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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’

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.

While opposition was alleging Quid Pro Quo in electoral bond donations by Megha Engineering, Income Tax documents show the company made unaccounted payments to Congress

OpIndia Staff
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While opposition was alleging Quid Pro Quo in electoral bond donations by Megha Engineering, Income Tax documents show the company made unaccounted payments to Congress

After the Electoral Bond details were published by the Election Commission of India on the orders of the Supreme Court of India, there has been an effort to paint the donations using white money through banking channels as a means of corruption. It has been alleged by many from the opposition parties, left-liberal media houses and social media users that the donations by companies using Electoral Bonds were made in exchange of favours received from BJP government.

One such company that has been particularly targeted is Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited, the company that spent the second-highest amount in electoral bonds, after Future Gaming And Hotel Services Private Limited. Several politicians, activists and social media users had claimed that Megha Engineering won big projects in exchange of donations made to BJP.

However, now it has been revealed that the Congress party received accounted money from the company. During the hearing of Congress party’s petition in its Income Tax case, the Delhi High Court revealed that the search documents recovered from Megha Engineering Group appeared to indicate unaccounted transfers to Congress.

While there are evidence of account money received by Congress from various entities, the court made special reference to Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited. As per the court, the search documents recovered from the company appear to indicate unaccounted transfers to the political party during assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21.

As per the court observations, the documents collected by the I-T dept show that money received from the company were paid to the candidates contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Congress party’s tickets. The court noted that there is detailed reference to payments allegedly made to MPs, MLAs and candidates.

The Court while refusing to dismiss Income Tax reassessment proceedings against the party said that there is evidence that the Congress party received money from government departments and corporations, liquor manufacturers, industry entities and individuals.

The Income Tax case reveals that the Congress party received substantial amounts in donations by cash, potentially receiving black money. While the party has been calling the Electoral Bond scheme a scam, where all the money goes through State Bank of India, the party was receiving unaccounted money in cash.

Notably, several opposition leaders and others from the left-liberal camp were alleging Quid Pro Quo in the donations made by Megha Engineering to BJP through electoral bonds. On 15th March, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi had alleged Quid Pro Quo via electoral bonds saga, alleging that Megha Engineering won bids for a large number of projects due to its donations to BJP.

She further claimed that the company bagged at least ₹26,000 crore of mega infrastructure projects in Maharashtra after the Eknath Shinde govt came to power in the state.

Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan, who advocated for the release of electoral bond data, also claimed that Megha Engineering contributed the maximum to the BJP in return for the huge infrastructure contracts.

Maharashtra AAP leader Kanishk Jadhav had also made similar allegations.

In the detailed electoral bonds data released on 21 March, it has been revealed that the company donated ₹582 crore to BJP. It also gave ₹185 crore to BRS and ₹85 crore to DMK. All the parties that received donations through electoral bonds received the money through legal means. The Electoral Bond Scheme was a valid donation before the Supreme Court struck it down. The donations came through banking channels and the donors were required to comply with KYC norms.

Moreover, despite the allegations of Quid Pro Quo, the fact remains that the company won the contracts through transparent tendering and bidding process, and so far, nobody has alleged that those contracts were awarded illegally. Generally, the losing bidders move court if they doubt any wrongdoing in the bidding and awarding processes, but there is no reports of any such allegations over contracts awarded to Megha Engineering.

Also, the company has also made substantial donations to non-NDA parties like BRS, DMK and YSR Congress. Therefore, all the allegations of Quid Pro Quo over Electoral Bonds are just baseless allegations.

Madhya Pradesh: Man presents footwear made from his skin to his mother in Ujjain; was inspired by the Hindu text Ramayana

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Man presents footwear made from his skin to his mother in Ujjain; was inspired by the Hindu text Ramayana

A man’s life in Madhya Pradesh turned upside down after he recited the Ramayana regularly. Raunak Gurjar, a 39-year-old infamous history-sheeter from Ujjain, went above and beyond to express his devotion and love towards his mother. He presented her with “Charan Padukas” (footwear) created from his own skin. The man disclosed that he had surgery to remove the skin off his thigh and then gave it to a cobbler to craft shoes for his mother. He highlighted that the Ramayana served as an inspiration for him.

