LIVE! AAP ex-MLA moves HC for removing Kejriwal as CM

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Sat, 06 April 2024

AAP ex-MLA moves HC for removing Kejriwal as CM

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23:07 CBI takes over probe in Kerala veterinary student's death

The CBI has taken over the probe into the death of 20-year-old veterinary student Sidharthan JS, whose body was found hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel in Wayanad district on February 18, officials said.

Sidharthan was subjected to ragging by fellow students, including activists of CPI-M's students' outfit SFI, his family had alleged demanding a CBI inquiry.

The agency has re-registered the FIR filed at the Vythiri police station in Waynad against 20 people late Friday night, within hours of receiving a notification from the central government in this connection.

The accused have been booked under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt and Kerala's anti-ragging law.

A CBI team will visit the state soon with a forensics team, the officials said.

According to the procedure, the CBI starts a probe in such state-referred cases by re-registering the FIR of local police.

The findings which are submitted in the form of a final report to a court after the completion of the probe can be completely different from the allegations in the FIR. -- PTI

22:45 DMK legislator Pugazhenthi dies at 69

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator N Pugazhenthi died due to a brief illness at a hospital in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram on Saturday, a source at the hospital said.

He was 69.

Pugazhenthi is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.

The MLA, representing the Vikravandi assembly constituency, was in the midst of a poll campaign along with his party president and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday when he suddenly swooned.

He was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Villupuram where he died today. Pugazhenthi joined the DMK in 1973 and served the party in various capacities.

He won from Vikravandi in the 2021 Assembly elections and hailed from Athiyur Thiruvathi in Villupuram district.

Expressing shock and anguish over his sudden demise, Stalin said though the MLA was not keeping well for the past few days he had been actively campaigning for the victory of the DMK in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We were hopeful that he would get well, but the news of his death has plunged us in great grief," Stalin said in a statement and extended his deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, relatives, friends and party men. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal/File image

22:34 AAP ex-MLA moves HC for removing Kejriwal as CM

Former AAP MLA Sandeep Kumar has approached the Delhi high court seeking the removal of arrested party leader Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister of the national capital.

The petition is listed for hearing before Justice Subramonium Prasad on Monday.

In his petition, Kumar has said after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy for Delhi, Kejriwal has incurred an "incapacity" to carry out the chief minister's functions under the Constitution.

The plea says the Aam Aadmi Party leader's "unavailability" complicates the constitutional mechanism and he can never function as the chief minister from prison according to the mandate of the Constitution.

"Article 239AA(4) of the Constitution provides for the Council of Ministers with the chief minister at the head to aid and advise the lieutenant governor in the exercise of his functions in relation to matters with respect to which the legislative assembly has power to make laws. The aid and advice to the lieutenant governor are practically not possible without the chief minister being a free person available to render his aid and advice under the Constitution," the petition says. -- PTI

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22:18 Fire in Mumbai's Nair dental college hostel building; none hurt

A fire broke out in a room on the 10th floor of the Nair Hospital and Dental College hostel building in Mumbai Central on Saturday evening, an official said.

Nobody was injured in the incident as the blaze remained confined to electric wiring and other fitments and put out within 20 minutes.

"The blaze erupted at around 6.44 pm and was mainly confined to electric wiring, installations, a bed, wooden cupboard, books, and clothes in a room situated on the 10th floor of the 11-storey hostel building, situated opposite Maratha Mandir," the fire brigade official said.

He said the fire was extinguished by people at around 7:05 pm before the arrival of fire brigade personnel after cutting off electricity, the official added. -- PTI

Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Saturday said the party's central election committee will take a call on fielding candidates in the three parliamentary constituencies in Kashmir Valley.

He was responding to a question on the speculation that the BJP will not field its candidates in these three seats and will extend support to regional parties -- the Democratic Progressive Azad Party of Ghulam Nabi Azad in the Anantnag constituency, the Sajjad Lone-led Peoples Conference in Baramulla, and the Apni Party of Altaf Bukhari in Srinagar.

"The BJP has already announced its candidates for Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha seats (in Jammu region) and we are winning both the seats with huge margins," Raina said.

"A massive campaign is going on in support of party candidates across the two regions (Jammu and Kashmir). BJP is strong in Jammu as well as Kashmir but the final decision on fighting the elections from three seats of Kashmir -- Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla -- will be taken by the CEC of the party under the leadership of BJP president (J P Nadda)," he said.

He declined a direct answer to a question on he being among the probable candidates for the Anantnag seat. -- PTI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said disrespect to bhagwa (colour saffron) will not be tolerated in the country.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Kawardha, headquarters of Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district which had witnessed communal clashes in 2021, he hit out at the previous Congress government in the state over corruption and politics of appeasement.

