19:53 Army orders Court of Inquiry into ‘human shield’ incident: The army has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the controversial ‘human shield’ incident in Kashmir in which a man was tied to an army vehicle purportedly as a shield against stone pelters.
Army sources said the CoI has been given one month’s time to complete the probe.
A video showing the man tied to an army vehicle as a shield against the stone pelters during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9, triggered a public outcry.
The CoI will look into the circumstance that prompted an army major to tie the Kashmiri youth to the jeep’s bonnet as a ‘human shield’.
The CoI has been given time till May 15 to probe the incident, the sources said.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had visited Jammu and Kashmir following the incident and later apprised National Security Advisor Ajit Doval of the security situation in the Kashmir Valley.
Gen Rawat also had separate deliberations with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor N N Vohra over the law-and-order situation in Kashmir during his visit to the state. — PTI
19:36 Sri Lankan prime minister to visit India next week: Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe will be travelling to India on a working visit from April 25-29, 2017, with April 26 as the main day of engagement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be hosting a luncheon meeting with Wickremesinghe on April 26. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari will be calling on the visiting PM.
After his official engagements in Delhi, Wickremesinghe will be making a private visit outside the capital.
The visit of the Lankan prime minister to India from April 25 is part of Indias continuing engagement with the government of Sri Lanka at the highest level.
18:30 Amit Shah to visit J&K on 2-day tour from April 29: Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will visit the state of Jammu and Kashmir on a two day tour from April 29.
“Shah will be visiting J&K state for two days on April 29and 30”, Arvind Menon, BJP’s all departments and projects national in-charge told reporters in New Delhi today.
State general secretary (Org) Ashok Kaul said that during the two-day visit of the party president, meetings at different levels would be held.
18:07 NIA court issues non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik: The special National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, wanted by the agency for his alleged role in a terror case.
The NIA had registered a case against Naik under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act last year.
It told the court that Naik didn’t appear before it even after three summonses were issued and it would need to take Interpol’s help to bring him back to India.
“Issue NBW against Naik,” said Special Judge V V Patil.
Last week, another city court had issued an NBW against Naik in a case of money laundering registered by the Enforcement Directorate against him.
The ED lawyer had said Naik was believed to be in the United Arab Emirates.
Naik, 51, left India last year, allegedly to evade arrest after some perpetrators of Dhaka terror attack claimed they were inspired by him.
Following the Dhaka attack, the NIA had registered a case against him and some officials of his organisation, Islamic Research Foundation, under section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (promotingenmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and the UAPA. — PTI
17:54 National Grand Alliance on cards? Nitish meets Sonia: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation in the country.
Kumar has been calling for forging a grand alliance of secular parties at the national level on the lines of the 2015 electoral alliance or ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is learnt to have raised the issue with Gandhi.
The Congress is a partner in the Bihar government with Kumar’s Janata Dal-United and Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, after the three parties contested and won the assembly elections as part of the grand alliance. — PTI
17:23 Sought access to Jadhav 15 times, concerned about him: MEA : India has officially sought from Pakistan details of the trial proceedings against Kulbhushan Jadhav as well as the appeal process in the case, the External Affairs Ministry said today.
Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said India has asked for consular access to Jadhav for the 15th time. Pakistan is yet to heed to India’s request for consular access to Jadhav who has been given death penalty by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying. India awaits formal response from Pakistan to its two demands – consular access and details of the trial proceedings against Jadhav, said Baglay.
“We don’t know anything about Jadhav’s location or condition in Pakistan,” he said, adding it is a matter of concern for India.
Yesterday, India had summoned the Pakistan deputy high commissioner here in connection with Jadhav’s death sentence and made a fresh demand for consular access to the retired Indian Navy officer. Earlier this week, Pakistan Army had ruled out access to him.
Imaging: Dominic Xavier
17:18 Give same food to dons and petty criminals in jails: UP CM: All convicts in the jails of Uttar Pradesh, whether petty criminals or notorious mafia dons, should get the same food and treatment, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has told state officials.
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s remarks came at a review meeting of the state’s Home, Vigilance and Jails department late last night. There have often been reports and allegations in the past about certain prisoners enjoying privileges in jails including the use of phones etc.
