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Rumours of ISIS claiming responsibility for Moscow terror attack are unfounded, says Russian state media; PM Modi condemns the assault

OpIndia Staff
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Rumours of ISIS claiming responsibility for Moscow terror attack are unfounded, says Russian state media; PM Modi condemns the assault

A terrifying attack unfolded at a concert on Friday night (22nd February) close to Moscow, leaving a cloud of fear over the area. Armed with automatic guns and dressed in camouflage, the assailants opened fire on unsuspecting concertgoers resulting in the death of over 130 people and injuring at least 150 others.

Soon after the attack, an image started circulating on social media which attributed the attack to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and claimed, “A security source told Amaq Agency: Islamic State fighters attacked a large gathering of Christians in the city of Krasnogorsk on the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow, killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the police before they withdrew to their bases safely.”

However, Russia’s official news media platform RT has dismissed the assertion as false and wrote, “Fake! Rumours ISIS claim responsibility for terrorist attack are unfounded. The widely-shared image of what is alleged to be a statement by the group taking responsibility for the incident uses a news template that ISIS abandoned many years ago.”

On 23rd March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also denounced the deadly assault ranked among the bloodiest attacks on Russian territory in recent memory and is eerily reminiscent of the tragic Beslan school siege in 2004. He conveyed, “We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief.”

The attackers fired automatic guns and threw an incendiary bomb or grenade, setting the place on fire, according to state-run RIA Novosti. Then they allegedly drove off in a white Renault. Several thousand people were inside the performance venue having a good time on a weekend night, according to sources. There was a popular Russian band that was scheduled to play at the hall.

Terrifying videos and pictures began to surface on social media as the assailants stormed the venue with guns and incendiary devices, causing chaos and destruction. According to reports from Russian media networks, the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow has seating for approximately 9,000 people.

‘Welcome to Tihar Jail’: Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar takes a dig at Arvind Kejriwal, threatens to expose him

OpIndia Staff
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‘Welcome to Tihar Jail’: Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar takes a dig at Arvind Kejriwal, threatens to expose him

Sukesh Chandrasekhar, the conman currently in jail for extortion, has issued a threat to expose Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

“After Kejriwal was handed a six-day custody till March 28 in the Delhi liquor scam, Chandrasekhar stated, “Truth has prevailed. I welcome him to Tihar jail.”

Chandrasekhar added, “I will reveal the truth about him. I am willing to become an approver against Kejriwal and his team. I am determined to ensure that he faces consequences for his actions.”

Earlier on Friday, the conman penned a letter in which he remarked that the “three brothers will now run the Tihar club,” taking a jab at Kejriwal and his former ministers.

Back in February, Chandrasekhar had claimed that he had been facing pressure tactics, including offers of tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, over the past three days to retract his complaints and statements against Kejriwal.

In his three-page statement, Chandrasekhar asserted, “I will stand against you in Delhi, right in your own constituency, as an Independent candidate in the upcoming Assembly elections.”

“Kejriwal ji, I will demonstrate to you how the people of your constituency and Delhi truly feel about your so-called ‘maha thug’,” he wrote.

Arvind Kejriwal arrested by Enforcement Directorate

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after his house was searched and he was questioned Thursday evening. Reportedly, the ED was forced to arrest him as he was not cooperating with the investigation and refused to go to the ED office for questioning. The Delhi CM was insisting that ED question him in his residence only, after which he was arrested.

A team of the Enforcement Directorate reached his residence this evening, hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant interim protection from arrest by ED. The ED officials reached the official residence of Arvind Kejriwal this evening reportedly with a search warrant.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused interim protection from coercive action to Kejriwal and said at this stage the court is not inclined to grant interim relief. The court was hearing a plea by Kejriwal seeking protection from coercive action against him in connection with the excise policy case. During the hearing, Kejriwal’s lawyers stated that they have apprehension that the ED will arrest him and that he is ready to appear if he is given protection.

Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast: Limited edition baseball cap provided major clue to police to identify Musavir Hussain Shazib as perpetrator

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast: Limited edition baseball cap provided major clue to police to identify Musavir Hussain Shazib as perpetrator

Important information about the suspect in the explosion, that injured nine people, has been gleaned from the baseball cap that the suspect was wearing when he detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on 1st March, reported The Indian Express. A cap he was witnessed wearing in the CCTV video turned up abandoned adjacent to a Mosque around three kilometers from the Whitefield Cafe where he reportedly changed his shirt to a round-neck t-shirt.

Investigators found their way to a mall in central Chennai by the branded cap with the number 10 engraved on it. The cap was sold at a branded retail establishment in late January. Additional CCTV footage showed two men, including the suspect from the cafe CCTV recordings, purchasing the cap and other products, according to multiple sources involved in the inquiry. The company, which exclusively operates in South India through retail locations and internet sales, has sold just about 400 of the caps, which are part of a limited edition item series from a young brand. According to police sources, every cap has a unique number that can be linked to the point of sale.

Police located the people who had purchased the cap by comparing the purchase date with the retail location’s CCTV footage. Sources disclosed, “The store had CCTV backup for over a month. The cap was purchased in January 2024.” Several people acquainted with the investigation said that CCTV evidence from the store and footage from Bengaluru, where the suspect was captured riding a public bus without a mask, had helped authorities piece together the identity of the culprit.

An official wanted poster with The Rameshwaram Cafe suspect’s details. (Source: The Indian Express)

Police sources indicated that the man is believed to be Musavir Hussain Shazib, a suspected terrorist from the Islamic State’s Shivamogga module. Investigative agencies have been tracking him since January 2020, and the National Investigation Agency has offered a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his capture. According to police sources, “The new CCTV footage confirms the theory that the suspect is Shazib.”

A senior Bengaluru police officer informed, “There are similarities with a suspect who has been missing for over four years. It can be confirmed only scientifically or after an arrest.” The sources noted that hair samples from the suspect’s family members could be utilised to perform a DNA match because of the samples that investigating agencies obtained from the baseball cap.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated, “The identity of the suspect has been established in some ways. We have to confirm it and catch him. The NIA and CCB are working together. We are getting closer,” on 11th March.

Islamic State’s module in Shivamogga

A key suspect from the Islamic State’s Shivamogga module was taken into custody by the NIA on 14th March as part of its investigations. The accused was being held at Bengaluru Central Prison in relation to a case involving test bombs in Shivamogga in 2022. Maaz Muneer Ahmed, a 25-year-old postgraduate student in engineering, was detained to identify the suspects and their contacts. He was returned to judicial custody on 20th March.

The two primary suspects identified by the NIA and Shivamogga police as the brains behind the IS module are Abdul Matheen Taha and Musavir Hussain Shazib. They have been evasive and considered to be located abroad. The Rameshwaram Cafe explosion is now being connected to both.

Around 2016, a group of young people who frequented a Dawah Center in Thirthahalli, where extremist preachers were invited gave rise to the Shivamogga ISIS module. Two local youngsters, Taha and Shazib, headed a group of around a dozen young individuals who were aligned with the ideology of ISIS during the meetings.

Since 2021, the NIA has apprehended at least ten people from the module concerning three separate incidents, an accidental bomb in an autorickshaw in Mengaluru (November 2022), trial blasts in Shivamogga (September 2022), and a contentious graffiti case in Mangaluru (2021).

The plot to recruit and radicalise youths with ties to ISIS first surfaced in December 2019, when the Tamil Nadu police launched a search for Khaja Moideen, an Islamic State-linked suspect from the state who vanished while awaiting trial for two terrorism-related charges in the state including the killing of a Hindu leader and the recruitment of youngsters for the Islamic State.

Udupi washroom case: CID files chargesheet against 3 Muslim girls, probe reveals they deleted video to destroy evidence

OpIndia Staff
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Udupi washroom case: CID files chargesheet against 3 Muslim girls, probe reveals they deleted video to destroy evidence

Eight months after three Muslim girls were caught recording their Hindu classmate inside the washroom of Netra Jyoti College in Udupi city of Karnataka, the  Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a chargesheet against the trio in the Udupi Principal and JNMF Court.

