Top TN cops get jail terms in stamp paper scam

          Chennai: At least two top police officials from Tamil Nadu, arrested in connection with a multi-million dollar fake stamp paper scam, were on Friday remanded to 15 days judicial custody. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths had arrested Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammed Ali and Additional Commissioner of Police Shankar after raiding their residences last month. Ali and Shankar are accused of slowing down investigation into the scam and have already been in jail for 15 days. His lawyers, however, denied any involvement of Ali in the scam saying they had proof that the prosecution's findings were motivated adding that they had applied for bail as well. "We have got all documentary evidence to prove the fault or the alleged criminality of the prosecution. The prosecution's finds has no foundation, it's based on imagination, assumption and presumption. The foundation itself will be blown into pieces. Bail application has been filed it is posted for 21st July for counter," Ali's lawyer A.K Shahi told reporters outside the metropolitan court in Chennai. Several top police officials, including dismissed Bombay police commissioner R.K.Sharma, and the kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi have been arrested in connection with the scam.

Mob defies Manipur curfew, police fires teargas (Go To Top)

         Imphal: The police today had to burst teargas shells to quell a mob that defied a state government-imposed curfew to protest against the alleged killing of a 30-year old woman by Assam Rifles personnel on July 10. About 100 people defied the curfew imposed in Kongba, about three kilometres from the Manipur capital. Sources revealed that as the people marched towards the town, police burst teargas shells to disperse them. Although the administration rushed additional reinforcements to sensitive places to maintain the law and order, Imphal's residents were cautioned to remain indoors.

Tainted ministers issue: SC leaves it to Parliament (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: In a major setback to the NDA, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking removal of "tainted" ministers in the UPA government. The Apex Court that no law was violated by inclusion of charge-sheeted persons in the Manmohan Singh's Ministry. A bench comprising of Justices N. Santosh Hegde, S.B. Sinha and AK Mathur, while dismissing a PIL filed by one Manoj Narula, said, "no violation of any statute is pointed out by the petitioner." "The matter is being debated in Parliament. We will see if Parliament comes out with a legislation on this issue," the Bench said while refusing to entertain the petition. The petition, which challeged the inclusion of Lalu Prasad, Jai Prakash Yadav, M.A.A. Fatmi and Mohd. Taslimuddin in the council of ministers, said the ministers were required to carry out important constitutional functions and should be of impeccable integrity. Claiming that the inclusion of "tainted" persons breached the terms of oath given in Schedule III of the Constitution, counsel Anil Kumar Jha contended that the charge-sheeted persons did not inspire confidence of the people to discharge the obligation cast under the oath provision. The Bench asked the petitioner as to "who should decide which persons should be inducted in the Ministry and at what stage?" It then dismissed the petition observing that there was no violation of any statute on the issue. Jha, later told reporters that he would move a petition seeking review of the today's order dismissing the PIL.

Assam flood situation worsens (Go To Top)

          Palasbari (Assam): Overflowing rivers that have washed away homes killing scores of people in Assam and forced millions to live on roadside pavements, are now threatening to swallow embankments. In the oil-and-tea-rich state, where the damage has been estimated at 10 billion rupees panic-striken people are forced to take desperate measures. People at Palasbari village in Kamrup distict of the state are going all out in a bid to stop the erosion. "The damage of the embankment are caused at the night, we wake up and put some bolders and tree branches we got some relief. There is sudden panic amongst villagers here and they are migrating with their bags and baggages to safer places," Anwar Hussain, a local villager, said. People fear that if the Palasbari embankment is breached the waters of Brahmaputra will make its way to Guwahati International airport, and the national highway connecting the region to rest of the country would also be submerged. The state has appealed for international aid as the state was battling the worst floods in recent years.

PM to visit Assam on July 20 (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will make a daylong visit on July 20 to Assam, the state which he represents in the Rajya Sabha. This will be Singh's second visit outside the Capital after he assumed office as Prime Minister.