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Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav to not appear before CBI in ‘Land for jobs’ case as wife hospitalised after ED raids: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav to not appear before CBI in ‘Land for jobs’ case as wife hospitalised after ED raids: Report

Tejashwi Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) politician and deputy chief minister of Bihar, was called in by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday for interrogation in the land-for-jobs case. He has received a summons in connection with the matter twice, the first being on February 4. However, reports mention that Yadav will not appear before the CBI today as his pregnant wife has been hospitalised following the ED raids.

The wife of the Dy CM is said to have fainted due to BP problems after twelve hours of ED interrogation on Friday. “Yadav was earlier called for questioning on March 4 but he had not appeared before the CBI sleuths, following which a fresh date was given for Saturday,” the officials confirmed. According to the reports, the case pertains to people allegedly given employment in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold at cheap rates to the Yadav family and its associates.

The summons was issued to Tejasvi Yadav after the ED on Friday raided 15 places of Lalu Yadav’s close associates in Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Patna. These include Tejashwi Yadav’s house in Delhi and the residences of Lalu’s three daughters Hema, Ragini, and Chanda. Apart from these, the Ghaziabad residence of Lalu’s brother-in-law Jitendra Yadav was also raided. The ED, during the raids, seized Rs 53 lakh, US$ 1,900, 540 grams of gold, and 1.5 kg of gold jewellery.

Previously, as part of a money laundering investigation into a purported “land-for-jobs” case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched 24 places, including Yadav’s Delhi home, other locations in the national capital area, Patna, Ranchi, and Mumbai.

Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, two former chief ministers of Bihar, were also questioned by the CBI on Monday in this regard in Delhi and Patna. “It is an open secret that probe agencies are acting against political opponents of the BJP and helping those who agree to align with that party,” Tejashwi Yadav had stated earlier on his parents being questioned on the case.

In the case involving Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and 14 other people, the CBI has already submitted a charge sheet alleging criminal conspiracy and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Lalu Prasad and the other defendants were given the notice to appear before a Delhi court on March 15 after receiving a summons last month.

Bhola Yadav, who served as Lalu Prasad’s officer on special duty while he was the railway minister, as well as Hridayanand Chaudhary, a railway employee and alleged beneficiary of the scandal, and Dharmendra Rai, a second alleged beneficiary, have all been detained by the CBI so far in connection with the case.

In conjunction with the investigation, the agency also has searched roughly two dozen places in August of last year.

Thieves steal taps and geyser from the house of a judge in Ludhiana

OpIndia Staff
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Thieves steal taps and geyser from the house of a judge in Ludhiana

An incident of theft at the house of a judge took place in Ludhiana in Punjab recently. The official residence of Additional Sessions Judge Ravdeep Hundal was broken into, and the thieves fled after stealing taps and a geyser from the house. The thieves also searched the premises for costly stuff but came up empty-handed, and left the house with bathroom fittings. On Thursday, the matter came to light when Judge Hundal, who had gone out of town, returned to his residence on Mall Road in Ludhiana.

On the basis of a statement made to the police by Sardool Singh, the gunman of Judge Ravdeep Hundal, Division Number 8 police have filed an FIR against unidentified thieves and initiated an investigation.

The complaint said that on March 6, the extra sessions judge spent a few days on vacation in Chandigarh with his family. On March 9, when they came home, they found that the house had been looted.

Even though the burglars had ransacked the entire residence, they only took a geyser and some taps before escaping. The complainant claimed that the police recorded the statement and began an investigation.

Senior police officers were made aware of the incident, and officers from the concerned police station arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation.

There were no CCTV cameras installed at the home, according to sub-inspector Janak Raj, additional SHO, division number 8 police station. The main road’s CCTV cameras are being scanned by the police.

A case has been filed against the unidentified accused under Sections 457 (house trespassing) and 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Officer’s Colony is a high-security zone since it houses multiple judges, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Public Service Commission officers. Every officer has been provided 24-hour security cover.

