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CVC submits inquiry report on Alok Verma to SC, hearing fixed for Friday

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CVC submits inquiry report on Alok Verma to SC, hearing fixed for Friday

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court today (Monday, Nov 12) deferred the hearing on CBI director Alok Verma’s case to Friday, Nov 16, after the Central Vigilance Commission submitted the report of its inquiry on charges against him a day after the deadline of Sunday.

The government lawyers passed on three volumes of the report in a sealed cover only on Monday and the judges had not had the time to read it.

The SC bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi told the government they had kept the court’s registry open on Sunday and had the registrar waiting for the report to be filed till 11:30 am.

The CBI also handed over the agency’s report on the decisions taken by its interim director Nageshwar Rao from October 23, ever since he took charge as CBI head.

About the delay in submitting report, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for CVC,  told the bench, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul, that it could not submit the report to the registry on Sunday as it had arrived late by an hour and the registry had closed by 11.30 am. The SG later tendered an apology and said though he was not explaining the circumstances, there was a delay on their part in submitting the report.

Mehta sought the court’s indulgence, praying that the matter be listed sometime next week, in view of inability to file the CVC report in due time. “The exercise was over on the tenth (of November). We wanted to file yesterday…..we were given time till 11:30 but we were late by one hour….,” Mehta said.

Justice Gogoi remarket, “The office was kept open on a Sunday till 12:30. You did not even send a message that you may be delayed? All our registrars were sitting here.”

“I am not complaining, only explaining why we cannot assist Your Lordships today”, replied the SG.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing on behalf of the NGO Common Cause, commented, “It is surprising that they could open the offices till 2 AM to pass the orders (of October 23) but could not file the report.”

Further, Dave contended that though the court has restrained the interim director M Nageshwar Rao from taking any major policy decisions, some investigators continue to be changed. When Justice Kaul observed that a report in the same behalf has already been sought, Dave pointed out that the said report only pertains to the dates from October 23 to October 26.

“If you are aware of any such decisions which you think are in violation of our order, bring them to our notice. That was the spirit of the order”, asserted the Chief Justice.

The apex court fixed the hearing of Verma’s plea, challenging the Centre’s decision to divest him of his duties, on November 16.

Verma was sent on leave following a tussle with his deputy and Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana. The feud between Verma and Asthana escalated last month, leading to the registration of an FIR against Asthana and others, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who is in CBI custody in an alleged bribery case. After the tussle between the two senior officers became public, the Centre, in a sudden overnight strike on October 23, divested both Verma and Asthana of their duties and sent them on leave.

The Centre appointed a joint director in CBI, M Nageshwar Rao, as the interim head of the CBI. Immediately after taking charge, Rao transferred all officers investigating the case against Asthana.

The very next day, Verma challenged his removal in the top court that issued notices to both the central government and the CVC. The court directed the CVC to complete the inquiry against the CBI director within two weeks. The court had also barred interim CBI head M Nageswara Rao from taking any major decision.

Asthana has also moved the Supreme Court with a separate petition in the matter and has sought removal of Verma from the post of CBI director.

Verma has been accused by Asthana of accepting bribe from meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana, too, is accused of indulging in corrupt practices by Verma.

Verma in his deposition before the three-member CVC headed by KV Chowdary and is understood to have given point-wise rebuttal to all the allegations levelled against him by his deputy.

In an October 26 order, the court gave CVC two weeks to complete the probe against Verma, who has accused the government of interfering with CBI’s independence and autonomy. It also said the inquiry will be done under the supervision of a retired SC judge in a “one-time exception”.

The Congress party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, too has filed a petition in the matter, saying he should be heard because he is a member of the three-member committee that selects the CBI chief.

The other two panel members are the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Kharge is part of the panel as the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament’s Lower House.

Also listed was a PIL by NGO Common Cause challenging the aforesaid decisions of the CVC and the Central government, besides seeking a direction for the removal of CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana “in light of serious corruption cases pending against him in order to ensure institutional integrity?”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Gold sales shine bright on Akshaya Tritiya despite soaring prices

Akshaya Tritiya 2025 saw a significant jump in gold and silver sales, with festive sentiment overpowering price concerns as India’s jewellery market adapts to changing consumer behaviour.

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Gold price

Gold and silver purchases witnessed a vibrant start across India on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with festive enthusiasm overcoming the deterrent of high prices. The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has projected a 35% rise in value terms for gold sales compared to last year, even though prices are significantly higher.

Regional footfall and demand trends

Retail activity gained early momentum in southern states, as consumers flocked to jewellery stores in the first half of the day. In contrast, northern regions and Maharashtra are expected to see increased activity later, as extreme heat delayed consumer turnout during morning hours.

Gold prices hovered between ₹99,500 and ₹99,900 per 10 grams in various regions — a sharp 37.6% jump from the previous year’s Akshaya Tritiya rate of ₹72,300. Despite the surge, shoppers re-entered the market, reassured by recent price stabilization.

