Author: LokMarg

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been remanded to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s custody till April 11 in connection with an alleged corruption and extortion case.

The CBI took Deshmukh in their custody from Arthur Road Jail today in the morning and presented him before a special CBI court in Mumbai.

CBI had sought 10-day custody of the former Home Minister of Maharashtra. However, the court granted them his custody for only 6-days.

Yesterday, the central agency had told the Special CBI Court that Deshmukh was trying to evade CBI questioning in the money laundering case and that is why he is citing health reasons.

CBI has already taken custody of ex-Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze and two of the close aides of Deshmukh, Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande.

It has taken custody of these three to carry out further investigation into the alleged corruption and extortion case against Deshmukh.

These three accused were in judicial custody of the Special PMLA Court in the money laundering case against Deshmukh.

While arguing their case in the special CBI court, the probe agency through its lawyer had argued, “The former Home Minister is trying to evade CBI questioning and that is why he is citing health reasons and is admitted to hospital.”

Arguing their demand to take all accused to Delhi for further investigation CBI lawyer said, “There is a need of confrontation of all these accused with each other and other witnesses of this case so they are needed to be taken to Delhi,” but the Special Court refused CBI’s demand and directed them to question these three accused in Mumbai itself.

CBI objected to Anil Deshmukh’s claim about his health and told the court that the agency had already taken orders of the concerned courts for taking Anil Deshmukh into custody last week but due to Gudi Padva on Saturday followed by a Sunday they could not take Anil Deshmukh’s custody from jail and when they reached Arthur Road jail to take custody, they were told that Deshmukh is admitted to hospital.

“So, it might be the case that Anil Deshmukh is playing tricks to evade the CBI investigation,” the CBI said.

CBI requested the special court to ask for a detailed medical report from JJ Hospital where Anil Deshmukh is admitted.

Replying to CBI’s arguments lawyers of Anil Deshmukh and the other three accused argued in court that the statements of these accused are already taken by CBI in this case. So there is no need for custody to CBI in this same case.

The Former Maharashtra Home Minister was arrested by ED in November, last year in connection with the alleged Rs 100-crore extortion and money laundering case.

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had accused Anil Deshmukh of asking dismissed assistant inspector Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month.ED registered a case against Deshmukh and others based on a corruption case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested the dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze in March 2021 in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s house Antilia in Mumbai. (ANI)

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported receiving proposals for investments worth approximately Rs 51,000 crore so far, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to a question in a written reply, the Minister shared the information indicating towards these proposals since the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35 A from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

Moreover, in order to boost industrial development in the Union Territory, Rai said the government of Jammu and Kashmir has also notified the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy, Jammu and Kashmir Private Industrial Estate Development Policy and Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy.

He further said that the government of India has notified the New Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of the Union Territory on February 19 last year to attract capital investments in Jammu and Kashmir with a financial outlay of Rs 28,400 Crore (upto the year 2037).

“The Scheme provides four types of incentives namely Capital Investment Incentive, Capital Interest Subvention, Goods and Services Tax Linked Incentive and Working Capital Interest Subvention,” said the Minister when asked, “whether the government has announced any industrial policy for Jammu and Kashmir to boost industrial activities in the UT”. (ANI)

There has been a four-fold decline in the cross border infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

As per the data collated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 136 infiltration attempts were made in 2017 while only 34 attempts occured in 2021. The cross-border infiltration has decreased significantly in Jammu and Kashmir with 143 attempts in 2018, 138 in 2019, and 51 in 2020.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai shared the information in the Upper House while responding to a written reply.

Giving reason behind the downfall in cross border infiltration, the Minister said the government has adopted a “multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration”.

“This includes multi-tiered deployment along the International Border/Line of Control, border fencing, improved intelligence and operational coordination, equipping security forces with advanced weapons and taking proactive action against infiltrators,” Rai said.

The Minister’s response came when asked “whether the cross border infiltration has increased in Jammu and Kashmir during the last five years, and the steps taken by the government to check the menace. (ANI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told Lok Sabha that India is in touch with Ukraine’s neighbouring countries Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland to help the evacuated medical students from the war-torn country to pursue their studies.

“We have been in touch with Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Poland (about continuing education for the students evacuated from Ukraine) because they have similar models of education,” he said in Lok Sabha.

Responding to the Opposition’s concerns over the disruption of the studies of the evacuated medical students, Jaishankar said that India is in talks with Poland, Romania, Kazakhstan, and Hungary to find ways to help the affected students complete their education.

