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Thu, 03 October 2024
CBI arrests NIA official for accepting Rs 20L bribe
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23:54 Teen dies of electrocution at Delhi's Kalkaji Temple, triggers stampede
A 17-year-old boy got electrocuted while standing in a queue to enter the Kalkaji Temple here, causing panic among the devotees that led to a stampede past midnight that left six people injured, police said Thursday.
The police received information about the incident at 12.40 am. regarding a stampede that broke out near Kalkaji temple.
They reached the spot and rushed the six injured to AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital.
Meanwhile, the doctors at Safdarjung Hospital informed the police about a boy who was brought dead to the hospital from the temple.
He died due to electrocution.
A senior police officer said that on inquiry, the police found that an electric wire being used for the installation of halogen lights during Navratra arrangements broke and came in contact with the iron railing.
As the boy was waiting in the queue, he touched the railing and died. The incident triggered a stampede in the area, leaving six people injured, police said. -- PTI
23:31 CBI arrests NIA official for accepting Rs 20L bribe
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday arrested a senior NIA official, along with his two agents, for allegedly accepting Rs 20 lakh bribe from a complainant.
The accused officer has been identified as deputy superintendent of police Ajay Pratap Singh, posted with NIA's Patna branch, according to an official statement.
The CBI had received an input that Rocky Yadav, owner of the Ramaiya Construction, had alleged corruption by the investigation officer of NIA's Patna branch, during the course of NIA's investigation against him, it said.
After verification of the inputs, and acting promptly in coordination with the National Investigation Agency, the CBI laid a trap.
"During the trap, the CBI today apprehended accused investigation officer, deputy superintendent of police Ajay Pratap Singh, and his two agents while accepting an illegal gratification of Rs 20 lakh from the complainant," said the statement issued by the NIA. -- PTI
File image/Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters
23:06 Customs seizes 12 iPhone 16 Pro Max from 4 passengers at Delhi airport
Customs officials have seized 12 newly launched iPhone 16 Pro Max devices from a group of four passengers allegedly attempting to smuggle them into India, the department said on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when the passengers arrived at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in an Indigo flight (6E-1464) from Dubai.
"Customs@IGI Airport seized 12 iPhone 16 Pro Max from a group of four passengers trying to smuggle these iPhones from Dubai by indigo flight 6E-1464 on 01.10.2024," the Delhi customs said in its official 'X' handle.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the top-tier model in Apple's latest smartphone series launched worldwide last month.
This marks the second significant seizure of the high-end smartphones in recent days.
Twenty-six iPhone 16 Pro Max, concealed inside a vanity bag carried by a woman passenger, were also seized at the Delhi international airport by the customs officials on Tuesday .
The passenger, in late thirties, was intercepted by the officials after her arrival from Hong Kong. -- PTI
The Coldplay concert in Mumbai in November 2016/Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
22:39 BookMyShow files FIR over black marketing of Coldplay concert tickets
Online ticket aggregator BookMyShow on Thursday said it has filed an FIR over black marketing of tickets for shows of British rock band Coldplay.
In a statement, the company said it is assessing potential cancellation of tickets that are being sold "unethically".
"In its ongoing fight against ticket scalping and black marketing of tickets for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India, BookMyShow has lodged a formal FIR (First Information Report) on October 2, 2024."
"This action follows our initial complaint filed proactively with the Mumbai Police on September 23, 2024, addressing these concerns much before any formal complaint was raised against us. BookMyShow's FIR filed with the Mumbai police also urges authorities to investigate the unauthorised resale of tickets by individuals and platforms," the statement read.
The highly-anticipated Coldplay concert in Mumbai in January 2025 has been clouded by concerns about ticketing scams as millions of fans scrambled for a limited number of tickets and turned to social media to vent their anger.
Some of the tickets were later being sold in the black market at a much higher price, leading to a probe by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). -- PTI
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22:24 Delhi drug bust kingpin has political links: Police
Intensifying its investigation into the national capital's biggest ever drug haul, the Delhi police has formed several teams to nab other members of the syndicate and also found that the main accused had alleged links with leaders of a national political party, police officials said on Thursday.
They said that around a dozen people from India and abroad were allegedly involved in the international syndicate of smuggling of banned drugs from middle east countries to India.
On Wednesday, the police claimed to have seized over 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kt of hydroponic marijuana estimated to be worth around Rs 5,620 crore from a godown in south Delhi's Mahipalur.
The special cell has arrested four people -- Tushar Goyal (40), Himanshu Kumar (27) and Aurangzeb Siddiqui (23) of Delhi and Bharat Kumar Jain (48) of Mumbai -- and confiscated the consignment weighing over 602 kg which were kept in sacks in the godown.
A senior officer said Goyal is the mastermind of syndicate operating in India, adding it emerged during interrogation that all the four accused were planning to sell a large quantity of drugs in concerts, rave parties and upscale localities in Delhi and other metropolitan cities.
"We have formed several teams to nab the other members of the group," the officer said.
He said that investigators have also come across several photos of Goyal from a social media account where he posed himself with the leaders of the Congress party.
Goyal's purported Facebook account contains his profile picture with a tiger and in the bio it was mentioned that he is the "Chairman of Delhi Pradesh RTI Cell of DYPC, Indian Youth Congress".
The Youth Congress, however, said in a statement that he was expelled from the organisation on October 17, 2022, for indulging in anti-party activities.
Declining to comment on Goyal's political affiliations, the officer said they have identified about half a dozen people from India, who were allegedly involved in the syndicate being run by him in India.
It is suspected that the syndicate was being operated by a Dubai-based person managing the supply of banned drugs in several countries and Goyal was a key player in India.
"During investigation, it was found that a three-storey building, where drugs were recovered, was owned by Goyal's father who runs a business of publishing school books," the officer said.
The police have questioned his 70-year-old father, a source said, adding prime facie, his role has not been found in the syndicate as of now.
Talking to PTI, Goyal's father said that he had disowned his son in 2008 as he had married a woman against the family's wishes, but for the past one and a half years, he started coming to meet them.
