Monday, December 23, 2024

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Prajwal Revanna: Bengaluru Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail Plea Of Hassan MP’s Mother

Suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna has been sent to 7-day long SIt custody till June 6. He was arrested shortly after he reached the Bengaluru airport from Germany in the early hours of Friday. He was later produced in court after a medical examination.

Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women and filming the acts, was arrested by a special investigation team (SIT) around 12.52 am on Friday after he landed via a Lufthansa flight (LH0764), which flew in from Munich.

The suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader was accosted by a team of CISF, SIT, and Karnataka police officials from the flight to a vehicle. Wearing an ash-grey hooded jacket and track pants, the rather composed-looking Prajwal was swiftly moved into the police vehicle waiting by the airport that took him to the CID headquarters in the city and the SIT office within. He would later be taken to Bowring Hospital for a medical examination and then be produced before a magistrate for legal procedures to be completed.

Djokovic Beats Carballes Baena To Reach Third Round Of French Open 2024

In his quest for a record-extending 25th major title at Roland Garros, top seed Novak Djokovic showcased an impressive performance on Thursday.

He secured a convincing 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory against Roberto Carballes Baena, displaying flashes of his best tennis.

Djokovic’s aggressive baseline play and skilful ball striking led to a dominant win, with key moments including a decisive break in the first set and a double break advantage in the second set.

Djokovic served five aces compared to his opponent’s two. Baena committed more double faults 3-2. Djokovic had a 72% win on the first serve and a 62% win on the second. He converted 7/12 break points to Baena’s 2/3.

Djokovic owns a 3-0 lead over Baena in their head-to-head record on the ATP Tour. All three of Djokovic’s wins have come at Grand Slams.

Djokovic’s next opponent will be either home favourite Gael Monfils or 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti.

Medvedev, Zverev & Dimitrov breeze into R3

During the 2024 French Open, Russian ace Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round after Miomir Kecmanovic withdrew from their match. Medvedev was ahead 6-1, 5-0 when Kecmanovic retired.

This marks Medvedev’s third appearance at this stage of the Roland Garros tournament. With nine wins at the French Open, Medvedev is aiming for his second Grand Slam title. As the fifth seed, Medvedev secured 50 points and 26 winners in the match, serving six aces compared to Kecmanovic’s one.

He achieved an 85% win rate on his first serve and a 25% win rate on his second serve, while capturing eight out of 10 net points. Medvedev committed fewer unforced errors (6) than Kecmanovic (14), and both players had one double fault each.

Alexander Zverev, who effectively ended Rafael Nadal’s French Open career in the first round, defeated Belgium’s David Goffin in straight sets on Thursday to reach the last 32.

Fourth seed Zverev came through 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2 and will take on either Italy’s Luciano Darderi or Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands for a place in the fourth round.

In other second-round action, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov moved past Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 40 minutes.

The 10th seed won 89 per cent (34/38) of his first-serve points and was solid from the baseline, hitting 34 winners to 19 unforced errors to reach the third round in Paris for the eighth time. The 33-year-old will next meet Zizou Bergs after the Belgian qualifier beat German Maximilian Marterer 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

Why UP Leads in EV Sales, but Karnataka Tops in Charging Stations: Contrast in Development & Demand

Y2024, Uttar Pradesh has been at the top spot, but it is Karnataka which has the highest number of public charging stations. However, that is not the case in Maharashtra, as this western state ranks second in both EV sales and charging stations.

It’s reasonable to question why one state has the most EV sales while another has the most charging stations. Logically, the state with the highest EV sales should have the most charging infrastructure. The explanation for this discrepancy lies in the data.

KARNATAKA LEADS THE WAY

As of May 2024, Karnataka has emerged as the leader in public EV charging infrastructure with 5,130 stations, accounting for 31 per cent of the total in India. Maharashtra followed with 3,083 stations (19 per cent), then Delhi with 1,886 (12 per cent), Kerala with 958 (6 per cent), and Tamil Nadu with 643 (4 per cent). Collectively, these five states contribute to 72 per cent of India’s public charging stations, underscoring their pivotal role in supporting EV adoption.

