December 16 gang-rape case: Verdict involving juvenile deferred till August 31

NEW DELHI: The judgement in the December 16 gang-rape case involving a minor was on Monday again deferred till August 31 by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

The JJB, presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, postponed the verdict on the ground that the Supreme Court is to pronounce its order on maintainability of a PIL seeking fresh interpretation of the term 'juvenile' in the statute.

The police, after attending Monday's proceedings, told the media outside the JJB that the verdict has been deferred till August 31 as the apex court has reserved its order on the maintainability of the PIL.

This is the fourth time that the pronouncement of verdict has been deferred by the board since July 11.

The Supreme Court had on August 14 reserved it order on the maintainability of a PIL filed by former MP Subramanian Swamy for a fresh interpretation of the term 'juvenile'.

Referring to a provision of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Swamy has said it was "badly" drafted and needs to be revisited as it was in violation of the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Beijing Rules on the issue.

He has said the "mental and intellectual maturity" of minor offenders be considered instead of the age limit of 18 years while fixing their culpability.

Swamy had also cited the alleged role of the juvenile in the December 16 gang rape case.

The juvenile was one of six persons who had allegedly gang-raped a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus. The victim died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.

Of the other five accused, four -- Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur -- are facing trial before a fast track court. Proceedings against key accused Ram Singh abated after his death on March 11 when he was found hanging in his cell in Tihar Jail.

The inquiry against the juvenile in the gangrape and robbery case had concluded on July 5 and the board had reserved its judgement for July 11.

Since then, the board's verdict has been deferred four times, once on July 11, then on July 25, August 5 and today (August 19).

The police has in its chargesheet said the juvenile was the most brutal of all the accused.

However, during the inquiry before the JJB, the juvenile claimed he was innocent.

A native of Uttar Pradesh, the minor had moved to Delhi at the age of 11. He has been convicted for robbing a carpenter, Ramadhar, with the adult co-accused by luring him into the same bus in which the girl was gangraped and assaulted.

He has been held guilty under section 395 (dacoity), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 412 (dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity) of the IPC.

The carpenter had identified the juvenile as one of the accused on board the bus.

The minor, however, was acquitted under section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) of the IPC.

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It is vote security bill for Congress: Murli Manohar Joshi on Food Security Bill

JAIPUR: Describing the UPA government's ambitious legislation on food as "vote security bill", BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Monday said it is "more of laws" and will not fill bellies of poor.

The bill does not match the food requirement of any individual as prescribed in the international standards, "it was more of laws that would not fill up bellies of even poor," Joshi told reporters here.

"As per the international norms, every adult should be provided 14 kg foodgrain while minor should get 7 kg.

"While UPA government's Food Security Bill will provide just 5 kg food," Joshi said. Who will provide "pulse and cooking oil", he asked.

"There should be sufficient and nutritious food for every one who needs it," Joshi said, adding Chhattisgarh government was providing complete food to needy at Rs 5 only.

The BJP leader was here to attend a function, celebrating Eid, Teej and Rakshabandhan festivals, organised by Muslim Rashtriya Manch.

Centre should have studied the Chattisgarh model of food security before introducing the bill in Parliament, he said.

The UPA government should concentrate on increasing agriculture production, specially of foodgrains, to meet the growing demand of huge population, Joshi said.

"Centre was reducing investment in agriculture, and, as a result agro-industries are facing crisis with shrinking job employment," he said.

Quoting a report, Joshi said,"About 2,137 farmers are quitting agriculture farming every day in the country and the day will not be far when India will have to import foodgrains."

"Thus, it is a vote security bill of the UPA government," he categorically said.

Referring to the remarks by some Congress leaders about Narendra Modi, in which he was referred to as frog and cockroach, Joshi said, "It is most unfortunate that the party posts are occupied by functionaries who are not political leaders. Hence, they have no moral authority, patience, tolerance, control on language".

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Vijay Gopalan appointed AirAsia India CFO

The author has posted comments on this articleAnshul Dhamija, TNN | Aug 19, 2013, 06.40PM IST

BANGALORE: AirAsia on Monday announced the appointment of Vijay Gopalan as the chief financial officer for AirAsia India.

