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Fri, 02 August 2024

6 hurt as two groups of kanwariyas clash in Haryana

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23:56 Fire at Delhi police's impounding yard, over 120 vehicles gutted

A fire broke out at an impounding yard of the Delhi police located in Wazirabad area on Friday, damaging at least 125 seized vehicles, officials said.

Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a Delhi Fire Services official said, adding that they got a call regarding the blaze at 2.49 pm.

"Fire was reported at an impounding yard in Wazirabad pit. The blaze was soon brought under control by the tenders. About 60 four wheelers and about 65 two wheelers have been damaged," a senior police officer said.

The officer further said that all vehicles damaged in the fire are case properties of west district.

"Cause of fire is being ascertained and further investigation is in progress," the officer said. -- PTI

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23:40 6 hurt as two groups of kanwariyas clash in Haryana

Two groups of dak kanwariyas that had exchanged threats earlier following an altercation over a DJ clashed in the district's Prem Nagar Colony, the police said on Friday.

Six kanwariyas were injured in the clash.

Three of them are undergoing treatment in a hospital while the rest were discharged after first-aid, they added.

The clash stemmed from a July 27 altercation between the two groups -- one from Rajiv Nagar and another from Prem Nagar's slum area -- over a DJ.

The matter, however, was resolved at that time, the police said.

At the time, the two groups had threatened to settle scores at the end of the kanwar yatra, they said.

Around 8:30 am on Friday, when one group was returning after offering water in a temple, kanwariyas from the other group attacked them.

Six people were injured in the melee as the groups pelted each other with stones.

Some vehicles were also damaged in the clash, the police said. -- PTI

Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala in Tirupati/ANI Photo

23:33 Tirupati temple receives Rs 125 crore hundi offerings in July

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams executive officer Syamala Rao on Friday said the world-famous Sri Venkateswara temple received offerings worth Rs 125 crore in its hundi (offering box) for the month of July.

Rao said over 22 lakh pilgrims visited the temple and 8.6 lakh devotees underwent ritual tonsuring at the hill temple in July.

The temple also sold over one crore laddus (consecrated sweets).

Meanwhile, the executive director called on all the eateries in Tirumala to provide clean and delicious food to devotees who come from distant places.

"To ensure the health safety and security of the pilgrims, the Food Safety Department will train the hotel staff soon on hygienic habits and cooking measures to be followed in the eateries," said Rao in a release.

Further, he noted that all hotel owners in Tirumala must obtain food safety department certificates, which is mandatory to run hotels with safety standards. TTD is the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara temple. -- PTI

Manuj Kathuria, the SUV driver accused in coaching centre deaths, walks out of Tihar jail/ANI on X

23:07 Coaching centre deaths: SUV driver walks out of Tihar jail after court grants bail

Manuj Kathuria, the SUV driver accused in the deaths of three UPSC aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar in New Delhi walked out of Tihar jail on Friday night after Tis Hazari court granted bail on Thursday.

He was arrested by the Delhi police in a case linked to the death of three UPSC aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar.

It was alleged that he drove his vehicle in a rash and negligent manner that caused water to enter the basement.

Additional sessions judge Rakesh Kumar-IV granted bail to Kathuria on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety in the like amount.

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22:32 Girls strip searched, beaten in MP school over phone

Angry parents filed a police complaint in Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Friday after some students of a government school were allegedly strip searched and assaulted to find out who had brought a mobile phone to class, an official said.

As per the complaint lodged by parents at Malharganj police station, a teacher of Government Sharda Girls Higher Secondary School in Bada Ganpati area took the students to a toilet and asked them to strip after a mobile phone rang in class, the official said.

The students were also beaten up, the parents alleged in their complaint.

A student of the school said the teacher took her to the toilet, got her to undress and and also threatened to shoot a clip of her in this state and make it viral on social media if she refused to confess.

"The complaint is being investigated. Action will be taken once our probe is complete," Malhargang police station sub inspector M Dhurve said.

Government Sharda Girls Higher Secondary School principal Seema Jain said a student was found with a mobile phone in class and her parents were informed about it. -- PTI

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22:12 Lightning kills 8 in Bihar today; 12 people killed on Thursday

Eight people were killed in lightning strike incidents in four districts of Bihar in the last 24 hours, an official release said on Friday.

State capital Patna and Aurangabad reported three deaths each, followed by one each in Nawada and Saran, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed sorrow over the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, it said.

Kumar also appealed to people to follow advisories issued by the disaster management department.

On Thursday, 12 people were killed after being struck by lightning in four districts of the state.

The Kedarnath Dham/ANI Photo

21:51 17 Gujarat pilgrims stranded on way to Kedarnath airlifted to safety

Seventeen pilgrims from Gujarat, who were stranded on their way to Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand due to heavy rains, were airlifted to safety with the help of the hill state's administration, the Gujarat government said on Friday.

After the news of 17 pilgrims from Aravalli district being stranded near Moti Lincholi on the way to Kedarnath Dham reached Ahmedabad, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed the State Emergency Operation Centre to immediately coordinate rescue efforts.

