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USA received intel in the last weeks about an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump: Report

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USA received intel in the last weeks about an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump: Report

The United States had received intelligence from a human source about an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump weeks before the assassination attempt against the former US President on Saturday, according to national security officials. This led to increased security measures for Trump.

Officials, however, said that there is no known connection between this Iranian plot and the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Trump on Saturday.

The US Secret Service and the Trump campaign were notified of the Iranian threat, and security was boosted as a result, as confirmed by a US national security official.

Trump and his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, have faced threats from Tehran since the 2020 drone strike that killed Qassim Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds force, in Iraq.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the US Secret Service, said that it and other agencies were “constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources as needed.” He added, “We cannot comment on any specific threat stream, other than to say that the Secret Service takes threats seriously and responds accordingly.”

Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said that US security officials had been “tracking Iranian threats against former Trump administration officials for years.”

The Iranian mission at the United Nations dismissed the report as “unsubstantiated and malicious,” adding that Trump “is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law.”

Former President Donald Trump made his first public appearance at the Republican National Convention on Monday (local time) since surviving the assassination attempt on Saturday.

Wearing a white bandage on his right ear, Trump waved at supporters and received a standing ovation from the audience. He made no remarks during the convention and stood alongside his newly announced running mate, Senator JD Vance.

Trump was on stage at a campaign rally on Saturday when gunshots rang out and Secret Service agents stormed the stage. Hours after the shooting, Trump said that the bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear. One of the rally attendees was killed, while two more were critically injured in the shooting.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The case remains under investigation.

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

Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar alleges harassment against Pune Collector who ordered her transfer, files complaint

OpIndia Staff
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Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar alleges harassment against Pune Collector who ordered her transfer, files complaint

On Tuesday (16th July), an official confirmed that trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar had lodged a harassment complaint against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase. According to the official, she has lodged the complaint with Washim police. It is pertinent to note it was the Pune Collector who reported her alleged misuse of power to the Maharashtra government allegedly after she made VIP demands during training. Following those allegations, she was transferred to Washim from Pune where she was posted as a supernumerary assistant collector. 

Regarding her complaint, the official said, “Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday when she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase.” 

However, earlier in the day, Khedkar had refused to elaborate on the purpose of why the police personnel were visiting her residence. Speaking to TV news channels, she had said, “I had called female police personnel because I had some work.” 

Major developments and allegations in the Puja Khedkar candidature row

Puja Khedkar has been facing multiple allegations and is at the centre of controversy over alleged caste quota misuse and abuse of authority. Earlier, it was reported that discrepancies in her age were noted in her official documents. Her details for the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2020 and the UPSC civil service exam in 2023 show an age difference of only one year, despite a three-year gap between filing the applications. 

Strikingly, UPSC applicants in the general category are allowed up to six attempts before the age of 32 while candidates in the OBC category are limited to nine attempts until the age of 35. It is alleged that Puja Khedkar gave the exam even after exhausting permissible attempts.

Additionally, she also used slightly different names on both applications—Khedkar Puja Deeliprao in 2020 and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar in 2023.

Furthermore, a doctor’s certificate filed by Khedkar in 2007 for admission to the Kashibai Navle Medical College in Pune stated that she was “medically fit” and did not have any evident disabilities. However, Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer from Maharashtra, claimed to be visually handicapped in her affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission.

It was also revealed that she had submitted a non-creamy layer OBC Certificate to secure admission to MBBS in 2007.

Following several allegations, she was relieved from the District Training Programme of the State Government of Maharashtra on Tuesday. She has been recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie and her training has been put on hold. Additionally, the Pune Traffic Police has seized the Audi car of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar.

Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against her parents for allegedly threatening a farmer with a pistol. 

(With Inputs from ANI) 

Calcutta HC comes down heavily on CM Mamata Banerjee for defamatory statements against West Bengal Governor, restrains her from making such statements

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta HC comes down heavily on CM Mamata Banerjee for defamatory statements against West Bengal Governor, restrains her from making such statements

The Calcutta High Court has issued a temporary restraining order against West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee and three others. The court has restrained them from making any defamatory or incorrect statements against Governor CV Ananda Bose. Notably, a single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao passed the interim order while hearing a defamation suit filed by Governor Bose against Banerjee, two MLAs of the ruling party, and a TMC leader. 