The rally was held in the support of the BJP's candidate Santosh Pandey from Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress has fielded former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from the constituency.

Referring to the alleged incident of removal of religious flags from a road in Kawardha in 2021 that led to a communal clash, Yadav said, "There is no hatred against any religion (in India), but disrespect to our religion and bhagwa is not acceptable. Whether we are in power or not, we will never let the country's self-respect get tarnished."

Saffron colour is traditionally associated with Hinduism.

Yadav also congratulated local BJP leaders, saying that despite going to jail (following the 2021 incidents) they continued to fight for the honour of bhagwa. -- PTI

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21:19 Thunderstorm forecast for West Bengal amid sweltering heat

People of southern West Bengal are likely to get a respite from the sweltering heat with the Met Department on Saturday forecasting thunderstorms owing to the formation of a cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh.

Heatwave conditions are prevailing over several districts in the region, with Panagarh recording the highest temperature in the state at 41.7 degrees Celsius, closely followed by Bankura at 41.5 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.

It forecast thunderstorms with lightning and gusty wind in the region till Monday, and in northern West Bengal till Wednesday owing to a cyclonic circulation lying over north Bangladesh and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

Southern West Bengal, which has seen a steady rise in day temperatures over the last one week, is set to see a fall in the mercury level by three to four notches, the forecast said, providing people of the region with hope of a respite from the sweltering heat.

Kolkata recorded 38.3 degrees Celsius, while Asansol, Purulia and Barrackpore crossed the 40 degrees mark, it said. -- PTI

Thierry Delaporte

20:58 Wipro CEO Delaporte quits; Srinivas Pallia new chief

Indian IT major Wipro on Saturday announced the resignation of its CEO Thierry Delaporte and named Srinivas Pallia as the new chief executive officer effective immediately.

Wipro's Board noted the resignation of Delaporte with effect from April 6, 2024, the company said in a BSE filing, and added he will be relieved from the employment of the company with effect from the close of business hours on May 31, 2024.

"At their meeting held on April 6, 2024...pursuant to the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the board of directors has approved the appointment of Srinivas Pallia as the chief executive officer and managing director of the company with effect from April 7, 2024, for a period of five years, subject to approval of shareholders and the Central Government as may be applicable," Wipro said. -- PTI

Uddhav Thackeray

20:48 Setback to Uddhav camp as ex-minister Babanrao Gholap joins Shinde Sena

In a fresh setback to the Uddhav Thackeray camp ahead of Lok Sabha elections, former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena-UBT deputy leader Babanrao Gholap joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday.

Gholap was welcomed in the party by Shinde in the presence of state minister Dada Bhuse and deputy chairperson of Maharashtra legislative council Neelam Gorhe.

Gholap, a five-time MLA from Nashik district, joining the Shinde camp may boost the party's prospects in north Maharashtra.

Former MLA Sanjay Pawar also joined the Shinde-led Sena. -- PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

20:39 Will safeguard sovereignty: Pak on Rajnath's anti-terror remarks

Pakistan on Saturday said it stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty, a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that India will enter Pakistan if terrorists run away to the neighbouring nation after carrying out terror strikes in the country.

A statement by the foreign office in Islamabad said that Pakistan has always demonstrated its commitment to peace in the region but its desire for peace should not be misconstrued.

"History attests to Pakistan's firm resolve and ability to protect and defend itself," the foreign office said in a statement while criticising India's ruling dispensation for resorting to hateful rhetoric for electoral gains.

The foreign office's statement came in response to Singh's statement on Friday that if terrorists try to disturb peace in India or carry out terror activities, a befitting response will be given and if they (the terrorists) run away to Pakistan, India will enter the neighbouring country to kill them. Singh was responding to a question on a report by the UK daily, The Guardian, that claimed Indian intelligence agencies carried out assassinations of terrorists in Pakistan as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019. -- PTI

A 55-year-old woman was assaulted and paraded semi-naked in Tarn Taran allegedly by her son's in-laws after he got married against the wishes of the bride's parents, the police said on Saturday.

Four people have been arrested over the incident on Saturday while the fifth accused is at large, station house officer Sunita Bawa said.

The incident occurred on March 31 in a village, a few days after the victim's son eloped with a woman and married her against her family's wishes, the police said.

According to the complaint filed by the victim, she was alone at her home when her son's in-laws allegedly assaulted her and tore off her clothes.

They paraded her in the village in a semi-naked condition, the victim alleged.