However, UP acquired the sixth position with 583 changing stations, followed by other states like Rajasthan (500), Gujarat (476), Haryana (377) and Madhya Pradesh (341).

UTTAR PRADESH DOMINANCE

Contrasting sharply with the distribution of charging stations, the sales data for EVs till FY2024 has placed UP at the forefront, with 19.05 per cent of the cumulative sales. Maharashtra (10.87 per cent), Karnataka (8.62 per cent), Delhi (6.89 per cent), Rajasthan (5.99 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (5.60 per cent) follow.

Other states like Bihar (5.58 per cent), Gujarat (4.65 per cent), Telangana (4.50 per cent), Assam (3.94 per cent), Kerala (3.65 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (3.62 per cent) also featured prominently in the JMK’s state-wise EV sales list.

A deeper look into the types of EVs sold revealed significant insights. In UP, a staggering 82.45 per cent of EV sales were electric three-wheelers (passenger), with electric two-wheelers and cargo three-wheelers making up 12.50 per cent and 4.03 per cent respectively. But electric cars and buses constituted a minuscule portion (0.83 per cent and 0.09 per cent).

THE CONTRAST

The disparity between where charging stations are booming and where EVs are predominantly sold stems from the types of vehicles in demand. Karnataka’s dominance in charging infrastructure aligns with its high sales of electric two-wheelers (85.53 per cent) and cars (6.94 per cent). Similarly, Maharashtra’s infrastructure supports its EV sales composition, predominantly two-wheelers (85.53 per cent) and cars (7.72 per cent).

In Delhi, three-wheelers (passenger) dominate the market with 48.92 per cent, but there is also significant demand for two-wheelers (32.54 per cent) and electric cars (7.28 per cent). Similarly in Kerala, sales of electric two-wheelers and cars show the prominent majority, while in Tamil Nadu, electric two-wheelers account for 88.01 per cent of sales.

In contrast, UP’s high EV sales are driven by electric three-wheelers, which do not rely heavily on public charging stations. These vehicles often utilise simple three-pin or 16-ampere plugs to charge the vehicle. This pattern is echoed in Bihar and other states where three-wheelers dominate the EV market or cars and two-wheelers sales are less.

Deepak Paliwal from Fortum, an industry insider, has also offered crucial insights into this phenomenon. He explained that the high number of electric three-wheelers in UP reduces the need for public charging stations, as these vehicles can be easily charged using basic electrical setups.

Separately, as per the data in both Rajasthan and Gujarat, EV sales are dominated by electric two-wheelers, but with significantly low car sales. However, in Rajasthan, the second most sold vehicle is the electric three-wheeler (passenger) at 29.35 per cent.

However, it needs to be understood that even though there are companies who have been setting up charging stations around the country for both cars and two-wheelers, the latter is designed to be conveniently charged at home. Their inclusion of home-compatible chargers makes them convenient for urban dwellers and short-distance commuters. However, in terms of electric cars, public charging stations play a vital role because of certain factors like long trips, limited home charging options, faster charging or quick top-up during travel and situations where home charging isn’t possible.

The current landscape of EV charging infrastructure and sales in India highlights the necessity of aligning infrastructure development with the types of vehicles in demand. States leading in electric car and two-wheeler sales, such as Karnataka and Maharashtra, naturally require more robust public charging networks. Conversely, states like UP, with a predominance of electric three-wheelers or less market for cars and two-wheelers, show less dependency on such infrastructure.

The Great Indian Kapil Show: Mary Kom hilariously mixes up the names of Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal. 

The next episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show will feature Mary Kom, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and Sift Kaur Samra. Check out the new teaser promo below.

