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Vinesh Phogat resigns from Indian railways, joins Congress along with Bajrang Punia ahead of Haryana assembly elections

OpIndia Staff
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Vinesh Phogat resigns from Indian railways, joins Congress along with Bajrang Punia ahead of Haryana assembly elections

On 6th September, wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat joined the Indian National Congress ahead of the assembly election in Haryana. The development transpired after they met with Congress leader and Raebareli Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi on 4th September in New Delhi. The duo visited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his Delhi home and formally joined the party afterwards in the presence of senior leaders including KC Venugopal and Pawan Khera.

“I want to thank the people of the country for supporting me during my wrestling career and I hope I live up to their expectations. I want to thank Congress because, as they say, it is only when times are bad that one finds out who is standing with them. When we were dragged on the roads, every party other than the BJP stood with us and understood our pain and our tears,” Vinesh Phogat stated during the event.

She added, “I am very proud to be associated with a party that stands up against misbehaviour and injustice against women. I want to assure the people of the country that we will work for them with the same intensity with which we worked in wrestling. We stand with every woman who finds herself helpless. If I wanted, I could have left wrestling at Jantar Mantar (during the protests) but I reached the finals of the Olympics but God had other plans. He has now given me a chance to serve the people of my country.”

“Chak de India, Chak de Haryana! Meeting our talented champions Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia who have made India proud in the world, at 10 Rajaji Marg. We are proud of both of you,” the Congress president stated on X (previously Twitter) along with a picture featuring the two wrestlers, Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal and himself.

Vinesh Phogat also resigned from the Indian Railways before officially joining politics citing ‘family circumstances and personal reasons’. She shared the resignation letter on social media and wrote, “Serving Indian Railways has been a memorable and proud time of my life. At this point in my life, I have decided to separate myself from the service and have submitted my resignation to the competent authorities of the Indian Railways. I will always be grateful to the Indian Railways family for the opportunity given to me in the service of the nation.” She was appointed as an officer on special duty (OSD) with the Northern Railways.

According to sources, Vinesh Phogat will contest the assembly poll and Bajrang Puniya is anticipated to be named as the co-chairman of the Haryana Congress campaign committee. Her seat will be finalized by the evening. According to other media reports, Bajrang Punia is vying for the Badli seat while Phogat is most likely to run from Julana or Dadri Vidhan Sabha. Voting in the state will take place on 5th October and the result will be announced on 8th October.

Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50-kilogram gold medal match at the Olympics in Paris after it was discovered that she was 100 grams overweight. Her request for a shared silver award was also denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). One day after being disqualified, on 8th August, she declared her retirement from professional wrestling. Congressmen have been seen with her ever since her return to India. The first politician to arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to greet her with a “Hanuman Gada,” a victory symbol, was Rohtak Lok Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda. She also met with Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the former chief minister of Haryana, who had stated that anyone wishing to join the Congress is welcome.

Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were among the most prominent names of the 2023 agitation against then-Wrestling Federation of India chief and former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who has been facing sexual harassment charges. On 31st August, Vinesh Phogat visited a gathering of farmers at the Shambhu border where they were marking the 200th day of their protest in favour of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and was honoured by them during an event.

Meanwhile, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have begun negotiations about seat sharing, which could result in the continuation of their alliance from the previous year’s Lok Sabha election. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and party screening committee chairman Ajay Maken comprise the three-member team that the Congress has constituted for seat-sharing negotiations with the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party.

The committee’s work would be supervised by KC Venugopal, the general secretary of the party. According to sources close to the Congress party, in the 90-member legislature of Haryana, the party is prepared to extend three seats to the AAP and one to the Samajwadi Party. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) reportedly approached the Congress party for seat-sharing as well.

(With inputs from ANI)

Objectionable poses, vulgar thumbnails, random humping and more: ‘Yoga teacher’ Suhail Ansari back in the business of perversion months after saying sorry

Dibakar Dutta
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Objectionable poses, vulgar thumbnails, random humping and more: ‘Yoga teacher’ Suhail Ansari back in the business of perversion months after saying sorry

Suhail Ansari is yet again under the spotlight. An ‘international yoga teacher’ as per his Instagram profile, Ansari is infamous for posting vulgar videos in the name of yoga.

He had gained notoriety on social media for randomly mounting his female students, who mostly happen to be Hindus, under the pretext of teaching them yoga poses.

