fridAY 08 december, 2023 epaper.morningstandard.in Complaint filed before a special court on Wednesday facebook.com/TheMorningStandard twitter.com/TheMornStandard ED files chargesheet against Vivo vladimir Putin holds talks with crown prince Russian President arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after visiting the UAE Page 9 A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS l New Delhi l J8.00 l PAGES 12 The agency has filed its first chargesheet against Chinese smartphone maker Vivo for money laundering | P10 4 persons earlier arrested including Lava Intl MD ED says Vivo transferred `62,476 cr to China to avoid paying taxes in India Lava MD’s lawyer says his client not engaged in any transaction with Vivo Others arrested are Chinese national Guangwen and chartered accountants Nitin Garg and Rajan Malik The action is seen as part of the Union government’s effort to tighten checks on Chinese entities that are allegedly indulging in serious financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion while operating here BJP brass may take a call CM Revanth takes charge of T’gana on three CMs by Sunday B Kartheek @ Hyderabad R A J E SH K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi Amid a day of intense speculation over who will be the chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, many elected MLAs, including former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, met the top leadership of the BJP reportedly to lobby for the CM post. With the hectic parleys still underway, party sources said the names of the three chief ministers will be known by Sunday. “How can anyone announce the names without appointing observers to states and without holding the legislature party meeting? The BJP goes by the book, not by hearsay. Wait by Sunday evening, almost everything will be clear as the central leadership is on the job,” said a source. Raje had reached Delhi late on Wednesday night, creating a buzz that she would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda on Thursday. For the record, however, Raje said she came to Delhi to AIIMS says no case of China pneumonia A s h i s h Sriva s tava @ New Delhi The Centre on Thursday rejected a recent media report alleging the discovery of seven cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, attributing them to the escalating respiratory illness in China, as misleading. Following media reports, quoting Dr Rama Chaudhary, the former head of the microbiology department, that AIIMS identified seven cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia in the past six months, contributing to a surge of infections in China. Never theless, the health ministry has countered this claim, emphasising that there is no need for alarm, as these cases were part of a multi-continental study. The government’s respiratory pathogen surveillance has not identified any such cases since January of this year. The ministry said, “It is clarified that these seven cases have no link whatsoever to the recent surge in respiratory infections in children reported from some parts of the world, including China. The seven cases have been detected as part of an ongoing study at AIIMS Delhi in the six-month period (April to September 2023) and are not a cause for worry .” The ministry added, “Since January 2023 until now, no Mycoplasma pneumonia was detected in the 611 samples tested at the Department of Microbiology AIIMS Delhi.” , sunak UK Pm backs strict anti-immigration law amid turmoil The ruling Conservative Party was divided after a bruising Cabinet resignation and open attacks by backbenchers over the government’s controversial policy to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda. Sunak said he is a ‘child of immigrants’ and that his family used legal route. P9 meet a member of her family . Renuka Singh, who on Thursday resigned as Union minister of state for tribal affairs, met Nadda and had a 30-minute discussion. The meeting sparked speculation that she is a strong contender for the Chhattisgarh CM post. Singh had contested from the Bharatpur-Sonhat What happens next The BJP is expected to name central observers for electing the leaders of its legislature parties in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan on Friday. The observers will travel to the states to oversee meetings of newly elected MLAs, who will formally name the CMs constituency and won. Speaking to reporters, Singh, however, claimed that she was not in the race for CM. She belongs to a tribal community and holds immense influence. According to BJP sources, choosing her will help the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The other names doing the art 370 supreme court to pronounce verdict on monday rounds within BJP circles are former CM Raman Singh, who served Chhattisgarh for 15 years, and bureaucrat-turnedpolitician O P Chaudhary Some . BJP leaders feel Chaudhary has better chances as he is a strong OBC face and enjoys the trust of both Modi and Shah. Meanwhile, Rajasthan MLA Mahant Balaknath Yogi also met senior BJP leaders in Delhi. According to party insiders, the BJP’s central leadership has a tough job in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh with multiple influential contenders lobbying for the hot seat. Apart from Raje, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Arjun Meghwal are in the race in Rajasthan. Notably, incumbent Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan, who has developed a strong vote bank in the state, has chosen to stay back instead of rushing to Delhi to meet central leaders. Pralhad Singh Patel, Narendra Singh