1 Killed, Jaipur Couple Injured In Kashmir Twin Attacks Ahead Of Polling

SRINAGAR, May 18: A former sarpanch was killed and a couple from Rajasthan was injured in firing by terrorists in two separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, two days ahead of polling.

Terror Module Operated By Man Linked To Hardeep Nijjar Busted, 4 Arrested

CHANDIGARH, May 14: Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said Tuesday a terror module operating in the state has been busted with the arrest of four of its members, including a key operative.

The module was being operated by mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh alias Buchi, who lives abroad, Gaurav Yadav said, identifying the key operative as Gurwinder Singh alias Shera.

In a statement, the DGP said that the Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) arrested all four at Liberty Chowk in Rajpura.

Acting on reliable inputs, AGTF teams under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police Promod Ban set up a check post at Liberty Chowk where teams led by Assistant Inspector General Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and Deputy Superintendent of Police Bikramjit Singh Brar made the arrest, according to the statement.

Gaurav Yadav said Shera revealed during interrogation that Buchi had brought the gang together with plans to commit crimes in Punjab to disturb peace and harmony.

Three pistols and 13 live cartridges were found in the possession of those arrested and the car they were travelling in was impounded, he said.

Shera was out on bail after being arrested by the AGTF in 2022 for allegedly conspiring to commit target killings on Buchi's directions, the statement said.

The three others were identified as Gurpreet Singh of Patiala, Ranjit Singh alias Sonu and Jagjit Singh alias Jashan of Patti, both residents of Patti in Tarn Taran.

Buchi was in touch with murdered Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and is also a close associate of Ramandeep Bagga alias Canadian, who was the main shooter in seven targeted killings in 2016-2017, police said.

Ramandeep Bagga faces 11 criminal cases under murder, attempt to murder, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act charges. He is lodged in Tihar Jail.

8 Dead, 59 Injured After Huge Billboard Falls During Mumbai Dust Storm

MUMBAI, May 13: Twenty people are feared trapped under the debris of a massive billboard that collapsed on a fuel station amid a strong dust storm in Mumbai's Ghatkopar this evening. Police said eight people were killed and 59 were injured.

The billboard was opposite the fuel station. Visuals show the structure crashing down right in the middle of the refuelling facility. The civic authorities are looking whether the billboard advertisement agency had permission to install the structure.

The metal frame of the billboard tore through the roof of several cars that were at the fuel station.

The police said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are at the site, and are looking for survivors trapped under the debris.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said rescuing people is the priority, and the government will take care of treatment of those who were injured. "Rs 5 lakh will be given to the family of those who have lost their lives. I have directed the authorities concerned to check all such hoardings in Mumbai," Shinde said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X said the state government has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Sushil Modi, Ex Deputy Chief Minister Of Bihar, Dies At 72

NEW DELHI, May 13: Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi died at Delhi's All-India Institute of Medical Sciences this evening. The 72-year-old was battling cancer and was admitted in the intensive care unit of AIIMS for the last one month.

The stalwart leader, once the BJP's best-known face in Bihar, had opted out of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections also on account of his health. He had announced it on social media with a post on X, formerly Twitter, on April 3.

"I have been battling cancer for the last 6 months. Now I feel that the time has come to tell people. I will not be able to do anything in the Lok Sabha elections. I have told everything to the PM. Always grateful and always dedicated to the country, Bihar and the party," his post read.

His absence was expected to be felt the most in Bihar, where he had considerable influence on the party, built over three decades.

Over 11 years between 2005 and 2020, in two stints, he had served as the Deputy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

He was also mourned by senior BJP leaders Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Betrayed By Indore Pick, Congress Bats For NOTA To 'Teach BJP A Lesson'

NEW DELHI, May 11: Jolted by its Indore Lok Sabha candidate withdrawing its nomination and then rubbing salt in its wounds by joining the BJP, the Congress is now banking on the NOTA - none of the above - option to "teach a lesson" to the ruling party.

The Congress has not won the Indore constituency, Madhya Pradesh's biggest in terms of voters, in 35 years (since 1989), but this will be the first time it has not even been able to field a candidate. The BJP's nominee is sitting MP Shankar Lalwani and the Congress had given a ticket to Akshay Kanti Bam, who quit the race on the last day of withdrawing nominations and then proceeded to quit the party as well, switching over to its rival.

