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BJP MLA Munirathna
Bengaluru: The Special MP/MLA Court in Bengaluru on Monday granted anticipatory bail to three individuals in a rape case in which BJP MLA Munirathna is also an accused.
Lohit, Kiran, and Manjunath were granted bail by Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat.
The case was filed against Munirathna and others following a complaint by a 40-year-old woman, a social worker from Rajarajeshwari Nagar who had been active in the BJP.
The FIR was registered at the Kaggalipura police station.
Marathi actor Atul Parchure
Mumbai: Well-known Marathi actor Atul Parchure, known for his comic roles, died at a private hospital here on Monday, family sources said.
Parchure (57), who had recently recovered from cancer, was about to make a comeback on stage but suddenly developed health complications and his condition worsened in the last two days, the sources said.
He started his career as a child actor and soon rose to fame with roles in plays such as “Tarun Turk, Mhatare Ark” and “Nati Goti”.
Parchure also acted in a host of Marathi and Hindi TV serials and films.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took to social media platform X to express their condolences.
Shinde condoled Parchure’s untimely death on behalf of the state government and called himself one among thousands of the senior actor’s fans.
“The news of his death was painful,” the CM said, adding the Marathi theatre and cinema has lost a talented actor.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday took stock of the preparations and steps taken by authorities to tackle the situation that may arise in view of the heavy rain predicted by met office in the next four days.
He has directed the authorities to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts on October 15, and also asked them to issue an advisory to IT firms to allow their employees to work from home from October 15 to 18.
The RMC said Tamil Nadu would receive heavy rain due to a low pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am today. “It is likely to become a well marked low pressure area and move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next two days,” it said.
There would be enhanced rainfall activity associated with the movement of this system, the IMD said.
The chief minister directed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force be deployed in advance in the areas prone to be affected.
“Rescue boats should be deployed in flood-prone areas today. District monitoring officers should immediately carry out the preparatory work, including relief and rehabilitation in coordination with the district administration,” he said.
Further, the frequency of metro trains and MRTS should be enhanced for the convenience of the public, he added.
Steps should be taken to keep the price of essential commodities under control and efforts should be made to adequately stock food and medicine in old age and destitute homes, Stalin stressed.
During the review meeting, the Greater Chennai Corporation officials informed that the civic body has readied 990 pumps, 57 tractors equipped with pump sets, and 36 mechanised boats to be used in case of any emergency. In addition, 46 MT bleaching powder and phenyl were available for sanitation purposes. About 169 fully equipped relief centers would become operational based on the situation.
The collectors of the four districts said they were fully geared up to cope with the situation arising due to inundation.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, state ministers, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, DGP Shankar Jiwal, and senior officials participated.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Thanjavur districts and Puducherry on Oct 15, the RMC said.
Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts, Puducherry and Karaikal area, on Oct 16.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur and Krishnagiri districts on October 17, it said. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea during this period.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that people in rain-hit Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Pudukottai, Salem, and many districts in interior Tamil Nadu were facing hardship as the administration has not taken up relief and rescue activities.
The DMK government functioned as if Chennai alone mattered, thus making the people frown, he claimed. It was not known if the Revenue, Municipal Administration, Health, and Electricity ministers were involved in the rescue and relief activities.
“Stalin should stop promoting his Deputy Chief Minister-son and instead involve himself in protecting the people in the rain-affected areas,” the former chief minister said in a statement here.
Palaniswami recalled that during the previous AIADMK regime, he ensured the participation of all state government departments in tackling the monsoon and in taking up the relief work on a war footing. “The ministers and officials were on the field to help the people then,” he added.
Meanwhile, Puducherry District Collector A Kulothungan said all schools and colleges including privately managed institutions would remain closed on Tuesday in view of the heavy rain forecast under the influence of south east monsoon.
He said that the government machinery is fully geared to rise to any exigency.
Three teams of National Disaster Rescue Force from Arakkonam (Tamil Nadu) have arrived in Puducherry to take up rescue operations whenever it becomes necessary. While two teams would be on duty in Puducherry, the remaining team would camp in Karaikal. Each of the three groups has 30 members, he added.
