NRI Top Stories ( Page 38 of 47 )

Indian-American woman allegedly sets hubby on fire March 06, 2014 16:10

A Texas court is deliberating the case of an Indian-American woman charged with setting her husband on fire in the bathtub. The court is trying to find out whether the man was killed by Shriya Patel or it was a suicide. According to the prosecutors, Shriya coaxed her husband Bimal Patel into the bathtub to give him a massage. But instead she poured gasoline over him, put him on fire and shut the victim in the bathroom. However, the defense lawyers argued that Bimal Patel had commited suicide and forced Shriya, who was a subservient wife, to help him in the act. The incident took place on April 17, 2012. After suffering for five months 29-year-old Bimal Patel succumbed to his injuries at the burn centre of the San Antonio Military Medical Centre. The 27-year-old woman has been jailed and court has set the bail amount at $1 million. She has been under arrest for almost two years now. Shriya has been charged with capital murder and arson, with intension to cause bodily injury or death, and violent assault. If convicted Shriya will automatically face a sentence of life in prison, without parole. (Picture Source: nripulse.com ) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Sikh man wins legal battle to wear turban at work February 27, 2014 15:55

A Sikh man in Finland won a legal battle to wear a turban at work. The man employed as a bus driver had filed a lawsuit, which continued for almost a year, against his employer after being restricted from wearing a turban while at work. The man named Gill Sukhdarshan Singh won the year-long dispute against Veolia Transport Vantaa, his employer. The decision came in favour of Gill after an agreement was signed between the employers' organisation (ALT) and Transport Workers Union (AKT). The transport company had refrained Singh from wearing the turban. He was told not to wear it while driving as it was not a part of the company's uniform. Following the agreement, Sikhs can now wear a turban that can be their own or one the employer provides. Gill was happy that he can finally wear a turban at work and reportedly said that it feels nice. Wearing a turban has religious implications for members of the Sikh community, so winning the battle was very important for Gill. (Picture Source: s1.ibtimes.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-American firm slapped with $15 million settlement

Indian-American firm slapped with 15 Dollars million settlement February 26, 2014 16:47

An Indian-American couple, who founded Diagnostic Imaging Group (DIG), have agreed to pay $15 million as settlement to the federal government. The firm has been charged with false billing for health tests that DIG never performed. DIG will pay $13.65 million to the federal government and another $1.85 million to New York and New Jersey as case settlement. In 2009 and 2010 three lawsuits were brought against the firm by private individuals in federal courts. The lawsuits were filed under False Claims Act that has a whistleblower provisions. The act allowing citizens to bring civic action, on government's behalf, against fradulent practices and entitles the whistleblower to get a share on recovery. A total amount of 2.77 million dollars will be given to the three whistleblowers under the settlement. The firm agreed to settle the allegations and the liabilities have not yet been determined. Leena Doshi and her husband Nitin Doshi have not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing. (Picture Source: jackurquhart.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian-origin boy, American girl outsmart judges at US spelling bee February 25, 2014 14:57

The judges at a spelling bee competition in the US ran out of words during the competition. Judges declared the round to be a tie to be resumed again on March 8. Kush Sharma and Sophia Hoffman spelled out all the words successfull in the 66 rounds they duelled. When the judges ran out of words they decided to resume the marathon on March 8 in Washington, to name the winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The Indian-origin boy, Kush Sharma studies in seventh grade at Frontier School of Innovation while Sophia Hoffman is a student in fifth grade at Highland Park Elementary. The marathon between the 13-year-old boy and the 11-year-old girl took place during the annual spelling bee competition Missouri county, where both got all the words correct. Sophia and Kush emerged successful from the original pool of 25 students on Saturday. The Spelling Bee on March 8 will decide the winner between the two contestants. (Picture Source: brainyacademyny.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

