In the Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, a Christian conversion racket has been exposed. The police conducted raids at a house in Vikas Nagar Colony and found over 40 children and women. It has been reported that in a network marketing style, the non-Christian people were being brainwashed with the promise to bear the expenses of getting their children married, money, and curing their diseases.
A pastor named Bijju, from Kerala, rented a house in the Vikas Enclave Colony in the Kankerkheda police station area two months ago and now resides there with his family. He used to organise prayer gatherings here every Sunday, and a big number of people would attend from the morning till the evening. Seeing this, the locals became suspicious and alerted the local police and Hindu organisations.
On Sunday, 20th October, when the police and Hindu activists arrived at Bijju’s rented house, they found women and children sitting on the ground while Bijju and his wife were seated on chairs and inciting them against Hinduism. “Love the one who loves you. Today is Karva Chauth but the family does not love you, God does, so take refuge in God,” Bijju was heard saying.
He further said: “You have to worship Jesus. What is money? You will get whatever you want. What have your gods given you to date? You don’t even get respect in society. Come to Jesus. You will get everything here.” Bijju’s remarks enraged the local people and Hindu activists. Meanwhile, BJP councillor Rishipal Singh was also present there.
Following this, the police transported Bijju, his wife, and another individual to the police station. The police investigated and arrested these three people after receiving a complaint. BJP leader Anmol alleged that after interrogation, he learned that pastor Bijju and his wife had converted 300 individuals so far.
During its ground investigation, Bhaskar’s team found that this conversion racket was being operated in a planned fashion. Akin to network marketing, the person who is converted has to bring two other people and get them converted and in exchange, they receive certain benefits.
The accused pastor Bijju used to make three promises to lure people into converting to Christianity, First, he would arrange the marriage of the boy or girl of the converted family and the expenses would be borne by the church. Second, he would promise to give Rs 2 to 5 lakhs to the converted person or family to start their own business. Third, he would promise holy water and exorcism to “cure diseases.”
According to BJP leader Anmol, women and children have been visiting Bijju’s house for the past one and a half months. Later, it turned out that they were propagating Christianity. Anmol reports that Bijju and his wife have been renting houses in different areas of Meerut for the past 15 years, converting people to Christianity through prayer gatherings.
The BJP leader added that a woman who came here told that anything they learnt about Christianity had to be shared and taught to two other people. They were asked to tell them about God’s grace and miracles. Once converted, that person’s task was to prepare another one for conversion to Christianity. In this fashion, the network continued to form, particularly targeting women and poor families.
Speaking about the matter, SP City Ayush Vikram Singh said that there is an allegation of conversion and its investigation has been handed over to CO Daurala Suchita Singh. He said that further action would be taken on the basis of whatever facts emerge after the investigation. SP Ayush Vikram Singh said that if the matter of conversion turns out to be true, then stringent action will be taken against the accused.
New Delhi and Beijing have agreed to resume patrolling to the “agreed perceived Line of Actual Control,” including in Depsang Plains and Demchok, the two lingering flashpoints in eastern Ladakh where the two countries have been eyeball-to-eyeball for almost four-and-a-half years. Furthermore, the agreement with China will involve reducing the number of locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which during the previous four years have become hotspots for tension, reported The Economic Times.
The new agreement with China specifically covers two regions, Yangtse and Asaphila. Tensions were rekindled in December 2022 when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a large-scale confrontation in Yangtse. Chinese troops attempted to breach the LAC and destroy the Army’s freshly erected defences, which led to the conflict. The attack was foiled after it occurred on an Indian post overlooking recently constructed PLA infrastructure. Over the past few years, there have also been numerous faceoffs and small-scale conflicts in the heavily forested Asaphila sector. The broader disengagement and de-escalation process in Arunachal Pradesh is expected to require more time, effort, and communication with China because it is far more complicated than the situation in Ladakh, according to sources.
On 22nd October, a day after the development transpired, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasised that multiple measures need to be taken after which disengagement, de-escalation, and regular Line of Actual Control (LAC) management will follow. He mentioned that the two sides are trying to “restore trust” and “reassure each other” while addressing the 28th Colonel Pyara Lal Memorial lecture organised by the United Service Institution of India.
“As of now what has happened? We are trying to restore the trust. How will the trust be restored? It will get restored once we can see each other and convince each other that we are not creeping into the buffer zones that are there and have been created. Both must reassure each other. Patrolling gives you that kind of advantage. So that is what something which is commencing. And as we restore the trust, the other stages will also follow through soon,” he conveyed to the audience.
He was alluding to a more extensive de-escalation process that will entail the withdrawal of hundreds of troops who have been stationed in eastern Ladakh since 2020. The external affairs ministry stated that a patrolling agreement with China has been reached, and as of April 2020, the status quo will be reinstated. According to information obtained, positions in Arunachal Pradesh that have had flare-ups over the previous four years would also witness ease in positions as part of the broader agreement.
General Dwivedi stated, “As far as we are concerned, we want to go back to the status quo of April 2020. Thereafter we will be looking at disengagement, de-escalation and normal management of LAC. The normal management of LAC will not stop there. There are phases in that also. This has been our stance since April 2020, and even today it remains the same. As we restore the trust, the other stages will also follow through. This has been our stance from April 2020 when Lieutenant General YK Joshi was the Army Commander and even today that remains the same.”
The agreement on patrolling arrangements is expected to lead to disengagement, de-escalation and de-militarisation in areas where 50,000 to 60,000 troops are stationed on either side. Indian and Chinese troops will reportedly patrol the territories as they did before April 2020, and the departure of competing troops from Depsang and Demchok would undoubtedly not entail the establishment of designated buffer zones. There will be a difference between this disengagement and the earlier troop withdrawal rounds that included the formation of buffer zones. According to reports, the disengagement of front-line Chinese and Indian soldiers from Depsang and Demchok is anticipated to start in a few days and conclude in a few weeks.
The troop withdrawal is anticipated to be executed in stages as the intricate plan develops, as both parties can verify it on the ground. Additionally, it will gradually remove weapons and equipment to a predetermined distance until the status quo ante (early April 2020) is restored.
After troop disengagements on both banks of Pangong Tso, encompassing the Kailash range, Galwan Valley, and the greater Gogra-Hot Springs area, earlier in September 2022, China and India established no-patrol buffer zones, ranging from 3 to 10 kilometres. The purpose of these zones of separation was to prevent violent confrontations.. Thousands of soldiers from both armies remain in the Ladakh theatre, along with their cutting-edge equipment.
