Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Going grey is genetic, scientists say
Going grey is genetic, scientists say
Steve Connor | The Independent | Mar 2, 2016, 08.28 AM IST
They are various shades of grey, but George Clooney, Richard Gere and Gary Lineker share one thing in common, a scientific study suggests - a genetic predisposition for a silver fox.
Scientists have discovered the first gene for turning hair grey and in the process revealed that some men, and women, are probably born with an inherited tendency to go grey before their time.
Hair colour is determined by what kind of melanin pigment is deposited in each hair shaft as it grows, but this hair-colouring process breaks down with age which is why grey hair is associated with advanced years.
However, not everyone goes grey as the same age and scientists believe that some people inherit a predisposition for turning grey as early as in their 20s or 30s. A study has now found the first gene likely to be involved in premature greyness.
"We have found the first genetic association to hair greying, which could provide a good model to understand aspects of the biology of human ageing," said Professor Andreas Ruiz-Linares of University College London, who led the study published in Nature Communications.
The researchers found the gene, known as IRF4, by analysing the genomes of 6,357 people from a cohort of genetically-diverse volunteers who live across five countries in Latin America - Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. They included people with European, African and native American ancestry.
The IRF4 gene was already known to be involved in hair colour because it regulates the production and storage of melanin. But this was the first time that scientists had shown it to be directly involved in conferring a tendency to go grey in both men and women.
Given the amount of effort both sexes put in to covering up grey hairs, Professor Ruiz-Linares said that the identification of the first "grey gene" may help to develop more permanent ways of ridding the head of stray greys.
"Understanding the mechanism of the IRF-4 greying association could also be relevant for developing ways to delay hair greying," he said.
The study also looked at other aspects of human hair, such as hair shape, balding, beards, eyebrow thickness and "monobrow" - when the two eyebrows fuse together into a single line.
Scientists have discovered the first gene for turning hair grey and in the process revealed that some men, and women, are probably born with an inherited tendency to go grey before their time.
Hair colour is determined by what kind of melanin pigment is deposited in each hair shaft as it grows, but this hair-colouring process breaks down with age which is why grey hair is associated with advanced years.
However, not everyone goes grey as the same age and scientists believe that some people inherit a predisposition for turning grey as early as in their 20s or 30s. A study has now found the first gene likely to be involved in premature greyness.
"We have found the first genetic association to hair greying, which could provide a good model to understand aspects of the biology of human ageing," said Professor Andreas Ruiz-Linares of University College London, who led the study published in Nature Communications.
The researchers found the gene, known as IRF4, by analysing the genomes of 6,357 people from a cohort of genetically-diverse volunteers who live across five countries in Latin America - Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. They included people with European, African and native American ancestry.
The IRF4 gene was already known to be involved in hair colour because it regulates the production and storage of melanin. But this was the first time that scientists had shown it to be directly involved in conferring a tendency to go grey in both men and women.
Given the amount of effort both sexes put in to covering up grey hairs, Professor Ruiz-Linares said that the identification of the first "grey gene" may help to develop more permanent ways of ridding the head of stray greys.
"Understanding the mechanism of the IRF-4 greying association could also be relevant for developing ways to delay hair greying," he said.
The study also looked at other aspects of human hair, such as hair shape, balding, beards, eyebrow thickness and "monobrow" - when the two eyebrows fuse together into a single line.
Stir-hit Haryana transfers 10 top cops
Stir-hit Haryana transfers 10 top cops
TNN | Mar 2, 2016, 05.22 AM ISTRELATED VIDEOS
CHANDIGARH: : The Haryana government on Tuesday transferred 10 police officers, including the superintendents of police (SPs) of Jhajjar, Kaithal, Rewari and Yamunanagar, with immediate effect. The state government also attached a senior IPS officer with the Parkash Singh committee set up to probe the unrest following Jat quota agitation.
Director general of police (crime) K P Singh has been posted as a director general (DG) with the committee, in addition to his own duties, said an official spokesman here. The state government on February 24 had appointed retired IPS officer Parkash Singh "to inquire into the acts of omission and commission on part of officers of both police and civil administration during the Jat quota agitation ."
Inspector general of police, Central Training Institute, Home Guards, Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, has been posted as IGP (telecommunications) in place of A S Chawla who is on leave. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), West Gurgaon, Kulwinder Singh, has been posted as commandant 4th of India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Manesar in place of Sangeeta Rani, who goes as Rewari SP replacing Balwan Singh. Balwan has been posted as DCP, West Gurgaon, with additional charge of DCP in Gurgaon.
Yamunanagar SP Arun Nehra has been posted as DCP (urban) in Ambala in place of Jashandeep Singh Randhawa.
Randhawa has been posted as Jhajjar SP in place of Sumit Kumar, who will be the new SP of Kaithal replacing Krishan Murari.
