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I was traumatised, dazed, and injured as I was thrown around inside the toilet: Bengaluru techie narrates mid-air horror of being trapped in SpiceJet lavatory

OpIndia Staff
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I was traumatised, dazed, and injured as I was thrown around inside the toilet: Bengaluru techie narrates mid-air horror of being trapped in SpiceJet lavatory

A Spicejet passenger, who was stuck inside the plane’s toilet for nearly an hour on the morning of 16th January due to an alleged malfunction of the lavatory door lock, has shared his harrowing experience. He described his experience of being trapped in the restroom of the Mumbai-Bengaluru flight with the words horrified, panicked, and suffocated. He was eventually rescued and was reportedly the last person to de-board the plane.

After being rescued from the lavatory 20 minutes after arriving at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), he disclosed that he was given a bottle of water and an apology but no medical attention, not even an assessment of his blood pressure. “I was traumatised, dazed and injured as I was thrown around inside the toilet as the plane landed in Bengaluru. There was no medical assistance at all,” he said.

The passenger intends to file a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and sue the airline for endangering his life. He added that SpiceJet offered him a Rs 5,000 coupon as compensation but he declined. However, the airline said that the staff “provided assistance and guidance” to the passenger.

The Koramangala resident, who was allotted seat 14D in the plane, mentioned, “Soon after the flight took off at 2.10 AM on Tuesday, I went to use the lavatory on the front left side of the plane. Within minutes, I realised something was wrong with the lock and I tried to open it. I managed to draw the attention of the crew, who tried to open the door. It was getting scarier every minute.”

The techie highlighted, “During landing, I was thrown around and suffered injuries. It took 20 minutes for someone to start breaking open the door. When I came out, I had bruises, and my vision was blurred for a while. But I received no medical help even after coming out of the lavatory. I got a bottle of water and some apologies from SpiceJet.”

A ground staff divulged, “The plane landed at KIA at 3.42 AM. An aircraft engineer boarded the flight after all passengers disembarked. The passenger was still trapped inside the cramped toilet. The landing was horrific as he was seated on the commode.”

The 37-year-old software engineer documented the event with a video showing himself confined inside the restroom and struggling to open the door. Now, the footage of the passenger fumbling to open the door has gone viral. He can be observed sitting on the toilet’s lid before getting to his feet and attempting to open the door in the short clip. The latch appeared to be unlocked in the video, however, the door is jammed. Someone from outside also tries to move the door knob to open it but to no avail. The mirror reflected his fleeting glance as he panned the camera around.

The Bangalore-based software engineer was travelling back to the IT hub on SpiceJet’s SG-268 Boeing 737-8 aircraft from Mumbai where he had visited family. The aircraft was supposed to depart Mumbai at 10:45 PM, but it didn’t take off until 2 in the morning.

Once on board, he proceeded to the restroom when the seat belt sign was turned off. He laboured for more than twenty minutes to catch the attention of the in-flight personnel when he was unable to open the toilet door. He eventually got them to notice, but by then the air pressure had caused the door to jam further and the team was unable to unlock it.

The passenger couldn’t hear the in-flight attendants trying to talk to him at first and moved himself closer to the door in an anxious state so he could hear their directions. “Sir, we tried our best to open the door; however, we could not. Do not panic. We are landing in a few minutes, so please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, an engineer will come,” read a note handed over to him by a cabin crew member through the cracks in the folding door of the loo.

The crew had instructed the passenger to settle down on the commode and hold on tight but the force of the landing had been so intense that the person was flung to one side without a proper seat belt and sustained injuries.

One employee who saw the rescue remarked, “He told us how he struggled inside the toilet, which had constricted space and the panic of being locked for hours. He was quite shaken up and dazed when he stepped out of the toilet. He could hardly manage to walk.”

He reportedly requested to meet with a senior SpiceJet official to file a formal complaint, but the staff instead put him in a cab and sent him home. A bottle of water was given to him and a car was provided to drive him to his place.

According to a close friend of the passenger who asked to remain anonymous, SpiceJet staff failed to take him to the closest hospital for a check-up despite the seriousness of the event. He revealed, “We had to take him to a hospital ourselves. We are looking at filing a formal complaint against the airline.”

His cousin also posted a message on social media about the passenger’s ordeal which stated, “After flight took off, he went to rest room and after that he was locked for almost 2 hours. Had to suffer a lot inside the room, it was really suffocating and was hard to breathe. He had breathing issues while he was locked inside the restroom, moreover, while landing on the flight there was no proper safety as he was stuck in the restroom during that and no one resolved this until the flight landed in Bangalore after which the door was opened with the help of engineer.”

