Category: India

The plea was filed after manufacturer Astrazeneca admitted before a court in the United Kingdom that COVISHIELD has the potential to cause a rare side effect associated with blood clotting.

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking directions to study the possible side effects of Astrazeneca’s COVISHIELD vaccine, one of two vaccines which was administered in India against COVID-19.

The plea was filed after Astrazeneca admitted before a court in the United Kingdom that COVISHIELD has the potential to cause a rare side effect associated with blood clotting.

The plea by advocate Vishal Tiwari stated that AstraZeneca has accepted a link between the vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), a medical condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets and the formation of blood clots.

The petitioner has prayed than a medical expert panel be constituted by the Supreme Court under the supervision of a retired apex court judge and comprising of medical experts from All India Institute of Medical Science to examine the side effects of COVISHEILD and its risk factors.

The government is required to take immediate steps for the sake of the safety and health of Indian citizens, it was submitted.

“The issue has to be looked upon by the Union Government on priority so that in future no risk may occur regarding the health and life of India Citizens,” the plea said.

Tiwari has urged the court to order the establishment of a Vaccine Damage Payment System to compensate citizens who are severely disabled or pass away as a result of a COVID vaccine.

In August 2022, the Kerala High Court had called for urgent action from the Central Government and the National Disaster Management Authority to formulate guidelines for disbursing compensation to the families of persons who died due to reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine

In November 2022, when the top court was seized of a case dealing with mandatory vaccination and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, the Union government had told the Supreme Court that it cannot be held liable to pay compensation for deaths caused by adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said the same in response to a petition by the parents of two young women who had died allegedly due to the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine.

The government then told the Supreme Court that vaccines manufactured by third parties had successfully undergone regulatory review, and holding the State directly liable to provide compensation may not be “legally sustainable”.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/how-should-complete-chargesheet-be-supreme-court-explains

Justice Hari Shankar said that the circular is in the teeth of its earlier decision and that the Directorate of Education cannot keep dragging schools to court.

The Delhi High Court has stayed a circular issued by Delhi government’s Department of Education (DoE) restraining private schools located on land allotted by the government from increasing their fee without prior approval [Action Committee Unaided Recognized Private Schools v. Directorate of Education].

Justice C Hari Shankar stayed the circular, which was issued by the DoE on March 27.

“Till the next date of hearing, the operation of the impugned circular dated 27 March 2024 issued by the DoE shall stand stayed,” the Court said.

In an interim order passed on April 29, the High Court said that order issued by the government is directly contrary to the Court’s earlier decision.

Justice Hari Shankar noted that even though this judgment has been challenged by the government before the Division Bench, it has not been stayed or set aside.

“The DoE, howsoever, dissatisfied it may be with the judgment of this Court in Action Committee Unaided Recognized Private Schools has to respect it, so long as it stands. The attitude of the DoE in continuously issuing Circulars threatening recognized unaided schools with action in the event of their increasing their fees without obtaining prior approval of the DoE is objectionable, and cannot be allowed.”

The High Court said that the schools cannot be driven to litigation like this and the law is clear that no prior approval is required before an unaided recognised school increases in its fees, even if situated on land to which a “land clause” applies.

The Court passed the order on a plea filed by Action Committee Unaided Recognised Schools, a body of private schools.

It also issued notices to the DoE and directed it to file a counter affidavit in four weeks. The matter will be heard next on July 31.

Advocates Kamal Gupta, Tripti Gupta, Sparsh Aggarwal, Karan Chaudhary, Yosha Dutt, SL Bansal and Nikhil Kukreja appeared for the petitioner.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhi-high-court-stays-circular-private-schools-raising-fee-delhi-government-approval

Searing heat has been cited by political analysts as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that began on April 19, with results due on June 4.

Eastern India experienced its hottest April on record as heatwaves scorched parts of the country amid the Lok Sabha elections, killing at least nine people, with the weather office on Wednesday forecasting above normal temperatures for May too.

Searing heat has been cited by political analysts as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that began on April 19, with results due on June 4.

Heatwave conditions are, however, forecast to abate gradually in the coming days.

The mean temperature in eastern India was 28.12 degrees Celsius in April, the warmest since records began in 1901, with experts blaming a combination of factors.

“In an El Nino year, you get more heating,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), referring to a climate pattern that typically leads to hot and dry weather in Asia and heavier rains in parts of the Americas.

He said fewer thunderstorms and an anti-cyclonic circulation near the southeastern coast were causing heatwaves. “Wind blows from land towards the sea during an anti-cyclone.., so land becomes warmer and temperature rises”.

In April, West Bengal recorded the most number of heatwave days for the month in the last 15 years, followed by neighbouring Odisha where heat conditions were the worst in nine years.

Authorities have also declared a rare heatwave in Kerala, where at least 2 deaths have been recorded due to soaring temperatures.

Central and northwestern parts of the country, which includes major wheat producing states that typically witness heatwaves this time of the year, have been largely spared due to intermittent thundershowers last month, Mohapatra said.

The weather office said rainfall in May is likely to be normal and that it expects more showers during the second half of the monsoon season in August and September as compared to June and July due to the La Nina climate pattern, which typically brings higher rainfall.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/parts-of-india-record-hottest-april-as-heatwave-kills-nine-3003505

A case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code sections, including that of cheating, as well as the Information Technology Act. The man has shared the contact details, email addresses and beneficiary accounts used by the scammers with the police.

A 26-year-old data engineer lost Rs29.57 lakh to the cons who fleeced him on the pretext of helping him with online dating. In his police complaint lodged last week, the Andheri resident said that it all started on January 10 when he was surfing the internet for information related to dating.

During the search, he came across a phone number and dialled it. The call was answered by a woman, who told the complainant that she works for a dating company, which recommends high society people for dating. When the man inquired about charges, he was asked to pay at different stages for registration, profile selection, privacy and legal agreement.

After he accepted the deal, the fraudster shared the contact of another ‘colleague’, saying that she would assist him further. The latter then shared some profiles of women with the man, who liked one of the potential ‘dates’ and they even spoke with each other for a while. Between January 10 and March 2, the complainant paid Rs29.57 lakh in different accounts shared by the scammers. He only sensed the fraud after they abruptly stopped responding to his calls.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-26-year-old-data-engineer-loses-295-lakh-in-online-dating-fraud

The judge ordered arguments on framing of charges in the matter will be done on May 31. Earlier this year, court allowed NewsClick HR Head Amit Chakravarty to turn approver in the case.

Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance a charge sheet against NewsClick’s Prabir Purkayastha, founder and Editor-in-Chief, under UAPA, alleging the news portal received funds for pro-China content. The Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur found sufficient evidence, ordering the prosecution to provide copy of the charge sheet to Purkayastha.

The judge ordered arguments on framing of charges in the matter will be done on May 31. Earlier this year, court allowed NewsClick HR Head Amit Chakravarty to turn approver in the case.

The judge had pardoned Chakravarty, arrested in the case, on his application that claimed he had material information which he was willing to disclose to Delhi police, which is investigating the matter.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Chakravarty and Purkayastha on October 3 last year. They are currently in judicial custody.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal allegedly came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) — to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on October 3 against the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, police said.

Around 300 electronic gadgets were also seized from the offices of NewsClick and the residences of the journalists who were examined.

Following the raids, 46 individuals, including nine female journalists, were questioned by the Special Cell.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/singapore-airlines-ordered-to-pay-rs-2-lakh-to-indian-couple-for-mental-agony-heres-why-telangana-police-officer-11714540659040.html

Heavy rain and landslides have hit several hilly districts including Doda, Reasi, Kishtwar, Ramban and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir.

Five people have died and several have been injured in landslides and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir. Several homes have been damaged and hundreds of residents have been affected.
Heavy rain and landslides have hit several hilly districts including Doda, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Ramban and Baramulla. Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been closed for the last three days due to landslides at multiple places along the road.

In Kupwara, the situation has started to improve, with the water level receding and people returning to their damaged homes. As seen in the visuals from yesterday, a section of the road has washed away due to flash floods and several houses flooded in knee-deep water. A portion of a house facing the river has been washed off. Yesterday, officials issued a danger warning has been issued for Pohru Nallah in Kupwara.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/5-killed-several-injured-in-landslides-flash-floods-in-j-ks-kupwara-5555438

Schools in Delhi get bomb threat, police searching premises.

At least four schools in different parts of Delhi received emails threatening a bomb attack on Wednesday morning. As a precaution, the schools are being evacuated, and the Delhi Police are conducting a thorough search of the premises, officials said.

A bomb detection unit, bomb disposal team, and team from the Delhi Fire Service have been mobilised to the schools, where they are conducting a search operation.

“Information was received regarding a bomb in Delhi Public School, Dwarka. Delhi Police, Bomb Disposal Squad and fire tenders have arrived on the spot. Search is underway,” Delhi Police said in a statement.

Officials confirmed Mayur Vihar’s Mother Mary’s, Amity Saket and Sanskriti schools also received similar threats.

“An email regarding a bomb threat was received this morning at Mother Mary’s School, East Delhi Mayur Vihar. The school is being evacuated, and the premises are being thoroughly checked,” police said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/school-in-east-delhis-mayur-vihar-gets-bomb-threat-police-searching-premises-101714531628768.html

Manipur Police said a column of the Army’s Mahar Regiment had intercepted and detained the armed miscreants dressed in police fatigues.

A large group of women-led protesters confronted the Indian Army and forcefully released 11 miscreants after they were detained with arms and ammunition in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Tuesday, police said.

In a statement, the Manipur Police said, during patrolling, a column of the Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army intercepted and detained the armed miscreants dressed in police fatigues. News agency PTI, citing unnamed officials, reported that the army was patrolling in the Kumbi area when they intercepted two SUVs.

“On seeing the Army personnel, the occupants of the two vehicles fled, leaving behind their arms,” PTI quoted an official as saying.

The Manipur Police said the soldiers of the Mahar Regiment seized three AK rifles (7 magazines and 210 ammunition), five INSAS (13 magazines and 260 ammunition), two SLR (9 magazines and 180 ammunition, two hand grenades and bulletproof jackets and other items from the miscreants’ possession and took them into their custody.

However, a while later, ‘Meira Paibis’ – a civilian group of Meitei women – gathered at the spot and demanded that the weapons be handed over to them.

“A group of womenfolk started gathering and blocked the road so as to prevent the movement of security forces. On being informed by the Army about the developing situation, District Police rushed to the spot. On reaching, it was informed by the army personnel that the 11 persons have been snatched by the womenfolk during aggressive confrontation with them despite their best efforts,” the Manipur Police said in the statement issued on social media platform X (formally Twitter).

“Displaying dogged determination and intent, teams of both Manipur Police and the Indian Army were successful in breaking through a number of obstacles/ barriers created by hostile sympathizers and reach out to the the teams at Kumbi PS. The recovered weapons and ammunitions were kept in safe custody. The mob was later dispersed and the situation was brought under control. Necessary legal action is being taken up,” it added.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-women-protesters-stop-army-convoy-snatch-11-miscreants-say-police-videos-surfaced-101714521879401.html

Sharing a major update on Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha, party leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that he is in the United Kingdom for an eye surgery.

Bharadwaj told news agency ANI that there was some complication in his eyes. “…I was told that it was quite critical that he might have lost his eyesight as well,” he added.

Bharadwaj further said, “He has gone there to get treatment. I have my best wishes with him. He will be back soon in good health and will join the campaign (for Lok Sabha polls).”

Despite being physically absent from the field, Chadha has been active on social media, giving response and comments on the political happenings and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest.

Following the AAP national convenor’s arrest, Chadha had also posted a video saying that “You will arrest Kejriwal’s body, but you will not be able to arrest his thoughts.”

He had also joined the AAP’s display picture (DP) campaign and put ‘Kejriwal behind bars’ as his profile picture.

Recently, amid Kejriwal’s insulin row, Chadha again had posted on X, saying “Arvind Kejriwal has been a diabetic patient for many years. Kejriwal is on 54 units of insulin every day. It is being said that the administration in the jail is not giving him insulin.”

“This is extremely inhumane and against prison rules,” he added.

On April 28, the Delhi CM’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, took the reigns to campaign for the AAP in the absence of the party chief. In her first-ever in the national capital, Sunita held a road show in the East Delhi constituency.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/raghav-chadha-might-have-lost-eyesight-saurabh-bharadwaj-aap-mp-united-kingdom-eye-surgery-8872444.html

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih observed that while registration of a Hindu marriage under Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act facilitates proof of the marriage, it does not confer legitimacy if the marriage was not solemnised according to Section 7 of the Act, which specifies the requirements for a valid Hindu marriage ceremony.

The Supreme Court (SC) in a judgement clarified the legal requirements and sanctity of Hindu marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. The Court emphasised that for a Hindu marriage to be valid, it must be performed with the appropriate rites and ceremonies, such as saptapadi (seven steps around the sacred fire) if included, and proof of these ceremonies is essential in case of disputes.

Justice B V Nagaratna led bench said that a Hindu Marriage is sacrament, not an event for “song-dance”, “wining-dining”.

“A Hindu marriage is a samskara and a sacrament which has to be accorded its status as an institution of great value in Indian society. Therefore, we urge young men and women to think deeply about the institution of marriage even before they enter upon it and as to how sacred the said institution is, in Indian society. Marriage is not an event for ‘song and dance’ and ‘wining and dining’ or an occasion to demand and exchange dowry and gifts by undue pressure leading to possible initiation of criminal proceedings thereafter,” the court .

It added, “A marriage is not a commercial transaction. It is a solemn foundational event celebrated so as to establish a relationship between a man and a woman who acquire the status of a husband and wife for an evolving family in future which is a basic unit of Indian society.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih observed that while registration of a Hindu marriage under Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act facilitates proof of the marriage, it does not confer legitimacy if the marriage was not solemnised according to Section 7 of the Act, which specifies the requirements for a valid Hindu marriage ceremony.

“If there has been no marriage in accordance with Section 7, the registration would not confer legitimacy to the marriage. We find that the registration of Hindu marriages under the said provision is only to facilitate the proof of a Hindu marriage but for that, there has to be a Hindu marriage in accordance with Section 7 of the Act inasmuch as there must be a marriage ceremony which has taken place between the parties in accordance with the said provision. Although the parties may have complied with the requisite conditions for a valid Hindu marriage as per Section 5 of the Act in the absence of there being a “Hindu marriage” in accordance with Section 7 of the Act, i.e., solemnization of such a marriage, there would be no Hindu marriage in the eye of law.”

The Court also underscored the sacred character of Hindu marriage, calling it a sacrament and the foundation of a new family, based on mutual respect and partnership between spouses.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/hindu-marriage-invalid-without-requisite-ceremonies-registration-wont-make-it-legitimate-sc-article-109742731

The body of a 20-year-old medical aspirant was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his room in Kota.

A 20-year-old medical aspirant was found hanging in his room just days before his third attempt at cracking the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam. A note found at the scene read: “Sorry papa, I couldn’t do it this year as well”.

The student, identified as Bharat Kumar Rajput, was from Rajasthan. He was found hanging from the ceiling fan on Tuesday morning. This is the second suspected suicide case in Kota in the past 48 hours.

Rajput had previously attempted the NEET exam twice and was set to appear for the third time on May 5.

He was staying as a paying guest in the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar area and was preparing for the medical entrance exam for the past year. His nephew, Rohit, shared the room with him and was also preparing for Neet exams, police said.

Around 10.30 am on Tuesday, Rohit briefly left the room. He discovered his uncle’s lifeless body after he returned.

At around 11.15 am, when Rohit returned, he found the room was closed from the inside, so he peeped through a window and saw Bharat hanging from the ceiling fan with a bedsheet, Jawahar Nagar Sub Inspector Gopal Singh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The police recovered a note from the room, saying ‘Sorry Papa, main is saal bhi nahi kar paya’ (Sorry papa, I couldn’t do it this year as well).

According to the police, preliminary investigations suggest the pressure of underperformance in his third attempt may have pushed Rajput to take such a drastic step.

The body has been moved to the mortuary of MBS Hospital for post-mortem.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/neet-aspirant-kills-self-in-kota-2nd-suicide-case-in-48-hours-2533692-2024-04-30

BharatPe co-founder, Bhavik Koladiya had moved the High Court arguing that he transferred his shares to Ashneer Grover in December 2022 but that Grover never paid him for the same.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday restrained former managing director of BharatPe, Ashneer Grover from selling or creating any third parties rights on the shares transferred to him by co-founder Bhavik Koladiya.

Bhavik Koladiya had moved the High Court arguing that he transferred these shares to Ashneer Grover in December 2022 but that Grover never paid him for the same.

Justice Prateek Jalan today allowed an interim relief application filed by Koladiya and said that the interim order will remain in force till the Court decides on Koladiya’s case against Grover.

After pronouncing the order, Justice Jalan complimented Grover’s counsel advocate Giriraj Subramanium.

“I must complimented you on the presentation of the case, even though you could not ultimately prevail,” Justice Jalan said.

Bhavik Koladiya has submitted that he had agreed to transfer 1,611 of his 2,900 shares (which are now 16,110 shares) to Grover by way of an agreement dated December 3, 2022. The consideration for the transfer of the 1,611 shares was approximately ₹88 lakhs.

He claimed that till date, Grover has not paid the share purchase consideration.

