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Mon, 02 May 2016
Bureaucrats, ministers acted dishonestly: HC in Adarsh ruling
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23:50 Bureaucrats, ministers acted dishonestly: HC in Adarsh ruling
The Bombay high court, while ordering demolition of the multi-storeyed Adarsh housing society in Mumbai, has squarely blamed its members for conspiring with politicians and bureaucrats to grab a plot "which was not in
existence" in the development plan as a residential area.
It was "carved out" by eating into a road, it said.
Members of the society happened to be close relatives of highly-placed bureaucrats and or related to politicians or ministers, said a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Rajesh Ketkar in the 223 page-judgement which became available on Monday.
On April 29, delivering the operating part, the HC had sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse" of powers, holding that the society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes and war widows, was constructed illegally.
"We are more than satisfied that the allotment was not made in a transparent manner and it clearly smacks of favouritism and/or nepotism," the judgement said.
"It cannot be disputed that bureaucrats and ministers are the custodians of government property....People repose confidence in them that the government property is safe in the hands of bureaucrats and ministers.
"Prima facie, they have dishonestly disposed of the property in violation of law," the bench observed.
"...the bureaucrats and the ministers are guilty of various offences in acquiring the plot as also misuse and/or abuse of powers. We hereby direct the state government to consider initiating appropriate civil/criminal proceedings against the concerned bureaucrats, ministers and politicians," the judges further said.
22:48 Yeddyurappa breaks down after judge asks him 475 questions in 2.5 hours
BJP Karnataka unit President B S Yeddyurappa on Monday became teary-eyed in a Central Bureau of Investigation court in Bengaluru as he faced a barrage of questions relating to an alleged illegal mining scam case during his chief ministership.
Yeddyurappa was summoned by the court in connection with the Rs 20 crore donation allegedly received by Prerana Trust, administered by his family.
As many as 475 questions were asked by the judge during the deposition lasting two-and-a-half hours.
The tear-shedding moment came when the judge asked Yeddyurappa if he had something to say on the issue, to which an emotional former chief minister replied, "I have not done anything wrong and whatever I have done, it is done within the parameters of law."
Nor had his acts caused any losses to the state exchequer, he said.
Prior to this question also, Yeddyurappa's voice became choked while answering a query whether he was a victim of political conspiracy.
Replying to this, Yeddyurappa, who was recently brought back as the BJP chief, became emotional and his voice turned heavier.
Yeddyurappa, who led the BJP to its first ever government in the south in 2008 elections, had to relinquish the chief minister's post following his indictment by the Lokayukta report on illegal mining submitted on July, 2011 by the then anti-corruption ombudsman Santosh Hegde.
The report had cited receipt of a Rs 10 crore donation from South West Mining Company to the Prerana Trust owned and managed by Yeddyurpapa's family and another Rs 20 crore paid for purchase of 1.02 acres in Rachenahalli by the mining firm.
21:57 Agriculture no longer a viable vocation: Par Panel
Expressing concern over state of affairs in agriculture, a parliamentary panel has said the sector is no longer a "viable vocation" and asked the government to make it more remunerative.
The Parliamentary standing committee on agriculture headed by BJP MP Hukmdev Narayan Yadav said the condition of small and marginal farmers is 'pitiable' and suggested the government to increase the financial allocation to the sector.
Besides, the vocation of agriculture needs to be remunerative like any other vocation, the report suggested.
Despite the fact that farm sector plays a vital role in the nation's economy, the panel is constrained to note that things are not satisfactory in the vital component of the economy, the report said.
The country is still far from achieving the goal of food and nutritional security for the poor, it added.
"The condition of farmers, especially the small and marginal farmers is very pitiable," the panel said.
With rising cost of agricultural inputs, vagaries of climate change and a myriad of other problems like depleting water table, this sector is not a viable option, the report said.
21:49 Over 100 diesel-run taxi driver booked by police
The Delhi Police on Monday booked over a hundred diesel-run taxi drivers for plying their vehicles in the city violating the Supreme Court ban, even as cab drivers protesting against the crackdown by police threw traffic
out-of-gear by blocking National Highway 8 and the Ring Road.
"Over 100 drivers were booked till 7 pm and challans were issued to them. Vehicles were impounded in a few cases," Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sandeep Goel said.
After extending the deadline twice, the Supreme Court had on Saturday refused to give more time to cab operators to convert to CNG and put a ban on diesel cabs in the city from May 1. The court exempted taxis with all-India tourist permit from switching to CNG if they operate outside NCR.
The errant drivers were booked under Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Cases in which the vehicles had AITP, police officials spoke to the passengers enquiring about their boarding and de-boarding points, a senior official said.
21:43 Raj Thackeray asks Fadnavis to quit on separate Vidarbha issue
Maharashtra Navnirman Senachief Raj Thackeray today sought Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's resignation for favouring formation of a separate Vidarbha state.
"Fadnavis has supported separate Vidarbha and mentioned so in his Facebook post of 2013," Raj told reporters in Mumbai.
"A person who espouses the cause of splitting Maharashtra, while simultaneously being its CM, has no right to continue in that post and should quit," Raj said.
"The separate Vidarbha movement has the backing of BJP and RSS," he alleged.
Maharashtra's former Advocate General Shrihari Aney who has supported a separate state of Vidarbha, has been propped up by the BJP and RSS, Raj said.
No national party has any empathy for the states, the MNS chief said.
Raj also flayed Shiv Sena, from which he split up in 2005, for "being in the ruling alliance with BJP and also acting like an opposition party at the same time."
21:18 'Congress expects Rahul to take over as party chief this year'
The Congress expects Rahul Gandhi to take over as its chief this year, the party said on Monday, virtually dismissing reports that he would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2017.
"Rahul Gandhi is MP from Amethi and vice president of the Congress. We all expect him to be the President of the Congress in 2016," party leader Jairam Ramesh said at the All India Congress Committee briefing, when asked about reports that the party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor has suggested that Rahul should be projected as the chief ministerial candidate.
According to reports, Kishor is learnt to be in favour of either Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or Rahul taking the lead in the state election as the chief ministerial candidate.
On the possibility of Priyanka as the chief ministerial candidate, Ramesh said, "I have no knowledge".
According to reports, Kishor feels that the Congress can come back to power in 2019 in the Hindi heartland by projecting the Congress vice president and if people start believing that he can lead them to victory in an election.
At the same time, the report also said if Rahul does not give his consent then Priyanka's name should be propped in Uttar Pradesh. And if both turn down the offer, then Kishor may suggest former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name.
21:09
Temperatures soared in north, central and peninsular regions of the country on Monday with Delhi witnessing the season's hottest day at 44 degrees Celsius.
21:08 Bodies of famed American climbers Lowe, Bridges found in Himalayas
The bodies of renowned US mountaineers Alex Lowe and David Bridges, who were killed in a 1999 avalanche in the Himalayas, have been found by another pair of climbers, according to a charity founded and run by Lowe's widow.