A purported video of the victim being paraded surfaced on social media on Friday. -- PTI

The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in Kerala on Saturday said the party was maintaining transparency when it came to its bank accounts and funds and the transaction details have already been submitted before the Election Commission and the Income Tax department.

If the party has to submit details of any accounts, it is ready to furnish all the necessary information before any agency, CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan said.

He was replying to a question regarding media reports about the freezing of the bank account in the name of the party's Thrissur District Committee by the Income Tax department.

Govindan did not deny the reports and said the party has no unaccounted money in its bank accounts.

When the reporters asked about the reported summoning of senior party leader and CPI-M's Thrissur district secretary MM Varghese by the Income Tax department in this regard, he said let them call anyone and the party has no fear or concern about it.

"We have bank accounts and funds...But it has documents also. We have no unaccounted money," Govindan said. -- PTI

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19:30 NIA raids places in UP, Bihar over Maoist plot case

The National Investigation Agency on Saturday carried out raids at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar against the Communist Party of India-Moist in an anti-India conspiracy case, officials said.

The raids were carried out by NIA teams on the premises of accused and suspected persons at 11 locations in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh and one location in the Kaimur district of Bihar.

An NIA spokesperson said several digital devices, including mobile phones, SIM cards and memory cards, along with incriminating documents like pamphlets of the proscribed Naxal outfit were seized during the searches.

The NIA had on November 10 last year taken over the investigation in the case, relating to the arrest of five persons following the recovery of arms and ammunition, incriminating documents, literature and books of CPI (Maoist) in Ballia.

The agency had chargesheeted four accused in the case on February 9, 2024. -- PTI

A man in Rajasthan's Sirohi district allegedly thrashed his 17-year-old daughter to death for not preparing for her school examinations, the police said on Saturday.

Accused Fateh Mohammad (42), a resident of Prem Nagar, has been arrested, deputy superintendent of police Pushpendra Verma said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Mohammad was angry with his daughter, a class 11 student, for not studying for her exams.

So, he beat her up with a stick on Thursday, he said.

Based on a complaint lodged by the girl's uncle, the accused father was arrested on Saturday and the murder weapon was recovered.

According to the DSP, the girl probably died due to internal injuries, however the exact cause of death will be revealed after the post-mortem report comes. -- PTI

Four persons were arrested on Saturday in connection with the blast near Panur here a day ago that claimed one life and caused injuries to three others, the police said.

The police said that the arrested accused, the three injured persons and the one who died, all of them were CPI-M workers or supporters, a claim that has been denied by the Left party.

A senior officer of Panur police station said that they have arrested Shebin Lal, K Atul, K K Arun and Sayooj all of whom were allegedly present when the country-made bomb being made had exploded.

Sayooj was caught from Palakkad while allegedly trying to escape to Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the police said.

Three others -- Vineesh, Vinod and Ashwanth -- who were also injured in the blast are undergoing treatment, it added.

CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan said that the party has no connection with those involved in the incident as they had attacked party members in the past.

He said there was no need for the party to make weapons during the election time and such allegations against the CPI-M were false propaganda.

Govindan was apparently referring to the Congress-led UDF allegations that the bomb was being made by CPI(M) workers to disrupt the election process.

Congress MLA Shafi Parambil, who is contesting from the Vatakara Lok Sabha seat and RSP MLA K K Rema, together carried out a peace march during the day in Vatakara in protest against the blast incident. -- PTI

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18:36 Leh Apex Body calls off tomorrow's border march in Ladakh

The Leh Apex Body on Saturday withdrew their proposed march to the Changthang border with China on April 7, saying it is doing so in the interest of people even as it accused the administration of turning Leh into a "war zone".

The LAB said they have already achieved their objective of creating awareness among the people of the country about the plight of farmers.

They said the farmers are losing prime pasture land to huge industrial plants in the south and "Chinese encroachments" in the north.

They said they will continue their peaceful peaceful agitation in support of their various demands, especially statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution. -- PTI

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18:32 JNUSU writes to VC opposing film shooting on campus

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union has written to the varsity administration opposing a film shooting taking place near the administration block on the campus, terming it as "commercialisation" of the university space.

No immediate reaction was available from the university administration over this.

The students' union in an email to Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor Santishree D Pandit demanded to know why the shooting was allowed within 100-metre radius of the administration block while the students are barred from entering the space to stage protests.

"We have come to know that a shooting of a film by Sudhir Mishra is happening at the administration block. It is appalling to know that it is the same place where students aren't allowed to gather for raising their rightful demands," the email read further stating that action is taken against students if they try to hold protests at the site.

