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‘Talking about cows can be a crime for some people, but for us, cow is mother’ – PM Modi in Varanasi

OpIndia Staff
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‘Talking about cows can be a crime for some people, but for us, cow is mother’ – PM Modi in Varanasi

On December 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down the foundation stone of ‘Banas Dairy Sankul’ at the UP State Industrial Development Authority Food Park, Karkhiyaon, Varanasi. The dairy is spread over 30 acres and will be built at the cost of Rs 475 crores. It will have several modern facilities with a daily capacity of processing 5 lakh litre milk per day. PM Modi laid down the foundation stone of developmental projects worth over Rs. 1500 crores, including Banas Dairy Sankul.

In his address, PM Modi talked about the importance of cows. He said, “Talking about cows can be a crime for some people, but for us, cows are revered as mothers. People who make fun of cow-buffalo forget that the livelihood of 8 crore families of the country is run by such livestock.”

He further added that the Government of India is working extensively in strengthening the dairy sector, and Banas Kashi Sankul is a part of such efforts. He said the milk production in India has increased by 45% in the last 6-7 years. While adding that India now produces 22% of the world’s milk, he said, “I am happy that today UP is not only the largest milk-producing state in the country, it is also significantly ahead in the expansion of the dairy sector.”

PM said that animal husbandry could become a huge source of additional income for the small farmers in the country. Also, as dairy products have a huge market abroad, there is a lot of potential for growth for the farmers. PM added that animal husbandry has great possibilities to uplift the financial status of women, further their entrepreneurship. Livestock is also a big basis of biogas, organic farming and natural farming.

PM Modi also launched an integrated logo featuring Kamdhenu cows for certification. PM emphasized that the logo on any dairy product would make it easier to identify the purity of the product. It will also help in increasing the credibility of the milk products originating in India.

Logo of Conformity Assessment Scheme of milk products

PM targeted opposition for their restricted view on UP politics

PM Modi said that there are people who view the politics of Uttar Pradesh from the prism of caste, creed, and religion. He added that such people do not consider schools, colleges, roads, water, housing for the poor, gas connections and toilets part of development. “The difference between what the people of UP got earlier and what the people of UP are getting from our government today is clear. We are enhancing the heritage of UP, and we are also developing UP,” PM Modi said.

While hitting on the opposition over dynasty politics, mafia and illegal property occupancy, PM Modi said, “Their syllabus does not have Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayaas. You all know what their dictionary, body language, and thoughts have – ‘mafiawaad’, ‘pariwarwaad’, illegal property occupancy. They have problems with the Purvanchal development & even the Kashi Vishwanath Dham. But we keep gaining blessings as their anger touches the sky.”

Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh

The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled for early 2022. While BJP is claiming to come back to power, the opposition parties are trying their level best to cut BJP’s vote by different means. While BJP is promoting the work it has done in the past five years in UP and laying down the foundation for hundreds of upcoming projects, SP leader and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav is spending most of his days in taking credit for the projects inaugurated by BJP in the last couple of months including Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and others. On the other hand, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is busy playing woman cards with slogans like “Ladki hun lad sakti hun”.

China’s plan to break Taiwan: Infiltration of military ranks with spy networks, recruiting ex-officers with lavish gifts

OpIndia Staff
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China’s plan to break Taiwan: Infiltration of military ranks with spy networks, recruiting ex-officers with lavish gifts

A detailed and long investigation by Taiwanese officials has revealed a deep conspiracy by China to dismantle Taiwan’s defences and undermine the democracy and sovereignty of the Island nation. In a detailed report by Reuters, it has been explained how China built up a spy network involving Taiwanese military officials and lured them with expensive gifts and cash rewards.

One of the Chinese spy recruiters, a person named Xie Xizhang, who had identified himself as a Hong Kong businessman, had met a Taiwanese naval officer named Chang Pei-ning multiple times, starting from 2006. Over the years, Xie recruited several officers in Taiwan’s military, rewarding them with foreign trips, luxury gifts and thousands of dollars in cash.

Reuters has reported that in 2019, Taiwanese officials moved against Xie’s espionage network, raiding several locations and making arrests. Xie has since left Taiwan. The detailed investigation reports accessed by Reuters have reportedly revealed that China has systematically built a spy network to undermine Taiwan’s defence capabilities, weaken its power and acquire detailed knowledge about its strategic weapons and plans.