Earlier, Governor Bose approached the High Court against CM Banerjee’s remark where she said that women no longer felt safe to enter the Raj Bhavan in West Bengal after allegations of molestation were labelled against Governor Bose. 

Passing the restraining order, the High Court observed that Governor Bose is a “constitutional authority”. The bench noted that he cannot counter the personal attacks labeled against him by Banerjee and other TMC leaders using social media platforms.

The court also pointed out that the right to freedom of speech and expression is not an unfettered right and in its garb, a person can’t make defamatory statements to tarnish the reputation of a person. 

The bench observed, “This Court is of the view that in appropriate cases where the Court is of the view (sic) that the statements have been made in reckless manner in order to cause injury to the reputation of the plaintiff, the Court would be justified in granting injunction. If at this stage, an interim order is not granted it would give the free hands to the defendants to continue making defamatory statements against the plaintiff and continue to tarnish the reputation of the plaintiff.” 

Subsequently, the High Court restrained Banerjee and other TMC leaders from making any defamatory or incorrect statement against Governor Bose by way of publication and on social platforms till 14th August 2024 when the matter will be heard again.

Justice Rao noted, “In the present case, admittedly the plaintiff is a Constitutional Authority. The allegation made against the plaintiff is pending before the appropriate Court but even, paper publication is made by making allegation against the plaintiff. Considering the above circumstances, this Court finds that the plaintiff has made out a prima facie case and balance of convenience are in favour of the plaintiff and at this stage, an interim order is not granted and the defendants are permitted to continue making defamatory statement against the plaintiff, the plaintiff will further suffer irreparable loss and injury of his reputation.”

Earlier, Governor Bose submitted before the court that CM Banerjee and other TMC leaders were making false and frivolous allegations against him and had exposed him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule. 

However, CM Banerjee’s counsel claimed that she would justify her stand and place on record the documents based on which she had made the remarks in question. 

Her counsel told the bench, “The incident of Raj Bhavan is already on public domain and as such it cannot be said that the said articles are defamatory.” 

The counsel also argued that CM Banerjee made fair comments in the public interest and thus the publications were not defamatory submitting, “She will disclose the names of the women, who expressed their apprehension to go to Raj Bhavan.” 

Racist attacks, Hinduphobia and more: After Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, Usha Chilukuri becomes latest victim of racism and xenophobia in US politics

OpIndia Staff
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Racist attacks, Hinduphobia and more: After Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, Usha Chilukuri becomes latest victim of racism and xenophobia in US politics

On Monday (15th July local time), during the Republican National Convention (RNC), the Republicans formally picked Former US President Donald Trump as the party nominee for the upcoming US Presidential election slated on 5th November. Additionally, through his official social media handle, Trump announced Ohio Senator, JD Vance as his running mate and a pick for the Vice President post. Vance received warm wishes after Trump made the announcement. However, it triggered a barrage of racist, Hinduphobic remarks and slurs against his spouse, Usha Chilukuri Vance, a Hindu by religion and a daughter of Indian immigrants.

The New York Times described Usha as a perfect test case for the “Elite” and a “political cipher”, seemingly painting her as a tool for someone, who they didn’t specify, for sending a political message. 

Additionally, several X users and Americans made disparaging Hinduphobic remarks against Usha calling her of a mixed race, ethnicity, physiology, a “pajeet” etc. Several others made casteist remarks while many dismissed her as an “Elitist” person. Incidentally, some users found her an offshoot or tool for Hindutva, while others accused her of furthering and combining “Christian-Hindu supremacy” and Hind-Jew nexus, etc.  

A thread shared by a popular X handle, Year of the Kraken, compiled some of the wild reactions of X users directing vile, racist, casteist, and xenophobic remarks against Usha Chilukuri.

An X user ranted that through Usha, the Republicans will garner votes of “hollow Indian Americans” who vote on identity politics as well as “Hindu supremacists” who will try to build unity among Christian and Hindu supremacists. 

