India

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been apprehended by the police in Belgium, according to sources in the CBI, who added that this was carried out at India's request for his extradition.

The 65-year-old was reportedly arrested on Saturday (April 12). The businessman is living in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife, Preeti Choksi, after obtaining a 'residency card' there.

He is likely to seek bail, citing ill health and other reasons.

Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly defrauding the PNB of Rs 13,850 crore.

They allegedly used letters of undertaking (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit (FLCs) by bribing officials of the bank's Brady House branch in Mumbai. The CBI has filed cases charging Choksi, his nephew Nirav Modi, their companies, bank staff, and others with conspiracy, cheating, and corruption.

Choksi and Nirav Modi fled India in January 2018, weeks before the scam in the PNB surfaced.

According to reports, Choksi has been living in Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, a citizen of Belgium. A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, he reportedly left the island nation for medical treatment. In 2021, he went missing from Antigua but was later found on another Caribbean island nation, Dominica.

Choksi is the founder of Gitanjali Gems.

Nirav Modi remains in a UK prison as he continues to contest extradition proceedings initiated by Indian authorities. He was declared a fugitive economic offender (FEO) in 2019, while the ED's plea against Mehul Choksi has been pending since 2018.

Sources said that Choksi's arrest was triggered after Indian agencies reactivated extradition requests when the Interpol Red Notice against him was removed.

The ED and CBI, despite the deletion, pursued a fresh request, which ultimately led to his arrest in Belgium.

Sources said that efforts are underway to bring him back to India as soon as possible. However, legal hurdles in Belgian courts can delay the process.

Official confirmation of Choksi's arrest is awaited as also more details.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary on Monday, asserting that Baba Saheb's vision and principles continue to inspire the journey towards making India a self-reliant and developed nation.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891, in the military cantonment town of Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, was a towering figure in Indian history -- an eminent jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader.

As the architect of the Indian Constitution, he chaired the drafting committee and later served as the first Law and Justice Minister in the cabinet of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, "On behalf of all the countrymen, I bow down to Bharat Ratna Pujya Babasaheb on his birth anniversary. It is due to his inspiration that the country is dedicatedly engaged in realising the dream of social justice today."

"His principles and ideals will give strength and momentum to the creation of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat," he added.

In a video message, the Prime Minister described Ambedkar as a "symbol of humanity" who strongly opposed anything inhumane.

"He used to do everything constitutionally. He taught the society only one thing -- become educated, and once you are educated, you will be able to talk to the world eye to eye," PM Modi said.

He further recalled Ambedkar's guiding mantras -- education, organisation, and struggle for humanity and said that these three mantras "continue to inspire us and give us strength even today."

Reflecting on Ambedkar's life and legacy, PM Modi emphasised the social reformer's unwavering dedication to the nation and to social justice.

"The spirit with which Baba Saheb Ambedkar did his work was completely pure national devotion, social devotion, and hence our resolution should be this -- be it Dalit, suffering, exploited, poor, tribal, village dweller, slum dweller, yearning for education, if we have to do something for all of them, then Baba Saheb Ambedkar is always an inspiration for us," he stated.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the government's efforts to honour Ambedkar's legacy through the creation of "Panch Teerth" -- five important sites associated with his life.

These include 'Janam Bhoomi" in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, where he was born; 'Siksha Bhoomi' in London, where he stayed while pursuing studies in the UK; 'Deeksha Bhoomi' in Nagpur, where he embraced Buddhism; 'Mahaparinirvan Sthal' in Delhi, where he spent his last moments; and 'Chaitya Bhoomi' in Mumbai, his final resting place.

In addition, the PM Modi-led government also dedicated the Dr Ambedkar International Centre at 15, Janpath in Delhi to honour the Father of the Indian Constitution.

"Our government has placed Baba Saheb's contribution in front of the country and the world with great intensity," the Prime Minister said. "These Panch Teerth will continue to inspire the coming generations."

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also paid tribute to Dr Ambedkar and shared a video of his visit to the Ambedkar Memorial House in London.

"My tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. This video was taken when I visited the house where Babasaheb lived while studying Law in London. Now, this house has been bought and converted as Ambedkar Memorial House," Rijiju posted on X.

--IANS

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Bhopal, April 14 (IANS) Several districts across Madhya Pradesh are bracing for unseasonal weather conditions, characterised by thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and hailstorms.

