Cong worker attempts suicide over expulsion of Andhra MPs
Rajahmundry (AP): A local Congress leader allegedly tried to commit suicide to protest the expulsion of six party MPs from Seemandhra for giving a no-confidence motion notice against UPA government over the state’s division. K Srinivas (45), the Congress’ backward community cell leader from East Godavari district, consumed over 40 sleeping pills Tuesday night after getting the news of the expulsion of six Seemandhra MPs, police said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in an unconscious state where doctors attending him said his condition was stable and he was being provided necessary medical treatment. Police have registered a case in this regard. The city Congress leaders held a meeting to discuss future course of action, in view of developments taking place in Parliament. on Tuesday, Congress MLA from Rajahmundry Ruothu Suryaprakash Rao had resigned from the party to protest the expulsion of Lok Sabha member V Arun Kumar. Meanwhile, protests against the state bifurcation, as a part of a call given by the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazette Officers (APNGOs), continued in East Godavari district on Wednesday. (PTI)
Digvijay Singh demands CBI probe into MPPEB scam
Bhopal: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh has made a fresh demand for a CBI inquiry into the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam. In a letter to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Congress General Secretary has said, “Some officials, including MPPEB exam controller Pankaj Trivedi and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) O P Shukla, have already been arrested in connection with the scam. “However, former minister Laxmikant Sharma and mining baron Sudhir Sharma have so far not been apprehended,” he said in the letter. The scam is being probed by Madhya Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT). “Despite clear proofs, attempts are being made to save Laxmikant Sharma, Sudhir Sharma and Dr Ajay Mehta. I urge you to order a CBI inquiry into the scam as some people are pointing their fingers at you also,” Singh said. (PTI)
Delhi needs Lokayukta through collaborative approach: Bedi
New Delhi: Defending the Lokpal Act passed by the Parliament, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Wednesday said Delhi only needs an amended Lokayukta which was possible only with a “collaborative approach”. “Country already has a useful Lokpal Act! Delhi only needs an amended Lokayukta! Which is possible if the approach is collaborative!” Bedi, a member of Team Anna, tweeted. Bedi, who had even observed fast along with Gandhian activist Anna Hazare for the Lokpal Act, has been critical of the Jan Lokpal Bill, which the Delhi government wants to pass in the assembly. Two days back, she had said that the Jan Lokpal Bill should have been circulated to all concerned stake holders. “No one knows contents of proposed Lokayukta! Why no prior consultations/consensus building before finalising it? Why not on the website too?” Bedi had tweeted. (PTI)
Disabled youth attempts suicide in front of IG’s office
Kanpur: A 21-year-old physically challenged youth allegedly set himself on fire in front of the Inspector General’s office here over forceful seizure of his cousin’s land, police said on Wednesday. Sunil Katiwar, resident of Halpura village, on Tuesday entered the lawn of the IG’s office where the senior police officer was meeting some villagers, sprinkled kerosene and set himself on fire, police said. He was rushed to a local hospital where his condition is stated to be critical. A case has been registered against him in this regard, they said. In a statement registered with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (City) Avinash Singh, the youth alleged that Arvind Katiwar of Bakothi village had forcefully seized his cousin Ram Shankar’s 6.25 acres of land. Sunil said he approached police and other government offices several times in this regard but got no response which drove him to take the extreme step, police said. (PTI)
Cop, gram sevak held for accepting bribe
Thane: A police officer has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a jeweller for registering his complaint, the anti-corruption bureau said on Wednesday. Assistant police inspector Satish Gothekar had allegedly demanded Rs 1.50 lakh from the jeweller, who approached the Ram Nagar police station in Dombivili for registering an offence against a wholesale merchant for cheating him. However, later the deal was struck for Rs 20,000. The API was arrested last night while accepting the bribe from the jeweller by the ACB sleuths. An offence under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused, the ACB said. Earlier, a Gram Sevak, Bhagawan Sadavarte, of Nandgaon Group Grampanchayat from Karjat, was arrested two days back while he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 4 lakh from a property holder for issuing a taxation certificate. (PTI)