Tomar, Rajendra Shukla, and Jyotiraditya Scindia are the other contenders for the CM post in MP . A five-judge Constitution bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud had reserved the judgment on Sept 5 after a 16-day hearing. One of the judges, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, is retiring on Dec 25. P7 Cassation court to hear case of 8 naval veterans in Qatar bin Hamas Al Thani, in Dubai on the sidelines of COP28 in A third hearing, after the an- Doha,’’ said a source. nouncement of the death penPM Modi has said that he had alty, for the eight Indian naval a good conversation with the veterans was held on Thursday Emir of Qatar on the potential in Doha in the Court of Appeal. of bilateral cooperations and The next hearing, which is ex- the well-being of Indians living pected to be within a few days, in Qatar. is due in the cassaThree hearings have tion court. been held in the case A court of cassasince the announcement tion is a high-instance of the death penalty on court that exists in The next hearing October 26. India’s apsome judicial sys- (which will be in pointed legal team had the cassation tems. It is the highest filed an appeal against c o u r t o f a p p e a l . court) will make the death sentence in Courts of cassation things clearer in Qatar’s court of appeal. do not re-examine the terms of what the Three hearings have court can offer to facts of a case, they been held in this court these naval only interpret the relsince then – November veterans” evant law. The term 23, November 30 and DeSource cassation is derived cember 7. Meanwhile, from the Latin world there is hope that the cassare which means to “re- Emir of Qatar will pardon the verse or overturn.” eight naval veterans. “The next hearing (which “December 18 is observed as will be in the cassation court) Qatar’s National Day and that will make things clearer in is also a day when the Emir terms of what the court can of- grants pardons to prisoners. fer to these naval veterans. Families of these veterans are There has been a surge of opti- hoping that these eight are parmism after PM Modi met the doned by the Emir and repatriEmir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim ated to India,’’ said a source. Y e s h i Seli @ New Delhi Senior Congress leaders during the oath-taking ceremony of A Revanth Reddy at the LB Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday | pti 2 key appointments soon after assuming office Two significant appointments were made soon after Revanth Reddy took over as chief minister with V Sheshadri, a 1999-batch IAS officer, being appointed as secretary to the CM, and B Shivadhar Reddy, 1994batch IPS officer, as intelligence chief. L-G invokes special powers, asks AAP govt to submit law dept files in 3 days A s h i s h Sriva stava @ New Delhi Pending for 6 months L-G VK Saxena has invoked his special powers and demanded that the AAP government submit all pending files related to the law department within three days, according to Raj Niwas officials. The files include the construction of a court, chambers for lawyers and the constitution of state and district legal services authority, among others. The files have been pending approval with the law minister for six months, officials said, adding that it is causing delays in justice delivery and harassment of people. “Delhi L-G VK Saxena, upon being apprised of inexplicable delays caused by the AAP government in clearing files and proposals about courts, judicial infrastructure, expeditious jus- Officials said the move came after the law department briefed the L-G, CM and the chief secretary on the delay by the law minister. Some files are reportedly pending for approval with the law minister for six months. tice delivery and the justice administration system in the Capital, has invoked Rule 19(5) of ToBR of GNCTD, 1993, and directed that all such files be submitted to him for decision within three days,” a statement issued by Raj Niwas read. “These files are pending with Minister (Law), GNCTD for up to 6 months,” the statement added. “The files inter alia include proposals for the construction of a district court complex at Rohini, lawyers’ chamber at Rouse Avenue Court, procurement of Thin-Clint machines for district courts, printers for family courts, the constitution of State and District Legal Services Authority, appointment of ‘official receiver’, the constitution of panels of GNCTD in DVAT/ GST/tribunal/district courts and a file on the enhancement of allowances to the retired chief justice and judges of the Delhi High Court,” it added. According to officials, the move was taken after the law department briefed the L-G, CM and the chief secretary on the delay by the law minister. No immediate reaction was available from the Delhi government or the law minister. last shot A poster of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, who was killed ‘during Israeli shelling on October 13, with his camera and tripod, is displayed at a press conference by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday | PTI | P9 Red Fort calling: PM to open 1st Indian Art Biennale today It’s time Delhiites saw an expansion of cultural space within the city The Ministry of Cul. ture has selected 150 art works to be displayed at the first Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (IAADB) 2023 Biennale. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate IAADB to be held at Red Fort on Friday . The week-long event will have artists and curators to submit their work for the event. The PM will also inaugurate Atma Nirbhar Bharat Centre for Design at Red Fort and the student Biennale-Samunnati. The student Biennale will serve as a platform for emerging talent to showcase creativity . “The Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale 2023 is designed to initiate a holistic conversation between artists, architects, designers, photographers, collectors, art professionals and the public —Officials 9 BJP MPs’ resignation accepted by LS Speaker The Lok Sabha Speaker on Thursday accepted the resignations of nine out of the 12 BJP Lok Sabha MPs who tendered resignations on Wednesday. Of these, three Union ministers — Prahlad Singh Patel, Narendra Singh Tomar and Renuka Singh — also quit from their ministries. President Droupadi Murmu has accepted their resignations. P7 HC raps MCD over parks near Jama Masjid The Delhi High Court has said the locking of public parks near Jama Masjid was “unacceptable”, observing open spaces provide a breathing space to people. The HC expressed dissatisfaction with the MCD not taking possession of the public parks which are allegedly in illegal possession and have also been locked by the mosque authorities. P4 U j wal Jalali @ New Delhi art in the city parve z Sultan @ New Delhi Express read Man accused of rape pours acid on survivor’s daughter, dies H i g h e st co u r t o f a pp e a l A court of cassation is a high-instance court that exists in some judicial systems. It is the highest court of appeal. Courts of cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case, they only interpret the relevant law. Anumula Revanth Reddy got going on day one by ensuring the dismantling of barriers placed in front of Pragathi Bhavan (the chief minister’s official residence-cum-office that will now be called Praja Bhavan), a symbolic gesture that indicated his gover nment would be transparent and accessible to the people. Hours before the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday author, ities started removing the iron fences wrapped in barbed wire that were erected in the middle of the road — much to the delight of Congress workers as well as commuters. On Thursday afternoon, in front of a massive gathering at LB Stadium in Hyderabad, Revanth was sworn in by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan as the second chief minister of Telangana. The governor also administered the oath of office to Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, sworn in as deputy CM, and 10 other Congress MLAs. Top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Siddaramaiah, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, attended the event. Congratulatory messages poured in from all quarters. PM Narendra Modi assured Revanth all possible support to further Telangana’s progress. Immediately after being sworn in, the CM signed two files — implementing the promised six guarantees and providing a job to Thumari Rajini, a differently abled person and MCom graduate. Revanth entered the new Secretariat for the first time and occupied the CM chair at the auspicious time of 4.46 pm amid Vedic chants. P5 It was PM’s vision to develop and institutionalise a flagship global cultural initiative in the country such as the international biennales at Venice, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Sharjah, among others, said the Ministry of Culture. “In line with this vision, a nationwide campaign to reinvent, rebrand, renovate and re-house museums was launched. Development of cultural spaces in five cities of India — Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi — was also on cards,” said an official. “IAADB is designed to initiate a holistic conversation between artists, architects, designers, photo g raphers, collectors, art professionals and the public to strengthen the cultural dialogue. It will also provide avenues and opportunities to expand and collaborate with the creators of art, architecture and design as part of the evolving economy ,” said the official. The themes chosen for exhibitions to be held daily are ‘PraveshRite of Passage: Doors of India’, ‘Bagh-e-bahar: Gardens as Universe: Gardens of India’, ‘Sampravah: Confluence of Communities: Baolis of India’, ‘Sthapatya: Anti fragile algorithm: Temples of India’, ‘Vismaya: Creative Crossover: Architectural Wonders of Independent India’, ‘Deshaj Bharat Design: Indigenous Designs’ and ‘Samatva: Shaping the Built: Celebrating Women in Architecture’. A 17-year-old girl, the daughter of a rape survivor, was attacked with acid by a 54-year-old man in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area on Thursday as he allegedly asked the girl to convince her mother to withdraw the rape case against him. The accused, identified by cops as Prem Singh, poured acid on the girl and consumed some of it himself, leading to his death at a hospital. After receiving a PCR call, a police team rushed to the spot and found that the victim and the accused had already been taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, DCP (Central) SK Sain said. “The police officers identified the injured as a 17-year-old minor, and the alleged assailant as Prem Singh, both receiving treatment in the RML Emergency ward,” said Sain. The girl told the cops that her mother had filed a rape case against Singh, their neighbour. Singh was on interim bail, granted on November 29, for a family-related event. The complainant said around 7:30 am, Singh allegedly threatened her to withdraw the rape case filed by her mother against him. When she refused, Singh allegedly poured acid on her. “He also consumed some of the acid,” the DCP said, adding that Singh died of his injuries during treatment. “The girl has been discharged,” the police said.