Latest news with #Shaik
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pooram row: Kerala government awaits crime branch report to take a call on Ajith Kumar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb filed his report on former Law and Order ADGP M R Ajith Kumar's alleged lapses during the 2024 Thrissur Pooram, all eyes are now on the outcome of the crime branch investigation on the conspiracy behind the Pooram fiasco. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had announced a three-tier probe -- one by Shaik, one by the crime branch headed by ADGP H Venkatesh and another by DGP Manoj Abraham -- after the high-level team headed by Shaik had reported lapses from the part of Ajith in Pooram handling. Manoj, who probed the lapses of officials from various departments fielded for Pooram duty, had earlier filed a report with the government. The crime branch investigation, sources said, is nearing completion and a report is expected soon. The State Police Chief's report filed with the government on Monday reportedly carried critical remarks on Ajith acknowledging lapses from him. Despite being in Thrissur, he did not attend the calls of minister K Rajan when the pooram was disrupted. The officer was not present during the night when the untoward incidents unfurled and the report mentioned that the officer did not perform his responsibility. The state government, it's been learnt, will decide on further course of action against Ajith only after perusing the crime branch report. The UDF has been pushing the allegation that the Pooram was sabotaged to give electoral mileage to NDA Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency candidate Suresh Gopi. That the fiasco occurred only days prior to the Lok Sabha poll and Suresh's comfortable win lend further weight to the allegation. Ajith, who was in Thrissur when the unsavoury episode unravelled, was accused of turning a blind eye to the incident.
IOL News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South African expert criticises Israeli missile strikes on Iran as unjustified
Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building, targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on June 13, 2025. Israel carried out strikes against Iran early on June 13, targeting its nuclear and military sites as well as residential buildings in Tehran, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region. Image: AFP The Israeli missile attack on Iran was unprovoked because the latter had not made any moves to initiate the attack, said South Africa's expert on international affairs, Nazreen Shaik. Shaik weighed in following a barrage of attacks on the Iranian territory in the early hours of Friday in Tehran, Iran's capital, killing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major-General Hossein Salami and other senior military officials, as well as nuclear scientists. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation had on Friday condemned the Israeli action. 'These actions raise serious concerns under international law, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the protection of civilians enshrined in the UN Charter and international humanitarian law,' read the statement. Iran had already retaliated by firing missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Israeli strikes targeted Iran's nuclear and military sites. Both the Israeli and the United States of America governments accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, which might be a threat to their enemy countries. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Iran, through its embassy in Pretoria, rejected the allegation of nuclear weapons, saying its nuclear programme 'is strictly peaceful and operates under full compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of which the Islamic Republic of Iran is a long-standing and committed member'. Shaik said the Israeli attack was not provoked, and the matter should have been resolved through the rules of engagement, which are governed by international laws. 'Only if it's known that soldiers from country B are on the border and are about to attack, and they have gained that by military or security intelligence, only then would country A attack country B. 'But in the situation, this is what we call in international law a belligerent attack, where a country takes a unilateral state of action by itself, you decide that somebody poses a threat to you, therefore you will now attack that country,' said Shaik. She said such actions were not acceptable in the norms and standards of international warfare. She stated that the attack occurred while the US was holding talks with Iran regarding the issue of the nuclear facility, and 'the sunset clause, which instructs Iran to denuclearise, is due to take effect in 2029'. Both Israel and the US opposed the terms of the clause as they felt that waiting for 2029 was too long. 'Israel seems to be acting on behalf of the US, pushing Iran to do something (denuclearise), which is the international bullying at the very least. 'No country should ever be allowed to attack another country without being prompted to do so,' said Shaik. She said those who were concerned about Iran's nuclear programme should have approached the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene. She said Israel and the US avoided the intervention of the Security Council because of Russia, which was assisted by Iran in the attack on Ukraine, and was a member of the Security Council. 'If the US approached the Security Council to cast the vote (on Iran's nuclear programme), Russia would veto those who are against Iran because Iran stood by it during the attack against Ukraine.' She said even if Iran had reported Israel to the Security Council instead of retaliating, nothing would have been done as the US and Russia would not agree with each other, while the council's decision should be unanimous. She feared that since Iran had already retaliated by firing missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the conflict might escalate. 'If Iran retaliates, the US is going to back Israel, and the US will send forces to Israel,' said Shaik. She believed that Russia would not make a quick move to back Iran, 'but Russia would be supporting Iran in principle'. Responding to this reporter's questions, an official from the Iranian embassy in Pretoria, who declined to give his name, said his country was committed to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations. 'All of Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities are under the Agency's verification and supervision, and no deviation toward weapon production has ever been reported. 'Furthermore, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has issued a binding religious decree (fatwa) that clearly prohibits the development or use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances,' said the official. He said Israeli strikes also deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Tehran and other cities. 'Iran holds the Zionist regime fully responsible for this aggression, and also places direct responsibility on the United States and its allies, who enabled, coordinated, and politically supported this act. 'Without the approval and logistical backing of the US government, such a reckless attack could not have taken place. 'Iran reserves the full right to defend itself decisively, proportionally, and in accordance with international law,' said the official. Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) chief executive officer, Mark Dubowitz, said in a statement late this week: 'Israel did what had to be done: defend itself, the West, and ultimately the Iranian people from the genocidal ambitions of the mullahs. 'Nuclear talks were heading to collapse under Tehran's defiance, and sanctions alone couldn't stop Iran's race toward multiple nuclear weapons.'
