Chandigarh – The Correspondent https://thecorrespondent.in Think Differently Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:14:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 133256312 Judges, as custodians of justice, bound by the law, not by political considerations, says Delhi HC while dismissing CM Kejriwal’s plea https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/judges-as-custodians-of-justice-bound-by-the-law-not-by-political-considerations-says-delhi-hc-while-dismissing-cm-kejriwals-plea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=judges-as-custodians-of-justice-bound-by-the-law-not-by-political-considerations-says-delhi-hc-while-dismissing-cm-kejriwals-plea https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/judges-as-custodians-of-justice-bound-by-the-law-not-by-political-considerations-says-delhi-hc-while-dismissing-cm-kejriwals-plea/#respond Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:14:05 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210764 Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, which on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the ED and the trial court order sending him to the agency’s custody, held that judges, “as custodians of justice, are bound by the law and not by political considerations” and cannot adjudicate “political matters”.Justice […]

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]]> Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, which on Tuesday dismissed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the ED and the trial court order sending him to the agency’s custody, held that judges, “as custodians of justice, are bound by the law and not by political considerations” and cannot adjudicate “political matters”.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who heard the case, noted the ED’s submission that they were in possession of enough material to arrest Kejriwal.
As senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, argued that the arrest made by the ED was mala fide, and made at the time of elections, thereby seriously compromising free and fair elections and thus, also affecting democracy which, in turn, is ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution of India, the court responded: “… the courts of law are one of the pillars of democracy. Judges, as custodians of justice, are bound by the law and not by political considerations.”
” … this Court notes that the judiciary is tasked with interpreting laws and adjudicating matters before it based on the existing laws and precedents alone, rather than the political considerations.”
Justice Sharma’s verdict stated that while politics may influence governance, it is not the purview of the courts to adjudicate “political matters”. “Instead, the judiciary remains steadfast in its commitment to the principles of law and justice, independent of political considerations,” it said.
The judgement’s main crux being that political factors or dynamics should not and have never influenced the court’s deliberations or decision-making process, Justice Sharma ruled that the matter is not a conflict between the Central government and Kejriwal, but between Kejriwal and the ED.
“In such legal proceedings, it is crucial for the court to maintain its focus solely on the legal merits of the case,” the judge noted, adding that the issue before this court does not concern two political parties but an investigating agency on one hand and an alleged accused who happens to be a Chief Minister on the other.
The judge observed that the courts have been, and are better left untouched by political influences or interference, and their only and sole responsibility and duty is the application of a law enacted by the Parliament which is the will of the people.
“When adjudicating legal disputes, the Courts are duty-bound to interpret laws and assess the actions of investigating agencies in alignment with constitutional and legal norms, irrespective of political considerations,” her judgement read.
The judge stated that the arrest of Kejriwal was not in contravention of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Pankaj Bansal in respect of Section 19 of the PMLA. She said that the trial court’s order dated March 22, which had sent Kejriwal to ED’s custody, does not suffer from any infirmity or illegality.
Section 19 of the PMLA provides that the officer arresting an individual must have some “material in his possession” on the basis of which the officer should have a “reason to believe” that the person being so arrested is “guilty” of an offence punishable under PMLA.
The agency has said that it complied with all procedural requirements of Section 19(1) and (2) of the PMLA as well as Article 22(1) and (2) of the Constitution of India during the arrest and remand of CM Kejriwal.
The agency has claimed that the AAP leader was the kingpin and key conspirator of the Delhi excise scam in collusion with ministers of the Delhi government, AAP leaders and other persons and that it has material in possession which demonstrates that he is guilty of the offence of money laundering.
The ED has also alleged that CM Kejriwal was directly involved in the formulation of the Excise Policy 2021-22, drafted “considering the favours to be granted to the South Group” and that he demanded kickbacks from the South Group in exchange for favours to them in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/judges-as-custodians-of-justice-bound-by-the-law-not-by-political-considerations-says-delhi-hc-while-dismissing-cm-kejriwals-plea/feed/ 0 210764 AAP accuses BJP of ‘poaching’ MP, MLA in Punjab https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/delhi/aap-accuses-bjp-of-poaching-mp-mla-in-punjab/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aap-accuses-bjp-of-poaching-mp-mla-in-punjab https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/delhi/aap-accuses-bjp-of-poaching-mp-mla-in-punjab/#respond Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:21:42 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210751 Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi:  AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday alleged that  BJP has poached their party’s MP Sushil Kumar Rinku and MLA Sheetal Angural, and that “numerous MLAs in the state had been tempted with financial incentives to defect and align with the BJP with promises of Y+ security and positions”. Addressing a […]

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]]> Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi:  AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday alleged that  BJP has poached their party’s MP Sushil Kumar Rinku and MLA Sheetal Angural, and that “numerous MLAs in the state had been tempted with financial incentives to defect and align with the BJP with promises of Y+ security and positions”. Addressing a press conference here, Minister Bharadwaj questioned that if the BJP was experiencing such dire circumstances in Punjab, “why did it recruit our MP and MLA yesterday?”

“Our MLAs from Punjab informed us yesterday that numerous MLAs in the state were enticed with monetary offers to defect and join the BJP. They were promised Y+ security, positions, and even the opportunity to contest the Lok Sabha elections,” said Bharadwaj. The party’s lone MP in the Lok Sabha, Sushil Kumar Rinku (48), and MLA from Punjab Sheetal Angural joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

“The proposition of party switching is not uncommon, but when it comes to Punjab, it’s beyond comprehension. Rinku’s tenure as MP has concluded, and with the Model Code of Conduct in effect, his options are limited to contesting elections,” said Bharadwaj. “If you seek an evaluation, it is evident that BJP will rank fourth in Jalandhar, Punjab,” claimed the Minister.

Bharadwaj also said that during a press briefing on Wednesday, three Punjab MLAs, namely Amandeep Singh, Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina, and Jagdeep Kamboj, revealed that not only these three, but a significant number of our MLAs, received enticing phone calls urging them to defect to the BJP. “It seems that what Arvind Kejriwal had previously mentioned has materialised today — ‘Operation Lotus’ appears to have been orchestrated with the aim of destabilising AAP and undermining our governments in Delhi and Punjab,” he added.

Last week, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a closed-door meeting with Rinku to gather feedback about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had won in five out of the nine segments in the Jalandhar parliamentary seat, while the AAP bagged the remaining seats. The 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will go to the polls on June 1.

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/delhi/aap-accuses-bjp-of-poaching-mp-mla-in-punjab/feed/ 0 210751 ‘आप’ के एकलौते लोकसभा सांसद सुशील कुमार रिंकू भाजपा में हुए शामिल https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%aa-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%8f%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8c%e0%a4%a4%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%ad%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%a6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=%25e0%25a4%2586%25e0%25a4%25aa-%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2587-%25e0%25a4%258f%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a4%25b2%25e0%25a5%258c%25e0%25a4%25a4%25e0%25a5%2587-%25e0%25a4%25b2%25e0%25a5%258b%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a4%25b8%25e0%25a4%25ad%25e0%25a4%25be-%25e0%25a4%25b8%25e0%25a4%25be%25e0%25a4%2582%25e0%25a4%25b8%25e0%25a4%25a6 https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%aa-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%8f%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8c%e0%a4%a4%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%ad%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%a6/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:03:50 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210747 गौरव चंडीगढ़/नई दिल्ली: आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) के एकलौते लोकसभा सांसद सुशील कुमार रिंकू बुधवार को भाजपा में शामिल हो गए। भाजपा नेता विनोद तावड़े ने रिंकू को भाजपा मुख्यालय में पार्टी की सदस्यता दिलाई। सुशील के साथ ही जालंधर ईस्ट से आम आदमी पार्टी के विधायक शीतल अंगूराल भी बीजेपी में शामिल हुए। रिंकू […]

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]]> गौरव चंडीगढ़/नई दिल्ली: आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) के एकलौते लोकसभा सांसद सुशील कुमार रिंकू बुधवार को भाजपा में शामिल हो गए। भाजपा नेता विनोद तावड़े ने रिंकू को भाजपा मुख्यालय में पार्टी की सदस्यता दिलाई। सुशील के साथ ही जालंधर ईस्ट से आम आदमी पार्टी के विधायक शीतल अंगूराल भी बीजेपी में शामिल हुए। रिंकू ने कहा कि वो प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी, केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह की कार्यशैली से प्रभावित होकर भाजपा में शामिल हो रहे हैं। इसके साथ ही उन्होंने कहा कि चुनाव में जो विकास के वादे उन्होंने किए थे, उन्हें पूरा करने में पंजाब सरकार ने सहयोग नहीं किया। 

इस दौरान पंजाब भाजपा के अध्यक्ष सुनील जाखड़ भी मौजूद रहे। सुशील कुमार रिंकू ‘आप’ के एकमात्र लोकसभा सांसद हैं, ऐसे में इसे आम आदमी पार्टी के लिए यह एक बड़ा झटका माना जा रहा है। सुशील कुमार रिंकू ने ऐसे समय में बीजेपी ज्वाइन की है जब ‘आप’ ने जालंधर से उन्हें टिकट देने की घोषणा कर दी थी। सांसद रिंकू व विधायक शीतल अंगूराल दोनों ही बुधवार को दिल्ली स्थिति बीजेपी मुख्यालय पर मौजूद रहे। सुशील कुमार रिंकू पहले कांग्रेस में भी रह चुके हैं। सांसद बनने से पहले वह जालंधर पश्चिम सीट से विधानसभा चुनाव भी जीत चुके हैं।

आम आदमी पार्टी ने उन्हें 2023 में जालंधर लोकसभा सीट के उपचुनाव में अपना प्रत्याशी बनाया था। यहां से जीत दर्ज करने के बाद वह पिछले एक साल से इस सीट का प्रतिनिधित्व कर रहे हैं। गौरतलब है कि दिल्ली में समझौते के बावजूद पंजाब में आम आदमी पार्टी और कांग्रेस अलग-अलग चुनाव लड़ रहे हैं। वहीं शीतल अंगुराल ने साल 2022 विधानसभा चुनाव में सुशील कुमार रिंकू को हराया था। शीतल अंगुराल के हाथों मिली इस हार के बाद रिंकू ‘आप’ में शामिल हो गए थे। शीतल अंगुराल जालंधर पश्चिम सीट से विधानसभा चुनाव जीते हैं।

इससे पहले मंगलवार को लुधियाना से कांग्रेस सांसद रवनीत सिंह बिट्टू ने बीजेपी ज्वाइन की थी। बिट्टू का कहना था कि वह पंजाब और केंद्र के बीच के खाई को पाटना चाहते हैं इसलिए बीजेपी में आए हैं। गौरतलब है कि ‘आप’ के इन दोनों नेताओं ने ऐसे समय भाजपा में जाने का फैसला किया है जब कि आम आदमी पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय संयोजक व दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल को ईडी ने आबकारी नीति मामले में गिरफ्तार कर लिया है। वह फिलहाल ईडी की रिमांड पर हैं।

पंजाब में लोकसभा की कुल 13 सीटें हैं जहां आप और कांग्रेस ने अलग-अलग चुनाव लड़ने का फैसला किया है। आप ने अब तक 8 सीटों पर प्रत्याशी उतार दिए हैं जिनमें रिंकू का नाम भी शामिल था।

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%aa-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%8f%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8c%e0%a4%a4%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%ad%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%a6/feed/ 0 210747 Delhi HC to hear plea seeking Arvind Kejriwal’s removal from CM post https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-seeking-arvind-kejriwals-removal-from-cm-post/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-seeking-arvind-kejriwals-removal-from-cm-post https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-seeking-arvind-kejriwals-removal-from-cm-post/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:52:23 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210744 TC Bureau New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s removal from office. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan will hear the matter. The petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, a resident of Delhi and self-proclaimed farmer and social worker, has contended that […]

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]]> TC Bureau New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s removal from office. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan will hear the matter. The petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, a resident of Delhi and self-proclaimed farmer and social worker, has contended that Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a liquor policy case renders him unfit to hold a public office.

Yadav has argued that a Chief Minister — currently in ED’s custody till March 28 — embroiled in a financial scandal should not be allowed to continue in office, asserting that his incarceration not only obstructs the due process of law but also undermines the constitutional machinery of the state.

Citing Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution, the petitioner has claimed that Kejriwal’s current status as an inmate incapacitates him from fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of his position as a Chief Minister.

The plea further talks about the practicality of a jailed Chief Minister conducting governmental affairs from prison, suggesting that the scrutiny imposed by prison authorities on all materials reaching Kejriwal would violate the oath of secrecy administered to him as Chief Minister.

Additionally, Yadav has argued that allowing Kejriwal to retain his position would permit him to influence investigations in which he is implicated, contradicting principles of criminal jurisprudence. The petitioner has urged the court to issue a writ of Quo Warranto, compelling Kejriwal to justify his authority to hold the office of Chief Minister and ultimately, to remove him from the position.

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/delhi-hc-to-hear-plea-seeking-arvind-kejriwals-removal-from-cm-post/feed/ 0 210744 ईडी के दफ्तर में अरविंद केजरीवाल से मिलीं पत्‍नी सुनीता, रोजाना 30 मिनट के लिए मुलाकात की इजाजत https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/%e0%a4%88%e0%a4%a1%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%b0-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a6-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=%25e0%25a4%2588%25e0%25a4%25a1%25e0%25a5%2580-%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2587-%25e0%25a4%25a6%25e0%25a4%25ab%25e0%25a5%258d%25e0%25a4%25a4%25e0%25a4%25b0-%25e0%25a4%25ae%25e0%25a5%2587%25e0%25a4%2582-%25e0%25a4%2585%25e0%25a4%25b0%25e0%25a4%25b5%25e0%25a4%25bf%25e0%25a4%2582%25e0%25a4%25a6-%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2587 https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/%e0%a4%88%e0%a4%a1%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%b0-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a6-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 03:09:36 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210740 गौरव चंडीगढ़/नई दिल्ली: दिल्ली के गिरफ्तार मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल की पत्‍नी सुनीता केजरीवाल ने रविवार शाम को जांच एजेंसी के कार्यालय में अपने पति से मुलाकात की। केजरीवाल इस समय उत्पाद शुल्क नीति मामले में प्रवर्तन निदेशालय (ईडी) की हिरासत में हैं। सूत्रों के मुताबिक, वह अपने पति के लिए एक बैग में खाना लेकर […]

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]]> गौरव चंडीगढ़/नई दिल्ली: दिल्ली के गिरफ्तार मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल की पत्‍नी सुनीता केजरीवाल ने रविवार शाम को जांच एजेंसी के कार्यालय में अपने पति से मुलाकात की। केजरीवाल इस समय उत्पाद शुल्क नीति मामले में प्रवर्तन निदेशालय (ईडी) की हिरासत में हैं। सूत्रों के मुताबिक, वह अपने पति के लिए एक बैग में खाना लेकर एक सहायक के साथ शाम करीब 7 बजे एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम रोड पर स्थित ईडी कार्यालय पहुंचीं।

उन्‍होंने हिरासत में पति से दूसरी बार मुलाकात की है।शनिवार को भी वह ईडी के दफ्तर में केजरीवाल से मिली थीं। धन शोधन निवारण अधिनियम (पीएमएलए) के एक विशेष प्रावधान के तहत सुनीता केजरीवाल को केजरीवाल के निजी सहायक विभव कुमार के साथ पति से मिलने दिया गया। हर दिन शाम 6-7 बजे के बीच आधे घंटे के लिए उनसे मिलने की अनुमति है।

जैसा कि अधिकारियों ने पुष्टि की है, मुलाकात अदालत के निर्देशों के अनुपालन में हुई। आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) ने रविवार को दिल्ली की सड़कों पर उतरकर कैंडल मार्च निकालकर केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी का विरोध जताया। कालकाजी में विरोध प्रदर्शन का नेतृत्व आप की वरिष्ठ नेता और दिल्ली की मंत्री आतिशी ने किया, जबकि पूर्वी दिल्ली लोकसभा सीट से इंडिया गठबंधन के उम्मीदवार व विधायक कुलदीप कुमार और बुराड़ी के विधायक संजीव झा ने भी प्रदर्शन का नेतृत्व किया।

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/%e0%a4%88%e0%a4%a1%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%b0-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%a6-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87/feed/ 0 210740 AAP holds candle march in protest against Kejriwal’s arrest https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-holds-candle-march-in-protest-against-kejriwals-arrest/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aap-holds-candle-march-in-protest-against-kejriwals-arrest https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-holds-candle-march-in-protest-against-kejriwals-arrest/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 03:03:54 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210737 Kejriwal is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till March 28. Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday held a candle march in protest against its convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy money laundering case. All the AAP MLAs and […]

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]]> Kejriwal is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till March 28.

Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday held a candle march in protest against its convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy money laundering case. All the AAP MLAs and Councillors have been asked to hold candle march in their areas against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP leader and Delhi minister Atishi, who led several women workers of the party during their candle march, said that the are protesting to save the democracy. “After the declaration of Lok Sabha polls, the Convener of a National party has been arrested, the bank accounts of a party has been frozen, AAP’s office has been sealed and barricaded since 2 days…has PM Modi decided to end democracy? We are holding a candle march against this,” she said.

Kejriwal is in ED custody till March 28. He was arrested by the probe agency on Thursday night following a raid and interrogation that went on for around two hours. Meanwhile, the Delhi unit of the BJP staged a protest demonstration against the Delhi government and burnt effigies of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The BJP workers held the demonstration on the eve of Holi in response to the protests by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers against the arrest of the AAP national convenor. They burnt “Holikas of Corruption” besides effigies of CM Arvind Kejriwal in all the 256 wards across the city.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, “Holi is a festival of goodness over evil. Today, we have done the ‘Holika Dahan’ of corruption. If there is one face of corruption in Delhi, that is Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Each and every Delhite should wish for a Kejriwal-free government, a corruption-free government.”

