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Tue, 25 June 2024
CBI to produce Kejriwal in court, AAP cries foul
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23:59 Chhattisgarh village panchayat secretary among 4 Maoist supporters held
Four supporters of Maoists, including a village panchayat secretary and a civil contractor, were arrested in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh and booked under an anti-terror law, the police said on Tuesday.
A tractor belonging to Maoist was also seized from their possession, they said.
Those arrested were identified as Mahesh Meshram (45), Arvind Tulavi (30), Ramkishan Yadav (50) and Sushil Sahu (54), Inspector General of Police (Rajnandgaon) Deepak Jha told reporters.
The tractor belonging to Maoists was recovered from Tulavi who had been giving it on rent on the direction of the outlaws, he said.
"After getting inputs, a joint team of the state police's District Reserve Guard and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police raided Tulavi's house and nabbed him. Based on his statement, others were apprehended," Jha said.
All four were booked under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act , an anti-terror act, and the Indian Penal Code, the IPS officer informed.
Investigation carried out so far suggests Ramkishan Yadav, a resident of neighbouring Rajnandgaon district, is a civil contractor who had been handling various road works under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the state forest department in MMA district, he said. -- PTI
23:27 Asked to leave school for using mobile, Arunachal boy dies by suicide
A 15-year-old boy of Arunachal Pradesh has died allegedly by suicide a day after he was asked to leave his school for using a mobile phone on the campus as it is against the rule, an officer said on Tuesday.
The body of Chirang Kri, a class 10 student, was found hanging from a tree by the bank of the Lohit river close to the school at Amliang in Anjaw district on Monday, superintendent of police Rike Kamsi said.
Describing the incident as "very unfortunate", the school principal TM Sathian said the issue was sorted out and Chirang was allowed to continue, but why the student took that extreme step is not known.
The boy's family lodged a complaint against the principal and hostel warden at Hayuliang police station and sought an investigation into the circumstances leading to his suicide.
The police said Chirang, who used to live in the school hostel, was caught using a mobile phone on the premises of the institute, which was prohibited. -- PTI
23:08 CBI to produce Kejriwal in court tomorrow, AAP cries foul
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday examined Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail and recorded his statement related to the excise policy case.
The CBI also got permission for Kejriwal's production before the concerned trial court tomorrow, ANI has tweeted.
Reacting to the development, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the BJP was hatching a conspiracy with CBI officers to frame Kejriwal in a fake case.
"We have learnt from reliable sources that the BJP-led Centre has hatched a conspiracy with CBI officers at a time when there is a huge possibility of Kejriwal getting bail from the Supreme Court. They have planned to frame him in a fake case by the CBI and get him arrested.
"The entire country is watching the atrocities of the BJP. How will one get justice in such circumstances? People will stand up against this," the Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said.
File image/ANI Photo
22:47 Fire breaks out in Safdarjung Hospital's old emergency building, nurse rescued
A fire broke out in a store room in the old emergency building of the Safdarjung Hospital here on Tuesday, Delhi Fire Services officials said.
No one was injured in the incident.
A nurse was rescued from the third floor of the building, they said.
DFS chief Atul Garg said the department received information about the fire around 10.40 am.
"The fire was at gate no. 6 of the old emergency building of the Safdarjung Hospital. Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire broke out in the building's store room," he added.
Manoj Kumar Sharma, DFS divisional officer (South) said, "Eleven fire tenders, including fire bowsers, were rushed to the spot. We controlled the fire immediately and rescued an elderly nurse from the third floor after breaking a window of the hospital."
A police investigation will ascertain the cause of the fire, he said. -- PTI
Residents of Vivekanand Camp in Delhi gather to collect drinking water from a tanker/ANI Photo
22:23 Delhi Cong blames AAP, BJP govts for water woes
The AAP-led Delhi government and the Bharatiya Janata Party dispensation in Haryana have left the national capital's people at the mercy of the "rain god" to meet their water needs as their pipelines have been running dry for weeks, the Congress' interim Delhi chief Devender Yadav alleged on Tuesday.
In a statement, Yadav noted that AAP came to power in Delhi by promising free power and water.
If the Delhi government is solely depending on water from Harayna to supply to the people of Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's free water scheme is a big sham, he said.
Delhi is facing a severe water shortage amid a punishing heat wave that battered the city for weeks.
Yadav said the people of Delhi elected seven BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha in the hope that they would come to their aid during crises.
However, they did not play any part in resolving the water shortage issue by taking up the matter with the BJP-led central government, he claimed.
Yadav said he was also shocked to learn that the Supreme Court had asked the Delhi Development Authority if the illegal cutting of trees in the ridge forest was carried out on directions issued by the Lt Governor as the extreme heatwave conditions in the national capital was on account of the depleted green cover. -- PTI
File image
22:17 Bengal police arrests another youth for links to Bangladeshi terror outfit
The Special Task Force unit of West Bengal police on Tuesday arrested another person for his alleged links to banned Bangladesh-based terror outfit Shahadat-e al Hiqma, a senior police officer said.
The youth, identified as Harej Shiekh from Mollahpur in Nadia district, was arrested from Howrah railway station, the officer said, adding that he was sent to 14-day police remand after being produced in a city court.
The officer said Sheikh's name emerged during the interrogation of another youth, a computer science student, who was arrested in Paschim Bardhaman district on Saturday night.
