Sena min caught on cam with cash, says it’s clothes belagavi l saturday l july 12, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION A video Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat sitting in a room with a partially opened bag containing what look like bundles of notes went viral on Friday. The Shiv Sena minister rubbished the claim that it was a money bag, and insisted that it contained only clothes. The video surfaced a day after reports emerged of Shirsat facing scrutiny from the Income Tax Department regarding a significant increase in his declared assets. Shirsat in a videograb; and the bag full of cash 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 One Nation One Election Bill not unconstitutional but needs rework Ex-CJIs red flag sweeping powers of EC under ONOE PA RV E Z S U LTA N @ New Delhi FORMER Chief Justices of India D Y Chandrachud and J S Khehar have flagged the sweeping powers that the One Nation One Election (ONOE) Bill seeks to confer on the Election Commission of India. According to sources, both ex-CJIs clarified that the bill for simultaneous elections does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution—as alleged by some Opposition parties—but suggested some tweaks in the language and provisions of the bill to check the unbridled powers of the Election Commission. On Friday Chandrachud con, cluded his presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by BJP MP P P Chaudhary which was en, trusted with the task to review the Bill. Justice Khehar had already given his views on the legal and Former Chief Justices of India D Y Chandrachud and J S Khehar constitutional aspects of the proposed legislation. “The former CJIs told the JPC that though the Bill does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution, some of the proposed provisions may not get past judicial scrutiny. They also suggested the ways to address these issues. Both jurists suggested that there should be an ‘oversight mechanism’ on the conduct of elections,” said sources. Meanwhile, Opposition members including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and DMK’s P Wilson raised queries about the constitutionality of dissolving assemblies midway to synchronise their polls with Lok Sabha elections. Making his point before the JPC, Wilson argued that the aim is to curtail election expenditures but the proposed system would lead to numerous polls in the event of the fall of the government at the Centre. In such a scenario, the purpose of the Bill would be defeated, he pointed out. Several other MPs also pointed out the issue of midterm elections, sources said. Justice Khehar suggested that Parliament or the Union Council of Ministers should have a say in taking the call on holding the election of an assembly as envisaged under Sec, tion 82A(5) of the Bill. After the meeting, Chaudhary said each aspect will be discussed and recommendations made. Oppn manufacturing anxiety: Shah winnability “If anyone has any . concerns over the process, they should approach the Election nion Home Minister Commission, not with preAmit Shah says the sumptions, but with examples Special Intensive Re- of the outcomes of the procvision (SIR) of elec- ess,” he said. toral rolls, which is Predicting a win for the BJPu n led alliance not d e r only in Bihar later press way in pollthis year, but also Interview Tamil Nadu and bound Bihar, would be impleWe s t B e n g a l , mented in other among other states states as well. “I think roll revi- scheduled to vote for new assion will be done across the semblies beginning next year, country,” he remarked. Speak- Shah said this reflected the ing to this newspaper, Shah massive and ongoing popular said the Opposition is manu- endorsement of the 11-year-old facturing anxiety over the proc- Narendra Modi government. ess to mask its lack of electoral “The world looks up to India E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi U express read Dharmasthala burials: Man records statement Mangaluru: The complainant in the Dharmasthala mass burials case recorded his statement before the court of the Principal Civil Judge & JMFC, Belthangady taluk, Dakshina Kannada district on Friday | P5 again. Under Modi ji, we have restored faith in India’s future. Today, 140 crore believe India can become a fully developed nation by 2047. Every sector is filled with confidence about making India self-reliant,” Shah said. “Is there any area that has not seen improvement? Be it foodgrain produc- tion, advances in space, internal security our global stature, , reduction in corruption, our inte g rated approach to health?” In reply to a question, Shah predicted, “The AIADMK–BJP alliance will win by a landslide in the coming election in Tamil Nadu. The people are fed up with corruption, nepotism and the family feuds of the DMK.” On the Opposition’s apprehensions about the effect delimitation may have for the South Indian states, Shah asserted, “There is no need for anyone to feel anxious. I have said this categorically: There will be no injustice to the South.” Full interview: P10 Stampede: Panel submits 2-volume report to CM E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Bengaluru Former judge of the Karnataka High Court Justice John Michael D’Cunha, who headed a one-man judicial commission to investigate the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured over 60 people on June 4, submitted a two-volume report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday . The commission, constituted to probe lapses in planning, coordination and crowd management during the RCB victory celebrations at the stadium, submitted the report after a month-long investigation. After a brief discussion with Justice D’Cunha, Siddaramaiah said, “I cannot go through the entire report right now. It will be placed before the cabinet on July 17. Further action will be taken after the discussion.” P5