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Nuh Violence: UAPA charges slapped on 63 individuals including Congress MLA Mamman Khan

OpIndia Staff
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Nuh Violence: UAPA charges slapped on 63 individuals including Congress MLA Mamman Khan

The Haryana Police used the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in four cases related to the July 2023 Nuh riots against sixty-three people, including Congress leader and MLA Mamman Khan. New sections were added under the UAPA in January 2024. UAPA provisions were incorporated into three First Information Reports (Nos. 253, 257, and 401) on 8th January, according to a status report that the police filed with the court.

Twenty people have been indicted in these cases and the majority of them are locals of Mewat region. The events are connected to the killings of two home guards and a devotee in the Shobha Yatra as well as a mob attack on the Nuh cyber police station. A week later, the police invoked UAPA in official complaint No. 149 as well, where the lawmaker from Firozpur Jhirka is named as one of the 43 perpetrators.

The assault on participants of the yatra at Badkali Chowk, on 31st July, the day violence broke out in Nuh, is described in detail in the FIR. All of the accused mentioned in the present proceeding are released on bail. However, the UAPA, which forbids the provision of bail for at least a year following incarceration means that all of them could be sent behind bars once more. Lawyer Manish Shandilya, who represents several of the riot victims, stated on 21st February that police had the authority to summon the offenders again for questioning.

Shandilya remarked, “Their bail can be cancelled, leading to arrests.” He also argued against giving bail to Mamman Khan last year. On the other hand, the latter’s lawyer Tahir Hussain Rupadiya said, “There is no ground for police to add UAPA (against his client). We will challenge it in court.” Although the accusations were not part of the original FIRs, court records indicated that they were added to the complaint that was brought before the judge to refute the accused’s request for bail.

The action by the Nuh Police came after six people were killed when Islamists attacked a Hindu procession arranged by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, which led to widespread violence and arson in Nuh and adjoining areas. According to the police report, one of the culprits informed the investigators that, prior to the disturbances, Mamman Khan had arranged for money (Rs 500 each) to be delivered to the miscreants through local sarpanchs. Furthermore, it asserted that incendiary posts were spread via WhatsApp groups bearing the legislator’s name including Youth Team Mamman Khan and IT Cell Mamman Khan.

Following the addition of a fresh First Information Report (FIR) to the roster of those subjected to UAPA, the police presented the names of forty-three additional accused parties in the challan to the Nuh Chief Judicial Magistrate court on 20th February.

Nuh superintendent of police Narender Bijarniya said, “He played an important role in spreading rumours during the Nuh violence and was in touch with some suspects involved in pelting stones and setting vehicles on fire. He has also been accused of paying people to attack the Braj Mandal yatra and create a ruckus.”

‘Farm unions are neglecting Punjab’s long-term interests’: Here is the generous proposal from the Modi govt that protesting farmers rejected

OpIndia Staff
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‘Farm unions are neglecting Punjab’s long-term interests’: Here is the generous proposal from the Modi govt that protesting farmers rejected

On 18th February, the Narendra Modi-led central government put forth a proposal during discussions with farmer unions from Punjab who are currently protesting. The proposal sought to put agreements on the table with the farmers from Punjab aimed at diversifying crop cultivation. As per sources in the government, the proposal would have helped the farmers from Punjab to move away from water-intensive crops such as wheat and paddy.

The offer was for the farmers who would agree to a transition over the next five years to five crops: cotton, maize, tur, urad and Masur. The idea was to help and guide the farmers for the next 5 years enabling a smooth transition to crop diversification, in addition to monetary security during the transition period. The agreement was to be done through government agencies like CCI, NAFED, etc, sources in the government stated.

Moreover, in the proposal, there was no upper limit to the quantum of crops that would have been procured by the government.

However, the proposal was rejected by the farmer unions.

The proposal was brought at a critical juncture considering the depletion of groundwater at an alarming rate. According to the 2017 Dynamic Groundwater Resources Assessment of India report, most of the blocks in Punjab are over-exploited and critically depleted. The report suggested that Of the 138 assessed blocks in Punjab, 109 are over-exploited, two as critical, five as semi-critical, and only 22 as safe. That means only a fraction of areas in the state are currently safe from acute groundwater depletion.

