As per due procedure, Devender Kumar (who is facing bribery allegations) is suspended from the Central Bureau of Investigation, the body has said in a statement. 

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain Tuesday said the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya was not an electoral issue for his party but a "matter of faith".


RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had last week demanded a law to enable construction of the Ram temple, saying it was necessary for "self-esteem" (of the people in general) and to usher in an "atmosphere of goodwill and oneness".


Hussain said the BJP's official stand was that the Ram temple issue is pending before the Supreme Court. In a democracy, various demands are made and the government hears out each one of them, he said.


"All Indians want the temple to be constructed. It is not an electoral issue, but a matter of faith for the BJP," he said at the 'Mumbai Manthan' conclave organised by television news channel Aaj Tak. Hussain was participating in a debate on whether the Modi government will accept Bhagwat's demand for a law to construct the Ram temple. -- PTI

Central Bureau of Investigation Deputy SP Devender Kumar has been sent to 7 days CBI custody. The Delhi High Court was hearing petitions filed by Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana and DSP Devender Kumar seeking quashing of an FIR against them in a bribery case. The separate petitions filed by them were heard by Justice Najmi Waziri.


The CBI had yesterday arrested its DSP, Kumar, in connection with bribery allegations involving the investigative agency's second-in-command, Asthana.


Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against its special director Rakesh Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations.


The high court clarified that there was no stay on the ongoing probe. Justice Najmi Waziri also sought response of the probe agency and its Director Alok Kumar Verma as also Joint Director A K Sharma on the separate pleas of Asthana and Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar, arrested in the bribery case.


The notice has also been issued to Department of Personnel and Training, which is the administrative arm for the CBI. The order asking the agency to maintain the status quo has been issued on the plea of Asthana only.


The high court asked both Asthana and Kumar to preserve the records of the case and also their mobile records. It posted the matter for hearing on October 29.


During the hearing, CBI said charges against Asthana are serious and the agency was investigating the matter and is likely to add more offences in the FIR.


Asthana's counsel and senior advocate Amrendra Sharan said it is the case of illegal registration of FIR against the Special CBI Director which is based on the statement of accused. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan appeared for Kumar for quashing of the FIR against him.


Asthana and Kumar have filed separate petitions. Asthana has also sought direction be passed that no coercive action be taken against him by the CBI.


Asthana moved the petition on Tuesday, hours after Kumar approached the high court which agreed to give an urgent hearing. Both the petitions were mentioned before Chief Justice Rajendra Menon, who allocated the matter for hearing before Justice Waziri.


The CBI had yesterday arrested its DSP, Kumar, in connection with bribery allegations involving the investigative agency's second-in-command, Asthana.

The postmortem of Father Kuriakose Kattuthara is expected to be completed today, following which the police will decide on the future course of investigation into his death.


Father Kattuthara, a Roman Catholic priest, was a key witness against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, in the alleged nun rape case.


The prelate was found dead inside his room at a convent in Hoshiarpur district's Dasuya in Punjab on Monday morning.


Dasuya's Deputy Superintendent of Police AR Sharma on Tuesday said that no one will be spared if any foul play is found in the priest's death.


"Postmortem of the body will be completed today and further investigation will continue. If any foul play is found, no one will be spared," Sharma told reporters here.


On Monday, the brother of Kerala nun, who had accused Bishop Mulakkal of rape, alleged that the sudden death of Father Kattuthara is a "pre-planned murder".


Speaking to ANI, the nun's brother had demanded a thorough investigation into the death of Father Kattuthara.Bishop Mulakkal was released from Kottayam jail on October 16, a day after being granted conditional bail. He is facing allegations of repeatedly raping a nun of his own congregation, a charge that he denies. -- ANI

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that his country's investigation into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi has revealed that it was a premeditated and meticulously planned political assassination. He said that reconnaissance teams went as far as scouting forest areas near Istanbul.


Erdogan said Khashoggi's death was an international issue - and one that Turkey will pursue.  He said evidence suggests Khashoggi was the victim of a "gruesome murder' and an atrocity that must not be covered up. He said it was significant that the Saudis have admitted Khashoggi was murdered and so those involved must face justice.