Raunak stated, “I recite the Ramayana regularly, and I am deeply influenced by the character of Lord Rama. Lord Rama himself said that even making sandals from one’s own skin is not enough for one’s mother. So, this idea came to my mind, and I decided to make footwear from my skin and gift them to my mother.” He added, “I want to tell the society that heaven lies at the feet of the parents. The father is the ladder to heaven, while the mother is the one who will make it there.”

According to reports, the development between the 14th and 21st of March during a Bhagwat Katha held close to Raunak’s home in the Sandipani Nagar area of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The gesture also surprised his mother who knew nothing about her son’s intentions and broke down in tears. The emotional woman expressed, “I consider myself fortunate to have a son like Raunak. He has protected us from every trouble. May all his sorrows be bestowed upon him. May God protect him from all hardships and bless him with a life devoid of any sorrow.” He reportedly endured a lot of pain for his mother’s special slippers.

The spiritual guru, Jitendra who was narrating the Bhagwat Katha noted, “People cut their hands for wives and girlfriends. During such a time, a son turned into Shravan Kumar and built slippers out of his own skin for his mother. The new generation should read Ramayana, it will change their life.” A seven-day Bhagwat Katha is being held at the Akhara Ground which is close to Sandipani Nagar’s Dhancha Bhavan and the renowned spiritual guru is presiding over the religious event which is being attended by hundreds of devotees, including those from distant places.

Raunak is a resident of Dhancha Bhavan in the Chimanganj Mandi police station area of Ujjain. Notably, he was once shot in the leg in a police encounter in 2019 due to which he experiences difficulty in walking. Interestingly, the skin was removed during a procedure after this incident. Once the gift was ready, he waited for a special occasion to give it to his mother. Thirty-seven criminal cases, including robbery and murder, have been filed against him.

While Muslims insist that Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh is Kamal Maula mosque here is the list of ancient evidence that proves them wrong

Jhankar Mohta
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While Muslims insist that Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh is Kamal Maula mosque here is the list of ancient evidence that proves them wrong

On March 22, Friday, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) began a survey of the ancient Hindu place of worship- the Bhojshala complex situated in the tribal-dominated Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

The ASI team, comprising more than a dozen members, accompanied by senior local police and district administration officials reached the complex on Friday morning.

The survey began after the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Indore bench) on March 11 directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific investigation, survey, and excavation at the Bhojshala complex. The high court granted the order for a scientific survey to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) based on multiple evidence and signs submitted before the bench.

Notably, the 11th-century Bhojshala is an ASI-protected monument. Hindus believe it is a temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) but the Muslim side disputes it claiming that it is Kamal Maula Mosque.

During the excavation and floor-making operations of ‘Bhojshala’ in 1987, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered over thirty-two idols of Hindu deities, including Lord Kuber.

The pillars of Bhojshala are adorned with figurines of Hindu gods and goddesses. Eight lotuses were spotted on the roof above the pillars. The lotus is a vital part of Indian culture and a prominent and auspicious symbol in Hinduism. In fact, it is common for Hindu gods and goddesses to be depicted sitting on a lotus throne, as a gesture of divinity, purity, and power.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, a number of other artefacts unearthed within the Bhojshala complex in 1987 discredited the propaganda that the complex has always belonged to Muslims. The current Kamal Maulana Mosque, which was erected by Muslim conquerors after the temple was razed, has remnants of the Bhojshala.

The carved pillars used in the mosque are the same ones utilised in the Bhojshala. Engraved stone slabs affixed to the mosque’s walls still contain valuable works. These inscriptions go into great depth about Sanskrit grammar. Besides that, some inscriptions praise the emperors who came after Raja Bhoj. There are also inscriptions in classical Sanskrit with theatrical compositions. These inscriptions are notable for being written in characters from the 11th and 12th centuries A.D.

