Senior Advocate Applauds Court-Appointed Panel In Hindenburg-Adani Row

Noted legal expert Mukul Rohatgi has welcomed the Supreme Court's move to appoint a committee to look into the issues linked to Hindenburg-Adani row, which has wiped out hundreds of crores in investors' money. The Congress has slammed the decision, insisting that a Joint Parliamentary Committee is the way to go in this matter. The Trinamool Congress, Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party have expressed support for the court's decision.

Adani Group chief Gautam Adani has already lauded the top court's initiative, tweeting that "truth will triumph". Mr Rohatgi expressed concern that the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee will only lead to a "political slugfest".  

"Rather than having a Joint Parliamentary Committee and making it a political slugfest, the idea is to look at what are the problems in the system and plug the loopholes," Mukul Rohatgi told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The shares of the Adani conglomerate nosedived last month after US-based short selling firm Hindenburg Research alleged a financial fraud and stocks manipulation. The Adani Group has strongly refuted the allegations, calling Hindenburg's report a "calculated attack" on India.

Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court set up a six-member panel to look into regulatory mechanisms to protect investors' interest.  The committee, headed by retired judge Abhay Manohar Sapre, will include veteran bankers KV Kamath and OP Bhat, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, and retired Justice JP Devdhar

"I think it is appropriate not because of Mr Adani, but because there are millions of share and bond holders, who back particular big businesses. If they have suffered, the court's concern is quite justified," Mr Rohatgi said.

The selection of names is "par excellence" and the remit of the committee is "wide and sweeping," Mr Rohatgi said. "It is the right thing to instill confidence in the market and people who are in the market," he added.  

The committee is expected to make an overall assessment of the situation, suggest measures to make investors more aware and help strengthen existing regulatory measures for stock markets, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said.

The investigation by market regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) will run alongside and should be completed within two months, the court said.

Senior lawyer Raian Karanjawala, who represents the Adani Group in several cases, also hailed the formation of the committee.

"It is an excellent decision. The committee meets all the standards that any committee could have met. It has people with high international credentials. The Supreme Court couldn't have chosen a better committee," he said.

He added that he expects it to be an "action-oriented committee" which will give its recommendations "in a forthright matter". "Some part of it might be made public too. People's expectations will be met," he added.

The opposition has been divided over the matter of the committee, with the Trinamool Congress, Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party lauding the Supreme Court's decision. On the other side are the Congress and its ally DMK. The Left parties are in a wait and watch mode.

The matter had stalled parliament repeatedly during the budget session, with Opposition parties demanding a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

The Congress has planned nationwide protests the day parliament resumes.

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Army Pushed Back China On Border Under Rajiv Gandhi: Congress Chief

The Army under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi valiantly fought and pushed back the Chinese in 1987 along the border and it is important that the Congress became strong once again for a progressive India, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said today.

After laying a wreath at the memorial of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur near here, Mr Kharge traced the late leader's services to the nation.

"In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi granted statehood to Arunachal Pradesh despite Chinese opposition. Later, in 1987, during the military standoff in Tawang, the Indian government ensured that we did not give up our claims along the border. Thus, Indian Army under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi valiantly fought and pushed back the Chinese," Mr Kharge said. 

For the unity, integrity and progress of the country, it is important that the Congress should become strong once again, he said in a statement released here by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.

It is only the Congress party that can build a modern and progressive India. "In this fight for building a modern and progressive India, Rajiv Gandhi will always remain a source of inspiration for the Congress party and the youth of our country," he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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शाहरुख की लाडली सुहाना खान ने कराया मेकओवर, नए हेयरस्टाइल में देख फिदा हुए फैन्स

बॉलीवुड के गलियारों में हो या फिर सोशल मीडिया पर, इन दिनों हर जगह सिर्फ सुहाना खान की खूबसूरती के ही चर्चे हैं. शाहरुख और गौरी खान की लाडली बेटी जहां भी जाती हैं, जो भी पहनती हैं, सुर्ख़ियों में आ जाती हैं. एक बार फिर सुहाना खान का स्टाइलिश लुक सोशल मीडिया में छाया है. हाल ही में अपने चिक कैजुअल लुक में दीवा एयरपोर्ट पर स्पॉट हुईं.  पने ओवरऑल लुक में सुहाना बेहद स्टाइलिश और खूबसूरत लग रही थीं. लेकिन सबसे ज्यादा अट्रैक्टिव लग रही थी उनकी बदली हुई हेयर स्टाइल, जिसने सभी का ध्यान खींचा. 

