Mithibai and N M colleges released their first merit list for traditional BA, BCom and BSc courses on Wednesday evening.
While the cut-offs for BA and BCom at the colleges have dropped only marginally—as was the trend in other city colleges when they released their merit list last month—BSc saw a drastic drop of over 35% at Mithibai compared to last year but only 7% as against 2020.
Police have arrested three people for allegedly stealing several old laptops and hard disks from an electronic goods shop in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, an official said on Thursday.
The theft took place on the intervening night of July 17-18 at the shop in Valiv area, senior police inspector Kailas Barve said.Acting on intelligence inputs and CCTV footage, the police nabbed the three accused on Tuesday, he said.
About ₹ 29 crores in cash and five kilograms of gold jewellery were recovered from the second flat of Arpita Mukherjee in Kolkata, a close aide of arrested West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, during a raid conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a school jobs scam, officials said.
The probe agency officials left Arpita Mukherjee’s home in the Belgharia area of Kolkata early this morning with 10 trunks of cash after concluding the 18-hour-long raid.
Sources say that ED officials used three note-counting machines to know the exact amount of cash seized from Ms Mukherjee’s second flat.
Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on July 23, a day after the first lot of cash was discovered at her home.
During last week’s raid, the probe agency officials had recovered ₹ 21 crores in cash, a huge amount of foreign exchange and gold bars worth ₹ 2 crores from Ms Mukherjee’s other flat in the city.
They also found a diary with around 40 pages of notes that could provide crucial leads in the investigation.
So far, ₹ 50 crores in cash have been recovered from the two homes of Ms Mukherjee. Some crucial documents have also been seized that are being examined by the authorities.
Taking a dig at the delayed allotment of portfolios by the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra, NCP’s state chief Jayant Patil said only a “two-man cabinet” was functional and problems of people due to the flood-like situation and other issues were being ignored.
Patil also suggested that differences between the alliance partners – BJP and Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction – could be the reason for the delay in portfolio allotments.
The NCP leader’s comments come at a time when the BJP and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena have come together to form the government in Maharashtra. While key portfolios are yet to be distributed, Shinde has taken over as the chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has assumed office as deputy chief minister.
Patil termed the state of affairs a ‘sad’ one and said just ‘a two-man cabinet’ was in place. “The oath ceremony was on June 30. It has been nearly a month but still, cabinet expansion has not taken place, only CM and deputy CM are functioning as the whole state cabinet.
It’s still a two-man cabinet of the Maharashtra Government,” the NCP leader said.
He claimed that the delay may be either due to the pendency of the case in the Supreme Court or due to the internal dispute over the distribution of ministries. “It is a very sad state of affairs that government does not have its whole cabinet.
The delay may be either due to the pendency of the case in SC or due to the internal dispute over the distribution of ministries among both the allies or both reasons together,” said Patil.
He claimed that the grievances of people were going unaddressed during these tough times when flood-like situations prevailed across the state. Earlier in a hard-hitting interview with Sanjay Raut for party mouthpiece Saamana, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said,”
This government is still not formed, it’s only 2 people who are running everything. The ones at top (In Delhi) will open the locks, and then we will see.
But I don’t think anyone has the courage to do unconstitutional things.” As per sources, three primary reasons constitute the delay in the expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet.
“The major reasons are power-sharing between BJP and Sena, having a consensus about portfolios of each other and the third thing is selecting faces for the respective cabinet berths from the MLAs,” said a source on condition of anonymity.
The sources further stated that the BJP had already offered the chief minister’s post to the Shinde-led faction and now wanted a decent representation in the portfolio.
Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday greeted his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday and referring to him as the former chief minister, wished him a long and healthy life.
Shiv Sena’s Thackeray and Shinde factions are locked in a bitter tussle to prove which of them is them is the real representative of the party that was founded by Balasaheb Thackeray.
The ‘Save Aarey’ activists on Wednesday told the media that their petition to shift the Metro-3 car shed out of Aarey forest is likely to be heard in the Supreme Court by next week as the Chief Justice of India has assigned this pressing environmental matter to a bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud for hearing.
Environmentalist D Stalin of Vanashakti NGO told the media, “We are thankful to the apex court for quickly assigning a bench for this eco-sensitive matter of Aarey forests. We are going to raise all the key points: like how the 41 hectares of state government-owned land is available at the Kanjurmarg site for car sheds of all the Metro lines. If the government is allowed to build the Metro-3 car shed inside Aarey, then by 2030, they will want to further expand the area for the Metro project, which will totally destroy Aarey forest. ”
Shahrukh Pathan, an accused in the Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe murder case, was “attacked” by five prisoners inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail.
He was then shifted to another barrack in the same prison, police said. The police on July 3, arrested the mastermind and seventh accused in the brutal killing of Amravati-based shop owner Umesh Kolhe.
