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Tek Fog App not found on prominent App and APK stores: IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar clarifies in Parliament

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Tek Fog App not found on prominent App and APK stores: IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar clarifies in Parliament

The government on Friday informed the Parliament that it could not locate the ‘Tek Fog’ application on any of the prominent App and APK stores.

The clarification came weeks after reports published in the media alleged that BJP was using an app called Tek Fog to manipulate trends and automatically social media platforms to spew hate online. 

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “The government has noted the news articles about the alleged app, namely ‘Tek Fog’, that has been used to manipulate the social media platforms”.

The IT Minister said they tried to locate the app on major app stores and APK stores but could not find the app in any online stores. The minister further said that the IT Ministry was unaware of any technical vulnerability that makes social media intermediaries susceptible to manipulation, as reported in the news articles.

“The government is committed to open, safe and trusted, and accountable internet for users,” he added.

Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar said that the government is aware of the risk and danger posed by the growing phenomenon of dissemination of wrong and hateful information through some social media platforms. The IT Ministry does not track and monitor apps or content appearing on social media platforms, the minister added.

The minister also informed that the Centre has taken several steps to address the challenges of user harm and hateful information available on social media intermediaries or platforms.

Tek Fog: The imaginary app with superpowers invented by the Wire to target BJP

The left-wing propaganda portal The Wire had published a report claiming that BJP was using an app to manipulate trends and automatically spew hate online. Relying on an August 2020 tweet and some imaginary ‘source’, The Wire claimed that the party was using one software named Tek Fog, led by BJP leader Devang Dave. Even though Dave completely denied the allegations in an email to Wire, they still published the story.

In the report, Wire claimed that the so-called Tek Fog app allowed BJP to ‘hijack’ the Twitter trends, allowed managing multiple WhatsApp accounts and direct online harassment of anti-BJP journalists. The report claims that the app can bypass all kinds of security features that major social media platforms have.

According to The Wire, Tek Fog has some kind of superpower, which has capabilities that even the NSA of the USA does not have. According to Wire, hacking top apps like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp etc., is a child’s play using the app, and all security features of those platforms vanish with this magical piece of software.

The portal based the story on a couple of tweets by one Aarthi Sharma, who in August 2020 had claimed on Twitter that she had been working in the IT cell since 2014 and was promised a govt job. After not getting the promised job, she had ‘revealed’ that she was asked to use the ‘secret app’ Tek Fog, which bypasses reCAPTCHA codes and is used to auto-upload text and hashtag trends.

Before publishing the story, the Wire had contacted Devang Dave for his comments, and he had completely denied the allegations. In a mail sent to the portal, he had said that BJP or BJYM never indulged in any such social media manipulation. Saying that the organisation does not need such apps to manipulate things, Dave had said that none in the organisation was even aware of any such app.

The Wire took a u-turn to claim that they could not access the Tek Fog app but was able to find some scripts which allowed them to connect to a secure server hosting the Tek Fog app. The source supposedly provided screenshots of the app to Wire to prove its existence. The report did not include any example of the script or the URL/IP addresses of the ‘secure server’ that hosted the app.

Opposition MPs join LS speaker Om Birla in criticising Mahua Moitra for disrespecting the post of Chair

OpIndia Staff
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Opposition MPs join LS speaker Om Birla in criticising Mahua Moitra for disrespecting the post of Chair

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Friday said that the members should maintain their dignity and abstain from making remarks against the Chair inside and outside the house. Birla was alluding to Mahua Moitra’s boorish behaviour inside the Lok Sabha and her social media post where she criticised the Chair and accused it of taking her valuable time.

“Honourable members, I would like to raise an issue today. Whether inside the house or outside, comments made on the Chair is not good for the dignity of the house. The dignity of the house is sacrosanct and every honourable member respects it. The Chair always tries to be impartial and work impartially, runs the house in accordance with the rules and allots honourable members enough time to speak in the house. I humbly request that members should refrain from making comments about the chair inside or outside the house,” Birla said while referring to Moitra but explicitly naming her.