The last week was not favourable for farmers in many parts of the state. According to weathermen, a trough associated with the “Western Disturbance” continues to influence the middle to upper tropospheric levels. Adding to the atmospheric instability, a fresh Western Disturbance is expected to impact the Western Himalayan region from April 16, 2025, which may intensify existing weather disturbances.

Farmers have been urged to take precautionary measures to protect crops and equipment, while residents in affected areas are advised to remain vigilant against potential hazards.

Authorities are closely monitoring developments, and further updates will be issued as the situation evolves.

Simultaneously, an upper air cyclonic circulation persists at 0.9 km above mean sea level over southeast Madhya Pradesh, creating unstable weather patterns in the region. This system is further reinforced by multiple troughs extending across various areas, including southeast Madhya Pradesh to central Telangana via Vidarbha and from central west Rajasthan through northeast Rajasthan and northwest Madhya Pradesh, terminating over southeast Madhya Pradesh.

The districts in the state which will receive hailstorms, rains, lightning, gusty winds, and thunderstorms include Singrauli, Satna, Umaria, Katni, and Maihar. These are likely to experience gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph along with hailstorms.

The districts of Burhanpur, Barwani, Gwalior, Datia, and Bhind may encounter gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and hailstorms, a weatherman said.

According to the local meteorological department, Narmadapuram, Betul, Khandwa, Khargone, Shivpuri, Morena, and Sheopur, among others, are expected to witness thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph.

In Chhattisgarh too Kondagaon, Bastar received hailstorms on Sunday. However, the weathermen have said gusty winds accompanied with lightening, thunderstorms and isolated rainfall are likely in some parts of the state from April 14 till April 17.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday paid rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

Taking to social media platform X, HM Shah wrote, "Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, who laid the foundation of social revolution on the basis of education, equality and justice, remained committed to the rights of the deprived throughout his life. By drafting the Constitution based on equality, freedom and fraternity, he provided a strong foundation to India's great democratic heritage. Babasaheb's thoughts towards building a just and egalitarian society inspire all of us even today. I pay my heartfelt tributes to Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the great architect of the Constitution and a symbol of self-respect for millions of countrymen, on his birth anniversary."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also remembered Dr. Ambedkar's immense contribution to the nation paying tribute on his birth anniversary.

In a post on X, he said, "Tribute to the architect of the Indian Constitution, who was all-inclusive, benevolent to all, imbued with excellent democratic values ​​and enriched the spirit of one India, great India, Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary! He was in the true sense of the word 'Bharat Ratna' and a living school of democracy. His struggle to establish an egalitarian and just society will continue to inspire all of us for eternity."

Dr Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, as the 14th and last child to his parents.

A tireless crusader for social justice, he founded the Independent Labour Party in 1936 to advocate for the rights of the depressed classes, particularly the labour population.

Known for his strong views, he criticised Congress' attempt in 1938 to merely rename 'untouchables' instead of addressing their real issues.

In 1942, he was appointed to the Executive Council of the Governor General of India as a Labour member. He was later elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, the same year he published his influential work 'Who Were the Shudras?'

Post-Independence, Dr Ambedkar served as the first Law Minister of India in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet. However, he resigned in 1951 over differences on Kashmir policy, foreign affairs, and reforms like the Hindu Code Bill.

Dr Ambedkar's legacy continues to shape modern India, with leaders and citizens alike drawing inspiration from his vision of equality, justice, and fraternity.

--IANS

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Hubballi (Karnataka), April 14 (IANS) The Karnataka Police have shot dead the accused involved in the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder case of a minor girl reported from Hubballi city on Sunday.

The accused has been identified as 35-year-old Ritesh Kumar from Patna in Bihar.

However, the police claimed that the identity of the accused is yet to be ascertained.

The Police Commissioner for Hubballi and Dharwad, N. Shashikumar, said: "The accused was shot at because he was facing charges of raping a five-year-old girl and the accused could not be allowed to escape. At the same time, the police had to protect themselves."

"The police used minimum force, and the accused was hit by one bullet. The police officers immediately shifted him to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries."

"We got a lead from the CCTV footage and local inputs, and the accused was taken into custody. During the investigation, the accused was questioned for three hours. He confessed to the crime but did not provide correct information regarding his identity," Shashikumar said.

"The accused claimed to be 35-year-old Ritesh Kumar from Patna, Bihar, and said he had been away from his house for four years. He had come to Hubballi three months ago," he added.

