No pressure to change SPP in Darshan fan murder case, says Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru, June 20 2024-

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that there is no pressure on him to change the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the Renukaswamy murder case involving actor Darshan, his girlfriend, and his 15 associates.

“There is no pressure on me to change the SPP by any minister and MLAs. I wouldn’t care if anyone tries to put pressure,” he told reporters here on the alleged pressure to change SPP Prasanna Kumar.

Siddaramaiah termed the news of changing the SPP as false and far from the truth.

“We will do exactly what the law says. The police are given a free hand and directed to carry out investigations as per the law. There is no proposal to change the SPP,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara again emphasised that there is no intention to weaken the case against Kannada superstar Darshan in the fan murder case.

Darshan, his ‘partner’ and co-star Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others have been arrested on charges of murdering Renukaswamy (33), a resident of Chitradurga. The probe so far revealed that Renukaswamy was a big fan of Darshan and had sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda on social media. He was allegedly kidnapped, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed, and brutally tortured to death.

Asked if the police were mulling to replace the SPP, Parameshwara said: “We are investigating the matter without succumbing to any pressure. If there is a need to change the SPP, there must be a valid reason. The decision to change the SPP won’t be made without a reason.”

“We will take proper legal advice and act accordingly. As far as I know, there is no proposal to change the SPP,” he said. However, he also said that in case the SPP is replaced, it should not be viewed as a wrong move.

Prasanna Kumar has represented the prosecution for agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) before and secured convictions. He also represented the prosecution in Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s case and various bomb blast cases.

Asked about Darshan’s reported confession to the crime, Parameshwara said he was not aware of it.

“I don’t know about the internal aspects of the probe. The media often gets news before I do. This is a serious matter and actions will be taken without any hesitation,” he said.

Sources claimed on Wednesday that Darshan has reportedly admitted to his involvement in the murder case as per the remand copy submitted to the 24th ACMM court. As per the remand copy, Darshan gave Rs 30 lakh to Pradosh, an accused in the case, to manage the police and lawyers, and to pay those who disposed of the body. The police have reportedly seized the money from Pradosh’s residence.

Replying to a question about the disappearance of actor Darshan’s manager Mallikarjun for the past one and a half years, Parameshwara said the police would verify the matter.

“The SIT will decide if it wants a probe into this. If they seek permission from the government, we will grant it,” he said. About the suicide case of Sridhar, one of Darshan’s employees, Parameshwara said the matter will be probed if a connection with the actor in this matter is established. (Agency)

7 more CBG projects in pipeline, to be operational by end of 2024: Aman Arora

Chandigarh, June 19, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

With an aim to make Punjab a frontrunner state in clean and green energy production in the country, Punjab New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that seven more Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects are expected to be operationalised by end of this year.

On commissioning, these projects will produce 79 Ton CBG per day by consuming at least 4.20 lakh ton paddy straw annually.

Mr. Aman Arora, while chairing a meeting to review ongoing projects being executed by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in the state, here at his office, said that Punjab Government has allotted 38 CBG projects of total capacity 469.50 TPD, wherein agriculture residue is used as feedstock.

These projects will supplement the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s efforts to reduce the stubble burning cases to zero, besides creating an extra source of income for farmers and generating job opportunities for skilled and unskilled workforce.

He further added that there is an ample scope for CBG projects as around 20 million ton paddy straw is produced every year in the state, out of which about 10 million Ton is disposed of scientifically. Secretary New and Renewable Energy Sources Mr. Ravi Bhagat apprised Mr. Aman Arora that 32 more projects of total capacity 462 Ton CBG per day are in the process of allocation.

These projects will consume around 14.04 lakh ton paddy straw annually.

Mr. Aman Arora also reviewed the status of the solar pump scheme under which 20,000 new solar pumps to be provided for agriculture purposes in the state.

Notably, these solar pumps will be allotted to those farmers, who have a sprinkler and drip irrigation system in dark zones to save precious groundwater. Farmers will get a 60 percent subsidy for the solar pumps.