Koladiya founded the fintech firm in 2017 with Shashvat Nakrani. In 2018, they started looking for a chief executive, after which Grover came on board.

According to a news report in The Economic Times, Koladiya (the largest shareholder in the company) had to leave the company, allegedly because his past conviction in the United States in a credit card fraud case was hindering talks with investors.

The same ET report said that when he resigned, Koladiya transferred his shares to Grover, Nakrani and one Mansukhbhai Mohanbhai Nakrani, as well as some other early-stage and angel investors.

It was argued before the Court that between February and early March 2022, Grover started claiming property in the 16,110 shares by publicly proclaiming himself to be the single largest shareholder of BharatPe.

Koladiya said that Grover refused to return his shares when requested, prompting him to move the High Court for relief.

Meanwhile, Grover has denied the allegations and said that the agreement referred to by Koladiya’s counsel was forged and fabricated.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/corporate/wilson-sonsini-partner-neel-maitra-joins-dechert-llp

The Court also questioned the agency on the time gap between initiation of proceedings and the action of arrest of the Delhi CM.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the timing of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta posed the following questions to the ED, to be answered on the next date of hearing on Friday:

1. Without there being adjudicatory proceeding, can you have criminal proceedings initiated in terms of what has been held in Pankaj Bansal v Union of India and Vijay Madanlal v. Union of India…there are no proceedings of attachment in this case so far, and if there are, then show how the petitioner is involved.

2. As far as the Manish Sisodia case is concerned, there are findings in favour and against…tell us where does the Kejriwal case lie then?

3. They think threshold of Section 19 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which casts onus on prosecution and not on accused is fairly high and thus asking for regular bail does not happen as they are confronted with Section 45 and onus shifts on them. So how do we interpret it? Do we make the threshold much higher and ensure that standard is same to find the person who is guilty?

4. Then the time gap between initiation of proceedings and then the action of arrest etc…if you see Section 8, there is a limit of 365 days..though we are in bail matter…See other option is to not arrest…life and liberty is important.

5. Then the timing of arrest which is just before the general elections.

In Vijay Madanlal, the Court had upheld the provisions of the PMLA. However, that judgment is under review. Section 19 of the PMLA gives ED officers the power to arrest persons if there is “reason to believe” that an offence has been committed. Section 45 contains the grounds for granting bail in PMLA offences.

In Pankaj Bansal, the Court held that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) must supply in writing the grounds of arrest to persons accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Court was told on Tuesday that there was no proof of Kejriwal’s direct involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy case being probed by the ED.

“No trace of proceeds of crime and lack of proof of direct involvement…Possession of even unaccounted property acquired by legal means will not constitute proceeds of crime,” Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, said.

Singhvi drew the Court’s attention to the statements of Magunta Reddy, on the basis of which the Delhi CM was arrested.

“Please see the chart…the questions to Mr Magunta Reddy…it was asked when did he meet Kejriwal…it was stated he met for 5-6 minutes to discuss charity work and not the policy in question.”

He added that Magunta Reddy gave the statement five months after his son Raghav Reddy was arrested, and once the former turned approver, ED did not object to the latter getting bail.

“On September 16, no allegation against Arvind Kejriwal. Raghav says he does not know and then after 5 months he is arrested and then he makes the 4 statements…this happens after arrest and he gives the incriminating statement against kejriwal….he made 8 statements in total. No allegation (against Kejriwal) in six statements…then last two has allegations…this is a new technique of statement after arrest…then raghav gets absolute bail.”

He also pointed out how Raghav Reddy joined the Telugu Desam Party, an ally of the BJP, after he was released.

After going through the statements of another approver, Sarath Reddy, Singhvi argued,

“This is creating higher threshold of Section 45 (which provides for bail conditions under PMLA) and reading it into the predicate offence.”

The Court then told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the ED,

“Yes, Mr Raju, we will ask you this. This was not arising in Sanjay Singh case, but here we will ask you.”

Singhvi then pointed out that AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair was arrested in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case in November 2022, and questioned why Kejriwal was arrested only in March 2024.

Concluding his arguments, Singhvi said that Section 50 of the PMLA, which gives the power to ED officers in respect of summons, documents and evidence, does not apply to this case. Justice Khanna observed,

“There is a discussion on “reasons to believe” in Vijay Madanlal…contours of Section 19 PMLA is discussed.”

The judge went on to pose the question,

“What I am saying is that there has to be attachment, then offence, and result of prosecution resulting in final consequence…and if you read this (para 324 of Vijay Madanlal judgment) then it appears that this was the scheme and there were direct observations regarding Section 19 PMLA…”

Towards the end of the hearing, Justice Khanna remarked,

“Initially the thought did come whether I should hear this case because I had decided the Manish Sisodia matter. But then it would be said that I am not taking difficult cases or something…”

Kejriwal had challenged his arrest and remand before the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court dismissed his plea in the matter.

The ED’s money laundering probe against Kejriwal stems from a case registered by the CBI on August 17, 2022 in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22.

The CBI case was registered on a complaint made by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on July 20, 2022.

It has been alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-questions-timing-arvind-kejriwal-arrest-ed-before-lok-sabha-elections

Modi also claimed that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc has come up with a ‘formula’ whereby the parties in the Opposition alliance will get the PM’s post for one year each if they come to power.

Latur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that unlike the practice during Congress regime of sending dossiers to Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks, the BJP-led government hits terrorists on their home turf.

“During the Congress regime, the news headlines were about India handing over another dossier to Pakistan about terror activities.

“It used to be big news. Some of our friends in the media used to clap after any such dossier was sent,” Modi said at an election rally in Maharashtra’s Latur.

“Today, India doesn’t send dossiers. Aaj Bharat ghar mein ghus ke marta hai (Today, India kills terrorists on their home turf),” Modi said. “The headlines in Naya Bharat are: Mission LOC, India punishes Pakistan through surgical strikes,” Modi said.

Modi also claimed that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc has come up with a “formula” whereby the parties in the opposition alliance will get the PM’s post for one year each if they come to power.”

With such a system, the good of the country cannot be expected, Modi said.

“Some people want to make the PM in instalments. They hey have decided to have a PM each year,” he said.

Modi said Congress destroyed India’s economy during its regime.

Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “When I speak of ‘EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, the Prince of Congress suffers from fever”. “Those who looted the country are behind bars. Those who looted the country will have to pay back. And this is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.

“The people of our country have always been hardworking and talented, but the Congress party committed the sin of crushing their dreams,” he said.

The Congress thought about only one family, but Modi thinks about every family of Bharat, he said.

“In 2014 and 2019, you gave us a huge mandate. We utilised it not to snatch anything from anyone, but to provide benefits and ensure welfare. Ours is a government that truly gives strength to social justice,” Modi said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/india-doesnt-send-dossiers-we-kill-by-entering-their-homes-pm-modi-3001344

There are many small-time politicians who have by chance become one-time MLAs. All parties have already declared their candidates, how can any party change their candidates once they have been announced?

On Sunday, Congress’s Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the post of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President citing unease with the alliance between his party and the AAP. Saman Husain speaks to him about the reasons behind his departure, the alliance with AAP, and his next steps

If he thinks that the alliance was formed due to my initiatives, then he must consider me to be a really big leader, so much so that they didn’t listen to Sonia ji or Rahul ji but ended up being part of the alliance because of me. Do you think that I will be the one to take the alliance forward and then not keep a Lok Sabha seat for myself? The INDIA bloc was formed in April, back when the first meeting took place in Patna. I was not president of DPCC at that point of time. The second meeting took place in Bengaluru, and I was still not the president at that point in time. The third meeting took place in Mumbai and I was still not president of DPCC. I became the president on September 1, and right after that Sanjay Singh was imprisoned. Then how does he know that the alliance was formed because of me?

This feeling against the alliance is rooted in the fact that Ajay Maken did a press conference on Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’… the DPCC president before me, Anil Chaudhary, had registered an FIR against (Kejriwal), Sandeep Dikshit had openly opposed the alliance — even though I never openly criticised it, these facts are not hidden from anyone… Nonetheless, the high command made a decision to go forward with the alliance so I tried my best to ensure the whole party fell in line. On the night when Kejriwal was arrested, I visited his house, and I also took Sandeep Dikshit and Subhash Chopra along with me due to the high command’s directions. Do you think Sandeep Dikshit, against whose mother the AAP had been putting allegations, would visit Kejriwal’s house had there not been any pressure from the high command? There, I said that I was against the timing of the arrest; we never gave them a clean chit.

Which old party leaders would have been a better fit for the Lok Sabha candidature as opposed to Udit Raj and Kanhaiya Kumar?

I do not want to comment on this because right now this is not the issue. I will also go into the merits of candidates someday but currently the issue is, and my only grudge, is that when you’re announcing candidates, you should at least informally inform the DPCC about your final decision. Just as everybody else got to know about the final candidates through the media, so did I. Despite being DPCC president, I was not informed; there is a basic dignity that should be maintained.

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/despite-being-dpcc-president-was-not-informed-of-candidates-arvinder-singh-lovely-9297895/

The Court said that the fundamental rights of young children to receive textbooks cannot be trampled upon merely because the Chief Minister is not available.

Arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cannot be ground for non-distribution of school textbooks to students, the Delhi High Court said on Monday while allowing the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to incur the expenses required for the same [Social Jurist v Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors].

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said that fundamental rights of young children cannot be trampled upon merely because the Chief Minister is not available.

“Consequently, this Court is of the view that non-availability of Chief Minister or non-formation of a Standing Committee or disputes pertaining to appointment of an aldermen by the Hon’ble LG or non-delivery of judgment by a competent Court or non-compliance of certain provisions of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act cannot come in the way of the school-going children receiving their free text books, writing material and uniform forthwith,” the Court said.

Hence, it proceeded to direct the following:

“Consequently, as the students of MCD schools are entitled for free text books, writing material and uniform in accordance with their Constitutional and statutory rights, and the schools are going to close for summer vacations shortly, this Court directs the Commissioner, MCD to incur the expenditure required for fulfilling the said obligations forthwith without being constrained by the expenditure limit of Rs. Five crores. However, the expenditure incurred by the Commissioner, MCD shall be subject to statutory audit.”

The Delhi government had earlier told the Court that the standing committee of MCD is empowered to take decision as regards the finances of the MCD but the constitution of standing committee is under dispute which is pending before the Supreme Court.

It had further stated that regarding the delegation of such powers regarding finance to the MCD Commissioner, the Chief Minister’s approval would be required and since the Delhi CM is lodged in jail in a money laundering case, the same is yet to be obtained.

The Court, however, took strong objection to the argument, stating that it is against national interest, if a Chief Minister remains absent for so long.

“It amounts to an admission that the Delhi Government, due to absence of the Chief Minister is at a standstill. A Chief Minister’s post in any State, leave alone a buzzing capital city like Delhi is not a ceremonial post. It is a post where the office holder (when in office) has to be virtually available 24 x 7 to deal with any crisis or natural disaster like flooding, fire, disease etc. National interest and public interest demands that no person who holds this post is incommunicado or absent for a long stretch of time or for an uncertain period time,” the Court said.

The order was passed in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by an organisation named Social Jurist

The plea stated that the students studying in MCD schools have not received textbooks and were studying in tin sheds because of the logjam in the civic body.

During one of the earlier hearings in the case, the MCD Commissioner had joined the proceedings and informed the Bench that nearly two lakh students do not have any bank account, uniform and, therefore, stationery reimbursement has not been made to these students.

He had stated that one of the major reasons for non-distribution of notebooks, stationery items, uniforms and school bags is ‘non-formation of Standing Committees’ and that only Standing Committee has the power and jurisdiction to award contracts worth more than ₹5 crores.

The Court had then observed that there cannot be a vacuum and if the Standing Committee is not available for any reason, the financial power needs to be delegated to an appropriate authority by the Delhi government.

The High Court had castigated the AAP government for its failure to provide textbooks to students.

The Bench had remarked that Delhi government is only interested in appropriation of power and is putting personal interests over national interest.

The Court had remarked that it arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cannot be an excuse to create vacuum in the governance and that it is “the personal call of the Chief Minister that he wants the government to be paralysed”.

It had also commented on the conduct of Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and said that he has turned a blind eye to the plight of students and is shedding crocodile tears.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/against-national-interest-cm-arvind-kejriwal-absent-himself-long-delhi-high-court

Actor and fitness influencer Sahil Khan was arrested by Mumbai police in connection with the Mahadev betting app case after a 40-hour-long chase across five states.

The Mumbai police arrested actor and influencer Sahil Khan on Sunday in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. He was arrested from a hotel in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur and was brought to Mumbai. He has been remanded to police custody until May 1.

The 47-year-old was caught by the police after over a forty-hour-long chase as Khan kept changing his locations to evade arrest. He also switched off his mobile phone at times, making it difficult for the officials to trace him.

The Mumbai Police are probing an approximately Rs 15,000 crore scam linked to the illegal Mahadev betting app, a platform which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering and hawala transactions.

Sahil Khan, also a fitness entrepreneur, and his driver fled Mumbai on April 25 when a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the case. His first stop was in Goa, where he spent a few hours before heading to Karnataka. Meanwhile, investigators learn that he had fled from Mumbai and wasn’t answering calls.

In Karnataka, as per officials, he spent another few hours, rested for a while, and then headed to Hyderabad. He booked a room there, and when not required, he switched off his mobile phone. However, investigators from Mumbai Crime managed to get details of the driver and his location through his cell phone too.

Suspecting that police officials were closing in, Khan then asked the driver to proceed towards the Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra border, passing through the Gadchiroli district and heading to Naxal-hit regions.

When the driver refused to drive at night in the heavily dense forested area where Naxal presence is suspected, Khan forced him to keep moving.

Eventually, they halted at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh and booked a room at a private hotel, from where the police officials picked him up, ending almost an 1800-kilometre chase.

Khan wore masks and towers throughout the journey to cover his face to avoid getting identified, police officials added.

WHAT WAS SAHIL KHAN’S ROLE?

Sahil Khan, known for films like ‘Style’ and ‘Excuse Me’, is accused of promoting applications like The Lion Book app, an app linked to the Mahadev betting network, on social media. He even attended events in the UAE related to the app launch and celebration parties.

Seeing the huge profits in the betting network run illegally from UAE, Khan also became a partner in one of the betting apps named Lotus 24/7, which provided a similar illegal online platform for betting, resulting in illegal profits.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sahil-khan-mahadev-betting-app-case-1800-kilometre-chase-5-states-arrested-mumbai-police-2533001-2024-04-29

Prachi Nigam, from UP’s Sitapur, topped her class 10 exams by scoring 98.5%. Some people criticized her facial hair, however, others showed support for the teenager and congratulated her on her performance in the board examination.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary came out in support of the UP’s Class 10 Board Exam topper who was trolled mercilessly by the netizens for her facial hair and told ‘not to get disheartened by the trollers as it’s not the appearances but marks that matters’. Other than the Congress leader, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati’s nephew and BSP’s National Secretary Akash Anand too extended support to the trollers.

The development came after Prachi Nigam, from Sitapur, who topped her class 10 exams faced social media trolling for her facial hair post-results. Despite scoring 98.5%, Nigam was subjected to cyberbullying and body shaming. Nigam’s academic achievement, which should have been celebrated, yet she endured unnecessary criticism based on her appearance.

However, in such a tough time, Prachi said a call from Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, turned out to be a morale booster for her. “I am thankful to Priyanka Didi for supporting me in the tough times,” said Prachi Nigam, UP’s class 10 topper.

Prachi Nigam’s father Chandra Prakash Nigam, who is a contractor by profession said the Congress leader called him on Saturday evening and told him to boost up his morale of Prachi and not to get upset by the trollers as it’s only the marks that matter. “She also congratulated me for my daughter’s achievement,” he told News18.

He said Priyanka Gandhi’s words turned out to be the biggest support for his daughter who was targeted by the cyberbullies. Besides, Prachi’s father also thanked BSP Supremo Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand who too extended his support to Prachi. BSP National Coordinator Akash Anand’s post on his ‘X’ account reads, ‘Prachi sister, first of all I heartily congratulate you for topping the Uttar Pradesh Board. On one hand, where the sisters and daughters of the country are making their name and standing on their own feet, it is very sad to see the petty mentality of some people in the society. Prachi, listening to you in this interview has brought tears to my eyes and I am also angry at these vile people. But Prachi, the way you faced them and emerged as a winner, I salute you.”

Anand’s post further reads “Prachi, your talent can never be suppressed by people with negative thinking. I heartily wish you a bright future with many good wishes.”

Prachi was targeted after her photo went viral on social media. The trollers bullied Prachi to the extent that in a statement she said that she wished that she hadn’t topped the exam if she knew that she would be judged by her appearances and not by her achievements.

But later on, Prachi handled the trollers like a pro, stating that those who feel weird about her facial hair can continue trolling as it doesn’t make a difference to her now.

Source : https://www.news18.com/education-career/not-appearances-marks-matter-priyanka-gandhi-comes-out-in-support-of-up-board-10th-topper-trolled-for-her-facial-hair-8870136.html

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department officials have collected samples from an outlet of McDonald’s in Noida’s Sector 18 and Theobroma bakery in Sector 104.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (FDA) officials collected samples from an outlet of McDonald’s in Noida Sector 18 and Theobroma bakery in Sector 104 following a complaint by a consumer who fell sick allegedly after consuming food items from these outlets, officials said on Monday.

