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Top officers close to previous BRS regime lobby with DKS for CS, DGP posts

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HYDERABAD: With the change of government, senior bureaucrats considered close to the previous BRS regime are now vying for key positions in the current administration. Among them, two top officers — a senior IAS officer and a senior IPS officer — are actively lobbying for key positions. According to high-level sources, these two officers have approached the close associates of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The two officers are eyeing the posts of chief secretary and director general of police (DGP).

If sources are to be believed, they have requested Shivakumar to advocate on their behalf with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Sources close to Revanth said that the chief minister dodged taking an immediate decision, saying “let’s see after the superannuation of those in the posts now”.The sources said that the chief minister is inclined to maintain the current hierarchy.

Meanwhile, the present DGP Ravi Gupta is a 1990-batch IPS officer.His predecessor Anjani Kumar was also from the same batch. Next in line are Rajiv Ratan and CV Anand, both 1991 batch and both holding director general rank.It remains to be seen who the Congress government picks to succeed Ravi Gupta as head of the police force.

‘Modi-led govt refusing to cooperate with French judges in probe into alleged Rafale scam’, says report

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A Paris-based investigative website Mediapart has reported that the Narendra Modi-led government is refusing to cooperate with French judges in their ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the sale of 36 Dassault-built Rafale fighter jets to India in 2016 for €7.8 billion.

The Wire, quoting Mediapart’s information, has said that the Indian government has de facto refused to comply with a formal request for international cooperation on the case that was made in November 2022 by the two French judges in charge of the criminal investigation into suspected “corruption”, “influence peddling” and “favouritism”.

Mediapart had earlier reported how the French and Indian governments are united in their desire to slow down a highly sensitive investigation that could implicate three heads of state or government: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French president Emmanuel Macron and his predecessor at the Élysée François Hollande, The Wire added.

This case, per the report, illustrates in particular the desire of the Modi government, echoed in Paris, to ensure that the French judicial investigation into corruption over the sale of the Rafale jets does not reach an outcome. The result is that the investigating judges face a major hurdle, as they lack both the classified French documents and the Indian judicial documents which prove the payment of secret commissions, the report claimed.

For instance, in October 2018, the French investigating judges had requested the Indian authorities to send them judicial documents concerning Dassault and Sushen Gupta, an influential defence businessman, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged Agusta Westland Chopper scam.

Gupta was also the Rafale deal agent, who received “millions in commission”, Mediapart had reported in April 2021.

The Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) is the joint company created by Dassault and the Reliance group, which is run by billionaire Anil Ambani.

In a noteworthy development, The Hindu reported in February 2019 that the Modi government had removed “anti-corruption clauses” from the Rafale deal in 2016, just before the signing of the final contract. This, despite earlier objections from members of the Indian negotiating team, the newspaper reported, The Wire added.

In a diplomatic note, written on July 25, 2023, the French ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, highlighted challenges in cooperation on criminal cases with India.

“Many cases are handled by our Indian partners with very long delays, often in an incomplete manner,” he said in the note.

The Indian government’s communications service and India’s Ministry of Home Affairs did not respond to Mediapart.

Suryakumar’s hundred, Kuldeep’s fifer fashion India’s series-levelling win over South Africa

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JOHANNESBURG: Captain Suryakumar Yadav produced a hundred of rare brilliance and Kuldeep Yadav worked his inimitable sorcery with a fifer as India registered a comprehensive 106-run series-levelling win over South Africa in the third and final T20I here on Thursday.

Suryakumar’s 100 off 56 balls contained seven fours and eight sixes and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent 60 off 41 balls carried India to 201 for 7 after the visitors were asked to bat first.

Indian bowlers, especially left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (5/17), who turned 29 on Thursday, managed to hit better lengths to bundle out SA for 95 in 13.5 overs.

But for that India need to profusely thank Suryakumar.

The 33-year-old exploited the opportunity to bat on a bone-dry surface making his fourth T20I century, joining team-mate Rohit Sharma and Australian Glenn Maxwell as batters with that many three-figure scores in the shortest format.

