<a href="http://13.232.42.114/south-asia/pak-authorities-sack-chief-of-punjabs-anti-terror-deptt-in-fake-encounter-case-192154">Pakistani authorities </a>have removed the commander of the counter-terrorism police in the province of Punjab and will charge five police with murder over a shooting last week in which an innocent family was killed.

The incident on Saturday saw counter-terrorism officials open fire on a car they said was being used by an Islamic State leader in the province, Zeeshan Javed. He was killed along with three passengers - grocery store owner Mohammad Khalil, his wife and their 12-year-old daughter.

However, the official account of the incident was disputed by witnesses, including Khalil's three other children, who survived the attack and discredited by video footage widely circulated on social media.

The latest in a long series of episodes of alleged police brutality sparked protests in Lahore and drew condemnation from politicians including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who promised a clean up of the Punjab police.

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said the provincial government had removed the head of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and three other officials who will all face disciplinary action.

"Initial report of the Joint Investigation Team for the Sahiwal encounter reveals that the CTD officials were responsible for killing Khalil and his family, who were innocent," Basharat said.

The five officers who shot at the car in Sahiwal town will be charged with murder and tried in an anti-terrorism court, he told reporters

Pakistani authorities have removed the commander of the counter-terrorism police in the province of Punjab and will charge five police with murder over a shooting last week in which an innocent family was killed.

Pakistani authorities have removed the commander of the counter-terrorism police in the province of Punjab and will charge five police with murder over a shooting last week in which an innocent family was killed. The incident on Saturday saw counter-terrorism officials open fire on a car they said was being used by an Islamic State leader in the province, Zeeshan Javed. He was killed along with three passengers - grocery store owner Mohammad Khalil, his wife and their 12-year-old daughter. However, the official account of the incident was disputed by witnesses, including Khalil's three other children, who survived the attack and discredited by video footage widely circulated on social media. The latest in a long series of episodes of alleged police brutality sparked protests in Lahore and drew condemnation from politicians including Prime Minister Imran Khan, who promised a clean up of the Punjab police. Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said the provincial government had removed the head of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and three other officials who will all face disciplinary action. "Initial report of the Joint Investigation Team for the Sahiwal encounter reveals that the CTD officials were responsible for killing Khalil and his family, who were innocent," Basharat said. The five officers who shot at the car in Sahiwal town will be charged with murder and tried in an anti-terrorism court, he told reporters

Pakistani police to face murder charges over killing of family

US President Donald Trump arrived in Singapore on Sunday for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that could lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes and the transformation of the isolated Asian nation.

Trump flew into Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base aboard Air Force One, looking to strike a deal that will lead to the denuclearisation of one of America's bitterest foes. He came from a divisive G7 meeting in Canada with some of Washington's closest allies that further strained global trade ties.

After stepping down from Air Force One on a steamy tropical night, Trump was greeted by Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Asked by a reporter how he felt about the summit, Trump said: "Very good".

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/inside-the-hotel-where-donald-trump-will-meet-kim-jong-un-142636">Inside the hotel where Donald Trump will meet Kim Jong-Un</a>

North Korea's Kim landed in Singapore earlier on Sunday.

When Trump and Kim meet on Tuesday at Sentosa, a resort island off Singapore's port with a Universal Studios theme park and man-made beaches, they will be making history.

Enemies since the 1950-53 Korean War, leaders of North Korea and the United States have never met previously - or even spoken on the telephone.

Kim arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport after his longest trip overseas as head of state, wearing his trademark dark "Mao suit" and distinctive high-cut hairstyle. He has not left his country since taking office in 2011 other than to visit China and the South Korean side of the border Demilitarised Zone.

Arriving on a plane loaned by China, which for decades has been North Korea's only major ally, Kim was also greeted by Balakrishnan.

Travelling with him were top officials including Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Kim Yong Chol, a close aide of Kim who has been instrumental in the diplomacy that culminated in Tuesday's summit.

Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim's younger sister, was also spotted in his delegation. She emerged as an influential figure in Pyongyang's opaque leadership in February, when she led a North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Officials who arrived with Trump include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

Bolton’s hardline rhetoric last month infuriated North Korea and nearly derailed the summit. He called for North Korea to follow a "Libya model" in negotiations. Libya unilaterally surrendered its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, but its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in 2011 by NATO-backed rebels.

'SPUR OF THE MOMENT'

Trump, speaking in Canada on Saturday, said any agreement at the summit would be "spur of the moment," underscoring the uncertain outcome of what he called a "mission of peace".

He initially touted the potential for a grand bargain with North Korea to rid itself of a nuclear missile programme that has advanced rapidly to threaten the United States.

But he has since lowered expectations, backing away from an original demand for North Korea's swift denuclearisation.

He has said the talks would be more about starting a relationship with Kim for a negotiating process that would take more than one summit.

Non-proliferation expert Daryl Kimball, director of the Arms Control Association, said that to make the summit a success, Trump and Kim would need to agree on a framework for expert-level negotiations "to hammer out the details and time frame for specific action-for-action steps".

"As the leaders arrive in Singapore it is still not clear yet whether Trump and Kim are on the same page about the end goals, the pace, and the sequencing of the many steps involved in the complete 'denuclearisation' of the Korean peninsula," he said in a Twitter message.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said US&nbsp;and North Korean officials would hold working-level talks on Monday. She said the U.S. delegation would be led by Sung Kim, a veteran diplomat who recently held talks with North Korean officials.

A US&nbsp;official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday's meeting appeared aimed at making 11th-hour progress ahead of the summit since Sung Kim's earlier talks did little to narrow a gap between the two sides on the definition of denuclearisation or win agreement on tangible commitments from Pyongyang toward dismantling its nuclear arsenal.

WARNED OFF

Kim met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shortly after his arrival, driving from the St. Regis Hotel where he is staying, through the famous Orchard Road shopping district, which was closed off for his tightly guarded motorcade.

Bodyguards in dark suits jogged alongside his limousine.

