[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Following a recent plea – a Special Leave Petition (SLP) – by BJP leader and advocate Ajay Agrawal to reopen the Bofors Howitzer gun case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), too has now come forward, seeking permission from the government to file an SLP in the Supreme Court challenging the quashing of an FIR and the acquittal of the Hinduja brothers in the Bofors case by the Delhi High Court.
Ajay Agarwal’s SLP is due to come up for hearing on October 30. The CBI, as a respondent in the case, was to take a stand before the apex court during the hearing. Now, the agency, in a letter to the Department of Personnel and Training, has asked it to reconsider the UPA government’s decision in 2005, in which it did not allow the CBI to file an SLP against the 2005 high court order. That order had acquitted the Hindujas.
The Delhi High Court judge RS Sodhi had on May 31, 2005 let off the Hinduja Brothers— Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand in the case. The CBI, then did not file a plea challenging the order within the given 90-day period. The agency wanted to file the SLP challenging the acquittal but the then UPA government did not give it the green signal.
Agrawal had filed his plea on September 1 before the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud seeking an urgent hearing in the Bofors case. In his petition he has challenged the same 2005 Delhi High Court order. The matter is listed for final hearing on October 30. Now, with the CBI wanting to file an SLP for the same matter, it will have to approach the court – following permission from the government – and buy time to file the petition and also to request the court to club its appeal with that of Agrawal.
The CBI has, for some time, expressed its interest in reopening the case. On October 18 this year it had said that it would look into the “facts and circumstances” of the scandal mentioned by private detective Michael Hershman, president of US detective agency Fairfax.
Hershman, in an interview to Republic World Television on Tuesday (October 17) said the Rajiv Gandhi government had sabotaged his investigation in the Bofors case.
Using this as fresh ammunition, the BJP raised the Bofors issue to target and embarrass Congress. Reacting, Congress Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi had said the BJP was diverging from its own failure by raking up the Bofors scam. “This is just propoganda. This is an effort by the government to diverge from their own failures and I don’t think that you can continue to flog a dead horse for 10 years but it starts stinking,” said Tulsi.
Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmad also hit out at the ruling party, saying the BJP plays games over Bofors. “Until when will the BJP play games over Bofors? The scandal was worth Rs. 64 crore and everything has come to fore. Even the court exonerated late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,” said Ahmad.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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.
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.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
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.
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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