"He was taken to an abandoned house where he claimed to be residing for inspection by the police. At that time, the accused suddenly attacked the police officers. He tried to pelt stones at the police vehicle and the cops and started to run," he said.

"At that juncture, Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Annapurna fired a warning shot in the air and asked the accused to stop. When the accused continued pelting stones, the woman police officer opened fire on him," Shashikumar added.

"One bullet hit him (the accused) in the leg, and another hit him in the back. After he collapsed, he was shifted to the hospital to save his life, but he succumbed to his injuries," he said.

"PSI Annapurna, our staff Yashwant, and Veeresh are injured," he added.

A shocking incident came to light here earlier on Sunday involving a youth, who allegedly attempted to sexually assault a five-year-old girl and later strangulated her to death for resisting his advances.

The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Ashokanagar police station in Hubballi.

According to the police, the accused took the girl to a shed and attempted to assault her. When the girl screamed for help, locals rushed towards the spot.

Upon noticing the approaching people, the accused allegedly strangulated the girl to death and managed to escape.

N. Shashikumar earlier said that the girl's parents were from Koppal. Her father works as a painter, and her mother is employed as a maid. The details about the accused are currently unknown.

He also said the mother had taken the victim with her to work. While she was working, the accused allegedly took the girl away.

Later, the girl's body was discovered in a shed.

It is yet to be determined if the girl was sexually assaulted, an official said, adding that a medical examination will ascertain the facts.

Meanwhile, the girl's parents staged a protest in front of the Ashokanagar police station, condemning the incident and demanding strict action against the accused.

Police Commissioner Shashikumar personally spoke to the protestors and assured them that stringent action would be taken.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed his grief over the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi, saying it was deeply shocking and saddening.

The Minister, who visited KIMS hospital on Sunday night and obtained information from the police, consoled the child's parents and offered them courage.

He also appreciated the bravery shown by the police in apprehending the accused.

"The rape and murder of a five-year-old girl is an incident that makes civilised society hang its head in shame. It is unbearable to see the body of the little child. This is a heinous act and has caused immense pain," the Minister said.

"While arresting the accused, he tried to escape and even attacked the police. As a result, the police had to shoot him, and the accused has also died. It is being said that the deceased accused had consumed drugs. The menace of drugs has increased significantly in recent days. Strict action must be taken to eradicate it," he added.

"Drug consumption is involving the youth in criminal activities. Therefore, it must be completely eradicated from civil society. Taking this seriously, instructions have also been given to the Police Commissioner to maintain law and order," he said.

--IANS

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Bhopal, April 13 (IANS) The Damoh court in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday denied bail to Dr Narendra Yadav, accused in the case of “suspicious deaths” of seven patients at Damoh Mission Hospital, while extending his police remand by four more days.

The accused was presented in the special court, where his lawyer argued for bail while the police sought additional interrogation time.

Sachin Nayak, Dr. Yadav’s lawyer, told IANS: “We filed a bail application under Section 480 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) in the court of Fifth civil judge Ria Singh. However, the court extended the remand. We will now submit a fresh plea on the 17th of this month.”

According to the lawyer, the police emphasised the need for further inquiry, including verification of the accused’s MBBS degree and degrees purportedly obtained from Andhra Pradesh and Prayagraj, which appeared to be tampered with.

While the Assistant District Prosecution Officer has revealed that Dr Yadav, also known by another alias, N John Camm, owns a house in Kanpur and has used fake identities and passports for treating patients in various states and countries.

The extension followed the completion of a previous five-day remand concerning the deaths of cardiac patients allegedly treated by Dr Yadav.

The ADPO pointed out that the case involves international dimensions, requiring inquiries across multiple states and nations.

Consequently, the court agreed that the accused must remain in police custody to facilitate the ongoing investigation.

Dr Yadav is accused of “forging medical qualifications” and performing cardiac surgeries on 15 patients, leading to the deaths of seven individuals.

The police have yet to find two key answers: why has he preferred the name of Dr. N John Camm instead of Dr Narendra Yadav, and why had he performed multiple cardiac surgeries allegedly without a ‘requisite’ qualification. He was taken into police custody in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

On the other side, the Chief Medical and Health Officer of the district, Dr Mukesh Jain, reached the Kotwali police station in Damoh on 6 April and filed a complaint and report that the accused had no requisite qualification. Later, an FIR was lodged against him.

