Chhattisgarh: Women, young voters may play crucial role in outcome

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh witnessed significant active participation of women who outnumbered men as voters in the electoral processes during the 2023 Assembly polls. Now, it will also find the youths choice as decisive factor for the contestants in the poll fray in the upcoming Lok Sabha polling. Among the voters in the state, the women and the youths have been cited to carry latent capacity that can give a boost to a political fortune of candidates in the eleven Lok Sabha constituencies. Out of the 2.05 crore voters, there are over 52.88 lakh (which is 23 per cent of the total) belonging to the age group 18-29. And the total strength of the voters is beyond the fifty per cent of the total in the age group of 18-49. In the intense battle of bipolar politics, the election campaigns by the BJP and Congress had led to a noteworthy increase in the voting turnout of women and young voters in the 2023 Assembly polls. Both the parties now kept a strong focus on women and youths while declaring their pledges for them in their recently released respective manifestos to persuade the voters ahead of the polling. The pre-election campaign for young and new voters launched by the electoral office in the state has delivered better results with now more youths to exercise their right to franchise, said Reena Babasaheb Kangale, chief electoral officer, Chhattisgarh. The women voters are 1.03 crore while men 1.01 crore out of the over 2.05 crore electorates in the tenth largest state of the country. With women playing a significant role with their choice in elections, the political parties believed they carry a strong impact in the overall poll results and consequently they attempt to woo them with focus on issues that affect them. Womens political participation Chhattisgarh did better in womens political participation. The state Assembly currently has the highest percentage of women MLAs, which is 21.11 per cent among total lawmakers, with 19 legislators in the 90-member House

Narrow Escape for 17 AS Bus Catches Fire

Hyderabad : A private bus caught fire while in motion due to a short circuit, causing panic among passengers and bystanders. The bus was en route to Raipur via Paradise and Suchitra when the incident occurred at about 8 pm. Petbasheerabad inspector K. Vijaya Vardhan said, Quick thinking of the driver saved many lives. He sensed danger and alerted the passengers to evacuate alight immediately. Despite the bus being completely engulfed in flames, no casualties were reported. Passengers' luggage suffered damage in the fire, he said. The fire erupted due to a short circuit, reportedly caused by overheating. The intense heat generated by the electrical malfunction ignited the fire which engulfed the bus in seconds. A fire engine was summoned to douse the fire. There were 17 passengers at the time of the incident, according to sources.

Skoda Rapid DSG & broken lug nuts, a painful story

BHPian sachin_cs recently shared this with other enthusiasts. I got my suspension work done on Sunday (10th March) and I couldn't get the alignment done as shops were closed that day. Meanwhile, I avoided driving my car and straight away took her home gingerly. Today, I planned to get my alignment-balancing sorted, looked for a reputed shop on google and it took me to Kariwal Tyres, Pachpedi Naka Raipur. From the reviews, I saw some beemers and Porsches, so I thought, it must be a good shop (first mistake- I should have stuck with my regular balancing guy). Once the work started, they asked me to sit inside and I insisted on being there, so, they removed the front left wheel and then tried removing front right wheel. So apparently, one of the lug bolt was jammed, what these guy did- They removed 4/5 lug nuts of the Front Right wheel Dropped the car to floor, with the wheels touching the ground They tried removing it manually, again used wheel gun, then lifted the car, again dropped it back, tried removing it manually. I was warning them to be careful and why are you keeping just one wheel lug bolt on and all Snap! The guy working on my car hands me over the broken bolt and says aya le lena sar (buy a new one) I got furious and asked them how do we remove the part of bolt which is already stuck inside, they said it will come out easily, I asked them to do it then, which they couldn't obviously. Now the owner walks in, I explained him the situation, he took a look and started hammering the broken bolt. I immediately asked him to stop and I said I will speak to Skoda first. Well, I called Skoda and they are ready to work on it and their response was that first we will try to get it done through lathe and if it doesn't works then we will change the part. I informed it to the tyre shop owner that I will get it done through Skoda and I will send you the bill because it's because of incorrect way of handling by your guys is what has lead to this failure. Now, he was like its a small thing, it happens everyday, showroom will always try to fleece you by changing parts, I can get it done in an hour and BS. I said, then let's get it sorted right away, I had to wait for 30mins as owner went somewhere, when he got back, he removed the wheel, rotor, and then tried removing it via plier but it didn't work, now he called his mechanic and he refused to work as the mechanic didn't have time. Now he called some other workshop, 10kms away and asked me to drive there with his guy, I drove to the other part of the city and there after seeing the problem, the garage guy tells me that you will have to leave the car for a day and you can take it tomorrow. I again called the tyre guy kariwal and informed him about the situation and how my time is being wasted with their hit and trial. I told him that I will get it done from my mechanic and he should foot the bill, to which he denied initially and tried blaming that the lug bolt was wrongly tightened in the first place. I was surprised they had the audacity to do it. I said, I'm fine paying the bill as long as you take care of the damage, in the end, we compromised on the condition that I won't pay for balancing and alignment charges and I will get it repaired by my own. I again drove back 10kms to the tyre shop to drop his guy out of my own courtesy. In the process I lost my 3 hours of time, missed a meeting, burnt few litres and some mental peace. Now, I need help and suggestions from the experts here as to how to get it sorted, should I change the hub itself or should I try the lathe method because the stuck bolt is just not moving? And Does removing brake calliper needs brake bleeding? (Pads were not opened though) P.S. My front right tyre is running only on 4 bolts currently as opposed to 5 I went to Skoda to get the HUB removed but they suggested I go to transport Nagar Raipur and try a lathe/weld shop. Went to a workshop called Padum Motor Works and he initially tried removing the snapped bolt by welding a joint to it, it failed thrice. After their lunch break, he removed the rotor and calliper and drilled onto the broken bolt. As expected, the threads got damaged and he did a re-threading and I was out by 5pm. It costed me Rs 750/-. Straightaway, I went to Skoda to get it inspected and install a new bolt. They gave a go ahead and got the new Bolt for Rs 245/-. However, the threads are not 100% perfect, there are some missing threads too, however bolt goes in-out smoothly. This time around, I asked them to use grease on bolts (suggested by Skoda guy) and also use torque wrench to tighten the bolts. After that I went to Akash tyres for alignment job as my car was pulling to left, and finally the snapped bolt saga was put to rest. My thoughts on the experience- It was a painstaking job because finding right guy to do the job was a challenge Had service centre guys been more prompt, I would have replaced the HUB as it costs only 1600, I have spent more on my fuel running here & there and lathe workshop charges It was a such a painful sight to see weld and grinding sparks flying all around my car and also some hammering around the hub to get that bolt out I definitely got to learn a lot from the experience, I got to know the local markets, I got to know the components of the car and their function from depth Also, when any welding work is being carried in your car, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery Few pictures from the day- Click here to read more BHPian comments & insights.

Maoists will be ousted in 3 yrs, SC/ST quota to stay, says Shah

RAIPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the menace of Maoists in Chhattisgarh will get eliminated in the next three years if the BJP is voted to power led by PM Narendra Modi. Addressing a poll rally at Khairagarh in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, Shah accused the Congress of spreading lies that Modi will abolish the Constitution and the reservations policy will be terminated. Rajnandgaon is cited as the BJPs citadel where the former CM Bhupesh Baghel is pitted against the saffron partys sitting Lok Sabha member Santosh Pandey. As long as BJP remains in politics, we will not allow the reservations for dalits, tribals or backward classes to end. Today is the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. We cannot forget his work towards upliftment of dalits, backwards, tribals and poor. But the Congress continues to spread canards. After losing Assembly polls for Congress, Baghel is yet again in the fray. The people should now defeat him with a bigger margin, Shah said. During his speech, he congratulated the chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the state home minister Vijay Sharma for eliminating over 53 Maoists besides 150 cadres arrested and more than 250 surrendered during a short span after the fight against the left-wing extremists intensified. The campaign against the Maoists had weakened under the Bhupesh Baghel government, he added. Chhattisgarh remains the worst Maoist-hit state. Shah said that the nation has never witnessed any scam committed in the name of a God (Mahadev). Baghel didnt spare the name of Mahadev (in reference to Mahadev online betting app probed by agencies) and a scam of Rs 508 crore committed under his tenure. In Chhattisgarh there have been several scams in coal levy, public service commission, liquor, district mineral funds, ration, Gauthan, sand among others. With so many scams committed during his regime, Baghel has now come to Rajnandgaon to contest polls, he stated. Citing the achievements of the Modi government on Article 370, Ayodhya Ram temple, against terrorism, Shah claimed the country now has been secured and strengthened. Shah also talked about the BJP manifesto highlighting uniform civil code, one nation one election, all elderly to get medical benefits as he exhorted the people to vote for his party. Will implement UCC under Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the BJP will never allow reservations to end and nor will it let Congress do so. Speaking on the BJPs manifesto released earlier in the day, he said when Narendra Modi becomes PM for the third time, UCC will be implemented and One Nation One Election will be introduced. Shah asked people to give Modi a third term as prime minister to eliminate Naxalism can be eliminated.

Heart-Wrenching Night: Three Siblings Perish in Ambikapur Hut Fire

Raipur: In the village of Barima, located within the Kamleshwarpur police station area of Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded late one Saturday night. The tranquility of the evening was shattered by a devastating fire that engulfed the humble hut of a family, claiming the lives of three innocent siblings. As the night settled in, Sudhani Bai, the mother of the children, lit an earthen stove within their modest dwelling around 9 p.m. She then stepped out momentarily, perhaps to attend to a task or seek assistance from a neighbor. Little did she know that this brief absence would lead to an unimaginable tragedy. During her short absence, a raging inferno erupted within the confines of the hut, consuming everything in its path with merciless ferocity. Bai returned around 3 a.m., only to be met with a scene of utter devastation. Her cherished home was now a charred shell, and her beloved children were nowhere to be found. The grief-stricken mother's worst fears were realized as she discovered the fate of her three precious offspring. The flames had mercilessly claimed the lives of Kumari Gulabi, just eight years old, her younger sister Sushma, aged four, and their two-year-old brother, Ram Prasad. Upon receiving word of the tragic incident, authorities swiftly responded, dispatching a team of police officers to the scene. Initial investigations pointed to the earthen stove as the likely source of the fatal blaze, which rapidly engulfed the entire structure. Authorities launched a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire outbreak, seeking answers to the harrowing questions that lingered in its wake. Amidst the devastation and loss, the tight-knit community rallied together to offer support and solace to the grieving family. Yet, the scars left by this unfathomable tragedy would endure long after the embers had faded. Escalating Tensions: Indian Airlines Consider Suspending Flights to and from Israel Nisha Bangre's Political Disillusionment: Former Deputy Collector's Exit from Congress Amid Ticket Denial Fatal Car Accident Claims Four Lives in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar District

Rahul goes to Bastar, says Congress committed to caste survey

RAIPUR : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Lok Sabha polls are an ideological war to protect the Constitution and democracy. Modi-led regime and the RSS are aiming to knock down the Constitution but the Congress remains firm to protect it along with other democratic forces, Gandhi said at a poll rally in Bastar, one the four reserved tribal seats in Chhattisgarh. Highlighting how the Congress brought in Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act to safeguard the tribal rights, anti-poverty scheme MGNREGA, tribal rights and land acquisition bills, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP for calling the adivasi as vanvasi. On Maharashtra tribal turf, Rahul Gandhi raises pitch for caste survey The BJP discredits tribal communities as the expression vanvasi is also an attack on their culture, history, beliefs and rights, he said, We call them adivasi that signifies the original inhabitants with rights over jal, jungle, zameen. Congress intends to give you (tribals) your deserving rights. Gandhi said if the Congress is voted to power, it will conduct a caste census. We will make recruitments to 30 lakh vacant government posts, start apprenticeships for the youth. Youth will be given the right to apprenticeship before getting a job. All the educated youth will get one years apprenticeship in government or private companies, and Rs 1 lakh annual stipend, he said and promised to abolish contractual recruitment in government companies and waive crop loans.

Cgarh: Congress, if voted to power, will remove poverty in one stroke : Rahul Gandhi

Raipur : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday pledged to eradicate poverty in the country in one stroke, if his party is voted to power in the April-May general elections. Addressing a rally in Lal Bahadur Shastri Ground in the village of Bastar in Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, Mr Gandhi said that Congress would implement the promises made in its poll manifesto as soon as it came to power in the general elections to remove poverty in the country. Mr Gandhi listed out the guarantees of his party and said that under the Mahalaxmi Yojana, Rs one lakh would be provided annually to a woman in a family. Congress, if returned to power at the Centre, would introduce a quota of 50 percent in government jobs for women. Thirty lakh vacant jobs in the government would also be filled. Besides, right to apprenticeship would be legislated to make skill development for the educated unemployed youths mandatory. Such youths would undergo apprenticeship training in the public sector undertakings for a year with an annual stipend of Rs one lakh. He also pledged to abolish the contractual system in the government services if his party is voted to power in the general elections. Mr Gandhi said that his party, if formed government at the Centre, would immediately conduct a caste census in the country. He described the forthcoming general elections as a battle between two ideologies involving those seeking to protect the Constitution and those out to destroy it. Mr Gandhi said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and RSS are trying to destroy the Constitution, Congress and its INDIA bloc partners are out to save it. He attacked BJP for terming adivasis as Vanvasi (forest dwellers), saying that the tribals are the original owners of the lands and the country. Mr Gandhi said that President Draupadi Murmu was prevented from attending the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya because she is a tribal, and it reflects BJPs mentality. In the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh on April 19, only one seat, Bastar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency, is scheduled to go to the polls. Kawasi Lakhma of Congress is pitted against Mahesh Kashyap of BJP in a multi-cornered contest in the constituency. Congress has dropped the sitting MP in Bastar Deepak Baij, who is also state party chief, to field the six-time MLA from Konta Mr Lakhma in the seat in the poll.

Krishna River Management Board decides to release 8.5 tmcft water to Telangana, 5.5 tmcft to AP

HYDERABAD: The Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on Friday decided to release 8.5 tmcft of water for Telangana and 5.5 tmcft for Andhra Pradesh to meet the drinking water needs in summer. The available water in Krishna river is 14 tmcft. The total available water was distributed between the sibling states. The three-member committee of KRMB, which met here, took a decision to this effect. Though the meeting was scheduled on April 4, it was postponed, as the engineers-in-chief of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana did not attend the meeting. Thus, the meeting was held on Friday. As less water is available in Krishna River this year, the KRMB meeting concluded to utilise the available water judiciously for drinking water needs till June. Telangana engineer-in-chief G Anil Kumar and AP engineer-in-chief C Narayana Reddy were present in the meeting, which Board member-secretary DM Raipure chaired. AP ENC said that the KRMB allotted 45 tmcft for AP and 35 tmcft for TS in October, 2023. Out of their quota, AP did not use 5 tmcft, he claimed. However, Telangana ENC said that AP utilised more than its quota and wanted the KRMB to ensure that it would not draw more water from Srisailam. Anil Kumar explained that people of Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubabad and Khammam were purely depended on Krishna water in Telangana. The once-mighty Krishna river is now crossable by foot

Power Block in Raipur Division Geetanjali Exp cancelled on Apr 14, 16

Nagpur: The popular Geetanjali Express, renowned for shuttling passengers between Howrah and Mumbai, will face disruptions in its services on April 14 and 16. This cancellation stems from a proposed power block in the Raipur Division during the night of April 14. The block is necessitated by the construction of a Road over Bridge (RoB) [] The post Power Block in Raipur Division Geetanjali Exp cancelled on Apr 14, 16 appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News .

