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I am followed wherever I go, Sanjay Raut has threatened me and abused me: Patra Chawl case witness Swapna Patkar levels serious allegations

OpIndia Staff
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I am followed wherever I go, Sanjay Raut has threatened me and abused me: Patra Chawl case witness Swapna Patkar levels serious allegations

On 4th May, film producer Swapna Patkar, a witness in the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering investigation into the Patra Chawl redevelopment case involving Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut, wrote to Neelam Gore, the deputy chairman of the legislative council, accusing the Rajya Sabah MP of harassing her and her family. She stated that she stays with her mother in Mumbai’s Santacruz.

She charged, “Sanjay Raut is harassing me and my family. Even though I have written thousands of letters so far, I am suffering. I am followed wherever I go. I was chased at BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) on May 3 as well. I was attacked before and a police case was registered but no action has been taken so far.” She asserted that spies had been sent by the parliamentarian to keep an eye on her. She further stated, “One (spy) was also arrested but no action was taken against Raut. He threatened me and abused me, but no action was taken. He is not called to the police station. Threatening calls came from Dubai and Pakistan. My vehicle was attacked and threatened. Bottles of liquor were thrown at my house.”

Patra Chawl scam pertains to the Goregaon area of Mumbai and is of approximately Rs 1034 crore. This land parcel is owned by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, also referred to as MHADA. Properties valued at Rs 2 crore belonging to Varsha Raut, Sanjay Raut’s wife, and Rs 9 crore of his own have been seized.

Pravin Raut, a real estate tycoon who is also a co-accused in the case, has been charged with defrauding Patra Chawl residents. This site was to be developed into 3000 apartments by a construction company. 672 apartments were to be provided to the residents of this area. Parts of this large plot were sold to other builders in 2011, while the remainder was supposed to be donated to MHADA. The original chawl inhabitants have not yet received their flats.

The PMC (Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative) Bank scam, which surfaced in Maharashtra in 2020, was being investigated at the time when Pravin Raut and his company, Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited, surfaced as significant players in the case. It was subsequently discovered that Varsha Raut obtained a sum of Rs 55 lakh from the builder’s wife’s bank account. Sanjay Raut is accused of using the same funds to buy a Dadar apartment. That flat is presently sealed by ED.

Sanjay Raut had previously claimed that a fabricated case had been made against him as a political retaliation. The ED, however, refuted the allegation of political vengeance and maintained that the leader was completely complicit in the money laundering case. The agency highlighted, “The role of Sanjay Raut’s proxy and confidant Pravin Raut has been comprehensively brought out in the supplementary charge sheet filed on September 15, 2022. In order to avoid trial Sanjay Raut has been operating behind the curtains and Pravin Raut being his front man.”

Daughter of Mani Shankar Aiyar peddles anti-India propaganda of George Soros-funded V-Dem, whines that her think tank cannot accept foreign funds

OpIndia Staff
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Daughter of Mani Shankar Aiyar peddles anti-India propaganda of George Soros-funded V-Dem, whines that her think tank cannot accept foreign funds

Amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Yamini Aiyar wrote a propaganda piece in the journal ‘Nature’ decrying the scientific temperament and academic freedom in India. Yamini is the daughter of controversial Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

The vicious piece was published on Tuesday (30th April) and was titled ‘Why doing science is difficult in India today.’

The article relied on rankings published by the Sweden-based institute, Varieties of Democracy (V- Dem), which put India in the bottom 20% of the list in academic freedom among 179 countries.

Screengrab of the article by Yamini Aiyar in the ‘Nature’ journal

For those unaware of V-Dem, it is funded by the likes of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) and has been involved in anti-India propaganda for several years. OpIndia has previously reported that Soros has been eyeing a colour revolution in India.

“India’s academic freedom has been in steady decline for a decade. This is well documented…Historically, academic freedoms were certainly not perfect in India. Yet even a cursory glance at the evidence reveals that the scale of restrictions and the misuse of laws to curb academic freedom has increased,” Yamini Aiyar claimed in her article.

She was shrewd enough to mention ‘decade’ (2014-2024) in her propaganda piece to suggest that the Modi government has been the reason for supposedly curbing academic freedom in India and that the country was the land of scientific temperament before 2014.

Yamini Aiyar whines about FCRA licence suspension

It must be mentioned that Yamini Aiyar was the former President of a New Delhi-based ‘think tank’ named Centre for Policy Research (CPR). In March this year, the Indian government suspended the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of CPR for violating foreign funding norms.

