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Tue, 28 May 2024
Aiyar calls 1962 China attack 'alleged', apologises
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23:59 Stringent security to ensure Parl's safety, may inconvenience visitors: Speaker
Elaborate safety arrangements, which may inconvenience visitors, are in place in Parliament to ensure that incidents such as last year's security breach do not recur, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Tuesday.
Two persons had jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13 and released smoke canisters while the House was in session.
"We have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure that such incidents do not recur," Birla said when asked about the safety measures put in place in the wake of the December 13 security breach.
"We have utilised the latest technology to strengthen security. There may be some inconvenience to visitors in Parliament. But we have adopted stringent guidelines to secure Parliament for the future," Birla said.
The new Parliament building was inaugurated on this day last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"In the past year, more than 80,000 people have come to visit the Parliament. People from various sects of life, including defence personnel, farmers, scientists and others, have visited the Parliament," he said. -- PTI
23:24 Fire tragedy: One more partner of Rajkot game zone arrested
The Gujarat police have arrested one more partner of the Rajkot-based TRP game zone where a devastating fire last week killed 27 persons, an official said on Tuesday.
The arrested accused, Dhaval Thakkar, is the proprietor of Dhaval Corporation, which ran the TRP game zone along with five partners of Raceway Enterprises.
He was remanded in police custody till June 10 by a court in Rajkot.
"Dhaval Thakkar was arrested from Abu Road in neighbouring Rajasthan in a joint operation by the Rajkot and Banaskantha Police last night," said Banaskantha superintendent of police Akshayraj Makwana.
With this, four persons have so far been arrested in connection with the fire incident at the game zone on Saturday.
"The court of additional judicial magistrate BP Thakar remanded Dhaval Thakkar in police custody till June 10," special public prosecutor Tushar Gokani said.
The police had earlier arrested Yuvrajsinh Solanki and Rahul Rathod, partners in Raceway Enterprises, and game zone manager Nitin Jain.
They were on Monday sent to 14-day police custody by a court in Rajkot. -- PTI
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23:07 NIA arrests key accused in trafficking of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas into India
The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday arrested a wanted accused involved in trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into India through the north-eastern borders.
Jalil Miah, a resident of the north-eastern state of Tripura, has been arrested by the NIA team, an official statement said.
The NIA had in February declared a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Jalil, who was absconding in the case, in addition to nine others.
As per the NIA investigations, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are being trafficked to India every month through the porous stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
They are further transported to different parts of the country and provided fake documents and forced into labour, said the statement issued by the probe agency.
"In yet another success in its fight against human traffickers operating across the country, the NIA on Tuesday arrested a key conspirator in a case relating to trafficking of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas through the north-eastern borders," it said.
Thirty-three persons were arrested earlier in the case, which the NIA had taken over from Assam Special Task Force that had originally registered an FIR on March 22, 2023 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Passport Act 1967.
The NIA has so far chargesheeted 24 accused. -- PTI
22:53 Aiyar calls 1962 China attack 'alleged', apologises
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday "unreservedly" apologised for "mistakenly" using the word 'alleged' for the Chinese invasion in 1962.
According to a purported video of an event at the Foreign Correspondents Club this evening, Aiyar while narrating an anecdote said, "...In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India."
Later, in a brief statement, Aiyar said, "I unreservedly apologise for having mistakenly used the word 'alleged' before 'Chinese invasion' at the Foreign Correspondents Club this evening."
Aiyar, who has stoked controversies in the past with his comments, made the remarks at the launch of a book "Nehru's First Recruits". -- PTI
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22:26 Now on, service, transaction calls will display 160 as prefix
The department of telecom has allocated a separate 10-digit numbering series starting with 160 for service and transactional calls made by government, regulators and financial entities, according to an office memorandum issued on Tuesday.
The 10-digit number series has been designed by the DoT in a manner that telecom subscribers will get an idea about calling entities as well as the telecom operator and the place from where it has originated.
"It has been decided to allocate a separate numbering series 160 exclusively for service and transactional voice calls as per Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR) 2018," the official note said.
The move is aimed at helping subscribers differentiate between calls made by government bodies and regulated entities from those made by fraudsters masquerading as government officials.
The 10-digit number will be issued in 1600ABCXXX format for government and regulators where AB will show the code of telecom circle like 11 for Delhi, 22 for Mumbai, etc and the digit at C place will show the code of telecom operator. The XXX will be digits between 000-999.
Similarly, for financial entities regulated by RBI, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), the 10-digit number will be issued in 1601ABCXXX format.
"The TSP (telecom service provider) shall ensure adequate verification of each and every entity before assigning a number from 160 series. The TSP shall obtain an undertaking from the seeking entity that it will use the number assigned from 160 series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls as per TCCCPR 2018," the note said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar/File image/ANI Photo
22:07 Tejashwi predicts yet another volte-face by Nitish after LS polls
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday predicted yet another volte-face by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that the Janata Dal-United president would take a "big decision" once Lok Sabha poll results were out.
Talking to reporters, Yadav, who had lost his job as deputy CM following Kumar's abrupt return to NDA in January, also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not return to power.
"Modi has lost. He will not be the Prime Minister after June 4. The country will have a new government, sensitive to the crying need for job creation," said Yadav.
The RJD leader was replying to queries on Modi's claim, in an interview, of NDA's return to power with "a big surprise" in West Bengal, currently ruled by Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is an INDIA partner.
