India

Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Opposition leaders in Maharashtra slammed the state government on Thursday over the "deteriorating" law and order situation after Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was attacked at his Bandra residence.

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut termed the attack on Saif quite unfortunate and slammed the state government, saying, "It is a reality that even a Padma Shri awardee is not safe in Mumbai as there is no fear about the police."

"The common people are not safe in Maharashtra. Now thieves are breaking into the houses of artists and attacking them. This is a shock for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 15 days ago Saif with his family met him. Prime Minister Modi spent an hour with his family. After that, Saif was attacked. No one is safe in this state. It has become difficult for women to walk on the streets. Nearly 90 per cent of the security and police of this state are for MLAs and people who have deserted their parties. Security is provided to traitors. The government has awarded Saif the Padma Shri. However, it is a reality that Saif is not safe in Mumbai," claimed Raut.

"What is going on in Maharashtra?" There is no law and order in the state," he alleged.

NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule termed the incident shocking and spoke to Saif's sister-in-law Karishma Kapoor over the phone, enquiring about the health of the actor and his wife and actress Kareena Kapoor.

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also attacked the state government and asked, "If celebrities are not safe then who in Mumbai is?"

In her post on X, Chaturvedi said, "What a shame that Mumbai sees another high profile attempt on life, the attack on Saif yet again raises questions on Mumbai Police and the Home Minister. This is after a series of incidents that show there is a deliberate attempt to undermine Mumbai by targeting big names: Baba Siddique ji's family is still awaiting justice after his shocking murder. Salman Khan was forced to live in a bulletproof house. Now it is Saif. All in Bandra. An area which has the highest concentration of celebrities is supposed to have adequate security. If celebrities are not safe then who in Mumbai is?"

Further, AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon said on X, "God! If the elite can be attacked in their homes then what safety can the common man hope for? @Dev_Fadnavis and his Special Commissioners have made Mumbai lawless."

Earlier, Saif was attacked at his Bandra residence and he is undergoing treatment after surgery at Lilavati Hospital.

NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar said, "The attack on actor Saif Ali Khan is a sign of how law and order has deteriorated in Mumbai. Baba Siddique was killed in the same area and today another person was attacked, it is all worrying. The state government, especially Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Home Minister, should look into this matter seriously."

--IANS

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Patna, Jan 16 (IANS) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to commence the third phase of his Pragati Yatra on Thursday, starting with a visit to Khagaria during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects totalling over Rs 410 crore.

He will inaugurate an animal feed factory built for Rs 43 crore. This factory is expected to bolster livestock farming and related industries in the region.

Kumar will also lay the foundation stone of a bridge in Alauli. It is a significant infrastructure project, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, and is a long-awaited demand of the local population. The focus on Khagaria reflects efforts to meet regional demands for industries related to maize and milk production, potentially driving economic growth and development in the area.

The third phase of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Pragati Yatra, scheduled from January 16 to January 29, has been modified to include overnight stays in Madhepura.

The revised schedule, detailed in a letter issued by the Cabinet Secretariat Department to senior officials, reflects adjustments to enhance engagement during the Yatra.

On January 16, Nitish Kumar will visit Khagaria, and return to Patna on the same day. He will go to Begusarai on January 18 and return to Patna on the same day. In contrast to the original plan (issued January 9), the Chief Minister will now use Madhepura as an overnight base for multiple district visits, staying there for five nights.

On January 20, Kumar will visit Supaul, followed by an overnight stay in Madhepura. He will do the same while visiting Kishanganj, Araria, and Saharsa, respectively on January 21, 22 and 23.

CM Nitish Kumar will return from Saharsa to Patna on January 23. He will resume the Pragati Yatra on January 27 visit Purnea and return to Madhepura for the overnight stay. He will go to Katihar on January 28, and return to Madhepura for the overnight stay.

On January 29, he concludes the Yatra in Madhepura and returns to Patna.

The overnight stays in Madhepura aim to provide the CM with more time to interact with local stakeholders and address regional concerns. This updated itinerary is meant to underscore the Chief Minister's focus on ensuring thorough on-ground assessment and public interaction during the Pragati Yatra.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) The Central government has issued an order allowing its employees to travel on Tejas, Vande Bharat, and Humsafar express trains under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scheme in a move aimed at providing more convenient and faster travel options for them to visit their hometown or go for holidays to tourist destinations during leave.

According to the new order issued this week, employees can now use these premium trains in addition to the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto trains, based on their travel entitlement

This decision was announced by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) after receiving many requests from various government offices and individuals. The DoPT has worked out the new rules in consultation with the Department of Expenditure before issuing the final order.

Central government employees get their ticket costs reimbursed for round trips under the leave travel concession (LTC scheme) in accordance with their entitlement depending on their rank and pay scale.

