Chidambaram calls Teesta Setalvad ‘a courageous fighter for justice’

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September 3, 2022

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram on Saturday hailed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant interim bail to activist Teesta Setalvad in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and called her “a courageous fighter for justice.”

“Welcome to freedom, Ms Teesta Setalvad, a courageous fighter for justice!” Chidambaram said in a tweet.

In another tweet, the Congress leader citing the statement of the former Justice took a dig at the Centre. “Justice BN Srikrishna, a distinguished former judge, said yesterday: if I were to stand in a public square and say I don’t like the Prime Minister, somebody might raid me, arrest me, throw me in jail without giving me any reason,” Chidambaram said.

“That is the state of the law and the administration of justice in India today, even as we celebrate 75 years of independence,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to activist Teesta Setalvad in a case in which she was arrested for allegedly fabricating documents to frame innocent people in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases.

The apex court directed Setalvad to surrender her passport till the matter is considered by the High Court. A bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit, Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia said that in its view Setalvad is entitled to release on interim bail.

“In our view, the appellant (Setalvad) is entitled to the release on interim bail… We are not considering whether Setalvad is released on bail or not and High Court shall decide the same.

We are only on during the pendency of the such application, should the custody of the appellant be insisted upon or be granted interim bail. We have considered the matter only from the standpoint of interim bail… Thus, we grant Teesta Setalvad interim bail,” the bench stated in its order. It added, “The entire matter on merits shall be considered by the High Court independently and uninfluenced by any observations made by this court.

It is clarified that the order passed considering facts including that she is a lady and shall not be used by other accused and submissions of other accused be considered purely on their merits.”

Woman dies after molester throws her out of moving train

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Web Team

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September 3, 2022

dead body 2 — Woman dies after molester throws her out of moving train 3

A woman was killed after allegedly being thrown out of a running train, by a man in Fatehabad on Saturday.

The victim was going from Rohtak to Tohana. The accused boarded the train and tried molesting her.

As per the police, the incident happened after she fought a man who was trying to molest her. During this, he pushed her and she fell off the train.

A 30-year-old woman was killed after she was allegedly thrown out of the moving train when she fought a man trying to molest her. He pushed her and she fell off. The victim was going from Rohtak to Tohana with her son. The accused boarded the train midway and tried to molest her,” Fatehabad SP Aastha Modi told agencies.

The accused has been arrested after her husband informed the police about the incident. “The accused jumped off the train and was injured. The child got off at Tohana and informed his father.

His father searched for his wife and found her body around 4 am in the morning. He then informed the police. Government Railways Police then rounded up the accused, and further legal process is going on,” SP Aastha Modi said.

Serena Williams bids farewell to tennis after third-round loss

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ANI

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September 3, 2022

American Tennis legend Serena Williams bid farewell to the sport on Friday, after her defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the third round match of the women’s singles category in the ongoing US Open 2022.

Serena, only a few weeks away from turning 41 and perhaps the greatest woman the world of tennis has ever seen, lost the match 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1.

Serena was heading into the match ranked at number 605 worldwide, but still, the Arthur Ashe Stadium was jam-packed to witness the tennis legend play her 1014th match and perhaps, the final one of her storied career, which boasts of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, an Open Era record. Williams has 73 WTA tour titles, with Martina Navratilova of America leading the list with 167, followed by Chris Evert (157), Stefanie Graf (107), Court (92).

Tomljanovic on the other hand was in red hot form, having won 15 out of her previous 19 matches.

Serena looked to be in control during the opening set, breaking her opponent at love for a 5-3 advantage. But her Aussie opponent kept calm and took the set 7-5.

US to speed up arms sales to its allies to counter China

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ANI

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September 3, 2022

us flag — US to speed up arms sales to its allies to counter China 6

With an aim to outcompete China, the US will speed up its arms sales to allies and partners. The US will expedite arms sales to allies and partners by removing several bureaucratic road bumps that could cause delays in order to better compete with countries such as China, reported Wall Street Journa.

The report said on Friday that the Defence Department launched an initiative to streamline US arms sales to foreign countries, especially to allies and partners that have provided military equipment to Ukraine.]

The US promised European allies who have provided military equipment to Ukraine that it would be able to replenish their stocks, but the US defence industry is facing a backlog, reported Wall Street Journal.

The US could speed up arms sales by having US defence officials help countries draft initial requests for military equipment that would help avoid delays caused by requests that trigger security concerns, the report said.

The Defence Department only approves contracts once a year for certain military equipment, which means countries that fail to submit their orders by the Defence Department’s deadline must wait until the following year, the report added.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia urged Maha govt to reduce vat on ATF

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ANI

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September 2, 2022

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to reduce the value-added tax (vat) on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) to boost air-connectivity.

Scindia was speaking at the sidelines of a meeting with representatives of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agricultural (MCCIA) here.

“I would request Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to reduce the vat on ATF. We all know civil aviation will play an important role in future so we need air connectivity,” said Scindia.

He also stressed the difference in VAT among various states across the country. “I hope that all the states will reduce the VAT on ATF. In Maharashtra, barring Pune and Mumbai, the vat on ATF is 4 per cent, while in Pune and Mumbai it is at 25 per cent. I have requested them to reduce it and get it between 1 to 4 per cent,” he added.

