Terrorism, Hawala and Corruption

in IndiaHistoric crusade of journalist

Vineet Narain(1993-2002)

Terrorism and Hawala funding After 9/11, the whole world has come to know that terrorist organisations world over are being funded through clandestine Hawala channels.

Exposed Hawala before….

Much before the world media understood the meaning of Hawala, Indian journalist Vineet Narain in 1993 had exposed the Hawala channels funding Hizbul Mujahideen in J&K along with the top political leadership of India.

Dec. 3rd 1995

This was the biggest exposé since 115 top politicians from major political parties and senior bureaucrats were exposed having Hawala links with militants and were found to be indulging in corrupt practices. This included twelve Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of opposition, Chief Ministers, Governors etc.

Efforts to suppress…. Narain’s voice was collectively suppressed

by the rulers of India and the mainstream media, pampered by them. Despite such resistance Narain succeed in getting them all charged for corruption in 1996 and earned global media attention. However, once again the rulers joined hands to ensure the burial of the now famous Hawala case of Vineet Narain.

International media later reported In any other country, it would

have been a sensational expose. In India, it barely creates ripples.

Mr. Narain, who works in television, claims that two of the listed politicians admitted to him on camera that they had received money.

The Economist

September 16, 1995

India, Pakistan and terrorism Indian govt. and BJP make noise

on all international forums that Pakistan is fuelling terrorism in India. It also accuses US govt. for having soft corner for Pakistan. While the fact is that by suppressing the efforts of Vineet Narain in this case, the Indian govt. has proved its hypocrisy in dealing with terrorism and Hawala. Hence, it is interesting to know about this crusade which can be of great help in understanding the true nature of Indian govt., Hawala operations and cause of increasing militancy.

On 25th March 1991. Ashfaque Hussain Lone, the Dy. Chief of Intelligence of the Hizbul Mujahideen, was arrested from Jamaiat-e-Islam headquarters in old Delhi.

Huge amount of cash meant for the terrorist group in Kashmir was recovered from him.

Two days later, Shahabuddin Ghauri, a student of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi was also arrested in the same case. Clues gathered from these two accused led to the arrests of five Hawala dealers.

Fact sheet

Moolchand Shah of Mumbai was among those arrested. He was later implicated in Mumbai bomb blast (1993) case as well.

On the basis of information gathered from these five dealers, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out raids in at least 20 premises. This included the residential premises of Delhi based industrialist and international power broker S K Jain and his family members.

Fact sheet

The search & seizures The search in different places,

including the Jain premises, yielded huge amount of unaccounted cash in both Indian and foreign currency and thousands of pounds of gold bars.

The infamous Jain diaries (clandestine account books) were also recovered from Jain's house.

In these diaries, there is a detailed record of payment of crores of rupees to 115 most powerful politicians including the Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition and senior bureaucrats of India.

CBI shields Hawala nexus of top politicians on May 3rd 1991

At this point suddenly the ongoing investigation was brought to a halt and immediately put in the cold storage. Instead of arresting the Jains and raiding the politicians connected with this network, shockingly enough, CBI omitted the names of the Jain Brothers from the chargesheets prepared against Lone and Ghauri, obviously, to shield the powerful politicians.

Narain exposes CBI in 1993

Then journalist Vineet Narain received photocopies of pages in the Jain notebooks from a source. It didn’t take cryptographic genius to crack Jains code or to realise the importance of the story. He produced a report for his magazine format video cassette Kalchakra, but the programme was blocked by Indian Censors for nearly three months. It was finally released in November 1993. The problem was that Jains notebooks smeared members of most parties. “My battle”, Narain says, “was against everyone”.

TimeJanuary 29, 1996

International media reported.. Narain, 39, produced a report in his monthly Hindi

video newsmagazine Kalchakra (“wheel of time”). When he took the programme to government censors, they got panicky and banned the cassette he says. It was released nearly three months later, in November 1993.

Asiaweek Feb 2 ,1996

Narain is hailed in same quarters today as India’s answer to Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodword, the journalists who unraveled the Watergate Scandal.

The Statesman April 13, 1996

Censor bans Kalchakra Shocked with this

exposé India’s ruling elite got this video cassette banned through the Film Censor Board. Narain appealed to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal.

The Appellate Tribunal’s verdict “The story as it unfolds in the film is the result of

investigative journalism.... ...The net result is that several politicians, ministers and bureaucrats have not emerged exactly like knights in shining white armor. To put it bluntly, they have come out rather poorly.... But, then, this is what investigative journalism is all about.....What may seemingly be uncomfortable is not merely swept away under the carpet by the expediency of censorship under the guise of “defamation” or by a ‘holier than thou’ posture.”

