Top stories on 23rd October in a capsule
Abdul Karim Telgi, who was convicted for masterminding a
fake stamp paper scam, is in a critical condition at a Bengaluru hospital,
since Monday night, said media reports. The 56-year-old was admitted to
Victoria hospital with meningitis, confirmed his lawyer MT Nanaiah. Telgi has
been in hospital for a week, and was put on ventilator support after a
multi-organ failure, media reported. Telgi was arrested in November 2001. He
was sentenced to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment, and is serving his term in
the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru.
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'BJP gave me ₹1 crore to join them': Hardik Patel’s aide
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Gujarat, sensational claims were made by Patidar leader and Hardik Patel’s confidant Narendra Patel of being bribed by the BJP. On Monday, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samita (PAAS) leader addressed a press conference, accusing the BJP of offering him ₹ 1 crore to cross over. Patel had joined BJP on Sunday, in presence of another ex Patidar agitator Varun Patel, who had allegedly processed the deal. “I enacted a drama of joining the BJP only to expose the party,” Patel said. Replying to the allegations, BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandhya accused Patel of “fabricating stories to malign image of BJP in Gujarat.”______________________________________________
Ordinance bill gets tabled in Rajasthan Assembly, while being heavily protested
Amidst strong opposition from
rival and party members alike, the Vasundhara Raje led government in Rajasthan,
tabled the controversial ordinance bill, shielding public servants and bureaucrats
from investigation, without prior permission from the state government on
Monday. Staging a protest outside the Assembly, Congress chief Sachin Pilot and
others were detained. Meanwhile, inside the Parliament, BJP MLA Ghanshyam
Tiwari staged a walkout, opposing the move. The Rajasthan Amendment Ordinance 2017,
was formed by the state government last month, has also barred the media on
reporting allegations against public servants without prior sanction. Senior lawyer
AK Jain filed a PIL against the ‘draconian bill’ in the High Court.
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Supreme Court questions Gujarat government on guilty policemen in the Bilkis Bano Gangrape case
15 years since the tragic Bilkis
Bano gang rape took place, the Supreme Court on Monday said that all the
medical authorities and policemen found guilty of tampering with evidence
should be suspended. The statement was made after Bano’s lawyer alleged that
all the five policemen and two doctors found guilty by the Bombay High Court
were back on duty. Bombay HC had convicted 5 policemen for ignoring their duty
during the 2002 Godhra riots where a 5 month pregnant Bano was subjected to
gangrape, and seven of her family members were slaughtered. The apex body has directed
the Gujarat government to reply on the action taken in four weeks.
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GST is Gabbar Singh Tax: Rahul Gandhi
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Original identity proofs now necessary for transactions above 50,000
The government on Monday made it mandatory for banks and financial
institutions to check the original identity proofs of individuals dealing in
cash above 50,000 rupees. This initiative is done to remove the forged or fake
copies fraudsters submit in banks. The Prevention of money laundering act
(PMLA) act amended its norms, and also stated that if the proof does not have
the updated address, any utility bill which is not more than two months old
will also be accepted.
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SC asks centre to consider regulating playing of National anthem in theatres
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to mend
the national anthem code and consider not making it a compulsion to play it in
Cinema theatres. The bench indicated that it may modify its order of December
1, 2016, by which the playing of the anthem was made mandatory for cinema halls
before the screening of a movie, and it may replace the word "shall"
with "may". The apex court had ordered the theatres to mandatorily
play the national anthem before a movie and the audience must stand and show
respect. It had also said proper norms and protocol should be fixed regarding
the playing and singing at official functions and programs where those holding
constitutional office are present.