Mumbai Sessions Court has dismissed the defamation complaint filed against Republic Editor Arnab Goswami by Mumbai cop Abhishek Trimukhe. The complaint was not maintainable before the Sessions Court under provisions of the CrPC, the Court ruled according to Bar and Bench.
The complaint was filed under section 199(2). Judge Uday M. Padwad observed, “Section 199(2) of the Cr. P. C. requires that the complaint has to be in writing and has to be made by the public prosecutor. This, in other words, means that no other person, be that even the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed, can make such a complaint.”
“In the present complaint, the complainant is not the public prosecutor. He merely has filed the complaint of Shri. Trimukhe, exactly similar to what the prosecutors do while filing Appeals, Revisions and other proceedings on behalf of the State/Prosecution. The public prosecutor thus is nothing more than a medium to file this complaint,” he stated.
The Court ruled that “His filing the complaint even through the public prosecutor however, would not confer any jurisdiction on this Court to take cognizance of the alleged offence.” In his complaint, DCP Abhishek Trimukhe had alleged that malicious comments against him were telecast on Republic Bharat.
Trimukhe alleged that Arnab Goswami had attempted to create an impression that the Mumbai Police including Trimukhe himself had made a deal with Rhea Chakraborty to shield her from the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
The focus of the Maharashtra state government seems to have shifted from fighting the rise in cases of COVID-19 to fighting the Centre. This comes at a time when the state of Maharashtra reported 56,286 new Covid-19 cases, contributing 60% to the nation’s tally.
In an intensified fight between the state and the Centre, Maharashtra’s health minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday alleged that the Centre is not supplying enough vaccines despite the state being worst hit by new cases of the Chinese virus.
Tope said that the supplies are not enough as the state needs at least 40 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine per week and 1.6 crore doses per month. “The Centre is not helping Maharashtra as much as it should. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana etc.- states ruled by the BJP— have been given far more vaccines than Maharashtra,” alleged Tope. He informed that there is a shortage of the vaccines and that the state is now left with only 14 lakh doses, which would last not more than 3 days.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray too complained about the lack of support from the Centre. In a tweet addressing the Prime Minister, he informed about the depletion of stock and demanded that the stock of vaccine doses in the pipeline should be sent at once without any further delay.
हाफकिनला लस उत्पादन करण्यासाठी राज्य शासनाने पाठवलेल्या प्रस्तावाला लवकर मान्यता द्यावी. त्यामुळे लसीकरणाला वेग मिळेल
१५ एप्रिलनंतर १७.४३ लाख डोसेस देण्यात येतील असे केंद्र सरकारकडून सांगण्यात आले असले तरी आमच्या मागणीप्रमाणे एकदमच पूर्ण वितरण व्हावे.
In the purview of this, as many as 51 vaccination centers out of 120 have been shut in the city of Mumbai as the vaccine stocks at these centers have been exhausted, as per a Times of India report.
Assistant Commissioner of the G/North Ward of the BMC, shared a list of vaccination centres that will remain shut in the city today. The list that he shared on Twitter included major centres like BKC Jumbo facility, Dahisar Jumbo facility, SevenHills hospital and Cooper hospital.
Vaccination centres which will be operational in #mumbai on 9 April 2021 However due to limited stock this might exhaust at early n few centre will be declared out of stock. However no worries all centre will start with full capacity asap. Centres marked red will be closed 2mrw. pic.twitter.com/VGCOWu6kDi
However, the Centre has slammed the state government for complete mismanagement and failure to create robust infrastructure in the state. Despite giving assurance that the vaccine stock will be replenished on time, the state government is adamant on receiving the doses in advance.
In reply to the claims of the state government, Union minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar alleged that five lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccines were wasted in Maharashtra due to a lack of planning by the state government.
“I want to make it clear that the Maharashtra government has 23 lakh doses of the vaccines with it….which is a stock for five to six days. Now, to distribute in villages and districts is the responsibility of the state government,” Javadekar said while addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office.
In a rebuttal to the Maharashtra government’s claim of shortage of vaccines, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has also issued a clarification. He tweeted, “Hue & cry by certain States about partisanship by the Union Govt is just a farce, an attempt to hide their own incompetence. Maharashtra and Rajasthan are 2 of the top 3 States based on allocation of #COVID19 Vaccine doses. Both are non-BJP governed States.”
Hue & cry by certain States about partisanship by the Union Govt is just a farce, an attempt to hide their own incompetence.
Maharashtra and Rajasthan are 2 of the top 3 States based on allocation of #COVID19Vaccine doses.
