Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader courted controversy for vowing to induct Bangladeshis into the electoral rolls of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
As per reports, the said TMC leader was identified as an ex-Panchayat Pradhan Ratna Biswas. In a video that has now gone viral on social media, she was heard appealing to Bangladeshi immigrants to enlist their names for voting.
“Many Bangladeshis live in this area. If those who have come here from Bangladesh face issues in getting their names on the voter list, they should contact Zakir bhai. All such people should contact this office…This work should be done fast,” Ratna Biswas had said.
Following the controversy, ex-chairman of local panchayat Samiti Jakir Hossain (named in the video) claimed, “Ratna Biswas didn’t mean it that way. Most of the people who live in my area came here before 1960-65.”
“Many people have been removed from the voter list after 1990 who were earlier in the voter list. She actually spoke about helping those people. We definitely provide services to the common people free of cost including voter list correction and all this is done as per the law. She wrongfully stated all of them as Bangladeshi,” he further alleged.
BJP has hit out against the Trinamool Congress and the nefarious agenda to induct Bangladeshis in the electoral rolls. State President Sukanta Majumdar said, “The ruling party Trinamool Congress is already doing this work of making such voter ID cards. The names of the infiltrators are added to the voter list.” He has also demanded a probe into the matter.
TMC leader lied about being Indian, is a Bangladeshi
In May last year, it came to light that a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Alo Rani Sarkar who contested from the Bangaon Dakshin constituency is a Bangladeshi national.
The revelations were made after she moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging the election result and the victory of BJP leader Swapan Majumdar from the said constituency. The petition was heard by Justice Bibek Chaudhuri.
The Court noted that Alo Rani Sarkar was a Bangladeshi national on the date of filing the nomination, election date, and on the date of declaration of result. “From the face of the petitioner’s own document, it is found that the petitioner had no right to contest the assembly election of 2021,” it observed.
“As she is not a citizen of India, she shall not be qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the legislature of a State in terms of Article 173 of the Constitution read with Section 16 of the Representation of People Act, 1950,” the Court emphasised.
On Friday (24th November), former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted for killing George Floyd, was stabbed by another inmate at a Federal prison in Arizona in the USA. Chauvin sustained significant injuries during the incident at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) around 12:30 p.m. The identity of the attacker is not yet revealed.
According to reports, life-saving measures were administered by prison staff before Derek Chauvin and his assailant were both transported to hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Fortunately, no staff members sustained injuries, and the FBI has been alerted. Visiting at the facility, which accommodates approximately 380 inmates, has been temporarily suspended.
The stabbing incident occurred a mere week following the rejection of Chauvin’s appeal by the US Supreme Court regarding his second-degree murder conviction in the May 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin had argued that new evidence demonstrated he was not responsible for Floyd’s death, a tragic event that ignited nationwide protests, and riots, and sparked an extensive debate on racial discrimination in the USA.
Additionally, his legal team contended that Derek Chauvin was deprived of a fair trial due to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and apprehensions about potential violence in the event of an acquittal. They had strongly advocated for Chauvin to be segregated from the prison’s general population, expressing concerns that he would be a target among other inmates. Now, this incident of an attack on the former policeman has surfaced.
Derek Chauvin was convicted in the George Floyd murder case
Notably, Derek Chauvin has been serving his 22.5-year prison sentence at this prison – Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson in Arizona – since he was found guilty by a state court in April 2021 of killing George Floyd. On 25th May 2020, 46-year-old Floyd was reportedly murdered by Derek Chauvin, who knelt on the former’s neck for 7 long minutes until his body became unresponsive. A shopkeeper had called the cops on Floyd for allegedly trying to pass a ‘potential counterfeit bill’. On being taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center, Floyd was pronounced dead.
The viral cell phone video captured by a pedestrian, who repeatedly objected to the action of Chauvin, showed the cop trying to choke Floyd with his knee. Despite the victim complaining about not being able to breathe, coupled with verbal protest from onlookers, the said officer was unmoved.
