Month: June 2022

Delhi Police on Monday arrested Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair on the charges of promoting enmity and insulting religious beliefs.

Zubair was booked under sections 153A (promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Delhi Police said.
According to police, a complaint was received against the co-founder through Twitter regarding a tweet by Zubair.

He was called for questioning today after which the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Zubair, police said.

Zubair will be presented in Patiala House court and the police will seek his custody.

Pratik Sinha, co-founder of Alt News, commented on his colleague’s arrest and wrote on Twitter, “Zubair was called today by special cell, Delhi for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court.”

“However, today at around 6.45pm we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which is mandatory under law for the Sections under which he has been arrested. Nor FIR copy is being given to us despite repeated requests,” Sinha said in a statement on the microblogging site. (ANI)

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North DMC) to identify all dangerous buildings prone to collapse or damage and ensure measures to prevent any sudden eventuality.

Invoking Section 348 of the DMC Act, 1957 and Section 258 of the NDMC Act, 1994 that mandates the MCD and NDMC to identify such buildings and take appropriate remedial measures, the LG has issued written directions to Special Officer, MCD, Commissioner, MCD and Chairman, North DMC to undertake the exercise and submit an action taken report within a fortnight, the Lieutenant Governor office said on Monday.
The LG has directed the MCD and North DMC to make sure that such dangerous buildings do not cause any mishap or loss of lives and property or any inconvenience to the people at large. For this, the civic agencies have been directed to take appropriate action to demolish or repair such vulnerable buildings.

Considering the difficulties in carrying out rescue and relief operations in case of any mishap in congested or densely populated areas, the LG has also asked the agencies to identify such areas that provide limited and restricted access for fire tenders or cranes and address them in anticipation by preparing an action plan for effective disaster management in consultation with the concerned District Magistrates.

Ever since taking over as the LG, on several occasions, he has directed the civic agencies to ensure there is minimum waterlogging or flooding on the streets during the rains. The civic bodies and road-owning agencies have also been told to carry out pruning of trees, particularly the dead or weak branches that are precariously hanging over the busy arterial roads, streets and lanes of the city. (ANI)

After Alia Bhatt announced her pregnancy on Monday, netizens have now stormed Twitter expressing their excitement for Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to give them ‘khushkhabri’.

Taking a jibe at Katrina Kaif and Deepika Twitter users have posted memes and reactions on the micro-blogging site, making funny references to the pregnancy announcement. Deepika tied the knot with Ranveer Singh on November 14, 2018, while Katrina got married to Vicky Kaushal on December 9, 2021.

Check out some of the reactions:

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor ever since the former announced that she is expecting her first child.

“Our baby ….. coming soon,” Alia wrote on Instagram, adding a picture from her ultrasound appointment. She also posted a picture which features two lions and a lion cub.

While many are congratulating the new parents-to-be, a condom brand had earlier shared a funny and quirky congratulatory message for them.

Durex India, on their Instagram account, dropped a funny post as their marketing strategy, which reads, “Mehfil mein teri “hum to clearly nahi the congratulations”, with reference to the song ‘Channa Mereya’ from ‘Ae dil hai mushkil’.

Sharing this hilarious post, Durex India captioned, “The JOMO is REAL! Congratulations Alia & Ranbir.”

Ranbir and Alia got married in April this year and will soon be seen sharing the screen for the first time in Dharma Productions’ upcoming film ‘Brahmastra’.(ANI)

The ongoing water crisis in Pakistan has badly impacted the agriculture sector and agri-driven export industry as the situation is leading to severe drought in several areas of the country.

Despite the grave situation, not much attention is being given by the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government.
“There has not been sufficient focus on tackling the water crisis by investing in water governance, safeguarding water resources or building small and localized dams for water conservation,” said Arif Jabbar Khan, country director for Water Aid Pakistan as quoted by Daily Times.

“Institutional confusion over responsibilities for the provision of water and water management has been another important problem at the national and provincial level,” he said.

Notably, the crisis not only impacts Pakistan’s agriculture sector, which contributes to 23 per cent of the nation’s GDP, according to the media outlet, but is also an existential threat to energy and food security, and therefore national security.

Pakistan is facing an extraordinary water shortage of around 50 per cent, the highest ever since 1991, according to the media reports.

