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Congress Holds Protests in MP Assembly Over Transport Scam

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On Thursday, opposition Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh staged a protest in the Assembly, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those involved in a transport scam. Wearing black aprons featuring skeleton designs and holding symbolic gold bricks, the opposition led by Assembly Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar gathered beneath the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and chanted slogans on the fourth day of the budget session.

The Congress MLAs displayed placards bearing the names of former State Transport Department Constable Saurabh Sharma and former Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput. Singhar accused the ruling BJP government of attempting to shield high-ranking individuals while only targeting minor players in the scam, which he labeled one of the largest in the state’s history.

In a written response to a question in the Assembly, State Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh confirmed that the MP Lokayukta had seized assets valued at Rs 8.85 crore from Sharma’s premises in Bhopal during raids on December 19 and 20, 2024. He also reported the confiscation of documents associated with properties valued at Rs 30 crore.

Recently, Singhar alleged in a press conference that Govind Singh Rajput had direct ties to the case involving Saurabh Sharma. He claimed that Rajput was shielding Sharma, allowing him to avoid arrest for 41 days even after arrest warrants had been issued. Singhar alleged that Rajput acquired properties worth between Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi’s Defence Colony between 2019 and 2024, while concealing property details worth Rs 134 crore during the 2023 Assembly elections.

Singhar also mentioned that he would be writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to highlight the corruption prevalent under the Madhya Pradesh BJP government. Govind Singh Rajput currently serves as the cabinet minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs. He has held the position of Transport Minister twice, first under the Kamal Nath-led Congress government and later in Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s BJP government. In 2020, Rajput resigned from the Congress, along with 22 other MLAs and ministers, following Jyotiraditya Scindia’s lead to join the BJP.

Saurabh Sharma, the former Constable of the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department, is currently in Bhopal Jail along with two associates, following their arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a case of alleged disproportionate assets, cash, and jewelry worth hundreds of crores. The Lokayukta had conducted raids in December 2024 that revealed substantial assets, including Rs 2.87 crore in cash and 234 kilograms of silver.

Following the Lokayukta’s actions, the ED and Income Tax Department commenced parallel investigations and also conducted their own raids. On December 19 and 20, 2024, the Lokayukta’s police reported seizing disproportionate assets amounting to Rs 7.98 crore from Sharma’s locations.

Saurabh Sharma’s father, Dr. R.K. Sharma, was a government physician who passed away in 2015 while in service. Subsequently, Saurabh was appointed as a constable on compassionate grounds in 2015 but took voluntary retirement in 2023 to pursue real estate.

In a related development on December 19, 2024, the Income Tax Department seized over Rs 10 crore in cash and 52 kilograms of gold from a vehicle belonging to Chetan Singh Gaud, a close associate of Sharma, who is also in jail for his involvement in the case. The connection of the recovered gold and cash to Sharma is suspected but has not yet been substantiated.

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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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