Birla further added that if there are differences between a member and the Chair, then they can visit his chamber and express their grievances with him. “The dignity of the parliamentary democracy should be protected at all times. I have taken serious cognisance of the events from the past few days. I want to request all members that making remarks against the Chair, especially outside the house and on social media and media is inappropriate and not right. You are the member of the house and you may have a difference with the Chair sometimes, so you can come to my chamber and tell me about that. I will listen to you,” he added.

Birla also expressed his gratitude to the members for attending parliamentary proceedings late into the night during biting winter and asked them to maintain the dignity of the house.

Opposition leaders express solidarity with Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, reiterate the need to maintain the dignity of the House

Soon after Birla’s remarks, opposition leaders expressed their solidarity with the Speaker and shared the sentiments expressed by him.

The Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury expressed his support to the Speaker and assured him that his party will cooperate with the Chair.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay, TMC MP, said that he wholeheartedly agreed with the Speaker’s sentiments. “We are certain of the opinion that the prestige of the house should always be kept at a level where we should all remain committed to that principles, ideas and philosophy of this house,” said Bandopadhyay.

Arvind Sawant, a member of Lok Sabha from Shiv Sena, also concurred with the Speakers’ sentiments, stating that members of the house ought to respect the Chair. He said members of the house follow the tradition of joining their heads and bowing in front of the Chair while sitting and standing up from their seats and thus, they should not indulge in activities that lower the dignity of the chair and the house. He further added that members should not inconvenience others while leaving the house and should make their exit as imperceptibly as possible.

A Raja of the DMK also asserted that the dignity of the house should be maintained, stating that their party agrees with the concern raised by the honourable Speaker.

Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference MP, exalted the status of the Speaker to the Father of the House. He said the Speaker of the House is the Father of the House and one should always treat the Chair the Speaker represents with utmost dignity and respect.

The remarks were in response to a series of tweets posted by TMC MP Moitra where she alleged that the Chair interrupted her and accused it of taking away her allotted time.

Mahua Moitra lashes out at Speaker, accuses the Chair of cutting short her allotted time in Lok Sabha

“LS Speaker had allotted AT LEAST 13 mins to me when confronted in his chamber, he claimed he was not in chair hence can’t be blamed. When further cornered, he said – It was my greatness that I even allowed you 13 mins in 1st place. Unbelievable,” Moitra tweeted.

Lok Sabha Om Birla condemns Mahua Moitra for her behaviour
Source: Twitter

In a subsequent tweet, she added, “And who is Chair to interrupt me (taking up MY valuable time) to lecture me on whether I should speak with gussa or pyar? None of your business Madam. You can only correct me on rules. You are NOT the moral science teacher for LS.”

Lok Sabha Om Birla condemns Mahua Moitra for her behaviour
Source: Twitter

Earlier, Moitra had alleged that the Speaker, BJP MP from Bihar, Rama Devi, did not allow her to complete her allotted time of 13 minutes. Speaking to the media outside the parliament, a visibly livid Mahua said, “It is a sad day for our democracy and our republic that an elected member who has been allotted 13 minutes by no less than the honourable speaker is cut off and not allowed to finish. That’s why I am having to stand outside and complete my speech.”

“It is any of her business, is it her right to tell me how to give my speech? She asks me to not be angry while giving the speech. Whether I should speak in anger or with love, it is up to me. That is my tenor, that is my tone,” Mahua lashes out at Rama Devi

‘Never discriminated on passports’, EAM S Jaishankar responds straight to DMP MP who asked whether e-passports be issued only in Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi

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‘Never discriminated on passports’, EAM S Jaishankar responds straight to DMP MP who asked whether e-passports be issued only in Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi

On Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the e-Passports would be secured by the Digital Signature of the issuing country, which will provide data authentication to the other countries, the citizens would to travel to. In his address to the Parliament today, he added that certain digital keys would also verify the e-passports at multiple stages.