Ansari repeatedly brought shame to the ancient Hindu discipline by sexually objectifying the women in his videos and posting objectionable thumbnails (featuring zoomed-in images of hips, breasts and sex positions).

Screengrab of the Instagram profile of Suhail Ansari

The ‘international yoga teacher’ first came under the scanner in March this year when his vulgar videos went viral on social media.

While the ‘cheap publicity’ got him over 1.44 lakh followers on Instagram, Suhail Ansari drew the ire of Hindu leaders including Pandit Dheerendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham.

The latter had also accused the ‘yoga teacher’ of getting 4 Hindu women married to Muslim men.

Pandit Dhirendra Shastri remarked, “There is a yoga teacher named Suhail who traps young girls and gets their Nikah done with Muslim men. 4 Hindu daughters have already fallen prey to it.”

“When such things happen in India, my blood boils,” he said in a viral video.

Following the social media uproar, Suhail Ansari posted an ‘apology video’ and vowed to do course correction.

“My intentions are not to hurt anyone’s sentiments or feelings. I apologise from the bottom of my heart if I have hurt people’s sentiments. If any of my videos have hurt your sentiments, message me on Instagram and I will delete those videos,” the ‘international yoga teacher’ said.

Our team happened to stumble upon his Instagram profile and monitor his activity on the social media platform. OpIndia can confirm that Ansari is back to his old business of sexualising female students and using them as ‘bait’ in his videos.

Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari
Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari

While it is true that he temporarily did course correction, Suhail Ansari has now resumed uploading ‘vulgar videos’ in the name of Yoga. OpIndia found at least 6 disturbing posts from August alone.

Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari
Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari

Suhail Ansari attempts to shield himself from social media scrutiny by labelling his vulgar videos as ‘Advanced yoga training.’

Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari
Screengrab of the recent Instagram posts of Suhail Ansari

OpIndia found that many of his ‘yoga training videos’ are filled with captions and emojis, making sexual innuendos.

“Have a look at this place,” read the caption of the thumbnail featuring the bare navel region of one of his students. “Did you forget me?”, read the caption of another hypersexualised Instagram post.

Our team also spotted the ‘Om symbol’ next to the problematic captions in videos, prominently featuring his perversions. At the time of writing, it remains unknown whether any legal action is being taken against him.

Al-Qaeda linked module in Ranchi: Dr Ishtiaq, his associates wanted to form suicide squad, planning to turn India into Islamic Nation, Delhi Police finds

OpIndia Staff
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Al-Qaeda linked module in Ranchi: Dr Ishtiaq, his associates wanted to form suicide squad, planning to turn India into Islamic Nation, Delhi Police finds

Al Qaeda-linked terrorist module’s head Dr. Ishtiaq who was caught from Ranchi in Jharkhand was preparing a suicide squad and had chosen a hilly area to execute his nefarious plan where he intended to bring his fellow terrorists and train them for the attacks. These shocking revelations were made by him and other accused in front of Delhi Police. According to media reports, Delhi Police’s Special Cell had recently reached Ranchi with Ishtiaq, Inamul Ansari, Shahbaz Ansari, Motiur Rahman and Altaf to know the extent of their preparation for executing their plans.

The terrorists told the authorities that they used to visit Nakata forest near Chanho village in Ranchi. This dense forest has no habitation around it and hence the activities happening inside the thick woods go unnoticed which is why it was considered the most suitable place to train terrorists. The perpetrators informed the cops that they were to be trained there to become suicide bombers along with learning how to handle weapons. They were following the orders of Dr. Ishtiaq who was responsible for their training. All of them wanted to bring Islamic rule to India.

Ishtiaq was the leader of the radical group. Some of these terrorists were reportedly sent to Rajasthan for similar training. The authorities also carried out searches in a madarsa. Jharkhand Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) carried out raids on 22nd August and arrested Ishtiaq and his associates. They are members of the Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) module. The development transpired based on a tip from Delhi Police.

Ishtiaq had expanded his terrorist module to Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. He had purchased weapons from Lakhisarai in Bihar. Raids were executed in Rajasthan. AK 47 rifle, .38 bore revolver, 6 live cartridges, 30 live cartridges of .32 bore, 30 cartridges of AK 47, dummy INSAS (Indian Small Arms System), air rifle, iron elbow pipe, hand grenade and other things were seized from there.

