Regional

Hyderabad, Dec 18 (IANS) The crisis in the Congress' Telangana unit deepened on Sunday with 13 leaders, who had defected to the party from the TDP in the past, announcing their resignations from party posts.

Narender Reddy, Seethakka, Vijay Rama Rao, Erra Shekhar, and others said they would send their resignations to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Working President.

This came a day after some senior leaders announced the launching of "save Congress in Telangana" movement to protect the party from leaders who came from other parties. They called a battle between the original Congress and migrants from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

This was seen as an open revolt against state chief A. Revanth Reddy, who came to the Congress from the TDP a few years ago.

Meanwhile, the Revanth Reddy group is planning to counter the allegations made by senior leaders, who were unhappy with him over packing recently announced party executive with migrants from the TDP.

The group wants to highlight that the allegations made by the dissidents will weaken the organisation.

In another development, the central leadership of the party has taken a serious view of the happenings in the state unit. AICC in charge Secretaries are reported to be in touch with dissident leaders. Some central leaders are likely to meet the dissident group on Monday.

Senior party leaders, who have been in the party from the start of their respective political careers, on Saturday declared that they are launching a 'Save Congress in Telangana' movement to protect the party from what they described as a leader who came into the Congress after shifting loyalties from party to party.

The meeting of the senior leaders was held at the residence of Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. Former state President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, MLA T. Jagga Reddy, Madhu Yashki Goud, Damodar Rajnarasimha, and A. Maheshwar Reddy were among those who attended the meeting.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Dec 18 (IANS) The Hoshiarpur-Delhi passenger train is expected to run up to Mathura-Vrindavan, Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said on Sunday.

He said that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has sought a detailed report from authorities in this regard.

Considering the demands of the people of Doaba region, Jimpa had written a letter to the Railway Minister to run the Hoshiarpur-Delhi passenger train to Mathura-Vrindavan. In the reply, the Union minister said he has asked officials to explore the possibilities of this demand.

Jimpa had written that the Hoshiarpur railway station is an important railway station of Doaba. Many pilgrims go through Hoshiarpur to visit prominent Hindus shrines in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

He said the pilgrims from Hoshiarpur have to board other transportation after reaching New Delhi to go to Mathura-Vrindavan.

--IANS
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Chennai, Dec 18 (IANS) The Regional Centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain in Tamil Nadu from Monday onwards.

Heavy rain are predicted in Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts of the state.

The weather department also predicted heavy to very heavy rain in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruvarur, Kallakurichi and Thanjavur districts on Wednesday.

The rainfall is expected in the state due to a low pressure formed in the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Equatorial Indian ocean and this impact would turn into showers across the state.

The weather department also predicted light to moderate rain in all coastal districts of Tamil Nadu from Monday.

Chennai and other adjoining districts of Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu had received heavy to very heavy rain due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal during the previous week. Many water bodies, including the Chembarambakkam lake in Chennai, were overflowing due to a heavy influx of water. This led to inundation and waterlogging at many places in the state capital.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Saturday ruled that even in the absence of a written complaint, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has the power to initiate suo motu disciplinary proceedings against its members.

A batch of petitions were filed by chartered accountants wanting to cancel the disciplinary proceedings initiated against them by the ICAI.

A single-bench judge of Justice Yashwant Varma said: "A written complaint or allegation in writing cannot, in any manner, be understood to be a pre-requisite or a sine qua non for the initiation of action under Section 21.

"That material need not necessarily be in the written or be interpreted as being confined to something which an individual may choose to bring to the notice of the institute. Acceptance of a submission to the contrary would amount to restricting the width and amplitude of the power conferred by Section 21 which enables the institute to proceed on the basis of 'any information'."

However, the court said that a news article cannot be counted as an evidence.

"A newspaper report, as is well settled, cannot and does not constitute evidence per se. A report that may appear in the print media or on a visual news platform, can at best be understood as being an external source from which the institute may gather or derive knowledge of a particular fact or incident," the judge said.

These petitioners were employed with firms which were appointed as joint statutory auditors of the Punjab National Bank to conduct a limited review of its financial statements.

ICAI issued show cause notices to the petitioners for allegedly not complying with various auditing standards in the money laundering case involving Nirav Modi, who had defrauded banks to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore.

The CAs had said that the ICAI cannot initiate suo motu proceedings as they were based merely on news reports.

In response, the court said: "The court is of the firm opinion that the Institute did have the requisite information as contemplated by Section 21 and which justified the initiation of the enquiry against the petitioners in the facts of the present case."

