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Lottery scams and money laundering: ED conducts raids in multiple places across Sikkim, Bengal and Tamil Nadu in Santiago Martin case

ANI
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Lottery scams and money laundering: ED conducts raids in multiple places across Sikkim, Bengal and Tamil Nadu in Santiago Martin case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted pan-India searches at multiple locations in West Bengal, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu in connection with financial fraud of lottery and the corruption case involving money laundering through lottery tickets to certain influential people.

The raids have been underway since Thursday morning in at the premises of suspects in West Bengal’s Kolkata, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu’s Chennai and Coimbatore.

The agency is probing a lottery scam case registered in 2012 against lottery baron Santiago Martin and others, in which the Sikkim government was allegedly cheated. The ED had earlier attached assets worth Rs 277.59 crore in the case. They included a large number of immovable properties in Tamil Nadu.

On the basis of the charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the ED had initiated a money laundering probe against Martin and his company, Future Gaming Solutions (P) Limited (presently Future Gaming and Hotel Services (P) Limited and formerly Martin Lottery Agencies Limited).

The agency had then alleged that Martin and others conspired to make wrongful gains.

They entered into an agreement with State government officials, in contravention of the Lottery Regulations Act, under which the company could avoid remitting the face value of lottery tickets sold in Kerala to the State exchequer as sale proceeds.

An illegal gain of over Rs 910.30 crore was made by inflating the prize winning tickets’ claims from April 1, 2009, to August 31, 2010, as alleged.

In another case, the Enforcement Directorate in 2022 had also attached properties worth Rs 409.92 crore in the case against Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited and its various sub-distributors and area distributors for West Bengal.

The ED probe is based on the cases registered by the Kolkata Police under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Lotteries (Regulation) Act. The attached assets are in the form of bank balance and mutual fund holdings.


(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Iranian man, who was taken down from gallows and resuscitated earlier, hanged again after the victim’s family revoked their forgiveness

OpIndia Staff
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Iranian man, who was taken down from gallows and resuscitated earlier, hanged again after the victim’s family revoked their forgiveness

Iran on Wednesday executed for the second time 26-year-old Ahmad Alizadeh, a man on death row for murder who was previously hanged for 28 seconds before being resuscitated as per a rights organisation.

Alizadeh, who was sentenced to ‘qisas’ (retribution-in-kind) for murder after his arrest in October 2018, was taken to the gallows in April and hanged but pulled down after 28 seconds at the request of the plaintiffs and transferred back to his cell after being resuscitated, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) said.

The organisation which tracks executions in Iran, said in a statement said that the family of the victim shouted “forgiveness, forgiveness” while Alizadeh was on the gallows after which “he was and brought back to life with CPR.”

Under Iran’s sharia law, a victim’s family can ask for blood money to spare the life of the perpetrator or also decide to forgive. However, in many cases, the family of the condemned person cannot afford the sum set and the execution goes ahead, according to activists.

A relative of Alizadeh said that he “was an elite student who never accepted the charges as he had confessed under torture but they want to execute him again,” the relative said as per the NGO.

So far none of Iranian media has reported the execution, the organization said.

The first time his death sentence was carried out was on April 27 in Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj outside Tehran. Alizadeh remained under the threat of the death penalty in the absence of any deal with the victim’s family for blood money. He was executed again in the Ghezel Hesar prison on Wednesday morning, IHR said.

“Ahmad Alizadeh, a talented student, was hanged for the second time on charges of murder, which he denied and claimed he confessed to under torture,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, denouncing the “execution machine of the Iranian regime”.

Activists accuse Iran of using the death penalty to instill fear throughout society, particularly in the wake of 2022-2023 nationwide protests which shook the Islamic authorities.

According to IHR, 2024 is seeing a new surge in executions, with at least 166 executions recorded in October alone, the highest number recorded in a single month since the group began documenting executions in 2007.