Yadav also said, "I would like to add something about my 'chachaji' (uncle Nitish Kumar). He may take a big step after the NDA is voted out of power at the Centre."
When asked whether he would realign with the JD-U chief by whom he was betrayed just a few months ago, Yadav said, "That will be seen later. But as of now, I foresee a big decision by him, in the interests of saving his party and his pro-OBC politics."
In the past decade, Kumar has tied up with RJD, headed by Yadav's father Lalu Prasad, on two occasions, only to realign with the BJP, his ally since the 1990s. -- PTI
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
21:41 Kota police ties up with Meta to prevent suicides
The Kota police tied up with Meta to identify students exhibiting suicidal tendencies on the company's social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, allowing for their timely intervention.
Since the collaboration a week back, the police claim they have already prevented a student from Jhunjhunu from committing suicide in this coaching hub, where young people from across the country come to prepare for competitive exams.
Nine students have taken their lives this year, with the most recent case reported on April 30.
In 2023, 26 cases of suicide among coaching students were registered in the city, marking the highest number recorded so far.
Under the collaboration, however, Meta will share such information not only from the city but the entire state of Rajasthan.
A dedicated team, working round the clock on eight-hour shifts, has been deputed at Abhay Command Centre in the city to monitor red-flag tags indicating suicidal tendencies, as shared by Meta.
This will be used to sound alerts to respective area police allowing them to intervene timely.
Kota city SP Amrita Duhan said she approached Meta for this collaboration after realising that in some suicide cases, students had expressed their distress and suicidal thoughts on social media and timely intervention could have potentially averted these tragic incidents. -- PTI
Malayalam film director Omar Lulu/Courtesy Facebook
21:28 Malayalam film director Omar Lulu faces rape charges, police launch probe
The Kerala police registered a rape case against Malayalam film director Omar Lulu based on a complaint filed by a woman.
An officer of the Ernakulam Rural police said on Tuesday that an investigation has been launched after registering an FIR against the director based on the complaint of the woman, reportedly a young actor.
He said the complaint was received by the Kochi City police commissioner, and after the FIR was lodged, the case was transferred to the Nedumbassery police station under the Ernakulam rural police, as the crime was committed under its jurisdiction.
Lulu has been charged under Indian Penal Code Section 376 (Punishment for rape), the official said.
The police refused to disclose further details of the case. Lulu has not reacted to the developments. -- PTI
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20:46 Rail traffic hit as good train derails near Mumbai
Seven wagons of a goods train derailed at Palghar railway station in Maharashtra on Tuesday evening, affecting the traffic of Mumbai-bound trains coming from Gujarat, a railway spokesperson said in Mumbai.
The incident took place around 5.10 pm and no casualties were reported, he said.
Efforts were on to restore the traffic on the affected line, said Sumit Thakur, chief PRO, Western Railway.
"Restoration work is in progress. Accident relief trains from Nandurbar, Udhna, Bandra Terminus and Valsad are on the way," he said.
The goods train with 43 wagons and carrying iron coils was heading to Karambeli in Gujarat from Visakhapatnam.
As per railway sources, seven wagons including the guard's van from the rear end derailed, and some of them fell on their sides with iron coils thrown off over the tracks.
Due to the impact of the derailed wagons and coils, the tracks and overhead equipment suffered major damage, and the full restoration of traffic on the busy Mumbai-Delhi trunk route was likely to take several hours, they added.
The traffic of both long-distance and the Western Railway's suburban trains in the Mumbai region was affected, causing inconvenience to thousands of commuters.
The 12936 Surat-Mumbai Intercity train was terminated at Vapi, while 16505 Gandhidham-SBC (KSR Bengaluru) Express, 12432 Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express and 19260 Bhavnagar-Kochuveli Express were diverted via Surat- Udhna- Jalgaon-Kalyan route, Thakur said.
Six UP and five DOWN Dahanu locals were cancelled. -- PTI
Payal Kapadia with her Grand Prix award, May 25, 2024/Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
20:30 Proud to head FTII during Payal Kapadia's time: Chauhan
Actor-politician Gajendra Chauhan on Tuesday extended congratulations to Cannes winner Payal Kapadia, saying he is proud of the filmmaker who studied at the institute when he served as its chairman.
Last week, Kapadia became the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award, the second highest honour at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, for her Malayalam-Hindi feature film "All We Imagine As Light".
Back in 2015, Kapadia was one of the protesting students who went on strike to oppose Chauhan's appointment as the chairperson of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India.
"Congratulations to her and I feel proud that I was the chairman at the time when she was doing the course there," Chauhan said.
Asked what would he like to say about Kapadia who protested against his appointment, the Mahabharat actor said, "She has never said anything about me. What can I say then?"
According to protesting students, Chauhan did not match the vision and stature of past chairmen of the FTII governing council, and his appointment appeared "politically coloured".
During the 139-day strike, the students had also allegedly gheraoed and confined the then FTII director Prashant Pathrabe in his office over some academic issues.
This had led to the police entering the campus and arresting some of the protesters. -- PTI
20:20 Two held for distributing videos of MP Prajwal's alleged sexual abuse
The Special Investigation Team probing charges of sexual abuse against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, on Tuesday arrested two people who had allegedly distributed pen drives containing explicit videos of the said abuse of several women allegedly perpetrated by the Janata Dal-Secular leader.