Notably, two similar incidents were reported last year as well. Thieves broke into the homes of district attorney (Ludhiana administration) Amarpal Singh and Jagraon additional district commissioner Nayan Jassal on May 5, 2022.  In another incident on June 7, 2022, unidentified individuals had broken into judicial magistrate Anubha Jindal’s residence in Officers’ Colony near Old Session Chowk. The intruders were compelled to flee when a peon spotted them and raised the alarm.

Investor Bill Ackman, who attacked Adani Group over Hindenburg report, now demands bailout from US govt for Silicon Valley Bank

Dibakar Dutta
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Investor Bill Ackman, who attacked Adani Group over Hindenburg report, now demands bailout from US govt for Silicon Valley Bank

Following the shutdown of the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on Friday (March 10), billionaire investor Bill Ackman sought a bailout package for the commercial bank from the tax-funded US government.

Ackman is the same ‘financial expert’ who upheld the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani group, which wiped out 10 lakh crores worth of investor’s money from the Indian conglomerate in less than two weeks’ time.

While he did not shy away from casting aspersions on the integrity of the Adani group and fomenting turmoil in Indian markets, the billionaire investor took a radically different approach when it came to the US market.

In a tweet on Friday (March 10), Bill Ackman claimed, “The failure of SVB Financial Group could destroy an important long-term driver of the economy as VC-backed companies rely on SVB for loans and holding their operating cash.”

“If private capital can’t provide a solution, a highly dilutive gov’t preferred bailout should be considered,” he demanded despite being well aware that such a bailout package (if provided) will be funded by tax-payers.

The billionaire investor further added, “The govt could also guarantee deposits in exchange for a dilutive warrant issuance and other covenants and protections. If SVB Financial Group is indeed solvent, this would buy time to enable SVB to restore the franchise and raise new private capital.”

He tried to make a case for the defunct commercial bank by claiming that the bailout package would serve the interests of depositors and not the ‘poor’ management and equity holders.

Bill Ackman concluded, “The risk of failure and deposit losses here is that the next, least well-capitalized bank faces a run and fails and the dominoes continue to fall. That is why govt intervention should be considered.”

Earlier, the billionaire investor did not shy away from defending Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of ‘ponzi‘ cryptocurrency exchange FTX. He even claimed that Sam is ‘innocent until proven guilty’ and that ‘(we should not) sacrifice our core values in a rush to convict.’

Response during the Adani Crash

While Bill Ackman was seen batting for the now-arrested American entrepreneur and the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Financial Group, his reaction was starkly different when it came to the Indian conglomerate.

In his response over the fiasco on January 27 this year, the billionaire investor had said, “Adani’s response to Hindenburg Research is the same as Herbalife’s response to our original 350-page presentation.”

“Herbalife remains a pyramid scheme. I found the Hindenburg report highly credible and extremely well-researched. Adani Group’s response speaks volumes. Caveat emptor,” Bill Ackman emphasised.

Screengrab of the tweets by Bill Ackman

While he conceded that he did not undertake any ‘independent research’ and his judgment was based on the cursory reading of the Hindenburg Research report and Adani’s response, this gave an opportunity to the likes of Ravish Kumar to cast aspersions on the Indian conglomerate based on Ackman’s tweets.

The billionaire investor, in Adani’s case, did not seek a bailout package despite being aware of the short-term impact that the report of the US-based short-seller would have on the Indian economy and markets at large.

He also did not bother to keep his ‘innocent until proven guilty’ argument forward in Gautam Adani’s case, as he did in Sam Bankman Fried’s case. The sweeping statements of Bill Ackman were used by propagandists to suggest that the Indian conglomerate has been involved in wrongdoings.

The Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank

On Friday (March 10), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced the shutdown of the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the seizure of its assets.

The development was the result of the sudden shutdown of Silvergate Capital Corp and the unmindful fundraising of SVB, which created panic in the technology industry.

Founded in 1983, Silicon Valley Bank operated out of Santa Clara in California, and provided various services such as online banking, treasury management, and foreign exchange trade.