Justice B. Lentin Nov. 22nd 1993

Initially the Chief Justice of India Justice MN Venkatchelliah was hesitant to take it up because of it’s political fallout. He repeatedly forced Narain to amend the petition to dilute its content. Finally he issued the notice to CBI in Dec.1993. On 14 Jan 94, CBI in it’s reply accepted that the allegations made in the petition were true.

Initially the Chief Justice of India Justice MN Venkatchelliah was hesitant to take it up because of it’s political fallout. He repeatedly forced Narain to amend the petition to dilute its content. Finally he issued the notice to CBI in Dec.1993. On 14 Jan 94, CBI in it’s reply accepted that the allegations made in the petition were true.

Narain filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in Sept. 1993 demanding thorough probe into Hawala Scam

Finally Supreme Court of India issued notice to CBI on Narain’s petition

The Court case stemmed from a public interest petition filed last year by Mr. Vineet Narain, a leading journalist, asking the court to examine the CBI investigation into the affairs of Mr. Surendra Jain, a New Delhi businessman with extensive political contacts who is specialised in arranging power station contracts.

Financial Times December 1, 1994

International media later reported

Why Venkatchelliah did so…

After CBI’s reply Justice Venkatchelliah should have taken up this case because of its serious implications for the security of the nation. He did not show the courage and kept repeatedly adjourning the matter.

Surprisingly in the last week of his retirement he tried to take up the matter but Narain had sensed the game hence he alerted his counsel and got it postponed till his retirement.

After 10 months delay the new Chief Justice of India gave a serious jolt to investigating agencies and ordered them to act speedily

Unlike in other scams, Indian media didn’t show the courage to take up a case of this magnitude.

Unlike in other scams, Indian media didn’t show the courage to take up a case of this magnitude. In fact in 1993-94 efforts were made to

under play it. There were no TV channels like today to make noise. This made Narain’s job very difficult. The clips you saw earlier are from foreign publications and are of 1995 onwards.

Unlike other scams where one or two individuals of a party are exposed and others make noise, in Hawala senior politicians of all the major political parties were involved, hence, all of them tried to suppress this expose and no political party ever demanded probe in this case. Narain was a lone crusader against the entire establishment

Unlike other scams where one or two individuals of a party are exposed and others make noise, in Hawala senior politicians of all the major political parties were involved, hence, all of them tried to suppress this expose and no political party ever demanded probe in this case. Narain was a lone crusader against the entire establishment

In 1995 & 1996 Supreme Court regularly monitored the functioning of CBI, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Income Tax Department and other investigating agencies. Yet these agencies did not do their job seriously.

In 1995 & 1996 Supreme Court regularly monitored the functioning of CBI, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Income Tax Department and other investigating agencies. Yet these agencies did not do their job seriously.

Finally in Jan. 1996 dozens of Union Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Chief Ministers, Governors and senior bureaucrats were charged in the Jain Hawala scam. This happened for the first time in Indian history

Major impact on Indian polity

Indian Express 17 Jan 1996

Political fallout of Hawala Scam in 1996 All political leaders lost credibility in people’s mind, hence, in

the General Elections of the Indian Parliament, which were held within four months of Hawala chargesheets, no political party got majority. Dozens of them had to join hands to form the govt. which kept falling after short durations.

Shattered by this jolt the political class, cutting across party lines, joined hands to subvert Hawala case and managed to control the Chief Justice of India J S Verma. Narain was keeping track of all the conspiracy being hatched.

Narain exposes the Chief Justice of India On 12th July 1997 Narain sent a detailed letter to CJI, JS Verma describing his unethical conduct in this case. This made him and his brother judge Justice S C Sen very jittery and they tried to pressurize Narain to withdraw the same, which he refused to do.

On July 14th 1997 a visibly nervous Justice Verma shocked the nation by confessing in the open court that he and Justice Sen were being influenced to hush up this case. He did so to avoid public expose of them by Narain.

On July 14th 1997 a visibly nervous Justice Verma shocked the nation by confessing in the open court that he and Justice Sen were being influenced to hush up this case. He did so to avoid public expose of them by Narain.

Surprisingly Justice Verma did not reveal the name of the mystery man who had influenced him and his brother judge in this case, nor did they punish him for the contempt of Apex Court, why?

Surprisingly Justice Verma did not reveal the name of the mystery man who had influenced him and his brother judge in this case, nor did they punish him for the contempt of Apex Court, why?

Based on his investigation, Narain revealed the name of the mystery man, who had been hobnobbing with Justice Verma. A courage no one had shown in free India. Yet the Judges didn’t dare to issue contempt notices to him.