In a view to clear the data security issue regarding the e-Passports, he added that the digital signature which will secure the data will be sent to other countries for recognition purposes. “The e-passports will ensure multiple layered security as the data will be on paper like regular passports and also on the verified chips”, he said.

This is after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget announcement affirmed that the government will roll out e-Passports from 2022-23 to enhance the convenience of the citizens. She also had said that the move to introduce E-passport would further enhance security and facilitate smoother international travel.

Jaishankar further stated that this is the right time for India to adopt chip-based passports as many other countries are already using it. Assuring that the government will start issuing chip-based passports in the coming six months, he informed that the letter of intent to procure 4.5 crores of chips and antenna for the process has been signed.

Meanwhile, DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran asked whether the government was planning to issue e-passports only in Gujarat, Mumbai and Delhi. Responding straight to the motivated question, Jaishankar added that the government has never discriminated among citizens of different states for passports.

“On passport side we have never discriminated in favor of any state or against any state. I resent that”, he said urging the DMK leader to not make such comments. The External Affairs Minister also stated that the time taken to issue the passports today has drastically improved and that the administrative processes at the airport have also improved.

MEA secretary Sanjay Bhattacharya had previously mentioned about e-Passport in his tweet. He had said that Nashik-based India Security Press was in the process of awarding a contract for the production of ICAO-compliant electronic chip inlays for passport jackets.

According to the reports, e-passports will use radio frequency identification (RFID) and bio-metrics to ascertain the identity of the individuals. The chip embedded e-Passports will help in securing the personal data of the passport holder like name, bio-metric details. In case there is tampering with the chip, the system will detect it and in such a case the passport will not be authenticated.

Samajwadi Party workers raise anti-National, pro-Pakistan slogans during a rally in Kanpur, party pins the blame on BJP

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Samajwadi Party workers raise anti-National, pro-Pakistan slogans during a rally in Kanpur, party pins the blame on BJP

Ahead of the high octane assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, a video has gone viral on social media on Friday, February 4, wherein Samajwadi Party workers are heard raising pro-Pakistan and anti-national slogans. The footage is said to be from Kanpur, where Samajwadi Party supporters held a rally in favour of SP candidate Munindra Shukla, who is running for the assembly seat of Bithoor.

In the video which is being widely circulated on social media platforms, the SP cadres are heard saying: “Pakistan banana hai, cycle ka button dabana hai,” Which roughly translates to, “Pakistan has to be made, cycle button has to be pressed”.

After the purported video went viral, the police have launched an investigating into the same. They are trying to ascertain the authenticity of the video.

Samajwadi Party claimed that the video was manipulated and circulated by the opposition. Opposition parties edited the video and disseminated it on social media to smear the party’s reputation ahead of the approaching elections, alleged the SP members.

In response to the furore, SP candidate Munindra Shukla said that the purported video, which shows anti-national slogans being chanted during his public relations event in Tikra village, is completely false. He stated that the BJP changed the audio in the video. He said that the BJP edited the video and shared it on various social media platforms to confuse voters and disturb the region’s peacekeeping system. Samajwadi party is a nationalistic party, Shukla claimed.

He further added, “no one in my public relations department has the guts to make anti-national statements. We’re asking our supporters to be mindful of such ruses. As a result of the debacle that the party is set to face in the upcoming elections, the BJP is being compelled to adopt such strategies. I demand a fair probe into the purported video,” said SP candidate Munindra Shukla.

Pro-Pakistan slogans raised in SP rally at Agra

Amidst Munindra Shukla’s tall claims of his party being a nationalist party, it becomes imperative to recall that in July last year, pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised by Samajwadi Party workers during a party rally organised in Agra. The viral video showed people present at the Samajwadi Party’s rally raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad slogans. The slogans were raised when Samajwadi Party cadres were returning from a rally they organised to protest against the BJP government for rising fuel prices and the alleged large scale “fraud” in the recently concluded Panchayat elections in the state.

