Home Blog Page 173

ED cracks down on businessman linked to notorious Gupta Brothers: How OpIndia had in 2018 exposed Kapil Sibal’s link, a shady land deal and more

Anurag
-
0
ED cracks down on businessman linked to notorious Gupta Brothers: How OpIndia had in 2018 exposed Kapil Sibal’s link, a shady land deal and more

On 26th August, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations linked to businessman Piyoosh Goyal of World Window Group and companies linked to the notorious Gupta brothers of South Africa, across Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The raids were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ED initiated the raids following a request from South African authorities investigating their infamous “State Capture” scandal.

While the fresh action has once again turned the spotlight on the Guptas and their links to India, it also brought back questions that OpIndia had raised years ago, questions that mainstream media conveniently ignored, and which involved none other than Congress leader and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal.

ED raid on Piyoosh Goyal and Gupta brothers-linked firms

The ED’s raids on Tuesday were significant not just because they targeted a controversial businessman like Goyal, but also because for the first time, they formally established the cross-border cooperation between India and South Africa in tackling financial crimes tied to the Gupta brothers.

According to officials, the searches were carried out simultaneously in New Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, covering multiple premises connected to Goyal’s World Window Group and other associated firms such as Sahara Computers and ITJ Retails Pvt Ltd. According to media reports, investigators said that one of the key aspects of the probe was the suspected money laundering across India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, which was facilitated through a complex network of shell companies.

During the operation, ED teams also intercepted and questioned Ram Ratan Jagati, who has been described as the “key player” in this network. Jagati is based in Ahmedabad and allegedly floated a Dubai-based front company, JJ Trading FZE. This company was instrumental in funnelling illicit funds for both the Guptas and Goyal.

Speaking to the media, one ED official said, “Financial records, electronic data and documents are being examined to trace the flow of money across India, South Africa and the UAE.” The ED raids once again threw a spotlight on the Gupta brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, originally from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. They have been central figures in South Africa’s largest corruption scandal. Their ties with former President Jacob Zuma enabled them to secure contracts, influence political appointments and divert public funds. The arrangement became so infamous in South Africa that a new term was coined, “State Capture”, to describe it.

In 2018, the Guptas fled South Africa and relocated to Dubai. Atul and Rajesh were arrested in Dubai in 2022. However, the UAE later rejected South Africa’s extradition request and declared them fugitives. Ajay Gupta and his brother-in-law Anil Gupta were also arrested in Uttarakhand in May 2024, but in an unrelated case.

Officials said that these raids underline growing cooperation between New Delhi and Pretoria on financial investigations. An ED officer said, “Evidence gathered could lead to asset attachments, account freezes and further legal action against individuals and companies named in the probe.”

OpIndia was the first to flag Piyoosh Goyal and Gupta links

Long before ED formally stepped in, OpIndia had already flagged the dubious network of Piyoosh Goyal and his company World Window, and their close association with the Guptas. As early as 2018, when South African investigative journalists from Daily Maverick and amaBhungane were publishing their exposés on “State Capture” under Jacob Zuma, OpIndia picked up threads that directly connected this saga back to India.

Interestingly, mainstream Indian media either ignored or downplayed these revelations. On the other hand, OpIndia dug deeper. During the investigation, OpIndia highlighted how South African journalists discovered that money laundering through front companies such as Goyal’s World Window formed a crucial part of the Guptas’ international network of illicit transactions.

More importantly, OpIndia pointed out that this was not merely a case of a shady businessman abroad. It directly involved senior Indian politician, Congress leader Kapil Sibal. According to documents and corporate filings, he had financial dealings with Goyal, and his family was a beneficiary of opaque transactions.

Despite the gravity of the revelations, the silence from mainstream media outlets was deafening. Hindustan Times, for instance, cited the same South African investigative work when writing about Goyal and the Guptas, but conveniently omitted Kapil Sibal’s name from their coverage. OpIndia, on the other hand, connected the dots and asked the uncomfortable questions, questions that neither Sibal nor his political allies were willing to answer.

OpIndia’s early reporting thus ensured that the Indian public knew of the hidden ties between a controversial businessman like Goyal, the scandal-ridden Guptas and a senior Congress figure. The recent ED raids have only vindicated the ground OpIndia covered years ago. It has proved once again that investigative journalism cannot be brushed aside, no matter how inconvenient it is for the political establishment.

Details of OpIndia’s investigations

Over the years, OpIndia consistently exposed the shadowy web of connections between Goyal, the Guptas and Sibal. The coverage was not limited to a single report but formed a series of investigations that unfolded between 2018 and 2022. Each of these stories revealed new layers of the nexus and raised questions that have remained unanswered till date.

The Grande Castello deal – Kapil Sibal’s Delhi land for just one lakh rupees?

One of the most explosive reports focused on how Kapil Sibal and his wife, Promila Sibal, acquired 100% shares of a company named Grande Castello Private Limited. The firm was a subsidiary of Goyal’s World Window Impex. It owned a piece of prime land in Delhi which was valued at Rs 89 crore. However, through opaque accounting manoeuvres and a timely devaluation of assets, Sibal and his wife managed to take over the company by paying only the face value of its shares, that was, Rs 1 lakh.

Public records showed how Grande Castello, which had no business activity, managed to buy land worth over Rs 45 crore through interest-free loans of unclear origin. The company later revalued the land to Rs 89 crore, only to devalue it again a year later. Conveniently, it was right after this devaluation that the Sibals acquired the firm. OpIndia had raised the obvious question: was this a sophisticated shell company transaction designed to acquire prime property without paying market price?

The chartered flights and Cape Town stay – denied but documented

OpIndia revealed that the families of Sibal, Goyal and the Gupta brothers allegedly flew together on a chartered aircraft from Delhi to Mumbai to watch the 2011 Cricket World Cup final. The Guptas, according to South African reports, also allegedly paid for Akhil Sibal and his wife’s stay at the Queen Victoria Hotel in Cape Town later that year.

These allegations were denied by both Kapil and Akhil Sibal, and they claimed that they did not know the Guptas. They did admit knowing Goyal, whom Kapil described as a “friend” and Akhil as a “client”. What the Sibals insisted was Goyal’s hospitality was actually financed by Gupta-controlled companies.

