NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to BJP MP Anurag Thakur, his brother and nine media houses in connection with news reports on the controversy relating to the link between an entrepreneur and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
Industrialist V Chandrashekhar, CEO of Delhi-based Tarini Group of companies, having its project in the hill State, has sought restraint on Thakur, his brother and the media houses, from running “slanderous” news against the him and his company linking them with the chief minister.
Chandrashekhar and his companies, which deal in hydro- power sector, sought damages of Rs 3 crore from Thakur, his brother Arun Singh Dhumal, who is also Vice President of State cricket association, for news articles that accused them of making payments.
“Plaint be registered as a Suit. Issue summons in suit and notice of the application to the defendants. Defendant nos. 1 (Anurag) and 2 (Arun) accepts summons in suit and notice of the application through their counsel.
“Written statement/reply be filed by defendant nos. 1 and 2 within three weeks. Rejoinder/ reply be filed within two weeks thereafter. Summons in suit and notice of the application be now issued to defendant nos. 3 to 12 (media groups) … Returnable for 3rd March….,” Justice A K Pathak said in a recent order.
“Pass a decree of permanent injunction in favour of plaintiffs and against the defendants… Restraining them from sending, issuing, publishing, circulating, making per se defamatory…Through either print, electronic or cyber media or through any other media whatsoever regarding plaintiffs …And causing interferences/loss of reputation and corporate goodwill of the plaintiffs,” the petition said.
Besides seeking “unconditional” public apology, the plea has also sought withdrawal of “slanderous/libellous imputations made and available in public domain.”
The plea has also sought “a decree of damages in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants resulting out of …Defamatory torts to the tune of Rs 3 crore.”
It alleged that Anurag Thakur, son of former CM P K Dhumal and an MP from Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency and his brother “in furtherance of their campaign of spite and malice have gone on to involve senior political leaders into accusing the plaintiffs collectively of charges of graft and bribery and other offences which plaintiff no. 1 never committed.” (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
Expelled AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny today called off his dharna against Arvind Kejriwal Government after just four hours but threatened to launch a major stir if his demands, including passage of Janlokpal bill, are not met in 10 days.
A day after he was thrown out of Aam Admi Party, the rebel MLA said he will continue support to the Government on “public-related” issues and was withdrawing his stir for now as Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Anna Hazare had suggested that “some days” should be given to the AAP government to fulfil promises made by it during the Delhi Assembly election.
“If Kejriwal Government fails to bring Anna’s Janlokpal Bill in the given time, I would begin protest across the country,” Binny told reporters at Jantar Mantar here.
He also demanded immediate setting up of ‘Mahila Surksha Dal’ and 700 litres of free water to residents along with reduction in electricity bills by upto half as Kejriwal promised during election.
“If AAP Government fails to meet these three demands in the next ten days, I will begin country-wide agitation from February 6 next month,” he said.
“I am not withdrawing my support from the AAP-led Government. I am giving support to the Government on the public-related issues,” he added.
The MLA began his protest at Jantar Mantar at noon and called it off nearly four hours later
Asked why he he was withdrawing his dharna on the first day, Binny told reporters that the LG and Hazare had suggested to him that “some days should be given to the AAP-led Government so that he (Kejriwal) could work on public-related issues”.
“Women security is the first priority of mine. Before forming Government, Kejriwal had said that he would form ‘Mahila Suraksha Dal’ to ensure women security in the Delhi, but he is running away from this promise,” Binny alleged.
Earlier, launching a blistering attack on AAP, he accused Kejriwal of acting like a dictator. He met the Delhi Lt Governor to take up issues which have not been addressed by the Kejriwal government and demanded action against controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti.
Binny also said Kejriwal should have held a referendum before expelling him from the party. He recalled that Kejriwal had organised a referendum across Delhi before forming the Government.
“Kejriwal should have held a referendum to take a decision on me. He should have organised a public meeting in my constituency (Laxmi Nagar) before arriving at any conclusion. After becoming Chief Minister of Delhi, he has become a dictator and is taking all decision on his own,” he said.
The MLA said he would continue to raise public-related issues even if it amounted to indiscipline.
“He (Kejriwal) recently sent a letter …Stating that disciplinary action was being taken against me,” Binny said, adding that if raising public-related issues is violation of discipline, he would continue doing so.