He said he does not know how Goyal stored drugs in his godown, adding that the three-storey godown would be used to store the published material.
The police said six mobile phones of all the four arrested persons have been seized and they were trying to go deeper into the network of the syndicate.
22:03 SC to hear pleas on Tirupati laddus on Friday
The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas, including those seeking a court-monitored probe, into the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus on Friday.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the apex court, which was scheduled to hear the matter at 3.30 pm on Thursday, that the case be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.
"If your lordships permit, can I respond at 10.30 am sharp tomorrow," Mehta told the bench headed by Justice B R Gavai. The bench agreed to the request and said it would hear the matter on Friday.
"List on October 4 as first item," the bench said in its order.
Hearing the matter on September 30, the top court asked Mehta to assist it in deciding whether the investigation by the state-appointed SIT should continue or the probe should be conducted by an independent agency.
It had asked the top law officer to ponder over the issue and assist it in this regard.
On September 30, the bench observed that gods should be kept away from politics as it questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's public statement that animal fat was allegedly used in making Tirupati laddus under the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime.
German NSA Jens Pltner meets External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar/Courtesy X
21:40 German NSA holds talks with counterpart Doval, Jaishankar
German NSA Jens Pltner on Thursday held separate talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as part of preparation for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's trip to India later this month.
Scholz is visiting India to hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the framework of India-Germany Inter Governmental Commission.
Pltner's trip to India came weeks after Jaishankar travelled to Berlin.
"Pleasure to meet Jens Pltner, Security & Foreign Policy Advisor to @Bundeskanzler. Continued our conversations from Berlin last month and took stock of preparations for the upcoming India-Germany IGC," Jaishankar said on X.
The IGC is the highest forum to deliberate on India-Germany relations. German ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann described Pltner's meeting with Doval as "fruitful". -- PTI
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21:08 Classical language status for Marathi, Bengali
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved conferring the status of classical language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This is a historical decision and this decision goes very well with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government's philosophy of taking ride in our culture, taking pride in our heritage and taking pride in all the Indian languages and the rich heritage that we have," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a cabinet briefing.
The classical languages serve as a custodian of Bharat's profound and ancient cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community's historical and cultural milestone, the government said.
The government of India decided to create a new category of languages as "classical languages" on October 12, 2004 declaring Tamil as classical language and thereafter Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia languages were given classical language status.
A government statement said that a proposal from the Maharashtra government in 2013 was received in the ministry requesting classical language status to Marathi, which was forwarded to the Linguistics Experts Committee.
The LEC recommended Marathi for classical language. -- PTI
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20:54 Garba in Indore cancelled over Muslim in panel
A garba event in Indore was cancelled on Thursday, the first day of the Navratri festival, after a right-wing outfit objected to a Muslim man on its organising committee, said the organisers.
The Muslim man said he has been associated with the folk dance programme since childhood.
Bajrang Dal had submitted a memorandum to Bhanwar Kuan police claiming that the 10-day event had been planned at Ganesh Nagar to promote "love jihad' and spread obscenity, Vishva Hindu Parishad local leader Rajesh Binjwe said.
He said Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP, had urged police to ban the event organised by 'Shikhar Garba Mandal' saying one Feroz Khan was associated with it.
'Love Jihad' is an unofficial term used by right-wing groups to refer to an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of love and marriage. -- PTI
20:43 Three more suspected Pakistani nationals held in Bengaluru
Three suspected Pakistani nationals have been taken into custody in Peenya on Thursday, the police sources said.
This comes close on the heels of four people being arrested at Jigani on Bengaluru outskirts a few days ago.
These three people are husband, wife and their daughter.
It is also learnt that they were using fake identity just like those held in Jigani.
Investigations are underway to identify others who have settled in various parts of Karnataka and India, police sources said. -- PTI
Parts of the AN-12 BL-534 aircraft that was crashed in 1968/ANI Photo
20:26 Soldier cremated in Uttarakhand village 56 years after death in plane crash
The body of jawan Narayan Singh Bisht was cremated with full military honours in his village in Chamoli district on Thursday, days after a search and rescue team found him buried in snow while looking for the remains of personnel missing since a 1968 IAF plane crash near the Rohtang Pass.
Singh was a jawan in the Army's Medical Corps.
He was on board an Indian Air Force AN-12 aircraft which crashed near Rohtang on February 7, 1968, while flying from Chandigarh to Leh.
For decades, the wreckage and remains of the victims remained lost in the icy terrain.
But a search and rescue team scouring the snow-clad mountains of Himachal Pradesh's Rohtang recently recovered the mortal remains of four victims of the ill-fated aircraft, marking a significant success in one of India's longest-running search operations.
The last rites of the soldier were performed in Kolpuri village in the Tharali area by his nephews Surendra Singh and Jai Veer Singh in the presence of a large number of relatives, locals and Army officials. -- PTI
Union minister HD Kumaraswamy/File image
19:59 Union minister Kumaraswamy booked for extortion
A case has been registered against Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on charges of extortion and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a realtor in Bengaluru, the police said on Thursday.
Along with Kumaraswamy, who holds steel and heavy industries portfolio, former MLC of the JD-S Ramesh Gowda was also booked by the Amruthahalli police in the case.
Vijay Tata, the complainant, alleged that he was the JD-S social media vice president but had distanced himself from the party as he was focusing on his real estate business.
However, on August 24, Gowda came home and called Kumaraswamy from his phone.
The Minister told him that the party needed Rs 50 crore for the Channapatna by-elections as it has decided to field his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy this time, Tata alleged.
The realtor also claimed that when he expressed his inability to pay, Kumaraswamy allegedly threatened him with dire consequences. -- PTI
19:40 5 Maoists arrested in Jharkhand's Gumla
Five Maoists, including a self-styled sub-zonal commander' of the proscribed Communist Party of India-Maoist, carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, were arrested in Jharkhand's Gumla district, a police officer said on Thursday.
