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Chennai, July 14 (IANS) AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday criticised the ruling DMK government, urging Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to immediately provide compensation and government jobs to the families of those who died in police custody.

In a post on social media platform X, Palaniswami highlighted the case of Meena, the wife of a man called Murugan, who allegedly died in police custody in Sankarankoil in March 2024.

He said that despite the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordering a government job for Meena, she has neither received employment nor any financial relief from the state government.

“Reports indicate that the DMK government has not offered Meena, a daily wage earner, any assistance so far. She continues to struggle to support her three children, earning just Rs 300 a day,” Palaniswami said.

Directing his criticism at Chief Minister Stalin, Palaniswami questioned the government’s silence and inaction.

“Mr. Stalin, what is your response to the plight of Meena, who lost her husband due to the brutality of your police?”

He also raised concerns about another alleged custodial death — that of temple security guard Ajith Kumar from Thiruppuvanam. He claimed that the state hurriedly offered compensation in the form of a job and land, but the family found the benefits unsuitable and inadequate.

“There seems to be no concrete steps being taken to prevent lock-up deaths, nor a sincere effort to deliver justice or relief to the affected families,” he said.

Palaniswami accused the DMK government of being indifferent to the suffering of victims’ families, branding it as “an anti-people regime.”

He demanded that the state act immediately and fairly compensate all families of custodial death victims.

“I urge the @mkstalin model DMK government to provide appropriate compensation without further delay to those who have lost loved ones in police custody,” the AIADMK leader added.

--IANS

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Amaravati, July 14 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have expressed condolences over the passing away of veteran actress B. Saroja Devi.

Chief Minister Naidu posted on the social media platform X that he was deeply saddened to hear that the renowned actress Saroja Devi passed away in Bengaluru.

He noted she received numerous accolades as a heroine in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. She acted in many films along with great actors like NTR and ANR, captivating Telugu audiences. “I pray to God that her soul finds peace. I express my heartfelt condolences to her family members,” wrote Naidu.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also mourned the loss of Saroja Devi. The actor-politician posted on X that he was saddened to know about the demise of Sarojia Devi and prayed that her soul finds peace.

“From 1955, for nearly three decades, she acted in Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil films, leaving her unique mark on the film industry. With films like Bhookailas, Panduranga Mahatyam, Seetharama Kalyanam, Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, Shakuntala, Danaveera Shura Karna, and Atmabalam, she won the hearts of Telugu audiences,” wrote Pawan Kalyan.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Saroja Devi.

Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep condolences on the passing of renowned actress and Padma Bhushan recipient B. Saroja Devi. He recalled her remarkable contributions to Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil cinema, where she won the hearts of audiences with numerous successful films.

Extending his sympathies to her family and fans, YS Jagan stated that her invaluable services to the film industry would always be remembered. Stating that her demise is an irreparable loss to cinema, he prayed for her soul to rest in peace.

Saroja Devi passed away at the age of 87 on Monday. She was reported to have been suffering from age-related illness.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, over alleged money laundering linked to two London property deals.

Vadra, who has denied any wrongdoing in his repeated appearance before the ED, left after spending about two hours in the federal agency’s office.

Vadra refused to give any statement to mediapersons after the proceedings. On several earlier occasions, he hit out at the ED for hounding him and stated that he had nothing to hide.

The ED has alleged that the two properties in question are benami properties of Vadra which he acquired in collusion with UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari.

The two London properties are at Grosvenor Hill Court, 13, Bourdon Street, and 19, Bryanston Square. The ED treats them as proceeds of crime related to a money laundering case registered in 2016.

The ED alleged that Vadra lived in the Bryanston Square property on a few occasions during his London visits.

The properties under the ED's lens drew attention after investigators sniffed benami deals between Vadra and Bhandari.

The investigation agency alleged that Bhandari renovated a property in London in 2009 using funds provided by Vadra.

Earlier on July 5, Bhandari was declared a fugitive economic offender by a Delhi Court, a development which came within months of a British court’s refusal to extradite him to India.

Bhandari, 62, who fled to the UK in 2016, was declared a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, paving the way for the probe agency to attach his assets.

The ED filed a chargesheet against Bhandari in 2020 based on proceedings initiated against him by the Income Tax department under the anti-black money law.

Bhandari was accused of concealing overseas assets, making false statements to suppress information about overseas assets and using backdated documents.

--IANS

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Kolkata, July 14 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday said that the process of framing of charges has been completed against Sandip Ghosh, the controversial former principal of the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, in the case of his alleged involvement in the multi-crore financial irregularities case at the institute.

The trial process in the matter will start on July 22 at a special CBI court in Kolkata. He has been accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, including Section 7 (acceptance of bribe), Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), Section 467 (forgery of valuable securities, wills, and other significant documents) and Section 468 (forgery of valuable securities, wills, and other significant documents).

