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‘He is still a Bishop’: How Kerala Church defended their decision to put rape accused Franco Mulakkal on their annual calendar

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‘He is still a Bishop’: How Kerala Church defended their decision to put rape accused Franco Mulakkal on their annual calendar

Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Church has published the photograph of rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal in their official calendar for 2021. This move has been criticised by the followers of the Church, who have burnt the copies of the calendar in protest.

As per reports, the Church had not only printed the photograph of Mulakkal on the annual calendar, they also specified his birthday on it. Following criticism from several quarters and burning of calendar copies in Thrissur and Kollam, the Syro-Malabar Church has defended its move and claimed that charges against the accused have not yet been proven and that he continues to remain a Bishop.

Managing Editor of Catholica Sabha, Fr Akkamattathil Raphael, stated, “Mulakkal continues to be a Bishop. Only his administrative duties have been taken away. Sp along with birthdays of other Bishops, we mentioned his birthday too. That’s all. He faces some charges and a trial is progressing. Let the verdict come. Some people are needlessly trying to create a controversy against the Church.”

Screenshot of the Syro-Malabar Church calendar for 2021, image via Twitter

Protests against the Church

The decision of the Syro-Malabar Church was heavily criticised by the members of ‘Save Our Sisters Action Council’. The group, which protects nuns from persecution by the Church authorities, expressed their angst by burning copies of the contentious calendar outside the administrative buildings of the Church in Kollam and Thrissur. They have accused the Archdiocese of ‘eulogising’ a rape accused and sending the wrong message to the society about their professional ethics.

The rape case of Franco Mulakkal

Franco Mulakkal, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, was accused of raping a 44-year-old nun at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and subsequent sexual exploitations afterwards. The nun had registered a complaint in June 2018 and has also claimed that despite her complaints, the church took no action on the bishop.

He was however charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (c)(a) sexual intercourse by a person in authority), 376(2)(k) (sexual intercourse by exhorting authority), 377 (unnatural sex) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Earlier in August, the Supreme Court dismissed his petition seeking to quash Kerala High Court’s order that had dismissed his discharge plea in the rape case. The Kerala High Court had ruled that the rape-accused Bishop must face trial in the case after the prosecution had argued that there was enough evidence against him.

Shaheen Bagh redux: After Khalistani elements, now children join the farmers’ protest at Singhu border

OpIndia Staff
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Shaheen Bagh redux: After Khalistani elements, now children join the farmers’ protest at Singhu border

With the meetings between the demonstrators protesting along the Singhu borders and the central government over the newly introduced farm bills hitting an impasse, the protests have now seen participation from young and impressionable children. 

Scores of children are now being used as pawns by the protesters to mount pressure on the Centre into acceding to their demands. Young children were seen holding posters and banners in solidarity with the protesters and demanding the government to repeal the farm bills. 

Even though pandemic induced online schooling has greatly impacted the education of children, the protesters have used the remote schooling to their advantage, taking their children to the protest sites to rail against the farm laws. Children start their day sloganeering at the protest site and ends up poring on the screen on the screen of his smartphone, going through the assignments or notes sent throughout the day.

Earlier, Khalistani elements were found participating and actively supporting and funding the farmers’ stir near Delhi border. Khalsa Aid India had set up massage centres at Singhu border. The Khalsa Aid is a front organisation for the Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

Children used as props during the anti-CAA stir in Shaheen Bagh

The participation of children in protest along theDelhi border bears a stark resemblance with the Shaheen Bagh protests that also witnessed children being used as prop by the protesters to garner sympathy from the masses and pressurise the government into repealing the Citizenship Amendment Act. 

The anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh had witnessed a tragic death of a 4-month-old infant due to severe cold and congestion after being exposed to bitter cold that swept the national capital region earlier in January. There infant, Mohammad Jahan, who died on January 30, was taken to protest site at Shaheen Bagh almost every day. The Supreme Court had fumed over the incident, questioning how can a 4-month-old baby participate in a protest. 