Digi Yatra Likely at 14 More Airports

New Delhi : Digi Yatra is likely to be rolled out at 14 more airports by the end of this month and efforts are on to make the facility more user-friendly with certain changes in the architecture, according to a top executive. Based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), Digi Yatra provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various checkpoints at airports and currently, there are nearly 5 million users. The facility is now there at 14 airports for domestic passengers and discussions are ongoing with various stakeholders concerned to make it available for international travellers as well. Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi said that Digi Yatra is expected to be available at 14 more airports by the end of April. A not-for-profit entity, the foundation is the nodal agency for Digi Yatra, which was introduced in December 2022. The 14 new airports where the facility is to be rolled out soon are Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dabolim, Indore, Mangalore, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar, Trivandrum and Vishakhapatnam. While Digi Yatra is slowly gaining traction, there have been concerns expressed in various quarters about the privacy of the data of the passengers. Seeking to assuage the concerns, Khadakbhavi said Digi Yatra does not have any passengers data. It is only in the phone (of the user) that the data is residing and it is in the control of the passenger himself or herself, he said. The data shared by a passenger for Digi Yatra is stored in an encrypted format. To avail of the service, a passenger has to register his or her details on the Digi Yatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self-image capture. In the next step, the boarding pass has to be scanned and the credentials are shared with the airport. At the airport e-gate, the passenger has to first scan the bar-coded boarding pass and the facial recognition system installed at the e-gate will validate the passengers identity and travel document. Once this process is done, the passenger can enter the airport through the e-gate. The passenger will have to follow the normal procedure to clear the security and board the aircraft. Personnel at the airports have been directed to enrol passengers only with their informed consent. Khadakbhavi said work is going to ensure a more user-friendly experience for Digi Yatra users.

The Man With A Golden Hand

New Delhi (India), April 11: Dr. Sunil Kalda is an Indian plastic surgeon practicing since 1990, who specializes in burn, cosmetic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgeries. He runs a private surgery practice, Kalda Hospital, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and is in charge of the Kalda Burn & Plastic Surgery Center in Raipur. He is a pioneer in []

Chhattisgarh: Death toll in Durg accident rises to 14, President, PM express grief

Raipur, April 10 (UNI) The death toll in a bus accident in Kumhari of Durg district in Chhattisgarh has increased to 14 after more injured succumbed, police sources said on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chhattisgarh CM expressed grief and condoled the loss of lives in the Tuesday evening accident. According... The post Chhattisgarh: Death toll in Durg accident rises to 14, President, PM express grief first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Home Minister Amit Shah expresses grief over loss of lives in Chhattisgarh road accident

Home Minister Amit Shah expresses grief over loss of lives in Chhattisgarh road accident Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief on Wednesday over the loss of lives in the Chhattisgarh road accident that killed 12 passengers and injured 14 others in the Kumhari area of the state's Durg district. The bus accident in Durg, Chhattisgarh, is sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. 12 people lost their lives in the accident, posted Amit Shah on X. At least 12 passengers were killed and 14 injured after a bus overturned and rolled over into a ditch in the Kumhari area of the Durg district, an official said. The incident took place at 8.30 pm on Tuesday, the official informed. Sharing details of the incident, Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary said 12 passengers were killed and 14 grievously hurt after the bus, packed with workers, fell into a ditch in Durg. The bus carrying labourers fell into a ditch near Kumhari around 8.30 pm, resulting in the deaths of approximately 12 individuals while 14 others were injured and admitted to a hospital, Choudhary said. Twelve of the injured were referred and shifted to AIIMS (Raipur), while the remaining two are receiving treatment at a private hospital. All of them are currently in stable condition and we are providing them with the best possible care, the collector added. The process of evacuating passengers still trapped inside the bus was underway, she had said, adding that the cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained. (ANI)

Leaders line up to defect, Chhattisgarh Congress back to drawing board

RAIPUR : In the wake of several party leaders defecting to the arch-rival BJP in the state, the Chhattisgarh Congress has initiated a damage control strategy ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The party has established a state-level samvad evam sampark samiti (dialogue and communication committee) aimed at engaging extensively with Congress members. As per the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), the newly formed 14-member committee, led by former state president Dhanendra Sahu as its coordinator, will immediately take action to facilitate regular amicable discussions and maintain strong connections with party leaders and cadres across the state. The committee includes three former PCC presidents, six former state ministers, the PCC vice-president, chairman of the PCC war room, two former MLAs and an AICC member. It has been ensured that the committee comprises members representing various regions of the state, enabling them to maintain regular communication with party leaders and workers in their constituencies. In recent weeks, several disgruntled Congress leaders, office-bearers and senior party members have joined the BJP in the state. Responding to this apparent exodus, Congress spokespersons have stated that some leaders left the party due to self-centered motives, while others were allegedly either enticed or pressured into joining the BJP. For instance, Chintamani Maharaj, who joined Congress in 2013 from BJP, returned to the saffron fold after being denied a Congress ticket in the 2023 assembly polls, citing it as a Ghar Vapsi for him. The departing leaders from Congress have cited grievances such as not receiving adequate attention, lack of recognition from party leaders, dissatisfaction with election management, and disappointment over ticket allocation both in the current and previous assembly polls. Party general secretary Chandrashekhar Shukla, who left Congress after remaining associated with the party for over two decades, said that brokers and people with the leftist mindset have intruded the party and the workers felt demoralised as their voices were being suppressed.

Tragic Accident: Bus carrying distillery employees plunges into soil mine pit in Durg, claiming 12 lives

Tragic Accident: Bus carrying distillery employees plunges into soil mine pit in Durg, claiming 12 lives At least 12 people were killed and 14 injured -- all employees of a private firm -- as a bus they were on fell into a 'murum' soil mine pit in Chhattisgarh's Durg district on Tuesday night, officials said. The incident took place around 8.30 pm near Khapri village under Kumhari Police Station limits when the victims were returning home after work from a distillery, Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla said. According to preliminary information, the bus with more than 30 people onboard skidded off the road and plunged into the 40 feet deep 'murum' mine, he said. ''12 people, including three women, were killed in the accident,'' he added. Shukla had earlier confirmed the death toll to be 15. Murum, a type of soil, is mostly used for construction. Soon after being alerted, a police team reached the spot and launched a rescue operation along with the teams of State Disaster Response Force and locals, Shukla said. Durg Collector Richa Prakash Choudhary told reporters a magisterial probe had been ordered into the incident. ''The bus was carrying workers of Kediya Distilleries located in Kumhari area. So far the deaths of 12 people have been confirmed. Of the 14 injured, 12 have been taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur ,while two others are undergoing treatment at a hospital here,'' she said. The company has offered compensation to the victims, the collector said, adding, they will also get similar help from the administration. A magisterial enquiry will be conducted into the incident and action will be taken against the guilty, Choudhary said. Visuals of the spot showed bus turning turtle after falling down. Amid darkness, the rescuers had to toil hard initially President Droupadi Murmu in in a message on social media platform X said, ''I am deeply saddened by the news of deaths of several people in a bus accident in Durg district of Chhattisgarh. My deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I wish for speedy recovery of the injured.'' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, ''The bus accident that happened in Durg, Chhattisgarh is very painful. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration has been engaged in providing all possible assistance to the victims.'' Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the accident and said adequate arrangements have been made for treatment of the injured people. ''Received the news about the death of employees of a private company in a bus accident. I pray that departed souls rest in peace and may God give strength to the bereaved family members,'' Sai said.

PMLA case against Chhattisgarh IAS officer, son quashed

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the money laundering case against former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash Tuteja in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh, saying there were no proceeds of crime. A two-judge bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan quashed the case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), after noting that since no ex-facie scheduled offence (main offence) exists against the accused, no offence was made out by the probe agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It pronounced the order after hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by six accused, including IAS officer Tuteja, his son and some other personnel. Mondays court order has come as a major blow to the ED, which failed to gather evidence against the accused. As there is no scheduled offence, there cannot be any proceeds of crime as defined under clause 2(u) of the PMLA. If there is no proceeds of crime, the offence under PMLA is not made out, the bench of the top court said in its order. The court also made it clear that it was quashing the case, as the complaint and case filed by the ED, was based on an IT act offence, which is not a scheduled offence as per the PMLA. There is no predicate offence, therefore there cannot be proceeds of crime, the SC said in its order. In its complaint the probe agency claimed that a person named A Tiwari was the mastermind behind the multi-crore liquor scam. The ED has named around 50 people, including the then excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, former IAS Vivek Dhandh, Congress leader Anwar Dehbar, IAS officer Anil Tuteja, his son Yash Tuteja and others. The ED has in its complaint, alleged money laundering in the case in which it has named Anwar Dhebar brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar; Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) Arunpati Tripathi, liquor businessman Trilok Singh Dhillon, hotelier Nitesh Purohit and Arvind Singh as accused. The probe agency maintained that the accused persons pleas for quashing of the case, could not be maintained, in view the 2022 apex court verdict which upheld the EDs power to search, seize and arrest. Section 50 gives ED the power to summon people. Also in top court Maha reply sought on ex-cops bail In a relief to former Mumbai Police officer Pradeep Sharma, the Supreme Court on Monday said he need not surrender till further orders to undergo the life sentence awarded to him in a 2006 fake encounter killing case. The apex court also sought a response from the Maharashtra government on his bail plea in the case. SC favours release of lifer in terror case The Supreme Court favoured remission to an ailing 96-year-old convict who is serving life term in the 1993 train blast case in Rajasthan and is currently on parole, saying continued incarceration is like capital punishment. Habib Ahmed Khan had moved the SC seeking permanent parole given his deteriorating health condition and age.

Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': SC ruling has exposed Centre and ED, claims ex-CM Baghel

RAIPUR: Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has claimed the Supreme Court's decision in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh had exposed the Centre for using the Enforcement Directorate to target opposition parties. The apex court on Monday quashed the money laundering case against former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam, saying there were no proceeds of the crime. In a post on X on Monday, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Baghel said the commitment of agencies like the ED should be towards the Constitution and not any political party. Shameful political misuse of ED has been proved and the Modi government has been exposed. Today's decision of the Supreme Court has proved that at the behest of BJP, the ED has been conspiring to defame the opposition parties by making every case a case of money laundering, Baghel claimed in the post. . . Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) April 8, 2024 The ED registered a case in the alleged liquor scam just before the 2023 assembly polls to defame the previous Congress government and give a political weapon to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he alleged. It has become clear from the SC ruling that the BJP was only spreading lies, the former CM claimed. The conspiracy of the BJP-led Centre to defame its political opponents by misusing democratic institutions has been unearthed and the public will see that cases lodged to defame the Congress will also be quashed in a similar manner, he said. In July last year, the ED submitted a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the alleged liquor scam case in a PMLA court in Raipur in which it claimed Rs 2,161 crore of corruption money was generated in the alleged 'liquor scam' that began in 2019 in Chhattisgarh and the amount should have gone to the state exchequer. BJP misused central agencies to garner Rs 400 crore through electoral bonds: Congress A criminal syndicate led by Anil Tuteja and businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar) had turned these objectives upside down, the ED claimed. This syndicate comprises senior bureaucrats of the state, politicians, their associates and officials of the excise department, it had said. Early this year, Chhattisgarh's Economic Offence Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau also registered a case in the alleged liquor scam against 70 persons, including Congress leaders, and companies based on a report of the ED. The ACB/EOW last week arrested Anwar Dhebar and Arvind Singh, who was an employee of the Bhilai Steel Plant, in connection with the alleged scam. Central agencies asking TMC leaders to join BJP or face action: Mamata

Ex-CM Baghel claims SC ruling in Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam' has exposed Centre and ED

Ex-CM Baghel claims SC ruling in Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam' has exposed Centre and ED Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has claimed the Supreme Court's decision in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh had exposed the Centre for using the Enforcement Directorate to target opposition parties. The apex court on Monday quashed the money laundering case against former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam, saying there were no proceeds of the crime. In a post on X on Monday, former Chhattisgarh chief minister Baghel said the commitment of agencies like the ED should be towards the Constitution and not any political party. ''Shameful political misuse of ED has been proved and the Modi government has been exposed. Today's decision of the Supreme Court has proved that at the behest of BJP, the ED has been conspiring to defame the opposition parties by making every case a case of money laundering,'' Baghel claimed in the post. The ED registered a case in the alleged liquor scam just before the 2023 assembly polls to defame the previous Congress government and give a political weapon to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he alleged. It has become clear from the SC ruling that the BJP was only spreading lies, the former CM claimed. The conspiracy of the BJP-led Centre to defame its political opponents by misusing democratic institutions has been unearthed and the public will see that cases lodged to defame the Congress will also be quashed in a similar manner, he said. In July last year, the ED submitted a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the alleged liquor scam case in a PMLA court in Raipur in which it claimed Rs 2,161 crore of corruption money was generated in the alleged 'liquor scam' that began in 2019 in Chhattisgarh and the amount should have gone to the state exchequer. A criminal syndicate led by Anil Tuteja and businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar) had turned these objectives upside down, the ED claimed. This syndicate comprises senior bureaucrats of the state, politicians, their associates and officials of the excise department, it had said. Early this year, Chhattisgarh's Economic Offence Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau also registered a case in the alleged liquor scam against 70 persons, including Congress leaders, and companies based on a report of the ED. The ACB/EOW last week arrested Anwar Dhebar and Arvind Singh, who was an employee of the Bhilai Steel Plant, in connection with the alleged scam.

