India

Ahmedabad, Aug 4 (PTI) A special CBI court, hearing the discharge applications of former police officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin in Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case, is likely to pass its order on August 7.

Special CBI court Judge J K Pandya said the order, which was listed for today, will be passed on Tuesday.

The court had last month concluded hearing arguments of the two accused retired police officers, the CBI and Ishrat's mother Shamima Kauser, who had challenged Vanzara's discharge plea.

Panaji, Aug 4 (PTI) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has stated that the Goa government's "incorrect working" of stamp duty on 13 mining leases had led to a loss of over Rs 108 crore to the state Exchequer.

The CAG report, for the fiscal 2016-17, said that the stamp duty of these 13 leases from January 5, 2015 to February 16, 2016 should have been Rs 169.72 crore, as per proper calculations, instead of Rs 66.45 crore that the state's Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) collected.

Chandigarh, Aug 4 (PTI) The Punjab revenue department has made online 19 templates of documents related to property registration that can be downloaded free of cost, a minister said.

Punjab Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria said these documents can be easily amended according to the customer's need.

A questionnaire with answers has also been uploaded on the department's website to make registration process easier and people friendly, he added.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Indian IT firm Wipro today said it has settled a lawsuit with National Grid US for USD 75 million and formalities for withdrawal of the lawsuit are expected to be completed shortly.

"Wipro Limited has effected a settlement for the release of all claims under the lawsuit with National Grid US and a stipulation of discontinuance of the lawsuit has been filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York," Wipro today said in a regulatory filing.

Kolkata, Aug 4 (PTI) In the long-term, Goods and Services Tax (GST) slabs may come down to three, in addition to the exempted category, Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Adviser to the Finance Ministry, today said.

The three slabs could be a low of 5 per cent, a central 15 per cent (merging 12 per cent and 18 per cent slabs that exist now) and a top rate of 25 per cent, he said here at an interactive session organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce.

Mumbai, Aug 4 (PTI) Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today accused the BJP government of working hand in glove with global tech giants and turning Aadhaar into a surveillance tool.

The senior Congress leader also alleged that in 2016 the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIADI) had asked global tech companies to embed Aadhaar encryption into their technology.

"BJP Government working in cahoots with global tech giants and turning AADHAR into a surveillance tool. Government must come clean," Chavan said in a tweet.

Bengaluru, Aug 4 (PTI) Former India captain Kapil Dev today said he is yet to get a formal invite from Pakistan Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan to attend his swearing-in ceremony though he has been informally communicated to be present at the event.

"I have been invited, but not in writing. I got a call from his team, but I haven't received any mail yet. I am waiting for a formal invite," Kapil told reporters on the sidelines of Lousi Phillepe Celebrity Pro Am, an international Professional Golf tournament, here.

Jaipur, Aug 4 (PTI) Accusing the BJP of misleading people in the name of religion, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president Sachin Pilot today asked if the saffron party shows concern and talks about temples only to seek political advantage in elections.

Hitting out at the BJP and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Pilot said the BJP has emotionally exploited people and misled them.

New Delhi, Aug 3; GANASHAKTI; Facing financial crisis, Jet Airways Ltd has informed its staff that it won’t be able to operate beyond 60 days unless cost cuts are put in place. The aircraft has reportedly sought investment bankers’ help to sell a stake in the carrier again.

According to reports, chairman Naresh Goyal informed employees that the carrier’s financials are not in a good shape and drastic measures are required such as salary cuts.

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Aug 4 (PTI) Pakistan's apex anti-graft body has approached Interpol seeking issuance of Red Corner Notices against jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif's sons Hasan and Hussain, a media report said today.

Sharif's sons were declared as absconders by an accountability court after they failed to appear in either of the three cases launched against them along with their father following a Supreme Court decision on July 28, 2017.