Breaking News, March 11 | HIGHLIGHTS

The Andhra Pradesh Police CID has registered multiple FIRs against Margadarsi Chit Fund Pvt Ltd for a string of alleged irregularities, including the diversion of depositors' money into mutual funds and speculative markets for personal gain, an official said on Saturday. The chit fund's chairman and media baron Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, company director Sailaja Cherukuri and the firm's branch managers from various locations as accused, the CID termed the irregularities grave in nature. Multiple CID teams swooped on Margadarsi branches in Visakhapatnam, Rajamundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narasaraopeta and Anantapur, where searches are continuing.

A bomb exploded on Saturday during an award ceremony for journalists in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif city, killing at least one person and wounding eight, including children, officials said. The blast happened at the Tabian Farhang center in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, as journalists gathered for the award event at 11 am, said Mohammad Asif Waziri, the local police spokesman. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said later that five journalists and three children were wounded. The blast killed a security guard, he said.
It came two days after a bomb in Mazar-e-Sharif killed the provincial governor, Daud Muzmal, and two others. Four were wounded.

Police have booked unknown persons for impersonating the personal security officer (PSO) of Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala on WhatsApp and demanding money from his acquaintances. The cyber frauds put a picture of the PSO as a display picture on a fake WhatsApp account and allegedly extorted money from his friends and acquaintances, police here said on Saturday. According to the complaint filed by Ram Parkash Sangwan, the PSO, the fraudsters used mobile number 91-6913441542 to trick his friends and other acquaintances into believing they were him and asked for money sending them messages.

Oil producers have urged the government to declare Rajasthan as a mustard state as it accounts for 40-45 per cent of the country's production of the oilseed, an industry official said on Saturday. The president of Mustard Oil Producers Association of India (MOPA), Babu Lal Data told reporters here that the body under the aegis of the Central Organization for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT) is organising a seminar here to discuss various issues of the edible oil industry.

Indira Gandhi had urged the DMK not to oppose the Emergency but then chief minister late M Karunanidhi had put democracy before his rule and opposed it, only to lose his government, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said on Saturday.
The late prime minister had sent her messengers to convey to Karunanidhi he should not oppose the Emergency when it was imposed in 1975 and that the DMK government may be dismissed if he did not heed the plea, Stalin said, addressing a mammoth gathering here, where more than 4,000 people from various political parties including the AIADMK and DMDK joined the ruling DMK.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday seized Rs 3.8 crore worth gold ornaments from 11 passengers upon their arrival here from Sharjah, officials said. The volume of the seizure was around 6.62 kg, DRI sources said. Based on a tip-off that the passengers of Air Arabia were smuggling in gold, the officials carried out a search and seized them hidden in their pants, shoes and rectum, they said.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress will stage a protest against alleged rising inflation, unemployment among other "raging issues" outside the Raj Bhawan here on Monday, the party said. Talking to reporters, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Brijlal Khabri on Saturday said statistics indicate that the graph of injustice and atrocities has increased in the state but the BJP government is completely asleep. Industrialist friends of the government are being helped with public money while the vice-chancellors of universities under the protection of the government are indulging in corruption, he alleged.

"In your excellence, the world saw a glimpse of India's sporting prowess," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Sania Mirza while congratulating the legendry athlete for her glorious career in which she illustrated that "more women can pursue tennis and excel in it". Sania, who won six Grand Slam titles in her career, bid adieu to the game last month in Dubai, where she played her final tournament. In his congratulatory message to Sania, the PM conveyed that Sania has left an indelible mark on Indian sports, inspiring the coming generation of athletes.

A man who had issued a death threat against BKU leader Rakesh Tikait and his family over the phone was arrested on Saturday, police said. The accused has been identified as Vishal, son of Deva Singh, and police were interrogating him, Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhora Kalan, Akshay Sharma, told reporters here. The caller's location was detected in Delhi and he was arrested from there by the Muzaffarnagar police, the SHO said.

A day after his arrest, a special court here on Saturday remanded Sadanand Kadam, considered a close associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 15 in an alleged money laundering case pertaining to a resort in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.

Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam, has moved a city court accusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of forging his statements in the matter.
The ED had claimed that he is a close aide of BRS MLC and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha and an alleged frontman of the liquor cartel - "South Group" - that paid kickbacks amounting to about Rs 100 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to gain a larger share of the market in the national capital under the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2020-21.