The chief minister said the same food should be given to all convicts — petty criminals or mafia dons — lodged in jails and ordered installation of mobile phone jammers, an official spokesman said.
The chief minister warned officials of the jails department against any leniency shown towards notorious criminals and asserted that they should not be allowed to use medical treatment as an excuse.
In the meeting, the chief minister stressed on effective checks on corruption in all cells of the police and identification of staff members having links with criminals and anti-social elements, the spokesperson said.
17:16 Nitish, Sonia explore possible national tie-up?: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi and is learnt to have discussed the current political situation in the country.
Kumar has been calling for forging a grand alliance of secular parties at the national level on the lines of the 2015 electoral alliance or ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar to take on the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is learnt to have raised the issue with Gandhi.
The Congress is a partner in the Bihar government with Kumar’s JD-U and Lalu Prasad’s RJD, after the three parties contested and won the assembly elections as part of the grand alliance.
File pic.
17:09 Delhi: Accused Samarth chugh, who ran over four people killing 1 on footpath near Kashmiri Gate, has been sent to judicial custody till May 4.
16:56 After Panneerselvam camp toughens stand, EPS faction says, ‘We have no conditions, ready to hold talks on merger.’
16:53 Firefighter Amit Shah jumps in to quench Advani-Joshi statement : Our sources tell us that BJP leaders were curious to learn the nature of conversation between the Margadarshak Mandal leaders LK Advani and Dr MM Joshi, who met soon after the Supreme Court decision to reopen conspiracy charges against them and Union Water Resources minister Uma Bharti.
It is believed that both Advani and Joshi wanted to issue statements about the way ahead.
However, a timely phone call and a meeting between the two senior leaders and BJP president Amit Shah put an end to it.
The BJP president and other senior leaders were apprehensive that the elders should not issue a negative statement against the party as they did in 2015.That’s also the reason why Amit Shah told Uma Bharti to cancel her visit to Ayodhya yesterday.
The fact that the BJP leaders were rattled for two to three hours is evident from the frequent phone calls they made to the media reporting on BJP affairs and to senior general secretaries of the BJP.
The damage control seems to have worked.
16:35 Special NIA court in Mumbai issues non-bailable warrant against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.
16:18 OPS wants Sasikala’s resignation from post and party on paper : Update: The OPS camp also says it wants Sasikala’s resignation on paper. Sasikala, who is in jail in the disproportionate assets case, is the general secretary of the AIADMK. On April 18, OPS had tweeted saying, “We want Sasikala and her family to exit the AIADMK.” So, the resignation he now demands from Sasikala, is both from the party and form her post.
16:05 OPS steps up demand for CBI probe in Jaya’s death: The O Panneerselvam faction of the AIADMK has stepped up its demand for a CBI probe into J Jayalalithaas death, in the wake of its first victory demanding VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran’s exit from the AIADMK. Even as talks of unification between the OPS faction and the E Palaniswami faction are on, OPS has stated that there can be no merger if this demand is not met.
TTV Dinakarans announcement to step aside, after the majority group within the Sasikala camp decided to keep her family away from party affairs has set the stage for the merger.
The single major issue between the two groups had been O Panneerselvams insistence that no one from the Sasikala family should have anything to do with the party affairs.
While a number of ministers and MLAs from the Sasikala faction had come around to the view that both Sasikala and Dinakaran needed to be eased out of the party, they were still divided on how to go about achieving it.
OPS has maintained that not once were they allowed to see Jayalalithaa in hospital though they had stayed put at the hospital all along. The Sasikala camp did not even listen to suggestions that Jayalalithaa should be taken to the UK or the US for treatment, OPS had claimed.
— Want Sasikala resignation, CBI probe into Jayalalithaa death: Panneerselvam camp toughens stand on AIADMK merger.
15:50 AB de Villiers @ABdeVilliers17 tweets: Visited the Tamahar Care Centre for mentally ill children. If you would like to assist, check out their website: http://tamahar.org.
With de Villiers (right) are India skipper Virat Kohli and Shane Watson.
15:31 Maryam Sharif tweets this picture with her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif immediately after the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the Pak PM. “Praise & glory be to Allah alone. Shukrana & mubariks.”
15:06 The Hindu nationalist tradition is not alien to West Bengal: In the long and acrimonious run-up to the 2014 general election, there were political analysts who discounted the possibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party ever forming a viable government at the Centre. Their scepticism was based on two considerations.
