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KCR’s daughter Kavitha has stake in Indo Spirits, says ED

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Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha after questioning by the CBI in connection with the 'Delhi excise policy scam', in Hyderabad. (Photo | PTI)

NEW DELHI:  The Enforcement Directorate has made a sensational accusation that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha and a partner together hold about 65% stake in liquor company Indo Spirits, which is allegedly involved in the Delhi liquor scam. The agency, in a chargesheet filed last month, said Kavitha holds the stake through proxies who have been identified and questioned.
The ED chargesheet was filed in the Special Court of judge M K Nagpal, who took cognisance of it on Tuesday and listed the case for hearing on January 5.

The ED chargesheet gives a detailed description of how the scam unfolded. It says “one of the crucial pieces of evidence of this scam and conspiracy is the circumstances under which the partnership of India Spirits was formed. As revealed by Sameer (Mahendru) in his statement dated November 12, he was introduced to Arun Pillai by Vijay Nair as part of a group which has deep pockets and are friends of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal… they sought a stake in Sameer’s Delhi business.

Sameer did not agree to this partnership condition as it meant him sharing his profit for no significant investments from these persons. Vijay Nair then told Sameer that if he takes this deal, Vijay will ensure that they get Pernod (Ricard)’s business. …Sameer agreed hereby to give stakes of 65% to these persons. During the course of his interaction with these persons, Sameer had become aware of MSR (Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy) and K Kavitha being the actual partners in Indo Spirits, who were represented by their fronts Prem Rahul and Arun Pillai.”

As for Arun Pillai, he “revealed that during his interaction with Sameer Mahendru it was made clear to him that the ultimate control of the 65% stakes in his business was with MSR and K Kavitha. Arun Pillai has confirmed that he has arranged facetime calls with Kavitha and Sameer Mahendru as well. He had also arranged a meeting of Sameer Mahendru and Kavitha at her residence at Hyderabad, wherein she took general updates of Indo Spirits business from Sameer Mahendru.”

The ED said that Dinesh Arora in his statement dated 1.10.2022 revealed that he coordinated transfer of Rs 30-31 crore kickbacks from the South Group, of which Kavitha is allegedly a part, from Hyderabad to Delhi for Vijay Nair.

312 track maintenance Railways staff died on duty in last four years

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NEW DELHI: Over 300 Railway Track Maintenance (RTM) personnel have lost their lives on duty after being by trains in the last four years over the Indian Railways. The highest number of RTM staff had died on duty from different railway sections in Uttar Pradesh from 2018 to December 5 in 2022.

The Railways informed the Rajya Sabha (RS) that a total of 312 track maintenance staff had died in the last four years on duty in different parts of the country.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday in a written reply said that ex-gratia compensations were paid to the families of Railway track maintenance staff who lost their lives while performing bonafide official duties after being hit by trains.

“We are conducting regular counselling of track maintenance staff for ‘personal safety first’ while working near the tracks. They have also been equipped with protective equipment, safety helmets, and retro-reflective high visibility jackets for duty”, the minister informed the House, adding that work site remote control hooters and whistles were provided to track maintenance staff.

The minister also said that periodic medical examination is regularly being conducted to ascertain the fitness of track personnel.

The most notable information the minister gave in the Upper House was that the government has sanctioned the very high frequency-based ‘Approaching Train Warning System’, which is also called ‘Rakshak’, on the Golden Quadrilateral-Golden Diagonal routes on Indian Railway. “For this system, Rs 91.21 crores have been sanctioned”, the minister added.

According to data shared by the minister in the RS, 61 track maintenance personnel lost their lives after having been hit by trains during duty in Uttar Pradesh from 2018 to December 5 in 2022. 48 track maintenance personnel died in Maharashtra during duty in the same period.

As three Northeast states gear up for polls, a question of survival for Congress

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GUWAHATI:  The upcoming polls in three states of the Northeast will be a battle for survival for the Congress, which once ruled the entire region but has got reduced to a shadow of its glorious past. The Congress’ slide in the Northeast began after the BJP’s emergence as a powerhouse in 2014. Simultaneous elections in the 60-member Assemblies of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura are expected in February. As it appears now, Congress is not in the race to power in any of the states. It lacks leaders after many of them embraced the ruling party or other parties over a period of time amid the BJP’s juggernaut.

The Congress does not have a single MLA in Nagaland, just one in Tripura and five in Meghalaya. However, the five in Meghalaya were suspended earlier this year by the party’s central leadership for cosying up to the Conrad K Sangma government where the BJP is a component. The Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 2018 Meghalaya elections but the National People’s Party-led motley alliance kept it at bay by forming the government. 