The complaints were lodged with the Food Safety Connect portal of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), officials said.

According to officials, the complaint against the McDonald’s outlet in Noida Sector 18 is that a consumer fell sick after consuming a burger and french fries from the outlet.

Following the complaint, a team of the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA), Gautam Buddh Nagar, immediately took action and visited McDonald’s at Noida Sector 18 to collect the samples.

“We got a complaint on the portal against McDonald’s. The customer fell ill after consuming aloo tikki and french fries. We have taken action in this regard and taken samples of palm oil, cheese, and mayonnaise…,” said Archana Dheeran, Assistant Commissioner (Food) FDA, Gautam Buddh Nagar.

In the second incident, a woman fell sick after consuming a stale cake ordered from Theobroma bakery in Noida Sector 104. Following the complaint, an FDA team collected samples of the cake after receiving the complaint.

“In another case, a complaint came against Theobroma bakery where someone fell ill (in Noida) after consuming stale cake from the bakery…We took a sample of the pineapple cake and sent it to the laboratory…If the product fails in the report, then a case will be registered,” Dheeran said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/noida-news/customers-fall-ill-after-having-food-from-noidas-mcdonalds-theobroma-probe-on-5553720#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Amrita Pandey had shared a cryptic note on her WhatsApp status a few hours before her death. In 2022, she got married to Chandramani Jhangad, a resident of Bilaspur, Chattisgarh.

Bhojpuri actress Amrita Pandey was found dead at her apartment in Bihar on April 27. According to multiple media reports, Amrita had shared a cryptic note on her WhatsApp status a few hours before her death. “Do naav me savaar thi uski zindagi, humne apni naav duba ke uska safar aasaan kar diya (Their life was on two boats, we made their path easier by sinking our boat),” read her alleged post.

Amrita’s family has claimed that she was worried about her career as she wasn’t getting enough work opportunities, according to a report in Times of India.com. Amrita was also reportedly battling depression.

In 2022, she had tied the knot with Chandramani Jhangad, a Mumbai-based resident originally from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, who works as an animation engineer. Amrita was last seen in web series ‘Pratishodh’. She had also worked with Bhojpuri superstar Khesari Lal Yadav in the film ‘Deewanapan’.

The Jogsar Police received the news of a woman’s alleged suicide at the Divyadharma Apartment in Adampur Ship Ghat on April 27. Upon arrival and entry into the premises, they discovered the body of actress Amrita Pandey lying on the bed. According to statements from family members quoted by TOI, Amrita’s sister entered her room around 3:30 pm and found the actress hanging from a noose. Efforts were made to save her, and Amrita was rushed to the nearest hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival. The Jogsar police station is currently investigating her death.

Source : https://www.news18.com/movies/bhojpuri-actor-amrita-pandey-found-dead-in-her-bihar-home-uploaded-cryptic-note-hours-before-death-8871166.html

​​The email was sent to many airports, including Bhopal. Security was immediately strengthened at the airport and intensive checks were conducted.

Security has been beefed up at the Bhopal Airport after a bomb threat was received via email, threatening that three bombs were planted to explode within a few hours at city’s Raja Bhoj Airport.

The email was sent to many airports, including Bhopal. Security was immediately strengthened at the airport and intensive checks were conducted. However, nothing was found. A complaint has been filed with the local police station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Zone 4) Sundar Singh Kanesh told ANI over the phone, “The Airport Authority has lodged a complaint stating they received a bomb threat email threatening to explode the airport. The email mentioned a bomb has been placed on a plane, posing a threat of an explosion at the airport.”

Goa, Jaipur, Kanpur Airports Receive Bomb Threats

Meanwhile, Dabolim airport in Goa also received a bomb threat via email on Monday, prompting heightened security measures. However, flight operations remained unaffected.

“We received an email. We have alerted our security agencies and airlines. We are taking the necessary action on this. As of now, there is no panic. (Flight) operations are normal. We are doing general additional security checks,” Dabolim Airport Director SVT Dhanamjaya Rao said.

Jaipur and Kanpur airports also received similar bomb threat emails on Monday, following which authorities took measures to enhance security on premises of these airports. Security agencies on Monday jointly conducted a thorough investigation at Jaipur airport after it received a bomb threat.

SHO of Airport police station Moti Lal said an email was sent by an unknown person to the airport authorities threatening a bomb blast.

“The airport was thoroughly checked but nothing suspicious was found,” he said, adding that a similar threat was given on April 26.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/bhopals-raja-bhoj-airport-dabolim-airport-eceived-a-bomb-threat-security-tightened-article-109708816

Pavan Kunchala Joins the Ranks of LPU Success Stories with a Whopping 1 Crore Package from TC Central. Over 1100+ Students from Batches 22-23 Achieve Remarkable Salary Packages of Rs 10 Lakhs and above.

Lovely Professional University (LPU) continues to break records in the field of higher education with its exceptional placement achievements. The class of 2023 has witnessed phenomenal success, with numerous students securing impressive salary packages. Notably, Yasir M., a student from LPU’s class of 2018, has created history by securing an astounding Rs. 3 crore package in a global IT giant. Another student, Pavan Kunchala, has also received a package of Rs. 1 crore from TC Central, an IT company.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that more than 1100 students from the batches of 2022-2023 have received packages of 10 lakhs and above. The outstanding performance of LPU students extends beyond these notable cases. Yashasvi Yaduvanshi, a B Tech Computer Science and Engineering student, has recently been selected by Microsoft with a staggering package of Rs. 52.08 Lakhs. In addition, Mechanical Engineering students achieved the highest CTC of Rs. 54.9 Lakhs, while Architecture and MBA students received packages up to Rs. 31.69 Lakhs and Rs. 29.3 Lakhs, respectively.

The placement season for LPU’s class of 2023-24 has been a resounding success, with the top 10% of students receiving an impressive average package of 12.3 lakhs. These numbers surpass the averages of many top IITs, solidifying LPU’s reputation as a leading institution in talent development. LPU’s nurturing environment and unwavering commitment to its students’ growth have enabled them to excel in the fiercely competitive job market.

The success stories of LPU alumni further testify to the university’s excellence. Graduates from LPU are currently occupying prestigious positions in renowned corporations such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, with packages exceeding 1 crore. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the exceptional talent pool produced by LPU. Notably, LPU students have received over 5500 placement offers from esteemed Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, Cognizant, Accenture, IBM, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, Barclays, Bank of America, and many others. The consistent participation of these companies in LPU’s campus recruitment drives reaffirms the recognition of LPU’s students as valuable assets in the professional world.

Dr. Ashok Mittal, Chancellor of LPU and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), extends his heartfelt congratulations to the students on their remarkable achievements. He emphasizes LPU’s unwavering commitment to fostering intellectual and interpersonal growth among its students. Dr. Mittal acknowledges the indispensable role played by LPU’s Division of Career Services and dedicated mentors in helping students realize their dreams of commencing their careers with lucrative packages.

Mrs.Rashmi Mittal, Pro Chancellor of LPU added that LPU’s engineering programs have garnered global recognition, securing the 2nd position in India in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023 and the 3rd position in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI)-2023. These prestigious accolades exemplify the university’s dedication to providing a holistic education that equips students with the skills and knowledge required for success in the real world.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/impact-feature/story/lovely-professional-university-lpu-graduate-secures-rs-3-crore-package-in-global-it-giant-2531971-2024-04-26

Days after the Supreme Court’s rebuke, the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority informed the court that it had on April 15 issued orders to Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, suspending the manufacturing licences for 14 of their products with immediate effect.

Days after the Supreme Court’s rebuke, the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority informed the court that it had on April 15 issued orders to Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, suspending the manufacturing licences for 14 of their products with immediate effect.

The action has been taken under Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, for repeated violations under the said Acts and Rules. The said order was also marked to the Drug Inspector and District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Haridwar to ensure strict compliance, it said.

The names of the products are ‘Swasari Gold’, ‘Swasari Vati, Bronchom’, ‘Swasari Pravahi’, ‘Swasari Avaleh’, ‘Mukta Vati Extra Power’, ‘Lipidom’, ‘Bp Grit’, ‘Madhugrit’, ‘Madhunashini Vati Extra Power’, ‘Livamrit Advance’, ‘Livogrit’, ‘Eyegrit Gold’ and ‘Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop’.

An affidavit in this regard was filed by Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority’s Joint Director Mithilesh Kumar. The top court will consider the matter on Tuesday.

On April 16, 2024, the Drug Inspector or District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Haridwar, filed a criminal complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar, against Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Limited under Sections 3, 4 and 7 of the DMR Act.

Among other actions, the authority said on April 23, 2024, it issued a letter to all Ayurvedic/Unani medicine factories in Uttarakhand on the basis of a communication by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and passed multiple directions, including that any Ayurvedic/Unani medicine factory should strictly comply with the Drug and Magic Remedies Act, 1954 and no pharmaceutical factory would claim to be ‘Approved/Certified’ by the Ministry of AYUSH on the label of the product.

The directions also stated advertisements should comply with provisions under Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, Emblems and Names Act, 1950; and every pharmaceutical factory shall ensure complete compliance with Rules 161, 161A and 161B of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1945 for labeling of their products.

The join director also tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology against any inadvertent and unintentional non-compliance with the orders of the court and assured the bench he would commit no deliberate or wilful act which would disobey any order of the court or undermine its majesty.

He said, he is “completely aware of the gravity of the situation and seriousness of the matter at hand and has always endeavoured to discharge duties to the best of his capacity and in accordance with law”.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttarakhand-suspends-licences-of-14-patanjali-ayurved-divya-pharmacy-products-supreme-court-told-3000344

Luckily, the pilot of the helicopter regained control of the chopper and managed to take off safely along with the Home Minister inside.

Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah on Monday had a close encounter which could have been a major accident after his helicopter lost control while taking off in Bihar’s Begusarai. The incident was caught on camera, and the video of the incident is circulating on social media. It can be seen in the video that the helicopter of Union Home Minister Amit Shah lost control for some time and was seen moving in the air in another direction.

There are reports that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was inside the chopper when the incident occurred and was safe. Luckily, the pilot of the helicopter regained control of the chopper and managed to take off safely along with the Home Minister inside. A major accident was averted as the pilot realized at the right time that the chopper was going out of control.

Pilot Loses Control Of Chopper

The video of the incident is going viral on social media, and it can be seen in the video that the helicopter is hovering at a very short height above the land. The video shows that the pilot is struggling to gain control of the helicopter while it is moving back and forth before taking off safely. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is busy promoting BJP during the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The Home Minister needs to fly from one destination to another due to the ongoing elections.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/fortunate-amit-shah-escapes-major-accident-after-helicopter-loses-control-while-taking-off-in-bihars-begusarai-video-surfaces

A woman has filed a police case against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna over alleged sexual assault, the police said today. The First Information Report (FIR) has been filed with Holenarasipur police station in Hassan district

A woman has filed a police case against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna over alleged sexual assault, the police said today amid a huge row over purported obscene videos. The First Information Report (FIR) has been filed with Holenarasipur police station in Hassan district.

Prajwal Revanna, the Janata Dal (Secular) MP and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has denied the allegations and filed a police complaint too, saying the obscene videos in circulation were morphed.

Prajwal Revanna left for Germany yesterday morning.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah yesterday said the state government will form a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the obscene videos case.

The decision to set up the SIT came after the state women’s commission recommended the Siddaramaiah government to take action.

Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted, the Chief Minister said.

In the FIR, the survivor alleged she was sexually abused multiple times between 2019 and 2022. The complaint will be sent to the new SIT. More women are likely to come forward to file cases, sources said.

Prajwal Revanna was the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, where voting was held in the second phase on April 26. Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), joined the NDA in September last year.

The BJP has distanced itself from Prajwal Revanna amid the controversy around his purported sex tapes.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sexual-harassment-case-filed-against-deve-gowdas-grandson-prajwal-revanna-5543045#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Sources said that the Tihar Jail administration has cited the visit of Delhi Minister Atishi, who will meet the Chief Minister on Monday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal will not be able to meet him in Tihar jail on Monday. The jail authorities have refused permission for the scheduled visit, Mr Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party has claimed.

Sources said that the Tihar Jail administration has cited the visit of Delhi Minister Atishi, who will meet the Chief Minister on Monday.

On Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is coming to meet him.

Sources said jail rules say two people can come to meet a jailed person at a time.

When Mr Mann went to meet Mr Kejriwal in Tihar Jail on April 15, AAP’s Organisation General Secretary Sandeep Pathak accompanied him.

Sources in Tihar Jail said after the meeting with Atishi and Bhagwant Mann, Sunita Kejriwal could be allowed to meet Mr Kejriwal after Tuesday.

Jail rules, however, say only two visits can be allowed in a week. So if Atishi meets Arvind Kejriwal on Monday and Bhagwant Mann meets him on Tuesday, then no other meeting with Arvind Kejriwal can be held in this week.

It is possible that Sunita Kejriwal will only be allowed to meet him next week.

Mr Kejriwal has been in jail since April 1. He was arrested on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case.

His stay in Tihar has been marked by a massive row over his diabetes and medication, with the Chief Minister and his party alleging that the authorities had withheld medication since his arrest. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Mr Kejriwal has been eating food that is inappropriate for diabetics.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tihar-authorities-not-allowing-arvind-kejriwals-wife-to-meet-him-claims-aap-5546279

The accident took place late Sunday night near Kathia village when the victims were returning after attending a family function, a senior police official said.

Five women and three children were killed and 23 persons injured when a goods vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara district, police said on Monday.

The accident took place late Sunday night near Kathia village when the victims were returning after attending a family function, a senior police official said.

The victims, natives of Patharra village, were returning after attending a family function in Tiraiyya village, the official said.

The goods vehicle collided with the mini truck that was parked by the roadside, the official said.

Those killed were identified as Bhuri Nishad (50), Neera Sahu (55), Geeta Sahu (60), Agniya Sahu (60), Khushbu Sahu (39), Madhu Sahu (5), Rikesh Nishad (6) and Twinkle Nishad (6), he said.

The injured persons were admitted to two hospitals. Later, four critically injured persons were shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur, he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chhattisgarh/8-killed-23-injured-as-goods-vehicle-collides-with-truck-in-chhattisgarhs-bemetara-district-2998950

India sizzled under a scorching sun on Sunday, with over 150 stations of the India Meteorological Department reporting maximum temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Heatwave and severe heatwave conditions were observed in northern, eastern, and southern states.

India sizzled under a scorching sun on Sunday, with over 150 stations of the India Meteorological Department reporting maximum temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Heatwave and severe heatwave conditions were observed in northern, eastern, and southern states.

In the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, Nandyal and Kurnool recorded the highest temperatures, surpassing 45 degrees Celsius. Nandyal reached a scorching 45.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Kurnool at 45.2 degrees Celsius.

Blistering heat persisted in Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, while hot and humid conditions prevailed in various parts of interior Karnataka. Raichur and Kalaburgi recorded maximum temperatures of 43 degrees and 42.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Across the country, 155 stations of the India Meteorological Department reported maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with numerous areas in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh experiencing temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius.

“Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist over east and south peninsular India in the next five days. In north-west India, rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning and gusty winds are likely tomorrow,” said an IMD official.

Amidst soaring temperatures, 94 Lok Sabha seats will vote in the third phase of the seven-phase Parliamentary election. Among the states to vote on May 7 are Gujarat and the remaining seats of Karnataka where the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius in cities including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Gadag and Bagalkot.

Heatwave conditions have persisted over Odisha since April 15 and Gangetic West Bengal since April 17. Three stations in Odisha – Baripada, Boudh, and Angul – reported maximum temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-swelters-as-over-150-imd-stations-report-temperatures-above-40c-2998794

The accident took place late Sunday night near Kathia village when the victims were returning after attending a family function.

Five women and three children were killed and 23 persons injured when a goods vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara district, police said on Monday.

The accident took place late Sunday night near Kathia village when the victims were returning after attending a family function, a senior police official said.

Victims were returning from a family function

The victims, natives of Patharra village, were returning after attending a family function in Tiraiyya village, the official said.

The goods vehicle collided with the mini truck that was parked by the roadside, the official said.

Victims identified

Those killed were identified as Bhuri Nishad (50), Neera Sahu (55), Geeta Sahu (60), Agniya Sahu (60), Khushbu Sahu (39), Madhu Sahu (5), Rikesh Nishad (6) and Twinkle Nishad (6), he said.

The injured persons were admitted to two hospitals. Later, four critically injured persons were shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur, he said.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/tragic-at-least-8-people-dead-including-3-children-after-goods-vehicle-collides-with-truck-in-chhattisgarhs-bemetara

The NIA was looking for both Abdul Matheen Taha (30) and Mussavir Hussain Shazib (30) as part of its investigation into Al-Hind module case, the officials said.

The two persons arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, 2024, were wanted since 2020 in another terror case, according to officials.

The NIA was looking for both Abdul Matheen Taha (30) and Mussavir Hussain Shazib (30) as part of its investigation into Al-Hind module case, the officials said. However the duo managed to elude arrest and during their time on the run, they stayed for more than 10 days in Goregaon and Malad, then Ratnagiri, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The NIA is now trying to identify those who gave the suspects shelter and financial support.

