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UP: Man booked for raping Class 2 student in Ballia

10-Sep-2022 403

Ballia (UP), Sep 10 (PTI) A 25-year-old man was booked for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl in the Nagra area here, police said on Saturday.

The accused lured the girl when she was playing outside, took her to his house on a motorcycle and raped her, they said, adding the incident took place on September 5.

A case has been registered against the accused following a complaint by the girl's father, police said, adding he initially felt hesitant to report the matter to the police.

Efforts are on to arrest the accused, they said.

The victim is a Class 2 student, police said.

Active Covid cases in India decline to 50,342

08-Sep-2022 189

New Delhi, Sep 8 (PTI) India saw a single day rise of 6,395 new coronavirus infections, taking the tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,44,78,636, while the active cases declined to 50,342, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday.

The death toll has climbed to 5,28,090 with 33 fatalities, including 14 deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The active cases comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.70 per cent, the health ministry said.

A decline of 252 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.96 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 1.88 per cent, according to the health ministry.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,39,00,204, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.

According to the ministry, 214.27 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year.

The 19 new fatalities include five from Maharashtra and two each from Delhi, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal among others.

SC to hear on Sep 27 plea of Uddhav group to restrain ECI from deciding on 'real' Shiv Sena claim

08-Sep-2022 157

New Delhi, (PTI) A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will hear on September 27, an application of Uddhav Thackeray-led faction seeking to restrain the Election Commission from deciding on the claim of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led group over the "original" Shiv Sena party.

The bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said it will pass directions indicating the timeline for hearing all other issues emanating from a batch of petitions filed by both the sides related to power of speaker/deputy speaker and governor in relation to the political crisis which had happened in Maharashtra few months back.

The bench was hearing pending cases related to the crisis that led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

As the matter was taken up for hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the Shinde faction, told the bench also comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha that the opposite side has filed an intervention application in their matter seeking to restrain the poll panel from taking any decision.

He said the Election Commission of India (ECI) cannot be prevented from taking any decision and earlier, the top court had refused to stay the proceeding before the poll panel.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray faction, said on August 3, a top court bench had orally asked the ECI to not take any precipitative action.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the ECI, said it is a process that when there is a complaint under symbols order, the poll panel has no option but to issue notice to the other side.

"Here in this case also, we have issued the notice to the other side", he said, adding that the records are bulky and it would be appropriate if the proceedings continue.

Datar said even if the legislators are disqualified, they will still remain members of the party.

Sibal said disqualification is attracted under the 10th schedule if the legislator voluntarily gives up the membership of the party and not the legislature.

Justice Shah asked the counsel to reserve their energy for hearing on September 27.

On August 23, the top court had referred to a five-judge bench the petitions filed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction and Eknath Shinde-led faction raising several constitutional questions related to defection, merger and disqualification.

It had asked the ECI not to pass any orders on the Shinde faction's plea that it be considered the "real" Shiv Sena party and granted the party's poll symbol.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice N V Ramana had said that the batch of petitions raise important constitutional issues relating to the 10th schedule of the Constitution pertaining to disqualification, power of the speaker and governor and judicial review.

The apex court had said the proposition of law laid down by the constitution bench in the Nabam Rebia case relating to 10th schedule stands on a contradictory reasoning which requires gap filling to uphold constitutional morality.

The top court had asked the constitution bench to look into constitutional issues whether notice for removal of speaker restricts him from continuing with disqualification proceedings, whether a petition under Article 32 or 226 lies against disqualification proceedings, can a court hold that member is deemed to be disqualified by virtue of his/her actions, what is the status of proceedings in the house pending disqualification petitions against the members.

The 10th Schedule of the Constitution provides for the prevention of defection of the elected and nominated members from their political parties and contains stringent provisions against defections.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had earlier submitted that party MLAs loyal to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde can save themselves from disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution only by merging with another political party.

It had asked the Shinde faction to redraft the legal issues of split, merger, defection and disqualification raised in petitions filed by the Thackeray camp that are to be adjudicated upon following the political crisis in Maharashtra.

The Shinde group had said the anti-defection law is not a weapon for a leader who has lost the confidence of his own party to lock his members and somehow hang on.

