LIVE! Mumbai-Pune E-way toll to be hiked 18% from Apr 1

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Tue, 28 March 2023

Mumbai-Pune E-way toll to be hiked 18% from Apr 1

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O Panneerselvam

23:47 AIADMK feud: OPS files appeal against HC order, to be heard tomorrow

Hours after the Madras high court rejected petitions filed by the O Panneerselvam-led faction of the AIADMK, seeking a stay on the result of the party's election to pick the general secretary, it listed a petition filed by the former Tamil Nadu chief minister, challenging the order, for hearing on Wednesday.

The appeal will be heard by the two-judge bench of Justices R Mahadevan and Mohammed Shaffiq in the Madras high court on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the EK Palaniswami camp also filed a caveat petition before Madras HC in the same case.

Earlier on Tyesday, the Madras HC heard the petition filed by the O Panneerselvam faction against EPS, also a former Tamil Nadu CM, who was appointed as the AIADMK's interim general secretary by the party's general council in July last year.

Justice K Kumaresh Babu rejected the interim applications filed by OPS and his supporters, seeking a stay on the outcome of the AIADMK's general secretary polls.

Following the court order, AIADMK declared EPS as its general secretary. -- ANI

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23:33 Jogger's death: Mumbai court refuses bail to accused driver

A magistrate's court in Mumbai has rejected the bail plea of Sumer Merchant, who was allegedly driving the car that ran over and killed 57-year-old jogger Rajalakshmi Ramakrishnan in Worli area of South Mumbai last week.

Though the accused blamed a sharp turn on the road for the accident, the photographs submitted in the court belie the claim that it was a blind spot for drivers, said magistrate Suhas Bhosale in the order on Monday.

The detailed order became available on Tuesday.

The accused's lawyer had also contended that his breath analysis test had come out negative for liquor consumption, hence Section 304(II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code would not be applicable here.

But the court said the Alcohol Examination Certificate showed that 0.137 mg of ethyl alcohol was found in his blood sample.

Merchant on Tuesday moved the Sessions Court for bail after the magistrate refused him relief.

The court has asked police to file its reply on March 31.

Rajalakshmi, a tech firm CEO, was hit by a speeding car during her morning walk on the Worli sea-face promenade. -- PTI

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23:13 Mumbai-Pune E-way toll to be hiked 18% from Apr 1

Toll for vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the first access-controlled road of the country, will increase by 18 per cent from April 1, officials of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation said on Tuesday.

A senior MSRDC official said that though the toll increases by six per cent annually, it is implemented cumulatively at 18 per cent after every three years, as laid down in a government notification of August 9, 2004.

The new toll will be Rs 320 for four-wheelers like cars and jeeps instead of the current Rs 270, and Rs 495 for vehicles like mini-bus and tempos instead of the current Rs 420, another official said.

Toll for two-axle trucks will increase to Rs 685 from the current Rs 585.

For buses, it will increase to Rs 940 from Rs 797.

Three-axle trucks will be charged Rs 1,630 instead of Rs 1,380 and multi-axle trucks and machinery-vehicles will have to pay Rs 2,165 instead of current Rs 1,835.

Toll would remain the same till 2030 as there would not be any revision after three years in 2026, officials said. -- PTI

Mukesh Agnihotri (right)

23:00 Himachal deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri injured after fall, in hospital

Himachal Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri fell while taking a stroll outside his Shimla residence on Tuesday.

According to information received from Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Hospital where he was admitted, the deputy CM was being treated for minor injuries.

At present, he has been kept under supervision of doctors and will be discharged shortly, read a statement issued by the hospital.

Further details are awaited. -- ANI

More than three dozen towns and villages of nine states -- from Delhi to Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to Assam -- have become cyber crime hotspots which are being closely monitored by law enforcement agencies, sources said on Tuesday.

Besides, a number of hostile countries have been trying for long to cripple India's financial system and national security grid where additional preventive measures are put in place by the government.

The states where the cyber crime hotspots have been located include Haryana, Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, they said.

The emerging cyber crime hotspot cities, towns and villages are: Mewat, Bhiwani, Nuh, Palwal, Manota, Hasanpur, Hathan Gaon (all in Haryana), Ashok Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Shakarpur, Harkesh Nagar, Okhla, Azadpur (all in Delhi), Banka, Begusarai, Jamui, Nawada, Nalanda, Gaya (Bihar), Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon (Assam), Jamtara, Deoghar (Jharkhand), Asansol, Durgapur (West Bengal), Ahmedabad, Surat (Gujarat), Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) and Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh).

The foreign cyber attackers mostly belong to countries like China, Pakistan and Turkiye, sources said. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's flight made an emergency landing at Gannavaram airport after a technical fault, sources said.

According to sources, the incident was reported shortly after the flight had departed from Gannavaram airport.

Reddy was to attend a G20 conference in Visakhapatnam.

He arrived at Gannavaram airport at 6 pm and the flight took off at 6.05 pm.

However, the pilot noticed a technical fault in the aircraft 10 minutes into take-off and made an emergency landing. -- ANI

If you have a picture clicked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and don't know how to trace it, there is a way to get the recorded memories.

A new feature 'Photo Booth' has recently been added to the NaMo app and this helps trace the photograph which can also be downloaded.

All that one needs to do is to scan one's face and hit the search button and all the relevant pictures will pop up.

"We are using Artificial Intelligence for this and through this technology, photos come up during the search process," an official told ANI.

It's not just leaders or MPs who can access the feature.

"During any event of PM Modi, several people come to welcome him. AI feature will use technology and get them their photographs too," a source said.

A team working on NaMo App is working on the features of this initiative. -- ANI

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21:44 15 pc water cut imposed for a month in Mumbai

A 15 per cent water cut will be implemented across Mumbai for 30 days from March 31 to fix a hole in a crucial supply tunnel, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Tuesday.

Water has been leaking from the tunnel after it was recently punctured in Thane while digging a borewell, BMC said in a release.

According to the civic body, its Bhandup water complex, which takes care of 65 per cent of the total water supplied to Mumbai, receives about 75 per cent of its supply through this 15-km-long tunnel that has a diameter of 5,500 mm.

This tunnel got punctured in Thane due to digging of a borewell and water is leaking on a large scale. It is necessary to isolate the tunnel completely for repairs and use an alternate transmission system for bringing water to Bhandup, during repairs period, said the BMC release.

The corporation said that the water supply to Mumbai and its suburbs will get affected during the switching over of transmission systems and repairs. Therefore, it has decided to impose a water cut of up to 15 per cent, said the civic body.

The BMC also appealed to citizens to use water judiciously and co-operate with it.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora on Tuesday congratulated his colleague Raghav Chadha and Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra, saying may their "union" be blessed with an abundance of love, joy, and companionship.

His remarks follow rumours about Chadha and Chopra being in a relationship after they were spotted together in Mumbai recently.

There was neither any confirmation nor denial from the AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Chadha or actor Chopra on whether they are going to marry but congratulatory messages began pouring on the microblogging site following Arora's tweet.

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to @raghav_chadha and @ParineetiChopra. May their union be blessed with an abundance of love, joy, and companionship. My best wishes!!!," Arora tweeted tagging Chadha and Chopra.

Along with his tweet, the AAP MP also posted separate pictures of Chadha and Chopra on the microblogging site.

