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Tue, 30 August 2022

Only 20% people have taken Covid booster dose

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23:51 K'taka HC rejects plea against nod for Ganesh rituals at Hubbali Eidgah ground

The Karnataka high court rejected plea challenging permission for allowing Ganesh Chaturthi rituals at Eidgah ground at Hubbali-Dharwad.

More details soon. -- ANI

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23:42 2 teenage boys from Kerala die in drowning incident in UK

Two 16-year-old UK-based Indian boys who had gone to a lake in Northern Ireland for a swim have died in what the local police believe is a "tragic drowning incident".

Joseph Sebastien and Reuven Simon, both originally from Kerala, were among a group of friends who went to the Enagh Lough in Derry/Londonderry on Monday, which was a holiday in the UK.

The Kerala Association in the Northern Irish city led the tributes to the teenagers on Tuesday.

"We are extremely heartbroken with the devastating tragedy with the loss of our two youngsters, Mr Reuven Simon and Mr Joseph Sebastian, happened in Enagh Lough yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our families and friends at this difficult time," a spokesperson said.

A local resident and local councillor, Rachel Ferguson, took to Twitter to express her condolences.

"My thoughts are with the family & friends of the two beautiful young boys who tragically lost their lives at Enagh Lough yesterday,' Councillor Ferguson tweeted.

"The community is in shock, and saddened. My thanks to all the emergency services who attended the scene until very late last night," she said. PTI

23:27 Only 20% people have taken Covid booster dose

Only a fifth of the eligible people in India have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, with the lowest coverage in Meghalaya followed by states like Jharkhand, Nagaland, Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Tuesday.

Around 12 per cent of the eligible 77 crore population in the age group of 18-59 years have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far, they said.

Besides, 35 per cent of the 16.80 crore population aged 60 years and above, healthcare and frontline workers have been administered the precaution dose.

A total of 15.66 crore precaution doses have been given till now with 10.39 crore doses being administered since July 15 after the 'COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsava' was launched, official sources said.

The precaution dose coverage among the 64,89,99,721 eligible population between 18-59 years was 8 per cent till July 14.

Only eight per cent of eligible people aged above 18 years have taken the precaution dose in Meghalaya so far -- the lowest in the country followed by Jharkhand and Nagaland at nine per cent each and Punjab and Haryana at 10 per cent each. -- PTI

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23:09 SC judge expresses displeasure over WhatsApp messages sent on his phone

Supreme Court judge Justice S K Kaul on Tuesday expressed displeasure over some investors, who were allegedly duped by a company, sending WhatsApp messages to him and warned he will take a "serious view" and recuse himself from hearing the matter if they don't stop doing it.

Justice Kaul, who heads the bench which is hearing the case where a firm is accused of collecting Rs 5,600 crore as deposit from the investors, had in February this year also said he does not want to receive WhatsApp messages about the case from the litigants.

"You communicate with them (investors). I will take a serious view. They keep violating what I have been saying earlier," Justice Kaul, who along with Justice A S Oka comprises the bench, told the lawyer appearing for the investors

"My mobile is not meant for WhatsApp... I will just send the proceeding off'. I had mentioned earlier, I did not take any action," Justice Kaul said, adding, "please stop doing this otherwise I will recuse myself' Do not try this".

In its February 9 order, the apex court had asked some of the investors to desist from sending messages to judges.-- PTI

Indrani Mukerjea

22:45 Vidhie Mukerjea seeks Mumbai court's nod to stay with mother Indrani

Vidhie Mukerjea, daughter of ex-couple Indrani and Peter Mukerjea currently in London, has moved an application before a special CBI court in Mumbai seeking permission to stay with her mother in Mumbai after she returns to India.

Vidhie claimed she was deprived of her mother's companionship as a minor when Indrani Mukerjea was arrested in 2015, in connection with her daughter Sheena Bora's murder, and the separation has affected her "emotional well-being".

Vidhie has been living in London for several years. She is returning to India on September 10, as per her application.

Indrani, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, is currently out on bail.

In the plea, moved through advocate Ranjeet Sangle, Vidhie said she was a minor when her mother was arrested in 2015 and has been deprived of her mother's companionship, love and warmth since the day of her arrest and has not been with her for the last seven years.

This has seriously affected the emotional well-being of the applicant, it said, adding that Vidhie is now finding it extremely difficult to cope with the separation and hence she is desirous of being able to freely communicate and live with her mother as and when she wishes to.

The plea further said that Indrani Mukerjea is suffering from irreversible cerebral ischemia, she is frail and requires proper personal and medical care, which the applicant would like to provide to the best of her ability and time.

Indrani Mukerjea has no family apart from the applicant, in Mumbai, it added. -- PTI

Gautam Adani

22:20 Adani to launch open offer for NDTV on Oct 17

Adani Group will launch its open offer on October 17 for acquiring an additional 26 per cent stake in media firm NDTV.

The open offer for acquiring 1.67 crore equity shares, for which a price of Rs 294 per share has been fixed, will tentatively close on November 1, said an advertisement by JM Financial, which is managing the offer.

If fully subscribed at a price of Rs 294 per share, the open offer will amount to Rs 492.81 crore.

On August 23, Adani group announced to acquire a 29.18 per cent stake in NDTV through the acquisition of VCPL, which holds a 99.99 per cent stake in RRPR Holding.

Following this Adani group firms -- Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited along with AMG Media Networks and Adani Enterprises Ltd -- have proposed to acquire an additional 26 per cent or 1.67 crore equity shares.

Days after this announcement, NDTV's founder promoters asserted that the deal cannot go ahead without Sebi's nod.

In an order passed on November 27, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Board of India restrained NDTV founders -- Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy -- from the securities market for two years and that period ends on November 26.

As restrictions are still in force, hence a prior written approval from Sebi was required for Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited for the exercise of the conversion option on the warrants, NDTV founders had said. -- PTI

The Gujarat high court on Tuesday dismissed a plea objecting to the transfer of animals to a zoo being built by Reliance Industries Limited in Jamnagar and questioning the recognition granted to it by the Central Zoo Authority.

A division bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri dismissed the public interest litigation filed by Halar Utkarsh Samiti Trust, stating that it was satisfied with the overall functioning of the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre based on the material on record and detailed report placed before it by the concerned authorities.

