Politics
Samajwadi Party throws a spanner even as its allies stay undecided
The Samajwadi Party (SP) has thrown a spanner in the Presidential elections by announcing that it will neither support a BJP candidate, nor a Congress nominee in the upcoming polls.
SP’s national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said, “Our party president and quite a few senior leaders feel that SP should maintain equal distance from the BJP and the Congress in the Presidential elections.”
In political circles, SP’s decision is being seen as a clear message to the Congress to not to mess with its internal matters.
Sources said that Akhilesh Yadav had taken a strong exception to Acharya Pramod Krishnam’s recent meeting with senior SP MLA Mohammad Azam Khan in jail.
While the BJP seems to be in a comfortable position to see its nominee through in the polls, for the Congress, the Presidential elections will be a major opportunity to position itself as the main challenger to the saffron brigade in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
For this, the Congress would need the support of all the BJP rivals, and SP’s latest stance could leave the Congress strategists eyeing SP votes a bit concerned.
As the electoral college which elects the President comprises all members of both Houses of the Parliament and MLAs from all the states, SP will be a noticeable player. Presently, SP and its allies have 125 MLAs, 16 MLCs and 8 MPs (both Houses).
Interestingly, none of the SP allies have so far made any comment on SP’s decision on Presidential elections.
The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), according to sources, is �uncomfortable’ with SP’s posture.
“You need to take a stand in politics and cannot always queer the pitch. We do not understand what SP wants but we will take a decision at the appropriate time,” said a senior RLD leader.
The RLD has eight MLAs in the UP Assembly.
The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is also a Samajwadi ally with six legislators and its President Om Prakash Rajbhar is also maintaining a studied silence on the issue.
Meanwhile, according to sources, a section of senior legislators in the SP is also against the decision announced by Akhilesh Yadav.
These legislators are apparently waiting for Shivpal Singh Yadav to decide his stand on the issue and may eventually go with him.
A senior SP MLA told IANS, “In politics, we cannot build castles in the air. We have to go either with the Congress or the BJP because we are not in a position to influence the outcome of the Presidential elections. Our leadership is not even negotiating with other non-BJP parties on the issue.”
The Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), meanwhile, have been reduced to the status of non-players in the Presidential polls from Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress has just two members in the state Assembly, while the BSP has one.
Maharashtra
10 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a girl at Kasturba police station

Mumbai: The court has convicted the accused in the case of sexual abuse of a girl under the limits of Kasturba police station. A case of sexual abuse was registered against the accused Naresh Kumar Harish Kumar 44 under the Pisco Act. The accused has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rs 2000, otherwise three months in prison by the Dandoshi court in this case. The accused has been convicted due to the better investigation of this case. Kasturba police had filed a charge sheet in this case after investigation and now the punishment has been given in this case.
International News
‘Govt follows protocol’: BJP respond after Rahul Gandhi remarks on Oppn-Putin meeting

New Delhi, Dec 4: After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Centre has been advising foreign delegations against meeting or interacting with the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) – a practice he said was followed during previous UPA and NDA regimes, ruling party leaders on Thursday rejected the claim, asserting that the “government follows due protocol” in all matters.
The startling charge by Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to reporters outside Parliament, comes hours ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India. His remarks are set to raise eyebrows in the political corridors and also set the stage for heated sparring between the BJP and Congress.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Meetings with the LOP take place with delegations coming from outside. It has been a long-held tradition and has always been done this way,” he said, while citing instances during Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.”
Speaking to Media, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said, “These decisions are made by the government. Atal ji was a national asset, and the entire country was proud of him. He was a great patriot. I don’t know why Rahul Gandhi is not being allowed, but in my opinion, his commitment to the nation is questionable. His role in creating unrest and trying to divide the country raises doubts about his intentions. And if Rahul Gandhi is comparing himself to Atal ji, then I would suggest he join the BJP — only then could he become like him.”
BJP MP Bhim Singh said, “Why would the government stop him? He only creates chaos and does not speak where he is supposed to speak.”
Echoing a similar stance, BJP MP Brij Lal added, “The government follows protocol, and work will be carried out accordingly. Rahul Gandhi is only making this political.”
JD(U) leader K. C. Tyagi clarified, “The government does not decide such protocols. Visiting heads of state themselves decide whom they wish to meet.”
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale added, “Foreign leaders visit on the invitation of the ruling party or government. If President Putin wishes, Rahul Gandhi, as LoP, can meet him. The government has no role in that.”
Maharashtra
Mumbai Crime: Father–Son Real Estate Duo Booked For ₹31.26-Crore Investment Fraud In Jogeshwari Redevelopment Project

Mumbai: A father–son real estate duo and their construction company have been booked by the Andheri Police for allegedly cheating nearly 18 investors of ₹31.26 crore by promising 18% annual returns on investments in a redevelopment project.
A case has been registered against M/s Ranbir Real Estate & Developers and its directors, Jaykumar Gupta and Suyash Gupta. The complainant, Mahesh Doshi, a pharmacy businessman from Vapi, Gujarat, had been searching for lucrative investment opportunities. In March 2021, through a mediator, he was introduced to the company, which claimed to be executing a redevelopment project in Jogeshwari East.
On March 19, 2021, Doshi and his family met Jaykumar and Suyash Gupta at their Andheri East office. The directors presented project details and documents, claiming the project required urgent funding and assuring a fixed return of 18% interest per annum.
Convinced, Doshi and his relatives transferred ₹8.26 crore to the firm’s account via RTGS in April 2021. The company paid interest—after deducting TDS—from 2021 until September 2024, after which the Guptas abruptly stopped payments and allegedly began avoiding repayment of the principal amount as well.
According to the FIR, Doshi later discovered that the Guptas had similarly taken large sums from 17 other investors, including one Kirit Desai and his family, and had allegedly cheated them as well. In total, the duo is believed to have defrauded 18 investors of ₹31.26 crore.
Following the complaint, the Andheri Police registered a case against M/s Ranbir Real Estate & Developers, Jaykumar Gupta and Suyash Gupta under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention). The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has begun further investigation.
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