Saturday, January 17, 2026

SC gives bail to Kejriwal, but upholds arrest by CBI in excise policy scam case

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi:  In a major relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him bail in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Apart from allowing Kejriwal’s bail plea, Justice Surya Kant, heading a two-judge bench dismissed his distinct plea challenging the legality of arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged liquor scam.

The other judge, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, authored a separate opinion raising serious questions on the timings of arrest by the CBI and held the “belated arrest” by the central agency to be unjustified.

Last week, the top court reserved its decision after hearing the oral arguments advanced by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, who appeared on behalf of the CBI.

During the hearing, Singhvi contended that the CBI did not arrest CM Kejriwal for two years but made an “insurance arrest in a hurry” to prevent his release in the money laundering case. The CBI arrested Kejriwal for “his non-cooperation and evasive replies” but there were several apex court judgments that held that cooperation with the probe should not mean that the accused should incriminate himself and confess to the offences alleged, he said.

Singhvi added that CM Kejriwal, a constitutional functionary holding the position of Delhi Chief Minister, satisfied the triple test for grant of bail. “He is not a flight risk, he will turn up to answer the questions of the investigative agency, and cannot tamper with documents, running into lakhs of pages, and digital evidence after two years, ” he submitted.

On the other hand, the central agency apprehended that the release of CM Kejriwal would turn many witnesses “hostile” and urged the apex court to not release him on bail. ASG Raju said that many candidates of the AAP in the Goa Assembly election came forward to give their statements to the central agency only after CM Kejriwal was arrested.

“They (witnesses) will turn hostile if your lordships release Kejriwal on bail, ” he argued. He argued that CM Kejriwal’s plea for bail should be remanded back to the trial court and he should not have petitioned the Delhi High Court for bail in the first instance. The ASG submitted that arrest is a part of investigation and ordinarily, an investigating officer will not require any permission from a court to make an arrest. “But, in the present case, there was an order of the court granting the power (to arrest), ” he said. He added that when an arrest is made pursuant to an order of the court, an accused cannot take a plea of violation of fundamental rights.

Recently, the top court allowed bail pleas of senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K. Kavitha, and AAP’s former communication-in-charge Vijay Nair in the excise policy case.

The Supreme Court, on July 12, ordered CM Kejriwal to be released on interim bail in connection with the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he was not able to walk out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI.

Militant associate arrested with arms, explosives in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : A militant associate was apprehended with arms and explosives during a joint operation by the police, the Indian Army’s 16 Rashtriya Rifles, and the 38 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Surankote area of Poonch district last evening, officials reported.

The joint forces had set up a checkpoint at Potha Bypass when they noticed a man approaching from Surankote in a suspicious manner. Upon spotting the security personnel, the suspect attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended. During the search, a blue bag containing three HE 36 hand grenades, explosive material, and other incriminating items was recovered from him, officials said.

The suspect has been identified as Mohd Shabir, son of Mohd Farooq, a resident of Daryala Nowshera. Preliminary investigations revealed that he was in contact with a handler from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), identified as Azim Khan, also known as Mudeer, who instructed him to collect the consignment from Surankote town.

The police have taken cognizance of the situation, and more arrests are expected in connection with the case, an official added.

Stalin, EPS, Chidambaram condole demise of CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday condoled the demise of CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

The 72-year-old veteran Left leader passed away at the AIIMS, New Delhi, earlier in the day.

Stalin said in a post on social media platform X, “Deeply shocked and saddened by the demise of Comrade #SitaramYechury, a stalwart of the Left Movement and a towering figure in Indian politics.”

The Chief Minister also said, “Comrade @SitaramYechury was a fearless leader whose commitment to justice was evident from a young age, as he courageously stood against the Emergency as a student leader. His dedication to the cause of the working class, secularism, social justice, equality, and progressive values shaped a distinguished career that will continue to inspire future generations.”

“I will always cherish the insightful interactions I had with him. My heartfelt condolences to his family and comrades during this difficult time. Red Salute, Comrade!” said Tamil Nadu Opposition leader and AIADMK General Secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), who also condoled the demise of Yechury.

In a post on X, EPS said, “Deeply saddened to hear the news that the General Secretary of @cpimspeaks Comrade @SitaramYechury has passed away.”

He added, “With his demise, the nation has lost an exemplary statesman and an astute frontrunner of communist ideology. My deepest condolences to his family and Comrades. Farewell, Comrade!”