Furthermore, the farmers in Punjab extract water above the recharge levels, and the state urgently needs sustainable agricultural practices. Government sources suggest that the total annual groundwater recharge of the state was assessed as 23.93 bcm compared to the yearly groundwater extraction of 35.78 bcm. It puts a burden of 166% on groundwater extraction.

In Punjab, Maize makes up for 1.5%, Cotton is 3.2%, and pulses merely 0.4% of the crops grown. For small-scale farmers, the shift away from paddy and wheat would have offered ecological benefits and economic sustainability in the long term. In recent years, the increasing cost associated with groundwater extraction has put a lot of financial pressure on the farmers. Diversifying towards less water-intensive crops would have alleviated some of the farmers’ financial pressure.

However, despite the potential benefits, the farmer unions rejected the government proposal. By rejecting the proposal, the farmer unions prioritised short-term gains over the long-term interests of the farmers from Punjab and ecology. Government sources stated that the protesting farmers want to cling to the traditional crops, and this has restricted them from accessing new markets. Furthermore, it will continue to put stress on decreasing the groundwater levels. Ultimately, the cost has to be borne by the farmers, jeopardising the future of agriculture in Punjab.

Opposition to the change in farming patterns came primarily from brokers’ or ‘Arthiyas’ prioritising their short-term self-interest rather than genuine concern for farmers’ welfare. These middlemen earn substantial commissions from wheat and paddy trade at APMC markets. Thus, they prioritise preserving their current profits over embracing sustainable agriculture practices.

The implications of the decision are significant. By resisting the diversification, the farmer unions risked perpetuating a cycle of environmental degradation and economic hardship for Punjab’s farming community. Consistent reliance on water-intensive crops will render certain regions unsustainable for cultivation in the future, which will affect small and marginal farmers.

Republic Bangla journalist Santu Pan, arrested for Sandeshkhali reporting, gets bail; Calcutta HC slams police for arresting journalists instead of real culprits, stays probe

OpIndia Staff
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Republic Bangla journalist Santu Pan, arrested for Sandeshkhali reporting, gets bail; Calcutta HC slams police for arresting journalists instead of real culprits, stays probe

On Thursday (22nd February), Santu Pan, the journalist of the TV news channel Republic Bangla who was arrested by the West Bengal police,- was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court. The court has also stayed the probe against him.

The High Court issued the order after a marathon hearing, where senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani argued for Republic TV.

The Calcutta High Court said there is no clear explanation of the allegations against Republic Bangla reporter Santu Pan. The court came down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee government, asking “Why this FIR shouldn’t be quashed”.

The court said, “Feel sorry for police officers. You have not been able to arrest real culprits. You are after an innocent journalist while the people who are not caught are making a mockery of the law. You want to put all your energy after this innocent journalist”.

Republic TV termed the judgement a victory for press freedom.

Santu Pan was arrested while he was reporting from the ground in Sandeshkhali where several Hindu women were allegedly raped and sexually exploited by the Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his accomplices. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appeared in the court to represent Republic TV. The TV channel has called this decision the victory of freedom of speech and that the court has upheld the right to report.

Santu Pan was taken to an unknown place a day before the court order

The arrested journalist of Republic Bangla TV Santu Pan was moved from Sandeskhali police station to an undisclosed location on 21st February late in the night. The men escorting him had covered faces and their uniforms had no insignia.

An FIR against Suman De of the ABP Ananda was also filed in this series of police harassment of journalists reporting Sandeshkhali. He is still under arrest.

Santu Pan was targeted for asking tough questions to the TMC government?

Notably, on Monday, Bengal police forcefully detained and apprehended the Republic TV journalist who was actively reporting on the Sandeshkhali incident. “I’m being taken into custody by the police. They’re arresting me for conducting interviews with the mothers of Sandeshkhali,” expressed Santu Pan, the reporter with Republic Bangla, as he was forcefully escorted by the police at the Sandeshkhali ferry terminal.

In the footage, numerous heavily armed police officers were observed shoving and rough-handling the journalist before forcibly removing him. Besides his relentless coverage of Sandeshkhali, Pan is known for asking hard-hitting questions to TMC strongman Abhishek Banerjee.

Santu Pan’s wife had also approached the NHRC over his arrest

A day after Bengal police forcefully detained and apprehended a Republic TV journalist Santu Pan, who was actively reporting on the Sandeshkhali incident, his wife approached the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC).