A total of five persons, including Ghosh, have been named as accused in subsequent charge sheets filed by the CBI in the case of R.G. Kar's financial irregularities.

The other four are Ghosh’s erstwhile assistant-cum-bodyguard Afsar Ali, and two private contractors -- Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra, and Ashish Pandey, a junior doctor.

Ghosh and former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal, were also arrested by the CBI in connection with the ghastly rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of R.G. Kar within the hospital premises in August last year.

However, both Mondal and Ghosh were granted “default bail” by the trial court in Kolkata since the CBI failed to file a supplementary chargesheet within 90 days from the date of their arrests.

Though Mondal is currently out on bail, Ghosh continued to be behind bars for his involvement in the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case.

The CBI started an investigation into the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case last year following an order from the Calcutta High Court.

Later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also made a suo moto entry into the matter by registering an enforcement case information report (ECIR) in the matter.

In the chargesheet, CBI had identified Ghosh as the mastermind behind the entire scam.

The main charges in the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case are manipulations in the tendering system of the said medical institute, getting the infrastructure-related work there done by outsourced contractors, bypassing the state public works department, smuggling of biomedical wastes of the hospital and finally selling of organs of unidentified bodies coming to the hospital morgue for autopsy purposes at premium prices outside.

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, July 14 (IANS) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday visited the Burn Centre at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and met the family members of Soumyashree Bisi, the victim student pursuing B.Ed at FM Autonomous College, Balasore, who attempted self-immolation on Saturday over alleged harassment by the Head of Department (HOD), Samir Kumar Sahu.

The Union Minister also interacted with the team of doctors treating the critically injured girl.

Speaking to media persons after the visit, Pradhan made it clear that justice will be served and no one involved in the incident will be spared. He condemned the incident as “deeply unfortunate and highly disturbing,” stating that it reflects a grave failure in the academic ecosystem.

Pradhan said the Odisha government has already initiated disciplinary and legal proceedings, and more stringent actions will follow. He added that preliminary action has been taken in the case, and the police are actively probing the matter. The Minister added that whoever is responsible — whether in uniform or position — will not be spared.

“There are over 800 colleges in Odisha. This incident has exposed serious lapses in campus safety and student support systems. We need urgent reforms and strict enforcement of guidelines across all institutions,” Pradhan said. Calling for accountability, the Minister added, “Those in positions of responsibility should introspect. If anyone is found negligent or complicit, stepping down is the ethical and moral course of action.”

Pradhan, who also serves as a Member of Parliament from Odisha, said he visited the victim’s family not only as a Union Minister but as a concerned guardian. “This is not just an institutional failure — it’s a humanitarian crisis. I stand with the family and assure them of full support from both the Centre and the State,” he said. The Minister concluded by calling the incident “a wake-up call” for the education system and emphasised that the girl’s life and dignity must be protected at all costs.

Meanwhile, the victim Soumyashree’s brother demanded justice, alleging negligence and failure of the college administration in protecting his sister. “The way the college handled the issue was completely irresponsible. There had been ongoing disputes. My sister was mentally disturbed due to the treatment she received. We believe that the authorities, including the Principal, should be held accountable,” alleged Soumyashree’s brother. He also sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, to ensure strict punishment for the culprits.

Regarding communication with the Chief Minister or other higher authorities, he stated, “We want justice. The Chief Minister should intervene. A fair and thorough investigation must be done. Anyone found guilty must be punished, no matter how senior they are.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The further softening of the CPI inflation in June to 2.10 per cent -- lowest year-on-year inflation recorded since January 2019 -- gives the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) significant room to manoeuvre but we do not expect an immediate policy pivot in August, economists said on Monday.

The RBI monetary policy committee (MPC) is likely to hold rates and wait for stronger growth signals — particularly from investment and export activity — before calibrating further action, said Arsh Mogre, economist, PL Capital.

“The current real policy rate of +340 bps (repo at 5.50 per cent vs CPI at 2.10 per cent) is already highly restrictive by both historical and global EM standards. However, the central bank may prefer to validate the durability of food disinflation across July–September and monitor the kharif sowing and rainfall trajectory before signalling the next round of easing,” said Mogre.

A rate cut in October remains the base case, contingent on continued inflation moderation and external stability. In sum, the macro narrative is transitioning from anchoring inflation to assessing the timing and depth of growth support, according to experts.

The CPI inflation is following a continuously easing trajectory, from 6.2 per cent in October 2024 to 5.4 per cent in November 2024, to 5.2 per cent in December 2024, 4.26 per cent in January 2025, 2.82 per cent in May 2025 and now 2.10 per cent in June, posing a decline of 72 basis points in headline inflation of June 2025 in comparison to May 2025.

