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Fri, 09 August 2024

Tihar Jail official suspended over dancing with pistol

Timeline Refresh

Taylor Swift/Mike Blake/Reuters

23:50 Third teen held in Vienna over foiled terror plot at Taylor Swift concert

An Austrian minister said on Friday that a third suspect, an 18-year-old Iraqi national, was arrested in Vienna over a plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert, CNN reported.

German publication DW cited the minister Gerhard Karner as making the announcement, a day after two other teenagers were arrested after authorities foiled a terror attack planned for the Vienna leg of the American singer's blockbuster Eras tour.

Organisers also cancelled three of Taylor Swift concerts planned for the Austrian capital.

According to Austrian minister Karner, the main suspect was a 19-year-old while a 17-year-old has also been detained. Both had sworn "oaths of allegiance" to the "Islamic State" terror group as per the report in DW.

CNN reported that international intelligence agencies helped Austrian authorities uncover the alleged plot, said Karner, after police said the suspects were "radicalized by the internet." -- PTI

Tihar Jail official Deepak Sharma (left) dancing with pistol/Screen grab

23:36 Tihar Jail official suspended over dancing with pistol video

A Tihar Jail official has been suspended for misconduct after a purported showing him dancing at a party while brandishing a pistol surfaced on social media, officials said on Friday.

In the 18-second video clip, Deepak Sharma, posted as assistant superintendent of police at the Mandoli Jail, can be seen swaying to Bollywood song Khalnayak hoon main at a party hosted by a political leader in east Delhi.

Two men can be seen dancing with him.

According to eyewitnesses, some shots were fired in the air at the party.

However, the police could not verify it.

An official said that Sharma has been put under suspension for misconduct and a fact-finding inquiry has been marked to the superintendent of jail number 15, where he was posted.

A senior police officer said that they have also written to the licensing unit of the Delhi police to take necessary action into the matter.

Sharma is popular on social media and has 4.4 lakh followers on Instagram where he regularly posts reels of him working out at the gym.

As the jail superintendent, Sharma was involved in the raids at Sukesh Chandrashekar's barrack in Tihar Jail.

Mandoli Jail is part of the Tihar Prison Complex. -- PTI

A woman post-graduate student of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati was found hanging from the ceiling of her hostel room on Friday, a spokesperson of the institute said.

The student was from Uttar Pradesh and lived in Disang Hostel.

Her body was found after her friends noticed her absence from classes during the day.

"It is with profound regret that IIT Guwahati reports the tragic death of a female student on the campus on 9th August 2024. The matter is being investigated by the police authorities," the spokesperson said.

The 23-year-old MTech student's immediate family, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, has been informed about the incident.

"The institute is providing them full support during this difficult time," the spokesperson added.

The police said that the body has been sent for post-mortem examination and further investigations were underway to ascertain the reason behind her death.

The authorities did not divulge the course of study or any other detail of the deceased student. -- PTI

YouTuber Shankar/File image

22:55 HC quashes order detaining Youtuber under Goondas Act

The Madras high court on Friday set aside an order of the Chennai city police commissioner, detaining Shankar alias 'Savukku' Shankar, a well-known YouTuber under the stringent Goondas Act.

Allowing a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Shankar's mother A Kamala, the bench directed the Youtuber, lodged in the Coimbatore Central Prison to be set at liberty forthwith if he was not required in any other case.

Setting aside the detention order dated May 12, 2024, a division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam said, "In fine, we have arrived at an irresistible conclusion that the impugned order of detention is not in compliance with the essential requirement and ingredients as contemplated under Act 14 of 1982. Thus, the detention order issued by the Commissioner of police is set aside."

The bench said the detaining authority had registered both the adverse complaints on the same day i.e., on May 7, 2024.

One complaint was registered after a lapse of nearly six years, whereas the other complaint was pertaining to derogatory remarks against women police officers given by a social activist.

The manner in which both these complaints were registered, one with an inordinate delay and another which was pertaining to police officers raises several questions as to the intentions behind the detention order. -- PTI

The Union Cabinet asserted on Friday that there is no provision for a creamy layer in the reservation for SCs and STs in the Constitution given by BR Ambedkar.

Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said there was a detailed discussion at the cabinet meeting on a recent Supreme Court judgment that made certain suggestions on the reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

He said the Cabinet is of a well-thought-out view that the NDA government is committed towards the provisions of the Constitution.

"According to the Constitution given by B R Ambedkar, there is no provision for a creamy layer in the SC-ST reservation," Vaishnaw said.

He asserted that the provision for SC-ST reservation should be in accordance with the Constitution.

