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Thu, 28 October 2021
Channi meets Rahul after Capt's announcement
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Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi
23:59 Channi meets Rahul after Capt's announcement
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday and the two leaders are learnt to have discussed the political situation in the state and the party's prospects in next year's Assembly polls.
Channi is also learnt to have apprised Gandhi of the pro-people measures taken by his government since he assumed the charge of the chief minister.
The meeting came a day after former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced that he would float his own political party once the Election Commission approves it.
Sources said the two leaders discussed the fallout of Singh launching his own party and the potential impact it would have on the poll prospects of the Congress.
Channi is also learnt to have informed Gandhi about the steps being taken to ensure justice in a case involving the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, the sources said.
The two leaders also discussed the issue of the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) being extended to 50 km inside the international border, on which the Punjab Assembly will hold a special session. -- PTI
23:11 Another case filed against NCB's Sameer Wankhede
Another complaint has been filed against Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede with Mumbai Police on Thursday.
With the latest complaint filed by a lawyer Jayesh Wani, the number of cases against Wankhede, who is allegedly involved in the extortion case, has gone up to five.
Earlier today, the lawyer representing the state government informed the Bombay high court that there are four different complaints against him.
In his Complaint to the MRA Marg Police station of Mumbai, Wani alleged, 'He (Wankhede) has availed the benefits of SC reservation illegally and that is why he an FIR against him be registered under sections 406, 409, 420, 468 and 120 (b) of IPC.'
'His father changed his religion before Sameer's birth,' the complaint said.
The lawyer also mentioned Sameer's Nikaah and submitted the NCB officer's Nikaahnama which was supported by Maulavi's testament confirmation.
Earlier today, Wankhede moved Bombay high court over the enquiry against him by the Maharashtra government and demanded a probe by CBI or any central agency in the extortion case which was disposed of by the court later on.
Earlier, Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the Mumbai cruise raid case had alleged that the NCB Zonal Director and some other NCB officials had sought Rs 25 crores from Shah Rukh Khan in order to release Aryan Khan who is an accused in the drugs bust case.
Meanwhile, the NCB team from Delhi will also question Wankhede to investigate allegations levelled against him.
On Wednesday, the probe agency's Deputy Director General (Northern Region) Gyaneshwar Singh said that Wankhede will remain the investigating officer in the drugs-on-cruise case until substantial information is found against him.
An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa on October 2.
A total of 20 people including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, have been arrested in the case. -- ANI
23:08 British Army chief visits Chinar Corps in Srinagar
Chief of British Army General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith on Thursday visited Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Indian Army.
'General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, Chief of the General Staff, #BritishArmy visited #ChinarCorps and interacted with Lieutenant General D P Pandey, GOC #ChinarCorps and local commanders,' the Army said on its official Twitter handle.
There were no details provided about the visit of the British Army Chief to Kashmir.
General Carleton-Smith is on a four-day visit to India.
On Tuesday, he held talks with Army Chief General M M Naravane in Delhi with a focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two armies. -- PTI
22:35 Informed about bail, Aryan thanks jail staff
Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail in the drugs-on-cruise case on Thursday, was informed of the Bombay high court's decision by the staff in Arthur Road Jail.
Jail officials said he was happy to receive the information about getting bail and also expressed his gratitude to the prison staff.
The information was conveyed to him at around 6 pm.
The officials said Aryan also promised to provide financial help to the families of some prisoners he got acquainted with during his stay in the jail.
He also assured them of legal help.
The Bombay high court on Thursday granted bail to Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha after hearing of their bail pleas.
While Arbaaz Merchant is also lodged at Arthur Road jail, Munmun Dhamecha is at Byculla women prison.
Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3.
An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa on October 2.
A total of 20 people were n arrested in the case. -- ANI
22:32 Ahead of UP polls, Amit Shah to attend party meetings in Lucknow
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Lucknow on Friday to attend organisational meetings of the party and start a membership drive ahead of next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
According to a statement from the BJP's state headquarters, Shah will reach Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport at 10.30 am on Friday and reach the Defense Expo Ground to launch the party's membership drive.
He will also address the office bearers of the Awadh region and flag off the party's LED campaign vehicles.
In the afternoon, Shah will address party workers at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, where former MLAs, former MPs, in-charge and convener of Lok Sabha in the 2019 general elections will be present.
He will also visit the party's state headquarters and hold a meeting with the senior leaders and office-bearers. -- PTI
Photograph: ANI
22:05 'Satyamev Jayate': SRK poses with legal team
Actor Shah Rukh Khan poses with Senior Advocate Amit Desai, Advocate Satish Maneshinde and the legal team of his son Aryan Khan, who was granted bail by the Bombay high court today.