Tejashwi conducts surprise checks at govt hospitals

07-Sep-2022 196

Patna, Sep 7 (PTI) Doctors at government hospitals in the Bihar capital were left in a daze when they realised that a young man knocking at their doors past midnight was none other than Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

The young leader spent the day, on Tuesday, demonstrating that he was very much in charge of the administration while his boss Nitish Kumar was away in Delhi to do some political heavy lifting.

Yadav holds key portfolios like health, road construction and urban development and he has proudly announced on his Twitter handle his "pahal" (initiative) to end the strike by Patna Municipal Corporation sweepers which has, in the past few days, buried the city's streets under heaps of trash.

However, youngsters may be more impressed with his late night "raids" on hospitals, clips of which are being run by media outlets likening the 33-year-old to the protagonist of 'Nayak', an Anil Kapoor starrer who shakes up the system as a hands-on chief minister.

The hospitals where the deputy CM conducted surprise checks included PMCH, the state's largest government health facility, besides the hospitals at Gardiner Road and Gardani Bagh.

Yadav had showed up wearing a track suit and a cap, with a mask covering his face and the staff's failure to recognise him until the reality dawned on them is quite a sight to behold.

The cool-headed politician was visibly displeased at the lack of cleanliness on the premises, poor availability of medicines and the apparent indifference towards their duty by those on night roster.

"Take notes of all shortcomings. We will take action at the review meeting of the department," the deputy CM can be heard telling his personal staff.

Notably, the health department had remained with the BJP for the entire period Nitish Kumar remained an NDA ally.

Yadav has bagged the portfolio eyed by his elder but relatively less adept brother Tej Pratap.

Turning point in Indian politics: Cong ahead of start of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'

07-Sep-2022 342

Kanyakumari (TN), Sep 7 (PTI) Ahead of the launch of its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on Wednesday, the Congress said it is a turning point in Indian politics and marks a "new beginning".

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi took part in a prayer meeting at Rajiv Gandhi memorial in Sriperumbudur Wednesday morning.

"I lost my father to the politics of hate and division. I will not lose my beloved country to it too," he said in a tweet later.

"Love will conquer hate. Hope will defeat fear. Together, we will overcome," he said.

He is scheduled to attend an event at 4:30PM in Kanyakumari where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Rajasthan's Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh's Bhupesh Baghel will be present.

Stalin will present a national flag made of khadi to Gandhi who will hand it over to Seva Dal workers who will manage the Yatra throughout.

"September 7 2022. A day when India's oldest political party will launch the longest padyatra ever undertaken. It is a sombre day, a day for quiet reflection and renewed resolve," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

"This is a turning point in Indian politics. It marks a new beginning," he said.

With the launch of the 3,570 km Yatra at a mega rally here, the Congress is seeking to flag economic disparities, social polarisation and political centralisation, while attempting to make gains in what it often described as battle of ideologies.

After the event at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam where Stalin will be present, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders will walk to the seaside venue of the rally where the yatra will be formally launched.

Sources said a message from the Congress president could be read or a video message from her be shown at the event. Sonia Gandhi's mother passed away recently in Italy. Both she and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are abroad.

Rahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai Tuesday night.

Ramesh had said Tuesday that the Yatra is a "transformational moment for Indian politics and it is a decisive moment for the rejuvenation of the party".

A final check on the preparations at the venue near the 'Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam' was done by general secretaries K C Venugopal and Ramesh along with senior leader and Yatra organisation panel in-charge Digvijaya Singh on Tuesdat.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement among the Congress workers across India," Ramesh had told PTI.

"Even in states where the Yatra is not passing through, people are excited. In each state the Congress will organise similar Yatras on a smaller scale, may be of 50 km or 100 km on the main theme of uniting India, an India being torn apart by economic inequalities, social polarisation and over-centralisation," he had said.

"The party is focused on making Bharat Jodo Yatra successful because it is the largest mass mobilisation programme it has undertaken in Independent India," he said.

In a video message, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had urged people to join the Yatra wherever possible. She asserted the Yatra was needed as "negative politics was being practised in the country and real issues were not being discussed". It aims to put focus on people's issues such as price rise and unemployment, she has said.

Though the march, covering 12 states and two Union Territories in about five months, will be formally launched at the rally, it will actually begin at 7 am on Thursday when Gandhi and other Congress leaders will embark on the march. Before the launch, Rahul Gandhi will also visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thiruvalluvar statue and Kamaraj Memorial in Kanyakumari.