Security lapses in the prisons in the USA
Attacks inside the US prisons, like this one, are not a new thing. Staffing shortages and security lapses have posed ongoing challenges for FCI Tucson and various federal prisons. A year prior to the recent incident, an inmate at the low-security prison camp of the Arizona facility brandished a firearm in an attempt to shoot a visitor. Fortunately, no one was injured in that incident.
On Tuesday (21st November), a stray dog on GA Road in Chennai bit 29 people in two hours. The dog was later beaten to death. Now, in the medical examination, it is found that the dog has tested positive for rabies.
Dr J Kamal Hussain, veterinary officer of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCP), said, “We will get the official report soon, but we have already received information that the test result is positive. The dog was infected with rabies.” The remains of the dog were previously forwarded to Madras Veterinary College for a post-mortem examination.
GGC commissioner J Radhakrishnan, who is also a veterinary doctor by training, said, “In the last two days, we have caught 31 dogs from this locality and they will be under observation. The injured have been given anti-rabies immunoglobulin medication. And they have also been given an anti-rabies vaccine.”
Apart from the 29 individuals, including five children, who were bitten on Tuesday night, a handful of others suffered injuries while trying to escape from the dog and falling on the road. The wounded individuals were admitted to Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital. Those attacked by the dog received initial doses of the anti-rabies vaccine, with the second dose scheduled for Friday. The corporation stated that these individuals are under close observation.
According to Dr Hussain, there are five Animal Birth Control (ABC) groups in the city, and this year alone they captured around 17,000 dogs for sterilisation and vaccination. In this month, 1242 dogs were captured, and 1007 surgeries for animal birth control were conducted. The GCC is strategising to engage NGOs in conducting a comprehensive census of stray dogs within the city and implementing large-scale sterilisation measures.
Arun Prasanna, the head of People for Cattle In India (PFCI), an NGO, claimed that the municipal body’s actions fell short of even the basic requirements. He emphasised that events like the one on Tuesday only serve to instil panic among the public. He said, “It is unfortunate that so many people were bitten by the dog. The animal was then beaten to death. If a dog bites more than three people, then it means it is rabid. It is the infection that makes the animal go insane. I do not blame the public (for hitting the dog), but it was the corporation’s responsibility.”
What is rabies
Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The RABV virus infection is the root of the ailment. The virus infects the central nervous system of mammals which ultimately results in brain disease and death. It causes encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and other mammals.
Rabies was historically referred to as hydrophobia (fear of water) due to the symptom of panic when presented with liquids to drink. It is spread from the saliva of infected animals. The majority of rabies in the United States are linked to skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. However, dogs continue to carry the rabies virus in many other nations, including India, and dog bites are the leading cause of rabies-related deaths in humans worldwide.
The animals most likely to spread the rabies virus to people include pets and farm animals like cats, cows, dogs, ferrets, goats, horses and wild animals like bats, beavers, coyotes, foxes, monkeys, raccoons, skunks and woodchucks.
The epidemic of rabies in India
The number of human deaths globally due to dog-mediated rabies is estimated to be 59,000 annually. India is responsible for 36% of rabies-related deaths worldwide, according to the statistics of the World Health Organisation. The National Rabies Control Programme recorded 6644 medically suspected cases and fatalities of rabies between 2012 and 2022. Recent cases of rabies death which got wider media attention were from Meerut and Ghaziabad.
On Friday (25th November) morning, a man named Lareb Hashmi attacked a 24-year-old Hindu bus conductor with a cleaver after accusing the latter of committing ‘blasphemy’. The incident took place in the Prayagraj city of Uttar Pradesh.
As per reports, the victim was identified as Harikesh Vishwakarma. He suffered grievous injuries to his neck and body after Hashmi hacked him with a cleaver over a ticket fare dispute.
Following the brutal attack, the Islamist jumped out of the bus and sought refuge in a nearby college campus. While speaking about the incident, bus driver Mangla Yadav said, “Suddenly, there was an attack inside the bus. I heard a sound and then stopped the bus.”