After its substitute candidate's petition to contest from the constituency on the party's symbol was denied by the High Court, the Congress has launched a high-octane push for NOTA votes and has also forced a response from the BJP, whose campaign was seen as having slackened since it did not see much competition from the 13 other candidates still in the fray.

Indore will vote in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday.

The state Congress chief Jitu Patwari has said that the party will not support any of the remaining candidates and urged people to create a record of NOTA votes to punish the BJP.

Senior Congress leader Sajjan Verma, a former minister and former MP, said in Hindi in a video posted on X, "I appeal to the people of Indore... Our Congress candidate has been stolen by some people, who have deprived you of your right to vote. If you want to teach them a lesson, press the NOTA button and save democracy."

The NOTA option was introduced at the Supreme Court's directions in 2013 and has given voters a way to express their dissatisfaction with all the candidates contesting the elections. The votes given to NOTA do not impact the polls in any way and the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Election Commission last month on a petition seeking that an election in a constituency be declared void if the majority of voters choose NOTA.

Wary of the optics of a record number of votes going to NOTA, however, the BJP has called the Congress' campaign a "negative tactic" and an "attack on democracy".

Earlier this week, BJP Councillor Sandhya Yadav was caught on camera removing a poster pasted on an auto by an organisation called the 'Loktantra Bachao Samiti' (Save Democracy Committee) asking people to cast their votes for NOTA.

While the Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission, Ms Yadav said that she would continue to remove such posters and that promoting the voting option was not in the interest of democracy.

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief VD Sharma also said "instigating" people to press NOTA was a crime in democracy.

Another BJP leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan - who has won from Indore eight times - however, called the last-minute withdrawal of the Congress candidate unfair and said voters have a right to decide.

"I was surprised to know about the withdrawal of the nomination of the main opposition party candidate in Indore... This should not have happened. There was no need for this development as it was written on the wall that nobody can defeat the BJP in Indore," she saidtold PTI.

Stating that some people from the city had called her up to say they would choose NOTA as "they did not like what BJP did", Ms Mahajan added, "I explained to them that BJP has done nothing in this regard and that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party is sticking to its core ideology and our candidate (Mr Lalwani) is in the fray, so they should vote for BJP instead of NOTA."

Supreme Court grants bail to Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI, May 10: Arvind Kejriwal was released from Delhi's Tihar Jail Friday evening - 50 days after he was jailed on corruption charges linked to the alleged liquor policy scam and hours after the Supreme Court granted bail till June 1.

The Aam Aadmi Party's leader's release means he can now campaign for the AAP, and the INDIA bloc, in the ongoing election, in which Delhi's seven seats will vote on May 25.

As he walked out of Tihar Jail's Gate No 4, Mr Kejriwal was welcomed by a mob of flag-waving and slogan-shouting AAP workers, as well as his wife Sunita Kejriwal and senior leaders like Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, who have emerged as the party's public faces while the Chief Minister was in jail.

Bhardwaj said Arvind Kejriwal's release will be a "gamechanger" in favour of the INDIA bloc.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was also present.

In his first public comments after leaving jail, Kejriwal thanked "all the judges of the top court" and, with one eye on the election in Delhi on may 25, called on voters to "'save the country for dictatorship".

"I want to thank all of you... you gave me your blessings. I want to thank the judges of the Supreme Court, it is because of them that I am in front of you. We have to save the country from dictatorship..."

Kejriwal also attributed his release to Lord Hanuman, and said he planned to visit the Hanuman temple in Delhi's Connaught Place on Saturday morning.

He will be on bail till June 1 - the final phase of voting for the seven-stage election. He is to surrender by June 2. The court turned down pleas to extend his bail but said it would hear arguments for extended relief next week.

The court had been hearing arguments by Kejriwal challenging his arrest, when it set the cat among the pigeons by noting it would also hear arguments for bail for the AAP leader.

Underlining Kejriwal's position as an elected Chief Minister, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta said, "There are elections (and) these are extraordinary circumstances, and he is not a habitual offender. This is a question of public interest."

Today, as it granted Kejriwal bail, the court reiterated that point, observing the AAP boss, as a Chief Minister and the leader of a national party, does not pose any threat.

"... serious accusations have been made but he has not been convicted. He does not have any criminal antecedents..." the court said, as it also shot down arguments about the period of release.

"21 days will not make any difference... for one-and-a-half years he was there... he could have been arrested before or after (the election) also," the Supreme Court said.

