Indian-American doctor files lawsuit against PM Modi, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, Adani

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued summons to all these leaders, along with several others, which were served on them in India earlier this year

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued summons to all these leaders, along with several others, which were served on them in India earlier this year

An Indian-American doctor has filed a lawsuit here against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and business tycoon Gautam Adani on a host of issues, including corruption and Pegasus spyware. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued summons to all these leaders, along with several others, which were served on them in India earlier this year. Eminent Indian-American attorney from New York Ravi Batra has termed it a "dead on arrival lawsuit". The lawsuit against Mr. Modi, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Adani has been filed by Richmond-based gastroenterologist Dr. Lokesh Vuyurru. Among others named in the lawsuit is Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and chairman of the World Economic forum (WEF).

No documentary evidence on charges

Without any documentary evidence, the Indian-American physician, who comes from Andhra Pradesh, alleged that Mr. Modi, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Adani, along with others, are engaged in corruption, including massive cash transfers to the U.S. and use of Pegasus spyware against political opponents. The lawsuit was filed on May 24, following which the court issued the summons on July 22. The summons were served on them in India on August 4 and to Mr. Schwab in Switzerland on August 2. Dr. Vuyyuru submitted the evidence of submission of the summons before the court on August 19. Asked about the lawsuit, Mr. Batra said Mr. Vuyyuru had too much free time on his hands. "Lokesh Vuyyuru has too much free time on his hands, seeing his improper use of our federal courts by filing his 53-page complaint to defame and disparage an American ally, India, and despite the presumption against extra-territoriality and foreign sovereign immunity act — something we helped flush out by repeatedly winning dismissal of SFJ v INC and SFJ v Sonia Gandhi — he slashes and burns indiscriminately as if there was no Rule 11 to teach him respect for Article III courts," he told PTI. "That no lawyer agreed to sign this toilet paper 'complaint' speaks volumes, for this is a dead on arrival lawsuit," Mr. Batra said in response to a question.

"He has a birds-eye complaint about corruption — as he sees it — and he doesn't specify — RICO and Fraud require," he said.

#IndianAmerican #doctor #files #lawsuit #Modi #Andhra #Jagan #Mohan #Reddy #Adani https://www.globalcourant.com/indian-american-doctor-files-lawsuit-against-pm-modi-andhra-cm-jagan-mohan-reddy-adani/?feed_id=18625&_unique_id=63104dcf49317

Trump asks court for neutral oversight of FBI review of Mar-a-Lago files

Former US president's attorneys say materials taken from Trump's Florida residence were “presumptively” covered by executive privilege and the FBI review should be overseen by a "special master".

The Federal Bureau of Investigation building headquarters as seen in Washington, US, on August 13, 2022. (AP)

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked a federal judge to prevent the FBI from continuing a review of documents recovered from his Florida estate earlier this month until a neutral "special master" can be appointed. The attorneys asserted in a court filing on Monday, their first since the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago two weeks ago, that the sets of documents taken from the residence were “presumptively” covered by executive privilege. “This matter has captured the attention of the American public. Merely ‘adequate’ safeguards are not acceptable when the matter at hand involves not only the constitutional rights of President Trump, but also the presumption of executive privilege,” the attorneys wrote. Trump's court motion, filed in a federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, also demanded that the US Justice Department provide him with a more-detailed property receipt outlining the items the FBI seized from his Mar-a-Lago home during its August 8 search, and asked investigators to return any items that were not within the scope of the search warrant. Separately on Monday, a federal judge acknowledged that redactions to an FBI affidavit spelling out the basis for the search might be so extensive as to make the document “meaningless” if released to the public.  A written order from US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart largely restates what he said in court last week, when he directed the Justice Department to propose redactions about the information in the affidavit that it wants to remain secret. That submission is due Thursday at noon. Justice Department officials have sought to keep the entire document sealed, saying disclosing any portion of it risks compromising an ongoing criminal investigation, revealing information about witnesses and divulging investigative techniques. They have advised the judge that the necessary redactions to the affidavit would be so numerous that they would strip the document of any substantive information and make it effectively meaningless for the public. Reinhart acknowledged that possibility in his Monday order, adding, “I may ultimately reach that conclusion after hearing further from the Government.” READ MORE: US judge to consider partially unsealing affidavit behind Trump home raid [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aSJccrT7dg[/embed] Call for releasing materials Several news organizations, including The Associated Press, have urged the judge to unseal additional records tied to this month's search of Mar-a-Lago, when FBI officials said they recovered 11 sets of classified documents, including top secret records, from the Florida estate. Of particular interest is the affidavit supporting the search, which presumably contains key details about the Justice Department's investigation examining whether Trump retained and mishandled classified and sensitive government records. Trump and some of his supporters have also called for the document to be released, hoping it will expose what they contend was government overreach. In his written ruling, Reinhart said the Justice Department had a compelling interest in preventing the affidavit from being released in its entirety. But he said he did not believe it should remain fully sealed, and said he was not persuaded by the department's arguments that the redaction process “imposes an undue burden on its resources." READ MORE: US Justice Department opposes disclosure of affidavit on Trump's house raid Source: AP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/trump-asks-court-for-neutral-oversight-of-fbi-review-of-mar-a-lago-files/?feed_id=14425&_unique_id=630408e4ae5e8

