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As India retains KL Rahul as opener for next two Tests against Australia, Venkatesh Prasad once again highlights his poor Test record

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As India retains KL Rahul as opener for next two Tests against Australia, Venkatesh Prasad once again highlights his poor Test record

Former India seamer Venkatesh Prasad fired a fresh salvo at struggling India opener KL Rahul for his inconsistent performances in the longest format of the game, pointing out the batter’s modest overseas record and comparing it with home/overseas statistics of players such as Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane, three of whom have turned out for India as openers in Test cricket.

Rahul’s last century in Tests came in December 2021, against South Africa at Centurion. His horror run with the willow in international cricket continued in the second Test of the ongoing series for the Border-Gavaskar trophy, at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley stadium, as the right-hander could aggregate just 18 runs across two innings.

Chasing just 115 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, fans would have expected Rahul and Rohit Sharma to romp home without much hassle. However, Rahul fell to the spin of Nathan Lyon, who trapped him in front of the stumps for just one run.

“There is a view that KL Rahul has an outstanding overseas Test record. But stats speak otherwise. He has a test avg of 30 overseas in 56 innings. He has scored 6 overseas centuries but followed it up with a string of low scores that’s why averaging 30. Let’s look at a few others,” tweeted Prasad on Monday.

He brought up veteran Shikhar’s solid overseas records, pointing out his average of “nearly 40, with 5 100s”.

“Shikhar Dhawan has the best overseas average amongst recent openers. Avg of nearly 40 with 5 100’s. Though he too hasn’t been consistent in Test but had Outstanding centuries in SL and NZ, plus a much better home record,” the former India seamer wrote in another tweet.

He also brought up Mayank Agarwal, who as opener has fared exceedingly well in home conditions.

“Mayank Agarwal after the brilliant start in Aust did struggle in away test matches. But he has by far the best home record. Avg of nearly 70 in 13 innings,2 double 100’s & a 150 on a Wankhede pitch where everyone else struggled. Great against spin & had a prolific domestic season,” Prasad tweeted.

He further pointed out that young opener Shubman Gill averages 37 in his brief overseas run in Tests, with the knock of 91 against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane being “one of the best overseas fourth innings”.

“Shubhman Gill has had a brief international career and in 14 overseas innings averages 37, with his 91 at Gabba amongst the best overseas 4th innings and has been in outstanding form,” he tweeted.

He also pointed to veteran Ajinkya Rahane’s overseas record, saying he averages “over 40 overseas in 50 Test matches”.

“And if overseas performance is a criteria, Ajinkya Rahane, despite being out of form and also inconsistent before being dropped had one of the best overseas Test record, averaging over 40 overseas in 50 test matches. Was out of form and dropped …,” the former India seamer added in another tweet.

He added that after being retained for the final two Tests of the ongoing series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rahul’s best chance of coming back to form is the third Test at Indore or else he should play county cricket, perform well and earn back his place in the national side.

“But with KL being retained for the remaining 2 test matches, if he is picked in the playing 11, Indore is his best chance of coming back to form and silencing critics like me. Else needs to play county cricket, perform well and make a comeback in the Test side,” Prasad tweeted.

The opener had a horror 2022. After missing nearly six months of action, Rahul blew hot and cold ever since Asia Cup 2022. He did score some half-centuries but drew criticism from fans and veteran India cricketers for his lack of attacking intent and inability to deliver in big matches.

Rahul played four Tests last year, aggregating 137 runs at an average of 17.12, with just one fifty. In 10 ODIs last year, he scored 251 runs at an average of 27.88, with two half-centuries and a best score of 73. In 16 T20Is in 2022, he scored 434 runs at an average of 28.93 and six half-centuries, with a best score of 62. Overall in 30 matches last year, he aggregated 822 runs at an average of 25.68, with nine half-centuries.

This year, he has scored a paltry 38 runs in three Test innings. Overall, he has totaled just 148 runs across five international matches at an average of 29.60, with one half-century and the best score of 64*.

India’s squad for the final two Test matches and three ODIs against Australia was announced on Sunday.

India’s Test squad for the third and fourth Test against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), K L Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat.

India’s ODI squad against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat.