The march will move in two batches

from 7 am to 10:30 am and from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. While the morning session will include fewer participants, the evening session will see mass mobilisation. The participants plan to walk around 22 to 23 km daily. The Congress has asserted its Yatra is not a 'Mann Ki Baat', but to ensure people's concerns reach Delhi.

It has classified 119 leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, as 'Bharat Yatris' who will walk the entire route. About 30 per cent of 'Bharat Yatris' are women. The average age of Bharat Yatris is 38.

About 50,000 citizens have also registered to participate in the Yatra. To coincide with the launch of the Yatra on Wednesday, 'Prarthana Sabhas' will be held by the Congress' state units at 5 pm, a leader said. At 7 am Thursday, 10 km foot marches will be held at block level.

After reaching Kerala on September 11, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north.

It will pass through Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Nilambur, Mysuru, Bellary, Raichur, Vikarabad, Nanded, Jalgaon, Indore, Kota, Dausa, Alwar, Bulandshahr, Delhi, Ambala, Pathankot, Jammu, and end in Srinagar.

Shah, Nadda to meet BJP leaders to discuss roadmap for 144 identified LS seats

06-Sep-2022 242

New Delhi, Sep 6 (PTI) With an eye on the 2024 elections, BJP chief JP Nadda and senior leader Amit Shah will hold a brainstorming session Tuesday with key party leaders to draw a roadmap for winning the 144 Lok Sabha seats it could not in previous elections, sources said.

The list includes constituencies where the BJP came second or third in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and also some which the party has never won.

The party divided these seats into clusters and appointed one Union minister as their in-charge.

Another set of ministers was sent to assess the political situation by visiting all assembly segments within these constituencies, spread across states including West Bengal, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

They were also tasked to identify potential candidates.

Several Union ministers including Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, Narendra Singh Tomar, Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, Mansukh Mandaviya, Jyotiraditya Scindia are likely to attend the meeting at the BJP headquarters.

The ministers will present a detailed report on these constituencies during the meeting.

The sources said the ministers have visited almost all these constituencies and gathered electorally crucial details.

The ministers have done a SWOT analysis of the BJP's position in these constituencies and identified steps to be taken to ensure its victory in the 2024 elections, the sources said..

The party has drawn a detailed blueprint on these constituencies which include information on religion, caste, geography, inclination of voters and the reasons behind it, the sources added.

Rajasthan: BJP leader shot dead in Bharatpur

05-Sep-2022 265

Jaipur, Sep 5 (PTI) A BJP leader was shot dead in Rajasthan's Bharatpur, police said on Monday.

The assailants, who are yet to be identified, came on two bikes and as many cars, and opened fire at Kirpal Singh while he was going home from circuit house in his car on Sunday night, they said.

Singh, a close aide of BJP MP from Bharatpur Ranjeeta Koli, sustained seven bullet injuries in the attack, they said.

"The accused are being identified and no arrest has been made so far. The post mortem is being conducted," Station House Officer of Mathura Gate Police Station Ramnath Singh said.

According to police, Singh was taken to state-run RBM Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

Koli visited the hospital to inquire about Singh's health.

"Due to the demise of DRUCC (Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee) member and former spokesperson of Kisan Morcha Kripal Singh Jagina ji, all my programmes for today are cancelled," Koli tweeted in Hindi.

Police suspect the killing to be a result of gang rivalry.

Soren tables confidence motion in Jharkhand Assembly

05-Sep-2022 222

Ranchi, Sep 5 (PTI) Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday tabled a confidence motion in the Jharkhand Assembly, claiming that opposition BJP's attempt to poach MLAs prompted the move.

"The opposition has destroyed democracy... BJP has been indulging in horse-trading of legislators... We will show our strength in the House," Soren said in the assembly.

"People purchase commodities in the market, but the BJP buys legislators, he alleged.

Soren is faced with uncertainty over his continuance as chief minister following a petition by the BJP seeking his disqualification as an MLA in an office-of-profit case.

The Election Commission (EC) had communicated its opinion in this regard to Governor Ramesh Bais on August 25, sparking a political crisis in the state.

Though the EC's decision has not yet been made official, there is a buzz that the poll panel recommended the CM's disqualification as an MLA.

