Prasun Sonwalkar

Stories by Prasun Sonwalkar

NRI bank clerk jailed for fraud in UK

NRI bank clerk jailed for fraud in UK

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2012

Harprit Shari, 27, was working in ICICI's Coventry branch when the illegal transfers of money occurred.

Gandhi award for Binayak Sen, Bulu Imam

Gandhi award for Binayak Sen, Bulu Imam

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2012

Sen has reportedly been handed his passport by a Chhattisgarh court to enable him to travel to London to receive the award. He is accompanied by his wife, Ilina Sen

8 Indians with expired visas held in UK

8 Indians with expired visas held in UK

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2012

Twelve people, including eight Indians who had overstayed their visas, have been arrested following three separate raids by immigration officials in the London borough of Croydon.

2 NRIs jailed in UK for massive cyber fraud

2 NRIs jailed in UK for massive cyber fraud

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2012

Two Indian-origin men are among six people jailed over a multi-million-pound cyber racket that involved the design, production and sale of fake identities and the management of online forums where clients were coached on how to commit fraud. The six sentenced on Friday at the Southwark Crown Court for a catalogue of fraud offences include Jaipal Singh, 31, who is a director of a telecom company based in the West Midlands, and student Arun Thear, 22.

Human rights: Commonwealth ready to help Lanka

Human rights: Commonwealth ready to help Lanka

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2012

A day after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to cancel his speech here in the face of protests by Tamil groups, the Commonwealth on Thursday said it had offered support to the country to promote reconciliation in the trouble-torn country.

Row over NRI sex offender on Queen's royal barge

Row over NRI sex offender on Queen's royal barge

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2012

The presence of an Indian origin man on the royal barge with Queen Elizabeth during Sunday's pageant on River Thames has raised a storm after it was revealed that he had been previously convicted and jailed for sex offences.

Rajapaksa in UK row over human rights

Rajapaksa in UK row over human rights

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2012

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's scheduled speech on Wednesday at the Commonwealth Economic Forum was cancelled, amid concerns about possible demonstrations by Tamil groups protesting against human rights violations in his country.

UK to honour Suu Kyi at Westminster Hall

UK to honour Suu Kyi at Westminster Hall

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2012

In a break from parliamentary tradition, Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will later this month be accorded the rare honour of addressing members in the historic Westminster Hall, which is reserved for iconic current or former heads of state.

UK: Nurse who threw pills at 'dirty' patients suspended

UK: Nurse who threw pills at 'dirty' patients suspended

Rediff.com   31 May 2012

Sarita Mittal, 46, lobbed pills into patients' mouths as if she was "playing darts" because they were "dirty", according to a hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

China does not have coherent global strategy: LSE

China does not have coherent global strategy: LSE

Rediff.com   31 May 2012

China lacks a coherent global strategy to match its growth, power, wealth and ambition, a new report by a prominent UK think-tank has said.

UK rejects appeal on student visa curbs

UK rejects appeal on student visa curbs

Rediff.com   30 May 2012

In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the university heads noted the economic and other contributions made by international students, and said Britain stood to lose out on the highly competitive international student market unless the recent changes were reviewed.

Assange loses appeal against extradition to Sweden

Assange loses appeal against extradition to Sweden

Rediff.com   30 May 2012

Britain's Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden to face accusations of sex offences. "The request for Assange's extradition has been lawfully made and his appeal against extradition is accordingly dismissed," said Supreme Court president Nicholas Phillips.

British PM's ex-media advisor arrested for perjury

British PM's ex-media advisor arrested for perjury

Rediff.com   30 May 2012

England Prime Minister David Cameron's former top media advisor Andy Coulson was arrested on Wednesday by the Scottish police over allegations of perjury. Coulson, 44, was detained at his London home early today morning and was taken to Glasgow

Houla massacre: UK, Oz expel Syrian diplomats

Houla massacre: UK, Oz expel Syrian diplomats

Rediff.com   29 May 2012

Toughening their stand on Syria, Britain and Australia on Tuesday announced expulsion of the country's diplomats in the wake of the recent massacre of children and women at Houla, describing the killing of 108 people there as "sickening" and "hideous".

Protestor calls Tony Blair a 'war criminal' in UK HC

Protestor calls Tony Blair a 'war criminal' in UK HC

Rediff.com   28 May 2012

Proceedings at the widely followed Leveson Inquiry were briefly disrupted on Monday when a protester managed to burst into the high court chamber and harangued former Prime Minister Tony Blair for allegedly being a "war criminal".

Patnaik cancels lecture at Sussex University

Patnaik cancels lecture at Sussex University

Rediff.com   24 May 2012

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has cancelled his participation in a seminar at the Sussex University where he was scheduled to deliver a lecture on Monday amid claims by rights groups that he changed his programme fearing demonstrations against him.

2 NRIs jailed for UK visa scam

2 NRIs jailed for UK visa scam

Rediff.com   22 May 2012

This documentation was then used to support applications to stay in the UK as highly skilled migrants.

Cambridge prof delighted at 'Manmohan Chair' offer

Cambridge prof delighted at 'Manmohan Chair' offer

Rediff.com   22 May 2012

Ajit Singh, a leading economist based at the University of Cambridge, on Tuesday said that he will be "delighted" to take up the 'Dr Manmohan Singh Chair' at Panjab University that has reportedly chosen him for the position.

UK visa: Indians to be screened for TB

UK visa: Indians to be screened for TB

Rediff.com   21 May 2012

Indian citizens besides those from 66 other "high risk" countries seeking to enter Britain for over six months will need to be screened for tuberculosis before they are granted a visa, the Home Office said.

11 Indians without valid visa held in UK

11 Indians without valid visa held in UK

Rediff.com   20 May 2012

Eleven Indian citizens, who had either overstayed visas or entered Britain illegally, have been arrested following a check of two overcrowded vehicles in Lincolnshire.