Changing buyer profiles and strategies

GJC Chairman Rajesh Rokde noted that the tradition of buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya, once dominant in the south, is now gaining traction nationwide. “Even younger consumers aged 25 to 40 are actively buying gold and silver,” he said, emphasizing a growing trend among millennial buyers.

Consumers are purchasing a mix of jewellery, coins, and bullion based on their budget and need. A significant portion of buyers are managing high prices through old gold exchanges — accounting for nearly 50% of all transactions, according to PNG Jewellers Chairman Saurabh Gadgil.

“Volume growth may be marginally down by 8–9%, but in value terms, we’re seeing an increase of 20–25%,” Gadgil explained, underlining the resilience of the jewellery market.

Market adapts with innovation

Studded jewellery is reportedly gaining popularity, especially in urban centers, while lab-grown diamonds are carving a niche among new-age buyers, according to industry executives from GSI India and Aukera.

The All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation estimated around 12 tonnes of gold sales, worth approximately ₹12,000 crore, and 400 tonnes of silver, valued at ₹4,000 crore — totalling a massive ₹16,000 crore in expected festive turnover.

Long-term demand remains robust

Despite frequent price hikes over the past three years, India’s gold appetite has remained steady. The country continues to import between 700 and 800 tonnes annually, underscoring its status as the world’s largest gold consumer.

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Bangladesh High Court orders release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on bail

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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In a significant development, a Bangladesh High Court bench, comprising Justices Atoar Rahman and Ali Reza, granted bail to Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, five months after his arrest on charges of disrespecting the national flag.

The court’s decision followed a final hearing on an earlier directive questioning why bail should not be granted, marking a turning point in a case that has stirred tensions and drawn international attention.

Das, a former ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, a Hindu advocacy group, was detained on November 25, 2024, at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The charges stemmed from an October 31, 2024, case filed at Chattogram’s Kotwali police station, accusing Das and 18 others of defaming Bangladesh’s national flag. A Chattogram court rejected his initial bail plea, sending him to jail, a decision that sparked widespread protests among his supporters in Dhaka and beyond.

In Chattogram, demonstrations turned deadly when assistant government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was killed hours after Das’ bail denial, escalating the controversy.

The case, unfolding less than three months after a student-led uprising toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, strained Bangladesh-India relations. Hasina’s flight to India and the subsequent interim government led by Muhammad Yunus intensified scrutiny.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs voiced concern on November 26, 2024, highlighting “multiple attacks on Hindus and minorities” in Bangladesh, including arson, looting, and temple desecration. “It’s unfortunate that a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful means faces charges while perpetrators of violence remain free,” the MEA stated, urging Bangladesh to protect its minority communities.

Das’ legal team, led by former Deputy Attorney General Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya and 11 Supreme Court lawyers, argued the flag disrespect charge was baseless, asserting the item in question was not a national flag.

“This case lacks legal grounding,” Bhattacharya told reporters in January. Earlier bail attempts, including a plea for an advanced hearing on December 11, 2024, were rebuffed, with the court sticking to a January 2, 2025, date. Associates claimed Das faced obstacles securing legal representation due to intimidation from a “politically motivated lawyers’ group.”

The prosecutor’s killing fueled demands to ban ISKCON, which clarified that Das had been expelled from the organization six months prior.

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She felt worthless when Instagram followers fell, says influencer Misha Agrawal’s sister on her suicide

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The family of social media influencer Misha Agarwal announced her heartbreaking passing on April 24, 2025, just days before her 25th birthday, revealing that she died by suicide. In an emotional statement shared on her Instagram account on April 30, her family disclosed that Misha’s battle with depression, triggered by a decline in her social media following, led to her tragic decision.

Misha, who had built her career around Instagram, was fixated on reaching one million followers, a goal so central to her life that it adorned her phone’s lock screen.

Her family’s statement, accompanied by a video of the lock screen, read, “Our beloved sister poured her heart into Instagram, dreaming of a million followers. When her follower count began to drop, she felt worthless and fell into deep depression, often crying, ‘What will I do if my followers decrease? My career is over.’” Despite their efforts to comfort her, Misha’s despair overwhelmed her.

Her family emphasized Misha’s talents beyond social media, noting her LLB degree and preparation for the PCSJ exam, with aspirations of becoming a judge. “We reminded her that Instagram was just one part of her life, not its entirety,” they shared. “We told her a setback online wouldn’t end her world, but she couldn’t escape the pressure.” The statement highlighted the devastating impact of her fixation on digital validation, culminating in her untimely death.

On April 25, Misha’s family first confirmed her passing in a poignant Instagram post: “With profound sorrow, we share the loss of Misha Agarwal. Thank you for the love you showed her. We are grappling with this immense grief. Please keep her spirit alive in your hearts.”

The tragedy underscores the intense pressures faced by influencers in an era where social media metrics often define self-worth. India’s influencer industry, while thriving, increasingly spotlight mental health challenges, with growing calls for support systems. Misha’s story serves as a somber reminder to prioritize well-being over online validation, leaving her family and fans mourning a vibrant soul gone too soon.

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