If this wasn’t enough, a video of children holding posters of Mohammad Jahan had gone viral on the social media websites. In the video, while the gullible children were holding Jahan’s pictures, Shaheen Bagh protesters in the background could be heard rationalising Jahan’s death as a ‘Qurbani’ or sacrifice for the anti-CAA movement.

An NGO named ‘Save Child India’ had filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) registering their concerns over the fact that children were being used in protests as props during the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh. The NGO had said that using children as props for anti-CAA protests was a gross violation of the rights of children and calls it child abuse. This complaint came after several children were seen raising slogans and protesting in Shaheen Bagh.

Has been praising Osama Bin Laden: Here is what UP govt said while opposing bail for PFI member and ‘dubious’ journalist Siddique Kappan

OpIndia Staff
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Has been praising Osama Bin Laden: Here is what UP govt said while opposing bail for PFI member and ‘dubious’ journalist Siddique Kappan

In its latest affidavit in the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government has opposed the bail plea of PFI member and Kerala ‘journalist’ Siddique Kappan. He was arrested on October 5 for trying to disturb social harmony and incite caste violence following the Hathras case, along with Atiqur Rahman, Masood Ahmed and Alam.

The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), where Kappan served as the secretary of the Delhi unit, had moved the Supreme Court demanding his release and accusing the Uttar Pradesh government of ‘illegal arrest’ and trying to ‘silence the media’. However, the government had rubbished all its claims in the latest affidavit to the apex court.

KUWJ is a dubious organisation, tried to pass off Siddique Kappan as a ‘journalist’

The Yogi Adityanath-led-Uttar Pradesh government pointed out that Siddique Kappan was associated with the radical Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and a banned terrorist organisation named Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). It argued that KUWJ, which sought for the release of Kappan, is a dubious organisation with no credibility and that the accused is not a journalist, as per a report in Hindustan Times.

“KUWJ does not represent all journalists. There is a separate association of journalists which is the mainstream association. Therefore, the present petition is not maintainable…Kappan and all other co-accused are directly and closely associated with PFI members, who have been the executive members of the banned terrorist organisation SIMI,” it added.

The government also slammed the Kerala Union of Working Journalists for trying to cover up the ‘true identity’ of the accused. It said that Kappan worked as a ‘contributor’ at a newspaper named Thejas, and not as a ‘full-time journalist’. The news organisation had shut operations in December 2018 and as such, it did not make sense for Kappan to visit Hathras under the pretext of covering the case. The government, in its affidavit, said that Kappan and three other accused were en route Hathras to incite caste violence in the region, on the instructions of Delhi riot accused Mohammed Danish.

KUWJ facing charges for land encroachment, financial irregularities, and terror connections

The State government emphasised that KUWJ was under a vigilance inquiry on charges of ’embezzlement’ and ‘misappropriation’ of public funds, following an order of the Kerala High Court. It further stated that the Thrissur unit of KUWJ was also being probed for encroaching upon the land of the religious trust (devaswom) of Vadakkumnatha temple in Kerala.

It said that all ex-Editors working at the news organisation had links with PFI. The affidavit stated, “As per the investigations till date, most of the executive members of PFI who are ex-office bearers of terrorist organisation SIMI have been in close intimacy with Kappan… Documents disclosed the formation of PFI as a reincarnation of SIMI after being banned. Also, the motive and ideology of both PFI and SIMI are corroborative.”

Siddique Kappan – PFI member who supported Osama Bin Laden

The Uttar Pradesh government had submitted a copy of a front-page story by Kappan in Thejas, dating back to November 30, 2011, wherein he claimed that Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden was a ‘martyr’. The government revealed that Siddique Kappan was the mastermind of several other riots, who in collusion with Thejas Editors, wanted to create religious unrest in the State of Kerala.