From Maoist terrain, Modi says government working for welfare of poor

RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government remained committed to the empowerment of the poor, and targeted the Congress over corruption. Addressing the BJPs Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad rally at Narayanpur district of Bastar which will go to polls on April 19, Modi said that as a son of the poor he can better realise their pressing needs. He said his governments welfare schemes enabled the poor people to save their money for a better, as he sought their support saying every vote for the lotus symbol will strengthen Modis power to develop the nation as a Viksit Bharat. He listed welfare programmes, such as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Jan Aushadhi centres, Eklavya residential schools, MSP for nearly 100 forest produce, Mahtari Vandan Yojana, and separate ministry for tribal welfare. The PM said his government after coming to power at the Centre in 2014 has cancelled the Congress licence to loot. When I initiate action against corruption, some people get upset and protect the corrupt. But Modis guarantee will ensure that the corrupt individuals will have to go to jail, he said. The priority of a stable strong government of BJP was the welfare of the poor. After independence, the Congress government ignored the needs of the poor for decades and never bothered about their problems or existence, he alleged. In reaction, Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij asked, Why PM Modi is silent on rising inflation, unemployment, and problems faced farmers and tribal? Citing the upcoming Ram Navami, the PM drew the attention of the people towards the Ram Temple built in Ayodhya. Instead of a tent for our Ram Lalla, now there is a magnificent temple. The Congress and the INDI Alliance expressed discontent over the temples construction that shows Congress inclination towards appeasement. The Congress manifesto carried the imprint of Muslim League, he said. He added it was natural for people of Chhattisgarh, the nanihal (birthplace of maternal grandparents) of Lord Ram, to be most happy on this dream (of a grand temple) being fulfilled after 500 years. Reiterating his guarantee to ensure a better life for tribal families, Modi said, It was the BJP that not only facilitated a tribal woman to become President of the country but also appointed the states first tribal chief minister. Welfare schemes enable poor to save money Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his governments welfare schemes enabled the poor people to save their money for a better, as he sought their support saying every vote for the lotus symbol will strengthen Modis power to develop the nation as a Viksit Bharat. He listed welfare programmes, such as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Jan Aushadhi centres, Eklavya residential schools, MSP for nearly 100 forest produce, Mahtari Vandan Yojana. said his government after coming to power at the Centre in 2014 has cancelled the Congress licence to loot

Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': Chief Minister Baghel accuses Centre and ED of corruption following SC ruling

Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': Chief Minister Baghel accuses Centre and ED of corruption following SC ruling Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said the Supreme Court's decision in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh had exposed the Centre for using the Enforcement Directorate to target opposition parties. The apex court earlier in the day quashed the money laundering case against former IAS officer Anil Tuteja and his son Yash in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam saying there were no proceeds of crime. In a a post on X, Baghel said the commitment of agencies like the ED should be towards the Constitution and not towards any political party. ''Shameful political misuse of ED has been proved and the Modi government has been exposed. Today's decision of the Supreme Court has proved that at the behest of BJP, the ED has been conspiring to defame the opposition parties by making every case a case of money laundering,'' Baghel said on X. The ED registered a case in the alleged liquor scam just before the 2023 Assembly polls to defame the previous Congress government and give a political weapon to the BJP, Baghel alleged. It has become clear from the SC ruling that BJP was only spreading lies, he added. The conspiracy of the BJP-led Centre to defame its political opponents by misusing democratic institutions has been unearthed and the public will see that cases lodged to defame the Congress will also be quashed in a similar manner, the former chief minister said. In July last year, the ED had submitted a prosecution complaint (charge-sheet) in the alleged liquor scam case in a PMLA court in Raipur in which it claimed Rs 2161 crore of corruption money generated in the alleged 'liquor scam' that began in 2019 in Chhattisgarh and the amount should have gone to the state exchequer. A criminal syndicate led by Anil Tuteja and businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar) had turned these objectives upside down, the ED had claimed. This syndicate comprises senior bureaucrats of state, politicians, their associates and officials of the excise department, it had said. Early this year, Chhattisgarh's Economic Offence Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau also registered a case in the alleged liquor scam against 70 persons, including Congress leaders, and companies based on a report of the ED. The ACB/EOW last week arrested Anwar Dhebar and Arvind Singh in connection with the alleged scam.

Congress overlooked needs of poor for decades since independence, never understood their pain: PM Modi

RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at the opposition Congress, saying it overlooked needs of the poor for decades since independence and never understood their pain. Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, which will go to polls on April 19, he also said that the Congress' manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections has the Muslim League imprint. During the Congress regime, corruption had become the country's identity, he said. Since independence, the Congress overlooked needs of the poor for decades and never understood their pain, the PM said. People said what will happen to the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I said I will give free vaccine and ration to them, he said, adding that due to my government's efforts, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line. The prime minister said he had come to thank the people for supporting his government in the last 10 years. Crores of my countrymen, my mothers and sisters have become my raksha kavach (protective shield), he said.

Chhattisgarh: Barring Bastar in 19, 5 reserved seats have always stood by BJP

RAIPUR: In the Lok Sabha elections held in Chhattisgarh so far, the BJP held the sway over the five reserved constituencies, the Election Commission data shows. Of the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, four are reserved for the scheduled tribes (ST) and one for the scheduled caste (SC). Barring the victory by Congress candidate Deepak Baij from Bastar ST-reserved seat in the 2019 polls, the grand old party drew a blank in the reserved constituencies in the four Lok Sabha elections held in the state in the last two decades. Baij, now the state Congress president, is not contesting this time. The BJP has been winning the reserved tribal seats of Kanker, Raigarh, Sarguja and Bastar, and the SC-reserved constituency of Janjgir-Champa. According to analysts, the poll battle in Bastar, where the Congress stalwarts like Shankar Sodhi and Mahendra Karma couldnt win, seems evenly poised this time with six-time Congress MLA Kawasi Lakma pitted against the BJPs first-timer Mahesh Kashyap who is closely associated with VHP. The BJP has been wining Kanker and Bastar seats from the 1999 elections onward. The Raigarh seat remains a BJP stronghold with present CM Vishnu Deo Sai winning from there three times in a row from 2004. The BJP has given ticket to Congress turncoat Chintamani Maharaj, who was earlier named as a beneficiary by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged coal levy scam, to contest from Sarguja in north Chhattisgarh. All the reserved seats in Chhattisgarh have more women voters than men, EC data shows. More women exercising their franchise shows the level of awareness among the voters, analysts say. In the 2023 Assembly polls, the BJP returned to power in the state getting 46.27 per cent vote share. Analysts in the know of the state politics said the BJP hopes to make inroads into the Congress vote bank as several leaders have defected to the saffron party.

Chhattisgarh's Durg district takes centre stage ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Chhattisgarh's Durg district takes centre stage ahead of Lok Sabha polls Chhattisgarh's Durg district, a bustling metropolis which played a key role in the state's economic and educational growth, has turned into a political hotspot ever since the declaration of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Four candidates of the opposition Congress, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, and two of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Lok Sabha elections hail from Durg district, bringing it to the centre stage ahead of the polls. Durg district was founded in 1906 after being carved out from Raipur. In 1973, the district was divided and a separate Rajnandgaon district came into existence. Durg was bifurcated again in 2012 and two new districts - Bemetara and Balod - came into existence. With the establishment of the Bhilai Steel Plant, a flagship unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), in 1955 in Durg district, it has grown rapidly and become a hub of economic activity, attracting people from all over the country. After the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, Bhilai city developed as an educational hub with the setting up of technical institutes and coaching centres for engineering and medical entrance exams. With the announcement of candidates by the BJP and Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the political significance of the district has become a point of discussion among experts in the state. Congress's candidate Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, Devendra Yadav from Bilaspur seat, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund seat and Rajendra Sahu from Durg seat, all hail from the Durg district. Former chief minister Baghel is an incumbent MLA from Patan assembly seat (Durg district) and Yadav is the sitting legislator Bhilai Nagar seat (Durg). Tamradhwaj Sahu was the home minister in the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh and lost the assembly polls from Durg Rural seat. Similarly, BJP candidates Vijay Baghel from Durg Lok Sabha seat and Saroj Pandey from Korba seat are also natives of Durg district. Vijay Baghel is the sitting MP from Durg, which Pandey earlier represented in the Lok Sabha from 2009-14. ''The district has been politically relevant since long as it had been the home turf of late political stalwarts like Chandulal Chandrakar and Motilal Vora of the Congress and BJP's Tarachand Sahu (who later quit the BJP),'' political analyst R Krishna Das told PTI on Sunday. After the formation of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh in 2018, Durg hogged limelight as a political hub with then CM Bhupesh Baghel and his then two cabinet colleagues Tamradhwaj Sahu and Guru Rudra Kumar elected from different assembly constituencies of the same district, he said. Durg is also a revenue division comprising seven districts - Durg, Rajnandgaon, Balod, Bemetara, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandei and Kabirdham. Three other leaders, Mohammad Akbar, Ravindra Choubey and Anila Bhedia, who were ministers in the previous Congress government, belonged to different districts in Durg revenue division, Das noted. Even Raman Singh, who has served as Chhattisgarh's chief minister thrice, has been elected four times from Rajnandgaon seat which comes under Durg revenue division, he pointed out. Singh is currently speaker of the Chhattisgarh assembly. The focus of the ruling BJP and opposition Congress on Durg while choosing nominees for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls shows the district's crucial role in the state politics, Das said. Prof DN Sharma, a renowned educationist from Bhilai, said, ''Durg district has been politically significant for a long time. Motilal Vora from the district had served as chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh and governor of Uttar Pradesh.'' One of the best things is that Durg has never seen communal violence as leaders from the district never did politics on communal lines, Sharma said. The upcoming Lok Sabha polls have once again brought Durg to centre stage in the state politics as the two main parties have shown faith in leaders from the district in the selection of candidates, he added. Elections to the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7, and votes will be counted on June 4.

Fake online ads: Man held in Raipur for duping people

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly cheating people on the pretext of selling machines and spare parts by posing as a wholesale trader and posting fraudulent advertisements on social media, the police said on Saturday. The accused Raushan Kumar, resident of Bihar, was arrested on Friday from Raipur in Chhattisgarh. DCP (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said the accused posed as a wholesale trader, posting ads on social media for machine tools and spare parts at cheaper rates. He would provide fake invoices from reputed firms in Raipur to the victims. During the investigation, all the invoices and courier slips were found to be forged, the officer said, adding that the cheated amount was withdrawn through ATMs in Raipur. A police team was dispatched to Raipur and after a 3-day chase, the suspect Raushan Kumar was nabbed. Under interrogation, the accused confessed, revealing he had cheated over 20 people in the past year.

Chhattisgarh: Leader of Oppn booked for 'objectionable PM remark

RAIPUR : A case has been registered against Congress leader of opposition Charan Das Mahant for his alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election rally. An FIR has been registered at Kotwali police station in Rajnandgaon where Mahant, during an election rally held in support of the former CM Bhupesh Baghel, said that the people need to choose a person who has the guts to carry a lathi and strike, boldly take a stand against Modi while raising issues as a protector. According to the Kotwali police station in Amen Sahu, an FIR has been lodged against Mahant under the IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation). Baghel filed his nomination papers from the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat for the second phase of polling scheduled on April 26. Citing it as a hate speech, the state BJP complained to the chief electoral officer (CEO), alleging that by giving such undignified statements, the Congress leader targeted the elected PM, provoking the Congress workers and the people towards violence and attempting to influence the polls. This is a violation of the model code of conduct, the complaint letter stated. The Election Commission (EC), taking cognisance of the complaint and the remark, recommended action by the rules. Mahant, though tendered his apology for his statement, argued that the media and the BJP have distorted his remarks. What I said was in the context of the Chhattisgarhi proverb; my words were misinterpreted. I didnt intend to accuse anyone and am fully aware of the dignity of the PMs position, the Congress leader said as he also asked his party cadres to remain cautious as there are attempts to poach upon the party leaders and workers owing to fear among the rival party about the defeat in the upcoming elections.

Delhi police cyber cell arrests fraudster from Chhattisgarhs Raipur

The News Mill

Breaking! Fire Breaks Out at NTPC's Kaniha Power Plant in Odisha's Talcher

Fire erupted at NTPC's Kaniha power plant in Odisha's Angul district, causing damage to a section of the conveyor belt and engulfing the area in smoke, according to fire service officials. The incident occurred in the Talcher region of the district. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries so far. Two fire tenders have been dispatched to douse the flames. NTPC officials have yet to provide any comments regarding the incident. Local authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire, which originated from the coal transporting conveyor belt at the plant. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures at the facility. Firefighters are working diligently to contain the blaze and prevent further damage to the area. Residents in the vicinity have been advised to stay indoors and avoid the affected area until the situation is under control. Efforts are underway to assess the extent of the damage caused by the fire and to ensure the safety of nearby communities. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent safety protocols in industrial settings. Authorities are urging NTPC officials to provide a statement regarding the incident and to cooperate fully with the investigation. As the situation develops, updates will be provided to keep the public informed. Massive Blaze Engulfs Power Company in Raipur: Residents Evacuated Heartbreaking Tragedy: Two Brothers Burnt Alive in House Fire

Chhattisgarh: 3 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces along Telangana border

Raipur: Three Naxalites were gunned down in an exchange of fire with security forces in a dense forest in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district bordering Telangana on Saturday, a senior police official here said. The encounter took place in Pujari Kanker forest along the interstate border when a team of Greyhounds, Telanganas elite anti-Naxal force, was out Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Amit Shah to kick off BJPs LS campaign in Chhattisgarh today

Raipur: Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to launch BJPs campaign for the April-May Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh from Kawardha on Saturday. This would be Mr Shahs first visit to Chhattisgarh after the model code of conduct for elections came into force a couple of weeks ago. Mr Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting in the district headquarters of Kawardha to kick off the party's campaign for LS polls in Chhattisgarh, a BJP functionary said here on Friday. Kawardha is falling under Rajnandgaon LS constituency where BJP pitted its sitting MP Santosh Pandey against former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel. Kawardha is known to be communally sensitive and has witnessed several incidents of communal strife ahead of the November 2023 Assembly polls in the state. Chhattisgarh is going to LS polls in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May seven. In the first phase, only one seat, Bastar (ST), will go to the polls. BJP had won nine out of 11 LS seats in the state in the 2019 polls, leaving the remaining two seats to Congress. The Congress has fielded party heavyweights such as former chief minister Mr Baghel (Rajnandgaon), former minister Tamradhwaj Sahu (Mahasamund) and Kawasi Lakhma (Sukma-ST) in the polls to wrest the seats from BJP.

Fire breaks out at storage facility of power company in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: A major fire broke out at a storage facility of Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited in Raipur Friday, gutting transformers kept in the premises, an official said. While no casualties were reported in the blaze, people living near the facility located in the Gudhiyari area were evacuated, he said. Electrical equipment, mostly transformers, []

Video: Huge Fire At Power Firm In Chhattisgarh, Nearby Residents Evacuated

A huge fire broke out in a power distribution firm in Chhattisgarh's Raipur today, prompting the authorities to evacuate people from houses near the company.

Chhattisgarh: Massive fire breaks out at power distribution company in Raipurs Kota

No deaths or casualties were reported in the incident.