A senior officer warned that India should take precautions against “Doklam being repeated” in eastern Ladakh, as the pullout is now planned for the strategically important Depsang Plains and the Charding Ninglung Nallah track junction close to Demchok. “Trust but verify. China should not be allowed to change facts on the ground and then present them as a fait accompli,” he voiced.
In 2017, Indian troops halted Chinese attempts to expand its motorable route towards the Jampheri Ridge, which overlooks the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor, resulting in a 73-day standoff on the Bhutanese territory of Doklam. The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) built extensive military facilities and permanently stationed troops in north Doklam following the disengagement.
On 1st October General Dwivedi expressed that trust between the Indian Army and PLA was “the biggest casualty” of the military stalemate, characterizing the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh as “stable but sensitive.” He highlighted at the time that while diplomatic signals are encouraging, military leaders on both sides must carry out their options on the ground to move things along.
On 29th August, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border issues between China and India convened in Beijing for the seventeenth time since the conflict began in May 2020. To reduce tensions along the LAC, the two forces have also had 21 rounds of discussions at the corps commander level.
On the 22nd of October 2024, LiveLaw – a legal news portal founded by MA Rashid – tweeted that the bail hearing of Sharjeel Imam, the “student activist,” had been delayed again.
“Student activist #SharjeelImam‘s petition assailing delay in hearing of his bail plea in the Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy case not taken up today by the #SupremeCourt Next hearing likely on Friday ie 25th October” read the tweet.
In their previous tweet, they wrote, “#SupremeCourt to hear student activist #SharjeelImam‘s petition assailing Delhi HC’s delay in deciding his bail plea in the 2020 #DelhiRiots larger conspiracy case Bench: Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma. Imam has been in custody for over 4 yrs”.
The archived links of the tweet can be accessed here and here.
Student activist #SharjeelImam's petition assailing delay in hearing of his bail plea in the Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy case not taken up today by the #SupremeCourt
The tweets by LiveLaw essentially made the following assertions:
The hearing was in the Supreme Court
The hearing was about the delay in the High Court regarding the hearing of his bail petition
The hearing pertained to the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case (FIR 59/20)
The bench of the Supreme Court which postponed the hearing comprised of Justice Bela Trivedi and SC Sharma
There was indeed a hearing in the Supreme Court in an ongoing case involving Sharjeel Imam, however, it was not a bail hearing, it was not about the delay in High Court, it was not pertaining to the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case.
We checked the Supreme Court listings to understand what ongoing case was being heard in the Supreme Court of India pertaining to Sharjeel Imam.
Supreme Court listing
As can be seen, the Sharjeel Imam vs Govt of NCT and others case (#152) has been assigned a diary number. The Diary Number assigned by the Supreme Court is 4730-2020.
We then searched the case by diary number.
Diary Number case search
The search threw up the result for the case.
As can be seen, the diary number is the same – 4730/2020 – and the petitioner is Sharjeel Imam.
When one clicks on “view”, the website of the Supreme Court of India throws up details of the case.
Supreme Court case details
As one can see, the diary number reflected is the same. What acts as proof that it is the same case that LiveLaw was tweeting about is that the date of hearing as listed in the Supreme Court website is 22nd October 2024. The LiveLaw tweet was also on the same date.
According to the information on the Supreme Court website, the case was listed in front of a bench comprising of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar.
In an August hearing, for example, the bench comprising of Justices Sanjiv Kumar, Sanjay Khanna and R Mahadevan had ordered that the “respondent-states will obtain instructions as to whether the said states have any objection in case the trial at Delhi proceeds and the chargesheet, if any, filed elsewhere are transferred to the court in seisin of the matter at Delhi”.
The order itself makes it evident that the case in the Supreme Court has nothing to do with bail in the High Court but is about the clubbing of FIRs.
This case pertains to a 2020 plea by Sharjeel Imam after he was arrested for seditious speeches. FIRs were filed against him in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The petition by Sharjeel Imam in 2020 essentially requested for the clubbing of the FIRs and for the hearing in the sedition cases (for the speeches he delivered) to be continued in Delhi. If the Court agreed to the clubbing of the FIRs, Sharjeel Imam would get default “bail” in the other FIRs in different states with the case being heard only in Delhi.
In a 2020 order, the states that were set to respond to the petition at the time were also mentioned, proving, that the case pending in the Supreme Court had nothing to do with bail hearings or the conspiracy case, but in fact, was about clubbing of the FIRs in the sedition case pertaining to the speeches he had delivered in Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligargh Muslim University.
Court order from 2020 in the same case
It is, therefore, evident that the information published by LiveLaw is misleading.
The explanation provided by the cabal who is set on ensuring that Sharjeel Imam, the UAPA accused Islamist, and others like Umar Khalid are painted as the victim of the system was that there indeed is a “hearing” pending before Justice Bela Trivedi’s bench.
Mohammad Zubair of AltNews, who regularly shields Islamists and paints a target on Hindus, posted a screenshot from the cause-list showing a listing of Sharjeel Imam’s petition in front of a bench comprising of Justice Bela Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra.
Interestingly, the screenshot posted by Zubair, meant to discredit the report confirmed the report.
The screenshot proves that the only ongoing case in the Supreme Court by Sharjeel Imam is the one to club FIRs and not the bail hearing.
The screenshot shared by Mohammad Zubair is a listing of a FRESH petition filed by Sharjeel Imam only on the 9th of October 2024. The verification of the petition, as is a legal requirement, was done on the 21st of October 2024.
The Supreme Court website clearly specifies that the petition is listed for admission.
When the petition is listed for admission, it cannot be deemed as an ongoing hearing especially after 2 days of verification and when the petition hasn’t even been accepted by the court yet.
The sleight of hand by LiveLaw is evidenced by the fact that in the past, LiveLaw reported hearings of fresh petitions by clearly mentioning that a fresh petition had been filed – pending acceptance by the court.
This only goes to show that LiveLaw deliberate left that detail out from its reportage to give the impression that a regular bail hearing was delayed by the Supreme Court so that a narrative can be created in favour of Sharjeel Imam and against Justice Bela Trivedi – which has been the norm in the Left-Islamist circle.
To remind our readers – even when the bail application of Umar Khalid was pending before the Supreme Court, which was eventually withdrawn by Umar Khalid and his lawyer Kapil Sibal, there was a concerted effort to tarnish the image of Justice Trivedi and an active campaign to ensure that the case can be heard by a different judge – spearheaded by Prashant Bhushan and Kapil Sibal. OpIndia had written about how this is an effort at potential bench fixing. To the CJI’s credit, he had put his foot down and ensured that the bench fixing efforts fail. It was after the CJI’s decision that Sibal had decided to withdraw the bail application of Umar Khalid from the Supreme Court and approach the lower court again to “try his luck”. The detailed article can be read here.
