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‘84 riots: CBI to appeal against Sajjan’s acquittal
Talwars want brakes on their deposition
Mumbai traders’ strike
continues; supplies hitMumbai, May 7
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IAF to upgrade vintage Avro aircraft
Garg’s biz spread across North
Antony: No give and take with China
Can mercy be denied under NDPS Act? SC to decide today
Karnataka electoral verdict today
CBSE boys shine in JEE Mains results
CBI set to probe chit fund scam
NSUI leader suspended for dancing ‘naked’
Shock treatment for 2 UP bureaucrats
BSP MLA disqualified for suppressing info
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‘84 riots: CBI to appeal against Sajjan’s acquittal
New Delhi, May 7 District and Sessions Judge JR Aryan had on April 30 acquitted Kumar in the 29-year-old case in which he was accused of murder and of instigating a riotous mob that killed five Sikhs in Delhi's cantonment area. Five others — Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councillor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal — were convicted for their involvement in the riots that had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Kumar, a former Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi who was refused a Congress ticket for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, still faces a trial in another 1984 rioting case. In a third case, the Delhi Police have filed a closure report, saying there was no evidence against Kumar to implicate him. His acquittal has led to protests by Sikh outfits in the national capital and in parts of Punjab. Legal cell on job District and Sessions Judge JR Aryan had on April 30 acquitted Kumar in the 29-year-old case in which he was accused of murder and of instigating a riotous mob that killed five Sikhs in Delhi CBI sources said the agency is likely to wait till the court pronounces its verdict on the quantum of sentence for those found guilty in the case The agency's legal department has studied the judgment and highlighted several strong reasons on the basis of which it is likely to approach the Delhi High Court challenging the acquittal of Kumar
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Talwars want brakes on their deposition
Ghaziabad, May 7 The two accused, suspected to be involved in the killing of their 14-year-old daughter and domestic help Hemraj, sought the adjournment from CBI Special Judge S. Lal on the plea that they had filed a special leave petition in Supreme Court over the matter. The accused, both of whom are out on bail, said they moved the apex court as the trial court rejected their pleas to summon former CBI joint director Arun Kumar and 12 other witnesses. Judge Lal reserved the order for Wednesday. Aarushi was found murdered at her parents' Noida residence May 16, 2008. The body of Hemraj was found the next day on the terrace of the house. — OC
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Mumbai traders’ strike
continues; supplies hit
Mumbai, May 7
“We will keep our business shut till the government withdraws LBT," Viren Shah, president of the Federation of Retail Traders' Welfare Association (FRTWA) said. Striking traders came out on to the streets today to protest, disrupting traffic at many places. Though some traders discreetly supplied provisions to their regular customers, many have warned of a shortage if the strike continued. "Wholesale markets are shut and we are not getting supplies," Gulabchand Maru, a grocer at Dahisar in suburban Mumbai, said. Apart from groceries and vegetables, the supply of clothes and electronic items has also been halted. Meanwhile the Maharashtra Government is adamant on continuing with LBT though Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has called traders' representatives for talks. The government turned down a suggestion by traders that the government levy a surcharge on Value Added Tax in lieu of
LBT.
