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Maharashtra government confirms that Anvay Naik murdered his own mother, Arnab Goswami moves HC against charge sheet: Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra government confirms that Anvay Naik murdered his own mother, Arnab Goswami moves HC against charge sheet: Here are the details

Just days after the Supreme Court of India had said that the abetment suicide case against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami is prima facie not established, the Raigad police filed a charge sheet against Goswami and two others in the case yesterday. Importantly, it was filed hurriedly just before the Bombay High Court is scheduled to start hearing Arnab’s plea seeking to quash the against him. The HC will start hearing the matter on 10th December.

The charge sheet repeats the allegations made by Anvay Naik’s wife, that Goswami and two others deliberately withheld payments to Naik’s despite completing all work. It is notable that these allegations contradict the evidence produced in the case, where the three clients of Naik’s company had written letters to him informing that some payments were withheld due to defects/incompletion of allotted works.

Charge sheet says Anvay Naik had killed his mother

The charge sheet mentions another important point, which has not discussed much in this high-profile case, that Anvay Naik had killed his mother before committing suicide. The charge sheet that Naik had decided to end his life after not getting payments from his clients. It says that as his mother Kumud Naik was a partner in his company, he thought that his mother will face troubles after he commits suicide. Hence, he had called his mother to the farmhouse where they were found dead. There, Anvay Naik tied his mother, and strangulated her with his both hands, according to the charge sheet. It says that after killing his mother, he wrote a suicide note naming Arnab Goswami, Firoz Sheikh and Nitesh Sarda. After that, he killed himself by hanging from the roof.

Disregarding the Supreme Court observation that mere non payment of due amount can’t be abetment of suicide unless the accused played any direct role, the charge sheet says that Arnab Goswami and the two others are held responsible to the death of Anvay Naik either directly or indirectly.

Arnab Goswami files plea against Charge Sheet

A day after the Raigad police filed the charge sheet against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami and two others in the alleged abetment of suicide case of Anvay Naik, Goswami moved court requesting to not take cognizance of the same. Alleging that the entire case reeks with malafide on the party of the state govt, he filed the interim plea with Bombay High Court, seeking issue of direction to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Raigad-Alibaug to not consider the charge sheet.

The journalist has also urged the Court to stay all further proceedings, including investigation in the matter. Arnab Goswami via his legal counsels submitted a strong and detailed Interim Application regarding the politically-driven Chargesheet filed against him at a time when his own applications were in pendency with the Bombay High Court and the same were served on the state government.

The petition highlights the press conference held by Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on 29th November, when the minister had publicly declared that a “strong chargesheet” would be filed against Arnab Goswami “soon”. The declaration came after the Supreme Court had observed that the FIR filed in the case is frivolous as the charge of abatement of suicide is not established by the FIR.

Goswami’s plea contends that “the Home Minister of Maharashtra was not only prejudging and publicly guiding the investigation in the case, but was also putting a timeline of progression to the case. It is thus clear that the entire investigation in the case is being puppeteered by a political machinery and is tainted and prescripted by the executive powers at play of the Respondents.”

Arnab Goswami has alleged that case is a malicious vendetta-driven action scripted by the Maharashtra Government and executed by Maharashtra Police in the Anaya Naik suicide case, which is now before the Bombay High Court. Apart from submitting elaborate details of the established malice guiding the political Chargesheet, Arnab Goswami’s application highlights the fact that the state government was already served an application and was fully aware of the matter pending in High Court while filing the charge sheet.

After filing the plea, a statement issued by Republic TV has said that the Maharashtra Government has shot itself in the foot by filing a chargesheet in a case where the top court scrutinised the matter and found no cause of action. “There is no scope for the State machinery to get away with this campaign of malice anymore. The judiciary is watching. And, the nation is taking note”, it said.

In the interim application before the Bombay High Court today, Arnab Goswami has submitted that there is a fresh cause of action owing to the events given the continued political witch-hunt by the Maharashtra State machinery and the wrongful and illegal filing of the charge sheet at the instance of the Home Minister while the matter was listed to be heard on 7 December.

The interim states that “the chargesheet came to be filed deliberately despite the said IA pending circulation and hearing.” Elaborating on the malice of the Maharashtra govt, it says, “The said IA in good faith was served upon the Respondent No 1 on 4th December, 2020 at 11:18 am. Shockingly, despite these applications being filed and served the Respondent No 2 filed a chargesheet in the case. The state after being served a copy of the said IA and being fully aware of the pendency of the matter, and further knowing that this Hon’ble Court was to decide a date on the matter as mischievously and maliciously filed a chargesheet disregarding the due process of law. This exposes the deep-rooted malafide intent with which the Respondents are functioning.”