“Instead of taking action against me, Kejriwal should have taken action against Law Minister Somnath Bharti who allegedly assaulted and misbehaved with African women during a midnight raid,” he said.
Binny was expelled from the party last night following a decision by the AAP’s disciplinary committee.
“This disciplinary committee has decided to expel Vinod Kumar Binny and terminate his primary membership from the party, for publicly making false statements against the party and its leadership, thereby bringing disrepute to the party,” the party had said in a statement. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
A Delhi court has dismissed a criminal complaint filed against Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and others for allegedly kidnapping a key witness of the 2008 cash-for-vote case.
The decision came just two months after the former Samajwadi Party leader was given a clean chit by a court in the cash-for-vote case in which he was accused of “conspiring” and “masterminding” attempts to bribe some MPs ahead of a confidence vote in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008.
The court dismissed the complaint filed by Hasmat Ali, who is one of the prime witnesses in the cash-for-vote scam case, saying testimony of the complainant was “unbelievable” as it was not corroborated by any independent witnesses.
“In my view the testimony of the complainant, CW1 Hasmat Ali is unbelievable because it is not corroborated by any independent witness…Therefore, his sole testimony is being discredited. In view of the aforesaid, the complaint is dismissed under section 203 of CrPC,” Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja said.
Amar Singh, who was arrayed as one of the accused in the cash-for-vote scam, was on November 22 last discharged by a court here along with L K Advani’s ex-aide Sudheendra Kulkarni and other BJP leaders in the case.
Ali had earlier moved a magisterial court seeking lodging of FIR against Singh, his secretary Tarun and Ramesh claiming that he was kidnapped from Khan Market here on September 25, 2008 when he was to depose before a parliamentary inquiry committee probing the case.
The magistrate had dismissed Ali’s plea after which he had challenged the order before a sessions court. The sessions court had also dismissed his plea in March 2012.
During the adjudication of the complaint case, Ali had alleged before the court that he was abducted by Tarun and Ramesh and Amar Singh had abused and threatened him.
The magistrate, however, dismissed Ali’s contentions while relying on the probe report filed by the police in which it had said that allegations levelled by the complainant were not corroborated by any independent witness. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
The Supreme Court today took suo motu cognisance of a horrific incident of chopping off the right hands of two migrant labourers from Odisha by a contractor from Andhra Pradesh in December last year.
Taking cognisance of a media report on the incident, a bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued notice to Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
According to the report, the incident occurred near a jungle in Belpada village in Kalahandi district of Odisha when the two labourers were being taken back to their homes to recover the money paid to them in advance when they were hired.
They were being taken back as they had refused to work in a brick kiln in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.
On the way back, the contractor and his accomplice got drunk and chopped off the right hands of the two workers, the report said.
The police have launched a manhunt for the contractor and his accomplice.
The two labourers were part of a group of 12 hired for Rs 14,000 each by the contractor to work in a brick kiln in Andhra Pradesh.
However, the contractor tried to forcibly take all of them to Raipur in Chhattisgarh to work in a brick kiln there, to which the labourers refused and 10 of them managed to escape, the report said. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
As the country heads for Lok Sabha elections, the Law Commission will on Saturday hold consultations on electoral reforms to firm up its views on complex issues including ban on opinion polls and fate of candidates who file false affidavits.
The national level consultations with political parties and other stakeholders are being seen as an effort of the Commission to finalise its recommendations on electoral reforms, months after it circulated a consultation paper on the issue.
In its May 2013 consultation paper, the Commission, which gives legal advice to the Government on complex legal issues, wanted to know whether a people’s representative should stand disqualified upon conviction in a case, or framing of charges in a court, or as soon as the investigation officer presents his report.
“The issue of electoral reforms with all its connotations has been receiving attention of the successive Governments…. A divergence of views further underlines the need to engage in identifying the direct and indirect connection between these issues and the constitutional obligations of strengthening democracy and the rule of law,” the law panel had said.
It will also make recommendations on whether to altogether ban publication and broadcast of opinion polls between announcement of election schedule and final phase of polling.
Existing law allows EC to ban them just 48 hours prior to voting.
The Election Commission, the Attorney General, major political parties, except BJP, have supported the move to ban opinion polls.
The Law Commission had also asked whether, in addition to the existing scheme of disqualification, a new statutory provision needs to be inserted for evaluation of fitness of a candidate by an independent body.
It had sought opinion on whether filing of a false affidavit should be a ground for disqualification. “If yes, what mode and mechanism needs to be provided for adjudication on the veracity of the affidavit,” it had asked.
On the issue of state funding of election expenses and regulation of conduct of political parties, the Law Commission had asked whether there should at all be state funding of elections of a candidate or political party. It had said if there was state funding, what should be its criteria and the quantum of funding.
The consultations will help new Law Commission Chairman Justice (retd) A P Shah to finalise the recommendations and present them to the Government.
But it is to be seen whether the Government will be able to act on the recommendations as it would mean amending the Representation of the People Act and taking it to Parliament which will meet between February 5 and February 21.
This would be the last session before general elections due this summer. (PTI)

MUMBAI, Jan 27:
Melody queen Lata Mangeshakar says it is hard to believe that 51 years have passed since she sang ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ in front of prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963.
“Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ is completing 51 years. I really don’t know how these many years passed away but it still reminds me of the sadness of that time…
“I presented this song on January 27, 1963 in front of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru in the memory of those martyrs. Everybody’s eyes were moist. The poignant song was written by poet Pradeepji and was composed by Ramchandraji. How can we forget our martyrs. I remember them every year and salute them,” Mangeshkar tweeted.
One of the most memorable patriotic numbers, the song was written as a tribute to Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War in 1962.
Mangeshkar, 84, famously sang the song in the presence of Nehru at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, just a day after the Republic Day.
The song is said to have moved Nehru to tears as the war had ended just two months ago and its memories were still fresh.
Mangeshkar, 84, is being felicitated by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at a function here to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the song.
Modi is the chief guest at the function being organised by Shahid Bharat Samiti and Lodha Foundation.
The organisers said Lata will not sing but she might hum one or two lines when over one lakh people sing it in chorus. (PTI)

MUMBAI/THANE, Jan 27:
Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers today went on the rampage, vandalising toll plazas in different parts of the State following their leader’s diktat not to pay the levy and “thrash” those who raise a voice against it.
The vandalism invited condemnation from the State’s ruling Congress-NCP alliance and demand for action against MNS.
“Aadve aale tar tudvun kadha” (if anyone raises a voice, thrash them). Unless you are told why toll is being levied, no one will pay,” Thackeray had exhorted his party workers at a function in Navi Mumbai last night.
Hours later, they were on streets, pulling down barriers and unleashing violence.
At least half-a-dozen toll booths were ransacked by MNS activists in Thane district, adjoining Mumbai, alone.
MNS legislator Pravin Darekar and at least 25 of his supporters were detained at Dahisar after party workers attacked a toll plaza.
Several toll booths in Kalyan township of the district were raided by MNS supporters led by local MLA Prakash Bhoir. Cases have been registered in connection with the attacks.
State Congress president Manikrao Thakre denounced the incidents and said he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. The Chief Minister, he said, had assured him that police complaints would be filed and action taken against the perpetrators.
“But what about those who incited the violence? Legal action should also be taken against them,” Thakre said without naming Raj.
Thakre said the decision to levy toll for using various roads and bridges was taken by the Shiv Sena-BJP Government for projects taken up on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis, he added.
Senior NCP leader and Union Minister Tariq Anwar also slammed Raj Thackeray for the incidents, saying,” he (Raj) has been adopting such tactics for cheap popularity. He should change his ways.”
MNS has been targeting the Government for continuing to levy toll for use of roads and bridges whose cost has already been recovered without providing better amenities.
Meanwhile, reinforcements have been rushed to vulnerable toll plazas, police said. (PTI)

PORT BLAIR/NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
There were no life jackets and divers on board the ill-fated boat that capsized in Andaman and Nicobar Islands killing at least 21 people, Union Minister V Narayanasamy today said.
Eyewitnesses to the boat tragedy also claimed that there was a blast before the capsize and that there was an hour’s delay before the marine rescue team could reach the spot.
“The boat capsized and they (tourists) died. In fact I came to know from reports that there were no life jackets in the boat and no divers to rescue the people. There was no guard in the boat,” the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office said, terming the incident as “sad” and “unfortunate”.
He also demanded a thorough inquiry into the tragedy.
“There should be a thorough inquiry and action should be taken against those responsible,” said Narayanasamy, who represents Puducherry constituency in Lok Sabha.
While 21 persons died, 29 were rescued and one person was stated to be missing in the boat tragedy.
The victims included eight men, 13 women and one child, P Johar, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman district said.
He said 16 more persons had been rescued last night in addition to the 23 rescued earlier, taking the total number of rescued to 29.
Eye witnesses told reporters today that before the capsize, they heard the sound of a blast.
Fishermen fishing nearby also heard the sound and immediately rushed to the scene, the eye witnesses said.
They alleged that there was about an hour’s delay before the marine rescue team’s could reach the spot.
The local administration has launched further investigation and search operation for the missing person is going on.
Of the dead, three hailed from Maharashtra, 16 from Tamil Nadu and one each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The survivors included seven from Maharashtra, 15 from Tamil Nadu, two from New Delhi, one each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and three from the Andaman Islands.
One missing person from Kanchipuram was feared dead, source said.
The rescued persons were admitted to the G B Pant Hospital in Port Blair.
Sources in the district administration said the boat had a carrying capacity of about 25 people but was carrying double the number of tourists from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, New Delhi, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh besides, the Andamans.
Of the 16 dead from Kanchipuram, 10 were women besides a child. The other three women victims hailed from Mumbai, Kolkata and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
The civil administration pressed into service Police Fast Interceptor boats, shipping vessels, coast guard vessels and coast guard helicopters.
Lt Governor Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh had announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased and conveyed his condolences to the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra from where most of the victims hailed.
Arrangements were being made to despatch the bodies to their respective places, the sources said.
Additional District Magistrate of South Andaman has been directed to conduct a magisterial enquiry. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 27:
Hitting out at AAP for not working on its promises, expelled MLA Vinod Kumar Binny today met the Delhi Lt Governor to take up issues which have not been addressed by the Kejriwal Government and demand action against controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti.
The Lakshmi Nagar MLA also claimed that the decision to expel him was taken to gag other dissatisfied party MLAs.
Binny, who met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to discuss issues which he claimed were not addressed by the AAP Government and demand strict action against Bharti, said he has been given an assurance that law will take its own course.
“We demanded that action be taken in Somnath-African woman case. The Law Minister assaulted and misbehaved with African women during the midnight raid. The LG has assured me that law is equal for everyone and let law take its course,” he told reporters after meeting the LG.
Binny, who is set to hold a dharna against the AAP Government at Jantar Mantar, claimed that “The decision to expel me was taken to gag other party MLAs dissatisfied by the party leadership.”
Asked about Binny’s claims that some other MLAs were disgruntled with the party, Kejriwal said, “Who is here to save the Government, we are here to work for the people.”
Accusing the Delhi Government of mocking constitutional bodies like the women’s commission, Binny said the AAP wants that its Government falls as they now want to save themselves from all those “false promises” which they had made.
“But I will not let them run away,” Binny said, adding he has not received any letter from AAP and got to know about his expulsion only from the media.
Lashing out at the AAP Government, he said, “The party which was formed to fight corruption and had called Sheila Dikshit and other leaders corrupt has not even initiated a probe against them.”
“Delhi has broken its record in regard to cases of violence against women, and still women commando force promised by AAP has not been formed. They are playing with the lives of sisters and daughters.
The AAP Government has also not fulfilled the promise to make permanent jobs of contractual employees, Binny said, adding these people have been sitting on a dharna for that last few days but the Chief Minister has not met them.
However, the MLA said he would support Aam Aadmi Party on public-related issues.
“I will support AAP-led Government on Janlokpal Bill,” he said.
Asked how he would now support AAP, Binny said, “I was with them on public issues.I will continue to work for the welfare of the people”.
Asked if he was going to join BJP or Congress, he said he was “not going to join either BJP or Congress as I am against their politics”.
Before staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar against the Kejriwal-led Government, the MLA paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Binny was expelled from the party last night following a decision by the AAP’s disciplinary committee.
“This disciplinary committee has decided to expel Vinod Kumar Binny and terminate his primary membership from the party, for publicly making false statements against the party and its leadership, thereby bringing disrepute to the party,” the party said in a statement.
Ten days ago Binny had called Kejriwal a “dictator” and accused the party of “betraying” the people of Delhi by backtracking on its election promises.
Binny had announced that he will sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar if the party fails to fulfil the promises made to people by January 27. (PTI)