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Govt has no money to pay for TA/DA of Army officers or for defence infrastructure works

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Ministry of Defence has no money to pay for the transportation of armed forces officers going for courses, assignments and postings, or for crucial works including perimeter walls around military stations for security against exigencies such as terror attacks.

The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) has said on its website that due to insufficient funds available under temporary duty and permanent duty, no advances and claims can be processed till further receipt of funds, reported The Tribune.

“Due to insufficient funds available under temporary duty and permanent duty heads of Army officers, no TA/DA (travelling allowance), advances and claims can be processed till receipt of sufficient funds under the relevant heads. However, the facility for LTC (leave travel concession) will continue,” said the PCDA (officers), according to a report in The Times of India (TOI).

The PCDA removed the notification from its website by Monday evening after the uproar in the armed forces, TOI reported.

Under the defence ministry, the PCDA is entrusted with pre-audit and payment of pay and allowances and all claims of Army officers.

The shortfalls were temporary and resolved routinely through re-appropriations (from existing budget allocations), The Tribune report said, quoting a defence official.

The notification predictably led to outrage in the Army, which has around 42,000 officers and almost 12 lakh soldiers. With tenures being just two-three years at one station, postings are a frequent reality. Also, during military exercises — conducted every year — a huge body of troops moves. Then another element is the courses conducted to keep the officers updated on military issues.

“It can potentially disrupt the Army’s day-to-day functioning. For instance, over 50% of officers on temporary duty at any given time have been tasked to attend courses, which are less than 180 days in duration, at different places,” an officer told TOI.

The overall transportation and other expenses for all officers, JCOs (junior commissioned officers) and jawans is said to cost around Rs 4,000 crore per year. But PCDA was apparently given only Rs 3,200 crore, which has been exhausted in the run-up to the ongoing fiscal coming to an end on March 31.

“Some more money is being allocated to tide over the immediate crisis. But more will be required to meet all the requirements till the fiscal ends,” said an official.

A MoD official, in turn, said, “At times the funds allotted, based on envisaged expenditure, to a specific head falls short of the actual expenditure. The shortfalls are only temporary and are resolved routinely through reappropriations. Adequate funds are provided under all heads, including temporary and permanent duty heads.”

Another serious aspect of the issue is that in October last year, several infrastructure projects of the armed forces had been stalled or are moving at a slow pace due to “fund crunch”.

The then Engineer-in-Chief branch in the Military Engineering Services (MES) accepted “fund crunch” and issued instructions that at all ongoing works where payments were held up due to “fund crunch”, the work shall be put under “suspension”.

The work on perimeter walls around military stations in northern India (for security to prevent terror attacks) has been stopped, while making additional ammunition storage dumps or IAF works like hangars and runways have been held up or are moving slowly for want of funds.

The budget for infrastructure works this year is Rs 2,300 crore, of which Rs 1,850 crore had been spent by October. Some of the outstanding payment due for projects has rolled over from the previous year that ended on March 31.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

From Pushpa reels to a Tollywood deal, David Warner bags crores for 3 minutes role in Robinhood

David Warner just made the most expensive cameo in Telugu cinema—Rs 2.5 crore for less than 3 minutes in Robinhood. That’s not a role, that’s a retirement plan.

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The Australian cricketer David Warner, known for his explosive batting and dancing moves on Pusha song, has officially stepped into the acting world with a cameo in the Telugu film Robinhood. However, the cricketer’s acting dubute is not a big news at all but his paycheck is making bigger headlines than the film itself.

In the Telugu action film Robinhood, starring Nithiin and Sreeleela, Warner made a guest appearance for which the cricketer charged a staggering Rs 2.5 crore for a 2-minute-50-second cameo. That’s right—less than three minutes of screen time, and he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

That’s around Rs 14 lakh per second, or what most of us make in, well… a decade.

Warner shot his scene over just 2 days, at a reported Rs 1.25 crore per day. It’s unclear if he had any lines or just gave his trademark grin and left, but clearly, he bowled Tollywood over without even lifting a bat.