According to the police sources, the two persons were arrested when they came to the high court.
The SIT sleuths picked them up and took them for interrogation.
They had allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos showing women being sexually assaulted allegedly by Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.
The videos had been making the rounds of social media, and the state government formed a SIT on April 28 to probe the case after the Karnataka State Commission for Women wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking a probe into the charges.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, reportedly left the country on April 27, a day after polling, and has skipped the SIT summons to appear before it. -- PTI
Suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh/File image
19:56 Sandeshkhali: CBI slaps attempt to murder charges against Shahjahan Sheikh
The Central Bureau of Investigation has charged suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh, his brother and five others with criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder in connection with a mob attack on an Enforcement Directorate team in Sandeshkhali on January 5, officials said on Tuesday.
The agency's first charge sheet in the case was filed on Monday before a Basirhat special court, they said.
The ED team came under attack from a 1,000-strong mob when it went to raid Sheikh's house in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal.
It had also gone to arrest Sheikh because of his alleged close links with arrested former state food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, under the scanner in the scam, they said.
The charge sheet is against seven people, including Sheikh, his brother Alomgir and associates Jiauddin Mollah, Mafujar Mollah, and Didarbaksh Mollah, they said.
The CBI has invoked Indian Penal Code Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder) on the accused besides rioting and unlawful assembly among a number of other charges, they said. -- PTI
19:25 Rajasthan's Churu boils at 50.5 degrees C
Heat conditions intensified in Rajasthan, with Churu recording the highest temperature at 50.5 degrees Celsius, 7.5 degrees above normal and the highest of the season, the local weather office said on Tuesday.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, Churu saw its highest temperature at 50.8 degrees Celsius on June 1, 2019.
The day temperature reached 49.4 degrees Celsius in Ganganagar, 49 degrees Celsius in Pilani (Jhunjhunu) and Phalodi, 48.3 degrees Celsius in Bikaner, 48.2 degrees Celsius in Kota, 48 degrees Celsius in Jaisalmer, 46.6 degrees Celsius in Jaipur and 46 degrees Celsius in Barmer, it said.
Pilani recorded its highest-ever temperature at 49 degrees Celsius.
The previous record was 48.6 degrees Celsius on May 2, 1999.
The weather office said the entire desert state is in the grip of severe heat conditions with temperatures staying two to eight degrees Celsius above the season's normal.
It predicted that the day temperature would reduce by two to four degrees Celsius in the next 48 hours. -- PTI
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar (second from left)
18:58 Court sends Kejriwal aide to three-day police custody
A court in Delhi on Tuesday granted three days to Delhi police for custodial interrogation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, who has been accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal.
Maliwal was allegedly assaulted at the chief minister's official residence on May 13.
Metropolitan magistrate Gaurav Goyal sent Kumar to police custody till May 31.
A detailed order from the court is awaited.
The Delhi police had sought five days' custody of the accused. Kumar's counsel opposed the Delhi police's plea for his custodial interrogation, claiming it had no evidence.
On Monday, Kumar's bail plea was dismissed by a sessions court, which said there appeared no "pre-meditation" by Maliwal in lodging the FIR and that her allegations could not be "swiped away".
Kumar was arrested on May 18.
He was sent to police custody for five days on the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest.
Last Friday, he was sent to four days' judicial custody. -- PTI
18:21 Second phase of Mumbai coastal road to be opened by June 10: CM Shinde
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said the second phase of the coastal road between Worli and Marine Drive will be opened by June 10.
Shinde also inspected a leakage at the southbound tunnel at Marine Drive end, which is a part of the first phase of the coastal road inaugurated in March.
Talking to reporters after the inspection, the chief minister said there were leakages in two to three expansion joints of the coastal road, and they will be plugged using polymer grouting.
Shinde said he has also suggested polymer grouting on all 25 joints on each side of the tunnel to avoid water seepage even during monsoon.
The repair work will not impact the vehicular movement on the coastal road, and motorists won't be inconvenienced, he said.
The chief minister said the second phase of the coastal road from Marine Drive to Worli will be thrown open to traffic by June 10.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aditya Thackeray said the coastal road would have been completed and opened to citizens by December 2023 if the MVA had been in power. -- PTI
Telangana deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka/ANI Photo
17:43 Telangana deputy CM's residence gets bomb threat, search on for caller
An unidentified person on Tuesday allegedly made a call stating that a bomb will explode at Praja Bhavan, the official residence of Telangana deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in Hyderabad, prompting the police to carry out searches, official sources said.
They said that an unidentified person called up the police control room and warned that a bomb would explode at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad city.
The police immediately swung into action and searched the premises with the help of the bomb disposal squad.
Telangana minister for panchayat raj and rural development and women and child welfare D Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, visited Praja Bhavan, and met with the officials and also the family members of the deputy CM and discussed the matter.
The minister instructed the officials to thoroughly check the visitors and to also step up security at Praja Bhavan, an official statement said. -- PTI
17:11 Mamata holds road show in Dum Dum LS seat
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday held a roadshow in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Saugata Roy in Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency near here.
The TMC supremo walked from Birati Banik More to Airport gate number two on Jessore Road, a distance of nearly four kilometres, along with party leaders and workers.