He also asked the Director PEDA Mr. MP Singh to expedite the execution of ongoing green energy projects in the state.

Why is Raja Warring so disturbed by transfers in Police Department?: Malvinder Kang

Chandigarh, June 19, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab questioned the objections raised by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring about the transfers in the Punjab police department. AAP said that it is a routine matter but the perturbed state of Raja Warring indicates that his personal interests are at stake due to these transfers.

In a press conference, on Wednesday, at the party office in Chandigarh, the newly elected MP and chief spokesperson of the AAP Punjab Malvinder Singh Kang said that the Mann government received feedback from the common people.

Some police personnel are part of the drug nexus, so to curb this nexus, chief minister Bhagwant Mann decided to do transfers. Kang questioned the reaction of Congress leader and asked why is he disturbed by these transfers. Kang said that it appears that Warring’s personal settings in the system are disarranged.

Kang also criticised Raja Warring for his statement that the Mann government is transferring the police personnel who voted for the Congress. Kang asked how Punjab Congress leaders know who voted for whom.

He said that first Sher Singh Ghubaya said that he will only work for the people who voted for them, now Warring is giving the similar statement. Kang said that there is no way to know in democracy who voted for whom. But such continuous irresponsible statements from the Congress leaders are concerning.

Kang further said that the Punjab Congress and the BJP leaders are generally mum on the issues of Punjab and its people.

He said that Raja Warring and Sunil Jakhar are not raising issue of Lawrence Bishnoi’s video that surfaced from Gujarat jail. But they are objecting to some routine functioning of the police department. Kang said that it is not surprise because Congress and BJP leaders often patronize corrupt people.

Bhuvan Bam wants to change how people perceive the place of content creators in Bollywood

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actor and YouTube sensation Bhuvan Bam has voiced his commitment to changing perceptions about creators leading major film and television projects.

“I want to change the ethos and perception that a YouTube creator can’t lead films and projects,” said Bhuvan Bam.

“I silenced my critics by making ‘Taaza Khabar’ one of the most-watched shows of 2023. And it is a fact,” he added.

Building on this momentum, Bhuvan has promised that the second season of ‘Taaza Khabar’ will be even more impactful.

“The second season will shape everyone’s perception towards content creators who want to make it big in Bollywood as full-time actors,” Bhuvan stated.

“We are bringing more depth, excitement, and innovation to the story, and I am confident it will resonate even more with our audience,” he said.

Bhuvan started his career by uploading a video mocking a news reporter who asked a woman insensitive questions about her son’s death due to the Kashmir floods. He then started his YouTube channel in 2015.

In 2016, he released a music video titled ‘Teri Meri Kahani’. In 2018, he began a new digital series on YouTube called ‘Titu Talks’, featuring Shah Rukh Khan as the first guest. In 2023, he made his OTT debut with ‘Taaza Khabar’ and was also seen in Amazon miniTV’s ‘Rafta Rafta’.

‘Taaza Khabar’, a fantasy comedy thriller directed by Himank Gaur, also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar, J. D. Chakravarthy, Deven Bhojani, Prathamesh Parab, Nitya Mathur, and Shilpa Shukla.

It tells the story of a sanitation worker who comes across a magical boon that can predict the future.(Agency)

Kartik Aaryan talks about his third-hand car: ‘The driving seat door would not open’

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actor Kartik Aaryan, who appeared on the stage of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ (TGIKS), narrated an anecdote about his third-hand car, which he took to red carpet events and other functions.

Kartik and his mother, Mala Tiwari, appeared on the finale episode of season one of the comedy chat show, hosted by Kapil Sharma.

During the conversation, Kapil humorously questioned the ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ actor about his third-hand car, asking, “What is the story behind the car?”

Clarifying Kapil’s doubt, Kartik responded: “Actually, the person I bought the car from had bought it second-hand.”

