Home Blog Page 1844

Chhattisgarh: ED raids at premises linked to CM Baghel’s political advisor and OSD, transactions worth 5000 crores on gaming app under probe

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Chhattisgarh: ED raids at premises linked to CM Baghel’s political advisor and OSD, transactions worth 5000 crores on gaming app under probe

On Wednesday (23 August), several teams of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting searches at around 10 locations in Chhattisgarh. The locations currently being raided by the central agency include the premises of state Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s political advisor Vinod Verma and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) among other officials.

The searches are also underway at the premises of a businessman in Durg, as reported by news agency PTI. But the exact case in which the central agency is conducting the ongoing raids is not yet known. 

Notably, the ED has been investigating several cases in Chhattisgarh. These include an alleged coal scam case, a liquor scam case, a probe regarding irregularities in the District Mineral Foundation fund, and an online betting application case.

As per media reports, over the past two days, ED has carried out searches at various places in Raipur and Durg. These raids were seemingly related to online betting operations. 

Apparently, an official quoted in the Indian Express too claimed that the current ED raids are linked to its investigation into the banking transactions of the Mahadev online gaming application. Large transactions worth Rs 5,000 crore are said to have taken place through this application which is under scrutiny. 

According to the official, the Mahadev gaming application is being operated from over 25 centres. ED estimates that around a million individuals have placed bets on Mahadev’s application in 2021. 

The official said, “The operational team of the Mahadev app got the money deposited into saving bank accounts which were opened after using fake documents or by luring innocent people after offering Rs 5,000 to them by taking their Aadhaar or Permanent Account Number (PAN) details.”  

Congress claims that ED raids are ‘threats’ to ‘intimidate’ them

Following the news of ED raids on officials linked with him, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel took to X to share a sarcastic post passing that the raids are a ‘birthday gift’ from the Central government.

While the Congress party claimed that the raids are a response to a so-called pre-poll survey that predicts a ‘massive rout’ for the BJP. Taking to X, Congress party’s Media and Publicity department head Pawan Khera claimed that Congress leaders would not bow down to these ‘threats’ and that they have the power of the people behind them.

ED’s ongoing crackdown on money laundering and other serious probes

Earlier, in July 2023, the ED conducted raids against several bureaucrats including IAS officer Ranu Sahu, and Chhattisgarh Congress leader Ramgopal Agarwal who is also the PCC treasurer. These raids were part of a money laundering probe. 

The raids were conducted after the ED registered a fresh case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

During the investigation into the alleged coal levy and liquor-related scheme within the state, the ED has arrested several well-known bureaucrats, including IAS officers, alongside politicians and their affiliates.

ISIS poster boy Mehmood Pracha, who had called for Muslims to take up arms, accuses HM Shah of orchestrating Manipur violence

OpIndia Staff
-
0
ISIS poster boy Mehmood Pracha, who had called for Muslims to take up arms, accuses HM Shah of orchestrating Manipur violence

On 8th August, the National Conference Of Minority organised National Round Table Discussion on UCC and Atrocities on Minorities at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader Udit Raj, Controversial Lok Sabha MPs Badruddin Ajmal from Assam and Simranjeet Singh Mann from Punjab, among others, were speakers.

Among the list, the infamous advocate Mehmood Pracha’s video is going viral on social media, where he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and other Hindu outfits of riots, orchestrating Manipur and Nuh violence and more.

YouTuber Anas Hashmi uploaded videos of the event. In the 7-minute video, he called those who directly or indirectly praise Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] and Home Minister [Amit Shah] or go to meet them should be boycotted. He further called such people “traitors”.

He then accused Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh activists of planning to remove the constitution and impose the rules as told in the Hindu text Manusmriti. As PM and HM have been members of RSS, Parcha insinuated that the Prime Minister and Home Minister, two of the highest chairs in the country, are “planning to remove the constitution”. Parcha said, “What will you achieve by meeting such people? You can only bow to them and seek guidance on how to betray your community.”

Parcha accused PM and HM (RSS) of hijacking all the institutions. He also accused them of hijacking top leadership of SC/ST, minorities [Muslims] and OBCs. “We have to identify the traitors among us; otherwise, we will not be able to progress,” he said. Parcha added, “Identify the traitors. Identify those who claim Himanta Biswa Sarma is a good chief minister. Identify them, punish them and socially boycott them.”

