LIVE! 62 Indians reach Pak to celebrate Mahashivratri

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Wed, 06 March 2024

62 Indians reach Pak to celebrate Mahashivratri

Timeline Refresh

23:40 HC quashes police custody of man arrested for 'posting' video with threats to Fadnavis

The Bombay high court on Wednesday set aside the police custody of a man arrested for allegedly sharing on social media a video containing threats to Maharashtra's deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Justice R N Laddha remanded Yogesh Sawant, a farmer and worker of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party faction, in judicial custody.

The lower court order remanding Sawant in police custody was not sustainable in law as he was not granted a hearing before he was transferred from judicial custody to police custody, the HC said.

As per the police, Sawant posted a video, where an unidentified person is seen threatening Fadnavis in an interview to a YouTube channel, on social media, and it went viral.

Sawant's petition claimed that he was arrested by Santacruz police here on February 29, and sent in judicial custody by a magistrate's court which posted his bail application for hearing on March 2.

Police then approached the sessions court, challenging the magistrate's order and seeking Sawant's custody.

The sessions court remanded Sawant in police custody till March 7.

He moved the high court against the 'hasty' order.

His advocate Prashant Aher argued that the sessions court did not grant an opportunity to Sawant to put forth his defence.

Public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar opposed the plea, saying that Sawant had not challenged his arrest.

The high court, however, held that 'this omission (not granting a hearing) goes against the fundamental principles of natural justice', and was 'sufficient to warrant interference in the impugned order'. -- PTI

Nafe Singh Rathee

23:18 CBI to probe INLD leader Rathee's killing: Anil Vij

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said the case of Indian National Lok Dal leader Nafe Singh Rathee's killing has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Inevstigation (CBI) by the state government.

"In the INLD leader's murder case, our police have been taking action and two accused were arrested," he said.

The Haryana home minister said that last month he had assured the state Assembly that the murder case would be handed over to the central probe agency.

"And we have transferred the case to the CBI," he said.

Rathee and INLD worker Jai Kishan were killed after multiple rounds were fired on their vehicle in Bahadurgarh in the state's Jhajjar district on February 25.

Two men were arrested from Goa in a joint operation by the Haryana Police's Special Task Force, the district police and the Delhi Police's Special Cell in connection with the killing.

According to the police, a handler based abroad was giving the duo directions.

Meanwhile, Vij, who is also the state's health minister, was also asked about five people recently falling sick after having a mouth freshener which allegedly had dry ice mixed in it, he said the officials concerned have been directed to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Samples have been collected and the case will be thoroughly investigated.

Action will be taken after the report is received, Vij added. -- PTI

Sixty-two Hindus arrived in Lahore from India via the Wagah border on Wednesday to participate in the Mahashivratri celebrations in Pakistan.

"A total of 62 Hindu pilgrims arrived in Lahore from India on Wednesday to take part in Mahashivratri festivities," Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI.

"The main function of Mahashivratri organised by the ETPB will be held on March 9 at the historic Katas Raj Temples in Chakwal, some 300 km from Lahore, in which various political, social and religious leaders will also participate," Hashmi said.

At Wagah, he said Additional Secretary, Shrines, Rana Shahid Saleem greeted the visiting Hindus led by Vishwanath Bajaj.

"After spending tonight at Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore the Hindu pilgrims will leave for Katas Raj Temples on Thursday to attend the main festival," he said and added the ETPB is providing security, accommodation and transportation for them.

The pilgrims will return to Lahore on March 10 and on March 11 they will visit the Krishna Temple, Lahore Fort and other historical places in Lahore.

They will return to their homeland on March 12.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this night. In celebration of their divine union, the day is celebrated as 'The Night of Lord Shiva'. -- PTI

A court in Mumbai on Wednesday allowed Mumbai police's plea seeking to withdraw the 'fake TRP' case where some TV channels were accused of inflating their viewership numbers by fraudulent means.

No 'victims' came forward to buttress the case and police felt it would not lead to convictions, the prosecution stated in its application before the Metropolitan Magistrate at Esplanade Court.

Journalist Arnab Goswami was among those named as accused in the case, registered by police after the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) lodged a complaint in October 2020.

The court on Wednesday allowed withdrawal of the case. The detailed order was not available yet.

Special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray argued that the investigators hoped that victims of the alleged rigging of Television Rating Points (TRP) would come forward (to record statements), but no one who felt cheated turned up.

Witnesses gave contradictory statements, he said.

"In view of which, we applied our mind and felt the case would not lead to conviction and would only waste the judiciary's time and government's effort," the prosecution argued.

BARC had filed a complaint in October 2020 through Hansa Research Group, alleging that certain television channels were rigging TRP numbers.