A graphic attached in the tweet reveals that the state of Maharashtra has received 1,06,19,190 doses, which is the highest number of Covid-19 vaccine doses, constituting almost 10% of the total country’s supply. Gujarat and Rajasthan have received 1,05,19,330 and 1,04,95,860 doses respectively.
In a follow-up tweet, he urged certain state governments to not create panic by spreading misinformation. His tweet read, “Let’s put an end to fear mongering now! #COVID19 Vaccine doses: Total administered: 9 cr+, in stock/nearing delivery to states: 4.3 cr+. Where does question of shortages arise? We’re continuously monitoring & enhancing supply”
Let’s put an end to fear mongering now!#COVID19Vaccine doses:
Total administered: 9 cr+ In stock/nearing delivery to states: 4.3 cr+
Where does question of shortages arise? We’re continuously monitoring & enhancing supply pic.twitter.com/NllmH3kifQ
A comprehensive chart released by the Times of India on Thursday revealed that the state of Maharashtra has 15 lakh vaccine doses left in the stock, while it is scheduled to receive 19.4 lakh more doses. Some Twitter users took to the social media platform to question the state government’s decision to shut vaccination centers despite having enough vaccines in stock.
Comprehensive vaccination data compiled by The Times of India
The chart clearly reflects that the state has enough stocks for 4 days and with additional doses in pipeline it has stock for 9 days.
With Maharashtra breaking all the previous records and registering highest spike in cases on a daily basis, shutting down of vaccination centers is only going to make matters worse for the state.
The recent stringent lockdown restrictions imposed in Maharashtra have enraged the trader and hospitality community. Having just started to recover from the severe impact of the previous lockdown, the businesses have once again been thrown off-guard and have been worried about the potential business loss.
As per a Business Today report, the cost of Maharashtra’s lockdown is estimated to be Rs 40,000 crore and will result in a 0.32% dip in India’s GVA growth, as the state is the largest contributor in terms of GSDP.
With the state of Maharashtra contributing to nearly 60% of the new Covid-19 cases daily, the government has imposed several new restrictions for private offices and businesses which have severely impacted the small and medium traders and the hospitality community.
Several trade associations staged a protest by coming out on roads against the restrictions imposed by the state government.
The shop owners have put up posters outside their closed shops in the Mumbai suburbs. Several posters have been put up by Borivali East Traders Association.
The posters read:
“Don’t steal our business, we have families to feed”
“Lift lockdown, save businesses”
‘We survived Covid, but lockdown is killing us’, says a poster in Mumbai. Posters outside shops in Mumbai suburbs
The hospitality community in Mumbai too, has come together to protest against the restrictions imposed on the eateries. What started as a partial lockdown has turned into a full lockdown for many industries. Apart from the weekend lockdown, which is expected to impact businesses heavily, the night curfew from 8 pm is also going to cause major business loss to restaurants and eateries.
The restaurants, cafes and bars in Mumbai have taken to Instagram to trend #MissionRoziRoti where the staff of the restaurants can be seen holding placards with messages such as:
“Abki baar, sirf hum kyu berozgaar?”
“IPL on. Film shoot on. Humne kya gunah kiya?”
“Baari baari sabki baari, fir kyu sirf humari berozgaari?”
“Duniya ko khilane wale aaj khud bhooke soenge.”
“Are we not your family? Then why are you not taking our responsibility?”, read a poster in Marathi.
The Instagram post of Monkey Bar Mumbai participating in the #MissionRoziRoti trend. Image Source: InstagramStaff of The Fatty Bao holding placards. Image Source: InstagramStaff of a popular cafe in Mumbai holding placards. Image Source: Instagram
Over a 100 eateries in Mumbai have participated in this trend. The ones who managed to stay afloat in the last lockdown fear having to shut their businesses permanently this time.
As per the revised guidelines, only essential services are allowed to operate while the hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, theatres, salons, gyms, parlors, and clothing, shoes, toys, jewelry and furniture stores have been ordered to shut shop till April 30.
The state has permitted the eateries for ‘delivery-only’ during the day on weekdays, however, they are ordered to remain shut for weekend curfews.
Final nail in the coffin for the hospitality industry:
The restaurant industry which was just getting back on its feet after suffering heavy losses in the last lockdown and burning capital to revive business despite the loss incurred is expected to take a bad hit again.
As per a report, 20% of the restaurants in multiple states had to shut shop permanently after the first lockdown.
Anurag Katriar, ED & CEO – deGustibus Hospitality P Ltd and the President of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) in stated that the Maharashtra’s government’s order to impose a night curfew from 8 pm will badly impact restaurants and eateries because dinner-time is when 75% of the business happens. Further weekends contribute to more than 60% of entire week’s businesses for eateries and restaurants. With night curfew every day, and weekend lockdown, the restaurants may as well shut their business, as the losses incurred will be unsustainable.