The complaint copy details how the Mamata Banerjee government is stifling the voices of journalists and the media that has been trying to bring forth accounts of multiple women victimised by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides in Sandeshkhali.

The complaint read, “On the evening of 19 February 2024, my husband and Republic Bangla reporter Santu Pan was arrested with an outright attempt to throttle the media from reporting on the accounts of crimes against women in Sandeshkhali. Republic Bangla’s reporting team has brought forth accounts of multiple women in Sandeshkhali alleging politically institutionalised mass rape, political protection of the perpetrators and an environment of fear instilled into the victims.”

“My husband Santu Pan had conducted a live show from the ground on the Republic Bangla channel, which has consistently been reporting from Sandeshkhali as part of its ongoing investigative reportage on crimes against women in West Bengal. Hours after the live telecast, with outright malafide intent and sheer malice in law, Santu Pan was not allowed to leave Sandeshkhali,” the complaint added.

The complaint further stated that the video footage clearly showed how Santu Pan was surrounded by many law enforcement agents and taken inside an unauthorized detention facility without being given any prior warning.

“Neither me, as his wife nor his legal team, were given any intimation of any notice/FIR/illegal detention. I have only been able to access the Arrest Memo after seeing the horrific visuals of my husband being physically assaulted by the local police and dragged to a police station. Santu Pan’s arrest saw local police encircling him and physically assaulting him, before taking him into illegal custody and arrest. Furthermore, it is established in the LIVE TV footage that Santu Pan continued to exercise his right to report despite being physically assaulted by the local police at the time of arrest,” it further stated.

The background of the controversy

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Trinamool Congress goon Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women attacked Shahjahan’s illicitly obtained properties and set fire to a poultry farm owned by Shiba Prasad Hazra. They also surrounded the Sandeshkali police station and demanded the immediate arrest of the trio. The agitation in the village lasted for 3 days.

On Friday (17th February), the police arrested TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali. The primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan, is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

West Bengal: TMC leader Udayan Guha and two others accused of harassing women in Dinhata for not going to party office at midnight

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: TMC leader Udayan Guha and two others accused of harassing women in Dinhata for not going to party office at midnight

Amidst an uproar over the Sandeshkhali horror, another case of alleged harassment of women by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in Dinhata has come to the fore. On Wednesday (21st February), the West Bengal unit of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) shared a video of a woman accusing TMC leader Udayan Guha,  Deepak Bhattacharya and Bishu Dhar.

Taking to X the West Bengal BJP wrote, “Mamata Banerjee’s TMC regime has turned every village in Bengal into a den of horror, akin to #Sandeshkhali. Today, a gut-wrenching video from Dinhata surfaced, exposing the TMC’s heinous sexual exploitation of vulnerable women, led by the likes of Udyan Guha. In another appalling incident, TMC MLA Uttam Barik brazenly flaunted his despicable act of molesting a woman at a government event. Mamata’s regime thrives on this predatory conduct, stooping to unimaginable lows for political mileage, while Hindu women suffer.”

In the video, the woman says, “At around 12 am, Udyan Guha and his cronies called to the party office to make ‘pitha’. But I refused and questioned their absurdity of making pitha at midnight. Do they not respect us because we are women? Their fiancéce knows no bounds. I have been subjected to occasional harassment. I pleaded with folded hands, will they not let me live in peace? But they did not listen. Yesterday at around 4 o’clock the Panchayat and booth chairman came and instructed to me to attend tomorrow. But I refused saying that I have some dignity. I begged with folded hands. Their response was more violence.”

The woman seen in the video further alleged that the goons later arrived at her house and vandalised several items. “After I refused to comply, their cronies came to my doorstep at around 8 o’clock yesterday and wreaked havoc on my home. They vandalised everything from bikes, showcases, TV, window panes etc. Even in the presence of police their audacity only grew,” she said adding that this is not the first such atrocities have been perpetrated.

The woman said that in the Burihaat area, the TMC goons continue to harass countless women inflicting atrocities on them. “With the government in their pocket, they act with impunity. How do we survive such oppression? We are simple folks, day labourers! We don’t understand their political games. Then why do they torment us and not let us live in peace?” the woman said.

On Wednesday, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared the said video and alleged that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has “weaponised this kind of predatory behaviour against Hindu women.”