The water shortage in Sindh has been a great issue. Not only Sindh province but also Punjab province is facing up to 75 per cent water shortage.

According to the data shared by the Punjab Irrigation Department, the Taunsa Barrage supplied only 6,700 cusecs. It is 73 per cent less than its requirement of 25,000 cusecs. Moreover, the Thal Canal was facing 75 per cent scarcity as 2,000 cusecs of water were released into it against the need of 8,000 cusecs.

The Panjnad Barrage was also running with a 66 per cent shortage, receiving 4,300 cusecs against the requirement of 12,700 cusecs. Rasul Barrage was suffering 59 per cent water stress with a supply of 9,900 cusecs against the need of 24,200 cusecs.

Both Sulemanki Barrage and Lower Bahawal Canal were facing 54 per cent shortage each, Sidhnai Barrage 51 per cent, Islam Barrage 50 per cent and Trimmu Barrage 43 per cent water scarcity. There was a 33 per cent water shortage in the Mailsi canal.

Experts have been warning for months that 26 per cent less snowfall than last year in winter, followed by negligible rainfall in March and April, meant very serious water problems this year, yet it raised no red flags in Islamabad. (ANI)

Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering case in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl case and said that he would “seek time”.

He said that he prefers to stay with the party in the time of crisis and will seek time from Enforcement Directorate.
“I knew ED is going to summon me, I won’t kneel down. No matter what the rebel MLAs do, I will not go to Guwahati. I am Balasaheb’s Shiv Sainik and I will stay with my party. I will not appear before the ED tomorrow. I will seek time from ED, but will definitely go after some time,” Raut said addressing the media persons.

Soon after he received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged there was a conspiracy to stop him from fighting a big battle and said that even if he is beheaded, he “will not take the Guwahati route.”

According to official sources, the ED had summoned the Shiv Sena leader for questioning, on Tuesday, in a money laundering case. The move comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in Guwahati.

Raut further said that Balasaheb’s Shivsainiks was fighting a big battle.

The official sources also informed that the Raut has been summoned by ED for questioning in a money laundering case in connection with the re-development of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl case.

Raut has been asked to appear before the ED investigators at its regional office in Mumbai at 11 AM, an official privy to the development said.

In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam.

Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, who is a close associate of the Sena leader.

The federal agency said its investigation revealed that around Rs 100 crore was transferred from the real estate company, Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), to the account of Pravin Raut, who in turn diverted part of these funds to various accounts of his close associates, family members, and business entities.

Pravin Raut has been a director in an infrastructure company called Guruashish Constructions and is stated to be a subsidiary of the Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), an accused in the case. Pravin Raut was arrested in the past by the Maharashtra police’s economic offences wing.

The ED’s summon to Raut, who is considered to be a confidant of Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, comes amidst mounting trouble for the party in the wake of internal rebellion.

The federal agency has also been probing a Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case against Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut, who was questioned last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the central probe agency.

The agency is probing her role in the alleged bank loan scam with regard to the transfer of Rs 55 lakh funds by the wife of an accused in the case, Pravin Raut, apart from some other transactions.

Last year, the ED had also attached Pravin Raut’s assets worth Rs 72 crore in this case and had questioned him and his wife Madhuri Raut.

The agency had alleged that Pravin Raut had “siphoned off” funds worth Rs 95 crore from the scam-hit bank in the garb of the loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Raut who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Sanjay Raut’s wife as “interest-free loan.” (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez in connection with a money laundering case that involved jailed conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, sources informed.

Fernandez appeared before the ED headquarters, following the summons of a federal agency to record her statement in the case.
The move came nearly two months after the ED attached assets worth Rs 7.27 crore of Fernandez in April end in the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Investigation with regards to the tracing of proceeds of crime is currently being progressed, as Fernandez has been questioned in the case earlier too.

ED is looking at various people who are directly or indirectly connected to this case.

Reports suggest that the ED is looking into the possibility that money was invested abroad and it was led by conman Chandrasekhar, who is accused in 21 cases.

This ED case is based on an FIR filed by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Chandrasekhar, who was contacting people by spoofing calls to dupe them as the numbers reflecting on their phones seemed to be from government officers and he claimed to be a government officer offering help people for a price.

