Stating that the organisation founded by Mother Teresa runs many leprosy homes and orphanages in different parts of Odisha, Patnaik directed the district authorities to ensure that no inmate suffers, especially due to lack of food or health-related issues
"Wherever needed, funds from Chief Minister's Relief Fund can be utilised for this purpose," he told the district collectors, as per an official statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had on Monday said the Missionaries of Charity's application for renewal of registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act was refused on December 25 for not meeting eligibility conditions, as some adverse inputs were received.
JSPL's Chairman Naveen Jindal handed over a cheque of Rs three crore to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the state secretariat here on Saturday, a company statement said.
"JSPL, as a responsible corporate of the country has always stood with the people affected by natural calamities.
In this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with the people and Government of Odisha for the rebuilding the cyclone affected areas," said Jindal after handing over the cheque.
He appreciated Odisha Chief Minister's effort in saving lives during the cyclone and relief and restoration work aftermath.
JSPL, through its CSR arm JSPL Foundation, had also provided one lakh cooked meals to the victims of cyclone Fani from May 10 to 19 at Puri, in coordination with the district administration, it said.
The TRB Iron Ore Mines of JSPL at Tensa had provided 50,000 litres of drinking water and its Angul unit had also supplied cement and construction material for repair of public buildings, it added.
HI said that this was in appreciation of the state's efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the FIH Men's Series Finals in Bhubaneswar in June despite the damage caused by Cyclone Fani.
An HI statement said that its President Mohd. Mushtaque Ahmad and IOA President Narinder Dhruv Batra jointly presented a cheque of Rs 31 lakh to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.
"Cyclone Fani had caused extensive damage and loss to Odisha earlier this year. However, the FIH Men's Series Finals was successfully conducted in June 2019 in Bhubaneswar with the love and support of the state government and the people of Odisha," the statement said.
A resident of Bhubaneswar, Debi Prasad Mangaraj has been collecting coins with the help of his father since childhood.
“I had kept this collection for people so that they get a chance to learn. As the entire world is facing the unprecedented crisis in the form of coronavirus, I have decided to auction my collection including rare coins to generate funds for the COVID-19 battle,” said Mangaraj.
Mangaraj’s treasure trove consists of over 8 lakh coins from India and different countries including some rare coins of East India Company, Nizam era, Hitler, Panchal and Ashok dynasty. He has also ancient and medieval gold and silver coins in his possession.
“I will auction nearly 2 lakh coins and donate the entire funds generated from the auction of (50-50 basis) to PM CARES and Odisha Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support the existing fight against COVID-19,” said Mangaraj.
Mangaraj further stated that both the Centre and the Odisha government are doing commendable job in containing the spread of coronavirus.
“Whatever funds is generated from the auction of coins, the entire amount will be dedicated for the frontline corona warriors like doctors, nurses, sanitary workers, police and journalists,” he added.
A numismatist in Bhubaneswar, Debi Prasad Mangaraj is planning to auction at least 2 lakh 'rare coins' & donate the money generated from the auction to PM CARES and #Odisha Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for #COVID19 battle#OdishaFightsCorona #Covid_19india pic.twitter.com/SSR5zOR0NJ
— OTV (@otvnews) April 26, 2020
Mangaraj’s decision to auction rare coins and generate funds for COVID-19 has won accolades from several quarters including Union Minster Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Amazed by the support pouring in from our citizens in the battle against Covid-19. Numismatist, Debiprasad Mangaraj's decision to auction his years of hard work for the country is commendable. With such firm resolve of our people, India is bound to win,” tweeted Pradhan.
Mangaraj’s sister Subhashree said, “My brother’s day start with coins and ends with coins. Since childhood, he has been working hard for collecting coins. I am proud that he has taken a decision to auction the coins to donate money to CM relief fund and PM CARES fund.”
In an application, the CBI said that the CM Relief fund has regularly paid the amounts -- at the rate of Rs 27 lakh per month -- for a period of 23 months from May 2013 to April 2015.
"It is submitted that the said amounts were purportedly given towards salary payments of the employees of the said media company that was under investigation being part of group companies of Saradha Group of Companies," said the application.
A total of Rs 6.21 crore was paid to the Tara TV Employees Welfare Association from the Chief Minister Relief Fund of West Bengal.
The CBI said in order to further look into the gravely suspicious payments to a private media entity, a letter dated October 16, 2018 was written to the chief secretary, West Bengal to provide information about the constitution and functioning of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Despite repeated efforts, the state government has parted with incomplete and evasive replies, said the CBI.
The CBI cited the High Court order which ordered that the "salary of the employees should be paid from the available funds" and it nowhere states that employees of a private TV channel can be paid out of state funds collected in the name of Chief Minister's relief work.
"The Court order expressly states that the employees are to be paid out of the funds of the company. The payments from CM Relief Fund, ex-facie point towards a larger conspiracy and nexus," said the application.
Pointing the needle of suspicion at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the scam, the CBI said: "Communication between the CBI and State Authorities will show that there has been a concerted effort to evade, avoid and to escape the process of law and a conscious effort on part of the authorities to scuttle the investigation."
The CBI pointed at the examination of former Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Kumar Ghosh, one of the accused in the case, by Enforcement Directorate during October 2013 revealed that the Chief Minister and promoter of Saradha Group - Sudipta Sen, had very good relationship.
"It is submitted that the same establishes that the Chief Minister used to talk to Sudipta Sen using phone of Kunal Kumar Ghosh," said the application.
The investigating agency said the call detail record of two numbers of Sen spanning for one year reveals that he and Ghosh had contacted 298 times on one number and 9 times on another number.
Seeking custodial interrogation of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the CBI said investigation has also revealed that evidence, which connected the ruling dispensation of West Bengal, financially and otherwise with Saradha group of companies was concealed by the Bidhannagar police under stewardship of Kumar, in order to shield and save everyone concerned.
Ghosh's examination as witness by the Enforcement Directorate, during October 2013, revealed that respondent Kumar was in active contact with officers of ED during the course of examination of arrested accused persons, Sudipta Sen, Debjani Mukherjee or of witnesses Ghosh and others carried out by the Enforcement Directorate during September to November 2013. "It was ensured by the officials that grave facts narrated by these accused persons or witnesses must not be taken on record as part of investigation with a purpose to shield the influential persons," said the CBI.
The CBI said more evidence has emerged substantiating further the active connivance of Kumar, the then Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar, in shielding and protecting the influential co-accused persons who had promoted the illegal business activities of the group of Ponzi companies and benefited from the illegally collected funds.
The CBI also cited examination of Safiqur Rehman, an employee of Saradha group of companies. "It is submitted that as per the said statement (by Rehman), when the Chief Minister, West Bengal contested for MLA seat, Sudipta Sen was forced to sponsor all the Pujas of Bhawanipur, Kolkata. Rehman further stated that 'Jangalmahal' project was flagged off by Chief Minister, West Bengal in a ceremony held at Writers Building, Kolkata," said the application.
In 2013, during Kumar's tenure as the Bidhannagar police commissioner, the scam was unearthed. Kumar was part of the SIT set up by state government to probe the scam, before the top court handed over the investigation to CBI in 2014.
The top court, in November last year, had sought the response of the IPS officer on the CBI's appeal against the anticipatory bail granted to Kumar in the case by the Calcutta High Court.
(With IANS Inputs)