First India-Mumbai Edition-25th January 2023

Crucial

READ

AAP AND BJP FIGHT

STALL DELHI MAYOR ELECTION AGAIN

GRAVE CONCERN!

New Delhi: The high-stakes battle for New Delhi’s main municipal body, now hinging on the election of a mayor, was stalled for the second time in weeks after a fresh clash between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP on Tuesday. House was adjourned indefinitely once again. P5

US BLOWS OFF BBC DOCU, SAYS SHARED VALUES WITH INDIA

Washington: The Biden admin blew off questions about controversial BBC documentary on then CM Modi’s purported culpability for the 2002 Gujarat riots while vigorously talking up shared values and close ties between the US and India. P5

7 DEAD, 1 INJURED IN CALIFORNIA SHOOTINGS; SUSPECT NABBED

Washington: At least seven people were killed and one person critically injured after shootings were reported from 2 locations in Half Moon Bay area in north California of the United States, the news agency said that a 67-year-old suspect is now in custody.

New Delhi: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said it was a “matter of grave concern” that certain portions of sensitive reports of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing were put in public domain by the Supreme Court Collegium.

He said intelligence agency officials work in a secret manner for the nation, and they would “think twice” in future if their reports are made public. The minister was responding to questions on some recent SC collegium resolutions, which contained portions of IB, RAW reports on certain names reiterated by top court for appointment as high court judges, being made public last week.Collegium had reiterated the names to the government earlier this month while rejecting intelligence inputs.

We (CJI DY Chandrachud) are always in touch. He is the head of the judiciary and I am the bridge between the government and the judiciary so we have to work together. You cannot work in isolation.

No new nCoV cases reported in Mumbai

First India Bureau

Mumbai: No new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Mumbai on Tuesday, marking the city’s first such day since the first case of the respiratory illness was confirmed on March 11, 2020.

The day also brought no new fatalitis linked to the infection in the metropolis, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a bulletin. With this, the overall tally of COVID-19 cases and the death toll in the country’s financial capital remained unchanged at 11,55,240 and 19,747, respectively, the BMC said in its release.

On Monday, the metropolis had recorded four coronavirus cases

THREAT LETTER TO NAVEEN JINDAL

DEMANDING `50 CR

First India Bureau

Raigarh: An inmate from a jail in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district allegedly sent a threat letter to a Raigarh-based steel plant of industrialist and former Congress MP

Naveen

Jindal demanding `50 crore from him, police said on Tuesday. The letter was delivered by post at the Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) factory in Patrapali village last week, a police official said.

and zero fatality. The first confirmed coronavirus case of Maharashtra was detected in Pune on March 9, 2020. Two days later, the metropolis reported its first two patients of the respiratory illness.

Thereafter, with an

increase in testing and detection of new variants of COVID-19, the daily cases kept on rising and the city recorded its highest-ever single-day infection tally of 20,971 on January 6, 2022, at the peak of the third wave of the pandemic.

Since the end of November 2022, the number of daily coronavirus cases had started coming down drastically in the financial capital. After that, barring a few days, the city has been reporting single-digit COVID-19 cases.

MIN TALKS ABOUT APPT PROCESS

R ijiju said appts are an administrative issue, judicial pronouncements are “totally different”. “I am not commenting, or nobody should make any kind of comment when it is a judicial order. Some people may say that certain remarks are made which compromise independence of judiciary. “When we are talking about appt process, this is an administrative matter. This has nothing to do with judicial order or pronouncement,” he said.

is sad we were not consulted’

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The wrestlers who accused WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation on Tuesday rued that the government did not consult them before forming the oversight committee that will probe charges against the sports administrator. Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sarita Mor and Sakshi Malik, who staged a sit-in protest for three days demanding the sacking of the WFI president, posted identical tweet on the micro-blogging site, expressing their dismay.

TOP WRESTLERS

THAKUR

Shinde, Fadnavis meet Shah; discuss key devt projects

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Union HM Amit Shah held a meeting with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis in New Delhi on Tuesday. The sugar industry, and the cabinet expansion among other issues were discussed.

“Amit Shah has taken up sugar industry very seriously. There should be margin money, working capital, loan restructuring and strengthening of primary agriculture societies,” Shinde said.

FIRST

DGCA slaps `10 lakh fine on Air India

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The DGCA on Tuesday slapped a fine of `10 lakh on Tataowned Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-Delhi flight (AI142) on December 6,2022.

SHORT READ

l A BJP leader was shot dead in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Tuesday, following which one person was arrested, police said.

l RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is on a 5-day visit to Jaipur starting today. He will participate in various programmes and meetings related to the Sangh.

Indian film RRR’s ‘Naatu Naatu’ gets Oscar nod for best original song

California: RRR’s chart-bursting track Naatu Naatu has now entered the Oscars race. It bagged a nomination in the Best Original Song (Motion Picture) category. It is a proud moment for the entire country to see Indian Cinema touching the

peak of success. RRR fans have been going gaga over this achievement and are flooding social media with joy and excitement.

The aviation regulator said, “DGCA had issued a show cause notice to accountable manager of AI as to why Enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their obligations. AI submitted a reply on Jan 23 and it was examined.”

2 CASES OF UNRULY PASSENGERS ON THE PARIS-DELHI FLIGHT

l An inebriated passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and was allegedly not following instructions.

l Another passenger relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a passenger when she had gone to the lavatory.

5.8 magnitude quake hits Nepal, strong tremors jolt Delhi-NCR and other cities

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Strong tremors were felt across Delhi and the national capital region after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on Tuesday afternoon. According to the NCS, the quake hit Nepal at 2.28 pm and the epicenter was about 148 km east of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

TWO MORE NOMINATIONS FOR INDIA

2 Indian documentaries made it to nominationsShaunak’s ‘All That Breathes’ and Kartiki Gonsalves’ ‘The Elephant Whisperers’.

ALL THAT BREATHES: The film revolves around the lives of siblings Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad, who work out of their derelict basement in Delhi’s Wazirabad, to rescue and treat injured birds, especially the black kites.

THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS: It has been nominated in the ‘Documentary Short Film Category’ against ‘Haul Out,’ ‘How Do You Measure A Year?’ ‘The Martha Mitchell Effect,’ and ‘Stranger’.

The intense tremors in Delhi-NCR lasted for at least 15 seconds, with

3 KILLED, SEVERAL FEARED TRAPPED IN BUILDING COLLAPSE

3 people were killed while others are feared trapped after a residential building collapsed on Wazir Hasanganj Road in Lucknow. Apartment block collapsed 4 hours after earthquake hit north India.

people seen rushing out of their homes and the offices.

Numbers have been falling since November.

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

l Congratulations to my team: Keeravaani

Award will take place on March 13

Actors Jr NTR & Ram Charan in ‘Naatu Naatu’ song still from ‘RRR’.

Amit Shah, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis meet delegation of sugar millers from Maha to discuss the various issues related to the sugar mills and cooperative sector, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

TWEETED TAGGING MODI, SHAH,

We were assured that we will be consulted before the formation of the oversight committee. It’s really sad that we were not consulted,” the wrestlers tweeted and tagged PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah and Thakur.

‘Naatu Naatu’ is an award season favourite and has won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for best song

‘It

Wrestlers say on panel to probe the charges against the WFI chief

Ahmedabad: Architect and Padma Bhushan recipient Balkrishna Doshi, who worked with legends like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, died at 95 on Tuesday. Condolences poured in from various quarters over demise of Doshi, widely regarded as foremost architect of modern India.

Narendra Modi @narendramodi Dr BV Doshi Ji was a brilliant architect and a remarkable institution builder. The coming generations will get glimpses of his greatness by admiring his rich work across India. His passing away is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

SHAH LAUNCHES

MADE-ININDIA HPV VACCINE

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah launch the first made-in-India HPV vaccine on the occasion of National Girl Child Day and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

l Making Intelligence Bureau, RAW reports public a serious matter, says Rijiju on Supreme Court Collegium

l This is for the first time govt has reacted to portions of these reports put in public domain by Collegium

Moni Sharma

Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju poses for a picture during the award function for the E-Courts projects of the Dept of Justice and the Ministry of Law and Justice, in Delhi on Tuesday.

—Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice

l India’s 74th Republic Day parade tomorrow will be one of many firsts. Only ‘MADE IN INDIA’ weapon systems part of this parade and 10 other firsts. This is the first parade that will be held after New Delhi’s Rajpath was renamed as the Kartavya Path.

l President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit to India as the chief guest at R-Day celebrations on Thursday. MoS Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and senior officials of the MEA received President Sisi and his delegation at the airport. P8

CRUCIAL READ

FIRE GUTS CRUCIAL DOCUMENTS AT POLICE BHAVAN

Mum ex-CP Pandey was given target to arrest me: Fadnavis

any personal animosity against the eponymous Shiv Sena -Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief, who was previously CM.

Patra Chawl case adjourned to Feb 27

First India Bureau

Nagpur: A fire broke out in a storeroom of Police Bhavan, which houses the Nagpur police commissioner’s office. No one was reported injured in the incident but several documents were destroyed, said the officials. According to the fire department, the blaze started in the store room on the third floor of the building around 3 pm but was extinguished within 15 minutes. Important files related to the welfare department of the city police were gutted, said the officials.

TWO DIE AFTER FALLING FROM FLYOVER IN THANE

Thane: Two persons were killed after their scooter hit the wall of a flyover and they fell off the bridge in Thane on Tuesday, a civic official said. The scooter rider lost control of the vehicle and it hit the protection wall of the flyover. Both the victims fell from the flyover receiving severe injuries. They were rushed to the hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, he said. The deceased have been identified as Pratik Vinod More (21) and Rajesh Bechenprasad Gupta (26), the official informed.