NRI smuggles gold worth Rs 80 lakh, arrested February 20, 2014 18:01

Customs authorities arrested an NRI for allegedly trying to to smuggle gold. The man had found with 2.4kg gold, valued at Rs 80 lakh, at the Shamshabad Airport, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The man named Mohammed Abdul Mateen was intercepted by Customs officials at the airport when he arrived from Saudi Arabia via Muscat in a flight. Mateen hails from Hyderabad but is employed in Saudi Arabia. The man was carrying 2.4 kg gold in the form of an ashtray that was gold electroplated with 98.5 per cent purity. Customs officials found the yellow metal on the man after he was thoroughly searched. The custom authorities stated that Mohammed Abdul Mateen was booked for smuggling of gold and arrested. According to a recent report of the World Gold Council (WGC) curbs on gold imports are mainly responsible for gold smuggling into the country. (Picture Source: thehindubusinessline.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

British Indian-origin girl grows beard February 19, 2014 17:31

A rare medical condition has forced an Indian-origin girl in Britain to grow beard after being baptized a Sikh. The 16-year-old girl suffers from a condition of excessive facial hair and body hair. The girl named Harnaam Kaur suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome, a rare medical condition. Harnaam started developing beard at the age of 11. Soon hair started growing on her chest and arms, making her the victim of nasty comments in school and streets. Her beard was a source of embarassment to the teenaged girl and she waxed them twice a week. Kaur even tried to get rid of her facial hair by shaving and bleaching. She would remain indoor as her facial and bodily hair made her feel low. Recently she was baptized as a Sikh and doesn't cut her hair as Sikhism prohibits the cutting of body hair. Kaur while recalling her bad experience in the past said that she was bullied in school, where children called her 'beardo', 'sheman' and 'shemale'. Kaur's parents do not want her to sport a beard as they feel she will be unable to lead a normal life with a beard. They are worried that she can't get married or a get a job with a beard. However the courageous girl wants to live life in her own terms and does not want to hide any more. (AW: Pratima Tigga)

15,000 Dollars reward for info on missing Indian student in US February 18, 2014 16:16

The family of a missing Indian origin student has offered a $15,000 reward to anyone who will provide information on his whereabout. Hoping to locate the missing 19-year-old student the family has offered the cash reward. The student named Pravin Varughese from Morton Grove was last seen in Carbondale, Illinois at around 11 PM on Wednesday. He is studying criminal justice and is a second-year student at Southern Illinois University. Carbondale Police Department has issued a statement that the victim's family is offering a cash reward of $15,000 for any information that might lead to Varughese's recovery. The missing student's sister, Priya Varughese has said that on the night he was last seen Pravin, his cousin and a roommate had attended a house party in the neighbourhood. Pravin Varughese lives with a cousin and a roommate in an apartment outside the university campus. Pravin's last Twitter post on that night was "Bloody knuckles...guess I was in a fight #backdown." Priya reportedly said that she was not sure what the post meant. Later Pravin called up a friend and it sounded as if he was arguing or running. Police teams have searched the area by airplane and helicopter after getting investigative leads. According to police, search for Pravin Varughese is on. Family members and friends of the missing student have even set up a Facebook page titled 'Missing: Pravin Varughese' to try and locate him. (Picture Source: gannett-cdn.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Canadian Sikhs to serve at Women's Shelters on Feb 14 February 14, 2014 16:08

Sikhs across Canada will mark February 14, 2014 as a "day of action" by serving Women's Shelters. Members of the community will serve food to women and children in these shelters in the spirit of the Sikh tradition of 'langar' or free community kitchen. The 'One Billion Rising' movement seeks to serve women shelters. For the programme the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada in association with Guru Nanak's Free Kitchen, local gurdwaras and Khalsa schools will assist in the service to women shelters. On Thursday Balpreet Singh, the legal counsel of WSO said the 'One Billion Rising' movement started with the knowledge that 1 in 3 women in this planet is either beaten or raped in her lifetime, so it's a call for action to stop the menace. Last year baked goods, chocolates and valentines cards were distributed at women's shelters. (Picture Source: sikhchic.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