The petition further adds, “While being fully aware that the matter is in pendency of the Bombay High Court, in order to deliberately maliciously obfuscate the case filed before the court, the state police shockingly tried to manipulate the due process of law by filing a chargesheet less than 12 hours, of being served a copy of our praecipe proves the malafide, malicious capricious and intent of the state government of Maharashtra.”

Arnab Goswami also alleged that the Maharashtra govt has violated the observations of the apex court of the county. “In an utter violation of the observations of the highest court of the country about how no prima facie case has been established, within 8 days of the SC judgment, a chargesheet was hurriedly filed. The top court had said, “a prima facie evaluation of the FIR does not establish the ingredients of the offence of abetment of suicide under Section 306 of the IPC”. Republic TV said that the state government stands exposed on how the chargesheet is bereft of fact and a pure product of malice.

The interim application by Arnab Goswami is scathing as it speaks of how exactly 7 days after the declaration of the Home Minister of Maharashtra that a strong Chargesheet will be filed, the police followed the politically dictated script”. It says that “the direction of the investigation, the nature of accusations and the filing of a charge sheet are a result of political instruction and not a fair & impartial investigation as is mandated by the rule of law.”

Assam: FIR registered against ‘Ajmal Foundation’ run by AIUDF Chief for receiving funds from foreign Islamic organisations linked to terror funding

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: FIR registered against ‘Ajmal Foundation’ run by AIUDF Chief for receiving funds from foreign Islamic organisations linked to terror funding

A case has been registered against  ‘Ajmal Foundation’, run by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal, at Dispur police station in Assam Friday. The case was filed following a complaint lodged by Satya Ranjan Bohra, who accused the NGO of receiving foreign funding and utilising it in suspicious activities, Guwahati CP M S Gupta was quoted by ANI as saying.

The complaint, lodged by Satya Ranjan Borah was based on the report of Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), a legal rights body.

“Ajmal Foundation, an organisation run by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, chief of AIUDF, being funded by some foreign agencies which are related to funding different terrorist groups and their terror activities as reported by an NGO Legal Rights Observatory. Considering the report, we want a proper investigation in this connection under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Ajmal Foundation has misused those foreign funds in several anti-national activities,” Borah alleged in the FIR.

Borah demanded that the AIUDF chief be arrested and awarded punishment for maintenance of national integrity, sovereignty, and social harmony. Borah suggested that some information provided in the FIR may be passed on to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for further investigation.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma backs allegations against AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal

Speaking on the issue, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists that people always had the misconception that Ajmal spent from his pocket and did humanitarian work, which is far from reality.

“There was a time when he (Ajmal) used to receive Rs 70-75 crore from foreign agencies. With that, he ran a hospital and did some other work. An established institution, which exposed many cases of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) violations, has claimed that the sources, Ajmal received the funds from, are related to terrorism,” Sarma said, adding that he was hopeful the Central government would carry out a probe.

Ajmal Foundation receiving crores of rupees from foreign organisations known for terror funding

We reported earlier that legal activist group Legal Rights Observatory had accused Ajmal Foundation of receiving foreign funding to a tune of Rs 69.55 crore from various dubious sources which have been primarily engaged in terror financing and money laundering activities. LRO had stated that the NGO has spent only Rs 2.05 crore from the above amount its actual purpose of ‘education’ and the rest of the amount has been routed to AIUDF, an Islamist party run by Ajmal, to counter the nationalist parties in Assam.

Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) had also revealed the names of various Islamic terror groups based in Turkey, Palestine and the United Kingdom, which have been funding Ajmal Foundation.

LRO has written a letter to the Union Home Ministry stating that the Ajmal Foundation has violated the rule of the land and its FCRA license needs to be scrapped.

Meanwhile, Badruddin Ajmal Ajmal has refuted the charges. “The allegations, levelled against the foundation by a BJP-RSS NGO, are politically-motivated and a conspiracy to defame me. The Central government monitors the funds transactions,” said Ajmal.

Doctors advise Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut to talk less following angioplasty surgery

OpIndia Staff
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Doctors advise Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut to talk less following angioplasty surgery

Firebrand politician and Rajya Sabha member from Shiv Sena, Sanjay Raut, has been strictly advised by his doctors to talk less for the next few days. The piece of advise came from the doctors at the Lilavati Hospital after Raut had undergone an angioplasty surgery at the hospital. 