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

Guwahati: Woman kills husband and mother-in-law, chops them and stores in fridge, later dumps parts in mountains

OpIndia Staff
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Guwahati: Woman kills husband and mother-in-law, chops them and stores in fridge, later dumps parts in mountains

While the investigation in the sensational Shraddha murder case continues, an even more sensational case of one dual murder has emerged from Guwahati. In this case, a woman killed her husband and mother-in-law 7 months ago, cut the bodies into pieces and stored them in a refrigerator, and later dumped the body parts. The incident came to light on 19 February after police arrested the accused Bandana Kalita.

She has confessed to the police that she killed her husband Amarjyoti Dey and mother-in-law Shankari Dey with the assistance of her lover and a friend on 17 August last year. She also told the police that after killing and chopping her husband and his mother, she along with her two partners dumped the body parts in the mountains of Meghalaya. While the investigation is in the preliminary stage, the motive of the crime was an extramarital affair and greed for property, according to police.

According to the reports, Amarjyoti Dey married Bandana Kalita a few years ago, and they were living in Narengi in the eastern part of Guwahati city. While the marriage lasted peacefully for some years, it turned sour after Amrjyoti discovered that Bandana was having an affair with a youth named Dhanjit Deka. This resulted in frequent fights between the husband and wife.

On the other hand, Amarjyoti’s mother Shankari Dey owns five buildings in the Chandmari area in the middle of the city. She lived alone in one of the houses, while the other four are given on rent. The rents for these buildings are collected by Shankari Dey’s brother, as he manages her finances. Bandana was not satisfied with this arrangement also.

As the marital dispute grew over these issues, Amarjyoti and Bandana were preparing for a divorce. But seven months ago, Bandana lodged a complaint with the Noonmati Police station saying that her husband and mother-in-law have gone missing. The police started a probe based on the complaint, but could not find them or any clue about their whereabouts.

After some time, Bandana filed another complaint, alleging that Shankari Dey’s brother was misusing money kept in the five bank accounts of Shankari Dey. However, this proved to be a mistake for her. When police looked into the bank accounts, they found that Bandana Kalita herself had withdrawn Rs five lakh from her mother-in-law’s bank account by using ATM cards. This led to police suspecting her, and after receiving more evidence against her following further probe, they arrested her on 17 February.

During the police interrogation, Bandana finally confessed to the crime yesterday. She told police that on 17 August, she had killed Shankari Dey in her house in Chandmari with the help of a youth named Arup Das. After that, they chopped the body into pieces and kept the body parts in the fridge.

Then on 21 August, Bandana Kalita killed her husband with the help of her lover Dhanjit Deka by strangulating him. Then they cut his body also in pieces and stuffed the body parts in polythene bags. After that, the other partner Arup Das joined them, and they collected the body parts of Shankari Dey.

They drove towards Meghalaya and dumped the parts in deep gorges at the Dawki area near Cherapunji. After that, she returned to her house and cleaned the crime scene. Neighbours said that they saw her burning mattress and clothes on the terrace of the house on that day.

After the murders, Bandana Kalita was staying with her parents at their house in the Panikhaiti area in Guwahati, from where she was arrested. Following the confession of Bandana Kalita, Dhanjit Deka was arrested from Tinsukia and Arup Deka was caught at Khanapara in Guwahati.

A large police team moved to Meghalaya to locate the remains of the victims, and some body parts have been recovered from Dawki. According to reports, the headless body of Shankari Dey has been recovered, along with some blankets and clothes in a polythene bag. The hand and the head of the body are missing. The body of Amarjyoti Dey is yet to be located.

Slogans of ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ echo in the UK as Indian students celebrate Shiv Jayanti at Parliament Square in London

OpIndia Staff
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Slogans of ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ echo in the UK as Indian students celebrate Shiv Jayanti at Parliament Square in London

On Sunday, while the state of Maharashtra enthusiastically celebrated Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the cries of ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ could also be heard in the United Kingdom as several Indian students studying in London celebrated Shiv Jayanti with great zeal and warmth.

Adv Sangram Shewale, who shifted to London for his further studies gathered Indian students and celebrated Shiv Jayanti at London City Parliament Square. Several students from Queen Mary University, Soyas University, and the London School of Economics gathered and remembered the founder of Hindavi Swarajya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The students, dressed in white and orange scarf could be seen raising slogans like, “Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji”, and “Jai Jai Shivrai” in the City Parliament Square, the video of which went viral over the internet.