"We learned about Harej while questioning the computer science student who was arrested in Paschim Bardhaman district on Saturday night. We arrested this youth due to his alleged links to Shahadat-e al Hiqma," he said.
The STF officer said they are investigating whether Sheikh or the banned terror outfit were planning any specific actions.
"The commanders of the terror module used social media to recruit youths. Initially, they would scan profiles to identify a person's interest in Islamic fundamentalism. Then they would start brainwashing them by sending audio messages," the officer elaborated. -- PTI
21:53 Rahul Gandhi to be Leader of Opposition in LS
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will occupy the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a letter about the decision has been sent to Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab.
The decision on Rahul Gandhi's appointment as the Leader of Opposition was made after a meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.
"Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) wrote to Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, informing him of the decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha," senior party leader KC Venugopal told reporters after the meeting.
He said the decision on other appointments will be decided later.
Rahul Gandhi has been an MP for five terms and currently represents the Rae Bareli constituency in the Lok Sabha. He took oath as an MP on Tuesday while holding a copy of the Constitution.
The Congress, being the single largest opposition party, gets the post of opposition leader after a gap of 10 years.
It had failed to get the 10 per cent members required in the Lok Sabha to secure the post in the last two elections.
21:30 2nd sodomy case against Deve Gowda grandson
A second case of sodomy was registered against Janata Dal-Secular MLC Suraj Revanna on Tuesday at Holenarasipura police station in Hassan district.
The case was registered based on a complaint by a close aide of Suraj Revanna.
Suraj's aide had earlier filed a complaint on behalf of the MLC against a JD-S worker apparently to protect him.
The first case of sodomy was registered against Suraj on Saturday night.
The next day, he was arrested and remanded to 14 days' judicial custody. On Monday, the court remanded him to eight days' police custody.
"The process of registering the second FIR is on against Suraj Revanna," a senior police officer of Hassan said.
A medical doctor, Suraj is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD-S patriarch HD Deve Gowda and son of Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna.
The MLC is the elder brother of former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is also in the police custody for allegedly sexually assaulting several women in Hassan and filming them. -- PTI
A view of the hoarding collapse in Mumbai/ANI Photo
20:54 IPS officer Khalid suspended for allowing hoarding sans DGP office nod
Maharashtra government on Tuesday suspended IPS officer Quaiser Khalid for allowing a giant hoarding -- whose collapse last month claimed 17 lives -- without the approval of the DGP office.
The 140120 ft hoarding in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area collapsed on May 13 during gusty winds and unseasonal rains.
A notification issued by the state home department on Friday said the IPS officer, as the then Government Railway Police commissioner, permitted the erection of the hoarding without taking mandatory permission from the office of Maharashtra director general of police.
Khalid committed administrative lapses and irregularities in sanctioning the hoarding on his own, the notification said.
The hoarding size also deviated from the approved norms, it added.
The suspension comes amid reports of Mumbai police probing a series of money transactions allegedly linking the company that owned the hoarding, and a business associate of the wife of the IPS officer.
"A preliminary inquiry has been conducted regarding the collapse of the hoarding, erected on Railway Police land," the notification said.
A report was submitted by the DGP, Maharashtra state has clearly mentioned the gross irregularities and administrative lapses in sanctioning the hoarding that collapsed on May 13, it said. -- PTI
20:38 Porsche teen released from observation home
Just In: Teenager involved in Pune Porsche crash that killed two people has been released from the observation home following the Bombay high court order.
More details soon. -- PTI
A view of the TN assembly/File image
20:31 Hooch tragedy: AIADMK MLAs suspended from TN assembly for a day after 'ruckus'
Members of the Opposition AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu assembly were suspended for a day on Tuesday for allegedly creating a ruckus after they tried to raise the issue of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy during Question Hour.
Chief Minister MK Stalin recalled that the house had already debated the issue in detail, and he had outlined the steps taken by the government following the tragedy.
As many as 58 persons have died so far after consuming illicit arrack on June 19 in Kallakurichi, and several dozens of people are still under treatment in various hospitals.
Stalin alleged the main opposition party was indulging in "planned activities" in the house, unable to stomach his party DMK-led alliance winning "40/40", netting all the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry segment in the just-concluded elections.
With the AIADMK trying to raise the issue once again during Question Hour at the start of the house proceedings and remaining steadfast over the demand, Speaker M Appavu ordered their eviction.
Later, municipal administration minister KN Nehru moved a resolution seeking the suspension of those opposition members who indulged in the "ruckus", for the rest of the session, but this was altered to suspension for a day following Stalin's intervention. -- PTI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar/ANI Photo
19:57 Chinese envoy calls on EAM Jaishankar; focus on bilateral ties
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong on Tuesday with a focus on bilateral relationship and the "common interest" in its "stabilisation and progress", amid continuing strain in India-China ties over the lingering border row in eastern Ladakh.
Jaishankar also separately met envoys of New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
"Received Ambassador of China Xu Feihong this evening. Discussed our bilateral relationship and our common interest in its stabilization and progress. Wished him a successful tenure," the external affairs minister said on 'X'.
Xu arrived in Delhi on May 10 after the position of Chinese ambassador remained vacant for nearly 18 months, the longest such gap in over four decades.
The envoy presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu on May 31 along with a number of newly appointed foreign envoys.