"I have kiIIed that kafir because he Mocked our IsIam"
This guy is Md Lareb Hashmi, he sIit throat of a Bus conductor named Hariksh Vishwakarma over some dispute. After that he made a video confessing the crime as well.
Harikesh Vishwakarma was immediately rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, Lareb Hashmi recorded a video inside the college campus, justifying the attack on the bus conductor.
“(The bus conductor) was abusing Muslims. So I attacked him with a cleaver. He will not survive. He will be dead soon. From India to France, whoever insults our Prophet will be exterminated,” the Islamist was heard saying.
“We are ready to die for you and go to jail, O Prophet Muhammad. Dear Muslims, rise about this world’s materialism and be ready to sacrifice your life for the Prophet,” Lareb Hashmi went on to abuse the victim with the choicest of expletives.
उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस ने लारेब हाशमी को गोली मारकर गिरफ़्तार किया
The Islamist chanted ‘Allah hu Akbar, and ‘La ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah” as he went about justifying the brutal attack on the Hindu bus conductor.
On receiving information about the matter, the police reached the college campus. Lareb Hasmi attempted to escape and even fired at the cops. He was shot in the leg during retaliatory firing by the cops.
The Islamist, who happened to be a first-year engineering student at the United Engineering College in Prayagraj, was admitted to the hospital for treatment of his bullet injury.
While speaking about the matter, DCP (Yamunanagar) Abhinav Tyagi informed, “Following the incident, the accused was arrested by the police and a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered. Further investigation is underway.”
The probe into the deepfake case of actor Rashmika Mandana has hit a dead end as social media platforms have shown their inability to give any information about individual(s) who have allegedly made the deep fake profiles.
As per the sources, the accused has removed and deleted his or her account from the social media platforms.
The officials said that the account could have been created with a fake identity and the Virtual Private Network (VPN) could have been used to upload the deep fake videos.
Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 18 said that notices were issued to all social media platforms directing them to take necessary steps to identify and remove such content.
As per the officials, though the police detained a few suspects, none of them created the deep fake video in question rather they only shared the video.
The investigation into the matter is still underway, the officials said.
Delhi Police has received a response suggesting their inability to provide details about the suspect’s account which has been deleted from the Social media platforms.
Delhi Police IFSO (Internet Freedom and Safety for Online Users) unit earlier this week sent a letter to Meta (formerly Facebook) but the social media company responded by expressing its inability to provide details of the deleted account.
The sources further informed that the police are awaiting a reply from GoDaddy (a publicly traded internet domain registry) since a similar profile was made through GoDaddy also.
Highlighting the danger of deepfakes, Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 18 during an interaction with the media, said, “Deep fake is a big issue for all of us. We recently issued notices to all the big social media forms, asking them to take steps to identify deepfakes, to remove those content. The social media platforms have responded. They are taking action. We have told them to be more aggressive in this work.”
On November 6, a modified video of actor Rashmika Mandanna appeared online sparking discussions of digital safety. In the viral video, it can be seen that a woman resembling the actress Rashmika was entering a lift wearing a black swimsuit.
The video quickly went viral and several social media users came forward to confirm that it was a deep fake. It was later identified that the video was of a British Actress Zara Patel.
The actor strongly reacted to the alleged deep fake video and said, “I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deep fake video of me being spread online. Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused.”
The Delhi Police registered the FIR under relevant sections, and an investigation has been carried out into the matter.
Delhi Police said that a technical analysis is underway to identify the accused involved in the deepfake video case of the actress Rashmika Mandanna.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin highlighted Hindu values that promote peace and said that the world struggling with turmoil should take inspiration from Hindu values of non-violence, truth, tolerance and harmony, only then peace would be established in the world.
With the aim of establishing the identity of Hindus in the world as a progressive and talented society, the Third World Hindu Congress was inaugurated here today.
The Prime Minister of the host country, Thavisin, was to participate in the inaugural session but due to some reasons, he could not come. The message of the Thai Prime Minister was read out in the meeting. He said that it is an honour for Thailand to host the World Hindu Congress organized on the principles and values of Hinduism.