'Maa', a microsite on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official website, that pays tribute to the memory of his mother and celebrates the unwavering spirit of motherhood has been launched. Heeraba Modi, mother of Prime Minister Modi, passed away on December 30 last year. Condolences and heartfelt sympathies had poured in from around the world following her passing away. The microsite 'Maa', which is dedicated to Heeraba, celebrates the unwavering spirit of motherhood and pays tribute to her memory, officials said. It was launched as a tribute to the memory of the prime minister's mother as people across the globe observed the International Women's Day on March 8.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had a "fruitful meeting" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The meeting took place on Friday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. Raimondo, who was on a four-day visit to India, also met several ministers besides holding meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Raimondo and Goyal also held the Commercial Dialogue on Friday.

The stage is set for the inauguration of the 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his sixth visit to the poll-bound Karnataka this year on Sunday. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones for key projects and inaugurate the Expressway in Mandya and Hubballi-Dharwad worth Rs 16,000 crore. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office, Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stones of key road projects in Mandya at noon.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo had a "fruitful meeting" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The meeting took place on Friday, the Prime Minister's Office said. Raimondo, who was on a four-day visit to India, also met several ministers besides holding meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Raimondo and Goyal also held the Commercial Dialogue on Friday. "US Secretary of Commerce @SecRaimondo had a fruitful meeting with PM @narendramodi yesterday," the PMO tweeted Saturday along with a photograph of the meeting.

The Congress urged Nagaland Governor La Ganesan to "nullify" the appointment of 24 newly-elected MLAs as advisors in various departments, claiming that the government violated constitutional provisions as they did not take oath as legislators before their appointment. It is astonishing to note that the NDPP-BJP were in a rush to appoint advisors in different government departments, state Congress working president Khriedi Theunuo said, adding that without taking the oath, these legislators are not "full-fledged MLAs" of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

A member of the erstwhile Bikaner royal family, "Rajmata" Sushila Kumari, died owing to a prolonged illness on Friday night. She was 94. Her last rites will be performed with full royal honours on Sunday and the body has been kept at the Junagarh fort in Bikaner for people to have a last glimpse of her, family sources said. The deceased's granddaughter and incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bikaner East, Siddhi Kumari, paid a visit to her ailing grandmother on Friday night at the hospital where she was admitted. After the death of Karni Singh in 1988, Sushila Kumari was looking after the affairs of the erstwhile royal family. Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia expressed grief over her death. "Received the sad news of the demise of most revered Rajmata Sushila Kumari ji, former Rajmata of the Bikaner royal family who was associated with social service throughout her life. May god give the departed soul a place at his holy feet. Om Shanti," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

A physically challenged woman was allegedly repeatedly raped by a man for the past five months here, officials said on Saturday. The local team of Sakhi-One Stop Center (OSC) rescued the 26-year-old woman allegedly being raped by the man and also got the accused arrested by the police, they said. The OSC scheme was launched by the government in 2015-16 to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by any kind of violence, both in private and public sphere. Under this scheme, one stop centres have been made operational in each district of Punjab. Giving details about the case, the administrator of SOSC-cum-Child Development Project Officer, Hoshiarpur-I, Madhu Bala said she received a telephone call on March 7 from a person stating that he found a physically challenged woman at Jalandhar bus stand and took her to Hoshiarpur. Bala said she got suspicious from the conversation with the man, and she, along with the team of OSC, reached the address mentioned and found that the man was allegedly beating the woman who was lying unconscious. Bala immediately sought the help of the district administration and Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal instructed to take action against the accused. The victim woman was admitted to the local Civil Hospital, Bala said in a statement on Friday evening.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages on Monday. According to Monday's (March 13) cause list uploaded on the apex court's website, the pleas are listed for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala. The apex court had, on January 6, clubbed and transferred to itself all such petitions pending before different high courts, including the Delhi High Court. It had said the counsel appearing for the Centre and advocate Arundhati Katju, representing the petitioners, shall together prepare a common compilation of the written submissions, documents and precedents on which reliance would be placed during the course of the hearing.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the attack on the fact-finding teams of opposition MPs and MLAs in Tripura and alleged that "sangh parivar goons" were behind the "heinous" act. In a tweet last night, the Marxist veteran said the incident highlights the need for law and order situation to be restored in the north-eastern state. He also urged democratic forces to unite to defeat this reign of terror in Tripura. "The heinous attack by Sangh Parivar goons on the fact-finding team of opposition MPs visiting Tripura is highly condemnable. It highlights the need for law and order to be restored in the State. Democratic forces should unite to defeat this reign of terror in Tripura," Vijayan said. A fact-finding team of MPs and MLAs from the Left parties and the Congress, which arrived to look into the post-poll violence in Tripura, was attacked in Sepahijala district on Friday.

