THE LOVE AFFAIR On Location Report

YAK Cinevision Studio Press Conference at Khopoli

Rampur Ke Laxman (Bhojpuri Film) Shooting Report

Dadasaheb Falke Awards

105 dead in Tripoli airport plane crash: security official

TRIPOLI: An eight-year-old Dutch boy was the sole survivor when a Libyan plane arriving from South Africa exploded on landing at Tripoli airport on Wednesday, killing more than 100 people, officials said.

Afriqiyah Airways listed 93 passengers and 11 crew members on board its flight 8U771 from Johannesburg.

"I can confirm the crash but not the number of the dead," said Bongani Sithole, an official of the airline at Johannesburg airport. "We hear that it happened one metre (yard) away from the runway."

A Libyan security official earlier said that all those on board the Airbus A330 had died but an airport official said in fact a Dutch boy had survived and been rushed to hospital near Tripoli.

There was no immediate indication of the cause of the crash, which occurred as the Afriqiyah Airways plane was landing after a flight from Johannesburg at around 6 am (0400 GMT).

"It exploded on landing and totally disintegrated," the security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The crew members were all Libyan nationals, the official added.

An AFP correspondent said the crash site had been sealed off by security officials and ambulances and emergency vehicles were seen rushing between the airport and the capital, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) apart.

The wreckage could be seen in the distance but no plumes of smoke were evident. Weather conditions were good at Tripoli on Wednesday morning, with only light clouds in the sky.

Afriqiyah Airways said on its website that it operates an Airbus fleet.

It started operations with five leased planes and signed a contract with Airbus at an exhibition in Paris in 2007 for the purchase of 11 new planes, the website said.

It was founded in April 2001 and at first fully owned by the Libyan state. The company's capital was later divided into shares to be managed by the Libya-Africa Investment Portfolio.

On April 21, the airline announced that flights were back to normal after disruptions due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland that grounded flights in Europe last month.

Last June, a 12-year-old girl was the sole survivor of a Yemeni plane crash off the Comoros.

3 given death, 20 life imprisonment for killing 21 Dalits in 1996

ARA: A Bihar court today sentenced three persons to death and 20 others to life imprisonment in connection with the kiling of 21 Dalits at Bathani Tola in Bhojpur district in 1996.

Additional District and Sessions Judge A K Srivastava announced the quantum of punishment today.

On May 5 the court had found the accused guilty of killing the dalits at Bathani Tola under Sahar block of Bhojpur district on July 11, 1996. The accused were suspected activists of Ranvir Sena, a private militia of land owners.

The court had earlier acquitted 30 others named in the case for want of sufficient evidence.

Around 70 Sena men had raided the village and killed 21 dalits, mostly women and children.

SC allows Reddy brothers to resume mining

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today allowed Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), belonging to the Reddy brothers, to resume mining in the undisputed region of the Bellary reserve forest in Karnataka.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan allowed OMC to start mining operations within 150 meters of the Karnataka border.

The apex court, however, clarified that mining by OMC should be carried out only in the undisputed area of the lease granted by the Karnataka government and would have to be stopped if the Survey of India says so.

The apex court had on March 22 banned mining of iron ores by OMC and appointed a committee comprising officials of the Survey of India, the forest, irrigation and revenue departments of Andhra Pradesh, besides representatives of the Reddy brothers to look into allegations of illegal mining and violation of leased areas.

In its ruling today, the court also directed Karnataka to appoint officials from forest and mining departments to assist the committee in demarcating the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The court has asked the committee to complete the final survey within two months.

The Reddy brothers, who own mining leases for over 136 hectares of land spread in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district, are accused of encroaching on reserve forest lands.

PM pulls up Ramesh for his critical comment on MHA

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today pulled up Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for his critical comments against Home Ministry in relation to China as he asked him not to speak about functioning of other ministries.

Singh spoke to Ramesh and emphatically told him that there was "no confusion" in the government over its approach towards China with which it wanted to have "constructive engagement".

Singh told Ramesh that it was "advisable for Cabinet colleagues not to make comments on the functioning of other ministries, especially with regard to relationship with important neighbours like China," the PMO sources said.

The Prime Minister's blunt message to the Environment Ministry came two days after Ramesh said in Beijing that the Home Ministry was "overly defensive" and "alarmist" in its approach towards entry of Chinese companies in India.

"There is no confusion in our policies towards China and we continue to strive for constructive engagement with Beijing," Singh told Ramesh.

Ramesh, while talking about the India-China warmth developed during the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, had suggested that the Home Ministry needed to be "much more relaxed" in its approach to Chinese investments in India.

Tomb Raider: Jesus buried in Srinagar?

That Jesus survived crucifixion, travelled to Kashmir, eventually died there and is buried in Srinagar is an urban legend which has found many takers over the years. Every season hundreds of tourists visit the Rozabal shrine of Sufi saint Yuz Asaf in downtown Srinagar, believed by many to be the final resting place of Christ. But there’s a new twist to the tale — the medieval shrine was recently closed down after an enthusiastic ‘believer’ , New York-based writer Suzanne Olsson, allegedly tried to exhume it.

The shrine itself, at the edge of a winding alley in the backstreets of old Srinagar, first came into the limelight when a local journalist, Aziz Kashmiri, argued in his 1973 book, Christ in Kashmir, that Jesus survived crucifixion some 2,000 years ago, migrated to Kashmir and was buried in Srinagar. The modest stone building with traditional multi-tiered roof slipped into oblivion but came into focus again in 2002 when Olsson arrived in Srinagar, claiming to be Christ’s ‘59th descendant’ and seeking DNA testing of the shrine’s remains.

In a series of letters to the shrine’s caretakers , Olsson said she considers Rozabal a “private family tomb” . She further wrote: “My family has it (sic) origins in France, where Jesus and his wife Mary Magdalene lived for 30 years after the crucifixion. There they had two sons and one daughter. We’re descendants of the son. And if you wish to know more, I refer you to a book called Bloodline of the Holy Grail by Sir Lawrence Gardner.” Olsson went on to add that she was considering moving court to press her claim and secure the right to exhume the tomb. “We feel any claims you make about the sanctity of the grave are invalid ... we would prefer to move our grandfather (out of Srinagar).’’

It was quite clear Olsson wanted to put her plan into action without wasting much time. One of the caretakers of the tomb, Mohammad Amin, alleged that they were forced to padlock the shrine as Olsson tried to dig it up and in doing so, insulted Islam. “She tried to raid the holy tomb,” he complains . He believed that the theory that Jesus is buried anywhere on the face of the earth is blasphemous to Islam.

The Quran, where Jesus is called Messiah — the Messenger, maintains that Christ was returned to God alive and not crucified.

Amin said in light of Quranic teachings no Muslim can accept Olsson’s theory. The caretaker even filed an FIR against her and got her visa cancelled. “Despite this we used to allow tourists to enter the shrine but we became suspicious when she tried to get curfew imposed in the locality and plant something at the shrine to authenticate her claim.”

