In a shocking incident, a 23-year-old man died of a gunshot wound on Thursday while clicking a selfie. The deceased died of a gunshot when he and his friend were clicking selfies with a pistol in Vijay Vihar, Delhi suburb, the police said. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Singh. The police found several pictures of the two friends posing with the weapon on Singhs mobile phone. Rajneesh Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of police (Rohini), is waiting for the forensic report before coming to the conclusion whether this was an accidental firing, a self-inflicted wound or murder. Notably, Singhs friend who survived, fled and remained untraceable through Friday. The absconder has been identified by the police as Monu who is a local resident. The police are yet to confirm the backgrounds of the two men and also how they were in possession of an unlicensed gun. However, Singhs 12-year-old cousin said that Monu arrived at their home on Thursday and was in possession of the pistol. The young girl said that Monu went straight to Singhs room and the conversations between the two friends suggested that they were playing around with the pistols and taking pictures. Within minutes, she heard…
Month: January 2020
Third front 2019: K Chandrasekhar Rao likely to meet Mamata Banerjee on March 19 , start talks
Giving more fuel to the third front demand, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) may fly down to Kolkata to meet his West Bengal counterpart and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. KCR and Banerjee will discuss the possibility of an alternative third front without bigwigs Congress and BJP. A top official in the KCR office was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that Chief Minister might visit Kolkata on Monday after the Telugu New Year to meet Mamata Banerjee. He, however, not confirmed KCRs visit. It is expected that KCR will fly down to Kolkata Monday afternoon to meet Banerjee. The official added that the CM is keen on forming a national front of political parties and will emphasise that he is proposing an alternative to the Congress and BJP so that there is a change in the quality of governance at the Centre. The Telangana CM had said on March 3 that people are vexed now and there is a need for change in the national politics. He also said that no qualitative change has been seen by people even after 70 years of democracy. Rao also admitted being in talks with others to form a platform of…
Anti-Narendra Modi front for 2019! Kerala CM Pinari Vijayan’s remarks will hurt Congress, Mamata Banerjee
As talks of an anti-BJP front for the next Lok Sabha polls gain ground, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said he is not in favour of joining hands with the Congress to forge an opposition alliance that should be aimed at giving people a Vijayan, 73, also said that regional parties are Alleging that the BJP has been destroying the countrys democratic norms, the CPI-M veteran, who completes two years in office next May, said co-operation between regional parties was essential to defeat those who must be defeated. The remarks by the lone communist chief minister come against the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and her Telangana counterpart and Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrashekhar Rao kickstarting efforts to form a so-called Regional tie-ups can be considered during elections for a real political alternative. There is no point in joining hands with one particular party at the national level, The draft political resolution adopted at CPI-Ms Central Committee meeting in Kolkata in January this year had ruled out any electoral alliance or understanding with the Congress. But, the Committee had said that the main objective of the party is to Interestingly,…
After North Indians, now MNS workers target Gujaratis, pull down signboards at shops in Thane
Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have pulled down Gujarati signboards at some commercial establishments in the district. The cadres of the Raj Thackeray-led party smashed and pulled down over 20 signboards on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in the districts Vasai area late last night, MNS Thane region president Avinash Jadhav said today. Vasai and Thane district are in Maharashtra and not Gujarat, and we will not tolerate name boards in Gujarati anymore, Jadhav told PTI on the phone. He asserted that their agitation against such signboards would continue. The Vasai police control room confirmed the incident, but said no offence had been registered so far. The incident came two days after Raj Thackeray called for opposition unity and a Modi-mukt Bharat by 2019. Addressing party workers at a rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on Saturday, Thackeray said, The country is fed up with the false promises made by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and his government. All opposition parties should come together to get rid of the BJP-led NDA government to ensure a Modi-mukt Bharat, he said, while reminding the audience of the BJPs Congress-mukt Bharat slogan. In July last year, some workers of the MNS had protested…
Will Arun Jaitley waive GST on langar items?