Following his meeting with Jaishankar, the Chinese ambassador said he was looking forward to working with the Indian side to push forward the development of China-India relations towards the "right direction".
"Honored to call on External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today. We exchanged views on China-India relations and other issues of common interest," the envoy said on 'X'. -- PTI
Author Anita Desai/File image
19:48 'Rosarita': Novelist Anita Desai returns with new book after over a decade
Exploring themes of memory, grief and isolation, the three-time Booker-shortlisted author Anita Desai is set to return with new novella, "Rosarita", her first in over a decade.
Published by Pan Macmillan India, the book is scheduled to hit the stands on July 7.
It delves into the essence of human connections and the shadows cast by history and personal pasts.
"The fullness, detail, profundity and pertinence of this 96-page novella leaves no doubt that it is the creation of a virtuoso. Rich and consummate, like a great work of art Rosarita too offers a little more of itself every time we interact with its pages afresh. Anita Desai has once again given us a book for the ages," Teesta Guha Sarkar, editorial director at Pan Macmillan India, said.
The story revolves around Bonita, a young student from India, in San Miguel, Mexico -- where she has arrived to learn Spanish.
She is approached by a woman, claiming to recognise Bonita, because she is the spitting image of her mother, who supposedly made the same journey from India to Mexico as a young artist.
Bonita denies that her mother did not paint and never travelled to Mexico.
But the strange woman insists, and so Bonita follows her. -- PTI
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi takes oath as a Member of the 18th Lok Sabha/ANI Photo
19:12 At LS oath-taking Owaisi says 'Jai ....!', expunged
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi Tuesday hailed a conflict-hit West Asian region after taking oath as Lok Sabha member, triggering an uproar from the treasury benches that led to the Chair striking it off record.
Owaisi, who has been elected from the Hyderabad seat for his fifth term, took oath in Urdu.
He also recited a prayer before taking oath.
After his oath, he hailed his state Telangana, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, apart from raising the AIMIM's slogan for Muslim.
Owaisi also hailed a west Asian region that is presently facing conflict and has been in focus.
This was objected to by some members of the treasury benches, leading to an uproar after he finished his oath.
Radha Mohan Singh, who was in the Chair at the time, assured the members that anything apart from the oath will not go on record.
The disturbance continued for few minutes, after which the oath-taking resumed.
Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab returned to the Chair soon, and said that only oath or affirmation is being recorded.
"I have said earlier please avoid invoking anything other than oath or affirmation. That is only to be recorded... That should be adhered to," Mahtab said. -- PTI
Ccourtesy Kangana Ranaut/Instagram
18:44 Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' to release in September
Emergency, starring actor-MP Kangana Ranaut, will now hit the screens on September 6, the makers announced on Tuesday.
The announcement comes a day after Ranaut took oath as the BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, on the first day of the 18th Lok Sabha's first session.
The release of the period political drama has been delayed multiple times; it was previously scheduled to be released on November 24, 2023.
Ranaut, the lead actor, writer, director, and producer of Emergency, said she drew inspiration from William Shakespeare's play The Tragedie of Macbeth to make her upcoming film.
"I am deeply inspired by William Shakespeare's Macbeth, essence of Emergency is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints, it is undoubtedly the most sensational chapter of Indian democracy and I am eagerly awaiting its worldwide release on 6th September 2024," the actor, who plays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film, said in a statement.
In an X post, Ranaut said she was announcing the release of her movie Emergency to mark the "beginning of the 50th year of independent India's darkest chapter".
"The Explosive Saga of The Most Controversial Episode of The History of Indian Democracy," she added. -- PTI
Congress chief whip K Suresh/ANI Photo
18:33 Cong issues whip, asks MPs to be present in LS during Speaker's election
The Congress on Tuesday issued a three-line whip to its MPs asking them to be present in Lok Sabha at 11 am on Wednesday during the election for the Speaker's post.
"Very important issue will be taken up in the Lok Sabha tomorrow i.e. Wednesday, June 26, 2024. All members of Congress party in the Lok Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11:00 am onwards till the adjournment of the House on June 26, 2024 without fail and support the party stand," the whip issued by Congress chief whip K Suresh said.
Suresh is also the joint candidate of the opposition INDIA bloc for Speaker's post.
He takes on NDA's Om Birla. -- PTI
18:12 Former J-K Bar Association president arrested in advocate murder case
The Jammu and Kashmir police arrested former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association president Mian Qayoom on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the murder conspiracy of fellow advocate Babar Qadri in 2020, officials in Srinagar said.
Qayoom, known for his close association with pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was taken into custody after the State Investigation Agency collected substantial evidence against him, the officials said.
Qadri, a human rights expert who frequently appeared on television debates, was fatally shot at his residence in the Hawal area of downtown in September 2020.
He had narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2018.
The officials said that during the investigation, Qayoom emerged as the primary suspect behind the murder conspiracy. Qayoom is the father-in-law of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh high court judge Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.
Following the high-profile killing, a Special Investigation Team was formed by the police to probe into Qadri's murder.
Subsequently, the case was transferred to the SIA for further examination.
In a related development, in August 2022, the police conducted searches at Qayoom's residences and those of two other lawyers in Srinagar, seizing various digital devices, bank statements and documents, as part of the ongoing probe. -- PTI
Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa (middle) in police custody/ANI Photo
17:59 Murdered Renukaswamy's parents meet CM Siddaramaiah, seek govt job
The parents of Renukaswamy, in whose murder case Kannada actor is an accused, on Tuesday met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and expressed satisfaction about the ongoing police probe into the death of their son.