Gopalan is a chartered accountant with over a decade's experience from Chennai and holds an advanced diploma in marketing and sales from the National Institute of Sales. Prior to AirAsia, he has worked with Compass Group India as well as Ernst & Young, and in the United States and the United Kingdom with experiences in various industries including oil and gas, as and hospitality.

"I'm sure AirAsia India will benefit from his skills and valued experiences," said Mittu Chandilya, CEO, AirAsia India.

Vijay is also a keen academician. He was a guest faculty at the Loyola Institute of Business Administration and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Apart from his regular financial roles, Gopalan has acted in a Tamil film and performed at music shows.

Vijay Gopalan said, "I am very excited about being part of the team that is going to change the aviation landscape in India and make flight travel affordable to everyone maintaining the highest levels of security and service experience, true to our motto - Now everyone can Fly." Now, AirAsia, through its operations based in Thailand and Malaysia, connect Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruchirapalli (Trichy), Kochi and Kolkata.

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Rolls-Royce launches four-seater coupe Wraith at Rs 4.6 crore

According to the company, the new vehicle is the most powerful Rolls-Royce motor cars ever made.

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Aug 19, 2013, 07.14PM IST

NEW DELHI: Super luxury vehicle manufacturer Rolls-Royce on Monday launched its four-seater coupe Wraith in India with a starting price of Rs 4.6 crore.

"Today we are proud to reveal the most dynamic and powerful Rolls-Royce ever built," said Herfried Hasenoehrl, general manager for emerging markets-Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor.

"Rolls-Royce has enjoyed a great and lengthy history in India, and we're happy to greet our customers here with this exceptional new model."

The luxury four-seater coupe is powered by a twin-turbo V12 engine coupled with a eight-speed automatic ZF transmission. The engine is powerful enough to generate 624 brake horse power and 800Nm of torque and can attain 0-100km speed in 4.6 seconds.

According to the company, the new vehicle is the most powerful Rolls-Royce motor cars ever made.

The coupe also features a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height seated on 21-inch five-spoke part-polished wheels which feature self-righting RR monogram.

Other features of the luxury vehicle includes mechanical and electrical technologies like head-up display, adaptive headlights, keyless boot opening, camera system, voice activation commands and route assistance.

According to the legendary British automotive manufacturer, India remains one of its best performing markets in Asia and that company expects sales momentum to continue in the country as there are a growing number of ultra-rich individuals in the untapped market South Asian market.

"We have seen an exceptional last year when we sold 3,575 vehicles (globally). This year we are confident of surpassing certain targets that the company has set. India continues to be one of the strongest markets and we expect the sales momentum to continue even this year," Hasenoehrl told IANS.

The 108-year-old carmaker, which returned to India in 2005, has been witnessing strong growth since 2010 and has plans of expanding its reach from the current base of three dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. The company plans to have two more dealerships at Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.

Till March, 2013 the company had sold 250 cars in India since 2005, while the annual sales in China are over 1,000. India China has 22 dealers while India has just three with the third one opening only last week in Hyderabad.

During 1907 and 1947, of the 3600 Rolls-Royce cars sold globally, India accounted for more than 1,000.

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Govt introduces electronic postal order to help NRIs seek information under RTI Act

CHENNAI: The government has introduced an electronic postal order to help non-resident Indians seek information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Diplomatic sources at the Indian embassy in Riyadh told TOI over telephone on Monday that the department of personnel and department of posts had recently launched a service called e-IPO (Electronic Indian Postal Order) to allow the NRIs to purchase an Indian postal order electronically by paying the fee online at http://www.epostoffice.gov.in.

"This facility has been provided for Indian citizens abroad to enable them to purchase a postal order electronically to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005," sources said.

The user needs to register at the website. He or she must select the ministry or department from where he or she desires to seek the information under the RTI Act. The e-IPO so generated can be used to seek information from that ministry or department only.

A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, the e-IPO should be attached.