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram in a post on X said, “The passing of Comrade Sitaram Yechury is a cruel blow to the forces that are engaged in a determined battle in the defence of democracy, liberty, equality, workers’ rights and human rights.”

He said, “I know that from 1996, Comrade Yechury had stood with the progressive forces of the country. He was a committed Marxist but he was practical enough to understand that some of the goals of Marxism could be achieved, in the current age, only if he stood by other progressive political parties.

The senior Congress leader added, “As the INDIA bloc is gathering strength, his services and support will be sorely missed. I salute the memory of my friend and comrade, Sitaram. I offer his family and his party, the CPI(M), my sincere and heartfelt condolences.”

Border villages are country’s first villages not remote area: Defence Minister

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi:  Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday voiced Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s full commitment to the holistic development of border villages.

“Border villages are the country’s first villages and not remote areas, ” the Defence Minister said while speaking at the Border Area Development Conclave in New Delhi.

He pointed out that India’s geo-strategic position is such that it is exposed to different kinds of challenges and the best way to deal with them is to ensure border area development.

“Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed over 8, 500 km of roads and more than 400 permanent bridges. Atal Tunnel, Sela Tunnel and Shikun-La Tunnel, which is going to be the world’s highest tunnel, will prove to be milestones in border area development, ” the Defence Minister said.

He added that the government has started the 220 Kilo-Volt Srinagar-Leh Electricity Line to connect the border areas of Ladakh with the National Electricity Grid.

He said that the transmission and distribution infrastructure of northeastern states is being strengthened. High-speed internet has been provided to over 1, 500 villages through the Bharat-Net broadband project.

“In the last four years alone, more than 7, 000 border villages have been connected with internet connection, and our focus has been Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, ” the Defence Minister said.

He said that the ongoing efforts have not only ensured prompt military deployments in sensitive regions but have also connected the people residing in border areas with the rest of the country.

He underlined the fact that while building roads, bridges and tunnels in border areas is imperative for national security, it is also important in making the lives of the people in these regions better, in collaboration with the state governments.

“Tourism has immense potential in border areas, but it could not reach the desired heights due to lack of infrastructure. Things have changed since this Government came to power. We are working towards development in these areas. From 2020 to 2023, the footfall of tourists in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh increased by 30%. Similarly, there has been a significant increase in Kashmir as compared to the last few years. This has resulted in job creation and strengthening of the local economy. We are taking consistent steps to make J&K a tourist hotspot, ” he said.

He also shed light on ‘reverse migration’, which he termed as one of the positive outcomes of economic development in border areas. He made special mention of Huri village in Arunachal Pradesh, a unique example of development through civil-military collaboration. He stated that while the central and state governments focused on economic progress, BRO and the Indian Army laid emphasis on infrastructure development, which resulted in reverse migration.

Kharge promises 5 guarantees for J&K if NC-Cong alliance wins

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Srinagar :  Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday promised five guarantees to the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) if the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is voted to power in the Union Territory (UT).

He said that the promise for return of Kashmir Pandit migrants to their homes, which was made during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as the country’s Prime Minister, will be fulfilled.

He also added that the OBCs will also get their rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

The Congress-NC alliance will strive for statehood and also fill all the vacancies lying vacant in various government departments in Jammu and Kashmir and promised Rs 3, 000 per month to women heads of each family.

The Congress President criticised the BJP and also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“If we had just 20 more seats in the Lok Sabha, all these people would have been in jail and they deserve to be there, ” he said on Wednesday during the Congress’ poll rally in Anantnag district.

He noted that the BJP had stalled development in Jammu and Kashmir and had backtracked on all its poll promises.

He slammed the BJP’s claim of ‘400 Paar’ during the Lok Sabha elections, saying, “Where is your ‘400 paar’ now? You are stuck at 240.”

Kharge said that the BJP was staying in power as a minority government, adding that it was afraid of the Congress-NC alliance.

He alleged that constant revision of the BJP candidates list was evidence of the uncertainty that the Congress-NC alliance had created within the former.

Kharge accused the BJP of misleading the youth on the promise of employment.

“Deception is the only policy of the BJP for the youth of J&K. Exam paper leaks, bribes, and rampant corruption have delayed recruitment in government departments for the last four years, ” he alleged.

He said the BJP had stalled development in the Union Territory.

He quoted the example of a market project inaugurated 10 years ago in Anantnag, which he said had seen no progress under PM Modi-led Union government.

He said the state BJP leadership gives only speeches, but does no work.

The Congress-NC pre-poll alliance agreement has given 52 Assembly seats to the NC and 31 to the Congress to field candidates.