As, per Amnesty International Iran carries out more annual executions than any country other than China, for which no reliable figures are available, the IHR said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

No prosecution on occupying waqf property before 2013: Kerala HC quashes case against Postal Department for setting up post office on alleged waqf land

OpIndia Staff
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No prosecution on occupying waqf property before 2013: Kerala HC quashes case against Postal Department for setting up post office on alleged waqf land

According to a recent ruling of the Kerala High Court, there will be no prosecution if any Waqf land is occupied prior to fusing section 52A in the Waqf Act in 2013. The High Court pronounced that as the statute governing penalties for occupying Waqf property was established in 2013, it cannot be applied to situations that occurred before that year. The verdict was announced by a bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan on 7th November in a petition moved by two officials of the Postal Department.

Based on a complaint submitted by the Kerala State Wakf Board, the case was brought against the Marikunnu Sub Post Master and the Senior Superintendent of the Calicut Postal Division. After the Waqf Tribunal ordered the postal personnel to leave the property in 2018, the board filed a case against them for not complying. The court, however, decided that the officials’ prosecution was unsustainable. 

The action against persons accused of possessing Waqf property since 1999 was likewise halted by the High Court which also put a stop to the Waqf Board’s allegation of criminal activity. A case was filed by the Kerala Wakf Board which had accused the Postal Department of Kozhikode district of confiscating a Waqf property without taking its permission to run a post office which was opened in 1999 there. The Waqf Board declared the Postal Department as an encroacher in 2016.

The Waqf Board alleged that the employees of this department had committed a crime and demanded action against two employees of the department under Section 52A of the Waqf Act. According to this clause, a person faces up to two years in prison if they transfer, purchase, sell, or occupy any Waqf Board property without the board’s consent. The employees contended in the court that they were on the property before 2013 which has been deemed as Waqf and hence there is no basis for criminal charges against them in such a circumstance. They had requested the court to stop the action against them.

The judge agreed with their arguments and highlighted, “Admittedly Annexure-A14 complaint was filed under Section 52A of the Act. Admittedly Section 52A was inserted in the Act in the year 2013. It is also an admitted fact that the petitioners were in possession of the property even before the introduction of Section 52A of the Act.”

He added, “A perusal of the same would not show that a person who is in occupation of waqf property even prior to the insertion of Section 52A of the Act is liable to be prosecuted. Admittedly the Department of Posts were in possession of the property even prior to the insertion of Section 52A of the Act. The Post Office was functioning from 1999 onwards. Hence I am of the considered opinion that the prosecution against the petitioners is unsustainable. Therefore, this criminal miscellaneous case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.No.1024/2017 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Kozhikode, are quashed.”

Kerala High Court stated that Section 52A of the Waqf Act, which was amended in 2013, does not allow for the prosecution of those who occupied waqf property before the modification for transferring the land without the Waqf Board’s approval. The observation was made during the dismissal of criminal proceedings against two Department of Posts officers who were charged with alienating waqf property without the board’s approval and a case was filed against them by the Kerala State Waqf Board after the officials did not vacate the property despite the Waqf Tribunal directing them to do so in 2018.

CIA official Asif W. Rahman arrested by FBI for leaking classified documents revealing Israel’s plans for attack on Iran

OpIndia Staff
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CIA official Asif W. Rahman arrested by FBI for leaking classified documents revealing Israel’s plans for attack on Iran

A CIA official has been arrested in charge of leaking classified documents revealing Israeli military preparations for a potential strike on Iran. As per a report by New York Times, the intelligence officer identified as Asif William Rahman was indicted last week in a federal court in Virginia with the charges of wilful retention and transmission of national defence information.

Asif W Rahman was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia and was produced before a federal court in Guam to face the charges. He worked overseas for the agency and held a top-secret security clearance.
The leak, which allegedly took place in October via the Telegram platform, contained detailed but unverified satellite imagery that displayed Israeli force movements and logistical planning for an unspecified attack on Iranian assets. The images were prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, an agency that conducts work in support of clandestine and military operations.