Based on his investigation, Narain revealed the name of the mystery man, who had been hobnobbing with Justice Verma. A courage no one had shown in free India. Yet the Judges didn’t dare to issue contempt notices to him.

At this point the court and the Govt. tried to wriggle out of this case by shifting the focus from investigation of the Hawala case to future safety measures.

The Court restructured the Central Vigilance Commission and CBI in Hawala Case.

It was projected as a landmark judgment but none questioned the fate of the original Hawala case.

The Court restructured the Central Vigilance Commission and CBI in Hawala Case.

It was projected as a landmark judgment but none questioned the fate of the original Hawala case.

Politicians got discharged By suppressing the facts and concealing

evidence in the lower courts and Delhi High Court (a fact confessed by the Jt. Dir. CBI, B R Lal in a TV show), the accused politicians in Hawala case got themselves discharged and proclaimed this as their ‘moral victory’.

Pledged to fight till the end Narain’s efforts to highlight this lapses of CBI

were ignored by the Court. ‘Discharged’ politicians, said there are no evidence and this was a conspiracy against them. Media, without checking the available evidences, gave prominence only to their version. This gave a wrong message to the nation.

CVC a lame duck

However the Central Vigilance Commission, as a byproduct of this case, proved to be a lame duck.

Vineet Narain in a TV debate in ‘Big Fight’ of Star News, anchored by Rajdeep Sardesai, cornered CVC, N Vittal, who announced on the show that he will re-open the Hawala case.

This sent a shock wave amongst the political class, which was together in opposing Hawala investigation.

Tremendous noise was made for weeks in the parliament to oppose such a move of CVC.

None asked the question why were they so scared when they claim to be innocent in the Jain Hawala Case?

Tremendous noise was made for weeks in the parliament to oppose such a move of CVC.

None asked the question why were they so scared when they claim to be innocent in the Jain Hawala Case?

Current controversies about Scams Is it not interesting that unlike Bofors,

Tehelka, 2G Spectrum, where Parliament is rocked for weeks, no noise was ever made to demand honest probe of Jain Hawala case which had direct links with militancy in India?

In subsequent years all other scams are repeatedly mentioned by the celebrity debaters on TV shows but none dares to mention Jain Hawala case.

Narain exposes the Supreme Court Judiciary Despite such conspiracy by

the entire establishment against him, the lone crusader Vineet Narain did not give up . Narain after exposing Justice J S Verma, demanded his prosecution, who by then had been made the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission by the NDA Govt. as a reward for his (dis) service to the nation.

Contempt case against Narain in the Supreme Court Shocked with this kind of bold journalism, the

Supreme Court Bar Association demanded prosecution of Narain. Surprisingly in a jam packed court the three judge bench refused to prosecute Narain, claiming that they are like sun which does not get dirty by throwing dust upon it. The entire bar had a laugh at this because they knew that the bench was scared of hauling up Narain, who had announced that he will expose more sitting judges before going to jail in this case.

Adamant to expose higher judiciary’s immoral character Narain further dared to expose the scams of next CJI, Dr. A S Anand in 2000-2001

Adamant to expose higher judiciary’s immoral character Narain further dared to expose the scams of next CJI, Dr. A S Anand in 2000-2001 He did so, only to

prove this point that Hawala accused were not discharged because of lack of evidence but, because of corrupt higher Judiciary.

He did so, only to prove this point that Hawala accused were not discharged because of lack of evidence but, because of corrupt higher Judiciary.

• Supreme Court Bar, Parliament and the media did not show the courage to stand by Narain in his fight against the sitting CJI Dr Anand.

• Narain was declared proclaimed offender by the J&K High Court. Police harassed him. He had to remain underground for 18 months and finally on June 2nd June 2001 he fled the country to protect his life.

• He got tremendous support by the media and human right groups in Europe and USA.

• Supreme Court Bar, Parliament and the media did not show the courage to stand by Narain in his fight against the sitting CJI Dr Anand.

• Narain was declared proclaimed offender by the J&K High Court. Police harassed him. He had to remain underground for 18 months and finally on June 2nd June 2001 he fled the country to protect his life.

• He got tremendous support by the media and human right groups in Europe and USA.

Lone battle against higher judiciary?

http://www.cpj.org/protests/01ltrs/India06jul01pl.html

For details log on to:

India: CPJ and Human Rights Watch protest editor's contempt prosecution

The next CJI confessed in an open seminar that;

Twenty percent judges in the higher judiciary are corrupt.

Corrupt judges in higher judiciary must be investigated and dismissed from service.

