2G Scam: More troubles for DMK ahead of elections, Kanimozhi likely to be arrested

Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi's daughter and DMK MP Kanimozhi is likely to be chargesheeted by the CBI for criminal conspiracy under section 120B of Indian Penal Code in the 2G spectrum scam. ( Read: 'CBI, ED probe more than satisfactory' )

Top sources told TOI the charge against Kanimozhi related to the Rs 214-crore investment made by a subsidiary of DB Realty in Kalaignar TV in 2009-10. They said the money originated from Kusegaon Realty, went to Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd and then to Kalaignar TV.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal told a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly, that both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have investigated whether the Rs 214 crore investment in Kalaignar TV by a DB Realty arm was a loan or a quid pro quo for getting spectrum in conspiracy with the then telecom minister A Raja.

"Once the Rs 214-crore investment came into public knowledge, there was an excuse given that it was a valid loan transaction which fell through. But, the resolution was passed much later," Venugopal said.

The key accused in the scam, Raja, will face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under IPC for conspiracy and forgery charges in addition to the charge of masterminding irregular allotment of spectrum, thereby causing losses to the exchequer running into thousands of crores.

The CBI's first chargesheet, to be filed on April 2 before a special court set up on Tuesday to deal exclusively with the 2G scam trial, will be against five persons and two companies. The agencies will corroborate their charges with documents running into over 80,000 pages.

12 year old school girl delivered a baby in school trip in London

A 12 year-old Dutch girl, who did not realise she was pregnant, delivered a baby girl when she was on a school trip.

"Neither the girl nor her family had realised she was pregnant, and there were no external signs to show it," the Telegraph quoted a spokesperson for health services as saying.

The girl was from Groningen in the north of the Netherlands.

She felt violent stomach pain when she was on a day out with her classmates last week.

A supervisor alerted the emergency services and when ambulance staff came they saw the girl was about to give birth, the media report said.

She was taken to a nearby building where she delivered her baby.

Both the child-mother and her new-born "are doing well" in the maternity ward of a hospital.

Cricket: ICC apologises for insult to tri-colour

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has apologised to India for insult to the tri-colour at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali today.

In a bizarre incident, a "spotter" for ICC merchandise rights holder tramped upon a balloon which had the Indian national colours.

The "spotter" was objecting to sale of merchandise by an unauthorised vendor at the stadium, which is hosting the second semifinal between India and Pakistan in the ongoing World Cup.

The incident upset a number of fans following which an ICC spokesman said, "We apologise for this unacceptable behaviour to every single Indian."

Africa looks to India for IT success

International private equity fund L Capital Wednesday said it has launched its fourth private equity fund worth $640 million for investments in sectors like consumer brands, lifestyle retail, media and entertainment in China and India.

The fund sponsored by the global luxury brands group LVMH further said the investments would be made in local companies which have innovative brands and concepts which suit the taste and needs of consumers in China, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

"Today, while there is an abundance of capital to fund companies, there is a great need for sector specific value added 'smart' capital that can drive growth in India," said Ravi Thakran, managing partner of L Capital Asia.

According to Thakran, the fund would use the extensive resources, management skills and experience of the LVMH group to work with local entrepreneurs and to grow their business within India and across Asia.

The company further said its focus would be on portfolio companies which have high growth potential in the short to medium term, in segments like consumer brands, lifestyle retail, lifestyle food and beverage, beauty and wellness, boutique hospitality, media and entertainment and private education.

The company has already made three investments in China and South East Asia, while it is in advanced stages of discussion with companies in India.

L Capital Asia, which is the fourth fund from L Capital and sponsored by LVMH, has earlier invested in companies like Pepe Jeans, Princess Yachts, Piazza Sempione.

Actor Vijay campaigning for ADMK support in Tamilnadu elections 2011

Without keeping quiet after offering his Makkal Iyakkam's support to the AIADMK-led alliance, 'Ilaya Thalapathi' Vijay is planning to hit the campaign trail to seek votes for the main opposition party.

The actor, if sources are to be believed, will address a mega public meeting in Chennai along with Jayalalithaa. "Or he would appear on Jaya TV, urging voters and his fans to vote for the AIADMK," sources say.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Chennai Tuesday evening, Vijay's father and Makkal Iyakkam founder S A Chandrasekar said that a change in the government could alone ensure freedom in Tamil Nadu.

"Makkal Iyakkam favours a political change in the State for its overall development and for the wellbeing of all sections of the society. The Iyakkam is of the firm view that political change is the need of the hour, taking into consideration the happenings in various fronts," he said.

Hundreds of raunchy photos of Christina Aguilera have surfaced

Hundreds of raunchy photos of Christina Aguilera have surfaced after she apparently left her camera''s memory card in a French hotel.

The images are said to show the singer in various intimate situations, including at Nicole Richie''s bachelorette party and in bed with her new boyfriend Matthew Rutler, reports the Daily Mail.
The photos, dated from June to November 2010, surfaced when they were offered for sale to a U.S. website by a man who said he had found the lost card in an upscale hotel.

The website claims to have seen the 'romantic' shots of 30-year-old Aguilera and Rutler.
A selection of images reportedly showed the new couple kissing passionately in a variety of locations. Another showed them lying in bed together.

The couple met in 2010 on the set of 'Burlesque', where Rutler worked as a set assistant.
Fifteen of the shots showed Aguilera at her friend Richie''s bachelorette bash in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico September 2010.

Radaronline.com, which was offered the images for sale, also reports that images show Aguilera in a series of compromising poses, including mimicking oral sex on a banana, dancing on a table, posing with naked men, and posing for before-and-after make-up shots.
This is not the first time Aguilera has seen her private photos made public.
In December a series of images showing her in various stages of undress were published online.

Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja gets 7 year jail for rape case

Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja was on Wednesday convicted by a Mumbai court in the rape case of his domestic help in June 2009.

A fast-track Sewri court read out the verdict convicting Ahuja and sentenced him to minimum seven years in jail.

Ahuja, who was present as the verdict was being pronounced, broke down in the court.

He was directly taken to jail from the court.

Ahuja was granted bail by the Mumbai High Court on October 1, 2009, on a surety of Rs 50,000 with a condition that he would stay in Delhi and report to the nearest police station regularly.

The court had ruled that Shiney would be permitted to come to Mumbai only during the trial.

Ahuja was arrested on June 14, 2009, after the maid lodged a complaint with Oshiwara police station alleging that she was raped by the actor in his flat while she was alone.

The fast track court in Sewri, which heard the case, had declared the maid as a hostile witness after she retraced her statement.

However, the trial had continued.

The police had filed a 109-page charge sheet against Ahuja with statements of 12 witnesses, forensic reports and other documentary evidence.