As per the report, China’s spy network was so effective that even the security detail of Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen was compromised. Earlier this year, a retired security officer who was in the presidential detail and a serving Lt Col ranked officer was convicted by a Taiwanese court for their complicity in leaking the president’s security details to Chinese agents.

They had reportedly provided charts, drawings, phone numbers of the president’s security staff and the details of the president’s residence to Chinese intelligence officers, the court had noted.

Reuters reported that 21 officers have been convicted so far in Taiwan and 9 more are under trial. The risk of open conflict is always high between China and Taiwan, and in such a situation, Taiwanese military personnel working on China’s payroll severely undermines the small Island nation’s security. In recent months, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made it clear that China will not be swayed from its goal.

It is notable here that the People’s Republic of China considers Taiwan its own territory and intends to take it back.

‘PRC has infiltrated almost all military ranks in Taiwan’

A retired Taiwanese Lt Commander Lu Li-shih has stated that PRC has infiltrated almost all ranks and levels in the Taiwanese military, including top-level generals. The officer stated that Chinese intelligence first approaches the targeted officers with lavish gifts and meals, and offers handsome payment for information. After the first few exchanges, they start blackmailing the corrupt officers for more information, with smaller payments.

The undertrials for spying include a retired major general and 3 retired colonels. In July this year, even Taiwan’s former deputy defence minister was interrogated in a national security probe.

Xie Xezhang, who had introduced himself as a Hong Kong-based businessman to Taiwanese military officers, actually reports to an office that functions directly under the PRC’s intelligence apparatus and serves as a front for China’s Central Military Commission. Chinese president Xi Jinping is the head of the commission, the Reuters report added.

China has a history of using spy networks against Taiwan

Taiwan as a separate nation was formed as a result of the Chinese civil war and clashes between the forces loyal to China’s Mao Zedong and the KMT party’s nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek. There have been instances where entire KMT factions have been persuaded by China’s communist forces to join them.

Reuters further reported that despite China’s massive military might and comparatively smaller forces of Taiwan, the island will be a difficult territory for China to take by force. Taiwanese forces’ military prowess, geographical advantage and the sea between them can all work to inflict heavy losses on China, even without the involvement of outside forces in the war.

However, if Chinese spies within Taiwan’s military ranks help the PRC by providing codes, weapon details, locations and strategic movements, things may be much easier for the communist power. In a September report, Taiwan’s defence ministry had stated that on the advent of a direct conflict, the Chinese agents inside Taiwanese territory may launch ‘decapitation’ attacks against Taiwanese forces, eliminating top-level commanding officers.

The report further states that apart from direct strategic consequences, the discovery of Chinese spies within the ranks also serves to psychologically weaken the military ranks, by sowing seeds of doubt and suspicion. Some security analysts even worry that cases of spies within the Taiwanese ranks will make allies like the USA suspicious, thereby creating situations where the USA may not be willing to share sensitive information with the Taiwanese forces.

Despite attempts by Taiwan’s Counterintelligence and Security Division, China has managed to create a spy network inside Taiwanese ranks. The Taiwanese military runs education campaigns, creates programs and even soap operas warning the ranks against Chinese designs, but all these efforts have fallen short.

Though Taiwanese officials are not willing to discuss the current investigations and openly admit the spying cases, retired officers and security experts of the country are concerned that the adverse effects of Chinese spying inside Taiwan’s forces may put the island nation’s security under severe threat.

Former military offiers from Taiwan visiting China

China’s state-affiliated media regularly announces the arrest of Taiwanese spies. The report further states that China also woos old-school politicians in Taiwan who are from the opposition and oppose the current regime in Taiwan. Though a majority of the younger generation Taiwanese nationals support President Tsai’s DPP, the opposing KMT was created in China and some of the old guards still harbour the dreams of reunifying with China under a democratic rule.

A significant number of retired military officials also support the KMT and the idea of reunification. In November 2016, China had broadcast a government event where over 30 retired Taiwanese generals were seen attending Xi Jinping’s speech. They had stood up for the Chinese national anthem. The incident had created a massive outrage in Taiwan.