As per reports, the investigation conducted by the CID proved that Shabanaz, Alfiya and Alimath Ul Safa placed mobile phones in the washroom to videotape their classmate. Later, they deleted the video to destroy the evidence.

The three accused wanted to record their ‘friend’ using the girl’s washroom but ended up recording another girl. When the matter became public, the trio confessed to the crime to the college administration. Later, they wrote an ‘apology letter’ to the victim.

A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has confirmed that the accused’s handwriting matched that of the handwriting in the apology letter. The chargesheet was filed by CID DySP Anju Mala.

The CID has claimed that there was no involvement of external organisations or any ‘communal angle’ in the crime.

While speaking about the matter to The Indian Express, a CID officer informed, “We collected other forensic evidence from the phone and the girls also confessed to the crime during the investigation. Based on these, we chargesheeted them. The girls claimed to have done it for fun, but it is a punishable offence,” a CID officer said.

Another CID officer told CNN-News18 that the video was supposedly not shared with anyone and the accused deleted them ‘immediately.’ The investigation agency has failed to retrieve the said video.

Shabanaz, Alfiya and Alimath Ul Safa have been chargesheeted under Indian Peanl Code (IPC) Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 204 (secretly destroying electronic record), 509 (intending to insult the modesty of any woman) and Section 66 E of the Information Technology.

They were granted bail by a local court in July last year.

The Udupi bathroom video case

On 21st July 2023, a Karnataka-based organisation, All College Student Power (ACSP), wrote the Superintendent of Police, district Udupi, about this crime at Netra Jyoti College where three female students of the Muslim community secretly made a video of Hindu female students and shared the mobile phone.

As per the letter sent by ACSP, students at Netra Jyoti College learned about it on the 20th of July and protested against it.

The college took up the matter, and three students responsible for recording the videos were suspended effective immediately, pending internal investigation. Though the victim(s) did not wish to file an official complaint in the matter, the college went ahead and informed the police keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter.

After social media outrage, the police filed an FIR against the 3 Muslim women who were indulging in the criminal activity and the college administration for not only destroying evidence but also for not providing information and documents during the investigation.

The police initially took suo motu cognisance of the matter but later the case was transferred by the Karnataka government to the CID.

Cash for Query scam: Premises linked to expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra raided by CBI

OpIndia Staff
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Cash for Query scam: Premises linked to expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra raided by CBI

On Saturday, March 23, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at the residences of TMC leader and expelled Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra in the cash for query scam. Other places in Kolkata are also being raided in connection to the case.

Notably, Lokpal had ordered a CBI inquiry against the TMC leader Mahua Moitra in the cash for query scam, and had also asked the agency to submit monthly updates in the case.

The Lokpal added that a detailed inquiry must be conducted against the TMC MP to get all the facts of the case.

CBI initiated an inquiry against expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra on 25th November. The CBI is probing allegations that she was taking bribes to raise questions in Parliament. 

Mahuagate: TMC MP Mahua Moitra faces allegations of ‘cash for query’

On 8th December, Lok Sabha expelled Trinamool Congress’s MP Mahua Moitra based on the recommendations of the Ethics Committee in a cash-for-query case. Moitra was expelled hours after the Ethics Committee report was tabled in Lok Sabha.

On 14th October, the Indian political scene experienced a major tremor as BJP MP Nishkant Dubey wrote to the ethics committee seeking an inquiry against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in the ‘Cash for Query’ matter. He based his complaint on the letter written by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who alleged that most of the questions asked by the TMC MP in Lok Sabha directly or indirectly benefit businessman Darshan Hiranandani. Dehadrai also accused Moitra of “kidnapping” his pet dog Henry, adding another layer of complications to Mahuagate.

Moitra filed a case against Dubey and Dehadrai but never denied accepting gifts. Interestingly, she has also been accused of sharing her Lok Sabha credentials with Hiranandani so he can post questions independently. Hiranandani has reportedly turned approver in the case and submitted an affidavit suggesting the allegations against Moitra are true.