Suryakumar in the company of Jaiswal made 112 runs for an entertaining fourth-wicket alliance and trusted the true nature of the Wanderers’ pitch to unfurl shots of the highest quality.

Their partnership also allowed India to wriggle out of a bit of a tight space after losing Shubman Gill (8) and Tilak Varma (0) off successive balls in the third over to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

India were 29 for 2 at that point.

But the Suryakumar-Jaiswal stand was not all about flaunting a gun.

They made a rather sturdy beginning, adding 33 runs in the final four overs of the Power Play and then another 25 runs in the overs between seven and 10.

But once the 10th over mark passed, the pair, especially Suryakumar, shifted into overdrive as 114 runs came cascading in the back-10.

Suryakumar, who gave all the space to his junior partner in the early part of the partnership, soon took over the role of chief aggressor.

He took those ‘360’ shots out of the shelf to punish the SA bowlers who did not have much variety to tame Suryakumar on a benign pitch.

Pacer Andile Phehlukwayo bore the brunt of Suryakumar’s awesome skill sets in this format.

The Indian skipper hammered Phehlukwayo for 22 runs in the 13th over through a sequence of 6, 4, 6, 6, an over in which he also brought up his fifty along with that last maximum.

Jaiswal too had his own little moments like a magical pull-off pacer Lizaad Williams that gave him six runs over mid-wicket.

But the left-hander’s effort to clear long-off off left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi ended in the hands of Reeza Hendricks.

However, there was no stopping Suryakumar, who continued to cart the Proteas bowlers around using nimble feet and those highly manipulative wrists.

The 33-year-old soon fetched a well-deserved hundred in a surprisingly sedate manner — with a two off Williams — off 55 balls.

He could not last till the end giving a catch to Matthew Breetzke at the edge of the ropes off Williams.

But by then, he had done enough to take India to a competitive total.

The Indians needed to come up with a better effort with the ball than they did in the second match, and they did precisely that.

The Johannesburg deck that changed the character drastically under the light too helped their cause.

In the second half, the pitch offered some assistance to spinners in the form of turn, which Jadeja and Kuldeep used gleefully.

Birthday boy Kuldeep’s delivery that came from outside of the off-stump to rattle the stumps of Dononvan Ferreira was quite exceptional and also exposed SA batters’ weakness against high-quality spin.

But in reality, South Africa’s chase never really took off.

Pacer Mohammed Siraj set the perfect platform for India’s defence, bowling a maiden in the first over, and they never let the Proteas off the hook from that point.

Once captain Aiden Markram and big-hitting Heinrich Klaasen were dismissed inside the first seven overs to reduce SA to 42 for four, their fate was sealed.

The rest of the line-up did not have the ability to read Kuldeep either off the hand or off the pitch as they crumbled like a whole-meal cookie.

The only jarring point for India was the absence of Suryakumar who had to walk out of the field in the third over of SA innings with a hurt ankle while trying to stop a shot from Reeza Hendricks.

Jadeja stood in for Suryakumar for the rest of the SA innings.

Bill to protect lawyers from violence passed in Karnataka

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BELAGAVI:  As the Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Advocate Bill, 2023, on Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil allayed fears regarding misuse of law and assured considering the changes recommended by members while framing the rules.

Moving the Bill for passage, Patil said the crime in this regard has been subtly defined in the Bill and there would be no chance of misusing it. Violence means any activity which would endanger the life of an advocate or cause bodily harm or criminal intimidation to obstruct him/her from discharging their duty in respect of pending litigation or a case pending before any court, tribunal or authority.

Stating that the Bill has the backing of a verdict of the Supreme Court, the minister said it ensures the lawyers perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. 

When the security of lawyers is threatened while discharging their duties, the Bill would be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.

However, BJP member Suresh Kumar suggested considering the inclusion of a compensation element to benefit advocates if they failed to pursue their functions lifelong due to violence, and recommended to Karnataka Bar Council whenever he/she is arrested by the police in respect of cognisable offence apart from president and secretary of the respective Advocates’ Association, as mentioned in the Bill.

Congress member AS Ponnanna stated that the same in Rajasthan has imprisonment for up to seven years, but in this Bill, it was six months to three years. He suggested increasing the imprisonment term in the coming days. 

