India

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, fresh trouble mounted for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has obtained sanction to prosecute him in an alleged corruption case.

On Tuesday, the probe agency told the Rouse Avenue Court that it has obtained sanction under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to prosecute the former Delhi minister and will soon place the same on record.

The court will now decide on January 22 if cognisance should be taken on the charge sheet filed against Jain and other accused persons.

Earlier, the CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet on January 4 in the matter.

It had submitted that the file was sent to the appropriate authority, including the Lt Governor, for approval after the conclusion of the investigation.

In October last year, the Rouse Avenue Court had allowed Jain’s bail plea in connection with a money laundering case, taking into account his prolonged incarceration and the delay in commencement of trial.

On March 18, 2024, the Supreme Court had dismissed Jain’s regular bail petition and ordered him to forthwith surrender before the jail authorities. Before that, the AAP leader remained out on interim medical bail for about 10 months. The apex court had initially granted Jain interim relief in May 2023 for six weeks but the same was extended from time to time.

The ED's case against Jain originates from an FIR by the CBI under Sections 13(2) and 13(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, alleging he acquired disproportionate assets between 2015 and 2017. Additionally, the ED alleges that companies beneficially owned and controlled by Jain received Rs 4.81 crore through accommodation entries from shell companies via a hawala route.

--IANS

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Patna, Jan 13 (IANS) The alleged kidnapping of a man in Bettiah city by Ravi Kumar, alias Pinnu, brother of Bihar Minister Renu Devi, has sparked a major political controversy in the state. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has used this to launch a scathing attack on the Nitish Kumar-led government and its alliance partner, the BJP.

Tejashwi accused Ravi Kumar alias Pinnu of being a habitual criminal, involved in numerous serious cases such as land grabbing, kidnapping, murder and extortion.

“Ravi Kumar alias Pinnu kidnapped a man in Bettiah, took him to his hotel, beat him, and forcibly made him sign documents at gunpoint to seize his land,” Yadav alleged.

The Bihar opposition leader criticized the government for shielding individuals with criminal backgrounds, especially those connected to ministers. He claimed that while RJD workers are being arrested, individuals with serious criminal charges, such as Ravi Kumar, continue to roam freely.

Tejashwi directly targeted the BJP, accusing it of providing protection to criminals like Ravi Kumar. He mentioned that despite multiple cases registered against him, the accused remains untouched by the law.

Following the statement of Tejashwi Yadav, the political debate in Bihar over law and order intensified resulting in a heated exchange between Yadav and BJP leaders.

BJP MP from Paschim Champaran Dr Sanjay Jaiswal retorted that 90 per cent of criminals are RJD leaders. “Bihar under the current government operates under good governance and that no criminal, regardless of connections, will be spared," he said.

He alleged accumulation of wealth by Tejashwi's family, citing the controversial case of acquiring a four-story house in New Friends Colony, Delhi, for just Rs 4.5 lakh. He also brought up the issue of land allegedly seized from a poor man in Gopalganj, calling upon Tejashwi to return it to its rightful owner.

Responding to Tejashwi’s accusations, Minister Renu Devi strongly refuted any link with her brother. She clarified, "I have no brother. I have stated this in several press conferences over the past eight years."

She accused the opposition of raising baseless allegations due to a lack of real issues.

Renu Devi attacked the RJD’s record during the Lalu-Rabri regime, stating, “Under their rule, people could not roam freely after evening, and the state was gripped by fear and lawlessness.”

She mocked Tejashwi Yadav by saying that his party lacks genuine supporters, and even those who previously supported RJD have shifted allegiance.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Patparganj constituency Avadh Ojha on Monday got a lifeline from the Election Commission (EC) which assured speedy transfer of his vote from Greater Noida to Delhi to help him file nomination papers before the January 17 deadline.

Addressing the media after meeting EC officials, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal said the EC has assured that the delay in Ojha's application will be condoned, paving the way for him to file his nomination smoothly.

Kejriwal thanked the EC for meeting them on short notice and said the AAP delegation also raised the demand for suspending the District Election Officer of New Delhi constituency for his failure to check Model Code of Conduct violations on the seat.

“The BJP candidate from New Delhi is distributing shoes, jackets, bed sheets and spectacles and the election office has failed to stop this malpractice,” alleged Kejriwal.

He said when the AAP team raised the issue before EC officials they referred to a report by the District Election Officer (DEO) which said that there was no illegal activity in the constituency.