The court, in its order, stated that since the petitioner has not seriously questioned the issues of recognition and permission, it is satisfied with the explanation given by the authority while granting recognition to RIL to set up the zoo.

The court also mentioned the order passed by the Supreme Court on August 20 dismissing another PIL challenging the permission granted to the zoo.

"One of the strong factors is even the apex court has examined almost the same issue, with regards to the very rescue and rehabilitation centre and zoo, hence we deem it proper to not entertain the present PIL," the court said.

"We are also independently satisfied on overall functioning of the aforesaid centre run by respondent no. 4 (RIL) based on relevant material on record and detailed report placed before us by the concerned authorities," it said. -- PTI

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21:19 50 Dalit families driven out of J'khand village

About 50 Dalit families were allegedly driven out of a village, where they were living in for the last four decades, by members of a particular community in Jharkhand's Palamu district, the police said on Tuesday.

On receiving the information, sub-divisional officer, Medininagar, Rajesh Kumar Sah, and sub-divisional police officer, Bishrampur, Surjit Kumar rushed to Tongri Pahadi area, 1 km from Murumatu village, and were camping there to maintain law and order, the police said.

A criminal case was lodged against 12 named people and 150 others in this regard, they said.

Meanwhile, taking cognisance of the incident, Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais has expressed concern over the incident.

The governor has sought a detailed report from the deputy commissioner, Palamu, A Dodde, within two days, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

Dodde told PTI that the police have been asked to apprehend the culprits immediately.

The DC assured all 50 families of rehabilitation in the same village on a priority basis.

The relief agencies have been activated for the purpose, Dode added. -- PTI

As many as eight persons were killed while three others received injuries after their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a valley in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, the police said.

"A total of eight people have died till now while three are injured in a road accident, Devansh Yadav, deputy commissioner, Kishtwar said.

"Eight are dead including a small girl while three have been injured. Medical teams are looking into those who are injured. We will provide necessary compensation and bear the expenses of their treatment," Yadav said.

The officer said tragedy took place after a vehicle carrying these people fell into a gorge in the Kishtwar district.

Initially, the Jammu and Kashmir police had said that seven people had lost their lives and four were injured after their car fell into a gorge in the Bunda area of Chatroo in Kishtwar.

However, one of the injured persons also lost his life while being shifted to the district hospital.

Taking to Twitter, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.

"Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic road accident in Kishtwar. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of injured. Directed district administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured," the office of LG J-K tweeted. -- ANI

20:43 Maoists kill deputy sarpanch in Telangana

Suspected Maoists have allegedly killed a 45 year-old man, suspecting him to be a 'police informer,' the police said on Tuesday.

The incident happened in Kurnapally village in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Monday night, the police said.

The deceased was identified as I Ramu, deputy sarpanch of the village, they said.

The police recovered a note purportedly written by the ultras which says that Ramu was killed as he was suspected to be a 'police informer.'

"He was stabbed to death. Inquiry is on to ascertain the facts," they said. -- PTI

From next year, students from across the country will be able to seek admission in 'Super 30' which is well known for grooming students from underprivileged sections of society in Bihar for the prestigious IITs with a striking success rate.

The intake in the pioneering programme by mathematics wizard Anand Kumar, will also be increased to 100 by next year.

Until now, only 30 underprivileged and talented students of Bihar could participate in the free residential coaching programme.

"In view of growing demand, Super 30, has decided to increase its reach and access. By next year, admissions will not be confined to students of Bihar only but will be open to students from other states. The procedure of admission will, however, remain the same through test," Kumar said.

"Education is the only way people can find solutions to all pressing problems in the world, apart from going beyond Bihar, Super30 also plans to increase the intake of students in Bihar to 100 from the present 30 . We also will be going online after taking lessons from the pandemic days when offline classes had to be shut for a couple of months," he added. -- PTI

Runner-up Kusum Singh has been declared as the councillor of Ghaziabad municipal corporation after a court allowed her petitioner that challenged the election of Ashutosh Sharma from the ward, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

Singh had filed the election petition against Ashutosh Sharma and election officials, including the returning officer of ward 83 in 2018.

She had contended that at the time of the election, Sharma was living in Surajmal Vihar in Delhi and was a voter of Vishwas Nagar east Delhi constituency.

Hence he was not eligible to contest the election in Ghaziabad.

On August 24, Additional District and Sessions judge Tendra Pal declared Sharma's election as invalid under section 38 Municipal act regulation 1959, the petitioner's lawyer Azad Kumar Bansal said.

Following the court order, district magistrate RK Singh on Monday declared Kusum Singh as councilor of Ghaziabad municipal corporation from ward number 83 of Rajendar Nagar.

"The then officers who were responsible for the irregularity would also be punished as per departmental rules," Bansal said. -- PTI

19:49 Daughter seeks CBI probe into Phogat's death

Deceased Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sonali Phogat's daughter Yashodhara Phogat on Tuesday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged murder of her mother while also stating that the family is not satisfied with the probe conducted by the Goa police.

She said that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had assured of a CBI investigation into the case.

The family of Sonali Phogat had met Khattar on August 27, after which the Chief Minister had assured of a CBI probe into the case.

However, according to the deceased BJP leader's daughter, "no action has been taken as of yet".

Speaking to ANI, Yashodhara said, "I demand a CBI probe as I'm not satisfied with the current probe. No action is being taken. The accused have been kept in Goa, they have yet not revealed their motive (behind the murder), so what are the police doing? It's about justice for my mother, we won't stand back until there is a CBI investigation. CM (of Haryana) said that CBI probe will happen but no action has been taken as of yet."

She claimed that the murder of her mother "was planned".

"My mother had told me that there would be shooting for nearly one week in Goa. But it comes to the fore that the resort was booked only for two days. It suggests that it was a planned murder," she said.

Sonali Phogat's aunt, Manoj Phogat said that the family had no information about the arrival of the Goa police to Haryana for investigation, and had only come to know about it through the media.

"We do not know officially when the Goa Police will come. We are getting information about their arrival from the media. Officially, it is the local police who inform us about the arrival, but we have not been informed yet. The local police should have come earlier," she said. -- ANI

An Airbus plane operated by IndiGo faced "engine stall" warning for a few seconds as it flew into wake turbulence caused by a Boeing 777 aircraft that flew from the opposite side.

The mid-air incident happened for IndiGo's Guwahati-Mumbai flight that was operated with am Airbus 320 ceo plane on Monday.