The CBI bribery case – Goyal caught in SBI loan scandal

Even before the South African scandals hit headlines, Goyal’s reputation was already under question in India. In 2013, the CBI booked him in a bribe-for-loan case involving the then Deputy MD of State Bank of India, Shyamal Acharya. The allegations stated that Goyal provided bribes to secure a Rs 400 crore loan for his World Window group. Cash, gold and incriminating documents were seized from Acharya’s residence, which further deepened suspicions around Goyal’s methods of doing business.

Bank of Baroda’s letters – Guptas paying Goyal’s dues

OpIndia documented how Goyal’s companies received questionable financial favours. For example, Everest Global Metals, which is controlled by Goyal, had an overdraft facility of Rs 8.2 crore from Bank of Baroda. Interestingly, monthly interest payments on this facility were being made by companies belonging to the Guptas. A leaked communication from a Bank of Baroda manager in 2012 even directly addressed a Gupta company director regarding Goyal’s missed payments. This was perhaps one of the clearest indicators of how interlinked these cases were.

The Shiva temple laundering case in Saharanpur

In 2018, OpIndia reported that documents seized by the Income Tax department during raids at Gupta-owned properties in Dehradun and Saharanpur showed that over Rs 100 crore were spent on the construction of a large Shiva temple. The money was in fact routed as a laundering mechanism through “donations”. An employee of the Guptas, Sanjay Grover, had allegedly funnelled Rs 22.67 crore into the temple trust despite having a modest monthly salary. It raised suspicion that the temple project was more of a front for moving money into India.

The Gupta weddings in Auli – opulence amid allegations

In 2019, when Ajay and Atul Gupta’s sons married in back-to-back ceremonies in Auli, Uttarakhand, OpIndia questioned why a state government would extend red-carpet treatment to businessmen under investigation across continents. Around Rs 200 crore were reportedly spent on the weddings. The ceremonies sparked environmental concerns due to their location in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Another question raised at that time was why the state was enabling men deeply tied to international corruption scandals to flaunt wealth so brazenly on Indian soil.

BRICS summit and the failed attempt to embarrass PM Modi

In 2018, during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Islamist groups and separatist outfits attempted to file legal petitions to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrested for alleged “war crimes” in Kashmir. South African media later reported that the Guptas, angry after being snubbed by PM Modi in 2016, were suspected of fuelling these efforts. Once again, OpIndia highlighted the Guptas’ political manoeuvrings and exposed how their vendettas extended to attempts at embarrassing India’s leadership on the global stage.

Riots in South Africa and Indian community targeted

In 2021, after former President Jacob Zuma was jailed, riots broke out in South Africa. During that time racial attacks on Indian communities took place. Many locals used the crimes of the Guptas as an excuse to unleash violence against ordinary Indians. OpIndia interviewed South African MP Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, who revealed a “toolkit” that specifically incited violence against Indians.

Speaking to OpIndia, Shameen Rajbansi revealed how there was a ‘toolkit’ to target Indians in Kwazulu-Natal province and how the charge that the violence was unleashed as retribution for the crimes of the Gupta brothers was completely unfounded. She further spoke about how the Indian government was corresponding with the South African government to ensure the safety of the Indian community and explained the roots of the racist violence in the country.

OpIndia reported how the Guptas’ corruption became a pretext for racist violence and how the Indian government had to step in to protect the Indian diaspora in South Africa.

Arrest of Atul and Rajesh Gupta in UAE

In 2022, when UAE authorities arrested Atul and Rajesh Gupta, OpIndia detailed the long arc of their corruption, their links with Zuma and their network’s spillover into India. While the arrests were celebrated, OpIndia cautioned that extradition would be difficult, as the brothers had the resources to exhaust every legal option.

The Kapil Sibal investigation

The Gupta scandal in South Africa exposed the rot of “State Capture”. Its Indian chapter revealed something just as troubling, the role of Congress leader Kapil Sibal in opaque financial dealings with Goyal.

Grande Castello – the company with crores of land, sold for a pittance

As described above, documents from March 2017 showed the Sibals owned 50% shares each in Grande Castello Private Limited, a 100% subsidiary of World Window Impex, which was controlled by Goyal. The major asset of Grande Castello was a piece of prime land in New Delhi which was priced at Rs 89 crore. However, thanks to timely devaluation, Sibal managed to take over the land piece as he acquired the company at its face value, that was Rs 1 lakh.

The pattern raised troubling questions. Why was the land devalued just before the Sibals acquired the company? Was it to bring the net worth to a negative so that the takeover could be justified at a negligible price?

Public denials and contradictory responses

When South African journalists first questioned Sibal in January 2018 about his role in Grande Castello, he flatly denied being a director of any such company despite the fact that official documents already listed him as a director from 2017. Only two months later, he publicly admitted to buying Grande Castello and called the transaction “legal”.

The series of contradictory statements, varying from denial to foreign journalists and acceptance in India, fuelled suspicions about the nature of the acquisition. Even his claim that Goyal was just a “friend” fell flat as there were multiple layers of business overlap between them.

Income Tax probe after OpIndia’s reports

OpIndia’s coverage had an impact. In March 2018, the Income Tax Department began investigating the transfer of Grande Castello shares from World Window Impex to the Sibals. Reports suggested that the deal was executed for just Rs 1 lakh. Later, it was revealed that Sibal had extended loans of over Rs 51 crore to Grande Castello, despite the company having no meaningful business operations. It raised further suspicions about whether these transactions were designed to avoid taxes.

According to Section 56(2) of the Income Tax Act, acquiring immovable property at below-stamp duty value is taxable under “income from other sources”. If Grande Castello was indeed transferred for far less than its real worth, questions about tax evasion and shell company structuring become unavoidable.

However, at every stage, Sibal stonewalled inquiries. He dismissed probing questions and even accused journalists of “mischievous intent”. His behaviour only deepened the mystery surrounding the deal.

