TUESDAY COMBINED M-CAP OF BSE-LISTED COMPANIES HITS `400 LAKH CRORE 09 The market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms reached all-time closing high of `400.86 lakh crore on Monday amid a record rally in equities APRIL, 2024 RECORDS 300% GROWTH IN A DECADE epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard The combined market cap of BSElisted companies zoomed 300% since March 2014 when it first crossed the `100 crore milestone. The `200 lakh crore mark was first touched in February 2021 and `300 lakh crore in July 2023—a mere nine months ago. During Monday’s trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 0.67% to settle at 74,742.50—up 3.4% year-to-date | P12 X.com/TheMornStandard MOZAMBIQUE MAKESHIFT FERRY ACCIDENT KILLS 97 The ferry boat carrying people fleeing a cholera outbreak capsized on Monday PAGE 11 A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS NEW DELHI J8.00 266 PAGES 14 STOCKS HIT THEIR 52-WEEK HIGH ON THE BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE ON MONDAY Court rejects interim bail to Kavitha in excise scam Says prima facie material shows her involvement in alleged offence S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi CELESTIAL DIAMOND RING The Moon almost covers the Sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Mazatlan, Mexico, on Monday | AP Saudi push for Kashmir talks between India, Pak Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi THE issue of Kashmir figured in the talks visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Makkah. “The two leaders stressed the importance of dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the outstanding issues between the two nations, especially for the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region,’’ their joint statement released on Monday read after the bilateral talks a day earlier. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Gaza and supported the peace process in accordance with the resolutions of UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly and the Arab Peace Initiative “for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital”. New Delhi’s long-held position is that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and there is no ques- tion of any third party role. Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan remain downgraded ever since 2019 after Article 370 that gave J&K special powers was read down. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished his newly elected Pakistani counterpart after the latter assumed power. Though things haven’t improved on the ground yet, the business community in Pakistan is pressing for resumption of cross-border trade with India. But New Delhi has always maintained that ties with Islamabad can improve only if it stop its terror factory . Recently Pakistan de, nounced defence minister Rajnath Singh’s comment in a televised interview where he said India would track down and liquidate terrorists and even if they manage to cross the border. These comments came after Pakistan cited a Guardian report alleging that India had killed 20 people in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader plan to target terrorists residing in foreign soil. BIBI SAYS DATE FIXED TO INVADE RAFAH Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday escalated his pledge to invade southern Gaza’s Rafah, saying, ‘There is a date’. He said Rafah operation is essential for Israel’s victory over Hamas IN a setback to BRS leader K Kavitha, a Delhi court on Monday denied her interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case. Rejecting the bail plea, special Judge Kaveri Baweja said the material presented by the Enforcement Directorate prima facie shows the Telangana politician is actively involved in the alleged money laundering offence, destruction of evidence, and attempting to influence witnesses in the case. Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao, had sought interim bail saying her 16-year-old son has exams and needs her ‘moral and emotional support’. The judge said there was no apparent reason why close relatives can’t provide moral support to the child, rejecting the argument that they can’t be a substitute for the mother to address the exam-related anxiety of the ward. The court also noted that Kavitha, 46, can by no standards be considered a ‘vulnerable’ woman who could be made a scapegoat for committing the alleged offences, adding there is no compelling reason to grant her interim relief at this stage. Kavitha was arrested by the ED on March 15 and remanded in the probe agency’s custody till March 23, which was subsequently extended. Since March 26, she has been in judicial custody . According to the ED, she is part of the ‘South Group’ lobby which allegedly paid `100 crore as , kickbacks to AAP leaders in return for a big share of Delhi liquor licences. AAP cries foul as ED grills Pathak, CM aide U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar and Aam Aadmi Party legislator Durgesh Pathak in connection with the money laundering probe in Delhi excise policy case, evoking a sharp reaction from AAP that the BJP wants to stop it from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. Sources said Kumar was questioned to seek some clarifications on some documents in the excise probe, while Pathak was called in connection with the party’s 2021-22 poll campaign for the Goa assembly polls. Pathak was the AAP’s in-charge for Goa elections. According to the ED, `45 crore from criminal activities were utilised in the electoral campaign of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for Goa. The probe agency had in its earlier chargesheets alleged that at least 36 accused, including