Chhattisgarh: Massive fire engulfs power distribution company building in Raipur's Kota

Massive Blaze Engulfs Power Company in Raipur: Residents Evacuated

A massive fire erupted at a power distribution company in the Kota area of Raipur, Chhattisgarh. According to reports, police and firefighters are on the scene. Images shared by the media depict a massive blaze and thick smoke pouring from the building. Nearby residents were observed evacuating their homes as a precautionary measure. Residents living near the power company in Raipur were evacuated as the fire threatened to spread to surrounding areas due to chemical hazards. Authorities urged nearby residents to leave the vicinity to ensure their safety. Footage shared seen captured the extensive blaze and dense black smoke visible from afar. Firefighters swiftly arrived to combat the inferno following reports from locals who alerted the fire brigade and police. #WATCH | Massive fire breaks out in a power distribution company in Raipur's Kota area; police and firefighters present on the spot #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/Sr86gmFmEL ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024 Three fire tenders were dispatched to the site. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown, stated Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban) Abhishek Jha. Meanwhile, containers holding flammable materials were safely removed from the premises. Heartbreaking Tragedy: Two Brothers Burnt Alive in House Fire Tragic House Fire Claims Lives of Family of Four in Gujarat's Dwarka District

Supreme Court Grants Bail to Bhima Koregaon Case Accused Shoma Sen

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to professor and women's rights activist Shoma Sen, who is an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case. The decision came after a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Augustine George Masih overturned the Bombay High Court's previous rejection of her bail plea. The apex court's decision to grant bail to Sen was based on the fact that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) did not oppose her bail. The bench, considering her advanced age, medical conditions, and the potential delay in the trial, deemed it appropriate to grant her bail.However, certain conditions were imposed on Sen as part of her bail agreement. She is required to remain within the State of Maharashtra and surrender her passport. Additionally, Sen must inform the NIA about her place of residence and use only one mobile number, which she must keep active and charged. The GPS of her mobile should also be active, and her phone should be paired with that of an NIA officer for location tracking purposes. The bench made it clear that if Sen breaches any of these conditions, the prosecution reserves the right to seek the cancellation of her bail. The NIA had earlier informed the court that it no longer required Sen's custody as the investigation was complete, and a chargesheet had been filed.Sen had applied for interim bail citing deteriorating health conditions and had challenged the Bombay High Court's decision to deny her bail. The High Court had directed her to approach the special NIA court for bail before seeking relief from the High Court. Shoma Sen, an English literature professor and former departmental head at Nagpur University, has been in custody since June 6, 2018, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). She had previously applied for bail in the Pune Sessions Court, but her applications were rejected.Sen, along with others, was implicated under the UAPA for her alleged involvement in the 2018 caste-based violence at Bhima Koregaon in Pune and purported links with the banned organization, Communist Party of India (Maoists). Massive Blaze Engulfs Power Company in Raipur: Residents Evacuated Heartbreaking Tragedy: Two Brothers Burnt Alive in House Fire Rouse Avenue Court Grants Interim Bail to Three Accused in Chinese Visa Scam Money Laundering Case

Tragic Bomb Blast Incident Unfolds in Muliyathode, Kannur: Two Individuals Sustain Severe Injuries

Kochi: During the early hours of Friday morning, a bomb blast rocked Muliyathode, an area falling under the jurisdiction of the Panoor police station in Kannur. The explosion occurred while individuals were reportedly engaged in the hazardous activity of bomb-making, resulting in severe injuries to two people involved in the process. The injured individuals have been identified as Vineesh from Muliyathode and Sheryl from Puttur. Both victims were swiftly rushed to a hospital in Kannur to receive urgent medical attention following the tragic incident. Upon learning of the explosion, the police promptly registered a case and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blast. Expressing concern over the incident, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and UDF candidate for the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, K Sudhakaran, emphasized the need for a comprehensive inquiry. Sudhakaran pointed out that the explosion occurred amidst the context of bomb-making, suggesting a potential political motive behind the incident, particularly given its occurrence shortly before the elections. As a result, Sudhakaran announced his intention to lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission, urging for a thorough investigation into the blast and its underlying causes. Supreme Court Grants Bail to Bhima Koregaon Case Accused Shoma Sen Massive Blaze Engulfs Power Company in Raipur: Residents Evacuated Heartbreaking Tragedy: Two Brothers Burnt Alive in House Fire

Congress Manifesto Faces Scrutiny Over Foreign Images, BJP Alleges Misinformation

New Delhi: Allegations have emerged against the Congress party regarding the use of images from Thailand and New York in its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. This revelation has ignited controversy, casting doubts on the authenticity and credibility of the partys campaign material. Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), launched a strong criticism against the Congress party for disseminating misinformation. He remarked, There is a picture on water management in Congress manifesto. This picture is of the Buffalo River in New York state. Till now they have not been able to find out who was tweeting from their social media chairpersons Twitter, but who sent them this picture? Under the Environment section, a picture from Rahul Gandhis favoured destination, Thailand has been put. Who is putting all this in their manifesto? These images were purportedly included in the manifesto to depict various development projects and initiatives proposed by the Congress party. However, upon closer examination, it was revealed that the images had no connection to any projects in India but were sourced from foreign locations, including Thailand and New York. He further criticized, stating that Kharge Saheb said that he will give Rs 1 lakh to all the women. In 2019 also he had said that if he would give Rs 72,000, how much would he give to the governments of his state. They named the manifesto as Nyay Patra. Those who did not do it with the people of India, with the students, with the soldiers, are now talking about Nyay Patra. They come in disguise. These people also started posting photographs by borrowing from abroad, earlier they used to try to portray the image of India in foreign countries. Tragic Bomb Blast Incident Unfolds in Muliyathode, Kannur: Two Individuals Sustain Severe Injuries Supreme Court Grants Bail to Bhima Koregaon Case Accused Shoma Sen Massive Blaze Engulfs Power Company in Raipur: Residents Evacuated

Raipur Fire Accident: | Breaking News

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Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': ACB/EOW makes first arrest

Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam': ACB/EOW makes first arrest The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau /Economic Offences Wing made its first arrest in the alleged liquor scam in the state, an official said. Arvind Singh, who was held late Wednesday night, was remanded in police custody till April 8 by ACB/EOW special Judge Nidhi Sharma, Deputy Director (Prosecution) Mithlesh Verma said. Incidentally, Singh was nabbed in June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam and was granted bail by the High Court on April 2. As many as 70 persons, including several leaders of the Congress and companies, have been named in the FIR registered by the ACB/EOW in January 2024 in the alleged liquor scam based on a complaint by Enforcement Directorate. The FIR was lodged under Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code. The ED, in its complaint to the ACB/EOW, had claimed criminal acts were committed by certain senior officials in connivance with private and influential persons to cause loss to the state and earn illegal profits for themselves in the liquor trade. The ED had said its probe revealed a criminal syndicate was operating in Chhattisgarh, which was extorting illegal commission in the sale of liquor and was also involved in unauthorised sale through government liquor shops. In July last year, the ED submitted a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in a PMLA court in Raipur in which it claimed Rs 2161 crore of corruption money was generated in the alleged 'liquor scam' that began in 2019 in Chhattisgarh. This syndicate comprises senior bureaucrats, politicians, their associates and officials of the excise department. as per the ED.

'Hit me with a lathi first': Chhatisgarh BJP targets Congress following remarks against PM Modi

RAIPUR: Several BJP leders in Chhattisgark took out a campaign against the Congress and the Opposition leader for his controversial remarks asking the public to elect someone who has the guts to hit the Prime Minister with a lathi. Leader of the opposition Charandas Mahant during an election rally at Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, appealed to the voters to choose their leader who has the guts to hit PM Modi with a lathi while raising issues. We need such persons who can strenuously corner Modi. So, elect (Baghel) and send him to Delhi, Mahant, former Assembly Speaker, is said to have stated in a public rally. The state BJP lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer alleging that the Congress leader was indulging in hate speech against the PM and is provoking people and Congress towards violence. This is a violation of the model code of conduct, the complaint letter stated. The saffron party later also turned the event and ran a poster campaign Mai Bhi Hun Modi Ka Parivar, Pahli Lathi Mujhe Maro (I am also a family of Modi, First hit me with a stick), on social media and in different poll rallies. Baghel filed his nomination papers from the Rajnandgaon seat on Tuesday for the second phase of polling scheduled on April 26. Its a matter of shame when a senior Congress leader has given such deplorable remarks and should seek apology from PM Modi, said Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister. The BJP also planned to hold a protest outside the residence of Mahant. Mahant however argued that his remarks have been distorted by the media and the BJP. Those who are unaware about the culture and traditions of Chhattisgarh are presenting my statements and appeal in the wrong context. I am aware about the dignity of the PM post and the parliamentary traditions. I have cordial relations with PM Modi who also knows me well since he was the Gujarat chief minister, said the Congress leader.

SECR Railway Recruitment 2024: Apply for 1,113 Apprenticeship positions at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in

The South East Central Railway (SECR) Raipur Division and Wagon Repair Shop, Raipur, have initiated recruitment for 1,113 apprenticeship positions under the Apprentice Act 1961 for the year 2023-24. Eligible candidates can apply online through the official website from April 2 to May 1, 2024. Various trades are available, including welder, fitter, electrician, and more. Applicants must possess ITI certificates and meet educational qualifications. Don't miss this chance to begin a career in the railway sector. Apply now!

Wyndham to debut Trademark Collection brand in India with opening of The Earth Amritsar

Wyndham Hotels & Resortsannounced the opening of The Earth Amritsar, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, its first for the brand in India. The 57-room heritage hotel operates in collaboration with Earth Suites & Resorts Private Limited, a hotel operator with properties currently in Amritsar, Goa and Raipur. Located in the heart of Amritsar, the northwestern Indian... The post Wyndham to debut Trademark Collection brand in India with opening of The Earth Amritsar first appeared on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis . The post Wyndham to debut Trademark Collection brand in India with opening of The Earth Amritsar appeared first on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis .

PM to Address Rally at Udhampur on April 12, Shah at Jammu on April 9

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a massive rally at Udhampur in the Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency on April 12, aimed at boosting the BJP campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections, reports said here. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will follow suit with a rally in Raipur-Domana on April 9, focusing on the [] The post PM to Address Rally at Udhampur on April 12, Shah at Jammu on April 9 appeared first on Kashmir Life .

PM to address rally at Udhampur on Apr 12, Shah at Jammu on Apr 9

Yogi to join BJP campaign at Kathua on Apr 10 *Candidate for APR seat to be announced soon Sanjeev Pargal Jammu, Apr 3: To boost the BJP campaign for Parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing a massive rally at Udhampur in Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency on April 12 while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a huge election rally in Raipur-Domana on April 9 falling under Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha seat. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will [] The post PM to address rally at Udhampur on Apr 12, Shah at Jammu on Apr 9 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Chhattisgarh: Dy CM Vijay Sharma hold protest against Charan Das Mahant for his alleged remarks against PM Modi

Chhattisgarh: Dy CM Vijay Sharma hold protest against Charan Das Mahant for his alleged remarks against PM Modi Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and BJP leader Gajendra Yadav held protest against Congress leader Charan Das Mahant at Raipur for his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said, We have not come to gherao or protest. We have come to get beaten with stick. Charan Das Mahant said that he needs a person who can break the head of Prime Minister Modi. We are the family members of PM Modi. He should hit us first. We will go everywhere, Election Commission office and to the voters and ask them, should such a person be elected who will go to Delhi and break the head of the PM? He said that this is a clear indication that Charan Das Mahant wants to provoke his workers, as he knows that he is going to lose in the polls so he is spreading hatred. BJP leader Gajendra Yadav said that we have come to protest. We are family members of PM Modi so first hit us with the stick. The voters will answer the hit statement, he said. Earlier, Congress leader Charan Das Mahant triggered a controversy at the rally held on Tuesday at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh when he said that they needed someone who could hold a stick and confront PM Narendra Modi. He was speaking in support of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, the party's Lok Sabha candidate. Mahant, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, called for support for Baghel's victory in the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, hailing him as a champion of women and farmers. During his speech in the local dialect, Mahant urged the public to ensure Baghel's success for their future well-being. ''We need a protector who can stand up against Narendra Modi, and your MP (referring to Baghel) is that person. We want someone who can hold a stick and confront Narendra Modi'', he said. These remarks stirred controversy, drawing a swift response from the ruling BJP. Elections in the 11 parliamentary constituencies of Chhattisgarh will take place in three phases on April 19, 26 and May 7. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. The BJP, which has a stronghold in Chhattisgarh, won 9 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha, while the Indian National Congress (INC) was limited to only 2 seats. In the 2014 election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 10 seats, while the INC only managed to win one seat. (ANI)

Naxal attacks have surged during BJPs regime: Chhattisgarh Congress

RAIPUR: Naxal attacks have surged during BJPs regime. This was claimed by Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij. Bastar is once again in turmoil. The Congress party will stand against any targeting of tribal communities, said Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij in a statement to ANI. The casualty count of Maoists slain in an intense eight-hour [] The post Naxal attacks have surged during BJPs regime: Chhattisgarh Congress appeared first on NORTHEAST NOW .

3 bodies of Naxalites found after encounter in Chhattisgarh; toll rises to 13

Raipur: Three more bodies of Naxalites were recovered on Wednesday morning in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district where a fierce encounter took place between security personnel and Naxalites the previous day, police said. With this, the number of Naxalites killed in the gun battle on Tuesday has risen to 13, they said. Also ReadNaxalite killed in encounter Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Three more bodies of Naxalites found after encounter in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Three more bodies of Naxalites were recovered on Wednesday morning in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district where a fierce encounter took place between security personnel and Naxalites the previous day, police said. With this, the number of Naxalites killed in the gun battle on Tuesday has risen to 13, they said. Following the major anti-insurgency operation ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the police on Tuesday found bodies of 10 Naxalites, including a woman. During the search operation still underway in the area, the bodies of three more Naxalites were recovered on Wednesday morning from a dense forest where the encounter took place, a senior police official said. The identity of the dead Naxalites was yet to be ascertained but prima facie, it appears that they belonged to the PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) company no.2 of Maoists, the official said. On Tuesday, the gunfight broke out between security forces and Naxalites at around 6 am in the forest between Lendra and Korcholi villages under the Gangaloor police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation. The intermittent firing lasted for a long time and the security forces continued search operations in the area. A light machine gun (LMG), a . 303 rifle, a 12-bore gun, a large number of barrel grenade launchers and shells, and other arms and ammunition were also seized from the spot, police earlier said. Bijapur district comes under the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase of the general elections on April 19.

Chhattisgarh to witness bipolar battle

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh is set to witness a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Congress across the 11 Lok Sabha polls to be held in three-phase polling. With its slogan Hum Ne Banaya Hai, Hum Hi Sawarenge (we have created the state and we will nurture it), the ruling BJP is hopeful of striking a chord with the voters. In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has consistently increased its vote share and trounced the Congress winning ten out of the 11 seats from 1998 barring the 2019 polls when it won from nine constituencies. Taking the credit for a separate Chhattisgarh, the party kept underlining that since the state was created by the Atal Behari Vajpayee government in November 2000, the onus of its development now lies with the BJP. Notably, while the saffron party ruled the state for 15 years, the Congress helmed the government for eight years. Though the Congress may not have won beyond two seats in the Lok Sabha polls but the difference of vote percent secured by it and the arch rival BJP doesnt appear too significant. In 2014 polls, the share of BJP vote per cent was 49.7 while that of the Congress 39.1 per cent. The next election in 2019 again witnessed a difference of 10 percent between the two national parties with the BJP at (50.7) and Congress (40.9). All along the Lok Sabha polls held in the last 20 years (after Chhattisgarh came into existence), the Congress has never won from any reserved seat except the Bastar in 2019 polls. Except this, the BJP always emerged victorious in the four reserved tribal constituencies of Bastar, Kanker, Sarguja, Raigarh and a reserved Scheduled Caste of Janjgir-Champa. An analysis of the previous Lok Sabha poll results showed the national issues did carry an impact on the choice of the voters in the state. This year, the BJP seems confident of garnering support on the planks of Modi Ki Guarantee, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, alleged corruption and scam during Congress. Among other issues, the party is also banking on achievements like Citizenship Amendment Act, revocation of Article 370 (special status to J&K) to give a major boost to its political fortune. On the other hand, the Congress is strongly relying on its five Nyay guarantees focussing on farmers, women, youths, labourers, though the party faces an apparent uphill battle to counter the allegations of corruption. In the 2023 Assembly polls, the BJP returned to power in the state bagging 46.27% vote share (4% less than what it got in 2019 Lok Sabha polls), while the Congress 42.23%. The BJP now aspires to increase its vote share by minimum of 10 percent from the 2023 elections. Though the Congress continues to trust its vote bank, it is equally watchful about the BJPs coordinated efforts to decimate the opposition. As per analysts, the BJP hopes to break into the Congress vote bank as several leaders have defected to the BJP as the party is trying to induct cadres from other party to raise its prospects in meeting its target of achieving at least 60% vote share this time in the upcoming polls. Several disgruntled Congress leaders and unhappy cadres have in recent weeks left the party to join the BJP. Responding to it, a senior Congress leader and former Speaker Charandas Mahant said the mistakes committed by ex-CM Baghel, Congress leaders (including him) and party workers led to defeat of the party in Chhattisgarh 2023 assembly polls. The polling in Chhattisgarh for 11 LS seats will be held in three-phase on April 19, April 26 and May 7. Maoist threat: The presence of the left-wing extremists in pockets of Lok Sabha constituencies like Bastar, Kanker, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund apparently led the Election Commission to hold elections in three phases in Chhattisgarh with over 80,000 security personnel deployed. Three-phase polling: The polling in the Maoist-hit Bastar will be in the first phase on April 19. The second phase on April 26 and the third phase will be on May 7.

