Hindustan Times political editor Prashant Jha steps down after sexual misconduct allegation

Journalist Prashant Jha on Monday stepped down as the chief of bureau and political editor of the Hindustan Times following an allegation of sexual misconduct against him. Besides this, the Network of Women in Media demanded inquiries against those accused of sexual misconduct.

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Nana Patekar refuses to comment on Tanushree Dutta’s sexual harassment allegations

Actor Nana Patekar on Monday said the truth about actress Tanushree Dutta’s allegations of sexual harassment against him has not changed even a decade later. “The truth that was there 10 years back stands true even today,” he said at a press conference in Mumbai.

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SC reserves verdict on Congress leaders’ pleas on duplicate voters in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgement on petitions filed by Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot alleging duplication of voters on electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

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Maneka Gandhi asks law ministry to remove time limit on reporting child sexual abuse

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday said she has asked the law ministry to allow people to report incidents of child sexual abuse even “10-15 years” after the crimes were committed.

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SC rejects plea to regulate non-religious education being taught at madrasas, gurukuls

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition that sought the regulation of non-religious education imparted at madrasas, maktabahs and gurukuls. The top court granted the petitioner the liberty to approach the High Court on the matter.

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SC asks Centre for response on plea seeking National Register for Citizens in Tripura

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Election Commission to reply to a petition seeking the identification of illegal immigrants in Tripura with the implementation of the National Register for Citizens. In Assam, the final draft of the National Register of Citizens, which was published on July 30, excluded some 40 lakh people.

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Bihar Police take nine people in custody for attack on schoolgirls who resisted sexual advances

The Bihar Police have so far arrested nine people in connection with the assault on more than 30 schoolgirls in Supaul district for resisting sexual advances, ANI reported on Monday. The attack took place on Saturday when boys from a nearby village barged into a state-run school in Supaul’s Triveniganj block, said the police. Some of the girls asked them to leave and stopped them from writing objectionable comments on the school wall. But when the boys refused and harassed them, the girls reportedly hit them. The boys later returned with a mob who allegedly attacked the girls.

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Supreme Court agrees to hear pleas against Rafale agreement on October 10

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear two pleas against the Rafale jet deal between India and France on October 10. The first plea seeks direction to the Centre to reveal details of the deal and comparative prices during the National Democratic Alliance and United Progressive Alliance governments in a sealed envelope. Another plea, which claimed there were discrepancies in the deal, sought to quash the deal as it was an “outcome of corruption” and not ratified by Parliament under Article 253 of the Constitution.

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Devotees association files review petition in Supreme Court against Sabarimala verdict

The National Ayyappa Devotees Association on Monday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its September 28 order allowing the entry of women of all ages into the temple, PTI reported. Previously, women between the ages of 10 and 50 were banned from entering the shrine.

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Five policemen suspended after protests at Odisha’s Jagannath temple turned violent

Five policemen were suspended on Sunday for dereliction of duty after violence erupted in Odisha’s Puri last week over protests against a queue system for visiting pilgrims at Jagannath temple, reported PTI. Eighteen people were also arrested in connection with the incident.

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Unprecedented action is required to curb temperature rise, says UN panel report

The Indian government said the country is already facing the impacts of climate change. “India recognises climate change to be a real threat and we will do whatever we can in our own capacity,” Ministry of Environment’s Additional Secretary AK Mehta told the Hindustan Times. “Denying the reality of climate change is not going to help anyone. We will act like a responsible nation.”

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Delhi High Court allows CBI to file closure report in missing JNU student case

The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a closure report in the case relating to missing Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb Ahmed, reported PTI. The agency told the court in September that it had completed the inquiry into Ahmed’s disappearance “from every aspect”, but made no progress.

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Actor Rajat Kapoor apologises after being accused of misconduct

Actor and filmmaker Rajat Kapoor on Sunday apologised after he was accused by two women of inappropriate behaviour. A journalist claimed Kapoor, during a telephonic interview in 2007, asked her inappropriate questions, including her body measurements. Another woman, who used to be an assistant director on a film, alleged that Kapoor had called her a number of times for a film’s shoot ten years ago, asking if she knew of an empty house where he could shoot alone with her.

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Delhi court to hear anticipatory bail pleas of P Chidambaram, Karti on November 1

A court in Delhi hearing the anticipatory bail pleas of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case on Monday adjourned the trial till November 1, PTI reported. The interim protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate will continue till the next hearing.

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Rupee closes below 74 against the dollar for the first time, share indices make gains

The rupee closed below the 74-mark against the dollar for the first time on Monday, even as the benchmark share indices snapped a three-day losing streak to gain 0.3% each. The rupee ended the day at 74.06 against the dollar, down 30 paise since Friday’s close.

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Union health ministry sounds alert after man from Bihar tests positive for Zika virus

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare sounded an alert on Sunday after a man from Bihar’s Siwan district tested positive for the Zika virus. Pankaj Chourasia, 22, is a student of computer science in Jaipur. He had visited Siwan from August 28 to September 12.

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UP Police suspend two more constables for supporting accused in Apple executive’s murder

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday suspended two policemen from the Jamania police station for indiscipline. They had been wearing black armbands to protest against the arrest of constables accused of murdering Apple executive Vivek Tiwari in Lucknow last week.

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This is the right time to speak up but be prepared for backlash: Tanushree Dutta

Actor Tanushree Dutta, who has accused senior colleague Nana Patekar of sexually assaulting her on the sets of a film in 2008, on Sunday said that this was the right time for women who have faced sexual abuse and harassment to speak up. Her remarks come after several women have recounted instances of harassment and have named their abusers on social media over the last few days.

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Voting in first phase of J&K local body polls ends

Voting for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s urban local body elections took place from 7 am to 4 pm on Monday, ANI reported. As many as 1,204 candidates were in the fray.

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Sabarimala priests reject offer for talks with Kerala CM on implementing Supreme Court order

The representatives of Kerala Lord Ayyappa temple’s chief priests on Sunday refused to participate in talks to be held by the Kerala government on Monday regarding the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala.

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