Following the incident, BJP and various Hindu organisations attacked the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, asking whether Samajwadi Party was operating from Pakistan.

Interestingly, the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans by Samajwadi Party workers had come just days after former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had courted a controversy by speaking against the state police’ action against Al Qaeda suspects. 

Samajwadi Party chief calls Muhammad Ali Jinnah a patriot

Samajwadi Party chief’s affinity for Pakistan was once again on display when he went on to openly glorify Muhammad Ali Jinnah while addressing a party rally during the Samajwadi Vijay Rath Yatra in November last year. In the meeting that was organized at Hardoi district in UP, Samajwadi Party Chief was seen praising the founder of Pakistan and the architect of the Indian partition, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

On the pretext of remembering Sardar Patel, Akhilesh Yadav said, ‘Sardar Patel used to know the land, Sardar Patel took decisions holding the land, he used to understand the land so he made his decisions and that is why he is known as the Iron man Of India. Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Jinnah, they all came out of the same institution. They all studied at the same institute, they became barristers and gave freedom.’

BJP had then slammed Akhilesh Yadav for saying that Jinnah was a hero of India’s freedom movement. Moreover, a case was also filed against Akhilesh Yadav for praising Jinnah on the orders of a court in Bareilly.

Pakistani Hockey Federation bans Olympian Rashid-ul-Hasan for 10 years for ‘abusing’ Imran Khan govt on WhatsApp

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani Hockey Federation bans Olympian Rashid-ul-Hasan for 10 years for ‘abusing’ Imran Khan govt on WhatsApp

On Thursday (February 3), veteran Pakistani hockey player Rashid-ul-Hasan was banned for 10 years for allegedly ‘abusing’ Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on social media over his false promises, reported Dawn. Hasan was a part of the Pakistani field hockey team that won the gold medal for the country during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Dawn reported that the ban was handed to the former Olympian by the Pakistani Hockey Federation (PHF). It must be mentioned that PM Imran Khan is the patron-in-chief of the Federation.

PHF reached the decision after constituting a committee to investigate the accusations of ‘abusive language’ used by Rashid-ul-Hasan against the Pakistani Prime Minister. The committee was instructed by the Federation President Brigadier Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary Asif Bajwa.

The former Olympian reportedly did not respond to two notices sent by the PHF, following which a 10-year-ban was imposed on him by the investigating committee. Dawn reported that a copy of the diktat has been forwarded to the Pakistani National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports. PHF also urged the Pakistani Sports Board to write to PEMRA and implement the ‘ban’ on Hasan.

Ex-Olympian denied using abusive language against Imran Khan

While speaking about the issue, Rashid-ul-Hasan denied allegations of using abusive language against Pakistani PM Imran khan. The ex-hockey player said, “On social media or any other public media I have always given (due)respect to the prime minister.“

He further added, “On a WhatsApp group I only said that on the container though Imran Khan was claiming that he would put the game of hockey on the right track, nothing came on the surface during the last three years. And I also said Imran will not do any good work for hockey.”

The former Olympian emphasised that he has every right to speak against the Prime Minister. Hasan also pointed out that he was surprised by the news of the ban since he did not hold any position in the Pakistani Hockey Federation. He acknowledged receiving 2 notices from PHF but did not ‘consider them serious.’

Karnataka High Court agrees to Hear Muslim student’s plea against hijab ban in college

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Karnataka High Court agrees to Hear Muslim student’s plea against hijab ban in college

In a recent development in the Udupi college hijab controversy, the Karnataka High Court agreed to hear a plea arguing that Muslim women wearing hijab should be permitted to attend classes. A Muslim student has filed a plea in the Karnataka High Court, asking for a direction to allow wearing a hijab in college, stating that it is her “Fundamental Right” granted under Article 14 and 25 of the Indian Constitution and “integral practise of Islam”.

