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Thu, 04 August 2022
Explosive device with RDX recovered in Haryana
Timeline Refresh
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23:40 Explosive device with RDX recovered in Haryana
The Special Task Force of the Haryana police on Thursday recovered an Improvised Explosive Device packed with around 1.3 kg RDX near Shahabad in Kurukshetra district, an official said.
A person hailing from Punjab's Tarn Taran has been arrested in this connection, he said.
The recovery was made from near the service lane on the Ambala-Delhi national highway, about 70 km away from capital Chandigarh, Kurukshetra superintendent of police Surinder Singh Bhoria told PTI over phone.
Based on inputs, the STF swung into action and recovered the explosive from the busy national highway, another police official said.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the arrested person was allegedly involved in terror activities and had placed the IED recently, the SP said.
The recovery comes days ahead of Independence Day, when security forces are on high alert.
The area was sealed and bomb disposal squad summoned, which defused the explosive, police said. -- PTI
23:31 Rahul Gandhi to address press conference on Friday at 9.30 am
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will address a press conference on Friday at 9:30 am at All India Congress Committee headquarters in the national capital.
The conference came ahead of the Congress' massive nationwide protest on price rise and unemployment and the gherao of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence against price rise, unemployment and GST hike on some essential items.
In Delhi, party MPs will hold "Chalo Rashtrapati Bhavan" from Parliament to register their protest over the issues; CWC members and senior leadership to participate in "PM House gherao" on Friday.
According to a statement from the party, Congress Working Committee (CWC ) members and senior leaders will take part in "PM House gherao" while Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will hold a "Chalo Rashtrapati Bhavan" from Parliament. -- ANI
23:15 J'Khand HC bans promotions of state govt employees
The high court of Jharkhand on Thursday put a ban on all promotions in government departments in the state.
Justice SN Pathak passed the order while hearing a PIL which claimed that a recent decision of the police department will hamper the general category employees' prospect of getting promotions.
The court ordered the director general of police Neeraj Sinha and the state government to file affidavits on the matter.
The next date of hearing has been fixed for August 18.
Petitioner Shrikant Dubey submitted that the DGP issued an order on June 23 on granting promotions to assistant sub-inspectors to the post of sub-inspectors.
According to the petitioner, the DGP's order stated that ASIs in the reserved category can seek promotion in the general category while no such liberty is given to candidates in the general category. -- PTI
22:48 Terrorists kill migrant worker, hurt two in J-K
A labourer from Bihar was killed and two others injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday, the police said.
The terrorists lobbed a grenade at a tent housing labourers at Gadoora village in Pulwama, a police spokesman said.
He said one labourer died in the blast while two others sustained injuries.
"The deceased outside labourer has been identified as Mohammad Mumtaz, a resident of Sakwa Parsa, Bihar. The injured have been identified as Mohammad Arif and his son Mohammad Majbool, residents of Rampor, Bihar," the spokesman said.
He said the condition of the injured persons is stable.
The labourers were manufacturing cotton bedding, police said.
Militants had stepped up attacks on non-locals earlier this year but there was a halt in such targeted killings for the past nearly two months. -- PTI
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22:44 Traffic movement to be hit in Lutyens' Delhi on Friday
Traffic movement will be affected on some stretches of Lutyens' Delhi on Friday as the Congress is all set to stage a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and GST hike, officials said in New Delhi.
The city traffic police on Thursday said special arrangements have been made and diversions will be suggested as per expected spots of congestion on major roads.
Vehicular traffic will be affected on Akbar Road and parts of Ashoka Road and Raisina Road, traffic officials said.
Special commissioner of police (traffic) SS Yadav said, "Special arrangements have been made and necessary diversions have been suggested on expected congestion points. We have made all the contingency arrangements for all types of situations, and we will ensure that least inconvenience is caused to the public."
The Congress has planned a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and GST rate hike on essential items on August 5, wherein it will take out a march towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan and gherao the prime minister's residence. -- PTI
VK Sasikala
22:26 Madras HC closes wealth tax against Sasikala
A division bench of the Madras high court on Thursday closed a wealth tax case pending against late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala and her relative.
When the matter came up today, the counsel representing the Income Tax department told the bench of Justices R Mahadevan and Mohammed Shafique that based on the circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes to drop cases worth less than Rs 1 crore, it has decided to drop the wealth tax and the action against Sasikala and her relative Ilavarasi.
Based on that it will withdraw the cases.
Accepting the submission, the bench ordered the closure of the cases filed against Sasikala and Ilavarasi. -- PTI
22:17 Fadnavis in Delhi amid cabinet expansion buzz
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived in New Delhi on Thursday amid speculation of the much-delayed expansion of the state council of ministers.
Fadnavis was expected to meet top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda, to discuss the political situation in the state even as the Supreme Court continued to hear a bunch of petitions in connection with the change of government in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was indisposed and advised rest by doctors, stayed back in Mumbai.
Shinde and Fadnavis were sworn in as chief minister and deputy chief minister, respectively on June 30 after the then incumbent Uddhav Thackeray quit the post due to a rebellion in the Shiv Sena ranks.
Shinde and Fadnavis have been holding fort as a two-member cabinet, apparently awaiting the decision of the apex court.
Speculation has been rife in Mumbai about an impending expansion of the council of ministers either on Friday or early next week.
The opposition parties in Maharashtra took jibes at Shinde and Fadnavis over the delay in the expansion of the cabinet. -- PTI
21:38 Mumbai logs 400+ Covid cases for 2nd day in a row
Mumbai on Thursday logged 410 new coronavirus cases, while two more patients succumbed to the infection in the city, the local civic body said.