The roadshow in Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency was held in support of the TMC's veteran leader and candidate Saugata Roy, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term from the seat. Apart from Roy, TMC ministers Sujit Bose and Chandrima Bhattacharya accompanied Banerjee in the road show. PTI
AAP minister Atishi
17:09 I had said they will arrest Atishi next: Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal posts on X saying, "I had said earlier that they will arrest Atishi next. They are planning to do so now. Complete dictatorship. In completely flimsy, frivolous and false cases, they are arresting ALL leaders of AAP one by one. Every single opposition leader will be arrested if Modi ji comes back to power. AAP is not imp. Saving our dear country from dictatorship is imp."
AAP leader Atishi has been summoned by a Delhi court on June 29 in connection with a defamation case filed by the BJP over the Delhi Minister's poaching claim. Atishi, who is among the top leaders tasked with running the AAP affairs following Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, had earlier this year alleged that the BJP was attempting to "poach" party MLAs by offering 25 crore each.
16:46 In Bengal, Modi brings up 'vote jihad' against TMC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flayed the TMC government in West Bengal for "snatching the rights of OBC youths" to facilitate its appeasement politics and vote jihad.
Addressing an election rally in Barasat, Modi, without naming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, criticised her for questioning the judges of the Calcutta High Court and wondered if the TMC would now let loose its goons on judges" following unfavourable rulings.
"The court has exposed the treachery of the Trinamool Congress with the OBCs. The party snatched the rights of OBC youths to support its appeasement politics and vote jihad'. The TMC has betrayed the OBCs of West Bengal," he asserted.
The Calcutta High Court had last week struck down the OBC status of several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010, finding such reservations to vacancies in services and posts in the state illegal.
Banerjee had said she will not accept the ruling, dubbing it as a verdict passed under the influence of the BJP.
"It is quite evident that TMC doesn't like those who expose its treachery and lies. I am astonished to see how the party is questioning the judiciary. Don't they have any faith in the judiciary and our Constitution? The way they are attacking judges is unprecedented. I would like to know whether the TMC would now let loose its goons on judges as they are exposed?" Modi said.
16:28 Porsche teen's dad in police custody for kidnapping
A Pune court on Tuesday remanded the father of a juvenile allegedly involved in the Porsche car crash in police custody till May 31 in a case of alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of the family driver.
The court also extended the police custody of the juvenile's grandfather till May 31 in the same case. Both the accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class A A Pande.
They have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 365 (kidnapping) and 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement). Two IT professionals died after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by the minor in the early hours of May 19 in the Kalyani Nagar area of Pune city. The police claim the teenager was drunk at the time of the accident.
The juvenile's father, realtor Vishal Agarwal (50), is already in judicial custody in a case registered against him and the managers and owners of two pubs under the Juvenile Justice Act.
The police have alleged that Vishal Agrawal and his father Surendra Agrawal (77) pressure on the driver to take the blame for the accident by offering him money and giving him threats. Surendra Agrawal was arrested in this connection on May 25 and then remanded in police custody till May 28.
Shraddha Walkar
16:15 Delhi cops file supplementary chargesheet in Walkar murder
The Delhi police have filed a supplementary chargesheet containing more digital and forensic evidence reports to nail Aaftab Amin Poonawala, who stands accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and dismembering her body, court sources said on Tuesday.
The nearly 3,000-page chargesheet was filed before metropolitan magistrate Aviral Shukla, they said.
Poonawala is alleged to have strangled Walkar and chopped her body into pieces in the national capital's Mehrauli in May 2022 before scattering the body parts in different areas of the city to escape detection.
He has been charged under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code. Sources said the chargesheet mainly consisted of Google locations, search history and other digital and forensic evidence reports.
The city police have claimed these evidences further corroborated the charges against Poonawala, the sources said. A 6,629-page chargesheet was filed against Poonawala in January last year.
16:06 Yes, PM sent by God... to help Adani: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that an INDIA bloc government will end the 50 per cent cap on reservation while asserting that the alliance will protect the Constitution with "dil, jaan aur khoon".
Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bansgaon with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Gandhi said, "There is INDIA bloc and the Constitution on one side and those who want to finish the Constitution on the other."
"The INDIA bloc will protect the Constitution with "dil, jaan aur khoon (heart, life and blood)", he said and added that the alliance will end the 50 per cent cap on reservation while also increasing it.
On Agnipath, Gandhi said the INDIA bloc, once it assumes power, will tear apart the scheme and throw it in the dustbin. The government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme in June 2022 for short-term induction of personnel with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three armed services. It provides for recruiting youngsters between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Gandhi also mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "sent by God" comment and said God sent Modi to help Adani and not the poor. He asserted that the INDIA bloc will "jumpstart" the country's economy once it assumes power at the Centre. PTI
15:38 2020 Delhi riots: Court dismisses Umar Khalid's bail plea
A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid who is accused in the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots.
Khalid has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai rejected the bail plea. The detailed order is awaited.
PFI is a banned organisation
15:34 HC dismisses plea by ex-PFI chairman Abubacker for release
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by former Popular Front of India (PFI) Chairman E Abubacker seeking his release in the UAPA case being probed by the NIA.
Abubacker, who was arrested by the anti-terror agency during a massive crackdown on the banned organisation in 2022 and is lodged in judicial custody, had approached the high court after he was denied relief by the trial court. He had moved the trial court seeking interim bail on medical grounds.