Relief commissioner Alok Pandey facilitated communication between the Gujarat SEOC and its Uttarakhand counterpart, providing details and contact information of the stranded devotees, said an official release.

The Uttarakhand SEOC, in coordination with the Rudraprayag District Control Room, launched an immediate rescue operation. Once the weather cleared, all the Gujarat pilgrims were airlifted to safety within a few hours on Thursday, it said.

Manoj Bhai, a representative of the Aravalli pilgrims, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Patel and SEOC officials from both Gujarat and Uttarakhand for their swift response, the release said. -- PTI

Bibhav Kumar/File image

21:26 Swati Maliwal assault case: HC dismisses Bibhav's plea against arrest

The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence.

"Petition dismissed," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said. Kumar, presently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal on May 13 at Kejriwal's official residence.

He was arrested on May 18. Kumar, in his plea, had sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 41A (notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and against the mandate of the law.

The Delhi police opposed the petition and submitted that Kumar was not arrested "in haste" and he was taken into custody as per the law.

The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide. -- PTI

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar/File image

21:13 EC to visit J-K next week to review poll readiness

The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, will visit Jammu and Kashmir from August 8-10 to review preparedness for assembly polls, weeks before the Supreme Court's September 30 deadline for holding elections in the Union Territory.

Kumar will be accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu.

In March, Kumar -- who was then the sole member of the three-member commission to visit the Union Territory -- had assured political parties and the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the poll panel would soon hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

At that point, the two posts of election commissioners were vacant.

They were filled days before the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 16.

After record turnout in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar had said, "This active participation is a huge positive for assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory."

In Srinagar, the commission is likely to first meet the political parties.

A review will be done with the chief electoral officer and the central forces coordinator.

The commission will also review the preparations with election officers and police superintendents of all districts, as well as the chief secretary and director general of police. -- PTI

Two children have died, and fifteen others fell ill allegedly due to food poisoning at a wedding party in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

"The children showed symptoms of intense vomiting and diarrhoea and were admitted to the hospital," the medical superintendent of the Government Medical College Hospital Udhampur, Dr Sanjeev Sharma, said.

"They had attended a wedding party in the Gordhi area, indicating possible food poisoning," Dr Sharma said.

Fifteen children were admitted to the hospital, with two in critical condition being referred to the GMC hospital in Jammu.

"Unfortunately, two children were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital," Dr Sharma said.

More children displaying similar symptoms are being shifted to hospitals in Jammu, while others are receiving treatment at the Udhampur district Hospital. -- PTI

The Railway Protection Force arrested a YouTuber from his village near Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly placing various kinds of objects on railway tracks that posed a risk to safe train operations.

'The culprit, Gulzar Sheikh has uploaded more than 250 videos on his YouTube channel and has over 2 lakh subscribers. His on-camera activities posed a significant risk to both railway safety and operations,' a press statement from the Railway Ministry said.

It added, 'Through a detailed analysis of Sheikh's YouTube profile and social media presence, RPF Unchahar, Northern Railway registered the offence under various provisions of the Railway Act on 01/08/2024. On the same day, a joint team of RPF and local police arrested Mr Gulzar Sheikh, son of Syed Ahmed from his residence in Khandrauli Village, Soraon (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.'

According to the Ministry, the Director General, RPF emphasised that the legal action against Gulzar Sheikh would serve as a strong deterrent to persons attempting to compromise the safety of Indian Railways.

'He reiterated the importance of railway safety and assured the public that any attempts to undermine rail safety will be met with firm resolve and strict legal action and those engaging in such activities will be prosecuted to ensure maximum punishment,' the release said.

'DG RPF also appealed to the public not to indulge in such activities and to report any acts which compromise the railway security and safety. Such information can be given to the Railway Protection Force or on Rail Madad through the toll-free helpline number 139,' it added. -- PTI

20:04 BSE Sensex: Top losers today

From Sensex shares, Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, JSW Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Steel, Mahindra and Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies and Infosys were the laggards.

HDFC Bank, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Nestle India and Asian Paints were among the gainers. -- PTI

20:04 Sensex tanks 885 pts

Halting its five-day winning run, benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 885 points on Friday due to profit-taking in metal, auto and IT stocks in line with a global selloff triggered by weak US macro data.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 885.60 points or 1.08 per cent to close at 80,981.95 with 25 of its components declining and five ending with gains.

During the day, it nosedived 998.64 points or 1.21 per cent to hit an intra-day low of 80,868.91. -- PTI

Amid speculation that his name was being considered for the BJP president's post, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday dismissed the reports saying the buzz was just a media creation.

Reports in a section of media said Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, will be appointed to the top post of the saffron party replacing J P Nadda, who is now a Union minister in the third term of the Narendra Modi government.

Fadnavis on Friday chaired a meeting of the Nagpur District Planning Committee.

When asked by reporters about the buzz that his name was in the race for the next BJP president's post, Fadnavis said, "These talks have been started by the media and are restricted to the media alone."

