Consular help sought for 12 Indians in Bahrain

Dubai: Indian officials have requested consular assistance for 12 Indians in Bahrain who have been arrested for a money-laundering scam. A relative of one of those arrested made the request to the Indian embassy in Manama during the mission's monthly Open House Friday, the Gulf Daily News reported Saturday. In all, 15 people will go on trial Sunday for being part of the operation that transferred up to 350 million Bahraini dinars (over $928 million).

Eleven managers and employees of a money exchange company and four other accomlices have been charged with illegally transferring money to that Gulf nation. 'We will try to push for consular rights and allow access to families for the 12 Indians arrested in connection with this crime,' Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar was quoted. But he said his officials could not interfere because of the nature of the crime, and they 'respect the Bahrain law'.

According to the report, the operation was busted after the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) alerted the interior ministry's Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Directorate to the irregularities which may hurt Bahrain's 'financial standing'. The suspects were caught following a major investigation spanning Bahrain and reportedly regional countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ring members have been charged with hiding data, failing to provide registers documenting the company's transactions and providing the CBB with false information, in addition to money-laundering, illegal transferring and forging documents.

Consular help sought for 12 Indians in Bahrain

Dubai: Indian officials have requested consular assistance for 12 Indians in Bahrain who have been arrested for a money-laundering scam. A relative of one of those arrested made the request to the Indian embassy in Manama during the mission's monthly Open House Friday, the Gulf Daily News reported Saturday. In all, 15 people will go on trial Sunday for being part of the operation that transferred up to 350 million Bahraini dinars (over $928 million).

Eleven managers and employees of a money exchange company and four other accomlices have been charged with illegally transferring money to that Gulf nation. 'We will try to push for consular rights and allow access to families for the 12 Indians arrested in connection with this crime,' Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar was quoted. But he said his officials could not interfere because of the nature of the crime, and they 'respect the Bahrain law'.

According to the report, the operation was busted after the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) alerted the interior ministry's Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Directorate to the irregularities which may hurt Bahrain's 'financial standing'. The suspects were caught following a major investigation spanning Bahrain and reportedly regional countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ring members have been charged with hiding data, failing to provide registers documenting the company's transactions and providing the CBB with false information, in addition to money-laundering, illegal transferring and forging documents.

Microsoft to give upgraded Windows for free?

California: As Microsoft plans to wind up Windows 8.1 operating system next month, the firm plans to announce a free version of Windows in a bid to persuade customers to upgrade to latest versions.
A new version, called 'Windows with Bing', could be given away at a developers' conference in April, claimed media reports.

The firm is also rumoured to be considering dropping the price or even giving away its Windows Phone software.According to media reports, 'Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system.'

Microsoft is building 'Windows 8.1 with Bing' - a version that would have key Microsoft apps and services.The firm has already made major changes to Windows 8 in a bid to make it more appealing to consumers.

Microsoft hopes the new system would make it easier for touchscreen users and is the same across Microsoft's phones, tablets and PCs.'Let's make it easier to start applications in the way we are used to,' Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying in The Verge.

The firm would bring back the start button which can let you boot straight to the desktop, added media reports.Ballmer also said the firm was not abandoning its start menu, adding that it was slowly beginning to attract app developers to Windows 8.

Microsoft to give upgraded Windows for free?

California: As Microsoft plans to wind up Windows 8.1 operating system next month, the firm plans to announce a free version of Windows in a bid to persuade customers to upgrade to latest versions.
A new version, called 'Windows with Bing', could be given away at a developers' conference in April, claimed media reports.

The firm is also rumoured to be considering dropping the price or even giving away its Windows Phone software.According to media reports, 'Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system.'

Microsoft is building 'Windows 8.1 with Bing' - a version that would have key Microsoft apps and services.The firm has already made major changes to Windows 8 in a bid to make it more appealing to consumers.

Microsoft hopes the new system would make it easier for touchscreen users and is the same across Microsoft's phones, tablets and PCs.'Let's make it easier to start applications in the way we are used to,' Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying in The Verge.

The firm would bring back the start button which can let you boot straight to the desktop, added media reports.Ballmer also said the firm was not abandoning its start menu, adding that it was slowly beginning to attract app developers to Windows 8.

Bangaru Laxman passes away

Hyderabad: Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman died here Saturday after a prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 74.

Laxman breathed his last at a private hospital in Secunderabad. He is survived by a son and three daughters. Laxman was union minister of state for railways from 1999 to 2000 and president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 2000-2001.

He quit as party chief when he was caught on camera while taking bribe in a sting operation by news website Tehelka in 2001. A special CBI court April 27, 2012 sentenced Laxman to four years in prison. He was arrested and sent to jail. In October the same year, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Laxman on medical grounds.

Bangaru Laxman passes away

Hyderabad: Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman died here Saturday after a prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 74.

Laxman breathed his last at a private hospital in Secunderabad. He is survived by a son and three daughters. Laxman was union minister of state for railways from 1999 to 2000 and president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 2000-2001.

He quit as party chief when he was caught on camera while taking bribe in a sting operation by news website Tehelka in 2001. A special CBI court April 27, 2012 sentenced Laxman to four years in prison. He was arrested and sent to jail. In October the same year, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Laxman on medical grounds.

Five-year-old raped; youth arrested

   THANE: A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teenager, who was her neighbour in Janaki Pada area here, police said on Saturday. The accused, Janardhan Bind (19) who works in a local company, lured the girl with chocolates and took her to his house yesterday when her parents were not around, API G B Mali of Waliv police station said.

The incident came to light when the girl told her mother about the sexual abuse.

Bind has been arrested and booked under section 376 of the IPC and section 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act 2012.

Paediatrician arrested for sexually harassing MD student

SALEM: A 46-year-old paediatrician has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a MD student in Kerala by sending her messages and obscene pictures on mobile phone.

Senthilkumar, Associate Professor and Child specialist at the Salem Government Medical College Hospital, was arrested under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Act and section 66 A of the Information Technology Act last night, Salem City Police Commissioner A.Amalraj said.

The girl had ignored the doctor's overtures when she was studying in the Medical College here, he said.

The doctor, who is married, continued to sexually harass her by using a social networking site and sending messages on the mobile when she joined the Calicut Medical College for her MD, he said.

Amalraj said Senthilkumar was arrested following her complaint and remanded to judicial custody early today.

Paediatrician arrested for sexually harassing MD student

SALEM: A 46-year-old paediatrician has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a MD student in Kerala by sending her messages and obscene pictures on mobile phone.

Senthilkumar, Associate Professor and Child specialist at the Salem Government Medical College Hospital, was arrested under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment Act and section 66 A of the Information Technology Act last night, Salem City Police Commissioner A.Amalraj said.

The girl had ignored the doctor's overtures when she was studying in the Medical College here, he said.

The doctor, who is married, continued to sexually harass her by using a social networking site and sending messages on the mobile when she joined the Calicut Medical College for her MD, he said.

Amalraj said Senthilkumar was arrested following her complaint and remanded to judicial custody early today.

Five-year-old raped; youth arrested

   THANE: A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teenager, who was her neighbour in Janaki Pada area here, police said on Saturday. The accused, Janardhan Bind (19) who works in a local company, lured the girl with chocolates and took her to his house yesterday when her parents were not around, API G B Mali of Waliv police station said.

The incident came to light when the girl told her mother about the sexual abuse.

Bind has been arrested and booked under section 376 of the IPC and section 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act 2012.