Page 14 - Aap

SC to rule on Aug 5 on Delhi govt's plea against MCD's alderman appointment

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on August 5 on a plea of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government challenging the Lieutenant Governor's decision to nominate aldermen in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi without the aid and advice of the council of ministers. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha, JB Pardiwala had reserved its verdict in the matter on May 17, last year. As per the apex court's website, a bench headed by Justice PS Narasimha will be pronouncing the verdict. On May 17, last year the top court said giving the lieutenant governor the power to nominate aldermen to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will mean he can destabilise an elected civic body. The MCD has 250 elected and 10 nominated members. In December, 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defeated the BJP in the civic elections, winning 134 wards and ending the saffron party's 15-year run at the helm of the MCD. The BJP won 104 seats and the Congress finishe

SC to hear Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in Delhi excise policy case on Aug 5

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday pleas filed by AAP leader Manish Sisodia, seeking bail in corruption and money-laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan will take up for hearing both the pleas. On July 29, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for CBI and ED, had told the bench that while the Central Bureau of Investigation had filed its response on Sisodia's plea, it had not come on record. Raju had raised preliminary objections on Sisodia's pleas and said it was the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order. "The same order can't be challenged twice," the law officer had submitted. Sisodia had earlier moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court's May 21 order dismissing his bail pleas. He had challenged in the high court a trial court's April 30 order rejecting his bail applications in the two cases. He was arrested by the CBI on February 2

Maliwal case: Delhi HC calls Bibhav Kumar's arrest a necessity as per law

The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar in a case concerning alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal was "necessary" and police strictly followed the law while doing so, the Delhi High Court has said. The court, which on Friday dismissed Kumar's petition that claimed his arrest was illegal, said in its written judgment that there was no merit in his plea. Kumar, currently in judicial custody, allegedly assaulted Maliwal at Kejriwal's official residence on May 13. He was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 18. In his plea, Kumar had sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of section 41A (notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and against the mandate of the law. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, in the judgment released on Saturday, observed that after the arrest, the trial court heard Kumar as well as the State before allowing police custody for five days and also noted tha

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann denied political clearance to visit Paris

The Centre has denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his visit to Paris to support the Indian Hockey team at the Olympic Games, an official source said on Saturday. Mann, who holds a diplomatic passport, was scheduled to visit Paris from August 3 to 9 for the Indian hockey team's quarterfinal match on August 4, and had sought political clearance for his visit. The Centre denied him the permission, saying that since Mann is a Z-Plus security protectee, it is not possible to arrange his level of security at a short notice, the source in the state government said. The Chief Minister's Office was informed of the decision Friday evening, the person said. Political clearance for senior political leaders is required from the Ministry of External Affairs for travelling abroad. Mann had on Friday congratulated the Indian hockey contingent for a historic win over Australia in the ongoing Paris Olympic Games. India on Friday beat the formidable team for the fi

BJP wants power, but no responsibilities, says AAP on east Delhi drownings

The AAP on Friday slammed the BJP over its "silence" on the deaths of a woman and her three-year-old due to falling into a waterlogged drain in east Delhi, saying the party wants all the power but not for the sake of people. The party also demanded financial support for the family and action against erring officials. Addressing a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi convener Gopal Rai accused the BJP of having "double standards." "Initially when the incident happened, BJP spokesperson went to the spot and claimed that it was a PWD drain. But ever since it became clear that the drain belongs to DDA, they have maintained silence. Lt Governor is the chairman of DDA. "Why is BJP silent now? They have double standards," he charged. The Delhi Development Authority has stated that a major portion of the drain, where the tragedy struck, had been handed over to the MCD, while the portion under it is covered with RCC slabs. Tanuja and her three-year-old son Priyansh slipped and f

'No lesson learnt': Repeat flooding in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar sparks outcry

Coaching centre deaths: Several videos of the flood-like situation on the stretch, which is lined with many coaching centres, have surfaced on social media

Delhi govt to bring law to regulate coaching centres, says Atishi

The Delhi government will bring a law to regulate coaching centres in the city, cabinet minister Atishi said on Wednesday, days after three IAS aspirants drowned in the flooded basement of an institute in Old Rajinder Nagar. Addressing a press conference, the minister said the government will constitute a committee comprising government officials and students from different coaching hubs to frame the law. "The law will have provisions for infrastructure, qualification of teachers, fee regulation and preventing misleading advertisements. Public feedback will also be sought," she said. Atishi said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has cracked down on coaching centres using basements in violation of laws. "Basements of 30 coaching centres in Rajinder Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Laxmi Nagar and Preet Vihar have been sealed while notices have been issued to 200 other coaching centres," she said. She said the report of the magisterial probe into the Old Rajinder Nagar incident will b

Bharadwaj asks Delhi CS to explain 'pending decisions' claim on drainage

In the ongoing spat between Delhi government ministers and the bureaucrats, Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday sought explanation from the chief secretary on his claim of "pending decisions" on drainage plans. Bharadwaj, who is also the irrigation and flood control minister, said in his note to Naresh Kumar that he has confirmed with the department that no decision is pending because of him. The officers and ministers of the Delhi government were involved in a blame game in the aftermath of the death of three civil services aspirants after rain water flooded the basement library of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar area on Saturday evening. Referring to a note of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Revenue Minister Atishi on Monday, Bharadwaj said it has been claimed in the para 2.5 of the note that some decisions are pending on the part of the irrigation and flood control minister. He charged similar claims were also "planted" by the LG office on Monday. No

Maliwal assault: Court takes note of chargesheet against Delhi CM's aide

A court here on Tuesday took cognisance of the 500-odd page charge sheet against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in the alleged assault of AAP MP Swati Maliwal. Metropolitan Magistrate Gaurav Goyal took cognisance of the final report and posted the matter for scrutiny of documents on August 24. The court also directed that a copy of the charge sheet be supplied to Kumar, who is accused of assaulting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Maliwal on May 13 here at the chief minister's official residence. The city police had filed the charge sheet on July 16. The prosecution had earlier informed the court that the charge sheet runs into around 500 pages and it also has the statements of about 50 witnesses. It had said the final report has been filed under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or crimina

'Kejriwal's life in danger,' Sunita hits out at BJP in INDIA bloc rally

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita on Tuesday hit out at the BJP saying their politics is about "hatred" and "stopping" the work of residents of the national capital even as she stressed that her husband's life is in danger in Tihar. Addressing the INDIA bloc rally here at Jantar Mantar, Sunita Kejriwal alleged that her husband was framed in the excise policy case on the basis of one statement. "Why did the ED (Enforcement Directorate) arrest Kejriwal? It was because of a conspiracy and pressure. "The trial court grated bail to him. But the Centre initiated twin actions -- the ED took a stay on the bail and the CBI (central Bureau of Investigation)arrested him. He has been suffering from diabetes for last 22 years but we had to approach the court to get him insulin," she said. Talking about the health condition of her husband, Sunita said there is a sensor tied to his arm that records his sugar levels. "If sugar levels go down below 50, the patient starts shivering

No evidence in excise policy case: AAP post CBI files final charge sheet

The AAP on Monday said the central probe agencies have failed to find any evidence in the excise policy case and asserted that it is a "staunchly honest" party. The reaction from the ruling party in Delhi came hours after the CBI filed its final charge sheet in the trial court against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and five others, including AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, in the case. The BJP and its agencies have been investigating this case for two years, filing over 50,000-page charge sheets and interrogating more than 500 witnesses, while conducting raids at multiple locations, the AAP said in a statement. "Yet they have failed to find any evidence against the AAP and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, because we're staunchly honest people," it claimed. Kejriwal has been granted bail three times by the trial court, and the Supreme Court in the excise policy case, said the party. "Every day, the BJP and its ED-CBI are filing fresh charge sheet and creating new angles to keep CM Arvind ..