First, it was felt that Narendra Modi was too ‘polarizing’ a figure to be acceptable to the Indian electorate. Secondly, and much more significant, it was believed that the social and geographical spread of the BJP was too narrow to permit any pan-Indian presence.
Read Swapan Dasgupta’s piece for the Telegraph.
14:55 Pak SC sets up JIT in Panama case, Sharif to remain PM: From the Dawn.com: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday gave a split judgement on the highly anticipated Panama Papers case, issuing an order for the formation of Joint Investigation Team to probe the Sharif family’s involvement in corruption as stated in the Panama leaks.
A five-judge bench, comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, had examined arguments presented by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), the Watan Party and the All Pakistan Muslim League, who framed the case out of court as a campaign against corruption.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa began announcing the final verdict in the case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family at Courtroom 1 at the apex court.
The final verdict is split 3-2 among the bench, DawnNews reported, with two dissenting notes in the judgement by Justice Khosa and Justice Gulzar.
Justice Ejaz authored the 540-page verdict, according to TV reports.
Justice Khosa asserted that the Federal Investigation Agency and National Accountability Bureau were unsuccessful in playing their role.
A letter from a Qatari royal submitted to court as evidence by Sharif’s lawyers was dismissed by the bench.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, retired Capt Muhammad Safdar (the PM’s son-in-law) and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are the respondents in the case.
The petitioners had touted the revelations brought forth in the Panama Papers, published by the International Consortium of Journalists on April 3, 2016, as ‘evidence’ that the premier had lied to the nation in an address to Parliament where he ‘explained’ his position following the leaks.
14:48 In which Bappi-da conquers the Galaxy: “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2” gave a special treat to their Indian fans with a new trailer featuring popular Hindi track “Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba”. The Marvel Comics superhero characters dancing to the tunes of Bappi Lahiri’s classic disco number, gives the trailer a perfect Indian touch. Besides this, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista also gave a shout out to their fans in the country by sharing a special message for them.
“Namaste India, I’m Dave Bautista and I’m Zoe Saldana and here’s something special from the Guardians of the Galaxy, just for you. Obviously,” the actor duo said in the clip. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2”, written and directed by James Gunn, also stars Chris Pratt and features the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper.
The committee has been asked to submit a report within a week. Zakir Hossain, a class-four employee who became the leaseholder of Faculty of Fine Arts canteen, was expelled on Sunday for ‘creating disorder’ on ‘Pahela Baishakh’ when thousands of students gathered on the campus to celebrate the Bangla New Year.
The students of the faculty said beef was never allowed in their canteen considering the fact that it is ‘forbidden’ for Hindus.
14:18 What will this loola-langda do? UP minister insults disabled staffer: Sanskari politics in UP.
Senior Uttar Pradesh Minister Satyadev Pachauri purportedly insulted a physically disabled employee during a surprise inspection, a video of which has gone viral on the social media.
This incident comes days after the Yogi Adityanath government renamed the ‘Viklang Kalyan Vibhag’ (Handicap Welfare Department) as ‘Divyang Jan Shasaktikaran Vibhag’ (Divyang Empowerment Department).
The Khadi and Village Industries Minister allegedly made a derogatory reference when he came across a ‘divyang’ contractual employee yesterday during an inspection of the department’s office in Dalibagh area of Lucknow.
“You have kept a loola-langda (lame) on contract. What will he do? This is the reason behind the lack of hygiene here,” Pachauri was purportedly heard saying in the video clip which went viral on the social media.
A video grab of the incident. The disabled is in the red shirt (2nd from left).
13:54 Those who say AOL irresponsible have sense of humour: Sri Sri on NGT rebuke: Barely an hour after the National Green Tribunal slammed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his Art of Living foundation, the spiritual leader responded saying AOL has done no wrong.
“The truth is we have caused no damage to the Yamuna. When lies are exposed, it is shocking,” news agency ANI quoted Ravi Shankar as saying.
“Those who say the Art of Living is irresponsible simply don’t know us or have gained a sense of humour,” Ravi Shankar further added.
Earlier today, NGT, the highest environmental court in the country — came down heavily on spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for shifting the blame for the environmental damage on the Yamuna banks.