Kapil Sibal’s threats to sue OpIndia

OpIndia sent a series of questions to Sibal. He did not answer but chose the familiar path of intimidation. After OpIndia published its investigative report on his acquisition of Grande Castello and raised questions about the opaque structuring of the deal, Sibal threatened to sue for defamation.

Threats instead of answers

Notably, OpIndia’s story did not level allegations. It laid out facts from publicly available documents and asked straightforward questions. Why was a company with land worth crores sold at a nominal value? Why was the land devalued just before the Sibals took over? Who funded the interest-free loans that helped the company buy such expensive property? Instead of addressing these, Sibal chose to issue threats.

His legal threats were not new. In January 2018, when South African journalists Craig McKune and Stefaans Brümmer confronted him with documents proving his directorship in Grande Castello, Sibal flatly denied any such role. Even when shown evidence, he evaded answers and abruptly cut off communication, accusing the journalists of harbouring a “mischievous intent”. Two months later, however, he admitted in India that he indeed owned the company, a complete U-turn that highlighted his evasiveness.

The missing clarity on price

Another layer of confusion was added by Goyal himself when he told Republic TV that the deal had been finalised for Rs 50 crore. However, when OpIndia pressed him to provide documentary proof, Goyal declined and refused to reply to a detailed questionnaire. The Sibals maintained silence. The contradiction between Sibal’s evasions and Goyal’s unverifiable claims only raised more doubts.

The bigger question – what was defamatory?

If the acquisition of the land was perfectly legal, as Sibal claimed, why did he repeatedly deny being associated with the company before finally admitting ownership? And if it was legal, what exactly was defamatory about OpIndia asking questions? Perhaps the answer lies in the discomfort that OpIndia’s reporting caused, as the matter was not allowed to slip into silence. On the other hand, sections of the mainstream media chose not to touch the story at all.

Instead of transparency, Sibal’s approach was to threaten journalists into silence. That, in itself, is revealing.

Why Kapil Sibal must be investigated

The ED’s raids on Goyal and Gupta-linked entities may appear to be just another financial crime story. However, the threads lead much deeper. They point towards a network that spanned continents, laundered money through shell companies, exploited religious trusts, flaunted ill-gotten wealth at luxury weddings, and even attempted to embarrass India on the global stage. At the centre of its Indian extension stood Goyal, whose name was repeatedly flagged by South African journalists and by OpIndia years before official agencies moved in.

However, the story does not stop at Goyal. Public documents, corporate filings and investigative work have shown that Sibal directly benefited from transactions structured by Goyal. His acquisition of Grande Castello Private Limited, with land worth crores changing hands for what appears to be a token sum, remains deeply questionable. His repeated denials, evasions and threats to sue journalists have only made the affair murkier.

The matter was either ignored or whitewashed by mainstream media. It was OpIndia that connected the dots and raised the right questions. It was OpIndia that forced the conversation into the public domain. When OpIndia was threatened with a lawsuit, we stood our ground, because investigative journalism is not about pleasing politicians but about holding them accountable.

The ED raids have vindicated OpIndia’s years of work. They show that what was once dismissed as inconvenient reporting now forms the backbone of official investigations. If there is genuine intent to unearth the truth, then Sibal’s dealings with Goyal must be probed with the same seriousness. Anything less would be an injustice not only to the law but also to the public that deserves answers.

After all, sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the light has only begun to shine in this case.

Devi Chamundeshwari is a Hindu Goddess, Dasara is a Hindu festival: Maharaja of Mysuru Yaduveer Wadiyar reminds DK Shivakumar after attempts to ‘secularise’ the festival

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Devi Chamundeshwari is a Hindu Goddess, Dasara is a Hindu festival: Maharaja of Mysuru Yaduveer Wadiyar reminds DK Shivakumar after attempts to ‘secularise’ the festival

In a heated exchange on social media, Mysore royal and member of Parliament, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, schooled Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who attempted to secularise Chamundeshwari Devi and the Dasara festival by claiming that the goddess and the festival did not belong to any one religion.

On Tuesday (26th August), Congress leader Shivakumar claimed that goddess Chamundeshwari and her temple are not the properties of Hindus alone, and that they belong to all religions. His remarks came in response objections raised against the Karnataka government’s decision for invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the world-famous Mysuru Dasara-2025 festivities atop Chamundi Hills on September 22. Defending the state government’s decision, DK Shivakumar said that the goddess and her temple did not belong to Hindus only.

He later wrote a message on X claiming that the goddess Chamundeshwari Devi, whose temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru, Karnataka, is the presiding deity of the ‘region’ and belongs to all religions. He further claimed that the Hindu festival of Dasara (or Dussehra) did not belong to any one religion and is the festival of the ‘region’ as well.

Screenshot of machine translation of the Deputy CM’s post on ?

The Deputy CM accused the BJP of creating controversy and doing politics in the name of religion and reasoned that since people of all religions have access to the temple of the goddess, it meant that the goddess did not belong to any single religion. “Everyone from all religions and communities has access to Chamundi Hill. Everyone goes to the hill. They pray to the Goddess. Our Durga Devi removes everyone’s sorrows. People come from the country and abroad to witness the regional festival Dasara. Our royal family members themselves have given permission and are witnesses to this. The regional festival Dasara belongs to people of all religions. One should not do politics in the name of religion; even Mother would not approve of it!” Shivakumar wrote on X on Wednesday (27th August).

Shivakumar’s attempts to dissociate Chamundeshwari Devi and the Dasara festival from the Hindu religion were countered by the Mysuru dynasty scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who reminded Shivakumar that the Chamundi Hill is a Shakti Peeth, a sacred, revered religious site of Hindus.

Condemning Shivakumar’s statement, Yaduveer Wadiyar said that the temple has always been a Hindu property and would remain so.

Acknowledging that the Hill is open to people of all religions and communities who believe in her, Yaduveer Wadiyar asserted that Chamundeshwari Devi is a Hindu goddess, mentioned in the Hindu scripture Markandeya Purana’s Devi Mahatmya. He pointed out that the goddess is not mentioned in the scriptures of any other religion. Wadiyar highlighted that the daily worship and traditions at the Chamundeshwari temple are conducted in accordance with Hindu scriptures, and all those who visit the temple worship her as a Hindu goddess.

