Mumbai Court Sentences Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to 15 Days Imprisonment in Defamation Case 2
A Mumbai court on Thursday sentenced Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to 15 days simple imprisonment in a defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Somaiya.
The metropolitan magistrate (Sewree court) convicted the Rajya Sabha member under Indian Penal Code Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.
Medha Somaiya, in her complaint filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta, had alleged that Raut made baseless and completely defamatory allegations against her and her husband.
She said Raut had accused them of being involved in a Rs 100 crore scam over the construction and maintenance of some public toilets under the jurisdiction of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation.
‘The statements made by the accused to the media are per se defamatory. The statements have been made to malign my character in the eyes of the general public,’ the complaint had stated.
Temple Defaced with Anti-Hindu Graffiti in Sacramento, US 4
In a disturbing incident, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, was desecrated with anti-Hindu graffiti, including messages like “Hindus go back.” This act of vandalism comes less than 10 days after a similar attack on a temple in New York.
The BAPS Public Affairs posted on X (formerly Twitter), condemning the hate crime: “Our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: ‘Hindus go back!’ We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.”
Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: “Hindus go back!” We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.
The Sacramento Police have classified the vandalism as a hate crime and have launched an investigation. Officers and CSI are currently examining the scene to gather evidence. Reports suggest that the vandals also cut water lines at the property, further escalating the severity of the attack.
This incident follows another shocking case of vandalism on September 16, when the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was defaced with hate-filled messages on its driveway and signage. The Indian Consulate in New York condemned the act and has urged US law enforcement to take prompt action against the perpetrators.
The Hindu American Foundation has also called for an investigation by the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security, labeling the attack as cowardly and unacceptable. This is not an isolated incident—Hindu temples in both the US and Canada have experienced a surge in hate-fueled vandalism in recent months.
In July, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton, Canada, was similarly targeted. Canadian MP Chandra Arya expressed deep concern over the growing violence against Hindu-Canadian communities, which mirrors the attacks seen across North America.
US Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Bill to Prevent Government Shutdown Ahead of Elections 6
The US Congress has passed a short-term funding bill to avert an impending government shutdown, extending the current funding levels through December 20. The move aims to prevent a shutdown just weeks before the upcoming elections, setting the stage for another budget debate three months from now.
The Senate voted 78-18 in favor of the bill on Wednesday evening, following the House of Representatives’ approval with a 341-82 vote. Notably, all opposition to the bill came from Republicans, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
This temporary funding package was negotiated between House Speaker Mike Johnson and leading Democrats. It includes an additional $231 million allocated to the Secret Service, aimed at bolstering the agency’s resources for the upcoming presidential campaign. The increased funding follows two alleged assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, who is a Republican presidential candidate.
Despite Trump’s public calls for congressional Republicans to shut down the government unless they pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, Speaker Johnson and other key Republican leaders argued that forcing a shutdown just before Election Day would be politically harmful to their party.
The bill now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it into law before the current government funding expires on September 30, when the fiscal year ends.
Both chambers of Congress are set to adjourn for an extended recess this week, allowing lawmakers to return to their home states to campaign for re-elections ahead of the November 5 election.
Supreme Court Grants Bail to Former TN Minister Senthil Balaji in Money Laundering Case 8
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a high-profile money laundering case connected to the cash-for-jobs scam on Thursday. Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14 last year, has been in judicial custody since his arrest.
Earlier this year, on February 28, the Madras High Court had dismissed Balaji’s bail petition in the money laundering case. Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court rejected the former minister’s plea, extending his time in custody.
Despite multiple appeals, Balaji’s bail requests were consistently denied by various courts. His petitions were rejected by a local court on September 20, 2022, and again by the Chennai Sessions Court on January 12, 2023.
The charges against Balaji date back to his tenure as the Transport Minister during the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015, linking him to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The ECIR registered by the ED is based on three FIRs filed by local police in 2018, highlighting his suspected involvement in the scam. At the time, he served in Jayalalithaa’s Cabinet.
In December 2018, Balaji switched his allegiance to the DMK and later became the Electricity Minister following the party’s victory in the May 2021 state elections.
Badlapur Sexual Assault: Cop Shinde Kills Shinde 10
On August 13, two kindergarten girls were sexually abused in a school toilet by a 23-year-old employee named Akshay Shinde in Badlapur. Shinde was employed on a contractual basis on August 1. The incident came to light when one of the victims narrated her suffering to her parents. The news spread across Badlapur. There was a huge protest across Maharashtra because police refused to register the case. Following the protest, Shinde was arrested by the police. There was a ‘Rail roko’ protest at Badlapur railway station with hundreds of protesters blocking railway tracks, hindering train operations. Police later removed the protesters from the site. The ruling Mahayuti alliance suspended policemen who refused to initially file an FIR in the sexual abuse case. Later, three police officers were also suspended.