In November last year, 12 of the 17 Congress MLAs, led by former CM Mukul Sangma, jumped ship and joined Trinamool Congress (TMC). Their desertion had relegated the grand-old party to a smaller party and made the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, the state’s principal opposition party overnight. Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala is now the Congress’ lone prominent face in the Christian-majority state. The Congress will not, perhaps, have a single MLA by the time it goes to elections as the five suspended legislators have more or less ditched the party and are likely to contest the polls on the tickets of other political parties.

In Tripura, Sudip Roy Barman is the Congress’ only MLA. He had won the last election on the BJP’s ticket and was inducted into the ministry but he resigned from the Assembly and the party in February this year after falling out with the then CM Biplab Kumar Deb.

Later, he won a by-election, necessitated by his resignation. The Congress had failed to win a single seat in the 2018 Tripura elections, which the BJP swept, decimating the Left.  The Congress had also drawn a blank in the Nagaland elections in 2018. “So what if we have one MLA? Atal Bihari Vajpayee had just two MPs but he went on to become the PM,” said Tripura Congress chief Birajit Sinha. 

Madhya Pradesh government to scrutinise educational content of madrasas after complaints

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BHOPAL:  The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government has decided to scrutinize the study material of Madrasas in Madhya Pradesh following complaints and reports about Hindu children not only having been enrolled in madrasas instead of schools but also being taught books containing objectionable religious content.ADVERTISEMENTAds by 

“Objectionable religious content being taught to students at some madrasas has come to our knowledge. To prevent any untoward incident in future, the district collectors will be directed to get the study material of madrasas scrutinized by the education department of the concerned districts,” MP home minister and state government’s official spokesperson Narottam Mishra said on Sunday.

In an official statement released by Mishra’s office, it was mentioned that it has come to the state government’s knowledge that some books that contain objectionable content about those who don’t believe and follow Islam are being taught at madrasas in some districts. “All district collectors will soon be directed to thoroughly scrutinize the study material being given to students. The state government is serious on the issue and will ensure that controversial content or books aren’t taught at madrasas,” the statement added.

Importantly, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recently taken congizance of reports, about some Hindu children from lower socio-economic strata not getting admission at government schools and instead ending up being taught at madrasas meant for Muslim students in the same areas of at least two districts, including Vidisha and Datia.

The Commission had also received complaints about objectionable religious content being taught at these madrasas. While at one madrasa in Datia district of the Gwalior-Chambal region, out of the total 67 students 26 reportedly are Hindu, whereas in Vidisha district a group of Gond tribe children were being taught. The NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said, “The main question arises as to how come Hindu kids were being taught Islamic religious education.”

Automobile industry looks to sustain growth momentum in 2023

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NEW DELHI: The Indian automobile industry is setting out on a journey with hopes for a sustained growth momentum in 2023 and further embracing clean technology amid the lurking speed breakers of rising interest rates and cost increases due to new emission and safety norms, having witnessed a strong comeback from the COVID-led downturn this year. 

While the passenger vehicles (PV) segment is set for record sales in 2022 despite the lingering effects of supply chain constraints and semiconductor shortages, the two-wheeler space is yet to see sustained sales buoyancy after having suffered for most of the year.

According to industry estimates, PV sales can reach around 38 lakh units this year.

The three-wheelers and commercial vehicles segments have also witnessed good growth in 2022 compared to 2021, albeit on a low base of last year, which was affected by the second wave of COVID-19 and manufacturers will be keen to carry forward the momentum to the new year.

As per industry observers, 2023 will also see acceleration in adoption of electric vehicles, which has already started taking root in 2022, especially in the two-wheelers segment.

For potential passenger vehicle buyers, 2023 may not ring in the best news as vehicle prices are set to increase next year as companies prepare to conform to stricter emission norms which kick in from April 1, 2023.

Many manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai have already announced plans to increase prices from January next year.

Besides, rising interest rates and not so bright global economic situation and its impact on India in the days to come are some of the factors which are keeping the industry in a cautious mode.

“Increase in price always has a certain negative impact on sales. But we still do not know how much the prices will go up and what will happen to input cost and foreign exchange. These are uncertainties which will always be there,” Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava told PTI.

He, however, stated that the domestic car industry has revived in the last few months and the semiconductor shortages are also going to abate in 2023.

“Putting it all together, our estimate would be that next year would probably be a reasonably good year for the industry. I think we should do at least as well if not better than 2022,” Bhargava said.

