April 26, 2026

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday asked the Telangana govt whether it wanted to keep former state Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao in jail till he broke down. The SC was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Rao, who is an accused in a phone-tapping case.As the hearing commenced, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed inclination to make “absolute” its order of interim bail to the former IPS officer. However, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Telangana, opposed it. He requested the court to consider questions of law raised by the state, including whether a person declared an absconder and residing overseas could have even applied for anticipatory bail.”We have a feeling that you want him to be in jail till he breaks down. Now, we will not let you use our order (granting interim protection) beyond what it was meant for,” the bench said.The top court said state police could call Rao for interrogation even when he was on anticipatory bail. The bench said it had ordered the surrender and custody of Rao on Dec 11 as an “interim Article 142” measure to help in the investigation. It said it would hear the matter on March 10 and extended the interim protection to Rao till then. On Dec 19 last year, SC had extended Rao’s police custody till Dec 25.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDevendra Fadnavis Says BJP Created History in Maharashtra Civic ElectionsDeloitte Partner Says Budget Must Fix GST Gaps, Cut Costs, Boost Domestic ManufacturingAs Iran Burns, India Flags Risk To 9,000 Indians, MEA Sets Record Straight On Chabahar Port Exit’North Indian Girls Face Curbs’: DMK MP Sparks Row; Trump Warns Iran of Brutal Action Over KillingsSC Stays FIRs Against ED, Issues Notice To Didi; Raj Thackeray’s Big Bombshell In Mumbai Civic PollsBJP-Alliance Sweeps BMC Polls, Thackeray Reunion Flops; Rahul Slams EC Over ‘Ink Mark’ RowBritish MP Bob Blackman Warns Of Hindu Killings In Bangladesh As Extremism Rises, Democracy FaltersRanchi ED Raid: Jharkhand HC Calls Police Action ‘Pre-Planned’, Orders Security BoostMumbai And Pune Verdict Shake Thackeray And Pawar Dynasties As Legacy Politics Faces Reality CheckPiyush Goyal Says Startup India Generated Over 21 Lakh Jobs, Credits PM Modi123PhotostoriesHow to make Moong Dal Chilla for breakfast5 warm Indian destinations above 25°C right now to escape the winter chillExclusive – Naagin 7’s Eisha Singh on bond with Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Bigg Boss journey; says ‘It took a very long time to come out of it’5 lizards that look like real-life dragonsVande Bharat Sleeper Launch On January 17: How Is New Indian Railways Train Better Than Rajdhani? Top Features & Stunning PhotosHow to make Kerala Chicken Curry at home8 rare baby girl names with powerful meaningsKanjeevaram vs Banarasi silk: Which saree is best for your wedding day?Top 5 Southern Indian fish dishes that are full of flavours and traditionKaran Johar, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Leone: Bollywood celebrities who welcomed parenthood with twins123Hot PicksMaharashtra Election ResultsBudget 2026Gold rate todayBank holiday todayBMC Election ResultsPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingGracie HuntTravis KelceNBA Trade RumorsEdmonton OilersLinus UllmarkMaharashtra Civic Poll ResultsAustin Reaves Net WorthTua TagovailoaDana WhiteToto Wolff and Christian Horner Net Worth