Climbers David Goettler of Germany and Ueli Steck of Switzerland were preparing for an attempt to reach the summit of Shishapangma in Tibet, the world's 14th-highest peak, when they discovered two bodies encased in ice on a glacier, the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation said in a statement posted to its website on Friday.
Read more about it HERE
20:43 Scientists discover three 'potentially habitable' planets
An international team of scientists said today they had discovered a trio of Earth-like planets that are the best bet so far for finding life outside our solar system, AFP reported.
The three orbit an ultracool dwarf star a mere 39 light years away, and are likely comparable in size and temperature to Earth and Venus, they reported in a study, published in Nature.
20:26 Delhi government impounds cabs over surge pricing
The Delhi government today impounded as many as 39 taxis by app-based cab aggregators such as Uber for invoking surge pricing, a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned of strong action.
Transport Minister Gopal Rai also announced a dedicated helpline for passengers to lodge complaints against those violating the Delhi government's directive against surge pricing. Hundreds of calls were received on the helpline number.
"If any cab is charging extra money in the name of surge pricing please call 01142400400. We will take strong action," Rai tweeted.
An official said four cabs were impounded on the basis of complaints received on the dedicated helpline till afternoon while action against the rest was taken on complaints received via other channels including the department's helpline number 42400400.
"The permits provided to the cab drivers clearly say that they cannot overcharge. The action is being taken based on that," the official said.
However, Ola, one of the prominent app-based taxi-hailing companies, tweeted that there is currently no peak pricing on its platform in Delhi NCR.
Amid the shortage of taxis in the wake of ban on diesel-run cabs in the national capital, Uber brought back controversial surge pricing on Sunday, a day after the odd-even car rationing scheme ended.
The Delhi government had proscribed surge pricing during the odd-even period between April 15 and 30 and later announced that the ban will continue even after the scheme ends.
20:16 Himachal forest fire reaches near residential school, causes panic
Panic gripped Lawrence school, Sanawar near Kasauli, today as fires raging in adjoining forests advanced towards the school and students ran helter skelter with columns of smoke descending on the school complex.
The fires were brought under control and no damage was caused to the 169-year-old residential school and the situation was normal, said R Chauhan, a senior teacher of the school.
There was no cause for panic and all the students and the school complex is safe, he added.
Fire tenders were rushed to the forests which fought the flames for nearly two hours and brought them under control.
The forest officials said that it was ground fire caused by burning of dry pine needles and such fires are common during the summer and a number of fires has occurred in forests in Kasauli and surrounding areas but all these had been put out.
A number of forest fires had occurred in these forests but all these were put out and the forest department and the local administration was taking necessary steps to ensure that fires are prevented and controlled.
The fires were brought under control and no damage was caused to the 169-year-old residential school and the situation was normal, said R Chauhan, a senior teacher of the school.
There was no cause for panic and all the students and the school complex is safe, he added.
Fire tenders were rushed to the forests which fought the flames for nearly two hours and brought them under control.
The forest officials said that it was ground fire caused by burning of dry pine needles and such fires are common during the summer and a number of fires has occurred in forests in Kasauli and surrounding areas but all these had been put out.
A number of forest fires had occurred in these forests but all these were put out and the forest department and the local administration was taking necessary steps to ensure that fires are prevented and controlled.
20:01 Trump leads Cruz in Indiana; Clinton, Sanders in close call
Donald Trump led by 15 points in latest polls for the Indiana primary, where rival Ted Cruz has mounted a last-ditch effort to stop the outspoken frontrunner from sewing up the Republican nomination, while the Democratic aspirants Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were nearly tied.
A win in the primary, scheduled for tomorrow, will bring as many as 57 delegates for Trump and put him in a commanding position, making it difficult for Cruz to pose any serious challenge to the real-estate tycoon before the July Republican convention.
The latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll said that Trump has the support of 49 per cent likely voters and Cruz 34 per cent, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich at 13 per cent.
Trump and Cruz are blitzing the crucial state. Trump has held a number of rallies there and has also blasted Cruz in TV ads as supporting 'bad trade deals [that] have hurt Indiana'.
The poll indicated a majority of Republican voters opposed a pact between Cruz and Kasich by 58 per cent to 34 per cent. Republican voters said they disagreed with the decision by Cruz and Kasich to compete in different states in an attempt to deny Trump the first-ballot victory.
As part of the deal, Kasich is not campaigning in Indiana.
A win in the primary, scheduled for tomorrow, will bring as many as 57 delegates for Trump and put him in a commanding position, making it difficult for Cruz to pose any serious challenge to the real-estate tycoon before the July Republican convention.
The latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll said that Trump has the support of 49 per cent likely voters and Cruz 34 per cent, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich at 13 per cent.
Trump and Cruz are blitzing the crucial state. Trump has held a number of rallies there and has also blasted Cruz in TV ads as supporting 'bad trade deals [that] have hurt Indiana'.
The poll indicated a majority of Republican voters opposed a pact between Cruz and Kasich by 58 per cent to 34 per cent. Republican voters said they disagreed with the decision by Cruz and Kasich to compete in different states in an attempt to deny Trump the first-ballot victory.
As part of the deal, Kasich is not campaigning in Indiana.
19:51 HC seeks knife that 'Salman used to kill' black buck
After ordering that the pellets be produced for observation, the Rajasthan high court today directed the trial court to produce the knife which was allegedly used by Bollywood actor Salman Khan for slitting the throat and peeling off the skin of poached Chinkara.
On Friday, while hearing the revision petition moved by Khan against a 5-year jail sentence for poaching of one Chinkara in Mathania on September 28-29, 1998, justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur had ordered the court of CJM (Jodhpur Rural), where the trial in another case of alleged poaching of two Black Bucks is on, to produce six pellets in the high court on May 4.
"After this, on Monday, justice Kaur also ordered the trial court to produce the knife recovered by the investigating agency, which was used by Khan in slitting the hurt chinkara and then peel it off in hotel Ashirwad for cooking", said one of the prosecution counsel Mahipal Bishnoi.
The pellets and the knife are the exhibits in another case of poaching which had allegedly taken place in Kankani on October 1-2, 1998, the trial of which is in progress.
Khans' counsel Nishant Bora said that considering their mention and recovery as an important exhibit in the case, the court want to see them.
On Friday, while hearing the revision petition moved by Khan against a 5-year jail sentence for poaching of one Chinkara in Mathania on September 28-29, 1998, justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur had ordered the court of CJM (Jodhpur Rural), where the trial in another case of alleged poaching of two Black Bucks is on, to produce six pellets in the high court on May 4.
"After this, on Monday, justice Kaur also ordered the trial court to produce the knife recovered by the investigating agency, which was used by Khan in slitting the hurt chinkara and then peel it off in hotel Ashirwad for cooking", said one of the prosecution counsel Mahipal Bishnoi.
