New Delhi: SpiceJet said its freighter aircraft, which was heading to Chongqing in China, returned to Kolkata on Tuesday as the pilots realised after take off that its weather radar was not working.

This is at least the eighth incident of technical malfunction happening on a SpiceJet aircraft in the last 18 days.

“On July 5, 2022, SpiceJet Boeing 737 freighter was scheduled to operate from Kolkata to Chongqing. After take-off, the weather radar was not showing the weather. The PIC (pilot-in-command) decided to return to Kolkata. The aircraft landed safely at Kolkata,” SpiceJet spokesperson told PTI on Wednesday.

On July 5 itself, the airline’s Delhi-Dubai flight was diverted to Karachi due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator and its Kandla-Mumbai flight did priority landing in Maharashtra’s capital city after cracks developed on its windshield mid-air.

On July 2, a SpiceJet flight heading to Jabalpur returned to Delhi after the crew members observed smoke in the cabin at around 5,000 feet altitude.

Fuselage door warnings lit up on two separate SpiceJet planes while taking off on June 24 and June 25, forcing them to abandon their journeys and return.

On June 19, an engine on the carrier’s Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 185 passengers caught fire soon after the take off from Patna airport and the plane made an emergency landing minutes later.

The engine malfunctioned because of a bird hit.

In another incident on June 19, a SpiceJet flight for Jabalpur had to return to Delhi due to cabin pressurisation issues.

The airline has been making losses for the last three years. The carrier incurred a net loss of Rs 316 crore, Rs 934 crore and Rs 998 crore in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday took to her official Twitter handle to take on the BJP, hours after an FIR was registered against her in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh against her remark on Goddess Kaali.

In the tweet, the MP from Krishnanagar called on the BJP to “Bring it on” and that as a Kali worshipper she was not afraid of anything. She also added that she was not afraid of the BJP goons, their police, and their trolls.

She also stated the “truth doesn’t need back up forces.” (sic)

“Bring it on BJP! Am a Kali worshipper. I am not afraid of anything. Not your ignoramuses. Not your goons. Not your police. And most certainly not your trolls. Truth doesn’t need back up forces.” (sic) She wrote in the tweet.

Earlier, an FIR was registered against her at the crime branch police station in Bhopal under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings).

The case was registered on the complaint of Ram Chandra (52), a tea-seller and resident of Jehangirabad.

Moitra’s statement terming Goddess Kaali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity hurt his religious feelings, the complaint said.

Moitra, MP from Krishnanagar, on Tuesday, kicked up controversy at a conclave by saying that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person had his or her unique way of offering prayers.

The TMC MP was asked for a response to outrage over a film poster that showed a woman dressed as Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding a pride flag.

New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday quit as Union Minister in PM Modi’s cabinet amidst the buzz that he may be a contender for the post of Vice President of India.

Naqvi’s Rajya Sabha term ends tomorrow and the BJP did not name him for another term during recent elections.

Earlier in the day, Naqvi also met PM Modi and BJP National President JP Nadda.

The ruling party has been discussing a representative of a minority community for the second-highest constitutional post, especially at a time the BJP is facing an unprecedented backlash over the Prophet Muhammad comments by suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma, a report published in NDTV added.

M Venkaiah Naidu’s term as Vice President ends on August 10. July 19 is the last date for nominations for Vice President. The elections will be held on August 6.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, former Union Minister Najma Heptulla and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh are also in the running, reports say.

NEW DELHI: A group of former judges and bureaucrats on Tuesday criticised the recent Supreme Court observations against suspended BJP member Nupur Sharma, alleging that the apex court surpassed the “Laxman rekha” and calling for “urgent rectification” steps.

“In the annals of judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are indelible scar on justice system of the largest democracy. Urgent rectification steps are called for as these have potentially serious consequences on democratic values and security of the country,” the statement signed by 15 former judges, 77 ex-all India services officers and 25 veterans said.

The signatories include former chief justice of the Bombay High Court Kshitij Vyas, former Gujarat High Court judge S M Soni, former Rajasthan High Court judges R S Rathore and Prashant Agarwal and former Delhi High Court judge S N Dhingra.

Former IAS officers R S Gopalan and S Krishna Kumar, ambassador (retired) Niranjan Desai, former DGPs S P Vaid and B L Vohra, Lt Gen V K Chaturvedi (retired) and Air Marshall (retired) S P Singh have also signed the statement which said the SC observations are not in sync with judicial ethos.

“By no stretch these observations, which are not part of the judicial order, can be sanctified on the plank of judicial propriety and fairness. Such outrageous transgressions are without parallel in the annals of Judiciary,” it said.

The Supreme Court had on July 1 come down heavily on Sharma for her controversial comments against Prophet Mohammad, saying her “loose tongue” has “set the entire country on fire” and that she is “single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country”.

Refusing to entertain her plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged in various states against her for the remark, the bench held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.

Criticising the observations, the statement said, “We, as concerned citizens, do believe that democracy of any country will remain intact till all the institutions perform their duties as per the constitution. Recent comments by the two judges of the Supreme Court have surpassed the Laxman Rekha and compelled us to issue an open statement.”

These “unfortunate and unprecedented” comments have sent shockwaves in the country and outside, it claimed.

Noting that Sharma sought access to justice system before the highest court, the statement said the court’s observations have no connect jurisprudentially with the issue raised in the petition and “transgressed in an unprecedented manner all canons of dispensation of justice”.

