The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear a plea by Karti Chidambaram, son of Congress leader P. Chidambaram, challenging the summons by the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media case. A bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, on Monday said it would hear the plea after it was mentioned for an early hearing by lawyer Shally Bhasin. Karti Chidambaram is currently in the custody of the CBI that is investigating allegation of his taking money for FIPB clearance to INX Media – now renamed 9X Media – when his father was Finances Minister. He has dubbed the allegations as politically motivated. Karti Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI at Chennai airport soon after his arrival from an overseas visit on February 28. The CBI has charged Karti Chidambaram with using his fathers clout to get a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media, then owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea – currently in jail in connection with the sensational murder of Sheena Bora – Indranis daughter from a previous husband – in 2012. Indrani Mukerjea spilled the beans on the deal involving Karti Chidambaram while recording her statement before a magistrate in New Delhi on February 17,…
Month: July 2017
Good job! How alert driver of Amrapali Express train averted derailment
Presence of mind shown by the driver of Amrapali Express helped avoiding a possible derailment of the train here, officials said. According to IG, Railway, Vijay Prakash, an attempt was made by anti-social elements late last night to derail the train by placing iron blocks on railway tracks in Unnao (near Rishinagar cabin). It was during this time the Amrapali Express was moving at a slower speed and the driver applied emergency brakes in time, and averted a major accident, the IG said today. Senior railway and police officials from Lucknow reached the spot. Prima facie, it seems that anti-social elements had wanted to loot the passengers. Very soon, the case will be worked out. A case has been registered against unknown persons in this regard, he said.
Delhi Court to continue National Herald case hearing today
A Delhi court will on Saturday continue the hearing in the National Herald case, involving Congress frontrunners Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi among others. In the last hearing, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy had produced an income tax order in court against the company. On January 20, the court of metropolitan magistrate Ambika Singh had ordered the documents submitted by the petitioner in the case, Swamy, to be kept in a sealed cover till next hearing. Swamy, in his plea, alleged that the Congress party granted an interest-free loan of Rs. 90.25 crore to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), owner of the National Herald newspaper. In November last year, the two Congress leaders filed their response to the application filed by Swamy. In the response, they stated that the application filed by Swamy was not bonafide and filled with the sole object of delaying the proceedings in a lifeless case.
10 facts about Sudhir Kumar Bhagat, 25-yr-old B.Tech dropout who Noida police claims is ‘Naxalite area commander’
The Noida Police on Monday night claimed to have arrested a suspected Naxalite area commander, carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. The arrested man has been identified as 25-year-old Sudhir Kumar Bhagat. According to police, Sudhir, who hails from Deoria area of Bihars Muzaffarpur district, is a B.Tech dropout. He was involved in 15 cases, including bomb blasts, murders and robbery. Here is all you need to know about Sudhir Kumar Bhagat: 1. Ajay Pal Sharma, SSP, Gautam Buddha Nagar informed that Sudhir had been living in Noida since 2015 with a changed identity of Aditya Kumar. He was picked up from Harola village in Sector 5 on Monday night. He was residing here with his wife, sister and brother-in-law. He was also using a fake Aadhaar card. 2. This is the first time Sudhir has been arrested for his involvement in criminal activities. During police interrogation, Sudhir confessed his involvement in many incidents in Bihar, the SSP said. 3. Police said that since 2013, 15 cases have been registered against him at various police stations in Muzaffarpur under sections relating to murder, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substance Act and Arms Act. 4. The SSP…
ATM catches thief in Delhi! Here’s what happened
A thief in Delhi got the biggest shock of his life when he was trying to break into an ATM. His hand got stuck in the ATM while he was trying to break into the machine with a gas cutter. The incident took place at an ATM kiosk in Vishwas Nagar area near Shahdara in east Delhi on Monday, police said. The thief was identified as Nazir alias Babu (22). Police said that Nazir was caught when authorities noticed CCTV cameras going blank at the ATM kiosk. Police caught him when his hand was stuck inside the machine. The incident was reported to police at around 11.30 pm on Monday. The police had to forcefully open the ATM kiosks door. At the time of being caught, Nazirs right hand was struck in the ATM, his face was closed, and he was trying to cut open the machine, police confirmed. In another incident, Delhi police have arrested members of a gang of three burgulars. The accused were identified as Prem alias Tinda, Bablu alias Kalwa and Raghu alias Rocky, police said in a release. Delhi police also recovered a number of items from the burglars. These items included, three laptops (one…