Further narrating one of the stories about his third-hand car, Kartik shared: “There are these red carpets and other similar events… so in those days, I used to travel by rickshaw. Somehow, I managed to buy this car, which bothered me even more because the driver’s seat door would not open.

“When I attended such events, there were valets who I had to stop from opening this door as I had to get out from the other side. I would jump to the other side in my coat and come out. I used to tell them, ‘Don’t open that door or it will break,’” said the ‘Luka Chuppi’ actor.

“During rains, there used to be seepage in the car. I had to dodge the raindrops and drive in that manner. So, it was a unique problem,” added Kartik.

The episode will air on Saturday at 8 p.m. on Netflix.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kartik recently played the character of Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar in the biographical sports drama ‘Chandu Champion’, directed by Kabir Khan.(Agency)

T20 World Cup: Salt, Bairstow take England to 8-wicket victory over WI

Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 20, 2024
In a resounding start to their Super 8 campaign at the T20 World Cup, England showcased their prowess with a commanding 8-wicket victory over hosts West Indies.

Having barely scraped through to the Super 8s, England defied expectations and dominated the game, securing the win with 15 balls to spare.

Winning the toss, England captain Jos Buttler opted to bowl first, a decision that soon paid dividends. The West Indies openers started cautiously, but Brandon King sparked excitement with a spectacular 101-metre six followed by three boundaries.

However, disaster struck as King, batting on 23, sustained a groin injury and had to retire hurt, leaving the hosts in a precarious position.

Nicholas Pooran and Johnson Charles took up the mantle, aiming to stabilise the innings. Charles, showing signs of aggression, began to free his arms. Yet, England’s bowlers maintained tight lines and kept the run rate in check.

When Charles fell for a well-made 38, Rovman Powell promoted himself up the order and injected momentum with a blistering cameo. Powell’s 36 from 17 balls, which included five towering sixes, three of them off Liam Livingstone, threatened to propel West Indies to a formidable total.

Just when it seemed the hosts might breach the 200-run mark, England’s bowlers staged a comeback. Livingstone redeemed himself by dismissing Powell in the same over, and Jofra Archer removed the struggling Pooran, who managed 36 off 32 balls. Adil Rashid then delivered a crucial blow, enticing Andre Russell into a misjudged shot that resulted in a catch.

Despite a late surge from Sherfane Rutherford, who scored a brisk 28 from 15 balls, West Indies posted a total of 180. While respectable, it felt underwhelming given the context of the match.

England’s response was swift and assertive.

Openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler set a blistering pace in the powerplay, with Salt particularly ruthless against the West Indies bowlers. His aggressive approach included a monstrous 100-metre six off his KKR teammate Andre Russell. By the end of the powerplay, England had raced to 58 without loss, laying a solid foundation for the chase.

Although West Indies briefly revived hope by claiming the wickets of Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, Bairstow and Salt quickly extinguished any aspirations of a comeback. Salt, having slowed down momentarily, reignited the assault, targeting Romario Shepherd with ferocity. In a single over, he plundered 30 runs, decisively tilting the game in England’s favour.

With clinical precision, Bairstow and Salt carried England over the finish line. Bairstow’s composed innings complemented Salt’s explosive style, ensuring that England reached the target comfortably with 15 balls remaining. Salt hammered unbeaten 87 and Bairstow played an innings of 48 not out.

Brief Score:

West Indies 180 for 4 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 36, Nicholas Poorani 36; Moeen Ali 1-15, Adil Rashid 1-21) lost to England 181 for 2 in 17.3 over (Phil Salt 87 not out, Jonny Bairstow 48 not out; Andre Russell 1-21, Riston Chase 1-19) by eight wickets.(Agency)

Israel’s military spokesman says Hamas ‘cannot be eliminated’

Jerusalem, June 20 2024-

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari has said that Hamas “cannot be eliminated” and suggested that only a swap deal could secure the release of all hostages still held in Gaza.

The remarks, made during an interview with Israeli Channel 13 TV news, mark the first time an Israeli official has said on Wednesday that the Palestinian group cannot be eliminated.