The temple was considered to be the centrepiece of Dharanagari’s 84 squares, the city of palaces, temples, universities, theatres, and gardens. The goddess Saraswati’s statue is presently housed at the London Museum. The royal poet Madan mentioned this Mata Saraswati shrine in his poems as well.

Saraswati Idol from Bhojshala currently housed at the London Museum

Hindu artefacts found during excavation in Bhojshala in 1987

  • There are many such pillars in Bhojshala where the idol of the Hindu God is seen destroyed. The conch and chakra are also visible.
  • A massive ‘yagya kund’ exists inside the premises, where yagya was practised for centuries during the king’s feast. In addition, the womb contains the state emblem of the Parmar dynasty.
  • Raja Bhoj had written 84 texts, out of which two instruments are also present, Kaalsarp Yantra, Siddha Yantra, Nagmani Bandh Yantra etc.
  • In the room occupied by ASI, there are statues of two gatekeepers on each side of the door with the names Jai and Vijay and above is the statue of Lord Ganesha.
  • ‘Om Namah Shivay’ is written in the inscriptions in Pali language.
  • Another black stone that has been preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India bears the writing Om Saraswati Namah. The word Sitaram is written in the inscription.
  • On the entrance to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, there is a bell sculpture. Within the pillars of Bhojshala is a statue of Yakshini.
  • Adjacent to the Bhojshala complex is a small well known as ‘Akal Kuiya’. It is thought that the touch and anointing of Goddess Saraswati once cleaned its water. It is currently located in the Kamal Maulana complex.
Image credit: India TV
Yagna Kund in Bhojshala

The Islamic invasion and destruction of the Bhojshala complex, Hindu students were massacred, temple destroyed

In 1305, 1401 and 1514 AD, Muslim monarchs repeatedly wrecked the majestic temple and centre of learning at Bhojshala. In 1305 AD, the ruthless and barbaric Muslim tyrant Alauddin Khilji destroyed Bhojshala for the first time. Nevertheless, the process of Islamic invasion began 36 years before, in 1269 AD, when a Muslim Fakir named Kamal Moulana reached Malwa.

Kamal Moulana utilised deceitful methods to convert many Hindus to Islam. He spent 36 years gathering extensive information on the Malwa area and turning it over to Alauddin Khilji. Khilji massacred 1200 Hindu students and teachers at Bhojshala for refusing to convert to Islam, and he demolished the temple complex. The current mosque has the name of the same Kamal Maulana.

Another Muslim conqueror, Dilawar Khan, demolished Vijay Mandir (Surya Martand temple) and attempted to turn a portion of Saraswati Temple Bhojshala into a dargah in 1401 AD. Muslims perform Namaz at the same Vijay Mandir today. Again in 1514 AD, one  Mehmudshah besieged Bhojshala and attempted to transform it into a dargah. He encroached on the area outside Saraswati Temple and established ‘Kamal Moulana Makbara.’ It is on this basis that Bhojshala is being claimed to be a Dargah.

In 1997, Congress leader and then CM Digvijaya Singh issued order permitting Muslims to offer Namaz every Friday but prohibiting Hindus from even entering the complex

In 1952, the Central Government gave up Bhojshala to the Archaeological Survey of India. 

Prior to March 12, 1997, Hindus were permitted to take darshan but unable to do puja. However, in 1997, CM Digvijaya Singh issued an order permitting Muslims to offer Namaz at Bhojshala every Friday but prohibiting Hindus from even entering Bhojshala. Hindus were only permitted to enter and offer puja at Bhojshala during Vasant Panchami.

Bhojshala was opened for Hindus in April 2003. Darshan was allowed to Hindu devotees every day, apart from Tuesday, when they may worship using flowers.

In order to regain complete access to the entire premises for worship, the current petition filed has stated that the destruction of a temple and its continuation in the same form is a continuing trauma for the worshippers, denying them spiritual power, and in such a situation, the worshippers’ lives remain in jeopardy, giving day to day tease and a feeling of humiliation done by the invader, and such continued wrong has to be rectified under the sweep of Article 13 (1) of the Constitution of India to protect the life and religious rights guaranteed under Article 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India.