At the hotel lobby, grim-faced North Korean security guards warned other hotel guests not to take pictures as Kim walked to his Mercedes Benz limousine.

When a couple of guests took a picture, a North Korean official stormed up to them, demanding to check their phones.

"I saw them taking a photo of our chairman. How dare they do so, they shouldn't," the official told Reuters later. He declined to be identified. Under the watchful eye of the official, and St. Regis staff, one male guest deleted his photos.

In his first public comments since arriving, Kim said Singapore's role would be recorded in history if the summit was a success.

Trump, who is staying in a separate hotel, the Shangri-La, is due to meet Lee on Monday.

North Korea spent decades developing nuclear weapons, culminating in the test of a thermonuclear device in 2017. It also successfully tested missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.

The tests came amid a campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea, led by the United States, that tightened economic sanctions and the possibility of military action.

The two leaders exchanged insults as fears of war grew.

But then in a New Year's address, Kim sounded a conciliatory note, saying his country had completed development of its nuclear programme and would focus on economic development.

He also suggested a meeting with South Korea.

After a flurry of contacts between the two Koreas, South Korean officials suggested to Trump in March that Kim would be willing to meet face-to-face and the U.S. president agreed.

Many experts on North Korea, one of the most insular and unpredictable countries in the world, remain sceptical Kim will ever completely abandon its cherished nuclear weapons. They believe Kim's latest engagement is aimed at getting the United States to ease the crippling sanctions that have squeezed the impoverished country.

Believed to be 34, Kim is one of the youngest heads of state in the world and looks an unlikely candidate to be making history of the kind that has eluded his father and grandfather, both past leaders of North Korea.

But since taking power after his father's death, the youthful Kim has displayed a mixture of ruthlessness, pragmatism and statecraft to get this prize: to sit across the table with the leader of the United States and be treated as an equal.

For Trump, a successful summit will give him a win on the international stage.

While foreign policy isn't usually a major aspect of congressional elections, it is unclear if Trump’s focus on getting tough with trade partners and solving the North Korean nuclear issue will have some influence on voters in the mid-term polls in November.

The two leaders meet at 9 am&nbsp;(0100 GMT) on Tuesday at the Capella on Sentosa island, a refurbished British Army artillery mess that is one of Singapore's most expensive hotels.

Enemies since the 1950-53 Korean War, leaders of North Korea and the United States have never met previously — or even spoken on the telephone. Asked by a reporter how he felt about the summit, Trump said: 'Very good'

US President Donald Trump arrived in Singapore on Sunday for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that could lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes and the transformation of the isolated Asian nation. Trump flew into Singapore's Paya Lebar Air Base aboard Air Force One, looking to strike a deal that will lead to the denuclearisation of one of America's bitterest foes. He came from a divisive G7 meeting in Canada with some of Washington's closest allies that further strained global trade ties. After stepping down from Air Force One on a steamy tropical night, Trump was greeted by Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Asked by a reporter how he felt about the summit, Trump said: "Very good". Also read: Inside the hotel where Donald Trump will meet Kim Jong-Un North Korea's Kim landed in Singapore earlier on Sunday. When Trump and Kim meet on Tuesday at Sentosa, a resort island off Singapore's port with a Universal Studios theme park and man-made beaches, they will be making history. Enemies since the 1950-53 Korean War, leaders of North Korea and the United States have never met previously - or even spoken on the telephone. Kim arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport after his longest trip overseas as head of state, wearing his trademark dark "Mao suit" and distinctive high-cut hairstyle. He has not left his country since taking office in 2011 other than to visit China and the South Korean side of the border Demilitarised Zone. Arriving on a plane loaned by China, which for decades has been North Korea's only major ally, Kim was also greeted by Balakrishnan. Travelling with him were top officials including Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Kim Yong Chol, a close aide of Kim who has been instrumental in the diplomacy that culminated in Tuesday's summit. Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim's younger sister, was also spotted in his delegation. She emerged as an influential figure in Pyongyang's opaque leadership in February, when she led a North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Officials who arrived with Trump include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. Bolton’s hardline rhetoric last month infuriated North Korea and nearly derailed the summit. He called for North Korea to follow a "Libya model" in negotiations. Libya unilaterally surrendered its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, but its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in 2011 by NATO-backed rebels. 'SPUR OF THE MOMENT' Trump, speaking in Canada on Saturday, said any agreement at the summit would be "spur of the moment," underscoring the uncertain outcome of what he called a "mission of peace". He initially touted the potential for a grand bargain with North Korea to rid itself of a nuclear missile programme that has advanced rapidly to threaten the United States. But he has since lowered expectations, backing away from an original demand for North Korea's swift denuclearisation. He has said the talks would be more about starting a relationship with Kim for a negotiating process that would take more than one summit. Non-proliferation expert Daryl Kimball, director of the Arms Control Association, said that to make the summit a success, Trump and Kim would need to agree on a framework for expert-level negotiations "to hammer out the details and time frame for specific action-for-action steps". "As the leaders arrive in Singapore it is still not clear yet whether Trump and Kim are on the same page about the end goals, the pace, and the sequencing of the many steps involved in the complete 'denuclearisation' of the Korean peninsula," he said in a Twitter message. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said US and North Korean officials would hold working-level talks on Monday. She said the U.S. delegation would be led by Sung Kim, a veteran diplomat who recently held talks with North Korean officials. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday's meeting appeared aimed at making 11th-hour progress ahead of the summit since Sung Kim's earlier talks did little to narrow a gap between the two sides on the definition of denuclearisation or win agreement on tangible commitments from Pyongyang toward dismantling its nuclear arsenal. WARNED OFF Kim met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shortly after his arrival, driving from the St. Regis Hotel where he is staying, through the famous Orchard Road shopping district, which was closed off for his tightly guarded motorcade. Bodyguards in dark suits jogged alongside his limousine. At the hotel lobby, grim-faced North Korean security guards warned other hotel guests not to take pictures as Kim walked to his Mercedes Benz limousine. When a couple of guests took a picture, a North Korean official stormed up to them, demanding to check their phones. "I saw them taking a photo of our chairman. How dare they do so, they shouldn't," the official told Reuters later. He declined to be identified. Under the watchful eye of the official, and St. Regis staff, one male guest deleted his photos. In his first public comments since arriving, Kim said Singapore's role would be recorded in history if the summit was a success. Trump, who is staying in a separate hotel, the Shangri-La, is due to meet Lee on Monday. North Korea spent decades developing nuclear weapons, culminating in the test of a thermonuclear device in 2017. It also successfully tested missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland. The tests came amid a campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea, led by the United States, that tightened economic sanctions and the possibility of military action. The two leaders exchanged insults as fears of war grew. But then in a New Year's address, Kim sounded a conciliatory note, saying his country had completed development of its nuclear programme and would focus on economic development. He also suggested a meeting with South Korea. After a flurry of contacts between the two Koreas, South Korean officials suggested to Trump in March that Kim would be willing to meet face-to-face and the U.S. president agreed. Many experts on North Korea, one of the most insular and unpredictable countries in the world, remain sceptical Kim will ever completely abandon its cherished nuclear weapons. They believe Kim's latest engagement is aimed at getting the United States to ease the crippling sanctions that have squeezed the impoverished country. Believed to be 34, Kim is one of the youngest heads of state in the world and looks an unlikely candidate to be making history of the kind that has eluded his father and grandfather, both past leaders of North Korea. But since taking power after his father's death, the youthful Kim has displayed a mixture of ruthlessness, pragmatism and statecraft to get this prize: to sit across the table with the leader of the United States and be treated as an equal. For Trump, a successful summit will give him a win on the international stage. While foreign policy isn't usually a major aspect of congressional elections, it is unclear if Trump’s focus on getting tough with trade partners and solving the North Korean nuclear issue will have some influence on voters in the mid-term polls in November. The two leaders meet at 9 am (0100 GMT) on Tuesday at the Capella on Sentosa island, a refurbished British Army artillery mess that is one of Singapore's most expensive hotels.