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-holds-candle-march-in-protest-against-kejriwals-arrest/feed/ 0 210737 Lockdown: आज ही के दिन लगा था देश में लॉकडाउन https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/lockdown-%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%9c-%e0%a4%b9%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%a8-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a5%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%b6-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lockdown-%25e0%25a4%2586%25e0%25a4%259c-%25e0%25a4%25b9%25e0%25a5%2580-%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2587-%25e0%25a4%25a6%25e0%25a4%25bf%25e0%25a4%25a8-%25e0%25a4%25b2%25e0%25a4%2597%25e0%25a4%25be-%25e0%25a4%25a5%25e0%25a4%25be-%25e0%25a4%25a6%25e0%25a5%2587%25e0%25a4%25b6-%25e0%25a4%25ae%25e0%25a5%2587%25e0%25a4%2582 https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/lockdown-%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%9c-%e0%a4%b9%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%a8-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a5%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%b6-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 14:52:23 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210733 कोरोना वायरस ने देखते ही देखते पूरी दुनिया को अपनी आगोश में ले लिया था। गौरव चंडीगढ़: देश में आज लॉकडाउन की चौथी वर्षगांठ है। देश में चार साल पहले आज ही के दिन पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी ने कोरोना वायरस (कोविड-19) के बढ़ते प्रसार को रोकने के लिए ‘लॉकडाउन’ का ऐलान किया था। चीन के […]

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]]> कोरोना वायरस ने देखते ही देखते पूरी दुनिया को अपनी आगोश में ले लिया था।

गौरव चंडीगढ़: देश में आज लॉकडाउन की चौथी वर्षगांठ है। देश में चार साल पहले आज ही के दिन पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी ने कोरोना वायरस (कोविड-19) के बढ़ते प्रसार को रोकने के लिए ‘लॉकडाउन’ का ऐलान किया था। चीन के वुहान से शुरू कोरोना वायरस ने देखते ही देखते पूरी दुनिया को अपनी आगोश में ले लिया था। कोविड-19 वायरस के घातक प्रसार के संभावित नतीजों को भांपते हुए विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्ल्यूएचओ) ने 11 मार्च 2020 को आधिकारिक तौर पर इसे वैश्विक महामारी घोषित किया था। इस वायरस ने दुनिया के लोगों और देशों को एक-दूसरे से अलग-थलग कर दिया गया था।

इसके दो हफ्ते बाद, 24 मार्च 2020 को पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी ने अंतरराष्ट्रीय समुदाय में सबसे पहले, पूरे देश में लॉकडाउन का ऐलान कर दिया था। जिसके बाद लोग अपने घरों में ही कैद हो गए। अपने गांवों को छोड़कर रोजी रोटी के लिए दूसरे शहर गए लोगों ने पैदल ही अपने घरों को रूख कर दिया था। कई महीनों तक देश में लोगों की जिंदगी घरों में ही कैद हो गई थी और सकड़ों व बाजारों में सन्नाटा पसर गया था। भारत में कुल 4,50,33,332 मामले दर्ज किए गए और 5,33,537 लोगों की मौत हुई है। 11,17,27,592 मामलों और सर्वाधिक 12,18,464 मौतों के साथ अमेरिका दुनिया में सबसे आगे है, जो भारत की तुलना में दोगुने से भी अधिक है। दुनिया में कुल मिलाकर अब तक 70,43,18,936 संक्रमण हुए और 70,07,114 लोगों की मौत हुई है।

जब दुनिया कोविड-19 महामारी के प्रभाव से जूझ रही थी तब सऊदी अरब के मक्का और मदीना की वार्षिक हज यात्रा भी बंद कर दी गई थी। वहीं मुंबई में प्रतिष्ठित मोहम्मद अली रोड का रमज़ान स्ट्रीट फूड बाज़ार लगभग 250 साल पुराने इतिहास में पहली बार पूरे महीने बंद रहा। महामारी के कारण देश और दुनिया की हवाई यात्रा को भी बंद कर दिया गया था। इसके अलावा खरीदारी गतिविधि की जगह बड़े पैमाने पर ऑनलाइन शॉपिंग, दफ्तरों में काम करने वाले कर्मचारियों को घर से काम करने की अनुमित दी गई थी। लोगों को नमाज अदा करने के लिए मस्जिदों में जाने से रोक दिया गया था। लोगों ने घरों पर ही नमाज अदा की थी। वहीं लोगों न मंदिर जाने के वजाय घरों पर ही पूजा अर्चना की। इसके अलावा अन्य धर्मों के लोगों ने भी लॉकडाउन का पालन किया और घरों पर ही प्रार्थना की। बता दें कि मई 2023 में डब्ल्यूएचओ ने महामारी की समाप्ति की घोषणा की थी।

The post Lockdown: आज ही के दिन लगा था देश में लॉकडाउन appeared first on The Correspondent.