Olsson, though, doesn’t seem to be alone in her conviction. There are some who support her view. Renowned Kashmiri academic Fida Hassnain’s 1994 book, A Search for the Historical Jesus, was about this legend. Later, he co-authored a book on the subject with Olsson, Roza Bal the Tomb of Jesus.

The shrine is called by Lonely Planet, as the “Jesus Tomb” . There are some caveats about blasphemy, but is marked as a must-visit tourist spot in the Valley.

Caretaker Amin said some local traders circulated these “lies” thinking it would be good for business. “They thought it could become a tourist hub after all these years of violence.” He said after the shrine made it to the Lonely Planet, too many people, often rowdy, started coming in. One of the tourists damaged the tomb and took the broken piece home as a souvenir.

Rozabal is not the only story linking Jesus to Kashmir. It is said that he also visited a Buddhist monastery, the ruins of which are near Srinagar. The stories of Jesus in India date back to the 19th century and find mention in a plethora of texts by scholars of varied persuasions — Islamic, Buddhist and Christian. In fact, it is believed that during his missing years (between 12 and 30), unmentioned in the Gospels, Jesus was in India and picked up Buddhist ideas.

Amin said the Caretakers’ Committee has decided to convene a religious leaders’ meeting to discuss the issue. But Olsson insists that there’s nothing sacrilegious about her DNA project. “It’s routinely done around the world. From Egyptian mummies to the Christian Saint Luke, people are using this scientific tool to help study ancient history,’’ she said in an email interview to TOI-Crest from New York. “The DNA from Rozabal will tell us a lot about history,” she went on to say. “First, who is Yuz(a) Asaf? We’ll never know until archaeologists are allowed to examine the artefacts and the tomb.”

Olsson refuted allegations that she had attempted to remove anything from the tomb, or dug it up. “I can’t imagine who started those rumours or why,” she said and maintained that the belief that there is a Muslim saint in the same tomb is untrue. “The tomb predates Islam and could never be a Muslim tomb."

Stalemate ends, BJP to form new govt in Jharkhand

NEW DELHI: Ending a fortnight-long stalemate, JMM and AJSU on Saturday announced support to a BJP-led government in Jharkhand for the remaining four-and-a-half year tenure of the state Assembly.

The decision was arrived at a meeting attended by BJP President Nitin Gadkari, senior party leader Ananth Kumar, Jharkhand deputy chief minister Raghubar Das, JMM Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren and AJSU President Sudesh Mahato here.

The BJP Parliamentary Board will meet on Monday to decide its chief ministerial candidate.

"We had fruitful discussions with senior BJP leaders. We will support a government in Jharkhand under BJP leadership. The decision has been taken to save the state from President's Rule," Hemant Soren said.

BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar insisted that the talks ended on a happy note.

"A BJP-led government will be formed in Jharkhand. We want to save the state from Congress misrule. A stable government which stands for development will be formed," he said.

"We have decided that this government will complete its full term....This decision has been taken for the entire period of the Assembly," Kumar added.

A Common Minimum Programme (CMP) on how to run the government will be chalked out soon. Gadkari is sending an observer to Ranchi to discuss the matter with BJP, JMM and All Jharkhand Students Union, and JD(U) leaders from the state.

BJP, which had decided to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government on April 28 after the JMM chief voted against the BJP-sponsored cut-motions in the Lok Sabha, put its decision on hold after Hemant made an offer to BJP to head the government in the state.

Among the front-runners for the post of chief minister are former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, former chief minister and general secretary Arjun Munda and deputy chief minister Raghubar Das.

Governors can't be removed with change of government: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said that the governors of states cannot be changed in an arbitrary and capricious manner with the change of power.

Disapproving the practice of replacing governors after a new government comes to power at the Centre, the SC ruled the court can interfere if government fails to give cogent reasons for removing governors.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan held that a governor can be replaced only under "compelling" reasons for proven misconduct or other irregularities.

The apex court said though the governor is appointed and remains in office at the pleasure of the President, he or she cannot be removed merely because they are "not in sync" with the party in power, PTI reported

During the arguments, the Centre had contended that the conflict of governor's view with the national policy could invite his/her removal from the office by cutting short the five-year tenure.

The Centre had said that the governors act as a bridge between the Centre and the state governments and as such they cannot disagree on their own with the views of the government.

Under the mandate of democracy if a particular party is voted to power with particular socio-economic agenda, the governors cannot say they do not agree with that, it had argued.

The bench also comprising Justices S H Kapadia, R V Raveendran, B Sudershan Reddy and P Sathasivam gave unanimous verdict on the issue.

Earlier, appearing for the petitioner, former attorney general Soli J Sorabjee had questioned the removal of four governors by the UPA government after NDA lost elections in 2004.

Vishnu Kant Shastri, Babu Parmanand, Kailashpati Mishra and Kidarnath Sahni had then been removed from their gubernatorial posts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Goa respectively.

Sorabjee had said constitutional office holders should not be made sacrificial goats at the altar of electoral politics and should be treated with dignity they deserve.

He had suggested a fixed tenure for them or in case of removal, giving of proper reasons by President.

Govt has right to decide price: SC on RIL-RNRL gas row

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the government was the legal owner of the gas in the RIL-RNRL gas dispute and said it had the right to decide the price and utilization of fuel, which is a natural asset. The government contract overrides any private deal, the court ruled.

RIL does not have absolute marketing right over gas; the price was subject to the government’s approval, the court said.

In an order tilting in favour of elder brother Mukesh Ambani in the KG basin gas row, the apex court ordered RIL to initiate in six weeks, re-negotiation with RNRL in terms of Gas Sale Master Agreement so that the rights of RNRL shareholders were safeguarded. It also told them to ensure the deal abides by the government’s policies.

The court also said that natural gas resources cannot be subject to any family agreement and the family MoU signed by Mukesh and Anil Ambani and their mother Kokilaben was not legally and technically binding. Family agreement can only be a guiding factor about parties’ intention, it said.

Delivering the majority verdict of the bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan on the four-year gas dispute between RIL and RNRL, Justice P Sathasivam said the Production Sharing Contract over-rides all other agreements.

The Supreme Cour’s order implies that RNRL, which was seeking 28 mmscmd of gas from RIL's KG-D6 fields at a price agreed in the family MoU, would not get the fuel. The family MoU provided for a price of USD 2.34 per mmBtu, while the government had set a price of USD 4.20 per mmBtu.

Millions of stakeholders were awaiting the verdict closely. Not surprising, when you consider that the verdict has direct fallout on scrips of companies with a combined market capitalization of about Rs 3.78 lakh crore.

The high-voltage legal battle has stretched for several days over Anil Ambani's claim for a share of Mukesh Ambani-controlled KG basin gas.

The brothers, through their lawyers, traded arguments and claims. Mukesh said he could not honour the family agreement requiring RIL to give 28 mmscd of KG basin gas to Anil's Reliance Natural Resources Ltd for 17 years at $2.34 per unit because the gas actually belonged to the government, while Anil Ambani asked for enforcement of the family accord.