Mahadev betting app case: Mumbai crime branch summons actor Sahil Khan, three others

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MUMBAI: The Mumbai police’s crime branch, which is probing the Mahadev betting app case, has summoned actor Sahil Khan and three others to record their statements on Friday, an official said.

A special investigation team (SIT) of Mumbai police has been formed to probe alleged illegal transactions between certain financial and real estate firms in the state and the promoters of the controversial Mahadev betting app, the official said.

The size of the scam is about Rs 15,000 crore, as per the first information report (FIR). An SIT official said an investigation is underway against Khan and 31 other individuals.

The probe involves examining their bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops, and all technical equipment.

The crime branch has summoned Sahil Khan, his brother Sam Khan, Hitesh Khushlani and one more accused person, he said.

They have been asked to remain present before the officials of SIT at Mumbai crime branch, the senior police official said.

Sahil Khan, known for films like ‘Style’ and ‘Excuse Me’, has become a fitness expert.

Home minister mum in Parliament, but giving interview on TV: Kharge on security breach issue

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“What kind of justice is it to illegally suspend opposition MPs over the huge lapse in security of Parliament and its MPs,” Kharge asked.

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah why he was not giving a statement in Parliament on the  but was giving interviews to TV channels.

He also asked if who asked questions on the Parliament breach was justice.

He said that leaders of various parties had met in the morning to discuss their joint strategy in both houses.

Several MPs suspended on Thursday for disrupting the House with their protest on the security breach issue staged a silent protest in the Parliament complex against the suspension.

Kharge said the Home Minister of the country can give interviews on TV but is averse to stating the floor of Parliament.

“INDIA parties demand that Shri Amit Shah should give a statement in the Parliament and then it should be discussed in both the houses,” the Congress chief said.

“It is our duty to raise our voice on this serious issue of national security, it is our parliamentary duty,” Kharge also said in a post in Hindi on X.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh concurred with his colleague’s demand for a statement from Shah on the “shocking” security breach.

“MPs of the INDIA parties are demanding that the Home Minister make a statement in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the shocking incidents of December 13, 2023, involving intruders into the Lok Sabha whose entry was facilitated by a BJP MP Pratap Simha.h

“The Home Minister is simply refusing to make such a statement on what is a very serious security issue.

His refusal has led both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to get adjourned till 2 pm today,” Ramesh said after both houses were adjourned amid opposition protests.

Cong seeks answers from govt on ‘serious security breach’ in Parliament

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Cong seeks answers from govt on 'serious security breach' in Parliament

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday demanded answers from the government on the “serious security breach” in Lok Sabha, saying does the incident “not prove that necessary precautions were not taken”.

Two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs. Around the same time, two persons, including a woman, also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans ‘tanashahi nahi chalegi’ outside the Parliament premises.

party president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the security breach that took place in Parliament is a very serious matter.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka says law and order completely deteriorated in Karnataka

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Belagavi: Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Wednesday alleged complete deterioration of law and order situation in Karnataka, and asked whether the Congress government was “dead or alive”.

Making a preliminary submission before the Chair in the Legislative Assembly, seeking permission to move an adjournment motion on the law and order issue, he touched upon various incidents and accused the government of either inaction or failure in handling them.

“After Congress came to power in Karnataka, in the last four months, there has been an increase in cases. Is there law and order in Karnataka? Is the government dead or alive, I’m unable to understand,” Ashoka, a former Deputy Chief Minister, said.

“Under this government, 43,412 cases have been registered, about 60 dacoity, 718 burglary, 12,642 robbery, 1,349 riot cases, 6,226 causing harm related cases, 1,211 POCSO cases, 809 caste related atrocities cases, 216 rape related cases, 8,043 cyber crime, among other cases — a total of 43,412 cases have been registered, and till September-end 117 murder cases have been registered,” he alleged.

Pointing at Lawyers’ strike following alleged police assault on an advocate in Chikkamagaluru, Ashoka said after the Military, police are considered to be the next disciplined force and they never indulge in any kind of protest or strike, but in this case police too had staged a protest.

