The fake visa scam and the issue of actress Asha Saini being arrested for trying to smuggling out a girl by claiming her to be her make up artist has sent shockwaves in Tollywood. Many top producers and director are also said to be involved in this. Mallikarjuna Rao said to the media that some time back a delegation of about 20 artists went to the US to take part in TANA conference.
AVS tried to include his brother in the delegation as an astrologer. The US consulate did not issue a visa to him stating that the services of an astrologer were not needed in a cultural team. AVS now wants to know what this has to do with the visa scam.
Chandrabau Naidu who made a personal appearance at the US embassy in Chennai has been granted visa to visit the US. Babu spent about five minutes at the embassy. He has been given a visa for 10 years. His visa has expired and he applied for a fresh visa. Babu is visiting the US for about 10 days. He will leave Hyderabad on June 26. He is expected to take part in the TANA conference during his visit.
Former chief minister and TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu will wait for his turn like ordinary mortals for a visa at the US embassy in Chennai. Chandra Babu’s visa has expired and he needs a fresh visa to go to the US in the last week of June. Chandra Babu Naidu was exempted from physical appearance at the US Embassy all theses years in his capacity as the Chief Minister.
The US embassy normally waives the rule of personal appearance for certain categories of people like chief ministers. It would be a new experience for Babu, who is attending an interview for visa. Babu has rubbed shoulders with non other than the then US president Bill Clinton when he came to Hyderabad. Babu as the chief minister had issued recommendation letters to the US Embassy requesting visas for many people including party legislators. He even saw to it that his personal staff was not required to go to Chennai for a visa while he was in power.
However, it is learnt that Chandra Babu did not seek an exemption to make a personal appearance at the embassy for the visa. If he had sought permission, he would surely have been granted the privilege.
2011/11/29 10:34:45 Mumbai, Nov 29 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities provisionally closed 173 points lower Tuesday and below the 16,000-mark amid selling in realty, banking and energy stocks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 16,210.37 points, closed at 15,993.82 points (provisional), 173.31 points or 1.07 percent down from its previous close at 16,167.13 points.
The Sensex had touched an intra-day low of 15,952.54 points. The benchmark had closed Monday 471 points higher.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended lower at 4,797.7 points, down 1.1 percent or 53.6 points from its previous close.
Broader markets also ended in the red with the BSE 500 index closing 1.07 percent lower.
2011/11/18 7:56:36 Mumbai, Nov 18 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Friday again started trade with a negative bias, falling over 140 points in the morning session.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 16,387.7 points, was ruling at 16,320.86 points -- down 140.85 points or 0.86 percent from its previous close at 16,461.71 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red, 50.15 points or 1.02 percent lower at 4,884.6 points.
Broader markets were also ruling lower with the BSE midcap index down 1.03 percent.
2011/10/19 4:06:36 A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday closed 321 points higher as a rally picked up strength in the second half of the day.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 16,883.36 points, closed at 17,069.84 points (provisional), up 321.55 points or 1.92 percent from its previous close at 16,748.29 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended higher, 1.98 percent or 99.65 points up at 5,137.15 points.
Broader markets were also in the green with the BSE 500 index ending 1.67 percent up. The BSE midcap index was up 1.27 percent, while the BSE small cap index closed 0.67 percent higher.
The market breadth at the BSE was positive with 1,659 stocks on the advance, 1,153 declining and 113 unchanged. (IANS)
2011/12/2 15:05:44 Mumbai, Dec 2 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday provisionally closed 404 points higher as buying picked up steam in late trade.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,493.98 points, closed at 16,887.52 points (provisional), 404.07 points or 2.45 percent up from its previous close at 16,483.45 points.
It had slipped to an intra-day low at 16,428.66 points in early trade and started moving up in the afternoon.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended higher at 5,061.75 points, up 2.53 percent or 123.85 points from its previous close.
Broader markets too rose, with the BSE 500 index closing 2.31 percent up. The BSE midcap index rose 1.53 percent up while the BSE smallcap index moved up 1.12 percent.
2008/3/14 8:11:11 The issue of fake visa and the smuggling of people, in the name of artists and technicians has taken a big twist. The US consulate officials state that there are some very big names in the list of 200 people who have been banned from entering into the US forever.
A big producer, a leading hero and also a leading comedian are said to be in the list that is in the possession of the investigating agencies in Chennai. The gossip in film nagar is now about the identity of these three people. Many names are coming out but no one is yet to come out on record. Till then, the suspense over the names of the big fish involved in the fake visa racket will remain under wraps.
