Pakistani naval ship’s conduct unacceptable and unprofessional: MEA

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) India on Friday rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the collision between the Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata and Pakistani naval ship Hunain in the western Arabian Sea on September 15, terming them as “usual prevarication”.

Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Pakistani naval ship Hunain’s conduct was “unacceptable and unprofessional” , which caused the collision. However, INS Kolkata did not suffer any damage.

“We have seen the Pakistan’s response to the protest we have lodged. It is the usual prevarication that we expected. We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein. Let me reiterate the facts of the matter for you. INS Kolkata was on a routine deployment in the Western Arabian Sea when Pakistani naval ship Hunain conducted itself in an unacceptable and unprofessional manner at sea that resulted in a collision,” Jaiswal told reporters.

“The dangerous overtaking maneuver by PNS Hunain was in gross violation of Article 10 of the Agreement Between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements of 1991, which clearly specifies that naval units at sea are not to be within three nautical miles of each other. In addition, the Pakistani ship also infringed the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. The Pakistani side has once again been advised about the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents. The incident did not cause any major damage to INS Kolkata and she remains at sea,” he added.

MEA’s response came after Pakistan had accused an Indian naval ship of carrying out a provocative manoeuvre that resulted in a collision with the Pakistan Navy Ship in the Arabian Sea.

On Wednesday, India summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest after the Pakistani naval ship’s action at sea.

“The Charge d’Affaires of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today and a strong protest was lodged with him over the unacceptable and unprofessional conduct of Pakistani naval units at sea that led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy,” the MEA said.

The MEA stated that the incident, which took place in international waters, did not cause any major damage, but the Pakistani naval ship’s conduct was in direct contravention of Article 10 of the Agreement between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements of April 1991.

“The Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan was advised to convey to the concerned Pakistani authorities the need for all military units to observe due care and respect the provisions of the relevant agreements between the two sides in order to prevent any repeat of such incidents,” the MEA mentioned in a statement.

“The Charge d’Affaires of India in Islamabad has also been instructed to lodge a similar protest with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” it added.

–IANS

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Delhi polls: Kejriwal fumes as police disallow screening of film on AAP

New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) AAP National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit out at the Delhi Police and the BJP for allegedly foiling his party’s plans to screen a documentary for media persons on the alleged conspiracy behind jailing of party leaders in the excise policy case.

The police clarified that they followed the rules and stopped the screening of the film ‘Unbreakable’ at an auditorium at ITO in Central Delhi as no permission had been taken by the AAP from the election office despite the Modal Code of Conduct being in force.

Addressing mediapersons, Kejriwal said, “The film was not political and there were no party flags at the venue, yet the police did not allow its private screening on the ground that no permission had been taken for it.”

Alleging high-handedness of the Central government-controlled Delhi Police and suspecting the BJP’s role behind the ban on the film, Kejriwal said, “The BJP is not allowing the film’s screening as it is afraid of being exposed. The film shows the BJP’s conspiracy and unconstitutional acts of sending AAP leaders to jail.”

Asked about the next step, Kejriwal said the AAP is exploring its options and, in any case, no one can stop a film from coming into public domain, a veiled hint at its circulation on social media.

The ruling party had made arrangements for the film’s screening at Pyarelal Bhawan at noon. Sources said the documentary highlights the resilience of the AAP and how it functioned when Kejriwal, along with other leaders, was jailed in money laundering cases before being released later.

Earlier in a post on social media platform X, Kejriwal said, “A film has been made on Aam Aadmi Party. Today, this film was to be shown to journalists but the BJP prevented the screening of this film by deploying a huge police force at the venue. The BJP is very scared of this film.”

“Why? Why does BJP want to stop this film? What is there in this film that BJP is scared of? This film exposes all the secrets behind the scenes when AAP leaders were wrongly arrested. It exposes the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the BJP government,” Kejriwal said.

