chennai l Thursday l january 04, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l late city EDITION Grave matter as 103 massacred in iran to honour slain general Two explosions minutes apart on Wednesday in Iran targeted a commemoration for a slain general killed 103 persons, wounding 141 others Iran’s emergency services at the site of the blasts in Kerman on Wednesday | afp Explosions near Soleimani’s burial site terror attack, claims Kerman dy guv No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts in Kerman, about 820 km from Tehran. People had gathered in Kerman to mark the fourth death anniversary of General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. Wednesday’s blasts occurred near his grave site in Kerman ■ ■ Kerman’s deputy governor Rahman Jalali called the attack “terroristic”. Iran has multiple foes, including Israel and the US Soleimani’s popularity in Iran grew after American officials called for his killing over his help arming militants with penetrating roadside bombs that killed and maimed US troops in Iraq | P13 20 minutes apart was the time gap between the two explosions in Kerman CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Adani gets SC’s vote of confidence No ground to transfer Sebi’s probe against conglomerate to SIT SUCHITRA K ALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi IN a major relief to the Adani Group, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into allegations of stock-price manipulation and other irregularities levelled by US-based short-seller Hindenburg against the group. In its 46-page verdict, the SC said there were no grounds to transfer the probe from Sebi to a special investigation team. It also directed the stock markets regulator to complete its ongoing investigation into the allegations within three months. Hindenburg had in its report released in January 2023 alleged that the Adani Group had been manipulating stock prices of its group firms. Following this, the share value of various Adani firms plunged. In September, another report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project claimed that the Adani Group used offshore shell companies to invest in its own stocks. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud observed that the petit i o n e r s re l i e d s o l e ly o n unverified third-party claims and newspaper reports, which did not inspire confidence in the court’s mind to interfere in the regulator’s probe. “A report by a third-party organization without any attempt to verify the authenticity of its allegations cannot be regarded as conclusive proof,” it said. The bench, also comprising Regulator to complete probe within 3 months ‘Allegations against panel unfounded’ D Y Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India The bench rejected allegations of conflict of interest levelled against some members of the court-appointed expert panel. It also cautioned against filing petitions that lack adequate research and rely on unverified and unrelated material judges J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said: “The petitioners cannot assert that an unsubstantiated report in the newspapers should have credence over an investigation by a statutory regulator whose investigation has not been cast into doubt on the basis of cogent material or evidence.” The bench said while it can transfer an investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the CBI, it is done only in extraordinary circumstances when there is a glaring, deliberate inaction by the competent authority . It noted that the court has already exercised its extraordinary powers by setting up an Expert Committee to investigate whether there has been a regulatory failure. INDIA knows how to hurt our religious sentiments, says PM A r u n M @ Thrissur Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lit into the Left and the Congress governments in Kerala for hindering the state’s development, adding people have understood that only a BJP government can bring progress. Launching a broadside against the opposition bloc, Modi said: “INDIA alliance knows only one thing: to hurt our religious sentiments. They are turning our celebrations, and our festivals into a mode of corruption. We are all witnessing political games in the Thrissur Pooram,” the prime minister charged. Alleging that the Kerala government is using temples and festivals as a means to loot devotees, Modi said the lack of facilities at Sabarimala put the pilgrims to hardship. He was speaking at Sthree Shakthi Modikkoppam (Women Power with PM Modi), an event organised by the BJP-affiliated Mahila Morcha in Ker- The INDIA alliance is turning our celebrations and festivals into a mode of corruption  — Narendra Modi Mahila Morcha members garlanding PM Narendra Modi in Thrissur | T P Sooraj ala’s Thrissur. Modi said the Congress and the LDF differ only in names; their ideologies are the same. “They only focus on corruption, crime and family politics,” Modi said. “Now, they have formed the INDIA alliance and declared that their ideologies are the same. People have now understood this and realised that the development of Kerala is only possible through the BJP,” Modi said. Casting a spell over thousands who thronged the Swaraj Round and Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur, Modi practically kick-started the BJP’s camp a i g n i n Ke r a l a fo r t h e upcoming Lok Sabha election. Employing the BJP’s catchword for the election, ‘Modi’s guarantee’ (he repeated it 17 times in his speech), the prime minister listed out various schemes implemented by his government for women, and lashed out at