Asked whether the issue was raised by the minister for social justice and empowerment or the prime minister, Vaishnaw said it is the well-thought-out view of the Cabinet. -- PTI

21:58 Modi to visit landslide-hit Wayanad tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Wayanad on Saturday, to assess the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts following the recent landslides in the region.

The prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Kannur at approximately 11 am, from where he will undertake an aerial survey of the landslide-affected areas in Wayanad.

Around 12:15 pm, the prime minister will visit the areas impacted by the disaster, where he will receive a briefing from rescue teams regarding the evacuation operations currently underway.

Modi is expected to oversee the rehabilitation efforts in the area to ensure effective support for those affected.

The prime minister will also visit a relief camp and hospital where he will meet and interact with the victims and survivors of the landslide.

The PM will thereafter chair a review meeting where he will be briefed in detail about the tragedy and the ongoing relief efforts.

Massive landslides hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad on July 30 creating widespread devastation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrives in Maldives/ANI Photo

21:41 Jaishankar reaches Maldives to reset bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said the Maldives occupies an important place in India's vision of 'Neighbourhood First' and that he was looking forward to "fruitful engagements' with the leadership of the archipelagic nation.

Jaishankar arrived in Male on a three-day official visit to reset the bilateral relationship with the Maldives, the first high-level trip from India after the country's pro-China president Mohamed Muizzu assumed office last year.

Jaishankar's trip to the Maldives comes weeks after President Muizzu's visit to India in June to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November 2023.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country.

Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians by May 10, the mutually agreed date.

"Pleased to arrive in Maldives. Thank Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer for receiving me at the airport. Maldives occupies an important place in our vision of 'Neighbourhood First' & 'SAGAR'," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

"Looking forward to fruitful engagements with the leadership," he added. -- PTI

Star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker on Friday met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, two days after she returned to the country after her historic feat of winning two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games.

Bhaker met Gandhi in New Delhi along with her coach Jaspal Rana.

The Congress leader congratulated Bhaker on her historic feat and wished her for her future endeavours.

Bhaker landed in the country on Wednesday and was welcomed by hundreds of supporters and her family members, who braved a steady drizzle to give her a memorable reception.

She had also met Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress leaders Bhupinder Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda earlier.

Hundreds of people, who waited at the airport long before her arrival despite the morning drizzle in the city, accorded her and her coach Jaspal Rana an enthusiastic reception.

Bhaker (22) won a bronze each in the women's 10-metre air pistol and 10-metre air pistol mixed team event -- where she had paired with Sarabjot Singh -- to script Olympic history for India. -- PTI

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20:56 BSF foils infiltration bid by thousands of Bangladeshis in WB

The Border Security Force averted an infiltration bid when thousands of residents from Bangladesh gathered along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Cooch Behar raising slogans and tried to enter the Indian side on Friday morning.

Ikramul Haque, a local from Pathantuli in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, West Bengal said, "Around 9-9.30 am, a few people from Bangladesh gathered at the border and tried to infiltrate into India. Many of them are still there. The crowd has thinned out a little now, though. Their arrival in India all of a sudden is not possible. There is a protocol for it. There is a large presence of the BSF."

The ministry of home affairs has constituted a committee that is to be headed by the ADG, Border Security Force, eastern command to monitor the current Indo-Bangladesh Border situation.

In a letter dated August 9, under secretary to the govt of India Smitha Viju said, "It has been decided to constitute a committee consisting of the following members for the above-mentioned subject a. ADG, BSF, Eastern Command as the chairman, b. IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, c. IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, d. Member (Planning and Development), LPAI and e. secretary, LPAI." -- ANI

India's forex reserves jumped by $7.533 billion to a new record high of $674.919 billion for the week ended August 2, the Reserve Bank said on Friday.

The overall kitty had dropped by $3.471 billion to $667.386 billion in the previous reporting week ended July 26.

The previous high for the reserves had stood at $670.857 billion, reached on July 18.

For the week ended August 2, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $5.162 billion to $592.039 billion, the data released on Friday showed.

Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

Gold reserves increased by $2.404 billion to $60.099 billion during the week, the RBI said. -- PTI

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20:20 Goods train derails in South Goa; services affected, restoration work on

A goods train derailed in a mountainous region of South Goa bordering Karnataka on Friday morning, affecting the movement of trains on the South Western Railway route, officials said.

The train with 17 loaded wagons derailed in the ghat section between Sonalium and Dudhsagar stations under the Hubballi division at 9.35 am, SWR's chief public relation officer Manjunath Kanamadi said.