Senior SAD leader and Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said she has written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, requesting him to waive GST on ingredients used to make langar in gurdwaras. The preparation of langar is not a business activity. So, no tax should be levied on it. In fact, its a noble cause and a religious and public welfare activity, she said here. I have written to the finance minister on the issue, she said. Badal thanked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for supporting her demand and said she has approached the leaders of many parties in this regard. In a letter to Jaitley, who is the chairman of the GST Council, Kumar said, Even though langar is not taxable under GST, some significant inputs like sugar, ghee, edible oil, spices etc., are taxable. The tax on these inputs add to the cost of the gurudwara. Imposition of tax on the aforementioned inputs should be discouraged in view of the sanctity of langar.
Setback for AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, Delhi court issues warrant against him in domestic violence case
A Delhi court today issued bailable warrant against AAP leader Somnath Bharti after he failed to appear before it in a domestic violence case filed against him by his wife. Special Judge Arvind Kumar passed the order and directed the accused to appear in court on April 27. The Delhi High Court had on March 20 allowed Bharti to settle the dispute with his wife, Lipika Mitra, through mediation after they expressed willingness to settle their differences. Bharti, former law minister of Delhi, had moved the application in a pending plea filed by his wife against a trial courts October 7, 2015 order granting him bail in the case. The investigators had on April 5, 2016 filed a charge sheet in the trial court in the case, claiming that the woman had alleged that Bharti had endangered the life of an unborn child she was carrying, by unleashing his dog on her. The MLA from Malviya Nagar assembly, who was granted bail in October 2015 after being in jail for eight days, had denied the allegations. Mitra had on June 10, 2015 lodged a complaint against him with the Delhi Commission for Women and an FIR was lodged by the…
Serious lapse! How this Indian-origin businesswoman managed to travel from UK to Delhi on husband’s passport?
An Indian-origin businesswoman managed to travel from UKs Manchester city to New Delhi via Dubai on her husbands passport before the serious security lapse was picked up in India, prompting the Emirates Airline to launch an investigation into the incident. Geeta Modha, who runs Alankar boutique in Rusholme area of Manchester, left for the airport with husband Dilips passport by mistake for a business trip on April 23. The 55-year-old was able to check-in and board the flight and was waved through a stopover at Dubai on to New Delhi before the error was picked up, according to Manchester Evening News. As a holder of Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI), Geeta was expected to produce her passport at Delhi immigration and was denied entry to India at that point. Its scary and worrying that people arent checking properly, she told the newspaper. The fact they say they are so strict on security in airports but you can do this in 2018 is terrible. At check-in, the staff member even made me move stuff from one bag to another because it was 2 kg over Indian authorities made Geeta travel back to Dubai to wait for her own passport, which was flown…
Counterfeit currency trouble: SBI ATM in Kanpur dispenses fake, torn Rs 2,000 notes; case filed
If you thought that the troubles faced by people around the recent shortage of cash at ATMs were over, you may need to give it a rethink. For, reports of fake currency notes being pumped into the economy threatens to increase citizens woes once again. In Kanpur, an ATM of state-run State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday dispensed counterfeit Rs 2,000 notes to a resident here. News agency ANI reported that complainant Prashant Maurya has claimed that when he had visited the banks ATM to withdraw cash on Saturday, he was served with fake and torn higher denomination notes of Rs 2,000. He said that in total, the machine gave out one fake note and six torn ones. He said that he later filed a complaint with the police. ANI said that police has registered a case and has taken up the matter with the bank. The incident comes in the backdrop of news reports that ATMs in several states went dry due to an alleged shortage of cash inflow in the system. While the government has refuted reports of any such shortage, the issue of fake notes also goes against the idea behind the mammoth demonetisation exercise which…
16 Naxals killed in encounter with security forces in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli; key highlights
