Voters living on banks of Yamuna seekpucca houses, water, toilets

Tired of living under threats of floods and demolition drives, need better living conditions, say residents of YamunaKhadarin GandhiNagarseat

Parliamentary Panel Weighs NRI Representation in Parliament

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (PTI) NEW DELHI: The parliamentary committee on external affairs is contemplating over representation of NRIs in the Parliament in view of their growing number and unique issues concerning the diaspora. On Tuesday, evidence of the diaspora organisations in connection with examination of the subject Indian diaspora overseas including NRIs, PIOs, OCIs and migrant workers: all aspects of their conditions and welfare, including the status of the emigration Bill, took place in which organisations like Norka Roots, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala); department of NRIs affairs, Government of Punjab; people of Indian origin chamber of commerce and industry (PIOCCI), Delhi and centre for diaspora studies central university of Gujarat, Gandhinagar presented their views. During the committees meeting, organisations made proposals in this regard and said having a quota for NRIs in the Parliament will help handle their issues in a better way. They also talked about the need to streamline immigration of skilled workers, curb undesirable activities, including desperate attempts by people to reach foreign destinations. According to sources, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda cited examples of countries like Italy, which has reservation in legislature for its citizens residing abroad, to pitch for having NRI representation in the Parliament. The ministry of external affairs had informed the committee in an earlier meeting that a Bill focusing on emigration issues is under the governments consideration. The standing committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that one of the requests from state governments is that they should also be consulted. In 2016, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan had through a private member Bill sought to reserve eight seats in Lok Sabha.

Gujarat to hold panchayat, civic body elections after two-year hiatus; voting on February 16

AHMEDABAD: The long-awaited dates for elections to Municipal Corporations, District Panchayats, and Taluka Panchayats in Gujarat, whose terms have recently expired, are being unveiled today. Voters across the state will head to the polls on February 16 for the municipal elections, which will cover 66 municipalities. The results will then be determined with vote counting scheduled for February 18. The State Election Commission has announced the general elections for Junagadh Municipal Corporation and 66 municipalities across Gujarat on Tuesday, Gujarat will conduct general elections for the Municipal Corporations, including those in Kathlal, Kapadvanj, and Gandhinagar Taluka Panchayats. Additionally, mid-term elections for the Botad and Wankaner Municipal Corporations have also been called. Alongside these, by-elections have been scheduled for seats that have fallen vacant across various municipalities and panchayats. A total of three vacant seats in three Municipal Corporations, 21 seats in Municipal Corporations, 9 seats in District Panchayats, and 91 seats in Taluka Panchayats will go to the polls. Voting for all these elections will take place on February 16, with the results to be declared on February 18. In addition to the general elections, by-elections will take place across several municipalities and panchayats. This includes three vacant seats in three municipalities, mid-term elections for Botad and Wankaner Municipalities, and by-elections for 21 vacant seats in Municipal Corporations, 9 seats in District Panchayats, and 91 seats in Taluka Panchayats. Voting for all these seats will occur on February 16, with the results announced on February 18. Elections for several gram panchayats are still pending due to ongoing work on reservation implementation. However congress demands to announce it soon. The election process in Gujarat, previously stalled due to delays in implementing a 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies, is now set to move forward. This follows the Gujarat government's approval of the 27 per cent OBC reservation in August 2023, based on recommendations from the Justice Jhaveri Commission. The decision comes after a landmark Supreme Court ruling, which mandated that OBC reservations in local bodies must be grounded in population-based data. Notably, OBC reservations in Gujarats local bodies had previously been set at just 10 per cent.

Gujarat to host 1st Olympic Research Conference; to debate on economics of hosting Olympics in India

The event will be held at Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) campus

Workers Brutally Attacked by Owner at Vijayapura Kiln

Vijayapura : In a shocking incident in Vijayapura district, workers at a brick kiln in Gandhinagar were brutally assaulted, allegedly by the kiln owner and his associates. The victimsSadashiva Madar, Sadashiva Babaladi, and Umesh Madarwere tied up and beaten with plastic pipes, sustaining severe injuries to their legs, backs, and waists. They have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment. The assault was reportedly orchestrated by the kiln owner, Khemu Rathod, with assistance from his son Rohan Rathod and others. Vijayapura Rural Police have arrested three individuals, including the owner. According to the police, the three workersSadashiva Basappa Madar, Sadashiva Chandrappa Babaladi, and Umesh Malappa Madarhad been working and residing at the kiln. On January 13, they left for their village to celebrate the Sankranti festival. On January 15, the brick kiln owner called them, asking them to return to work. The workers requested Rs 10,000 for festival expenses, to which the owner agreed, asking them to report to the kiln. When the workers arrived at 9.30 am, the owner, his son, and others allegedly tied their hands and legs, confined them in a room, and assaulted them with plastic pipes. On January 18 at 10 am, the accused reportedly brought the workers out of the room, continued the assault, and then finally released them. A case has been registered at the Vijayapura Rural Police Station under several sections, including 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(2) (Rioting), 191(3) (rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 109(1) (attempt to murder), 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offense committed in prosecution of common object) BNS-2023. The police have arrested three accused- Khemu Rathod, Sachin Manavar, and Vishal Jumnal. A special team has been formed to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Chief Minister Inaugurates GIFT International Fintech Institute and Innovation Hub at GIFT City, Gandhinagar - CMO Gujarat

Chief Minister Inaugurates GIFT International Fintech Institute and Innovation Hub at GIFT City, Gandhinagar CMO Gujarat

NGT initiates suo motu proceedings on alarming sulphur dioxide pollution in Gujarat

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of Sulphur Dioxide (SO) pollution in Gujarat, revealing alarming levels of this harmful gas in various cities, with a particular focus on Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The petition is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item dated December 03, 2024. As per the [] The post NGT initiates suo motu proceedings on alarming sulphur dioxide pollution in Gujarat appeared first on India Legal .

No One Dares To Do Mischief During Krishna Janmashtami Procession In Kashmir Now: Shah

Ahmedabad, Jan 15: Asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved after the abrogation of Article 370, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said no one now dares to do any mischief when the Krishna Janmashtami procession passes through Srinagars Lal Chowk. Speaking at Kalol in Gandhinagar district, the BJP leader said it was former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who implemented Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Under Article 370, a special status was given to the [] The post No One Dares To Do Mischief During Krishna Janmashtami Procession In Kashmir Now: Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

No one dares to do mischief during Krishna Janmashtami procession in Kashmir now: Amit Shah

Ahmedabad: Asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved after the abrogation of Article 370, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said no one now dares to do any mischief when the Krishna Janmashtami procession passes through Srinagars Lal Chowk. Speaking at Kalol in Gandhinagar district, the BJP leader []

Amit Shah lauds PM Modi for 'quenching the thirst of Gujarat'

AHMEDABAD: During the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony of various projects worth Rs 241 crore at Ambod village in Mansa taluka, Gandhinagar district, on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recalled the efforts made to address Gujarats water scarcity. He highlighted that after Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he worked tirelessly to tackle the state's water crisis. Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, As Chief Minister, Narendra Modi brought water to the parched regions of Gujarat by implementing various schemes. Shah further emphasized the impact of these initiatives, adding, The schemes launched by Prime Minister Modi during his tenure as Gujarat CM helped raise groundwater levels and improve the quality of drinking water in north Gujarat. After becoming Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Bhai worked tirelessly to address the state's water scarcity, said Shah. I recall when I first became an MLA in 1997, all the MLAs from north Gujarat would request permission to dig borewells, but those requests were often denied due to the region's designation as a dark zone, where groundwater levels had fallen below 1,200 feet. Shah went on to highlight Modi's leadership in overcoming significant challenges, including those posed by Congress during the completion of the Narmada dam project. Modi struggled and triumphed over the obstacles created by Congress to ensure the success of the Narmada scheme, Shah added. He further emphasized that after Modi became Prime Minister, the final stages of the project, including the installation of gates at the Narmada dam, were completed, ensuring that oday, the water from the Narmada dam reaches every household. Modi's vision for water conservation led him to channel rainwater, which would otherwise flow into the sea, into 9,000 lakes across Gujarat, said Shah. He also conceived the 'Sauni Yojana,' a groundbreaking initiative aimed at bringing water to every village in Saurashtra. Shah then turned to the efforts in north Gujarat, noting the growing concerns over water scarcity. In response, Modi launched the Sujalam Sufalam Yojana to provide relief to the region, he explained. By directing excess water from the Narmada River into lakes and building 14 dams along the Sabarmati, Modi succeeded in raising groundwater levels in north Gujarat. These water management schemes have had a remarkable impact, Shah continued. A river and lake filled with water can raise groundwater levels by 40 to 50 feet, and as a result, north Gujarat now enjoys drinking water with significantly lower fluoride content. On Wednesday, Shah launched several key projects in Gujarat, aimed at enhancing water management and infrastructure. Among the initiatives unveiled was an artificial lake at the Mahakali Mata temple in Ambod, designed to help conserve water in the region. In addition, a check dam and a barrage were also inaugurated, further strengthening the state's water management capabilities.

Asaram Bapu Released After 11 Years, Welcomed with Enthusiasm

RAJASTHAN: Asaram Bapu, who has been granted interim bail in a rape case, returned to his ashram and was greeted with a warm and celebratory reception from his supporters. The bail, effective until March 31, comes with several strict conditions. The Rajasthan High Court granted Asaram interim bail in the 2013 rape case, allowing him temporary release on medical grounds. Late Tuesday night, after being discharged from the Ayurvedic hospital where he was undergoing treatment, he arrived at the ashram. His followers gathered outside the hospital to welcome him, adorning him with garlands. Meanwhile, the ashrams staff celebrated by bursting firecrackers to mark his return. Having spent 11 years, 4 months, and 12 days in prison, Asaram was released due to his advanced age and deteriorating health. Advocate Nishant Borda, representing him, stated that the bail plea referred to a prior Supreme Court judgment where bail was granted in a similar case in Gujarat. However, the High Court imposed strict conditions as part of the interim bail. Strict Restrictions and Next Steps Asaram, who had been undergoing treatment at the Ayurvedic hospital for the past few days, reached his ashram amid discussions about a potential visit to Prayagraj and Ayodhya, subject to the court's bail conditions. Reports suggest he may undertake these visits for spiritual purposes, including darshan and bathing rituals, although no official confirmation has been made. Rape cases have been filed against Asaram in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and Jodhpur, Rajasthan, resulting in life imprisonment sentences in both cases. While he has received bail in these matters, the High Court has placed significant restrictions on his activities. Under the conditions, Asaram is prohibited from addressing the public or meeting his followers nationwide. Furthermore, he must remain under the supervision of three policemen at all times.

Shah inaugurates barrage for Sabarmati river costing Rs 235 cr

Gandhi Nagar: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had quenched Gujarats thirst for water as the then chief minister of the state as he inaugurated various developmental projects worth Rs 241 crore in Ahmod, Mansa in Gandhinagar district including a barrage on the Sabarmati river on Wednesday. [] The post Shah inaugurates barrage for Sabarmati river costing Rs 235 cr appeared first on Northlines .

Gujarat govt neglects old vehicles, piling up in Gandhinagar secretariat parking - Gujarat Samachar

Gujarat govt neglects old vehicles, piling up in Gandhinagar secretariat parking Gujarat Samachar

Need tech-savvy force to protect India's digital infrastructure, says Sitharaman

Addressing the 4th convocation ceremony of the Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Nirmala Sitharaman said technology is being misused by some vested interests or dark forces and noted that India's growth may not go down well with some people

Amreli letter scandal escalates, three police officers suspended amid growing political heat

AHMEDABAD: The Amreli letter scandal , which has tarnished the reputation of a BJP MLA in Gujarat, is escalating into a major headache for the state government. In a swift response, Amreli District Police Chief Sanjay Kharate suspended three local crime branch officers for negligence in handling the case. This disciplinary move comes as the scandal gains traction across Gujarat, amplifying political and public scrutiny. Adding to the turmoil, former Congress opposition leader Paresh Dhanani and ex-MLA Pratap Dudhat, along with other leaders, were detained ahead of their planned protest at Mangadh Chowk in Surat on Monday. The location, now a hotspot of political unrest, underscores the growing agitation over the issue. Meanwhile, the investigation has taken a significant turn, with Gujarat Polices State Monitoring Cell (SMC) DIG Nirlipta Rai stepping in to lead the probe, signalling intensified efforts to uncover the truth behind the controversy. Congress' planned sit-in at Surat today, demanding justice for the Amreli victim, was met with a strong police response. Despite being denied permission, Paresh Dhanani vowed to proceed, prompting heavy deployment at the site from yesterday. However, police swiftly detained them, preventing the sit-in from taking off. When a daughter has been victimized in Amreli, we are fighting for her justice, said Congress leader Paresh Dhanani. Highlighting the irony, he added, Freedom came through movements, yet the police now block protests and silence voices. In Amreli, Gujarat, a fake letterhead bearing Taluka Panchayat President Kishore Kanparia's name sparked controversy after going viral on social media. Kanparia filed a police complaint, leading to the arrest of a former BJP office bearer and four others, including a Patidar woman, Payal Goti, working as a typist. The controversy deepened when police paraded Payal in public , igniting outrage from Patidar leaders and state figures demanding justice through protests and dharnas. After her release on bail, Payal accused the police of assaulting her in custody. The uproar prompted the formation of an SIT comprising DySP A.G. Gohil and female officers to investigate her claims. Meanwhile, 200 Surat women wrote to PM Modi, demanding answers on Payals midnight arrest and public humiliation, threatening a Swabhiman Mission if ignored. Adding to the turmoil, MLA Kaushik Vekaria faced allegations linked to the fake letter, prompting his supporters to escalate the matter to Gandhinagar. Police teams, including the Local Crime Branch and Cyber Crime, investigated and made arrests. The police are now taking swift action, with Amreli SP suspending three LCB officers on Sunday in response to the escalating controversy. The case, now entwined with political and social tensions, has drawn state-wide attention.

