Heads of 23 nations and 10 ministerial representatives of different countries will attend the first International Solar Alliance Summit, co-hosted by India and France, at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Sunday. The summit will deliberate on finance mechanism for the promotion of solar energy, crowd-funding and technology transfer. Demonstrative projects will be showcased by different nations. President Ram Nath Kovind will co-host the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. It will focus on various aspects of promoting solar energy in the 121 countries associated with International Solar Alliance (ISA). The summit assumes significance in view of Indias ambitious renewable energy target of having 175 GW clean energy capacities including 100 GW solar and 60 GW wind power. India welcomes esteemed dignitaries from Guinea, Tuvalu, DR Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius for the International Solar Alliance Summit, tweeted Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of external affairs ministry. Several global bankers have confirmed their participation at the event including Werner Hoyer, President Chairman, European Investment Bank, K V Kamath, President, BRICS Development Bank, Nandita Parshad, Managing Director, Energy Natural Resources, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Banbang Susantono, Vice President, ASIAN Development Bank.
Month: November 2018
Watch viral video: Ex-Goa minister drives SUV on a beach, allegedly abuses at water sports operator
A video showing former Goa Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco driving an SUV on a beach is going viral on social media. Water sports operator Melroy Da Silva, who uploaded the video on social media, also accused Pacheco of abusing him. Pacheco said he had gone to the beach with SUV to pick an ailing friend as ambulances cant be driven there. As per the post, which also carried the video clipping on Facebook, Pacheco ran over a parachute owned by Da Silvas company at Betalbatim beach on Sunday. Da Silva alleged Pacheco and his three friends attempted assault and repeated showed him middle finger. .Mickky and his three companions tried to assault me. Mickky even tried to run his vehicle over me, Da Silva wrote in his Facebook post. However, Pacheco insisted that ambulances cannot be driven on beaches and thats why he had to take the SUV there. I was driving my jeep only to pick up a sick friend at Utorda. The jeep is four-wheel drive. Ambulances cannot be driven on beaches. Anyways, if I have broken a law by driving on the beach, I am ready to pay the fine. Why should this man confront me and…
Liberty House to NCLT: Accept our bid for Bhushan Power on merit
Flagging its strengths in turning around loss-making assets, UK-based Liberty House on Monday pleaded before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that its bid for Bhushan Power and Steel should be accepted I play in steel in 60 countries and in the last four years, I have acquired 15 companies and turned around most of them, The two-member NCLT bench, led by its president Justice MM Kumar, however, adjourned the matter for further hearing on March 8. As such, the scheduled meeting on Tuesday to further assess the two bids Bhushan Power and Steel received from Tata Steel and JSW Steel within the February 8 deadline stands postponed. After the committee of creditors (CoC) rejected its bid, which was submitted beyond the deadline on February 20, the UK-based firm moved to the NCLT seeking redress. In its first hearing on the matter on February 26, the NCLT had asked both the CoC and resolution professional as well as Tata Steel to file replies on Liberty House Tata Steel Sources said while Tata Steel has offered Rs 17,000 crore to lenders as repayment and Rs 7,200 crore for operations of Bhushan Power and Steel, JSW has made an offer of `11,000…
Separate time zones in India: Government says no decision made yet
Amid demands for separate time zones in the country, especially by the northeastern states, the government today said it has not made any decision on the matter. In a written response to a question by BJP lawmaker Varun Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on whether the government has come to a decision on the feasibility of having two time zones in the country, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan replied in negative. He said the government had set up a high-level committee in 2002 that had not recommended implementation of two-time zones in India because of complexities involved in the process. Several countries across the world have opted for multiple time zones for varied reasons, including increasing economic activity and productivity. The US has seven time zones, Russia has 11, while China, like India, follows a single time zone. In a vast country like India, the sunrise and sunset timings are different in the east, west and north India. For instance, in the far northeastern states, the sun rises and sets early when compared to northern and western regions of the country. Votaries of separate time zones argue that having a single time zone hampers productivity in east and northeastern…
Facebook users’ data breach case: Modi govt issues notice to Cambridge Analytica, seeks response by Mar 31