NRI to pay Rs 50L to ex-wife earning 65k monthly February 13, 2014 17:19

Inorder to balance the income disparity between a rich NRI and his ex-wife, a family court has ordered the man to pay an alimony to her, even though she is employed and earns Rs 65,000 per month. The US-based Indian man heads a consultancy firm and seing the huge income disparity the court suggested that the woman and her son were entitled to a similar lifestyle. The court's decision was based on the knowledge that the NRI earns close to Rs 1 crore annually in the US. The 39-year-old man was directed by the court to pay a sum of Rs 25 lakh as one-time alimony. Another Rs 25 lakh was to to be paid to the woman and their 10-year-old son to buy a flat. Court also directed the man to pay a maintainence of Rs 25,000 per month for the child until he becomes an adult. Besides the woman was to be paid Rs 50,000 for legal expenses incurred in the case. The estranged couple had been divorce on April 8, 2009 by mutual consent. (Picture Source: images02.olx.in) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Indian American faces 45 years in jail for insider trading February 07, 2014 15:38

Indian American portfolio manager Mathew Martoma on Thursday has been connvicted on charges of insider trading by a Manhattan jury. The fraud case is being described as the most profitable scam ever to be unearthed. The firm where he worked SAC Capital, once an iconic hedge fund but now defunct, gave him a one-time bonus of $9 million for helping to make profits of almost $275 million. Martoma had advised SAC Capital to buy shares of Elan and Wyeth based on an inside source in the spring of 2008. The source, a doctor, told him about drug trials and that the drugs were safe. Based on Martoma's advice the hedge fund started buying huge amounts of Elan and Wyeth shares. At one point of time the firm was holding nearly $700 million worth of Elan and Wyeth shares. Soon Martoma's source told him about the failure of the trials and on his advice the firm offloaded Elan and Wyeth shares. By offloading before the crash SAC made a profit of $275 million. However, Martoma was kicked out of SAC Capital in 2010 as a “one-trick pony”, according to Bloomberg. Now Martoma could be sentenced to upto 45 years in jail and fines that are likely to wipe out any profit he might have made so far from his illegal dealings. (Picture Source: thenypost.files.wordpress.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Next dean of Princeton University is an NRI February 06, 2014 15:58

Indian-American Sanjeev Kulkarni, professor of electrical engineering and director of Keller Center, has been named as the next dean of Princeton University Graduate School. He will take charge of his office from March 31. Princeton President Christopher L Eisgruber recommended Kulkarni for appointment, which was approved by the Board of Trustees at a meeting on January 25. Kulkarni had joined Princeton University as a faculty in 1991. He has worked at Princeton for more than 20 years, in the capacity of a faculty member and administrator. Sanjeev Kulkarni is one of the few other Indian-Americans who have been appointed to top posts in prestigious academic institutions. (Picture Source: news.princeton.edu) (AW: Pratima Tigga)

Obama nominates Kannada speaking Surgeon General February 05, 2014 17:05

Dr Vivek Hallegere Murthy or Dr Vivek H Murthy has been nominated by President Barack Obama for the post of Surgeon General. The 36-year-old NRI doctor will be the youngest Surgeon General in United States' history. Dr. Murthy will advice the people of America on health issues as the Surgeon General. Kannada speaking Dr. Murthy is from Hallegere village in Mandya district, Karnataka. He is the grandson of HT Narayan Shetty, a leade of the backward class. Apparently Vivek visits Hallegere every year and has reportedly made donations to the tune of millions for the promotion of education. During his annual trips Dr Murthy conducts free medical camps under Scope Foundation, which is funded by his family. Free eye camps have been conducted and 60 people have been operated in the past, by a team of doctors that include some of his family members. Scope foundation has also distributed computers and solar kits to government schools in Maddur taluk, where Hallegere is located, and the surrounding areas. Born in London and raised in the USA, Dr Murthy has a bachelors degree from Harvard University, an MBA from Yale School of Management, and an MD from Yale School of Medicine. The philanthropist doctor is a hospitalist at the Brigham. Co-founder and president of 'Doctors for America', a Washington, DC based group, Dr Murthy along with the 6,000 physicians and medical students support affordable and high quality health care for the people of United States. The group was originally called 'Doctors for Obama' and had campaigned for Obama prior to the election. (Picture Source: media.washtimes.com) (AW: Pratima Tigga)