Kejriwal, flanked by Chief Minister Atishi, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and Ojha, told media persons that they also raised before the EC the issue of alleged manipulation of voters’ list in the New Delhi seat.

“The EC has assured us that no fake vote will be allowed to be made,” said Kejriwal.

Earlier, while approaching EC for seeking help for Ojha the former chief minister had alleged a conspiracy in the Delhi election office to render Ojha ineligible to contest the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections.

Citing the ECI manual and guidelines, Kejriwal said the election panel's rules said that the election office can consider a late application for shifting of vote as a “special case”.

The AAP has given the Patparganj ticket to Ojha replacing former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is contesting the election from Jangpura.

--IANS

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Mumbai Jan 13 (IANS) Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited on Monday advised kite fliers, ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival, to stay away from the vicinity of overhead power transmission lines as there is a danger of the kite string (manja) touching or coming close to the arching zone of these lines and passing a very high voltage current through it to the person flying the kite.

“While Adani Electricity uses an underground distribution network for reliable electricity supply to its 31.5 lakh customers, overhead transmission lines which bring power from outside Mumbai do exist in the city. Therefore, we caution kite fliers to avoid flying kites near these lines,” the company said in a statement.

“This cautionary advice is issued in the spirit of a safe celebration for the joyous occasion of Makar Sankranti,” the statement remarked.

The statement points out that the kite string, popularly known as ‘Manja’, is a good conductor of electricity and can transmit very high voltage if it touches the overhead live wires or even enters the arching zone.

“Adani Electricity appeals to the consumers and citizens in these areas that if they notice or come to know of any untoward incidences as a result of the unsafe kite flying near power transmission lines, the same may please be reported immediately on AEML’s dedicated Power Help Line 19122 so as to enable the utility to initiate further necessary action. Alternatively, they can also reach to our Social Media Handles @Adani_Elec_Mum or visiting our website or Adani Electricity App,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Adani Electricity is working on plans to provide Mumbai with 60 per cent renewable electricity by 2027. This would set a global record for renewable electricity use in a major city, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said recently.

He pointed out that 38 per cent of Mumbai's power supply was green which would now be stepped up. The announcement came in the backdrop of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, that took place in the UAE.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday made a scathing remark on the INDIA bloc, stating that the alliance has “totally collapsed.”

He claimed that the alliance was no longer existing, with no official structure, leadership, or direction.

“I offer my tribute to the end of this alliance,” Hussain told IANS, further asserting that the INDIA bloc is now defunct.

Hussain pointed to the situation in Maharashtra, where Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP have been “completely rejected” by the electorate, signaling the failure of Opposition alliances in the state.

He also highlighted the Congress' decision to contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently, indicating that the party is now without any formal allies.

“The Congress always used parties for their gain,” Hussain said, adding that after the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had admitted that the INDIA bloc was formed solely for the general elections.

He also mentioned remarks by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had similarly acknowledged that the alliance was intended only for the national polls.

Turning to the growing partnership between Congress and AAP, Hussain criticised their recent decision to join forces in the Chandigarh mayoral elections. He dismissed their alliance as opportunistic, noting that their bonds were fragile and marked by frequent rifts.

“Look, their alliance has already collapsed. They come together when they need to, but these alliances are not strong,” he said.

On the subject of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming rally in Seelampur, Hussain downplayed its significance, suggesting that only a few people would turn out to hear the Congress leader.

“If a few people will hear him, he can go to Seelampur, Batla House, and Jama Masjid. No one wants to hear him,” Hussain claimed.

He also commented on the ongoing controversy surrounding the AAP government's new excise policy marred by allegations of irregularities.

Referring to the Delhi High Court’s criticism of the AAP government for delaying the presentation of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report in the Delhi Assembly, Hussain lashed out at the party and described them as 'scamsters' running the show.

“The AAP is a party of scamsters. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was never a common man. He and his wife were bureaucrats, just faking that they were common people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CAG report revealed that the AAP government’s excise policy had caused a loss of Rs 2,027 crore to the state exchequer due to various irregularities. The Delhi High Court, hearing a petition filed by BJP leaders, asked why the report had not been presented to the Assembly.

BJP MLAs, including Vijender Gupta, have also called for a special session of the Delhi Assembly to discuss the matter.

The Delhi government, however, questioned the feasibility of calling a session with elections looming on the horizon and also questioned the veracity of what it said was a 'leaked' CAG report. The party also dismissed allegations of wrongdoing against Kejriwal and his Cabinet ministers.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) The Supreme Court has ruled that even if non-compliance with an order for payment of maintenance entails penal consequences, such proceedings would not qualify as or become criminal proceedings.