Relief camps and control rooms have been opened and food packets would be distributed to the people accommodated in the camps, he said.
Bengaluru: A 44-year-old English lecturer, identified as Shabana, attempted suicide by consuming tablets in the classroom of a private PU college in Tilak Nagar on Monday.
Reports suggest that Shabana, distressed by alleged harassment from the college principal, took this drastic step. Earlier that morning, she had visited the principal’s office for a conversation before returning to her classroom, where the incident occurred.
She was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital and is now out of danger, according to DCP (Southeast) Sarah Fatima.
Tilak Nagar police visited the college and are conducting an investigation based on hospital information. A case has been registered.
Mumbai: The murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique has sent shockwaves through Bollywood, with authorities investigating the possible involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Known for its violent history, the gang had previously issued threats to several high-profile individuals, including Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.
Siddique, who had close ties with Bollywood stars such as Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt, was allegedly murdered by members of the Bishnoi gang. Investigations are ongoing, with the gang reportedly claiming responsibility for the assassination.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has targeted several other celebrities in the past. Salman Khan, who was threatened in connection to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, remains a prime target. Earlier this year, gunshots were fired outside his residence in Bandra, though no injuries were reported.
Comedian Munawar Faruqui, known for winning Bigg Boss 17, is also on the hit list. Intelligence agencies recently foiled an alleged attempt on his life during an event in Delhi.
Other notable names include Shaganpreet Singh, manager of slain singer Sidhu Moosewala, and Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of Baba Siddique, both of whom have been threatened by the gang.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought response from the Centre and the the Election Commission on a fresh plea against the practice of political parties promising freebies during elections.
A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued notices to the Union of India and the poll panel on a petition filed by Bengaluru resident Shashank J Sreedhara.
The petition filed by advocate Srinivasan has also sought a direction to poll panel to take effective steps to restrain political parties from making promises of freebies during the pre-election period.
“The unregulated promise of freebies imposes a significant and unaccounted financial burden on the public exchequer. Further, there exists no mechanism to ensure the fulfilment of pre-poll promises on which votes were secured,” the plea said.
The top court tagged the matter with other pleas on similar issue.
The apex court had earlier agreed to list for hearing pleas against the practice of political parties promising freebies during elections after senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appearing for lawyer and PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, sought urgent hearing of the matter.
Upadhyay’s plea said there should be a total ban on populist measures to gain undue political favour from voters as they violate the Constitution, and the EC should take suitable deterrent measures.
It also urged the court to declare that the promise of irrational freebies from public funds before elections unduly influences the voters, disturbs the level playing field and vitiates the purity of the poll process.
“Petitioner submits that the recent trend of political parties to influence voters by offering freebies with an eye on elections is not only the greatest threat to the survival of democratic values but also injures the spirit of the Constitution,” the plea said.
“This unethical practice is just like giving bribes to the electorate at the cost of the exchequer to stay in power and must be avoided to preserve democratic principles and practices,” it said.
The petition sought a direction to the EC to insert an additional condition in the relevant paragraphs of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, which deals with conditions for recognition as a state party, that a “political party shall not promise/distribute irrational freebies from the public fund before the election”.
The petitioner has urged the apex court to declare that the promise or distribution of private goods or services, which are not for public purposes from public funds, before the elections violates several articles of the Constitution, including Article 14.
Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot
Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has been accorded Z+ security by the Union Home Ministry, following a security review. The enhanced security, which was previously managed by the state police, will now be overseen by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Raj Bhavan officials confirmed. Armed CRPF personnel will accompany the governor in shifts during his travels across the state.
The decision was based on a review conducted by central intelligence agencies. Although the specific reasons behind the upgrade remain unclear, it is believed to be connected to the governor’s approval of an investigation into the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, which allegedly involves Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife.
This security upgrade follows protests from Congress, including a controversial statement by Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza, who warned of a ‘Bangladesh-type agitation’ to remove the governor. In response, the Karnataka government had already provided Gehlot with a bulletproof vehicle.
