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‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ stand on same level: Centre to Delhi HC

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Responding to a plea for equal status to ‘Vande Mataram’ with ‘Jana Gana Mana’, the Centre has told the Delhi High Court that both stand on the same level and every citizen of the country should show equal respect to both.

“..National song occupies a unique and special place in the emotions and psyche of the people of India,” the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted.

The MHA, in its reply, also pointed out that on January 24, 1950, the President of the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the National Anthem of India.

The ‘Orders relating to the National Anthem of India’ were issued regarding the manner and the circumstances in which the National Anthem has to be played or sung.

In 1971, the action of preventing the singing of the National Anthem or causing disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing was made a punishable offence by the enactment of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

The Centre’s response came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking parity of treatment between the National Anthem and National Song and also to frame guidelines for the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ giving it the same honour and status at par with the National Anthem of India.

However, the Centre, clarified that similar penal provisions have not been made by the Government in the case of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ and no instructions have been issued laying down the circumstances in which it may be sung or played. The Centre also referred to the Supreme Court order in Upadhyay’s similar earlier plea.

In its judgment dated January 17, 2017, the apex court observed that Article 51A (a) of the Constitution of India does not refer to ‘National Song’. It only refers to National Flag and National Anthem.

“5IA. Fundamental duties – It shall be the duty of every citizen of India-(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag, and National Anthem. Therefore, we do not intend to enter into any debate as far as the National Song is concerned,” the earlier SC order read.

Crime

Delhi Police register FIR against unknown persons in Jamia vandalism case

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The Delhi Police on Thursday lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons in connection with an incident involving vandalism and damage to property at the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), officials said.

According to the police, the case has been registered at Jamia Nagar Police Station, on the complaint of the varsity administration.

This is the second FIR registered in connection with the ongoing students’ protests at the university in recent days.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had registered an FIR at the Jamia Nagar police station against Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood, as well as Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi, following a complaint by Jamia Millia Islamia registrar Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi.

Rizvi had alleged that the Congress MPs entered the campus without authorisation on separate occasions, amid the ongoing agitation.

Students of the university have been staging a hunger strike since October 12 demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students’ Union (JMISU) and the removal of the University’s Chief Proctor over a “crackdown” on protesters.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the university expressed deep shock, disappointment, and concern regarding the incidents that took place on Tuesday night, which involved vandalism and damage to university property.

The varsity said that upon receiving reports of attacks on the campus, the proctorial team and JMI faculty members immediately arrived on the spot.

“They discovered that groups of protesting students and local residents had vandalised University gates and walls, brought down Gate No. 4C, pelted stones, and damaged the CCTV control room and cameras, while also severing their connections. It is reported that a group of masked protesters even reached the University’s boys’ hostel in an attempt to mobilise more individuals to join them,” the JMI said in a statement.

According to the University, viral social media videos posted by the protesting students themselves show extensive damage inflicted upon JMI property.

“This has left the university community deeply distressed and outraged,” it said.

“Most concerning is the fact that the vandalism began shortly after members of the protesting student committee had been in discussions with JMI faculty (this marked the seventh such attempt at dialogue initiated by the university administration),” the University said.

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Crime

CBI conducts searches in SBI fraud case against Aaj Ka Anand Papers Pvt Ltd

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Pune in connection with an alleged bank fraud case involving M/s Aaj Ka Anand Papers Pvt Ltd, an official statement said.

The agency recently registered a case against the company, its directors and unknown public servants based on a complaint filed by the State Bank of India (SBI), Mumbai.

The complaint alleges criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and manipulation of accounts, resulting in a wrongful loss of Rs 81.66 crore to the bank.

According to the CBI, the accused allegedly suppressed and misappropriated business revenues, altered and falsified books of accounts and electronic records, and diverted funds in violation of lending conditions.

Investigators suspect that substantial amounts were routed through current accounts maintained outside the designated banking channels without obtaining the consent of consortium lenders.

The agency said the alleged diversion of funds and unauthorised transactions amounted to cheating, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and criminal conspiracy, causing significant financial loss to SBI.

As part of the ongoing probe, CBI teams searched several premises linked to the company and its directors. The searches covered both office establishments and residential properties associated with the accused persons.

During the operation, investigators recovered documents and digital evidence that are believed to be relevant to the case. The seized material is being examined to ascertain the full extent of the alleged fraud, including the suspected diversion and misappropriation of funds, as well as the involvement of other individuals who may have played a role in the conspiracy.

The CBI said the evidence collected during the searches would help investigators trace the flow of funds and determine whether there were any violations of banking norms and sanction conditions imposed by the lending institutions.

Further investigation in the case is underway, the agency added.

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Crime

Delhi Crime Branch arrests wanted mother-son duo in MCOCA, NDPS cases

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The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a wanted mother-son duo linked to an organised drug syndicate and facing cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, officials said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Neelam Rana, 47, wife of Rajesh Rana alias Bunty, and her son Rahul Rana, 27. Both were wanted in FIR No. 74/2026, registered under Sections 3 and 4 of MCOCA at Tilak Nagar police station, and FIR No. 968/2021, registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Khyala police station.

Proceedings under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been initiated against both accused by the concerned courts. Rajesh Rana, who is the head of the syndicate, has already been charge-sheeted in the MCOCA case and is currently in judicial custody.

According to police, a team from the Western Range-II unit of the Crime Branch was constituted on the directions of DCP Harsh Indora following specific intelligence received by Head Constable Pramod Kumar. The team was led by Inspector Satish Malik under the supervision of ACP Raj Pal Dabas.

The team included Sub-Inspectors Anuj Chhikara and Pradeep Dahiya, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shreeom, and Head Constables Ravinder Singh, Pramod Kumar and Azad.

SI Anuj Chhikara and HC Ravinder Singh conducted technical surveillance to trace the accused. Following sustained efforts, the team located them at their residential premises in Bindapur and Mahavir Enclave, Delhi, on October 27.

After the court proceedings and completing the necessary legal formalities, both were arrested under Section 35(1)(c) of the BNSS.

Police said Neelam Rana had been involved in 13 criminal cases since 1995, including cases under the Excise Act and the NDPS Act. Non-bailable warrants were also pending against her in two NDPS cases. Rahul Rana is also an accused in an NDPS case and a separate case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to investigators, Neelam Rana began selling liquor illegally in the Khyala and Tilak Nagar areas with her husband and his family. She later allegedly became involved in procuring and selling heroin, also known as smack. Her son Rahul Rana allegedly joined the illegal drug trade.

The police further alleged that the family operated an organised syndicate led by Rajesh Rana, generating substantial proceeds from drug trafficking. Following his arrest, Neelam and Rahul went into hiding and frequently changed locations to evade arrest.

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