Amit Shah to celebrate Uttarayan at 3 residential societies in Gandhinagar - The Indian Express

Amit Shah to celebrate Uttarayan at 3 residential societies in Gandhinagar The Indian Express

HC Cancels Cine Artist Anil Kumars Bail

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court cancelled the bail that was granted to cine artist Vallabhaneni Anil Kumar. The application was filed by Dr Kasthuri Srinivas, president of the Chitrapuri Sadhana Samiti, which lodged a complaint with the Raidurgam police stating that the government had allowed about 67 acres in Manikonda to the Telugu Cine Workers Co-operative Housing Society Limited at Rs 40 per square yard, for allotment to industry workers who were not having any land or house. It was alleged that due to the hike in land price, the accused, being the secretary of the union, had admitted 9,153 members into the society when only 4,213 plots were available by creating fake ID cards and forging signatures of the committee of IAS officers appointed for allotment of plots. It was further alleged that the accused allotted plots even to ineligible persons and got amounts transferred to the personal accounts of the members from the accounts of the society that ran into crores. Anil Kumar was charged with offences of cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal intimidation and arrested after three years. The trial court granted bail in June 2024 on the condition that the accused shall not leave the jurisdiction of the court without prior permission. It was also alleged during a media conference that he had threatened members who had filed cases against the managing committee. Anil Kumar also participated in a meeting held in connection with inauguration of the office of Telugu Film and Digital Industry Employees Federation at Gandhinagar in Vijayawada. The action of the accused in travelling out of the territorial jurisdiction of the court was in violation of the bail orders. If the accused is aggrieved of any of the conditions imposed while granting bail to him, he can seek relaxation of such conditions, but he cannot violate the same. The present case is a classic example of deliberate violation of orders of the court, Justice Juvvadi Sridevi said, while cancelling bail. She further pointed out that if such deliberate violation of court orders was not curtailed, there will not be any sanctity to the court orders. It is a clear misuse of the liberty granted by the court. Being not able to content with the liberty granted by the trial court, the accused has stretched his legs beyond its territorial jurisdiction, on what can be termed as an unreasonable ground. Sugar manufacturers get HC nod to sell 2024-25 produce Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya of the Telangana High Court granted interim relief to sugar manufacturing units by allowing them to sell free sale sugar stock manufactured during the sugar year 2024-25 subject to discharging contractual and statutory liabilities. This relief was granted while hearing a batch of writ pleas filed by NSL Krishnaveni Sugars Ltd and others, aggrieved by several orders of the Union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, directing every producer of sugar to hold white/refined sugar stock tentatively during the following month or until further orders. The orders were passed under the Essential Commodities Act read with the Sugar (Control) Order and other executive directions. Senior counsel Sunil Ganu, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the petitioners were obligated to comply with a circular issued by the director of sugar and cane commissioner, Telangana, whereby the petitioners have to honour their contractual obligations in terms of payment of statutory price at the recommended rate to the cane suppliers within 14 days from the date of delivery of cane. The senior counsel further contended that while sugar manufacturer units were being restrained from selling sugar in the open market, they are facing financial crisis due to statutory obligations. Several orders passed by co-ordinate benches in similar circumstances were also pointed out, whereby the interim protection was granted to the petitioners/sugar manufacturer units in the form of the respondents being directed to permit the petitioners to sell sugarcane stock during the concerned year subject to the petitioner discharging its contractual and statutory liabilities to the sugarcane suppliers/farmers. Considering the facts placed before the judge and the orders passed by the co-ordinate benches, the judge granted interim relief and directed the respondents to inter alia permit the petitioners to make payments to the sugarcane suppliers/farmers in their respective bank accounts. The matter is posted for further adjudication.

Arijit Singh Concert in GIFT City: Ahmedabad - Gandhinagar Metro Service timings to be extended - DeshGujarat

Arijit Singh Concert in GIFT City: Ahmedabad - Gandhinagar Metro Service timings to be extended DeshGujarat

Asaram moves fresh plea in Jodhpur HC for interim bail

Asaram has filed a fresh interim bail plea in the Jodhpur High Court after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail on medical grounds until March 31. The bail is related to a rape case in Gandhinagar, but Asaram remains in Jodhpur Central Jail for a separate rape case. His counsel cites old age and health issues in the plea.

CREDAI Gandhinagar to Organise Tri-City Property Fest from January 10 to 12

The Tri-City Property Fest will showcase a range of properties across the residential and commercial segment, catering to different budgets. Seven banks are also taking part in the property fest, ensuring on-the-spot approvals for interested buyers. Five companies from allied sectors are also participating. The fest will take place near PDEU Metro Circle in Gandhinagar from January 10 to 12.

J&K Sets Up Special ICU Ward In Jammu Amid HMPV Concerns

JAMMU, Jan 8: Responding to the concerns triggered by the detection of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in the country, the Jammu and Kashmir health department has set up a specialised ICU ward in Jammu to address any potential outbreak of the disease. We have prepared a special ICU ward to handle any eventuality. God forbid if a pandemic occurs, we are ready, Dr Hamid Zargar, medical superintendent of Gandhinagar government hospital, told PTI. The centrally-heated ward has eight beds supported [] The post J&K Sets Up Special ICU Ward In Jammu Amid HMPV Concerns appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

SC grants interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram on medical grounds till March 31 in 2013 rape case

The top court said 86-year-old Asaram was suffering from various age-related health conditions besides a heart ailment. The top court had sought Gujarat government's response on Asaram's plea for suspension of life sentence awarded to him by a Gandhinagar court in 2023.

AI training for police is essential: Bandi

Hyderabad : Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar lauded the services provided by the Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless (DCPW) in strengthening the police communication systems. He emphasised the need to introduce special training programs on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), blockchain and cybersecurity at the Regional Police Wireless Training Institutes (RPWTIs) across the country. During his visit to Bengaluru, Sanjay laid the foundation stone for a new hostel block at the DCPWs RPWTI. He said the RPWTI, Bengaluru, founded in 1964, is serving as a nodal agency between police, security forces and disaster management agencies. The commendable work of managing the interstate police wireless communication network round the clock between Delhi and the capitals of 33 states, ensuring the smooth operation of the police communication system, is highly appreciated, said the minister. Sanjay stressed the importance of further strengthening the communication systems in the country to meet modern security demands. He emphasised the need for a robust, reliable and advanced communication system to align with evolving technologies and address future challenges. Previously, training facilities for police personnel of various ranks from central, state and union territories were available only at the Central Police Radio Training Institute (CPRTI) in New Delhi. However, regional police radio training institutes (RPRTIs) have now been established in Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar and Kolkata, he informed.

Gujarat CM flags off water ambulance from Gandhinagar for Mahakumbh

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel flagged off a water ambulance for Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, starting January 2025. A walkathon was held to promote food safety standards. UP CM Yogi Adityanath reviewed preparations, emphasizing timely arrangements and cleanliness. Main bathing dates include January 14, 29, and February 3.

Gujarat to have 34 districts, govt splits Banaskantha to create Vav-Tharad

The decision to carve out a new district was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar

Fake letter scandal sparks political uproar in Gujarat's Amreli district

AHMEDABAD: The political climate in Gujarat has intensified over allegations targeting BJP Amreli MLA Kaushik Vekaria. Former Congress MLA Pratap Dudhat has accused BJP leaders of falsely branding a Patidar woman as a criminal, arresting her at midnight, and parading her publiclyclaims which he attributes to a BJP leaders ego. Meanwhile, Police Chief Sanjay Kharat has defended the action, citing adherence to due legal process, while BJP clarified the incident was part of a reconstruction exercise. A fake letter targeting BJP MLA Kaushik Vekaria has further ignited the controversy in Amreli district. The letter, which went viral on social media, accused Vekaria of accepting bribes for illegal activities, including sand and liquor smuggling. It was allegedly crafted using a forged letterhead of Amreli Taluka Panchayat President Kishore Kanpariya and bore a falsified signature, adding fuel to the political storm. The accusations caused significant unrest within the Amreli BJP, leading to dissatisfaction among party workers. In a show of support, nearly 100 leaders and Vekarias supporters escalated the matter to Gujarat BJP President C.R. Patil in Gandhinagar. Kishore Kanpariya subsequently filed a formal complaint at Amreli City Police Station, calling for strict action against those responsible for the fake letter. The letter, which went viral on social media, accused Vekaria of accepting bribes for illegal activities, including sand and liquor smuggling. Following the complaint lodged on 28 December, police arrested four suspects, including the prime accused, former BJP office-bearer Manish Vaghasia, along with a young woman. The next day, on 29 December, the police brought all four accused together for a reconstruction of the incident as part of the investigation. Amreli District Congress President and former MLA Pratap Dudhat has accused BJP leaders of targeting a young, unmarried Patidar woman, who worked as an operator and allegedly typed the letter under her employers instructions without any intent to defame anyone. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Khoddham President Naresh Patel, Dudhat raised his concerns. This Patidar daughter has been falsely accused by BJP leaders in Amreli without proper investigation, Dudhat stated. She was arrested at midnight and paraded on the citys main road by the police. Such actions by BJPs Patel leaders are nothing but an attempt to satisfy their egos, he added. In response, BJP spokesperson Shraddha Rajput hit back at Congress, accusing it of politicising the incident. The police only carried out a reconstruction with the daughter present, yet Congress is twisting the legal process into a baseless narrative, she said. Congress should stop baking its political bread by making indecent remarks about Gujarats daughter, she added. Amreli District Police Chief Sanjay Kharat dismissed the allegations circulating on social media. The legal process has been followed thoroughly against the accused. We do not agree with the claims made online. The accused were presented in court with evidence, and the court subsequently sent them to jail, Kharat clarified. As political tensions continue to rise, both parties remain firm in their narratives, leaving the matter deeply polarised.

Mild Earthquake Hits Gujarats Kutch District: No Casualties Reported

A mild earthquake of magnitude 3.2 struck Gujarats Kutch district on Wednesday morning, causing no damage to life or property. The tremor was part of an ongoing series of seismic activities in the region, known for its earthquake-prone nature. The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar reported that the tremor occurred at 10:24 AM, with its epicentre located 23 kilometres north-northeast of Bhachau. Local authorities confirmed that no casualties or structural damages were reported in the aftermath. A Region Prone to Earthquakes Kutch, situated in a high-risk seismic zone, has a history of significant earthquakes. Data from the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) indicates that the state has experienced nine major earthquakes in the past two centuries. The devastating earthquake on January 26, 2001, remains one of the most catastrophic events in Indian history. Measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, it caused widespread destruction across towns and villages in Kutch, claiming nearly 13,800 lives and leaving over 1.67 lakh people injured. Recent Seismic Activities In recent months, Kutch has recorded several tremors. Last month alone, the district experienced four seismic events of magnitudes greater than 3. These included a 3.2 magnitude quake three days ago, with an epicentre near Bhachau, and a 3.7 magnitude tremor on December 23. Additionally, on November 18 last year, an earthquake of magnitude 4 struck the region. Other parts of Gujarat have also felt tremors. On November 15, an earthquake measuring 4.2 shook the Patan district in North Gujarat. Preparedness in Focus -The frequency of such tremors underscores the importance of preparedness in Gujarat. Authorities and local bodies continue to emphasize disaster management and awareness to minimize the impact of seismic activities in the future. The Biggest E arthquake- 2001 The catastrophic earthquake that struck Kutch, Gujarat, on January 26, 2001, continues to be one of the most devastating natural disasters in Indias history. With a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale, it was the third- largest earthquake to hit India and the second most destructive in the country over the past two centuries. The tremors were felt in multiple states, but Kutch, the epicenter, bore the brunt of the devastation.

Mild tremor felt in Gujarat's Kutch; second in a week

AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.2 magnitude hit Gujarat's Kutch district on Wednesday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. No casualty or damage to property was reported, the district administration said. The tremor was recorded at 10.24 am, with its epicentre located 23 kilometres north-north east (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR. Last month, the region recorded four seismic activities of more than 3 magnitude, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor three days ago with its epicentre also close to Bhachau. A 3.7 magnitude tremor hit the district on December 23 and of 3.2 magnitude on December 7, according to the ISR. On November 18 last year, an earthquake of 4 magnitude jolted Kutch. Earlier, on November 15, an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hit Patan in north Gujarat, as per the ISR data. Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area. It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, according to the data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA. A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1. 67 lakh others injured.