Mangesh Yadav encounter: How Samajwadi Party is exploiting encounter of a gangster to fuel caste polarisation

Shraddha Pandey
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Mangesh Yadav encounter: How Samajwadi Party is exploiting encounter of a gangster to fuel caste polarisation

The killing of robber Mangesh Yadav by Special Task Force (STF) during an encounter in Uttar Pradesh has sparked heated political controversy. Mangesh Yadav was involved in a high-profile theft at Bharat Ji Saraf’s “Om Ornaments” jewellery shop in Sultanpur on the 28th of August, during which more than Rs1.5 crore in valuables were stolen.

Mangesh Yadav was a wanted criminal with a Rs 1 lakh bounty on his head and numerous robbery and theft cases against him. He was killed on the 5th of September, during an encounter with the UP Police’s Special Task Force (STF) in Mishirpur Puraina under Dehat Kotwali in Sultanpur. The police said they acted in self-defence during the encounter, however, the Samajwadi Party has raked up caste angle in the matter. 

In a long rant on X, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the ruling BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has links with those involved in Sultanpur robbery. He claimed that due to these alleged links, the “main accused” Vipin Singh was made to surrender before the court in another case in Rae Bareilly two days after the robbery. He alleged that the main accused was made to surrender, and the other non-Yadav accused were shot in the leg just for show, while Mangesh Yadav was killed due to his caste.

“It seems that the ruling party had deep connections with the people involved in the Sultanpur robbery, that is why before the fake encounter, the ‘main accused’ was contacted and made to surrender and other people from the party were shot only on the legs for show and were killed on the basis of their ‘caste’,” Yadav said.

Expressing sympathy for the slain robber, Akhilesh Yadav said: “When the main accused has surrendered, all the looted goods should be returned and the government should pay compensation separately because the mental trauma caused by such incidents takes a lot of time to recover from, which leads to loss of business, which should be compensated by the government.”

Reiterating his fake encounter allegations against the Yogi government, Akhilesh said: “Fake encounters turn the protector into a predator. The solution is not fake encounters, but real law and order. BJP rule is the elixir of criminals. Till the public pressure and anger do not reach their peak, the work of sharing in the loot continues and when it seems that the public will surround them, then fake encounters are done as a superficial balm. The public understands how some people are saved and how others are trapped. Totally reprehensible!”

It has also been reported that a delegation of Samajwadi Party leaders led by Lal Bihari Yadav will visit the deceased robber Mangesh Yadav’s house to offer condolences. It appears to be an attempt to bolster Akhilesh Yadav’s position as a sole leader of the Yadav community even if that means siding with a criminal.

This, however, is not the first time that the Samajwadi Party has taken the side of criminals. In the recent Ayodhya rape case, Akhilesh Yadav demanded a DNA test of the accused in the case who raped a minor girl in Ayodhya. In this case, the Ayodhya administration had demolished the bakery of SP leader Moeed Khan, the main accused in the gang rape of a minor girl.  Last year, when Ghulam Muhammad and Asad Ahmed, the son of gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmed, both accused in the Umesh Pal murder were killed in a police encounter, Akhilesh Yadav came out in defence of the slain criminal called the encounters fake. This came even as CCTV footage of the incident clearly showed the slain duo chasing and attacking Umesh Pal with a pistol. Akhilesh Yadav has expressed his love for deceased gangster Mukhtar Ansari.

Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Janata Party has hit back at the Samajwadi Party saying that it supports and offers condolences to criminals like Mukhtar Ansari, and Mangesh Yadav among others.

“To what extent will the Samajwadi Party go in supporting criminals? Now, the Samajwadi Party visits the homes of criminals to offer condolences. First, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav goes to Mukhtar Ansari’s house to express sympathy, and now Mangesh Yadav…” BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi on Samajwadi Party leaders visiting Gangster Mangesh Yadav’s house.

What happened on 28th August?

The robbery occurred in Thatheri market, Nagar Kotwali region of Sultanpur district. Bharat Ji Saraf runs a shop called Om Ornaments Jewellery Shop in the market.  On the 28th of August, at 10 a.m., Bhartiji and her son opened their jewellery shop and began working, and people came to the shop as usual. Around 12 p.m., two customers were sitting in the shop.

Meanwhile, one of the accused entered the shop with a handkerchief covering his face and aimed his firearm at Bharatji and his son. The father and son sitting in the shop were astonished, as were both customers. Before they could react, another gang member appeared wearing a helmet and carrying a black bag. Subsequently, three additional miscreants entered the shop and ransacked it.