A large cache of arms and ammunition, including a carbine, three rifles, three country-made pistols and 137 live cartridges were recovered from their possession, he said.
The sub-zonal commander' was arrested from Anjan Hirnakhand forest in the district on Wednesday.
Based on information provided by him, four other Maoists were arrested, said Anup Birthare, DIG of South Chhotanagpur Division, while briefing reporters.
Several Maoist leaders have either been killed or arrested in the past three years in the district, he said. -- PTI
Chagos Islands/Reuters
19:20 UK cedes Chagos Islands back to Mauritius under historic treaty
The UK on Thursday announced a "historic' agreement that will see Britain hand over sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius while it retains the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The British Indian Ocean Territory status of the disputed archipelago, made up of around 60 islands, has been in contention for many years and negotiations over its future began under the previous Conservative Party government in 2022.
Under the agreement announced this week, the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia -- which the West says plays a crucial role in the region's stability and international security -- will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.
"This government inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with contested sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges," said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
"Today's agreement secures this vital military base for the future. It will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner," he said.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the pact struck with Mauritius demonstrates Britain's commitment to safeguarding global security and averting threats to peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and wider Indo-Pacific. -- PTI
19:09 Govt urges SC not to strike down marital rape law
The Centre has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the issue of marital rape, stating that it has significant socio-legal implications for the country and requires a comprehensive approach rather than a purely legal one.
The Centre emphasised that the matter is not only constitutional but also deeply social, and that Parliament, after considering various viewpoints, opted to retain Exception 2 to Section 375 of the IPC during its amendment in 2013.
This position highlights the complexity of the issue and the need for a thoughtful legislative approach.
The Centre informed the SC that striking down Exception 2 of Section 375 of IPC on the grounds of its constitutional validity will have a far-reaching effect on the institution of marriage, and that it may severely impact conjugal relationship and may lead to serious disturbances in the institution of marriage.
"In the fast-growing and ever-changing social and family structure, misuse of the amended provisions can also not be ruled out, as it would be difficult and challenging for a person to prove whether consent was there or not," Centre tells SC.
18:41 Hyundai Motor India may launch its Rs 25,000-cr IPO on Oct 14
Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the Indian arm of South Korean automaker Hyundai, is expected to launch its much-awaited Rs 25,000-crore initial share-sale for public subscription on October 14, people familiar with the development said on Thursday.
This would be the largest initial public offering in India after LIC's initial share sale of Rs 21,000 crore.
According to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus filed in June, Hyundai Motor India's proposed IPO is entirely an Offer-for-Sale of 142,194,700 equity shares by promoter Hyundai Motor Company, with no fresh issue component.
Sources had previously stated that the South Korean automaker is looking to raise at least $3 billion (about Rs 25,000 crore) through an initial share sale.
This development marks a significant milestone for the Indian industry, as it is the first automaker's initial share sale in over two decades, following Japanese automaker Maruti Suzuki's listing in 2003. -- PTI
Telangana minister and Congress leader Konda Surekha/Courtesy Facebook
18:28 Nagarjuna files complaint against T'gana minister
Actor Nagarjuna on Thursday filed a complaint against Telangana minister and Congress leader Konda Surekha over her statement regarding the divorce of actor Naga Chaitanya and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Actor Naga Chaitanya posted the complaint copy on his social media handle 'X'.
Earlier in the day, facing flak over her comments blaming opposition BRS leader KT Rama Rao for the divorce of actors Samantha and Naga Chaitanya, Konda Surekha withdrew her comments that had prompted the Telugu cinema industry to rally behind their colleagues.
Samantha and Chaitanya spoke out against the minister, even as they said their decision to separate was mutual.
Several cine personalities such as Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, junior NTR, Venkatesh, Prakash Raj and Khushbu hit out at the minister for her remarks. -- ANI with PTI inputs
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17:57 Motivated narrative: India trashes US report
India trashed the latest report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and described it as biased organisation with political agenda.
"US Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to misrepresent facts and peddles motivated narrative about India," said the ministry of external affairs.
More details soon. -- PTI
17:44 Driver held over sexual assault of girls in Pune school van
The police arrested the 45-year-old driver of a school van for allegedly sexually assaulting two six-year-old girl students in Pune city, an official said on Thursday.
The incident took place on September 30 on board the van when the kids were returning home after attending school in the Wanwadi area of the city.
The police are trying to find out if a woman attendant was present in the van at the time, the official said.
"The accused allegedly touched the private parts of both girls. One of the girl students later narrated the incident to her mother who then informed the police and a case was registered," the official from the Wanwadi police station said.
A police complaint was lodged on Wednesday and the accused, Sanjay Reddy, was booked and arrested under sections 64 (punishment for rape) and 65 (2) (punishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. -- PTI
BJP leader leader Rupa Ganguly/File image
17:26 BJP's Rupa Ganguly 'detained' for obstructing work: Kolkata police
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rupa Ganguly was "detained" on Thursday for allegedly obstructing work at a police station in Kolkata by holding a demonstration there demanding the release of five people arrested on the charge of manhandling the force, a senior official said.
Locals at Bansdroni area in the southern suburbs of the city held protests and gheraoed police officers following the death of a class 9 student under the wheels of a payloader on Wednesday morning.
"She (Ganguly) was demanding the release of five persons arrested for manhandling the police yesterday," Kolkata police commissioner Manoj Verma said.
Verma was talking to reporters while visiting several prominent Durga puja marquees to assess security arrangements. Ganguly, a former Rajya Sabha MP and actor, was "detained" after registration of a case against her for alleged obstruction to police work when she was demonstrating in front of Bansdroni police station. -- PTI
17:13 Gainers, losers today
From the 30 Sensex firms, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finance, Maruti, Bajaj Finserv, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan, Adani Ports and HDFC Bank were the major laggards. JSW Steel emerged as the only gainer.