FAKE ED OFFICERS

PULL ‘SPECIAL 26’; TWO DETAINED

Mumbai: Four persons impersonated Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers and raided a businessman’s office in Zaveri Bazaar area on Tuesday. They made off with Rs25 lakh in cash and 3kg gold worth Rs1.70 crore. The LT Marg police have lodged a case and have nabbed two persons for the crime, which is reminicent of the plot of the movie Special 26, in which a team of scammers pose as CBI officers and conduct fake raids to rob money. Further investigation is on.

Mumbai: In a major accusation against the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that former Mumbai police chief Sanjay Pandey had been given a “target” to arrest him. However, he quickly turned the revelation into a pat on his own back, by adding that the police officer could not succeed as he had done nothing wrong.

Fadnavis was speaking at a local event organized by a regional news channel.

“The MVA had given a target to then Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey to put me in jail. The MVA government had given orders to frame me or slap some criminal charges (on me) anyhow,” Fadnavis said.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader had been CM before the

MVA took the reins, and returned as deputy CM last year after Eknath Shinde’s revolt split the Shiv Sena and led to the collapse of the MVA, which also included the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.

“You can ask any police official and they will also tell you about it,” he said adding, “However, I had done nothing that would help them put me in jail, and thus they failed.”

Fadnavis also said that he does not hold

“At a function recently, I met ‘wahini’ (Rashmi Thackeray) and told her to convey my regards to (her husband) Uddhav Thackeray. This is Maharashtrian culture and I cannot disregard it,” he said.

Soon after the fall of the MVA government, Pandey, a 1986-batch retired Indian Police Officer, was arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal phone tapping of NSE employees. He is currently out on bail.

“Uddhav Thackeray completely stopped answering my phone calls. If he did not want to form an alliance (with BJP after 2019 state polls), he should have told me so,” Fadnavis said.

Mumbai: A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in a money laundering case against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and others to February 27.

Raut was present before special judge RN Rokade, who was meant to have heard the case before the framing of charges. However, the proceedings could not take place as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the case, had failed to submit summon reports to other accused.

The ED had arrested Raut on August 01 for his alleged role in financial irregularities in connection with the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon.

A special court here had granted him bail in November last year.

The ED’s investigation pertains to alleged

financial irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl and related financial transactions involving Raut’s wife and associates.

In 2008, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) assigned a redevelopment contract to Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd (GACPL), which was supposed to build 672 flats for the tenants and also give some flats to MHADA.

However, the tenants did not get a single flat in the last 14 years. The ED alleges that as the company sold land parcels and Floor Space Index instead of redeveloping the area.

Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police have arrested two persons and seized fake currency notes with the face value of Rs19 lakh from them, an official said on Tuesday.

India Bureau

First

Mumbai: Amid deteriorating Air Quality Index of Mumbai, especially during the winter, city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ashish Shelar has urged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to set up an enquiry panel.

He also blamed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government for Mumbai’s AQI dipping from “poor” to “very poor”.

Mumbai (PTI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said there were less chances of “large changes” in the weather in Mumbai and Maharashtra in the next 48 hours.

The IMD’s Mumbai unit refuted speculations that the temperatures might drop further during the rest of the week.

ards that all these construction activities would pose on the air quality of Mumbai, he added.

Palghar: Four women were stranded in a lift at Palghar railway station for nearly two hours before they were rescued by the railway and fire brigade personnel, a civic official said on Tuesday. The incident happened when the women took the lift to reach the platform but it stopped midway, he said. They panicked after the light and fan in the lift stopped working. The fire brigade and the local railway team reached the scene and rescued them after nearly two hours, the official said.

WOMEN TRAPPED IN RLY STATION LIFT RESCUED JAIL INMATE

Nagpur: A 70-year-old inmate of the central jail in Nagpur died of an ailment at a hospital in the city, an official said. The convict’s health condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the tuberculosis ward of a hospital on January 14 where he died on Monday afternoon, he said. The deceased was convicted in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, the official said.

Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap and nabbed one of the accused at Malwani on Monday and found fake notes with the face value of Rs1 lakh in his possession, the official said. The accused provided information about his aide, who was later nabbed from neighbouring Palghar district and fake notes worth Rs18 lakh were

recovered from his house, he said.

The accused have been arrested under section 489-B (using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency notes) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, he added.

“According to the environment experts, the financial concessions provided to the real estate sector during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government have led to the uncontrolled rise in construction projects being undertaken simultaneously across the city,” Shelar said.

Also, the building proposal and Environment Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) did not pay any attention to the environmental haz-

He also called for the accountability of errant officials over the worsening AQI.

Shelar also urged the BMC to draw a roadmap to make Mumbai a carbon-neutral city by 2035. A committee must be set up by the BMC to draw a roadmap to make Mumbai a carbon-neutral city by 2035. It must also get a scientific study done by Indian Institute

of Technology (IIT) to determine and establish construction density threshold activity that can be permitted per sq km to curb uncontrolled construction activities across the city, said the BJP leader.

‘’If all the government agencies team up and work towards this common cause, it will address Mumbai’s rising pollution crisis and will make our city once again a better place to live in,” said Shelar.

“There are two consecutive westerly disturbances likely to take place this week. However, indicators show that there are less chances of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, witnessing any large changes in weather. There are equal chances of temperature rising or falling by 1 °C in the next 48 hours,” a scientist at the IMD’s Mumbai centre explained.

Mumbai on Tuesday recorded a minimum temperature of 14 °C. It may increase or decrease by one degree depending on various factors that influence weather, she said.

First India Bureau

‘MVA govt had given orders to slap some criminal charges (on me) anyhow…. However, I had done nothing that would help them put me in jail’

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaking to the press.

—FILE PHOTO

Soon

after the fall of the MVA government, Pandey was arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal phone tapping of NSE employees

‘Officers responsible for Mumbai’s worsening AQI must be pulled up’

Security personnel were joined by the Scouts and Guides, and NCC cadets, in a dress rehearsal ahead of Thursday's Republic Day Parade, in Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mumbai police have declared the Shivaji Park area a 'no-fly' zone and issued prohibitory orders for 24 hours starting midnight on Republic Day.

—PHOTOS BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Sanjay Raut was granted bail in November. —FILE PHOTO

Mumbai’s AQI has steadily worsened over the past few months.

—FILE PHOTO

Ashish Shelar —FILE PHOTO

‘ Making sounds in own home doesn’t show sexual intent ’

VINDICTIVE

No coercive action against Naresh Goyal, until Jan 31

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to take any coercive steps against former Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita, till January 31.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has granted anticipatory bail to three persons accused of committing atrocities against a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC). The mere creation of sound by the accused in his own home cannot mean that it was with sexual intent, it observed.

A division bench comprising Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Abhay S Waghwase also noted that the appellants had tried to lodge complaints against the informant first, but the police re-

fused to register their complaint.

Merely because some sound is created by a person in his house we cannot directly infer that it is with such an intention that it is with sexual nature towards the informant. Therefore, even prima facie offence under Section 3(1)(w)(ii) of the Atrocities Act cannot be said to be attracted, the

Post 7 pm, this pavement turns into ‘open air bar’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Despite public drinking being illegal, the pavement outside Asiatic department store turns into an open bar every evening, with large groups drinking in the open till late at night.

However, there is no fear of action from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or the police among the partiers, as there is no official in sight there after 7 pm.

The spot is so popular that it has spawned a secondary business, with nearby stalls and hawkers supplying fried snacks and boiled eggs to those partying there.

According to a report by Mid-Day, even minors were seen consuming alcohol at the spot, which is located near Churchgate railway station.

Revellers buy their alcohol from nearby shops and plastic cups from a stall next to the department store.

A stall owner said, “My shop depends on these drinkers because I provide them with glasses and chakna (snacks), which are a basic re-

Even as locals youths give two hoots that drinking in public is illegal, cops look the other way

quirement for them. I have different types of glasses for beer and wine and various kinds of chakna.”

Asked whether the civic body took cognizance of the goings-on in the area, he replied, “The BMC never takes action after 7 pm and business starts in the evening.”

The person manning the boiled eggs stall said, “I come here with 500 boiled eggs every day and they are all sold out by late night. Some drinkers prefer eggs as they are healthy.”

Senior Inspector Nilesh Bagul of Marine Drive police station said, “My team will personally visit this spot and take action. Drinking in public is an offence. We will stop this nuisance.”

court held.

“When a law abiding citizen is adopting legal procedure and had gone to the police station to lodge a report, but it has not been taken, then, such person/s deserve to be protected”, stated the court.

The informant, a neighbour of the appellants, alleged that one of the appellants used to look at her in such a

manner which would outrage her modesty.

She alleged that the appellant shot video of her house from his mobile at night.

Further, he used to whistle from the terrace, make noises with help of utensils, and blow the reverse horn of his vehicle constantly. According to the FIR, the appellants pelted stones on the complain-

ant injuring her and the watchman.

After a special judge had rejected the anticipatory bail application of the appellants, they appealed under section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

TAKING THE BULL BY ITS HORNS

A division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan passed the order on a petition filed by the duo seeking quashing of the ECIR registered against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In the interim, they asked that no coercive steps be taken against them.

Senior advocates Ravi Kadam and Aabad Ponda, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that there was no predicate offence as required for the ED to investigate the ECIR.