Nine Naxalites Killed in Encounter with Security Forces in Chhatisgarh's Bijapur

Raipur: Nine Naxalites have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhatisgarh's Bijapur, according to police officials. The search operation is ongoing, they informed. Following the encounter, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma stated that it occurred after three villagers were murdered by Naxalites. Bodies of Naxals are being recovered after an encounter operation by security forces in response to the killing of three villagers by Naxalites. Further search operation is underway, Vijay Sharma informed the media. The encounter took place around 6 am on Tuesday at Lendra village in Bijapur as part of a joint search operation by the District Reserve Group (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated on Monday night from Gangalur police station area, the police disclosed.We recovered the bodies of four Naxals after an encounter with the security forces near Kendra-Korcholi forest in Gangalur police station area of Bijapur district, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, P Sundarraj, briefed reporters on Tuesday. One light machine gun (LMG), barrel grenade launchers (BGL) launchers, and other arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot. The search operation is still underway, he said. BJP's Arun Govil Files Nomination from Meerut, Pledges Support to PM Modi's Vision India Records Over 43.3 Cr Monthly Digital Transactions, Reports Union Minster Nirmala Sitharaman Kamal Nath Denounces BJP's Alleged Coercion Tactics in Chhindwara Constituency

Nine Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur; arms seized

Raipur: In a major anti-insurgency operation, nine Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh Tuesday, police said. Bijapur district comes under the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase of general elections April 19. The gunfight took place at around 6 am []

8 Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur

Raipur: In a major anti-insurgency operation, eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, police said. Bijapur district comes under the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase of general elections on April 19. The gunfight took place at around Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

4 Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

RAIPUR: Four Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday, police said. The gun battle took place in a forest near Lendra village under Gangaloor police station area at around 6 am, when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI. Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, Central Reserve Police Force and its elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were involved in the operation, he said. After the exchange of fire stopped, the bodies of four Naxalites along with a light machine gun and other weapons were recovered from the spot, the official said. Search operation was still underway in the area, he added. Bijapur is located more than 400 km away from state capital Raipur. With this incident, 37 naxalites have been killed in separate encounters with security forces in Bastar region, comprising seven districts including Bijapur, so far this year, according to police. Bijapur district comes under the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency which will go to polls in the first phase of general elections on April 19. Two Naxals killed in encounter with police in Madhya Pradesh

Naxalite killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur

Raipur: A Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, police said. The gun battle took place in a forest under Gangaloor police station area at around 6 am when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, a senior police official told Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Cong made poor homeless, time to eliminate it in Chhattisgarh in LS polls: CM Sai

Cong made poor homeless, time to eliminate it in Chhattisgarh in LS polls: CM Sai Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday claimed it's time the Congress, which faced a crushing defeat in the recent assembly elections, was eliminated in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He accused the Congress of making the poor homeless during its tenure and targeted the grand old party over alleged scams at that time. The CM was addressing a public meeting at Harvel village under the Keshkal assembly segment. The area is a part of the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency. All of you trusted BJP in the last assembly elections and elected a BJP MLA in Keshkal, he said, seeking public support in the general elections. In Kanker, BJP's Bhojraj Nag is pitted against Biresh Thakur of Congress. Elections to the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will be held in three phases between April 1 and May 7 and votes will be counted on June 4. Kanker constituency goes to polls in the second phase on April 26. The Congress government had made the poor homeless by not providing them pucca houses in the last 5 years, but as soon as our government was formed, we approved permanent houses for 18 lakh families, Sai said. Referring to the alleged scam in Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission, the CM said Congress played with the future of promising sons and daughters of the state. As promised by our government, a CBI investigation into the scam has started and the culprits will soon be in jail, he said. The Congress was uprooted by the public in the 2023 assembly polls and now is the time to ''eliminated'' it the state in the Lok Sabha polls, the CM said. Sai appealed to the masses to elect BJP candidates to ensure a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As soon as the double engine government (BJP in state and Centre) is formed, major attention will be given to the development of Raipur-Jagdalpur railway line besides a permanent solution to the problem of low voltage in the area and highway connectivity in Keshkal, he said. The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has fulfilled the promises made by PM Modi during the assembly polls within three months of retaining power in Chhattisgarh, Sai claimed. The state government has started Niyad Nellanar Yojana with the motto to boost development in Maoist-affected areas in the states Bastar division, the Chief Minister added. Of the 11 seats in the state, the BJP had won 9 last time. The other two seats were bagged by the Congress.

IndiGo enhances connectivity in Chhattisgarh

Commences operations to/from Hyderabad and Raipur from March 31 and April 01, respectively

LS polls: Cong eyes win in 6 seats which BJP never lost since formation of Chhattisgarh

LS polls: Cong eyes win in 6 seats which BJP never lost since formation of Chhattisgarh Six out of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh have been the Bharatiya Janata Party's bastions where it never lost the elections since the state's formation in 2000. While the Congress has expressed confidence of breaching the saffron citadels this time, the BJP is hopeful of retaining them and also pocketing the other Lok Sabha seats in the state. Of these six seats, Kanker, Surguja and Raigarh are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes, Janjgir-Champa for the Scheduled Castes, while Raipur and Bilaspur are for the general category candidates. In Rajnandagon Lok Sabha seat, the BJP never tasted defeat since 2000 but in a 2007 bypoll, the Congress emerged victorious. This time, the Congress has fielded former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon. After Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, the BJP fared well in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state. The saffron party ruled the state uninterrupted for 15 years from 2003 to 2018 and came to power for the fourth term in the 2023 assembly polls. The BJP won 10 Lok Sabha seats in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Despite a severe loss in the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP won nine seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Both the parties have declared their candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state, to be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7. The Congress has pinned hopes on a sitting MLA, two former legislators including a minister, two fresh faces and an experienced leader to breach the BJP's six strongholds. In Raipur Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has fielded Brijmohan Agrawal, an eight-term MLA and minister in the Vishnu Deo Sai-led present state government, dropping sitting MP Sunil Soni. In 2019, Soni defeated Congress' Pramod Dubey by a margin of 3,48,238 votes. Ramesh Bais, currently the governor of Maharashtra, won Raipur seat seven times- 1989, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 - on BJP's ticket. The Congress has this time fielded former MLA Vikas Upadhyay from Raipur. Upadhyay was elected MLA for the first time in 2018 from Raipur City West assembly seat but he lost the 2023 state polls. In Kanker Lok Sabha seat also, the BJP has denied ticket to sitting MP Mohan Mandavi and fielded former MLA Bhojraj Nag, while the Congress has nominated Biresh Thakur, who represented panchayat bodies in the past. Thakur lost to Mandavi in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from Kanker by 6,914 votes. This seat was won by BJP's Vikram Mandavi in 2014 and Sohan Potai in 2009 and 2004. The BJP has also denied ticket to incumbent MP Guharam Ajgalle from Janjgir-Champa seat and fielded woman leader Kamlesh Jangde, a fresh face. Ajgalley defeated Congress' Ravi Bhardwaj by 83,255 votes in 2019. This time, the Congress has fielded former state minister Shiv Kumar Dahariya. BJP's Kamla Devi Patle won this seat in 2014 and 2009 and Karuna Shukla in 2004. In Surguja, the BJP has changed its candidate in every election and won the seat. In 2019, Renuka Singh defeated Congress' Khel Sai Singh. This time, the BJP has fielded former MLA Chintamani Maharaj, who switched over from the Congress before the last assembly polls. The Congress has fielded its youth leader Shashi Singh, daughter of former state minister Tuleshwar Singh. BJP's Kamalbhan Singh Marabi, Murarilal Singh and Nand Kumar Sai won the Surguja seat in 2014, 2009 and 2004 respectively. Raigarh seat is the home turf of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The BJP leader represented this parliamentary seat four times - 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. In 2019, the BJP fielded Gomti Sai, who defeated Congress' Laljeet Singh Rathia. This time, the BJP has given ticket to Radheshyam Rathiya, a fresh face, while the Congress has pinned hopes on Menka Devi Singh, who belongs to the politically influential erstwhile Sarangarh royal family in the state. The Bilaspur seat will see a contest between BJP's Tokhan Sahu, a former MLA, and Congress' incumbent legislator Devendra Yadav. In 2019, BJP's Arun Sao defeated Congress' Atal Shrivastav. BJP's Lakhanlal Sahu, Dilip Singh Judev and Punnu Lal Mohile won this seat in 2014, 2009 and 2004 respectively. Arun Sao, Renuka Singh and Gomti Sai were elected as MLAs in the last assembly polls. In Rajnandgaon, BJP's sitting MP Santosh Pandey is seeking a second straight term while the Congress has fielded former CM Baghel. After the state's formation, the Congress won Korba seat twice and Bastar, Mahasamund and Durg seats once in the general polls. State Congress spokesperson Dhananjay Singh Thakur claimed his party will this time breach the six ''so-called'' BJP bastions. ''With a strong strategy in these seats, we have fielded strong candidates, we have been propagating five guarantees of the Congress and failures of the Modi government among the people,'' Thakur said. On the other side, an upbeat BJP, after registering a landslide victory in the 2023 Chhattisgarh assembly polls, is now eyeing a clean sweep in the parliamentary elections. CM Sai recently said the Congress is a ''sinking ship'' and not united in the state. ''We will win all 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state,'' he added.

This BJP candidate banks on cutting lemon, tantra-mantra to sail through

RAIPUR: The Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against the BJP candidate Bhojraj Nag from Kanker Lok Sabha constituency for allegedly luring the voters by pledging to ensure development and alleviate the problems faced by a village by using superstitious and miracle means. In its complaint, the Congress legal cell in charge Dewa Devangan said the BJP candidate and his party were misleading the voters, misleading them with promises to remove the problems of village by cutting a lemon and chanting tantra-mantra. I give my assurance on the development. Ill cut the lemon and use the power of your tantra-mantra to remove any hurdles or problems faced by a village, Nag was heard while addressing an election rally. This is one the worst forms of deception given to the common voters. A fair and healthy election process can be badly influenced with such unfounded assurances given by the BJP candidate, said the Congress leaders. They demanded immediate legal action against the BJP candidate from Kanker, which happens to be one of the four reserved Scheduled Tribe seats in Chhattisgarh. CM Vishnu Deo Sai too was present in the election rally addressed by the BJP candidate at Balod district in Dondi-Lohara area of the constituency. Its not just violation of the model code of conduct but it also comes under the category of crime with such misleading publicity under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 and a section of the IPC, stated the complaint letter addressed to Chhattisgarh chief electoral officer in Raipur.

LS polls: Cong releases list of 40 star campaigners for Chhattisgarh

Raipur:Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are among the opposition partys 40 star campaigners for the Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh. The list of star campaigners was shared on Saturday by the state unit of the Congress.Others on the list include the partys state in charge Sachin Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Many Congress, NC, PDP leaders from Nowshera join BJP

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 29: Putting faith in the development-oriented governance by PM Modi, hundreds of passionate political and social personalities and ex-servicemen from border Mandal Lam, Laroka, Pukherni, Kampla, Raipur, Bhata, Qila Darhal, Naryian and adjoining areas joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Ravinder Raina, president, J&K BJP, at party Headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, here, today. Ravinder Raina, while welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, said that the ex-servicemen who have served the Bharat Mata during [] The post Many Congress, NC, PDP leaders from Nowshera join BJP appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Seizures Worth Rs 20.40 Crore: Election Commission's Crackdown on Illegal Activities in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: Since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has been vigilantly monitoring both legal and illegal activities in Chhattisgarh. Monitoring teams have been deployed in every district to oversee election-related activities and take action against any irregularities. The Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 dates, prompting the Chhattisgarh Election Commission to take necessary precautions. Checkpoints have been set up at various locations across the state for thorough inspection. According to official data provided by the Chhattisgarh Election Commission, goods with a total value of Rs 20.40 crore have been seized during these inspections. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Apoorva Priyash Toppo reported that since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on March 16, seizures have included Rs 4.82 crore in cash, liquor worth Rs 37 lakh, medicines valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore, precious metals worth Rs 94 lakh, and other goods worth over Rs 12 crore. Significant actions have been observed in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, and Mahasamund districts, with the Income Tax Department taking prominent action in Raipur district. Shibu Soren's Daughter Anjani to Contest Lok Sabha Elections Again Team Analysis: RCB's Strategy to Overcome KKR's Dominance Sourav Ganguly's Insights on Prithvi Shaw's Exclusion from DC's Opening Match

Consumer durables industry: Demand for temporary workers increase in small towns & hinterlands by up to 30% from last year

The demand for more workers is mainly from places such as Panipat, Varanasi, Asansol, Dhanbad, Guwahati, Raipur, Nagpur, Jaipur, Patna, Salem, Calicut, Coimbatore, Vizag, Cuttack, Guntur, Nellore and Madurai, as large Indian companies and multinationals look to expand their network amid a rise in demand for air-conditioners, coolers, refrigerators, fans and inverters in tier 2 and 3 regions.

Car driver mows down a dog in Raipur, FIR lodged

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh police has registered a case against a car driver for fatally running over a community dog at Shanti Nagar area of Raipur. The civil lines police station in Raipur registered an FIR under IPC Sections 279 ((or rash, negligent driving) and 429 (for maiming or killing an animal) acting on the information received from eyewitnesses and CCTV footage of the dog being run over by a car. According to eye witnesses, the accused driver didnt make any effort to stop to help the injured dog. The case was registered following a complaint lodged by Dr Kiran Ahuja of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) along with the local activists. The accused, who is the owner of a private car, has been identified and summoned to the civil lines police station that proceeded further to investigate the incident. Such an incident draws the attention toward the importance of responsible driving and also the necessity of stopping to make humane efforts if any untoward eventuality occured, says PETA India Cruelty Response Coordinator Sunayana Basu. The swift action of the Raipur police was commended for sending across a message that careless driving and leaving afflicted animals to suffer wont be tolerated.

