Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for the fourth day of questioning in the National Herald money laundering case

Appearing a day after his 52nd birthday, Gandhi arrived at the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi at 11.05 AM with his “Z+” category CRPF security escort

A huge contingent of police and paramilitary personnel was deployed around the federal agency’s office even as Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been imposed in the adjoining area like last week

The senior Congress leader left for lunch around 3:15 pm and is expected to re-join the questioning
Senior Congress leaders and workers also held a protest at Jantar Mantar here against the ED action and the Centre’s Agnipath defence recruitment scheme

The Congress MP from Wayanad has spent around 35 hours at the ED office during these four days, where he was questioned over multiple sessions and his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

The fourth day of questioning was deferred from June 17 to this day after Gandhi requested the agency for postponing the session as he wanted to be with his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in hospital, where she is admitted for post-Covid issues

The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper

The ED is understood to be asking Rahul Gandhi about the incorporation of the Young Indian Private Limited, operations of the National Herald, the loan given by the party to the newspaper’s publisher Associated Journals Limited (AJL), and the transfer of funds within the news media establishment

Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned by the agency for questioning in the case on June 23

The Congress has accused the Centre of targeting opposition leaders by misusing investigative agencies and has termed the entire action a political vendetta.

Agency sources have said the role of Gandhi and his detailed statement in the case is vital as he is a “major shareholder” (38 %) in Young Indian (YI) and an “important person” in the affairs of AJL and National Herald

It is understood that the agency has put across questions to him about the assets owned by AJL.

According to sources, Gandhi was reportedly asked about a loan of Rs 1 crore taken by YI from a Kolkata-based company in February 2011 and the rationale behind it

The questions put to Gandhi, the sources indicated, cover a period starting year 2011 when YI was incorporated. It has also been learnt that the questions cover the changes that took place in the shareholding pattern of the company thereafter, the procedures followed, and the salaries and VRS given to journalists working in the organisation among other issues

The Congress has denied any wrongdoing in the case, saying YI is a non-profit company established under Section 25 of the Companies Act

The party said AJL, which was established in 1937, faced huge debts and the Congress, from 2002 to 2011, gave Rs 90 crore to the National Herald newspaper, out of which Rs 66 crore was used to pay the salaries and VRS of the journalists and staffers

The rest of the money was given to the government as pending lease amount for the assets held by AJL, its electricity and building expenses and house tax, former Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal were questioned in this case recently, and Kharge said he gave “evidence” to the agency during his questioning

The ED recently registered a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court here took cognisance of an Income tax department probe against Young Indian on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and majority shareholders of Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding

Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with YI paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to the Congress

In February last year, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Gandhis for their response on Swamy’s plea, seeking to lead evidence in the matter before the trial court

The Gandhis had secured separate bails from the court in 2015 after they furnished personal bonds of Rs 50,000 and one surety

They, however, had contended in the high court that Swamy’s plea was “misconceived and premature”

The other accused in the case filed by Swamy are close aides of the Gandhis – Suman Dubey and technocrat Sam Pitroda. They have denied any wrongdoing.

More than 500 trains were cancelled on Monday with operations again disrupted by protests against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.

While 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.

The Railways also partially cancelled four mail/express trains.

New Delhi : Lt. General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, on Sunday said that reform was long pending in the defence recruitment process, and vandalism and protesters have no place in the Army.

Before launching the new recruitment scheme, two years of study was undertaken to decide on the lowering of age, he said.

“We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past, ” said Additional Secretary while addressing media here on the Agnipath scheme.

He said, “We have been planning this since 1984 and now have come up with this idea. The reservation for retired army personnel was pre-planned.”

Lt. Gen. Anil Puri said that the ‘Agniveers’ would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other places which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present. There will be no discrimination against them in the service conditions, he added.

“Agniveers’ will get a compensation for Rs 1 crore if he sacrifices his life in service of the nation, ” he added further.

Talking about the apprehension about the training for Agniveers, he said that all cadets trained in one year only. Youth will be skilled for multiple avenues after their exit, he added.

Lt. General Puri also clarified that all recruitments will be through Agnipath scheme only.