"We hereby dismiss the appeal," said a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain while pronouncing the verdict. Abubacker sought his release on both merit as well as medical grounds. -- PTI
The clashes happened over throwing gulal
15:28 25 booked after two groups clash during religious procession
A case has been registered against 25 persons after two groups clashed over a petty issue during a religious procession in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Tuesday.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident that occurred in Saravali village in Bhiwandi on Monday night, an official said.
The groups clashed over the issue of throwing gulal during a religious procession around 9.30 pm, he said A case has been registered under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Maharashtra Police Act, he said. PTI
15:18 What happened to PM's 400 paar, asks Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday came out strongly against PM Modi over the '400 paar' slogan and said that earlier he used to speak about it but now he doesn't, adding that his mind keeps on changing.
"Earlier, he used to speak but now he doesn't speak. His mind keeps changing. What I know is that people are tired of their politics. They want that there should be talk on inflation, unemployment and on several serious issues," Priyanka said.
Earlier today, in an interview with ANI, PM Modi said that the last phase of the general elections will be the last stage of the people who dream big and make false promises. On being asked about whether he thinks that the BJP will cross 400 seats as the last phase of the elections is approaching, PM Modi said, "I can see many things in it. One, our new era will begin. There is a sign in it. Secondly, the people who were dreaming big and making big promises, this is the last stage for them as well. This is not just the last stage of elections; this is the last stage of their situation as well."
Meanwhile, speaking at a rally in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP of ignoring Himachal during the floods. "Soon after our government was formed, a disaster struck Himachal Hundreds of people were left homeless, schools and roads were destroyed Every Congress leader worked for the people during the disaster Narendra Modi, who calls Himachal his second home, did not even come to see you," she said.
She further accused the BJP of trying to topple the elected government in Himachal Pradesh by using money power.
"In democracy, people are supreme- this is the ideology of Congress. But today a different kind of politics of BJP has emerged, which takes the name of religion but does not follow the path of religion. Religion teaches us to speak the truth and have respect for the people. But BJP tries to topple the government elected by the people on the basis of money and power," she said.
14:42 Patnaik will be former Odisha CM after June 4: HM
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that Naveen Patnaik will become former CM of Odisha after June 4, exuding confidence about the BJP forming the next government in the state by securing more than 75 seats in the 147-member assembly.
Shah, addressing an election rally at Chandbali under the Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency, also claimed that the saffron party is set to win 17 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. "Come June 4, and Naveen babu will no longer remain the chief minister, he will become the former CM... BJP is set to win 17 Lok Sabha seats and 75 assembly constituencies in Odisha," he said.
Shah also said the BJP will ensure that the next chief minister is fluent in Odiya, and understands the state's language, culture and tradition. "Should a Tamil babu' run the government from behind the scene... By casting your vote in favour of the lotus symbol, bring a jan sevak' to rule the state in place of an officer," he said, in an apparent reference to Patnaik's close aide and BJD leader V K Pandian.
Stating that lakhs of youths were migrating to other states in search of work, the home minister said: Once the BJP forms government in Odisha, we will set up industries so that youths don't have to look for jobs elsewhere.
He also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing free 5 kg of rice to the people of Odisha, and criticised Patnaik for distributing the rice in jute bags with his photographs. PM Modi's government is 'chawal wali sarkar', while Naveen Patnaik's government is 'jhole wali sarkar', Shah added. PTI
14:18 Love jihad started in Jharkhand: Modi
Claiming that the tribal population was decreasing in the Santhal Parganas because of infiltration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand of "patronising" infiltrators, who he said were grabbing land and putting women at risk.
Addressing an election rally in Dumka, he alleged that the JMM and Congress were indulging in "rampant loot" and vowed that action against corruption would be intensified in the country after June 4.
"A big crisis looms over Jharkhand and that is infiltration. The Santhal Parganas is facing the challenge of infiltration. In many areas, the population of tribals is declining fast and the number of infiltrators is on the rise. The infiltrators are grabbing tribal lands. Tribal daughters are the target of infiltrators. Their security and safety are at risk. Their lives are also at risk," he said.
Apparently referring to two incidents that happened in 2022, Modi said, "Tribal daughters are being chopped into 50 pieces... Being burnt alive... Someone's tongue was pulled out. Who are these people who are targeting tribal daughters? Why is the JMM government patronising them?"
The prime minister claimed that "love jihad" started from Jharkhand. Accusing the JMM of indulging in "communal politics", he said that despite Sunday being a holiday since the British rule, in one Jharkhand district, it was changed to Friday.
"Sunday is not linked to Hindus but to the Christian community. It has been a holiday since 200-300 years. Now, they are fighting with Christians also," Modi said.
He alleged that the JMM-led coalition was looting the state's resources, claiming that the state was now known for "mountains of cash".
Shahjahan Sheikh
14:05 Sandeshkhali: CBI files charge sheet against Shahjahan Sheikh
The CBI has filed a charge sheet against suspended TMC leader Shahajahan Sheikh and six others in connection with the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team at Sandeshkhali, officials said on Tuesday.
The agency filed its first charge sheet in the case on Monday before a special court, they said. The ED team had come under attack from a 1,000-strong mob when they went to raid the house of Sheikh in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal.
The team had gone to arrest Sheikh because of his alleged close links with arrested former state food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick under scanner in the scam, they said.