Director general of police (crime) K P Singh has been posted as a director general (DG) with the committee, in addition to his own duties, said an official spokesman here. The state government on February 24 had appointed retired IPS officer Parkash Singh "to inquire into the acts of omission and commission on part of officers of both police and civil administration during the Jat quota agitation ."
Inspector general of police, Central Training Institute, Home Guards, Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, has been posted as IGP (telecommunications) in place of A S Chawla who is on leave. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), West Gurgaon, Kulwinder Singh, has been posted as commandant 4th of India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Manesar in place of Sangeeta Rani, who goes as Rewari SP replacing Balwan Singh. Balwan has been posted as DCP, West Gurgaon, with additional charge of DCP in Gurgaon.
Yamunanagar SP Arun Nehra has been posted as DCP (urban) in Ambala in place of Jashandeep Singh Randhawa.
Randhawa has been posted as Jhajjar SP in place of Sumit Kumar, who will be the new SP of Kaithal replacing Krishan Murari.
Asia Cup: India reach final with hat-trick of wins
Asia Cup: India reach final with hat-trick of wins
Jamie Alter | TNN | Mar 1, 2016, 10.26 PM ISTRELATED VIDEOS
Three wins in a row made India the first finalists of the 2016 Asia Cup Twenty20, their hat-trick of victories coming over Sri Lanka at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday. Things mostly went India's way from start to finish, with MS Dhoni's decision to field being vindicated by his bowlers who kept Sri Lanka to 138 and the required runs being knocked off in 19.2 overs for the loss of five wickets.
India's chase was not without blemish, with their openers dismissed by Nuwan Kulasekara inside four overs, but a 53-run alliance between Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina put them back on track. Kohli's fourth T20I fifty of the year put the finishing touches on victory and there was a welcome cameo from Yuvraj Singh, who produced his most fluent innings since returning in January.
Sri Lanka, who lost to hosts Bangladesh in their previous match, now face Pakistan on Friday needing to win handsomely to have a hope of joining India in Sunday's summit clash.
Critical to India's success was taking wickets at regular junctions. Six Sri Lankans made it to double-digits but none topped 30, which is reflective both of the hold India had on them as well as how poorly they applied themselves on a two-paced surface.
Since making an international return to the T20I side on January 31, Ashish Nehra had struck in his first spell on five of eight occasions. Today he made it six, removing Dinesh Chandimal for four when the batsman charged, heaved and nicked to MS Dhoni. As if on cue, Jasprit Bumrah struck moments later when Shehan Jayasuriya feathered a regulation take to Dhoni. Getting starts has been one of Sri Lanka's main worries this year and a scoreline of 15/2 in four overs was another failure.
Nehra continued to ask questions of Tillakaratne Dilshan, twice belting out confident shouts for lbw as the ball darted about on a skidding pitch. Nehra's first spell of 3-0-12-1 contained 10 dot balls and with Bumrah also frugal in his first three, Sri Lanka took 31 off the Powerplay overs. First ball after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Dilshan mistimed a hook off Hardik Pandya and found fine leg. This left Angelo Mathews to once again try and turn a sorry situation into an innings of substance, but his attacking approach saw him bowled by Pandya for 18 from 19 balls.
India's chase was not without blemish, with their openers dismissed by Nuwan Kulasekara inside four overs, but a 53-run alliance between Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina put them back on track. Kohli's fourth T20I fifty of the year put the finishing touches on victory and there was a welcome cameo from Yuvraj Singh, who produced his most fluent innings since returning in January.
Sri Lanka, who lost to hosts Bangladesh in their previous match, now face Pakistan on Friday needing to win handsomely to have a hope of joining India in Sunday's summit clash.
Critical to India's success was taking wickets at regular junctions. Six Sri Lankans made it to double-digits but none topped 30, which is reflective both of the hold India had on them as well as how poorly they applied themselves on a two-paced surface.
Since making an international return to the T20I side on January 31, Ashish Nehra had struck in his first spell on five of eight occasions. Today he made it six, removing Dinesh Chandimal for four when the batsman charged, heaved and nicked to MS Dhoni. As if on cue, Jasprit Bumrah struck moments later when Shehan Jayasuriya feathered a regulation take to Dhoni. Getting starts has been one of Sri Lanka's main worries this year and a scoreline of 15/2 in four overs was another failure.
Nehra continued to ask questions of Tillakaratne Dilshan, twice belting out confident shouts for lbw as the ball darted about on a skidding pitch. Nehra's first spell of 3-0-12-1 contained 10 dot balls and with Bumrah also frugal in his first three, Sri Lanka took 31 off the Powerplay overs. First ball after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Dilshan mistimed a hook off Hardik Pandya and found fine leg. This left Angelo Mathews to once again try and turn a sorry situation into an innings of substance, but his attacking approach saw him bowled by Pandya for 18 from 19 balls.
Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden left $29 million inheritance for jihad
Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden left $29 million inheritance for jihad
Reuters | Mar 2, 2016, 08.21 AM IST
Osama Bin Laden.(File photo)
WASHINGTON: Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden outlined in letters and other documents how at least $29 million of his funds and possessions should be apportioned after his death, requesting that most of it be used to continue global jihad.
One of the letters - part of a cache of 113 documents taken in the 2011 US Special Forces raid that killed bin Laden - was described by US intelligence officials as what they believed was a last will.
Reuters and ABC Television were given exclusive access to the documents, which were translated from Arabic and declassified by US intelligence agencies.
They were part of a second tranche of documents seized in the operation and have been declassified since May 2015. A large number have yet to be released.
One document, a hand-written note that US intelligence officials believe the Saudi militant composed in the late 1990s, laid out how he wanted to distribute about $29 million he had in Sudan.
One percent of the $29 million, bin Laden wrote, should go to Mahfouz Ould al-Walid, a senior al-Qaida militant who used the nom de guerre Abu Hafs al Mauritani.
"By the way, he (al-Walid) has already received 20,000-30,000 dollars from it, bin Laden continued. "I promised him that I would reward him if he took it out of the (Sudanese) government."
Bin Laden lived in Sudan for five years as an official guest until he was asked to leave in May 1996 by the then-Islamic fundamentalist government under pressure from the United States.
Another 1 percent of the sum should be given to a second associate, Engineer Abu Ibrahim al-Iraqi Sa'ad, for helping set up bin Laden's first company in Sudan, Wadi al-Aqiq Co, the document said.
Bin Laden urged his close relatives to use the rest of the funds to support holy war.
"I hope for my brothers, sisters and maternal aunts to obey my will and to spend all the money that I have left in Sudan on jihad, for the sake of Allah," he wrote.
He set down specific amounts in Saudi riyals and gold that should be apportioned between his mother, a son, a daughter, an uncle, and his uncle's children and maternal aunts.
One of the letters - part of a cache of 113 documents taken in the 2011 US Special Forces raid that killed bin Laden - was described by US intelligence officials as what they believed was a last will.
Reuters and ABC Television were given exclusive access to the documents, which were translated from Arabic and declassified by US intelligence agencies.
They were part of a second tranche of documents seized in the operation and have been declassified since May 2015. A large number have yet to be released.
One document, a hand-written note that US intelligence officials believe the Saudi militant composed in the late 1990s, laid out how he wanted to distribute about $29 million he had in Sudan.
One percent of the $29 million, bin Laden wrote, should go to Mahfouz Ould al-Walid, a senior al-Qaida militant who used the nom de guerre Abu Hafs al Mauritani.
"By the way, he (al-Walid) has already received 20,000-30,000 dollars from it, bin Laden continued. "I promised him that I would reward him if he took it out of the (Sudanese) government."
Bin Laden lived in Sudan for five years as an official guest until he was asked to leave in May 1996 by the then-Islamic fundamentalist government under pressure from the United States.
Another 1 percent of the sum should be given to a second associate, Engineer Abu Ibrahim al-Iraqi Sa'ad, for helping set up bin Laden's first company in Sudan, Wadi al-Aqiq Co, the document said.
Bin Laden urged his close relatives to use the rest of the funds to support holy war.
"I hope for my brothers, sisters and maternal aunts to obey my will and to spend all the money that I have left in Sudan on jihad, for the sake of Allah," he wrote.
He set down specific amounts in Saudi riyals and gold that should be apportioned between his mother, a son, a daughter, an uncle, and his uncle's children and maternal aunts.
Was tortured, told to sign on Ishrat affidavit, claims former bureaucrat
Was tortured, told to sign on Ishrat affidavit, claims former bureaucrat
TNN | Mar 1, 2016, 08.19 PM ISTRELATED VIDEOS
NEW DELHI: Yet another former bureaucrat has come out and hinted that the changes in the Ishrat Jahan affidavit was made at the political level by the then UPA government.
The UPA government had submitted two affidavits in the case. The first affidavit said that the four people including Ishrat, who were killed in an alleged fake encounter, were terrorists. While in the second affidavit filed within two months the government made a complete U-turn and said that there was no conclusive evidence to say they were terrorists.
RVS Mani, former under secretary (Internal Security) in the Union home ministry, the man who signed the two affidavits in the Ishrat case, has claimed that he was used as a rubber stamp by the government.
Stating that the evidence in Ishrat case was engineered, the former bureaucrat said that he was ordered to sign on the second affidavit and hinted that the SIT wanted him to implicate the Gujarat Intelligence Bureau officers
In an interview to Times Now, RVS Mani has alleged that he was tortured by SIT chief Satish Verma.
"The SIT chief burnt me with cigarette stubs. I was chased by a CBI officer," the former bureaucrat said in the interview.
Here's the transcript of RVS Mani's interview with Prema Sridevi of Times Now.