Sixteen Naxals were killed in an encounter with police commandos and CRPF personnel in Gadchiroli district in east Maharashtra, a senior official said. While senior police officers said death of top cadres in the gun battle is a possibility, Gadchiroli Police, in a press release, said the deceased included some high-ranking ultras. The encounter broke out at Kasansur forest in Bhamragad between the ultras and a joint team of security forces comprising C60 commandos, a specialised combat unit of the Gadchiroli police, and personnel of the 9th Battalion of the CRPF, around 10 am. It lasted for 90 minutes, DIG (Gadchiroli) Ankush Shinde said. The ultras hiding in the forest started firing at the security personnel. The exchange of fire continued for about one-and-half hours. As per preliminary information, bodies of 16 Naxals were recovered from the forest, he said, adding that arms and Naxal literature were recovered from the spot. However, I could give the exact number (of deceased) only tomorrow, he told PTI. Shinde said there are reports of injuries sustained by the security personnel. On the identity of the ultras, he said, There is a possibility of two DVC-rank naxals Shrinu alias Shrikant and Sainath being killed…
Kathua case: Transfer of case outside Jammu on slightest possibility of lack of fair trial, says Supreme Court
In the Kathua rape and murder case, the Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider a plea of two accused in the gangrape of an eight-year-old girl seeking trial in the case be held in Jammu and the probe be handed over to the CBI. The accused were opposing the plea of the victim The apex court, however, stated that the case would be transferred out of Kathua if there is the slightest possibility of lack of fair trial. The bench said that trial should be fair not only for the accused but also for the victim The bench also said that the lawyers will be dealt in accordance with the law if they are found guilty. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the plea of the accused, Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra, that they are impleaded as parties to the petition filed by the victim The eight-year-old The duo had moved top court on Wednesday saying that they have been falsely implicated in the case. The accused added that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees fair investigation as well as trial to the accused. On the transfer of…
Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi to address the nation in his 43rd edition of radio show
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday share his thoughts with the people in India and abroad, through his Mann Ki Baat programme. This will be the 43rd edition of the Mann Ki Baat programme, which will broadcast on All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan and also on the Narendra Modi mobile application. Union Minister Vijay Goel will join the Prime Ministers programme, along with the people of Village Bharthal, at the residence of former Nigam Parishad, Ramniwas, in Sector 26, Dwarka, Delhi. It will be streamed on the YouTube channels of the Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and DD News. In his 42nd edition, Modi emphasised on preventive health care awareness, stating that extensive work is going on to set up Health Wellness Centres across the country. A 3D animation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi depicting Trikonasana (the triangle posture) yoga was released in the same edition. Mann ki Baat is now available as an Alexa skill.
Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s political party to get recognition in Pakistan?
Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeeds political ambitions have received a boost after a top Pakistani court ordered the election commission to hear his partys case for registration ahead of this years election. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday set aside a decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to reject the application of Jamaat-ud-Dawahs political front Milli Muslim League (MML) for registration as a political party. The order came days after a Pakistani court extended a stay against the possible arrest of the JuD chief till April 4. Justice Aamer Farooq sent the case back to the ECP asking it to proceed further on the application by giving the party an opportunity of hearing, Dawn newspaper reported. The MML through its president Saifullah Khalid approached the IHC and made the ECP and the interior secretary respondents in the matter. Challenging the ECPs order of October 11, 2017, the petition described it unreasonable, illegal as well as against the Constitution and the law. Article 17 (2) of the Constitution confers a fundamental right on every citizen, not being in the service of Pakistan, to form or to be a member of a political party, subject to any reasonable restriction…
As Congress grapples with Northeast debacle, Rahul Gandhi set to visit Singapore, Malaysia
Despite losing the three-state Northeast election and facing a lot of criticism for his previous foreign trip, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is set to embark on another three-day foreign tour starting March 8. Rahul Gandhi, who played a limited role leading to the Assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, will visit Singapore on March 8-9 before leaving for Malaysia on March 10, reports said. During his trip, the Gandhi scion is expected to meet Indian businessmen and also address the Indian diaspora in Singapore. Rahul Gandhi had previously addressed the Indian diaspora in US and Bahrain. However, his latest itinerary is very close what Prime Minister Narendra Modi follows during his foreign visits. PM Modi is known to address Indian community in different countries and Rahul Gandhi has been doing the same in the recent past. In Bahrain, he had attended a meeting of Global Organisation of People of India Origin. This meeting saw participation from members of 50 countries. Back then, the Congress president had attacked PM Modi and his economic policies while addressing the gathering. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had flown to Italy during Holi to surprise his 93-year-old Nani. Responding to the loss of Northeast elections, Rahul…
