Good morning,In an interim relief for the Shiv Sena rebel MLAs, the Supreme Court extended the deadline set by Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal to reply to notices on pleas seeking their disqualification from the Assembly. The apex court said they had time until 5.30 pm on July 12 to send their replies and fixed July 11 as the next date of hearing.The political crisis in Maharashtra has given rise to the question of whether the Shiv Sena rebels can avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law. With the rebel camp claiming they have the support of at least 39 MLAs, we explain the 2/3rd rule in anti-defection law.At a time when Sanjay Raut has been trying to rally the Shiv Sena MLAs and cadre behind Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to the Sena MP in a case related to irregularities in a chawl redevelopment project at Mumbai’s Goregaon.Facing rebellion within his party, Thackeray took away the portfolios of rebel ministers camping in Assam’s Guwahati and allocated them to other cabinet colleagues.Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena’s rebel group led by Eknath Shinde is learnt to be strategising to approach the Governor, informing him of their decision to withdraw support from the MVA, and thereby, prompting a floor test.The Supreme Court, while dismissing appeals against the clean chit to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and others in the Gujarat riots case, said the matter is being pursued to keep the pot boiling, obviously, for ulterior design” and said “all those involved in such abuse of process, need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law”. Yet it was the Supreme Court which, through hearings and orders over the years, called for “fair and impartial investigation” into the riots cases. Two cases — of the Best Bakery and Bilkis Bano — were moved out of Gujarat to Maharashtra. Here’s what Supreme Court once said and did.Is lack of clarity on policy and progressive clamping down on cryptocurrencies forcing Indian entrepreneurs and developers in the Web 3.0 to leave the country in search of greener pastures? With the UAE and Singapore actively promoting the ecosystem, co-founders of India’s cryptocurrency exchanges have been relocating with families to these destinations in the last couple of years.A cyber unit of Delhi Police arrested Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews, on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments following a complaint by a social media user who referred to a tweet from 2018. Police sources said the complainant in the case goes by the Twitter name Hanuman Bhakt.India, along with G7 countries and four invited countries, signed the ‘2022 Resilient Democracies Statement’ in which they committed to “guarding the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors” and “protecting the freedom of expression and opinion online and offline”.In an attempt to increase participation of women in the gig economy, the NITI Aayog has proposed fiscal incentives like tax breaks or startup grants for companies with about one-third of their workforce as women and people with disabilities (PwDs). Key points in its report include:🔴A survey conducted across urban centres of India revealed that women are more likely to take up platform jobs after their education and marriage.🔴 Female labour force participation in India has remained low, oscillating between 16 per cent to 23 per cent in the last few years.🔴 Platform companies offer flexibility and choice of labour to all workers in general, and women in particular, empowering them to monetise their idle assets when and where they want.🔴 It also recommended that businesses have a higher share of women managers and supervisors in the organisation to ensure that communication to workers does not perpetuate gender stereotypes.Another report, released by the Ministry of Education, states that as India entered the pandemic year, students in around 61 per cent districts of the country had very little exposure to digital learning due to limited availability of computers, Internet facilities and teachers trained to handle technological tools in schools.Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan questioned the Congress’ “silence” over the arrest of retired DGP R B Sreekumar and activist Teesta Setalvad by the Gujarat Police a day after the Supreme Court upheld the clean chit by the SIT to the state government, then led by Narendra Modi, in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. “The Congress could have organised at least a nominal protest,” he said.Aditi Mutatkar, a former international shuttler, remembers getting awkward when boys at her academy didn’t know why she came for badminton training, wearing dark shorts a few days of the month. Now, with a myriad voices raising questions about Wimbledon’s pedantic white-only clothing rule, unrelenting even for women players on their periods, sport is in for a serious sartorial reckoning of its age-old traditions.Delhi confidential: With the digital push targeting the youth ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections finding success, a new mission — New India For Young India — is already launched in poll-bound Gujarat, with Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar visiting universities to tell students about the government’s programmes and schemes. The programme is to create a buzz about new opportunities such as space and start-ups.In today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, we discuss how the sanctions against Russia have fared and why AAP lost the recent bypolls in Punjab. We also delve into the companies looking to invest in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, and what it says about our economy.Until tomorrow,Leela Prasad and Sonal Gupta
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and said that no decision will be taken on their disqualification till July 12. The Maharashtra deputy Speaker had granted the legislators time till June 27 evening to file a reply. Acting on rebel leader Eknath Shinde's petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to him and 15 other MLAs last week, the SC bench issued notices to deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, chief whip Sunil Prabhu, leader of legislature party Anil Chaudhary and the Centre. The SC has also asked Zirwal to file an affidavit and put on record the no-trust notice served upon him by the rebel MLAs. During the hearing, the Sena rebels contended that the deputy Speaker is not competent to decide the disqualification plea if there is a notice pending for his own removal. Floor testThe SC further refused to pass any interim order on a plea by the Shiv Sena that there should not be any floor test in the Maharashtra legislative assembly till the next date of hearing. "We cannot pass order on floor test as that would create unnecessary complications. If anything illegal happens, you can always move this court," the SC said while refusing to pass an interim order on floor test. On request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threat, the SC recorded the statement of standing counsel of Maharashtra government that adequate steps have already been taken and that the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, or property of the MLAs. (With inputs from agencies)
