QBullet: Chidambaram Gets CBI Relief; US Weighs in on Kashmir

Here are the top stories of the day.

1. PC Granted Bail, but Stays in ED Custody

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to P Chidambaram in the INX Media case, turning down the CBI’s argument that the former finance minister, if released, could flee the country and tamper with evidence and influence the witnesses.

However, Chidambaram, who has been behind bars for two months, will not be a free man even after getting relief as the Enforcement Directorate has taken him into custody for alleged involvement in money laundering arising out of financial transactions in the same case. Now, he’ll have to fight another round of legal battles for bail in the ED case.

A bench of Justices R Banumathi, A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy said there was no merit in the CBI’s submission that Chidambaram was a flight risk and there was a possibility of him absconding as he had already surrendered his passport and there was a lookout notice issued against him.

(Source: The Times of India)

2. Humanitarian Crisis in J&K… Pak Has to Act on Terror: DC’s Delhi Tightrope

In the first US Congressional hearing on India’s removal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, the Trump administration walked the diplomatic tightrope, telling the US Congress that there is a “humanitarian crisis” in J&K and adding that the relationship with India is not of “dictation” but of “partnership.”

Administration officials also told Congressmen that US diplomats wanted to travel to J&K after August 5 but the Indian government denied permission saying it is not the right time to go there.

On the key issue of change in status, however, US officials backed Delhi saying that the decision to revoke Article 370 was passed by the Indian Parliament where Opposition members “crossed the aisle” and voted in favour of the legislation.

(Source: The Indian Express)

3. Assam: Starting 2021, No Govt Jobs for Those with More Than Two Kids

The Assam Cabinet on Monday decided that no government jobs will be given to persons having more than two children after January 1, 2021.

The important decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held late Monday evening that also adopted a New Land Policy, which will give three bighas of agricultural land to landless indegenous people and half a bigha for constructing a house.

A communique from the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s public relations cell stated that those having more than two children will not be considered for government jobs with effect from January 1, 2021 as per the small family norm.

(Source: The Indian Express)

4. Two More Accused Arrested from Gujarat in Hindu Outfit Leader Kamlesh Tiwari’s Murder

The Gujarat ATS on Tuesday arrested two alleged assailants of Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari.

“Ashfaq Sheikh and Moinuddin Pathan have been arrested from Shamlaji near Gujarat-Rajasthan border,’’ said Gujarat ATS DIG Himanshu Shukla.

Both are residents of Surat and were absconding. The ATS on October 19 had arrested three accused in the case including Ashfaq’s younger brother Rasheed, Faizan Sheikh and Maulana Mohsin.

The Gujarat ATS top officials ruling out any larger conspiracy maintained that motive behind the murder was to avenge remarks made by Tiwari against Prophet Mohmmad. Investigation so far has revealed that conspiracy and execution happened between the accused whose names have been cropped up so far and there does seem to be any larger conspiracy,’’ said a top official.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

5. Jaish Militants Killed in J&K Encounter

Three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists — two of them allegedly from Pakistan — were killed in an anti-insurgency operation in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tuesday. The slain trio is yet to be identified, police said. This is the second encounter in the area after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5.

Based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Awantipora’s Rajpora area, a joint team of J&K Police, CRPF and Army’s 42 RR launched a cordon-and-search operation and zeroed in on a house where the terrorists were believed to have taken shelter.

“Massive searches were carried out in the area. During the operation, when the forces tried to enter the house, the holed-up terrorists opened fire at the search party, triggering a firefight in which three terrorists were killed,” said a police spokesman.

(Source: The Times of India)

6. Justin Trudeau Wins Canada Vote, Loses Majority

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won a second term in a surprisingly strong showing in Canada’s national elections, claiming a “clear mandate” on Tuesday despite a parliament and nation increasingly fractured along regional lines.

Trudeau’s Liberal Party took the most seats in parliament but lost its majority in Monday’s balloting. That means it will have to rely on an opposition party to pass legislation.

After the narrow victory, Trudeau appeared on stage in Montreal and exclaimed in French, “What an unbelievable night!”

With results still trickling in, the Liberals had 157 seats - 13 short of 170 needed for a majority in the 338-seat House - while the Conservatives, led by Andrew Scheer, had 121.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

7. Venkaiah Naidu Considers Code for Rajya Sabha MPs

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu, the vice president of India, is expected to discuss with parties across the political spectrum, the possibility of amending house rules to suspend promptly Rajya Sabha members of parliament who repeatedly disrupt proceedings, a government official said on condition of anonymity.

Naidu is also expected brainstorm with them on a code of conduct aimed to discourage lawmakers from rushing to the well of the house to protest against the government or political parties, this person added.

Tired of regular disruptions that marred the performance of the Upper House, Naidu formed a two-member expert panel in May 2018 to look into amendments of rules with an eye on increasing productivity of the Upper House.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

8. HC Nixes Govt’s Phone-Tap Orders as They ‘Violate Right to Privacy’

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday quashed three orders passed by the Union home ministry to intercept phone calls of a businessman being probed by the CBI in a bribery case, saying it violates the right to privacy as held by the Supreme Court.

It directed the destruction of illegally intercepted conversations and, again quoting a Supreme Court order, said tapping can be allowed only in a public emergency or in the interest of public safety. A bench of Justices Ranjit More and N J Jamadar held that permitting illegal interception “would lead to manifest arbitrariness and would promote scant regard to the procedure and fundamental rights of citizens, and law laid down by the apex court”.

(Source: The Times of India)

9. Under Scanner: Deal Between Mirchi’s Son and Bhushan Steel

A Delhi-based firm set up by Brij Bhushan Singal and Neeraj Singal, the arrested promoters of Bhushan Steel Ltd, had financial transactions with Junaid Iqbal Memon, son of Iqbal Mohammed Memon, alias Iqbal Mirchi, a close aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, agencies probing Iqbal Mirchi have found.

Sources told The Indian Express that in 2010, Sur Buildcon Pvt Ltd (now Globus Realinfra Pvt Ltd) issued a draft of about Rs 19 crore in favour of Junaid Iqbal Memon, which was later cancelled. The Enforcement Directorate is examining the nature of transaction between Junaid Memon and Globus Realinfra to see if the money was paid to Mirchi’s son in cash through hawala, said sources.

(Source: The Indian Express)