The pellets and the knife are the exhibits in another case of poaching which had allegedly taken place in Kankani on October 1-2, 1998, the trial of which is in progress.
Khans' counsel Nishant Bora said that considering their mention and recovery as an important exhibit in the case, the court want to see them.
19:20 Centre defers approval to AgustaWestland FDI in Indian joint venture
Amid a raging row over alleged kickbacks in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board has deferred a decision on increase in Foreign Direct Investment in the Italian firm's joint venture with Tata Sons.
Indian Rotorcraft, a joint venture of AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) and Tata Sons for setting up an assembly line for the AW119Ke helicopter, had sought post-facto approval of the FIPB for increased FDI inflow of Rs 19.64 crore as against Rs 17.6 crore approved in September 2011.
Besides the increased FDI inflow, it had also sought approval for 'change of the foreign investor from AgustaWestland SpA, Italy to Finmeccanica SpA by way of merger of AgustaWestland SpA, Italy into Finmeccanica SpA'.
Decision on proposal for Indian Rotorcraft has been 'deferred', said the Finance Ministry in a statement.
It gave no reason for deferring the proposal. The FIPB meeting was held on April 8. Tatas have previously said Indian Rotorcraft has 'no connection whatsoever with AgustaWestland's (AW) supply of AW101 military helicopters to the Government of India'.
Indian Rotorcraft, a joint venture of AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) and Tata Sons for setting up an assembly line for the AW119Ke helicopter, had sought post-facto approval of the FIPB for increased FDI inflow of Rs 19.64 crore as against Rs 17.6 crore approved in September 2011.
Besides the increased FDI inflow, it had also sought approval for 'change of the foreign investor from AgustaWestland SpA, Italy to Finmeccanica SpA by way of merger of AgustaWestland SpA, Italy into Finmeccanica SpA'.
Decision on proposal for Indian Rotorcraft has been 'deferred', said the Finance Ministry in a statement.
It gave no reason for deferring the proposal. The FIPB meeting was held on April 8. Tatas have previously said Indian Rotorcraft has 'no connection whatsoever with AgustaWestland's (AW) supply of AW101 military helicopters to the Government of India'.
18:55 Refused Nobel Peace Prize, Malala undeserving: Sri Sri
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's comment that he had refused the Nobel Peace Prize earned him a top trend on Twitter. Sri Sri reportedly said that he had not only refused the Prize but also criticised the Nobel Committee for conferring the prize on Pakistani school girl Malala Yousafzai.
Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Sri Sri said, "I was in the past offered the Nobel Peace Prize, but I had rejected it as I only believe in working and not in being honoured for my work. We should always give honour only to those who deserve it and I am totally against honouring Malala Yousafzai with the prize and it is of no use."
Sri Sri made the remarks in Latur over the weekend while he was on a visit to the drought-ravaged region of Maharashtra.
His Art of Living Foundation is working to help farmers in the area with irrigation projects.
Last month, Sri Sri said that he had offered to initiate peace talks with terror group ISIS, but they responded by sending him a photograph of a beheaded man. "I think the ISIS does not want any peace talks. Hence, they should be dealt with militarily," he summarized. He had trended promptly again for making a statement that should have been a given.
Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Sri Sri said, "I was in the past offered the Nobel Peace Prize, but I had rejected it as I only believe in working and not in being honoured for my work. We should always give honour only to those who deserve it and I am totally against honouring Malala Yousafzai with the prize and it is of no use."
Sri Sri made the remarks in Latur over the weekend while he was on a visit to the drought-ravaged region of Maharashtra.
His Art of Living Foundation is working to help farmers in the area with irrigation projects.
Last month, Sri Sri said that he had offered to initiate peace talks with terror group ISIS, but they responded by sending him a photograph of a beheaded man. "I think the ISIS does not want any peace talks. Hence, they should be dealt with militarily," he summarized. He had trended promptly again for making a statement that should have been a given.
18:45
Rajya Sabha secretariat says it has not received Vijay Mallya's resignation yet.
18:36 Sensex top losers
If you want to buy ICICI Bank shares but always found it expensive, now is the time...
18:35 Deep Halder joins Dainik Bhaskar Post
Senior Journalist Deep Halder will be joining Dainik Bhaskar Post as Editor. Halder is a senior journalist with over 14 years of experience in print and television media.
18:34 Sanjoy Narayan quite HT, Apaarism Ghosh takes over
Aparisim 'Bobby' Ghosh, a seasoned foreign correspondent and editor, is becoming editor-in-chief at Hindustan Times, two people with knowledge of the situation said. He will replace Sanjoy Narayan, who has held the top job at India's third most circulated English daily since 2008. Read
18:23 Britain was not a benevolent colonial power
Think India should be grateful for colonialism? Here are five reasons why you're unbelievably ignorant. Read
18:14 Mallya resigns from Rajya Sabha after eviction notice
Just in: Loan defaulter Vijay Mallya resigns from Rajya Sabha.
This comes a week after the Rajya Sabha's ethics committee decided to unanimously expel the UB Group chairman from the Parliament's upper House, and gave him a week's time to explain his conduct in the default on bank loans in excess of Rs 9,000 crore extended to his Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.
The decision, seen as a slap in the face of Mallya, came at the same timee as the government revoking his diplomatic passport in an effort to secure his return to India.
The show-cause notice is a procedural formality before the expulsion of Mallya, whose Rajya Sabha membership as an independent lapses on 30 June 2016.
This comes a week after the Rajya Sabha's ethics committee decided to unanimously expel the UB Group chairman from the Parliament's upper House, and gave him a week's time to explain his conduct in the default on bank loans in excess of Rs 9,000 crore extended to his Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.
The decision, seen as a slap in the face of Mallya, came at the same timee as the government revoking his diplomatic passport in an effort to secure his return to India.
The show-cause notice is a procedural formality before the expulsion of Mallya, whose Rajya Sabha membership as an independent lapses on 30 June 2016.
18:09
Just in: Slippers thrown at Bihar Chief Minister in Patna. Nitish Kumar says it hit him on the chest.
17:27 Marine could go home only if Italy guarantees return, says India to UN order
India responds to the UN Arbitration Court order saying, Italy is misrepresenting the order. India says that no marine has been freed and the bail condition of Salvatore Girone will be set by the Supreme Court of India.
The Tribunal order affirms the Supreme Court's authority and both India and Italy have been asked to approach the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required, government sources tell PTI.
Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said today, citing an order of the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.
However, the ruling about the same will be made public tomorrow, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
"Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said.
The Government has been working to submit the whole matter to international arbitration and, in this framework, bringing home the two Riflemen Marina. The announced order paves the way for this result.
Pic: Salvatore Girone.