A supplementary charge sheet filed by police alleged that Arnab Goswami, in connivance with former CEO of BARC Partho Dasgupta, a co-accused, tampered with TRP.

It cited Goswami's alleged acceptance of WhatsApp chats with Dasgupta as crucial evidence.

But in November 2023, Mumbai police moved the court under section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which enables a public prosecutor to 'withdraw from the prosecution of any person'.

The crime branch of police had arrested more than 12 persons, including Republic TV's distribution head and owners of two other channels, in the case.

All of them later got bail. Based on the Mumbai police's FIR, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also filed a money laundering complaint. But in its charge sheet filed in September 2023, the central agency claimed that no evidence was found against Goswami's Republic TV.

The Mumbai police's probe was 'at variance' with the ED's probe, the central agency said in the charge sheet. -- PTI

21:54 Nitish skips Modi rally, goes on vacation

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday left for a nearly week-long vacation, during which he will spend a few days abroad, sources close to him, said.

The Janata Dal-United president, who excused himself from attending a rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in West Champaran district, boarded his Delhi flight in the evening.

Kumar, accompanied by former cabinet colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, is likely to leave for the United Kingdom on Thursday.

According to sources, the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, who is an engineer by training, had been planning to visit a science museum in the UK for quite some time.

He is likely to return only next week and speculation is rife that the JD-U supremo, whose recent return to the National Democratic Alliance took all by surprise, may also meet Bharatiya Janata Party top brass for discussion on seat-sharing, with Lok Sabha polls round the corner. -- PTI

The Manipur government on Wednesday introduced a 'no-work, no-pay' rule for its employees who have remained absent from office 'without valid and accepted reasons'.

An office memorandum by the department of personnel and administrative reforms said, 'Officials who are unable to attend office at their usual place of posting on account of the prevailing law and order situation in the state had been attached with Deputy Commissioners/line departments/field level offices to enable them to function therefrom, or for discharging such responsibilities as may be assigned to them, by the Deputy Commissioners concerned, or such authorities duly authorised in this regard.'

It further stated that there have been reports that 'many such officials so attached are not attending offices to which they have been attached or not reporting for duty'.

Deputy commissioners, heads of departments have been informed to maintain register to record attendances of the said 'attached officials', the circular stated, adding that the records along with 'reports of improper conduct, if any' shall be shared with those responsible for disbursing salary of those officials. -- PTI

21:19 Court allows Rhea Chakraborty to travel abroad

A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday allowed actor Rhea Chakraborty, an accused in the drugs case related to her boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput's death, to travel abroad with her family for a short holiday in Thailand.

The court also allowed her to visit Sri Lanka to attend a Holi celebration event.

Holi will be celebrated later this month. Special court judge K P Kshirsagar hearing cases pertaining to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act allowed her plea.

The court also allowed a similar application filed by her brother and co-accused in the case Showik Chakraborty.

Rhea was arrested in the case in September 2020, and was granted bail by the Bombay high court almost a month after her arrest.

Besides Rhea, her brother Showik and several others are accused in the case.

Most of them are currently out on bail.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14, 2020.

After a case of alleged abetment of suicide was registered against Rhea by Rajput's parents, a parallel probe into alleged drug procurement by her also began on the basis of her WhatsApp chats.

Rhea has denied the allegations on several occasions. -- PTI

A trainer aircraft crashed while landing at the Guna airstrip in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday evening, causing injuries to a woman pilot, police officials said.

The incident, caused by a technical snag, took place at around 5 pm, they said. Guna Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Sinha confirmed the incident and said the plane, flying during a routine training exercise, was going to Sagar from Neemuch.

The aircraft, which suffered a technical snag, skidded off the runway while making an emergency landing at the Guna airstrip, and veered into nearby bushes, Cantonment police station in-charge Chanchal Tiwari said.

A woman trainee pilot flying the aircraft suffered injuries in the crash, Tiwari said. -- PTI

20:44 Panauti jibe: EC asks Rahul to be more careful

The Election Commission has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to be more careful and cautious in his public utterances in the wake of his panuti (bad omen) and 'pickpocket' jibes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

Acting on a Delhi high court directive of December last year, the poll panel also asked Gandhi to follow its recent advisory for star campaigners and political leaders in the right earnest during election campaign.

In the advisory dated March 1, the Election Commission (EC) had warned that parties, candidates and star campaigners will face stern action, rather than just 'moral censure' for any violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

It also said that the star campaigners and candidates who have received notices in the past will face stern action for repeat violation of the model code.

The EC had issued a notice to Gandhi last year after the Congress leader used terms like 'panauti' and 'pickpocket' for the prime minister.

The commission was also asked on December 21 by the Delhi high court to decide on the notice it had issued to Gandhi for these comments, saying the statement made by the Congress leader during a speech delivered in November 2023 was 'not in good taste'.