Coimbatore: Students dressed as Hindu deities and in saffron attend PM Modi’s roadshow, police books management of 3 schools over their presence

OpIndia Staff
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Coimbatore: Students dressed as Hindu deities and in saffron attend PM Modi’s roadshow, police books management of 3 schools over their presence

On Thursday, the Coimbatore City Police filed a case against the administration of three schools for taking 22 students to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow on March 18th. Many of the students who attended the roadshow had donned saffron clothes or dressed as Hindu deities.

Chinmaya Matriculation School, Chinmaya CBSE School in Vadavali, and Chinmaya School in R.S. Puram had the students dressed as Hindu deities, wearing saffron cloth strips with party symbols.

The School Education Department, along with Assistant Returning Officer P. Suresh, launched an investigation and issued notices to the schools. Since this action violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Assistant Returning Officer filed a complaint with the Saibaba Colony police.

Subsequently, a case was filed under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act on Thursday.

Earlier, District Education Officer (primary schools) Punitha Anthonyammal and officials conducted an inquiry with the management and spoke with the children in the school.

Sources revealed that approximately 50 students were gathered at the Saibaba Colony junction on Monday evening. Allegedly, the management had “instructed” the children to participate in the roadshow, with some dressed as Hanuman. Activists demanded action against the school management, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct.

In response to the allegations, district election officer-cum-collector Kranthi Kumar Pati ordered an investigation and directed the chief education officer to submit a report.

Delhi High Court dismisses Congress party’s petition challenging IT Department’s reassessment proceedings, read details of the case

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi High Court dismisses Congress party’s petition challenging IT Department’s reassessment proceedings, read details of the case

The Delhi High Court on 22nd March rejected the Congress party’s appeals against the Income Tax Department’s three-year reassessment proceedings, dealing a major blow to the nation’s main opposition party ahead of the Lok Sabha election. “We dismiss the writ petitions,” declared a bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav while pronouncing the significant judgement.

The political party submitted appeals against the tax reassessment actions that the authorities had started against it in the fiscal years 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17. Congress argued that limitations prevented these proceedings. The high court had already reserved its order on 20th March. The Congress party’s senior counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi had contested that the IT department could have gone back to a maximum of six assessment years and that tax reassessment actions were bound by limitation.

According to the IT department, however, the Congress has “escaped” with around Rs 520 crore in income. After the revenue was estimated to be more than Rs 199 crore, the assessing officer submitted a tax demand of more than Rs 100 crore for the assessment year 2018–19.

Previously, the High Court rejected to intervene in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s (ITAT) decision to not stay the IT department’s notice to Congress to collect over Rs 100 crore in overdue taxes. Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav and Justice Yashwant Varma announced that there was no reason to tamper with the 8th March order. However, the Delhi High Court had granted liberty to Congress to move the ITAT again in case of any change of circumstances.

The development transpired the day after the Congress accused the Narendra Modi administration in a press conference of severely damaging the party’s finances in the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll.

What is the tax case

The IT Department has found credible evidence linking Congress allies to the party’s cash donations and transactions in different states including Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka since 2019, according to a report in News18.

As a result, the IT Department initiated reassessment procedures for the assessment years of Congress returns from 2014–15 to 2020–21. The department believes that there were infractions pertaining to the Section 13 (A) tax exemptions claimed in those years as well. If proven, an extensive notice might also be served shortly to Congress.

According to sources, Congress has not been assisting with the case till now and has not responded to inquiries from IT regarding the merits, even though notices and summonses containing damning material have been sent to the party for clarification. Congress might have failed to complete its audited book of accounts, which would be a serious breach of Section 13(A) and subject the total income from 2014 to 2021 to taxation, per the IT Department’s reservations.

Sources highlighted that Congress filed writ petitions against each of the seven years. On 20th March the Delhi High Court heard the pleas for the first three years and junked the motion two days later.

Other two cases

According to sources, Congress lost its exemption from taxes for the assessment year 2018–19 since it submitted its returns 33 days later than expected and acknowledged receiving financial donations totalling Rs 14.49 lakh. The Congress had asked for that year’s income of Rs 199 crore to be excused.

