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Professor arrested for anti-Mamata cartoons

[email protected] (NDTV)
April 13, 2012

Prof


Kolkata, April 13: A Kolkata professor, Ambikesh Mahapatra, is learning the hard way that posting anti-Mamata Banerjee cartoons on social networking sites can mean big trouble in West Bengal. The professor was assaulted last night, allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers, and was arrested by the police soon after.

The chemistry professor at the prestigious Jadavpur University has been arrested on charges of eve-teasing (Section 509 of the IPC), defamation (Section 500 of the IPC, humiliating a woman (Section 114 of the IPC and Section 66 A (b) of the IT Act (causing offence using a computer).

Last night, when Professor Mahapatra was returning to his residence in Garia, a group of people, allegedly Trinamool activists attacked him and beat him up badly. Then the police arrived at his door and arrested him. Professor Mahapatra will be produced in an Alipore court today.

Professors at Jadavpur University have called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

The CPM has slammed the move. "Well, this is a clear assault on the democratic right or freedom of expression. She (Mamata Banerjee) decides on what people should read in library, tomorrow she will tell us what to think. Therefore, this is very much like what happened in Emergency. People of Bengal are experiencing what she means as 'change'. Many people make cartoons or ghastly expressions against the Left, but that's a person's expression. But she cannot tolerate a single word of criticism," said CPM leader Brinda Karat.

Last week, the state government was embroiled in a controversy when a committee set up by the Trinamool government to restructure the syllabus for higher secondary students reportedly recommended a much reduced emphasis on Marx and Engels in history textbooks. Amidst criticism, Ms Banerjee later said her government did not consider Marx or Lenin as "untouchables".

The syllabus review committee was set up after Mamata Banerjee won a historic victory in the elections last year, ending 34 years of governance by the Left. The committee was asked to modernise the syllabus of schools.

In yet another controversial move, the state government had instructed 2500 public libraries on what newspapers they can stock. Several leading papers including the Ananda Bazar Patrika and all English dailies were dropped. The Left's Sitaram Yechury had termed the decision "worse than censorship". Even those who visited libraries criticised the move.

Bowing to pressure, the Mamata Banerjee government included one English daily to the list of newspapers state-run libraries may keep.


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Agencies
July 17,2020

New Delhi, Jul 17: The first FIR against Volkswagen and Audi in India for installing cheat devices in their cars to misrepresent emissions has been filed in Noida.

The FIR was filed by Noida resident Aniljit Singh against the top officials of Volkswagen and Audi in India and their headquarters in Germany. These include Rahil Ansari, Brand Director, Audi India, Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, Audi India, and Bram Schot, Chairman, Audi AG.

The FIR reviewed by media agency cites forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The complaint has cited the global emissions scandal where VW was found to be installing a cheat device in its cars, in the absence of which, the cars produced 10-40 times emissions beyond the permissible limits.

The complainant said that in 2018 he had purchased seven Audi cars worth crores of rupees. At the time of taking the delivery, the complainant said that he inquired if the cheat devices were installed in India and he was told by the company that they were not, as in India's emission norms were not as stringent and the country being a growing market for Audi, no such device was implanted.

The complaint said that the authorities in India observed that Audi cars' emissions for nitrogen oxide were 5-8 times the permissible limits and after the National Green Tribunal imposed a penalty of Rs 500 crore on VW, the complainant realised that he had been duped of his hard earned money.

He alleged that the accused persons had misrepresented the complainant by forging the documents and devices and caused wrongful gains to themselves and wrongful losses to the complainant. These officials had made wrong records to capture the market, with malafide intent and under a pre-planned conspiracy had induced and defrauded the complainant.

The accused persons are guilty of cheating the customers and have induced the complainant to part with hard earned money for sub-standard cars. The accused are also guilty of forging the documents on which they had sought various clearances.

The complainant has demanded that the allegations may be thoroughly investigated by a senior official.

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Agencies
March 22,2020

Thane, Mar 22: Eight men were arrested at Kalyan in the district on Sunday as they were found playing cricket during the 'Janata curfew' being observed to check the spread of coronavirus, police said.

They were playing cricket at Kala Talao Maidan in the afternoon, police said.

Police also detained a boy in this connection, an official said.

"Action was taken against them for defying the prohibitory orders issued by the Thane Police Commissionerate.

They also went against the 'Janata curfew' being observed to curb the spread of coronavirus," the police official said.

The Mahatma Phule Chowk Police Station registered an offence against the accused under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 290 (public nuisance).

They were also booked under the Maharashtra Police Act as well as the National Disaster Act 2005, the official said.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Amaravati, Jul 31: Nine people have died after allegedly consuming sanitiser in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh today, the police said.

Prakasam district Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kaushal said the people had been consuming sanitiser for the past few days, mixing it with water and soft drinks.

"We are also investigating whether they laced the sanitiser with any other toxic substances," the official said.

"Their family members say these people have been consuming sanitiser for the past ten days. We are sending the sanitiser stocks, being sold in the area, for examination," he added.

Kurichedu in Prakasam district has been under lockdown due to rise in coronavirus cases and hence, liquor shops have also been shut since the past few days.

Habitual drinkers were said to be consuming sanitisers that have alcohol content, apart from illicitly distilled arrack.

The police said two beggars near a temple were the first to fall victim on Thursday night. While one of them was found dead at the spot, another died in the government hospital in Darsi town, they said.

A third person was also taken to the Darsi hospital late on Thursday night after he fell unconscious but he was declared brought dead. Six others who fell ill after allegedly consuming sanitiser, died this morning.

Others who fell ill after consuming sanitiser are undergoing treatment at their residences in the village, the police added.

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