Month: July 2024

A Mumbai court has sent Mihir Shah, the main accused in the Worli hit-and-run case, to police custody till July 16.

Mihir Shah was arrested from Virar on Tuesday. He was brought to Sewri court in Mumbai on Wednesday. Shah had been absconding after the car he was allegedly driving hit a scooter on Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli on Sunday, July 7.

Fourteen teams were formed by Mumbai police to nab him. Police arrested Rajrishi Singh Bidawat and Mihir’s father, Rajesh Shah, for their alleged involvement in the case.

Following the tragic incident, the deceased woman’s husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, questioned the delay in the arrest of the accused and alleged that he dragged his wife from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road.

“It was due to ‘politics’ and the accused would not be arrested until the Vidhan Sabha session ends,” Nakhwa had claimed. He also alleged that the delay in the arrest was because the accused was the son of a political leader.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Nakhwa said, “We were on our daily routine, as we are fishermen, and as part of our daily routine, on Sunday at 4 am, we were returning through the Peddar Road from the fish hatchery after buying fish. We were riding slowly at a speed of 35-40 km/hr on the side of the road. Suddenly, a car at high speed came and hit us; we didn’t even realize how fast it was. We flew into the air and dropped on his car’s bonnet.”

“When he applied the brake, I fell on the left side of the road while my wife came under the wheels of his car. He didn’t stop after that; I tried to stop him, but he didn’t and dragged her from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road. There was smoke from the wheels when he was dragging my wife. After the incident, he fled from the spot,” said Nakhwa.

According to Mumbai police, the 45-year-old victim was a resident of Worli Koliwada. Her husband was riding the scooter while she was riding the pillion. The husband also sustained injuries in the incident.

“The couple was returning home after buying fish when the scooter they were riding on was hit by the luxury car. Both of them sustained injuries, and the woman died during treatment,” police added.

Police also said that the luxury car belonged to a leader of a political party based in Maharashtra’s Palghar.

The incident in Worli follows less than two months after the Pune case in which a luxury car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old youth, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed into a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two software engineers in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area in the early hours of May 19.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his “alarm” at the “rise in hit-and-run incidents” in the state on Monday and said that he has directed the police to take strict action against such cases, adding that the “guilty will not be spared.” The Shiv Sena also removed Rajesh Shah the father of the accused from the party following his arrest. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday emphasised the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy” in resolving global conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“I have said earlier also that this is not the time for war,” said PM Modi addressing the India-Austria joint press statement.

His remarks came after delegation-level talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna.

“We won’t be able to find a solution to problems in the warfield. Wherever it is, killing of innocent people is unacceptable. India and Austria emphasize dialogue and diplomacy, and for that, we are together ready to give any support required,” PM Modi also said.

Austrian Chancellor Nehammer echoed PM Modi’s sentiments, highlighting the strong relationship between Austria and India. “There is a very good relationship between India and Austria. It’s a relationship of trust which began in the 1950s… India helped Austria and in 1955, the negotiations came to a positive conclusion with the Austrian State Treaty. What unites India and Austria is concern over the development of the geopolitical situation,” he said.

Nehammer elaborated on the discussions held with PM Modi, stating, “Last night and this morning, we had very intensive talks about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. For me, as the Federal Chancellor of Austria, it is particularly important to get to know India’s assessment and to understand it and familiarise India with European concerns and worries. Moreover, the conflict in the Middle East was a major topic, and in addition to this challenging geopolitical situation, we also referred to the positive aspects of our cooperation.”

The issue of killings of children during conflicts was also featured prominently in the PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

PM Modi said that it is heart-wrenching when innocent children die adding that everyone who believes in humanity is hurt when there is a loss of lives.

The same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, which he termed as a devastating blow to peace efforts.

Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that on the same day 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia’s missile strike at the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv.

PM Modi arrived in Vienna on Tuesday evening as part of his two-nation visit to Russia and Austria. (ANI)

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed an order of the Gujarat High Court for implementation of the recovery of land allotted to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd in Mundra in Gujarat.

A bench headed by Justice BR Gavai and comprising Justice KV Viswanathan also issued notice to the Gujarat government, asking it to file a reply to the petition.

The court was hearing an appeal moved by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited challenging a Gujarat High Court order.

The Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited sought an interim stay on the Gujarat High Court order. The land was allotted to the Adani Group entity in 2005. (ANI)

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The central government is not inclined to liberalize Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the tobacco sector, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

The minister, on the sidelines of an industry event in New Delhi, also indicated that the government is rather considering tightening the norms for FDI in the tobacco industry.

The government is considering putting FDI restrictions on any franchise of tobacco products, trademarks and any branding of tobacco and similar substitutes.

Currently, FDI in the manufacturing of tobacco products in India is not permitted under government regulations.

The proposal to tighten FDI norms in the tobacco sector is currently under deliberation before the Commerce Ministry and may be sent to the Cabinet for approval once the final proposal is ready.