"We have been opposed to the commercialisation of our university space. This is a public university and this space should not be used for any kind of commercial purpose," it further read.

The students' body demanded to know why the film team was granted permission to gather students for shooting, claiming that it was involving students in the shooting of the film. -- PTI

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18:15 21 SAIL employees under medical observation after fire breaks out at Bokaro plant

All 21 employees of SAIL's Bokaro steel plant, who were kept under medical observation after a fire broke out on Saturday morning, are stable, an official said.

This is a precautionary measure as they were exposed to smoke, he said.

There was no report of any fatality, the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) official said.

Quoting a medical bulletin issued by the Bokaro General Hospital, where the employees were admitted after the blaze erupted, the official said: "21 employees, including some contract workers, are under observation. All of them are stable and under constant monitoring of doctors."

The incident took place when maintenance work was underway in the mixed gas pipeline of the Bokaro plant, he said.

There has been no leakage of any gas from the pipeline, and the situation is completely under control, the official said.

The fire has been extinguished and senior officials are camping at the spot, he added. -- PTI

Suresh Gopi, who has lost twice in elections from this central Kerala constituency and is hoping that his third attempt from here would bring him luck, has declared assets, including both movable and immovable, of over Rs 12 crore in his nomination papers.

Gopi had lost from Thrissur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and then in the 2021 state assembly polls.

In the 2024 LS polls, the actor is facing off against Congress' K Muraleedharan, who won from Vatakara in the 2019 general elections, and CPI's V S Sunilkumar.

The actor-cum-politician, who hopes to turn things around this time, has declared an income of Rs 4,39,68,960 in the financial year 2023-24, according to the affidavit file along with his nomination papers which were submitted on April 2.

His movable assets, including eight vehicles and 1025 grams of gold, come to a little over Rs 4 crore. -- PTI

Congress' Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Charan Das Mahant

17:14 Chhattisgarh LOP booked for remarks against Modi

A case has been registered against Charan Das Mahant, the Chhattisgarh Congress' Leader of Opposition, over his 'objectionable' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally.

The FIR was registered under Section 506 (for criminal intimidation) at Kotwali police station in Rajnandgaon city following directions by the district election officer against the senior Congress leader on Friday, the police said.

Mahant, who is one of the star campaigners of the party, sparked controversy at a public rally in Rajnandgaon on Tuesday when he stated that they needed someone who could hold a stick and confront Modi.

During his speech in the local dialect, Mahant urged the public to ensure the former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's success for their future well-being.

Mahant called for support for Baghel's victory in the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, hailing him as a champion of women and farmers.

"We need a protector who can stand up against Narendra Modi, and your MP (referring to Baghel) is that person. We want someone who can hold a stick and confront Narendra Modi," he said.

These remarks stirred controversy, drawing a swift response from the ruling BJP. -- ANI

Puthalapattu legislator MS Babu quit the ruling YSRCP on Saturday to join Congress in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila.

Babu, who won the 2019 election on a YSRCP ticket was denied the same for the 2024 polls, which went to M Sunil Kumar for the SC-reserved constituency.

"Big shock for ruling YSRCP in the run-up to polls. Puthalapattu MLA M S Babu moved over from YSRCP to Congress. Sharmila invited Babu into the party by putting a scarf around him," said a press release from Congress.

Meanwhile, Sharmila is continuing her election tour in Kadapa district. She visited Ameen Peer dargha in Kadapa town today and offered special prayers.

"YSR (Y S Rajasekhar Reddy) was always against the BJP which sparks conflicts in the name of religion. YSR's son Jagan Mohan Reddy is a slave to BJP," said Sharmila at a street corner meeting in the town.

She alleged that the YSRCP chief and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did not open his mouth when there were riots in Godhra in Gujarat, adding that he made many promises to Muslims but forgot them. -- PTI

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16:12 16 children, 3 caretakers rescued amid fire at orphanage in Noida

Sixteen children and their three caretakers were rescued after a fire broke out at an orphanage in Noida early Saturday, officials said.

The fire broke out around 2 am in the two-storey building and no person was hurt in the incident, Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey said.

"The fire service unit was alerted at 2.21 am about a fire breaking out in the building located in C Block of sector 26 in which an orphanage is being run by a trust named Ram Krishna Vivekananda Mission.

"Two water tenders and a team of firefighters were immediately rushed to the site and the blaze extinguished," Choubey said.

He said the fire broke out on the ground floor of the building.