Reportedly, the crisis came to light on March 8 this year after SVB Financial Group (parent organisation of Silicon Valley Bank) announced a sale of $21 billion of its securities.

This was further worsened by the sale of company shares worth $2.25 billion to shore up its finances, prompted by high deposit outflows at the bank, caused by a downturn in the startup industry. As a result, the Silicon Valley Bank shares fell 60%, leading to a whopping loss of $80 billion.

To salvage the business, SVB CEO Greg Becker held a conference call with clients and venture capital investors, requesting them to “stay calm” to avoid further withdrawals.

However, it was to no avail. Many venture capitalists instead instructed portfolio companies to minimise their exposure to Silicon Valley Bank, withdraw their cash, and look for other lenders (thus further exacerbating the crisis).

In February this year, American business magazine Forbes placed SVB Financial Group in the 20th position in the list of ‘America’s Best Banks.’

Its raining worms: Here is what we know about the bizarre viral video of worms from China

OpIndia Staff
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Its raining worms: Here is what we know about the bizarre viral video of worms from China

A strange video is going viral over social media showing worms raining from the skies in Beijing, the capital city of China. After the instance, some reports state that Beijing would now see its people carry umbrellas to the roadway to prevent getting hit by the bizarre rain.

The phrase “rain of worms”, which was used to promote the video on social media led many people to believe that worms have actually fallen from the sky.

Several suggestions have started to appear online to help solve the mystery, but the Chinese authorities have not yet explained the reason behind the bizarre phenomenon.

Some people speculated that the mysterious worms may actually be poplar flowers, a common tree in the region that is loaded with seeds and whose flowers are frequently mistaken for caterpillars.

According to a potential interpretation, the worms were blown toward Beijing by a strong wind. The scientific publication Mother Nature Network backed this claim by explaining that these kinds of animal incidents frequently happen after a storm.

According to The Scientific Journal of the Mother Nature Network, such encounters with animals happen after a storm when wind or a whirlpool carries bugs miles away.

However, a Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei pointed out that the video was fake and that the city of Beijing had witnessed no rainfall in recent times. “I’m in Beijing and this video is fake. Beijing hasn’t got rainfall these days,” he said.

Some netizens called the video a ‘prank’. One of the users said that the worms were just on the car and not on the sidewalks. Hence the video was a prank.

Others, however, said that the scene of falling worms was quite normal and that it happens every spring. A few others also made fun of the event speculating that falling worms were probable dinner of the Chinese people.

Reportedly, none of the Chinese official authorities have commented on the issue till now.

Bihar police arrests man allegedly behind ‘fake’ videos of migrants being attacked in Tamil Nadu

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar police arrests man allegedly behind ‘fake’ videos of migrants being attacked in Tamil Nadu

The main accused who made the “fake” videos showing attacks on migrant laborers in Tamil Nadu has been arrested by Bihar Police.

Reportedly, a Bihar police spokesperson said that the other accused, Manish Kashyap and Youraj Singh, are allegedly absconding, and the state police are conducting raids on their alleged hideouts.  One of the accused, Jamui district resident Aman Kumar, has already been arrested by the police.

According to the police, Manish Kashyap tweeted a video created by Rakesh Ranjan Kumar on March 8. He uploaded the video on the BNR News Honey YouTube channel.

Two persons were seen tied together in the video. During the investigation, it appeared that the video was made by Rakesh Ranjan Kumar. He was apprehended in Gopalganj and brought to the EOU police station in Patna. The spokesperson said that the accused ultimately confessed to the crime.

“The fake video was created on March 6 in a leased residence in Patna’s Bengali colony, which is within the jurisdiction of Jakkanpur police station, with the assistance of the main accused Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, a native of the Gopalganj district. He admitted to the crime. Recording a video in Patna was done with the intention of misleading the Bihar and Tamil Nadu police. We double-checked with Rakesh Ranjan Kumar’s landlord, and he also confirmed that the video was shot at his house,” the Bihar police spokesperson said.

According to the Bihar Police, Manish Kashyap is a “habitual offender”. Seven criminal cases are pending against him. He also participated in an assault on a police unit. He was convicted of attacking some Kashmiri shopkeepers in Patna’s Lhasa market after the Pulwama episode.