The Centre for Policy Research has been the subject of income tax raids in September 2022. The tax exemption status of Aiyar’s think tank was also revoked in July last year. The daughter of Mani Shankar Aiyar thus made it a point to whine inconsolably about the government’s crackdown on CPR.

“Given that public funds have many competing priorities, much of our research relies on international philanthropic funding. That is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, owing to a tightening of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which controls licences to access foreign funding,” she claimed in her article in Nature journal.

Yamini Aiyar then lamented about the strengthening of the FCRA Act in 2020, which was also upheld by India’s apex court, and the suspension of licences of ‘civil society organisations’ required for obtaining foreign funds.

“For instance, after amendments to this law in 2020, recipients of foreign funding cannot give subgrants to other organizations, making collaborative research impossible. And since 2014, nearly 17,000 civil-society organizations have lost their FCRA licences altogether. For those that still have a licence, the renewal process is onerous. Many organizations receive temporary extensions of three to six months, rather than the full period of five years allowed under law,” she wrote.

Daughter of Mani Shankar Aiyar floats conspiracy theory

Aiyar insinuated that the lack of updated data on the decennial census, household expenditure survey, poverty reduction etc are somehow part of the Modi government’s strategy to prevent objective analysis of its economic policies.

She also suggested that the Indian government somehow had an invisible hand in the recall of a critical paper on ‘declining toilet usage in rural India’ albeit without evidence.

“In my view, it has now become increasingly common for technocrats in government to seek to discredit researchers and suppress research. In late 2023, for instance, the World Bank removed from its website an important study that highlighted reversals of progress recorded under a flagship sanitation programme. The bank cited procedural issues, but was presumably under government pressure,” Yamini Aiyar brazened out without furnishing any proof.

Towards the end of her propaganda piece, the daughter of Mani Shankar Aiyar attempted to portray a doomsday image of procedural regulations in India and pleaded for an alliance of sorts to uphold ‘scientific freedom’

“To reverse these trends, researchers must make their voices heard and be willing to defend the principle and value of academic freedom in the public domain. Research bodies should engage more effectively with philanthropists in India and find ways to preserve the space for civil discourse. An alliance with broader civil society is also required to push back against draconian regulations that undermine scientific freedoms,” Yamini Aiyar concluded her rant.

Recently, the controversial United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also raked up the case of CPR in its 2024 annual report to cast aspersions on India’s democracy.

Delhi Excise Policy Scam: Court sends Vinod Chauhan, accused of sending 25 Crore to AAP Goa via hawala, to ED custody

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Excise Policy Scam: Court sends Vinod Chauhan, accused of sending 25 Crore to AAP Goa via hawala, to ED custody

On 4th April, a Delhi Court sent Vinod Chauhan to the Enforcement Directorate custody in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam case till 7th May. Chauhan is the 18th person arrested in the matter. He is accused of transferring money via the hawala route for the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Goa elections funds. Chauhan was arrested by the investigating agency on 3rd May for his alleged involvement in the case. 

Special counsel Zoheb Hossain appearing for ED sought four days of custody from the court. He informed the court that, “Chauhan had transferred money through the hawala route for AAP’s Goa elections. He was in regular touch with members of the ‘South Group’… was part of a deep nexus with major conspirators such as K Kavitha and certain AAP leaders.”

Hossain further added that during searches at Chauhan’s office, ED recovered Rs 1,06,00,000. Hossain said, “He could not explain its source. He was holding the cash given by the members of the ‘South Group’ for the AAP.”

ED informed the court that Chauhan allegedly transferred proceeds of crime worth Rs 25.5 crore in the matter. The custody was sought to unearth further material in the case.

On the other hand, Chauhan’s counsel said in the court there was no need to send him to custody. He said, “I have always joined the investigation. Why have I been arrested?”, adding that audited statements regarding the cash recovery had already been provided to the agency.

Countering him, Hossain said, “The Rs 1 crore seized was what was left. The rest of the proceeds of crime were already transferred, consumed, and used up.” He added that the responses provided by Chauhan were “vague and unsatisfactory”.

Vinod Chauhan linked to ‘South Group’

Reportedly, Chauhan recieved money to send to AAP from the ‘South Group’. It is a group of individuals from South India. As per ED, it has secured uninhibited access, undue favours, attained stakes in established wholesale businesses, multiple retail zones and paid Rs 100 crores to AAP leaders for the same. BRS leader K Kavitha is part of the South Group. She is currently in judicial custody in Delhi Excise Policy Scam.