17:10 Sensex, Nifty slump over 2% as Middle East conflict deepens
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tanked over 2 per cent each on Thursday, dragged by a decline in heavyweight stocks Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and spiraling conflict in the Middle East.
Falling for the fourth day running, the BSE Sensex tumbled 1,769.19 points or 2.10 per cent to settle at 82,497.10. During the day, it plummeted 1,832.27 points or 2.17 per cent to 82,434.02.
The NSE Nifty slumped 546.80 points or 2.12 per cent to 25,250.10. Continuous foreign fund outflows and rising crude oil prices dented investors' sentiment, analysts said.
From the 30 Sensex firms, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finance, Maruti, Bajaj Finserv, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan, Adani Ports and HDFC Bank were the major laggards.
17:09 SIMI may be behind Malegaon blast: Pragya Thakur
The 2008 Malegaon blast could have been carried out by the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the lawyer of prime accused and BJP leader Pragya Thakur argued before a special court here on Thursday.
Local people prevented police from reaching the site immediately after the blast and it could have been done to shield the accused, said Thakur's lawyer, advocate J P Mishra.
The defence is currently making final arguments in the case in the court of A K Lahoti, a special judge for the National Investigation Agency cases. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. Whenever there is an incident such as this, people help the police.
However, in this case, immediately after the incident a huge number of people gathered at the spot and pelted stones at police, preventing them from reaching the blast site, advocate Mishra claimed.
This could have been done to protect "their people" (belonging to SIMI), he said. A SIMI office was located near the blast site where bombs were allegedly made, and they could be transporting explosives using the two- wheeler when there was an accidental explosion, the lawyer argued. The investigators had claimed that the motorcycle belonged to Thakur. Mishra will continue his arguments on Friday. -- PTI
16:50 Kejriwal moves out of 'Sheesh Mahal' into...
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will move into bungalow number 5 on Ferozeshah Road in Lutyens' Delhi on Friday, days after he resigned from the chief minister's post.
The bungalow, which is close to the AAP headquarters, was officially allotted to the party's Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Ashok Mittal.
Earlier in the day, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia shifted to a bungalow on Rajendra Prasad Road. The house is the official residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, party leaders said.
"Kejriwal will move into 5, Ferozeshah Road residence of AAP MP from Punjab Ashok Mittal on Friday," AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters at a press conference. Several party leaders, including MPs, MLAs and councillors, had offered Kejriwal their houses after he decided to leave 6, Flagstaff Road in north Delhi's Civil Lines, where he lived since 2015 as the chief minister, Bharadwaj said.
The new accommodation of Kejriwal, where he will move in with his family, is close to the AAP headquarters at Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane.
Living in the New Delhi area, which is also his Assembly constituency, Kejriwal will supervise AAP's campaign for the upcoming polls in Delhi and other states, party leaders said.
Kejriwal, after being released from Tihar jail where he was lodged for more than five months in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, surprised everyone with his decision to step down as the chief minister.
He announced his decision to resign, saying he would return to the CM's post only after having a "certificate of honesty" from the people in the Delhi Assembly elections due in February next year.
The 6, Flagstaff Road house where Kejriwal lived with his family, including his wife, children and elderly parents, was targeted by the BJP as "Sheesh Mahal" over alleged irregularities in its reconstruction. -- PTI
16:28 Why Meenakshi Seshadri returned to India!
Meenakshi Seshadri has always had the guts to be unique among Bollywood's cookie-cutter stars. Now she is exhibiting rare courage again, leaving behind her life in the US to seek creative satisfaction in India.
Before the interview, Dinesh Raheja jokingly pleads with her not to end up playing mother roles.
She laughs whole-heartedly, "Arrey baba, I might soon become a grandmother, how can I not play an onscreen mother?"
"I don't expect the heroine's role," she adds, and then pragmatically lays out her plans on achieving that perfect cinematic balance: "Jahan main bhi khush, janta bhi khush aur film-maker bhi khush (which pleases me, the audience and the film-maker)."
Read the interview here.
16:26 Hamas govt chief, 2 senior leaders killed in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has just announced that, three months ago, it killed three senior Hamas leaders in Gaza.
Among them is Rawhi Mushtaha, identified by the IDF as the head of the Hamas government, along with Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh, who were responsible for security in Hamas.
The IDF says they were hiding in an underground compound in northern Gaza and were killed by air strikes.
Israel says Hamas didn't announced the deaths "in order to prevent loss of morale and functioning of its terror operatives".
-- BBC
16:22 Tirupati laddus row: SC to decide on court probe
The Supreme Court will hear on Friday a batch of pleas, including those seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the apex court, which was scheduled to hear the matter at 3.30 pm on Thursday, that the case be taken up at 10.30 am on Friday.
"If your lordships permit, can I respond at 10.30 am sharp tomorrow," Mehta told the bench headed by Justice B R Gavai. The bench agreed to the request and said that it would hear the matter on Friday.
Hearing the matter on September 30, the top court had asked Mehta to assist it in deciding whether the investigation by the state-appointed SIT should continue or the probe should be conducted by an independent agency. It had asked the top law officer to ponder over the issue and assist it in this regard.
On September 30, the bench had observed that Gods should be kept away from politics. It had questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's public statement that animal fat was allegedly used in making Tirupati laddus under the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led regime.
15:38 Did Savarkar eat beef? Karnataka minister says...
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has claimed that Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar used to eat meat and was not against cow slaughter.
"Savarkar, a 'Chitpavan Brahmin', used to eat meat. He was a non-veg eater and he was not against cow slaughter. He was modern in a way," he said at an event in Bengaluru on Wednesday. "Some say that he used to eat beef as well. As a Brahmin, he used to eat meat and was openly propagating eating meat. So he had that thinking," the minister claimed.