The government today issued notice to Cambridge Analytica – the firm at the centre of Facebook users data breach – seeking its response by March 31 on whether it was involved in misuse of data to profile Indians and influence their voting behaviour. The notice also sought the companys response on the entities which engaged Cambridge Analytica, the method used by it for possession of data and whether consent was taken from users. The Ministry of Electronics Information Technology, Government of India, has issued a notice. to Cambridge Analytica, wherein the serious breach of propriety and misuse of data intended to profile and influence voting behaviour has been highlighted, the IT ministry said in a statement. Was there any profiling done on the basis of such data?, the ministry sought to know from the company on all queries raised by end of the month. Earlier this week, Law and IT Minster Prasad had warned social media giant Facebook of stringent action for any attempt to influence polls through data theft, and had even threatened to summon its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, if needed. The warning came as BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress, questioning the party on its relation…
After TDP, YSRCP, Congress to move no-confidence motion against Narendra Modi government
Upping the ante against BJP-led Central government, the Congress has decided to move a no-confidence motion against the Centre in the Lok Sabha. As per sources in the Congress party, it is likely to do so on Tuesday. Congress has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in the Lok Sabha to ensure their presence. The no-confidence motion will be moved by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is reaching out to other opposition parties to garner support for the motion. In a letter, Kharge wrote to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, giving the notice to include the no-confidence motion in the list of business on March 27. The notice stated, this House expresses No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers. Earlier, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party also tried to move no-confidence motion against the Central government. On Monday, the two parties tried to bring the motion but failed as the parliament session was washed out after a ruckus in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned without any proceedings after the ruckus. Notices were given by YSR Congress Party member Y V Subba Reddy and two TDP members after both parties demanded special…
Police apprehends minor in connection with killing of 21-year-old Delhi University student Ayush Nautiyal
Police have apprehended a minor in connection with the killing of a 21-year-old Delhi University student, who was allegedly killed by a man after their relationship turned sour, police said today. The body of Ayush Nautiyal, a final year student of Ram Lal Anand College in south campus, was found in a drain in Dwarka Sector 13 on Wednesday night. His family was receiving ransom calls from March 22 demanding Rs 50 lakh, they said. However, following the arrest of Ishtiaq, a sampling manager with several export houses, it was revealed that he had killed Nautiyal on March 22 with a hammer. He had cooked up a kidnapping story to mislead the police and to buy more time in disposing of the body, police said. During interrogation, he revealed that he was assisted by a juvenile in disposing of the body. The juvenile was apprehended today, they said. Nautiyal and the accused had met through a dating site and in the last 10 days they had met thrice. The victim used to meet strangers through dating sites. On March 22, Ishtiaq and Nautiyal met and were in the formers car when an argument happened between them over breaking up with…
Asaram Bapu verdict today: All you need to know about the Jodhpur rape case
Asaram Bapu verdict: A local court in Jodhpur today convicted self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in the 2013 rape case of a 16-year-old girl. The 77-year-old is accused of raping the minor girl at his Jodhpur ashram on August 15, 2013. Asaram now faces a minimum imprisonment of 10 years. The maximum sentence for the crime is life imprisonment. In addition to this case, Asaram and his son Narayan Sai are accused in a double rape case of two sisters in Surat. They are accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting and illegally confining the sisters. About Jodhpur case: In August 2013, parents of the girl, who was just 16, filed the zero FIR against Asaram Bapu in Delhi. They accused him of raping their daughter at his Ashram near Jodhpur. The girl, a resident of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was a student at his ashram. Also Read: Asaram Bapu rape case verdict LIVE updates Narrating the ordeal, the girl, who was 16 at the time of crime, said that she and her parents were offered some milk at the ashram. Thereafter, her parents were asked to leave and were given a place to rest within the ashram, while the girl was allegedly…
In a first, Dalit seer to be designated as ‘Mahamandaleswar’ during Kumbh 2019
In a departure from its centuries-old tradition, a Dalit Sanyasi will be designated Mahamandalesawar during the Kumbh 2019. According to media reports, the Juna Akhara will confer the title on him. Juna Akhara is a part of All India Akhara Parishad. It is considered the oldest and largest order of sadhus in the country. The new Mahamandaleswar Kanhaiya Prabhunand Giri hails from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. He is 32. In 2013, he obtained the degree of Jyotishacharya from Bharatiya Jyotish Vigyan Kendra in Chandigarh. After completing his degree, Prabhunand plunged himself in social works and reached out to people across the country to spread the message of spirituality and religion. On Tuesday, Prabhunand completed his diksha ceremony. His earlier name was Kanhaiya Kumar Kashyap, but after Tuesdays diksha ceremony, his name was changed to Kanhaiya Prabhunand Giri. He said that he was always attracted to the Junda Akhada. He said that he went to the Panchanan Giri of Juna Akhada to take shiksha from him. Speaking on the ongoing debate over atrocities against Dalits, he told CNN-News 18 that Dalits should focus on Vedas and Purans, and by doing this they can rise to a higher position in the society….