Details About Al Hind

Al Hind module was formed by Bengaluru-based Mehboob Pasha and Cuddalore-based Khaja Moideen, who recruited several young Muslims in south India, including Taha and Shazib. Karnataka police busted the module in 2020 by arresting the masterminds and their associates, but Taha and Shazib managed to escape and reached Mumbai.

During its investigation, the NIA found that Al-Hind had been in close contact with the Maharashtra terror module of ISIS, which was recently dismantled by the agency. Sources disclosed that Shagaf Divakar, an associate of the alleged Maharashtra module chief Saquib Nachan, was allegedly linked to Shihabudeen, who supplied arms for Al-Hind.

Details About Shihabudeen

Shihabudeen arranged arms and ammunition with the assistance of the Maharashtra terror module in Bhiwandi, ensuring its delivery to Al-Hind module’s courier in Bengaluru.

Shihabudeen has been charged under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 25 (1)(a) of the Arms Act 1959, and Sections 18, 20, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, according to the NIA chargesheet filed in 2021.

The sources suspect Divakar’s complicity with Shihabudeen’s involvement in the arms supply to the Al Hind module.

Jafar drove a tourist bus from Mumbai to Bangalore regularly with arms consignments, which he received from Shihabudeen, and delivered it to the Al Hind module in Bangalore. In September 2019, Pasha himself visited Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Bhiwandi to collect a consignment consisting of four pistols after Jafar Ali and his brother Ajaj Pasha failed to receive it.

Details About Thirthahalli Module

The Karnataka police recovered these pistols during their operation and dismantled the Al Hind module. According to a senior official, after Al-Hind module was busted, the duo on the run radicalized some youth from their hometown and created another module known as Thirthahalli.

The Thirthahalli module first came to the notice of the state police in November 2020 when three youths from Mangalore were arrested for pro-terror graffiti. The module resurfaced in September 2022 during an investigation into a stabbing incident during Independence Day celebrations in Shivamogga.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/fpj-exclusive-rameshwaram-cafe-blast-suspects-wanted-in-another-terror-case-from-2020

From November 1 last year till now, a total of 575 incidents of forest fire have been reported in Uttarakhand

An IAF chopper on Saturday collected water from Bhimtal Lake to douse forest fires in Uttarakhand.

ANI news agency shared a video showing an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter taking water from Bhimtal as several hectares of forest in the Uttarakhand region has been gripped in the fire.

The Uttarakhand government has roped in the Indian Army and IAF in controlling the fire in Nainital and other nearby regions.

On IAF chopper dousing the forest fires, Nainital Municipal Corporation Executive Officer Rahul Anand said, “Fire is reported in Nainital in many places, including very close to the Air Force Station in the district. The main purpose of bringing in helicopters to douse the fire was to keep the Air Force Station safe… The situation is under control now. Efforts are continuing.”

The district administration has banned boating in Naini Lake because of the blaze.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has acknowledged the severity and said he would be holding a meeting with the stakeholders in Haldwani on Saturday.

“The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army… I am going to conduct a meeting in Haldwani today. We have conducted a meeting in Dehradun also regarding this. We will try to control the fire as soon as possible,” Dhami said.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/uttarakhand-iaf-chopper-takes-water-from-bhimtal-lake-to-douse-forest-fires-nainital-cm-dhami-meeting-in-haldwani-11714196430948.html

On Friday, Delhi High Court rapped the Delhi government over the delay in the supply of textbooks to 2 lakh students

As the tussle between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor continues, the Delhi High Court made some vital observations on Friday about the national capital’s administration with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in jail. The petitioner in the case, advocate Ashok Aggarwal, made some strong accusations against the Delhi government and claimed that the reality of the highly hyped schools in Delhi differs significantly from the advertisements.

“The Delhi government deserved to be lashed out. The advertisements they conduct show that they run world-class institutions; however, the reality is entirely different. I have seen several schools of the Delhi government and MCD; I saw 140 students in one class in Delhi…so as three sections sitting together in one class…no water facility and the same condition I witnessed in MCD schools as well,” Aggarwal said.

The advocate mentioned the Right to Education Act and reminded the Delhi Government to provide basic facilities to students studying in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools.

“The issue is that 8 lakh students study at MCD, and under the Right to Education Act, students are entitled to receive textbooks, notebooks, writing materials, and uniforms. Out of 8 lakh, no student has received any of it. Similarly, 10 lakh students from standard 1 to 8 who come under the Right to Education Act are under the Delhi government. They received notebooks after the High Court lambasted them (Delhi government and MCD). However, none of the students have got books,” he said.

Delhi HC slams AAP for prioritising political interests
On Friday, the Delhi High Court rapped the Delhi government over the delay in the supply of textbooks to 2 lakh students. The bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan observed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal prioritises political interest over national by not resigning after being jailed in the Delhi excise policy case.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-govt-deserve-to-be-lashed-out-saw-140-students-in-one-class-says-petitioner-after-high-court-observations-11714215749916.html

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Gurucharan Singh’s missing reports have left his fans worried, a recent CCTV footage shows that he was seen crossing a road in Delhi

Gurucharan Singh’s missing reports have left the fans worried. On Friday evening it was heavily reported that he had been missing for over five days. As the investigation into the matter is ongoing, now CCTV footage has surfaced on the internet. In the video, the actor who essayed the role of Roshan Singh Sodhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is spotted with a backpack. If the multiple media reports are to be believed, he was last seen at Delhi airport. He had left for Mumbai on April 22 after celebrating his father’s birthday, but he never returned home.

As reported by the Free Press Journal, the 50-year-old actor in the CCTV footage is seen crossing a road in Delhi’s Palam area. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he was seen at a traffic intersection in Palam around 9:14 pm. According to the missing complaint filed by the actor’s father with the Delhi police, Singh’s flight was scheduled at 8:30 pm on Monday. His complaint read, “My son Gurucharan Singh, Age: 50 years, had left at 8:30 pm on 22nd April to go to Mumbai. He went to the airport to catch a flight. He didn’t reach Mumbai, neither has he returned home and his phone is not reachable.”

Source: https://www.spotboye.com/television/television-news/tmkoc-s-gurucharan-singh-missing-actor-crosses-road-in-delhi-s-palam-showcases-cctv-footage-investigation-ongoing/662ce51fc1566756cb5786e2

Three women, all hailing from Gujarat’s Anand, lost their lives in a fatal car crash in the US state of South Carolina. Rekhaben Patel, Sangitaben Patel, and Manishaben Patel, the victims, died when their speeding SUV swerved off the road, launched itself at least 20 feet into the air and collided with a bunch of trees on the opposite side of of the highway, after jumping across all lanes in Greenville County.

The SUV was speedily travelling northbound on I-85 when the crash happened, Greenville County Coroner’s Office said while speaking to local media outlets.

The law enforcement officers said that the crash happened on Interstate 85 at Staunton Bridge Road around midday (local time). “When the vehicle jumped all four lanes of traffic, it actually struck trees probably at least 20 feet above the ground,” Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office said.

He further added that after the collision the car rolled down an embankment.

The three women have been living in the US state of Georgia, they further added.

“It’s obvious that they were travelling above the posted speed limit and for some reason left the roadway. Unsure exactly why at this time,” Ellis was quoted as saying by Fox Carolina.

He further said that no other vehicles were involved in the accident. “Very seldom do you see a vehicle that leaves the roadway at such a high rate of speed that it jumps 4-6 lanes of traffic and lands in the trees approximately 20 feet,” he said, elaborating that it rare to to see an SUV lodged in a tree, broken in several places while also explaining the sheer force of the impact.

Source: https://www.news18.com/world/three-gujarati-women-die-in-us-in-fatal-crash-after-car-launches-itself-20-feet-into-the-air-collides-with-trees-8868598.html

IMD issued ‘red alert’ for West Bengal, Odisha till month-end, ‘orange alert’ for sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Bihar, and interior Karnataka

Hold onto your hats, as India braces for scorching temperatures set to break records in 2024. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for West Bengal and Odisha until the month-end. An ‘orange alert’ has been raised for sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Bihar, and interior Karnataka.
The IMD predicts ‘heatwave to severe heatwave’ conditions dominating eastern and southern India for the next five days. A rise in maximum temperature of 2-3 degree centigrade over East India is expected in the next 48 hours, followed by heatwaves across Maharashtra and large parts of southern India over the next five days.

The IMD has also forecasted some rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and winds across the western Himalayan region from April 26 to 29. Similar weather conditions are expected to persist over the plains of northwest India from April 26 to 28, extending to adjoining Central India from April 26 to 27.
In a recent announcement, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has confirmed that 2023 clinched the title for ‘the hottest year on record’. The global average near-surface temperature soared to 1.45 degree centigrade above the pre-industrial baseline.
“The global mean near-surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45 ± 0.12  degree centigrade above the pre-industrial 1850–1900 average. 2023 was the warmest year in the 174-year observational record. This broke the record of the previous warmest years, 2016 at 1.29 ± 0.12  degree centigrade above the 1850–1900 average and 2020 at 1.27±0.13  degree centigrade,” the WMO said in March this year.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/imd-issues-heatwave-alert-predicts-record-breaking-2024-temperatures-124042700210_1.html

Billionaire Ankur Jain and former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond tied the knot Friday in an over-the-top ceremony that took place in front of the Great Pyramids in Egypt.

“We’re New Yorkers and there’s something so special about being in a completely different world environment,” Jain, the founder and CEO of the cashback tech company Bilt Rewards, told People following their nuptials.

“So we decided, our wedding is about having a moment together to celebrate the new beginning, having a really special party with our friends somewhere where you’re in a different world.” (Jain had originally suggested getting married in space, but Hammond was not keen on the idea.)

While the location of their wedding was unique, it wasn’t the only unorthodox detail about their celebrations: The couple had no bridal party, no wedding cake — although they did serve a birthday cake from Milk Bar — and seemingly left most of the planning process up to their coordinators.

“I had no idea what the napkins looked like or what the table setting looked like,” Hammond, 32, told People.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2024/04/27/lifestyle/inside-billionaire-ankur-jain-and-erika-hammonds-wild-egypt-wedding

A customer filed a consumer complaint after his order of Nutty Death by Chocolate ice cream from a ‘Cream Stone Ice Cream’ outlet in Bangalore was not delivered.

A Consumer Court in Bengaluru recently directed Swiggy to pay ₹3,000 as compensation, apart from ₹2,000 as litigation costs, to a customer for not delivering an ice cream ordered using the food delivery app in 2023.

The Bangalore Urban II Additional District Consumer Redressal Commission also directed the platform, owned by Bundl Technologies, to refund the amount of ₹187 paid by the customer while ordering the ice cream.

“We are of the considered view that the complainant has proved that there is a deficiency of service on the part of the OP [Opposite party/Swiggy) since OP has not refunded the amount paid by the complainant though the ordered product has not been delivered to the complainant. The said acts of the OP amounts to deficiency of service and also unfair trade practice,” the consumer forum ruled.

On January 26 last year, the customer placed on order via Swiggy for ‘Nutty Death by Chocolate’ ice cream from the ‘Cream Stone Ice Cream’ restaurant.

Although the ice cream was not delivered, the status on the Swiggy app was shown as ‘delivered’ after a delivery agent picked up the delivery.

Swiggy failed to refund the order amount to the customer, prompting him to approach the consumer forum for relief.

Before the forum, Swiggy countered that it was only an intermediary between the customer and third-party restaurants or merchants and was protected from liability as per the provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Swiggy maintained that it could not be held liable for the alleged mistake of its delivery boy and that it was not in a position to check if the order was delivered, particularly when it was marked as delivered on the app.

While analysing the case, the bench comprising President Vijaykumar M Pawale, V Anuradha and Renukadevi Deshpande noted that Swiggy had failed to respond to a legal notice issued by the customer for a refund.

It proceeded to reject Swiggy’s contention that it was protected from liability as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act and observed that the exemption was limited to the dissemination of information and not applicable to the sale of goods and services.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/consumer-court-swiggy-pay-5000-failure-to-deliver-death-by-chocolate-ice-cream

SC says request for verification of microcontroller of EVMs can be made within 7 days of declaration of poll results upon payment of fees

The Supreme Court on April 26 rejected pleas seeking cross-verification of the votes cast in electronic voting machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) .

The court said “We have rejected the prayer for paper ballot voting, complete EVM-VVPAT verification and physical deposit of VVPAT slips.”

The order comes days after India began voting for Lok Sabha elections on April 19, with votes due to be counted on June 4.

“We have given two directions. One direction is after the completion of symbol loading process, the Symbol Loading Unit should be sealed. The SLU should be stored at least for a period of 45 days. The burnt memory in the microcontroller EVM shall be checked by a team of engineers after the declaration of results on a request by candidates in serial number 2 and 3, such a request to be made within 7 days after the declaration of results.

“The expenses for the verification (of the program) to be borne by the candidates making the request, in case the EVM is found to be tampered, the expenses will be refunded,” said Supreme Court.

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Dutta had on April 24 reserved the plea for judgment for the second time after they relisted it for getting some clarification from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court asked the ECI about the availability of Symbol Loading Units (SLU) and safety of micro controllers among other things.

An EVM comprises three units — ballot unit, control unit and the VVPAT. All three are embedded with microcontrollers which have a burnt memory from the manufacturer. Currently, VVPATs are used in five booths per assembly constituency.

The apex court had on April 18 reserved the case for judgment after various lawyers representing the petitioners, an official from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and senior advocate Maninder Singh, who appeared for the ECI.

On April 16, the SC dismissed the request of the petitioners to revert to paper ballot and observed that it would not be practical for a country of the size of India to return to paper ballots, considering the population and other factors.

“What is the population of Germany and what is the population of India ? We are in our 60s now and we know what used to happen earlier when there were paper ballots.” Dipankar Dutta further observed that his home state West Bengal has more population than Germany.

The reliability of VVPAT systems has been questioned for a while. Many critics have cited instances of malfunctioning printers, paper jams, and discrepancies between electronic and paper records.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/sc-rejects-pleas-seeking-100-cross-verification-of-evm-votes-with-vvpat-slips-article-12708449.html

Delhi HC’s comments came following the government counsel’s statement over the non-supply of books to the children studying in MCD schools.

The Delhi High Court on Friday criticised the city government for ‘prioritising the political interests of the party over national interest.’ The court stated that allowing Arvind Kejriwal to remain chief minister despite arrest prioritises the political interests of the party.

Delhi HC’s comments came following the government counsel’s statement over the non-supply of books to the children studying in MCD schools. The counsel said that obtaining approval from CM Kejriwal, currently in custody in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the 2021 excise policy, is necessary for the issue.

In response, the court said, “I am sorry to say you have placed your interest above the interest of the students, the children that are studying. That is very clear and we are going to give that finding that you have placed your political interest at a higher pedestal.”

“It is very unfortunate that you have done this. It is wrong and that is what has got highlighted in this matter,” said the bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P S Arora. The court informed the lawyer representing the Delhi government that it perceives his client’s primary concern as merely the “appropriation of power.”

The bench additionally stated that those in leadership roles must “bring everyone along,” emphasizing that it cannot be a situation of “one person asserting dominance over others.”

Meanwhile, the counsel representing the Delhi government clarified that he was not representing the chief minister and assured the court that the matter concerning the lack of educational materials would be addressed if the MCD commissioner formally requested financial approvals.

“Choice is yours that the chief minster will continue despite being in jail. We will have to say this. This is your administration’s will. You are asking us to go down that track and we will come with full vigour,” Justice Manmohan said.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/kejriwal-continuing-as-cm-after-arrest-prioritises-political-interest-delhi-hc-101714147801355.html

Two CRPF personnel were killed, and two others were injured in an attack by armed militants in Manipur’s Naransena area. The incident happened between midnight and 2.15 am on Saturday.

Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, and two others were injured in an attack by armed militants in the Naransena area of Manipur’s Bishnupur district in the early morning hours of Saturday, police said.

The incident happened between midnight and 2.15 am, police added. The armed groups fired a bomb at the personnel, which then exploded inside the outpost of the security forces.

The personnel belonged to the CRPF’s 128 Battalion deployed in the Naransena area.

“The militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targeting the camp. It started around 12.30 am and continued till about 2.15 am. The militants also hurled bombs, one of which exploded in the outpost of CRPF’s 128 battalion,” a senior police officer told news agency PTI.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/crpf-personnel-killed-in-kuki-attack-in-manipur-2532299-2024-04-27

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fans were left shocked on Friday after it was reported that Gurucharan Singh had gone missing. He used to play the role of Sodhi in Asit Kumarr Modi’s show but quit the sitcom in 2020. While police are trying to find Sodhi, his close friend Ms Soni has now revealed that the actor was unwell for the last few days and had even undergone a few tests. She hoped that Singh would be found and stated that she is constantly in touch with his family.

“His parents are worried and have filed a missing report in Delhi. I tried to file one in Mumbai as well, however, since he hasn’t returned back a complaint cannot be filed here. Gurucharan ji’s health also hasn’t been keeping well for the last many days, so I am worried about that,” Ms Soni told Pinkvilla.

“Before leaving for Delhi, his blood pressure was high and he had undergone a few tests as well. He wasn’t even eating much before he left for Delhi. I really hope and pray that he is fine, and returns back safe and sound,” she added.