BJP to hand over 11 Ashoka Road premises to government? May become first political party to return Lutyens’ bungalow
In a first, the Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to hand over its bungalow in Lutyens The 11 Ashoka Road bungalow, which was allotted to the party for running its national headquarters, will be given back to the government in a couple of weeks from now. BJP general secretary and officer-in-charge, Arun Singh, said that the bungalow had already been vacated and would be handed over to the government authorities anytime now, reported The Times of India. Recently, the party opened its new headquarters in a building on the Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new office in February and the party has already begun operating out of the new place. It has been reported that the BJP handing over their bungalow to the government may pressure other parties to follow suit. However, an official said that presently there was no information on the party surrendering the bungalow. Also, the allottee was required to make the final payment for clearing the electricity and water dues before it informed the ministry of vacating the bungalow. The Ashoka Road office of the saffron party was its headquarters for more than 35 years before it got…
Jammu and Kashmir: Unprovoked shelling by Pakistan kills 3 minor boys, parents in Poonch; two daughters survive
Pakistan troops targeted the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday resulting in the death of five members of a family. According to officials, the victims of the Pakistan shelling included three minor boys and their parents. While the attack killed the five members, two others were injured in the unprovoked and indiscriminate shelling that took place in the civilian area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch. The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Mohammad Ramzan, his wife 32-year-old Malika Bi, sons Mohammad Rehman (14), Mohammad Rizwan (12), and Razaq Ramzan (7). However, Nasreen Kousar (11) and Mahreen Kouser (5), the two daughters of Mohammad Ramzan and Malika Bi, have survived the attack but suffered serious injuries in the shelling. Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire agreement, and targetted the civilian areas in the Poonch district that was almost three-four kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC). The shelling continued for nearly three hours early on Sunday. The critically injured were airlifted to Jammu for special treatment. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to express her grief over the incident. she shared a post saying, Anguished to hear of 5 people…
Led by Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs stage protest demanding review plea on SC verdict on SC/ST Act
Congress MPs, led by party chief Rahul Gandhi, today staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhis statue inside Parliament premises, demanding that the Centre seeks a review of the Supreme Courts verdict on the SC\/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The apex court had on Tuesday diluted its stringent provisions mandating immediate arrest under the law in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the SC\/ST Act. The Congress MPs raised the slogan, Daliton ke samman mein, Rahul Gandhi maidan mein (Rahul Gandhi stands for protection of Dalits rights). Earlier, the MPs gathered at the office of the Congress Parliament Party and discussed the strategy to move forward on the issue. Sources said the partys strategy inside Parliament was also discussed with Gandhi during the meeting. Both Houses of Parliament This is the third week in a row that Parliament proceedings have been disrupted and has not transacted any business. The crucial Finance Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha amid the din created by various parties. Attempts by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to work out a solution to ensure smooth…
Uttar Pradesh constructs over 7 lakh housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin; details inside
Uttar Pradesh has constructed 7,71,073 housing units till March 31 under the Centres rural housing project, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), and secured the first position in the country, a minister said today. The housing units meant for the rural poor have been completed in a record span of nine months, Uttar Pradesh Rural Development Minister Mahendra Singh told reporters. PMAY-G was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Agra on November 20, 2016. The construction targets of 2016-17 and 2017-18 were completed in one year (2017-18). The construction rate of UP stands at 85 per cent, while the national average is 34 per cent. Earlier, UP was languishing at the bottom of the national table, but with the efforts of the state government, UP has occupied the top slot. UP is followed by Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The efforts of the state government will be to construct the housing units in six months, which were built in nine months, he said. He said that more than 7,000 anganwadi centres were built under the rural job scheme MNREGS. On Mukhyamantri Samagra Gram Vikas Yojana, he said that under this scheme, the villages of the jawans of the Army and para-military…