both the Congress and the CPM. BJP’s poll strategy of banking on Modi’s charisma and the party’s resolve to make a strong electoral impact in the state were on full display at the event. As the prime minister entered the venue, thousands of women showered saffron and yellow marigold petals on his path. Proposed bus strike Centre scraps on Jan 9 may Thwart Salem Steel Pongal travel plans Plant sale plan The centre has annulled, after tepid response from bidders, the expression of interest (EoI) for disinvestment of the Salem Steel Plant. The EoI for the strategic disinvestment of the TN plant, a unit of the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), was floated by the centre in 2019. “Multiple EoIs had been received and bidders were shortlisted. However, due to lack of interest of shortlisted bidders to proceed further with the transaction, Government of India, with the approval of Alternative Mechanism (Empowered Group of Ministers), has decided to annul the current EoI t h e re by t e r m i n at i n g t h e present transaction,” a government notification said. Notably, in 2019, the privatisation of the Alloys Steels Plant (ASP) in Durgapur was halted, and in 2022, the sale of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISP) in Bhadravati, Karnataka, was called off due to a lack of interest from bidders. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the strategic sale of these three units of SAIL in 2018.  P7 workers unions include an increase in DA for pensioners Travel plan of thousands of and current employees, filling commuters for Pongal festival of about 35,000 vacancies, and may go haywire as nearly 30 initiation of discussions for trade unions of state transport wage revision. The unions also corporations have announced wanted the government to stop an indefinite strike from Janu- the proposal to outsource bus ary 9 in support of driver and conductor their demands. jobs. The decision was Late on Wednesday, announced by the repTransport Minister S S resentatives of the Sivasankar, in a statetrade unions on ment, urged transport Wednesday after talks workers to drop their with the labour and 8 firms run strike plan and outlined transpor t de par t the measures taken by 19k buses ments ended the DMK government for Eight state inconclusively . the benefit of workers. transport Office-bearers of He said talks with labour corporations the CITU, one of the unions will take place afbig g est transpor t operate 19,500 ter the Pongal festival. buses. About trade unions in the The LPF af filiated 1.7 crore state, said the governwith the DMK and other ment has refused to commuters use unions in the DMK alligovernment fulfil all their crucial ance have not joined the demands, including buses per day. strike call. Of the workthe one regarding out- Main demands force of 1.15 lakh in the sourcing of conduc- include hike in eight transport corporaDA and filling tor and driver jobs. tions, 35% to 40% emof vacancies The fleet capacity ployees are associated of the eight state with the LPF and its transport corporations in friendly unions. Tamil Nadu is 19,500. About 1.7 A CITU officer-bearer said crore commuters use govern- more than 90,000 retired workment buses every day The ma- ers have not got hike in DA for . jor demands presented by the over 15 years.  P7 “To expect the Court to monitor the investigation indefinitely even after the committee has , submitted its report and Sebi has completed its investigation in 22 out of 24 enquiries, is not warranted,” it added. The SC also sought a probe into whether the loss suffered by Indian investors due to the conduct of the Hindenburg Research in taking short positions violated law. “Sebi and the investigative agencies of the Union Government shall probe into whether the loss suffered by Indian investors due to the conduct of Hindenburg Research and any other entities in taking short positions involved any infraction of the law and if so, suitable action shall be taken,” the verdict said. Siraj’s 6, SA’s 55 It was a bizarre start to the second Test match between India and South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town on Wednesday. First, the hosts were bowled out for just 55 runs, their lowest since readmission into international cricket; then India, after comfortably reaching 153 for four, lost six wickets for 0 run. A look... 23 wickets in a day 6/0 Known for the extra bounce and assistance for pacers, Newlands, yet again, provided an entertaining day of Test. As many as 23 wickets fell on a pitch that has some lateral movement, and at times, the ball lifted chest high. Only Virat Kohli looked at ease with 46 It is the first time a team lost six wickets without adding any run on the board poor response M o n i k a Ya d a v @ New Delhi dragnet tightens Siraj shines bright Mohammed Siraj broke into the Test team ready to take charge, but had blown hot and cold in recent overseas tours. Centurion was one such example. On Wednesday though, all he touched turned gold. The scramble seam, outswinger, inswinger, leg-cutter, bouncer, whatever he bowled resulted in a wicket as Siraj took six for just 15 runs, his best figures in Test cricket collapse Both India and South Africa went in with one less batting option and that, at some level, meant the lower-order spent little time in the middle. If South Africa lost their last four wickets for ten runs, India went further. The visitors went from 153/4 to 153 all out in a span of 11 deliveries shortly after tea Full coverage: P15 express read Won’t resign, says Soren; ED heat on those close to him ing several court judgments, Marandi said there