The disciplinary action taken by the Government-run Pre-University (PU) Institution for Girls in Udupi district, which has refused her entry into the college on the sole basis of wearing a hijab, has offended the Muslim girl student. The Karnataka High Court will hear the writ petition filed by the Muslim girl on February 8.

The move comes as the Hijab controversy in a college in Udupi, Karnataka, shows no signs of stopping. The controversy began earlier in January when several Muslim students were denied entry to classes because they wore hijab. Because the females refused to remove their Hijabs when requested by the other students, several boys chose to come to campus wearing saffron scarves. All of them were denied entry because their attire was different from the regular uniform allowed in the institution.

Following the uproar, Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty and the school administration met with Muslim parents, but the problem could not be addressed since the parents refused to allow their children to attend the college without wearing the hijab. The parents stated that Muslim girls have the right to wear hijab in college.

In videos shared by media portals earlier, Muslim ‘students’ covered in full-body black burqa were seen arguing with the college authorities against the hijab ban. On February 4, a group of students wearing hijabs were seen arguing with some staffers from the college, asking to allow them inside.

BC Nagesh, the state’s education minister, has backed college authorities who say both saffron scarves and headscarves should be banned on campuses. He also stated that this issue has come up recently and nothing of this sort happened earlier. “They were not wearing the hijab earlier & this problem started only 20 days ago,” State Education Minister BC Nagesh reportedly said.

The issue has been simmering since early January, prompting the state to convene a committee to investigate the situation and make a decision on pre-university college uniforms across the state. In accordance with the new state standards, management has requested that female students refrain from wearing hijab while attending college and wear the prescribed college uniform. 

“Beware of fake Samajwadis”, says PM Modi as he praises Yogi Adityanath for establishing law and order in Uttar Pradesh

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“Beware of fake Samajwadis”, says PM Modi as he praises Yogi Adityanath for establishing law and order in Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a ‘Jan Chaupal’ via video-conferencing in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

Highlighting the government’s strong efforts in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister said that the entire world is struggling with the pandemic today and added that humankind had never seen such a crisis on a global level in a century. PM Modi said that the government, both at the centre and the state worked for the benefit of the people during this crisis.

Launching a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over promoting vaccine hesitancy amidst the pandemic, PM Modi said that the state needs a firm leader like Yogi Adityanath and not the “fake Samajwadis”. The PM also reiterated that the BJP government, both at the centre and in the state, will fulfil all the promises made.

Addressing the public, PM Narendra Modi said that the people had provided him with the fortune to lay the foundation stone of this Delhi-Meerut Expressway. “This is evidence of the fact that the BJP govt does what it says,” he added.

The PM said that Uttar Pradesh has seen several elections after independence and has seen governments come and go. However, this time elections are different as this time it is for the establishment of peace in UP, for the continuation of development, good governance, and the rapid development of people of this state.

PM Modi also asserted that these polls are to maintain the security, honour and prosperity of the people of Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi hails Uttar Pradesh govt’s efforts to end criminal mafia:

Highlighting the Uttar Pradesh government’s efforts to end criminal activities and mafia in the state, PM Modi said that these polls are to keep history-sheeters out and to make new history. “I’m delighted that people of UP have made up their minds that they won’t allow rioters and mafia to take control of UP from behind the curtains,” PM Modi expressed hope.

Praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for establishing the rule of law in the state, PM Modi said, “No one could have imagined that criminals would ever come under control. Yogi Ji has established the rule of law in UP. In the 21st century, UP needs a government that continuously works at double-speed & only a double-engine government can do this.”

The PM also urged the voters to be “very careful” while casting their votes. “If they get a chance, these family-driven fake Samajwadis will stop the aid being provided to farmers… These fake Samajwadi will make you go hungry,” the PM cautioned. 

In today’s Jan Chaupal, PM Modi digitally addressed assembly segments from the districts of Meerut, Noida, Ghaziabad, Aligarh and Hapur. 

Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are scheduled to be held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7.