Two seats, one in the Valley for the CPI-M and the other in the Jammu division for the J&K Panthers Party, have been left by both the Congress and the NC.

On five seats of Sopore in Kashmir and Nagrota, Doda, Bhaderwah and Banihal, the two parties could not reach a consensus and have decided to field candidates for those five seats to engage in a ‘friendly contest’.

J&K after delimitation has 90 Assembly seats, of which 47 are in Kashmir and 43 are in Jammu.

Out of these 90 seats, nine are ST and seven are SC reserved seats.

The UT goes to poll in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held in J&K on October 8.

Amit Shah thanks Amitabh Bachchan for joining campaign against cybercrime

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan for actively participating in the government’s efforts to combat rising cybercrimes and help create a cyber-secure India.

“Pursuing Modi Ji’s vision, the Ministry of Home Affairs is resolved to creating a safe cyberspace in the nation. The I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) has taken several steps in this direction. I thank Shri Amitabh Bachchan Ji for joining this campaign. Amitabh Bachchan Ji’s active involvement will further accelerate our mission to build a Cyber-Secure Bharat, ” Shah wrote on X, sharing a post of Cyber Dost, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cyber safety and security awareness handle.

Cyber Dost also highlighted Amitabh Bachchan’s involvement in the campaign, saying, “Supporting PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji and HM Shri Amit Shah Ji’s vision, the iconic actor Shri Amitabh Bachchan Ji has joined I4C’s campaign to make India cyber secure. You too can join this initiative, stay vigilant against cyber fraud, and contribute to building a Cyber-Secure Bharat.”

In a video message, Amitabh Bachchan emphasised the importance of vigilance against cybercrime.

“The rising cases of cybercrime in the country and across the world are a matter of concern. The Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre is working towards controlling this. With Home Minister Amit Shah’s insistence, I joined this campaign, and I want us all to unite against this problem. A bit of caution can protect us from cybercrimes, ” the Bollywood actor said.

On Tuesday, Amit Shah addressed the first Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and launched the ‘Samanvay’ Platform, a joint cybercrime investigation facility system.

The I4C initiative was approved in October 2018 to address various forms of cybercrime in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

The government has since undertaken several measures to increase awareness, prevent cybercrime, and enhance law enforcement capacity by issuing cyber alerts, training officials, and improving cyber forensic facilities.

PM Modi to hold election rallies in Jammu and Kashmir on September 14,19

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir twice this month to campaign for BJP candidates ahead of the assembly elections. His first visit is set for September 14, with a second visit planned for September 19.

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are set for September 18, September 25, and October 1, with results expected on October 8. These elections will be the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which led to the reorganization of the former state into two Union Territories.

In the 2014 assembly elections, the BJP won all 25 seats in the Jammu region, which has traditionally been a stronghold for the party. This time, the BJP is focusing its efforts on maintaining its dominance amid a challenge from a resurgent Congress, which has formed an alliance with the National Conference.

From wrestling mat to political ring: Kavita Dalal’s journey to Julana with AAP

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated former professional wrestler Kavita Dalal to contest the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana’s Jind, facing off against Congress’ Vinesh Phogat and BJP’s Captain Yogesh Bairagi. With Dalal in the mix, the election in Julana will feature a unique contest – wrestler versus wrestler versus captain. Dalal is the first female professional wrestler of Indian nationality to compete in the WWE.

Kavita Dalal, often called India’s “female Great Khali, ” has gained recognition for her impressive wrestling feats while competing in traditional attire.

Known in the wrestling world as Kavita Devi, she was born on September 20, 1987, in Malvi village, Jind district, Haryana. Kavita has been given a ticket by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to contest from the Julana constituency, which encompasses her native village.

Kavita Dalal in 2016 South Asian Games represented India in weightlifting and won gold medal. She later transitioned to professional wrestling, and in WWE, she made a significant impact. Kavita showcased her strength to the world during the Mae Young Classic 2017 and received acclaim for her performance at WrestleMania 34.

In India, she is known as ‘Lady Khali’. Kavita Devi weighs over 70 kg and stands 5 feet 9 inches tall. In comparison, The Great Khali weighs around 150 kg and is over 7 feet tall.

Kavita Dalal got married in 2009, and a year later, she gave birth to a son. After that, she considered quitting sports, but with the support of her husband, she continued. Kavita showcased her skills in WWE from 2017 to 2021 before retiring from the ring.

It is now clear with Kavita also in the “ring” with another wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, Julana Assembly seat in Haryana has become a “hot” election arena.

