Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted searches at various locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in a recent case of alleged conversion of some deaf students and poor people to Islam in UP with purported funding from abroad, official sources said.

The raids are being conducted at six places in Delhi and UP, they said.

New Delhi, Jul 2 (PTI) As farmers' protest against the new farm laws entered eighth month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday appealed to protesting farmers to end their agitation and return home.

He said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has also appealed to farmers to end the protest while stating that the government is ready to resume talks on the provisions of the three farm legislations.

"I will request that farmers return to their homes. The law is pro-farmer and farmers across the country have welcomed it," Goyal told reporters here.

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described as "landmark" the decision to include retail and wholesale trade as MSMEs, which will allow traders the benefits of priority sector lending, and said his government is committed to empowering the community.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had on Friday announced the inclusion of retail and wholesale trade under MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) as per which the traders will now get the benefit of priority sector lending under RBI guidelines.

New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Thursday granted interim protection till July 5 to a woman who claimed that she and her family are facing life-threats and being witch hunted by the UP police, media and vigilante groups after her wilful conversion from Hinduism to Islam.

Justice C Hari Shankar asked Delhi Police to take appropriate steps to protect the woman till the matter is heard by the regular bench, noting that the petitioner is a young woman who has expressed apprehension regarding her security.

Kolkata, Jul 2 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking the removal of Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta over his meeting with West Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari in Delhi.

The letter, written by TMC MPs Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Mahua Maitra, stated that the meeting between Adhikari and the solicitor general "reeks of impropriety" as the BJP MLA is an accused in the Narada and Saradha cases where investigations are underway.

New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea seeking direction to the Centre to impose President's Rule in West Bengal in view of deteriorating law and order situation due to the post-poll violence which started on May 2, the day of assembly election results.

The plea also sought direction to the Centre to deploy armed/paramilitary forces in the aid of the administrative authorities to bring normalcy in the state and to save it from internal disturbances.

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Baba Ramdev to place before it the original record of his statement on the use of allopathic medicine during COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the original thing which he has said? You have not placed the whole thing, a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was appearing for the yoga guru.

Rohatgi told the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, that he would file the original video along with the transcript.

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi Wednesday said she has been served an Income Tax Department notice over her 2020 election affidavit declaration, and attacked the BJP and the Central government for "such hollow threats".

Her party also came out in her defence, terming the notice "ridiculous" and saying it exposes the "sexist and chauvinist" face of the BJP.

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Two men were arrested for allegedly killing a man and injuring his wife in a suspected honour killing case at Dwarka a week ago, police said on Wednesday.

The accused were identified as Rohit Dahiya alias Vicky (22) and Ritik (22), both residents of Sonipat in Haryana, they said.

At around 9 pm on June 24, police received information regarding shots fired at Ambarhai village in Dwarka.

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) A court here on Wednesday granted bail to seven accused in a murder case related to the north-east Delhi violence, saying they cannot be incarcerated till the conclusion of trial which is likely to be delayed due to the COVID pandemic.

The case pertains to alleged murder of one Vinod Kumar in Delhi's Brahmpuri area during the communal riots on February 24 last year.

In all, 12 persons are accused in the case.