The country’s largest carmaker will keep bringing in cars, especially more SUV models, to cater to the customer demand, he noted.

Industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Director General Rajesh Menon said the passenger vehicle industry adopted the second phase of fuel efficiency regulations this year from April 2022 and is gearing up to meet the stringent second phase of BS VI emission norms from April 2023.

Discussions are also underway to implement various new safety regulations for passenger vehicles in 2023, he said.

“Implementation of these new regulations could raise the cost of the vehicles and this coupled with global recessionary trends are of concern going forward in the year 2023,” Menon pointed out.

Besides, with rising inflation, the RBI was compelled to increase the repo rates a couple of times this year and this increase in interest rate can impact the demand trends for all vehicle segments, he cautioned.

Though the overall numbers from January to November 2022 have shown appreciable growth for all segments including passenger vehicles, this has been achieved in the backdrop of a low base in 2021, which was affected by the second wave of COVID-19, Menon stated.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Executive Director (Auto and Farm Sectors) Rajesh Jejurikar, however, remained confident about the industry maintaining the current sales momentum.

“At M&M, all models will comply with BS-VI.2 norms as per timelines set by the government and the price / cost difference may not be as steep as it was for the BS-IV to BS-VI transition,” he asserted.

While acknowledging that the semiconductor shortage continues to be dynamic and rising input costs and interest rates are some other challenges that the industry is managing, he remained optimistic about sales momentum continuing next year.

“Apart from these headwinds, we look forward to an action-packed 2023 on the back of huge demand from customers,” Jejurikar said.

Tata Motors Managing Director – Passenger Vehicle and Electric Vehicles Shailesh Chandra pointed out that it would be worthwhile to see the impact of macroeconomic factors like inflationary pressure on the industry.

“I would say that the growth is going to be high this year but next year on a very high base, with the interplay of so many tailwinds and headwinds, it would be still growth, but to what extent that growth would be on the high base, that will be seen,” he noted.

Kia India Chief Sales Officer Myung-sik Sohn said stricter emission norms are a positive for the industry’s collective efforts of trying to minimise pollution from vehicles.

However, they will surely have an impact on vehicle prices.

“You will see a hike in prices across all OEMs, but looking at the high demand for cars currently, we expect little impact on sales momentum,” he noted.

Automotive dealer’s body Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) noted that the PV segment still continues to hold a strong order book for several models which is expected to continue for a few months.

“The OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) need to continue with the creation of excitement through new launches, product upgrades etc. We expect the production soon to be back to normal and we can bring down the long waiting period to normal,” FADA President Manish Raj Singhania stated.

The long waiting period and flexible consumer behaviour during the festive season have helped the industry to see movement in the segment, but once the demand and supply balance is restored, the slow-moving models will be a challenge for the industry, Singhania said.

Commenting on the sales growth outlook, ICRA Vice President and Sector Head Corporate Ratings Rohan Kanwar Gupta said the rating agency expects the industry demand to remain steady and volumes to grow by 6-9 per cent in FY2024.

“The capex outlay for OEMs is estimated to remain heightened (an estimated outlay of Rs 650 billion over FY2023-FY2025, with the OEMs also budgeting for a substantial outlay towards new product development, including development of capabilities/platforms for electric vehicles,” he added.

Elaborating on the luxury car segment, Mercedes-Benz India’s outgoing Managing Director and CEO Martin Schwenk said, “We have to see how the overall economic climate is there. Overall, confidence is there that 2023 should be a good year. The world is dynamic but at the moment, we are starting with a positive momentum into next year.”

As for the two-wheeler segment, Menon said while an increase in interest rate can impact the demand trends for all vehicle segments, the government has also hiked the long-term insurance premium, which specifically impacts the two-wheeler segment.

“Two-wheeler demand has remained weak over the past few years, with consumer sentiments impacted by factors such as income uncertainty during the pandemic period and a persistent hike in two-wheeler prices led by both regulatory changes and inflationary pressures,” ICRA’s Gupta said.

Amid ED probe, Chhattisgarh CM says prepared for more such moves from Centre as polls approach

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RAIPUR: Amid the probe by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged coal levy scam and the arrest of a few bureaucrats and businessmen, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday called the action “vendetta politics” and said he was prepared for more such moves by the Centre.

He also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government for not releasing funds to Chhattisgarh, adding he would not keep silent over such injustice to his state.

In an interview to PTI, Baghel, who completed four years in office on December 17, said the schemes of his government were aimed at strengthening the rural economy and creating self-employment but admitted there were several poll promises which are yet to be fulfilled.

