Page 33 - The Indian EYE 021921

NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline February 19, 2021 | The Indian Eye 33

Gupta has vast experience in community and labor orga- The list also constitutes legislators, diplomats, heads of cen-
nizing. She was Research Director for SCOPE/AGENDA in tral banks and senior civil servants from countries with prominent
Los Angeles, where she worked to develop their healthcare histories of diaspora migration including Australia, Canada, Sin-
jobs campaign and Research Director for the Living Wage gapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom,
Campaign at the LA Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE). and the United States.
She also was the Executive Director of the Institute for Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on
Southern Studies and Legislative Director for the US Student Asia Congressman Ami Bera said: “It is an honor to be included
Association. on the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List. As the lon-
gest-serving Indian American member of Congress, I am proud
kamaLa haRRis & ami beRa to be a leader in the Indian American community, which has be-
come an integral part of American life and society.”
vp tops the 2021 indiaspora the largest diaspora population in the world with more than 32
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Indians are

government Leaders List million people of Indian origin spread across the globe.

The 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List showcases the
impact that the Indian-origin leaders have globally with officials
on the list collectively representing more than 587 million constit-
uents, and their countries accounting for an estimated $28 trillion
in GDP.

shankaR Rai

engineer pleads guilty

of $10 million

covid-19-relief fraud

n Indian American engineer pleaded guilty to the charge
of seeking over $10 million in loans under the coronavirus
Arelief aid program set up to help small businesses, said the
US Department of Justice (DOJ). On Thursday, Shankar Rai aged
30 of Beaumont, Texas, pleaded guilty of making false statements
A Rai was charged on may 13, through a federal crim-
to banks.
list consisting of around 200 members of the over 550 mil-
lion-strong Indian diaspora holding highest positions across
the world, including heads of state, was revealed on Mon-
day. The 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List released, rec- inal complaint with violations of wire fraud, bank
ognized more than 200 leaders of Indian heritage who have as- fraud, false statements to a financial institution, and
cended to the highest echelons of public service in 15 countries
across the globe, with more than 60 of these leaders holding Cab- false statements to the small business administration
inet positions. (sba). he pleaded guilty of seeking more than $10
On the occasion of US President’s Day on February 15, Indi-
aspora, a US-based nonprofit community of global Indian dias- million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the small
pora leaders from various backgrounds and professions, released business administration (sba) under the coronavirus
the list.
aid, Relief, and economic security (caRes) act from

the latest leader to join the list is Us vice president two different banks by claiming to have 250 employ-
kamala harris. Founder of indiaspora mR Rangaswa- ees earning wages when no employee worked for his

mi said: “it is a huge source of pride to have the first cited business.

woman and first person of color as the vice president
According to court documents, Rai made two fraudulent
of the world’s oldest democracy be someone of indian claims to two different lenders to seek loans guaranteed by the
heritage. we wanted to use this seminal moment on SBA for Covid-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Pro-

presidents’ day to highlight a host of others in the di- gram (PPP). In the application to the first lender, Rai sought $10
million in PPP loan proceeds by fraudulently claiming to have
aspora who also are in public service.” Rangaswami is 250 employees with an average monthly payroll of $4 million. In

a silicon valley-based entrepreneur and investor. the application to the second lender, he sought around $3 mil-
Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE .com