India

Sitapur (UP)May 30 (PTI) Three people died and five others were taken ill in the district after drinking spurious liquor, the second such incident in Uttar Pradesh this week.

Superintendent of Police, Sitapur, L R Kumar, said the deaths were reported from Paiteypur and Saidpur villages on Wednesday night.

One person identified as Kanhaiya Kumar has been arrested and investigations are on to establish from where the liquor was sourced, the SP said.

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to purchase of alleged illegal assets abroad, officials said.

Vadra was dropped by his wife and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi outside the agency's office near India Gate here at about 10:30 AM.

He was summoned to depose before the investigating officer of the case where his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Amaravati (AP), May 30 (PTI) Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who led his YSR Congress Party to a thumping victory in the assembly elections, was sworn in Thursday as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Governor E S L Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 46-year-old leader, whose party emerged victorious in 151 seats in the 175-member strong state assembly.

The YSR Congress decimated the TDP headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, who became the first chief minister of the state after it was bifurcated to carve out Telangana five years ago.

Dehradun, May 30 (PTI) The Uttarakhand BJP has kept a copy of the Quran at the party library here to help its cadre learn about the holy book, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the need to reach out to the minorities.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state media head Devendra Bhasin claimed that the move was in line with the party's "philosophy" of treating every religion equally.

The copy of the Quran was kept at the library of the party's state headquarters here two days ago by joint media incharge Shadab Shams, Bhasin said.

Kanpur: In continuation of the NGT order dated July 13, 2017 for construction of a proposed 20 MLD CETP, a Chennai-based company has been awarded the contract. An understanding was signed between the project engineer and the company on May 9. A sum of Rs 419 crore would be spent on the construction of the common effluent treatment plant. Jajmau Tannery Treatment Association has also been formed. The sources said that the work on the construction is supposed to start in the mid-June this year. 

NEW DELHI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people died and 44 people were undergoing treatment in two hospitals following consumption of spurious liquor in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

"As of now the death toll is 12 but early today we received a report from the Lucknow hospital that two more who were referred there for specialized treatment have succumbed," district magistrate of Barabanki Udai Bhanu Tripathi told Xinhua.

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) Ending all speculations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he does not want to be a minister in the new BJP government due to health reasons.

In the four-paragraph letter, Jaitley said he had orally informed Modi about his desire not to be a part of the new BJP government to enable him to concentrate on treatment and health.

Chandigarh, May 28 (PTI) Three motorcycle-borne men opened fire at police personnel in Karnal Tuesday and managed to free from custody a convict they were transporting from a court, officials said.

The daring daylight raid took place when the police party was transporting the convict to Yamunanagar from Karnal after a hearing. Two policemen were injured in the attack, they said.

New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) Three West Bengal MLAs, including BJP leader Mukul Roy's son Subhrangshu Roy, and over 50 municipal councillors, most of them from the Trinamool Congress, joined the saffron party Tuesday as it works to consolidate its position in the state following its impressive show there in Lok Sabha polls.

Siddharth Nagar (UP), May 29 (PTI) An inspector's body was recovered after neighbours complained of foul smell coming from his house in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharth Nagar district, an official said on Wednesday.

The body of Pankaj Shahi, 50, posted as the incharge of cyber cell, was found on Tuesday night. It appears to be a week old, Circle Officer (Sadar) Sunil Singh said.

Prima facie, it appears to be a case of natural death and more details will be known after the post-mortem, Singh said.