He added, “It seems like he has booked a seat for the toilet, this is really a pathetic way of maintaining the flight and poor maintenance resulted in a traumatised journey which he is suffering now.”

The airline released a statement after the episode which said, “SpiceJet regrets and apologises for the inconvenience caused to the passenger. The passenger is being provided with a full refund. On 16 January, a passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on the SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock. Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger. Upon arrival, an engineer opened the lavatory door, and the passenger received immediate medical support.”

Youth tries to flee with the car that was en route to pick up MoS Sadhvi Jyoti from the airport, police arrest youth on charges of attempted kidnapping

OpIndia Staff
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Youth tries to flee with the car that was en route to pick up MoS Sadhvi Jyoti from the airport, police arrest youth on charges of attempted kidnapping

On Tuesday, January 16, the Lucknow police in Uttar Pradesh arrested a youth who tried to flee with MoS Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s car. The car was en route to pick up the union minister from the airport when the incident happened. The police arrested the youth and charged him with attempted kidnapping based on the complaint filed by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s driver.

In the complaint, the Union Minister’s driver said that the accused tried to run away with the car when he stopped the car to have tea near New Pradhan Dhaba in the Banthara police station area while he was on his way to the airport to receive the minister. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti was returning to Lucknow from Delhi.

According to him, the accused suddenly came there, pushed the gunner who was sitting inside the car out of it and tried to drive away with the car. The accused was then apprehended by the other security personnel who surrounded him and stopped the vehicle. When the security personnel pulled out the accused from the car he started hurling abuses at him. The accused was then handed over to the police.

The union minister was not inside the car when the incident took place.

The police, meanwhile, arrested the youth and registered a case against him for attempting to kidnap the minister. The accused is being interrogated.

PM Modi releases commemorative postage stamps on Ram Temple in Ayodhya

ANI
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PM Modi releases commemorative postage stamps on Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released commemorative postage stamps on the Ram Temple of Ayodhya and a book of stamps dedicated to Lord Ram issued by countries across the world.

Components of the design of the stamps include the Ram Temple, choupai (the verse) ‘Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari’, the sun, the Saryu River and sculptures in and around the temple.

The six commemorative stamps released today include those of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Jatayu, Kevatraj and Ma Shabri- each key figures and symbols associated with Lord Ram’s narrative.

The use of gold leaf detailing the sun rays and chaupai featured on the stamps lend a majestic touch to the stamps.

The five physical elements i.e. sky, air, fire, earth and water, known as ‘Panchabhutas’ are reflected through various design elements and establish the perfect harmony of Panchamahabhutas essential for all manifestations.

The book on stamps is an attempt to showcase the international appeal of Lord Ram to various societies.

This 48-page book includes stamps issued by over 20 countries including like USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Cambodia and organisations like the UN.

These countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Fiji, Gibraltar, Guyana, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore, Srilanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Thailand, Togo, United Nations, and the USA.

Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram’s idol is scheduled at the grand temple in Ayodhya on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Elaborate arrangements are being made for the ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. During the ceremony, an idol of Lord Ram will be enthroned in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya’s Ram Temple.

The rituals for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony began on Tuesday and will continue for seven days. Thousands of VIP guests have received invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the ceremony. (ANI)

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

Assam: Woman who was expelled for saying she was harassed by Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV, demands ‘Nyay’ from Rahul Gandhi

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Woman who was expelled for saying she was harassed by Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV, demands ‘Nyay’ from Rahul Gandhi

 As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters Assam today, former Assam Youth Congress President Angkita Dutta has staged a protest demanding justice from the Congress leader over her claim of sexual assault by another party person.

Angkita, who was once the head of Assam’s Youth Congress, found herself expelled from the party last year.

As reported by ANI, Angkita Dutta said that she would submit a memorandum to Rahul Gandhi and seek justice.

“I have been in exile for the past 10 months. At that time, I sought justice, but I was suspended from the party. In the last 10 months, I have not joined any party. I was not in Congress, but I worked to strengthen the Congress party. Now people are coming out with me. I will submit a memorandum and we want justice. When he (Rahul Gandhi) reached at Amguri and Assam, I believed that I would also get Nyay. I am hopeful that, he (Rahul Gandhi) will give me Nyay,” she said.

“I come out to seek Nyay (Justice). He has given me a ray of hope. When he started Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, I also saw a ray of hope that I would get Nyay,” she added.