Delhi Excise Policy Scam

In November 2021, the AAP-led Delhi Government introduced the Delhi Excise Policy replacing the old excise policy claiming it would benefit Delhi. However, in July 2022, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar submitted a report to LG VK Saxena pointing out that there were alleged procedural lapses in the formulation of the Delhi excise policy 2021-22. In the same month, the policy was scrapped.

In his report, Kumar pointed out that Sisodia’s decisions taken in regards to the policy were arbitrary and unilateral leading to financial losses to the exchequer estimated at over Rs 580 crore.

Central Bureau of Investigation initiated a probe into the matter. Later, ED also initiated a separate case. Manish Sisodia and others were arrested in the matter. In March 2024, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by ED after he failed to appear in eight consecutive summons by the investigating agencies.

Kejriwal tried escaping the ED summons via court but the court rejected his plea and said he had to appear before the ED. Since then, his custody has been extended multiple times. Currently, AAP is using Kejriwal’s stint in Tihar as a political campaign hoping they would get some votes because a “sitting chief minister” has been jailed.

Madhya Pradesh: Shahnawaz brutally kills his sister-in-law and two toddler nieces over a minor argument; puts the girls’ bodies in sacks and throws them in a pond

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Shahnawaz brutally kills his sister-in-law and two toddler nieces over a minor argument; puts the girls’ bodies in sacks and throws them in a pond

On 4th May (Saturday) a shocking case of a sensational triple murder came to light in the Govindgarh police station area of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh. Shahnawaz Khan killed his 25-year-old sister-in-law Hasina Khan, and two nieces 2-year-old Alia and 3-year-old Anabiya. Shahnawaz then put the bodies of the children in a sack and discarded them in a pond. A police team including the Superintendent of Police reached the spot after receiving information about the crime and started searching for the corpses with the help of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local divers. The police have arrested the accused and he is under interrogation.

The triple murder that transpired in ward number three, close to Idgah, caused widespread concern. The husband of the deceased woman resides and works in Visakhapatnam as a worker, and she stayed with her in-laws. The accused reportedly got into a minor argument with his sister-in-law and he killed her by striking her with a steel rod and then stabbed her with a knife. Her daughters witnessed the murder, so he then attacked them and ended their lives to hide his crime.

Shahnawaz left Hasina’s body, which was soaked in blood, in the house while the bodies of his nieces were stuffed in a sack and dumped into a pond. The rest of the family members were not at house during the murders. They had gone to Jabalpur (Gurh per some reports) to attend a wedding ceremony. Shahnawaz exploited the opportunity and killed the three victims in their absence. The police squad arrived at the location accompanied by Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Singh and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anil Sonkar and recovered the body. They gathered the evidence and began their investigation as the authorities continued to search the pond for the remains of the two girls.

According to Anil Sonkar, Shahnawaz and his sister-in-law Hasina got into a fight late last night. He killed the woman by strangulation after hitting her head with a steel rod out of fury. Sonkar stated, “Hasina Khan lived with her children, mother-in-law and two brother-in-laws in ward number 3 of Govindgarh town, while her husband is employed outside. Hasina’s elder brother-in-law had gone to Jabalpur for a wedding with her mother and the younger brother-in-law Shahnawaz Khan was at home. There was a dispute between the brother-in-law and the sister-in-law on Saturday evening. The brother-in-law used a steel rod to hit Hasina in the head during this altercation. He then used a knife to cut her throat.”

Police added, “Hasina’s two daughters, who were present, started crying when they saw what had happened. Subsequently, the perpetrator also murdered them and disposed of their corpses in the pond. He is being questioned by police after being brought into custody. Divers are assisting the police team in their hunt for the girls’ bodies. The conflict between the brother-in-law and the sister-in-law is being ascertained.”

Australia: Queensland MP Brittany Lauga allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted during night out, says many other women might also have been similarly attacked

OpIndia Staff
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Australia: Queensland MP Brittany Lauga allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted during night out, says many other women might also have been similarly attacked

An Australian Member of Parliament was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted in the country’s central Queensland town of Yeppoon last weekend. Notably, Queensland Labour MP Brittany Lauga shared her ordeal in a post on her social media platforms. She stated that the tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs that she didn’t take. She added that several other women might also have been drugged and attacked on the same night. 