“Mamata Banerjee and TMC leaders have made every village of Bengal a #Sandeshkhali. Listen to this woman from Dinhata (video posted by a local channel this morning), a constituency (in North Bengal) represented by Udyan Guha, another close aide of West Bengal CM. Sexual exploitation of poor women, at the hands of TMC leaders, is rampant in Bengal. The other day, Patashpur TMC MLA Uttam Barik, posted a picture of him, molesting a woman beneficiary in a WB Govt program. Imagine the audacity! Mamata Banerjee has weaponised this kind of predatory behaviour, to win elections. Hindu women be damned,” Malviya posted.

A Jagran report says the woman has filed a complaint at Sahebganj Police Station. Meanwhile, TMC has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Recently, TMC MLA from Patashpur Assembly Uttam Barik had allegedly misbehaved with a woman at a program related to the distribution of government scheme benefits. He had shared a picture of the same to his Facebook profile along with other pictures from the same event. After outrage, the TMC leader deleted the objectionable picture from his Facebook profile.

BJP’s Amit Malviya had alleged that the TMC leader was exploiting women in lieu of government benefits. “Mamata Banerjee and TMC leaders have created a #Sandeshkhali in every corner of West Bengal. Her MLAs are exploiting poor women in lieu of government benefits. Here, TMC MLA Uttam Barik, who represents Patashpur Assembly, can be seen manhandling (molesting would be more like it) a woman, at a program, where he is distributing government benefits under various schemes. What is worse is that he has the audacity to post such pictures on his Facebook (posted 3 hours ago), as if to let other women in the area know, that they have to be prepared for such humiliation, if they expect government benefits,” Malviya posted on X on 19th February.

Sandeshkhali horror

On 8th February this year, hundreds of women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets to protest against land grabbing, non-payment of wages and sexual violence committed by Trinamool Congress goon Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women attacked Shahjahan’s illicitly obtained properties and set fire to a poultry farm owned by Shiba Prasad Hazra. They also surrounded the Sandeshkali police station and demanded the immediate arrest of the trio. The agitation in the village lasted for 3 days.

On Friday (17th February), the police arrested TMC leader Shibu Prasad Hazra over land grabbing and sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali. The primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan, is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

Darul Uloom Deoband issues a fatwa saying that Ghazwa-e-Hind is a command from Allah: NCPCR chief writes to the Saharanpur SDM, district SP to take action

OpIndia Staff
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Darul Uloom Deoband issues a fatwa saying that Ghazwa-e-Hind is a command from Allah: NCPCR chief writes to the Saharanpur SDM, district SP to take action

The Darul Uloom madrasa of Deoband in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh has been in the news many times due to controversial fatwas. But this time it has revealed its fanatical mindset by issuing an anti-India fatwa. Darul Uloom has recognised the concept of Ghazwa-e-Hind, as told in Islamic scriptures in its fatwa. The madrasa has said that those who die during the invasion of India will be called great martyrs and that they will get to heaven.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has filed a complaint against this fatwa. The NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo wrote to the Saharanpur SDM and SP seeking to file an FIR in this case.

In a question, it was asked to Darul Uloom Deoband, “My question is, does the hadith mention the invasion of India (Ghazwa-e-Hind), which will take place in the subcontinent? And whoever will be martyred in it is a great martyr. And the one who will be Ghazi (warrior) will go to heaven (will be Jananti)? Please reply.”

Question asked on darulifta-deoband.com and its answer in Urdu.

In its reply, the madrasa said, “In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. In the famous book Sunan al-Nasa’i of Sahaah Sita, Imam al-Nasa’i has made a permanent chapter: Ghazwa al-Hind, under which he has narrated a hadith from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him promised that we would invade India. If I live to see that I will sacrifice myself and my wealth. If I am killed, I will be one of the best of the martyrs, and if I come back, I will be Abu Hurayrah al- Muharrar (the one freed from the fire) (Vol: 2, p: 63), published by Mukhtar and Company, Deoband. This same invasion of India (Ghazwa-e-Hind) was prophesied by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). And Allah knows best.”

Answer given by Darul Uloom Deoband to the question on Ghazwa-e-Hind.

After the fatwa came to light, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights took up this issue. The NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo issued a notice to the DM and SP of Saharanpur district asking them to register an FIR in the matter.