Another user went further to claim that all Indian-origin or people belonging to the Hindu faith active in US politics including Usha, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tulsi Gabbard hail from the Hindutva spectrum. 

An X handle named Facts Chaser made racist and casteist slurs against Usha and Vivek Ramaswamy.  

AnonPresby ranted that the most “scandalous fact” about JD Vance is that his wife is a “Hindu” for which he should be disqualified as if being a Hindu is a crime in America and a politically ostracised religion. 

One user claimed that “Hind-Jew thesis is at an all time high rn”, alleging a nexus of Hindus and Jews when incidentally the interfaith couple happens to be from Christian and Hindu faith. 

Usha Chilukuri added to the long list of US politicians belonging to the Hindu faith who have encountered bigotry

Many users directed their derogatory and racist, xenophobic-laced remarks against JD Vance’s wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, for her religious and caste identity, but some of them even dragged along Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard for their identity markers. Incidentally, similar racist-laced remarks surfaced when Vivek and Tulsi started making a strong buzz in the US political circles and building a huge voter-cum-fan base for themselves. 

Earlier this year in May, American commentator and author Ann Coulter told Vivek Ramaswamy on his podcast that she wouldn’t have voted for him because he is an Indian. On numerous occasions, during his stint for the Presidential nomination bid from the Republican party, he had to face questions on Hinduism. He was often told that the US is a Christian-majority country so can a non-Christian person, “effectively lead” the country? The questions exposed the deep-seated bias against non-Christians and abject racism against a Hindu candidate.

During his short stint in the Presidential race, he repeatedly faced the same question, how can the US trust a Hindu to lead their Christian-majority country? On several occasions, he faced racism from the audience and prominent US celebrities. 

One of the notorious cases of racism against Vivek Ramaswamy surfaced in July last year when an American pastor and televangelist named Hank Kunneman went on an anti-Hindu tirade against Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy following his decision to run as a Republican candidate for the upcoming 2024 US Presidential elections.

In his program, Kunneman said, “We are in danger as a country and listen to me Generation Z and millennials. Those of you, who are watching, may like this new young guy (referring to Vivek Ramaswamy).” 

“If he does not serve the Lord Jesus Christ and stand primarily for Judeo-Christian principles, you will have a fight with God…What are we doing, even entertaining the fact you’re going to have some dude put his hand on something other than the Bible,” he brazened it out.

The televangelist remarked, “You are going to let him put all of his strange Gods up in the White House and are we just supposed to blink because he understands policies? No.” 

Strikingly, his racist remarks received an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience, exposing the dark underbelly of racism prevalent in a substantial percentage of American society.  

Similarly, in February last year, conservative political commentator Ann Coulter went on a racist tirade against Indian-origin Nikki Haley during her appearance on the ‘The Mark Simone Show’ podcast. During the podcast, Ann Coulter remarked, “She is just a preposterous creature…”

Ann Coulter then went on a xenophobic tirade and mocked Hindu sentiments. “What’s with the worshiping of the cows? They’re all starving over there and they’re worshiping cows? Do you know they have a rat temple where they worship rats?” she said.

In 2020, US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard set social media on fire when she called out the Hinduphobia in the United States. The veteran said that she experienced it in each of her campaigns for Congress and in the presidential race. She also said that politicians and the media in the USA not only tolerate it but foment it as well.

Through its media, cinema industry, think tank, and dominant political rhetoric, the US tries to project itself as the nation championing the model of an egalitarian society that the world should replicate and follow the dictates of the US administration on Religious freedom, curbing racism, xenophobia, etc. However, the fact is the US has been notorious for having a warped worldwide and a deeper darker underbelly of racism, xenophobia, and religious hate crimes which are more pronounced in its society, especially at a time when non-Christian or people of colour start making it big or make hard-earned places for themselves. 