As the shop owner protested, one of the robbers placed the gun on his head while the other two pointed pistols towards the two customers inside the shop. Meanwhile, three others collected valuables from the shop. In the CCTV footage of the incident, the robbers looted jewellery worth Rs 1 crore 40 lakh within minutes and escaped on their bikes.

Reports say that there were a total of 12 robbers who divided themselves into 3 teams. The first team included Pushpendra, Tribhuvan and Sachin who had allegedly chalked out the plan of robbery. Among them, Tribhuvan also arranged a Bolero car. After the robbery, the miscreants fled to Rae Bareli with the jewellery in this bolero. The second group consisted of Vipin Singh, Vinay Shukla, Ajay Yadav, Arvind Yadav, Vivek Singh, and Durgesh Singh. They used to provide backup to the criminals who carried out robberies. The third group consisted of Furqan, Anuj Pratap, Arbaaz, Mangesh Yadav and Ankit Yadav who robbed the shop in broad daylight.

According to the UP Police, Yadav was one of the key suspects in the crime and a member of a bigger gang. Several other gang members had been caught earlier, but Yadav was killed after he allegedly opened fire on police.

Initially, the police said that there were 5 accused robbers, however, further investigation revealed the involvement of 12 persons. Consequently, the UP Police placed Rs 1 lakh bounty on the heads of the 12 accused and began searching for them. While the alleged gang leader Vipin Singh surrendered in Rae Bareilly, Sachin Singh, Pushpendra Singh and Tribhuvan alias Lala Harijan were arrested on Tuesday and sent to jail after treatment during an encounter at Godwa village in Nagar Kotwali. On Thursday (5th September), accused Mangesh Yadav, a resident of Angoraura in Jaunpur district, opened fire at the police, in retaliation, the UP STF officer Dharmendra Shahi shot Yadav dead.  Police also seized approximately 15 kg of silver jewellery, Rs 38,500 in cash, a stolen bike, 3 illegal guns, 3 cartridges, and 6 shells from the miscreants.

Responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s “caste-based fake encounter” allegations, UP STF CO Dharmendra Shahi simply said: “I cannot say much on this. Everyone has their own opinion.”

8 robbery and theft cases against Mangesh Yadav

Notably, Mangesh Yadav had around 8 theft and robbery cases registered against him. In 2021, the district’s Karaundikala police station registered the first theft and recovery case against Mangesh Yadav. Six cases were filed against him until 2022. In 2023, action was taken against him under the Gangster Act by the Karaundikala Police Station. In 2024, bike theft was reported in Jaunpur. The stolen bike was allegedly used in the Sultanpur jewellery robbery. On the 28th of August 2024, his name appeared in the Sultanpur bullion robbery case. On Thursday morning, he was neutralised in a police encounter, thus, marking the end of his four-year criminal life.

While Mangesh Yadav has been killed, three others have been arrested and Vipin Singh has surrendered, Furqan, Anuj Pratap Singh, Arbaaz, Vinay Shukla,  Ankit Yadav, Ajay Yadav, Arvind Yadav, Vivek Singh and Durgesh Pratap Singh are still absconding.

Ujjain shocker: Woman raped on the roadside, passersby watch over and shoot videos instead of rescuing her

OpIndia Staff
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Ujjain shocker: Woman raped on the roadside, passersby watch over and shoot videos instead of rescuing her

In yet another illustration of shocking pusillanimity and apathy towards crimes against women, a woman was raped on the roadside in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain with a bevvy of passersby watching over without even trying to rescue her. In fact, one man shot the video and posted it online.

The woman later filed an FIR against the culprit, leading to his arrest.

Om Prakash Mishra, Ujjain’s City Superintendent of Police (CSP), stated, “Yesterday (Thursday) around 3:30 pm, a woman came to the police station and reported being raped. A woman officer was immediately called, her statement was taken, and an FIR was registered after informing senior officers.”

The police reported that the woman identified a man named Lokesh as the suspect in her complaint. “A team was immediately assembled and sent to locate Lokesh. We apprehended him within two hours of filing the FIR,” said Mishra. Lokesh was taken to the police station and, during questioning, confessed to the crime.

The woman underwent a medical examination, and Lokesh was brought before the court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Mishra stated, “Additionally, the woman’s statement was recorded in court today (Friday), where she confirmed the rape incident. A video of the crime, which was also received by the police, has been taken as evidence.”

