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poll tidings New Delhi: Veteran Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel of the BJP, Assembly Speaker Ajay Maken and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep were among several candidates who filed their nominations for the May 10 Lok Sabha election. Mr Sajjan Kumar filed his paper for Outer Delhi seat, where his main rival Union Labour Minister Saheb Singh has already filed his nomination. Mr Goel filed his papers for the Sadar seat, where he is facing INC veteran Jagdish Tytler. INC candidate Ajay Maken filed his nomination for the New Delhi seat from where he is facing Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Jagmohan of the BJP, who filed his papers yesterday. Mr Sandeep Dikshit filed his papers from the East Delhi constituency where his main rival Lal Bihari Tiwari of the BJP has already filed his nomination. The INC’s candidates in South Delhi and Karol Bagh, RK Anand and Krishna Teerath, respectively, also filed their nominations. TNS
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Multan Sultan and 16,999 others tie the knot New Delhi, April 22 The big rush for the wedding pandals is owing to the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Banquet halls, hotels, caterers, band wallahs, beauty parlours and pandits couldn’t have had it better, with the consumers being ready to shell out even a princely sum to ensure a booking. The reason for such a benumbing number of weddings today is the planets and nakshatras that have assumed such an auspicious position after 70 years. While the ‘Najafgarh Nawab’ Virender Sehwag’s wedding has cast a shadow over the rest, the enthusiasm of those getting married in the hope that it will be a successful lasting match could not be dampened even by the wet weather in the evening. And with all roads in the Capital leading to a wedding venue, traffic cops are struggling hard to avoid jams, caused by the band and the dancing baratis. The thought of getting married in a more conducive weather was hardly worth the wait. “It is difficult to get married in hot summers, but the astrologers from both the sides vehemently insisted that we should get married today as Akshay Tritiya will give us everlasting happiness,” said a bride. Explaining the significance of the day, the astrologers said, “Akshaya Tritiya means the day of eternity, immortality, fulfillment and lasting achievement. It removes obstacles and bestows blessings. The word Akshaya means that which never diminishes — hence the beginnings made on this day are sure to bring luck and success..” The rush for the lucky day saw many hopefuls being kept waiting for the confirmation till the very last. “The caterers were not sure whether they could help us even if we agreed to pay more,” said another. “It is not every day that we get orders to do the mehndi of so many people at one go. We have been floored with offers and despite charging almost double, people are not complaining,” said Sudesh Kumar, a mehndi wallah in Lajpat Nagar. And while some chose to tie the knot, politicians chose to file their papers, hoping to do well at the hustings. Among the ones who followed the astrologers’ advice are Union Minister Vijay Goel, Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar, Ajay Maken and the Chief Minister’s son Sandeep Dikshit. |
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Fake ID card manufacturing racket busted New Delhi, April 22 The police was given information by the Military Intelligence Bureau that a fake ID cards racket was being run from the Usmanpur area. This intelligence report was developed and it was found that Sandeep Kumar along with his accomplice Kailash Kumar Kaushal was operating this racket from Kailash Photo Studio in Usmanpur. The Military Intelligence Bureau was exploring this information from the point of view of insurgency, the police said. Keeping in mind that militants use fake ID cards for numerous nefarious activities, a special team was constituted to bust the racket. A decoy customer was sent to Kailash Photo Studio to strike a deal. The deal was struck for Rs 150 for preparing a fake ID card. As soon as the fake ID card was handed over to the decoy customer the police raided the premises and apprehended the suspect. During interrogation Sandeep disclosed that his partner Kailash owned the place and was an accomplice in the crime. A search of the premises revealed fake driving licences along with other fake ID cards in the card disc of the computer. The modus operandi of the accused was that they used to scan a original voter ID card and then using photoshop programme they changed the photograph and then the text printed on to the voter card to make a fake one. |