The Tribunal order affirms the Supreme Court's authority and both India and Italy have been asked to approach the Supreme Court for relaxation of bail conditions for Girone. Possible return to Italy strictly conditional on Italy guaranteeing to return him if required, government sources tell PTI.
Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen, will be able to return to Italy while his case is subject to an arbitration procedure, Italian Foreign Ministry said today, citing an order of the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.
However, the ruling about the same will be made public tomorrow, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
"Foreign Ministry informs that the arbitral tribunal set up in The Hague has anticipated today its decision that Girone Rifleman (be allowed to go) back in Italy until the end of the arbitration proceedings, initiated by the Government on June 26, 2015. The return of the conditions will be agreed between Italy and India," the Italian ministry said.
The Government has been working to submit the whole matter to international arbitration and, in this framework, bringing home the two Riflemen Marina. The announced order paves the way for this result.
Pic: Salvatore Girone.
17:11 Italian marine should be freed, UN court tells India
A UN arbitration court has ruled that India should release an Italian marine, who has been detained in Delhi for more than four years, and allow him to return home, the Italian foreign ministry said on Monday.
India arrested in 2012 two Italian marines on suspicion they killed two fishermen that they had mistaken for pirates while they had been escorting an oil tanker.
One of the pair returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let the other man, Salvatore Girone, leave the country.
The case has soured relations between India and Italy, but the two countries agreed last year to move the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions.
The Italian foreign ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home. It said it would be in immediate contact with India to try to make sure he would return as soon as possible. The court will continue to review the merits of the case against the two marines.
India arrested in 2012 two Italian marines on suspicion they killed two fishermen that they had mistaken for pirates while they had been escorting an oil tanker.
One of the pair returned to Italy with health problems, but India has refused to let the other man, Salvatore Girone, leave the country.
The case has soured relations between India and Italy, but the two countries agreed last year to move the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and abide by its decisions.
The Italian foreign ministry said in a statement that in an initial ruling, the court had decided that Girone should be allowed home. It said it would be in immediate contact with India to try to make sure he would return as soon as possible. The court will continue to review the merits of the case against the two marines.
16:12 Malia Obama to attend Harvard in 2017 after taking gap year
US President Barack Obama's daughter Malia will take a year off after graduating from high school in June before attending Harvard University in 2017, the president and his wife said in a long-awaited announcement.
Malia, the eldest of the Obamas' two daughters, is a 17-year-old senior at Sidwell Friends, an exclusive private school in the District of Columbia that helped educate another first daughter, Chelsea Clinton, in the 1990s. Malia's younger sister, Sasha, 14, is a freshman at Sidwell. Malia is set to graduate from high school in June. She turns 18 on the fourth of July.
15:31 Youth tries to fling chappal towards Nitish at 'Janata Darbar'
A youth today allegedly tried to fling his chappal towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public interaction programme but was arrested by the police. The incident occurred when the youth, who incidentally goes by the name of Nitish Kumar, came to meet the CM and hand over his request at 'Janata ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri' programme.
As the accused, a resident of Arwal district bent down to take off his chappal, he was immediately caught by a posse of security men. Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told reporters the youth has been arrested and taken to Sachivalaya police station for detailed questioning.
15:16 CIA mocked for 'live tweeting' Osama killing after 5 years
US spy agency Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) "live tweeted" the military raid that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan five years ago, drawing criticism and satire on social media. Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seal commandos on May 2, 2011, when they raided his compound in Abbottabad.
The CIA twitter account said the step-by-step tweets would represent the raid at Bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound "as if it were happening today", ABC News reported."
The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. History has been a key element of CIA's social media efforts," CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said.
"On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement."
Several of the tweets included diagrams and maps of the compound, providing a rundown of the operation from the moment US President Barack Obama and intelligence officials approved it until the president received confirmation that bin Laden was killed, Al Jazeera reported.
One of the tweets showed an aerial photograph of the compound and a map of the region where it was located in Pakistan and another showed the layout of the premises.
Several social media users criticised the CIA's posts, while others satirised them. Writing on its Twitter account, The Daily Show, a popular US news satire programme, mocked the agency. "If you live tweet the Bay of Pigs invasion, call us. Otherwise, stop it," it said.
Pic: A model of Osama Bin Laden's house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, tweeted by CIA. Another picture marked the high walls/barbed wire, double entry gates and the fact that trash was burned not collected.
The CIA twitter account said the step-by-step tweets would represent the raid at Bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound "as if it were happening today", ABC News reported."
The takedown of bin Laden stands as one of the great intelligence successes of all time. History has been a key element of CIA's social media efforts," CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said.
"On the fifth anniversary, it is appropriate to remember the day and honour all those who had a hand in this achievement."
Several of the tweets included diagrams and maps of the compound, providing a rundown of the operation from the moment US President Barack Obama and intelligence officials approved it until the president received confirmation that bin Laden was killed, Al Jazeera reported.
One of the tweets showed an aerial photograph of the compound and a map of the region where it was located in Pakistan and another showed the layout of the premises.
Several social media users criticised the CIA's posts, while others satirised them. Writing on its Twitter account, The Daily Show, a popular US news satire programme, mocked the agency. "If you live tweet the Bay of Pigs invasion, call us. Otherwise, stop it," it said.
Pic: A model of Osama Bin Laden's house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, tweeted by CIA. Another picture marked the high walls/barbed wire, double entry gates and the fact that trash was burned not collected.
14:56 Siddhartha Dhar is a senior commander of ISIS: report
Indian-origin Islamic State terrorist from Britain Siddhartha Dhar, dubbed as the "New Jihadi John", is a senior commander of the dreaded outfit, according to a media report.
Nihad Barakat, a Yazidi teenager held as a sex slave by the group, was quoted as saying by the Independent that she was kidnapped and trafficked by Siddhartha, who is now based in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold.
Siddhartha, a British Hindu who converted to Islam and now goes by the name Abu Rumaysah, had skipped police bail in the UK to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014.
In an interview for a new documentary series for UK-based British Muslim TV about life on the frontline in Iraq, Barakat said Siddhartha was among the foreign fighters who enslaved her.
"When I was captured near Kirkuk, they took me to another leader from Mosul. His name was Abu Dhar. He also took Yazidi girls for himself. Every day he would tell me that I had to marry another man," she said. The newspaper admits that while it is difficult to verify whether "Abu Dhar" is the same man as the most-wanted British terror suspect, the documentary's presenter said he was "very confident" Barakat was referring to Siddhartha.
"From the information I have, Siddhartha is deemed a leader in Mosul now, and she was very insistent on that name. When we showed her pictures of Siddhartha she recognised them but went very cold. She didn't want to go further and got very agitated," said presenter Joseph Hayat.
Londoner Siddhartha is believed to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John' before he was killed in a drone strike, as the masked apparent executioner of western hostages in ISIS propaganda videos.
