BJP’s Patra takes a jibe and says, “Congress thinks it is entitled to commit ‘dacoity’ and no one should question them”

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July 26, 2022

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BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Tuesday claimed the Congress thinks it is entitled to indulge in ”dacoity” and no one should question it.

He slammed the Congress for its ‘satyagraha’ against the questioning of party president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

Gandhi on Tuesday appeared before the ED in Delhi for her second round of questioning in the case.

Addressing a press conference at Kushabhau Thakre Parisar, the BJP office in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Patra said, “I feel many times that for the Congress, the meaning of ED was ‘entitlement for dacoity’. They thought they were entitled to indulge in dacoity and no one should question them.” Those who are corrupt should not think that they will not be investigated, he said. “Zero tolerance against corruption has been the BJP’s motto. The way Congress party has been doing a drama of satyagraha against Sonia Gandhi’s appearance before the ED in National Herald case today, the whole country is watching it,” he said. The opposition is left with no issues to raise, Patra said.

Hitting out at the Congress for staging the ‘satyagraha’, he said, “Sonia ji we want a confession, not commotion.” ”An investigation is due process. The process of law of the land will take its due course and come to a logical conclusion. This is the beauty of India,” he said. Patra claimed that ”cash to the tune of Rs 21 crore was seized from West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, cash was recovered from sitting Aam Aadmi Party minister (in Delhi) Satyendra Jain, and the court has made strong observations in the National Herald case wherein Rs 5,000 crore was embezzled”. So, the BJP asks the country should an investigation not be carried out in these cases? he said.

”Should we leave these issues because the opposition does not like an investigation into it? Should the investigation be stopped only because of their sense of entitlement?” the BJP leader asked.

When there are charges of corruption worth Rs 5,000 crore against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, then naturally they will be questioned. The property which was embezzled belonged to taxpayers and freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives, and one family snatched it, he claimed, adding that those responsible (for the offence) have to face questioning.

FIR filed in Mumbai against actor Ranveer Singh for sharing obscene photos on Instagram

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PTI

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July 26, 2022

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The Mumbai Police on Tuesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh over his nude pictures on social media, an official said.

A Mumbai-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) had approached the Chembur police here with a complaint against the actor.

Based on it, the police registered the FIR against Singh under various Indian Penal Code Sections like 292 (sale of obscene books, etc), 293 (sale of obscene objects to young people), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and provisions of the Information Technology Act, an official from the Chembur police station said. An office-bearer of the NGO had alleged that the actor hurt the sentiments of women in general and insulted their modesty through his photographs, police earlier said.

Ranveer Singh, a recipient of several awards, is known for his roles in films like ”Bajirao Mastani”, ”Padmaavat” and ”Gully Boy”.

SC: Plea will be heard on August 1 about the Thackeray faction against ECI

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PTI

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July 26, 2022

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on August 1 a fresh plea by Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction against Election Commission proceedings on a petition by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led group for recognition as the real Shiv Sena.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli was urged by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray faction, that the ongoing proceedings before the poll panel needed to stay as it would impact the hearing here in the case.

The top court said it would tag the fresh plea and hear it together with pending ones on August 1.

Recently, the poll panel asked the rival factions of the Shiv Sena led by Thackeray and Shinde to submit documents by August 8 in support of their claims on the election symbol — bow and arrow — of the political outfit.

The poll panel sources had said the two sides have been asked to submit documents, including letters of support from the legislative and organizational wings of the party and the written statements of rival factions.

ED asks CSI Bishop to appear before them for questioning

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ANI

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July 26, 2022

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued notice to Church of South India (CSI) Moderator and South Kerala Bishop Dharmaraj Rasalam asking to appear before it on Wednesday for questioning.

This is regarding the alleged money laundering case in connection with church-run Karakonam Medical College.

Earlier, on Monday, the ED conducted a raid at the Mateer Memorial Church here in Kerala’s capital city in connection with the matter.