'Aryan Khan has ultimately been released on bail by Bombay HC. No possession, no evidence, no consumption, no conspiracy, right from first moment when he was detained on Oct 2! Satya Meva Jayate,' the legal team of Maneshinde said. -- ANI
21:23 Rajinikanth admitted to Chennai Hospital
Actor Rajinikanth has been admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai, says the hospital.
More details awaited. -- ANI
21:11 FIR against Khattar? Court to decide on Nov 2
A Delhi court will decide on November 2 whether to take cognisance of a petition seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) against Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar for allegedly inciting Bharatiya Janata Party members earlier this month to use criminal force against the protesting farmers.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sachin Gupta reserved the order after hearing the submissions made by the petitioner and advocate Amit Sahni, who alleged that a controversial video of the chief minister and BJP member was recorded during a meeting with the workers belonging to the party's 'Kisan morcha' at his residence at Chandigarh on October 3.
The court adjourned the matter for November 2, when it will decide whether to hear the matter further.
The petition had accused that Khattar has allegedly committed an offence under various sections, including 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
It claimed that in the video, the CM was seen instigating party workers to use criminal force against the protesting farmers and to create 500-600-1,000 volunteers in every district of north and west Haryana, and be ready to face sticks, imprisonment, which will make them big leaders.
The petition urged the court to summon Khattar and punish him under law, and also direct the police officials concerned to conduct an investigation against him by lodging an FIR. -- PTI
20:19 'Extortion' in Aryan case: NCB witness grilled
Mumbai Police, who are conducting inquiry in complaints of alleged extortion attempt by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials in the drug seizure case involving Aryan Khan, summoned the central agency's independent witness Prabhakar Sail again on Thursday.
Police had recorded Sail's statement twice over the last two days.
On Thursday he appeared before the police team conducting the inquiry around 2.30 pm.
He was then taken to some locations mentioned in his affidavit about the alleged extortion attempt, and the police are also collecting CCTV footage from some places, said an official.
Sail's lawyer Tushar Khandare, meanwhile, told reporters that the Narcotics Control Bureau should take its zonal director Sameer Wankhede off the cruise ship drugs seizure case as he was facing allegations.
The Mumbai police had earlier said they had received four applications alleging extortion bid by Wankhede and other NCB officials, and launched an enquiry to verify them.
One of the applications was sent by Sail, who alleged that he overheard K P Gosavi, another witness in the cruise ship raid case, talking to 'Sam D'Souza' over the phone about a demand of Rs 25 crore including Rs 8 crore for Sameer Wankhede.
Wankhede, an IRS officer, has denied the allegations. -- PTI
20:16 Thane court issues warrant against Param Bir Singh
A court in Maharashtra's Thane city has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in connection with an alleged extortion case registered against him with a local police station.
The order was issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate R J Tamble two days ago to Thane Nagar police station, where the case is registered.
The order became available on Thursday.
As 'Accused Param Bir Singh, R/at: House No: 133, Sector-27 Chandigarh' is charged with offenses including extortion under Indian Penal Code section 384, 'you are hereby directed (to) arrest the said accused and produce him before me', it said.
The case was registered in July against Param Bir Singh and 28 others including six police officers for allegedly extorting money from a builder.
Other accused include retired 'encounter specialist' police officer Pradeep Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Devraj, Assistant Commissioner of Police N T Kadam and inspector Rajkumar Kothmire.
Complainant Ketan Tanna had alleged that when Singh was Thane police commissioner between January 2018 to February 2019, the accused extorted Rs 1.25 crore from him by summoning him to the office of the Anti-Extortion Cell and threatening to frame him up in serious criminal cases.
Singh was shunted out from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March 2021 in the aftermath of the discovery of an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai and arrest of police officer Sachin Waze in the case.
Singh later accused then state home minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption.
Two other extortion cases have been registered against the IPS officer, based on a complaint filed by another builder. Singh is also facing inquiry by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau and a case filed by a police officer from Akola against him under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act).
Recently the Maharashtra government had told the Bombay high court that it did not know his whereabouts. -- PTI
19:28 PM Modi to visit Kedarnath on Nov 5
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kedarnath, Uttarakhand on November 5, informed Prime Minister's Office on Thursday.
As per a release of the PMO's office, the prime minister will offer prayers at the Kedarnath temple and thereafter inaugurate Shri Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and unveil the statue of Shri Adi Shankaracharya.
"The samadhi has been reconstructed after the destruction in the 2013 floods. The entire reconstruction work has been undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister, who has constantly reviewed and monitored the progress of the project," read the release.
"The prime minister will review and inspect the executed and ongoing works along the Saraswati Aasthapath. The prime minister will also address a public rally. He will inaugurate key infrastructure projects which have been completed, including Saraswati retaining wall aasthapath and ghats, Mandakini retaining wall aasthapath, tirth purohit houses and garud chatti bridge on river Mandakini," it added.
