A Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act on Friday convicted 12 people in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. The court also acquitted one person of all the charges against him. The blasts, which took place on several local trains in Mumbai, killed at least 187 people and injured over 800. Former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief KP Raghuvanshi said that the court’s verdict had vindicated the agency’s investigation. The court will begin hearing sentencing arguments on Monday.
West Bengal to declassify Bose files: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that her government would declassify 64 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from September 18. The Trinamool Congress government does not believe that there is anything “related to internal security in the files”, she said. She added that the public would have to examine the files to check for evidence related to allegations that Netaji’s nephew had been put under surveillance by the Central government between 1948 and 1968.
Modi says Congress playing ‘negative politics’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of indulging in “negative politics” and attempting to stop the country’s development. Accusing the opposition party of wanting to “take revenge” on the country for losing last year’s Lok Sabha elections, Modi said that the Congress needed to understand the “big difference” between indulging in “negative politics” and playing the role of a constructive opposition.
India may consider expelling Saudi diplomat
India will consider expelling the Saudi diplomat accused of rape and assault by two Nepalese women if the Saudi Arabian Embassy does not cooperate with police investigations into the matter, The Indian Express reported on Friday. Officials said that the Indian government was also considering declaring the diplomat, Majid Ashoor, “persona non-grata”. However, the officials said that the expulsion of the diplomat would be used as “a last resort”, adding that there was also a possibility of the Saudi Embassy withdrawing the diplomat.
Supreme Court extends interim relief for Setalvad
The Supreme Court on Friday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband, Javed Anand in a case of alleged embezzlement. Refusing to grant the Central Bureau of Investigation permission to arrest and interrogate the two activists, Justice Mridula Bhatkar said that she was “unable to find any act” committed by Setalvad and Anand that would “bear a threat to the sovereignty and integrity” of the nation. In July, the CBI had registered a case against Setalvad and Anand, alleging that their firm had received foreign donations in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Later, in August, the Bombay High Court granted the two activists anticipatory bail in connection with the case.