The former Maharashtra chief minister also said a government resolution (GR) on electricity bill waiver for farmers has already been issued by the government. So the farmers will not be required to pay any bills for the next five years.

Five years later also, the electricity bill will continue to be waived as our government will come to power again, Fadnavis said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to address the Reserve Bank of India's central board on August 10 and highlight key points of the Budget FY25, including the fiscal consolidation roadmap.

The post-budget meeting has been scheduled for August 10 where the finance minister will address the board members and talk about announcements made in the Budget 2024-25 that strike a fine balance between growth, employment, and fiscal prudence, sources said.

It is customary for the finance minister to address the Reserve Bank of India board after the budget.

Unveiling the Budget on July 23 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at Rs 32.07 lakh crore and Rs 48.21 lakh crore, respectively, for 2024-25.

The net tax receipts are estimated at Rs 25.83 lakh crore, she said, adding that the fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.9 per cent of the GDP.

The gross and net market borrowings through dated securities during 2024-25 are estimated at Rs 14.01 lakh crore and Rs 11.63 lakh crore, respectively.

"The fiscal consolidation path announced by me in 2021 has served our economy very well, and we aim to reach a deficit below 4.5 per cent next year. The government is committed to staying the course. From 2026-27 onwards, our endeavour will be to keep the fiscal deficit each year such that the Central Government debt will be on a declining path as a percentage of GDP," she had said.

She had presented an interim Budget on February 1 before the general elections were announced. Following the formation of the new government and constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha. Sitharaman presented the Budget for the full year 2024-25 last month.

The focus of the Budget is on employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class with the pursuit of 'Viksit Bharat'.

The finance minister would be accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Finance Secretary and Secretary, Department of Expenditure TV Somanathan.

Rescuers conducting search operations with an advanced radar system in a landslide-hit village in Wayanad have detected a signal indicating breathing, possibly by a human or animal.

An official involved in the operation said that a "blue signal" was received on the radar while searching an area where a house was previously located in the severely affected Mundakkai village.

"There is a consistent signal of breathing," the officer told reporters.

The remains of the building are buried around two-to-three metres below the muddy soil, and it is unclear whether the breathing signal is from a human or animal, he added.

According to local residents, the signal was detected in the area where the kitchen and store room of the house were located. Based on the signal, rescuers have started digging into the spot.

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18:26 Jharkhand to levy cess on mined minerals

The Jharkhand assembly on Friday passed a Bill to impose cess on mined minerals to boost the state's revenue.

This move follows the Supreme Court's July 25 ruling, which affirmed that the legislative power to tax mineral rights rests with the states.

Mining Minister in-charge Mithilesh Thakur introduced the Jharkhand Mineral-Bearing Land Cess Bill 2024', which was approved by voice vote.

The Bill proposes varying tax rates for different minerals on a per-metric-tonne basis: Rs 100 for coal and iron ore, Rs 70 for bauxite, and Rs 50 for manganese ore and other minerals.

AJSU legislator Lambodar Mahto and CPI (ML) legislator Vinod Kumar Singh suggested sending the Bill to a Select Committee due to technical concerns.

Mahto questioned the basis for the cess rates and proposed that revenue from the cess be used for welfare and compensation for displaced people.

"I would suggest the government add a provision that the money generated from the cess will be utilised for welfare and displaced people," he added.

Singh argued that the tax should be based on the market price of minerals rather than weight.

Proposing an amendment in the Bill, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said many things change over time.

"So, the state government should have the power that prices could be amended through a notification," he said.

Minister Thakur emphasised the Bill's importance for Jharkhand, highlighting that the state contributes 40 per cent of the country's mineral resources but remains underdeveloped.

He assured that the concerns raised had been addressed and that the Bill had been reviewed by relevant departments.

Additionally, the assembly passed three other Bills, including the Jharkhand Prisons and Correctional Services Bill 2024 and the Jharkhand Private University Bill 2024, despite opposition leader Amar Bauri's protests.

Bauri criticised the suspension of 18 party MLAs by the speaker, claiming they were denied the opportunity to voice their objections.

A Pune court on Friday granted bail to Manorama Khedkar, mother of former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, in a criminal intimidation case connected to a land dispute.

Additional sessions judge AN Mare granted bail, Manorama Khedkar's counsel advocate Sudhir Shah said.

Pune rural Police had launched a search for Manorama and her husband Dilip Khedkar after a video surfaced showing her allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute at Dhadwali village in Pune's Mulshi tehsil in 2023.

Paud police had booked the Khedkar couple and five others under IPC sections, including 307, 144 (unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon), 147 (rioting) and 506 (criminal intimidation) besides invoking the Arms Act.

Manorama was apprehended from a lodge in Hirkaniwadi village near Mahad in Raigad district. Dilip Khedkar has got anticipatory bail in the case.