With these additions, the overall tally of Covid-19 cases rose to 11,26,150, while the death toll increased to 19,654, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a bulletin.
The city has reported 24 fewer cases compared to Wednesday, but logged more than 400 Covid-19 infections for the second day in a row.
A day before, Mumbai had witnessed 434 Covid-19 cases and one death.
As per the bulletin, the new Covid-19 cases were detected after 9,691 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, pushing up their cumulative count to 1,78,62,485.
A day ago, 10,725 swab samples were examined for detection of Covid-19.
Mumbai's tally of recuperated patients rose to 11,04,261 after 279 more people recovered from the infection, said the bulletin.
The city has a recovery rate of 98.1 per cent and it now left with 2,235 active Covid-19 cases, it said.
Of the 410 new Covid-19 cases, only 28 patients were symptomatic, according to the BMC.
The growth rate of Covid-19 stood at 0.027 per cent between July 28 and August 3, while the case doubling rate was 2,621 days, said the bulletin.
21:20 No vax effective without yoga, ayurveda: Ramdev
Yoga guru Ramdev Thursday questioned the efficacy of allopathy against COVID-19 once again saying vaccination alone is not enough to protect people from the virus and they need to be supplemented with yoga and ayurveda.
He said this on the sidelines of an event in reply to a question on why US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid even after taking the booster dose of the vaccine.
"Without the support of yoga and Ayurveda, no vaccine can immunise you permanently against coronavirus, no matter how big you are, a president or a big doctor yourself," Ramdev said.
Top officials of WHO have also fallen victims to Covid, he said.
He claimed the world is being misled by medical science in the name of vaccines.
"The world will return to yoga and ayurveda again. People are growing tulsi, aloe vera and giloy in their kitchen gardens and reaping their health benefits," Ramdev said on the sidelines of the function at Patanjali Yogpeeth to mark his close aide Balkrishna's birthday. -- PTI
21:13 Mamata arrives in Delhi on 4-day visit, scheduled to meet Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a four-day visit and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to discuss multiple issues, including GST dues for her state.
Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo, met her party's MPs and discussed with them the current session of Parliament and the road to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources said.
She also sought from them suggestions for the names of the seven new districts in West Bengal announced by her recently, they said.
On Friday, Banerjee is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In her meeting with Modi, she is likely to discuss the GST dues for West Bengal, sources said.
The West Bengal chief minister will attend a Niti Aayog meeting on August 7, sources said, also on the cards is a meeting with Opposition leaders.
With the TMC warming up to the Congress in Parliament, Banerjee might also meet the grand old party president Sonia Gandhi, who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case.
Meanwhile, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, "We met (Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj) Giriraj Singh and he had promised to resolve the MGNREGA issue within 48 hrs. It has been over a month and all I received is a dour-page answer which I have given to Mamata Banerjee." -- PTI
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
20:53 Priyanka voices support for Sanjay Raut after ED summons his wife
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday expressed support for Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, saying he and his family are being targeted because he is not afraid of the BJP's "deceitful politics" and fights the ruling party resolutely.
Gandhi's remarks came after the Enforcement Directorate summoned Varsha Raut, wife of arrested Sena MP Sanjay Raut, for questioning in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a local 'chawl' and linked transactions.
Varsha Raut is expected to be confronted with her husband and some other accused involved in the case once she deposes before the central agency at its office in Ballard Estate later this week.
Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED in this case on August 1, and a local court on Thursday sent him to further custody till August 8.
In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The only goal of the BJP is to grab power by threats and deceit, and trample upon democracy."
Sanjay Raut and his family are being targeted because he is not afraid of the "deceitful politics" of the BJP and fights them resolutely, she said.
"Fear and intimidation are weapons of the cowards, they will not stand up to the might of the truth," Priyanka Gandhi added.
The ED had earlier told the court that Sanjay Raut and his family received "proceeds of crime" worth over Rs 1 crore generated out of alleged irregularities in the housing redevelopment project. -- PTI
20:45 Maha cabinet expansion before Aug 15: BJP leader
Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday said he believed the cabinet expansion of the state government will take place before August 15 so that guardian ministers can hoist the Tricolour in their respective districts on the 75th year of Independence.
Eknath Shinde was sworn in as chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy on June 30 but since then there has been no induction of ministers.
"This August 15 is very special for our country as we are completing 75 years of Independence. The cabinet expansion ought to be completed before Independence Day so that guardian ministers can hoist the Tricolour in their respective districts," he told reporters.
However, Mungantiwar added nobody knew when the cabinet expansion will take place.
"But I have no doubt it would take place before August 15," he told reporters. -- PTI
20:20 DRDO successfully test-fires laser-guided ATGMs
Indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles were successfully test-fired from Main Battle Tank Arjun by DRDO and the Indian Army at KK Ranges with the support of Armoured Corps Centre & School Ahmednagar on Thursday.
The missiles hit with precision and successfully defeated the targets at two different ranges.
Telemetry systems recorded the satisfactory flight performance of the missiles, 2022, said a press release.
The all-indigenous Laser Guided ATGM employs a tandem high explosive anti-tank warhead to defeat explosive reactive armour protected armoured vehicles.
The ATGM has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun, as per the statement.