“You have no sense of responsibility. Do you think you have the liberty to say whatever you want? It is shocking,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The observations came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, informed the bench about Ravi Shankar’s recent statement blaming the government and the NGT for permitting his NGO to hold the World Culture Festival on the floodplains of river Yamuna.
Image: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Pic courtesy his Facebook page.
He will be produced in a court later in the day, a senior official of the Mumbai crime branch said. The Bombay High Court had yesterday asked the city police to lodge an FIR against Kulkarni.
The high court gave the directions while hearing a plea by a city couple alleging that their two daughters, aged 23 and 21, were ensnared by the cult group Shifu Sunkriti, which operated on social media, and its founder Kulkarni.
12:53 Update: You have NO sense of responsibility: NGT slams Sri Sri : The country’s top environment court — the National Green Tribunal — came down heavily on spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for shifting the blame for the environmental damage on the Yamuna banks.
“You have no sense of responsibility. Do you think you have the liberty to say whatever you want? It is shocking,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The observations came after advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for petitioner Manoj Misra, informed the bench about Ravi Shankar’s recent statement blaming the government and the NGT for permitting his NGO to hold the World Culture Festival on the floodplains of river Yamuna.
Parikh told the green bench that the spiritual guru has gone to the extend of levelling allegations against the NGT.
The lawyer said that Sri Sri had posted the statement on the website of the Art of Living, his Facebook page and also addressed the media on the same in a written statement.
The counsel appearing for the AOL foundation, however, contested the findings of the expert panel and said that they have certain objections with regard to the findings of the committee and sought setting aside of the report.
The bench then directed the foundation and other parties in the case to file their response and objection within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on May 9.
On April 18, Ravi Shankar had blamed the government and the NGT for permitting AOL to hold the festival on the Yamuna river bed and said they should be held responsible if any environmental damage was caused.
The AOL head said the foundation had obtained all necessary permissions, including from the green panel, and the event could have been stopped in the beginning itself if river Yamuna was so “fragile and pure”.
Read the full report here
File picture of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a satsang in Kota.
12:26 Tej Bahadur should have been treated as whistle blower: Congress: Condemning the dismissal of Border Security Force (BSF) soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav who uploaded a viral video of poor food condition of the Army, the Congress Party on Thursday said that the former should have been treated like a whistle blower, rather than being suspended.
“It is extremely unfortunate and regrettable. He was trying to expose the inadequacies in the entire nutrition system of the BSF. The superiors did not listen to him. He should have been treated as a whistle blower rather than being sacked,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told ANI.
He added that by pointing out to the insubstantive food that was served to the soldiers, who were performing arduous duty, Yadav was actually doing a national service.
“It is extremely unfortunate that a government which claims to be committed to transparency actually behaves in such a high-handed manner with somebody who is trying to expose in order to transform the system,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said Yadav’s request should have been understood. “This is a very unfortunate incident. He shared his problems which would have been given importance instead of suspending him,” he added.
A day after the BSF dismissed the viral video of poor food conditions for the army, Yadav today said his fight is for all the soldiers, adding that he is confident of getting justice.
Image: A file pic of Tej Bahadur on holiday with his wife
Rejecting the Tata Group’s plea to stall the auction, The apex court made it clear that if the group loses the e-auction, then within period of six months, it will have to vacate the premises.
Earlier on March 3, the NDMC told the apex court that it wanted to auction the five-star hotel located in the heart of the national capital.
The IHCL, which runs the Taj Mansingh Hotel, on November 8, 2016, approached the apex court against the Delhi High Court order, which had paved the way for auctioning of the historic property.
The firm had challenged the October 27 verdict delivered by a division bench of the Delhi High Court, which had dismissed IHCL’s petition challenging the move by the NDMC to auction the property.
Prior to this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that an open auction of Taj Mansingh Hotel would be done. The announcement was made following a special meeting of the NDMC’s top decision-making body.
12:15 You have no sense of responsibility, Green Court rebukes Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Details awaited.
11:57 AIADMK’s Thambidurai meets TN govenor after Dinakaran’s exit: AIADMK (Amma) leader M Thambidurai meets Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao after deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran steps aside from the party.