DMK MP Senthilkumar speaks the language of Pulwama terrorist, makes ‘gaumutra’ jibe to refer to BJP-ruled states

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DMK MP Senthilkumar speaks the language of Pulwama terrorist, makes ‘gaumutra’ jibe to refer to BJP-ruled states

On Friday, DMK leader Dr DNV Senthilkumar S mocked the BJP government by making the Hinduphobic ‘gaumutra’ comment in the parliament. In his speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President, the leader said that if government at all wants to implement the National Education Policy, it should do it in their ‘gaumutra’ states.

Senthil Kumar was furious over the execution of National Education Policy in the state of Tamil Nadu. He alleged that the government was pressuring the state with NEP and that it should consider using the ‘successful Dravidian model’ instead across India for enhancing education.

“According to NEP, gross enrollment ratio has to be 50 per cent which Tamil Nadu has achieved long ago. If they want to implement this policy, they should implement the Dravidian model for the development of the country. Why is their policy being thrust upon us? We reject it. If they want to implement it, they should do it in their gau-mutra States”, he said in his 6 minute long speech.

He added that India’s gross enrollment ratio is 24.6 per cent and that of Tamil Nadu was much better due to the ‘successful’ Dravidian model. “We have set principles and set model, the Dravidian model which is successful. The government should implement Dravidian model throughout India”, he reiterated.

Meanwhile, he also expressed his angle over the government for not allowing the Tamil Nadu tableau in Delhi’s Republic Day parade. He said that the Centre rejecting the 5 mins portrayal of the Tamil Nadu tableau at the Parade has hurt the sentiments of the state.

He further hit at the government for instead allowing the Uttar Pradesh tableau that was based on the theme of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. “Tamil Nadu tableau was to respect several freedom fighters from the state like Velu Nachiyar, VO Chidambaram, Kamarajar, etc. But the government allowed squirrels, cows, body of a human head and men clad in saffrons to parade on the ground”, he added blatantly.

Senthil Kumar also quoted the Freedom House World Report that drops India’s status from a free to partly free country. He backed the report that mentions, “Modi and his party are tragically driving India itself toward authoritarianism”.

Earlier, TMC MP Mahua Moitra had also spoken the langauge of Islamists and mocked the BJP government by making ‘gaumutra’ remark. Ahead of her Lok Sabha speech, she took to Twitter and said, “Just wanted to give early heads up to BJP to get the heckler team ready and read up on imaginary points of order. Drink some gaumutra shots too.”

It is worth noting that the ‘gaumutra’ jibe has been used by Islamists and their apologists, including the Pulwama terrorist Ahmed Dhar who had said that he killed the CRPF soldiers to kill those who ‘drink cow urine’, to mock Indians, especially Hindus.

In 2019, a Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist in a suicide attack had killed as many as 40 CRPF soldiers in Pulwama. Following the attack, a video was released in which the terrorist Ahmed Dhar could be heard saying he wanted to punish and kill the ‘cow urine drinkers’ in the name of Allah.

Noida: I-T raid on premises of ex IPS officer ‘very close’ to Samajwadi Party, recovers cash worth several crores

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Noida: I-T raid on premises of ex IPS officer ‘very close’ to Samajwadi Party, recovers cash worth several crores

On February 1, the I-T department officials carried out a raid at the premises of a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in Noida Sector 50 and recovered unaccounted cash worth crores. The ex-IPS officer Ram Narayan Singh is said to be closely associated with the Samajwadi Party.

According to reports, I-T officials arrived in Sector-50 late on Sunday evening and discovered cash during their search. The cash, which was in currencies of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200, was found stashed in over 600 lockers created in Singh’s Sector-50 residence in Noida, according to the officials. The I-T officials had to use bank counting machine to count the cash recovered from these lockers.

Providing an explanation for the huge amount of money recovered from his premises, ex-IPS officer Ram Narayan Singh said that he runs a private locker business under the name Manasam Noida Vaults, and provides private locker facilities to customers. Denying any wrongdoing, Singh told reporters that he was running “a legitimate business” of renting out private lockers for the last five years and didn’t do anything illegal.