Trump and Kim Jong-Un land in Singapore for Tuesday summit, officials to hold talks Monday

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has instructed its officials to cut down all unnecessary expenditure, if any, in the administration to strengthen the state's financial status.

In an official statement by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), it asked the officers to review the proposals submitted by various government departments, offices and agencies to buy new cars.

Similarly, he also has directed to discourage unnecessary refurbishing and renovating of Government' offices and official residences.

On June 1, Kumaraswamy directed all officials and government staff to not use mobile phones during his meetings to avoid distraction.

Kumaraswamy, in the order, stated that some officials use cell phones during the meeting, which affects discussions on important matters.

The chief minister's decision came 11 days after he took charge on May 23 and held only a few meetings with the officials.

In an official statement by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), it asked the officers to review the proposals submitted by various government departments, offices and agencies to buy new cars.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has instructed its officials to cut down all unnecessary expenditure, if any, in the administration to strengthen the state's financial status. In an official statement by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), it asked the officers to review the proposals submitted by various government departments, offices and agencies to buy new cars. Similarly, he also has directed to discourage unnecessary refurbishing and renovating of Government' offices and official residences. On June 1, Kumaraswamy directed all officials and government staff to not use mobile phones during his meetings to avoid distraction. Kumaraswamy, in the order, stated that some officials use cell phones during the meeting, which affects discussions on important matters. The chief minister's decision came 11 days after he took charge on May 23 and held only a few meetings with the officials.

Kumaraswamy instructs Karnataka officials to cut down unnecessary expenditure

Security officials in Afghanistan are working with local tribal elders to trace the seven Indian engineers <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/taliban-suspected-in-abduction-of-indian-engineers-sources-to-wion-135052">abducted by Taliban gunmen</a> in the restive northern Baghlan province, media reports said today.

Provincial police spokesman Zabiullah Shuja said the Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station.&nbsp;

They were abducted by the militants from the vicinity of Cheshma-e-Sher area yesterday while they were travelling to inspect the work progress.

Shuja said the Afghan driver of the engineers is also missing and an operation is underway for their release, according to media reports.

The security officials in the province said efforts are underway by the Afghan forces and the government officials as well as the local tribal elders for the release of the Indian engineers.&nbsp;

Provincial governor Abdul Nemati said the security forces and the local officials are busy tracking the missing engineers and their driver.

He said apart from the security forces and the government officials, the local tribal elders have also stepped up efforts for the release of the Indian nationals.

Nemati assured that the missing Indian engineers and their driver will be released soon.

Baghlan Governor had yesterday said the terror group had abducted the Indian engineers and their driver, believing they were government employees.

No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction.

The External Affairs Ministry had said in New Delhi it is in touch with authorities in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Many of the earlier abductions in the war-torn country have been linked to Taliban.&nbsp;

In 2016, 40-year-old Indian aid worker Judith D'Souza was kidnapped in Kabul. She was released after 40 days.

India has provided at least USD 2 billion aid to Afghanistan for the economic development of the war-torn nation.&nbsp;

The engineers, employees of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on the construction of a power sub-station. They were kidnapped on Sunday

Security officials in Afghanistan are working with local tribal elders to trace the seven Indian engineers abducted by Taliban gunmen in the restive northern Baghlan province, media reports said today. Provincial police spokesman Zabiullah Shuja said the Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station. They were abducted by the militants from the vicinity of Cheshma-e-Sher area yesterday while they were travelling to inspect the work progress. Shuja said the Afghan driver of the engineers is also missing and an operation is underway for their release, according to media reports. The security officials in the province said efforts are underway by the Afghan forces and the government officials as well as the local tribal elders for the release of the Indian engineers. Provincial governor Abdul Nemati said the security forces and the local officials are busy tracking the missing engineers and their driver. He said apart from the security forces and the government officials, the local tribal elders have also stepped up efforts for the release of the Indian nationals. Nemati assured that the missing Indian engineers and their driver will be released soon. Baghlan Governor had yesterday said the terror group had abducted the Indian engineers and their driver, believing they were government employees. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction. The External Affairs Ministry had said in New Delhi it is in touch with authorities in Afghanistan. Many of the earlier abductions in the war-torn country have been linked to Taliban. In 2016, 40-year-old Indian aid worker Judith D'Souza was kidnapped in Kabul. She was released after 40 days. India has provided at least USD 2 billion aid to Afghanistan for the economic development of the war-torn nation.

