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{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Short description|Indian politician}} | ||
{{Use | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}} | |||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
|name= | |name = K. D. Singh | ||
|birth_name=Kanwardeep Singh | |birth_name = Kanwardeep Singh | ||
|image=Kanwardeep Singh.JPG | |image = Kanwardeep Singh.JPG | ||
|image_size= | |image_size = 200px | ||
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|8|21}} | |caption = Singh in June 2012 | ||
|birth_place= [[Fatehgarh Sahib]], [[East Punjab|Punjab]], [[India]] | |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|8|21}} | ||
|office=[[Member of Parliament (India)|MP]] of [[Rajya Sabha]] for [[List of Rajya Sabha members from West Bengal |West Bengal]] | |birth_place = [[Fatehgarh Sahib]], [[East Punjab|Punjab]], [[India]] | ||
|term_start= 3 April 2014 | |office = [[Member of Parliament (India)|MP]] of [[Rajya Sabha]] for [[List of Rajya Sabha members from West Bengal|West Bengal]] | ||
|term_end | |term_start = 3 April 2014 | ||
|party=[[All India Trinamool Congress]] | |term_end = before 2016 | ||
| | |party = [[All India Trinamool Congress]] | ||
|education = [[Punjabi University]] | |||
|spouse = Harpreet Kaur | |spouse = Harpreet Kaur | ||
|website=[http://www.kdsingh.co.in/ K D Singh] | |website = {{hlist|[http://www.kdsingh.co.in/ K D Singh]|[http://www.kdsinghblog.wordpress.com/ KDSinghBlog]}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
''' | '''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]] representing the [[All India Trinamool Congress]],<ref name=lmint062017/> but first elected to the Indian parliament as a nominee of the [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]].<ref name="RaoMudgal2018p139">{{cite book|author1=Shakuntala Rao|author2=Vipul Mudgal|title=Journalism, Democracy and Civil Society in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DjduDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT139|year=2018|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-315-29379-0|page=139}}</ref> He is the founder and the former chairman of the Indian business group called Turbo Industries, whose name was changed and rebranded as the [[Alchemist Group]] in 2004.<ref name="JaffrelotKohli2019">{{cite book|author1=Christophe Jaffrelot|author2=Atul Kohli|author3=Kanta Murali|title=Business and Politics in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d2J7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |year=2019|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-091246-8|pages=66–67}}</ref> He was elected to lead the [[Indian Hockey Federation]] (IHF) between 2013 and 2014.<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/k-d-singh-elected-new-indian-hockey-federation-president/articleshow/24495797.cms K D Singh elected new Indian Hockey Federation president], The Economic Times (21 October 2013)</ref> | ||
Singh's political and business career has been marred by various controversies, with several of his | Singh's political and business career has been marred by various controversies, with several of his organisation's subsidiaries and he being banned because of alleged illegal businesses by the [[Securities and Exchange Board of India]].<ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/sat-gives-18-months-to-alchemist-infra-to-refund-money-113072300394_1.html SAT gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money], Business Standard (23 July 2013)</ref><ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/sebi-bans-trinamool-mp-k-d-singh-from-market-115080500572_1.html Sebi bans Trinamool MP K D Singh from market], Business Standard (6 August 2015)</ref><ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-tehelkas-real-owners-please-stand-up/articleshow/26226176.cms Will Tehelka's real owners please stand up?], The Economic Times (23 November 2013)</ref> He was the major investor in the ''[[Tehelka]]'' magazine known for undercover sting operations,<ref>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/tarun-tejpal-s-many-businesses-113112800009_1.html Tarun Tejpal's many businesses], Business Standard (28 November 2013)</ref> and has been alleged to have planned and financed the [[Narada sting operation]] against his own party and state-level [[All India Trinamool Congress]] leaders, according to ''The Mint'' newspaper.<ref name=lmint062017>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/LsefeacrWFjRAQwCqr4VOJ/Mathew-Samuel-says-KD-Singh-funded-Narada-sting.html Mathew Samuel says K.D. Singh funded Narada sting], The Mint, Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar (8 June 2017)</ref><ref>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/w857MuEba6xgj5yd0eZ2vO/Narada-sting-Kolkata-Police-files-criminal-case-against-TMC.html Narada sting: Kolkata Police files criminal case against TMC MP Kanwar Deep Singh], Live Mint, Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar (23 March 2017)</ref> He was accused in an alleged ponzi scam in 2009 and remains under enforcement proceedings.<ref>[https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/ed-attaches-rs-239-cr-assets-in-ponzi-case-linked-to-trinamool-congress-mp-kd-singh/355365 ED attaches Rs 239-cr assets in ponzi case linked to Trinamool Congress MP KD Singh], India News (28 January 2019)</ref><ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ed-to-start-fresh-probe-after-sebi-alleges-kd-singh-parking-investors-funds-offshore/articleshow/65232763.cms ED to start fresh probe after Sebi alleges KD Singh parking investors' funds offshore], The Times of India (1 August 2018)</ref> | ||