Although some premium trains such as the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi, and Duronto were covered under the scheme, the Tejas and Vande Bharat trains, which were introduced more recently, were outside the ambit of the scheme.

“The matter has been examined by this department in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and it has been decided that apart from existing Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains, travel by Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express and Humsafar Express trains under LTC as per the entitlement of the government employees has now been allowed,” the DoPT order states.

The LTC scheme for government employees is a prerequisite which covers the cost of travel to visit their hometown or any destination within India over a four-year block period.

The scheme offers government employees and their family members two options. They can avail of travel reimbursement to their hometown twice within a four-year block, split into two two-year periods. The other alternative they have is to visit their hometown once in a two-year period and go for a holiday to any place in India within the other two-year period.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 16 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday was conducting raid and search operations at two locations in and around Kolkata in connection with bank loan forgery cases worth around Rs 6,000 crore.

Sources aware of the development said that the two places where the ED officials have been conducting marathon raids and search operations since morning are two residences -- the first being at Behala in the southern outskirts of Kolkata and the second being at Shibpur in Kolkata-adjacent Howrah district.

One of the two houses where raid and search operations were taking place belongs to a local businessman, Deepak Jain.

Each team of ED officials is being escorted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.

Sources said that the raids were taking place in continuation of similar raids at the residence of a Kolkata-based businessman at Ballygunge in South Kolkata in December 2024, in relation to a bank loan forgery amounting to Rs 6,000 crore.

Cash worth Rs 2 crore, jewellery worth Rs 4.5 crore and two luxurious vehicles were seized by the ED officials then from his residence.

Sanjay Surekha, the owner of Comcast Steel and Power Limited, was also arrested by the ED sleuths then.

The main charge against Surekha was that after claiming loans worth Rs 6,000 crore from a consortium of commercial banks through multiple accounts, he defaulted when the time for repayment came.

Sources said that currently, the Central agency officials are in the process of tracking the money trail to have a clear idea of how the bank loan taken by the Surekha was misused.

Charges are there that bank accounts registered in the names of the employees and business associates of the said corporate entity were also utilized in securing the loans. In addition, Surekha was also unable to furnish the details of the cash recovered from his residence as well as the sources of funds for purchasing the costly jewellery and the foreign-made luxury cars.

--IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 16 (IANS) The Kerala police on Thursday exhumed the body of a temple priest, Gopan Swami, whose mysterious death and burial in a concrete chamber at Aralumoodu, Neyyatinkara, stirred controversy and public curiosity.

The incident came to light after Swami’s family put up posters on January 10, claiming he had attained Samadhi, a state of spiritual liberation.

The claim, coupled with the unusual burial method, raised questions among local residents. In response, the family maintained that Swami’s burial was carried out as per his wishes. The situation escalated when a missing person complaint was filed, prompting the Neyyatinkara police to initiate an investigation.

Early Thursday morning, a large contingent of police arrived at the burial site to secure the area and prevent any protests during the exhumation.

Upon opening the concrete chamber, officials discovered the partially decomposed body seated in a meditative posture, surrounded by sacred ash and other ritual objects.

After completing inquest procedures at the site, the body was sent to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination.

The exhumation was carried out under the supervision of Sub-Collector O.V. Alfred and in the presence of forensic and fingerprint experts.

Strict restrictions were imposed on public and media access to maintain order. Five municipal councilors from Neyyatinkara were also present.

Earlier attempts to exhume the body on Monday faced resistance from the family and some locals, who argued that the process violated their religious practices.

However, the Kerala High Court dismissed a plea from the family to halt the exhumation. Justice C.S. Dias ruled that investigative agencies have the authority to probe suspicious deaths or missing person cases.

According to the investigation, Gopan Swami was a former head-load worker who had renounced his past life to embrace sainthood. He established an ashram and built a temple on his property in Kavuvilakam, Neyyatinkara.

His family claimed that Swami had requested a private burial, believing he had attained Samadhi.

Swamy’s son, Rajasenan, told the media that his father walked to the burial site on January 9, late at night, and instructed the family to bury him discreetly without public involvement.

The exhumation process was completed peacefully, with additional police personnel deployed to prevent unrest in the area.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Infamous short-selling firm Hindenburg Research, which is now being disbanded as per an open letter from its founder Nate Anderson, has been under the radar of Indian regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) over its report against the Adani Group, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Adani Group always vehemently rejected allegations by Hindenburg Research as “malicious, mischievous and manipulative selections of publicly available information" to arrive at "pre-determined conclusions for personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law”.

“For a discredited short-seller under the scanner for several violations of Indian securities laws, Hindenburg's allegations are no more than red herrings thrown by a desperate entity,” according to the Group.