Rao added that Mahatma Gandhi was a vegetarian and had a firm faith in Hinduism but his actions were different. "He was a democratic person. (Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali) Jinnah was another extreme. He was a hardcore Islamist believer. He used to drink wine and it is said that he used to eat pork as well but he became a Muslim icon after the two-nation theory and politics. But Jinnah was not a fundamentalist but Savarkar was a fundamentalist," he said. PTI
15:17 Sonam Wangchuk released from detention
The Delhi High Court on Thursday was informed by the solicitor general Tushar Mehta that the prohibitory order issued by Delhi Police is now modified on October 2, 2024, and the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is now released from the detention and set free.
Tushar Mehta appeared for the state, further informed the Court that the prohibitory order issued on September 30, which prohibited the assembly of five or more persons and dharnas in any public area from September 30 to October 05, has been modified.
Noting the submissions, the bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela disposed off two petitions filed by Mustafa Haji and Azad challenging prohibitory order and seeking the release of Wangchuk and his associates.
Meanwhile, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing a third petitioner, claimed that certain individuals including Sonam Wangchuk were again taken to Ambedkar Bhawan and are currently restrained there. Bhushan mentioned that these individuals intended to go to Jantar Mantar to raise climate awareness but are being prevented from doing so.
Noting the details, the court asked the Delhi Police and the third petitioner to file affidavit in regards to their submissions.
15:02 Thar she blows! 1.76L bookings in 1 hour!
Mahindra's new Thar ROXX SUV has broken records with over 1,76,000 bookings in just one hour. Deliveries for the Thar ROXX are scheduled to begin on Dussehra. Customers can expect to receive tentative delivery schedules in phases over the next three weeks. Bookings for the Thar ROXX remain open at all authorized Mahindra dealerships and on the Mahindra website.
14:48 Ajit Pawar wants age of 'juvenile' reduced to...
The legal age for defining `juvenile' in criminal cases should be lowered to 14 from the current 18 years, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday.
He would discuss this issue with Union home minister Amit Shah, he said, speaking to reporters at Baramati in Pune district, his assembly constituency. The two college students who allegedly hacked a friend to death in Baramati recently were 17 years old, he noted, and pointed out that under the current criminal law a stringent punishment can be awarded only if an accused is above 18.
Incidentally, the son of a builder who mowed down two people while driving a Porsche car in Pune in May this year was 17 years old.
"Earlier, the age group of 18 to 20 years was considered appropriate for determining adulthood. However, times have changed, and children today are far more aware and informed. Young kids now ask questions that we could not have thought of until after the fifth grade. Some officials believe that the age threshold should be lowered from 18 to 14," said Pawar.
"Seventeen-year-olds are well aware that they can escape severe punishment after committing a crime (due to their age). It has been observed that 15-, 16-, or 17-year-old youngsters are increasingly involved in criminal activities. We need to communicate this concern to the Centre when new laws are drafted," Pawar added.
He plans to discuss this issue with Union home minister Amit Shah when they meet next and also write a formal letter to the Centre on the issue, the deputy CM said.
14:25 Talks with CBFC on: Zee on 'Emergency'
Zee Entertainment Enterprises, a co-producer of Kangana Ranaut's "Emergency" film, on Thursday told the Bombay High Court it was working out with the Censor Board issues over issuance of certificate for the movie.
The movie, which was initially slated for a September 6 release, has been embroiled in a battle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), popularly known as the censor board for non-issuance of certificate for release of the movie. Last week, the CBFC told the high court that the movie could be released if certain cuts were made as decided by the board's revising committee.
On Thursday, senior counsel Sharan Jagtiani told a division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla the issues are being worked out.
"I believe it is working out between the CBFC and respondent 2 (Ranaut's Manikarnika Films, co-producer)," Jagtiani said. The bench posted the matter for hearing on Friday. Earlier this week, the bench was informed by the censor board that Ranaut's production company Manikarnika had agreed to the cuts. The movie's co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises had moved HC seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film "Emergency", helmed by Kangana Ranaut.
The biographical drama is caught up in controversy after Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, objected, accusing it of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong. Zee Entertainment had in its plea claimed that the CBFC had already made the certificate for the movie but was not issuing it.
The accused was killed police custody
14:07 HC seeks report on Badlapur accused's death
The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the magistrate to submit by November 18 an inquiry report into the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan gave this direction, and also ordered that all evidence related to the case be collected, preserved and checked by forensic experts.
The bench also emphasized the police to include strong forensic evidence in its probe into the incident where the accused was killed in a police shoot-out.
The law mandates that every custodial death has to be inquired into by a magistrate. Advocate General Birendra Saraf said all relevant documents have been forwarded to the magistrate for inquiry. The court said the magistrate shall commence the inquiry and hear all parties concerned.
"The report shall be placed before us on November 18. The magistrate inquiry report is expedited," the HC said.
The court was hearing a plea filed by the accused's father seeking a court-monitored probe into the death.
13:52 Hathras stampede: 3,200-pg chargesheet filed
The Uttar Pradesh police have prepared a 3200-page chargesheet against 11 people pertaining to the stampede incident in Hathras that claimed the lives of about 121 people.
The chargesheet, however, does not mention Suraj Pal, alias Bhole Baba, who held the 'Satsang' in Hathras, according to defence lawyer AP Singh.
In a self-made video, Singh said that Suraj Pal's name was not mentioned anywhere in the chargesheet and that the police did not file any case in his name either. He further said that the hearing for the case has been fixed for Friday, October 4.
"Police filed a chargesheet against 11 people in the Sikandra Rao accident. After 91 days of investigation, Hathras police filed a 3200-page chargesheet against 11 people. Suraj Pal alias Bhole Baba's name is not mentioned anywhere in the chargesheet; police did not file Surajpal alias Bhole Baba's name in the case either," Singh said.
"No decision has been taken yet on the judicial commission's investigation; it will be known later who will get caught in the commission's investigation. After the chargesheet is filed, there will be questions and answers during the trial in the court. The court has fixed October 4 for the next hearing; on the same day, the chargesheet filed will also be taken cognisance of," he said.
Will Siddaramaiah be forced to quit?