Later, the Taiwan government had drafted a rule against China visits by retired military officers. Heavy fines and cancellation of pension benefits were introduced in case of Taiwanese ex-military officers found saluting Chinese communist party symbols or insignia. Over the years, Taiwan has also brought laws to induce heavy penalties and sentences for retired military officers who are found guilty of spying for China.

‘No part of his speech questioned the beliefs of Muslims’: Madras HC quashes FIR filed against Maridhas over old video on Tablighi Jamaat

OpIndia Staff
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‘No part of his speech questioned the beliefs of Muslims’: Madras HC quashes FIR filed against Maridhas over old video on Tablighi Jamaat

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has quashed the latest FIR filed against Tamil Youtuber Maridhas over an old video where he was seen criticising Tablighi Jamaat. The FIR against the journalist was registered by the Melapalayam police in Tirunelveli based on a complaint filed by an office-bearer of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam for his YouTube post linking Tablighi Jamaat members spreading coronavirus. The FIR was filed on 4th August 2020.

During the hearing, Justice GR Swaminathan said the YouTuber had made the video presentation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and that “no part of his speech questioned the beliefs of Muslims,” reports The Hindu.

The judge further observed that Maridhas had just raised concerns about the congregation’s “irresponsible behaviour.” The judge believed that a close examination of the presentation would reveal that he was disturbed by the incident. He urged those in attendance to get tested for COVID-19 at hospitals.

The judge dismissed the FIR filed against petitioner Maridhas, stating that harsh criticism of an organisation does not invoke the provisions.

On December 17, the YouTuber was booked under sections 292(A) (publishing grossly indecent or scurrilous matter or matter intended for blackmail), 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 505(ii) (statement creating or promoting enmity or ill-will between classes) of the IPC and 67 (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act.

Interestingly, while the state of Tamil Nadu has arrested journalist Maridhas for speaking against Tablighi Jamaat, the group is already banned in Saudi Arabia, the capital of Islam. Calling it a dangerous organisation and the “gate of terrorism”, Saudi Arabia had recently warned clerics, Imams and Muslims against affiliating with this group.

It may be noted that prior to this on December 14, the Madras High Court had quashed another FIR registered by the Madurai city cybercrime Police against YouTuber Maridhas over a tweet after the IAF Chopper crash in which former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Late General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others lost their lives.  after the IAF Chopper crash in which former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Late General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others lost their lives.

In the order, Justice GR Swaminathan had said that the offences mentioned in the FIR were not made in the tweet.

Watch: Mumbai cop assaults and threatens restaurant cashier for refusing to serve food and drinks beyond service hours

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Mumbai cop assaults and threatens restaurant cashier for refusing to serve food and drinks beyond service hours

A video has gone viral on Twitter that shows a Mumbai cop hitting a hotel cashier as the latter refuses to serve him free food beyond the serviceable hours. In the CCTV footage of the incident that is being widely circulated on social media platforms, Vikram Patil, an assistant police inspector posted at the Vakola police station in Mumbai, is seen assaulting and abusing the cashier of Swagat Restaurant, a bar cum restaurant in Mumbai after being refused to be served free food and drinks on the intervening night of Wednesday, December 22 and Thursday, December 23rd.

As evident in the video, the Mumbai cop is seen using his position to intimidate the cashier of the restaurant. He pushes and threatens the cashier who is seen standing behind the cash counter. When the two get into an argument, others, who appear to be restaurant employees, intervene and try to stop the ASI. The inspector, on the other hand, refuses to leave. He keeps assaulting the cashier. He grabs the cashier by the collar and gives him a tight slap. In turn, the helpless cashier tries to protect himself from the assault. Towards the end of the video, other employees physically pull the cop away from the cashier. They, then try and pacify the cop, who ultimately walks away.

Speaking about the incident, the bar owner, Mahesh Shetty, claimed ASI Vikram Patil at first rang up the bar cashier, Ramdas Patil, asking that he be provided food. The cashier informed him the kitchen was closed. Within a few minutes, the officer came to the bar which is located close to the Vakola police station and started abusing and assaulting the cashier, Shetty alleged, adding that he has filed a police complaint against the cop.

“It was 12.30 am when he asked for food. How can we open the establishment beyond the time limit? We have lodged a complaint against the API and will approach top officials to register an FIR,” he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Mumbai Police official said: “We are verifying the facts and action will be taken against the police officer.” 