The outcome will have repercussions not just for the siblings but also for firms -- belonging to private sector as well as those in public sector like NTPC -- that have tied up with RIL for 60 mmscnd of KG basin gas. An adverse outcome for RIL can singe the government because of allegations of collusion between Mukesh and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG).

The government claimed to be neutral. But many felt that its stance asserting its proprietorial rights over the KG basin gas while maintaining that it could not allow the precious public good to be apportioned between two brothers on the basis of a family agreement, showed a tilt towards the elder of the Ambani siblings.

The judgment comes after four-and-a-half months. It was reserved on December 18, 2009, which like judgment day, was also a Friday.

Apart from arguing that supply of gas from KG basin was subject to the production sharing contract (PSC) and Centre's Gas Utilisation Policy (GUP), RIL had said that if it sold gas to RNRL at $2.34 for 17 years, its return on investment of $12 billion would be just $2 billion, which was much lower than the interest that this sum would attract on investment or credit.

The Centre had questioned the basis of any gas supply agreement between two private parties on the lines of a family agreement and asked how RIL could allocate gas to RNRL when the government had not yet given any allocations to its own entity in NTPC.

NTPC was apprehensive of the outcome of the legal battle between the corporate honchos. It wanted to safeguard its interest and had pleaded with the court that the outcome should not alter RIL's commitment to supply it gas at $2.34 to its power plants at Kawas and Gandhar. RNRL had argued that it was only seeking to enforce a document which was framed on the foundation of RIL's commitment to NTPC.

Shravan Rathod Interview

KKR's ownership transfer, donations under scanner

NEW DELHI: IPL franchisee Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) appears to be headed for trouble with the government finding out discrepancies in the company's operations, including issues related to change of ownership due to related-party transactions as well as not making statutory filings. Importantly, a report by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) has also made note of KKR's Rs 50 lakh donation to the Rajasthan chief minister's relief fund, flagging it off in a note before the corporate affairs ministry.

The report by the RoC Mumbai has found the change in KKR ownership — leading from related-party transactions — not in line with the rules governing IPL franchisees. There was "change in control" of the company which was violative of the franchisee agreement, the report said, pointing out that this was not permitted before a period of three years and that too only after permission from the IPL/BCCI.

The related-party transactions in KKR entailed actress Juhi Chawla selling her entire holding to Sea Island Investments, a Mauritius-based company promoted by her husband Jay Mehta. Also, it made mention of Shahrukh Khan and his wife Gauri selling stakes to their company Red Chillies.

The report also mentioned several procedural and statutory violations made by KKR. This included not informing the central government while increasing the share capital of the company to Rs 20 crore.

Death for Kasab-The route to hanging is long and littered

MUMBAI:If judge M L Tahaliyani declares on Thursday that Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab's crime fell under the judicial definition of "rarest of rare" and death by hanging was well deserved, Kasab will set out on a long journey where legal and moral issues will be considered by authorities for years, even decades, before he is finally put to death.

Immediately after pronouncement of the death sentence judge Tahaliyani will have to send his order for confirmation to the Bombay HC. He is bound by the Section 366 of the Criminal Procedure Code to do so. In normal cases it is the convicted man who goes in appeal to the HC but where it is the case of his life being taken away, the trial court must send the case papers to the high court.

The Bombay HC will call for all the evidence and weigh it at its own discretion. It is a practice for the high court to be satisfied on the facts as well as the law of the case, that the conviction is right, before it proceeds to confirm the sentence. This could take a few months.

Even after the high court has given its nod to the death sentence, Kasab has the option of going in appeal to the Supreme Court. For instance last year Surinder Koli, the man whose death sentence in the Nithari case was confirmed by the Allahabad High Court, went in appeal to the Supreme Court. His petition is still pending. Similarly, Kasab's appeal too would be considered in detail by the highest court as it looks at all the arguments in favour of and against the death sentence.

Going by past record, the longest wait in execution of the death sentence will start once it is out of hands of the judiciary and into the domain of the government. After the Supreme Court too gives assent to the death sentence, Kasab will have the legal right to file a mercy petition before the President of India under article 72 of the Constitution. While this petition is pending Kasab's execution will stay suspended — maybe for decades.

The President's powers under Article 72 are always exercised with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. There is no time limit for how long this consultation takes place and the whole process can remain in abeyance for years. Currently mercy petitions of 32 death row convicts are pending decision with the President for over five years and the oldest mercy petition dates back to 1998.

SC upholds constitutional validity of MPLAD scheme

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the constitutional validity of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) saying it was for public purpose.

The bench said that improvement can be made in the working of the MPLAD scheme, but it is not illegal.

Under MPLAD scheme, members of Parliament are allocated Rs two crore annually for development of their constituencies.

"We hold that the MPLAD scheme is valid," a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said in an unanimous verdict.

"There is no reason for us to interfere in the scheme," the bench also comprising Justices R V Raveendran, D K Jain, P Sathasivam and J M Panchal said.

The bench said the mere allegations that the funds are prone to be misused cannot be a ground for scrapping the scheme, PTI reported.

It said that both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have standing committees to monitor the scheme and there are various levels of accountability for its implementation.

The apex court said that the scheme has benefited the local area development by way of providing water, electricity, infrastructure, library and sports facilities.

It rejected the contention of the opponents of the scheme that it gives an unfair advantage to the sitting MPs against their political rivals.

Ashok Chakra Promo

Neeti Kapur Interview

DadaSaheb Phalke Press Conference

Motormen's agitation paralyses Mumbai

MUMBAI: Over seven million commuters, including office-goers and students, were severely hit Tuesday, the second day of the ongoing agitation by motormen manning Mumbai's crucial suburban trains.

The agitation by over 600 motormen on the Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) compelled the railways to issue a rare advisory Tuesday morning.

"People may undertake (train) journey only if it's very important," said a bulk SMS with a helpline No. 10721 to assist stranded commuters.

Railway authorities today said only 20 per cent suburban trains were operating as a result of the hunger strike by motormen demanding hike in pay scales and allowances.

Maharashtra home minister R R Patil said the state government will take up the issue with the Centre, seeking its intervention to provide relief to Mumbai commuters.

The state government is also reviewing if provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) could be invoked in this case, he said.

The motormen have been on a hunger strike since 6am on Monday and are demanding a pay hike among other things. Their strike led to complete chaos in the city during the evening peak hour traffic on Monday.

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation arising out of the motormen's strike. Police, railway and transport officials will attend the meeting, official sources said.

Chavan had on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested his intervention to end the strike, the sources said.

The chief minister also spoke to railway minister Mamata Banerjee and requested her to take stringent action against the striking motormen, they said.

While hundreds of commuters managed to reach their homes late Monday, the situation was worse on Tuesday morning with the railways announcing the cancellation of nearly 80 percent of the total 2,000 daily services.

The railways resorted to desperate - but insufficient - measures like permitting people to travel in long-distance trains and making them halt at all suburban stations.