== Early life and business == | == 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 Group|Alchemist]] in 2004.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in">{{cite news|url= | 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 Group|Alchemist]] in 2004.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20110425-wb-polls-congress-trinamool-relationship-probe-into-tmc-rs-member-k-d-singh-business-operations-745694-2011-04-20 |title=WB polls: Mamata's aide Singh in trouble for quick profits : NATION |publisher=India Today |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=15 November 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name="hindustantimes"/> | ||
He stepped down from his position as [[Chairman]] of the Alchemist Group in 2012 to devote his time to political and social causes.<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news|title=KD Singh quits corporate posts for full-time politics|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/KD-Singh-quits-corporate-posts-for-full-time-politics/SP-Article1-926741.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909080444/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/KD-Singh-quits-corporate-posts-for-full-time-politics/SP-Article1-926741.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2012|accessdate=8 September 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=8 September 2012}}</ref> Currently, he is the Chairman Emeritus of the [[Alchemist Group]], while his son Karan Deep Singh now chairs the Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chairman Emeritus - Alchemist|url=http://www.alchemist.co.in/chairmanemeritus.html|publisher=Alchemist|accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> | He stepped down from his position as [[Chairman]] of the Alchemist Group in 2012 to devote his time to political and social causes.<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news|title=KD Singh quits corporate posts for full-time politics|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/KD-Singh-quits-corporate-posts-for-full-time-politics/SP-Article1-926741.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909080444/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/KD-Singh-quits-corporate-posts-for-full-time-politics/SP-Article1-926741.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2012|accessdate=8 September 2012|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=8 September 2012}}</ref> Currently, he is the Chairman Emeritus of the [[Alchemist Group]], while his son Karan Deep Singh now chairs the Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chairman Emeritus - Alchemist|url=http://www.alchemist.co.in/chairmanemeritus.html|publisher=Alchemist|accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> | ||
K.D. Singh also owns majority stake in Anant Media Private Limited, which publishes [[Tehelka]] magazine, one of India's leading investigative weeklies.<ref name="latitude.blogs.nytimes.com">http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/in-india-business-politics-and-media-collude-against-small-investors/ | K.D. Singh also owns majority stake in Anant Media Private Limited, which publishes [[Tehelka]] magazine, one of India's leading investigative weeklies.<ref name="latitude.blogs.nytimes.com">{{cite web|title=The Silence of the Shams |url=http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/in-india-business-politics-and-media-collude-against-small-investors/ |date=15 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/name-of-the-game-111021200022_1.html |title=Name of the game |work=Business Standard|date=12 February 2011 |accessdate=15 November 2013}}</ref> | ||
In March 2013, Tehelka reported that Punjabis in the northern state of Haryana want Singh as their chief minister. | In March 2013, Tehelka reported that Punjabis in the northern state of Haryana want Singh as their chief minister. | ||
<ref>{{cite news |author=Tehelka Bureau |url=http://www.tehelka.com/punjabi-community-pushes-for-kd-singh-as-cm/ |title=Punjabi community in Haryana wants KD Singh as Chief Minister |publisher=Tehelka |date=2013 | <ref>{{cite news |author=Tehelka Bureau |url=http://www.tehelka.com/punjabi-community-pushes-for-kd-singh-as-cm/ |title=Punjabi community in Haryana wants KD Singh as Chief Minister |publisher=Tehelka |date=22 March 2013 |accessdate=15 November 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131110085946/http://www.tehelka.com/punjabi-community-pushes-for-kd-singh-as-cm/ |archive-date=10 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
He was conferred a [[Doctor of Business Administration|Doctorate in Business Administration]] (''Honoris Causa'') by the [[Anglia Ruskin University]], Cambridge ( | He was conferred a [[Doctor of Business Administration|Doctorate in Business Administration]] (''Honoris Causa'') by the [[Anglia Ruskin University]], Cambridge (UK).<ref>{{cite web|title=Kanwar Deep Singh Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2012|url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/singh.html|publisher=Anglia Ruskin University|accessdate=18 October 2012|archive-date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925152931/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/singh.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