Asked about the rumours outside Parliament recently, Chadha replied, "Aap mujhse rajneeti ke sawal kariye, Parineeti ke sawal mat kariya (You ask me questions about politics, not Parineeti)."

"Jawab denge (I will give a reply)," Chadha said with a smile, when asked for his reaction to rumours about him and Chopra. -- PTI

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21:17 SC lifeline for China, Ukraine returned students

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Indian medical students who have returned from Ukraine, China and Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war, to clear the MBBS final examination in two attempts in accordance with existing National Medical Council syllabus and guidelines without being enrolled in any medical college in India.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath modified the Centre's suggestion of allowing them only one attempt as a one-time measure and disposed all the petitions of the medical students.

The Centre has submitted a report of an expert committee which said that as a one-time extraordinary measure, penultimate year students should be allowed to take the MBBS final examination.

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said that in view of the direction of the court, a committee was formed by the government over the issue.

The court observed that it is no expert and largely accepted the recommendation made by the committee, but said that only recommendation of concern was that the students were to be given only one attempt to clear the MBBS examination and hence modified it.

The bench said that it is passing the order considering the special circumstances.

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas fled by medical students who completed seven semesters in their respective foreign universities, and had to return to India on account of the pandemic and completed their undergraduate medical course through online mode.

The batch of petitions primarily sought accommodation of such undergraduate students of first to fourth year from various medical college/universities to medical colleges in India and other reliefs. -- PTI

An Indian-origin man stabbed a 37-year man outside Canada's Vancouver Starbucks cafe and was charged with second-degree murder, Global News reported citing local police.

The suspect, 32-year-old Inderdeep Singh Gosal, was arrested at the scene.

Paul Stanley Schmidt, 37, was stabbed outside the cafe at the corner of Granville and West Pender streets around 5:40 pm on Sunday following a "brief altercation," according to the police.

After the incident, he was taken to the hospital where he took his last breath.

Schmidt's mother, Kathy, said he was at Starbucks with his wife and his young daughter, according to Global News.

"Paul lived for his wife and his daughter... that was his whole life," Kathy said over the phone, adding, "This man has ruined so many lives."

Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison said police are appealing for more witnesses and video to help them determine a motive in the killing.

"There's a significant amount of evidence to tell us what happened. What we are focusing on now is why did this happen. What are the events that transpired in the moments leading up to this very serious crime ... that's something that may take some time for us to fully understand," he said. -- ANI

A woman who had consumed poison outside Mantralaya, the headquarters of the Maharashtra government in Mumbai, died in hospital on Tuesday, the police said.

The condition of another woman who too had consumed poison along with her was serious, said an official.

The incident had taken place on Monday.

Shital Gadekar, a resident of Dhule district in northern Maharashtra, died at the ICU of the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai.

Gadekar had come to the Mantralaya in connection with a dispute over a plot of land at Dhule MIDC industrial area.

Sangita Davare, a resident of Navi Mumbai, was also visiting Mantralaya to seek justice in a different matter, officials said.

Both arrived at Mantralaya in the same cab on Monday.

They were apparently in contact with each other and another person, an `activist'.

When both were seen consuming some suspected poisonous substance, police deployed on the gates of Mantralaya tried to stop them.

They were immediately rushed to the JJ Hospital.

Gadekar, who was shifted to the ICU on Tuesday, died during the treatment while Davare's condition was serious, said a police official.

According to Gadekar, a plot owned by her husband was transferred in the name of another person by officials of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation with the help of bogus and forged documents in 2010. -- PTI

A 25-year-old man who live-streamed his suicide attempt on Facebook was saved by the swift intervention of the police in northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri area, officials said on Tuesday.

According to the police, they received the information regarding the incident on Monday at 9.06 pm and a team reached the house of the victim at 9.09 pm.

The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operation unit of the Delhi police informed Nand Nagri police station SHO that the social networking platform had given information regarding the incident, deputy commissioner of police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said.

They also provide two contact numbers associated with the Facebook ID, Tirkey said.

The SHO, along with the staff, swung into action and rushed to the spot.

On the way, he also mobilised an emergency response vehicle, beat staff and PCR to the given address so that the person could be rescued, the police said.

After reaching the house, the 25-year-old man was found lying on a bed in a drowsy state.

His parents revealed that he was depressed since March 8 and was getting treatment for it, they said.

IFSO, Dwarka had also provided a photo and video where the man was seen holding tablets and "Bye. Forever bass. Aaj ke bad. Kabhi. Ye. Akh. Na. Khule. (Goodbye forever. After today, these eyes will not open)" was also written, they said.

The person revealed that he had consumed about 30 to 40 tablets of Methylcobalamin, Tripag 25 and Ryfxacare-400, empty wrappers of which were found in the dustbin, police said. -- PTI

Indraprastha College/Twitter

19:33 DU women's college students claim men scaled walls, harassed them

Students at Delhi University's Indraprastha College for Women alleged that some men scaled the institute's boundary walls during a fest on Tuesday and "harassed several students".

There was no response from the college authorities and the police over the incident.

An All India Students' Association activist alleged that the men were heard chanting Miranda, IP dono hamara (Miranda House and Indraprastha College both are ours)" and Miranda nahi chhoda to IP bhi nahi chhodenge (We didn't leave Miranda, we won't leave IP either)".

In October, some students of Delhi University's all-women Miranda House College alleged that several men scaled the boundary walls and the gates during an open Diwali fest on campus and indulged in "cat-calling and sexist sloganeering".

The AISA's Delhi University unit secretary and former Indraprastha College for Women student Anjali shared purported photos and videos of the incident.

In the photo, four men are seen standing near the IPCW boundary wall while another is scaling the wall.

The video clip shows the police asking the college students to vacate the premises.

"Today, IPCW's fest was going when drunk men climbed the walls, forcefully entered the campus and harrassed gender minorities. Men were chanting Miranda IP dono hamara, Miranda nahi chhoda to IP bhi nahi chhodenge," Anjali tweeted. -- PTI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

19:04 Cong plans no-trust motion against LS speakerBirla

The Congress is in talks with other opposition parties to consider moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over his alleged bias, sources said on Tuesday.

They said the proposal to bring a motion was mooted at the meeting of party MPs this morning and Congress leaders are now talking to other party leaders over it.

The motion is likely to be brought on Monday in the Lok Sabha but some parties are opposed to the move, saying it may hurt the momentum of opposition unity.

The no-confidence motion will highlight the pace at which Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as MP -- within hours of his conviction by a Surat court in a defamation case over his remarks on the prime minister's surname.

The sources said the no-confidence motion can only be brought when the house is in order.

Sources in the opposition camp said such a motion requires signatures and support of 50 MPs but they apprehended that the motion may not be allowed to be moved on the ground that the house is not in order. -- PTI

Anurag Thakur

18:44 Rahul Gandhi's disqualification India's internal matter: Anurag Thakur

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday brushed aside the remarks made by a US official that Washington is watching the court case of Rahul Gandhi and said the Congress leader's disqualification from the Lok Sabha is India's internal matter.

Participating in the Times Network India Digital Fest, Thakur also observed that the US official had made a generic statement.

"It is our internal matter. No one is above the Supreme Court. There are judicial and constitutional institutions. They (the United States) have made a generic statement," he said.

Gandhi (52) was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a court in Gujarat's Surat in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have the Modi surname" remark.