]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/lockdown-%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%9c-%e0%a4%b9%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%a8-%e0%a4%b2%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a5%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%b6-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82/feed/ 0 210733 AAP office ‘sealed’ in Delhi, party to seek ECI’s intervention https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-office-sealed-in-delhi-party-to-seek-ecis-intervention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aap-office-sealed-in-delhi-party-to-seek-ecis-intervention https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-office-sealed-in-delhi-party-to-seek-ecis-intervention/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 02:13:47 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210730 Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded an immediate appointment with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure equal opportunities for all the political parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. AAP leaders alleged that despite the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, the Aam Aadmi Party’s office was sealed on Friday […]

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]]> Gourav Chandigarh/New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded an immediate appointment with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure equal opportunities for all the political parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. AAP leaders alleged that despite the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, the Aam Aadmi Party’s office was sealed on Friday by the police.

On Saturday, the police barricaded the route leading to the AAP office on Deen Dayal Upadhay Marg, preventing AAP leaders from attending campaign meetings there, the party claimed, an allegation that was denied by the police. AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Durgesh Pathak, and others alleged that they were prevented from reaching the party office.

“@AamAadmiParty has sought an urgent appointment with the Election Commission, to ensure a level playing field in the Lok Sabha elections. Despite the representation made yesterday, today the AAP office was sealed. Lok Sabha candidates and party leaders could not reach the party office for campaign meetings,” Delhi Minister Atishi said in a tweet.

“The Lok Sabha elections are just a few days away. We need to prepare for the elections, hold essential meetings, and formulate our strategy. However, adopting dictatorial tactics, barricades are placed around the office of a national party from all sides, and senior party leaders are also not allowed to enter the office,” she added.

“All agencies are being used to prevent us from participating in the elections. The IT raid on AAP MLA Gulab Singh is an example of this,” Atishi said.

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]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/nation/chandigarh/aap-office-sealed-in-delhi-party-to-seek-ecis-intervention/feed/ 0 210730 केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी देश के लोकतांत्रिक इतिहास का एक और काला दिन: गौरव https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%9c%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2587%25e0%25a4%259c%25e0%25a4%25b0%25e0%25a5%2580%25e0%25a4%25b5%25e0%25a4%25be%25e0%25a4%25b2-%25e0%25a4%2595%25e0%25a5%2580-%25e0%25a4%2597%25e0%25a4%25bf%25e0%25a4%25b0%25e0%25a4%25ab%25e0%25a5%258d%25e0%25a4%25a4%25e0%25a4%25be%25e0%25a4%25b0%25e0%25a5%2580-%25e0%25a4%25a6%25e0%25a5%2587 https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%9c%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:04:41 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210726 शर्मा चंडीगढ़। आप विधान सभा कमेटी मेंबर गौरव ने शुक्रवार को दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी की निंदा की। उन्होंने आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) नेता की गिरफ्तारी को देश के लोकतांत्रिक इतिहास का एक और काला दिन करार दिया। गौरव ने आरोप लगाया कि केंद्र में सत्तारूढ़ भाजपा विपक्ष को खत्म करने के […]

The post केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी देश के लोकतांत्रिक इतिहास का एक और काला दिन: गौरव appeared first on The Correspondent.

]]> शर्मा चंडीगढ़। आप विधान सभा कमेटी मेंबर गौरव ने शुक्रवार को दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी की निंदा की। उन्होंने आम आदमी पार्टी (आप) नेता की गिरफ्तारी को देश के लोकतांत्रिक इतिहास का एक और काला दिन करार दिया। गौरव ने आरोप लगाया कि केंद्र में सत्तारूढ़ भाजपा विपक्ष को खत्म करने के एकमात्र इरादे से काम कर रही है, जो जेएमएम प्रमुख हेमंत सोरेन तथा बीआरएस की तेलंगाना विधान परिषद सदस्य के. कविता की हालिया गिरफ्तारी से स्पष्ट है।

उन्होंने एक बयान में कहा कि केंद्र सरकार ईडी, सीबीआई, आयकर विभाग और अन्य केंद्रीय एजेंसियों को अपने हथियार के रूप में इस्तेमाल कर रही है। गौरव ने केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी को राजनीति से प्रेरित बताते हुए दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री की तत्काल रिहाई की मांग की।

उन्होंने कहा की इस बीच सीएम अरविंद केजरीवाल के समर्थन में दिल्ली, पंजाब, हरियाणा, बेंगलुरु समेत कई स्थानों पर ‘आप’ कार्यकर्ताओ ने विरोध किया। कई जगह पुलिस ने ‘आप’ के वरिष्ठ नेताओं, मंत्रियों और समर्थकों को हिरासत में लिया।

आप पार्टी पंजाब मुख्यमंत्री भगवंत मान भी अरविन्द केजरीवाल के घर पहुंचे और इस बारे में उनकी धर्मपत्नी सुनिता से बातचीत की और अन्य सभी विधायक और पार्षद भी शुक्रवार शाम को सीएम के घर पहुंचे और उनके परिजनों से मुलाकात की। सभी विधायक और पार्षद पैदल मार्च करते हुए उनके घर पहुंचे। इस दौरान दिल्ली और पंजाब विधानसभा के स्पीकर भी मौजूद रहे।

इससे पहले पार्टी के कई वरिष्ठ नेताओं ने भी घर पहुंचकर परिजनों से मुलाकात की। इस मीटिंग में आप आदमी पार्टी पंजाब नयागांव के जिला सेक्रेटरी एवं ब्लॉक प्रभारी हज़ूर सिंह बबला, गुरविंदर सिंह गोल्डी (विधान सभा कमेटी मेंबर), ऐडवोकेट गगनदीप सिंह भी शामिल थे।

The post केजरीवाल की गिरफ्तारी देश के लोकतांत्रिक इतिहास का एक और काला दिन: गौरव appeared first on The Correspondent.

]]> https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%9c%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%ab%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%87/feed/ 0 210726 From accused turning approvers to Kejriwal’s arrest: Decoding the Delhi excise policy case https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/from-accused-turning-approvers-to-kejriwals-arrest-decoding-the-delhi-excise-policy-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-accused-turning-approvers-to-kejriwals-arrest-decoding-the-delhi-excise-policy-case https://thecorrespondent.in/breaking-news/from-accused-turning-approvers-to-kejriwals-arrest-decoding-the-delhi-excise-policy-case/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 02:23:43 +0000 https://thecorrespondent.in/?p=210724 Sharma Chandigarh/New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, following revelations of the use of hawala operators to transfer proceeds for funding elections, meetings and details of the hotels, and statements of approvers, as per sources in the financial probe agency. As per the ED, Kejriwal, along […]

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]]> Sharma Chandigarh/New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, following revelations of the use of hawala operators to transfer proceeds for funding elections, meetings and details of the hotels, and statements of approvers, as per sources in the financial probe agency.

As per the ED, Kejriwal, along with other top leaders of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), allegedly received kickbacks amounting to Rs 100 crore in connection with the Delhi excise policy, and this money was transferred through a series of intermediaries and middlemen, implicating BRS MLC K. Kavitha and members of the ‘South Group’ in the process.

Kejriwal had evaded nine summonses by the ED, resulting in the filing of two cases against him under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the court. The accumulation of evidence by the ED ultimately prompted the arrest. On March 16, the ED, while seeking custody of Kavitha, who was arrested from Hyderabad the previous day and is the daughter of BRS supremo and former Telangana Chief Minister, revealed her alleged involvement as a “key conspirator and beneficiary” in the alleged scam.

The probe agency, in its plea for custody, had alleged that along with other members of the ‘South Group’ – Sarath Reddy, Raghav Magunta, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Kavitha conspired with top leaders of the AAP, including CM Kejriwal and his deputy and Excise Minister Manish Sisodia, providing them kickbacks amounting to Rs 100 crore.

“In exchange for the kickbacks paid to the leaders of AAP, she had access to the policy formulation and was offered provisions to ensure a favourable position to her,” read the ED’s application before the court.

The ED also alleged that Kavitha further got stakes in the partnership of Indo Spirits, through her dummy Arun Pillai, without substantial investment in this firm and distribution business of Pernod Ricard India Pvt Ltd, which is one of the biggest manufacturers in the country and thus made Indo Spirits, the most profitable L1 in the Delhi Excise policy 2021-22 period and thus recouped proceeds of crime in guise of profits.

“Further, in the policy, the profit margin of the wholesaler was increased to 12 per cent so that out of this margin, a portion of it could be taken back as kickbacks. This was done to create a continuous stream of illegal funds for the AAP in the form of kickbacks from the wholesalers and for the South Group to recover the kickbacks paid and further generate profits from this entire conspiracy,” the application claimed.

Sarath Reddy, Raghav Magunta, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy had turned approvers in the case. The ED claimed that Kavitha and the others paid bribes to the top AAP leaders, as per the statement of Srinivasulu Reddy, dated July 14, 2023, recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA and his statement dated July 17, 2023, recorded under Section 164 of CrPC.

As per the statement, submitted in court, Srinivasulu Reddy said that in March 2021, he read in a Delhi newspaper that the city government was privatising the liquor trade, and as they have been in the liquor business in south India for the last 71 years, they had considered expanding to Delhi and sought to meet the CM.

He stated that the CM’s office had given him time on the evening of March 16, 2021, and when he met Kejriwal, “he was cordial and said that we welcome everyone in Delhi to do business”.

“Regarding the liquor business earlier, Kavitha had already approached me to do liquor business in Delhi and offered to pay Rs 100 crore to the party i.e. the AAP, and she will call you in this liquor business connection or you call her, discuss the future, since already their team is working in Delhi,” he said, as per his statement.

The ED, quoting his statement, said Kavitha called Srinivasulu Reddy on March 19, 2021, and asked him to meet her, which he did the next day, and she told him that Kejriwal had spoken to her and asked her to give Rs 100 crore and accordingly, she asked Srinivasulu Reddy to arrange Rs 50 crore for this.

“Kavitha told him that her CA Buchi Babu would visit him and his son Raghav Magunta to coordinate this. Buchi Babu visited them the next day and Raghav Magunta told him that he could arrange Rs 30 crore and finally, Rs 25 crore was paid in cash to Abhishek Boinpally and Buchi Babu on the instructions of K. Kavitha,” it said

The ED also said that Magunta, in his statement, dated July 26, 2023, recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA, and another one, dated July 27, 2023, recorded under Section 164 of CrPC, admitted he paid Rs 25 crore in cash to Boinpally and Buchi Babu as per the agreement between Kavitha, himself and his father Srinivasulu Reddy.

The agency claimed that this cash transfer took place in two parts – on March 28, 2021, Rs 10 crore was delivered by Raghav Magunta’s staffer Gopi Kumaran to an address given by Buchi Babu in Chennai and in June 2021, an amount of Rs 15 crore delivered by Gopi Kumaran to an address given by Boinpally, and that Gopi Kumaran has corroborated the statement of Raghav Magunta.

The ED further said that Sarath Reddy, in his statement, dated April 25, 2023, recorded under Section 50 of PMLA, 2002 and dated April 29, 2023, recorded under Section 164 of CrPC, said that sometime in March 2021, Arun Pillai contacted him and informed him that there was a new business opportunity in the Delhi liquor business and Kavitha was in discussion with CM Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia regarding the upcoming policy through Vijay Nair.

“Soon after this discussion with Pillai, Reddy met Kavitha in Hyderabad. Kavitha also told him that she had discussed the matter with Magunta and informed him that her team (Pillai, Buchi Babu, and Boinpally) was already working in Delhi with Nair on this,” the ED’s application read, adding that she also told Reddy that Nair would handle all the issues on behalf of Kejriwal and Sisodia.

“The evidence, the letters of the Chief Minister evading the summonses by calling them ‘political’ and ‘illegal’ and the cases the agency filed against Kejriwal before the court emboldened the directorate and ‘prepared the ground for the sternest legal action,” a source said.

The Delhi excise policy scam case stems from a report submitted by Chief Secretary, Naresh Kumar, to Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena in July 2022, hinting at potential procedural irregularities in the policy’s formulation. He accused the then Excise Minister Sisodia of making arbitrary and unilateral decisions and contended that the implementation of the new policy led to financial losses for the government, while certain leaders and ministers affiliated with the AAP allegedly received kickbacks.

Two separate cases, one initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and another focusing on suspected money laundering being probed by the ED, were filed. The investigation was initially handled by the CBI, resulting in Sisodia’s arrest in February 2023. Subsequently, the ED assumed responsibility for exploring potential money laundering aspects of the policy.

Following the CBI’s identification of Sisodia and 14 others, including AAP’s communications in-charge Nair, in its FIR, the ED informed a court in March about the alleged proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 292 crore and emphasised the need to establish the modus operandi behind these purported financial irregularities.(IANS)

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