IndiGo's aircraft "came into the wake turbulence of opposite traffic Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft" on Monday, a source at aviation regulator DGCA said.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, every aircraft generates wake turbulence while in flight.

The wake turbulence is a function of an aircraft producing lift, resulting in the formation of two counter-rotating vortices trailing behind the aircraft.

Pressure differential over the wing surface generates lift, as per FAA website.

"Due to the turbulence engine #1 stall warning came and disappeared. No abnormality was observed in any other parameter and aircraft safely continued to the destination," the source said. IndiGo did not comment on the incident. -- PTI

Streamer Netflix on Tuesday said action thriller Ek Villain Returns will arrive on its platform on September 9.

The Indian arm of the streaming service made the announcement on its official Twitter page.

The caption of the tweet read: "2x the action, 2x the thrill. #EkVillainReturns arrives on 9th September on Netflix."

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Balaji Telefilms and T-Series, the Hindi feature film released in theatres on July 29.

It stars John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani and Tara Sutaria.

Ek Villain Returns is a follow-up to the 2014 original of the same name, also directed by Suri. -- PTI

18:47 Have not announced Congress prez bid: Tharoor

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said the reports about the possibility of him contesting for the party president's post were 'only speculation,' but said he would be able to clearly say about his candidature only after the election notification is announced.

He also said an election to the top party post "is good for the party".

"There is only speculation. I have not announced anything. All I said is that there should be an election and that is good for the party," Tharoor told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

He said if an election is held to the Congress president's post, that will help gather the attention of the people and the party's style of functioning, ideology, values and its outlook for the country will again be discussed.

"So let many candidates come forward and participate in the election in the democratically functioning party. That is good for the party," the Thiruvananthapuram MP said responding to queries.

Referring to the request he had made to Rahul Gandhi to take the responsibility for the Congress when quit as the Congress president following the 2019 Lok Sabha polls debacle, Tharoor said three years have passed since then and current party president Sonia Gandhi was still bearing the heavy burden. -- PTI

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18:19 Two Lashkar terrorists killed in Shopian encounter

Two Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists were gunned down by security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, the police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Nagbal area of Shopian following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

An encounter broke out during the operation in which two ultras were gunned down.

The slain terrorists were affiliated to proscribed terror outfit LeT.

Search going on, a police spokesman tweeted. -- PTI

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday sent greetings to all fellow citizens on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi and prayed that peace and happiness continues to prevail in the world.

In a message, the president has said, "On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all the fellow citizens living in India and abroad."

"Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesha is considered to be a Vighnaharta and Mangalmurti," Murmu said.

On this occasion, let us pray for the blessings of Lord Ganesha to maintain harmony and cordiality, she said. "We pray that peace and happiness continues to prevail in the world," the president was quoted in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. -- PTI

17:49 Mughals gave shape to Hindustan: Cong MP

Congress MP from Assam Abdul Khaleque on Tuesday said he is proud of the Mughals because they gave the shape of 'Hindustan'.

Speaking to ANI, Khaleque said, "The perception of Hindustan was made by the Mughals. There were small states in Bharat. Mughals shaped them together as Hindustan. So I am proud of the Mughals. But I am not a successor of the Mughal dynasty. It is true that the Mughals had attacked Assam (Ahom kingdom) but that was not done individually. At that time Mughals were ruling over the Hindustan."

The Barpeta MP said the erstwhile Ahom army had defeated the Mughals.

At that time he said it was a conflict between India and Assam.

"But today, Assam is an integral part of India. The situation is completely different now," he said.

The Congress leader further said out of the 10 Vidhan Sabha seats that fall under his parliamentary constituency, seven were part of the Ahom kingdom while the three were the Koch Kingdom at that time.

He said the Battle of Saraighat was not a conflict between Hindus and Muslims but a battle between the King of Hindustan and the Ahom dynasty.

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, Khaleque said, "It is BJP's policy to spread hatred. They say they will rewrite history. It means they want to change history." -- PTI

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule

17:42 Maharashtra BJP president meets Raj Thackeray

Amid speculation that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to woo Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ahead of Mumbai civic polls, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday met MNS president Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence in Mumbai.

Bawankule reached the MNS chief's residence 'Shivtirth' in Dadar's Shivaji Park area around noon.

The BJP leader didn't speak to reporters but later said in a social media post that he had discussed various social and political issues related to Maharashtra and the country with Raj Thackeray.

A day earlier, another BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde had met Raj Thackeray.

The BJP, which had won 82 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls in 2017 just two short of Shiv Sen's tally, is trying to woo MNS for Marathi votes amid the split in Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

The schedule for the BMC polls is not announced yet. -- PTI

17:08 KRK sent to 14-day judicial custody for tweets

A court in Mumbai on Tuesday sent actor and film critic Kamal Rashid Khan, popularly known as KRK, to 14-day judicial custody after he was arrested by the city police over his alleged defamatory tweets posted two years ago.

While his lawyer said the tweets were about the film Laxmii Bomb (later titled as Laxmii) starring Akshay Kumar, the police did not disclose any details.

Khan was arrested at the Mumbai airport late Monday night after he arrived from Dubai.

The police produced him before a magistrate's court in Borivali and sought his custody for four days for investigations. But the court rejected the request and sent him in 14-day judicial custody.

His lawyer Ashok Sarogi then filed a bail application which is likely to be heard later in the day.

The First Information Report in the case had been registered against Khan in 2020 under Indian Penal Code sections 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 500 (defamation) and provisions of the Information Technology Act, the police said.

A lookout circular too had been issued against him, a police official said.

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17:00 Ganesh Chaturthi at Bengaluru Idgah Maidan: CJI refers case to 3 judge bench

Chief Justice of India UU Lalit Tuesday constituted a three-judge bench in the Supreme Court to hear a plea by the Karnataka Waqf Board challenging the high court's order which allowed the use of Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

The three-judge bench will comprise Justices Indira Banerjee, Abhay S Oka, and MM Sundresh which will start hearing the matter some time from now.

The order came after a two-judge bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia referred the issue to CJI citing a difference of opinion.

"Heard the parties at some length. Neither the hearing could conclude nor any consensus could be reached between the bench. Let the matter be listed before the CJI," the two-judge bench said.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Karnataka Waqf Board challenging the order of the high court.