Arun Jaitley admitted to AIIMS, scheduled to undergo a kidney transplant operation tomorrow
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was today admitted to AIIMS and is scheduled to undergo a kidney transplant operation tomorrow, sources said. Jaitley, 65, has been suffering from a kidney ailment and skipped office since Monday. He has not even taken oath of office after being re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the minister, who was confined to a controlled environment at home, was shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) this evening. A kidney transplant operation is scheduled for tomorrow, they said, adding all formalities for a donor kidney have been completed. The minister, who cancelled his scheduled visit to London for the 10th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue next week, had confirmed his illness in a tweet yesterday. I am being treated for kidney related problems certain infections that I have contracted, he had tweeted. Jaitley, however, had not elaborated on the ailment, but said he was currently working from controlled environment at home. The future course of my treatment would be determined by the doctors treating me. He is likely to be operated by nephrologist Dr Sandeep Guleria from Apollo hospital, also brother of AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, who is a family friend of…
Jurist Fali Nariman says government decision on Justice KM Joseph ‘malafide’, sees rise in confrontation
The central governments decision to send back the elevation file of Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph to the Collegium for a reconsideration has invoked sharp criticism across the quarters. While the political parties left no time in accusing the BJP of interfering in the functioning of the judiciary, the Bar suggested that the state is cherry-picking its judges. Noted jurist Fali Nariman too expressed concerns over the development, terming governments decision as malafide. He told The Indian Express that the decision taken by the Collegium comprising top five seniormost judges including the CJI is final. The delay in appointment of judges despite recommendations by the Collegium has already triggered bitterness between the government and judiciary for the past two years and the latest turn of events only added fuel to it. The government yesterday sent a letter to Chief Justice Dipak Misra who heads the powerful Collegium, asking him to reconsider the decision to recommend elevating Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph as a judge in the Supreme Court. The proposal to reconsider, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, has the approval of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government invoked both the principle…
How impeachment process of judges works? Know procedure for removal of judge of SC or High Court
The Constitution lays down a rigorous procedure for removal of a judge of the Supreme Court or high court and can be initiated only on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. Article 124 (4) of the Constitution and the provisions of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 and corresponding rules deal exhaustively with the whole procedure. The process for the removal of a Supreme Court judge is mentioned in Article 124(4) of the Constitution. It is termed as impeachment. Article 124(4) says, A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour incapacity. For initiating the impeachment process, a motion has to be moved by either 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs. If the motion is admitted, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will constitute…
VK Singh to leave for Iraq tomorrow to bring back bodies of 39 Indians
Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh is expected to fly to Iraq tomorrow in a C-17 plane to bring back mortal remains of the 39 Indians, killed in the war-torn country, sources said today. Sources also said the minister is expected to bring back the bodies by late Monday or Tuesday. MoS Singh will most probably leave tomorrow for Iraq to bring back mortal remains of these 39 Indians. After coming back, he will first go to Amritsar followed by Patna, Kolkata to hand over bodies to their relatives, a source said. Families of some of these victims had met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here on March 26. Earlier this month, Swaraj had told Parliament that as many as 40 Indians were abducted by terror group ISIS from Mosul in Iraq in June 2014, but one of them escaped posing as a Muslim from Bangladesh. The remaining 39 Indians were taken to Badoosh and killed, she had said.