Parcha then tabled his plan to go after RSS activists. He provoked the attendees and his followers to identify the members of RSS on the grassroots level, especially those who have progressed financially. He said, “Identify them and file cases of corruption against them. Question the authorities on how these people got rich”.

He further urged the top leadership of different communities to come forward and protest against the government. He said, “To save the constitution, you should be prepared to face a lathi charge and jail time. The leaders, MPs, and MLAs should come forward as people expect us to be in front of them. If someone believes he is a leader, he should be ready to face a lathi charge, bullets and jail time”.

Parcha accused PM and HM of being “cowards” as they are not allowing Army to get back 2,000 KM of land taken away by China. He said, “Either PM gets back the land or resigns from his post. We will march and get back the land. This should be our first agenda.”

Parcha accused PM and HM of being directly involved in the Manipur violence. He provoked his followers to Gherao PM and HM on the Manipur issue. He claimed RSS has two affiliates in Manipur named Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun that are behind the unrest in the state. He accused Home Minister Amit Shah and Manipur CM N Biren Singh of involvement with these organisations. He then made one of the most bizarre statements that came out of his mouth. He accused RSS and BJP of being hand-in-hand with Pakistan and China to weaken the country’s border areas.

He then accused RSS and BJP of Nuh violence and the Delhi 2020 riots. He called for taking action against HM Shah to the level he gets arrested as he is “the main mastermind behind all the incidents in Manipur”. Parcha claimed HM Shah went to Manipur to ensure the “Gujarat Model” was being implemented in the state. He appeared to have hinted towards the Gujarat Riots of 2002 by the Gujarat model. The left-liberal has accused PM Modi, HM Shah and other RSS, BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders of the riots. Contrary to their claims, a Muslim mob ignited the riots after 59 Hindu Karsewaks were burnt alive in Godhara.

Mehmood Pracha was featured in ISIS magazine.

Mehmood Pracha, who had called for Muslims to take up arms, was featured as the poster boy for a pro-ISIS media outlet and is accused of spreading communal hatred in the past.

As India went through communal turmoil during the anti-Hindu riots earlier in February 2020, a publication titled ‘Voice of Hind’ issued by Al-Qitaal Media Center and Junudul Khilafah al-Hind had featured Mahmood Pracha on its cover page. The cover was titled “So, Muslims, where are you going?”. It was featured with the subtitle “A Call to the Muslims of India”.

The magazine had praised slain terrorists in Kashmir. It also urged the Muslims to reject the idea of an Indian nation-state and fight for the ‘caliphate’ instead.

Mehmood Pracha had called for ‘Muslims and Dalits to acquire Arms License”

In addition to this, Mehmood Pracha has also been accused of exhorting Muslims to take up arms. In a press conference last year, Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad and Mehmood Paracha announced that they would be setting up a camp in Lucknow to teach Muslims and Dalits about the ‘right to self-defence and how to apply for a firearm licence.

Mahmood Pracha had cited the incidents of mob lynchings and the Sonbhadra massacre as reasons for conducting the camp. He said those events would not have occurred if the victims had legal firearms to defend themselves. They were basically planning to raise an armed militia to combat ‘mob lynchings’, using licenced weapons. Later, Mahmood Paracha was seen holding that training camp inside a Lucknow Mosque, where he was training Muslims about how to fill out forms for licences and acquire firearms, even though an FIR had been registered against him for his incendiary speech.

In 2020, the special cell of the Delhi Police conducted raids at Pracha’s office in relation to the Anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

Caught under the sheets: Senior Taliban official caught in homosexual relationship with guard on viral video, continues in his post in Kabul

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Caught under the sheets: Senior Taliban official caught in homosexual relationship with guard on viral video, continues in his post in Kabul

A shocking video from Afghanistan has emerged where Mullah Ahmed Akhund, a senior Taliban member and the head of the Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), was seen in a homosexual relationship with his 21-year-old bodyguard.

Furthermore, the Taliban, who are often quite severe about homosexuality and stone gays to death as punishment, have permitted him to maintain his post without taking any action against him. According to the most recent release by DABS, he is still in charge of the directorate and is authorised to carry out his duties without interference from them.

The footage appeared to be recorded with a hidden camera in which Mullah Ahmed Akhund can be seen standing on a bed and undressing after which he lies down. He is then joined by his bodyguard who also removes his clothes and goes under the quilt with him.