In this, the NCPCR said, “The Commission has come across another objectionable content on the website of Darul Uloom Deoband madrasa. The fatwa in Urdu is available at https://darulifta-deoband.com/home/ur/hadith-sunnah/9604. A copy of both Urdu and translated versions is attached. The fatwa talks about the invasion of India (Ghazwa-e-Hind) and how whoever will be martyred in it is a great martyr. Darul Uloom Deoband, a madrasa is an academic body of Islamic education and affiliating Madrasas across South Asia. Such kinds of fatwas expose children to hatred against their own country and eventually cause them unnecessary mental or physical suffering. This violates Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015”

NCPCR notice the DM and SSP of Saharanpur.

The notice further said, “Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter u/s 13 (1) (j) of the CPCR Act, it was observed that the content of the fatwa may lead to hatred against the country. In Kedar Nath Singh vs. State of Bihar, AIR 1962 SC 955, the Court emphasized that the phrase “Government established by law” under section 124A must be distinguished from criticism of a specific party or persons. The Court stated that this interpretation finds support from the title of the relevant chapter in the Indian Penal Code, which is headed “Offences against the State”. Therefore, the hatred against the country i.e. India will be covered under the said provision (reference Kanhaiya Kumar vs. State of NCT of Delhi).

The NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo also observed that such fatwas were issued by the Darul Uloom Deoband in the past as well. He said in the notice, “Earlier in January 2022 and July 2023, Commission had brought to the attention of District Administration that there is a large number of fatwas on Darul Uloom Deoband’s website that mislead the public and had requested to thoroughly examine, investigate this organization’s website and any such website be immediately blocked. It was also requested to block access to the website. However, the District Administration has not yet taken action on the same and has not lodged any FIR in the matter. The Commission is of the view that by not taking any action, the District Administration would be equally responsible for any untoward consequences arising out of such content being consumed by the public.”

NCPCR notice the DM and SSP of Saharanpur.

Instructing the SSP to take action against the current issue, he said in the notice, “In the recent matter of fatwa regarding Ghazwa-e-Hind, the Commission u/s 13 (1) of CPCR Act, 2005 directs to take action under IPC and JJ Act, 2015 and an FIR be registered against Darul Uloom Deoband. The Commission requests that an action taken report may be sent to the Commission within three (3) days.”

CBI raids locations linked with former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik in Kiru hydel project corruption case

ANI
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CBI raids locations linked with former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik in Kiru hydel project corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted raids at more than 30 places, including the premises linked to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, as part of its investigation into alleged corruption in the awarding of a contract for a hydel project in the Union territory.

The case relates to alleged corruption in awarding contract for the civil work for the Kiru Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP) worth Rs 2,200 crore in Kisthtwar in 2019.

“I have been ill for the last three to four days and am admitted to the hospital. Despite this, my house is being raided by the dictator through government agencies. My driver and my assistant are also being raided and harassed unnecessarily,” Malik said in post on social media platform X.

“I am a farmer’s son, I will not be afraid of these raids. I am with the farmers,” he said further.

Malik served as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir between August 23, 2018 and October 30, 2019.

On January 29, this year the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at around 8 locations in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir in the on-going investigations of a case related to alleged irregularities in the award of tender for civil works of the Kiru Hydroelectric Project being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, the agency said.

The searches led to recovery of digital devices, computers, property documents, and “incriminating” documents, in addition to cash of over Rs 21 lakhs (approximately), it said.

The CBI statement added that it was alleged that in the award of civil works relating to the Kiru Hydroelectric Project, guidelines regarding e-tendering were not followed.

In December last year, the CBI conducted searches at six locations in Delhi, Noida, Chandigarh and Shimla.

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

‘What next? Viagra tablets?’: Condom politics in Andhra Pradesh as TDP and YSRCP shame each other for distributing packets with party name

OpIndia Staff
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‘What next? Viagra tablets?’: Condom politics in Andhra Pradesh as TDP and YSRCP shame each other for distributing packets with party name

Ahead of the assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh, the two main parties in the state have found a novel and ‘interesting’ tool for campaigning. The Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party have allegedly both started distributing condom packets with their respective party name and symbols on them, as per reports.

A video has gone viral on social media showing packets of condoms, marked with party names of YSRCP and TDP in English and Telugu, being distributed to people.