can be no Amid speculation on Hemant by-election at Gandey since Soren rolling the dice for Plan less than one year of the fifth B if the Enforcement Directo- Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha’s rate were to arrest him in a tenure is left. land scam case, the Jharkhand As for the MLAs, they said chief minister told his legisla- they were all united and tive party meeting on Wednes- would not let any conspiracy day that he had no insucceed in the state. tention to resign. The brave talk notThe speculation on withstanding, the ED Plan B was that Soren seemed to be running was grooming his wife rings around Soren Kalpana to step into as it raided 12 locahis shoes if the ED artions belonging to rests him and he had to those close to the CM resign. When senior — including his press MLAs party legislator Sarconfident advisor Abhishek faraz Ahmed vacated Prasad ‘Pintu’ — in his safe Gandey con- MLAs exuded Ranchi and Rajasconfidence stituency just a few than in a money laundays ago, it was seen as that Soren will dering case related to complete his an attempt to let her illegal mining. Beenter the assembly by term. “Soren is s i d e s , m u l t i p l e our CM and winning the seat. Howpremises of IAS ofever, Soren described will remain in ficer and Sahibganj future also,” it as a figment of the Deputy Commissionsaid Congress er Ramnivas Yadav, BJP’s imagination. Be that as it may, MLA Pradeep architect Vinod KuYadav state BJP president m a r, K h u d a n i y a Babulal Marandi wrote Brothers (Sahibganj), t o G ove r n o r C P R a d - former Bihar MLA Pappu Yahakrishnan requesting him to dav (Deoghar), DSP Rajendra stop a non-MLA (Kalpana) Dubey (Hazaribagh), constafrom taking oath as chief ble Awdhesh Kumar, and Abminister if Soren resigns. Cit- hay Saraogi (Kolkata). MU K ESH RAN J AN @ Ranchi Kejri skips ED summons again, calls it motivated AN u p v e r m a @ New Delhi Udhaya to invite PM for Khelo India Youth Games Chennai: Sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will be inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Tamil Nadu from January 19 to 31. The event, being held for the first time in the state, will be conducted in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchy | P4 E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai ED officials carry a printer to architect Vinod Singh’s premises in Ranchi | PTI 2 cops suspended for enrolling as BJP members Nagapattinam: Two police officials, SI K Rajendran and SSI A Karthikeyan, have been suspended for violation of code of conduct for allegedly enrolling as members of the BJP while on duty. The incident happened during BJP chief K Annamalai’s pada yatra in Nagapattinam district on December 27, 2023 | P4 Skipping the Enforcement Directorate’s third summons, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the agency of being opaque and arbitrary and asked if they were issued to tarnish his reputation. In response to the summons to appear before it in person on Wednesday the AAP convenor shot off a letter to , the agency, condemning the move as motivated and made for vexatious considerations. “It is a matter of concern that despite my comprehensive response(s) bringing to your notice critical dimensions and legal objections involved in issuing summons to me to appear ‘in person’ in your purported exercise of powers under Section 50 of PMLA, you have chosen not to respond. Therefore, I reiterate that the summons are motivated and issued for vexatious considerations,” he wrote, adding it appears to be a fishing expedition. dismal record Only 1 trafficking case filed by TN units in all of 2022 S u b a s h i n i V i j aya k u m a r @ Chennai Amid concern over spike in human trafficking cases across the country the 32 anti-human , trafficking units (AHTUs) of Tamil Nadu have managed to file just one case in 2022, shows National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. While 577 and 434 human trafficking cases were filed in the state in 2015 and 2016, respectively, the numbers declined to 13 in 2017. The state recorded 8, 16, 11 and 3 cases respectively in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2022, only one case was filed in which five people, including two minors being taken for forced labour, were rescued, shows the NCRB data. With Tamil Nadu being a destination state where labourers are brought for work f ro m a cro s s t h e c o u n t r y, t h e number of cases filed after 2016 in the state is very low, activists said. While trafficking is one of the biggest organised crimes, the poor case registration record shows that the dedicated units set up to prevent the crime exist only on paper, and police officers have very little awareness about the crime. The AHTUs were formed in five states on a pilot basis in 2006 and were expanded to other states in 2009 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under an anti-traf ficking project implemented by it along with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The home ministry came up with the proposal after the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) action research study report on ‘Trafficking in Women and Children in India’ published in 2004 flagged poor awareness about trafficking among police officers and low priority accorded to the crime due to the officers’ preoccupation with other issues. The report also said trafficking is widely prevalent in India, and trains are among the most used mode of transport. Through the programme, police officials were trained in cracking human trafficking cases and the programme showed positive results for the first few years.  P7