He also pointed out that he had earlier requested the former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray but no action was taken.

“I had requested the same with former CM Uddhav Thackery, but no progress happened but I once again request the Maharastra government to do this as earliest,” he said.

He also thanked the administration of numerous states who implemented the change in taxes on ATF.

Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar admitted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai for open heart surgery.

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ANI

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September 2, 2022

Fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar has been admitted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai for open heart surgery.

Kaskar was brought to the hospital for a medical examination at 11.05 am today. His condition is stable, Hospital authorities said.

Earlier on August 23, Kaskar was discharged from Mumbai’s JJ hospital. Kaskar was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after he complained of chest ache.

He has now been taken to Thane jail. He was sent to judicial custody in a money laundering case on February 24, after he was sent to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate on February 18 for seven days by a special PMLA court in Mumbai in the money laundering case.

Back in February, the Enforcement Directorate had arrested Kaskar in connection with a money laundering case. Kaskar was later remanded in judicial custody.

The arrest of Kaskar came days after the ED raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case Searches carried out by the Enforcement Directorate at several places linked to the people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources on February 18.

These developments hold significance as NCP leader Nawab Malik was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in connection with Dawood Ibrahim’s money laundering case on Wednesday.

NCB seized 200 kg ganja worth Rs 4 crore in Mumbai

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ANI

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September 2, 2022

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 200 kg of ganja worth Rs 4 crore on Friday.

“210 kgs ganja worth Rs 4 crore and a vehicle used for transportation have been seized and one person arrested,” said NCB officials.

As per reports, the drug was being transported to Mumbai and adjoining areas. Further investigations are underway.

Earlier on August 27, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) carried out raids in the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai and arrested a 24-year-old youth.

According to NCB, the arrested person, Shubham Bhagat, is a gym trainer and used to smuggle drugs. NCB had received secret information and on the basis of that, raids were conducted at the house of Shubham and recovered different types of drugs.

NCB said it recovered ganja, charas, LSG paper and other drugs from his house. The NCB registered a case against him and presented him before the court. The court sent him to NCB custody for two days.

NCB officials said that many more people are associated with Shubham in the drug dealing and more arrests will soon be made.

Maha BJP president Bawankule states “ It will contest local elections in alliance with Shinde group”

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PTI

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September 2, 2022

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said his party and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will contest local elections in alliance.

He also told reporters the alliance will emerge winners in the polls to municipal corporations, councils, urban and rural local bodies.

Bawankule said as part of the BJP’s Mission 2024, in which Central ministers will go to Lok Sabha constituencies to check welfare projects, Chandrapur will be visited by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. “Chandrapur has six Assembly seats. Minister Puri’s visit will be on September 22 and 23,” he added.

BJP chief Mungantiwar states “Maharashtra would soon see a cabinet expansion”

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PTI

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September 2, 2022

Maharashtra minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Friday said an expansion of the state cabinet is expected to take place “soon” to fill up the existing vacancies.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who took oath on June 30, expanded his cabinet for the first time on August 9 when he inducted 18 new members into his council of ministers – nine each of the rebel Shiv Sena faction headed by him and the BJP, which is supporting his government.

The induction of 18 new members into the Maharashtra cabinet took its strength to 20. The permissible number of council of ministers in the state, including CM, is 43. Talking to the media here, Mungantiwar said, “We recently formed government and inducted 20 ministers, including Chief Minister and Deputy CM.

According to norms, Maharashtra can have 43 ministers.

There can be 23 more ministers in the state government.” The BJP leader, who was inducted into the cabinet on August 9, handles forest, cultural affairs and fishery portfolios. Mungantiwar said there were 33 ministers in the last government.

“The Chief Minister and Deputy CM will discuss the issue of cabinet expansion. New MLAs can get a chance to serve the general public and an expansion of the cabinet is likely to be done very soon,” he added.

Delhi Pollution Control Committee issues guidelines for Ganesh Utsav, Durga Puja

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ANI

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September 2, 2022

Delhi Pollution Control Committee on Friday issued guidelines for Ganesh Utsav, Durga Puja and other upcoming festivals. The Committee directed the idol makers and sellers to use natural clay and biodegradable materials for the manufacture of idols.

The Committee said POP (Plaster of Paris)-based idols shall not be allowed for immersion in water bodies (ghats/ponds) except in designated places identified by authorities.

“Safety measures are to be taken at the banks of river Yamuna during immersion of idols as detailed in the guidelines. As far as possible, encourage immersion of idols in a bucket of water or artificial ponds. Worship materials may be collected separately for disposal,” the committee said.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day long festival that began on August 31 and will end on September 9 with Visarjan (immersion of idols in water bodies).

This festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. Celebrated in Shukla Paksha of the month Ashwin in the Hindu calendar (September-October), Durga Puja celebrations this year starts from September 25 with Shasthi falling on October 1.

The 10-day festival marks the worship of Goddess Durga. Months before the festival, artisanal workshops sculpt idols of Durga and her children (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh) using unfired clay.

The festival marks its beginning on the day of Mahalaya when the ritual of ‘pran pratistha’ is done by painting the eyes on the goddess idol.

Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami…every day the festival has its own significance and set of rituals. The celebrations culminate on the tenth day known as Vijaya Dashami when the idols are immersed in water bodies.