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No Lokpal Bill Now: To be Sent to Select Committee

Sources in the government hint that Lokpal Bill will not be passed in this session of Parliament. The government and the Opposition have not arrived at any consensus on the amendments by the Government, and that the bill may now be sent to a select committee. Earlier the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told that the bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha today. However, differences between the Government and the Opposition over the role of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) still persist, say sources. The equation between the CBI and the Lokpal has been one of the biggest bones of contention. Parties like the BJP want the chief of the CBI to be picked by a committee, instead of by just the government - changes like this, they argue, will ensure the autonomy of the CBI. The government today held talks with the BJP and the Left parties. The Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK had reportedly demanded that the bill be referred to a select committee.  

Shilpa Shetty Delivers a Baby Boy

Baby Boy for Shilpa Shetty: Shilpa Shetty delivered a baby boy today morning. “The baby and mother are doing fine. Shilpa`s husband Raj Kundra was by Shilpa`s side from the beginning till the time she was admitted till her delivery at the break of dawn. It was only after he saw the baby that he finally left home to go and rest. Raj and his family and Shilpa`s entire family, including mother Sunanda and sister Shamita, were present. Dr. Kiran Coelho delivered the baby at a healthcare hospital in Khar. Though Shilpa was due any day, on Sunday she had gone for a normal check up but the doctors admitted her immediately as the contractions had begun.”   Shilpa married Raj, a London based business tycoon three years back and are celebrating their first born with the greatest joy.    

Rajiv Gandhi Remembered on His 21st Death Anniversary

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assasinated 21 years ago in a suicide bomb attack at Sriperumbudur, was fondly remembered by the nation today. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the departed leader's wife and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi went to the late leader's memorial 'Vir Bhumi' in Delhi and paid their respects. Rahul and Priyanka also paid floral tributes at the memorial of their father. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal and Urban Development also paid homage to Gandhi. Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra was present on the occasion. School children waving national flags were also present at the memorial. A speech by the late prime minister, during which he talked about preserving the dignity of institutions, was played at the programme.

CSK Qualified For Play Off in IPL 5

Dale Steyn produced a fiery pace bowling spell of three for just eight runs as Deccan Chargers knocked Royal Challengers Bangalore out of the Indian Premier League with a nine-run victory in a tense match here today. Steyn claimed the wickets of dangerous Chris Gayle and his opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan and Zaheer Khan as RCB failed to chase down the target of 133 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal.     The victory by the Chargers also meant that defending champions Chennai Super Kings go through the play-offs stage, along with table-toppers Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. RCB collected 17 points from 16 matches, the same as that of Chennai but the latter made it to the play-offs stage on better net run rate. Delhi now play Kolkata in the first qualifier in Pune on May 22 while Chennai take on Mumbai in the eliminator in Bangalore on May 23. The Chargers, who ended the tournament at eighth out of nine teams with nine pints from 16 matches, thus spoiled RCB's chances of a play-off berth just two days after knocking out Rajasthan Royals from the tournament. Steyn was ably supported by Ashish Reddy (3/25), Amit Mishra (2/26) and Veer Pratap Singh (1/26) as RCB could score 123 for nine from their 20 overs. For RCB, captain Virat Kohli top-scored with a 40-ball 42 while Saurabh Tiwary and Gayle contributed 30 and 27 respectively. But RCB's run chase never got going as they lost wickets at the crucial stages. Gayle taking 24 runs from the second over bowled by Manpreet Gony was the only highlight of the RCB chase and all the batsmen other than Kohli, Gayle and Tiwary could not reach double digits.  