Taking a dig at Shivakumar and his party, Wadiyar said that Shivakumar has made one family (the Gandhi family) his God. “You have made a family your god. In this case, dare not deny the Hindu nature of the Goddess and the religious tradition of Dussehra. We are not doing politics. When you attack our religion for the politics of appeasement, we stand up to defend it,” Wadiyar said.

Wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun meets murder accused truck driver Harjinder Singh in Florida jail, claims he has ‘sorrow and suffering’ in eyes

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun meets murder accused truck driver Harjinder Singh in Florida jail, claims he has ‘sorrow and suffering’ in eyes

On Tuesday (26th August), wanted Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said that he met Harjinder Singh, the 28-year-old Indian-origin Sikh truck driver arrested in the US following a fatal crash in Florida which resulted in 3 deaths.

Pannun held a press conference and claimed that Harjinder Singh, currently in St. Lucie County Jail in Florida, is ‘grieving’ and going through a mental anguish over the deadly incident. “I saw sorrow and suffering in his eyes,” Pannun said. 

Defending the accused, Pannun claimed that Harjinder Singh exited the truck, went to the van, broke open the window, held the hand of someone and said help is on the way, please stay with me, right after his 18-wheeler trailer truck collided with the minivan as Harjinder took an illegal U-turn.

The incident transpired on 12th August. Singh, who entered the US illegally in 2018 and obtained a work permit in 2021, faces three counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations, with a potential 45-year sentence.  

The anti-India Khalistani terrorist asserted that Harjinder Singh did not intentionally slam his truck into the minivan, rather, it was case of ‘tragic misjudgement’. “To portray him as a malicious killer, it would be very unfair,” Pannun said.

In addition to garnering sympathy for accused Harjinder Singh, Pannun also announced that his Khalistani terrorist outfit, Sikhs for Justice, will contribute $100,000 in humanitarian aid to the families of the victims. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who threatens terror attacks on India every now and then, urged Americans to show fairness for Singh and seek justice guided by truth and not hate.

As reported earlier, accused Harjinder Singh is an ‘asylum seeker’ in the US. 28-year-old trucker Harjinder Singh hails from Tarn Taran, Punjab in India. He was denied bail following the incident. Singh has been labelled an “unauthorised alien” and a “substantial flight risk”. He now faces three counts of vehicular homicide which will put him in prison for decades and eventual deportation. Harjinder Singh participated in anti-India and pro-Khalistan rallies and events organised by Pannun’s Sikhs for Justice.

Several countries including India stop parcel deliveries to USA after President Trump withdraws “de minimis” tariff exemption on small-value shipments

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Several countries including India stop parcel deliveries to USA after President Trump withdraws “de minimis” tariff exemption on small-value shipments

Japan, Australia, and Taiwan have now joined the list of countries that are stopping some parcel shipments to the United States. This comes after the Trump administration announced new rules that end tariff exemptions on small imports.

A long-running rule that allowed low-value goods to enter the country without customs duty, known as the “de minimis” exemption, is set to end on coming Friday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 30th July that shuts down this exemption, which for years allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. The order, which takes effect on 29th August, is part of his broader protectionist trade campaign.

For shoppers and companies alike, the regulation was a major deal. It facilitated cross-border online shopping as speedier, easier, and less costly. But with the exemption eliminated, millions of packages that used to move freely daily will now be subject to customs charges, forms, and delays. Delivery firms globally are already responding, and the impacts are set to hit American consumers.

The US government says this step is necessary to slow down the huge flow of cheap imports into the country and to protect domestic manufacturing. But this sudden move has caused disruptions in postal services and online shopping across the world.

However, letters/documents and gift items valued up to USD 100 will remain exempt from these new duties, according to the executive order.

Impact on global postal services

Several nations such as Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, France and UK had previously suspended certain parcel services to the US. More and more countries in the Asia-Pacific region are now following suit, which is causing it to become increasingly difficult for small businesses and individuals to ship goods. 

In Germany, DHL and Deutsche Post announced last week that they were halting parcel services to the U.S., citing unanswered questions about how duties would be collected, what data would be required, and how information would flow to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Japan Post has announced that it will stop delivering small packages worth more than $100 to the US from Wednesday, 27th August. Similarly, Australia Post said it will “partially suspend” postal services to the US and Puerto Rico from Tuesday, 26th August, until further notice.

Australia Post also pointed out that many postal operators around the world are taking similar steps. The suspension has caused serious problems for e-commerce businesses in the country.

Taiwan has also joined in. Chunghwa Post announced that it will stop delivering small parcels to the US from Tuesday, 26th August. The postal service explained that the global postal system still doesn’t have a way for senders to prepay customs duties, and its partner carriers have also suspended merchandise deliveries.

According to a BBC report, at least 25 countries have suspended parcel deliveries to the USA due to the withdrawal of the tariff exemption.

Who will be affected most?

This change will hit online sellers and platforms the hardest. Small businesses selling via Amazon Haul, TikTok Shop, Etsy, and Shopify to American consumers will be impacted. These platforms typically link small foreign companies directly with American consumers, and most depend on cheap shipping to remain competitive.

Big courier service DHL has also said it will stop accepting shipments to the US from 25th August. Several European postal operators have already done the same.

Australian broadcaster ABC reported that retailers are struggling because of the uncertainty. Laz Smith, co-founder of maternity wear brand Apéro, told ABC that the unstable decisions and the lack of quick solutions are making things very difficult. “It puts us, and the entire Australian fashion industry, in a really tough position,” she said.

India Post also suspended services to US

India has also joined the list of countries halting U.S.-bound shipments. On Saturday, 23rd August, the Department of Posts announced a temporary suspension of most international postal services to the U.S., effective from 25th August.

The move comes directly in response to Trump’s July 30 executive order. In a statement, India Post said beginning 29th August, 2025, all goods sent to the US, regardless of their value, will be subject to customs duties under the International Emergency Economic Power Act (IEEPA) tariff framework. 