Meanwhile, the fifth day of Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra resumed on Thursday from Nagaland’s Tuli to Jorhat in Assam. Rahul Gandhi while addressing the people said that perhaps the most corrupt government in India runs in Assam.

“Today is the fifth day of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. The public is moving forward united with us in this ‘Nyya Yatra’ against the ‘injustice’ spread in the country. This journey will continue… until we get the right to justice,” the Congress posted on X.

Who is Angkita Dutta?

Angkita Dutta is the former head of the Assam Youth Congress. On April 22, 2023, the Congress party expelled the then Assam Pradesh Youth Congress President, Angkita Dutta, from the primary membership of the Congress party for six years for ‘anti-party activities.’

The decision came after she lodged a police complaint against IYC national president Srinivas BV, accusing him of harassment. Before that, on April 20, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) had issued a show cause notice to Angkita Dutta over the allegations she leveled against IYC National President and Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Srinivas BV. 

The Congress’ legal cell had sent a notice to Angkita Dutta after she made the harassment allegations. The notice, sent on behalf of Youth Congress President Srinivas BV, had called Angkita Dutta’s complaint of harassment as “false and frivolous”.

On April 18, 2023, Angkita Dutta had posted a series of tweets wherein she opened up about facing harassment at the hands of Congress leader Srinivas BV and also accused the Congress high command of a lack of interest in her case. In her subsequent police complaint, Dutta had narrated that she had been facing harassment and mental trauma at the hands of BV Srinivas for several months.

(With inputs from ANI)

Pran Pratishtha: 5 states declare holiday on consecration day, letter written to President & PM to declare national holiday on 22nd January

OpIndia Staff
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Pran Pratishtha: 5 states declare holiday on consecration day, letter written to President & PM to declare national holiday on 22nd January

Five states have declared a holiday on the occasion of Pran Pratishtha on 22nd January. All education institutes will remain closed in Uttar Pradesh on the day and liquor shops will be closed too.

Other states implementing a holiday for education institutes on the day include Madhya Pradesh, which declared 22nd January a dry day. Goa has declared a holiday for schools and government employees.

In Chhattisgarh, all government and private schools and colleges will remain closed. In Haryana, schools will remain closed and liquor consumption will not be allowed.

Meanwhile, advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay has reportedly written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging them to declare 22nd January as a national holiday.

Advocate Upadhyay states in the letter that Shri Ram lives in the breath and veins of every Indian across the globe and particularly Hindus. The excerpt of the letter read:

“No personality like Lord Shri Ram has ever been born on this planet in any civilization in the world and Lord Shri Ram is an integral part of national pride and Indian civilization. It is well known that Lord Shri Ram lives in the breath and veins of every Indian across the globe in general and Hindus in particular. It is a well-known fact that Lord Shri Ram is worshipped more than any other incarnation of Lord Vishnu or any other god or goddess. People of the country are awaiting very eagerly to celebrate January 22, 2024, as a national festival and therefore, to respect the sentiment of the people of the country and more particularly, the Hindus, it is desirable that January 22, 2024, be declared a national holiday like other Hindu festivals.”

Meanwhile, weeklong rituals in the run-up to Pran Pratishtha have begun in Ayodhya. On Thursday, the second day of rituals, the idol of Shri Ram Lalla was brought to the sanctum sanctorum of Ram Mandir and is set to be installed.

Political leaders, religious heads, celebrities, VIPs will all be part of the grand ceremony and attendees will be presented with gifts including the soil from the Ram Janmabhoomi.

A team of priests led by Pandit Lakshmikant Dixit will be performing the rituals of Pran Pratishtha in the presence of PM Modi.

Name-calling, personal attacks, refusal to share seats- The strange alliance of Congress and AAP in Punjab

Anurag
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Name-calling, personal attacks, refusal to share seats- The strange alliance of Congress and AAP in Punjab

The political landscape in Punjab is often a theatre of the unexpected. It has recently taken a curious turn as Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) engage in a delicate dance of alliance under I.N.D.I.A. bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It is not that AAP and Congress have not come together to form a government before, they did so in Delhi in 2013. However, Congress’s outside support to AAP to form a government was short-lived. Furthermore, AAP was heavily criticised for taking support from the party that it accused of corruption during elections.