Additionally, the Guardian reported that a purported video of the alleged assault of Lauga seemingly filmed from across the street, was also making rounds on social media. The Labour MP was alerted about the same after she reported the assault to the Police.

In a statement posted on social media, Lauga said she had contacted police in the early hours of Sunday morning (28th April).

The post read, “In the early hours of Sunday morning, I went to the Yeppoon police station and Yeppoon hospital, after being drugged and sexually assaulted. Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly. A police investigation is underway.”

She stressed that after she shared her ordeal, several other women also contacted her, who might have also been drugged in the coastal town of Yeppoon, on the same night.

“I have had multiple women contact me who have experienced the same thing in our town,” it added.  

She further stated, “This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us. It’s not ok. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted.” 

The Queensland Police Service has confirmed that it is investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident in Yeppoon last Sunday. 

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said that the provincial government is supporting Lauga in any way they can. He said, “No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through. My sole focus is on Brittany and her well-being. I’ve told Brittany that we’re here to support her, whatever she needs.”

Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said that the statement made for “difficult reading”. She said, “Those are shocking allegations … I understand that Brittany is going to take a short time to look after herself and we absolutely support her to do that.” 

In her post, Lauga requested people to respect her privacy adding that she would take “time to physically and emotionally heal” after the incident. 

She also urged people to come forward if they have any information that could help the Police. 

The post further stated, “Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in support. I truly value your thoughtful messages, gestures, and kindness. If you have any information that may assist the investigation, please tell the police.” 

A professional town planner, Lauga (37) has served in parliament for almost a decade. She was initially elected to represent the Keppel constituency in 2015. She currently serves as the assistant minister for health and regional health infrastructure.

False and malicious: FSSAI refutes reports of allowing 10 times more pesticide residue in spices, says India’s standards strictest in the world

OpIndia Staff
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False and malicious: FSSAI refutes reports of allowing 10 times more pesticide residue in spices, says India’s standards strictest in the world

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has refuted media reports claiming that it allowed 10 times more pesticide residues in herbs and spices.

The food safety regulator issued a press note Terming the reports “false and malicious”, and asserted that India has one of the most stringent standards of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in the world and MRLs of pesticides are fixed differently for different food commodities based on their risk assessments.

“Some media reports are claiming that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows ten times more pesticide residue in herbs and spices. Such reports are false and malicious,” FSSAI said in the press release.

Notably, on 4 April, The Economic Times published a report claiming that FSSAI has allowed 10 times more pesticide residue in herbs and spices. Citing an order issued by regular on 8 April, the report said that FSSAI has raised the maximum residue limit (MRL) for a pesticide in herbs and spices to 0.1mg/kg from the earlier 0.01mg/kg.

The report further claimed that the regulator cited “various representations” for this upward revision in MRL. The Economic Times report by Shambhavi Anand was then reproduced by almost every other media house yesterday, triggering outrage against FSSAI and the govt in social media amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

But now, FSSAI has clarified that it has issued no such order to increase pesticide residue in herbs and spices. Responding to the claim of increasing the limit from 0.1mg/kg from the earlier 0.01mg/kg, FSSAI said that maximum allowed residue limits are different for different food commodities, it is not uniform across all products, as the report suggested.

For instance, the use of Monocrotophos is allowed on many crops with different MRLs such as Rice at 0.03 mg/kg, Citrus fruits at 0.2 mg/kg, Coffee beans at 0.1 mg/kg and Cardamom 0.5 mg/kg, Chilli at 0.2 mg/kg.

FSSAI added that the MRL of 0.01 mg/kg was applicable in case of pesticides for which MRLs have not been fixed. This limit was increased to 0.1 mg/kg only in cases of spices and is applicable only for those pesticides which are not registered in India by CIB and RC, it said.

One pesticide/insecticide is used in more than 10 crops with different MRLs. For example, Flubendiamide is used in Brinjal with an MRL of 0.1 whereas for Bengal Gram the MRL is 1.0 mg/kg, for Cabbage 4 mg/kg, for Tomato 2 mg/kg and for Tea it is 50 mg/kg. Similarly, Monocrotophos used for food grains with MRLs at 0.03 mg/kg, for citrus fruits 0.2 mg/kg, for dried chilli it is 2 mg/kg and for Cardamom 0.5 mg/kg.