Vadodara: Palestine flag hoisted on Muharram in Savli, Police takes suo moto cognizance, three minors being questioned

OpIndia Staff
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Vadodara: Palestine flag hoisted on Muharram in Savli, Police takes suo moto cognizance, three minors being questioned

Muharram processions are taking place all around the country. Amid this, a Palestinian flag was raised on Muharram in Vadodara’s Savli. The Police took suo moto cognizance of the event and began an investigation into the case. Three juveniles are currently being interrogated in the case.

According to the information gathered, the incident occurred on the evening of July 14th, 2024. Muharram preparations were underway at Lahori Wagah (a Muslim neighborhood) in Savli, Vadodara. Meanwhile, someone raised the Palestinian flag along with the religious flags. The police were astonished to see the Moto Jabbar Palestine banner and swiftly took it down.

Given the gravity of the situation, the police department filed a cognizance petition and launched an investigation. OpIndia contacted PSI Kamaliya, who is on duty at Savli Police Station, to learn more about the hoisting of the Palestinian flag in Savli, Vadodara. He informed OpIndia that no complaint had been filed in this situation yet. “The Savli police suo moto took cognizance, lodged a case, and launched an investigation. No arrests have been made yet. Three minors are being questioned in connection with this case,” he said. 

Past incidents of unrest in Vadodara

It should be noted that Savli of Vadodara is notorious for radicalism. Previously, a Muslim mob attacked Hindus for playing Islamic tunes at a garba at a Savli institution. Following that, an attempt was made to remove the Hindu saffron flag, which was hoisted on a pole in the ‘Dhamiji Ka Dera’ region, and raise the holy flag. The situation became volatile as the two parties confronted each other over this topic.

At the time, 36 persons were arrested in connection with the attack. Apart from Savli, certain other parts of Vadodara have also been subjected to fanatical disorder. Attacks on Ramnavami processions are also frequently documented in the area.

As Republican Harmeet Dhillon gets attacked with racist slurs for Sikh prayer at RNC, read how she targets India regularly, whitewashed Khalistani Nijjar

OpIndia Staff
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As Republican Harmeet Dhillon gets attacked with racist slurs for Sikh prayer at RNC, read how she targets India regularly, whitewashed Khalistani Nijjar

On 15th July, local time, American lawyer and Republican Party official Harmeet Dhillon ended the Republican National Convention with a Sikh prayer. Dhillon’s prayer led to a meltdown on social media by the users who found it anti-Christian and apparently “blasphemous”.

X user YearOfTheKraken made a thread of such meltdowns. However, it has to be noted that Dhillon, on several occasions, has expressed pro-Khalistani sentiments. She has targeted the Indian government accusing it of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, planning an attack on Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and killing pro-Khalistani elements on foreign soil.

Meltdown over Sikh prayer

X user Afhasbara wrote, “Harmeet Dhillon prays to some satanic “god” at the RNC.

X user JNationalist1 wrote, “RNC 2024: ends with a Sikh witchcraft ritual. DNC 2020: Ends with a prayer in Jesus’s name.”

X user BehizyTweets wrote, “ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!! I have nothing but respect for Harmeet Dhillon but fire whoever invited her to pray to a foreign god, there is only one true God we pray to and his name is not whatever she said. His name is YAHWEH and his only begotten Son is Jesus Christ.”

X user magicgrits_ wrote, “Why does the RNC have a time slot for a Sikh prayer to be sung and prayed to a false god.”

Harmeet Dhillon’s pro-Khalistani and anti-Indian government stance

While the attack on Harmeet Dhillon and Republicans for allowing the Sikh prayer to happen has shocked many Indians, it has to be noted that Dhillon is not very fond of India and Indian government. First and foremost, she came out in support of the pro-Khalistani elements and Canadian government over allegations against India in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder case. On 19th September 2023, a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of killing Nijjar, Dhillon quoted Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre who supported Trudeau in attacking India.

Dhillon wrote, “Canada’s conservative leader joins other Canadian officials in condemning the extrajudicial murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Good to see them unite against this shocking act.” Notably, at that time, Trudeau did not provide any evidence to support his allegations and the Canadian government has yet to provide any substantial evidence against India.