The release further informed that the projects have been completed at a cost of over Rs 130 crore. -- ANI
18:53 Elephants fight over sugarcane laden truck in TN, stop traffic on highway
A fight between two elephants over a lorry load of sugarcane held up traffic on the Dindigul-Bengaluru highway for more than 25 minutes, forest officials said on Thursday.
The incident happened at Karapallam near Hasanur in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Erode district on Wednesday night, the officials said.
According to the officials, the fight broke out after the driver of a lorry carrying sugarcane stopped upon seeing a female elephant with its calf on the side of the road.
When the lorry stopped, the adult elephant went up to the vehicle, took some sugarcane and passed it on to its young one. Moments later, the tusker showed up and the two adult elephants began to fight over their share of the cane.
Seeing this, other motorists passing through stopped to watch the spectacle.This held up traffic.
After 25 minutes or so, the three elephants slowly went their way and the vehicles on both sides of the national highway got cleared, the officials said. -- PTI
18:27 Picture yet to be over, says Malik targeting Sameer Wankhede
After the Bombay high court granted bail to Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in the cruise drugs case, Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik on Thursday continued to target Narcotics Control Bureau's zonal director Sameer Wankhede, saying the picture is not over yet.
Tweeting in Hindi, Malik said, "Picture abhi baaki hai (picture is not over yet)."
The HC granted bail to Aryan Khan and his two co-accused over three weeks after their arrest by the NCB.
Aryan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were arrested by the anti-drugs agency on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs, conspiracy and abetment.
Malik, the state minority affairs minister, has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs case as 'fake' and levelled various allegations against Wankhede, including illegal phone tapping and using forged documents to secure job.
In a video message circulated to media on Thursday, Malik said, "The officer (Wankhede) who arrested Aryan Khan and others has now approached the Bombay high court requesting a restraining order against Mumbai police from arresting him. He had approached the Mumbai police in the last week requesting protection. He must have done something really wrong and that is why he is afraid of action against him." -- PTI
17:55 Aryan, others to be released on Friday: Rohatgi
Aryan Khan, Arbaz Merchant, and Munmun Dhamecha, who were granted bail in the Mumbai cruise drugs seizure case, would be released from jail after the Bombay high court issues detailed order in the matter on Friday, said former attorney general of India Mukul Rohatgi.
Rohatgi, who represented Aryan Khan, told media, "The Bombay HC has granted bail to Aryan Khan, Arbaz Merchant, Munmun Dhamecha after hearing the arguments for three days. The detailed order will be given tomorrow (Friday). Hopefully, all they will come out of the jail by tomorrow or Saturday."
The Bombay high court granted bail to the three accused after hearing arguments for three days which began on October 26.
Rohatgi expressed happiness over the order and said, "For me, it is a regular case -- to win some, to lose some. I am happy that he (Khan) has got bail."
The former AG said during the hearing that there was 'no case of possession of drugs' against Aryan Khan, he was arrested wrongly and 'it was a fit case for bail.' -- ANI
17:31 Cong limited to Twitter space, not building strong Oppn alliance: TMC mouthpiece
The Trinamool Congress on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Congress, accusing the grand old party of 'limiting itself to Twitter space' instead of firming up an Opposition alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
As West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee embarked on her three-day visit to poll-bound Goa, the party in its mouthpiece Jago Bangla iterated that it would venture out to other states to expand its base and put up a formidable fight against the BJP.
"We want an alliance to be formed against the BJP. We have said this to the Congress, too. But it is least bothered and shows a lackadaisical approach," an editorial in the TMC mouthpiece said.
Referring to the proposal of setting up of a joint steering committee by Banerjee during the August 20 opposition meet convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the editorial said nothing has moved forward since then.
"The Congress is limited to the Twitter space. The party has taken no initiative to build an opposition alliance. In 2014 and 2019, too, the Congress had done the same," it said.
The editorial further clarified that the TMC would continue to bolster its strength, while keeping the 'doors of alliance with the Congress open.' -- PTI
17:18 Centre extends nationwide Covid curbs till Nov 30
The Centre on Thursday extended the nationwide COVID-19 containment measures till November 30 as there has been localised spread of the virus in a few states and the disease continues to be a public health challenge in the country.
In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla also said that existing protocols for curbing the spread of COVID-19 will continue till November 30.
Last month, he had said that there was a possibility that COVID-appropriate behaviour might not be adhered to strictly, especially during the festival season and hence it was critical to enforce guidelines which allowed regular festivities in a cautious, safe and COVID-appropriate manner.