Rave Party Busted in Mumbai's Juhu Area

The Mumbai Police busted an alleged rave party at a hotel in Juhu on Sunday night. At least 100 people including 38 women, mostly foreign nationals, were detained. The police have also arrested the party organiser, Vishesh Vijay Handa, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.     Two international cricketers, Rahul Sharma of India and Wayne Parnell of South Africa, who play in the IPL for Pune Warriors India were also detained and questioned. However, it was not yet confirmed whether the players were involved in consuming drugs at the party. The police said a clear picture would emerge only after the results of the medical examination. The police suspect drugs were consumed at the party and claim to have recovered cocaine from the party premises. The police claimed that approximately 110 gm of cocaine was found. "Only after the blood and urine test results come, will we know who all are responsible," the police said. All the detainees including the cricketers were taken to the Juhu police station and made to undergo medical tests, the results of which are awaited. The cricketers were released on bonds. Others will be released soon as well. Some of the guests at the party claimed there was nothing wrong or illegal there. "We were there since 7 o' clock. They took us to the hospital. There is nothing which is organised. A lot of times the cops come to take the DJs away. I was actually standing out watching the match, I saw the cops inside, I came inside to see what was wrong, I thought they had come to pick the DJs. I told my friend let's leave, and they just blocked the doors and didn't allow us to leave. So many sundown parties happen here. It's not something that is wrong," a guest said.

ISC ICSE Results 2012 Released

ISC Results: ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) 2012 results were declared by Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Saturday.   Candidates can access the results on official website of CISCE i.e. www.cisce.org. You can also log onto http://www.cisce.examresults.net. The ICSE exams were held between February 27 and March 29, and the ISC exams were held between February 13 and April 3.

Home Minister Sabitha Questioned Again in Jagan case

The CBI has established the link between Government GOs and the money transfered to Jagan cos. Every time a GO was released by the Department of Mines and Geology, headed by the then Mines Minister P.Sabitha Indra Reddy, the cement companies that were allotted quarries transferred funds to the companies owned by Kadapa MP Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy. The CBI, which is investigating into the assets case of Mr.Jaganmohan Reddy saw an uncanny link in the date of issuance of GOs and transfer of funds soon after, into the accounts of companies owned by the Kadapa MP.     It stated that crores of rupees were transferred by those who benefited by the GOs into the accounts of  Jaganmohan Reddy's companies as investments on a quid pro quo basis. In this regard, the investigation agency officials questioned Home Minister Sabitha at her residence on Thursday evening. This was the second time the Home Minister was questioned by the CBI after she was examined in the Obulapuram Mining case. The CBI officials reportedly sought clarifications from the Home Minister on several GOs issued during her tenure as the Mines Minister. These relate to allotment of limestone quarries to Penna, Walchand and other cement companies and pointed out certain lapses in business rules. The Home Minister reportedly told the agency that none brought any pressure on her to issue the GOs and that she merely accepted the proposals submitted by her department.

ICSE ISC 2012 Results 3pm Today

ICSE Results 2012: With the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) results to be declared at 03:00 pm on May 19, the wait for students will finally be over.   Candidates can check their results at http://www.cisce.myschool.in.com. To get your individual results on the Internet, enter your index number in the message box in the following way. For ISCE result, if your index number is S/6789/123 then type ICSE S6789123. For ISC result, if your index number is F/1234/678 then type ISC F1234678.

IIT- JEE Results: Odisha Shopkeeper's Son Bags 154th Rank

IIT- JEE Results: IIT-JEE 2012 results were declared on Friday morning (May 18). IIT – JEE is always been in the category of the most difficult exams in India. Eighteen-year-old Rakesh Ranjan Nayak, the son of a poor village shopkeeper, surprised all when his name appeared in the list of successful candidates for this year's IIT-JEE.   While Rakesh ranked 154 in the All-India merit list, he stood 18th in the list of Other Backward Caste (OBC) category students. He also topped the list of 240 successful candidates from Odisha. "I was expecting a place in the top 500 list. But I am surprised to find my name in the 154th rank," Rakesh said after being felicitated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar at the state secretariat.  

GOs Issued To Seize Jagan Assets

The state government on Friday issued three confidential GOs authorising CBI officials to file an application in court for attachment of properties of firms belonging to YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with that of Emaar scam accused Koneru Prasad and N. Sunil Reddy.   Following the orders from the government, the CBI would now seek the permission of the special court to attach the properties. It would also write to the CBI headquarters for the final approval. Though there were rumours initially that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would hold back the file on the attachment of properties till the by-elections are completed since it would backfire on the Congress party in the elections, he was said to be under tremendous pressure from the Centre. The legal experts, too, gave their nod for the attachment and Kiran had no other option but to sign the file.  

Shirdi Saibaba Temple Offerings on High Rise

Shirdi Saibaba temple offerings are on a high rise these days. Devotees from all parts of the country are swarming the temple town Shirdi to make their offerings.  During the past four days he temple has received 2.33 crore rupees in cash, 1.61 kg gold and an unnamed devotee from Gujrat has presnted a 570 gm gold 'Kireetam' to Baba. According to Shirdi Sai Sansthan sources, two devotees have donated gold worth Rs 60 lakh to the Sai Baba temple. A devotee from Delhi donated a 1.5 kg-gold bell, while a person from Mumbai offered a 900 gm gold pot before Sai Baba. In all, total gold in Sai Baba's treasure is 280 kg while silver is 3000 kg, besides diamonds worth Rs 3 crore received as offerings during the past five years.

SRK Ban: BCCI Will Have The Final Word

The Board for Cricket Control in India will decide on the five year ban imposed on Bollywood actor and Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.  The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) had in the morning announced about banning the actor from entering Wankhede Stadium for five years over his alleged misbehaviour at the ground on Wednesday night. "The decision has to be taken by BCCI. MCA can recommend but BCCI will take a final decision," BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla, who heads the Indian Premier League, said. However, the sources inform that there is also possibility of BCCI holding back the ban, if SRK apologises for the misbehaviour.

Burgler Nayeemuddin Murdered in Hyderabad

Notorious burgler alias 'Maruti Nayeem' has been murdered allegedly by one of his associates over disputes in sharing stolen property in the early hours of Friday in Reinbazar of Old City in Hyderabad. Nayeemuddin and his associate, Mohd. Tariq Ali alias Babu, were seen fighting at Naushad crossroads near Islamia college of Yakutpura around 4.15 a.m. Passers-by called up the police control room about the brawl. By the time the Reinbazar police arrived at the spot, Nayeem was found killed with multiple knife wounds all over the body. The blood splattered on the roads suggested that Nayeem was chased and hacked to death after the argument, the Mirchowk ACP, M. Kishtaiah, said. 'Maruti' Nayeem was accused of being involved in more than 100 burglaries in Hyderabad. The Maruti tag was added to his name as he used to steal Maruti cars and use them to burgle shops. Two months ago, he and Ali were arrested by the Falaknuma police on charge of committing burglaries. Police believe the duo developed differences over sharing the stolen property and that Ali waited for an opportunity to take revenge. Initially the news of Nayeemuddin's murder was confused with that of the killing of much sought after renegade maoist Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem, but later police confirmed that it was burgler Nayeemuddin.

Shah Rukh Banned From Wankhede For 5 years

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) chief Vilasrao Deshmukh today announced that Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has been banned from entering Wankhede Stadium for five years after a scuffle with MCA officials on Wednesday night.   The officials had rubbished Shah Rukh Khan's version of the fracas, saying his statement had no basis. Earlier, on Thursday addressing a press conference at his residence in Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan denied drinking charges. "I was not drunk, I drink just socially." SRK accused MCA security officials of high-handedness and aggressive behaviour against him. "Officials were very rude and aggressive against me. Their conduct was unacceptable." He said that security persons manhandled and attacked his children. However, Shah Rukh Khan admitted that he was abusive.In next breath he accused security officials for making him so. "Do not deny I abused. When the MCA gentleman abused me I retaliated in the same manner." SRK was categorical in saying that  in the name of security, officials misbehave with people and specially with children." They should discard attitude of high-handedness and learn lessons in humility and good behaviour, he added. When asked on ban on him from entering Wankhede, he said that after getting such treatment he would not visit the stadium in future. " I do not see going or not going to Wankhede is going to affect my life in any manner and I am not least bothered. Even on the day of incident I had not gone to Wankhede per se but to collect my children", SRK said.  