जी हां, एक बार फिर इंटरनेट पर सुहाना खान का लेटेस्ट वीडियो तेजी से वायरल हो रहा है. यह वीडियो मुंबई एयरपोर्ट का है, जिसमें सुहाना का स्टनिंग और कॉन्फिडेंट लुक हर किसी को बेहद पसंद आ रहा है. वीडियो में सुहाना ने टर्टल नेक बॉडी हगिंग क्रॉप टॉप को कार्गो पैंट के साथ पेयर किया है और स्नीकर्स और बैग के साथ अपने लुक को कंप्लीट किया है. अपने इस एयरपोर्ट लुक में सुहाना बेहद खूबसूरत लग रही हैं, लेकिन सभी का ध्यान उनकी हेयर स्टाइल ने खींचा, जो उन पर बहुत फब रही है.

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 Filmygyan के ऑफिशियल इंस्टा हैंडल से सुहाना खान का यह वीडियो शेयर किया गया है. वीडियो देखकर किसी ने उन्हें लेडी शाहरुख खान बुलाया, तो लोग उनकी बालों की तारीफ करने से भी खुद को रोक नहीं पाए. आपको बता दें कि सुहाना खान बॉलीवुड की चर्चित स्टार किड हैं. सुहाना जल्द ही जोया अख्तर की फिल्म 'आर्चीज' से बॉलीवुड में कदम रखने जा रही हैं. सुहाना के साथ में खुशी कपूर और अगस्त्य नंदा भी फिल्म में नजर आएंगे.

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India, Italy To Elevate Ties To Strategic Partnership, Announces PM Modi

India and Italy have decided to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, opening a new chapter on defence cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday after holding comprehensive talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.

On a two-day state visit, her first after being elected as Prime Minister last year, Meloni also announced that Italy was joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative as the two nations celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations.

Addressing the media after wide-ranging talks with the visiting Italian Prime Minister, PM Modi said new opportunities were opening up in India in the sector of co-production and co-development, which can be beneficial for both countries.

PM Modi invited Italian defence companies to actively participate in the Make in India initiative.

"This year India and Italy are celebrating the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations. On this occasion, we have decided to elevate the India-Italy partnership to the status of a strategic partnership," PM Modi said with the Italian prime minister by his side.

PM Modi said the two countries have also decided to hold joint exercises and training courses between the armed forces of the two countries on a regular basis.

The two sides also agreed to work to counter irregular migration and human trafficking.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in the field of space and welcomed bilateral exchanges and took stock of the wide potential of possible joint research projects in areas such as remote sensing, satellite communication, lunar exploration, gravitational wave detection and practical applications of space technology between ISRO and ASI Italy.

"With the legacy issues behind us, the door is now open for industries to cooperate more strongly, particularly in the field of manufacturing, co-production, co-design and co-innovation," he said.

The ties between Italy and India had nosedived after New Delhi's move to jail two Italian marines for allegedly killing unarmed fishermen off the southern Indian coast in 2012 and the controversial deal to buy Agusta Westland helicopters for VVIPs.

Mr Kwatra said the two leaders stressed on the need to deepen cooperation in space, cyber and sea and agreed to work on identifying specific areas for strengthening ties.

India and Italy also signed a Declaration of Intent on migration and mobility, announced the establishment of a Start-up Bridge to tap, and inked a memorandum of understanding between Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata and Italian Consulate General; and Morarji Desai Institute of Yoga and Sarva Yoga International, Italy.

He said India and Italy have been working shoulder-to-shoulder on issues such as terrorism and separatism.

"We held extensive discussions on further strengthening this cooperation," PM Modi said.