"There were 16 children aged between four and 12 years who lived in the orphanage along with their three caretakers. When our team reached the site, first all the residents of the building were rescued to safety and a headcount was done to ensure no one was left behind," the CFO said.

There was no injury to anyone, he said. -- PTI

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi

15:55 Singhvi moves HC against his defeat in RS poll through draw

Weeks after he lost the Rajya Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Saturday filed an application in the high court challenging the interpretation of draw of lots rules by the poll officer after there was a tie in the poll.

BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan won the February 27 election through draw of lots after both candidates secured 34 votes each.

"There is nothing in the law, neither in the act nor in the rules which compels an interpretation which requires that the person whose name is drawn in the draw of lots is a loser," Singhvi told reporters after filing his petition in the Himachal Pradesh high court.

In spite of the fact that the Congress had a strength of 40 members and the support of three Independents in the assembly, both the candidates polled 34 votes each as nine legislators -- six Congress rebels and three Independents -- voted in favour of BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan.

The winner was announced by a draw of lots and under the procedure followed by the election officer, the person whose name was drawn in the draw of lots was declared the loser. -- PTI

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15:36 Army opens fire after noticing suspicious movement in J-K's Rajouri

Army troops opened fire and subsequently launched a search operation after noticing suspicious movement near their camp in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district early Saturday, officials said.

There was no report of any casualty in the firing at the Srotha Morha village in the Darhal area, the officials said.

They said a sentry fired a few rounds on seeing the movement of a group of unidentified persons towards the camp under the cover of darkness.

The group retreated into the nearby village, following which a search operation was launched, the officials said, adding the operation was going on when last reports were received but there was no clue of the suspected persons.

The officials said security forces also carried out a search operation in the Sharda Sharief area of Rajouri on Saturday morning but no one was arrested. -- PTI

The CBI has busted a child trafficking ring in the national capital and rescued two newborns, officials said on Saturday.

On receiving information about the child trafficking ring, officials of the federal probe agency conducted searches at multiple locations in Delhi and Haryana on Friday evening.

During the raid, the two infants were found at a location in Keshavpuram.

A woman who sold the infants and the man who bought them have been detained and were being questioned, officials of the probe agency said.

Other suspects of the child trafficking ring were also being interrogated, they added. -- PTI

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14:21 Oil prices hit 6-month high igniting global inflation fears

The price of Brent crude surged to a six-month high on Friday, surpassing the $91 per barrel mark, propelled by escalating tensions in the Middle East.

This sudden and significant uptick in oil prices has sent reverberations throughout global financial markets, reigniting fears of inflationary pressures and prompting deep concerns among central bankers, policymakers, and investors alike.

The global benchmark, Brent crude, has not reached these levels since October, driven primarily by mounting geopolitical tensions in the volatile Middle Eastern region.

Analysts have been closely monitoring developments, particularly following recent clashes between Hamas and Israel, which culminated in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria.

The implications of surging oil prices extend far beyond geopolitical concerns, casting a shadow over various sectors of the global economy.

In the United States, where the economy is still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sudden spike in gasoline prices has exacerbated concerns.

Gasoline prices have surged by a notable 6 percent over the past month, a worrying development as the North American summer driving season approaches.

This surge in energy costs adds additional strain on consumers already grappling with elevated living expenses. -- ANI

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha filed an application in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court opposing permission granted to the CBI to quiz her in Tihar Jail in relation to the state excise policy case.

The plea stated that the CBI thwarted due process of law by filing a plea behind her.

The BRS MLC, in her plea, says that it has grave apprehension that the CBI may not have divulged true facts in order to obtain a favourable order from the court.

Kavitha wants the court to keep its order in abeyance untill her side is heard.

The plea stated that it is extremely disappointing and unfortunate that an Application has been moved by the CBI for purported examination of the applicant while still in custody without serving a copy either upon on her or her counsel.

Such a practice is unknown to the basic tenets of criminal jurisprudence and thus cannot be sustained in the eyes of the law.

The special judge Kaveri Baweja heard the submissions and granted time to CBI to file response on K Kavitha's application opposing permission granted to CBI to quiz her in Tihar Jail in relation to excise policy case. -- ANI

The Congress on Saturday announced the names of former Union minister Ramakant Khalap and Viriato Fernandes as its candidates for the North and South Goa Lok Sabha seats.

All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal made the announcement ending the INDIA bloc's prolonged wait for its candidates in Goa.

The alliance comprising more than two dozen opposition parties has agreed to field Congress candidates from both the Lok Sabha constituencies in the coastal state. Khalap (76) was elected as an MP on the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party ticket from North Goa from 1996-1998.

He was the Union minister of state for law in late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet.