A National Human Rights Commission team also visited Damoh on 8-9 April and met the people of the victim’s family.

On the basis of the facts mentioned in the report, a case has been registered and investigation has been taken up against Dr. N John Camm and others under sections 318 (4), 338, 336 (3) 340 (2), (5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) and section 24 of MP Medical Council Act 1987.

--IANS

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Mandya (Karnataka), April 13 (IANS) The Karnataka Police have registered an FIR against a man and eight others for allegedly forcing his wife and mother-in-law to convert to Christianity and assaulting them with an iron rod.

The incident came to light on Sunday in Palahalli village near Srirangapatna town in Mandya district. The FIR has been registered by the Pattana police, who have also begun an investigation into the case.

The FIR names one Srikanth and 8 of his family members and others as the accused. The victims have been identified as Srikanth's wife, Laxmi, and her mother, Shruthi. The complaint was lodged by Ravikiran, Laxmi's brother.

In his complaint, Ravikiran stated that his sister Laxmi had been subjected to torture for refusing to convert to Christianity.

He further alleged that the accused husband also pressured her to bring money from her parents.

Hoping for an improvement in Laxmi's life, her family arranged Rs 25 lakh and gave it to the accused. However, according to the complaint, the accused used the money to build a church and engaged in religious conversions.

Speaking to the media, Shruthi claimed that her daughter was not allowed to wear a bindi or worship Hindu gods. She alleged that religious conversions have been taking place in the Palahalli region for over 10 years.

“Vokkaliga, Vishwakarma, Marathi, and other communities are being converted. They target people in distress and lure them into Christianity by offering money. They receive funds from unknown sources, and those who convert are getting lakhs of rupees,” she alleged.

She further claimed that the entire village had converted to Christianity. “On paper, they show that they are Hindus to avail government benefits, but in society, they identify as Christians,” Shruthi said.

“They called me and my daughter for a compromise and then assaulted us,” she alleged.

The family stated that Laxmi and Srikanth were married 15 years ago and everything was fine in the beginning. A few years into the marriage, Srikanth's family converted to Christianity.

Even though her husband’s entire family had converted, Laxmi refused to do so. She claimed that she is a devotee of Goddess Chamundeshwari and would not convert to Christianity.

Since then, her husband's family allegedly began harassing her, and she was sent back to her parents’ home four months ago. Unable to bear the torture and pain, Laxmi reportedly attempted suicide. It was in this context that Srikanth called for a compromise, during which the assault took place, the family alleged.

--IANS

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Guwahati, April 13 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday expressed gratitude while he returned the mobile charger of a man he borrowed while travelling recently to Dubai from Delhi in an Emirates aircraft.

Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "Today, I returned the mobile charger I had borrowed from Deepak Kapoor, my fellow passenger on the Delhi–Dubai flight in his Noida Residence and offered his family an Assamese Gamocha as a token of gratitude. It brought me immense satisfaction."

"Deepak had given me the mobile charger without knowing anything about me. His selfless act touched me deeply, and I felt compelled to honour that rare kindness. I wanted to ensure that his spirit of helping a stranger lives on -- a small tribute to a truly generous soul," he added.

In the previous week, while boarding the flight of Dubai from Delhi, CM Sarma noted that he was travelling without a phone charger.

A young man sitting beside him noticed and, without hesitation, offered his international plug and charging cable.

It was a small but significant act of kindness, the kind that connects strangers in fleeting yet meaningful ways.

With a smile and a nod of appreciation, CM Sarma accepted the help and plugged in his device.

The journey continued smoothly, and as exhaustion set in, CM Sarma drifted off to sleep.

Hours later, the Chief Minister woke up to find that the plane had landed in Dubai, and the fellow passenger in his flight had exited the plane.

In the rush of disembarkation, amid the movement of passengers, baggage, and airport announcements, one crucial detail had slipped past him: he still had the charger and cable in his possession.

The young man had left without reclaiming them, unaware that his small gesture of kindness would lead to an unexpected twist in the journey.

In Amsterdam, CM Sarma found himself filled with regret.

