Delhi Riots 2020: Expeditiously Hear Sharjeel Imam Bail Plea in UAPA Case, SC Tells Delhi HC 2
The Supreme Court on Friday told the Delhi High Court to expeditiously hear the bail plea of student activist Sharjeel Imam in an Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) case related to Delhi riots which took place in February 2020.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and S C Sharma said it was not inclined to entertain the plea, which also sought bail under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Imam’s counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, said the bail plea had been pending since 2022 while clarifying he was not pressing for bail at the present stage.
The top court noted the high court would be hearing the case on November 25.
“This being the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the constitution, we are not inclined to entertain the same. However, petitioner shall be at liberty to request the high court to hear the bail application as expeditiously as possible preferably on November 25, as fixed by the high court. The high court shall consider the said request,” held the bench.
Imam and several others were booked under the stringent provisions UAPA and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the “larger conspiracy” behind the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.
Fadnavis Files Nomination From Nagpur South-West, Says Mahayuti's Work Speaks for Itself 4
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday filed his nomination from the Nagpur South-West assembly constituency for the November 20 state elections.
Addressing a rally before filing the papers, he said the Mahayuti government’s work speaks for itself, and hit out at the opposition parties, saying the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme and its beneficiaries were enough to defeat them.
Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of the state from 2014 to 2019 and for a short tenure of 80 hours in November 2019, has successfully contested the assembly polls for five times from Nagpur — two times from Nagpur West constituency and three times from Nagpur South-West seat.
This is his sixth assembly election. He has been an MLA for the past 25 years starting 1999.
Before filing his nomination form, Fadnavis visited Union minister and former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari’s residence here. Both the BJP leaders then paid floral tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue at the Sanvidhan square in the city, followed by a roadshow from there till Akashvani square.
Addressing a gathering at the end of the roadshow, Fadnavis said, “Our work speaks louder than our words. People can see the development in Nagpur — be it Nagpur Metro Rail, Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway or other development projects that have changed the face of Nagpur.” The work carried out by the BJP in the last seven-and-a-half years in the state and by the Centre in the last 10 years, has changed the face of Nagpur, he said.
“I won’t talk about the opposition parties as our Ladki Bahin (scheme and its beneficiaries) is enough for them. Congress leaders Sunil Kedar and Nana Patole even tried to stop the Ladki Bahin Yojana by filing a petition in Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court,” he added.
Ladki Bahin is a flagship scheme of the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government, under which eligible women get a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month.
The Mahayuti government changed the picture of Vidarbha through several projects, including the Gosikhurd irrigation projects, development of Nagpur and Amravati airport and other works.
“The Mahayuti government is creating a new Maharashtra under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is creating a new India,” Fadnavis said.
He said his government issued 48 Government Resolutions (GR) for the welfare of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, and challenged the Congress to show even one such GR issued during its term.
It has also worked for the tribal community and all other sections of the society, he said.
Fadnavis and two other sitting BJP MLAs – Mohan Mate from Nagpur South and Krishna Khopde from Nagpur East – filed their nominations at the Nagpur district collectorate. Gadkari and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule accompanied Fadnavis at the time.
Addressing the gathering earlier, Gadkari said what the Congress could not do in 60 years, the Mahayuti government has done in Nagpur and Maharashtra under the leadership of Fadnavis and PM Modi.
Gadkari, who is a Lok Sabha member from the Nagpur constituency, said that development works of more than Rs 1 lakh crore were carried out in Nagpur in the last 10 years.
“Maharashtra has got a very able leadership in the form of Fadnavis,” he said, urging people to give the reins of the state in Fadnavis’ hands again.
Amid a stalemate in the Maha Vikas Aghadi over the sharing of seats for the Maharashtra assembly polls, allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and held deliberations.
MVA sources on Sunday said a seat-sharing deal is likely to be sealed in a day or two after arriving at consensus.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20. The process to file nominations will start on October 22.
The differences among MVA allies over certain seats had escalated into a war of words between state Congress chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, prompting Uddhav Thackeray to appeal to parties not to stretch matters to a breaking point.
Sharad Pawar on Sunday stayed put at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai where Congress leader Naseem Khan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Anil Parab, and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh called on him.
Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra were in Delhi to attend the central election committee meeting, sources said.
“Talks among MVA allies are centred around 10 to 12 seats to decide which party can give a better candidate,” they said.
Naseem Khan told PTI that discussions for building a consensus on the remaining 10 per cent of the seats were in progress.
“Since Sharad Pawar is the architect of MVA, we met him and held talks,” Khan said.
Meanwhile, former MLC and JD (U) leader Kapil Patil joined the Congress in Delhi.
After the BJP declared its first list of 99 candidates on Sunday, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto claimed the saffron party has fielded dynasts.
“Those who feel BJP doesn’t believe in dynastic politics will be embarrassed after reading the list. They must understand that the BJP truly believes in dynastic politics,” he added.