In a key moment earlier this week, the court - which had been hearing a petition by Kejriwal challenging his March 21 arrest - said probe agencies could not "selectively pick" between material that spoke to an individual's innocence and that which may confirm guilt.

"You are depriving a person of their right to life," the court had said, also questioning the arresting agency, the Enforcement Directorate for a delay of two years. "It is not good for any agency to say that it takes two years to unearth... now when will the trial start?"

On Thursday the ED, which had opposed bail, filed an affidavit outlining its objections.

The agency - criticised for allegedly operating at the behest of the ruling BJP to target and harass political rivals before the election - said no politician could claim "special status" higher than that of an ordinary citizen, and is as liable to be arrested and detained for committing offences as any other citizen.

There is no "fundamental" right that will allow Arvind Kejriwal the right to bail to campaign, the ED argued.

The agency also pointed out that no political leader had ever been granted bail for campaigning and said that releasing Kejriwal from jail to canvas for his party candidates would set a wrong precedent.

Court Orders Framing Of Charges Against BJP's Brij Bhushan

NEW DELHI, May 10: In a big blow to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a Delhi court has ordered the framing of charges against the former Wrestling Federation of India chief in the sexual harassment allegations levelled by women wrestlers. The court has said there is sufficient evidence on record to do so, paving the way for the beginning of the trial against him.

Singh "welcomed" the order, asserting that he was "ready to face it".

Friday's order by the Rouse Avenue court comes days after the BJP decided not to repeat Brij Bhushan, who is the party MP from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj, as the candidate from the constituency and decided to field his son Karan Bhushan Singh instead.

The court has ordered the framing of charges against Brij Bhushan under sections 354 (outraging a woman's modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The Delhi Police had filed a chargesheet against under these sections and one additional section - 354D (stalking) - on June 15 last year.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot said the charges will be framed against Brij Bhushan for sexually harassing five wrestlers and that he stands discharged in the allegations levelled by the sixth.

"This court has found sufficient material on record to frame charges against accused no.1 Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for the offences under Section 354, 354A of Indian Penal Code regarding victims no. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,” Ms Rajpoot said while pronouncing the order.

"This court has also found sufficient material on record to frame charges against accused no. 1 Brij Bhushan Singh for the offences under Section 506 Part 1 of IPC with respect to victims no.1 and 5," she said.

Charges should also be framed against the former assistant secretary of the Federation, Vinod Tomar, under Section 506, the court said. The neat hearing will be on May 21.

The six-time MP has been at the centre of a huge political storm since last year, when sexual harassment charges were levelled against him and protesters had hit the streets led by Olympic medallists Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, as well as Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallist Vinesh Phogat.

Ms Mallikh had also hung up her boots and said she was quitting the sport after an aide of Brij Bhushan had won the elections for the Wrestling Federation of India in December last year. The sports ministry had later suspended the new managing committee.

Brij Bhushan has consistently denied all the charges.

Earlier this month, the BJP nominated the MP's son as the candidate for the Kaiserganj seat and the move led to digs from the opposition as well as a strong statement by Ms Mallikh.

"Daughters of the country lost, Brij Bhushan won. We all put our careers at stake and slept on the streets for many days in the sun and rain. To date, Brij Bhushan has not been arrested. We were not demanding anything, we were only demanding justice," she had said.

After Friday's order, Mallikh said it was a "small step towards victory".

Supreme Court may decide on Friday on Arvind Kejriwal interim bail

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it may pass an order on Friday on whether to grant interim bail to jailed Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy [Arvind Kejriwal v. Directorate of Enforcement].

This was told in open court by Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday. Justice Khanna along with Justice Dipankar Datta had on Tuesday heard the plea filed by Kejriwal challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Khanna was sitting as part of another Bench on Wednesday when he told Enforcement Directorate counsel Additional Solicitor General SV Raju that the interim order in the Kejriwal case can be expected on Friday, May 10.

The ED’s money-laundering probe against Kejriwal stems from a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022 on a complaint made by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

It has been alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others to create loopholes in the Delhi Excise Policy of 2021-22 to favour some liquor sellers.

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and is presently lodged in Tihar Jail.

The ED had earlier submitted that Kejriwal cannot be treated differently from any other criminal merely because he is a politician.

Kejriwal's counsel later countered that although Kejriwal, being a Chief Minister, is not immune from prosecution, his rights are not inferior to the rights of any other person.