Sources reported that there is no legal provision for a lower penalty once you lose your exemption under Section 13 (1), putting all of your income subject to tax. As a result, the IT Department served the Congress with a notice worth Rs 105 crore in 2021, requiring that it pay Rs 21 crore or 20% of the total to halt the full recovery. However, Congress only deposited Rs 78 lakh and the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) rejected its request. The Delhi High Court also denied the Congress party’s plea on 13th March.

Therefore, on 16th March, the IT Department was able to retrieve Rs 135 crore from Congress bank accounts, which comprised a demand of Rs 102.66 crore and interest of Rs 32.4 crore.

 IT Department served Congress with a demand notice for Rs 53 crore related to the 1994–1995 assessment year. Sources pointed out that the IT Department raised the alarm about this particular financial year’s assessment as early as 1997, citing the denial of the Section 13(A) exemption for a lack of audited accounts. Before the High Court decided in favour of the IT Department in 2016, the case was pending in IT tribunals and the High Court for several years.

According to sources, Congress has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in this case, and the hearing is scheduled for 1st April. They added that the IT Department has been “lenient” with Congress in the past because the party has been granted a lot of time and certain lawsuits have been dragged out for years. The High Court’s strong verdicts which have criticised Congress for acting leisurely to resolve these issues were also mentioned by the sources.

Gujarat: CCTV footage shows man in skull cap trying to set fire to Sankaracharya Math in Bharuch; note threatening priest with ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ found

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: CCTV footage shows man in skull cap trying to set fire to Sankaracharya Math in Bharuch; note threatening priest with ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ found

On March 22, Friday, a man allegedly attempted to burn down a Shankaracharya Math in Gujarat’s Bharuch town. He also reportedly left behind an ominous message for its priest, threatening to behead him.

The CCTV footage of the incident showed a man in a black shirt and a skull cap hurling something towards the door of the religious institution located in the Navchowki Ovara area alongside the Narmada River before igniting it. Among the items tossed towards the door, were papers bearing a handwritten message reading ‘Gustakh Pir Ki Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda‘ were discovered.

Based on the CCTV footage, the Bharuch police set up seven teams, including the local police station, local Crime Branch, Special Operations Group and other units, to track down the accused.

“Around 5.30 am, a person threw some material on the door of the math in an attempt to set it ablaze. CCTV has captured the act. We have formed various teams to conduct a detailed investigation into the case. An FIR has also been registered in this regard,” Mayur Chavda, the district superintendent of police told reporters, confirming the incident at the Math.

Muktanand Swami, a maths priest, told reporters that he was present when the incident unfolded.

According to Swami, the Shankaracharya Math and the two nearby temples are part of Dwarka Sharda Peeth, one of the four prominent peeths, founded by the Aadi Sankaracharya.

According to the seer, the man entered the Math premises around 5.30 am, poured some kind of inflammable liquid all over the premises and set fire to a part of the Math. “Before fleeing he also threw some bits of paper that had some threatening messages in the air. On checking the CCTV footage, we saw that he had entered from the back door,” Muktanand Swami said.

“When I returned to my math after performing puja at the adjoining temple around 5 am, my neighbour Dilip Dave came running and informed me that a person was throwing some material on the math’s door. That man then set ablaze the door, which I doused afterwards,” said the priest.

It should be mentioned that Sri Shankaracharya Math Dwarkashardapith is in charge of overseeing the Sri Pashupati Mahadev Temple, where the incident took place. Local Hindus were incensed at the occurrence, and activists from several organisations came to the temple as soon as it was reported. Following that, stringent plans were put in place to avoid any unpleasant incidents, and the local police were also informed.

Notes with ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ scribbled thrown inside the Sankaracharya Math in Bharuch

After reviewing the CCTV footage, the police discovered that the miscreant entered the building from the riverbank and made his way to both the math and the temple.

The police said that the culprit tried to set fire to the premises by setting the door ablaze and also left behind some pieces of paper, one which contained a sinister threat for the Math’s priest “Gustakh Pir Ki Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda”.