On Friday, it was reported that Gurucharan’s father filed a missing complaint which read, “My son Gurucharan Singh, Age: 50 years, had left at 8:30 am on 22nd April to go to Mumbai. He went to the airport to catch a flight. He didn’t reach Mumbai, neither has he returned home and his phone is not reachable. He is mentally stable and we had been searching for him but now he has been missing.”

Later, News18 Showsha exclusively reported that Gurucharan’s missing complaint had been filed in the Palam area of New Delhi. We learnt that Police officials are investigating the case and trying to trace the actor’s call records. “Missing complaint was filed around 4 days back in Palam, South Delhi. Based on this, police are investigating the case. No FIR has been filed as of now. All investigation is being done based on the missing complaint,” a police source told us.

Source: https://www.news18.com/movies/taarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashmah-sodhi-was-unwell-wasnt-eating-much-before-he-went-missing-8868253.html

A retired MNC head has lost nearly Rs 25 Crore to scamsters who posed as CBI officer and police official. The woman was told that there was a probe of money laundering against her, and was asked to deposit an amount to a new current account. She was assured that her money was being sent to the RBI, and she would get it back soon. However, the woman did not get it. Then, she approached the police.

The Mumbai Police has unearthed a “biggest cyber fraud” of targeting an individual in the city in recent times. A woman who is a resident of western suburbs was cheated of Rs 25 crore by some individuals who posed as police and CBI officers. In the alleged scam, the woman, who is a retired director of a multinational company (MNC), lost nearly Rs 25 crore to cyber fraudsters. The police on Thursday said the accused intimidated her saying she was being probed in a money laundering case. She was asked to pay a certain amount to a new current account after being assured her she would get her money back, which never happened.

According to the police, the woman was threatened. In response to which, she followed what the scamsters asked her to do and sold shares of her and her mother’s, and also mutual fund investments. The victim even took out a gold loan to pay money to them. The officials informed that the incident took place during a two-month period starting February 6 this year.

“The complainant, who stays in a western suburb, received a WhatsApp call with the caller posing as an official of the telecom department, who told her that her three mobile numbers will be deactivated. When the victim, who is a senior citizen, sought to know the reason, the caller told her that he was connecting the call to a police officer,” he said.

After the first call, the woman was connected to another man posing as a police officer. He said they have received a money laundering complaint against her and her mobile numbers and Aadhaar card was found linked to the case, the police said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/mumbai/mumbais-biggest-cyber-fraud-how-fake-cbi-officer-cheats-retired-mnc-head-for-months-woman-loses-25-cr-article-109637716

The application by Singh for further investigation into the allegations was opposed by the Delhi Police, which called it a delay tactic.

A Delhi court on Friday rejected a plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeking directions to the Delhi Police to further investigate the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by women wrestlers.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot said that the Court will pronounce order on framing of charge on May 7.

Singh had filed the application before the Court on April 18, the day it was scheduled to pronounce order on framing of charges against him.

He raised the defence of alibi and told the court that he was not in Delhi when one of the wrestlers who has complained against him was allegedly sexually harassed.

The legislator, therefore, asked for directions to investigate the aspect and also place on record the Call Detail Records (CDRs).

The application was opposed by the Delhi Police, which called it a delay tactic.

Six wrestlers had levelled sexual harassment allegations against Singh. Based on their complaints, the police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the MP.

On June 15, 2023, the police filed a chargesheet against Singh for offences under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks), 354D (stalking) and 506(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The complainants had earlier moved the Supreme Court for the registration of an FIR against Singh.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhi-court-rejects-brij-bhushan-sharan-singh-plea-further-probe-women-wrestlers-sexual-harassment

Two days ago, the Bombay High Court rejected his plea directing him to cooperate with the police for interrogation.

Actor Sahil Khan who was previously questioned by the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch in connection with the cheating case registered against the Mahadev betting app case, has been declared absconding, said police officials on Friday.

Khan was granted interim protection by the Bombay High Court recently after the session court rejected his pre-arrest plea. Soon after, on Saturday last week, Khan appeared before the Mumbai Police. He was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for over three hours.

Bombay HC Rejects Pleas, Declares Him Absconding

Khan who was first summoned in December 2023 has been avoiding arrests by applying for anticipatory bail with the courts. He also approached the Bombay HC seeking quashing of the FIR.

Two days ago, the Bombay High Court rejected his plea directing him to cooperate with the police for interrogation. On Friday, a team from the Crime Branch visited Khan’s residence and found that he was missing. Despite repeated attempts, he was not found and then ended up declaring Khan as absconding.

Khan’s role is yet to be fixed, however, police officials said that he promoted advertisements urging citizens to use the betting app. By publicising the Mahadev app, he allegedly made huge profits. The court had noted the same while rejecting his pleas.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mahadev-betting-case-actor-sahil-khan-absconding-confirms-police-officials

Pleas for 100% verification of EVM-VVPAT: Supreme Court rejected pleas for paper ballot voting, complete EVM-VVPAT verification.

Pleas for 100% verification of EVM-VVPAT: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected petitions seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta delivered two concurring verdicts in the matter.

Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Khanna said the court has rejected all the petitions, including those seeking resorting back to ballot papers in elections.

The court allowed verification of the microcontroller of EVMs by the manufacturer after poll results on request of candidates who stand second and third. The apex court also said a request for verification of the microcontroller of EVMs can be made within seven days of the declaration of election results upon payment of fees.

VVPAT-EVM case: Supreme Court issued directives
The Supreme Court also issued two directions issued – containers carrying the symbol loading unit should be sealed in the presence of polling agents and candidates and be kept secured for 45 days and the control unit, ballot unit and VVPAT shall be verified by engineers of the manufacturing companies post the result of the counting on a written request to be made within seven days of the declaration of results.

What is VVPAT?
India has been using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) since 2000 to record votes. The ballot unit is connected to a VVPAT or ‘voter verifiable paper audit trail’ unit which produces a paper slip that is visible to the voter via a transparent screen for about seven seconds before it gets stored in a sealed drop box.

Under the present system, the poll body counts and matches the VVPAT paper slips at five randomly selected polling stations in each state legislative assembly constituency, several of which are combined to form one parliamentary seat.

‘Can’t control the elections’: Supreme Court
On Wednesday, the apex court had said it could not “control the elections” or issue directions simply because doubts have been raised about the efficacy of EVMs, as it reserved its judgment on the clutch of petitions, which also claimed the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results.

The court said it could not change the thought process of those doubting the advantages of polling machines and advocating going back to ballot papers.

The bench also took note of the answers to queries it posed to the Election Commission.

It sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the functioning of EVMs, including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-affirms-the-credibility-of-evms-and-their-integration-with-vvpats-101714107863138.html

According to a recent report, the two arrested shooters in the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s Mumbai house have now been interrogated by the NIA.

Trigger warning: This article has mentions of firing and weapons.

The investigation into the shocking firing incident that took place outside Salman Khan’s house on April 14 keeps bringing new updates with every passing day. The two accused shooters, Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, have already been arrested in the case and are currently in custody.

In a recent development, it has been learned that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has interrogated the two shooters.

Shooters arrested in firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence questioned by NIA

According to a recent update by ANI on their X (Twitter) account, Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, who were arrested a few days ago for open firing outside Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai, have been interrogated by NIA. The tweet read, “NIA has interrogated shooters Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, arrested in the firing case.”

Have a look at the tweet here!

Mumbai Police arrest two men from Punjab for supplying weapons to shooters for firing outside Salman Khan’s home

The above-mentioned news agency reported yesterday that two individuals from Punjab had been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch for their alleged connection to the recent firing incident outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s house.

The Delhi High Court was hearing petitions by WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook Inc, now Meta, challenging the 2021 Information Technology (IT) rules for social media intermediaries.

A lawyer appearing for WhatsApp told the Delhi High Court that the Meta-owned messaging platform “goes if we are told to break encryption”. The advocate also told the court that people use the platform due to the privacy it assures and also because messages are end-to-end encrypted.

The remarks were made as the High Court was on Thursday hearing petitions by WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook Inc, now Meta, challenging the 2021 Information Technology (IT) rules for social media intermediaries requiring the messaging app to trace chats and make provisions to identify the first originator of information.

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were announced by the Centre on February 25, 2021. It requires large social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to comply with the latest norms.

Appearing for the messaging platform, lawyer Tejas Karia told a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, “As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes,” Bar and Bench reported.

“We will have to keep a complete chain, and we don’t know which messages will be asked to be decrypted. It means millions and millions of messages will have to be stored for a number of years,” he said.

The bench, while observing that the matter would have to be argued by the parties, asked if a similar law exists in any other country.

“There is no such rule anywhere else in the world. Not even in Brazil,” the lawyer replied.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/law/story/whatsapp-tells-high-court-it-will-exit-india-if-made-to-break-encryption-2531884-2024-04-26

Sachin Sahoo was pronounced dead at the scene after police officer Tyler Turner shot at him on April 21.

A 42-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead by police in San Antonio after he struck two officers with his vehicle as they were trying to apprehend him in connection with an aggravated assault case.
Sachin Sahoo was pronounced dead at the scene after police officer Tyler Turner shot at him on April 21.

Mr Sahoo originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh. Sources said he could have been a naturalised US citizen.

According to a preliminary investigation, just before 6:30 pm on April 21, officers were dispatched to a home in Cheviot Heights in San Antonio for a report about Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the San Antonio Police Department said in a statement to PTI.

Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old female who had been intentionally struck by a vehicle.

The suspect, Mr Sahoo, had fled the location. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. San Antonio Police Detectives issued a felony arrest warrant for Mr Sahoo in that incident.

Several hours later, neighbours called the police to inform them that Mr Sahoo had returned to the original location. Officers arrived and attempted to contact him when he struck two officers with his vehicle. One officer fired his weapon, striking Mr Sahoo, who was “pronounced deceased on scene.” One officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and the other officer was treated for his injuries on scene. Nobody else was injured during the incident. This investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Police Chief Bill McManus said that Mr Sahoo had run over the woman, who was his roommate, with his vehicle. The woman was undergoing several surgeries and was in critical condition.

The police had issued an arrest warrant for Mr Sahoo and a couple of officers had gone to his known location on April 21 to see if they could find him and arrest him. “They did find him and he jumped in his car. He pulled out of his driveway” where the police officers blocked him with their vehicles but he was able to squeeze through them.Mr Sahoo hit the officers with his vehicle. “The other officer that was with him fired to stop him and struck him,” McManus said.

He said the police is yet to look at the bodycam footage to determine further facts.

A report in Kens5.com quoted Mr Sahoo’s ex-wife Leah Goldstein as saying that Mr Sahoo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/indian-origin-man-wanted-for-assault-shot-dead-by-us-police-5525806#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Advocate Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, said people use the platform because of the privacy assured by it and because messages on it are end-to-end encrypted.

WhatsApp won’t stay if it is made to break encryption of messages, the messaging service platform has told Delhi High Court in a case challenging the amended IT rules. WhatsApp and Facebook (now Meta) have challenged Rule 4(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
This rule lays down that a social media intermediary providing services primarily in the nature of messaging shall enable the identification of the first originator of the information on its computer resource, as may be required by a judicial order passed by a court or competent authority.

Advocate Tejas Karia, appearing for WhatsApp, said people use the platform because of the privacy assured by it and because messages on it are end-to-end encrypted.

“As a platform, we are saying, if we are told to break encryption, then WhatsApp goes,” Mr Karia told a Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, a Bar and Bench report said.

The requirement, he said, was against users’ privacy and was introduced without consultation. Mr Karia said this rule will require WhatsApp to store millions of messages for years, a requirement that exists nowhere else in the world. “We will have to keep a complete chain and we don’t know which messages will be asked to be decrypted. It means millions and millions of messages will have to be stored for a number of years,” he said.

He stressed that the parent Information Technology Act does not provide for breaking of encryption. The bench then asked if such a law exists anywhere else in the world. “Have these matters been taken up anywhere in the world? You have never been asked to share the information anywhere in the world? Even in South America?” Mr Karia replied, “No, not even in Brazil.”

Earlier, the Centre told the court that WhatsApp and Facebook monetise users’ information for commercial purposes and are not legally entitled to claim that it protects privacy. The Centre also said regulators of various countries hold that Facebook should be made accountable.

The centre’s counsel Kirtiman Singh contended that people know the things that can happen on social media and the idea behind the rule is to trace the originator of the message. He said there has to be some mechanism to trace messages and underlined that WhatsApp has faced some difficult questions before the US Congress.

The Court called for a balance to be struck and adjourned the matter to August 14. It said these two matters will be heard with a batch of cases that were transferred to the High Court by the Supreme Court.

Opposing the petition by WhatsApp, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has said WhatsApp has already violated fundamental rights of India’s users by denying them any dispute resolution rights in the country.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/whatsapp-delhi-high-court-if-were-told-to-break-encryption-whatsapp-goes-platforms-big-warning-5526190#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Dehradun Water Crisis: To address the water crisis in the affected areas, the state government has made an alternative plan and asked the Jal Sansthan (Water department) to supply water to these areas.

Dehradun Water Crisis: After Bengaluru, it is Dehradun – another city on the foothills of the Himalayas which is facing water crisis amid rising temperature. About 120 localities within the city due are facing water shortage due to heatwave.

To address the water crisis in these areas, the state government has made an alternative plan and asked the Jal Sansthan (Water department) to supply water to these areas with tankers and then to make sure that generators are available at tube wells for uninterrupted water supply.

Dehradun Water Crisis News: Ground Water Level Depletes
The city of Dehradun at present is depending on 283 tube wells and three river-spring sources for its water supply. However, with the rise in temperature, the ground water level has gone down and it has affected the capacity of tube wells.

In Dehradun, the state Water Department said it has identified over 120 localities, 16 settlements, and colonies across four zones which are facing severe water shortages.

Speaking to jagran.com, Neelima Garg, Chief General Manager of Jal Sansthan (Water department), said all arrangements have been made and there is no water crisis.

She further added that a zone-wise plan has been prepared to address the drinking water issues and the department said it has arranged for 30 tankers, including eight departmental tankers, and 10 generators to power tube wells if electricity is disrupted.

Check List of Localities That Face Water Crisis
North Zone: In north zone, the areas that are affected by water crisis include Johri, Naiwala, Suman Nagar, Saket colony, Aryanagar, DL Road, Kothar Gaon, Bagaria Gaon, Makkawala, Naya Gaon.

South Zone: In south zone, the areas that are affected by water crisis include Nashvilla Road, Chukhuwala, Dovalwala, Indira Colony, Vijay Colony, Chanderlok Colony, Tagore Villa, Lakhibagh, Bhandari Bagh, Ramnagar.

Raipur Zone: In Raipur zone, the areas that are affected by water crisis include Shastri Nagar, Chakshah Nagar, Upper Sarathi Vihar, Lower Sarathi Vihar, Bank Colony, Badrish Colony, Om Vihar.

Source: https://www.india.com/news/after-bengaluru-water-crisis-hits-dehradun-city-120-localities-face-water-shortage-amid-heatwave-check-helpline-numbers-6884993/

The Jharkhand government is on high alert after bird flu cases were confirmed in Ranchi. Over 4,000 birds have been culled, with more to be culled in the coming days.

The Jharkhand government on Wednesday sounded an alert after multiple cases of bird flu, also called Avian flu, were reported in a state-run poultry farm in Ranchi.

Around 4000 birds, including chickens, were culled, and hundreds of eggs were also destroyed after the cases were confirmed at the Regional Poultry Farm in Hotwar in the state capital, officials said.

The sale of chicken, birds, and eggs has been banned in a 1-kilometre area from the place of outbreak of the avian flu.

The culling of remaining poultry at the Regional Poultry Farm will be conducted in the coming days and will be disposed of through scientific methods, an order detailing Standard Operating Procedures, issued by the government, stated.

Officials have been directed to conduct a survey within a radius of 1 kilometre from the epicentre to find infections and proceed with culling. They have also been asked to make a map of the 10 km area and mark it as a surveillance zone.

“There will be a complete ban on buying and selling until further orders. The district administration team is going door-to-door in the 1 km of affected area and surveying the availability of birds/eggs, etc. The houses/shops/carts, etc., which have the above material, will cooperate with the survey team and ensure that they give information about the birds/eggs, etc., and hand them over for culling,” the order stated.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bird-flu-outbreak-confirmed-in-ranchi-over-4000-birds-culled-2531369-2024-04-25

The judge, known for ordering a videography survey of the Gyanvapi complex in 2022, has requested an investigation into the threats he’s facing.

Additional sessions judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar has told the Uttar Pradesh police that he was getting “malicious calls and death threats from international numbers”.

The judge, who is known for ordering a videography survey of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi complex in 2022, has requested for an investigation into the threats.

Diwakar, writing a letter to the SSP Sushil Chandrabhan Ghule this week, said that he was receiving threatening calls from international numbers “which is deeply concerning”, TOI reported.

Earlier, after similar concerns were raised by the judge following the Gyanvapi judgment, the Allahabad High Court had sanctioned Y-category security for him and his family, but later downgraded to X-category.

Diwakar’s present security arrangement consists of two security personnel. One of his aides mentioned that this security is inadequate, as the two personnel lack weapons to counter terrorists armed with automatic guns and modern weaponry, reported TOI.

In 2022, Diwakar had said: “An atmosphere of fear was created by making this civil case into an extraordinary case. The fear is so much that my family is always concerned about my safety and I am concerned about their safety. Concerns about safety are repeatedly expressed by my wife when I am out of the house.”