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Antiques worth crores recovered, five held New Delhi, April 22 The suspects were identified as Avnish Rana (19), Rustam Sheikh, alias Chunu (22), Sunil Rana (20), Mushtaq (28) and Sanjay Sangwan (22), Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Singh said. The antiques include three Sidhchakras, one Ashtmangal, one Bis-Sthanak-Chakra, one idol of Bhagwan Parsavnath, one idol of Rishabhdev, two small idols of Bhagwan Mahavir and four medium-size idols of different Tirthankaras. These idols are made of silver and ashtadhatu. Addressing the newsmen, he said that a famous Jain shrine, Vijay Vallabh Smarak, situated on G.T. Karnal Road, is spread over 20 acres. It houses many temples and educational institutions. In one such temple, Bhagwan Vasupujya Temple, the idols of medieval era were placed for the devotees who thronged the site from all over the country and abroad. The idols were stolen on April 7. The police then made a list of persons who had visited the shrine on that day and the previous day. The pujaris and private security guards were questioned. The trust of the temple also joined the investigation. The police also kept a watch on the persons who used to visit the temple regularly, but after the incident, they stopped visiting it. During investigation, the police received a tip-off that two persons would be coming to Mukhmailpur Bus Stand last evening and they might be in possession of the idols. Accordingly, the police formed a team and nabbed the suspects. They were identified as Rustam Sheikh and Sunil Rana. The police seized 10 idols from their possession. Their interrogation led to the arrest of three others. The suspects disclosed that Avnish Rana, Sunil Rana and Rustam Sheikh had committed the theft. |
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legal corner New Delhi, April 22 A division bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed said when an order for a can or bottle of soft drink was placed, the sale was completed the moment the can or bottle was picked up from the stock for delivery to the guest. The sale was complete before opening the container. Merely because after completion of the sale, the container is opened and the contents emptied into a glass tumbler would not make any difference, the court observed. The court’s judgment came on a batch of petitions by the hotel and restaurant owners, challenging the September 2002 assessment order of the Delhi Sales Tax Department, disallowing their claim for deduction made against the sale of tax-paid item (soft drinks) and demanding tax for the same. It was argued that the sealed bottles and tins were purchased from the cola companies or their stockists after paying taxes, hence tax could not be levied again when the bottle or tin was sold to a customer. However, question arose whether serving soft drink in a glass would make any difference for tax purposes. While clarifying the picture as regards sales tax on soft drink bottles and the drink being poured into glasses, the court also observed that the situation would be assessed differently when a quantity of soft drink was poured into a glass which was less than that of the container (five litres bottles) from which it was poured. |
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Robbery bid foiled; securitymen shoot 3 Noida, April 22 The police have recovered two local revolvers of .312 bore, one of .12 bore and a .315 local rifle from the criminals. According to police CO, Charanjive Sinha, the attempt to loot occurred in Sawarnnima oil factory in Dadri last night, when four criminals raided the factory. On being questioned by the guard, Vijay Singh, the intruders opened fire. He managed to save himself somehow. Gunmen Charanjit Pal Singh and Nanhu immediately came over and returned the fire. As a result, all the four criminals were seriously injured. The police rushed the criminals to a hospital. Three of them succumbed to their injuries before reaching the hospital, while the fourth is fighting for his life, the CO said. |
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Three-cornered contest in the offing in Faridabad Faridabad, April 22 While the Congress candidate, Mr Avtar Singh Badhana, whose name was announced recently is yet to rev up his campaign, the BJP candidate and the sitting M.P from here, Mr Ramchander Bainda, seems to enjoying an edge over his rivals as far as the personal coverage of the villages and the towns is concerned. Mr Bainda, who addressed a series of public meetings in the town and nearby areas in the past few days, claimed that the delay in the announcement of the Congress candidate had benefited him as there were only a few pockets and areas he was to visit at present while his rival had yet to start his campaign. He said the delay in the announcement of the Congress candidate had not only ‘exposed’ the internal fighting going on within the party leadership in the state but had also made the people believe that the BJP was the only party which was united and strong enough to give a stable government at the Centre. There was hardly any doubt about the leadership and the policies of the BJP. He claimed that the BJP-led NDA government had done what the Congress rule in the last 45 years could not do. At a public meeting here in Sector 8 here last evening, Mr Bainda said he did not believe in criticising individual leaders but it was a fact that the Congress was a divided house at the state level and it had no Prime Ministerial candidate also. He claimed that the people may not accept Mrs Sonia Gandhi as the Prime Minister. He said the people would prefer a stable government at the Centre and which had achieved various milestones in a very less period of time. Admitting that the scorching heat and the engagement of the people in harvesting had certainly affected the tone and tenor of the campaigning so far, he said he was satisfied with the fact that he had already covered more than 95 per cent of the villages and