The young man previously worked alongside the Taliban leader in the Breshna Sherkat. Notably, he was also seen in the company of Mullah Mohammad Fazl, the Deputy Minister of Defense for the group.

Mullah Ahmed Akhund was chosen on 20 August of this year to lead DABS under the direction of the Taliban’s deputy prime minister. He stated that he would “do basic work” in the Breshna department of Kabul in his inauguration address.

DABS is an independent and autonomous company established under The Corporations and Limited Liabilities Law of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IROA). It works as a limited liability company owned by the government of Afghanistan. It operates and manages electric power generation, import, transmission and distribution.

The Taliban are silent about punishing their leaders and fighters despite daily media accusations of moral corruption and the “Bacha bazi” of the outfit in their outposts and dormitories. Bacha Bazi is a slang term used in Afghanistan Pakistan and in the history of Turkestan for a custom which involves child sexual abuse by older men. The practice pertains to sexual slavery and child prostitution of young adolescent males or boys, also known as dancing boys.

A recording revealed an individual named Abdullah having fun with a number of other Taliban terrorists as well as multiple women in a room. It was released by the Taliban intelligence last year. According to the individual who captured the incident, both men and women were present and the wine and barbeque bar was set up.

The accused, who was later identified as the brother of Alam Gull Haqqani, was then accused that “he used to come here, provided passports and take eight hundred dollars” by him.

Social media reaction

Netizens pointed out the hypocrisy of the Taliban and raised questions after the clip came to light. A person highlighted the irony and commented, “Top commander of Taliban which says punishment for homosexuality in Islam is death was caught in a homosexual relation with his bodyguard.”

Another remarked, “Majority of Taliban have homosexual relationships from their teenage. Abuse of boys is common in Afghan society.” He also referred to Bacha Bazi and labelled it as a “rotten society.”

A social media user wrote that Taliban sleeping with one another is the Afghan tradition and called the Taliban an extremist homosexual terrorist organisation who hates women and ethnic groups because of the aforementioned reason.

A netizen mocked that it is the reason they ban women from everywhere including sex.

An individual urged the Taliban to punish the accused. He posted, “If the Taliban is really an Islamic emirate, it must punish these criminals, otherwise it will lose its credibility. The Holy Prophet said that those who were before you perished because if their nobles stole, they would let them go, and if the weak stole, they would punish them.”

Taliban’s war on homosexuality

Human Rights Watch and Out Right Action International observed that under the Taliban, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Afghans and those who don’t follow strict gender standards in the country faced a horrific situation and serious dangers to their safety and life in a report published in January 2022.

The 43-page document titled “Even If You Go to the Skies, We’ll Find You: LGBT People in Afghanistan After the Taliban Takeover” was derived from 60 interviews conducted with LGBT individuals there.

Many respondents related disturbing tales of being threatened or targeted by Taliban members because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Some also shared stories of being mistreated by relatives, neighbours, or love partners who now support the Taliban or believed that retaliation against LGBT people in their community was important for their own protection.

They were consequently compelled to leave their houses to avoid being attacked by Taliban members or their allies. Others talked about how devastating it was to lose the life they had laboriously established over the years, leaving them open to potential harassment at any time due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBT people were at grave risk in Afghanistan even before the Taliban took full control of the nation on 15 August 2021. A law that specifically criminalised same-sex relationships was passed under the leadership of then-President Ashraf Ghani in 2018. Additionally, the previous penal law included ambiguous language that was frequently interpreted as categorising same-sex relationships as a criminal offence.

Union Defence Ministry sets up a nine-member high power committee to overhaul DRDO

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Union Defence Ministry sets up a nine-member high power committee to overhaul DRDO

On Wednesday (23 August), the union defence ministry set up a high-power team to overhaul the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has constituted a nine-member committee of experts to review and redefine the role of various departments within DRDO, as per reports.

The newly constituted high power committee will be headed by Prof Vijay Raghavan, who previously served as Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. He was also one of the key architects of the National Research Foundation (NRF). 

The committee will have to submit its report within three months and work with a mandate to overhaul the DRDO. 