Sandeshkhali, a riverine island around 80 km from Kolkata, has been in the news after local women alleged land-grabbing and sexual abuse by Sheikh and his men, who are involved in fish farming and trading.
The CBI has taken over investigation in three cases related to incidents on January 5, they said. Sheikh was arrested by the state police on February 29 and the CBI took him under its custody on March 6, they said. PTI
13:58 2 get lifer for killing finance manager of salon in Mumbai
A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday sentenced two former staffers of a salon chain to life imprisonment for killing their 28-year-old colleague Kriti Vyas in 2018.
The body of Vyas has not yet been found.
Additional sessions judge M G Deshpande on Monday held Siddhesh Tamhankar and his female colleague guilty under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence).
On Tuesday, the judge sentenced both of them to life imprisonment. The duo worked as account executive and account manager at a salon chain in suburban Andheri and used to report to Vyas, who was the finance manager. Vyas was allegedly killed because she had issued a memo to one of the accused for not working properly. Besides losing their job, the two feared their affair might get exposed.
She was last seen in the company of the accused. The police cracked the case after a DNA test was done on the blood samples found in the car of one of the accused. The vehicle was allegedly used in the crime, they had said.
Vyas went missing on March 16, 2018, and her family scoured CCTV footage from Grant Road and Mumbai Central railway stations to locate her before filing a missing person's complaint at DB Marg police station.
The family had told the police that Vyas used to board the 9.11 am Virar-bound suburban train from Grant Road to the salon in Andheri. The case was later handed over to the Crime Branch, which made the two arrests. PTI
13:48 Link PAN with Aadhaar by May 31 or pay higher tax
The income tax department on Tuesday asked taxpayers to link PAN with Aadhaar by May 31 to avoid tax deduction at a higher rate. As per income tax rules, if a Permanent Account Number (PAN) is not linked with biometric Aadhaar, TDS is required to be deducted at double the applicable rate. Last month, the income tax department issued a circular stating that no action will be taken for short deduction of TDS in case the assessee links his/her PAN with Aadhaar by May 31.
"Please link your PAN with Aadhaar before May 31, 2024, if you haven't already, in order to avoid tax deduction at a higher rate," the department posted on X. In a separate post, the I-T department asked reporting entities, including banks, forex dealers, to file SFT by May 31 to avoid penalties.
12:54 SC refuses urgent hearing of Kejri's bail extension
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow an urgent hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea for the extension of his interim bail by seven days on medical grounds in the Delhi excise policy case.
The vacation bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and KV Viswanathan said the Chief Justice of India would take a call on the listing of Kejriwal's application.
The bench said it's appropriate if the Chief Justice of India takes a call on the listing of the application for extension of bail as it has been filed in a case in which the judgment has already been reserved.
On May 17, the apex court had reserved its verdict on Kejriwal's plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
12:51 CJI to decide on Kejriwal's bail plea today
The Chief Justice of India will take a decision on the urgent listing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeking extension of his interim bail by seven days for undergoing medical tests as the verdict in the main case is already reserved, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.
Refusing to list Kejriwal's interim plea on its own, a vacation bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and KV Viswanathan asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the chief minister, why it was not mentioned last week when Justice Dipankar Datta, one of the judges of the main bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna which had granted the interim bail to him, was sitting on the vacation bench.
"Why did you not mention it when Justice Datta was sitting on the vacation bench last week? Let the Hon'ble CJI take a decision as it raises the issue of propriety...we will send it to the CJI," the bench said. Singhvi said the prescription was given a day before yesterday and hence, it could not be mentioned before the vacation bench to which Justice Datta was part last week. "I don't mind, if it is listed before that bench (of Justice Khanna and Justice Datta) even virtually," the senior lawyer said.
12:48 Opposition must read Constitution: Modi
Rejecting opposition allegations about the misuse of probe agencies against them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government has a zero-tolerance towards corruption and that it is better "if these people read the Constitution, read the law of the country".
In an exclusive interview with ANI, PM Modi said the probe agencies were making more seizures in corruption cases.
Asked about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that PM Modi decides who will go to jail, the Prime Minister said, "It would be better if these people read the Constitution, read the law of the country, I do not need to say anything to anyone."
Kejriwal has been given interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1 in the Delhi excise policy case.
Kejriwal has been attacking the BJP and PM Modi in his rallies for the Lok Sabha polls.
"In Bihar, Modi Ji said - 'Tejashwi Yadav will go to jail in a few days.' This clearly shows who will go to jail and for how many days will he stay in jail, this is decided by Modi Ji. When I said this a few days ago, I was asked how I was saying this. Yesterday Modi Ji accepted it in front of the whole country," Kejriwal said in a post on X on May 26.
PM Modi said that during his 10-year tenure, ED has seized Rs 2,200 crore while during Manmohan Singh's 10-year tenure as Prime Minister, it was only Rs 34 lakh.
"Ask the person who is throwing this garbage, what is the proof of what you are saying? I will convert this garbage into manure and will produce some good things for the country from it. When Manmohan Singh was in power for 10 years, Rs 34 lakhs were seized and currently in the last 10 years ED has seized Rs 2,200 crores. The one who has brought back Rs 2,200 crores to the country should be respected and not abused," he said.