Russia: ISIS carries out deadly terror attack in Moscow, kills more than 40 people

ANI
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Russia: ISIS carries out deadly terror attack in Moscow, kills more than 40 people

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the massive attack on concert hall in the Russian capital that left at least 40 people dead and over 100 wounded, CNN reported.

A group of armed men stormed into Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and opened fire and detonated explosives among the crowd on Friday (local time).

The terror group took responsibility for the attack in a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday. However, ISIS has not provided any evidence to support the claim.

Video footage from the site of the attack, the Crocus City Hall concert venue on fire with smoke billowing into the air. It showed crowds of people huddling together, screaming and ducking behind cushioned seats as gunshots started echoing in the vast hall.

State-run RIA Novosti reported the armed individuals “opened fire with automatic weapons” and “threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.” They then “allegedly fled in a white Renault car,” the news agency said.

The claim by the Islamic State was also confirmed by US officials shortly afterwards, the New York Times reported.

The US officials said they had privately apprised Russian officials about the intelligence pointing to an impending attack, the New York Times reported.

The United States collected intelligence in March that Islamic State-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, the branch of the group based in Afghanistan, had been planning an attack on Moscow, according to officials. ISIS members have been active in Russia, a US official said.

After a period of relative quiet, the Islamic State has been trying to increase its external attacks, according to US counterterrorism officials. Most of those plots in Europe have been thwarted, prompting assessments that the group has diminished capabilities.

The attack on Friday in Moscow, followed by the one in Iran in January, could prompt a reassessment of its ability to strike outside its home territory, according to the NYT.

“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years,” frequently criticising President Vladimir Putin in its propaganda, said Colin P Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consulting firm based in New York.

“ISIS-K accuses the Kremlin of having Muslim blood in its hands, referencing Moscow’s interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria,” he added.

The US officials said that in addition to publicly warning on March 7 about a possible attack, they had privately told Russian officials about the intelligence pointing to an impending attack, the New York Times reported. But, it is not clear how much information Washington gave to the Moscow officials beyond what was in the public warning.

Earlier, the US had also warned Iran of a possible attack ahead of twin bombings in January that killed at least 103 people and wounded 211 others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike four years before. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for that attack too.

Meanwhile, regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said everything was being done to save people in what is now the deadliest terror attack on Moscow in decades. A SWAT team was called to the area and more than 70 ambulance teams and doctors were assisting victims.

115 people have been hospitalised, including five children, the Russian Health Ministry told TASS. 60 people are in a ‘serious condition’.

Moscow City Duma Chairman Alexey Shaposhnikov called on Moscow residents to donate blood to help treat victims, saying that “this is a matter of life and death for dozens of people,” as reported by CNN.

Around 100 people were evacuated from the building by firefighters, TASS reported. Rescuers are still working to get people off the roof, according to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.

Maldives: President Mohamed Muizzu, who earlier led ‘India Out’ campaign, now pleads Modi govt for debt relief

ANI
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Maldives: President Mohamed Muizzu, who earlier led ‘India Out’ campaign, now pleads Modi govt for debt relief

Toeing a reconciliatory tone after a diplomatic row with India, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has requested New Delhi for debt relief measures, while stating that India will continue to remain Maldives’ “closest ally,” local media reported.

He further claimed that he has “not taken any action nor made any statements” that may strain the relationship between the two countries.

Notably, this was President Muizzu’s first interview since assuming office.

In an interview with local media ‘Mihaaru’, President Muizzu said that he hopes India will accommodate debt relief measures for the Maldives’ in the repayment of the hefty loans taken from the country over consecutive governments.

“The conditions we have inherited are such that there are very large loans taken from India. Hence, we are holding discussions to explore leniencies in the repayment structure of these loans. Instead of halting any ongoing projects, proceed with them at speed. So I see no reason for any adverse effects [on Maldives-India relations],” he said.

Maldives-based The Edition reported that during former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, Maldives took a USD 1.4 million loan from India’s Export and Import Bank (Exim Bank). Together with this, the amount owed by Maldives to India by the end of last year stood at 6.2 billion Maldivian Rufiyaa.