3.2 magnitude tremor hits Kutch in Gujarat; no casualty

Ahmedabad: A tremor of 3.2 magnitude jolted Gujarat's Kutch district on Sunday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, the district administration said. The tremor was recorded at 10.06 am with its epicentre located 18 kilometres north-north east of Bhachau, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. It is the third seismic activity of more than 3 magnitude in the district this month. A 3.7 magnitude tremor jolted Kutch on December 23. On December 7, a tremor of 3.2 magnitude was recorded in the district, according to the ISR. Last month, Kutch recorded an earthquake of 4 magnitude on November 18. Earlier, on November 15, Patan in north Gujarat was jolted by an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude, as per the ISR data. Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area. It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, as per data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA. A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1.67 lakh others injured.

3.2 magnitude tremor hits Kutch in Gujarat, no casualty

AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.2 magnitude jolted Gujarat's Kutch district on Sunday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, the Kutch district administration said. The tremor was recorded at 10.06 am with its epicentre located 18 kilometres northeast of Bhachau, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. It is the third seismic activity of more than 3 magnitude in the district this month. On December 7, a tremor of 3. 2 magnitude was recorded in the district followed by a 3.7 magnitude tremor jolted Kutch on December 23, according to the ISR. Last month, an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude was recorded at Patan in north Gujarat on November 15 and a 4 magnitude tremor was recorded in Kutch on November 18, as per the ISR data. Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area. The state suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, as per data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001, was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1. 67 lakh others injured, according to the GSDMA.

ED probes Canadian colleges, Indian links in US trafficking racket

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it is investigating the involvement of some Canadian colleges and few Indian entities in a money laundering case linked to trafficking of Indians into the US from the borders of Canada.The investigation of the federal agency is linked to the death of a four-member Indian family, hailing from Dingucha village of Gujarat, who were killed due to extreme cold weather while trying to illegally cross the Canada-US border on January 19, 2022. The ED took cognisance of an Ahmedabad Police FIR against main accused Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and some others to file its complaint under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Patel and others are alleged to have hatched a well-planned conspiracy to send people (Indians) to the USA through Canada via illegal channels there by committing the offence of human trafficking. The agency's probe had earlier found that as part of this human trafficking racket, the accused arranged admission for people, desirous to go to the US illegally, in colleges and universities based in Canada. A student visa of Canada was applied for such people and once they reached that country, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the US-Canada border and never joined the Canadian college, the agency said in a statement. In view of this, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals' account, the ED alleged. Innocent Indians were lured for this illegal entry into the US racket and charged between Rs 55 and Rs 60 lakh per person, according to the ED. The federal probe agency said it undertook fresh searches in this case on December 10 and December 19 at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara. It was found, the ED said, two entities, one based in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, entered into an agreement for admission of Indians in universities based in foreign countries on commission basis. The agency said the latest searches found that about 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by the other to various colleges based outside India every year. Further, it is gathered that there are around 1,700 agents/partners based in Gujarat and around 3,500 agents/partners of other entity all over India and out of which around 800 are active. It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another entity. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation, the ED said. It is suspected by the agency that out of the total 262 such colleges in Canada, a few, which are geographically located near the Canada-US border, are allegedly involved in this trafficking racket of Indian nationals.

ED probing Canadian colleges, Indian entities in US human trafficking case

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the alleged involvement of some Canadian colleges and a few Indian entities in a money laundering case linked to the trafficking of Indians into the US from the Canada border. The investigation is linked to the death of a four-member Indian family, hailing from Dingucha village in Gujarat. The four died of extreme cold while trying to cross the Canada-US border illegally on January 19, 2022. The ED said it took cognisance of an Ahmedabad Police FIR against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who emerged as the main accused in the matter, and a few others, to file a complaint under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Patel and others are alleged to have hatched a well-planned conspiracy to send people (Indians) to the USA through Canada via illegal channels thereby committing the offence of human trafficking, it said. The agency had earlier found that as part of the racket, the accused arranged admission for people, desirous to go to the US illegally, in colleges and universities based in Canada. A Canadian student visa was applied for such people and once they reached that country, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the US-Canada border, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. In view of this, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals' account, the ED alleged. Indians were lured into the racket and charged between Rs 55 and Rs 60 lakh per person, according to the ED. The agency said it undertook fresh searches in this case on December 10 and December 19 at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara. It was found, the ED said, two entities, one based in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, entered into an agreement for admission of Indians in universities based in foreign countries on a commission basis. The agency said the latest searches found that about 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by the other to various colleges based outside India every year. Further, it is gathered that there are around 1,700 agents/partners based in Gujarat and around 3,500 agents/partners of other entities all over India out of which around 800 are active. It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into an agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another entity. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation, the ED said. The agency suspects that out of the total 262 such colleges in Canada, a few, which are geographically located near the Canada-US border, are involved in the trafficking of Indian nationals. The ED said it froze Rs 19 lakh in bank deposits, some incriminating documents and digital devices, and seized two vehicles in connection with its probe.

Power bills to reduce in Gujarat; govt slashes fuel surcharge on electricity by 14%

This reduction in fuel surcharge is applicable to all categories of consumers, except for those located inAhmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Dahej SEZ and Dholera SIR. Torrent Power is the charge of electricity distribution in these areas

E-forensics platform to connect 117 labs: MHA

NEW DELHI: Keeping in view the special importance given to forensic evidence after implementation of revamped criminal laws --- Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bhartiya Sakshya Sanhita (BSS), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has developed and operationalised an e-Forensics IT platform, which is connected with 117 forensic science laboratories across the country, officials said on Monday. The officials said in order to further strengthen DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in the State Forensic Science Laboratories, all projects, (30) which were received from the state governments and the U-T administrations, have been given Rs 128.28 crore out of the total Rs 245.29 crore. As part of its effort to further expedite forensic analysis and reduce backlogs in laboratories, the MHA has set up three new Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories (CFSLs) at Bhopal, Guwahati and Pune and upgraded the existing CFSL at Kolkata with latest state-of-art machinery and equipment. The Centre also approved setting up of six additional NCFLs in the country at the CFSLs Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, Kamruup, Bhopal, and Pune with an outlay of Rs 126.84 crore. A senior official said, So far, 32,524 IOs, prosecutors and medical officers have been trained to deal with forensic evidence. The MHA has also distributed 18,020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to the states and the UTs. The official said that besides the initial campus of the national Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Delhi, an in-principle approval has been provided for setting up of five additional off-campuses of the NFSU in Goa, Agartala, Bhopal, Dharwad, and Guwahati. However, these are currently operational from transit campuses till the construction of permanent campuses, the official said, adding that the Union Cabinet also approved setting up of National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme, which inter-alia includes the component for nine additional campuses of the NFSU with financial outlay of Rs 1,309.13 crore from financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029. Meanwhile, to ensure quality in forensic tests, the MHAs Directorate of Forensic Science Services has issued a set of guidelines including Quality Manuals for accreditation of laboratories as per NABL standards (ISO 17025).

Police identify body delivered in parcel to family in West Godavari

West Godavari: The police on Monday established the identity of a decomposed body of a man that was dispatched in a box to a family in West Godavari district. On December 19, the corpse of the 45-year-old man was delivered to Mudunuri Rangaraju's home at Yendagandi village in the district in a wooden box, with a ransom letter demanding over Rs 1 crore. The police identified the deceased as B Parlayya from Gandhinagar in Kalla mandal. He (Parlayya) used to consume alcohol daily, which led to frequent quarrels with his wife and they had been living separately since 15 years, West Godavari superintendent of police Adnan Nayeem Asmi told media, adding that later Parlayya lived like a tramp on the roadside and at temples. Based on the clothing found on the deceased person's body, relatives and neighbours identified him while police are also proceeding with a DNA test to further solidify the established identity with documentary evidence. According to police, Parlayya was engaged by Sridhar Varma to work in his field to clear debris and weeds. The victim worked at Varma's field on December 17. He was last seen with Varma, who reportedly took him on his bike. Varma has been missing since Parlayya's body arrived in a box at Raju's home. Meanwhile, police have identified as Lakshmi the person who handed over the body to an auto driver for delivery at Raju's home. Moreover, the SP said Raju's family was not cooperating with the probe. Investigation is on, they said.

MHA launches e-Forensics platform connecting 117 laboratories across India

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has developed and operationalised an e-Forensics IT platform connected with 117 forensic science laboratories, both central and state, officials said on Monday. Officials said that in order to further strengthen 'DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities' in State Forensic Science Laboratories (State FSLs), all projects, 30 in total, which were received from the state governments and the Union Territory administrations, have been given Rs 128.28 crore so far out of the total sum approved Rs 245.29 crore. As part of its effort to further expedite forensic analysis and reduce backlogs in laboratories, the MHA has set up three new Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories (CFSLs) at Bhopal, Guwahati and Pune and upgraded the existing CFSL at Kolkata with latest state-of-art machinery and equipment. The Centre has also approved setting up of six additional NCFLs in the country at the CFSLs Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, Kamruup, Bhopal, and Pune with a total outlay of Rs 126.84 crore. A senior official said, So far 32,524 Investigating Officers, Prosecutors and Medical Officers have been trained to deal with forensic evidence. The MHA has also distributed 18,020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to the States and the UTs as part of this training. The official said that besides theinitial campusesofthenational Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Delhi, an in-principle approval has been provided for setting up of five additional off-campuses of the NFSU in Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), and Guwahati (Assam). However, these additional campuses are currently operational from transit campuses till the construction of permanent campuses the official said, adding that the Union Cabinet earlier this year also approved setting up of 'National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme', which inter-alia includes the component for nine additional campuses of the NFSU in the country with a total financial outlay of Rs 1,309.13 crore from financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029. Meanwhile, to ensure quality and standardisation in forensic examination, the MHAs Directorate of Forensic Science Services has issued a set of guidelines including Quality Manuals for accreditation of laboratories as per NABL standards (ISO 17025) and Working Procedure Manuals in nine disciplines of Forensic Sciences. The guidelines also specify norms for collection, preservation and transportation of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases for Investigation Officers (IOs) and Medical Officers (MOs).

3.7 magnitude tremor hits Kutch in Gujarat; no casualty

Ahmedabad: A tremor of 3.7 magnitude jolted Gujarat's Kutch district on Monday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, the district administration said. The tremor was recorded at 10.44 am with its epicentre 76 kilometres north-north east of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. This is the second seismic activity of more than 3 magnitude this month in the district. On December 7, a tremor of 3.2 magnitude was recorded in the district, according to the ISR. Last month, Kutch recorded an earthquake of 4 magnitude on November 18. Earlier, on November 15, Patan in north Gujarat was jolted by an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude, as per the ISR data. Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area. It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, according to data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA. A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1.67 lakh others injured.

3.7 magnitude tremor hits Kutch in Gujarat, no causality reported

AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.7 magnitude jolted Gujarat's Kutch district on Monday morning, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, the district administration said. The tremor was recorded at 10.44 am with its epicentre 76 kilometres north-north east of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. This is the second seismic activity of more than 3 magnitude this month in the district. On December 7, a tremor of 3.2 magnitude was recorded in the district, according to the ISR. Last month, Kutch recorded an earthquake of 4 magnitude on November 18. Earlier, on November 15, Patan in north Gujarat was jolted by an earthquake of 4. 2 magnitude , as per the ISR data. Gujarat is a high earthquake-risk area. It suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, according to data of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001 was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA. A large number of towns and villages in the district had suffered almost complete destruction in the earthquake, which killed nearly 13,800 persons and left 1.67 lakh others injured.

Retirees Police League holds monthly meeting, discusses key issues

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: The monthly meeting of the Retirees Police League, district Jammu, was held today under the chairmanship of Karanjit Singh (president of the League), at their office in Gandhinagar, Jammu. The event was graced by Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG JKS Range, who attended on the special invitation of the retirees. Deputy SP DAR R S Kotwal, nodal officer, also participated in the meeting. A large number of retired police officers, including Chirag Din, Ranjit Singh, SSP [] The post Retirees Police League holds monthly meeting, discusses key issues appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

IOC Proposes Amaravati As First Capital City to Fully Use Piped Gas

Vijayawada: Officials of the Indian Oil Corporation have proposed to make Amaravati the first fully piped capital city in terms of gas connections. A team led by A Raman Kumar, a member of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), met state chief secretary Neerabh Prasad on Tuesday to discuss the gas pipeline projects and related developments. The officials drew a comparison between Amaravati and the Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar, where everything, including gas, electricity and telecom cables is set underground. Piped gas is being supplied to residences, business complexes and institutions there. Similarly, Amaravati can be made the first piped gas capital in India, they proposed. The chief secretary supported the proposal and said the state government would provide full cooperation for this endeavour. Director of Andhra Pradesh Gas Development Corporation, Dinesh Kumar, said the target is to provide piped gas connections to 80 lakh people in the state. The PNGRB representatives also visited the RTGS and held a meeting with AP gas development corporation officials. They discussed the progress of the natural gas pipeline construction and the citys gas distribution work. Dinesh Kumar requested cooperation from the PNGRB to achieve the 80-lakh gas connection goal. He also promised full cooperation in addressing any field-level challenges in the gas pipeline construction process. The meeting was attended by city gas distribution director Col Kumar Ashish, IOC general manager Satyanarayana and others.