This misinformation and half truth by LiveLaw and Mohammad Zubair seems to be a step in a similar direction.
Case against Sharjeel Imam
Sharjeel Imam was booked by several states in 2020 for his provocative speeches during anti-CAA, including the call for ‘cutting off’ Assam from the rest of India. FIRs were filed at Police stations in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur for his speech.
Imam was also accused of making provocative speeches outside Jamia Milia Islamia University in December 2019 that led to violence outside the campus. In 2022, a Delhi court framed charges of sedition and UAPA against him for his inflammatory speeches against CAA.
Sharjeel Imam was arrested by Delhi Police on 28th January 2020, from Bihar over inflammatory speeches against the Citizenship Amendment Act, advocating for the secession of Assam from the rest of India. He delivered several such speeches in December 2019 and January 2020 at various places including Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University.
The accusations against Sharjeel Imam were framed under sections 124A (sedition), 153A, 153B, 505 of the IPC, and 13 of the UAPA. Imam has been charged with sedition, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, imputations prejudicial to national integration, and public mischief under the Indian Penal Code, and indulging in unlawful activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
As per the Delhi police chargesheet against Sharjeel Imam in the matter, he offered statements inciting hatred, contempt, and disaffection toward the central government, as well as instigating the people who resulted in the December 2019 riots.
Editors note: This article has been updated by the the explanation offered by AltNews and our counter to those claims.
Addendum
After the publication of this article, Manu Sebastian, the managing editor of LiveLaw took to X to offer an explanation and call the report by OpIndia “fake news”.
OpIndia @OpIndia_com has published an article written by its Chief Editor Nupur Sharma @UnSubtleDesi targeting LiveLaw @LiveLawIndia. The article is malicious, factually wrong & a blatant misrepresentation of the court proceedings, which can amount to contempt of court. Thread pic.twitter.com/7Rn7b8aAtP
In a long thread, Manu Sebastian called the report “malicious, factually wrong & a blatant misrepresentation of the court proceedings, which can amount to contempt of court”.
In the thread, Sebastian made the following claims (the following are verbatim quotes from Manu Sebastian’s thread on X):
LiveLaw had posted that Sharjeel Imam’s petition regarding bail in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case was listed before a bench of Justices Bela Trivedi & SC Sharma on October 22. LiveLaw had also updated that the matter was posted to Oct 25 as it was not taken up that day.
What the OpIndia article terribly concealed was that there were two petitions of Sharjeel Imam which were listed in the Supreme Court on October 22 before two different benches (of Justices Khanna & Trivedi respectively).
One petition (WP (Crl) 422/24) was listed before Justice Bela Trivedi’s bench. This was seeking directions for expeditious hearing of his bail plea in the Delhi High Court in the riots conspiracy case. The other petition of Sharjeel Imam (Diary no.4730/2020) was listed before Justice Khanna. This petition was to consolidate various FIRs against him.
What OpIndia omitted to tell its readers was that both the petitions of Imam were listed on the same day in the Supreme Court before different benches.
The updates given by LiveLaw about Imam’s petition before Justice Trivedi’s bench can be verified by anyone from the Supreme Court’s website by searching the case status of Diary No.47036/24 or WP(crl) 422/24 pic.twitter.com/1KccHS5j6O
Interestingly, in his need to defend the shoddy reportage of LiveLaw, Manu Sebastian misrepresented facts yet again and deliberately left out critical details. In his explanation, Manu Sebastian was right that there was indeed 1 petition listed in front of Justice Bela Trivedi – a fact that OpIndia missed because it was not an ongoing case and LiveLaw had no report on its website indicating the same.
While Manu Sebastian is maintaining that it was a bail petition which was listed in front of Justice Bela Trivedi. He says in his thread, in an attempt to counter OpIndia, that LiveLaw reported that the bail hearing was posted before Bela Trivedi on the 22nd of October and that the matter was posted on the 25th of October.
The critical information that Manu Sebastian missed in his thread is that this is a FRESH petition filed by Sharjeel Imam which is not at a hearing stage as far as bail is concerned. The FRESH petition was verified only on the 21st and on the 25th, it is set to be heard for ADMISSION. This would mean that on the 25th and thereafter, the court would first decide whether the petition itself is to be admitted. If the court decides to admit the petition, only then would the hearing on the bail and the prayers mentioned in the petition start. The court can just as well refuse to admit the petition and if that happens, the Supreme Court would not be hearing the merits of the bail and the prayers made in the petition at all.
Therefore, it is important to mention here that there is, currently, only ONE ongoing case in the Supreme Court pertaining to Sharjeel Imam – which is one that was filed in 2020 – for the clubbing of FIRs. The petition to club FIRs is in the hearing stage, while the FRESH bail application is not. The latter has not even been admitted yet.
This critical detail which is being omitted by the likes of Manu Sebastian and Mohammad Zubair serve a specific purpose.
As soon as the news was posted by LiveLaw, which Manu Sebastian now defends, there were a flurry of tweets blaming Justice Bela Trivedi and painting Shajeel Imam as an innocent man denied justice. Pertinently, LiveLaw too had called Sharjeel Imam an “activist”.
The tweets in response to the reportage by LiveLaw, which missed critical details, led to several reactions where the Supreme Court was called a brothel (kotha) and assailed for denying justice and delaying giving bail to Sharjeel Imam.
Further, Justice Bela Trivedi was personally targeted.
The misrepresentation by LiveLaw led to personal targeting of a judge and contemptuous statements against the Supreme Court. Had LiveLaw represented the facts accurately, stating that it is a FRESH petition and that it had only been verified 2 days ago, allegations of bias and delay in hearing would not have arisen. Even in Manu Sebastian’s explanation, this important detail is missing, furthering the narrative that the Supreme Court, especially Justice Bela Trivedi, is deliberately delaying the bail proceedings of Sharjeel Imam.
On Wednesday, 23rd October, the joint team of Bihar police and forest department arrested Trinamool Congress leader Ashok Kumar Ojha from West Bengal and 4 others for smuggling elephant tusks in Buxar district of Bihar. The officers raided a house in Devkuli village, located under the Brahmpur police station area in Bihar, and recovered two elephant tusks weighing around 23 kg, worth lakhs of rupees. The operation was executed as the police followed a tip-off of the illegal sale of tusks in the illegal market.