The tobacco industry considered a sin, often faces regulatory pressures, including potential tax rises. Tobacco is placed in the highest tax slab of 28 per cent under the Goods and Services tax (GST). In addition to this, a sin of 61 per cent to over 200 per cent is applied to various tobacco products.

In 2020, a parliamentary panel of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recommended exploring prospects for permitting regulated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the tobacco sector to boost exports of tobacco products. The panel has also recommended exports-only tobacco farms to boost tobacco exports.

India is a major net exporter of cigarettes. According to UN Comtrade, it exported over USD 100 million in cigarettes in 2022, compared to nearly USD 26 million in imports. According to IBEF, the tobacco industry in India employs about 36 million people in farming, processing, manufacturing and export activities

The tobacco industry often faces regulatory pressures, including potential tax increases especially ahead of the union budget. This year the Union Budget will be presented on July 23. (ANI)

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The government of Tripura on Wednesday issued a clarification, terming a report that claims that the state has 828 students registered as HIV as “misleading”.

The government said that the figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024.

Reacting to reports, the Health & Family Welfare Government of Tripura, in a message on the social media platform, X, said, “It is reported that, Tripura has 828 students registered as HIV positive and 47 of them died. This report is misleading because the total figures are cumulative from April 2007 to May 2024. Please note it as official clarification from Govt of Tripura”.

The clarification came days after a senior official of the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) said as many as forty-seven students died from HIV in Tripura, and 828 have tested HIV-positive.

“We have so far registered 828 students who are HIV positive. Out of them, 572 students are still alive and we have lost 47 people due to the dreaded infection. Many of the students have migrated out of Tripura for higher studies in coveted institutions across the country,” a senior official of the TSACS said earlier in the month.

The State Government has now clarified that these figures represent a cumulative figure of cases for 17 years from April 2007. (ANI)

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Following the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as India’s head coach on Tuesday, former seamers Zaheer Khan and Lakshmipathy Balaji are being considered for the position of national team’s bowling coach, as per sources.

“BCCI discussing the names of Zaheer Khan and Lakshmipati Balaji for the position of bowling coach. BCCI is not interested in the name of Vinay Kumar,” sources told ANI.

Zaheer has picked up 311 Test wickets in 92 matches and overall 610 scalps in 309 international matches across all formats for Men in Blue. He is considered one of the greatest left-arm pacers to have played the sport.

Balaji has represented Team India in eight Test matches where he has managed to snap 27 wickets at an average of 37.18. On the other hand, he has bagged 34 wickets in 30 ODIs at an average of 39.52.

The appointment of a new set of support staff for Team India follows the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as head coach. The term of Paras Mahambrey, who was the bowling coach of team India, has come to an end.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah on Tuesday announced that former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the Indian men’s cricket team’s new head coach.

Gambhir was a left-handed opener for the India team and served as Kolkata Knight Riders’ team mentor in the Indian Premier League 2024. KKR lifted their third IPL trophy this season under Gambhir’s guidance.

Jay Shah took to his official X account and announced Gambhir’s appointment as Team India’s new Head Coach.

The BCCI secretary added that he has his full confidence in Gambhir and that he will be the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward.

“It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. Having endured the grind and excelled in various roles throughout his career, I am confident that Gautam is the ideal person to steer Indian Cricket forward. His clear vision for #TeamIndia, coupled with his vast experience, positions him perfectly to take on this exciting and most sought-after coaching role. The @BCCI fully supports him as he embarks on this new journey,” Shah wrote on X.

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach of Team India came to an end after the conclusion of the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024, where India beat South Africa by seven runs to win the prestigious trophy after 17 years. (ANI)

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A complaint has been filed against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and nine others for allegedly forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The complaint, filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna, alleges the wrongdoings of Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, who claimed to be a landowner, and his family.

The complaint was lodged at Vijayanagar Police Station in Mysuru.

The complaint also alleges the involvement of the deputy commissioner, tahsildar, deputy registrar and MUDA officials in the same case.

Along with the police, the letter has also been written to the governor, the state chief secretary and the principal secretary of the revenue department.

The complainant alleged that MUDA cheated by creating fake documents and obtaining plots worth crores of rupees. Snehamayi Krishna has raised several questions in his complaint.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam and appealed to the state government to transfer it to the CBI.

Pralhad Joshi said, “It is alleged that it is a more than Rs 3,800 crores scam and plots duly authorised by MUDA have been transferred in the name of the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. There is a huge scam and the then DC who has now been transferred to cover up the same, had written more than 15 letters to the state government to look into the matter and show proper directions to MUDA. In spite of that, they did not act and Siddaramaiah got very valuable land.”

Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, on Wednesday, dismissed allegations of any scam in MUDA (Mysore Urban Development Authority) site allocation and said there have been no scams during the Congress tenure in the state.

Speaking to the media after a ‘Government at Your Doorstep’ programme in the taluk, he said, “All the scams that the state witnessed have taken place during the BJP tenure. We will respond to all the allegations during the session.”