He later left the MGP to join Congress.

As a law minister then, Khalap worked for the enactment of the Arbitration Act of India and drafted amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure of India and the Code of Criminal Procedures of India.

He also introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. Fernandes, the Congress's candidate from South Goa, is an ex-Indian Navy officer. -- PTI

The Congress on Saturday announced the names of former Union minister Ramakant Khalap and Viriato Fernandes as its candidates for the North and South Goa Lok Sabha seats.

All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal made the announcement ending the INDIA bloc's prolonged wait for its candidates in Goa.

He was the Union minister of state for law in late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet.

He later left the MGP to join Congress.

As a law minister then, Khalap worked for the enactment of the Arbitration Act of India and drafted amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure of India and the Code of Criminal Procedures of India.

He also introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament. Fernandes, the Congress's candidate from South Goa, is an ex-Indian Navy officer. -- PTI

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12:54 China may misuse AI to target India polls: Microsoft

China is likely to deploy Artificial Intelligence-generated content via social media to sway public opinion to boost its geopolitical interests during elections in countries like India, South Korea and the US, tech giant Microsoft has warned.

Voting for 543 Lok Sabha seats in India will take place between April 19 and June 4, spread across seven phases.

South Koreans will go to the polls in a general election on April 10 while the US will hold the Presidential election on November 5.

"With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the United States, we assess that China will, at a minimum, create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests," Clint Watts, general manager, Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, said in a blog post.

Despite the chances of such content in affecting election results remaining low, China's increasing experimentation in augmenting memes, videos, and audio will likely continue and may prove more effective down the line, he said.

China will do it along with North Korea, he wrote. -- PTI

Survival drama The Goat Life, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, has collected over Rs 100 crore in worldwide gross collection, the makers announced on Saturday.

Directed by Blessy, the movie is based on the 2008 bestselling novel Aadujeevitham by Benyamin. It was released in theatres on March 29.

"Achieving a great milestone, The Goat Life has crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the worldwide box office within nine days of its release," the makers said in a press note.

The Malayalam film follows the real-life story of Najeeb (Sukumaran), a Malayali immigrant labourer who finds himself forced into slavery as a goatherd in the secluded farm of Saudi Arabia.

Blessy said the film's team is ecstatic and grateful by the response to the movie, and they now hope that it continues to cross borders and reach as many people as possible.

"The entire team of the film has put in over a decade of their hard work and blood, sweat, and tears into making this dream a reality. The film has stayed with me for over sixteen years and it is a blessing to see it finally being out in the world and being accepted so wholeheartedly by audiences worldwide," he added.

Sukumaran, who has distributed The Goat Life in Malayalam through Prithviraj Productions, also celebrated the film's milestone moment in a post on Instagram. -- PTI

A court in Delhi on Saturday extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia till April 18 in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja extended Sisodia's judicial custody after he was produced before the court on the expiry of the judicial custody granted earlier.

His party colleague Sanjay Singh, a co-accused who was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in the case, also appeared before the court for the proceedings.

The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi Excise Policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority's approval.

The beneficiaries allegedly diverted "illegal" gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies have alleged. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the "scam".

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sisodia in a money-laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023. Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. -- PTI

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann

11:50 Mann, AAP leaders in Punjab to observe fast tomorrow against Kejriwal's arrest

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with AAP MLAs and volunteers will sit on a fast on Sunday to protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a party leader said.

The Aam Aadmi Party had given the call for a nationwide collective fast on April 7 against the arrest of the Delhi chief minister. Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convener, was arrested last month by the Enforcement Directorate in an excise policy-linked money laundering case.

He had been sent to judicial custody till April 15. Addressing the media here on Saturday, AAP MLA Dinesh Chadha said the Punjab chief minister and the ruling party's legislators will sit on a fast at Khatkar Kalan in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district on April 7 in the fight to save democracy.

He also appealed to the people of Punjab to take part in the fast. Alleging that the BJP-led Centre was behind the arrest of Kejriwal's arrest, the Rupnagar legislator claimed that the saffron party considers the AAP and its national convener its "biggest threat." -- PTI

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11:23 NIA vehicle attacked in Bengal: Police

A vehicle carrying National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials was on Saturday attacked by villagers in Bhupatinagar area of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, where they had gone to investigative a 2022 bomb blast case, police said.

A team of NIA officials earlier this morning arrested two persons in connection with the case and were on their way back to Kolkata, when the vehicle came under attack, they said.

"Locals gheraoed the vehicle and pelted stones at it. The NIA has said one of its officers was also injured," a senior police official said.