The police allege that the accused “promised to marry the victim, gave her alcohol, and then raped her on Wednesday.”

Congress tries to politicise the Ujjain rape incident even as it observes reticence on the RG Kar Hospital incident and rape cases against SP leaders

The incident, nevertheless, has awakened the opposition Congress party from its deep slumber. State Congress president Jitu Patwari criticised the BJP, pointing out that while the party was protesting nationwide over the RG Kar rape-murder case, a woman was raped on a footpath in the Chief Minister’s constituency in Madhya Pradesh.

However, ironically, the Congress party itself is accused of being relatively soft on the RG Kar Hospital incident compared to other incidents reported elsewhere in the country, especially in the BJP-ruled state. Rahul Gandhi is yet to visit the RG Kar Hospital victim’s family even as they level serious allegations against the TMC-led West Bengal government, headed by Mamata Banerjee, one of the key allies of the INDI alliance.

Besides, the Congress party has also maintained radio silence on minor rape cases allegedly involving leaders of the Samajwadi Party, another key alliance partner in the INDI bloc. Earlier this week, the DNA sample of Nawab Singh Yadav, a former Samajwadi Party leader arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl, matched with the sample taken from the survivor in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh.

Nawab Singh Yadav, who was previously an associate of Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav, was arrested on August 12 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act. He was subsequently placed in 14-day judicial custody for the alleged rape of the minor.

Just hours before his arrest, the survivor contacted the police, reporting that she had been stripped and an attempt to assault her had been made.

The incident took place in the Kotwali Nagar area of Kannauj. Chaudhary Chandan Singh Mahavidyalaya of Samajwadi Party leader and former block chief Nawab Singh Yadav is in Adangapur village.

Before this, Samajwadi Party leader Moid Khan and his servant Raju Khan were accused of gangraping a minor girl from the Nishad community in Ayodhya. The bakery shop where this incident took place, Moid Khan’s establishment, has since been demolished using a bulldozer. Moid Khan is close to Samajwadi MP Awadhesh Prasad from Ayodhya. Many pictures of the two together have also surfaced. Moid Khan had also campaigned for Awadhesh Prasad in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

BJP Madhya Pradesh president V D Sharma responded by accusing the Congress of politicising the incident.

“The Congress is trying to exploit the incident because they have no real issues to challenge the Madhya Pradesh government,” he said. “The BJP government was the first to introduce a law that allows the death penalty for such crimes. The accused has been arrested, and the state government will ensure that strict action is taken against them.”

PIL seeking ban on series “IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack” withdrawn from Delhi HC after Netflix added disclaimer disclosing real names of terrorists

ANI
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PIL seeking ban on series “IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack” withdrawn from Delhi HC after Netflix added disclaimer disclosing real names of terrorists

The PIL seeking direction to ban Netflix’s series “IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack” has been withdrawn from the Delhi High Court. The petitioner, through counsel, stated that Netflix’s addition of a disclaimer clarifies the real names of the terrorists involved in the hijacking and addresses the concerns raised in the PIL.

Recently, the PIL was moved by Surjit Singh Yadav, Chief of Hindu Sena, to seek a ban on Netflix’s series, namely “IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack.” The PIL alleged that the series distorts the actual identities of the terrorists involved in the hijacking.

The petitioner through Advocate Shashi Ranjan has approched the court against the television miniseries “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” directed by Anubhav Sinha, citing inaccuracies in its portrayal of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Flight 814.

The disclaimer added in the show

The petition claimed that the miniseries erroneously assigns Hindu names such as “Bhola” and “Shankar”–names associated with Lord Shiva–to the real hijackers Ibrahim Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir.

This, according to the petitioner, distorts the identities of the hijackers, misrepresents historical events, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and offends the sentiments of the Hindu community. The petitioner seeks the court’s intervention to prevent further public misunderstanding and potential harm.

The plea mentioned that India’s Constitution, which upholds secularism and religious harmony in a multi-religious society, mandates mutual respect for all religions as a fundamental right.

It asserts that film producers, directors, and actors have a constitutional duty to avoid disturbing religious feelings and sentiments. Consequently, the Cinematograph Act, 1952 was enacted by Parliament to regulate feature films and ensure they adhere to these principles. The plea seeks the court’s intervention to address these concerns in the context of the miniseries “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.”

