Month: February 2025

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Gujarat. The state is expected to experience extensive heat, with a two–to three-degree rise in temperature. According to the IMD, the state will experience hot waves between February 25 and 27.

Temperature in the coastal regions can also rise whereas Kutch and the South Saurashtra region can experience immense heat. Due to the same, a yellow alert has been issued as a precautionary measure.

As per IMD scientist AK Das, there will be no change in the minimum temperature for the next five days however the maximum temperature can experience a two to three degrees rise. Also, the coastal areas can have hot and humid conditions whereas the area near Ahmedabad will have clear skies.

“According to today’s forecast, the weather will remain dry for the next seven days. There will be no change in the minimum temperature in the coming five days, but the maximum temperature may increase in the next 2 to 3 days. After that the temperature may decrease by 2 to 3 degrees. Yellow alert has been issued for the coastal areas of Saurashtra and South Gujarat on 24, 25 and 26. Hot and humid weather may be felt in this region and Ahmedabad and the surrounding areas will have clear skies”, IMD scientist AK Das said on Tuesday.

While the Indian western coast is experiencing excessive heat two months before the start of the summer season, the Northern regions especially the hilly areas have received a fresh spell of snowfall. Last week, the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir received a fresh spell of snowfall.

The Meteorological Department of Srinagar predicted snow and rainfall in many areas of the state from February 26 to 28. As per the weather department, temperatures across Srinagar city were recorded below 5 degrees Celsius whereas the temperature in Gulmarg was 1 degree celsius. (ANI)

India’s chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand revealed that the people and parents have interpreted his statement about children’s participation in sports in a different manner. Last week, Gopichand in an interview to Newspaper was quoted as saying that children can’t take up sports as their career if their parents are not financially stable. This statement provoked a sharp debate.

Speaking to ANI, the Indian Badminton Coach elaborated on the statement he had made earlier to the newspaper.

“I think when you have a newspaper which is writing it, it’s typically you talking to a reporter He understanding it and writing it, writing a column and his editor editing it, something else coming up on the front page, something in the article because of place constraints and eventually the reader. There are about four to five filters which actually happen in the process where probably the entire gist of it might be changed a little bit, not necessarily because I’ve said anything wrong or people have understood it wrong, but to actually put an entire context in place is very important. ,” Gopichand told ANI.

Further, the 51-year-old said he is ready to explain to everybody what he really meant if he gets an opportunity to talk.

“Rather than going into the specific one line, which I’m not unhappy about because I think today we are having this conversation because that statement came up that way. I think it’s important. I would rather take an opportunity to make them understand what the real scenario is,” Gopichand added.

The former Badminton player also revealed what made him to make a statement on children’s participation in sports.

“Year after year, I see players, I see hardworking players, parents actually bringing them, burning their resources, time. And then you realize that not everybody makes it. It’s not their fault. It’s the nature of sport. They don’t get the jobs. They don’t get a secure future. And they come with a big dream. And the dream is actually shattered. I come from a very middle-class family. Many of my players who’ve made it also come from middle-class families. Across sports also, if you look. Actually, it’s the middle class and the poorer people who actually have made it. That’s the reality,” Gopichand said.

“Today, when I see national champions, when I see Commonwealth medalists, when I see Asian Games medalists not having jobs, and that starts to pain me that what is the future they have? But I know out of the hundred people, one might make it. So where is the safety net? And that’s all I’m concerned about,” he added.

When asked whether bureaucracy is failing Indian sports, he pointed to a systemic flaw, “Because people come for short term. Their thought is next Olympics. Their thought is short, short, short. And this is a long-term issue. This needs to be addressed. At 35, when you’re all the same age, you’re probably better than them, you have a bigger car than them, it doesn’t hurt. But at 50, when you’re telling your kid, I am an Olympian, he’s like, what are you talking about? You haven’t earned anything. You don’t have any respect. Your officer is calling you, sir, what do I do? Every time you have to…do that to an officer, then it hurts you and that hurt will stop the next generation from taking up sport.”

Gopichand has reached the pinnacle of his sport winning the All England championship in 2001 and then coaching the likes of Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu to Olympic glory knows what it takes to make it in sport in India. His unfiltered take now raises important questions about India’s sports ecosystem. (ANI)

A Delhi Court on Tuesday awarded life sentence to the accused Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a case related to killing the father-son duo in the Saraswati Vihar area during the 1984 Anti Sikh riots. This comes after the former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was convicted on February 12 for killing of the father-son duo.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja sentenced Sajjan Kumar for the offence of murder (302) read with unlawful assembly (149) IPC.