This has provided a substantial boost to households, businesses and India’s growth, said Hemant Jain, President of industry chamber PHDCCI.

The significant decline in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of June is mainly attributed to decline in inflation of vegetables, pulses and products, meat and fish, cereals and products, sugar and confectionery, milk and products and spices.

“Moving ahead, assuming a normal monsoon, CPI inflation is expected to remain well within the RBI’s target band,” said Jain.

Despite concerns over uneven monsoon spatiality in June, the impact on prices remains contained as mandi arrivals remained robust, especially in pulses, onions, and oilseeds, said experts.

According to Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA, Kharif sowing is up by a robust 6.6 per cent which augurs well for containing food prices.

“ICRA expects the headline CPI inflation to recede further and bottom out at 1.9 per cent in July 2025, despite an unfavourable base,” Nayar mentioned.

--IANS

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Agartala, July 14 (IANS) After CPI (M), the opposition Congress on Monday organised massive protests across Tripura protesting against the installation of smart electric meters and the increase in electricity tariff.

The Congress held protest rallies and demonstrations in front of the offices of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) in all eight districts, and they announced that they would continue their agitation if the government did not revoke its decision.

Congress leader Tanmoy Roy said that the TSECL, under the BJP government, without following the stipulated procedure and any prior announcement, secretly started installing smart meters in the premises of all consumers and increased the tariff of electricity last month.

“The BJP is playing a double standard role regarding the smart meter issue. They are protesting against the West Bengal government decision in Bengal and the BJP government in Tripura installing the smart meters against the wishes of the people,” he told the media in Agartala.

Roy said that in the name of sundries, duty charges, fuel charges, and power tariffs were increased secretly to a large extent, putting a huge burden on the common people.

Senior Congress leaders Prabir Chakraborty and Neel Kamal Saha addressed the demonstration in front of the TSECL headquarters here in Agartala.

On July 11, the CPI-M held protest rallies and demonstrations across the state on similar issues. Meanwhile, the TSECL has set a target to install six lakh consumer-friendly smart meters across the state by March 2027. The state-owned corporation has already started to install the smart meters.

TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu earlier said that in alignment with the Union government's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), six lakh smart meters would be installed in the premises of the electricity consumers.

Of the six lakh, around 88,750 smart meters have already been installed in the state so far, Basu had told the media. He said that the TSECL, in alignment with the Centre's RDSS and under the Asian Development Bank-funded projects, has taken significant strides in modernising the state's power infrastructure through the installation of smart meters.

According to the TSECL Managing Director, the digital smart meters are equipped with communication technology that enables automated and remote reading of energy consumption by the consumers.

The smart meters provide real-time usage data to both consumers and TSECL, and these meters would abolish the existing manual meter reading system, he said.

The official added that smart meters would facilitate preparing both postpaid and prepaid billing, usage tracking through mobile apps, and quick fault detection for early resolution. Basu had said, adding that the project is likely to be completed by March 2027 with an estimated cost of Rs 603 crore.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 ( IANS) In a significant step towards strengthening rural transformation in the region, Nagaland Central University has launched a new postgraduate (MA) programme in Rural Development and Management.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, as over 70 per cent of Nagaland’s population resides in rural areas, underscoring the need for focused development strategies.

According to the University, this programme, introduced under the Department of Rural Development and Planning, aims to prepare a skilled workforce capable of addressing the diverse challenges and opportunities in rural landscapes, particularly across Nagaland and the broader North Eastern region.

Approved during the university’s 40th Academic Council meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Jagadish K. Patnaik, the programme will commence with an initial intake of 20 students.

Applications are currently open, with the last date for submission being July 20. For candidates not appearing for CUET, an entrance test is scheduled for July 28.

The new course offers a comprehensive curriculum that blends classroom learning with field-based experiences. It covers key areas such as the rural economy, governance, social dynamics, natural resource management, and the design and implementation of development programmes.

Highlighting the relevance of the initiative, Prof Jagadish K. Patnaik stated, “This programme represents our commitment to academic excellence and to addressing the real-world developmental needs of rural and tribal communities. With a balance of theoretical insights and practical exposure, we aim to nurture professionals who will drive meaningful change at the grassroots.”

He further extended his best wishes to all involved, noting that the programme is expected to become a cornerstone for producing leaders grounded in community realities.

Prof Jayanta Choudhury, Head of the Department, added, “The launch of this programme is a well-considered move to develop local leadership and professional capacities in rural development. It will empower students academically and also enable them to create a meaningful impact in their communities.”

He also acknowledged the contributions of Dr Deepa Thangjam, Dr Merensangla Longkumer, and Dr Guneshori Maisnam, Assistant Professors in the department.

Supporting the initiative, Prof Dipak Sinha, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Medziphema Campus, assured comprehensive support for the successful execution of the programme.