After being discharged from the hospital on Saturday, Raut was swarmed by a legion of journalists who enquired him about his surgery. Responding to their queries, Raut said, “Doctors have asked me to talk less and lead a stress-free life. I will follow what doctors have recommended and hope that I don’t have to visit the hospital again.”

Raut also added that his last surgery had left a few things pending with respect to his ailment and was suggested another surgery by his doctors. However, due to onset of the coronavirus outbreak, he had to put off his treatment for an indefinite period. 

Besides advising him to talk less and observing abstinence in eating and drinking, doctors have provided Raut with a food diet that needs to be followed rigorously. He added that he will join Saamana from Monday. 

Raut had undergone angioplasty surgery on Thursday. The surgery is done to restore blood flow through the artery. Raut had gone through a similar angioplasty last year when three stents were placed. However, the problem persisted and Raut got admitted to hospital a few days ago after which two more stents were placed in his latest surgery. 

War of words between Sanjay Raut and Kangana Ranaut

Raut has been a fierce defender of Shiv Sena and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and has often made sharp and cutting remarks against his party’s critics.

Raut had recently been in the news for his ugly spat with actor Kangana Ranaut after the latter had likened Mumbai to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(PoK) as streets of the city were defiled with Azaadi graffiti.

Kangana had claimed that Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had reportedly threatened her against visiting Mumbai. The politician, on the other hand, had called The Queen actor “haramkhor” and later brazened out his remarks. Raut defended his crass remarks for the actor Kangana Ranaut, saying he meant “haramkhor” as “naughty” and “dishonest”.

Prime Minister Modi to lay the foundation stone of the new Parliament building on December 10

OpIndia Staff
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Prime Minister Modi to lay the foundation stone of the new Parliament building on December 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the new Parliament building and perform Bhumi Pujan in the national capital on December 10. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla shared the information today.

He said that on the session of both the Houses of Parliament would commence on the completion of the 75 years of India’s independence. The construction of the new Parliament building is expected to be completed in October 2022.

The Lok Sabha Speaker told that the there would be around 888 seats for the Lok Sabha members and over 326 seats for Rajya Sabha members in the new building. The new building will have the capacity to accommodate 1224 members simultaneously.

Birla described that the new Parliament building as the temple of Atmanirbhar Bharat that will be reflect the diversity of the nation.

The new Parliament building will span over an area of around 60,000-metre square. It will come up on plot number 118 of Parliament House Estate that currently houses a reception, boundary walls and other temporary structures. The new building will have separate offices for all Members of Parliament and will have the latest digital interfaces as a step in the direction of creating ‘paperless offices’. In addition to a grand Constitution Hall in the building to exhibit India’s democratic heritage, the new building will have a lounge for MPs, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and parking space.

Read- HT refused a Ram Guha article that peddled lies about Central Vista project: Here’s why the trash could only be published in The Wire

‘Don’t want to be controlled by high command culture from Delhi’: Aam Aadmi Party Goa founder Elvis Gomes quits

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t want to be controlled by high command culture from Delhi’: Aam Aadmi Party Goa founder Elvis Gomes quits

The Aam Aadmi Party Goa unit’s founder Elvis Gomes quit the party Friday saying that the local unit is being remote-controlled by the Delhi lobby. Addressing a press conference, Gomes, who was the AAP’s chief ministerial face during the 2017 state Assembly elections, said he decided to quit the party after the Delhi unit started controlling the affairs of the party in Goa. “We don’t want to be controlled by the high command culture from Delhi,” he said alleging that the party has compromised on its core principles.

The former convener further alleged that the party is not working in the interest of Goans, but instead, decisions are being taken by people sitting in Delhi.

The main group of the AAP’s Goa unit, which was working for the upcoming 2022 state Assembly elections, was completely sidelined, he claimed. “It’s not a decision taken in haste. It’s a well thought out decision over the past two months. AAP core team members, who had worked hard to build the party for the past four years have resigned, said Gomes.

People who joined AAP have been disillusioned

Gomes said after the last Delhi election, a team from Delhi was camping in Goa, which doubted the autonomy of the Goa unit. We feel that for running a party, autonomy should be given to the regional units. We were told that ‘Swaraj’ is the voice of the people, but there is no ‘Swaraj’ in getting instructions,” said Gomez told reporters.

“When there was a doubt whether Goa unit and Goans had the freedom to take up issues or it was directed by somebody from outside, we resigned from our posts,” he said, adding that people who had joined AAP with high hopes for a new political system have been disillusioned.

