In RG Kar Horror, BJP Leader's 3 Questions, Accuses Trinamool Of Cover-Up

The main points from the article are as follows:

 1. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Trinamool Congress of covering up details about the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata.

 2. BJP leader Sambit Patra raised three questions based on claims made by the doctor's parents, including that a state official offered them money to "hush up the case", that they were forced to wait for over three hours to see their daughter's body, and that they were asked to sign a blank paper after being shown the body.

 3. The Trinamool Congress has denied these allegations and countered that the BJP is engaging in "vulture politics" by spreading conspiracy theories. 

 4. A video surfaced earlier in which the doctor's parents denied being offered money by a senior police official, but a relative claimed that the video was filmed under pressure. 

 5. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has almost completed its probe into the case and has ruled out gang-rape, indicating that only one person, Sanjay Roy, was involved. 

 6. The Trinamool Congress has posted on social media, stating that the CBI's findings confirmed what the Kolkata Police had established earlier, and that the BJP's conspiracy theories had been exposed. 

 7. The CBI's investigation was initiated by the Calcutta High Court, which had criticized the state government and the police for their handling of the case.

 8. The Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court have also questioned the state government and the police over their handling of the case, including delays in filing a police case and appointing the ex-hospital chief to head another hospital despite his arrest by the CBI.

"When We Were Dragged On Roads...": Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia Join Congress

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have joined the Congress party, giving a significant boost to the party ahead of the Assembly elections in Haryana. Both 30-year-old Olympians met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi before formally joining the party. Vinesh Phogat stated that she is proud to be associated with a party that stands up against misbehavior and injustice against women. 

She also mentioned that when she and other wrestlers were protesting against the alleged sexual assault and intimidation by the former Wrestling Federation of India chief, every party except the BJP stood with them. Bajrang Punia said that the Congress backed the wrestlers during their protest without even being asked to, while BJP MPs ignored letters seeking their support. He also said that they will continue to work for the people of the country and strengthen the Congress party. Vinesh Phogat is expected to contest from the Julana constituency, held by the Jannayak Janta Party, while Bajrang Punia is likely to be fielded from the Badli seat. Phogat also announced her resignation as an officer on special duty with the Northern Railways, citing personal reasons. 

Her decision to join the Congress comes after her recent disqualification from the wrestling event due to exceeding the weight limit. Despite the setback, her popularity has increased significantly, and she has received widespread support. The entry of the wrestlers into the Congress is expected to give the party a significant boost, particularly among the farmer community, which makes up a significant voting bloc in Haryana. The Congress is hoping to capitalize on the farmers' anger against the BJP to dislodge the party from the state, which it has ruled since 2014. 

 The development also comes at a time when the Congress is negotiating with its ally, AAP, on seat-sharing for the 90 constituencies in Haryana. With Phogat and Punia joining the party, the Congress may have an upper hand in these negotiations. Overall, the joining of Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia is a significant development in Haryana politics, and it remains to be seen how their inclusion will impact the Assembly elections.

"Article 370 Is History, Will Never Come Back": Amit Shah In J&K

Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that Article 370, which granted special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, is now "history" and will never be restored. In a speech given during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Shah emphasized that the provision's removal in 2019 has led to development and growth in the region. He criticized previous governments for adopting a policy of appeasement towards separatists and said the years between 2014 and 2024 will be remembered as significant for Jammu and Kashmir.

 The National Conference and the Congress have promised to restore Article 370 in their election manifestos, but Shah ruled out the possibility, stating that the provision led to the radicalization of youth in Kashmir. He declared that the BJP's goal is a "peaceful, safe, developed, and prosperous" Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases between September 18 and October 1, with counting scheduled for October 8. This election will be the first since 2014 and comes five years after the government abolished Article 370 and divided the region into two Union Territories.