“But the government kept silent with their eyes shut and did not do anything. Even when police protested the Congress government remained silent. They did not intervene and hold negotiations,” he alleged.

Also referring to incidents with communal overtones in Shivamogga with one involving posters of Tipu Sultan, and the Home Minister terming it as a minor incident, Ashoka said, “why curfew was imposed if it was a minor incident? There were reports of those linked to the Popular Front of India behind the incident.”

He also highlighted alleged attacks on BJP and Hindu activists in Bhadravati, Belagavi, and Udupi among other several places, and also spoke about the recent incident where a woman was allegedly assaulted, paraded naked and tied to an electric pole in a village in Belagavi, which had shocked the state.

There are also reports of an incident about a Superintendent of Police’s high-handedness against protesting farmers, he said, adding, “is there no one to ask in this government? Is the government alive or dead? If alive, they should have taken action against the SP and also against the police who staged the protest.”

This government boasts of having the support of 136 MLAs, but they don’t take any action, Ashoka said, adding, the law and order situation in Karnataka has completely deteriorated; certain incidents (like parading of a women naked) taking place in Belagavi when the legislature session is under way here — “we have to bow our head in shame.”

Earlier, Home Minister G Parameshwara objected to Ashoka raising the issue under adjournment motion, pointing out that the issue of law and order cannot be taken up for discussion under the section.

Speaker Khader too stated that the law and order issue cannot be taken up for discussion under adjournment motion and he would allow the issue to be raised in some other format under a different rule.

However, Ashoka insisted that the Chair should hear his preliminary submission and then decide whether to allow discussion under adjournment motion or not. “Earlier too there have been instances where a law and order issue has been raised under adjournment motion…the chair has the right to convert the discussion under some other rule, based on my preliminary submission.”

Later, after hearing Ashoka’s preliminary submission, Speaker Khader said he will give an opportunity for discussion on the issue under some other rule in a couple of days, as law and order issues cannot be raised under adjournment motion.

“Hang my son if he has done wrong”, says father of man who jumped into LS chamber

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"Hang my son if he has done wrong", says father of man who jumped into LS chamber
Devaraje Gowda

Mysuru: “Hang my son if he has done wrong”, said the father of one of the two men who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber in a major security breach on Wednesday.

Manoranjan D’s father Devaraje Gowda, however, claimed that his son is honest and truthful and always desired to do good for the society.

“It is okay if my son does good but if he has done something wrong then hang him. He is not my son (if he has done wrong). That Parliament is ours. People like you all have built it. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru had toiled to build it. Whoever does it (attack) is condemnable. We will not accept it,” Gowda told reporters.

“My son is a good boy. He is honest and truthful. His only desire is to do good for the society and sacrifice for the society. He used to read Swami Vivekananda’s books. I think he developed such thoughts after reading these books,” he said.

“It is difficult to understand what was running in his mind. My son completed his BE (Bachelor in Engineering) in 2016 and was looking after the farm. He also worked in some firms in Delhi and Bengaluru,” he added.

Manoranjan, who hailed from Mysuru, and another person, Sagar Sharma jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the pubic gallery and released yellow-coloured smoke from canisters, triggering panic among the Members of Parliament.

They also shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.

Congress workers stage protest outside BJP MP Pratap Simha’s office in Mysuru

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Mysuru: Congress workers on Wednesday staged a protest outside the office of BJP MP Pratap Simha, on whose authorisation passes were issued to two persons who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery in a major security breach.

Police force controlled the situation and ensured that it did not lead to any untoward incident.

Congress workers in large numbers gathered outside the Mysuru MP’s office at Jaladarshini Guest House and raised slogans against him and accused him of being “responsible for what unfolded in the Lok Sabha” earlier in the day.

Manoranjan D, one of the accused who hailed from Mysuru, introduced co-accused Sagar Sharma as a friend to the MP’s office and got passes issued to them on the pretext of watching the new Parliament, according to sources.

Three passes were issued at the behest of Simha for Wednesday. However, one person, a woman, had to return as she arrived with her child whose name was not mentioned in her pass, sources close to the MP said.

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