former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Bibhav Kumar, had destroyed, used or changed 170 phones to conceal evidence of ‘kickbacks’ worth thousands of crores in the alleged scam. According to the ED, Bibhav’s mobile phone IMEI number had been changed four times between September 2021 and July 2022. Born on May 25? Vote & get EC surprise A S H I S H S R I V A S TA V A @ New Delhi CAN getting inked for voting get you a reward? Yes, if you are born on the day the city goes to the polls to elect its seven representatives. Election officers told this newspaper that a surprise awaits the registered voters who are born on May 25, the day Delhi votes. The only condition is that they have to cast their vote. Officials said they are distributing forms for a unique exercise meant to increase the voting figures. Forms will be available physically Officials have also made . How to apply Forms will be available physically and a provision will be made for Google forms for young voters. For registration, people have to fill in their details, including the voter ID. To verify the birth date, filling Aadhar number is must a provision for Google forms for young voters to make it further accessible. For registration, people have to fill in their details including the EPIC number (voter ID). To verify the birth date, filling Aadhar number is mandatory However, people will have . to show their inked fingers to prove they voted. The initiative comes under the Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation by the Chief Electoral Office. Kinny Singh, DM (West), who is the brain behind the initia- tive, said that the move aims at encouraging voters. “It is a small initiative for the people having their birthdays on our poll day. The day of the surprise will be informed to the voters,” she said. “We’re planning special awareness drives for various sections of voters, including senior citizens,” she added. Officials said the rewards are likely to be distributed before the counting of votes. What’s the surprise? Well, the only hint is that it is something such voters would cherish till the next Lok Sabha elections. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 6, 7, 9 & 10 HC verdict on Kejriwal’s plea challenging ED arrest today S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Delhi High Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Tuesday on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy scam case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had reserved the order on April 3 after hearing the arguments of both sides. Kejriwal claimed innocence and told the HC that the timing of his arrest right after the Model Code of Conduct came into force for the Lok Sabha polls was to humiliate and disable him and his party AAP . “The timing ensures that I am unable to participate in a democratic activity and is also meant to disintegrate and demolish my party,” Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing Kejriwal told the court. Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and is currently in judicial custody. On March 22, a trial court remanded him in six-day ED custody, which was extended by four days. On April 1, he was remanded in judicial custody till April 15. On April 3, Singhvi said the unique feature of this case was that there was no material evidence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “The arrest is made without any inquiry No attempt is made . to record a statement even at my residence,” he argued. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju argued that if a political person committed murder two days before the elections, it would not mean he could not be arrested. “Criminals are supposed to be arrested and put in jail,” he said. “Whether a statement is to be believed or not is a matter of trial,” Raju argued. Right to privacy: SC seeks ‘pin-point’ Google response Flyers offloaded for ‘carrying N-bomb’ S U C H I T R A M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday asked Google to explain how the pin location-sharing feature works on its Maps application so that it can decide whether asking an accused to share his pin location with the investigators as a pre-condition for granting bail would violate his right to privacy . “We need to examine if an accused (on the orders of the court) has to provide the investigators with detailed information about their whereabouts, then will it be likely to infringe the individual’s right to priva- DELHI HIGH COURT’S BAIL ORDER The Supreme Court was hearing a plea against an order of bail granted to a Nigerian national by the Delhi High Court in a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The order required him to share his location with the investigators while on bail cy or not,” a two-judge bench of the top court, headed by Justice Abhay S Oka and comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked. On the Centre’s advice, the SC on February 23 asked Google India to file a detailed affidavit explaining the technical aspects of pin-location feature on Google Maps. “The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has given an affidavit and has suggested that as far as working of the Google pin is concerned, it’s appropriate if the infor mation is sought from Google India Pvt Ltd,” the court said. However, during Monday’s hearing, a counsel for Google India said since the product was developed by US-based Google LLC, it would be the appropriate entity to explain how the pin-location feature works. The court took notice of the submission and issued a notice to Google LLC. The SC had earlier remarked that requiring the accused to share their Google pin location with investigators prima facie violates