I am a Hindu Vaishnav, not Jain: BJP chief Amit Shah
Amit Shah today said he is a Hindu Vaishnav, refuting Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs claim that the BJP chief is a Jain. Shah, while speaking to reporters after a rally to mark the BJPs 38th foundation day here, also said, I maintain that the Karnataka governments move to give Lingayats a separate religion status is a move to divide the Hindus. The UPA government had rejected the recommendation (to give Lingayats the status of a minority group) in 2013. The present decision has only been taken to stop Yeddyurappa from becoming the CM. This is an election gimmick, Shah said. When asked about the Karnataka chief ministers comment last month that Shah is a Jain, the BJP chief said, I am not a Jain, but a Hindu Vaishnav. Responding to Shahs barb that Siddaramaiah is not an AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) leader but AHINDU (non-Hindu) leader, the Karnataka chief minister had said last month in Mysuru that Shah should first clarify whether he himself is AHINDU or not. Amit Shah is a Jain. He needs to clarify first whether he is AHINDU. Jain is a separate religion. How can he talk about me like…
How to book helicopter for Amarnath Yatra? Advance online booking of tickets from April 27
Advance online booking of helicopter tickets for the Amarnath pilgrimage will commence on April 27, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said today. The 60-day long annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas will commence on June 28, the shrine board said today, adding the yatra will be longer by 20 days this year . The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the online booking of helicopter tickets have been formulated within the parameters of Air Traffic Services Regulations, CEO SASB Umang Narula said. The advance online booking for helicopter tickets will commence on 27th April 2018, from 10:00 AM onwards through the websites of the respective heli-operators, Narula added. In a review meeting held here today, Narula informed Governor N N Vohra, the chairman of the board, that arrangements for online booking of helicopter tickets in collaboration with the heli-operators for the yatra has been Narula said the links of the heli-service operators to book heli tickets shall be made available on official website of the shrine board. Simultaneously, advance booking through agents appointed by heli-operators and Tour and Travel Associations will also commence on 27th April, he added. The per passenger one way heli-…
Wife of NRI businessman found dead at Faridabad hotel
In a shocking incident, the body of a 42-year-old woman, who was married to a US-based businessman, was found in the bathtub of a room at the Taj Vivanta hotel in Faridabad late Thursday evening under mysterious circumstances. The police has started its investigation to find out if there was a foul play. It said that the woman, Ritu, had married Arun Kumar, a businessman who lives in New Jersey, on March 3 last year. Her relatives told police that this Ritus second and Aruns third marriage. She had three sisters and a brother who live in south Delhi. She had three sisters and a brother who live in south Delhi. She had been living in the country since August 2017, sometimes residing with relatives, and sometimes at hotels, said Sube Singh, PRO, Faridabad Police. The woman had reportedly checked into the Taj Vivanta on April 22. Employees at the hotel said she called the reception on Thursday morning and requested that she not be disturbed for a few hours, said police. Her sisters tried to contact her repeatedly during the day on Thursday but she did not answer their calls. They then went to the hotel and got the…
Simultaneous Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly elections in 2019? Narendra Modi’s idea gets Law Commission boost
Months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi floated the idea of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the Law Commission has come out with a recommendation that may be the first step towards a tectonic shift in the way elections are held in India. The Commission has suggested that elections can be held together, provided at least two provisions of the Constitution are amended and ratified by a majority of the states. The Commission further suggested that some provisions of the Representation of People Act will have to be amended by a simple majority in Parliament. The move, part of the Commissions Darft Working Paper – Simultaneous Elections – Constitution and Legal Perspectives, proposes amending the Constitution (Articles 83 (2) and 172 (1) dealing with tenures of Lok Sabha and state assemblies) and the Representation of People Act to extend the terms of state legislative assemblies to effect the move. The Commission has made public its working paper on holding simultaneous polls and sought the views of constitutional experts, political parties and other stakeholders before finalising its report. The people who are interested in placing their views on the issue can submit their stand to the Commission by May…