Bhalla had said the daily cases and overall number of patients in the country was declining steadily but there were localised spread of virus in a few states and COVID-19 continued to be a public health challenge in the country.
The home secretary said states and union territories, on a regular basis, should closely monitor case positivity, hospital, ICU beds occupancy of every district falling under their jurisdiction. --PTI
17:01 Bombay HC grants bail to Aryan Khan, 2 others
Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was on Thursday granted bail by the Bombay high court, over 20 days after his arrest in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.
A single bench of Justice N W Sambre also granted bail to his co-accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha.
"All three pleas are allowed. I will pass detailed orders by tomorrow evening," Justice Sambre said.
Aryan Khan's advocates then sought permission to submit cash bail to which the court refused and said surety is to be given.
"I could have given the order also tomorrow (Friday). But I gave it today," Justice Sambre said.
The legal team of the 23-year-old Aryan Khan, who is presently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai, will now try to complete the formalities for his release by Friday.
Aryan Khan, Merchant and Dhamecha were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau on October 3 and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs, conspiracy and abetment. -- PTI
16:42 Mapped: The big losers in the markets today
The Indian equity benchmarks fell sharply on Thursday posting their worst single-day performance since April 12, 2021.
The reasons: lower than anticipated September quarter corporate earnings, continuous selling of Indian equities by foreign institutional investors amid heightened volatility due to monthly expiry of October future and option contracts dented investors' sentiment.
16:30 No grounds for conspiracy, Rohatgi argues
Former Attorney-General for India Mukul Rohtagi, representing Aryan Khan, starts final submissions before the Bombay High Court after the submission of ASG Anil Singh, who is representing NCB in the matter.
"There was no conspiracy because there was no meeting of minds. There was no discussion that they met and decided that they will get the substance and smoke -- that is conspiracy.
"If there are people in a hotel in different rooms and they smoke, are all people in the hotel in conspiracy? There is no material for calling it a conspiracy in this case.
"I knew only Arbaaz, I did not know anyone else. It is true it is difficult to prove that there is common meeting of mind. but facts cannot be ignored. There has to be meeting of minds. how can there be conscious possession for 6 gms?
16:17 Sensex cracks 1,159 points
Equity benchmark Sensex plunged 1,159 points on Thursday following an across-the-board selloff as monthly derivatives expired amid a weak trend in global markets.
The 30-share index tanked 1,158.63 points or 1.89 per cent to close at 59,984.70.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty plummeted 353.70 points or 1.94 per cent to 17,857.25.
ITC was the top loser in the Sensex pack, tumbling over 5 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, L&T, UltraTech Cement and Asian Paints were among the gainers.
16:03 PM to meet Pope in Vatican
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla announces that PM Narendra Modi will be calling on Pope Francis at the Vatican during his three-day visit to Italy.
"It is still to be finalised whether it will be one to one or delegation-level meeting. Normally, there are some delegation members in such meetings," Shringla said.
PM will be in Rome from October 29 to 31 to attend the G20 Summit at the invitation of Italy's PM. This would be PM's eighth G20 Summit. Last year's summit hosted by Saudi Arabia was held virtually because of COVID pandemic.
15:45 3-day notice before arrest, HC assures Wankhede
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court disposes off NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede's petition after Maharashtra govt's lawyer assured the Court that a three-day notice will be given before arrest by the Mumbai Police.
15:43 Aryan dealt with commercial quantity of drugs: NCB
Drugs on cruise ship case: ASG Anil Singh, representing NCB, tells Bombay HC, "Defence has spoken about testing. Why testing? Our case is not of consumption but of possession. Accused 1 was in conscious possession of drug.
"If we relied upon WhatsApp chat, he (Aryan Khan) had made an attempt to deal in commercial quantity (of drugs).
"Ecstasy was of commercial quantity. It can't be said that drug was for personal consumption."
15:33 Aryan not first-time consumer of drugs: NCB
Hearing in bail applications of Aryan Khan and others: ASG Anil Singh representing NCB says Arbaaz Merchant is Aryan Khan's childhood friend. "Even if you are not in possession (of drugs) but you are part of the conspiracy, then you will be punishable under same section of the law," the lawyer said. "Accused no. 1 (Aryan Khan) is not a first time consumer of drugs, he was in contact with drug peddlers."
15:13 HC begins hearing Aryan Khan's bail plea
Hearing in bail applications of Aryan Khan and others begins at Bombay High Court.
ASG Anil Singh representing NCB says Accused no. 1 (Aryan Khan) is not a first time consumer of drugs, he was in contact with drug peddlers.
"We have argued conscious possession in the sessions court as well. That if two people are travelling together, and the first person knows the drug is with the other and it is for their consumption, though the person may not be in actual physical possession, he may be in "conscious possession".