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IAF to upgrade vintage Avro aircraft
Chandigarh, May 7 IAF sources said the upgradation suite envisioned for the Avro includes incorporating a radar, installing an auto-pilot system and a new communication system, besides better avionics. Studies have shown that the aircraft still retains some residual technical life and their life extension is feasible. Though the initial batches of Avro aircraft, also known as HS-748, were initially procured from the United Kingdom and later these were licence-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the upgrade will be undertaken by a private vendor, sources said. The MiG 21 is the only aircraft in IAF inventory that matches Avro in vintage. The move to upgrade these vintage aircraft comes in the backdrop of major acquisitions hanging fire. While the contract for VVIP helicopters from Italy has run into rough weather, the procurement of the 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft is still a long way from finalisation. The process to procure light utility helicopters remains grounded. The IAF also plans to replace the existing Avro fleet and is seeking 56 transport aircraft in this category at an estimated price of $ three billion. The proposed aircraft would have a payload capacity of 6-8 tonnes. The IAF began inducting Avro twin-engine turboprop aircraft in 1964. With 64 aircraft, this fleet formed the backbone of the IAF’s airlift capability till AN-12 and AN-32 were procured. At present about 30-odd aircraft still remain in service, mostly relegated to training and communication roles. Avros also formed part of the IAF’s Communication Squadron designated for VVIP transport till this role was taken over the Brazilian Embrarer-135 executive jets in 2005. Acquisitions hanging fire
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Garg’s biz spread across North
Chandigarh, May 7
Garg, a resident of house No. 588, Sector 6, Panchkula, is the owner of many firms including Core Metal Krafts Limited, Green Field Enterprises, Industrial Equipments Company (IEC) and JR Electronics and Packaging Limited. The corporate office of all these companies is located at SCO No. 36 in Sector 26 of Chandigarh. Garg’s firms deal in electrical goods, including Kirloskar Green Silent Diesel Generator Sets (DG Sets). The firms also provide low-voltage and medium-voltage electrical solution panels to the Railways. His companies also supplied electrical goods to the NHPC, the NTPC, the Army, Indian Oil Corporation, the HSIIDC, Panjab University, Chitkara University, Delhi Public Schools etc. Both Ajay Garg and Vijay Singla belong to Bathinda in Punjab and are members of the executive body of the Dera Bassi Industries Association. Garg has two Industrial plots in Dera Bassi in the name of his firms Core Metal Krafts Limited and Industrial Equipments Company (IEC), while Singla owns Dera Bassi-based Jagan Tubes Limited. Former MP from Chandigarh and all-India in charge of the legal and legislative cell of the BJP Satya Pal Jain said Singla and Garg had been associated with each other for the past many years. Vijay Singla had been the director of JR Electronics and Packaging Limited till 2008. As soon as Vijay Singla surrendered the post, Ajay Garg was inducted as the firm’s director, Jain added.
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Antony: No give and take with China
New Delhi, May 7 Antony today said the status-quo ante has been restored along the LAC. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Antony dismissed talk of India having retreated and withdrawn from any bunkers. “Status quo as on the pre-April 15 position has been restored”, Antony said. This means troops on both sides has withdrawn to position they held before the April 15 incursion. The Chinese had pitched tents near Raki Nullah, south-east of the advanced landing ground (ALG) at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). The ALG is euphuism for air-strips which are not paved. The location of the tents was in the area which is disputed segment of the LAC. The Indian response was two-pronged. One it pitched a tent right across the Chinese tent. Second, on April 20, it quickly built a tin-shed fortification near Chumar in a separate disputed area of the LAC in south-eastern Ladakh. The Chinese have withdrawn from the disputed area and so has India withdrawn from the tin-shed bunkers set-up in the disputed section. Since both, the Chinese tents and the Indian bunkers were in disputed territory, both had to withdraw. Troops of both sides patrol up to the perceptions of the LAC but are barred from firing at each other in the disputed areas.
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Can mercy be denied under NDPS Act? SC to decide today
The Constitution Bench will also decide as to whether this provision of the NDPS Act is against Articles 14 (fundamental right to equality before law) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution as the convicts sentenced under other laws are entitled to seek remissions in jail terms and commutation of the death sentence. The Bench delivered the judgment on an appeal filed by Krishnan and others challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict, upholding the validity of denial of any remission in the jail terms awarded to them under the Act. In an order passed on June 28, 2006, Haryana’s Deputy Inspector General of Prisons had denied remission citing Section 32-A of the NDPS Act which specified that ‘no sentence awarded under this Act (other than Section 27) shall be suspended or remitted or commuted.’ The HC had upheld this, forcing the convicts to approach the SC. The SC Bench said it was unable to adjudicate the case as larger Benches of the apex court had delivered conflicting rulings earlier in somewhat similar matters. The Bench acknowledged that the NDPS Act ‘is absolute in its terms and gives no leeway for remission or commutation of any sentence on any ground whatsoever’ which was contrary to Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution under which the President and the Governor respectively had powers to commute death sentences and waive jail terms on the basis of mercy pleas from the convicts. During the arguments in the case from Haryana, Additional Solicitor General Paras Kuhad had contended that the clemency powers under Articles 72 and 161 ‘cannot be controlled by any statute and therefore it requires a clarification that the provisions of Section 32A of NDPS Act cannot be a fetter to the said powers of clemency by any means whatsoever,’ the Bench pointed out.
