Video Editor: Vishal Kumar and Purnendu Pritam
1. CBI Suspends DSP Devender Kumar After His Arrest in Bribery Case
The CBI on Tuesday, 23 October, suspended DSP Devender Kumar, who was arrested a day earlier in connection with an alleged bribery case. Kumar, accused of falsifying a witness statement, has been sent to CBI custody for seven days’ remand by the Delhi HC.
The Delhi High Court refused to stay the proceedings against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana in alleged bribery case on Tuesday, 23 October. However, the court asked Central Bureau of Investigation to maintain status quo and not take any action against Asthana until the next hearing on Monday, 29 October.
The agency has been embroiled in an internal tiff between its top two officials – Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, with the duo levelling allegations of bribery against each other.
Follow the live updates here
2. SC Permits Use of ‘Safe’ Firecrackers, Lifts Blanket Ban
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 23 October, permitted the sale and manufacture of low emission “safe and green” firecrackers countrywide and fixed a two-hour time period from 8 pm to 10 pm for bursting them on Diwali.
On Christmas and New Year, the use of firecrackers will be allowed only between 11:55 pm to 12:30 am.
A bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also restrained e-commerce websites from selling firecrackers which were beyond the permissible limit. The apex court's order came on a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.
Read the full story here
3. ‘Consumer Data Safe,’ Says Paytm After 3 Arrested for Extortion, But What’s the Stolen Data Worth Rs 20 Cr?
A day after three people, including two Paytm employees, were arrested on Monday, 22 October, for allegedly trying to extort Rs 20 crore from the e-wallet giant's founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the company assured that its consumer data was safe.
In a statement, Paytm said, “This is a case of personal data theft of Vijay Shekhar Sharma, where three arrests were made yesterday. Paytm would like to reiterate that all our consumer data is protected with the highest and most impenetrable levels of security.”
The trio had threatened to leak the data and misuse the information to cause the firm loss and dent its public image, officials said.
Read the full story here
4. Why Punjab’s Farmers Are Forced to Burn Stubble
As smoke billows out of his charred paddy field, Kartar Singh settles down by the elevated edge to explain the desperation that he and those like him face. “For us, there’s no alternative to stubble burning,” the 60-year-old says.
Singh hails from Rama village in Punjab’s Moga district and has an outstanding farm loan of Rs 10 lakh. He has no money to buy expensive machines or employ labour to dispose the residual straws. The only option available to small farmers of his ilk is much cheaper, and doesn’t cost more than Rs 500.
Read the full story here
5. TV Show ‘CID’ Is Not Wrapping Up but Going on a Season Break
When the news of CID, one of the longest running investigative series on Indian television going off-air started doing the rounds, fans went berserk. The iconic show starring Shivaji Satam is the stuff of memes and nostalgia.
Sony TV has clarified that the show is not discontinued but is set to take a season break. ‘Having completed 20 years, CID is the longest running cult show on Sony Entertainment Television. It has been a great journey so far, along with Fireworks Productions, and CID will now take an intermittent break starting 28 October. The show will gear up for a renewed season with a lot more contextual cases keeping alive the thrill that the audience has experienced so far,’ a statement from the channel said.
Read the full story here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)