 Key points: 1. Home Minister Amit Shah has ruled out the restoration of Article 370, calling it "history." 2. The National Conference and the Congress have promised to restore Article 370 in their election manifestos. 3. Shah credited the removal of Article 370 with promoting development in Jammu and Kashmir. 4. The BJP aims for a "peaceful, safe, developed, and prosperous" Jammu and Kashmir. 5. The Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will take place between September 18 and October 1, with counting scheduled for October 8.

'Leave Parents Alone': Trinamool On 'Money Offer' To Kolkata Doctor Family

The article discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata, India. The doctor's parents have made serious allegations against the police, stating that they were offered money to hush up the case when their daughter's body was still in their home. However, in another video, the parents have denied this allegation, saying they only want justice for their daughter. 

 The Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in West Bengal, has condemned the opposition parties for "vulture politics" and creating a false narrative around the case. The party claims that the opposition is trying to capitalize on the family's grief and create a sense of outrage for political gain. The Trinamool Congress has demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the case, provide a detailed progress report on its investigation.

 The party has questioned why the CBI has not made any progress in the case, despite 23 days passing since the case was transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI. The article also mentions that the victim's father has made other allegations against the police, including that they created pressure to rush the cremation of the victim's body and that some police officers tried to get his signature on a blank sheet of paper. 

The BJP has targeted the Trinamool Congress over these allegations, saying that the police's role in the case has been exposed. Overall, the article highlights the ongoing controversy and politicking surrounding the case, with both the Trinamool Congress and the opposition parties trading accusations and allegations.

"Can We Be So Rigid?" Supreme Court Grills Central Agency In Documents Case

The Supreme Court of India has questioned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on its practice of not providing accused individuals with documents seized during a money laundering probe, citing potential violations of the right to life and personal liberty. In a hearing related to the supply of documents in a money laundering case, the Court asked if the accused can be denied documents on technical grounds. The Additional Solicitor General argued that the accused can only request documents if they know they exist and if it is "necessary" and "desirable".

 However, the Court questioned this stance, suggesting that the accused may not remember every document and should have the right to request all documents recovered from their place. The Court also noted that times are changing and that a rigid approach may not be just. They pointed out that technology allows for easy scanning and sharing of documents, making it possible to provide the accused with the necessary documents. The case has implications for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which has come under scrutiny in several high-profile cases involving politicians. The Court has reserved judgment in the matter. 

 Key points: 

 1. The Supreme Court questioned the Enforcement Directorate on its practice of not providing accused individuals with documents seized during a money laundering probe.

 2. The Court asked if the accused can be denied documents on technical grounds.

 3. The Additional Solicitor General argued that the accused can only request documents if they know they exist and if it is "necessary" and "desirable".

 4. The Court questioned the rigidity of this approach and suggested that the accused should have the right to request all documents recovered from their place.

 5. The Court noted that technology allows for easy scanning and sharing of documents, making it possible to provide the accused with the necessary documents.

 6. The case has implications for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which has come under scrutiny in several high-profile cases involving politicians.

"He Was Chasing Car": Mother Of 'Cow Vigilante' Behind Student's Killing

A recent incident in Haryana's Faridabad has raised concerns about the activities of self-proclaimed 'cow vigilantes'. On August 23, a Class 12 student named Aryan Mishra was killed by five people who mistook him for a cattle smuggler. The main accused, Anil Kaushik, and four others were arrested by the Faridabad Police.

 However, the police maintained that they had no evidence to prove that the attackers were 'cow vigilantes' or associated with any such organization. Contrary to the police claims, the mother of the main accused admitted that her son was a "cow protector" and was involved in chasing the car in which the student was killed. She claimed that her son did not fire the bullet that killed the student and that he was innocent, highlighting his work in "cow protection" as proof of his good behavior. 