Source: X

In December 2023, she quoted US-based media house The Intercept’s dubious and baseless report against India where it was claimed that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a secret memo in April 2023. The news report claimed that the Indian government, in the memo, ordered its consulates in North America to launch a “sophisticated crackdown scheme” against ‘Sikh diaspora organisations’ in Western nations. Indian government categorically denied existence of any such memo.

Source: X

In March this year, just ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, she quoted The Economist report on how Indian migrants were helping PM Narendra Modi in campaigning at home and lobbying for India abroad. Quoting the report, Dhillon again repeated the baseless accusations against India that the Indian government is assassinating critics in the diaspora.

Source: X

In March 2023, she quoted a Reuters report on so-called Human Rights violations in India and asserted that the people of Punjab suffered due to the recent internet shutdown. She also claimed that Sikh journalists and activists were being targeted. The internet shutdown in Punjab she was referring to was done to stop the spread of misinformation during a crackdown against Khalistani sympathizer preacher-turned-MP Amritpal Singh. Several journalists and media houses also faced action as they were spreading misinformation during that period.

In a reply to that post, she quoted a report on India’s press freedom ranking. The funny thing is, the press freedom ranking she was referring to was based on dubious data and old reports. OpIndia has a detailed report on it. One of the most bizarre points Reporters sans frontières (Reporters Without Borders), or RSF put in its report is about the money the government of India spends on advertisements. RSF claimed the central government is spending more than 130 billion rupees (Rs 13,000 crores) or 5 billion euros a year on ads in the print and online media alone.

Source: RSF

OpIndia had filed an RTI seeking information on the ad spent by the central government on different platforms, including print, outdoor advertisements, social media, radio, and television. As per the reply sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India, the actual figures are nowhere close to what RSF has claimed.

According to the reply sent by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the central government spent only Rs 26.44 crore on television ads and only 1.33 crore on social media ads in the financial year 2022-23. Notably, ad spending has decreased significantly since the Modi government came to power in 2014. The maximum amount the government has spent on television ads was Rs 280.77 crores in FY 2016-17.

In November 2023, she again targeted the Indian government over baseless claims of “death squads” being sent to kill “North American Sikhs”.

Source: X

In February 2021, quoting a report on the Indian government’s crackdown on social media platforms for ignoring orders to block fake reports and anti-India posts, Dhillon made shocking and completely baseless allegations that Sikh detainees were sexually assaulted and humiliated based on their religion during farmer protests.

Source: X

Despite being an American politician who has no say in India’s internal affairs, she kept trying to meddle during farmer protests.

Source: X

The controversy around Harmeet Dhillon’s Sikh prayer at RNC highlighted the intolerance embedded in the American society. However, before jumping in to defend her, Indians must be aware of her history of upporting controversial claims and figures, like Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar aged only one year between 2020 and 2023, used different names on applications: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar aged only one year between 2020 and 2023, used different names on applications: Details

Amidst controversy over alleged caste quota misuse and abuse of authority by the 34-year-old trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, yet another shocking revelation has been made. It has emerged that there was a discrepancy in Khedkar’s age on official documents.

Khedkar’s details for the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2020 and the UPSC civil service exam in 2023 show an age difference of only one year, despite a three-year gap between filing the applications. Puja Khedkar also used slightly different names on both applications—Khedkar Puja Deeliprao in 2020 and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar in 2023.

2020 CAT order on Puja Khedkar (Source: IndiaToday)

This is a crucial revelation given the fact that UPSC applicants in the general category are allowed up to six attempts before the age of 32 while candidates in the OBC category are limited to nine attempts until the age of 35. It is being alleged that Puja Khedkar gave the exam even after exhausting permissible attempts.

2023 CAT order (Source:IndiaToday)

Simply put, Khedkar sat for the UPSC examination in 2020-21 under the name Khedkar Puja Diliprao. Then, in 2021-22, she apparently changed her name and gave the exam. According to the records cited above, she changed her name to Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar and took the exam twice, despite having exhausted her permitted number of attempts.

Puja Khedkar was declared “medically fit” in a 2007 certificate

In addition to this, a doctor’s certificate filed by Khedkar in 2007 for admission to the Kashibai Navle Medical College in Pune has come to light. This certificate stated that she was “medically fit” and did not have any evident disabilities.