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NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday asked the Telangana govt whether it wanted to keep former state Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao in jail till he broke down. The SC was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Rao, who is an accused in a phone-tapping case.As the hearing commenced, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed inclination to make “absolute” its order of interim bail to the former IPS officer. However, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Telangana, opposed it. He requested the court to consider questions of law raised by the state, including whether a person declared an absconder and residing overseas could have even applied for anticipatory bail.”We have a feeling that you want him to be in jail till he breaks down. Now, we will not let you use our order (granting interim protection) beyond what it was meant for,” the bench said.The top court said state police could call Rao for interrogation even when he was on anticipatory bail. The bench said it had ordered the surrender and custody of Rao on Dec 11 as an “interim Article 142” measure to help in the investigation. It said it would hear the matter on March 10 and extended the interim protection to Rao till then. On Dec 19 last year, SC had extended Rao’s police custody till Dec 25.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDevendra Fadnavis Says BJP Created History in Maharashtra Civic ElectionsDeloitte Partner Says Budget Must Fix GST Gaps, Cut Costs, Boost Domestic ManufacturingAs Iran Burns, India Flags Risk To 9,000 Indians, MEA Sets Record Straight On Chabahar Port Exit’North Indian Girls Face Curbs’: DMK MP Sparks Row; Trump Warns Iran of Brutal Action Over KillingsSC Stays FIRs Against ED, Issues Notice To Didi; Raj Thackeray’s Big Bombshell In Mumbai Civic PollsBJP-Alliance Sweeps BMC Polls, Thackeray Reunion Flops; Rahul Slams EC Over ‘Ink Mark’ RowBritish MP Bob Blackman Warns Of Hindu Killings In Bangladesh As Extremism Rises, Democracy FaltersRanchi ED Raid: Jharkhand HC Calls Police Action ‘Pre-Planned’, Orders Security BoostMumbai And Pune Verdict Shake Thackeray And Pawar Dynasties As Legacy Politics Faces Reality CheckPiyush Goyal Says Startup India Generated Over 21 Lakh Jobs, Credits PM Modi123PhotostoriesHow to make Moong Dal Chilla for breakfast5 warm Indian destinations above 25°C right now to escape the winter chillExclusive – Naagin 7’s Eisha Singh on bond with Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Bigg Boss journey; says ‘It took a very long time to come out of it’5 lizards that look like real-life dragonsVande Bharat Sleeper Launch On January 17: How Is New Indian Railways Train Better Than Rajdhani? Top Features & Stunning PhotosHow to make Kerala Chicken Curry at home8 rare baby girl names with powerful meaningsKanjeevaram vs Banarasi silk: Which saree is best for your wedding day?Top 5 Southern Indian fish dishes that are full of flavours and traditionKaran Johar, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Leone: Bollywood celebrities who welcomed parenthood with twins123Hot PicksMaharashtra Election ResultsBudget 2026Gold rate todayBank holiday todayBMC Election ResultsPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingGracie HuntTravis KelceNBA Trade RumorsEdmonton OilersLinus UllmarkMaharashtra Civic Poll ResultsAustin Reaves Net WorthTua TagovailoaDana WhiteToto Wolff and Christian Horner Net Worth


SC raps Telangana, extends shield to ex-SIB chief

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday asked the Telangana govt whether it wanted to keep former state Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T Prabhakar Rao in jail till he broke down. The SC was hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Rao, who is an accused in a phone-tapping case.As the hearing commenced, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed inclination to make “absolute” its order of interim bail to the former IPS officer. However, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Telangana, opposed it. He requested the court to consider questions of law raised by the state, including whether a person declared an absconder and residing overseas could have even applied for anticipatory bail.“We have a feeling that you want him to be in jail till he breaks down. Now, we will not let you use our order (granting interim protection) beyond what it was meant for,” the bench said.The top court said state police could call Rao for interrogation even when he was on anticipatory bail. The bench said it had ordered the surrender and custody of Rao on Dec 11 as an “interim Article 142” measure to help in the investigation. It said it would hear the matter on March 10 and extended the interim protection to Rao till then. On Dec 19 last year, SC had extended Rao’s police custody till Dec 25.



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Farooq Abdullah (File photo) SRINAGAR: A sessions court here Saturday stayed a magisterial court’s order allowing framing of charges against National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case.Hearing a revision petition by Farooq, the additional sessions judge ordered the operation of a chief judicial magistrate’s March 2 directive, and the subsequent proceedings initiated by the trial magistrate on March 30, to be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing. The court issued notice to CBI, and listed the matter for hearing on May 5.On March 2, the CJM court held that prima facie, evidence existed against Farooq and other accused in the case, observing that “the essential ingredients of offences under sections 120-B, 406 and 409 of the Ranbir Penal Code are made out”. Farooq, appearing virtually before the trial court on March 30, pleaded “not guilty”.CBI had filed a chargesheet against the NC president and others in 2018, alleging the siphoning of about Rs 43 crore from funds provided by BCCI to JKCA. The agency said the funds were misappropriated between 2002 and 2011, when Farooq was JKCA president. The chargesheet named him along with then JKCA general secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan, former treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza and J&K Bank executive Bashir Ahmad Misgar.In his revision petition, Farooq submitted that he held an honorary role as JKCA president and was not involved in day-to-day financial administration which, he said, was vested in the treasurer and the general secretary. A routine administrative signature on a 2008 resolution could not be construed as evidence of a “meeting of minds” for alleged embezzlement, he argued.The sessions court in its order observed that framing of charges is a “major step” in a criminal trial with implications for a person’s reputation and liberty. Allowing proceedings to continue during the pendency of the revision petition could render the challenge infructuous and cause irreparable harm, it said.The court said at the interim stage, it is not required to conduct a “roving inquiry” into the merits, but only to determine whether a prima facie case for intervention is made out. “Given the complexity of the legal issues raised regarding vicarious liability in criminal law and the absence of any document bearing the applicant’s signature on the disputed vouchers and cheques relied upon by the prosecution, the balance of convenience shifts in favour of the applicant,” the court stated.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? What you need to knowFrom tiny succulent to thriving beauty: How to grow jade plants the right wayAll about Jennifer Aniston’s lavish houses, the latest one bought for USD 14.8 millionHow to sharpen mixer grinder blades at home’I’m a Celebrity South Africa’: The Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas fallout explainedLove or loot? 5 glaring signs your partner is treating you like a human ATMDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTT123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap

Farooq Abdullah (File photo) SRINAGAR: A sessions court here Saturday stayed a magisterial court’s order allowing framing of charges against National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case.Hearing a revision petition by Farooq, the additional sessions judge ordered the operation of a chief judicial magistrate’s March 2 directive, and the subsequent proceedings initiated by the trial magistrate on March 30, to be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing. The court issued notice to CBI, and listed the matter for hearing on May 5.On March 2, the CJM court held that prima facie, evidence existed against Farooq and other accused in the case, observing that “the essential ingredients of offences under sections 120-B, 406 and 409 of the Ranbir Penal Code are made out”. Farooq, appearing virtually before the trial court on March 30, pleaded “not guilty”.CBI had filed a chargesheet against the NC president and others in 2018, alleging the siphoning of about Rs 43 crore from funds provided by BCCI to JKCA. The agency said the funds were misappropriated between 2002 and 2011, when Farooq was JKCA president. The chargesheet named him along with then JKCA general secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan, former treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza and J&K Bank executive Bashir Ahmad Misgar.In his revision petition, Farooq submitted that he held an honorary role as JKCA president and was not involved in day-to-day financial administration which, he said, was vested in the treasurer and the general secretary. A routine administrative signature on a 2008 resolution could not be construed as evidence of a “meeting of minds” for alleged embezzlement, he argued.The sessions court in its order observed that framing of charges is a “major step” in a criminal trial with implications for a person’s reputation and liberty. Allowing proceedings to continue during the pendency of the revision petition could render the challenge infructuous and cause irreparable harm, it said.The court said at the interim stage, it is not required to conduct a “roving inquiry” into the merits, but only to determine whether a prima facie case for intervention is made out. “Given the complexity of the legal issues raised regarding vicarious liability in criminal law and the absence of any document bearing the applicant’s signature on the disputed vouchers and cheques relied upon by the prosecution, the balance of convenience shifts in favour of the applicant,” the court stated.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? What you need to knowFrom tiny succulent to thriving beauty: How to grow jade plants the right wayAll about Jennifer Aniston’s lavish houses, the latest one bought for USD 14.8 millionHow to sharpen mixer grinder blades at home’I’m a Celebrity South Africa’: The Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas fallout explainedLove or loot? 5 glaring signs your partner is treating you like a human ATMDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTT123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap

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Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid (File photo) SRINAGAR: J&K parties rallied Saturday behind Engineer Rashid and urged authorities to release him temporarily on humanitarian grounds, a day after a Delhi NIA court rejected the jailed Baramulla MP’s bail plea to meet his critically ill father.“I may have a million disagreements with Engineer Rashid. We fight each other politically. But he deserves to meet his critically ill father. That is his right,” Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone said.Rashid’s son Abrar said his grandfather Khazir Mohammad was on ventilator support in the ICU of Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital. “Granting short-term bail would not weaken the system. It would show balance and that the law is not blind to human suffering. A man who has spent years in Tihar jail only asked for a few moments with his father in his final hours. It is painful to see that even this was denied. I hope compassion finds space in this critical situation. Some moments, once lost, can never be brought back,” Abrar said.Rashid, lodged in Tihar since 2019, faces charges under the UAPA in a 2017 terror funding case probed by the NIA.Governing National Conference (NC) MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan appealed to the Centre “to consider Rashid’s release on humanitarian grounds”.Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) pinned hopes on “fairness and compassion” from Delhi high court, where the MP’s regular bail plea is to come up on April 27. AIP expressed deep concern over the denial of interim relief and urged the authorities to take into account Rashid’s position as a sitting MP of Baramulla, which comprises 18 assembly segments and nearly 40% of Kashmir’s population.Rashid had been granted custody parole to attend Parliament’s Budget session earlier this year. He won the 2024 LS polls defeating NC’s Omar Abdullah by over 2 lakh votes in Baramulla. Omar won J&K’s assembly polls and became CM later that year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? What you need to knowFrom tiny succulent to thriving beauty: How to grow jade plants the right wayAll about Jennifer Aniston’s lavish houses, the latest one bought for USD 14.8 millionHow to sharpen mixer grinder blades at home’I’m a Celebrity South Africa’: The Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas fallout explainedDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTTWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breads123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap

Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid (File photo) SRINAGAR: J&K parties rallied Saturday behind Engineer Rashid and urged authorities to release him temporarily on humanitarian grounds, a day after a Delhi NIA court rejected the jailed Baramulla MP’s bail plea to meet his critically ill father.“I may have a million disagreements with Engineer Rashid. We fight each other politically. But he deserves to meet his critically ill father. That is his right,” Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone said.Rashid’s son Abrar said his grandfather Khazir Mohammad was on ventilator support in the ICU of Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital. “Granting short-term bail would not weaken the system. It would show balance and that the law is not blind to human suffering. A man who has spent years in Tihar jail only asked for a few moments with his father in his final hours. It is painful to see that even this was denied. I hope compassion finds space in this critical situation. Some moments, once lost, can never be brought back,” Abrar said.Rashid, lodged in Tihar since 2019, faces charges under the UAPA in a 2017 terror funding case probed by the NIA.Governing National Conference (NC) MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan appealed to the Centre “to consider Rashid’s release on humanitarian grounds”.Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) pinned hopes on “fairness and compassion” from Delhi high court, where the MP’s regular bail plea is to come up on April 27. AIP expressed deep concern over the denial of interim relief and urged the authorities to take into account Rashid’s position as a sitting MP of Baramulla, which comprises 18 assembly segments and nearly 40% of Kashmir’s population.Rashid had been granted custody parole to attend Parliament’s Budget session earlier this year. He won the 2024 LS polls defeating NC’s Omar Abdullah by over 2 lakh votes in Baramulla. Omar won J&K’s assembly polls and became CM later that year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? What you need to knowFrom tiny succulent to thriving beauty: How to grow jade plants the right wayAll about Jennifer Aniston’s lavish houses, the latest one bought for USD 14.8 millionHow to sharpen mixer grinder blades at home’I’m a Celebrity South Africa’: The Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas fallout explainedDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTTWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breads123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap

Vamsikrishna 0
BJP president Nitin Nabin (second, right) welcomes Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, others to BJP NEW DELHI: Despite the breakaway faction of AAP MPs claiming they have fortified themselves legally with two-third of the party’s members in the Upper House merging with BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday announced that they will be writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to seek the disqualification of seven of its members who crossed over a day ago.Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu for a meeting, along with party MLAs, to demand a “recall” of the seven MPs. Incidentally the Constitution does not provide for the ‘right to recall’ of MPs or MLAs, guaranteeing them a fixed term.Claiming that the move by the seven- Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney – was “unconstitutional and illegal”, AAP’s leader in Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Singh highlighted that “the anti-defection law clearly states that no form of split is permissible in the assembly, Rajya Sabha, or Lok Sabha. It has no legal recognition, and this has also been clearly established in the Shiv Sena case.”However most legal experts, with the exception of Kapil Sibal, have been unanimous in highligting the Tenth Schedule’s inability to stop political defections when they acquire the scale of “merger” and said joining of BJP by AAP MPs would not fall foul of the anti-defection law, which approves two-thirds of a legislature party to break away and merge with another party.However, Sanjay Singh cited the Tenth Schedule to say that it clearly provides that any kind of split, even if it involves a two-thirds majority or increases from seven to eight members, has no legal validity.“Therefore, the defection of these seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the AAP is entirely illegal, incorrect, unconstitutional, and against parliamentary rules,” he said, and added that he would submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, citing all these rules and demand the complete termination of the membership of all seven MPs.Meanwhile, reiterating his stand, Chadha on Saturday was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that those quitting the party have not done so out of fear but due to a growing sense of “disappointment, disengagement and disgust” with the existing leadership.Party insiders share that AAP’s leadership was aware for the past few days that its MPs had been approached by BJP, sources said. There were some last-ditch efforts to prevent at least two MPs from switching over to the BJP by AAP top brass.Besides the buzz that MPs like Mittal moved to BJP allegedly due to pressure of ED cases, the developments shine a light on the organisational challenges within AAP.For instance, not just Chadha, Pathak’s disgruntlement had also been growing for a long time. Both had played crucial roles in ticket distribution in Punjab and paved the way for victory in the state. Pathak, however, faced gradual marginalisation after the party lost the Delhi polls, sources said.Speaking to TOI, Vikramjit Sahney said that one of the reasons for his decision was a growing disenchantment with the functioning of the state govt and & Punjab facing dire crisis – ranging from rising debt that has crossed Rs 4.5 lakh crore to the agrarian crisis, no agri processing, drug menace and slow implementation of projects. “Some of us MPs also felt that the leadership was not accessible – especially Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who was hard to reach and not receptive to suggestions,” he alleged.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? What you need to knowFrom tiny succulent to thriving beauty: How to grow jade plants the right wayAll about Jennifer Aniston’s lavish houses, the latest one bought for USD 14.8 millionHow to sharpen mixer grinder blades at home’I’m a Celebrity South Africa’: The Jimmy Bullard and Adam Thomas fallout explainedLove or loot? 5 glaring signs your partner is treating you like a human ATMDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTT123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap

BJP president Nitin Nabin (second, right) welcomes Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, others to BJP NEW DELHI: Despite the breakaway faction of AAP MPs claiming they have fortified themselves legally with two-third of the party’s members in the Upper House merging with BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday announced that they will be writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to seek the disqualification of seven of its members who crossed over a day ago.Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu for a meeting, along with party MLAs, to demand a “recall” of the seven MPs. Incidentally the Constitution does not provide for the ‘right to recall’ of MPs or MLAs, guaranteeing them a fixed term.Claiming that the move by the seven- Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Swati Maliwal and Vikramjit Sahney – was “unconstitutional and illegal”, AAP’s leader in Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Singh highlighted that “the anti-defection law clearly states that no form of split is permissible in the assembly, Rajya Sabha, or Lok Sabha. It has no legal recognition, and this has also been clearly established in the Shiv Sena case.”However most legal experts, with the exception of Kapil Sibal, have been unanimous in highligting the Tenth Schedule’s inability to stop political defections when they acquire the scale of “merger” and said joining of BJP by AAP MPs would not fall foul of the anti-defection law, which approves two-thirds of a legislature party to break away and merge with another party.However, Sanjay Singh cited the Tenth Schedule to say that it clearly provides that any kind of split, even if it involves a two-thirds majority or increases from seven to eight members, has no legal validity.“Therefore, the defection of these seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the AAP is entirely illegal, incorrect, unconstitutional, and against parliamentary rules,” he said, and added that he would submit a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, citing all these rules and demand the complete termination of the membership of all seven MPs.Meanwhile, reiterating his stand, Chadha on Saturday was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that those quitting the party have not done so out of fear but due to a growing sense of “disappointment, disengagement and disgust” with the existing leadership.Party insiders share that AAP’s leadership was aware for the past few days that its MPs had been approached by BJP, sources said. There were some last-ditch efforts to prevent at least two MPs from switching over to the BJP by AAP top brass.Besides the buzz that MPs like Mittal moved to BJP allegedly due to pressure of ED cases, the developments shine a light on the organisational challenges within AAP.For instance, not just Chadha, Pathak’s disgruntlement had also been growing for a long time. Both had played crucial roles in ticket distribution in Punjab and paved the way for victory in the state. Pathak, however, faced gradual marginalisation after the party lost the Delhi polls, sources said.Speaking to TOI, Vikramjit Sahney said that one of the reasons for his decision was a growing disenchantment with the functioning of the state govt and & Punjab facing dire crisis – ranging from rising debt that has crossed Rs 4.5 lakh crore to the agrarian crisis, no agri processing, drug menace and slow implementation of projects. “Some of us MPs also felt that the leadership was not accessible – especially Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann who was hard to reach and not receptive to suggestions,” he alleged.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosStrait of Hormuz to US Elections: Ex-CJI Maps Shockwave of Global InterconnectionSwati Maliwal Launches Fresh Attack On Kejriwal After BJP Switch Over ‘Rs 100 Cr House’Raghav Chadha Sees 1 Million Drop In Followers After BJP Move, Gen Z ReactsOpposition Moves Fresh Bid to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Levels 9 ChargesAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh Attack123PhotostoriesHow to make Malai Kofta for weekend lunch at home10 hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth (You won’t believe)Is 9-karat gold good for jewellery? 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