“The MRLs are dynamic in nature and regularly revised based on the scientific data. This practice is aligned with global standards and ensures that MRL revisions are made on a scientifically valid basis, reflecting the latest findings and international norms,” FSSAI said.

The press released said that in India, pesticides are regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA and FW) through Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB and RC) constituted under Insecticide Act,1968. The CIB and RC regulate the manufacturing, import, transport, storage of pesticides and accordingly the Pesticides are registered/banned/restricted.

The Scientific Panel on Pesticides Residues of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) examines the data received through CIB and RC and recommends the MRLs after performing risk assessment considering the dietary consumption of Indian population and health concerns in respect of all age groups, FSSAI said.

Total pesticides registered by CIB and RC in India are more than 295 out of which 139 pesticides are registered for use in spices. Codex has adopted total 243 pesticides out of which 75 pesticides are applicable for spices, FSSAI said.

Hamas supporter, Owaisi fan, in touch with radicals from Indonesia to Kazakhstan: Exclusive details on Maulvi Abu Bakar arrested for conspiring to kill Nupur Sharma

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Hamas supporter, Owaisi fan, in touch with radicals from Indonesia to Kazakhstan: Exclusive details on Maulvi Abu Bakar arrested for conspiring to kill Nupur Sharma

Gujarat Police has arrested a 27-year-old Maulvi (cleric) named Sohail Abu Bakar Timol from Surat on Saturday, 4th May 2024. He is accused of conspiring to kill suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma, party MLA from Hyderabad’s Goshamahal T Raja Singh, Sudarshan News editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke, and Sanatan Sangh national chairman as well as social media activist Updesh Rana. The Maulvi considered them ‘gustakh’ (blasphemers). Sohail maintained contact with supervisors living in Pakistan and Nepal to execute his nefarious plans. He was also using a foreign SIM card to evade security agencies. Now, further revelations are expected during his interrogation.

According to the Gujarat Police, the police teams were on high alert for the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. Meanwhile, Surat’s crime branch observed the suspicious activities of a cleric by the name of Mohammad Sohail who is also known as Sohail Abu Bakar Timol. He is originally from Nandurbar, Maharashtra. He served as a Hafiz (a Muslim who knows the Quran by heart) in a madrasa in Surat and imparted religious education through tuition to Muslim students in Karjan-Amboli village. Sohail also worked as a manager in a thread factory in Diamond Nagar, Surat.

The cleric had been in touch with handlers in Pakistan and Nepal over the previous year and a half, the police uncovered during their inquiry. The handler in Nepal has been identified as Shahzad. The cleric talked with each of them via a SIM Card issued from Laos. He used WhatsApp and other social media platforms to communicate. Sohail was ordered by his superiors to ‘straighten out’ those who were defaming the honour of the Islamic Prophet.

WhatsApp group had members from Indonesia to Kazakhstan

The foreign handlers named Suresh Chavhanke, Nupur Sharma, T Raja Singh, and Updesh Rana as the cleric’s targets and urged Sohail to murder them by slitting their throats similar to Kamlesh Tiwari. The maulvi was promised Rs 1 crore in lieu of these killings. He also started his own WhatsApp group and added people who shared his radical ideology at the behest of the handlers. The cleric posted offensive remarks about Hinduism in this group, along with a picture of Upadesh Rana and an appeal to kill him. He is also charged with altering pictures of India’s flag. Sohail also referred to the 6th December (Babri demolition) as “Black Day.” He uploaded maliciously doctored images of Hindu gods and goddesses in his group. It’s also believed that he has contacts in Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and other countries in addition to Pakistan and Nepal.

He was also in the process of ordering arms through foreign handlers. However, he was nabbed by the Surat Crime Branch before he could carry out his deadly plot. He has been booked under sections 153(A), 467, 468, 471, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 66(D), 67, 67(A) of the Information Technology (IT) Act at the D.C.B. police station of Surat. Surat Crime Branch is probing the case. It is suspected that he might disclose more information after further interrogation.

Follower of Owaisi, lover of Hamas and fan of Salman Khan

OpIndia looked into the activities of Maulvi Sohail Abu Bakar Timol and his handlers. He used the picture of Hamas terrorists as his WhatsApp profile picture in which many masked terrorists could be seen prostrating in front of lethal weapons. He had written “Owaisi’s follower” in broken English as an introduction to his True Caller.