"If non-compliance with an order for payment of maintenance entails penal consequences, as may other decrees of a Civil Court, such proceedings would not qualify as or become criminal proceedings. Nomenclature of maintenance proceedings initiated under the Code of Criminal Procedure(CrPC), as those provisions find place therein, cannot be held to be conclusive as to the nature of such proceedings,” it said.

In its detailed judgement, the apex court referred to the 41st Report of the Law Commission of India, where it was observed that the primary justification for placing provisions relating to the maintenance of wives and children, which is a civil matter, in the Criminal Procedure Code was that a remedy, speedier and more economical than that available in the civil courts, is provided to them.

It added that the Law Commission noted that the provision was aimed at preventing starvation and vagrancy, leading to the commission of a crime.

Further, the SC referred to an earlier judgement, where it was observed that the object of maintenance proceedings is not to punish a person for his neglect but to prevent the vagrancy and destitution of a deserted wife, by providing her food, clothing and shelter by a speedy remedy.

It had held: "Section 125 Cr.P.C. is a measure of social justice, especially enacted to protect women and children, falling within the constitutional sweep of Article 15(3) reinforced by Article 39 of the Constitution. Thus, the objective of the provision, then and now, is to alleviate the financial plight of destitute wives, children and now, parents, who are left to fend for themselves."

Section 125(1) Cr.P.C. provides to the effect that, if any person having sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain his wife or his legitimate or illegitimate children, falling in the prescribed categories, or his parents, who are all unable to maintain themselves, a Magistrate of the first class may, upon proof of such neglect or refusal, order such person to pay a monthly allowance, as thought fit, for their maintenance.

"Notably, Section 125 Cr.P.C. is not of recent origin. It is analogous to and in continuance of Section 488 of the erstwhile Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898," said a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar.

The 28-page long judgement upheld the wife’s right to maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C. and the mere passing of a decree for restitution of conjugal rights at the husband’s behest and non-compliance therewith by the wife would not, by itself, be sufficient to attract the disqualification under Section 125(4) Cr.P.C.

"In any event, a decree for restitution of conjugal rights secured by a husband coupled with non-compliance therewith by the wife would not be determinative straightaway either of her right to maintenance or the applicability of the disqualification under Section 125(4) Cr.P.C," the apex court held.

--IANS

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Shimla, Jan 13 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday visited Tandi Village in the Banjar Valley of Kullu district to meet families affected by a fire incident this month in which most of the wooden houses, built in the traditional ‘Kath-Kuni’ architecture, were gutted.

He assessed the ongoing relief operations and instructed officials to expedite the work on a war footing. The Chief Minister announced that the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 per month for six months to families living in rented accommodations due to the fire. If the reconstruction of their houses is not completed within this period, the government will extend the rent support for an additional six months.

Additionally, he announced Rs 50,000 for the construction of cattle sheds. For families whose houses were completely destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, the Chief Minister declared financial assistance of Rs 7 lakh for reconstruction. He also assured free electricity and water connections, provision of timber as per norms for rebuilding, and essential items such as utensils, clothing, and other necessities.

Further, the Chief Minister announced Rs 75 lakh for constructing a metal road within the village and Rs 1 crore for repairing the four km-long road leading to Tandi. To enhance safety measures in the region, he announced the establishment of a fire station in Banjar. He also assured efforts to address the local low-voltage electricity problem by exploring the possibility of setting up a solar power project.

MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur, former minister Khimi Ram Sharma, Chairman APMC Ram Singh Miyan, Chairman Zila Parishad Pankaj Parmar, besides the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police Kullu, were also present during the visit.

To reduce the risk of accidental fire, the District Disaster Management Authority has identified locations in remote villages to construct RCC and prefabricated tanks. These tanks will be connected to pipelines and fire hydrants to tackle fires in rural areas that have limited road access.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 13 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the case of death of a pregnant woman last week at state-run Medical College & Hospital in the state's West Midnapore district alleged after being administered with 'expired' Ringer’s Lactate (RL) saline.

Speaking to mediapersons at the state secretariat of Nabanna on Monday, the Chief Minister said that from the sequence of events, it is evident that there was negligence on the part of the doctors attached to the hospital.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that the probe by CID in the matter will go on in a parallel manner with the ongoing probe by the state health department appointed probe committee.