With today's trials, the consistency of ATGM's capability to engage targets from minimum to maximum range has been established successfully.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO and the Indian Army for the successful performance of the laser guided ATGMs. -- ANI
20:00 Azam Khan admitted to hospital with pneumonia
Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was admitted to an ICU of a private hospital here as he was found suffering from pneumonia.
The leader had complained of breathlessness, after which he was examined by doctors, who found him suffering from infection. Khan (74) was admitted to Medanta Hospital on Wednesday night.
"He is in the intensive care unit and has been kept under observation of a critical care team. His condition is stable and under control," Dr Dileep Dubey said.
Khan is currently an MLA from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur. -- PTI
19:40 1st suspected monkeypox case found in Gujarat
Gujarat has reported its first suspected case of monkeypox with a man with no recent travel history exhibiting symptoms of the viral disease, said health department officials on Thursday.
His swab samples have been sent for testing, they said.
The 29-year-old patient, a resident of Nava Nagna village in Jamnagar district, is currently admitted to a special ward created in the city-based GG Hospital, said Dr Nandini Desai, dean of the MP Shah Government Medical College attached with the hospital.
"Since he was exhibiting monkeypox symptoms, such as high fever, we have sent his samples for confirmation to a laboratory in Ahmedabad. The patient has been admitted to an isolation ward in the hospital," said Desai.
She said the man does not have any recent travel history. -- PTI
Police at the spot after finding suspicious bag in Delhi's Rohini/ANI
19:02 Suspicious bag found in Delhi's Rohini, elderly woman claims it later
A suspicious bag was found in Rohini area in the national capital on Thursday, sending the security agencies into a tizzy ahead of the Independence Day, the police said.
However, the bag found lying near a canteen in Nirankari colony was later claimed by an elderly woman.
She said she had come to the canteen for a meal and forgot to carry the bag with her, a senior police officer said.
The bag was thoroughly checked and was found containing only cosmetic items and other items of the woman, the police officer said. deputy commissioner of police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal said the "object has been checked and nothing suspicious found". -- PTI
18:34 Over 10,000 cases pending in SC for over 10 years
Over 71 thousand cases are pending with the Supreme Court, out which over 10,000 are awaiting disposal for over a decade, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
In a written reply, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said 71,411 cases as on August 2 were pending before the top court, which included over 56,000 civil matters and over 15,000 criminal matters.
He said of the total 71,411 pending cases in the apex court, 10,491 were pending for more than ten years.
Over 42,000 cases were pending for less than five years and 18,134 between five and 10 years.
In reply to another question, Rijiju said while 40,28,591 cases were pending in the various high courts in 2016, their numbers went up to 59,55,907 as on July 29 this year -- a rise of 50 per cent.
The district and subordinate courts also saw a 50 per cent hike in cases between 2016 and July 29 this year.
In 2016, over 2.82 crore cases were pending, the figure stood at over 4.24 crore this year.
Disposal of pending cases in courts is within the domain of the judiciary.
Though filing and disposal of cases in different courts is a continuous process, no time frame has been prescribed for disposal of various kinds of cases by the respective courts, the minister said. -- PTI
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18:19 Mangaluru bans men riding pillion at night
In the wake of spate of murders leading to communal flare-up in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, the Mangaluru police commissioner N Shashi Kumar on Thursday ordered ban on men riding pillion in the Mangaluru police commissionerate area at night.
The ban which came into effect from today would remain in force from 6 pm to 6 am till August 8.
But, children below 18 years of age, elderly persons and women have been exempted from the restriction.
Further, no one would be allowed to raise slogans in public, provoke people, calling names, stage demonstrations and display pictures and posters.
There would also be a ban on gatherings of more than five people at one place and carrying any kind of weapons or shaft, bursting fire-crackers or burning effigies or hurling stones.
The police restricted also indulgence in any activities that could disturb communal harmony, peace and public order.
Any private function, celebrations and rallies have also been banned during this period. -- PTI
17:47 Happy birthday, Barack Obama
Michelle Obama shares a throwback picture of her husband and former US President Barack Obama, writing, "Happy birthday to my honey! Life with you just keeps getting better every year. You always make me proud. I love you (emoji with face surrounded by hearts)."
Barack Obama turns 61 today.
17:34 LIVE! Chinese missiles land in SEZ, says Japan
Tokyo says five missiles fired by China's military landed in Japan's special economic zone.
The Chinese military on Thursday said it has conducted precision strikes over the Taiwan Strait and 'expected results' were achieved, in apparent retaliation to the United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei disregarding Beijing's vociferous warnings.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it and has long vowed to reunify the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary.
Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, the first by a sitting US Speaker in 25 years, has angered China.
Image: A man watches a CCTV news broadcast, showing a fighter jet during joint military operations near Taiwan by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
17:24 Taliban pushes over 200 Afghan media outlets towards shutdown
Over 200 media outlets have ceased operations in Afghanistan and 7,000 media workers have lost their jobs since the Taliban seized power in August last year while the country's economy continues to shrink.
Expressing concerns over the deteriorating situation of Afghan media, the Afghanistan Federation of Journalists and Media noted that they had made suggestions to the international community and the Islamic Emirate about the protection of media workers, but the problem has not been solved till date, Tolo News reported.
According to officials of media in Takhar province, nine out of the region's 13 media outlets have closed as a result of economic challenges.
17:20 No bail for ex-top cop Sanjay Pandey
A Delhi court on Thursday dismissed the bail application of former Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey, arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal phone tapping and snooping of national stock exchange (NSE) employees, a lawyer associated with the case said.
