EVM hacking claim: Delhi Police files FIR
New Delhi: The Delhi Police has registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Election Commission regarding allegations of hacking of EVMs and rigging of polls levelled by self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja, officials said on Wednesday. “Based on a complaint received from the Election Commission, an FIR has been registered under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (intent to cause fear or public mischief) at Parliament Street police station. Action will be taken as per the law,” a senior police officer said. The officer said that as Section 505 is non-cognisable, police have sought permission from court to initiate an investigation. He also suggested that the case be investigated by a specialised agency as it requires an in-depth investigation and use of cyber tools. (PTI)
Court dismisses bail plea of scribe Upendra Rai
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of journalist Upendra Rai, arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions. Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Syal dismissed the bail pea of the Delhi-based scribe in a case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In his application, Rai claimed he was not required for further custodial interrogation and no purpose will be served by keeping him in custody. ED opposed Rai’s bail application. It told the court that the accused may influence witnesses and hamper probe if released. It informed the court that Rai had extorted money from various persons, claiming that he had information against them as he was a journalist and that thousands of crore of rupees were extorted. The agency had also told the court that Rai was influential and he may destroy evidence and flee from justice if he comes out of jail. The journalist was arrested on June 8 last year by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the Tihar jail here, moments after he secured bail in a Central Bureau of Investigation case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions. (PTI)
Carcasses of 250 endangered sharks seized in interception
Kendrapara (Odisha): Indian Coast Guard personnel have seized a trawler carrying carcasses of around 250 endangered sharks during a mid-sea crackdown on illegal fishing in prohibited Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. Seven crew members, all hailing from Andhra Pradesh, of the intercepted vessel were arrested and handed over to the forest department on Tuesday, a Coast Guard official said. The carcasses included bull sharks, spot tail sharks and hammer head sharks which were accorded endangered status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. These three varieties of shark are also categorised as threatened under the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The dead sharks were very young, weighing around 5 kg each, the official said. Commercial trade and hunting of these marine species are prohibited under the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). This is for the first time that shark species were seized from fishermen in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary limits, officials said. (PTI)
CBI books former Air India chief for irregular promotions
New Delhi: The CBI has booked former Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director Arvind Jadhav for allegedly violating procedures while making various promotions and appointments, officials said on Wednesday. Along with Jadhav, the CBI has also named then Executive Director (Personnel) L P Nakhwa (now retired) and former Additional General Mangers (Operations) A Kathpalia, Amitabh Singh and Rohit Bhasin in its FIR registered under IPC section related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI alleged that Jadhav had constituted a panel in 2010 to promote officers to the rank of General Manager (operations) in violation of laid down procedure. The three member panel included then Chief Operating Officer Gustav Baldauf, then Executive Director (operations) A S Soman and former Executive Director (Personnel) L P Nakhwa, it said. (PTI)
SC rejects Unitech’s Chandras’ plea for bail
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected plea for bail by real estate major Unitech’s Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and his brother Ajay Chandra who have been in jail since August 7, 2017 allegedly for cheating the home buyers. A bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice M.R. Shah noted that the two brothers were granted bail on October 31, 2017 on the condition that they deposited Rs 750 crore, and that it has not been complied with. The bench said that their prayer for enlarging on bail is “misconceived.” The court also noted that the October 31 order asking the two to deposit Rs 750 crore was passed a bench of three judges. The court noted that the total amount deposited so far was Rs 360 crore. (IANS)