Soren then expressed his willingness to move a motion of confidence to prove his majority, as per a letter sent to MLAs by the assembly secretariat.

Pune school teacher arrested for molesting students

30-Aug-2022 301

Pune, Aug 30 (PTI) Police have arrested a 54-year-old teacher of a Zilla Parishad school in Maharashtra's Pune district for allegedly molesting girl students, an official said on Tuesday.

Pune Zilla Parishad's (ZP) Chief Executive Office Ayush Prasad said the teacher has been suspended and a police complaint filed against him.

As per the information given by police, the accused used to allegedly touch Class 7 girl students inappropriately and subjected them to sexual harassment.

"The girls informed about it to their parents following which the crime came to light. We have registered a case against the teacher and he has been arrested," an official from Pargaon police station said.

The teacher has been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

Prasad said the ZP has issued a notification of fresh directives to curb sexual abuse incidents and asked for the installation of CCTV cameras in all schools.

Headmasters and other stakeholders have been asked to undertake awareness programmes in schools, he said, adding that schools have also been asked to form 'Sakhi-Savitri' committees to ensure the safety of children.

The directives also include character verification of all teachers and non-teaching staff every five years, he said.

If the verification report is negative, the person should be reprimanded or given punishment and the higher office concerned should be informed, the notification said.

"The Pune ZP has trained 74,000 people during a drive to create awareness against sexual abuse, Prasad said.

"We formed village level committees for prevention of domestic violence and child sex abuse. These measures have resulted in greater awareness and also in social support to report such crimes. We have taken very strict action in each case after due preliminary verification. We are also working to strengthen preventive measures in every government and private school," the official said.

Twin tower project was in accordance with law when approved in 2009: Supertech

29-Aug-2022 275

New Delhi

Realty firm Supertech whose multi-crore residential project — the twin towers, have been demolished in Noida’s Sector 93-A on the orders of the Supreme Court on Sunday said the building plans including the twin towers were approved by the Noida Authority in 2009, and were in accordance with the then prevailing Building Bye laws of the state government.

“The twin towers Apex and Ceyane in Noida were constructed on land allotted by Noida Authority. The building plans of the Project including the two towers were approved by the Noida Authority in 2009 which was strictly in accordance with the then prevailing Building Bye laws announced by the state government,” said the builder in a statement.

The Supertech claimed that there was no deviation from the building plan and the building was constructed after making complete payment to the Authority.

“However, the Honourable Supreme Court has not found the construction satisfactory on technical grounds and accordingly issued orders to demolish the two towers. We respect the orders of the Apex Court and are committed to implement the same,” said the Supertech.

The builder also said that they have given the delivery of over 70,000 units to home buyers and are committed to give delivery to remaining as per schedule time frame.

“We have completed and given delivery of more than 70,000 units to home buyers and are committed to give delivery to remaining home buyers as per schedule time frame,” it said in the statement.

“We assure all our home buyers that the order of the Supreme Court will not affect any other ongoing project and all other projects will continue and we are committed to complete construction and deliver the flats to the allottees as per the schedule time,” read the statement further.

The twin towers – Apex (32 floors) and Ceyane (29 floors) – were under construction since 2009 within the Supertech Emerald Court society in Sector 93-A of Noida.

The towers were demolished on Sunday.

Sonali Phogat death case should be probed by CBI: Congress

27-Aug-2022 518

IANS | Panaji

The Goa Congress on Saturday demanded that the BJP leader Sonali Phogat death case be handed over to the CBI.

Currently, the Goa Police are investigating the case.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo's reaction came after Goa police on Friday arrested Sudhir Sangwan (Phogat's PA) along with Sukwinder Singh in connection with the murder of Phogat, also a TikTok star.

"I agree with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who said that he is ready for a CBI inquiry in the matter. The crime may have happened in Anjuna (Goa), but the real story lies in Haryana," he said.

Lobo said that though Goa police has made two arrests, but if anyone else is involved in the crime, he should be brought to book.

"There is a need for a CBI probe. I don't think that Goa police will come to a final conclusion. The investigation cannot be conducted by police in Anjuna, who do not seem to know anything, Lobo said.