The release of this sensitive information has raised serious security concerns within the U.S. and Israel, given that the content originated from highly classified channels within the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance, comprising the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The topsecret files were only meant to be seen by those with proper clearance in the US and the “Five Eyes” countries. The Five Eyes alliance operates a strict confidentiality protocol, especially regarding intelligence that could influence geopolitics and military strategies in volatile regions like the Middle East.

The leaked documents reportedly offered insights into Israel’s current force readiness, without specifying exact locations or targets, though analysts suggest they were likely related to potential Iranian missile and drone sites. This follows heightened tensions after recent missile launches from Iran toward Israeli territories, and ongoing conflicts between Israeli and Iranian-backed forces in the region. The leak has underscored the sensitivity of intelligence-sharing practices, particularly as they relate to Israel’s defense and U.S. support for its regional ally.

Investigations led by the FBI and Department of Defense are ongoing to understand the full impact and scope of this leak. High-level officials have expressed concern about the ramifications for Israeli security and U.S.-Israel relations. Leaks of this nature not only risk operational security but could strain diplomatic trust between the nations involved. Additionally, U.S. officials are exploring how this information may have influenced public and governmental responses to the escalating situation in the Middle East, emphasizing the need to maintain strict internal controls within intelligence agencies.

Rahman, who had access to this sensitive information through his role with the intelligence community, is alleged to have posted the documents online. Prosecutors assert that the leak may have been intentional, possibly motivated by personal or ideological reasons, although further details about his intentions remain unclear. As the investigation progresses, the FBI is working to ascertain the methods by which Rahman obtained the information and to address potential gaps in the intelligence community’s safeguarding of classified materials.

Both the U.S. and Israeli governments have expressed concern that this unauthorised disclosure could be used to destabilize the already volatile political landscape, particularly as Israel navigates heightened military engagements on multiple fronts. The leak has prompted calls for a review of access protocols and security measures surrounding classified information to prevent further incidents that could jeopardize national security interests or strategic alliances.

Karnataka: Congress government claims no proposal over Muslim reservations under consideration and it is only a demand, documents reveal the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Congress government claims no proposal over Muslim reservations under consideration and it is only a demand, documents reveal the truth

Amidst outrage over the Congress government in Karnataka reportedly considering offering 4% reservations to the Muslim community in public contracts valued at Rs 1 crore, the Karnataka government has denied the reports. On Wednesday (13th November), the CM Siddaramaiah-led government issued a statement saying that no such proposal was under the government’s consideration. However, the Chief Minister admitted that a demand in this regard was raised.

“Reports have been published in some media that a proposal to give reservations to Muslims in jobs is before the government. However, it has been clarified that there is no proposal before the government in this regard,” the Karnataka Chief Minister’s office reportedly said.

Currently, Karnataka has reservations in civil works contracts for SC/STS, 24%, and OBC contractors from Category-1, 4%, and Category-2A, 15%. All of this notably adds up to 43%. It was reported that a demand to add Muslims to Category-2B with a 4% reservation is being considered by the Congress government.

Is the Congress government taking a U-turn on the Muslim reservations proposal?

While the Karnataka government is now rejecting the reports of it considering a proposal for Muslim reservations in public works contracts, the documents suggest that not only the demand for Muslim reservations were made but a proposal regarding the same was also under the government’s consideration.

In an X post, Network18’s Consulting Editor Rahul Shivshankar shared the said document which contained CM Siddaramaiah’s signature. Shivshankar added that on 31st August, the chief minister himself asked the file to be “put up” and signed on the request letter and in October, the finance department prepared a note for amending Section 6 of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act to include Category-2B (Muslims) under reservation in contracts.