The Vedas visualize the key principles of synthesis and balance for a peaceful coexistence. The concept of shanti is established on these principles.
With the proclamation of ‘Victory of Dharma’, eminent saint Mata Amritanandamayi, Swami Purnatmanand of Bharat Sevashram Sangh, Sarsanghchalak Mohanrao Bhagwat of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Milind Parande and founder-facilitator of the programme Swami Vigyananand lit the lamp.
The World Hindu Congress gathered more than 2200 delegates invited from 61 countries of the world who made remarkable achievements in the fields of education, economy, academics, research and development, media and politics.
These include MPs and ministers from about 25 countries. There are about 10 lakh people of the Indian community living in Thailand whose contribution to the trade and economic development of the country is noteworthy.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister EAM Jaishankar recently said that India’s defence and security relationship with Thailand has grown after 2014. He noted that the Thailand government has also shown the same sentiment.
While addressing the Indian diaspora in Thailand, Jaishankar noted that India had a look-east policy while Thailand had a look-west policy. He highlighted the changes that took place in terms of India-Thailand ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.
While interacting with the Indian community, Jaishankar said, “We engage with the countries of the ASEAN. So, for us, this is not just a relationship. It is not even a relationship that began, as I said, in 1947, in the modern form. It is, of course, a relationship that goes back in history, but it is a relationship that is associated with reform and change in India. So, this period that we are talking about, especially the last 25 years, this is a time when this relationship has grown very much.”
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Kambala, a famed traditional buffalo racing competition in coastal Karnataka, is ready to make a mark this weekend in Bengaluru. On November 25 and 26, the folk sport will be hosted in the Palace Grounds in the heart of the city. This is the first time that the Kambala race will be taking place in Bengaluru.
The traditional buffalo race, which originates in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka and is firmly rooted in Tulunadu’s local culture, boasts a unique blend of history and enthusiasm. The festival is dedicated to the Kadri Manjunath incarnation of Lord Shiva.
The preparations for the grand race are going on in full swing with participants washing and taking trial runs of their two sets of buffaloes. Around 200 pairs of buffaloes, along with their owners, are expected to arrive in Bengaluru today from the coastal areas.
Bengaluru is getting ready for Kambala for the first time on 25th and 26th at Palace Grounds. pic.twitter.com/rQeGPZrfmi
Around four to eight lakh people are anticipated to attend the mega event showcasing the local tradition and devotion towards Mahadev. The Bengaluru Kambala debut will be distinguished by the thorough preparation of enormous galleries, a special pooja, and a record-breaking 155-meter track, assuring a one-of-a-kind show. The main stage at the Palace Grounds has been named after the late Kannada actor Puneeth Raj Kumar.
Bengaluru is all set to host Kambala this weekends. The bullocks have arrived and there is an air of festivities.
Several celebrities have been invited to attend the event including actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty, Anushka Shetty, and Kannada star Darshan among others. Notably, V. Manohar’s “Bengaluru Kambala -Namma Kambala” theme song, with music by Gurukiran, had recently been released.
Meanwhile, a traffic advisory has been issued by the authorities. The Bengaluru Traffic Police Department has issued an advisory asking commuters to avoid specific roads and take alternate routes. The police said that parking will be provided at Krishna Vihar (Gate No-1) and Tripuravasini (Gate No-2) of Palace Grounds. In addition, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has also advised passengers to plan their travel and commute on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so that they have enough time to go to the airport. Passengers were also advised to check with airlines for alerts and updates.
— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಸಂಚಾರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruTrafficPolice (@blrcitytraffic) November 23, 2023
Earlier, it was reportedly claimed that there would be an entry fee. However, Muralidhar Rai Matanthabettu, Working President of the Bangalore Carpet Committee, stressed that there will be no entry fee or advance ticket purchases required for spectators. All the devotees and spectators are welcome to attend.