As per the reports, the house that was raided by the police in Devkuli, from where the recovery of tusks was made, belonged to Burrabazar TMC leader Ojha. He has been the vice president of the North Kolkata Trinamool Hindi Cell and has been closely associated with the Jorasanko TMC MLA Vivek Gupta. After the arrest, the leader was notably expelled from the party.
The five arrested persons including Ojha are being questioned. After the reports of his arrest, TMC reportedly expelled him from the party.
However, as per MLA Vivek Gupta, this is not a case of smuggling. He claimed that Ashok Ojha used to keep elephants at his Bihar house, and one of his elephants died recently. The tusks belonged to the dead elephant, Gupta claimed. He added that the party has nothing to do with the incident and Ojha has been expelled from the party.
BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari took cognizance of the event and commented on X criticizing TMC for allegedly being a ‘general store of crimes’. He indicated that the party leaders had been involved in all types of scams and were now not even sparing the wildlife.
“TMC is the general store of Crimes:- Coal Smuggling, Cow Smuggling, Illegal Sand & Stone Mining, MGNREGA Job Card Scam, Mid Day Meal Scam, Ration – Food grains Smuggling, Teacher Recruitment Scam, Medical Equipment/Medicines Smuggling, Admission Scam.. The list grows… Now Wildlife is also not being spared. I wonder what’s next !!!” he said.
Prominent TMC Leader; Ashok Kumar Ojha of Burrabazar; Kolkata arrested from Bihar's Buxar in Ivory smuggling case. Ojha; the key figure of the smuggling racket was arrested along with four others for smuggling Elephant Tusks weighing 23 kg.
Notably, the other four accused persons arrested by the joint team along with Ojha have been identified as Ganpat Sah from Begusarai, Manoj Kumar Pandey from Pipra Jagdishpur, Paras Nath Ram from Karakat, and Dhananjay Prasad Singh from Tirasi Bigha, Rohtas.
According to the police investigation, the smuggling network intended to sell the tusks after an elephant died in Devkuli during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Police said that after the elephant died during the pandemic, an attempt was devised to sell its tusks illegally. According to forest department officials, transporting elephant tusks is a serious violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. Legal action will be taken against the accused to the full extent of the law. Further investigation is underway to discover more of those involved in the smuggling network.
In a major step towards sports reforms, the Modi government has introduced the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 for public consultation. This Bill aims to promote sports, athlete welfare, and ethical sporting conduct by means of good governance, institutional capacity building, and conformity with international norms.
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, unlike the 2013 Draft National Sports Development Bill, the 2024 Sports Bill lays emphasis on building institutional capacity and governance standards for National Sports Federations [NSF] in alignment with the Olympic and Paralympic Charter.
“…to establish institutional capacity and prudential standards for the governance of sports federations that are based on basic universal principles of good governance, ethics and fair play of the Olympic and sports movement, the Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter, international best practices and established legal standards,” a point in the Bill reads.
The draft proposes the creation of a central regulatory entity [Sports Regulatory Board] to award recognition to National Sports Federations (NSFs) and monitor compliance with governance, financial, and ethical guidelines.
“The Sports Regulatory Board of India shall be a body corporate by the nameaforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power subject to theprovisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable andimmovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued,” the Bill states about the proposed Board.
This Board will be entrusted with the task of regulating the governance of the NOC, the NPC, NSFs, RSFs and their affiliated units to ensure “transparency, accountability, and integrity in the management and administration of sports.”
“The Board will ensure compliance with governance standards, protect athlete welfare, and handle recognition and enforcement, shifting these duties from the ministry to an independent body for more streamlined and transparent regulation,” Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi and public policy professional Aatman Shah wrote in an article published in Hindustan Times explaining the provisions and benefits of the proposed bill.
Another important provision of the Bill is the establishment of an Appellate Sports Tribunal to expedite sports-related disputes. As per the Bill, this Tribunal will have the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, to discharge its functions under this Bill while dealing with matters like “summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; requiring the discovery and production of documents; receiving evidence on affidavit, calling for any public record or document or a copy of such record or document, from any office, subject to the provisions of section 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents; reviewing its decisions; dismissing an application for default or deciding it, ex parte; setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it, ex parte; and any other matter which may be prescribed.“
In addition, the Bill proposes the organisation of national sports governing bodies such as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), and NSFs to prevent exploitation. Moreover, the Bill also states mandatory provisions for ethical governance by setting up Dispute Resolution Commissions and Ethics Commissions. The Bill also listed certain provisions to be mandatorily incorporated in the constitution of the National Olympic Committee as well as the National Paralympic Committee.
The 2024 Sports Bill also provides representation and participation in policy-making by establishing an Athletes Commission with government financing and a ‘Safe Sports Policy’. The legislation also includes guidelines for recognising and regulating National Sports Promotion Organisations (NSPOs), the establishment of a dedicated appellate sports tribunal, and ad hoc Normalisation Committees.
The Bill also necessitates gender representation in Executive Committees and other governing bodies, guaranteeing that at least 30% of members be female. This is consistent with global trends in gender equality and inclusivity in sports. The bill also establishes a Sports Election Panel. The IOA/PCI/NSFs will enlist electoral officials to conduct free and fair elections on behalf of a Sports Election Panel.
With this Bill, the Modi government aims to connect India’s sports governance framework with global charters and best practices in order to develop an internationally acceptable structure for hosting international sporting tournaments.
On Tuesday, October 22, the Muzaffarnagar police arrested 19 people, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders, for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting and vandalism in Budhana. The arrest was made in connection with the incident that unfolded on Saturday, October 19 when a mob of Islamists took to the streets to indulge in stone pelting and violence and to raise slogans calling for beheading one Hindu youth named Akhil Tyagi for alleged ‘blasphemy’.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh, stated that five key individuals responsible for planning and carrying out the vandalism and stone-pelting have been identified. The accused are named Hasnain, Rameez, Azam, Tariq, and Rahil. While Tariq and Rameez remain at large, the other three have been arrested as part of the 19 individuals taken into custody. Singh further noted that Rameez holds the position of Deputy District President of AIMIM, while Azam is the City President of the party.
Screenshot of Muzaffarnagar police post on the arrest of 19 individuals for their alleged involvement in stone-pelting and vandalism in Budhana
Singh further revealed that the violence was orchestrated through various social media platforms, including WhatsApp. Provocative messages calling for violence against Akhil Tyagi were widely circulated within the WhatsApp group of AIMIM’s Vidhan Sabha unit.
Abhishek Singh added, “When the police calmed the mob and attempted to disperse them, Hasnain, along with his group members Kaif, Faiz, and Sameer, began throwing stones. Based on CCTV footage, we have arrested 19 individuals, and efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects.”