 Further investigation by NDTV revealed that Anil Kaushik's organization, 'Live for Nation', had YouTube videos showcasing its members engaging in cow protection activities, including chasing people in cars. NDTV also found vehicles at Kaushik's home and office with 'Gau Raksha Dal' and 'Live for Nation' written on them, suggesting a clear connection to cow vigilante activities. The incident has raised questions about the role of self-proclaimed 'cow vigilantes' and their involvement in violent activities. It also highlights the need for law enforcement to take a more proactive approach in addressing these issues and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

'Woke Up To Unknown Men...': Doctor's 3 AM Encounter At Kolkata Hospital

Five years ago, the government of West Bengal in India had made promises to address violence against doctors, including providing better security equipment, women guards, and controlled entry points in public hospitals. However, these measures were not implemented at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a young woman doctor was recently raped and murdered. 

 According to internal government documents, the hospital was supposed to have effective security equipment and systems, regulated entry and exit, and a compensation policy for assaulted staff. However, only two male guards were manning the hospital, and the CCTV cameras did not comprehensively cover the premises. Colleagues of the murdered doctor have come forward, sharing their own experiences with safety issues at the hospital. One doctor, Dr. Shreya Shaw, reported finding two strangers shaking her awake while she was sleeping in a designated restroom. 

Another doctor, Dr. Riya Bera, stated that if the promised security measures had been taken, the incident may never have happened. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has highlighted the vulnerability of female doctors, with about 60% of India's doctors being female and three-quarters of them facing verbal abuse, physical attacks, and harassment while on duty.

 The Supreme Court has also acknowledged the issue, stating that relatives of patients often challenge women medical professionals and that they face various forms of sexual violence at the workplace. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for improved safety measures for healthcare workers, particularly female doctors. The government has announced plans to spend $12 million on improvements, including better lighting, resting spaces, and female security staff.

Kolkata Doctor Father - A torn piece page from her diary says

 A young female doctor was found murdered in a Kolkata hospital, and a torn page in her diary has led to a new angle in the investigation. 

The victim's father has revealed that a page from her diary is missing, suggesting that she may have written about the incident or her assailant.

Tragic Incident: 

A junior doctor in Kolkata was brutally raped and murdered in her workplace. New Evidence: The victim's father has discovered a torn page in her diary, suggesting the possibility of a personal account of the incident or the perpetrator. Post-mortem Findings: The autopsy report reveals multiple injuries on the victim's body, including deep wounds in her private parts. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to strangulation. 

Suspect's Injuries: 

The prime suspect, Sanjay Roy, was found with scratch marks on his body, consistent with a struggle with the victim. Crime Scene Details: The victim's body was found in a seminar hall with a bedsheet covering her lower body. Her belongings were found scattered around the scene. Ongoing Investigation: The police are investigating the case and have collected evidence, including the victim's diary and the suspect's DNA samples.

How did the Kolkata clubs' supporters unite for justice?

 In a rare display of unity, supporters of rival Kolkata football clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, came together to demand justice for a medical student who was reportedly raped and murdered.

The incident involving the rape and murder of a junior medical student in Kolkata has sparked nationwide protests.

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the case while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) intensifies its probe.

Historically fierce rivals in football, supporters of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clubs united in Kolkata, marking a significant moment of solidarity.

These supporters held a large rally, carrying placards and posters, demanding justice for the victim's family.

The protest reached a critical point when the police intervened, trying to manage the gathering due to security concerns.

The rally took place near the Salt Lake Stadium, a notable soccer venue in Kolkata known for hosting significant football matches.

The All India Football Federation's President, Kalyan Chaubey, also joined the protesters.

Football matches involving East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, which attract large audiences, have a storied century-long rivalry, making this unity in protest noteworthy.

For safety reasons, a subsequent Kolkata Derby match was canceled by law enforcement.

India to give dossier on Abu Jundal during Indo-Pak talks

 India will give Pakistan a dossier on 26/11 handler Abu Jundal during the talks between the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries to be held today in Delhi. The dossier will include Jundal's passport issued by Pakistan, indicating the involvement of its state agencies in the Mumbai attacks that took place in 2008.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani is in New Delhi for talks with his Indian counterpart. Though he has said that he has been given the mandate to carry forward the dialogue process with India, terror and the recent arrest of 26/11 handler Abu Jundal is likely to overshadow the day-long talks.

