New Delhi, March 28: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who is facing multiple criminal cases over the “traitor” jibe towards Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Friday petitioned the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail.

Kamra’s plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before a bench of Justice Sunder Mohan, who assured to examine the matter later in the day.

Mumbai’s MIDC police station on Monday registered a Zero FIR against Kamra for cracking an allegedly objectionable joke during a stand-up comedy show.

The Khar Police booked Yuva Sena general secretary Rahool Kanal under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act.

They also detained 20 Sena activists. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 9, Dixit Gedam said two offences have been registered at Khar police station.

One is against Kamra for derogatory comments, while the other is against people who vandalised the Unicontinental hotel where the shoot of Kamra’s comedy show took place.

He further added that the investigation is underway. Shiv Sena has condemned the “distasteful and defamatory” remarks made by Kamra during his recent performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai, where he performed a parody song targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Police have already booked Kamra under section 356(2) (defamation) of the BNS.

The Mumbai Police had served two summons to Kamra, who has not yet appeared to give his statement.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Thursday accepted a privilege notice against Kamra and forwarded it to the Privileges Committee.

“I have accepted the notice of breach of privilege against Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare and have sent it to Privilege Committee chairman Prasad Lad. The future course of action regarding the motion will be decided by the committee,” said Upper House Chairman Ram Shinde.

New Delhi, March 28: The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with other party leaders, for alleged violations of the Public Property Act.

The case is currently being heard in Rouse Avenue Court, with the next hearing scheduled for April 18.

The FIR was lodged following a directive from a Delhi court, which ordered the police to take action against Kejriwal and other leaders in response to a complaint filed by Shiv Kumar Saxena.

Saxena provided evidence in court alleging that large posters and banners of AAP were illegally put up in the Dwarka area.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal, on March 11, issued the directive to file an FIR against Kejriwal and others regarding the defacement of public property following a complaint lodged by Saxena, who submitted visual proof of unauthorised banners displaying Kejriwal and other AAP leaders across the city.

Taking serious note of the issue, the court stated that such unauthorised hoardings not only diminish the city’s aesthetics but also pose a traffic hazard.

The case has been registered under Section 3 of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007. The court emphasised that fatalities due to falling illegal hoardings have been reported in the past, making strict action necessary.

In addition to Kejriwal, the court also ordered the registration of an FIR against former MLA Gulab Singh and former councillor Nitika Sharma. The Delhi Police filed a compliance report in the Rouse Avenue Court, confirming the FIR’s registration.

The matter dates back to 2019, when large hoardings were allegedly erected in Dwarka, leading to accusations of misuse of public funds. A complaint was filed at the time, and now, with the court’s order, the police have initiated action.

The development has triggered a stir in political circles. While AAP has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, opposition parties have started targeting the party over the allegations.

Jammu, March 28: The number of terrorists killed in an anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district has risen to five after two more bodies were recovered on Friday in the forest area where they had been hiding.

Official sources said that five terrorists had been killed. At the same time, three jawans of the special operations group (SOG) of J&K Police died in the operation in Ghati Heights of Sufiyan Jakhole village of Kathua district.

Seven security personnel, including Deputy SP border, Dheeraj Katoch and a para commando of the Army, were injured in this operation.

The injured have been shifted to a hospital in Jammu city, while the Dy SP is being treated at the government medical college (GMC) hospital in Kathua.

Paying tribute to the martyred policemen, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said, “I bow to the valorous martyrs of J&K Police, who laid down their lives for our motherland. My deepest condolences to their families. In the ongoing Kathua encounter, several terrorists were neutralised. J&K Police & Security Forces are on the job. Operation in progress.”

The operation against the terrorists was resumed this morning with the first light. Given the number of terrorists seen at Sanyal village on Sunday and the fact that five terrorists were killed now in Ghati Heights of Safiyan Jakhole village, it is confirmed that this is the same group which had escaped from Sanyal village and was trying to cross over to Billawar in Kathua district through Ghati Heights.

Official sources said that civilians observed the movement of terrorists at the village Safiyan Jakhole Ghati heights at 7 a.m. Thursday and sounded police.

“Teams of local police and the SOG headed by SDPO Border, Dheeraj Katoch rushed to the spot and engaged terrorists in the gunbattle, who were well equipped with sophisticated weapons like M4 Carbines. Later, Army personnel, including para commandos, were air dropped, and reinforcements of police and paramilitary personnel reached the spot to join the operation,” said the officials.

“Three SOG personnel who were part of the first team to reach the spot were martyred in the operation while the DySP Border was injured. One para commando and six policemen, including the Dy SP, sustained injuries. Three terrorists were neutralized till last evening. Their bodies are lying on a hill and will be brought down once the operation is over,” the officials said earlier.

“The body of one of the terrorists has been burnt. All of them are believed to be Pakistanis,” the officials added.

The police martyrs have been identified as Tariq Ahmad, son of Kabir Hussain of Reasi, Jaswant Singh, son of Angrez Singh of Londi, Hiranagar and Balwinder Singh, son of Prem Singh of Kana Chak, Kathua, all selection grade constables of J&K Police.

“Terrorists are believed to be part of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit. They appeared to be well-trained. The gunfight triggered intense firing and explosions, with the Army using rocket launchers to eliminate the terrorists, who fired heavily with M4 Carbines and other sophisticated weapons and also used grenades. Local youth were seen assisting the security forces in carrying heavy weapons and ammunition deep inside a gorge,” said the officials.

Senior police officers are camping at the spot, supervising the operation.

“Special Army para commandos were airdropped in the evening yesterday to further strengthen the cordon around the area. The bodies of terrorists were noticed by drones and would be retrieved when the operation ends,” official sources said.