Incidentally, the UPSC on Wednesday said it had cancelled the provisional candidature of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar and debarred her from all future examinations or selections. -- PTI

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17:12 374 heat stroke deaths across India so far: Govt

A total 374 deaths due to heatstroke and 67,637 cases of suspected heatstroke were reported in the country between March 1 to July 27, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha on Friday

Uttar Pradesh was the worst-affected state with 52 deaths, followed by Bihar, which recorded 37, and Odisha and Delhi, which logged 26 and 25 deaths each, according to the data compiled under the National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), shared by the minister.

States and Union territories are submitting data on heat stroke cases and deaths on the Integrated Health Information Portal since 2023, Patel said in a written reply.

The MoHFW issues advisories for states and UTs health departments to ensure various awareness, preparedness and response measures in early March every year.

This year, the advisory was issued on February 29 with a communication from Secretary, Union health ministry, to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs outlining measures to strengthen the health sector preparedness and increasing community awareness, Patel said.

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16:48 Doctors, nurse assaulted at Thane civic hospital

At least four doctors and a nurse were assaulted by two female relatives of a patient at the civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Thane, the police said on Friday.

The women attacked the hospital employees on Thursday afternoon accusing them of not taking care of the male patient, an official said.

According to the complaint filed by a doctor from the hospital in the city's Kalwa area, two female relatives visited a patient in the male ward. They alleged that he had not been fed for three days and questioned why he had not been shifted to the ICU.

The women, aged 36 and 40, beat up a male doctor when he tried to explain the situation and the treatment. They then turned to three more female doctors and a nurse who rushed to save the male doctor.

The women have been booked for assault under the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita, and the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, said the station house officer of Kalwa police station.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday described the landslides in Wayanad district of Kerala as a "terrible tragedy" of such magnitude in a single area that the state has not seen till now, and said that it should be treated differently.

Gandhi said that he was going to raise the matter in Delhi and also with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as "this is a different level of tragedy and should be treated differently".

He also promised that the Congress party will build more than 100 houses in Wayanad.

Gandhi was speaking to reporters after a meeting with officials of the district administration and the panchayat, along with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders.

The official briefed them about the number of deaths, the houses destroyed and their strategies to search for and rescue people.

The Congress leader, who arrived in Wayanad a day ago and saw the extent of the destruction caused by the landslides, called it a "national disaster" and demanded an urgent comprehensive action plan to deal with it. -- PTI

National pistol coach Samaresh Jung was a bewildered man within hours of landing back in India from the Paris Olympics after discovering that the house he considered his home for nearly 75 years is an "illegal construction" and he had just 48 hours to vacate it.

Jung, who was nicknamed 'goldfinger' at the peak of his prowess after fetching an astonishing seven gold, five silver and two bronze medals in the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, said he needs at least two months to pack up and leave.

"This was a property we were staying on for the last 75 years. In 1978, the land and structure was leased out to a Mr Singh and we have been paying rent to him since then," a hassled Jung told PTI.

"The L&DO (Land and Development Office) served us a notice only yesterday. In fact, I came to know about it one hour after reaching home from Paris," he revealed.

Pistol shooters have contributed two of India's three medals in the ongoing Paris Games with Manu Bhaker winning the individual 10m air pistol bronze before combining with Sarabjot Singh to claim the mixed team third position.

Jung's house is in the Civil Lines area and he said 200 families have been ordered to leave within two days.

The Delhi High Court will hear the matter on Monday

"I am not above law and I will vacate if this is what the law demands. But two days notice is not the way. At least give us a couple of months to move out," he said.

"Is it an emergency or war situation that we have to vacate in a day?" he asked.

The 54-year-old said he does not have another house in Delhi.

"Now, I have nowhere to go. I have a huge library of more than 1000 books and my brother has gone house hunting and we are trying to pack everything," he said. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to quash the defamation case filed by actor-politician Divya Spandana against Asianet News Network and journalist Vishweshwar Bhat.

Spandana has filed a defamation case against Asianet News and others alleging that the accused had telecast the news of the alleged involvement of Kannada film actresses in the betting and spot fixing scandal.

She alleged that the complainant was time and again named and her photos and videos were shown while the news was being telecast.

The complaint filed by Spandana specifically averred that the news was being telecast in such a manner, as if the complainant was one of the persons who was involved in the alleged cricket betting or spot fixing scandal.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra declined to interfere with the Karnataka high court order refusing to quash the proceedings.

"She (Spandana) has been repeatedly mentioned in the bulletin, how can we quash the order? We cannot entertain this," the bench said.

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by Asianet New Network and others challenging the high court order.

"The petitioners have failed to produce any material before this court to show that there was any proceedings before the court against the complainant with regard to her involvement or connection in any manner with cricket betting or spot fixing," the high court had said.

The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence.

"Petition dismissed," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said.

Kumar, presently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal on May 13 at Kejriwal's official residence. He was arrested on May 18.

Kumar, in his plea, had sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 41A (notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and against the mandate of the law.

Delhi Police had opposed the petition and submitted that Kumar was not arrested "in haste" and he was taken into custody as per the law.

The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions, including those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored investigation into the electoral bonds scheme.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala said it would be inappropriate and premature to intervene at this stage under Article 32 of the constitution.

