FREE PRESS The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms VOL. 13 NO. 273 | BHOPAL | SATURDAY | MARCH 16, 2024 | PAGES 18 SC RAPS SBI HARRIS NAMED REPLACEMENT FOR INJURED BROWN SPORTS SAYS: Bank duty-bound to disclose unique numbers NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the State Bank of India over non-disclosure of the numbers unique to each electoral bond that would help in matching donors with the recipient political party , saying it was "duty bound" to reveal them. The top court also issued a notice to the country's largest bank to explain the reasons for not revealing the unique alphanumeric numbers in compliance of its directions even as a political row erupted over the electoral bonds scheme. A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the apex court had, in its verdict in the electoral bonds case, directed the disclosure of all the details of the bonds, including the purchaser, amount and date of purchase. CONTD. ON P8 LOTTERY KING TOP BUYER Santiago Martin, who emerged as the top buyer of electoral bonds as per the EC, has been under the ED radar for years. Also known as the 'Lottery king', Martin's Future Games and Hotel Services bought electoral bonds worth Rs 1,368 crore. It was followed by Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering & Infra(Rs 966 crore). Several corporates also figured in the donors list. MEGHA ENGINEERING SECOND TOP BUYER Megha Engineering has gone viral on social media since the Election Commission revealed that the company was among the biggest donors to political parties in the last 5 years. Data released by the poll panel showed that the company donated ? 966 crore through electoral bonds between April 12, 2019, and January 24, 2024. A subsidiary of the firm, Western UP Power Transmission Co Ltd, also bought electoral bonds worth ? 220 crores in this period. W hat if the companies gave the money, and after that, we still went and knocked at their doors through ED (Enforcement Directorate). Is that a probability or not... FM NIRMALA SITHARAMAN E SC DISMISSES PLEAS ON EVMS NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea alleging irregularities in the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying every method has its plus and minus points. The top court also dismissed another petition which claimed 19 lakh EVMs "missing" from the custody of the Election Commission during 2016-19 may be used to manipulate the results of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. CONCERN OVER BIG B'S HEALTH MUMBAI: Social media platforms were flooded on Friday with worried fans enquiring about Amitabh Bachchan's health after several reports claimed the megastar had undergone an angioplasty procedure for either a clot in his leg or a blocked artery. The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested BRS leader K Kavitha after a daylong raid at her premises in Hyderabad and was taking her to Delhi for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the nowscrapped Delhi excise policy agency sources said. , Kavitha, 46, a Telangana Legislative Council member, was arrested by the central probe agency at 5:20 pm from her residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, according to the arrest memo. Her husband D R Anil Kumar was informed about her arrest, ED officials said. Kavitha is the daughter of former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao Agency sources said the BRS leader was being brought to Delhi for questioning. The ED questioned Kavitha thrice last year in this case and again summoned her this year but she did not depose citing a Ex-Cong MLA Antar Singh Darbar, Pankaj Sanghvi join BJP MANY OTHERS also join saffron party OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal Former Congress MLA from Mhow Antar Singh Darbar and his senior party colleague from Indore, Pankaj Sanghvi were among many leaders from the grand old party who joined BJP on Friday . The leaders joined BJP in presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and ex-home minister Narottam Mishra. The new BJP joinees said that they embraced the saffron party after being impressed by "magnificent works and de- velopmental activities” carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in country and CM Yadav in MP . Others who joined BJP include Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Basant Chaurasia, Mauganj city council chairman Brijwasi Patel, Dhamnod municipality president Seema Vishnu Patidar. CONTD. ON P8 NATION LOTUS WILL BLOOM IN KER: PM had directed Wedisclosure specifically of all details of bonds including purchaser, amount and date of purchase. They have not disclosed the bond numbers. That has to be disclosed by the SBI D Y CHANDRACHUD, CJI is 'Modi Thisbehind iskiall, Sarkar' he the mind it he should be held accountable for this. PM Modi said 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga', now it is exposed that BJP made money out of electoral bonds. Na khaunga, na kahne dunga, sirf meri party ko khilaunga sab. Whatever PM Modi does, he does it for his own gains, and his party's gains'. MALIKARJUN KHARGE Supreme Court direction that allowed her protection from any coercive action. Talking to reporters in Hyderabad, BRS leader and former Telangana minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy Kavitha was being taken to Delhi on a 8.45 pm flight. He alleged that the move was "preplanned" and said they would protest against it. BRS working president K T Rama Rao, former minister Harish Rao and a large number of party workers gathered at Kavitha's residence and raised slogans. Meanwhile, a video was shared by the BRS showing Kavitha's brother and party working president K T Rama Rao arguing with the ED officials, saying the agency has violated an undertaking given to the Supreme Court. CS Veera Rana gets 6 months extension OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in A day-before the imposition of model code on conduct, state government has given six months service extension to chief secretary Veera Rana (IAS 1988 batch). She was about to retire on March 31. It was on March 8 that state government had requested central government for the extension to the services of her and same was approved by centre on Friday . The six month service extension has been given to her from April 1 till September 30. She