Ex-SIB chief lands in city, to appear before SIT today
The Indian Embassy in the United States also issued an emergency transit warrant to former SIB chief Prabhakar Rao, following orders by the Supreme Court to appear before the inquiry into the phone tapping case.
The investigating team already achieved considerable progress in the phone tapping case by questioning the police officials and influential persons including journalists recently.
Prabhakar Rao had allegedly constituted a team within SIB with a group of officials, including Praneeth Rao, for surveillance of rival political leaders, their families and dissidents within the ruling party, businessmen, journalists and even judges. The allegations under the previous government of BRS came to light in March last year with the arrest of Deputy Superintendent of Police Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his superior, D Ramesh, Additional SP with the SIB. The police have so far named six accused in the case. Praneeth Rao, Additional SPs Thirupathanna and Bhujanga Rao and former DCP P Radha Kishan Rao were arrested in the case.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Lawyers skipping hearings is professional misconduct, says Allahabad high court
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
India, China, Brazil can be hit by sanctions over Russia trade: NATO chief
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The NATO chief's remarks come amid tariff uncertainties and global trade wars with the US, and India's own trade with Russia, particularly oil imports. Weeks ago, there were concerns in India over a controversial Bill in the US that proposed 500 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Russia. More recently, US President Donald Trump also threatened 'biting' secondary tariffs at the rate of 100 per cent on buyers of Russian exports unless there is a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within 50 days. Industry watchers and experts see these as tactics to force Putin's hand by pressuring countries who import from Russia. India has so far not scaled back on its oil imports from Russia, and has maintained that it is willing to buy oil from whoever offers the best price, as long as the oil is not under sanctions. Russian oil itself is not sanctioned, but the US and its allies have imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel, as per which Western shippers and insurers cannot participate in Russian oil trade if the price of Moscow's crude is above that level. India and China are the top importers of Russian crude, and Delhi is engaging with US lawmakers and the Trump administration to voice concerns regarding India's energy security. India depends on imports to meet around 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia has been the mainstay of India's oil imports for nearly three years now. With much of the West shunning Russian crude following the country's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia began offering discounts on its oil to willing buyers. Indian refiners were quick to avail the opportunity, leading to Russia, earlier a peripheral supplier of oil to India, emerging as India's biggest source of crude, displacing the traditional West Asian suppliers. Indian refiners are adopting a wait-and-watch approach while keeping Russian oil flows robust. In fact, imports of Russian crude may rise further amid the tariff threats as Indian refiners would ideally want to stock up before any tariff action takes effect. While the discounts have varied over time, Russian oil flows to India have remained robust despite Western pressure and limited sanctions on Russia's oil trading ecosystem. Booming oil trade with Russia has also catapulted the country to the list of India's biggest trading partners. In data: India's Russian oil imports India's Russian oil imports rose to an 11-month high in June, further cementing Moscow's continued dominance in Delhi's oil import basket. According to tanker data, Russian crude accounted for a massive 43.2 per cent of India's total oil imports in June, outweighing the next three suppliers — West Asian majors Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — put together. In June, India imported 2.08 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, the highest since July 2024, and higher by 12.2 per cent on a month-on-month basis, according to vessel tracking data from global commodity market analytics firm Kpler. According to India's official trade data, oil imports from Russia were at 87.4 million tonnes in the financial year 2024-25, accounting for almost 36 per cent of India's total oil imports of 244 million tonnes. Prior to the war in Ukraine, Russia's share in India's oil import basket was less than 2 per cent. In 2024-25, the value of India's oil imports from Russia was over $50 billion, or 35 per cent of India's total oil imports worth $143 billion. 'This resurgence in Russian volumes reflects both commercial incentives and geopolitical realignments. Russian barrels have remained highly competitive due to discounts, payment mechanisms, and logistical flexibility via alternative shipping and insurance networks. Despite mounting Western sanctions, Indian refiners have managed to maintain — and even expand — procurement from Russia. Barring any severe logistical or regulatory disruptions, this trend is likely to persist in the coming months,' said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler. 