Maharashtra Crisis: Eknath Shinde has claimed he has the support of more than 50 MLAsMumbai: As Eknath Shinde moved the Supreme Court against the Shiv Sena's move to disqualify him and 15 other rebel MLAs, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's team said they are prepared for a legal battle. Here are the top 10 updates on this big storyActing on Eknath Shinde's petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to him and 15 other rebel MLAs last week, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu, leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary and the Centre. The top court will now hear the matter on July 11.The petition had also said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra has lost the majority in the house as 38 of 55 Shiv Sena legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition. The Supreme Court asked the rebels' lawyer why they did not approach the Bombay High Court first. To this, advocate NK Kaul replied that the rebels' houses and properties are being threatened, and the situation is not conducive for them to pursue their rights in Bombay.In a separate plea filed in the Supreme Court today, Eknath Shinde claimed a "serious threat" to the lives of the MLAs of his faction. The petition also mentioned Sanjay Raut's "dead bodies" remarks, which the party MP had later clarified saying he was speaking about the "dead conscience" of the legislators.Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, was today served summons by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Mr Raut responded with the charge that "this is a conspiracy to stop me". Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena MP had said that his party was ready for a "street fight and a legal battle".Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has stripped nine rebel ministers of their portfolios. "The portfolios of the rebel ministers were being handed over to other ministers for ease of administration," an official statement said.Reports suggest that Eknath Shinde, leading the rebellion against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, spoke to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray twice and discussed the "recent political situation" in the state. Mr Shinde's supporters have organised a show of strength in Thane today.A group of citizens today filed a public interest litigation or PIL in the Bombay High Court against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs for causing a "political turmoil". It urged the high court to direct the rebel leaders to return to the state and resume their duties.With the Centre providing Y-plus security to rebel MLAs, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece 'Saamna', today claimed it was now evident that the BJP was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in Maharashtra.The hotel Radisson Blu, where the rebel MLAs have been staying since Wednesday, has been blocked till June 30. Sources say BJP workers are working shifts to help the rebels with logistics - one of the many signs that the rebels are being hosted and enabled by the BJP. Comments
Mumbai: The state government informed the Bombay high court on Monday that it will not arrest actor Ketaki Chitale in 21 of 22 FIRs filed against her over her sharing of a post allegedly derogatory to NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Her quashing plea will be heard on July 12 along with a similar petition by Nashik student Nikhil Bhamare in connection with an FIR against him for his tweet against the veteran politician.More than a month after her May 14 arrest, Chitale was granted bail on June 22 by a Thane sessions court in an FIR filed at Kalwa police station for her post. She was released the following day. The actor is facing 22 FIRs and 4 non-cognizable offences in Maharashtra over her post. The FIRs invoked section 153A of IPC for the offence of promoting enmity on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth and residence.In the HC, her advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay argued that in the remaining 21 FIRs, which are not maintainable, her arrest ought to be stayed.The HC asked public prosecutor Aruna Pai if she would make a statement on not arresting Chitale. After seeking instructions from the DGP, Pai made the statement, following which the HC posted the quashing plea for further hearing in July. Chitale had also sought HC orders to declare her arrest “illegal” and in “breach of law”.
The Maharashtra police on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that it would not arrest till further orders Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale in 21 out of 22 first information reports registered against her for a social media post about NCP chief Sharad Pawar.Last week, Chitale was released on bail by a Thane court in a case registered at the Kalwa police station.The high court will on July 12 hear Chitale’s plea seeking quashing of the FIRs against her. Chief public prosecutor Aruna Pai submitted that the police would not arrest Chitale in the remaining cases till the next date of hearing. A bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and N R Borkar accepted the statement.Advocates Ghanshyam Upadhyay and Hare Krishna Mishra had sought interim protection from arrest to Chitale, who claimed that the enthusiasm shown by the police in registering the FIRs proved that she was being targeted to strike fear in the minds of people. The actor requested the court to declare her arrest as “illegal and violative of her fundamental rights”. Chitale has also demanded that she be compensated for the “unlawful” arrest.Chitale, 29, had posted on Facebook a Marathi poem that was attributed to another person. It mentioned only a surname and an age.On June 21, the high court granted interim bail to Nikhil Bhamre, a 22-year-old Nashik resident arrested for uploading defamatory allegedly social media posts aimed at Pawar. The court granted him interim relief in two cases, registered at the Naupada police station in Thane and the Pune cyber police station.The court also restrained the police from arresting Bhamre in connection with two FIRs filed at Goregaon and Bhoiwada till further hearing on his plea after three weeks.Bhamre and Chitale were arrested on the same day last month. The court is likely to hear their pleas together on July 12.