Rajya Sabha BAC Meeting Decides 12 Hours to be Allocated for Discussion on Constitution Day

New Delhi : In the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, it has been decided that twelve hours would be allocated for discussion on Constitution Day in the House, as per official sources. Further, it was decided that depending on the strength of each party, time would be allocated. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition would get six hours each, as per official sources. The Constitution Day is celebrated every year on November 26 to highlight the values of India's unique Constitution, adopted on this day in 1949, under the inspiration and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, this year marks 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution. Inspired by the Prime Minister, Constitution Day during Amrit Kaal has been celebrated across the country with the theme Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhiman. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Constitution Day was celebrated in Gandhinagar, with the CM, ministers, MLAs, officials, Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, and senior secretaries collectively reciting the Preamble of the Constitution. Earlier on the Constitution Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the programme held at the Supreme Court and said that the Constitution has lived to every expectation and need of the country. PM Modi said that it was a matter of immense pride of the 75th year of Indian Constitution. He paid tributes to the members of the Constituent Assembly and the Constitution on the occasion. He said every citizen has only one goal, to build a Viksit Bharat. The Prime Minister said that when we are celebrating the Constitution Day, it cannot be forgotten that today was the anniversary of Mumbai Terror attacks as well. He paid tribute to the victims of the terror attack. The Prime Minister reiterated that India will give a befitting reply to every terror organization which threatens the security and integrity of India.

Gujarat trio held by MP police for cyber scam that duped investors from 16 states

BHOPAL: Three men from Gujarat have been arrested by Madhya Pradesh police for their key involvement in a cyber fraud racket, which duped residents in 16 states of at least Rs 7 crore with the promise of skyrocketing their investments. The trio including Vishal Jhala (27), Lakshman Thakor (47) and Nirav Popat (43), who hail from Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, have been arrested by police in the tribal-dominated Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. The action came after a man from the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh was duped of Rs 17 lakh. The complainant residing in the Bamhani Bazar area of the eastern MP district, had alleged that he was first lured through WhatsApp to invest Rs 17 lakh through online trading. Using a fake application software, the fraudsters first showed him that his investments were rising, but later the same app showed negative returns for the invested sum. It was after that the Mandla district native complained about it to the local police. Subsequent investigations by Mandla district police, using the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, led the cops to four districts of Gujarat, among them Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Rajkot and Gandhinagar, ultimately resulting in the arrest of the three men from two districts. The primary grilling of the arrested trio has revealed that they were key players of a racket. The three men arrested from two districts of Gujarat, represent the second rung of multi-step racket. Were working with police teams in different districts of Gujarat to make further breakthroughs in the case, Mandla district police superintendent Rajat Saklecha told TNIE on Tuesday. Ongoing based on the grilling of the arrested trio has revealed that they were assigned different roles. While one of them arranged mule accounts from farmers in Gujarat, to park the money earned by duping people across the country, the other one was tasked with getting cash withdrawn from those accounts in different parts of Gujarat. The third man was entrusted by the authors of the racket with investing the fraud sum (withdrawn from the mule accounts) further using the hawala route. Probe till now has revealed that the 30 mule accounts used to park the fraud money, were the bank accounts held by farmers in different parts of Gujarat, who were promised Rs 5000 monthly in return for renting their accounts, Saklecha added. Detailed analysis of the money trail in the 30 mule accounts revealed that a sum of Rs 6.96 crore was parked in those accounts, by duping investors in 16 states, including Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, UP, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, MP and Telangana. According to Mandla police sources, the kingpin of the racket (who remains unknown) was using a fake call centre to dupe the investors across the country. That was the first rung of the multi-step racket. The fake call centre was functioning from a place in Gujarat for the last few months, but has now been shut down and might have moved somewhere else, a cop forming part of the probe said.

Mucherla in Telangana among 8 emerging property micro-markets: Report

Hyderabad: Mucherla on the suburbs of Hyderabad is emerging as one of the fastest-growing real-estate micro markets thriving to major infrastructure development, according to a report Infrastructure & Mega Projects - The Key Enablers of Urban Expansion in India released by a real estate consultant Colliers India on Monday. Mucherla is among eight emerging micro-markets in India, the report said, adding that other seven other micro-markets in the country are Sonipat, NCR; Khopoli, MMR, Maharashtra; GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; Sanand, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Doddaballapur, Bengaluru, Karnataka; Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu; and Jewar, a small town along Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh. Based on market analysis and key growth factors such as infrastructure development, government-led economic initiatives, urbanization, and socio-environmental considerations, the eight prominent micro-markets across India have been identified, the report said. According to it, the upcoming Future City in 10,800 acres apart from the proposed expansion of metro rail connectivity to Mucherla, Regional Ring Road (RRR) and other infra projects are expected to have a high impact on infrastructure growth, socio-economic development, increased land value in the region and urbanization. The report said the current land price is 1550 per sq.ft in Mucherla. The development of Mucherla as Telanganas Future City is set to transform it into a major hub for investment, healthcare, education, and sports, significantly boosting the regions economic and infrastructural landscape. Its proximity on the RRR would lead to ease of travel. The State government, which is currently developing the Future City at Mucherla, laid focus to transform it into a major urban center with investments in healthcare, education, sports infrastructure, and an AI hub, effectively positioning it as a new growth corridor for Hyderabad, the report said.

Coast Guard detains 4 foreigners off Tamil Nadu coast

Chennai: Four foreigners have been detained from a boat, approximately 46 nautical miles off the Tamil Nadu coast, defence officials said on Sunday. According to the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chennai, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) swiftly carried out the operation with sea-air coordination, when the suspect boat was initially reported by a fishing boat to an ICG Dornier aircraft. Two ICG ships apprehended the individuals onboard the wooden boat on December 6 and handed them over to the Coastal Security Group (CSG) of Tamil Nadu Police, officials said. Earlier, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 12 crew members of the sunken Indian vessel MSV Al Piranpir from the North Arabian Sea on December 4. This humanitarian search and rescue mission saw close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), with both nations' Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation, the Defence wing said in a press release. The mechanized sailing vessel (Dhow) Al Piranpir, which had departed from Porbandar enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran, reportedly sank in the morning hours of December 4 due to rough seas and flooding. The distress call was received by ICG's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai, which promptly alerted ICG Regional Headquarters (North West) in Gandhinagar. ICG Ship Sarthak was immediately diverted to the reported location. MRCC Pakistan was also contacted to alert mariners in the area, and their assistance was swiftly provided. The vessel sank on 04 Dec 24, however, the crew had abandoned the ship on a dinghy. This humanitarian mission saw close collaboration between ICG and Pak MSA, with both nations' MRCCs maintaining coordination throughout the operation and Pak MSA aircraft assisting in search of survivors, the Coast Guard said in a post on X. This humanitarian search and rescue mission saw close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), with both nations' Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation, the official statement said.

Army of civilian experts needed to guard nations interests: SC judge

Gandhinagar: India requires not only the military in dress but also a civilian army of experts to diligently and intelligently look after its interests both within and outside, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said on Sunday, December 8. The field of law does not demand perfection but perseverance, curiosity and a commitment to the 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 .

Not Just Military, Civilian Army Of Experts Also Needed To Protect Nations Interests: SC Judge

Gandhinagar, Dec 8: A nation growing economically, politically, in the rule of law and in good governance requires not only the military in dress but also a civilian army of experts to diligently and intelligently look after its interests both within and outside, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said here on Sunday. The field of law does not demand perfection but perseverance, curiosity and a commitment to the ideals of fairness and equity, he said while addressing the valedictory [] The post Not Just Military, Civilian Army Of Experts Also Needed To Protect Nations Interests: SC Judge appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Indian, Pakistani Coast Guards jointly rescue 12 Indian fishermen in North Arabian Sea

NEW DELHI: The Coast Guards of India and Pakistan joined hands to save the lives of 12 Indian fishermen who were left adrift after their vessel sank in the sea. Pakistan also deployed its air assets. The crew members of the sunken Indian mechanized sailing vessel (MSV) Al Piranpir were rescued from the North Arabian Sea, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said in a statement on Thursday. Al Piranpir had departed from Porbandar and was en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. It reportedly sank in the early hours of December 4 due to rough seas and flooding. This humanitarian search and rescue mission was marked by close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (MSA), with both nations' Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation. the ICG added. The 12 crew members, who had abandoned their vessel and taken refuge in a small dinghy, were located and rescued approximately 270 km west of Dwarka, within Pakistan's Search and Rescue Region. The search for survivors was supported by a Pakistan MSA aircraft and the merchant ship MV Cosco Glory. The operation was launched after a distress call was received by ICGs Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai, which promptly alerted ICG Regional Headquarters (North West) in Gandhinagar. ICG Ship Sarthak was immediately diverted to the reported location. MRCC Pakistan was also contacted to alert mariners in the area, and their assistance was swiftly provided, said the ICG. ICGS Sarthak, deployed for forward area patrolling, proceeded at maximum speed to the probable location and conducted an extensive search operation. The rescued crew members were examined by the medical team on-board ICGS Sarthak and were reported to be in good health. They are being transported back to Porbandar Harbour, Gujarat. The Indian Coast Guard has once again demonstrated its dedication to protecting lives at sea, living up to its motto 'Vayam rakshamah' or 'We protect'.

Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan Maritime Agency Join Forces to Save 12-Crew Members from Sunken-Vessel

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) joined hands to rescue 12 Indian crew members from the sunken vessel MSV Al Piranpir in the North Arabian Sea on December 4. This cross-border humanitarian mission highlighted seamless coordination between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) of both countries. The rescue operation unfolded after the mechanized sailing vessel, which had departed Porbandar in Gujarat on December 2, sank due to rough seas and flooding during its journey to Bandar Abbas, Iran. The vessel went down outside Indian waters, within Pakistans Search and Rescue (SAR) region. Responding to the distress call received by MRCC Mumbai, the ICG's Regional Headquarters (North West) in Gandhinagar promptly diverted the patrol ship ICGS Sarthak to the site, located approximately 270 kilometers west of Dwarka. In a statement shared on social media, the Indian Coast Guard said, ICGS Sarthak successfully rescued 12 Indian crew members of the sunken dhow Al Piranpir. This humanitarian mission saw close collaboration with PMSA, with both MRCCs coordinating and a PMSA aircraft assisting in the search for survivors. Rescued crew are being brought back to Porbandar. The search operation involved not only the Indian Coast Guard and PMSA but also merchant vessel MV Cosco Glory, which assisted in locating the survivors. The crew, who had abandoned the sinking vessel and taken refuge in a dinghy, were rescued in good health and are now en route to Porbandar Harbour in Gujarat for further assistance. This successful mission exemplifies international maritime cooperation and follows another recent rescue by the ICG in November, where 10 individuals, including six fishermen, were saved from an offshore jetty amid adverse weather in Tamil Nadu. Sweden Seeks China's Help in Probe Over Baltic Sea Cable Damage Indian Navy Marks Navy Day 2024 with Grand Display at Puri, Odisha Today

Action Taken Against 4 Contractors For Deficiencies In Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Gadkari

NEW DELHI, Dec 5: Four contractors have been held responsible for deficiencies detected in the construction of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and strict action will be taken against them, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. After taking note of the matter, experts from IIT Kharagpur and Gandhinagar inspected the expressway and found deficiencies in its construction. We have issued notices to four contractors and will blacklist them. Strict action will be taken. Action will also be taken against concerned [] The post Action Taken Against 4 Contractors For Deficiencies In Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Gadkari appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Cricketers, schoolteachers invested in Ponzi scheme: Gujarat CID

AHMEDABAD: Five to six cricketers and several schoolteachers have invested in a fraudulent scheme floated by a Sabarkantha district resident who is currently absconding, a Gujarat CID official said citing a probe into the 'Ponzi scam'. The investment by the cricketers, whose names have not been disclosed by the police, ranged up to Rs 2 crore. A Ponzi scheme is a type of fraudulent financial plan where investors are promised substantial returns in short-term. Under such a scheme, the operator pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors. Till now, three FIRs have been registered by the Gujarat Crime Investigation Department against the Ponzi scam main accused, Bhupendrasinh Zala, resident of Himatnagar taluka in Sabarkantha district, Additional Director General of Police, CID Crime and Railways, Rajkumar Pandian told reporters on Wednesday. Around five to six cricketers, including from Gujarat and some other states, had invested in Zala's Ponzi scheme. Their investment varies from a couple of lakhs to Rs 2 crore. Many a times, scamsters convince celebrities to invest in their schemes to establish their credibility among the masses, the official said. Declining to give names of these cricketers, Pandian said they will be called for questioning to find out the reasons for investing in a fraudulent scheme. We haven't come across any other celebrities who have invested in this plan, besides cricket players. Our investigation also revealed that many schoolteachers from Gujarat had invested in the Ponzi scheme, the official informed. Admitting that victims were not coming forward to file complaints due to several reasons, Pandian said the police were encouraging the duped people to share information to strengthen the case and secure conviction in court. On allegations that Zala was associated with the ruling BJP, Pandian said it is wrong to link a criminal with a party. It is wrong to associate an individual criminal to any political party or that party's leaders because many people associated with that party are also victims of the scheme, he said. So, it is wrong to claim he was associated with a party just because he was seen with two members of that party. We will not take into account party affiliation while taking action against any accused, the senior IPS officer asserted. A week ago, the CID unearthed transactions of Rs 175 crore in two bank accounts of Zala, who is accused of defrauding people by offering as high as 36 per cent annual return on deposits. Police have so far registered three FIRs, arrested an agent, and seized Rs 16.37 lakh in cash, besides three laptops, 11 mobile phones, rubber stamps, documents and PAN cards during raids on premises linked to the main accused. Based on inputs received through an anonymous application, the police put Zala's activities under surveillance a month ago and learnt he had floated a firm, BZ Financial Services, and opened its offices in north Gujarat, Gandhinagar and Vadodara to collect deposits from unsuspecting people, the CID said in a statement. ala used to identify himself as the CEO of BZ Group and would collect deposits from people in an illegal manner as he never had any approval from the RBI or any other authority. To win people's trust, he used to initially pay investors the promised returns. He had appointed agents on commission basis to lure people, it said.