Muslim mob chant ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans in Muzaffarnagar, call for beheading of Hindu youth Akhil Tyagi over ‘blasphemy’
On the night of Saturday, October 19, thousands of Muslims gathered in Budhana town, Muzaffarnagar, following rumours about the release of a man accused of making a blasphemous social media post, escalating tensions in the area. The crowd raised slogans demanding the beheading of Akhil Tyagi, who was alleged to have made objectionable comments on social media.
The mob threw stones at Tyagi’s shop while chanting “Sar Tan Se Juda” (beheading slogans). Tyagi had been arrested earlier based on complaints about his post, but after rumours spread that he had been released, a large Muslim mob took to the streets.
They blocked the Kandhla road in Budhana, raised provocative slogans, spread false information, and hurled stones, including at Tyagi’s shop. A significant police force eventually arrived to disperse the crowd.
In videos of the protest, the mob can be heard chanting the violent Islamic slogan, “Gustakh-E-Nabi Ki Aik Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda, Sar Tan Se Juda” (There is only one punishment for insulting Prophet Mohammad, separation of head from torso).
On Tuesday, 22nd October, the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail made shocking revelations that Canada’s National Security Adviser, Nathalie Drouin, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Morrison were the ones who leaked sensitive intelligence about India’s so-called “criminal activities” on Canadian soil to The Washington Post. Apparently, the information leaked days before the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a statement officially accusing India of targeting Khalistani terrorists in Canada.
According to unnamed sources quoted by Globe and Mail, the briefing to The Washington Post was “not intended to be disclosed publicly” until the official RCMP statement was released. In the briefing, the Canadian officials allegedly provided details of the allegations against India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, for his involvement in orchestrating attacks on pro-Khalistani elements and intelligence-gathering operations on Canadian soil.
Notably, on 14th October, Commissioner Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin claimed to have ‘clear evidence’ against Indian officials for their involvement in “violent crimes”. However, they did not release any details, stating that the investigation was ongoing and that sensitive information and court proceedings needed protection. Duheme never acknowledged Sukhdool’s murder as being linked to India, nor did the RCMP reveal any such information. However, it was reported by WaPo, making it clear that they obtained the information from Canadian officials.
Ironically, none of this “clear evidence” has been shared with India despite the Indian government asking the Canadian authorities to share any evidence that they have to claim that it was the Indian government that was behind the murder of criminal elements in Canada.
Inconsistent approach to leaks and claims
The revelation by Globe and Mail has highlighted how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stance on leaks has been inconsistent in this matter. Notably, just last week, Trudeau condemned leaks of classified information about China, calling them harmful to the country’s institutions. “I learned about them in the media after a criminal leaked that classified information,” he had said. However, regarding the recent leaks concerning India, the Canadian authorities have remained mute. According to media reports, sensitive information was provided on a silver platter to The Washington Post about the allegations against Home Minister Shah, accusing him of involvement in attacks on Khalistani Sikhs, including Sukhdool Singh Gill. Nevertheless, Canada has not laid any charges against Home Minister Shah so far.
Media reports suggest bias against India
The development has raised serious concerns about Canada’s selective treatment when dealing with cases where it claims that foreign countries have interfered in its internal matters. While Canada has often accused India of meddling in its domestic affairs, the Government of India has categorically denied these allegations, accusing Ottawa of using baseless claims for political advantage. Canada has accused India of involvement in serious criminal activities on Canadian soil without any concrete evidence. They have escalated tensions with India merely for some votes from Khalistanis living in Canada and have ruined the relationship between the two countries.
Though Canada accuses India of meddling in its affairs, the reality is that Canada has repeatedly crossed the line and tried to meddle in India’s affairs. When farmers were protesting in India against the now-repealed three farm laws, Canadian lawmakers, including Trudeau, issued statements against the Indian government, laying the foundation for the long-lasting tensions between two countries that were, at one point, good friends. India had criticised Trudeau for issuing statement on India’s internal affairs.
India’s growing frustration with Canada
India has emerged as a crucial player in countering China’s influence on the global platform. Canada’s actions have frustrated India for years, as it has failed not only to extradite wanted criminals and terrorists for decades but also to control anti-India sentiments on its soil. The escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, which led to the expulsion of several diplomats on both sides starting in September 2023 after Trudeau accused India of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, have highlighted the growing rift between the two countries.
While India has called out Canada for making baseless allegations of being involved in criminal activities, it has also urged Canada on several occasions to control the pro-Khalistani elements and curb the anti-India sentiments that have gained increasing influence on Canadian soil. Notably, pro-Khalistani elements, including Khalistani terrorists living in Canada, seek a separate nation for Sikhs carved out of India. This is a direct attack on the sovereignty of India, which has led to sour diplomatic relations.
Conclusion
The alleged leak by Canadian officials, including the National Security Adviser, has further complicated the relationship between the two nations. It has become increasingly apparent that Canada has shown inconsistency in handling classified information, particularly regarding India. The Trudeau administration has taken a selective approach, risking Canada’s credibility on the global stage while undermining efforts to repair relations with India. Most importantly, while the Trudeau government has so far not presented any solid evidence to support their allegations on India, high-level officials have been speaking to the media about sensitive intelligence, further casting a shadow on the true intention of the Trudeau government.
On the 19th of October, Nashik Court ordered the MIDC Sinnar Police Station to lodge an FIR against Resolution Professional Girish Juneja in the Hindustan National Glass (HNG or HNGIL) case. His malpractice had led to a fire in the Nashik Plant on the December 29, 2023, endangering the sick company, the sanctity of the Insolvency process against it and the lives of the workers.
Joint Judicial Magistrate First Class (Jt. JMFC) K.S. Khandre of Sinnar Court said in his order of October 19 that the Hindustan National Gas & Industries Limited (HNGIL)’s RP, Girish Siriram Juneja was answerable not only to the company and the court, but also the public at large. The court said he was also responsible for ensuring the safety of the workers of the plant – endangered by the massive fire in 2023.
“While in charge, they committed dishonest misconduct, negligence, illegal and destruction of the company’s property and committed an act criminal in nature,” said Jt. JMFC Khandre, on the issue in which fortunately there were no human casualties of any kind.
Referring to a complaint by a senior employee of HNG, Manoj C. Wadhavane, the court also detailed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board report of the Safety & Health Officer that showed a violation of the provisions of Maharashtra Factories Act and Maharashtra Factories Rules.
The court ordered a detailed police investigation in the case and directed for an FIR to be filed against Girish Juneja.