11:56 Panchayat 3 Review
"At the end of the second season, two major events took place, Abhishek was transferred by the vengeful MLA, Chandrakishore Singh (Pankaj Jha), and Prahlad's soldier son was killed at the battlefront, which was a surprisingly tragic turn for the usually sunny series to take.
"Season 3 picks up from there, with Abhishek thinking about his future and trying to avoid his new posting to Bhaypura, and a grieving Prahlad lying in a drunken stupor," writes Deepa Gahlot. Read the review here.
11:48 Ram Rahim Singh, others acquitted of murder
Punjab and Haryana High Court acquits Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and others in the murder of Dera manager Ranjit Singh.
Earlier in 2021, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court had convicted Ram Rahim and other defendants in the case, sentencing them to life imprisonment.
11:40 If Congress wins 90 seats politics can be rocked
"If the Congress reached 90, it would have a pretty good chance of holding the BJP below the 272 mark," argues Shekhar Gupta. Read the column here.
11:28 Modi has become gaali-proof, says PM
Taking on the opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said they believe that they have the right to abuse and that he has become "gaali-proof" after "being continuously abused for the last 24 years".
In an exclusive interview with ANI, PM Modi said opposition parties have become "so frustrated that now abusing has become their nature".
"As far as Modi is concerned, after being continuously abused for the last 24 years, I have become 'gaali proof'. Who called me the 'maut ka saudaagar' and 'gandi naali ka keeda'? Our party member in the parliament did the calculation and counted 101 abuses, so whether there is election or no election, these people (Opposition) believe that only they have the right to abuse and they have become so frustrated that now abusing has become their nature," he said, answering a query on personal attacks against him.
PM Modi rejected allegations of opposition leaders that probe agencies were being misused to suppress them and said his government has told its officers that there will be zero-tolerance towards corruption.
"Ask the person who is throwing this garbage, what is the proof of what you are saying?...I will convert this garbage into manure and will produce some good things for the country from it...When Manmohan Singh was in power for 10 years, Rs 34 lakhs were seized and currently in the last 10 years ED has seized Rs 2,200 crores. The one who has brought back Rs 2,200 crores to the country should be respected and not abused. The one whose money has gone is abusing...It means that whoever has a part in stealing money will shout a little after being caught...Today, a Sarpanch has the right to sign on a cheque book but the Prime Minister of the country does not have it...Modi government has told its officers that my government has zero tolerance towards corruption," he said.
11:09 TMC fighting for existence: Modi
With just days to go before the election process for the Lok Sabha ends, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed confidence that the BJP will emerge as the biggest gainer in West Bengal.
He said the Lok Sabha election in the state "is one-sided" and Trinamool Congress leaders are "frustrated".
In an exclusive interview with ANI, PM Modi spoke about his party's performance in West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and said the party will get maximum success in the state.
"In Bengal elections, TMC party is fighting for existence. You must have seen it in the last assembly elections, we had three seats. The people of Bengal took us from three to 80. We got a lot of support in the Lok Sabha in the last elections. This time, the best-performing state in India is going to be West Bengal. BJP is getting most success in West Bengal."
In 2019, BJP made strong inroads into TMC stronghold in West Bengal, by winning 18 seats and being a close second to the ruling party in the state which won 22 seats.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that these elections in West Bengal are one-sided with the public supporting the BJP, which is creating panic in the Trinamool Congress government.
"There are constant murders and attacks. The BJP workers are being locked in jails before the elections. Despite all these atrocities, the public is coming out in large numbers to vote," PM Modi added.
The site of the blast at the plant in Dombivli
10:59 Dombivli blast occurred in reactor not boiler
Maharashtra Labour Minister Suresh Khade has said the blast in a chemical factory at Dombivli in Thane district last week occurred in a reactor and not a boiler. An expert team from New Delhi will conduct a probe to ascertain the exact cause of the blast, Khade told reporters after visiting the incident site on Monday.
The blast at Amudan Chemicals unit on May 23 claimed 10 lives and left more than 60 persons injured, as per officials. Khade held discussions with the officials concerned and assured a thorough investigation to find out if the incident occurred due to human error or other factors. He said the explosion took place in a reactor and not a boiler.
"There is no boiler department in the company," he said. Khade also said efforts were underway to locate any missing workers, with plans for further examination of the debris if necessary.
He stressed on the need for stringent safety measures to prevent such incidents in future. The labour department would make efforts to secure higher compensation for the blast victims and their families through legal recourse, he added. -- PTI
Rescue ops in another stone quarry in Mizoram a few years ago
10:21 Five dead, many missing in stone quarry in Mizoram
Five people died and several others were missing as a stone quarry collapsed in Mizoram's Aizawl district amid incessant rains on Tuesday morning, police said. The incident happened around 6 am in an area between Melthum and Hlimen on the southern outskirts of the Aizawl town, they said.
Five bodies have been recovered, while several others are still trapped under the debris, a police officer said. Heavy rains were affecting the rescue operations, he said.
The rains triggered landslides at several places in the state, officials said. Aizawl has been cut off from the rest of the country due to a landslide on National Highway 6 at Hunthar, they said. Besides, several intra-state highways have also been disrupted by landslides, they added. Because of the rains, all schools were closed and government employees, except those involved in providing essential services, were asked to work from home. PTI
Prajwal Revanna released a video yesterday
09:49 Prajwal's mom files for bail in kidnapping case
Bhavani Revanna, mother of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is accused in the obscene video case, has filed an anticipatory bail in the kidnapping case in which her husband was earlier arrested.