The upcoming episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show promises to be a hilarious one, as four of the most beloved Indian sports women Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom and Sift Kaur Samra will be invited as guests. Netflix India shared the new teaser promo of the episode, in which at one moment, Mary Kom hilarious mixed up the names of Sania and Saina. (Also read: Sania Mirza looking for love again after divorce from Shoaib Malik? Says ‘I have to find someone’)

HDFC Securities CEO Shares Market Expectations As Exit Polls 2024 Show PM Modi’s Return

The stock market is unpredictable. However, the election predictions do have a weight on it, with the market always favouring bold and stable governments. The latest Exit Polls for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 show a return of PM Narendra Modi for the third time with a comfortable majority. This is likely to have a weightage on the market on Monday. Dhiraj Relli, MD & CEO of HDFC Securities, shares his market expectations on exit polls:

“Going by a majority of pollsters’ exit poll predictions, the NDA alliance could end up with 350-370 seats, enough to form the government for the third time and in line with the median forecast ahead of the exit polls. However, this number is almost the same as in 2019 and short of the 400+ target of the alliance,” Relli said.

Psephologists are at their best in analysing exit polls. The actual seat count may be a little different on June 4. We also need to check the exact gains or losses in vote share by the two alliances, he added.

Markets react majorly on a closing basis when there is a surprise in the exit poll predictions, Relli said.

However, as per political analysts, several exit polls’ prediction of the NDA government getting near 400 is surprising.

“In any case, the disappointment or euphoria may settle down in a couple of days, and the focus may shift to the policy announcements in the first 100 days of the new government,” Relli added.

The fact that the BJP could return to power is good for continuing and accelerating the reform process. This outcome was mainly on expected lines. Hence, markets may, after the initial excitement, wait for the new path set out by the latest government, he added.

If the NDA does not get over 400 seats, some fundamental reforms requiring constitutional amendments may be challenging to implement, but there is still a lot that can be done with this kind of majority, Relli added.

Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team Records Shootout Win Against Germany

Breda: The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team registered a shootout victory against Germany, while the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team concluded their Tour of Europe with a draw against Oranje Rood.

The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team triumphed in the shootouts, winning 1-1 (3-1 SO) after Mukesh Toppo (33’) scored in regulation time. For the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team, Sanjana Horo (18’) and Anisha Sahu (58’) scored in their 2-2 draw with Oranje Rood.

After a quiet first half, during which neither the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey team nor Germany could find the back of the net, Mukesh Toppo (33′) scored off a rebound from a penalty corner early in the third quarter. The Indian Colts held their lead until Germany equalized four minutes into the fourth quarter, adding excitement to the game. Despite both teams’ efforts to take the lead, the score remained unchanged at the end of regulation time, leading to a penalty shootout.

The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey team won the shootout 3-1, with Gurjot Singh, Dilraj Singh, and Manmeet Singh scoring. They concluded their Tour of Europe with a victory in their final game.

Meanwhile, the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team played a quiet first quarter against Oranje Rood. Early in the second quarter, Sanjana Horo (18’) broke the deadlock for India. Oranje Rood responded well, earning two penalty corners but the Indian defense held firm, ending the first half 1-0 in India’s favour.

Oranje Rood took the initiative in the third quarter. In their search for goals, Oranje Rood pushed India back, earning three penalty corners and scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead. The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team strove to level the score in the last quarter, achieving a breakthrough when Anisha Sahu (58’) scored in the final moments, ending the match in a 2-2 draw.

Congress Trying to Delegitimise Election Process, Acting Like Tukde Tukde Gang: FM Nirmala Sitharaman | Exclusive

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has told CNN-News18 that the Congress party and its allies would go to any extent to say that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) impending victory in 2024 is not legitimate, and added that the people of the country will punish them with numbers they would not be proud of.

