Connect with us
Friday,15-August-2025
Breaking News

National

On Foundation Day, NCP factions showcasing respective strengths

Published

on

Mumbai, June 10: NCP founder Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, are set to hold separate ceremonies in Pune on Tuesday to mark the party’s foundation day.

Both factions will show their respective strengths after the split and express their resolve for consolidation.

These rallies are taking place amid the talks of a merger or an alliance ahead of the local and civic body elections in Maharashtra. Incidentally, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP have scoffed at these rumours; instead, the leaders have said they have charted their respective plans for consolidation.

In his message on the occasion of the foundation day, NCP national president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar exhorted the party members to resolve with strong determination to give a new dimension to the all-round development of Maharashtra and India in the coming times, and pledge to march toward a sustainable future.

“Heartfelt congratulations to everyone on the 26th anniversary of the Nationalist Congress Party! In 1999, cherishing the ideological legacy of Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar and considering the progressive, transformative social politics of the late Yashwantrao Chavan Saheb as an ideal, we all laid the foundation of the Nationalist Congress Party,” said Ajit Pawar. However, the name of his estranged uncle and the founder of NCP, Sharad Pawar, is missing in his message, which he shared on X.

“Over the past 26 years, we have played both ruling and opposition roles, making significant contributions and bringing new momentum to the politics and governance of Maharashtra as well as the nation. We will continue this journey of people-oriented social and political work unabated. On this anniversary, let us resolve with strong determination to give a new dimension to the all-round development of Maharashtra and India in the coming times, and pledge to march toward a sustainable future! Once again, best wishes to all,” said Ajit Pawar. He left his uncle, Sharad Pawar and joined hands with the BJP-led Mahayuti in July 2023, and also won the party name and clock symbol in the legal battle.

On the other hand, NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, who was elected from Baramati constituency in the Lok Sabha elections after defeating Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, said the party founded by Sharad Pawar has nurtured the lesson taught by the architect of modern Maharashtra, the late Yashwantrao Chavan.

She said that carrying this very ideology, the party consistently reached out to the grassroots populace. The workers of nationalist ideology are always ready to deliver justice to various sections of society, including farmers, labourers, toilers, women, and youth.

In her message, Sule wished the people, workers, leaders, office-bearers, and public representatives who have stood firmly with the party throughout this journey.

“Respected Pawar Saheb planted the sapling of nationalist ideology in the proud land of Maharashtra, which has now grown into a mighty banyan tree. Today marks the completion of 26 years of this event. As we celebrate the anniversary of our Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar faction, it fills us with heartfelt satisfaction to know that we have strived to amplify the voice of the exploited, deprived, and oppressed people across the country on various platforms, securing justice for them. We have nurtured the lesson taught by the architect of modern Maharashtra, the late Yashwantrao Chavan Saheb, of 80 percent social work and 20 percent politics. Carrying this very ideology, we consistently reach out to the grassroots populace. We, the workers of nationalist ideology, are always ready to deliver justice to various sections of society, including farmers, labourers, toilers, women, and youth,” said Sule in her post on X.

“The steadfast support and blessings of respected Pawar Saheb are with us today, which is a matter of great value to us. The energy of his thoughts will always be a source of strength for us. On this anniversary, heartfelt congratulations to the people, workers, leaders, office-bearers, and public representatives who have stood firmly with us throughout this journey,” stated Sule.

Business

Adani Green Energy Sales Jump 42% In Q1, Operational RE Capacity Reaches 15.8 GW

Published

on

Key Highlights:

– Energy sales rose 42 percent YoY to 10,479 million units in Q1 FY26.

– Operational RE capacity reached 15.8 GW, the highest in India.

– EBITDA surged 31 percent to Rs 3,108 crore, backed by new greenfield projects.

Ahmedabad: Adani Green Energy Ltd’s (AGEL) energy sales surged 42 per cent (year-on-year) in the April-June quarter (Q1 FY26) to 10,479 million units, as operational renewable energy (RE) capacity grew 45 per cent to 15.8 GW which continues to be India’s largest, the company said on Monday.

While revenue growth increased by 31 per cent (on-year) to Rs 3,312 crore, EBITDA also went up by 31 per cent to Rs 3,108 crore.

According to the Adani Group company, cash profit surged by 25 per cent (on-year) to Rs 1,744 crore in the quarter.

“During Q1 FY26, we added 1.6 GW of greenfield renewable energy capacity, bringing our total increase to 4.9 GW over the past year — an achievement unmatched in India’s transition toward clean energy,” said Ashish Khanna, CEO of Adani Green Energy.

“Our investments in the massive RE development at Khavda in Gujarat as well as other resource-rich sites are delivering results both in terms of superior operational performance and industry-best EBITDA margins,” he said, adding that the company is on track to achieve its 2030 target of 50 GW RE capacity — with at least 5 GW of hydro pumped storage along with battery storage.

Strong revenue, EBITDA, and cash profit growth are primarily backed by robust greenfield capacity addition, deployment of advanced RE technologies, superior plant performance and deployment of new capacities in resource-rich sites in Khavda (Gujarat) and Rajasthan.

