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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Public prosecutor Nikam of Kasab ‘biryani' fame, former FS Shringla among 4 nominated to Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam , who fought several high profile cases including that against 26/11 terror attack accused Ajmal Kasab , murder of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and the 1993 Mumbai blasts, has been nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha. President of India has also nominated former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla , Indic historian Meenakshi Jain and BJP activist C Sadanandan Master to the Upper House. In a press statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that President Droupadi Murmu has nominated these four people under Article 80 (1) (a), read with Clause 3 of Article, of the Constitution. There are only six nominated members at present in the Rajya Sabha while the maximum strength in this category is 12 members. Nikam, who became a BJP member after retirement and unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 from the Mumbai North Central seat against Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad, has fought several high-profile cases as public prosecutor. After the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, he represented the government in the case against terrorist Ajmal Kasab who was later hanged for his heinous act. At one point during the trial, Nikam had stated that Kasab has been demanding biryani in jail. Later, Nikam revealed that he had spread this canard as some sections were getting sympathetic to Kasab. Only vegetarian food is served in Indian jails. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She's 75, She's 78 – Their Handmade Jewelry Is 80% Off The Art Journal Read More Nikam was a surprise choice for the Mumbai North Central seat as BJP had replaced sitting MP Poonam Mahajan and given him the ticket. Incidentally, Nikam had fought her father Pramod Mahajan's murder case and ensured the conviction of the guilty. Other famous cases handled by Nikam as a public prosecutor includes the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993 in the wake of the Babri mosque demolition. Gangster Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and his brother Yakub were among those involved. Yakub Memon was hanged for the crime. Live Events Nikam also fought the case against those accused in the murder of Gulshan Kumar, head of music company T-Series. Harsh Shringla (63) is a career diplomat who served as India's foreign secretary from January 29, 2020 to April 30, 2022. He was appointed chief coordinator for the G-20 Summit hosted by India in 2023. Fluent in Nepalese, Shringla is an IFS of the 1984 batch. He has served as the Indian Ambassador to the US and Thailand, and as High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Meenakshi Jain is a right-wing academic who has worked on medieval Indian history. She is a respected figure in the field of education, literature, history and political science. Congratulating her, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'She has distinguished herself as a scholar, researcher and historian. Her work in the field of education, literature, history and political science have enriched academic discourse significantly…' C Sadanandan Master is a BJP member from Kerala. Both his legs were hacked, allegedly by CPI(M) activists, in Kannur during a violent political protest. 'C Sadanandan Master's life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment. …' Modi said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kasab prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to former diplomat Shringla — a look at the four nominees for Rajya Sabha
The President has nominated former diplomat Harsh Shringla, Special Public Prosecutor in Ajmal Kasab case Ujjwal Nikam, historian Meenakshi Jain, and Kerala teacher C. Sadanandan Master to the Rajya Sabha, marking an entry of two high-profile people to the Upper House. In a notification issued on Saturday (July 12, 2025) The Union Home Ministry said the President nominated the four to fill the vacancies caused due to retirement of nominated members. In total, the President of India nominates 12 persons as her nominees to the Rajya Sabha — persons known for their eminence in the fields of arts and letters, and public service. Out of these 12, four seats are currently vacant. A look at the four new members of the Rajya Sabha Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a retired diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), served as a Foreign Secretary of India and as an Ambassador to the United States. Prior to that, Mr. Shringla served as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Graduating from St. Stephen's college, Delhi University, Mr. Shringla worked in public sectors before joining as a (1984 batch) IFS officer. Mr. Shringla, in his first ambassadorial assignment, served Thailand for a period of two years. He was also given the charge as the coordinator of G-20 Summit, which India hosted for the first time, across multiple cities in November 2023. Ujjwal Nikam, a celebrated lawyer, has represented Maharashtra in several court cases, the most notable being a Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial of Ajmal Kasab and the 1991 Bombay bomb blasts case. In his decades-long career, Mr. Nikam has worked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Mr. Nikam has also been a recipient of several awards for his contribution to the legal field. He was fielded by the BJP in 2024 in the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate from Maharashtra's Mumbai North seat, replacing Poonam Mahajan. C Sadanandan Master, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran from Kannur district in Kerala, is reckoned a 'living martyr' by the party after he lost both his legs in a suspected Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] attack in 1994. The lower primary school teacher had contested as the BJP candidate from the Koothuparambu constituency in the 2021 Kerala legislative Assembly elections. Mr. Sadanandan Master had served as the president of the National Teachers' Union and is an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh think tank. Bharatiya Vichara Kendram. Dr. Meenakshi Jain, a noted historian, served as an Associate Professor of history at Gargi college, Delhi University. She has served as a fellow of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, was a member of the governing council of Indian Council of Historical Research, and was a senior fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. Her most notable published works include: The Battle for Rama: Case of the temple at Ayodhya, Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries and the changing Colonial Discourse, Parallel Pathways: Essays on Hindu–Muslim Relations, Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples. Dr. Jain was also conferred the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, for her contribution to the the field of literature and education.