 “The documents indicate that on August 24 this year at least a dozen Muslim Congress MLAs and MLCs signed a petition asking Siddaramaiah to provide reservation in contracts to “economically and socially backward” Muslims under Category-2B of the OBCs. The move was spearheaded by CM’s political secretary MLC Naseer. On August 31, Siddaramaiah asked the file to be “put up” and signed on the request letter.  By third week of October, a note was prepared by the finance department for amending Section 6 of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act to include Category-2B (Muslims) under reservation in contracts. Red dot in the middle of the document is CM’s remarks with signature and seal,” Shivshankar said.

“Why did the Congress go to such lengths to deny this report when it was first published? Is it because it knows that such a step would have been opposed by Icons like Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar? In fact, the former opposed religious quotas because he thought it would prompt conversions out of Hinduism, destroying the faith,” he added.

BJP accuses the Siddaramaiah government of lying about Muslim reservation proposal

Launching a scathing attack against the Congress government over its alleged Muslim appeasement, R Ashoka, the state assembly’s opposition leader, “Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, along with housing and waqf minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and other Muslim MLAs, had submitted a letter on August 24, requesting a 4% reservation in contracts for Muslims.”

The BJP leader went on to say that CM Siddaramaiah had directed the finance department to look into the proposal on the same day and that he had also approved revisions to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act in this regard.

“You approved an amendment to the KTPP Act regarding this matter. Despite all these letters and approvals, you lie, claiming there’s no proposal for Muslim reservation in contracts before the government,” Ashoka said.

Similarly, BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesavan hit out at the Congress government in Karnataka and alleged that the fresh smoking gun documents in the media had exposed that the state government was proposing a 4 percent Muslim reservation and asked why the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was lying.

CR Kesavan said, “The Karnataka Congress government has become a dangerous black hole for regressive religious polarization. Media has exposed the communal agenda of Congress. The Karnataka government is planning and proposing the 4 percent Muslim reservation. Recently Deputy CM Shivakumar spoke about scrapping the Shakti Free Bus Scheme for women.”

‘Hugs and kisses in teenage affection can’t be considered a crime’: Madras HC quashes sexual harassment charges against a man

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hugs and kisses in teenage affection can’t be considered a crime’: Madras HC quashes sexual harassment charges against a man

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently dismissed criminal charges against a young man accused of sexual harassment, noting that teenage affection should not be considered a crime.

A 19-year-old woman filed a complaint, alleging that during a meeting in a secluded area, her romantic partner, hugged and kissed her. When he later declined to marry her, she reported the incident to the police. This led to a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 354-A(1)(i) of the IPC, which addresses physical contact and advances with unwelcome sexual intent.

However, the court determined that the allegation did not meet the necessary criteria to be considered a criminal offence under this section.

In an order dated November 4, Justice N. Anand Venkatesh ruled that the physical contact between the petitioner (the young man) and the complainant (the young woman) was a normal aspect of a consensual relationship between teenagers, and it did not fulfil the legal requirements for an offence under Section 354-A(1)(i) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court noted that both individuals were in their late teens and had met and spent time together willingly. Justice Venkatesh observed that, even if the allegations were taken at face value, the actions appeared to reflect typical youthful affection rather than any criminal intent.

The court noted, “It is quite natural for two teenagers in a romantic relationship to hug or kiss. Such behaviour cannot, by any stretch, constitute an offence under Section 354-A(1)(i) of the IPC.”

Justice Venkatesh also emphasized the need for judicial discretion to prevent misuse of legal processes, pointing out that pursuing such cases could unfairly stigmatize young people in consensual relationships.

This intervention by the court occurred after the police had completed their investigation and submitted a final report to the Judicial Magistrate in Srivaigundam.

DMK health minister Ma Subramanian sparks controversy by wrongly claiming that attacker who stabbed senior doctor in Chennai is North Indian

OpIndia Staff
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DMK health minister Ma Subramanian sparks controversy by wrongly claiming that attacker who stabbed senior doctor in Chennai is North Indian

On 13th November, DMK Health Minister Ma Subramanian sparked controversy by wrongly identifying a man from Tamil Nadu who assaulted a doctor at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) in Guindy, Chennai, as a “North Indian.” As per reports, a senior oncologist was stabbed in the neck by a patient’s family member on 13th November.

