Six die in Andheri hospital fire : Mumbai

At least six people, including a 5-month-old baby, died and 157 were injured after a major fire broke out at the state-run ESIC Kamgar hospital in Andheri East on Monday. One of the victims crashed to the ground and died as she jumped from the fourth floor to escape the blaze.

The fire started on the first floor around 3.30 pm and soon spread to the upper floors of the five-storey building. According to the fire brigade, more than 200 people were inside the hospital at the time.

The exact reason for the mishap could not be immediately ascertained, though an electrical short-circuit is believed to triggered the blaze. The fire engulfed the air-conditioning system and generated a lot of smoke, leaving scores of people gasping for breath.

Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, said many of those trapped were rescued from a common terrace of an under-construction new block of the hospital building. Rahangdale added that the fire was brought under control by 7.20 pm and completely put off by 8 pm.

Fire brigade officials said that for over 40 years, the old hospital building was being run with a provisional fire no-objection certificate and was still awaiting a final NOC from the fire department.

Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner of K East ward said that the area falls under the MIDC and all permissions from commencement certificate to fire NOC is given by the MIDC authority.

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J&K Pulwama Encounter: 7 Civilians, 1 Jawan and 3 Militants Dead

Seven civilians were killed after clashes broke out between the youth and security forces following an encounter in J&K's Pulwama district on Saturday, 15 December.

A soldier and three militants were also killed in the encounter. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Sirnoo village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Saturday morning after receiving specific intelligence input on the presence of militants in the area, an army official said.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah condemned the incident in three tweets.

Omar Abdullah

✔@OmarAbdullah

Another blood soaked weekend in Kashmir. 6 protestors killed, 1 solider killed in the line of duty. Together with the 3 militants from this morning’s encounter that’s 10 dead. Reports of many injured at the encounter site. What a horrible day!

515

12:19 PM - Dec 15, 2018

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Omar Abdullah

✔@OmarAbdullah

6 civilians killed and numerous more injured, many critically. Any way you look at it this was a badly executed encounter. Protests around encounter sites are now the norm not the exception. Why are we unable to learn how to handle them better?

562

12:39 PM - Dec 15, 2018

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Omar Abdullah

✔@OmarAbdullah

The administration of Governor Malik has one task & one task only - to focus on the security of the people of J&K & restore peace to a troubled valley. Sadly it appears that’s the only thing the administration is not doing. Publicity campaigns & full page ads don’t bring peace.

210

1:05 PM - Dec 15, 2018

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The operation started before dawn, with the army, the police and the CRPF acting on specific information they had received that three militants were hiding in an orchard, reported NDTV, quoting police sources.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire on security personnel, reported PTI.

All three of the militants killed in the encounter are members of Hizbul Mujahideen.

One of the dead militants has been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, a former army jawan who joined militancy last year. In July 2017, Hizbul Mujahideen had claimed that Zahoor Ahmad Thokar of 173 Territorial Army, who was missing along with his service rifle and ammunition, had joined the militant outfit.

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No objection to Rafale deal: Supreme Court dismisses PILs

Rafale deal verdict: Supreme Court said we are satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process of signing the Rafale jet deal.

The Supreme Court said today that it found nothing wrong with a deal the Narendra Modi government signed with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said that it had studied the matter "extensively" and that it was "satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process [of signing the Rafale deal]."

What the Supreme Court said

The ruling today came on four petitions that had asked the Supreme Court to set up a court-monitored probe into the signing of the Rafale deal. The petitions had alleged that the Modi government not only overpaid for the Rafale jets but also promoted crony capitalism.

The Supreme Court however said that the Rafale deal process was perfectly fine and dismissed all PILs that demanded a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal. The Supreme Court also said it was not its job to examine the pricing of the Rafale jets. (The government had previosuly said that the pricing details could not be made public due to national security concerns).

"Our country cannot afford to be underprepared," the court also said today, referring to the Indian Air Force being short on the number of aircraft it must have.

"Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of roving inquiry by the court," the Supreme Court also said, adding that it had "no objection to any part of of the deal".

The Supreme Court ruling today comes as a boost for the Narendra Modi government, which the Opposition has attempted to corner on the Rafale deal issue.

THE RAFALE CONTROVERSY

At the core of the opposition to the Rafale deal were charges that the Modi government had knowingly overpaid for the Rafale fighter jets and that it had promoted crony capitalism.

The Rafale deal originally took shape under the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's second term. That deal was to buy 126 Rafale jets, which are manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Under the UPA deal, 18 Rafale jets were to be bought off-the-shelf or in a 'flyaway' condition while the rest were to be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

However, the Modi government, when it came to power, junked the UPA-era deal and signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to purchase 36 Rafale jets in a 'flyaway' condition.

The government's deal also mandated that Dassault make investments in India by tying up with Indian companies. One of those companies chose by Dassault was Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence.

The Congress party has alleged that the Modi government's Rafale deal is more expensive than the UPA's and that Reliance Defence was chosen as an offset partner under pressure from the Indian government.

The government has rejected all the allegations.

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Enforcement Directorate: Vijay Mallya left country with 300 bags ?

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday countered the claim of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya that he had gone to Geneva for a meeting, saying, 'Who goes for a meeting with 300 bags?

The ED counsel also contended that Mallya's deportation order is proof that he had no intention of coming back to India. Mallya's lawyer Amit Desai on Tuesday completed his arguments and the ED's counsel D.N. Singh filed a rejoinder to them.

Mallya's lawyer has claimed that he left the country in the normal course and not under any suspicious condition to attend the 'WorldMotor Sport' meeting in Geneva. Mallya's lawyer had contended that the prime reason behind declaring the businessman a fugitive economic offender is to confiscate his properties and deprive him of his rights granted in the Constitution.

The ED's lawyer, Mr Singh contended that during a lengthy argument his lawyer had never said anything about his return, and argued that Mallya has no intention of returning to India.

The beleaguered business had left India on March 2, 2016 and is now based in Britain. A court in London Monday ordered the extradition of Mallya, wanted in India for alleged financial irregularities.

Vijay Mallya, facing charges brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, is wanted in India for alleged fraud and
money laundering amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore.

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Finally UK court orders extradition of Vijay Mallya to India

Vijay Mallya fled the country in March 2016 in the wake of rising heat over his Rs 9,000 crore bank defaults. A UK judge on Monday ordered his extradition to India after the businessman lost a key legal battle with the UK court rejecting allegations that the CBI and ED were working on political directions and he was being framed in a false case.

The Westminster’s Court in London that gave a go-ahead for extradition of former Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) owner Vijay Mallya to India where he is wanted to face charges of fraud and money laundering. 

Below is the latest development in Vijay Mallya money laundering case :

1. Vijay Mallya, 62, told reporters that he was exploring his legal options. "My legal team will review the judgement and follow legal procedures, I don't want to speculate anything," he said.
2. Vijay Mallya, out on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant last year, has 14 days to appeal. Should he choose to go to the Court of Appeal, it could take months for the case to be heard. If this goes against him, he can apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court
3. In a 74-page judgement that describes Vijay Mallya as a "bejeweled, billionaire playboy" at one point, the judge shot down the tycoon's argument that he was at risk in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail as it lacked proper air or light.
4. There was "no ground at all to believe that" he faced any risk in the jail or there was any human rights violation, which has recently been "redecorated", said the UK court.  "He will have access to personal medical care to manage his diabetes and coronary problems," the judge ruled.
5. The judge said the CBI and in particular its senior official, Rakesh Asthana (special director), was criticised by Mr Mallya's lawyers. "As will be seen later, I found no evidence that the prosecution was corrupt or politically led," said judge Emma Arbuthnot.
6. If the extradition takes place, Vijay Mallya will be kept in one of the high security barracks located in a two-storey building inside the Mumbai prison complex that also housed 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, Press Trust of India quoted a prison official as saying.
7. Vijay Mallya had in recent tweets offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount he owes banks in India, saying: "Please take the money". Earlier today, he said if his offer was accepted, Kingfisher employees should be paid first.
8. The flamboyant businessman with interests ranging from liquor to aviation, left India in 2016 as a group of banks started legal proceedings to recover the loans.
9. A former Rajya Sabha member, owner of an IPL cricket team and Force India formula one team, Vijay Mallya was dubbed "king of good times".
10. Much of his wealth, including his villas, yachts and planes, have been auctioned off on court orders over recent months.