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that an investigation is being conducted to determine if there was any misuse in the allotment of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) plots.

“The plots are currently on hold, and there has been no loss to the government. Those involved in the plot allotment have been transferred, and a senior IAS officer is leading the investigation. A final decision will be made after the report is submitted,” Siddaramaiah said.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations of misuse in the MUDA plot allotments and their demand for a CBI inquiry, the CM asked, “Why do they want to hand over everything to the CBI?” (ANI)

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Bhavani Revanna, mother of Prajwal Revanna, over the Karnataka SIT plea against a High Court order granting anticipatory bail to her in connection with the abduction case.

However, SC remarked, “Let us not politicise the matter.”

A bench of justices, Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued notice to Bhavani Revanna.

However, the court said to leave aside the political reasons, as it noted the reasons given by the High Court in its order. The court also noted the serious allegations against her son, who ran away and was eventually caught. Thereafter, the court asked, in such kinds of allegations, what kind of role the mother played in abetting the crime committed by her son.

The court also said that there is only a limited point as to whether the High Court is justified in protecting her against arrest.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karnataka State, said that the victim was kept in captivity under the family’s direction and that she is the one who directed the captivity.

Karnataka SIT has moved a petition through advocate-on-record VN Raghupathy challenging the High Court order granting anticipatory bail to Bhavani Revanna, mother of suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, in connection with the abduction case. The bail has been granted to her on the condition that she is not allowed to enter Mysuru and Hassan.

HC said that when she has already answered 85 questions, it’s not fair to say that she’s not cooperating with all of the questions asked by the SIT. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a State visit to Austria, received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna on Wednesday. Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer accompanied PM Modi who also signed the Guestbook at at the Federal Chancellery.

PM Modi arrived in Austria on Wednesday (local time) from Moscow after concluding a two-day visit to Russia.

Upon his arrival here, the Indian Prime Minister was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Indian Ambassador to Austria, Shambhu Kumaran was also present at the airport.

Taking to X, PM Modi stated, “Landed in Vienna. This visit to Austria is a special one. Our nations are connected by shared values and a commitment to a better planet. Looking forward to the various programmes in Austria including talks with Chancellor @karlnehammer, interactions with the Indian community and more.”

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that it was the first bilateral visit of Prime Minister Modi to Austria.

“PM @narendramodi arrives in the historic city of Vienna on his first bilateral visit to Austria. Welcomed by FM @a_schallenberg at the airport. As the two countries are celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, this momentous visit will add renewed momentum to India-Austria ties,” Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

Yesterday, PM Modi joined a dinner hosted by Austria Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In a post on X, Nehammar stated, “Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit!”

Thanking Nehammar for his warm welcome, PM Modi said that he looked forward to holding discussions.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good.”

Notably, the last visit to Austria of an Indian prime minister was that of Indira Gandhi in the year 1983. (ANI)

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After the key accused in the Worli hit-and-run case Mihir Shah was arrested by the Mumbai Police, Rajesh Shah, father of the accused has been removed from the post of the Deputy leader of Shivsena.

His removal from the post came after instructions from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde.

Earlier today, the opposition parties had urged the Maharashtra government to ensure the main accused in the hit-and-run case, Mihir Shah should not be given leniency or evade punishments due to his father’s association with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena party.

Mihir Shah, the son of the political leader Rajesh Shah, is the main accused in the hit-and-run case, which led to the death of a 45-year-old woman who has been identified as Kaveri Nakhwa.

NCP Sharad Pawar spokesperson Clyde Crasto demanded strict action against Mihir Shah in the case.

“Mihir Shah, the accused in the Worli- BMW hit and run case is finally arrested by the Mumbai Police. Strict action must be taken against this man because he mercilessly drove over the poor lady and killed her. All laws applicable in such a case should be applied to Mihir Shah,” he said.

“We have seen before the Pune hit-and-run case that leniency was given to the accused because he had political connections. The Bhartiya Janata Party-led Maharashtra government must now make sure that just because the culprit is affiliated to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, he should not be given leniency and go caught free,” he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut said that efforts to save the accused in the Worli hit-and-run case had started from day one.

Speaking to ANI, Sanjay Raut said, “Efforts are being made by the government to save the accused. This is not an ordinary case of hit-and-run; it is a similar case to what happened in Pune.”

“You can check the criminal records of the father of the accused… The Mumbai Police will now have to investigate his association with an underworld gang and how is he able to afford his properties and such fancy cars. How did he become a close aide to the CM? Also needs to be exposed,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Mumbai court on Tuesday extended the police custody of Rajesh Shah’s driver, Rajrishi Singh Bidawat in the case until July 11.

As per officials, Shah’s driver, Bidawat, was with Mihir Shah, when the luxury car hit and killed Kaveri Nakhwa (45) and injured her husband.

Mihir Shah was arrested on Tuesday from VIrar. He had been absconding after he was involved in the hit-and-run case on July 7. Fourteen teams were formed by the Mumbai police to nab him. (ANI)

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