Twitter adds ‘manipulated media’ tag: Read the fact check of fake video on Modi and Yogi posted by TMC leaders

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter adds ‘manipulated media’ tag: Read the fact check of fake video on Modi and Yogi posted by TMC leaders

The Trinamool Congress party (TMC) has indulged in spreading fake news by sharing an edited video on Twitter to suggest that PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath were greeted with anti-Modi and anti-Yogi slogans during the inauguration ceremony of the Kashi Viswanath Corridor on December 13, 2021.

Popular social media user Ankur Singh going by the handle @iAnkurSingh shared the badly edited video posted on the microblogging site by TMC leaders like- Riju Dutta, the spokesperson of the All India Trinamool Congress party and recently appointed TMC’s Rajya Sabha nominee Jawahar Sircar, along with the original video to call out the TMC leaders for indulging in such a petty behaviour to berate the BJP govt.

In the original video, one can see the crowd cheering as PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath reached Varanasi for the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor. The fervent crowd can be seen waving their hands and taking pictures on their phones as Modi and Yogi walk towards the Kashi Vishwanath temple. However, the TMC leaders posted a clip where the original audio was removed and audio from some other event was added to it. The audio track with the crowd cheering PM Modi and Yogi Aditynath was edited and replaced by “Modi hai hai” and “Yogi chor hain” slogans, as can be seen in the clip shared by the TMC leaders.

While sharing the edited clip, TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta wrote: “Modi Hai Hai, Yogi Chor Hai” slogans were raised by the people of UP during MODI Ji’s #KashiParikrama, but unfortunately GODI Media won’t show this reality.

The bureaucrat turned Modi-hater troll Jawahar Sircar, whom Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee appointed as the member to the Rajya Sabha in July this year, was also quick to use the fake, heavily edited video to further his anti-Narendra Modi stance. He shared the fake video coupled with a Tweet that read: “Wow! Protests during Modi’s midnight Kashi Parikrama. Some guts. The Godi Media will not show this.”

The TMC leaders were, however, left red-faced after social media user Ankur Singh shared the original clip, where the crowd was actually seen cheering PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. It’s appalling though that even after being called out, the TMC leaders have neither deleted their Tweets nor apologised for sharing the fake video.

On December 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated his dream project Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. On an auspicious day, PM Modi started his address to the nation by bowing down to Baba Vishwanath, Mata Annapurna and Baba Kaal Bhairav, the Kotwal of Kashi Vishwanath. On the day, PM asked the people of the nation to take three vows- Swachchta, Srijan and Atmanirbharta.

PM Modi also felicitated workers, who have been part of the construction of the mega Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, by showering flower petals on them during the inauguration of the temple complex.

Previous misadventures of TMC leader Jawhar Sircar

This sort of deplorable behaviour from trolls like Jawhar Sircar, however, no longer comes as a surprise for anyone. The TMC leader, has many times in the past, indulged in such petty acts to berate the Modi government. On June 7 this year, Jawhar Sircar shared a heavily edited image of Prime Minister Modi bending forward to greet Reliance Foundation chairperson Neeta Ambani, to insinuate that he goes out of his way to be polite to ‘his friends’. 

This was not all, when Twitter users fact-checked Jawhar Sircar’s fake claims and revealed that the original picture was that of PM Modi acknowledging social activist Deepika Mondal, Sircar went on to hide the replies to his tweet. However, after being heavily slammed, Sircar deleted his Tweet.

Continuing his shenanigans, Jawhar Sircar, a chronic Modi-hater, who was then the CEO of Prasar Bharti had removed inconvenient parts of PM candidate Modi’s interview during the 2014 elections to appease the Congress party. Following a public backlash, the then Prasar Bharti CEO Jawhar Sircar had acknowledged that chunks of the interview were edited out.

Update: Twitter marks Tweet as manipulated media

After OpIndia reported that the TMC leaders posted a doctored video, Twitter added the ‘manipulated media’ tag to the tweet posted by Jawahar Sircar.

Screenshot of Jawahar Sircar’s tweet with manipulated media tag

However, no such tag has been added to the tweet of Riju Dutta yet. Both the TMC leaders are yet to delete the posts, even after the manipulated media tag was added to Jawahar Sircar’s tweet.