Shocking! Air India crew member slaps junior for serving non-veg food to passenger
An Air India spokesperson said that an internal probe into the incident, which took place on March 17, has been launched by the carriers inflight service department. (PTI)An Air India cabin crew member allegedly slapped her junior colleague for serving non-vegetarian food to a vegetarian passenger on board a Frankfurt-bound flight from New Delhi, according to airline officials. An Air India spokesperson said that an internal probe into the incident, which took place on March 17, has been launched by the carriers inflight service department. The cabin attendant by mistake served non-vegetarian food instead of a vegetarian food to a passenger in the business class of its New Delhi-Frankfurt flight. The passenger pointed out the mistake to the cabin supervisor but did not file any complaint, a source said. On being told about her folly, the attendant went to the passenger and apologised. She replaced the meal as well, the source said. However, the cabin crew supervisor later took up the issue again with the flight attendant and this time even slapped her for the mistake, the source claimed. The junior colleague did not retaliate but later filed a complaint with Air Indias inflight service department over the incident, the…
Groundwater extraction by DMRC: NGT directs AAP government to submit minutes of meetings
The National Green Tribunal has directed the AAP government to submit minutes of the meetings held for preparing a district-wise schedule of the permission granted to the DMRC for extracting groundwater. A bench headed by Raghuvendra S Rathore directed the Delhi government to include Deputy Commissioners of every district, Delhi Metro Rail Corpoartaion (DMRC) and Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for discussions and asked it to expedite the meetings. Counsel for the Delhi government has submitted that meetings in respect of all the districts except South Delhi had been held and he will be submitting the records of the meetings. As regards the district of South Delhi, it has been informed that meeting is fixed for April 20, 2018. The counsel for NCT of Delhi may place minutes of the meetings on record and give copies to all the concerned, the bench said. The matter has been posted for next hearing on May 3. The tribunal had earlier warned of halting the capitals metro services as it slammed the DMRC for not complying with its order on extraction of groundwater without permission. It had directed the Environment Ministry, CGWA, DMRC, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and advocate Kush Sharma, counsel for…
West Bengal panchayat polls: SEC announces Apr 23 as extended date for nominations
Acting on court directions, the West Bengal State Election Commission today issued a fresh notification, announcing April 23 as the extended date for filing of nominations for the panchayat election. Scrutiny of the nominations received on that date would be held on April 25 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 28, the notification said. The filing of nominations will take place from 11 am to 3 pm on April 23. The new dates of the panchayat polls, were, however, not announced by the SEC. The Calcutta High Court yesterday directed the SEC to issue a fresh notification to allow nominations for panchayat polls in West Bengal, quashing the commissions April 10 order cancelling extension of the deadline for filing nominations. The high court, which had earlier stayed the election process, also directed the commission to reschedule the dates for the panchayat poll process and accordingly conduct the election. The SEC earlier in the day held elaborate meetings with political parties before issuing the notification. The BJP, which initially boycotted the meeting, alleging that police prevented the party delegation from entering the commissions office, later responded to the call of the SEC and joined the meeting with…
Yashwant Sinha’s latest salvo has a warning for the BJP ahead of 2019: Is Narendra Modi listening?