Disposing off the court directive, the EC has asked Gandhi 'to be more careful and cautious in his public utterances in the future', sources said.

"After considering all facts in the matter related to remarks such as 'jebkatra' (pickpocket) and 'pannauti', including the court order and Gandhi's reply, the Election Commission has advised Gandhi to be more careful and cautious in future," a source said.

The commission has further directed Gandhi, as a star campaigner, to take into notice its March 1 advisory for all parties, star campaigners and candidates in right earnest while making public utterances.

The poll panel had issued a notice to Gandhi on November 23 seeking his stand about his speeches during his campaigns for the assembly elections in Rajasthan.

The former Congress president took the 'pickpocket' dig at Modi during his poll speech, alleging that the prime minister diverts people's attention while industrialist Gautam Adani picks their pockets.

This is how pickpockets operate, he had alleged.

The court order followed a petition that had also objected to certain other statements by Gandhi referring to the prime minister as 'panauti'.

A Hindi slang, panauti loosely refers to someone who brings bad luck. -- PTI

19:48 ED files fresh complaint against Kejriwal

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a fresh complaint before a Delhi court seeking prosecution of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for skipping its summonses in a money laundering investigation, official sources said on Wednesday.

The latest complaint pertains to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor not honouring the summons no 4 to 8, they said.

The court of ACMM Divya Malhotra has listed the master to be heard on Thursday.

The ED had earlier moved a local court seeking Kejriwal's prosecution for not attending the first three summonses issued to him in the money laundering investigation linked to the Delhi excise policy.

The court has listed this matter for hearing on March 16.

Kejriwal, 55, had called all these eight ED summonses as 'illegal' and informed the federal agency last time that he can be questioned via a video conferencing link after March 12.

The ED has filed the fresh complaint under section 174 Indian Penal Code (non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant) read with section 63(4) of the PMLA that speaks about 'a person who intentionally disobeys any direction' apart from some other sections of the law. -- PTI

19:03 CBI gets custody of Shahjahan Sheikh

Sandeshkhali accused Shahjahan Sheikh has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation team at Bhabani Bhaban Police Headquarters, Kolkata.

Earlier, a team of CBI officials reached Bhawani Bhawan before 4 pm. But till 5 pm, he was not handed over by the CID despite the Calcutta high court setting a deadline of 4.15 pm.

More details awaited. -- ANI/PTI

A team from the Jharkhand police is set to visit Delhi to question four news channel reporters in connection with a case registered by former chief minister Hemant Soren against Enforcement Directorate personnel at the SC/ST police station in Ranchi, officials said.

Initially summoned to appear for questioning in Ranchi, the reporters cited inability to comply.

Ranchi senior superintendent of police (SSP) Chandan Kumar Sinha said, "We had summoned them, but they did not appear, citing inability. So, we have decided to send a team to Delhi as part of our investigation. The team will go soon."

The investigation pertains to news coverage during the ED's search operation at the former CM's residence in Delhi.

Soren had filed an FIR against senior ED officials at the SC/ST police station in Ranchi regarding the searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence in January.

Sources within the police department said reporters from four channels had received summons last month.

Police are particularly interested in ascertaining the source of their initial reports, wherein they claimed that a BMW car and Rs 36 lakh cash were seized by the ED team from Soren's Delhi residence on January 29. -- PTI

A team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on Wednesday evening reached the Criminal Invesitgation Department (CID) headquarters to take custody of Sandeshkhali Enforcement Direcrotate officials attack case accused Shahjahan Sheikh, after a fresh directive by the Calcutta high court on Wednesday morning.

A team of CBI officials reached Bhawani Bhawan before 4 pm. But till 5 pm, he was not handed over by the CID despite the Calcutta high court setting a deadline of 4.15 pm.

This is really shameful. Despite the Calcutta high court setting a 4.15 deadline, Shahjahan Sheikh has not been handed over.

This only proves that the TMC government has the least regard for the judiciary, Bharatiya Janta Party MLA Shankar Ghosh said.

The CBI on Tuesday failed to get the custody of suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh from the West Bengal CID even after waiting for more than two hours.

The CID said the leader of Sandeshkhali was not handed over to the central agency as the state government has moved the Supreme Court against an order of the Calcutta high court.

In a fresh directive on Wednesday, the Calcutta high court ordered the West Bengal government to hand over the Sandeshkhali ED official attack case accused Shahjahan Sheikh to the CBI by 4.15 pm.

The high court directed the state government to 'immediately implement' its Tuesday's judgement to transfer a case on the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali to the CBI and hand over custody of the main accused Sheikh to the central agency. -- PTI

17:24 New airline FLY91 set to take wings soon

Goa-based regional airline FLY91 on Wednesday received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from aviation regulator DGCA. The carrier has now completed all the compliance requirements and will start commercial operations soon, it said in a release

. FLY91 received its first ATR 72-600, one of the two aircraft leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, last week.