During an earlier hearing, the top court had questioned the ED on the timing of Kejriwal's ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

On Tuesday, May 7, the Court had hinted at granting interim bail to Kejriwal in order to enable him to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

However, it had also said that if interim bail is granted, Kejriwal would not be allowed to discharge any official duties as Chief Minister.

"Suppose we grant interim bail on account of elections. Then if you say you will attend to office then it may have cascading effect.. Dr Singhvi if we give any interim bail we do not want you to be performing official duties as somewhere it will lead to conflict. We do not want interference at all in the working of the government," the Court remarked.

However, in the same breath, the Court had also remarked on Tuesday,

"Let us see whether at all it (interim bail) should be given or not."

DK Shivakumar says Prajwal Revanna's uncle HD Kumaraswamy behind pen drives

BENGALURU, May 8: Congress leader and Karnataka's deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar on Wednesday accused HD Kumaraswamy of plotting to circulate thousands of pen drives containing the purported explicit videos of the latter's nephew, Prajwal Revanna.

A day after the JD(S) leader accused him of circulating 25000 pen drives before the Lok Sabha elections, DK Shivakumar called the former Karnataka chief minister the “king of blackmailing”.

DK Shivakumar said HD Kumaraswamy was the “lead, director and producer of the story”. He claimed HD Kumaraswamy knew about the pen drives. He said finishing people's political careers and blackmailing others were Kumaraswamy's job.

"Kumaraswamy knows about the pen-drive (containing explicit video clips) matter completely. A lawyer (Devaraje Gowda) and others are speaking. Kumaranna (Kumaraswamy) wants my resignation, it seems there is competition for the Vokkaliga leadership. Let me give resignation, as he wants it," Shivakumar said sarcastically.

"Finishing (politically) one after the other is his (Kumaraswamy) job. Blackmailing, (Kumaraswamy is) king of blackmail...he is threatening everyone, officers, politicians… Let him do it, there is time to discuss all this, let's discuss in the Assembly," he added.

Prajwal Revanna is accused of featuring in or recording thousands of sexually explicit videos. The state government has formed an SIT to probe the allegations of sexual abuse against the Hassan MP. The authorities have arrested HD Revanna, Prajwal's father, in connection with the kidnapping of a woman.

On Tuesday, HD Kumaraswamy claimed 25,000 pen drives with videos of women being sexually abused -- allegedly by his nephew -- were circulated across Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He accused chief minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar of hatching a conspiracy.

DK Shivakumar pointed out that HD Kumaraswamy had called the SIT -- "Shivakumar Investigation team and Siddaramaiah Investigation Team".

"He is the lead of the story, he is the director, he is the producer, he is everything. We know what he is up to," Shivakumar added.

DK Shivakumar said HD Kumaraswamy was getting “these things done by the BJP”.

Prajwal Revanna is missing since April 27, when his cook filed a sexual harassment complaint against him and his father. He reportedly fled abroad on a diplomatic passport. The authorities have issued a Blue Corner notice to find out about his whereabouts.

Haryana Government Loses Majority As 3 Independent MLAs Support Congress

CHANDIGARH, May 7: In a setback to the ruling BJP in Haryana amid the Lok Sabha elections, three Independent MLAs today announced that they have withdrawn their support to the Nayab Singh Saini-led government in the state.

The three MLAs - Sombir Sangwan, Randhir Gollen and Dharampal Gonder - also said that they have decided to extend support to the Congress during the elections.

They made the announcement at a press conference held in Rohtak in presence of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan.

"We are withdrawing support to the government. We are extending our support to the Congress," Gonder said.

"We have taken this decision on various issues including those related to farmers," he said.

Speaking at the presser, Udai Bhan said, "The three Independent MLAs - Sombir Sangwan, Randhir Singh Gollen and Dharampal Gonder - have withdrawn their support to the BJP government and extended their support to the Congress."

"I also want to say that present strength of (90-member) Haryana Assembly is 88, of which the BJP has 40 members. The BJP government earlier had support of JJP MLAs and Independents, but JJP had also withdrawn support and now Independents are also leaving.

"Nayab Singh Saini government is now a minority government. He should tender his resignation as he does not have right to stay even for a minute," said Mr Bhan.

Now, the assembly polls should be held immediately, he said.

Air Force Soldier Killed, 5 Injured In Terror Attack On Convoy In J&K

NEW DELHI, May 4: One soldier of the Indian Air Force was killed in action and five others were injured when two vehicles, including one of the IAF, came under heavy terrorist fire in the Surankote area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, sources said.

Of the five injured, one airman is reportedly critical. They were all airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for further treatment, officials said.

Reinforcement was rushed to the area and counter-terror operations are underway. "The local Rashtriya Rifles unit started cordon and search operations in the area," sources in the security forces said.

On X, the IAF said its convoy, which was attacked near Shahsitar, had been secured. "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J&K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress," it said.

Around 6:15 pm, the personnel were on their way to the air force station from Jaranwali when they were ambushed, officials said.

This is the first major attack on the armed forces this year in the region which witnessed a series of terror attacks on the army last year. Visuals from after the attack showed at least a dozen bullet holes on the windscreen of the vehicle that came under fire.

The terrorists, armed with AK assault rifles, are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, officials said, adding that there has been no contact with the terrorists so far.

The police assisted by paramilitary forces have been conducting searches in Poonch since Friday following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. However, no one was arrested during the operation, the officials said.

Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.

Karnataka MLA HD Revanna, Accused Of Kidnapping Woman, Taken Into Custody

NEW DELHI, May 4: Karnataka JD(S) MLA HD Revanna has been taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team that's looking into kidnapping allegations by a woman; it is also probing rape allegations against his son Prajwal Revanna in the obscene videos case.

The woman whose son filed the kidnapping case against HD Revanna and his aide Satish has been traced by the Karnataka Police. She will speak to the special investigation team. The MLA's son Prajwal Revanna is an accused in sex assault cases.

The woman had worked at the Revannas' house for nearly five years, and quit three years ago. Her son alleged she was picked up on April 26 by Satish, the close aid of HD Revanna. She was brought home the same day, but was taken by HD Revanna's man on April 29. She had been missing since then.

Just before he was taken into custody, HD Revanna's request for interim protection from arrest in the kidnapping case was rejected by a local court.
"Why was this person kidnapped? We still don't know the involvement of Prajwal (Revanna). Certain sections of the complaint speak volumes of what transpired. Are they preventing her from filing a complaint? We can't see this FIR in isolation. It should be connected with the broader aspect," the special public prosecutor (SPP) said.

"The petitioner is influential. He has gone to the extent of threatening people... We want to understand whether this was done only on this victim, or are there more. We have to protect these people," the SPP said.

The Karnataka special investigation team (SIT) that's looking into cases of sex assault against the MLA's son today also issued a lookout notice against his father. Obscene video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Karnataka's Hassan in recent days. He is the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Lok Sabha candidate from the same place.

Prajwal Revanna is believed to have flown abroad on April 27, a day after the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held. His lawyer had sought seven days for him to appear before the SIT.

The Karnataka government today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to seek other nations' help to trace Prajwal Revanna over allegations that he raped multiple women and blackmailed them with videos. He is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

The first information report against Prajwal Revanna was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday after a Janata Dal (Secular) worker alleged she was raped by him at gunpoint.

The woman was rescued from the farmhouse of Rajashekar, the personal assistant to HD Revanna, from a farmhouse in Mysuru district's Kalenahalli village, news agency IANS reported. The woman, who had gone missing on April 29, was locked up in the farmhouse when the SIT officers reached there following a tip-off.

Sources said Rajashekar is absconding ever since the SIT traced the woman to his farmhouse. She will be brought to Bengaluru where her statement will be recorded.

'May Consider Interim Bail Due To Polls': Supreme Court On Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI, May 3: The Supreme Court will look into the possibility of granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal so that he can campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta today said it will look at the interim bail plea on Tuesday (May 7) and asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Kejriwal's counsel to be prepared.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested by ED officials on March 21 in connection with alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. He has approached the Supreme Court after he did not get relief from lower courts. He is the third top AAP leader to be arrested in the corruption case, after Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. Mr Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, is out on bail.

Appearing for Kejriwal, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi today said there is no evidence against the Delhi Chief Minister and his arrest is legal. Kejriwal, he said, had responded to nine summonses from the ED. He added that failure to appear cannot be a basis for arrest.

"All evidence on which I am arrested is pre-2023 end. Every material is as in July 2023. Same evidence relied on in Manish Sisodia's case. Money trail chart was the same," Singhvi said.