the right to privacy of the accused. It had also observed that when an accused has been enlarged on bail by courts with the conditions set by them, it might be improper to know and track his or her whereabouts. U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi TWO passengers were arrested for allegedly threatening the security staff by saying that they were carrying a “nuclear bomb” during frisking at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, officials said on Monday . The two men set to depart from the Delhi airport got so upset during a random security check by the airline staff that one of them told the personnel that he was carrying a “nuclear bomb” inside his bag. According to a complaint lodged by the airline staff, the passengers got irritated when their bags were being frisked for checking purposes during mandatory secondary ladder point check. The incident took place on April 5 when the duo, identified as Jignesh Malani, and Kashyap Kumar Lalani, both residents of Rajkot, reached IGIA to board Gujarat-bound Akasa Air flight. “What are you checking when it is already done,” the accused flyer asked the security staff. “Sir, it is my duty and additional security measure for security of aircraft and its occu- pant,” the staf f re plied. However, despite the staff ’s explanation regarding the security protocol, the passengers got angry, with one allegedly stating they were carrying a nuclear bomb. “Aap kya karoge main Nuclear bomb le jaa raha hun (What will you do, I’m carrying a nuclear bomb),” the passenger replied. DCP (IGIA) Usha Rangnani said in response to the perceived security threat, a decision was made to offload the passengers to ensure the safety of all occupants and the aircraft itself. EXPRESS READ INDIA BLOC PM DEGREE ROW SUMMER TIME STALIN REMARK FATEHPUR SIKRI POLL CAMPAIGN FREAK ACCIDENT Cong, NC seal deal, both to contest 3 seats each in J&K, Ladakh Sanjay Singh’s plea to quash summons by trial court dismissed Peak power demand to cross 8,000 MW, discoms ready: BSES SC relief to YouTuber, asks ‘how many will be jailed before elections’ Sajjada Nashin cautions ASI against licence to ‘Spiritual Guide’ Man with gun comes close to Siddu, garlands minister next to him Man dies while taking water slide at Noida’s Great Indian Place Mall A day after Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP announced its candidates, the Congress and the National Conference on Monday sealed a seat-sharing pact in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where both the parties will be fielding three candidates each. Announcing the agreement in the capital, NC leader Omar Abdullah said the Congress would contest in Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh seats, while the National Conference would field candidates in Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla. P10 Trouble mounts for AAP leader Sanjay Singh, with the Supreme Court on Monday dismissing his appeal against the issuance of summons by the Gujarat Metropolitan Magistrate Court. A defamation case was filed by Gujarat University over Singh’s alleged comments on PM Narendra Modi’s academic degree. Singh had approached the top court after the Gujarat High Court declined to quash the summons. Singh was recently granted bail in the Delhi excise policy scam case. P3 With the mercury rising, the peak power demand in Delhi is expected to cross the 8,000 MW mark for the first time in the summer of 2024, as stated by BSES on Monday. The company asserts that its discoms are prepared to meet the record demand. Last year, the peak power demand was 7,438 MW. This anticipated peak power demand for this year marks an increase of around 280 per cent over the peak power demand of 2,879 MW in 2002, spanning about 20 years. P4 The Supreme Court on Monday restored the bail granted to YouTuber ‘Sattai’ Durai Murugan, accused of making a derogatory speech against Chief Minister MK Stalin in 2021. The court said that if everyone who makes allegations on YouTube are put behind bars, imagine how many will be jailed. A two-judge SC bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan set aside Madras High Court order cancelling Murugan’s bail, and observed he did not misuse the liberty granted to him. P5 The Sajjada Nashin (hereditary administrator) and Mutawalli (caretaker) of Dargah Sheikh Salim Chishti in Fatehpur Sikri has cautioned the ASI against granting licence to some individuals as ‘Spiritual Guide’ or possible appointment Muallims (religious guide) for the shrine. In a letter to the ASI, it was stated the Survey cannot grant license to anybody without the consent of the Wakf Board as held by the Supreme Court in 1996. The communiqué sent last month. P3 A gun-wielding man on Monday went close to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah while he was on an open vehicle in Bengaluru, campaigning with transport minister Ramalinga Reddy for Reddy’s daughter and Congress’ LS candidate Sowmya Reddy. The man, identified as Riyaz, climbed on the vehicle with a gun on his waist, raised proCongress slogans and garlanded Reddy and his daughter. Police said Riyaz has been carrying a gun since a murderous assault on him a few years ago. A 25-year-old Delhi-based man died shortly after taking a slide at a water park in the premises of Great India Place Mall in Noida. The deceased, Dhanjay Maheshwari, had visited the Entertainment City water park at the mall on Sunday afternoon with his friends. “While they were taking the water slide, Maheshwari suddenly started having trouble breathing,” said a police spokesperson. Mall authorities took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
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