Dr Balaji Jagannathan, a senior oncologist at Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) in Guindy, Chennai, was critically injured when a patient’s relative stabbed him in the neck. The doctor is currently fighting for his life in the ICU of the same hospital. One person has been arrested. The accused is said to be the son of a patient who was upset about his parent’s treatment.

The doctor was reportedly stabbed over seven times. Dr Jagannathan, who is himself a heart patient, suffered critical wounds on his head and chest. The accused, Vignesh, had a heated argument with the doctor over the treatment of his mother, who is a cancer patient. Vignesh and four others were detained by the police, and the weapon used to stab the doctor was seized.

When Subramanian was asked about the attack on the doctor during a press conference, he identified the accused as a “North Indian.” He said, “They told me just now. Around four North Indians came to the hospital for treatment and attacked the doctor after locking him up in a room. Police have arrested two people; the police department will take immediate action and arrest the rest of them and take appropriate legal action.”

His statement sparked controversy as Vignesh hails from Tamil Nadu. Later, the minister clarified that he was misinformed, claiming that the hospital director told him that North Indians were involved in the attack on the doctor, as per a report in The Commune Magazine. After he visited the hospital and took stock of the incident, he clarified that the attacker was not North Indian, claiming that he was given the wrong information.

He said, “His mother was receiving treatment here; he is quite familiar with the place, and people have seen him here before. At this time, he attacked the doctor in the room under the pretext of meeting him. I was in Pallikaranai overseeing something and was informed by the director that North Indians were involved in the attack. But it is incorrect; it is not North Indians. The accused is from Tamil Nadu, from Perungalathur, and his name is Vigneshwaran. Police have taken him into custody and will conduct further investigations. He believed the wrong chemotherapy treatment was given to his mother as her lungs were affected. This hospital is highly reputed for cancer therapy, and the doctor in question is well-regarded in the industry.”

This is not the first time Ma Subramanian has accused people from North India of a criminal act in Tamil Nadu. In 2022, he claimed that students from North India were spreading Covid in the state.

In June 2022, He claimed, “North Indian students are spreading Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu. Students from Kelambakkam VIT College and Sathyasai college have got affected by Covid in hostels and classes. In some North Indian states, Covid cases are still increasing.”

Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital administration said that Dr Balaji Jagannathan is a heart patient and underwent surgery recently. He has been treated at the ICU after the stabbing incident and his condition is stable now.

Meerut: 30 families return to Hinduism after jailed Pastor Bijju Mathew converted them to Christianity in name of curing diseases and funding weddings

OpIndia Staff
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Meerut: 30 families return to Hinduism after jailed Pastor Bijju Mathew converted them to Christianity in name of curing diseases and funding weddings

150 people who had converted to Christianity in Meerut of Uttar Pradesh, have returned to the fold of Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma. They did ghar-wapsi with Vedic rituals in a ceremony held on 10th November. Pastor Bijju Mathew had lured them into embracing Christianity a few days ago. These individuals who came from 30 families in the village of Golabad used to frequently attend prayer meetings. Mathew who is originally from Kerala disclosed that he had converted about 300 families during police interrogation and also revealed that he trapped gullible persons by promising cash, marriage, education and medical treatment.

He visited nearby villages with the people of his group and approached the houses of poor people. He then seduced them with various kinds of temptations and asked them to come to the prayer meetings. Mathew and his wife brainwashed the victims into converting by promising them money and a cure for their illness as well as claiming that the church would bear the cost of weddings. Afterwards, those who fell into their web were directed to bring more people. This was carried out similarly to network marketing. On 20th October Mathew was taken into custody and he is presently incarcerated.