“We welcome action against corruption. But if the action is politically motivated then it is wrong. Whenever I campaigned in elections in other states, raids were conducted in Chhattisgarh by the central agencies,” Baghel said.

The ED has been probing a money laundering case linked to the alleged levy of money on coal and mining transporters in Chhattisgarh.

It has arrested five persons so far, including IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and Deputy Secretary in the CM’s office Soumya Chaurasia.

“The BJP does not have acceptability among the people of Chhattisgarh anymore. Anticipating reverses in the Assembly polls (scheduled for late next year) due to the good governance of the Congress government here, the BJP has roped in central agencies to harass and defame my government. Such acts should not be done in politics,” he asserted.

Hinting at the state polls, Baghel said these central probe agencies would become “more active in the coming months” and claimed he was “mentally prepared for it”.

The 61-year-old firebrand Congress leader, who has been vocal against BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership, said he shares good relations personally with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, Defence Minister and all Union ministers.

“But it is my responsibility to fight in the interest of the state. I can speak, write letters and fight for my state’s rights. I don’t consider anything wrong in it. They (Centre) haven’t given Chhattisgarh’s money pending in connection with GST, coal royalty and central excise. If injustice is meted out to us then we will definitely fight,” he asserted.

Baghel said farm loan waiver, procurement of paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal, rural industrial parks and procurement of minor forest produce and cow dung have been steps taken in the interest of common people.

“We have done a lot in these four years but not everything. There is always room for growth. We have just started and we need to take it further. We took up tasks in adverse circumstances (referring to the COVID-19 pandemic). However, there are many promises that are yet to be fulfilled,” the CM admitted.

He said his government had achieved considerable success against the Maoists but admitted it was tough to predict when the menace would completely end.

“Left Wing Extremism has now been reduced only to some pockets (in the state). The government has pushed Naxalites on the back foot with its three-pronged strategy of trust, development and security. However it is tough to say when the menace will come to an end,” he said.

Telangana man who got stuck between two rocks rescued after two days

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Kamareddy-Man-Trapped-Rescued

NIZAMABAD: After a 48-hour marathon exercise, Ch Raju, who got trapped between two boulders in an area between Singarayapalli and Ghanpur villages, was rescued on Thursday.

Raju, who belongs to Reddipet village of Kamareddy, had on Tuesday evening ventured into the hillocks to catch rabbits who generally sleep among the rocks. 

Officials said that Raju’s mobile phone had fallen inside a crevice between two boulders. While trying to retrieve his mobile phone which had fallen to a depth of 15 feet, he got trapped between the two boulders. 

Locals found him on Wednesday. The rescue operations began Wednesday afternoon.

Police, Forest and Revenue department officials used four earth movers to break the rocks followed by a controlled blast to ensure that the broken rocks did not fall on him.

Ashok, a relative of Raju, reportedly provided food to him and also gave him courage.

He was rescued around 2 pm Thursday.

Officials supplied oxygen and liquid food like fruit juice to Raju.

Raju has been admitted to Kamareddy hospital for treatment. His health is reported to be stable.

Sukhu meets Kharge, says ministry to be expanded after Assembly session

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state party chief Pratibha Singh in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo| PTI)

CHANDIGARH:  Hectic lobbying for cabinet berths are underway in Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the cabinet will be formed after the upcoming assembly session.

Sukhu, along with all newly-elected MLAs of the Congress, met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence here. This was his first visit to the national capital after being elected as chief minister.
Interacting with media persons after the meeting, Sukhu said, “The Himachal Cabinet will be formed soon and you will be informed accordingly.”

“The cabinet will be formed after the Vidhan Sabha session.” He added that as he was accompanied by state Congress president Pratibha Singh and all elected MLAs, including deputy chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. During his meeting with legislators, Kharge told them to remain united and asked them to share power with all party workers.

He also urged them to remain connected with the grassroots level and serve the people of Himachal Pradesh earnestly. Kharge told the party leadership in the state to fill up all vacancies in the government and make appointments in the boards and corporations soon.

The Congress chief asked the chief minister to share power with party workers so that they also feel the ownership of the government and work more closely with public, sources said. The party will ensure that there is equitable share of power in the hill state between various factions, they added.