He has also been sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of Destruction of property with fire (436) read with Unlawful Assembly (149) IPC. He has been also sentenced for the other offences he was Convicted for.

The Rouse Avenue court on February 21 reserved order on sentence to be awarded to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots case.

Riot victims had sought capital punishment for Sajjan Kumar. Kumar is already serving a life sentence following his 2018 conviction by the Delhi High Court in a separate case related to the anti-Sikh riots.

The senior counsel H S Phoolka appeared online for the 1984 riots victim submitted his written submissions and sought capital punishment.

On February 17, the Prosecution on argued and sought the Death penalty for Sajjan Kumar. Additional Public prosecutor (APP) Manish Rawat had filed written submissions. He pressed for the Death penalty in view of the guidelines in Nirbhaya and other cases.

APP Manish Rawat submitted that this case was a rarest of rare cases. In this case people from a community were targeted without any provocation. It was also submitted that the incident, broke entire fibre of trust and harmony among the communities thereby severely affecting the knitting and assimilation of different religious and social groups.

On January 31, the court had reserved the order after hearing additional submissions by the Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.

This case is related to the killings of one Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati vihar area on November 1, 1984.

Advocate Anil Sharma had submitted that Sajjan Kumar’s name was not there from the very beginning, and that the law of foreign land is not applicable in this case and there was a delay of 16 years in naming Sajjan Kumar by the witness.

It was also submitted that a case in which Sajjan Kumar was Convicted by the Delhi High Court is pending appeal before the Supreme court.

Advocate Anil Sharma had also referred to the case cited by the senior advocate H S Phoolka. He submitted that the law of the land will prevail even in the extraordinary situation and not the international law.

Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat in his rebuttal had submitted that the accused was not known to the victim. When she became aware that who is Sajjan Kumar she named him in her statement. Earlier, Senior advocate H S Phoolka had appeared for riots victims had argued that the police investigations were manipulated in the Sikh riots cases. Police investigation was tardy and to save the accused.

It was argued that during riots situation was extraordinary. Therefore, these cases have to be dealt with in this context.

During the arguments senior advocate H S Phoolka had referred to judgement of Delhi High Court and submitted that It is not an isolated case, it was a part of bigger massacre, it is a part of genocide. It was further argued that as per official figures 2700 Sikhs were killed in Delhi in 1984. It was an ordinary situation.

Senior Advocate Phoolka had referred to the Delhi High Court judgement in 1984 Delhi cantt case wherein the court called the riots Crime against humanity. It was also said that objective of genocide is always targetting of minorities. There is a delay. Supreme court took it seriously that there is delay and a SIT was constituted, he argued.

The senior advocate had also referred to the judgement delivered by foreign courts in the cases of genocide and crime against humanity. He also referred to Geneva Convention.

It was also submitted that a charge sheet was prepared against Sajjan Kumar in 1992 but was not filed in the court. It shows that the police were trying to save Sajjan Kumar. On November 1, 2023, the court had recorded the statement of Sajjan Kumar. He had denied all the charges levelled against him. Initially an FIR was registered in Punjabi Bagh police station. Later on, this case was investigated by the Special Investigation Team constituted on the recommendation of justice G P Mathur committee and filed a charge sheet.

The committee had recommended the reopening of 114 cases. This case was one of them. On December 16, 2021, the court had framed charges against the accused Sajjan Kumar for commission of the offences punishable Under Section 147/148/149 IPC as well as the offences punishable Under section 302/308/ 323/395/397/427/436/440 read with Section 149 IPC.

It has been alleged by the SIT that the accused was leading the said mob and upon his instigation and abetment, the mob had burnt alive the above two persons and had also damaged, destroyed and looted their household articles and other property, burnt their house and also inflicted severe injuries on the person of their family members and relatives residing in their house.

It is claimed that during the course of investigation, material witnesses of the case were traced out, examined and their statements were recorded under section 161 Cr.P.C.

The statements of complainant under the above provision was recorded on 23.11.2016 during the course of this further investigation, in which she again narrated the above incident of looting, arson and murders of her husband and son by the mob armed with deadly weapons and she is also claimed to have deposed therein about the injuries suffered by her and the other victims of the case, including her sister in law who is stated to have subsequently expired.