The top court said it cannot order a roving inquiry into purchase of electoral bonds on the assumption that it was quid pro quo for award of contract.

"The court entertained petitions challenging electoral bonds since there was an aspect of judicial review. But the cases involving criminal wrongdoing should not be under Article 32 when there are remedies available under the law," the bench said.

The top court was hearing pleas filed by NGOs -- Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and others.

The PIL of the two NGOs alleges an "apparent quid pro quo" between political parties, corporations, and investigative agencies under the garb of the scheme. -- PTI

The Delhi high court is scheduled to pass order later in the day on a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna will pronounce the order at 2:30 pm, according to the causelist uploaded on the court's website.

Contending that his arrest was illegal, Kumar's counsel had said there was a delay in lodging the FIR and he was arrested on May 18, the day he gave an application to the police to voluntarily join the investigation.

The plea was opposed by the police, which had submitted that Kumar was not arrested "in haste" and that it had not faulted in any manner.

The court reserved the order on Kumar's plea on July 8 after hearing arguments on behalf of both the sides.

Kumar, currently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal at Kejriwal's official residence on May 13. He was arrested on May 18.

The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under Indian Penal Code provisions related to criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe and attempt to commit culpable homicide. -- PTI

14:36 Mahabharat mat sunao: LS speaker to BJP MP

Invoking the Mahabhart in the Lok Sabha is in vogue, Speaker Om Birla said on Friday while telling an MP not to narrate stories but ask to-the-point questions.

While asking a question to the Union Ayush minister, Bharatiya Janata Party member from Odisha's Bargarh Pradip Purohit referred to an ayurvedic college and traced back the history of the herbs found in the area to ancient times.

"Aap Mahabharat mat sunao, aap prashna poocho (Do not tell stories, ask the question) ," Birla told the member during the Question Hour.

The speaker then said invoking the Mahabharat is in vogue these days.

"Aaj kal, Mahabharat sunane ka kissa zyada chala hai yahan par," Birla said.

Using the 'chakravyuh' metaphor as a leitmotif, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier this week claimed that an atmosphere of fear prevails all around with a group of six trapping the entire country in a 'chakravyuh'.

In a speech that invoked the Mahabharat, the former Congress chief alleged that the sole aim of the Union Budget was to strengthen the framework of big businesses, political monopoly that destroys the democratic structure, and the deep state or the agencies

BJP's Anurag Thakur had hit back at Gandhi, saying the Congress had laid several 'chakravyuh' for the country -- the first being Partition of the nation, the second gift to Chinese, the third being imposition of Emergency, fourth being the Bofors scam and anti-Sikh riots, the fifth being spinning a narrative against the eternal religion (sanatan) and the sixth being hurting the politics of the country, its culture and traditions.

Thakur had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the country out of the 'chakravyuh' of the Congress.

Gandhi's reference was to the Mahabharat legend according to which Abhimanyu was killed in a 'chakravyuh'.

'Chakravyuh' refers to a multi-layered military formation aimed at trapping a warrior by opponents placed strategically in an alignment resembling a lotus-shaped labyrinth. -- PTI

Pic: Suhaib Salem / Reuters

14:12 Turkiye blocks Instagram for censoring Hamas-related content

Turkiye has blocked access to the social media platform Instagram, according to its national communications authority, as per a report in the Al Jazeera.

The decision comes after a top government official slammed Instagram for "censoring" Hamas-related content.

In a post on its website, the communications authority said that "instagram.com has been blocked by a decision on the date of 02/08/2024", without stating a reason.

On Wednesday, the country's Communications Director, Fahrettin Altun, accused the social media platform of blocking condolence posts on the death of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, Al Jazeera reported.

Altun accused Israel of trying to plunge the region into further turmoil through killings and secret operations.

In a post on X, Altun stated, "I also strongly condemn the social media platform Instagram, which prevents people from posting condolences on Haniye's martyrdom without giving any reason. This is a very clear and obvious attempt at censorship."

"We will continue to defend freedom of expression against these platforms, which have repeatedly shown that they serve the global system of exploitation and injustice. We will stand by our Palestinian brothers at every opportunity and on every platform. Palestine will be free sooner or later. Israel and its supporters will not be able to prevent this," he added.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi sealed 25 basements that were illegally operating as coaching centres, offices, or other commercial entities in different parts of the city from July 28 to July 31, according to official data.

The civic body issued show cause notices to 17 property owners in the period, the report stated.

The action was taken against establishments in central Delhi's Rajinder Nagar and west Delhi's Patel Nagar and Ranjeet Nagar localities, it said.

In Old Rajinder Nagar alone, 18 such basements were sealed on the Bara Bazar Marg stretch, as per the data.

A total of 15 properties faced the action in these three areas, seven of which were in Old Rajinder Nagar alone.

About 185 properties were surveyed by the MCD during the period.

The civic body said sealing action was taken against the basements for being used for commercial purposes in contravention of law.

