QWrap: 2 Panels to Probe Charges Against CJI; Udit Raj Joins Cong
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1. CJI Sexual Harassment Case: Will Get to Root of Claims, Says SC
Two independent probes are underway in the Supreme Court to investigate the sexual harassment charges levelled against CJI Ranjan Gogoi and the alleged 'conspiracy' being hatched against the judiciary.
The first, an in-house committee headed by Justice Bobde, will investigate the charges of sexual harassment against CJI. The complainant has been asked to appear before the panel on 26 April.
In the second independent probe, the Bench – comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Rohinton Nariman and Deepak Gupta – will examine affidavits submitted by advocate Utsav Bains, who had alleged that he was offered a bribe to help frame the CJI.
The Bench has ordered Bains to submit another affidavit on Thursday with details and confirmation that ‘former employees of SC had come together to frame the CJI with the help of some powerful lobbyists.’ The court had also summoned the Delhi Police Commissioner, CBI Director and IB chief on Wednesday to discuss the 'serious allegations' levelled by Bains.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Indira Jaising requested the SC ensure that the investigation into Bains’ affidavit does not prejudice or influence the probe into the sexual harassment charges against the CJI.
Catch all the latest updates here
2. When PM Modi Sat Down for a Casual Chat With Akshay Kumar
Candid, informal and freewheeling.
From memes to mangoes to Twinkle Khanna, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar got a chance that few others got in having a one-on-one conversation with PM Narendra Modi. However, the actor restricted his questions to Modi’s personal life and habits without entering the scope of issues plaguing the country at present.
The controversy about NaMo TV, PM’s comments politicising the death of CRPF jawans in the Pulwama attack and the nomination of controversial candidates like Pragya Thakur, issues that the electorate is keen to know about, never entered the realm of the hour-long chat.
Click here to read what else Akshay Kumar could have shared with the PM.
3. ‘BJP’s Anti-Dalit Mindset Evident’: Udit Raj on Joining Congress
BJP MP from Delhi Udit Raj joined the Congress party on Wednesday, 24 April, in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi.
The newly-inducted Congress member said that he had wanted to join the party since 2012 and alleged that it was BJP’s anti-Dalit mindset that had resulted in him being overlooked for a ticket despite his good work.
He also said “The BJP want Dalit votes but don’t want Dalit MPs. They want deaf and dumb MPs. I am neither deaf nor dumb. I have never compromised on the issues of women and Dalits and I will keep fighting for the Dalits now in Congress.”
Read the full story here.
4. 10 Years a ‘Terrorist’: How Cops Faked Testimonies Against Zakaria
Muhammed Zakaria was just 19 when he was arrested by the Karnataka Police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on 5 February 2009. The teenager, a native of Parappanangadi in Kozhikode district of Kerala, was accused of making timers for the blasts in Bengaluru in 2008, in which one person was killed.
However, holes soon appeared in the police’s theory. Haridas, a prosecution witness, tells The Quint: “I don’t know who Zakaria is. The police made me become a witness. They created the witnesses.”
Haridas had earlier told the media that he was asked to sign a paper in Kannada, a language he did not understand.
Catch the full story here
5. ‘Toilets Still an Issue, What Swachh Bharat?’ Asks Priya Dutt
From upmarket Bandra to the slums of Kurla – Mumbai’s North Central constituency is as diverse as it gets. This is a fact that Congress leader Priya Dutt, who is once again contesting from the seat, is clear about as she embarks on her campaign trail. Dutt has made issues like redevelopment, rehabilitation and open spaces her priority.
“When you look at the slum area, the biggest need is housing, redevelopment and rehabilitation. Because there are slums even on water pipelines and court orders say that they have to be removed. All that is happening, but we also have to look at rehabilitating these people. When you look at the other side where the buildings are, the needs are very different. The needs are about the hawkers freeing your footpaths, also looking at potholes and really preserving the open spaces,” said Priya Dutt
Catch the full interview here
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