The current scenario in Punjab is marked by intermittent episodes of personal attacks, name-calling and never-ending fights and comments over sharing Lok Sabha seats. The peculiar alliance between AAP and Congress is more of a “coalition of convenience” and has left the onlookers bemused. While the analysts are busy deciphering how these two parties will come along for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it is essential to understand that the top leadership on both sides is full of “me first” attitude. Congress does not want to give away too many seats to the allied parties, while AAP, currently with 1 Lok Sabha MP, intends to showcase its muscle in General Elections, which it failed to do in the previous two elections.

The Congress-AAP alliance under the umbrella of I.N.D.I. Alliance in Punjab is a narrative of contrasts and contradictions. AAP has been assertive about fighting Lok Sabha elections on all 13 seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh independently. On the other hand, the Punjab Congress leadership has firmly denied any possibility of joining hands with the Kejriwal-led Party for Lok Sabha elections in the state and the UT.

Despite the fact that they are “together” in the national opposition alliance, both parties’ stand is making the fight a popcorn-worthy scene for the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a recent meeting chaired by the All India Congress Committee president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and attended by Rahul Gandhi, most Punjab Congress leaders opposed the idea of forming an alliance with AAP for the general elections. They raised concerns that AAP was running a political vendetta against Congress leaders in the state.

Adding complexity to the coalition conundrum, one section of Congress with figures like Navjot Singh Sidhu is opposed, and others are in favour of the alliance, highlighting the internal division among the grand old party leaders. Notably, it is about more than just the seat share; the leaders have drifted apart on the strategic path and partnerships Congress should pursue in Punjab. The state has only 13 Lok Sabha seats.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP-SAD under NDA won five seats, Congress won three, and AAP won three seats. Capt Amarinder Singh (then-Congress) resigned in 2016 to become CM of Punjab, and Vinod Khanna (BJP) passed away in 2017. Congress won both seats.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, BJP-SAD under NDA won four seats, and Congress won eight. AAP was shrunk to one seat. Bhagwant Mann, the sole Lok Sabha MP of AAP, resigned in 2022 to become Chief Minister of Punjab, and Santokh Singh Choudhary of Congress passed away in 2023. While the Sangrur seat that AAP left was won by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) ‘s chief Simranjit Singh Mann, the Jalandhar seat was won by AAP’s Santokh Singh Chaudhary, reducing one seat in total for Congress.

It is evident that Congress has more chances of winning seats in Punjab when it comes to Lok Sabha elections. However, the recent victory in the Assembly Elections has given AAP an upper hand in the “alliance” between Congress and AAP.

Kejriwal’s ambition for AAP is clear. He wants to replicate the Delhi governance model in Punjab and create a political landscape painted in his party colours. He wants to put AAP above the alliance else it may dilute his distinct political identity. However, Kejriwal’s party has failed to showcase success in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, where the party has been in power since 2013. In both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, all seven seats were won by BJP candidates.

Interestingly, Congress and AAP have no problem coming together in Chandigarh’s mayoral elections. This collaborative move, especially amidst the ongoing tussle between the two at the national level, indicates how complex politics can get in India. Under the arrangement between the two, AAP would fight for the mayor’s seat. At the same time, Congress would contest the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, challenging the ruling BJP in mayoral elections.

The Congress-AAP coalition’s approach is tactical in Chandigarh and juxtaposed against a standoff in Punjab. The alliance underscores the complexities and challenges of coalition politics. It clearly reflects a landscape where common goals coexist with competing interests and ideological disparities. As this drama unfolds in the future, it will be a litmus test for the ambitious nature of AAP and the fight for the existence of Congress in the General Elections. It will be interesting to see how both parties decide on seats and then perform in the General Elections against BJP, which is no longer allied with SAD in Punjab.

Karnataka: Street vendor Zaheer Khan arrested for tearing Shri Ram banners in Kolar

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Street vendor Zaheer Khan arrested for tearing Shri Ram banners in Kolar

On Wednesday (17th January), the Karnataka police arrested two persons for tearing Shri Ram posters in Jahangir Mohalla and Gungunte Palya villages in the Kolar district. One of the arrested accused is identified as Zaheer Khan. He is a 22-year-old street vendor. The arrest of the accused came after Hindus held a massive protest in front of the Mulbagal Town police station.

A meticulous review of CCTV footage within the vicinity helped the police identify the accused. The recorded visuals distinctly captured the arrested individual Zaheer Khan cutting the banner with a sharp object at approximately 10:45 pm on Tuesday. These banners were erected to mark the celebration of the Makara Sankranti festival and the upcoming consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

On Wednesday morning, members from Hindu organisations congregated protesting and vehemently demanding action against the miscreants. Kolar BJP MP S Muniswamy and Mulbagal JD(S) MLA Samruddhi V Manjunath visited the village. Police personnel were deployed in the area to control the situation. Subsequently, the Mulbagal Town Police authorities meticulously examined the CCTV footage, leading to the arrest of Zaheer Khan.