Kolkata meat scandal: Kingpin Biswanath Garai of meat racket arrested from Garia in South 24 Parganas district by SIT
The kingpin of the meat racket involved in procuring dead animals from dumping grounds and processing their flesh before supplying to markets was arrested from Garia in South 24 Parganas district by the SIT, the police said today. Biswanath Garai (52), a resident of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested from near the Garia railway station by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) last evening, SP, Diamond Harbour police district, Koteswara Rao told PTI. So far 11 persons have been arrested, including a leader of a political outfit, in connection with the case. Biswanath alias Bishu is the prime accused and the owner of the godown in Narkeldanga area in the city where the meat of dead animals were stored, he said. Bishu was involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. He was then getting them supplied to different restaurants and markets, Rao said adding that the grilling of the accused was being done. It is also being examined whether any influential person was helping him in carrying out the business. We are also looking for how many years he was running this business and who all are helping him in getting orders, another SIT official, involved…
Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb to meet PM Narendra Modi to seek special financial package
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon to seek a special package to tide over financial crisis in the state, a minister said today. Deb will also meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the same proposal, Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy told reporters here. The states financial condition was reviewed in a meeting of the council of ministers yesterday. The state is reeling under deep financial crisis. The budget deficit in the current financial year is Rs 1,588.19 crore, he said. Finance department officials have been asked to put forward a comprehensive report on the states fiscal condition in the next three days and after getting the report, the chief minister will leave for Delhi, he said. The states revenue generation is poor while fiscal deficit is on the rise. The states own revenue is currently able to manage only 12.94 per cent of its expenditure, he said. To a question, Singha Roy said agriculture, tourism and many other sectors needed immediate financial attention. He said the cabinet meeting also laid importance on austerity measures and the states own revenue generation. The government would implement all its poll pledges including 7th Pay Commission…
SC/ST Act: Centre approves filling of review petition in Supreme Court
The Union Law Ministry has approved filing of a review petition in the Supreme Court on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC\/ST Act). Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government has taken note of the directives of the apex court about laying down new norms and will soon do the needful. I have already instructed the Ministry of Law over the desirability of filling a review and appropriate follow-up action, Prasad said. Earlier this month, the court had passed an order that diluted the provisions for immediate arrest under the Act. The court had ruled that preliminary enquiry in a case under the Act would be done by the DSP to ensure there is no misuse of the law and also to avoid false implication of an innocent. The court had also observed that a government official cant be arrested on a mere allegation of committing an offence. It had said that to prosecute a government servant, prior approval from the competent authority would be a must. Since then, lawmakers from opposition parties have been demanding that the Centre file a review petition in the court. They had even called on…
ED grills Delhi Health and Power Minister Satyendar Jain in money laundering case
The ED today questioned Delhi Health and Power Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with a money laundering case registered against him and others. Officials said Jain was summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his statement will be recorded by the investigating officer of the case. The PMLA case was registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last year in August on the basis of a CBI FIR. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint had said that Jain could not explain the source of funds received by four companies in which he was a shareholder. It had registered a case against him, his wife and four others on charges of money laundering. The CBI has grilled him in the case earlier. CBI sources had said that Rs 4.63 crore was allegedly received through Prayas Info Solutions, Akinchan Developers, Managalyatan Projects and Indo-Metal Impex Pvt Limited in 2015-16. They had said Jain and his wife were allegedly holders of one-third of the shares in these companies during the period. During CBI questioning, the minister and his wife could not explain the source of Rs 1.62 crore, approximately one-third of the funds received by the companies during 2015-17, they…
For alliance with Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav says ready for ‘compromise’ on seat sharing: Is BSP-SP pact a done deal?