A day later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case.

"Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democracy. We are watching Mr Gandhi's case in Indian courts and we engage with the government of India on our shared commitment to democratic values, including freedom of expression," US State department's deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a news conference on Monday. -- PTI

Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, who was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case by a court in Prayagraj on Tuesday, will be taken back to Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat, a senior prison official said.

Ahmad was brought from Sabarmati Jail by road for the hearing in an MP-MLA court in Prayagraj.

He was kept at the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj before the hearing.

"As per the orders of the honourable court, Atiq Ahmad will be taken back to Sabarmati Central Jail," Naini jail senior superintendent Shashikant said.

A former Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur, Ahmad was shifted to Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat in June 2019 following a Supreme Court order after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal from a prison in Uttar Pradesh.

When asked about Ahmad's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, who was acquitted in the case, Shashikant said he has "left for Bareilly".

Ashraf, lodged in the Bareilly District Jail since July 2020, was brought to the Naini Central Jail on Monday evening amid tight security arrangements.

Tuesday's conviction of Ahmad was his first in over 100 cases registered against him over the years. -- PTI

18:11 Losers and gainers in the Sensex pack

The 30-share BSE Sensex on Tuesday ended 40.14 points or 0.07 per cent lower at 57,613.72 as 19 of its stocks declined and 11 advanced.

The index opened higher and further climbed 295.59 points or 0.51 per cent to touch a high of 57,949.45. It, however, failed to hold onto the gains and fell to a low of 57,494.91 later.

The broader NSE Nifty closed lower by 34 points or 0.20 per cent to finish at 16,951.70 after gyrating between 17,061.75 and 16,913.75.

As many as 32 Nifty stocks declined, 17 advanced and one closed unchanged.

Adani Entertainment, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, HeroMotoCorp and Tata Motors were among major Nifty losers.

Among the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel, Wipro, Bajaj Finserv, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra and UltraTech Cement were the biggest laggards.

IndusInd Bank, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, NTPC, Reliance Industries, HDFC and Tata Steel were the prominent winners.

Former Maharashtra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier, he had contracted the viral infection when the pandemic was at its peak.

The NCP leader shared on Twitter the news about his health.

He was recently on a tour of Yeola, his assembly constituency in Nashik district.

Bhujbal said he had a fever when he was returning to Nashik from Yeola.

He underwent a test for coronavirus on Monday which came positive.

The NCP leader appealed to all those who had come in contact with him in the past 2-3 days to go for COVID tests if they have symptoms like fever, breathing difficulties, runny nose and a sore throat.

The ex-minister also urged citizens to wear a mask and use hand sanitisers. -- PTI

A new video of Amritpal Singh with his key aide Papalpreet Singh surfaced on social media on Tuesday, showing the pro-Khalistan preacher without a turban and wearing a mask.

The undated CCTV footage, said to be from a market in Delhi, showed the fugitive walking down a street wearing dark glasses.

Behind him, Papalpreet Singh could be seen walking with a bag.

There is no official word from Punjab Police on the fresh footage.

The video has emerged a day after a picture of Amritpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh widely circulated on social media.

That image showed both these men looking relaxed and Amritpal Singh holding a beverage can.

Papalpreet Singh is said to be Amritpal Singh's mentor.

He was allegedly in contact with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.

Several images and videos of the radical preacher have surfaced on social media since the police crackdown on him and his outfit 'Waris Punjab De' began on March 18. -- PTI

An inter-second-year student of Narayana College died by suicide in Visakhapatnam under PM Palem police station limits, the police said on Tuesday.

Officials said that the 17-year-old female student was found hanging inside her hostel room on Monday night.

She was immediately rushed to Gayatri Hospital in Kommadi, but the doctors declared her brought dead.

"She was a native of Chodavaram Mandal of Anakapalli district," the police said. \

A suicide note was recovered from there, in which, the victim complained of being unwell and visited the hospital for twice.

"Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. The exact reason behind the incident is not clear yet," a senior official with Palem Police said.

"The body has been sent for post-mortem examination. We are further looking into the case," he added. -- ANI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged on Tuesday that the country is passing through difficult times as he mounted a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP-led central government.

"There is rampant loot by the Centre. They have looted more in seven years than what the Congress had looted in 75 years. The country is passing through difficult times. We are deeply worried about the situation," he charged. Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister raised the Adani issue in the Delhi Assembly.

Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged, "PM is less educated and does not understand things properly. This is worrisome." PTI

"Why is no eminent lawyer of the Congress coming to the aid of Rahul Gandhi when he was convicted in a defamation case leading to his disqualification from Parliament," Union Minister Anurag Thakur asked on Tuesday and wondered if it was deliberate and part of a conspiracy within the party.

Thakur, addressing the 'Times Network India Digital Fest', also described Gandhi as a "loose cannon" and a "serial offender" who has seven cases of defamation in various courts even after being cautioned by the apex court. The Information and Broadcasting Minister made it clear that neither the government nor the Lok Sabha secretariat had any role to play in the former Congress president's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

Thakur said that according to the Representation of the People Act, Rahul Gandhi stood disqualified the moment he was sentenced to a two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case.

The senior BJP leader wondered why none of the eminent lawyers sent by the Congress to the Rajya Sabha could be of any help in the defamation case against Gandhi.

"Was it deliberate? Is there a conspiracy within the Congress? It is surprising that an entire battery of lawyers came to the rescue of Pawan Khera within an hour. Why did the Congress leader not move court in support of Rahul Gandhi? This is a big question," Thakur said.

"Who are these persons who hatched the conspiracy against Rahul Gandhi," the Union minister asked. Thakur said that even after issuing a written apology to the Supreme Court, Gandhi continued to make defamatory remarks against communities, people and organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

He also slammed Gandhi for speaking harshly to a journalist during a press conference on Saturday. "Some people do not know that the person who was spoken harshly to had covered the Congress party for 15 years. He lashed out at the journalist and still he talks of freedom of the press," the Union minister said. Thakur dismissed suggestions that the BJP was over-obsessed with Gandhi and said it was the Congress that has been unable to come out of the influence of the Gandhi family.

He also accused the Congress of derailing the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament after it realised that the BJP would insist on an apology from Gandhi for his remarks "maligning India" on foreign soil.

The minister also rejected the opposition charge that the BJP government was on the defensive on the Adani issue and said that SBI, LIC, RBI, SEBI had come out with statements on the matter. He said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too had made a statement on the issue and an investigation by a Supreme Court-appointed committee was underway.

"There is nothing to hide. Our institutions are strong. We have to trust them. Had this not been the case, everything would be haywire," he said. Thakur slammed the Congress party and claimed that it was obsessed with Gandhi family and prioritised them over the nation.

"Since 2013, 12 lawmakers have lost their Parliament membership due to their involvement in a criminal offence. But, Congress prioritises only a family over the country's judiciary and people and Parliament proceedings," the senior BJP leader said. PTI

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar

16:29 Lawyers' body moves SC against Dhankhar, Rijiju

The Bombay Lawyers Association on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court against a high court decision dismissing its PIL against Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for their remarks on judiciary and the collegium system for appointment of judges.

