Latest news with #Akhand
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Academics emphasise on robust grievance redressal in colleges
Bhubaneswar: Educationists and human rights activists on Saturday emphasised that a robust grievance redressal mechanism should be adopted by higher education institutions to prevent students from taking extreme steps. They said this in view of the self-immolation by a girl student of a govt college in Balasore. Human rights activist and lawyer Akhand stated that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 exists and colleges should follow it in letter and spirit. "If the student files a complaint with the college authority about the harassment, the institution should follow the law," he added. Jayant Kumar Mohapatra, former vice-chancellor of Berhampur University, said the govt should probe whether the college has formed an internal complaints committee ICC as per UGC regulations. "If the girl lodged a complaint with the principal, he/she should immediately hand over the complaint to ICC without any delay. The higher education department should review the grievance redressal mechanism and guide the colleges to make the system robust," he added. Former regional director of education Mihir Ranjan Sethi said the complaint redressal mechanism of higher education institutions should be strengthened so that students and staff do not suffer.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
NHRC seeks report from state on Lingaraj Temple accident
Bhubaneswar: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested an action taken report from the Odisha govt within a week regarding an accident at Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Feb 26 in which a 'sevayat' (servitor) suffered critical injuries. Jogendra Samartha of Samartha Nijog fell around 20ft while carrying the 'Mahadeepa' (holy lamp) atop the temple around 10.30pm during Maha Shivratri celebrations, sustaining leg fracture and severe facial injuries. Two other priests and a police officer also suffered minor injuries due to hot oil spill. All victims were shifted to Capital Hospital for treatment. Following a formal complaint by human rights activist and lawyer Akhand, the NHRC issued notices on Thursday to special secretary of the home department, Radha Kishan Sharma, and the Khurda district magistrate. The matter has been listed for hearing during the NHRC's camp sitting/open hearing in Bhubaneswar scheduled for July 21. The commission has also directed that all officials concerned, the complainant and the victim or their representatives be present at the hearing. Sharma has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate the participation of all parties. Akhand said the incident highlighted serious safety concerns at state-managed temples, including the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and Jagannath Temple in Puri, where sevayats regularly perform high-risk rituals without proper safety equipment. This negligence potentially violates their fundamental right to life and safety under Article 21 of the Constitution, he added. The petitioner has urged NHRC to investigate the accident's circumstances, administrative failures and occupational hazards faced by sevayats. The commission will evaluate the compensation and medical care provided to the injured servitor and may recommend safety reforms in temple administration. Akhand has also called for mandatory safety protocols, an independent inquiry into the incident, adequate compensation for the injured, and preventive measures to protect temple servitors' rights and lives across Odisha. "NHRC's intervention represents a crucial step toward enhancing safety standards for traditional temple workers throughout the state and is expected to catalyse significant reforms in temple administration," said Akhand.
Mint
09-07-2025
- Mint
ED seizes ₹50 lakh worth assets from former EPFO officer in Madhya Pradesh over DA, bribery charges
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday announced that it has provisionally attached assets valued at over ₹ 50 lakh belonging to former EPFO officer Shyamlal Akhand and his family. The action was taken under the anti-money laundering legislation in connection with a case involving alleged bribery and accumulation of disproportionate assets. According to a statement from the agency, the provisional attachment order was issued on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED alleged that during his tenure as an enforcement officer with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Akhand "abused" his official position between 2009 and 2019 to "illicitly accumulate wealth" far exceeding his legitimate sources of income. Investigation found that he was engaged in "corrupt" practices, including demanding and accepting "bribes", and utilised the "proceeds of crime" to acquire immovable properties in his name and that of his wife and son, it said. According to the ED, Akhand explained that income from his salary, rental earnings, agricultural income, and income from his wife's embroidery and stitching business were the sources of funds. However, he "failed" to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate the existence or earnings of his wife's alleged business activities, the probe agency said. The ED also found "significant" cash deposits in multiple family bank accounts of Akhand. The attached properties include an agricultural land in the Nalwa village of Ujjain district, held jointly in the name of his wife and son, and a residential plot at Emerald City in Indore district's Jakhya village that was registered in Akhand's name, it said. According to the ED, the value of these assets is ₹ 50.80 lakh.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
ED attaches assets worth ₹50 lakh ex-EPFO officer in DA, bribery case
New Delhi, The Enforcement Directorate Wednesday said it has attached assets worth more than ₹50 lakh of a Madhya Pradesh-based former EPFO officer and his family under the anti-money laundering law in a case linked to alleged possession of disproportionate assets and bribery. ED attaches assets worth ₹ 50 lakh ex-EPFO officer in DA, bribery case A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was issued on Tuesday against the officer, Shyamlal Akhand, the federal agency said in a statement. As an enforcement officer in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation , Akhand "abused" his official position to illicitly accumulate wealth exceeding his known lawful income during the check period between 2009 and 2019, the ED claimed. Investigation found that he was engaged in "corrupt" practices, including demanding and accepting "bribes", and utilised the "proceeds of crime" to acquire immovable properties in his name and that of his wife and son, it said. According to the ED, Akhand explained that income from his salary, rental earnings, agricultural income, and income from his wife's embroidery and stitching business were the sources of funds. However, he "failed" to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate the existence or earnings of his wife's alleged business activities, the probe agency said. The ED also found "significant" cash deposits in multiple family bank accounts of Akhand. The attached properties include an agricultural land in the Nalwa village of Ujjain district, held jointly in the name of his wife and son, and a residential plot at Emerald City in Indore district's Jakhya village that was registered in Akhand's name, it said. According to the ED, the value of these assets is ₹50.80 lakh. The money laundering case against the officer stems from two FIRs filed by the CBI against Akhand one for accepting a bribe and another for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
09-07-2025
- Mint
ED seizes ₹50 lakh worth assets from former EPFO officer in Madhya Pradesh over DA, bribery charges
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday announced that it has provisionally attached assets valued at over ₹ 50 lakh belonging to former EPFO officer Shyamlal Akhand and his family. The action was taken under the anti-money laundering legislation in connection with a case involving alleged bribery and accumulation of disproportionate assets. According to a statement from the agency, the provisional attachment order was issued on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED alleged that during his tenure as an enforcement officer with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Akhand "abused" his official position between 2009 and 2019 to "illicitly accumulate wealth" far exceeding his legitimate sources of income. Investigation found that he was engaged in "corrupt" practices, including demanding and accepting "bribes", and utilised the "proceeds of crime" to acquire immovable properties in his name and that of his wife and son, it said. According to the ED, Akhand explained that income from his salary, rental earnings, agricultural income, and income from his wife's embroidery and stitching business were the sources of funds. However, he "failed" to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate the existence or earnings of his wife's alleged business activities, the probe agency said. The ED also found "significant" cash deposits in multiple family bank accounts of Akhand. The attached properties include an agricultural land in the Nalwa village of Ujjain district, held jointly in the name of his wife and son, and a residential plot at Emerald City in Indore district's Jakhya village that was registered in Akhand's name, it said. According to the ED, the value of these assets is ₹ 50.80 lakh. The money laundering case against the officer stems from two FIRs filed by the CBI against Akhand -- one for accepting a bribe and another for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. (With inputs from news agency PTI)