The SEBI last year issued a show-cause notice to Hindenburg Research, Nate Anderson and the entities of Mauritius-based foreign portfolio investor Mark Kingdon for trading violations in the scrip of Adani Enterprises Ltd leading up to Hindenburg Report.

The regulator alleged that Hindenburg and Anderson violated regulations related to fraudulent and unfair trade practices and the code of conduct for research analysts.

According to the show cause notice, SEBI alleged that prior to the report release, short-selling activity was witnessed in the futures of Adani Enterprises and after the report the share lost 59 per cent between January 24, 2023 and February 22, 2023.

The SEBI investigation revealed that K-India Opportunities Fund – Class F opened a trading account and started trading in the scrip of Adani Enterprises before the release of the report. The FPI then squared off the positions in February making a profit of $22.25 million or Rs 183.24 crore.

Hindenburg continued to defend its January 2023 report. The Adani Group denied allegations levelled by the short seller.

The Supreme Court in July last year dismissed a review petition that was filed against its January 3 judgement in the Adani Group-Hindenburg Research case, wherein the court reposed confidence in SEBI's regulatory powers and ruled that petitioners could not provide enough material to transfer the probe to a special investigation team.

In January last year, the Supreme Court refused to form any SIT or group of experts to conduct an investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg controversy, saying that the media and third-party reports were not conclusive proof.

“SEBI should take its investigation to its logical conclusion in accordance with law. The facts of this case do not warrant a transfer of investigation from SEBI,” held a bench presided over by then CJI, D.Y. Chandrachud.

Despite continuous attacks from Hindenburg Research and other US-based entities in the past, the market cap of the Adani Group has increased to nearly Rs 12.80 lakh crore.

Every attack made the Group even stronger, and every obstacle became a stepping stone for a more resilient conglomerate. In the recent past, there have been many positive developments about Adani Group's companies that boosted investors’ confidence.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Thursday administered the oath of office to Justice K Vinod Chandran as a judge of the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the Centre cleared the appointment of Justice Chandran to the Apex Court on the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium.

In a post on social media platform X, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced that the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was pleased to appoint Justice K Vinod Chandran, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as a Supreme Court judge.

Earlier, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the name of Patna High Court Chief Justice Chandran for elevation as a judge of the Apex Court.

"While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that there is no representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the High Court of Kerala," said a statement released by SC Collegium.

Justice Chandran was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court in November 2011 and was elevated to the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on March 29, 2023.

"He has served as a Judge of the High Court for more than 11 years and as a Chief Justice of a big High Court for more than a year. During his long tenure as a Judge and Chief Justice of the High Court, Mr Justice Chandran has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law," the SC Collegium said.

In its meeting, the apex court Collegium deliberated on and discussed the names of Chief Justices and senior puisne judges of the High Courts eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court.

Born on April 25, 1963, Justice Chandran stands at serial no. 13 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges.

He obtained a law degree from Thiruvananthapuram’s Kerala Law Academy Law College and started practice in 1991.

Before elevation, he served as Special Government Pleader (Taxes) of the Kerala government from 2007 to 2011.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Jan 16 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and former minister K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Formula-E race case.

Amid tight security, he reached the ED's regional office in Basheerbagh around 10.45 a.m.

One lawyer was allowed into the ED office with KTR.

Tension prevailed at the ED office as several BRS workers gathered to show solidarity. They staged a protest and raised slogans against the Central government.

Police detained the protesters, including women, and whisked them away in police vans.

Former ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Srinivas Goud, BRS MLAs and MLCs were among those who gathered outside the ED office to show solidarity with KTR.

Police made elaborate security arrangements at the ED office. About 200 policemen were deployed to maintain law and order.

Three Assistant Commissioners of Police and eight inspectors were among the officers deployed. Teargas vehicles and water canons were also kept ready as a precautionary measure.

The ED is conducting the probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

The Central agency is looking into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The ED already questioned two other accused in the case - former Municipal Administration and Urban Development department special chief secretary Arvind Kumar and former chief engineer of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) B. L. N. Reddy.

The ED is likely to question KTR about different aspects of the transfer of about Rs 55 crore to UK-based Formula-E Operations (FEO) in foreign exchange, allegedly in violation of the provisions of FEMA and PMLA.

The former minister may be asked why no clearance was taken from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the transfer of the money.

The ACB last month registered an FIR against KTR, Arvind Kumar and BLN Reddy for alleged irregularities in payment by HMDA to FEO and associated entities without adhering to established financial procedures.

The FIR was registered under Sections 13 (1) (A) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Sections 409 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.

KTR had appeared before the ACB on January 9. He was questioned for over six hours focusing on his role as then minister of municipal administration and urban development in signing the agreement to conduct Formula-E race in 2023 when BRS was in power.