Source: OpIndia Hindi

His handler in Nepal, Shahzad was discovered to have a liking for Bollywood actor Salman Khan and had utilised a still from the movie “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as his WhatsApp display picture. 

Source: OpIndia Hindi

WhatsApp’s use in the conspiracy

The police are also investigating the WhatsApp group operated by the cleric. Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot stated that the 27-year-old cleric had been caught in the Chowk Bazar area of Surat. He added that after looking through the cleric’s phone, it was immediately apparent that he was inspired by extremist ideology. It is suspected that he was involved in the death threat issued to Surat Resident Updesh Rana last month. The accused were using some apps which were not easily traceable. All of them used to post pictures and videos of their target in their group and collectively plotted to commit the heinous crime.


National Anti-Doping Agency suspends wrestler Bajrang Punia after he refused to give sample for dope test, could be barred from Olympic selection trials

OpIndia Staff
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National Anti-Doping Agency suspends wrestler Bajrang Punia after he refused to give sample for dope test, could be barred from Olympic selection trials

Wrestler Bajrang Punia has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after he refused to give a dope sample during the trials held at Sonipat in March. Notably, on 10th March 2024, Punia suffered a crushing 1-9 defeat against Rohit Kumar in the men’s freestyle 65kg semifinal. After losing the bout, Punia refused to give his urine sample for a dope test and stormed out of the premises of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The NADA officials tried to take a sample from Bajrang Punia for a dope test, but he left even without competing for the third-fourth place bout.

The provisional suspension is related to Bajrang Punia’s refusal to provide dope samples during the selection trials held on 10th March. According to the procedure, NADA had to provide an explanation to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding why one athlete did not provide his sample. During this process, WADA and NADA had an extensive discussion, after which WADA directed NADA to issue a notice to Punia explaining why he refused the test.

On 23rd April, NADA issued a notice to Bajrang Punia asking him to reply by 7th May. As per reports, so far Bajrang Punia has not replied to the notice and hence has been provisionally suspended. 

In its communication dated 23rd April, NADA said, “With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, you are immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter.”  

As per reports, the suspension letter was addressed to the now-defunct ad hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), rather than the federation recognised by the United World Wrestling (UWW). 

Punia, who had previously shared a video alleging expired dope collection kits a couple of months ago, refused to comply with the dope control officer’s (DCO) order on the pretext that NADA officials were yet to respond to his concerns. The DCO’s report noted that he left despite being informed that refusal to provide a dope test would result in a notice for violating anti-doping rules.

The DCO’s report said, “Punia, surrounded by his supporters, continuously repeated his statement and immediately left the venue refusing to give dope sample.” 

Bajrang Punia has been asked to send a written explanation by 7th May for refusing to provide his urine sample along with supporting documents. 

The letter said, “If you do accept the consequences, the case will be resolved without further disciplinary proceedings, subject to the right of appeal. If you disagree, the matter will be referred for adjudication to the anti-doping disciplinary panel.” 

Earlier, Punia had undergone training in Russia to prepare for the trials which are being organised by the IOA ad-hoc panel. Pertinent to note that if the charges stay, that is, the provisional suspension is not lifted, Punia will be barred from selection trials scheduled to be held sometime next month. 

So far, no Indian wrestler has won a quota in the 65kg category. Sujeet Kalkal will represent India at the World Qualifiers scheduled to begin in Istanbul on 9th May.

Meanwhile, as per the India Today report, despite losing the qualification match in India, Bajrang might be invited to the 31st May trials at the World Qualifiers to challenge the winner of the 65kg category as he was a medallist in the Tokyo Olympics. 

Congress fully on path to become Muslim League 2.0? Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar furthers ’26/11 done by Hindus’ conspiracy theory by Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Congress fully on path to become Muslim League 2.0? Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar furthers ’26/11 done by Hindus’ conspiracy theory by Pakistan

On 4th May, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, claimed that the bullet that killed IPS officer Hemant Karkare was not fired by Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab but from the weapon of an ‘RSS-linked’ police officer. Karkare was one of the police officials who lost their lives during the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.

Attacking Ujjwal Nikam, the former senior public prosecutor who fought the case against Kasab, Wadettiwar said he was a “traitor who suppressed the fact”. In his statement, Wadettiwar claimed that key information was out but “it was suppressed by Ujjwal Nikam, who is a traitor. My question is, why is BJP protecting a traitor and nominating such a person for Lok Sabha polls? By doing this, BJP is protecting tractors.”