The other experts in this DRDO review committee include – 

  1. Lt Gen (Retd) Subrata Saha – Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff 
  2. Vice Admiral S N Ghormade – Former Vice Chief of Navy Staff 
  3. Air Marshal B R Krishna – Former Chief of Integrated Staff 
  4. Sujan R Chinoy – Director General of MP-IDSA 
  5. Manindra Agarwal – Professor at IIT Kanpur 
  6. S.P. Shukla – President SIDM 
  7. J D Patil – Larsen and Toubro, Defence 
  8. Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair – Distinguished Scientist, ISRO 
  9. Rasika Chaube – Financial Advisor, Ministry of Defence

As per the Hindustan Times report, DRDO Chief Samir V Kamat conveyed Minister Rajnath Singh’s decision to the committee. He also informed its members of the terms of reference which are as under. 

  • Restructuring and redefining the functions of Department of Defence (R &D) and DRDO. It will also include their relationship with each other and with academia and industry. 
  • Ways to maximise the participation of academia, MSME, and start-ups in the development of cutting edge technologies. 
  • To adopt a Performance driven approach. This include ways to attract and retain high-quality manpower. Additionally, it include a system of project based manpower by using incentives and disincentives and strict performance accountability, thus weeding out the non-performers.
  • Focus on utilising the expertise of NRIs/foreign consultants and inter-country collaborations so as to develope cutting edge and disruptive defence technologies. 
  • Modernise administrative, personnel, and financial frameworks to expedite project implementation.
  • Laboratory structures to be rationalised to better evaluate their performance process.

This major decision to review and overhaul the functioning of the DRDO and the entire defence research and production eco-system comes in the wake of concerns regarding lack of accountability and delayed research works in the organisation. 

DRDO typically works like a government PSU and handles everything related to defence, like research, development, and production. It has been a long-awaited demand to improve its coordination and support for the private sector. 

Chandrayaan 3 rover to imprint ISRO logo and National Emblem on Moon: Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Chandrayaan 3 rover to imprint ISRO logo and National Emblem on Moon: Details

India will experience history at 6:04 pm on Wednesday when Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module (LM) is slated to touch down close to the Moon’s south pole. Pragyan’s success will symbolically represent India’s presence on the moon by leaving impressions of the ISRO and the country’s flag, which features the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, on the lunar surface.

The logo impressions on the rover are displayed in a curtain-raiser movie by ISRO which was released ahead of the launch of the mission. The logo will be imprinted by Pragyan’s rear wheels as it moves across the moon’s surface.

After the soft landing, the rover will use one of the lander’s side panels as a ramp to drop from the belly onto the Moon’s surface. A lunar day (or around 14 days on Earth) will be the mission life for the lander and rover as they explore the area. ISRO representatives do not rule out the chance that they could regenerate for a subsequent lunar day, though.

The south pole region of the Moon will also be investigated because places that are permanently under shadow may contain water. Four scientific instruments on Chandrayaan-3 will investigate moon quakes, how the moon’s surface enables heat to pass through it, the plasma environment near the moon’s surface, and the precise distance between the moon and the earth.

Beyond its scientific goals, the rover will also leave behind impressions of the ISRO and the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, which serves as India’s national emblem.

The countrymen and the world is looking forward to the successful landing of the Chandrayaan 3 which was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14 this year.

While this is India’s third lunar mission and second attempt at a soft landing on the moon, the mission entered the lunar orbit one month after launch and the lander and rover are scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface at 06:04 pm on August 23.

Bihar: BJP hits out at VVIP arrogance caught on camera as ambulance blocked for Nitish Kumar’s convoy, another video shows cop holding umbrella for Lalu Yadav

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bihar: BJP hits out at VVIP arrogance caught on camera as ambulance blocked for Nitish Kumar’s convoy, another video shows cop holding umbrella for Lalu Yadav

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has come under fire for a blatant display of VVIP culture. On Tuesday (22nd August), an ambulance was blocked for the passing of the Chief Minister’s convoy in Patna. In a 30-second video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya, an ambulance can be seen parked by the road as Nitish Kumar’s convoy passes. The man recording the video points the camera to the ambulance inside which a man and a woman can be seen seated beside a person lying on a stretcher. The woman seated by the patient appears to be crying. The man recording the video then points out how the CM’s convoy is passing by blocking the ambulance and other vehicles parked by the road to make space.