“She has not given any personal history of any disease incapacitating her to undergo the professional course. Also, on clinical examination, it has been found that she is medically fit to undergo the course, Khedkar’s fitness certificate reads.

Source: TimesNow

“She took admission in 2007… She got admission through CET, where she gave some certificates of reservation… She had submitted the caste certificate, caste validity and non-creamy layer certificate… She also submitted the certificate of medical fitness which does not mention any disability there…,” Arvind Bhore, the Director of Shrimati Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital said.

Meanwhile, Dr Rajendra Wable, Dean of YCM Hospital, from where IAS officer Puja Khedkar acquired her Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, on Tuesday said that Puja Khedkar has a 7% locomotor disability. “Puja Khedkar applied in the month of August 2022 for disability certification regarding her left limb knee joint. After the due application online, she came here for examination purposes. She was assessed by our multiple departments. In the end, it was found that she has a 7% locomotor disability. This was issued on August 21,” Wable said.

It is, however, pertinent to note that according to a Department of Personnel and Training FAQ sheet, “Only such persons would be eligible for reservation in services/posts who suffer from not less than 40 per cent of relevant disability. A person who wants to avail of benefit of reservation would have to submit a Disability Certificate issued by a competent authority.”

Source: DoPT

Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer from Maharashtra, claimed to be visually handicapped in her affidavit to the Union Public Service Commission.

In 2022, she missed up to six medical exams to verify her impairment. However, she then provided an MRI report from an outside medical facility. After an 8-month delay, this MRI report was accepted in 2023.

Although Puja Khedkar secured 841st rank, she was allotted IAS, India’s premier civil service, due to the caste quotas. However, in the event her OBC and Physically Challenged certifications are found to be fraudulent, she will be discharged from service. Khedkar, however, will have the option to challenge this before the Central Administrative Tribunal.

Notably, Puja Khedkar’s name appeared in the news after she demanded special facilities before joining on the post of Assistant Collector in Pune. As per the chats, she asked for a special office, an official car, and staff. It must be noted that probationers are not entitled to these facilities. She also drove her luxury Audi car with a beacon and VIP number plate. She had also put a ‘Maharashtra government’ sign on her private car. A one-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter. The committee will submit its report within a two-week time period.

Assam: Police arrest Nasibuddin and Murtaza after they film woman taking bath, accused used to uploading videos on porn sites for money

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Police arrest Nasibuddin and Murtaza after they film woman taking bath, accused used to uploading videos on porn sites for money

On Monday (16th July), Assam Police arrested two youths for filming a woman while she was taking a bath in her residence in Nagaon. The arrested accused have been identified as Nasibuddin and Murtaza Hasan. 

The victim raised an alarm when she noticed that someone was attempting to film her through the ventilation. Hearing her screams, the victim’s family members and neighbours caught hold of the accused and assaulted them.

They then handed the two accused over to the Police. The Police seized their mobile phones and revealed that they used to earn money by uploading obscene videos on porn websites. 

According to reports, the incident pertains to the Khutikotia area which comes under the jurisdiction of Haibargaon Police Post. According to sources, on Sunday the woman noticed that someone was attempting to film. She noticed that the accused were using a mobile phone camera through the ventilation while she went to take a bath. 

Subsequently, she raised an alarm after which her family members and neighbours rushed to the scene. They apprehended the accused and assaulted them. They then informed the Police about the matter and handed over the accused to the officers.  

The Police arrested the accused who were later identified as Nasibuddin and Murtaza Hasan. The Police also seized their mobile phones and after analysis, they discovered numerous objectionable videos on their phones. 

According to the Police, the accused used to record obscene videos of women bathing and in other compromising situation and then used to earn money by uploading these videos on porn sites. 

A Police officer said, “We have found several objectionable clips and videos on their phones. They had been recording women bathing, changing clothes, and in other compromising situations. They used to upload those videos on various porn sites to earn money. We are interrogating them.” 

Earlier in May this year, Kerala Police arrested a local Youth Congress leader named Ashiq Badaruddin for capturing videos of women with a camera placed in a toilet in Kollam. 