Special Judge Sunena Sharma had reserved her order on the plea after hearing the arguments of the accused as well as the Enforcement Directorate.
The court had on Tuesday sent Pandey to judicial custody after he was produced before it on expiry of his custodial interrogation as the ED said it did not need his custody any more. Pandey was arrested on July 19. PTI
16:39 Mamata in Delhi for Niti Aayog prog, may meet PM
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday afternoon left Kolkata for a four-day trip to New Delhi, where she was likely to meet senior opposition leaders, besides attending a Niti Aayog programme, scheduled to be held on August 7, official sources said.
The TMC supremo will also be meeting party MPs at Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy's residence in the national capital, shortly after reaching there in the evening, they said.
Banerjee is primarily visiting New Delhi is to take part in the NITI Aayog session, but the sources stated that a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely on the cards.
According to the official sources, the TMC boss might on Saturday hold discussions over certain political matters with non-Congress opposition leaders at the central hall of Parliament.
During her stay there, the West Bengal CM could pay a visit to President Droupadi Murmu. Banerjee was expected to return to Kolkata on Monday, the sources added. PTI
Sanjay Raut with his wife, Varsha
16:24 Now, ED summons Sanjay Raut's wife
The Enforcement Directorate summons Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut in the Patra Chawl land case money laundering case. The summons were issued after transactions done in Varsha Raut's account came to light, the ED said.
The ED had arrested the Sena MP on Sunday midnight in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra 'Chawl' (old row tenement) in suburban Goregaon and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates.
On Monday, the court had remanded him in ED custody till August 4. At the end of his remand, the agency on Thursday produced him in the special court, which extended his ED custody till August 8.
16:18 A cup of tea with MPs and friends, tweets Shatrughan
TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha shares this picture from Parliament and writes, "Congress MP Inside Parliament with some colleagues over a cup of tea with Indian actress, politician, MP-LS, Karnataka @sumalathaA wife of late & great actor, very close friend, supporter, well wisher, frm minister, MP-LS #Ambareesh, @RaghuRaju_MP Andhra Pradesh & Shiva, most talked about MP."
Next to Sinha is Sumalatha Ambareesh, K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju and Tiruchi Siva.
Siddique Kappan with his wife Raihana
16:10 Allahabad HC rejects journalist Kappan's bail plea
The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected the bail application of journalist Siddique Kappan who was booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in Hathras conspiracy case.
A single bench of Justice Krishan Pahal passed the rejection order on Thursday.
Prior to this, the bench had reserved its order on August 2 after conclusion of arguments by the counsels of the accused and the state.
A Mathura court had rejected Kappan's bail plea after which he had approached the HC.
Kappan, a reporter for Malayalam news portal Azhimukham and secretary of the Delhi unit of Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), was arrested along with three others in Uttar Pradesh in October 2020 while on his way to Hathras to report on the gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.
The police had claimed that the accused were trying to disturb the law and order in Hathras.
They had also alleged that the accused had links with the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The woman had died at a Delhi hospital a fortnight after her alleged rape by four men from her village on September 14, 2020. She was cremated in the middle of the night in her village.
Her family members claimed that the cremation, which took place well past midnight, was without their consent and that they were not allowed to bring home the body one last time.
Kappan and others were charged under Sections 17 and 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Section 124A (sedition), Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of Indian Penal Code and Sections 65, 72 and 75 of the Information Technology Act. PTI
15:40 ED kept me in room with no window: Raut to court
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, on Thursday told a special court in Mumbai that during the custody, the central agency kept him a room that had no window and ventilation.
Raut told this to special court judge M G Deshpande, designated to hear matters related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), on Thursday. The court extended Raut's ED custody till August 8.
The ED had arrested the Sena MP on Sunday midnight in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra 'Chawl' (old row tenement) in suburban Goregaon and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates.
On Monday, the court had remanded him in ED custody till August 4.
At the end of his remand, the agency on Thursday produced him in the special court, which extended his ED custody.
During the hearing, when the court asked Raut if he had any complaint against the ED, he said there was nothing in particular.
However, he added that the room where he has been kept has no window and ventilation. The court then sought an explanation from the probe agency.
Special public prosecutor Hiten Venegaokar, who appeared on behalf of the ED, said Raut was kept in an AC room and hence there was no window. Raut later said that although the AC system is in place there, he cannot use it due to his health condition. The ED then assured the court that he would be kept in a room with proper ventilation.
On Monday, the ED had told the court that Raut and his family received "proceeds of crime" worth over Rs one crore generated out of alleged irregularities in the housing redevelopment project.
15:23 Kharge vs Goyal in Parl: Modishahi, ED slammed
The Congress on Thursday raised the issue of ED action and police gherao of its party office and the residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, with Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge saying in the Rajya Sabha that he has been summoned by the ED at a time when Parliament is in session.
Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, however, claimed that the government does not interfere in the functioning of law-enforcement agencies and said Congress leaders should face the law, not run away from it and allow Parliament to function.
Raising the issue during the Question Hour, after an Opposition uproar in the House over the alleged misuse of agencies by the government to target leaders, Kharge said this is an attempt to intimidate them and they will not be cowed down.
"This House is functioning and I am the leader of the opposition parties. But right now, I have received a summons from the ED to appear before it when a Parliament session is on. Right now, when Parliament is functioning, is it fair on the part of the ED to summon me?" he asked amid shouts of "shame, shame" from the Opposition benches.
Noting that he is a law-abiding citizen and has to leave for the ED office at 12.30 pm, Kharge said, "I do not want to avoid the law and I want to follow the law."