The complaint

lodged with the MRA Marg police station, Mumbai has resulted in filing of a ‘C’ summary report by the police, they said.

The counsels further submitted that even the protest petition filed by ED was rejected and the order was confirmed by this HC as well as the SC. Therefore, the ECIR would have to be quashed, they said.

Advocate Shreeram Shirsat for the ED sought time to respond after which the matter was adjourned to January 31.

Haryana doc found injured on street in Mum rejoins family

Palghar (PTI): A 42-year-old woman doctor from Haryana found in an injured state on a street in Mumbai was reunited with her family following efforts made by a non-governmental organization in Palghar district.

HC extends interim protection to Rakhi Sawant

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to actor Rakhi Sawant till February 01 in connection with a case lodged against her by a model for allegedly circulating and displaying her obscene and ob-

MUMBAI’S FIRST METRO CREEK BRIDGE DONE

Mumbai: City’s first Metro viaduct over a water body is ready. The last section of the 550m bridge over Kasheli creek, was placed on Sunday, officials said. The Kashi creek bridge consists of 13 spans, including nine over water which were erected with the help of launching girders in 123 days. The Metro Orange Line 5 is a 24.90km long elevated corridor with 15 stations connecting Thane to Kalyan. It will be integrated with Green Line 4, which connects Thane to Wadala.

jectionable video.

Sawant had moved the HC on Monday, seeking pre-arrest bail in the case. A single bench of Justice MS Karnik had directed the police not to take any coercive action against the actor till the next hearing.

On Tuesday, the lawyer representing the model sought time to file

an intervention plea.

The court granted her time and adjourned the matter till next Wednesday. It also directed the police not to take any action against Sawant until then.

The police found Dr Karolina Kapoor with an infected head wound on a street in Mumbai’s Goregaon area on December 31, and admitted her to Jeevan Anand Sanstha’s Samarth Ashram in Palghar, a release by the NGO stated, without elaborating how she landed in the Maharashtra capital in the first place.

Cops not to take coercive action against actor accused of circulating model’s obscene and objectionable video-until February 01

Sawant’s lawyer on Monday told the court that she had been cooperating with the police since an FIR was registered against her in November 2022.

MUMBAI ROUND-UP

UNDERGROUND PARKING AT GAODEVI MAIDAN DELAYED FURTHER

Thane:

From the day Kapoor entered the ashram, a team of its workers made a concerted effort to trace her relatives through police in Delhi, Haryana and by using the internet, the organization’s trustee Kisan Choure said.

After 21 days of continuous efforts, the ashram’s clinical psychologist succeeded in con-

WILL TAKE OVER GOKHALE BRIDGE WORK MID-FEB: BMC

Mumbai: The civic body will begin constructing the new Gokhale Road bridge by mid-February, once the Western Railway (WR) hands

the portion of the tracks in Andheri. WR is dismantling the girder and pillars of the old bridge. “Initially, the support pillars for the girder will be constructed. By the time the pillars on both sides are completed, fabrication work on the girder will be complete,” an official said.

Cops found Dr Karolina Kapoor

Dec 31;

tacting Kapoor’s family after gathering information from her during the counselling sessions, he said.

The woman’s uncle and brother-in-law soon arrived in Mumbai and after a verification process at Goregaon police station, Kapoor was handed over to them, the official said.

Kapoor left for her home in Gurugram, Haryana on Monday after expressing her gratitude towards the staff at the organization.

BEST SEEKS TO REDUCE POWER TARIFF THIS YEAR

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has proposed to significantly decrease the monthly tariff for residential, industrial and commercial consumers in the year 2023-24. It has plans to charge slightly more for the next financial year 2024-25. BEST has asked for a dip in tariff between 1% and 17.01% for this year, which it wants to hike to 0.50% to 2%the next year. However, it has decided to keep the rate for Electric Vehicles constant for now, quoting a 2.13%37.93% hike in the sector for the next two years.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann poses with the iconic BSE Bull sculpture installed at the Bombay Stock Exchange, in Mumbai on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY HUSHAN KOYANDE

High Court grants pre-arrest bail to three persons booked under SC/ST Act for whistling

with an infected head wound in Mumbai on

she was reunited with her family on Monday

The inauguration of the underground parking lot constructed to solve the traffic congestion in the Thane station area has been delayed further with the code of conduct coming into effect ahead of the Konkan Teachers Constituency polls on January 31. The Thane Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Abhijit Bangar said the process of awarding the contract to the winning bidder from the tender process will be done on a priority basis.

over

First India Bureau

BOLLYWOOD BASHING

PM MODI SILENCES PARTY MOTORMOUTHS

movies’

ROBIN ROY

The writer is Senior Journalist and former Managing Editor, First India

On January 5, 2023, veteran action star Suniel Shetty had urged the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to help the Bollywood film industry get rid of the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ trend. Shetty said this when CM Yogi Adityanath had met members of the Bollywood fraternity in Mumbai.

Shetty had said, “Hashtag ‘BoycottBollywood’ can stop with your help. It’s important to convey that we’ve done good work. There can be one rotten apple but 99 percent of us don’t indulge in any wrongdoing. We’ve to change this perception. If you take the lead and also talk to the PM, it will make a difference.”

The hashtag ‘Boycott Bollywood’ had started trending after actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely demise.

CUT — 2

It may be noted that on Last Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi’s warning to party workers to avoid ‘unnecessary comments’ on films amid boycott calls was hailed widely by the film fraternity. PM Modi’s statement came amid protests from BJP leaders like Ram Kadam and Narottam Mishra.

CM Yogi recently invited prominent members from the entertainment industry to explore his state as a film-making destination.

CM Yogi said under his government’s film policy, if a web series is filmed in UP, it will be given a 50 per cent subsidy. Likewise, a 25 per cent subsidy is given for setting up studios and film labs. CM Yogi also met Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd, after interacting with Bollywood members

“If the PM snubs his own people and tells them to shut up and not talk nonsense against the film industry, which is not their area, for mere publicity, it is a big boost of confidence for the industry. That the PM of the country is with you. The signal goes to not only the politicians, but even people from the media, our own industry itself,” Ashoke Pandit, president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) said in an interview to Indian Express.

PM Narendra Modi had laid down a series of dos and don’ts for party leaders on Wednesday at the end of the two-day National Executive of the BJP.

Meanwhile, as usual there will be people to draw mileage out of everything. When the fraternity was facing

KOSHYARI’S OFFER TO STEP DOWN

The Prime Minister’s comment was the much-needed booster for the Bollywood industry. It may be noted that the entertainment industry had contributed Rs 50,0000 crore to the economy, equating to 0.5% of GDP way back in 2013, according to the report ‘Economic Contribution of the Indian Motion Picture and Television Industry’, by financial services firm Deloitte. The sector also supports 18.8 lakh jobs.

flak, Shetty stood like a rock to defend Bollywood, however, with the Prime Minister’s warning to his leaders to refrain from making such comments, actor Akshay Kumar on Sunday jumped onto the issue and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for asking BJP workers to refrain from making unnecessary remarks on films and this too he did during the promotions of his latest film!

Akshay went on to say the PM was the “India’s biggest influencer” and if his words can bring about some change it will be great for the film indus-

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and controversies are inseparable but there’s nothing controversial about his latest move to step down as governor and “to quit active politics”. Koshyari said that during a recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi he conveyed his desire to relinquish his gubernatorial post to “spend the remainder of my life in reading, writing and other activities”. While New Delhi mulls its response, a Raj Bhawan statement said, “It was an absolute honour and privilege for me to serve as Raj Sevak or Rajyapal of a great state like Maharashtra.”

In November 2022 Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray)

DIGVIJAYA SINGH MAKES CONGRESS SQUIRM WITH HIS PULWAMA REMARK

IS SHAH RUKH KHAN?

Amid

the

Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Saturday said he doesn’t know ‘Pathan-Sathan’. He questioned, “Who is Shah Rukh Khan?” and said he doesn’t know anything about the film. Talking to the media, CM Sarma said, “I don’t know anything about him or his film Pathaan. I don’t know who is Shah Rukh. If there is any protest that has created a law-and-order situation in the state, we will see for it.”

Himanta Biswa Sarma @himantabiswa Bollywood actor Shri @ iamsrk called me and we talked today morning at 2 am. He expressed concern about an incident in Guwahati during the screening of his film. I assured him that it’s the duty of the state govt to maintain law & order. We’ll enquire and ensure no such untoward incidents.

try. “Positivity is always welcome. And if our Prime Minister is saying something like this... He is India’s biggest influencer. If he is saying something and if things change it’ll be great for the industry.

“And why not, things should change, because we go through so much. We make films, go to the censor board, get them passed and then someone says something and phir gadbad ho jati hai (it becomes a mess). But now that he has said it, I think it’ll be better for us,” Akshay said. Sadly, Akshay “realised” this for his fraternity only after

Koshyari said that during a recent visit of PM Narendra Modi he conveyed his desire to relinquish his gubernatorial post to “spend the remainder of my life in reading, writing and other activities”

leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Koshyari had offered to resign but the claim was refuted by the Raj Bhawan. This was in the backdrop of Koshyari calling Chhatrapati Shivaji as an icon of the past and calling Dr BR Ambedkar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as the modern-day icons.

Prime Minister’s positive comment came in .