"Also, there should be more investigation into whether the two men who were accompanying (her) are the two who have been accused or someone else committed the crime. All the angles need to be investigated. The reason for the crime lies in Haryana. It seems more people were involved. Let the investigation begin from Haryana," Lobo asserted.

Such incidents, he said, bring a bad name to the state of Goa. "Police investigate the crimes and then it gets forgotten and then the investigation stops. But such cases need to be thoroughly investigated by the CBI. There is a need to investigate the case by the CBI from Haryana.

"We are talking about taking Goa to the next level of tourism which will not be possible if the safety of the tourists is not ensured, he said.

Phogat had come to Goa on August 22 and was staying at a hotel in Anjuna.

She felt uneasy on Monday night and later in the morning (on Tuesday), she was taken to St. Anthony hospital in Anjuna at around 8 a.m., where she was declared brought dead.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday called a meeting of UPA MLAs

26-Aug-2022 192

Ranchi : (AGENCY) A day after the Election Commission of India recommended his disqualification as MLA under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Sources said that a future political strategy will be discussed with the MLAs.

On Thursday, he blamed the opposition BJP for the controversy as reports emanated that the Election Commission has submitted its report to Governor Ramesh Bais. Soren said, "It seems the BJP leaders and their puppets have drafted the report which is in a sealed cover." He said that there was no communication to him officially. Sources, however, said that the BJP was looking confident about their petition against him.

The Election Commission has sent a letter to the Governor on the issue of the Assembly membership of Soren after former Chief Minister Raghubar Das and the BJP sought his disqualification.

Accusing Soren of extending a mining lease to himself, the BJP leaders termed it as a violation of the office of profit and Representation of the People's Act and wrote to the Governor on the issue.

With the issuance of the Governor's order on the poll panel's recommendations, Soren's Assembly membership could end, and in such a situation, he may have to resign as the Chief Minister.

However, the JMM-Congress alliance, led by Soren, has a majority in the Assembly, and after his resignation, he can again stake a claim to form the government in the state.

By not giving answers govt has made it clear it used Pegasus to weaken democracy: Cong

26-Aug-2022 178

New Delhi, (PTI) With a Supreme Court-appointed panel stating the Centre did not cooperate in the Pegasus probe, the Congress on Thursday alleged the government by its action has made it clear that it used the Israeli spyware to weaken democracy

"Everybody knows this weapon was used and it dented democracy. This weapon is against the law and Constitution. How can they (government) give the answer. Sometimes not giving an answer is also an answer, the government has made it clear (by not giving answers) that they used Pegasus against democracy," Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said

By staying silent the government has made it clear that it used the Pegasus spyware against Rahul Gandhi, other opposition leaders, scientists, election commissioner, registrar of the Supreme Court, civil society activists, senior journalists, he said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here

"I hope the Supreme Court will treat this not giving of an answer as an answer and take strict action against the government in this matter. We have been asking from day one why did the government use Pegasus and under what law," he said.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, after perusing the report submitted by former apex court Justice R V Raveendran, said on Thursday, "One thing (the) committee has said that the Government of India has not cooperated."

The Supreme Court-appointed panels probing the unauthorised use of Pegasus found some kind of malware in five mobile phones out of the 29 examined but it could not be concluded that it was due to the Israeli spyware

Congress spokesperson Vallabh questioned a weapon which is used against terrorists and enemy state people was used by the government to weaken democracy, executive and the judiciary.

"That is a weapon to give a dent to our democracy, Constitution," he said.

NDTV shares gain 5 pc; hit upper circuit

25-Aug-2022 235

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) Shares of NDTV Ltd continued to climb for the second consecutive day on Thursday and touched the upper circuit limit of Rs 407.60 on the National Stock Exchange amid the Adani group making an offer to take over the media firm.

On NSE as well as BSE, the scrip jumped 5 per cent in opening trade and touched the respective upper circuit limits.

The company's shares rose 5 per cent to Rs 407.60 apiece on NSE, also its 52-week high, after closing at Rs 388.20 on Wednesday.

Similarly, NDTV Ltd gained 5 per cent to Rs 403.70 per share on BSE. It is also the 52-week high for the company on the bourse.

In the morning trade, the 30-share benchmark Sensex surged more than 351 points to 59,436.78 points while the broader Nifty rose 101 points to 17,706 points.

On Wednesday also, shares of NDTV Ltd had touched the upper circuit limits, the highest permissible trading limit for the day.