Last year, a Popular Front of India (PFI) member was arrested near Diwakar’s Lucknow house. At that time, Shahjahanpur SSP Ashok Kumar Meena had assigned a gunner to guard the house of Justice Diwakar’s brother, who also serves as an additional district judge.

However, the security detail was withdrawn due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Having recently been transferred to Bareilly, Justice Diwakar took suo motu action on the 2018 Bareilly riots case, summoning senior cleric Tauqeer Raza to stand trial as the alleged mastermind.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gyanvapi-judge-receiving-death-threats-international-numbers-101714017150417.html

A JDU leader was fatally shot by unidentified attackers in Patna on Wednesday night while returning from a wedding ceremony.

A young leader of the Janata Dal United (JDU) in Bihar was shot dead by unidentified attackers in Patna on Wednesday night, police told India Today.

Four attackers on a bike opened fire at Saurabh Kumar late at night when he, along with his friends and family, was returning from a wedding ceremony.

“Attackers on motorcycles opened fire at Kumar while returning from a reception. Another person was also injured in the incident, and their condition is stable,” Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nitish-kumars-party-leader-saurabh-shot-dead-in-bihars-patna-2531371-2024-04-25

According to Delhi Police, information was received about an attack on an ice cream vendor with knives late on Wednesday evening, after which the police took the victim to the hospital.

An ice cream vendor has been stabbed to death near India Gate in the national capital, police said. The police said that the victim has been identified as Prabhakar (25).
According to Delhi Police, information was received about an attack on an ice cream vendor with knives late on Wednesday evening, after which the police took the victim to the hospital.

Later the victim succumbed to his injuries, police added.

“The preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased was attacked with a knife due to a fight. The deceased has three wounds on his body, one of which is very deep, due to which he died. We have also recovered some money and a watch from the victim’s bag”, the police said.

A case has also been registered under section 302.

The accused who is currently on the run has been identified with the help of CCTV cameras placed in the nearby shops.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-ice-cream-vendor-stabbed-to-death-near-india-gate-accused-on-run-5516978

The commerce ministry has also directed Indian embassies in both Singapore and Hong Kong to send a detailed report on the matter.

India, the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, has sought details from food safety regulators of Singapore and Hong Kong, which has banned certain spices of Indian brands MDH and Everest due to quality concerns.
The commerce ministry has also directed Indian embassies in both Singapore and Hong Kong to send a detailed report on the matter.

The ministry has also sought details from the Indian firms – MDH and Everest, whose products have been banned for allegedly containing pesticide ‘ethylene oxide’ beyond permissible limits.

“Details have been sought from the companies. Root cause of the rejection and corrective actions will be determined along with the exporters concerned,” a commerce ministry official said.

Technical details, analytical reports and the details of the exporters whose consignments have been rejected have been sought from Embassies at Singapore and Hong Kong, the official said.

Details have also been sought from Singapore Food Agency and Centre for Food Safety, and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong, the official added.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ban-on-mdh-everest-masala-india-seeks-details-from-singapore-hong-kong-food-regulators-5504481

Patanjali assured the court that it would issue another, more prominently displayed apology in the media within a week.

New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned yoga guru and entrepreneur Ramdev and Patanjali’s managing director Balkrishna on the size and visibility of an apology issued by Patanjali for previous misleading advertisements, even as it broadened its judicial scrutiny into deceptive advertisements to include “alleged unethical practices” among doctors practising modern medicine.

“Is the apology the same size as your advertisements? When you issue an apology, it does not mean that we have to see it by a microscope…It does not have to only be in papers but is meant to be read…somebody in the dock has to come clean,” a bench of justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah remarked, highlighting the possible discrepancy in the scale between Patanjali’s widespread misleading advertisements and their comparatively inconspicuous apology published in newspapers.

Seeking to wriggle out of the contempt charge for disobeying previous court orders, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and Balbir Singh, appearing for Ramdev and Balkrishna, assured the court that Patanjali would issue another, more prominently displayed apology in the media within a week.

Rohatgi also informed the bench that Patanjali has issued an apology in 67 publications, which, along with a fresh apology to be printed within a week, will be presented to the bench before the next hearing on April 30.

Responding, the bench said: “Cut the actual newspaper clippings and keep them handy. For you to photocopy by enlarging, it may not impress us. We want to see the actual size of the ad.”

The public apology issued by Patanjali in various publications between April 22 and 23 stated: “We tender our heartfelt apology for the mistakes committed in publishing ads and holding press conferences despite the assurances by our counsel. We are committed not to repeat this mistake.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/one-should-not-need-a-microscope-to-see-an-apology-sc-tells-patanjali-101713897880811.html

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has questioned the absence of an Indian ambassador and embassy in Israel until 1992 during a forum in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has questioned the absence of an Indian ambassador and embassy in Israel until 1992 during a forum in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

He highlighted the significance of faith in shaping policy decisions, citing India’s delayed establishment of diplomatic ties with Israel despite officially recognizing the country in 1950.

“Think of a country like Israel, people speak today, saying everybody is the same and we should not bring faith into any discussion. Israel became independent in 1948; from 1948 to 1992, we choose not to have an Ambassador and an Embassy in Israel. Why? From 1992, we had an Embassy; from 1992 to 2017, when PM Modi went to Israel, no PM of India ever went to Israel,” the minister said at the forum for Nationalist Thinkers- Hyderabad Chapter ‘Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/from-1948-to-1992-s-jaishankar-questions-delayed-indian-embassy-in-israel-article-109540925

In Bengaluru, residents are gearing up for a rare celestial treat on Wednesday as their shadows will vanish for a brief moment during a phenomenon known as ‘Zero Shadow Day.’ This unique astronomical event is set to occur between 12:17 pm and 12:23 pm on April 24. It will be experienced by places situated at the same latitudes as Bengaluru.

Bengaluru, positioned at a latitude of 13.0 degrees north, experiences this phenomenon twice a year, typically around April 24/25 and August 18. It’s usually observed around the equinoxes in March and September each year.

In addition to Bengaluru, people in places such as Kanyakumari, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Mumbai are also likely to witness the phenomenon.

ZERO SHADOW DAY IN OTHER CITIES OF INDIA
Kanyakumari: 10 April and 01 September (Local Noon: 12:21, 12:22)

Bengaluru: 24 April and 18 August (Local Noon: 12:17, 12:25)

Hyderabad: 09 May and 05 August (Local Noon: 12:12, 12:19)

Mumbai: 15 May and 27 June (Local Noon: 12:34, 12:45)

Between September 2020 and April 2024, food safety authorities in the European Union have found contamination in 527 products linked to India, most of them nuts and sesame seeds (313), herbs and spices (60), dietetic foods (48) and other food products (34).

Ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical whose traces led to a ban on Indian products in Hong Kong and Singapore, has been routinely found in Indian products by the European Food Safety Authority but no proactive steps have been taken by officials to ban the use of the chemical.

Between September 2020 and April 2024, food safety authorities in the European Union have found contamination in 527 products linked to India, most of them nuts and sesame seeds (313), herbs and spices (60), dietetic foods (48) and other food products (34). As many as 87 of the consignments were rejected at the border while many of the remaining were removed from the markets later.

Ethylene oxide, a colourless gas, is used as a pesticide and sterilising agent, though the chemical was originally intended to sterilise medical devices. Exposure to the ethylene oxide is said to cause lymphoma and leukemia among other cancers.

Data available from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), an online system that traces safety of food in the European Union member countries, shows the chemical was found in 525 food products and two feed products. While India was mentioned as the sole origin country for 332 of them, authorities tagged other countries where the chemical was found for the remaining products.

Jubin George Joseph, Chief Operating Officer, Ramaiah Advanced Testing Labs, said besides the direct exposure to ethylene oxide, consumers are susceptible to two more chemicals produced by the presence of the chemical in a food product.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/eu-found-cancer-causing-chemical-in-527-indian-items-2991515

Social media users bid farewell to Air India’s Boeing 747 as it departs from Mumbai for the last time, with many expressing nostalgia for the iconic aircraft.

Air India Boeing 747 took to the skies for the last time on Monday — dubbed as the ‘end of an era’ by many on social media platforms. The iconic long haul jet performed the tradition ‘wing wave’ manoeuvre — a practice reserved for retiring flights — before heading towards Panefield in the US.

“Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last Queen of the Skies — the B747 — departing Mumbai. Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We’ll miss your iconic presence,” Air India tweeted.

The aircraft (nicknamed Agra) was de-registered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation last year and is now likely to be dismantled and stripped for parts. A second Boeing 747 aircraft is also expected to depart from Mumbai in the near future while two other planes will be broken down for parts within the city.

“Goodbye Air India jumbo. Air India Boeing B744 taxiing towards runway 27 at Mumbai via famous N1 for the very last time. Departing from Mumbai to it’s birth place Everett (PAE),” tweeted one user.

“I was 5 years old when Air India introduced its first Boeing 747-400. Dad and mum picked up on a news headline hinting at the Queen Of The Skies being tested at Madras International. We took the bike, raced to a patch of poromboku land near the NE side of runway No 07/25. We watched this thing of majesty for two hours straight, approaching the runway, landing and immediately taking off. Core memory unlocked for sure, but this was the catalyst for my obsession with flying machines. Never got to fly aboard one but I’ll miss it regardless,” recalled another user.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/goodbye-air-india-jumbo-netizens-hail-wing-wave-manoeuvre-as-boeing-747-takes-off-for-last-time-from-mumbai-11713788507198.html

At least 15 Delhi-bound flights were diverted as the national capital witnessed a sudden change in the weather on Tuesday evening, with heavy rain and thunderstorms lashing parts of the city.

At least 15 Delhi-bound flights were diverted as the national capital witnessed a sudden change in the weather on Tuesday evening, with heavy rain and thunderstorms lashing parts of the city. According to a source from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, nine flights were diverted to Jaipur; two each to Amritsar and Lucknow; and one each to Mumbai and Chandigarh.
In its latest update, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi witnessed a brief spell of heavy rain and strong winds, which led to a dip in the maximum temperature. It settled at 36.8 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal.

In two separate posts on X, Vistara airlines said two of its flights to the national capital from Pune and Ranchi were diverted “due to bad weather at Delhi airport”.

“Flight UK754 from Ranchi to Delhi (IXR-DEL) has been diverted to Jaipur (JAI) due to bad weather at Delhi airport and is expected to arrive in Jaipur (JAI) at 1840 hours,” one post read.

“Flight UK998 from Pune to Delhi (PNQ-DEL) has been diverted to Amritsar (ATQ) due to bad weather at Delhi airport and is expected to arrive in Amritsar (ATQ) at 1930 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates.”

Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/story/15-delhi-bound-flights-diverted-due-to-rain-thunderstorm-2530893-2024-04-24

Petitions have sought complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

The Supreme Court called a senior official of the Election Commission of India at 2pm on Wednesday, April 24, to explain some of its queries regarding EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The court’s questions pertain to the functions of the micro-controller installed in the EVMs, securing the EVMs and VVPATs and the maximum period for which the machines are to be retained.

The Supreme Court is set to pronounce certain directions on a batch of petitions seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT. The VVPAT is an independent vote verification system which enables electors to see whether their votes have been cast correctly.

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will pronounce the directions on the petitions in which the order was reserved by the apex court on April 18.

Live Law reported that during the hearing, Justice Khanna said the bench had certain queries. These were listed thus:

• Is the micro-controller installed in the Control Unit or in the VVPAT? We were under the impression that it is installed in the Control Unit, but in Frequently Asked Questions, it is indicated that it is installed in VVPAT.
• Is the micro-controller which is installed one-time programmable? (ECI stand is that it is, implying it cannot be modified)
• How many Symbol Loading Units are available?
• Limitation period for filing election petition is 30 days as such storage is 45 days. But as per Section 81 of the Representation of People Act, limitation period is 45 days. This needs to be clarified. “Accordingly, storage should be increased. If it’s 45, it can be 60”.
• On securing of EVMs, do both control unit and VVPAT bear seals?

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on April 19 and the second phase is slated to be held on April 26.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/evmvvpat-verification-case-supreme-court-verdict-likely-today-what-we-know-so-far-101713921698047.html

Ravi Kana ran a 16-member gang involved in the illegal procurement and sale of rebar and scrap material.

Scrap metal mafia Ravi Kana and his girlfriend Kajal Jha have been arrested in Thailand, official sources said on Tuesday. Kana, a gangster from western Uttar Pradesh, was wanted in multiple cases by the Noida Police.
According to sources, Noida Police was in constant touch with Thailand Police and had given them all the details related to Kana. A red corner notice was also issued against him in January.

He was booked under the stringent Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act after a case was lodged against him by police in Greater Noida on January 2.

According to police, Kana, also known as Ravindra Nagar, ran a 16-member gang involved in the illegal procurement and sale of rebar and scrap material.

Kana, who was a scrap dealer, reportedly became a millionaire after forming a gang to illegally acquire and sell scrap material after extorting businesses in the Delhi-NCR region.

More than 11 cases have been registered against the gangster and his associates including on charges of kidnapping and theft. Six members of the gang have already been arrested and several scrap godowns used by the gang across Greater Noida have been sealed.

Noida Police had recently said that it attached assets worth more than ₹ 120 crore of Kana and his associates.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-gangster-ravi-kana-his-girlfriend-kajal-jha-arrested-in-thailand-5510058

The sources insisted that Avani Dias had violated visa rules but was still given an assurance that her visa would be extended so she could cover the elections.

Responding to a senior Australian journalist’s claims that she had to leave India abruptly on the day of voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections because her visa extension was denied, sources in the Union government have labelled them “not correct, misleading and mischievous”.
The sources insisted that she had violated visa rules but was still given an assurance that her visa would be extended so she could cover the elections.

In posts on social media, Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief for Australian broadcaster ABC News said she had to leave India on Friday, April 19.

“Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting ‘crossed a line’. After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension… less than 24 hours before our flight,” Ms Dias posted on Instagram

“We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive,” she said in the post, adding that she and her partner had to leave on day one of voting.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/abc-journalists-claim-that-she-was-told-to-leave-india-and-not-allowed-to-cover-polls-are-misleading-say-sources-5507423

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address poll rallies in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja, Mahasamund and Janjgir-Champa on April 23 and 24.

As the stage for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections is set, political parties have accelerated their poll blitz to garner maximum support from voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 23 and 24) address poll rallies in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja, Mahasamund and Janjgir-Champa.

The PM will reach Raigarh on Tuesday afternoon from where he will depart for the Janjgir-Champa Lok Sabha seat, where he will address a poll rally in Baradwar village, news agency PTI reported citing official sources.

Thereafter, PM Modi will visit Shyamtarai village located in Dhamtari district, which comes under Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency, to address a public gathering.

“The PM will stay overnight at Raj Bhawan in Raipur and then leave for Ambikapur in Surguja on Wednesday morning to address a rally. Later, he will depart for Madhya Pradesh via Raigarh,” PTI quoted the official as saying.

Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban) Lakhan Patle stated that elaborate security arrangements have been made and added, “Around 2,000 security personnel have been deployed between Swami Vivekanand Airport and Raj Bhawan in Raipur,” the report noted.

As per the schedule, voting in Mahasamund will held on April 26, while the polling in Surguja and Janjgir-Champa will take place May 7.

PM Modi To Address Public Meeting In Rajasthan Today
Besides his Chhattisgarh visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan’s Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency today.

BJP’s state general secretary, Shravan Singh Bagdi stated that PM Modiwill address a huge public meeting in the Uniara area of Tonk district.

The saffron party has fielded Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria from the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency.

While voting for 12 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan was held on April 19, the remaining 13 seats will go to the polls on April 26 in the second phase.

Union Minister Amit Shah To Address Rallies In Chhattigarh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to address rallies in Chhattisgarh over the next three days.

He will address a public meeting in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency in the Bastar region on Monday, PTI reported citing BJP state media co-incharge Anurag Agrawal.

Source: https://news.abplive.com/elections/lok-sabha-polls-pm-modi-hold-rallies-in-chhattisgarh-rajasthan-bjp-phase-2-1681932

Arvind Kejriwal In Jail: The AAP chief yesterday accused the Tihal jail administration of not providing him with insulin despite repeated requests.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was given insulin at Tihar jail on Monday night when his blood sugar level spiked to 320, when the ideal range should be between 70 and 100. The AAP leader, a diabetic, criticised the Tihar jail administration for allegedly failing to provide him with insulin despite his repeated requests.
Mr Kejriwal’s accusations were met with a rebuttal from the Tihar jail administration, which claimed that during a video consultation with specialists from AIIMS, neither the issue of insulin nor its necessity was raised.

“Today it is clear that the Chief Minister was right, he needed insulin. But the officials under the BJP’s central government were deliberately not treating him. Tell me BJP people! If insulin is not needed then why are you giving it now? Because the whole world is cursing them,” Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a statement.

A city court had directed AIIMS to form a medical board to assess Mr Kejriwal’s medical needs, particularly regarding insulin. The court highlighted discrepancies between the Delhi Chief Minister’s dietary regimen which consisted of home-cooked food and doctor-prescribed diet.

In a letter to the Tihar jail superintendent on Monday, Mr Kejriwal rejected the jail administration’s claim that the issue of insulin was never raised by him in his consultations with the doctors. Mr Kejriwal insists that he had raised the issue of insulin demand persistently over the course of 10 days.