Afghan officials working with tribal elders to find 7 abducted Indian engineers

The CBI has arrested four deputy commissioner ranked officials of the Customs department in Mumbai for allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh from an importer to clear his consignment, officials said on Tuesday.

A superintendent in the department, Manish Singh, and a private person, Nilesh Singh, were also taken into custody in connection with the case, they said. One of the four deputy commissioners and Nilesh Singh were arrested red-handed while allegedly receiving Rs 5 lakh as the first installment of the bribe, they said.

The four deputy commissioners arrested are Mukesh Meena, Rajeev Kumar Singh, Sandeep Yadava and Sudarshan Meena, they said.

“The agency carried out searches at the official and residential premises of the accused,” the CBI spokesperson said.

"The agency carried out searches at the official and residential premises of the accused," the CBI spokesperson said.

The CBI has arrested four deputy commissioner ranked officials of the Customs department in Mumbai for allegedly demanding Rs 50 lakh from an importer to clear his consignment, officials said on Tuesday. A superintendent in the department, Manish Singh, and a private person, Nilesh Singh, were also taken into custody in connection with the case, they said. One of the four deputy commissioners and Nilesh Singh were arrested red-handed while allegedly receiving Rs 5 lakh as the first installment of the bribe, they said. The four deputy commissioners arrested are Mukesh Meena, Rajeev Kumar Singh, Sandeep Yadava and Sudarshan Meena, they said. “The agency carried out searches at the official and residential premises of the accused,” the CBI spokesperson said.

CBI arrests four Customs officials for demanding Rs 50 lakh bribe from importer

Billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi had left the country on January 1 much before the CBI received a complaint from Punjab National Bank on January 29 about a Rs 280-crore fraud, officials said.

His brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, also left the country on January 1, while wife Ami, a US citizen, and business partner Mehul Choksi, the Indian promoter of Gitanjali jewellery chain, departed on January 6, the officials said.

The agency issued a look out circular against all the four after registering the first FIR against them, they said.

The Enforement Direcotorate meanwhile has&nbsp;written&nbsp;to the Ministry of External Affairs asking that the passports of&nbsp;Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, and Mehul Choksi, the Indian promoter of Gitanjali Jewels,&nbsp;be revoked.&nbsp;

A look out circular is issued by enforcement agencies to all exit and entry ports to inform them about the movement of an accused.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-nirav-modi-the-billionaire-jeweller-at-centre-of-rs-11000-crore-scam-32970" target="_blank">Who is Nirav Modi, billionaire jeweller at centre of Rs 11,400 crore scam</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-fraud-after-nirav-modi-3-other-big-jewellers-come-under-the-scanner-32902?src=ilaw" target="_blank">After Nirav Modi, 3 other big jewellers come under the scanner</a>

Modi, who is believed to be in Switzerland, was also present in a group photo of Indian CEOs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, issued by the Press Information Bureau, in World Economic Forum on January 23, six days before the bank sent its first complaint against him to the CBI, according to the officials.

The diamantaire is an India citizen but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals, the officials said.

Nirav Modi, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and business partner Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 280 crore.

The bank has sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.&nbsp;

Modi's brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, also left the country on January 1. His wife Ami, a US citizen, and business partner Mehul Choksi, the Indian promoter of Gitanjali Jewels, left on January 6, the officials said

Billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi had left the country on January 1 much before the CBI received a complaint from Punjab National Bank on January 29 about a Rs 280-crore fraud, officials said. His brother Nishal, a Belgian citizen, also left the country on January 1, while wife Ami, a US citizen, and business partner Mehul Choksi, the Indian promoter of Gitanjali jewellery chain, departed on January 6, the officials said. The agency issued a look out circular against all the four after registering the first FIR against them, they said. The Enforement Direcotorate meanwhile has written to the Ministry of External Affairs asking that the passports of Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi, and Mehul Choksi, the Indian promoter of Gitanjali Jewels, be revoked. A look out circular is issued by enforcement agencies to all exit and entry ports to inform them about the movement of an accused. Also read: Who is Nirav Modi, billionaire jeweller at centre of Rs 11,400 crore scam Also read: After Nirav Modi, 3 other big jewellers come under the scanner Modi, who is believed to be in Switzerland, was also present in a group photo of Indian CEOs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, issued by the Press Information Bureau, in World Economic Forum on January 23, six days before the bank sent its first complaint against him to the CBI, according to the officials. The diamantaire is an India citizen but his brother Nishal and wife Ami are not Indian nationals, the officials said. Nirav Modi, a regular feature on the lists of rich and famous Indians since 2013, was booked by the CBI, along with wife, brother and business partner Choksi on January 31, for allegedly cheating the state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 280 crore. The bank has sent two more complaints to the CBI on Tuesday, saying the scam was worth more than Rs 11,400 crore.

PNB scam: Nirav Modi left India on January 1, thought to be in Switzerland

Revenues from the Goods and Services Tax could cross Rs 1 lakh crore a month towards the end of next fiscal once anti-evasion measures like matching of tax data and e-way bill are put in place, finance ministry officials said on Tuesday.

Once the GST return filing process stabilises completely, the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) will be put to action for 360 degree profiling and matching the database of people filing GST with Income Tax returns filed, they said.

The government has budgeted about Rs 7.44 lakh crore from GST in the 2018-19 fiscal beginning April 1. The estimated collection for 8 months (July-February) of the current fiscal is Rs 4.44 lakh crore. The March collection will take place in April, the start of new financial year, 2018-19.

