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West Bengal SSC scam: TMC leader Partha Chatterjee arrested as ED continues to raid close aide Arpita Mukherjee, Rs 20 crores was seized on Day 1

On July 23, Saturday, officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested West Bengal Industries and Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee. As per reports, Chatterjee is being taken to the ED’s office and will be produced in court later in the day.

The arrest came a day after the Enforcement Directorate began search operations at various premises linked to the recruitment scam in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WB-SSC) and West Bengal Primary Education Board.

Partha Chatterjee, who is a sitting minister in the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal, was arrested on Saturday morning from his residence. Reportedly, at the time when the officials went to arrest the minister, 2 doctors were at his place as he said that he was ‘not feeling well’.

Prior to the arrest, Partha Chatterjee had been questioned for around 26 hours in connection with an alleged scam in recruitment of teachers in state-run schools. The alleged scam had taken place when Chatterjee was the education minister of West Bengal.

ED raids TMC minister Partha Chatterjee’s residence

On 22nd July 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid on the properties of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee as part of an investigation in this case. The raids are being conducted at 13 locations belonging to the Minister for his involvement in the SSC scam.

In addition to him, the ED also raided Minister of State for Education Paresh C Adhikary and TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya. Besides, the agency included many others in the scope of investigation. The names include Arpita Mukherjee, Partha Chatterjee’s close aide; Chandan Mondal, an agent in selling teacher jobs; Kalyanmay Bhattacharya, Partha Bhattacharya’s son-in-law; Dr. SP Sinha, advisor of the West Bengal Central School Service Commission; Kalyanmoy Ganguly, ex-President of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education; Saumitra Sarkar, ex-President of the West Bengal Central School Service.

ED continues to raid residential premises of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday continued the raids on the residential premises of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in the state.

Notably, when ED raided the house of Arpita Mukherjee in connection with the money laundering aspect of those allegedly involved in the SSC scam on Friday, a huge cash of approximately 20 crore rupees was recovered. The money is allegedly the profits of the SSC Scam, according to a statement from the central agency.

From the numerous locations of the people connected to the fraud, the ED has also recovered some suspicious documents, records, information on dubious enterprises, electronic gadgets, foreign currency, and gold.

The action was taken months after the Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to look into the recruiting scandal involving Group “C” and “D” employees, Assistant Teachers of classes 9th to 12th, and primary teachers. The ED is probing matters involving the unlawful recruitment of non-teaching personnel, teaching staff, and primary school teachers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Sena vs Sena: Election Commission asks CM Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackeray factions to prove majority support in Shiv Sena by August 8

The Election Commission on Saturday asked Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led faction and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led faction to submit documentary evidence to prove that they have the majority members in the Shiv Sena. Both groups have been instructed to testify by 1 p.m. on August 8

According to the reports, the Election Commission will conduct a hearing on the allegations and disagreements between the Shiv Sena factions after both the leaders submit the documentary evidence. The continuous feud over the ‘true Shiv Sena’ has reached the Election Commission, with both the Shinde and Thackeray factions writing to the poll body to stake their claims to the party.

Anil Desai of Uddhav Thackeray’s camp had written to ECI several times, alleging that some people in the party had engaged in anti-party actions. He had also protested against Shinde for forming another political party with the titles ‘Shiv Sena’ or ‘Bala Saheb.’ Anil Desai in the letter meanwhile has requested that Eknath Shinde, Gulabrao Patil, Tanji Sawant, and Uday Samant be removed from their positions in the party.

The Eknath Shinde camp also has petitioned under Section 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968, to identify the faction led by Eknath Shinde as Shiv Sena and to assign the party symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the unit. Shinde has also informed the Election Commission that he has the support of 40 out of 55 MLAs, different MLCs, and 12 out of 18 MPs.

According to the reports, when two factions claim the same emblem, the EC looks at how much support each faction has inside the party’s organization and its legislative branch. The process then carries on to identify key office bearers and decision-making bodies inside the political party, as well as how many of its members or office-holders support which factions.