In an interview, she was asked if the Congress was already preparing excuses like EVM rigging or polling turnout discrepancies to justify why it lost. “I would be concerned and worried about it, it is just not an excuse. Look at the way in which so many different forces are all out coming together and also probably receiving implicit support from the Congress party, and from the communists, to delegitimise this election, election process and results of this election,” Sitharaman told CNN-News18 in the interview.

The Finance Minister said that Congress is now a party which is full of hate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so they are going to any extent to prove that this victory is not legitimate. “The people of the country will squarely punish them, you will see that their results are not going to be that they can take pride on, they are going on the wrong route,” Sitharaman told CNN-News18. She said Congress did not like PM Modi since his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, “and now they have crossed all levels of decency and propriety.”

“They want to deny Prime Minister Modi, at least from their end or so they think, victory. People of India have chosen somebody and people of India have chosen which party has to come to power. Now, if because somebody is funding you from outside — NGOs come together, the communists come together, all Congress party sympathisers come together – to say this victory is not legitimate,” she said.

Sitharaman said it was not an excuse but trying to discredit India’s electoral process was in fact a serious offence. “This hypocrisy is just not remaining in comments, it is going into certain disruptive activities which is very worrying. Being a responsible opposition party is what I thought of the Congress. Now, they have become a handmade to the disruptive forces of the country,” Sitharaman told CNN-News18.

She said the BJP’s charge of Congress being aligned with the ‘tukde-tukde’ gang was being proved. “Congress is no longer the party which claimed with other groups that they won freedom for India. It is no longer that movement that Congress was. They are trying to project and they would go to any extent from the kind of statements that are coming, to delegitimise this entire election process and undermine our institutions,” Sitharaman told CNN

Forex Update: India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Fall $2 Billion to $646.67 Billion

After rising for three consecutive weeks, India’s forex reserves fell $2.027 billion to $646.673 billion for the week ended May 24, according to the latest RBI data. In the previous reporting week, the kitty had hit an all-time high of $648.7 billion after a jump of $4.549 billion.

For the week ended May 24, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $1.51 billion to $567.499 billion, the data released on May 31 showed.

Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

Sanjeev Agrawal, president of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “India’s forex reserves are displaying great resilience since the last many quarters. The recent data shows that India’s foreign currency reserves stand intact at $646 billion bolstered by strong economic growth trajectory, attractiveness to international investors and robust export growth trajectory. The robust GDP growth of 8.2 per cent for FY2023-24 will further strengthen the Forex position of India.”

Gold reserves decreased by $482 million to $56.713 billion during the week ended May 24. The special drawing rights (SDRs) were down by $33 million to $18.135 billion, according to the latest RBI data.

India’s reserve position with the IMF was also down by USD 1 million to USD 4.326 billion in the reporting week, the apex bank data showed.

Godfrey Phillips Family Feud: Know Family Tree, Who’s Who, Companies, Disputes

In a major development at the K K Modi business family, Samir Modi, the executive director of Godfrey Phillips, has alleged that his mother, Bina Modi, is conspiring to harm him, intensifying the family dispute over KK Modi’s Rs 11,000-crore inheritance. Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has supported this claim.

The Modi family has a history of internal disagreements and splits. At its root lies the late Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi, founder of Modi Enterprises. Here’s all you need to know about the business family dispute.

The Family Tree: The Patriarch and His Heirs

Gujarmal Modi, a visionary who started with a single flour mill, built a vast empire encompassing textiles, tobacco, and more. His second wife, Dayawati Devi, bore him 11 children — five sons and six daughters. The long-awaited heir, Krishan Kumar Modi (KK Modi), was born in 1940. He had four younger brothers: Vinay Kumar, Satish Kumar, Bhupendra Kumar Modi (Dr. M), and Umesh Kumar.