His sister, Konika Dhar, had appeared before a House of Commons Home Affairs Committee hearing earlier this year which was trying to establish the possibility of Siddhartha being the masked man who appeared in an ISIS propaganda video showing "British spies" being executed.
"I'm still holding to the firm belief that what I'm seeing is not him -- and I haven't had verification otherwise. It's sort of the realisation that 'is he really my brother that has done this? and I can't accept that he would ever do that. I can't accept it," the London-based law student had said. Siddhartha had six previous arrests while in the UK and was free on bail when he was able to escape from the UK via Paris.
Nihad Barakat, a Yazidi teenager held as a sex slave by the group, was quoted as saying by the Independent that she was kidnapped and trafficked by Siddhartha, who is now based in Mosul, the group's Iraqi stronghold.
Siddhartha, a British Hindu who converted to Islam and now goes by the name Abu Rumaysah, had skipped police bail in the UK to travel to Syria with his wife and young children in 2014.
In an interview for a new documentary series for UK-based British Muslim TV about life on the frontline in Iraq, Barakat said Siddhartha was among the foreign fighters who enslaved her.
"When I was captured near Kirkuk, they took me to another leader from Mosul. His name was Abu Dhar. He also took Yazidi girls for himself. Every day he would tell me that I had to marry another man," she said. The newspaper admits that while it is difficult to verify whether "Abu Dhar" is the same man as the most-wanted British terror suspect, the documentary's presenter said he was "very confident" Barakat was referring to Siddhartha.
"From the information I have, Siddhartha is deemed a leader in Mosul now, and she was very insistent on that name. When we showed her pictures of Siddhartha she recognised them but went very cold. She didn't want to go further and got very agitated," said presenter Joseph Hayat.
Londoner Siddhartha is believed to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi, known as 'Jihadi John' before he was killed in a drone strike, as the masked apparent executioner of western hostages in ISIS propaganda videos.
His sister, Konika Dhar, had appeared before a House of Commons Home Affairs Committee hearing earlier this year which was trying to establish the possibility of Siddhartha being the masked man who appeared in an ISIS propaganda video showing "British spies" being executed.
"I'm still holding to the firm belief that what I'm seeing is not him -- and I haven't had verification otherwise. It's sort of the realisation that 'is he really my brother that has done this? and I can't accept that he would ever do that. I can't accept it," the London-based law student had said. Siddhartha had six previous arrests while in the UK and was free on bail when he was able to escape from the UK via Paris.
14:50 Manish Tewari's 'unconditional apology' to Gadkari for Adarsh taint
Congress leader Manish Tewari has tendered an unconditional apology to Nitin Gadkari in connection with his charge against him in the Adarsh Housing scam following which BJP leader withdrew a defamation case against him.
"Tewari has tendered an apology after which Gadkari has now withdrawn the defamation case," Gadkari's lawyer Rameshwar Gite said today.
In a letter to Gadkari, Tewari has said, "I understand that that by such statements you have to suffer huge disrepute and have to face uncomfortable situation within the party and the society. Therefore by this communication I tender my unconditional apology for the allegations made against you."
He also said that in future he will not put Gadkari in disrepute by making any comments with regards to the Adarsh Society.Tewari also requested Gadkari to withdraw the case filed in the local magistrate's court.
Gadkari filed the case in December, 2010 when Tiwari, as Congress spokesperson, had accused him of holding a benami flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh Society here.
He had contended in the complaint that this was false and defamatory and Tewari be tried for criminal defamation under the Indian Penal Code.
The local court had last month taken cognizance of Gadkari's complaint and had issued process against Tewari.In Delhi, the BJP also released Tewari's letter to Gadkari.
"Tewari has tendered an apology after which Gadkari has now withdrawn the defamation case," Gadkari's lawyer Rameshwar Gite said today.
In a letter to Gadkari, Tewari has said, "I understand that that by such statements you have to suffer huge disrepute and have to face uncomfortable situation within the party and the society. Therefore by this communication I tender my unconditional apology for the allegations made against you."
He also said that in future he will not put Gadkari in disrepute by making any comments with regards to the Adarsh Society.Tewari also requested Gadkari to withdraw the case filed in the local magistrate's court.
Gadkari filed the case in December, 2010 when Tiwari, as Congress spokesperson, had accused him of holding a benami flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh Society here.
He had contended in the complaint that this was false and defamatory and Tewari be tried for criminal defamation under the Indian Penal Code.
The local court had last month taken cognizance of Gadkari's complaint and had issued process against Tewari.In Delhi, the BJP also released Tewari's letter to Gadkari.
14:32 Revisiting Geronimo: The op that killed Osama bin Laden
"It has been five years since Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed by American forces in Pakistan's Abbottabad. Many hoped that this would bring about the end of the 'War On Terror'. The people who planned and executed the operation knew that getting bin Laden in Pakistan was going to be a difficult mission, and the plan nearly went awry.
Here's the blow-by-blow account on what happened on the night of May 1, 2011, when the terror mastermind was killed. Read more
Here's the blow-by-blow account on what happened on the night of May 1, 2011, when the terror mastermind was killed. Read more
14:20 I Was the Voice-Over for Bin Laden
"The tapes arrived randomly, throwing the newsroom into a frenzy and immediately becoming that evening's lead story. One day, a news producer asked the office bullpen if anyone wanted to voice-over the English translation of Bin Laden's latest ominous message. My hand shot up."
Read the story of the man who was the voice-over for Osama.
Read the story of the man who was the voice-over for Osama.
14:13 Satyajit Ray would have been 95 today
On Satyajit Ray's 95th birth anniversary replugging some of our favourite pieces on the man who changed forever how stories were told on celluloid.
10 Satyajit Ray films that should be re-released
Sandip Ray, on his father.
When Amjad Khan, Attenborough, Sanjeev Kumar got together...
Saving the Apu Trilogy
10 Satyajit Ray films that should be re-released
Sandip Ray, on his father.
When Amjad Khan, Attenborough, Sanjeev Kumar got together...
Saving the Apu Trilogy
14:05 Obama defines his Russian legacy
Three incidents through the month of April involving the US and Russian forces have led to a significant rise in tensions between Washington and Moscow. Interestingly, all three incidents occurred close to Russia's borders -- two involving US spy planes sneaking close to Russian territory (one with its transponder shut down to evade detection by radar) and a third one involving USS Donald Cook, equipped with cruise missiles, coming within 70 kms of the highly sensitive Russian naval base in Kaliningrad in the Baltic Sea.
Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.
Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.
14:04
Just in: Poachers kill one more rhino in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. That's the eight rhino killed this year.
13:45 India, Pak have long granted Kipling a surprising pedestal
Kipling is due a reappraisal, and perhaps he is slowly coming back into fashion. Here's why
13:38 PM not keen on salary hike for MPs, mulls Pay Commission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a different take on the impending salary hike for Members of Parliament.