“It has come to our attention that some claim there is an entry fee for Bengaluru Kambala viewing, and that advance ticket booking is required.” However, this is different. This is not something that people should believe. I’d like to emphasise that there is no ticket or entry charge for Bengaluru Kambala. “All fans and spectators will be welcome,” Muralidhar Rai Matanthabettu informedUdayavani.
Kambala Bengaluru brings political rivals together
On Thursday, BJP leader Umesh Shetty and Congress MLA from Puttur Ashok Kumar Rai joined forces to organise Kambala in a rare display of camaraderie. According to reports, both have been involved in the preparations for the mega event of the Hindu festival. Notably, Umesh Shetty is the organising president of the Bengaluru Kambala Committee while Congress leader Ashok Kumar Rai is the president of the committee. Both the leaders said that although they have ideological differences, however, for the centuries-old tradition they have come together.
Kambala race
Kambala is an ancient celebration in coastal Karnataka devoted to Lord Kadri Manjunatha, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Every year, following the paddy harvest, the villagers hold a festival to express their gratitude to the almighty for a good harvest.
As is known, Buffaloes are a vital component of farming life, so villagers have long held buffalo races during this festival, believing that the sport will provide buffaloes with continued health. There are many different beliefs and accounts of how the races began. It was a type of leisure or recreational sport for the farming community, according to popular tradition. The winner of the buffalo race received a coconut and other prizes.
Image via IndiaTours
It is also stated that the Kings of the Hoysala dynasty began the ritual for their own amusement and to see if buffaloes could be trained and used in battle. The feudal lords of those regions carried on the custom, which still continues now.
Every year, about 45 villages in coastal Karnataka celebrate the Kambála race in the months of November and March. On the two parallel race courses, two teams of buffaloes and their jockeys race to the finish line. The race continues for all day, and the winners advance to the next round. Apart from crossing the finish line first, awards are also awarded for splashing water high enough to reach the target (Kolu) set above.
It is also worth noting that the Supreme Court of India earlier banned Kambala after multiple petitions were filed against animal cruelty during the race. However, as a traditional sport, the Kambala festival was re-legalized in 2017 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance. The Supreme Court upheld the law allowing Kambala and Jallikattu in May of this year.
The External Affairs Ministry and Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla have received an emphatic letter from the Israeli Embassy expressing their concerns and registering protest against Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut’s anti-Semitic statement on the social media site X. The recent development was reported by The Print.
According to diplomatic sources, the embassy wanted the Rajya Sabha MP to know how his remarks had harmed a nation that has consistently supported India. “Why did Hitler hate the Jewish community so much? Is this understandable now,” was how the Uddhav Sena leader reacted to an article on the “dire condition” in a Gaza hospital on 14 November.
#BREAKING: Israel Embassy in New Delhi has sent a strongly worded Note Verbale to Ministry of External Affairs and a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for his antisemitic comments justifying Holocaust against the Jewish community. pic.twitter.com/LXJwcOsZ7h
The politician deleted the abhorrent post later after it was widely criticised, however, it had already received over 293,000 views by the time Israeli authorities grabbed its screenshot. They sent a mail to the Indian authorities along with a picture of the comments. According to accounts, the Israelis in the letter were appalled to learn that an Indian member of parliament was engaging in “anti-Semitism” of a kind that had never been witnessed in the country.
Sanjay Raut had reacted on a tweet that claimed, “Premature babies are screaming in Al-Shifa hospital. the power to the incubator in which they were kept has been cut off by Israel. Armed forces have surrounded the hospital from all sides. No food items, milk, or water are allowed inside the hospital.” There was also a video that was alleged to be from the hospital.
अल-शिफा #अस्पताल में समय से पहले जन्मे बच्चे चीख रहे हैं, इन्हे जिस इंक्यूबेटर में रखा गया था उसकी बिजली #इजरायल ने काट दी है। हथिरबंद सेना ने अस्पताल की चारों तरफ से घेराबंदी की है। अस्पताल के अंदर खाने का सामान, दूध, या पानी ले जाने की अनुमति नहीं है।#Al_Shifa_Hospital… pic.twitter.com/T8Cl5eK3hi
Sanjay Raut made the implication that Adolf Hitler slaughtered Jews during the Holocaust because they committed such alleged acts earlier. He defended the extermination of Jews during the Second World War. More than 60 lakh Jews perished in the ethnic cleansing where they were put to death by being locked in gas chambers. However, he removed the tweet after severe backlash from netizens.