The anti-graft agency has also questioned the other two accused. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the quash petition of KTR.

Earlier, the Telangana High Court on January 7 refused to quash the FIR. It was on October 25, 2022 that the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department entered into a tripartite agreement with Formula E Operations (FEO) Limited and Ace Nxt Gen Private Limited (sponsor) for conducting Formula E races for 9, 10, 11 and 12 seasons in Hyderabad.

The 'Season 9' of the race was held on February 11, 2023, when the BRS government was in power. However, later the sponsor backed out citing financial losses.

The HMDA which was under KTR's Ministry transferred about Rs 55 crore to FEO. The money in British Pounds was transferred allegedly without mandatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The Congress government that took over in December 2023 cancelled the E race and also sought an enquiry into the transfer of government funds without following the norms and also the allegations of corruption.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Jan 16 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the government was creating a strong environment to support the startups in the state.

In his X handle, CM Sarma mentioned, “In Assam, we are building a robust startup ecosystem through empowering our entrepreneurs with policy, monetary and incubation support.”

He also said, “Today is National Startup Day; a day to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our startups and their contributions to the Indian economy.”

To recall, Assam is set to host a big investor summit, 'Advantage Assam' in February in Guwahati.

The CM mentioned that there will be multiple key areas that will be focussed in the two-day summit.

“Infrastructure development, Electronics and semiconductors, Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing, Renewable energy and Hydrocarbons, Tourism, Food and beverage, Fragrance and Flavours, Mobility and Logistics -- these are the areas that will be given thrust in the Advantage Assam this time,” CM Sarma added.

He said that this summit is set to bring more investments in the state. He mentioned that more government jobs and entrepreneurship support will be provided to the people of the state.

According to the Chief Minister, the event, which is set for February 25 and 26, would highlight the traditional Jhumur dance of the tea tribe clans. He said, “This summit is a platform to showcase Assam's rich traditions to a global audience in addition to attracting investors.”

A spectacular Jhumur dance performance with more than 7,500 dancers and artists will be part of the event. It will be an extraordinary show, the CM said.

The preparations are underway for this cultural event. The Chief Minister said, “Perfect execution will be ensured by master training workshops, constituency-level sessions, district-level performances, and final rehearsals in Guwahati.” The concert, which is planned for either day of the summit, is anticipated to have a lasting effect on those present.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Jan 16 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government will host the seventh Regional Industry Conclave (RIC) today in Shahdol district. The event, set to take place at the engineering college ground in Shahdol, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Beside addressing the gathering of industrialists, CM Yadav will also hold one-on-one meeting with many of them. It would be the last industrial conclave which was started in March last year. This is an initiative to bring economic and industrial growth in every part of the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will also perform Bhoomi Pujan of 28 industrial units during the conclave, which will see an investment of Rs 570 crore and will create 2,600 employment opportunities.

Apart from this, Torrent Power is likely to invest Rs 18,000 crore for a 1600 MW thermal plant.

More than 4,000 participants and 2,000 industrialists will attend the event.

Over 40 industrialists including Torrent Power's Executive Director Prakash Sajnani, ACCL's Managing Director Harish Dohan, Sharda Energy Limited's Chairman, Bajrang Power Limited, Orient Paper Mill's GM are expected to attend the Regional Industry Conclave.

Hundreds of other industrialists have registered online for the event.

According to reports, there will be seminars on agriculture and tourism during the event and an exhibition of various departments will also be held. Before that, six RICs were organised between March and Dec 2024 and the state government has received investment proposals worth more than Rs 3.75 lakh crore.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the total investment proposals received from six RICs were expected to generate nearly 85,000 jobs in the state, besides ensuring industrial growth.

For Shahdol's RIC, the state government has already received investment proposal of more than Rs 20,000 crore, said CM Yadav after a virtual interaction with investors on Monday.

The total investment is likely to increase further after the conclave is organised.

Notably, the first edition of the RIC was organised in Chief Minister Yadav's home district Ujjain on March 1 and 2, 2024. Later, the second edition was held in Jabalpur on July 20 and the third in Gwalior on August 28. The fourth edition of RIC was organised in the Sagar division on September 27, while the fifth edition was held in Rewa on October 23. The sixth edition was organised in Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad) division on December 7, 2024.

Subsequently, the state government will kick-start preparation for 'Madhya Pradesh - Global Investors Summit' - 2025' to be held in Bhopal on February 24. CM Yadav said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Global Investors Meet.

Notably, the state government has declared 2025 as the 'Year of Industry and Employment' to promote industrial development in Madhya Pradesh. For this, interactive sessions on investment opportunities are organised at national and international levels.

--IANS

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