One video shared in an India Today report shows a person giving a TDP condom packet to a person and saying that the intention behind the condom pack campaign is that if people use them and produce a lesser number of children, the government won’t have t spend a lot of money on welfare and subsidies.

On social media, people are sharing videos of TDP condoms and YSRCP condoms.

Interestingly, both parties are even shaming each other for distributing condoms.

YSRCP shared a video of the TDP condom, tagging TDP, Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh and Janasena leader Pawan Kalyan, asking how low they are going to stoop for politics. They even asked if the TDP would start distributing Viagra tablets with the TDP name and symbols next.

In response, the TDP posted a video showing YSRCP condoms, asking if that is the kind of ‘preparation’ the Jagan government has been boasting about.

Though party rivalries and poster wars are common election dramas in India, the condom war seems like the latest addition to the fanfare and theatrics.

ED seeks ‘look out circular’ against Byju’s co-founder B. Raveendran over Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations: Report

OpIndia Staff
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ED seeks ‘look out circular’ against Byju’s co-founder B. Raveendran over Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations: Report

The CEO and co-founder of the controversial ed-tech startup Byju’s, Byju Raveendran, is likely to get a lookout circular (LOC), as asked by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), reported The Economic Times. The central agency asked BOI earlier this month to issue a new LOC in an effort to prevent him from leaving the nation.

According to persons with knowledge about the development, the ED’s Bengaluru unit, which is looking into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), recently concluded that Raveendran needed an LOC to prohibit him from leaving the nation.

The last three years have primarily been spent by Raveendran travelling back and forth between Delhi and Dubai. Those with insight into the situation asserted that he visited Bengaluru earlier this week. Raveendran was in Delhi last week for a work trip, based on the aforementioned sources who informed the news agency. Speaking to The Economic Times, Raveendran claimed he is in Dubai at the moment. He had earlier in the week departed for the emirate and stated that he “will be travelling to Singapore tomorrow”.

One of the individuals mentioned previously alleged that the decision to apply to the BOI for the LOC was made with the “interest of investors” in mind. Once the LOC is issued, even if Raveendran is abroad, he will not be permitted to leave the nation after he comes back, per a top government official. The person noted, “The LOC, once opened, will ensure that the interest of investors is safeguarded and the case is taken to its logical conclusion without any difficulty.”

Think & Learn Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Byju and Raveendran, was served with show-cause notices by the agency in November of last year about suspected FEMA violations totalling Rs 9,362.35 crore. In a statement at the time, the ED stated that inquiries had been conducted in response to many allegations about Byju’s foreign investment and its business practices.

The ED had highlighted, “The company was also stated to have made significant foreign remittances outside India and investments abroad which were allegedly in contravention of provisions of FEMA, 1999, and caused loss of revenue to the government of India.”

Over the course of April 27 and 28, of last year, the agency searched Byju’s facilities as well as Raveendran’s house. Documents relating to both domestic and foreign investments made by the company were seized.

The investigation team had pointed out that the company’s failure to recognise export revenue from sales outside of India and its tardy filing of documentation opposing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that it had received were the reasons for the purported infraction. It also mentioned the company’s failure to submit documentation for remittances routed outside of India.

CEO Byju Raveendran oversees Byju’s, which was formerly one of India’s most valuable start-ups due to a spike in demand for its online learning services during the Covid epidemic. However, in the past year, Byju’s worth has dropped by an estimated 90% from its peak of nearly $20 billion.

Mahua Moitra seeks gag order against media alleging ED is leaking information about FEMA case against her, ED refutes charges in Delhi HC

ANI
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Mahua Moitra seeks gag order against media alleging ED is leaking information about FEMA case against her, ED refutes charges in Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra plea to restrain Enforcement Directorate from allegedly leaking any ‘Confidential, Unverified Information’ to the Media related to the ongoing FEMA Probe against her.

The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad after hearing the all sides, reserved the order and fixed the matter for February 23, 2024 for pronouncement.

Justice Subramonium Prasad at the beginning of the hearing inquired from the counsel for Mahua Moitra as to what is so prejudicial in the press reports.