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Karnataka electoral verdict today
Bangalore, May 7 Less than 65 per cent of the electorate had turned up for voting in the last General Election in 2008. Increase in the polling percentage has also given a boost to the hope of the Congress that has been shown by most of the surveys as securing simple majority in the Assembly. The ruling BJP has been claiming that the enhanced voting percentage indicates that even the passive BJP supporters turned up for voting. However, the party will be happy to secure just enough seats to be treated with respect as an Opposition party in the Assembly. The BJP, in its first stint in power in Karnataka, not only suffered from a series of scam and sleaze charges, it also got a major blow from the parting of way by BS Yeddyurappa, who had played a key role in bringing the party to power in 2008 by mobilising members of the numerically strong Lingayat community to back the saffron party. The BJP, the Congress, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) led by Yeddyurappa were the key players in the elections. The Congress, considered the favourite at this stage, did not project any candidate for the Chief Minister’s post during canvassing for the elections. KPCC chief G Parameswar and Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah are both eyeing the post. Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge’s name is also doing the rounds as a possible contender for the post. The state Assembly has 225 seats, including one reserved for a member nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. Polling for 223 seats was held on May 5 as the election to the Periyapatna seat has been postponed to May 28 following the death of the BJP candidate from the constituency. In the 2008 elections, the BJP secured 110 seats, three short of majority and formed the government with the help of five Independents who were made ministers. The Congress had bagged 80 seats while the JD-S got 28 in those elections.
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CBSE boys shine in JEE Mains results
New Delhi, May 7 Although the CBSE, the exam conducting body, did not give out any score list or ranking list, analysis of data from the result showed that Ranchi student Anagh Prasad could be the probable highest scorer of the year with 345 marks out of 360. Anagh, a student of Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi did his schooling from the CBSE. Top 1.5 lakh scorers in JEE Mains will be eligible to take JEE Advanced on June 2 for entry to IITs. JEE Mains merit list will be finalised by the CBSE in July after the school board results are declared. This year, JEE Mains All India merit list will be prepared on 60 per cent weightage from JEE Main results declared today and 40 per cent weightage from school board results. India has 29 boards. JEE Mains results today showed two important trends — at least the probable top six scorers come from the CBSE and the ICSE boards and all of them took coaching from one institute or the other. This trend is contrary to what former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had perceived when he was proposing a change in the system of selection for engineering institutes. Anagh Prasad said, “Coaching definitely helps you to discipline yourself, although you can also do self-study based on school education. I took two years’ coaching. Coaching is especially beneficial for preparation of JEE Advanced which will be held later for IIT admissions.” This contention defeats government’s purpose behind changing the exam pattern for engineering in the first place. Earlier, the CBSE used to hold AIEEE for entry to all central technical institutions, except IITs. IITs used to hold IIT-JEE. From this year, JEE Mains Merit List will be used for admission to all central technical institutions, including NITs, while JEE Advanced results will be used for entry to IITs. However, only those JEE Advanced rank holders will be eligible for IIT entry who also figure in the top 20 percentile of their respective school boards. Other top scorers in JEE Mains which the CBSE declared today are — Kumar Siddhartha (score 335 out of 360) from New Delhi who hails from a farmer’s family in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur. He also took two-year coaching and so did Devang Thakkar from Thane who managed 305 marks out of 360. A student of Shrimati Sulochana Devi Singhaia School affiliated to the ICSE board, he took two years’ coaching as well. Awanish Kumar from Varanasi, who scored 314 out of 360, also went to a CBSE- affiliated school and hails from a humble family. He says he depended on NCERT books for JEE Mains but would have to depend on coaching to crack JEE Advanced. Another top scorer Pranjal Maheshwari from Indore managed 310 out of 360 in JEE Mains and consulted reference books in Physics, Chemistry and Math and NCERT syllabus to crack the JEE Mains. He also took coaching.
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CBI set to probe chit fund scam
Kolkata, May 7 Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already turned down the demand for the CBI probe made by the political parties, different social organisations and the civic societies. The TMC’s guardian-patron, novelist Mahasetwa Devi, also pleaded in favour of the CBI probe. But on the behalf of the government, an affidavit was already filed at court conveying it’s decision against the CBI inquiry. Meanwhile, in an interim report submitted to Home Secretary Basudev Banerjee recently, the special investigation team (SIT), stated that it would need some more time for interrogating the arrested Sudipta Sen, Debjani Mukherjee, Arabinda Chowhan and other accused. Accordingly, the SIT would request for further detention of these arrested persons in the police custody when their present term of the 14-day remand would expire on May 9.