The Maharashtra government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidence. People call for bandh. Parents and others protest and vandalise the school where the two girls were sexually abused. They later protested at the Badlapur railway station for over 10 hours, demanding that the accused be hanged in public. The principal and two staffers working at Badlapur school were suspended. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court took note of the case, questioning why no action was taken against the school.
SIT begins a probe into the case; during the investigation, SIT adds Pocso sections against the school principal, secretary, and chairman for not reporting the crime. The Bombay High Court urged the Maharashtra government to brief boys to be able to build a safe environment for girls to grow in society. It made the judgement while hearing a plea in the Badlapur sexual assault case.
On September 16, SIT filed its first chargesheet in the case, based on the complaint of one of the girls. Akshay Shinde, a sweeper employed at the school, was arrested on August 17 for sexually abusing the two girls, aged four and five, in a school toilet four days ago. The incident had triggered widespread protests. On September 19, SIT filed its second chargesheet in the case, based on the second girl’s complaint.
Akshay Shinde’s former wife also filed a sexual assault case against him; he was also the prime accused who sexually abused two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur. While Akshay was taken to Badlapur from Taloja jail for investigations in the case. When the police team carrying Akshay neared the Mumbra bypass, he snatched the gun of a constable and fired at the cops escorting him. In retaliation, Sanjay Shinde fired at him. Akshay was critically injured in the firing and died at the hospital. However, his family has challenged the police claim of the events that led to his death in custody. They denied that he could fire at the cops and alleged they had pressured him to confess his role in the rape case. The encounter triggered a war of words between the Maharashtra government and the opposition.
Interestingly, Sanjay Shinde, the police inspector who shot dead Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde, has worked with suspended former ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma in the past, who was known as an ‘encounter specialist’. Pradeep Sharma was popular as an ‘encounter specialist’ in the Mumbai Police, credited with eliminating over 100 criminals during his career. After every encounter, the same theory was given to the media: that the police opened fire at the accused in self-defence.
Kejriwal's Fiery Letter to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Questions BJP's Actions 12
Arvind Kejriwal, National Convenor of AAP, has written a fiery letter to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, urging him to take responsibility and oversee the actions of the BJP. In his letter, Kejriwal posed five critical questions to Bhagwat, holding him accountable for the BJP’s controversial decisions and actions.
Kejriwal wrote, “BJP was born from the womb of RSS,” questioning whether Bhagwat had ever tried to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi from engaging in wrongful acts. He criticized the BJP for aligning with leaders it had previously labeled as corrupt, highlighting the inconsistency in their actions. “The leaders whom PM Modi and Amit Shah called the most corrupt were inducted into the BJP. Do you agree with such politics?” Kejriwal asked.
The AAP leader also questioned the BJP’s age-related retirement rule, pointing out how Amit Shah claimed it wouldn’t apply to Modi, while it was enforced on senior leaders like LK Advani. He further referred to JP Nadda’s statement distancing the BJP from the RSS, questioning if this caused any concern to Bhagwat. “Why doesn’t this rule apply to Modi?” Kejriwal asked.
He went on to allege that the BJP uses enforcement agencies like the ED and CBI to intimidate opposition parties and destabilize governments, questioning the RSS’s stance on this misuse of power. “Parties are being broken by threatening with ED, CBI. Is this right? Does RSS accept this?” he inquired.
This letter comes at a critical time for Kejriwal, who is currently out on bail in connection with the Excise Policy Scam, involving alleged irregularities in Delhi’s excise policy (2021-22). The CBI had withdrawn the policy following corruption allegations.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has stirred controversy with her remarks advocating for the reinstatement of the farm laws, which were repealed by the Modi government in 2021. Ranaut clarified that her views on the subject are personal and do not represent the official stance of the BJP.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Ranaut reiterated, “My views on Farmers Laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.” These comments followed her statements made during a recent event in Mandi, where she suggested that the farm laws faced opposition primarily in certain states.
"I take my words back," says BJP MP #KanganaRanaut a day after making a controversial statement about reinstating three farm bills that had been repealed.
The Congress has quickly capitalized on Ranaut’s remarks, claiming they signal an underlying intention by the BJP to bring back the contentious farm laws. With Haryana assembly elections scheduled for October 5, the timing of this controversy is particularly noteworthy, given the state was a major hub for farmer protests against the laws in 2021.