She had also clarified, interalia, in that statement that the photograph of accused was seen by her in a magazine after around one and half months.

The 1984 riots erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984, leading to the killing of at least 2,800 people in the national capital alone. (ANI)

The BJP government in Delhi led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday tabled the CAG report on the Delhi Excise Policy.

The ‘Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi’ covers a period of four years from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and examines regulation and supply of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Foreign Liquor in Delhi.

The report is one of the 14 pending CAG reports on the previous Aam Aami Party government’s performance.

According to the report tabled today, the audit observed several discrepancies in the way Excise Department monitored and regulated the supply of liquor in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

It showed that the state government suffered cumulative losses of more than Rs 2,000 crore due to the 2021-2022 excise policy.

The working of the Excise Department raises several questions about the way the Department is fulfilling its responsibility. Total financial implication of the audit findings is approximately Rs 2,026.91 crore, as per an overview of the report .

The audit observed that the Department could not ensure the implementation of Rule 35 of Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, which prohibits the issue of multiple licenses of Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi – different category (Wholesaler, Retailer, HCR etc.) – to related parties, leading to the existence of common directorship among entities holding various License Types.

The Audit says, the Department was issuing licenses without checking various requirements relating to Excise Rules and Terms and Conditions for the issue of different type of licenses. It was observed that licenses were issued without ensuring solvency, submission of audited financial statements, submission of data regarding sales and wholesale price declared in other states and across the year, verification of criminal antecedents from the competent authority etc.

The Audit says, the Excise Department allowed discretion to L1 licensee (Manufacturer and Wholesaler) to declare its Ex-Distillery Price (EDP), for liquor priced above a certain level. All the price components after manufacture, including profit of manufacturer, were added thereafter.

The Audit observed varying EDP in various States for liquor supplied by same manufacturer unit. Further, this discretion allowed L1 licensee to manipulate prices of liquor to its own advantage, through increase in EDP. Analysis of pricing and sale of a few brands revealed that discretionary EDP led to decline in sales and consequent loss in excise revenue.

As the costing details were not sought to ascertain the reasonability of EDP, there was a risk of L1 licensee getting compensated by the profits hidden in increased EDP. The concept of EDP needs to be transparently defined and cost sheets should be obtained in support of the declared EDP. Department should regulate pricing so as to optimize excise revenue by analysing the impact of pricing on sales.

The Audit observered that there was inadequate Quality Control Ensuring that the liquor supplied in Delhi conforms to prescribed quality standards is the responsibility of the Excise Department.

The extant regulatory framework contained relevant provisions which makes it mandatory for the wholesale licensees (L1) to submit various test reports, at the time of issue of licenses, in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) provisions, as Excise Commissioner had not prescribed separate quality specifications.

The Audit observed a number of instances where test reports were not compliant with BIS Specifications and the Excise Department issued licenses despite major shortcomings. Important test reports of water quality, harmful ingredients, heavy metals, methyl alcohol, microbiological tests reports etc., were not submitted for various brands.

In respect of 51 per cent of the test checked reports, relating to Foreign Liquor, it was found that test reports furnished were older than one year/or no test report was provided/date not mentioned.

The Audit also found weak Regulatory Functioning. The role of the Excise Department was largely limited to making record of seizures and disposal of case property and data suggested that the Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB) failed to act as an effective deterrent. The data maintained by the Department was fragmented and rudimentary with little to no analytical value, which further hindered any attempt at gaining data driven actionable insights.

The Audit found poor execution of Enforcement function. Various critical weaknesses were noticed which hampered the ability of the Department to either penalise violation appropriately or act as sufficient deterrent against further violations.

The actual raids were discretionary and fragmented in the absence of any Standard Operating Procedure. Further, lack of rigour in evidence collection and substantiation including utilization of ESCIMS data did put the cases on weak footing to begin with. Lapses were observed at each stage of the enforcement process, ranging from incorrect Inspection Reports to deficient show cause notices.

The audit found lacunae in End to End Tracking of Inventory. The Department’s inability to ensure sale of all the liquor through scanning led to the adoption of stock reconciliation post-sale (Monthly Stock Reconciliation- MSR Gap) which was outside the scope of contract agreement. This reconciliation procedure introduced various anomalies in the sales data and undermined inventory tracking, data accuracy, regulatory effectiveness and also increased the risk of NonDuty Paid Liquor being circulated through use of duplicate barcodes.

