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Mumbai, August 03: The transfer of the elephant Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, from a Mutt in Kolhapur to the RKTEWT (Vantara) facility in Jamnagar sparked widespread debate. Vantara issued a press note which clarifies the facts behind the relocation, which was carried out under the directions of the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and upheld by both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India, with the sole focus on ensuring the elephant's welfare and safety. The Press Release Read: Brief Note on the Transfer of Elephant Mahadevi @Madhuri to RKTEWT (Vantara) There has been considerable misinformation surrounding the transfer of the elephant Mahadevi @Madhuri from a Mutt in Kolhapur to Vantara. This note presents the factual position. PETA, a respected animal welfare organisation, had been tracking the elephant's condition since 2022. On 31 October 2023, it submitted a detailed complaint to the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The complaint annexed photographs, veterinary reports, and records pointing to serious physical injuries and psychological trauma suffered by the elephant, along with evidence of her commercial and illegal use. The elephant had been transported 13 times from Maharashtra to Telangana between 2012 and 2023, often without proper forest department permissions. On 8 January 2023, the Telangana Forest Department registered Wildlife Offence POR No. 12-07/2022-23 under Sections 48A and 54 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, against Mr. B. Ismail, the elephant's mahout, for using her in a public procession unlawfully. The offence was later compounded upon payment of ₹25,000, an admission of guilt, and custody was returned to a local handler in Kolhapur. Reports and photographs documented that the elephant was being used commercially. She was sent for public processions including Muharram, used for begging, and publicly paraded. Children were made to sit in her trunk, and she was subjected to control with the banned metal ankush. In one of the more shocking practices, the Mutt was reportedly auctioning the opportunity to perform Pooja with the elephant, effectively monetising access to her. In 2017, the elephant had also fatally injured the head priest of the Mutt, raising long-standing safety concerns. On 12 August 2023, following a letter from the local police, a team of government veterinary doctors inspected the elephant and reported open wounds, lameness, footpad thinning, and signs of mental distress. On 20 October 2023, Dr. Rakesh Chittora of Animal Rahat submitted a detailed medical report recommending hospitalisation and rehabilitation, also noting that the mahout lacked basic knowledge of elephant care. Based on these materials, the HPC initiated an inquiry but initially gave the Mutt a 3-month opportunity (from June 2024) to improve the elephant's condition. Follow-up inspections in June and November 2024 showed only superficial changes -- serious medical and welfare issues persisted. On 27 December 2024, the HPC passed an order directing that the elephant be relocated to RKTEWT in Jamnagar, a facility with natural enclosures, veterinary care, socialisation opportunities, and trained elephant keepers. Vantara played no role in initiating or seeking the transfer. It was named as a recipient solely by the HPC based on its capability and track record in elephant welfare. The Mutt challenged the decision before the Bombay High Court, which dismissed their petition on 16 July 2025 after a detailed hearing. The Court found the HPC's decision justified and prioritised the elephant's welfare over religious customs. The Supreme Court of India upheld this ruling on 28 July 2025 and directed that the elephant be transferred within two weeks. The matter is now listed for compliance reporting on 11 August 2025. The transfer has since been carried out by the authorities, and Vantara has merely complied with the court's directions. The promoter family, who support Vantara philanthropically, have no involvement in its daily operations and were not party to the proceedings at any stage. If the Mutt feels it is entitled to the custody of the elephant despite enough proof and the final decision of the court, it should ask the Supreme Court to give it the elephant. What is the point of blaming Vantara? If they had not transferred the elephant, their organisation would be liable for action by contempt of court. It is regrettable that despite full legal closure, a campaign of misinformation is being run to vilify Vantara and its supporters. When the highest courts have heard and decided a matter, continuing to attack a neutral party that has merely followed orders is not only unfair, it undermines public faith in the judicial process. In any lawful society, even an ordinary citizen is expected to accept the authority of a final court ruling. That same standard should apply here. Vantara reiterates its commitment to lawful, ethical animal care and has only acted in accordance with judicial and regulatory directives.