As a result of the derailment, three trains were diverted and two others were cancelled, he said in a release.

Accident relief trains with 140-ton cranes and other required materials have been dispatched to the site and restoration work was underway, he said.

Due to the derailment, train number 17420/17022 Vasco Da Gama-Tirupati/Hyderabad weekly express, has been diverted to run via Madgaon, Karwar, Padil, Subrahmanya Road, Hassan, Arsikere, Chikjajur, Rayadurga and Ballari and further on its regular path.

Train 12779 Vasco Da Gama-Hazrat Nizamuddin express has been diverted via Madgaon, Roha, Panvel, Kalyan and Pune and further in its regular path. Hazrat Nizamuddin-Vasco Da Gama express (12780) was also diverted. -- PTI

West Bengal ex-CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee/File image

19:54 Buddhadeb's body handed over to Kolkata hospital for medical research

Amid chants of 'Amar Rahe' and 'Lal Salam Comrade', the body of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was handed over to the anatomy department of NRS Hospital in Kolkata on Friday evening for medical research.

Hundreds of mourners followed the flower-decked hearse as it entered the hospital compound and stopped near the anatomy department.

Around 5.30 pm, Bhattacharjee's body was carried inside the department by party activists, supporters, and leaders.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders Sujan Chakraborty, Surya Kanta Mishra, Rabin Dev and the deceased Marxist patriarch's daughter Suchetana Bhattacharjee were present in the compound.

Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Sen and Kolkata Municipal Corporation deputy mayor Atin Ghosh, along with other ruling party leaders, also attended to pay their respects and assist in the handover process.

Senior Professor Abhijit Bhakta from the anatomy department received the body on behalf of the hospital.

An official from the department said the body would be preserved and kept for future medical research.

"The body of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been donated for medical research as per his and his family's wishes. The entire process of handing over was conducted smoothly," said Santanu Sen, a doctor and member of the Indian Medical Association. PTI

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19:45 Noida school asks students not to bring non-veg food

A private school in Noida sent a message to parents asking not to pack non-vegetarian food for their children's lunch. The school management said it was only a "request" after a row broke out.

The school in Sector-132 of Noida had on Wednesday sent the message to parents on WhatsApp. When non-vegetarian food is cooked in the morning for lunch, there is a possibility of it getting spoiled. It can be harmful to health, said the message that asked parents not to pack non-vegetarian food for their children's lunch.

It also said the school values "diversity and inclusiveness of students. So that all students can sit together and eat their meals irrespective of their food preferences, the focus is on providing a environment in which everyone feels comfortable".

"This was only a request," a senior school official said.

Former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia walked out of Tihar jail on Friday hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

"Bharat mata ki jai! Inquilab Zindabad!" cheered Manish Sisodia upon his release.

"Ever since this order came in the morning, every inch of my skin has been feeling indebted to Babasaheb. I don't understand how will pay off this debt to Babasaheb," Sisodia said.

"We have brought this legal battle to its logical end through the Constitution. I thank you all for being with me," Sisodia said and added that he had many of admirers but their numbers have increased in the last 17 months.

"Not only me but every person of Delhi, and children of the country were with me emotionally in jail. I thank the Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart for using the power of Constitution to give a tight slap to the dictatorship in the country," he said.

Hailing Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Sisodia said he was indebted to him.

"My whole life is indebted to Ambedkar," he said.

The leader said it was an emotional moment for everyone and hoped that the power of Constitution and democracy will pave the way for release of Kejriwal. -- PTI/ANI

Amid chants of 'Amar Rahe' and 'Lal Salam Comrade', the body of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was handed over to the anatomy department of N R S Hospital in Kolkata on Friday evening for medical research.

Hundreds of mourners followed the flower-decked hearse as it entered the hospital compound and stopped near the anatomy department.

Around 5.30 pm, Bhattacharjee's body was carried inside the department by party activists, supporters, and leaders.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders Sujan Chakraborty, Surya Kanta Mishra, Rabin Dev and the deceased Marxist patriarch's daughter Suchetana Bhattacharjee were present in the compound.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Santanu Sen and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, along with other ruling party leaders, also attended to pay their respects and assist in the handover process.

Senior Professor Abhijit Bhakta from the anatomy department received the body on behalf of the hospital.

An official from the department said the body would be preserved and kept for future medical research.

17:58 Manish Sisodia's release order issued

A Delhi court on Friday issued an order for the release of Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court earlier in the day in the excise policy cases lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja accepted the bail bonds and surety bonds submitted by the advocates representing Sisodia.

The former deputy chief minister, who was in jail for the last 17 months, is likely to be released today.

The Supreme Court granted bail to Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases, registered by the CBI and the ED, respectively, on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

The bench said Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months and trial has not yet commenced, depriving him of the right to speedy trial.

The bench said it would be a travesty of justice to relegate him to the trial court for seeking bail in these cases.

The top court said it is high time that the trial courts and high courts recognised that the principle of bail is a rule and jail is an exception.

The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023 over purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The ED arrested him in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. -- PTI

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan visited the Supreme Court on Friday ahead of the screening of the film Laapataa Ladies for judges and was welcomed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

"I don't want a stampede in the court but we welcome Mr Aamir Khan who is here for the screening of the film," the CJI said.

The film, a heartwarming, empowering take on two brides in rural India who accidently get swapped during a train journey, is produced by Rao's Kindling Productions and Khan's Aamir Khan Productions.

The top court will screen the film for judges, their families and officials of its registry on Friday afternoon.

"As part of the activities organised during the 75th year of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, the movie Laapataa Ladies which is based on the theme of gender equality, will be screened on Friday, August 9, 2024 in the Auditorium, C-block, Administrative Building Complex," said a communication circulated by the administration section of the apex court.

Rao said to see the film get screened for the judges at the top court was a "rare honour".

"It fills my heart with immense pride to see Laapataa Ladies making history by being screened at the Supreme Court of India. I am deeply grateful to the honourable Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for this rare honour," Rao said in a statement.

The filmmaker said that while she had hoped the story to resonate deeply, the outpouring of love from audiences has exceeded her expectations.

17:23 Air India suspends flights to Tel Aviv

Air India on Friday announced the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv till further notice amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

The Tata Group-owned carrier had suspended services from the national capital to Tel Aviv till August 8.

"In view of the current situation in parts of the Middle East, scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv are suspended with immediate effect until further notice. We are continuously monitoring the situation," the airline said in a post on X.

The carrier is offering a full refund to its passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv.

Tensions continue to remain high in the Middle East amid conflict between Israel and various terror groups, including Hamas.

Earlier this year also, Air India had briefly suspended flights to Tel Aviv at different points of time due to the Middle East tensions.

After nearly five months, the carrier had recommenced the services to the Israeli city on March 3. Air India had suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv starting on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas group's attack on the Israeli city.

Update: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking postponement of the NEET-PG examination, scheduled for August 11, which claimed that candidates have been allocated cities that are highly inconvenient for them to reach.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it can't put the careers of two lakh students in jeopardy for five students.

"How can we postpone such an exam. Mr Sanjay Hegde, nowadays people just come asking to postpone the exam. It's not a perfect world. We are not academic experts.

"As a matter of principle, we will not reschedule the exam. There are two lakh students and four lakh parents who will weep over the weekend if we postpone it. We cannot put the careers of so many candidates in jeopardy. We do not know who is behind these petitions," the bench said.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that rescheduling the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Postgraduate) (NEET-PG) is needed because there is one exam in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The plea said many candidates have been allocated cities which are highly inconvenient for them to reach. It said the test cities were allotted on July 31 and the specific centres will be declared on August 8.

The Supreme Court dismisses plea seeking postponement of NEET-PG examination scheduled for August 11. "Can't put career of 2 lakh students in jeopardy at behest of five students, says SC as it bins plea for its postponement," the court says.

'Good morning' is set to be replaced by 'Jai Hind' in all Haryana schools from this Independence Day onwards, according to a government circular.

The move, initiated by the Haryana government, aims to "instill a deep sense of patriotism and national pride" among students, the directorate of school education, said in the circular issued on Thursday.

'Jai Hind' was coined by Subhas Chandra Bose during India's freedom struggle and was adopted as a salute by the armed forces after Independence, the circular said.

The directorate of school education sent the circular to all district education officers, district elementary education officers, district block education officers, block elementary education officers, principals and headmasters.

According to the circular, 'Jai Hind' will replace 'good morning' in schools so that students can be "inspired everyday with the spirit of national unity" and "respect for the rich history" of the country.

The patriotic greeting 'Jai Hind' will encourage students to appreciate sacrifices made for the country's freedom, it said.

'Jai Hind' transcends regional, linguistic and cultural differences and promotes unity among students from diverse backgrounds, it said. -- PTI

14:40 SC stays order banning hijab in campuses

The Supreme Court seeks a response from Mumbai educational society on the plea challenging the high court verdict imposing a ban on wearing 'hijab', 'burqa' in college.

The court partly stays the circular of a Mumbai college banning 'hijab, burqa, cap and naqab' inside a campus.

