K. D. Singh (politician)

Dr Kanwar Deep Singh
MP of Rajya Sabha for West Bengal
Assumed office
3 April 2014
Personal details
Born Kanwardeep Singh
(1961-08-21) 21 August 1961
Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
Political party All India Trinamool Congress
Spouse(s) Harpreet Kaur
Website K D Singh,KDSinghBlog

Dr Kanwar Deep Singh (born 21 August 1961), also known as K. D. Singh, is an Indian businessman turned politician and Member of Parliament (MP), Rajya Sabha. He is also the president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the Hockey Association of Haryana.[1]Singh's political and business career has been marred by various controversies.

Early life and business

Singh was born on 21 August 1961. He started his business in 1988 under the banner of Tubro Industries. His first factory in Chandigarh produced wire mesh and link fencing. The name was changed to Alchemist in 2004.[2] The Alchemist Group has a presence in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food-processing, real estate, infrastructure and tea estates, possessing well-known retail brands like Republic of Chicken.[3] He stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Alchemist Group in 2012 to devote his time to political and social causes.[3] Currently, he is the Chairman Emeritus of the Alchemist Group, while his son Karan Deep Singh now chairs the Group.[4]

K.D. Singh also owns majority stake in Anant Media Private Limited, which publishes Tehelka magazine, one of India’s leading investigative weeklies.[5][6] In March 2013, Tehelka reported that Punjabis in the northern state of Haryana want Singh as their chief minister. [7]

He was conferred a Doctorate in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge (U.K.).[8]

Political career

In 2010, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. Only few months later, he switched sides to become a member of the All India Trinamool Congress.[9] Since, he was the sole member of the house (and thus the house-leader of the party), the anti-defection laws were held to be not viable.[10] He was soon made the party in-charge of northern India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh).[11]

Controversies

Cash-for-vote

Singh has been alleged to have paid his way into the upper house of Parliament. An IBN-Cobrapost sting captured six MLAs from various political parties in Jharkhand were offered money to vote for a particular candidate during Rajya-Sabha elections and subsequent investigations by CBI led to the registration of a FIR against Singh.[12][10]Tek Lal Mahto, a MLA belonging to JMM reportedly said in the sting:-- “KD Singh has been spending only in one direction”- when the reporter says Singh is likely to win as he has been spending so much money.[13]

Ponzi scam

In February 2009, an Income Tax (I-T) raided at 11 premises of the Alchemist Group across India led to the discovery of unaccounted income of Rs.22 crores.[2][14]

In July 2013, complaints of default from multiple quarters started pouring in, which threw a spotlight on the ponzi business run by Alchemist Group in Eastern India. Subsequently, the Securities Appellate Tribunal gave 18 months' time to Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd for complying with Sebi orders that had asked the company to refund an estimated Rs 1,000 crore collected from public through unauthorised 'collective investment schemes' (CIS). The company had collected about Rs 1,000 crore from about 1.5 million investors.[15]

Narada sting

He is also alleged to have funded about 80 lakh INR to Matthew Samuel for the Narada sting operation which video-taped several high-ranking politicians of the All India Trinamul Congress (AITC) accepting cash-bribes in exchange of providing unofficial favors to a company.[16][17]

Singh has denied any involvement.[18]

Indian Hockey Federation

On 29 July 2013,the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) issued a media release announcing Dr. Singh's elevation from his post of Vice President to that of President.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Hockey Federation name Trinamool MP K D Singh as new president". NDTV Sports. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 "WB polls: Mamata's aide Singh in trouble for quick profits : NATION". India Today. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  3. 1 2 "KD Singh quits corporate posts for full-time politics". Hindustan Times. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Chairman Emeritus - Alchemist". Alchemist. Alchemist. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. ↑ http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/in-india-business-politics-and-media-collude-against-small-investors/?_r=0
  6. ↑ "Name of the game". Business Standard. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  7. ↑ Tehelka Bureau (2013-03-22). "Punjabi community in Haryana wants KD Singh as Chief Minister". Tehelka. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  8. ↑ "Kanwar Deep Singh Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2012". Anglia Ruskin University. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Elected Representative - AITMC". AITMC Website.
  10. 1 2 "CBI scanner on KD Singh". Telegraph India. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  11. ↑ "Trinamool gets new address in Chandigarh". Indian Express. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  12. ↑ "Cash-for-votes: CBI raids in Jharkhand". The Hindu. 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  13. ↑ "JMM MLA's rate for Rajya Sabha vote: Rs 1 cr". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  14. ↑ "I-T raids Alchemist Group of Hospitals, declares Rs 22 crore as 'unaccounted'". Indian Express. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  15. ↑ "Securities Appellate Tribunal gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money". Indian Express. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  16. ↑ "₹ 80 lakh for the Narada sting was paid by MP KD Singh". The National Herald. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  17. ↑ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব (20 March 2017). "তৃণমূল সাংসদ কে ডি সিংহের নির্দেশেই স্টিং অপারেশন, বিস্ফোরক ম্যাথু". anandabazar.com. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  18. ↑ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "নারদে জড়িত নই, দাবি কেডি সিংহের". anandabazar.com. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  19. ↑ "Dr. Kanwar Deep Singh takes over as President, Indian Hockey Federation". Indian Hockey Federation.
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