Malviya, in the caption, tweeted that Nitish Kumar is dreaming of becoming the prime minister and can put someone’s life at stake “so that the speed of their convoy does not decrease.” Look at the insensitivity of Nitish Kumar who is dreaming of becoming the prime minister. They can put someone’s life at stake so that the speed of their convoy does not decrease. On the one hand, where Modi ji stopped many times not only his convoy but even roadshows to give way to the ambulance, Nitish Babu did not think at all about the family crying in the ambulance. This is the truth of the arrogant coalition of corrupt and insensitive people. Shameful!” the BJP leader tweeted.

A Twitter user, Ashish Ranjan (@Aashishbihar), also a journalist, pointed out in the comments that the road on which the convoy was passing is the main road connecting PMCH, Bihar’s biggest hospital and several ambulances pass through it every day. He tweeted, “This is the main road connecting PMCH, Bihar’s biggest hospital, on which not one but many ambulances cross at times, but we have not seen such insensitivity of a king drowned in arrogance till date.”

BJP leader Vikram Goud tweeted the video claiming that the patient in the ambulance was critical and that the relatives had pleaded that they be allowed to pass.

A longer, 55-second video shows how the ambulance has been stopped and asked to park to the side of the road as the convoy is about to approach.

About two hours later, Malviya tweeted another video, this time of RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, showing a senior police officer holding an umbrella for the former Bihar CM. Malviya tweeted, “A senior police officer carrying an umbrella for Lalu Prasad, accused in corruption cases and recently out on bail citing ill health, is not only the pinnacle of VIP culture but also a sign of a weak government. Because the police is roaming around with an umbrella for the culprits, the morale of the criminals in Bihar is high.”

In the video, the cop can be seen holding the umbrella for Lalu and then handing it over to another person, albeit being mindful that the umbrella is covering Lalu properly even as it is held by one of his aides. As they stop, the cop spots something near Lalu’s shoulder and seems obliged to clean it. The RJD chief is out on bail in the fodder scam case.

NASA and ESA to share crucial data with ISRO to monitor Chandrayaan-3 health, here is how space agencies are collaborating on the mission

Anurag
-
0
NASA and ESA to share crucial data with ISRO to monitor Chandrayaan-3 health, here is how space agencies are collaborating on the mission

On 14th July, Chandrayaan-3 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Since then, ground stations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have supported the Indian space agency in monitoring the health of Chandrayaan-3.

Chandrayaan 3 comprises a Lander and a rover. The main objective is to conduct scientific studies on the surface of the moon for 14 days period. While ISRO will be using its deep-space communication antenna for the project, other space agencies will assist in the project.

ISRO has a 32-meter deepspace tracking station in the country that enables the space agency to track, command, and receive telemetry and scientific data from the spacecraft. However, in several instances, the spacecraft gets beyond the range of ISRO’s antenna. At that time, communicating with the spacecraft will not be possible.

Constructing large-scale antennas and control stations worldwide is an expensive project. Space agencies and commercial entities worldwide seek support from the partner organisations’ ground stations to mitigate the cost of establishing new antennas. International collaboration in space exploration holds the utmost importance because of its exponential cost.

Speaking to the Hindu, ground operations engineer at ESOC Darmstadt, Germany, Ramesh Chellathurai, said, “Since the launch of Chandrayaan-3, ESA has been supporting the mission by utilizing two of the ground stations in the ESTRACK network to track the satellite in its orbit, receive telemetry from the spacecraft and forward it to the Mission Operations Centre in Bengaluru, and forward commands sent from Bengaluru to the flying satellite.”

Based on the technical capabilities and geometric visibility of the satellite, two stations of ESA were selected to provide support. A 15-meter antenna in Kourou, French Guiana, and the 32-meter antenna of Goonhilly Earth Station, UK, are continuously monitoring ESA and rallying the information to ISRO.

Chellathurai said, “These two stations have been communicating with the Chandrayaan-3 mission regularly, providing a complete communication channel between the Mission Operations Team in Bengaluru and the Chandrayaan-3 satellite.”

The ground stations become crucial on the day of the landing. Apart from the two stations, ESA’s 35-metre deepspace antenna in New Norcia, Australia, tracks and communicates with the Lander Module at the time it starts to descend to the moon’s surface. During the process, It serves as a backup station for ISRO’s own ground station. Both ISRO and New Norcia antenna will receive information about the Lander Module’s health, location, and trajectory simultaneously.