The BJP has fielded relatives of influential leaders in some segments including Sreejaya Chavan, daughter of former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Sreejaya Chavan will make her electoral debut from the home turf Bhokar, which had been represented by the senior Chavan, in Nanded district.
The BJP has also renominated Nitesh Rane, son of former Union minister and Konkan strongman Narayan Rane, from the Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district, and Santosh Danve, sitting MLA from Bhokardan constituency in Jalna.
Santosh Danve is the son of former Union minister Raosaheb Danve.
NIA Moves SC Challenging 17 PFI Members' Bail in 2022 RSS Leader Murder Case 8
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order which granted bail to 17 Popular Front of India (PFI) members in the 2022 murder case of RSS leader Srinivasan.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih was told by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti, appearing for the NIA, that the agency has filed 17 separate appeals in the matter.
She informed the bench that the Kerala High Court, in its impugned order dated June 25, granted bail to the 17 accused and rejected the bail pleas of nine accused.
“We have filed 17 separate Special Leave Petitions. This court may take up all the SLPs together,” she urged the bench on Friday.
The bench, which was hearing a plea of one of the accused, Saddam Hussain MK, whose bail plea was rejected by the high court, directed the registry to seek permission from Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud to list all matters together.
All the accused, who were granted bail are also facing trial for allegedly instigating communal violence in Kerala as well as various other parts of the country.
The high court had passed the judgement on the pleas filed by the 26 accused against a special court’s orders denying them bail.
While granting bail to 17 of the 26 accused, the high court had imposed stringent conditions on them.
They were asked to share their mobile numbers and real-time GPS locations with the investigating officer. Besides, the court asked the accused not to leave Kerala, surrender their passports and keep their mobile phones charged and active round the clock.
It had directed the 17 accused to “present themselves before the special court, which shall enlarge them on bail on such conditions as the special court may deem necessary.”
Initially, 51 people were arrayed as accused in connection with the murder of Srinivasan on April 16, 2022, in Palakkad district. One among those arrested died and seven are absconding.
Charge sheets against the remaining accused were filed in two phases in July and December 2022.
While police were investigating the murder, the Centre received information that office bearers and cadres of the PFI and its affiliates in Kerala had conspired to instigate communal violence and radicalise its cadres to commit terrorist acts in Kerala and various parts of the country, the high court had noted in its order.
Therefore, the Centre directed the NIA in September 2022 to take up and investigate the case against the accused.
In an order dated December 19, 2022, the Centre, referring to Srinivasan’s death, said that a larger conspiracy was hatched by the leaders of the PFI “which has grave national and international ramifications” and needed to be “thoroughly investigated to unearth the wider conspiracy and to identify the other accused”, the HC noted in its order.
The Centre accordingly directed the NIA to take up the probe into the murder case as well and the agency filed its consolidated charge sheet in 2023 with two supplementary charge sheets later.
Seat-Sharing Talks Between Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) Over: Sanjay Raut Targets Congress 10
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said the seat-sharing talks between his party and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) have concluded as these two parties are driven by a desire and mindset to resolve issues.
His remark is apparently targeted at the third Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress again, a day after he expressed disappointment over the delay in the seat-sharing talks in the alliance and accused the Maharashtra Congress leaders of being incapable of making decisions.
Talking to reporters, Raut said the current national politics is being driven by regional parties and his party’s stand is that they must get space in their respective states.
He said Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country with the help of regional parties like Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD-U). There is a majority of regional parties in the INDIA bloc, he added.
The Rajya Sabha member also said that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav spoke to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and the talks between the two leaders were good.
“We (Sena UBT) held talks with NCP (SP) the whole day on Friday. Jayant Patil, the state president of NCP (SP) and we held talks. Most of the issues between us are being resolved. At the end, you need a mindset and will to resolve the issue and both of us have that,” Raut said.
“Seat-sharing between Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) has concluded. Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray are personally looking into it because our high command is in Mumbai,” he added.
Amid an impasse over seat-sharing among the three MVA parties, Uddhav Thackeray on Friday cautioned that haggling among allies, particularly the Congress, must not be allowed to reach a breaking point.
AAP, Kejriwal Will Decide My Future Political Roles: Satyendar Jain 12
Senior AAP leader Satyendar Jain on Saturday said his future political responsibilities will be decided by the party and its convener Arvind Kejriwal.
The former Delhi Health minister was on Friday night released from Tihar jail after spending 18 months in the prison in a money laundering case.
“I will do whatever our party and Arvind Kejriwal say,” the AAP leader told PTI when asked about his future political role.
The Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Jain on Friday afternoon. He was one of the topmost AAP leaders and held various portfolios in the then Kejriwal government when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in May 2022.
“Atrocity is being done… it appears that the British rule has returned. The governments should compete on the work being done for the public. However, the BJP doesn’t do that. They say we won’t let you work,” he said.
Jain who is a MLA from Shakurbasti constituency, charged that he was arrested to stall Kejriwal and AAP government’s works on Mohalla Clinics and Yamuna cleaning.
