Sterling Biotech case: ED files supplementary chargesheet

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a supplementary chargesheet in a Delhi court in a case involving Gujarat-based firm Sterling Biotech. In its earlier chargesheet in July, against the director of Sterling Biotech Nitin Sandesara, the agency had accusedthe firm of taking loans of over Rs 5,300 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank, which later turned into non-performing assets.

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No move to change Shimla’s name to Shyamala

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday clarified that the state was not considering any proposal to rename the state capital’s Shimla as Shyamala, ANI reported. Hindutva groups have for long wanted that Shimla be renamed and their demands gained momentum after the Uttar Pradesh government last week changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj.

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Everyone has the right to pray but not to desecrate, says Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said that everyone has the right to pray but not the right to desecrate. The cabinet minister was responding to a question on accusations of the National Democratic Alliance government resorting to populist policies and the recent situation at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

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Delhi HC orders status quo in CBI case involving Rakesh Asthana

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said no coercive action can be taken against Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director Rakesh Asthana till October 29, when it will resume hearing the officer’s plea to quash the agency’s First Information Report against him in a bribery case.

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India issues demarche notice to Pakistan

India on Tuesday summoned a Pakistan High Commission envoy to lodge a protest against the “cross-border infiltration attempt” in Jammu and Kashmir that led to Indian security force casualties. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a demarche notice expressing concern over the “continued infiltration attempts from Pakistan”.

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‘Sangh Parivar turned Sabarimala into a war zone,’ says Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday accused the Sangh Parivar – a group of Hindu nationalist organisations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh –of perpetrating violence at the Sabarimala Temple complex last week. The RSS, he told reporters at a press conference, had turned the “temple into a war zone”.

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J&K withdraws circular suggesting schools, colleges buy copies of the Gita and Ramayana

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday withdrew a circular directing all educational institutions in the state to buy copies of the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana for their libraries.

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Ola, Uber taxi drivers continue their strike in Mumbai to demand better fares

Cab drivers working with Ola and Uber in Mumbai continued their protest on Tuesday to demand higher fares and commissions and changes in their contracts, reports said. They had begun the protest on Monday, participating in a nationwide strike that also affected the National Capital Region.

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Two top CBI officials move Delhi High Court in connection with bribery case

Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved a petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, seeking quashing of the agency’s FIR against him. Devender Kumar, a deputy superintendent of police at the agency, also moved court to challenge his arrest in connection with a bribery case involving Asthana.

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SC refers plea seeking a collegium for appointing election commissioners to Constitution bench

The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred to a five-judge Constitution bench a petition seeking a collegium system for appointing the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners. The petition claimed that the Centre’s practice in appointing members to the poll panel was discriminatory.

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Bhima Koregaon case: Prosecution submits new emails to show activists’ links with top Maoists

The Pune Police on Monday submitted to a local court two new alleged email communications exchanged between Communist Party of India (Maoist) leader Ganapathy and Varavara Rao as evidence. The court was hearing the bail petitions of five activists arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence.

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India signs first security cooperation pact with China, Kiren Rijiju’s presence sparks speculation

India and China on Monday signed its first agreement on security cooperation in New Delhi amid reports that Union Minister of State for Home and Arunachal Pradesh legislator Kiren Rijiju’s presence at the event indicated new posturing by New Delhi.

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Gurugram: Judge’s son dies days after constable shot him and his mother

Dhruv Sharma, son of Additional Sessions Judge Krishan Kant Sharma, died on Tuesday, days after a constable assigned to the judge shot him and his mother in Gurugram. On October 13, Mahipal Singh shot 38-year-old Ritu Sharma and the 18-year-old outside Arcadia market in Sector 49.

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People should maintain their faith in CBI, says BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said people should maintain faith in an institution like the Central Bureau of Investigation as the country’s premier probe agency remains locked in a battle between its top two officials. Lekhi said the government will put forth its views and speak out on such a serious matter at a later date. She added that the government is concerned about the CBI’s credibility and would take action.

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Supreme Court refuses complete ban on firecrackers, allows them between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to impose a complete ban on firecrackers, but said there would be conditions on their sale. Firecrackers can be sold only through licences, and there will be no online sale, the court said. The court said firecrackers can be burnt only between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali and other religious festivals, except Christmas Eve and New Year’s night, when they will be allowed between 11.45 pm and 12.45 am.

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Supreme Court to hear review petitions against Sabarimala verdict on November 13

The Supreme Court on Tuesday listed the review petitions challenging the entry of women into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple for November 13. Multiple petitions had sought a review of the court’s order that allowed women of all ages entry into the temple.

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Case filed in Bihar court against Navjot Kaur Sidhu after Amritsar train accident

A social activist filed a case in a Bihar court on Monday against Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, in connection with last week’s accident in Amritsar that killed 62 people. The complaint accused her of failing to discharge her duties and of concocting an alibi.

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Sensex falls below 34,000 in early trade after decline in Asian markets

The share markets and the Indian rupee continued their decline on Tuesday, tracking global markets. The Nifty 50 fell below the 10,200-mark and the Sensex shed the 34,000 level in early trade, while the rupee depreciated 18 paise to 73.74 against the dollar by 9.50 am.

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CBI arrests its own official in bribery case involving senior officer Rakesh Asthana, say reports

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday arrested its Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar in connection with a bribery case involving the agency’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana, PTI reported. Asthana is accused of accepting a Rs 2-crore bribe in a case linked to businessman Moin Qureshi, who is named in multiple money laundering and corruption cases.

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India signs first security cooperation pact with China, Kiren Rijiju’s presence sparks speculation

India and China on Monday signed its first agreement on security cooperation in New Delhi amid reports that Union Minister of State for Home and Arunachal Pradesh legislator Kiren Rijiju’s presence at the event indicated new posturing by New Delhi, according to NDTV. China claims the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory and calls it South Tibet.

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At least 46 organisations pledge support to Assam shutdown called against Citizenship bill

At least 46 groups in Assam, including the Asom Gana Parishad, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, pledged their support to the shutdown announced in the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 on Tuesday. Local news reports said shops and business establishments remained shut in Guwahati and several protestors burned tyres as part of the protest.

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Supreme Court to decide on nationwide ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers today

The Supreme Court will on Tuesday give its verdict on a petition seeking a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers to check air pollution, PTI reported. The Centre has opposed the petition, and suggested that the Supreme Court issue an order to impose rules on the manufacture and sale of high-decibel crackers.
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