The MCD had on Thursday ordered a survey of buildings with basements, open hanging wires, and old barrels catering to the combined drainage system across the city. -- PTI

Vicky Kaushal-Tripti Dimri-starrer Bad Newz has crossed the mark of Rs 100 crore at the box office worldwide, makers announced on Friday.

Directed by Anand Tiwari and also starring Ammy Virk, the film released on July 19 and has been performing well at the theatres. The total collection of the film stands at Rs 102.77 crore.

"A global entertainer hit! 102.77 crore in 2 weeks," read the post on 'X' by Dharma Productions.

Produced under Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective and Amazon Prime, the film follows a story of Dimri's character Saloni Bagga, who gets pregnant with twins from two different men in a rare condition called heteropaternal superfecundation.

Kaushal and Virk's characters compete against each other to prove who will be the best father to the children.

The film also features Neha Dhupia in the pivotal role.

The song Tauba Tauba, which was sung by a Canada-based rapper Karan Aujla, became an instant hit with Kaushal's hook step winning the internet.

A hoarding collapsed in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday morning, crushing three vehicles, an official said.

There are no reports of any injuries so far in the accident that occurred around 10.30 am at the busy Sahajanand Chowk in the Kalyan area, he said.

Kalyan Tehsildar Sachin Shejal said the hoarding came crashing down on three vehicles parked below it.

A team has been sent to the spot and rescue operations are underway, he said, ruling out the possibility of anyone being trapped under it.

The exact size of the hoarding was not immediately known. -- PTI

Three days after the Mundakkai region in Wayanad district witnessed a devastating landslide, rescue workers on Friday found a family of four isolated in an area near Padavetti Kunnu, Defence sources said.

A massive search and rescue operation is ongoing in the Mundakkai region, which was hit by a massive landslide on Tuesday.

The rescuers on Friday found that the family, comprising two males and two females, was isolated after the landslide cut off their house from the rest of the region.

A Defence PRO said the family will be airlifted.

Sources said the rescuers reached the area after the relatives informed them about the stranded family.

Apparently, their house was not affected by the landslide. -- PTI

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security against all threats from Iran, the White House said.

Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the call.

"The president reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis," said a readout of the call.

"The president discussed efforts to support Israel's defence against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments," it said.

"Together with this commitment to Israel's defence, the president stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to de-escalate broader tensions in the region. Vice President Harris also joined the call," the White House said. --PTI

11:50 NEET UG: NTA must avoid flip-flops, says SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said it did not cancel the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination amid concerns of paper leak because there was no systematic breach of its sanctity.

In its detailed reasons for the order which was pronounced on July 23, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the National Testing Agency (NTA) must stop its flip-flop which was noticed this year as it does not serve the interest of students.

The bench issued a slew of directions and expanded the remit of the Centre-appointed panel headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to review the NTA's functioning and recommend exam reforms.

It said since the remit of the panel has been expanded, the committee would submit its report by September 30 on various measures to rectify deficiencies in the examination system.

The bench said the Radhakrishnan panel should consider framing standard operating procedure for adoption of technological advancements to strengthen the examination system.

It said the issues which have arisen during the NEET-UG examination should be rectified by the Centre.

On July 23, the top court dismissed the pleas seeking cancellation and re-test of the controversy-ridden exam, holding that there was no evidence on record to conclude that it was "vitiated" on account of "systemic breach" of its sanctity. -- PTI

11:36 NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad's car attacked

One person has been detained in connection with the alleged attack on Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Jitendra Awhad's car, officials said on Friday.

"The Dongri Police has detained a person from Navi Mumbai in connection with the attack on Jitendra Awhad's car," the police said.

According to information received from the Dongri police, a case has been registered against Swarajya Sanghatana's general secretary, Dhananjay Jadhav, and Ankrish Kadam.

The Dongri Police said that a case had been registered under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 189 (1), 189 (2), 180 (4), and 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offense committed in prosecution of common object) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

Further investigation is underway.

Reacting to the attack on Jitendra Awhad's car, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut questioned the law and order situation in Maharashtra.

"One MLA is from the ruling party and the other MLA is Jitendra Awhad, who is from the opposition, both were attacked. Where is the law and order in this state?... Maharashtra is a big state and was known for its law and order," Raut said.

He further asserted that during Uddhav Thackeray's regime, the law and order were fine in the state.

"There was leadership in Maharashtra...politics is being done here forcefully, and the control is from Delhi and Gujarat, because of this, we are paying the price," he added. -- ANI

A private school in south Delhi's Greater Kailash area received a bomb threat via email and it turned out to be a hoax as nothing suspicious was found after a thorough check, officials said on Friday.

The mail was received by the school around midnight. The email said that a bomb had been planted on the school's premises, they said.

Thorough checking was done by a bomb detection team and nothing suspicious was found, a police officer said and added that a dog squad was also deployed for the search.

Further probe is underway, he said and declared the threat a hoax. -- PTI

Representatives of Meitei and Hmar communities agreed to make full efforts to restore normalcy in violence-hit Jiribam district of Manipur.

The agreement was reached between the warring sides at a meeting held at a CRPF facility in adjoining Assam's Cachar on Thursday.