"The answer to the question whether a particular power stands conferred under statute must necessarily be answered on a reading of the statute and on discernment of its scope. The meaning to be conferred upon a statute cannot rest merely on the fact that the power though being found to exist was never invoked earlier," the court added.A

Justice Varma further dismissed the petitions and said that the ICAI is entitled to proceed in the matter.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Dec 17 (IANS) A delegation led by Karnataka Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unit president Prithvi Reddy listed 24 issues and submitted them to Speaker Raghunathrao Malkapure for discussion in the Legislative Council Session to be held in Belagavi.

Speaking to the media, AAP state president Prithvi Reddy said: "AAP workers from all the 31 districts of the state have held discussions with various sections of people including farmers, employees, social workers.

"Based on the information collected, a list of 24 points has been prepared and submitted to the Chairman of the Legislative Council. Instead of falling prey to unnecessary discussions, AAP is engaged in this task with the good intention of ensuring that the debate is of the benefit of the state," he said.

Mukhyamantri Chandru, chairman of the AAP's state Public Relations and Campaign committee, said: "Since the AAP does not have members in the state assembly and legislative council, the party will not be allowed to participate in the Belagavi session to be held from December 19.

"But since we are a party with pro-people concerns, we will not be able to keep quiet without even indirectly participating in the session. Therefore, we have made a list of the issues which need to be discussed in the Legislative Council and submitted them to the Speaker," he said.

AAP leader and senior Supreme Court lawyer Brijesh Kalappa said: "If the assembly sessions are to be meaningful, the problems of the common man should be heard there. But it is ironic that most of the proceedings have fallen victim to the procrastination and lackdesical attitude of the ruling party and the opposition. I am confident that the Speaker will heed the AAP demand and take steps for a useful session."

AAP leaders Jogin, Jagadish V. Sadam, Darshan Jain, B.T. Naganna, Suresh Rathod, Channappa Gowda Nellore and others participated in the meeting.

--IANS
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Kochi, Dec 17 (IANS) The Kerala High Court recently asked why the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) did not appear before it even after being served a notice on pleas challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe into the financial transactions of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB).

Consequent to this, the court on Friday extended the stay previously ordered on issuance of further summons by the ED to former state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and two officials of the KIIFB for two more months.

The judge noted that the RBI did not appear before it on Friday or on any of its previous hearings in the matter, despite having been served notice.

The court then posted the matter for further hearing on January 20.

The court was hearing two petitions, one moved by KIIFB and another by Isaac.

The plea moved by the KIIFB challenged the repeated issuance of summons by the ED to KIIFB officials in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) when it issued 'Masala Bonds'.

Masala Bonds are rupee denominated bonds issued outside India by Indian entities.

The petition moved by Isaac challenged the summons issued by the ED seeking his personal documents as well as those of his family members in connection with the same probe.

Isaac had earlier pointed out that asking for personal documents of the officials and their family members at this preliminary stage of investigation was a violation of their right to privacy.

The KIIFB, in particular, argued that the probe is adversely affecting its ability to raise funds, which are necessary for infrastructure projects in the state.

However, the ED contended that the investigation is at a preliminary stage and that the issuance of summons is perfectly legitimate as per the FEMA Act.

It was also stated that the probe was initiated on the basis of complaints regarding FEMA violations in the issuance of Masala Bonds by KIIFB.

Incidentally, in October this year the court had ordered that no further summons should be issued by the ED to Isaac and the two officials of KIIFB.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Dec 17 (IANS) Telangana's minister for industry and commerce K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday alleged that Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has hurt the people of Telangana by denying a bulk drug park to Hyderabad.

The minister took to Twitter to react to a statement made by the union minister for health, chemicals and fertilisers in the Parliament.

"By denying the Bulk Drug park to India's pre-eminent Life-sciences Hub, you've done a great disservice to the Nation," tweeted Rama Rao, who is also working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

"It's a pity that for NPA Govt political considerations outweigh National interests," added the minister, who always refers to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as Non-Performing Alliance (NPA).

KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, also slammed the union minister for uttering a lie in the Parliament.

Though the written answer shows that a bulk drug park was approved for Andhra Pradesh, the minister told the Lok Sabha that the Centre approved the proposal for the park in Hyderabad and Rs 1,000 crore will be given for the purpose.

Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the bulk drug parks were also approved for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

KTR stated that the minister had not only misled the people of Telangana with his white lies but also the Parliament.

He requested BRS floor leader in Lok Sabha Nama Nageswara Rao to move a privilege motion and make sure that the central minister apologises to people of Telangana for misleading them.