The statement diverges from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s set goals for the war: “eliminating” Hamas and releasing hostages held in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It is rooted in the hearts of the people — whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong,” said the IDF officer.

Hagari said that the way to weaken Hamas is to establish a new government in the Gaza Strip that would replace it and take care of food distribution and public services, adding that the only way to secure the release of all Israeli hostages is by reaching a swap deal.

In response, Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying that the security cabinet “has defined as one of the war goals the destruction of Hamas’s military and governance capabilities,” indicating a slight shift from the previously stated objective of eliminating Hamas.

Israeli forces have been fighting in Gaza for more than eight months, causing a humanitarian crisis and mass destruction and killing more than 37,300 people, mainly civilians.

According to the Israeli army, much of Hamas’ militant infrastructure has been dismantled.

Israel launched the war to retaliate for a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people. (Agency)

Fan murder case: Darshan, his 13 associates to be produced before court today

Bengaluru, June 20, 2024
Kannada superstar Darshan and 13 of his associates will be produced before the court on Thursday in the Renukaswamy murder case.

Sources stated that the police would not seek their further custody as the investigators have completed all procedures and gathered all documents, materials and evidence in connection with the case, except for the mobile phone of the deceased Renukaswamy, which is considered crucial evidence.

The accused are likely to be produced before the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court later in the afternoon. Darshan was arrested on June 11 in Mysuru.

Darshan, his ‘partner’ and co-star Pavithra Gowda, and 15 others have been arrested on charges of murdering Renukaswamy (33), a resident of Chitradurga. Two of the accused have been sent to judicial custody.

The probe has so far revealed that Renukaswamy was a big fan of Darshan and had sent derogatory messages to Pavithra Gowda on social media. He was allegedly kidnapped, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed, and brutally tortured to death.

Sources claimed that on Wednesday Darshan reportedly admitted to his involvement in the murder case, as per the remand copy submitted to the 24th ACMM court.

According to the remand copy, Darshan gave Rs 30 lakh to Pradosh, an accused in the case, to manage the police and lawyers, and to pay those who disposed of the body. The police have reportedly seized the money from Pradosh’s residence.

Darshan was jailed for 14 days in 2011 for allegedly assaulting his wife. He was accused of burning his wife’s face with cigarettes, hitting her with slippers, and threatening to kill their son.(Agency)

Once ridiculed as ‘part-time’ politician, Pawan Kalyan takes centre stage in Andhra politics

Amaravati, June 20 2024-

From being ridiculed by his critics as a “non-serious” and “part-time” politician till a couple of years ago to now Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, it’s quite an achievement for actor-politician Konidela Pawan Kalyan.

The Jana Sena leader, who assumed office on Wednesday, has come a long way since floating the party a decade ago despite the political disaster experienced by his more famous elder brother Chiranjeevi.

Though he made a modest beginning as a campaigner for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its ally Bharatiya Jana Party (BJP) in 2014 and had a disastrous electoral debut five years later, Pawan Kalyan stayed the course, determined to carve a niche for himself.

He, however, had to face bitter attacks from YSRCP leaders on his personal life. YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, at every public meeting, targeted the actor-politician over his three marriages, always referred to him as the “foster son” of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and called him a “non-resident politician” and a “package star”.

“Power star”, as Pawan Kalyan is popularly known in film circles, has finally tasted victory and power. After succeeding in his mission to end the “destructive rule” of the YSRCP, he appears set to play a big role in the changed political environment.

As the number two in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, the actor-politician is expected to have a major say in the decision-making. He has been entrusted with key portfolios like Panchayati Raj, Rural Development & Rural Water Supply, Environment and Forest, and Science and Technology.

Over the last decade, he has shown keen interest in subjects like rural development and the environment.