“AAP not a party but a company”: From Arvind Kejriwal being kingpin to how proceeds from liquor scam were used for elections, here is what all ED told the court

OpIndia Staff
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“AAP not a party but a company”: From Arvind Kejriwal being kingpin to how proceeds from liquor scam were used for elections, here is what all ED told the court

On Friday (22nd March), the Enforcement Directorate told the Rouse Avenue Court that Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal is the “kingpin of the liquor scam”. ED also said that “key conspirator” Kejriwal was directly involved in framing the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. ED made shocking revelations before the court while seeking a 10-day remand of Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi CM has been presented before the court after his arrest by ED last night.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the court, “Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the main conspirator. He conspired with some other leaders and was directly involved in the implementation of the liquor policy.”

ASG Raju further informed the court that CM Kejriwal was involved in the handling of proceeds of crime as well in the Goa election campaign. Moreover, Kejriwal was continuously in touch with the then deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

He added that the accused Vijay Nair was residing in a house near Kejriwal’s residence. Nair was staying in the house given to AAP leader and minister Kailash Gahlot. Nair acted as the middleman between the “South Group” and the Aam Aadmi Party. Manish Sisodia called Vijay Nair to Kejriwal’s house and handed him documents pertaining to liquor policy.

Kejriwal handed Delhi liquor business to South Group in exchange for kickbacks

In another shocking allegation, ASG SV Raju told the court that Kejriwal had sought kickbacks from the South Group in exchange for favours. He added that the South Group got control over the liquor business in Delhi in exchange for the kickbacks sent to Kejriwal.

“I will now explain his role in using the proceeds of crime. Proceeds of crime are not only the Rs 100 crore bribe received but also the profits made by the bribe payers. It was over Rs 600 crore,” ASG VS Raju said in the court today.

Drawing attention to former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s role in the scam, ASG Raju told the court that he also played a key role in the case. ED further stated that the allegations have been corroborated by Call Detail Records (CDR).

Money used to fund Goa elections

The ASG further told the court that Rs 45 crore were transferred to Goa via Hawala. The money was sent through four routes adding that ED has examined the money trail backwards. He added that the statements of the accused and witnesses have been corroborated with the call detail records (CDR).

“Arvind Kejriwal asked Sarath Reddy to trust Vijay Nair. The money was transferred twice, first 10 crores and then 15 crores through Bachi Babu. Kejriwal wanted funding for Punjab and Goa elections,” Raju added.

AAP not a party but a “company”: ASG tells court

ASG Raju said that Aam Aadmi Party is not a party but a “company” adding that every person responsible for the conduct of the company should be held guilty.

“Apart from personal liability, Kejriwal is also liable to be punished for vicarious liability. He is also responsible for the affairs of the AAP. He is responsible for the conduct of the party. He is the national convenor and responsible for the party at national level. He is the brain behind the party and controls its major activities,” ASG said.

Kejriwal deliberately disobeyed summons, did not cooperate in the investigation

Highlighting Kejriwal’s perpetual defiance of ED summons and reluctance to cooperate in ED’s probe into the liquor scam, ASG said, “He has wilfully disobeyed the summons. The conduct of disobeying the summons. At the times of search, he did not give correct facts. He was non-cooperative in the investigation. We want to interrogate him and gather information.”

As reported earlier, Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday after an Enforcement Directorate team arrived at his residence to question him and carry out searches in connection with the liquor policy scam. He was subsequently taken to the agency’s headquarters.

Kejriwal has on Friday withdrawn his Supreme Court plea against his arrest ED. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Kejriwal’s counsel, told the Supreme Court that he will argue the case before the Magistrate over his remand when the ED brings him before the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi.

Kejriwal’s arrest came after 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. Notably, Kejriwal had over the past few months received numerous summons from the probe agency for questioning, however, Kejriwal skipped all of them. On Sunday, ED issued its ninth summon to CM Kejriwal in connection with two different cases – a liquor policy case and a case linked to the Delhi Jal Board. 

