‘May every life be enriched with happiness, prosperity, and success’: PM Modi on Vijayadashami

Raipur/Bhilai, Sep 1 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at the residence of KK Chandravanshi (also referred to as KK Chandrakar), former personal assistant to ex-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC).

According to sources, a team of five to eight ED officers arrived at Chandravanshi’s residence in the Old Bhilai area of Durg district around 6 a.m. in two vehicles. The team is examining documents inside the house. Security personnel have been deployed at the scene.

Official information from the agency on the specific nature of the material being scrutinised has not yet been released.

The searches form part of a wider operation covering seven locations across Chhattisgarh, initiated by the ED’s Raipur zonal office based on specific intelligence and carried out in coordination with security forces and state police.

The investigation pertains to the alleged leaking and manipulation of question papers for the CGPSC State Service Examinations held in 2020 and 2021.

The action follows the ED’s arrest of former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani on July 25 in connection with the same money-laundering probe. The ED case is based on a 2024 FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after a complaint by the Chhattisgarh Police following the change of government in the state.

Chandravanshi, originally a Grade-1 officer in the Agriculture Department, had served as Baghel’s personal assistant for a long period.

The raid is expected to intensify the political atmosphere in Chhattisgarh, with the possibility of protests by the Congress.

At the time of filing this report, the ED team continues to examine documents at the residence, and the full extent of the findings will become clear only after the search is completed and official confirmation is issued.

The agency has not issued a formal statement on the outcome of the searches so far.

–IANS

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Aravalli, April 17 (IANS) Gujarat is the highest employment-generating state in the country, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Friday while addressing a campaign meeting in Aravalli district ahead of the local self-government elections.​

Speaking at a ‘Vikas Sankalp Sabha’ in Sathamba village of Bayad taluka, Patel said, “If there is any state in the entire country that provides the highest employment, it is Gujarat,” attributing this to sustained development policies and infrastructure expansion.​

Referring to a corridor project in the region approved at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, he said such investments would ensure that “the pace of development will not slow down”.​

Outlining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s approach, he said, “Working only during elections is not the functioning style of the BJP; staying continuously among the people and resolving their problems is the identity of BJP workers.”​

He added, “After elections, opposition candidates never come among the people,” contrasting this with the BJP workers’ presence during crises, including the Covid pandemic.​

Emphasising development-led politics, Patel credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with reshaping electoral discourse.​

“After Narendra Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, elections began to be fought on the issue of development,” he said, adding, “In today’s technological era, it has become essential to give an account of work to the people.”​

He further said that PM Modi had “paved the path of development across the country”.​

Recalling past challenges, he said Gujarat had faced difficulties related to water, electricity and roads, but added that “by setting high targets”, PM Modi ensured 24-hour electricity and the supply of Narmada water to households, which had “continuously strengthened public trust”.​

Detailing measures for farmers and landholders, Patel said: “The state government had decided to convert land conditions from new tenure to old tenure with direct corrections in 7/12 land records.”​

On water conservation, he said the government had allocated Rs 50 lakh to each legislator under the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign to increase pond capacity and recharge groundwater.​

He also appealed to citizens to join the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to expand green cover and support environmental conservation.​

Patel urged voters to ensure “a massive victory” for BJP candidates in the polls scheduled for April 26.​

–IANS

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Jaipur, March 25 (IANS) The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued an alert forecasting a fresh spell of dust storms and rainfall in eight districts of Rajasthan beginning March 28.

According to the Met Centre, weather conditions between March 25 and 27 will remain partly cloudy in some regions, while most parts of the state are expected to witness clear skies. The recent spell of dust storms and rainfall subsided on Tuesday.

However, the impact of a weak Western Disturbance kept skies overcast in several western districts. Light dusty winds were reported from areas such as Jaisalmer and Barmer, while temperatures recorded a gradual rise.

Jaipur witnessed clear skies and bright sunshine through the day, with the maximum temperature rising by 4 degree Celsius to settle at 33 degree Celsius.

While mornings and evenings remained slightly cool, a mild breeze during the day ensured relatively pleasant conditions. In many cities across the state, daytime temperatures remained below normal.

Meanwhile, districts including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalore, Sirohi, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, and Jodhpur experienced overcast conditions due to the lingering effect of the weak Western Disturbance.

Meanwhile, back-to-back Western Disturbances have brought in a chill in weather and minimum temperature across the state has been recorded under 20 degree Celsius except at a few places.

Chittorgarh recorded the highest temperature in the last 24 hours in the state which was 36 degree Celsius while Barmer in west Rajasthan was the hottest in the state with temperature touching the 36.8 mark.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature recorded in East Rajasthan was in Fatehpur which was the 14.1 mark while it was 17.8 degree Celsius in western Rajasthan in Churu.

Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, said that a weak Western Disturbance is currently active over western Rajasthan, leading to light cloud cover in border areas while the rest of the state is likely to remain clear.

He added that another Western Disturbance is expected to become active from March 28, which may bring a change in weather conditions across several districts.

Under its influence, overcast skies along with dust storms and light rainfall are likely in various parts of the state.

–IANS

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