The Businesses

The first major upheaval came in 1989. The Modi Group divided, with the five sons of Gujarmal Modi and the three sons of his step-brother, Kedar Nath Modi, taking control of different parts of the business. K K Modi, the eldest, went on to lead Godfrey Phillips, the tobacco giant. His brother, V K Modi, took over Modi Rubber, while S K Modi formed Modi Entertainment Network. Dr. M established SpiceJet, the budget airline, and UK Modi ventured into various industries.

The Succession

KK Modi married Bina Modi in 1961. Together, they had three children: Charu Bhartia, Lalit Modi, and Samir Modi. Charu heads the educational arm of the Modi group and is married to businessman Arun Bhartia. Their son, Ashrant Bhartia, is a rising star in the family business. Lalit Modi, the flamboyant cricket administrator, is a more controversial figure. He is credited with creating the Indian Premier League (IPL) but faces legal troubles in India and currently resides in London. Samir Modi manages the retail and cosmetics ventures of the family. He is married to Shivani and has two daughters.

The Family Feud

Whispers of disagreements between the brothers have swirled for years. The 1989 split itself hinted at underlying tensions. Lalit Modi’s exile from India due to legal issues has also reportedly strained relations within the family.

The Legacy Continues

Despite the complexities, the Modi family remains a force in Indian business. The next generation, with figures like Ashrant Bhartia, is poised to take the reins.

The Latest Issue

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi disclosed on Saturday that his mother, Bina Modi, had her security personnel assault her younger son, Samir, over a dispute regarding their multi-million dollar assets.

Lalit Modi supported the claim by sharing images of Samir in a hospital with a plastered hand.

“Heartbroken 2 See my brother in this state. A mother to have a son beaten up by her security in a way that his hand is permanently impaired is shocking. & his only sin was to attend a meeting – all the board members are guilty of this heinous crime. My heart reaches out 2 him,” Lalit Modi posted on social media platform X.

Samir Modi, the executive director of Godfrey Phillips, has reportedly alleged that his mother, Bina Modi, is conspiring to harm him, intensifying the family dispute over KK Modi’s Rs 11,000-crore inheritance.

Samir Modi complained to Delhi police against his mother on May 31.

According to a report by The Economic Times, Samir Modi complained to the Delhi Police, alleging that his mother’s security officer (PSO) and certain directors of Godfrey Phillips inflicted “grievous hurt” on him when he attempted to enter a scheduled board meeting on Thursday.

On Day 2 Of PM Modi’s Kanniyakumari Visit, Fresh War Of Words Erupts Between BJP And Opposition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tamil Nahdu’s Kanyakumari for a three-day meditation trip, after ending the campaigning for the final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha Election. The Prime Minister began his say on Friday by offering ‘arghya’ to the rising Sun at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in the southernmost city of the country.

Modi’s 45-hour meditation from the evening of Thursday to the evening of June 1 is at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Swami Vivekananda — a spiritual icon admired by the PM — is believed to have had a divine vision about ‘Bharat Mata’ during meditation in 1892.

This is the Prime Minister’s ninth visit to Tamil Nadu since Jan, but it is the first time he’s staying at the memorial.

Modi had made similar trips after the end of the election campaigns in 2014 and 2019 too. In 2014, he went to Shivaji’s Pratapgarh and in 2019, he visited a cave near the Kedarnath temple.

POLITICAL ROW

Modi’s spiritual visit to Kanyakumari was criticised by opposition parties including Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that TMC would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) about PM Modi’s meditation in Kanyakumari. “We will complain. He can meditate, but it cannot be aired on television…Does anyone have to get cameras to do meditation,” Mamata asked.

Congress’ Bhupesh Baghel also criticised the Prime Minister’s visit and said, “What was the need to remember God? Kangana Ranaut made him God, Sambit Patra says that God is PM Modi’s ‘bhakt’. Since campaigning is not allowed after 6 pm today, PM Modi has gone there for publicity.”

A delegation of Congress leaders including Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi and Syed Naseer Hussain also met the EC and handed over a memorandum in this regard along with 27 other complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP in the last few days.