Aryan Khan has been in jail since October 8.
He was arrested after drug raids on a cruise ship party on October 2 by the NCB. Aryan Khan has been denied bail twice before.
The special anti-drugs court that denied him bail last week said he knew about charas hidden in his friend Arbaaz Merchant's shoe, and this amounted to "conscious possession"
15:10 Wankhede moves HC over fears of arrest
Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede approaches the Bombay High Court over "apprehensions that Mumbai Police may arrest him." The arguments on the matter is being heard by the Division Bench of Bombay HC.
Maharashtra govt lawyer tells Bombay High Court that they are four different complaints against Sameer Wankhede. "An ACP level officer is heading the enquiry which has just begun. We have not registered any FIR against Wankhede yet so the application is at premature stage," the lawyer says.
15:02 Sensex falls over 1,050 points
The equity benchmarks have extended their intra-day losses and are hovering near the lows of the day on Thursday in late deals, ahead of October F&O expiry.
The BSE Sensex was trading at 60,090.95, lower by 1,052 points or 1.72 per cent and the NSE Nifty was at 17,880.60, down 330 points or 1.81 per cent. The broader markets are also trading weak, with the BSE Midcap index losing 1.48 per cent and the BSE Smallcap index losing 1.51 per cent.
14:30 Sedition case on man who posted: I love you Pak
Update on the UP CM's warning of sedition law being slapped on Pak cheerleaders.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that the sedition law will be invoked against those celebrating Pakistan's victory against India in the recent T-20 World Cup match.
So far, five people have been taken into custody in the state for allegedly using indecent words against the Indian cricket team, according to police.
"Those celebrating Pakistan's victory will face sedition," a tweet posted on the official handle of Adityanath's office said.
A man from Budaun was arrested in a sedition case on Wednesday, Senior Superintendent of Police OP Singh said.
Niaz had posted a picture of the Pakistani flag and wrote objectionable comments in support of Pakistan on Facebook after the match, according to a complaint filed against him by Punit Shakya of the Hindu Jagran Manch.
The SSP said Niaz posted a picture of Pakistan's flag on his Facebook account and captioned it, "I love you Pakistan, I miss you Pakistan, Jeet Mubarak Pakistan".
Niaz was booked for sedition and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act on Tuesday and sent to jail on Wednesday, the officer said.
Pakistan on Sunday had drubbed India by 10 wickets in a Super 12 game for their first win in 13 attempts over their arch-rivals India in a World Cup match. PTI
13:40 India seeks loans for 667 mn Covid vaccine doses
The Government of India has applied for loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to procure as many as 667 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Manila-based ADB, in which the U.S. and Japan are the biggest shareholders, and the Beijing-based AIIB, where China and India are the biggest shareholders, are in the process of considering the loans.
Read the full story here.
NCP's Nawab Malik has made multiple allegations of fraud against Wankhede
13:23 NCB being used to defame people: NCP minister
Maharashtra minister and NCP state chief Jayant Patil on Thursday claimed that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was being used to "harass and defame" citizens.
Speaking to reporters in Ratnagiri, he also said that party leader and state minister Nawab Malik, who has levelled various allegations against NCB's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, was "bringing out the truth".
Wankhede is in the eye of a political storm following allegations of extortion in the high-profile cruise drugs case in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested earlier this month. The officer is facing the departmental vigilance probe.
"The NCB is being used for defaming, harassing and putting people behind bars for longer period...this has happened with Aryan Khan and many others. It has to be probed thoroughly," Patil said.
He said state minister Nawab Malik has made certain claims (against NCB officials) which can be substantiated with documents.
"Sameer Wankhede is facing an inquiry before senior NCB officials, who have come to Mumbai for an investigation. The certificates provided by him, how he joined the IRS and got quota benefits all will come out in the coming days. I hope the committee (NCB vigilance probe team) has not come here to cover up his mess," the state water resources minister said.
12:51 Fuel prices touch all-time high today
Petrol and diesel prices increased for the second consecutive day to touch an all-time high across the country.
With a hike of 35 paise a litre, the price of petrol in Delhi rose to its highest-ever level of Rs 108.29 a litre. The price of diesel also saw a hike by 35 paise and took the fuel's rate to Rs 97.02 per litre in the national capital.
Mumbai also reported a surge in fuel prices as compared to yesterday.
The petrol in retail cost stands at Rs 114.14 per litre whereas diesel costs Rs 105.12 per litre today in Mumbai.As for Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 108.78 per litre, while diesel is Rs 100.14 per litre.
In Chennai, petrol and diesel cost Rs 105.13 and Rs 101.25 per litre respectively.
Petrol and diesel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of value-added tax.