When the court asked if any action had been taken against AAP, Singhvi replied in the negative. Referring to Section 70 of the PMLA, which deals with offences by companies, he said, "Anything or everything done by a political party cannot be attributed to its convenor or president. Merely mentioning a company cannot lead to arrest of the MD unless you show something, same thing with AAP."

To this, Justice Khanna replied, "Any person in overall charge of the company, then you are vicariously liable with the company and then you have to show that it was done without your knowledge." Singhvi responded, "They say he is the brain behind AAP... he is involved in demand of kickbacks. There is no direct evidence."

Appearing for the central agency, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju said the decision to arrest Kejriwal was not just taken by the investigating officer, but also fortified by a special judge.

"Before he was arrested, they moved a division bench of Delhi High Court, saying that he should not be arrested, but the court perused the documents and said no interference. So application of judicial mind in three stages," he said.

The court eventually noted that this case and examination of its various aspects may take time. "But if the case takes time, we may consider interim bail due to elections," the bench said. The court asked what conditions may be imposed if bail is granted. "We are yet to decide on that and (will) hear on Tuesday. We must be open so that neither side is taken by surprise," the court said.

Rahul to contest LS polls from Rae Bareli, KL Sharma from Amethi

NEW DELHI, May 3: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will contest from family bastion Raebareli and senior leader KL Sharma will be fielded from Amethi. The announcement came just a few hours before filing the nominations for the prestigious seats. The deadline for filing nominations ended at 3 pm today.

Both seats are considered traditional pocket boroughs of the Gandhi-Nehru family as its members have represented them for several decades. Besides Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi has contested Lok Sabha election from Kerala’s Wayanad as well. Gandhi is the sitting MP from Wayanad.

The party has been keeping the cards close to its chest on the candidature of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi from the prestigious seats.

It was widely speculated that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may make her electoral debut from Raebareli in this election. However, sources said that Priyanka will focus on campaigning. It was highly speculated that Rahul Gandhi would contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli, both siblings have been dragging their feet on the decision to contest.

After serving four consecutive terms as the Rae Bareli MP, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has vacated the seat to become a Rajya Sabha MP. The Rae Bareli constituency is prestigious for Congress as it was held by former PM Indira Gandhi three times and Indira’s husband Feroze Gandhi in 1952 and 1957. It was represented by Sonia Gandhi from 2004 to 2024. The only instances where a member of the Gandhi family has not contested the seat are in 1962 and 1999.

On Thursday, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed to the Gandhis that not contesting from Uttar Pradesh will not augur well for the party's prospects in the Hindi heartland, said sources. Rahul Gandhi represented Amethi for three straight terms from 2004 to 2019 before he was defeated by Union Minister Smriti Irani by over 50, 000 votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

KL Sharma, considered a close aide of the Gandhi family is pitted against Irani. There has been a clamor from party workers to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, Sources said the results of the internal surveys conducted by the party showed results in favour of Rahul Gandhi. Smriti Irani, seeking a second term from Amethi, has challenged Rahul Gandhi to contest the seat.

According to sources, the Gandhis were not keen on Priyanka’s electoral debut from Raebareli as they did not want all three members of the Gandhi family in Parliament. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been constantly attacking the Congress over its dynasty politics.

Elections to Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies are scheduled in the fifth phase on May 20.

Prajwal Revanna's Driver, Who Leaked Sex Tapes, Goes Missing Amid Probe

BENGALURU, May 2: The new twist has taken on Thursday in Karnataka over the obscene video scandal involving former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson and suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna.

The former driver of accused Prajwal Revanna, who had confessed that he had given the pen drive with the videos of the JD(S) leader sexually abusing women, to BJP leader Devaraje Gowda, has disappeared following a SIT notice.

The driver Karthik had worked with Prajwal Revanna for 13 years and had fallen out with him a year ago over an alleged land deal.

Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy is alleging that some influential leaders are behind the driver's disappearance thereby alluding to Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and questioned who sent Karthik to Malaysia.

Talking to the media, Dy CM Shivakumar asked, “Is brother saying so? That means he knows everything. Let him get the information from the central government. I am not crazy to send him (Karthik) abroad. I am a street fighter. There is no necessity for me to carry out politics by hiding people. They (Deve Gowda family) need it.

“That boy (Karthik) had claimed that he had given the pen drive containing obscene videos of Prajwal Revanna to BJP leaders. Let the discussion on release of the pen drive take place later. Let's not divert from the real issue.”