Raut has spoken out a great deal on the Israel-Hamas war since it started on 7 October after Hamas attacked Israel, killed over 1200 of its citizens and abducted hundreds to keep them as hostages. He compared the Bharatiya Janata Party to the terror outfit last month. He then claimed that India was backing Israel as it provided the Narendra Modi administration with the Pegasus “snooping” program.
UP minister Yogendra Upadhyay’s insensitive gesture on Friday to thrust a recompensation cheque to a martyred soldier’s sobbing mother even as she asked to desist from such a “public display” sparked massive outrage on social media, with netizens slamming the lawmaker for using the unfortunate incident as a photo-op opportunity.
In a video posted on social media, Captain Shubham Gupta’s mother can be heard urging, “pradarshani mat lagao” (don’t display this exhibition), as Uttar Pradesh Minister Yogendra Upadhyay tries to present her with a cheque. Despite her plea, the minister and accompanying individuals persisted in capturing photographs.
Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the minister’s callous PR stunt. “Heartless Minister. Captain Shubham Gupta of 9 Para Special Forces was killed in action fighting terrorists. Body hasn’t yet reached Agra for last rites. Yet UP Minister mocks family with a Photo-op. Mother screams: प्रदर्शनी मत लगवाओ, मेरा शुभम लौटा दो..” Kaul tweeted along with the video.
Heartless Minister. Captain Shubham Gupta of 9 Para Special Forces was killed in action fighting terrorists. Body hasn’t yet reached Agra for last rites. Yet UP Minister mocks family with a Photo-op. Mother screams: प्रदर्शनी मत लगवाओ, मेरा शुभम लौटा दो.. pic.twitter.com/2nNeQ1Krd2
India Today journalist Shiv Aroor also condemned the politician for his urge to seek publicity over the martyrdom of an Indian braveheart. “Sickened by soulless U.P. minister Yogendra Upadhyay. The wailing mother of Capt. Shubham Gupta cries “Ye pradarshan mat lagao” (“don’t do this public display”) as he thrusts a cheque into her hands for a photo op. Disgusting,” tweeted Aroor in addition to sharing an India Today report on the incident.
Sickened by soulless U.P. minister Yogendra Upadhyay. The wailing mother of Capt. Shubham Gupta cries "Ye pradarshan mat lagao" ("don't do this public display") as he thrusts a cheque into her hands for a photo op. Disgusting. https://t.co/vWSwCdQ6tA
As the video started gaining traction, a raft of social media users weighed in on with their opinions on the minister’s urge to gain publicity at the expense of a slain soldier’s wailing mother.
‘The need for photo-ops is replacing genuine empathy in politics,” tweeted a popular X user who goes by the handle @theskindoctor13, known for his sarcastic and witty takes on current happenings.
The need for photo-ops is replacing genuine empathy in politics.
Capt Gupta's mortal remains had not yet arrived home, but this UP minister had to satisfy his urgent need for a photo-op with sarkari cheques, despite crying mother pleading not to make a scene (प्रदर्शनी मत लगाओ). pic.twitter.com/oxdDoRiICt
Several others expressed their anger and annoyance with the minister for being insensitive and inconsiderate towards the loss of the martyred soldier’s mother.
Captain Shubham Gupta, hailing from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, was among the five army personnel who lost their lives in a two-day encounter with terrorists in Rajauri, Jammu and Kashmir.
Captain Gupta, the son of a government lawyer, enlisted in the Army in 2015 and received a commission into the ninth battalion of the elite Parachute regiment, commonly known as the 9 Para SF (Special Forces), in 2018.
The other brave army officials who succumbed in the encounter were Captain MV Pranjal, Havildar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, and Paratrooper Sachin Laur.