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reportedly summoned Netflix’s content head in response to accusations on social media that the makers of “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” deliberately altered the names of the hijackers to “Bhola” and “Shankar.”

According to the reports, Netflix India’s officials recently met with the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to address concerns about the series “IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack.” Following the meeting, Netflix has committed to reviewing the series and updating the disclaimer to include the real names of the hijackers. Additionally, Netflix assured that future content on their platform will be more sensitive to national sentiments.

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

New eye drops for presbyopia that will help you get rid of glasses? No, the claims are misleading, say govt sources, company blames media for sensationalisation

OpIndia Staff
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New eye drops for presbyopia that will help you get rid of glasses? No, the claims are misleading, say govt sources, company blames media for sensationalisation

Recently, many media portals reported about a new, innovative eye drop that will ‘cure’ presbyopia, a common eyesight disorder among persons who are above 40 years of age.

“India’s drug regulatory body has approved a new treatment designed to eliminate the need for reading glasses for millions suffering from presbyopia. Mumbai-based Entod Pharmaceuticals has developed ‘PresVu’ eye drops, aimed at treating this age related vision condition, which affects between 1.09 billion and 1.80 billion people worldwide”, read a post by Business Today.

Mirror Now ran a post that read, “Imagine a world where we no longer need to reach for our reading glasses every time we pick up a book, check our phone, or at a menu. For millions of people over 40, this could soon be a reality. However, Entod Pharmaceuticals has introduced PresVu, India’s first eye drop designed specifically to reduce dependence on reading glasses for those with presbyopia a common age-related condition that makes it difficult to focus on close objects.”

Post by Mirror Now

Many media portals ran the ‘news’ declaring that the new eye drops by Entod Pharmaceuticals will help persons with presbyopia get rid of glasses. Naturally, curiosity around the product was spiked and some news reports and social media posts even hailed it as a remarkable innovation.

Kiran Majumdar Shaw, the founder-CEO of Biocon shared, “PresVu Eye drops that could eliminate the need for reading glasses approved – This is indeed promises to be a great innovation addressing a huge unmet need.”

Post by Kiran Majumdar Shaw

Entod Pharma’s CEO Nikhil K Masurkar had shared the news of the PresVu’s approval by the Subject Expert Committee of Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in April. He had added that the drops can eliminate the need for eyeglasses in persons with mild to intermediate presbyopia.

Govt sources say the company is making ‘unethical, unverified claims’

Days after the so-called ‘innovation’ of the eye drops claimed headlines all over the country, government sources have stated that the claims ade by the company Entod Pharmaceuticals are misleading and unethical.

ANI quoted government sources saying, “This is unethical and false representation of facts. The company has been asked for an explanation for the false representation of the drug regulator.”

So currently, even the claims of DCGI approval are under doubt.

As per ANI, many medical experts had called the company’s product as an ‘imperfect and temporary’ solution.

ANI quoted Dr Charu Mittal, Senior Consultant, Department of Opthalmology at Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi, as saying, “Pilocarpine eye drops have been used for the treatment of glaucoma since at least 75 years. They constrict your pupils causing a pinhole effect helping you to read. It is an imperfect and temporary solution for reading problems. Spectacles are the perfect solution.”

Dr Samir Sud, the co-founder and director of Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals stated ANI, “This drop, PresVu, claims to clear your near vision, or what we call presbyopia. This drop is nothing but pilocarpine in a different concentration. It constricts your pupils and due to the pinhole effect, we can see near and distance without glasses. But pilocarpine also has some complications. We don’t know how this drug will behave in the eye after it goes to the masses.”

Dr Tushar Grover, Associate Consultant, Department of Opthalmology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, “The drops recently introduced for correction of presbyopia are essentially pilocarpine eye drops at a relatively lower concentration. The molecule by itself is not new and has been around for decades, used in the treatment of glaucoma.”

ENTOD Pharma denies false representation, blames media for misleading headlines

Meanwhile, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals has dismissed allegations that it made unethical or false presentation of facts to the media or public about its product, PresVu eye drops.

Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO, Entod Pharmaceuticals, said in a statement late Thursday evening, “We at ENTOD Pharmaceuticals hereby declare that we have not made any of the unethical or false presentation of facts to the media or public when it comes to PresVu eye drops. All facts disclosed to the media are strictly on the basis of the approved indication for treatment of presbyopia in adults and the Phase 3 clinical trial data generated by us. “

The company further mentioned that the opinions and claims printed in news stories do not represent ENTOD Pharmaceuticals. “Some of the opinions and claims printed in news stories do not represent that of ENTOD Pharmaceuticals or any of its spokespeople. The widespread media interest in such a therapy has been unprecedented and has led to sensationalization of the story.”