Shivaji Maharaj was born on February 19, 1630, at the Shivneri fort in the Junnar Taluka of Maharashtra’s Pune district. His father, Shahajiraje Bhosle, was a commander of Ahmednagar’s Nizamshah. Rajmata Jijabai, his mother, instilled dharmic and patriotic ideals in him since infancy. She nurtured him by telling stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and also instilled in him the characteristics of heroism and morality.

She taught her son, Shivba (as a child) the importance of Shastra and Shaastra. Shivaji Maharaj then happened to swear his oath at the temple of Rayareshwar at the age of 16 to build a Hindu state as the supreme Lord intended.

By 1659, Shivaji Maharaj had taken control of several forts in both the Adilshahi and Nizamshahi kingdoms. He also killed Adilshahi commander Afzal khan who was sent by the Adilshahi court to assassinate him. This left Islamic rulers terrified and they started recognizing Shivaji Maharaj’s valor and became fearful of him.

Shivaji Maharaj, while on his mission to establish Hindavi Swarajya, recaptured lost Maratha areas and reclaimed around 350 forts that were illegally grabbed and controlled by the Mughal sultanate. On June 6, 1674, he was coronated as the first Chhatrapati of the Hindavi Swarajya with Hindu religious ceremonies. He then built a powerful and progressive state on the strength of a disciplined army and a well-organized administrative system.

The Indian students in London remembered the courage and valor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and paid homage to him on his 393rd birth anniversary. “Scholars from many countries come to India to study all these things and this is the tradition of Maharashtra and we paid tribute to Shivaji Maharaj at Parliament Square in London,” informed Adv Shewale who organized the event at the London City Parliament Square yesterday.

Local reports mention that Omkar Kokate, Darishsheel Kale, Vinayak Garje, Adv Deepak Chatap, and Dr Rishikesh Andhalkar aided Adv Sangram Shewale in organizing the event in London.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claims stones pelted at his house in Delhi, here is what we know

OpIndia Staff
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claims stones pelted at his house in Delhi, here is what we know

Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), claimed, that late on Sunday night unknown intruders threw stones at his Delhi residence, breaking its windows. “This is the fourth incident since 2014,” he added in his tweet. His domestic help informed him that his house had been stoned by anonymous miscreants when he returned from Jaipur late at night.

The incident occurred at his Delhi home in the Ashoka Road locality from around 5:30 to 6 in the evening. “It’s concerning that this has happened in a so-called ‘high security’ zone,” the member of Parliament, from Hyderabad, stated in another tweet. He also informed that a complaint has been registered with the Delhi Police. Police officers can be seen collecting evidence and conducting their investigation in the video.

Owaisi in his complaint to Parliament Street Police Station wrote, “I reached my residence at 11:30 pm. Upon returning I found the glass of the windows broken and stones/rocks lying around. My domestic help informed that a group of miscreants threw stones at around at the residence around 5:30 pm.”

It continued, “This is the fourth time such an attack has taken place. The area surrounding my house has enough CCTV cameras, and the same may be accessed, and the culprits should be apprehended immediately. It is conceived that such acts of vandalism are happening in such a high-security zone.”

The complaint concluded by saying, “Immediate action must be taken, and the culprits should be arrested at the earliest.”

Senior police officials reported, that a team, led by an Additional deputy commissioner of police, was dispatched to Owaisi’s house immediately, and the inquiry into the matter had already begun. Furthermore, a crime unit was deployed to gather samples and examine CCTVs.

“We have received a complaint and are registering an FIR. The vandals will be identified soon. They came in the evening and pelted stones. They left within a few minutes,” said an officer.

Pakistan: Lecturer asks students to write an essay on ‘Is it ok for brother-sister to have sex’, university fires him after uproar on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Lecturer asks students to write an essay on ‘Is it ok for brother-sister to have sex’, university fires him after uproar on social media

COMSATS Univesity in Islamabad, Pakistan, has come under fire after one of its faculty members encouraged students to write an essay on incestuous relationships. The uproar arose after a picture of the university test paper went viral on social media.

