1. AgustaWestland Scam Dominates Rajya Sabha; Emaar MGF’s MD Quizzed
Stating that the CBI’s investigation in the AgustaWestland scam had progressed considerably, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the next level of inquiry would focus on the roles of those named by the Italian court in its ruling.
The BJP levelled fresh accusations at the previous UPA government in Rajya Sabha quoting the letter written by the alleged primary middleman Christian Michel in the choppers deal. The same letter was also quoted by the Italian court, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said.
Mrs Sonia Gandhi is the main driving force behind this deal and she will no longer fly in Mi8.
Michel in his letter alleges that the Modi-government forced him to speak against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, reports said.
The Italian judge who delivered the verdict said there was no “direct evidence” linking any Indian politician with alleged kickbacks to swing the deal in favour of the helicopter firm.
According to The Indian Express report, Emaar MGF’s managing director Shravan Gupta was questioned in connection with the choppers scam and about funds that Emaar MGF reportedly received from Mauritius. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will continue questioning former IAF Chief SP Tyagi on Thursday.
Also Read:
AgustaWestland Debate in Parliament: Who Said What in Rajya Sabha
Beyond AgustaWestland: Fixing an Ailing Defence Procurement Policy
2. Delhi Cops Arrest 3 JeM Terrorists After Six-Month Covert Operation
Three suspected members of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, arrested for allegedly planning an attack in Delhi, were remanded to 10-day police custody on 4 May by a court.
Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep told Hindustan Times the three men, Sajid, Sameer and Shakir Ansari were making improvised explosive devices (IED) to strike markets and crowded places in the city.
The alleged mastermind, Sajid, was in touch with JeM leader ‘Tallah’, who says he is the brother of the terror outfit’s founder, Masood Azhar. His associate Shakir – a resident of Deoband in Uttar Pradesh was planning to go to Pakistan for militant training.Police to Hindustan Times
Read the full report here.
3. Collegium Picks Four for SC, Recommends Uttarakhand Chief Justice’s Transfer
Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has recommended the elevation of three High Court Chief Justices and a senior lawyer to the apex court, according to The Indian Express. The last recommendation was struck down by a Supreme Court bench last year.
The collegium headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, which met on Monday, has recommended the elevation of Chief Justice AM Khanwilkar of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud of the Allahabad High Court and Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan of the Kerala High Court to the Supreme Court. The collegium is also learnt to have recommended the appointment of former Additional Solicitor General and senior advocate L Nageswara Rao as a Supreme Court judge.Sources to The Indian Express
Chief Justice KM Joseph of the Uttarakhand High Court has been transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. A high court bench headed by Joseph recently quashed President’s rule in the state, where the Harish Rawat-led Congress government is in the midst of severe factionalism.
Joseph assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court in July 2014.
4. Odd-Even a Temporary Solution, Public Transport is Key: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal admitted that the odd-even scheme cannot be a long-term solution to tackle air pollution, according to Hindustan Times.
He said his government was determined to ramp up public transport in the city within a year to limit the number of vehicles on the roads.
The government will soon come out with a separate policy for cab and bus aggregators which will enable more taxis and buses on the roads. We have to strengthen the public transport system in the coming days and we are working on it. Odd-even cannot be a long-term remedy.Arvind Kejriwal
5. Peter Mukerjea Mulling Divorce, Says Lawyer
Media mogul Peter Mukerjea who is currently in jail for his alleged involvement in the murder of Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora has been considering seeking a divorce from Indrani since January, reports The Times of India.
Peter had, since the beginning of this year, conveyed to me the marriage had ended and he was keen to get a divorce, but initiation of the process has been deferred since his bail plea is pending.Mihir Gheewala, Peter’s Advocate to TOI
Peter had, however, written a one-page letter filled with birthday wishes and a big hug for his wife on 3 January.
6. West Bengal Polls: Enclave Dwellers to Vote for the First Time in Final Phase
The West Bengal assembly polls enters the sixth and final phase of balloting involving 25 constituencies on Thursday.
Dwellers of the erstwhile enclaves in Cooch Behar will vote for the first time on Thursday, marking another giant leap in their absorption into India after nearly seven decades of stateless existence.
Read the full report on The Quint.
7. Implement Rule on 85 Percent Pictorial Warnings: SC to Tobacco Firms
The Supreme Court asked the tobacco companies to implement the rule mandating larger pictorial health warnings on packets of tobacco products and refused manufacturers’ plea to stay the implementation of new cigarette packaging rules introduced from 1 April.
According to a Livemint report, the rule mandated 85 percent pictorial warnings on packets.
A bench headed by justice PC Ghosh also directed all petitions challenging the rule at various courts to be transferred and heard afresh by the Karnataka High Court. The apex court set a deadline of eight weeks to dispose of the matter.
The tobacco companies have to follow the rules till the Karnataka High Court, where all the petitions from various high courts are being transferred, pronounced its final order.Supreme Court
Read the full report here.
8. Panama Papers: Textile Major Bhilwara has Firm in BVI, Says it is a Lawful Investment
The Mossack Fonseca files shows that Laxmi Niwas Jhunjhunwala (who founded the LNJ Bhilwara Group in 1961), son Ravi Jhunjhunwala and grandson Riju Jhunjhunwala, besides several other members of the family, have been/are shareholders of Cresthold Investments Limited, reports The Indian Express.
Jhunjhunwala formed Cresthold Investments Limited, in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in 2004.
The Bhilwara group is a leading yarn and textile manufacturer and exporter. It has also diversified into areas of power generation and infotechnology.
Read the full report here.
Also Read: Panama Papers: Response to Notice to Be Verified With Tax Returns
9. Centre’s Decision on Uttarakhand Floor Test on Friday
The Supreme Court has given the Centre two more days to respond to its suggestion about the feasibility of holding a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly, under the court’s supervision.
A bench comprising of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh has posted the matter for hearing on Friday, 6 May.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that the Centre is seriously considering the suggestion to hold a floor test in the state assembly.
Read the full report on The Quint.
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