The lawyers' body has challenged the Bombay High Court's February 9 order of dismissing its plea on the ground that it was not a fit case to invoke the writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

Lawyer Ahmed Abdi told PTI that the petition has been filed on Tuesday. The Bombay Lawyers Association had claimed that Rijiju and Dhankhar showed lack of faith in the Constitution with their remarks and conduct. It had sought orders to restrain Dhankhar from discharging duty as the vice president, and Rijiju from discharging his duty as the cabinet minister for the central government.

The PIL had claimed that the "frontal attack not just on the judiciary but the Constitution'' by the two executive officials has lowered the prestige of the Supreme Court in public.

Rijiju had said the collegium system of appointing judges was "opaque and not transparent". Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had questioned the landmark 1973 Kesavananda Bharati judgement that gave the basic structure doctrine.

Dhankhar had said the verdict set a bad precedent and if any authority questions Parliament's power to amend the Constitution, it would be difficult to say "we are a democratic nation".

15:58 It's Sonia's sanskar: Irani hits out at Cong

Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday hit out at the Congress leadership over the alleged remarks by the party's youth wing president Srinivas BV against her, saying the words he used were of Rahul Gandhi and the 'sanskar' of Sonia Gandhi.

The BJP leader also alleged that Congress members who want "promotion" will continue to make "such kind of comments" against her so long as Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are there in the party. Srinivas had allegedly made certain remarks against Irani at the Sankalp Satyagrah organised by the Congress at the Rajghat to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha member.

Reacting to his remarks, Irani said Srinivas is not the first Youth Congress president who has made "indecent comments" against her. "I know what he said. The words that he used are of Rahul Gandhi, sanskar (teachings) of Sonia Gandhi. Only the voice is of the Youth Congress," Irani charged.

"And so long as these two (Gandhis) are there, the Congress leaders who want promotion will continue to make such comments against me," she added.

The BJP on Monday had slammed Srinivas over his alleged disparaging remarks, saying the Congress has become a "cesspool of misogyny".

The BJP used a video clip to target the Congress and Srinivas on the issue, while also recalling similar instances where the grand-old party leader made alleged "sexist" remarks. "The Congress has become a cesspool of misogyny, hatred for women especially if she comes from a humble background & defeats an entitled dynast," BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted.

In the clip of his speech delivered in Hindi, Srinivas can be heard saying, "The BJP means inflation. These same people in 2014 used to say that there is inflation witch which has been made to sit... Smriti Irani has become a little mute and deaf. That witch (Daayan)... Inflation witch (Mehengaai Daayan) has been made a darling and made to sit in the bedroom."

Reacting to the charge, the Youth Congress on Monday alleged that the BJP leaders were sharing a doctored video of Srinivas's speech to tarnish his and the party's image.

"It is nothing but a disinformation and fake news campaign initiated by BJP supporters and office bearers," the Congress's youth wing said in a statement. "... The said speech by the IYC President was made in context to the various statements made by the BJP leaders in regard to the Inflation and price rise when the UPA was in power, 'Mehangai' was then often quoted as 'Dayan' by opposition leaders of BJP," it said. PTI

The government on Tuesday extended the deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar by three months to June 30, 2023, to provide some more time to taxpayers, an official statement said.

The earlier deadline was ending on March 31. Persons can intimate their Aadhaar to the prescribed authority for Aadhaar-PAN linking without facing repercussions, it added.

Under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, every person who has been allotted a PAN as on July 1, 2017, and is eligible to obtain Aadhaar Number, is required to intimate his Aadhaar to the prescribed authority on or before March 31, 2023, on payment of a prescribed fee.

"Failure to do so shall attract certain repercussions under the Income Tax Act w.e.f. April 1, 2023. The date for intimating Aadhaar to the prescribed authority for the purpose of linking PAN and Aadhaar has now been extended to June 30, 2023," it said.

From July 1, 2023, the PAN of taxpayers who have failed to intimate their Aadhaar, as required, shall become inoperative. It is stated that more than 51 crore PANs have already been linked with Aadhaar till date. PTI

Umesh Pal's mother

14:53 On Atiq Ahmed's lifer Umesh Pal's family says...

Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal, on Atiq Ahmed: "It has been 18 years since my son was kidnapped. He was a fighter. I have faith in the court. He (Atiq Ahmed) was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping my son but he should be given a death sentence for the murder of my son. I have faith in UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal's wife says, "We are satisfied with the judgement as of now. Atiq Ahmed should be given a death sentence for killing my husband. We want justice and I request UP CM Yogi Adityanath to help us. If he and his brother will survive, it will be a problem for us and the society."

An MP-MLA court on Tuesday held gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Ahmad's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six others have been acquitted in the case.

Umesh Pal being gunned down

14:38 Atiq Ahmad given life sentence, Umesh Pal's wife wanted death

Update: An MP-MLA court in Prayagraj on Tuesday held gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case, and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

Ahmad's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six others have been acquitted in the case.

Special MP-MLA court judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla held Ahmad, Saulat Hanif, a lawyer, and Dinesh Pasi guilty in the case, government counsel Gulab Chandra Agrahari said.

The three were pronounced guilty under Indian Penal Code section 364-A (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder), Agrahari said. The maximum sentence under the section is death sentence.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had last month charged the Samajwadi Party with garlanding mafias like Atiq Ahmad and had said in the state assembly that "mafia (Atiq Ahmad) ko mitti me mila denge (will destroy the mafia)."

After the killing of then BSP MLA Raju Pal on January 25, 2005, Umesh Pal, then a zila panchayat member, had told police he was a witness to the murder. Umesh Pal had alleged that when he refused to retract and buckle under pressure from Ahmad, he was kidnapped at gunpoint on February 28, 2006.

An FIR in the case was registered on July 5, 2007, against Ahmed, his brother and others. The police had submitted a chargesheet in the matter against 11 people.

One of them later died. Ahmad and Ashraf are also accused of being involved in a conspiracy, while they were both in prison, to kill Umesh Pal. Umesh Pal was gunned down outside his Prayagraj residence on February 24 last. Earlier, Ahmad, Ashraf and others were brought to court from Naini jail in separate police vans and produced in the court amid tight security. Both of them were on Monday brought to the Naini Central Jail here after long road journeys from two separate prisons.

Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal ealier said she won't be going to the court but will "pray" that Ahmad gets capital punishment. "I am not going to the court. I will be in my house and pray for capital punishment for Ahmad. If they get life imprisonment, they will continue to do the same things that they did with my husband," Jaya Pal told reporters.

PTI

14:31 Atiq Ahmed sentenced to life imprisonment

Umesh Pal kidnapping case: Prayagraj MP-MLA Court sentences mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to life imprisonment; also imposes a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. The court convicted Atiq Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi and Khan Saulat Hanif in the case. All the other seven accused, including the brother of Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf have been acquitted.

The Delhi high court on Tuesday issued summons to Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray in a defamation suit filed by Eknath Shinde faction leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Ramesh Shewale.

The court also issued a summons to Sanjay Raut in the suit.

According to the plaintiff Rahul Shewale the frivolous allegations of corruption made against Shiv Sena and its members by Uddhav Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut.

According to the defamation suit Sanjay Raut and Thackeray allegedly have made statements that the Eknath Shinde faction bought the Shiv Sena symbol for Rs 2000 crores.

The defamation suit filed by Shewale was heard by the bench of Justice Prateek Jalan of the Delhi high court.

After hearing senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, who appeared for the plaintiff, the court admitted the suit and issued summons to Sanjay Raut, Uddhav and Aditya Thackeray directing them to answer all material questions.