The Prime Minister’s comment was the much-needed booster for the Bollywood industry. It may be noted that the entertainment industry had contributed Rs 50,0000 crore to the economy, equating to 0.5% of GDP way back in 2013, according to the report ‘Economic Contribution of the Indian Motion Picture and Television Industry’, by financial services firm Deloitte. The sector also supports 18.8 lakh jobs.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

He again hurt the Maratha pride when he said that Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Shivaji Maharaj contrary to the belief that the warrior’s mother was his guru. His earlier remark that Mumbai would cease to be the financial capital if people from Gujarat and Rajasthan were to leave the megapolis pitted the Marwaris against Marathis. His remarks against Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule’s child marriage had also raised tempers.

After several run-ins with the MVA government, the offer to resign could be in search of happiness as Koshyari once told a Jain spiritual leader that he never got happiness as governor. “Only unhappiness came my way,” he said.

day after former MP CM Digvijaya Singh raised the Pulwama terror attack and sought proof of the surgical strike deep inside the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the senior Congress leader got strong rebuff from Rahul Gandhi at whose Bharat Jodo Yatra the remark was made. “They are his personal remarks, not of the party,” Rahul Gandhi said. Another senior party leader Jairam Ramesh also tweeted that the views expressed by “Digvijaya do not reflect the position of Cong. Cong has supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in national interest”. Singh obviously had caused huge embarrassment to party which is not raising any issues which would help BJP.

If Digvijaya thinks that divisive issues will work in favour of Congress he is grossly mistaken. Polarisation will only drive majority community towards BJP. Since 2014 polarisation has made BJP’s stronger. Singh cannot match what BJP has to offer its voters.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Buddha

Best wishes to the people of the state on the foundation day of Uttar Pradesh, the land of cultural heritage and spirituality. Uttar Pradesh is moving forward on the path of progress by taking Modi ji’s welfare schemes and development policies down to the bottom. I wish for the continuous progress of the state and welfare of the people of the state.

Z Irani

Hearty greetings to all the people of the state on the foundation day of “Uttar Pradesh”, the land of cultural diversity, heritage and spirituality. Over the years, Uttar Pradesh has contributed significantly in the progress of the country. I wish that the state continues to move on the path of development and prosperity in the same way.

MAHENG/2022/14652

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701. Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville Parle East, Mumbai 400057. Phone 022-46031417.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Amit Shah @AmitShah

Smriti

@smritiirani

CM ADITYANATH HARD-SELLS UP

the

WHO

protests against SRK’s Pathaan staged by Bajrang Dal in Assam,

state’s chief minister,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had warned all his party members against making ‘unnecessary comments on the

MODI’S ‘BOOSTER’ FOR BOLLYWOOD INDUSTRY...

BBC DOCUMENTARY ON PM MODI STIRS INT’L POLITICS

First India Bureau

New Delhi: BBC’s recent controversial documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created stir not only in Indian but in international politics.

While, last week last week, UK PM Rishi Sunak had defended PM Modi and distanced himself from the BBC documentary series, now the United States (US) has has distanced itself from the controversial documentary.

Responding to questions raised by a Pakistani journalist, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Monday told reporters that Washington shares an “exceptionally deep partnership” with New Delhi based on values that are common to both the US and Indian democracies.

In India, while Opposition has grabbed this opportunity to fire fresh salvos at PM Modi, the BJP on Tuesday received over this documentary support from unexpected quarters from senior Congress leader and former AK Antony’s son Anil Antony.

Jammu: Amid a row over controversial BBC documentary on PM Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said any kind of ban, oppression and frightening people are not going to stop the truth from coming out. At a press conference, Gandhi said, “If you read our scriptures, if you read Bhagavad Gita or you read the Upanishads, you will see in it, it is written that the truth cannot be hidden. The truth always comes out.”

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader AK Antony’s son Anil Antony said on Tuesday that placing the views of the BBC over Indian institutions would “undermine” the country’s sovereignty.

Antony Junior had handled Congress’ digital communications in Kerala till recently. His remarks come at a time when various wings of the state Congress have announced that the screening of the controversial documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots will be done in the state.

Bharat Jodo Yatra has changed narrative in country: Rahul Gandhi

Jammu (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said his Bharat Jodo Yatra has achieved success in “changing the narrative” in the country and brought crores of people together to denounce hatred and spread the message of love.

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS have created an atmosphere of hatred in the country and said suppressing or frightening people cannot stop the truth from coming out.

“The yatra has achieved something fundamental, very powerful and what the yatra has done cannot be changed. It has shown that there are two visions of India, one is hate-filled, arrogant and cowardly and another is love-filled,

RAHUL GANDHI DISTANCES FROM DIGVIJAYA SINGH’S REMARKS ON SURGICAL STRIKES

Jammu (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he and the party do not agree with Digvijaya Singh’s comments on surgical strikes and that the armed forces do not need to give any proof. Singh on Monday had questioned the surgical strikes and accused the government of peddling lies. “I don’t agree with the statement of Digvijaya Singh. It is crystal clear that we disagree with it. It is the official position of the Congress,” Gandhi told reporters here.

embracing and brave. It (yatra) has made these two visions absolutely

Nagrota (ANI): Amid an ongoing row over his questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes, Digvijaya Singh trying to put an end to the row said here on Tuesday: “I have got the greatest regard for the Defence forces”. Meanwhile, an agitated Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the media on Tuesday who had posed queries over this issue.

WHY LATE IN SNUB TO DIGVIJAYA: BJP TO

RaGa

Ramcharitmanas remarks: Maurya lands in trouble

BBC DOCUMENTARY SCREENED IN KERALA; BJP HOLDS PROTESTS

Thiruvananthapuram: The controversial BBC documentary was screened across Kerala on Tuesday by various political organisations, as the BJP youth wing went up in arms protesting against the screening. Protest marches were taken out by Yuva Morcha to the Victoria College in Palakkad and Govt Law College in Ernakulam where SFI followed through with its announcement to screen the documentary.

JNUSU’S PLAN OF SCREENING GETS ‘CUT’ SANS ELECTRICITY

New Delh: A row erupted in JNU as a poster was purportedly released by its students’ union announcing the screening of a controversial BBC documentary on PM Modi at its office on Tuesday, prompting university authorities to issue a warning to cancel the event or face “strict disciplinary action”. Later, there was no electricity at the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus since 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD VARSITY STUDENTS GROUP SCREENS DOCUMENTARY

Hyderabad: A section of students at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has screened the BBC documentary on PM Modi on its campus, prompting the University authorities to seek a report. The documentary, was screened on Sunday by a group of students under the banner “Fraternity Movement- HCU unit”, on the campus of the UoH, also known as Hyderabad Central University (HCU).

MCD adjourned again without electing mayor

New Delhi (PTI): The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) could not elect a mayor as its proceedings were adjourned on Tuesday, a second instance of the new House convening for mayoral poll but not being able to complete the process, prompting a protest by Aam Aadmi Party councillors and MLAs.

There was an unusual security arrangement for the House proceeding with personnel deployed on the Civic Centre premises, and in the House as well.

However, there was a heated discussion between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members following which presiding officer Satya Sharma, a BJP councillor, adjourned the House without holding the poll.

BJP SHOULD ACCEPT MCD POLL DEFEAT: MANISH SISODIA

New Delhi: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Tuesday asked the BJP to accept their defeat in the MCD polls and help ensure the smooth conduct of mayoral elections. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House was adjourned on Tuesday without electing a mayor and deputy mayor amid a ruckus by some councillors.

AAP RUNNING AWAY FROM MAYORAL POLL: MANOJ TIWARI

New Delhi: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari alleged the AAP was running away from the elections of mayor and deputy mayor despite having majority in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, as the House was adjourned amid a chaos on Tuesday. Tiwari alleged that the AAP leaders, including party councilors, misbehaved with BJP leaders.

IN THE COURTYARD

CHANDIGARH COURT VACATED AFTER BOMB THREAT

HC SAYS NO TO UNAUTHORISED RECORDING, LIVE STREAMING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS

crystal clear,” Rahul Gandhi told a press conference here.

New Delhi (PTI): Why did Rahul Gandhi take so long to publicly declare his respect for the armed forces, the BJP asked on Tuesday, slamming Gandhi for dismissing Digvijaya Singh’s controversial comments on surgical strikes as his “personal opinion”. It also asked the Congress to make its stand clear on the issues of terrorism and national security.

Lucknow (PTI): An FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday over his controversial remarks on ‘Ramcharitmanas’, police said. “A case has been registered against Swami Prasad Maurya at the Hazratganj police station for allegedly outraging religious feelings with his recent remarks on Ramcharitmanas,” police said. The FIR was registered following a complaint by a resident of Aishbagh in Bazar Khala area of UP.

The first information report (FIR) was lodged under various provisions and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Chandigarh: The Chandigrah Security officials launched a search operation in the District Court Complex after a bomb threat, the officials said to the news agency ANI on Tuesday.

“A search operation is still underway and a dog squad has been brought in to check if there have been any bomb,”

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has prohibited the unauthorised recording, sharing, or dissemination of live-streamed proceedings or archival data of proceedings. The court notified the rules for live streaming and recording of court proceedings, and said, “To imbue greater transparency, inclusivity, and foster access to justice, it is expedient to set up infrastructure and framework to enable live streaming and recording of proceedings.” These rules were notified in the official gazette on January 13, 2023.