is the sixth such CS who received the extension in service for six months. CONTD. ON P8 1971 war hero, Magsaysay awardee, Admiral L Ramdas, passes away LATER IN life, he called for nucelar disarmament HYDERABAD/MUMBAI Former India Navy chief, Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, who played a heroic role during the 1971 India-Pakistan War which led to the birth of Bangladesh, passed away in a military hospital in Telangana on Friday morning. He was 91. "With profound grief and a heavy heart, we regret to announce the sad demise of Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, age 90 years, on #15 Mar 24 at Secundarabad", the Indian Navy said. He is survived by his wife Lalita and their three daughters and grandchildren. Admiral Ramdas (retd), who was also the recipient of the Magsaysay Award for Peace in 2004, breathed his last at the military hospital in Se- r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE ED arrests BRS leader Kavitha, taken to Delhi for questioning HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI NEW DELHI: Dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election will be announced at 3 pm Saturday, the Election Commission of India said this afternoon. The ECI posted a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter) that said dates for four Assembly polls - scheduled to be held around the same time would also be released. The Model Code of Conduct will come into force from the time the dates are announced. The 2019 election was held over seven phases from April 11 to May 19, with results declared four days later. - lectoral bonds scheme brought in by the BJP-led Union government is the biggest extortion racket in the world. The funds gained through the scheme were used to split political parties and topple RAHUL GANDHI opposition governments Accused of involvement in Delhi excise policy NEWS BRIEF LOK SABHA POLL DATES TODAY `3 cunderabad, owing to old age-related issues. His funeral will be held in Hyderabad on Saturday . Admiral Ramdas served as the 13th Chief of Navy Staff for around three years between December 1, 1990, to September 30, 1993, and post-retirement espoused the cause of global nuclear disarmament, demilitarisation and other major international campaigns. CONTD. ON P8 WEATHER FP 32.40c. 15.80c Sunrise : 06.34 Sunset : 06.36 4% DA hike for govt staff OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal The state government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) of government employees by 4 %. As of now, under the seventh pay scale, the prevailing Dearness Allowance rate is 42 %. With the increase of 4 %, now the DA rate has become 46 %. Notably, it was on January 1, 2023 that 42 % DA was sanctioned to government employees from the prevailing 38 % DA. DA given even in difficult times: CM Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said even though they were facing difficult times, the government had decided to hike DA for government employees. Government had said that (after the fresh 4 % hike), the Dearness Allowance rate would become 46 % from July 1, 2023. The benefit of DA hike will be given to government employees from March 1, 2024. In the meantime, the payment of arrear amount from July 1, 2023 till February 29, 2024 will be paid in three equal installments i.e in July, August and September 2024. CONTD. ON P8 r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in A DELIGHTFUL BIG SCREEN EXPERIENCE CINEMA India miffed by critical US stance on CAA Calls it ‘Misplaced, Misinformed, Unwarranted’ NEW DELHI The government on Friday rejected the United States' "will closely monitor" comment on India's implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, calling out the remarks as "misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted" and interference in New Delhi's internal matters. "The Citizenship Amendment Act is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said at a scheduled press briefing this afternoon. "As regards the US State Department's statement on the implementation of the CAA, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted," the ministry spokesperson stressed. In a sharp response, the government also said, "Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India's pluralistic traditions, and the region's post-partition history are best not attempted. "Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent in this step." CONTD. ON P8 6 PAK HINDUS GET CITIZENSHIP JAIPUR: Six Pakistani Hindu migrants, living in Rajasthan for years, were granted Indian citizenship on Friday. Additional District Collector (South) Shafali Kushwaha handed over the citizenship certificates to the migrants -- Premlata, Sanjay Ram, Bejal, Jajraj, Keku Mai and Gomand Ram. US SINGER PRAISES MODI FOR CAA NEW DELHI: In a notable endorsement, acclaimed AfricanAmerican singer Mary Millben took to social media to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what she termed as "demonstrating compassionate leadership" through the implementation of the Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA). STATE GOVT GOES FOR MAJOR BUREACRATIC RESHUFFLE 45 IAS OFFICERS SHIFTED BHOPAL: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the state government transferred 45 IAS officials on Friday . Two transfer lists were issued, first at 3 am and then at 4 pm. One transfer order was amended. Frank Nobel, Bhopal municipal commissioner, has been shifted as deputy secretary, urban administration and housing department. Harendra Narayan, additional Bhopal collector has been posted as Bhopal municipal commissioner. Indore municipal commissioner Harshika Singh has been transferred as director, skill development department.. DETAILS ON P3 47 IPS OFFICERS TRANSFERRED BHOPAL: The state government have issued the transfer orders of 47 IPS officers on Friday . 12 SPs transfer has been trans. ferred by the state government. Special director general CID, GP Singh (1989) is the new SDG of prisons, ADG intelligence Pawan Kumar Shrivastava (1992) is appointed as ADG -CID. DIG SAF Bhopal Navneet Bhasin (2009) is appointed as DIG Ujjain range, DIG Bhopal Amit Singh (2009) is appointed as additional commissioner of police law and order Indore. DIG Om Prakash Tripathi (2009) DIG Bhopal rural, DIG Bhopal Monika Shukla is appointed as DIG at DETAILS ON P3 PHQ Bhopal.