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Karti Chidambaram arrested by CBI at Chennai airport, produced before magistrate at Patiala House Court

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Karti Chidambaram arrested by CBI at Chennai airport, produced before magistrate at Patiala House Court

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s Son Karti Chidambaram, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chennai on Wednesday (February 28) morning as soon he landed at the airport from his London trip was later in the day produced before Patiala House Court duty magistrate Sumeet Anand. The court heard submissions from both parties and till time of this being published, the decision had not been given by the magistrate.

The CBI said in court that Karti was arrested for not cooperating with investigators. The agency said that there were many things which “we cannot disclose in open court.” The asked for 15 days of remand of Karti.

The counsel for the CBI said: “He was not cooperating and was frequently flying abroad.”

Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Karti.

Singhvi said on behalf of Karti: “I have nothing to fear, I have nothing to hide and I have gone to abroad and have come back also. Don’t use power of arrest. I will surrender my passport and will take any condition and I will appear whenever  summoned. This is not a case for arrest at all. The allegation is of Rs 10 lakh. The CBI has not filed a single status report. There is no point in marking remand application without status report. I have cooperated 110 percent with the CBI and with the ED.

He continued: “The CBI is apprehensive of my frequent foreign visits. Why?  Am I a threat to flight safety? It’s a distortion of facts. I went abroad only after getting permission from the Supreme Court.

“Forget remand it is not a case of even arrest. Karti has no connection with the Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited which allegedly received kickbacks,” said Singhvi. “Not a single official has been questioned over FIPB clearance to INX. I am making a verbal prayer against the CBI’s remand application. The accused is entitled to make a verbal bail application.”

The counsel continued: “My reward for complying with previous summons is my arrest just after landing here. Instead of asking for bail I am asking for no remand.”

The CBI counsel said: “Karti cooperated with agencies only after the Supreme Court’s order. Karti didn’t provide itinerary of his foreign visits. Status report hasn’t been filed because there is no such direction by any Court. He left country without complying with directions. The matter is pending before the high court.

Karti Chidambaram met a person at Mumbai Hyatt Hotel on February 17 to arrange for $ 1 million dollars also,” the CBI counsel said.

Immediate questioning

The agency officials had stared questioning him within the airport premises and then took a flight to Delhi later in the day. A case against Karti is on at the Supreme Court [this is in a related Enforcement Directorate (ED) matter] and on February 23, the court’s bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and Justices Amitava Roy and D Y Chandrachud had refused to stay a summon order issued by the ED against him. The court accepted the CBI’s comment that he was “not a common criminal”.

The court had decided to hear the matter on March 6. This time was available after Karti’s counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, sought time to file a proper application to challenge the ED proceedings.

The allegation against Karti is that he issued his father’s influence in arranging a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX media. The CBI had said that Karti had received Rs 10 lakh for the ‘deal’ which provided tax avoidance routes.

In Delhi Karti told the media that he had denied the money laundering charges made against him and said that this was vendetta and that “I will be vindicated.” As per the CBI, apart from the Rs 10 lakh Karti also received Rs. 3.5 crore through a company linked to him.

Political voices started chirping immediately after. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala called it a “classic diversionary tactic of the government to hide their own corrupt governance model that is being exposed on a daily basis– be it Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Dwarka Das Seth Jewellers.”

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “This is law, not vendetta. If corrupt are being jailed and the law is taking its own course, I see no reason why any political party should cry vendetta.”

Karti Chidambaram arrested by CBI at Chennai airport, produced before magistrate at Patiala House CourtKarti Chidambaram arrested by CBI at Chennai airport, produced before magistrate at Patiala House CourtKarti Chidambaram arrested by CBI at Chennai airport, produced before magistrate at Patiala House Court

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Jammu & Kashmir: 5 soldiers killed after Army vehicle plunges into gorge in Poonch

“Today at around 17:40 hrs (5.40 pm), an Army vehicle of 11 Maratha Light Infantry, which was on its way from from Nilam headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post along the LoC, met with an accident near Ghora Post,” said officials.

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Five soldiers lost their lives and several others were injured when an Army vehicle veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge in the Balnoi area of Mendhar, Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, according to officials.

The incident occurred as the vehicle, part of the 11 Madras Light Infantry (11 MLI), was traveling from Nilam Headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post. Reports indicate that the vehicle plunged approximately 350 feet into a steep gorge near its destination.

Upon learning of the accident, the Quick Reaction Team from 11 MLI rapidly mobilized to the scene to initiate rescue operations. The injured personnel received immediate medical attention, and efforts are currently underway to evacuate them for further treatment.

In a message on X, the White Knight Corps expressed their deep condolences for the tragic loss of five courageous soldiers, stating, “All ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident during operational duty in the #Poonch sector. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the injured personnel are receiving medical care.”

