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Bengaluru: The High Court has adjourned the hearing on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s permission for his prosecution in the MUDA case.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 31, which falls on Saturday.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented CM Siddaramaiah in the proceedings.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that she did not threaten junior doctors at state-run hospitals, who have been continuing cease-work for 21 days now to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic.
Banerjee said accusations that have come from certain quarters of her threatening the agitating junior doctors are “completely false” and part of a “malicious disinformation campaign”.
“Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false,” she wrote on X.
Addressing a rally organised by the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee had on Wednesday urged the agitating junior doctors of Bengal to urgently consider returning to duty and said she doesn’t want to lodge FIRs against the striking doctors in consideration of their future careers.
Agitating doctors interpreted the chief minister’s remark as a “veiled threat” and rejected her appeal to join work.
Banerjee also wrote, “I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the Government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy. With support from the Centre, they are trying to create lawlessness and I have raised my voice against them.”
The chief minister also issued a clarification with respect to her “snap back” message to her supporters against “the conspirators who need to be unmasked”.
“I also clarify that the phrase (“phonsh kara”) that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The legendary saint had said that occasionally there is need to raise one’s voice. When there are crimes and criminal offences, voice of protest has to be raised. My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying,” she posted on her social media timeline.
The BJP, on Wednesday, accused Banerjee of threatening opposition parties by abandoning her previous slogan of ‘badla noy, badal chai’ (no revenge, only change) in response to alleged insults from the opposition.
At the TMCP rally, Banerjee remarked that the slogan needed to be updated to reflect changing times and situations.
“The time has come to resist and protest when you are insulted and maligned with false propaganda. Although I never promote violence, when faced with such ugly attacks, do not take it lying down and snap back. How you respond is up to you,” she said, referring to a story around the 19th Century Bengal mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
Actor Darshan
Bengaluru: Actor Darshan has been transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to Ballari Central Jail. The transfer, which occurred at 9:55 AM on Thursday, is connected to allegations that Darshan received preferential treatment while in custody regarding the Renukaswamy murder case in Chitradurga.
Authorities decided to move Darshan to Bellary Jail to ensure impartiality and address concerns about the special treatment he reportedly received during his stay in Bengaluru Central Jail.
BJP leader Smriti Irani | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: BJP leader Smriti Irani cautioned against underestimating Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, stating that his recent actions, whether viewed as “good, bad, or childish,” represent a different kind of political strategy. Speaking on a recent podcast, Irani argued that Gandhi’s new approach is calculated and designed to appeal to specific demographics, marking a shift in his political strategy.
Irani claimed that Gandhi’s recent actions, including his focus on caste politics and symbolic gestures like wearing a white T-shirt in Parliament, are calculated moves designed to appeal to specific demographics. Smriti Irani also took a dig at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of adopting a new style of politics after believing he has “tasted success.”
She also highlighted that Gandhi’s recent political moves represent a departure from previous unsuccessful attempts at “soft Hindutva,” such as his temple visits during election seasons, which she claimed did not resonate with voters and were seen by some as insincere.
Additionally, Irani accused Gandhi of making provocative statements to stay in the public eye, citing his comment on the lack of Dalit or Adivasi contestants in Miss India as an example. She questioned the sincerity of his ideology, suggesting that his statements are more about strategy than genuine beliefs.
Bengaluru: A recent inspection by the Food Safety and Standards Department revealed alarming levels of contamination in food items across Bengaluru, particularly in kebabs. The special drive, conducted in July, found that 78 out of 275 kebab samples tested—approximately 28%—were unsafe for consumption due to the presence of harmful artificial colors like sunset yellow and tartrazine.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted these findings, and stressed on the department’s ongoing efforts to address food safety concerns. The inspection also revealed that 15% of gobi (cauliflower) samples contained unsafe artificial coloring agents, specifically sunset yellow and carmoisine.