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NSUI leader suspended for dancing ‘naked’
Mumbai, May 7 The video which went viral over the weekend showed Thakur dancing apparently in an inebriated condition with other office-bearers of the organisation. Two others who were featured dancing with Thakur -- national delegate Hitendra Gandhi and state general secretary Vicky Vhatkar -- were also suspended.
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Shock treatment for 2 UP bureaucrats
Lucknow, May 7 The most embarrassing situation for the Samajwadi government concerned its Principal Secretary Home RM Srivastava who was detained for the better part of the day and was released from the custody only around 4 pm after he furnished an unconditional apology. The Bench of Justice Satish Chandra turned down his request of providing additional time of 4-5 days to explain why the court order regarding giving security to a former Power Minister in the Mayawati government Ramveer Upadhyay was not implemented. The court asked him to present the state’s response by 10.30 am tomorrow. It also asked the Additional Advocate General to ensure that Srivastava was present in the court tomorrow morning. In the second case, Justice Ajay Lamba sent Additional Commissioner (Administration) of Faizabad Shailendra Kumar Singh to jail for three days for not following the court’s order. Singh will have to remain behind the bars for three days till his case is taken up for hearing on Friday. Justice Chandra ordered the detention of Srivastava when he appeared in the court around 10.30 am. He was punished for not complying with its order to provide “Y” category security to former BSP minister Upadhyay. Instead the state government provided paid security to the leader, which displeased the court. Srivastava was first asked to furnish a reply till 2 pm. After he failed to satisfactorily explain the state government’s stand on the issue, his detention was extended till 4 pm. On the court’s order, Central Reserve Police Force personnel cordoned off court No. 7, where Srivastav was held in custody till he furnished an unconditional apology manifesting the failure of the state government to present its case in a cogent manner. The Faizabad matter was about the non-implementation of a year-old high court order regarding a mutation case in Ambedkar Nagar.
According to petitioner’s counsel Fakir Ali, the high court had, on April 23, 2012, ordered the Akbarpur tehsildar to dispose of the case No. 838 of 1999 in six months.
While the tehsildar issued the order on July 6, 2012, some people moved an application in the court of Additional Commissioner (Administration) challenging the order and the Commissioner stayed the hearing. Additional Commissioner first pleaded before the HC that he was not aware about the ruling, but when the petitioner’s counsel furnished evidence to the contrary, he was sent to jail for the contempt of court.
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BSP MLA disqualified for suppressing info
Lucknow, May 7 Sitting MLA from Bisauli in Badaun, she is the wife of mafia don-turned-politician D P Yadav who represents Sahaswan Assembly segment from the same district. The husband and wife duo were elected as Rashtriya Parivartan Dal candidates which later merged with the ruling
BSP. The historic verdict disqualifying her was delivered by the full EC headed by the Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi yesterday. EC sources said she was disqualified under Section 10A of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951 for suppressing expenditure which was spent for issuing advertisement. The Commission said by suppressing expenditure on the paid news and filing a false account, the candidate is guilty of not only circumventing the law relating to election expenses but also of resorting of false propaganda by projecting a wrong picture and defrauding the electorate. It was alleged that the Umlesh Yadav had not mentioned expenses made by her for publishing paid news items in two Hindi Dailies during the 2007 Assembly elections.
The Commission has said that instead of admitting her failure she defended her act of filing an incorrect account.
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The CBI will challenge before Delhi High Court the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by a city court as it has found "strong grounds" which could form basis of its petition.
Business operations of Panchkula-based Industrialist Ajay Garg, an accused in the bribery case involving Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s nephew Vijay Singla, spread to Chandigarh, Dera Bassi (Punjab), Barwala (Haryana), Gurgaon (Haryana) and Kathua (Jammu).
Votes cast for the 14th Assembly elections in Karnataka held on May 5 will be counted tomorrow amid a strong anticipation of a Congress win. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer PT Kulkarni said counting of votes would start at 8 am. “By 9 am, the trends may start coming from some of the constituencies,” he said.
New Delhi, May 7
The election saw over 70 per cent of the state’s more than 4 crore electorate voting, a phenomenon that has been witnessed for the first time since 1978.