The meeting was moderated by Jiribam district administration, Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel, officials said.

Representatives of Thadou, Paite and Mizo communities of Jiribam district were also present in the meeting.

"The meeting resolved that both sides will make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing. Both sides shall give full cooperation to all the security forces operating in Jiribam district. Both sides agreed to facilitate controlled and coordinated movement," a joint statement issued and signed by representatives of all the participating communities said.

The next meeting will be held on August 15.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.

Ethnically-diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by ethnic violence in Imphal Valley and adjoining hills, erupted in violence after a mutilated body of a farmer was found in the fields in June this year.

Thousands had to leave their homes and relocate to relief camps due to incidents of arson by both sides. A CRPF jawan was also killed in an ambush by militants during patrolling by security forces in mid-July.

The police in Maharashtra's Palghar district have arrested a 25-year-old man for causing the death of a college professor while driving under the influence of alcohol, an official said on Friday.

Professor Atmaja Kasat (45) was walking home after the day's work when she was hit by a car within the limits of Arnala Sagri police station around 6.30 pm on Thursday. She suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital but succumbed to her wounds after a few hours.

Senior inspector Vijay Patil said a medical test confirmed that the car driver, Shubham Pratap Patil, was drunk at the time of the accident. He has been arrested under the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act, the official said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit out at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and said that Rahul Gandhi would have to reveal his caste identity if the census is conducted.

"Earlier Rahul Gandhi used to ask journalists about their caste. Now when people ask him about his caste, he has a problem with it. Will the caste census be conducted without asking about caste? He says I will get the caste census done but will not reveal my caste, how will this happen? Rahul will have to reveal his caste if the census is conducted," Assam CM told reporters on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused BJP MP Anurag Thakur of "abusing and insulting" him during the Lok Sabha discussion on the Union Budget.

Thakur had engaged in a heated exchange with Gandhi, criticising those who questioned the caste census while not revealing their caste.

"Those whose caste is not known, talk about the caste-census. I want to remind the Speaker that in this House itself, a former prime minister RG-1 (Rajiv Gandhi) had opposed reservation for OBCs," the BJP MP said.

In response, Rahul Gandhi said, "Whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit and the backward, is abused. I will accept these abuses willingly. Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me, but I do not want any apology."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav intervened, questioning Thakur on how one could inquire about a person's caste.

"How can you ask about caste?" Yadav asked Thakur in the Lower House. -- ANI

09:23 ED carries out first-ever raids in Ladakh

In its first ever raids in the Union territory of Ladakh, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches as part of its money laundering probe linked to a fake cryptocurrency operator, officials said.

The agency raided at least six premises in Leh in Ladakh, Jammu in J-K and Sonipat in Haryana in the case against A R Mir and others.

It is alleged that thousands of investors deposited money in a fake currency but did not get any returns or currency back.

The money laundering case stems from several FIRs registered in Leh and in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Friday confirmed 308 deaths in the multiple landslides that hit Wayanad on July 30.

The rescue and relief operations are underway in Chooralmala and Mundakkai in the Meppadi region where the landslides wreaked havoc.

George said that 195 bodies and 113 body parts have been recovered so far.

The Indian Army earlier handed over the 190-feet Bailey Bridge to the civil administration which was built over the Iruvanjippuzha river connecting the regions Chooralmala and Mundakkai, isolated by the landslides.

A Defence statement said that high earth movement equipment was shifted to the other side and vehicle movement was being regulated by the civil administration.

The personnel also held a meeting at Wayanad District Collector's office.

The officials said that search operations by relief teams along with dog squads started at 7 am today. This includes 10 teams comprising 30 members each formed from Armed Forces personnel including Police.

The affected area has been divided into six zones based on accessibility and prospects of recovery of missing persons, namely Zone 1 -Punchirimattom region, Zone 2 - Mundekkai region, Zone 3 - School area, Zone 4 - Chooralmala town area, Zone 5 - Village area and Zone 6 - Downstream.

The rescue and relief operations coordinated by the Army, the NDRF, the SDRF and civil administration are underway at multiple locations, ensuring quick evacuation of stranded people, and provision of basic amenities and medical assistance. -- ANI

West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim claimed that his remarks at a religious event were "misinterpreted" and he had no intention to hurt anyone, amid protests by the opposition BJP.

Hakim, the state's urban development minister and also Kolkata's mayor, told the assembly on Thursday that he is a Muslim but regularly organises Durga Puja and Kali Puja.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs were staging walkouts whenever Hakim was rising to speak in the House over the remarks he made at the All India Quran Competition last month.

"This is very unfortunate to see that whenever I am rising to answer a question that person or the group is staging a walkout. If any of my remarks are being misinterpreted then what can I do? Those who are here, including (BJP) chief whip Dr Shankar Ghosh, can they tell me whether they consider me a secular person or not? Everyone knows that I am secular. This is not right to politicise one of my remarks which was made at a programme outside this House," Hakim said.