2008/3/14 12:58:37 The issue of fake visa and the smuggling of people, in the name of artists and technicians has taken a big twist. The US consulate officials state that there are some very big names in the list of 200 people who have been banned from entering into the US forever.
A bit producer, a leading hero and also a leading comedian are said to be in the list that is in the possession of the investigating agencies in Chennai. The gossip in film nagar is now about the identity of these three people. Many names are coming out but no one is yet to come out on record. Till then, the suspense over the names of the big fish involved in the fake visa racket will remain under wraps.
2011/11/17 9:38:21 Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Thursday fell in early trade with IT, energy and telecom stocks seeing selling.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 16,754.68 points, was ruling at 16,694.04 points, down 81.83 points or 0.49 percent from its previous close at 16,775.87 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red, 28.2 points or 0.56 percent lower at 5,002.25 points.
Broader markets were also ruling lower with the BSE midcap index down 0.48 percent.
2011/10/17 3:11:58 A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday closed 58 points lower as traders took a breather after last week's rally.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE opened at 17,176.05 points and closed at 17,024.15 points (provisional), down 58.54 points or 0.34 percent from its previous close at 17,082.69 points.
The Sensex had soared over 5 percent last week.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed on a lacklustre note, ending the day at 5,118.25 points, down 0.27 percent or 14.05 points.
Broader markets too ended on a subdued note with the BSE 500 index edging lower. The BSE midcap index closed flat while the BSE smallcap was up 0.19 percent.
The market breadth at the BSE was mixed, with 1,309 stocks advancing, 1,438 declining and 120 unchanged. (IANS)
2011/12/6 10:19:07 New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS) Indian equities markets were closed Tuesday on account of Muharram.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE had Monday edged lower closing at 16,805.33 points, 41.5 points or 0.25 percent down from its previous close at 16,846.83 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too had slipped 0.22 percent or 11 points at 5,039.15 points.
2012/1/4 10:57:25 Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Wednesday closed moderately lower as traders took a breather after the rally in the previous session.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,967.49 points, closed at 15,863.74 points (provisional) -- 75.62 points or 0.47 percent down from its previous close at 15,939.36 points.
The Sensex had gained over 421 points in Tuesday's trade.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also edged lower at 4,741.7 points, down 0.5 percent or 23.6 points from its previous close.
Broader markets also closed on a quiet note. The BSE 500 index closed 0.26 percent down from its previous close.
2011/11/21 9:05:23 Mumbai, Nov 21 (IANS) Indian equities markets started the week with a negative bias with a benchmark index falling almost 160 points minutes after opening bell.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 16,297.03 points, was ruling at 16,211.53 points, down 159.98 points or 0.98 percent from its previous close at 16,371.51 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red, 49.35 points or 1.01 percent lower at 4,856.45 points.
Both benchmarks had lost about 5 percent last week as the European debt crisis continued to plague Indian investors.
Broader markets were also ruling lower with the BSE midcap index down 0.84 percent.
2011/12/19 10:46:44 Mumbai, Dec 19 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday pared some of its intra-day losses and provisionally closed 142 points lower with sharp selling seen in capital goods, banking and realty scrips.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 15,440.1 points, closed at 15,348.65 points (provisional), 142.7 points or 0.92 percent down, from its previous close at 15,491.35 points.
The Sensex fell to an intra-day low of 15,190.74 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the red at 4,605.05 points, down one percent or 46.55 points from its previous close.
Broader markets closed in the red as well with the BSE 500 index slipping 1.24 percent. The BSE midcap index ended 1.99 percent lower while the BSE smallcap index closed 2.49 percent lower.
2011/10/26 21:28:40 (IANS) The United States has assured India that it was "continuing to work" on the issue of hundreds of Indian students affected by the "horrible visa scam" by California based "sham" Tri-Valley University. Some 85 percent of over 1500 TVU students were Indian, mostly from Andhra Pradesh.
US authorities are reviewing a letter sent by the Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that the cases of Indian students should be viewed in a "fair and reasonable manner," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Wednesday,
"She has (received), and we are reviewing that letter, and we intend to answer it," she said when asked if the treatment meted out to some of the Indian students affected by the closure of the university was justified.
"We had a pretty horrible visa scam, where a fake university petitioned and got visas for a bunch of students to come over and then actually turned out not to be a real educational institution," Nuland said.