In its detailed order granting bail to Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale, the Thane sessions court in Maharashtra said the police did not comply with procedures while arresting her. Chitale was arrested a month ago for allegedly posting a defamatory poem on Facebook purported to be against NCP chief Sharad Pawar.She was granted bail by the court on Wednesday after her lawyers submitted that she was not sent a notice, as required by the law, before being arrested.The Thane court accepted the contention stating that the case documents showed that the directions issued in the Arnesh Kumar judgment by the Supreme Court requiring a notice to be issued “were notproperly complied with”.The court also considered the grant of relief by the Bombay High Court earlier this week to 22-year-old Nashik resident Nikhil Bhamre, booked in a similar offence. The court said that while the police had initially opposed Chitale’s bail plea, the investigating officer had later given a no-objection.“Investigation is practically completed, no purpose would otherwise be served by detention of the applicant in custody,” the court said, granting her bail. Chitale was released from jail on Thursday.In May, Chitale had allegedly shared a poem on her Facebook account, attributed to a person, that mentioned only a surname (Pawar) and an age (80). But it also referred to the physical ailments the 81-year-old NCP chief suffers from. Apart from the FIR filed at Kalwa, Chitale also faced FIRs in other parts of the state, including in Pune and Pimpri. Chitale had last week approached the high court seeking the quashing of more than 20 FIRs against her.
Gondia: Even as the Maharashtra political situation is sub-judice at the Supreme Court, a group of Shiv Sena workers, armed with lathis and sticks, vandalised the Public Relations Office (PRO) of Gondia’s Independent MLA Vinod Agrawal on Monday afternoon.Also Read - Maharashtra Crisis: SC Allows Eknath Shinde Camp To File Reply To Disqualification Notice By July 11As per the videos shared on social media, the Shiv Sena workers arrived in Gondia with sticks and had an argument with the security personnel posted outside the office of Vinod Agarwal and then they started vandalising the office. Also Read - Maharashtra Crisis: Can Shiv Sena Disqualify Eknath Shinde Using Anti-Defection Law? | ExplainedNotably, Vinod Agarwal has extended his support to rebel Eknath Shinde camp and BJP which provoked the Shiv Sena workers to indulge in vandalism at his office. Also Read - Uddhav Thackeray Reshuffles Ministries, 9 Existing Ministers Shunted OutWatch the video of the incident: #WATCH | Shiv Sena workers vandalised the office of Gondia's Independent MLA Vinod Agrawal, in Gondia today.#MaharashtraPoliticalCrisis (Source: CCTV) pic.twitter.com/0uCUk1uHXP— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022The whole incident of vandalism has been captured on CCTV installed outside the office of MLA Vinod Agarwal.Soon after the incident, an FIR has been lodged with the city police station and police have started probing the matter. The FIR is lodged at the city police station on behalf of the family members of Independent MLA Vinod Agarwal.Earlier in the day, some of the Shiv Sena workers from the Hadapsar area of Pune took out a symbolic funeral procession and performed the last rites of the rebel party MLAs at the Amar Dham crematorium.
Some people threw stones at the Ulhasnagar office of Shrikant Shinde.Thane: At least five Shiv Sena supporters were detained on Saturday in Thane district for allegedly pelting stones at the office of Shrikant Shinde, Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan and son of Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde.The incident took place at the Gol Maidan office in Ulhasnagar of the Lok Sabha MP at 1 pm and a video of it had gone viral on social media soon after.It showed some persons throwing stones at the office, damaging a board and also shouting pro-Uddhav Thackeray slogans In the video, four policemen can be seen chasing away the group, comprising eight to ten persons.Five Sena supporters have been detained for the incident and further probe was underway, an Ulhasnagar police official said.Besides, posters of Eknath Shinde were blackened in Navi Mumbai, and similar reports have also come in from Nagpur and Nashik.Meanwhile, at least 20 Sena supporters, including some office-bearers, were detained on Friday for vandalising the office board of MLA Mangesh Kudalkar in Nehrunagar in Mumbai's Kurla area, an official said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThey were let off with a warning, the Mumbai police official added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NAVI MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief and CM Uddhav Thackeray loyalists in Navi Mumbai staged a protest in Kharghar and Nerul on Saturday afternoon by burning the effigies of Sena leader Eknath Shinde and three Sena MLAs from Raigad namely Bharat Gogawale from Mahad, Mahendra Dalvi from Alibaug and Mahendra Thorve from Karjat who are with Eknath Shinde in Guwahati, for revolting against CM Thackeray. Shiv Sena workers led by Shiv Sena's Navi Mumbai district chief Vithal More will be staging a protest march at Shivaji chowk in Vashi at 7pm on Saturday as a show of strength in support of CM Thackeray.