Further, the project of Excise Adhesive Labels, aimed at enhancing security of labels, could not be implemented as a result of which the objective of authenticity, traceability and security aspects of the supply side could not be achieved.

The Audit found infirmities in formation of Excise Policy Recommendations of the Expert Committee, formed for suggesting changes for formation of new Excise Policy, were ignored while formation of the same, justification of which was not available in records provided.

These changes included grant of wholesale license to private entities instead of State owned wholesale entity, upfront charging of excise duty in the license fees in place of excise duty to be charged per bottle, applicant being allowed to get a maximum of 54 retail vends in place of an individual being allotted a maximum of two vends.

Further, in violation of Cabinet decision, necessary permissions from the Cabinet/opinion of the Lieutenant Governor were not obtained before giving important exemptions/relaxations having revenue implications.

The Audit found issue in Design and Award of Licenses. One of the objectives of the policy was prevention of the formation of monopoly or cartel. However, the new policy had inherent design issues including the imposed exclusivity arrangement between manufacturers and wholesalers and formation of retail zone with a minimum of 27 wards in each zone. These issues resulted in limiting the number of total licensees and increasing the risk of monopolisation and cartel formation. It was noticed that wholesale licenses for supply of IMFL and FL were granted to 14 business entities, whereas the same were granted to 77 manufacturers of IMFL and 24 suppliers of FL in the old policy (2020-21).

Similarly, for the purpose of Retail Vends, Delhi was divided into 32 Zones (containing 849 vends) whose licenses were granted to 22 entities through tendering, whereas, 377 retail vends were run by four Government Corporations and 262 retail vends were allotted to private individuals previously. Moreover, cases of related business entities holding licenses across the supply chain and skewed distribution pattern highlighted the risk of exclusivity arrangements and Brand Pushing.

The Audit found issues in implementation of Excise Policy. While some retailers retained licenses till the expiry of the policy period, some surrendered the same before the policy period was over. As retail licensees were limited in numbers, it caused disruption in supply because the Policy did not contain any provision requiring the licensees to give advance notice before surrendering the license.

Further, there was revenue loss of approximately Rs 890 crore to the Government as it did not retender the surrendered retail licenses. In spite of being aware that vends were required to be opened in non-conforming wards in order to achieve the objective of equitable distribution, the Department did not take timely action to work out modalities leading to non-achievement of the objective.

It also resulted in loss of revenue of approximately Rs 941 crore due to exemptions which had to be given to the zonal licensees. Despite being mentioned in the conditions of the Tender Document that any commercial risk shall lie with the licensee, clarification provided during the pre-bid meeting that there is no provision for force majeure and against the opinion of the Excise Department to relax the license fees, a waiver of license fees of Rs 144 crore was granted to the zonal licensees on the basis of COVID restrictions (28 December 2021 to 27 January, 2022), resulting in loss of revenue to the Government. Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi.

Incorrect collection of Security Deposit from zonal Licensees, led to loss of revenue of around Rs 27 Crore. Therefore, these implementation issues of the new policy led to a loss of revenue of approximately Rs 2,002 crore. Excise Policy aimed to eradicate sale of spurious liquor and check bootlegging. However, important measures which were planned in the policy like setting up of liquor testing laboratories, batch testing for rigorous quality assurance, and monitoring and regulation through creation of a dedicated post were not ensured. (ANI)

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta slammed the Congress party’s Kerala wing for spreading “fake news” against her getting her loans written off and giving her social media accounts to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Expressing ‘shock’ over a political party “promoting fake news” and emphasised that the loan was “fully paid back” over a decade ago.

This comes after a post by Congress Kerala claimed that the ‘Veer Zaara’ actress “gave her social media accounts to BJP and got 18 Cr written off.”

“No I operate my social media accounts my self and shame on you for promoting FAKE NEWS ! No one wrote off anything or any loan for me. I’m shocked that a political party or their representative is promoting fake news & indulging in vile gossip & click baits using my name & images,” the actor stated in a post on X.

“For the record a loan was taken and FULLY PAID BACK – over 10 years ago. Hope this clarifies and helps so there are no misunderstandings in the future,” she added.

In a subsequent post, the actor expressed her disappointment with media outlets for failing to verify the information before publishing it.

“So much misinformation going around, but thank god for social media and thank god for X!” she added.

Preity also slammed several media houses for misreporting stories and not taking accountability for their mistakes.

“I think it’s time we start holding them responsible right here so there is some accountability in the future,” she wrote.

