New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) A Delhi court on Wednesday extended till July 12 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court passed the order upon the expiry of the previously granted judicial custody.

Earlier in the day, the AAP supremo’s bail plea in a corruption case was mentioned before the Delhi High Court for urgent listing. A bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan assured that CM Kejriwal’s bail petition will be heard on Friday (July 5).

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea filed by CM Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the CBI. A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna asked the central agency to file its response by July 17 in the matter.

Recently, CM Kejriwal was sent to 14-day judicial custody (till July 12) in a corruption case linked to the same liquor policy scam.

On June 26, the CBI formally arrested the AAP supremo when he was produced before Rouse Avenue Court.

A day before, the Delhi High Court stayed a trial court order granting bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case saying that the documents and arguments were not appreciated by the lower court.

The Supreme Court, in May, had reserved its verdict on the petition filed by CM Kejriwal challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the excise policy case. However, he was ordered to be released on 21-day interim bail by the apex court in view of the general elections.

–IANS

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Lucknow, July 3 (IANS) UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a judicial inquiry into the stampede in Hathras district in which 121 people were killed.

The probe will be conducted by a retired high court judge and police official, he said.

The probe committee will find out who is responsible for the tragedy, or if it was a conspiracy, the chief minister said.

“We will ensure such incidents do not occur in the future,” he said, adding that the government may put in place a Standard Operating Procedure which will guide the organisation of such events in the future. “We will ensure this,” he said.

The chief minister, who visited Hathras, said that among those killed, six were from other states: four from Haryana, and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

–IANS

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Lucknow, July 3 (IANS) A 21-year-old woman and her younger cousin brother sustained burns in an acid attack by an unidentified man in the Chowk area here on Wednesday.

Police reported that both victims are undergoing treatment at KGMU Trauma Centre.

According to the police, the woman and her cousin were walking towards KGMU for a counselling session for him.

“As they neared Chowk Stadium, an unidentified man confronted them, left, and then returned minutes later to throw acid on them before fleeing the scene,” said Additional DCP, West Zone, Vishwajeet Srivastava.

Onlookers quickly alerted the police, and the victims were initially taken to SPM Civil Hospital before being referred to KGMU Trauma Centre.

Senior police officers are trying to arrest the attacker and determine the motive behind the incident.

The father of the 21-year-old victim said that his daughter is in critical condition and he hopes for her swift recovery. He also mentioned that the condition of his daughter’s cousin is serious, with more severe burns.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar lambasted the Opposition MPs for staging a walkout while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking on the Motion of Thanks to President’s address, while terming the incident as a ‘dangerous precedent’.

Prior to leaving the House, the Opposition MPs resorted to loud sloganeering and raised chants like ‘LoP ko bolne do’ (Let LoP speak). Jagdeep Dhankhar didn’t allow the Congress President and the Leader of the House Mallikarjun Kharge to intervene while PM Modi spoke. This led to more shriller protests from the Opposition benches and then a walkout.

As the Opposition MPs left the Upper House proceedings in the middle, the RS chairman accused them of having ‘disrespected’ the House and ‘challenging and outraging the spirit’ of the Constitution.

Condemning the Opposition’s walkout, Dhankhar said, “They showed their back to the Constitution of India, they didn’t insult me or you, they insulted the oath of Constitution that they took. There can be no bigger insult to the Constitution of India than this.”

“They have challenged the Constitution. They have outraged the spirit of the Constitution; they have disregarded the oath they have undertaken. The Constitution is not something to hold in your hands, it is the book to way of life. I hope that they will self-introspect and walk the path of duty,” he stated further chastising them for the ‘reckless’ conduct.

RS chairman said that the LoP was given adequate time to speak without any interruption but the attempt to disrupt House proceedings by chanting slogans was uncalled for and an ‘irresponsible’ conduct.

Meanwhile, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, said that they were ‘forced’ to take this step as the Prime Minister was speaking lies and their protests went unheard by the Chairman.

“We walked out because PM Modi said some wrong things while speaking on the Motion of Thanks to President’s address. It is his habit to lie and say things that are beyond truth,” Kharge said.

–IANS

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Ranchi, July 3 (IANS) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren, who is out on bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, is likely to become the Chief Minister again.

There are reports that incumbent Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren will resign from the post and pave the way for Hemant Soren.

In a meeting of the JMM-led coalition’s legislators and leaders being held at Hemant Soren’s residence here, Champai Soren offered to quit the chief minister’s post and proposed Hemant Soren’s name which was agreed to by the legislators.

Congress Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur and prominent leaders of all the three parties of the JMM-led alliance are attending the meeting, underway since noon.

The political scenario in the state changed on June 28 when Hemant Soren secured bail from the Jharkhand High Court in the case.

It was also decided in the meeting that the coalition will be led by Hemant Soren in the Assembly polls.

Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31. Soon after his arrest, he had named Champai Soren as his successor.

When Hemant Soren went to the Raj Bhavan to resign, Champai Soren who accompanied the JMM chief staked claim to form the government.

–IANS

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