Lucknow, December 3: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday, emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on using the term "Divyang" and respecting their sentiments has inspired persons with disabilities to advance in life and various fields with dignity. He highlighted that whenever Divyangjans have been given opportunities, they have consistently demonstrated their exceptional talents and abilities. Speaking at a state-level award ceremony at Lok Bhavan on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Chief Minister celebrated the achievements of Divyangjans and reaffi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of rupees were recovered from your premises," the Supreme Court on Wednesday told former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, held in an alleged cash-for-job scam in the state. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, which reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Chatterjee, questioned the enforcement directorate (ED) over his continued incarceration saying he cannot be kept inside for an indefinite period. "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of Rupees were recovered from your premises. Wha ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Karnataka government and the Centre should resolve the issue in connection with the release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the state for drought management. The matter came up before a bench comprising justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, requested the bench that he needed some time to file an affidavit in the matter. "You should resolve it," the bench said. During the hearing, the bench queried, how much amount has been released so far? ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Atishi on Thursday described Aam Admi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as a prominent leader and said he is the first leader who understood the pain of women. "Arvind Kejriwal, the prominent leader, is the first leader in the history of this country who understood the pain of women. The biggest concern for women is that they have to stretch out their hands before a man even for their humble needs. In childhood, it is before their parents, before their spous ...Read More >
In a regulatory filing on Thursday, the company stated that the NCLAT, through its order dated December 12, 2024, has "appointed NBCC (India) Limited as Project Management Consultant for the completion of 16 projects of Supertech Ltd." NBCC will oversee the completion of these projects, which include 49,748 housing units spread across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Karnataka. The projects include Ecovillage-2, Romano, Capetown, Czar Suites, Eco-Village 3, Sports Village, and Eco-Citi ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Monday suggested Abhishek Lodha and his brother Abhinandan Lodha to try and amicably resolve the issue over the use of 'Lodha' trademark. The Abhishek Lodha-promoted Macrotech Developers Ltd earlier this month filed a suit in the HC against Abhinandan Lodha's real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha, claiming the name 'Lodha' was their trademark and no one else could use it. The suit sought Rs 5,000 crore as damages from Abhinandan Lodha's company. In an interim application, Macrotech Developers sought a perpetual injunction against the defen ...Read More >
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced several pre-election promises targeting auto drivers. These include a ₹10 lakh insurance policy, ₹1 lakh for daughters' marriages, a biannual ₹2,500 uniform allowance, free coaching for their children, and the relaunch of the 'PoochO' ride-booking app. Kejriwal and the AAP are campaigning to secure a third term in the upcoming February elections.Ahead of crucial Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal promised several measures for auto dri ...Read More >
Jharkhand supplementary budget: The Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday (December 12) passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 11,697.45 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Following the budget's passage, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the four-day session of the assembly sine die. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled the second supplementary budget, with the largest allocation of Rs 6,390.55 crore directed to the Women, Child Development, and Social Security Department. This significant funding aims to enhance the government's flagship initiative, the Maiyan Samman Yojana. Und ...Read More >
New Delhi: Ahead of the wedding of Jeet Adani, the younger son of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, the Adani family has announced 'Mangal Seva', a program to support newly married women with disabilities. To begin with, every year, 500 such women will be provided financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each. At his home, just two days before his own wedding, Jeet Adani met 21 newly married divyang women and their husbands to launch this initiative. Jeet is set to tie the knot with Diva Shah on 7 February 2025 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In line with his social philosophy सेवा साधना है, सेवा प्र ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 21 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, accused of forging her documents to obtain eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission test. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma asked Khedkar to cooperate in the probe. Also Read | Security Scare in Kolkata: Police Launch Probe After Drone-Like Objects Spotted Over Sky, Centre Seeks Report From West Bengal Govt. During the hearing, the bench said, "What is the grave crime she has committed? ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has given his approval to the reconstitution of Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, paving the way for govt to prepare a scheme to provide compensation to the construction workers who lost work due to the implementation of GRAP IV provisions. The board was not in place for the last couple of years. While giving his nod to its reconstitution, LG directed that immediate steps should be taken to implement Supreme Court directions to provide subsistence allowance to workers affected due to restrictions on construction activities be ...Read More >
The incident occurred around 1:30 am in Bengaluru's Veerabhadra Nagar. Bengaluru: The statue of the revered Lingayat seer Shivakumar Swami of Bengaluru's Siddaganga Mutt was vandalised on November 30. The accused, 37-year-old delivery executive Srikrishna, was arrested by the police, but his explanation for the act has left both the cops and the people of Karnataka bewildered. Srikrishna, a native of Andhra Pradesh, confessed to the crime during interrogation, claiming that he was "inspired" to ...Read More >
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 12 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav performed the bhoomi pujan of Freeganj railway overbridge to be constructed worth Rs 91.76 crores in Ujjain under the Jan Kalyan Parv on Thursday and extended greeting to the residents on the occasion. "I am happy that I have taken part in a camp in Ujjain regarding (bhoomi pujan for) Freeganj overbridge under the Jan Kalyan Parv campaign being organised across the state. (The camps are being organised) for 40 days so that the schemes reach the people. Additionally, the gifts of different welfare sch ...Read More >
UP: Karnataka Police have arrested the mother-in-law and brother-in-law of late Atul Subhash, who committed suicide on December 9 over alleged demand by his wife's family for Rs 3 crore as settlement. The sensational case has triggered debate over harassment of married men and misuse of dowry provisions in the country. Atul Subhash ended his life on Monday leaving behind a 40-page death note and 90-minute video explaining how he was allegedly tortured by his wife. Atul's In-Laws Arrested On Thursday Night The Karnataka Police arrested Nisha Singhania, Atul's mother-in-law and brother-in-law ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government is committed to providing every facility to the devotees visiting Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh. Ahead of his visit to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, PM Modi said that he will take stock of the works related to the Maha Kumbh and also inaugurate and launch multiple development projects. PM Modi Prayagraj Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Arrive in Prayagraj Today To Launch Development Projects Worth Around INR 5,500 Crore. "Along with making the Maha Kumbh of faith divine and grand, we are committed to providi ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed further recovery of an outstanding tax demand from news portal NewsClick, directing the company's banker not to release any more money to the tax department based on a 2023 notice, and allowing the portal to use its two bank accounts for daily operations. The order was passed by a bench headed by justice BV Nagarathna on an application moved by PPK Newsclick Studio Limited, which alleged that ICICI Bank was not allowing the company to use its accounts despite a top court order to this effect passed on August 9. The tax department had raised the demand again ...Read More >
Agartala, Jan 31 (VOICE) Tripura has 73 per cent reserve forest cover and absorb huge carbon from the atmosphere, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said, adding that keeping this in mind, the state government has sought 20 per cent devolution of taxes in the forests and ecology category to the 16th Finance Commission, which is now visiting the state.The 16th Finance Commission headed by its Chairman Arvind Panagariya arrived in Tripura on Wednesday on a four-day visit to the state and held a series of meetings with the Tripura council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister. The Commission ...Read More >
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal with women from purvanchal stages a protest against AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.Source : PTI Delhi Police on Monday detained Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal as she protested outside Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's residence over the government's failure to clean the Yamuna River. Maliwal, accompanied by a group of women from Purvanchal, carried water collected from the Yamuna to Kejriwal's residence, accusing him of neglecting the river's worsening condition. Speaking to news agency ANI, she re ...Read More >
Kuldeep Singh Sengar is also serving a 10-year jail term in connection with the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim's father. Kuldeep Singh Sengar sought interim bail on the grounds that he was suffering from various ailments The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a two-week interim bail on medical grounds to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is serving life term for raping a minor in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao in 2017. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh suspended the sent ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 11 (ANI): The case of Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash who died by suicide citing alleged harassment by his estranged wife has opened up a debate on misuse of ant--dowry lawy. Mumbai-based lawyer Abha Singh described the case as a 'gross misuse of law,' stating that false charges and harassment led to the death of the victim, suffering from harassment from his wife and in-laws. Lawyer Abha Singh also emphasized that the misuse of dowry laws could ultimately deny justice to those who genuinely need protection. Also Read | Atul Subhash Suicide Case: 4 People ...Read More >