(With inputs from ANI)

Kangana Ranaut confirms release of ‘Emergency’ has been postponed, says “still waiting for the certification from censor board”

ANI
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Kangana Ranaut confirms release of ‘Emergency’ has been postponed, says “still waiting for the certification from censor board”

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut said on Friday that the release of her much-awaited film ‘Emergency’ has been postponed.

The actor-turned-MP said that the delay was because of pending certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Taking to X, she wrote, “With a heavy heart I announce that my directorial Emergency has been postponed, we are still waiting for the certification from censor board, new release date will be announced soon, thanks for your understanding and patience”

On September 1, trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared that the release of Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Emergency’ has been postponed.

“#BreakingNews… #Emergency postponed… Won’t release on 6 Sept 2024. #ZeeStudios #KanganaRanaut,” he wrote on Instagram.

The movie, in which Ranaut portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was initially slated for release on September 6.

The film, a biographical political thriller, delves into the life of Indira Gandhi, who imposed a 21-month emergency period from 1975 to 1977.

‘Emergency’ has been embroiled in controversies for some time now including facing backlash several Sikh groups.

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that it is unable to direct the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to issue the certificate as it would contradict the MP High Court order.

The Court has also asked the CBFC to take a decision by September 18.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 19.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the co-producer company of the ‘Emergency’, approached the Bombay High Court seeking the release of the film and a censor certificate.

A petition was filed in the Bombay High Court, claiming that the Censor Board had arbitrarily and illegally withheld the censor certificate of the film.

The MP High Court had directed the CBFC to consider the representations made by Sikh groups who had filed a petition before it.

After the Bombay High Court refused to order certification for the film ‘Emergency’, Kangana Ranaut said that she has become everyone’s favourite target and this is the price one pays for awakening the ‘sleeping nation.’

In a post on X, Kangana said on Wednesday, “Today I have become everyone’s favourite target, this is the price you pay for awakening this sleeping nation, they don’t know what I am talking about they have no clue why I am so concerned, because they want peace, they don’t want to take sides. They are cool, you know chilled!! Ha ha wish that poor soldier on the border had the same privilege of being cool, wish he didn’t have to take sides, and consider Pakistanis/Chinese his enemies. He is protecting you while you can lust over terrorists or anti- nationals.”

“Wish that young woman whose crime was only that she was alone on the road and was raped to pieces, she was probably a gentle and kind person who loved humanity but was her humanity reciprocated? Wish all the robbers and criminals were also having the same love and affection like this cool and sleeping generation but the truth of life is something else. Don’t worry they are coming for you if some of us also become cool like you all they will get you and then you will know the importance of uncool people,” she added.

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

NIA files first chargesheet against key accused Inderpal Singh Gaba for 2023 attack on Indian High Commission in London

OpIndia Staff
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NIA files first chargesheet against key accused Inderpal Singh Gaba for 2023 attack on Indian High Commission in London

On 5th September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted its initial charge sheet regarding the two violent assaults that occurred at the Indian High Commission in London in March of last year. The agency has charged United Kingdom national Inderpal Singh Gaba in the conspiracy. He lives in Hounslow and was held by immigration officials at the Attari border in Amritsar approximately five months after arriving from London via Pakistan. He was captured on 25th April after he entered India to visit the Golden Temple. The chargesheet was filed in a special NIA court.

A NIA spokesperson informed, “Inderpal Singh Gaba, a UK national residing in Hounslow and originally hailing from New Delhi, has been charge-sheeted as one of the agitators who had participated actively in the anti-India protest, which took place on March 22 last year in front of Indian High Commission, London, as part of the Khalistani secessionist agenda. He was arrested by the NIA on April 25 this year after exhaustive investigations that established his role in the secessionist activity.”

He further stated, “In December 2023, he was earlier detained by the Immigration Authorities at the Attari border on arrival from London via Pakistan, based on the Look Out Circular opened against him. Investigations were then initiated against Inderpal and he was asked not to leave the country while the probe continued. During the investigation, the NIA seized his mobile phone and scrutinised the data, including several incriminating videos/photos of the incident, and eventually established his involvement in the incident.”

