Author: Priyanka Rathi

AAP named accused in Delhi liquor policy case, says report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has named the party as an accused in the Delhi liquor policy case, the Live Law reported.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the court during the hearing in AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the ED. The ASG said that the prosecution complaint will be filed today by the ED, in which the AAP has been named as an accused.

Presently, Kejriwal is out on interim bail till June 1 in view of Lok Sabha elections. He has to return to Tihar Jail on June 2.

On May 16, Raju had claimed that the probe agency has enough evidence to show that Kejriwal demanded ₹100 crore bribe which was used by AAP in the Goa assembly poll campaign.

“We have direct evidence that Kejriwal stayed in a seven-star hotel, whose bills were partly paid by an accused in the case,” Raju submitted, adding Kejriwal played a key role in the formulation of the now scrapped Delhi excise policy. He alleged that Kejriwal, as the national convenor of the AAP, was vicariously responsible for the alleged scam.

The Delhi chief minister was arrested on March 21 in the money laundering case related to alleged corruption in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which has now been scrapped.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ghatkopar hoarding collapse accused to appear before court; Kartik Aaryan’s relatives among dead

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Bhavesh Bhinde, an advertising firm’s director, whose company had put up the giant hoarding that collapsed in Mumbai killing 16 people, will be produced before the court on Friday, May 17. He was brought to the city early on Friday, a police official said.

Bhinde, director of M/s Ego Media Pvt. Ltd. was apprehended from Udaipur in Rajasthan on Thursday (May 16).

The 120 feet x 120 feet hoarding collapsed onto a nearby petrol pump in the Chhedanagar area in Ghatkopar during gusty winds and heavy unseasonal rains, killing 16 people and injuring 75 others. Media reports said Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan lost his relatives in the incident.

Two bodies that were recovered on May 15 were later identified as Air Traffic Control (ATC) general manager Manoj Chansoria and his wife Anita. The actor attended their funeral at Sahar crematorium.

After the tragedy, a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the IPC was registered at the Pant Nagar Police Station against Bhinde, all directors of the advertising agency Ego Media, its officials and employees, officials had said earlier.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Indian masala lobby says all companies have been hurt due to MDH and Everest

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Indian companies exporting spices are facing heat amid the ongoing scrutiny over quality issues with MDH and Everest.

The dispute has caused a 5% decline in spice exports, according to the Federation of Indian Spice Stakeholders (FISS).

FISS Chairman Ashwin Nayak told CNBC Awaaz that India exports spices worth $4 billion annually. To ensure the spices remain safe, they are treated with ethylene oxide (ETO).

“Indian spices are safe and reliable. There is no negative effect on health from adding ETO to spices. ETO is not a pesticide, and the amount added varies by country. The Indian Spices Board should take steps to avoid any problems with exports. Indian spices are exported to 170 countries,” Nayak said.

On May 16, Nepal banned two Indian spice brands, Everest and MDH.
Nepal’s action follows similar measures taken by the governments of Singapore, Hong Kong, and New Zealand.

MDH has been under scrutiny in the US for alleged contamination in some products.

Since 2021, the brand has seen an average of 14.5% of its shipments rejected due to bacterial contamination, according to a Reuters report.

Previously, MDH products were rejected in the US due to the presence of salmonella, a bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices.

Zion Market Research estimates India’s domestic market was worth $10.44 billion in 2022, and the Spices Board reported that India exported products worth $4 billion during 2022–23.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Swati Maliwal assault case: AAP MP records statement before magistrate, Delhi Police could not enter Bibhav’s residence

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal on Friday, May 17, recorded her statement before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court about the alleged assault on her by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar.

According to the contents of the statement given by Maliwal to police, she was sitting in the drawing room when Kumar came and allegedly slapped her multiple times. She ran out of the CM’s residence and called police, the MP stated in her complaint. She also claimed that Kejriwal was present at his residence when the incident took place.

A team of Delhi Police was not allowed to enter the premises of Kumar’s residence today.

BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held Kejriwal responsible for the incident. “The women in Delhi are asking – can this CM (Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) even provide security to the women in the city? Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for this incident…” she told reporters.