"We have seen reports of Abu Jindal and we have requested Indian government to share reports with us and we would definitely try and do something about it," Mr Jilani said soon after his arrival on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister SM Krishna told "(We) always discussed terror during Indo-Pak talks, will do now also. Whatever Jundal has revealed to our agencies will be evaluated. We will have to make value judgment on whether we can trust Pakistan."

Islamabad says it wants hard evidence from India on Jundal's Pakistan connection, and while they have denied issuing him a passport, on the eve of the talks, Indian security agencies released copies of what they said was Jundal's Pakistani passport.
 
Sources say these details will be shared with the Pakistani delegation and New Delhi will ask Islamabad to investigate how this passport was issued.
 
India will share details of the control room Jundal has talked about in Karachi and will again ask for the voice samples of those identified by him. India will also hand over a list of Jundal's Pakistani contacts given by him during his sustained interrogation by the security agencies.

Sources, however, say that no operational details or leads which are being followed up will be shared with Pakistan.

Last week, Home Minister P Chidambaram strongly stated that Jundal's arrest showed there was state support for the 26/11 attack. It evoked a sharp reaction from Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik who said that India was failing to control its own citizens.
 
Sources say India will also raise the issue of Sarabjit Singh - the Indian who is accused of spying in Pakistan and currently on death row.
 
The issue of Jammu and Kashmir and friendly exchanges such as visas are also on the agenda. Last month, Pakistan unexpectedly put off a liberalised visa agreement with India at the Home Secretary- level talks.

Separatists from the Valley today met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mr Gilani. They were divided on the dialogue process between India and Pakistan. The moderates termed it as necessary for building 'mutual trust' while hardliners dubbed it as a 'futile exercise'.

The two sides will also try and make headways on two very crucial issues - Siachen and Sir Creek.

The meeting of the Foreign Secretaries is meant to pave the way for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries later this year.

Salman Khan seeks support of Pak people for Sarabjit's release

 Actor Salman Khan has come forward in seeking support of Pakistani people and the media for Sarabjit Singh's release, who has been on death row in a Lahore jail since 1990.

"Requesting the people of Pakistan to support me to help free Sarabjit who has been in prison since 30 years. Please. Allah ka vasta," Salman wrote on twitter.

"Request the 'awam' of Pakistan, members of the press, government of Pakistan, President Zardari, a humble request. It would be the most amazing gesture, to send Sarabjit back to his family after 30 years. Hope u support me like its your own cause."

Salman also expressed how he felt sad about Sarabjit's family and longed for launching his support for his release.

"Wanted to tweet this for the longest time, saw a picture of Sarabjit's sister, it killed me. Felt real sad for her. Help me help her. It's a personal request to all of you in Pakistan to send Sarabjit back to his family in Punjab, hope you find it in your hearts to help," he said.

Sarabjit was convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in a string of bombings in 1990.

The Indian government also requested Pakistan to release Sarabjit after Islamabad said it had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh who has been jailed for three decades.

Don't blame us, Abu Hamza is Indian, says Pakistan

 Pakistan has dismissed India's claim that the arrest of 26/11 handler Abu Hamza, and the information he has provided to interrogators, proves that Pakistani state actors were involved with the attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

"Hazma is Indian. India is failing to control its citizens," said Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik.  "I told (Home Minister) Chidambaram that Hindu extremism is growing in India," he added.