Delhi Police later clarified that once the MCC kicks in political parties need to apply for permission for such events through a single window system at the District Election Officer’s (DEO) office, adding that the police can neither grant nor reject such permission at this time.

Kejriwal disagreed with the police stand. “A film was made on PM Modi by Vivek Agnihotri and it was screened in cinema halls without any permission from the Election Commission,” he said.

The former chief minister also announced that the AAP on coming to power after the February 5 election will ensure that the benefits of free 20,000 litre monthly water and free 200 units monthly power are extended to tenants also.

“Most of the tenants in Delhi are poor people from Purvanchal. In some buildings, there are up to 100 tenants. During the current government’s tenure there were some hurdles in extending free water and power facilities to tenants, but we will remove the irritants and implement the scheme this time.” Kejriwal said.

–IANS

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Passport deposited in ED case, ‘lost’ report used to get second one; Gujarat leader’s son held

Ahmedabad, Sep 16 (IANS) The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an Ahmedabad-based businessman and a politician’s son for allegedly obtaining a second Indian passport using forged documents and false information after his original passport had been deposited with a court in connection with an Enforcement Directorate (ED) money-laundering case.

The accused, identified as Harikesh Patel, a resident of Shahibaug area, was arrested from the Science City area following an investigation launched on the basis of confidential information received by ATS Police Inspector J.P. Rojiya.

Harikesh is also the son of Gujarat Mahila Congress President Geetaben Patel.

According to the ATS, Patel already held an Indian passport, number S2528999, which had been deposited with the court during proceedings in an ED case linked to the alleged Power Bank App money-laundering case.

Investigators alleged that he subsequently concealed this fact and obtained another passport, number C0538007, from the Ghaziabad Regional Passport Office (RPO) on July 26, 2024.

The second passport was allegedly obtained by using forged documents and falsely showing his address as 37/526, Chandranagar, Nagalpadi, Dayalbagh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

The ATS said forged rental agreements showing residences in Delhi and Agra were also used in the process.

“During verification, we found that the confidential information we got was true,” Gujarat ATS SP K. Siddharth said.

The investigation, according to the ATS, found that Patel had first lodged a complaint with the Delhi Crime Branch claiming that his original passport had been lost.

He allegedly used the report along with other forged documents to support his application for the second passport.

“Patel’s original passport had been deposited with the court during proceedings in the ED’s Power Bank App money-laundering case. After obtaining anticipatory bail, which was subsequently revoked, Patel approached the Delhi High Court challenging the revocation,” the police said.

The ATS alleged that during this period Patel sought to obtain another passport with the intention of travelling abroad and avoiding arrest. According to the police, he contacted a friend living in Dubai, who introduced him to an agent in Delhi.

The agent allegedly helped arrange the forged documents, including a rental agreement showing Patel as an Agra resident. “Patel had initially paid Rs 25 lakh for this process,” Siddharth said.

After obtaining the second passport, Patel allegedly used it to travel through Bhutan to Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai, before returning to India through Nepal.

A case was registered at the ATS police station on September 13, 2026, under Sections 336(2), 337, 338, 339 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 12(1)(b) of the Passports Act, 1967.

Further investigation is underway. The ATS said Patel has two previous cases registered against him.

An FIR registered at Naranpura police station in 2022 invokes Sections 406, 420, 477A and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, Section 66(d) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Sections 447 and 448 of the Companies Act, 2013.

Another case was registered by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in 2023 under Sections 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC.

Siddharth said the ATS was also examining Patel’s business and financial activities.

“During our preliminary investigation, we have so far found that a large number of factories and companies are registered in his name. Some are genuinely operating, while some appear to have been created merely as fake companies,” he said.

He added that the preliminary investigation is examining whether such entities had been used for money transfers, accessing and using money-mule accounts, or supporting money-laundering activities.

The ATS has also begun efforts to trace the Delhi-based agent who allegedly assisted Patel in obtaining the second passport.

“Investigators would examine the role of all persons who assisted in preparing the forged passport and documents,” Siddharth added.