The airline has already been allotted its first set of routes under the government's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN, the release said. Under UDAN, the airline will connect Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded in Maharashtra and Agatti in Lakshadweep. FLY91 (Just Udo Aviation Pvt Ltd) is headquartered in Goa. PTI

Nikki Haley will suspend her presidential campaign, leaving Donald Trump as last major Republican candidate, say reports.

President Joe Biden from the Democratic Party and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump have swept in their parties' presidential nomination primaries held in 15 states across the US, paving the way for a rematch between them in November and putting pressure on Indian-American candidate Nikki Haley to quit the race despite her surprise win in Vermont.

After Super Tuesday's election results, Trump, 77, has established a commanding lead in the delegate count over his only Republican opponent, Haley, 52.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador, was Trump's first significant rival when she jumped into the race in February 2023. She spent the final phase of her campaign aggressively warning the GOP against embracing Trump, whom she argued was too consumed by chaos and personal grievance to defeat President Joe Biden in the general election.

16:26 CBI team reaches CID HQ to pick up Shahjahan

A team of CBI officials on Wednesday evening reached the CID headquarters to take custody of Sandeshkhali ED official attack case accused Shahjahan Sheikh, after a fresh directive by the Calcutta High Court this morning.

A team of CBI officials reached Bhawani Bhawan before 4 PM. The CBI on Tuesday failed to get the custody of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh from the West Bengal CID even after waiting for more than two hours.

The CID said the leader of Sandeshkhali was not handed over to the central agency as the state government has moved the Supreme Court against an order of the Calcutta High Court. In a fresh directive on Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court ordered the West Bengal government to hand over the Sandeshkhali ED official attack case accused Shajahan Sheikh to the CBI by 4.15 pm.

The high court directed the state government to "immediately implement" its Tuesday's judgement to transfer a case on the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali to the CBI and hand over custody of the main accused Sheikh to the central agency. PTI

The man believed to be the cafe bomber

15:53 Rs 10L reward for info on B'luru cafe bomber: NIA

NIA announces a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about the bomber in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru. Informant's identity will be kept confidential, the NIA said.

Today, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the police are pursuing vital clues and getting close to cracking the March 1 Rameshwaram Cafe low-intensity blast incident.

The police got some vital clues in the past two days, which were promising, he told reporters in Bengaluru.

"Our officers are getting close (to crack the case). Some vital information was received yesterday and day-before-yesterday, which we have taken very seriously. If we proceed this way then we will complete the investigation," Parameshwara said.

Paramameshwara said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was supposed to take over the case on Tuesday but "they have not arrived yet". Ten people were injured in the blast at the popular eatery at Brookefield area near Whitefield.

PM in Kolkata today

15:41 TMC reminds BJP of women's safety after PM's speech

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of double standards, the TMC on Wednesday said he has no right to lecture on women's security as BJP leaders were charged with sexually harassing female wrestlers.

Senior TMC leader and party's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien also claimed that 51 cases of crimes are being registered against women in the country every hour and asked the PM what he has done to improve the situation.

While addressing a rally at Barasat on Wednesday, Modi on Wednesday said the storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal, asserting that 'Nari Shakti' (woman power) will play a pivotal role in decimating the ruling TMC in the state.

The riverine island of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district has been on the boil over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his cohorts.

"Today, PM Narendra Modi lectured on Nari Shakti. Three questions to you, Sir - Why are there 51 cases of crimes against women every hour? Why does BJP have 13 per cent women in Lok Sabha, why only 14 per cent women in 195 candidate list?" O'Brien said in a post on his X handle.

O'Brien's third question was: "Why no action against BJP MP charged with sexually harassing wrestlers?"

The question alluded to BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who is accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Singh, however, rejected the accusations.

"Wondering if Modi has the moral right to speak on the steps taken by his government against rapists," TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev said, BJP leaders and workers had felicitated rapists of Bilkis Bano.

The 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case of Gujarat were released following a Supreme Court order, and they were welcomed by BJP leaders with garlands following their release from jail in 2023.

The top court on January 8 this year, however, quashed the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to those convicts. Dev said, "You (Mdi) are talking about women's safety when female wrestlers of Haryana had been beaten black and blue by Delhi Police for protesting outside Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Where was your helpline for women then?"

Accusing Modi of double standards, she claimed, "Your rhetorical speeches are nothing but a joke. Your real face is anti-woman and whole India knows that."

News alert: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency. Rahul Gandhi to contest both from both Amethi and Wayanad.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had informed voters last month that she will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due to health and age issues.