The UP government also informed the Supreme Court that Kappan and other co-accused were being investigated for fraudulent financial transactions. It has also accused Kappan of non-cooperation, reluctance to share details of his social media accounts and lying to the investigative officials about his residence in Delhi. The Supreme Court has now adjourned the hearing till the third week of January.

PFI member Rauf Sharif had paid for the Hathras trip of Kappan

Popular Front of India’s student wing Campus Front of India (CFI) leader KA Rauf Sharif was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday from Thiruvananthapuram when he was trying to flee from the country. As per the ED report, Rauf Sharif had funded the trip by PFI members and self-proclaimed journalist Siddique Kappan to Hathras, Uttar Pradesh after the controversy over the case. A lot of political parties and organisations had gathered in Hathras, trying to stoke unrest and stir up caste violence.

The ED has stated that Rauf Sharif had received foreign funding worth crores in the multiple bank accounts under suspicious transactions.

Farmers, who were enjoying gyms, massage parlours and pizza are now upset about the absence of proper toilets

OpIndia Staff
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Farmers, who were enjoying gyms, massage parlours and pizza are now upset about the absence of proper toilets

Protesting Punjab farmers at Singhu border are upset over lack of facilities and cleanliness.

The protesting farmers from Punjab have blamed the organisers for not providing running water in toilets. They claim they will die of diseases but will not give up the protests.

Another protestor also complained about increase of mosquito menace there. This while the protest organisers have been providing them with foot massagers, gyms, music concerts and also live food counters like pizzas for the protestors.

Pizza party organised at ‘farmer’ protest site along Haryana-Delhi border/ Image Source: Rightster

Over and above the facilities for entertainment provided by protest organisers, Arvind Kejriwal’s Delhi government has also provided basic amenities to the protestors. In fact, AAP govt has been boasting of providing these services to the protestors.

Quite literally.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had also declared himself as the ‘sevadar’ for the protestors.

But as the protests enter the 20th day, the protestors seem to be getting edgy.

Delhi farmers’ protest

Farmers, mostly from Punjab and some from Haryana, have been blocking major roads to Delhi protesting against the central government’s new farm laws which lets them sell their produce to whoever they want, at whatever price they want. The protestors, however, are claiming that the government is doing away with the ‘mandi’ system and the minimum support price govt gives to purchase the produce. The government, however, has been relentlessly busting the myth and has clarified umpteen number of times that the mandi system as well as MSP stays. However, the protestors are not ready to budge.

These protests have now taken a dangerous turn as certain Khalistani elements seem to have extended their support with quite a few hateful slogans being raised at the protest sites.

Goa: BJP sweeps Zilla Panchayat elections, Congress, AAP wiped out

OpIndia Staff
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Goa: BJP sweeps Zilla Panchayat elections, Congress, AAP wiped out

On Monday, the ruling party BJP won 33 out of the 42 seats contested in two Zila Panchayat bodies in Goa. The Congress Party managed to win only one out of the 38 seats on which it contested. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the people have shown trust in BJP. He applauded the enthusiasm of the people of Goa to vote amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Notably, independent candidates won seven seats in the Zila Panchayat polls. Regional party MGP won four seats and AAP managed only one seat in the elections. According to the state election commission, out of 7,91,814 eligible voters, 4.50 lakh voters cast votes. Paper ballots were used in the election instead of EVM machines. This was the first time all major parties except Goa Forward Party were contesting in Zila Panchayat elections.

People trust PM Modi’s policies – BJP leaders

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in a tweet, “I humbly bow down before the people of Goa for the trust they have reposed in the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Govt of Goa working under my leadership. Let us shape a glorious and Swayampurna (self-reliant) Goa by taking ahead the same trust and confidence.” Sawant had called these elections a test for his government as since he became CM the state has been facing several issues including unemployment, inability to resume mining operations, and Mhadhei water dispute with Karnataka.