13:45 Close to catching Amritpal Singh: Punjab govt

Punjab government on Tuesday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that they are close to catching radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Amritpal Singh has remained untraceable since a police crackdown against him and members of his Waris Punjab De' began in Punjab on March 18.

The court of Justice N S Shekhawat was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody.

The habeas corpus plea was recently filed by Khara, claiming Amritpal Singh was in "illegal custody" of police. During the resumed hearing in the matter, Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai told the court that Amritpal Singh has not been arrested yet.

Speaking to reporters outside the court building, the petitioner said the AG informed the court that they were close to catching Amritpal Singh. They were coordinating with agencies to nab the radical preacher, the AG told the court.

The judge asked the AG to file an affidavit in this regard, said the petitioner. The court also asked the petitioner to file an affidavit to produce evidence that Amritpal Singh was in alleged police custody. The next date of hearing in the matter has been fixed for March 29. PTI

Priyanka with her husband Nick Jonas

13:41 I had to grovel so I left Bollywood: Priyanka

Actor and Global Icon Priyanka Chopra is currently busy promoting her upcoming Hollywood series 'Citadel'.

Recently, the actor opened up about the reason why she left Bollywood and started looking for a career in the US.

During a conversation with Dax Shepherd on his podcast 'Armchair Expert', Priyanka Chopra revealed why she started looking for work in the US and said, "I was being pushed into a corner in the industry. I had people not casting me, I had beef with people, I am not good at playing that game so I kind of was tired of the politics and I said I needed a break. This music thing gave me an opportunity to go into another part of the world, not crave for the movies I didn't want to get but I would require to schmooze certain clubs and cliques of people. It would require grovelling and I had worked a long time by then that I didn't feel like I wanted to do it."

The 'Fashion' actor marked her singing debut with the song 'In My City' in the year 2012 which also featured American rapper Will.i.am.

The song was a hit and Priyanka garnered a lot of appreciation for her singing.

Post that, she released another big hit song 'Exotic' alongside American rapper Pitbull in the year 2013 and a cover version of the song 'I Can't make you love me' in 2014."So when this music thing came I was like 'fu** it I'am going to America'," she further said in the podcast. -- ANI

Gangster Atiq Ahmed

13:16 Atiq Ahmed held guilty in Umesh Pal kidnap case

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed was on Tuesday held guilty in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case by Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj MP-MLA Court on Tuesday.The court also held Atiq's brother Ashraf guilty in the case.

The argument in the court is underway. The accused in the case were brought to the court amid tight security a short while back.

Atiq Ahmed, a five time MLA and an accused in the case, was brought from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj's Naini jail on Monday after an over 24-hour long drive from Gujarat.

Ahmed is an accused in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal. Umesh Pal, who was a prime witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Ahmed is also the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

The court had reserved the verdict on March 17 after the completion of the hearing.

On 25 January 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was murdered. Devilal Pal and Sandeep Yadav were also killed. Umesh Pal, the main witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was abducted on February 28, 2006.

Atiq Ahmed had allegedly abducted Umesh Pal from a Land Cruiser vehicle near Phansi Imli of the Dhumanganj police station area. Keeping him in his Chakia office, he was beaten up and electrocuted.

Atiq had made Umesh Pal give a written statement in his favor on March 1, 2006, that he was not present at the scene and did not want to testify.

Umesh Pal filed a case of kidnapping in Dhumanganj police station in July 2007 after the formation of the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.

A case was registered against former MPs Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed alias Ansar Baba, Khan Soulat Hanif. Police has named Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Dinesh Pasi, Ansar Ahmed, Saulat Hanif, Javed, Farhan, Israr, Abid Pradhan, Ashiq Malli and Ejaz Akhtar as accused.

One of the accused Ansar Ahmed died. Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf and Farhan are in jail. The rest of the accused are out on bail.In 2009, the court framed charge on the accused and the trial of the case began.In 2016, in this case, an attempt was made to throw Umesh Pal from the fourth floor of the court premises to make him withdraw.

An FIR has been registered in this matter at the Colonelganj police station. Various applications were filed on behalf of the accused to stop the trial of the case.

Umesh Pal filed an application in the High Court demanding early settlement of the case. Allahabad High Court ordered to complete the hearing of the case in two months by March 16, 2023.During the trial, the prosecution produced 8 witnesses and the defence produced 50 witnesses.Umesh Pal was murdered on February 24 after returning from defending this case.

VD Savarkar's grandson has asked Rahul Gandhi to apologise

13:03 Pawar asks Cong to tone down attack on Savarkar

Amid strains in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance over Rahul Gandhi's strident criticism of V D Savarkar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has stepped in to play the peacemaker by conveying the Shiv Sena's concerns on the issue to the Congress leadership.

Opposition leaders said Congress has agreed to tone down its criticism of Savarkar, which has led to unease among the NCP and Shiv Sena, its alliance partners in Maharashtra.

Pawar raised the issue during a meeting of opposition leaders convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday evening and made it clear that targeting Savarkar, a revered figure in Maharashtra, would not help the opposition alliance in the state, two leaders who attended the meeting told PTI. Former Congress Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were present at the meeting along with leaders of opposition parties.

Pawar also told Rahul Gandhi that Savarkar was never a member of the RSS and underscored that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. As the BJP stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi and sought his apology for "maligning" India on his recent tour to the UK, the former Lok Sabha member from Wayanad had said that he was not Savarkar and would not apologise.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had slammed Gandhi for his attack on Savarkar and said his outfit will not tolerate any insult of the freedom fighter. The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had skipped the meeting convened by Kharge as a mark of protest against Gandhi's remarks targeting Savarkar. PTI

12:34 Rahul to vacate bungalow of 'happy memories'

"Will abide by details contained in your letter without prejudice to my rights," says Rahul Gandhi writing to the LS Secretariat over the notice to vacate his official MP bungalow.

"As an elected Member of the Lok Sabha over the last four terms, it is the mandate of the people to which I owe the happy memories of my time spent here," Rahul Gandhi wrote back today.

"Without prejudice to my rights, I will, of course, abide by the details contained in your letter," he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday slammed the Centre over Rahul Gandhi being asked to vacate his official bungalow, saying that he condemns the government's attitude to "threaten, scare and humiliate" the former party chief.

He also said that Gandhi could go and live with his mother Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence or he could himself provide a house by vacating one for the Gandhi scion.

"They will do everything to weaken him (Rahul Gandhi). He can go live with his mother or he can come to me, I will vacate one for him. I condemn this attitude of the government to threaten, scare and humiliate," Kharge told reporters before leaving for Parliament.

"In democracy, several times we have managed without a house for three-four months. I got this bungalow after six months. People do these things to humiliate others. I condemn this attitude," the Congress president said. Gandhi was on Monday asked to vacate the government bungalow allotted to him by April 22 following his disqualification as a member of the Lok Sabha after his conviction in a defamation case last week.

The Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha took the decision following which the secretariat of the House wrote to the former Congress president, a Z-plus protectee who has been living in the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow since 2005.

The Central Board of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recommended an 8.15 per cent interest rate to be credited on provident funds for the financial year 2022-23.