Coast Guard rescues 12 Indian crew members of sunken ship with Pak agency's help

Porbandar: The Indian Coast Guard has rescued 12 crew members of a merchant vessel from the country which sank in the north Arabian Sea during its voyage from Porbandar in Gujarat to Bandar Abbas port in Iran, officials said on Thursday. The vessel 'MSV Al Piranpir' sank on Wednesday outside Indian waters, within Pakistan's search and rescue region. Hence, the Indian Coast Guard carried out the rescue operation in collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), the ICG said in a release. This humanitarian search and rescue mission saw a close collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and PMSA, with both nations' maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCC) maintaining continuous communication throughout the operation, it said. The merchant vessel left for the Iranian port from Porbandar on December 2 with general cargo. On its way, it reportedly sank in the morning hours of Wednesday due to rough seas and flooding, said the release. A distress call was received by the Indian Coast Guard's MRCC, Mumbai, which promptly alerted the ICG regional headquarters (North West) in Gandhinagar. ICG ship Sarthak was immediately diverted to the reported location. The MRCC Pakistan was also contacted to alert mariners in the area, and their assistance was swiftly provided, the release said. Later, ship Sarthak reached the probable location and conducted an extensive search operation. The 12 crew members, who had abandoned their vessel and taken refuge in a small dinghy, were located, and rescued approximately 270 km west of Dwarka, within Pakistan's search and rescue region, it said. The search for survivors was supported by a PMSA aircraft and the merchant ship MV Cosco Glory. The rescued crew members were examined by a medical team onboard ship Sarthak and were reported to be in good health. They were being transported back to Porbandar harbour, the release added.

World Disability Day: Top para athletes laud Governments initiatives

New Delhi, Dec 3: On the occasion of World Disability Day, top Indian para-athletes such as Navdeep, Simran Sharma and Ashok Kumar Malik have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for building infrastructure for their convenience and providing them with opportunities. Also thanking the Government is SAI Gandhinagar camper Nimisha. The para-athletes highlighted the transformative strides taken in recent years, empowering athletes with disabilities to excel on national and international stages. Navdeep, a gold medallist [] The post World Disability Day: Top para athletes laud Governments initiatives appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Farewell as Gujarat BJP Chief? PM Modi and Amit Shah to attend CR Patil's Dinner in Delhi

After the BJP's victory in the Vav assembly by-election, Union Water Resources Minister and Gujarat BJP President C.R. Patil hinted at stepping down from his role as state president. Speaking in Surat on November 23, Patil revealed he had twice requested the party high command to relieve him of his responsibilities, expressing joy rather than regret over his potential departure. My departure is not a burden but a joy, he remarked, adding his congratulations to whoever would succeed him in the position. As speculation swirls, a grand banquet hosted by Patil in his bungalow in Delhi on December 4 is being viewed as a farewell event. Amid ongoing speculation, BJP state president and Union Minister C.R. Patil has extended invitations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and all Gujarat MLAs and MPs for a grand banquet in Delhi. During his recent visit to Gujarat, BJP state president announced plans for a dinner in Delhi, fueling speculation about his farewell. After the cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in Gandhinagar on December 4, all cabinet members will head to Delhi, a party source revealed on condition of anonymity. This dinner, organized for Gujarat leaders, will include the Chief Minister, cabinet members, and Gujarat MPs. Since CR Patil is tied up with the ongoing Parliament session in Delhi, the dinner is seen as an opportunity for the ministers to observe parliamentary proceedings. source claimed Patil had initially announced plans to host around 90 members of the regional organization at his grand banquet, another source claimed. However, the latest invitation list notably excludes the names of the organization's office bearers. To address this, Patil is expected to organize a separate event for them in the coming days, the source added. Sources indicate that C.R. Patil will continue as Gujarat BJP state president until the first week of January. The official announcement of his successor is expected in mid-January. Speculation is rife that a prominent OBC leader may take over the role. Patil, who assumed the role of Gujarat BJP president in July 2020, completed his three-year term in July 2023 but has continued to hold the position for over a year and a half beyond his tenure.

Gujarats former CM Shankarsinh Vaghela floats new political Party, set to fight local body polls

AHMEDABAD: Shankarsinh Vaghela, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and a seasoned political figure known for his affiliations with multiple parties, has announced his return to active politics with the launch of a new party, the Praja Shakti Democratic Party. This marks Vaghelas third attempt at forming a party, following his shifts between the BJP, Congress, and the NCP twice. Speaking at the launch, Vaghela stated, I left the BJP when it was at its peak. Even when I exited Congress, the possibility of forming the government remained. The belief that a third party cannot thrive in Gujarat is a myth. Look at Kejriwaldespite Congress ruling Delhi for 15 years, he emerged. I will remain associated with the new party formed. The Praja Shakti Democratic Party has been officially registered with the Gujarat State Election Commission and has been assigned the symbol of a javelin throw. Riddhirajsinh Parmar, a prominent figure from Danta in Banaskantha, has been appointed as the partys president. A grand convention and the inauguration of the partys office are scheduled for December 22 in Adalaj. Vaghelas recent appearances at events such as the Kshatriya Samaj Sammelan, coupled with a private meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Gandhinagars Circuit House, have sparked speculation about his political strategy. The veteran leader plans to field candidates in the upcoming municipal, panchayat, and assembly elections, signaling his intent to reenter Gujarat's political fray and challenge the status quo. Analysts Skeptical of Vaghelas Comeback Political analyst and journalist Dilip Patel offered a critical view of Vaghelas latest move. Shankarsinh Vaghelas political clout in Gujarat is practically non-existent now. While some suggest he is aiming to assert dominance with a new party, it seems more like a strategic manoeuvre to benefit the BJP ahead of local body elections, Patel remarked. Patel further speculated that Vaghelas move could split the Kshatriya vote, a key Congress support base, preventing it from consolidating against the BJP. His track record of indirectly aiding the BJPwhether within Congress or after leaving itcannot be overlooked. The new party might end up hurting Congress more than anyone else, he added. A History of Political Shifts Vaghelas political journey has been marked by frequent realignments. After breaking away from the BJP in 1996, he founded the Rashtriya Janata Party, which later merged with Congress. Ahead of the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, he formed the Janvikalp Party. In 2019, Vaghela aligned with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and, in 2021, expressed interest in rejoining Congress ahead of Gujarat's local body elections. Now, with the formation of the Praja Shakti Democratic Party, Vaghela is once again attempting to carve out a niche in Gujarats political landscape. Whether his new venture will succeed in reshaping the states politics or merely serve as a spoiler in upcoming elections remains to be seen.

Multiple Hyderabad Eateries Found Violating Safety Norms

HYDERABAD: Food safety officials issued notices after finding lapses at several eateries following an inspection. The eateries were asked to rectify the defects found during the inspections and asked to maintain the norms specified of Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules and Regulations. Hotel Savera at Chaderghat found with unhygienic flooring, sidewalls and dishwashing area. Kohirs Ginger Garlic Unit (Retail), Malakpet, was instructed to use pallets, implement first in-first out and first expired-first out practices, and remove misleading claims from product labels. O Cakes at Saleemnagar was directed to display the date of manufacture and use by dates on prepared pastries. At Sri Pragnya Bhavan Hostel, Chikkadpally, the dining area was found to be unhygienic. At Masala Mantra, Gandhinagar, use of food colours was detected and the items were discarded. At Mahadev Food Court, also at Gandhinagar, expired masala and synthetic colours were found and discarded on the spot.

Flooding in parts of north Chennai throws life out of balance

While people waded through knee-deep water on Demellows Road and Pulianthope High Road, those in areas such as Stephenson Road, Pattalam, Gandhinagar, and Ganeshapuram saw waist-deep inundation

Food safety officials surveyed 15 establishments for hygiene standards in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Food safety officials conducted inspections at 15 establishments and briefed them on maintenance of hygiene standards. The establishments were inspected in Malakpet, Azampura, Moosarambagh, Chaderghat, OU Colony, Shaikpet, Nallakunta, NCC gate on OU Campus road, Kacheguda, and Gandhinagar.

IIT Delhi research student killed, three injured in cave-in at Lothal archaeological site in Gujarat

A team of four researchers, two from IIT Delhi and as many from IIT Gandhinagar, were near the archaeological remains of the Harappan port town of Lothal to collect soil samples for study

Gujarat: IIT Delhi research student killed, three injured in cave-in at Lothal archaeological site

Ahmedabad :An IIT Delhi student died and three others were injured after soil collapsed on them when they entered a pit near the archaeological site of Lothal in Gujarat for research on Wednesday morning, police said. Surabhi Verma (23), a PhD scholar at IIT Delhi, and the other victims were at the ancient Indus Valley civilisation site, some 80 km from Ahmedabad, to do research work when the cave-in occurred, he said. A team of four researchers, two from IIT Delhi and as many from IIT Gandhinagar, were near the archaeological remains of the Harappan port town of Lothal to collect soil samples for study, said Superintendent of Police (Rural) Om Prakash Jat. All four went inside a 10-foot-deep pit dug up for the purpose when its wall collapsed, burying them under a mound of soil, the police officer said. A researcher from IIT Delhi, identified as Surabhi Verma, died on the spot. Three others were rescued and rushed to the hospital where their condition was stable, he said.

IIT Delhi PhD scholar dies after pit collapse near Harappan excavation site in Gujarat's Lothal

Tragedy struck an archaeological dig near Lothal, Gujarat, on Wednesday, claiming the life of a 23-year-old IIT Delhi PhD scholar, Surabhi Verma. Verma and three other researchers, from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar, were collecting soil samples in a 10-foot pit when its wall collapsed, burying them.

IIT Delhi research student killed, three injured in cave-in at Gujarat's Lothal archaeological site

AHMEDABAD: An IIT Delhi student died and three others were injured after soil collapsed on them when they entered a pit near the archaeological site of Lothal in Gujarat for research on Wednesday morning, police said. Surabhi Verma (23), a PhD scholar at IIT Delhi, and the other victims were at the ancient Indus Valley civilisation site, some 80 km from Ahmedabad, to do research work when the cave-in occurred, he said. A team of four researchers, two from IIT Delhi and as many from IIT Gandhinagar, were near the archaeological remains of the Harappan port town of Lothal to collect soil samples for study, said Superintendent of Police (Rural) Om Prakash Jat. All four went inside a 10-foot-deep pit dug up for the purpose when its wall collapsed, burying them under a mound of soil, the police officer said. A researcher from IIT Delhi, identified as Surabhi Verma, died on the spot. Three others were rescued and rushed to the hospital where their condition was stable, he said.