“I was told that the I-T department has come for checking of the private lockers and the search is on. I have nothing to hide as I am running a legitimate business and have several customers who are using these services,” he said.

Ram Narayan Singh was an IPS officer of UP cadre and 1983 batch. He retired from DG rank. He is said to be very close to the Samajwadi Party.

According to the source, the IT department had received information about unaccounted cash at the Noida and Ghaziabad residence of Singh. Following the tip-off, a team of I-T department sleuths, along with Noida Police, reached Singh’s residence on 30 January and started the searches.

IT officials, sources said, have made a list of people who were using this locker facility and notices will soon be issued to them. “It needs to be checked if these lockers are genuinely rented out by actual customers or are benami.”

I-T raid conducted on individuals close to Samajwadi Party

It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time that an individual facing I-T raids recently has been reported close to Akhilesh Yadav. In fact, on January 4, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at the properties of real estate company ACE Group and its promoter Ajay Chaudhary in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Agra. According to the reports, Chaudhary is said to be a close aide of Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav.

Likewise, in December, the premises of several SP leaders and associates like Manoj Yadav in Agra, Neetu Yadav aka Jainendra Yadav in Lucknow were raided by the IT sleuths.

The raids on perfume baron Piyush Jain had resulted in the seizure of cash worth hundreds of crores. It was reported that Jain is a close associate of the Samajwadi Party. Later, Samajwadi Party MLC Pushparaj Jain was raided too.

On December 22, 2021, the Income Tax (I-T) Department had also detected undisclosed assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees from SP leader Rajeev Rai. These assets are in the form of undisclosed incomes, bogus loans, and investments in Benami properties.  

Akhilesh Yadav has been vocal against the I-T raids and has been alleging that the BJP government in the Centre and UP state is targeting him and his party ahead of the assembly elections because they are ‘scared to lose’. UP CM Yogi Adityanath had responded to those allegations with a ‘Chor Ki Dadhi Main Tinka’ (the thief makes himself known) jibe.

Five AAP corporators of Surat Municipal Corporation go ‘missing’, likely to leave the party and join BJP

OpIndia Staff
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Five AAP corporators of Surat Municipal Corporation go ‘missing’, likely to leave the party and join BJP

AAP, the main opposition party in the Surat Municipal Corporation, may lose the leader of opposition status as several of its corporators are likely to join BJP. After a few leaders left the party, now the corporators are also on the verge of saying goodbye to the party. Five AAP corporators in the Surat municipal corporation are missing for the last two days, and reportedly, these corporators are likely to leave the party. It is also being learnt that all these corporators are in touch with a young Patidar leader.

Meanwhile, a show-cause notice has also been issued to Aam Aadmi Party corporator Vipul Movliya has got the notice for his suspicious activities. According to reports, he has been given the notice after reports emerged that he has left the party. On the other hand, there are talks that the corporators may soon join BJP.

According to a report by Zee 24 Kalika, five corporators of AAP in Surat municipal corporation may break ties with the party. These corporators are missing for the last two days. It is being said that they might have gone to Gandhi Nagar. There is a talk of resignation of a few corporators of Surat. Ruta Keyur Kakadiya of ward number three may resign. Among others, there is a talk of resignation by Bhavana Chimanlal Solanki of ward number two, Vipul Dhirubhai Movliya of ward number sixteen, Jyotika Vinodbhai Lathiya of ward number eight and Manisha Jagdishbhai Kukadiya of ward number five.

All these corporators are likely to attend the BJP office at Kamalam. Their entry in the party will be announced only after getting a green signal from the party.

For the opposition leader’s post in the corporation, the party must have a minimum of 24 corporators. Right now AAP has 27 corporators in Surat municipal corporation. If these five members leave the party, the number reduces to 22 and AAP may lose the opposition leader’s seat in the corporation.

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