On the ongoing agitation, he said that vandalism has no space in the Army.

“All individuals, who want to join as Agniveers, will have to pledge that they had no involvement in the agitation and protests. They will have to write a pledge for not being involved in the protests which will be verified by the police, ” he said.

India reported 12781 fresh Covid cases in a span of 24 hours, which is a marginal decline from the previous day’s count of 12, 899, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

In the same period, the country has reported 18 more Covid deaths, taking the nationwide death toll to 5, 24, 873.

Meanwhile, the active caseload of the country has risen to 76, 700 cases, accounting for 0.18 % of the country’s total positive cases.

The recovery of 8, 537 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4, 27, 07, 900. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.61 per cent.

Meanwhile, India’s daily positivity rate has jumped to 4.32 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate currently stands at 2.62 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 2, 96, 050 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 85.81 crore.

As of Monday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 196.18 crore, achieved via 2, 53, 18, 438 sessions.

Over 3.57 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.

Violence at Secunderabad railway station was pre-planned and the owners of coaching centres played a key role by instigating the youth, investigations by the railway police revealed.

The youth, who indulged in violence, had reached Hyderabad from different parts of Telangana a day before and came with bottles filled with petrol.

CCTV footage at the station also shows that they conducted recce before creating the mayhem. An official said the protesters entered the station from three sides. While 300 youths went on rampage, over 1, 500 protesters later joined to support them.

According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), coaching centres, which train youngsters aspiring for army jawan jobs, played a role in instigating the violence

About 2, 000 aspirants from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had cleared the physical test and were awaiting the written test to be conducted. However, the written test was postponed six times due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic. After the Centre announced the Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the written exam was cancelled, the aspirants were agitated.

They approached the coaching institutes which cited anti-Agnipath protests at a railway station in Bihar, where a train was burnt, and said that if something similar was done here, it would draw the attention of the Central government, said Superintendent of Police GRP-Secunderabad, B. Anuradha.

Avula Subba Rao, an ex-serviceman, who runs a training academy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has been detained in Andhra Pradesh for his suspected role in provoking youth.

Anuradha said owners of many other such coaching centres are now being identified. The protesters were mobilised through WhatsApp groups created on June 16.

Messages were circulated on the groups that only Central government property is to be attacked, mainly railway stations. Railway Station Block, Hakimpet Army Soldiers, Chalo Secunderabad ARO 3, Indian Army, Army GD 2021 March rally, CEC Soldiers and Soldiers To Die were the names of the WhatsApp groups created.

She said 46 persons have been arrested so far and the investigations were on to identify and arrest others who indulged in violence.

The Railway police booked the accused under sections 150, 151, and 152 of the Indian Railway Act, and other laws. The official pointed out that conviction under section 150 could lead to life imprisonment.

The youth who have been booked will be ineligible to get a job in the army or in the government sector.

Anuradha said that it was a surprise attack. Protesters, who held an unlawful assembly, were armed with sticks and petrol. After entering the station, they started damaging CCTV cameras and display boards and then torched railway coaches and other property.

The official confirmed that it was the Railway Protection Force that opened fire to control the situation. A total of 20 rounds were fired during the protests. Of those, she said, one was a bullet and the rest were pellets.

One of the protestors D. Rakesh (22) died of bullet injury. Thirteen others were hit by pellets and they are undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital.

The agitation against the Central government’s Agnipath recruitment scheme continued for a second day on Friday, with protesters blocking roads and railway tracks in parts of Haryana, largely close to the National Capital Region (NCR), farmers’ organisations and khap panchayats (community courts) joining the stir.

Anticipating violence, the government has suspended internet services in Faridabad district’s Ballabgarh, whereas prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC, restricting gathering of more than four persons, have been imposed in Gurugram.

The protests were largely reported from Rohtak, Jhajjar, Narnaul, Faridabad, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri and Gurugram districts.

The government has defended the scheme, calling it “transformative”.

Farm activists led by BKU (Chadhuni) state chief Gurnam Singh Chadhuni began one-day fast-cum-protest in front of the BJP headquarters in Rohtak.