“Given the above-mentioned facts and circumstances, it is evident that there is a split in the Shiv Sena- one group of which is being led by Eknathrao Sambhaji Shinde and the other group is being led by Uddhav Thackeray, both the groups claim to be the real Shiv Sena with their leader being the alleged President of Shiv Sena party,” the EC was quoted.

The Commission reportedly forwarded to the Uddhav Thackeray camp the letter written to them (EC) by the Eknath Shinde faction, as well as the Thackeray camp’s statement to the Shinde faction. The Election Commission has instructed both organizations to submit written responses and any supporting materials by 1:00 p.m. on August 8.

Drug money from Pakistan used to fund fake journalists who demonise India, glorify terrorists: State Investigation Agency after terror funding raids

During searches in the Baramulla area of north Kashmir in connection with a terror funding case, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) discovered that funding from the smuggling of drugs is being used to sponsor fake journalists in Jammu & Kashmir. During the investigations, it was discovered that drug money is being utilised to support some fake journalists in Kashmir Valley who glorify terror and demonise security agencies.

The SIA detectives were able to uncover enough information during searches in Nambla, Uri, and Baramulla town to expose this evil alliance between the drug cartel and fake journalists. Evidence found during the investigation showed that money made from the trafficking of heroin and other drugs out of Pakistan was used to fund both terrorism and journalists who supported Jihadi agendas.

The SIA raid took place in conjunction with a terror funding investigation that was initiated at Police Station Gandhi Nagar and has now been transferred to SIA Jammu. According to the police, evidence revealed that fake journalists were paid to represent and project security forces and the Union Territory (UT) administration in a negative light, and to launch false narratives glorifying terrorism in order to attract young people to the culture of violence.

Documents collected by SIA agents show how drugs smuggled across the border were used to generate funding to fuel the flames of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. It’s important to note that the police have already found Rs. 6.9 lakhs during the initial investigation. In the upcoming days, there will probably be more operations to decapitate and eliminate terror groups operating in the area.

Additionally, during the raids, some individuals who were found to be associated with the financing of narcotic terrorism were detained in accordance with applicable legal provisions, and a probe is currently ongoing to determine the involvement of additional individuals in the nexus who are already under investigation.

‘Keep up the good work’: 2019 video shows West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee praising scam-tainted Arpita Mukherjee

Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recovered cash of more than ₹20 crores and 20 mobile phones from the residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a video of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee heaping praises on the actress has gone viral on social media.

The contentious video dates back to September 28, 2019, and was shot at Naktala Udayan Sangha, the Durga Puja committee of TMC leader Partha Chatterjee. Reportedly, Arpita Mukherjee was the face of the promotional campaign for the event.

Odishai kaaj koro. Valo more koro. oh, korte? (Arpita has worked in Orissa. Keep up the good work. You have worked in Odisha in the past?),” Mamta Banerjee was heard as saying.

Odiya bolte paro valo more? Odisha te kaaj more Banglar meya…Agar baar o eschelo akhane… Bobby der okhane o jai (Can you speak Odiya? She is Bengal’s daughter who works in Odisha..She had come earlier too. She also visits Bobby [Firhad Hakim]),” the West Bengal CM remarked.

The archived version of the video can be accessed here. The name of Arpita Mukherjee has cropped up in a scam pertaining to the recruitment of candidates for the West Bengal Primary Education Board and West Bengal School Service Commission.

TMC distances itself from the actress

After the video went viral on social media, TMC distanced itself from the actions of Arpita Mukherjee.

In its defence, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Trinamool Congress has no links with the money recovered by the ED. It is the responsibility of those individuals, whose names have surfaced in the scam, to answer questions posed to them.”

“Why is the name of TMC unnecessarily dragged into the controversy? We are keeping an eye out,” he further added.

BJP to protest against SSC scam in West Bengal

In a tweet on Saturday (July 23), BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya informed that the party will protest against the SSC scam, allegedly engineered by the Trinamool Congress.

While tagging BJP leader Indranil Khan, he stated, “Today, BJYM will launch protest across all districts of WB demanding justice for lakhs of young men and women, whose career SSC scam ruined. Jobs were sold for cash, some of which ED recovered from an associate of Mamata Banerjee’s close confidant Partha Chatterjee.”