National President of Bharatiya Janata Party JP Nadda congratulated Goa BJP leaders and said, “This result shows the faith of Farmers, Labourers, Women & Youth in the leadership of @narendramodi
ji & policies of BJP govt in State.”

Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated CM Sawant and said, “I thank people of Goa for choosing development in Zilla Panchayat elections. People across the nation have faith in PM @narendramodi led BJP’s Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas.”

There have been protests against infrastructure projects and policy decisions in the state. The result, as per the ruling party, is a nod to the projects. Sadanand Tanavade, State BJP President said that there were several agitations across social media platforms about coal transportation, power, and double-tracking. Political parties and NGOs were creating protests to defame the government. “The result is a slap on their faces and a certificate of appreciation to BJP,” he added.

Congress needs deep analysis, says Goa Congress president

Girish Chodankar, Goa Congress president said that the party needs a deep analysis of the results. He said that they have failed to convince people that they are changing. “They feel that if they vote to Congress, then their vote will go to BJP as in past our MLAs defected. We failed to weed out this perception from people’s minds,” he added. Chodankar further said that they respect the dissent and vow to change.

‘No relationship can be one-sided’: Former Indian diplomats slam Trudeau’s continuous support to Khalistani elements in Canada

OpIndia Staff
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‘No relationship can be one-sided’: Former Indian diplomats slam Trudeau’s continuous support to Khalistani elements in Canada

Days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to interfere in the internal politics of India by extending his support to the ‘organic’ anti-farm law agitation, the Indian Ambassadors’ Group wrote an open letter on Monday, slamming his vote bank politics.

While slamming Justin Trudeau, who was earlier snubbed by India for supporting Khalistani terrorists, the letter emphasised, “It is well-known that the separatist and violent Khalistani elements carry out anti-India activities, from the safety of the Canadian soil. They are also radicalising the Canadian youth with far-reaching consequences, which is being ignored at the altar of short-term political expediency.”

“It is well known that Khalistani elements in Canada control a number of prominent Gurudwaras which gives them access to substantial funds, some of which are allegedly diverted to the electoral campaign of political parties especially the Liberals,” the letter added. The former Indian envoys highlighted that Khalistani terrorists often hold processions and rallies in Canada, which are attended by Canadian politicians, despite them raising anti-India slogans. “Few Canadian politicians have qualms about attending such events which provide the oxygen of publicity to the separatists”, the ex-diplomats reiterated.

The letter slammed Trudeau and other Canadian lawmakers for turning a blind eye to the nexus between Pakistani diplomats and Khalistani terrorists. Even after the activities of Khalistanis were highlighted in the ‘2018 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada’, all such references were later covertly deleted. “This editorial jugglery, may be good enough for domestic purposes, but the fact remains that neither Canada nor any other state can condone fundamentalism, violent extremism or terrorism, under international law,” the ex envoys stressed.

While slamming Trudeau for his unwarranted comments on the internal affairs of India and fanning the flames of anti-farm law protests, the letter pointed out that Canada has long been a critic of India’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and therefore its critique of the farm laws was thus ironical. “Back home, encouraged by the Canadian support, the protestors have hardened their stance, adopting an all or nothing approach,” they clarified.

“Such blatant interference in India’s internal affairs to appease a section of the Liberal party’s voter base is completely unacceptable and cannot but cast a long shadow on bilateral relations. Such behaviour, against well-established diplomatic norms, is also bound to hurt Canada’s own standing in the world. It further carries the risk of other nations repaying Canada in the same token,” the letter concluded pointing out that bilateral relations cannot be one-sided.

We are all very worried: Justin Trudeau on farmer protests

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers have expressed his concerns over ongoing farmers’ protests in India. During the virtual Gurpurab 2020 celebration, PM Trudeau, at the beginning of his address, talked about the protests in India.