Here’s Narendra Modi’s answer to Manmohan Singh on Kathua, Unnao rape cases
A day after ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked his successor to speak up more often, PM Narendra Modi talked about the rape incidents in the country during his visit to the United Kingdom. In an interview to The Indian Express, Singh had taken a swipe at Modi, saying the current PM should follow his own advice and speak up more. But I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often. Through press (reports) I know that he used to criticize me for not speaking up. I feel that the advice that he used to give me, he should follow it himself, Singh told IE. The senior Congress leader had made this remark while reacting to Modis long silence over Kathua and Unnao rape cases. In Kathua an eight-year-old girl was raped and murdered, while in Unnao, a teenager was allegedly raped by a BJP MLA, who has now been arrested. Modi had broken his silence over the rape incidents at an even in Delhi while commemorating the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar on April 14. The prime minister had said the daughters of India would get justice. On Wednesday, Modi…
Kejriwal opposes second Rs 10 cr defamation suit in HC filed by Arun Jaitley
Arvind Kejriwal today opposed in the Delhi High Court the second Rs 10 crore defamation suit against him by Union Minister Arun Jaitley over the use of an objectionable word by the Chief Ministers former lawyer Ram Jethmalani. Kejriwal claimed before Justice Manmohan that he had never instructed his then counsel to use any scandalous words against Jaitley during recording of his evidence. Jaitley had filed the second defamation suit after Jethmalani allegedly abused him in the open court during the proceedings of the original defamation suit he had filed against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and five other party functionaries. The chief minister, however, maintained that apart from the ground of absolute privilege, the present suit is also barred by Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act. The statement, upon which the suit is based on alleged defamatory imputations made by the senior advocate (without any oath), allegedly on the instructions of the defendant (Kejriwal), which he could not have disclosed, Kejriwal said in his written statement filed through advocate Anupam Srivastava. Section 126 of the Evidence Act bars disclosure of any professional communication between an advocate and his client including instructions given by the client in relation…
Guys in swanky cars are most unruly on roads, says Tourism Minister Alphons
Guys in swanky cars are the most unruly drivers, Tourism Minister K J Alphons said today while talking of unsafe roads which lead to around 1.5 lakh road fatalities in the country every year. Inaugurating a two-day conference on Very often I have noticed that it is the guys in swanky cars who are the most unruly of all and we blame taxi drivers. In fact Goodyear (which along with the Institute of Road Traffic Education has initiated the road safety programme) should start training millionaires first. We think that once we have a swanky car we own the whole world, we have the right to run over people sleeping on footpaths, of course there are lawyers who will manipulate the facts and bring in a poor guy who will say he was driving.we have seen many famous cases in India. We all need to change, he said. He further stated that the change should begin with big people and questioned the logic behind the security provided to him as minister. Who wants to kill the poor tourism minister of the country? A lot of this is a sense of self importance. Yes, there are people who need to be…
FULL TEXT of BJP president Amit Shah’s letter to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu
The Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah has written a letter to Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu saying that the decision to quit the ruling NDA was guided by political considerations instead of Andhra Pradeshs development concerns, and dubbed his move unfortunate and unilateral. Telugu Desam Party or TDP was once one of the biggest allies of BJP in the south. However, TDP, led by Chandrababu Naidu, recently pulled out of the alliance. TDP withdrew their support over the special category status for Andhra Pradesh. In a letter to the Andhra chief minister, Shah also said his party is a true well wisher of the state. Here is the full text of Amit Shahs letter to Andra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu: Dear Sri Chandrababu Naidu Garu, First and foremost, I would like to wish you and my five crone sisters and brothers of Andhra Pradesh a Happy Ugadi. May the New Year bring happiness and good health in everyones lives. I am writing this letter after the Telugu Desam Partys decision to quit the NDA family. This decision is both unfortunate as well as unilateral. It is a decision; I are afraid, will be construed as being guided wholly…