He asked why was a 15-man Saudi team in Turkey? On whose orders? Why was the consulate not opened to investigators immediately? Why were so many different statements given by Saudis? Who is the local collaborator who disposed of Khashoggi's body? Erdogan said Saudi must answer all these questions. 


The Turkish president said security services have evidence that the murder was a planned affair. Turkey and the world will only be satisfied when all the planners and perpetrators are held to account. Other countries must participate in the investigation. He also called for an independent commission over the murder.


Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist often critical of Saudi Arabia and its leadership, walked into the Istanbul consulate at around 1 pm on Oct 2, to pick up some documents that would allow him to marry. He never left the consulate alive. Turkish security sources say he was immediately seized inside the consulate by 15 Saudi intelligence operatives who had flown in on two jets just hours before, questioned, and killed and the body disposed off.  

The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn a controversial circular that had asked the education department to provide the Urdu version of Bhagwad Gita and Ramayana in schools and other educational institutions in the state.


"The circular regarding the introduction of some religious books stands withdrawn ab initio under the orders of the chief secretary," an official said Tuesday.


The state government had issued the circular Monday, directing the Director of School Education for the Jammu and Kashmir divisions to purchase these religious books.


The circular had asked the School Education department, the Higher Education department, directors of colleges and libraries and the Culture department to consider purchasing a sufficient number of copies of the Urdu version of the Gita and the Ramayana, authored by Sarwanand Premi.


The circular had generated opposition from various quarters, with former chief minister Omar Abdullah questioning the decision to ignore the books of other religions. "Why just the Gita & Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, colleges & government libraries (and I'm not convinced that they need/should be) then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored?," the National Conference leader had said in a tweet. -- PTI

Union minister Smriti Irani bats for a ban on women to Sabarimala. Speaking to ANI, this is Irani's bizarre explanation: "I have a right to pray, but not a right to desecrate. I am nobody to speak on the Supreme Court verdict as I'm a serving cabinet minster.


"But would you take sanitary napkins soaked in menstrual blood into a friend's home? So why would you take them into the house of God?" she said.


The Supreme Court Tuesday said that it would hear on November 13 petitions challenging its Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all age groups entry into the temple.


A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul told lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that it has already passed an order with regard to listing of petitions on November 13. Nedumpara was mentioning the petition filed by National Ayyappa Devotees Association.


he Union textile minister was speaking at the "Young Thinkers" conference organised by the British High Commission and the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi.


"I am a practising Hindu married to a Zoroastrian. I have ensured that both my kids are practising Zoroastrians, who can go to the fire temple and pray," she said. Irani recalled that when her children were inside the fire temple, she had to stand outside on the road or sit in the car.


"When I took my newborn son (to the fire temple), I would give him at the (temple) entrance to my husband and wait outside, because I was shooed away and told not to stand there," she said. -- PTI

The central leadership of the BJP has deferred a "rath yatra", to be led by its chief Amit Shah, in West Bengal by two days in view of the party's Assembly election campaigns in other states, sources in the saffron party said.


BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu said Shah will now kick off the "yatra" on December 5, instead of December 3, from the temple town of Tarapith in Birbhum.


Five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Telangana and Chhattisgarh -- are set to go to the polls between November 12 and December 7.


"Taking the Assembly polls into consideration, the party has decided to reschedule the dates for the rath yatra in the state," a senior BJP leader said.


The "yatra" will be taken to all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state -- three chariots covering 14 seats each -- he added. Sharing the programme details, Basu told PTI, "The first rally will begin from Birbhum on December 5. The second and third rallies will start from Coochbehar district in the north and Gangasagar in the south on December 7 and 9 respectively. Amit Shahji will be present at all the three rallies."


The tableaus will stop at various places for public meetings and interactions, Basu said. At the conclusion of the "yatra", the party planned to hold a massive rally in Kolkata, which was likely to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.

Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana Tuesday moved the Delhi High Court against the lodging of an FIR against him in a bribery case. Asthana has sought the high court's direction that no coercive action be taken against him. His petition was mentioned before Chief Justice Rajendra Menon. The chief justice allocated the matter to an appropriate bench, which will hear it in the post-lunch session. -- PTI

CBI DSP Devender Kumar Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest in connection with bribery allegations involving agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana.