== Political career == | == 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aitmc.org/elected_rep.php?sid=3|title=Elected Representative - AITMC|publisher=AITMC Website|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830045000/https://aitmc.org/elected_rep.php?sid=3|archive-date=30 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121101/jsp/frontpage/story_16145740.jsp#.Un8ZypFjm5c|title=CBI scanner on KD Singh|date=2012 | 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aitmc.org/elected_rep.php?sid=3|title=Elected Representative - AITMC|publisher=AITMC Website|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830045000/https://aitmc.org/elected_rep.php?sid=3|archive-date=30 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121101/jsp/frontpage/story_16145740.jsp#.Un8ZypFjm5c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105075240/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121101/jsp/frontpage/story_16145740.jsp#.Un8ZypFjm5c|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=CBI scanner on KD Singh|date=1 November 2012|accessdate=15 November 2013|publisher=Telegraph India}}</ref> He was soon made the party in-charge of northern India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh).<ref>{{cite news|title=Trinamool gets new address in Chandigarh|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/trinamool-gets-new-address-in-chandigarh/962256/|accessdate=15 June 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=15 June 2012}}</ref> | ||
== Controversies == | == Controversies == | ||
===Cash-for-vote === | ===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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/cashforvotes-cbi-raids-in-jharkhand/article4748718.ece|title=Cash-for-votes: CBI raids in Jharkhand|date=2013 | 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/cashforvotes-cbi-raids-in-jharkhand/article4748718.ece|title=Cash-for-votes: CBI raids in Jharkhand|date=25 May 2013|accessdate=15 November 2013|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> [[Tek Lal Mahto]], a MLA belonging to [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jmm-mlas-rate-for-rajya-sabha-vote-rs-1-cr/128056-37-64.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006015203/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jmm-mlas-rate-for-rajya-sabha-vote-rs-1-cr/128056-37-64.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2013|title=JMM MLA's rate for Rajya Sabha vote: Rs 1 cr|date=2 August 2010|accessdate=15 November 2013|publisher=Ibnlive.in.com}}</ref> | ||
=== Ponzi scam === | === 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.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/it-raids-alchemist-group-of-hospitals-declares-rs-22-crore-as--unaccounted-/428570/ |title=I-T raids Alchemist Group of Hospitals, declares Rs 22 crore as 'unaccounted' |work=The Indian Express|date=2009 | 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.<ref name="indiatoday.intoday.in" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/it-raids-alchemist-group-of-hospitals-declares-rs-22-crore-as--unaccounted-/428570/ |title=I-T raids Alchemist Group of Hospitals, declares Rs 22 crore as 'unaccounted' |work=The Indian Express|date=27 February 2009 |accessdate=15 November 2013}}</ref> | ||
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/securities-appellate-tribunal-gives-18-months-to-alchemist-infra-to-refund-money/1145521/0 |title=Securities Appellate Tribunal gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money |work=The Indian Express|date=2013 | 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/securities-appellate-tribunal-gives-18-months-to-alchemist-infra-to-refund-money/1145521/0 |title=Securities Appellate Tribunal gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money |work=The Indian Express|date=23 July 2013 |accessdate=15 November 2013}}</ref> | ||
=== Narada sting === | === Narada sting === | ||
He is also alleged to have funded about 80 lakh INR to [[Mathew Samuel|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 | He is also alleged to have funded about 80 lakh INR to [[Mathew Samuel|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 favours to a company.<ref name="paid">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/04/29/indian-rupee-80-lakh-for-the-narada-sting-was-paid-by-mp-kd-singh-mathew-samuel-ed-tmc|title=₹ 80 lakh for the Narada sting was paid by MP KD Singh|date=29 April 2017|work=[[The National Herald (India)|The National Herald]]|access-date=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/state/k-d-singh-ordered-me-to-do-the-sting-operation-on-tmc-leaders-says-mathew-samuel-1.582948|title=তৃণমূল সাংসদ কে ডি সিংহের নির্দেশেই স্টিং অপারেশন, বিস্ফোরক ম্যাথু|date=20 March 2017|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=24 April 2017|language=bn}}</ref> | ||
Singh has denied any involvement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/state/kd-singh-says-he-has-no-relation-with-narada-sting-operation-1.730210|title=নারদে জড়িত নই, দাবি কেডি সিংহের|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=2018 | Singh has denied any involvement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/state/kd-singh-says-he-has-no-relation-with-narada-sting-operation-1.730210|title=নারদে জড়িত নই, দাবি কেডি সিংহের|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=27 July 2018|language=bn}}</ref> | ||
=== Arrest === | === Arrest === | ||