added he would now start his revision work. The INLD which has fielded a former minister of Haryana, Mr Mohammed Ilyas, from here has also claimed that it had covered many villages and areas and was likely to cover the majority of the areas in the remaining period. The INLD supporters claim that the work done by the Chautala government will certainly help its candidate in getting the winning position. The Congress candidate, Mr Avtar Singh, who held a press conference here yesterday as part of launching his campaign, claimed that his return to his home constituency would certainly help him as he had been associated with the people of Faridabad for a very long period. Claiming that there was hardly any leader who could cut into his vote bank in the Mewat area he said he was still quite popular among the Meos who constituted the largest chunk of voters in this segment. He said although there was some delay in the announcement of his name from here but this was not due to ‘infighting’ in the Congress party leaders but due to other technical reasons. He said he was confident that the party would win all 10 seats in the state. He said he was ready to campaign for Sachin Pilot at Dausa seat in Rajasthan although the BJP had fielded his younger brother, Mr Kartar Singh Badhana, against him. He said he would try to visit every corner of the constituency in the remaining period. While the BSP has already fielded its candidate, the HVP and the Samajwadi party are yet to declare their candidates. |
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Sonepat candidates declare assets Sonepat, April 22 He has stated he has Rs 1 lakh in cash, Rs 1.80 lakh in bank deposits, ornaments worth Rs 30,000, shares/insurance worth Rs 2.54 lakh, four houses worth Rs 22 lakh, agricultural land worth Rs 14 lakh and his wife, Mrs Sudha Malik, owned Rs 2 lakh in cash, Rs 4,09,286 in bank deposits, Rs 5.57 lakh deposits in shares and insurance and two houses costing Rs 2.74 lakh. Similarly, Mr Sugan Gupta, a BSP candidate, has declared his assets as follows: Rs. 80,000 in cash, Rs 2,000 in bank deposits, ornaments worth Rs 3.30 lakh, own firm worth Rs 2.63 lakh and shop/house worth Rs 10 lakh. His wife had Rs 1.25 lakh in cash, Rs 9,600 in bank deposits, ornaments worth Rs 2.09 lakh and a firm worth Rs 2.57 lakh. Mr Jai Kishan, an Independent candidate, has declared the following assets: seven acres of agricultural land, 14 tola gold ornaments, Rs 12,500 in bank deposits, a plot where a shop had been built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, another plot measuring 400 yards at Pilookhera town and Rs 70,000 in cash. A candidate of SUCI has declared the following assets: Rs 4,000 in bank deposits and another Rs 5,757 in bank deposits in the name of his wife, ornaments worth Rs 18,000, agricultural land worth Rs 4 lakh in Bali Brahmanan village and a house worth Rs 5 lakh. Four other candidates have also filed their nomination papers. They are Mr Sube Singh (Jan Chetna Party), Mr Krishan of Ahir Majra village, Mr Satbir of Haat village in Jind district and Mr Samsher of Butana village. Now eight candidates are in the fray for the Sonepat Lok Sabha seat. The BJP, the HVP and the INLD candidates are yet to file their nomination papers. |
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BJP protecting industrialists’
interests: Tytler New Delhi, April 22 In his meetings, Mr Tytler said the recent Assembly election in the NCT of Delhi had proved that people did not believe in a party like the BJP, which was communal and involved in protecting the interests of industrialists. Meanwhile, the BJP candidate in the South Delhi parliamentary constituency, Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra, has criticised his INC rival for stating that there was no water or electricity crisis in the constituency. He said that his rival R. K. Anand’s colleagues had themselves admitted on more than one occasion that the constituency was reeling under an acute water and electricity crisis. Mr Malhotra today addressed meetings in Raghubir Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Hari Nagar and Munirka. |
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SP in poll fray in Haryana to provide robust alternative to Lals Rewari, April 22 Talking to NCR Tribune here last evening, she said her personal contacts with the masses in the past few months had made her realise that the people of Haryana, who were completely disillusioned with the self-centric politics of the three Lals, Mr Bansi Lal, Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Devi Lal and now his elder son, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, were now in a state of utter helplessness and sheer frustration. She was repeatedly told by the people that they had been voting these Lals into power in succession just because no other viable alternative was available to them. And now their designs to perpetuate dynastic hegemony by way of inducting their progeny into electoral politics of the state had further added to the woes and worries of the hapless masses, she added. Mrs Aladia further informed that with a firm resolve to fill this dreary vacuum in state politics efficaciously the Samajwadi Party had now entered the poll fray by fielding its candidates in six of the 10 parliamentary constituencies of the state. She said that they included Mr Raghu Yadav (Mahendragarh) , Mr Raghu Mal Bhat (Karnal), Mr Vishal Jolly (Kurukshetra), Mr Mahender Singh Shekhawat (Bhiwani) and Mr Ram Niwas Sharma (Hisar) while a Meo Muslim would be their nominee from Faridabad. She went on to say that with an eye on the dominance of caste and community considerations on state politics their party too had fielded a Balmiki from Karnal (which was otherwise a general seat ), a Rajput from Bhiwani, a Jat from Kurukshetra , a Brahmin from Hisar and a Yadav from Mahendragarh. She candidly admitted that this was just a semi-final which would enable them to assess their strengths in various constituencies on the basis of which the final of the coming Vidhan Sabha elections would be combated with finesse and firmness. |