The NIA has also lodged a police complaint in this regard, he said.

Officials of the federal probe agency were unavailable for comments on the incident.

A huge contingent of central police force has reached Bhupatinagar, where the NIA team is present along with the two arrested persons, police said.

Three persons were killed when an explosion ripped apart a kutcha house in Bhupatinagar on December 3, 2022.

The investigation was later handed over to the NIA.

Saturday's incident also brought back memories of January 5, when ED officials were attacked in Sandeshkhali area in North 24 Parganas during a raid in connection with a ration scam. -- PTI

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11:14 3 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh

Three Naxalites were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district bordering Telangana on Saturday, a senior police official here said.

The encounter took place in Pujari Kanker forest along the interstate border when a team of Greyhounds, Telangana's elite anti-Naxal force, was out on an operation, he said.

A team of Chhattisgarh police was also present in the area to extend auxiliary support to the Greyhounds team, he said.

"Three Naxalites were killed in the gunfight and weapons were also recovered from the spot," the official said.

A search operation is still underway in the area, he added.

Earlier this week, at least 13 Naxalites including three women were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.

10:30 What Modi said on BJP's foundation day

On the 44th foundation day of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it has become India's preferred party and expressed confidence that people will elect it for another term at the Centre, allowing it to build on the 'ground covered in the last decade'.

Greeting members of the BJP, he said the youth of India see it as the party which can fulfil their aspirations and provide leadership to the nation in the 21st century.

Modi asserted the BJP has freed India from the culture of corruption, cronyism, casteism, communalism and vote bank politics, which was the 'hallmark' of those who ruled the nation for the longest time.

In today's India, emphasis is on clean and transparent governance which ensures the fruits of development reach the poor without any discrimination, he said.

'Be it at the Centre or states, our party has redefined good governance. Our schemes and policies have given strength to the poor and downtrodden. Those who were left on the margins for decades found a voice and hope in our party,' PM Modi said on X.

The BJP has worked towards providing all-round development which has boosted ease of living for every Indian, Modi said.

"I also recall with great reverence the hard work, struggles and sacrifices of all those great women and men who built our party over the years. I can say with great confidence that we are India's preferred party, which has always served with the motto of 'Nation First'," he said.

It is a matter of great joy that the BJP has made a mark for its development-oriented outlook, good governance and commitment to nationalistic values, said the party's preeminent leader under whose stewardship it has achieved unprecedented electoral successes in Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the last decade.

Modi said, "Powered by our karyakartas, our party embodies the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians. The youth of India see our party as one which can fulfil their aspirations and provide leadership to India in the 21st century."

The prime minister said, "We are also proud to be an integral part of the NDA, which manifests a perfect harmony between national progress and regional aspirations. The NDA is a vibrant alliance that encapsulates India's diversity. We cherish this partnership and I am sure it will get even stronger in the times to come."

Referring to the upcoming general elections, he said, "India is all set to elect a new Lok Sabha. I am confident that the people are going to bless us with another term so that we can build on the ground covered in the last decade."

The BJP was founded in 1980 by leaders of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a party which has merged with other opposition parties to form the Janata Party to take on the Congress in the post-Emergency 1977 polls. It won only two Lok Sabha seats in the first national election it fought in 1984.

However, it rose rapidly later under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, coming to power in the 90s as the head of a coalition, before Modi led the party to its maiden majority in 2014 and then to a bigger mandate in 2019.

Most political experts have tipped the BJP as the favourite to retain power for a third term in the seven-phase polls starting from April 19. -- PTI

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10:08 Man posing as cop cons prof of Rs 1 lakh

A 58-year-old college professor from Mumbai was duped of Rs 1 lakh by a man posing as a police inspector who claimed her son had been detained in a case, an official has said.

The incident took place on Tuesday when the professor was in college in the city's Juhu area, the official said.

"During lunch break, she received a call from an unidentified number. The caller identified himself as police inspector Vijay Kumar and said her son had been detained in a case.

"The woman tried reaching her son on his phone but could not," the official said on Friday.

"To bail out her son, she transferred Rs 1 lakh into the accounts provided by the fraudsters. After some time, the fraudster called the professor and threatened her with dire consequences if she narrated this incident to anybody.

"After realising the detention information was false, she approached Juhu police station," the official added.

A case was registered under Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act provisions against unidentified persons, he said. -- PTI

The Israeli military said that it has dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in an attack in Gaza that killed seven aid workers, Al Jazeera reported.

The Israeli military said that the officers had mishandled critical information and violated the army's rules of engagement.