On 13 January 2021, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges. The alleged scam is stated to be about Rs 1,900 crore and the agency had attached assets worth Rs 239 crore of Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd in 2019. It has been alleged by investigators that the company launched an illegal collective investment scheme, also called a ponzi or chit fund scheme, and mobilised funds of about Rs 1,916 crore from the public in the years preceding 2015. The second money laundering case against him and others is based on an FIR filed by the Kolkata Police. In this criminal case initiated in 2018, the Kolkata Police had booked Singh, his son Karandeep Singh, Alchemist Township India Limited, Alchemist Holdings Limited and various other group companies and directors for cheating thousands of customers.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ed-arrests-former-tmc-mp-k-d-singh-on-money-laundering-charges/2170704 |work=Financial Express|date=2021 | On 13 January 2021, he was arrested by the [[Enforcement Directorate]] on money laundering charges. The alleged scam is stated to be about Rs 1,900 crore and the agency had attached assets worth Rs 239 crore of Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd in 2019. It has been alleged by investigators that the company launched an illegal collective investment scheme, also called a ponzi or chit fund scheme, and mobilised funds of about Rs 1,916 crore from the public in the years preceding 2015. The second money laundering case against him and others is based on an FIR filed by the [[Kolkata Police]]. In this criminal case initiated in 2018, the Kolkata Police had booked Singh, his son Karandeep Singh, Alchemist Township India Limited, Alchemist Holdings Limited and various other group companies and directors for cheating thousands of customers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ed-arrests-former-tmc-mp-k-d-singh-on-money-laundering-charges/2170704 |work=Financial Express|date=14 January 2021|title=ED arrests former TMC MP K D Singh on money laundering charges}}</ref> | ||
== Indian Hockey Federation == | == Indian Hockey Federation == | ||
On 29 July 2013, the [[Indian Hockey Federation]] (IHF) issued a media release announcing | On 29 July 2013, the [[Indian Hockey Federation]] (IHF) issued a media release announcing Singh's elevation from his post of Vice-President to that of President.<ref name="indianhockeyfederation">{{cite web|title=Dr. Kanwar Deep Singh takes over as President, Indian Hockey Federation|url=http://indianhockeyfederation.com/news.html|publisher=Indian Hockey Federation|access-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802100520/http://indianhockeyfederation.com/news.html|archive-date=2 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | |||
* [[K D Singh Foundation]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:1961 births]] | [[Category:1961 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from Punjab]] | ||
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Jharkhand]] | [[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Jharkhand]] | ||
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from West Bengal]] | [[Category:Rajya Sabha members from West Bengal]] | ||
[[Category:Jharkhand Mukti Morcha politicians]] | [[Category:Jharkhand Mukti Morcha politicians]] | ||
[[Category:People from Fatehgarh Sahib]] | [[Category:People from Fatehgarh Sahib]] | ||
[[Category:Indian prisoners and detainees]] | |||
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]] | |||
[[Category:Indian sports executives and administrators]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:41, 12 February 2026
K. D. Singh | |
|---|---|
 Singh in June 2012 | |
| MP of Rajya Sabha for West Bengal | |
| In office 3 April 2014 – before 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kanwardeep Singh 21 August 1961 Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India |
| Political party | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Spouse(s) | Harpreet Kaur |
| Education | Punjabi University |
| Website | |
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 representing the All India Trinamool Congress,[1] but first elected to the Indian parliament as a nominee of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.[2] He is the founder and the former chairman of the Indian business group called Turbo Industries, whose name was changed and rebranded as the Alchemist Group in 2004.[3] He was elected to lead the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) between 2013 and 2014.[4]
Singh's political and business career has been marred by various controversies, with several of his organisation's subsidiaries and he being banned because of alleged illegal businesses by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.[5][6][7] He was the major investor in the Tehelka magazine known for undercover sting operations,[8] and has been alleged to have planned and financed the Narada sting operation against his own party and state-level All India Trinamool Congress leaders, according to The Mint newspaper.[1][9] He was accused in an alleged ponzi scam in 2009 and remains under enforcement proceedings.[10][11]
Early life and business[edit | edit source]
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.[12] 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.[13] He stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Alchemist Group in 2012 to devote his time to political and social causes.[13] Currently, he is the Chairman Emeritus of the Alchemist Group, while his son Karan Deep Singh now chairs the Group.[14]
K.D. Singh also owns majority stake in Anant Media Private Limited, which publishes Tehelka magazine, one of India's leading investigative weeklies.[15][16] In March 2013, Tehelka reported that Punjabis in the northern state of Haryana want Singh as their chief minister. [17]
He was conferred a Doctorate in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge (UK).[18]