The railways are also making alternative arrangements to grapple with the agitation, considered the worst in Mumbai since 1974.

The BEST and MSRTC chipped in to help the stranded commuters by deploying additional services in the city and elsewhere.

Mumbai University announced that any student who was delayed for the 40-odd final examinations need not panic, they would be permitted extra time to write their papers.

The motormen's agitation has had a cascading effect on Mumbai roads and highways which have been plagued by ugly traffic snarls since Monday night - and the situation was repeated Tuesday morning.

In fact, the railway agitation managed to overshadow the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, in which the verdict pronouncing Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab guilty was delivered on Monday.

Pakistani in custody in New York car bomb attempt: Officials

NEW YORK: A suspect in last weekend's failed car bomb attack on Times Square was taken into custody late Monday while trying to leave the country, a law enforcement official said.

The suspect, a Pakistani, was identified at midnight Monday at John F Kennedy International Airport and was stopped, said the official, who spoke early Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The suspect has not been named. He was being held in New York. Law enforcement officials say the suspect recently returned from a trip to Pakistan and bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder used in the failed car bomb three weeks ago and paid cash. The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case.

The SUV was rigged with a crude propane-and-gasoline bomb. It had cheap-looking alarm clocks connected to a 16-ounce (454-gram) can filled with fireworks.

Police said the bomb could have produced "a significant fireball" and sprayed shrapnel with enough force to kill pedestrians and knock out windows.

The SUV was parked on a street lined with Broadway theaters and restaurants and full of people out on a Saturday night.

The SUV was captured on video crossing an intersection at 6:28 pm on Saturday. A vendor pointed out the Pathfinder to an officer about two minutes later. Times Square, clogged with tourists on a warm evening, was shut down for 10 hours.

Will it be life or death for Kasab?

MUMBAI: A big conviction and two full acquittals later, the historic 26/11 terror trial came to an end on Monday. But next up immediately on Tuesday, it will be a question of life and death for the young terrorist.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam will be arguing for the maximum possible sentence Kasab attracts for the offence of waging war against India, murder of many and acts of terror. He is expected to seek death by hanging for Kasab, while the court-appointed defence lawyer for Kasab, K P Pawar, will seek leniency.

Pawar tried to ask the court for a few days to prepare himself for the sentencing arguments, but special Judge M L Tahaliyani refused. The judge told Kasab that the hearing for the quantum of sentence would take place on Tuesday as he asked the police escorts to take him back barefoot to his cell at the end of the two-and-half hour long conviction ruling. Kasab who displayed no emotion, allowed himself to be escorted away in silence.

After the hearing on the quantum, however, the court is unlikely to immediately pronounce the sentence on Tuesday itself. Once the sentence is delivered — be it the capital punishment which a proven terror act and waging of war will well attract or anything lesser — the action will then move to the Bombay high court for confirmation or appeal.

A death sentence given by a trial court must be confirmed by a high court before it can be effected under the law. And then from there it could go into appeal. Hence, if death is what Kasab's fate will be in a couple of days, the legal fight can be expected to continue all the way to the Supreme Court and then to the President.

But, if Kasab gets on the death row in India, he will be in a long queue of 52 convicts who face the noose and who have sought a pardon from the President. The prosecutor, victorious with Kasab's conviction, claimed immediately that the acquittal of the other two Indian co-accused would be challenged. But the state government, say sources, doesn't appear too keen on that.

India beat South Africa by 14 runs

GROS ISLET (Saint Lucia): Suresh Raina became only the third man to make a Twenty20 International century as India beat South Africa by 14 runs at the Beausejour Stadium on Sunday.

Victory, which saw India into the second round Super Eights after their seven-wicket win over Afghanistan on Saturday, was built on Raina's 101 out of a total of 186 for five.

Only West Indies' Chris Gayle and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum had previously made centuries at this level.

Raina had an escape on five when he was caught off a Morne Morkel no-ball.

It was an expensive error by the fast bowler, with left-hander Raina striking five sixes and nine fours in a blistering assault as he reached his century off 59 balls.

Together with Yuvraj Singh (37) he shared a stand of 88 in 10 overs after the pair came together with India 32 for two in the sixth over after they'd lost the toss.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith had promised his side would be flexible when it came to their openers but few foresaw the skipper dropping himself down to No 3.

Jacques Kallis, who opened in Smith's place, was nearly out for a second ball nought when a diving Yusuf Pathan at backward point just failed to hold on to a catch off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

Kallis, after the early loss of Loots Bosman, went on to complete a 45-ball fifty with three fours.

The experienced batsman then tried to keep South Africa on course by slog-sweeping Harbhajan for two successive sixes in the 15th over.

But a stand of 97 in 11 overs was ended when Smith was run out by Praveen Kumar's throw to wicketkeeper and India captain MS Dhoni.

Then 118 for two became 128 for three when Kallis fell on 73 after driving leg-spinner Piyush Chawla straight to Ravindra Jadeja in the deep.

South Africa though kept swinging and got the target down to 24 off the last over, bowled by Ashish Nehra and the left-arm quick conceded just nine.

India accelerated in the ninth over when Yuvraj swept spinner Roelof van der Merwe for the first six of the match and, two balls later, Raina lofted all-rounder Kallis high over wide long-on.

Both batsmen were severe on fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt, whose four overs cost 48 runs.

India took 25 runs off Kleinveldt's last over, the 18th, with Yusuf Pathan hitting the first ball for six and then taking a single.

Raina then struck three fours in a row, over long-on, through extra-cover and straight down the ground, before the batsman completed the over with a majestic six, struck off one knee and high over long-off.

Come the last over, Raina was on 95 and Dhoni was facing

But when he got on strike, for the third ball, Raina wasted little time in completing his hundred with a six over midwicket off Albie Morkel before getting out next ball.

This was only the 23-year-old Raina's 13th Twenty20 International and his score easily eclipsed his previous best of 61 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch last year.

Dhoni, whose side beat Afghanistan on Saturday, ended the innings with a six as India scored a mammoth 75 runs off the last five overs.

South Africa complete their group programme against Afghanistan in Barbados on May 5.

Jawan killed in UP 'fake encounter'

LUCKNOW: Yet another 'encounter' appears to have gone horribly wrong. A day after the Uttar Pradesh police killed an alleged car-lifter in an encounter in Bulandshahr, it now turns out that the "robber" was an armyman.

The 'encounter killing' of the armyman, identified by UP cops as Kuldeep Singh of 12 Rajputana Rifles and a native of Aligarh, has put the UP cops in the dock. Uttar Pradesh records the maximum number of complaints in the country for human rights violations.

However, additional director general (ADG), crime, Brij Lal, on Sunday refuted claims of the victim's family that the encounter was a fake. "There is absolutely no doubt about his involvement in the crime," he said.

The family members of the slain armyman accused cops of foul play. A resident of Bharairi village under Khar police station of Aligarh, the slain armyman's father, Meer Singh, alleged that the encounter was staged. "His clothes were torn. How can the clothes get torn in an exchange of fire?" Meer Singh asked.