Months after giving the central government a tongue-lashing over the state of Indian economy, former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has lashed out at the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again. Sinha has claimed that the government seems to have lost its way and the confidence of the voters. In an opinion piece penned for The Indian Express, Sinha has warned that with only one regular Budget remaining before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Modi government would find it difficult to show results. Sinha articulated his views on an array of issues, including the economic situation, womens safety, foreign policy, internal democracy, Supreme Court judges row as well as issues pertaining to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Sinha has claimed that there have been some minor successes, but the big failures overshadow them completely. Sinha has exhorted BJP MPs to give serious consideration to the issues at hand and gather the courage to speak up and save democracy and the country. Sinha has also appealed to senior party leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to take a stand in the national interest and ensure that the values they have made such…
‘Gobardhan’ scheme launched from Haryana; know all about it
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said that the state government is making arrangements for generating bio-gas from cattle dung and would also assist those gram panchayats seeking to set up a gas plant in their villages. Addressing a gathering after launching the Gobardhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio Agro Resources Dhan) Scheme at a national-level event in Karnal in presence of Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti, he said that the objective of the scheme is to convert waste into gold by generating income for rural households from waste. Noting that there are about 450 gaushalas and Nandishalas in the state with strength of about 3.41 lakh cattle, he said: This (scheme) would not only ensure cleanliness but also help to double the income of farmers. The GOBARDHAN scheme has been conceptualize with an aim to convert waste into bio energy, gas and compost which would not only benefit the people but also maintain cleanliness in the villages. While referring to the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat on January 22, 2015, Khattar said that the new campaign would also be a success like the BBBP scheme. As a result…
In Kairana bypolls, Hukum Singh’s daughter Mriganka banks on father’s legacy
Mriganka Singh is counting on her father Hukum Singhs legacy to get her into the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradeshs Kairana constituency, where bypolls will be held on May 28. She is yet to be nominated by Bharatiya Janata Party for the seat which fell vacant on her fathers death, but appears hopeful. A bye-election will also be held on the same day for the Noorpur assembly seat, vacant following the death of BJP MLA Lokendra Singh Chauhan. It had been a long association for him, and Kairana also happens to be his native place, Her father won seven assembly election before entering Lok Sabha in 2014. The two bypolls are crucial for the ruling BJP as well as the opposition, as many believe that it may set the tone for the 2019 parliamentary elections. The BJP will make an extra effort to retain both Kairana and Noorpur to send a message to voters, party workers and the opposition that the drubbing it got in the recent Gorakhpur and Phulpur bye-elections is now history. But opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress see the bye-elections as another opportunity to signal…
India-Pakistan diplomatic ties head south: As officials allege harassment, 10 events leading to the fallout
India-Pakistan diplomatic ties head south: One of them include diplomatic norms. The bilateral relations between India and Pakistan hit rock bottom with the two sides accusing each other of harassing one anothers diplomats and their families. Days after Indian diplomats in Islamabad complained of tremendous harassment for long, now Pakistani diplomats in Delhi have accused the Indian side of the same. The relations have stooped to such lows that the two nations – India and Pakistan, have even threatened to pull out their diplomats from Islamabad and New Delhi, respectively. On one hand, the Indian diplomats in Islamabad allege that the hostilities began with the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence not only raiding on a residential complex under construction for Indian diplomats on February 16 but also disconnecting its power and water supply. On the other, Pakistani diplomats in Delhi allege that they and their families are being followed by Indian security personnel. The Pakistani media claims that in one such incident of alleged harassment of the Pakistani diplomats in Delhi, a senior Pakistani officials car was stopped in Delhis Chanakyapuri. The reports further claim that Indian security personnel roughed up the driver of the car with the diplomats child still inside…