They also sought a government job for Renukaswamy's wife, who is pregnant.
A total of 17 people including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are accused in the murder case.
According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.
His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli in Bengaluru on June 9.
The chief minister has responded positively to the request made by Renukaswamy's parents regarding a government job for their daughter in-law, his office said in a statement.
Darshan and other accused are currently in judicial custody. -- PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee/File image
17:42 Will Mamata back Om Birla for LS speaker's post?
The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday said the party was not consulted on the Opposition's decision to field Congress MP K Suresh as the INDIA bloc's joint nominee for the post of Lok Sabha Speaker.
As Suresh filed his nomination for the election of Speaker on Tuesday morning, the Trinamool Congress was not among the INDIA bloc parties that signed his paper.
When TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee was asked about his party's stand on the issue, he said they have not been contacted over it yet.
"No one contacted us, there have been no talks, unfortunately this has been a unilateral decision," he said.
"Our party leadership, Mamata ji will decide," he said.
Later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee were seen chatting inside Lok Sabha.
When Rahul Gandhi came out of the House after his affirmation, he was asked by the media if he could reach an agreement with Banerjee over the Speaker issue.
In a brief reply, the Congress leader said, "Jai Samvidhan (hail Constitution)". -- PTI
17:18 The women MPs who fought and won
Trinamool Congress MPs June Malia, Saayoni Ghosh, Mitali Bag, Rachana Banerjee and others at the Parliament House during the First Session of the 18th Lok Sabha, in New Delhi on Monday.
17:11 Will Sharad Pawar take back nephew? He says...
Amid the speculations that some of the MLAs of the Ajit Pawar camp are willing to return to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-SP, NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday clarified that those who wanted to "weaken" the party would not be taken in.
However, the veteran NCP leader added that those MLAs who would not "hurt" the image of the party would be taken back, but after having a word with the party leaders and workers.
Addressing the media in Maharashtra's Mumbai, Sharad Pawar said, "Those who wanted to weaken the party would not be taken in. But those leaders who would help strengthen the organisation and not hurt the image of the party would be taken in."
"However, that too will happen after having a word with the party (NCP-SP) leaders and workers", he added.
Following the Ajit Pawar camp's poor showing in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls, there is growing speculation that some of the MLAs of the camp are willing to return to the NCP-SP ahead of the state assembly polls.
The NCP bagged only one of the four seats it contested, whereas the NCP-SP won eight of the ten seats it contested.
The Mahayuti alliance -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the NCP -- collectively bagged 17 seats in Maharashtra with BJP securing nine seats and the Shiv Sena seven. -- ANI
16:48 Rahul, Akhilesh hold up Constitution, take oath
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi takes oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha holding up a copy of the Constitution of India. Samajwadi Party Chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav also took oath holding up the Constitution. In Parliament, Rahul and Akhilesh are sharing the same bench.
16:22 Sensex crosses 78K mark, Nifty breaks milestone
The stock indices closed in green after the day's trade on Tuesday, June 25. At the end of the trading day the Sensex closed at 78,053.52, up 712.44 or 0.92 per cent and Nifty closed at 23,721.30 up 183.45 or 0.78 per cent touching a new lifetime highs in trade.
During the trade, Sensex surged over 600 points to cross 78,164.71 level for the first time and Nifty crossed 23,700. The Bank Nifty surpassed the 52,500 mark for the first time, highlighting strong momentum in the banking sector.
"Private banks led the Sensex and Nifty up with the real estate stocks seeing correction," said Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert. Among the sectoral indices Banking, Financial services, IT, PSU banks, and Private Banks surged while the sectoral stocks of FMCG, Auto, Media, Metal, Pharma, Reality, Healthcare, Consumer Durables, and Oil and gas closed in red at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Banking stocks at BSE also shone as stocks of Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank saw a surge during the trading hours.
15:53 AAP to move SC on stay on Kejriwal's bail
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said it disagrees with the Delhi High Court order staying the bail granted to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the trial court and will challenge it in the Supreme Court.
The Delhi High Court earlier in the day stayed the trial court order granting bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam in Delhi.
A vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said the trial court failed to appreciate the material placed before it by the Enforcement Directorate and did not apply its mind while deciding the AAP leader's bail plea.
The judge also said the trial court ought to have given adequate opportunity to the agency to argue its case. Reacting to the development, the AAP said they will approach the apex court. "We disagree with the Delhi High Court order. We will challenge it in the Supreme Court," the party said. The trial court had granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 and ordered his release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The ED moved the high court the next day and contended that the trial court's order was "perverse", "one-sided" and "wrong-sided" and that the findings were based on irrelevant facts.
The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders. PTI
15:51 Porsche crash: Bombay HC orders release of juvenile accused
Update: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered that a 17-year-old boy allegedly involved in the Porsche car accident in Pune last month be released immediately from an observation home.
The teen, who the police claim was drunk and driving the luxury car when it hit a two-wheeler in the early hours of May 19 killing two techies, was lodged at an observation home in Maharashtra's Pune city.
A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande quashed the orders issued by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) remanding the minor to the observation home.