Responding to Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka's demand for the government to vacate the seat of power if it is incapable of arresting Prajwal Revanna, Dy CM Shivakumar stated, “Ashoka is in a constitutional position. He was raising his voice in other issues and regarding this case he is not opening his mouth. He should take state BJP President, BY Vijayendra and others and meet the victims of the video scandal.”

“They should assure them of justice and give courage to them. Former PM Deve Gowda and former CM Kumaraswamy, who claim to have respect for women, should meet the victims by going to their homes. Why are they not doing so?” Dy CM Shivakumar questioned.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of 'molesting' a woman, alleges TMC MP

KOLKATTA, May 2: West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose has been accused of molesting a woman, Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose claimed on Thursday. This comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stay at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Thursday night.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ghose said a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today.

“BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of molesting a woman. How utterly APPALLING and HORRIFYING. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today," the post read.

The MP also claimed that the complainant was taken to the Hare Street police station to file a complaint.

"The woman has accused the Governor of molesting her. Shocking and disgraceful," she added.

Modi is scheduled to address election rallies in support of party candidates in Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday.

In late April, the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata moved the Election Commission of India, urging it to identify and take strong action against officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal who may have "leaked names of gangsters and goons" to political parties.

In the wake of the ongoing general elections, the office of Bengal Governor had, using its own mechanism, compiled a list of suspected criminals across the state who could be used by political parties to intimidate voters on or before poll dates besides creating other law and order situations.

BJP Drops Brij Bhushan Amid Sexual Harassment Charge, Fields His Son

NEW DELHI, May 2: The BJP's heavyweight MP and former wrestling boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh won't be contesting the Lok Sabha polls this time. The BJP has instead named his son Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj. The announcement, made this afternoon, puts a lid on the speculation surrounding the Kaiserganj seat and its high-profile MP.

Besides announcing the name of Karan Bhushan Singh, the BJP named Pratap Singh as its candidate from Congress stronghold Rae Bareli. The Congress is yet to name its pick from the prestige seat, earlier held by Sonia Gandhi.

A six-term MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh suffered a massive political setback due to sexual harassment allegations against him that saw some of the country's top wrestlers hit the streets. The allegations also prompted the BJP to look for another option, as it did not want the row to ruin its poll prospects in the politically-significant state.

The party, however, knows the political clout Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh holds in the area. Hence, it has chosen his son as his replacement.

His elder son Pratik Bhushan Singh is an MLA. Karan Bhushan Singh currently heads the Uttar Pradesh wrestling body.

Kaiserganj votes on May 20 in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha election. The last date of filing nomination is tomorrow.

The president of Wrestling Federation of India for over a decade, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh hit headlines early last year when the country's top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Malikkh, accused him of sexually harassing women wrestlers and staged a massive protest in the national capital.

Prajwal Revanna sex abuse case: Karnataka MP says ‘not in Bangalore’ after SIT issues summons, seeks more time from CID

BENGALURU, May 1: Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Karnataka's Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, on Wednesday tweeted that he was not in Bengaluru to attend the enquiry after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sex abuse case involving the politician summoned him. Prajwal, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, was asked to appear before the SIT for investigation within 24 hours.

Prajwal Revanna is seeking re-election from Hassan as a leader of the JD(S), the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alliance partner in Karnataka.

The MP, who left the country as soon as the election to his constituency ended, has also sought seven days' time to appear before the SIT formed by the Karnataka government to inquire into the huge cache of about 3,000 explicit videos and photos allegedly pertaining to him, which have gone viral on social media.

After the explicit videos and photographs surfaced, the Karnataka government constituted the SIT at the request of Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary.

Prajwal Revanna shared a letter by his lawyer Arun G to the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the SIT, in which he has sought seven days' time to appear before the official because he is abroad.

“As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to CID Bangalore through my advocate. Truth will prevail soon," Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, said in a tweet on the microblogging site X.

Meanwhile, smoke billowed as ‘Havan’ flames raged in the scorching summer at JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister HD Revanna’s residence in Karnataka's Holenarasipura.

HD Revanna, the Holenarasipura JD(S) MLA, is the son of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and elder brother of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.

A case has been registered against HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna at Holenarasipura on a complaint by their former cook for allegedly sexually harassing her.

She also alleged that Prajwal Revanna made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.