Rahul Gandhi is the MP from Wayanad, while Smriti Irani is the MP from Amethi, formerly Rahul's constituency which he lost in the 2014 polls.

The Calcutta High Court once again directs the West Bengal govt to transfer the probe into the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials and hand over TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh to the CBI by 4.15 pm today.

The West Bengal government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court order directing a CBI probe in the Sandeshkhali matter pertaining to the attack on ED officials and called the decision by the High Court against the concept of federalism.

Challenging the validity of Calcutta HC's of March 5, division bench order, the West Bengal government also mentioned the way in which the Calcutta High Court passed the order, uploaded it by 3:30 pm and asked the West Bengal government to comply with the directions by 4.30 pm which make it remediless.

14:41 Close to cracking B'luru cafe blast: K'taka HM

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said the police are pursuing vital clues and getting close to cracking the March one Rameshwaram Caf low-intensity blast incident.

The police got some vital clues in the past two days, which were promising, he told reporters in Bengaluru. "Our officers are getting close (to crack the case). Some vital information was received yesterday and day-before-yesterday, which we have taken very seriously. If we proceed this way then we will complete the investigation," Parameshwara said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case. Based on suspicion, some people were summoned by police, who gathered "information" from them, the Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil multiple development projects and address a public meeting in Srinagar on Thursday during his first visit to Kashmir after his government abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official statement, Modi will attend the "Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir" programme at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium and inaugurate initiatives worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for boosting the agri-economy in the Union Territory.

With the Lok Sabha election around the corner and opposition parties seeking an announcement on Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister's scheduled visit has acquired a keen political dimension in terms of what he might have to say on the issue.

The BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The statement said Modi will launch nationwide projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under the "Swadesh Darshan" and "PRASHAD" (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes, including a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

He will launch the "Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice Tourist Destination Poll" and the "Chalo India Global Diaspora" campaign as well, besides announcing tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

Modi takes a ride in the underwater metro with school students

14:08 'Modi impact on WB already felt'

BJP's Swapan Dasgupta on the PM Modi's visit to Bengal and inaugural of the underwater metro. "The impact of @narendramodi 's inauguration of the Kolkata-Howrah Metro connection on the people of both cities is certain to be huge. Play it well and the electoral impact will be equally significant. The Modi impact on West Bengal polls is already being felt," Dasgupta posts on X.

13:55 Rajasthan CM tests positive for Covid

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. He said in a post on X that due to a health issue he got a health test done, which showed he was Covid positive.

"I am in self-isolation and am completely following the advice of doctors and will participate in all the upcoming programmes through the virtual medium," Sharma said. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal, asserting that 'Nari Shakti' (woman power) will play a pivotal role in decimating the ruling TMC in the state.

Modi, while addressing a rally in Barasat, said whatever happened with women in Sandeshkhali is a matter of shame. The riverine island of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district has been on the boil over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his cohorts.

TMC leaders are committing atrocities against sisters and daughters of poor, Dalit and tribal families at various places. The women of Bengal and the country are angry. This storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal, and decimate the TMC across the state, Modi said. PTI

Sandeshkhali strongman Shahjahan Sheikh

13:18 TMC will try to save Shahjahan at any cost: WB BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday slammed the West Bengal government after state police refused to hand over custody of Sheikh Shahjahan -- the former Trinamool strongman accused of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali -- to the CBI, saying that the ruling party will try to save Sheikh at any cost.

Ghosh, while coming down heavily on the ruling party further, said that the state government was 'compelled' to arrest Sheikh due to the pressure of media and protests.

"TMC tried two months to protect him but due to the pressure from media and protests, they had to arrest him... They (TMC) will try to protect him at any cost. His property worth crores is being seized but TMC is trying to save him from ED..." he said.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government on Wednesday sought an urgent hearing of its plea in the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order that directed a CBI probe into the Sandeshkhali matter pertaining to an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5 this year.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "Urgency is that they wanted overnight compliance in an interim order."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said their government contained the inflation below 5 per cent while it had reached double-digit growth during the Congress-led UPA regime. Before 2014, the Indian economy was fragile, inflation was high and fiscal deficit was beyond control, Shah said at the India Global Forum's annual investment summit NXT10 in Mumbai.

Today, India has emerged as a policy-driven state, he said. "We are approaching elections with our government's performance of last 10 years and roadmap of next 25 years," the Union minister said ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a visionary PM, Shah said that by 2047, when the country celebrates its centenary of independence, Bharat will be completely developed, atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and among the top three economies in the world.

"Bharat is a self-confident and self-reliant country, which has transformed itself from a dormant to a dynamic government, from regressive to progressive growth, and from a fragile economy to a top economy," Shah said. The progress made in the last 10 years should be compared with the previous UPA government's decade, he said.