Aam Aadmi Party has deviated from its ideologies, claims Gomes

Adding that the party has lately deviated from its ideologies. Gomes cautioned those who want to continue working for the Aam Aadmi Party.

Gomes said he would contest the next assembly elections in 2022 from Cuncolim constituency but declined to confirm which party he would join.

“We were influenced by the India Against Corruption movement, but now they are taking in people facing criminal charges. The people who joined voluntarily in 2016 were all honest people. They came to the party for the message of no corruption, no criminalisation, and no communalisation,” he stated.

Gomes had quit the Goa administration as senior scale office in October 2016 to take over as AAP’s state convener but he stepped down from his post as the convenor of the party’s state unit in September.

Beside Elvis Gomes, several other core party members of the Goa unit have also quit the party for similar reasons. Besides Gomes, other AAP functionaries who resigned from the primary membership of the party include Sidharth Karapurkar, the party’s convener on environment, former Nuvem constituency coordinator Ramiro Mascarenhas, Rodney Almeida, Sudin Mauzo, Ilma Dias, Rosario Fernandes (Benaulim).

West Bengal: Several persons injured after bombs hurled at BJP rally in West Burdwan district, BJP blames TMC for the attack

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Several persons injured after bombs hurled at BJP rally in West Burdwan district, BJP blames TMC for the attack

In another incident of political violence in West Bengal, a BJP rally was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons in Barabani village in Asansol Sadar subdivision of West Burdwan district.

As per reports, the BJP had taken out a procession under their flagship ‘Aar Noi Annay‘ campaign to protest against the oppression of people under the rule of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. However, the rally was disrupted with incidents of bombing. In a video that has now gone viral online, thick fumes of smoke can be seen rising in the air. The area was gripped by fear and chaos, with several people running with water-filled buckets to douse the smoke.

BJP lambasts TMC, highlights about the menace of coal mafia in the area

The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress of disrupting their rally and refuted counter-claims by TMC, who alleged that the attack was engineered by the saffron party. BJP MP from Asansol, Babul Supriyo stated, “I do not need to answer to ignorant TMC politicians. People are not going to buy their dubious claims. The block President of TMC, Ashik Mondol, is the biggest coal mafia in the area… And the whole mafia is controlled by TMC MLA Jitendra Tiwari. I know this area inside out.”

He further stated, “A massive raid has been underway in the area and several people involved in the coal syndicate have been apprehended. I had named the TMC leaders, associated with the coal mafia, almost 1.5 years ago… Last time, we had won all 9 seats in the area. The TMC is taking vengeance for the same. Will people buy the TMC’s argument that BJP workers are hurling bombs on each other? Only those who indulge in low-level politics can say such things.” He assured that strict action will be taken against the TMC goons, involved in the incident. Babul Supriyo also warned that the sand mafia and coal mafia in the area will be nabbed.

Local BJP leader lakhan Ghorui stated, “TMC goons fired & hurled bombs injuring 5-7 people. We’re on our way to the hospital now. Despite asking police for help no steps have been taken.” BJP National Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said that attack on BJP workers has become common place in Bengal and that such attacks are executed on the behest of Mamata Banerjee.

TMC leaders cry foul, accuse BJP of masterminding the attack

TMC ML Jitendra Tiwari claimed that the Bengal unit of the BJP has been inducting ‘anti-social elements’ in their party and such incidents are therefore not unprecedented. “We are winning in this area with over 50,000 votes. Why would we bother to attack the BJP rally? Those seen hurling bombs and firing bullets must be apprehended,” he said.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that it was a staged and premeditated attack by the BJP to divert attention from ‘burning’ issues such as farmer protests, soaring prices of LPG and tarnish the name of the State. He alleged, While we are doing good work to benefit the people, the BJP is trying to create a state of unrest in West Bengal.”

TMC workers and crude bombs

In May this year, the Bhagwanpur police had reportedly recovered 153 crude bombs from the backyard of one local resident and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporter named Sheikh Kasemuddin in Lalpur village of East Midnapore District in West Bengal. Four people were arrested in connection with the case. While three of them were released after initial questioning, Kasemuddin was produced before the Kanthi Court on Saturday. He was sent to 14 days in judicial custody by the judge.