The actress added, “Next time please call me and find out if the story is true or not before mentioning my name.”

Earlier, Preity posted about the platform’s growing cynicism, especially when people expressed appreciation for public figures.

“If you appreciate your PM, you are a bhakt… if you are a proud Hindu or Indian, then you’re an ‘Andh Bhakt’!” she wrote, adding, “Let’s keep it real folks and take people for who they are and not who we think they should be!”

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress, who was last seen in Bhaiaji Superhit (2018), is all set to return to Bollywood with ‘Lahore 1947’, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.

Alongside Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal, Preity will share the screen with Sunny Deol, and his son Karan Deol in the upcoming film. (ANI)

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Delhi Excise Policy was tabled in the Delhi assembly on the second day of the assembly session by the newly elected CM Rekha Gupta.

The CAG reports highlights the alleged irregularities in the Policy that was brought during the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

As per the CAG report tabled, the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 was implemented to simplify liquor trade, bring transparency, check monopoly, generate optimum revenue and ensure a better consumer experience. However, the objectives for the change in the policy were not achieved.

As per the CAG report, the new policy with inherent design issues included the imposed exclusivity arrangement between manufacturers and wholesalers and the formation of a retail zone with a minimum of 27 wards in each zone which limited the number of total licenses and increased the risk of monopolization and cartel formation.

The report also mentioned that there was a lack of scrutiny by the Excise Department with regard to the financial capacity, management expertise and the ability to survive as a going concern.

As per the CAG report, several other important measures which were planned in the policy like the setting up of liquor testing laboratories, batch testing for quality assurance and enhance monitoring and regulation were also not implemented.

Speaking on the CAG report in his address to the Assembly Delhi LG VK Saksena said that the report would expose the administrative failures of the previous government and help work on the same.

“We have instructed the heads of all departments to make a 100-day plan and an outline of development works that need to be done. In the first cabinet meeting of my government, it was decided that the CAG report would be tabled in the assembly and presented before everyone, which would expose the administrative failures of the previous government and help us work on them…” he stated.

Earlier in the day, BJP MLAs Satish Upadhyay and Harish Khurana criticized the AAP government and accused them of corruption and mismanagement.

“Today is a very important day and those who did injustice to the people of Delhi, did corruption, will be sent to jail. From Arvind Kejriwal to Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj to Somnath Bharti, everyone will be sent to jail… There have been many scams in Delhi like transport, health, jal board. When the CAG report comes out, the truth will be revealed to the public,” Upadhyay said. (ANI)

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has committed to investing over Rs 50,000 crore in Assam over the next five years, Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani announced at the Assam 2.0 Summit on Tuesday.

Addressing the gathering in Guwahati during the investors’ summit, Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment & Infrastructure Summit 2025, Ambani emphasized Reliance’s long-term commitment to the state’s development, particularly in the technology and digital sectors.

“In the coming years, Reliance will more than quadruple its investment in Assam to over Rs 50,000 crore,” Ambani stated.

He recalled the company’s earlier commitment of Rs 5,000 crore in the 2018 summit and highlighted that Reliance has since exceeded Rs 12,000 crore in investments in the state.

Ambani highlighted Reliance’s priority of making Assam “tech-ready and AI-ready,” calling the state’s digital transformation a “noble and patriotic mission.”

He noted that Jio has played an important role in modernizing Assam’s telecom infrastructure, making it “not only 2G-mukt but 5G-yukt” (free from 2G and empowered with 5G). He expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for embracing Jio wholeheartedly.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Ambani stated that the summit’s theme, Advantage Assam, reflects the transformation the state has undergone under Modi’s governance. He identified four key advantages that Modi has brought to Assam.

“In the past 11 years you have brought four unique advantages to Assam. Advantage one, you have brought Assam and the rest of northeast from the periphery to the center of India’s development map. You have yourself visited the northeast over 70 times more than any other prime minister in the past,” Ambani said, pointing out that the Prime Minister has visited the region more than 70 times–more than any other previous leader.

“Second, you have given Assam an inspiring new mantra: Act East, Act Fast, and Act First,” he said, adding that Assam has the potential to develop so rapidly that Southeast Asia and East Asia will begin looking towards the state as a hub of growth opportunities.

The third advantage, Ambani noted, is the “unprecedented connectivity revolution” in Assam and the Northeast, which goes beyond physical and digital connectivity to also include developmental and emotional connectivity with the rest of India.