"I have never disrespected anyone belonging to another religion and will never do so till the last day of my life. I respect people of other religions. I belong to Islam but have been regularly organising Durga Puja and Kali Puja. My remarks are being unnecessarily politicised. I had no intention to hurt anyone. I was born a secular and will continue to be so," he added.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said he was fine with the way Hakim explained his comments.

"At that function, you were invited as the mayor and as a minister. I am not uttering what you said there. The first part of your speech is okay, but in the second part, you have invited people from other religions to join the one in which you have faith. I do not want you to seek forgiveness, but we only want you to say sorry to those whose sentiments were hurt," Adhikari said.

Hakim said he went there because he was invited as a representative of a particular religion. -- PTI

The United States continues to expect accountability from India concerning the alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate an American citizen on US soil last summer, an official said.

"We continue to expect accountability from the government of India in relation to the alleged role of an Indian government employee in the failed attempt to assassinate a US citizen on US soil that occurred last summer," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels," he said.

Patel, however, declined to comment on a news report alleging that Canadian authorities claim to have arrested five Indian nationals planning to target a Sikh separatist at a wedding ceremony.

"As it relates to the news that you mentioned out of Canada, I would refer you to the Canadian government to comment on issues that are happening within their law enforcement system," the official said.

We continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government at senior levels, he said.

In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14. -- PTI

08:31 Rahul claims ED raid being planned against him

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that an Enforcement Directorate raid is being planned against him after his 'chakravyuh' speech in Parliament.

Gandhi said he was "waiting with open arms".

"Apparently, 2 in 1 didn't like my Chakravyuh speech. ED 'insiders' tell me a raid is being planned," Gandhi said in a post on X early Friday.

"Waiting with open arms @dir_ed ..Chai and biscuits on me," the former Congress chief said.

Using the 'chakravyuh' metaphor as a leitmotif, Gandhi on Monday claimed that an atmosphere of fear prevails all around with a group of six trapping the entire country in a 'chakravyuh' he promised would be broken by the INDIA bloc.

Participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha on Budget 2024-25, Gandhi had said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will ensure that a legal guarantee for MSP as well as a caste census is passed by the House.

Thousands of years ago in Haryana's Kurukshetra, six people killed a youth, Abhimanyu, in a 'chakravyuh', he had said, adding that a 'chakravyuh' has violence and fear. -- PTI

Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand/ANI Photo

00:54 51 stranded MP pilgrims airlifted from U'khand: CM

Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday airlifted 51 people of the state from Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand with the help of the hill state authorities and brought them to Rudraprayag, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said.

Ten more people are stranded at Kedarnath, but they were shifted to safer places, Yadav said.

A total of 61 people from Badarwas town in Shivpuri district went for the Char Dham pilgrimage tour in Uttarakhand by bus and other four-wheelers.

They got stranded in Kedarnath following a landslide, he said in a statement.

"As soon as we got information about them, we immediately contacted Uttarakhand government and airlifted 51 out of the total 61 stranded persons through a helicopter to Rudraprayag,' Yadav said.

The remaining persons are safe in Kedarnath, and the state government is in contact with the Uttarakhand government on the matter, he said. -- PTI

UP deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya/File image

00:50 Petition against UP deputy CM Maurya over his 'party is bigger than govt' remark

A PIL has been filed in the Allahabad high court against Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over his controversial statement that "Party organisation is bigger than the government".

The petitioner, Manjesh Kumar Yadav, an advocate by profession, said that Maurya's remarks undermine the dignity of his office and cast doubts on the transparency and purity of the government.

On July 14, while addressing a one-day state working committee meeting of the BJP, Maurya said, "The organisation was bigger than the government, is bigger and will always be bigger," which was seen to be directed at the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The lack of response or denial from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Governor, and the Election Commission further compounds the issue, highlighting it as a matter of serious concern.

Moreover, the petition also references Maurya's criminal history, noting that he had been implicated in seven criminal cases before his appointment as deputy chief minister. -- PTI

Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar/ANI on X

00:41 No anticipatory bail to Puja Khedkar in quota case

A Delhi court Thursday denied anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits, saying these are serious allegations that "require a thorough investigation".

"Custodial interrogation of the accused is required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish involvement of the other persons involved in conspiracy," additional sessions judge Devender Kumar Jangala said.

Khedkar, who has not been arrested in the case, had approached the court through her lawyer, saying she faces "immediate threat of arrest".

Hearing the plea, the judge said the case is "only the tip of the iceberg", and asked the Union Public Service Commission to have a relook at its recommendations made in the recent past and the Delhi police to widen its scope of investigation.

He said the UPSC is required to find out candidates who might have illegally availed of attempts beyond permissible limits, obtained benefits of OBC (non-creamy layer) and Persons with Benchmark Disability quota despite being not entitled.

The judge directed the Delhi police to conduct its investigation "in all fairness" to find out candidates recommended in recent past who might have illegally availed of such benefits.

The judge further directed the police to find out whether some insider from the UPSC also helped Khedkar. -- PTI

6 hurt as two groups of kanwariyas clash in Haryana

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