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Gujarat riots case: Jailed ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt arrested, taken to Ahmedabad

Days after activist Teesta Setalvad and former top cop RB Sreekumar were sent to 14-day judicial custody, jailed former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has been arrested in the Gujarat riots case.

Bhatt, who was lodged in Palanpur jail after the Jamnagar Sessions Court has sentenced him to life imprisonment in connection with a custodial death in 1990, was taken to Ahmedabad by the Crime Branch.

Activist Teesta Setalvad and former Director-General of Police RB Sreekumar were arrested for alleged fabrication of evidence regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots case.

225

Nitin Gadkari says govt planning electric highway between Delhi and Mumbai

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the government is planning to construct an electric highway between Delhi and Mumbai. He also urged heavy vehicle owners to use alternative fuels like ethanol, methanol and green hydrogen in order to curb pollution. Addressing an event organised by the Hydraulic Trailer Owners Association, the road transport and highways minister said the government is constructing tunnels worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore.

"Our planning is to make electric highway from Delhi to Mumbai. Just like trolleybus, you can run trolleytrucks also," he said, without providing more details. A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws power from overhead wires. An electric highway generally refers to a road which supplies power to vehicles travelling on it, including through overhead power lines.

224

Tamil Nadu's Education minister Ponmudy to boycott convocation event at Madurai Kamarajar University on July 13

Tamil Nadu higher education minister, Ponmudy, was scheduled to attend a convocation event at Madurai Kamarajar University (MKU) on Wednesday. However, on Tuesday, Ponmudy said that he would boycott the convocation.

Union Minister L Murugan has been invited as the guest of honor for the convocation ceremony, which is scheduled for July 13. The state higher education minister, Ponmudy, alleged that he was not consulted about inviting Murugan to the event.

187

SC asks assembly speaker not to proceed with disqualification plea of Sena MLAs of Uddhav faction

The Supreme Court’s directive to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar not to decide on the disqualification notices against the Shiv Sena MLAs till the court rules on them has evoked mixed reactions. The Shinde Camp welcomed the apex court’s ruling saying the points raised by the Thackeray faction have no meaning now.

Shinde Camp spokesman Deepak Kesarkar termed today’s apex court ruling as ‘’correct’’ and told the Free Press Journal, ‘’The ruling given by the apex court to the Assembly Speaker is worthy judgement. Shiv Sena had moved the Supreme Court against the Governor’s nod for trust vote but that issue is now over as Uddhav Thackeray has resigned already. Most of the issues raised by Thackeray faction have no meaning now.’’ He further noted that the Speaker has been elected.

186

Anil Deshmukh's deteriorating health taking a toll on him: Lawyer tells Bombay HC

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday sought bail before the Bombay High Court in the money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate.

Advocate Vikram Chaudhari appearing for Deshmukh said that his 72-year-old client has been suffering from various ailments, including lung and spinal disorders, and that the same is taking a "toll on him."

"He is a sick and aged manTrial is unlikely to commence in the near future. He should be released on bail and is ready to cooperate with the investigation," Chaudhari argued.