‘Congress questioned existence of Ram, now calls itself Pandavas’: BJP reacts to Rahul Gandhi
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the partys 84th Plenary Session. Gandhi talked about a number of schemes implemented by the PM in the last four years and criticised him about how negative they were for the country. While his speech was appreciated by Congress members, who were present at the event, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had totally different opinions. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called the Congress chief a loser, saying It sounds like a rhetoric of a loser devoid of substance. She went on to talk about the Pandavas statement made by Gandhi and added, Congress Party wants to identify itself with the Pandavas, The same party which questioned the fundamental existence of Lord Ram. It is the party which chooses to mock Hindus and Hindu rituals Sitharaman further said, Congress is even questioning the EVMs at this time, they want ballot paper system. At a time when technology is making it simpler and more transparent, here is a party that is against it because they dont believe in transparency. Sitharaman also criticised Gandhi for naming Amit Shah and calling him a murder accused. Astonishing that Congress president chooses…
Nagaland LIVE: Neiphiu Rio takes oath as CM today; NPP withdraws letter of support to BJP-NDPP alliance
Nagaland LIVE: In a first, the state of Nagaland witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of its newly elected Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his council of ministers outside the Raj Bhawan in full public view. As per reports, the ceremony This is the same ground from where Nagalands statehood was declared on December 1, 1963 by the then president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. This He has served as CM for three terms between 2003 and 2014. Nagalands governor P B Acharya informed on Tuesday that he had received letters of support for Rio from the elected members of the BJP, one letter from the JD(U), one from an Independent MLA and from the newly elected members of NPP. However, a day after, NPP withdrew its letter of support to the NDPP-BJP alliance. Stating the reason behind the move, NPPs Nagaland President Ato Yepthomi said that he could not obtain the authorisation from Conrad Sangma, party Nagaland LIVE: Track LIVE Updates here: The outgoing chief minister T R Zeliang was also present at the function. Ten other ministers were also administered the oath of office. The ten included five from the BJP, three from the Nationalist Democratic Progresstive Party (NDPP), an independent and a…
West Bengal tops the list of states with most number of beggars: Know where your state ranks
Begging in India has been an age-old issue. Countrys poor, who are usually unable to get jobs, have to take up begging for earning livelihood. The government has come out with the total number of beggars in the country. As per the data released by Union ministry of Social Justice, there are around 4 lakh beggars in total. The highest number of beggars, 81,000, are in West Bengal. Lakshadweep, a union territory, has only two people begging for their livelihood. West Bengal is followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at number two and three respectively. The figures were given by Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot in a written reply to Lok Sabha. As per the ministers statement, a total number of 4,13,670 beggars are residing in India, including 2,21,673 males and 1,91,997 females beggars in the country. The data, based on 2011 census, says female beggars outnumber their male counterparts in the states of West Bengal, Assam and Manipur. State-wise list of Indias begging population West Bengal, topping the chart with 81,224 beggars, was followed by Uttar Pradesh (65,835), Andhra Pradesh (30,218), Bihar (29,723). Madhya Pradesh ( 28,695) and Rajasthan (25,853) are at number five and six in the…
Two leaves symbol: Supreme Court to hear EPS-OPS plea against TTV Dinakaran
The Supreme Court will on Wednesday hear a plea filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam against TTV Dinakaran. Last year, after the death of Jayalalithaa there, erupted a political turmoil in the state. Following this, Dinakaran lost the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party name and the two leaves symbol to the Palaniswami- Panneerselvam faction. Dinakaran was also arrested for alleged bribery and then evicted from the party by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. Palaniswami to patch-up with O. Panneerselvam, following a rift in the party that started after Jayalalithaas death. Former AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala, Jayalalithaas longtime companion, and Dinakaran were last year expelled following the imprisonment of Sasikala in a corruption case. The sidelined AIADMK leader, Dinakaran, who recently won the by-election in Chennais RK Nagar constituency – the seat represented by iconic leader Jayalalithaa – had also launched his party Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam in Madurai on March 15.