The Israeli military said an internal probe found its forces had mistakenly believed they were 'targeting armed Hamas operatives'.

Seven aid workers, including an Australian, three Britons, a Palestinian, a North American and a Pole, were killed in three airstrikes by an Israeli drone on Monday night as they ran for their lives between three vehicles, according to the military, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking to reporters, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, "It's a serious event that we are responsible for, and it shouldn't have happened, and we will make sure that it won't happen again."

The US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), whose convoy was hit, said Israel's 'apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues represent cold comfort'.

The WCK called for an independent probe into the attack.

WCK CEO Erin Gore said, "Israel needs to take concrete steps to assure the safety of humanitarian aid workers. Our operations remain suspended."

According to the Israeli military, after the vehicles left a warehouse where WCK aid had been unloaded, 'one of the commanders mistakenly assumed that the gunmen were located inside the accompanying vehicles and these were Hamas terrorists'.

In the report, the Israeli military said that the strike on the aid vehicles was 'a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to a mistaken identification, errors in decision-making, and an attack contrary to the Standard Operating Procedures'.

The Israeli military said the officers who were dismissed included a fire support commander holding the rank of major and a brigade chief of staff holding the rank of colonel in reserve.

The military formally reprimanded the commander of the brigade involved and the division commander.

Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi reprimanded the commander of the Southern Command 'for his overall responsibility for the incident', according to the Al Jazeera report. -- ANI

Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi has criticised the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, stating that it contains pictures from New York and 'Rahul Gandhi's favourite destination, Thailand'.

Earlier on Friday, the Congress released its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Under the Environment section, a picture from Rahul Gandhi's favourite destination, Thailand, has been put. Who is putting all this in their manifesto?" Trivedi said.

Addressing the media on Friday, Trivedi questioned the source of certain images featured in the Congress manifesto.

"There is a picture of water management in the Congress manifesto. This picture is of the Buffalo River in New York State. The word 'buffalo' is called bhaains in Hindi, and there's a proverb in Hindi that goes: 'Akal badi ya bhaains?' (Is wisdom greater or the buffalo?) So, I don't think anyone used much wisdom in this situation either. Till now, they have not been able to find out who was tweeting from their social media chairperson's Twitter, but who sent them this picture?" Trivedi asked.

The Congress manifesto was compiled after carrying out nationwide consultations and after receiving thousands of suggestions via email and our 'Awaaz Bharat Ki' website, as per the party. -- ANI

A day after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal, Athamallik MLA Ramesh Chandra Sai on Friday joined the Opposition BJP and became the third legislator of the ruling party to cross over to the saffron camp ahead of the Lok Sabha and the Odisha assembly polls.

Sai switched sides in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a programme held at Katada in Angul district.

The Athamallik MLA quit the BJD after he was denied a renomination. Earlier this week, the party named Nalini Kanta Pradhan, a former works department secretary, as the BJD candidate from the assembly segment.

"I was elected from Athamallik in 2019 after winning by a record 47,000 votes. For personal reasons, I am unable to continue in the party," Sai wrote in his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Earlier, two sitting BJD MLAs- Arabinda Dhali from Jaydev and Premananda Nayak Telkoi -- crossed over to the BJP.

Two-time MLA from Soro, Parsuram Dhada had also left the regional party on April 3, immediately after he was denied a ticket.

He was replaced by Madhab Dhada, who joined the BJD after quitting the BJP last month.

However, Parsuram was yet to join any party.

Besides, two BJD legislators Pradeep Panigrahy and Prasant Jagdev, who were expelled from the party -- had earlier joined the BJP. -- PTI

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said he hoped the Election Commission is monitoring the threatening social media posts reportedly made against him after he met family members of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari recently.

Owaisi had visited Ansari's Ghazipur home in Uttar Pradesh to offer condolences to his family. Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in UP's Banda on March 28.

"... those who are openly making such threats, we hope that the Election Commission monitors that and sees," he told reporters in Hyderabad.

Asked about the reported comments by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that Uniform Civil Code would be a top priority if the NDA government returned to power, Owaisi said the Citizenship Amendment Act should be seen together with NPR (National Population Register) and NRC (National Register of Citizens).

The CAA was notified last month by the Centre. -- PTI

An Indian student in the US state of Ohio has died and the police are investigating the case, the Indian Consulate in New York said on Friday.

"Deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of Mr Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X.

The Consulate said that a police investigation into the death is underway, and it continues to remain in touch with the family in India.

All possible assistance is being extended, including to transport Mr Uma Gadde's mortal remains to India at the earliest, the consulate said. -- PTI

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