Jammu, Nov 20: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of J&K Police on Thursday carried out a raid at the office of the ‘Kashmir Times’ in Jammu, alleging that the newspaper has been involved in anti-national activities and spreading disaffection against the country.

Official sources said the SIA has filed a First Information Report (FIR) naming Anuradha Bhasin, Editor of Kashmir Times, in connection with these charges.

“The investigation aims to examine her alleged links and activities that threaten the sovereignty of India. The operation underscores the ongoing crackdown on terror networks in Kashmir, with SIA asserting that there must be no misuse to propagate seditious or separatist ideologies,” sources added.

The Counter-Intelligence wing and the SIA of J&K Police have been carrying out raids at multiple locations in the union territory since November 10, when a local doctor, Umar Nabi, exploded a car next to the Red Fort in Delhi, killing 13 innocent civilians and injuring many others. The terrorist, Dr Umar Nabi, who died in the explosion, had evaded arrest after J&K Police, in coordination with Haryana Police, busted a white collar terror module in the Faridabad area.

Police have arrested two terror associates of Dr Umar Nabi, namely Dr Adil Rather of Kulgam district and Dr Muzammil Ganaie of Pulwama district, following which Dr Umar Nabi had gone underground.

While one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the locker of Dr Adil Rather in the Government Medical College, Anantnag, 360 kg of explosive material was recovered from Dr Muzammil Rather.

The Counter-Intelligence wing also raided the high-profile Kot Bhalwal district jail in Jammu on Wednesday, where hardcore Pakistani and local terrorists are lodged.

Another local doctor, Umar Farooq and his wife, Shahzada Akhtar, were arrested two days back in Srinagar for using their position in the society, allegedly for anti-national activities.

Shahzada Akhtar was arrested for trying to revive the women’s terrorist outfit, Dukhtaran-e-Millat. It is alleged that Shahzada was working to recruit a fresh cadre for the outfit that had become defunct after the arrest of its chief, Asiya Andrabi, in 2018.

Hyderabad, Nov 20: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday appeared before the Special CBI court in Hyderabad in the disproportionate assets case.

Amid tight security, the president of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) appeared before the court at Nampally Criminal Court complex.

A large number of YSRCP cadres and supporters had gathered near the court premises to show solidarity with their leader.

The court recorded Jagan Mohan Reddy’s attendance and closed the hearing on his petition. After spending a few minutes in the court premises, he returned to Lotus Pond residence.

Outside the court premises, he greeted his supporters with folded hands before leaving in his car.

Earlier, the former chief minister reached Begumpet Airport in the city by a special aircraft from Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada. Hundreds of supporters accorded him a warm welcome. They were carrying placards and raising slogans in support of the YSRCP chief.

Jagan Mohan Reddy drove to his Lotus Pond residence and, after spending some time there, reached the court complex.

Police had imposed traffic restrictions around the court complex located in the heart of the city.

This was Jagan’s first physical appearance in the court in nearly six years. He had last appeared before the court on January 10, 2020, when he was the Chief Minister.

The YSRCP leader had been seeking exemption from personal appearance, citing his responsibilities as the Chief Minister.

Even after losing power last year, he continued seeking an exemption from personal appearance. While giving permission for him to visit Europe last month, the court had directed him to personally appear after his return.

He was directed to appear by November 14 to provide details of his travel and ensure adherence to his bail conditions.

When the former Chief Minister filed a petition seeking exemption from personal appearance, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had objected and sought court direction to him to personally appear.

The court had directed him to ensure his personal appearance on or before November 21. He decided to appear a day before the deadline.

Jagan Mohan Reddy has been on bail since September 2013 in the long-pending case, which stems from allegations of quid pro quo arrangements during the tenure of his late father, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009.

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) allege that various companies and individuals made massive investments, often at high premiums, into Jagan Mohan Reddy’s businesses, including Jagathi Publications and Bharathi Cements, in exchange for undue favours like land allotments, mining leases, and other clearances from the state government.

In the 11 charge sheets filed by the CBI in the case, Jagan Mohan Reddy has been named as the accused number one.

Hyderabad, Nov 20: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has given his nod to prosecute former minister and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao in the Formula E race case.

The nod comes two months after the state government sent the file to the Governor seeking his permission to prosecute the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader in the case relating to alleged misuse of Rs 54.88 crore public funds.

This will pave the way for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file the charge sheet.

It was in September that the ACB submitted its report and, through the state government, sought the Governor’s sanction to prosecute K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar and others.

However, the prosecution of Arvind Kumar requires permission from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central government. It was immediately not clear if the ACB would file the charge sheet against all the accused after receiving permission from DoPT or file an initial charge sheet against KTR.

After nine months of probe into the alleged irregularities in hosting the Formula E race in Hyderabad during the previous BRS regime, the ACB had submitted its report to the government.

He has been accused of receiving Rs 44 crore in the form of an electoral bond from a sponsorship company as a quid pro quo for granting it rights to organise the race.

The ACB in December last year booked a case against KTR, former Special Chief Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), Arvind Kumar and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s (HMDA) former Chief Engineer B.L.N. Reddy for alleged Rs 54.88 crore irregularities in the Formula E deal.

After the Governor gave his permission for the probe, the FIR was registered on a complaint by Principal Secretary, MA&UD, M. Dana Kishore, who stated that foreign remittances were made without prior approvals of the relevant regulatory authorities, which resulted in additional tax burden to HMDA to the tune of Rs 8.06 crore.

The complainant also alleged that the payment was made while the Model Code of Conduct was in effect for the elections to the state Assembly without any prior approval of the Election Commission. The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under the Indian Penal Code’s (IPC) Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

The ACB questioned KTR, Arvind Kumar and B.L.N. Reddy multiple times in the case.

The former minister, who was questioned by the ACB four times, dismissed the Formula E case as a “bogus case”.

KTR said he had made every effort to bring the Formula E race to Hyderabad. He admitted that it was he who had directed the release of Rs 46 crore from the government, but clarified that the funds had been deposited directly into the designated account. “Not a single rupee has been misused. Every rupee is accounted for. Where then is the corruption?” he asked.

The BRS leader asserted that even if prosecution proceeded or charge sheets were filed, nothing would stand.