'Charges against Adani in bribery case can be withdrawn if deemed unworthy after Trump takes over as President'

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani addresses the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Gandhinagar (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani addresses the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Gandhinagar (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) New York: There remains a possibility that the USD 265 million bribery case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani can be withdrawn if the charges against him are deemed unworthy or defective after Donald Trump takes over as the US President, a prominent Indian-American attorney has said. Attorney Ravi Batra told PTI that while every new president has a new team, President-elect Trump as the 47th President of the US, who is forgoing FBI-checks for his Cabinet, will neuter any prosecution that's not based in good faith, but is what he has powerfully termed: lawfare. Essentially, that means the law is being applied selectively to target one's opponents, which naturally denies the target of equal protection of the law guaranteed by our Federal constitution, Batra said. He added that that is an issue Gautam Adani can raise with his government, and request them to raise bilaterally with the incoming administration of Trump, who will be sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20, 2025. If the criminal or civil charges are deemed unworthy or defective, President Trump's new Justice Department and SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) can withdraw the criminal and civil cases, Batra said adding that the Law is a many splendored thing, as it can, and does, self-correct to retain public confidence in the noble judiciary and the rule of law. This principle also has application in the comity of nations, given the all-important prosecutorial discretion. Indeed, that's how prisoner exchanges between nations occur. The President, as the federal executive, is constitutionally empowered to set foreign policy as well as prosecute through his state and justice departments, respectively. Batra also said that The bribery charge against Adani also raises the issue of extraterritorial application of American laws since the Indian tycoon and others involved in the case do not live here. While our domestic laws remain the same, a preliminary issue arises about extraterritoriality application of US laws, Batra told PTI. Last week, a five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from US investors and global financial institutions on the basis of false and misleading statements. Prosecutors said that the indictment alleges schemes to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice. US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace had announced the charges. Peace was appointed by President Joe Biden as the 48th United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. In the US, the President appoints a United States Attorney to each of the 94 federal districts across the country. The US Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer in their district and is also involved in civil litigation where the United States is a party, according to the Department of Justice website. In a parallel civil case, the SEC charged Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani and Cyril Cabanes, an executive of Azure Power Global Ltd., for conduct arising out of the massive bribery scheme. According to the SEC's allegations, the bribery scheme was orchestrated to enable the two renewable energy companies to capitalise on a multi-billion-dollar solar energy project that the companies had been awarded by the Indian government. During the alleged scheme, Adani Green raised more than USD 175 million from US investors and Azure Power's stock was traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Last week, SEC announced that its Chair Gary Gensler will step down on January 20, 2025, the day Trump takes the oath of office. Gensler was nominated by Biden to serve as SEC head in February 2021, confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn into office in April 2021. On Monday, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, who has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, announced his intention to resign from his position on December 13, over a month before Trump assumes charge. Similar announcements from federal officials appointed by Biden are expected in the coming days and weeks as Trump brings in new appointees in his second term as US President. Trump, who won the presidential election earlier this month, has begun announcing his picks for cabinet, White House and staff positions for his second term. Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, who was the SEC Chairman during his first tenure in the White House, to serve as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Manhattan's top federal prosecutor. Presidential appointments require Senate confirmation.

Gujarat BJP MLA Alpesh Thakor slams own party's government over crime and corruption

AHMEDABAD: In Gujarat, it seems even the BJPs own members are now the opposition. Alpesh Thakor, BJP MLA from Gandhinagar South, slammed his own government over law and order, citing a murder in Ahmedabad and blaming corrupt leaders and officials for fostering bribery and crime. His bold pledge? To fight the system hes part of. Ahmedabad witnessed a shocking murder three days ago in the Kagdapith police station area, where Thakor Alpesh, a youth from Palavasna village in Mehsana, lost his life. Today, a condolence meeting was held in his hometown, attended by MLA Alpesh Thakor. The legislator met the grieving family and extended financial aid of Rs 1 lakh. Expressing his anger over the rising wave of crimes, Thakor lashed out at the system, blaming corrupt leaders and officials for fostering a culture of bribery and lawlessness. Speaking to the media, MLA Alpesh Thakor emphasized the urgent need to combat addiction among Gujarat's youth. Addiction must be eradicated. I want the youth of Gujarat to stay free from all forms of addiction, he stated. MLA Alpesh Thakor emphasized the urgent need to combat addiction among Gujarat's youth Thakor stressed that addressing the issue is a collective responsibility, not just an individual one. This is about the well-being and freedom of our society, he added. Thakor also took aim at systemic corruption, blaming it for the state's crime issues. Leaders must stand with the people and fight against anti-social elements. However, corrupt officials and leaders continue to enable extortion and crime, he said. He vowed to persist in his fight, declaring, I have fought this battle, and I will continue to fight. MLA Alpesh Thakor vowed justice for the murdered youth, asserting that no perpetrator would escape punishment. No criminal who takes the life of a young man will be spared. We are fighting against all form of addiction and anti-social elements, and I strongly condemn this incident, he said. Thakor urged the government to expedite the case. I request a fast-track trial to set an example against such individuals. The government must take strict action to ensure no common person falls victim to anti-social activities. I will personally speak with officials to ensure swift and decisive punishment, he declared. Ahmedabad has witnessed a disturbing surge in violent crimes, with several shocking murders reported in recent days. Two killings occurred in the Bopal area, while others were recorded in Chandkheda, Nehrunagar, Kagdapith, and surrounding neighborhoods. The motives behind the murders vary, ranging from disputes over slow driving to arguments over video comments. Alarmingly, five murders were reported within just 10 days after Diwali, from November 8 to November 18, raising concerns about public safety in the city.

Ahmedabad Diary | Fake judges to fake hospitals: Gujarat hub for scamsters

Gujarat has recently seen a surge in scams, highlighted by the closure of a multispecialty hospital just 18 hours after its grand inauguration. It was reportedly established by two fake doctors in collaboration with an administrator in Surat. On November 17, they, who were caught drinking, set up the hospital, which was found to have no proper registration or fire safety equipment. Then a photo emerged showing a police officer attending the facilitys inauguration and sitting in the doctors chair. This incident adds to a growing list of fake officials, ranging from judges to tax officers, creating a wave of disbelief in the community. Is Cabinet expansion set to include Modhwadia? The long-awaited cabinet expansion appears to gaining momentum, increasing the likelihood that former Congress leaders Arjun Modhwadia and C J Chavda, who recently joined BJP, will be included in the state government. Discussions have intensified regarding the addition of seven to eight BJP MLAs in the cabinet. If the expansion takes place, it would strengthen the positions of Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor, both former Congress members who were previously promised cabinet roles. The expansion will once the Maharashtra elections get over, according to sources. Major rejig in police admin expected in Dec The state government is expected to affect a reshuffle in the Indian Police Service (IPS), including some officer transfers, in early December ahead of local body elections, according to sources in Gandhinagar. With four senior IPS officers set to retire, promotions are likely to occur. Should senior officer Shamsher Singh be assigned to a position in Delhi, those next in line may receive promotions. Also, preparations for appointing a new DGP are in progress, as the current DGP, Vikas Sahay, will retire in June 2025. The upcoming transfers could impact police commissioners, SPs, and other senior officials. Dilip Singh Kshatriya Our correspondent in Gujarat dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com

70% dip in J&K, NE & Naxal violence in 10 yrs, says Shah

AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the BJP-led government at the Centre has brought down violence in Jammu and Kashmir, North-east and Naxalite-hit areas by 70% in the last 10 years. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 50th All India Police Science Conference at Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, Shah highlighted the governments efforts in bringing stability to the historically volatile regions. Over the years, Kashmir, North-east, and Naxalism-affected areas were labelled as highly disturbed. However, we have achieved significant progress in these areas. A comparative analysis of the last 10 years versus the previous decade reveals a remarkable 70% reduction in violence, he said. The efforts of numerous individuals have been instrumental in achieving the governments goal of bringing peace to these regions, he added. Sharing statistics on the fight against drug trafficking, Shah said, In the last decade, over 5,45,000 kilograms of drugs, valued at more than Rs 35,000 crore, have been seized. This figure is six times higher than the previous ten years. It doesnt indicate an increase in drug consumption but reflects the success of our scientifically enhanced seizure methods developed over the past ten years. Highlighting the Narendra Modi governments commitment to justice, he said, We have implemented nearly 60 provisions to ensure courts, prosecution, and police complete their tasks within strict timeframes. He emphasised the systemic overhaul aimed at expediting justice delivery. These measures hold all stakeholders accountable, ensuring efficiency in the judicial process. We have instructed jail officials to initiate bail proceedings if a trial is delayed, except in cases involving serious crimes, he said. Our mission is clearbefore Constitution Day, no prisoner who has served one-third of their sentence should be denied justice. Strengthening the police and holding them accountable have been key to this initiative, he said. Global challenges Underscoring the need to tackle global challenges, Amit Shah said, By leveraging modern technology, from securing borders and tackling narcotics to combating the misuse of drones and the darknet, we are committed to effective solutions.

Curtailed violence in J&K, North-East, Naxal-hit areas by 70 pc in last decade: Shah

GANDHINAGAR, Nov 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the BJP-led government at the Centre has successfully brought down violence in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Naxal-hit areas by 70 per cent in the last 10 years. Speaking at the inaugural event of the 50th All India Police Science Conference (AIPSC) at the [] The post Curtailed violence in J&K, North-East, Naxal-hit areas by 70 pc in last decade: Shah appeared first on Northlines .

Govt brought down violence in J&K, North-East and Naxal-hit areas: Shah

Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the BJP-led government at the Centre succeeded in bringing down violence in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Naxal-hit areas by 70 percent in the last 10 years. Speaking at the inaugural event of the 50th All India Police Science Conference at the Rashtriya Raksha University here, 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 .

Govt Brought Down Violence In J&K, North-East And Naxal-Hit Areas By 70% In Last 10 Years: Shah

GANDHINAGAR, Nov 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the BJP-led government at the Centre succeeded in bringing down violence in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Naxal-hit areas by 70 per cent in the last 10 years. Speaking at the inaugural event of the 50th All India Police Science Conference at the Rashtriya Raksha University here, he said the coming decade is going to make the Indian criminal justice system the most scientific and fastest in the world. [] The post Govt Brought Down Violence In J&K, North-East And Naxal-Hit Areas By 70% In Last 10 Years: Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

SAI announces selection trials for Asian Senior Womens Handball Championship

New Delhi, Nov 16: The selection trials of the Indian team for the 20th Asian Senior Womens Handball Championship will be held at the Sports Authority of Indias (SAI) Gandhinagar centre on November 21 and 22. The SAI, in a statement, laid down the criteria and said eligible players must have competed in international or national senior/junior championships. The Championship is scheduled to take place from December 3 to 10 in New Delhi. It will be held under the aegis [] The post SAI announces selection trials for Asian Senior Womens Handball Championship appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

4.2 magnitude earthquake recorded in north Gujarat's Patan district; no damage reported

AHMEDABAD: An earthquake of 4.2 magnitude was recorded in Patan district of north Gujarat on Friday night, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. While people came out of their houses after feeling the seismic movement, no casualty or loss of property was reported in the region, officials of the state control room in Gandhinagar said. The quake was recorded at 10:15 pm with its epicentre located 13 km south-southwest of Patan, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. Reports from the northern districts of Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha and Mehsana claimed that tremors were felt for two to three seconds. The state has suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years including the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001, in Kutch district, as per the data provided by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).

Ahmedabad University, IIT Gandhinagar, and UC San Diego Consortium Partners with GIFT City to Launch GIFT International Fintech Institute

www.giftifi.in .

Adani Group to invest $10 bln in US energy following Trump win

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani addresses the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Gandhinagar (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani addresses the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, in Gandhinagar (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) India's Adani Group will invest $10 billion in US energy security and infrastructure projects, aiming to create up to 15,000 jobs, chairman Gautam Adani said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday. The billionaire announced the investment, with no specific timeline, while congratulating U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on his election win. Trump has vowed to make it easier for energy companies to drill on federal land and build new pipelines, and law firms with strong traditional energy practices could benefit under his second administration. Adani Group was accused by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023 of improper use of offshore tax havens and stock manipulation that sparked a $150 billion rout in shares of the group's companies.

Posing as vigilance officers, 5 men dupe trader of Rs 25 lakh citing poll code breach

Pune: Five men allegedly cheated a businessman of over Rs 25 lakh in Maharashtra's Kolhapur by posing as vigilance officers and citing violation of the election code of conduct by him for carrying cash, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, they said. Assembly polls in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and the election code of conduct is in force at present. Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), flying squads of the Election Commission and police teams have been deployed across the state to curb poll-related irregularities. As soon as the victim, who is a swing trader, alighted from a private bus on a highway near Kolhapur early Tuesday morning, a man approached him and introduced himself as a vigilance officer. The latter asked the businessman if he was carrying any cash. When the victim told him that he had cash with him, the stranger said it was prohibited under the election code of conduct, inspector Deepak Jadhav of the Gandhinagar police station in Kolhapur said. He then instructed the businessman to sit in their car for an inquiry. Four other individuals were already sitting in the car. They drove in the direction of Kolhapur, claiming they needed to check the quantum of cash, he said. The accused asked the trader to hand over his bag and mobile phone and he acted accordingly. One of the accused persons then hinted at a possible compromise. However, the businessman insisted on going to the police station as he was confident that the cash was legitimate. When the car did not head in the required direction, he realised that they were imposters, Jadhav said. Fearing for his safety, the businessman requested the accused to take away the cash and release him. They eventually dropped him at Sarnobatwadi, fleeing with Rs 25.50 lakh in cash and his mobile phone, he said. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, a case has been registered at the Gandhinagar police station, and efforts are underway to trace the accused.