“I feel it is very unfortunate for the country. All parties need to work in unity and only then the country will progress,” he said.
After being released from jail, Jain met Kejriwal at his residence on Firozshah Road on Friday night.
The AAP convener shared his photos with Jain on X, saying “Welcome back Satyendra!” Jain was given a warm welcome by the party leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh who were present outside Tihar jail to receive him on Friday.
One Dead, Seven Injured as ST Bus Hits Truck on Mumbai-Pune Expressway 14
One passenger died and at least seven others were injured after a state-run bus they were travelling in collided with a truck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway early on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place near Lonavala in Pune district around 3 am, he said.
“The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus from Pathardi depot (in Ahmednagar) was on its way to Mumbai when it collided with a truck from behind. Both the vehicles were going in the same direction,” he said.
A male passenger, identified as Vishwanath Bhagwan Waghmare, died in the incident, while seven to eight passengers suffered injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, the official said, adding that traffic on the route was disrupted for some time, but the authorities soon cleared it.
Delhi Court Grants Bail to AAP's Satyendar Jain in the Money Laundering Case 16
On Friday, the Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain in a high-profile money laundering case. Jain, who served as a former cabinet minister in Delhi, was arrested in May 2022 and has been in custody for over 18 months. The decision was made by Special Judge Vishal Gogne.
Jain’s bail bond was set at Rs. 50,000, matched by a surety bond of the same amount. His wife and daughter were visibly emotional upon hearing the court’s verdict. The court emphasized Jain’s extended incarceration and the lack of substantial progress in the case, which included unaddressed charges and prolonged investigations.
The defense, led by senior advocate N Hariharan and Vivek Jain, contended that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had provided inconsistent figures regarding the alleged proceeds of crime. The lengthy legal process, characterized by 16 adjournments, underlined Jain’s plea for bail due to the absence of completed charges and potential trial delays.
Maharashtra Elections: Shiv Sena Pitches Eknath Shinde for CM Post Ahead of Assembly Polls 18
After the recent announcement of the assembly election dates in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena convened a meeting with its office bearers on Friday.
In the meeting, there was a strong push for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to be presented as the face for the chief ministerial position, a move that signals the party’s strategy as it prepares for the upcoming elections.
Shiv Sena party leaders chanted slogans in support of Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister, collectively asserting that the saffron flag should continue to wave proudly.
The meeting was convened by Shiv Sena leader and MP Shrikant Shinde. Senior Shiv Sena leaders Milind Deora, Ravindra Waikar, Manisha Kayande, Rahul Shewale and other leaders were present for the meeting.
Shiv Sena leader and MLA Dilip Lande praised Chief Minister Shinde and said, “Nath ke Nath, Eknath Shinde hai.”
“Eknath Shinde is a people’s person, who the tears of the public, he is a supreme being who always comes forward to help us and others,” said Lande.
Prakash Surve took a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and said, “Everybody knows who is the real traitor. I organized a marathon in the national park earlier, we got tired of waiting but these people Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray never picked up our calls.These people are not helpful, they are just pretenders, they should be really ousted.”
Sena MP and Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde called on party workers to take the message of the Sena to all quarters.
Nayab Singh Saini Sworn in as Haryana CM for Second Time in BJP’s Historic Third Term 20
Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time on Thursday, as the BJP secured a historic third consecutive term in the state. Saini, a leader from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), had first assumed office in March this year, replacing long-time CM Manohar Lal Khattar. The BJP overcame anti-incumbency by winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, securing a clear majority.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Parade Ground in Panchkula, was attended by prominent political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several NDA Chief Ministers. Around 50,000 people gathered to witness the event.
Saini, 54, expressed gratitude to the public and reiterated his open-door policy for addressing their concerns. “My doors are always open for the common man,” he said after offering prayers at the Valmiki Temple in Panchkula. The Chief Minister and his wife, Suman Saini, participated in religious ceremonies at the Valmiki Temple, Gurdwara Shri Nada Sahib, and Mansa Devi Temple ahead of the oath-taking event.
Saini, a trusted ally of Khattar, took charge in March to counter anti-incumbency sentiments. Despite holding office for just 56 days before the elections, Saini claimed to have achieved more development in that period than Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda did in his 10-year tenure as Chief Minister. He has built a reputation for being accessible to the public, earning the slogan, “Saini mera banda hai” (Saini is my man).
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Modi praised Saini’s rise from a backward class community and his simple, humble nature, which resonated with the people. Saini, who was first elected as an MLA in 2014, has seen a rapid rise in his political career, including winning the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat in 2019 by a large margin.
The BJP’s victory marks a major achievement, with Congress securing 37 seats, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) winning two, and three Independents offering support to the new government. Saini’s return to power signals continuity in leadership as the BJP aims to strengthen its presence in Haryana.
With eight of his previous Cabinet members losing their seats, only Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma were re-elected. Saini’s focus now turns to working closely with the central government to accelerate Haryana’s development.