A division bench of the Karnataka high court on August 26 permitted the state government to consider and pass appropriate orders on the applications received by the deputy commissioner of Bengaluru (Urban) seeking the use of Idgah Maidan at Chamarajpet. -- PTI

16:37 Hazare slams Kejriwal over Delhi excise policy

Social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, slamming his government's new excise policy and said it seems the CM has "sunk in the addiction of power."

Hazare also said it seems the new policy will encourage liquor sale and consumption and spur corruption.

Last month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22.

Hazare, while citing the complete liquor ban in his village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, reminded former associate Kejriwal about the latter's book 'Swaraj' which favoured liquor ban.

The activist, who had penned the book's foreword, said he has written a letter to Kejriwal for the first time since he became CM and that it pains him to read reports about the Delhi government's new excise policy.

"You wrote several idealistic things in the book. Everyone had hopes from you but it seems that after becoming the CM, you forgot that ideology and that is why the Delhi government came up with a new liquor policy," he said.

It seems with the new policy, liquor sales and consumption will get encouraged and liquor shops could be opened in everywhere.

"The policy will spur corruption and this thing is not at all in the interest of the people. But still, you took the decision to bring the new liquor policy. Like addiction of liquor, there is an addiction of power and it seems that you have sunk into it," Hazare said in the letter.

The policy shows that a party which was born after damaging a historic agitation is now going on the path of other parties, which is painful, he said.

Hazare and Kejriwal were the key faces of the anti-graft movement launched by the activist in 2011 to demand appointment of a Lokpal.

The activist said after becoming the CM, Kejriwal forgot about the Lokpal and Lokayukta law.

"You did not make any effort to bring in a strong Lokayukta Act, but instead the Delhi government has brought in a policy on liquor which destroys the life of people and affects women. This shows there is a gap between what you preach and practice," he said.

Benchmark BSE Sensex and Nifty soared over 2.5 per cent, logging their best single-day gain in more than three months, on Tuesday after value buying in banking, IT and oil stocks.

The 30-share Sensex jumped 1,564.45 points or 2.70 per cent to settle at 59,537.07. During the day, it zoomed 1,627.16 points or 2.80 per cent to 59,599.78.

The broader NSE Nifty advanced 446.40 points or 2.58 per cent to 17,759.30.

All the 30-Sensex components ended in the green, with Bajaj Finserv rallying 5.47 per cent followed by Bajaj Finance which jumped 4.86 per cent.

IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Steel and HDFC were among the other major winners.

Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Seoul and Tokyo ended in the green, while Shanghai and Hong Kong settled lower.

Stock markets in Europe were trading higher during mid-session deals. The US markets had ended lower on Monday.

The ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition in Jharkhand is shifting its MLAs to neighbouring Chhattisgarh to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party's alleged attempt to poach its legislators during the ongoing political crisis in the state, sources said on Tuesday.

The MLAs are seen leaving Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence in two buses towards the Ranchi airport where a flight has been booked for them to Raipur, sources said.

Soren himself is seen on one of the buses.

A Congress legislator, on condition of anonymity, said that they may be shifted to a resort in Raipur in Chhattisgarh, a state with a non-BJP government.

Sources in the airport also said a flight for Raipur has been booked for the legislators.

Soren's JMM believes that the BJP may make a serious attempt to poach MLAs from it and from the Congress in a bid to topple the government in a manner similar to Maharashtra and there is a need to ringfence the legislators in a safe haven.

Following a petition by the BJP seeking Soren's disqualification from the Assembly in an office of profit case, the Election Commission has sent its decision to state Governor Ramesh Bais on August 25.

Though the EC's decision is not yet made official, there was a buzz that the poll panel has recommended the chief minister's disqualification as an MLA. The Raj Bhavan did not announce anything on this matter.

A mathematics teacher and a clerk of a residential school in Jharkhand's Dumka district were allegedly beaten by students after tying them to a tree for reportedly giving poor marks in Class 9 practical examination, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Monday at a government run Scheduled Tribe Residential School under Gopikandar police station area of the district.

As many as 11 students of the school out of 32 procured Grade- DD (double D), which is considered equivalent to fail, in the class-9 examination, results of which was declared by Jharkhand Academic Council on Saturday, the police said.

"No FIR has been lodged in the case, as school management did not give any written complaint about the incident. After verification of the incident, I asked the school authority to lodge a complaint but it refused saying that if might spoil the careers of the students," Gopikandar police station in-charge Nityanand Bhokta told PTI.

The teacher was identified as Suman Kumar, while the clerk was Soneram Chaure, police said. They also did not give any written complaint to the police, Bhokta said.

Gopikandar block development officer (BDO) Anant Jha, who also went to the school with Bhokta for the investigation said, there are 200 students in the residential school and majority of the students were involved in the incident.

"The victim teacher was earlier headmaster of the school but later he was removed for reasons not known. It might be a case of rivalry among teachers. To maintain law and order of the school, classes for class-9 and class-10 have been suspended for two days and students were sent back to their homes," he said.

The students alleged that the teacher gave low marks to them in practical examinations, for which they failed in the exams. The clerk was allegedly responsible for uploading the marks online in JAC's site.

"The school management, however, failed to show the marks of practical examinations and date on which the marks were uploaded online. It is still not clear whether the students failed in theory paper or practical. Prima facie it seems, the students took the action only on a rumour," he said. -- PTI

With Shashi Tharoor contemplating running for the post of Congress president, the party on Tuesday said anybody who wants to contest can do so.

According to sources, Tharoor is exploring the possibility of running for the post of Congress president though he is yet to take a final call on it. They said he has not made up his mind but could take a call on it soon.

Asked about it, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "I am not aware of anything like that but I understand that we announced our election schedule and given the dates of filing nomination, counting, and result."

"All dates are mentioned in the election schedule. So if anybody wants to do that (contest), the dates are there. I don't want to say anything more on this. The dates are there, the Constitution of the Congress is there, whatever you deem appropriate, you do it," he said.

Alleging in the Bharatiya Janata Party the appointment depends on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, "The Congress does not have a system where 1.5 people elect a 0.5 president."

"I want to ask through you when did elections take place in the BJP? What does its Constitution say about elections? We have announced dates, we have a Constitution with all details mentioned. But when did polls take place in the BJP? Which election did (J P) Nadda Ji fight? Which election did Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, L K Advani fight?" he asked.