JNU ‘sexual harassment’ case: Students step up protests as police files single FIR for 8 complaints against professor
JNU sexual harassment case: Amidst the ongoing controversy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the demand for the registration of FIRs against JNU professor Atul Kumar Johri has triggered a protest by the students. Reportedly, more than a hundred JNU students took out a protest march to the Vasant Kunj police station on Monday seeking the registration of separate FIRs against the accused professor. The protest was triggered after the police filed a single FIR in place of 8 different ones. The students then went on to accuse the men in uniform of inaction in the matter. Simone Zoya Khan, the JNU Students Union vice-president, said, Four days after eight women students came forward with sexual harassment complaints against the professor, no action has been taken against him and just one FIR has been lodged. When the Delhi police filed just one FIR, students went on to raise slogans against the university officials and Delhi Police. A minor tussle even took place between the two parties after the students tried to break the barricades which were put up by the police. Ajay Chaudhary, the Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) stated the a probe was underway in the whole the case and…
Narendra Modi govt inventing story on data theft to divert attention from death of 39 Indian: Rahul Gandhi
Launching a stinging attack against the government, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said it invented a story on data theft by the Congress to divert attention from the death of 39 Indians in Iraq. The Congress president also accused the government of baiting the media. Solution: Invent story on Congress and Data Theft. Result: Media networks bite bait; 39 Indians vanish from radar. Problem solved, The Congress has been accusing the government of managing headlines to deflect the countrys focus from the multi-crore PNB bank scam, the dilution of provisions of the SC\/ST Atrocities Act and questions being raised by the families of those killed in Iraq. Adding to the chorus of Congress criticism, the partys communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the government had lied to the families of the 39 Indians about their loved ones being alive even after evidence suggested they were killed years ago. He also asked why the Modi government All 39 Indians had died years ago as the evidence and witnesses suggested and corroborated now by Martyrs Foundation. Yet Modi Government lied, duped and deceived the families and the Nation!
Mukesh Ambani’s son Akash Ambani to wed Shloka Mehta in December: Know details
Richest Indian Mukesh Ambanis elder son Akash will marry his schoolmate Shloka Mehta, the youngest daughter of diamantaire Russell Mehta, in early December. The development confirms PTI news break of March 4 that Sholka is the one the Ambani family had chosen for Akash. Sources said the two families and close friends gathered at a plush five-star resort in Goa yesterday for a get-to-know-each-other before the formal engagement. Though the two families have been talking to each other for the wedding for sometime now, the plans were formalised at the Goa event, which was planned before Holi. The marriage is planned for early December, with celebrations spread across 4-5 days, they said, adding the possible dates may be December 8-12 at the Oberoi, Mumbai. While e-mails sent to both families remained unanswered, pictures of the Saturday event are available on social media. Besides parents Mukesh and Nita Ambani, grandmother Kokilaben was also present at the event yesterday. Akash is the eldest son of Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani and Shloka Mehta is the daughter of Russell Mehta, who heads Rosy Blue Diamonds. The Ambanis and Mehtas know each other well and Akash and Shloka studied together at the Dhirubhai Ambani…
AAP MLA disqualification case: Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says Delhi High Court judgement should be complied with
After the Delhi High Court set aside the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs in the office-of-profit case, Election Commissioner Sunil Arora expressed his view on the matter. Arora referred to the judgment that was passed on Friday and said that the court order should be complied with in While speaking to The Indian Express, Arora called it his personal view and said, It was on Friday when the Delhi High Court had restored the membership of 20 MLAs of the party. This comes as a big relief for the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP MLAs were disqualified by the EC and even a presidential notification was issued. As mentioned by the Delhi High Court, the EC The full Election Commission comprises of O P Rawat, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Ashok Lavasa Election Commissioner, and Sunil Arora himself. The trio has to take a collective view on the judgment passed by the Delhi High Court. Such a quashing by a high court of the ECs opinion is not first in an office-of-profit case. It was way back in the year 1991, the EC disqualified Janata Dal leader Ramakrishna Hedge. He was disqualified for holding…