13:06 'Thousands of crores of rupees in MUDA case'
Activist Snehamayi Krishna, who is a petitioner in the alleged MUDA scam, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Bengaluru on Thursday. He said that there are thousands of crores of rupees involved in the MUDA case.
ED summoned him, asking him to produce all the documents and records pertaining to the alleged MUDA scam. This is regarding his email complaint to the ED against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Snehamayi Krishna said, "I came to appear before ED officers with some required documents like PAN card, Aadhaar card and others related to my family and my income background. I have given documents related to my complaint. Siddaramaiah's issue has been taken as one of the examples. There are thousands of crores of Rupees involved in the MUDA case. That's why I have asked for a thorough enquiry."
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of systematic attempts to destroy evidence and cover up the MUDA scam. He insisted that the MUDA commissioner, who took back the plots from CM's wife, should be arrested immediately for violating court orders.Earlier Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday hardened his position on the allegations related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam.
He once again reiterated that he would not resign, identifying himself as a self-witness in the matter.
Siddaramaiah also distinguished his situation from that of BS Yeddyurappa, stating that the former Chief Minister's case involved land denotification, while he was not involved in such matters.
He further expressed his intent to address the situation legally, regardless of investigations by the Enforcement Directorate or other entities.
"BS Yeddyurappa's case and mine are different cases. He did denotification of land and I am not involved in it. I will not give my resignation as a self-witness. Whether ED or anything else, I will fight it out legally," he said.
He stated that the land in question was gifted to his wife by her brother and that MUDA had encroached upon it. He explained that his wife requested an alternative site but did not specify Vijayanagara, yet it was allocated to her. -- ANI
12:55 Isha Foundation row: SC transfers plea from HC to itself
Update: In a relief for Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to not act further in pursuance of the Madras High Court order asking it to probe alleged illegal confinement of two women at its ashram.
The apex court transferred to itself a habeas corpus petition filed before the high court by a man, who had alleged that his two daughters were held captive inside the premises of the Isha Foundation.
A habeas corpus petition is filed seeking direction to produce before the court a person who is missing or has been illegally detained. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud passed the order after Isha Foundation approached the apex court challenging the Madras High Court's September 30 order directing the Coimbatore Police to collect all case details registered against the Foundation and produce them before the court for further consideration.
The bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed that the police shall not take any further action in pursuance to the high court's order. It said the police will file the status report, as directed by the high court, before the top court.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Foundation, sought a stay of the high court order, and said around 150 police officials have entered the Foundation's ashram and are probing every corner.
The bench, which interacted with the two women in chambers through video-conferencing, were told that police has left the ashram on Wednesday night. It said the two women have also informed the court that they were residing at the foundation voluntarily. The apex court said the matter would be heard in the week commencing October 14.
During the hearing, the bench sought to inquire about the details from two women whose father had moved the high court alleging illegal confinement at the Isha Foundation.
The high court had on September 30 passed an interim order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr S Kamaraj, who sought a direction to the police to produce his two daughters, whom he alleged were held captive inside the Isha Foundation before the court and set them at liberty. -- PTI
12:53 Three-level probe ordered by cabinet into Thrissur Pooram disruption: Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the state cabinet has ordered a three-level probe into the disruption of the Thrissur Pooram festivities in April this year.
One of the investigations would be by the state police chief against any alleged failures on the part of ADGP (Law and Order) M R Ajithkumar with regard to the Pooram disruption, Vijayan said at a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram after the cabinet meeting.
The CM said the decision for a three-level probe was taken as a report given by ADGP Ajithkumar regarding the Pooram disruption "was not found to be comprehensive" and the state police chief had said there were failures on the part of Ajithkumar in connection with the festival. The other two probes would include a Crime Branch investigation into the various illegalities or crimes committed in connection with the Thrissur Pooram disruption and an inquiry by the Intelligence ADGP into any failures on the part of the various officials deputed to ensure the iconic festival was conducted smoothly, the CM said.
There were police interventions in the Pooram rituals and the subsequent controversies have taken the sheen off the annual spectacle held in April this year.
12:30 Cops to stop probe: SC pauses order against Sadhguru
The Isha Foundation on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court order directing the Coimbatore Police to collect all case details registered against it and produce them before the court for further consideration.
The SC says police shall not take any further action in pursuance to HC direction.
The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the foundation, sought a stay of the high court order, and said around 500 police officials have raided the foundation's ashram and are probing every corner.
The bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, sought to inquire about the details from two women whose father had moved the high court alleging illegal confinement at the Isha Foundation. The judges of the bench went into chambers to interact with the two women in private through video-conferencing about facts of the case.
The high court had on September 30 passed an interim order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr S Kamaraj, who sought a direction to the police to produce his two daughters, whom he alleged were held captive inside the Isha Foundation before the court and set them at liberty.
The petitioner was a retired professor from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He has two daughters and both had masters in Engineering. Both of them joined the Isha Foundation.
The grievances of the petitioner was that the Foundation was abusing certain persons, by brainwashing and converting them as monks and not even allowing their parents and relatives to meet them. PTI
11:51 ED summons Mohammad Azharuddin
The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former India captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association, official sources said Thursday.
The 61-year-old former Member of Parliament (MP) has been asked to depose before the federal agency at its office here on October 3, the sources said.
The probe is related to alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad cricket association in which the ED had conducted searches in November last year. The money laundering case stems from three FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Telangana anti-corruption bureau (ACB) for alleged criminal misappropriation of the funds of the HCA to the tune of Rs 20 crore. PTI
Violence in Manipur last year
11:29 Mob storms police station, loots arms in Manipur
A mob stormed a police station in Manipur's Ukhrul town and looted arms during a clash between two groups, officials said on Thursday. Three persons were killed and 20 others injured in a gunfight that broke out between two groups on Wednesday over cleaning a disputed land in the town as part of 'Swachhata Abhiyan'.
The police station was attacked when the violence was going on. Prohibitory orders were imposed and mobile internet services were suspended in the town after the clash between two groups of the Naga community.
