Delhi court extends custody of two accused in Red Fort blast case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) A court here on Friday extended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of two accused in the Red Fort bomb blast case that killed 11 persons and injured several others last month.

Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma allowed the NIA to probe the accused Yasir Ahmad Dar for 10 more days, while the custody of the other accused, Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla, was extended for eight days.

According to the NIA, Yasir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, is the ninth accused to be arrested in the case.

He was arrested from New Delhi under relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

“NIA investigations have revealed Yasir’s active role in the conspiracy behind the car bomb blast that rocked the national capital on November 10. An active participant in the conspiracy, he had sworn allegiance and taken an oath to carry out self-sacrificial operations,” the agency had said earlier.

The NIA has also claimed that Yasir was in close contact with other accused persons in the case, including Dr. Umar Nabi, the deceased perpetrator of the bombing, and Mufti Irfan.

Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla of Baramulla, who is the eighth accused in the case, was arrested by an NIA team from Delhi on December 9.

As per the agency, he had knowingly harboured Umar Nabi by providing him logistical support and is also accused of destruction of evidence related to the terror attack.

The NIA has said that it is continuing its investigation into the larger conspiracy behind the deadly blast and is working closely with various central and state agencies to unravel all its links.

Earlier this month, the agency conducted extensive searches at the premises of several accused and suspects in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, seizing digital devices and other incriminating materials.

These were preceded by similar searches at the premises of prime accused Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Gania and Dr. Shaheen Saeed in Haryana’s Faridabad.

The probe agency has said that further investigation in the case is underway.

–IANS

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Bengal school job case: Calcutta HC reserves judgement on bail plea by Partha Chatterjee, four others

Kolkata, Dec 17 (IANS) A new bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday heard the bail plea by former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case and reserved its judgement.

On November 20, a division bench of Justice Arijit Bandopadhya and Justice Apruba Sinha Roy delivered a split judgement on the bail petition by Chatterjee and eight others accused in the case.

While Justice Bandopadhya pronounced in favour of bail for Chatterjee and eight others accused in the case, Justice Sinha Roy rejected the same for Chatterjee and four others.

Thereafter the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice allotted the bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty to hear the matter, the detailed hearing for which was completed on Tuesday.

The counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), since the beginning, has been opposing the bail plea for Chatterjee and four others on grounds that all these four accused are so influential that there are chances of tampering with the evidence and influencing the witnesses, if released on bail. The counsel also said that the trial process against them could not be conducted because of the lack of necessary approval from the state government which is required for state government employees.

The CBI counsel also opposed the argument of the counsels of the accused that the clients should be granted bail considering their age, arguing that there is no legal logic behind granting bail to anyone because of their age.

Two parallel cases are going on against the former state minister, one registered by the CBI and the other by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Chatterjee was arrested in July 2022 by the ED after huge amounts of cash and gold were recovered from the twin residences of his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. Since then, a solitary cell at Presidency Central Correctional Home became his abode and his bail petitions one after another were rejected at different courts. Mukherjee has been in judicial custody since then.

Soon after his arrest, his Trinamool announced his removal from all administrative and organisational posts. The party even abolished the post of Secretary General, which was specially created to give Chatterjee a party rank somewhat equivalent to a national General Secretary.

–IANS

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A day after the axe: Can RJD contain the fallout from Tej Pratap’s ouster?

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Bihar’s political theatre is no stranger to drama, but the latest twist involving Tej Pratap Yadav, son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, has left even seasoned political observers stunned. A now-deleted Facebook post, featuring a woman named Anushka Yadav and a bold declaration of love, has not only triggered a social media frenzy but also led to Tej Pratap’s expulsion from the party – and from his own family.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) finds itself in damage-control mode just a day after the dramatic sacking of Tej Pratap Yadav over what was termed as “irresponsible behaviour” and a disregard for moral values. While Lalu Prasad’s move to expel his own son may be seen as an attempt to assert moral high ground and restore discipline within the party ranks, the timing has raised eyebrows.

With Bihar’s Assembly elections in sight, the RJD seems to be prepared now to balance internal stability with voter perception, especially as whispers grow about factionalism and generational rifts within the Yadav clan. The immediate question isn’t just about Tej Pratap’s political future — it’s whether the RJD can weather the public spectacle without fracturing its core support base.