As per reports, Badaruddin was working as a toilet operator in Thenmala and he was arrested after women complained of his attempts to capture videos. Arrested accused Ashiq Badaruddin served as the general secretary of Youth Congress in Punalur block. 

In March 2024, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a chargesheet against three Muslim girls who were caught recording their Hindu classmate inside the washroom of Netra Jyoti College in Udupi city of Karnataka eight months earlier. 

The Udupi bathroom video case

On 21st July, a Karnataka-based organisation, All College Student Power (ACSP), wrote the Superintendent of Police, district Udupi, about this crime at Netra Jyoti College where three female students of the Muslim community secretly made a video of Hindu female students and shared the mobile phone. As per the letter sent by ACSP, students at Netra Jyoti College learned about it on the 20th of July and protested against it.

While the leftist ecosystem, media, and so-called fact-checkers attempted to downplay the heinous case, following social media outrage, the police filed an FIR against the 3 Muslim women who were indulging in the criminal activity and the college administration for not only destroying evidence but also for not providing information and documents during the course of the investigation.

Bangladesh hits back at US for lecturing on ‘violence’, reminds America of assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh hits back at US for lecturing on ‘violence’, reminds America of assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump

On Tuesday, 16th July, Bangladesh slammed the US State Department for making claims of 2 student deaths amid violence in the country. The Bangladesh authorities stated that the US was making unverified claims and that such ‘baseless claims’ could fuel violence.

As per the statement shared by Wion journalist Sidhant Sibal, Dhaka said, “Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims can fuel violence.”

“The US in media made unsubstantiated claims of at least two deaths amid the ongoing protest in Bangladesh. Such statements can undermine Bangladesh’s efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movements. Freedom of Expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of our democracy and the government remains steadfast in upholding the rights of the citizens and public property and order,” the diplomat said.

“Violence does not have any place in the democracy and politics. We have recently witnessed the horror and attempt on the life of former US president Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in the USA. We are deeply concerned by the incident. Such violence runs against the core value of democracy. Our Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have separately condemned the attack,” she added.

It is important to note that students at Dhaka University are protesting against quotas for government jobs.

The statement came hours after, the US claimed that two students had died during the current student protests in Dhaka. “We are aware of and are monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh that have killed two and attacked and injured hundreds,” US Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a regular media briefing in Washington on Monday, July 15th.

When asked for specific information from the US Embassy in Dhaka, acting Spokesperson Leonard Hill said on Tuesday morning that the statement was based on “monitoring reports” that included the injuries and deaths.

“We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth,” he said. Spokesperson Miller stated that “freedom of expression and peaceful assembly” are critical components of any thriving democracy.

“We condemn any violence directed at peaceful protesters. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this violence,” he stated during the briefing.

However, Dhaka stated that there were no such incidents reported.

Byju’s failed to deposit TDS with the govt despite deducting it from employee salaries, a punishable offence against company directors: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Byju’s failed to deposit TDS with the govt despite deducting it from employee salaries, a punishable offence against company directors: Report

As Byju’s is facing multiple crises, more legal troubles could be mounting for the directors of the Edtech company. A Moneycontrol report, published on Tuesday (16th July), has pointed out that Byju’s has not deposited the employee’s Tax Deducted on Source (TDS) to the government since last year despite deducting it from the employee’s salaries.

Citing tax experts, the report added that failure to deposit the employee’s TDS is a punishable offense for which the company’s directors could go behind bars. 

The media portal spoke with eight current and former Byju’s employees regarding this issue whereas the Edtech company refrained from commenting on the matter. According to the report, when current and former employees of Bjyu’s proceeded to file their IT return as the last date, 31st July, nears, they came to learn that the company has allegedly not remitted TDS to the government since July last year. However, their pay slips indicated tax deductions.   

Moneycontrol reported that both current and former Byju’s employees said that they have not received their Form 16 for three out of the last four quarters. Notably, an Employer hands Form 16 to an employee which has details of income and taxes. Additionally, on the income tax portal, the employees didn’t find any details of TDS on another document called Form 26AS which alerted them. 