12:51 Fuel prices touch all-time high today
Petrol and diesel prices increased for the second consecutive day to touch an all-time high across the country.
With a hike of 35 paise a litre, the price of petrol in Delhi rose to its highest-ever level of Rs 108.29 a litre. The price of diesel also saw a hike by 35 paise and took the fuel's rate to Rs 97.02 per litre in the national capital.
Mumbai also reported a surge in fuel prices as compared to yesterday.
The petrol in retail cost stands at Rs 114.14 per litre whereas diesel costs Rs 105.12 per litre today in Mumbai.As for Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 108.78 per litre, while diesel is Rs 100.14 per litre.
In Chennai, petrol and diesel cost Rs 105.13 and Rs 101.25 per litre respectively.
Petrol and diesel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of value-added tax.
Sameer Wankhede and his wife Kranti
12:34 Mrs Wankhede's Marathi manoos plea to Uddhav
Kranti Redkar Wankhede, the wife of Mumbai NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede has written to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asking for an appointment.
"I have sought time to meet him. I have not received a response so far. I am waiting for a reply," she said.
In the letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, Sameer Wankhede's wife writes,
"We're being insulted every day. A woman's dignity is being toyed with in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's state. Had Balasaheb been here today, he wouldn't have liked it. He (Balasaheb) is not here today but you are.
"We see him in you, we trust you. I believe that you will not allow injustice to my family and me. As a Marathi, I look towards you with hopes of justice. I request you for justice."
The Narcotics Control Bureau's Deputy Director General-northern region, Gyaneshwar Singh, on Wednesday, said they have started recording the statement of the agency's Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede in connection with the departmental vigilance probe into allegations of extortion in the drugs-on-cruise case.
The NCB has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the claims made by a witness, Prabhakar Sail, of claims of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, to let off Aryan Khan.
Tom Hanks in The Terminal
12:11 Indian who lived at US airport for months acquitted
A 37-year-old Indian man who was arrested in Chicago in January after he spent three months undetected at a secure area at one of the world's busiest airports has been acquitted on a felony trespassing charge, according to a media report.
Aditya Singh who was too scared to fly due to the coronavirus pandemic and lived undetected for nearly three months at one of the world's busiest airports, O'Hare International Airport, was arrested on January 16.
A Cook County judge found Singh not guilty on Tuesday of felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Judge Adrienne Davis made the ruling in a directed verdict without the defence having to put on a case.
Singh still faces a separate escape charge related to an alleged violation of electronic monitoring while he was free on bond earlier this year.
That case is due in court Friday, the report added.
After coming to the United States nearly six years ago to complete a master's degree programme, Singh boarded a Chicago-bound flight from Los Angeles on October 19, 2020, to begin his journey home to India. He never made it.
Prosecutors said Singh told authorities that the coronavirus pandemic left him too afraid to fly and so he instead remained in the airport, often relying on the kindness of strangers to buy him food.
Singh hid out in the airport's secured terminal area with access to shops, food and public bathrooms until his arrest after two United Airlines employees asked to see his identification. He showed them an airport ID badge that an operations manager had reported missing in late October 2020, prosecutors said.
His arrest made national headlines, with comparisons to the Tom Hanks movie 'The Terminal'.
The Transportation Security Administration launched an investigation. The TSA regulates O'Hare security for the Chicago Department of Aviation. Authorities found no evidence that Singh left the secured public side of the airport, according to his assistant public defender, Courtney Smallwood.
The TSA investigation earlier this year found Singh did not violate airport regulations.
Singh did not breach or improperly enter secured areas he arrived there like tens of thousands of arriving passengers do every day, by stepping off a plane, Christine Carrino, an aviation department spokeswoman, said in a statement to the Tribune earlier this year.
While we won't speculate on Singh's motivations, he decided to remain in the secure area and made every effort to blend in as a passenger and airline employee until his arrest.
Singh does not have a prior criminal record, the report added. After he completed a master's programme at Oklahoma State University in summer 2019, he moved to Orange, California, southeast of Los Angeles, and lived with a man who told the Tribune he had offered Singh a place to live in exchange for helping him care for his elderly father and other odd jobs.
Singh's visa was expiring, the man said, so he planned in October 2020 to return to India, where his mother lives.
Vaccination coverage needs to go up
12:05 India records highest ever Covid recovery rate@98%
India recorded its highest COVID-19 recovery rate since March 2020 at 98.20 per cent on Thursday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
According to the ministry, the recovery of 17,095 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients to 3,36,14,434.
Meanwhile, with 16,156 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's total caseload has reached 3,42,31,809.The country's active caseload is presently at 1,60,989 which is the lowest in 243 days.
Also, the active cases presently constitute 0.47 per cent of the country's total positive cases, which is the lowest since March 2020.