Officials said the revenue estimates for next fiscal are conservative and could go up depending on enforcement actions taken by the government.

Collections under the GST, implemented from July 1 last year, were over Rs 95,000 crore for the first month, while in August the figure was just over Rs&nbsp; 91,000 crore. In September, it was over Rs 92,150 crore, October (Rs 83,000 crore), November (Rs 80,808 crore) and December (Rs 86,703 crore).

As of December 2017, 98 lakh businesses were registered under the GST regime.

&quot;We will soon start matching of the turnover shown in GST returns with the income returns filed with the I-T department. It could begin by second half of next financial year,&quot; a senior finance ministry official said.

&quot;Once these measures are put in place, there is no reason why GST revenues would not average Rs 1 lakh crore every month,&quot; he added. 
Another official said that the focus of the department will also be on plugging the gaps in the gold and jewellery industry.

&quot;Gold imports have been rising every month despite a 10 per cent customs duty. But where is this imported gold channelled to? With GST in place, the revenue authorities now have the power to seek details about end supplies,&quot; the official said.

Import of gold attracts a 10 per cent basic customs duty. On top of that, a 12.5 per cent countervailing duty (CVD) was levied prior to GST. Since GST subsumed CVD, the GST rate on gold at 3 per cent has to be paid at the time of imports in the form of Integrated GST with effect from July 1.

India is the world&#39;s second biggest gold consumer after China. The import mainly takes care of the demand of the jewellery industry. 
The official said that once the system stabilises, the intelligence agencies within the revenue department could better monitor end usage of the imported gold.

&quot;DGARM would be utilised to provide intelligence inputs and do big data analytics for taxmen for better policy formulation and taking action against tax evaders,&quot; he said.

Set up under the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), DGARM will use internal and external sources for detailed data mining and risk management.

As per data on GST returns filed by companies opting for composition scheme, as many as 5 lakh firms reported such a turnover which works out to annual sales of Rs 5 lakh only.

Out of 10 lakh businesses that opted for the composition scheme during the July-September period, about 7 lakh have filed GST returns for the quarter. 
Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt from the GST regime.

The official further said that currently, there is little tracking of goods movement from one state to another and the e-way bill would act as a tool to check tax evasion as then movement of stock and its end use would be monitored.

E-way or electronic way bill is for the movement of goods and can be generated on the GSTN (common portal). Movement of goods of more than Rs 50,000 in value cannot be made by a registered person without an e-way bill.

GST collections added up to Rs 80,808 crore in November and Rs Rs 86,703 crore in December

Revenues from the Goods and Services Tax could cross Rs 1 lakh crore a month towards the end of next fiscal once anti-evasion measures like matching of tax data and e-way bill are put in place, finance ministry officials said on Tuesday. Once the GST return filing process stabilises completely, the Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) will be put to action for 360 degree profiling and matching the database of people filing GST with Income Tax returns filed, they said. The government has budgeted about Rs 7.44 lakh crore from GST in the 2018-19 fiscal beginning April 1. The estimated collection for 8 months (July-February) of the current fiscal is Rs 4.44 lakh crore. The March collection will take place in April, the start of new financial year, 2018-19. Officials said the revenue estimates for next fiscal are conservative and could go up depending on enforcement actions taken by the government. Collections under the GST, implemented from July 1 last year, were over Rs 95,000 crore for the first month, while in August the figure was just over Rs 91,000 crore. In September, it was over Rs 92,150 crore, October (Rs 83,000 crore), November (Rs 80,808 crore) and December (Rs 86,703 crore). As of December 2017, 98 lakh businesses were registered under the GST regime. "We will soon start matching of the turnover shown in GST returns with the income returns filed with the I-T department. It could begin by second half of next financial year," a senior finance ministry official said. "Once these measures are put in place, there is no reason why GST revenues would not average Rs 1 lakh crore every month," he added. Another official said that the focus of the department will also be on plugging the gaps in the gold and jewellery industry. "Gold imports have been rising every month despite a 10 per cent customs duty. But where is this imported gold channelled to? With GST in place, the revenue authorities now have the power to seek details about end supplies," the official said. Import of gold attracts a 10 per cent basic customs duty. On top of that, a 12.5 per cent countervailing duty (CVD) was levied prior to GST. Since GST subsumed CVD, the GST rate on gold at 3 per cent has to be paid at the time of imports in the form of Integrated GST with effect from July 1. India is the world's second biggest gold consumer after China. The import mainly takes care of the demand of the jewellery industry. The official said that once the system stabilises, the intelligence agencies within the revenue department could better monitor end usage of the imported gold. "DGARM would be utilised to provide intelligence inputs and do big data analytics for taxmen for better policy formulation and taking action against tax evaders," he said. Set up under the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), DGARM will use internal and external sources for detailed data mining and risk management. As per data on GST returns filed by companies opting for composition scheme, as many as 5 lakh firms reported such a turnover which works out to annual sales of Rs 5 lakh only. Out of 10 lakh businesses that opted for the composition scheme during the July-September period, about 7 lakh have filed GST returns for the quarter. Businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt from the GST regime. The official further said that currently, there is little tracking of goods movement from one state to another and the e-way bill would act as a tool to check tax evasion as then movement of stock and its end use would be monitored. E-way or electronic way bill is for the movement of goods and can be generated on the GSTN (common portal). Movement of goods of more than Rs 50,000 in value cannot be made by a registered person without an e-way bill.

Revenue from GST will top Rs 1 lakh crore a month after anti-evasion measures: Finance Ministry officials

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has led a bloody war on drug suspects, today named over 30 politicians, officials and judges whom he linked to narcotics and warned them to surrender. 
 
Police and shadowy vigilantes have been blamed for killing over 800 drug suspects since Duterte&#39;s election on May 9. 
 
&quot;Due process has nothing to do with my mouth. There are no proceedings here, no lawyers,&quot; Duterte said in a pre-dawn speech just before he began naming the suspects.&nbsp;He listed seven judges and over 25 current or former congressmen, mayors and other local officials whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs. 
 
Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions. 
 
&quot;If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, &#39;Shoot them&#39;,&quot; he told reporters and soldiers in the southern city of Davao. 
 
Duterte, who has gained widespread domestic popularity for his outspokenness, conceded &quot;I might be wrong&quot; about the guilt of those he named. 
 
He said the military and police had compiled the list which he insisted was not coloured by politics or personal links, adding that some of those named were even his friends. 
 
Duterte&#39;s spokesman Martin Andanar later said that criminal cases would be filed against those named. 
 
&quot;The president is encouraging all of the persons of interest, the alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open, to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
Some of those named have since come out in radio and television and denied their guilt. 
 
Duterte won election by vowing to wage a war on illegal drugs and other crime that would claim tens of thousands of lives.&nbsp;He has ordered police not to hesitate to kill and even urged ordinary citizens and communist guerrillas to join in the bloodshed. 
 
The country&#39;s largest broadcaster ABS-CBN has listed 852 drug suspects killed since Duterte&#39;s election. 
 
In his speech, Duterte scoffed at human rights groups opposed to the killings, saying they were free to protest. 
 
&quot;I do not care,&quot; he said. 
 
However the head of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made an emotional appeal to the public to denounce the wave of drug killings. 
 
&quot;I am a human being. That is all it takes for me to stand up and say &#39;enough&#39;,&quot; archbishop socrates Villegas said in a message read at all Catholic masses in his archdiocese, located 160 kilometres north of Manila. 
 
He said the largely Catholic Philippines was becoming a &quot;killing fields nation&quot; for tolerating the violence. 
 
Despite criticism from foreign and local human rights organisations and even UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, surveys have shown Duterte enjoys wide public support. 
 
(AFP)

Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has led a bloody war on drug suspects, today named over 30 politicians, officials and judges whom he linked to narcotics and warned them to surrender. Police and shadowy vigilantes have been blamed for killing over 800 drug suspects since Duterte's election on May 9. "Due process has nothing to do with my mouth. There are no proceedings here, no lawyers," Duterte said in a pre-dawn speech just before he began naming the suspects. He listed seven judges and over 25 current or former congressmen, mayors and other local officials whom he alleged were involved in illegal drugs. Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions. "If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, 'Shoot them'," he told reporters and soldiers in the southern city of Davao. Duterte, who has gained widespread domestic popularity for his outspokenness, conceded "I might be wrong" about the guilt of those he named. He said the military and police had compiled the list which he insisted was not coloured by politics or personal links, adding that some of those named were even his friends. Duterte's spokesman Martin Andanar later said that criminal cases would be filed against those named. "The president is encouraging all of the persons of interest, the alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open, to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation," he told reporters. Some of those named have since come out in radio and television and denied their guilt. Duterte won election by vowing to wage a war on illegal drugs and other crime that would claim tens of thousands of lives. He has ordered police not to hesitate to kill and even urged ordinary citizens and communist guerrillas to join in the bloodshed. The country's largest broadcaster ABS-CBN has listed 852 drug suspects killed since Duterte's election. In his speech, Duterte scoffed at human rights groups opposed to the killings, saying they were free to protest. "I do not care," he said. However the head of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made an emotional appeal to the public to denounce the wave of drug killings. "I am a human being. That is all it takes for me to stand up and say 'enough'," archbishop socrates Villegas said in a message read at all Catholic masses in his archdiocese, located 160 kilometres north of Manila. He said the largely Catholic Philippines was becoming a "killing fields nation" for tolerating the violence. Despite criticism from foreign and local human rights organisations and even UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, surveys have shown Duterte enjoys wide public support. (AFP)

Philippine president identifies 30 officials linked to narcotics

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has dismissed allegations of corruption within the organisation and demanded proof after a British newspaper reported that some bouts in the Rio Olympics could be fixed. 
 
According to The Guardian, citing multiple sources, a group of senior referees and judges met before a major championship to decide on how to score certain bouts having earlier relied on hand and head signals to select a winner. 
 
&quot;We reiterate that, unless tangible proof is put forward, not just rumours, we cannot further comment on these allegations,&quot; the paper quoted the sport&#39;s global governing body as saying. 
 
&quot;Our role is to ensure a fair and transparent competition and that the thousands of spectators and millions of fans enjoy an amazing tournament with 13 great and undisputed gold medallists. It is not a matter for AIBA to interfere with the decision made by the judges under sporting rules.&quot; 
 
Irish judge Seamus Kelly, one of the sources named in the report, said he had been asked to fix bouts at the Arab Games in Doha in 2011 using signals, and that his fellow officials were afraid to speak out. 
 
&quot;People are afraid... because if they are judges they will be sidelined and won&#39;t get to go to the Olympics or other championships. If they are officials, they fear their country&#39;s boxers will be targeted,&quot; he said. 
 
AIBA executive committee member Terry Smith said he was not aware of the allegations, and challenged officials to take up the matter using established channels within the organisation. 
 
&quot;I wish they&#39;d confide a little bit internally,&quot; he added. &quot;I would like them to challenge it where it takes place. These are the types of rumours we certainly don&#39;t want with the Olympics coming up.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Executive committee member Terry Smith has challenged officials to take up the matter using established channels within the organisation

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has dismissed allegations of corruption within the organisation and demanded proof after a British newspaper reported that some bouts in the Rio Olympics could be fixed. According to The Guardian, citing multiple sources, a group of senior referees and judges met before a major championship to decide on how to score certain bouts having earlier relied on hand and head signals to select a winner. "We reiterate that, unless tangible proof is put forward, not just rumours, we cannot further comment on these allegations," the paper quoted the sport's global governing body as saying. "Our role is to ensure a fair and transparent competition and that the thousands of spectators and millions of fans enjoy an amazing tournament with 13 great and undisputed gold medallists. It is not a matter for AIBA to interfere with the decision made by the judges under sporting rules." Irish judge Seamus Kelly, one of the sources named in the report, said he had been asked to fix bouts at the Arab Games in Doha in 2011 using signals, and that his fellow officials were afraid to speak out. "People are afraid... because if they are judges they will be sidelined and won't get to go to the Olympics or other championships. If they are officials, they fear their country's boxers will be targeted," he said. AIBA executive committee member Terry Smith said he was not aware of the allegations, and challenged officials to take up the matter using established channels within the organisation. "I wish they'd confide a little bit internally," he added. "I would like them to challenge it where it takes place. These are the types of rumours we certainly don't want with the Olympics coming up." (Reuters)

International Boxing Association dismisses corruption allegations as 'rumours'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting on the situation in Kashmir Valley, which has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.&nbsp;Back from a visit to four African countries, Modi convened a meeting of Union Ministers and senior officials. 
 