Delhi Boy Arpit Aggarwal Tops IIT – JEE 2012

The results of the IIT-JEE 2012 examination have been declared and Arpit Aggarwal from Delhi has topped the prestigious exam this year. Bijoy Kocjhar from Chandigarh and Nishant Kaushik from Bhilai are 2nd and 3rd respectively   The result of most awaited exam of the year is out on Friday, 18th May 2012. IIT – JEE is always been in the category of the most difficult exams in India. An amount of 5,07,634 students appeared in the exam and some of them will be getting the best IIT collages in India. The Indian Institute Of Technology exam was conducted on April 8th 2012. The most applicants were from Kanpur and then Madras. The exam was conducted in 1,067 centers across India. The total number of seats available in the 15 IIT’s in India is 9,600. Now counselling will be starting soon.

Chris Gayle at his Best as Bangalore Beat Delhi

A Double century partnership by Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bangalore to a 21-run victory against Delhi Daredevils in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday.     Chris Gayle of the West Indies smashed a dashing unbeaten 128 in just 62 ballswhilen - his first hundred in the season and Kohli remained not out on 73.Gayle struck 13 sixes and seven fours while Kohli hit nine fours and a six in his 53-ball innings. Both added 204 runs for the second wicket partnership after Bangalore lost an early wicket   Bangalore made 215 runs for one wicket in the allotted 20 overs after sent into bat by Kohli who was captaining Delhi in absence of Virender Sehwag. In reply, Delhi fought well but could not reach the huge target of 216 and were restricted to 194 for seven in 20 overs. New Zealand’s Ross Taylor top scored with a 26-ball 55.

Air India Crisis: Delhi HC Declines Plea of Air India Pilots

The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), an association of Air India pilots, challenging the single-judge order that restrained the pilots of the national carrier from going on an "illegal strike".     A division bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Rajiv Shakdher on Wednesday reserved the order after Air India and IPG concluded their arguments. Hearing a plea by Air India, Justice Reva Khetrapal had May 9 restrained the over 100 pilots, owing allegiance to the IPG, from continuing the strike over the rescheduling of Boeing 787 Dreamliner training and matters relating to their career progression. The IPG Wednesday told the court that the single-judge had passed the ex-parte injunction order without authority. "Where is the jurisdiction of Delhi High Court when IPG's main office is in Mumbai. IPG only has one office in Delhi, and on that basis Air India can not move here," IPG's counsel said. Restraining the pilots from continuing the strike, the single judge had said the guild, "its members, agents, office bearers are restrained from illegal strike". "The pilots are also restrained from reporting sick, demonstrating, holding dharnas, or resorting to any other modes of strike in and outside the petitioner company, including its offices in Delhi and outside, and also around airports." "Irreparable injury will be caused to petitioner (Air India) if such strike will be allowed to continue," the court had said. Air India pilots claimed they were more experienced than the pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and should, therefore, be preferred for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner training programme.  

BJD, AIADMK Push PA Sangma Name For Presidential Post

The race for Presidential poll has intensified with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (AIADMK) pushing NCP leader PA Sangma's name for the top post. BJD chief and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said that his party would support Sangma's candidature for presidency. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's AIADMK was also believed to be in support of Sangma if he contests for presidency. Former Speaker of Lok Sabha, PA Sangma had thrown his hat in the ring few days ago as he rooted for a tribal President. Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was also said to be in touch with parties other than Congress and BJP over the presidential candidate.

I Was Angry But Not Drunk: Shah Rukh on Wankhede

Shahrukh Khan addressed a press conference on Thursday evening and denied all the allegations made by the MCA against him.   Shahrukh Khan said, “I was being bullied. I was angry, but I was not drunk." Shahrukh Khan also confessed that he lost his cool after the security guards physically manhandled his two children and their friends who were playing on the cricket ground. "I had just gone to pick up my children, a bespectacled gentleman spoke extremely rudely to me. They should apologize for their extremely high handed behaviour," Shahrukh said. The actor added, "It is unpardonable that little girls below the age of 13 should be manhandled. I didn't go for the match, I just went to pick up my children." In the meanwhile, IPL commissioner Rajiv Shukla told the media that he has asked for a report from MCA on the entire episode. Rajiv Shukla also said that a final decision on this issue would only be taken after getting the version of all the involved parties.