National News
SC agrees to extend tenure of ED chief Sanjay Mishra till September 15 (Lead)
The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to extend, till September 15, the tenure of the present ED Director Sanjay Mishra, who was due to demit office on July 31 in accordance with its recent judgement.
“In ordinary circumstances we would not have accepted such an application…taking into consideration larger public interest, we permit the ED Director to continue till September 15, 2023,” a special bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Vikram Nath, and Sanjay Karol ordered.
However, the bench clarified that it will not entertain any further application by the Centre seeking extension of tenure of the present ED Director. It said that Mishra will cease to hold the post from the midnight of September 15/16, 2023.
At the outset of the hearing, the bench asked whether the ED does not have any other competent officer to deal with the FATF review.
“Are you not giving a picture that your entire department is full of incompetent officers? You have only one officer? Is it not demoralising the entire force?” queried the special bench.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, repeatedly urged before the court that any change in leadership at the ED would adversely impact India’s national interests in view of the ongoing FATF Review which is at a critical stage.
“Circumstances are unusual. From November 3, FATF will visit India. This is a peer review of the past 5 years. This isn’t an annual exercise. Continuity will help the country,” he said.
“It is not that one person is indispensable. It’s just that continuity will help give a better presentation to the international body. We need continuity to put forth that before the international body,” he added.
The FATF is an inter-governmental body which has developed its recommendations to prevent and combat money laundering and terror financing. Around 200 countries, including India, have committed to implement these standards. The FATF conducts peer reviews of all its member countries on a regular basis to assess levels of implementation of the FATF recommendations and provide an in-depth description and analysis of each country’s system for preventing criminal abuse of the financial system.
On the other hand, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi opposed the application for extension, saying that Centre is making an attempt to get a review of the judgment rendered by the apex court.
Senior advocate Anoop G. Chaudhari, representing original writ petitioners, argued that in relation to FAFT, the main authority is Union Revenue Secretary and application filed by the Centre is “misconceived” and “deserves to be rejected”.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan went on to say that the Centre’s application is a “gross abuse of process of court” and a review application has been filed in guise of an application seeking extension.
In its order delivered in open court, the bench allowed the Union government’s request “in view of the larger public interest”, but granted an extension only till September 15, while the application moved by the Centre has requested extension up to October 15.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court agreed to constitute a special bench to hear the Centre’s application on July 27 after Mehta sought an urgent listing of the matter.
In a judgement on July 11, the Supreme Court dubbed the extension of Mishra as “illegal” for violating the mandate of the top court’s judgment in 2021. However, the top court had allowed him to continue in the post till July 31 taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Union government with regard to the FATF review and taking into consideration that the process of fresh appointment would take some time.
The court had held that the extension granted to Mishra was contrary to an earlier 2021 judgment rendered by a division bench of the Supreme Court in this regard.
Mishra was first appointed as ED Director for a two-year term in November 2018. His term expired in November 2020. In May 2020, he had reached the retirement age of 60.
However, on November 13, 2020, the Central government issued an office order stating that the President had modified the 2018 order to the effect that a time of ‘two years’ was changed to a period of ‘three years.’ This was challenged before the Supreme Court by the NGO Common Cause.
The Supreme Court in a September 2021 verdict approved the modification, but ruled against granting more extensions to Mishra. After the court’s decision in 2021, the Central government brought in an ordinance amending the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act, giving itself the power to extend the tenure of the ED Director by up to five years, and the law in this regard was subsequently passed by the Parliament.
“Challenge to CVC Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act is dismissed to that extent. Extension granted to Sanjay Kumar Mishra after Supreme Court verdict is illegal. However, he is permitted to hold office till July 31, 2023,” the court had ordered on July 11.
Crime
Delhi building collapse: Look-out notice issued against owner Hariram Bansal

New Delhi, Sep 7: The Delhi Police have issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against building owner Hariram Bansal following the fatal collapse of the five-storey building in Satya Niketan, as investigations into the incident and responsibility for the tragedy continue.
Police registered an FIR against Bansal and others in connection with the building collapse on Sunday. According to police, the structure was being used as a paying guest (PG) accommodation, and renovation work was allegedly underway in the basement when the building suddenly collapsed.
The five-storey building, known as ‘Hostel Daze’, was operating as a boys’ PG, and several students were staying at the premises when the incident took place. An adjacent building also collapsed, according to eyewitnesses, adding to concerns over the safety and structural condition of buildings in the area.
At least six people have lost their lives in the incident, while five others have been rescued, and the search for those still trapped in the debris is underway at the building collapse site.
A large number of students are feared to be among those trapped in the rubble, as several students from nearby Delhi University colleges were reportedly residing in PG accommodations in the area.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta revisited the collapse site on Monday morning to take stock of the safety measures and review the ongoing rescue and related operations following the tragedy.
The Chief Minister said that an FIR had been registered against the building owner and made it clear that strict action would be taken against Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials if they were found responsible for negligence or lapses in the matter.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), directives have also been issued for the immediate sealing of illegal five-storey buildings across Delhi as part of measures to prevent similar incidents and ensure compliance with safety norms.
“Intensive inspections of nearby PGs and buildings; sealing to follow if violations are found. The Chief Minister made it clear that there would be no compromise on the safety of Delhi’s residents and that no one would be spared in cases of negligence,” the CMO said.
The authorities have stepped up scrutiny of buildings and PG accommodations in the vicinity following the collapse, with inspections aimed at identifying possible violations and taking action wherever required.
Meanwhile, a petition concerning the Satya Niketan building collapse has also been filed before the Delhi High Court, seeking judicial intervention in connection with the incident and the safety concerns arising from it.
The Delhi High Court has assured that the petition will be heard on Monday itself.
Crime
Delhi Police crack down on illicit liquor, ganja; two arrested in separate operations