While Tharoor declined to comment on whether he would throw his hat into the ring, he has written an article for Malayalam daily 'Mathrubhumi' calling for a "free and fair" election.

In the article, he said given the current state of the party, the perception of crisis and the national picture, whoever assumes the mantle of president will undoubtedly need to achieve the twin goals of energising the Congress party workers and inspiring the voters.

"He or she should have a plan to fix what ails the party, as well as a vision for India. After all, a political party is an instrument to serve the country, not an end in itself," Tharoor had said.

"Either way, a free and fair election process would be a healthy way to go about settling the issue. It would legitimise the mandate being offered to the incoming president," he said.

At the press conference where the party announced the schedule for the internal election, All India Congress Committee general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said, "Anybody can contest the election. It is an open election."

The Punjab Police on Tuesday said it has traced one of the key accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case to Azerbaijan.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said central agencies helped the state police in tracing Sachin Thapan Bishnoi, and efforts are underway to extradite him to India.

Sachin and another accused Anmol Bishnoi, brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, had fled the country using fake passports before Moosewala's murder.

The DGP said Sachin was in touch with Goldy Brar, another member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who has claimed responsibility for the singer's murder.

"He initially fled to Dubai. With the support of the Government of India and central agencies, we have traced him to Azerbaijan. A legal process is underway. We are hopeful that he will be brought to India very soon," Yadav said.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29. -- PTI

15:02 CBI found my son's toy in bank locker: Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday dubbed the Bharatiya Janata Party a "bacha chor" party in the Delhi assembly while referring to the arrest of a BJP corporator in an alleged child kidnapping case.

Sisodia said also that false news was planted that property papers were found from his locker during a CBI search.

"We have answered all questions of the Opposition. We can't answer lies being thrown by them. Only items worth Rs 70,000-Rs 80,000 including 'jhunjuna' (a toy) of my son was found in the locker by CBI," Sisodia said in the House amid uproar by opposition MLAs.

Sisodia and his wife were present as a four-member CBI team conducted a search of his locker at a Punjab National Bank branch in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader is among the 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the agency in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22.

As the uproar continued, Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla marshalled outs all BJP MLAs except Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who also walked out in protest.

Sisodia was referring to the arrest of a BJP corporator and seven others in connection with the recovery of a seven-month-old child who was stolen from a platform of the Mathura junction six days ago. -- PTI

The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings for offence of cheating and criminal breach of trust against Bollywood actor Ameesha Patel in connection with summons issued by a trial court in Jharkhand.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and P S Narasimha issued notice to the Jharkhand government on the plea filed by the actor.

The top court, however, said proceedings for offences punishable under Section 138 (cheque bounce) of the Negotiable Instruments Act be proceeded in accordance with law.

"Issue notice only with regard to the offences punishable under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Until further orders, the proceedings under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code shall remain stayed.

"We, however, clarify that the proceedings, insofar as offences punishable under Section 138 (cheque bounce) of the Negotiable Instruments Act are concerned, they be proceeded in accordance with law," the bench said.

The top court's order came on an appeal filed by Patel against the May 5, 2022, order of the Jharkhand high court which dismissed the plea seeking quashing and setting aside of the order by a trial court in Ranchi, in connection with a complaint against her.

The court had taken cognisance for the offences under Sections 406, 420, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act on the complaint filed by producer Ajay Kumar Singh.

According to the complaint, Singh transferred Rs 2.5 crore in the actor's bank account for production of a movie titled Desi Magic. Patel, however, did not proceed with the film as was promised and did return the money either.

The high court had said that prima facie, it appears that all the accused persons are liable to refund the amount in question.

Representative image

14:32 FIR over offering namaz in open 'expunged' in UP

Police on Tuesday said they have expunged a case registered against 25 people for offering prayers ''in the open" in Dullepur village of Moradabad district after no evidence supporting the complaint was found during the investigation.

The case under Section 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code was registered in Chajlait police station as the villagers continued performing the namaz in an open place even after a warning, police officials had said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Hemant Kotiyal said that the matter was investigated and the case was being scrapped as no evidence was found to support the charge.

Leaders of parties like the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, the Samajwadi Party and the National Conference had condemned the police action.

"Plaintiff Chanderpal, etc. had registered a case in police station Chhajlait for offering mass prayers in village Dullepur, after investigation the incident was not found to be proven, therefore, the case has been expunged. Rest of the legal proceedings will be conducted accordingly," a message on the official Twitter handle of the Moradabad police said.

Wahid Saifi, who was named in the FIR, had claimed they were the "legal owners" of the land and that namaz was offered there frequently since Independence.

"Recently, some miscreants, who are claiming themselves to be Bajrang Dal activists, are objecting to it, terming it as a new tradition. They had made a complaint at the police station on June 3," he claimed.

"We all visited the office of the Sub-divisional Magistrate on June 3 where Circle Officer Kanth Saloni Agrawal was also present.

"All legal papers were shown by us but she warned us not to perform namaz in the open and since then we were following the orders. But an FIR was lodged on August 24 at the Chajlait police station after the transfer of SHO," he had said

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and MP Asaduddin Owaisi in a series of tweets had condemned the registration of the FIR.

After the FIR was withdrawn, the Hyderabad MP tweeted, "Fair and timely decision. It is expected that the Uttar Pradesh Police will stop registering illegal FIRs under the pressure of the mob. Hope people will now be able to offer namaz in their homes without any hassle.''

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi on September 2.

The PMO said Modi will be in Karnataka and Kerala on September 1-2 to attend several programmes, including a visit to the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya at Kalady village near Cochin airport.

He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 3,800 crores in Mangaluru.

The PMO noted that Modi has been a strong proponent of self reliance, especially in strategic sectors, and the commissioning of INS Vikrant will mark a significant step towards this.

It will be the first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier.

Designed by the Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau and built by the Cochin Shipyard, a public sector shipyard, Vikrant has been built with state-of- the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.

The aircraft carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India's first, which had played a vital role in the 1971 war, the PMO noted.

14:05 CBI found nothing in my bank locker: Sisodia

The CBI found nothing during its search of his locker, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday.

A four-member team of the CBI conducted the search at a Punjab National Bank branch in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, for nearly two hours.

Sisodia and his wife were present at the time.

The CBI was acting under pressure, Sisodia told reporters after the search was over.