The ED also raided the headquarters of the CSI South Kerala diocese, which houses the office of Church supreme leader Bishop A Dharmaraj Rasalam.

The raids took place following allegations of corruption at the Church-run medical college at Karakonam. According to the allegations, huge amounts of money were taken on the pretext of offering admission to the medical college.

Simultaneous raids were also carried out at the residences of Church’s secretary T T Praveen and the medical director of CSI Medical College, Karakonam Dr Bennet Abraham.

“They want to do something against the church, they want to destroy the church. So they are filing cases one by one against different bodies. Let them do it we are happy to face it,” Christian Education Board Director Fr. C R Godwin told ANI.

“Today morning at 6.30 they came and started the raid. They did not inform us. Till now the questioning is going on and Bishop has a conference to attend, if they leave we are happy,” he added.

The allegation against the Bishop and the Church pertains to accepting capitation fees for admission to the medical college run by the church.

Earlier, the Bishop was among those booked by the police for allegedly collecting huge amounts of money from students, promising them a medical seat at the Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College in Karakonam, which is run by the church.

HC orders to demolish illegal buildings obstructing flights where there’s no stay

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Afternoon Voice

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July 26, 2022

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The Bombay HC on Monday said unauthorised constructions causing obstruction to aircraft at the city airport and not protected by any court order must be demolished.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Makarand Karnik said this while hearing a 2019 PIL on the danger to aircraft from highrises near the airport. Mumbai International Airport Ltd had in its July 8 reply given details of obstacle surveys carried out by it over the years.

Congress urged Mamata Banerjee to sack Partha Chatterjee over SSC Scam

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ANI

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July 26, 2022

partha chaterjee, Mamta Banerjee — Image: Agencies

Congress urged Mamata Banerjee to sack Partha Chatterjee over SSC Scam.Congress on Tuesday urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to sack state minister Partha Chatterjee immediately, who has been arrested in connection with the alleged School Service Commission (SSC) scam.

In a letter to Banerjee, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged to sack Partha Chatterjee from Ministership immediately.

“I am writing this letter regarding the misdeed of Partha Chatterjee, who presently holds the Industry and State Parliamentary Affairs portfolio under your government. He was the Education Minister from 2014-2021, during which the alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment occurred. This Teacher Recruitment Scam was an open secret and everyone in Bengal knows about this. It was only after the court’s intervention that investigation agencies started acting upon it. It is a huge blot on the government of West Bengal. I urge you to sack Partha Chatterjee from Ministership immediately,” the letter reads.

Earlier in the morning, Chatterjee was bought to the Central Government Office (CGO) complex in Kolkata, a day after he and his aide Arpita Mukherjee were sent to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till August 3. He reached the Kolkata airport this morning, after being discharged from AIIMS Bhuwneshwar.

“Partha Chatterjee’s health is stable. Medical reports have come, and it’s fine. A thorough examination of him was done. Though he had some problems, he didn’t need to be admitted to the hospital, he’s being monitored closely,” said Dr Tushar Kanti Patra, SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.

Notably, Partha Chatterjee and his aide, Arpita Mukherjee, have been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till August 3. The Calcutta court also gave orders to conduct medical check-ups of both the arrested accused after every 48 hours.

The Court also gave orders to the ED to not interrogate Arpita between 9 pm to 6 am. Partha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged School Service Commission (SSC) scam in West Bengal on Saturday.

The ED unearthed many disproportionate assets of Partha Chatterjee since his arrest, of which were three flats in West Bengal’s Diamond City. The arrest of Partha Chatterjee followed Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery worth above Rs 1 crore being recovered from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday, July 23, recovered Rs 20 crore in cash from the house of an associate of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee. The ED raided Arpita Mukerjee’s house in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal.

“The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the said SSC scam,” the probe agency had said in a statement.

The search teams are taking the assistance of bank officials for the counting of cash through counting machines. Photos of the house taken during the raid show Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes that were recovered.

Partha Chatterjee, who is presently the minister for industries and commerce, was the education minister when the alleged illegal appointments were made in government-run and aided schools by West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).