"We allow the petition and order his release. The CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) shall be in the care and custody of the petitioner (paternal aunt)," the court said. The bench noted the JJB's remand orders were illegal and passed without jurisdiction. The court said amid the "immediate reaction to the accident, the kneejerk reaction and the public outcry, the CCL's age was not considered."
"The CCL is under 18 years old. His age needs to be considered," the bench said. It said the court was bound by law, the aims and objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act and must treat him as any child in conflict with law separately from adult, despite the seriousness of the crime. "CCLs are to be considered differently," the HC said.
15:07 Porsche teen to be released from remand home
Pune Porsche car crash: Bombay HC orders juvenile accused to be released from observation home. Details awaited.
15:06 NO bail Kejriwal, trial court didn't apply mind: HC
Update: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed the trial court order granting bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam.
A vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said the trial court failed to appreciate the material placed before it by the Enforcement Directorate and did not apply its mind while deciding the AAP leader's bail plea.
The judge also said the trial court ought to have given adequate opportunity to the agency to argue its case.
"The operation of the impugned order is stayed," the bench said.
The trial court had granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 and ordered his release on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. ED moved the high court the next day and contended that the trial court's order was "perverse", "one-sided" and "wrong-sided" and that the findings were based on irrelevant facts.
The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to the licence holders. PTI
14:54 NO bail for Arvind Kejriwal, says HC
Delhi HC allows Enforcement Directorate's plea to stay the trial court's bail order for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged money laundering excise scam.
The bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain stays the Arvind Kejriwal bail order granted by the trial court on June 20. The bench had reserved the order on June 21 after the agency challenged the trial court's decision, which has been put on hold until the ruling.
Meanwhile, the court has already fixed the main matter for July, where ED challenged the trial court order granting Arvind Kejriwal regular bail in the case.
Julian Assange inside the plane at a layover in Bangkok. @WikiLeaks
14:50 First look: Julian Assange inside plane to freedom
Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange, who has been fighting against his extradition to the US on espionage charges for over a decade, has been freed from prison and flown out of the UK under a plea deal with the American authorities.
The 52-year-old Australian national was lodged at Belmarsh high-security prison in London since 2019 when he was taken into custody from the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he had sought asylum. It was revealed overnight on Monday that he has been freed. Assange will return to Australia, UK media reports said, citing a letter from the US Justice Department.
He was charged with conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information. In return for pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information, the activist will be sentenced to time served, 62 months time already spent in a British prison, according to court documents.
After a judge formally accepts this plea, Assange will be free to return to Australia, where his wife and children have already flown to.
In a post on X, WikiLeaks said Assange left Belmarsh after being granted bail by the High Court and was soon at Stansted Airport, where he boarded a plane and left the UK.
"After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife, Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars," the organisation said.
His wife, Stella Assange, also took to social media, sharing a video montage of her husband in a car and then boarding a plane. "Julian is free!!!! Words cannot express our immense gratitude to YOU - yes YOU, who have all mobilised for years and years to make this come true. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU," she said.
She also shared an image on X of her husband video-calling her from Stansted airport on Monday. Assange's plea and sentencing are scheduled for Tuesday evening UK time in Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The hearing is taking place in the US Commonwealth territory because of Assange's opposition to travelling to one of the 50 US states and the court's proximity to Australia.
14:22 MPs share pics after swearing in
Pradyut Bordoloi, Congress MP from Assam shares this picture writing: "With my family, my strongest support system, after taking the oath outside the New Parliament building yesterday."
BJP MP Om Birla takes oath as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha
14:01 Floor leaders of India bloc to meet Kharge tonight
Floor leaders of INDIA bloc parties to meet at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence tonight at 8 pm.
Congress MP KC Venugopal says, "We are still waiting, if they are ready to give the Deputy Speaker post, we are ready to elect the NDA's candidate unanimously.
"Yesterday PM Modi told about consensus for the smooth functioning of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. We are ready to support the Speaker suggested by the Govt's side provided they should also honour the Opposition.
"We have witnessed for the last few years that the Speakers will be from the Govt's side and the Deputy Speaker from the Opposition.
"When UPA was in power, we gave the Deputy Speaker to the NDA for 10 years. The convention is so in the Lok Sabha that the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is given to the Opposition.
Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday. Mallikarjun Kharge said we are happy to support your candidate but we want the post of Deputy Speaker to which Rajnath Singh told him that we will consult PM Modi and revert."
13:34 Sensex, Nifty hit new all-time high levels
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty hit their new all-time high levels on Tuesday tracking firm trends in Asian markets and buying in blue-chip bank stocks.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 541.25 points to hit a fresh lifetime peak of 77,882.33 during the afternoon trade. The Nifty went up by 130.8 points to hit a new record high of 23,668.65. Among the 30 Sensex companies, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, UltraTech Cement, State Bank of India and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the biggest gainers. Adani Ports, Power Grid, Tata Steel and Asian Paints were among the laggards. In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong were trading higher while Shanghai quoted lower.
US markets ended on a mixed note on Monday. India recorded a current account surplus of USD 5.7 billion or 0.6 per cent of GDP in the March quarter, the Reserve Bank of India said on Monday. This is the first time in ten quarters that the crucial metric of the country's external strength has turned into surplus mode.