Air carriers that move U.S.-bound international mail have said they are not ready to meet the new requirements, including collecting duties and transmitting data to CBP. As a result, India Post has stopped booking most categories of items for the U.S., though it is working with American authorities to restore full service.

Although CBP released initial guidelines on 15th August, critical implementation details, such as the process for designating “qualified parties” and systems for collecting and remitting duties, have not yet been finalised.

Those customers who have already shipped goods that do not meet the qualification can claim a refund. “We apologise for the inconvenience,” the department stated, noting it plans to resume services in the near future.

What the data says 

According to US Customs and Border Protection, more than 1.36 billion de minimis shipments entered the US in the last fiscal year. On average, about 4 million of these shipments were processed every single day.

Under the new order, importers could face an $80 fee per item if the exporting country has a tariff rate of less than 16%. If the rate is between 16% and 25%, the fee could go up to $160 per item, and for tariff rates above 25%, it could be as high as $200.

This means that sending even small packages to the US will now become much more expensive. For global businesses that depend on American buyers, this is likely to be a major setback.

SC collegium recommends relative of CJI Gavai with 13 others for Bombay HC judge positions, but is a recusal enough? Read why judicial appointments need reform in India

Shriti Sagar
-
0
SC collegium recommends relative of CJI Gavai with 13 others for Bombay HC judge positions, but is a recusal enough? Read why judicial appointments need reform in India

The Supreme Court Collegium has suggested 14 lawyers to be appointed as judges of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday, 26th August. One of them is Raj Damodar Wakode, who is reportedly related to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai.

Wakode is the son of the CJI’s cousin and is often described as his nephew. However, according to media reports, Dr. Rajendra Gavai, the CJI’s brother, said that Wakode should be seen as a “distant relative.”

Even so, his inclusion in the list has triggered fresh debate about how judges are appointed in India, the role of family connections, and the lack of reforms in the Collegium system.

Background of Raj Damodar Wakode

Raj Wakode graduated under the Maharashtra Board, obtaining distinction at Class 12 in 1996. He initially did science, even securing a gold medal for MSc in 2001, before switching to law. In 2004, he obtained an LLB degree from Amravati University.

After his law degree, Wakode began his career in the chamber of Justice Nitin Sambre, who is now a judge at the Delhi High Court. Over the next two decades, he built a diverse practice, handling civil and criminal appellate cases, writ petitions before the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench, and cases before district courts and statutory tribunals such as the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal and the Revenue Tribunal.

Wakode has represented several public institutions as standing counsel, including Maharashtra National Law University (Nagpur), the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, the Union of India, the Union Public Service Commission, and the municipal corporations of Amravati and Nagpur. He has also served as the legal advisor to the National Co-Operative Consumers Federation.

Wakode has reportedly declined to comment on his name being proposed by the Collegium.

CJI Gavai recuses himself

Naturally, questions have been raised on whether CJI Gavai had any role in the recommendation of his relative. Supreme Court sources have explained that the CJI recused himself from Collegium meetings where candidates related to him were being considered. Still, Wakode’s name, along with those of two other lawyers who had previous professional links with the CJI, figured in the final list.

It is not the first time that family members of judges have reached the upper judiciary. Examples include Justice YV Chandrachud and his son, Justice DY Chandrachud, both of whom became Chief Justices of India, Justice HR Khanna and his nephew, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice ES Venkataramiah and his daughter, Justice BV Nagarathna, who is set to become India’s first woman CJI in 2027.

The bigger issue: Nepotism in Judicial appointments

Even when candidates such as Wakode are qualified and experienced, the true outrage is elsewhere: judicial appointments seem to mostly originate from a restricted set of families and networks. This creates the perception that the judiciary operates like a closed club.

The critics are of the view that the system tends to keep at bay those lawyers who do not have family connections in the profession, particularly those with less powerful and small-town backgrounds. This has drawn allegations of the higher judiciary gradually becoming a dynasty much like in politics. The lack of transparency in the manner in which names are shortlisted and recommended only fuels further criticism.

How the collegium system came into being

The present system of appointing judges is referred to as the Collegium system. Surprisingly, it was never a part of the original Constitution. Rather, it developed through three significant Supreme Court judgments, the First Judges Case (1981), Second Judges Case (1993), and Third Judges Case (1998).

Here, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by a committee of the five senior-most judges of the Court. For the high courts, the three seniormost judges of the Supreme Court along with the senior-most judges of the relevant high court make the suggestions.

In reality, this means into sitting judges having the dominant voice in which individual to promote to the higher courts. The government has no choice other than to raise an objection or refer back a name for reconsideration. If the Collegium reaffirms its decision, the government is obligated to agree with it.

NJAC: A reform effort that has been rejected by the judiciary

The Supreme Court upheld the collegium system for judicial appointments in the case of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (2015), also referred to as the Fourth Judges Case. The proposed National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) would have been in charge of hiring, appointing and transferring judges, attorneys and other legal staff under the Indian government as well as all of its state governments.

The commission was created by amending the Indian Constitution by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act 2014, also known as the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth Amendment) Act 2014, which was approved by the Rajya Sabha on 14th August 2014 and the Lok Sabha on 13th August 2014.

It would have established a new mechanism for the nomination of judges in place of the collegium system, which the Supreme Court had activated through judicial fiat. The Indian Parliament passed the act in addition to the Constitution Amendment Act to govern the National Judicial Appointments Commission’s functions.

The Constitutional Amendment Bill and the NJAC Bill were approved by 16 Indian state governments before being enacted into law by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on 31st December 2014. On 13th April 2015, the Constitutional Amendment Act and the NJAC Act went into effect.

Why the NJAC was struck down

Shortly after its inception, the NJAC was assailed in court by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association. In what became the Fourth Judges Case, a five-judge bench invalidated the NJAC in October 2015 by a 4:1 margin.

The majority ruling contended that the NJAC subverted judicial autonomy, which forms part of the Constitution’s Basic Structure. It was a significant worry that two “eminent persons,” who weren’t even required to be legally qualified, could vet the choice of the Chief Justice and senior judges. The Court referred to this situation as “outrightly obnoxious.”