The AAP has alleged that the Tihar administration withheld insulin from Mr Kejriwal, alleging a conspiracy to harm him.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has claimed that AAP leaders aimed to generate public sympathy for Mr Kejriwal’s health during the Lok Sabha elections.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-administered-insulin-in-tihar-jail-after-sugar-levels-soar-5502344#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hails SC’s decision as a win for Karnataka in getting fair drought relief. Centre to release funds within a week, as directed by SC.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday hailed the development in the Supreme Court (SC) as a win for Karnataka in its fight against the Centre to get a fair share of drought relief to the affected farmers of the state.

Earlier in the day, the Centre had told the SC that the Election Commission (EC) has given clearance to it to deal with the issue raised by Karnataka regarding financial assistance for drought management. “The Election Commission has cleared the government to deal with this question. I think it will be done expeditiously,” Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told the bench.

Later, in a post on X, Siddaramaiah said: “The Central government has told the Supreme Court that it will take action within a week regarding the release of drought relief to the state of Karnataka. The Attorney General of the Central Government told the court that the Election Commission has also agreed to release the relief.”

He added that Karnataka was forced to file a writ petition against the central government in the apex court seeking drought relief funds, as it had not decided on the state’s memorandum submitted in September 2023.

“Even after five months of petitioning for relief, the central BJP government did not take any decision, creating the necessity of going to court. This is the first victory of our struggle to give fair compensation to the farmers of the country,” he said.

Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also lauded the SC for directing the Centre to release drought relief funds to the state within a week.

“Finally, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has delivered justice to our farmers by directing the Union government to release the drought relief fund of ₹18,172 crore to the drought-stricken farmers of Karnataka within a week,” Rao said in a post on ‘X’.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/first-victory-of-our-struggle-sidda-hails-court-s-intervention-101713815853226.html

Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals IPL: Players such as Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav cheered for ‘Sunny bhai’ as their bus was stuck in Jaipur traffic.

A man in Jaipur is winning hearts after he helped the bus transporting Mumbai Indians players get out of a traffic jam in the Rajasthan capital ahead of the Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians IPL match on Monday.

The man, wearing a Number 7 jersey with “Sunny” printed on the back, was seen guiding the bus and other vehicles that had stopped in front of the team bus.

In a video shared by Mumbai Indian on social media, players including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma could be seen cheering and clapping for the good Samaritan.

“Dil jeet liya Sunny bhai (Sunny bhai has won hearts),” Mumbai Indians wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Watch the viral video here:

Rajasthan Royals thrashed Mumbai Indians by nine wickets in Monday’s match that saw a rain interruption.

While left-handed opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a hundred, medium-pace bowler Sandeep Sharma took 5-18 to help restrict Mumbai to 179-9.

Following its defeat, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya said that they have to accept their flaws and work on them in the coming days.

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/sunny-bhai-comes-to-mumbai-indians-rescue-amid-jaipur-traffic-earns-admirers-watch-101713840375762.html

Trigger warning: This article has mentions of firing and weapons.

A firing incident that took place outside Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai on April 14 shocked the public. While the two shooters had been arrested a few days ago, the police were making efforts to recover the weapon used for the shooting.

Mumbai Crime Branch recently reached Surat and started their search in the Tapi River for the weapon. Now, it has been learned that one gun and some cartridges have been found.

One gun used by accused for shooting outside Salman Khan’s house has been recovered
According to ANI, the accused, Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, who opened fire outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai, had revealed some key information during the interrogation. They told the Mumbai Crime Branch that they had thrown the gun into the river Tapi in Surat, Gujarat. Later, the agency reported that two guns were involved in the incident.

As per the portal’s latest report, “Mumbai Crime Branch has recovered a gun and some live cartridges used in the firing outside Salman Khan’s house from Tapi River in Surat.” Regarding the second weapon, the portal mentioned, “The search for another gun is underway.”

Check out their tweet!

Shooters were ordered to fire 10 rounds of bullets outside Salman Khan’s home
The portal mentioned above previously said that the Mumbai Crime Branch had made some revelations about the incident. According to the police, the shooters were in possession of two guns, and their orders were to fire 10 rounds of bullets.

Source: https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/salman-khan-house-firing-case-mumbai-crime-branch-recovers-guns-and-cartridges-from-tapi-river-in-surat-1298318

An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the United States in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of 333 million, according to American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau.

As many as 65,960 Indians officially became US citizens, making India the second-largest source country for new citizens in America after Mexico, according to a latest Congressional report.
An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the United States in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of 333 million, according to American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau.

Of these, 24.5 million, about 53 per cent, reported their status as naturalised citizens.

In its latest “US Naturalisation Policy” report of April 15, the independent Congressional Research Service in the fiscal year 2022, 969,380 individuals became naturalised US citizens.

“Individuals born in Mexico represented the largest number of naturalisations, followed by persons from India, Philippines, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic,” it said.

Based on the latest available data, CRS said in 2022, as many as 128,878, Mexican nationals became American citizens. They were followed by Indians (65,960), the Philippines (53,413), Cuba (46,913), Dominican Republic (34,525), Vietnam (33,246) and China (27.038).

According to CRS as of 2023, 2,831,330 foreign born American nationals were from India, which is the second largest number after Mexico’s 10,638,429. Mexico and India are followed by China with 2,225,447 foreign-born American nationals.

However, as many as 42 per cent of the India-born foreign nationals living in the US are currently ineligible to become US citizens, CRS report said.

As of 2023, as many as 290,000 India-born foreign nationals who were on Green Card or Legal Permanent Residency (LPR) were potentially eligible for naturalisation.

CRS said in recent years, some observers have expressed concern over USCIS processing backlogs for naturalisation applications.

Although there continues to be a backlog of naturalisation applications, since FY2020 the agency has reduced the number of applications pending completion by more than half.

As of the end of FY2023, USCIS had approximately 408,000 pending naturalisation applications, down from 550,000 at the end of FY2022; 840,000 at the end of FY2021; and 943,000 at the end of FY2020.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/nearly-66-000-indians-got-american-citizenship-in-2022-report-5494160#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Neha Hiremath murder: Niranjan Hiremath, who is a Congress leader, demanded a CBI probe alleging that police were trying to “divert” the case.

Niranjan Hiremath, the father of Neha Hiremath who was murdered in Karnataka’s Hubballi, demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI alleging that the police were trying to “divert” the case.

Niranjan Hiremath, who is a Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, also demanded the transfer of the police commissioner in charge of the case for alleged “negligence”, news agency ANI reported.

“I have given the names of eight persons openly. They have not even caught one person. I am losing faith now. They are trying to divert my case. Give it to the CBI if you cannot do it. The commissioner in this case is a lady, even then she is not taking a girl’s murder seriously… She is working under some pressure. I demand the commissioner should be transferred for negligence in the case. I demand that the case should be given to the CBI,” ANI quoted Niranjan Hiremath as saying on Sunday.

Reacting to Niranjan Hiremath’s qualms, Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell head Amit Malviya blamed the Congress government in Karnataka for being “soft and slow” on the “killer(s)”.

“No Congress leader has visited Niranjan Hiremath, father of slain Neha Hiremath, who was stabbed to death by Fayaz. The helpless father now blames Congress Govt in Karnataka for being soft and slow on his daughter’s killer(s). As if daughter’s murder wasn’t enough, the family has to deal with Congress’s appeasement politics too. Will Neha ever get justice?” Amit Malviya on social media X (formally).

The murder of Karnataka college student Neha Hiremath by her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik has triggered a political row, with BJP terming it a case of “love jihad”, while the Congress has denied the allegation. Demands for capital punishment for Fayaz, the accused, have led to protests across Karnataka.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/neha-hiremath-murder-bjp-targets-congress-govt-as-father-claims-police-negligence-101713748726811.html

Sunita Kejriwal and Kalpana Soren joined other INDIA bloc leaders at a rally in Ranchi that saw the opposition camp launch a fierce attack on the BJP.

The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and JMM’s Hemant Soren has put their wives in the limelight. Sunita Kejriwal and Kalpana Soren have become important faces in the INDIA camp in the absence of their spouses during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, hinting that they are ready for larger political roles.
They joined other INDIA bloc leaders at a rally in Ranchi yesterday, which saw the opposition camp launch a fierce attack on the BJP for allegedly misusing central agencies to harass opposition-ruled states.

Two chairs were left empty on stage for Mr Kejriwal and Mr Soren – with their name tags on – as their spouses were seated on the dais.

The ‘Ulgulan Nyay Mahrally’, organised by the JMM amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, served as a major show of strength that saw the leaders of 28 political parties in attendance, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Tejashwi Yadav, Bhagwant Mann, and Akhilesh Yadav.

Sunita Kejriwal, lashing out at the government in her speech, alleged that her diabetic husband was being denied insulin in jail, a claim earlier made by the Aam Aadmi Party.

“They want to kill my husband Arvind Kejriwal. His food is under camera observation; he is denied insulin. My husband is a sugar patient who has been on insulin for the last 12 years; he needs 50 units of insulin daily,” she said at the rally.

Claiming that no charges could be proved against her husband, she asserted that they will win their “fight against dictatorship”. “The gates of jail will break and Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren will come out,” asserted Ms Kejriwal.

Ms Soren also accused the BJP of trying to topple governments in states where opposition parties are in power, which she claimed led to the arrest of Mr Kejriwal and Mr Soren just before the elections.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-hemant-soren-in-jail-their-wives-lead-attacks-on-rival-bjp-5494440#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill site in east Delhi on Sunday evening, officials reported. The blaze, attributed to gas that is produced in the landfill, sent plumes of smoke billowing from the dumping yard as firefighters laboured to contain the flames. As per the firefighters, it is difficult to douse the fire due to hot and dry weather conditions.

Initially, two fire tenders rushed to the scene upon receiving a call at 5:22 pm. However, as the fire intensified, an additional six fire tenders were dispatched. Firefighters continued their efforts to extinguish the flames, with more fire tenders on standby for potential deployment.

“Fires in landfills can burn for a long period. During night operations, our teams will be able to find more fire spots easily. We are still working to douse the fire, and it may take time,” remarked a fire official at the scene.

The area was cordoned off by the police to facilitate the movement of fire tenders. Senior police officers restricted access to the site, preventing onlookers from gathering and recording videos.

Residents expressed concerns over the health implications of the fire, citing breathing difficulties and long-standing issues of pollution in the area. Some criticised the government’s focus on elections over addressing daily issues such as pollution and cleanliness.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/cant-breathe-residents-suffer-as-fire-in-delhis-ghazipur-landfill-continues-article-109485706

UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar informed that the candidates will require a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent scores in their UG course to pursue PhD.

Students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly appear for NET and pursue a PhD, according to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar.

To pursue a PhD with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the candidates will require a minimum of 75 percent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course.

So far, a candidate for the National Eligibility Test (NET) needed a master’s degree with a minimum of 55 percent marks.

“The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear in a subject in which they want to pursue a PhD irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree,” Kumar told PTI.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/news/students-with-four-year-ug-degrees-can-directly-appear-for-net-and-pursue-phd-informs-ugc-chief-101713705667451.html

Incidents of firing, intimidation, and destruction of EVMs at some polling booths were reported from conflict-hit Manipur on Friday.

Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22.
The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling.

The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said.

Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 per cent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies – Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur – on Friday.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manipur-lok-sabha-elections-repolling-at-11-manipur-polling-stations-after-gunfire-evms-destroyed-5486382

A shortlist of the biggest headlines, recommended stories, and a special collection of news items you should check out.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have engaged in a fresh political blame game after the former claimed that the then chief minister Fadnavis had assured him in 2019 that he would groom his son Aaditya Thackeray as the next CM, while he will move to Delhi to join the Union cabinet, as part of the power-sharing agreement between the erstwhile Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance. Addressing a poll-bound rally in Mumbai’s Antop Hill for his party’s candidate from Mumbai South Central, Anil Desai on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray claimed that the then BJP chief and current Union home minister Amit Shah had visited him at Matoshree to seek an alliance with Shiv Sena (undivided).

Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched to kill Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is lodged in Tihar jail after being arrested in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy. Sanjay Singh claimed that Arvind Kejriwal, who is diabetic, is not being provided with insulin inside the jail. “Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is not being given insulin. If a patient with diabetes is not given insulin on time, for that person, it becomes a question of life or death. A conspiracy is being hatched to kill him (Arvind Kejriwal). The people of Delhi will give a reply to this crime,” Sanjay Singh told reporters on Friday.

Sunrisers Hyderabad produced yet another incredible performance with the bat, as they smashed 266/7 in the 2024 Indian Premier League match against Delhi Capitals to secure a brilliant win on Saturday. In another brilliant display of power-hitting, the opening duo of Travis Head (89) and Abhishek Sharma (46) broke the record for the highest powerplay total, smashing 125 without losing a wicket in the first six overs. Consquently, SRH ended with the fourth-highest total in the league history, and defeated Rishabh Pant’s men by 67 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Interestingly, former India captain and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar stated that the Capitals had a chance of defeating the Sunrisers during the halfway mark of the match.

Authorities suspect “Colonel” was in touch with Abdul Matheen Taha, the alleged main planner, and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the alleged bomber, since 2019-20.

A week after the arrest of two suspects in last month’s blast at a Bengaluru cafe, Indian agencies are trying to identify their elusive online handler codenamed “Colonel”, people familiar with the probe said.

Authorities suspect the “Colonel” was in touch with Abdul Matheen Taha, the alleged main planner, and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the alleged bomber, since their association with the IS Al-Hind module in 2019-20.

He is believed to be a key figure behind indoctrinating several young men in south India to carry out attacks on religious structures, Hindu leaders and prominent places, in addition to sending them funds through crypto-wallets.

“We heard about the handler named Colonel after the Mangaluru autorickshaw blast in November 2022. He operates from somewhere in the Middle East, most likely Abu Dhabi,” said a senior counterterrorism official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to reporters.

Agencies are not ruling out the “Colonel’s” association with Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI (inter-services intelligence agency), in reviving terror activities by creating small modules of the Islamic State (IS) group. The ISI has previously sponsored terror modules in India while disguising them as IS operatives, such as the arrest of three ISI-sponsored IS module members in Delhi in October.

The National Investigation Agency arrested Taha and Shazib from a hideout in Kolkata on April 12 for their alleged involvement in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast on March 1, which injured nine people. They are being interrogated about the “Colonel”, his online identities, future terror plans and other members of the Shivamogga IS module.

Taha and Shazib were previously part of a 20-member Al-Hind module that planned to establish an IS province in the jungles of South India, according to an NIA charge sheet.

The Al-Hind module, led by Bengaluru-based Mehboob Pasha and Cuddalore-based Khaja Moideen, which operated from the Al-Hind Trust office of Pasha in Guruppanpalya, Bengaluru, had planned to establish IS Daishwilayah (province) inside the jungles of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and to understand how to survive inside the deep forest. They even bought books on famous sandalwood smuggler Veerappan.

Their plan was to target/murder Hindu religious and political leaders, police officers, government officials and some high-profile individuals all over India and then retreat to the forest without getting noticed, NIA said in its charge sheet against 17 members of Al-Hind module in July 2020.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-probe-into-bengaluru-cafe-blast-probe-points-to-pak-link-101713636569963.html

Lawrence is currently lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in another case, while his brother Anmol is believed to be in Canada or the US, the official said, adding that Mumbai Police is likely to seek Lawrence’s custody soon

Mumbai Crime Branch on Saturday declared gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi as wanted accused in connection with the firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence on April 14.

Two motorbike-borne men fired at Galaxy Apartment in Bandra, Salman Khan’s residence, on the morning of April 14.

Currently, Lawrence is lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in Gujarat in another case, his brother is believed to be in Canada or the US, the official said, adding that Mumbai Police is likely to seek Lawrence’s custody soon.

The accused in the firing incident – Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal – were arrested earlier this week. They have been booked under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder). The police has added three new sections – 506 (2) (threatening), 115 (incitement) and 201 (destroying evidence) – to this FIR.

They were allegedly receiving instructions from Bishnoi brothers. On April 16, the two accused were arrested from Gujarat’s Bhuj.

According to the police, Pal had allegedly fired the shots while Gupta was riding the motorbike.

Three hours before the firing incident, Anmol Bishnoi took the responsibility of the attack in a Facebook post. The police has tracked the IP address of the post to Portugal.

The Facebook account in Anmol’s name was created by using a foreign mobile number, the police official informed.

Meanwhile on Friday, Mumbai police control room received a call, with the man on the other side claiming that a member of Lawrence Bishnoi gang would be arriving at Dadar railway station to execute a “major” plan.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/firing-at-salman-khans-house-lawrence-bishnoi-brother-anmol-bishnoi-declared-wanted-accused-11713620801732.html

The group of 10 was returning from a wedding in Madhya Pradesh’s Khilchipur when the accident took place.

Nine men were killed after the van they were travelling in was rammed by a speeding truck in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar on Saturday night, police said.
The group of 10 was returning from a wedding in Madhya Pradesh’s Khilchipur when the accident took place.