In a reiteration of his willingness to form an alliance with Mayawati in elections going forward, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has said that seat-sharing is a minor issue in Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party poll pact. In conversation with English daily Hindustan Times, Yadav said that past feuds with BSP have never been a point of discussion in his meetings with Mayawati. He added that a decision on the alliance will be taken with larger viewpoint and that a seat or two doesnt matter. To stop the BJPs return to power at the Centre, SP and BSP will have to stop it here in UP, Yadav said. Akhilesh Yadavs comments come as a positive sign for the potential pact between the BSP and SP. Supported by BSP, Akhilesh Yadav was able to wrest prestigious Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Many experts believe that BJP will suffer major losses if BSP and SP join hands in the state. With 80 Lok Sabha seats, Uttar Pradesh is considered as the most significant electoral state in India. In 2014, the BJP and its allies had won 73 in the 2014 parliamentary elections. The Congress had won Amethi…
‘You are murdering democracy’: Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to protesting MPs
Angered over continuous disruptions, Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu today criticised protesting members for not allowing the House to transact business. He said that members are murdering the democracy and that the nation is watching them. Before adjourning the House till 2 pm, the Chair issued a stern warning to the lawmakers, saying you are testing the patience of the countrymen. He noted that the House has not transacted any bills in the ongoing session. The country wants development, you are testing the patience of the people of the country. Please understand that the entire country is agitated with what is happening in the House, Venkaiah Naidu, who also happens to the Vice President, said and adjourned the House till 2 pm. A number of bills are pending. People want development and legislation. It (protests) is not going to add anything. I am ready to allow you to discuss every issue. It is unfortunate that the chair is allowing a discussion but the members are not ready. You are testing the patience of the people. The country is watching you. You are murdering democracy, IANS quoted Naidu as saying. As soon as the House assembled to transact business today, the…
PM Narendra Modi holds talks with Nepalese counterpart KP Oli to deepen bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held discussions with his Nepalese counterpart K P Oli to deepen bilateral ties between the two neighbours. The two leaders are believed to have discussed an entire gamut of issues concerning their bilateral ties. Strengthening the special and people-centric partnership based on historical and cultural context. PM @narendramodi warmly welcomes Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli at Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks continuing the long-standing tradition of high-level visits, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Modi had yesterday met the Nepalese prime minister at the Prime Ministers official residence here. Olis three-day visit is in line with the tradition of a Nepalese premier visiting India on his first overseas trip.
Groom in Uttar Pradesh killed during ‘celebratory firing’ in Lakhimpur Kheri district, accused friend missing
In a shocking and a highly unfortunate incident, a groom was killed during celebratory firing in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh after he was hit by a bullet fired from close range by his friend. The incident was recorded in a video which was later accessed by the police. In this video, the groom can be seen clutching his chest as he gets hit by the bullet, before collapsing on the ground. The people around him could not hear the gunfire due to the loud music that was playing in the marriage. The incident reportedly took place when the groom, Sunil Verma, 25, arrived at the bride The accused, identified as Ramchandra, fired two shots from his licensed gun which hit the groom while the third shot missed him. The family members of the groom can also be seen in the video when he was shot. They looked confused and failed to understand as to what had happened. Verma was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead by the doctors. Watch video: He has reportedly been booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Cops are not ruling out the possibility of…
Centre stays BCAS order against Maharashtra BJP MLC accused of tax evasion, human trafficking
The government has stayed an order denying security clearance to an aviation firm promoted by a BJP MLC and his wife from Maharashtra. According to a report by The Indian Express, the order was passed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to its own security wing, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which had on April 4 denied clearance to Prasad Minesh Lads firm for its alleged involvement in tax evasion and human trafficking. The report said that Aviation Ministrys order was signed by Under Secretary Staish Chander. The BCAS had alleged that Krystal Aviation Services Pvt Ltd had created ghost employees to evade taxes. The BCAS stated that the employees were shown in the payrolls of associate forms and cited a security report that accused Krystal Aviation Services of sending people to Dubai for jobs. Lad had on April 9 moved the Ministry seeking an intervention in the matter. The Ministry on April 18 stayed the BCASs order and asked it to give a personal hearing to Lads firm. Besides, the Ministry asked it to obtain a detailed report from the central security agencies and pass a final order in two months. The BCAS order shows that their verdict…