Ishaq Dar files petition in SC for early hearing of appeal

PML-N leader Senator Ishaq Dar. — AFP/File

LONDON: Former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has filed an application in the Supreme Court requesting for an early hearing of the appeal which has been pending before the court since 2018. Senator-elect Dar has filed the application through his lawyers. He had originally filed an appeal in 2018 against his declaration as a proclaimed offender by accountability court. The latest application in the Supreme Court of Pakistan is requesting intervention by the apex court to consider his case on merit. According to his lawyers, Senator-elect Dar was first "blacklisted" by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports without any basis or justification on July 24,2018. That step practically banned the passport authorities in Pakistan and the Pakistani missions overseas from issuing a passport to Dar.  Dar’s valid passport was then cancelled by Imran Khan's government on September 06, 2018. The action was taken despite Dar's written request for issuance of a requisite passport, being a necessity and a fundamental right for the purposes of travelling. He maintained that it was a draconian step which violated his basic human rights. The factum of cancellation of the passport came into Dar’s knowledge through media reporting on September 09, 2018, during his medical treatment in the United Kingdom. "The cancellation of Dar’s passport was a violation of law and human rights by Imran Khan government as a result of which the Senator was stranded in the UK from September 2018 onwards, which made it impossible for Dar to travel to Pakistan even if his health condition had improved," Senator-elect Dar’s legal teams said. In May 2022, Dar received his new passport in London which had been issued by Passport Authorities in Islamabad on April 26, 2022.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/ishaq-dar-files-petition-in-sc-for-early-hearing-of-appeal/?feed_id=14362&_unique_id=6303c657b2e9f

FBI seized 'top secret' files in raid on Trump home

US federal agents who searched ex-US president Donald Trump's Florida home this week removed 11 sets of classified documents including some marked as top secret, says Justice Department.

Receipt for property that was seized during the execution of a search warrant by the FBI at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. (AP)

FBI agents recovered records marked "top secret" during their search of former president Donald Trump's Florida estate, according to documents made public in an investigation that includes possible violations of the US Espionage Act.

The warrant and related materials, unsealed by a Florida judge on Friday, showed agents took away with them a significant amount of classified files after the raid, which ignited a political firestorm in an already bitterly divided country.

The extraordinary search was partly based on suspicions of violations of the US Espionage Act related to the illegal retention of sensitive defence documents, the warrant showed.

Some of the papers were marked "top secret" and were "meant to be only available in special government facilities," said the unsealed seven-page federal court filing.

The filing contained a list of items removed from Mar-a-Lago, including information about the "President of France," and the warrant to search the palatial estate in Palm Beach.

Trump: FBI may have 'planted' docs

The Wall Street Journal said within the 20 boxes of items carted away by FBI agents were binders of photos, a handwritten note and the grant of clemency made by Trump to Roger Stone, an ally of the former president.

The Washington Post on Thursday cited anonymous sources close to the investigation as saying classified documents relating to nuclear weapons were among the papers sought during the raid.