TIMES NOW: RVS Mani, former under secretary (Internal Security) in the ministry of home affairs is joining us. Thank you, Sir for talking to TIMES NOW. Now, two affidavits were filed when you were the under secretary in the MHA in the Ishrat Jahan case. One was filed on August 6, 2009 and the second affidavit was a little contradictory and it was filed on September 30, 2009. In the first affidavit you have gone on to say that these people, these four people were terrorists. But in the second affidavit you have gone on to completely contradict this stand and you have said that there is no conclusive evidence to prove that these people were terrorists. Now, I just wanted to know who drafted the first affidavit.
RVS MANI: I drafted it under the guidance of my officers.
TIMES NOW: The first affidavit was drafted by you?
RVS MANI: (nods)
TIMES NOW: And you completely believed in the first affidavit?
RVS MANI: I own it because it was based on available facts, there is no rocket science in it. All the information available in the files were coherently put in a sequence. That's the first affidavit.
TIMES NOW: So you signed the first affidavit?
RVS MANI: I got the approval from the then honourable home minister. And I remember the file having gone to the law secretary for vetting. So I do not know in what context it went. But it went to law secretary also, minister of home also had signed the noting portion approving it. Thereafter only it was signed, filed.
TIMES NOW: So you completely believed it when you said that these people were terrorists. You had a firm belief in that fact?
RVS MANI: Madam, we don't believe ... We believe on documents and papers on record.
TIMES NOW: So you are saying that you had drafted the first affidavit and you had signed the first affidavit. Now, I want to know who drafted the second affidavit. Did you draft the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: No madam.
TIMES NOW: Did you sign the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: I was given an order to go and file it, so I signed it.
TIMES NOW: Now, these revelations are really shocking. You are trying to say that the first affidavit was drafted by you, signed by you, you believed in the first affidavit, but the second affidavit was not drafted by you, but you were given orders and you had to sign it?
RVS MANI: Yes madam, I had to sign it, that's all. Somebody said you go and file it that is the order of the government, so I went and signed it.
TIMES NOW: Now, who drafted the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: Madam, it was not drafted at my level. It was not drafted at my level, two immediate seniors did not draft it as far as I remember. If it has been drafted above that, you better find it out.
TIMES NOW: Was it drafted at a political level?
RVS MANI: (smiles) Madam, I....
TIMES NOW: Because that is what the former home secretary also said that the decision was taken at a political level.
RVS MANI: Madam the home secretary is the highest serving officer in the home ministry. There is no officer senior to him in the ministry. So if, up to his level if it has not been drafted, then you can draw the conclusion that it was someone above him.
TIMES NOW: So, will I be wrong if I say that second affidavit was drafted by the then home minister or by his office?
RVS MANI: I don't know ...
TIMES NOW: Or was it dictated by the home minister? Will I be wrong if I say that?
RVS MANI: Madam, home secretary is the highest officer in the ministry. There is no officer senior to the home secretary.
TIMES NOW: Who is above the home secretary, obviously the home minister.
RVS MANI: Home minister. So naturally the level is very easily drawn. To arrive at conclusion you can put two plus two together. I can't say anything.
TIMES NOW: There was political pressure on you?
RVS MANI: Madam, I was asked to go and file it, so I went and filed it. It was an order for me. The conduct rules for us is very clear that if I am ordered something, I have to go and execute it. Rule 3 of the CCS conduct rules is very clear about it. I cannot refuse. (smiles)
TIMES NOW: Now when I asked you about the first affidavit and you said that you completely believed in that first affidavit and when it came to the second affidavit, even when you were signing on that paper did you really believe what it said?
RVS MANI: Madam, on facts nothing was repudiated. None of the facts written in the first affidavit has been contradicted or repudiated. What it says is these facts are there but it is based on intelligence inputs which are not of evidentiary value. It is only intelligence input, it is indicative. That is what more or less, I remember, I don't remember the exact text, it is almost seven years. So that is the reason so far enough. See none of the facts were repudiated.
TIMES NOW: But were these people terrorists? Were you convinced that these four people were terrorists?
RVS MANI: Madam, I believe in the input of the intelligence bureau. I have received the intelligence bureau's input, R&AW's input for five long years. Every time I found them to be precise, exact, accurate. In fact I have said so in the NK Ameen case in the Supreme Court, my affidavit captures about these intelligence inputs. They are doing a wonderful job.
TIMES NOW: What about Rajendra Kumar?
RVS MANI: Madam personally I don't know him. I had one or two official meetings with him. At the same time the inputs coming from his division were absolutely accurate. There are a lot of very very sensitive inputs that I have received. In fact I felt very aghast that he was treated like this. He should have been given some Padma Shri or Kirti Chakra or something. You know this is my personal view. I don't hold any brief for anybody.
TIMES NOW: Why do you say that? Why do you really trust him?
RVS MANI: Madam.