Isolated in his party, AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran threw in the towel and “stepped aside” to pave the way for a merger of rival factions led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and his predecessor O Panneerselvam. Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, is facing a revolt by an influential section of the party led by Palaniswami and a host of ministers, who had last night declared the ouster of the once powerful aunt-nephew duo, and extended a hand of friendship to the Panneerselvam camp.
11:39 The Shiv Sena, a pro at vigilante justice, blackens the face of a college lecturer in Nagpur over charges of allegedly asking a female student for sexual favours.
11:37 Dinakaran has a date with the Delhi police on Saturday: AIADMK deputy chief TTV Dinakaran has been asked to appear before the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Saturday in a case of alleged bribery to EC officials for retrieving the party’s ‘two leaves’ symbol. The Delhi Police had last night served summons to him in the case.
Assistant Commissioner Sanjay and another official served the summons to Dinakaran at his Besant Nagar residence in Chennai.
The Delhi Police had also issued a lookout notice against Dinakaran yesterday. The lookout notice was issued in the wake of inputs that Dinakaran was an NRI and could try to flee the country.
The Crime Branch had on April 16 arrested an alleged middleman, Sukesh Chandrashekhar in New Delhi in connection with the case. He claimed that he had told Dinakaran that he will get a favourable verdict from the Election Commission of India in the party symbol case, he said. It has been learnt that he had allegedly struck a deal for Rs 50 crore for helping the AIADMK faction keep the ‘two leaves’ symbol.
Dinakaran, the nephew of jailed AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, is facing a revolt by an influential section of the party led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and a host of ministers, who had on Tuesday declared the ouster of the once powerful aunt-nephew duo, and extended a hand of friendship to the Panneerselvam camp.
11:25 Will fight for the soldiers till my last breath: Sacked BSF jawan Tej Bahadur: A day after the Border Security Force dismissed the viral video of poor food conditions for the army, Tej Bahadur Yadav on Thursday said his fight is for all the soldiers, adding that he is confident of getting justice.
“I have given proof of the food but I did not get justice. I will go to the court. I am confident of getting justice. I will fight for the soldiers till my last breath. Complaints had come earlier as well but no one paid heed to that. It was my duty to reveal it to the government,” Yadav told ANI.
Yadav said he raised his voice so that the coming generation does not face the same situation in the army.
“The officials had kept me locked and I was not allowed to talk to my family. I was given my phone when I went to the court,” he added.
A visibly disappointed Yadav earlier in the day requested the government to support him and asserted that if he did not get the support, he would move the judiciary.
Yadav yesterday said that he will move the High Court over the matter and seek justice.
He received his dismissal orders yesterday and moved out of the cantonment with his belongings in a three-ton truck.
The Summary Security Force Court dismissed Yadav from service for posting a video regarding substandard food being served to the jawans.
Bahadur was found guilty of all the charges and awarded dismissal from service.
As per the BSF Act and Rules, he can now submit a petition or appeal against the punishment to the higher headquarters within three months.
During the proceedings, all opportunities were allegedly given to the individual for his defence.
Bhadur had earlier uploaded a video about quality of food in BSF which had gone viral on social media.
In the video that had sparked a nationwide outrage, Yadav, a BSF soldier of the 29 battalion Seema Suraksha Bal, was seen exposing the rot in the system by revealing the deeply ingrained corruption in the higher order, saying that the troops are not even getting basic three square meals.
11:15 Lal salaam: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani removes the lal batti from his official vehicle after Prime Minister Modi decided to end the use of red beacons by VIPs, without exception.
11:13 ‘Kar sevaks had come to Ayodhya on Advani’s call’: Journalist Suman Gupta covered the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992 as a reporter for the Jan Morcha newspaper. She had taken a camera along with her to report the event, and was among the many journalists who were beaten up by kar sevaks that day in Ayodhya.
Gupta submitted a statement on what happened to the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry set up to inquire into the demolition. She also gave her account of the demolition to various courts. Currently the resident editor of Jan Morcha, Lucknow, Suman Gupta, spoke to Rediff.com’s Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Do read
10:55 Three ISIS suspects arrested in Mumbai, Jalandhar, Bijnor : Just in: Three ISIS suspects have been arrested from Bijnor, Jalandhar and Mumbai by a combined team of Delhi police and Uttar Pradesh ATS.