Gujarat Congress clueless about the identity of its 7 MLAs who cross-voted for Drapaudi Murmu in Presidential polls

In the recently concluded Presidential elections, Congress has suffered a political setback after several of its leaders cross-voted for the NDA President candidate. Notably, 7 state-level Congress Party legislators cross-voted in favour of Draupadi Murmu, defying their parties’ stated support for Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha. However, while Congress crumbles, its state leadership seems to be clueless. Reportedly, the Gujarat Congress unit has no idea about its MLAs who cross-voted in favour of the BJP-led NDA’s candidate Draupadi Murmu in the presidential election 2022.

On July 21, Murmu, a tribal leader and former Jharkhand governor, won the election to become India’s 16th President, defeating opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha by a huge margin.

According to a report by TOI, the state Congress chief Jagdish Thakor said that the party is yet to establish the identity of the MLAs who cross-voted in favour of the Presidential candidate pitted by the BJP-led NDA in the 16th presidential election. Moreover, the state unit is also not contemplating taking any action against the MLAs who cross-voted, informed Thakor.

“No action is being taken as of now. It is clear that the MLAs who cross-voted, will shift allegiance to the BJP sooner or later, he said, adding that conducting an inquiry into the same would amount to doubting the loyalty of all MLAs.”

Surprisingly, while the state Congress chief denied conducting any sort of probe to determine the names of the MLAs who cross-voted, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi has said otherwise.

“The party is shocked by the details which emerged during the counting of votes yesterday. Our leadership here has already launched an inquiry to find out the truth,” exclaimed the state Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi when asked about the issue.

Notably, Draupadi Murmu, who won the presidential election, got 121 votes from Gujarat, 10 more than the BJP’s strength of 111 in the state Assembly. One of the ten additional votes she received came from a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA, while two more came from the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) MLA. Which meant that she received the support of at least seven Congress MLAs.

Yesterday, Murmu scored a resounding victory, garnering 64% of the total 4,701 valid votes cast, leaving Sinha in the dust. Murmu received 6,76,803 of the 10,56,980 total (4,701 valid votes were cast), and Sinha received 3,80,177.

India’s first tribal president-elect managed votes from all states and UTs, including Kerala where she polled one vote even though the BJP has no MLA in the state.

In AAP-ruled Punjab too, Murmu bagged eight votes even though the BJP has two MLAs. In Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland, Murmu secured 100% votes. Meanwhile, in states like Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, MP, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Murmu attracted significant cross-votes, paving her way to becoming India’s first tribal President.

Academic paper on genocide of Hindus denied platform as hosts say it will “retraumatise” people

Academician Dr Rinita Mazumdar has said that her paper on genocide of Hindus was denied platform on a panel discussion on bias in western academia on genocide discourse. In a copy of email correspondence Dr Mazumdar shared with OpIndia, it can be seen that the platform of academics ‘Equity Unbound’ for its ‘festival’ MYFest22 had first agreed to her panel discussion and allotted 25 minutes for the same. It was scheduled on 19th July 2022.

However, Dr Mazumdar got an email on the day of panel discussion from one Sukaina Walji, one of the organising members denying permission for the same. In an email to Dr Mazumdar, Walji apologised for making Dr Mazumdar feel once again that her voice was not being heard but at the same time said that the topic of discussion Hindu genocide does not ‘fit’ the themes of MYFest and also ‘additionally’ runs the risk of ‘retraumatising’ the participants ‘rather than focusing on how to ‘decolonise our curricula’.

MYFest, as per its website, claims to being a ‘recharge and renewal experience’ exploring ‘critical pedagogy and socially just education’ amongst others.

Dr Mazumdar had pointed out how The Holocaust, the genocide of Jews in Nazi Germany has been the only genocide that talked about as genocide based on religious lines. However, there are instances, especially in current as well as undivided India when it was colonised by British as well as before that under Mughal rule that Hindus in the country were persecuted only because of their faith.