He also said the residences of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi have been gheraoed by police. "If we carry on like this, will our democracy remain alive? Will we function as per our Constitution? This is being purposely done to demoralise us, destroy us and intimidate us. But we will not be afraid or intimidated and will fight," the senior Congress leader said, demanding that there be a discussion on the issue in the House.
Congress's chief whip in the Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh also alleged that "Modishahi" is reaching a new low as Kharge was summoned by the ED in the middle of a Parliament session.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, was summoned by the ED when Parliament was in session. He, of course, left around 12:20 pm and presented himself. This is Modishahi reaching new lows," the former Union minister said on Twitter. Responding to his remarks, Goyal said this government does not interfere in the functioning of law-enforcement agencies and accused the Congress of interfering in their work when it was in power.
He also rebutted Kharge's claims and said Congress leaders should face the law and not run away from it. "They may have been interfering in the functioning of law-enforcement agencies when they were in power," he said. "If anyone has done any wrong, the law will take its course. Whatever the LOP said is totally baseless. The matter has gone to the Supreme Court. The Congress leaders are on bail and the Congress leaders and the LOP should follow the law instead of running away," Goyal said.
"Our government does not in any manner interfere in the functioning of law-enforcement agencies and allows them to do their work. Their government used to interfere in the functioning of law-enforcement agencies. Our government has not done anything like this," he added.
15:08 SL Prez reiterates commitment to One-China policy
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to the "one China policy" as well as to the UN Charter principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
His remarks came after meeting with China's envoy to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenghong Ambassador today. "During a meeting with H.E. Qi Zhenghong, Ambassador of China, I reiterated Sri Lanka's firm commitment to the one-China policy, as well as to the UN Charter principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations," Wickremesinghe tweeted.
The Sri Lankan leader said that countries must refrain from provocations which further escalate the current global tensions.
"Countries must refrain from provocations which further escalate the current global tensions. Mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries are important foundations for peaceful cooperation and non-confrontation," Wickremesinghe said.
Amid the political and economic imbalance, Sri Lanka had asked China for help and asked for a USD 1 billion loan to meet repayments, and a USD 1.5 billion credit line to buy Chinese goods, however, no progress was attained even after months of negotiations and China shifted the blame for the crisis to the borrower country. -- ANI
14:47 Maha CM unwell, cancels engagements
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday cancelled his official engagements due to ill health, his office informed. "The Chief Minister was feeling unwell due to over exertion in the last few days. So he decided to take a day off to rest," Shinde's office said in a statement.
14:11 Sanjay Raut's ED custody extended to August 8
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut sent to ED custody till 8th August in connection with a money laundering case in the Patra Chawl land case.
Raut was produced in a special court as his three-day Enforcement Directorate custody ends today.
On Monday, the court remanded Raut in ED's custody after the agency said he and his family were found to have received 1.06 crore of "tainted money' from his "front man' Pravin Raut, who was arrested in the case earlier.
14:02 Assam becoming hotbed of jihadi activities: CM
Assam has become a hotbed of jihadi activities with five modules having links with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarul Islam busted in five months, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday.
"Six Bangladeshi nationals belonging to Ansarul Islam had entered Assam to indoctrinate youths, and one of them was arrested when the first module was busted at Barpeta in March this year," Sarma said at a press conference here.
Indoctrination of Muslim youths in private madrasas by Imams from outside the state is alarming, he said. "Jihadi activity is very different from terrorist or insurgency activities. It starts with indoctrination for several years, followed by active participation in promoting Islamic fundamentalism, and finally going for subversive activities, the CM said.
The Bangladeshi nationals, who entered the state illegally in 2016-17, operated several training camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Only one of these Bangladeshis have been arrested so far, and I appeal to the people to inform the local police in case anybody from outside the state becomes a teacher or an Imam in a madrasa, he said.
13:56 Demand for tricolour peaks
Ahead of Independence Day and the government's Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, shortage of national flag in Kerala.
"There is a shortage of national flags this year as there is a huge demand for them ahead of 15th August. After the announcement of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign to mark 75 years of independence, the demand for the Tricolour is high," says a shopkeeper.
13:37 Tiger Global sells 2.34% stake in Zomato
Zomato on Thursday said investment firm Tiger Global has reduced its stake in the company by almost half to 2.77 per cent by selling over 18.45 crore shares in the open market.
Tiger Global's Internet Fund VI Pte Ltd had a holding of 5.11 per cent in the online food delivery platform before the sale. Between July 25- August 2, 2022, the fund sold over 18.45 crore shares aggregating to 2.34 per cent stake in the company in the open market, Zomato said in a regulatory filing.
Post the sale, Internet Fund VI Pte Ltd has 2.77 per cent stake in Zomato, it added. On Wednesday, ride-hailing app Uber had offloaded 61.2 crore shares of Zomato for Rs 3,088 crore through an open market transaction.
Nancy Pelosi in Seoul
13:18 Pelosi meets S Korea leaders, omits Taiwan talks
After her trip to Taiwan, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met South Korean political leaders in Seoul on Thursday but avoided making direct public comments on cross-Strait relations that could have further increased regional tensions.
Pelosi, the first incumbent House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years, said Wednesday in Taipei that the American commitment to democracy on the self-governing island and elsewhere remains ironclad.
In response, China on Thursday began military exercises, including missile strike training in six zones surrounding Taiwan, in what could be the biggest of their kind since the mid-1990s.