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A bookstore for
Malayali diaspora in Delhi New Delhi, April 22 From the smallest Ramayana to leading works in English classics and Malayali literature, they are all available at the “Kerala bookstore’’, inaugurated yesterday by Sahitya Akademi secretary K. Satchidanandan. “The Kerala store will be a hub of literary activities with regular book reading and discussions, as well as other activities,” DC Books CEO Ravi Dee Cee said on the occasion. He said it would reach out to the Malayali diaspora and it was part of the company’s focus to promote and nurture vernacular literature across the country. Similar stores would be opened in Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad in the coming months, he added. He said the bookstore would have the finest selections of Malayali literature —both fiction and non- fiction—so far not available in the national Capital. . Corner Bookstore CEO Aalok Wadhwa said that apart from the vernacular literature, the store would have books in English. “We have a variety of books from the spiritual, children, fiction, non-fiction, biographies, travel and cookery,’’ he added. |
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Discussion on role of authors in building a better society New Delhi, April 22
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Demand to merge 50 pc DA with basic pay of NDMC staff New Delhi, April 22 According to the members of the NDMC, the DA should be merged in the salary of employees
w.e.f. April 1, 2004. They have demanded the NDMC has to adopt the said notification in
toto. Delaying the adoption will cause resentment among NDMC employees. In the NDMC there are two systems of pay scales. One is covered under the Central Pay Commission and the other is on Shiv Shankeran pay scales. They have demanded implementation of the order of merger of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay immediately on the lines of the Government of NCT of Delhi and other agencies viz Delhi DTL and Delhi Jal Board etc. |
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Basavanna’s birth anniversary celebrated in Delhi New Delhi, April 22 On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the 12th century saint-social reformer Basaveshwara today, writers, artists and academics from Karnataka paid glorious tributes to the Kannada saint, popularly called Basavanna, at a function organised by the ‘Dehali Kannadiga’, a monthly published from the city. The participants urged the Delhi Government to sanction a burial ground for the Lingayats, the followers of Basavanna, who bury their dead instead of cremating them. A demand was also raised for a cultural museum in the memory of the legendary poet in the national Capital by the Karnataka Government. They also sought the renaming of the weekly Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mysore Express as Basavanna Express and making it a daily train. “Basavanna caused a revolution in Kannada literature, both in form and content by raising the status of the common man and outcasts to divine heights,” said ‘Dehali Kannadiga’ editor M B Samaga. |
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Woman loses job, ends life New Delhi, April 22 According to the police, Gita was working in an export factory in Okhla but lost her job five days back. The police are investigating.
Appeal to Transport Minister The president of the Panjabi Sikh Naujawan Manch, Mr Avtar Singh Verka, has appealed to the Delhi Transport Minister, Mr Haroon Yusuf, to re-route some DTC buses from Mata Sundari College. He said that the girls of the college were facing numerous problems as they were not getting adequate transport from the college to various parts of the city. He also said that the college was a women’s college and the government should provide special buses for them so that they should not face problems. Mr Verka asked the minister to re-route the route number 20 and 200 coming from Bhai Mati Dass Chowk via Mata Sundari College.
Power shutdown today North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) today announced power shutdown for Friday, April 23, in various areas due to maintenance work at sub-stations in Civil Lines, Keshavpuram, Mangolpuri and Shakti Nagar. In Shakti Nagar, the power would be shut down from 10 am to 4 pm; in Mangol Puri area from 9 am to 5 pm; in Keshavpuram from 10.30 am to 3 pm; in Civil lines from 10 am to 4.30 pm. |
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ncr briefs Sonepat, April 22 The accused were directed to furnish bail bonds amounting to Rs 10,000 each and like amount of surety.