While talking about the protests, Trudeau said, “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers. The situation is concerning. And we all are very worried about family and friends; I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you. Canada will always be ready to defend the right to peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we reached out to multiple means directly to Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”

India summons Canadian Ambassador, MEA slams Trudeau

Reacting to his comments, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava called the remarks ill-informed, saying, “We’ve seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. These are unwarranted especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country.”

The Canadian High Commissioner was also summoned on December 4 by the Ministry of External Affairs. He was informed that the remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the farmers’ protest and also the comments of some of the cabinet ministers was unacceptable interference in India’s internal matter.

Family of former Nawab of Junagadh, living in Pakistan, still dreams that Junagadh is part of Pakistan, organises ‘recognition ceremony’

OpIndia Staff
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Family of former Nawab of Junagadh, living in Pakistan, still dreams that Junagadh is part of Pakistan, organises ‘recognition ceremony’

The family of former Nawab of Junagadh, who fled to Pakistan after the Independence and partition of 1947, still dreams that the former princely state is part of Pakistan. After Pakistan issued its new political map claiming Junagadh and Jammu & Kashmir as part of Pakistan, the former Nawab’s family has expressed gratitude to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In fact, the absurdities reached a new height last week after the ‘Nawab of Junagadh’, Jehangir Khan, made his son Ahmed Ali, the next ‘Wazir-e-Azam’ (Diwan) of Junagadh.

Claiming that India has ‘illegally occupied’ Junagadh, Jehangir Khan asserted that Junagadh will become part of Pakistan. “I will always tell Modi that Prime Minister Modi, Junagadh was part of Pakistan yesterday, it is part of Pakistan today and will be part of Pakistan tomorrow as well,” he said.

New newly appointed Diwan Ahmed Ali also asserted that he will ensure Junagadh’s ‘independence’ from India. He also added that he will lead a campaign to let the world know that Junagadh is part of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s new ‘political map’

In August this year, on the eve of 1 year of abrogation of Article 370, Pakistan released its new political map claiming Jammu & Kashmir and Junagadh as its own territory. Former princely state of Junagadh is a city and district in the Indian state of Gujarat. After India’s independence, the then Nawab of Junagadh fled to Pakistan with his pet dogs, jewels and treasures.

Junagadh, of course, continues to be part of India, along with Jammu & Kashmir, part of which is currently illegally occupied by Pakistan.

Speculations rife Donald Trump will pardon Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, activist currently lodged at British prison

OpIndia Staff
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Speculations rife Donald Trump will pardon Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, activist currently lodged at British prison

There are strong rumours floating around that Donald Trump might pardon Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. There is no official confirmation as yet but social media is flooded with posts that claim that the United States President will pardon the journalist currently reported to be struggling in a British prison.

Pastor Mark Burns, who appears on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other news channels, declared that Donald Trump will pardon Julian Assange. The Wikileaks founder has been indicted by US authorities on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse related to the publication of secret US military documents.

Ben Quinn, journalist at The Guardian, said that sources close to Wikileaks and Assange have not heard anything official but conceded that the speculation was coming from the pastor who has had access to Donald Trump in the past.

Allum Bokhari, journalist at Breitbart, said that pardoning Julian Assange will be a great blow to “the Deep State that worked overtime” to defeat trump’s reelection bid.

People from both ends of the political spectrum had been urging the US President to officially pardon Julian Assange. The activist committed to transparency has exposed numerous secrets that has embarrassed a lot of governments worldwide. Recently, Australian MP George Christensen had requested Donald Trump to pardon the Wikileaks founder. Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard had also requested the US President to pardon the Wikileaks founder and Edward Snowden.

‘Judgment Day’ for propagandist Kunal Kamra draws closer, Supreme Court to hear 3 contempt petitions on Dec 17

OpIndia Staff
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‘Judgment Day’ for propagandist Kunal Kamra draws closer, Supreme Court to hear 3 contempt petitions on Dec 17

The Supreme Court will take up three contempt petitions against Kunal Kamra for hearing on the 17th of December. Attorney General Kunal Kamra has already given his approval for contempt proceedings against the ‘comedian’.