“Further, battery storage is also a key part of our future strategy. We remain committed to supporting national energy transition and security ambitions as well as maintaining our ESG leadership, highlighted by our top rankings in the FTSE Russel ESG assessment and recognition at the Reuters Global Energy Transition Awards 2025,” Khanna noted.

AGEL has consistently generated electricity exceeding the overall annual commitment under the power purchase agreements (PPA). In Q1 FY26, AGEL’s PPA-based electricity generation was 31 per cent of the annual commitment.

The company is developing a massive 30 GW renewable energy plant at Khavda in Gujarat. This is spread over an area of 538 sq km, almost 5 times the city of Paris.

Continue Reading

Crime

ED books 29 celebrities for endorsing betting apps

Published

on

Hyderabad, July 10: The Enforcement Directorate has booked 29 celebrities in Telugu states for endorsing betting apps.

The central agency has filed an ECIR against 29 actors, influencers, and YouTubers for allegedly promoting illegal betting platforms, in violation of the Public Gambling Act, 1867.

The probe, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, has been taken up based on five FIRs filed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Film actors Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash and Manchu Lakshmi, and Ananya Nagella are among those who have been booked by the ED.

The names of TV actors, TV hosts and social media influencers like Sreemukhi, Shyamala, and Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, Shoba Shetty, Amrutha Chowdary, Nayani Pavani, Neha Pathan, Pandu, Padhmavathi, Harsha Sai and Bayya Sunny Yadav also figure in the list.

Most of these celebrities were earlier booked by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad Police. FIRs were registered against them at Panjagutta, Miyapur, Cyberabad, Suryapet, and Visakhapatnam police stations.

The ED suspects endorsements of platforms like Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, Lotus365, and others involved laundering of large sums through paid promotions.

The ECIR has been booked under BNS sections 318 (4), 112 r/w 49, Telangana Gaming Act sections 3, 3 (A), 4, IT Act 2000 and 2008 section 66D.

In March, Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj and others were booked by Cyberabad police for allegedly promoting betting apps. They, however, clarified that they are not promoting any illegal app.

While Rana Daggubati and Vijay Devarakonda stated that they endorsed only legally permitted online skill-based games, Prakash Raj said he did not renew a contract to promote an app in 2017 after realising that he should not have done it.

A case against six actors and 19 social media influencers was registered at the Miyapur Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate in March.

The police registered the case on a complaint by one Phanidra Sharma, a resident of Miyapur, who stated that he found several celebrities and social media influencers actively promoting illegal betting apps, websites and other platforms. The complainant said promotion of betting apps was causing harm to individuals and society by encouraging this addictive, short-term, risky money-making behaviour, leading to financial distress.

Continue Reading

Crime

2002 import-export fraud case: CBI takes custody of Monika Kapoor in US

Published

on

New Delhi, July 9: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken the custody of Monika Kapoor, an alleged economic offender, in the US and will bring her back to India, ending an over two-decade-long run from the law, officials said on Wednesday.

The development comes after Kapoor’s extradition from the US.

The CBI in a press release said the chase has ended after two decades “with the successful extradition of Fugitive Ms. Monika Kapoor, who is accused in a 2002 Import-Export fraud and was on run since then, from USA.”

According to the information provided by the Central agency, fugitive Monika Kapoor, Prop. of M/s Monika Overseas in conspiracy with her brothers, namely Rajan Khanna and Rajiv Khanna forged export documents viz. Shipping Bills, Invoices and Bank Certificates of Export and Realisation during the year 1998.

She obtained six Replenishment (Rep.) Licenses for the import of duty-free gold worth Rs 2.36 crore.

“In furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, they sold the said Rep. Licenses to M/s Deep Exports, Ahmedabad, on premium. M/s Deep Exports, Ahmedabad utilised the said licenses and imported duty-free gold, which caused a loss to the Government Exchequer to the extent of Rs 1.44 crore during the year 1998,” the press release mentioned.

The CBI, on the completion of the investigation, filed a charge sheet on March 31, 2004, against Monika Kapoor, Rajan Khanna, and Rajeev Khanna under sections 120-B r/w 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, District Court Saket, New Delhi, vide order dated December 20, 2017, had convicted Rajan Khanna and Rajeev Khanna.

The CBI said the accused, Monika Kapoor, did not join the investigation and trial; she was declared a proclaimed offender by the trial court on February 13, 2006. The Ld. Trial Court had issued an open non-bailable warrant of arrest on April 26, 2010, and a Red Corner Notice was also issued against her.

A request for extradition was sent by the CBI on October 19, 2010, to the US authorities. Following intense coordination with authorities in the US, a CBI team travelled to the country to take custody of the fugitive.

This extradition marks a major breakthrough in the pursuit of justice and reiterates CBI’s commitment to bringing fugitives to face the law in India, irrespective of international boundaries.

The CBI team is returning to India with the fugitive. Monika Kapoor is being produced before the concerned court and will now face the trial.

The press release said that the CBI remains steadfast in its mission to combat economic crimes and will continue to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that the fugitives are brought to justice.

Continue Reading

Trending