TIMES NOW: Can you give us any examples, anything in the past that has happened, maybe any input that he has given, he has sent it to you and you probably found that this was probably actionable evidence or input.
RVS MANI: Madam, see peole talk about the incidents which have happened, poeple never talk about the incidents which have been prevented based on inputs. It is a very surprising thing. See, Rajendra Kumar or Ashok Prashant or now DP Sinha who has become the information commissioner. They have given inputs. On law and order, DP Sinha was there, Prashat was there on counterterrorism, Rajendra Kumar was I think Pakistan. See, the amount of information they have given and on which we have diseminated to the states, the amounts of mishaps that we have prevented.
TIMES NOW: Like what are the mishaps you are talking about? Is it the UP case? Can you just give us some information?
RVS MANI: Madam, it is a matter of public record. I have already said so. Even high court took cognizance of that and I already said so, so it is all a matter of public record. See, until now several incidents have been prevented madam. There are a lot of incidents that I can't talk about now.
TIMES NOW: Based on the information and input which Rajendra Kumar's desk had given you?
RVS MANI: Yes, lot of them.
TIMES NOW: So you totally believed it when he said that these people are LeT terrorists?
RVS MANI: Madam, there is no reason not to believe them. There is no reason, because over a period of five years of experience in the same desk ... So many inputs have been revealed, so many mishaps have been prevented.
TIMES NOW: Then sir, what was the need for the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: Madam, you ask the people who gave me the orders. I cannot say why there was a need for....
TIMES NOW: So, definitely what the former home secretary GK Pillai said that there was political interference. You completely agree with that?
RVS MANI: Perfectly okay madam. I don't know, I will not like to comment on that because he was the highest serving officer and if he says that he did not draft the first affidavit then it is a question of putting two plus two together on whatever the second affidavit was. The decision was taken and the drafting was done known best to them.
TIMES NOW: What about the CBI investigation into this entire case? There were certain officers especially I remember reading an affidavit filed by you, where you say that the then SIT chief Satish Verma had tortured you and the CBI officers were trying to torture you because they wanted you to name Rajendra Kumar and the other IB officers. Please tell us what really happened. What you went through at that point of time?
RVS MANI: Madam, had it not happened, my parents would be alive today. Both my parents, their age was cut short by two-three years and that's a different matter. I was chased.
TIMES NOW: By whom?
RVS MANI: So many officers, so many people chased me everywhere.
TIMES NOW: You mean to say Satish Verma?
RVS MANI: Madam, Satish Verma what he has done to me is very unprecedented and he was actually, basically the SIT, if you see the progress of the SIT, apart from Satish Verma there was no other joint commissioner or IG level officer who continued in it for more than six months because this fellow would fight with them and drive them out, this is by his own admission and number two is that he was basically not collecting evidence, he was engineering evidence.
TIMES NOW: So you mean to say CBI and Satish Verma everybody was involved in this?
RVS MANI: I don't know if they were involved in what.
TIMES NOW: CBI was also engineering eveidence?
RVS MANI: Madam Satish Verma was head of the unit of SIT and he was helped by two three cronies who were all engineering evidences. That's what I can say.
TIMES NOW: You opted for VRS. Why did you do that?
RVS MANI: Because at one point of time, I thought I won't be able to continue at this stage. The way so many cases were opened, baseless cases were opened against me. See basically I will tell you, the government wanted the chargesheet to be filed, which is an elaborate process. Even to withdraw the chargesheet it takes around 8 to 10 months.
TIMES NOW: You mean to say that the Congress led UPA government was hounding you?
RVS MANI: Madam, these conclusions are obvious madam, what to say. Conclusions are very clear. You can always draw your conclusions. Actually I go to a particular temple, see. These people talk about right to worship. Right from childhood I have been going to a very prominent temple in Delhi, a south Indian temple. You know one day, one lady officer who had joined CBI at that time, she chased me there. One very senior officer of the CBI entered the temple as a devotee. Thereafter see, my father was a....
TIMES NOW: Why did she chase you?
RVS MANI: Madam I ran away from there. I don't know why she chased me but it was during those days.
TIMES NOW: When you were being hounded?
RVS MANI: Yes, and not only that, she had not joined the CBI, she was about to join the CBI something like that. It was a very closed phase at that time. I am not very sure about it. One gentleman came up and said so and so has come. See I am not the panditji of this temple although I was in the attire, I do a particular kind of vedic recitation on Sunday mornings. My father was a top vedic scholar in Delhi. He was very well known and I have also learnt from him. I am also known for my...but that is my second thing. So I was doing that and after I had completed, I was standing at that place. One gentleman approached me saying that so and so person has come. I said that I am not the priest of this temple. Because you know she has come, I said that there are three priests available if you want any help you can talk to them. Again third time he said no so and so. I said, look there are no VIP treatments, everybody, even the high court judges and supreme court judges, they also come to this temple as normal devotees and so there is nothing. He again said no, no, no she wants to talk to you. I said I don't want to talk to anybody. Second time again that gentleman insisted. I could see that lady waiting for me. I said okay, I will change my clothes and come. I went through the staff gate and I went away. Because I was so paranoid with these people chasing me.