The fourth and most significant advantage, he added, is the emphasis on technology as a key driver of development. Comparing Assam’s global reputation as a tea paradise, Ambani expressed confidence that in the coming decades, the state will also emerge as a “technological paradise.”

With Reliance’s massive new investment commitment, Assam is poised to see significant growth in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and overall economic development in the years ahead. (ANI)

Tensions escalated in the Delhi Assembly as Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 12 AAP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Atishi, and AAP MLA Gopal Rai amid uproar ahead of the tabling of the CAG report. 

As soon as the Lieutenant Governor (LG) started his address, AAP MLAs began raising slogans, leading to chaos in the House. Before the LG’s speech, AAP members also chanted “Jai Bhim” slogans. The MLAs were then suspended from the house.

They then took their protest outside the Assembly and raised slogans against the state government while carrying posters of Babasaheb Ambedkar

The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Delhi, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, will present 14 reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the second day of the eighth legislative assembly of the Delhi Assembly.

The reports are expected to highlight financial irregularities during the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

Speaking to ANI, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva said, “CAG report is a list of the black deeds of AAP. We had promised the people of Delhi during the elections that whoever has committed corruption will have to answer. Today, we hope that after the speech of LG, when the CAG report will be tabled, all their black deeds will come before the people of Delhi.”

Earlier today, Delhi Minister and BJP leader Parvesh Verma also said the CAG report to be tabled today will expose the ‘corruption’ of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Verma stated that the report would reveal the extent of the party’s wrongdoings and emphasized that the people of Delhi and taxpayers had been taken advantage of.

“The CAG report we have been eagerly waiting for is finally here. Today, we will uncover the extent of the Aam Aadmi Party’s corruption. We will see just how severe it was. The people of Delhi have been looted, and taxpayers have been taken advantage of. Once the report is out, I will provide all the details,” he said.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also commented on the reports, saying, “Today, the CAG report, which exposed the scams of Arvind Kejriwal’s government, will be tabled in the Delhi Assembly. Arvind Kejriwal had kept it hidden for the last 3 years… 14 such reports will be tabled one by one… Arvind Kejriwal had kept the report hidden all this time because he knew his loot, scams, and corruption would be exposed.”. (ANI)

After the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced its decision to establish an ad hoc committee to oversee the boxing affairs in the country due to ongoing “administrative instability” in the federation, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) strongly condemned the IOA’s decision and called it “illegal.”

The elections of the BFI were set to be conducted on February 2, however, the elections have not been held. On Monday, the IOA announced its decision to establish an ad hoc committee to oversee the “affairs of the Indian Boxing Federation and ensure the smooth functioning of its activities until the conduct of free and fair elections.”

“The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been closely monitoring the administrative affairs of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). As per the governing norms, elections to the IBF were to be conducted on or before 02 February 2025. However, despite the prescribed timeline, the elections have not been held, resulting in administrative instability within the federation,” IOA President PT Usha said in a letter.

“Furthermore, this office has received numerous complaints from stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and concerned authorities, regarding the non-participation of Indian boxers in various important National / International events in recent months. This situation is detrimental to the growth and performance of Indian boxing on the global stage and necessitates immediate corrective measures,” Usha added.

The ad hoc committee is headed by Madhukant Pathak. Rajesh Bhandari, DP Bhatt, Virendra Singh Thakur and Shiva Thapa are the other members of the panel.

In reply to IOA’s decision, BFI released a statement condemning the creation of the ad hoc committee to manage the body’s affairs.

“The BFI strongly condemns the creation of an ad-hoc panel to manage its affairs, calling it illegal and a blatant attempt to violate the autonomy of a National Sports Federation (NSF). This has also been communicated in a letter by the President, BFI to the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA),” BFI said in a statement.

“BFI will also be filing a petition for quashing this illegal order before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court immediately. It’s pertinent to also mention a verdict of today, wherein the Hon’ble Delhi High Court annulled the IOA’s decision to form an ad-hock panel for the Bihar Olympic Association,” the statement continued.

“IOA did not find it necessary to enquire about the issue with the BFI Office or its President before taking such a decision. As per Article 21.5 of the constitution of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), no decision pertaining to an NSF can be made without prior consultation with the parent International Federation, and approval of the IOA Executive Committee. Considering the NSF’s autonomous status, neither of them was done. The IOA has no jurisdiction over the conduct of elections for NSFs, yet this order has been issued in a manner that clearly questions its intent,” the statement added. (ANI)