"Today morning I travelled on an Emirates flight from Delhi to Dubai, where a kind young gentleman lent me his international plug and charging cable. Unfortunately, he disembarked in Dubai while I was asleep, and I couldn't return them. I've just now arrived in Amsterdam and feel deeply apologetic for not returning his belongings. If this message reaches him, please send me a direct message so I can arrange to return your charger and cable promptly. Thank you for your kindness, and I regret any inconvenience caused @emirates," the Chief Minister wrote on X.

CM Sarma also enlisted the help of the Assam Police, who immediately began working to identify the man.

--IANS

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Gandhinagar, April 13 (IANS) Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, launched an attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, accusing them of spreading misinformation regarding the Gujarat Class X board examination results, adding that both the leaders are “fake” and “fraudlent”.

The controversy erupted after both opposition leaders criticised the Gujarat government on social media platform ‘X’, citing media reports that allegedly showed alarmingly poor pass percentages in government schools of the state.

However, netizens quickly pointed out that the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has not yet declared the Class X results for the current academic year, with results expected in May.

Reacting to opposition leaders’ claims, Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi wrote on X: “I have never seen such fake and fraudulent leaders. The Gujarat Board results haven’t even been released yet, but Mr. Akhilesh Yadav and his associate, Arvind Kejriwal, are circulating fake results on social media. This is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and manipulate perceptions. These leaders have no right to involve innocent children in their dirty politics.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Minister of State for Education, Praful Pansheriya, echoed Sanghavi's views and called for actions against Akhilesh Yadav and Arvind Kejriwal.

“The public - especially students, parents, and teachers - must stay vigilant against such fake news and rely only on official announcements,” Pansheriya said.

He further added that the people of Gujarat and across India have consistently rejected such deceit, which is why these kinds of leaders are being voted out by informed citizens.

He further added: “There is a despicable attempt by anti-social and failed leaders to deceive students by posting fake board results on social media. Don’t drag children into your political games. Don’t gamble with their future.”

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav’s post included what appeared to be a 2023 news headline. “Gujarat board results: Zero students passed Class 10 in 157 schools. The Gujarat model has failed… Not a single student passed the 10th board exam in 157 schools in Gujarat. We will remove BJP and save the future,” he wrote.

Arvind Kejriwal amplified the claim, adding: “This is the Gujarat model. This is the BJP model, which they want to implement in the entire country. This is the double-engine model. They want to keep the country illiterate. Tell me one state where the BJP has a government and hasn’t ruined education. Under this model, they are now trying to destroy the education system in Delhi.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi defended Yadav and Kejriwal, arguing that their posts pointed to a deeper and longstanding issue within Gujarat’s education system under BJP rule.

“In the BJP’s 30-year tenure, Gujarat’s education sector has steadily deteriorated,” Doshi claimed.

“The student-teacher ratio is appalling. Government schools are witnessing a decline in both teachers and classrooms. The education department has become the epicentre of corruption,” he said.

The Congress leader said that a school without a teacher and a village without a school aptly represents the current education model under the Gujarat BJP government.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, April 13 (IANS) Following the attack on former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Pranab Balabantaray in Odisha's Jajpur district, the Leader of Opposition and party President Naveen Patnaik, on Sunday, raised questions over the law and order situation in the state, urging the BJP-led state government to take stringent action against the persons involved in the incidents of political violence.

"The broad daylight attack on young BJD leader and former Dharmasala MLA, Pranab Balabantaray exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. There is a huge question mark over the safety of the common man, if public representatives are not safe in the state," Patnaik wrote on his X account.

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government, Patnaik also alleged, "The state government's inaction, apathy and partisan attitude in reining in anti-social elements and activities is further encouraging such incidents. The government should immediately take strict action instead of encouraging political violence."

As per reports, unknown miscreants armed with wodden, bamboo sticks and sharp weapons attacked the vehicle of the former legislator who was travelling to Aruha village in Dharmasala to attend a religious event on Sunday.

After being informed about the incident, the Inspector In-Charge of Jenapur police station reached the spot with additional police personnel and brought the situation under control.

"When I left Bhubaneswar, I came to know that such incident was going to take place. I informed the Jajpur Superintendent of Police and told him about it. The whole incident took place in the presence of police. It is very shameful," Balabantaray alleged.

Meanwhile, the BJD alleged that the attackers are BJP workers and the associates of local Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo.

The BJD has demanded the immediate arrest of the accused persons involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Dharmasala MLA, while denying his associates' involvement in the incident, said that the fight between two groups of local BJD organisation led to the violent incident.

--IANS

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