The other concern was the inclusion of the Law Minister because the Union government is party to most cases in front of the courts. Judges claimed this was a conflict of interest in the most direct sense. The Court also lamented the lack of specificity in the manner in which “eminent persons” would be selected, placing too much authority in the hands of politicians.

CJI rescual is not enough, judiciary is lacking transparency in India

While CJI Gavai’s rescual may have followed procedure, it doesn’t resolve the larger trust deficit surrounding judicial appointments. The judiciary demands transparency and accountability from all other institutions but has resisted reforms in its own selection process. 

Many people believe that the judiciary is the last stronghold of accountability, justice, and equity. However, this claim has always been disputed due to instances of corruption, self-preservation and a lack of transparency. 

When an inquiry is commenced, it is carried out by other judges based on a framework they have set up, resulting in lingering uncertainties and a severe lack of desired impartiality and transparency. This privilege is not extended to anyone else. The judiciary requires and enforces standards of transparency and integrity from everyone except itself.

Moreover, efforts to address the problem, such as the NJAC Act or the accountability bill, never proceed to a logical conclusion which only exacerbates the issue. Several attempts to alter the collegium have been met with resistance from the judiciary, which is frequently denounced as self-empowerment but is justified as defending independence.

Due to the collegium’s opaque operations, decisions are not made public and no formal criteria are revealed and hence the collegium system has been accused of nepotism and bias, with arguments that it shields a judicial elite that is exclusive.

Bareilly: Abdul Majeed and 3 others arrested while preparing to circumcise a blind Hindu boy, inter-state conversion racket busted by Police

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bareilly: Abdul Majeed and 3 others arrested while preparing to circumcise a blind Hindu boy, inter-state conversion racket busted by Police

In a major crackdown on a vicious inter-state Islamic conversion racket in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, the police nabbed four individuals linked with the conversion racket on Monday (25th August). The arrested individuals have been identified as Abdul Majeed (35), Salman Raza (30), Mohammad Arif (29), and Mohammad Faheem(24). Another suspect named Mehmood Beg is said to be on the run.

According to the police, a tip-off was received at Bhuta police station from an Aligarh-based woman named Akhilesh Kumari, who said that some people have been luring her visually-impaired son Prabhat Upadhyay, with a marriage offer to convert him to Islam. She said that when she tried to stop the religious conversion of her son, she received death threats. On her indication, a team of police reached Faiznagar Madrassa and foiled the plan to convert the victim.

Inside the Madrassa, the police team found that the four accused were sitting around Prabhat Upadhyay, wearing skull caps, and were preparing to circumcise him to convert him to Islam. When the police team called the victim by his name, Prabhat, he said that his name was Hamid. On being questioned by the police, Prabhat Upadhyay revealed his real name. Police arrested all four accused and handed over Upadhyay to his family.

A case has been registered by the police under Sections 140(3)/351(3) of the BNS and Section 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The police seized several incriminating materials from the possession of the accused and the victim, including religious literature promoting conversion, CDs containing videos of fugitive Islamist preacher Zakir Naik, skull caps, garlands, and a first aid box containing blades, mobiles, laptops, and conversion certificates.

The gang converted an entire Hindu family to Islam

Addressing the media, SP Bareilly South, Anshika Verma, said that the conversion certificates found in possession of the accused revealed that an entire Hindu family was converted by the gang to Islam. The conversion certificates showed that a man named Brijpal Sahu was converted to Islam and renamed Abdullah. His mother, Usha Rani, was renamed Amina after conversion to Islam. His sister Rajkumari was converted to Islam, renamed Ayesha and married to a Muslim man. In addition to that, the police were led to a minor victim of religious conversion during the investigation of the case. However, the police were able to prevent the religious conversion of the minor victim by stopping his circumcision.

According to SP Verma, an examination of the bank accounts of the accused revealed that they had been running some scheme to collect funds. Abdul Majid, who is the prime accused in the case, ran a religious conversion scheme and travelled across India to collect funds. He is said to have travelled to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. All the arrested accused operated around 21 bank accounts.

Targeted vulnerable individuals and brainwashed them

The gang targeted vulnerable Hindus, particularly poor, unmarried youth, and those with disabilities, for religious conversion by luring them with marriage proposals and money. The gang’s operations are spread across 13 states and 30 districts. Their modus operandi included Salman, a tailor by profession, visiting Hindu families on the pretext of offering help or introducing them to Muslim girls. He was assisted by Faheem, a hairdresser, who identified potential targets out of people who visited his shop. Once they were able to influence a person, they would bring him to the madrassa and brainwash him with religious texts and CDs. The police suspect that the gang has converted a considerable number of people.

This is the sixth Islamic conversion racket busted by the authorities in Uttar Pradesh in this year. Earlier, the authorities, uncovered Islamic conversion rackets, Balrampur, Agra, Prayagraj, Kushinagar, and Aligarh.

Bihar govt conducting geo-mapping of all healthcare units across the state: Read what it means and how it will improve healthcare services

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
Bihar govt conducting geo-mapping of all healthcare units across the state: Read what it means and how it will improve healthcare services

Value of human life, unity, and importance of robust modern healthcare infrastructure, Covid pandemic taught India a lot. Now, the Bihar government is mapping every healthcare service in the state to tackle a Covid-like healthcare emergency if it arises in the future. Geo-mapping of major private and public hospitals to local village pharmacies is being conducted across the state.

This unique geo-mapping initiative was launched in October 2024. So far, around 20,000 healthcare units have been mapped under this initiative. The mapped healthcare units include pharmacies, private labs, private solo practitioners, nursing homes, hospitals and medical colleges. The drive is on to cover all the hospitals, clinics, pathology labs and diagnostic centres and even local pharmacies in all of the state’s 38 districts. This information will then be collated in a dashboard.

Scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025, this geo-mapping exercise is being undertaken by the Bihar State Health Society in collaboration with Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). The dashboard listing all healthcare units across the state would help policymakers detect and bridge gaps. It, however, is yet to be decided whether this dashboard will be accessible to the public.