In July, crude bombs were hurled at BJP workers, prior to the scheduled public rally by BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh. The incident took place in Shymnagar in North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. The State unit of the BJP reportedly wanted to take out a protest march against the rise of terror, perpetrated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), in Bhatpara, following the attack on one of its members, and also against corruption in the distribution of relief to the victims of the cyclone Amphan. When BJP workers flocked to the protest site, an explosion took place at the spot. Reportedly, 4 people were injured during the attack. Even though the rally was postponed for some time, it was resumed afterwards.

Earlier in August, a 40-year-old TMC worker named Humayun Kabir died after sustaining grave injuries during an explosion caused while making crude bombs at the roof of his house, reported The Hindustan Times. The incident took place in the Shamshergunj area in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. As per the report, the 10-year-old son of Humayun was also injured in the explosion. According to the sub-divisional police officer of Jangipur, Prasenjit Banerjee, Kabir was fatally injured while trying to make crude bombs. 

Pune Mirror shuts down due to the economic crisis triggered by Coronavirus pandemic, Mumbai Mirror to relaunch as weekly

OpIndia Staff
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Pune Mirror shuts down due to the economic crisis triggered by Coronavirus pandemic, Mumbai Mirror to relaunch as weekly

The Times Group has decided to shut down the publishing of the Pune Mirror due to the economic crisis precipitated by the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic and will relaunch Mumbai Mirror as a weekly. They will, however, continue to maintain a digital presence.

The Times Group said in an official communication, “Sadly, just as the pandemic, lockdown and unprecedented economic crisis have laid low many great ideas and initiatives before they could fully take root, they came as a body blow for the still-young brand. Not only has the newspaper industry been among the hardest-hit in terms of revenues, it has been weighed down by an import duty that has added to newsprint costs.”

“With the long-held hope of a stimulus not materializing and the Indian economy now officially in recession, it is with a heavy heart that the group has decided to cease publication of Mirror in Pune and relaunch Mumbai Mirror as a weekly. They will, however, continue to have a strong digital presence,” it added.

The statement said further, “Following months of discussions and deliberations, we have made this extremely difficult and painful decision to recalibrate our portfolio of publications. We truly value the contribution of our journalists and other staff towards building such a strong brand in a relatively short time and thank them for their hard work and great effort.”

Media houses have been laying off employees ever since the economic crisis hit following the lockdown measures that were adopted to curb the spread of the virus. Earlier, India Today had decided to shut down the Mail Today tabloid and laid off its employees. In April, leftist website The Quint sent 45 employees on indefinite leave. In June, The Hindu shut down its Mumbai edition and asked several of its employees to resign effective immediately. According to several reports in different media outlets, around 410 journalists lost their job till mid-June due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Karnataka: Journalist exposes illegal cow slaughterhouses in Hassan, Muslim mob, including several women, attack her

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Journalist exposes illegal cow slaughterhouses in Hassan, Muslim mob, including several women, attack her

A violent mob abused, attacked and threatened a female journalist for exposing the existence of illegal cow slaughters in the Pension Mohalla of Hassan district in Karnataka.

On receiving information regarding illegal cow slaughtering mafia in the city, senior Journalist Vijayalakshmi Shibaroor, the Editor-in-chief of Vijaya Times, and her team travelled to Hassan. During her course of special investigation, the female journalist exposed how these illegal slaughterhouses in the city operate with impunity despite cow slaughtering is banned in the district.

The woman journalist, accompanied by NGOs and police officials, visited the four illegal slaughterhouses and five cattle hoarding spots in the city. As they tried to enter one of these illegal abattoirs to rescue cattle, an angry mob, comprised of Burkha-clad women, gathered around the journalist and stopped her from reporting.

The mob not only abused the journalist, but also manhandled and threatened her with dire consequences if she did not leave the place at once.

Here is the footage of the angry mob trying to attack the journalist. One can see how Burkha-clad women attacked the journalist despite the presence of police officials. The helpless police officials were a mute spectator during the entire incident.

The journalist was given death threats if she failed to leave the location then. The illegal cattle smugglers hid other cattle and the NGO managed to save only a few animals.

Reportedly, Hassan Babu and Rehamaan were allegedly operating four illegal slaughterhouses in the area and had taken hostage of around 100 cattle.

Following the incident, an FIR has been registered regarding this case at a local police station.

Kerala Gold Scam: Customs Dept seeks protection from Centre for probing officers as they inch closer to ‘big names’ involved

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala Gold Scam: Customs Dept seeks protection from Centre for probing officers as they inch closer to ‘big names’ involved

With the names of high profile individuals cropping up in the Kerala Gold scam, the Customs Commissioner has written a letter to the Centre seeking CRPF protection for the office as well as investigating officers probing the case. The request for protection came as the investigating team learned that their probe in the Kerala Gold scam might yield some big names and that could lead to security threat for the team. 