The question paper asked students to write an essay about the incestuous relationship between a brother and a sister. The images of the paper spread like wildfire on social media platforms, with netizens demanding strict action against the teacher.

Screenshot of the question paper (Source: @ShehryarReal)

Following the uproar, the university administration informed the Ministry of Science and Technology that the services of a faculty member who had asked the contentious question in the English composition exam had been terminated.

In a letter dated February 2,  the university said, “[An] inquiry against the content of the quiz of English Subject of BEE, 1st Semester Course Code HUM 100. I am directed to refer to the Ministry of Science and Technology letter dated January 19, 2023, on the above subject and convey that action on the matter has already been taken and the service of the Lecturer (visiting faculty) has been terminated with effect from January 5, 2023.” It further said that faculty member has also been blacklisted.

The university responded after Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology took note of the offensive content of the BEE quiz. “The content of the quiz is highly objectionable and totally against the curriculum laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and caused unrest amongst the families of students,” read the letter sent to the varsity by Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology on January 19, 2023.

The copy of the letter sent to the University by Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology (Source: @ShehryarReal)

The ministry demanded that the institution initiate an investigation and take stern measures against those guilty. The ministry had given the university administration a week to submit the inquiry findings to them.

According to reports, Assistant Registrar Naveed Ahmed Khan acknowledged that a “very unpleasant question” was asked to BEE English Composition students.

He claimed that the rector held a meeting the next day and requested the faculty member to explain why he had asked such a “stupid question” to students. He stated that the faculty member admitted his mistake and that the CUI terminated his services.

“What else could we do? His services were terminated, and the quiz was retaken,” he stated, adding that the faculty member plagiarised the question from Google.

Lahore University students celebrate ‘Bollywood Day’, get slammed by Pakistanis for showing love for India

OpIndia Staff
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Lahore University students celebrate ‘Bollywood Day’, get slammed by Pakistanis for showing love for India

On February 19, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) celebrated ‘Bollywood Day’, where students dressed as “iconic” characters from Bollywood films. The Photography Club of LUMS (Photolums) shared a compilation video of the event on TikTok, where it went viral on other social media platforms. From iconic Baburao from Hera Pheri to Devdas, students were seen having a fun day at the University.

However, not everyone in Pakistan was pleased with students celebrating Bollywood. Twitter user RAShahzaddk said in Urdu, “LUMS, the most elite University of Pakistan, which has produced a large number of students, is promoting Indian civilisation, Bollywood Week is being celebrated, see the scenes yourself. We were told how to protect children from a free environment in Europe while the Islamic environment is in front of you in the state of Medina.”

In a video, one Malik Ali said, “Our friendly nations are questioning what we have to compare their best IT Universities. We proudly tell them we have LUMS. The same LUMS that celebrated Bollywood Day. The same Bollywood that is the film industry of an enemy nation and ridicules us in every other movie.”

Twitter user Amir Awan criticised LUMS students and shared Hadith Dawood 4031 to support his views. As per Dawood 4301, “He who copies anyone is one of them”.

Twitter user Kabeer said, “Why do students from LUMS look & act like that? No Naheed, you don’t have to dress up as a churail for “Bollywood Day”, you’re already a churail [witch].”

Twitter user Usmanmaalik17 said, “This University’s name should be changed from LUMS to DUMBS.”

Indian movies are very popular in Pakistan. Recently, some Pakistanis were seen on social media declaring their eternal support for Shah Rukh Khan and Pathan movie. There is a considerable section of Pakistanis, including former PM Imran Khan, however, who think that Pakistanis should stop watching Bollywood and instead get inspired by products of Turkish entertainment industry, like Ertugrul.

Haryana police exhumes body of stillborn child who died in Bhiwani case after Rajasthan police deny kicking nine-month pregnant woman

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana police exhumes body of stillborn child who died in Bhiwani case after Rajasthan police deny kicking nine-month pregnant woman

On Sunday (February 19), the Haryana police exhumed the stillborn child of a man named Shrikant, an accused in the death of cow smugglers Junaid and Nasir.

The cops have sent the remains for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death of the child. On Friday (February 17) night, the Rajasthan police raided Shrikant’s house in the Nuh district of Haryana.