On the Opposition criticism that the government sent Union ministers to neighbouring countries to gain political mileage, Jaishankar said that the presence of the ministers helped the evacuation process.

“Had the four ministers not gone to countries neighbouring Ukraine, India would not have got the same level of cooperation from them, and, in fact, the ministers worked as a team,” he said.

Commenting on India’s advisories, Jaishankar said: “Our advisories helped people get updates on which border was open and where to move for them in Ukraine.”

He further said that Ukraine Government decided that there’ll be relaxation (for students) in respect of completion of the medical education.

“The KROK 1 (Ukrainian Medical Examination) exam, for 3rd-year medical students to go to the 4th year, postponed to next academic year while students are allowed to progress to the next academic year on the basis of the completion of the study requirement,” Janshankar said.

He added that for 6th-year students, there is an exam called KROK 2. The Ukraine Government decided that on the basis of the results of academic assessments, they will be awarded degrees without taking KROK, he said.

One Iranian cleric was killed and two others wounded Tuesday in a knife attack at the courtyard of Iran’s holy shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad, according to a statement by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The statement said, the assailant, whose identity and nationality have been determined, was immediately arrested by security forces.

The injured clerics were immediately transferred to the hospital for treatment.

Mashhad Governor Mohsen Davari said that the assailant had carried out the attack under the impact of Takfiri beliefs and ideas, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. (ANI/Xinhua)

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on Wednesday reached its headquarters with the accused of the Gorakhnath temple attack case, Murtaza, for further inquiry.

Before moving to Lucknow Murtaza underwent a medical test. His laptop and mobile have also been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further investigation.

The UP-ATS on Monday reached Mumbai and learnt that the accused Murtaza had not met his family members since last three years.

Yesterday, the team visited Navi Mumbai where the accused Murtaza used to live earlier with his family.

UP ATS team has reached Mumbai to investigate the Gorakhnath Temple attack case. Yesterday, the team visited Navi Mumbai where the accused Murtaza used to live earlier with his family. Murtaza did not meet his family members for last 3 years.

Notably, the father of the accused has said that his son is mentally not stable and had no plan to commit the offence.

“He is not mentally stable. Since childhood, he is suffering from depression. Earlier, he also received medical treatment,” Munir Ahmed Abbasi, the father of the accused told ANI while adding that due to some developments (in his mental health), the accused believed that police were after him.”He had no planning and did this due to his current mental state,” Abbasi added.

According to Uttar Pradesh Police, a man forcibly tried to enter the Gorakhnath Temple premises and attacked the on-duty police personnel with a sharp weapon on Sunday. The accused has been identified as Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Gorakhpur.

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to hand over the probe to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said the man who attacked two police personnel at Gorakhnath temple has been arrested.

“He is a resident of Gorakhpur. A sickle has been recovered from him. An FIR has been lodged against him. There could be a terror angle in it. The case will be transferred to ATS,” he said.

Police said the accused Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, after being presented in court on Monday, has been sent to judicial custody.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said strict action will be taken based on the investigation. (ANI)

Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) on Wednesday increased the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Delhi by Rs 2.5 per kilogram, taking the total increase to Rs 6.6 in five days.

With this revision, the CNG will cost Rs 2.5 per Kg with effect from today. For Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida, the CNG price has been hiked to Rs 69.18 per kg, while in Gurugram, it will cost Rs 74.94 per kg.

Meanwhile, fuel prices have gone up by another 80 paise a litre today. Petrol and diesel in the past 16 days and after 14 hikes have become dearer by Rs 10 a litre.

Petrol in the national capital crossed the Rs 105 mark today, whereas, in Mumbai, it has surpassed Rs 120.

With the latest hike in prices, petrol now costs Rs 105.41 per litre in Delhi, whereas diesel is priced at Rs 96.67 per litre.

In Mumbai, petrol costs Rs 120.51 per litre after an increase of 84 paise and diesel is selling at Rs 104.77 a litre, increased by 85 paise.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday defended the Central government over the issue of fuel price hike, comparing it with that of other countries, saying that India has merely seen a change of “only 5 per cent”.

“Fuel prices hiked in India are 1/10th of the change of prices in other countries. Comparing gasoline (petrol) prices between April 2021 and March 2022, the prices in the United States of America (USA) have increased by 51 per cent, Canada by 52 per cent, Germany by 55 per cent, the United Kingdom (UK) by 55 per cent, France by 50 per cent, Spain 58 per cent but in India only 5 per cent,” said Puri in Lok Sabha.