Six accused – Mudassir Ahmad (22), Shah Rukh Pathan (25), Abdul Thoufique (24), Shoaib Khan (22), Atib Rashid (22) and Yusufkan Bahadur Khan (44) – had been arrested earlier. Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe, a 54-year-old chemist, was killed in Maharashtra’s Amravati district on June 21.
The incident took place before the similar killing of a tailor in Udaipur.
The Udaipur victim had reportedly shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma, a suspended BJP spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
Initial investigation by the City Kotwali Police Station in Amravati following a complaint by Umesh Kohle’s son Sanket Kohle led them to arrest two persons – Muddsir Ahmad, 22, and Shahrukh Pathan, 25, on June 23.
A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court seeking compensation for the girl students, who were asked to remove their innerwear before appearing for the NEET exam in the Kollam district of Kerala.
The petitioner Asif Azad, who is a Thiruvananthapuram native, also sought an order in favour of the students by directing the National Testing Agency (NTA) to re-conduct the NEET exam within two weeks prior to the release of the results.
The court will consider the petition on Friday.
The petitioner also sought directions to the Central Government to publish a common protocol to conduct examinations across the country.
The petitioner contended, “No matter what the exam was, the physical examination, which was conducted under stress just before the exam, is one of the things that destroys a person’s memory prior to the exam.”
Earlier last week, the National Testing Agency (NTA) constituted a three-member factfinding committee to probe the alleged incident in Kollam where a student was asked to remove her innerwear before appearing for the NEET exam.
The police had earlier arrested five people in connection with the alleged incident. The arrested people include three from the agency and two from the college.
Earlier, Kerala police registered a case in this matter. A case was registered under sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code at the Chadayamangalam police station under the Kollam Rural police district.
The incident came to light after a student filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police at Kollam after the NEET exam for undergraduate medical courses on July 18. In her complaint, the student alleged that she was asked to remove her innerwear before entering the examination hall.
Reportedly, the parent of the student alleged that girls were forced to remove their innerwear before being permitted to sit for the exam and they had to give the exam along with other students who were boys as well as male invigilators, which made the girls uncomfortable and affected them mentally.
Citing the National Testing Agency’s guidelines, the parent also highlighted that according to the norms mandated by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET had not mentioned any ban on any form of brassiere (bra) and hooks.
Meanwhile, the NTA an autonomous and self-sustained testing organization for conducting entrance examinations in a statement said that the exam centre’s superintendent, the independent observer, as well as city coordinator (NEET) of the Kollam district, did not find any such incident happening at the examination centre. Later, the NTA constituted a three-member fact-finding committee to probe the alleged incident in Kollam.
The Committee will submit its report in four week
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday said that there is no question of apologising as he had mistakenly referred to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘Rashtrapatni’.
He further said that the BJP is deliberately trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. “There is no question of apologising. I had mistakenly said ‘Rashtrapatni’, now if you want to hang me for it, then you can…the ruling party, in a deliberate design, trying to make mountain out of a molehill,” said Congress Chowdhury on his ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark.
Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday slammed the Congress and demanded an apology for maliciously targeting President Droupadi Murmu and said the country knows that the opposition party is “anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-women”.
The Union Minister’s remarks come after Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referred to President Droupadi Murmu as “Rashtrapatni”. In Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.
In Lok Sabha, Smriti Irani spoke on Adhir’s remarks and sought an apology from him and Sonia Gandhi. BJP members were on their feet supporting her. “Ever since the name of Droupadi Murmu has been announced as the candidate for the presidency of India.
She has been targeted maliciously by the Congress party. Congressmen had termed her a puppet candidate, and Congressmen have called her a symbol of evil.
Their attacks do not seem to stop against Droupadi Murmu Ji even after she has now been elected to the highest constitutional office of the country,” said Smriti Irani addressing reporters here today before the Parliament began.
The Union Minister lashed out at the opposition party, which said that despite being led by a woman leader Sonia Gandhi, Congressmen continue to demean women posted at constitutional posts.
“The Congressman knew that to address the President of India in this way not only demeans her constitutional post but also the rich tribal legacy that she represents,” Smriti Irani said.
The Union Minister alleged that Adhir Chowdhury knew that to demean the President of the country is to demean the potential of women in the country. Addressing a press conference, the Union Minister said the attacks do not seem to stop against Droupadi Murmu even after being elected as President.
She further said a tribal woman from a poor family who created history in the country is continuously demeaned by the Congress party. Congress leader Ajoy Kumar on Wednesday said that Droupadi Murmu represents a “very evil philosophy of India.”
On Thursday, women MPs including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman staged a protest in the Parliament complex.
“Sonia Gandhi appointed the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha a man who calls Droupadi Murmu Ji ‘Rashtrapatni’. The Congressman knew that this way to address the President of India was demeaning, and addressing her in this way not only demeans her constitutional post but also the rich tribal legacy she represents in our country. The Congressman knew to demean the President of India in such a fashion is to demean the potential of women in our country. To demean the President of India, the Congressman knew that it is to demean the supreme commander of the Armed forces. The Congressman knew that to demean Droupadi Murmu ji as President of India is to demean the potential of poor who rise through the ranks with hard work,” said the BJP leader.