A police officer said, “The banners were put up for the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya and also for the Sankranti festival. Around 10.45 pm on Tuesday, Zaheer used sharp objects to cut the banners in Jahangir Mohalla and Gungunte Palya villages.”

Kolar MP S Muniswamy said, “The police have arrested two people tearing banners of lord Sri Ram. An investigation should be conducted to find out who is supporting these miscreants to indulge in such activities. Several women were injured after a group of Muslim men threw stones at them when they were going on a procession on a festival day in Malur a few days ago. There is an increase in such incidents in the state after the Congress came to power.”

BY Vijayendra, the President of the Karnataka BJP, strongly condemned the incident and urged for stringent measures to be taken against those responsible. He posted from his X handle, “The heinous act of tearing Prabhu Sri Rama’s banner at Kolar as nation anticipates holy Sri Ram Mandirs consecration is a reflection of barbaric mindset nourished by radical ideology. This disturbing trend underscores the Congress government’s ideology of hate against Prabhu Shri Ram and its potential consequences on the Hindu community, demanding resolute intervention. I urge the Kolar police to act swiftly to safeguard law & order, especially given the recent provocative statements from Congress ministers against Ram Bhakts.”

Sachin Tendulkar deepfake video: Mumbai cyber police files case against online gaming portal and a Facebook page

OpIndia Staff
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Sachin Tendulkar deepfake video: Mumbai cyber police files case against online gaming portal and a Facebook page

On 16th January, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against a Facebook page and a gaming website after cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar pointed out a deepfake video involving him. A deepfake video showed Tendulkar saying that he and his daughter Sara Tendulkar had won big money from playing a particular internet game. The Mumbai Cyber Police were alerted to the phoney clip by him after which the action was undertaken.

West Region Cyber Police lodged an official complaint under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and 66A (criminalises the sending of offensive messages through a computer or other communication devices) of the Information Technology Act against a gaming website and a Facebook page following a complaint from Sachin Tendulkar’s personal assistant Ramesh Pardhe.

According to the submission, Ramesh Pardhe discovered that a previously recorded interview of Sachin Tendulkar with a media person, available on YouTube, had been altered and shared on the Hurma Facebook page. He further mentioned that the video which mimicked Tendulkar’s voice and movements using deepfake technology was also uploaded on the Skyward Aviator Quest gaming website.

“The visuals are from an old interview that Tendulkar gave to journalist Vikram Sathye. The audio seems to have been superimposed on the video using deep fake technology to make it sound authentic,” Ramesh Pardhe mentioned pointing out that the video claimed Sara Tendulkar won Rs 1.8 lakh a day by using the app to play games.

“We have sought details about the owner of the gaming portal. Usually, servers of these portals are located out of India and platforms are not too keen to share data swiftly,” informed an officer.

On 15th January, the cricketing legend used social media to address the alarming misuse of technology. He shared a deepfake video in which he was seen endorsing a gaming app and even advocating for its ability to help people earn money. He also urged people to be vigilant and take immediate measures against the spread of false information.

The 50-year-old cricketing legend expressed concerns about the issues brought about by the deceptive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for photo and video editing and highlighted, “These videos are fake. It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology. Request everyone to report videos, ads & apps like these in large numbers. Social Media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes.”

India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, responded to the post made by Sachin Tendulkar and said that the government will soon announce stricter regulations outlined in the Information Technology Act.

Notably, this is not an isolated instance. The malicious production and distribution of deepfake content, which frequently contains pornographic material, has grown to be effective as a tool for defamation of character and blackmail in recent years. Actors Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, and Priyanka Chopra are among the famous people who have recently become victims of this deepfake threat. The severity of the issue first came to the fore after actress Rashmika Mandana highlighted how she fell victim to this targeted abuse.

Sara Tendulkar also brought up the matter when her altered photo with Shubman Gill also became viral on social media during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

Foxconn and HCL forge partnership to establish semiconductor testing, and assembly unit in India

OpIndia Staff
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Foxconn and HCL forge partnership to establish semiconductor testing, and assembly unit in India

Taiwan’s Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, has joined forces with India’s HCL Group to establish an Outsourced Assembly and Testing (OSAT) unit for semiconductor chips. Foxconn, through its subsidiary Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development Private Limited, is set to invest $37.2 million, securing a substantial 40% stake in the joint venture, as revealed in a regulatory filing to the Taiwanese stock exchanges.