Notably, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has displayed ‘anti-India’ rhetoric and he even ran the electoral campaign on the line of ‘India Out’. Since coming to power, he has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of India-Maldives ties.

He departed from a long convention by not visiting India on the first official visit and instead went to Turkey, followed by China.

Last December, the Maldives said it would not renew the Hydrographic Survey agreement made with India, a Maldives-based news website.

On being asked about his demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives, Muizzu said that his aim was to encourage the country to become ‘self-sufficient’.

President Dr Muizzu stated that his aim was to encourage the Maldives to become self-sufficient.

“However, there should not be Indian troops in the Maldives,” Muizzu said. “The most important thing is to not have troops. The second best option is for Maldivians to operate them. A solution has been reached as a compromise between these two options.”

He further said that the main aim is to remove any foreign troops from the country, adding that it is a matter of “national security.”

“That is, instead of Maldivians, their [Indian] civilians will be there. We are giving the top priority to achieving the most important target; which is the removal of [Indian] military personnel,” the Maldives President said.

“There is only one main issue. That is, foreign military having a presence in the Maldives, and those troops being from India,” he said. “Even if they are troops of some other country, we will deal with them in the same manner. I have said so very clearly. It is nothing personal but rather a matter of our national security”, he added.

The removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu’s party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.

On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.

After Muizzu government officially requested India to withdraw troops, a High-Level Core Group was set up between the two countries to discuss the matter.

The third meeting of the India-Maldives High-Level Core Group was held in Male last week, where the two sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian services to people of Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The first batch of Indian personnel in the Maldives has been replaced by technical personnel and the remaining troops will also be replaced by May 10.

Maldives President further said that he had no objections to India developing various projects across the Maldives. He also stated that India has been instrumental in providing aid to the Maldives and has implemented the greatest number of projects in the Maldives. President Muizzu said he has conveyed his appreciation to the Indian government for their contributions as well, The Edition reported.

“I also conveyed to Prime Minister Modi during our meeting that I did not intend to halt any ongoing projects. Instead, I expressed my desire to strengthen and expedite them”, he said.

President Muizzu stated that India will continue to remain the Maldives’ “closest ally” and emphasized that there was no question about it.

The row between New Delhi and Male erupted after three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over his pictures from the visit to Lakshadweep.

PM Modi had called for the Indian island cluster to be developed as a destination for beach tourism and promotion of domestic tourism.

The matter snowballed into a major diplomatic row, with New Delhi summoning the Maldivian envoy and registering a strong protest against the viral posts. The three deputy ministers were suspended and they remain under suspension with pay.

Recently, Maldives Tourism Ministry data showed that the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives has dropped by 33 per cent as compared to last year.

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

26/11-style terrorist attack in Moscow’s Crocus Concert Hall: Over 130 killed, hundreds injured

OpIndia Staff
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26/11-style terrorist attack in Moscow’s Crocus Concert Hall: Over 130 killed, hundreds injured

 Multiple deaths and injuries were reported after a group of armed men in combat fatigues stormed into the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow and unleashed gunfire and detonated explosives among the crowd on Friday (local time), Russian media reported.

Reuters has reported that at least 130 people have been killed and over 100 injured after five armed men fired on the crowd, in one of the worst attacks on Russia in years. However, the armed terrorists are still inside the Crocus Concert Hall. Casualties and injuries are likely to go up as it is not certain how many people are still trapped inside.

Explosives were also deployed inside the concert hall, visible in a large fire in the gigantic concert hall, after its roof collapsed.

Video footage shared by trapped people inside were soon viral on social media. The video showed armed gunmen firing indiscriminately inside that colossal concert hall, while people tried to run away, or hide behind chairs to protect themselves. The terrorists are armed with semi automatic weapons.

As per reports, several thousand people were gathered inside the concert hall to enjoy a weekend night. A popular Russian band was scheduled to perform at the hall. The Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow can seat over 9000 people, Russian media channels have reported.

Another video footage from the scene showed a large plume of black smoke billowing from the burning building, which appeared engulfed in flames.