Rajasthan: Liquor mafia attacks RTI activist who had complained about the sale of illicit liquor, nails hammered into his legs

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Liquor mafia attacks RTI activist who had complained about the sale of illicit liquor, nails hammered into his legs

An RTI activist who had lodged a complaint against the liquor mafia was beaten up and his legs pierced with nails by criminals in the Barmer district of Rajasthan on Tuesday. The victim identified as Amra Ram Godara (30) was referred to Jodhpur due to critical injuries.

Amra Ram Godara was travelling from Jodhpur to his village when he was abducted by criminals. He was abducted by 8 miscreants travelling in a Scorpio car and was taken to a deserted place in Kumpaliya where he was badly thrashed. He was beaten with bars, his both legs and hand were fractured and his legs were pierced with nails using hammers. The steel bars pierced through his legs in at least six places. He was also forced to drink urine.

After torturing him for six hours criminals threw him away. The criminals also made some phone calls to inform someone that they taught him a lesson.

It is notable that Amra Ram had informed on Facebook that he was receiving threats on his life. He had said that he is not afraid of anyone and he will fight till his last breath. Godara had also complained about the threats to the police.

After a fellow RTI activist Omaram Banjara complained about the attack, State Human Rights Commission sought a report from Rajasthan DGP about the same. Commission’s chairman Justice Gopal Krishan Vyas issued a notice to the DGP, excise commissioner, Barmer collector, and SP to submit a report regarding the attack by December 28.

Banjara said that Godara had also lodged a complaint regarding the poor quality of the development work carried out by the Kumpaliya panchayat in Barmer. Banjara had requested to investigate the role of the local police and excise officials.

Godara on December 15 had complained of irregularities in the works of MGNREGA and housing schemes, besides the sale of illicit liquor in the village. Based on his complaint, police had recovered a huge quantity of illicit liquor being sold under the guise of grocery stores.

Barmer SP Deepak Bhargava confirmed that people involved in the illegal liquor trade were behind the attack. The SP said that police had taken action and illegal liquor was seized after Godara had complained. Bhargava said an FIR was lodged and four teams were constituted to arrest accused persons.

YouTuber Abhisar Sharma blatantly lies about Income Tax raids on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s aides

OpIndia Staff
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YouTuber Abhisar Sharma blatantly lies about Income Tax raids on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s aides

In his recent video, YouTuber Abhisar Sharma was once again seen peddling blatant lies in his effort to malign the central government. He claimed that the I-T department had come back empty-handed following the recent raids on Samajwadi Party leaders.

In the YouTube video posted on December 21, Abhisar Sharma used screenshots of news published by Bharat Samachar to further his propaganda. He said that after 4 days of the raids, the central agency could not find anything from the premises of the Samajwadi Party leaders. He added that after the four-day rigorous exercise, the IT department could recover merely Rs 1.2 lakhs cash and 400 grams gold from the house of Jainendra Yadav, a house staff turned OSD of Akhilesh Yadav. The department recovered nothing else from the rest of the SP leaders’ premises that it raided, according to Abhisar Sharma.

Abhisar Sharma instigates Yogi Adityanath against PM Modi

He mocked the central agency for carrying out the ‘futile exercise’ at the behest of the BJP government at the centre and the state. He also poked fun at the Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for slamming the SP leader while addressing a rally in Mathura. Sharing a snippet from Yogi Adityanath’s public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in Mathura, the YouTuber, in his obvious hate for the BJP, accused Yogi of using his paid media to berate Samajwadi Party leaders.

Sharma insinuated that BJP has used the investigative agency to falsely implicate its political rival.

Abhisar Sharma attempted to instigate Yogi Adityanath against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by claiming that during the inauguration of the Kashi Viswanath corridor, Modi paid little attention to Yogi. Sharma added that Yogi Adityanath’s party is in a state of chaos and seems to be imploding from within. He asserted that the rebellions within the party are conspiring against Yogi and that the CM should first get his house on order before going after the Opposition.

Abhisar Sharma’s assertions are purely drawn from the hate he nurtures for the BJP party and PM Narendra Modi. Despite the fact that the I-T department has itself testified the success of the raids on SP leaders, Sharma continues to shamelessly lie in order to defame the central agency.