Reportedly, everybody was asleep but that did not stop the cops from forcing his family members to open the gate. The Rajasthan police then allegedly barged into the premises and assaulted the family members on being told that the accused was not at home.

The cops reportedly pushed Shrikant’s mother, Dulari, and his 9-month pregnant wife, injuring all three- his mother, wife, and the to-be-born child. While raiding Shrikant’s room, the police kicked his pregnant wife, which ultimately resulted in the death of the child inside the womb.

“My daughter-in-law complained of severe stomach pain. We immediately took her to the hospital where doctors operated on her to bring my dead grandchild out into this world. My grandchild was bleeding and had stopped breathing inside,” Dulari had narrated the ordeal.

Although the Rajasthan police have denied the allegation, the Haryana police initiated a probe into the matter. While speaking about the matter, SP (Nuh) Varun Singla told PTI, “We have exhumed the body of a stillborn baby today and kept it in the mortuary.”

He added, “Postmortem will be conducted by Monday (February 20) by a board of doctors.” In its defence, the Rajasthan police claimed that they had gone to Shrikant’s house but did not enter the premises.

“The accused was not present. His two brothers had come out of home and they were freed after questioning. The allegations levelled by the woman are false. Their family member is accused that is why they levelling allegations,” SP (Bharatpur) Shyam Singh claimed.

Abbas Ansari was using wife’s phone for illegal activities, jail authorities were bribed with expensive cars: UP Police investigates Nikhat’s involvement

OpIndia Staff
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Abbas Ansari was using wife’s phone for illegal activities, jail authorities were bribed with expensive cars: UP Police investigates Nikhat’s involvement

Last week, on Thursday, the Lucknow Court remanded Nikhat Bano, wife of Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari and daughter-in-law of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for illegally meeting her jailed husband in the deputy jailer’s room in Chitrakoot district.

The Police began the investigation in the case and interrogated Bano to reveal that she and her husband Ansari used to illegally meet for 3-4 hours in jail. The Police also said that she used to arrive at the jail premises with her driver Niyaz and used to meet her husband without making any entry in the jail logs.

The Police on February 10 conducted a surprise investigation on the jail premises and found Bano inside a room next to the jail superintendent’s office. She was there to meet Ansari without completing a visitor’s formalities. The Police then lodged an FIR against Abbas Ansari, Bano, and her driver Niyaz. The Police also booked several jail authorities including jail superintendent Ashok Kumar Sagar, deputy jailer Sushil Kumar, jail warder Jagmohan and other unidentified jail employees who were on duty that day.

The SIT investigating the case revealed that Ansari used Bano’s phone to continue his criminal activities from inside the jail. According to the reports, Nikhat Bano, during the interrogation confessed that she had been meeting her husband illegally for the past 80 days. She would arrive at the Chitrakoot jail at 11 am and would spend next 3-4 hours with her husband.

Police said that the duo used to meet in the room next to the jail superintendent’s office and the accused jail authorities would lock the room from the outside. Bano also confirmed that she would wear a burqa and would arrive in different cars to avoid suspicion.

The Police also arrested and interrogated Bano’s driver Niyaz who said that several branded cars and money were provided to the jail authorities to allow Ansari to meet his wife Nikhat Bano. “The jail authorities release all the criminals at 11 am for a casual walk around. It is then that Ansari used to meet Bano. Bano was allowed to enter the premises before 11 am so that nobody could visibly see her. Huge amounts of money and luxurious cars were provided to jail authorities to fix the meetings,” he said.

Reports mention that during the interrogation, Nikhat Bano initially tried to mislead the police but eventually confirmed that Ansari used Bano’s phone to run the criminal activities from inside the jail. The Police have seized Bano’s two phones but haven’t been able to unlock one of them. On asking, Bano said that she had forgotten the password. She also threatened officials with dire consequences for forcing her to reveal her password. However, the police have recovered several suspicious phone numbers from the other phone and are investigating those.

The SIT has further revealed that many jail authorities were found to have obtained expensive cars in recent weeks. However, on inspection, it has been found that the amount for these cars has been funded by Ansari. The cost of one car is said to be Rs 18 lakhs and is believed to be purchased from one of the showrooms in Mau.