"I am happy that I got a clean chit from the CBI in searches today. They have found nothing (incriminating) from searches of my locker or residence," Sisodia told reporters in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would first examine the constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to grant 10 per cent reservation to EWS in admissions and jobs before hearing appeals against a high court verdict which had set aside a local law granting quota to Muslims.

A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala said it would decide the procedural aspects and other details on September 6 and commence the hearing on the pleas from September 13.

The Centre, through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, introduced the provision for Economically Weaker Sections reservation in admissions and public services.

The top court will also hear the appeals of the state government and other such pleas against the Andhra Pradesh High Court verdict which had set aside the local law granting quota to Muslims.

A five-Judge Bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, by four different opinions, had declared as unconstitutional and violative of Articles 15(4) and 16(4) (State's power to grant quota to socially and educationally backward classes) of the Constitution, the Andhra Pradesh Reservation of Seats in the Educational Institutions and of appointments/posts in the Public Services under the State to Muslim Community Act, 2005.

More than 50 senior Congress leaders, including former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Tara Chand, resigned from the party in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad here on Tuesday.

They submitted a joint resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Chand and several others, including former ministers Abdul Majid Wani, Manohar Lal Sharma, Gharu Ram and former MLA Balwan Singh, announced their resignations from their party, including its primary membership, at a press conference.

"We have submitted a joint resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in support of Azad," Balwan Singh said.

Azad, 73, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, ended his five-decade association with the Congress on Friday, terming the party comprehensively destroyed and lashing out at Rahul Gandhi for demolishing its entire consultative mechanism.

He will soon a launch a national-level party from Jammu and Kashmir.

Over a dozen prominent Congress leaders, including former ministers and legislators, besides hundreds of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, municipal corporators and district and block level leaders have already left the Congress to join Azad.

Mercedes Benz India has elevated Santosh Iyer, its vice president sales and marketing as its next managing director and chief executive as the incumbent, Martin Schwenk moves to Thailand as its MD and CEO after a successful four years in India.

He helped the firm fortify its position in the luxury segment and steered it through the tumultuous phase unfolded by the pandemic.

Iyer, 46, is the youngest and the first Indian to lead the operations of the German carmaker in India.

Both the appointments will be effective from 1 January 2023, the company said in a statement on Monday.

With this appointment, Mercedes joins the local arms of German luxury carmakers BMW and Audi, both of which have Indians in the corner office.

A graduate in commerce from Mumbai University, Iyer is an MBA from University of Indianapolis and holds a masters in corporate governance and compliance from the University of Lake Konstanz, Germany.

The luxury car market leader has announced a change of guard at a time when the firm has identified EVs as an important strategy in its journey in the Indian market.

It expects a fourth of its India volumes to come from an EV offerings by 2025.

Last week it took wraps off the EQS AMG, this will be followed by two more models in the next four months.

Explaining the rationale behind the appointment of an Indian for the top job, Puneet Gupta, director S&P Global Automotive said with the company getting into the next phase of growth, which among other things will include collaborating with multiple partners in the ecosystem, the appointment of an Indian will help.

"Amid the transformation and policy changes sweeping through the auto industry working closely with government machinery becomes critical. A local face and management can act as a catalyst for success in the new phase,' said Gupta.

Iyer, who has been with Mercedes India since 2009, has been overseeing critical functions including sales, marketing, customer services, communications and CRM.

In his role as vice president, customer services and retail training business he was instrumental in the turnaround of the customer services business, successful implementation of new initiatives like MB Tyres, parts trading and setting up the Mercedes-Benz Academy.

"Under his leadership, Mercedes-Benz significantly increased its customer satisfaction scores to become No.1 in After-sales service satisfaction," the company said in a statement.

-- Shally Seth Mohile/Business Standard

A tourist from Jaipur in Rajasthan has claimed that he was barred from entering the Taj Mahal with the idol of the young Lord Krishna.

The incident got the attention of local Hindu bodies, whose activists said they will protest against the authorities if action is not taken against those who stopped the tourist.

An official from the Archaeological Survey of India, Agra circle, said he will enquire about the matter with the CISF officials.

The tourist, Gautam, told reporters at the Taj Mahal that the official cited security reasons for stopping him from entering with the idol.

"Laddu Gopal is like a family member and I always carry him," he said.

"I have visited Mathura and Vrindavan with the lord. But here they asked me to enter without the god's idol," he said.

"I will ask any devout shopkeeper to keep the idol of the lord while we visit the monument," he said.

Prince Vajpayee, Conservation Assistant (CA) at Taj Mahal told PTI: "I too have got a video in this regard. But I have no information whether the incident was on Monday or some other day. Will enquire about the incident from the CISF."

Govind Parashar, national president of the Rashtriya Hindu Parishad Bharat, said, "Strict action should be taken against those who have insulted the lord. If action is not taken, we will protest." -- PTI

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said his government has submitted a "confidential report" on the investigation into the case of alleged murder of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sonali Phogat to Haryana chief minister and director general of police.

A team of Goa Police will also leave for Haryana on Tuesday to record some statements as part of the investigation, Sawant told reporters.

Phogat (43), a former Tik Tok star from Hisar in Haryana and a contestant on the reality TV show Big Boss, was brought dead to a hospital in North Goa on August 23, a day after arriving in the coastal state with two of her male companions.

The Goa Police have so far arrested five persons, including two of Phogat's associates, in connection with the case.

Sawant said the investigation into the case would now be conducted by a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer.

The probe into the case was earlier conducted by a police inspector-level officer. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday closed all proceedings arising out of 2002 riots in Gujarat and the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992.

In the 2002 Gujarat riots case, the the apex court said cases have now become infructuous with passage of time and trials in eight out of nine cases are over.

12:24 CBI officials search Sisodia's bank locker

Central Bureau of Investigation officials searched Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's locker in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad on Tuesday, chaos reigning outside the bank as camera crews jostled with each other and curious crowds gathered to see what was happening.

A team of about five Central Bureau of Investigation officials reached the PNB branch at Sector 4 Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the national capital, to execute the search, officials said.

Sisodia was at the bank with his wife.

"The CBI is welcome," Sisodia had said in a tweet on Monday.

"Tomorrow, the CBI is coming to check our bank locker. They did not find anything during a 14-hour-long raid at my residence on August 19. They won't find anything in the locker too. The CBI is welcome. My family and I will extend full cooperation in the probe," the deputy chief minister said in his tweet in Hindi.