In a stunning move on Tuesday, the Adani group announced launching an open offer to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake in NDTV Ltd after an indirect acquisition of 29.18 per cent shareholding in the company.

AAP govt ignored expert panel suggestions on excise policy to gain unfair advantage in Pb polls:BJP

25-Aug-2022 197

New Delhi, (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday alleged that the Delhi government ignored recommendations of an expert panel set up to reform liquor trade in the capital to "gain unfair advantage" in the Punjab polls.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Delhi government handed over wholesale liquor business to private players despite the expert panel recommending against it.

He also said the city government allowed 'cartelisation' in liquor business by giving multiple retail licenses to big companies.

Patra said the AAP is now trying to deflect BJP's questions on malpractices in the implementation of excise policy.

Arvind Kejriwal govt calls special session of Delhi Assembly Friday

25-Aug-2022 262

PTI | New Delhi

A special session of the Delhi Assembly will be held Friday amid a political slugfest over action by central probe agencies in the Kejriwal government's excise policy and the AAP accusing the BJP of trying to lure its MLAs.

The Assembly session is scheduled to be held from 11 am on August 26, according to a document issued by the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the BJP's attempt to "topple" his government was a "serious issue". The matter was in the AAP's political Affairs Committee on Wednesday evening.

In a meeting of the committee held at Kejriwal's residence, the panel condemned the BJP's alleged efforts to lure its MLAs.

The AAP leaders have alleged that four MLAs were offered money by the BJP to quit the party.

The ED has registered a money laundering case against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others to probe the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise policy after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

The CBI had conducted raids in the 2021-22 excise policy case on August 19 and had covered the residence of Sisodia in Delhi, that of IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories. Sisodia holds multiple portfolios in the Delhi government including that of excise and education.

The ED will probe if there were alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy unveiled in November last year.

Land-for-job scam: CBI raids 16 places, including RJD MLC’s house

24-Aug-2022 229

IANS | Patna

“The Centre Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting raids at 16 places in Delhi, Patna and district Gopalganj of Bihar in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam involving former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, RJD leader.

The raids are also being held at the residence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLC Sunil Singh, who is considered to be close to Lalu. The CBI team is currently scanning various documents at his house.

The CBI had learnt during the probe that Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi and daughter Hema Yadav were gifted lands in connection with the scam by job seekers who were later appointed in the railways.

Haridayanand Chaudhary, a railway employee and Bhola Yadav, the then OSD to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad were earlier arrested by the CBI. Bhola was Lalu’s OSD between 2004 to 2009.

The CBI registered a case against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, two daughters and 15 others, including unknown public servants and private persons.

“During the period 2004-2009 Yadav had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group ‘D’ Post in different zones of Railways,” the official said.

A number of residents of Patna or through their family members sold and gifted their lands in the state capital in favour of the family members of Lalu Prasad and a private company controlled by the former chief minister and his family and they were also involved in transfer of such immovable properties.

“No advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointment of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur.

“In continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 Sq. feet land, immovable properties situated at Patna were acquired by Yadav and his family members through five sales deeds and two gift deeds, showing the payment made to the seller in cash in most of the land transfers,” the CBI official said.

Delhi CM Kejriwal, his deputy CM Manish Sisodia on 2-day Gujarat visit from today

23-Aug-2022 287

Ahmedabad, (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will visit Gujarat for two days from Monday during which they will address a gathering and hold discussions on employment and education with youth ahead of the state Assembly polls due later this year.

Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party and Sisodia, who is the education minister of Delhi, will meet people in Himmatnagar and Bhavnagar, Gujarat AAP's general secretary Manoj Sorathiya said in a video statement.

Their visit comes amid a row over alleged irregularities in Delhi's excise policy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering an FIR against Sisodia.

After landing at the Ahmedabad airport on Monday, Kejriwal and Sisodia will also hold a joint press conference in the city before starting their programmes in the state.

Kejriwal will on Monday attend a town hall programme in Himatnagar where he will make "an important announcement for the people of Gujarat," Sorathiya said.

This will be his fourth visit to Gujarat this month.

"On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Sisodia will hold discussions on employment and education with youth in Bhavnagar," Sorathiya said.

The Gujarat Assembly elections are due in December this year.