1. Essar Leaks: PMO Gets Complaint That Allegedly Has Details of Corruption Syndicate
A 29-page complaint has been submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has a list of prominent politicians, businessmen, and bureaucrats whose phones were reportedly tapped, and whose conversations allegedly reveal how businesses reach out to politicians to seek favours, according to The Indian Express.
Suren Uppal, a Delhi-based Supreme Court lawyer who claims to represent the Essar employee who allegedly tapped the phones, says these are just a “tip of the iceberg” and that there were “far more incriminating conversations that expose invariably all aspects of corruption in the business milieu, Governance, policy making and judicial pronouncements that have marred our national pride and progress.”
Uppal has said that Albasit Khan, employed with the group for over a decade as its security head, allegedly handed over “hundreds of audio cassettes containing thousands of conversations” that were tapped reportedly at the behest of the Ruia brothers who own the Essar group. The Essar Group has called the allegations “completely false and baseless”.
2. Opposition Clamours for SC Probe into Ishrat Jehan Missing Papers After Expose
A day after The Indian Express broke the news that a witness in the Ishrat Jehan missing papers case was tutored by BK Prasad, the officer heading the Home Ministry probe into ‘missing documents’, the Opposition demanded that the Supreme Court intervene to ensure that trial in the case is not derailed by the BJP government, the paper reports.
The leaders of five opposition parties including the Congress also condemned the alleged tutoring.
Meanwhile, the MHA has strongly denied any manipulation of the investigation through Home secretary RK Mehrishi.
Also Read: Ishrat Jahan Missing Files: MHA Official Denies Tutoring Witness
3. Delhi Water Tanker Scam: Sheila Dikshit Under Scanner; May Be Probed
Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday cleared a probe against former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the alleged Rs 400-crore water tanker scam.
The decision was taken in response to a complaint sent to the LG’s office by Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra.
We have received a complaint against Sheila Dikshit by Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra in connection with the water tanker scam. That complaint has been forwarded to the ACB for appropriate actionOfficial at LG’s office
Mishra on Monday sent a fact-finding report on the alleged scam to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jung.
The Aam Aadmi Party government in June 2015 had constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012 during Sheila Dikshit’s rule.
The board’s report, submitted to Kejriwal in August 2015, highlights alleged corruption of Rs 400 crore in the process of awarding tenders for hiring water tankers.
Also Read: Delhi Water Tanker Scam: Anti-Graft Body May Probe Sheila Dikshit
4. Kerala Law Student Jisha’s Rapist and Murderer Reportedly Nabbed
Amir Ul Islam, a migrant labourer from Assam who was a suspect in the shocking rape and murder of 30-year old Kerala law student Jisha has been reportedly nabbed by the Special Investigation team probing the murder and is in custody.
The police said 23-year-old Islam was one of the labourers who was building Jisha’s new house and had visited the crime scene the morning of 28 April, and had reportedly harassed Jisha in the past, reports The Indian Express.
Also Read: Jisha’s Alleged Killer Has Been Nabbed: Here’s What We Know
The rape and murder of the Dalit woman who was from the Perumbavoor area in Kochiwas was in focus during the Assembly polls campaign with political parties attacking the then UDF regime for tardy progress in the investigation. The LDF government, after assuming power on May 25 had changed the investigation team and entrusted the probe to ADGP B Sandhya on its first cabinet meeting itself. Due to the horrific nature of her murder, Jisha was likened to be Kerala’s Nirbhaya.
5. SC Expands Right to Self Defence Definition
The SC on Thursday expanded the boundaries of the right to self-defence, by ruling that a person would be right in taking the law into his own hands if he witnessed his parents or relatives being assaulted, according to The Times of India.
The landmark ruling came in the case of two persons who had been convicted by a trial court for assaulting some of their neighbours in the village. That judgement was upheld by the Rajasthan High Court which sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment. They were later acquitted by a Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh.
It was true that the two convicts had assaulted others, but police failed to point out why the two had resorted to assault and how they had so many injury marks on their bodies, the SC reasoned while acquitting the two of all charges.The Times of India Report
6. Only Three Families “Fled” Kairana, Says Report
Presenting its final report on the alleged mass exodus of 346 families said to have “fled” Kairana due to fear of persecution – as was claimed by BJP MP Hukum Singh – the Shamli district administration has found that only three of the 346 families mentioned in the list left Kairana due to fear of criminals, reports The Times of India.
BJP MP Hukum Singh had released two lists of Hindu families – who he alleged left the Muslim-dominated Kairana after threats and harassment by Muslim gangsters. But both lists had inflated figures and even included people who had left ten years ago.
Also Read: BJP’s Kairana Exodus List Falls Flat as “Migrants” Refute Claims
7. Govt Bans Teesta Satlavad’s NGO From Receiving Foreign Funds
An NGO run by civil rights activist Teesta Setelvad, who had espoused the cause of Gujarat riot victims, was banned from receiving foreign funds, on Thursday, with the Home Ministry cancelling its FCRA licence, citing six violations ranging from diversion of foreign funds to activities barred under the FCRA Act.
The order said that during the inspection, the Home Ministry found that foreign contribution has been “frequently used” for items of “personal expenses e.g. for dining in hotels, food takeaways ordered at their residences, cakes and sweets from premium outlets, purchase of purely personal items like ear-buds, wet wipes, clippers, sanitary napkins by both Teesta and Anand, which have been reimbursed to the trustees from FCRA account.”
The NGO can no longer receive foreign funding but can continue its operations with domestic funds.
Also Read: Did Teesta Setalvad Follow the Rulebook to the Last Detail?
8. Kamal Nath Resigned on His Own, Says Congress
Kamal Nath resigned “on his own volition” as party in-charge of Punjab, anguished by the “mischievous” campaign against him by opponents in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the party said on Thursday.
This comes in a day after Nath requested Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to relieve him of his charge as the party’s General Secretary. Gandhi immediately accepted his resignation.
Nath also met Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday evening.
He raised questions on why the issue of his alleged role in the riots was being raked up after 32 years.
In an interview with NDTV, he said, “Why should I have regret, I did a Yeoman service during the 1984 riots, I should be applauded.”
On his presence outside Delhi Gurudwara Rakabganj on 1 November 1984, Nath said, “The Police requested me to keep the crowd engaged at Rakabganj Gurudwara near Parliament House till reinforcements arrived; I did just that. I left as soon as I saw the reinforcements arrive.”
9. Allegation is Baseless: Pahlaj Nihalani on Udta Punjab’s Leak
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani denied the allegations that Udta Punjab has been leaked online by CBFC.
This (allegation) is baseless, we abide by rules.Pahlaj Nihalani
Udta Punjab was leaked online on Wednesday – just two days ahead of its scheduled release in theatres. But the film’s team managed to remove it online on war footing from torrent sites. Later, they also reportedly filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell against the leak.
Also Read: Allegation is Baseless: Pahlaj Nihalani on Udta Punjab’s Leak
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