As Chandrababu Naidu’s deputy, Pawan Kalyan will not only be looking for an active role in government but may also capitalise on this to strengthen his party, which put up an incredible show in recent elections to win all 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested. After the 2019 disaster when he lost both the seats he contested, Pawan Kalyan was elected from the Pithapuram constituency in Kakinada.

His Jana Sena, which has three ministers in the Cabinet including him, is the second biggest party in the 175-member Assembly after the TDP, which won a whopping 135 seats.

Many from his party had criticised Pawan Kalyan for not bargaining for more seats. He, however, was realistic and admitted the limited bargaining power of his party. “If we had a few seats in the Assembly, we could have bargained,” was his response.

In 2019, the Jana Sena had won a single seat and the lone MLA had also deserted the party. Pawan Kalyan also sacrificed a few more seats to bring the BJP on board in a grand alliance to ensure that anti-incumbency votes are not divided. His initiative to ally with the TDP and later convince the BJP leadership to join them proved a game changer as the YSRCP, which had 151 seats in the previous Assembly, bit the dust.

As the YSRCP’s tally dropped to just 11 in the Assembly, the Jana Sena will be looking to expand in areas beyond certain pockets of south coastal Andhra.

Political analysts say Pawan Kalyan has got a platform from where he can build his party into a major force.

“His achievement is phenomenal. Perhaps there is no other party which achieved a 100 per cent success rate while contesting more than 20 seats,” said analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy.

He believes that going forward, Pawan Kalyan’s role will be significant. He may use his good offices with the BJP leadership to take up state-specific pending issues with the Centre. He, however, said it would be too early to predict if he would expand the party beyond the limited pockets where Kapus (the community to which Pawan Kalyan belongs) are in sizable numbers.

“Any serious attempt to expand the Jana Sena in other parts of the state may put him in direct conflict with Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh whom the TDP considers as the future Chief Minister,” he said.

Lokesh is the TDP General Secretary and a key minister in Naidu’s Cabinet. Naidu, who is already 74, will be looking to groom his son as his successor.

Unlike elder brother Chiranjeevi who wound up his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) within a couple of years of its launch, Pawan Kalyan never feared defeat. Though he began his political career as the leader of the PRP’s youth wing in 2008, he was not happy with the party’s merger with Congress in 2011. After launching the Jana Sena Party in March 2014, he supported the NDA in the elections held the same year as he was angry with Congress for bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, and shared the dais with then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.

Pawan Kalyan later distanced himself from both the BJP and the TDP for going back on the promise to accord special category status. In 2019, he had an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Left parties. However, the Jana Sena could win just one Assembly seat and drew a blank in Lok Sabha polls. After the disaster of 2019, he re-joined hands with the BJP and in September last year, announced an alliance with the TDP. Aware of his strengths and weaknesses, the 52-year-old was cautious not to repeat past mistakes and this was the reason he did not bargain hard for seats. Seen as a youth icon, he crafted the image of a fighter. In tune with his screen image of an angry young man, Pawan Kalyan displayed aggression during the showdown with the Jagan government on a few occasions while taking up people’s issues. (Agency)

Indian Embassy celebrates International Yoga Day in Washington

New Delhi, June 20, 2024
The Indian Embassy in the US has organised a Yoga session in Washington ahead of International Yoga Day, which is celebrated worldwide on June 21.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy shared, “International Yoga Day 2024 celebrated by the Indian Embassy in the US at the picturesque and serene Wharf in Washington. Various community organisations participated enthusiastically in the Yoga and meditation session.”

Emphasising the global reach and popularity of Yoga, Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy Supriya Ranganathan noted that the ancient practice of Yoga has travelled far and wide following its inception in India and today there are hundreds of millions of followers of this discipline around the world.

Outlining the theme of International Yoga Day 2024, “Yoga for Self and Society”, the event also aimed to promote adopting environment-friendly products and practices in daily life.

“Highlighting International Yoga Day 2024 theme celebrating #YogaForSelfAndSociety, the event included elements to inspire the embrace of environment-friendly products and practices in daily life,” the Embassy stated in another post.(Agency)

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