New Delhi, Oct 7: A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, along with his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, in connection with the land-for-jobs money laundering case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne granted bail to the accused on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each, taking into account that none of them were arrested during the investigation. The court proceedings followed a summons issued to the trio earlier, requiring them to appear in court.

The summons was issued after the judge took cognizance of a supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 6. The ED’s case is rooted in an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The case revolves around alleged irregularities in Group-D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railways, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. According to the ED, jobs were allegedly provided in exchange for land parcels that were either gifted or transferred to Prasad’s family members or associates.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for further proceedings in the case.

Amravati, October 5: A violent protest in Amravati city, Maharashtra, resulted in injuries to 21 police personnel after a large mob engaged in stone-pelting while demanding action against Hindu seer Yati Narsinghanand Maharaj for his alleged objectionable remarks about Prophet Mohammad.

The incident occurred late Friday night outside the Nagpuri Gate police station, where demonstrators gathered to press for the registration of a formal complaint against Narsinghanand, who is based in Ghaziabad. In response to the unrest, police have registered a case against the seer for his remarks.

Amravati Police Commissioner Navin Chandra Reddy reported that the protest began around 8:15 PM when a sizable group, including members from various organizations, arrived at the police station to seek justice. Initially, the in-charge officer informed the mob that an FIR had already been filed and that an investigation was underway. However, following the circulation of a video featuring the seer’s comments, tensions escalated as the crowd returned to the police station.

During efforts to calm the situation, the police were met with hostility as members of the mob began hurling stones. Senior police officials managed to disperse the crowd, and additional forces were deployed to restore order.

The aftermath of the violence saw significant damage, with at least 10 police vehicles vandalized. In total, a case has been filed against approximately 1,200 individuals, with 26 of them already identified by the authorities.

In response to the unrest, police issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting assemblies of five or more people in the Nagpuri Gate area.

The police have charged Yati Narsinghanand Maharaj with multiple offenses under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 299, which pertains to acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and Section 302, which addresses deliberately wounding the religious sentiments of others. Police continue to investigate and search for those involved in the rioting.

Pune, October 5: A special court in Pune has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The court’s summons, issued on Friday, requires Gandhi to appear in person on October 23 to address charges of defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The defamation complaint stems from remarks made by Gandhi during a speech in London in March 2023. In his speech, Gandhi alleged that Savarkar had claimed to have participated in an incident where he and several friends beat up a Muslim man, expressing happiness about the act. Satyaki Savarkar has strongly denied these allegations, asserting that no such incident occurred and that his granduncle never documented such a claim.

Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, emphasized the seriousness of the charges against Gandhi, stating that the court deemed it necessary for the Congress leader to be present to answer the allegations. The case, initially filed in a Pune court last year, was transferred to the special court for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) last month.

Following the complaint, the court instructed the police to investigate the matter. The Vishrambaug police station conducted an inquiry and reported finding prima facie evidence supporting the claims made by Satyaki Savarkar.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, this case highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges faced by political figures in India regarding statements made in public forums. The outcome of the upcoming court appearance will be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.