Hans India
26-06-2025
- Hans India
Bomb threat at Jaipur's ESIC Hospital, email in Ajmal Kasab's name alleges fake passport racket
Jaipur: A bomb threat sent via email to Jaipur's ESIC Hospital sparked a major security scare on Thursday, prompting a swift and coordinated response from multiple agencies. The email, signed in the name of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, went beyond the threat of violence, alleging a broader conspiracy involving fake passports issued to former LTTE members. The hospital administration immediately alerted authorities after receiving the mail. Soon, teams from the local police, fire department, bomb disposal squad, civil defence, and cyber cell reached the hospital and conducted a thorough search. No suspicious items were found, and the operation was later called off. What raised alarm was the content of the email. It accused Tamil Nadu IPS officer Davidson Devasirvatham of facilitating the issuance of fake passports to ex-LTTE operatives through a travel agency allegedly run by his wife. The email further claimed that these individuals had been recruited by Pakistan and were travelling in a "bio-bubble" car equipped with mobile phones and fuses to trigger chemical attacks. It also warned that if their plan appeared to fail, the suspects might detonate a nerve gas IED inside the hospital. The email urged authorities to immediately inform the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and investigate the officer's role. It also suggested that the fake passports could be verified from the Intelligence Department's Madurai office. Claiming authenticity, the sender stated that they were personally involved in the conspiracy, insisting it was not a hoax. This incident adds to a string of recent hoax threats in Jaipur. On May 8, 12, and 13, similar bomb threats targeted the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, with one email also demanding justice for a rape victim. A woman from Ahmedabad was later arrested in connection with those threats, having allegedly sent four to five such emails. Another threat was reported on May 9, when the Jaipur Metro received an email referencing the so-called 'Operation Sindoor.' No explosives were found in that case either. The latest threat email has been forwarded to the cyber cell for further investigation, particularly due to its possible links with previous hoax messages and the grave accusations made against a serving IPS officer.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
ESIC Hospital in Sodala evacuated after bomb threat email
Edited 359 Jaipur: ESIC Hospital, located near Orbit Mall on Ajmer Road, was evacuated Wednesday after an email, claiming to be from terrorist Ajmal Kasab, threatened a bomb attack on its premises. The hospital administration alerted police, who responded along with the fire brigade, bomb squad, civil defence, and other emergency teams. A full-scale search was launched, but no explosives or suspicious items were found. The cyber cell began investigating the origin and contents of the email, which claimed that an IPS officer from Tamil Nadu issued fake passports to former LTTE members with the help of his wife's travel agency. The message said these individuals were recruited by Pakistan and were carrying mobile phones and chemical-triggered fuses. The email also alleged they were travelling in a vehicle and intended to cause mass casualties at the hospital. The sender warned that if they suspected the plan was compromised, they would either trigger the fuse or release nerve gas through an IED. The message urged the Anti-Terrorism Squad to take immediate action and to contact the officer mentioned. The email stressed that the threat was not a hoax and that the fake passports could be traced to locations linked to the Assistant Commissioner of Intelligence in Madurai. It called for swift yet careful verification and response. When the email was received, the hospital was bustling with patients and staff. The premises were evacuated, and security measures were put in place. Wednesday's incident is the latest in a series of bomb threats targeting Jaipur. The city received at least 65 hoax threat emails in 2025, most of which targeted schools, with additional threats aimed at stadiums, court complexes, metro stations, hotels, medical colleges, and the airport. On May 8, 12, and 13, threatening emails warned of bombings at Sawai Man Singh Stadium. The May 13 threat also included a demand for justice for a rape survivor. A 30-year-old woman, identified as Rene Joshilda, was arrested last week by Ahmedabad police for sending these emails. On May 9, Jaipur Metro was also targeted with a similar threat via email, referring to "Operation Sindoor." That search, too, ended without any explosive device being found.
India Today
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sooraj Pancholi recalls terrible jail term in Kasab's cell, sleeping on newspaper
Actor Sooraj Pancholi shared the challenging times he underwent during his solitary confinement at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. He recalled how he used to sleep on the newspaper while he was kept in the same cell where 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab was put. Pancholi was imprisoned i connection to actor Jiah Khan's death an interview with Hindi Rush, the actor stated that he felt as if he was being treated like a terrorist. While revealing about the solitary confinement when he was just 21-years-old, Pancholi said, "It's all hazy. I was just a 21-year-old boy at the time. I was sent to Arthur Road Jail and put in the 'anda cell' (solitary confinement). I was in the same cell where they had put Kasab (26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab). They treated me like I'd done a bomb blast."advertisementThe actor pointed out the horrible conditions inside the jail where there was not even a pillow. He further said, "They put me where they put Kasab. I didn't even have a pillow; I'd sleep on newspapers. They treated me terribly, like I had committed some horrible crime. I am not even exaggerating. It was four or five years later that I understood what exactly I had been through. When it was happening, it all felt like a dream." Salman Khan recently shared a picture with Pancholi amid his recent release 'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath.' The actor, in his social media post, wrote a heartfelt caption which read, "Abhi raat hai, subah Sooraj chamkega (It's night. The Sun will rise again.) @soorajpancholi."Pancholi's 'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath' is set against the backdrop of the 14th century AD. It narrates the story of the unsung warriors who defended the Somnath temple, the first among the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The period action-drama also features Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, and Akanksha Sharma in crucial roles.'Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath' was released in theatres on May 23, Watch