Man held for theft The Civil Lines police have arrested one Shakeel of Baghpat (UP) in connection with a theft case registered against him on August 2, 2001. Mr Rajiv Sharma, a resident of Sector 14, had lodged an FIR with the police, alleging that Shakeel had entered his house on the night of August 1, 2001, and taken away Rs 32,000 in cash and ornaments worth several thousands of rupees after breaking the iron grills.
Youths fined under Rly Act Mr Pradeep Kumar, Chief Judicial Magistrate, on Wednesday sentenced two youths, namely Pramod Kumar of Kheri village and Dharampal of Jauli village, under the Railway Act and imposed a fine of Rs 300 each on the charge of travelling in the women’s compartment of a train on March 16 last.
Body found on GT Road The Ganaur police recovered the body of an unidentified man (50) lying on the GT Road near Bari village, about 15 km from here, on Wednesday night and sent it for a post-mortem examination. The police believe it to be a road accident case. The body of the victim has not been identified so far.
Section 144 imposed The District magistrate of Sonepat, Mr M. R. Anand, on Thursday promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning the assembly of five or more persons and carrying of firearms within the jurisdiction of Sonepat district. The order, which comes into force with immediate effect, would continue until May 25. This step has been taken to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha elections, maintain peace and prevent the likelihood of breach of peace. |
ASI held by Crime Branch for fraud, suspended New Delhi, April 22 The suspect was identified as Vincent Robert (44). He was posted in the Legal Branch of the Delhi Police. He was arrested after a thorough investigation of the cheating cases got registered against him by three victims in the Fraud and Cheating Section of the Economic Offences Wing of he Crime Branch, the police said. The first complainant was reported by retired Sub-Inspector Surender Kumar, a resident of Railway Quarters, Hamilton Road, near Mori Gate. In the complaint, he stated that the suspect assured him that he could arrange jobs for his son and daughter as storekeepers in Hotel Taj Palace. He allegedly charged Rs 60, 000 from him for arranging the jobs. However, he failed to provide the jobs. The second complaint was lodged by Lahader Ram whom the suspect assured of arranging the job of storekeeper for his daughter in Hotel Taj Palace. He took Rs 35,000 from him. The suspect did not stop here. He further allegedly cheated M. D. Lal on the fake assurance of arranging jobs in the same hotel for his two grandsons and charged Rs 1.5 lakh. During investigation of these cases sleuths of the Fraud and Cheating Section noticed that the suspect had no link in the hotel. The hotel authorities also informed that there were no vacancies of storekeeper during the relevant period, the police said. |
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Three persons assaulted
by wrestlers Sonepat, April 22 According to a report, the wrestlers managed to escape after other shopkeepers assembled there. It is believed that the wrestlers had come to the shop for hiring a CD player. The police are investigating into the case. According to another report, a wrestler, identified as Kapil, was arrested by the Gohana police in connection with the alleged murderous assault on the two sons of a trader, Mr Neeta Ram Mehta, on March 15. The police have already arrested four wrestlers in this connection. The number of wrestlers arrested in this case has gone up to five. Meanwhile, four persons were injured in clashes between rival groups at Bhuri and Bayyanpur villages in this district last evening. All the injured persons were immediately hospitalised and stated to be out of danger. The police are still investigating into the cases. However, no arrest has been made in this connection. A youth, Ramesh, was seriously injured when he was pushed from the roof of his house at Swatantara Nagar colony, Narela, about 23 km from here last evening. |
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Accountant shot dead by two youths Sonepat, April 22 It is believed that a long- standing enmity was the main cause of the murder. The police have sent the body for the postmortem examination. According to another report, a youth, identified as Kuldeep, was strangulated by his elder brother, Samey Singh, in his house at Kailana village, about 25 km from here last night. It is alleged that the body of the victim was cremated by the alleged assailant with the help of the other members of the family around midnight. A dispute over land was stated to be the main cause of the murder. It is also stated that the victim was an alcoholic and often quarreled with his wife and other members of the family. His wife had left his house and was living with her parents at Sisana village. The police have registered the case against the alleged assailant and further investigations were in progress. A massive hunt had been launched by the police to apprehend him. |
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