As per the health ministry, with 733 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, the death toll has gone up to 4,56,386 and the fatality rate is at 1.33 per cent.
The weekly positivity rate at 1.19 per cent and it remained less than 2 per cent for the last 34 days now. -- ANI
File pic
11:31 'Spontaneous' stir by MSRTC employees cripples public bus services in Maha
Services of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) were badly hit across the state since Thursday morning due to a "spontaneous" agitation by its employees over their various demands, including DA merger with salary, officials said.
The bus operations at several depots of the state-run transport undertaking, including at Mumbai Central, where the MSRTC's headquarters is located, were stopped in support of the agitation, they said.
A spokesperson of the MSRTC told PTI that they were in process gathering details, and confirmed that the bus operations at several depots in Maharashtra were affected due to the employees' agitation.
The MSRTC is one of the biggest public transport corporations in the county with a fleet of more than 16,000 buses and around 93,000 employees, including drivers and conductors. Before the pandemic, around 65 lakh passengers used to travel in the MSRTC buses every day.
11:04 BJP will be here for decades: Prashant Kishor
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will continue to be a force to reckon with in Indian politics for decades to come, political strategist Prashant Kishor said during a visit to Goa. The head of the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), a poll consultancy firm, believes the BJP will have to be fought for "many decades".
Read the interview with the Hindustan Times today here.
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil
10:57 Dilip Walse Patil tests Covid +ve for the second time in a year
Update on Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil testing positive for coronavirus.
This is the second time in a year that Walse Patil tested positive. He had also taken both the doses of vaccine against COVID-19.
Walse Patil in a Twitter post on Thursday said after experiencing mild symptoms, he decided to get tested for COVID-19.
Takeaway from this news: Stay home. And when you go out wear a double mask that fits securely, sanitise your hands and avoid crowds.
10:35 Up to Rs 10L compensation for Kerala flood-affected
The Kerala government has decided to provide Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the kin of those who lost their lives in the recent landslides and floods due to the heavy rains in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
The state government will also provide Rs 10 lakh to those who lost their homes and land in rain-related disasters, the Chief Minister said in a release.
Of the Rs 5 lakh to be paid to families of those who died in the recent disasters, Rs 4 lakh would come from the State Disaster Response Fund and the remaining Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund, he said.
The decisions were taken in a Cabinet meeting which also decided to provide financial assistance to the family of Vaishakh H of Rashtriya Rifle Battalion who was killed in an encounter with terrorists on October 11.
The government has decided that after the Military Welfare Department pays Rs 10 lakh, towards the remainder of the Rs 27.5 lakh loan he had availed for building a house for his family, any remaining amount of the loan would be paid out of the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund, the Chief Minister said in the release.
Vaishakh was among the five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), who died in a gunfight with terrorists during an operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides these, he also announced that Rs 5 lakh each would be paid out of the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund to the families of the two men who died due to electrocution on Monday.
One of the families would also be provided a house under the Life scheme, he said. According to the police the two men, found dead in a canal in Kochi, died due to electrocution during suspected illegal electrofishing activity.
Image: An area in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, is waterlogged due to the overflow of the Pampa river following heavy rainfall in October.
09:51 Sedition law on Pak win supporters soon: Yogi
The Agra police on Wednesday arrested three Kashmiri students for allegedly celebrating Pakistan's victory over India in the T20 World Cup match held on October 24 and publishing anti-India messages on social platforms.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath has said that the Sedition (Law) will be invoked against those celebrating the victory of Pakistan.
The three students have been identified as Inayat Altaf Shaikh, Shaukat Ahmed Gani and Arshid Yousuf, said Vikas Kumar, Agra SP. All the students are studying at RBS College Bichpuri.
The students have been arrested under Section 153 (A) (Promoting disharmony), and 505 (Publishing and circulating a statement or report containing rumour or alarming news).Further investigation is underway.
09:35 Maha HM tests positive for Covid
Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil says he has tested positive for COVID19 with mild symptoms.
"After experiencing mild symptoms I decided to get tested for COVID-19. I have tested positive. My condition is stable and I am following my doctor's advice. I urge all those who came in contact with me during Nagpur and Amravati tour, and other programs, to get themselves tested," Walse Patil tweeted.
Garfield St Auburn Sobers
09:18 Sobers, not Shastri
Last night on Kaun Banega Crorepati, Amitabh Bachchan said Ravi Shastri was the first cricketer to hit six sixes in a match.
Wrong!
The first cricketer to do so was The GREAT Gary Sobers, playing for Nottinghamshire, who hit Glamorgan's Malcolm Nash for six sixes in an over in a county cricket game on August 31, 1968.
Playing for Bombay, Shastri hit Baroda's left arm spinner Tilak Raj for 6 sixes in 1985.
