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Mahadev app potboiler heats up in Chhattisgarh

The Mahadev App episode may or may not impact voting patterns in the ongoing elections but it has great weight as a political tool.

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By Neeraj Mishra

The Mahadev betting app case involving Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is getting curiouser. Over the past week, there have been enough twists and turns in it than an Agatha Christie play. With new characters, videos, drivers and attendants popping up with their set pieces. The BJP has released a video by one Shubham Soni, who claims to be the owner of the online gaming operation. He also adds for good measure that prime accused Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal work for him; all three live in Dubai.

Soni alleges that he knows Baghel and his advisers very well. He says that he has given Rs 508 crore to Baghel through 2008 IPS officer Prahant Agarwal and one Verma. He claims he met the CM in the presence of one Bittu Bhaiyya following which he went to Dubai in September 2020 on the advise of the CM. He claims he had explained to Baghel about the Mahadev App and the CM said he should operate from Dubai. Later, when he ran into problems with the law, Baghel helped again by calling up Agarwal to sort them out.

On the other hand, the Congress released a statement claiming that the car seized from Asim Das with Rs 5 crore allegedly sent from Dubai through hawala channels belongs to MLA Brijmohan Agarwal’s brother. Das had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) more than a week ago. Thus, the Congress alleges it is all a fixed match being played out to discredit the CM. Baghel, on his part, said Soni has been tortured to make this false statement.

A TV reporter now jumped into this pot with her sting operation. She met Abhishek Pallav, the Durg SP.  Pallav claimed in the recorded conversation that Baghel definitely knew about the Satta racket and Agarwal too is to blame for protecting the trio. He also reveals he had arrested some 450 people following instructions from top. This may have been done to wipe out the trail leading to important people. For the record, these 450 under arrest are satta players and not operators.

Now, the scene that is being built up is very interesting, both politically and legally. Mahadev App has been banned by the Government of India and money from it is obviously “proceeds of a crime”. The link from it is being established to reach Baghel through statements from Soni and an email allegedly from Saurabh Chandrakar from Dubai suggesting that the money was meant for Baghel and elections. So, legally, Baghel is in for a tough time like former Delhi Deputy CM Sisodia. In Sisodia’s case too, it has not been established that he was the ultimate beneficiary of the excise scam money nor any money found on him but it has been enough to keep him in jail for the past several months.

The Mahadev App episode may or may not impact voting patterns in the ongoing elections but it has great weight as a political tool. It appears the more the noise over the app, the more credibility Baghel stands to lose both within and outside the party. If he is indeed arrested or called for questioning, it will probably be after the second and last phase of polling on November 17 in the state.

He may not be called in at all too but the BJP’s attempt will be to pin him down with this. Baghel claims to be the only OBC face of the Congress and the BJP would not like him to be in the fray in 2024. So this Mahadev App investigation is important not for now alone but its after-effects will reverberate till next year.

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India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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