Dr Mazumdar said how her colleague dismissed her arguments on Hindu genocide even when she gave example of Noakhali genocide of Bengali Hindus in 1946, under British India, likely because it is still a taboo in western academia to not accept the reality of Islamic terror. In 1946, Hindus were attacked by Muslim mobs in undivided Bengal. The riots that went on for almost a week had resulted in death of almost 5000 Hindus. Other than that, hundreds of Hindu women were raped and thousands of Hindu men and women were forcibly converted to Islam by people from Muslim community. Hindus were also forced to pay Jiziyah tax to the Muslim League. However, such atrocities continue to be denied.

Speaking on the hardships she has faced in the academia, Dr Mazumdar recalled an instance when she talked about Hindu genocide as part of Albuquerque Peace and Justice Centre in New Mexico. One of the persons from audience then came up to her and attacked her verbally and called her a liar and accused her of fabricating the Kashmiri Hindu genocide. Kashmir in India has had a bloody history marred with violence and forced religious conversion with the 1990s exodus of Kashmiri Hindus being the latest after the genocidal calls were given from mosques.

Adding more on her experiences of her voice on Hindu genocide being stifled, she talked about how her one more presentation on Kashmiri Hindus at Feminist Research Center at University of New Mexico required extra security as the topic of discussion was not well accepted by some people and protests were planned.

This denying the platform for discussion on Hindu genocide at MYFest22 by EquityUnbound is just one more instance when the topic of persecution of Hindus has been denied a voice in western academia. MYFest is organised by several US universities and participated by people across the world. Dr Mazumdar had submitted proposal on Hindu genocide with special emphasis on Noakhali massacre and killings during the partition of British India. The focus of the talk was how some genocides receive historical and social recognition while others don’t.

Dr Mazumdar said that she had sent her powerpoint presentation on the topic and after accepting the entire panel, the discussion was cancelled at last moment. When she asked for reason, she was told it does not fit hte agenda and also it would ‘hurt some people’.

Speaking to OpIndia regarding the same, Dr Mazumdar said, “I am a feminist and this is not “liberalism” it’s fascism. In feminism we say why we do not agree with death penalty of the rapist or violator is because some sexual attention is made public other victims are silent. This is because the narrative/discourse is controlled by those in power. Same with genocide narratives, some control power others do not, it works via taboos, laws, customs. They call themselves “liberal” but are so uninformed that they do not know how Marx critiqued “secularism”.”

Dr Mazumdar said that she will continue to fight for justice and recognition of Hindu genocide as she is slowly realising that worse than genocide is the silence around it and how the politics of genocide narrative is entirely vitiated with power. Resistance and counter narratives have to be built on histories and lived experiences of people, she said.

Bengal SSC Scam: Over 20 crores seized from a close associate of TMC leader Partha Chatterjee

On 22nd July 2022, the Enforcement Directorate recovered cash of more than 20 crore rupees and 20 mobile phones from a close aide of Trinamool Congress Party’s leader Partha Chatterjee. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at several locations in connection with a recruitment fraud involving the West Bengal School Service Commission (WB-SSC) and the West Bengal Primary Education Board.

When ED raided the house of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of Partha Chatterjee, a huge cash of approximately 20 crore rupees was recovered. The money is allegedly the profits of the SSC Scam, according to a statement from the central agency.

For counting cash using machines, the search team is getting support from bank representatives. The purpose and usage of a total of more than 20 mobile phones that were found on Arpita Mukherjee’s property are now being determined. From the numerous locations of the people connected to the fraud, the ED has also recovered some suspicious documents, records, information on dubious enterprises, electronic gadgets, foreign currency, and gold.

The action was taken months after the Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to look into the recruiting scandal involving Group “C” and “D” employees, Assistant Teachers of classes 9th to 12th, and primary teachers. The ED is probing matters involving the unlawful recruitment of non-teaching personnel, teaching staff, and primary school teachers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Partha Chatterjee, a Minister in the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal, is among those being probed. On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid on the properties of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee as part of an investigation in this case. The raids are being conducted at 13 locations belonging to the Minister for his involvement in the SSC scam. According to the reports, when the alleged unlawful recruitments had occurred, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader who is the Industry Minister at present was the Education Minister.