12:40 Kharge was too busy to speak to Rajnath: BJP
NDA leaders signed a motion paper in favour of Om Birla for the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
On INDIA bloc fielding K Suresh for Lok Sabha post, Union Minister and BJP MP Piyush Goyal says, "In the morning, Rajnath Singh ji wanted to discuss with Mallikarjun Kharge ji but he was busy so he said that Venugopal ji would talk to you. But after speaking with TR Baalu and KC Venugopal ji, the old mentality that we will dictate the terms was shown again that the condition is that first decide who will be the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha and then support will be given for the Speaker, we condemn this type of politics."
"They said first decide the name for Deputy Speaker then we will support the Speaker candidate. We condemn such politics. A good tradition would have been to choose the Speaker unanimously.
"The Speaker does not belong to any party or opposition; he belongs to the entire House. Similarly, the Deputy Speaker also does not belong to any party or group; he belongs to the entire House and hence there should be consent of the House. Such conditions that only a particular person or from a particular party should be the Deputy Speaker, do not fit into any tradition of the Lok Sabha."
12:27 K Suresh files his nomination papers for LS Speaker
Congress MP K Suresh filed his nomination for the post of Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. NDA has fielded BJP MP Om Birla for the post of Speaker.
The oath-taking ceremony of new MPs was held yesterday
12:02 Speaker war: Om Birla vs Cong's K Suresh
No consensus on Speaker's post.
BJP MP Om Birla files his nomination for the post of Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha as the NDA candidate.
INDIA bloc has fielded Congress MP K Suresh for the post of Speaker.
11:48 Rahul: Will support NDA Speaker choice only if...
Update: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the opposition will support the government on the Lok Sabha Speaker's choice if they give the deputy speaker's post to the opposition bloc.
He also said that Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh was yet to get back to them on the opposition's demand for the deputy speaker's post. Separately, Kota MP Om Birla met Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid indications that he could be fielded for the post of Lok Sabha speaker, a position he held in the previous House. PTI
11:31 Rahul: Will support NDA Speaker candidature if...
The Speaker conundrum: "Today it is written in a newspaper that PM Modi has said that the Opposition should cooperate with the Govt constructively. Rajnath Singh called Mallikarjun Kharge and he asked him to extend support to the Speaker. The entire Opposition said that we would support the Speaker but the convention is that the Deputy Speaker post should be given to the opposition. Rajnath Singh said that he would call back Mallikarjun Kharge but he has not done that yet... PM Modi is asking for cooperation from Opposition but our leader is getting insulted..."
11:22 Om Birla likely to be NDA candidate for Speaker
BJP MP Om Birla is likely to be the NDA candidate for the post of Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. He will file his nomination at 11.30 am today.
11:19 5G spectrum auction begins in New Delhi today
The government is all set to hold the 5G spectrum auction on June 25, 2024, the Ministry of Communication said in an official statement. It said the government is aiming at providing affordable and high-quality telecom services to the people in India.
The invitation for the spectrum auction was initiated on March 8 this year, but the date of the auction was postponed twice. Initially, May 20 was set as the auction date.
The Department of Telecommunications has named three prominent players Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Reliance Jio Infocomm as the final bidders in the spectrum auction of 10,523.15 MHz of 5G airwaves worth Rs 96,317.65 crore in eight key bands.
11:02 India water shortage may spark unrest: Moody's
Moody's Ratings on Tuesday said India's growing water shortage can disrupt farm and industry sectors and is detrimental to the credit health of the sovereign as rising food inflation and decline in income may spark social unrest.
It said decreases in water supply can disrupt agricultural production and industrial operations, resulting in inflation in food prices and hence can be detrimental to credit health of sectors that heavily consume water, such as coal power generators and steel-makers. India's fast economic growth, accompanied by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, will reduce water availability in the world's most populous country, it said.
Also, the water stress is worsening because of an acceleration of climate change, which is causing increasingly intense and frequent extreme climate events such as droughts, heat waves and floods.
India is facing a growing water shortage as water consumption increases amid rapid economic growth and increasingly frequent natural disasters due to climate change, Moody's said in a report on environmental risk facing India.
"This is detrimental to the credit health of the sovereign, as well as sectors that heavily consume water, such as coal power generators and steel-makers. In the long term, investment in water management can mitigate risks from potential water shortages," Moody's Ratings said in the report.
The report comes amid a growing water crisis faced by residents in some parts of the national capital, which has led to protests and political conflict. Delhi Water Minister Atishi, who began her hunger strike on June 21 over the issue, was hospitalised on Tuesday morning after her health deteriorated.
"Decreases in water supply can disrupt agricultural production and industrial operations, resulting in inflation in food prices and declines in income for affected businesses and communities, while sparking social unrest. This in turn can exacerbate volatility in India's growth and undermine the economy's ability to withstand shocks," Moody's said.
Quoting Ministry of Water Resources data, Moody's said India's average annual water availability per capita is likely to drop to 1,367 cubic meters by 2031 from an already-low 1,486 cubic meters in 2021 A level below 1,700 cubic meters indicates water stress, with 1,000 cubic meters being the threshold for water scarcity, according to the ministry.