Modi in Bihar: PM slams opposition for hindering government’s bid for development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today slammed the opposition allegedly for trying to break up society and putting hurdles, from the Parliament to the streets in the governments efforts to uplift the poor. Without mentioning the RJD-Congress combine in Bihar, Modi commended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his fight against the corrupt and anti-social forces in the state and said the Centre stood firmly behind his efforts. From the streets to Parliament, roadblocks are being created in the governments work. While the government is working towards uniting people and their hearts, some opponents are working towards breaking up society, said Prime Minister Modi. Mods remarks came in the wake of recent disruption of parliamentary proceedings by opposition parties over issues like dilution of SC\/ST Act and their support to the The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing over 20,000 Swachhagrahis (cleanliness volunteers) at the concluding ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha today. Lauding the Nitish Kumar government of Bihar, Modi said, This government has put an end to the culture of keeping files pending. The government is completing its every mission, every resolve with the help of the people. But this change is causing trouble to those…
‘Sonia Gandhi works on the directions of Christian missionaries’: BJP MP makes shocking allegation against Congress
Claiming that Christian missionaries are a threat to the unity and integrity of the country, BJP MP Bharat Singh has accused the Congress party of working on their directives. Christian missionaries control the Congress. Sonia Gandhi, the mother of Congress president Rahul Gandhi works on the directions of these missionaries. These missionaries are a threat for the unity of the country, Singh said while talking to reporters here yesterday. Singh also alleged that the democracy in the north eastern states of the country has weakened due to conversion of people there into Christianity. The North-East is under the influence of Christian missionaries. Democracy has weakened due to conversion of people into Christianity there. The conspiracies hatched by these missionaries are threat for the country, he added. The Ballia MP, incidentally, had also alleged recently that the Christian missionaries were behind the vandalisation of the statues of the Dalit icon and key architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Singh further said after the Supreme Courts decision on Justice BH Loya case, Rahul Gandhi should regret his stand. Congress does not believe in democracy. After Loya case ruling by the SC, the Congress, which tried to put BJP president…
UPSC topper Anudeep Durishetty says becoming IAS was his dream, credits success to parents
UPSC Result 2017: Telangana The 28-year-old announced that he was elated after topping the Civil Services exam 2017, results of which were released by the Union Public Service Commission on Friday. The current UPSC topper also cracked the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2013. Anudeep said that it was a dream come true for him and he was ecstatic. He added that it will take some time to sink in as it was his dream to become an IAS officer since he graduated, as reported by The Indian Express. Durishetty who hails from Metpally in Telangana The topper said that his first attempt at cracking civil services was in 2013 which got him the IRS cadre and was appointed as customs and central excise officer. However, he continued trying to pass the IAS service but took a break in 2016 and resumed his preparation for the 2017-18 examination. Anudeep was a student of BITS Pilani where he bagged a seat in Electronics and Instrumentation in 2011 and has the experience of working as product quality analyst with Google before he cracked civil services examination in October 2014 for the first time. Anudeep qualified the UPSC examination with anthropology as his…
Ambedkar statue damaged in UP’s Gorakhpur
A statue of Dr B R Ambedkar was damaged by some unidentified people in Deoria districts Rampur Khas village, following which locals staged a protest today, police said. The damage to the statue was spotted by some villagers this morning, according to reports. On receiving information, administrative and police officials reached the spot and pacified the people assuring them of action. The statue was repaired and an FIR registered against unidentified miscreants on a complaint village head Shobha Singh, they said. SHO, Tarkulwa, Shashank Shekhar Rai said, The statue has been repaired and an FIR registered against unidentified people. The situation in the village is under control, Rai said.
