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A CBI sting for Mamata

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC leader Mukul Roy, UNI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Calcutta High Court ordering a probe by the same agency into the Narada sting, is another fight brewing between Modi and the West Bengal CM? 

By Sujit Bhar

With the BJP sweeping polls in Uttar Pradesh and then cleverly annexing Goa and Manipur as well – Uttarakhand was also a clear win for BJP – the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were in a state of flux and apparent shock. Mamata saw the dream of a “secular opposition” collapse like a pack of cards and the defection to the BJP of its only MLA in Manipur did not help matters.

Now, suddenly, a scandal from the past has resurfaced, hitting the party hard. The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI probe into a sting operation carried out last year by a private online news portal (Narada News), against 14 TMC members, MPs, ministers and even a senior police official close to the party head honchos.

On March 17, the court directed the CBI to investigate the 2016 sting operation. The instruction of a three-day time limit to the CBI for a preliminary report was given by a bench of Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty. The bench also gave the police 24 hours (which ends on March 18) to hand over all documents pertaining to the case to the CBI.

The court has been moved by three PILs filed before it on this issue last year, seeking an independent inquiry into the overall sting operation.

Mamata has reacted with usual panache, saying that she was ready to go to the Supreme Court in this issue, if needs be. She has been reported as saying: “Everyone knows that the sting was published from the BJP office. We are going to the higher court against the Calcutta High Court order.”

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

The sting operation had little effect on the elections, with Mamata coming back to power with an even bigger mandate. One minister was jailed thereafter (Madan Mitra), having been released on bail only recently, but he was arrested because of his association with the Saradha chit fund scam. Also in jail is senior TMC leader Mukul Roy, also associated with the Saradha scam. The Narada sting has yet to affect any TMC leader or operative. However, with the CBI taking over the investigation, things could turn out very different for Mamata.

Mamata has always maintained that the CBI is under the control of the central government, and her recent spat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the central leadership angry. If the centre does want to influence the investigation, then manipulating the CBI would be easy. That will leave the TMC with no backdoor exit.

If the sting was indeed made to destabilise the state government before the elections, its repercussions now might have a larger effect on the party and its leadership, especially on Mamata, who has been known to be the only “untainted” leader.

This court order could open doors to further embarrassment for the party.

THE STING

Midway through 2016, and just before the assembly elections in West Bengal, TMC and Mamata were shocked to find the video of a sting operation in the media. Done by Narada News, a private online channel owned and operated by “journalist” Mathew Samuel, a number of videos were circulated to leading media houses.

The video showed 14 members of TMC, including top MPs, ministers, activists and even a senior police officer accepting wads of currency notes totalling nearly Rs 70 lakhs with the promise of future favours. Offering the “bribes” was Samuel, pretending to be a businessman from Chennai who wanted to apparently speed up operations when his fake company starts operations in the state.

A video grab of the sting

A video grab of the sting

The timing of the release of the video – just before elections – was a critical angle, because Samuel had later admitted that the videos with a hidden camera were shot quite some time back. Parties in opposition in West Bengal, including the Congress, the CPI (M) and the BJP, had demanded a CBI probe into the matter and the Calcutta High Court had taken the matter into consideration, following the three PILs filed before it.

An appeal from the TMC to hold onto the matter till elections were over was rejected by the High Court bench of the then Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee and it directed Narada News to submit the video footage of its sting.

Caught on video taking “bribes” were TMC MPs Saugata Roy, Suvendu Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasun Banerjee, state ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, MLA Iqbal Ahmed and senior IPS officer SMH Mirza. 

ALSO READ: Stinging the Trinamool Congress [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Mohanlal’s Stephen returns in fearsome form in L2: Empuraan Teaser

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Mohanlal as Stephen Nedumpally in the teaser of L2: Empuraan

The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.

The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”

One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.

The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.

Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew

Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.

The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.

As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.

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MSBTE Result 2025 declared: Maharashtra diploma winter exam results now available online

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MSBTE Result 2025 announcement for Winter Diploma exams

The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.

To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.

Steps to check MSBTE 2025 results:

  1. Visit the official MSBTE website: msbte.org.in.
  2. Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
  3. Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
  4. Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
  5. Download and save the PDF for future reference.

Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:

The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:

  • Student’s name
  • Register number
  • Course name
  • Marks obtained in each subject
  • Subject codes and names
  • Total marks
  • Maximum marks
  • Result status (Pass/Fail)

The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.

Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.

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JPC clears Waqf Amendment Bill with 14 changes, Opposition cries foul

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The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.

The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.

The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.

Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.

While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.

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