Allahabad HC declares ‘UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004’ unconstitutional, says it violates principles of secularism

OpIndia Staff
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Allahabad HC declares ‘UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004’ unconstitutional, says it violates principles of secularism

The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) pronounced the ‘UP Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004’ as unconstitutional, and infringing the fundamental principles of secularism.

While holding the legislation to be ultra vires, the Division, led by Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, also instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to devise a plan to accommodate students currently enrolled in madrasas in the formal education system.

This verdict comes months after the state administration resolved to inspect the state’s Islamic education establishments, and it also constituted a SIT in October 2023 to investigate madrassas’ money from abroad.

The High Court’s decision came in response to a writ petition filed by Anshuman Singh Rathore challenging the authority of the UP Madarsa Board, as well as objecting to Madarsa’s management by the Minority Welfare Department. 

During prior proceedings, the High Court had questioned both the Union of India and the State government about the rationale for operating the Madrasa Board under the purview of the Minority Department rather than the Education Department of the state.

Furthermore, the Court raised concerns about the possibility of arbitrary decision-making and emphasized the significance of transparency in educational institution management.

NCPCR’s efforts to get Madarsa students into the formal education system

It is important to note that the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been raising its voice to enroll students learning in Madarsa into the formal education system. Recently, on 14th March, it sought an inquiry into the ‘open schools’ established by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, an Islamic organization with the support of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The NCPCR stated that the Islamic organization was committing an organized crime by keeping the minor children studying in Madarsa away from formal education by allegedly providing them Islamic education under the guise of ‘open schools’.

It has previously requested all the Indian states and UTs to investigate all government-funded and recognized madrasas that admit non-Muslim youngsters. The NCPCR had also requested that the investigation include physical verification of the youngsters before admitting them to schools.

On 5th January 2024, it summoned the chief secretaries (CS) of 11 states and union territories (UTs) for the delay in complying with its directive to identify non-Muslim children, including Hindu children, studying in madrasas so that they could be admitted to schools. The summons had been issued to the CS of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The central body states that Article 28(3) of the Constitution prohibits educational institutions from obligating children to participate in religious teaching without parental assent. It stated that madrasas, as institutions, are primarily responsible for providing religious education to children and that it has been learned that those madrasas funded or recognized by the government provide religious education and very little formal education to children.

Gujarat Congress leader Rohan Gupta quits party citing ‘constant humiliation’ and ‘character assassination’, had earlier withdrawn from Ahmedabad East seat

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat Congress leader Rohan Gupta quits party citing ‘constant humiliation’ and ‘character assassination’, had earlier withdrawn from Ahmedabad East seat

Gujarat Congress leader Rohan Gupta resigned from the grand old party on Friday, citing “constant humiliation” and “character assassination,” days after withdrawing his candidacy from the Ahmedabad East constituency in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rohan Gupta expressed his distress over senior Congress leaders linked to its Communication department. He mentioned that his father, who is currently battling serious health conditions, recounted instances of betrayal and sabotage over the past 40 years.

“He doesn’t want me to pay the same price as the whole family has seen the mental trauma I have gone through in the last two years, which was caused by the senior leader connected with the Communication Department,” Gupta wrote on the microblogging site.

The former Congress leader mentioned, “My father could foresee the same thing happening to me, which I couldn’t. He endured it and ended up deteriorating his health, undergoing bypass surgery, something he never wanted for me.”

Gupta stated that he is unwilling to endure any further assaults on his self-esteem. The person who has humiliated him for the past two years, as stated in the letter, will likely continue to do so in the future, with no one able to stop them.”With a heavy heart, I have made the difficult but necessary decision to resign in order to protect my self-respect. My conscience no longer allows me to remain in the party. This same leader has also harmed the party with his arrogant and rude behavior,” he added.

On March 19, Rohan Gupta withdrew from the Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha seat contest due to his father’s serious medical condition. Gupta, who was the Congress’ national spokesperson, was among the candidates declared by the party on March 12.All 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat are scheduled for polling in a single phase on May 7, with vote counting set for June 4.

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