The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan. The court listed the plea for hearing before an appropriate bench in the post lunch session today. The DSP has made CBI, its director Alok Kumar Verma, joint director A K Sharma and Department of Personnel and Training as parties in the case.


The plea has sought quashing of the FIR terming it as being "illegal, frivolous and malafide". "Issue an appropriate writ or order calling for the records of the case and other related documents and for quashing of the FIR registered against the petitioner," the plea said, adding he has no other efficacious remedy than to approach the high court.


The CBI had yesterday arrested Kumar in connection with bribery allegations involving its second-in-command Asthana. Kumar, who was earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested yesterday by the CBI on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case. -- PTI

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the Rajasthan government to stop illegal mining in a 115.34-hectare area in Aravalli hills within 48 hours. A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said it was compelled to pass this order because Rajasthan has taken the issue "very lightly".


The apex court also referred to a central empowered committee report that 31 hills or hillocks have vanished in the state's Aravalli area. The court was hearing a matter related to illegal mining activities in Aravalli hills. -- PTI

Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou is set to portray the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege in biopic "Panzi". The film will be helmed by actor-turned-director Marie-Helene Roux, reported Variety. Mukwege is a prominent Congolese gynecologist who founded the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, where for decades he has been treating thousands of women who have been raped by armed rebels. He was jointly awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize with Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". The film is currently in casting and is scheduled to start shooting next summer. -- PTI


Image: Denis Mukwege is a prominent Congolese gynecologist who founded the Panzi Hospital to treat victims of sexual violence by armed rebels.

The Supreme Court Tuesday referred to a 5-judge constitution bench a plea seeking collegium-like selection process for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.


A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and SK Kaul considered submissions raised by lawyer Prashant Bhushan and said the issue of appointment of CEC and ECs has to be taken up by a larger constitution bench.


The bench was hearing a PIL filed by one Anoop Baranwal, seeking a transparent selection process for appointment of Election Commissioners in the poll panel.


The Centre, represented by Attorney General K K Venugopal, however, opposed the petition saying so far no case of abuse of official position by the CEC had come forward and referred to names like TN Seshan and other persons who have graced the office of the CEC. -- PTI

Ending days of speculation, election strategist-turned-national vice president of Bihars ruling Janata Dal-United party, Prashant Kishor, Tuesday said he would not contest elections,including the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha polls the for next 10 years.


I will continue to work without contesting elections for the next 10 years to serve Bihar, Kishor said. He added that his goal was to work to help Bihar enter the top 10 developed states of the country.


There was speculation in political circles in Patna whether Kishor would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls after he joined the JD-U last month.


It was also reported in local Hindi dailies that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the party's president, is likely to send Kishor to the Rajya Sabha soon.


Kishore said he will devote his entire time and energy to strategise and strengthen the JD-U in the state and outside it.


Prashant Kishor was appointed party national vice president by Nitish Kumar recently that is widely seen as his elevation to second position in the JD-U after Nitish Kumar.


In in his 40s, known as a successful polls strategist for a number of parties including the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha and JD-U in 2015 Bihar assembly polls, Kishor is considered close to Nitish Kumar.  



More than any one he enjoys the trust and confidence of Nitish Kumar, a senior JD-U leader said.


Over the last two days, the party VP has been busy meeting and interacting with youth activists of the JD-U, mostly from the youth and student wing.


-- MI Khan/Rediff.com

Bhubaneshwar: Abhijit Iyer Mitra appears before Odisha Assembly; he was summoned by the assembly for making derogatory remarks on the Konark Sun Temple.

India summoned a senior official of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi Tuesday and lodged a strong protest over the loss of lives of three of its soldiers during an infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists in the Sunderbani sector of Jammu and Kashmir two days ago.


The Ministry of External Affairs,, in a statement, said it also condemned in the strongest terms such a provocative action by Pakistan, which revealed the neighbouring country's complicity in aiding and abetting terrorism and exposed the hollowness of its deceitful claims of promoting a constructive engagement with India and desire for peace.