After visiting Taiwan, Pelosi and other members of Congress flew to South Korea a key U.S. ally where about 28,500 American troops are deployed on Wednesday evening, as part of an Asian tour that included stops in Singapore and Malaysia.
She met South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo and other senior members of Parliament on Thursday. After that hour-long meeting, Pelosi spoke about the bilateral alliance, forged in blood during the 1950-53 Korean War, and legislative efforts to support a push to boost ties but didn't directly mention her Taiwan visit or the Chinese protests.
Nancy Pelosi with the Taiwan PM
13:02 Taiwan tensions could spark open conflicts: ASEAN
The Southeast Asian Foreign Ministers expressed concern over Taiwan as China began the massive military drills around Taiwan and warned that the situation could spark "open conflicts" and "unpredictable consequences" among major powers.
China has started its large-scale military drills around self-ruled Taiwan, hours after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed from Taipei which infuriated Beijing.
"ASEAN is concerned with the international and regional volatility, especially in the recent development in the area adjacent to the ASEAN region which could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers," as per the statement released by ASEAN.
ASEAN countries called for maximum restraint, refraining from provocative action and asked to uphold the principles that were enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). "We reiterate ASEAN Member States' support for their respective One-China Policy," the statement reads. -- ANI
12:57 Ex-Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi joins BJP
Former Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi joins BJP.
"Kuldeep Bishnoi supported PM Modi's leadership, backed BJP candidate in Rajya Sabha poll. We welcome him," says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
Bishnoi, who was expelled by the Congress from all party positions for cross-voting in the June Rajya Sabha polls, resigned from the assembly Wednesday, a day before he joins the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
12:55 Lok Sabha adjourns till 2 pm amid Opposition protests
Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday were adjourned till 2 pm as soon as Congress members displayed placards to protest against the actions of the Enforcement Directorate and price rise.
Amid the sloganeering by Opposition members, the Question Hour went on for till around 11:30 am and five questions as well as their related supplementaries were taken up.
Congress and other Opposition members protested against the ED action, GST on essential items and price rise. However, at around 11:30 am, as soon as some Congress members displayed placards standing in the Well of the House, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
Congress leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was the first to display the placards and other members then brought placards to the House.
The gelatin sticks
12:37 8000 gelatin sticks found abandoned in Palakkad
A large number of explosives were found in Palakkad's Ongalloor in Kerala on Thursday, police said. The seized explosives include 8,000 gelatin sticks stacked in 40 boxes. These were found abandoned near a quarry in Vadanakkurissi, near Shornur in the Palakkad district.
The police said that they were informed about the explosives by locals and it is suspected that the gelatine sticks were to be used for breaking rocks in quarries. A case has been registered in this connection and an investigation has been launched, Police said.
In November 2000, police had seized 7,500 detonators and 7,000 gelatin sticks from a mini lorry from Palakkad's Walayar. Those explosives were hidden along with several cartons of tomatoes which were being transported from Erode in Tamil Nadu to Angamaly in Ernakulam district.
A video clipping of the consignment had shown the gelatin sticks, light pink in colour, wrapped in plastic sheets.
In September 2020, two migrant workers in Kalady, Ernakulam, lost their lives after explosives stored illegally in a building near a quarry burst. The explosives substances were reportedly stored without permits for the purpose of blasting rocks for mining. -- ANI
12:34 Not afraid of Modi: Rahul on National Herald case
Launching a scathing attack on the prime minister, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday said he is "not afraid of Narendra Modi" and will not be "intimidated" by the Enforcement Directorate action in the National Herald case.
Gandhi's reaction came a day after the ED sealed the office of Young Indian in Herald House in the national capital, and the Delhi police briefly barricaded his residence and the party office in Delhi. Gandhi termed these actions an "attempt at intimidation".
"We will not be intimidated. We are not afraid of Narendra Modi," he told reporters outside Parliament.
"They may do whatever they want. It does not matter." "I will continue to work to protect the country and democracy and maintain harmony in the country. I will continue to do my work whatever they may do," he said in his first response after the ED sealing the Young Indian office.
On the barricading issue, he said "truth cannot be barricaded", and added his party will continue to protest. The former Congress chief said the BJP government thinks its can "silence us by putting some pressure on us". "But we will not be silenced," he said.
"What Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are doing in this country and against democracy, we will stand against it whatever they may do. It does not matter." PTI
Justice U U Lalit
12:07 CJI recommends Justice Lalit to be his successor
Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Thursday set in motion the process of appointment of his successor by recommending the name of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the most senior judge, to the Centre.
The CJI personally handed over the copy of his letter of recommendation to Justice Lalit.
Justice Ramana, the 48th chief justice of India who took over as head of the Indian judiciary from Justice S A Bobde on April 24, 2021, is scheduled to demit office on August 26 after a tenure of over 16 months.
Justice Lalit, who would be appointed head of the judiciary on August 27, will have a tenure of less than three months as the chief justice of India.
He retires on November 8 this year. -- PTI
12:04 Shinde vs Uddhav: SC asks EC to defer decision
The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Election Commission not to take any decision for now on the Eknath Shinde faction's plea that it be considered the real Shiv Sena and granted the party poll symbol.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said it would take a call by Monday on referring the matters related to the recent Maharashtra political crisis to a constitution bench.
"We will decide whether to refer the matter to the 5-judges constitution bench," the bench, also comprising justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli, said.