The court said that RP Girish Juneja is responsible not only to the company but the public at large and that the allegation is that while in-charge, he committed “dishonest misconduct, negligence, illegal and destruction of company property” and “committed acts criminal in nature”.
Saying this, the court observed that the offences alleged against RP Juneja are cognizable in nature and that upon perusal of the complaint, it is clear that the complainant is not in a position to collect evidence. Therefore, a detailed investigation is necessary in the case. The court also, however, observed that at this stage, the court is not going into the merits of the case.
What is the HNG Insolvency case
The case started in 2020 with the DBS Bank initiating insolvency proceedings against Hindustan National Glass & Industries Limited (HNG) in NCLT Kolkata. Insolvency was admitted in the year 2021. Hindustan National Glass & Industries Limited is an Indian container glassmaker based in Kolkata. The company is the largest and one of the oldest glass manufacturing companies in India. In the year 2022, the CoC (Committee of Creditors) appointed Girish Juneja as the Resolution Professional.
After the issue of Expression of Interest, Juneja received 14 bids to acquire HNG. Once the RP received the applications, on the 24th of May 2022, a Request for Resolution Plan was issued and eventually, only three firms expressed interest in purchasing HNG – AGI Greenpac (AGI), International Sugar Corporation (INSCO) and Nirma Chemical.
What follows is a long line of questionable conduct by RP Juneja, Edelweiss and its associate companies and the CoC, led by SBI, earning losses in the hundreds of crores since the IBC process began. The irregularities by the RP were noted by several legal luminaries as well. The list of questionable conduct included bending the rules to favour AGI over INSCO, bending the rules to gloss over the fact that the merger between AGI Greenpac and HNG would lead to a monopolistic market, indication that he was collaborating with Edelweiss and its allied companies to tilt the scale in AGI’s favour and more. Along with the RP, the conduct of the CCI (Competition Commission of India) has also been questioned.
The full explanation on the alleged misconduct of the RP, Edelweiss, CCI and more can be read here, here, here and here.
RP Girish Juneja, the Sinner plant and allegations of workers
Girish Juneja, as mentioned above, was the Resolution Professional in the HNG IBC process. According to the IBC process and the laws governing it, it is the responsibility of the resolution professional (RP) to:
Manage the affairs of the corporate debtor (CD) as a going concern during the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP),
Appoint and convene meetings of the CoC, so that they may decide upon resolution plans, and
Collect, collate, and finally admit claims of all creditors, which must be examined for payment, in full or in part or not at all, by the resolution applicant and be finally negotiated by the Committee of Creditors (CoC).
According to the facts of the case and the legal opinion of former judges, the RP seems to have erred in all of his listed responsibilities, causing a delay in the HNG IBC process – leading to a Rs 30 crore+ loss daily – a loss being suffered by public sector banks in the CoC – eventually affecting the public exchequer.
Beyond the IBC process itself, the RP’s role in the Sinnar Plant fire of HNG has been specifically questioned, based on which, the court has now directed and FIR to be filed and investigation to be conducted. OpIndia had detailed the allegations against Juneja in its article on the 15th of July 2024.
To understand how the RP may have derelict his duties as far as maintaining HNG as a going concern, we need to analyze one of the criminal complaints filed by one of the supervisors employed at HNG’s Sinnar plant in Nashik, Maharashtra. The complaint makes some serious allegations against the RP.
“In the aforementioned background, Mr. Girish Siriram Juneja, being the Resolution Professional and Mr. Ramchandra Parasram, Une, being the Sinnar plant head of the said Company, who are entrusted with and having dominion over the property of Hindustan National Glass &Industries Ltd., have dishonestly committed acts of misconduct, negligence misappropriations, dispossessions, destructions and criminal breach of trust, which have resulted huge loss to Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd. These acts have also posed serious risks to the lives of the 180 permanent employees and 600 workers of the said Company as well as to the people living in the vicinity and to the environment. The said dishonest and negligent acts of Mr. Girish Siriram Juneja and Mr. Ramchandra Parasram Une, are grave cognizable offences..”, the complaint said.
On 29th December 2023, there was a massive fire at the Sinnar plant resulting in molten glass leaking from the furnace. The complaint essentially points out that the RP and the plant head colluded to endanger lives for personal benefit.
Here are the allegations that the complaint makes:
RP Juneja and Une were informed that the furnaces used in container glass production needed repair. Furnace No.12 at Sinnar Plant, which has been affected by fire was commissioned in 2012. Consequently, Furnace No.12 at the Sinnar plant of the Company had exceeded its lifespan by 10 years and the same was also overdue for repair. Despite receiving warnings from specialized agencies, the essential upkeep and repairs of the furnace were neglected for an extended period.
Molten Glass failed to flow into the designated tank during the leakage incident, which must be filled with water, but there, was no water in the designated tank to cool the leaked Molten Glass. This, the complaint says, was due to the negligence of the RP.
The complaint says that despite showing capital expense for fire safety norms and the purchase of firefighting equipment, the plant was functioning without a fire NOC. The plant only had a provisional certificate.
The disposal of hazardous waste generated during the production process was not carried out in compliance with regulations.
The complaint says that it was the negligence of RP Juneja and Une that led to the fire of 29th December – resulting in a great risk to lives.
The complaint says that the fire could have spread to the explosive material storage area, leading to loss of lives. The current damage owing to the fire amounts to Rs 500 crores.
The complaint says, “Mr. Juneja has not taken any steps to investigate the fire incident dated 29/12/2023 or to address the concerns raised by workers. Instead, his focus has solely been on pursuing insurance claims, which will benefit the resolution applicant. Mr. R.P. Une under instructions of Mr. Juneja has transferred the majority of the permanent employees to other plants of the Company which caused many employees to tender forced resignation, as, they were local residents, and canceled all contracts for the supply of labor, leading to loss of employment of all contract workmen”.
The allegation is that despite HNG having a balance of Rs 300 crores, RP Juneja has refused to restart the functioning of the plant.
The complaint says that the repair cost would be reimbursed by insurance, therefore, Juneja not utilizing the Rs 300 crores to restart the plant points to a conspiracy to shut down the functioning of the Sinnar plant, leading to loss of jobs and revenue for HNG.
“Juneja has provided 100% advance payment to various Corporate Operational Creditors Mr. Juneja exhibited favoritism towards certain corporate customers by providing them with 100% advance payments and placing orders at higher rates compared to smaller and local suppliers/traders”, the complaint claims.
It is further alleged that the RP has selected vendors showing favoritism, ignoring vendors who had quoted lower prices, pointing towards irregularities and personal gain.