According to the sources privy to the ongoing investigation in the Gold scam, distinguished individuals, including politicians and bureaucrats and police officials could be involved in the case. 

Earlier too, the central government has extended CRPF protection to the customs officer after inputs were received that the gold smuggling syndicate could attack the customs office and officers, but was withdrawn later in September after the Centre asked them to seek protection from the Kerala police. 

In a new twist to the ongoing Kerala Gold Scam, the prime accused in the case Swapna Suresh’s advocate announced that he is leaving lawyering because of ‘professional reasons’. Sources cite rumours of Swapna Suresh and Sarith Kumar turning approvers in the case may have influenced his decision to leave lawyering.  

Earlier yesterday, Swapna and Sarith recorded their confessional statements in front of the Magistrate. On the same day, Swapna Suresh, Sarith Kumar, IAS officer M Sivasankar and Unitac Builders MD Santhosh Eapen were questioned collectively by the investigative authorities. In addition to these four, the Customs officers had also called former UAE gunman Jayghosh and driver Siddique for questioning. 

The authorities believed that the suspects involved in the case ran a hawala channel to send large amounts of money to the tune of Rs. 100 Crores and diplomats could be involved in the hawala operation. 

What is Kerala Gold Smuggling case?

The Kerala gold smuggling case has all the ingredients to be turned into a Bollywood thriller, involving globe-trotting investigation about the gold smuggling, politics, involvement of diplomats, terror angle and hawala links. 

This particular case of gold smuggling by misusing diplomatic channels came to the fore on July 5, 2020, when the customs officials at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport confiscated baggage containing gold weighing over 30 kg and valued at around Rs 15 crore. This gold was inside diplomatic baggage that landed by air cargo, and was addressed to the UAE consulate.

Acting on a specific tip-off that a baggage was a part of a syndicate used to smuggle gold, the authorities found out that the luggage belonged to one Swapna Suresh, a staffer at the UAE consulate. Later, the principal secretary of Kerala CM, M Sivasankar, Sandeep Nair, PS Sarith, Fazil Fareed and KT Jaleel were also accused in the case.

The investigation was initially started by the Customs department but the Ministry of Home Affair on July 9 transferred the case to the National Investigation Agency citing the case may have “serious implications for national security”.

The case has embroiled the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government in the state, which found itself in the eye of the storm kicked up by the preliminary investigation into the gold smuggling case. The alleged involvement of M Sivasankar, the principal secretary of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the gold smuggling case indicated that there could be involvement of other big-shot politicians too. 

Former Suar MLA and son of SP leader Azam Khan asked to return Rs 65 lakh, that he received as salary and allowances, to govt

OpIndia Staff
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Former Suar MLA and son of SP leader Azam Khan asked to return Rs 65 lakh, that he received as salary and allowances, to govt

Former Suar MLA Abdullah Azam Khan who is currently lodged in jail along with his father Azam Khan has been served a notice to reimburse the amount of money that he received in salary and allowances during his tenure as the Samajwadi Party MLA from Suar Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Account Officer Anuj Kumar Pandey has issued a notice to Abdullah directing him to reimburse the amount of Rs 65 lakh.

Khan was elected as MLA from Suar in 2017. He had submitted a forged birth certificate during the election to show his eligibility. A case was filed against him after which Allahabad High Court declared his election invalid in December 2019. Following the High Court’s decision, Legislative Assembly Secretariat declared the Suar Assembly seat as vacant.

BJP leader Akash Saxena had requested the Principal Secretary of the Assembly to order Khan to reimburse the money that he had received as salary and allowances during his tenure as the MLA. After Saxena’s complaint, Chief Account Officer Anuj Kumar Pandey sent Abdullah Azam Khan a notice requiring him to deposit the amount he received between March 14, 2017, and December 16, 2019, in the government fund.

Azam Khan misused power to forge documents for his son: Allahabad High Court

Allahabad High Court rejected the bail plea of Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan and his son Abdullah in the case relating to forging of documents saying that the accused enjoyed ‘deep-rooted and pervasive influence’ and therefore if he was granted bail it was possible that he would attempt to influence witnesses.

The court said that Khan misused his position to forge the birth certificate of his son. Azam Khan is lodged in Sitapur jail along with his wife Tanzeen Fatima and his son. A week ago, the court had denied the bail request of Azam Khan and his son saying that granting bail at this juncture would not be appropriate.

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