Speaking about the rationale behind conducting the healthcare geo-mapping, Sanchita Mahapatra, senior health scientist at ADRI said that the initiative is meant to plug holes in the healthcare delivery system to avoid the chaos witnessed during the Covid pandemic.

This dashboard would function with and without internet connection and will store data locally and sync it with a remote server once a connection is available.

“We also drew up a comprehensive list of private healthcare units in each district using data from various sources, including the government. Using a real-time dashboard for accuracy, we geo-mapped from state headquarters to block towns,” Mahapatra said.

 Meanwhile, teams also visited block-level units to understand why private players are often the first point of contact for the public, especially in rural or underserved areas, Indian Express reported.

Explaining the importance of mapping healthcare units, According to ADRI’s member secretary and economist Asmita Gupta, said: “Besides a host of other benefits, this mapping could put in place a system of understanding the delivery of over-the-counter medicines and health outcome.

Notably, nearly 80% of state’s healthcare units have been mapped. Now, efforts are on to map private health services in “hard-to-reach regions and at villages”.

This exercise, however, is not without challenges, especially mapping flood-prone and border areas.  In addition, tracking and recording health vulnerabilities that vary seasonally is also a challenge since, it is difficult to establish a pattern of diseases, especially in Bihar’s migrant population. Despite the challenges, the officials say that geo-mapping is helping better the delivery of healthcare services.

Highlighting that around 70% of communicable diseases go to private hospitals and pathological labs, Ragini Mishra, the state epidemiologist with the Bihar State Health Society said: “The census of private health services has the potential of creating a network between healthcare seekers and providers.”

Mishra added that the biggest takeaway of the geo-mapping is “improving disease surveillance, seeking better response during pandemic outbreaks and getting a comprehensive picture of how people have been using private and public healthcare facilities.”

Kerala: Two teachers ask Muslim students not to attend ‘polytheistic’ festival of Onam, both suspended, case registered against teacher Khadija

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Kerala: Two teachers ask Muslim students not to attend ‘polytheistic’ festival of Onam, both suspended, case registered against teacher Khadija

A case was filed against a Muslim teacher in Kerala after she asked Muslim students not to take part in Onam celebrations, calling the festival ‘polytheistic’, as informed by the police on Wednesday (27th August). After complaints were filed, the teacher identified as Khadija has been suspended and a case has been registered against her.

The Muslim teacher Khadija teaches at Sirajul Uloom English High School in Kadavallur, Thrissur. As per reports, she circulated an audio message to parents of her Muslim students, urging them not to send their children to participate in Onam celebrations as it was a festival of ‘other religions’. “We Muslims should live by adhering to Islam. Onam celebrations are polytheistic and should not be encouraged. Neither we nor our children should encourage Onam celebrations in any way. Joining in with the customs of people of other religions may turn into shirk,” Khadija reportedly said in the audio message.

She said that Muslim children should be raised in an Islamic culture and must be prevented from participating in festivals of other religions. “Our children are very young, so they should be taught the seriousness of taking part in such celebrations. For this Onam, neither we nor our children are taking part,” she added.

The audio messages, which went viral, triggered outrage by parents and locals. A complaint was filed by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), after which a case was registered by Kunnamkulam police under Section 192 of the BNS. The audio messages are said to have been sent out by two teachers, but the case has been lodged against Khadija only.

The school management suspended both the two teachers and clarified that the audio messages contained personal opinions of the teachers and not the school’s stance. “As like every year, the school management has decided to conduct the Onam celebration in a grand manner this year. We had sent messages regarding it to class groups and PTA groups. As part of the investigation, we have suspended the teachers involved in it,” read a statement by the school administration.

The DYFI and the CPM reportedly announced to stage protests in front of the school.

Death toll in Vaishno Devi landslide reaches 32, rescue operations underway as several people feared trapped under the debris

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Death toll in Vaishno Devi landslide reaches 32, rescue operations underway as several people feared trapped under the debris

Incessant torrential rains in Jammu and Kashmir triggered a massive landslide at Ardhkuwari cave temple near the Vaishno Devi shrine on Tuesday (26th August), resulting in the death of at least 32 people and leaving around 20 injured. The landslide occurred at Indraprastha Bhojanalaya at the Ardhkuwari cave temple on the Vaishno Devi shrine route.

In view of the alarming weather conditions, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has halted the yatra and advised the pilgrims to replan their journey after the weather conditions improve.

Frightening visuals have been emerging from the site of the landslide as the rescue operations are underway. Many people are feared trapped under the debris. Teams of the local administration, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in the rescue operations.

Images via X/AIRNewsHindi

The landslide occurred near Ardhkuwari, approximately 12 km from Trikuta Hill, at around 3:00 pm on Tuesday. Huge boulders and debris fell from the hill on the track, destroying the tin sheds and metal railings.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board issued Helpline numbers for inquiring about the situation and missing people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the tragic incident, calling it saddening. He said that the administration is assisting all those affected.

Ceaseless downpours have caused massive devastation across the mountainous state of J&K, causing flash floods and landslides. Critical infrastructure in the state has been severely hit, with roads being washed away, bridges collapsing, and communication and power supply being cut off. Around 35,00 residents were reportedly evacuated till Tuesday after consistent rains and cloudbursts.

As per the authorities, 20 to 30 low-lying areas, including those in Jammu and Samba, have been submerged by flash floods. Besides, Jammu city, RS Pura, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, and parts of Kathua and Udhampur have been the worst affected. Continuous but lighter rains have been falling in Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Billawar, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, Banihal, and nearby parts of Samba and Kathua districts.

TheWire and Newslaundry peddle misleading claims about SIR in Bihar, get factchecked by ECI

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
TheWire and Newslaundry peddle misleading claims about SIR in Bihar, get factchecked by ECI

On 26th August, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar fact-checked misleading reports published by leftist propaganda outlets The Wire and Newslaundry regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Bihar CEO not only gave a pointwise rebuttal, but also raised questions over the credibility of these propaganda outlets cherry-picking data to malign ECI’s reputation and lend credence to the opposition’s anti-ECI campaign.

