Questions in Parliament: India sends MLAT request to US for Pathankot probe

India sends MLAT request to the US India has sought help of the U.S. in probing the Pathankot airbase terror attack under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, Lok Sabha was informed today. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhari Parathibhai Chaudhary, in a written reply, said, “The National Investigation Agency (NIA), investigating the Pathankot Airbase terror attack case, has sought assistance from the USA authorities regarding investigation of the case. “In this regard, one request under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) has been sent to the USA.” The Minister also said a Letters Rogatory has been sent to China in connection with one of the cases related to ISIS probed by NIA. There cannot be different standards to judge terror India to China There cannot be different standards to judge terrorism, India has conveyed to China which had blocked its attempt to designate JeM chief Mohammed Masood Azhar as terrorist in a UN Security Council Committee, Lok Sabha was informed today. Wide fluctuation in air quality during first phase of odd-even scheme Wide fluctuation with no clear trend was observed in the air quality during odd-even scheme of Delhi government from January 1 to 15, according to the assessment of Central Pollution Control Board, Lok Sabha was informed today. “The assessment of CPCB has revealed no clear trend and wide fluctuation observed in the concentration. It is evident that the meteorology and emissions from other polluting sources have been major factors impacting air quality of Delhi during the period,” Environment minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply. He said higher wind speeds and mixing height in general result in better dispersion and lower pollution levels. “Overall it can be stated that while some reduction in air pollution is likely to happen due to odd—even scheme, a single factor or action cannot substantially reduce air pollution levels in Delhi. Therefore, a comprehensive set of actions following an integrated approach is required to make substantial improvement in air quality,” he said. 30 pc rise in tiger count from 2010 to 2014 Govt There has been a 30% rise in the tiger population in the country from 2010 to 2014, Lok Sabha was informed today. “The third country wide assessment of the status of tigers, co-predators and their prey, using the refined methodology has shown a country wide 30% increase in tiger number in 2014 with an estimated number of 2,226 tigers (range 1945-2491) as compared to second assessment done in 2010 with estimated number of 1,706 tigers (range 1520-1909),” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply. Replying to another question on killing of elephants, the minister said, around 100 pachyderms die every year in the country. “It is estimated that on an average around 100 elephants die every year,” Javadekar said. “Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala in collaboration with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and other agencies last year busted a big nexus of elephant poachers and ivory smugglers in the country, leading to identification of 18 elephants carcases, 538 kilograms of ivory/ivory products, arrest of 63 offenders and recovery of guns and vehicles,” he said. SFIO probe of Kingfisher Airlines is on, says govt The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the agency with a mandate to probe white—collar crimes, is investigating the long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines for alleged financial irregularities, Parliament was informed today. “SFIO is currently investigating Kingfisher Airlines. Since investigation is in progress, no comments are offered at this stage,” Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He said this in response to a query whether lapses by the auditing firms handling the UB Group case have been raised by lenders to Kingfisher/UB Group and being probed by SFIO. Bogged down by a huge debt and operational issues, Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines was grounded in 2012. A multi-disciplinary organisation, SFIO probes cases of financial frauds that are referred to it by the Corporate Affairs Ministry. Mallya, widely known as ‘King of Good Times’ for his flamboyance and lavish lifestyle, is already facing the heat from lenders over loan defaults while the Enforcement Directorate has registered a money-laundering case against him and others. Capital markets regulator Sebi is also probing his various group companies while the Debt Recovery Tribunal in March barred him from accessing a Rs. 515-crore payout from Diageo as part of a ‘sweetheart deal’ to exit United Spirits. Govt recovers just 7.8% of Rs 4,928 cr drug overcharging fine The government has been able to recover just Rs 386.070000000 as fine, a mere 7.83% of the total Rs 4,928.090000000 which has been slapped on drug companies for overcharging. “As on March 31, 2016, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has recovered Rs 386.070000000 against total demanded amount of Rs 4,928.090000000, which is about 7.83%,” Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today. Giving details of the unrecovered amount, the minister said cases under litigation currently amounted to Rs 3,701.210000000 while recovery cases pending with collectors stood at Rs 72.260000000. Besides, Rs 5.410000000 are under BIFR/official liquidator. Ahir said action for recovery of the overcharged amount is taken as per the provisions of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 and DPCO, 2013. “However, in some cases, the demands raised for overcharging have been challenged in courts. NPPA is actively pursuing these court cases,” he added. If the company concerned does not deposit the amount of demand, the matter is referred to the respective collector for recovery, he said. “The cases referred to collectors are also followed up on a regular basis by issuing reminders. 39 locations in Delhi now have Pelican Signaling systems As many as 39 locations on the busy roads of the national capital now have Pelican Signalling systems installed by Delhi Police, a technology which enables pedestrians to request convenient traffic management for crossing roads at the push of a button. Delhi Police has installed Pelican Signals at 39 locations in the national capital to facilitate the pedestrians to cross roads safely, the Lok Sabha was told today. “In this Signalling system, the pedestrian green light is activated once a request is registered by pedestrians to cross the roads by pressing Push button in the Pedestrian Control Panel,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said today answering queries on the Pelican system. To prevent the misuse of Pelican Signals, Delhi Traffic Police are spreading awareness about the operations of the system and ensured proper deployment of traffic staff at selected signals where repetitive misuse is noticed, the minister added.