There are more than 2.8 million Indians living in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. Nearly two million of the estimated six million Indians holding skilled and unskilled jobs in the Gulf are from Kerala.

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Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in Odisha in next two days: Met

BHUBANESWAR: Heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by high velocity surface wind is likely to lash some parts of Odisha in the next two days under the influence of a low pressure area formed over Bay of Bengal.

The low pressure has formed over north Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts this morning, the meteorological centre here said.

Under its impact, rain and thundershower would occur at most places over Odisha, it said adding heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in the state during next 48 hours.

Surface wind speed reaching 40 to 50 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha Coast, the met office said.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea as sea condition would be rough.

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Thousands march in Rabat in support of Egypt Islamists

RABAT: Around 10,000 people took part in a demonstration in the Moroccan capital on Sunday in support of Islamists in Egypt locked in a deadly showdown with security forces.

The crowd carried banners condemning the police operations that have cost hundreds of lives among demonstrators demanding the reinstatement of Egypt's army-ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and posters showing the dead in makeshift morgues in Cairo.

"Soldiers should be carrying out their duty of protecting the nation's territory instead of killing their own people," said Driss Leghroudi, a 33-year-old academic.

"History is repeating itself. It happened in Algeria in 1992 (with its civil war) ... It's Saudi Arabia which is behind it" in Egypt, he charged, as the crowd chanted for the expulsion of the Egyptian ambassador to Morocco.

Morocco initially adopted a neutral stand after last month's toppling of Morsi but the authorities in Rabat have since expressed alarm over the carnage resulting from a security crackdown to remove Morsi's supporters from the streets.

More than 750 people have been killed in violence across Egypt since Wednesday, official figures show.

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I could have ordered CBI probe against Deve Gowda: SM Krishna

BANGALORE: With just 48-hours left for the bypolls for Mandya and Bangalore Rural LokSabha segments, the Congress launched multi-pronged attack on the JD(S) and its leaders.

Canvassing for Congress candidate D K Suresh chief minister Siddaramaiah, former external affairs minister SM Krishna and Union minister M Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa shared dais in Rajarajeshwarinagar on Sunday.

Reacting to Gowda's statement that he was tortured by Krishna as CM, the former external affairs minister said if he really wanted to target Gowda, his administration would have ordered CBI probe into the alleged scam in the Upper Krishna Project (UKP). "The file on UKP scam that took place when Gowda was CM was before me. The House committee had strongly recommended for CBI probe. Had I wanted to torture Gowda, I could have ordered CBI probe into the allegations, but I declined," Krishna said.

Referring to JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda's statement that Congress did not make Union railway minister Mallikarjun M Kharge, a dalit as chief minister, Siddaramaiah retorted saying that former Prime minister could have made D Manjunath, a dalit as CM instead of his son H D Kumaraswamy in 2006. "Senior leader of JD(S) C Narayanaswamy could have been fielded as candidate in Bangalore rural, but Anitha was fielded as Gowda wanted to have family control on the constituency," the CM attacked.

Maintaining that outcome of the bypoll will not be a referendum on the Siddaramaiah led government, KPCC chief G Parmeshwara in Mysore sought to know from Gowda whether the JD(S) will be a part of third front or BJP led NDA?"Gowda's secular credentials stands exposed today with his party seeking the support of BJP in the by-polls," he said.

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Press Council of India begins probe into Azam Khan 'whipping' remark on bureaucracy

LUCKNOW: The Press Council of India has started probe into senior UP minister and Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's 'whipping remark on bureaucracy'.

Khan had allegedly said in a meeting at SP office in Lucknow on January 30, 2013, that the officers understand only the 'language of whipping'. However, after the statement was reported in the media, Khan described media reports as baseless and claimed that his statement was twisted to tarnish his image and that of the SP government. Later, Lucknow-based social activist Nutan Thakur had brought the matter to the notice of the PCI. She had requested PCI chairperson Markandey Katju to conduct a detailed probe to bring the truth because Khan's denial raised question over the credibility of media. The PCI has now issued notices to newspapers to provide facts related to the statement.

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About 30 prisoners escape from Indonesian jail: Officials

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