Adopting this modus operandi, ED has said, Chandrasekhar contacted Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Religare Enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh, by impersonating himself as Union Home Secretary, Union Law Secretary, the officer from the Prime Minister’s Office and junior officials and extorted more than Rs 200 crore from her over a period of one year on the pretext of contribution to party funds.

Shivinder Mohan Singh was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to the alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd. Chandrashekhar and his associates reportedly took money from Aditi after posing as government officials and promising to get bail for her husband.

Chandrashekhar reportedly persuaded Aditi to transfer money by impersonating a central government official over a spoof call while he was lodged in Rohini jail and promised to manage bail for her husband.

Both Chandrashekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in a duping case.

ED investigation has also revealed that Chandrasekhar was running his illegal extortion business from Central Jail, Delhi in connivance with the Jail officials.

Earlier, the ED had seized Chandrasekhar’s sea-facing bungalow in Chennai, 26 cars, Indian currency, and valuables worth Rs 45 crore during various raids in the case.

In this case, Chandrasekhar and eight other persons including his wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested under the PMLA. Subsequently, the prosecution’s complaint was filed before a special court against all the nine accused.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore to Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long-time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver these gifts to Fernandez.

The ED said, in addition to these gifts Chandrasekhar had also given funds to the tune of US Dollar 1,72,913 and 26,740 Australian dollars to the close family members of Fernandez out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well-known international hawala operator.

Chandrasekhar had also delivered cash to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs to a scriptwriter on behalf of Fernandez as an advance for writing a script for her web series project. This cash amount has also been attached by the ED.

Another actress, Nora Fatehi was also questioned by the ED in connection with the same case. (ANI)

In a major move against the rebel leader, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday reshuffled the departments of ministers “so that the issues of public interest are not neglected or ignored”, as per the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The Chief Minister has handed over portfolios of nine ministers who are camping in Guwahati, to other ministers who are in support of Thackeray.
Nine Maharashtra ministers have so far joined the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde. Apart from Shinde, the other ministers camping in Guwahati are Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, and Sandipan Bhumre.

Urban Development, Public Works Dept (Public Undertaking) of Eknath Shinde has now been reassigned to Subhash Desai.

The Higher and Technical Education Department of Uday Samant has been reassigned to Aaditya Thackeray and Sandipan Asaram Bhumare’s (Employment) Guarantee has been given to Shankar Yashwantrao Gadakh.

The Water supply and Sanitation Department of Gulabrao Patil has been to Anil Parab while the Agriculture Department of Dadaji Bhuse has been given to Sandipanrao Bhumre.

Horticulture has been given to Minister Shankar Yashwantrao Gadakh.

However, the portfolio of four other ministers of state Shambhuraj Desai, Rajendra Patil, Abdul Sattar and Omprakash Kadu has been reallocated to other ministers.

The direction came after rebel leader Eknath Shinde filed a petition in the Supreme Court stating that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has lost the majority in the house as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the house.

Two petitions have been filed, one by Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs, challenging the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party.

The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting.

The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp.

They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families.

Maharashtra has no Speaker since Nana Patole resigned in February 2021 to take over as Congress chief. Deputy Speaker Zirwal belongs to NCP.

The 15 petitioners are – Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. (ANI)

Over 600 people were booked by the Delhi Police on Saturday and Sunday for consumption of alcohol in public places.

“On the directions of DCP Outer District Sameer Sharma regarding action against drinking in public place, the Staff of Outer District of Delhi Police conducted a special drive against drunkards at Public Places on Saturday and Sunday to restrain the consumption of alcohol at Public Places and to curb crime offenses due to consumption of alcohol. During this drive, 607 persons were found consuming alcohol in public places and action was initiated against them,” stated the police.
Drinking in public often creates nuisance and disturbs the peace and tranquility of the area hence, it is punishable by law. Therefore, in order to control the crime rates and for the health of the people, during the weekend days, special drives are being conducted in the jurisdiction area of all 10 Police Stations of the Outer District, the police added.

It has been observed that these offenders often after consuming alcohol, quarrel with their wives, family members, and neighbors. More often they have been observed committing crimes under the influence of alcohol. As a result of the drive, it has been noticed that the number of PCR calls received in the District in connection to domestic violence and quarrels during weekend days had reduced in comparison to other days, the police further said.