It is also alleged that RP terminated the contracts of the security company and gave it instead to his preferred company at a higher cost, gaining personally.
The RP has refused to give increments to the staff.
“Thus, Mr. Girish Siriram Juneja, being the Resolution Professional, and Mr. Ramchandra Parasram Une, being the Sinnar plant head of the said Company, who are entrusted with and having dominion over the property of Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Ltd., have dishonestly misused their position and have committed cognizable offenses of misconduct negligence, misappropriations, dispossessions and destructions which shows their negligent conduct concerning fire or combustible matter, explosive substance, machinery and pulling down buildings. Mr. Juneja and Mr. Une ‘have also committed a criminal breach of trust, and so, being the responsible employee of Hindusthan National Glass and Industries Ltd. in the post of Supervisor for the last 6 years, I am filing the present written Complaint against Mr. Girish Siriram Juneja, and Mr. Ramchandra ‘ Parasram Une”, the complaint concludes.
Essentially, the complaint is alluding to the fact that RP Juneja is gaining personally and neglecting the needs of the HNG company itself, keeping it as a going concern and ensuring its adequate functioning. The complaint also alludes to the fact that the RP specifically wanted the Sinnar plant to not be functional again so that other plants could benefit instead. One has to wonder here if the complaint itself alludes to the fact that the RP may have been trying to increase the value of the Rishikesh Plant (which AGI wishes to divest) at the expense of the interest of the company HNG and minimizing the value of HNG itself in the process.
It is pertinent to note that not just Wadhawe, but various stakeholders including a statutory authority have filed criminal complaints against those operating the Nashik plant, seeking a criminal investigation of the fire incident at the Sinnar Plant on 29.12.2023.
In fact, K.T Zope (deputy director- of Maharashtra Industrial Safety Department) under Section 8(1) of the Factories Act, has submitted a report to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Nashik. In the report by KT Zope, the negligence by the RP in the upkeep and maintenance of the Sinnar plant had been clearly pointed out.
KT Zope, who is the Deputy Director of Maharashtra Industrial Safety Department categorically submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Nashik that during his inspection, he found firefighting equipment in scrap condition, and therefore he had concluded that the occupier of the factory had contravened the Maharashtra Factory Rules, 1963. He further said that the contravention was punishable under Section 92 of the Factories Act, 1948.
With this finding by the Deputy Director of the Safety Department, it becomes evident that the fire incident at the Sinnar Nashik plant was not simply an accident but one that was a direct result of the negligence by the occupiers of the factory – in this case – Mukul Somany and Resolution professional Girish Juneja.
While the finding of KT Zope indicts the negligence of the RP and the other occupier, based on the complaint by the Supervisor of the Sinnar Plant, certain questions are pertinent to ask.
The Sinnar Plant being gutted in fire and not being restarted despite the RP having the resources to do so could potentially point towards collusion between the RP and AGI, as the letter accuses. Essentially, the non-functioning of the Sinnar Plant directly benefits AGI in two ways. Firstly, the business being conducted by the Sinnar Plant would go directly to AGI in the interim since AGI is the second largest glass manufacturer after HNG. Secondly, with one big plant non-functional, it also helps solve the AAEC (Monopoly) problem arising out of the combination of AGI and HNG. The negligence and actions of the RP are inexplicable and therefore, the complaint by the Supervisor alludes to a collusion between the RP and AGI.
We established in the previous articles that private institutions like Ernst and Young have established a stranglehold on the RPs and the IBC process. With the allegations against the RP, what is the culpability of EY in the IBC process of HNG and the gutting of the Sinnar plant? EY was appointed as the advisor to the RP in this case – being the advisor, was EY in the know about the RPs alleged shenanigans in the Sinnar plant?
There are grave allegations that the RP has been using the plant for personal financial gain and to benefit his preferred vendors. With such allegations, should it not then be incumbent upon the IBBI to remove Girish Juneja as the RP in the HNG case, investigate his role and the merits of the allegation, and appoint a different RP so the HNG resolution process is streamlined?
Workers Union of HNG say plant workers are threatening suicide, demand FIR against RP Juneja, allege collusion between RP and AGI – Letter to Union Labour Minister
On the 9th of July 2024, a letter was written to Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Labour minister, by workers’ trade union Nala Sangam to bring to his attention the plight of workers stationed at the Puducherry plant and other plans of HNG “due to the arbitrary, illegal and negligent actions of the Resolution Professional (“RP”), Shri. Girish Sriram Juneja was appointed to conduct the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (“CIRP”) of HNGIL”.
The letter says, “The conditions of workers at plants of HNGIL is unsettling and disturbing. The workers are fighting every day with the management i.e., RP as they have been denied basic necessities for survival. It is disheartening to see the inhumane conditions under which they work for long hours, knowing that RP and AGI have funds and resources at their end to suppress the voice of the workers and ultimately achieve their illicit goals”.
The complaint states that Girish Juneja, in conspiracy with AGI, has deliberately not ensured the safety and security of the workers due to which, the workers are also threatening to commit suicide. The workers, most affected by the prolonged IBC process of HNG, have had to sell their personal belongings to sustain themselves because of the ‘illegal’ actions of the RP.
This letter by HNG Nala Sangam employees union directly alleges that the RP is in conspiracy with AGI. Following are the points raised by the workers’ union with regard to the collusion between the RP and AGI and the role of the RP:
The letter says that “the present grave situation has arisen due to the RP’s misgovernance of the plants of HNGIL, one of which has already led to a serious fire incident (at Nashik) and other plants are also in risk of great danger”.
The workers are the most affected stakeholders from the prolonged litigation of HNGIL for which they have no resources and no funds. The RP has protracted these litigations only to benefit AGI. The workers are on the verge of selling everything they have for a fair chance to be heard before the Courts of Justice.
The letter says that the RP, either through his inactions or by design, is seeking to help AGI Greenpac in overcoming and creating circumstances that would render the litigations pending before the Supreme Court and in the process is risking the lives of thousands of workmen of HNGIL.
There was enough material, in the knowledge of the RP that the furnaces of the HNGIL were in dilapidated condition and any such incident may occur at any time. However, the RP did not take any concrete steps to repair/rebuild the said furnaces risking the valuable lives of thousands of workers of HNGIL.
The workers of Sinnar Plant did complain and address the issue of the dilapidated furnaces directly to RP on several occasions. However, the RP ignored the same which resulted in the fire incident at the Sinnar Plant.
The Sinnar plant was run without a valid NOC, despite having capital expenditure for installing firefighting equipment.