Temple theft cases surge in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: In Gujarat, a surge in burglaries is hitting not only homes left vacant during Diwali vacations but also temples, according to government data. Over the past three years, thieves have stolen a total of Rs 4.93 crore in cash and valuables from temples across the state. Gujarat reported 501 temple theft incidents: 151 temples were targeted in 2020-21, 178 in 2021-22, and 172 in 2022-23. In addition, there were five armed robberies in temples, intensifying concerns over temple security statewide. Gujarat Congress spokesperson Hiren Banker criticized the government, saying the incidents of looting and theft in temples, which hold deep significance for Gujaratis, are being met with little more than promises of CCTV installations by the home department. Is the BJP, which campaigns in Gods name, only concerned with securing votes? he asked. Even during Navratri, incidents of assault on women occur and illegal activities like bootlegging and drug trade operate openly. The reality is the state police is facing a severe shortage of personnel, with the number of police personnel falling below the national average, Banker said. Private residential homes too are the target. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Gujarat has witnessed a troubling surge in home burglaries and robberies over recent years, underscoring persistent challenges in crime prevention. Nighttime burglaries have consistently overshadowed daytime incidents. In 2017, there were 3,957 burglaries reported at night, but by 2022, that number fell to 2,936. Daytime burglaries also saw a decrease, from 440 cases in 2017 to 359 in 2022. However, the overall burglary rate per lakh population fluctuated, peaking at 6.9 in 2017, dropping to 3.9 in 2020, and rising again to 4.6 in 2022. Robberies showed a mixed pattern, with 1,277 cases in 2017, which dropped significantly to 498 in 2020, before stabilizing at around 575 cases in 2022. Over the six-year period from 2017 to 2022, Gujarat recorded a total of 18,453 night burglaries, 2,489 day burglaries, and 5,428 robberies, reflecting ongoing security concerns for residents across the state. The state government at present controls 13 temples in Gandhinagar district,13 in Valsad district, eight in Rajkot district, 16 in Porbandar district, four of Surat district and one temple each in Junagadh, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana and Banaskantha districts. These include the ancient temples at Somnath, Dwarkadhish and Akshardham. The security of the temples is a tricky task given the strength of the police force as well as encroachments around such places. The Somnath temple in Veraval, Gujarat is one of the richest temples in India, with a net worth of around Rs 100 crore: The Somnath temple in Gujarat is heavily protected by police and has a Z+ security grade. Non-Hindus need prior permission to enter the temple due to security concerns and to protect the sanctity of the religious place.

Outsiders dominate Wayanad LS by-election race

Wayanad (Kerala): Kerala has a history of electing leaders from outside the state as Lok Sabha MPs, with former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi being the latest, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might join the list if the electors here give her the thumbs up in the November 13 by-poll. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Lok Sabha segment before vacating it, several leaders from outside the state have served as MPs from Kerala. They are-- Muhammad Ismail from Tamil Nadu, G M Banatwala from Maharashtra, and Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait from Karnataka, all of whom were elected as IUML MPs multiple times from the southern state. Interestingly, a host of 'outsiders' are among the contestants for next week's elections. Among them is Election King K Padmarajan from Tamil Nadu, who earned the moniker following his over 200 unsuccessful electoral bids, including against top leaders and former Prime Ministers AB Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, besides PM Narendra Modi. Jayendra K Rathod from Gujarat, who ran against Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha polls, is among the 11 candidates in the fray from the hill constituency. Setting a new record of the highest number of candidates from outside the state contesting a poll in Kerala, the list includes Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is making her electoral debut. The other out-of-state candidates in the Wayanad by-election include Independent A Noor Muhammed from Tamil Nadu, Gopal Swaroop Gandhi of the Kisan Majdoor Berojgar Sangh from Uttar Pradesh and A Seetha of the Bahujan Dravida Party from Tamil Nadu. Also running are Independent Ismail Zabi Ullah from Karnataka, Independent Sonhu Singh Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Shaik Jaleel of the Navarang Congress Party from Andhra Pradesh, Duggirala Nageswara Rao of the Jatiya Jana Sena Party from Telangana, and another Independent, Rukmini, from Karnataka. CPI's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas are the respective parties' nominees. R Rajan, an independent, is the only candidate in the fray hailing from the hill constituency. However, the 63-year-old Kalpetta native said he is now working for the victory of Priyanka Gandhi. When asked why he filed his nomination, he said, I don't want to disclose that matter now. Many of the candidates from outside Kerala and their associated parties are largely unfamiliar to voters in Wayanad, who feel that most are contesting only to claim the credit of running against Priyanka Gandhi, a high-profile candidate. Their campaigns are barely visible in the hill constituency, raising doubts about their actual presence and efforts in the race. Rathod (40) from the Right to Recall Party (Gandhinagar, Gujarat), a post graduate in Cyber Security and Incident Response from Gujarat Forensic Science University, is contesting in Wayanad to protest against what he views as flawed education policies by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre. Currently I am in Gujarat as I have to return back from Wayanad due to some personal reasons. I will come back by November 11 and campaign for two days, he told PTI. I contested against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2019 as a BSP candidate and garnered 64,000 votes. In 2024, I withdrew my nomination due to pressure from the BJP, he claimed. Seetha of the Bahujan Dravida Party told PTI she started her campaign on Wednesday. The party leaders will decide what kind of campaign we will carry out--whether it will be public meetings or door-to-door campaigns--in the coming days, said Seetha, a document writer from Chennai. She has prior experience in elections, having contested as a Bahujan Dravida Party candidate for the Tenkasi (SC) seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. According to her, the party seeks representation for Dalits and other marginalised sections in law-making bodies, which is why she is contesting the Wayanad LS seat in the November 13 by-election. Independent candidate K Padamarajan, 65, from Tamil Nadu claims to have contested 245 elections, including six for the post of president and six for vice president. I have even contested against four prime ministers: Narendra Modi in Vadodara in 2014, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow, P V Narasimha Rao in 1996, and Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha election, he said. When askes, Padmarajan, who is currently staying in Kalpetta, admitted that he isn't engaged in active campaigning. I have spent around Rs 1 crore on my election bids, he told PTI. Padmarajan, who runs a tyre-puncture shop in Tamil Nadu, also revealed that his election symbol is a tyre--an ironic nod to his profession. Interestingly, Padmarajan's email ID and all his social media accounts, according to his election affidavit, go by the name 'Padmarajan Electionking'. Political observers note that Kerala has a long history of outstation candidates. Apart from Rahul, several leaders from outside the state have served as MPs from Kerala. Muhammad Ismail, the former national president of the Muslim League, was the first outsider to win a seat in Kerala, representing Manjeri in 1962. He was followed by Sulaiman Sait, who represented Kozhikode, Manjeri and Ponnani between1967 and 1991. He was also a Rajya Sabha member from Kerala from 1960 to 1966. Banatwala, a former president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1967 and went on to serve seven terms in the Lok Sabha, representing Ponnani in Kerala from 1977 to 1989 and 1996 to 2004.

Panchayat, civic body polls after 2 years in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: After a two-year delay since the end of the last five-year term, Gujarat is set to hold panchayat and civic body elections. Preparations are expected to begin by late November, with voting likely in December across 5,410 local bodies in the state, officials said. Sources indicate that panchayat and civic body elections are expected to be announced after the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections conclude on November 20. The Development Commissioner has already issued notifications for 44 seats in Kheda district panchayat, 24 in Kathlal taluka panchayat, 26 in Kapadwanj taluka panchayat, and 28 in Gandhinagar taluka panchayat. Following the notifications, the State Election Commission will announce the seats under the new delimitations, setting the stage for the elections, said an official involved in poll preparations. The election process had been on hold due to delays in implementing a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies, including panchayats, municipalities and corporations. In August 2023, the Gujarat government approved a 27% reservation. The move, based on the recommendations from the Justice Jhaveri Commission, comes after the Supreme Court ruled that OBC reservations must reflect population-based data. Previously, OBC reservations in Gujarats local bodies stood at 10%. Sources from the Development Commissioners office said that with the by-election for Vav assembly seat underway, the code of conduct remains in effect across Banaskantha district. Notifications regarding reserved seats for the Banaskantha district and taluka panchayats will be issued only after the election concludes. Vote counting for the by-election is scheduled for November 23, so the notifications are expected to be released after November 25, an official said. Elections are set for Kheda and Banaskantha district panchayats, 17 taluka panchayats, 72 municipalities, and 5,319 gram panchayats, with additional polls to fill 84 vacant seats.

Zika virus case detected in Gujarat, patient discharged after treatment

A 70-year-old man from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was diagnosed with the Zika virus after being hospitalized for symptoms including cold, fever, and joint pain. He has since recovered and been discharged. Although his infection was confirmed four days ago, he had already been discharged a week prior. Health authorities conducted surveillance in his residential area but found no other suspected cases.

3.4 magnitude tremor hits Kutch in Gujarat; no casualty reported

AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.4 magnitude was experienced in Gujarat's Kutch district early on Sunday, the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. No casualty or loss of property was reported in the district due to the seismic activity, officials said. The tremor was recorded at 3.58 am with its epicentre located 53 km north-northeast of Lakhpat, the Gandhinagar-based ISR said. Earlier on October 27, Amreli district in Saurashtra region of the state recorded a tremor of 3.7 magnitude, as per the ISR data. Tremor and earthquake risks are very high in Gujarat. The state has suffered nine major earthquakes in the past 200 years, as per information provided by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 Kutch earthquake was the third largest and second most destructive earthquake in India over the last two centuries, it said. On January 26, 2001, Gujarat was struck by an earthquake of 6.9 magnitude with its epicentre near Bhachau in Kutch which affected the entire state. The quake left nearly 13,800 persons killed and another 1.67 lakh injured, according to the GSDMA data.

Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army jawans celebrate Diwali with locals in Uri, spread joy along LoC

Jawans of the Indian Army celebrated Diwali with the villagers in Uri, Baramulla sector of LOC, sharing sweets, exchanging gifts, and lighting diyas. The army also celebrates other village festivals like Eid with them. In Gandhinagar, Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is illuminated with 10,000 diyas, and a 55-foot idol is being installed.

Gujarat's Unique Diwali: Chief Minister Celebrates with PMAY Residents

Gandhinagar: In a heartfelt Diwali celebration, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will spend the festival with families of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Gandhinagar. On October 31st at 7 PM, Patel will visit the 'Namo Narayan Residency' PMAY community in Sargasan, Gandhinagar, to personally greet families and join them in festive celebrations. This gesture is part of the states initiative to bring government representatives closer to the public. In February 2024, 1,208 homes were inaugurated under PMAY in Gandhinagar, aiming to support lower and middle-income families by providing them with affordable housing and fostering a sense of community through shared events like Diwali. Joining the Chief Minister, several other state ministers will celebrate with PMAY beneficiaries in their respective districts. Minister Kanubhai Desai will join the festivities with PMAY (Urban) beneficiaries in Bhagada Vada, Valsad, and Minister Rushikesh Patel will visit Rangpur, Mehsana, to meet PMAY (Rural) families. Minister Raghavji Patel will celebrate with beneficiaries in Bedi, Jamnagar, while Minister Balvantsinh Rajput will visit Siddhpur, Patan. Other officials, including Ministers Kunwarji Bavaliya, Mulubhai Bera, Kuber Dindor, Bhanuben Babariya, and Harsh Sanghvi, will extend Diwali greetings across various PMAY communities, underscoring the governments dedication to meaningful engagement with the people of Gujarat. This years celebrations emphasize unity and support, bringing joy to thousands of families in their new homes. MORE.... President Murmu, PM Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah Extend Heart-Full Diwali Greetings Kejriwal Distributes Diwali Bonuses and Early Salaries to MCD Workers Ahead of Festival Diwali 2024: Know the History, Significance, and Vibrancy of the Festival of Lights

Meth lab busted in NCR; Tihar Jail warden, Mexican national among 5 arrested

New Delhi: A meth lab having links to a Mexican drug cartel was recently uncovered in Noida and five people, including a Tihar Jail warden and two Delhi-based businessmen, were arrested in connection with it, the NCB said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said the lab was busted in the Kasna industrial area of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar district on October 25 and about 95 kg of methamphetamine, a synthetic drug, was found on the premises both in solid and liquid forms. The Special Dell of the Delhi Police was also roped in by the federal anti-narcotics agency as he drug network has footprints across several places in the National Capital Region. During a preliminary enquiry, it has come out that a Delhi-based businessman, found at the factory during the raid, along with the Tihar Jail warden, was instrumental in establishing the illegal factory, procuring chemicals required for the drugs from various sources and importing the machinery, NCB Deputy Director General (Operations) Gyaneshwar Singh said. He said a Mumbai-based chemist was roped in by these people to manufacture the drug. The quality of the drug was tested by a Mexican drug cartel member residing in Delhi, Singh added. The official said these four people were arrested and produced before a special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act court here on October 27 which sent them to three-day NCB custody. An important member of the syndicate and close associate of the Delhi-based businessman was apprehended in follow-up action from Delhi's Rajouri Garden area, he said, adding that this person was being produced before a court for his custody. The Delhi businessman, as per the NCB, was earlier arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a separate NDPS case and had been lodged in Tihar Jail, where he came in contact with the warden who later became his accomplice. The agency said the Mexican drug cartel identified in this case is CJNG -- Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion. Chemicals like acetone, sodium hydroxide, methylene chloride, premium-grade ethanol, toluene, red phosphorus, ethyl acetate and imported machinery for manufacturing synthetic drugs were also seized from the clandestine lab, the NCB said. DDG Singh said forward and backward linkages as well as financial trail and assets generated by the accused through this illegal drug trafficking are being investigated now. The agency claims to have busted at least five clandestine labs this year so far in Gandhinagar and Amreli in Gujarat, Jodhpur and Sirohi in Rajasthan and Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. In the Bhopal case, a joint operation was undertaken by the NCB and the Gujarat ATS at the Bagroda industrial estate and about 907 kg of mephedrone and 7,000 kg of some other chemicals, along with machinery, were seized. The NCB believes that considering the low cost of production of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and mephedrone, the drug mafia is increasingly shifting to setting up such clandestine labs in industrial areas so that local law enforcement agencies are not alerted by the routine transportation of material and machinery, waste generated from the laboratories and toxic fumes coming out of chimneys during chemical processing.