Sitharaman said there was pressure not to register a complaint against Kumar. “The fact that Swati Maliwal did not register a complaint in the police for 3-4 days (after the incident) means that there was pressure on her from high-level. There is reason to believe that there was enough pressure on her and probably continues on her.”

On May 16, the Delhi Police registered an FIR in the matter and named Kumar as an accused in the case, officials said. The FIR was registered against Kumar under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 509 (word gesture or act of intent to insult) and 323 (assault).

On May 13 morning, Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of Kejriwal’s personal staff “assaulted” her at the chief minister’s official residence.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Serum Institute wants to advance needle-free injection tech so picked 20% in IntegriMedical

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Serum Institute of India (SII) has picked a 20% stake in IntegriMedical as the company envisions a needle-free solution to deliver vaccines. Financial details were not disclosed.

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said, “At SII, we are constantly seeking opportunities to invest in technologies that align with our mission to make healthcare accessible and affordable for people worldwide.”

Speaking about IntegriMedical’s US-patented Needle-Free Injection System (N-FIS), Poonawalla said it represents a significant advancement in drug delivery and could revolutionise the way vaccines are administered, making the process more comfortable for patients and healthcare professionals.

What is known about IntegriMedical

IntegriMedical is a privately owned medical technology company focused on providing innovative drug delivery solutions for patients suffering from needle phobia.

The company says it has research centers and manufacturing facilities in the US, India, and Hong Kong. The office in India is located in Pune.

What is known about the needle-free technology

IntegriMedical has developed a US-patented needle-free injection system (N-FIS) that utilises a high-velocity jet stream using mechanical power to administer biologics and drugs. It does in-house research and operations.

According to the company, N-FIS has received regulatory approvals from CDSCO, CE, and MDSAP and is ISO 13485 certified.

The investment by Serum is expected to accelerate the development and commercialisation of the N-FIS technology, making it more widely accessible to patients in India and worldwide, the companies said in a release.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Patna school set on fire by angry crowd after student found dead

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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An angry crowd sets a school on fire in Patna. The incident took place after the body of a student was allegedly found on school premises, news agency ANI reported.

On May 16, the boy did not return home from school. When the family approached the school to know if he was there, the authorities denied it, they said.

In the night, the child’s body was found on the school campus as his family frantically searched for him everywhere.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: An angry crowd sets a school on fire after the body of a student was allegedly found on school premises. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/6OwmDe8mjY

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2024

“Angry family members and locals gathered outside the school on Friday morning and set the building on fire. They also tried to block traffic by burning tyres on the road,” said a police officer.

“The fire was immediately brought under control,” he said.

Three people were detained in connection with the death of the child, police said, adding that the CCTV footage of the school was being analysed.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra told PTI that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway. All evidence collected from the spot is being forensically examined, he said.

District Magistrate Shirsat Kapil Ashok said, “The district education officer has sought a detailed report about the incident from the officials concerned in the area.”

Patna SP Chandra Prakash told ANI that a detailed investigation will be done in the incident, “In the CCTV we saw that the child was entering the school but at no point, he can be seen leaving the school premises. We will investigate it as a murder case as they were hiding the body and it shows criminal intent. We have detained three persons, inquiry is on.”

With inputs from PTI

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Ban on VIP darshan for Char Dham Yatra extended to May 31; no social media content creation on temple premises

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Given the surge in pilgrims visiting holy shrines under the 2024 Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has extended its ban on VIP darshan until May 31. The move will ensure all devotees have equal access to the four dhams, ANI reported. Subsequently, an order has been issued prohibiting videography and creation of social media content within a 50-meter radius of temple complexes across all the four shrines in Uttarakhand.

In conversation with ANI, Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Radha Raturi highlighted the importance of preserving the sanctity of the temple premises and respecting devotees’ religious sentiments.