Moody's said a heat wave in June 2024, with temperatures hitting 50 degrees Celsius in Dehli and the northern Indian States, strained water supply. Floods, one of the most common types of natural disasters in India, disrupt water infrastructure, which is insufficient to retain water from sudden large downpours. -- PTI
INDIA Bloc leaders protest at the Parliament yesterday
10:30 Those who imposed Emergency...: Modi slams Cong
On the 49th anniversary of Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that its dark days are a reminder of how the Congress subverted basic freedoms and trampled over the Constitution which every Indian respects greatly.
Hitting out at the main opposition party, he said in posts on X that those who imposed the Emergency have no right to profess their love for our Constitution.
Modi said, "These are the same people who have imposed Article 356 on innumerable occasions, got a Bill to destroy press freedom, destroyed federalism and violated every aspect of the Constitution."
"The mindset which led to the imposition of the Emergency is very much alive among the same Party which imposed it. They hide their disdain for the Constitution through their tokenism but the people of India have seen through their antics and that is why they have rejected them time and again," he said.
Just to cling on to power, the then Congress Government disregarded every democratic principle and turned the nation into a jail, Modi said, adding that any person who disagreed with the party was tortured and harassed.
"Socially regressive policies were unleashed to target the weakest sections," he said.
On June 25, 1975, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, a Congress stalwart, imposed Emergency in the country, suspending civil liberties, jailing opposition leaders and dissidents and effecting press censorship. The prime minister said the anniversary on Tuesday is a day to pay homage to all those great men and women who resisted the Emergency.
10:14 What did Akhilesh tell Sonia on Parliament steps?
Amid the row over the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker, INDIA bloc leaders on Monday carried out a protest holding copies of the Constitution inside the Parliament premises in the national capital.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge took part in the protest.
While leaving Parliament yesterday, on the first day of the session, Sonia Gandhi who was walking down the steps immediately after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, stopped to chat with Samajwadi Party MPs standing alongside. The SP is part of the INDIA bloc and fought UP together with the Congress.
Akhilesh Yadav who was carrying a copy of the Constitution of India told her, "We are carrying a large copy." Sonia Gandhi smiled and said, "But your number of MPs are also larger this time."
This is the kind of repartee that makes Indian democracy such a wonderful thing to watch.
Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, and all other MPs of Samajwadi Party arrived at the Parliament yesterday carrying a copy of the Constitution of India. Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Kalyan Banerjee, and Sougata Roy stated that the Modi government has violated the Constitution.
09:50 2-yr-old girl mauled to death by stray dogs in MP's Khargone
A two-year-old girl was mauled to death by stray dogs while she was playing at a construction site in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Monday night on Mangrul Road, Kotwali police station in-charge BL Mandloi said.
The girl's father, Sanjay, a resident of Updi village in the district, worked as a watchman at the construction site and was staying there with his family, he said. The man was cooking food and his wife was taking a bath when their daughter ventured on the road while playing.
Some stray dogs attacked the girl and dragged her for 100-150 metres, injuring her severely, the official said. Later, the couple took the child to the district hospital where doctors declared her dead, he said.
District Hospital's civil surgeon Amar Sigh Chouhan said there were serious injuries on the girl's chest and waist due to dog bite, which resulted in her death. The post-mortem will be conducted on Tuesday, he said. PTI
09:47 Arrest made in murder of Indian man in US: Police
Police in the US state of Texas have arrested a man in connection with the killing of a 32-year-old Indian national during a robbery at a convenience store in Dallas.
Dasari Gopikrishna, who came to the US only eight months ago, was fatally shot at the convenience store in Pleasant Grove, Dallas, on June 21. He hailed from the Yajali village of the Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh. Police have arrested 21-year-old Davonta Mathis for murdering Gopikrishna. He faces capital murder charges for fatally shooting Gopikrisna multiple times, including in the head. During the robbery, Mathis walked into the store, approached the counter and shot Gopikrishna. He stole items before running away, police said.
Gopikrishna was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died. Mathis was originally arrested and charged with robbery, but the charge was upgraded to capital murder because of Gopikrishna's death.
His bond is set at USD 7.5 million. Sgt. Curtis Phillip of the Mesquite Police described Mathis' behaviour as "very bizarre," noting the significant impact of his decisions at such a young age.
Mathis is also charged in a separate fatal shooting in Waco city on June 20. He shot Muhammad Hussain, 60, multiple times, who died from injuries at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Indian consulate here is finalising arrangements with Gopikrishna's family to repatriate his body, officials said. Representatives from the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and family friends are collaborating with the consulate to facilitate the transportation of Gopikrishna's body to his hometown in India.
The consulate has confirmed that all police autopsies and necessary formalities have been completed, and they are prioritising the shipment of the body by Tuesday.
Gopikrishna's murder is the second in as many days of a convenience store clerk working the night shift. The incident has deeply affected the Indian community in Dallas and surrounding areas. Gopikrishna is survived by his wife and son. PTI
09:38 Family time after oath
Chandigarh's Congress MP Manish Tewari shared this picture shortly after taking oath, with his wife and daughter. "With Naaznin & Ineka after taking oath," he wrote.
09:35 LS Speaker: NDA candidate to file nomination today
With the deadline to file the nomination for the post of Lok Sabha speaker being 12 pm Tuesday, the battle between the NDA and the opposition has drawn out.
If the INDIA bloc announces its candidate for the post, it will be the first time that elections will be held for the Speaker of the lower house.
Since independence, the Lok Sabha speaker and deputy speaker have been elected by consensus between the ruling party and the opposition.
