Exit polls patently illegal: Ex-CEC Quraishi

The incident occurred on Monday evening at a film producer's office near Chandra Layout, Bengaluru. No injuries were reported, sources confirmed. 

According to the police, Thandaveshwar fired a shot that pierced the roof during an argument over financial disagreements related to a halted film project. 

Several others were reportedly present at the time. An FIR has been registered against Thandaveshwar under BNS Section 109 (Attempt to murder) and relevant sections of the Arms Act, based on Navunda's complaint. 

Sources said the two were working on a film titled Devanampriya for two years. 

Initially unable to secure a producer, Thandaveshwar invested Rs 6 lakh to keep the project afloat. 

Recently, they found a producer and resumed shooting, but progress was slow, leading to disputes. 

Thandaveshwar's demand for repayment of his investment reportedly escalated tensions. 

The investigation is ongoing, officials added. -- PTI

Asserting that the government has taken several decision on the post-poll violence in Tonk, the agriculture minister assured that no one will be falsely implicated in the violence.   

A consensus was reached to include Samravta village in Uniara sub-division, for which villagers had boycotted bypolls that happened on November 13, he said. 

Samravta village is currently included in Deoli sub-division, which is far away, villagers said. 

Talking to the reporters in Jaipur on Tuesday, Meena said that 19 people detained by the police following the violence in Samravta were found to be innocent and have been released. 

He said that 35 motorcycles, nine four-wheelers, including two police vehicles, were torched during the violence last week. 

The state government has decided that it will compensate the loss of the aggrieved after a detailed assessment. 

Replying to a question, Meena said that the Tonk violence was being inquired by a divisional commissioner level senior officer as judicial inquiry, as announced before, would take more time. 

On November 13, while polling was going on, independent candidate Naresh Meena slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary while he was on election duty in Samravta village in Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency. -- PTI

According to statements from the airline and airport officials, the aircraft faced a technical problem, prompting its diversion to Kochi airport, where it landed safely at approximately 2.21 pm. 

IndiGo confirmed that its flight 6E1127, operating from Bengaluru to Male, was diverted to Kochi due to the technical issue. 

"The aircraft will return to operation after necessary maintenance, and an alternative one has been arranged to facilitate the passengers' journey to their destination," the airline said, "apologising for the inconvenience caused" to passengers. 

Meanwhile, Cochin International Airport Limited said it successfully handled the "emergency landing" of the IndiGo flight. -- PTI

Addressing the GVG Krishnamurty Memorial Lecture here, he asked when the conduct of exit polls is banned during the "prohibited period" -- from the day of commencement of voting for the first phase till half-an-hour after the end of polling in the last phase -- how are they being held. 

 He said when exit polls cannot be conducted in that period, how can be shown soon after conclusion of polls. 

"There is one patent illegality happening before our eyes and the eyes of the EC with the involvement of EC," he said. 

He said according to a 2009 amendment to section 126 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the conduct, publication and dissemination of results of exit poll in any manner during the prohibited period is banned. "How is the illegality happening," he questioned. 

Referring to electoral bonds, he said after six years the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. 

He said the SC had no time and kept the issue on the backburner for a long period. 

Quraishi was the chief election commissioner between July 2010 and June 2012. 

Addressing the gathering, he said the judiciary has to be credited for several of the electoral reforms, including the decision to make candidates disclose criminal cases against them as well as their assets and liabilities. 

Referring to an index which placed India as a "flawed democracy", Quraishi said initially he was upset at the report and thought it was a "western conspiracy". 

"But when I studied, I found exactly the right reasons about which citizens are concerned," he said. -- PTI