Bhavani has moved Karnataka High Court seeking relief from arrest by SIT. SIT has filed a case against five including her husband and father of Prajwal Revanna, HD Revanna.
HD Revanna was arrested earlier in connection with a kidnapping case on April 29. He was granted conditional bail by a special court for people's representatives. The case, registered on April 28 at the Holenarasipura town police station, involves allegations of sexual assault by Revanna and his son, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, against a house help.
Meanwhile, Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video released on Monday, said that he will appear before the Special Investigative Team (SIT) on May 31 for questioning.
This is the second major car incident in Pune after the Porsche one
09:34 Man tries to run over girlfriend's friend in Pune
Police have detained a man after he allegedly tried to kill a person by hitting him with his car in the early hours of Tuesday in Maharashtra's Pune district, police said. The incident took place at around 1 am in Pimpri area after the accused found the victim was talking to the former's girlfriend, they said.
The accused, identified as Sushil Kale, got to know the victim was talking to his girlfriend in a locality in Pimpri, a police official said.
"The accused then went there and allegedly hit the victim with his car, injuring him. The victim was admitted to a hospital and was reported to be out of danger," the official from Pimpri Chinchwad police station said. The accused was detained and booked under Indian Penal Code section 307 (attempt to murder), the police said. PTI
09:03 Pune car crash: Maha govt forms 3-member panel
The Maharashtra government has set up a three-member committee following the arrest of two doctors and an employee of Pune-based Sassoon General Hospital in connection with the alleged manipulation of the blood sample of the juvenile driver involved in the Porsche car crash.
Medical Education Commissioner Rajiv Nivatkar on Monday issued the order appointing the dean of Grant Medical College and J J group of hospitals Dr Pallavi Sapale as the chairperson of the committee.
The other members are Dr Gajanan Chavan, professor of the forensic medicine department of Grant Medical College, and Dr Sudhir Chowdhary, Special Duty Officer at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Government Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital.
The committee is asked to visit Pune on Tuesday.
The commissioner has also directed Dr Vinayak Kale, Dean of Sassoon General Hospital, to cooperate with the committee in the probe, as per the order.
Pune Police arrested Dr Ajay Taware, head of the Sassoon Hospital's Forensic Medicine department, Dr Shrihari Halnor, the chief medical officer, and the staffer Atul Ghatkamble who works under Dr Taware. They were remanded in police custody till May 30. -- PTI
08:25 Bomb scare on Varanasi-bound flight at Delhi airport
A Varanasi-bound IndiGo flight received a bomb threat at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, prompting authorities to evacuate its passengers and launch a search operation, officials said.
They said the threat was received around 5.30 am when the flight was preparing to leave.
The officials said the passengers on board the aircraft were evacuated through emergency exits.
They said the aircraft was taken to an isolated area and security agency personnel conducted a search operation. -- PTI
01:43 Maha polls: NCP, Fadnavis differ over seat-sharing
Maharashtra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday demanded that his party be given 80-90 seats to contest in the assembly elections due this year.
Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest party and will contest in more seats, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking at a party's meeting in Mumbai, Bhujbal said, "When we joined the alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena), we were assured of getting 80 to 90 seats to contest in the assembly elections. However, for this Lok Sabha polls, we got very few seats to contest. We must tell them (BJP) that we want more seats to contest so that we could win around 50 to 60 seats."
Of the 288 seats in the state, BJP had won 105 in 2019 state polls, while the undivided NCP had bagged 54 seats.
"If we get 50 seats to contest because of the current number of MLAs with the party, how many will actually get elected out of those 50," he wondered.
He also expressed displeasure over reports that Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text, will likely be taught in schools.
"We spent a lot of energy convincing Dalits that the BJP's call for winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats doesn't mean the party will change the Constitution to remove reservation benefits. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuted those claims by the opposition. Now, there are reports of Manusmriti likely to be introduced in schools," said Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader.
About Bhujbal's comments, Fadnavis said BJP is the largest party and will contest more seats in this election.
"However, the seat-sharing formula will be finalised only after leaders of the three parties meet and discuss," he added. -- PTI
Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest party and will contest in more seats, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking at a party's meeting in Mumbai, Bhujbal said, "When we joined the alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena), we were assured of getting 80 to 90 seats to contest in the assembly elections. However, for this Lok Sabha polls, we got very few seats to contest. We must tell them (BJP) that we want more seats to contest so that we could win around 50 to 60 seats."
Of the 288 seats in the state, BJP had won 105 in 2019 state polls, while the undivided NCP had bagged 54 seats.
"If we get 50 seats to contest because of the current number of MLAs with the party, how many will actually get elected out of those 50," he wondered.
He also expressed displeasure over reports that Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text, will likely be taught in schools.
"We spent a lot of energy convincing Dalits that the BJP's call for winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats doesn't mean the party will change the Constitution to remove reservation benefits. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuted those claims by the opposition. Now, there are reports of Manusmriti likely to be introduced in schools," said Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader.
About Bhujbal's comments, Fadnavis said BJP is the largest party and will contest more seats in this election.
"However, the seat-sharing formula will be finalised only after leaders of the three parties meet and discuss," he added. -- PTI
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