As of now, hundreds of people have been evacuated from the area after several groups of Russian special forces arrived at the scene. Rescuers are still working to get people off the roof, according to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.

More than 50 ambulance teams were sent to Krasnogorsk, a town in the Moscow region, to provide medical care to all those in need, the Moscow Region Ministry of Health told RIA Novosti.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has expressed condolences for the people whose loved ones have been killed and called the incident a “terrible tragedy”, as reported by CNN.

“Today a terrible tragedy occurred in the Crocus City center. My condolences to the loved ones of the victims. I gave orders to provide all necessary assistance to everyone who suffered during the incident,” Sobyanin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has termed the incident a “monstrous crime” and has also called on the world to condemn the incident.

The modus operandi seems a lot like the Mumbai terrorist attack in 26 November 2008, where a dozen Pakistani terrorists had entered multiple civilian areas of Mumbai and had killed hundreds of people by firing indiscriminately.

USA rushes to claim ‘Ukraine is not involved’

While, the White House has condemned the attack, but has clarified that there is “no indication” of any Ukrainian involvement in the attack.

The White House said that the images of shooting in the Russian capital were “horrible and just hard to watch,” Al Jazeera reported.

“There is no indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the shooting,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “I would disabuse you at this early hour of any connection to Ukraine.”

Moscow has questioned Washington’s firm belief of Ukraine not being involved and has asked the US to share any information it has about the attack.

“The White House said it sees no signs that Ukraine or Ukrainians are involved in the terrorist attack in Moscow,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of a tragedy about someone’s innocence?” she added.

She said that if Washington had information, it should be shared and that if Washington had no information, it should not be talking in such a way.

This is a developing situation. Details will be updated.

(With inputs from ANI)

India and Bhutan sign several Memoranda of Understanding during PM Modi’s visit, including rail link between the two countries

ANI
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India and Bhutan sign several Memoranda of Understanding during PM Modi’s visit, including rail link between the two countries

As a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the nation, both India and Bhutan have signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including the establishment of rail links between the two nations.

The MoU provides for the establishment of two proposed rail links between India and Bhutan, including the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link and Banarhat-Samtse rail link and their implementation modalities, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier today, PM Modi met his Bhutanese counterpart, Tshering Tobgay in Thimphu over a working lunch hosted in his honour. He thanked PM Tobgay for the exceptional public welcome accorded to him, with people greeting him all along the journey from Paro to Thimphu.

Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister of Bhutan witnessed exchange of several MoUs/Agreements on energy, trade, digital connectivity, space, agriculture, youth connect among others, the MEA said in an official release.

Meanwhile, among several ones signed, an MoU on general supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL) and related products from India to Bhutan was also inked.

“This MoU provides for a list of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants related items. GoI would facilitate its supply to Bhutan through agreed entry/exit points,” according to MEA.

An Agreement for recognition of official control exercised by the Bhutan Food And Drug Authority (BFDA) by the Food Safety and Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI) was also agreed upon.

The agreement will facilitate the trade between India and Bhutan by promoting ease of doing business and reducing compliance cost on both sides. The MoU will make the export inspection certificate issued by BFDA acceptable by FSSAI for compliance with requirements prescribed by FSSAI, while exporting the products to India.

The MoU on cooperation in the field of Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation measures, aims to assist Bhutan to enhance energy efficiency in the household sector by promoting star labeling programme developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The MoU covers facilitating the formulation of building codes based on India’s experience, creation of a pool of energy professionals at Bhutan by institutionalizing training of energy auditors etc.

Whereas, the MoU on cooperation in Sports and Youth, would help further people to people linkages between India and Bhutan by advancing linkages between sports agencies of both sides and conduct sports activities/programmes, the MEA said in a release.

The MoU on cooperation concerning sharing reference standard, pharmacopoeia, vigilance and testing of medicinal products, was also inked between New Delhi and Thimphu. It would help further developing our close cooperation and exchanging information in the field of the regulation of medicines in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of each side. The MoU would allow for acceptance of Indian Pharmacopoeia by Bhutan as a book of standards for medicines and supply of generic medicines at affordable price.