She further said that to demean Droupadi Mumru and the Office President of India is to demean the hope and aspiration of Indians. “Droupadi Murmu led a life of struggle and had represented the country’s aspirations from Panchayat to Parliament,” she said.
Smriti Irani also said that Congress should apologise in Parliament, and on the streets of India and the apology is not only due to the President of India but to every citizen of India “Under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, Congressmen continue to demean the women in constitutional posts. Congress party for demeaning the first tribal President of our country needs to apologise in Parliament, on the streets of India and the apology is not only due to the President of India but to every citizen of India who is duly represented by Droupadi Murmu Ji in office,” she added.
Previously, Ajoy Kumar alleged the condition of scheduled castes in India had become ‘worse’ and that Droupadi Murmu should not be used as an ‘Adivasi symbol’ by the ruling party.
“It’s not about Droupadi Murmu. Yashwant Sinha is also a good candidate and Murmu is also a decent person. But she represents a very evil philosophy of India. We should not make her a symbol of ‘Adivasi’.
We have President Ram Nath Kovind (and) Hathras (the gang rape and murder of a young Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh) happened. Has he said a word? The condition of scheduled castes has become worse,” Kumar said.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Thursday gave a zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the “progress in the 75 years of independence”.
“India is entering its 75th year of independence and it is an important milestone for us as a nation. The journey towards independence was a long-drawn battle and the freedom that we cherish has been defined by many ideals and values,” Jha said in a notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary-General.
He further said that as a young democracy, it becomes important to reflect upon the progress that we have made as a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic that aims to secure justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity for its citizens.
“Reflecting on the journey of the 75 years will give us an opportunity to learn from the mistakes and re-learn from the best practices that we have adopted and ensure that we move ahead with a stronger and deeper understanding of our nation that enables us to advance and reach new heights.
Hence, as an appeal, we must have a committed session of the Parliament to discuss the progress in the 75 years of independence,” he added.
India will complete 75 years of Independence this year. The government has announced the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate this milestone.
The initiative of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav was launched by PM Modi on March 12, 2021, to celebrate and commemorate 75 glorious years of Independence of India. L Labdhi Gardens Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
The ministry of culture is the nodal agency for the same and has been leading several events. Since its launch, the initiative has successfully showcased the magnificence of Indian culture all across the globe. With over 50,000 events successfully held across 28 states, 8 UTs, and over 150 countries, the initiative of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is one of the largest programmes ever organized in terms of scope and participation, said the Ministry of Culture.
The government is also launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign under the Ministry of Culture to mark the 75th year of India’s independence.
The idea behind the initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to promote awareness about the Indian National Flag.
The Culture Ministry is counting on all public representatives to play an active role in the promotion of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and make it a success by spreading awareness about the campaign and encouraging others to hoist flags in their houses.
Under Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav a series of events are being organised by the Government of India to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence.
The Mahotsav will be celebrated as a Jan-Utsav in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Addressing a gathering at Sabarmati Ashram in 2021, the Prime Minister stated that the launch of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ 75 weeks before 15 August 2022 will continue till 15 August 2023
The Delhi High Court has denied bail to a person accused in a double murder case noting that one of the eyewitnesses was yet to be examined.
Justice Anu Malhotra dismissed the bail plea of Akshey Dagar who had sought relief on the ground of delay in the trial.
The bench while dismissing the bail plea of the petitioner noted the contention of the additional public prosecutors and the accused’s alleged involvement in other criminal cases.
The bench noted in the order dated July 21 that one of the witnesses Sumitra Devi has been examined but another eyewitness Darshana Devi is yet to be examined.
In view thereof, the court said it does not consider it appropriate to grant bail to the accused. Delhi Police had filed a status report that there are two public witnesses Darshana Devi and Sumitra who had identified the accused in the CCTV footage and that the trial court has also granted these witnesses protection.
On the other hand advocate Rishabh Jain, counsel for the petitioner Dagar, submitted that the petitioner had been in custody since 2018. There are 70 prosecution witnesses.
Out of these witnesses, only three have been examined in court. The trial would take a decade to complete at this pace. Therefore the petitioner should be granted bail during the pendency of the trial.
The bench ordered that the State shall ensure the production of the witness Darshna Devi as the next witness in the case before the learned trial court.
The trial court shall ensure that in terms of the direction of the Supreme Court passed on August 26, 2021, the trial of the instant case is completed expeditiously.
Delhi Police said that the petitioner was involved in three other criminal cases registered for different offences like murder and others. The counsel for the petitioner had submitted that he is on bail in all cases except the present one.
This case was registered in Dwarka Sector 23 in October 2018 for the alleged murder of two people in a property dispute.