He claimed that his son had come home two months ago on a vacation. Kuldeep left home on Saturday morning with a friend, Singh said, adding that his son had never been involved in any crime. "Why would he do such things now when he already had a good job," Meer Singh said.

The Bulandshahr police claimed on Saturday night that a resident of Mathura-Farah along with her driver, Bhagwan Singh, had approached a police patrol van near Mathura junction and told the cops that their Indica had been robbed at gun-point. The Gypsy immediately flashed a wireless alert stating that the miscreants had sped towards the Chola crossing in the rural police district of Bulandshahr.

Searches were conducted at Bhurd and Chola barriers and the Indica was spotted at Chola barrier. As the local police outpost in charge Naresh Kumar walked towards the car, the occupants opened fire hitting a cop's arm. The car then smashed through the barrier and sped towards Sikandrabad Road.

Almost all the officers in the area were pressed into service. A police team intercepted the car a couple of kilometres away from the barrier. The cops claimed that "in the exchange of fire that ensued, one of the robbers was killed while the other fled."

SSP Bulandshahr Nilesh Kumar said: "We have recovered a revolver and countrymade weapon from the deceased. Both the weapons were hidden in his boots, indicating that he was a sharpshooter."

In Lucknow, Brij Lal said the police were trying to trace the absconding "robber" and were hopeful of a breakthrough. A senior officer of the Bulandshahr police said a cellphone was recovered from the car and efforts were on to trace the call details to establish the movement and identity of its owner.

What makes the Uttar Pradesh Police so vulnerable to allegations of high handedness is perhaps the fact that the state contributes the maximum number of complaints of rights violations that reach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

According to human rights activists, the NHRC received more than 370,000 complaints from all over the country during the last 10 years, some 2,48,505 pertained to arbitrary use of power by police, abduction, rape, custodial violence and death, fake encounters and unlawful detention. A chunk of the total has been contributed by the UP Police.

IIT issues clarification on mistakes in JEE papers

NEW DELHI: The IIT-Joint Entrance Examination Board came out with a series of explanations on its mistakes in this year's paper. However, IIT-Kharagpur professor Rajiv Kumar, who had brought the errors to light, rubbished the explanations.

In its corrective explanation, IIT said each ORS (both for paper I and II) will be evaluated in two ways: sequential question number-wise and subject headings-wise. In each case, the higher score of the two evaluations will be taken as the candidate's score. Should one of the ways of evaluating lead to a mark below the minimum qualifying mark in one of the subjects, the other way will be deemed to be the higher of the two scores.

However, Kumar said correction by the IIT will not address the real issue. He said the main issue was of wastage of variable amount of time due to late instructions.

Kumar also said IIT completely ignored the biggest error in its instructions for section II of paper I and section IV of paper II, by which a candidate could score 93 marks by blindly darkening all corresponding bubbles and without attracting any penalty due to No-Negative Marking for wrong answers. The first error was that subject headings of physics and mathematics in the optical response sheet (ORS) were interchanged. This resulted in loss of time and created confusion.

Verdict on Kasab to be pronounced shortly

Judge M L Tahaliyani will pronounce a verdict in the biggest terror trial the city has witnessed in recent times in a short while from now. In the box will be Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani gunman charged with the deaths of 166 Indians and foreigners. Along with him, his two Indian co-accused -- Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Shaikh -- will also know their fate.

The prosecution has gathered a heap of evidence against Kasab and presented strong arguments that are capable of sending him to the gallows. Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has charged Kasab with not just the criminal acts of killing and injuring scores of innocent people, but has termed him guilty of the entire conspiracy that went into planning and executing the dastardly attack.

Nikam has argued that Kasab is a highly trained and motivated member of the Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who underwent months of training in weapons and intelligence so he could execute the well-planned attack on Mumbai. Nikam has also relied on scores of witness testimonies in a bid to establish Kasab's role in the killing of innocents at CST and Cama Hospital, the gunning down of senior policemen in Badruddin Tyabji Lane and the final gunbattle at Marine Drive.

The prosecution's main argument has been that Kasab is a cold-blooded killer whose guilt has been established both through human accounts of the night of November 26, 2008, as well as forensic evidence in the form of DNA reports.

The case against Ansari and Shaikh revolves around Kasab's confession to magistrate R V Sawant Waghule in February 2009. Kasab had said that the duo supplied maps of Mumbai to LeT bosses. Thus, they gave logistical support to carry out the attack.

In his defence, Kasab has maintained that he was an innocent Pakistani who was picked up several days prior to the attack. He has insisted that the terrorist caught on CCTV is not him but a lookalike. He also rubbished all witness testimonies as tutored and given at the behest of police officials.

Both Ansari and Shaikh have denied all wrongdoing. Their main argument is why would the LeT rely upon crude maps allegedly supplied by them when far more sophisticated versions were easily available on the internet. After the arrest of American David Coleman Headley, they also argued that recce work for the attack was done by him and they had been framed needlessly in the case.

In September 2006, after 13 years of arguments, the Tada court had begun giving its verdicts in the 1993 serial blasts case. It was the last major trial in recent times.

Manmohan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar feature in 'Time 100

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and economist Amartya Sen are among nine Indians figuring in Time magazine's annual list of 100 most influential people while Bollywood sensation Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan tops its 100 Alumnae list.

Manmohan Singh finds himself in the 19th spot in the Leaders list headed by Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with US president Barack Obama in the fourth place.

As India's finance minister from 1991 to 1996, Manmohan Singh "released India's potential for the benefit of its people. Now, as Prime Minister, he is guiding India into the ranks of the great powers," wrote PepsiCo's Indian American chairperson Indra Nooyi.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar gets the 13th place among 25 "Heroes" headed by former US president Bill Clinton who is recognised for his work as a fund-raiser and anti-poverty activist.

Writing about Tendulkar's double century in a One Day International match, new age guru Deepak Chopra says: "To millions of Indians and countless fans around the world, this act, which caps a career of record-breaking feats, arouses a sense of awe."

"The Alchemist" is the favourite book of Time Alumnae Aishwarya, who lists "certainly my mother and father" as the two people who had the most effect or influence on her.

Sixth placed among heroes Dr Perumalsamy Namperumalsamy, 70, was recognised for performing cataract surgery at the Aravind Eye Care Hospitals since 1976 and having treated 3.6 million surgeries to date-a new one every 15 minutes.

Indian entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw gets the 16th spot among 'heroes' for donating $2 million to support health insurance coverage for 100,000 Indian villagers and another$10 million for creating the 1,400-bed Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre in Bangalore.

A paramedic from Toronto, Rahul Singh in 22nd place is recognised for his relief work in Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit the poor Caribbean nation on Jan 12. In 1998, Singh founded GlobalMedic to provide disaster relief using volunteer professional emergency workers.