Political career[edit | edit source]
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.[19] 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.[20] He was soon made the party in-charge of northern India (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Chandigarh).[21]
Controversies[edit | edit source]
Cash-for-vote[edit | edit source]
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.[22][20] 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.[23]
Ponzi scam[edit | edit source]
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.[12][24]
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.[25]
Narada sting[edit | edit source]
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 favours to a company.[26][27]
Singh has denied any involvement.[28]
Arrest[edit | edit source]
On 13 January 2021, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges. The alleged scam is stated to be about Rs 1,900 crore and the agency had attached assets worth Rs 239 crore of Alchemist Infra Realty Ltd in 2019. It has been alleged by investigators that the company launched an illegal collective investment scheme, also called a ponzi or chit fund scheme, and mobilised funds of about Rs 1,916 crore from the public in the years preceding 2015. The second money laundering case against him and others is based on an FIR filed by the Kolkata Police. In this criminal case initiated in 2018, the Kolkata Police had booked Singh, his son Karandeep Singh, Alchemist Township India Limited, Alchemist Holdings Limited and various other group companies and directors for cheating thousands of customers.[29]
Indian Hockey Federation[edit | edit source]
On 29 July 2013, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) issued a media release announcing Singh's elevation from his post of Vice-President to that of President.[30]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mathew Samuel says K.D. Singh funded Narada sting, The Mint, Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar (8 June 2017)
- ↑ Shakuntala Rao; Vipul Mudgal (2018). Journalism, Democracy and Civil Society in India. Taylor & Francis. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-315-29379-0.
- ↑ Christophe Jaffrelot; Atul Kohli; Kanta Murali (2019). Business and Politics in India. Oxford University Press. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-19-091246-8.
- ↑ K D Singh elected new Indian Hockey Federation president, The Economic Times (21 October 2013)
- ↑ SAT gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money, Business Standard (23 July 2013)
- ↑ Sebi bans Trinamool MP K D Singh from market, Business Standard (6 August 2015)
- ↑ Will Tehelka's real owners please stand up?, The Economic Times (23 November 2013)
- ↑ Tarun Tejpal's many businesses, Business Standard (28 November 2013)
- ↑ Narada sting: Kolkata Police files criminal case against TMC MP Kanwar Deep Singh, Live Mint, Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar (23 March 2017)
- ↑ ED attaches Rs 239-cr assets in ponzi case linked to Trinamool Congress MP KD Singh, India News (28 January 2019)
- ↑ ED to start fresh probe after Sebi alleges KD Singh parking investors' funds offshore, The Times of India (1 August 2018)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "WB polls: Mamata's aide Singh in trouble for quick profits : NATION". India Today. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "KD Singh quits corporate posts for full-time politics". Hindustan Times. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ↑ "Chairman Emeritus - Alchemist". Alchemist. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- ↑ "The Silence of the Shams". 15 May 2013.
- ↑ "Name of the game". Business Standard. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ Tehelka Bureau (22 March 2013). "Punjabi community in Haryana wants KD Singh as Chief Minister". Tehelka. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Kanwar Deep Singh Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2012". Anglia Ruskin University. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ↑ "Elected Representative - AITMC". AITMC Website. Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "CBI scanner on KD Singh". Telegraph India. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "Trinamool gets new address in Chandigarh". The Indian Express. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ↑ "Cash-for-votes: CBI raids in Jharkhand". The Hindu. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "JMM MLA's rate for Rajya Sabha vote: Rs 1 cr". Ibnlive.in.com. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "I-T raids Alchemist Group of Hospitals, declares Rs 22 crore as 'unaccounted'". The Indian Express. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "Securities Appellate Tribunal gives 18 months to Alchemist Infra to refund money". The Indian Express. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "₹ 80 lakh for the Narada sting was paid by MP KD Singh". The National Herald. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ↑ "তৃণমূল সাংসদ কে ডি সিংহের নির্দেশেই স্টিং অপারেশন, বিস্ফোরক ম্যাথু". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 20 March 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ↑ "নারদে জড়িত নই, দাবি কেডি সিংহের". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ↑ "ED arrests former TMC MP K D Singh on money laundering charges". Financial Express. 14 January 2021.
- ↑ "Dr. Kanwar Deep Singh takes over as President, Indian Hockey Federation". Indian Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2013.