PM Modi is keen that the pay hike should be linked to either the Pay Commission for government employees or that an institution for MPs be esgtablished which will accept suggestions, hold discussions and give its decision on pay hikes once in three years, on the lines of a Pay Commission.
Modi does not want MP salaries to be hiked each and every time the Government thinks it fit to introduce a Bill in Parliament. The PM believes it would harm public sentiment towards the government especially with five states going to the polls now. While PM Modi has always been particular to court public opinion, he has been distant from MPs.
With Parliament proceedings marked by disruptions from the Oppostion, especially Congress MPs, the PM feels it sends a wrong signal to India watchers, to give MPs pay hikes when there is little work done.
Modi wants to discuss the pay hike with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and presiding officers of both houses before taking a final call.
Members of Parliament have recommended a 100 per cent hike in salaries and allowances for themselves, and say they deserve a raise in view of their "good conduct." A bill for this is expected to passed in the next session of Parliament.
A parliamentary committee has suggested that the salary of MPs be raised from Rs. 50,000 to a lakh a month and a constituency allowance from Rs. 45000 to 90000. If the committee's proposal are accepted, the total compensation package for an MP will go up from Rs. 1,40,000 to 2,80,000.
The committee, headed by the BJP's Yogi Adityanath has also recommended a 75 per cent rise in pensions, and an automatic revision in salaries periodically. MPs' salaries were last hiked six years ago.
A cabinet note on this has been sent to all ministries for feedback, before the recommendations are presented to Parliament for approval.
PM Modi is keen that the pay hike should be linked to either the Pay Commission for government employees or that an institution for MPs be esgtablished which will accept suggestions, hold discussions and give its decision on pay hikes once in three years, on the lines of a Pay Commission.
Modi does not want MP salaries to be hiked each and every time the Government thinks it fit to introduce a Bill in Parliament. The PM believes it would harm public sentiment towards the government especially with five states going to the polls now. While PM Modi has always been particular to court public opinion, he has been distant from MPs.
With Parliament proceedings marked by disruptions from the Oppostion, especially Congress MPs, the PM feels it sends a wrong signal to India watchers, to give MPs pay hikes when there is little work done.
Modi wants to discuss the pay hike with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and presiding officers of both houses before taking a final call.
Members of Parliament have recommended a 100 per cent hike in salaries and allowances for themselves, and say they deserve a raise in view of their "good conduct." A bill for this is expected to passed in the next session of Parliament.
A parliamentary committee has suggested that the salary of MPs be raised from Rs. 50,000 to a lakh a month and a constituency allowance from Rs. 45000 to 90000. If the committee's proposal are accepted, the total compensation package for an MP will go up from Rs. 1,40,000 to 2,80,000.
The committee, headed by the BJP's Yogi Adityanath has also recommended a 75 per cent rise in pensions, and an automatic revision in salaries periodically. MPs' salaries were last hiked six years ago.
A cabinet note on this has been sent to all ministries for feedback, before the recommendations are presented to Parliament for approval.
13:15 Jonti, dhoti and bhakti
That's South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes performing puja at a temple in Santacruz in suburban Mumbai yesterday. In fact, his daughter, India, was born in a hospital in Santa Cruz in April last year.
Pic courtesy: Jonty Rhodes Facebook page.
Pic courtesy: Jonty Rhodes Facebook page.
13:06 Congress to disrupt RS on Wednesday
Chaos will rule the Upper House on Wednesday.
Our sources tell us that Congress MPs have decided to disrupt Parliament proceedings on Wednesday, which is when the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to take up the Agusta Westland Helicopter scam for discussion in the House.
Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress MP from Gujarat, has been enrolling a few of the more disruptive Congress MPs who would not shy away from clambering on to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's desk and possibly grab the statement on the AgustaWestland deal from his hands.
Similar incidents have taken place earlier in the Rajya Sabha when the Womens Reservation Bill was passed. SP, RJD and BSP MPs created a ruckus inside the House and the CRPF and Marshalls had to be summoned.
Then there was the time when BJP MP Ram Jethmalani, who was then Law Minister, introduced the same Womens' Bill when Vajpayee was PM. Again SP and RJD MPs created a ruckus.
So, if the Congress does disrupt proceedings on Wednesday, it would hardly be the first time it has happened in the House.
Our sources tell us that Congress MPs have decided to disrupt Parliament proceedings on Wednesday, which is when the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to take up the Agusta Westland Helicopter scam for discussion in the House.
Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress MP from Gujarat, has been enrolling a few of the more disruptive Congress MPs who would not shy away from clambering on to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's desk and possibly grab the statement on the AgustaWestland deal from his hands.
Similar incidents have taken place earlier in the Rajya Sabha when the Womens Reservation Bill was passed. SP, RJD and BSP MPs created a ruckus inside the House and the CRPF and Marshalls had to be summoned.
Then there was the time when BJP MP Ram Jethmalani, who was then Law Minister, introduced the same Womens' Bill when Vajpayee was PM. Again SP and RJD MPs created a ruckus.
So, if the Congress does disrupt proceedings on Wednesday, it would hardly be the first time it has happened in the House.
12:47
Just in: TMC MP Sukhendu Roy asked to leave the Rajya Sabha.
12:43
The complete transcript of Larry Wilmore's 2016 White House correspondents' dinner speech. Read
12:32 TMC wants to know who are 'Gandhi', 'AP' in Agusta deal
Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is facing the Congress-Left combine in the West Bengal assembly election, today sought to corner the Congress in Rajya Sabha by raising the AgustaWestland helicopter issue and wanting to know who the 'Gandhi' and 'AP' are the alleged bribe seekers in the deal.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy (TMC) wanted to know who has taken bribe in the deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters.
"Defence Minister has to give a statement. Why is the government silent," he asked. "Who is this AP (named as alleged bribe taker in the deal)? Who is Gandhi? Who is Shashikant."
He wanted the Defence Minister to make a statement on the issue after suspending regular business and matter discussed. "Government has to disclose the identity (of bribe takers)," he said. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there is no rule for suspension of business during Zero Hour and disallowed his notice.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Sukhendu Shekhar Roy (TMC) wanted to know who has taken bribe in the deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters.
"Defence Minister has to give a statement. Why is the government silent," he asked. "Who is this AP (named as alleged bribe taker in the deal)? Who is Gandhi? Who is Shashikant."
He wanted the Defence Minister to make a statement on the issue after suspending regular business and matter discussed. "Government has to disclose the identity (of bribe takers)," he said. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there is no rule for suspension of business during Zero Hour and disallowed his notice.
12:10 Agusta disrupts RS again after Azad talks of deal between Modi-Italian PM
BJP's Bhupender Yadav moves privilege motion against Leader of Oppostion in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad for saying there's deal between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Italian President to fix Sonia Gandhi.