Chhattisgarh encounter: Two women among 6 Maoists killed in gun battle with security forces

Raipur: Security forces gunned down six rebels of outlawed CPI (Maoist) including two women cadres in a fierce exchange of fire at Chipurbhatti area of an edgy district of Bijapur, about 350 km south Raipur on Wednesday. According to the Bijapur police, a joint party of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Elite CoBRA unit and District Reserve Guards (DRG) had launched a search operation in the region after the Maoists had killed three villagers in the area on the day of Holi festival. The security forces moved out on the operation on Tuesday late night following a tip-off about the presence of Maoists in the region. The gunfight occurred between the forces and the Platoon no. 10 of Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) of the Maoists close to Talperu river, a police officer told TNIE . PLGA is cited as the military wing of the banned outfit. So far six bodies have been recovered by the forces and are yet to be identified.Further details are awaited. The forces claimed that after the encounter there remains a strong possibility that several Maoists might have sustained injuries. There was however no report of any injury sustained by the forces that comprised personnel from 210, 205 battalion of CRPFs elite commando unit CoBRA, 229 battalion of CRPF and the DRG from Bijapur district police force. Bijapur is among the seven Maoists-affected districts in the conflict zone of Bastar, south Chhattisgarh.

Congress declares candidates for remaining 4 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Mar 26 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday declared its candidates for the remaining four Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh and the list features an MLA who is facing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe, and two women. With this, the main opposition party has announced candidates for all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which will vote in three phases in April-May. The BJP has also announced all its candidates in the state. The four Congress candidates are Devender Singh Yadav (Bilaspur), Biresh Thakur (Kanker-Scheduled Tribe reserved), Shashi Singh (Surguja-ST) and Dr Menka Devi Singh (Raigarh-ST). Yadav, a second-term legislator, represents the Bhilai Nagar seat in Durg district in the assembly. Yadav is an accused in the alleged coal levy scam-linked money laundering case being probed by the ED. The state's anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in January this year also registered a case in the alleged coal levy scam based on a report submitted by the ED in which Yadav has been named as accused. Thakur had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Kanker in 2019. He had then lost to BJP's Mohan Mandavi by a thin margin of 6,914 votes. Thakur's father late Satyanarayan Singh Thakur was the Congress MLA from 1972-1977 from Bhanupratappur in Kanker. Shashi Singh is a member of the Surajpur Zila Panchayat. Her father late Tuleshwar Singh had served as a minister in the Ajit Jogi-led Congress government (2000-2003) in Chhattisgarh. Menka Devi Singh hails from the erstwhile Sarangarh royal family. She is the daughter of Raja Nareschandra Singh, who had served as chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh. Her sisters late Rajni Devi Singh and Pushpa Devi Singh had served as Congress Lok Sabha MPs in the past. Menka Devi Singh's another sister Kamla Devi Singh has been an MLA for 18 years. Three women, including a sitting MP, are among the 11 candidates of the Congress. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in three phases in the state on April 19, April 26 and May 7 and votes will be counted on June 4. The Naxal-hit Bastar (Scheduled Tribe) constituency will alone witness polling on April 19 in the first phase of general elections and filing of nominations for the phase started on March 20. Three constituencies - Kanker (ST), Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund - will vote on April 26 in the second phase, while the remaining seven - Surguja (ST), Raigarh (ST), Janjgir-Champa (SC), Raipur, Durg, Korba and Bilaspur will witness polling on May 7. PTI COR/TKP RSY Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team

NIT Raipur Technical Assistant Vacancy 2024: Check Eligibility and Apply Procedure Here

National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur is inviting applications from eligible candidates for the position of Technical Assistant. There are two vacancies available, one each for the departments of Architecture and Biomedical Engineering. The recruitment will be conducted on a direct basis, and interested candidates can apply online through the official website of NIT Raipur.

Liquor scam: Congress LS candidate from Chattisgarh's Bastar seat among the accused

RAIPUR: Kawasi Lakhma, former excise minister in the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government and an accused in the liquor scam is the Congress candidate from the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh. Lakhma's name was among the 70 other accused in thealleged liquor scam by the states Anti-Corruption Bureau. Kwasi Lakhma, a prominent tribal face who has won the Konta (Sukma, south Bastar) Assembly seat for the sixth consecutive time in 2023, has replaced the sitting Congress MP from Bastar Lok Sabha constituency and the state president Deepak Baij, as the partys choice. His name appeared in the fourth list, released by the Congress party on Saturday late night. The Maoist-affected Bastar seat which consists of a pre-dominant tribal population is scheduled to go on the first phase of polls on April 19. The ED had submitted an application last year for registering the case against Lakhma under the previous Congress regime. However, it is only now that the Chattisgarh police have lodged an FIR. It was estimated that Proceeds of Crime of around Rs 2,161 crore have been generated by the suspects in the alleged scam. Meanwhile, the Congress denied the charges against its party candidate and claimed that naming the former minister in the FIR is an attempt to defame the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

CBSE cancelled the recognition of 20 schools from 10 states...here is the list

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. These 20 schools are in many states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, these 20 schools are also from Kerala and Uttarakhand. CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta said in this matter that these 20 schools were not only behaving against the rules but were also involved in malpractices. How many schools are there in which state? States whose schools have been cancelled. Among them, there are 5 schools in Delhi and three in Uttar Pradesh. There are two schools each in Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Whereas, there is one school each in Jammu-Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Assam whose recognition has been cancelled by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Recognition of these schools was cancelled Siddharth Public School, Delhi-81 Marigold Public School, Delhi-39 Bharat Mata SaraswatiBalMandir, Delhi-40 National Public School, Delhi-40 Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School, Delhi-39 Loyal Public School, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh Crescent Convent School, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh Trinity World School, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh Prince UCH Secondary School, Sikar, Rajasthan Global Indian International School, Jodhpur, Rajasthan Dronacharya Public School, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Vaikan School, VidhanSabha Marg, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Rahul International School, Thane, Maharashtra Pioneer Public School, Pune, Maharashtra PV's Public School, Malappuram, Kerala Mother Theresa Memorial Central School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Kartar Public School, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir SAI RNS Academy, Dispur, Guwahati, Assam Sardar Patel Public School, MisroadHuzur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Gyan Einstein International School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand CBSE downgraded the recognition of these schools Among these three schools is Shri Ram Academy, Barpeta, Assam. The Vivekananda School, Narela, Delhi and The Shri Dasmesh Senior Secondary Public School, Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda, Punjab.

Nari Nyay guarantee on top of party agenda: Sachin Pilot

RAIPUR: The Congress in Chhattisgarh is set to launch a campaign to assist women fill up the forms on Nari Nyay guarantee promising a direct annual fund transfer of Rs 1 lakh into the bank accounts of poor women. Galvanising the party cadres into a battle-ready mode for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, State in-charge for Congress Sachin Pilot on Saturday asserted that the fight is now to save the country. The Congress candidates in fray, party campaigns, the guarantees on Nyay, 10-year of misgovernance and failures of the BJP-led Centre and the soon to be released manifesto will boost the prospect of the Congress party. The Modi government is misusing the central agencies like Enforcement Directorate, CBI, Income Tax raids in targeting opposition leaders, he added. Pilot chaired separate crucial meetings of senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, party functionaries and coordinators at Rajiv Bhawan in Raipur, where he took feedback to chalk-out a strategy for the forthcoming elections on 11 Lok Sabha constituencies. The ruling BJP has nine MPs, while the remaining two seats are with the Congress. Besides, with the key issues of high inflation, problems faced by farmers and unemployment remaining, the country today faces threats to the Constitution and the democratic institutions are under attack. So the upcoming elections are not ordinary polls. To prevent the main opposition Congress from accessing a level-playing field to contest the elections, the bank accounts of the party have been frozen. The onus now lies more on the Congress workers to take up the challenge and be a part of various organised aggressive campaigns, he said. Pilot exuded hope that there will be unprecedented results in favour of the Congress with far-better success in the Parliamentary polls. The Congress will soon declare the candidates for the remaining five constituencies as the party is focusing on women, farmers and youth through various pledges declared for them. The BJP, however, has been asserting that the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections assume much significance as it will determine the future of the country. High inflation, farmers issues threat to constitution Pilot chaired separate crucial meetings of senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, party functionaries and coordinators at Rajiv Bhawan in Raipur. He points out key issues of high inflation, problems faced by farmers and unemployment remaining as threats to the Constitution. Pilot said that the onus now lies more on the Congress workers to take up the challenge and be a part of various organised aggressive campaigns. He exuded hope that there will be unprecedented results in favour of the Congress with far-better success in the Parliamentary polls. Minister Nisith Pramanik. BSP MP expelled for indiscipline Ram Shiromani Verma, the Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Uttar Pradeshs Shravasti, was expelled from the party on Saturday on charges of indiscipline and anti-party activities. A letter by BSP district president Lal Chand Kori stated that Verma was continuously involved in anti-party activities and indiscipline. He was warned several times but there was no improvement. Keeping this in mind, the MP was expelled, the letter said. 14 criminal cases against Pramanik Union minister Nisith Pramanik, who has been renominated by the BJP in Cooch Behar seat for the Lok Sabha elections, has 14 criminal cases pending against him, according to an affidavit filed by him along with his nomination paper. Of the 14 cases pending against the Union Minister of State for Home, nine were registered between 2018 and 2020. The other cases were filed between 2009 and 2014, as per the affidavit. He joined the BJP in 2019 after he was expelled from the TMC. BJP ally refuses to campaign for BJP The Mahayuti ally Prahar Janshakti Party led by MLA Bacchu Kadu threatened that if BJP nominates sitting independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana from Amarawati Lok sabha seat, then he will not campaign for BJP or may field his own candidate. Kadu and the Rana couple MLA Ravi Rana and his spouse Lok Sabha member Navneet dont see eye to eye. Kadu, therefore, was against the fielding of Navneet. She was jailed for chanting Hanuman chalisa in front of ex-CM Uddhav Thackerays residence.

FORGING PROGRESS IN PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr Sunil Kalda from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with a humble beginning of developing plastic surgery since 1990 and now one of the most renowned Plastic Surgeons of Central India. He is the practicing surgeon at Kalda Burn and Plastic Surgery Centre. Dr. Sunil Kalda is the engine of this specialized Kalda Burn & plastic surgery centre, one of its kind 120 beded well equipped state of art Hospital. He excels in cosmetic surgery (Hair transplant, Liposuction & Breast surgery) Laser surgery, Microvascular surgery, Re-implant, Craniofacial surgery and cancer reconstructive surgery. Utterly dedicated to his work for the last 34 years, Dr Kalda undertakes a lot of the work he does on a pro-bono basis. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and his experience with such complex surgeries, he is able to offer expert advice and undertake complicated SRS (Sex Re-assign Surgery) to deliver affirmative results. In fact, one of his patients, Veena Sendre, went on to be crowned Indias first Miss Trans Queen at the national-level beauty contest. With the confidence she has gained from her avatar, and now she became the Actress & model in film industry. He has organised over 200 free health camps in rural and tribal areas across states. He has established a skin bank since 2015 for rehabilitation of acid attack victims and treatment of burn patients with his skills, restoring these survivors self-esteem and enabling them to move on with their lives He is known for spearheading several limb amputation prevention initiatives, positively impacting over 5,000 cases of diabetic foot complications. He is a chairman of IPA (indian podiatry association) Chhattisgarh Chapter to prevent amputation In Diabetic Foot. He has also achieved the distinction of his name appearing in the Golden Book of World Records by performing the highest number of cleft lips and palates surgeries free of charges in the world from the last 34 years. A veteran surgeon who has performed over 175000 surgeries. 70,000 surgeries were done absolutely free, Including 27,000 on children for cleft lip and cleft palate for which he was felicitated with Golden Book of World Record. Due to his social work and the acknowledgement and recognition that Dr Sunil Kalda has brought to his profession and the state of Chhattisgarh, he has been felicitated with the Shaheed Veer Narayan Award (Highest award of Chhattisgarh government for upliftment of tribal population), Dr B C Roy Award and many more in the medical category, which is an outstanding endorsement of his work and purpose. He is the Bhishmpitamah of Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive surgery in the central India. Beat the Heat: Water-Rich Fruits for a Refreshing Summer If you are thinking of losing weight, then eat these 5 types of dishes for breakfast Health Benefits of Paneer: How to Make Deepti Sharma's Favorite Dish

Travel tips: These are the most famous jungle safaris of India, where tourists from all over the country and abroad come to visit.

There are many large dense and tall forests in India, which make India a green and beautiful country. Mizoram has the largest area of forest in the country. Apart from this, Madhya Pradesh has the highest forest land. There are forests in different states of the country, which have been opened for tourists to visit. This month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kaziranga National Park in Assam to enjoy the jungle safari. If you love nature and want to spend some time among the animals while looking at the lush green views, then you can go on a trip to the most beautiful and famous forests of India. International Forest Day is celebrated every year on 21 March to bring humans closer to forests and make them aware of their beauty and importance. The first World Forest Day was celebrated on 21 March 2013. This time on the occasion of Forest Day, you can visit the famous forests of India. Through this article, learn about the specialties of the famous forests of India. Jim Corbett National Park Jim Corbett National Park is the most famous wildlife park in India. This is the first garden in Asia. Many species of tigers are found here. If you want to visit Jim Corbett, you can go in any season except the rainy season. It is best to visit from March to May. During the jeep safari, you will see tigers roaming freely. Kaziranga National Park Kaziranga National Park is famous in the world for the one-horned rhinoceros. This national park is the only national park in Assam. Kaziranga National Park located in Assam has the Central Kohora Range, where one can enjoy elephant riding and jeep safari in the Mihimukh area. If, like PM Modi, you also want to enjoy a jungle safari in Kaziranga National Park and want to enjoy an adventure trip amidst nature, then plan a trip to Assam. Sundarban Forest, West Bengal Sundarban forest is located in West Bengal. Sundar Van is known as the largest and most dangerous forest in India. This forest is found in both India and Bangladesh. This forest is situated on the delta of the river Ganga. This forest is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger, there are many saltwater crocodiles here. At this place, India's most sacred rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra, Padma, and Meghna meet the sea. Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh is famous for its national parks and forests. One such famous national park is Kanha National Park. It got the status of a National Park in the year 1955. The almost extinct species of reindeer can be seen here. Jabalpur is located at a distance of 175 kilometers from Kanha. This park is directly connected by road to Jabalpur, Khajuraho, Nagpur, Mukki, and Raipur. Ranthambore National Park Ranthambore National Park is spread in the Ravalli and Vindhya hills. Various species of tiger, leopard, sambar, wild boar, chinkara, deer, and leopard are found here. About 264 species of birds can be seen. The best time to visit Ranthambore National Park to enjoy a jeep safari is between October to June. (PC: ANI, PTI)

Death at mall: Baby slips off fathers hands, falls 3 floors

A year-old infant fell 40 feet at a Raipur mall after slipping from her father's arms on the third floor. The tragic incident was captured on CCTV, leading to a quick response from bystanders who rushed the baby to the hospital.

Bank Holidays: Banks will remain closed for so many days in these cities on the occasion of Holi, check Bank Holiday List..