TIMES NOW: Who is this officer?
RVS MANI: Madam, it was one lady officer who had a lot of controversy even while joining and before joing also.
TIMES NOW: Can you name her?
RVS MANI: No, I don't want to name anybody in this madam.
TIMES NOW: Will I be wrong if I say it was Archana Ramasundram?
RVS MANI: No, I don't want to name anybody.
TIMES NOW: Because, since you have said that there was a controversy.
RVS MANI: I don't want to name anybody in this madam. It is a fact. But I already filed....
TIMES NOW: Was I right, I mean?
RVS MANI: Madam, I have already filed it in the Supreme Court. It's a matter on the record.
TIMES NOW: But we spoke to your wife also and she was very emotional when she told us that you know that your pants were also burnt and...
RVS MANI: On 21st June, 2013. Yes, Satish Verma burnt me with his cigarettes
TIMES NOW: Why, what did he really want you to do?
RVS MANI: Madam you should ask him. Why do you ask me? I kept on saying that I am telling the truth. If Satish Verma wanted something he should be able to answer.
TIMES NOW: Basically, he wanted you to implicate those IB officers? That is what was the basic intention? That's what the CBI wanted from you?
RVS MANI: The CBI said that the IB input is not believeable. I said I will never do it because I will not tell any lie, I stand for the truth and the truth is I know madam what type of environment they work for, what type of input they generate and to generate that input what type of efforts they have to make, quality inputs. I don't think any other intelligence agency in any other country would do it. Because we have also had certain interactions in other places. I am telling you as a professional I dealt with him for five years and I know IB's level of commitment. I don't hold brief for any of these intelligence agencies.
The UPA government had submitted two affidavits in the case. The first affidavit said that the four people including Ishrat, who were killed in an alleged fake encounter, were terrorists. While in the second affidavit filed within two months the government made a complete U-turn and said that there was no conclusive evidence to say they were terrorists.
RVS Mani, former under secretary (Internal Security) in the Union home ministry, the man who signed the two affidavits in the Ishrat case, has claimed that he was used as a rubber stamp by the government.
Stating that the evidence in Ishrat case was engineered, the former bureaucrat said that he was ordered to sign on the second affidavit and hinted that the SIT wanted him to implicate the Gujarat Intelligence Bureau officers
In an interview to Times Now, RVS Mani has alleged that he was tortured by SIT chief Satish Verma.
"The SIT chief burnt me with cigarette stubs. I was chased by a CBI officer," the former bureaucrat said in the interview.
Here's the transcript of RVS Mani's interview with Prema Sridevi of Times Now.
TIMES NOW: RVS Mani, former under secretary (Internal Security) in the ministry of home affairs is joining us. Thank you, Sir for talking to TIMES NOW. Now, two affidavits were filed when you were the under secretary in the MHA in the Ishrat Jahan case. One was filed on August 6, 2009 and the second affidavit was a little contradictory and it was filed on September 30, 2009. In the first affidavit you have gone on to say that these people, these four people were terrorists. But in the second affidavit you have gone on to completely contradict this stand and you have said that there is no conclusive evidence to prove that these people were terrorists. Now, I just wanted to know who drafted the first affidavit.
RVS MANI: I drafted it under the guidance of my officers.
TIMES NOW: The first affidavit was drafted by you?
RVS MANI: (nods)
TIMES NOW: And you completely believed in the first affidavit?
RVS MANI: I own it because it was based on available facts, there is no rocket science in it. All the information available in the files were coherently put in a sequence. That's the first affidavit.
TIMES NOW: So you signed the first affidavit?
RVS MANI: I got the approval from the then honourable home minister. And I remember the file having gone to the law secretary for vetting. So I do not know in what context it went. But it went to law secretary also, minister of home also had signed the noting portion approving it. Thereafter only it was signed, filed.
TIMES NOW: So you completely believed it when you said that these people were terrorists. You had a firm belief in that fact?
RVS MANI: Madam, we don't believe ... We believe on documents and papers on record.
TIMES NOW: So you are saying that you had drafted the first affidavit and you had signed the first affidavit. Now, I want to know who drafted the second affidavit. Did you draft the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: No madam.
TIMES NOW: Did you sign the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: I was given an order to go and file it, so I signed it.
TIMES NOW: Now, these revelations are really shocking. You are trying to say that the first affidavit was drafted by you, signed by you, you believed in the first affidavit, but the second affidavit was not drafted by you, but you were given orders and you had to sign it?
RVS MANI: Yes madam, I had to sign it, that's all. Somebody said you go and file it that is the order of the government, so I went and signed it.