Chetan Bhagat, author of bestsellers, "One Night @ the Call Centre" and "Five Point Someone" is the lone Indian in the list of Artists headed by extravagantly outfitted singer Lady Gaga.

"I've seen the effect Chetan has on his readers," writes Academy Award winner Indian composer AR Rahman. "He often writes about following your dreams and not bowing to others' expectations. That isn't easy in India, where family opinion matters and some professions are regarded as more serious than others."

Nobel prize winner economist Amartya Sen is 20th on the "Thinkers" list. "Occasionally loquacious, often ironic, usually genial, always brilliant," Sen's notion of measuring human development is now central to the work of the United Nations and the World Bank, notes Harvard University history professor, Neil Ferguson.

Indian-America doctor and Harvard professor Atul Gwande is fifth on the list of 'thinkers' for his contribution to medicine. "In this historic time for health policy, the need for smart, creative thinkers is greater than ever. Gawande certainly is one and it is equally certain his influence will grow," wrote former US State Senator, Tom Daschle.

Humanitarian worker, Sanjit Bunker Roy's Barefoot College has trained more than 3 million people for jobs in the modern world, in buildings so rudimentary they have dirt floors and no chairs, Time said.

"Roy combines humanitarianism, entrepreneurship and education to help people steer their own path out of poverty, fostering dignity and self-determination along the way," it said.

Hakimullah Mehsud no longer running Pakistani Taliban: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Friday said that Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud is no longer running the terrorist outfit, even as news reports from that country claimed that he is still alive.

It has been widely believed that Hakimullah, who had succeeded Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in a drone attack early this year.

"I can also tell you that I certainly have seen no evidence that the person you speak of is operational today or is executing or exerting authority over the Pakistan Taliban as he once did," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news briefing.

"I don't know if that reflects him being alive or dead, but he clearly is not running the Pakistani Taliban anymore," Morrell said in response to a question if Mehsud was dead or alive.

BJP puts on hold its move to withdraw support to Soren government

NEW DELHI: After receiving a letter from JMM leader Hemant Soren expressing willingness to back a BJP-led government in Jharkhand, BJP parliamentary board on Friday decided to withhold its move to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren Ministry and is reportedly exploring ways of government formation there.

In a hurriedly convened parliamentary board meeting, BJP decided to explore the option of forming a government in Jharkhand, party sources said. However, the party is in a quandary on the issue whether a tribal or a non-tribal should lead the government.

The sources said a section in the BJP central unit feels making its Lok Sabha MP and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha the Chief Minister would provide more political stability and a better leadership to Jharkhand.

However, another section in the party and many in the state unit feel Arjun Munda should be the chief minister of the tribal-dominated state.

"BJP parliamentary board has decided that party leaders will talk to our alliance partners in Jharkhand, namely, JMM, JD(U) and AJSU, and our state unit leadership to take a decision on the proposal of Hemant Soren," senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar said.

Till then the decision to withdraw support to Shibu Soren government has been put on hold, he said.

On Thursday, Jharkhand deputy chief minister and BJP leader Raghuvar Das had sought appointment with Governor M O H Farooq thrice but did not meet him in the wake of backdoor negotiations between the party and JMM.

In an earlier letter, Shibu Soren had apologised to the BJP top brass for voting against the cut motions in the Lok Sabha. On Thursday evening, Hemant had written a letter to BJP President Nitin Gadkari pledging support to a BJP-led government in the state.

3G auction 'transparent', to be over in couple of days: Raja

NEW DELHI: The auction of third-generation (3G) spectrum is likely to be completed in next 1 or 2 days, Telecom minister A Raja informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

"The auction is being held successfully....it will be completed in one or two days," he said during Question Hour.

"I am clear that the procedure is transparent. It is open to all to question this but there is no question of lack of transparency," he added.

The e-auction began on April 9 and will continue till such time that demand equals supply, he said adding the award of spectrum was being done transparently and fairly.

Nine mobile telephony firms including Bharti, Vodafone, Reliance and Tatas are in the fray for 3-4 slots of 3G spectrum that allows subscribers to download hi-speed data and stream videos on mobile telephones. Radio waves are being auctioned across 22 circles.

"Procedure followed in allocation of (3G) spectrum is fully transparent....everything is transparent," he said insisting that the process followed was open to any scrutiny.

The available spectrum was put on the Department of Telecommunication's website before the auction, he said.

Raja had earlier this week stated that the Government may garner around Rs 50,000-Rs 55,000 crore by selling 3G airwaves and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum through auction.

"The revenue from 3G auction alone may cross Rs 40,000 crore. Revenues from 3G and BWA spectrum put together may touch Rs 50,000-55,000 crore," he had stated this week.

At the end of the 16th day of auction yesterday, pan-India 3G mobile licence price reached Rs 8,914 crore. Demand was on par with supply for just three circles: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, while only Tamil Nadu and Kolkata received excess bids.

The successful bidders would be allotted air waves in September after the spectrum is vacated by the defence forces.

Raja today informed the Upper House that there were various bands available and are classified as 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and possibly 5G.

While 1G frequency is used by security agencies like defence forces and police, 2G is used by mobile telephone operators.

Madhuri Gupta visited area near LoC in March

JAMMU: Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta, arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan's spy agency ISI, had visited the Sunderbani border area in Jammu and Kashmir last month and stayed with a doctor couple, intelligence sources said.

Gupta, 53, had been to Sunderbani, close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district, for two days on March 28 and 29 this year, intelligence sources said. Officials said they do not have exact information on the kind of relationship the diplomat had with the doctor couple.

"At some stage, it might be investigated," an intelligence official said.

Gupta, a second secretary with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, has been remanded to police custody. The Indian government Tuesday said it was questioning Gupta for passing sensitive information to Pakistan.

She was arrested four days ago after being summoned to Delhi on the pretext of consultations.

Rajya Sabha adjourned over PR firm owner's phone tapping

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Wednesday over the alleged phone tapping of a public relations firm owner on the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum.

The trouble erupted as soon as the upper house assembled with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK members raising the issue. The house adjourned till 12 noon.

In a brief statement, leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley (BJP) said: "Early this week, there was a report about phone tapping. The home minister made a statement that those were not authorised. Today there is a news report, which seems to be an authorised case of phone tapping.

"The question is whether leaders of industries are involved in the allocation of portfolios by the prime minister. The allocation of 2G spectrum seems to be linked to this."

As the protest continued, chairman Hamid Ansari said discussions could be organised but opposition members refused to relent. Failing to restore order, Ansari adjourned the house till 12 noon.

He also threatened to shift the question hour if disturbances continued and said he would rule on this later in the day.

According to a news report published in The Pioneer, government agencies have tapped the phone of a PR firm owner and her conversation with telecom minister A. Raja.

Shivraj Patil sworn in as Rajasthan Governor

JAIPUR: Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, who has been given additional charge of Rajasthan following the demise of Prabha Rau, was on Wednesday sworn in here.

Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla administered the oath of office to Patil at a simple function in Raj Bhawan.

Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to late Governor Rau.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, cabinet ministers and other senior state bureaucrats.

Prabha Rau had died due to a heart attack in New Delhi on Monday.

Soren's vote an act of betrayal, says BJP

NEW DELHI: Calling Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's action of voting with the government in Lok Sabha an "act of betrayal", BJP on Wednesday convened a parliamentary board meeting to discuss the future of ties with JMM in Jharkhand where the two parties run a coalition government.

Senior party leaders said that BJP has taken very serious note of Soren's action and is not buying the explanation given by Soren's son Hemant that it has happened by mistake even as the Chief Minister wondered "what difference will it (his vote) make".

"The voting in favour of UPA by Soren is an act of betrayal. The manner in which he has voted is a betrayal of coalition dharma. We have taken it very seriously. Senior party leaders will take a call on it," senior BJP leader Prakash Javdekar said.

Another party leader Venkaiah Naidu echoed similar views saying "it's a clear betrayal".

"You can't be heading a government with the support of BJP, be in opposition and at the same time, support the ruling party at the Centre. It is not acceptable.On what to do the party will meet and discuss. It is a serious issue," he said.

Naidu also refused to buy the explanation given by Hemant Soren on the issue that his father voted for UPA in a mistake.

Senior party leader from Jharkhand Yashwant Sinha said, "He (Soren) is there (on the Chief Minister's chair) in Jharkhand with our support. Therefore, the least that was expected of him that he would not go to this stage. He could have stayed neutral."

Asked whether the BJP would take any action into the matter, Sinha said, "We will sit down and take stock of the situation."

Sinha said Soren's action showed "perhaps, he has some plans up his sleeve."

Sources said that after Soren sprung a surprise yesterday by voting with the government on the cut motions moved by BJP and the Left, the BJP top brass was livid and held discussions with the JMM chief.

Soren had a meeting with BJP president Nitin Gadkari last night where his decision not to vote with the BJP came up for discussion.

Gadkari has called a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board, the highest decision making body of the party, to deliberate on the issue.

With Soren voting along with the UPA government, speculation is rife that he may have struck a deal with the Congress-led government. Sources said he may bargain for a berth in the Union Cabinet and make his son Hemant the deputy chief minister in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik Chief Babulal Marandi may then become the Chief Minister in a coalition government of the Congress, JMM and JVN.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, Congress has 14 MLAs, JMM has 18 and JVM(P) has 11 MLAs.

Asked about JMM's sudden support on the cut motions, Hemant Soren, today claimed that it happened by "mistake" and made it clear there was no move to form a government in Jharkhand with Congress backing.

Sikh group to challenge clean chit to Tytler

NEW YORK: Angry over a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a community group here has alleged that the CBI did not investigate material witnesses in the case when its team came to the United States.

The Sikh group based in New York and India, Sikhs for Justice, says there are several witnesses living in the US who had seen the Congress leader inciting mobs in the killings.

Sikhs for Justice, which had originally challenged CBI's closure report in 2007 are now preparing to challenge the Delhi court's decision to acquit Tytler, citing the new witnesses that have still not been heard.

"The CBI did not investigate material witnesses when they came to the United States and they came with the premeditated notion of giving Tytler a clean chit," Gurpatwant Pannun, the lawyer for the Sikhs for Justice, told PTI.

"The CBI should come back and speak to these witnesses who saw what happened," he added, noting that the Sikh group would ask the court to direct the CBI to hear these witnesses.

Resham Singh, who claims he saw Tytler at the Pulbangash Gurudwara standing in front of the mob as black smoke emerged from the shrine, said the CBI officials refused to speak to him when they came to interview the two key witnesses Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh in San Francisco and New York.

In its decision, the court pointed out that the statement of Jasbir had "no relevance" and that the statements of Surinder Singh were "self-contradictory".

"I'm running after them to be heard... this is absolutely ridiculous," Resham told PTI.

Pannun said the discredited witness Jasbir "is outraged by the court's decision and blames the CBI for yielding to political pressure".

In 2007, when the CBI was about to close the case against Tytler based on the absence of evidence, Jasbir spoke out through the media that he was a living witnesses who could account for Tytler's alleged role.

In the coming weeks, Jasbir intends to appeal the decision that gave Tytler a clean chit and will come to India to testify if it is necessary.

Several potential witnesses here claim that they are scared of being harmed if they speak out about the past.

"I will go anywhere to get justice but they must provide security," Jasbir said.

In April, Sikhs for Justice has also filed a civil suit against Transport Minister, Kamal Nath, in a New York Federal District for his alleged role in the 1984 killings.

Arrest of Indian diplomat for spying a serious issue: Krishna

THIMPHU: Terming the arrest of an Indian diplomat posted in Islamabad as a "serious" issue, external affairs minister S M Krishna on Wednesday said the government will do whatever was needed after finding out her "motive and modus operandi".

"Investigations are going on and we will have to wait till the investigation are complete and then find out what was the motive and what was the modus operandi," Krishna told reporters here.

He said the fact that she was called and was in police custody shows the "seriousness" of the issue.

Madhuri Gupta, an IFS-B officer who was Second Secretary in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested last week on the charges of passing information to ISI. She was summoned by Ministry of External Affairs on the pretext of discussions over SAARC summit, being held in Thimphu, official sources said.

"Let's first get through with the investigation that has been initiated.... MHA is doing the investigation. Once we get all the report, what needs to be done will be done by the government of India," he said.

Asked if the incident has brought the High Commission under the scanner, the minister said, "Let's not be judgmental and jump to any conclusion".

SC quashes 'pre-marital sex' cases against Khushboo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed 22 criminal cases filed against South Indian actress Khushboo for her remarks in various magazines allegedly endorsing pre-marital sex.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan allowed the appeal filed by the actress against the decision of the Madras High Court which had dismissed her plea to quash the cases.

The cases were registered in various places in Tamil Nadu for her interviews in 2005.

Khushboo had challenged the 2008 ruling of the Madras High Court, which had dismissed her plea to scrap various criminal cases against her for the controversial remark.

In a speech earlier, Khushboo had said there was nothing wrong with pre-marital sex and live-in relationships. In its ruling the bench asked: "When two adults want to live together, what is the offence? Does it amount to an offence? Living together is not an offence. It cannot be an offence."

The court had said the views expressed by her were personal. And no one had the right to question the personal thinking of a person, the court said.

The bench had also asked the complainants to produce evidence of any girls eloping after the statement.

Billion-dollar deal papers go missing

MUMBAI: This isn't just another missing document. Among the scores of papers that have allegedly gone missing from the BCCI headquarters here, are the papers relating to the highly controversial $1.64 billion TV rights contract between BCCI, Multi-Screen Media (MSM) and World Sports Group (WSG) involving a suspect "facilitation" fee of $80 million. They are not with BCCI, nor apparently with suspended IPL chief Lalit Modi.

The contract deals with IPL TV rights for nine years from 2009 onwards that were renegotiated after the original deal signed in 2008 for $1.02 billion was terminated. Papers of such a huge contract are normally kept with care for future reference so that it is observed by the parties concerned in letter and spirit.