This morning, India's Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "He has confirmed that he was in the control room and he has named a few people who were in the control room...that confirms our  suspicion that this was an organized effort which had some  kind of state support.  The argument that it was non-state actors who were behind the massacre is no longer valid." (Read)

Mr Malik reacted sharply, stating, "Each time India  has accused the ISI of involvement in a terror attack, it has been proved wrong." (Abu Hamza's arrest: Top 10 developments)

Hamza was deported from Saudi Arabia to Delhi and is now being interrogated by intelligence officers and the Delhi Police. He has said that as the attacks on Mumbai began, he was in a control room near the international airport in Karachi.  Supervising the operation there, he has said, were ISI officers and Lashkar commanders including Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.

After Ajmal Kasab became the only terrorist to be captured alive during 26/11, he has said, all handlers including him were asked to leave Pakistan  He allegedly travelled to Saudi Arabia on a Pakistani passport with a fake name. US intelligence officials and India were alerted to him after he allegedly made a call to Pakistan, that was tracked down by the US. 

"We identified him almost a year ago...it was a well-guarded secret...we tracked him.  I think the world appreciates how India is going about tracking every one of the 26/11 masterminds," Mr Chidambaram said. 

In discussions with India about its own investigation and trial for those connected to 26/11, Pakistan had told India that Abu Hamza had been arrested.  When asked how Hamza had then managed to leave the country, Mr Mallik said this was not the same man listed in a dossier shared between the two countries.

President poll: Pranab Mukherjee quits as FM, bids adieu to active politics

UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee, who resigned as the Union Finance Minister and bid farewell to active politics after several decades on Tuesday, has said that he is honoured and humbled at his nomination.

Addressing mediapersons on his last day in the North Block office, the veteran Congressman said that he would miss his Finance Ministry colleagues, adding, "Today I embark on a new journey."
The presidential nominee also confirmed that it was his last day as the Finance Minister on Tuesday and would now file his nomination for the Presidential elections.

He thanked the UPA leadership as well as other parties, including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, JDU, CPM and Forward Bloc, for extending support to his candidature.

Mukherjee will contest the Presidential poll against former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, who is backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal.Meanwhile, according to sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to take over the Finance Ministry after the resignation of Mukherjee.

India to contribute $10bn to stabilise Euro zone: PM

India plans to contribute $ 10bn to International Monetary Fund or IMF to stabilize Euro zone. Prime minister Manmohan Singh said in his speech at the G20 Summit in Mexico that there was a need to provide liquidity to cope with the loss of market confidence. He also said that policies in India would be designed to create a level playing field for both domestic and foreign investors.

Manmohan Singh said that he was confident of bringing back rhythm of higher gross domestic product or GDP growth of 8 per cent to 9 per cent. He blamed ‘internal constraints’ for the poor performance and said that the government was working to correct them. “Our public is impatient for a return to higher growth and faster jobs creation,” he said.

The government is taking steps to revive the investor sentiment. Prime minister Manmohan Singh said that India was determined to create an atmosphere conducive to enterprise and promised to have policies that would be transparent and stable. “Policies will be designed provide level playing field to domestic and foreign investors,” he added. He also said that the government was determined to take tough decisions which included controlling subsidies.

The prime minister said that India would contribute $ 10bn to the International Monetary Fund war chest for stabilizing the Euro zone. However, he emphasized on bringing back growth to manage debt. He said that the G20 was getting over-burdened with too much on the agenda. “G20 needs to focus on few goals,” Singh said in his speech.

German national deported for allegedly funding protests against Kudankulam N-plant

Chennai:  A German national has been deported back to his home country on charges of raising funds against Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu. He was detained from a hotel in Nagercoil.

Sonnteg Reiner Hermann, the German national, had close links with Udhayakumar who is spearheading protests against the nuclear plant. The tip-off came from Central agencies.

Sonnteg was under surveillance and the police say they have telephone records based on which they took the action.

The police also searched Sonnteg's hotel room before he was sent back to Germany.

The development comes a few days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in an interview to the 'Science' journal, blamed American NGOs for fuelling protests at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

S P Udayakumar, the convenor of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, leading the protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, had threatened to sue the Prime Minister for allegedly spreading false allegations against him.