On August 19, the federal probe agency had raided 31 locations, including Sisodia's residence.

Sisodia has been saying he has been made an accused in a false case to stop the march of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has emerged as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

During a special session of the Delhi assembly on Friday, the AAP leader had claimed that the BJP-led Centre is acting like a serial killer to eliminate state governments and described the CBI FIR against him as "fake" and based on "mere sources".

Kolkata reported the least number of rape cases among 19 metropolitan cities in India last year, according to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau.

Kolkata reported 11 cases of rape in 2021, while Delhi reported 1,226 rape cases -- the highest in the country.

Delhi was followed by Jaipur where 502 rape cases were registered, while in Mumbai, 364 cases of rape under IPC section 376 were reported.

Along with Kolkata, at the bottom of the chart was Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where 12 rape cases were reported and Patna where 30 rape cases were registered.

Among other metros, Indore in Madhya Pradesh reported 165 cases, Bengaluru reported 117 cases, Hyderabad reported 116 cases and Nagpur in Maharashtra reported 115 cases.

These 19 cities reported 3,208 cases of rape in 2021, according to NCRB.

Kolkata was also among the cities where no attempt-to-rape cases were registered.

Kolkata had reported 14 rape cases in 2019, while in 2020, it was at 11.

Among states, Rajasthan last year reported the highest number of rape cases at 6,337, while Nagaland reported the lowest number of cases at four. West Bengal reported 1,123 rape cases.

In all, India reported a total of 31,677 rape cases last year, having 31,878 victims. -- PTI

11:53 ED summons Abhishek Banerjee in 'coal scam'

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday issued a summons to Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for questioning in connection with its probe into the coal pilferage scam', an official said.

The central agency asked Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to appear at its Kolkata office on Friday morning, he said.

"We have summoned Abhishek Banerjee to appear before our sleuths here. Our officers from New Delhi will come to interrogate him," the senior ED officer told PTI.

While attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party during a programme, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had on Monday apprehended that the central agencies might send notices to her nephew, considered the second in command in the party, and other senior leaders. -- PTI

Prashant Bhushan

11:52 SC drops contempt charge against Bhushan, Tejpal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dropped a contempt case against activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan and journalist Tarun Tejpal filed in 2009 over their remarks against the judiciary.

A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee, Surya Kant and M M Sundresh closed the proceedings after senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed that an apology has been tendered.

"In view of the apology tendered by the contemnors, we do not deem it necessary to proceed with the contempt. The contempt proceedings are dropped," the bench said.

The top court had in November 2009 issued contempt notice to Bhushan and Tejpal for allegedly casting aspersions on some sitting and former top court judges in an interview to a news magazine.

Tejpal was then editor of the magazine.

In response to the 2009 contempt case, Bhushan had told the apex court that making corruption charges against the judges would not amount to contempt of court and mere utterance of corruption charge could not be contempt of court.

11:48 TV actor Punit Talreja beaten up in Thane

Television actor Punit Talreja, who featured in popular sitcom Khichdi, was injured after two persons allegedly beat him up in Maharashtra's Thane district, the police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Sunday night in Ambernath township when Talreja, 34, was returning home on his scooter after purchasing medicines for his mother.

Two persons on another scooter behind him honked, came in front of him, abused him for not giving them way and allegedly attacked him with an iron rod and other weapons, an official from Shivaji Nagar police station in Ambernath said quoting the actor's complaint.

Talreja suffered severe injuries and some passersby rushed him to a local hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment, the official said, adding that they have registered a case and the accused are yet to be arrested.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Jharkhand's Dumka district has said that the class 12 student who died days after being set on fire by a man was a minor, and demanded action against him under the POCSO Act.

The committee said she was around 16 years old as per the class 10 board examination marksheet and not an adult as claimed by the police.

The incident happened in Dumka town on August 23 when the accused allegedly poured petrol on her from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire.

The teenager, who apparently did not reciprocate his overtures angering him, succumbed to her injuries on Sunday.

"We recommend that sections of the POCSO Act be added to the FIR as the girl was a minor as per our probe," Dumka CWC chairperson Amarendra Kumar told PTI on Monday.

A four-member CWC team led by Kumar met the victim's family on Monday and procured her marksheet.

"According to her marksheet, she was born on November 26, 2006she was a minor. So, sections under the POCSO Act are applicable in this case," he added.

Earlier, the Dumka police had claimed that the deceased had mentioned that she was 19 years old in the statement given before the magistrate.

10:26 Markets recover from Monday's bloodbath

Benchmark indices bounced back in early deals on Tuesday after falling sharply in the previous trade amid buying in banking counters and mixed global trends.

From the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, IndusInd Bank, Maruti, Tata Steel, NTPC, UltraTech Cement, State Bank of India and Axis Bank were among the major winners.

Bharti Airtel and Dr Reddy's were the only laggards.

Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Seoul and Tokyo were trading in the green while Shanghai and Hong Kong quoted lower in mid-session deals.

The US markets had ended lower on Monday.

The BSE benchmark tanked 861.25 points or 1.46 per cent to settle at 57,972.62 points on Monday. The Nifty fell 246 points or 1.4 per cent to 17,312.90 points.

09:52 Gautam Adani is now world's 3rd richest person

Business conglomerate Adani Group's chairman Gautam Adani is now the world's third-richest person after overtaking France's Bernard Arnault according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

With a total net worth of USD 137.4 billion, 60-year-old Adani has surpassed the wealth of Louis Vuitton chairman Arnault and is now just behind business magnate Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos in the ranking.

In the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani is at number 11 with a total USD 91.9 billion worth.

This is the first time an Asian person has broken into the top three of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The index is a daily ranking of the world's richest people.

Details about the calculations are provided in the net worth analysis on each billionaire's profile page. The figures are updated at the close of every trading day in New York.

The net worth of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are currently at USD 251 billion and USD 153 billion, respectively.

Adani is a first-generation entrepreneur and the Adani Group comprises of 7 publicly listed entities with businesses spanning energy, ports and logistics, mining and resources, gas, defence and aerospace and airports. In each of its business areas, the Group has established a leadership position in India.

The Adani Group is the third largest conglomerate (after Reliance Industries and the Tata Group) in India.