'Looking ahead, Russia will likely remain India's largest crude supplier – with a share of 35-40 per cent (in India's oil imports) – supported by price competitiveness and techno-economics. However, this dominance could face pressure if the West escalates enforcement of secondary sanctions targeting financial or shipping facilitators. Such a scenario could either reduce Russian volumes or push Indian refiners to seek greater compliance safeguards,' Ritolia said. Oil imports from West Asia are also expected to stabilise in the 35-40 per cent range. Tariff threats: Will they, won't they? It is yet to be seen if the recent tariff threats made against countries like India and China for their energy imports from Russia will translate into tangible tariff action. The Trump administration has been rather mercurial when it comes to trade tariffs; making sweeping announcements, then pausing and negotiating. The hope in India's oil sector is that the US won't actually implement tariffs related to India's oil imports from Russia, as it is in the interest of the US and the global economy that the international oil market remains well-supplied. If Russia is unable to supply its crude, global oil prices are bound to rise due to lower supply being available. But if the US indeed goes ahead and imposes such tariffs, India would be pushed to cut down oil imports from Russia and increase imports from other suppliers, primarily its traditional West Asian suppliers like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which would push up the cost of imports by a few dollars a barrel. Additionally, it could also lead to complications in India's ongoing trade deal negotiations with the US, its largest trading partner. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
SC asks SIT to focus only on Mahmudabad's ‘Op Sindoor' posts; bars further summons
New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court today questioned the Haryana Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) for allegedly misdirecting itself in the probe against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his two social media posts on 'Operation Sindoor'. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the SIT was formed specifically to investigate the contents of the two posts and asked why it was expanding the scope of inquiry. The observation came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mahmudabad, submitted that the SIT had seized his devices and was asking about his foreign trips over the last ten years, despite the court's May 28 order limiting the probe to the posts. 'We just want to know from SIT for what purpose they have seized devices. We will call them (officers),' Justice Kant said, adding, 'we are asking why SIT is, on the face of it, misdirecting itself. They were supposed to examine contents of the posts.' ASG SV Raju, appearing for Haryana, submitted that the manner of investigation was the prerogative of the investigating officer and all incriminating aspects had to be examined. Sibal countered that there could not be a 'roving inquiry' and added that Mahmudabad had already been summoned four times. Taking note of the SIT's interim report acknowledging the seizure of devices and their forensic examination, the court recorded that Mahmudabad had cooperated with the investigation and surrendered his devices. Directing that he should not be summoned again, Justice Kant remarked, 'You don't require him, you require a dictionary.' The bench dictated its order stating, 'Though it may not be expedient or desirable for us to comment on the manner in which SIT has proceeded, we deem it necessary to remind it of the mandate contained in our order dated May 28 and consequently direct the SIT to conclude its investigation with reference to the contents of the two social media posts as early as possible but not later than four weeks.' The court also clarified that Mahmudabad, while restrained from commenting on sub judice issues, was free to write or express opinions on other topics. On May 21, the court had granted interim bail to Mahmudabad and directed the Haryana DGP to constitute an SIT comprising senior IPS officers not belonging to Haryana or Delhi to examine his two posts. It had clarified that the SIT probe would remain confined to these two FIRs and could not be expanded. During the hearing today, the court also asked the Haryana government about its response to the National Human Rights Commission taking cognizance of the registration of FIRs in the case. 'You tell us about that also,' Justice Kant told the Haryana AAG. Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 over his posts on 'Operation Sindoor' and remained in custody until May 21. He faces charges under Section 196, 152, and other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to acts prejudicial to communal harmony, making assertions likely to cause disharmony, acts endangering national sovereignty, and words or gestures intended to insult a woman's modesty. UNI SNG PRS
