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Nuclear scientist Chidambaram passes away; PM Modi expresses condolences

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Chennai, Jan 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the demise of veteran nuclear scientist Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, who passed away at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai on Saturday, January 4, after a brief illness at the age of 88.

Dr. Chidambaram played a pivotal role in India’s nuclear weapons programme. He was instrumental in India’s first nuclear test in 1974 and the Pokhran-II tests in 1998, which established the country as a nuclear power.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said: “Deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram. He was one of the key architects of India’s nuclear programme and made ground-breaking contributions in strengthening India’s scientific and strategic capabilities. He will be remembered with gratitude by the whole nation, and his efforts will inspire generations to come.”

Dr. Chidambaram served in several key scientific and strategic positions, including Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.

He was also Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A distinguished academic, Dr. Chidambaram graduated with a B.Sc. Honours in Physics from Presidency College, Chennai, where he was a first-rank holder.

He later pursued a doctorate at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), earning a Ph.D. in 1962.

His thesis, focussing on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, earned him the Martin Forster Medal for the best doctoral thesis submitted to IISc.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Chidambaram received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1975 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1999.

He was also awarded honorary doctorates from multiple universities and was a fellow of several prominent Indian and international science academies.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed his condolences on X stating: “Saddened to learn about the passing away this morning of eminent nuclear scientist Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, who led India’s Atomic Energy Commission and played a key role in the development of strategic weapons. Dr. Chidambaram’s role in the two nuclear tests conducted by India was memorable.”

Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, described Dr. Chidambaram’s passing as an “irreparable loss” to the scientific community and the nation.

He added: “His contributions to India’s nuclear prowess and strategic self-reliance will never be forgotten.”

Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram’s legacy as one of India’s most celebrated scientists and a key architect of its nuclear programme will continue to inspire generations.

Crime

Bengaluru Police file FIR against Air Force officer in road rage case

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Bengaluru, April 22: The Bengaluru Police lodged an FIR against an Indian Air Force officer on Tuesday in connection with a road rage incident involving him and a bike rider.

The case was registered under the jurisdiction of the Byappanahalli police station. The FIR has been filed against Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose. Earlier, the bike rider, Vikas Kumar, was arrested in connection with the case. The incident came to light after Bose uploaded a video on social media claiming he was attacked by a local youth for not speaking in Kannada.

However, later CCTV footage revealed Bose overpowering the bike rider, banging, kicking, and punching him.

The FIR has been filed under IPC Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 304 (snatching forcefully), 324 (mischief), and 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace).

The complaint was lodged by Vikas Kumar, a call centre employee. According to him, while he was returning a friend’s bike, a car touched his vehicle. “When I questioned why they hit the bike, the officer kicked it. When I objected, he continuously assaulted me. When I tried to call my friend, he snatched my phone and threw it. He also threw away the bike keys and attempted to choke me,” Kumar alleged.

The incident escalated after Kannada organisations condemned the officer’s video and the alleged assault, criticising him for giving the issue a Kannada versus Hindi language twist. After Kumar’s arrest, they also slammed the police for taking one-sided action.

DCP East D. Devaraju had stated earlier that the incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Monday while the Air Force officer was travelling from DRDO Quarters to the Bengaluru International Airport. “An altercation broke out between the officer, his wife, and the biker. His wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Das, was driving the car. The situation escalated, and we have CCTV footage along with videos taken by bystanders,” he said.

“It’s a clear case of road rage. Both parties could have avoided the incident. Around 6.30 a.m., they came to the police station, and the SHO advised them to seek first aid as they were bleeding,” he added.

He also stated that Bose had left for the airport due to a delay. “Once he went live on social media, we traced the details and contacted Madhumita Das at the DRDO quarters. She later came to the police station and filed a complaint. This is a clear road rage incident,” DCP Devaraju reiterated.

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Crime

ED raids 16 locations in Bihar, Jharkhand in connection with 117 acre land scam

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Ranchi, April 22: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at 16 locations across Jharkhand and Bihar in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to a massive land scam involving 117 acres of forest land in Bokaro.

The raids began early in the morning and were spread across Ranchi, Bokaro, and Ramgarh in Jharkhand, as well as some locations in Bihar.

The operation is part of the ED’s ongoing probe into illegal land transactions and suspected laundering of proceeds from the sale and purchase of forest land.

The case, originally registered at the Sector-12 police station in Bokaro earlier this year, pertains to the alleged illegal transfer and sale of approximately 117 acres of forest land. The Jharkhand CID had initially taken up the investigation, which revealed major irregularities.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Jharkhand Police, also probing the 2022 forest land scam, found that 74.38 acres of land belonging to the Forest Department in Bokaro were illegally allotted to a private company by administrative officials.

According to CID findings, the land mafia in alleged collusion with some personnel of Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) tampered with land records. It was further discovered that the land in question had not been properly handed over to the Forest Department by BSL, which created loopholes exploited by the accused parties for illegal transactions.

Following the revelations, the case was handed over to the ED for investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Sources indicate that the ED is likely to summon and question several individuals, including officials from the Forest Department and BSL, in connection with the case.

The agency is also examining financial trails to ascertain how the proceeds from the land transactions were laundered and who the key beneficiaries were.

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Business

Chhattisgarh CM to showcase new industrial policy during his two-day Mumbai visit

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Mumbai, April 22: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will be on a two-day visit to Mumbai from Wednesday, where he will participate in two major national events, including the CMAI Fab Show and the India Steel 2025.

During these events, he will present Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy, its investment potential and infrastructure vision before leading industrialists and policymakers from across the country.

According to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister’s office, CM Sai will take part in the Fab Show on April 23, organised by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI). This annual event brings together leaders from garment manufacturing, exports, and branding. The chief minister will highlight the incentives and opportunities available for the textile sector under Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy. Several major companies are also expected to sign MoUs for investment in the state during this event.

On April 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the ‘India Steel 2025’ event via video conferencing. CM Sai will also address the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. On this platform, he will present the highlights of Chhattisgarh’s new industrial policy, infrastructure readiness for the steel sector and the state’s long-term development vision.

On the same day, a Chhattisgarh Roundtable Meeting will also be held, where the CM will engage in direct dialogue with potential investors. The discussion will focus on specially developed industrial clusters for the steel sector, logistics infrastructure, single-window clearances, and labour-friendly policies.

CM Sai will also visit the Chhattisgarh State Pavilion set up at the Bombay Exhibition Centre. This pavilion will showcase the state’s robust industrial infrastructure, business-friendly environment, and emerging investment opportunities — aiming to attract national and international investors.

This is CM Sai’s second visit to the financial capital of the country since January this year. During that visit, Chhattisgarh had attracted investment worth Rs 6,000 crore in a range of sectors, including plastic, textile, cement, IT and food processing. He had told the investors that since the launch of the new industrial policy last year, the state had attracted investments of Rs one lakh crore. He had told the investors that the process of no-objection certificates had been streamlined, and clearances were now processed through a single window system.

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