Former commerce secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai on Tuesday took over as the new Union Home Secretary after the superannuation of Madhukar Gupta.
Exclusive! Home Secretary G K Pillai on his tenure
Gopal Krishna Pillai, senior Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1972 batch, is going to be the next Union Home Secretary. Pillai, who is serving as the Union Commerce Secretary, will take over from current Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta in mid-June. Gupta is slated to be appointed as the governor of Tripura.
Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai, who is retiring on Thursday after 39 years of service, told rediff.com in an exclusive interview, that, "No bugging took place" in the office of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited to India from the US. Former home secretaries believe he will be convicted and could face the death penalty. Rana was an associate of David Coleman Headley, who played a key role in the attacks. The extradition is seen as a significant achievement for India and a message to terrorists that they will face justice. Rana's testimony is expected to provide valuable information about the planning and execution of the attacks.
'Maritime security is not easy. There are lakhs of fishing boats, and it is almost impossible to monitor each one of them,' says Home Secretary G K Pillai.
Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai argued that the issue is sensitive, therefore the government will take a decision after taking into account the sensitivities of various sections of the national community.
'Had there been an involvement by the Naxalites, we would have had some communication by now. Since there has been no communication, I can say that they may not be involved or behind this incident,' Union Home Secretary G K Pillai tells rediff.com
Commerce Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai speaks to Business Standard on the impact the Tata Motors decision to pull out of Singur will have on the investment climate in the state.
'Investors abroad will think if a big company in India faces such hurdles, what will happen to us. But this is an isolated case. I was in West Bengal a month back and there is a whole series of investments lined up. But investors waiting in the sidelines with their plans to come to India may have second thoughts because of this incident,' says Commerce Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai.
G K Pillai, chairman of India's Board of Approval for SEZs, demystifies SEZs and the controversy surrounding them.
G K Pillai, who heads the government's SEZ panel, demystifies SEZs and the controversy surrounding them.
Before resigning as an auditor of an Adani Group firm, Deloitte had sought an independent external examination of allegations made by a US short-seller but the company said the allegations had no effect on financial statements and the reasons cited for quitting were not convincing to warrant such a move. In a 163-page filing with stock exchanges relating to Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP's resignation, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) said that in meetings with its leadership, Deloitte indicated concern over a lack of a wider audit role as auditors of other listed Adani companies. However, the firm conveyed to the auditor that it was not within its remit to recommend such appointments as other entities are "completely independent".
The stock market watchdog had said any adverse findings by other regulators might have a bearing on the exchange.