The incident took place in Vikas Enclave Colony on Rohta Road in Kankarkheda police station area of ​​Meerut. Mathew has been living in this colony with his family for the last 2.5 months. He used to organize prayer meetings every Sunday at his home and a large number of people used to come there which made the local people suspicious and they informed the police along with the Hindu organisations about it. The latter arrived at the spot on 20th October when Mathew was heard saying, “Love the one who loves you. Today is Karva Chauth, but your family does not love you, God does, so take refuge in God. You have to worship Jesus. What is money? You will get whatever you want. What have your gods been able to give you to date?”

He was inciting the individuals who primarily belonged to the Jatav community and alleged, “You do not even get respect in the society. Come to Jesus. You will get everything here.” People associated with Hindu outfits charged that Mathew and his wife rented houses in different areas of Meerut for the last 15 years and converted people to Christianity by arranging prayer meetings there.

Mathew offered three temptations for conversion to Christianity. First, the church people will cover the cost of weddings. Second, he promised to give help of Rs 2 to 5 lakh to the person or family converting to Christianity to start their own business. Third, he promised holy water and exorcism to cure diseases. One such converted woman unveiled, “We were told that whatever we learn, we have to tell and teach it to 2 more people. We have to tell them about God’s grace and his miracles.” If a person’s religion was changed, he/she then prepared another one for the same and this is how the conversion racket was formed which specifically concentrated on women and the impoverished.

Merit over identity politics: Trump says colleges need to be cleansed of ‘radical Marxist lunatics’ who have been wasting taxpayer money. Here is his 7-point plan

Anurag
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Merit over identity politics: Trump says colleges need to be cleansed of ‘radical Marxist lunatics’ who have been wasting taxpayer money. Here is his 7-point plan

On 11th November, social media influencer Collin Rugg shared a video of President-elect Donald Trump announcing a sweeping plan to overhaul the higher education system in the United States. In the video, Trump criticised the “radical Marxist lunatics” who, he said, have infiltrated colleges, diverting taxpayer money to ideologically driven agendas.

The video, that was released a year ago as part of Agenda 47 of President-elect Trump, explained what he plans for the higher education.

Trump said he plans to restore merit, transparency, and efficiency in educational institutions. He declared, “Our secret weapon will be the college accreditation system.” Here is a breakdown of his ambitious 7-point proposal.

Seizing funds through accreditation reform

First and foremost, Trump has pledged to leverage the college accreditation system to withhold funding from institutions that refuse to align with the changed format in the education system, which he calls the “real standards” he intends to impose. He stated that his administration will “fire the radical left accreditors that have allowed our colleges to become dominated by Marxist maniacs and lunatics.” Furthermore, new accreditors will be appointed to enforce traditional values and improve accountability.

Protecting American traditions and cutting costs

In his statement, Trump criticised rising tuition costs, attributing it to “wasteful administrative positions.” He said his plan would mandate colleges to defend American traditions, safeguard free speech, and cut unnecessary bureaucracy. His aim is to focus on administrative reforms to provide affordable education and eliminate positions that, he said, “only inflate tuition.”

Eliminating ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ positions, and bring a strict meritocracy

One of the most important aspects of his statement was that he would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions from the education system. He labelled diversity initiatives as part of a “Marxist agenda” and said he plans to abolish DEI departments. Instead, he proposed low-cost options, career services, and college entrance and exit exams to ensure students receive education that has real value. He emphasised that these steps will foster a merit-based environment in educational institutions rather than one driven by identity politics.

Addressing racial discrimination in colleges

In his proposal, Trump said he would direct the Department of Justice to file federal civil rights cases against schools that continue “unlawful discrimination under the guise of equity.” Notably, there have been reports of racial discrimination against Asian American and White applicants in educational institutions. In August 2020, OpIndia reported how Yale University was accused of bias against Asian American and White applicants.