IT Department finds bogus expenditure claims and hawala transactions during raids on Samajwadi Party leaders

The central agency said on Tuesday that it had found bogus expenditure claims and hawala transactions during its recent search operation against alleged close aides of Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav.

IT department on December 18 had raided the premises of secretary and national spokesperson Rajeev Rai of the Samajwadi Party, RCL group promotor Manoj Yadav and Jainendra Yadav, a house staff turned OSD of Akhilesh Yadav, in suspected tax evasion cases. 30 locations in Uttar Pradesh’s poll-bound Lucknow, Mainpuri, and Mau, as well as Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR were searched.

“Various incriminating documents including blank bill books, stamps, signed cheque books of bogus suppliers have been found and seized,” the I-T department said in a statement, without naming the people or entities covered in the searches.

“In the case of one company, an undisclosed income of over Rs 86 crore of the directors of the company has been detected. Out of that, the person has admitted a sum of Rs 68 crore as his undisclosed income and offered to pay tax. In the case of a proprietary concern, books of accounts relating to its turnover exceeding Rs 150 crore during the last few years could not be produced,” the department said.

The tax department also said that another entity had used a “conduit of shell companies” to route its unexplained income and investments, of which Rs 12 crore had been identified.

“In the case of another person, unexplained investment of Rs 11 crore in a shell company and investments in benami properties worth Rs 3.5 crore have been identified,” it added.

Referring to the IT department statement, the media reports have said that during searches against a Bengaluru-based Trust and its related entities unaccounted cash of Rs 1.12 crore was seized. Besides, there is evidence suggesting capitation fees of about Rs 10 crore was collected in cash.

The IT raid also covered a Kolkata-based operator who allegedly floated shell companies. “… It was found that the entry operator formed various shell companies to provide accommodation entries of bogus share capital to the tune of Rs 408 crore and a bogus unsecured loan of Rs 154 crore through these shell companies,” the department said, adding that the operator had disclosed unaccounted commission income of Rs 5 crore, said the central investigative agency.

Despite the fact that the department discovered undeclared assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees, bias “journalists” like Abhisar Sharma tend to even ignore information that is readily available in the public domain in order to criticise the BJP government at the centre.

Madras HC initiates contempt of court proceeding against lawyer who was seen in compromising position with a woman during online hearing

OpIndia Staff
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Madras HC initiates contempt of court proceeding against lawyer who was seen in compromising position with a woman during online hearing

The Madras High Court has ordered a CB-CID probe against a lawyer who was seen in a compromising position with a woman during a hearing through video conference and also has initiated contempt of court proceedings against him. The court asked CB-CID to register a suo motu FIR against advocate RD Santhana Krishnan in the case.

Judges P N Prakash and R Hemalatha have directed the CB-CID wing of the police to register a case against the advocate and hold a thorough probe on the issue. The investigative agency has been asked to file a report on the same by December 23.

“Since the impugned video clipping prima facie discloses the commission of cognizable offences under the Information Technology Act and other penal laws, the CB-CID shall register a suo motu FIR on the impugned video clipping and file a preliminary report before this Court on 23.12.2021 (Thursday) naming the ‘dramatis personae’ who are found engaged in the vulgar activity,” the court said.

While initiating action against the advocate the bench observed on Tuesday, “Court cannot afford to be a mute spectator and turn Nelson’s eye when such brazen vulgarity is publicly displayed amidst Court proceedings”. The hearing in the contempt case started today in the High Court.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council had barred Advocate RD Santhana Krishnan from appearing in courts and tribunals throughout the country till disciplinary proceedings against him are resolved. The actions were initiated against the lawyer after he was seen in a compromising position with a lady during a Madras HC proceedings which were being held via video conference on Monday, December 20.

In a video that has now gone viral on social media, advocate RD Santhana Krishnan was caught canoodling with a woman while a judge was hearing a case through video-conferencing.

The bench also ordered the City Police Commissioner to take necessary actions to prevent the video clipping from being circulated on social media, and instructed the court registry to preserve the video recording of the incident.

The court also observed that with several lawyers appearing for physical hearing, it is time to revisit the hybrid mode of hearing.

“Superadded, we are of the considered view that it is high time that we revisit the procedure of conducting court proceedings in hybrid mode, especially in the light of the fact that advocates, in large numbers, have started appearing in-person in our High Court as well in the District Courts,” said the bench of judges P N Prakash and R Hemalatha.