Following the Fire Incident at Sinnar Plant, highly skilled personnel crucial to the safety of the furnaces at Nashik are being coercively transferred to other units, while those refusing transfer orders are being pressured into resignation, exacerbating concerns regarding fair labor practices.
Workers of HNGIL have expressed concerns that similar incidents could potentially occur at the other plants of the NGIL, posing a significant risk to the lives and livelihoods of the workers.
The malefice of the RP is evident from the fact that RP did not report the said fire and no investigation was conducted or ordered by him. It is evident that the RP was only interested in insurance claims which will ultimately benefit AGI Greenpac. Despite HNGIL having sufficient bank balance to repair the said plant, RP failed to do so as the cost of renovation plus loss of profit. The letter says this shows malafide intent of the RP.
The employees at the plant are being constantly harassed by the RP, who is denying the employees their salary and other reasonable dues. It is also clear that the RP is not even fulfilling the basic requirements/needs of the employees and has created an unhealthy working environment due to which there are high attrition of employees.
Interestingly, the letter by the workers union categorically states what the potential intent of the RP could be, stating clearly the collusion between the RP and AGI.
The letter says:
The two main reasons behind RPs’ intentional interest in bringing down the plants of the HNGIL are:
To make AGIs’ non-compliant plan, CI compliant b burning down plants of HNGIL and reducing the total capacity of HNGIL;
By diverting al the customers of HNGIL to AGI and skilled workers to AGI; and
To misappropriate the insurance proceeds of the said fire incident for the benefit of AGI and the RP himself.
The workers union’s letter goes on to make certain demands, which include directing the IBBI to take action against RP Girish Juneja, conduct a proper investigation into the fire incident at Sinnar Plant where Nala Sangam is also heard, Direct State Labour Commissioner to look into the matter and submit a report to the concerned department of Labour Ministry, and most importantly, file an FIR against the RP.
It is well-established law that during the process of insolvency, the RP is the ‘occupier’ of the Corporate Debtor’s factory as held by landmark judgment Subrata Monindranath Maity v. The State as well.
In this landmark judgment, the Madras High Court has held that: (i) The protection to the resolution professional given under Section 233 of IBC is obviously only in respect of act done or intended to be done in good faith under the code. The failure or omission to provide safety measures in the factory cannot be stretched to inaction. (ii) The resolution professional is the occupier of the factory (as defined under Section 2(n) of the Factories Act, 1948) and he cannot abdicate his duties and responsibility of providing necessary safety measures in the factory as mandated in the Factories Act. (iii) The expression used in section 17 of the Code explicitly say that the resolution professional is the person who is vested with absolute control of the Corporate Debtor company. While so, for the violation or omission in the factory premises, Resolution Professional is responsible for the Proceedings if any, initiated against Resolution Professional under the Factories Act in his capacity as occupier. The said proceedings will not be covered under section 14 or 233 of the Code.
It is therefore evident that the RP was responsible for the upkeep of the Sinnar Plant and if the complaint by the employees, the report by the deputy director- of the Maharashtra Industrial Safety Department and the subsequent magistrate order is to be considered, the RP seems to be responsible for gross negligence.
On Tuesday, October 22 an altercation occurred at Jamia Millia Islamia University during Diwali celebrations, after a group of Muslim students kicked diyas and Ragoli prepared by other students at the campus. A video of the incident, which is now going viral on social media, shows a large crowd assembled on campus and chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Palestine Zindabad’ slogans.
The incident happened during the pre-Diwali celebrations- Jyotirmaya 2024 inside Gate No. 7 of the university in Delhi.
जामिया मिलिया इस्लामिया में दीपावली कार्यक्रम के दौरान इस्लामी कट्टरपंथियों ने मचाया उत्पाद
युवा जामिया द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रम में इस्लामी कट्टरपंथियों ने हिंसा करने की कोशिश की और ‘अल्लाह हू अकबर’ और ‘फिलिस्तीन जिंदाबाद’ के नारे लगाए।#JamiaMilliaIslamiapic.twitter.com/priHIjv7s8
The ruckus happened when two groups of students clashed during a Rangoli event that was held at the event.
Reports suggest that some Muslim students on the campus used their feet to erase a Rangoli that the other group of students had prepared for the occasion, which provoked a strong reaction from the other group, resulting in chaos on campus. The group also kicked off diyas with their feet.
Following the altercation, police were deployed outside the campus to maintain order. The situation has since been brought under control.
Though an official statement from the university is still awaited, The Indian Express quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Southeast Ravi Kumar as saying, “The incident occurred around 7:30-8 pm near gate 7. A group of students affiliated with the ABVP were putting up diyas and making rangolis for Diwali, which displeased another group of students. The other group wrecked the decorations, which led to a scuffle. Both sides engaged in sloganeering.”
Notably, each year, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student union associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with university students, organizes the Diwali festivities. The video of the incident depicted a significant gathering, creating substantial disorder, with numerous men and women carrying backpacks seen walking through the campus as slogans in support of Palestine resonated in the background.
An old video, purportedly from 2015, member of the Indian women’s cricket team, Jemimah Rodrigues, being used by her father in an evangelical event has gone viral on the internet. The video surfaced after Jemimah’s Khar Gymkhana membership was revoked over her father’s ‘religious activities’.
In the video, a young Jemimah could be seen expressing gratitude to God while speaking to an auditorium packed with audience about scoring 25 off 37 balls in a match. As the host approaches her, she acts as if she is possessed and collapses on the ground. The video was shared by an X user who claimed both Jemimah and her father were involved with Bro Manuel Ministries, an evangelical organisation as per its description on its YouTube page.
Both Jemimah and her father were involved with Bro Manuel Ministries. This video of her is from 2015, when she was playing at junior level. Ivan Rodrigues is still a part time coach and full time evangelist ? pic.twitter.com/4sIK17yveG
The video surfaced hours after elite Khar Gymkhana terminated the playing membership of Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues after her father Ivan repeatedly booked its premises for ‘Christian conversion meetings’ using her ID.
Jemimah Rodrigues, who plays for the women’s cricket team, was the first female cricketer to be awarded the membership of the top sports club in March last year.
According to Khar Gymkhana’s managing committee member Shiv Malhotra, Ivan Rodrigues booked the sporting club’s banquet hall for ‘meetings to religious conversions.’
It was reportedly carried out between March 2023 and November 2024 at the behest of a Christian evangelical group called Brother Manuel Ministries. According to the bye-laws Rule 4A of the constitution of Khar Gymkhana, religious activities are not allowed on its premises.
