold," said Praful Patel. Praful added that the government is concerned about the strike and that the PM has been fully briefed about the situation.

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Punjab CM Badal to inaugrate Modern Pack House on Oct. 3

Ajmer Singh Lakhowal Chairman Punjab Mandi Board informed that Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister Punjab will inaugurate newly built modern Pack House based on 5 cold rooms with the cost of Rs. 4 crores at Sabzi Mandi Slam Tabri Ludhiana on October 3. On this occasion Chief Minister will also address to the farmers and Arrhtias in an impressive function.

Lakhowal was addressing a meeting with the concerned officers at the venue of the function for making preparation of this inaugural function. Lakhowal said that fruit and vegetable market slam Tabri receives huge quantity of different fruits and vegetables from Punjab as well as neighboring states.

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Govt threatens to cancel block allotted to ArcelorMittal, GVK

The government has threatened to cancel the coal block alloted jointly to ArcelorMittal and GVK Power in Jharkhand for the inordinate delay in developing the property. The coal ministry has served notice on September 23 to both the companies and sought their replies within 15 days, seeking reasons for the delay in developing the mines allotted for captive use.

"In spite of a passage of almost one and half year, no serious effort has been made by your company to develop the coal block as per the milestone chart appended to the allotment letter. Consequently, the development of the coal block has been inordinately delayed," the ministry said in the letter dated September 23.

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Vijender becomes world number one

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh has achieved yet another first for Indian boxing by becoming the world's top-ranked pugilist in the middle weight (75kg) category. The 23-year-old Bhiwani boxer, who won India's maiden World Championships medal in Milan earlier this month, has 200 points and is ranked higher than the reigning champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan.

Atoev, to whom Vijender lost in the World Championship semifinals, is third in the list with 2100 points and Olympic silver medallist Emilio Correa Bayeux (2500) of Cuba occupies the second spot in the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) list updated after the Milan event.

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