The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley which has witnessed escalating protests following the killing of Wani on Friday.&nbsp;Violent clashes between security forces and protestors have so far left 24 dead. 
 
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,&nbsp;Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar among others. 
 
Yesterday, Parrikar, Jaitley and Doval, who returned a day earlier from Africa where he was accompanying the Prime Minister, had met to discuss the situation.&nbsp;The Ministers were briefed by Chiefs of central security agencies about the steps taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. 
 
All forces have been asked to ensure security of Amarnath pilgrims and enhance vigil along the border to check fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border.&nbsp;Sources said security forces were asked to ensure judicious use of force against protesting civilians. 
 
Parrikar had told reporters that an overall assessment of security situation in Kashmir has to be done by the Home Ministry and Army was ready to provide any assistance like increasing force levels in any areas required. 
 
Earlier, the Home Minister had reached out to opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Parliamentary leaders of all parties, and discussed the prevailing situation there. 
 
During the telephone conversation with Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar, the Home Minister had discussed with them efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. 
 
(PTI)

The region has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, leaving 24 dead

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting on the situation in Kashmir Valley, which has been rocked by violent protests in the wake of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. Back from a visit to four African countries, Modi convened a meeting of Union Ministers and senior officials. The Prime Minister was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley which has witnessed escalating protests following the killing of Wani on Friday. Violent clashes between security forces and protestors have so far left 24 dead. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar among others. Yesterday, Parrikar, Jaitley and Doval, who returned a day earlier from Africa where he was accompanying the Prime Minister, had met to discuss the situation. The Ministers were briefed by Chiefs of central security agencies about the steps taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. All forces have been asked to ensure security of Amarnath pilgrims and enhance vigil along the border to check fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border. Sources said security forces were asked to ensure judicious use of force against protesting civilians. Parrikar had told reporters that an overall assessment of security situation in Kashmir has to be done by the Home Ministry and Army was ready to provide any assistance like increasing force levels in any areas required. Earlier, the Home Minister had reached out to opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Parliamentary leaders of all parties, and discussed the prevailing situation there. During the telephone conversation with Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar, the Home Minister had discussed with them efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. (PTI)

Indian PM Narendra Modi meets with ministers and senior officials over fatal Kashmir clashes

After shooting dead a&nbsp;gorilla&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Cincinnati&nbsp;Zoo to save a 3-year-old boy, zoo officials said they had collected a sample of his sperm, raising hopes among distraught fans that Harambe could sire offspring even in death.

Officials at the main U.S. body that oversees breeding of zoo animals, however, said it was highly unlikely&nbsp;that the Western lowland&nbsp;gorilla&#39;s contribution to the nation&#39;s &quot;frozen zoo&quot; of&nbsp;genetic material of rare and endangered species would be used to breed.

&quot;Currently, it&#39;s not anything we would use for reproduction,&quot; Kristen Lukas, who heads the Association of Zoos and Aquariums&#39; (AZA) Gorilla&nbsp;Species Survival Plan, said on Wednesday. &quot;It will be banked and just stored for future use or for research studies.&quot;

Lukas&#39; statement undercuts a weekend statement by&nbsp;Cincinnati&nbsp;Zoo director Thane Maynard that the death of the 17-year-old young silverback, who had been too young to breed, was &quot;not the end of his gene pool.&quot;

Zoo officials did not respond to calls on Wednesday seeking more detail on their plans for Harambe&#39;s sperm.

There are currently 350&nbsp;gorillas of Harambe&#39;s species in US&nbsp;zoos, according to the AZA, which accredits zoos, including&nbsp;Cincinnati&#39;s and approves breeding plans. That population is large enough to maintain a breeding program so robust that many female gorillas&nbsp;of child-bearing age are given hormonal contraceptives.

Zoo officials have stood by the decision to shoot Harambe dead on Saturday, saying the 450-pound (200-kg) animal could have easily&nbsp;slain&nbsp;or grievously injured the toddler.

But their decision to kill the&nbsp;gorilla&nbsp;has drawn criticism online and sparked a&nbsp;Cincinnati&nbsp;police investigation into the boy&#39;s family.

The highly charismatic animals are closely related to humans, making them popular zoo attractions. Major US&nbsp;zoos from New York&#39;s Bronx Zoo to the San Diego Zoo rely on&nbsp;gorillas as a major draw for visitors.

&nbsp;

INTO THE &#39;FROZEN ZOO&#39;

Harambe&#39;s sperm will&nbsp;likely&nbsp;go into a collection of samples taken from&nbsp;gorillas and other animals that are preserved in liquid nitrogen and typically viable for hundreds of years, said the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians director Robert Hilsenroth.

&quot;We call it the frozen zoo,&quot; said Hilsenroth. &quot;It&#39;s nice to have that in your pocket just in case.&quot;

Given the numbers of&nbsp;gorillas in captivity, Harambe&#39;s&nbsp;genetic&nbsp;material would&nbsp;likely&nbsp;be drawn on only in the event of some new disease that took a heavy toll on the population, the AZA&#39;s Lukas said.

&quot;In a dire situation like that, we would then be able to continue the population,&quot; Lukas said.