Senior lawyer Rebecca John appeared for Mahua Moitra stated “I was summoned on 14th and even before I could start, news starts to pour in that ED has summoned me. The material that is being published…a room was booked worth Rs 7 lakhs…look at the atmosphere that’s being created against me. Do I not have rights? My application is limited…it’s not about the agency’s right to investigate…it’s about the information being disseminated.”

Advocate Siddhant Kumar, appeared for ANI, contended before the High Court that the reporting is concerning a public figure regarding acts committed as a public official. It is the right of the press to report on the conduct of public officials such as Mahua Moitra who is also seeking to contest the next General Election.

During the hearing, ED told the court it has not leaked any information to the media. The ED counsel said the agency was not aware as to how the information about Mahua Moitra being summoned came to the press.

Mahua Moitra had moved Delhi High Court and sought direction to restrain ED and 19 media houses from leaking, broadcasting and disseminating any “confidential or unverified information’ in relation to the ED investigation against her regarding proceedings under FEMA.

The plea alleged that ED has willfully and maliciously leaked the details of the FEMA Summons, as well as the response submitted by the Petitioner to the February 14 Summons and sensitive details of allegations being investigated against the Petitioner.

The plea alleged that it appears that ED intends to subject the Petitioner to a media-trial by leaking sensitive particulars, including salacious allegations, allegedly stemming from their ongoing investigation and thereby, not only prejudice the investigation into the matter, but also tarnish the Petitioner’s reputation in the public eye.

Instead of undertaking a fair, transparent and ethical investigation into the alleged violations of the FEMA by the Petitioner, it appears that ED is pursuing efforts to vilify the Petitioner in the public eye by deliberately and consistently drip-feeding members of the media with every single detail of the investigation being conducted by ED against the Petitioner, plea read.

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

You can live in Russia, but stay away from children: Putin warns homosexuals against influencing minors

OpIndia Staff
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You can live in Russia, but stay away from children: Putin warns homosexuals against influencing minors

Reaffirming Russia’s reservations about openly promoting LGBTQ ideologies in the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin unequivocally stated that while Russia is not adverse to homosexuals, they should stay away from children. On Tuesday, February 20, while addressing visitors to the ‘Strong Ideas for a New Time’ forum, a yearly event organized by Russia’s state-backed Agency of Strategic Initiatives, Putin said that Russia is tolerant of people with non-traditional sexual orientations, so long as they don’t target children or flaunt their preferences.

The President said, “Adults can live and let live, but children are off-limits.”

“We are quite tolerant towards people with non-traditional sexual orientations. We just don’t flaunt it, and we don’t believe it’s right to flaunt it. Let everyone live – the adults – as they want. Nobody limits them in anything,” Putin stated as he added, “As for children, I have already said many times: ‘Don’t touch the children.’ That’s it. This is the first one. And the second one is, we are, first and foremost, a state that is guided by traditional values.”

Russia has progressively strengthened its laws in the last few years to stop the spread of what it refers to as “LGBT ideology.” The campaign started in 2013 when Russia outlawed the dissemination of said propaganda among minors.

Putin cracks down on LGBTQ propaganda

Multiple anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted or strengthened by the Kremlin in recent years as part of a conservative movement.

In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the ‘international LGBTQ movement’ an extremist group and also outlawed all activity connected to it within the nation which has led to fear of arrest and prosecution among gay and transgender activists there.

The development came three years after the country changed the constitution to assert that marriage is a union only between a man and a woman. Same-sex unions are not recognised in Russia.

In 2022, Russian legislators agreed to toughen the country’s 2013 law against ‘gay propaganda’, prohibiting all Russians from furthering or praising homosexual relationships or publicly implying that they are ‘normal’.

Moscow’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, unanimously approved amendments to strengthen the law against ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations’, making such propaganda illegal among Russians of all ages. The first version of the law passed in 2013, prohibited propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships among minors. However, the amendment aims at expanding the law to include those aged 18 and above.

Putin signed a package of amendments that included harsher sanctions for those who advocated gender transition and/or “non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences.” 

Likewise, in 2021, a Russian Court fined social media giant Twitter (now X) for failing to delete illegal content highlighted by the telecom regulator which included child pornography, drug abuse information, calls for minors to commit suicide, and such.

This was, however, the second instance when Twitter had been penalized by the Russian government. It was penalized once before in April too. 

Other big tech companies like Google and China’s TikTok also faced the Russian government’s ire for similar offences as Twitter.

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