Police of five states were part of the anti-terror operation in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Ludhiana (Punjab), Narkatiaganj (Bihar), Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh) and Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh).
Just last week, at least two of over 20 people from Kerala who were lured by the ISIS were feared killed in US’s superbomb attack on Afghanistan’s Nangarhar last Thursday.
IMAGE: A screen grab from an ISIS recruitment video.
10:17 Extradition of Vijay Mallya may take 6-12 months: ED: The extradition of money laundering accused Vijay Mallya from the United Kingdom would take a minimum of 6 to 12 months, according to senior officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“We are not disheartened with the release of Mallya on bail. We are looking at the development as one step closer to bringing him back to India, but yes, it is a long way to go”, an official from the agency told India Today.
It would not be an easy process for the investigative agencies and the central government to get Mallya back. At least, a dozen hearings would take place in the local court, with the option of moving the higher courts in the UK itself.
For the last two days, speculation have been doing the rounds that a special team of CBI and ED officials would visit London to appear before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court for an extradition hearing against Mallya.
Speaking to India Today, CBI Spokesperson RK Gaur said, “It has not been decided whether we need to go London or be a part of the extradition process from India itself”. “But yes, the extradition process has begun from our end”, he said.
According to sources, senior officials of CBI and ED are working in collaboration to gather all the required case details against Mallya “so that the same could be tabled before the UK legal authorities, strongly”.
India Today has learnt that even if a special team visits London for Mallya’s extradition, it would be much before the hearing date, at least 4-5 days in advance.
Mallya would attend an extradition hearing on 17th May.
“This special team could be a group of officials from the CBI, ED and the central government. But the team would be headed by senior CBI officials, and not by ED”, an official said.
This is because Mallya has been arrested on the request of CBI and not under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) of the Enforcement Directorate.The ED team will consist of at least 2-3 members from Mumbai and Delhi zonal office, especially those who are well-versed with Mallya’s money laundering case.
The accident happened at 5.45 am.
The car had three occupants — all Class XII students — of a top Delhi school, said a senior police officer. While two of the occupants managed to flee, the driver was apprehended by police. The injured and the deceased persons are yet to be identified. The driver has been sent for medical examination to determine whether he was drunk at the time of the accident.
The nearly six-minute clip, which goes on to include physical violence, was evidence in a domestic violence case brought against Gattani and has been obtained The Daily Beast. Read more
09:23 AIADMK worker attempts self-immolation protesting police action against Dinakaran: An AIADMK worker tried to allegedly set himself ablaze to show his opposition to the police against the action against the general secretary TTV Dinakaran. The self-immolation bid was thwarted by other cadres and some plainclothesmen.
Delhi Police officials at midnight on Wednesday served summons to TTV Dinakaran in a case of alleged bribery to EC officials for retrieving the party’s two leaves symbol.
Dinakaran had, soon after the arrest of Sukesh Chandrasekhar asserted that he will face the matter legally. He had denied any knowledge of Chandrasekhar.
Voter turnout in the Srinagar election was the lowest since the start of the insurgency, forcing a postponement of polling for the Anantnag seat. For the largest democracy in the world, this is a setback. There are also concerns that we could be seeing the start of a repeat of 2016.
08:50 Accused in Alwar lynching are today’s Bhagat Singh, says gau rakshak:
Vipin Yadav, 19, may have been identified by the police in the video of the alleged April 1 assault on National Highway 8 which led to Pehlu Khans death and injured four others, but self-styled gau rakshak Sadhvi Kamal Didi, who met him while he was appearing for his annual examination under judicial custody, has termed him the Bhagat Singh and (Chandra Shekhar) Azad of today.
In a video of the meeting, the sadhvi was seen telling Yadav, Poora Bharat tere saath mein hai, aur hum apne desh mein aise kaam nahi karenge toh kahan karenge. Koi bhi toh na jhuke, aur na he tujhe kisi prakar ki chinta karne ki avashakta hai (The entire country is with you. If we wont do such things in our country then where else. One shouldnt give in. You shouldnt worry about anything), she said.
Turning to those present, the sadhvi then drew a parallel between Yadav and Bhagat Singh, Ye Bhagat Singh, [Chandra Shekhar] Azad, Sukhdev, ye hain, ye log. Inhone koi bhi galat nahi kiya, kisi prakar ka galat nahi karke gaye. (People like him are Bhagat Singh, Azad and Sukhdev. They did not do any wrong), she said to applause.