Further, Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) on Space Cooperation provides a concrete roadmap for further developing our space cooperation through exchange programmes, training etc, and the Renewal of MoU on Peering Arrangement between National Knowledge Network of India (NKN) and Druk Research And Education Network of Bhutan, is between the National Knowledge Network (NKN) of India and Druk Research and Education Network (DrukREN) of Bhutan to renew the peering agreement between NKN and DrukREN.

The MoU will enhance digital connectivity between India and Bhutan and will benefit the scholars and research institutions of Bhutan.

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

Delhi court remands Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 after probe agency said he was the ‘kingpin of the liquor scam’

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi court remands Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 after probe agency said he was the ‘kingpin of the liquor scam’

In a big setback to the Aam Aadmi Party, the Rouse Avenue Court on March 22, Friday granted 6 days of custody of Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the money laundering case in the alleged liquor policy scam.

The decision came after the Rouse Avenue Court on Friday reserved its order on pleas by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking 10-day custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As per the court order, Arvind Kejriwal will remain in ED’s custody till 28 March. This means, Kejriwal will remain in jail during Holi, unless his lawyers are able to secure bail for him.

The ED arrested him a day before in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case and produced him before the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal ‘kingpin and key conspirator’ in liquor scam: ED tells court; seeks 10-day custody

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” in the Delhi liquor policy scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the Rouse Avenue court as it sought the custody of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader for 10 days.

The agency has claimed Kejriwal was the middleman between the ‘south group’ and other accused, including ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia (arrested last year) and AAP officer Vijay Nair.

According to the agency, the total proceeds of the alleged scam exceeded Rs 600 crore, including Rs 100 crore allegedly paid by the ‘south group’.

Meanwhile, senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor while Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju and Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared for the central probe agency.

In its arguments before the court, the ED alleged that the Chief Minister of Delhi is the key conspirator and kingpin in demanding kickbacks from businessmen. The agency further claimed that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formation of the now-scrapped Excise policy.

The ED counsel claimed that Vijay Nair, who was the media in charge of AAP, was working for Delhi CM Kejriwal. Nair, who the agency said lives adjacent to the residence of Kejriwal and acted as a middleman between the AAP and the ‘South Group’.

The ED counsel further claimed that the proceeds of crime are not only Rs 100 crore but profits made by bribe givers were also proceeds of crime. The counsel said that the agency had traced hawala trails of Rs 45 crore that were used in the Goa Elections.

ASG SV Raju said that AAP is a beneficiary, which exists as a company. Every person responsible for the conduct of the company is responsible. Apart from being liable as an individual, the CM is also vicariously liable.

The ASG said that Kejriwal’s role via the AAP is important in addition to his personal role in the alleged scam. The counsel further said that Kejriwal was not cooperative during the search.

ED further alleged that Kejriwal is responsible for all AAP affairs. He is the national convenor of the party. The kickbacks came in cash and were used in Goa assembly elections. The excise policy is a scam, it was only made to fund the Goa elections the counsel said.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal opposed the remand plea and submitted that the agency needs to show the necessity to arrest. Singhvi argued that the power of arrest and the necessity of arrest are two different things.

Singhvi further stated that there is no direct evidence. Without there being any material in possession of the Enforcement Directorate on the basis of which Kejriwal can be believed to be guilty of an offence, he is being illegally and arbitrarily arrested by the ED.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had produced Kejriwal before Rouse Avenue Court under tight security.

While entering the court complex Kejriwal told reporters, “My life is dedicated to the country whether I am inside or outside the prison.”

Delhi CM withdraws plea against arrest from Supreme Court

Earlier in the day, the AAP supremo had withdrawn his petition from the Supreme Court seeking bail in the excise policy case, the case in which the central agency had arrested him last night. 

This move by the Aam Aadmi Party chief came shortly after Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, who was arrested last week in the same case, had her petition rejected by the apex court. Interestingly, the same bench that handled Kavitha’s case was assigned to consider Arvind Kejriwal’s plea.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in the excise policy case on Thursday, March 22 after the Delhi High Court refused interim protection to him from coercive action in connection with the excise policy case.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.

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