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- The Hindu
Heera Group's Nowhera Shaik arrested in Haryana, flown back to Hyderabad
Nowhera Shaik, managing director of the Heera Group of Companies and prime accused in the multi-crore Heera Gold investment fraud case, was arrested by the Hyderabad Central Crime Station (CCS) police in Haryana after she evaded court appearances in multiple criminal proceedings. She was apprehended in the Surajkund police station limits of Haryana on Tuesday (May 27, 2025) while travelling from Delhi to Faridabad. A team of four CCS police personnel from Hyderabad tracked her movements and executed the pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs). She was flown back to Hyderabad on a late-night flight and was shifted to Chanchalguda Central Prison around 4 a.m. on Wednesday (May 28, 2025). According to CCS deputy commissioner of police N. Swetha, Shaik had failed to appear before the Nampally Sessions Court in connection with three criminal case — one in 2019 and two in 2025. Following her continued non-compliance, the Court issued three non-bailable warrants on April 29, 2025 and she fled Hyderabad thereafter. Shaik was produced before the Nampally Sessions Court earlier today, where she was remanded to judicial custody until June 3, 2025. Earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate provisionally attached properties worth approximately ₹400.06 crore belonging to Shaik and the Heera Group under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the investment fraud case.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Heera Gold MD Nowhera Shaik arrested by Enforcement Directorate
HYDERABAD: Nowhera Shaik, MD of Heera Gold Exim Pvt Ltd, was reportedly arrested by the Hyderabad zonal unit of the Enforcement Directorate in Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday. Shaik is reportedly facing serious allegations of duping lakhs of investors in a gold investment scam amounting to approximately Rs 5,600 crore. According to agency sources, the SC had earlier directed her to repay Rs 25 crore to investors within three months. This directive, issued in March 2025, stated that failure to comply would result in her arrest. Sources claim that Shaik failed to deposit the amount within the court-mandated timeframe. Acting on the court's orders, ED officials detained her.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Terrorist chats: Cops uncover chilling plans, freeze bank accounts in Andhra
VIZIANAGARAM: In a disturbing development, chats retrieved from the Signal app between Siraj and Sameer, arrested by Vizianagaram Two Town Police for allegedly conspiring to create terror using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), have revealed details of their broader plans, including setting up a 'special school,' a chemical lab, and making rocket launchers to target RSS members and anti-Muslim entities. According to police, the duo discussed methods to manufacture rocket launchers and potential attacks on JCB machines allegedly used to demolish mosques and Muslim homes. While they were only in the initial stages of assembling IEDs, their digital conversations pointed to a much larger and violent intent. Preliminary investigations suggest that Siraj was radicalised through social media after watching speeches by figures such as Dr Israr Ahmed, Zakir Naik, Shaik Yakub Jamali, and Shaik Javid Rabbani. Police say Siraj aimed to launch an organisation called Al-Hind Ittehadul Muslameen (AHIM), claiming it was intended to 'protect Muslim women' from what he described as the 'Bhagwa Love Trap' (BLT). He reportedly travelled to Mumbai to meet like-minded youths as part of expanding his network. Meanwhile, police have frozen Siraj's bank accounts, suspecting links to terror financing. Two accounts, including a fixed deposit of Rs 38 lakh and a savings account with Rs 70,000, were found in the District Co-operative Central Bank (DCCB). Notably, all his family members also maintain accounts in the same branch, initially opened in Kottavalasa, where Siraj's father, Aziz Rehman, once held a locker. After Siraj's arrest, Aziz reportedly attempted to access the locker, but bank officials refused, following police instructions.
