The Indian government has approved the opening of a new Indian mission in Lithuania this year. The decision comes at a time when the Baltic nation is facing an unofficial trade embargo by Beijing for not following the One China policy. “Opening of Indian mission in Lithuania will help expand India’s diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations and strategic cooperation, enable growth of bilateral trade, facilitate stronger people-to-people contacts, allow for more sustained political outreach in multilateral fora and help garner support for India’s foreign policy objectives,” said the ministry of external affairs in a statement.
UP tops domestic violence cases
Uttar Pradesh topped the chart of domestic violence cases against women by registering 65,481 complaints so far, the Centre told the Supreme Court. The Centre submitted the data received from states before a bench of Justices U U Lalit, S R Bhat and P S Narasimha. The affidavit revealed that Rajasthan with 38,381 cases and Andhra Pradesh with 37,876 cases came second and third. Kerala has registered 20,826 cases, followed by MP 16,384; Maharashtra 16,168; Assam 12,739; Karnataka 11,407; West Bengal 9,858; Punjab 8,215 and Haryana 7,715 cases under DV Act. Giving an overall perspective of implementation of DV Act provisions, Justice Bhat said, “As per information received from states and UTs, a total of 2,95,601 complaints/ litigations have been registered under PWDV Act, whereas number of courts to deal with these cases are reported to be 6,289. There are 807 shelter homes and over 700 one stop centres to take care of women affected by violence and distress.”
DGCA de-registers four jumbo jets of AI
The DGCA has de-registered four nearly three-decade-old Boeing 747 jumbo jets of Air India. If AI wants to use these aircraft again for commercial flights, they will have to undergo a return-to-service programme for re-registration, a DGCA official said. Given the age of these planes and shortage of spares, it remains to be seen if AI brings them back to service. The President, Vice President and Prime Minister used to fly these jumbo jets on medium-to-long haul flights. However, they were replaced by two refurbished B777s inducted as dedicated VVIP aircraft about two years ago. The first B747, named Emperor Ashoka, had joined the AI fleet in 1971. With the 747s, AI under JRD Tata had set new levels of inflight luxury. It introduced a new ‘Palace in the Sky’ livery for this aircraft.
Police clearance for admission
Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has decided to share documents of aspiring students with the local intelligence unit for “verification and an in-depth scrutiny of their antecedents” before giving them admission. The seminary will also make other aspects of its admission process more stringent, guidelines issued by the officiating vice-chancellor of the seminary, Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, said. The move, as per those familiar with the matter, came about as the seminary has often come under criticism for “harbouring suspicious elements”. Deoband-based cleric and founder of Jamiat Dawatul-Muslimeen, Maulana Ishaq Gora, said, “It is a very important decision. The seminary has been targeted by communal forces for the past several years. Verification of students by local intelligence will help thwart baseless allegations.”
Former MP CM Nath steps down as CLP leader
With 18 months to go for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister Kamal Nath has stepped down as leader of the Congress legislature party (CLP). AICC president Sonia Gandhi appointed former minister and senior party MLA from Lahar Dr Govind Singh - who was recommended by Nath - as Leader of Opposition. Singh, 70, is a seasoned leader from the crucial Gwalior-Chambal region and is an arch rival of Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose rebellion had toppled the Kamal Nath government in March 2020.
ED searches on ABG Shipyards in bank fraud case
The Enforcement Directorate carried out fresh searches on at least two dozen premises across Mumbai, Pune and Surat associated with ABG Shipyard Ltd, which is allegedly involved in one of the biggest bank fraud cases in the country. The company is accused of laundering funds received from a consortium of banks which had extended credits to the tune of £2.28 billion to ABG Group entities. All the bank loans taken by ABG Group entities have turned bad and a fraud case was registered by the CBI. The complainant bank has claimed that a forensic audit by Ernst & Young had established that ABG Group was engaged in diversion of bank funds. Based on a CBI FIR, the ED had launched an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in February this year.