Bank Holiday on Holi: Holi (Holi 2024) will be celebrated across the country on 25 March 2024. On this auspicious occasion of Holi, along with all the government banks in many cities of the country, private banks will also be closed. However, banks will remain open in some cities even on March 25, 2024. Let us tell you that banks will remain closed for a total of 14 days in March 2024. This includes Sunday, 2nd-4th Saturday, public and regional holidays. If you also have to go to the bank for some work, then you must check the bank holiday list of your city once. Where will banks remain closed on March 25 (Bank Holiday on Holi) Holi will be celebrated on 25 March 2024. Banks will remain closed in many cities of the country on this occasion. Along with this, banks will also remain closed on 22 March 2024 (fourth Saturday), and 23 March 2024 (Sunday). This means that in many cities banks will open only on 26 March 2024 (Tuesday). On the occasion of Holi 2024, Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Raipur, Ranchi, All banks in Shillong and Shimla will remain closed. March 2024 Bank Holiday List date reason state 22 March Bihar Day Bihar March 23 Fourth Saturday everywhere Sunday 24th March everywhere 25 March Holi/Dola Yatra Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla 26 March Yaosang/Holi Bihar, Manipur, Odisha 27 March Holi Bihar 29 March Good Friday everywhere Sunday 31st March everywhere According to the bank holiday list, banks in Bihar will remain closed from 22 March 2024 to 27 March 2024, that is, the banks of Bihar will remain closed for 6 days. Online service will remain operational Even though banks will remain closed, customers will continue to get the benefits of online banking services. This means that on bank holidays, customers can easily avail services like online banking, net banking, ATM, etc. Apart from this, users can also make online payments through credit cards and debit cards. PC Social media

Raipur Police Put Up Billboards Of People Who Help Accident Victims

The Raipur police in Chhattisgarh have launched a novel initiative to put up billboards with pictures of persons who help road accident victims and reward them for their good work.

Child slips off man's hand, falls to death from third floor of Raipur mall

Child slips off mans hand falls to death from third floor of Raipur mall

Infant Dies After Father Accidently Drops 1-year-old From Raipur Mall's Third Floor | Incident Caught on Cam

The toddler fell some 40 feet down on the floor from the third floor of the shopping mall

On Camera, Boy Slips From Father's Arms, Falls To Death In Raipur Mall

A routine outing turned into a nightmare for a family as their one-and-a-half-year-old child died after slipping from his father's arms and plummetting to the ground below at a popular shopping mall in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Tuesday.

Raipur Diary | Worrying decline of leopards population

The state not only had a depressing performance on the save the tiger mission but also recorded an unprecedented decline of 55 per cent in the population of leopards compared to the 2018 figure in all its three Tiger Reserves. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority report, there were 240 leopards in the three Tiger Reserves of Chhattisgarh in 2018 and number dwindled to just 107 in 2022. Though the survey report stated that across the country the number of leopards increased to 13,874 in 2022 from 12,852 in 2018. The state forest department was held accountable. Exploration licence for strategic minerals Chhattisgarh, rich in natural and mineral resources, as part of its mineral reconnaissance strategy is encouraging the private sectors participation with a focus to explore the potential sites and sources of rare strategic minerals. To begin with, the three mineral blocks of diamond and rare-earth elements (REE) group of minerals in the districts of Kondagaon, Narayanpur and Bastar have been taken up by the government. Some of the REE among the 29 rare and deep-seated minerals found in Chhattisgarh are those imported by India. The move will facilitate fast-tracking the exploration of rare minerals. North Chhattisgarh to get air connectivity Darima airport Ambikapur in north Chhattisgarh gets a license from the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) to begin flight operations. Maa Mahamaya airport in Ambikapur will be the third licensed airport besides Bilaspur and Jagdalpur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The license was granted after inspection of the essential specifications and requisite infrastructure of the airport by DGCA team. Recently, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security confirmed the airports suitability for safe flight operations. With the acquisition of the 3-C VFR category license, the airport can now start the air services via 72-seater aircraft. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com

TOP MBA College: Top management college, from where you can do an online MBA sitting at home, you get a package worth lakhs

TOP MBA College: MBA degree is most in demand in the job market at present. After MBA, you not only get a great salary package but also open new doors for career growth. Nowadays many management colleges are offering online MBA programs for working professionals. Which includes IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta. TOP MBA College: MBA is such a degree which is most in demand in the job market. Those who do an MBA get salary packages worth lakhs and crores. This is the reason why it is the top choice of many professionals. Now many business schools are offering online courses. Due to this, it has become easier for working professionals to do an MBA along with their jobs. Let us know about the top management colleges which are offering online MBA courses. IIM Ahmedabad- IIM Ahmedabad is the top management college in the country. According to NIRF Ranking 2023, IIM Ahmedabad has the number-1 rank. This management college is offering a two-year online MBA course (PGP). It aims to strengthen the management skills of working professionals and entrepreneurs who try to balance their career and personal lives. The fee for the online MBA program at IIM Ahmedabad is Rs 20 lakh. IIM Raipur- IIM Raipur also offers online MBA courses. Executive Post Graduate in Management can be done from here. This course runs in hybrid mode. Some days offline classes are also conducted. For admission to this, one should have two years of work experience. The fee for an online MBA course here is around Rs 13 lakh. IIM Calcutta- IIM Calcutta is one of the prestigious management colleges of the country. It offers Executive MBA programs for working professionals. Which happens in online mode. The fee for an Executive MBA at IIM Calcutta is Rs 31 lakh. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)- IGNOU is the largest open university in the world. IGNOU also offers an online MBA course. This course is a of minimum two years and a maximum of four years. There is no age limit for this. The fee for an online MBA in IGNOU is Rs 62,000. Annamalai University- Annamalai University is one of the most prestigious universities in the country. It has got A+ grade from NAAC. From here MBA can be done with a specialization in HR Management, Financial Management, E-Business, Hospital Management and Marketing Management. The fee for a distance MBA in this university is around Rs 40 thousand.

FIR against Bhupesh Baghel has nothing to do with elections, says Chhattisgarh Dy CM Sao

FIR against Bhupesh Baghel has nothing to do with elections, says Chhattisgarh Dy CM Sao Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said after an FIR was registered against former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel that there is no political vendetta and arrest has nothing to do with the upcoming polls. On Sunday, Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) named former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in its first information report (FIR) lodged in connection with the alleged Mahadev Online Book-linked money laundering case. For a long time, the investigation was going on in the Mahadev betting app scam. Action is being taken after the facts that were found after the investigation...For almost two years it was being investigated and this FIR has nothing to do with elections and political vendetta, said Arun Sao. However, Baghel has alleged that the FIR against him in the Mahadev online betting case by the state's EOW was politically motivated and was done to defame him. They (ED) can take whatever action they want to...When my name is in the FIR, then the names of the officers should also have been included but their names have not been mentioned... It clearly means that they are targeting me and trying to defame me, he said on Sunday. The former CM further alleged that since the BJP anticipates massive loss in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they they are adopting new tactics to defame him. Economic Offences Wing of Raipur has registered an FIR against former Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev App case. The case has been registered under sections 120B, 34, 406, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of IPC. The case was registered on March 4 against Bhupesh Baghel and 21 others. ED is investigating a case against Mahadev Online Book, which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts. (ANI)

Parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh to witness rainfall and hailstorms in next 2 hrs

Parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh to witness rainfall and hailstorms in next 2 hrs The post-midweek-March sun has become a little unbearable though still there is a slight nip in the air. The Meteorological office has predicted the possibility of rainfall and hailstorms in isolated parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the next 2 hrs. According to the IMD, hailstorms are very likely to occur at isolated places in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during the next 2 hours. With gusty winds of 40-60 kmph, lightning and light to moderate spells of rain over MP in Chindwara, Seoni, Mandla and Anuppur and Chhatisgarh: Rajnandgaon, Durg, Bemetara, Raipur, Baloda Bazar, Raigarh and Korea, IMD added in an X. With gusty winds of 60-70 kmph, lightning and a moderate spell of rain are expected over Balaghat and Dindori, Chhatisgarh: Kabirdham, Janjgir-Champa, Mungeli, Gaurela Pendra Marwahi, Korba, Surguja, Surajpur, Balarampur and Jashpur. Further, IMD stated that the impact expected due to thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds and Hailstorm over the region is Strong wind or hail may damage plantations, horticulture and standing crops. It may injure people and cattle in open places. Partial damage to vulnerable structures due to strong wind and minor damage to kutcha houses and huts, IMD said. The IMD further suggested a few precautions to tackle the hail storm and thunderstorms. Stay indoors, close windows and doors. Avoid travel if possible and take safe shelters instead of standing below the trees, IMD on X. Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls. Unplug electronic appliances and immediately get out of water bodies, it added. Meanwhile light to moderate rain and snow accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and hail are likely to occur in the districts of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla for the next 1-2 hours, IMD said in a tweet. Light to moderate precipitation is likely to occur at a few places in the districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu and Chamba for the next 1- 2 hours, it added. (ANI)

FIR against former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel filed in Mahadev app case

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Sunday filed an FIR against former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the online Mahadev App betting scam case. Though the FIR was filed on March 4, it was announced on Sunday a day after the Lok Sabha polling dates were announced. Baghel is the Congress candidate for the Rajnandgaon constituency where the election will be held on April 26. It is a political FIR and my name has been deliberately inserted into it along with others under pressure, Baghel said. If the case was registered in Raipur on March 4, why then the FIR copy was released and published from Delhi on March 17 Sunday. Usually, EOW or police station uploads FIR the same day on the website. The maximum action against Mahadev App has been taken in Chhattisgarh (during Congress regime), he said, adding that it is for the Centre to get the key accused extradited to India. The investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) indicated the alleged involvement of senior politicians and bureaucrats in facilitating the Mahadev App illegal betting in reciprocity for protection money. In the App betting scam, presumed to be over Rs 6,000 crore, the name of Baghel was conspicuously cited in the supplementary chargesheet of the ED filed early this year before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Raipur.

Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel blames BJP for FIR against him in Mahadev betting app case

Raipur, March 18 (IANS) Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday blamed the BJP after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. Baghel has termed the development as an attempt by the BJP to tarnish his image. Interacting with the mediapersons, Baghel said a []

They are targeting me and trying to defame me: Baghel after being named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case

They are targeting me and trying to defame me: Baghel after being named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday alleged that the FIR against him in the Mahadev online betting case by the state's EOW was politically motivated and was done to defame him. They (ED) can take whatever action they want to...When my name is in the FIR, then the names of the officers should also have been included but their names have not been mentioned... It clearly means that they are targeting me and trying to defame me, he said. Notably, the Chhattisgarh Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) has named former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in its first information report (FIR) lodged in connection with the Mahadev Online Book-linked money laundering case, sources said on Sunday. According to sources, the FIR has been filed based on a probe report submitted by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). The former Chhattisgarh CM further alleged that since the BJP anticipates massive loss in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they they are adopting new tactics to defame him. This is the biggest scam of the year... Bharatiya Janata Party has lost the Lok Sabha elections and due to this, they are adopting new tactics to defame, said Baghel. Economic Offences Wing of Raipur has registered an FIR against former Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in the Mahadev App case. The case has been registered under sections 120B, 34, 406, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of IPC. The case was registered on March 4 against Bhupesh Baghel and 21 others. The former Chhattisgarh CM further alleged that central agencies were given the task by the Central government to ensure his arrest, and they have been to all places and have threatened everyone to take my name but they couldn't implicate him. Baghel said, From 2021, I-T, ED, and CBI are on it, they have been to all places and have threatened everyone to take my name but they couldn't...then Chhattisgarh govt was doing the probe but ED interfered...if I was weak, all agencies wouldn't have come after me. All the central agencies are doing maximum raids in a small state like Chhattisgarh...I don't understand why are they scared? Baghel further added, If they will serve notice, we will respond accordingly. Baghel said that he would consult with lawyers, and further moves would be made accordingly. Meanwhile, Baghel is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Rajnandgaon seat. ED is investigating a case against Mahadev Online Book, which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts. (ANI)

FIR Lodged Against Former CM Bhupesh Baghel in Mahadev Online Book App Scam

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Police have taken a significant step by naming former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as an accused in the Mahadev Online Book app scam, estimated at a staggering 6,000 crore. This development potentially spells legal trouble for the Congress leader just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Baghel faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery, along with sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him on March 4.Apart from Baghel, the FIR also names Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, along with 16 other accused individuals. Additionally, unnamed bureaucrats, police officers, and officers on special duty (OSDs) during Baghel's tenure as CM are also implicated. A copy of the FIR has been reviewed by HT. Sources reveal that the case against Baghel was filed following references from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 8 and 30 this year. The ED's findings suggested the involvement of top-level state government functionaries in allowing illegal activities by Mahadev, allegedly in exchange for protection money. In November 2023, the ED alleged that Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes totaling 508 crore to Baghel. Both individuals are currently detained in a UAE facility, with extradition requests already sent through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The FIR outlines how Mahadev Book App promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts of protection money to various officials to evade police action on their illicit activities. The money was funneled through hawala operators to reach police, administrative officers, senior police officers, and influential political figures. Despite these claims, the FIR refrains from naming specific senior police or administrative officers. Sources suggest that the ED may initiate a fresh money laundering case against Baghel based on the details in the FIR.Having suffered defeat in the assembly elections in December, Baghel is gearing up to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Rajnandgaon seat. Gulfam Kills Wife in Meerut After Influence by Maulvi, Arrested Congress Leader Rajendra Bhandari Resigns and Joins BJP Clash between Foreign and Local Students at Gujarat University Hostel: Details and Background

Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has been named as an accused in the FIR in the 'Mahadev Book Online'app scam, estimated to be worthRs 6,000 crore, as reported by Hindustan Times. Reportedly, the Mahadev betting app and its associate companies illegally collected Rs 450 crore worth of proceeds of crime every month. Along with Baghel, Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, 16 other named accused persons have been named in the first information report. Unnamed bureaucrats, police officers and officers on special duty during the ex-CM's tenure too have been charged with various sections pertaining to cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur on March 4, as per the HT report. It did not name any senior police or administrative officer. In January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Baghel in a supplementary chargesheet related to allegations of receiving bribes amounting to approximately Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev app from the UAE. Background In July 2022, the ED had started investigating the Mahadev Book Online Betting App under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that the promoters of the app Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who are based overseas were remotely running illegal betting operations with proceeds of crimes running into several thousand crores. The Mahadev online book betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites, the ED alleged. The agency had said that the alleged illegal funds generated by the app were used to pay bribes to politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh. The company promoters hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh. A total of nine persons have been arrested by the ED in this case till now. Two chargesheets have been filed and multiple raids have been conducted. Many celebrities and Bollywood actors too were summoned for questioning by the agency on their links with the online betting platform and the mode of payment. The projected proceeds of crime in this case are about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED. The ED investigation has shown that the Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the UAE. It operates by franchising Panel/Branches to their known associates on a 70-30 per cent profit ratio, it had said. Large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to off-shore accounts, it added. Large expenditure in cash is also being done in India for advertising betting websites to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers, the ED had said. On November 3 last year, the federal agency arrested alleged courier Asim Das, a driver, and and a constable named Bhim Singh Yadav, from a Raipur hotel, four days before the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The authorities had seized Rs 5.39 crores in cash from Dass car. The ED had claimed that forensic analysis and statement made by Asim Das led to startling allegations that Mahadev betting app promoters have paid about Rs 508 crore from the UAE to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. The ED quoted Das as saying in his November statement that he came to Raipur to deliver the money to political executives of the Indian Congress party on the instructions of Shubham Soni, one of the key accused and a promoter of the app, who had called him to Dubai in October 2023 and said he would be provided cash which was to be delivered to Mr Bhupesh Baghel. Incidentally, Asim Das' 62-year-old father Sushil Das was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a well on December 6 in Chhattisgarh's Durg district. Baghel had dubbed these charges as an attempt to malign his image while the Congress termed it vendetta politics by the Centre. However, on November 25, Asim Das submitted before the special court in Raipur that he had been framed as part of a conspiracy and he had never delivered cash to politicians. He alleged that he was forcefully made to sign a statement in English, a language he does not comprehend in a letter written from jail to the Director of the ED and other higher authorities. Meanwhile, Mahadev app promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal were detained in Dubai based on an Interpol red notice issued at the behest of the ED and the agency is trying to deport or extradite them from the UAE to India. In January , the ED told the special court in Raipur that Das has now stated that his first statement given to the agency on November 3 last year in which he cited Baghels name was true and correct. The ED claimed that Das was coerced into giving a handwritten retraction of his earlier statement. Moreover, in March, the ED froze security holdings worth Rs 580 crore and seized cash and valuables amounting to Rs 3.64 crore of a Kolkata-based 'hawala operator' after recent raids in six cities in connection with the ongoing investigation in the Mahadev betting app money laundering case. It said that the accused Harishankar Tibrewal who currently stays in Dubai. collaborated with the founders of the Mahadev app and owned and operated skyexchange, an accused illicit betting app. (With additional inputs from PTI)