"We laid special emphasis on increasing cooperation in areas like renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, semiconductor, telecom and space," PM Modi said.

He also welcomed Italy's active participation in the Indo-Pacific.

"It is a matter of great pleasure that Italy has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. This will enable us to identify concrete themes for enhancing our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," PM Modi said.

The two leaders also agreed to assess and address potential risks associated with virtual assets and new financial technologies that may be abused for the purpose of money laundering and financing terrorism.

They also agreed to take steps to ensure that such virtual assets are subject to Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing for Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations.

Meloni also called on President Droupadi Murmu.

Earlier, Meloni was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as she arrived here on a state visit.

PM Modi welcomed Meloni at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she was accorded a tri-services guard of honour. Meloni later offered tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The Italian prime minister was received at the airport by Minister of State for Health Bharti Pawar.

The Italian prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Gurugram Man Arrested For Abusing, Making Obscene Gestures At Woman: Cops

 A man was arrested for allegedly abusing and making obscene gestures at a woman after he hit her car from behind here on Wednesday, police said.

The man, who was identified as Ansal Dixit (24), a resident of Delhi's Vasant Kunj, allegedly also threatened to kill the woman, they said.

The woman, who works with a private bank, was headed to her office in her car with her driver when Dixit hit the vehicle from behind with his SUV at the Wazirabad traffic signal. Then, the accused stepped out of his car and started misbehaving with the complainant's driver, the police said.

When the woman objected to this, Dixit opened the woman's car door and made obscene gestures at her. He also abused her and threatened to kill her, they said.

The woman informed police on emergency number 112 and a police team reached the spot. Both the man and the woman were brought to Sector 53 police station, where she lodged a complaint, they added.

On the basis of the woman's complaint, an FIR was registered against Dixit under sections 341 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"We have arrested the accused and seized his car. We are questioning him," said Station House Officer, Sector 53 police station, Inspector Amit Kumar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Will End Loot If Party Comes To Power: Congress On Cooking Gas Price Hike

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government over the hike in price of LPG cylinders, saying if it comes to power at the Centre, it would end the "loot" by providing cylinders for domestic users under Rs 500.

Cooking gas LPG price on Wednesday was hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder -- the first increase in rates in almost eight months -- that came within days of end of polling in three northeastern states and was sharply criticised by the Opposition.

In Delhi, a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder now costs Rs 1,103, up from Rs 1,053, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the price of domestic cooking gas cylinder has been raised by Rs 50 and that of commercial gas cylinder by Rs 350 at a time when every person in the country is facing the brunt of high inflation.

"The public is asking - how to make Holi dishes now, for how long will these orders of loot continue? Every person is facing the brunt of back-breaking inflation implemented by (Narendra) Modi government," Mr Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in "mitra kaal" the pockets of the public are being cut and those of "friends" being filled.

Comparing the price of LPG cylinders during the Congress' tenure in 2014 and that of the BJP, he said while the price of a cylinder was Rs 410, the subsidy was of Rs 827, while under the BJP in 2023, the price of a LPG cylinder is Rs 1,103 and subsidy is nil.

"In the Congress era there was relief in the form of subsidy, during 'mitra kaal' only the pockets of the public are cut and the country's wealth is distributed to 'Mitra' (friends) in charity," Mr Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Party spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh said Prime Minister Modi has given a Holi "gift" to the people in the form of the LPG price hike.

If the Congress comes to power at the Centre, it would provide gas cylinders under Rs 500 on the lines of that provided by its government in Rajasthan, he said.

"If the Congress comes to power, the party pledges to provide domestic LPG cylinders at below Rs 500 as being provided by the Rajasthan government. PM Modi ji should draw lessons from the Congress government in Rajasthan and not loot the people of the country with high taxes," Mr Vallabh told reporters.

He added that any hike in prices has a cascading effect on all articles.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the BJP government has again increased the prices of cylinders and this time just before Holi.