A few buses in which women of Sandeshkhali were travelling to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in West Bengal's Barasat on Wednesday were allegedly stopped at multiple places by the police citing "security protocol".

PM Modi is scheduled to address the rally at Kachari Maidan in Barasat, the district headquarters town of North 24 Parganas where Sandeshkhali is located.

The state BJP made arrangements for buses to take the women of Sandeshkhali, who were allegedly tortured by suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides, to the rally venue, around 80 km away.

"The buses were first stopped at the Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town, and then again at Airport Gate 1 on the way to Barasat, citing security protocol. The police are trying to stop us from going to the PM's rally," a BJP leader on one of the buses alleged. Police, however, said that traffic movement on the stretch was restricted due to "security protocol" as the PM will travel by that road to Barasat.

"The traffic movement on the entire stretch has been restricted due to security reasons," a police officer said.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar had earlier said that if the women of Sandeshkhali want, the BJP will facilitate a meeting between them and the PM. PTI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on former Uttarakhand forest minister and Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat and ex-divisional forest officer Kishan Chand for allowing illegal construction and felling of trees in the Corbett tiger reserve.

This is a case where bureaucrats and politicians have thrown public trust doctrine in the waste bin, said a bench headed by Justice B R Gavai.

The apex court directed the CBI, which is already probing the case, to file its status report in the matter within three months.

"They (Rawat and Chand) have in blatant disregard of the law and for commercial purposes indulged in mass felling of trees to construct buildings in the pretext of promotion of tourism," the bench said.

The top court said it was amazed at the audacity of Rawat and Chand in giving statutory provisions a total go by. It also formed a committee to look into whether tiger safaris can be permitted in buffer or fringe areas of national parks in the country.

The Enforcement Directorate had earlier raided the residences of Rawat and Chand in connection with illegal construction in the tiger reserve. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by a crowd of supporters amid loud cheers of 'Modi Modi' and 'Jai Shree Ram' in Kolkata on Wednesday. PM Modi was seen interacting with school students and metro staff as they travelled in India's first underwater metro train.

PM Modi was accompanied by West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and state LoP and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari here.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple connectivity projects worth Rs 15,400 crores.

Modi also inaugurated India's first under-river metro tunnel built in Kolkata. In a monumental development set to transform urban transportation, PM Modi inaugurated several key metro and rapid transit projects across countries, marking a significant stride towards enhancing urban mobility and connectivity.

The Kolkata Metro extension, featuring the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade Metro section, includes the first transportation tunnel in India to pass under a major river, representing a critical milestone in the country's infrastructure development.

Sandeshkhali women protest against the atrocities of Shahjahan Sheikh. File pic

11:43 Sandeshkhali women head to Modi's rally

The Bharatiya Janata Party workers and supporters on Wednesday left from Sandeshkhali to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting at Barasat Several women supporters of the party from Sandeshkhali were seen making their way to the rally venue to listen to the Prime Minister.

These women are marching in groups from Sandeshkhali to Dhamakhali across the Sandeshkhali ghat to attend PM Narendra Modi's public meeting in Barasat.

One of the women who was marching to Barasat said, "All our respect is gone and the way we got tortured we are going to say all this to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we wish to have Modi Ji by our side and help us." Another woman from Sandeshkhali said that they wanted to urge PM Modi to allow them to cast their vote without fear.

"We are going to PM Modi to urge him to ensure that we can cast our vote, justice for atrocities against women and peace," she said.

These women who are making their way to attend PM Modi's rally said that they just want to live in peace and escape the tyranny of some politicians.

"We want to live in peace. People like Shibu Hazra, Sheikh Shahjahan and Uttam Sardar should not come back. We can cast our votes ourselves," a woman said.

Earlier On March 2, in his public address at Krishnanagar, PM Modi had hit out at the Mamata Banerjee government saying that while the women of Sandeshkhali "cried out for justice," the ruling party in the State "looked elsewhere."

PM Modi had said, "Using the slogan of 'Maa, Maati, Manush', the TMC government used the women of Bengal as a vote-bank. Today, Maa, Maati and Maanush are all in the TMC mode of governance. Women of Sandeshkhali kept asking for justice, yet the government did not hear them."

PM Modi had also alleged that the TMC had no "intention" to get the prime accused arrested in the Sandeshkhali incident. "But the nari shakti of Bengal stood like a Durga (goddess Durga)."In Bengal, the police do not decide when a criminal must be arrested; it's the criminal who decides everything for himself. The state government did not want the accused in the Sandeshkhali incident to be arrested...," the Prime Minister had said.

The West Bengal government on Wednesday sought urgent listing of its plea in the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order to transfer to the CBI the probe into an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5.