Migrant laborers leave Mumbai:
Lack of clarity on the government’s guidelines and the fear of an impending lockdown has forced the migrant laborers in Mumbai to leave the city and head back to their hometowns. Trains at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus were seen packed with migrant workers heading back home.
Maharashtra: A UP-bound train was seen packed with migrant labourers at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai yesterday.
“This train will go to Gorakhpur. We’re leaving the city because #COVID19 cases are rising here,” a passenger said. pic.twitter.com/0eCLW7biiS
A migrant worker speaking to a ANI reporter said, “We are leaving for our hometown in Uttar Pradesh. As of now, there is a night curfew in place. It is very likely that a lockdown will be put into place. To avoid chaos like the previous lockdown, we are travelling back to our native place. Not sure when, whether we will come back here.”
The state government seems to be doing very little to curb fear-mongering and assure the residents of the state.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam while speaking to the media said, “Many of them fear that a lockdown will be imposed in the state due to rising Covid cases. However, our state government has no such plans. We do not want businesses or small businessmen to incur losses.”
“Many of them have not even got themselves tested for Covid-19 and have boarded the train illegally. We are looking into the situation. However, I can assure you that none of them can return back to our state without showing a Covid negative report, ” he added.
An official complaint and hundreds of reminders to act on it did not move the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation to take action against the illegal encroachments by Bangladeshi immigrants in Navi Mumbai’s Sanpada neighbourhood, the complainant who complained about the unlawful settlement of Bangladeshis alleged.
A Twitter user Krishna, concerned by the insidious settlement of Bangladeshi immigrants in Sanpada, filed an official complaint with Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation last year requesting them to clear the illegal encroachments. In his complaint, he shared pictures and visuals of slums and encroachments by Bangladeshis that cropped up at several locations in Sanpada.
At least at four locations—1. Kesar solitaire PLOT 88, 5, Sector 19, 2. Shiv Darshan apartment, Sant Gyaneshwar Road, Sector 16, 3. Jaipuriar school, 4. MSEDL Sonkhar substation—the Bangladeshi immigrants have reportedly made illegal encroachments.
A gentle reminder no 67 @NMMCCommr slums / Encroachment reappear .Bangladeshis in Sanpada. women unsafe. Near 1. Kesar solitaire PLOT 88, 5, Sec19, 2. ShivDarshan bldg Sant Gyaneshwr Rd Sec16 3. jaipuriar school 4. Msedl Sonkhar substation @NMMConlinehttps://t.co/aXEtI5gg9Mpic.twitter.com/7LNxKgGjY4
According to the complainant, NNMC Abhijit Bangar took cognisance of the issue and roped in his team to address the concerns raised by him. Every time he sought the status of the complaint he had made concerning illegal encroachment, he was assured that action would be taken in the matter. However, months after filing a complaint with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the encroachments by Bangladeshi immigrants still exist.
Krishna has been following up with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Mr Abhijit Bangar on his complaint to initiate action against the Bangladeshi encroachers but to no avail. He has, so far, written hundreds of emails, letters and Twitter posts, called up umpteen times to Mr Bangar’s office to bring to attention the lingering issue of illegal encroachment. However, on most occasions, he gets a perfunctory response stating that the matter has been escalated to the subordinate team for action. But, as he suggests, no action has been taken against the illegal encroachment so far.
No action taken by NNMC officials despite hundreds of reminders: Complainant
OpIndia saw the vast email trail between the Twitter user and the NNMC Commissioner and other stakeholders. Ever since the complaint was filed by the user, he has been periodically writing to the NNMC Commissioner, asking for updates on the action taken by his department. Even on Twitter, the complainant has been diligently following up on the matter, and the unusually long Twitter thread is testimony to his efforts.
More than 100 reminder emails have been written by the user, seeking developments in the case. But, all he gets in return is pacifying responses assuring him that his concern has been forwarded to the relevant authorities. Realising that no action is being taken in the case, Krishna also included the office of Maharashtra chief secretary and Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in his email, but even then the NNMC officials displayed no alacrity to clear the illegal encroachments.
Complainant has written over 100 reminder emails to NNMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar regarding the illegal encroachments
The complainant claims Mr Vijay, Personal Assistant to Mr Abhijit Bangar, is intimately aware of the issue. Krishna said on many occasions he was assured by Mr Vijay that he would take up the issue with Mr Bangar, but even then there was no action against the illegal Bangladeshi settlers.
Months after chasing Mr Bangar to get the illegal encroachments cleared, NNMC officials washed their hands off the matter when they informed Krishna that it was not their responsibility to vacate the aforementioned encroachments of Bangladeshis because they were on the CIDCO land. Mr Vijay had reportedly asked the Twitter user to approach CIDCO to get the illegal encroachments removed.
NNMC officials wash their offs the responsibility of clearing the illegal encroachments
When confronted with the facts that NNMC had earlier partnered with CIDCO to partially remove the encroachments, Mr Vijay, however, still asked the user to lodge his complaint with the CIDCO. The complainant then asked for a written advice and confirmation of from Mr Vijay. However, he is yet to receive any communication from the NNMC over the same.
After passing the matter to scam-tainted Mr Patinigere, Abhijit Bangar reportedly claims he never received a written complaint
For months, Krishna has been painstakingly following up with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, periodically calling them, posting on Twitter and sending emails to urge them to take action against the illegal encroachments. However, all he gets in return is a fake assurance that his grievances will be addressed. He claims the Municipal Commissioner Mr Abhijit Bangar has been only forwarding his complaints to his subordinate deputy commissioner Mr Amrish Patinigere, without displaying any willingness to remove the encroachments.
It is pertinent to note that Mr Amrish Patinigere was earlier accused of misappropriation of civic funds. In 2010, several officials of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), including Mr Patinigere, were accused of helping H.B. Bhise & Co. in getting excess payment of Rs 1.38 crore. The firm was hired by NMMC for demolishing illegal constructions.
Recently, a journalist who stumbled upon the complainant’s protracted Twitter thread called up Mr Abhijit Bangar to confirm if the claims mentioned in the thread add up. However, despite hundreds of email correspondence, umpteen Twitter posts and numerous phone calls by the complainant, Mr Bangar brazenly told the journalist that he is yet to receive a written complaint on the matter.
OpIndia tried to get in touch with Mr Abhijit Bangar repeatedly to ask him about the allegations of dereliction of duty levelled against him and his department by the complainant. However, our several attempts to talk to him failed as his office consistently claimed that Mr Bangar was busy with his meetings. This report will be updated when we get a response from Abhijit Bangar or his office.
Amid the resurgence of coronavirus in the state of Maharashtra, Mumbai Police Crime Branch has recovered 272 Remdesivir injections from a shop in the Andheri area in Mumbai. Remdesivir is an important and effective drug used for the treatment of the pathogen in hospitalized adults and children.
The police informed that the vials of the drug had been stocked in the shop for the purpose of black marketing. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested two people in connection to the case. The shop is named GR Pharma and is located in the Jogeshwari area, as per a Mumbai Mirror report.
Maharashtra: Crime Branch of Mumbai Police recovered 272 Remdesivir injections that were kept at a shop in Andheri for black marketing. Two persons have been arrested. pic.twitter.com/v2n5FPYYVm
Similarly, in a separate incident, a 22-year-old youth was nabbed with a dozen 12 vials of Remdesivir from Andheri (East) on Thursday evening. The accused, Sarfaraz Hussain, was caught by the Crime Branch with the injections.
According to the official, the Crime Branch acted on a tip-off. They laid a trap after getting the information that a youth named Sarfaraz Hussain was trying to sell the anti-viral drug in the black market.
During a search operation, the Crime Branch found at least 12 vials of Remdesivir in his possession. The official said that investigation into the case is on and they are yet to ascertain whom he was going to deliver the now seized injections.
Remdesivir, a key drug proving beneficial for treating coronavirus
Remdesivir is an antiviral medication that targets a range of viruses. It has been proved beneficial for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The full approval for the emergency use of the drug was preceded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing a EUA (emergency use authorization) on May 1, 2020.
Following the approval, Remdesivir became the first drug to receive emergency use authorization to treat severe COVID-19 (confirmed or suspected) in hospitalized adults and children.
Remdesivir works by interrupting the production of the virus. Coronaviruses have genomes made up of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Remdesivir interferes with one of the key enzymes the virus needs to replicate RNA. This prevents the virus from multiplying.
Maharashtra govt caps the price of Remdesivir injections, warns against black marketing
With Maharashtra continuing to record the highest number of cases in the country, there has been a sudden surge in demand for this injection in the state. Owing to this, illegal trading or black marketing of Remdesivir injections has also seen a sharp rise in the state of Maharashtra.
On Thursday, the Maharashtra government had capped the price of Remdesivir injections between Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,400 per vial and warned against its hoarding and black marketing.
The Remdesivir injection was first launched in Indian last year by Cipla and Hetero, with a price tag on each injection at Rs 4000 to Rs 5000. The treatment cost for 5 injection was around 25000. Later Zydus Cadilla launched Remdesivir under the brand name Remdac, with a price tag of Rs 2800.
Recently on March 24, Zydus had slashed the price of Remdac to just Rs 899. Zydus had license to produce Remdesivir from US drug maker Gilead. With the latest price cut, the treatment of 5 injections is to cost around Rs 4500. It is given to hospitalised patients.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 59,907 new COVID-19 cases in highest ever single-day spike yesterday, taking the overall caseload to 31,73,261. The state also reported the highest single-day death count due to coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic with 322 fatalities on Thursday. The total death count in the state has reached 56,652. The state’s recovery rate stands at 82.36 per cent at present.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a note presented before a special court on Wednesday claimed that incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, TMC MP from Diamond Harbor Abhishek Banerjee and his family received illicit funds from illegal coal mining in the state. It further stated that the “deep system” of political patronage driven by “well-oiled” machinery made it possible, as reported by News18.
The note which was a remand note seeking enhanced custody of a West Bengal police officer Ashok Kumar Mishra, the inspector in charge of Bankura police station had a detailed mention of these allegations.
The ED, in this remand note, alleged that certain illegal mining instances were flourishing in the state under the “patronage” of the political party in power. The policeman led the agency to the prime suspect- Majhi alias Lala, a local trader, Vinay a TMC youth wing leader, and his brother Vikas Mishra. The ED has stated that the link goes all the way up to Abhishek Banerjee’s family.
The case was filed in the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after studying a November 2020 FIR of the CBI alleging a multi-crore coal scam related to the Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in Bengal’s Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.
The Diamond Harbor MP Abhishek Banerjee however rubbished all allegations made against him and his family.
“All coal assets fall directly under Centre & are guarded by the Central agencies. If BJP thinks TMC leaders got money from those illegally operating the coal assets, then what’s stopping Centre from investigating all culprits who failed to manage these national assets?” Banerjee justified in a Tweet.
All coal assets fall directly under Centre & are guarded by the Central agencies.
If BJP thinks TMC leaders got money from those illegally operating the coal assets, then what’s stopping Centre from investigating all culprits who failed to manage these national assets? (1/2)
The ED in the statement informed, “…it is further revealed that in a span of less than 2 years, an amount to the tune of Rs 1,352 crore has been illegally generated by Majhi through illegal coal mining. Investigation also revealed a deep system of political patronage and well-oiled network by which the system was subverted to carry out these illegal activities in a brazen manner.”
On the basis of a recorded statement of an unidentified “close associate” of Majhi, the ED alleged that the kingpin of this coal scam ran the “illegal coal mining business smoothly by managing senior functionaries of the political party of West Bengal though Inspector Mishra.”
The statement of the witness further revealed, “it is known fact that Vinay Mishra collected money from illegal coal mining of Majhi and his associates for his closely associated political boss in present ruling party; that Vinay Mishra is youth leader of TMC and he is very close to Abhishek Banerjee and that he (Vinay Mishra) is the eyes and ears of Abhishek Banerjee.”
The ED also attached statements of Bankura policeman Ashok Mishra where he stated, “Vinay Mishra was the secretary of TMC and was very close to Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee.” The policeman informed the ED that he once transferred a certain amount from the state to Delhi on the directions of Vinay Mishra. He said he had to do so under political pressure otherwise his career would have been finished by the powerful leaders.
Inspector Mishra’s recorded statement also revealed that he had once facilitated transferring of funds through a non-banking channel from India to London for a close relative of Abhishek Banerjee and the funds were transferred by Niraj Singh who happens to be the prime accused Majhi’s accountant.
The agency further informed, “Majhi assisted in transferring substantial funds derived from the proceeds of crime to Shri Abhishek Banerjee’s close relative (wife and sister-in-law) at London and Thailand. The inspector became part of the evil axis of the coal mafia, corrupt politicians, and corrupt government servants…and evidence is there about him receiving tainted funds of Rs 168 crore in just 109 days from Majhi and for his political bosses including Vinay Mishra and for himself. He is a government official but worked closely with the coal mafia and involved in transferring the tainted funds collected from illegal coal mining business to the overseas bank accounts of politically influential persons and their close family members of West Bengal.”
The case picked up steam after Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee was questioned by the CBI a while back.
On April 3, the Uttar Pradesh police submitted a 5000-page charge sheet against Kerala-based ‘journalist’ Siddique Kappan and 7 other PFI members for conspiring to create communal tension in Hathras. He was arrested by the UP Police on October 5 while he was proceeding to cover the Hathras case.
As per reports, the charge sheet was filed before the Additional District Judge’s Court in Mathura. Besides Siddique Kappan, radical Islamist outfit PFI members Masood Ahmed, Rauf Sharif, Ansad Badruddin, Atiq-ur- Rahman, and Firoz Khan were also booked by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The last date for filing the charge sheet was Sunday (April 4).
There have been several explosive revelations made in the charge sheet filed by STF against Kappan and the 7 PFI members in the Hathras case. In the charge sheet, it has been revealed that Siddiqui Kappan and the others from PFI had made elaborate plans to stoke riots on the lines of religion and caste in the country during the Hathras riots.
Conspiracy to create riots and violence in several places
According to the charge sheet, while Siddiqui Kappan was planning the riots, it was PFI’s Rauf Sherif who was seeking the funds for the logistics of the riots. It was also revealed that members of radical Islamist outfit PFI received funds amounting to Rs 80 lakh from financial institutions based out of Muscat and Doha for spreading disharmony.
It is pertinent to note that Rauf Sherif was arrested on the 12th of December (2020) by the Enforcement Directorate. In a case of money laundering, the ED had suspected that Rs 2 crore was transferred to Rauf Sherif’s bank account from Oman and Qatar. Siddique Kappan also transferred funds to the bank account of Atiq-ur-Rehman. Mohammed Alam was driving the car bought in the name of Masud. He took an active part in a conspiracy hatched by Sherif.
The UP STF also said in the charge sheet that Ansad Badruddin, a commander of PFI’s Kerala unit, along with his partner Feroz Khan toured the country. During their visits, they taught PFI members how to make explosives, use knives and operate guns.
Interestingly, two others who have been charge-sheeted, Anshad Badruddin and Firoz Khan were arrested by the STF from Lucknow on February 15 while Danish is under arrest in Delhi for his alleged role in the 2020 riots.
During the arrest of Badruddin and Firoz Khan, the STF had also recovered a huge stash of explosives, weapons and incriminating documents were found.
Public prosecutor Shiv Ram Singh said that Alam’s brother-in-law Danish has also been named in the conspiracy case. Danish is in the custody of the Delhi Police for his alleged role in riots in northeast Delhi in January 2020.
The STF also said that incriminating evidence was recovered from the laptops and mobile phones of the accused. The charge sheet further says that 6 smartphones, 1 laptop, 1717 printed paper bunches were recovered from the accused on 5th October 2020 when Atiq-ur Rahman, Alam, Siddiqui Kappan, Masood were caught in the Swift Desire car. In printed papers, slogans were found to incite violence. Besides this, the ‘Justice for Hathras’ website was also used in spreading communal violence and the STF has found evidence of a terrorist organisation behind the entire plan.
Riots accused linked with PFI and deployed in different cities
The charge sheet states the four arrested persons on the way to Hathras, Kappan, Atiq-ur Rahman, Masood and Alam were sent from Mathura to create caste and religion-based violence. Apart from these 4, PFI was the organisation behind other persons accused in riot and violence cases in other cities. Some of them are Sarvar Ali, Muneer and Sajish in Kairana, Mufti Shahzad, Ahmad Parvez and Akram from Ghaziabad, Farman and Noor Hasan in Hapur, one Nasiruddin in Bijnor, and Mohammad Danish, Sajid Bin Saeed, and Mohammad Ilyas n Delhi. All of them have been found with links with PFI.
PFI’s secret workshop
WhatsApp chats and digital data from Kappan’s mobile phone, location data and Rauf Sharif’s statements have revealed that all the above mentioned persons had participated in a secret workshop organised by PFI where they were tasked with organising riots in designated areas. The explosives seized from Lucknow also point towards a conspiracy for large-scale riots and violence across several locations. Provocative speeches of SIMI terrorists were also found from the laptops. The workshop was reportedly planned by PFI’s Kamal KP in September 2020.
Kappan’s chats with several PFI leaders reveal that they were planning to organise large-scale violence by exploiting Dalit and tribals. Data from the laptop has also revealed that Kappan was writing provocatory articles instigating people on religious lines.
Hathras and Delhi riots
PFI funding and involvement has also been found in the Delhi riots case. It has been revealed that several former members of the banned organisation SIMI are linked with PFI and Rehab Foundation. Arrested accused Rauf Sharif had been paying the rest of PFI’s Shaheen Bagh office since the last five years from money collected in India and abroad. One of the arrested accused Danish is the PFI leader from Trilokpuri who was also among the accused in Delhi Riots case in 2020.
The charge sheet was submitted in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Anil Kumar Pandey in Mathura court. All the 7 accused have been lodged in Mathura jail.
On Wednesday (April 7), Aam Aadmi Party legislator Amanatullah Khan threatened violence against Swamy Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, the Mahant of Dasna Temple over his alleged remarks against Prophet Muhammad. AAP leader Amanatullah Khan is also the chief of Delhi’s Sunni Waqf Board.