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NOIDA: Woman claims harassment by employer over pregnancy

A 24-year-old woman was allegedly sacked from her job at a private company in Sector 11 of Noida after she applied for maternity leave.

Victim's sister-in-law tweeted about the matter and tagged UP CM Yogi Adityanath and the UP police have started a probe into the matter.

The victim, identified as Monika Rawat, a resident of Shahberi in Greater Noida used to work as a customer relationship executive for the last six months. 

According to Rawat, she joined the company in June and at that time, she had informed the management that she might be pregnant but she was not sure. The company hired her and in July end, her pregnancy was confirmed by the doctor.

She had then informed her team manager, HR team and other management staff of the company about the pregnancy. but slowly, the management started torturing me and told me to resign if I wanted to go ahead with the pregnancy. 

Rashmi, Customer Relationship Manager and Monika's team leader, said that she did not know anything about the matter. But the junior staff at the company confirmed that police had visited the premises. Pankaj Pant, SHO of Sector 24 police station said that a police team visited the company for investigation on Monday.

 It was revealed that the woman was employed with the company for 175 days, out of which, she was absent for 60 days. "A meeting has been fixed between the woman and the company to resolve the matter," Pant said.

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Supreme Court raps Centre on exigency to send Alok Verma on leave

The Supreme Court on Thursday rapped the central government over the exigency shown in sending the CBI chief on leave without consulting the Selection Committee.

(Image : The Pioneer)

In Wednesday’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had commenced his arguments on behalf of the CVC while senior Counsel Fali Nariman, Dushyant Dave, Kapil Sibal and Rajeev Dhavan had argued against the government’s decision to send Verma on leave. Attorney General KK Venugopal had also argued to defend the State’s decision to send Verma on leave.

On Thursday after Mehta resumed his submissions in the case, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi asked the Centre's counsel that what was the difficulty in consulting the Selection Committee and what prompted the overnight decision to send Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave after their feud came out in public. 

CJI Gogoi remarked that the idea of the two-year tenure for the CBI director was to "give them some permanence". Gogoi said that the argument by Verma is that any action which would divest him of his powers would need the approval of the Selection Committee. 

Mehta replied that in this case, an emergent action was necessary. "There are answers and I will provide them," he said in the top court. Here, Gogoi agreed that Verma, of course, continues to be a part of the IPS despite his current role with the CBI. 

Here, Mehta reiterated that Verma was not transferred but only sent on leave signifying the act to be a temporary arrangement in nature. "Transfer would mean change in place of employment from one place to another and it would be a permanent act," he stated. 

However, reacting to his argument the CJI said, "Even if we are to accept your argument that the government action was necessary in view of an infight, why have you not approached the Selection Committee till date regarding the divestment of Verma's charges. You are saying that the situation was going on since last July. What prompted the overnight decision on 23 October? Why not wait for a few more months? What is the difficulty in consulting the Selection Committee." Pulling up the government for not approaching the committee before deciding to sendin Verma on leave, the CJI asked the government as to why it couldn't be "completely fair". "Better to consult the committee than not consult it at all," the CJI said.

Meanwhile, State counsel Venugopal argued that "if the matter would have been placed before the committee, then the committee would have said that 'this is not a transfer, so why to place it before us'," stating that it was a "highly artificial argument" (by Verma) to say that this was a transfer.

In October, the Court had ordered that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry initiated against Verma be completed within two weeks under the supervision of Justice (Retd.) AK Patnaik, to find out if there is a prima facie case made out against Verma.

On 16 November, the Bench of CJI Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph had directed that a copy of the CVC report be served on Alok Verma so that he can respond to it. Alok Verma submitted his response to the CVC report in a sealed cover on 19 November.

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