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Amazon Vs Future Retail: SC suggests resuming arbitration proceedings before tribunal

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested arbitration proceedings before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) governed tribunal may resume, where the American e-commerce giant Amazon could press for the relief.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli said both — Amazon and Future Retail – can mention it before the tribunal, which has already given a hearing date.

Amazon has filed an application, a day after it raised the issue of Future Retail’s shops and assets being taken over by Reliance and the top court allowed it to file an application to seek relief.

Taking note of Amazon’s 370-page application, the bench said it was not possible to pass orders on interim relief the same day, as it required some time to examine the document.

Counsel representing the Future Group agreed on resuming the arbitration proceedings, but Amazon’s counsel insisted on interim relief, even if the hearing in the tribunal were to resume.

The bench noted that one aspect is, if all the parties have agreed that arbitration can commence with termination application, then if an interim order has been passed by tribunal, whichever forum has to enforce it, that forum will enforce it. It further added that another aspect is once the tribunal says it is maintainable, and if the petitioner wants some interim order and then, it can seek that relief before the tribunal.

Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, representing Amazon, said the tribunal has already granted protection against alienation of Future’s assets. Citing the 2020 order, he added that if there is no adherence to that order, then there is no point in filing another application before the tribunal.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing Future Retail, said since all parties have agreed to go before the tribunal, the interim relief application should be heard only by one forum. It cannot be pressed before the top court and the tribunal together, he said.

After hearing submissions from parties, the bench said it will hear the interim relief plea on March 23 and directed Future Retail to file its response on Amazon’s application.

In February, the Delhi High Court stayed the arbitration proceeding. Amazon challenged this order in the apex court.

Amazon’s counsel on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the dialogue to settle the dispute with Future Retail did not work, and complained against Reliance taking over Future stores, despite no asset transfer order.

Subramanium submitted that the highest court was told that no assets will be transferred, it has been recorded, and during pendency, the orders have been flouted. “I don’t want this message to go out that orders of the court can be happily flouted,” he said.

Salve submitted that nothing has been transferred and as rents for the shops were not paid for over two years, the landlords terminated the leases. “We are completely broke, which is what we’ve been telling all forums… Amazon is driving us to our knees, we’re broke.”

Future Retail Ltd (FRL) entered into a Rs 24,713 crore deal with Reliance Retail to sell its business, which has been objected to by the US-based e-commerce giant Amazon.

National

NDA to contest Bihar polls under Nitish Kumar’s leadership: Jitan Ram Manjhi

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Mumbai, July 4: Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi on Friday confirmed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar.

“All the leaders of the NDA have agreed that with five parties in the alliance, including ours, the Bihar elections scheduled for November 2025 will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Traditionally, the leader under whom the elections are contested becomes the Chief Minister. So naturally, Nitish Kumar will be our face for the CM post. There is no doubt – we are confident of winning under his leadership,” Manjhi said.

Asked whether he harbours any desire to become Chief Minister again, the 79-year-old leader ruled out the possibility due to his age and current responsibilities.

“As far as age is concerned, I had earlier decided not to be active in electoral politics beyond 75. Still, due to certain circumstances, I contested in 2015 and again in 2020. But now, I am not in a position to contest elections,” he added.

Manjhi said that he “doesn’t consider myself eligible for the Chief Ministerial post”.

“PM (Narendra) Modi has entrusted me with ministerial responsibilities, and I am fully committed to fulfilling them. Even at this age, I am not sitting idle—I’m working hard to strengthen my department. As for the Chief Minister’s post, I do not consider myself eligible anymore. I won’t be able to dedicate the time and energy required, so I have no such ambition,” he said.

He further reaffirmed his party’s unwavering commitment to the NDA, highlighting its contribution and influence within the alliance.

“Hindustani Awam Morcha has four MLAs, one MLC, a minister, and a Lok Sabha member. We have always stood firmly with the NDA and continue to do so. In Bihar, the focus is on development, and under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the state has seen notable progress in electricity supply, law and order, and education. At the national level, PM Modi has emerged as a towering figure who has transformed India’s image both at home and abroad,” he said.

Manjhi emphasised the power of the “double-engine government” and its appeal to voters across Bihar.

“People here believe that a government led by both Nitish Kumar and PM Modi is best for the state’s future. Every child in Bihar is now thinking that it’s time to support the NDA again. We are united and ready to move forward,” he said.