On the state government appointed expert panel vouching for the safety of the nuclear plant, Mr Udayakumar said it was "unethical and unprofessional" to make such a statement even before the report was submitted to the government.

The commissioning of the Indo-Russian joint venture, originally scheduled for December last, has been delayed for several months following continuing protests against the Plant by the local population over safety concerns.

Talks initiated both by the Central and state governments with the agitators have failed to break the deadlock.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/german-national-deported-for-allegedly-funding-protests-against-kudankulam-n-plant-180460?pfrom=home-lateststories&cp

Trade unions strike: Banking, transport hit across India

New Delhi: Life has come to a standstill in parts of India due to the 24-hour nationwide strike by trade unions and government employees on Tuesday. In all, 11 trade unions across party lines along with 8 lakh public sector employees with the exception of those in the Railways are participating. Banking, transport and government services have been hit across the country including major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The main grudges of the unions on strike include rising prices, disinvestment of profit-making PSUs and the violation of labour laws.

Unions leaders who have rejected appeals to desist from the strike had said all 11 major trade unions including Congress-affiliated INTUC, Shiv Sena-backed Bharatiya Kamgar Sena and UPA ally Indian Union Muslim League's trade-wing STU would join hands to make the strike a success.

"This a historic occasion as for the first time all the major trade unions irrespective of political affiliations are coming together to protest anti-labour polices of the government," AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.

Dasgupta especially lauded INTUC president G Sanjeeva Reddy for being the "most consistent fighter in our joint struggle".

About 5,000 small unions also decided to support the strike call, the union leaders said.

The government had last week appealed the trade unions to desist from going on strike with Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge saying they were ready to discuss any kind of labour-related issues.

Rejecting the appeal, Dasgupta said "We are not ready to consider such a ritualistic statement on the part of the government." He said the government had enough opportunity earlier to sit with the trade unions to discuss the issues.

The unions are demanding no contractorisation of work - permanent or perennial nature, amendment of Minimum Wages Act, assured pension for all and compulsory registration of trade union among others.

In view of the nationwide strike called by a number of trade unions, the Delhi government clamped the Essential Services Maintenance Act on all power companies in the city to ensure that there is no disruption in electricity supply in the national Capital.

"Delhi government has clamped ESMA on all power companies including generation, distribution and other power companies in view of the proposed strike," a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office said.

As a result of the strike banks, telephone and transport services are likely to take a hit. A near complete paralysis is expected in Assam, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed her ministers to ensure that no Govt employees take part in the bandh which she says is Left sponsored. She's warned of consequences if her orders are violated.

Lokayukta court summons Yeddyurappa, his family members

BANGALORE: Lokayukta Court today issued summons to former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, his family members and others in an illegal land denotification case.

The summons, directing the accused to be present in the court on March 16, were issued by Special Lokayukta Court Justice N K Sudhindra Rao.

Summons were issued to Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B Y Raghavendra and B Y Vijayendra, son-in-law Sohan Kumar and three others.

Two other accused, Bharathi Shetty, MLC and Selva Kumar have been dropped from the case as there was no prima facie evidence against them.

Taking a cognisance of the case filed by advocate Sirajin Basha (the fourth case out of the total five cases filed by him) the court observed that there was prima facie evidence to proceed against Yeddyurappa and his family members. The case pertains to illegal denotifcation of government land in Hebbal, Sreerampura and allotment of site in RMC-II stage.

This is the third corruption case (out of the five) in which Yeddyurappa has been issued summons.

In August last he was issued summons in two such corruption case resulting in his arrest during October. Yeddyurappa spent 24 days in Judicial custody and secured bail from High Court.

Saif Ali Khan files counter complaint, police say no clean chit yet to anyone

Mumbai:  Saif Ali Khan has filed a counter complaint with the Mumbai police against Iqbal Sharma, the man who claims that the actor assaulted him and fractured his nose at a restaurant in Mumbai late on Tuesday night. In his complaint, Saif has alleged that Mr Sharma's father-in-law punched him first and that the duo abused the women who were accompanying him at the restaurant.