In addition to him, the ED also raided Minister of State for Education Paresh C Adhikary and TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya. Besides, the agency included many others in the scope of investigation. The names include Arpita Mukherjee, Partha Chatterjee’s close aide; Chandan Mondal, an agent in selling teacher jobs; Kalyanmay Bhattacharya, Partha Bhattacharya’s son-in-law; Dr. SP Sinha, advisor of the West Bengal Central School Service Commission; Kalyanmoy Ganguly, ex-President of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education; Saumitra Sarkar, ex-President of the West Bengal Central School Service.

Russia and Ukraine sign deals with Turkey and UN to reopen Black Sea ports to resume export of food grains

In a major development will ease the soaring global good prices, Russia and Ukraine today signed deals with Turkey and UN that will allow both countries to export grains through the Black Sea. Both countries signed separate but identical agreements with Turkey and the United Nations in Istanbul.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed separate deals with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was present to witness the ceremony in the Turkish capital.

The agreements will allow reopening of Ukrainian ports on the black sea which were closed after Russian invasion of Ukraine started earlier this year. The agreements are results of talks between the two countries mediated by the UN and Turkey. The deals, dubbed as “package” will resume exports of food grains from Ukraine, along with easing exports of Russian grain and fertiliser despite sanctions imposed by western nations.

“Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea,” said Secretary General Antonio Guterres said hailing the deal. He added, “A beacon of hope, a beacon of possibility, a beacon of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.”

“You have overcome obstacles and put aside differences to pave the way for an initiative that will serve the common interests of all,” Guterres told the representatives of Russian and Ukraine.

Reportedly, the agreements will allow Ukraine to export 22 million tones of grain and other agricultural products that are stuck in the ports of Black Sea due to the war. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, and global prices of these items have soared as exports from Ukraine had stopped due to the Russian invasion and the naval blockade of the ports. While some grain is being transported to Europe by railways, roadways and riverways, that is no match for shipments through seaports.

According to Guterres, the agreement known as the “Black Sea Initiative” will open a path for export of significant volume of food grain from Ukraine from its key Black Sea ports, Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. He said that it would “bring relief for developing countries on the edge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable people on the edge of famine.”

“It will help stabilize global food prices which were already at record levels even before the war – a true nightmare for developing countries,” the UN Secretary General added.

The agreement will ensure safe passage of the ships transporting food grains and other related items. The operations will be overseen by a control centre to be set-up in Istanbul, which will be operated by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials. The ships will be inspected to ensure that they don’t carry weapons.

Ahead of the signing of the deal, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak had said that they will not accept Russian ships escorting the vessels and presence of Russian officials at the ports. He assured immediate military response in case of any provocation by Russia.

He had also made it clear on Twitter that Ukraine is not signing any deal with Russia, and both countries are signing separate mirror deals. Mykhailo Podolyak also added that all inspections of ships will be done in Turkish waters only.

‘Don’t mess with the new India’: Jammu’s young girls give a strong message to opposition leaders politicising the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign

Five young girls from Jammu have taken up a Tiranga rally on their bikes to hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, from where they will go advance towards Kargil and wave the flag in the middle of the mountains where hundreds of Indian jawans laid down their lives to protect the motherland during the 1999 Kargil war. 

The initiative is a means to send a strong message to the opposition leaders who have been mocking and denigrating the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign by the central government to mark the 75th independence day of the country.

Preeti Choudhary, who is leading the bike rally, while speaking to Times Now, said, “When the matter is about our country, about our flag, the energy, the vibe, the valor, the sacrifice which our soldiers have made during 1990 and the 1999 Kargil war, it is unmatchable. We Indians, every citizen of this country, every young citizen, my sisters, and my brothers hold equal value and equal emotions about this tricolor.”

When asked about their message to the opposition politicising the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, she said, “Don’t mess with the new India. Don’t mess with Narendra Modi Ji. Just remember about surgical strikes. And don’t even dare to talk anything about the national flag.”