There are about 175,000 of the&nbsp;gorillas in the wild, but habitat destruction, hunting and disease are resulting in a rapid decline in the population.

The practice of breeding&nbsp;gorillas in captivity has been criticized by animal rights groups.

&quot;In theory, conserving is great but without a habitat what&#39;s the point,&quot; said Julia Gallucci, primatologist for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

After shooting dead a?gorilla?at the?Cincinnati?Zoo to save a 3-year-old boy, zoo officials said they had collected a sample of his sperm for future use

After shooting dead a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo to save a 3-year-old boy, zoo officials said they had collected a sample of his sperm, raising hopes among distraught fans that Harambe could sire offspring even in death. Officials at the main U.S. body that oversees breeding of zoo animals, however, said it was highly unlikely that the Western lowland gorilla's contribution to the nation's "frozen zoo" of genetic material of rare and endangered species would be used to breed. "Currently, it's not anything we would use for reproduction," Kristen Lukas, who heads the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Gorilla Species Survival Plan, said on Wednesday. "It will be banked and just stored for future use or for research studies." Lukas' statement undercuts a weekend statement by Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard that the death of the 17-year-old young silverback, who had been too young to breed, was "not the end of his gene pool." Zoo officials did not respond to calls on Wednesday seeking more detail on their plans for Harambe's sperm. There are currently 350 gorillas of Harambe's species in US zoos, according to the AZA, which accredits zoos, including Cincinnati's and approves breeding plans. That population is large enough to maintain a breeding program so robust that many female gorillas of child-bearing age are given hormonal contraceptives. Zoo officials have stood by the decision to shoot Harambe dead on Saturday, saying the 450-pound (200-kg) animal could have easily slain or grievously injured the toddler. But their decision to kill the gorilla has drawn criticism online and sparked a Cincinnati police investigation into the boy's family. The highly charismatic animals are closely related to humans, making them popular zoo attractions. Major US zoos from New York's Bronx Zoo to the San Diego Zoo rely on gorillas as a major draw for visitors. INTO THE 'FROZEN ZOO' Harambe's sperm will likely go into a collection of samples taken from gorillas and other animals that are preserved in liquid nitrogen and typically viable for hundreds of years, said the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians director Robert Hilsenroth. "We call it the frozen zoo," said Hilsenroth. "It's nice to have that in your pocket just in case." Given the numbers of gorillas in captivity, Harambe's genetic material would likely be drawn on only in the event of some new disease that took a heavy toll on the population, the AZA's Lukas said. "In a dire situation like that, we would then be able to continue the population," Lukas said. There are about 175,000 of the gorillas in the wild, but habitat destruction, hunting and disease are resulting in a rapid decline in the population. The practice of breeding gorillas in captivity has been criticized by animal rights groups. "In theory, conserving is great but without a habitat what's the point," said Julia Gallucci, primatologist for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Slain Cincinnati gorilla likely to live on in genetic 'frozen zoo'

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series &quot;Glee,&quot; was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said.

The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney&#39;s Office for the region said in a statement.

Representatives for Salling, a Los Angeles resident, and his attorney, did not immediately return calls.

The federal charges against the Texas-born Salling for receipt and possession of child pornography stem from his arrest by Los Angeles police and federal agents on Dec. 29, 2015. He was released on bail of $20,000 and was initially expected to be charged in Los Angeles County court.

But after investigators realized the &quot;scope of the collection&quot; of child porn they had uncovered, the case was handed over to federal prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney&#39;s Office said.

&quot;The traditional stereotype about the kinds of people who commit child sexual exploitation crimes simply doesn&#39;t dovetail with reality,&quot; Joseph Macias, a special agent in charge for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement on the filing of the charges.

Macias added that child pornography suspects can be of &quot;all ages and from all walks of life.&quot;

Salling&#39;s arrest came after investigators received a tip that he was in possession of child porn, Los Angeles police said in a statement at the time.

A laptop, a hard drive and a mobile flash drive from Salling&#39;s home contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography, and investigators continue to review the material, federal prosecutors said.

In the meantime, the charges against the actor center on a still image and three videos of child pornography depicting young girls, the statement said. The two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Salling on the Fox television show &quot;Glee,&quot; which ran from 2009 to 2015, played Puck, a bully and a football player who shows a softer side when he joins the glee club at his high school.

Before that show, Salling had a number of smaller roles, including a part in 1996 horror film &quot;Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering.&quot;

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series "Glee," was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said. The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the region said in a statement.

Actor Mark Salling, who had a supporting role as a high school athlete-turned-singer in the TV series "Glee," was indicted on Friday on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, officials said. The 33-year-old Salling agreed to turn himself in on June 3 to face the charges filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the region said in a statement. Representatives for Salling, a Los Angeles resident, and his attorney, did not immediately return calls. The federal charges against the Texas-born Salling for receipt and possession of child pornography stem from his arrest by Los Angeles police and federal agents on Dec. 29, 2015. He was released on bail of $20,000 and was initially expected to be charged in Los Angeles County court. But after investigators realized the "scope of the collection" of child porn they had uncovered, the case was handed over to federal prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "The traditional stereotype about the kinds of people who commit child sexual exploitation crimes simply doesn't dovetail with reality," Joseph Macias, a special agent in charge for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement on the filing of the charges. Macias added that child pornography suspects can be of "all ages and from all walks of life." Salling's arrest came after investigators received a tip that he was in possession of child porn, Los Angeles police said in a statement at the time. A laptop, a hard drive and a mobile flash drive from Salling's home contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography, and investigators continue to review the material, federal prosecutors said. In the meantime, the charges against the actor center on a still image and three videos of child pornography depicting young girls, the statement said. The two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Salling on the Fox television show "Glee," which ran from 2009 to 2015, played Puck, a bully and a football player who shows a softer side when he joins the glee club at his high school. Before that show, Salling had a number of smaller roles, including a part in 1996 horror film "Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering."

'Glee' star Mark Salling indicted on federal child porn charges

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