COURT ALLOWS NIRAV MODI’S FORMER FINANCE HEAD TO TRAVEL ABROAD

New

BILKIS CASE: CONVICTS’ REMISSION COULD NOT BE HEARD IN SC

New Delhi: The hearing on Bilkis Bano’s plea challenging the remission of sentence of 11 convicts in the gang-rape case by the Gujarat government, could not be held in the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the judges concerned were hearing a matter related to passive euthanasia as part of a five-judge Constitution

Speaker Birla inaugurates Jio True 5G in Kota

First India Bureau

Kota: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launched Jio True 5G services in Kota on Tuesday. With this, Kota has become the 6th city in Rajasthan to get Jio True 5G services, after Nathdwara, Jaipur, Jodhpur,

Udaipur, and Bikaner. In the next couple of months, Jio True 5G services will be available in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Alwar, Sikar, And Ganganagar as well. By the end of 2023, every town, taluka and tehsil of Rajasthan will have Jio True 5G coverage.

Starting from Tuesday, the technological advantages of highspeed, low-latency, stand-alone True 5G services shall be made available to the people

and businesses of the city, opening new growth opportunities in the areas of tourism,

manufacturing, SMEs, e-governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, automation,

artificial intelligence, gaming, and IT.

Speaking on the occasion, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla said, “In the era of research and innovation, True 5G will prove to be a milestone in the development story of the country. With the help of this latest technology, people from remote areas will become part of the mainstream. This will improve the quality of life in the country. India is among the few countries where

5G technology is available. India will become a global economy with the help of 5G. I thank Reliance Jio for launching 5G services in Kota.”

Kota has traditionally been an important industrial destination of Rajasthan and over the past few decades, it has also become India’s coaching hub. Thousands of aspiring young students come to the city each year to prepare for competitive examinations.

bench. The petition of Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and seven members of her family slaughtered during the 2002 Gujarat riots, was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday by a bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar.

Conspiracy on to weaken Nitish, claims Kushwaha

Patna (PTI): JD(U)’s sulking parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday alleged that he was being undermined within the party as part of a “conspiracy” to “politically weaken” his mentor CM Nitish Kumar. Talking to reporters here, the former Union minister, whose recent meeting with BJP leaders in Delhi has raised many eyebrows, said he was ready to clear the air if given an opportunity. “Nitish Kumar can

summon me for an explanation. A meeting of the party can also be convened. But I will keep raising my voice against any attempts to weaken the chief minister,” said Kushwaha.

GLOBAL VIEWS: After UK PM Sunak last week, now US has distanced itself from controversial documentary

In India, Oppn has grabbed this opportunity to fire fresh salvos at the PM

LS Speaker Om Birla during the function in Kota on Tuesday.

PM Narendra Modi interacts with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Awardees 2023, in New Delhi on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

TRUTH HAS NASTY HABIT OF COMING OUT: RAHUL GANDHI

BAN UPCOMING MOVIE ON GODSE: OWAISI TELLS CENTRE

AK ANTONY’S SON ANIL ANTONY OPPOSES BBC DOCUMENTARY

Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded the BJP-led Centre to ban an upcoming Hindi film on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse like it blocked the BBC documentary on PM Narendra Modi. Addressing a public meeting here on Sunday, the AIMIM leader said the Government of India has to take a clear-cut stand that a ban will be imposed on the movie ‘Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh’ and it will not be released in any theatre.

DEEPEST REGARD FOR ARMY: DIGVIJAYA SINGH

they added. The district courts and the police officials said that the District Court, Chandigarh was vacated immediately and all the lawyers were told to leave the premises. Till the filing of this report no bomb was found. More details are awaited.

Delhi: A Mumbai special court has quashed a look out circular issued by CBI against the former chief financial officer of Nirav Modi’s Firestar International Ltd company which is accused in Rs 6,498 crore scam pulled off by the diamantaire at large, officials said on Tuesday. The court agreed with the submission of Ravi Shankar Gupta that he is highly qualified and is required to travel outside the country as he is the executive director of a multinational company. Gupta had said that he had appeared 31 times before the CCBI for questioning.

Rahul Gandhi leads Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu on Tuesday.

Ruckus at MCD House meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Upendra Kushwaha

DRDO to showcase tableau on surveillance, communication

New Delhi: Delivering on its mandate of developing state-of-the art defence systems, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase one tableau and one equipment during Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path on January 26, 2023. ‘Securing Nation with Effective Surveillance, Communication and Neutralizing Threats’ is the theme of the first tableau of DRDO. This tableau has been categorised into four parts.

The first part is displaying Underwater Surveillance Platforms, which include sonars like Ushus-2 for submarines, Humsa series of sonars for ships and Low Frequency Dunking Sonar for helicopter launch surveillance.

The second part of this tableau will have Land Surveillance, Communication and Neutralising platforms showcasing D4 counter drone systems, which can perform real time search, detection, tracking and neutralize targets. Two units of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) Weapon System, Battery Multifunction Radar (BMFR) and Missile Launcher Vehicle (MLV) are also being displayed. The QRSAM is an all-weather, airdefence system that provides mobile air defence cover to mechanized assets of Indian Army in the Tactical

MHA APPROVES ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM FOR R-DAY PARADE

New Delhi: The MHA has approved the request of the Delhi Police to deploy the latest anti-drone system of DRDO, which has features like radar and soft kill and hard kill, as part of security arrangements for the Republic Day parade on January 26 and the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29, The Indian Express has learnt. Sources said a request from the Delhi Police was sent by Special CP, Madhup Kumar Tiwari, asking to deploy ADS during the Republic day celebration. “A request was received by the internal-security division of MHA and a meeting was held by the Secretary (security) earlier this month to discuss overall security arrangements,” a source said.

SINGH REVIEWS PREPS FOR AERO INDIA

Bengaluru (PTI): The upcoming Aero India exhibition in Bengaluru will not only display the country’s growing prowess in the aerospace sector but will also demonstrate the rise of a strong and self-reliant “New India”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. The 14th edition of Aero India, billed as Asia’s largest aerospace exhibition, will be held in Bengaluru from February 13 to 17.Singh made the remarks while chairing a high-level meeting where he reviewed the preparations for the mega exhibition.Officials said 731 exhibitors have registered for the event so far.“The five-day event on the theme ‘the runway to a billion opportunities’ will be the largest-ever aero show organised at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in a total area of around 35,000 sq metres,” the defence ministry said.

DELHI POLICE STEPS UP SECURITY

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have stepped up anti-sabotage checks, verification drives and patrolling in the national capital ahead of Republic Day. Anti-sabotage checks are being conducted in markets, high footfall areas and other prominent places by the Bomb Disposal Team along with dog squads, police said. The police are checking hotels and lodges as well as sensitising the staff there to inform police immediately.

LIQUOR SHOPS TO BE CLOSED ON JAN 26

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday announced six dry days between January 26 and March 31, in the wake of Republic Day and other festive days.The state’s Excise Department of the Delhi Government has issued the orders following reversing the previous excise policy.

Battle Area. Besides, two versions of Software Defined Radio –Manpack and Handheld are part of this tableau. DRDO has developed

Boy injured in IED blast triggered by CPI (Maoists)

Chaibasa (PTI): A boy was injured on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by outlawed CPI(Maoists) exploded in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, a police officer said.

The incident occurred when the 13-yearold, boy, who was on his way to a market, came under the impact of the blast triggered by the CPI (Maoists) near Arahata village, the officer said.

The injured boy was rushed to a health centre where he was pro-

vided first aid, Officerin-Charge of Goilkera police station, Rahul Singh said.

Earlier, two villagers had been killed in two separate IED explosions in Nov and Dec last year. Today’s incident took place at a time when Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was holding a review meeting on development work with senior district officials before taking part in ‘Khatiyan Johar’ yatra in the district headquarters town of Chaibasa, around 30 to 35 km from the spot.

the Software Defined Radio for secured communication.

The third part of this tableau is showcasing Aerial Surveillance and

Communication platforms Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) and TAPAS BH Medium Altitude Long Endurance

(MALE) UAV. AEW&C is a true force multiplier, with surveillance, communication, and electronic warfare capabilities.

EC’s int’l conference on election integrity concludes

New Delhi: The Election Commission’s (EC) international conference on the use of technology and election integrity – attended by election officials from 16 countries – will wrapped up on Tuesday, with EC

Anup Chandra Pandey giving a speech on the “way forward”, according to the poll panel.

The conference, which started on Monday, is the second-such event organised by the EC under the United

INDIGENOUS OPERATING SYSTEM

States’ Summit for Democracy initiative.

On Monday, CEC Rajiv Kumar said during the inaugural session that social media platforms had the power to detect and act against “deep fakes”.

can have its own disaster response model’

New Delhi (PTI): Being a vast country with diverse terrains, India can have its own disaster response model which can be emulated by other countries, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday. “While it is important to learn from global best practices and follow SOPs, let us learn from the national examples of emergency and disaster response in the past few decades and enrich our model from learning and insights from these,” he said.

‘BharOS’, Made-in-India operating system, tested

The BharOS is an Indian govtfunded project to develop a free and opensource operating system (OS) for use in government and public systems

New Delhi: Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday tested ‘BharOS’, an indigenous operating system developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT).

“Congratulations to everyone involved in developing the system. For the very first time when our Prime Minis-

ter Narendra Modiji talked about digital India eight years ago, some of our friends

mocked him, but today, technocrats, innovators, industries and policymakers, and aca-

demic institutions of the country have accepted his vision after eight years,” he said.

“There will be difficulties in this journey and there are many people around the world who will bring difficulties and will not want any such system to be successful,” Mr Vaishnaw said.

BharOS, a new mobile operating system, focuses on privacy and security. A mobile operating system is a soft-

ware that is the core interface on a smartphone like Android by Google and iOS by Apple. The BharOS is an Indian governmentfunded project to develop a free and opensource operating system (OS) for use in government and public systems. The project aims to reduce the dependence on foreign OS in smartphones and promote the use of locally developed technology.