Another participant in the bike rally said, “I am feeling very proud right now. I think this is the moment I was waiting for in my whole life. I am very proud to take part in this rally.”

Another participant girl biker said that she will be very happy to hoist the national flag at the Lal Chowk in Srinagar. She said, “How do you feel when you represent your nation at the highest top? It is a very dangerous road. It has got certain stretches that are considered to be very dangerous and according to women’s perspective, these are considered impossible. I think we are trying to establish that certain things like this actually need skills and not gender. And a proud feeling in our hearts will make this happen.” The youths in the rally marched ahead with the slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.

What is the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign?

To mark the completion of 75 years of independence, the central government has decided to launch the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign on the occasion of August 15 this year. Under this campaign led by the Ministry of Culture of the Central Government, people across the country will be encouraged to hoist the tricolor in their homes. Under this, the Rural Department of Jammu and Kashmir has also issued an order appealing to make this campaign successful.

But the opposition leaders have started politicising and mocking the campaign. In Srinagar, when reporters asked Farooq Abdullah about the central government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, he responded saying “keep the tricolor in your house.”

Faridabad man Devendra killed by his wife and her boyfriend Imam Qureshi by slitting the throat, police arrest the duo

Tension gripped Haryana’s Faridabad district after, a kin of an RSS worker named Devendra was brutally murdered by his wife and his neighbour named Imam Qureshi. The incident took place on the intervening night of Thursday (July 21) and Friday (July 22) in the Parvatiya Colony in Faridabad, Haryana. The accused reportedly killed Devendra by slashing his throat.

Devendra worked at a wielding shop. He was the sole breadwinner of his family, and he has been survived by his three children.

The police informed that after murdering Devendra, Imam Qureshi stuffed the deceased’s body in a gunny bag and hid it in the bathroom of his house. Devendra’s body was recovered from Imam Qureshi’s house on July 22 2022 (Friday), said the police.

The brother-in-law of the deceased is said to be associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). After Devendra’s body was discovered, several members of various Hindu outfits took to the streets to protest against the brutal murder. They demanded that all the culprits be apprehended and booked according to the law.

Narendra Kadian, DCP Crime, Faridabad informed that the police had received the information about the murder on its helpline number 112. DCP added that the accused, Imam Qureshi, accomplished the task in connivance with the deceased’s wife, who was allegedly in an illicit relationship with the accused. He further said that Devendra’s wife and his boyfriend Imam Qureshi plotted the murder in order to get rid of him.

The duo killed Devendra, stuffed his body in a gunny bag and hid it in the bathroom in Imam Qureshi’s house. The duo were planning to dispose of the body when the police apprehended them and also recovered the body.

DCP added that the duo, who were taken into police custody had admitted to the crime during interrogation.

Some media reports have, however, reported a slightly different version of the incident. The Hindi daily Navbharat Times reported that Imam Qureshi (who has been named Kamal Qureshi in the media report) killed Devendra with the help of his two aides. The report, does not mention the involvement of the deceased’s wife in the crime nor does it mention that the accused hid the body in a gunny bag in his house.

It instead reported that late on Thursday night, Imam Qureshi and two of his aides came looking for Devendra at his house. They urged him to come out of his house. As soon as Devendra came out, Imam slit his throat with a sharp weapon. The trio then fled the spot leaving Devendra critically injured.

The locals in his neighbourhood gathered after hearing his screams. Devendra was rushed to the nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. On getting the information, the police reached the hospital and sent the deceased’s body for post-mortem.

Narendra Kadian, DCP Crime, Faridabad, has, however, confirmed that the wife of the deceased was also involved in the murder along with her boyfriend Imam Qureshi. He also confirmed that the duo had killed Devendra by slitting his throat after which they stuffed his body in a gunny bag and his it in Qureshi’s house. Before the duo could dispose of the body, they were nabbed by the police.

As news of the gruesome murder spread, members of Hindu organisations and the victim’s family staged a dharna at the Faridabad BK Chowk, demanding justice for Devandra and urging the police to take stringent action against the accused.