Shiv Sena workers vandalise office of the party's MLA Tanaji Sawant.Pune: Shiv Sena workers on Saturday vandalised an office of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Tanaji Sawant, who is currently camping with other dissidents led by Eknath Shinde in Guwahati.A group of Sena workers barged into the office of Bhairavnath Sugar Works, which belongs to Sawant, and damaged the office located in Katraj area in the morning, party corporator Vishal Dhanawade, who was part of the action, said."The ransacking of Sawant's office is just the beginning and the offices of every traitor (rebel MLA) will be destroyed in the coming days," he said.#WATCH | Shiv Sena workers vandalise office of the party's MLA Tanaji Sawant in Balaji area of Katraj, Pune. Sawant is one of the rebel MLAs from the state and is currently camping in Guwahati, Assam. #MaharashtraPoliticalCrisispic.twitter.com/LXRSLPxYJC— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2022Mr Sawant represents Paranda assembly constituency in Osmanabad district.Talking about the incident, DCP Sagar Patil said, "Sawant's sugar factory office was attacked between 10.30 am and 11 am. We are registering a case in this connection and instructions to take further action have been given to the local police officials."PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMajority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Eknath Shinde and are camping in Guwahati, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Sena, into a crisis.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Shiv Sena activists from Pune on Saturday attacked the office of party rebel Tanaji Sawant in the Katraj area of the city.A former minister, Sawant is an MLA from the Paranda Vidhan Sabha constituency in the Osmanabad district of Maharashtra. He is among the rebels who have joined Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde’s camp.Sawant runs the Bhairavnath Sugar Work Limited Company, has factories in different parts of the state and a registered office at Pune’s Katraj.Vishal Dhanawde, a Shiv Sena corporator from Pune, and other activists of the party, ransacked the Katraj office around 11 am Saturday. The agitators also shouted slogans against Sawant and called him a ‘gaddar’ (traitor). Shiv Sainiks also blamed Sawant for the ongoing rebellion.Meanwhile, after receiving information, Pune city police teams rushed to the spot to control the situation. Process of lodging an offence in this case is on.
Maharashtra Political Crisis: Mangesh Kudalkar is one of the 38 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs.Mumbai (Maharashtra): The office of one of the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena, Mangesh Kudalkar, was vandalised on Friday allegedly by party workers amid the ongoing factionalism in the party.Mangesh Kudalkar is one of the 38 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs who has camped in a Guwahati hotel under the leadership of MLA Eknath Shinde.Notably, Eknath Shinde was elected leader at a meeting of rebel MLAs at the hotel where they are staying.The meeting also unanimously decided to authorise Eknath Shinde to take a decision about the future course of action.In a video released by the Eknath Shinde camp on Thursday evening, he is heard saying that they will be together in any situation and face everything together."We will be together in every situation. We will face everything with full unity. We will end up victorious in the end," he said."As you all have said that they (BJP) are a national party and a 'mahashakti'... All saw what happened to Pakistan...They have told me that the decision I have taken is historic and they are backing us. They would not us lag behind in anything. They will support us if there is a need and this will be felt whenever such a situation arises," Eknath Shinde added.Amid the continuing political crisis in Maharashtra due to revolt in the Shiv Sena, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar arrived at Matoshree, the residence of the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.The leaders were accompanied by state minister Jayant Patil and NCP leader Praful Patel. The leaders are expected to discuss ways to prevent fall of MVA government, which also includes Congress.Ajit Pawar said earlier in the day that the NCP stands with the Chief Minister and will try to "keep the government stable".The crisis continued to plague Shiv Sena with rebel leader Eknath Shinde claiming support of 38 party MLAs.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThackeray convened a meeting of district chiefs of the party and said he left Varsha Bungalow, the official residence of the Chief Minister, but not the "will to fight"."I have said it earlier also that I don't have anything to do with power. The people who used to say that they would rather die than leave Shiv Sena have fled today," he said.