This scandal couldn’t have come at a worse time for the RJD, as Bihar prepares for Assembly elections later this year. With one son in trouble and the party’s reputation on the line, Lalu Prasad’s firm stance seems aimed at damage control. But in Bihar politics, where personal life and public image collide, Tej Pratap’s love story may just have rewritten his political fate.

It all began when Tej Pratap shared a photo with Anushka Yadav, claiming they had been in a committed relationship for over a decade. “We are in love and have been in a relationship for the last 12 years,” the post read. The image and caption went viral instantly, drawing both curiosity and criticism. The public revelation stunned the political establishment, especially given the highly traditional image the Yadav family maintains.

So, who is Anushka Yadav? Details about her remain scarce. She reportedly hails from Langartoli in Patna, and is the daughter of Manoj Yadav. Interestingly, her brother Akash Yadav once led the RJD’s student wing — an appointment made by Tej Pratap himself. But internal party politics soon soured that relationship. Akash was removed by RJD state President Jagdanand Singh and later defected to Pashupati Paras’s LJP faction. Some believe this old fallout may have ties to the current controversy.

Amidst the online storm, Tej Pratap Yadav claimed his social media accounts were hacked. “Someone is trying to defame and harass me and my family,” he wrote in Hindi, dismissing the viral post as digitally manipulated mischief. But the damage had already been done.

Reacting swiftly and harshly, Lalu Prasad issued a public statement severing both political and personal ties with his eldest son. “Irresponsible behaviour and disregard for moral values weakens our collective fight for social justice,” he declared. “From today, Tej Pratap will have no role in the party or the family.” With this, Tej Pratap Yadav was expelled for six years, effectively shutting the door on his RJD career — at least for now.

The controversy has also resurrected memories of Tej Pratap’s turbulent marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai. The couple married in 2018 in a grand political event, but within months, Aishwarya walked out, citing harassment and abuse. Her father, Chandrika Roy, resigned from the RJD in protest, backing his daughter’s legal battle. Since then, the divorce case has become a messy public saga, with Aishwarya accusing Tej Pratap of drug abuse and cross-dressing, and Tej Pratap alleging alimony demands.

–IANS

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Shilpi Soni shares her journey; lauds PM Modi’s vision for women empowerment

New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Shilpi Soni, a key member managing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media presence, took over his X handle on International Women’s Day, sharing her inspiring story and messages of empowerment.

With a background in both the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Soni’s journey serves as an example of perseverance, ambition, and determination.

Speaking with IANS, Soni reflected on her 24-year-long career at ISRO’s Ahmedabad Centre.

“I come from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, where I grew up in a middle-class family. My father, Krishna, ran a small business, and my husband, Pradeep Soni, is also a scientist. Together, we’ve dedicated ourselves to serving India in the fields of space and technology,” she shared.

Soni expressed her admiration for Prime Minister Modi’s innovative approach to celebrating women on International Women’s Day.

“Modi Ji envisioned this day in a unique way. His plan was to highlight the contributions of women across the nation by encouraging them to inspire others through his social media channels. I’m honoured to be a part of this initiative, particularly as a woman in science and technology,” she said.

Shilpi Soni further explained that PM Modi’s vision is not just about celebration, but about inspiring the next generation.

“The goal is to reach young girls in villages and children in schools focussed on science and technology, showing them that women—no matter where they come from—can excel in these fields,” Soni told IANS.

Reflecting on the PM’s sensitivity to women’s issues, Soni praised his attention to the smaller, often overlooked aspects of daily life.

“Modi Ji understands the struggles women face, like the challenge of cooking at home. His efforts, such as providing LPG cylinders to every household, directly address these issues,” she noted.

She also highlighted PM Modi’s initiatives on women’s health, including his recent focus on obesity and his advice on cooking with less oil.

Concluding her thoughts, Soni pointed out how Modi’s leadership is paving the way for women’s empowerment.

“Through various schemes, such as pensions and other welfare programmes, PM Modi is touching every aspect of women’s lives. He knows that for the country to progress, women must move forward equally,” she said, underscoring the pivotal role women play in the nation’s development.

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