TIMES NOW: Now, who drafted the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: Madam, it was not drafted at my level. It was not drafted at my level, two immediate seniors did not draft it as far as I remember. If it has been drafted above that, you better find it out.
TIMES NOW: Was it drafted at a political level?
RVS MANI: (smiles) Madam, I....
TIMES NOW: Because that is what the former home secretary also said that the decision was taken at a political level.
RVS MANI: Madam the home secretary is the highest serving officer in the home ministry. There is no officer senior to him in the ministry. So if, up to his level if it has not been drafted, then you can draw the conclusion that it was someone above him.
TIMES NOW: So, will I be wrong if I say that second affidavit was drafted by the then home minister or by his office?
RVS MANI: I don't know ...
TIMES NOW: Or was it dictated by the home minister? Will I be wrong if I say that?
RVS MANI: Madam, home secretary is the highest officer in the ministry. There is no officer senior to the home secretary.
TIMES NOW: Who is above the home secretary, obviously the home minister.
RVS MANI: Home minister. So naturally the level is very easily drawn. To arrive at conclusion you can put two plus two together. I can't say anything.
TIMES NOW: There was political pressure on you?
RVS MANI: Madam, I was asked to go and file it, so I went and filed it. It was an order for me. The conduct rules for us is very clear that if I am ordered something, I have to go and execute it. Rule 3 of the CCS conduct rules is very clear about it. I cannot refuse. (smiles)
TIMES NOW: Now when I asked you about the first affidavit and you said that you completely believed in that first affidavit and when it came to the second affidavit, even when you were signing on that paper did you really believe what it said?
RVS MANI: Madam, on facts nothing was repudiated. None of the facts written in the first affidavit has been contradicted or repudiated. What it says is these facts are there but it is based on intelligence inputs which are not of evidentiary value. It is only intelligence input, it is indicative. That is what more or less, I remember, I don't remember the exact text, it is almost seven years. So that is the reason so far enough. See none of the facts were repudiated.
TIMES NOW: But were these people terrorists? Were you convinced that these four people were terrorists?
RVS MANI: Madam, I believe in the input of the intelligence bureau. I have received the intelligence bureau's input, R&AW's input for five long years. Every time I found them to be precise, exact, accurate. In fact I have said so in the NK Ameen case in the Supreme Court, my affidavit captures about these intelligence inputs. They are doing a wonderful job.
TIMES NOW: What about Rajendra Kumar?
RVS MANI: Madam personally I don't know him. I had one or two official meetings with him. At the same time the inputs coming from his division were absolutely accurate. There are a lot of very very sensitive inputs that I have received. In fact I felt very aghast that he was treated like this. He should have been given some Padma Shri or Kirti Chakra or something. You know this is my personal view. I don't hold any brief for anybody.
TIMES NOW: Why do you say that? Why do you really trust him?
RVS MANI: Madam.
TIMES NOW: Can you give us any examples, anything in the past that has happened, maybe any input that he has given, he has sent it to you and you probably found that this was probably actionable evidence or input.
RVS MANI: Madam, see peole talk about the incidents which have happened, poeple never talk about the incidents which have been prevented based on inputs. It is a very surprising thing. See, Rajendra Kumar or Ashok Prashant or now DP Sinha who has become the information commissioner. They have given inputs. On law and order, DP Sinha was there, Prashat was there on counterterrorism, Rajendra Kumar was I think Pakistan. See, the amount of information they have given and on which we have diseminated to the states, the amounts of mishaps that we have prevented.
TIMES NOW: Like what are the mishaps you are talking about? Is it the UP case? Can you just give us some information?
RVS MANI: Madam, it is a matter of public record. I have already said so. Even high court took cognizance of that and I already said so, so it is all a matter of public record. See, until now several incidents have been prevented madam. There are a lot of incidents that I can't talk about now.
TIMES NOW: Based on the information and input which Rajendra Kumar's desk had given you?
RVS MANI: Yes, lot of them.
TIMES NOW: So you totally believed it when he said that these people are LeT terrorists?
RVS MANI: Madam, there is no reason not to believe them. There is no reason, because over a period of five years of experience in the same desk ... So many inputs have been revealed, so many mishaps have been prevented.
TIMES NOW: Then sir, what was the need for the second affidavit?
RVS MANI: Madam, you ask the people who gave me the orders. I cannot say why there was a need for....
TIMES NOW: So, definitely what the former home secretary GK Pillai said that there was political interference. You completely agree with that?
RVS MANI: Perfectly okay madam. I don't know, I will not like to comment on that because he was the highest serving officer and if he says that he did not draft the first affidavit then it is a question of putting two plus two together on whatever the second affidavit was. The decision was taken and the drafting was done known best to them.
