Bail to Salman Khan in chinkara case

      Jodhpur: Film actor Salman Khan has been released from the Jodhpur jail today after he was granted bail by the Jodhpur Sessions Court here in the 1998 chinkara poaching case in which he was sentenced to a five-year imprisonment. Salman has been asked to deposit a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh. Besides, he has been asked to pay two personal securities of Rs 1 lakh each. The actor has already spent three nights at the Jodhpur central jail where he was not receiving any special treatment. Salman;s counsel H M Saraswat yesterday filed a 44-page application which included 38 judicial points, challenging the lower court verdict, before the court of the District and Sessions Judge. The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jodhpur, Brijendra Kumar Jain, on Monday sentenced Salman to five years' rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him in the case. The court found him guilty under sections 51 and 52 of the Indian Wildlife Act. He was also sentenced to a year in jail in February for killing two black bucks in another case, but was granted bail to appeal to a higher court. The star is also facing trial in a case in Mumbai for a hit-and- run case that killed a man and injured three others sleeping on a Mumbai sidewalk in 2002. Meanwhile, Salman Khan's mother, Salma Khan, who was admitted to Leelavati Hospital on Monday was discharged today, hospital sources said here. She was admitted to the hospital soon after she heard the news of his son's arrest. She was hospitalised when she was complained of anxiety and chest pain.

SC not to cancel AIIMS PG exam (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday decided not to cancel the All India Post-Graduate Medical Entrance Examination, 2006 conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in January. The apex court also fixed the date for the counselling for those who have cleared the exam, which will be held on April 21. Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subrahmaniam placed before a Bench headed by Justice K G Balakrishnan, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe report of Chennai that indicting 20 students for indulging in unfair practices. The Centre had sought permission to cancel the examination in the larger public interest and to maintain the sanctity of one of the most prestigious examinations. The petition was filed by the twelve students successful in the examination, seeking the court's directions to the authorities not to cancel the result of the examination.

Maharashtra to appeal on dance bar (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said that the state Government would appeal to the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court's decision to revoke the ban on dance bars. The high court had on Wednesday observed that while dancing at pubs and three-star and five-star hotels was allowable, banning performance of dancers was `discriminatory and in violation of law', Patil said in the state Legislative Council here today. The court had also examined that the females should either not be permitted for waitresses jobs or only permitted to dance at these bars. The Division Bench of the HC, comprising Justices F I Rebello and R S Dalvi, yesterday gave the state government eight weeks' time to file a reply on the verdict. The verdict was declared on the petition filed by Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR), Dance Bar Owners' Association (DBOA), Bharatiya Bar Girls' Union (BBGU) and others challenged the Bombay Police (Amendment) Act, which was enforced on August 15, 2005. The government had introduced the bill imposing ban on dance bars on the grounds that it create law and order problem and the dancers also indulge in prostitution. The Maharashtra government on March 30, 2005 had banned dance bars across the state, except Mumbai. The ban was extended to Mumbai on April 12. The reason that the government gave for the ban was that these bars corrupt the youth. Soon after the decision, the bar dancers had joined hands to oppose the ban. Most of them said they had families to feed and this was the only job which paid them enough. Even several bar dancers, who had been rendered jobless by the Maharashtra government's ban on dance bars, have committed suicide as they were the only sole breadwinners of their families.

Two killed on poll-eve in Bihar (Go To Top)

        Samastipur (Bihar): Two Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders were killed on Thursday in Bihar's Samastipur district by some unidentified persons. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, who were four in numbers, came on a motorcycle and started firing on the duo with their sophisticated guns, killing District Vice President of RJD, Akhilesh Rai and Treasurer, Ramupdesh Rai on the spot. Superintendent of Police, Samastipur, AK Ambedkar also confirmed the use of AK-47 and AK-56 rifles in the shootout in the Musrigharari Bazaar. Meanwhile, the killings have evoked strong protests from the villagers of Bathua and Mohanpur who went on a rampage and set fire to a petrol pump. In the blaze followed, around 200 shops were gutted. The State Government soon sent troops from the adjoining areas to bring the situation under control. The incident assumes significance as Bihar's panchayat elections are to be held tomorrow. Though Panchayat elections are not held under the party lines in the State, yet the elections have a widespread involvement of politicians.

SP candidate for Rae Bareli by-polls (Go To Top)

      Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) today announced the name of its candidate who would contest against the Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the by-election to Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency. The name of Rajkumar Chowdhury was announced by SP General Secretary Amar Singh at a press conference here. Singh also said that Chowdhury is an active worker of the party and would give a 'tough fight' to Sonia Gandhi. The Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, had said that he would field a 'tough' candidate against Sonia Gandhi for the by-election to be held on May 8. The Samajwadi Party had a hold in Rae Bareli and this was evident as the party emerged victorious in the four Assembly segments in the last Assembly elections. But it is to be watched how tough a fight Rajkumar Chowdhury will offer against Sonia Gandhi. The seat was vacated by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, following the "office of profit" controversy. The notification for the by-elections is scheduled to be issued today and the last date for filing of nominations is April 20. Scrutiny will be made the following day. The last date for withdrawal is April 24. Counting for both Rae Bareli and Deeg would take place on May 11.

President, PM greet nation on Vaisakhi (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: President APJ Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today greeted the nation on the auspicious occasions of Vaisakhi, Mesadi, Bihu and Vishu, which will be celebrated on Friday. While extending greetings and good wishes to his fellow citizens, particularly to those who are engaged in agriculture and cultivation, Kalam said: "The festival of Vaisakhi is a celebration of the harvesting season and the sweat of the farmer. Let us on this festive occasion resolve to work hard to make our nation happy, peaceful and secure with prosperity. On this happy occasion, let us also open our hearts and share our happiness with those who are in need." Shekhawat in his message expressed the hope, "May these auspicious occasions bring amity, prosperity and happiness in the lives of all and inspire us to contribute our mite in ameliorating the condition of the poor and the deprived." "The mood of rejoicing and gaiety is vividly captured in the rituals and the colourful festivities, which transcend all barriers of religion and caste and unite us in a common brotherhood," Shekhawat added. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that these harvest festivals "give us an opportunity to salute our farmers for their great contribution to the Nation's food security". "May Vaisakhi and Mesadi this year usher in peace, prosperity and happiness for all," he added. These festivals herald the beginning of the New Year in many parts of the country and are celebrated with great fervour and traditional gaiety. On this day, people also celebrate the establishment of the Khalsa by the Sikh's last and tenth Guru Gobind Singh whose sacred memory inspires people to safeguard the honour and unity of the country.

Chennai Deputy Mayor returns (Go To Top)

      Chennai: Absconding Chennai Deputy Mayor Karate Thyagarajan today returned to a warm welcome by his supporters at the Chennai airport. He was missing for last six months. Thyagarajan was originally elected as Chennai Corporation Deputy Mayor from the AIADMK party and claims that he still holds the post. He was hiding for the past six months for unknown reasons. Taking to the media, Thyagarajan vowed to bring down the AIADMK Government in the coming assembly polls. "I would campaign against Jayalalithaa in the Assembly elections. She will be defeated and I will work to make DMK Chief Karunanidhi, the next Chief Minister of the State," said Karate Thyagarajan. Thyagarajan said that he would expose all the corruption and financial irregularities in the tsunami house-reconstruction project at Kargil Nagar and various other scams. Thyagarajan further announced that he would be joining the Congress.

PM has fever, cancels engagements (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is down with high fever and has cancelled all his engagements for the day. Earlier in the day, Dr. Singh had headed a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Naxal-infested States at his residence.

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