In view of the huge crowd of pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has extended the ban on VIP darshan till May 31, so that all the devotees can easily visit the four Dhams. pic.twitter.com/u2GX19Ap8n

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2024

In a letter, Raturi said, “I would like to inform [everyone] that this year, there is a continuous surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the Holy Char Dham in Uttarakhand. For better management, we have decided not to have any “VIP Darshan” till May 31, 2024.

Dhami also held a meeting with senior officials of the state. He said, “The number of devotees on Char Dham Yatra has doubled in comparison to previous years. We are trying to make all arrangements so that devotees don’t face any difficulties during the Yatra. I want to appeal to everyone to come here only after getting their registrations done. In the future, a master plan will be made for Gangotri and Yamunotri to make the journey of devotees smooth.”

Also read: Thousands of devotees walk treacherous route to reach Yamunotri — watch video

The Chief Secretary elaborated that the sacredness of the temples and devotees’ reverence we are permitting mobile phones, but their use for video recording or creating reels within temple premises is strictly prohibited.

Commissioner of Garhwal Division, Vinay Shankar Pandey, told ANI that this year’s Char Dham Yatra has witnessed a significant increase in pilgrim numbers compared to the previous year. With over 26.73 lakh devotees registered for the pilgrimage, including 1.42 lakh offline registrations in Haridwar and Rishikesh, authorities are focused on ensuring a smooth and respectful pilgrimage experience for all visitors.

In pics: Thousands visit Kedarnath as Char Dham Yatra begins

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

These areas in Chennai will face power cut till 12 noon today

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Several areas of Chennai will reportedly face power cuts on Friday, May 17. The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO) has announced a power cut in from 9 am to 12 noon, a media report said.

The power cut is due to maintenance work by Tengedco — to erect a new power transformer and replace the AB switch at Pattabiram substation.

Recently, two power transformers caught fire leading to power cuts in the neighborhood and one of the power transformers was replaced, the report said.

The power outage will take place in Pattabiram, Thandurai, Iyyappan Nagar, Sekkadu, Gopalapuram East and West, Thendral Nagar, Mullai Nagar, South Bazar, Vallalar Nagar, Venkatapuram, Anna Nagar, C.T.H. Road, Charles Nagar, Drivers Colony, Modern City, Kamarajapuram, Sasthri Nagar, I.A.F. Road, and all other surrounding areas on Friday till 12 noon.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India may have only one food regulator for certification

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Amidst concerns regarding contamination in Indian spices, the government is considering consolidating food certification under one regulator.

Earlier this year, discussions were held on the proposal, aiming for ‘One Nation, One Commodity, One Regulator’ under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), potentially eliminating the need for the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or AGMARK certification.

A final decision awaits the formation of the new government post-June 4, following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha Election on June 1.

Recently, spice brands MDH and Everest have come under radar due to quality concerns. Last month, Singapore and Hong Kong recalled MDH and Everest spices from the market due to the presence of ethylene oxide.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, ethylene oxide poses serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer.

The Food Authority may also set standards for ‘Haleem’ as part of standards for meat products. Haleem is a dish made of meat, pulses, grains and other ingredients, which currently do not have any set standards.

Additionally, in February, the Food Authority approved a comprehensive manual of analysis methods to ensure regulatory compliance in food products, signalling a proactive approach towards enhancing food safety standards.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

We have not made any exception for anybody, Supreme Court on Kejriwal’s interim bail

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Supreme Court on Thursday, May 16, said the court did not not make any exception in granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Aam Aadmi Party chief was arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged excise policy scam.

“We have not made any exception for anybody, we said in our order what we felt was justified,” a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said.

Kejriwal’s counsel referred to the statement of a Union Minister, who was not named during the proceedings, on interim bail to the chief minister to which the court said: “critical analysis of verdict was welcome”.

Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to Kejriwal’s speeches in poll rallies that if people voted for AAP, he would not have to go back to prison on June 2.

“It is his assumption, we cannot say anything,” the bench told Mehta.

On May 10, the court granted interim bail to Kejriwal till June 1 given the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He has to return to jail on June 2.

The top court was hearing Kejriwal’s main plea against his arrest. The Delhi chief minister was arrested on March 21 and lodged in Tihar Jail.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow