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Maharashtra ATS transfers Mansukh Hiren murder case to NIA after Thane court ordered it to stop the investigation immediately

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra ATS transfers Mansukh Hiren murder case to NIA after Thane court ordered it to stop the investigation immediately

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra finally handed over the Mansukh Hiren case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after a court instructed it to do so. The court had ordered the ATS to stop investigating the case and hand over the same to the NIA, after NIA was forced to move to the court over Maharashtra ATS’s non-cooperation in the Mansukh Hiren death case.

As per reports, the ATS has handed over all the case papers to the NIA, along with the two accused arrested by it in the case. The union home ministry had issued orders to transfer the case to NIA on 20th March. But despite that, the ATS had refused to hand over the case, and had continued ‘investigating’ the case. Surprisingly, the next day the DGP of the ATS had announced on his personal Facebook account that the case has been solved, but he didn’t provide any details.

Due to the non-co-coperation from the ATS, the NIA had approached the court for an instruction to transfer the case. NIA had requested the case records and other necessary documents in Mansukh Hiren’s death case which was being investigated by the Maharashtra ATS. Even after 3 days of transfer orders, Maharashtra ATS had not handed over the documents which led to NIA filing an application before the Thane magistrate.

Maharashtra ATS had claimed that they have cracked the case and arrested two suspects- an ex-cop and a bookie in connection to Mansukh Hiren’s death. However, the Thane Court asked the ATS to stop the investigations completely and hand over all the papers to NIA. It is said that NIA will soon appeal for Sachin Vaze’s extended custody which is supposed to end tomorrow.

Mansukh Hiren’s car was not stolen

In another major development, a report by Times Now reveals that Sachin Vaze’s driver has confessed that Mansukh Hiren’s car, in which gelatin sticks were found outside Ambani’s residence was not stolen and that he was asked to drive the green Scorpio from Vikhroli to South Mumbai, Crawford market. The driver also revealed that this car was brought to the Police Headquarters on February 20th, and was parked inside the headquarters many times between February 20 to February 25. However, the investigation is yet to reveal why was Mansukh Hiren made to file a stolen car complaint at the Vikhroli police station when Sachin Vaze’s driver was instructed to get it to the CIU headquarters.

NIA is also said to be interrogating a jeweler from South Mumbai for the past 5 days who allegedly booked a luxurious suite for Sachin Vaze in Trident for 100 days. Some Hawala operators are also on NIA’s radar who will be summoned soon to record statements. A Times Now report reveals that transactions worth lakhs were made by Sachin Vaze in the past two months through his business partners.

On the other hand, a cabinet meeting is underway in Maharashtra and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh is said to be present in the meeting. As per a News18 report, there are whispers of a possible reshuffle in the cabinet where Anil Deshmukh could be transferred but no reports of him being ousted unless there’s an inquiry on him.

It is being reported that Anil Deshmukh made a back door entry for this cabinet meeting. The support for Anil Deshmukh seems to be quite strong at the moment.

The NCP karyakartas were seen staging a protest outside the residence of ex-CM, Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra BJP has been relentlessly agitating for the suspension of Anil Deshmukh. The NCP workers have been detained and taken to the nearest police station.

NCP workers protesting outside BJP Maharashtra leader, Devendra Fadnavis’s Nagpur residence. Image source: Times of India

This morning Devendra Fadnavis along with BJP Maharashtra’s top leaders submitted a memorandum to the governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari to demand a report from the Maharashtra government on handling of corona crisis and recent controversies which include the extortion case, transfer racket gate, and Mansukh Hiren’s death case.

Uttar Pradesh: Israel, Zulfikar, and Dilshad to be hanged till death for raping and murdering a minor girl in 2018

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Israel, Zulfikar, and Dilshad to be hanged till death for raping and murdering a minor girl in 2018

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court sentenced three men to death in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, today for the brutal gangrape and murder of a minor girl in January 2018. The three men, Israel, Zulfikar, and Dilshad were convicted of raping and murdering a minor girl in a moving car in a case that sent shockwaves throughout Uttar Pradesh.

On 2nd January 2018, the minor victim, aged 17, was on her way home back from tuition classes on her cycle. During this period, the girl was forcefully removed from her cycle abducted by the three men driving in an Alto car. In this moving car, the minor girl was repeatedly raped, murdered, and then unceremoniously dumped in a sewer by the three monsters. The girl’s body was found on January 4. Soon after, Dilshad, Israel, and Zulfikar were arrested from Sikandrabad and promptly put behind bars.

In an interrogation with the Bulandshahr Police, Zulfikar and Dilshad gave a bizarre and outrageous motive for their heinous crime. According to them, the reason why they decided to go to Bulandshahr on the day of the incident was because of the nice weather, and the fact that they wanted to do some “mauj masti”. “Mauj Masti” in its colloquial meaning means “having fun”. However, “Mauj Masti” for the three convicted men in this context specifically meant abducting a girl and sexually assaulting, possibly raping her.

According to Zulfikar, the three men reached Bulandshahr’s Bhoor Chauraha by 6:00 P.M. on the day of the incident. Here, they spent their time stalking several girls, going around in their Alto. Going towards Chandpur, they saw the minor victim riding her cycle back home. They then grabbed the victim off of her cycle, pulled her inside their car and then fleed the scene.

Zulfikar further added that in the moving car, Israel sexually assaulted the minor girl, whilst Dilshad was holding down the girl’s hands. As the girl started shouting in an attempt to save herself, the three men, seemingly without any care for consequence, decided to kill the minor girl for this. Zulfikar kept driving the car as Israel and Dilshad strangled the minor girl to death with her own dupatta. After this odious and abominable act, the men then simply threw the body of the victim in a sewer, in a most undignified manner.

After the police concluded its investigation, proceedings were initiated against the three accused in a POCSO court. The POCSO court judge held all three accused guilty of aducting, raping and then murdering a minor girl. For these monstrous and horrific acts, the POCSO judge sentenced all three accused to be hanged from the neck until death.

The parents of the minor girl have welcomed the POCSO court decision, declaring it a victory of justice. The mother of the victim expressed her wish to see the hanging of three convicts in person.

Delhi: Yogi Govt demolishes illegal construction, takes control of land where Amanatullah Khan had settled Rohingyas

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Yogi Govt demolishes illegal construction, takes control of land where Amanatullah Khan had settled Rohingyas

In a major action against the illegal encroachment by Rohingyas in Delhi, the irrigation department, working on the directions of the Yogi Adityanath government, freed 6 acres of illegally occupied land in the Madanpur Khadar region.

On Wednesday morning, JCBs were moved in to demolish the structures constructed on illegally occupied Khasra number 612 land in the Madanpur Khadar region. The land worth several crores is owned by Uttar Pradesh’s irrigation department and was encroached by illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

UP Minister of Jal Shakti Dr Mahendra Singh has shared a video of the demolition drive stating that the 6 acres of land in Madanpur, owned by UP irrigation department was under illegal occupation for years. He stated that the UP government has demolished illegal structures and has now taken the land under its control.

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan had helped over 300 Rohingyas to settle in the Madanpur Khadar region

Apparently, the illegally occupied land was encroached upon by over 300 Rohingyas, who had made illegal constructions on it. A report published by Dainik Bhaskar last year suggested that the Rohingyas were living illegally right across the cremation ground in the Madanpur Khadar area of the national capital. Moreover, they had settled on the land owned by UP government’s irrigation department.

As per the report, the illegal Rohingya migrants were getting all government benefits as well. Amid the lockdown, the Delhi Government and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan were accused of providing a huge amount of ration to them. Madanpur Khadar falls under the Okhla constituency in New Delhi. As per the report, the illegal settlement of Rohingyas also had stolen electricity connection and borewell water.

Meanwhile, other migrant workers who lived in the nearby region were deprived of rations and other basic facilities by the AAP government. OpIndia had then reported how the poor in Okhla had alleged religious discrimination in ration distribution in Amanatullah Khan’s constituency. The locals had alleged that they were not provided ration because they were Hindus and ‘did not vote for AAP’. 

The Dainik Bhaskar report had further stated that the local residents alleged that the Kalindi Kunj Police station officers were aware of the illegal Rohingyas selling marijuana, smack and other illegal substances but refrained from taking any action against them. Many RWAs had requested the Delhi Police to remove the illegal settlement but all pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

No civilian killed in law and order incidents after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir: Home Ministry

OpIndia Staff
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No civilian killed in law and order incidents after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir: Home Ministry

On Wednesday, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy informed that no civilian has died in law and order incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, following the abrogation of Article 370.

In his written reply, MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy said that the relatives of civilians, killed in terrorist attacks or cross-firing between armed forces and terrorists, have been compensated with ₹1 lakh.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs also informed that the number of terror incidents have declined significantly, following the abrogation of Article 370. “The number of terrorist incidents in J&K in 2019, 2020 & 2021(15th March) is 594, 244 and 21 respectively,” he added.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre decided to do away with Article 370 and completely integrate Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Union. In the historic legislation, the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Decline in IPC crimes by 16.86% in 2020 as compared to 2019

G Kishan Reddy further informed,”As reported by Delhi Police, there’s a decline of 16.86% in total IPC crimes registered during 2020 as compared to 2019. Similarly, there is a decline of 12.82% in total IPC crimes registered in first 2 months of 2021 as compared to corresponding period of 2020.”

At the same time, he said that the number of inmates lodged in prison was 4,78, 600 as against its capacity of 4,03,739 on December 31, 2019. Out of the 4.78 lac prisoners, about 3,30,487 were under trial.

Stone-pelting incidents saw 87% drop in J &K in 2020

In a positive development, incidents of stone-pelting saw an 87.13% drop in 2020, as compared to 2019 in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The data, presented by Director General of Police (J & K) Dilbag Singh in January this year, showed the impact that the abrogation of Article 370.

Singh said, “There have been 255 stone-pelting incidents in 2020 as compared to the incidents in 2019 and the year (2020), witnessed an 87.31 per cent decline.” He further emphasised, “Law and order situation is well under control. Our resolve for 2021 is strengthening and consolidating peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Amidst Maha-mess, Sanjay Raut to host a dinner party tonight, guest list includes BJP MPs

OpIndia Staff
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Amidst Maha-mess, Sanjay Raut to host a dinner party tonight, guest list includes BJP MPs

While the state of Maharashtra is crumbling under the second wave of Covid-19, extortion scam and transfer racket, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on the other hand is all set to host a dinner party tonight at his Delhi residence. As per a report in Lokmat, the guest list features many BJP MPs from Maharashtra.

It is said that the party was pre-planned by Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut, before the ‘vasooli gate’ news broke out. The invite was extended to all the MPs from Maharashtra, including that from BJP. Whether the invited BJP MPs will take part in the dinner or no is to be seen.

Maharashtra BJP leaders are currently agitating over Anil Deshmukh’s alleged involvement in the corruption case after his name featured in a letter written by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh. Maharashtra opposition leader, Devendra Fadnavis, is constantly pressurizing the MVA government to suspend Anil Deshmukh as Maharashtra Home Minister and initiate a probe against him on his alleged involvement in the extortions.

Devendra Fadnavis assisted by top Maharashtra leaders like BJP Maharashtra President Chandrakantdada Patil, Sudhirbhau Mungantiwar, LoP Pravin Darkar, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Ashish Shelar, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and Jaykumar Rawal submitted a memorandum to the governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari to demand a report from Maharashtra government on handling of corona crisis and recent controversies which include the extortion case, transfer racket gate, and Mansukh Hiren’s death case.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut has rubbished all the claims and alleged that there is nothing serious about the transfer racket case. HE alleged that it is an attempt by the BJP to de-stabilize the otherwise strong Maha Vikas Aghadi government. “The government will not come under threat with it,” Sanjay Raut claimed in a press interaction.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh met Uddhav Thackeray last evening at the latter’s residence in Mumbai. Maharashtra Cabinet is scheduled to hold a meeting today which is said to form a panel probe Param Bir’s claim.

Nikita Tomar murder case: Faridabad court convicts accused Tauseef and his friend Rehan

OpIndia Staff
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Nikita Tomar murder case: Faridabad court convicts accused Tauseef and his friend Rehan

On Wednesday, the district sessions court in Faridabad convicted prime accused Tauseef and his friend Rehan in the sensational Nikita Tomar murder case. The woman was killed for refusing Tauseef’s demands of converting to Islam and marrying him.

According to the reports, the Faridabad fast track court convicted prime accused Tauseef and his friend Rehan for killing 21-year-old Hindu girl Nikita Tomar in October last year. The third accused, Azruddin, who had supplied a weapon to the accused, has been acquitted.

The quantum of sentence for the convicts will be pronounced on Friday, said the court.

Nikita Tomar, a 20-year-old girl was shot dead in daylight on October 26, 2020, by her school mate in the Faridabad district of Haryana. The crime was caught on camera. The trial for this murder case began on December 1, 2020.

Nikita Tomar murder

In October 2020, a 21-year-old student Nikita Tomar was shot dead in full public view by two men outside the Aggarwal college in Ballabgarh, Faridabad. The video of the gruesome act caught on camera had gone viral.

In the CCTV footage, the assailant was seen stepping out of his car and pulling out his revolver. Nikita was seen struggling to get free and she had managed to flee for a brief moment before the accused grabed her again. While Nikita struggled to free herself from the man, he then shot her in point-blank range.

The other accused, Mohammad Rihan, was also pulling Tauseef back into the car.

Tomar had filed a molestation complaint against Tauseef a few months prior to her murder. However, the family later dropped the case. Her family had alleged that Tauseef started hounding her again and pressuring her to embrace Islam. 

Congress link with Tauseef

Reportedly, Tauseef is the grandson of Kabir Ahmed, a Congress leader who was elected as an MLA from Haryana’s Nuh constituency in 1975 and from the Tauru constituency in 1982. He continued to be Khanpur and Raisika village sarpanch for almost 20 years. Khanpur and Raisika are located in Nuh Tehsil of Mewat district in Haryana.

Moreover, Tauseef’s late uncle Khurshid Ahmad was a Congress MP of Haryana and was an ex-Cabinet minister of Haryana. Khurshid Ahmed’s son and Taufeeq’s cousin brother Aftab Ahmed was elected as MLA from Nuh, Mewat on the ticket of Congress Party and has been a Minister as well.

Hindus and Sikhs are proud citizens of Afghanistan, violence against them not persecution: Afghan Foreign Minister

OpIndia Staff
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Hindus and Sikhs are proud citizens of Afghanistan, violence against them not persecution: Afghan Foreign Minister

Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, who is on a three-day visit to India, denied on Tuesday that Hindus and Sikhs are being targeted in Afghanistan. Atmar said that the violence against Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan was not ‘persecution per se’. “The violence against Afghans, unfortunately, did not spare our minorities either. So, it is not a kind of persecution against specific minorities per se. It’s the general violence against the entire nation and unfortunately, this part of the population has been disproportionately affected”, Atmar said.

Atmar described Hindu and Sikhs as proud citizenry of Afghanistan

Atmar described Hindus and Sikhs as ‘proud citizenry’ of Afghanistan adding that it would be the responsibility of the government to provide them with protection and security. “They are citizens of Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is proud of them. It has been like that for centuries and will be like that. It is the responsibility of not just the Afghan government, but the Afghanistan people too to protect their federal brothers”, he said.

Atmar held talks with Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on security and economic cooperation and collaboration on efforts to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. While interacting with the media, Atmar described India as a ‘legitimate partner in peace-making’.

A group of Sikhs had returned to India last year

Last year in July, India had said that would facilitate a settlement of Afghan and Sikh community members facing security threats in Afghanistan. There are reportedly around 1000 Sikhs and Hindus left in Afghanistan. A group of 11 Sikhs had arrived in India from Afghanistan including Sikh leader Nidan Singh Sachdeva who was abducted by Islamists, after the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The government of India facilitated their arrival to India, seeking permanent residency and eventually citizenship.

The numbers of religious minorities living in Islamic countries have been diminishing due to persistent violence and persecution. This is the reason that the Indian government enacted the CAA to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities in neighbouring Islamic countries.

Muslim groups in France outrage over alleged ‘Halal chicken ban’ after new guidelines for animal slaughter

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim groups in France outrage over alleged ‘Halal chicken ban’ after new guidelines for animal slaughter

Ahead of Ramzan, the Muslim community has been up-in-arms against the French government over the alleged restrictions against ‘Halal chicken’. The mass resentment against the government was spearheaded by reports that suggested that France may restrict Halal chicken slaughter from July this year.

In a statement released by the directors of Paris, Lyon and Evry Mosques on Thursday (March 18), they cited an order by the Ministry of Agriculture to claim that Islamic principles were being ‘compromised’ by the Government of France. The order (DGAL/SDSSA/2020-72), dated November 23 last year, laid down technical guidelines for the slaughter of animals.

The three mosques claimed that it was impossible to follow the guidelines mandated for halal poultry slaughter in light of the new rules of the Ministry of Agriculture. They claimed that the new guidelines sent a negative message to the large Muslim community. “These precautions are a serious obstacle preventing people from freely practising their religion,” they added. It must be mentioned that these mosques have the power to issue Halal certifications in the country.

What do the rules say?

According to Middle East Eye, the new rules enforced stricter adherence to the use of electric shocks to stun chickens prior to their slaughter. The guidelines issued by France’s Ministry of Agriculture mandated the industrial process of electronarcosis, the use of electricity to paralyse the poultry. One of the mosque authorities alleged that the ‘electrocution rule’ would lead to the death of chicken before its slaughter, and therefore make its consumption ‘Haram (forbidden).’