Justice SP Bharucha

Chief Justice of India

Kovalam (Kerala) Dec. 2001

The next CJI confessed in an open seminar that;

Twenty percent judges in the higher judiciary are corrupt.

Corrupt judges in higher judiciary must be investigated and dismissed from service.

Justice SP Bharucha

Chief Justice of India

Kovalam (Kerala) Dec. 2001

Finally, the moral victory for Narain

Finally, the moral victory for Narain

Excellence in Journalism Award for whom ? Journalists, students of

journalism and the civil society will be surprised to know that for this exemplary courage in journalism no Award of Excellence has so far been given to Vineet Narain.

This only proves how much system can gag a lone crusader. Yet he continues to work with high spirit and youthful energy.

Vineet Narain as ‘Statue of Liberty’ for Indian media: The Pioneer 8.4.2001

If this is how the Indian investigating agencies, Parliament, Govt. and top judiciary behaved in the high profile scam like Jain Hawala Case then why media repeatedly makes noise about new scams everyday ?

If this is how the Indian investigating agencies, Parliament, Govt. and top judiciary behaved in the high profile scam like Jain Hawala Case then why media repeatedly makes noise about new scams everyday ?

Can we really fight corruption and militancy in India if Indian Govt., Opp. parties and judiciary is not

willing to act?

Can we really fight corruption and militancy in India if Indian Govt., Opp. parties and judiciary is not

willing to act?

A question must be asked by all of us, how is it that despite

increasing militancy, widespread Hawala operations, blatant corruption and independent

judiciary, no politician or bureaucrat has ever been

convicted ?

A question must be asked by all of us, how is it that despite

increasing militancy, widespread Hawala operations, blatant corruption and independent

judiciary, no politician or bureaucrat has ever been

convicted ?

Disillusioned with the criminal nexus of Executive, Judiciary and

Legislature Narain went to his roots in Braj and got involved with

water harvesting and revival of green cover in order to conserve

the rich cultural and environmental heritage of this

ancient land associated with the life and time of Lord Krishna.

Here again he proved in no time that history can be created with

devotion and dedication.

For details you may log on to

www.brajfoundation.org

‘Vineet Narain Case’ back in news The controversy about CVC P J Thomas’s

appointment, exposure of several scams where huge money is being transferred through Hawala and growing threat from militants, have brought back ‘Vineet Narain Case’ in the limelight.

However, most people who often refer this case in TV debates or print media, are unaware of the dangerous and prolonged lone crusade of Vineet Narain, from 1993 to 2002, on these issues which is heatedly debated now in 2011.

Interestingly the people behind India Against Corruption Movement never cared to involve such well-known crusader against corruption? Because Mr. Shanti Bhushan, Mr. Prashant Bhushan and Mr. Ram Jethmalani were mainly responsible for sabotaging the Hawala crusade.

Mr. Narain took these people on in several TV debates

Why Narain has not written a book so far ? An explosive book on

this case was authored by Narain titled, ‘Hawala ke Deshdrohi’ in Hindi (since he is a Hindi journalist) and was released in 1999 with much fanfare in the presence of thousands of political activists, who had gathered at the Constitution Club of New Delhi. JF Ribiero & Ex-Union Home

Minister Indrajit Gupta, release Narain’s book

Book withdrawn from market Within one month two editions were sold-out

like hot-cake. This led to renewed threat to the life of Vineet Narain, who had to go underground and the book distribution was completely stopped.

Subsequently, even the negatives of the book were withdrawn from the publisher.

Activists, scholars, and media persons convinced Narain to reproduce his volcanic book on corruption. The same was silently released in Aug 2011.

Readers feel that this book will surely benefit the people of India to fight against corruption.

First ever book on corruption of the Chief Justice of India by Narain In Nov 2011 Vineet Narain

released yet another book of his titled Misuse of the Contempt of Courts Act.

This again is the testimony of Narain’s daring journalism.

Both these books are in Hindi and need to be translated in other vernacular languages and in English.

Need for international edition of English book by Narain on his crusade Since 1999 many important bureaucrats and

scholars from India, West Europe and America have asked Mr. Narain to produce the English edition of the book on his Hawala Crusade. He needs professional assistance to do this.

Once published, this book should become the international best seller, because it is a hair raising fascinating story of the dogged persistence of an uncompromising journalist, who single-handedly fought against militancy, Hawala and political corruption, and gave an unprecedented jolt to corrupt Indian polity.

For more details you may log on to www.vineetnarain.net

for these Hindi books you may contact his close associate

Mr. Rajneesh Kapur at

C-6/28, Safdarjung Development AreaNew Delhi-110016

Tele; 011-26566800 & 26519080vineetnarain@hotmail.com