Woman lecturer held over advice to students to ‘adjust’ with officials; Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit sets up probe panel
A woman lecturer of a private college in Tamil Nadu was arrested in connection with her alleged advise to students to adjust with some officials in return for higher marks and money, in what is seen as a suggestion for sexual favour. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University to which the college is affiliated, set up a high powered enquiry committee to look into certain immoral happenings surrounding the lecturer. The lecturer of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar District, about 500 km from Chennai, was alleged to have made the overtures a month ago. But, the issue came to light yesterday after an audio of purported conversation between her and some students went viral in the social media. In the audio, she is heard suggesting that the girls adjust with some (education) officials, for getting 85 per cent mark and money. Hours after a complaint was lodged by the college and a local womens association, police this evening arrested the lecturer at her residence in Aruppukottai. She has been booked under IPC sections 370 (Buying or disposing of any person as a slave) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with…
Cases against seers like Asaram not in interest of India and sanatan religion, says ex-Gujarat IPS officer DG Vanzara
On a day a court in Rajasthan convicted Asaram for raping a teenager girl in his ashram in 2013, former Gujarat IPS officer D G Vanzara, who calls himself a disciple of the self-styled godman, said the victim was never raped and the entire case was of inappropriate touching at the most. Vanzara also said that attempts are on to sully the image of saints like Asaram through such cases, which he said is not in the interest of the country, Hindus or Sanatan religion. A Jodhpur court today sentenced the self-styled godman to life in prison after finding him guilty of raping a teenage girl in his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur five years ago. While talking to reporters outside Asarams ashram in Motera area in Ahmedabad, Vanzara said the entire case was aimed at tarnishing the image of seers like Asaram. If you see the FIR as well as the chargesheet (of the case), you will not find any mention of rape. Even during the trial, the victim never alleged that she was raped by Asaram. As per the FIR, she was only touched inappropriately. Even medical tests of the victim confirmed that her virginity was intact,…
NCB busts illegal pharma drugs trafficking racket, seizes over 55000 tablets, 4 arrested
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an illegal pharma drugs trafficking racket with the arrest of four persons and seized over 55,000 tablets of Zolpidem, abused as drugs, from their possession, the agency said today. Zolpidem, a sedative medicine, is used to treat sleep disorders and its abuse as narcotic drugs can lead to hallucinations and other side effects. The central anti-narcotics agency said the alleged racket, where medicines are abused as drugs, was being run using courier services and it brought to the fore a new modus operandi for trafficking of pharmaceutical drugs through call centres. The agency, in a statement, said that four accused P Rana, P Bisht, R C Singh and K K Tiwary acted as drug traffickers and obtained contact numbers of Once the contact numbers are received, it said, they form a closed internet group and then all the dealings were done mostly through Skype messenger or other voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calling apps (applications). The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said it has seized a total of 55,875 Zolpidem tablets as part of an intelligence-based operation spanning from Ghaziabad, Lucknow and Roorkee to foreign shores including the US. Further interrogations of the four accused…
Maran brothers acquited in ‘illegal’ telephone exchange case: Here are 10 facts you need to know
Former Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran were on Wednesday acquitted in the The Maran brothers, who were among seven acquitted in the case, walked free as the court did not find any evidence to prove charges against them. As per the Central Bureau of Investigations charge, the scam had caused losses to the tune of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. Here are 10 things you need to know about the case: 1. The case goes back to the time when Dayanidhi Maran was Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology between 2004 and 2007 during UPA I regime when Manmohan Singh was the prime minister. 2. The CBI alleged that the then minister had misused his office and had installed a private telephone exchange at his residences in Chennai. and used this telephone exchange for business transactions involving the Sun Network. 3. Over 700 high-end telecom lines, having BRA\/PRA\/leased line\/ISDN were installed at residences of Marans in Boat Club and Gopalpuram localities of Chennai. 4. These were installed under the service category. Even bills were apparently not raised. The probe agency alleged the 78 crore. 5. Cases were also filed against Marans private secretary Gauthaman…
Gold brick worth Rs 47.25 lakh seized at Chandigarh Airport from Bangkok passenger