The SC says its interim order on 'burqa, hijab' should not be misused, grants liberty to Mumbai college to approach court in case of misuse. SC says no burqa can be allowed to be worn by girls inside classroom and no religious activities permitted on campus.

"Suddenly you wake up to know there are many religions in country," says SC to Mumbai college on circular banning hijab, naqab on campus.

Various places in Kerala's landslide-ravaged Wayanad district reported hearing a booming sound and reverberation from the underground on Friday morning, creating panic among residents and authorities.

The Wayanad district authorities said people from residential areas in the affected places were being shifted to safer locations. They said that the booming sound and reverberation were "felt" in certain areas of Ambalavayal village and Vythiri Taluk.

"The district administration has taken steps to safely relocate people from the affected areas," said Wayanad District Collector D R Meghashri in a statement. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said it is examining seismic records and conducting local reconnaissance to determine if anything is anomalous.

"As of now, seismic records do not show any indications of movements," it said. The sound was heard at around 10.15 am, according to a panchayat ward member who spoke to a TV news channel.

The mysterious noise from the underground created panic among residents, as it comes close on the heels of the massive landslides in the hill district, which killed 226 people and left many more missing. A holiday has been declared for schools in the affected area, authorities said. PTI

On her exchange of words with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan says, "I objected to the tone used by the Chair. We are not school children. Some of us are senior citizens. I was upset with the tone and especially when the Leader of Opposition stood up to speak, he switched off the mike. How can you do this? You have to allow the Leader of Opposition to speak.

"I mean using unparliamentary words every time which I do not want to say in front of you all. You are a nuisance, 'Buddhiheen'. He said 'you may be a celebrity, I do not care'. I am not asking him to care. I am saying I am a member of Parliament. This is my fifth term. I know what I am saying. The way things are being spoken in Parliament these days, nobody has ever spoken before. I want an apology."

Opposition parties, led by Congress stalwart Sonia Gandhi, walked out of the Rajya Sabha, yet again, today in support of Jaya Bachchan as she protested a recurrence of the 'Jaya Amitabh Bachchan' row in the Upper House.

Twice in this Parliamentary session Mrs Bachchan, who is of course, married to Amitabh Bachchan, has been introduced in Parliament as 'Jaya Amitabh Bachchan'.

Jaya Bachchan had expressed her strong disapproval of this practice. She said, "It was a very humiliating experience and he criticised the treatment of opposition MPs, contrasting it with the latitude given to those from the ruling BJP or its allies.

Celebrations broke out at the Aam Aadmi Party office as well as residence of Manish Sisodia, minutes after the former deputy chief minister of Delhi got bail by the Supreme Court on Friday.

Sisodia will walk out of jail 17 months after being arrested in connection to the excise policy case.

At his residence, Sisodia's wife Seema Sisodia and other family members distributed sweets to visitors with smiling faces. Party leaders and workers started streaming in at the AAP headquarters on DDU Marg with the premises reverberating with drum beats.

Several party leaders, including minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, distributed sweets to people who gathered there. Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi broke down while sharing the news of Sisodia's bail during the inaugural function at a school in Naseerpur.

The AAP said the Supreme Court verdict granting bail to Sisodia was a "victory of truth" and hoped that other jailed leaders of the party "will also get justice".

Atishi takes the blessings of Sisodia's wife and mother

12:43 Atishi breaks down hearing Sisodia bail news

AAP leader Atishi breaks down as she welcomes the Supreme Court bail to Manish Sisodia. She says its a victory for a man who shaped the Delhi education revolution.

The AAP on Friday called the Supreme Court verdict granting bail to party leader Manish Sisodia as a "victory of truth" and hoped that other jailed leaders of the party "will also get justice".

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that he has been in custody for 17 months. A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months and trial has not yet commenced, depriving him of the right to speedy trial.

12:30 2nd SC hackathon to focus on using AI

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Friday announced the second hackathon of the Supreme Court, which will focus on use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the functioning of the top court.

At the outset of the day's proceedings, the CJI said AI will be used to streamline the functioning of the apex court's registry to deal with issues like removal of defects (in petitions) and formatting and sorting of the judicial records".

The hackathon of the top court, which is being organised in the 75th year of the Supreme Court's establishment, will be held in association with the Centre's MyGov' application, Justice Chandrachud said.

"This time the hackathon will focus on use of AI to streamline the functioning of the registry (of the SC) for things like removal of defects and formatting and sorting of petitions. So we are completely moving to an AI-based model. I request all the innovative young minds to please participate... Last date to submit is August 31 and the assessment will be done on September 14," he said.