The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shiv Sena and its rebel MLAs during the recent Maharashtra political crisis which raised constitutional issues including those related to splits, mergers of political parties, defections, and disqualifications. -- PTI
11:38 1,000 IP-based CCTV cameras for 15th Aug after LeT, JeM threats
Amid threats from various terror organizations warning of disrupting the Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi Police has decided to install more than 1,000 Internet Protocol (IP) based CCTV cameras in and around Red Fort in Delhi.
On Thursday, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) issued an alert for possible attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) ahead of the 75th Independence Day celebration on August 15.
The 10-page report by IB mentions the recent attack on Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe who was shot dead at a public event in Japan recently and requested Delhi police to enforce strict entry rules at the venue on August 15.
The document accessed by ANI reads that out of the total requirement, 80 per cent CCTV Cameras of IP-based 2-megapixel and 20 per cent CCTV cameras of IP-based 4-megapixel will be installed at each and every corner of the venue.
These 20 per cent CCTV cameras of IP-based 4-megapixel will be installed at the strategic locations which will be intimated by DCP concerned at the time of installation and the rest 80 per cent locations will be covered by IP-based 2-mega pixel CCTV cameras.
These cameras will be installed at New Delhi District, North District, South-East, Central District, Security Unit and North West District. A large number of cameras will be installed in the North district and Central district that covers the periphery of Red Fort, where Independence Day celebrations with be held.
These IP-based cameras will be equipped with features like face detection, people movement detection, tripwire, audio detection, intrusion, defocus, abandoned/missing object.
And will provide Full HD 1080P live view of the locations. It will also share data on a real-time basis for face recognition server. For better detection, these cameras will incorporate a built-in 30X optical, auto-focus zoom lens, and will have 12X digital zoom capability.
The camera should have inbuilt Infra Red (IR) and cover distance up to 150 metres for better viewing during night, the document reads.
11:31 The next CJI?
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana today recommends Justice UU Lalit's name as his successor. Justice Lalit to become the 49th CJI. Chief Justice Ramana is retiring this month.
US Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan yesterday
11:09 China launches military drills around Taiwan
China on Wednesday commenced military drills around Taiwan's main island, according to Chinese state media, hours after US House Speaker departed from Taipei following a visit that has rankled Beijing.
Live-fire drills began in six identified zones around the island at noon local time, Al Jazeera reported citing China state media. According to Xinhua News Agency, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday organized joint combat training exercises in the northern, southwestern and southeastern waters and airspace off Taiwan Island.
Under the Eastern Theater Command, the exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force.
"The exercises focused on key training sessions including joint blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control operation, and the joint combat capabilities of the troops got tested in the military operations," Xinhua added.
US Speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan yesterday
11:09 China launches military drills around Taiwan
China on Wednesday commenced military drills around Taiwan's main island, according to Chinese state media, hours after US House Speaker departed from Taipei following a visit that has rankled Beijing.
Live-fire drills began in six identified zones around the island at noon local time, Al Jazeera reported citing China state media. According to Xinhua News Agency, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday organized joint combat training exercises in the northern, southwestern and southeastern waters and airspace off Taiwan Island.
Under the Eastern Theater Command, the exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force.
"The exercises focused on key training sessions including joint blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control operation, and the joint combat capabilities of the troops got tested in the military operations," Xinhua added.
10:57 Kuldeep Bishnoi set to join BJP today
Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi who resigned as MLA yesterday is likely to join BJP today. Bishnoi's supporters gather outside BJP headquarters in Delhi.
10:25 Blinken, Jaishankar meet ahead of ASEAN
EAM Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at the ASEAN meet.
"Taking part in ASEAN meets is an opportunity for us to get together and compare notes with our closest partners, starting with my longtime friend, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar.
"It's an opportunity for us to compare notes as we head into ASEAN meetings," US Secy of State Blinken says.
"We have some immediate challenges that we're both concerned with including situation in Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar) and other hotspots. So I look forward to once again being able to go through a number of these issues with my friend and then we'll head over to meetings," says Blinken.
"It's always good to meet. There's a lot that we need to talk about and it's actually been a very busy year, we had a very good Quad and since then I think a number of developments," EAM Dr S Jaishankar says.
10:14 Markets maintain winning momentum on firm global trends
Equity benchmarks started the trade on a firm note on Thursday, with the Sensex climbing over 362 points, mirroring positive trend in global markets and foreign fund inflows.
Buying in IT counters also added to the momentum. The 30-share BSE benchmark gained 362.13 points to 58,712.66. The broader NSE Nifty went up by 102.55 points to 17,490.70.
Among the Sensex constituents, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, Dr Reddy's, Larsen & Toubro, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finance and UltraTech Cement were the major gainers. NTPC, State Bank of India, Maruti Suzuki India, Reliance Industries and Titan were among the laggards.
09:45 Sanjay Raut to be produced in court today
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case, will be produced before a special court in Mumbai on Thursday.
Raut's ED custody granted by the court on Monday, ends on Thursday. The central agency had arrested Raut on Sunday midnight in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra 'Chawl' (old row tenement) in suburban Goregaon and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates.
The ED had produced Raut before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge MG Deshpande on Monday and sought his remand for eight days.
But the court sent the Sena leader to the agency's custody till August 4.
The agency had told the court on Monday that Raut and his family received 'proceeds of crime' worth over Rs 1 crore generated out of alleged irregularities in the housing redevelopment project.
The 60-year-old Rajya Sabha member is a close aide of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. -- PTI
09:22 US Senate approves NATO membership of Finland, Sweden
Amid threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Sweden and Finland would face unspecified retaliation should they join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the United States Senate on Wednesday (local time) approved the applications of both countries to join the alliance.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a treaty that would expand NATO to include Finland and Sweden.