08:28 JUST IN: Two dead and 3 injured after a car ran over them near Delhi’s Kashmiri Gate. Class 12th student who was driving, apprehended
Following his dismissal from position as a prime-time host on Fox News, Bill O’Reilly has said that it was tremendously disheartening that he had to part ways with Fox due to “completely unfounded claims.”
In a statement of his own released, O’Reilly said, “It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims. But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today.”
Earlier, with the disclosure of multiple settlements involving sexual harassment allegations against him, O’Reilly was forced out of his position as a prime-time host on Fox News.
After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel,” 21st Century Fox, Fox News’s parent company, said in a statement.
O’Reilly’s departure comes two and a half weeks after an investigation by The New York Times revealed how Fox News and 21st Century Fox and O’Reilly reached settlements with five women who had complained about sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior by him. The agreements totalled about $13 million.
07:56 AIADMK rules out change in CM, Palaniswami to stay:
Denying speculations suggesting that O Panneerselvam would be made the chief minister, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said there is no question of change as the 124 MLAs voted in favour of incumbent E Palaniswami.
“A 124 MLAs voted for Palaniswami, therefore, there is no question of CM change,” AIADMK leader M Thambidurai responded to a poser on making Panneerselvam the chief minister after merger.
Hours after Panneerselvam put forth certain conditions for the merger of the two factions, the AIADMK earlier on Tuesday announced the ouster of VK Sasikala and her family from the party.
Palaniswami said Sasikala and her family has to be kept away from the party directly or indirectly.
“They should not have any role within the party,” he asserted.
07:41 After thrashing AI staffer, now Sena MP Gaikwad in verbal spat with cops:
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad allegedly had a heated argument with cops over “non-functioning” of ATMs at Latur in Marathwada region, police said.
Videos of the alleged heated argument between Gaikwad, his supporters and police personnel at Latur in Marathwada region, have gone viral on social media.
In the visuals, Gaikwad is purportedly seen arguing with a police officer, during a protest over non-functioning ATMs at Latur.
The Lok Sabha member from adjoining Osmanabad constituency, Gaikwad, who reached Latur yesterday, had sent his aide to withdraw money from an ATM at Latur.
However, the aide returned empty-handed, saying the ATM had run out of cash. This happened with a few other ATMs, prompting the Sena MP to go out and stage a protest with his supporters outside an ATM.
When policemen arrived and requested Gaikwad to discontinue his protest as it was hampering the vehicular traffic, the Sena MP allegedly shouted at them, police said.
Giving his version of the incident, Gaikwad said, “There is no money in the ATMs for the last 15 days. What should we do?”
In Uttar Pradesh, thieves do not spare even the police stations when they strike.
This was evident when a police jeep with a beacon was stolen from the premises of Ghazipur police station.
The theft came to light on Wednesday, creating an embarrassing situation for the administration since the new government is giving top importance to law and order.
After the theft was noticed, the police swung into action and the jeep was recovered. The accused was also arrested.
“A case been registered and the accused has been arrested. Action will definitely be taken for negligence,” Senior Superitendent of Police Manzil Saini said.
Meanwhile, the driver of the jeep Narendra Kunmar has been suspended.
00:21 Move to rename six places in Arunachal ‘legitimate’: China :
Beijing has asserted that the move to “standardise” official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh was legitimate as these names reflect China’s “territorial claim”.
The official names of the six places using the Roman alphabet are Wo’gyainling, Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri, Mainquka, Bumo La and Namkapub Ri, state-run Global Times reported.
“China holds a consistent and clear position on the eastern section of the China-India boundary. The competent authorities in charge of managing China’s geographical names were exercising their lawful rights in publicly releasing these names in accordance with Regulations on the Management of Geographical Names and relevant regulations of the State Council,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement.
Asserting that the move is legitimate and appropriate, Kang further stated that these names are passed down by ethnic minority groups who have long been living and working in the region, and they have been calling these places as such for generations.
“These names reflect from another angle that China’s territorial claim over South Tibet is supported by clear evidence in terms of history, culture and administration,” the statement added.
Source: Rediff