New Delhi, Sep 6: The Delhi Police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in separate operations in Sonia Vihar and Uttam Nagar for allegedly possessing and dealing in illicit liquor and illegal ganja, officials said.
In the first incident, a man was apprehended after police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from his possession in the Sonia Vihar area during the early hours of Saturday.
According to police, on Saturday at around 1:50 AM, constable Madan, while conducting area patrolling, received secret information regarding the alleged illegal sale of liquor at B-Block, Gali No. 29, Circular Road, 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar, Delhi.
Acting swiftly on the information, the constable reached the location and apprehended a person identified as Sonu Kumar (37), a resident of 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar.
During checking, police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from a white plastic sack that was lying near him.
Following the recovery, a case was registered at Police Station Sonia Vihar vide FIR No. 201/26, dated September 5, 2026, and investigation was initiated.
Thereafter, police also checked the residential premises of the accused. During the search, an additional 196 quarter bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from his residence, along with cash amounting to Rs 25,300.
In a separate operation, the Delhi Police arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly possessing and trafficking narcotic substances and recovered 1.157 kg of illegal ganja from her possession in the Uttam Nagar area of Dwarka district.
The action was carried out as part of the Delhi Police’s sustained campaign against drug abuse and the illegal trafficking and circulation of narcotic substances across Dwarka district.
According to the police, on August 13, at around 10:30 p.m., HC Jitender and Constable Aswir were conducting patrolling duty in the area of D-Block of JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar’s Shiv Vihar when they received specific information regarding the alleged illegal trafficking of narcotic substances.
Acting promptly on the information, the police personnel immediately proceeded towards the location indicated in the input. Upon reaching near JJ Colony, they noticed a woman carrying a plastic bag and became suspicious of her activities.
Police said that on seeing the personnel, the woman appeared nervous and attempted to avoid attracting attention. Sensing suspicious circumstances, the police staff immediately intercepted her and conducted an enquiry.
The woman was identified as Sunita (40), a resident of Shiv Vihar. HC Jitender immediately informed senior officers regarding the apprehension of the woman and the suspected presence of narcotic substances.
Following receipt of the information, a police team reached the spot and, complying with the provisions of Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the officials conducted a personal search of the woman.
During the search, police recovered a white polythene containing a substance suspected to be ganja from her possession.
Following the recovery of the suspected narcotic substance, Sunita was apprehended, and 1.157 kg of ganja was seized in accordance with the prescribed legal provisions under the NDPS Act.
On the basis of the recovery and the circumstances of the case, police registered an FIR under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Uttam Nagar.
National News
Hyderabad police foil attempt by BJP to take out rally to Charminar

Hyderabad, Sep 6: Police in Hyderabad foiled the attempts by the BJP to take out a rally from Balapur to Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar on Sunday, ahead of Telangana Liberation Day, drawing angry protests from the party.
BJP in-charge for Maheswaram constituency, Andela Sriramulu Yadav and other party leaders were detained when they tried to take out ‘Vimochana Jaitrayatra’.
The BJP condemned the denial of permission for the rally.
“The fact that the Congress government denied permission for a rally from Balapur to the Charminar Bhagyalakshmi Temple on the occasion of Telangana Liberation Day clearly demonstrates how much it fears democracy and the spirit of patriotism. Having imposed restrictions on ‘Vande Mataram,’ the Congress party is now obstructing even the celebrations meant to honour the spirit of independence,” reads a social media post by the party’s Telangana unit.
Meanwhile, Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao asked if celebrating Telangana Liberation Day is a crime in Congress-ruled Telangana.
“Having sunk to deep depths of appeasement, Congress Party has once again crushed democracy by “stopping the Vimochana Jaitrayatra from Balapur to Charminar and arresting Maheshwaram BJP in-charge,” he said.
“Why is Congress so afraid of celebrating Telangana Liberation Day? We may have moved far beyond 1948, but Congress mindset is still Razakar and Nizam DNA. In its rampant vote-bank politics and appeasement, Congress has forgotten that India is a democracy. BJP leaders are stopped, detained and arrested for everything, from dharnas and protests to even celebrating Telangana Liberation Day. Shame!,” Ramchander Rao posted on ‘X’.
The BJP is gearing up to celebrate Telangana Liberation Day on September 17. It was on this day in 1948 that the then Hyderabad State was annexed into the Indian Union.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Centre is organising Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at this year’s event. He will hoist the National Flag and review the parade by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and others will attend the event.
The Central and State governments will be celebrating the day with different themes.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will unfurl the National Flag at the main event to be held at the Public Garden in Hyderabad. For the third year in a row, the state government is celebrating it as ‘Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam’ (people’s governance day).
State ministers, government advisors, and key representatives will hoist the National Flag and take the salute at the official celebrations in all 32 district headquarters.
The National Flag will also be unfurled at all government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats.
While the earlier Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government celebrated September 17 as ‘National Integration Day’ in 2022 and 2023, the Congress, which came to power in December 2023, decided to celebrate the occasion as ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’.
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