Such backup support is common during key moments of space missions. Once the Rover lands on the moon, the information will be routed to the connected ground stations via the Lander Module. The information collected by Kourou and Goonhilly will be forwarded to the Mission Operation Centre in Bengaluru.

NASA to provide telemetry and tracking coverage during descent phase

On the other hand, NASA’s Deep Space Network’s Deep Space Station (DSS)-36 and DSS-34 at Space Communications Complex and DSS-65 at Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex would provide telemetry and tracking coverage during the descent phase.

The information collected by NASA’s stations, including health and status and instrument measures, are passed to ISRO’s ground station in real-time. These stations also monitor the radio signal for the Doppler Effect, which is the primary tool for navigation of the spacecraft. As the DSN Complex in California is on the exact other side of the Earth from India, it can be in view of the Moon when India cannot see it.

NASA’s Deep Space Network has the world’s largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunication system. It comprises a global array of immense radio antennas crucial for interplanetary spacecraft missions. These antennas provide insights through radar and radio astronomy observations that help understand the solar system and the universe.

Space agencies collaborate to assist each other

India is part of The Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS) with China, Europe, Japan, the United States, Russia, and the Republic of Korea. Other partners include the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Recently, CGMS celebrated 50 years of collaboration in different fields related to meteorological satellites. CGMS was established in 1972 by satellite agencies from Europe, Japan, and the United States to coordinate the operation and use of geostationary satellites. Over the years, the number of members and applications increased.

Similarly, during different missions, space agencies worldwide take support from each other as it is expensive to establish their own antenna network. Collaborations help reduce costs and share information about space projects that help in future endeavors.

Liquor scam: ED raids over 30 locations including the house of Rohit Oraon, son of Jharkhand Minister Rameshwar Oraon

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Liquor scam: ED raids over 30 locations including the house of Rohit Oraon, son of Jharkhand Minister Rameshwar Oraon

Enforcement Directorate is now conducting raids in Jharkhand after Chhattisgarh as a part of the investigation into the liquor scam. Officials are looking into the entire situation from the perspective of money laundering. Large-scale raids in regard to this commenced on 23 August in Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The agency has intensified operations at 32 to 34 locations in both states connected to Jharkhand Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, his son Rohit Oraon, and liquor baron Yogendra Tiwari since Wednesday morning. These bases are situated in Kolkata, Ranchi, Deoghar, Dhanbad and Dumka. The investigators conducted simultaneous searches at all these places beginning at 6:30 am and are still underway.

More than a dozen teams from the Enforcement Directorate were included in the aforementioned probe. The reason for the operation at the Jharkhand Minister’s premise was his son and his close association with the liquor mafia. Yogendra Tiwari’s booze business is believed to be heavily funded by him. Both the minister and his son live together in Ranchi.

The agency is reportedly conducting raids at seven different spots in Ranchi’s Harmu and Bariatu. Jamtara is also witnessing the same along with eight places in Deoghar. Yogendra Tiwari, his family members as well as several of his close friends have been the subjects of the investigation. Five distinct areas in Dumka City are the target of the raids.

The Tanishq dealership at Tata Dealership Chowk, Tiwari Automobile, Pappu Sharma’s home in Kumharpada and Anil Singh’s house close to Theka Baba Mandir are places where the action is going on. Pappu Sharma and Anil Singh work with Yogendra Tiwari whereas Tanishq Showroom and Tiwari Automobile are charged to be affiliated with him. Furthermore, there is information on the operation in the Gilan Pada office.

A huge crowd of people living nearby has gathered during the inquiry and elaborate security arrangements have been made as a result. A raid was carried out at the Kaushiki Radhika apartment in Bekarbandh, Dhanbad. There, the house of Yogendra Tiwari’s employee was searched. An investigation at Grewal’s Dhanbad apartment had also been executed.

A raid has been launched at the Jamtara residence of Yogendra Tiwari. The investigation team also visited Chianki, Rameshwar Oraon’s ancestral hamlet in Palamu, at the same time to search his family home. Simultaneously, raids took place at the Arya Inn Hotel in Mihijam and the office on the second floor of the State Bank of India (SBI) building in Palamu.