In March 2022, the government declared an 8.1 per cent interest rate for more than its six crore members, which was the lowest since 1977-78. The recommended interest rate for 2022-23 would be officially notified in the government gazette after approval of the Ministry of Finance, following which EPFO would credit the rate of interest into its subscribers' accounts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday linked the opposition's attack on his government to the BJP's emphatic electoral performances and asserted that the more wins the ruling party achieves, the more it will be targeted, sources said.

Modi took the swipe at opposition parties, who are up in arms against the government over a host of issues, at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting in which he asked MPs to dedicate the period between the party's foundation day on April 6 and B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14 to the cause of social justice.

Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters that Modi also asked the party MPs to promote and publicise various government schemes for a month from May 15 in their respective constituencies to mark its ninth anniversary. In his address, the prime minister also called upon party leaders to work for the cause of "Mother Earth".

"Mother Earth" is crying for freeing her from chemicals poisoning her, he said, adding that she has nurtured humanity through trees, grains, and other produce. He said politicians should work for non-political causes as well as they have a lot of impact on society.

In this context, Modi noted the Gujarat government's work for "beti bachao" (save daughters) when he was the chief minister and said it helped a lot in improving the gender ratio. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters that Modi also asked the MPs to use the services of experts to learn new technologies, saying not knowing something should not be a reason for not using it. In an apparent reference to the persistent opposition protests, Modi noted he had said during the Gujarat polls that such agitations will become more intense as the BJP wins more and more elections.

The party will face more intense and low-level attacks, he noted. This was the first BJP Parliamentary Party meeting after the recent assembly polls in three northeast states where the party was able to retain power in Tripura. Its alliance also won the polls in Nagaland while the party again joined hands with the NPP to be part of the government in Meghalaya. Modi was lauded in the meeting for the party's feat.

File pic

11:49 Modi asks BJP to be ready for a 'strong fight'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who attended the BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday asked the leaders to be ready for a "strong fight" stating that the more the party rises and succeeds, the more will be attacks from the opposition.

The BJP parliamentary party meeting took place this morning in the Parliament complex in New Delhi.

This was the first time that this meeting has taken place in the ongoing second part of the session. The meeting began with the BJP MPs congratulating PM Modi for leading them to score three big wins in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the northeastern states.

PM Modi was felicitated by the party leaders for the party's win in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland where they have a coalition government.

According to sources, the Prime Minister said, "The more, the BJP continues to taste success and rise, the more the attacks from the other side will increase. Have to be ready for a strong fight".PM Modi's remark came at a time when the Parliament has been in a logjam in which the opposition continues to demand a JPC on the Adani-Hindenburg issue, and the BJP has demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for insulting the prime minister.

While the opposition parties continue to call Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP from Lok Sabha an attack on democracy, BJP and NDA MPs continue to attack the congress party and Rahul Gandhi for insulting Veer Savarkar and OBC community.

The opposition staged a protest on Monday wearing black attire and marched from the Parliament complex to Vijay Chowk against the Centre over their demand for a JPC into the Adani issue. -- PTI

Update: The Madras High Court on Wednesday rejected the pleas filed by deposed AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam and his aides against the party's July 11 general council resolutions, that among others, expelled him and his supporters.

The court verdict also paves the way for interim chief K Palaniswami's elevation as the party's general secretary, its top, powerful post.

AIADMK advocate I S Inbadurai said the court rejected all petitions, including that against the conduct of the party's General Secretary election. "Panneerselvam (and others) filed a plea against the July 11, 2022 resolutions. It has been rejected. This means the general council is valid, its resolutions are valid," he told reporters.

He recalled that the party had earlier given an undertaking to the court that it will not publish the results of organisational polls held recently, referring to the election to the post of general secretary and said it is now evident Palaniswami is going to be elevated to the highest seat in the decades-old organisation.

The court ruling drew instant celebrations from Palaniswami supporters at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai as they burst crackers and distributed sweets to welcome the verdict. Palaniswami visited the party headquarters and paid tributes to the statues of late AIADMK stalwarts M G Ramachanndran and J Jayalalithaa. PTI

Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) was on Tuesday elevated as the AIADMK's General Secretary, taking over complete control of the decades-old organisation minutes after a High Court green signal on the leadership issue involving his rival O Panneerselvam (OPS).

Soon after the Madras High Court rejected all petitions filed by the deposed OPS and his aides against the resolutions of the July 11, 2022 party general council and the conduct of the general secretary election, the 68-year old interim general secretary was announced elected unanimously to the top post at the party headquarters by the election authorities concerned. The former chief minister thanked his supporters for his elevation.

Many jubilant leaders of the main opposition party said his elevation would enable him steer the AIADMK towards better days. The July 11, 2022 meet of the AIADMK general council, the party's highest decision making body. had expelled Panneerselvam and his aides for alleged anti-party activities in the wake of the leadership battle involving the two leaders.

The Salem strongman's supporters had backed him for the 'single leader' post, even as the party was previously led by Pannnerselvam and Palaniswami as the coordinator and joint coordinator, respectively, then. PTI

The BJP on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader's refusal to apologise to the OBC community for his "indecent" comments is yet another "manifestation" of the Gandhi family's political arrogance.

BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani alleged that Gandhi was trying to "rip" apart the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the Congress leader will not succeed as the people of the country are with the prime minister, she asserted at a press conference.

"In an interview to a magazine in 2019, Gandhi in his own words had claimed that Modi's greatest strength is his image and that he would will rip his image apart," Irani said.

"The political psychosis of Rahul Gandhi is at full display. He abused and accused Modi in Parliament but could not verify his own statement by authenticating it with his own signature," she said. "Such is the political frustration of Gandhi that a promise he made could not be fructified and hence, he continues with his tirade against Modi," the BJP leader said.

"So Rahul Gandhi your promise made to a magazine editor that you will rip Modi's image apart is a promise that shall remain unfulfilled because Narendra Modi's greatest strength is the people of India," Irani said.

Referring to his conviction and sentencing in a criminal defamation case, she said that "Rahul Gandhi could not develop the humility to beg for the forgiveness of the OBC community in our country is just another manifestation of a political arrogance called the Gandhi family".

Following his conviction and two-year sentencing in the case by a Surat court over his "Modi surname" remark on March 23, Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha.

10:48 Major win for EPS

Madras HC rejects applications by O Panneerselvam and others against AIADMK general council resolutions and general secretary election.

Edappadi Palaniswami, general secretary AIADMK, wins a major legal battle.

Gangster Atiq Ahmed

10:28 Atiq Ahmed in court, Umesh Pal's family says...

Family of Umesh Pal, the lawyer who was abducted and killed, on Tuesday said that they want the mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, a prime accused in the case to be given the death sentence stating that they want his "empire of terror to end".

"...We don't have the strength to fight a case in the time to come. He (Atiq ahmed) should be sentenced to death by hanging. If he is sentenced to life imprisonment, he can do anything from jail. He got my son killed from jail. He won't let us live if he remains there..."

Umesh Pal's mother Shanti Devi told ANI ahead of a hearing of the case in Prayagraj court Umesh Pal's widow Jaya Pal said, "I hope court sentences him to death by hanging. If he lives, perhaps we won't be able be alive. Maybe it would be us next. If he is gone only then will terror be gone..."

"I want Atiq Ahmed's empire to end, I don't want him to be alive. I urge the court to give him a death sentence," she said.

Meanwhile, security has been deployed outside the residence of Umesh Pal in Prayagraj.