In its ‘ground report’ published on 25th August, The Wire claimed that the ECI’s verification methods for SIR were questionable. The leftist propaganda outlet claimed had that in five constituencies, 1,50,000 voters are clustered around just 1200-1,300 households. Citing its interaction with locals, The Wire claimed that the supposed ‘unusually’ high voter registration indicates that in many cases, the majority of those listed at a given address were actually living elsewhere. The report claimed that there were 14 cases wherein “a few dozens to several hundred names registered at a single address.”

The Wire report says that in many cases, 200 to 389 voters are registered a single address. It alleged that voter clustering is taking place in East Champaran, Bishunpur, Katihar and other areas.

Alleging supposed ‘irregularities’, The Wire asserted the Election Commission did not conduct a house-to-house verification of voters. Moreover, The Wire claimed that in many in cases locals said that they could not recognise certain voters who were registered in their area. It used unfamiliar names and supposedly incorrect addresses argument to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Election Commission and transparency of the SIR exercise.

Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar factchecks The Wire’s propaganda

Refuting The Wire’s propaganda, the Bihar CEO first detailed the scope of SIR in an X post on 26th August, and said that verification of 7.89 crore voters was conducted house-to-house by booth level officers. The CEO added that documents of 99.11 percent of the 7.24 crore electors have already been received.

“1. Scope and Procedure of Special Intensive Revision (SIR): In Bihar, during the Special Intensive Revision period, verification of 7.89 crore voters was conducted house-to-house by booth level officers. As of the Draft list published on August 1, documents of 99.11 percent of the 7.24 crore electors have already been received, and verification is ongoing in the remaining cases. Therefore, the claim that “house-to-house verification was not done in the Special Intensive Revision” is beyond facts and fabricated,” the Bihar CEO said.

Addressing The Wire’s ‘voter clustering’ claims, the Bihar CEO said that the leftist propaganda outlet’s claims are false. The CEO said that in rural and semi-urban areas of Bihar multiple families live at the same address. The absence of land or house number in revenue records, the CEO said, is matter of local socio-geographical reality and not any ‘irregularity’.

“2. The Claim of Voter Clustering is Incorrect: In rural and semi-urban areas of Bihar, multiple families live at the same address under the same house number / same account (Khata Number) / tola / mohalla. Due to the absence of land or house number in revenue records, sometimes hundreds of voters appear registered at the “same address.” This is a local socio-geographical reality, not any kind of irregularity. Therefore, considering clustering as “irregularity” based solely on data is misleading and beyond facts,” the Bihar CEO said.

Regarding The Wire’s assertion that since some locals do not recognise certain voters registered in their area, or notice unfamiliar names, the Bihar CEO said that these are not essentially fraudulent voters as The Wire tried to insinuate, rather, these are students, migrants workers or tenants. Regarding incorrect addresses, the Election Commission official said that during claim objection period, the BLOs did necessary deletion and correction.

 3.“So-Called Incorrect Addresses and Unfamiliar Names: Often, names of students, migrant workers, or tenants are listed in the voter list, but current local residents may not have information about them. During the claim objection period, in such cases, BLOs have taken action to fill Form-7 (Deletion) or Form-8 for address correction. Therefore, saying that “local people do not have information about the electors’ names” is not in itself a certified error, and there is no rational basis for such claims,” the CEO said.

4. Only 14 cases from 5 constituencies out of 7.89 crore voters across 243 constituencies

Lastly, the Chief Electoral Officer pointed out that The Wire report cites only 14 cases in the assembly constituencies of Katihar, Purnia, Madhuban, and Harsiddhi while the SIR’s scope is extended to 7.89 crore voters across 243 constituencies. The CEO asserted that although even in the context of mere 14 cases, ECI has refuted The Wire’s misleading claims, “raising questions on the credibility of the entire process based on such a small partial selected cases (14 cases under investigation) is neither rational nor objective.”

Newslaundry published the same claims

Notably, leftist propaganda outlet Newslaundry also published the same article on its website. Although the contents of the article were same as The Wire’s, the Bihar CEO put up a separate X post refuting their falsehoods about the SIR exercise.  

The Bihar SIR exercise program has revealed a significant number of fraudulent voters in Bihar. It uncovered around 65 lakh non-existent voters who were then purged from the electoral rolls. The names that have been deleted are mostly those of people who have passed away or who were not found at their registered addresses. The opposition in the state has been mobilizing since the initiative was announced. A significant number of these counterfeit voters are their supporters. No wonder the opposition was even against the carrying out of SIR exercise.

It is essential to mention that ever since the SIR exercise began in Bihar, the opposition parties, particularly, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have been making one misleading claim after the other to establish a false narrative that the Election Commission is compromised and is acting in favour of the BJP.  Beyond the pursuit of immediate electoral gains in poll-bound Bihar, the broader motive is to convince the public that the anti-BJP parties did not lose any election in the last decade but were ‘made to lose’ by ECI to ensure its co-conspirator BJP’s victory.

What initially seemed like Congress’s coping mechanism has turned out to be a full-fledged electoral strategy. On 11th August, the I.N.D.I. Alliance marched to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) New Delhi headquarters, protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Bihar electoral registers and at the same time claiming ‘vote chori’ and voter list discrepancies. They claimed that the drive would result in disenfranchisement and charged that was an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led-government to steal votes. 

Earlier, Congress alleged ‘vote chori’ in Maharashtra assembly elections since it suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of the BJP-led alliance even as the ECI refuted their baseless claims. Recently, Rahul Gandhi claimed that a ‘vote theft’ happened in Karnataka during Lok Sabha elections last year. Just as The Wire claimed in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi also alleged voter clustering in Karnataka’s Mahadevpura constituency.  Gandhi claimed that 80 fake voters were registered at one house in Mahadevpura, but it turned out that they were not fraudulent but migrant voters.

 As OpIndia reported earlier, New York Times, Al Jazeera, and others have amplified Rahul Gandhi’s bogus ‘vote chori’ claim, apparently, to discredit India’s democratic institutions. While the foreign leftist media is amplifying opposition’s vote theft bogey, the Indian leftist media is concocting its own web of lies to aid the anti-BJP parties and allege a ‘democratic collapse’.

1...172173174...7,595Page 173 of 7,595