Terming the meeting as a courtesy meeting, Sukhu said, “We had come to thank the Congress president as he had campaigned for us in Himachal elections. All 40 MLAs and PCC chief Pratibha Singh has come and thanked Kharge ji on how he extended the party’s support.” “Kharge ji told us to serve the people of Himachal with our hearts and thanked the people of Himachal for electing a Congress government,” 

Hebbal flyover revamp to restart in Bengaluru

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BENGALURU: The revamp of the perennially jampacked Hebbal flyover by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which was stopped completely in April 2019, is finally set to restart. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Wednesday gave the BDA the green signal after it agreed to go back to its original plan of carrying out numerous infra works only on the first level of the flyover. It has given up its plans to build at the second level.

A top BDA official said two lanes will be built in the direction from the airport towards the city only on the first level apart from an underpass. “People entering the city from the airport, who face massive congestion at the Hebbal flyover presently as well as those coming from Yelahanka, Doddaballapur, Jakkur, Doddaballapur, Gauribidanur, Sahakar Nagar, Coffee Board Layout and surrounding areas will benefit from this.”

BMRCL had made the BDA stop work in 2019 apprehensive of the new structures posing issues for its two separate Metro lines which would pass above and beyond the flyover. The State’s High Powered Committee held two meetings this year (April 28 and September 12) with all  agencies to break the deadlock over the issue.

TNIE has a copy of the order issued by BMRCL which states that the Phase-3 Metro on Outer Ring Road West up to Kempapura across Hebbal flyover and Phase-3A Metro from Sarjapur to Hebbal go beyond Hebbal flyover. “All the structures, including widening of the existing flyover and loops and ramps for different directions, should be provided only at Level-1, below or at the end of the existing flyover. The proposed underpass should be planned taking into consideration the alignment and piers of Phase-3 Metro,” it stressed.

PJB Constructions Pvt Ltd was awarded the contract for Rs 80 crore and BDA had already released Rs 25 crore to it. “The foundation work for the project was completed before work was ordered to be stopped,” explained another BDA source. “There will be some cost escalation due to the three-year gap and we will be paying that to the contractor. But work can start shortly,” he added.

Bangladesh in trouble at 133-8 after India’s 404 on day 2

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CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh was in deep trouble at 133-8 after India racked up 404 on day two Thursday of the first cricket test.

Bangladesh was behind by 271 runs and at risk of being forced to follow on. The top order again failed to click in a format where it hasn’t won at home since 2020.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4-33 and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj 3-14 as India took a stranglehold on the test.

After India started the day on 278-6 and added 126 runs, Bangladesh’s misery piled up when opener Najmul Hossain was out to the first delivery when he edged Siraj behind.

Pacer Umesh Yadav claimed Yasir Ali and Bangladesh was 5-2.

Liton Das gave Bangladesh some relief. He counterattacked Umesh with three boundaries in a row until Siraj bowled him for 24.

Siraj got debutant Zakir Hasan to edge behind on 20.

The pressure fell on Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Shakib Al Hasan to rescue the home side. Shakib was out to Kuldeep’s second delivery.

Mushfiqur reacted with sweeps against the India spinners and made a team-best 28 when he was tapped in front after failing to read Kuldeep’s length.

“I was a bit nervous. I was very lucky to get the first wicket in the first over and got the momentum back,” Kuldeep said.

“After a couple of overs, I started feeling well, mixed my pace and variations, tried both the angles — over the wicket and round the wicket. I was getting proper turn, I was actually loving it. After I got injured, I started working on my rhythm, trying to be a bit quicker — that’s helping me a lot.”

Kuldeep reduced Bangladesh to 102-8 after dismissing Taijul Islam for a duck.

At stumps, Mehidy Hasan was batting on 16 with Ebadot Hossain on 13.

“Losing eight wickets is disappointing but there is another three days to go. We need to hang in there and we need to fight hard,” Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath said.

Earlier, Kuldeep and Ravichandran Ashwin added 92 runs for the eighth wicket to help propel India past 400 run.

Ashwin scored 58 off 113 balls with two fours and two sixes, and Kuldeep 40. The partnership was key after the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer, India’s last recognized batter.

Iyer was dropped on 85 for the third time in the game. He top-edged a short delivery off pacer Ebadot Hossain but Liton Das put down the catch at fine leg.

Iyer survived on 30 and 67 on day one and, on 77, his bails did not drop despite Ebadot’s delivery hitting the stumps.

The disappointment didn’t last long as Ebadot knocked over the stumps in his next over to dismiss Iyer for 86. His 192-ball innings included 10 fours.

Ashwin hit Mehidy Hasan for a six-over long on and together with Kuldeep they frustrated Bangladesh into the afternoon session. Mehidy broke the partnership and India lost the last three wickets for 19 runs.

Mehidy and Taijul returned four wickets each.

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