Salman Khan verdict brings back spotlight on blackbucks; Odisha villagers taking steps to protect these endangered antelopes
Blackbucks in Odisha have found a sympathetic lot in Ganjam district, who actively protect the endangered animals from poaching activities. Residents of Bhetanai-Balipadara area in the district have come to the rescue of the blackbucks by forming a protective brigade around their only habitat in the state near Aska area, forest officials said. Community-led conservation measures, which raised awareness among the villagers, have resulted in their numbers steadily rising since 1998, when the total number of blackbucks in the region stood at 551, they said. In 2004, the number of blackbucks rose to 786, in 2006 to 1,101 and in 2008 to 1,672, the officials said. A total of 58 blackbucks have died in the last three years in the region, mostly due to road accidents, stray dog attacks and old age. Only one died due to poaching in Aska. The credit goes to the villagers who actively protect the animals, said B K Acharya, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Ghumusar South Forest Division. The recent conviction of actor Salman Khan in a blackbuck hunting case has brought the spotlight back on these endangered antelopes. Khan was sentenced to five years in prison on April 5 by a Jodhpur court…
Days after Modi-Jinping meet, China says both countries mature enough to handle differences: 10 points
Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India after his first visit to China after the Doklam standoff between the two countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that both countries were mature enough to properly manage and control their differences. A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday morning said that both sides possessed the maturity and wisdom to handle their differences through peaceful discussion and by respecting each others concerns and aspirations. 1. They agree to use the Special Representatives Meeting on the Boundary Question to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two militaries will strengthen confidence-building measures and enhance communication and cooperation to uphold border peace and tranquillity, the statement read, adding that India and China have agreed to enhanced cultural exchanges between the two nations as well. 2. The summit also witnessed in rebuilding trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff last year as both decided to use the Special Representatives Meeting on the Boundary Question to find a suitable and acceptable settlement on the issue. It also stressed on confidence-building measures of between both the armies. Both sides have the maturity and wisdom…
Mumbai shamed again! 14-year-old girl allegedly molested on a running train by a 33-year-old passenger
A 14-year-old girl was allegedly molested on a running train by a 33-year-old passenger today, police said. The accused, identified as Arvind Dutta, was arrested after the train reached the CSMT this morning. The girl was travelling in the Mumbai-bound Deccan Queen express from Pune along with her parents, a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said. He said Dutta allegedly touched the teenage girl inappropriately between Matunga and Dadar stations. The co-passengers tried to get hold of Dutta after the girl raised an alarm, however, he rushed to the washroom of the compartment and locked himself in, the official said. As the train reached the CSMT, the parents of the girl informed the GRP. GRP personnel forced Dutta out of the washroom and arrested him, said the official. He has been booked under section 354 A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the IPC and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he added. Further investigation is on.
Dead man gets justice from Delhi High Court in 1993 rape and murder case
A dead man got justice in a 25-year-old rape and murder case of a relative after his son approached the Delhi High Court to decide the matter posthumously. The high court acquitted a man of the charges of raping and murdering his sister-in-law in 1993 and reversed the judgement of a trial court which had awarded him life imprisonment for the offences. The court granted benefit of doubt to the man, who had died in April 2016, saying it was not safe to base his conviction on the dying declaration of the deceased woman who had suffered 100 per cent burn injuries. The acquittal judgement came as a breather for the family, with the high court also saying that his kin could now persuade the mans employer, Engineers India Ltd, a public-sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to reverse its decision to dismiss him from service and release his emoluments and other dues to them. A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta pulled up the police for lapse in the investigation of the case and said the material available on record has been contradicted on several points. The bench also said the forensic…
Bhima Koregaon violence: Supreme Court rejects bail plea of accused Milind Ekbote
The Supreme Court today rejected the anticipatory bail application of Milind Ekbote, one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence. Minutes after the Supreme Court decision, he was detained by the police at his house at Shivajinagar in Pune. He had earlier moved the top court after his bail plea was rejected by the Bombay High Court. Ekbote has been accused of involvement in the case. The violence had occurred during an event to mark the Koregaon-Bhima battle in which British forces comprising Dalits had defeated the army of At least one person was killed in the violence. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur aJustice Kurian Joseph and Justice Deepak Gupta, rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Ekbote, seeking relief from the apex court. It rejected the plea after considering the status report filed by Maharashtra government. Earlier, the top court had granted relief to him till March 14. Last month, Ekbote submitted a representation to the Shikrapur police station, where an FIR was filed against him for allegedly causing violence during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1. He also claimed to be a follower of…