However, the accession will only be at the collective will of all 30 member countries since all decisions are taken by consensus.
Therefore, all 30 current members of the alliance must ratify the accession of the two countries.
22 countries have already done so, reported New York Times.
Senators voted 95-1. Only Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, voted no. Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, voted present.
The bipartisan support was evident as the tally, was far surpassing the two-thirds support which was necessary to approve the treaty.
Earlier, NATO 30 allies signed accession protocols for Sweden and Finland, kickstarting the process to admit the two Nordic countries into the alliance.
Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto and Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde attended the signing ceremony.
"With 32 nations around the table, we will be even stronger and our people will be even safer, as we face the biggest security crisis in decades," declared NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in a press conference after the signing ceremony.
NATO's 30 members formally invited Finland and Sweden to join their alliance at the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, just seven weeks after both countries handed their applications in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In the first instance, the accession process was blocked by Turkey, a NATO member that raised concerns over the fight against terrorism, however, after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Finland and Sweden, Turkey lifted its veto ahead of the NATO Madrid summit.
The next step was for the parliaments of all 30 NATO members to ratify Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO, according to their own national procedures.
US has approved Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO and now time will tell if same ground is held by all the other countries. -- ANI
IMAGE: A worker arranges the Swedish and Finland flags before a press conference of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic PMs and Finnish President during a NATO summit in Madrid, on June 29, 2022. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters
08:47 Rs 85L found at home, MP clerk attempts suicide
The Madhya Pradesh police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), probing a disproportionate assets complaint, recovered more than Rs 85 lakh in cash from the Bhopal home of a state government clerk who consumed some liquid that was suspected to be poisonous during a search on Wednesday, an official said.
During the search at the residence of upper division clerk Hero Keswani, currently drawing a salary of around Rs 50,000 per month, an EOW team also recovered documents pertaining to several properties worth crores of rupees, he said.
The search operation continued till late on Wednesday night and a note counting machine was brought to compute the exact value of the pile of cash found at his home located in the Bairagarh area, the official said.
The upper division clerk, attached to the state Medical Education Department, claimed to have consumed bathroom cleaner when the EOW team reached his house, Superintendent of Police (EOW) Rajesh Mishra told PTI.
Keswani also tried to stop officials from searching his home and pushed them, he said.
"He was rushed to the state-run Hamidia Hospital. His condition is stable and he is undergoing treatment for blood pressure-related problems," the SP said.
By the evening, more than Rs 85 lakh in cash had been found besides the documents related to immovable properties and other assets worth crores of rupees at Keswani's residence, said Mishra.
It is estimated that he owns properties worth Rs 4 crore, he said.
Keswani's plush residence, where costly decorative items were found, itself was worth around Rs 1.5 crore, the EOW official said.
The SP said the clerk had started his job at a salary of about Rs 4,000 a month and was currently drawing around Rs 50,000 per month.
Amounts running into lakhs of rupees were found deposited in bank accounts of Keswani's family members.
He had purchased most of the properties in the name of his wife, a homemaker with no source of income, the official said.
Overall value of the assets unearthed during the search will be known only after completion of valuation work and verification of documents, Mishra said. -- PTI
Representational image
00:48 At 434, Mumbai logs highest Covid cases since July 9; one dies
Mumbai on Wednesday registered 434 new coronavirus cases, up from 329 a day ago and the highest daily count since July 9, while one more patient succumbed to the infection in the city, the local civic body said.
With these additions, the overall tally of COVID-19 cases surged to 11,25,740 COVID-19 cases, while the death toll increased to 19,652, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in a bulletin.
The metropolis has registered the highest number of cases since July 9 when the daily tally stood at 499.
On July 12, as many as 420 new patients of the disease were detected in the financial capital.
On Tuesday, the city had logged 329 COVID-19 cases, but no fresh death.
As per the bulletin, the new COVID-19 cases were detected after 10,725 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, pushing up their cumulative count to 1,78,52,794.
A day before, 5,785 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the city.
Mumbai's tally of recuperated patients rose to 11,03,982 after 282 more people recovered from the respiratory disease, leaving the city with 2,106 active cases, said the bulletin.
The city has a coronavirus recovery rate of 98.1 per cent.
Of the 434 new COVID-19 cases, only 23 patients were symptomatic, according to the bulletin.
The growth rate of COVID-19 stood at 0.025 per cent between July 27 and August 2, while the case doubling rate was 2,830 days. -- PTI
00:38 Kerala ex-FM gets fresh ED notice in KIIFB case
The Enforcement Directorate has again served a notice to senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Thomas Isaac seeking his appearance before it in connection with its probe into alleged violations in the financial dealings of KIIFB when he was the Kerala finance minister in the previous LDF government, sources said on Wednesday.
Confirming the development, CPI-M-run TV Kairali News said Isaac has been directed to appear before the federal agency on August 11.
Isaac has not reacted to the fresh notice.
Earlier, the ED had served a notice to the senior Marxist leader in the second week of July seeking his appearance before it on July 19.
He, however, did not appear before the probe agency, saying he had to attend classes at a party-run institute in Thiruvananthapuram.
Then, Isaac had termed the ED notice to him as a 'political move' by the BJP government at the Centre, alleging that it was misusing all investigation agencies for its political gains.
He had said before the last assembly election, the ED, the CAG and even the Income Tax Department was after the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. -- PTI
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