While all governors are eligible for Z+ security, Gehlot, who assumed office in July 2021, had not opted for this level of protection until now. The Centre extended the enhanced cover after the latest threat assessment, which is conducted every six months. The CRPF has taken charge of the governor’s security, with additional procedures expected to be finalised this week.
Gehlot, 76, previously served as the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014. He is the first person from Madhya Pradesh to hold the position of Governor in Karnataka.
Ottawa: Canada has made fresh accusations against India, claiming that it is involved in “serious criminal activity” on Canadian soil and is working with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistani individuals. These allegations come at a time when Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, is making headlines for his alleged involvement in the murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, who was killed in Mumbai last week.
Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner of Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), stated that India is specifically targeting the pro-Khalistani community in Canada through organised crime groups, with the Bishnoi gang playing a key role. Gauvin remarked, “From an RCMP perspective, we have observed India using organised crime elements, particularly the Bishnoi Group, which we believe is linked to agents of the Indian government.”
Despite being incarcerated in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail on drug charges, Bishnoi has been accused of orchestrating high-profile murders, including Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala in 2022 and Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi in 2023. He is also allegedly connected to firing incidents outside the residences of Canadian singers A P Dhillon and Gippy Garewal.
On Monday, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing their involvement in a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. This came soon after India announced the expulsion of six Canadian High Commission members in Delhi. Tensions between the two countries have escalated since last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada.
Sharjah: India lost to defending champions Australia by nine runs in their last group match to find themselves in a difficult position to qualify for the semifinals of the women’s T20 World Cup, here on Sunday.
Chasing 152 for a win, India ended at 142 for 9 with captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scoring with 54 not out off 47 balls. Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma chipped in with 29 and 20 respectively.
India ended their Group A campaign on four points after two wins and two losses.
Australia, who topped the group with all four wins, qualified for the semifinals while New Zealand (4 points) need a win against Pakistan on Monday to make it to the last-four stage.
Opting to bat, Australia were restricted to 151 for 8 with opener Grace Harris top-scoring with 40 off 41 balls. Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath and Ellyse Perry chipped in with 32 each.
For India, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma took two wickets apiece while Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil got one each.
Brief Scores:
Australia: 151 for 8 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 40; Renuka Singh 2/24, Deepti Sharma 2/28).
India: 142 for 9 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 54 not out; Annabel Sutherland 2/22, Sophie Molineux 2/32).
New Delhi: The apex child rights body has raised serious concerns about the state of functioning in madrassas and called for stopping state funding to them unless they comply with the Right to Education Act.
In its latest report titled ‘Guardians of Faith or Oppressors of Rights?’, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said religious institutions operating outside the purview of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 had a negative impact.
According to the report, the exemption of madrassas from the RTE Act has deprived children attending these institutions of quality education.
While Articles 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution protect the rights of minorities to preserve their culture and establish educational institutions, NCPCR asserts that these provisions have inadvertently led to discrimination against children in madrassas, who miss out on formal education mandated by the RTE Act.
The report pointed out that while the primary focus of madrassas is religious education, many do not provide the essential components of formal education such as adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and proper academic curricula.
This leaves students at a disadvantage compared to their peers in mainstream schools.
The report also noted instances where madrassa students have been denied basic entitlements such as textbooks, uniforms, and access to midday meal scheme.
The NCPCR said a large number of Muslim children out of school, with an estimated 1.2 crore Muslim children not receiving formal education, according to UDISE 2021-22 data.
The report also said there was a lack of accountability in many madrassas, where physical safety concerns, such as poor infrastructure and cases of child rights violations, have been reported.
NCPCR has recommended a series of measures, including stopping state funding to madrassas and madrassa boards unless they comply with the RTE Act.
Additionally, NCPCR has recommended removing non-Muslim children from madrassas, as their inclusion violates Article 28 of the Constitution, which prohibits the imposition of religious instruction without parental consent.
The commission’s report called for a balanced approach, where both religious and formal education can coexist but not within the same institution.
“Religious education cannot come at the expense of formal education,” the report asserted, emphasising that the state must prioritise the fundamental right of every child to free and compulsory education.