Meanwhile, Prof B. Kilangla Jamir, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, congratulated the department on this significant milestone.

Key Highlights of the Programme included an inter-disciplinary syllabus, integrating classroom knowledge with on-ground learning, emphasis on planning, execution, monitoring, and assessment of rural development programmes, strong career avenues in public service, NGOs, academia, and entrepreneurship and a focus on creating direct impact in tribal and rural regions, official added.

Graduates in B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., or BBA (excluding language subjects) with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply. Candidates from SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories are offered relaxation as per norms. Additionally, students from Nagaland University-affiliated colleges will receive a 10 per cent bonus weightage.

--IANS

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Bhopal, July 14 (IANS) Two minor girls drowned after falling into a rainwater-filled, abandoned borewell in Hiloundha village of Nagaud tehsil of Satna district.

The tragedy occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday when 16-year-old Somvati and her 12-year-old friend Durga, both residents of Reura Kala Bhatwa, were accompanying their families for paddy plantation work. Their bodies have been recovered after eight hours of the rescue operation.

According to officials, the girls wandered into a nearby field owned by Ramesh Mishra while playing. Due to heavy rainfall earlier in the day, the field was waterlogged, obscuring the open borewell. Locals believe Durga slipped into the pit first, and Somvati, in an attempt to rescue her, also fell in. The borewell had reportedly been left uncovered after its casing was removed following a failed installation attempt.

The rescue operation, led by SDM Jitendra Verma and supported by the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF), faced significant challenges due to the remote location and waterlogged terrain. Somvati’s body was recovered by 5 p.m. on Sunday with the help of villagers, a police official said, while Durga’s body, trapped nearly 20 feet deep, was retrieved around 12:45 a.m. (Monday) after hours of intensive effort and manual search. The site was approximately 3.5 kilometres from the nearest village and accessible only via muddy tractor paths, further complicating rescue logistics.

Both bodies were sent to Nagod Hospital for post-mortem examination, they said. On Sunday, the district public relations officer, in a post on the official X handle, wrote, “In a distressing incident near Hilondha village in Satna’s Nagaud tehsil, two young girls from the Chaudhary family tragically fell into an uncovered borewell located in an agricultural field. The family, originally from Reura Kala Bhatwa, had come to the site for farming activities. While rescue teams have successfully retrieved the body of one child, efforts are still underway to locate and recover the second girl.”

Authorities have initiated the process for compensation under the Revenue Book Circular, with Rs 5,000 provided immediately to each family and Rs 4 lakh per victim pending approval. The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of abandoned borewells in rural areas.

Despite previous directives from the district administration to seal such hazards, the borewell in question remained exposed, leading to the fatal accident.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, July 14 (IANS) Karnataka Minister for RDPR, IT, and BT, Priyank Kharge, on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP after Maharashtra Police arrested his close associate Lingaraj Kanni on drug peddling charges, asserting that the Congress has already taken swift disciplinary action and challenging the BJP to show similar resolve against its own tainted leaders.

The arrested individual, Lingaraj Kanni, is president of the Kalaburagi South Block Congress Unit and is known to be close to both Priyank Kharge and Congress MLA Allamaprabhu Patil.

Kanni was apprehended by the Thane Police in Maharashtra’s Thane city while allegedly attempting to sell narcotic substances. According to police, he was found in possession of 120 bottles of banned Codeine-based syrup worth approximately Rs 27,000. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Bazarpeth Police Station. Further investigation is underway.

Speaking to IANS, Priyank Kharge defended the Congress’s stance, saying: “BJP can do whatever they want. We are law-abiding citizens and a law-abiding party. The minute such news surfaced, we acted immediately and suspended him. Whether it’s Rs 27,000 or Rs 27 crore, the value doesn’t matter—we have taken action.”

He challenged the BJP to demonstrate the same integrity, stating: “Similarly, let the BJP show some spine and suspend their MLAs who are accused of rape, atrocities against SCs and STs, or under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO). Let them clean their own house before talking about us. We have zero tolerance for anyone breaking the law in our party.”

Kharge also criticised the BJP’s selective outrage, pointing to the silence over allegations against its coalition partners.

“What about North Kannada or South Kannada? Many videos have surfaced involving their ally Janata Dal (Secular). Have they uttered a single word in the Prajwal Revanna case? At least we have the spine to take action when necessary,” he said.

Hitting back at personal attacks, Kharge added: “According to the BJP, whatever happens in Karnataka is Priyank Kharge’s fault. They have no real issues to raise, so they’re trying to make this into one. It’s a small matter worth Rs 27,000. He broke the law, and we took action.”

Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that Kanni had joined the Congress during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections after previously being affiliated with the BJP.

Authorities continue to investigate the case, with further details expected in the coming days.

--IANS

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