Amid the rise in cases of gold smuggling in the country, a gold brick was seized from a passengers bag at the Chandigarh International Airport. Surprisingly, that single gold brick was worth a whopping Rs 47.25 lakhs. According to a PTI report, the brick was seized from the passenger who arrived from Bangkok by Air India flight. He was intercepted by the customs officials because of his suspicious behaviour. It was reported that he was carrying a bag which was tied around his waist and seemed that it contained some heavy metallic object. When it was searched, a gold brick and one cut piece of gold brick was seized. The gold was seized and the passenger was arrested. The weight of the precious metal was worked out at 1,500 grams worth Rs 47.25 lakh. Yesterday, over one kg gold was concealed under a seat in an aircraft and seized at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. One person was arrested in the case. According to PTI report, Customs Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), intercepted a passenger, who arrived from Dubai by an Air India flight. After checking his baggage and body with metal detectors, the officers found…
West Bengal Rajya Sabha Elections 2018 Results: Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, 4 TMC candidates win RS poll
Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and four Trinamool Congress nominees were today elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, Returning Officer Jayanta Koley announced. TMC supported Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha poll who contested as the fifth candidate as the Congress did not have the strength in the Assembly to get its candidate elected. Singhvi secured 47 votes, he said. The four TMC candidates who won the RS election are Nadimul Haque, Subhasish Chakraborty, Abir Biswas and Santunu Sen, he said. Nadimul Haque secured 52 votes, Subhasish Chakraborty got 54 votes, Abir Biswas bagged 52 and Santunu Sen secured 51 votes, Koley said. Left Front-backed CPI(M) candidate Rabin Deb lost the poll. He had contested for the fifth seat bagged only 30 votes. It will be the second term for Nadimul Haque in the upper house. A candidate required 49 votes to win a RS seat from the state. The Congress has 42 MLAs in the house. Of the 294 MLAs of the assembly, 288 had cast their votes. Two votes were declared invalid. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Opposition leader Abdul Mannan and the MLAs cast their votes in the assembly premises. Altogether six candidates including Singhvi were in…
Dalit protests: 800 anti-riot policemen rushed to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
The Centre today rushed 800 anti-riot policemen to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh after violent protests erupted during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits against the alleged dilution of the SC\/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been sent to Meerut and one company each to Agra and Hapur (all in UP), a home ministry official said. A company of RAF comprises around 100 personnel. Two companies each of the RAF have been sent to Bhopal and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh to assist the state administration in tackling the situation. Curfew was imposed in Morena, Gwalior and Bhind districts of Madhya Pradesh after a student leader died in firing and several others were injured. Violence was also reported from many districts of Uttar Pradesh including Azamgarh where protesters torched two state-run buses, injuring several passengers. Protests turned violent in Agra, Hapur, Meerut in western UP. The Supreme Court had on March 20 diluted certain provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act. The verdict is being widely…
SC/ST Act hearing in Supreme Court: No stay on March 20 order, says top court; Next hearing after 10 days
SC\/ST Act hearing in Supreme Court Live: The Supreme Court is hearing the Narendra Modi governments review petition against the top courts March 20 verdict on Prevention Of Atrocities Act 1989. The apex court, while hearing the submissions by the Attorney General, had said it is not against the Act. However, it said, Innocent should not be punished. While the government is arguing that safeguards provided by the top would dilute the Act, the Bench said that protesters may not have read the judgement, according to TV reports. The top court has also asserted that it knows how to protect rights of citizens. The apex court has said that it wont change March 20 order on SC\/ST verdict. Further, the court has also The Supreme Court added that no automatic arrest will dilute the SC\/ST Act. During the hearing, Supreme Court observed that the verdict delivered on March 20 is not in conflict with the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The apex court also clarified that it did not touch matters on investigations and punishments pertaining to Bharat Bandh violence and expressed its concern over the arbitrary arrests across the nation. The political slugfest over SC\/ST Protection Act…
Arun Jaitley to take oath for fresh Rajya Sabha term tomorrow
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is undergoing treatment for kidney ailment, will take oath tomorrow for his new six years term in the Rajya Sabha. The 65-year old Jaitley elected recently from Uttar Pradesh will take oath at special ceremony due to his health condition. The ceremony will take place in the chambers of Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu at 11 am, sources said. Jaitley was on April 3 once again appointed as the Leader of the Upper House following his re-election. He has not been going to his North Block office since April 2. On April 9, he underwent dialysis at AIIMS here and has been confined to a He had cancelled his scheduled foreign visits and had confirmed his illness in a tweet. Jaitley, however, had not elaborated on the ailment, but said he was The future course of my treatment would be determined by the doctors treating me Jaitley had in September 2014 undergone a bariatric surgery to treat weight gain that he suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition. That surgery was first performed at Max Hospital, but he had to be later shifted to AIIMS because of complications. He had a heart surgery several…