Representational image
09:13 Terrorist out to kill shopkeeper in J-K shot dead
A terrorist was killed in a brief shootout in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.
Kashmir zone Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said the slain militant was a "hybrid type" and identified as Javed Wani of Kulgam district.
"He (Wani) had assisted terrorist Gulzar (who was killed on October 20) in killing two labourers from Bihar at Wanpoh earlier this month," the IGP said. Kumar claimed that Wani was on a mission to target a shopkeeper in Baramulla.
A police spokesperson said militants fired upon an area domination patrol of the Army and police at Cherdari in Baramulla district. The security forces retaliated, resulting in the death of one ultra, the spokesperson said, adding that a pistol, magazine and one hand grenade were found on his body. PTI
09:04 COVID-19 surge persists in Singapore, record 5,324 new cases reported
The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Singapore is being looked into, the country's health ministry has said after it registered a record single-day spike of 5,324 new infections on Wednesday.
The figure includes 661 residents from dormitories of migrant workers and 12 cases who arrived from abroad, it said, adding that 10 more fatalities due to the disease have been reported as well.
The ministry said it was looking into the "unusual surge in cases within a relatively short window", and that it will closely monitor the trend for the next few days. Singapore's death toll from the coronavirus now stands at 349.
As of Wednesday noon, there were 1,777 COVID-19 patients in hospitals in the island, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH). Singapore's COVID-19 infection tally has reached 184,419, it showed
08:58 Aryan Khan's bail plea hearing to continue today in Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court will resume hearing the bail application of Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, others on Thursday who were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Mumbai cruise drugs case.
During arguments on Tuesday, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi argued that Aryan Khan was a "young man" who should be sent to rehab rather than jail.
The 23-year-old star son was arrested on October 3 after a drugs raid on a cruise ship party by Narcotics Control Bureau officers in disguise.
At present, Aryan is lodged at the Arthur Road Jail along with another accused Arbaaz Merchant. Whereas, Munmun Dhamecha is at Byculla women prison.
The hearing will resume on Thursday afternoon.
08:30 Aryan Khan case: NCB's witness Kiran Gosavi detained
Kiran Gosavi, an 'independent witness' of the Narcotics Control Bureau in the drugs-on-cruise case, has been detained in Pune.
After remaining untraceable for several days, Gosavi, who is facing a cheating case in Pune, spoke to TV news channels from an undisclosed location and dubbed the extortion claims made by his aide and another witness in the case, Prabhakar Sail as false and baseless.
Gosavi's photos and videos with Aryan Khan went viral on social media after the NCB's raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.
08:29 'SRK to pull out all stops to prove Aryans innocence'
Shah Rukh Khan's legal team is preparing for a long battle against those who apparently planned and plotted Aryan Khan's highly-publicised arrest.
An informed source tells Subhash K Jha, "Shah Rukh is going to pull out all stops to prove his son's innocence. Shah Rukh will take the bull by horns. Some people have got to pay for what has been done. The battle has just begun."
Meanwhile, SRK's one pending movie assignment has been affected by the crisis.
Pathan, directed by Siddharth Anand, stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham alongside Shah Rukh.
Salman Khan has a very special appearance in the film.
Pathan's next schedule in Spain, which was to begin mid-October, now stands postponed until Shah Rukh is in a position to resume shooting.
Sources tell that Shah Rukh's co-actors have assured him that they will accommodate the next schedule of Pathan into their choc-a-bloc date diaries whenever he wants them to.
00:13 Mumbai cops record Sail's statement 2nd time
Mumbai Police on Wednesday recorded the statement of independent witness Prabhakar Sail for the second time in connection with his allegation of extortion attempt by NCB officials in the drugs seizure case involving Aryan Khan.
Sail appeared before the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Azad Maidan division around 3 pm and left around 8.30 pm, an official said.
On Tuesday, Sail had appeared before the police in the evening and his statement was recorded for over eight hours. He left around 3 am, only to return in the afternoon.
Sail has been provided protection by the city police.
On Tuesday, his lawyer Tushar Khandare had claimed that his client was "misused" during the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast during which drugs were allegedly seized and Aryan Khan, actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, was arrested.
The city police had said they had received four applications alleging extortion by NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede and other officials, and have launched an enquiry to verify these claims.
One of the applications was sent by Sail, who alleged that he overheard K P Gosavi, another witness in the cruise ship raid case, talking to one Sam D'Souza over the phone about a demand of Rs 25 crore including Rs 8 crore for Sameer Wankhede, police said.
Wankhede, an IRS officer, has denied the allegations.
On Wednesday, Wankhede recorded his own statement before a team headed by NCB Deputy Director General (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh in connection with a departmental vigilance probe into extortion allegations.
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