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Crime

Kolkata law college rape: Monojit Mishra made 16 calls in 3 hours, police probe details

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Kolkata, July 4: Monojit Mishra, one of the three accused and reportedly the main architect in the law college student gang-rape case, made as many as 16 calls in three hours after the crime incident took place on the evening of June 25.

Those call details are currently being examined by the investigating sleuths, and at the same time, the process of interrogation of those with whom Mishra conversed during that period has started.

The tower locations of the mobile phones of the three accused, namely Mishra, Jaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, during that period are being tracked by the investigating officials to have an idea of the places they went to immediately after the crime.

Sources said that one of the calls that Mishra made from his mobile phone during that period was to a member of the governing body of the same college. Although the governing body member concerned has already been questioned by the investigating officials, the latter are not willing to disclose anything on the interrogation findings for the sake of the investigation.

This week, the investigation into the case was handed over to the Detective Department of the city police, which has started the probe process by adding new sections against the three prime accused persons.

Before Detective Department took over the charge of the investigation, the three accused persons were charged under sections on rape. However, with the Detective Department taking over the investigation sections relating to abduction and causing injuries with weapons were also slapped on the three.

On Friday morning, around 3 a.m., the sleuths of the detective department reached the campus of the law college in Kolkata along with the three accused for reenactment of the incident.

Sources said that the findings of the reenactment process will be cross-checked with the statement given by the victim soon after the event of sexual harassment took place last week. Earlier, a member of the special investigation team, which was initially investigating the matter, had gone to the college campus with the victim for reenactment purposes.

The woman, a student of the South Calcutta Law College, was allegedly raped by two senior students and an alumnus of the institute in the guard’s room on June 25. Apart from the three, the college guard has been arrested in the case so far.

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National

Op Sindoor an example to show when fight to maintain Swaraj is needed, says HM Shah

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Pune, July 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the responsibility of creating the India of Shivaji Maharaj’s dreams rested with 140 crore Indians, and sometimes, there is a need to fight to protect our ‘Swaraj’. He cited Operation Sindoor as an example of this.

“When there was a need to fight for Swaraj, we fought. If there is a need to fight to preserve Swaraj, we will fight. Operation Sindoor is an example of this. But alongside Swaraj, the idea of a great India also encompasses the concept of Shivaji Maharaj,” he stated in his speech after unveiling the statue of the great patriot and symbol of Maratha pride, Shriman Bajirao Peshwa, on the premises of the National Defence Academy.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol were among others present on the occasion.

“Our goal should be to create an India where we are number one in the entire world. If there is a personality that inspires effort, dedication and sacrifice for this, it is Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa,” he noted.

“PM Modi has given the formula of development and heritage. There have been many personalities in our thousand-year-old culture who keep inspiring us. Their history needs to be given to today’s youth. Bajirao never fought for himself. He fought for the country and Swarajya. The British distorted history. Despite having so much prowess and power, Bajirao was a lifelong Peshwa. He fought for Swarajya. In his 40 years of life, he wrote an immortal history that no one will be able to write for many centuries,” said the Home Minister.

“The inspiration that will come from installing the statue of Shrimant Bajirao at the National Defence Academy, where the chiefs of all three armed forces train and graduate, will ensure that no one can touch India’s borders,” he asserted.

“Some rules of the art of war never become outdated. The importance of strategy in war, the importance of swiftness, the spirit of dedication, the spirit of patriotism, and the spirit of sacrifice are important. These are what lead armies to victory; only the weapons keep changing. The most exemplary embodiment of all these qualities in 500 years of Indian history is found only in Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa,” said HM Shah.

He further stated, “Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa fought 41 battles in 20 years and did not lose a single one, a record no other commander could match. The most fitting place to install the statue of such a brave warrior, who never let defeat come near him until his death, is the National Defence Academy.”

He said the land of Pune is the birthplace of the values of Swaraj. In the 17th century, it was from here that the concept of Swaraj spread across the nation.

“When the time came to fight for Swaraj again in the face of the British, it was Tilak Maharaj who first roared like a lion — ‘Swaraj is my birthright’. The example of how much a person can do for their country in their lifetime was also set by Veer Savarkar from this sacred land of Maharashtra,” he added.

HM Shah also connected Bajirao’s legacy to the broader historical context, crediting the Maratha warrior and the Peshwas for preserving India’s cultural and structural identity through their resistance against external forces.

He stated, “Had the battle for Independence that was started by Shivaji Maharaj and taken forward by the Peshwas for 100 years not been fought, India’s basic structure would have ceased to exist.”

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