The Trinamool Congress also gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend all other matters until a discussion on AgustaWestland scam is conducted. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien says the notice is under examination by the Chairman.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for 30 minutes. The TMC asks Defence Minister to give a statement.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he would give all details including documents about AgustaWestland deal before Parliament on May 4. "I will place the detailed chronology with documents giving facts about AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on May 4," Parrikar said.
The Trinamool Congress also gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend all other matters until a discussion on AgustaWestland scam is conducted. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien says the notice is under examination by the Chairman.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for 30 minutes. The TMC asks Defence Minister to give a statement.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he would give all details including documents about AgustaWestland deal before Parliament on May 4. "I will place the detailed chronology with documents giving facts about AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on May 4," Parrikar said.
11:51 Rajdeep Sardesai quits Twitter over 'abuse and lies'
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai decided to disable his account @sardesairajdeep on Twitter on Saturday. He cited extensive abuse and personal attacks against him and alleged hacking of his account which led him to take this step. This is what he wrote:
"2 days ago, I temporarily disabled my Twitter account. It was a decision taken because, frankly, I had reached breaking point with social media. To be subject to a concerted campaign of lies and abuse on a daily basis is not very pleasant, esp when they try and drag in your wife and kids. I joined Twitter five years ago because my friend Sushmit Sarkar told me it is the future in a media 360 age. I must confess over the years I became a Twitter addict. And the addiction I now realise was self destructive: when you latch your thoughts to 140 characters, when your self image is determined by twitter opinion, then you know that you are in trouble. I even tried to engage with the so called haters but have sadly realised that there is no space for engagement: twitter lives in a 'them' versus 'us' black and white universe with no space for sanity or dialogue.
"So a Twitter detox has begun: I don't know how long it will last, but I must confess to having had a good morning without pouring through my timeline and getting my blood pressure up. Not that the abuse has stopped: someone put up my number on a public facebook page and since yesterday have received calls a minute/whatsapp messages designed to threaten, intimidate and even promise death! Will file a police complaint but not sure what good it will do. In the social media space, anyone can say anything without any restraint. All in the name of free speech and open society(and, of course, Bhakti!). The latest canard being spread is that I got money in the Agusta Westland deal and even a flat in Colaba!! Wow!
"If this isn't utterly Goebbelsian, then I don't know what is. We live in difficult times and I must confess that I feel deeply troubled by the toxicity in the air. Which is why I need oxygen: hopefully, family, friends, cricket and music will provide it. it's time to breathe again!!??
"2 days ago, I temporarily disabled my Twitter account. It was a decision taken because, frankly, I had reached breaking point with social media. To be subject to a concerted campaign of lies and abuse on a daily basis is not very pleasant, esp when they try and drag in your wife and kids. I joined Twitter five years ago because my friend Sushmit Sarkar told me it is the future in a media 360 age. I must confess over the years I became a Twitter addict. And the addiction I now realise was self destructive: when you latch your thoughts to 140 characters, when your self image is determined by twitter opinion, then you know that you are in trouble. I even tried to engage with the so called haters but have sadly realised that there is no space for engagement: twitter lives in a 'them' versus 'us' black and white universe with no space for sanity or dialogue.
"So a Twitter detox has begun: I don't know how long it will last, but I must confess to having had a good morning without pouring through my timeline and getting my blood pressure up. Not that the abuse has stopped: someone put up my number on a public facebook page and since yesterday have received calls a minute/whatsapp messages designed to threaten, intimidate and even promise death! Will file a police complaint but not sure what good it will do. In the social media space, anyone can say anything without any restraint. All in the name of free speech and open society(and, of course, Bhakti!). The latest canard being spread is that I got money in the Agusta Westland deal and even a flat in Colaba!! Wow!
"If this isn't utterly Goebbelsian, then I don't know what is. We live in difficult times and I must confess that I feel deeply troubled by the toxicity in the air. Which is why I need oxygen: hopefully, family, friends, cricket and music will provide it. it's time to breathe again!!??
11:33 Why our institutions are producing unemployable Indians
"I did not bother to collect my diploma certificate because the course was a waste of time and more or less useless. It would be instructive for me to describe it because manufacturing is seen as the way out for India's great unemployment problem. It is? I do not think so," says Aakar Patel.
Read more
Read more
11:24 Keenan-Reuben murder hearing adjourned to May 5
Keenan-Reuben murder case: Mumbai sessions court adjourned the matter till May 5.
Keenan Santos, 24, and Reuben Fernandez,29, were repeatedly stabbed outside an eatery at Amboli on October 20, 2011 when they tried to protect their women friends from a group of men.
Keenan succumbed to his injuries on the same day, while Reuben died 10 days later on October 31.
Four accused Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival were arrested the next day and a fast-track court had in October framed charges against them for murder, conspiracy and molestation.
Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the public prosecutor.
Keenan Santos, 24, and Reuben Fernandez,29, were repeatedly stabbed outside an eatery at Amboli on October 20, 2011 when they tried to protect their women friends from a group of men.
Keenan succumbed to his injuries on the same day, while Reuben died 10 days later on October 31.
Four accused Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival were arrested the next day and a fast-track court had in October framed charges against them for murder, conspiracy and molestation.
Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the public prosecutor.
11:12 Make a date with Shashi Kapoor on May 6
Chapters from the personal and professional life of the enigmatic Shashi Kapoor that hitherto remained disclosed is set to come to the fore as a biography on the versatile actor is set for a release this month. 'Shashi Kapoor -- the Householder, the Star', authored by film journalist Aseem Chhabra, attempts to delve into the nature and nurture of Kapoor, who proved his might as more than a natural star born into the first family of Hindi film industry as he became the commercially viable superstar and a critically acclaimed actor.
The Rupa Publications, offers glimpses of Kapoor, the family man -- son of Prithviraj Kapoor, husband of Jennifer Kendal, and father to Kunal, Karan and Sanjna, while it tracks the emergence of a bright-eyed boy who made his acting debut in brother Raj Kapoor's directorial maiden 'Awaara' (1951) to one of the busiest performers in the 1970s.
Kapoor, who was in 2014 felicitated with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian Cinema, belted out films like 'Waqt', 'Deewar', 'Trishul' even as his forays into the non-commercial arena of filmmaking yielded nothing less than 'Junoon', 'Kalyug' and 'Utsav', all considered masterpieces.
Set for its official launch on May 6, the biography also traces the affable Bollywood star's forays into world cinema as also his pioneering works in the theatre circuit.
Pic: Shashi Kapoor accepting the Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2014.
The Rupa Publications, offers glimpses of Kapoor, the family man -- son of Prithviraj Kapoor, husband of Jennifer Kendal, and father to Kunal, Karan and Sanjna, while it tracks the emergence of a bright-eyed boy who made his acting debut in brother Raj Kapoor's directorial maiden 'Awaara' (1951) to one of the busiest performers in the 1970s.