"Strict action will be taken in the matter after the detailed report by the probe committee is available. I will not tolerate any kind of negligence in the matter," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister's announcement to hand over the investigation to CID comes just hours after PILs were filed in Calcutta High Court in the matter.

Last week, five pregnant women were critically admitted at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital after allegedly being administered expired saline.

One of them, Mamoni Ruidas (25), died on Friday. The remaining four were under treatment at the same hospital.

Three of them were shifted to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in south Kolkata on Sunday night following sharp deterioration in their health conditions.

The incident raised serious concerns, especially as the expired RL saline allegedly came from Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical Limited, a company earlier banned by the Karnataka government and later by the West Bengal government.

The West Bengal health department has formed a 13-member inquiry committee to investigate how expired saline was administered to these patients.

This incident has revived concerns over similar cases in the state’s healthcare system.

Notably, in a recent case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, was accused of encouraging the use of expired and ineffective drugs on patients for personal financial gains.

--IANS

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Ghaziabad, Jan 13 (IANS) As Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi prepares for his first public rally in Delhi's Seelampur on Monday, former Congress leader and spiritual guru Acharya Pramod Krishnam criticised Gandhi for doing rally as ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’, suggesting that his ideals align more with figures like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and George Soros than with India’s founding values.

Talking to IANS, Acharya Pramod Krishnam said, "Rahul Gandhi can start his rally from wherever he wants, but he should say Jai Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Jai George Soros more than Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan."

He further accused Gandhi of being influenced by the ideals of Jinnah and Soros in his current political trajectory.

With Delhi elections just weeks away, Gandhi's rally in Seelampur will mark his return to the campaign trail, as announced by the party last week. The rally is seen as an important event for the Congress as it seeks to make inroads in the national capital.

Krishnam also responded to comments by Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal, who revealed that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal had personally reached out to him for support in the upcoming polls.

“It’s not a big matter,” Krishnam said, emphasising that political alliances and support are common in the political landscape.

The spiritual leader extended his best wishes to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi who is contesting from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency.

Krishnam also commented on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about the Maharashtra election results, where Shah took a dig at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray. Krishnam praised Shah’s leadership, calling him the "strongest and most powerful home minister" after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel particularly noting his decisive role in the abrogation of Article 370.

"Amit Shah’s parliament speech on Article 370 will be written in golden words for national unity,” Krishnam concluded, reiterating his support for Shah’s leadership.

--IANS

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Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Jan 13 (IANS) An uproar has erupted in Jharkhand's Dhanbad over an alleged incident at Carmel School, Digwadih, where Class 10 girl students were reportedly ordered to remove their shirts, and were sent home wearing only blazers during the school’s 'Pen Day' celebration.

This incident has led to protests and demands for strict action against the school Principal, with demonstrations continuing for the third consecutive day.

Separate teams from the district administration, the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) arrived at the school on Monday to investigate the matter.

These teams took statements from the school Principal, teachers, and parents of the affected students. Contradictory accounts from both sides have added complexity to the case.

CCTV footage from the school is being scrutinised to establish the facts. The Principal's chamber was sealed on Sunday under instructions from the investigating team to prevent any potential tampering with the evidence.

Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Madhavi Mishra directed a team led by SDM Rajesh Kumar and District Education Officer Nishu Kumari to record statements from multiple stakeholders, including teachers, staff, and parents.

Additionally, a team formed by Dhanbad Principal District and Sessions Judge Virendra Kumar Tiwari, under JHALSA, conducted an investigation on the school premises for the second consecutive day.

JHALSA Secretary stated that the investigation is still going on, and no official conclusions can be drawn until it is completed.

The controversy arose on January 9, during a 'Pen Day' celebration, when 10th-grade students autographed each other’s shirts with pens. According to the students, the Principal considered the activity indiscipline and reacted by ordering them to remove their shirts, sending them home in their blazers only.

Students alleged that they pleaded for leniency, but the Principal refused to reconsider. However, the principal has denied the allegations, calling them baseless in her statements to the media.

The incident gained widespread attention after going viral on social media. Local MLA Ragini Singh, accompanied by parents, visited the Deputy Commissioner's office to demand action against the school.

Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahato also condemned the incident, labelling it unfortunate, and urged the administration to take immediate action.

Protests intensified on Monday, with hundreds of students demonstrating outside the school under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The protesters demanded action against the Principal and the cancellation of the school’s recognition.

--IANS

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