Income-tax authorities are looking for these papers, and the BCCI is flabbergasted by their absence. The suspended IPL chief is understood to have been the key person who negotiated this tripartite deal between BCCI and MSM — a Sony subsidy — and WSG (Mauritius).

BCCI sources said the papers were simply not there and admitted that the deal was very suspicious as after the 2008 contract was cancelled, the rights were parked with WSG (Mauritius) for a few days before being given back to MSM. In a recent interaction with BCCI, a senior Sony representative said MSM had been threatened with loss of telecast rights.

BCCI members said that along with the WSG-MSM contract, papers related to digital, image rights awarded to Global Cricket Ventures — a firm held by Elephant Capital where Modi's step son-in-law Gaurav Burman has a stake with his brother — are also untraceable.

As for the broadcast deal, the facilitation fee of $80 million which MSM had agreed to pay WSG translates into Rs 425 crore. Out of this, Rs 125 crore has been paid, and the remaining amount was to be paid over the next seven years. The decision to park rights with a company in a tax haven is seen as a bid to facilitate payments in a manner where tracing the end beneficiaries would be near impossible.

Man exposed to radiation dies, another critical in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A 35-year-old man died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 19 days after he was exposed to radioactive material in the scrap market of Mayapuri in west Delhi. Another victim continues to remain critical, doctors said Tuesday.

Rajender Prasad, who was exposed to Cobalt 60 at a scrap dealer shop in Mayapuri in west Delhi and admitted to AIIMS on April 8, died around 9.30 pm on Monday after multiple organ failure.

"He developed bilateral pneumonia and was exhibiting signs of kidney and liver function impairment. He was put on ventilator April 24," a doctor treating the radiation victims said.

According to doctors, another radiation victim Ram Kalap is critical and his blood counts have reduced significantly. He has been put on prophylactic antibiotic and anti-fungal agents.

Eight radiation victims have been admitted to hospitals so far.

Six people were admitted at AIIMS with radiation exposure. One was discharged on April 20. Three patients continue to have low blood count but are "stable", the doctor said.

Deepak Jain, a scrap metal dealer from Mayapuri, was the first victim. He turned black after he touched the radioactive source. He had a considerably suppressed bone marrow and is hospitalized at the Indraprastha Apollo hospital.

Ajay Jain, another scrap metal dealer from Mayapuri, was admitted to Max Hospital in Pitampura on April 10. He suffered minor burns and was declared radiation free by the hospital authorities. His condition is being monitored.

Copy of US Declaration found in Shimla

CHANDIGARH: When the owner of Maria Bros, a bookshop in Shimla, acquired a collection of old tomes about two decades ago, little did he know that it was a veritable treasure trove. For, neatly tucked among stacks of old books was a historic document — a parchment that's one of the few surviving copies of the American Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776.

The parchment has attracted the attention of Himachal Pradesh tourism, which has included a feature on Maria Bros as part of its own publication, 'Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai', to promote tourism. The department has requested the bookshop owner, Rajeev Sud, to showcase the parchment. Rajeev is the son of O C Sud, who ran Maria Bros till his death around 10 years ago. It was Sud who had discovered the parchment. "The copy in Shimla is part of the original 200 copies in the world. It's a treasure. We'll persuade its owners to showcase it as it has the potential to attract tourists," said Himachal tourism director, Arun Sharma.

Sud started Maria Bros in 1953, dealing in general and school books and stationery items. In the early 1960s, Sud shifted to old books, travelogues and history, later establishing himself as one the most respected and knowledgeable antiquarians in India. After he discovered the rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence, Sud had it authenticated through several agencies, including a reputed auction house of London.

After Sud's death, his son Rajeev preserved the parchment, now shown to tourists on request. It was while conducting research for 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai' that Himachal tourism realized its worth.

And, Maria Bros seems to be the best place to showcase it with the shop housing other rare books and artefacts, too, including volumes connected with Vajrayana Buddhism sold by Tibetan refugees. And there are trumpets made from human thigh bones, reliquaries and other sacred objects.

Congress did not initiate anti-Sikh riots in 1984: Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari says it's not entirely correct to blame the then Congress government for initiating the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

In an interview to BBC Hindi Service, Gadkari said: "Some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government.

"Nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents; these are unfortunate reactions of the people at large."

Gadkari was replying to questions on the alleged involvement of the BJP and its government in the demolition of the Babri mosque and the 1992 Gujarat riots.

"Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?" the newly-elected BJP president asked.

"Why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi..."

He also said the BJP was not anti-Muslim, and shot back, "If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?"

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

BBC: Can you assure the Muslim community that your party is not against them?

Gadkari: If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?

BBC: Dr Abdul Kalam was surely made the President but how would your party wash the blemish of Gujarat riots?

Gadkari: More serious riots took place in Mumbai (in 1992) but why wasn't the government (in the state) blamed? Why wasn't a Special Investigating Team set up against the then chief minister of Maharashtra?

BBC: Do you think Muslims will forget the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?

Gadkari: Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?

BBC: Can Muslims forget Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque?

Gadkari: This is only a section of the media and certain individuals who write or say unfounded things about us.

BBC: Are you saying that Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri mosque never happened and these incidents are media's creation?

Gadkari: Both these incidents did happen. I am asking you why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi...

BBC: But the Congress party is answerable for that...and the media has been questioning the party...

Gadkari: The basic thing is that nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents. These are the unfortunate reactions by the people at large.

BBC: Do you think '84 riots were also a reaction of the people and there was no manipulation involved?

Gadkari: Look, some people might be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the government.

CRPF internal reports hint at lack of training, facilities

NEW DELHI: Internal reports of the CRPF, which has just lost 75 personnel in the Maoists attack in Dantewada, say the force's field commanders had pointed out lack of training, work pressure and communication gaps as some reasons for losses in operations.

As per the reports, senior officers were of the view that non-availability of sufficient firing range, lack of shooting practice were some of the reasons for more casualties of CRPF personnel during operations.

The reports, prepared by the force's field commanders after a series of meetings, also mentions a senior officer who looks after training expressing his unhappiness over the kind of training.

He said the normal PT/Parades are not getting due importance in Battalions or Group Centres, which he felt affects the turn-out and training aspect of men.

The reports also mention that certain Battalions have shortage of Assistant Commandant and various other ranks and non availability of Company Commander for a longer duration affects the functioning and efficiency of the particular Company.

It was also felt by certain officers that competency and efficiency level varies from unit to unit and that training level had gone down.

Officers also mentioned that the personnel frequently change their role at a short notice which dos not give them time for mental preparation. The roles include law and order duties, Counter Insurgency Operations, VIP security, communal tension, election duties, jungle warfare, tackling terrorism, extremism among others.

It was also felt that infrastructure and living conditions of the personnel posted in various parts of the country have to be improved.

Questions were also raised on non-implementation of standard operating procedures at times.