The Pakistan High Commission official was summoned to the MEA and a demarche was made, lodging a strong protest over the loss of lives of Indian soldiers during the cross-border infiltration bid by Pakistani terrorists in the Sunderbani sector on October 21, the statement said.


"It was informed that two Pakistani armed intruders have been killed by the Indian security forces during the ensuing firefight and the government of Pakistan should take custody of the dead bodies of its nationals," the MEA said.


Two heavily-armed Pakistani intruders and three Indian soldiers were killed in a gunfight Sunday after the Army foiled the infiltration bid along the Line of Control in the Sunderbani sector.


The Army had also warned Pakistan Monday to restrain the terrorists operating from its soil. India also conveyed to the Pakistani side Tuesday its grave concern over the continuing incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistani forces along the LoC and the International Border,


"Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, Pakistan forces have carried out 1,591 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and IB in 2018 so far," the MEA said.


Pakistan was also asked to abide by its bilateral commitment not to allow any territory under its control to be used for supporting terrorism against India in any manner, it added. -- PTI

The Supreme Court Tuesday said that it would hear on November 13 the petitions challenging its Sabarimala verdict allowing women of all age groups entry into the temple.


A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul told lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara that it has already passed an order with regard to listing of petitions on November 13.


Earlier the court had noted that there were 19 review petitions pending in the matter, filed by the National Ayyappa Devotees Association and others seeking a review of its verdict.


A five-judge constitution bench by a ratio of 4:1 had held that women of all age groups should be allowed entry into Kerala's Sabarimala Temple.


Meanwhile, Union minister Smriti Irani speaking at the Young Thinkers' Conference 2018, hosted by The Hindu, says, "I was once shooed away from praying inside a fire temple at Andheri and handed over my son to the priest for completing the Navjote formalities. I stood on the road outside and prayed. I too have a right to pray. But not a right to desecrate.


"One must ask if it is alright to take a blood-soaked sanitary napkin to a friend's house or a house of God," she added.


Image: Women protesting the SC verdict opening Sabarimala to women of all ages.

The Supreme Court allows a two-hour window -- between 8 pm and 10 pm -- for bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals and imposes a partial ban on the sale of firecrackers in the country.


The court said that "green" crackers which have low emission levels will be across the country. The SC restrains e-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon from selling firecrackers which are beyond the permissible limit.  SC says e-commerce websites will be hauled up for contempt of court if they don't adhere to court's direction. Sale of firecrackers will be through licenced holders only.


Firecrackers with permissible decibel limits will be allowed to be sold in the market, the court said.


Station house officers of police station concerned will be held liable if banned firecrackers are sold in their area.


The court is hearing a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.


The partial ban on bursting firecrackers will be applicable on Christmas and New Year as well, which will be from 11:55 pm to 12:30 am.


There will also be designated areas in Delhi and NCR where firecrackers can be burst. SC directs all states to explore feasibility of community cracker bursting during festivals. SC asks Centre to encourage community cracker bursting during Diwali and other festivals in Delhi-NCR.


A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan which had reserved its verdict on August 28 is to pronounce the judgement.


The apex court had earlier said there is a need to take into account all aspects, including the fundamental right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and the right to health of over 1.3 billion people in the country, while considering a plea for the ban.

Music maestro AR Rahman believes India's #MeToo movement has the power to make the entertainment industry cleaner and respectful of women. The 51-year-old Oscar-winning composer, who shared his views on the movement Monday night via social media, said his aim has always been to create a safe working environment for everyone.


"Been observing the #MeToo movement... Some of the names have shocked me... both the victims and their perpetrators... I would love to see our industry become cleaner and respectful of women... More power to all the victims coming forward!!


"In all my endeavours, my team and I are committed to creating an environment where everyone finds a safe creative space to bring their best, evolve and succeed," he wrote.


Rahman, however, said people should be careful before creating a "internet justice system". "Social media offers great freedom for victims to speak up, however we should be careful in creating a new internet justice system, in case it's misused."


Rahman's statement comes weeks after his long-time collaborator Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu was accused of predatory behaviour by multiple women, including popular singer Chinmayi Sripaada.