Kavita began her political career in 2022, but before that, she had already made a name for herself in wrestling. She received the “First Lady” award from the President and won a gold medal in weightlifting at the 12th Asian Games in 2016.

Following that, she entered professional wrestling by joining The Great Khali’s Continental Wrestling Entertainment. Her ring name is Kavita.

In April 2022, Kavita began her political career by joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Haryana. She stated that she was impressed by the work of Arvind Kejriwal and committed to fulfilling any responsibilities assigned to her. After a two-year wait, she has now been given a ticket to contest the Haryana Assembly elections.

Identify, remove obstacles in research ecosystem: PM Modi at first ANRF meeting

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed on the need to identify and remove obstacles in the research ecosystem of the country.

He said this while chairing the first meeting of the Governing Board of the newly-formed Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg earlier on Tuesday.

The foundation was established under the ANRF Act of 2023, to regulate all research and development in natural sciences establishments in India.

The first meeting focussed on discussion about India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesigning of research and development programmes.

“Research should focus on finding new solutions to existing problems, ” he said, emphasising the need to find localised solutions to global problems.

He called on the research community to set “big targets, focus on attaining them and doing path-breaking research”.

The Prime Minister also discussed the “need for upgradation and standardisation of institutions”, to create a dashboard to easily track the ongoing research and development in the country and also suggested preparing a list of domain experts on the basis of their expertise.

“The scientific community of the country should have faith that there will be no dearth of resources for their endeavours, ” said PM Modi, while stressing on the need for scientific monitoring of utilisation of resources.

Further, he suggested grading of Atal Tinkering Labs, and discussed the need for research “in environment change, battery ingredients for EVs, lab-grown diamonds”.

The governing body also decided to launch a programme to “pair universities where research is at a nascent stage with top tier established institutions in mentorship mode”.

Meanwhile, the ANRF is expected to “launch programmes in select priority areas like EV mobility, advanced materials, solar cells, smart infrastructure, health and medical technology, sustainable agriculture, and photonics”.

The meeting also decided to launch Centres of Excellence to support interdisciplinary research in humanities and social sciences.

ANRF acts as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction of scientific research in the country as per recommendations of the National Education Policy.

The meeting of the foundation also deliberated upon redesigning of research and development programmes.

The ANRF has been established to promote research and development and also foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

Over the years, it seeks to launch programmes based on solution-focussed approach in mission mode in select priority areas.

The meeting also discussed several areas of strategic interventions of ANRF which include global positioning of India in key sectors, aligning R&D with national priorities, promoting inclusive growth, capacity building, driving scientific advances and innovation ecosystem, as well as bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications through industry-aligned translational research.

The Governing Body also directed the ANRF to align its strategies with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047.

‘Minorities thriving in India’, Iqbal Lalpura slams Rahul Gandhi for remarks on Sikhs

By
Swinder Singh Bajwa
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New Delhi :   Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), on Tuesday criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his controversial remarks on Sikhs’ religious freedom in India, accusing the Congress MP of having “old mentality”.

Interacting with the Indian community in Virginia during his ongoing US trip, Rahul Gandhi said, “First of all, you have to understand what the fight is about. The fight is not about politics. The fight is about whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear his turban in India. Or he as a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a ‘kada’ in India. Or if a Sikh will be able to go to the gurdwara. That’s what the fight is about, and not just for him, for all religions.”

Dismissing the LoP’s concerns, Lalpura told to media, “He has an old mentality, which is why he makes such statements. Since 1947, the promises made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to protect the Sikh community were not fully fulfilled, and many agitations took place because on this issue.”

The NCM Chairman also emphasised that since the BJP came to power (in 2014), Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken “at least 30 significant measures for the Sikh community, which were previously unthinkable”.

Addressing the Congress leader’s mention of the turban, Lalpura said, “Rahul Gandhi should know that among the only three Field Marshals in India’s history, two were from minority communities — Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh.”

“Minorities in India are not only protected but are thriving. Many from minority backgrounds, including Sikhs, have held the highest offices, including the President of India. We don’t just ensure their equality, but also focus on their progress, ” Lalpura said.

He also also criticised Rahul Gandhi for “thinking like his ancestors”, accusing the Congress of betraying the Sikh community.

“The victims of the 1984 Sikh massacre began receiving justice only after PM Modi took office. Many high-profile Congress leaders involved in the killings are now facing justice, with some already in jail.”

“For Sikhs, India is the safest place on Earth where we are prospering. Rahul Gandhi should not have made such remarks, ” Lalpura concluded.

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