The five time MLA Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj jail from Gujarat's Sabarmati jail on Monday to be produced in Prayagraj Court today, which will deliver the verdict in the kidnapping case. All accused in the case, including mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf, will be produced in court.

Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal. Umesh Pal, who was a prime witness in the Raju Pal murder case, was shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

10:15 Nepal govt issues alert for Amritpal Singh

The Department of Immigration, Nepal government has alerted its offices, particularly those at airports to prevent Amritpal Singh, a radical preacher from Punjab, India who could flee to a third country using Nepali territory either on his own passport or a fake passport, the Himalayan Times reported.

DG Jhalak Ram Adhikari told The Himalayan Times that Indian Embassy had written to his office seeking his office's help in stopping Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh from fleeing to a third country.

The Punjab government has launched a massive manhunt against the separatist leader Amritpal, who has been hiding since March 18. Indian Embassy has provided the photograph of the Punjabi fugitive and all details about him. The embassy also has flagged Nepali authorities that Amritpal Singh could flee to a third country using his own passport or a fake passport.

Adhikari said that all passengers who wanted to go abroad using Nepal's airport would be screened at the airport so that Amritpal who is under the surveillance of the Department of Immigration can not flee.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Sunday sent a letter to the Department of Immigration requesting them to not let pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh travel to a third country.

"As per the request from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, we have included him on the 'watch list', Director of Nepal's Department of Immigration Jhalakram Adhikari told ANI over the phone.

At first, the embassy had requested the Nepal government to enlist him on a watch list and shared the details along with photos with the department, the official added.

"They have warned us that he might use a fake passport to enter Nepal and attempt to fly out. He might be hiding somewhere in Nepal as well. No one is sure about Amritpal whereabouts. But as per the request we have informed all the concerned departments and authorities," Adhikari added.

Asked about the letters, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu did not respond.

10:10 India logs 1,573 fresh Covid cases

India has logged 1,573 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases have increased to 10,981, according to Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday. The death toll has increased to 5,30,841 with four deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 1.30 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.47 per cent. The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,07, 525), the ministry said.

The active cases now comprise 0.02 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid recovery rate has been recorded at 98.79 per cent, according to its website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,41,65,703, the data stated.

The case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.65 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. PT

File pic

09:59 BJP Parl party meet today, PM to attend

A parliamentary party meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party is scheduled to be held on Tuesday in Parliament. This will be the first meeting of the BJP to be held in the second phase of the budget session of Parliament. The weekly meeting of the BJP in the Parliament takes place every Tuesday when the House is in function.

All MPs including Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in this meeting.

The budgetary process in Parliament's budget session was completed on Monday with the two Houses passing the Finance Bill 2023 amid vociferous protests by opposition members over their demand for a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani issue.

A march against caste discrimination in Delhi

09:36 Caste discrimination is now banned in Seattle

A landmark law banning caste-based discrimination came into effect in the US city of Seattle, making it the first city outside India to enforce such a legislation.

The resolution was moved last month by Kshama Sawant, an Indian-American politician, economist and an upper-caste Hindu.

It was approved unanimously by the Seattle City Council by six to one vote. Seattle is not only the first American city to ban caste discrimination but is the first jurisdiction at any level globally outside South Asia to do so.

The world's first ban against caste discrimination outside South Asia goes into effect TODAY in our city of Seattle! Sawant said on Monday.

Seattle's law now prohibits businesses from discriminating based on caste with respect to hiring, tenure, promotion, workplace conditions, or wages, Sawant said. It will ban discrimination based on caste in places of public accommodation, such as hotels, public transportation, public restrooms, or retail establishments, she said, adding that the law also prohibits housing discrimination based on caste in rental housing leases, property sales, and mortgage loans.

Describing it as the biggest breakthrough for the global fight against caste oppression in many decades, Sawant said it has opened the floodgates for potentially winning such a ban on caste discrimination in other cities and states in the US as well.

It's not surprising that since we won in Seattle, policies against caste discrimination have been proposed in Toronto and California, she noted. Sawant said further victories are not guaranteed unless activists and working people adopt the kind of fighting strategy they used to win in Seattle.

In fact, it is not coincidental that this unprecedented step forward occurred in this city. We won precisely because Socialist Alternative and I use our Council office as a vehicle to build united movements of working people, independent of the establishment that represents big business and the status quo, Sawant explained. Sawant, who migrated to the US from Pune in the late 1990s, said the next step would be to enforce this new law in the city.

A day after former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray cautioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against criticising VD Savarkar, CM Eknath Shinde on Monday hit out at Wayanad MP saying that the latter should go and stay at the Andamans jail like Savarkar if he can.

"The citizens of Maharashtra are upset with what Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi should go and stay at the Andamans jail for one day if he can," Shinde said on Monday while talking to reporters.

He further announced to organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state.

"We will organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state to inform about the sacrifice of Savarkar," Shinde said.

The Maharashtra CM also said that insulting Savarkar means insulting the people of the country.

"Veer Savarkar's insult by Rahul Gandhi is condemnable. He (VD Savarkar) dedicated his life to the country and Rahul Gandhi is insulting him along with criticising our country's democracy abroad. Insulting Savarkar means insulting people of the country," he added.

Taking a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray for diluting the Sena's core principles by joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, Shinde said, "Those who used to say earlier they won't tolerate the insult of Savarkar were wearing black bands in support of Rahul Gandhi. It's unfortunate. They (Uddhav Thackeray) said they won't tolerate Rahul Gandhi's remarks. Will they beat them with shoes the way Balasaheb Thackeray did?"

After his disqualification from Lok Sabha last week following a court verdict in a defamation case, Rahul said that Savarkar was an "apologist" of the British colonisers and that he would never express any regret for criticising the BJP-led government.

Amid mass layoffs in the tech sector, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said it is wrong to assume that fired workers holding H-1B visa have to leave the country within 60 days and that they have multiple options to stay.

In a letter to the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou said, "When non-immigrant workers are laid off, they may not be aware of their options and may, in some instances, wrongly assume that they have no option but to leave the country within 60 days."

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies(FIIDS), which has been working for laid-off H-1B visa holders, had recently written to USCIS about the impacts of recent technology sector layoffs and sought an increase to the up to 60-day grace period.

In the letter addressed to FIIDS director for policy and analysis strategy Khanderao Kand, the USCIS said it acknowledges the financial and emotional impact that job loss can have on employment-based non-immigrant workers and their families in the United States.

"We are aware of the issue of involuntary terminations, especially in the technology sector," it said.

When a non-immigrant worker's employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they typically may take one of the four actions, if eligible, to remain in a period of authorized stay in the United States, the USCIS said.

Prominent among these include filing an application for a change of non-immigrant status and filing an application for adjustment of status.

They can also file an application for a "compelling circumstances" employment authorization document or be the beneficiary of a nonfrivolous petition to change employer, the USCIS said.

"If one of these actions occurs within the up to 60-day grace period, the nonimmigrant's period of authorized stay in the United States can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous non-immigrant status. "If the worker takes no action within the grace period, they and their dependents may then need to depart the United States within 60 days, or when their authorized validity period ends, whichever is shorter," the USCIS said in its letter.

It said that because the up to 60-day grace period is codified in the Department of Homeland Security regulations, extending it would require a regulatory change in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act and could not be extended by USCIS through policy guidance.