Accused Youraj Singh was also involved in uploading the fake video. In the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, an FIR has been filed against him. He is on the run after being involved in a case of firing in Bhojpur district’s Narayanpur village three months ago. The Bihar Police is conducting searches to arrest him.

An FIR has been registered against  Rakesh Ranjan, Manish Kashyap, Youraj Singh, and Aman Kumar in Economic Offence Unit (EOU) police station in Patna. 

The EOU unit will be requesting the court to issue an arrest warrant against the absconding accused persons Manish Kashyap and Youraj Singh. 

On Friday, ADG (HQ) Jitendra Gangwar informed that the Bihar Police found 30 videos posted on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp in connection with the Tamil Nadu incident and filed two FIRs in the matter. The police also uncovered 42 more social media accounts that had preservation orders issued to them, in addition to 26 suspicious social media profiles. A 10-member EOU team was formed to investigate the matter.

Chhattisgarh: Mohammed Samir and Shahid among 7 arrested for tearing Lord Shiva’s poster and burn it in Holi fire

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Mohammed Samir and Shahid among 7 arrested for tearing Lord Shiva’s poster and burn it in Holi fire

On Friday, tensions erupted in the Gudhiyari region of Raipur district in Chhattisgarh after a gang of miscreants ripped down a poster of Lord Shiva and set it ablaze on the eve of Holi. The CCTV footage of the incident was largely circulated after which, many people gathered in the vicinity and began calling for the accused to be arrested right away.

The police have arrested seven people, including Mohammed Samir and Shahid Khan, in connection with the matter. The remaining 5 accused are reported to be juvenile.

According to the reports, a massive posse of police officers was quickly deployed to the area to prevent any unpleasant occurrence. In addition, the police used force to disperse the gathering. The incensed crowd had been trying to barge into the houses of the accused but the police prevented them from doing so. The police have registered the case in the matter. As per the reports, the Police have arrested seven, including 5 minors, in the case.

Police officers tried convincing protesters for hours that those who tore and burned posters will not be allowed to let go at any cost. They formed different teams to apprehend the suspects. After that, the people agreed to move away from the street and the crowd dispersed.

“On the eve of Holi, unidentified miscreants allegedly tore the poster of Lord Shiva (Hindu deity) and later, threw it into ‘Holika’. In this connection, police have registered a case against unidentified miscreants and launched a manhunt to nab them,” Additional Superintendent of Police (West) D C Patel confirmed.

As per the reports, the officer assured that although the accused individuals could not be clearly seen on the CCTV footage of the event that was made available to police, the police would soon be able to identify and apprehend them.

“Demanding the immediate arrest of miscreants, people in large numbers gathered following which an adequate police force led by senior officials was deployed at the locality to prevent any untoward incident. Currently, the situation is under control and the placement of police force will be continued in the area as a preventive measure,” ASP Patel said.

Police investigation into this matter is underway. Further information about the developments is awaited.

Days after being ‘proud to be on Forbes best banks list’, Silicon Valley Bank shuts down

OpIndia Staff
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Days after being ‘proud to be on Forbes best banks list’, Silicon Valley Bank shuts down

Despite being hailed as one of ‘America’s Best Banks’ by Forbes magazine about a month ago, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was forced to shut shop on Friday (March 10).

In an article (archive) dated February 16, 2023, the American business magazine released its 14th annual list of the 100 best banks in the country. Forbes reportedly factored in key-performing metrics such as growth, profitability, non-performing assets (NPAs) and credit quality to make the assessment.

The SVB Financial Group (parent company of Silicon Valley Bank) was placed at 20th position in the list of ‘America’s Best Banks.’

Screengrab of the tweet by SVB Financial Group

In a tweet on March 7, the SVB Financial Group acknowledged the Forbes magazine’s recognition of its financial health. “Proud to be on Forbes’ annual ranking of America’s Best Banks for the 5th straight year and to have also been named to the publication’s inaugural Financial All-Stars list,” it had said.