"All innovative young minds should participate. By young minds, I do not mean young in age," the CJI said in a lighter vein.

Hackathon is commonly known as a "codefest". It is a social coding event held to bring computer programmers and other interested people together to improve upon or build a new software program.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that he has been in custody for 17 months.

A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months and trial has not yet commenced, depriving him of the right to speedy trial. The bench said it would be a travesty of justice to relegate him to the trial court for seeking bail in these cases.

The top court said it is high time that the trial courts and high courts recognise that the principle of bail is a rule and jail is an exception. It directed that Sisodia be released on bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

The AAP on Friday called the Supreme Court verdict granting bail to party leader Manish Sisodia as a "victory of truth" and hoped that other jailed leaders of the party "will also get justice".

A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said Sisodia has been in custody for 17 months and trial has not yet commenced, depriving him of the right to speedy trial.

In a post on X in Hindi, party MP Raghav Chadha said, "The whole country is happy today as Manish Sisodia, the hero of Delhi education revolution, got bail. I express my gratitude to the Honorable Supreme Court from the bottom of my heart."

"Manish ji was kept behind the bars for 530 days. His crime was that he gave a better future to the children of the poor. Dear children, your Manish uncle is coming back," Chadha said. Hailing Sisodia's bail as a "victory of truth", AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, said, "This verdict is a slap on the Centre's dictatorship. He was in jail for 17 months. His life was destroyed in those months. He could have worked for the education of children during that time."

"We hope that other leaders of the party, Arvind Kejriwal and Satyendar Jain, will also get bail and justice. I bow down before the Supreme Court for this verdict," he added.

This verdict is a big boost for the AAP, he said. Delhi Education minister Atishi posted "Satyamev Jayate" on X. The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023 for purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023.

After the devastating landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district, Deepa Joseph's ambulance was a constant presence on the roads, ferrying the injured and the deceased from the disaster zone.

A strong woman who became the first female ambulance driver in Kerala, Deepa couldn't control her tears as she recounted the horrible scenes she witnessed in the temporary morgue at Meppadi and while transporting the body parts of victims.

Deepa, who had taken a break from driving due to depression following the death of her daughter from blood cancer, had come to Wayanad from Kozhikode after learning about the demand for ambulances with freezer boxes.

The next five days after the landslides changed her completely, making her realise that what she had undergone could be managed much more easily.

"For one or two days, we saw people who were not ready to believe that their beloved people were dead. But in the days that followed, the same people came to the morgue, praying that the bodies recovered should be those of their dear ones," Deepa told PTI.

The heartbreaking scenes unfolded in the following days, and as internal organs, severed limbs, and bodies were crushed beyond recognition, Deepa thought she could not bear it anymore.

"I have been working as an ambulance driver for over four-and-a-half years. I have taken bodies that are several days old and highly decomposed. But in Wayanad, the relatives had to identify the bodies just by looking at a severed finger or a severed limb. It was more than what it could take," Deepa said.

She says on many occasions, internal organs were brought to the morgue, and people could not understand whether those were from humans or animals.

"The whole morgue was filled with the stench of decayed bodies. The gases emanating from the bodies blurred our vision," Deepa, who thought of going back the next day while coming to Wayanad, not realising the magnitude of the disaster, recounted how she had to continue to lend her helping hand for the remaining days.

"I went back for a day and brought my son, who was alone at home, along. Now the ambulances from other districts have gone back, and I would also go back shortly," she said.

Deepa is now a well-known face among the volunteers in disaster-hit areas, and the local women, who lost everything in the landslides, share their horror stories with her. Even when struggling with their grief, they find time to console Deepa when she gets emotional thinking about her daughter. Deepa wants to get back to driving ambulances, as she has a son who is now studying.

"I am jobless now and want to get back to driving ambulances sooner," Deepa said. PTI

Update: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that he has been in custody for 17 months.

The top court said it is high time that the trial courts and high courts recognise that the principle of bail is a rule and jail is an exception.

It directed that Sisodia be released on bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

The former deputy chief minister of Delhi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023 for the purported irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him in the money laundering case stemming from the CBI FIR on March 9, 2023. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28, 2023. Sisodia had sought bail contending that he has been in custody for 17 months and the trial against him has not yet started. The ED and the CBI had opposed his bail pleas.

10:51 AAP leader Manish Sisodia gets bail

The Supreme Court today granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia on his petition challenging the Delhi High Court order rejecting bail in the excise policy irregularities cases.