For the ‘Halal slaughter’ of the poultry, the animal must be alive before its throat is ‘expertly slit’ by a Muslim butcher. Then, the blood of the animal must be drained from the body prior to its consumption. It is important to point out that the circular issued by the French government makes exceptions for religious rituals. As such, stricter adherence to ‘electronarcosis’ would not affect the way ‘Halal slaughter’ is conducted. The French Union for Muslim Consumers has also debunked claims of the ban on Halal chicken.

Despite this, the directors of Paris, Lyon and Evry Mosques had warned of legal action to safeguard their ‘fundamental right’. This has also created panic among the Muslim community, with many pre-maturely labelling the move as ‘Islamophobic.’ The statement made by the three mosques have led to factually incorrect reports, claiming that ‘Halal chicken’ will be banned from July onwards.

Screengrab of the factually incorrect report by FR24

Muslims outraged over misleading reports of ‘Halal chicken’ ban

One Twitter user (@ABroNextDoor) asked, “France to ban halal chicken slaughter??? What a weird country man”

Screengrab of the tweet

Another Twitter user discovered ‘Islamapobia’ after reading factually incorrect reports of chicken ban. “France banning halal chicken is the weirdest form of Islamophobia I’ve seen…How you mad our chicken is clean.”

Screenshot of tweet

Another user claimed, “France banning Halal chicken in July? Do they think that’ll stop Muslims from being Muslim?”

Screengrab of the tweet

While Muslims outrage over fake news of ‘Halal chicken’ ban, the directors of Paris, Lyon and Evry Mosques are yet to clarify on the matter or retract their misleading statements.

In Europe, some animal rights activists claim that the Jewish ‘Kosher’ and Muslim ‘Halal’ practices of slaughtering animals is less ‘humane’ than standard European practice of stunning the animals before killing.

NIA invokes UAPA against Sachin Vaze in Antilia bomb case

OpIndia Staff
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NIA invokes UAPA against Sachin Vaze in Antilia bomb case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has invoked UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) against suspended Mumbai Police cop Sachin Vaze. Vaze is accused of planting an explosive-laden car outside the residence of Reliance Group chief Mukesh Ambani on February 25, 2021. Maharashtra ATS had on Tuesday revealed that Vaze destroyed key evidence to cover his tracks.

Days after the car was discovered, the owner, Mansukh Hiren was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Initially it was reported as suicide, but further investigation pointed towards a murder. His wife had accused Vaze of killing him. Maharashtra ATS has also said that Vaze was directly involved in Hiren’s murder.

Earlier, video footage recorded outside the Crime Branch surfaced, in which Sachin Vaze was seen with Mansukh Hiren, the owner of the bomb-laden Scorpio. The footage was recorded on February 26, a day after the bomb-laden Scorpio was detected outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai. Vaze was driving Hiren to the Crime Branch. Mansukh Hiren was seen sitting next to Vaze in the Land Cruiser Prado – the vehicle which has been seized by the NIA. 

Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine importer in Pakistan threatens to re-export the vaccine if the government fails to set desired MRP

OpIndia Staff
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Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine importer in Pakistan threatens to re-export the vaccine if the government fails to set desired MRP

On March 23, the Russian Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine exporter AGP Limited threatened Pakistan to re-export the 50,000 doses if the government does not set the desired price of the company. According to the reports, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) recommended the price for two doses of the vaccine at PKR 8,449. The importer was not happy with the price. The importer also said that selling the shipment to another country was also on the table as an option if a reasonable price is not fixed.

Geo TV quoted an anonymous source saying, “The government is already under harsh criticism for the price recommended by DRAP’s pricing committee at Pakistani Rs 8,449. It was calculated on the basis of a landing cost of USD 30, but people are comparing it with the cost of the Russian vaccine in India and criticising the government for fixing a higher price as compared to the neighbouring country.”

AGP Limited’s official told Geo TV that the Pakistani government’s price was not affordable as there was an additional landing cost, distributor margin, storage, and transportation cost. Also, the hospitals and institutions will also take service charge which will add up to the price.

Earlier, the Pakistani government had asked the DRAP pricing committee to reconsider and reassess the Maximum Retain Price of the vaccine after AGP Limited showed dissatisfaction over the price recommended. The government officials said that AGP wanted a retail price between PKR 12,000 to PKR 13,000 that would include the landing cost, freight charges, cold storage and other expenses.

Covid-19 in Pakistan

So far, Pakistan has reported 637,042 cases of Coronavirus. A total of 13,965 people have died of complications associated with the infection. Pakistan has recently imposed a complete ban on travel from 12 countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa. Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were tested positive on March 20.

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