The ruling Trinamool Congress described the raids as a “ploy” by the BJP government at the Centre to “harass” its political opponents.

Uddhav’s legal team moves to SC over EC proceedings

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Afternoon Voice

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July 26, 2022

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The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction moved the SC to stall proceedings before EC initiated by the Shinde faction seeking validation as the “real” Shiv Sena to wrest control of the party’s symbol.

The application said when the SC asked the speaker not to proceed with any disqualification petitions, the EC proceedings struck at the root of the constitutional process, dependent on determining if the rebel MLAs stood disqualified on June 21.

Mumbai’s lifeline stalled at CSMT as coach derailed

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PTI

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July 26, 2022

train 1 — Image: Agencies / Representative

A local train derailed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai on Tuesday morning, affection suburban services on the Harbour Line, an official said. No one was injured, Central Railway’s chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said.

The incident took place on platform no. 1 of the CSMT around 9.40 am, he said.

According to railway officials, one trolley of the coach of a Panvel-bound train derailed when it moved in the reverse direction and touched the dead-end of the platform.

One of the 12 coaches of the train climbed on the edge of the platform, they said.

“No one was injured in the incident,” Sutar said, adding that train services will remain affected for next few hours on the Harbour Line, which connects south Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and Panvel in adjoining Raigad district.

Rahul Gandhi hits out at the Centre over GST hike

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ANI

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July 26, 2022

Rahul Gandhi hits out at the Centre over GST hike 12

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre over the latest revision in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on scientific instruments claiming that the step would prove detrimental to the interests of the research eco-system in the country.

“Don’t let science suffer because of your ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’, Prime Minister. Roll back the GST on scientific equipments,” the Congress leader said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Gandhi claimed that the hike in the GST rate was a worrisome sign.

“Scientific advancement is the cornerstone for the development of any nation. The pattern of reduction in the allocation of funds for scientific research by the BJP govt is a worrisome sign for the research ecosystem in India,” he added.

At a GST Council meeting held in Chandigarh last month, members had recommended raising the GST on scientific and technical instruments supplied to public-funded research institutes to 12 to 18 percent from the prevailing 5 percent.

“Now, by increasing the GST rates from 5 percent to 18 percent on scientific instruments, the government is displaying its thoughtless approach and further
reducing funds and resources available for labs involved in scientific work across the country,” the Congress leader added.

Gandhi said the government had already cut the Union Ministry of Science and Technology ministry’s budget by 3.9 percent this year.

On Sunday, Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram also criticised the government for the GST rate hike.

“The Government perhaps believes that all the scientific knowledge that we need can be gathered by gazing at the sky and re-imagining our past,” he had said.

Truck hits advertisement pole in Thane leaves two injured

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PTI

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July 26, 2022

Road Accident Representative Image — Representative Image

A truck hit an advertisement pole on Thane’s arterial Ghodbunder Road on Tuesday following which its driver and cleaner got stuck inside and were rescued after over two hours, officials said. Both of them suffered injuries and were later admitted to a hospital, they said.

The accident, which took place around 3.30 am, led to a huge traffic jam on the busy route in the morning rush hours, causing hardships to office-goers and other commuters.

The driver of the truck, carrying 25 tonnes of marble from Rajasthan to Thane, lost control over the wheels.

As a result, the vehicle hit the advertisement pole at Kapurbawdi here in Maharashtra and its driver and cleaner were stuck inside their cabin which got damaged.

Thane Municipal Corporation’s regional disaster management cell chief (RDMC) Avinash Sawant said. Firemen and RDMC personnel rushed to the spot.

They had to deploy three cranes and use gas-cutters to reach the driver’s cabin.

They managed to pull out the truck driver and cleaner after more than two-and-a-half hours, the official said.

The two persons suffered fractures and were admitted to a government hospital, he said. The accident led to a huge traffic jam on the busy city road in the morning. The truck was later removed from the road with the help of cranes, the official said.