As part of its efforts to promote domestically manufactured goods, the Bihar government has directed all state-controlled bodies to accord priority and provide price preference to products manufactured by industrial units located within the state. In a circular issued to all corporations and autonomous bodies, the department of industries has asked them to strictly follow the state's 'Purchase Preference Policy-2002' and 'The Bihar Finance (Amendment) Rules, 2005' during government procurements. All departments of the state government have also been directed to abide by the directive, starting next financial year. "The notification will certainly provide impetus to domestic manufacturers and suppliers. It will also lead to growth in employment opportunities and income," Samir Kumar Mahaseth, the state industries minister, told PTI. Explaining further, the minister said that goods produced by the large or medium industries that are located and registered in Bihar will be given up to two per cent price preference compared to those manufactured outside the state. As for small industries, the price preference may go up to seven per cent, he said.

Four cow smugglers were arrested following an encounter in which a constable and a cow smuggler were injured in this Uttar Pradesh district, police said on Saturday. The encounter took place in the Baheri police station area on Friday, they said, adding that both the injured men have been admitted to a hospital. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rajkumar Aggarwal said following incidents of cow slaughter in Akha and Sakras villages of Baheri, police picked up four people from Akha and they confessed to their role in cow slaughter. Subsequently, accompanied by one of the arrested cow smugglers, Manzoor Ahmed, police reached Akha on Friday to recover the tools used by them. On the pretext of getting the tools, which he claimed were buried in a field, the accused took out a pistol and fired at the police, leaving constable Ritu Raj injured in the hand. Police fired at Ahmed when he tried to run away and he suffered a leg injury. The injured constable and cow smuggler were taken to a community health centre (CHC), from where they were referred to the Bareilly Headquarters Hospital. Police have seized the tools used for cow slaughter from Akha, the SP said, adding that the arrested men are being interrogated thoroughly.

Violent clashes broke out in Manipur's Kangpokpi district when police tried to stop locals who organised a protest rally, alleging encroachment of tribal lands by reserved forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Defying prohibitory orders, people gathered in large numbers near Thomas in Kangpokpi town on Friday for the protest rally called by different bodies, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), police said. However, an altercation broke out as police tried to disperse the protesters, subsequently leading to violent clashes. At least five protestors were wounded as teargas shells were lobbed, while a few police personnel also sustained injuries after being hit by stones, officials said. The situation was later brought under control, they said. Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the protesters were challenging the constitutional provisions.

The US added 311,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department said. The jobless rate climbed to 3.6 per cent from last month's 3.4 per cent, Xinhua news agency quoted the Department as saying. The increase is likely to cause the Federal Reserve to continue in the most aggressive rate hike cycle in decades, experts said. Earlier this week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers that the central bank would increase rate hikes if inflation and a strong job market continue.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese have vowed to work closely to take concerted action against globally proscribed terrorist entities and to contribute to the common fight against terrorism, including through combating terror financing. Ways to deal with global terrorism figured prominently during wide-ranging talks between the two prime ministers at the first annual India-Australia Summit here on Friday. A joint statement said Modi and Albanese strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasised the need for strengthened international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner. They also underlined the need for action against those who encourage, support and finance terrorism or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, whatever their motivation may be. "They called upon all countries to work together to root out terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, disrupt terrorist networks and their financing channels and halt use of terrorist proxies and cross-border movement of terrorists," the joint statement said. It said the two prime ministers reiterated their condemnation of terrorist attacks in India and Australia, including the Mumbai and Pathankot attacks. The reference to cross-border movement of terrorists came in the backdrop of Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism against India. "The prime ministers emphasised the importance of perpetrators of terrorist attacks being systematically and expeditiously brought to justice," the statement said.