Trump himself appeared to deny the claim, posting that the "nuclear weapons issue is a hoax" and even suggesting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation might have been "planting information" at his home.

He claimed that the documents seized by agents were "all declassified," and argued that he would have turned over the documents to the Justice Department if asked.

While incumbent presidents have the power to declassify information, that authority lapses as soon as they leave office and it was not clear if the documents in question have ever been declassified. 

Trump also kept possession of the documents despite multiple requests from agencies, including the National Archives, to turn over presidential records in accordance with federal law.

Political storm

The highly unusual move to unseal the search warrant was announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland –– the country's top law enforcement officer –– who said he had "personally approved" the raid on Trump's home.

Leading Republicans have rallied around Trump and some members of his party have accused the Justice Department and FBI of partisanship in targeting the ex-president.

In addition to investigations into his business practices, Trump faces legal scrutiny for his efforts to overturn the results of the November 2020 election, and for the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

Trump was impeached for a historic second time by the House after the Capitol riot –– he was charged with inciting an insurrection –– but was acquitted by the Senate.

Source: TRTWorld and agencies

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/fbi-seized-top-secret-files-in-raid-on-trump-home/?feed_id=10118&_unique_id=62f6c6f1a432d

US agents reportedly looked for nuclear files in Trump house raid

Fast News

FBI officials sought documents related to nuclear weapons and other classified files during search operation at ex-US president Donald Trump's home in Florida, Washington Post reports.

US Justice Department has asked a federal court to unseal the warrant the FBI used to search the Mar-a-Lago estate of Donald Trump. (AP)

US federal agents were looking for documents relating to nuclear weapons when they searched former president Donald Trump's home in Florida this week, the Washington Post has reported.

It was not clear if such documents were recovered, the Post reported on Thursday.

This is a developing story and will be updated soon ...

Source: TRTWorld and agencies

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/us-agents-reportedly-looked-for-nuclear-files-in-trump-house-raid/?feed_id=9726&_unique_id=62f5a876a4966

Elon Musk files counter-suit as legal battle over Twitter deal escalates

Musk's counter-suit was submitted along with a legal defence against Twitter's claim that the billionaire is contractually bound to complete the deal he inked in April to buy Twitter.

The Tesla boss wooed Twitter's board with a $54.20 per-share offer, but then in July announced he was "terminating" their agreement. (Reuters)

Elon Musk has filed claims against Twitter as he fights back against the tech firm's lawsuit demanding he be held to his $44-billion buyout deal.

Musk's counter-suit was submitted along with a legal defence against Twitter's claim that the billionaire is contractually bound to complete the deal he inked in April to buy Twitter, the Chancery Court in the state of Delaware said in a notice on Friday.

The 164-page filing was submitted as being "confidential", meaning the documents were not accessible by the public, the notice indicated.

Rules of the court, however, require Musk to submit a public version of the filing with trade secrets or other sensitive information redacted.

A judge has ordered a five-day trial over Twitter's lawsuit against Musk to begin on October 17.

The Tesla boss wooed Twitter's board with a $54.20 per-share offer, but then in July announced he was "terminating" their agreement on accusations the firm misled him regarding its tally of fake and spam accounts.

READ MORE: Elon Musk-Twitter saga, explained

Row over bots

Twitter, whose stock price closed at $41.61 on Friday, has stuck by its estimates regarding accounts run by software "bots" rather than people, and argued that Musk is contriving excuses to back out of the contract.

The social media platform has urged shareholders to endorse the deal, setting a vote on the merger for September 13.

"We are committed to closing the merger on the price and terms agreed upon with Mr. Musk," Twitter chief executive Parag Agrawal and board chairperson Bret Taylor said in a copy of a letter to investors.

Billions of dollars are at stake, but so is the future of Twitter, which Musk has said should allow any legal speech — an absolutist position that has sparked fears the network could be used to incite violence.

READ MORE: Twitter reports quarterly loss, cites Musk buyout uncertainty

Source: AFP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/elon-musk-files-counter-suit-as-legal-battle-over-twitter-deal-escalates/?feed_id=4166&_unique_id=62e4d17aa12b5