SHRADDHA WALKAR CASE

Walkar met friend, boyfriend got violent: Cops on murder motive

New Delhi: Aaftab Poonawala murdered his girlfriend Shraddha Walkar in anger after she went to meet a friend, the police said in the chargesheet into the macabre murder case.

In the 6,629-page chargesheet, the Delhi Police said Aaftab Poonawala became extremely violent when he came to know his girlfriend had gone out to meet the friend. “The accused did not like the fact that she had gone to meet a friend. He became worried. He killed her that day,” Joint Commissioner of Police Meenu Choudhary told reporters today.

After allegedly killing Shraddha Walkar, 27, in May in their rented Delhi flat, Aaftab Poonawala, 28, had chopped up her body and discarded the body parts into a nearby forest and other

places over nearly three weeks to hide evidence. Both had moved to Delhi from Mumbai in May itself and were live-in partners.

The police said they formed nine teams to crack the case and even sent some of them to Haryana, Himachal and Maharashtra to collect evidence and talk to people for a larger picture.

“We collected body parts for a long time. A lot of technology went into analysing the evidence. We got a DNA and other forensic tests done,” Ms Choudhary said.

The police took the statements of some 150 people while framing the chargesheet. Aaftab Poonawala used over five kinds of knives and other tools to chop up his girlfriend’s body, the police said in the chargesheet.

‘India

Aaftab Poonawala

Anup Chandra Pandey addressing the concluding ceremony of the ECI.

Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw tested ‘BharOS’.

Shraddha Walkar

RAJNATH

Players perform Mallakhamba or mallakhamb (a traditional sport) ahead of the Republic Day in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Defence forces personnel perform daredevil stunts during the rehearsal for the R-Day event.

Mallakhamba players perform fiery stunts balancing of a pole.

A daredevil performs dangerous stunt during the event.

Nihangs perform Sikh martials arts during the function ahead of R-Day in New Delhi, on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Reliance Jio on Tuesday announced the roll out of its 5G services across 50 cities, terming it the largest-ever launch of these services.

These cities are spread across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Kerala. Other States include Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, UP and West Bengal.

With this, Jio users across 184 cities are now experiencing 5G services, the telco’s said. —PTI

MSI Q3 NET JUMPS

OVER TWO-FOLD TO `2,351 CRORE

Focusing on what is mutually acceptable

Gandhinagar (PTI): Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that in the talks for the proposed free trade agreement between India and the UK, the focus is on what is acceptable to both countries and not allow sensitive issues to scuttle the discussions.

He also said that student visas are never part of a FTA. India has recently concluded the sixth round of talks with the UK and the next round will be held soon. Negotiations with the UK started on January 13 last year with an aim to boost bilateral trade and investments. The bilateral trade between the two coun-

tries increased to $17.5 billion in 2021-22 compared to $13.2 billion in 2020-21. In-

Government to hold separate consultation on PIB fact check

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reported over two-fold jump in its net profit to `2,351.3 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2022, on account of robust sales aided by enhanced product portfolio. During the third quarter of 2022-23, the company said its net sales rose to `27,849.2 crore while the same stood at `22,187.6 crore in the same period of 2021-22. It sold a total of 4,65,911 vehicles during the third quarter of FY23. —PTI

TOLL COLLECTION THROUGH

FASTAG GROWS 46% IN 2022

New Delhi (PTI): Amid outrage over a plan to give powers to its arm PIB to police fake news on social media, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday said that the government will next month hold discussions with stakeholders before the proposal is implemented.

The minister said that the rules for regulating online gaming are expected to

OTHER STORIES

dia’s exports stood at $10.5 billion in 2021-22, while imports were $7 billion. “With

be notified by January 31 after which these will be tabled in Parliament.

“We will hold separate consultation (on PIB fact check) sometime early next month,” Chandrasekhar said when asked about clarification on the proposed amendment to the IT rules 2021. Chandrasekhar also said that the consultation on Digital Personal Data Protection Act is over.

ZOMATO REBRANDING, NOT SHUTTING DOWN 10-MINUTE INSTANT FOOD-DELIVERY SERVICE: CO

New Delhi: Zomato is rebranding Instant, its ten-minute food delivery service, and not shutting it down, a company spokesperson said. The statement has come amid reports claiming that the company was planning to close Instant, launched less than a year ago, owing to tough market conditions. However, the spokesperson clarified that it was working on a new menu for the service. “Instant is not shutting down. We are working on a new menu with our partners and rebranding the business. All finishing stations remain intact, and no people are impacted by this decision,” the spokesperson said. PTI

UK, our approach is let’s focus on what is acceptable to both the countries and

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z Negotiations with the UK started on Jan 13, 2021 with an aim to boost bilateral trade and investments. The bilateral trade between the two countries increased to $17.5 billion in 2021-22

let us not allow sensitive issues to scuttle our discussions,” Goyal said.

When asked about a statement of a UK official that granting more students visas for India is not part of this agreement, Goyal said: “Have you ever heard of student visas being part of FTA? How many students

‘India’s services exports to cross $300 billion target for this fiscal’

Gandhinagar (PTI): The country’s services exports are doing “extremely well” and going by the current trend these outbound shipments would register about 20% growth in this fiscal and cross the $300 billion target despite global economic uncertainties, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

He said that on the merchandise front also, exports are so far registering healthy growth despite the world being under recession, huge inflationary pressure, and overstocking of various commodities.

With all these stress, where every global leader is talking of “very” tough times, India’s exports rose 9% year-on-year during April-December 2022-23.

“On services though, we have done extremely well. On services we are proba-

TOP TALKING POINTS

z During April-Dec 2022-23, overall exports rose 9% to $332.76 billion while imports increased 24.96% to $551.7 billion. Trade deficit during the nine-month period widened to $218.94 billion as against $136.45 billion

bly going to do at least a 20% growth and by the current trends, we will exceed the target of $300

billion this year.

“So all in all, it will be a very very satisfying year, given the global headwinds and the stress that is reported from almost every part of the world,” he told reporters.

During April-December 2022-23, overall exports rose 9% to $332.76 billion while imports increased 24.96% to $551.7 billion. Trade deficit during the nine-month period widened to $218.94 billion.

z British trade min Kemi, who is in-charge of the negotiations, recently stated that the trade agreement is expected to be clinched this year

z Goyal said FTAs are never negotiated either in newspaper articles, news conferences or in public functions

go there (UK) to study? It’s never a part of an FTA”.

British trade minister Kemi Badenoch, who is incharge of the negotiations, recently stated that the trade agreement is expected to be clinched this year but it won’t involve any boost of free movement visa offers for Indians.

Scrap windfall tax: FICCI to govt

New Delhi (PTI): The government should scrap the windfall profit tax on domestically produced crude oil as the levy is adversely impacting the capex-intensive exploration of oil and gas, the industry said in its recommendation for the forthcoming annual budget. India first imposed windfall profit taxes on July 1, joining a growing number of nations that tax super normal profits of energy companies. At that time, a ` 23,250 per tonne windfall profit tax on domestic crude production was levied. The new tax, which was also slapped on the export of petrol, diesel and ATF, is calibrated every fortnight in step.

New Delhi: Total toll collection through FASTag on fee plazas, including state highway toll plazas, increased 46% to `50,855 crore in 2022, state-owned NHAI said on Tuesday. Total toll collection through FASTag on fee plazas, including state highway toll plazas, in 2021 was `34,778 crore.

The average daily toll collection through FASTag on NH fee plazas in December 2022 was `134.44 crore, and the single day highest collection touched `144.19 crore on December 24, 2022, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said. —PTI

New Delhi: Coffee Day Enterprises was fined `260 million ($3.2 million) by the markets watchdog for failing to recover dues from a sister concern, an order published on the regulator’s website showed on Tuesday.

The Sebi also asked Coffee Day to recover `35.35 billion from Mysore Amalgamated Coffee Estates Ltd and other connected entities. These funds were diverted from the company and its seven subsidiaries. PTI

VISTARA TO HAVE 70 PLANES IN FLEET BY MID-2024: CEO

New Delhi: Full service carrier

Vistara will continue to expand and expects to have a total of 70 planes by mid-2024, its chief Vinod Kannan said on Tuesday.

The airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, reported an operating profit for the first time since inception in the three months ended December 2022. By the middle of next year, Kannan said it will have a total of 70 aircraft, including 7 Boeing 787s. PTI

BUT REMAINS POSITIVE

New Delhi: Gold price rose `295 to `57,217 per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday amid gains in the precious metal globally, according to HDFC Securities. The yellow metal had ended at `56,922 per 10 grams in the previous trade. Silver, however, declined `63 to `68,779 per kilogram.

“Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at `57,217 per 10 grams, up `295 per 10 grams,” said an analyst at HDFC Securities. —PTI

5G network can be misused for drug trafficking, traffic financing

New Delhi (PTI): Warning against the vulnerabilities of the high-speed 5G telecom network, papers submitted at a key security meet have noted that it can provide an excellent platform for middlemen and agents for creating linkages for crimes such as drug trafficking, human and organ trafficking, money laundering and terror financing.

The papers noted that the 5G network is built on

easily accessible and open Internet protocols and it inherit all the vulnerabilities of previous generations which make it vulnerable to cyber-attacks and compromising the security of the entire system.

Sentiment in realty sector drops in Dec qtr

New Delhi (PTI): The sentiment index in the real estate sector dropped in October-December 2022 but remained in positive zone amid geopolitical concerns and bleak global economy outlook, according to Knight Frank and Naredco.