Although the BJP leaders remained tight-lipped about their nominee for the post, there are speculations that Om Birla, the speaker in the 17th Lok Sabha, could also be in the race again.
However, Bhartruhari Mahtab, the current pro-term speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, is also being seen as a contender for the post. The nomination process is likely to be held today and the elections will be held on Wednesday, i.e., on June 26. Amid the row over the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker, INDIA bloc leaders on Monday carried out a protest holding copies of the Constitution inside the Parliament premises in the national capital.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge took part in the protest.
The position of Deputy Speaker that remained vacant in the last term is traditionally given to the Opposition. The BJP offered the post to its ally, AIADMK's Thambi Dhurai, in 2014.
Image only for representation
09:20 Dumka: Woman PDS dealer paraded with garland of slippers
A woman PDS dealer was paraded in a village with a garland of slippers around her neck by a mob in Jharkhand's Dumka district, police said.
The beneficiaries of subsidised ration alleged that she did not distribute PDS items for the past four months. The incident occurred on Monday in Madhuban village under the Gopokandar Police Station limits.
Gopokandar Police Station in-charge Ranjit Mandal said villagers also blocked the Govindpur-Sahebganj state highway for over half an hour as part of their protest.
"The beneficiaries were pacified and the road blockade was lifted by assuring them of distributing ration on Tuesday," he said.
Local Block Development Officer Gautam Modi said a preliminary investigation revealed that the dealer had distributed only 60 per cent of the foodgrains in May and 7 per cent in June.
District Supply Officer Vishal Kumar said that he directed the BDO to ensure ration distribution on June 25. -- PTI
08:48 Julian Assange leaves UK after plea deal with US
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has agreed to enter a plea deal with the Joe Biden administration that could pave the way for him to avoid imprisonment in the United States, according to recently filed federal court documents, CNN reported.
The WikiLeaks founder has reportedly consented to plead guilty to a felony charge connected to his alleged involvement in one of the largest breaches of classified US government material.
This agreement, if approved by a federal judge, would see Assange receiving a 62-month sentence, which matches the duration he has already served in London's high-security Belmarsh prison while contesting extradition to the US.
The plea deal includes crediting his time served, potentially allowing Assange to immediately return to his native Australia.
Assange's release from Belmarsh was confirmed by WikiLeaks, who announced on Tuesday that he had been granted bail by the high court in London and subsequently departed from Stansted airport.
A video posted by the organisation showed Assange boarding a plane after leaving the UK, as reported by CNN.
According to the US District Court in the Northern Mariana Islands, a plea hearing and sentencing have been scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Prosecutors explained to the court that Assange preferred not to set foot in the continental US for his guilty plea, hence the choice of venue near Australia, where he intends to return following the court proceedings.
The Justice Department prosecutors anticipate Assange will plead guilty to the charge and be sentenced accordingly.
Assange had been sought by US authorities for publishing confidential military records leaked by Chelsea Manning between 2010 and 2011. He faced 18 counts from a 2019 indictment related to the breach, which carried a potential maximum sentence of up to 175 years in prison, although it was unlikely he would receive the full term.
US officials alleged Assange had actively encouraged Manning to obtain extensive amounts of unfiltered US diplomatic cables, potentially endangering confidential sources, as well as significant Iraq war-related reports and Guantanamo Bay detainee information, according to CNN.
President Joe Biden had hinted at a potential deal, supported by Australian government officials, to facilitate Assange's return to Australia.
However, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department officials insisted that any agreement include a felony guilty plea by Assange, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by CNN. -- ANI
01:01 3 men open fire outside car dealership in Haryana, ask owner to pay Rs 5 cr
Three unidentified men opened fire outside a car dealership in Haryana's Hisar and demanded Rs 5 crore from its owner, the police said on Monday.
A video of the incident that took place in the afternoon has surfaced on social media in which the trio, two of them with their faces covered, are seen leaving the showroom.
According to police, the miscreants arrived on a motorcycle and barged into the dealership in Hisar city.
They left a note demanding Rs 5 crore from the owner and fired shots in the air outside the showroom before leaving, police said.
Inspector Risal Singh of Hisar police told PTI over the phone that the unidentified men were suspected to be part of a criminal gang.
He said the accused also told the staff to ask the owner of the showroom to arrange the money.
"Investigations are being conducted in the matter," he said.
In May 2023, police arrested three accused for allegedly demanding Rs 10 crore from a popular eatery owner in Hisar. -- PTI
A view of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya/File image
00:57 Ram temple construction may be complete by Dec: Committee chief
Chairman of Ram Temple Construction Committee Nripendra Mishra said on Monday that the first floor of the Ram temple at Ayodhya will be completed by July this year, and expressed the hope that the construction of the temple will be completed by December.
He said marble from Rajasthan will be used in making the 'Ram Darbar' and the seven temples. Four sculptors have been shortlisted for this work, he added.
Speaking to reporters in Ayodhya, Mishra said, "The first floor of the temple, which is under construction, will be completed by the end of July. After July, the construction of the second floor will only remain. So, we are hopeful that by December, the construction of the temple will be complete."
On the recent controversy in a section of the media about 'teeka' not being applied on the foreheads of the devotees visiting the Ram temple, Mishra said, it was not applied to the devotees who used to come earlier.
They used to have a 'darshan' of the Lord and then go out. -- PTI
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