Listed Adani group companies are Adani Enterprises, Adani Green Energy, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas, and Adani Transmission.

The national capital in 2021 witnessed a 111 per cent increase in the cyber crimes as compared to the previous year with the National Crime Records Bureau data citing sexual exploitation to be the motive behind maximum number of cases.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data for the year 2021, most of these cases involved online fraud, online harassment, publication of explicit content etc.

The increase comes despite the Delhi Police having a separate wing for cyber crime as well as a social media centre

Over 356 cases of cyber crime were reported last year in which most of the offenders were booked for publication and transmission of sexually explicit content.

An analysis of the data showed that common motives for the crimes were fraud, sexual exploitation, and extortion.

Most of the complainants were women or minors aged between 12-17.

"We have been registering more cases online after COVID. We have seen an increase in financial fraud and sextortion cases," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) KPS Malhotra said.

"We not only take cases from complaints but also take cognisance of social media posts," he said. -- PTI

09:36 Actor Kamal Khan arrested in Mumbai

Actor-producer Kamal Rashid Khan, popularly known as KRK, was arrested in Mumbai over a controversial tweet from 2020.

Khan was arrested after he landed at Mumbai airport.

He will be presented before Borivali Court today, according to Mumbai Police.

Representational image

09:33 Communal clash in Vadodara during Ganesh procession

Members of two communities clashed and threw stones at each other when a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through a sensitive locality in Gujarat's Vadodara city, police officials said on Tuesday.

The police have so far detained 13 people in connection with the clash which broke out late Monday night, they said, adding that no one was injured in the stone pelting.

An FIR was registered at Vadodara city police station against members of both the sides on charges of rioting and unlawful assembly, the police said.

The members of the two communities pelted each other with stones after an argument broke out between them over some issue when the Ganesh procession was passing through Panigate Darwaza in the communally sensitive Mandvi locality at around 11.15 pm, a city police official said.

"People from the two communities started arguing with each other. The matter escalated with members from both the groups hurling stones at each other. In the process, a glass on the main gate of a mosque was damaged," the official said.

No one was injured, he said.

Thirteen people have been detained so far in this connection, he said.

The FIR was registered under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 336 (rash act endangering human life or personal safety), 295 (defiling place of worship), the official said.

Police presence in the area was enhanced and patrolling was being carried out to maintain law and order, he said.

Joint Commissioner of Police Chirag Koradia told reporters that the situation is under control and peaceful and the crime branch is carrying out an investigation into the incident.

"The situation is peaceful and we appeal to people not to pay heed to any kind of rumour," he said. -- PTI

A probe has been ordered against a lekhpal, who failed to recognise Amethi MP and Union minister Smriti Irani over phone, for not discharging his duties, officials said on Monday.

A resident of Poore Pahalwan village under Musafirkhana tehsil had on August 27 given a complaint letter to Irani saying that after the death of his father, who was a teacher, his mother Savitri Devi is entitled for pension, whose verification has not been done by lekhpal Deepak.

The complainant, Karunesh (27), further said due to which his mother is not able to get the pension.

On this, Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, phoned the lekhpal, but he could not recognise her.

Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Amethi Ankur Lathar on Monday told PTI that as per the letter of Karunesh, it is a case of laxity on the part of Musafirkhana lekhpal Deepak, and he has not discharged his duties.

Lathar said that sub-divisional magistrate Musafirkhana has been asked to probe the matter, following which action will be taken.

On Saturday, when the Union minister had called up the lekhpal on the complaint of Karunesh, the lekhpal could not recognise her. After this, the CDO took the phone from the minister, and told the lekhpal to meet him at the office.

The lekhpal is posted at Gautampur gram sabha under Musafirkhana tehsil. -- PTI

08:55 Economist Abhijit Sen passes away

Economist Abhijit Sen, a former Planning Commission member and one of the country's foremost experts on rural economy, died on Monday night. He was 72.

"He suffered a heart attack around 11 PM. We rushed him to the hospital, but it was all over by the time we got there," said Dr Pronab Sen, his brother.

In a career spanning more than four decades, Prof Abhijit Sen taught economics at Oxford, Cambridge and New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, and held several important government positions, including the chair of the Commission of Agricultural Cost and Prices.

He was a member of the Planning Commission from 2004 to 2014, when Manmohan Singh was the prime minister.

In 2010, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for public service.

When the NDA came to power in 2014, it appointed Sen to head a high level task force to frame a long term grain policy. Sen was a vocal advocate of a universal public distribution system for rice and wheat.

He would argue that the burden of food subsidy on the exchequer was often exaggerated and that the country had enough fiscal headroom to not only support a universal PDS, but also guarantee a fair price to farmers for their produce.

Sen had also been associated with several global research and multilateral organisations such as the UNDP, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the UN, International Fund for Agricultural Development and OECD Development Centre.

Sen, whose father Samar Sen was a World Bank economist, studied physics at New Delhi's St. Stephen's college before switching to pursue a doctoral degree in economics from Cambridge University.

Sen had been suffering from breathing-related ailments for the past years, which got aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic, said his brother, Pronab.

He is survived by wife, Jayati Ghosh -- also a well-known economist --and daughter Jahnavi. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asserted that ousting the Bharatiya Janata Party from power at the Centre in 2024 will be her 'last fight'.

The 67-year-old feisty Trinamool Congress boss, however, did not clarify her remark.

"The BJP has to be defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The fight for Delhi to oust the saffron party from power at the Centre will be my last. I promise to oust the BJP from power," she said, while addressing a rally in Kolkata.

Without giving further clarification, she said, "The BJP has to be defeated at any cost."

"Saving West Bengal is our first fight. I promise we will remove the BJP from power at the Centre in 2024. If you try to intimidate us, we will respond," Banerjee said.

Banerjee, while referring to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi losing elections in 1989 despite winning more than 400 seats in 1984, said, "Everybody has to taste defeat."

"Indira Gandhi was a strong political leader, but she had also tasted defeat. The BJP has around 300 MPs, but Bihar is gone, and more will follow. Ahead of elections, they will sit with zero leaders," she said.

The opposition BJP, while reacting to Banerjee's 'last fight' remark, wondered whether the TMC supremo would 'hang her boots after the Lok Sabha polls'.

"She should clearly say whether she would hang her boots after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It's a foregone conclusion that the BJP would return to power for the third consecutive term," BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. -- PTI

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