The future sentiment index, which reflects the outlook for the next six months, improved marginally. As per the report, the current sentiment score moderated from 61 in Q3 2022 to 59 in Q4 2022.

The sentiment index is based on the survey of supply-side stakeholders like

developers, investors and financial institutions.

The score of above 50 indicates optimism in

sentiments.

The moderation in sentiment was mainly on account of a bleak global eco-

MAJOR FINDINGS

z The sentiment index in the real estate sector dropped in October-December 2022 but remained in positive zone amid geopolitical concerns and bleak global economy outlook

z The future sentiment index, which reflects the outlook for the next six months, improved marginally

nomic scenario and geopolitical risks due to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, the consultant said.

Sensex, Nifty trim gains to close almost flat in choppy trade sessions

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark Sensex trimmed early gains to close marginally higher while Nifty settled flat in choppy trade on Tuesday as gains in auto shares were offset by selling pressure in banking and energy shares.

The 30-share BSE barometer closed marginally up by 37.08 points or 0.06% to 60,978.75 with 15 of its stocks ending in green and the rest in red. The index opened higher and gained over 300 points to a high of 61,266.06 in early trade.

The index, however, dropped over 400 points from the day’s high to touch a low of 60,849.12 due to selling in select counters. The broader NSE Nifty closed flat at 18,118.30 with 29 of its shares ending in red and 21 in green.

Among major gainers, Tata Motors rose the most by 3.26%.

Maruti rose by 3.23% after its posted a two-fold jump in net profit for the December quarter on robust sales. HCL Tech, HDFC twins, Asian Paints, IndusInd Bank, TCS and

` FALLS 28 PAISE TO 81.70 AGAINST US DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee fell 28 paise to close as 81.70 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday as unabated foreign fund outflow hit market sentiments. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened lower at 81.61 to a dollar against the previous close of 81.42. The local unit moved in a range of 81.43 to 81.76 during the day.

ITC were among the gainers. Axis Bank declined 2.43% a day after it reported financial results. L&T, Reliance Industries, SBI, Kotak Bank, Tata Steel, and Power Grid were major losers.

GOLD PRICES GO UP BY `295; SILVER DECLINES BY `63

RELIANCE

COFFEE DAY HIT WITH $3.2 MN FINE BY SEBI, MUST PAY IN 45 DAYS

DRI seizes `21 cr smuggled gold, cash in Mum

ing, the official said.

The Air Cargo Complex in Andheri is India’s largest, in terms of the volume of cargo handled, the value of the cargo, documents filed and revenue collected.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Working off specific information garnered as part of a bigger investigation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 36kg of smuggled gold (worth Rs21 crore) along with Rs20 lakh in unaccounted cash from the Air Cargo Complex in suburban Andheri. They also arrested one suspect from the premises, an official said on Tuesday.

DRI officers conducted a search at the Air Cargo Complex Mumbai Customs on Monday and recovered smuggled gold in various stages of process -

While investigating cases of gold smuggling, the DRI had found out about a syndicate involved in the processing and distribution of smuggled gold, and the payment for these valuables was done through the hawala channel, he said.

The DRI then surveilled the travel pattern of a few foreign nationals and suspected Indians to bust the syndicate, the official said.

Officials seized 36kg of gold in various stages of processing, which was valued at Rs21 crore from the Air Cargo Complex. Unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs20 lakh was recovered from the per-

son in-charge of the premises and he was placed under arrest, the official said.

The accused has informed that he had procured the gold from different individuals, some of them foreign nationals, in the form

Not opposed to UBT & VBA alliance: Ajit Pawar

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said the his party was not opposed to the newly minted alliance between the Shiv Sena –Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar’s outfit Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters after a party meeting here, Pawar said,

“Where does the question of our displeasure over the Shiv SenaVanchit alliance come from? Why is the media spreading misinformation? We came to know (about the alliance) through the media. I, along with NCP state President Jayant

Patil will meet Uddhav Thackeray, have a clear discussion about this and present our stand.”

On the Shiv Sena having a stronghold over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the NCP leader said, “It is unquestionably true. That is why a positive discussion on contesting elections with Uddhav Thackeray has already happened. As Maha Vikas Aghadi, we will discuss this (alliance with VBA) with Shiv Sena and Congress. The final decision on contesting elections with constituent parties will be taken soon.”

Mumbai NCP chief, Jayant Patil, also echoed Pawar’s words.

“Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT) may make new friends, but should keep in mind that they fought the elections together,” he said.

of capsules smuggled through body concealment, in travel bags, layering of clothes and different types of machines, he said.

Further inquiry showed that the gold was delivered to various domestic “play-

NEFARIOUS 2 foreigners held with $90K, 2.5kg gold paste at airport

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Customs officials have arrested two foreign nationals with $90,000 and more than 2.5kg gold paste (worth about Rs1.5 crore) hidden in books and undergarments in separate operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.

ers”, suspected to be part of the syndicate, using specific codes, on a daily basis, he said.

The accused has been arrested under the Customs Act and further investigation is underway, the official added.

A man from Azerbaijan travelling to Sharjah, was intercepted by the Customs team on Sunday. The money was found hidden in books that the accused was carrying, he said.

In a similar operation, a man from Palestine, was caught with more than 2.5kg of gold paste.

The duo has been arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Customs Act.

Fadnavis contributed to me becoming CM, says Shinde

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde heaped praise on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday. He credited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with contributing toward him bagging the top post in the state.

Addressing media persons here, Shinde said, “I never thought that I would become the chief minister. We did not rebel for that.”

On him becoming the CM, Shinde asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a decision contrary to what was in the minds of our opponents.

Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, the CM commented, “The opposition thought that BJP leadership would not make Eknath Shinde the chief minister, but PM Modi and UHM Amit Shah made a

The opposition thought that BJP leadership would not make Eknath Shinde the chief minister, but PM Modi and UHM Amit Shah made a worker like me the CM. Devendra Fadnavis also has a massive contribution to it.”

— Eknath Shinde, Maha Chief Minister

worker like me the CM. Devendra Fadnavis also has a massive contribution to it.”

When asked whether Shinde rebelled against the Shiv Sena to become the CM, he said, “It is incorrect. We did not rebel for that. I had to take this step, along with 40 other MLAs for the benefit of the peo-

ple of the state. We established this government to respect the votes of the public. We put in effort after the (2017) elections to form a government with BJP, but despite that, Maha Vikas Aghadi (government) was formed with Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party).”

‘Centre likely to increase sugar export quota soon’

Union min Shah

operatives sector. The state leaders were part of a delegation led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.

tor with regard to working capital, margin money, funds for setting up ethanol plants and issues of loan restructuring.

DRI OPS IN ONE MONTH: SMUGGLED INCESTICIDES WORTH `16.8 CR SEIZED

Mumbai (PTI): At least 30 metric tonnes of insecticides worth Rs16.8 crore were seized by the Mumbai zonal unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in the last one month, an official said on Tuesday. The DRI had intercepted several consignments of insecticides being smuggled into India in connivance with Chinese suppliers in the last one month, he said. A syndicate was involved in smuggling insecticides such as Chlorantraniliprole, Abamectin Benzoate, etc, and the agency had managed to intercept consignments weighing 30 MTs with estimated value of around Rs16.8 crore, the official said. The test reports have confirmed the goods to be insecticides only, he added. The import of insecticides legally requires a permit from the Central Insecticides Board, and the law mandates the importer and its suppliers or manufacturers to get registration from the Board, the official said.

ACB arrests one, books another for bribery

First India Bureau

Thane: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday, arrested a junior engineer of Maharashtra discom for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs15,000 for restoring household power connection in the Konkan sub-division.

booked for demanding a `2,000 bribe.

An offence was registered against a junior clerk of Bhiwandi magistrate court in Thane district for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs2,000, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) official said.

New Delhi (PTI): Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assured leaders from Maharashtra that the Centre would soon increase the export quota sugar and take steps to help the ailing sugar industry in the state.

Shah gave the assurance during a meeting with Maharashtra BJP leaders, who also have stakes in the sugar co-

“The export quota (for sugar) has been exhausted. Since Maharashtra is a coastal state, we can export sugar through our ports. The minister also took a constructive approach on the issue and assured us to increase the quota or take an appropriate decision in this regard,” Fadnavis told reporters here.

The meeting was attended by BJP leaders Raosaheb Patil Danve,

“The cooperation minister had a positive approach and assured us that a favourable decision will be taken within a week,” Shinde said.

A senior BJP leader said the export quota for sugar was fixed at 60 lakh tonne and there was a need to increase it by at least 20 lakh tonne so that the sector could benefit from high prices of the sweetener in international markets.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company engineer was posted in Raigad district. He had allegedly demanded Rs20,000 from the complainant in order to restore a snapped household electricity connection but agreed to accept Rs15,000 after negotiation, an ACB release said.

In another case, a court official has been

The accused had demanded the bribe for accepting and numbering four cases filed with the court, the official said.

The complainant approached the ACB, after an investigation, the allegations were confirmed and a case was registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. against the junior clerk of Bhiwandi magistrate court.

Investigation had revealed involvement of smuggling syndicate and hawala racket

Unaccounted cash to the tune of `20 lakh was recovered from the person in-charge of the premises and he was placed under arrest. —Official

Ajit Pawar

—FILE PHOTO

Discussion on MVA contesting polls will happen soon, says NCP leader

had positive approach to Maha’s difficulties in sugar sector: Fadnavis

Pankaja Munde, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil,

and Dhananjay Mahadik, among others. Shinde said the dele-

gation apprised Shah about the difficulties faced by the sugar sec-

Sugar prices likely to soften after April.