TIMES NOW: What about the CBI investigation into this entire case? There were certain officers especially I remember reading an affidavit filed by you, where you say that the then SIT chief Satish Verma had tortured you and the CBI officers were trying to torture you because they wanted you to name Rajendra Kumar and the other IB officers. Please tell us what really happened. What you went through at that point of time?
RVS MANI: Madam, had it not happened, my parents would be alive today. Both my parents, their age was cut short by two-three years and that's a different matter. I was chased.
TIMES NOW: By whom?
RVS MANI: So many officers, so many people chased me everywhere.
TIMES NOW: You mean to say Satish Verma?
RVS MANI: Madam, Satish Verma what he has done to me is very unprecedented and he was actually, basically the SIT, if you see the progress of the SIT, apart from Satish Verma there was no other joint commissioner or IG level officer who continued in it for more than six months because this fellow would fight with them and drive them out, this is by his own admission and number two is that he was basically not collecting evidence, he was engineering evidence.
TIMES NOW: So you mean to say CBI and Satish Verma everybody was involved in this?
RVS MANI: I don't know if they were involved in what.
TIMES NOW: CBI was also engineering eveidence?
RVS MANI: Madam Satish Verma was head of the unit of SIT and he was helped by two three cronies who were all engineering evidences. That's what I can say.
TIMES NOW: You opted for VRS. Why did you do that?
RVS MANI: Because at one point of time, I thought I won't be able to continue at this stage. The way so many cases were opened, baseless cases were opened against me. See basically I will tell you, the government wanted the chargesheet to be filed, which is an elaborate process. Even to withdraw the chargesheet it takes around 8 to 10 months.
TIMES NOW: You mean to say that the Congress led UPA government was hounding you?
RVS MANI: Madam, these conclusions are obvious madam, what to say. Conclusions are very clear. You can always draw your conclusions. Actually I go to a particular temple, see. These people talk about right to worship. Right from childhood I have been going to a very prominent temple in Delhi, a south Indian temple. You know one day, one lady officer who had joined CBI at that time, she chased me there. One very senior officer of the CBI entered the temple as a devotee. Thereafter see, my father was a....
TIMES NOW: Why did she chase you?
RVS MANI: Madam I ran away from there. I don't know why she chased me but it was during those days.
TIMES NOW: When you were being hounded?
RVS MANI: Yes, and not only that, she had not joined the CBI, she was about to join the CBI something like that. It was a very closed phase at that time. I am not very sure about it. One gentleman came up and said so and so has come. See I am not the panditji of this temple although I was in the attire, I do a particular kind of vedic recitation on Sunday mornings. My father was a top vedic scholar in Delhi. He was very well known and I have also learnt from him. I am also known for my...but that is my second thing. So I was doing that and after I had completed, I was standing at that place. One gentleman approached me saying that so and so person has come. I said that I am not the priest of this temple. Because you know she has come, I said that there are three priests available if you want any help you can talk to them. Again third time he said no so and so. I said, look there are no VIP treatments, everybody, even the high court judges and supreme court judges, they also come to this temple as normal devotees and so there is nothing. He again said no, no, no she wants to talk to you. I said I don't want to talk to anybody. Second time again that gentleman insisted. I could see that lady waiting for me. I said okay, I will change my clothes and come. I went through the staff gate and I went away. Because I was so paranoid with these people chasing me.
TIMES NOW: Who is this officer?
RVS MANI: Madam, it was one lady officer who had a lot of controversy even while joining and before joing also.
TIMES NOW: Can you name her?
RVS MANI: No, I don't want to name anybody in this madam.
TIMES NOW: Will I be wrong if I say it was Archana Ramasundram?
RVS MANI: No, I don't want to name anybody.
TIMES NOW: Because, since you have said that there was a controversy.
RVS MANI: I don't want to name anybody in this madam. It is a fact. But I already filed....
TIMES NOW: Was I right, I mean?
RVS MANI: Madam, I have already filed it in the Supreme Court. It's a matter on the record.
TIMES NOW: But we spoke to your wife also and she was very emotional when she told us that you know that your pants were also burnt and...
RVS MANI: On 21st June, 2013. Yes, Satish Verma burnt me with his cigarettes
TIMES NOW: Why, what did he really want you to do?
RVS MANI: Madam you should ask him. Why do you ask me? I kept on saying that I am telling the truth. If Satish Verma wanted something he should be able to answer.
TIMES NOW: Basically, he wanted you to implicate those IB officers? That is what was the basic intention? That's what the CBI wanted from you?
RVS MANI: The CBI said that the IB input is not believeable. I said I will never do it because I will not tell any lie, I stand for the truth and the truth is I know madam what type of environment they work for, what type of input they generate and to generate that input what type of efforts they have to make, quality inputs. I don't think any other intelligence agency in any other country would do it. Because we have also had certain interactions in other places. I am telling you as a professional I dealt with him for five years and I know IB's level of commitment. I don't hold brief for any of these intelligence agencies.
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