Kunal Kamra has been making contemptuous remarks against the Judiciary in his bid to become a liberal ‘hero’ or a ‘martyr’. In one of his tweets, he had shown CJI Arvind Bobde the middle finger and in another, he had painted the Supreme Court in saffron colour to allege that it had become a puppet of the NDA Government.

AG KK Venugopal, granting his consent to initiate proceedings against Kamra said the tweets by Kamra, where he referred to the Supreme Court of India as Supreme Joke India, and said that humour has left the SC long ago, “were highly objectionable.” 

Kunal Kamra gets ever closer to being a ‘liberal’ hero

A day after Attorney General KK Venugopal granted his consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against far-left troll Kunal Kamra, the self-proclaimed comedian Kunal Kamra had brazened it out saying that he will not retract or apologize for his abusive tweets that maligned country’s judiciary. Kunal Kamra then proceeded to play the martyr by saying that he would neither apologise nor pay fine if he is convicted in the contempt case that is yet to be filed against him. 

Positioning himself to be some sort of a ‘victim’, Kamra tweeted, “No lawyers, No apology, No fine, No waste of space”. Amusingly, Kamra’s theatrics comes even before the initiation of contempt proceedings against him. Only the consent of the Attorney General has been granted, and the actual proceedings are yet to start in the court.

With this latest contempt proceeding against Kamra’s latest rant against the CJI, he seems to be inching one step closer to realising his dream of being a ‘liberal’ hero, who deliberately break the law and then position themselves as crusaders against a tyrannical system. Perhaps, his inspiration is Prashant Bhushan, who had done exactly the same and after being compared to Gandhi, had apologised and paid a Re. 1 fine to the court for his contemptuous tweets.

‘Kab tak royega ek chhote se affair ke liye?’: Kangana Ranaut on transfer of Hrithik Roshan’s FIR to Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch unit

OpIndia Staff
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‘Kab tak royega ek chhote se affair ke liye?’: Kangana Ranaut on transfer of Hrithik Roshan’s FIR to Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch unit

Kangana Ranaut has reacted strongly to the transfer of Hrithik Roshan’s FIR from the Cyber Cell to the Crime Branch Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU). The FIR was registered in 2016 and the investigation has been pending since then. The actor had alleged that he had received hundreds of emails from the email id of the actress.

Reacting to the development, Kangana Ranaut said, “His sob story starts again, so many years since our break up and his divorce but he refuses to move on, refuses to date any woman, just when I gather courage to find some hope in my personal life he starts the same drama again.” She added, “How long will you keep crying over a small affair?”

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani had written to the Mumbai Commissioner of Police stating that there had been no progress in the case. “We write to you on behalf of our client Mr. Hrithik Roshan. Our client lodged a FIR bearing C.R.No.78/ 2016 dated 23.05.2016, with the cyber crime police station against unidentified individuals for offenses punishable under sections 419 IPC r/w. sections 66(c) and 66 (d) of the IT Act. A copy of the FIR is attached herewith for ease of reference. Our client co-operated with the investigation and handed over his electronic devices. It is pertinent to state that inspite of an order dated 30.11.2016, passed by the Ld. Magistrate, Esplanade Court, directing return of our client’s laptop and phone he has not collected the same as he wanted to assist the police reach the real culprits who had impersonated him,” the letter reads.

“Our client also met the top police officials when he reiterated all the facts and informed them about the trauma being caused to him and his family. He also reiterated his request for a timely investigation. However, till date there has been no progress in the investigation and the aforementioned cases are still pending,” it added.

The letter appealed, “We thus request to kindly look in the matter and issue appropriate orders to kindly direct completion of investigation at the earliest since the same is pending since 2016.”

There has been a feud between the two actors ever since Kangana Ranaut went public about their alleged affair. Hrithik Roshan had then slapped an FIR against the actress, denying the alleged affair.

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