“She was defacto denied access to judiciary and in the process, there was an outrage on the preamble, spirit and essence of the Constitution of India,” it alleged.

In the observations, there is virtual exoneration of the “dastardliest beheading at Udaipur in broad daylight,” it claimed.

It further said, “Legal fraternity is bound to be surprised and shocked at the observation that an FIR should lead to arrest. The observations on other agencies in the country, without notice to them, are indeed worrisome and alarming.”

The signatories also defended Sharma’s plea for clubbing all FIRs against her citing previous orders of the apex court.

“One fails to understand, why Nupur’s case is treated at a different pedestal. Such an approach of the Supreme Court deserves no applause and impacts the very sanctity and honour of the highest court of land,” it said.

Sharma’s comments against the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries.

The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.

The apex court had also pulled up the Delhi Police which has registered an FIR against her.

The bench said, “What has happened in the investigation so far? What has Delhi Police done so far? Don’t make us open our mouth? They must have put a red carpet for you.”

HUBBALI: Sarala Vastu famed Chandrashekhar Guruji from Bagalkot was stabbed to death inside a  hotel near Unkal Lake in Hubballi on Tuesday afternoon. Unidentified miscreants stabbed him multiple times in the stomach and neck leaving him in a pool of blood.

Chandrashekar Guruji was a well-known person in Karnataka. He was seen on Kannada channels regularly in programmes related to Vastu. It is said that he was also involved in the real estate business in various parts of the state. 

On Tuesday afternoon, Chandrashekar was stabbed in the lobby of the hotel and the assailants came on the pretext to take blessings from him, said the eyewitness. People and hotel staff were shocked to see the incident and no one came to rescue the Guruji. Soon after the miscreants ran away from the spot, the Guruji was shifted to KIMS hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

According to the Vidyanagar police, Guruji was residing in the hotel for the last three days and he was supposed to check out on Wednesday. After coming from Mumbai he was staying in Hubballi from July 2.

After the incident, Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner Labhu Ram, DCPs and other top cops visited the hotel and sealed it down for investigation. The entire stabbing incident has been recorded on the CCTVs of the hotel. Soon after the Guruji came and sat on the sofa, the miscreants met him and began casual talks. Within no time both began to stab him to death.

Soon after the incident, two killers ran away from the hotel and escaped in cars. Based on the CCTV footage, the police launched an investigation, and teams have been formed to catch the accused. 

LUCKNOW: Haji Wasi, a prominent builder accused of funding the Kanpur violence that broke out on June 3 against the controversial statement of suspended BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma over Prophet Mohammad was arrested in state capital Lucknow on late Monday night, said Joint commissioner of Kanpur police, Anand Prakash Tiwari .

According to police official, Haji Wasi was the main financer of Zafar Hayat Hashmi, the alleged mastermind of the Kanpur violence. His son Rahman was arrested two days ago. Zafar Hayat Hashmi along with Mukhtar Baba, owner of famous Baba Biryani, is already in police custody. Haji Wasi’s name had cropped up after the interrogation of Zafar Hayat Hashmi.

As per the Kanpur Police official, Wasi was arrested near Amausi airport from where he was about to take a flight late on Monday night. Last week , the Kanpur police authorities had procured a non-bailable warrant against Wasi from the court. Wasi was named in three FIRs by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Kanpur violence.

As per the Kanpur police officials, after the violence, Wasi had fled to Delhi from where he came down to Lucknow with all the documents to escape to abroad ready. He was about to take a flight on Monday night.

Notably, huge violent protests had broken out after Friday Namaz against Nupur Sharma’s statement at Nai Sadak locality of Kanpur engulfing other Muslim dominated localities as well on June 3. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up to probe into the violence, had identified 40 persons accused of spreading hatred. Their posters were put up at the city crossings. Moreover, 55 persons were named and around 1000 unidentified trouble makers were booked by the Kanpur police. Of those booked for violence, around 60 have so far been arrested and sent to jail.

The Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) had also demolished one of his buildings in Swaroop Nagar and seized nine others.

Meanwhile, as per the Kanpur police, just ahead of June 3 violence in Kanpur, the trouble makers were connected through an active WhatsApp group which had numbers from Iran, Pakistan and Oman. The Cyber cell of UP police has been entrusted to track those numbers and collect details about them.

Amid a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Chennai, the city corporation has made it compulsory to wear masks in all public places from Tuesday.

It has also announced that Rs 500 will be collected as a fine from those who don’t abide by the rule.

The civic body has asked the owners of malls, theaters, shops, marketplaces, etc to make sure their employees and customers wear masks and take due precaution.

India on Tuesday reported 13,086 Covid cases in the past 24 hours against the previous day’s count of 16,135, according to Union Health Ministry. In the same period, 19 fatalities took the nationwide death toll to 5,25,242.

Meanwhile, the active caseload has also risen to 1,14,475, accounting for 0.26 per cent of total positive cases.

The recovery of 12,456 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,28,91,933. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.53 per cent.

NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of securing the future of his “friends” even in foreign countries but leaving the youth of the country unemployed.

He shared a video of young men who had taken the exam for recruitment as police personnel in the Central paramilitary forces walking on the streets in protest because they never got the results.

“The prime minister, who has secured the future of his ‘friends’ even in foreign countries, has left the youth of his own country to become unemployed. Why so much discrimination with these youth,” Gandhi asked in a tweet in Hindi.