--IANS
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By M.K. Ashoka
Bengaluru, Dec 17 (IANS) Drug cartels have been running a flourishing trade in Karnataka despite the strict vigil by the police department and special wings. The drug peddlers have targeted the IT crowd, students, vulnerable youth, and the rich class in the state, especially in Bengaluru.


The disturbing trend is that the roots of drug peddling are now being linked to terrorism with the arrest of suspected terrorist Mohammad Shariq in connection with the Mangaluru blast, which was declared as an act of terror by Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood.

Sources said that the probe into the Mangaluru blast revealed that the handlers behind the scenes ran drug peddling rackets to fund terrorist activities in southern India.

Mohammad Shariq was focused on Karnataka and his associates carried out terror acts in the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Sources stated that the Coimbatore blast in Tamil Nadu is also linked to the same group. Bhaskar Rao, former police commissioner of Bengaluru who has joined the Aam Aadmi Party in Karnataka, had declared an open war against the drug menace in the IT capital.

Bhaskar Rao was the first police commissioner to admit openly that the drug menace is literally destroying the youth. During his tenure a series of raids were conducted on star hotels and resorts in Bengaluru.

BJP Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, Leher Singh, also raised the issue of drug peddling in the heart of Bengaluru city which was carried out without any fear, on many occasions.

Minister for State for Social Justice A. Narayanaswamy stated in the Rajya Sabha that Bengaluru, Kolar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Udupi and Ramnagar are among the 272 districts in the country identified as most vulnerable to excessive use of drugs.

He said that the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' is being implemented in these districts. Under these programmes volunteers identify and counsel drug addicts and motivate them for de-addiction.

In Karnataka 34 NGOs are working in drug de-addiction. The Karnataka police had seized 21 tonnes of narcotics and destroyed it in July 2022.

The psychotropic and narcotic substances were worth Rs 25.6 crores. The narcotics included ganja, opium, heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs like MDMA, LSD and others. More than 54 per cent of the drugs were seized in Bengaluru city.

In 2022, the Karnataka police destroyed 24 tonnes of drugs worth Rs 50.23 crores. In the last one year 8,505 NDPS Act cases were registered and 7,846 accused were arrested, among which 185 are foreign nationals, according to Director General of Police Praveen Sood. In 2020, the police arrested 5,291 persons under the NDPS Act.

Police sources said that drug peddling is not done anymore only to mint money. The cash flow from drug peddlers is reaching the forces which are indulging in subversive activities.

The National Investigation Agency sleuths investigating the Mangaluru blasts are also probing this angle.

--IANS
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Mysuru, Dec 17 (IANS) Karnataka police have arrested a couple, both Congress leaders, for threatening government officers with a machete in the presence of police, while getting their stalls at the bus terminal in Mysuru city vacated, police said on Saturday.

Mysuru Police Commissioner Ramesh Banoth stated that the couple was absconding after the incident and nabbed later.

The arrested have been identified as Congress leader Shafiq Ahmad and his wife Syed Munibunnisa. Both have been included in the rowdy sheeters' list by the police, he said.

The accused couple, along with some others, had threatened the officers attached to the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) with a machete for getting their stalls vacated from the premises of Sathagalli bus terminal.

The action was taken as per the court order as the couple failed to pay rent for two years. The incident had taken place on December 10. The couple with other women had abused the officers and threatened the staff by wielding the machete.

When it turned into a controversy, they went underground. KSRTC Divisional Transport Officer Mari Gowda had complained about this matter to the Udayagiri police in Mysuru.

The photos and videos of the incident went viral.

The couple were traced in a village of neighboring Kodagu district.

A manhunt has been launched for other three accused in connection with the case.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) One person was killed and at least 12 others were injured in a fire that erupted due to suspected short-circuit in the meter-room of a pizzeria here on Saturday afternoon, the BMC Disaster Control authorities said.

The fire, which emanated from Juno's Pizza outlet, quickly spread on the ground floor of the eatery and the adjacent residential premises of Vishwas Building in Ghatkopar, an east Mumbai suburb, sparking huge panic.

At least 10 fire-tenders were rushed to the site which managed to douse the flames in a couple of hours.

A 46-year-old man named Kershi Dedhia was killed due to severe burns and suffocation, the authorities said.

The condition of an unidentified man, aged around 30, is stated to be critical.

The list of injured includes four police personnel and seven others who have been admitted to various hospitals for minor burns, breathlessness due to suffocation and other issues.

--IANS
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