Kapoor, who was in 2014 felicitated with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian Cinema, belted out films like 'Waqt', 'Deewar', 'Trishul' even as his forays into the non-commercial arena of filmmaking yielded nothing less than 'Junoon', 'Kalyug' and 'Utsav', all considered masterpieces.
Set for its official launch on May 6, the biography also traces the affable Bollywood star's forays into world cinema as also his pioneering works in the theatre circuit.
Pic: Shashi Kapoor accepting the Dada Saheb Phalke award in 2014.
11:07 Govt says its okay with Hurriyat talking to Pakistan
India has quietly dumped its most controversial "red line" with Pakistan. Two years after imposing a policy whereby Pakistani officials meeting Hurriyat leaders was a distinct "no-no", India has officially walked back from this position, as it has become increasingly untenable. Read more
11:00 Massive jams in and around Delhi as taxi drivers protest diesel cab ban
In a bid to protest against a Supreme Court decision to ban diesel taxis in the national capital, cab drivers today blocked traffic in west Delhi's Rajokri area.
The blockage near Rajokri area also obstructed traffic in both the carraigeways from Dhaula Kuan to Gurgaon.
"The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road," a traffic police official said.
The blockage eventually led to a massive traffic jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon route with vehicles lined up behind one another for up to 1 km, an official said.
The top court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. The deadline for the change was extended twice.
The blockage near Rajokri area also obstructed traffic in both the carraigeways from Dhaula Kuan to Gurgaon.
"The taxi drivers on Monday morning blocked both the carraigeways on Rajokri flyover near the old Delhi toll booth on Gurgaon to Dhaula Kuan road," a traffic police official said.
The blockage eventually led to a massive traffic jam on the Delhi-Gurgaon route with vehicles lined up behind one another for up to 1 km, an official said.
The top court on Saturday had refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG) and banned the diesel-based taxis to run in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) from May 1. The deadline for the change was extended twice.
10:53 Where are India's tax payers?
Only 2.9 crore Indians filed personal income tax returns for the assessment year 2012-13 -- that is less than 4 per cent of the 760 million adults enumerated in the 2011 Census.
More than half these 2.9 crore individuals paid no tax at all. That the country's direct tax base is dizzyingly narrow is an often stated problem. But data put out on Friday by the Income Tax Department provide details to frame the challenge yet more sharply. Read more
More than half these 2.9 crore individuals paid no tax at all. That the country's direct tax base is dizzyingly narrow is an often stated problem. But data put out on Friday by the Income Tax Department provide details to frame the challenge yet more sharply. Read more
10:35 AgustaWestland scam: CBI questions former IAF chief SP Tyagi
The CBI on Monday began the questioning of former Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal scam.
The former IAF chief has also been issued summons by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The ED had served summons to Tyagi after it was able to track alleged bribe money related to the AgustaWestland deal to two of Tyagi's cousins.
Tyagi was the IAF chief when the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal was struck and has been accused of tweaking requirements to favour the company.
10:14 Part of AgustaWestland chopper 'bribe' returned via FDI route
Indian investigators said some of the money alleged to have been paid as kickbacks in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal was repatriated to the country through a maze of shell companies based in Mauritius and Tunisia as foreign direct investment.
However, a large chunk of the Rs 160 crore that the Milan Court of Appeals said was allegedly paid to middleman Guido Haschke remains untraced.
The Enforcement Directorate has found a web of companies that was set up to route Rs 37 crore to Indian entities. This was part of the Rs 160 crore that AgustaWestland allegedly paid to middlemen.
Read the full story HERE
09:49 Only 1 per cent Indians pay Income Tax
A total of 2.87 crore individuals filed income tax returns for 2012-13, but 1.62 crore of them did not pay any tax. This left the number of taxpayers who filed ITR at just about 1.25 crore which was close to one per cent of the country's total population of about 123 crore at that time, government data reveals.
09:25
JUST IN: 4 people killed and 3 injured in a crude bomb blast in Jainpur village of Malda district of West Bengal.
09:08 Work for peace, Kargil war martyr's daughter tells India, Pakistan
Amidst the distrust and failed confidence- building measures between India and Pakistan, a Facebook video posted by the daughter of a Kargil War martyr has given a strong message to policymakers of both countries without uttering a single word.
She said she has made this video because she wants the "governments of both countries to stop pretending and solve the problem', and has questioned the caliber of leadership of both nations.
She has cautioned that "we cannot dream of becoming a first world country with third world leadership". She has demanded that the two countries should talk, and that there's "state-sponsored terrorism, enough state sponsored spies, state sponsored hatred' and that enough people have died on both sides of the border.
See the full video HERE
08:45 Keenan-Reuben murder case verdict likely today
The Mumbai sessions court is likely to pronounce verdict in infamous Keenan-Reuben murder case today. Keenan Santos, 24, and Reuben Fernandez,29, were repeatedly stabbed outside an eatery at Mumbai's Amboli area on October 20, 2011 when they tried to protect their female friends from a group of men.
Keenan succumbed to his injuries on the same day, while Reuben died 10 days later on October 31.
Four accused -- Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival -- were arrested the next day and a fast-track court had in October framed charges against them for murder, conspiracy and molestation.
08:32
JUST IN: TMC gives notice in Rajya Sabha for suspension of all business today and immediately take up discussion on AgustaWestland.
08:16 Surge pricing back in Delhi after odd-even, Kejriwal warns of action
Taxi aggregator Uber brought back surge pricing on Sunday in Delhi, prompting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to warn the operator of "strong action'.
Uber had introduced the provision during the second phase of the odd-even scheme, and the move was objected to by commuters. Kejriwal had asserted that such demand-linked hikes would be banned permanently.
Surge pricing is a business practice in which companies charge higher rates than normal to encourage more drivers to offer rides when demand for taxis outstrips supply.
A day after the second phase of the odd-even scheme aimed at curbing air pollution ended on April 30, commuters across the city who availed of the services of the app-based cab firm found that surge pricing was back.
07:55 Fire out in 70 per cent of affected areas in Uttarakhand
Latest satellite images of Uttarakhand have reported that the forest fire has gone out in over 70 per cent of the affected areas, even as the NDRF has deployed over 130 personnel to tackle the massive blaze.
"We have been informed that fresh images from satellite has shown that the effective area under fire in Uttarakhand has come down to 110-115 locations from the earlier about 427.
"It is expected that these figures will be brought downto 50-60 in the next few days by the combined forces fighting to douse the jungle fire," NDRF Director General O P Singh said.
The Director General said the NDRF men are also working to save animals who could have been trapped in the blazing fire. A squad of over 135 personnel of this special force are deployed in Uttarakhand as part of multiple firefighting teams to combat the raging fire in the jungles of Uttarakhand that have destroyed about 2,269 hectares of jungles in several districts and claimed at least seven lives till now.
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