The order was delivered by a bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the probe agencies, had raised apprehension that witnesses may be influenced. ASG Raju said that some important witnesses can be examined. He further added that these witnesses could be influenced. He also said that there is evidence that he has destroyed phone records.

People in Bangladesh have welcomed the new interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, hoping it would restore order, end repression and hold a fair election to facilitate a democratic transition of power.

Yunus, 84, on Thursday took oath as the head of an interim government, replacing Sheikh Hasina who abruptly resigned and fled to India leaving the country in turmoil following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

He was sworn in as the chief advisor - a position equivalent to prime minister. Women's rights activist Farida Akhtar, right-wing party Hefazat-e-Islam's deputy chief AFM Khalid Hossain, Grameen Telecom trustee Nurjahan Begum, freedom fighter Sharmeen Murshid, chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Supradip Chakma, Prof Bidhan Ranjan Roy and former foreign secretary Touhid Hossain are among the advisory council members.

Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said that one of the duties of the interim government would be to restore order, which has been disrupted over the last few days following the fall of Hasina.

"The other task is to ensure the safety of citizens," The Daily Star newspaper quoted Choudhury as saying after the oath-taking of the interim government.

The government would also need to eliminate all forms of oppression and the culture of fear prevailing across the country, he said.

However, the main responsibility of the government, he emphasised, would be to hold a fair and acceptable election to facilitate a democratic transition of power.

Eminent jurist Kamal Hossain said, "The change that has happened was welcomed by everyone. There has been an extraordinary turnout at the event. Everyone feels that change has come.

"We hope they [members of the advisory council] will be able to address the new crises. People will expect a meaningful change -- let this be that change," he said.

Barrister Sara Hossain said: "My main expectation from this government is that it will enable substantial reforms to institutions in Bangladesh and clear the path for truth-telling about what has happened not only in the immediate past or the past few weeks but even over the last 14 years and before that."

The students' anti-discrimination movement was for reforms and against repression and these should be the interim government's main themes, she told the newspaper.

"What I perhaps am a bit troubled by is that, unlike previous years, there is no balance of political background and police. We obviously have no representation from (Hasina-led) Awami League. This absence of balance could cause a problem," she said.

Bangladesh has a secular Constitution, history and tradition, which has not denied any faith but encouraged pluralism, but the swearing-in today did not reflect that, she said, expressing hope that "it is not a sign of things to come." -- PTI

10:41 Who attended Yunus' oath-taking from India?

Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma attended the oath-taking ceremony of Muhammad Yunus as the head of interim government of Bangladesh.

Nobel laureate Yunus, 84, was administered the oath of office by Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony at the presidential palace 'Bangabhaban' in Dhaka on Thursday evening.

The Indian High Commissioner attended the swearing in ceremony of the interim government in Bangladesh, officials at the external publicity division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Yunus took charge as the head of the interim government, three days after Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister and fled the country following weeks of violent protests.

A 16-member council of advisers was announced to assist Yunus in running the state's affairs. Md. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, two key organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, were also part of the advisory council. -- PTI

Police have arrested the owner of the pet dog that fell on a four-year-old girl from the fifth floor of a building in Maharashtra's Thane, which resulted in her death, officials have said.

The police arrested the accused on Thursday night and also registered an offence against him and three other persons in connection with the incident that occurred around 4.30 pm on Tuesday in Mumbra area of Thane city.

"The police have arrested the owner of the pet dog that fell from the fifth floor on the girl, who was walking on the road below with a woman on August 6. The child suffered grievous injuries and was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead on the same day," an official of the Mumbra police station said.

A case was registered against the owner of the dog and three others under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, death by negligence, negligent conduct with respect to animals and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention, he said.

The police had initially registered a case of accidental death, the official said. A video of the dog falling on the girl has gone viral on social media. PTI

08:56 Pune Porsche: Accused 'played with judiciary'

The prosecution has opposed the bail pleas of six accused in the May 19 Pune Porsche car accident case and said they "played with the judicial system" by tampering with evidence.

The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), Shishir Hiray, on Thursday, argued before Additional Sessions Judge UM Mudholkar that the accused, including the parents of the juvenile involved in the accident, medical professionals, and middlemen, acted in connivance to sabotage evidence.

The case pertains to the May 19 incident in which a Porsche car, allegedly driven by a minor in an inebriated condition, hit two IT professionals, killing them in the Kalyani Nagar area of Pune.

During the argument, Hiray cited a Supreme Court judgement that cancelled the bail of former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi in a murder case, stating that the accused would tamper with evidence if released on bail.