"After violence broke out in Ukhrul town, a mob comprising mostly of youths stormed the police station located at Wino Bazar and decamped with government weapons," an official said.
The number and types of weapons looted cannot be immediately confirmed as an investigation is continuing, he added. Unofficial sources, however, claimed that the looted weapons included AK-47 and INSAS rifles. Looting of arms was reported from various police stations in the ethnic-strife-torn state earlier, but in all those cases the areas concerned were dominated by either Meities or Kukis, the two warring communities. This is the first time a police station was stormed in a Naga-majority area, according to a source.
"The Ukhrul police station is located a few metres away from an Assam Rifles camp," the official said.
Naga Chaitanya with Shobita Dhullipala
10:57 KTR responsible for split? Samantha says...
Former actor couple Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya hit back at Telangana minister Konda Surekha after her remarks that senior BRS leader KT Ramarao was responsible for their divorce sparked controversy, saying her claims are "false" and the decision to part ways was "mutual".
On her Instagram Story, Samantha wrote there was "no political conspiracy" behind her split with Chaitanya, which was announced in 2021. The actor, known for web series "The Family Man 2" and films "Theri", and "Eega", implored Surekha to be responsible and respectful of individuals' privacy.
"My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. Our choice to keep things private doesn't invite misrepresentation.
"To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved. Could you please keep my name out of political battles? I have always remained non-political and wish to continue doing so," she wrote on Wednesday night.
Talking to reporters, Congress leader Surekha, the minister for environment, forests and endowments, alleged that KTR was the reason behind Samantha and Chaitanya's divorce.
"KTR (Rama Rao) was the reason behind the divorce of Naga Chaitanya and Samantha...." she alleged.
KTR sent a legal notice to Surekha, demanding an apology from her. In her post, Samantha asked Surekha to understand the "significant weight" her words carry as a minister.
"To be a woman, To come out and work, To survive in a glamorous industry where women are more often than not treated as props, To fall in love & to fall out of love, To still stand up and fight It takes a lot of courage and strength. Konda Surekha Garu, I am proud of what this journey turned me into please don't trivialise it," she added.
Chaitanya, in his note shared on X, said the divorce was one of the "most painful and unfortunate" of his life's decisions. "After a lot of thought, a mutual decision was made by me and my former spouse to part ways. It was a decision made in peace, owing to our different life goals and in the interest of moving forward with respect and dignity as two mature adults. However, there have been various baseless and completely ridiculous gossips on the matter so far," he wrote on Wednesday night.
The "Majili" actor said he has remained silent all this while out of deep respect for her former spouse as well as my family. He recently announced engagement to actor Sobhita Dhulipala.
"Today, the claim made by Minister Konda Surekha garu is not only false, it is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable. Women deserve to be supported and respected. Taking advantage and exploiting the personal life decisions of celebrities for the sake of media headlines is shameful," he added.
10:42 Mumbai businessman jumps to death from Atal Setu
A 52-year-old businessman allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the Atal Setu sea bridge connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, police said on Thursday.
The incident took place on Wednesday, the second such suicide on the Atal Setu in three days as a banker had ended his life in a similar manner on Monday.
"The businessman, Philip Shah, ended his life by jumping off the Atal Setu on Wednesday morning. Shah, a resident of Matunga in central Mumbai, drove his sedan car on the Atal Setu, parked it at some point and jumped into the sea," he said.
"Staff from the CCTV control room of the bridge noticed that a car was parked on the bridge, following which a rescue team was alerted. Its personnel rushed to the spot from where Shah jumped into the sea. Following a search operation, they found him," he said.
He was rushed to a hospital, but declared dead on admission, the police official said. The deceased person's identity was established on the basis of his Aadhaar card, which was found in the car, he said, adding that the victim was apparently under mental stress in the last few days before his death.
A case of accidental death was registered at the Nhava Sheva police station in Navi Mumbai, he said.
The 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu', also known as the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), that connects south Mumbai with the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, was inaugurated in January this year. The six-lane bridge is 21.8 km long and is said to be the longest sea bridge in the country.
Odisha CM Mohan Manjhi
10:27 Will Odisha govt help 4 orphan, minor siblings?
Four minor siblings, who have become orphaned after the death of their father in Odisha's Ganjam district, are waiting for the state government's help for their survival. The orphaned minors are Khusi Behera (17), his two sisters Lushi (15), Mamali (13) and brother Mahabir (11) of Bhanjanagar town in Ganjam district.
Their father Subala Behera (45) died on September 23. Their mother Puspa died five years ago. Subal, a daily labourer died after suffering from some ailments. After their father's death, their grandmother Laxmi has been taking care of them.
With her limited income from selling fish, Laxmi (70) was unable to meet the daily expenses of the four grandchildren. Moreover, her house was also in dilapidated condition, she said.
The siblings met the Bhanjanagar sub-collector Anil Kumar Sethi and sought some government assistance. Sethi immediately sanctioned Rs 10,000 from the district Red Cross fund and asked the Tehasildar, Bhanjangar to inquire about their plights. However, Laxmi said the assistance provided from the Red Cross would be spent on the last rituals of her son (Subal).
When asked, the sub-collector said, "We will take steps for their rehabilitation after discussion with the collector, after getting a report from the tehasildar."
"I hope the government will take care of the children as they have become orphaned after the death of their father," said Laxmi.
"My father was taking care of us after the death of our mother about five years ago. After his death, now we are very much worried about our future, as our old grandmother is unable to earn much to eke out a livelihood," said Khusi.
Worried over the future of the four orphaned children, local social activists have urged the government to take steps for their proper rehabilitation and also for their studies.
"Their grandmother has turned old and she is not in a position to earn by selling fish. The four siblings are now almost in a state of despair. The district administration should take care of them and ensure their studies," said Sudhir Sabat, a child rights activist. PTI
10:05 Middle-East war: Sensex, Nifty slump
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tanked in early trade on Thursday, dragged by decline in heavyweight stocks Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and spiralling conflict in the Middle East. The BSE Sensex tumbled 1,264.2 points to 83,002.09 in early trade.