The raids are taking place all around that include the Deoghar home of the Congress leader and chief minister of United Bihar. The action is occurring at the house of Congressman and district-20 vice president Munnam Sanjay. An investigation team also reached the residence of Abhishek Jha, a land trader to conduct a raid. He is Pandit Vinod Nand Jha’s grandson, a former chief minister of Bihar.

There have been numerous searches at Yogendra Tiwari’s properties. A team is going over the documents in Deoghar’s Maihar Garden and Biscomaun Bhawan. Raids are taking place at the homes of a number of people, comprising land trader Abhishek Jha, Congress leader Munnam Sanjay, liquor baron Yogendra Tiwari, Minister Rameshwar Oraon and Nexagen showroom owner Vinay Singh.

Munnam Sanjay remained silent when approached for his reaction to the ongoing inquiry. Howvere, he refused to comment on anything. However, one of his coworkers stated, under the condition of anonymity that the papers found on the premise are being looked into and the gate has been locked from inside. Moreover, no one was allowed to leave.

According to Enforcement Directorate, a whopping Rs 2161 crore was generated in the Chhattisgarh liquor scam. The nexus comprised senior government officials, politicians and other individuals. It has caused a loss of a staggering Rs 2,161 crore to the exchequer. The agency found that between 2019 and 2022, unaccounted illicit liquor worth 30 to 40 per cent of the overall sales in the state was sold at the behest of the syndicate.

Heath Streak is alive: Henry Olonga, who announced the ex-Zimbabwe captain’s ‘death’, now ‘fact-checks’ his own claims to make a U-turn

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Heath Streak is alive: Henry Olonga, who announced the ex-Zimbabwe captain’s ‘death’, now ‘fact-checks’ his own claims to make a U-turn

On Wednesday, Henry Olonga, a former Zimbabwean cricketer, put an end to rumors that fellow cricketing icon Heath Streak had passed away. Olonga stated that Streak is absolutely alive and well, defying his earlier tweet, which he had posted hours ago.

Olonga shared the update on Twitter in an effort to clear up confusion and counter potential erroneous rumors. “I can confirm that rumors of the demise of Heath Streak have been greatly exaggerated. I just heard from him. The third umpire has called him back. He is very much alive folks,” he tweeted.

Olonga also posted a chat of him with Streak in which the latter could be seen confirming that he was ‘very much alive’. Streak meanwhile also asked Olonga to revert the rumors.

Reportedly Olonga himself had tweeted on August 22 that Streak had passed away. “Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side. RIP legend. The greatest all-rounder we produced. It was a pleasure playing with you. See you on the other side when my bowling spell comes to an end,” he had said. The tweet, however, now stands deleted.

screenshot from ABP news

After Olonga, Zimbabwean cricketer Sean Williams also happened to pay tribute to Streak saying, “No words can explain what you and your family have done for mine and many others. Our hearts are broken you leave behind a beautiful family and a legacy for us to live up to! You will be missed we love you dearly. Rest in peace streaky.”

Screenshot from Twitter

Several media houses like the Guardian, News18, India.com, ABP news, and Sportsstar quickly picked up the news without probably verifying the facts and claimed that Heath Streak, a legendary Zimbabwe cricketer was no more.

NDTV and Sportstar reported Streaks death

“Heath Streak, Legendary Zimbabwe Cricketer, dies at the age of 49 after prolonged Cancer,” wrote NDTV while Sportstar mentioned also followed the erroneous news spread.

News18 reported death of Streak

Meanwhile, the Guardian also paid tributes to the legendary cricketer and said that he was battling cancer. “Former all-rounder had been undergoing treatment for cancer. Streak dies at the age of 49,” the report read.

Guardian reported Streak’s death

However, after Olonga’s tweet clarifying Streak’s message, the media houses reversed the news and claimed that the social media triggered confusion. “Heath Streak not dead,” said NDTV while the news report by Sportstar stood deleted.

News of death deleted by Sportstar

According to the reports, one of the greatest all-around bowlers in international cricket history, Heath Streak, took 216 wickets in 65 Test matches. He achieved a 4-wicket haul in an innings 16 times during this period and a 5-wicket haul in an innings 7 times.

Streak managed to take 239 wickets in ODIs at an average of 29.82. The Zimbabwean cricketer amassed 2,943 runs (13 half-centuries) in ODIs compared to 1,990 runs (1 century, 11 half-centuries) in Tests.