In a video posted by the Okhla MLA, he warned, “We are here with several Imams (Islamic clerics) from various parts of Delhi. We have decided to issue sermons during Jummah (Friday prayers) on April 9. Imams from across Delhi and other parts of India will give directions against the blasphemous comments made by Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati. They will demand his immediate arrest. As long as he is not behind bars, our agitation will continue.”
Amanatullah Khan further requested the Muslims to sign a memorandum, seeking the arrest of the Hindu priest, and submit it in a nearby police station or District Magistrate’s office. He also revealed his plans for a new ‘blasphemy law’ to curb criticism of religious dogmatism. “You should also demand a new blasphemy law and its rigorous implementation so that tomorrow, none gets to insult our Prophet or the deities of other religion.”
हिंदुस्तान की आवाम से मेरी अपील है कि 9 अप्रैल को जुमें की नमाज़ में ऐहतेजाजी खुत्बा कर पैगंबर मुहम्मद ﷺ की शान में गुस्ताखी करने वाले इंसानियत के दुश्मन नरसिंहानंद की ग़िरफ्तारी की मांग करें और नमाज़ के बाद अपने पास के थाने या DM दफ्तर में ज्ञापन सौपें।#नरसिंहानंद_को_जेल_भेजोpic.twitter.com/VsFmbwnvg8
— Amanatullah Khan AAP (@KhanAmanatullah) April 7, 2021
If Muslims hit the streets, they will teach a lesson: Amanatullah Khan
In another video posted by ‘Hindustan LIVE Farhan Yahiya’, Amanatullah Khan could be seen giving threats of violence. “If Muslims are silent today, then, it is only because they are tackling the issue shrewdly. If Muslims hit the streets, they will teach a lesson (eenth se eenth baja denge). Muslims of the world cannot tolerate insult to Prophet Muhammad. If you believe otherwise, then, it is your misunderstanding. Muslims are dealing with the issue shrewdly as they don’t want the harmony of the country to be destroyed.”
Amidst chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Naara-e-Takbir’, he continued, “There will be sermons in every mosque during jummah and the government will wake up then. I strongly believe this will happen in every nook and corner of the country and a memorandum will be submitted (against Swamy Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati).”
दिल्लीवालों आज बिजली- पानी के कुछ चंद रूपए तो बचा लोगे…
Islamic clerics warned that Muslims would not tolerate insult to their Prophets
In the full video, the host named Farhan Yahiya could be heard saying, “If Sharia was enforced in India, then, he would have been beheaded.” He lamented that in its absence, anyone can mock the Prophet of Islam. “Amanatuallah Khan has requested the Delhi and the Union government to take strict action against such loose cannons. This would prevent insult and mockery of Islam and other religions. As long as no action is taken, this will continue unabated,” remarked one cleric.
(Video Courtesy: Youtube/ Hindustan LIVE Farhan Yahiya)
“This is against the tenents of Islam. Such remarks (by Swamy Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati) are against the interests of the country and its development. We will request the President of India or the Union Home Minister to take cognisance of the matter… No Muslim will tolerate isult to its Paigambar (Messengers), said another cleric.
Amanatullah Khan called for the beheading of the Hindu priest
In accordance with the Sharia (Islamic law), AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan had earlier issued a death threat calling for the beheading of Swamy Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati. In a tweet, Khan said, “We can not tolerate such impertinence for our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This hateful insect should be awarded the most severe punishment by slitting his tongue and neck. But the law of the land does not permit us to do this, we have faith in the Indian constitution, and I want Delhi Police to take note of this.”
Taking action against his tweet which calls for the beheading of the temple priest, Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s MLA Amanatullah Khan as well.
AAP legislator and Violence witnessed during Anti-CAA protests after Jummah
The violence, under the garb of Anti-CAA protests, began on December 15, 2019, when Muslim mobs rampaged through the national capital. Amanatullah Khan was spotted leading the riots in Jamia Nagar. Chants of ‘Hinduon se Azadi’ were raised in the same area that very day. Buses were also set on fire during those violent protests. On the same night, the Delhi Police cracked down on the Jamia Millia Islamia University and entered the campus to flush out the miscreants. Two days later, massive riots broke out in Seelampur. Delhi turned into a war zone.
Hamed Mohammed Khan, president, Jamaat-e-Islami Telangana and Odisha units said Friday khutbas (sermons) on CAA were prepared and would be delivered in mosques under its control. Following the direction, protests were launched in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, where various people from the Muslim community opposing the bill took to the streets after the Friday prayers.
Internet services were shut down in Aligarh and Saharanpur following the large-scale protests. A similar protest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad area turned violent after protestors pelted stones on an ambulance and vandalised the Beldanga station, situated beside National Highway 34 at Beldanga in Murshidabad district in West Bengal.