The police said further investigation would determine the role of the accused and others allegedly involved in the preparation and use of the forged documents.

–IANS

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Delhi Police busts inter-state drug syndicate, three arrested with heroin haul

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) In a major crackdown under its zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, the Delhi Police’s East District personnel on Thursday dismantled an inter-state drug syndicate and arrested three alleged drug traffickers, including a key supplier from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district.

Police recovered 195.56 grams of smack/heroin, classified as an intermediate quantity under the NDPS Act, with an estimated international illicit market value of around Rs 25 lakh.

A scooty allegedly used for transporting the narcotic substance was also seized during the operation.

Delhi Police stated that the campaign against substance abuse is being carried out consistently to eradicate the menace of drugs from society, with special emphasis on identifying drug suppliers, carriers, and peddlers operating across state borders.

According to the police, a special anti-drug drive is currently underway in East District. A dedicated team of the Anti-Narcotics Squad (ANS), comprising SIs Rahul and Vikas, ASI Arun, Head Constables Ashok, Devesh, Vikrant, Woman Head Constable Anamika, and Constable Kaushal, was formed under the supervision of Inspector Arun Kumar, In-charge of Anti-Narcotics Squad, East District, and under the overall guidance of ACP Operations Pawan Kumar.

The team intensified intelligence gathering and developed local informers to track drug trafficking activities in the area.

Police said that on the intervening night of May 14 and 15, the Anti-Narcotics Squad received specific information that a person identified as Sarvesh, allegedly involved in supplying smack, would arrive near the Ghazipur Dumping Yard on Ghazipur Murga Mandi Road to deliver narcotics.

Acting on the tip-off, the police team laid a trap near the location and apprehended Sarvesh, a resident of Prahaladpur village in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. During a search, police recovered 73.11 grams of smack from his possession.

Following the recovery, a case under FIR No. 180/2026, dated May 15, was registered under Sections 21, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act at Ghazipur Police Station, and an investigation was initiated.

During sustained interrogation and police custody, Sarvesh allegedly disclosed that he procured the narcotic substance from his source, identified as Abrar, a resident of Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh. He further revealed that the drugs were supplied to a receiver and peddler identified as Sahil, a resident of Mukandpur in Delhi’s Bhalswa Dairy area.

Based on the disclosure, the ANS team conducted another operation near Jahangirpuri Metro Station on May 15 and apprehended Sahil. Police recovered an additional 92.45 grams of smack from Sahil’s possession along with the scooty allegedly used in transporting the narcotics.

Investigators stated that it became clear during the probe that dismantling the supply chain would not be possible without arresting the main source of the drugs. The police team was therefore directed to trace and apprehend the Uttar Pradesh-based supplier, Abrar.

During further investigation, the ANS team conducted multiple raids across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR using technical surveillance and human intelligence. Eventually, the police succeeded in arresting Abrar near Bhamora village on the Badaun-Bareilly Road in Bareilly district.

During his search, police recovered another 30 grams of smack, which was seized as evidence.

According to investigators, Sahil confessed during interrogation that he initially started consuming smack and later came into contact with Sarvesh, from whom he began purchasing small quantities of the narcotic substance for resale in Delhi-NCR. Police said Sahil was previously arrested in an NDPS-related case and later expanded his operations for financial gain by purchasing drugs in bulk.

Sarvesh, during interrogation, allegedly disclosed that he regularly sourced the narcotics from Abrar, who supplied the drugs at locations between Badaun and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said all three accused were part of an organised inter-state drug syndicate operating for monetary gain by exploiting addiction vulnerabilities in urban areas.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sarvesh, 22, a Class 8 dropout from Shahjahanpur; Sahil, 24, a resident of Delhi and a Class 6 dropout; and Abrar, 40, an illiterate resident of Bareilly district.

Delhi Police reiterated its commitment to eliminating narcotics through sustained operations and appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious drug-related activities. Further investigation into the case is underway.

–IANS

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