India's #MeToo movement started after actor Tanushree Dutta revived a decade-old allegation of harassment against Nana Patekar, accusing him of sexual misconduct on the sets of a 2008 film.


Following Dutta's allegations, many from the Indian film industry including people like Vikas Bahl, Alok Nath, Subhash Ghai, Sajid Khan have been accused of sexual harassment by various women.--  PTI

"It is exceptionally important for Hindus to once again get in touch with the foundation of Hinduism. Aggressive evangelists are reducing Hinduism to its lowest common denominator," Pavan K Varma, retired diplomat, former MP and national spokesperson of the Janata Dal-United, tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Read the interview here.

In Dasuya, police visit the room in St Paul's church where Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, used to live. The priest was a witness in the Kerala nun rape case and was found dead yesterday. The Station House Officer said, "Prima facie, it was natural death. But it will be ascertained after postmortem. The door handle was broken by locals to take the body out; we've checked it."


Kattuthara, 62, was found unconscious in his room in Dasuya, 40 km from Hoshiarpur town, on Monday morning and was taken to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead. Police said the cause of the death would be known after post-mortem.

According to police, no visible injury marks were found on the body.

Relatives of Kattuthara in Kerala said the priest was concerned about his safety after coming out openly against rape-accused bishop Franco Mulakkal. Kattuthara had testified against Mulakkal, they said.


Besides demanding a thorough probe into the death, the relatives want the post-mortem to be conducted at the Alappuzha Medical College in Kerala.


Image: Police at the room in St Paul's church Dasuya, where Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, used to live. Pic: ANI

Home Minister Rajnath Singh leaves for Srinagar to hold a review meeting on the security situation and will also meet Governor Satyapal Malik.

The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce today, the verdict on a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.

A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan which had reserved its verdict on August 28 is to pronounce the judgement.


The apex court had earlier said there is a need to take into account all aspects, including the fundamental right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and the right to health of over 1.3 billion people in the country, while considering a plea for the ban.


The top court had said Article 21 (right to life) of Constitution applies to both segments of people and it needs to maintain a balance while considering a countrywide ban on firecrackers.


It had asked the Centre to suggest measures to be taken for curbing the pollution and what will be the effect of firecrackers on the public at large.


The apex court had on August 8 said a spike in PM 2.5 levels in the air is a severe problem as the particulate matter remains in people's lungs, leading to serious health implications.


Firecrackers manufacturers earlier told the court that use of firecrackers should not be completely banned and it should instead be strictly regulated.


They have contended that the crackers are not the reason for increase in air pollution and there are other factors, like wind and temperature, which contribute to it.


They have said the firecracker manufacturers can be deprived of their right to do business based on statements which were not supported by facts.


On October 9 last year, the top court temporarily banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali.

Later, the court refused to relax its order while dismissing a plea by traders who had sought permission to sell crackers for at least a day or two before Diwali on October 19, 2017.  -- PTI

A woman from Hyderabad, who has been living in Somalia since 2013, is allegedly being mistreated and tortured by her in-laws.Mohammad Wahiuddin, brother of Mohammedi Begum, alleged that his sister's in-laws not even provided adequate food to her.


"My sister Mohammedi Begum got married to Somalian national Sayeed Hassan Ibrahim in the year 2003 in Hyderabad and the duo used to stay with us in our residence in Hyderabad for around 10 years. They were blessed with three sons and two daughters. Later, in 2013, my sister's husband said that his parents in Somalia want to see their children. So, my sister along with her five children went to Somalia on 1 April 2013. However, Sayeed stayed in Hyderabad for one long year and then he shifted to America. Since then my sister and her kids have been stuck in Somalia and facing lots of problems. She is being tortured by her in-laws, they are not even providing adequate food to eat," woman's brother told ANI.


Wahiuddin also urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Embassy of India in Somalia to intervene in the matter and rescue his sister and her children.


"My only appeal to both Sushma Ji and the Indian Embassy in Somalia is, they should rescue my sister and her kids and bring them back home to India as soon as possible without any further delay," he added. -- ANI