"Since 2014, the government has raised the price of cylinders by 275 per cent. The cylinder was Rs 400 in the Congress government, the Congress government of Rajasthan is providing cylinders for Rs 500. The prime minister should tell, then why is your government looting the public like this," Priyanka Gandhi asked.

Senior Congress leader from Haryana Deepender Singh Hooda said instead of giving relief from inflation, this "arrogant government is inflicting economic pain on the common, poor and middle class at every step".

"When gas cylinder's cost was Rs 350 during the UPA government, BJP leaders had come on the streets with cylinders on their heads, their photos are still available on social media. Now even after the price of cylinder has crossed Rs 1,100, BJP leaders have gone on mute mode," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

He demanded the government withdraw the price hike immediately and said "when the Congress government comes to power, it will be ensured that (domestic) consumers do not have to pay more than Rs 500 for cooking gas (cylinder)".

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the steep hike in price of LPG cylinders shows the "anti-common people mindset" of the BJP government at the Centre.

"The income of common people is decreasing, they are not getting employment, their savings are getting exhausted and the government is imposing burden, so that no one can lead a happy life," Mr Warring said in a tweet in Hindi.

In the hike in prices, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) said Rs 1,103 was the rate for a 14.2-kg non-subsidised LPG cylinder.

The government doesn't pay any subsidy to most non-Ujjwala users and this is the rate that they will have to pay for buying cooking gas refills.

The government pays Rs 200 per cylinder subsidy to the 9.58 crore poor who got free LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. The effective price for them would be Rs 903 per cylinder.

State-owned fuel retailers are supposed to revise rates on a monthly basis in line with cost but they have not done so since 2020 and were in October last year given a one-time grant of Rs 22,000 crore to make up for losses they incurred between June 2020 and June 2022.

They last revised domestic LPG price on July 4 last year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"विस्तारित आश्रम फ्लाईओवर का जल्द ही होगा उद्घाटन": दिल्ली के सीएम अरविंद केजरीवाल

दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने बुधवार को कहा कि विस्तारित आश्रम फ्लाईओवर का उद्घाटन जल्द ही होगा. फ्लाईओवर का उद्घाटन 28 फरवरी को होना था. केजरीवाल ने संवाददाता सम्मेलन में उन दावों को खारिज किया कि फ्लाईओवर का उद्घाटन टलने का कारण दिल्ली के उपमुख्यमंत्री मनीष सिसोदिया की गिरफ्तारी है. उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘इसके उद्घाटन को सिसोदिया (गिरफ्तारी) के कारण नहीं टाला गया है. कुछ काम बाकी हैं जो तीन-चार दिन में पूरे हो जाएंगे.''

हालांकि, एक वरिष्ठ सरकारी अधिकारी ने पहले कहा था कि उद्घाटन को सिसोदिया की गिरफ्तारी के मद्देनजर स्थगित कर दिया गया. अधिकारी ने कहा था, “फ्लाईओवर एक्सटेंशन को मंगलवार को जनता के लिए खोला जाना था और मुख्यमंत्री कार्यालय से तारीख मिल गई थी. लेकिन हाल के घटनाक्रम के मद्देनजर अब हमें उनके कार्यालय से नई तारीख लेनी होगी. फ्लाईओवर के विस्तार का काम पूरा हो चुका है.''

गौरतलब है कि केंद्रीय अन्वेषण ब्यूरो (सीबीआई) ने वर्ष 2021-22 के लिए शराब नीति बनाने और उसे लागू करने में कथित भ्रष्टाचार को लेकर सिसोदिया को रविवार शाम गिरफ्तार किया था. यह नीति अब रद्द की जा चुकी है. सिसोदिया को मंगलवार को यहां की एक विशेष अदालत ने सीबीआई की पांच दिन की हिरासत में भेज दिया था. परियोजना को मंत्रिमंडल की मंजूरी मिलने के बाद जून, 2020 में फ्लाईओवर एक्सटेंशन का निर्माण कार्य शुरू हुआ था. परियोजना की कुल लागत 128.25 करोड़ रुपये है.

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• प्रधानमंत्री मोदी ने बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार को दी जन्मदिन की बधाई, कही ये बात
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