While three of the men were killed on the spot, six others died during treatment at the hospital.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/9-killed-after-speeding-truck-hits-van-with-wedding-guests-in-rajasthan-5488279

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the efficiency of the Enforcement Directorate improved after 2014 when his government came to power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the efficiency of the Enforcement Directorate improved after 2014 and provided stats as proof. PM Modi said that ED filed less than 1,800 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before 2014. The number increased to more than 5,000 after the NDA government came to power, PM Modi said.

This is “proof of their improved efficiency”, said the Prime Minister in an interview with Asianet News.

He added that the number of searches conducted also increased from 84 to 7,000 before and after 2014.

PM Modi also addressed the allegations raised by opposition parties that central agencies are being used to target them. He said only three per cent of the corruption cases registered by the ED are against people involved in politics.

He also took a dig at the criticism raised by opposition parties and said, “If an institution has been set up to take action against corruption, questions should be asked if it does not do its work. It does not make sense to ask questions because it does its work.”

The Prime Minister added that the government should let the investigative agencies work independently and should not hinder their work for their political interests.

ON LOK SABHA POLLS

PM Modi said the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are “critical” because the voters of the country “experienced what a stable government can do” after “unstable governments for three decades”.

The Prime Minister said such “unstable governments” did a lot of damage to the country and the ongoing general elections are important as people will cast their votes based on their experience.

“I believe that the election of 2024 is not being fought by the BJP or Modi. It’s an initiative of the people,” said the Prime Minister.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-praises-enforcement-directorate-efficiency-cases-filed-before-after-2014-2529687-2024-04-20

Moradabad, one of the 80 constituencies in Western UP, was won by Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP’s Moradabad candidate Sarvesh Singh, a five-time MLA and a one-time MP, died a day after his Uttar Pradesh constituency went to polls in phase one of the general elections. He was 72.
Sarvesh Singh, who has been ill for a long time, was undergoing treatment at a Delhi hospital.

“Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar has passed away,” UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary told news agency PTI.

“He had some problem in his throat and had an operation. Yesterday, he had gone to AIIMS for a check-up,” Mr Chaudhary added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the death of the leader an “irreparable loss” for the BJP.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of BJP candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha seat and former MP Kunwar Sarvesh Singh ji. He remained dedicated to public service and social service till his last breath. His demise is an irreparable loss for the party. I pray to God to give strength to his family to bear this deep grief. Om Shanti!” PM Modi posted on X.

“I am shocked to learn of the demise of our Moradabad candidate and former MP, Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh-ji. This is an irreparable loss for the BJP Parivaar. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family members and loved ones. I pray that Prabhu Shri Ram grants eternal peace to the departed soul while giving his family the strength and forbearance to bear this loss. Om Shanti!” Yogi Adityanath posted on X.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjps-moradabad-candidate-sarvesh-singh-dies-a-day-after-up-constituency-goes-to-polls-5485795#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

It may be recalled that the farmers who had launched their ‘Delhi chalo’ march were stopped on February 13 last at Shambhu border by security forces and they have been camping there since.

Chandigarh: More than 50 trains were cancelled on the Ambala-Amritsar route and the movement of many more were affected in the wake of ongoing farmers’ ‘rail-roko’ (blockade of rail-tracks) protest which entered its fourth day at the Shambhu railway station in Patiala district near here on Saturday.

The protesting farmers have been demanding the release of the three fellow farmer protesters from the custody of the Haryana police in connection with their ongoing stir to press the Centre to accept their demands including legal guarantee of minimum support price for their crops.

It may be recalled that the farmers who had launched their “Delhi chalo’’ march were stopped on February 13 last at Shambhu border by security forces and they have been camping there since.

Farm Leaders Vow to Continue Rail-Roko Protest Until Farmers’ Release

The leaders of the farmers’ fora who have been protesting under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, including Sarwan Singh Pandher said that they would continue their rail-roko stir until the three farmers were released.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chandigarh-over-50-trains-cancelled-on-day-4-of-rail-roko-protest

Protests in Bengaluru, Hubballi; victim’s father says she rejected man’s advances

A day after the daughter of a Congress corporator in Karnataka was stabbed to death by a former classmate on her college campus, the father of the accused said on Friday that his son should be “punished in such a way that no man thinks of harassing a woman”.

Baba Saheb Subani, a schoolteacher and the father of 23-year-old Fayaz, told the media that eight months ago, the family members of the victim, Neha Hiremath, had called him and informed that his son was troubling her.

“I came to know about this incident (murder) around 6 pm on Thursday. I was shocked. He (Fayaz) should be punished in a way that no one dares to do such a thing in future. Neha was like my daughter, I apologise to her family members,” he said.

Subani said he wanted to make his son a soldier and had sent him to the gym to train for it. “For six years, my wife and I have been living separately. Fayaz stayed with his mother,” he said.

“It has been three months since I spoke to Fayaz; he called me whenever he needed money. I admit my son has made a mistake. It is also true that Fayaz and Neha were in a love relationship and he told me he wanted to marry her, but I refused it by folding my hands,” said Subani.

The victim’s father, Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) corporator Niranjan Hiremath, said Fayaz killed his daughter for spurning his advances. Speaking to the media on Friday, Hiremath said his family knew that Fayaz was pestering Neha to accept his proposal. “When my daughter was pursuing BCA, he (Fayaz) also enrolled in the same college but failed. He was pestering my daughter for a love relationship but she refused. When he continued to pressurise her, she informed her mother. My brother and others had warned him and also informed Fayaz’s parents about it. Despite all this, I lost my daughter,” he said.

Investigation into the murder of 21-year-old Neha has revealed that Fayaz, her former classmate at KLE Technological University, killed her for allegedly rejecting his advances, said the police.

On Thursday, Neha, a first-year MCA student, was stabbed to death by Fayaz on the college premises. The incident was captured on CCTV camera. Fayaz, who too was injured in the attack, was taken to the hospital, along with the victim, and arrested later in the evening. On Friday, the police produced him before the magistrate who sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Bengaluru and Hubballi staged massive protests, demanding justice for Neha and safety for women on campus. Members of the Muslim community also staged a protest on Sankeshwar-Savadatti highway, demanding severe punishment for the accused. Anjuman-e-Islam, Hubballi, demanded an impartial investigation.

Hiremath said his wife had gone to pick Neha from the college. She was waiting at the gate when Fayaz reached Neha and stabbed her multiple times.

He said they were looking for a groom for Neha, which may have come to Fayaz’s knowledge and he decided to kill her. “The government has given priority to women’s education and jobs. If they are not safe, what is the point of all this? There must be a policy to hang such people,” said the grieving father. “If this can happen to the daughter of a corporator, how safe are the common people?” he said.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/punish-him-in-a-way-no-one-thinks-of-harassing-a-woman-accuseds-father-in-murder-case-of-corporator-daughter-in-karnataka-college-9280488/

The ED had alleged that Kejriwal was deliberately eating mangoes and sweets to spike his sugar levels and create a ground for bail.

A Delhi Court on Friday said that the home cooked food sent to jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from his house was not in compliance with the diet prescribed by jail authorities.

Special Judge (PC Act) Kaveri Baweja expressed displeasure that Kejriwal’s home cooked meals were not in compliance with the diet prescribed by jail authorities in consultation with medical experts.

“Give me a comparative chart of your diet chart and the details given by the jail. It seems there definitely are deviations. The deviations are there certainly,” the judge said.

Minor deviations like Mango and Aloo Puri, how can that be cited against my application for insulin, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi (appearing for Kejriwal) asked.

The Court was considering the objections by Enforcement Directorate that Kejriwal was consuming mangoes and sweets in his home cooked meals to spike his blood sugar levels.

The Court was also hearing a fresh application to allow him to consult a doctor daily for 15 minutes with respect to his diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar level.

He had further prayed that during such consultations with doctor, his wife Sunita Kejriwal should be allowed to remain present.

The Court eventually reserved its order in the matter which will be pronounced on April 22, Monday.

Judge Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court had earlier allowed home cooked food sent to Kejriwal who is lodged in Tihar jail in the money laundering case connected to Delhi excise policy case.

However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on April 18 objected to Kejriwal having mangoes and sweets sent from home. The ED had claimed that this was being done deliberately to spike the blood sugar levels so that Kejriwal could secure bail on that ground.

After the ED’s submission, the Court had sought a report from the Tihar jail authorities.

The jail authorities submitted a report on Friday indicating that the home cooked meals were not in compliance with the prescribed diet.

“There was no stipulation in his diet that he should have fruit or anything. In fact, he is not following the diet. We have also got an opinion from AIIMS. According to this, he should avoid mangoes. He should follow this diet. There is no need for insulin. In fact, if he takes insulin, sugar level will go down drastically,” the counsel for Tihar jail, Yoginder Handoo, said.

The Court then asked Kejriwal whether he was complying with the prescribed diet.

“You had filed a diet chart when your request for home cooked food was allowed on April 1. Have you followed this diet chart,” the Court asked.

“The answer is yes,” Singhvi replied.

“We have jail report as to what he is consuming. Is there any variation,” the judge further queried.

“It said glucose toffee and banana. He was given three meals of mangoes and one of aloo puri for Navratri,” Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on behalf of Kejriwal.

The Court was, however, not impressed and said the home cooked meals sent to Kejriwal were not in compliance with the prescribed diet.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel Zoheb Hossain said that the agency would like to file a response to Kejriwal’s application.

Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta, appearing for Kejriwal, objected to the same.

“What has ED got to do with it? It is between us and the jail authorities and Court,” Gupta contended.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi then explained the diabetic condition of Kejriwal.

“It is a well known fact that he suffers from diabetes. For 22 years he has got insulin everyday. He was being given insulin everyday. From February, well before my arrest, an insulin reversal programme started. It has to be monitored very very minutely. It is common ground that I am unable to follow the programme in jail. I have said repeatedly that only my doctor can monitor it minutely,” Singhvi said.

My only prayer is that I be allowed to consult my doctor, Singhvi contended.

Kejriwal also refuted the allegation by ED that he was deliberately eating mangoes and sweets and taking tea with sugar so as to raise his blood sugar level and use that as a ground to secure bail on medical grounds.

Singhvi said that Mangoes were included in only 3 out of the 48 meals which were sent to jail from his home.

“The allegations is that I have been consuming mangoes… Out of 48 meals sent from home, only three times mangoes were there,” the Senior Advocate submitted.

He also said that sugar level contained in Mangoes is very less.

“No mangoes have been sent after April 8. The mangoes have been made to look like sugar bullets. Their sugar level is much less than brown rice or white rice,” Singhvi told the Court.

The ED, it was argued, wants to do a media trial.

“Their submission was only for media news,” Singhvi alleged.

He further berated ED claiming that the agency was behaving in a petty and malicious manner.

“I only use sugar free in my tea. How petty, political and ridiculous ED can be? Their statements are completely false and malicious. Just because you have a lot of influence in the media you are able to publish that I am having aloo puri even though this meal was sent once during pooja,” Singhvi argued.

Such pettiness was never seen before for 75 years of democracy, he further said.

“We have had democracy for 75 years but I am seeing such an approach for the first time. Never seen such kind of pettiness,” he said.

Singhvi further demanded whether prisoners have no right to good health.

“Am I a gangster that I cannot even be allowed to have 15 minutes VC consultation with my doctor? Just because I am a prisoner I have no right to a dignified life and good health,” he asked.

The ED counsel Hossain once again sought permission to make submissions but Gupta objected.

“They are not a party. They are having press conference before coming here. Jail lawyer is here. Why should ED be heard? They are saying aam aadmi aam kha raha hai. Kya khaenge? Mushroom? Aaj Hindustan Times m aadha page bhara hua hai,” Gupta contended.

However, Hossain pointed out that ED has been made a party to the application.

“Registry ne bola inko party banao. Hamne nahi banaya (Registry told us to make ED a party. We did not do it on our own),” Gupta said.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/delhi-court-notes-home-meals-arvind-kejriwal-deviating-prescribed-diet-ed-mango-argument

All the subsystems of the missile, whose performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry, performed as per expectations.

The long-range Nirbhay cruise missile was successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast on Thursday.

The missile, also known as Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM), is equipped with an indigenous propulsion system and the Manik turbofan engine.

Advocate Vivek Jain, appearing for Kejriwal, objected to the submissions by ED and said that the investigating agency was making these allegations only for the media.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told a Delhi court that jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was deliberately eating mangoes and sweets and taking tea with sugar so as to raise his blood sugar level and use that as a ground to secure bail on medical grounds.

The submissions were made by ED counsel Zoheb Hossain before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in response to a plea by Kejriwal for regular check-ups of his sugar level and consultation with his regular doctor through video conference.

“Today, he (Kejriwal) is in court custody. He is in custody because of our case. The cause of concern is he was allowed prescribed home cooked food because he claimed he has high diabetes. But he is having mangoes, sweets and sugar with with tea. This is a basis to create a ground for bail,” Hossain submitted.

Hossain said that the details came to be known after the agency wrote to Tihar jail and sought information about Kejriwal’s diet and the medicines being taken by him.

Advocate Vivek Jain, appearing for Kejriwal, objected to the submissions by ED and said that the investigating agency was making these allegations only for the media.

Jain also said that he is withdrawing the present application and that he will file a better one.

Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with the money laundering probe related to Delhi excise policy case.

His lawyers had informed the Rouse Avenue Court that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor’s sugar levels had dropped to 46 and was continuously fluctuating.

The Court today sought a report from Tihar Jail about the diet chart of Kejriwal.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on allegations that he was the “key conspirator” in the money laundering case registered in the matter.

The arrest took place hours after his plea for interim protection from arrest was rejected by the Delhi High Court.

On March 22, Kejriwal was produced by the ED before judge Baweja, who initially remanded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to ED custody till March 28.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/ed-alleges-arvind-kejriwal-deliberately-eating-mangoes-sweets-jail-raise-blood-sugar-level-bail

According to the police, Neha, daughter of Congress Corporator Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed to death by Fayaz, her ex-classmate.

The daughter of a Congress Corporator was killed by her former classmate inside her college campus in Karnataka’s Hubballi on Thursday. The accused Fayaz has been arrested.

According to the police, Neha, 23, was the daughter of Congress Corporator Niranjan Hiremath. She was a first-year Masters of Computer Applications (MCA) student at BVB College.

The accused, Fayaz, also 23, was Neha’s ex-classmate. The CCTV footage from the campus showed Fayaz stabbing Neha several times with a knife and running away.

The college authorities and other students rushed Neha to the hospital, but she was declared brought dead.

WARNING: This video has disturbing visuals. Viewers’ discretion advised

According to sources, Fayaz, a resident of Belagavi district, had been stalking Neha for several days after she allegedly rejected his advances.

Police caught Fayaz with the assistance of Vidyanagar police in Hubballi.

Renuka Sukumar, Hubballi-Dharwad Commissioner of Police, said, “At around 4.45-5 pm, the incident happened where an ex-classmate of the girl Neha, studying MCA at BVB College, assaulted her with a knife. He studied BCA there. He stabbed her 6-7 times.”

Sukumar further said, “What we know so far is that they knew each other as they studied together. Further details along with the motive will be known after interrogation.”

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/karnataka-hubballi-congress-corporator-daughter-stabbed-death-bvb-niranjan-hiremath-2528990-2024-04-19

He will take charge on April 30 after present Naval chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, retires from service.

The Centre has appointed Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi as the next Chief of the Naval Staff.

He will take charge on April 30 after present Naval chief Admiral R Hari Kumar retires from service.

Born on May 15, 1964, Tripathi is an alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the executive branch of the Indian Navy in 1985.

A communication and electronic warfare specialist, Tripathi served on frontline warships of the Navy as signal communication officer and electronic warfare officer and later as the executive officer and principal warfare officer of the guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai.

Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi’s Sea Commands include INS Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years, he has also held various important operational and staff appointments, which include fleet operations officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, director of naval operations, principal director network centric operations and principal director naval plans at New Delhi.

On promotion to the rank of rear admiral, he served as assistant chief of naval staff (policy and plans) at NHQ and as the flag officer commanding the eastern fleet.

He has also served as the commandant of the prestigious Indian Naval Academy in Kerala’s Ezhimala. He was the director general of Naval Operations from July 2020 till May 2021.

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vice-admiral-dinesh-tripathi-to-be-next-chief-of-naval-staff-101713491517089.html

The principal was getting the beauty procedure done when she was supposed to be teaching.

On Thursday morning, students at a school in Uttar Pradesh were deprived of an academic lesson because their principal was busy getting a facial, but possibly learned a valuable life lesson instead – facts are, sometimes, indeed stranger than fiction.
Police officials said Sangeeta Singh, the headmistress of a primary school in Unnao district, was getting a facial done when she was supposed to be teaching students. The beauty procedure was being carried out in the area where food is cooked for students of the primary school in Dandamau village of Bighapur block and an assistant teacher, Anam Khan, caught wind of it.

Intent on catching the headmistress in the act, Ms Khan filmed a video of herself walking into the cooking area and coming across Ms Singh, who looked like she was in the final stages of her beauty regimen. In the video, a shocked Ms Singh can be seen getting up from the chair in a hurry while Ms Khan is heard saying “very good”.

What followed, according to the assistant teacher and police officials, was that an angry Ms Singh chased after Ms Khan, thrashed her, and even bit her hand, leaving it bleeding. The assistant teacher also posted a video of the bite marks, and both videos went viral.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/video-principal-gets-facial-done-in-school-bites-teacher-who-caught-her-5471030