BMTC receives National Award for public involvement in urban transport

The award was presented on October 27, at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandir Convention Center in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Jammu Smart Citys E-Autos, E-Rickshaws Win Award Of Excellence In Urban Transport

JAMMU, Oct 27: Jammu citys innovative e-autos and e-rickshaws, part of the Jammu Smart City Project, have won the prestigious Award of Excellence in Urban Transport at the 17th Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo 2024 held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The award, conferred by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, ML Khattar, recognizes the project in the category of City with Most Innovative Financing Mechanism. CEO of Jammu Smart City Project, Dr. Devansh Yadav, along with the team of [] The post Jammu Smart Citys E-Autos, E-Rickshaws Win Award Of Excellence In Urban Transport appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

As The Hindu comes to the rescue of journalist Mahesh Langa, here is what we know about the cases of GST fraud and document theft against him

On 22nd October, the Gandhinagar Policefileda case against Mahesh Langa for the theft of confidential documents belonging to the Gujarat Maritime Board.

Legal Briefs | DEOs school closure order upheld

HYDERABAD : Justice T. Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by Vishwapragathi Vidyalayam challenging the closure of the school premises by the Karimnagar district educational officer (DEO) and other authorities. The petitioner sought the courts intervention to reopen its school, located at H. No. 21206/A/3 Gandhinagar at Huzurabad, which was sealed by the DEO and mandal educational officer (MEO), Huzurabad. The petitioner claimed that the action contradicted the provisions of the Telangana Education Act, 1982. However, the judge was not convinced by these arguments. The judge pointed out that a notice was issued in 2022, yet the school had failed to take any corrective action. One of the primary reasons for the closure was the absence of a fire safety NOC, a crucial requirement under government regulations. Despite being aware of this deficiency, the petitioner did not obtain the necessary NOC nor had they submitted the registered lease deed for the property to the respondent authorities. The judge emphasized the risk posed to the students, stating, You are playing with the lives of toddlers, and pointed out the Supreme Courts guidelines on fire safety, which mandate sealing of schools without proper fire safety measures. The judge also criticized the petitioner for delaying the matter since 2023, stressing the safety of the 220 students enrolled at the school HC not to interdict with Adilabad collectors order Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court refused to interdict with an order of the district collector of Adilabad, who upheld an eviction order passed by the special deputy collector. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by Peerala Pedda Swamy. It is the case of the petitioner that his late father had purchased agriculture land from the respondents grandfather admeasuring Ac.12.5 Gts situated at Gangannapet village of Utnoor mandal in Adilabad district in March 1959. Since then the father of the petitioner was in possession and enjoyment of the said land. It is further contended that subsequent to his fathers death, the petitioner had taken possession of the subject land and had been cultivating the same without any interference. The grievance of the petitioner is that in 1973 a suo-moto proceeding was initiated by the special deputy collector challenging possession of the subject land, wherein the grandfather of the respondent admitted the execution of sale, the special deputy collector (SDC) without considering the said admission passed an illegal order holding that the said transfer was invalid as it is in contravention of Section 3 (1) of the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Area Land Transfer Regulation 1959. Thereafter, unofficial respondents approached the district collector of Adilabad and filed an application challenging the order passed by the SDC upon which impugned orders were passed in August 2019 upholding the orders passed by SDC allegedly without considering the fact that the said orders had lapsed as ot acted upon. However, the respondents argued that the sale contravened APSALTR, which forbids land transactions from tribal to non-tribal to protect tribal ownership rights. The judge dismissed the petition, noting the petitioners failure to challenge the 1973 order through appropriate legal channels or exhaust statutory remedies under APSALTR. The court relied on various Supreme Court judgments emphasizing the importance of utilizing statutory remedies before invoking writ jurisdiction. Businessmen arrested with banned drugs granted bail Justice Juvvadi Sridevi of the Telangana High Court granted bail to two businessmen, allegedly found in possession of 36 grams of cocaine, 110 grams of MDMA, nine ecstasy pills, six LSD blots, 30 gms of charas, 34 gm of meow-meow, five cell phones, a car and other material, along with other accused. The judge was hearing a bail petition filed by Anas Khan and Saif Khan. Counsel for the petitioners argued that his clients were innocent and falsely implicated. The counsel also pointed out that petitioners do not have any criminal history and investigation into the case was underway. It was also brought to the notice of the judge that the petitioners have been in judicial custody since August. The additional public prosecutor opposed the application stating that serious allegations were levelled against the petitioners and the probability of them committing similar offences in case they are released on bail were high. After hearing the parties, the judge observed that no criminal antecedents were reported against the petitioners and since they were remained in judicial custody since August, the judge deemed that it was a fit case to grant conditional bail to the petitioners.

PM Modi, Spanish PM to launch C-295 aircraft facility in Vadodara on Monday

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez will jointly inaugurate the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing the C-295 aircraft, during his visit to Gujarats Vadodara on Monday, October 28. It will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in the country. It will involve the full development 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 .

Gujarat: PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 4,800 cr development projects

Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore in Gujarats Amreli district on October 28. These initiatives encompass nearly 1,600 projects across the districts of Amreli, Jamnagar, Morbi, Devbhumi Dwarka, Junagadh, Porbandar, Kutch, and Botad, underscoring a push for infrastructure and water supply improvements. 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 .

Police chief warns supports of MIM MLA and Congress' Feroz Khan

Hyderabad: City police commissioner C.V. Anand, who is also the additional district magistrate (executive), on Thursday held an executive court regarding the outcome of the prolonged political rivalry between AIMIM legislator Mohammed Majid Hussain and senior Congress leader Mohd Feroz Khan. He warned supporters of both leaders that they would be bonded over if found guilty of disturbing peace and tranquility. The commissioner examined the situation report submitted by Humayunnagar station house officer (SHO) M. Saideshwar in connection with an incident on October 7. Hussain, along with his followers, was overseeing CC road works at Feroz Gandhinagar when Feroz Khan and his associates reached there. Almost immediately, chaos broke out with the two groups indulging physical assaults and stonepelting. Many were injured, while the public panicked, Anand said. The commissioner inquired about the situation and investigation based on CCTV footage and other evidence from the SHO. Saideshwar said that there was a political rivalry between the two groups and they were resorting to illegal acts. Saideshwar requested that they be bound over over for a reasonable period as there was likelihood of disturbance, police said. police commissioner C.V. Anand, AIMIM legislator Mohammed Majid Hussain, Congress leader Mohd Feroz Khan,

Set-up Special Cyber Commando wing in police forces: MHA advises states, UTs

NEW DELHI: Alarmed over the spate of cyber threats to airlines and CRPF schools, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the states and the Union Territories (UTs) to set up a special wing of cyber commandos in their respective police forces. It is to be noted that in over the past week, the Indian airline operators have received more than 100 hoax bomb threats resulting in cancellation and diversions of several flights causing huge inconvenience to passengers and monetary loss to the civil aviation sector. Sources in the agencies dealing with cases of cybercrime and fraud, have confirmed that the majority of such threats were posted on micro-blogging site X and the accounts were created by using a virtual private network (VPN) and then chaining them to create dark web. The modus operandi is such that agencies have not been able to detect the origin of posts, they added. The sources said, a decision with regard to the special cyber commando wing in each of the state and UT police forces was taken by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) with an aim to improve cyber defence capabilities of the forces. In the advisory sent to the states and the UTs, the authorities have been reminded of Prime Minister Narendra Modis suggestion about a Special Wing of suitably trained Cyber Commandos during the last two DGPs & IGs conferences, the sources said. It is also informed to the state and UT authorities that the Centre has already decided to raise 5,000 Cyber Commandos over the next five years. It is also suggested that the Cyber Commando Wing should be an integral part of the police organisations of the states and the UTs and would be deemed to be a national resource, they said. Prospective Cyber Commandos will be identified from among serving personnel (all ranks) in the various police organisations of the states/UTs and Central Police Organisations having basic knowledge of computer networks and operating systems, a source quoting the advisory said. As per the advisory, trained Commandos will work for their parent organisation and will be expected to be assigned roles according to the expertise they had developed during training in digital forensics, incident response and securing information and communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, they said. According to the sources the MHAs I4C will be responsible for maintaining close liaison with the cyber commandos for continuous learning, upgrading knowledge and utilisation. The MHA has already deputed the first batch of 246 Cyber commandos for six months of hands-on training at IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIIT Kottayam, IIIT Naya Raipur, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) Gandhinagar, Defence Institute of Advance Technology (DIAT) Pune, National Forensic Science University (NFSU) Gandhinagar, and Delhi.

Gujarat Congress leaders protest outside DGP office over IPS officer's 'misbehaviour' with MLA Jignesh Mevani

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Congress leaders and Dalit community members on Wednesday gathered outside the Director General of Police (DGP) office here and staged a protest, seeking the suspension of IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian for his alleged misbehaviour with MLA Jignesh Mevani. Shouting slogans against Pandian, Additional Director General of Police (SC/ST cell), hundreds of people led by Mevani and senior Congress leaders, including GPCC president Shaktisinh Gohil and party MLAs, gathered outside the 'Police Bhavan' in Gandhinagar. The Police Bhavan in the state capital houses the offices of the DGP and also Pandian. Mevani has alleged Pandian misbehaved with him and Gujarat Congress Schedule Caste department chairman Hitendra Pithadiya when they went to meet him in his chamber on October 15 with a request to take action against anti-social elements encroaching upon land allotted to Dalits by the state government in the 1980s (when Congress was in power), especially in Kutch district. Anti-social elements have grabbed 20,000 bigha of land (1 bigha is 17,427 sq ft) belonging to Dalits, but IPS officer Pandian does not have the courage to get their land freed and restore it to their rightful owners. When we went with an appeal, the IPS officer tried to suppress our voice by insulting us and asking us to leave his chamber, claimed the Congress MLA from Vadgam. Pandian has denied the allegations levelled against him by Mevani, a prominent Dalit leader who is also a working president of the Gujarat Congress. Later, a delegation of senior Congress leaders met DGP Vikas Sahay in his chamber and submitted a memorandum accusing Pandian of absolutely unacceptable, improper and deplorable behaviour. The delegation demanded the senior IPS officer's immediate termination/suspension and an unconditional apology to the Dalits of Gujarat and India. Talking to PTI, Pandian denied the allegations levelled against him, calling them aseless, and claimed the state police give due importance to the welfare and safety of weaker sections of society, including Dalits and tribals. Mevani was not the first public representative to visit him in his chamber, noted the IPS officer. None of those who came to meet me in my chamber have ever complained that they were insulted or made to wait outside, Pandian insisted. When (Mevani) came to meet me on October 15, I called him immediately inside without any delay by letting others wait. Instead of talking about the issue (of land encroachment), he started shouting in the chamber, saying 'why I did not go outside to receive him and not follow protocols', he said. The IPS officer said the opposition party legislator put his mobile phone on his office table with its voice recorder on, which he objected to as unacceptable behaviour. Upon this, he (Mevani) started shouting. I asked him how I can attend to his grievance in a situation like this. I told him, 'Either you do it properly or I will not give you time, you can approach a senior officer,' said the Additional DGP. Mevani's allegations that we are not sensitive towards SC/ST communities are baseless. Let me tell you clearly -- we give utmost importance to the welfare, safety and security of weaker section of society, including SC/ST communities, Pandian claimed. Whenever there is any incident regarding SC/STs, we analyse them and write to the concerned CPs (Commissioners of Police) and SPs (Superintendent of Police) and address their grievances immediately, he said. According to Mevani, when he went to meet Pandian in his office, the IPS officer insulted him and did not adhere to protocols required to be followed to receive a public representative. The MLA claimed the police officer made him leave his mobile phone outside his chamber. The same day (October 15), Mevani sent a letter to assembly speaker Shankar Chaudhary, alleging the IPS officer insulted him when he went to meet him in his office. During the meeting, Pandian allegedly got agitated and asked his staff to take the mobile phones (of Mevani and Pithadiya), claiming they may be recording their conversation in the chamber.