Fortunately, most individuals facing job loss already have several options to remain in the United States while continuing their job search past 60 days, the USCIS wrote.

It said it recognizes the contributions made to the United States by talented foreign-born workers, including in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

"We will continue to monitor the technology sector layoffs and explore appropriate measures," Jaddou said.

In a statement, FIIDS director for policy and analysis strategy Khanderao Kand said departing the US after layoffs has an immediate impact on the families of the laid-off H1B and their school-going children.

"Losing these professionals is also a brain drain impacting the future competitiveness of the US in emerging technologies. Hence, FIIDS has launched a multi-phase campaign from awareness building to jointly written letters to the USCIS with elected officials and other prominent organizations," the statement said.

Leading bourses NSE and BSE have said that Adani Green Energy will be put under the second stage of the long-term additional surveillance measure (ASM) framework from Tuesday.

In two separate circulars, the bourses said Adani Green Energy shall continue in the ASM framework but will be moved to the respective higher stage from March 28.

The move also comes close on the heels of the two exchanges moving two group firms Adani Total Gas and Adani Transmission from the second stage of the long-term ASM framework to Stage-I on Friday.

On March 17, both exchanges put Adani Green Energy and NDTV under the first stage of the long-term ASM framework.

Meanwhile, all the 10 listed firms of the Adani group on Monday ended the day in the negative territory, with Adani Power, Adani Transmission, Adani Wilmar and Adani Total Gas each falling nearly 5 per cent.

Many of the group firms hit their lower circuit limits during the day.

The Adani group stocks have taken a beating on the exchanges since a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research was published in January this year.

The report had made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against it.

The Adani group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. -- PTI

The H-1B visa cap for the financial year 2024, beginning October 1, has been reached and all successful applicants have been informed about it, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has said.

In a statement on Monday, the federal agency said it has received enough electronic registrations during the initial period to reach the fiscal year 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption -- the master's cap.

"We have randomly selected from the registrations properly submitted to reach the cap and have notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration," it said.

H-1B cap-subject petitions for the financial year 2024, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from April 1, 2023, if based on a valid, selected registration.

Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for 2024 fiscal and only for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration notice, the USCIS said.

The US Congress has set the current annual regular cap for the H-1B category at 65,000.

Of this, 6,800 visas are set aside under the terms of the legislation implementing the US-Chile and U.S.-Singapore free trade agreements. Unused visas in this group become available for H-1B use for the next fiscal year's regular H-1B cap. -- PTI

08:13 US says its watching Rahul Gandhi's case

The United States is watching the court case of Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, an official has said while observing that Washington continues to engage with India on the shared commitment towards democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression.

Gandhi was on March 23 sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remark. A day later, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the case.

"Respect for the rule of law and judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democracy. We are watching Mr Gandhi's case in Indian courts and we engage with the Government of India on our shared commitment to democratic values, including, freedom of expression," the State Department's Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

"In our engagements with our Indian partners, we continue to highlight the importance of democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression, as a key to strengthening both our democracies," he said.

Responding to a question, Patel said it is normal and standard for the United States to engage with members of opposition parties in any country where it has bilateral relationships.

Opposition parties in India stepped up their offensive against the Narendra Modi government and observed a "black day for democracy" on Monday, three days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha.

The BJP condemned the ruckus created by the Opposition in Parliament and accused the Congress of resorting to "low-level politics" in its bid to justify Gandhi's remarks against the OBC community. -- PTI

Upping the ante over Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, the Congress will hold press conferences in 35 cities over the next two days on 'Democracy Dis'Qualified' while also highlighting other issues such as the Adani matter and the alleged "clean chit" to fugitives.

Gandhi was on Thursday sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his "why all thieves have Modi surname" remark.

He was subsequently disqualified from Lok Sabha.

"Senior Congress leaders will address press conferences in 35 cities on March 28 and 29 on 'Democracy Dis'Qualified'," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

"Among other issues, the reality of Modani and the Modi government's clean chit to Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi will also be highlighted," Ramesh said.

On March 28, there will be press conferences in four cities '" Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Lucknow, Ajay Maken in Jammu, Ashok Chavan in Hyderabad (Telangana) and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Chandigarh.

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01:28 Nashville school shooting: 3 students killed; shooter dead

At least seven students died in a school shooting incident on Monday at a Nashville elementary school in the US.

According to a report published in The Washington Post, the shooter, who is a young female, is dead, the police said.

The suspect had entered the school building through a side door entrance and was confronted on the second floor of the Church and killed by the Nashville Police.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department tweeted, "An active shooter event has taken place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Burton Hiils Dr. The shooter was engaged by MNPD and is dead. Student reunification with parents is at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2100 Woodmont Blvd."

"We are responding to an active aggressor at 33 Burton Hills Blvd Covenant School. We can confirm we have multiple patients. Parents coming to the school should go to 20 Burton Hills at this time. This is an active scene," said Metropolitan Nashville Police Department in another tweet.

According to Craig Boerner, a spokesman for the hospital, three "paediatric patients" with gunshot wounds have been transported to Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

"After arrival, all were confirmed dead," Boerner said, reported The Washington Post.

According to medical centre officials, seven young students with gunshot wounds were sent to Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. All seven were declared dead upon their arrival. -- ANI

Inspector Daya Nayak, known as an "encounter specialist", was on Monday transferred to the Mumbai police from Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad, officials said.

The order related to the transfer of Nayak and seven other Inspectors was issued by the additional director general (establishment) of the Maharashtra police, an official said.

Besides Nayak, inspectors Dnyaneshwar Wagh and Daulat Salve were also transferred to the Mumbai police from the ATS, he said.

During his stint in the ATS, Nayak was involved in the investigation of the 2021 murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, whose killing was linked to the recovery of an explosives-laden car from near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house, Antilia, in Mumbai.

Though the probe in the Antilia bomb scare-Hiran murder episode was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency, the ATS had collected evidence against policemen named as accused in the high-profile case.

Nayak, a 1995-batch police inspector, rose to fame as an "encounter specialist" in the 1990s -- when underworld activities were at their peak in Mumbai -- and is claimed to have gunned down more than 80 gangsters. -- PTI

Singer and social media influencer Danish Mirza has been booked for alleged rape and cruelty on the complaint of his wife, a Mumbai police official said on Monday.

The 29-year-old woman has also named Mirza's mother and his brother in her complaint, the Oshiwara police station official said.

The 32-year-old singer-social media influencer and others have been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 376 (rape ), the official added.

Further probe is underway in the case, the official said. -- PTI

VD Savarkar/File image

00:34 Prove Savarkar apologised, his grandson tells Rahul

The grandson of late Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar on Monday sought action against Rahul Gandhi for his comments and also challenged the Congress leader to show documents that prove he apologised to the British.

"My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone," Rahul Gandhi had said on Saturday responding to a query on repeated calls by the Bharatiya Janata Party seeking his apology over various issues.

The former Congress chief made the remarks while addressing a press conference after being disqualified from Lok Sabha.

Calling such comments childish, Savarkar's grandson Ranjit Savarkar said, "Rahul Gandhi is saying he won't apologise as he isn't Savarkar. I challenge him to show documents that prove Savarkar apologised."

"Using the names of patriots to promote politics is wrong and deplorable. Action must be taken," Savarkar said. -- PTI

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