Hitesh Jain is a chartered accountant who is handling tax filings for several affected employees. Jain was quoted by Moneycontrol saying, “It is Byju’s responsibility to collect the TDS and deposit it in the government treasury. What it has done is deducted the TDS from the employees, but defaulted on depositing the same with the government. In few cases, it is for a year and in few cases it is for a few months.” 

Ajay Rotti is the founder and CEO of Tax Compaas, a boutique tax advisory company. He explained that failure to deposit TDS with the government (Income tax department) is an offence. 

Rotti said, “If a company does not deposit TDS with the tax department, it is an offence without a doubt. The company is required to deposit TDS in the 7 days of the following month in which it is being deducted. If they don’t, they are liable to pay interest for the delay, there is a penalty and it is also a prosecutable offense — which means the company’s directors can be put behind bars for this in some extreme cases.” 

He further explained that it is a common practice to deposit TDS because most companies take this very seriously. Right now, court rulings are very clear that if the employer has not deposited the TDS, the employee is not liable to pay it, he added.

Several employees say Byju’s hasn’t deposited PF contributions since December, others accuse it for not clearing their full and final dues

According to the EPFO data, Byju’s has also failed to deposit monthly provident fund (PF) payments for several employees since December. 

A disgruntled former employee who had worked with the company for around 4 years in Bengaluru, said, “I left the company around 4-5 months back and they have not paid my F&F (Full and Final) dues yet. My monthly provident fund payments to EPFO have not happened since December. The last thing I need is to have to pay the tax amount once again.” 

He added, “My request to the company would be to please settle the TDS amount with the government. It is one thing to not pay employees, but I think it is ‘anti-national’ to not pay your dues to the government.” 

The Moneycontrol report added that the last data available when Byju’s deposited PF was from November 2023. At that time, it deposited PF for around 16,220 employees. This was a drop of 66% in employee count as it had deposited PF for 47,632 employees in January 2022. 

However, sources said that Byju’s has started settling some of the PF amounts in tranches, but there is still no clarity on when the process will be completed. 

Furthermore, former employees who left between September 2023 and March 2024 have not received their full & final settlements as yet, the Moneycontrol report added. 

Byju’s grappling with multiple crises 

Once India’s most-valued startup, Byju’s and its founder Byju Raveendran have been grappling with a range of issues since 2022. These include allegations of accounting irregularities, alleged mis-selling of courses, and mass layoffs. 

In the last 12 months, the cash-strapped ed-tech firm has laid off thousands of employees. The company had earlier paused its February and March salaries because of a lack of funds. It is facing issues as the venture capital funding is drying and on the other hand, the demand for online learning services has been on the decline in the post-COVID period. Since then, its investor board members have also left while citing differences with company’s founder Byju Raveendran.

Earlier this year, Byju’s initiated a rights issue that saw a 99% cut on its last fundraising valuation of $22 billion. A few of its biggest investors including Peak XV, Prosus, and General Atlantic have been attempting to block the rights issue in court as well as replacing the company’s top management.

Amidst several controversies, Byju’s in May, rolled out a new policy that linked sales staff’s salaries to the revenue they generate every week.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the company is trying to prevent its employees from contacting the Human Resources team. A current employee said that while several of his and other colleagues’ e-mails received vague responses, others did not even get any response.

According to the report, a group of the employees have been mulling dragging the Edtech company to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), where the company is already battling legal issues with investors like Peak XV and Prosus, and multiple vendors whose payments have not been completed. 

NCLT admits Byju’s to insolvency resolution process

In a separate major development on 16th July, the Bengaluru bench of NCLT admitted Byju’s parent Think and Learn to the insolvency resolution process for defaulting on Rs 158.90 crore. The order was passed on a plea filed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Tribunal also dismissed Byju’s request to refer the dispute to arbitration.

According to a November 2023 order, the BCCI had claimed that Byju’s defaulted on a payment of Rs 158 crore. The order had read, “It is stated that the general notice was issued to Byju’s vide email dated 06.01.2023 and the default amount of Rs 158 crore, excluding TDS as reflected.” 

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