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CBI summons Lalu Prasad, son Tejashwi Yadav in alleged hotels- for- land scam

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CBI summons Lalu Prasad, son Tejashwi Yadav in alleged hotels- for- land scam

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The RJD chief and his son, former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi, have both maintained that he charges are politically motivated

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav for interrogation, on September 11 and 12, in connection with an alleged Railways Hotel scam.

The father-son duo has maintained that the charges against them are politically motivated. However, it was the probe agency’s claims of corruption against Tejashwi – then Bihar deputy chief minister – that had, in August, caused the split of the RJD-JDU Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, amid speculation that chief minister Nitish Kumar had wanted him to resign from his cabinet but couldn’t have his way and so decided to step down himself.

The CBI’s case revolves around allegations that as the railway minister in the UPA-I government, Lalu Prasad had approved the maintenance of two railway hotels – BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri – in favour of Sujata Hotels, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, against as illegal gratification of receiving three acres of prime land through a benami company.

The FIR in the case alleges that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief had abused his ministerial position and extended an undue advantage to the Kochhars. The Kochhars, as bribe for the deal, transferred the premium land to Lalu Prasad through the benami company which is said to be owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a key aide of the RJD chief and a former union minister himself.

Lalu Prasad’s, wife Rabri Devi has also been made an accused in the case along with Sarla and Prem Chand Gupta, the Kochhars and PK Goel, the then managing director of the benami company in question – Delight.

Tejashwi, it is alleged, is a joint owner of the land where a shopping mall is now proposed to come up according to some media reports. Both Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi have maintained that the former deputy chief minister of Bihar and the RJD chief’s heir apparent had nothing to do with the case and was “just a boy who had not even sprouted a moonch” when his father was the railways minister between 2004 and 2009.

However, news channel NDTV quoted a CBI official as saying: “Tejashwi was made an accused in the case not because of what his father had done as a railway minister but because he along with his mother Rabri took over and operated a company that owned the land in 2014, when he was 24.”

The hotel-for-land scam

During the NDA regime under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the government had decided to hand over management of catering services of railway hotels to IRCTC.

It is alleged in the CBI’s FIR that when the UPA-I government under Dr Manmohan Singh came to power in 2004 and Lalu Prasad was appointed Union railway minister, he entered into a criminal conspiracy with the Kochhars (owners of Sujata Hotel), Sarla Gupta and some yet unidentified IRCTC officials to earn “undue pecuniary” benefits.

The Kochhars then allegedly sold three acres of premium land in Patna for Rs 1.47 crore to Delight Marketing on February 25, 2005 – a price that was way below the then prevailing circle rate.

Between 2010 and 2014, the ownership of Delight Marketing was transferred from Sarla Gupta to Lara Projects owned by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav. Lalu Prasad had at the time ceased to be a Union minister as his party was not part of the UPA government. The value of the Patna land had also spiralled to Rs 32.5 crore as per the circle rate prevailing at the time, the CBI has claimed.[/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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