“Today at around 17:40 hrs (5.40 pm), an Army vehicle of 11 Maratha Light Infantry, which was on its way from from Nilam headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post along the LoC, met with an accident near Ghora Post,” said officials.

This incident follows a similar accident last month, where one Army personnel died and another was injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. This crash, which occurred on November 4 near Badog village in Kalakote, resulted in Naik Badri Lal and Sepoy Jai Prakash suffering critical injuries; Lal ultimately succumbed to his injuries while in treatment.

On November 2, another tragedy struck when a vehicle skidded off a hilly road in Reasi district, claiming the lives of a woman and her 10-month-old son, while three others sustained serious injuries.

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Over 350 Himachal Pradesh roads shut amid snowfall, 4 dead

Meanwhile, post-monsoon rainfall from October 1 to December 24 has shown a deficit of 92% of the normal level of 70.4 mm.

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In Himachal Pradesh, a significant snowfall in the past 24 hours has resulted in four fatalities and the shutdown of approximately 700 electric transformers along with over 350 roads, including three national highways. This has left around 500 vehicles stranded, among which are more than 300 buses.

The snowfall, which began yesterday, has been recorded in various districts such as Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, as well as the higher elevations of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, and Sirmaur.

On a positive note, the situation has attracted a large number of tourists heading to Shimla and nearby areas in hopes of enjoying a white Christmas. According to MK Seth, president of the Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders’ Association, hotel occupancy in the historic town has exceeded 70%, 30% higher than usual.

Tragically, four individuals lost their lives in accidents over the last day, with several others injured due to vehicles skidding in hazardous conditions. Key national highways connecting Attari to Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu, and Khab Sangam in Kinnaur to Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti are currently blocked.

Among the affected areas, Shimla has the highest number of closed roads, totaling 89, followed by Kinnaur with 44 and Mandi with 25. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 683 transformers are inactive, leaving some regions without electricity.

Authorities have urged tourists to follow the advice of district officials and police, heed local guidance, and avoid driving on snowy roads. Khadrala experienced the highest snowfall, receiving 24 cm, followed by Sangla with 16.5 cm, and Shillaro at 15.3 cm. Other areas such as Chopal and Jubbal recorded 15 cm each, while Kalpa received 13.7 cm, Nichar 10 cm, Shimla 7 cm, Pooh 6 cm, and Jot 5 cm.

Manali and Dalhousie suburbs also saw snowfall since Monday, with light rain experienced in parts of the mid and lower hills. An intense cold wave is affecting the lower hills of Mandi, while cold conditions are noted in Una and Chamba.

The Meteorological Office reported dense, moderate, and shallow fog in Bilaspur, Sundernagar, and Mandi. An ‘orange’ warning has been issued for severe cold in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi, and a ‘yellow’ warning for dense fog in areas around the Bhakra dam reservoir and Balh Valley in Mandi until Thursday.

The coldest recorded temperature was in Kukumseri, Lahaul and Spiti, at minus 6.9 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, post-monsoon rainfall from October 1 to December 24 has shown a deficit of 92% of the normal level of 70.4 mm.

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Delhi Pollution: GRAP 4 revoked in capital, NCR as air quality improves

The GRAP 4 measures were implemented in Delhi after the air quality index (AQI) hit alarming levels on 16th December 2024

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Delhi Pollution: GRAP 4 revoked in capital, NCR as air quality improves

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) today revoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Nonetheless, measures under stages 1, 2, and 3 will remain in force to manage pollution levels. The GRAP 4 measures have been in effect in the entire NCR since December 16 after deterioration in air quality. 

This move follows after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 401 at 8 AM. The AQI on Monday fell into the severe category, measuring 403 at 7 am. Reportedly, AQI in several areas of the national capital was also recorded as ‘severe.’

Reports said, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI at 439, 456 at Ashok Vihar, 473 at Bawana, 406 at CRRI Mathura Road and 430 at Narela. Notably, an AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe.

The GRAP 4 measures were implemented in Delhi after the air quality index (AQI) hit alarming levels on 16th December 2024. The Air Quality Index breached the 350 mark during the day, prompting the GRAP Sub-Committee to implement Stage-III measures. On the same day, by 10 PM, the AQI soared to 401, surpassing the severe plus category threshold. According to the Supreme Court instructions, Stage-IV measures were immediately introduced to tackle the crisis.

The apex court had earlier mandated precautionary measures, requiring Stage-III actions for AQI above 350 and Stage-IV for AQI exceeding 400. These directions were reiterated on 5th, 12th, and 19th December 2024, underlining the urgency to address Delhi’s air pollution.

As Delhi continues to battle hazardous air quality, the intensified measures under GRAP Stages I, II, and III will focus on curbing pollution sources and improving monitoring. Furthermore, residents are urged to remain cautious and adhere to guidelines issued by the authorities to mitigate the impact of air pollution on health and daily life.

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