The collaboration aligning with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision was confirmed on Wednesday (17th January).

The partnership intends to contribute to building a resilient supply chain ecosystem for the domestic semiconductor industry. Foxconn, a global leader in electronics manufacturing and assembler of iPhones, aims to deploy its ‘Build-Operate-Localize’ (BOL) model to support local communities in India.

A spokesperson for HCL Group stated, “HCL Group plans to partner with Foxconn Group to establish OSAT operations in India. HCL Group has a strong engineering and manufacturing heritage, and this is an opportunity that provides strategic adjacency to the Group portfolio.”

This partnership aligns with India’s broader semiconductor ambitions, marked by other proposals in the sector.

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar recently revealed that the government has received nine proposals for various semiconductor fabrication units, including OSAT facilities. The interest in semiconductor manufacturing in India has surged, with US-based Micron Technology announcing an $825 million investment in assembly, testing, monitoring, and packaging (ATMP) plans in Gujarat.

Despite being characterised as a non-binding memorandum of understanding, officials expect an investment ranging between $100 million to $150 million, subject to further negotiations. The intricate details, including transaction amount, asset particulars, and conditions, will be disclosed upon reaching a definitive agreement.

The proposal is currently under consideration by the India Semiconductor Mission, and industry insiders note the significance of HCL’s expertise in semiconductor design and testing software. The joint venture holds potential, with HCL’s existing partnerships with major chipmakers and Foxconn’s instrumentation expertise.

Foxconn’s expanding presence in India can be attributed to geopolitical tensions and its eagerness to diversify its operations amid global uncertainties. The company, contributing 68% of total iPhone production in India, received approval for an additional $1 billion investment in a new plant for manufacturing Apple products in Bengaluru.

Foxconn and Vedanta mutually parted ways

Earlier, on 10th July 2023, Foxconn stated that it had terminated its USD 19.5 billion joint venture deal with mining baron Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Ltd. Reportedly, the venture faced difficulties in securing a technology partner to manufacture chips that are used in mobile phones, refrigerators, and cars. Rumours spread after this decision that Foxconn is leaving India. But the company has expanded its presence in India in the following months and this new OSAT establishment is now announced.

Delhi excise policy scam: Arvind Kejriwal likely to skip ED summons for the fourth time, will head to Goa instead

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi excise policy scam: Arvind Kejriwal likely to skip ED summons for the fourth time, will head to Goa instead

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal might skip the fourth summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (18th January) as he is scheduled to leave for Goa for a three-day visit. ED had issued a summons to Kejriwal on 13th January, asking him to appear before it in connection with its probe into the money laundering allegations related to the Delhi excise policy case. 

According to an official in the chief minister’s office, the Aam Aadmi Party leader is unlikely to attend ED’s summons because he is slated to visit Goa to meet with party workers and assess Lok Sabha election preparations. In response to a query from reporters at an event on Wednesday, Kejriwal replied, “We will act per the law.”

The Delhi Chief Minister had earlier skipped questioning on January 3 for the third time, claiming that the summons issued by the investigation agency were “illegal” and “politically motivated,” with the sole intent of arresting him.

Kejriwal had previously refused to appear before the investigation agency on two occasions, on November 2 and December 21, opting instead to campaign for assembly elections and attend a 10-day Vipassana meditation camp on the two respective occasions.

It is worth recalling that the initial summons was issued to CM Kejriwal in October of last year as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering related to the Delhi government’s liquor policy, which was withdrawn in July 2023 over allegations of corruption. Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, both AAP leaders, were arrested in connection with the same scam by central probe agencies.

Delhi Excise Policy Scam

ED filed its first chargesheet in the case in 2022. The agency said it has so far undertaken over 200 search operations in this case following an FIR after taking cognisance of a CBI case that was registered on the recommendation of the Delhi lieutenant governor. The CBI inquiry was recommended based on the findings of the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009, and Delhi Excise Rules 2010.

The liquor policy for 2021-22 was put into effect by the Delhi administration on 17th November 2021, however, it was cancelled at the end of September 2022 due to accusations of corruption. According to the agencies, the new regulation led to monopolisation and gave economic advantages to people who weren’t eligible for liquor licenses. Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia and the Delhi administration have denied any wrongdoing.

The now-scrapped excise regime, according to the ED, extended an incredibly high 12% profit margin for wholesalers and nearly 185% profit margin for retailers. Further, favours were extended through cartelisation.

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