MCD House adjourned after Oppn creates uproar over coaching centre deaths

Opposition councillors on Monday trooped into the well of the MCD House on Monday protesting the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre deaths and demanding resignation of the mayor and Delhi chief minister over the incident. The BJP and Congress councillors also raised slogans and carried posters against the AAP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Amid the ruckus, the mayor adjourned the House even before it could begin and left the House. After the adjournment, BJP councillors staged a protest on the fourth floor of the agency headquarters, demanding the mayor to resume the House. They also raised slogans against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and demanded an inquiry into the deaths. A heavy deployment of police force was seen at the Civic Centre at the agency headquarters. The uproar erupted over the deaths of three UPSC aspirants, two females and a male, who were killed after the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area was flooded following

Delhi excise policy case: SC to hear Sisodia's bail pleas on August 5

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on August 5 pleas filed by AAP leader Manish Sisodia, seeking bail in corruption and money-laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the bench that while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed its response on Sisodia's plea, it had not come on record. He said the counter affidavit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was ready and it would be filed soon. Raju also raised preliminary objections on Sisodia's pleas and said it was the second special leave petition challenging the same Delhi High Court order. "The same order can't be challenged twice," the law officer said. Sisodia had earlier moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court's May 21 order dismissing his bail pleas. He had challenged in the high court a trial court's April 30 order rejecting his ba

CBI files final charge sheet in Delhi excise policy case against Kejriwal

Concluding its probe in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam, the CBI on Monday filed its final charge sheet in the case against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others, officials said. The CBI earlier filed one main charge sheet and four supplementaries in the case in which former Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Telangana MLC K Kavitha and others have also been charged. The agency said the one filed on Monday will be its final charge sheet in the case. Liquor businessman Magunta Sreenivasalu Reddy (a TDP MP) met Kejriwal on March 16, 2021 in his office at the Delhi Secretariat and requested him to provide support in his liquor business in the national capital by tweaking the Excise Policy 2021-22 which was then in the making, the agency said in its charge sheet against K Kavitha. Kejriwal assured support to Reddy and asked him to contact the accused K Kavitha as she was working with his team on the Excise Policy of Delhi, the CBI had alleged. Kejriwal in turn allege

SC to hear Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in Excise policy case on Monday

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia's bail pleas in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The former deputy chief minister of Delhi has sought bail contending that he has been in custody for 16 months and the trial against him has not made any progress since October last year. According to the cause list of July 29 uploaded on the Supreme Court website, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan is slated to hear Sisodia's pleas. The apex court had on July 16 agreed to hear the pleas and sought responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sisodia has also filed an application seeking revival of his bail petitions in the excise policy-linked corruption and money laundering cases. The AAP leader was arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023 in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of th

Kejriwal being treated as political prisoner, efforts on to scare him: AAP

AAP alleged on Friday that the BJP-led central government is treating Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a "political prisoner" and said all INDIA bloc parties have given in-principle approval to attend a protest to support him on July 30 at Jantar Mantar. At a press conference here, AAP general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak claimed that Kejriwal's blood sugar level dropped to 50 mg/dL and below 34 times in jail between June 3 and July 7. "Dictators imprison people due to their political animosity, and Arvind Kejriwal is also a political prisoner," he said and added that the opposition alliance will join the protest to support Kejriwal. "Efforts are being made to scare Kejriwal but he is not going to be afraid. This is not a question of an individual or the Aam Aadmi Party but to save the country and the system from the whims of a dictator," Pathak said. This issue has been considered by the INDIA bloc parties and there is "consensus" that this is not a question of a

Excise policy case: Kejriwal's custody extended till August 8. Details

The court also extended the judicial custody of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha, and other accused until July 31

Delhi petrol dealers resume PUCC ops after 10-day closure over rate hike

Temporary shutdown of operations at pollution under control certificate (PUCC) centres in Delhi has been resolved. Further revisions by the transport department under consideration

Delhi Minister Atishi gets bail in defamation case filed by BJP leader

Metropolitan Magistrate Tanya Bamniyal granted bail to Atishi on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000 and a surety bond in the like amount

Kavitha played role in transfer of ill-gotten money for AAP's campaign: CBI

BRS MLC K Kavitha had not only collected upfront payment in the Delhi excise policy scam but also played a role in the transfer of the "ill-gotten money" to Goa in 2021-22 to be used in the election campaign of the Aam Aadmi Party, the CBI has alleged in its supplementary charge sheet. Special judge for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases Kaveri Baweja took note of the charge sheet on Monday observing that there was sufficient evidence to proceed against her in the case. The judge also directed the CBI to supply copies of the supplementary charge sheet to Kavitha, who was produced before the court through video conference. Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has been accused of conspiring with other members of a liquor cartel called "South Group" and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders as part of which kickbacks of Rs 100 crore were paid to the Delhi's ruling party in return for liquor licences. A significant portion of that money was ...