Reacting to his statement, Nikam said, “What a reckless statement is being made. I am pained by such baseless allegations, raising doubts over my integrity. It reflects the level of electoral politics. I never thought politicians would stoop to such low levels. For political gain? He (Vijay Wadettiwar) is insulting not me, but the 166 departed souls and all persons injured in the 26/11 attacks.”

“They (Congress) hold Kasab as innocent. Even Pakistan had accepted that Kasab was involved in the conspiracy and the terror attack on India and was guilty,” Nikam added. He said that Indians are well aware of the legal steps taken to ensure Kasab’s conviction and added the public would give a reply to Congress on 4th June.

Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, said, “Our alliance is with Nikam, while Congress has joined hands with Kasab.”

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar also reacted to the statement and demanded that Wadettiwar should be arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) to probe why he was defending Kasab. he said, “From Wadettiwar’s statement, it appears Congress is supporting terrorists who attacked Mumbai. More shocking is the fact that Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has maintained silence over the episode.”

Is Congress becoming Muslim League 2.0?

Congress is heading down on the path of becoming the reincarnation of Muslim League 2.0. What Congress leader has said about 26/11 Mumbai attack echoes with the narrative propagated by Pakistan that it was Hindus who were behind the deadly terror attack on the financial capital of the country. Previously, AR Antulay, then-minority minister, had propagated in 2008 itself and he was widely panned.

Such assertions have also been made controversial figures such as Zaid Hamid, who made baseless claims that Ajmal Kasav was a Hindu. Though Congress has not went on the length to narrate the same, the way they are entertaining illogical theories align them with Pakistan’s rhetoric. This narrative is also parallels with the previous insinuations like calling Pulwama an inside job, echoing Pakistan’s conspiracy theories. Congress’s flirtation with these ideas raises questions about its ideological direction and raises the question if the grand old party is on the path of becoming Muslim League 2.0.

BJP fielded Ujjwal Nikam from Mumbai North Central

On 27th April, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded former special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam as its Lok Sabha candidate from the Mumbai North Central seat. Nikam has several high-profile cases including the 1993 Bombay bombing, the Gulsham Kumar murder case, the Pramod Mahajan murder case, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Mumbai North Central will take place on 20th May (5th Phase). Results will be announced on 4th June 2024.

Investigation still going on, not limited to 3 arrests: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on arrest of Indians in Nijjar murder case

ANI
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Investigation still going on, not limited to 3 arrests: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on arrest of Indians in Nijjar murder case

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday that the investigation into the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is “not limited” to the arrest of three Indian nationals and is ongoing.

Trudeau said that it is important because “Canada is a rule-of-law country”.

The Canada PM’s remarks came days after three Indian nationals were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar.

The Canadian police on Saturday released photographs of all three persons arrested in the last year’s killing of Nijjar amid an ongoing probe into the alleged connections of the Indian government.

The police have not given any evidence of any link to India, as was being speculated in Canadian media. India has repeatedly denied the allegations, terming them “absurd and motivated.”

Giving an address at the Sikh Foundation of Canada’s Centennial Gala event held at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday, Trudeau began by acknowledging the arrests made in connection to the case, emphasising that the investigation remains ongoing.

“I need to begin, somewhat awkwardly perhaps, but importantly, to acknowledge the arrests that were made in relation to the murder of Nijjar. As the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation, not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday,” he said.

He highlighted Canada’s status as a rule-of-law country with a robust and independent justice system. “This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens. I know that many Canadians, particularly members of the Sikh community, are feeling uneasy and perhaps even frightened right now,” Trudeau added.

Trudeau also reassured that every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and violence. He urged them to “remain calm… remain steadfast in our commitment to our democratic principles and our system of justice. This is who we are and what we do as Canadians”.

A day ago, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings from New Delhi. Jaishankar said some people in Canada, with ‘pro-Pakistan leanings’, have organised themselves politically and taken the shape of an influential political lobby. He said he saw reports that three people have been arrested, and, the Canadian police have conducted ‘some investigation’.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.

On June 18, 2023, the Surrey RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. First responding members located a man, later identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been carrying out the investigation. It has continued to work closely with a number of partner agencies and support services across Canada, as far east as Ontario, including the Surrey RCMP, the Alberta RCMP and other Lower Mainland Integrated Teams.

Nijjar’s killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing — a claim that India has rejected as “absurd.”

The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March this year showed Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described as a “contract killing”.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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