In an investigation, the US Justice Department found that the university was violating US civil rights by illegally discriminating against White and Asian American applicants in the admissions process. The department’s investigation, which took about two years to complete, concluded that the Ivy League university, based in New Haven, Connecticut, rejected “scores of Asian American and White applicants each year based on their race, whom it otherwise would admit.” The investigation was ordered after a complaint of discrimination was lodged against Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth in 2016. Trump said he will “direct the Department of Justice to pursue federal civil rights cases against schools that continue to engage in racial discrimination.”

Endowment taxation for non-compliance

Furthermore, Donald Trump plans to impose taxes on the endowments of non-compliant institutions and proposes to fine these schools up to the full amount of their endowment. He suggested that by using budget reconciliation to fast-track the measure, his administration would ensure swift consequences for what he described as “anti-American insanity.”

Redirecting funds to support victims

Trump also proposed using the seized funds as restitution for those affected by “unjust and illegal policies” in education departments. According to Trump, the funds will be redirected to support victims of discrimination and improve educational access for those disadvantaged by identity-driven policies.

Ensuring ‘real education’ for students

Trump’s aim to “reclaim” education from ideological influence includes policies focused on practical outcomes and career readiness. He plans to implement college entrance and exit exams to ensure that students genuinely benefit from the education system in the US.

Billionaire Elon Musk also shared the video without mentioning anything else. Notably, Donald Trump has appointed Musk, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a statement issued on 12th November, Trump said that Musk and Ramaswamy will pave the way for his administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies, which he described as essential to the “Save America” movement.

As Donald Trump is set to return to the White House, his plan is to reform higher education in the country, aiming to remove what he sees as political biases. He believes the education system should focus on merit, fairness, and American values, as it once did. By changing how colleges receive funding and cutting unnecessary roles, he hopes to make college more affordable and practical. His 7-point plan promises to protect free speech, prevent discrimination, and create a system based on skill and knowledge rather than identity politics.

Supreme Court orders NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction not to use Sharad Pawar’s videos and images in campaign for Maharashtra elections

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court orders NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction not to use Sharad Pawar’s videos and images in campaign for Maharashtra elections

On Wednesday (13th November), the Supreme Court while hearing the case involving both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), directed the Ajit Pawar faction orally to refrain from using Sharad Pawar’s images and videos in their campaign materials for the Maharashtra assembly elections. The Court asked the NCP (Ajit Pawar) that they must fight the elections under their separate identities. In addition, the court directed Ajit Pawar to instruct his party members not to use Sharad Pawar’s pictures and videos.

Today, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a suit filed by Sharad Pawar seeking to prevent Ajit Pawar from using the clock symbol in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Earlier, the Court ordered Ajit Pawar to issue disclaimers in newspapers about the clock sign. However, on 13th November, Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for Sharad Pawar presented some campaign materials, including images of posters and social media posts, that were purportedly disseminated in breach of the Supreme Court’s orders.

He claimed that Amol Mitkari, an NCP candidate (Ajit Pawar), had uploaded images of just Sharad Pawar and that Ajit Pawar’s campaign was attempting to “piggyback” on Sharad Pawar’s name. “Whether or not it is an old video, with Mr Pawar you have an ideological difference and you are fighting against him. Then you should try to stand up on your own legs,” Justice Kant said.

The court noted that while the voters know that there are two factions of NCP and will likely not be influenced by Ajit Pawar faction using Sharad Pawar’s visuals, there is a court order and the party must adhere to it.

As Ajit Pawar’s counsel Balbir Singh told the court that such videos were not used, Justice Kant said, “Please concentrate on the battlefield, people will answer everything. They are very wise and know where to vote and how to vote. We don’t doubt their wisdom. They know who is Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. These video clips may or may not influence the voters. But when there is an order of this Court, it has to be faithfully respected.”

Justice Kant further asked Ajit Pawar to put out an electronic circular among his party office bearers and candidates “not to use the video clip or photograph of Mr Sharad Pawar. You confine on your own identity as a separate distinct political party.”

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