The death of a specially-abled priest in the Dausa district, Rajasthan, due to trauma owing to pressure from the land mafia, has snowballed into a major political controversy. Scores of BJP leader led by Madhya Pradesh MP Kirodi Lal Meena staged a Dharna near Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence in Jaipur on Thursday.
The BJP leaders sat with the priest’s dead body in the civil lines area, raised slogans and demanded justice for the priest, who according to the protestors, died of a shock after his land was illegally grabbed by the land mafia.
According to reports, the hearing impaired priest from Dausa, Shambhu Lal Sharma died of a heart attack a week ago. He was allegedly under pressure from a land mafia. After the death of the priest, a protest was first staged outside the police station in Mahua in Rajasthan’s Dausa district. After the protestors were driven out from the protest site by the Dausa police, the BJP leaders brought the body of the deceased to Jaipur on Thursday. Several BJP leaders including former state president Dr Arun Chaturvedi, Dr Kirodi Lal Meena, Sanganer MLA Ashok Lahoti, and others staged a dharna a few metres away from CM’s residence.
Rajasthan police, present at the site, allegedly used tear gas and rained lathis to disperse the protestors on Thursday.
The Rajasthan priest was forcefully made to sign the documents, alleges BJP leader
Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Singh Chauhan said that Shambhu, who lived alone, was the owner of two bighas of land near a highway in Rajasthan’s Dausa district. Shambhu’s caretaker, taking advantage of his disability, fraudulently registered his land in the name of a person named Balbir and a woman last month through his caretaker, the ASP said.
As per the BJP MP, the priest’s land was grabbed by the mafia after he was made to forcefully sign the documents. He was also thrashed by the mafia due to which he died, alleged Meena, after which the MP along with other BJP leaders staged a sit-in, demanding justice for the deceased priest.
BJP leader criticises the Congress Govt in Rajasthan for its apathy
BJP leaders’ demands included cancellation of the registration, action against the officials involved in the process and removing encroachments from ‘mandir-mafi’ lands, those lands designated for temples, priests or their family members. They also demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family of the deceased along with a job for the next of the kin.
The leaders castigated the ruling Congress government for turning a blind eye towards the growing menace of land mafia in the state. “The government is sleeping and we are here to wake up the government,” Meena said.
Dassault Aviation, the maker of Rafale fighter jets, has denied the report by French media outlet Mediapart, which had claimed that the company had paid a bribe of € 1.1 million to an Indian company. Dassault has said that no violations were reported in the sale of 36 Rafale jet to India in the government-to-government deal.
“Numerous controls are carried out by official organizations, including the French Anti-Corruption Agency. No violations were reported, notably in the frame of the contract with India for the acquisition of 36 Rafales,” the company said. The company also said that it “wishes to reiterate that it acts in strict compliance with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and national laws, in particular the law of December 9, 2016 known as Sapin 2”.
In a statement released on 8th April, Dassault Aviation said that it has “implemented strict internal procedures to prevent corruption, guaranteeing the integrity, ethics and reputation of the company in its industrial and commercial relations. In the context of the Sapin 2 law, the company has completed and strengthened its system for the prevention and detection of corruption and influence peddling, both at the level of the parent company and its subsidiaries.”
The company said that the contract with India for 36 Rafale jets, along with the corresponding offset contracts, meet the criteria established by these regulations and are being executed in full transparency between the various government and industrial partners.
The company also informed that Dassault Aviation and the Reliance Group established the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) Joint Venture in 2017 and built a plant in Nagpur that has been producing numerous Falcon parts and pieces since 2018. Falcon is a business jet manufactured by the French aviation giant.
The Mediapart report had said that French anti-corruption agency Agence Française Anticorruption (AFA) had discovered that Dassault had paid one million euros to a middleman who is now under investigation in India in connection with another defence deal. According to the report, Dassault had clarified the payment saying that it paid to the Indian company to manufacture 50 large replica models of Rafale jets. The expenditure was reportedly shown under “Gifts to Clients” in Dassault accounts, implying that the models were ordered to give away as gifts to its clients.
Dassault had also provided the anti-corruption agency with invoices by Indian company Defsys Solutions against the supply of the models. However, the report claims that the company was unable to show proof of actually delivery of the models.
Defsys Solutions is owned by the family of Sushen Mohan Gupta, who was arrested by ED in 2019 for his involvement in kickbacks paid in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The company has also denied the claims of receiving money from Dassault without delivering anything, saying it received payment for making replicas of Rafale. “This is in response to wholly unsubstantiated, baseless and misleading claims appearing in certain sections of the media, insinuating that Defsys never supplied 50 replica models of Rafale aircraft,” the company said in a statement.
Defsys has also said that “Delivery challans, E-way bills and GST returns related to such delivery have been duly filed with the relevant authorities.”