Yesterday, at around 7:50 pm, Saif was arrested by the police at his lawyer's office based on the complaint filed by Iqbal Sharma. The actor arrived at the Colaba police station at 8 pm. Girlfriend and co-star Kareena Kapoor accompanied him. Around 90 minutes later, he left after having paid Rs. 15,000 and being granted bail.

Mr Sharma, a businessman from South Africa, says he was seated at the table next to Saif and his group at Wasabi, the uber-fancy restaurant at the Taj hotel in Colaba. The actor had other Bollywood friends with him - Kareena Kapoor, Kareena's sister Karisma Kapoor, actor Amrita Arora and her husband, Shakeel Ladak, and Bilal Amrohi, a producer.  (Watch: The man whose nose Saif allegedly fractured)

In his version of events, Mr Sharma says he sent a note to Saif's table, asking his group to talk a little softer. "They were making a lot of noise. And we asked the management to ask them to be quiet so that we could also enjoy our evening. This failed on about three occasions at least." Mr Sharma says his family and he decided to leave the restaurant; on their way out, they ran into Saif who had left Wasabi and was on his way back in. At this point, Mr Sharma says, Saif struck.

But the actor says that's not the case. He claims he was hit first and so he acted in self defence. He adds that Mr Sharma was rude to the women at his table and that when he intervened, Mr Sharma threw the first punch. "I acted in self-defence. I was hit...I've got hit on the eye," he said in a press conference on Wednesday evening.  Earlier, in a press statement released just after he got bail, Saif said, "I don't think any gentleman would have behaved differently. The CCTV footage in the restaurant will prove everything." (Full text of Saif's statement to the police)

In his complaint, the actor has also alleged that his eye got swollen after he was punched and that Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladak too have got bruises on their chest.

Police say they will study Saif's application and then decide if it's a cognizable offence. So far, they insist, they haven't given a clean chit to either the actor or Mr Sharma.

"We are studying the restaurant's CCTV footage. The security cameras at the staircase of the restaurant where the incident occurred did not capture the fight," a senior police official said, adding that statements of actresses Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora will now be recorded.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/saif-files-counter-complaint-says-i-was-hit-first-defended-myself-178894&cp

Actor Saif Ali Khan claims self defence after brief arrest for assault

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Mumbai: Actor Saif Ali Khan was arrested briefly on Wednesday after a guest at one of Mumbai's high profile hotels registered a case of assault against the actor, accusing him of punching him in the nose following a heated argument. Khan's girlfriend and actress Kareena Kapoor was present when the incident happened late Tuesday.

