1. Bail for Tyagi in AgustaWestland Case, Blow to CBI
A special court on Monday granted bail to former IAF chief Shashindra Pal Tyagi, accused of receiving illegal kickbacks in the AgustaWestland case.
Special Judge Arvind Kumar pointed out that the allegations against Tyagi were not investigated in over three-and-a-half years.
"During arguments, CBI failed to state as to how much cash was paid to the accused and when it was paid. Admittedly, the CBI has seized the documents regarding properties in the year 2013 and more than 3 years and 9 months have passed, but could not conduct investigation in this regard," the special court observed.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Rs 104 Cr in BSP Bank Account, Rs 1.4 Cr in Maya’s Brother's Account: ED
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP. The agency also found Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to party chief Mayawati’s brother Anand in a branch of United Bank of India in New Delhi, sources in the ED said.
Officials said the two accounts were discovered when the ED visited the Karol Bagh branch of the UBI as part of its routine survey and enquiry operations to check suspicious and huge cash deposits in banks.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. India Test Fires Agni-V, Enters Elite ICBM Club
India on Thursday propelled itself into an elite club of nations with Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) technology, by successfully test-firing the nuclear-capable Agni-V, which covers a range of more than 5,000 km.
The significance of the success lies in the fact that the Agni-V is the most formidable missile in India's arsenal, with the longest range.
With the success of the test, India joins the US, Russia, France and China, which have ICBM capability. With India's policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, Agni-V will provide the country with depth in deterrence.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. A Month Before Budget, Arun Jaitley Hints at Tax Cuts
Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday that India needs to move to a lower level of taxation in order to be globally competitive.
What you need is lower level of taxation to provide services more competitive in nature. Competition is not domestic, it is global. There is a need to lower level of taxation as we broad base economy. This is one important change you will witness while you will be in service.Arun Jaitley
Extraordinary high taxation rates in the past have led to higher tax evasions, the Finance Minister added.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. 4 Arrested by Delhi Police for Rape of American National
The Delhi Police on Monday arrested four accused in the alleged gangrape case of a US national.
Aniruddha Singh, a Rajasthan-based tourist guide, Omprakash, Maqsood and Vivek – all in their late 20s – were arrested from different cities during raids conducted by Delhi Police on separate occasions.
On the complaint of a Delhi-based NGO, we contacted the victim and filed a case on the basis of her statement. During our inquiry, we conducted several raids in Delhi and other cities and arrested four persons.Dependra Pathak, Joint Commissioner of Police
(Source: India Today)
6. Three-Fold Rise in Naxal Surrenders, Civilian Casualties Surge
The Union Home Ministry has recorded a three-fold rise in the number of Maoists who have surrendered. However, its figures for 2016 also show a rise in the number of civilian casualties, mostly alleged police informers who died in violence involving left-wing extremists, when compared to last year.
According to figures available till 15 December 2016, a record 1,420 Maoists surrendered this year as compared to 570 in 2015, 670 in 2014 and 282 in 2013.
Of the 202 civilians who died this year in Maoist violence, 115 were allegedly police informants who, officials said, were executed by left-wing extremists. In 2015, 156 civilians died out of which 85 were identified as “informers”.
(Source: The Indian Express)
7. Farmers Get Additional 60 Days to Repay Crop Loans
In a relief to farmers hit by demonetisation, the Reserve Bank on Monday announced an extension of 60 days for farmers to repay their crop loans due in November-December. The RBI said prompt repayment would be eligible for the extra 3 percent interest subsidy.
The government has been implementing the Interest Subvention Scheme since 2006-07.
As per the scheme for the year 2016-17, besides subvention of 2 percent per annum, an additional interest subvention of 3 percent is also provided to prompt payee farmers from the date of disbursement of the crop loan.
(Source: The Times of India)
8. Rs 50k Fine for Possession of Rs 10k Worth Old Notes
The government is planning an ordinance or executive order to bring a new law under which possessing, transferring or receiving an amount of over Rs 10,000 in banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will be a punishable offence.
The maximum number of banned notes, of any denomination, that a person will be allowed to have is 10.
The ordinance has to be issued before 30 December, the deadline for people to deposit old notes that they are holding in their bank accounts, sources said.
(Source: NDTV)
9. Congress to Hold Country-Wide Protests Against Note Ban From 5 Jan
Congress on Monday announced plans to hold country-wide protests on 5 January at all district headquarters. Protests will also be held on 8 January at the block-level to highlight the common man's woes due to demonetisation.
The Congress also plans to highlight the alleged "personal corruption" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protests.
(Read the full story here)
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