Vegetables and fruits, while comparatively safer, were not entirely free from contamination. About 10% of the 266 samples tested showed high levels of pesticide traces and fungal growth. Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assured the public that allegations about unsafe produce from Kolar were unfounded based on their tests. However, he noted that the department plans to collaborate with the agriculture department to study the effects of treated water on crops in the region.
The minister also mentioned that reports on the safety of other food items, such as paneer, khova, and cakes, which were collected in August, are expected soon. Additionally, food from several PG accommodations is under scrutiny following complaints.
In response to the findings, the department plans to release monthly reports on their activities, including sample analyses and past cases. The minister also announced an upcoming special inspection drive focusing on fish, meat, and egg preparations in hotels and restaurants, scheduled for August 30 and 31.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed the importance of food vendors obtaining proper licenses, revealing that 32% of vendors currently operate without one. He urged the Commissioner of Food Safety to ensure full compliance and suggested that vendors be trained on the harmful effects of certain food preparation practices, especially the use of artificial colors.
To increase public involvement in food safety, the department has acquired 3,400 food testing kits that will be available in malls and on streets. These kits, available for a small user fee, will allow consumers to test food for chemical content and quality, providing both confidence to the public and valuable data to the department.
The July inspection drive led to the examination of 3,467 food vendors, with 986 receiving notices for inadequate sanitation. Fines totaling Rs 4.9 lakh were imposed on 132 vendors, and 96 legal cases were filed against defaulters in the JMFC court, marking the first time such a large volume of cases has been brought to court in a single month.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat, at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The event will be attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, head of India’s strategic command, and senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The commissioning of the 6,000-tonne INS Arighat, also known as S-3, marks a significant step in enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability. The submarine is expected to embark on a long-range patrol in the Indo-Pacific region, armed with K-15 nuclear ballistic missiles with a range of 750 kilometers. This development strengthens India’s nuclear triad, which already includes land-based and air-launch nuclear capabilities.
India’s first SSBN, INS Arihant (S-2), is already operational. With the addition of INS Arighat, India will now have two SSBNs patrolling the high seas. These submarines are crucial to India’s no-first-use nuclear policy, providing a robust second-strike capability.
In addition to the SSBN fleet, the Indian Navy has approached the Narendra Modi government for approval to build two nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines (SSNs). Unlike diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), which need to surface frequently to recharge batteries, SSBNs and SSNs can remain submerged for extended periods, with limitations only due to logistics, supplies, and crew changes.
India’s third SSBN, INS Aridaman (S-4), is scheduled for commissioning next year, followed by a fourth submarine, codenamed S-4. These submarines will be more advanced, capable of carrying 3,000-kilometer range nuclear ballistic missiles, and will feature additional missile tubes.
The Indian Navy is also set to enhance its operational capabilities with the commissioning of several new vessels, including the guided missile stealth destroyer INS Surat, the stealth guided missile frigate INS Taragiri, and the sixth Kalvari-class attack submarine INS Vagsheer, all expected within the next six months. Further orders for three more Kalvari-class submarines are anticipated to be placed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd later this year.
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru woman on the morning of 28th August, woke up to find her friend lying dead beside her with her throat slit. The victim, B. Navyashree, 28, a choreographer, was found by her close friend Aishwarya in a pool of blood on Wednesday morning.
The incident took place at Navyashree’s residence in Vishweshwaraiah Layout, Kengeri. Aishwarya, who works with a real estate firm in RR Nagar, had stayed over at her friend’s house to console her over ongoing marital issues. The police have identified Navyashree’s husband, A. Kiran, 31, a cab driver, as the prime suspect. Kiran, who had reportedly fled the scene after the crime, has since been detained for questioning.
According to the police, Kiran had become increasingly insecure about his wife’s profession and suspected her fidelity. The couple had frequent arguments, with Kiran demanding that Navyashree change her career. On the night of the murder, Navyashree had confided in Aishwarya about her marital troubles. The two friends, along with Kiran, had dinner together after which Aishwarya and Navyashree went to bed in one room, while Kiran retired to another.