—FILE PHOTO

—FILE PHOTO

COURTESY MEET

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra greeted Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister for Heavy Industries during a courtesy meet at the latter’s residence on Tuesday at New Delhi.

t is rightly said that a highly developed values system is like a compass.

It serves as a guide to point you in the right direction when you are lost, and ravishing beauty Devshree Hada proved this right.

The diva was born in Ranthambore and brought up throughout the wildlife sanctuaries of the country. To raise a nature-bonded child is to raise a rebel, a dreamer, an innovator, someone who will walk their own verdant, winding path and as a hotelier’s daughter, the very values of Athithi Devo Bhava have been inculcated in me from the very beginning. And that is what has made me the welcoming and loving person that I am today. Although it was my mother who helped me develop a keen interest in the glimmer and glamour of the fashion industry.

What would you say are some vital skills and characteristics to have to make it in the model ling world?

Modelling is nothing about what you see on the outside, it has a lot to do with how you feel on the in side. Looking beautiful is one thing but feeling beautiful is another form of self-belief and love. Only if you love yourself, will you be able to make others fall in love with you.

If you could go in future and tell yourself one thing about your career what would it be?

If I could meet my future self and tell her one thing about her future it would be to never stop feeling grateful for how far she has come in life. Because I’m sure my younger self would always be proud.

What inspired you to go for Mod elling?

Honestly, it was the most random thing I ever chose to do. I have always

been confident in front of the cam era and I think that is exactly what has led me towards this field.

What was the biggest rookie mistake you made when just starting?

I think there was a time when I did feel a little self-conscious. To fit in a certain box of stereotypi cal beauty I would have done any thing, but I realised beauty has no certain limits. And stereotypical beauty is something that stays for a short period, just like fashion trends. And to be an ever-shining star you must love yourself.

What has been the most memorable or rewarding moment in your career?

So far, I thank Elite Miss Ra jasthan and Gaurav Gaur for all the love and opportu nities that it has provided me with. It is just the beginning and a lot more endeavours are yet to come. I say, it is a journey leading me to another journey. But Elite Miss Rajasthan is where it all began.

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

—PHOTOS

BY SANTOSH SHARMA

The magnificent five-day Jaipur Literature Festival concluded with the Writers’ Ball at the Leela Palace hotel on Monday. Jagdeesh Chandra along with some prominent faces of Jaipur including the extraordinary writers, speakers, organisers, speakers and who’s who of the city celebrated the evening with foot-tapping music, gastronomic delights and an elegant ambience. The Rajasthani folk music renditions made everyone shake a leg and have a whale of a time amid an atmosphere of camaraderie and bonhomie.

ATHIYA’S bridal lehenga

CITY FIRST

Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty and Indian cricketer KL Rahul exchanged vows on January 23. The wedding took place at Suniel Shetty’s property in Khandala. Fans have been talking nonstop about Athiya’s bridal lehenga since the wedding photos were released.

On her special day, Athiya donned a beautiful pink-hued lehenga with delicate chikankari work. The groom complimented his bride’s look by wearing an embroidered ivory sherwani suit.

According to reports, Athiya’s lehenga was a

handwoven, handmade garment created by renowned fashion designer Anamika Khanna. The pink garment was made of silk and embellished with zardozi and jaali work to elaborate the exquisite design.

Anamika Khanna discussed the specifics of designing Athiya’s wedding appearance during an interview.

The stunning lehenga was the result of the team’s 10,000 hours of labour, the designer explained. She continued by saying that Athiya, who wanted to wear a unique appearance on her special day, served as the idea for the clothing. Athiya’s impeccable dress sense was appreciated by Anamika.

KAREENA REACTS TO #BOYCOTTBOLLYWOOD TREND

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Kareena Kapoor Khan is one such Bollywood actress who never shies away from voicing her opinion about anything happening across the globe. Ahead of the release of Pathaan, a section of the media has called for a ban on the Shah Rukh Khan starrer. And something similar happened earlier when Bebo and Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha was also cancelled by the netizens.

Recently Kapoor Kapoor Khan appeared at the Indian Chamber of Commerce-Young Leaders Forum event in Kolkata where she reacted to the section of social media who are boycotting films. Bebo asked if there won’t be films how will one get entertained?

Kareena said, “I don’t agree with it at all. If that happens, how will we entertain, how will you have joy and happiness in your life, which, I think everybody needs and which cinema and films are promising, which we have always done, films have always done? Agar films nahi hogi toh entertainment kaisa hoga (If films aren’t there how will the people be entertained).”

During the promotion of her previous movie, the ac-

tress said, “I think that the love the film is getting is very different. These are just a section of people who are probably on your social media, which is probably like 1%. But the fact is that they shouldn’t boycott this film, it’s such a beautiful film. And I want people to see me and Aamir on screen. It’s been three years, we’ve waited so long. So, please don’t boycott this film, because it’s actually like boycotting good cinema. And people have worked so hard on it; we’ve had 250 people work on this film for twoand-a-half years.”

The actress will be next seen in director Sujoy Ghosh’s thriller which is based on the book The Devotion of Suspect X. Apart from that, she also has director Hansal Mehta’s next untitled film. She also has the upcoming comedy movie The Crew alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon.

A DOUBLE-WHAMMY FOR DEEPTI

CITY FIRST

The birthday & song launch bash which was expected to be a grand affair turned out to be phenomenal. It was a flamboyantly splendid party with glitz, glamour, opulence and loads of love for actress Deepti Sadhwani reflected from the entire preparations that were no less than per fect. A sig nificant chunk of the Bollywood & Television industry was seen at the celebrations. Some of the

names from the glamour arena were the biggest attraction at the birthday bash. Feeling absolutely over the moon Deepti said, “It’s a very special day, in fact, it’s a double whammy celebration for me.

Bringing in my birthday with my song is the cherry on the cake. Looking forward to the positive response from the audience as they have always blessed me with their love”

The actress who celebrates her birthday on 23rd January launch her label titled Moon Records.

With that, the label also released its first song “Nach Le” The song features Deepti Sadhwani’s euphonious voice and is the ideal song to brighten up any mood. A song is a peppy number that will surely make a place in your party playlist.

Deepti is well-known for her performance

With rapper Badshah. Deepti made a memorable debut in the video Haryana Roadways. Since then, she has appeared in numerous smash hits, including Fazilpuria’s “Lala Lala Lori,” which has amassed more than 400 million views. In addition to further tracks that will shortly be published, Deepti has an intriguing schedule planned.

The Family

Song Of

The Year is here!

CITY FIRST

While we were just recovering from the hangover of Munda Sona Hoon Main, the makers of Shehzada released the next song from the film titled ‘Chedkhaniyan.’ This song is surely going to be the most played song on your next outing with family. The song gives a sneak peek of the Shehzada family & it pulls everyone together to the dance floor to become the family song of the year.

Kartik Aaryan announced the song on social media with the caption, “Aaryan ka dance, Arijit ki Awaaz Get ready to shake a leg with

#FootsieStep #Chedkhaniyan out now.”

The visually beautiful song is hitting the right chords with all the tunes. Kartik Aaryan’s hook step, #FootsieStep, in this song has us hooked at one go - as usual. Kriti Sanon looks like a dream in a desi avatar & our Shehzada is stealing hearts in his desi attire too. The song is artistically sung by the Arijit Singh-Nikhita Gandhi duo.

Shoaib Ibrahim Clocks 3M on Youtube!

CITY FIRST

It was during the lockdown that Dipika Kakkar and Shoaib Ibrahim started their Youtube Channel. And Over a short span, the two have managed to cross subscribers in millions, owing to their popularity as television stars. Recently Shoaib clocked 3 million subscribers on the digital platform.

The actor celebrated his happiness with us in a small celebration. Dipika and Shoaib met on the sets of Sasural Simar Ka and became close friends before they began dating. They got married in 2018. The couple recently posted pictures on social media to share the news of pregnancy with their fans. While

SHIDDHAT 2 CONFIRMED?

CITY FIRST

According to current developments, the creators of the 2021 movie Shiddat are eager to produce a sequel. An insider with the project spilled the beans about this future project in an interview. Viewers loved the first part though. It was directed by Kunal Deshmukh and starred Sun-

ny Kaushal and Radhika Madan.

The source said, “Yes, Shiddat 2 is very much in the making. Though the first film did not meet expectations, the makers of the film feel that the response from the audience was good enough to warrant a sequel. Interestingly, in Shiddat 2 the character of Radhika Madan has been retained, so we will see her return.

Dipika Kakar posted baby shoes in between their footwear, Shoaib shared a picture of both of them in white-coloured attire and wearing caps with mom and dad written over it.

However, the character played by Sunny Kaushal in the first film dies, and keeping that in mind his character and role in the sequel have been dropped as well.” While it will be inter-

esting to see how the story moves forward after Sunny’s character’s demise there has been no official announcement from the makers of the film.

cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

I don’t agree with it at all. If that happens, how will we entertain, how will you have joy and happiness in your life, which, I think everybody needs and which cinema and films are promising, which we have always done, films have always done? Agar films nahi hogi toh entertainment kaisa hoga (If films aren’t there how will the people be entertained).

Kartik from a still of the song

Radhika Madan

Sunny Kaushal

Deepti Sadhwani

Deepti with Amir Ali

Kareena Kapoor

Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakkar

Newly-wed KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty

Deepti with her family during the song launch