"So we did take action, federal authorities closed down Tri-Valley University on January 11th, and we've also been working very hard, as we have told Indian authorities, to try to find other places in the US for these students who got scammed," she said.
As of Oct 19, 435 of the 1,500 former Tri-Valley University students were approved to be processed for transfer to other universities, she said. "And of the remaining cases, some students we're not going to be able place, but we're continuing to work on this issue."
Asked about the role of State Department officials in issue of visas to the students of the sham university, the official said: "Well, we issue visas on the basis of documentation that we get from institutions in the United States.
"So when we became aware of this, we turned it over for judicial review, and as I said, this scamming institution has now been closed down by US justice authorities."
The State Department in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and US Citizenship and Immigration Service, Nuland said, all "were involved in the busting of this group."
TVU president Susan Xiao-Ping Su, 41, was indicted in May by a federal grand jury on allegations of visa fraud and money laundering to the tune of $3.2 million by issuing visa-related documents to students in exchange for "tuition and fees".
2012/1/4 9:09:18 Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities was Wednesday ruling flat in morning trade.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 15,967.49 points was ruling at 15,947.3 points, about 20 minutes into trade — 7.49 points or 0.05 percent up from its previous close at 15,939.36 points.
The Sensex had gained over 421 points in Tuesday’s trade.
The 50-scrip S&P; CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also was trading lacklustre at 4,762.6 points, down 0.06 percent or 2.7 points from its previous close.
Broader markets were also quiet. The BSE 500 index was ruling 0.16 percent up from its previous close.
2011/9/2 3:10:48 Visa related services will soon be available in post offices -- in remote areas.
India Post Friday said it has signed an agreement with VFS Global to provide the services. VFS Global is a leading outsourcing firm providing administrative functions for diplomatic missions across the world.
The agreement was signed Aug 8.
Under the pact, post office counters will be used for fee collection, sell visa application forms, provide information and other services.
India Post and VFS Global are also planning to cooperate in utilizing India Post?s courier service, Speed Post for moving passports to VFS offices and embassies, and their delivery back to the applicants.
Currently people from smaller cities and rural areas travel long distances to avail passport and visa services.
Lack of information is a major area of concern as this allows unscrupulous elements to cheat unsuspecting people. (IANS)
2011/11/16 9:26:57 Mumbai, Nov 16 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Wednesday fell in morning trade and was ruling about 159 points lower minutes after opening bell.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 16,872.3 points, slipped within minutes to rule at 16,724.24 points, down 158.43 points or 0.94 percent from its previous close at 16,882.67 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red, 50.72 points or 1 percent lower at 5,022.05 points.
Broader markets were also ruling lower with the BSE 500 index down 0.97 percent. The BSE midcap index was trading 0.85 percent lower while the BSE smallcap index was ruling 0.43 percent down.
2011/10/18 3:04:41 The recent denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government has been dragged to courts here.
In an affidavit before the Western Cape High Court, representatives of the Tibetan spiritual leader in South Africa said the country's High Commission in New Delhi had declined to accept a visa application on his behalf on two occasions.
Then on the third occasion, the application was directed to a private processing agency. Since a reply to the request for visa was not forthcoming, the Dalai Lama eventually cancelled his visit.
He had been invited to attend the 80th birthday celebrations of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in Cape Town Oct 7. He was also scheduled to speak at other engagements.
Indian officials accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said this matter, however, will not come up during his discussions with his host and South African President Jacob Zuma, since New Delhi considers it an internal matter of Pretoria.
2011/11/9 1:57:43 Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Wednesday started on a quiet note although major Asian markets were trading in the green.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 17,641.98 points, was within minutes trading at 17,631.92 points, up 62.39 points or 0.34 percent from its previous close at 17,569.53 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also nudged up to rule 6.15 points or 0.12 percent higher at 5,295.5 points.
Broader markets were also ruling with moderate gains with the BSE 500 index up 0.33 percent. The BSE midcap index was up 0.45 percent while the BSE smallcap index was trading 0.76 percent higher.
A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday closed 321 points higher as a rally picked up strength in the second half of the day.
A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday closed 58 points lower as traders took a breather after last week's rally.
(IANS) The United States has assured India that it was "continuing to work" on the issue of hundreds of Indian students affected by the "horrible visa scam" by California based "sham" Tri-Valley University. Some 85 percent of over 1500 TVU students were Indian, mostly from Andhra Pradesh.
Visa related services will soon be available in post offices -- in remote areas.
The recent denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government has been dragged to courts here.