Streak, who has been battling liver and colon cancer, observed his situation deteriorate in May of this year, which prompted his family to admit him right away to the hospital. Olonga was among those who tweeted about his passing. His prompt correction, though, ought to alleviate any anxiety brought up by his initial tweet. Streak’s rumoured ‘death’ had been reported widely, upsetting both cricket players and spectators. But now that Olonga has provided an update, it is safe to conclude that Streak is very much alive.

Former US President Donald Trump to surrender before authorities in 2020 Georgia election interference case, what it means

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Former US President Donald Trump to surrender before authorities in 2020 Georgia election interference case, what it means

Former US President Donald Trump on Monday night (21st August) night announced that he will surrender before authorities in Georgia over his indictment in the 2020 election interference case. Taking to his platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I’ll be going to Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday (24th August) to be arrested.” Trump remains a contender to the 2024 US Presidential Elections.

Trump on Monday agreed to a $200,000 bond and accepted bail conditions barring him from threatening co-defendants or witnesses in the case.

On 22nd August, the US business tycoon’s two co-defendants in the case surrendered at an Atlanta jail after accusing Trump and his associates of manipulating his 2020 election loss in Georgia to Joe Biden by 11,000 votes. John Eastman, Trump’s former lawyer, and Republican poll watcher Scott Hall surrendered before the county sheriff’s office. 17 defendants are reportedly likely to surrender by Friday (25th August).

Eastman’s surrender came after agreeing to a $100,000 bond agreement. He said, “I am here today to surrender to an indictment that should never have been brought.” Meanwhile, Hall had agreed to a $10,000 bond deal requiring him to report to pre-trial supervision every month.

What is the case?

On 15th August, the grand jury in Georgia indicted Donald Trump in the 2020 election interference case formally accusing him of attempting to overturn his defeat in the state in the 2020 Presidential election. The 98-page indictment was the fourth criminal case against the former US President.

The charges were approved by the grand jury for the violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influencer and Corrupt Organisation (RICO) law. Several conspiracy charges have also been approved against Trump including several counts of pressurizing public officials to violate their chair. Trump is also accused of false statements and writing and filing false documents.

A total of 19 people have been indicted in the case including Trump, who is in the forefront for the Republican nomination for the 2024 Presidential elections. Trump campaign officials, lawyers, and Trump government officials have been charged. Trump had lost by 11,000 votes to the now-President Joe Biden. The angle of manipulating voting equipment also emerged in the course of the probe.

What could be the political repercussions of Trump’s surrender?

So far the reports in the US media go, the surrender itself seemingly won’t impact Trump’s Presidential bid. Rather, he reportedly continues to be a leading contender in the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump is leading by a wide margin in the national polling average against his Republican counterpart and Florida governor Ron DeSantis by about 40 points. Moreover, Trump announced on 20th August that he will not partake in the primary presidential debates against his Republican counterparts. He cited the wide leads he enjoys according to polls over his rivals for the GOP nomination.

Trump’s decision has likely bolstered confidence in the public as he pointed to a CBS News survey saying “It has me leading the field by legendary numbers.” This even as Trump was reportedly being persuaded for the debate by Fox News bigwigs. Instead, a pre-recorded interview of Trump with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is expected to be featured on Wednesday (23rd August), the same evening as the first Republican presidential debate.

Republican opinion polls reportedly show that Trump is the preferred choice of over half of the GOP’s primary voters. In a sense, with Trump out of the debate, the onus now falls on the trailing Republican candidates to convince why they should be the preferred choice.

In another campaign pitch, Trump has reportedly declared his plans to implement a “universal baseline tariff” on all imports to the US. “When companies come in and they dump their products in the United States, they should pay, automatically, let’s say a 10% tax…I do like the 10% for everybody,” the former President said. He also threatened to impose reciprocal tax against the taxes in India on certain American products including Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Trump’s former employee, Yuschil Taveras, who was Mar-a-Lago’s IT manager, has implicated the former President in a classified documents case. He has reportedly accused Trump and two aides of “efforts to delete security camera footage.” Prosecutors say Taveras changed his testimony after switching lawyers. Trump, 77, faces 40 charges in the case and has pleaded not guilty along with his personal aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira.

1...1,8431,8441,845...7,598Page 1,844 of 7,598