The officials have directed to curb the selling of illegal liquor and consumption of liquor in public places in the Outer District. SHOs of all the 10 police stations have been directed to be more vigilant and increase staff patrolling and take strict action against sellers and drunkards in public places. This is being done to create a sense of safety and security for the general public, especially for women. (ANI)

Around 17,555 Tibetan people will be relocated away from high-altitude places in Nagqu City, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region under a relocation plan that aims to improve the living conditions of the people and protect the region’s fragile ecosystem.

In the next one and half months, the people will move from places with an average altitude of over 4,500 meters above sea level to more hospitable areas of about 3,600 meters in Shannan City, Xinhua reported.
Regional forestry and grassland administration Director Wu Wei stated that the people in the city had lived in places with harsh weather and relatively backward production and living conditions, where the grassland degraded.

“The relocation scheme reflects a people-centered development thought, taking consideration of both the ecological protection and people’s demand for a better life,” Wu added.

More than 130,000 people in around 100 Tibet towns will be covered under the relocation plan in eight years, the media added.

This comes after a recent White Paper of Tibet titled ‘Tibet since 1951: Liberation, Development and Prosperity from Beijing’ highlighted very clearly how there was no concern about the level of destruction to Tibet’s environment, reported Tibet Press.

The nature-bound systems of Tibet are now being shattered and destroyed by Beijing for their own benefit, not even giving an iota of thought to the inhabitants.

Instead of acknowledging the environmental destruction in Tibet, it painted a good light on the government by wanting to take eco-friendly and sustainably motivated steps moving forward.

All of these eventually lead to the drying up of rivers, glacial melting, thawing of permafrost, flooding, loss of grasslands and many more – all occurring due to the environmental destruction in Tibet under the hawkish eyes of president Xi Jinping, reported Tibet Press.

Since the 1959 Uprising, the central government of China has been steadily tightening its grip on Tibet. In Tibet today, there is no freedom of speech, religion, or press and arbitrary detainments continue.

Forced abortion, sterilisation of Tibetan women, and the transfer of low-income Chinese citizens threaten the survival of Tibetan culture.

Although China has invested in infrastructure improvements for the region, particularly in Lhasa itself, it has also encouraged thousands of ethnic Han Chinese to move to Tibet resulting in a demographic shift.

Furthermore, Beijing which currently governs Tibet sees the latter as a dump zone rather than a safe haven and does not provide the required resources to protect this very fragile but significant eco-system and unique biome, the local media reported.

Tibet experiences the harsh reality of climate change through environmental destruction and degradation advocated by policies from Beijing.

The melting glaciers of Tibet are worrying and troublesome for all the regions that depend on it as their ultimate source of water.

Over 1.5 billion people across the continent of Asia rely on Tibet for their source of water since the largest rivers in Asia such as the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, the Mekong and the Yangtze all flow from Tibet. (ANI)

Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has lost the majority in the house as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the house, said Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde in his petition filed in Supreme court.

Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra triggered by a rebellion by a large section of Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently camping in Assam, Eknath Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs.
Two petitions have been filed, one by Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs, challenging the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party.

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the plea of Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA and minister Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal against him and 15 other rebel legislators.

A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear the cases which are listed as items number 34 and 35.

The matters are likely to come up for hearing around 12.30 pm.

They called the action to issue disqualification notices to them on June 21 as “illegal and unconstitutional” and sought a stay on it.

They sought directions to the Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition against them.

The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting.

The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp.

They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families.

Shinde, along with a sizable number of Shiv Sena MLAs is camping in a hotel in Assam’s capital Guwahati as they rebelled against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ruling Maharashtra.

Shinde in his plea stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators.

Shinde in his petition said, “It is common knowledge that the current government in Maharashtra, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, has lost the majority in the House as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the House. However, the MVA government continues to misuse the office of the deputy speaker to ensure that they remain in power by whatever means.”

The plea said that the disqualification notices are classic examples of the Deputy Speaker acting hand-in-glove with the MVA government in an attempt to hastily disqualify Shinde along with his supporters, bypassing all cannons of law.

Maharashtra has no Speaker since Nana Patole resigned in February 2021 to take over as Congress chief. Deputy Speaker Zirwal belongs to NCP.

The 15 petitioners are – Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. (ANI)