The archive of the tweet can be accessed here. And just 3 days later, the bank was forced to close down by regulators after being in operation for the past 40 years.

The Background of the Controversy

On Friday (March 10), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced the shutdown of the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the seizure of its assets.

The development was the result of the sudden shutdown of Silvergate Capital Corp and the unmindful fundraising of SVB, which created panic in the technology industry.

Founded in 1983, Silicon Valley Bank operated out of Santa Clara in California, and provided various services such as online banking, treasury management, and foreign exchange trade.

Reportedly, the crisis came to light on March 8 this year after SVB Financial Group (parent organisation of Silicon Valley Bank) announced a sale of $21 billion of its securities.

This was further worsened by the sale of company shares worth $2.25 billion to shore up its finances, prompted by high deposit outflows at the bank, caused by a downturn in the startup industry. As a result, the Silicon Valley Bank shares fell 60%, leading to a whopping loss of $80 billion.

To salvage the business, SVB CEO Greg Becker held a conference call with clients and venture capital investors, requesting them to “stay calm” to avoid further withdrawals.

However, it was to no avail. Many venture capitalists instead instructed portfolio companies to minimise their exposure to Silicon Valley Bank, withdraw their cash, and look for other lenders (thus further exacerbating the crisis).

Facebook-parent Meta to launch Twitter rival

ANI
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Facebook-parent Meta to launch Twitter rival

Elon Musk’s Twitter could soon face new competition from Facebook-owned Meta.

Meta Platforms Inc is considering launching a new Twitter-like social network. “We’re exploring a standalone, decentralized social network for sharing text updates,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement to Variety.

“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”

The rep said the company had no additional info on the prospective social network to share. News site Moneycontrol first reported on the potential Meta service, which is code-named “P92.”

The new Meta app would be based on — and interoperable with — the framework that powers Mastodon, a Twitter-like service that launched in 2016 and has seen a surge in popularity since Musk’s takeover of Twitter last October.

Meanwhile, Meta recently took another page from Musk’s Twitter playbook. Last month, the tech giant began rolling out Meta Verified, a subscription service for Facebook and Instagram users that includes a verified blue check-mark badge — just like Twitter Blue — as well as other perks.

Meta Verified is priced at USD 11.99/month on the web or USD 14.99/month on Apple’s iOS. The company initially launched the service in Australia and New Zealand with more countries “soon,” Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chairman and CEO, said in announcing the plans.

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

Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after China-brokered talks in Beijing, to reopen embassies

OpIndia Staff
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Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after China-brokered talks in Beijing, to reopen embassies

On March 10, 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia made a significant announcement saying that they are restoring their diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2016. According to reports, the two countries have agreed to resume ties and re-open embassies in each other’s capitals. This development is significant not only for the two nations but also for the entire Middle East region.

The announcement came after a meeting between the top security officials of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing in China. The meeting was going on for four days, which was not disclosed earlier.

According to a statement issued by Iran, Saudi Arabia and China, Tehran and Riyadh have agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within two months.

“In response to the noble initiative of His Excellency President Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, of China’s support for developing good neighborly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said, as posted by Saudi foreign ministry on Twitter.

“The three countries announce that an agreement has been reached between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, that includes an agreement to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months, and the agreement includes their affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states,” the joint statement added.

It further states that they also agreed that the ministers of foreign affairs of both countries shall meet to implement this, arrange for the return of their ambassadors, and discuss means of enhancing bilateral relations. They also agreed to implement the Security Cooperation Agreement between them signed in 2001, and the General Agreement for Cooperation in the Fields of Economy, Trade, Investment, Technology, Science, Culture, Sports, and Youth, which was signed in 1998.

The three countries expressed their keenness to exert all efforts towards enhancing regional and international peace and security.

The statement was signed by Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, and Wang Yi, Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission of China, who is member of the national political bureau of the Communist Party of China.

Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, Wang Yi and Ali Shamkhani

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said that deal is a victory for dialogue and peace. He further added that Beijing would continue to play a constructive role in addressing tough global issues.