Security forces also eliminated two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including a high-ranking commander, during the operation.
The Supreme Court on Friday (24th November) reserved its judgment pertaining to public interest litigations (PILs) seeking a Court-monitored investigation into allegations made against the Adani group by US-based short-selling firm Hindenburg Research. The apex court remarked that it is easy to make allegations against anyone, adding that petitioners should show some responsibility while levelling charges against any party.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra are hearing the petitions seeking a probe in Adani based on the Hindenburg report. The court also criticised the petitioners for questioning the impartiality of the members of the court-appointed expert committee.
When Bhushan referred to reports published by The Guardian and Financial Times alleging that SEBI had not undertaken a proper investigation in the case, CJI said, “Mr Bhushan, I don’t think you can take something written in a newspaper, whether Guardian or Financial Times, to be gospel truth.”
The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, rubbished allegations against the SEBI – which is investigating the allegations against Adani — saying that a financial regulator cannot be asked to take something printed in the paper.
“SEBI is a statutory body exclusively entrusted with investigating stock market manipulation. Is it proper for a court without any proper material to say that we don’t trust SEBI and we will form our own SIT? This has to be done with much calibration,” CJI told Advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Appearing for petitioner Anamika Jaiswal, Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that SEBI’s conduct in the matter was not credible. To this, the CJI responded by saying, “Mr. Bhushan, I do not think you can ask a financial regulator to take something printed in the newspaper.. This does not discredit SEBI.. Should SEBI now follow journalists?”
The court further told the court that it is easy to make allegations and one must be also very careful.
Bhushan also referred to “factual revelations” in the Hindenburg report to which the CJI replied that the Court could not proceed on the assumption that the report was true. “We don’t have to accept the Hindenburg report as ipso facto factually correct. That is why we asked SEBI to investigate…” CJI said.
Bhushan also referred to allegations of conflict of interest made by the petitioner against some expert committee members. He pointed out that OP Bhatt is a chairman of Greenko which has a close partnership with the Adani group. Prashant Bhushan also said that one of the members of the expert committee Somashekhar Sundaresan was a lawyer lawyer representing Adani in various forums including in the SEBI Board.
The CJI dismissed the charge saying that lawyers make appearances in various cases, adding that Sundaresan appeared for Adani 17 years ago and this can’t disqualify him from the committee. “And you cite an appearance made by him (Somasekharan) 17 years ago! There has to be some responsibility about the allegations you make,” the CJI said.
CJI DY Chandrachud further said that if this logic is followed, no lawyer who has appeared for an accused should become a High Court judge.
The court came down heavily on a petition by Congress leader Jaya Thakur seeking enquiry against the State Bank Of India (SBI) and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) for investments into the Adani group.
The CJI said, “Is this some debate in a college? You are before a court. You realise the consequence of a direction against SBI and LIC? Absolutely no material by you and you are alleging this. Surely there must be some responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the CJI told SEBI that it must take steps to protect the stock market from volatility caused by short-selling and similar instances. The court said that it had intervened in the matter due to the extreme volatility of the stock market and sought to know what is SEBI planning to do for such kind of volatility and planning to protect investors in cases like short selling.
When asked by the apex court what steps SEBI is taking in this direction, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that these are larger issues which SEBI is considering. In terms of the recommendations made by the expert committee, the SG said that SEBI will make room for changes where possible.
He informed the court that the agency is not seeking any extension of time for the ongoing investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg case. “There were 24 cases identified for investigation of which 22 have been completed,” the SG submitted. For the remaining two cases, the agency said that it needs information from foreign regulators.
SG Tushar Mehta also took the court through the recommendations of the Expert Committee which SEBI has agreed with in principle.
He said that there is a growing tendency to plant stories outside India to influence decisions within India, urging the Supreme Court to stop such allegations.
In January this year, Hindenburg Research accused the Adani Group of fraud and stock price manipulation. The charges were denied by Gautam Adani who claimed in July that no regulatory failure was found by the expert committee which was constituted by the Supreme Court.