"You move an application. The CJI takes note of (urgent listing) applications during lunch hour. He will order listing of the plea," Justice Sanjiv Khanna said responding to the plea.

At the outset, the plea was mentioned by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. The senior lawyer said that the central probe agency wanted immediate compliance of the high court order by transferring probe to it.

On Tuesday evening also, the state government had mentioned the plea for urgent listing. The bench had asked the state government counsel to mention the matter before the Registrar General of the top court.

Both, the ED and the West Bengal government, moved separate appeals in the high court challenging a single bench order which had on January 17 ordered the formation of a joint special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and the state police to probe the mob attack on the ED officials.

While the ED wanted the probe to be transferred to the CBI solely, the state prayed that the investigation be given to its police. The high court, while agreeing to ED's request, also directed that the custody of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with the attack, be handed over to the central agency. PTI

10:49 Modi opens India's 1st underwater metro in WB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled multiple metro projects across the country, including India's first underwater metro line in Kolkata.

The Rs 4,965-crore Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro's East-West Corridor, which has the first transportation tunnel "under any mighty river in India", was inaugurated by the PM.

The stretch also has the deepest metro station in the country -- the Howrah metro station. After the inauguration programme, Modi took a metro ride from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan along with school children.

The under-river section of the tunnel is 520 metres long, and a train will take around 45 seconds to cross it, officials said. From the function at the Esplanade metro station, the PM also inaugurated the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section of the New Garia-Aiport line and the Taratala-Majerhat section of the Joka-Esplanade line of the Kolkata Metro, the country's oldest metro network.

The Majerhat metro station is a unique elevated installation across railway lines, platforms and a canal, an official statement said.

Modi also inaugurated the Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor, Pune Metro's Ruby Hall Clinic-Ramwadi stretch, Kochi Metro's SN Junction to Tripunithura section and Agra Metro's Taj East Gate-Mankameshwar section.

Kamal Nath has represented the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat nine times

10:28 7 Congress corporators from Chhindwara join BJP

In a setback to Congress veteran Kamal Nath, seven corporators of his party from the Chhindwara Municipal Corporation in Madhya Pradesh have joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The corporators raised the slogan "Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar" (Modi government once again) as they and their supporters joined the BJP at the residence of state urban development minister Kailash Vijayvargiya in state capital Bhopal late Tuesday evening.

The corporators were impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development works, a BJP release said. Chhindwara is the stronghold of former state chief minister Kamal Nath, who is currently the Congress MLA from this assembly seat.

The development comes at a time when the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is passing through the state.

The seven corporators who joined the ruling party are Roshni Sallam, Leena Tirkam, Santoshi Vadiwar, Deepa Mohre, Jagdish Godre, Chandrabhan Thakre and Dhanraj Bhavarkar, the BJP release said.

There has been speculation over future moves of Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath, who is the Lok Sabha member from Chhindwara, even as both of them have said they do not intend to cross over to the BJP.

Out of the total 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP bagged 28 in the 2019 general elections while the Congress won only the Chhindwara seat. Kamal Nath has represented the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat nine times. PTI

10:11 CCI seeks changes to confidentiality regime

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has proposed changes in its so-called Confidentiality Ring regime to enable persons appointed by the parties in a case get access to information and documents.

The Confidentiality Ring concept was introduced in April 2022 to enable parties involved in a case to gain access to the confidential information of other parties and defend themselves effectively.

The proposed changes aim to streamline the processes and enable timely disposal. Parties seeking confidentiality for their information, or seeking to establish a ring to access information of other parties, are required to submit undertakings on affidavit. The earlier process was self-certification without an affidavit.

The CCI has also prescribed systematic and chronological timelines for accessing documents through the Confidentiality Ring.

The requirement of submitting undertakings on affidavits clubbed with the strict prescribed timeline for its submission will be onerous on parties, especially in cases involving foreign nationals as consularisation/apostilisation of documents in foreign jurisdictions are time-consuming, which may conflict with the prescribed CCI timelines, said Vaibhav Choukse, partner, JSA Advocates & Solicitors.

-- Ruchika Chitravanshi/Business Standard

Commuters may face traffic jams due to farmers' protest on Wednesday, police said. In morning, a huge jam was already witnessed at Delhi-Haryana's Singhu border as farmers started gathering there, according to reports.

The Delhi Police said it will be keeping a strict vigil at the Tikri, Singhu, and the Ghazipur borders, as well as railway and metro stations and bus stands.

"We have stepped up security at all three borders. However, we are not shutting any border or route but vehicle checking will take place," an officer said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Jimmy Chiram said force is already deployed at the Delhi-Haryana border.

"We are keeping a tab on the situation in the wake of this call given by the farmers." Another officer said, "We had temporally removed barriers for commuters at the Singhu and the Tikri borders. The deployment of police and paramilitary personnel is still there and (they) will ensure strict, round-the-clock vigil."

Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at railway and metro stations and bus stands as the farmers would also be coming in public transport like trains and buses.

"Section 144 is already imposed in Delhi. We will not allow any gathering or assembly anywhere here," the officer said. Security has been mounted at ISBT Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan. "No one will be allowed to breach the law," the officer said.

09:47 Haley wins a Super Tuesday election in Vermont

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has scored a surprise victory on Super Tuesday, upsetting Donald Trump to win Vermont. That victory will do little to dent Trump's primary dominance, however. The former president won 11 other states on Super Tuesday.

Five people of a family were killed and four others injured when two LPG cylinders exploded in a house in the Hata Hazrat Sahab area in Lucknow, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place Tuesday around 10.30 pm in the area under Kakori Police Station jurisdiction.

The blast was preceded by a fire, which was said to be caused by a short circuit.

It took three teams of fire brigade and help of locals to douse the fire.

Nine members of the family were rushed to the Trauma Centre of King George Medical University, where five of them died, police said.

The deceased were identified as Mushir, 50, his wife Husn Bano, 45, Raiya, 7, Uma, 4, and Hina, 2, they said.

Isha, 17, Lakab, 21, Amjad, 34, and Anam, 18, were hospitalised with wounds, police added. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro's East-West corridor on Wednesday, heralding India's first venture into underwater metro services, which is deemed as an engineering marvel.

The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, a groundbreaking addition to the metropolis' transportation network and touted to be the first transportation tunnel "under any mighty river in India", will have the deepest metro station in the country -- the Howrah Metro station.

Nestled under the Hooghly river, which separates the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, this feat stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity.

Kolkata Metro touched a milestone in April 2023 as its rakes completed a trial journey under the bed of Hooghly through a tunnel 32 metre below the water level for the first time in India.

According to researchers, the idea of having an underwater transportation system on the lines of London was first mooted by the British in 1921.

"But the idea did not see the light of the day as soil tests did not yield positive results. They were forced to abandon the idea and the project plan was shelved," Aloke Kumar, Associate Professor of IIM-Calcutta, told PTI.

Kumar, who had conducted extensive research on railways, said the idea was again pushed in the 1980s by then Railway Minister ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury.

"But the project never saw the light of the day. It was in 2008 after being sanctioned by the UPA government that the construction work began in 2009," a former railway official said.

But political hurdles and cost escalation delayed the project, he said.

Spanning a 4.8-km stretch between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, it forms a vital segment of the East-West Metro corridor, connecting key areas such as the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.

According to a statement issued by the Metro Railway, the 4.8-km stretch of East-West Metro from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade has been built at a cost of Rs 4,965 crore.

Of the total 16.6 km of the East-West Metro corridor, 10.8 km is underground, including the tunnel beneath the river.

As a Metro train is expected to traverse the 520-metre stretch under the river in just 45 seconds, it not only offers speed but also ensures a seamless and time-efficient mode of transportation, further enhancing Kolkata's connectivity and urban mobility.

"This corridor, once fully commissioned, will also solve the perennial traffic congestion and improve air quality by reducing carbon footprint," the statement said.

It would also benefit people coming from Hooghly, Howrah and Medinipur as well as other states who would immensely benefit by availing of metro services after getting down at the Howrah railway station.

08:54 Super Tuesday: Biden, Trump sweep early states

United States President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump have swept the early Super Tuesday states, according to projections by CBS, moving them closer to a historic rematch

Biden has won Democratic nominating contests in 13 states, plus Iowa, where people voted by post, according to CBS.

Trump is projected to have won 10 Republican contests -- which would further consolidate his strong lead over Nikki Haley in the overall GOP standings

However, Trump and Haley are neck-and-neck in the count in Vermont.

"We have to beat Biden, he is the worst president in history," Trump said Tuesday on Fox & Friends.

Biden countered with a pair of radio interviews aimed at shoring up his support among Black voters, who helped anchor his 2020 coalition.

"If we lose this election, you're going to be back with Donald Trump," Biden said on the DeDe in the Morning show hosted by DeDe McGuire.

"The way he talks about, the way he acted, the way he has dealt with the African American community, I think, has been shameful," he added.

00:54 Civic body withdraws 15% water cut in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday announced roll-back of the ongoing 15 percent water cut in Mumbai from March 6.

In a release, the BMC said it decided to withdraw the water cut as all three power transformers and 20 pumps at Pise pumping station in Thane district had become fully functional.

The 15 percent water cut in Thane city, Bhiwandi and other non-urban areas will also be withdrawn from March 6, it added.

The civic body of Mumbai had imposed the water cut following a fire at a transformer at Pise on February 26. -- PTI

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