Although the Modi government had repealed the farm laws following widespread protests, Ranaut’s statements have sparked fresh political debates, with opposition parties questioning whether the ruling BJP might reconsider its decision in the future.
Kerala High Court Denies Actor Siddique's Anticipatory Bail in Sexual Assault Case 16
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by actor Siddique, seeking bail in a case relating to sexual assault of a woman actor. The decision comes in the wake of an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to address incidents of sexual misconduct within the industry.
The allegations were brought to light by a woman actor, who filed a complaint leading to a First Information Report (FIR) being registered by the police in Thiruvananthapuram. Siddique has categorically denied the accusations, and a comprehensive court order is pending.
This legal development follows Siddique’s request for anticipatory bail on September 2, in response to a rape case lodged against him. Malayalam film industry has recently been rocked by a “Me Too” movement exposing various allegations of sexual abuse.
In light of the allegations, Siddique resigned from his position as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), along with the entire 17-member executive committee. Serious accusations have been made by several women actors against prominent figures in the industry, including director Ranjith and actors Mukesh, Siddique and others.
In addition to Siddique, other actors such as Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju have also been implicated in sexual assault cases. The surge in these allegations came in the wake of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed disturbing accounts of harassment, exploitation, and the systematic mistreatment of women in the industry.
The report, made public on August 19, after redacting the names of witnesses and the accused, noted that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by about 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who dominate and exert control over the industry.
Grateful for PM Modi's Support for Ukraine's Territorial Integrity, Says Prez Zelensky 18
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lauded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for his “clear support” of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore paths toward peace.
In a post on X, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the productive conversation.
“This is our third bilateral meeting this year. We are working together to strengthen cooperation across various fields,” he said.
Highlighting the focus on bolstering interaction on international platforms, Zelensky wrote, “The main focus of our conversation was on enhancing our interaction on international platforms, particularly at the UN and G20, as well as implementing the Peace Formula and preparing for the second Peace Summit. We had a substantive discussion on the available opportunities.”
“I am grateful for Prime Minister Modi’s clear support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zelensky wrote, stressing India’s diplomatic stance on the conflict.
During their meeting, PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the war through diplomacy and dialogue.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi emphasized India’s “clear, consistent, and constructive” approach, which prioritizes engagement between all stakeholders.
After the meeting, PM Modi shared a post on X, saying, “Met President Zelensky in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability.”
This marked the third meeting between the leaders in just over three months. The two agreed to maintain close contact, as confirmed by the MEA.
PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine in August, the first by an Indian PM since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, underscored India’s active engagement in promoting peace in the war-torn region.
Despite being seen as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Modi has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution, reaffirming India’s position as a proponent of stability.
India equity benchmarks were trading at an all-time high on Tuesday following positive cues from the Asian and US markets.
At 9:48 a.m., Sensex was up 75 points or 0.09 per cent at 85,004 and Nifty was up 25 points or 0.09 per cent at 25,964. It was the first time the BSE’s benchmark traded above 85,000.
Sensex and Nifty both made a new all-time high of 85,008 and 25,967.
The broader market trend remained positive. Nifty midcap 100 index was up 147 points or 0.24 per cent at 60,860 and Nifty smallcap 100 index was up 37 points or 0.19 per cent at 19,586.
In the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Nestle, Tata Motors, Power Grid, HDFC Bank, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints and NTPC were the top gainers. Bajaj Finance, Infosys, HUL, UltraTech Cement, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Wipro and Bajaj Finserv were the top losers.
Hardik Matalia, Derivative Analyst at Choice Broking said, “After a positive opening, Nifty can find support at 25,850 followed by 25,800 and 25,750. On the higher side, 26,000 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 26,050 and 26,100.”
Among the sectoral indices, auto, pharma, metal, media, energy, infra, PSE, healthcare and oil & gas were the major gainers. IT, PSU Bank, fin service, FMCG and realty were major laggards.
Most of the markets in Asia are trading at a brisk pace. Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul and Jakarta are trading in green. The US markets closed in the green on Monday.
Other experts said, “Two trends deserve attention. The serious global geopolitical concern continues to be the Middle East where things are getting worse. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed hundreds of people triggering concerns. Crude has inched up. Gold and the volatility index are moving up reflecting anxiety.”
“The preference for quality and fair value is getting stronger in India as reflected in the continuous rise in Bank Nifty for the eighth straight session. The return of FIIs into the market in September will aid recovery in frontline banking stocks,” they added.