Petrol costliest in Andhra Pradesh & Kerala; BJP-ruled MP, Bihar close behind

Petrol costliest in Andhra Pradesh & Kerala; BJP-ruled MP, Bihar close behind Petrol and diesel prices are the costliest in the country in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala while it is cheapest in smaller states and UTs like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi and those in the North East, mainly due to differential in local sales tax or VAT rates, oil industry data showed. The three state-owned fuel retailers - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) - last week cut petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 a litre each, ending a nearly two-year hiatus in price revision. That reduction brought relief to fuel users but rates continue to be above Rs 100 a litre mark in some states due to higher Value Added Tax (VAT). Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP-ruled Andhra Pradesh has the costliest petrol at Rs 109.87 a litre, followed by Left Democratic Front (LDF)-ruled Kerala, where a litre of petrol comes for Rs 107.54. Congress-run Telangana is close behind with petrol costing Rs 107.39 a litre. BJP-ruled states are not far behind - petrol costs Rs 106.45 a litre in Bhopal, Rs 105.16 in Patna (BJP in coalition with JD-U), Rs 104.86 in Jaipur and Rs 104.19 in Mumbai. Mamata Banerjee's TMC-ruled West Bengal has petrol priced at Rs 103.93 a litre. Other states with over Rs 100-a-litre petrol are Odisha (Rs 101.04 a litre in Bhubaneswar), Tamil Nadu (Rs 100.73 in Chennai), and Chattisgarh (Rs 100.37 in Raipur), industry pricing data showed. Petrol is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for Rs 82 a litre, followed by Silvassa and Daman where it comes for Rs 92.38-92.49 a litre. Other smaller states too have local VAT, leading to cheaper petrol - Delhi (Rs 94.76 a litre), Panaji (Rs 95.19), Aizawl (Rs 93.68), and Guwahati (Rs 96.12). Most North Eastern states are among the lower-end of the petrol price band. Diesel prices have almost a similar story with Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh selling the fuel at Rs 97.6 a litre, followed by Rs 96.41 a litre in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, Rs 95.63 in Hyderabad and Rs 93.31 in Raipur. The fuel is in the Rs 92-93 a litre range in BJP-ruled sales of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. It is also in that range in Odisha and Jharkhand. Diesel is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for about Rs 78 a litre. Delhi - which has the lowest VAT among metro cities - has diesel priced at Rs 87.66 a litre, while in Goa it costs Rs 87.76 per litre. Commenting on the price cut, Goldman Sachs said the net marketing margin of the three oil marketing companies will decline to Rs 08-09 a litre from Rs 1.7-2.7 a litre. Morgan Stanley said the price cut ''should finally remove a key overhang for fuel retailers''. ''The Rs 2 per liter price cut (our estimate was for Rs 2-3 a litre) brings India's fuel basket to USD 85 per barrel Brent crude (i.e. breakeven fuel marketing profitability at this crude price). However, the implied integrated fuel margins for retailers will average 30 per cent above mid-cycle considering the strength in refinery margins,'' it said. JP Morgan said the effect of the reduction is equivalent to about a USD 3.5 a barrel increase in crude oil prices. ''Although small on headline, a Rs 2 per liter cut will reduce oil marketing companies' revenue / EBITDA by about Rs 30,000 crore annualized.'' A retail price cut, it said, was expected as the three companies had become highly profitable in the last three quarters, and ahead of general elections due in a few weeks. ''That prices have been cut one-time, and without any signal that pricing goes back to being crude linked (with periodical revisions) can be seen as a negative for these businesses, in our view. Yet, the price cut is relatively modest and seems unlikely to be followed by more (at least near term) - crystallizing the risk for these companies.'' Emkay Global Financial Services said the price cut translates to a reduction of Rs 1.6-1.7 a litre in gross marketing margins. ''In our view, this cut will be effective for next 2-2.5 months and once national elections are over, we would return to a normalized margin scenario. Deepening deregulation with resumption of daily pricing should likely pass any USD 5-10 a barrel movement in oil prices.''

Development, jobs key focus of parties in Madhya Pradesh

Development, jobs key focus of parties in Madhya Pradesh The BJP dominated all the six regions of Madhya Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when it won 28 out of the 29 parliamentary seats in the state and will seek to repeat its performance this time as well. The saffron party will also try to wrest Chhindwara, the lone seat won by the Congress in the 2019 polls in the home turf of former chief minister Kamal Nath. Development and issues pertaining to employment have been the key focus areas of the BJP and Congress in the six regions of the state. The BJP has declared its candidates in all 29 seats, while the Congress has so far announced names of its candidates for 10 seats. Out of the 29 seats, five are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe and four for Scheduled Caste candidates. In the 2019 polls, all these seats were won by the BJP. The state broadly has six regions - Gwalior-Chambal, Central MP (Bhopal), Malwa-Nimar, Mahakoshal, Vindhya and Bundelkhand. The Malwa-Nimar region has the highest number of eight Lok Sabha seats. 1. GWALIOR-CHAMBAL: This region, once known to be infested by dacoits, has now marked a leap towards development. The BJP government last year sanctioned an expressway connecting it with Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The arrival of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, as part of the government's ambitious project of reintroduction of these felines in the country, has also opened avenues for employment, especially in tourism and hospitality sectors, in the region. Guna is one of the prominent Lok Sabha constituencies in the region from where the BJP has fielded Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who switched over to the saffron party from the Congress in March 2020. The other seats in this region are Morena, Bhind (SC) and Gwalior. 2. CENTRAL REGION (BHOPAL): This region comprises state capital Bhopal and its surrounding areas, including Narmadapuram. Bhopal, popularly known as the city of lakes, is surrounded by world heritage sites - Sanchi and Bhimbetka rock shelters. This region comprises five Lok Sabha seats - Bhopal, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Betul (ST) and Narmadapuram. The BJP has this time dropped its sitting MP Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal and fielded former mayor Alok Sharma. In Vidisha, the saffron party has fielded its senior leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has represented the seat in the past also. Development and employment are among the major issues which impact the poll outcome in this region. 3. MALWA-NIMAR: This region is dominated by agriculture activities and includes three major tribal areas of Khargone, Ratlam and Dhar. Indore, the state's commercial capital which is also the cleanest in the country, major bullion trade centre Ratlam and the famous 'jyotirlings' of Ujjain and Omkareshwar fall under this region. There are eight Lok Sabha seats in this region - Indore, Dewas (SC), Ujjain (SC), Mandsaur, Khandwa, Khargone (ST), Ratlam (ST) and Dhar (ST). Issues pertaining to farmers, tribals, employment and migration of labourers are likely to dominate the poll campaign in this region. The BJP has fielded its sitting MP Shankar Lalwani from Indore. 4. BUNDELKHAND: This impoverished region houses the famous Panna diamond mines, the world heritage site of Khajuraho and the Panna Tiger Reserve. The sanctioning of the Ken-Betwa river linking project is a step aimed at addressing the problem of water scarcity in the region, especially irrigation facilities. This region comprises four Lok Sabha seats - Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh (SC) and Khajuraho. The BJP has given ticket to its sitting MP V D Sharma from Khajuraho for the second time and fielded Union minister Virendra Kumar from Tikamgarh. 5. MAHAKOSHAL: This region is considered to be a stronghold of former CM Kamal Nath, whose son Nakul Nath is the sitting MP from the family's home turf Chhindwara. Mahakoshal is spread across eight districts -- Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Dindori and Balaghat. Local residents grumble over the backwardness in the region, saying Jabalpur was once far ahead of Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) in terms of development, but now the city lags behind Indore and Bhopal. Mandla and Shahdol are tribal-dominated districts, while Balaghat is affected by Naxalism in this region. The five Lok Sabha seats in this region are - Jabalpur, Mandla (ST), Shahdol (ST), Balaghat and Chhindwara. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Faggan Singh Kulaste from Mandla. The Congress has renominated Nakul Nath from Chhindwara, a seat represented nine times by his father Kamal Nath. 6. VINDHYA: This region bordering Uttar Pradesh is spread across nine eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh - Rewa, Shahdol, Satna, Sidhi, Singrauli, Anuppur, Umaria, Maihar and Mauganj. The region elected the first Lok Sabha member for the Bahujan Samaj Party from Madhya Pradesh in 1991 and had also given representation to Communists in electoral politics. It comprises three Lok Sabha seats - Satna, Rewa and Sidhi. Development and employment are among the key issues in this region.

BJP targets Congress LS candidates in Chhattisgarh through cartoons on social media

BJP targets Congress LS candidates in Chhattisgarh through cartoons on social media The ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh has come up with a set of cartoons on social media to target the opposition Congress' Lok Sabha poll candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, over politics of appeasement and other issues. While the BJP said it has only portrayed some incidents which happened during the previous Congress regime through the cartoons which are not meant to hurt anyone, the grand old party accused it of releasing such illustrations out of frustration. The 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will see polling in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India. The cartoon posters were released over the last one week. One such poster targeting former CM Baghel, who has been fielded by the Congress from Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, was posted with the comment ''Rajnandgaon or Jihadgaon...selection is yours''. The post shows a caricature of Baghel leading a queue, holding a green flag with ''jihadi giroh'' written on it, towards a milestone of Rajnandgaon and followed by cartoons of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar and former minister Mohammad Akbar holding weapons. Baghel is seen saying Bhaijan agla number Rajnandgaon ka hai (brother next number is of Rajnandgaon). BJPs state general secretary Sanjay Shrivastav told PTI, It has been a tradition in the country to use different mediums of communication to send messages among the masses. Through the cartoon posters, the BJP has just portrayed the incidents which have happened (in the previous Congress government). The cartoon posters are not meant to hurt anyone.'' Senior BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik said his party is trying to portray the failures of the previous Congress government through the satire art and it has been receiving good response from people. A cartoon of former minister Shivkumar Dahariya, the Congress nominee in Janjgir-Champa Lok sabha seat, was posted along with the comment ''people of Janjgir-Champa should remain alert as former kabjabaaj (encroacher) minister is now eyeing on your land''. Dahariya is depicted holding a big sack with avaidh kabja sargana (illegal encroachment syndicate) written on it and heading towards Janjgir-Champa. The cartoon is shown as saying ''have heard that there is a lot of land in Janjgir-Champa, let's encroach it.'' Similarly, a cartoon depicting Jyotsana Mahant, the incumbent Congress MP from Korba Lok Sabha seat who has been re-nominated by the party, was posted with ''an appeal to residents of Korba, this time dont choose an inactive, but an active MP''. The poster showed two persons asking ''who are you'', and the woman is seen holding a poster with ''mai aapki lapata sansad'' (I am your missing MP) written on it. Another cartoon poster of former MLA Vikas Upadhyay, who has been fielded from Raipur Lok Sabha seat, asked residents of Raipur to be alert, saying '''vinash'' (destruction) comes with this 'Vikas'. In another cartoon poster of former home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, who is the Congress' nominee from Mahasamund Lok Sabha seat, the BJP took a swipe at him over communal violence at Biranpur village in Bemetara district in April last year in which 22-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed. The man's father, Ishwar Sahu, was later elected as the BJP MLA in the state assembly polls held in November 2023. The BJP has fielded its incumbent state minister Brijmohan Agrawal in Raipur, sitting MP Santosh Pandey in Rajnandgaon, senior woman leader Saroj Pandey in Korba, former MLA Rupkumari Choudhary in Mahasamund and Kamlesh Jangde, a fresh face, in Janjgir-Champa. Chhattisgarh Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla claimed the BJP has been releasing the cartoon posters with ''baseless'' statements as it is afraid that his party candidates will win by huge margins. Since the Congress has declared its Lok Sabha poll candidates in the state, the BJP has become frustrated as it is anticipating defeat, he said. They are talking about ''Modi ki guarantee'' in elections but the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed on all fronts in the last 10 years, the Congress leader claimed. Modi had promised to contain inflation in 100 days, giving employment to youth, doubling income of farmers, better returns for farm produce, depositing 15 lakh in bank accounts of each person but none of them were fulfilled, Shukla said. People no longer have trust in Modi and they will teach him a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls, he claimed.

Chhattisgarh's Bipolar battle in three-phase tight contest

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh, where assembly polls were held in November last year, is set to see a bipolar contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress across the 11 Lok Sabha seats. Maoists threat apparently led the Election Commission to hold elections in three phases in Chhattisgarh. The polling in the Maoist-hit restive Bastar will be held in the first phase on April 19. Voting in the second phase on April 26 will cover Kanker, Rajnandgaon (adjoining Maharashtras Gadchiroli having strong presence of Maoists) and Mahasamund (sharing borders with Odisha and districts of Dhamtari, Gariyaband where Maoists movements were reported). Third phase polling on May 7 will cover the remaining constituencies of central and north Chhattisgarh Sarguja, Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Korba, Janjgir, and Durg. To conduct polls in the sensitive and hypersensitive areas, elaborate security managements will be put in place, officials said. In recent months Maoists have stepped up their attacks to create terror in south Bastar and targeted BJP leaders. According to police, two dozen people including four BJP leaders and at least 12 security personnel were killed by Maoists in Bastar zone since November last year. Since 1998 the BJP has won 10 of the eleven seats barring the 2019 elections when it bagged nine constituencies and two went to the Congress. The BJP back in power in the state has taken a lead to launch Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad Rally by union home minister Amit Shah and declared candidates for all 11 seats. The Congress has so far announced six names, including former CM Bhupesh Baghel. However, it remains to be seen how the BJP that keeps its campaign alive on Modi Ki Guarantee slogan is able to retain the trust of masses. Maoists step up attacks in Bastar, targets BJP Recently, Maoists have stepped up their attacks to create terror in south Bastar and targeted BJP leaders. According to police, two dozen people including four BJP leaders and at least 12 security personnel were killed by Maoists in Bastar since November 2023