Media houses in both Iran and Saudi Arabia published reports about the agreement. Iranian state media published visuals of Ali Shamkhani, Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and Wang Yi in the meeting.

One of the main reasons behind the severing of ties in 2016 was the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Saudi Arabia, which led to widespread protests in Iran. This incident further strained the already tense relations between the two nations. However, the recent development suggests that both countries are willing to move beyond their past grievances and work towards building a more stable and peaceful region.

This move is expected to have a positive impact on the Middle East region, which has been fraught with tension and conflict for decades. The rivalry between Shia-majority Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia has played a significant role in shaping the dynamics of the region, as they support rival sides in several conflict zones across the Middle Eastern region.

For example, in conflict-ridden Yemen, Iran is supporting the Houthi rebels while Saudi Arabia is backing the government. Similarly, both countries back rival sides in Lebanon and Syria. The restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries is likely to have far-reaching implications in this regard.

The restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is also expected to have significant economic benefits for both countries. Iran, which has been struggling with economic sanctions for several years, is likely to benefit from the lifting of Saudi Arabia’s economic blockade. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, will have access to Iran’s vast energy resources, which could help to diversify its economy.

The announcement has been welcomed by the international community, with many expressing hope that it will lead to a more peaceful and stable Middle East. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has commended the move and called on both countries to continue their efforts towards building trust and cooperation.

The USA has welcomed the move, saying it was aware of the talks. A White House national security spokesperson said that the United States welcomed any efforts to help end war in Yemen and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.

The News Minute justifies Shabbir who set ablaze his friend for smearing him with colour, quietly updates its article after online outrage

OpIndia Staff
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The News Minute justifies Shabbir who set ablaze his friend for smearing him with colour, quietly updates its article after online outrage

On Tuesday (March 7), on the occasion of Holi, a man identified as Mohammad Shabbir in Telangana set his ‘friend’ identified as Anjaiah on fire just because the latter threw colours on him. ‘The News Minute,’ like various media houses, reported the horrific crime but there was a stark difference.

The digital news platform worded their article carefully in order to justify the man’s rage for attacking his friend. But, when enraged Twitter users pointed out the impudence, the news agency discreetly changed the text of the report.

The Twitter user also pointed out that Dhanya Rajendran, the editor-in-chief of The News Minute, had also tweeted about the matter, but had later deleted her tweet following the online outrage over the organisation’s justification of Shabbir’s act of violence against his friend.

Notably, the report by The News Minute report was published on March 9, two days after the horrific incident took place where a Hindu man was mercilessly set on fire by one Mohammed Shabbir for simply applying colours on him. The headline of the report read, “Upset at being smeared with colour, a man allegedly sets friend ablaze in Telangana.”

To begin with, The News Minute justified the perpetrator in the headline itself, implying that it was the victim’s fault that he spread colour on him.

The media house, however, was not finished here. It even went so far as to write in the report’s body how Shabbir felt “insulted and disrespected,” because of which, he committed the crime.

Screenshot of the original report published by TNM on March 9, 2023 (source: @Saiarav)

The bias of TNM while reporting the incident was very visible to the people online, and quickly got highlighted. Twitter users outraged over the matter, after which, the media house quietly changed the text of the article.

Screenshot of the updated report by TNM

As can be seen above, in the updated version of the report, the news website has quietly deleted the two adjectives it had used to justify the horrific crime perpetuated by Mohammad Shabbir.

This is a standard operating procedure for most liberal media outlets. In order to hide Muslim perpetrators, media organisations frequently turn to deception, either withholding comprehensive facts or cutting out the criminals’ identity entirely, or rationalising or toning down the crime by making it appear as if the perpetrator was coerced to commit the crime. OpIndia has several reports on how these leftist media houses work overtime to “give a ‘Hindu spin’ to crimes committed by Muslims”. We even reported how these self-proclaimed ‘secular media’ houses even use featured images of Hindu rituals and Hindu words/symbols to whitewash Islamists even when the crime involves non Hindus.

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