Ranchi, Dec 12 (PTI)The Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 11,697.45 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal. After this, the four-day session of the assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled the second supplementary budget, allocating a maximum outlay of Rs 6,390.55 crore to the women, child development and social security department to boost the government's flagship scheme Maiyan Samman Yojana. Under this scheme, the state government initially provided Rs 1,000 per month to women between the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025. The top court said upon his release Chatterjee shall not hold any public office but can continue as MLA. The bench said that a suspect canno ...Read More >
Kerala Lottery Result Monday (June 2, 2025): The Government of Kerala oversees the Kerala State Lotteries program. It was founded in 1967 and is the first of its kind in India, operating under the Kerala government's lottery department. The government of Kerala launched the Kerala State Lotteries in 1967 after banning all private lotteries. The new department was established with the intention of giving people jobs and raising government revenue without disturbing the general public. The department employs over 500 people as of 2025, divided among 14 district offices, 21 sub-lottery offices, ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: An 18-year-old college student was arrested in Assam for sending a death threat message to city rapper Mohammad Bilal Shaikh, also known as Emiway Bantai, and demanding Rs 1 crore in extortion. The student, Arnav Ramen Kumar Haloi, claimed to be Goldy Brar, an aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the alleged mastermind of the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. The threat message was sent on May 25, coinciding with the release of an online teaser for a music video in tribute to Moose Wala.ACP Mayur Bhujbal said that Haloi, a first-year B.Com student from Sonitpur dist ...Read More >
MUMBAI: The case of Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash who died by suicide citing alleged harassment by his estranged wife has opened up a debate on misuse of anti dowry law. Mumbai-based lawyer Abha Singh described the case as a 'gross misuse of law,' stating that false charges and harassment led to the death of the victim, suffering from harassment from his wife and in-laws. Lawyer Abha Singh also emphasized that the misuse of dowry laws could ultimately deny justice to those who genuinely need protection. "Dowry laws, being made to protect women should not be misused because if some women are ...Read More >
SC bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B. Varale noted that the permanent alimony amount should be decided in such a manner that it does not penalise the husband but ensures a decent standard of living for the wife. Even as the outrage over the death of Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru-based techie who died by suicide continues, the Supreme Court has issued an 8-point guideline on how the permanent alimony amount should be calculated in divorce cases. The SC bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Pra ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): The gross NPA ratio of public sector banks declined to 3.12 per cent in September 2024 from 4.97 per cent in March 2015 and a peak of 14.58 per cent in March 2018, the government stated on Thursday, reaffirming the robustness of the banking system. The government emphasised its proactive support for the banking ecosystem, addressing both business needs and employee welfare to ensure stability, transparency, and growth. Also Read | Places of Worship Act Validity: Supreme Court Restrains Courts in Country Not to Entertain, Pass Orders on Suits Related to R ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025. Also Read | Atul Subhash Suicide Case: Wife Nikita Singhania Absconds, Karnataka Police Arrest Her Mother, Brother From Uttar Pradesh's Jaunp ...Read More >
New Delhi, January 31: The unveiling of the Economic Survey on Friday sets the stage for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday (February 1), which is expected to continue the government's policy of giving a big push to economic growth with equity. The government has prioritised improving the quality of life in rural areas to ensure equitable and inclusive development, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. The survey highlights financial inclusion as a key focus, with rural households and small businesses getting easier access ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition alleging that the Assam government has reportedly launched a "sweeping and indiscriminate drive" to deport persons suspected to be foreigners to Bangladesh. A vacation bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma asked the All BTC Minority Students Union (ABMSU) to approach the Gauhati High Court for appropriate relief. Also Read | INR 2,000 Currency Notes Worth INR 6,181 Crore Still in Circulation After Withdrawal 2 Years Ago, Reveals RBI Data. The petitioner said that the state of Ass ...Read More >