News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (June 6, 2026 - June 12, 2026) June 12, 2026 10 Community Texas Towing Company Owner Muhammad Choudary Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Bribe Bexar County Sheriff A San Antonio man pleaded guilty in federal court May 29, 2026, to conspiring to bribe the Bexar County Sheriff in an attempt to obtain a Bexar County towing contract, announced U.S. Attor- ney Justin R. Simmons for theWestern District of Texas. According to court documents, Muhammad Choudary, 78, owned and operated a vehicle towing and heavy-duty recovery business which operated within Bexar County. On or about March 28, 2025, Bexar County solicited bids for towing and wrecking services for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and Bexar County Constable Offices. Choudary used an associate, co-conspirator Anwar Tahir, as a middleman. During an April 16, 2025 lunch meeting set up by Tahir, Choudary and Tahir told the Bexar County Sheriff that they would pay the Sheriff $30,000 to use his position to award the Bexar County towing contract to Choudary’s company. The following day, the Bexar County Sheriff reported the bribery attempt to FBI. The FBI then introduced an intermediary posing as a representative of the Sheriff. At an ensuing lunch meet- ing, Tahir, on behalf of Choudary, offered to pay the Bexar County Sheriff, through the representative, $10,000 upfront plus a payment of $25,000 a year for the life of the contract, in exchange for the Sheriff’s assistance in awarding the towing contract to Choudary’s company. Choudary pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and faces up to five years in federal prison. Tahir pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge on March 31. A federal district court judge will determine any sen- tence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. By a StaffWriter T he leading American think tank, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) announced June 2, it has recruited Indian scholar Sadan- and Dhume to its David Rockefeller Stud- ies Program, as a senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia. His research will focus on the region’s political economy and foreign policy. Dhume is also the author of the biweekly East Is East column in theWall Street Journal on South Asia, focusing on the region’s politics, economics, and foreign policy. Most recently, he served as a senior fellow at the American Enter- prise Institute. Previously, he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review and theWall Street Journal Asia in India and Indonesia. “I am pleased to welcome Sadan- and to our Studies Program,” said CFR Senior Vice President Shannon K. O’Neil. “Sadanand’s distinctive experience as a reporter and scholar covering South Asia will provide integral insight into this im- portant and dynamic region and implica- tions for U.S. foreign policy there.” Dhume is the author of My Friend the Fanatic: TravelsWith a Radical Islamist and a forthcoming book, Tinderbox: The Unpredictable Rise and Uncertain Future of Modern India. His work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the National Interest, the National Review, and theWilson Quarterly, among oth- ers. He has appeared on Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, and numerous Indian TV channels. A BA in sociology from the University of Delhi, Dhume also earned an MS in jour- nalism from Columbia Journalism School, and an MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. T he Indo-American Arts Council, IAAC, has appointed business leader and philanthropist Sanat Chattopadhyay as Vice Chairman of its Board effective May 1, 2026. Chattopadhyay brings to IAAC “a distinguished record of executive leader- ship, strategic vision and deep support for Indian and Indian-American institutions and causes,” the June 4, 2026 press release said. The IAAC, is a non-profit arts organiza- tion dedicated to promoting, showcasing, and building awareness of the arts and artists whose heritage lies in the Indian subcontinent. As President of Merck Manufactur- ing, Chattopadhyay oversees global manufacturing and supply operations for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics and animal health products. Over the course of his career, he has helped lead major global healthcare initiatives, including the expansion of Gardasil and the launch of KEYTRUDA, while also serving on several influential boards in the U.S. – India cor- ridor, the press release noted. “Sanat is a remarkable leader with global stature, operational depth, and an abiding commitment to giving back,” Chairman of the Indo-American Arts Council, Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, is quoted saying. He praised Chattopadhyay for his “judgment, generosity, and passion for mobilizing institutions,” qualities he said which will be of enormous value to IAAC. “With Sanat joining Rakesh Kaul in the role of Vice Chairman, IAAC will now benefit from the strength of two Vice Chairmen as we advance our cultural mission with greater leadership depth and momentum,” Mattoo added. “I am honored to join IAAC as Vice Chairman of the Board,” Chattopadhyay said. “IAAC has built an extraordinary legacy over the last twenty-six years by championing artistic excellence, cultural dialogue, and the creative spirit of the Indian diaspora. I look forward to work- ing closely with the Board and leadership team to help make a transformational difference in the organization’s next phase of growth and impact.” Board Member, Indo-American Arts Council Rajeev Kaul, said, “He has the rare combination of discipline, warmth, curiosity, and cultural engagement that makes him an exceptional fit for IAAC. His wide-ranging interests, including film and acting, give him a natural affinity with IAAC’s mission to celebrate and elevate the arts.” Chattopadhyay holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Jadavpur University and a postgraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai. In addition to his corporate leadership, he serves on the Boards of Governors of IIMMumbai, the USA-India Chamber of Commerce, and the USA-In- dia Strategic Partnership Forum. His phil- anthropic contributions have supported COVID-19 aid to India, the Ramakrishna Mission, Jadavpur University, and the Indo-American Arts Council. By a StaffWriter By a StaffWriter Council On Foreign Relations Names Sadanand Dhume As Senior Fellow For India, Pakistan, And South Asia Indo American Arts Council Appoints Sanat Chattopadhyay Vice Chair Of Board Sadanand Dhume Sanat Chattopadhyay PHOTO:@CFR.ORG PHOTO:COURTESY IAAC