Khan, 41, and two of his friends friends Bilal Amrohi and Shakeel Ladak were granted bail on a surety of Rs 3000. The midnight brawl at the Wasabi restaurant in the Taj Hotel got ugly when Iqbal Sharma, a South African businessman of Indian origin, complained to Khan and his guests, including actor Malaika Arora Khan, her sister Amrita Arora and Amrita's husband Ladak, that they were making too much noise at their table.
Sharma, who was seated at an adjacent table at the time of the incident, claimed he did not know who Khan was.
Sharma said Saif called him an "idiot" for complaining about the actor's loud conduct and asked him to go to a library if he wanted peace and quiet before assaulting him. The police registered an FIR against Khan and his friends under sections 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intent) of IPC.
Assistant Commisssioner of police Iqbal Shaikh told reporters that the complainant went to the G T Hospital following the incident and then reported the matter to the police around 2:30 this morning.
Meanwhile, Khan said: "I hope the media is able to remain impartial while the matter is being decided. I don't think any gentleman would have behaved differently." Khan said it was he who was assaulted and that he only defended himself.
"I think they have the CCTV footage in the restaurant that will prove everything. I was hit and I defended myself. I have been to the police station to answer the requirements of law as I am a law abiding citizen. I have also filed a complaint about what happened last night and I am confident justice will be done," Khan said.
The incident, according to the complaint registered by Sharma with the Colaba police station, occurred just past midnight when Khan along with Kareena and some others were having dinner at the restaurant.
Earlier in the day, Shaikh said a police team was despatched to the actor's Bandra residence but he was not present there and his mobile phone was also switched off. Sharma said that the security personnel at the hotel were nowhere to be seen during the incident.
Sharma and his 68-year-old father-in-law, who was also allegedly beaten by Saif and his three male friends, said they were abused before being assaulted for their "audacity to complain to the management asking them to keep their voice down". "As we were going down the stairs, Saif was coming up, probably from the toilet. As he passed me, he called me an idiot and asked 'do you know who I am?'"
Sharma said the actor first pushed him and then assaulted his father-in-law who fell on the stairs and bruised his jaw.
He said he had discovered that one of the assailants was Ladak. "The other two gentlemen I don't know." Asked if Khan and his friends were under the influence of alcohol, his father-in-law, who identified himself only as Patel, said,"I cannot say but they were very rowdy." On whether it was a drunken brawl, Sharma said, "We can't say they were drunk or intoxicated, but sober people don't behave like that." Khan has been involved in public spats earlier too, including some photo journalists in Patiala in September 2008.
When asked whether he would consider a compromise if approached by Khan as the offence under which the actor had been charged was compoundable, Sharma said,
"We have not been approached by Saif or anybody. It is too late for a compromise
or apology. He should have apologised to Daddy then. This is not how you behave with a senior citizen. Now it is too late."
Incidentally, Sharma, the man at the receiving end of Khan's wrath at The Taj, is the former Deputy Director General of South Africa's department of Trade and Industry. He is also the CEO of Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA). Currently, Sharma is working as a non-executive director on the board of Transnet.
He has worked closely with the South African government and has played a part in South Africa's bilateral trade relations and negotiations. Iqbal Sharma's CV features the names of companies such as PepsiCo and the Bank of America.

Finally, India to give nod to investments from Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma may announce the government's "in-principle" decision to lift the ban on investments from Pakistan in return for concessions from across the border.

Sources said with the home ministry approving a plan to treat foreign direct investment from Pakistan at par with those from Bangladesh, it was only a matter of time before the government notified the new norms. In the next stage, the finance ministry has to clear the proposal making it possible for the Reserve Bank of India to amend Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema). Over the years, the government has pruned the negative list and Pakistan remains one of the last few countries on the negative list for investment.

Allowing investment from Pakistan is one of the elements of the trade and investment related measures to improve business links between neighbours. Even during the commerce secretary-level talks in November, the issue was discussed but a commitment was not given.

Since then, a go-ahead has been received from the home ministry but it may be a while before the rules are actually notified. Besides, officials said, it will depend on what India gets in return. Getting most-favoured nation (MFN) status is a key demand for India, which has been pending with Islamabad since 1996 and even now there are few signs of Pakistan actually moving ahead with the decision. The rules would stipulate the modalities such as security clearance and approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Also, analysts said that given the history of political relations, it was unlikely that investors from across the border or even Indian companies would set up units. "Even if relations were to normalize, it will initially be limited to trade," said a trade economist.

The concerns are visible in the banking space where the two governments had proposed to allow opening of branches on a reciprocal basis. Although State Bank of India and Bank of India had sought permission to open branches in Pakistan, both are having second thoughts. On its part, SBI, the largest lender in the region, has cited high capital requirement in Pakistan while putting its plan on hold.

Bank of India is more upfront and has said that there are worries over the safety of its employees and safety of the assets that it would acquire once permitted to run branches in Pakistan. Even State Bank of Pakistan, which had approached RBI nearly six months ago, is going slow.

Businessmen say a lack of banking facility between the two countries is one of the major impediments in improving trade relations.