Abbas Ansari was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering investigation in November of last year. His father, five-time MLA Mukhtar Ansari, is lodged at the Banda district jail. Abbas Ansari meanwhile was shifted to Kasganj jail on February 18 amid the interrogation of his wife and driver Niyaz. Abbas’s brother, Amar Ansari has demanded protection for Abbas saying that the latter’s life could be in danger in Kasganj jail.

Reportedly, a case against Nikhat and her driver Niyaz has been filed at the Karvi police station in Chitrakoot under Indian Penal Code sections including 222 (intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Police also have invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on the complaint filed by sub-inspector Shyam Dev Singh.

Coal levy scam: ED raids multiple locations linked to Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh

ANI
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Coal levy scam: ED raids multiple locations linked to Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted fresh searches at nearly a dozen locations in Chhattishgarh in mining and alleged coal levy scam.

The places searched include residential and office premises of various Congress leaders naming Ram Gopal Agarwal, Girish Devangan, RP Singh, Vinod Tiwari ad Sunny Agrawal, said sources. Last month, the ED had also raided multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including that of an IAS officer, and other locations in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe into the alleged coal levy scam in the state.

The federal investigation agency launched a probe in this case in October last year after it raided another IAS officer of the state, Sameer Vishnoi, and some businessmen.

Sameer Vishnoi IAS Officer of 2009 Batch and his wife were found to be in possession of Rs 47 Lacs of unaccounted cash and Gold jewellery of 4 kg.

The investigation relates to “a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen”, the agency has alleged.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia, Vishnoi, coal trader and alleged “main kingpin of the scam” Suryakant Tiwari, his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari and another coal businessman Sunil Agrawal have been arrested in this case till now.

The ED had earlier claimed in a statement that Chaurasia, Vishnoi and some coal traders allegedly linked to them “used” their relatives to create “benami” assets after it attached their properties worth more than Rs 150 crore in December last year.

The agency alleged that a “grand conspiracy” was hatched in the natural resources-rich state to perpetrate a coal levy ‘scam’ in which Rs 540 crore has been “extorted” over the last two years.

The money laundering case stems from an Income Tax department complaint that was registered following raids by the taxman in June 2022.

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

Amit Shah mocks Uddhav Thackeray for begging Sharad Pawar for CM post

OpIndia Staff
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Amit Shah mocks Uddhav Thackeray for begging Sharad Pawar for CM post

On Sunday (February 19), Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray for joining hands with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. He said that the Shiv Sena chief Thackeray fell at Sharad Pawar’s feet to become CM.

Amit Shah made the remarks while addressing a ‘Vijay Sankalp rally’ in Kolhapur city of Maharashtra. He accused Thackeray of abandoning his ideologies post the 2019 elections in the hopes of becoming the Maharashtra Chief Minister.

“In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray campaigned with us but when poll results came, he forgot about all the ideologies and fell at Sharad Pawar’s feet and requested to make him Chief Minister. But today Shiv Sena has become real and with ‘Dhanush Baan’, has come again with BJP,” Amit Shah emphasised.

He added, “BJP doesn’t have greed for power and we will never forget our ideologies. Maharashtra’s interest is paramount in our mind…Politics and power can be grabbed for a moment with crooked intelligence, but only courage, and bravery are useful in the battle which Uddhav’s Shiv Sena does not have. It is with BJP workers.”

On Saturday (February 18), the Union Home Minister said, “Yesterday the Election Commission made ‘doodh ka doodh, aur paani ka paani’ (established the difference between truth and lie yesterday). The formula of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ became significant yesterday.”

“Shinde ji got the bow and arrow symbol and the party name ‘Shiv Sena’,” he underlined during a public rally in Pune city of Maharashtra.

Election Commission rules that Eknath Shinde heads the real Shiv Sena

On Friday (February 17), the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” would be retained by the Eknath Shinde faction.

Notably, both factions of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) had been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde (present Maharashtra Chief Minister) revolted against Thackeray in 2022.

The Commission observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party was undemocratic. “The constitution of political parties ought to provide for free, fair and transparent elections to the posts of office bearers and a further free and fair procedure for resolving internal disputes,” the ECI said.

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