The spokesperson added, “Investigations have revealed that the attacks in London were conspired and perpetrated in retaliation to the action taken by Punjab police against Amritpal Singh, Chief of Waris Punjab De, with the objective of influencing the crackdown on the outfit and its leader. The violent attack on the High Commission was aimed at furthering and achieving the cause of Khalistan by secession in Punjab.”

On 22nd March 2023 around 2,000 pro-Khalistan elements broke into the Indian High Commission building in the capital city of Britain and tossed objects, including ink, to deface the building. Three days before the incident, a smaller mob had attacked the high commission, pulled down the Indian flag disrespectfully and injured some embassy officials in the process. The agency had travelled to London last year to probe the attacks with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police. Following the visit, the organisation unveiled a CCTV clip from the attack on 19th March and named at least 45 suspects.

Avtar Singh Khanda, a radical Sikh from Britain who passed away in a United Kingdom hospital in June 2023, was the mastermind behind the demonstrators. He was a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara. The assault was in retaliation for the police action against “Waris Punjab De” supremo Amritpal Singh on 18th March who was eventually arrested on 23rd April and later became a Lok Sabha MP from Khadoor Sahib. He is being held in a high-security facility in Dibrugarh, Assam, after being charged under the strict National Security Act (NSA).

Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden pleads guilty to 9 charges in $1.4 million tax evasion case: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden pleads guilty to 9 charges in $1.4 million tax evasion case: Details

On Thursday, September 5th, Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden pleaded guilty to around 9 charges in a federal tax evasion case. This move of son Biden is said to have surprised federal prosecutors as they planned to begin his trial.

Earlier, Hunter had refuted charges that he willfully avoided paying $1.4 million in income tax between 2016 and 2019. Biden, 54, first stated that he intended to enter a plea in which he would accept the allegations while maintaining his innocence. Still, prosecutors objected, and he just agreed to plead guilty simply.

As per the reports, 3 months ago, Biden was found guilty in another case related to gun possession and drug usage. He then became the first criminally convicted son of a serving US president.

The last-minute reversal in the tax case was declared in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, just as jury selection was about to begin. Over 100 potential jurors had assembled to start the process of selecting the panel.
 
Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, stated that his client sought to avoid a trial for the sake of private interest, preventing his friends and family from testifying about something that occurred when he was addicted to drugs. “I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment,” Hunter said in a statement to the media.

Judge Mark Scarsi stated that by pleading guilty, Biden potentially faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in jail and a fine ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16th, a month after the White House election and a month before his father is scheduled to leave the office.

President Biden had already stated that he would not utilize executive power to pardon his son. The prosecution, representing the Biden administration’s justice department, claimed they were shocked by the proposed Alford plea (a guilty plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence) and were hesitant to agree to the setup that allowed Hunter Biden to maintain his innocence. They stated that the prisoner was “not entitled to plead guilty on special terms that apply only to him”.

Lead prosecutor Leo Wise commented on the case and claimed that Biden was not innocent and that the authorities had come to the court to deal with the trial. In court on Thursday, September 5th, after prosecutors finished reading the 56-page indictment against Biden, the judge pondered whether Biden had agreed that he had committed every element of every crime charged. “I do,” Biden answered.

Biden previously attempted to have the case dismissed, claiming that the Justice Department’s probe was politically motivated and that he was targeted because Republican senators were seeking to impeach his father. However, he accepted all the nine charges imposed against him, pleading guilty. 

Hunter Biden meanwhile also claimed that David Weiss, the special counsel in the case, was appointed unlawfully. But these reasons were rejected by Judge Scarsi, who was chosen by former President Trump. Biden was charged with three felony tax offences and six misdemeanours in December. These included failing to file and pay his taxes, evading taxes, and submitting a fake return.

The indictment outlined Biden’s $7 million in profits from overseas business dealings between 2016 and 2019. According to the accusation, he spent roughly $5 million on everything but his taxes during that time. Those purchases included narcotics, escorts, opulent hotels, fancy automobiles, and apparel, which Biden falsely claimed were business costs.

President Biden avoided commenting on the issue on Thursday. Hunter’s tax evasion prosecution is his second federal criminal case this year.

In June, he was convicted of three felony charges stemming from his purchase of a revolver in 2018 while suffering from drug addiction, as well as lying about his drug use on a federal form to obtain the gun.

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