The next morning, Aishwarya awoke to the gruesome sight of her friend lying in a pool of blood. She immediately screamed for help, alerting neighbors who then contacted the police. The investigation is ongoing.
Srinagar: Three terrorists are believed to have been killed in two separate anti-infiltration operations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the army said on Thursday.
Operations in the Machhal and Tangdhar areas were launched on Wednesday following intelligence inputs, it said.
In a post on X, the army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said, “Based on intelligence inputs with respect to likely infiltration bids, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of August 28 and 29 in the general area Machhal, Kupwara.”
“Suspicious movement was observed in bad weather and was engaged with effective firing by troops; two terrorists are likely to have been neutralised,” it said.
The army said another terrorist is believed to have been killed in an operation along the LoC in the Tangdhar area.
“Based on intelligence inputs regarding likely infiltration bids, a joint anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police on the intervening night of August 28 and 29 in general area Tangdhar, Kupwara,” it said on X.
“One terrorist is likely to have been neutralised,” the army said.
Both the operations were in progress when last reports were received.
New Delhi: In a first, the Centre on Wednesday allowed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to perform Aadhaar-based authentication to verify candidates’ identity on a voluntary basis, both at the time of registration and during various stages of examinations and recruitment.
The move assumes significance as the commission last month cancelled the provisional candidature of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar and debarred her from all future examinations for fraudulently availing attempts in the civil services examination beyond eligibility.
Khedkar has also been accused of misusing disability and Other Backward Classes or OBC (non-creamy layer) quotas, among others.
In a notification, the personnel ministry said the UPSC “is allowed to perform Aadhaar authentication, on voluntary basis, for verification of identity of candidates at the time of registration on ‘One Time Registration’ portal and various stages of examination/recruitment test, using Yes/No or/and e-KYC authentication facility”.
The commission shall adhere to all provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, “the rules and regulations made thereunder” and directions issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the notification added.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit number issued by the UIDAI to all eligible citizens on the basis of biometric and demographic data.
The UPSC had, in July, initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including the registration of a forgery case against her for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking identity. Subsequently, the Delhi Police registered a case and started its probe.
Khedkar, who was provisionally allotted the Indian Administrative Service (2023 batch, Maharashtra cadre), was accused of misusing power and privileges during her training in Pune.
In June, the UPSC also decided to use facial recognition and artificial intelligence-based CCTV surveillance systems to prevent cheating and impersonation in its various tests.
Through a tender document, it invited bids from experienced public sector undertakings to devise two tech solutions — “Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication (else digital fingerprint capturing) and facial recognition of candidates and QR code scanning of e-admit cards” and “Live AI-based CCTV surveillance service” — to be used during the examination process.
The UPSC conducts 14 major exams annually, including the prestigious civil services examination to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), besides a number of recruitment tests and interviews every year for induction to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts of the central government.
Lakhs of candidates appear in such recruitment conducted across the country.
Malayalam actor M Mukesh
Kochi (PTI): A rape case has been registered against prominent Malayalam actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh following a female actor’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her years ago, police said on Thursday.
An FIR under IPC 376 (rape) was registered against the actor at Maradu police station in Kochi city on Wednesday night, a police officer said.
The case was registered under the IPC as the offence allegedly occurred before the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita came to force, he said.
This is the third FIR against a high profile Malayalam film personality following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.
On Wednesday, Thiruvananthapuram museum police had booked actor Sidhique for allegedly raping an actress in a hotel eight years ago.
The first case, under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty), was against director Ranjith on a complaint by a female actor from West Bengal regarding an incident which occurred in 2009.
She had alleged that the director had touched her inappropriately with sexual intent after inviting her to act in the movie Paleri Manikyam.
Following the allegation by the actor, Ranjith had resigned from his post as chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
Sidhique had also resigned as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) following the allegations against him.
The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
Amidst allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation cropping up against several actors and directors, the state government on August 25 announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team to probe them.
Subsequently, more complaints surfaced.