However, the Opposition has been stepping up pressure on the government with demand for the rollback of the fuel price hike. (ANI)

Actor Ileana D’Cruz has been featured in a new music video titled ‘Ooo Ooo’.

Composed and sung by Qaran with lyrics by Qaran and Siddhesh Patole, the urban and contemporary song has been conceptualized and created by Vidit Chitroda and directed by Avinash Jai Singh.

Elated to be a part of the peppy track, Ileana said, “When I heard ‘Ooo Ooo’ I couldn’t stop grooving to the track, it was right up my alley. Qaran and I had a blast filming the song and I can’t wait for everyone to listen to it.”

Qaran, too, talked about the song.

“Ooo Ooo is a song that I’ve always wanted to make. Something which puts a smile on peoples faces and gives them a feeling of positivity and happiness. In my opinion, this song and the energy it brings is the perfect way to usher the world back into a state of a relative normalcy after 2 years of uncertainty. I want this song to be remembered as a moment of celebration for the same. I can’t think of anyone better suited to bring out this emotion on screen with me than the gorgeous, Ileana,” he expressed.

‘Ooo Ooo’ is currently streaming on Vinod Bhanushali’s Hitz Music channel. (ANI)

Amidst the unprecedented economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando on Wednesday informed Parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign and will face the current issues.

“As a responsible government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not resign under any circumstances,” Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said.

Fernando said that the President will not resign as he was elected to office, reported Colombo Gazette.

Meanwhile, the Government also defended the President’s decision to enforce a State of Emergency and later revoke it.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the State of Emergency was declared after attempts were made to attack the President’s Office and other public property, reported Colombo Gazette.

He said that the Government defends the decision to enforce the State of Emergency.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday revoked the gazette enforcing emergency regulations.

The regulations have been revoked with effect from 5th April.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had on Tuesday issued a notification revoking the proclamation issued declaring the State of Emergency, as the island nation continues to stare at the countrywide protests over the severe economic crisis.

Earlier, Rajapaksa had announced an emergency in the country to ensure “public security and maintenance of public order.”

Anti-government protests continue to take place in the island nation, demanding solutions to the current economic crisis. An emergency health situation has been declared in Sri Lanka today, due to a severe shortage of medicines in the country.

Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel, leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries.

On Sunday, 26 Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers resigned en masse from their positions amid rising public anger against the government over the economic crisis. All 26 of them signed a general letter, Daily Mirror reported. (ANI)

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday accused the former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya of financial bungling, alleging that while he had collected about Rs 50 crore from the people as part of a campaign to save the INS Vikrant but the fund wasn’t submitted to the state exchequer.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the Shiv Sena leader demanded a probe by the Maharashtra government against Somaiya while also claiming that it’s a fit case to be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Income Tax (IT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

“In the 1971 war against Pakistan, the Indian Navy played a key role, including the INS Vikrant. When the situation of the INS Vikrant got bad and it got difficult to maintain, there were campaigns for turning it into a museum,” Raut said.

He said about Rs 200 crore was required for the purpose, and the Central or state governments couldn’t provide the financial support.

“There were campaigns across the country for saving the INS Vikrant. All party leaders from Maharashtra used to come to Delhi and meet the then Defence Minister AK Antony or the Prime Minister. Kirit Somaiya used to be part of the campaign,” added Rout.

The Shiv Sena leader alleged that Kirit Somaiya started a campaign to raise funds for the INS Vikrant.

“Somaiya appealed to the people with the help of his volunteers to collect money to ‘Save Vikrant’ by wearing the t-shirts and jerseys and going to Mumbai airport and railway stations. Many people back then in the name of the INS Vikrant donated lakhs and crores of money. Three-four people called me yesterday and said that they had donated Rs 5,000 and 10,000 rupees in Navy Nagar, Church gate and Chembur,” he added.

Raut alleged that more than Rs 50 crore was collected for the INS Vikrant but the information from Raj Bhawan said that not a single paise was submitted.

“As per the information, more than Rs 50 crore was collected officially. People thought that all this money will go into saving INS Vikrant. Somaiya then said in all the newspapers that they will submit the money to Raj Bhavan’s account by opening a separate independent account. We got the information from Rajya Bhawan that no such amount had been submitted,” alleged Rout.

The Shiv Sena leader stated that “while the amount may be less than the Bofors, Agusta Westlands or Rafale scams, it’s connected with the nation’s security”.

“The Maharashtra government will investigate this matter. But it is also the responsibility of the central government. I appeal to Income Tax, and the CBI to hold an inquiry. It is directly a case of treason,” alleged Rout. (ANI)