The NSE Nifty slumped 345.3 points to 25,451.60. From the 30 Sensex firms, Tata Motors, Asian Paints, Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Maruti, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank were the major laggards. JSW Steel, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma and NTPC were among the gainers
The UP CM inspects flood-affected areas. File pic
09:48 Rapti River flowing above danger mark in Gorakhpur
The Rapti River is flowing above the danger mark in Gorakhpur, and around 30 villages are facing a flood-like situation in the district.
The IMD has predicted a partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers for Gorakhpur throughout the week.
Given the heavy rains in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials of concerned districts to conduct relief work with promptness.
CM Adityanath instructed the officials to visit the affected areas, ensure that the relief work is carried out properly, and provide required assistance to the affected people, as per a release.
09:29 Men posing as patients shoots dead Delhi doctor
A doctor was shot dead by two unknown individuals at the Neema Hospital in the Jaitpur area of Delhi, said police on Thursday.
According to the police, the doctor, a Unani practitioner ( BUMS) identified as Javed Akhtar, was killed by the accused, who had come to the hospital seeking medical attention for an injury on Wednesday.
"As per the hospital staff, the duo arrived at Neema Hospital in Jaitpur under the Kalindi Kunj PS area for an injury and later requested to meet doctor Javed. After being given an appointment to meet him inside his cabin, the accused shot him and fled the scene," said police.
The police further said that the CCTV footage from the hospital shows both accused exiting the hospital premises.
Shortly after the incident, the District Crime Team and FSL Rohini Team were called at the scene of the incident. -- ANI
09:14 Badlapur sexual assault: Accused school trustees arrested
The Thane Police on Wednesday arrested the two accused school trustees in the Badlapur sexual assault case, an official said.
A day before, the Bombay high court had refused pre-arrest bail to the school chairman and secretary, and also come down heavily on police for failing to arrest them so far.
Officials of the Thane crime branch nabbed the duo from Karjat, the police official said, adding that they would be handed over to the special investigation team probing the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at the school at Badlapur in August.
The high court in its order on Tuesday noted that "prima facie there is material to show that the two accused were aware of the alleged incident before August 16, but they failed to take any steps to report the same to the police or local authority".
There is a legal obligation to report an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA) if a person is aware of it, or is made aware of it, the court said.
The main accused in the case, sweeper Akshay Shinde, was killed in an alleged shoot-out with police on September 23. -- PTI
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai
08:54 Chhattisgarh: 2 schemes renamed for 2nd time; Deendayal replaces Rajiv
Two schemes of the Chhattisgarh government have undergone a name-change for the second time in five years with the BJP government renaming them after Jan Sangh stalwart late Deendayal Upadhyay.
The schemes of the Urban Administration and Development department were earlier named for Upadhyay, but in 2019 the Congress government renamed them for late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Now the original names have been restored, a senior official said.
The schemes are implemented by the Chhattisgarh Urban Infrastructure Development Fund.
The renaming order was issued on September 18 and uploaded on the government website on September 30.
Accordingly, the Rajiv Gandhi Swavlamban Yojna has been renamed as Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Swavlamban Yojna, while Rajiv Gandhi Ajivika Kendra (livelihood centre) Yojna would be known as Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Ajivika Kendra Yojna, the official said.
Deputy chief minister Arun Sai, who holds the Urban Administration portfolio, said the schemes were originally named for Deendayal Upadhyay, and those names have been merely restored.
Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla, on the other hand, slammed the decision. The BJP government does not have any new scheme to launch, so it has been changing the names of the schemes that were operational during the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led government, he said. -- PTI
08:53 Today you can't get votes even by doing good work: Rijiju
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday expressed concern over "deterioration" in politics and said there used to be "wonderful discussions in Parliament but today there is "so much noise" in the House.
He also said that the people's mindset has changed over the years and asserted there are "very few" people who appreciate good work.
"I have seen politics undergoing a change over the years. Today you can't get votes even by doing good work...Nobody even listens if you talk about something good," he added.
Rijiju was addressing an event, jointly organised by the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati and Sant Eshwer Foundation, to present awards to social workers for their outstanding service to the society.
"The social system has deteriorated a lot, from the political point of view as well. When we were young MPs, there used to be such wonderful discussions in the Parliament," Rijiju said.
"Today being a parliamentary affairs minister, I keep thinking that when we became new MPs, we had such good ideas. There used to be discussions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Today, there is so much noise that no one is ready to listen to those who speak well," he said.
"I ask other MPs about it. I wouldn't take any name because it's not a political platform. They say the media doesn't cover if you talk about good things. If you abuse and create ruckus in the Parliament, only then it becomes news," he added.
The Union minister also expressed disappointment at the learning outcome of students.
"I come from the border area. During my childhood, there was no school and road there. We did not have any facilities. Teachers, especially from UP, Bihar, Bengal and Assam, used to come to our village on foot travelling four-five kilometers," he said.
"What we were taught about values and society, we never forgot. But, today children study in convent and public schools. There are many schools where standard of education is very good. But, I think, somewhere or the other, a deficiency in the kind of education that one should acquire is visible," he added. -- PTI
08:33 2 abducted Manipur youths rescued: CM Biren Singh
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that two Meitei youths allegedly abducted by armed Kuki militants on September 27 from Kangpokpi district have been safely brought back under the custody of state police.
"The two young men abducted in Kangpokpi on 27th September, 2024 have been safely brought back to the custody of @manipur_police. I sincerely appreciate everyone from both the state and central government who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. Your efforts are deeply valued," Biren Singh said in a post on X.
Three youth, who hail from Thoubal district, had gone missing on September 27 while travelling to New Keithelmanbi to attend the SSC GD recruitment test for central forces.
They were allegedly abducted by armed Kuki militants while they strayed to Keithelmanbi, in Kangpokpi district.
One among them, identified as Ningombam Johnson Singh, was rescued by the Assam Rifles, while the other two remained missing.
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