“However, a decision in this regard has to be taken by the Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice before whom this matter may be placed,” the judges added.

CRPF readies the first contingent of women commandos for VIP protection, to be included in Z+ security details

OpIndia Staff
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CRPF readies the first contingent of women commandos for VIP protection, to be included in Z+ security details

A contingent of CRPF women commandos is ready to be deployed in the security of ‘Z’ plus category VIPs like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, and the Gandhi family. This is the first batch comprising of 32 female combatants that have completed their training in VIP security.

This is the first time CPRF will deploy women commandos for VIP security, as per reports.

They have recently undergone 10-weeks of training in unarmed combat, special weapon firing, body frisking etc. In September, the Ministry of Home Affairs had given go-ahead to deploy women security personnel for VVP security. These trained 32 commandos were picked based on nominations. For the first batch, the CRPF had received 54 nominations, out of which 32 were selected. The women’s ranks are from constable to sub-inspector.

They are likely to be deployed for the security of Delhi-based Z plus protectees from January 15 onward. These commandos will be initially deployed at the residence of the protectees as part of the house protection team. They will frisk female visitors and they will carry ballistic protection, arms, and gadgets like any male combatant.

Given the small size of the contingent, five to six commandos will be attached to each protectee. There is a chance that these women commandoes will be deployed with female protectees like Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during their election campaigns.

Assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa are scheduled the next year.

CRPF is the second-largest provider of VIP security

CRPF provides security to as many as 78 central protectees, including 11 women. Out of these 11 protectees, three are accorded ‘Z’ plus category security namely Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and ex-PM Manmohan Singh’s wife Mrs Gursharan Kaur.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has the largest components of VIP security which provides security covers to 175 persons.

However, out of 3.25 Lakh personnel in the CRPF, the number of women soldiers are 6,000. But the CRPF has the distinction of the only paramilitary force in the Country which has six Mahila Battalions. CRPF’s women commandoes are also deployed in Naxal infested areas.

Former Harvard professor convicted for fraud, hiding connections with China: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Former Harvard professor convicted for fraud, hiding connections with China: Details

On Tuesday (December 21), a federal jury convicted renowned scientist and ex-Harvard Professor Dr Charlies Lieber for filing fake income tax returns, lying to the federal authorities about his ties to China, and failing to disclose foreign accounts to Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He was earlier arrested along with two Chinese nationals in January 2020 for fraud.

As per reports, Dr Charlies Lieber (62) worked as a ‘strategic scientist’ at the Wuhan Institute of Technology while keeping Harvard University in darkness. He had a 3-year-contract period with the WUI and was paid $50000 and $15800 monthly salary and living allowance respectively. He was paid more than $1.5 million for setting up a nanoscience research facility at the Wuhan Institute of Technology At the same time, he was contracted to take part in China’s Thousand Talents Plan, a mass recruitment programme between 2012 and 2017.

Lieber had also received $15 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the US Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health (NIH). FBI Special agent Joseph R Bonavolonta remarked, “Mr Lieber exploited the openness and transparency of our academic system. The FBI will not hesitate to work with our law enforcement partners to focus on those who put their financial and professional interests ahead of our country’s economic prosperity.

He added, “By Charles Lieber’s own admission – after we arrested him – the evidence against him was formidable. He repeatedly lied to his employer, the federal government, and taxpayers to fraudulently maintain access to federal research funds.” US attorney Nathaniel Mendell informed that Charles Lieber hid the fact that he participated in China’s Thousand Talents Plan and had concealed his Chinese bank accounts. Mendell added that Lieber had also lied to the IRS.

Although the quantum of punishment has not yet been announced, the federal jury found the American scientist guilty. He may face up to 5 years of jail time, 3 years of supervised release, and a $2,50,000 fine for 2 counts of making false statements and similar punishment for 2 counts of failure to file FBARs. At the same time, falsifying tax returns can lead to 3 years of jail, 1 year of supervised release, and a $1,00,000 fine.

As per Patrick Hegarty of the Northeast field office Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Dr Charlies Lieber had ‘eroded’ the trust of the Department of Defence in its researchers to prioritise the US over personal gains and foreign governments.

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