He emphasised that tampering with evidence hampers the right of victims to seek justice and undermines the judicial system.

Harish Salve, the renowned Indian lawyer, will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing on Friday, regarding the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics.

Salve's expertise will be crucial in addressing the legal and procedural aspects of the dispute. Salve, former Solicitor General of India and King's Counsel, confirmed to ANI that he has been engaged by the IOA to represent Phogat at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The ad hoc hearing at CAS is scheduled to start at 9:00 AM Paris time (12:30 PM IST). The CAS has established an ad hoc division in Paris, led by President Michael Lenard from the US, to handle cases during the Olympics. This division is located within the Paris judicial court in the 17th arrondissement.

08:17 Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded Neeraj Chopra as "excellence personified" after he became the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win two successive Olympic medals with a silver in men's javelin throw.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record for his country's maiden individual gold at the showpiece event. Nadeem managed an astonishing 92.97m in his second attempt to set the bar too high for the rest of the field, including Chopra, who covered 89.45m in the second round to win the silver.

In a post on X, the prime minister said, "Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he's shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success."

He added, "Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud." PTI

The Supreme Court will screen Laapataa Ladies movie on Friday for the judges, their families and officials of its registry.

The critically acclaimed movie is based on the theme of gender equality.

According to a communication circulated by the administration section of the apex court, noted actor and producer Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, director of the movie, will also be present during the screening.

"As part of the activities organised during the seventy-fifth year of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India, the movie Laapataa Ladies which is based on the theme of gender equality, will be screened on Friday, August 9, 2024 in the Auditorium, C-block, Administrative Building Complex," the communication said.

According to the schedule, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, judges of the apex court along with their spouses will arrive for the screening of the movie.

The film will be screened from 4.15 pm to 6.20 pm. -- PTI

A Bangladesh national was arrested in Nagaon district of Assam for illegally entering India amid turmoil in the neighbouring country, the police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from Dhing police station apprehended four people, including a Bangladesh national, at Dhing cattle market on Wednesday evening.

The police seized nine cattle heads from the possession of the Bangladeshi and his associates,

Nagaon superintendent of police Swapnaneel Deka said.

The apprehended person has been identified as Humayun Kabir (32), son of Monir Uddin, hailing from Lathi village in Gowainghat police station in Sylhet district of Bangladesh, he added.

"During interrogation, Kabir claimed that he bribed a BSF official and illegally entered India through the international border in Dawki without any valid travel document mainly for cattle trading," the SP said.

It also came to light that the Bangladeshi crossed the border on August 4 and reached Borghat area in central Assam's Nagaon district on August 6, he added. -- PTI

Tamil superstar Vijay/File image

00:54 Zee Studios to distribute Vijay's 'The Greatest of All Time' in North India

Tamil superstar Vijay's upcoming feature film The Greatest of All Time will be released in North India by Zee Studios, the company announced on Thursday.

Set to be released in theatres on September 5, the sci-fi action movie is directed by Venkat Prabhu and produced AGS Entertainment. "Namma #ThalapathyVijay's #GOAT goes up North in style! #TheGreatestOfAllTime - North India release by #ZeeStudios in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages. Get ready for a roaring rollercoaster ride. Setting the screens on fire from September 5th!" Zee Studios posted on its official social media handles.

Vijay plays a double role in The Greatest of All Time , which is the 68th feature project of his career.

The movie will also feature actors Prashanth, Prabhudheva, Sneha, Laila, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Mohan, Jayaram, Ajmal Ameer and Yogi Babu in pivotal roles.

Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored music for the movie and Siddhartha Nuni is the cinematographer.

AGS Entertainment CEO Archana Kalpathi said she is happy to collaborate with Zee Studios for the film's release in North India.

"With Venkat sir's vision and Thalapathy Vijay's acting prowess, superstardom and presence, we are positive that the audiences are in for a real treat. This coupled with Zee Studios' expertise in distribution will only ensure more audiences and fans can experience the film," she said in a statement. -- PTI

A 23-year-old woman was gang-raped earlier in the month under the Hathras Junction police station jurisdiction in Hathras, an officer on Thursday said.

"We received a complaint on Wednesday that a 23-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by five men on August 2. A case has been lodged against the accused and efforts are being made to arrest them," circle officer Shyamveer Singh said.

According to the complaint, the woman had gone to meet an acquaintance named Deepak, who, along with another man, Rishi, took her to a secluded place where three others, Akash, Mahendra, and Hariom later came.

The FIR said the five raped her and fled from the spot.

The accused have been absconding since Wednesday and a hunt is on for them, the officer said. -- PTI

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