A special investigation team on Friday arrested two persons who had met former MLA Ashraf - the brother of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed - inside the Bareilly district jail without authorisation, a senior officer said. Superintendent of Police (City) Rahul Bhati, who heads the SIT, identified the arrested as Rashid, a resident of the Izzat Nagar police station area, and Furkan, a resident of the Mirganj police station area. These henchmen used to work on the instructions of their boss Ashraf, he said. On Friday evening, the special investigation team (SIT) also carried out raids and seized the house of Ashraf's brother-in-law Saddam, he said. The SIT was formed on Thursday to probe the case of facilitating illegal meetings between jailed former MLA Ashraf and his close aides. Ashraf has been lodged in the Bareilly district prison since July 2020.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted raid at the residence of Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in the national capital in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam case. The ED team left after over 11 hours of questioning the RJD leader at his residence here in New Delhi, they said.

A Minnesota man was charged Friday with fatally beating an elderly man previously convicted of child sexual assault, who he believed had stalked his young daughter in the past. Levi Axtell, 27, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Lawrence V. Scully, 77, who was beaten to death Wednesday at his home in Grand Marais. A criminal complaint filed Friday said Axtell killed Scully with a shovel and a moose antler and then drove to the Cook County Sheriff's office and confessed, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. At a video hearing on Friday, Axtell's bail was set at USD 1 million. Defence attorney Dennis Shaw noted during the hearing that Axtell had no serious criminal history until now and his longtime ties to Grand Marais made him a minimal flight risk. Axtell remains jailed in Cook County. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 10.

Police arrested a 10-year-old student in Maine after the student arrived on school grounds with a firearm on Friday. No one was injured, the Waldo County Sheriff's Office said. The office said it responded to the Monroe Elemenrary School in Monroe on Friday just before 9 am local time after fielding a report that the student had a firearm. The sheriff's office said police worked with school staff to detain the student and seize the firearm. The student was then arrested and transported to Waldo County Sheriff's Office. The office said there was no ongoing threat to the school or the community. The sheriff's office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating the incident, police said. No further information on the incident was immediately released. Monroe is a small community of about 900 people located about 160 kilometers northeast of Portland. 

A suspended sub-registrar of Gonda, wanted in multiple cases of fake land deeds and fake will registrations, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team on Friday, a senior police officer said. The SIT constituted by the government to probe the allegations of fake land deeds and wills arrested Saurabh Singh from near the Ambedkar crossing area, said Superintendent of Police Akash Tomar. Singh is accused of conspiring with the main accused Brijesh Kumar Awasthi to get the deeds registered at the houses of the accused instead of the registration office. It is also alleged that he registered many fake wills related to other districts here, violating the rules. The SP said that Saurabh Singh is a named accused in 22 cases of fake will registrations.

Delhi LG V K Saxena has asked Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to direct the power department to place the DERC advisory on restriction of power subsidy before the council of ministers and take a decision within 15 days. The LG made the instruction on the basis of a DERC's statutory advisory to the Delhi government to consider "restricting" electricity subsidy to the "poor and needy consumers." However the advisory was put in abeyance. Reacting to the instruction, the government said the Delhi LG has once again violated the Constitution and Supreme Court directives by "illegally" extending his remit. The report which forms the base of LG's directive was prepared by Kumar while looking into the complaint of power discoms' unpaid dues to generation companies and was submitted to the LG and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in December 2022, officials said. The chief secretary in his report said that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had advised the Delhi government in October 2020 to extend the power subsidy to only consumers with a sanctioned load of either up to 3KW or up to 5KW, as it will cover almost 95 per cent of the total domestic consumers and save the government up to Rs 316 crore. The DERC had suggested that the consumers having fixed load above 5KW were not strictly "poor" and should not be extended the benefit of subsidy. When the advice was placed by the power department before the minister-concerned in November 2020, he directed to move it before the Cabinet the next year.

US intelligence officials have determined that people with ties to Russian intelligence are planning to stage protests in hopes of toppling the Moldovan government, according to the White House. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the intelligence shows that actors, some connected with Russian intelligence, are seeking to stage and use protests in Moldova as a basis to foment an insurrection against Moldova's new pro-Western government. Kirby said the intelligence shows that another set of Russian actors would provide training and help manufacture demonstrations in Moldova, which was granted European Union candidate status in June, on the same day as Ukraine, its war-torn neighbor. The publicizing of the alleged malign operation by Moscow in Moldova is just the latest example of the Biden administration loosening restrictions on and making public intelligence findings over the course of the grinding war in Ukraine. The administration has said it wants to highlight plans for Russian misinformation and other activity so allies remain clear-eyed about Moscow's intent and Russia thinks twice before carrying out an operation.