The film, directed by Venky Kudumula, released on March 28 and has been getting solid reviews. But let’s be honest—Warner’s cameo is grabbing more headlines than the villain’s plot.

Also featuring Vennela Kishore, Rajendra Prasad, and others, Robinhood tells the story of an orphaned Robin Hood-type hero… and somewhere in there, Warner pops in, waves hello (we assume), and probably left for biryani before the credits rolled.

Fans are loving it. Accountants are weeping. And Warner? He’s now officially Tollywood’s highest-paid cameo artist.

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Bengaluru man kills wife, stuffs her in suitcase

Investigations reveal a history of frequent arguments between Rakesh and Gauri, with allegations of physical altercations on both sides.

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Bengaluru Police have arrested a man, Rakesh, who is accused of murdering his wife, Gauri Anil Sambekar, and concealing her body in a suitcase before fleeing to Pune. The police tracked him down using call detail records (CDR), leading Satara police to take him into custody.

Reports indicate that Rakesh ingested a poison-like substance and admitted to committing the crime, prompting his immediate hospitalization, where he is currently receiving treatment.

The disturbing details of the crime emerged when Rakesh allegedly called his wife’s parents to confess. Gauri, 32, was a mass media and communication graduate who had been unemployed and staying home while Rakesh worked as a project manager for Hitachi. The couple had moved from Maharashtra to Doddakannahalli in Bengaluru, living there for about two months.

Investigations reveal a history of frequent arguments between Rakesh and Gauri, with allegations of physical altercations on both sides. The conflict reached a tragic climax on March 26 when Rakesh allegedly stabbed Gauri multiple times and ultimately slit her throat. He then concealed her body in the suitcase and left it in the bathroom before making his escape.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Sarah Fathima stated that the investigation began after a call was made at approximately 5:30 PM concerning a suspected hanging. Upon arriving at the locked residence, officers discovered the suitcase in the bathroom, which led them to realize a crime had occurred. The forensic team opened the suitcase and found Gauri’s body, which bore numerous injuries.

Efforts to locate Rakesh initially were unsuccessful, but law enforcement was able to track him through CDR data. Pune police were notified, resulting in his arrest. A team from Hulimavu police is en route to Pune to bring Rakesh back to Bengaluru for further questioning.

DCP Fathima noted that Gauri’s body was found intact, and the specifics of her injuries will be detailed in the forthcoming postmortem report. The investigation continues as authorities strive to uncover more information and clarify the motivations behind this tragic incident.

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Madras HC grants interim anticipatory bail to Kunal Kamra

His petition expressed apprehension about being arrested by the Mumbai Police, which had summoned him twice in connection with the case.

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The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who faces potential arrest over jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance in Mumbai.

Kamra, 36, had sought relief from the court, stating that he relocated from Mumbai to Tamil Nadu in 2021 and has since been a resident of the state. His petition expressed apprehension about being arrested by the Mumbai Police, which had summoned him twice in connection with the case.

The controversy arose after Kamra’s show at Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed a satirical song parodying Shinde. The act drew sharp criticism from Shiv Sena supporters, leading to violent protests. A group of party workers vandalized the comedy club and the adjoining hotel, prompting police action.

Following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar Police registered a case against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory statements against the deputy CM. Mumbai Police issued a second summons, directing the comedian to appear before them on March 31.

Meanwhile, authorities arrested 12 Shiv Sainiks, including leader Rahool Kanal, for the destruction of property at the venue.

Kamra, known for his sharp political satire, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, lashing out at mainstream media. He wrote: “The mainstream media at this point is nothing but a miscommunication arm of the ruling party. They are vultures who report on issues that don’t matter to the people of this country. If they all shut shop from tomorrow till eternity, they will be doing a favor to the country, its people & their own children.”

The Madras High Court’s decision to grant interim bail provides temporary protection to Kamra from arrest, allowing the legal process to proceed without immediate detention. The case has reignited debates on free speech, political satire, and the limits of comedy in India, where comedians frequently face legal challenges for their content.

This incident is not Kamra’s first brush with controversy—his past remarks on politicians and media figures have often sparked outrage. 

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