Poonam yadav: "I was never pregnant"
From a phone-booth employee, earning a measly Rs 600 a month in Lucknow to a potential playback singer, Poonam Yadav has seen it all in the last two years. In between, also a controversy that she’d aborted composer Ismail Darbar’s illegitimate child.
A TV magazine last year carried an interview with the SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2007 contestant’s mother, who was threatening to sue Darbar for ruining her daughter’s life. She had reportedly said that she was waiting for the doctor’s report to file a case against the composer, who was also her daughter’s guru on the show.
However, the singer, who now returns to TV with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Mega Challenge, retorts, “I was never pregnant.” She explains “After two journalists from leading publications wrote the story, I came to Mumbai to clarify the issue with Darbarji’s wife. She treats me well and even called a press conference for the same. But no one clarified it then. The truth had no buyers.”
According to Yadav, she had been hospitalised after consuming an overdose of sleeping pills. “Rumour about my pregnancy surfaced soon after I was discharged. But I wasn’t hospitalised for abortion. God forbid but if it ever happens that if I conceive while in a relationship, I wouldn’t abort it even if it meant paying a heavy price for it. Badnaami ka dar nahin hai mujhe,” Yadav states.
more at hindustantimes.com
nov 2009 ==================================================================
Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda denied charges
of money laundering, diversion of state funds and making illegal
investments abroad and termed the case against him as an attempt by his
"political opponents" to tarnish his image.
"I came to know about the charges through media reports. I vehemently deny them. I do not have any investments in India or abroad," Koda told reporters here.
The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case against Koda for alleged money laundering, diversion of state funds and making huge illegal investments abroad including purchase of mines as far as in Liberia.
"There are no facts in the case...The complaint has been made merely to demolish my image as a politician. I have made a mark in politics despite being an Independent. My political opponents want to prevent me from rising in politics," Koda said.
The 38-year-old, who may face arrest also, is the first chief minister and high-profile politician to have been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act along with eight others including three of his cabinet colleagues.
Terming the ED case as a "political conspiracy hatched by political opponents", Koda said he has not yet got any official communication from the ED in this regard.
"I will explain it and cooperate with the ED. I have full faith in the law of the country," he said.
According to the Enforcement Case Information Report (equivalent to a FIR) before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Ranchi against Koda, he is alleged to have purchased mines in Liberia worth USD 17 lakh (Rs 8.5 crore) besides making other 'benami' purchases in the name of his close confidant Binod Sinha, once a tractor mechanic.
As per the ECIR, the properties in the name of Sinha run into several hundred crores of rupees.
Asked about his association with Sinha, Koda said he lived in his constituency.
"He is not my friend...He lives in my constituency. I cannot answer questions on his behalf. Ask him about his property," Koda, the first Independent MLA who became the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, said.
To a query as to who was behind the "conspiracy" to defame him, Koda said he would explain it in due course. Asked whether he had enemies within the UPA, he said it will not be "proper" for him to say anything on this.
Reminded that none of his former supporters like the RJD and the JMM have spoken in his favour so far after the registration of the case, Koda said he would fight it alone even if no one supports him.
"I know I am correct. I have not done any wrong," he said.
Asserting that the "false cases" has affected him personally and also his supporters, Koda said he is supporting the UPA and will continue to back it.
Asked whether there has been any increase in his property after becoming a minister and then the Chief Minister, Koda replied in the affirmative, saying the increase was because of his salary.
"Yes, it has increased. It was due to salary. Everything is there on record. I have given declaration regarding my property. It is audited," he said.
To a query as to how will he prove his innocence to the authorities, Koda said he had audited accounts of his income and property.
"A vigilance inquiry is also on...I have given all details to them. There is nothing to hide," he added.
Asked about similar charges against his former ministerial colleagues, he said, "it will be proper if you ask them".
On his plans for the forthcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, Koda said he will talk to the UPA partners regarding this.
Asked whether he wanted to be the Chief Minister of Jharkhand once again, Koda said, "Who does not want a promotion".
The former chief minister dismissed charges that the progress of Jharkhand was halted when he was in office. "This is not true. We did a lot for the development of the state," he said.
times of india
nov 2009
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