Describing the Agnipath scheme anti-national and a threat to the country’s security, Chadhuni demanded its immediate withdrawal. He, however, appealed to the youth not to resort to suicide or indulge in violence.

Hooda khap president Om Prakash Hooda also reached the protest site and extended their support to the protesters.

Stating that staging protests is a democratic right but violence will not be tolerated, Home Minister Anil Vij said, “Those found involved in violence will not be spared.”

Vij was categorically clear in saying that specific directions have already been issued to deal with the situation. “Rioters are being identified and appropriate action will be taken, ” he added.

Protesters blocked the railway tracks in Narwana in Jind district and stopped a goods and a passenger train, prompting heavy deployment of the security personnel.

According to the Home Department, there is a likelihood of “tension, annoyance, obstruction or injury to persons, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquility” in Ballabgarh sub-division by the agitated protesters.

In order to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, the government has been directed to suspend mobile, internet, and SMS services and all dongle service in the territorial jurisdiction of subdivision Ballabgarh.

For Thursday’s protest in Palwal district, the police have booked more than 1, 000 people for violence. Three first information reports have been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The flood situation in the northeast took a turn for the worse on Friday as incessant rainfall pounded parts of the region for the fourth consecutive day, leaving its major rivers in spate, officials said.

Nine more people, including two children, died in rain-related incidents in Assam, raising the toll in this year’s floods and landslides to 55, a bulletin by the state’s disaster management authority said.

The deaths were reported from Hojai, Nalbari, Bajali, Dhubri, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, and Sonitpur districts.

Two people were also reported missing in Hojai and Sonitpur.

A total of 18.94 lakh people have been affected by the heavy rain and subsequent flood and landslides in 28 districts of the state, the bulletin issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

The situation is no better in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, where roads have been damaged due to landslides and villages are largely flooded.

Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji) in Meghalaya recorded a massive 972 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Friday, while Mawsynram received 1003.6 mm showers during the same period, IMD officials said.

At least 18 people have died over the past two days in Meghalaya in flash floods and landslides, officials stated.

They also said that the government will be paying ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased.

In Assam, landslides were reported in Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Hojai, Kamrup and Kamrup (Metropolitan) and Morigaon.

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal called up Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and discussed the situation with him, according to state officials.

Several rivers, including Brahmaputra, Kopili, Paladadiya, Jia-Bharali, Manas and Beki, are flowing above the danger level in the state.

An alert was sounded in Karbi Anglong, Morigaon and Nagaon districts as four sluice gates of NEEPCO’s hydroelectric project were opened in Dima Hasao.

Flooding was also reported in urban areas of Kamrup Metropolitan, Bajali, Barpeta, Darrang, Goalpara, Morigaon, Kokrajhar, Nalbari and Udalguri districts, the ASDMA bulletin said.

The CBI on Wednesday arrested Kalyani Singh, daughter of Himachal Pradesh High Court acting Chief Justice Sabina, in connection with the murder of national-level shooter Sukhmanpreet Singh, a.k.a. Sippy Sidhu, in Chandigarh in September 2015.

In January 2016, the case was transferred to the CBI, after which the investigating agency registered a fresh murder case.

Advocate Sippy, 36, was shot dead on September 20, 2015, in a park in Sector 27. A .12 bore gun was used in the crime and four bullets were fired from it.

Chandigarh Police had registered a case of murder and recorded the statements of various suspects, including the judge’s daughter, who is believed to be a close friend of the victim, though it failed to make any headway.

She was questioned twice by the police. Sidhu’s family had held protests alleging that she was being shielded by the police.

In December 2020, the CBI had informed the court that it has no evidence of the involvement of a former Punjab and Haryana high court judge’s daughter in the crime. However, it said it would keep investigations open as it has “strong suspicions about the role of a woman to eliminate Sippy.”

Sippy was a rifle shooter and had won the team gold along with Abhinav Bindra in the Punjab National Games in 2001.

He had been on the shooting circuit for more than 15 years and won medals regularly at various shooting competitions. He was also a joint secretary of the Paralympic Committee of India.

On January 22, 2016, Chandigarh Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki had transferred the case to the CBI, which questioned the investigating officer and other police personnel.