Karti Chidambaram moves Delhi High Court for relief in INX Media case
Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of summons and all the proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the INX Media money laundering case. The development followed an order from the Supreme Court earlier in the day allowing Karti to withdraw his petition pending before it and permitting him to move the HC on Thursday itself. The bench, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, also requested the acting Chief Justice of the HC to allocate Kartis case to an appropriate bench so that it can be taken up for hearing on Friday. The matter was, later in the day, mentioned in chamber before Justice S Ravindra Bhat, who has listed it for hearing on Friday. The top court had, on March 6, refused to grant any interim protection from arrest to the son of the former Union finance minister. Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, opposed such an order by the SC, saying it could send a wrong signal to all those who face money laundering cases. He said that it would be unfair for the Supreme Court to direct the HC to do…
Three youths booked for raising anti-India slogans in Araria after bypoll result
After the controversial claim of Union Minister Giriraj Singh that Araria will become the hub of terror after RJDs win in the recently concluded bypoll, the Bihar town seems to be in news for the same. On Thursday, three local youths were booked for raising pro-Pakistan slogans in Araria. According to ANI reports, the locals were caught chanting pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans in the region. The locals took out a rally demanding action against three men after a video surfaced in which they were found raising pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans. They were raising An FIR has been filed against the three men and police have been searching for the absconding men. The three youths have been identified as Adib Raja, Sultan Azmi and Shehzad and they face charges under various provisions of IPC and IT Act. Interestingly, the video that went viral after the announcement of the Araria bypoll results is said to be shot near the house of newly elected RJD MP Sarfaraz Alam. Sarfaraz Alam won the Araria bypoll with a margin of 61988 votes. Alam is a controversial MLA. He is accused in assault loot case in 2002 and also accused in a sexual harassment case in…
PM Justin Trudeau’s visit deepens Indo-Canada relations, says Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar
The recent visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to India has deepened and strengthened bilateral relations, Union Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a joint statement have reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing diversification and growth of the strategic partnership, based on shared values of democracy, diversity, pluralism and the rule of law, Tomar said here. The joint statement shows that both countries resolve to realise the full potential of bilateral trade and investment, expand and diversify bilateral economic and commercial relations, and enhancing people to people contacts, Tomar said. He was addressing an event organised by the Consulate General of India, at the Prospectors Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2018 Conference in Toronto yesterday. More than 25,000 mining executives, investors, prospectors, government officials and analysts from 125 countries attended the six-day long global conference, according to PDAC President, Glenn Mullan. Describing India as a land of opportunity, Tomar said the government has taken several steps, including e-auctions for allotment of mining blocks lease for 50 years. He also said that steps have been taken for stronger legal provisions for illegal mining, establishment of National Mineral…
Justice Loya death case: SC to hear pleas on SIT probe
The Supreme Court will on Friday continue hearing the petitions seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged mysterious death of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge B H Loya. The apex court had earlier asked the Maharashtra Government to submit the postmortem report of the CBI judge, who had died in alleged suspicious circumstances in 2014, citing that the matter was very serious. As per reports, Maharashtra-based journalist B.S. Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into the death of Justice Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah. In a press conference held on January 12, Justices Madan B. Lokur, Kurien Joseph, Ranjan Gogoi and Jasti Chelameswar questioned the conduct of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, alleging that selective Benches were being appointed to preside over certain cases in the apex court. Justice Loyas death is one among the certain cases hinted by the four judges.
Indian elephant, Chinese dragon must not fight but dance together, says China Foreign Minister Wang Yi
The Chinese dragon and Indian elephant must not fight but dance with each other, China Wangs remarks came during his annual press conference on the sidelines of the parliamentary session. Asked how China views relations with India this year after turbulence in ties in 2017 due to a number of issues including the Dokalam standoff, Wang said, Despite some tests and difficulties, the China-India relationship continues to grow. Bilateral ties were affected by a number of issues last year, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China blocking efforts at the UN to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist as well as Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam. The standoff ended on August 28 after the Chinese military stopped road building close to the strategic Chicken Neck corridor in an area claimed by Bhutan. Wang, however, said the two countries must shed mental inhibitions, manage differences and meet each other half way. China is upholding its rights and legitimate interests and taking care to preserve the relationship with India, he said. Chinese and Indian leaders have developed a strategic vision for the future of…