SC dismisses  Birlas’ petition

In a major setback to the Birlas, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the petitions of Krishna Kumar Birla, Basant Kumar Birla and Yashovardhan Birla, saying that they have no rights to represent in the proceedings for the execution of the will of Priyambada Birla, reports DHNS from New Delhi.

The court said only Ganga Prasad Birla will have the right to challenge the probate proceedings as he is the executor of the will signed by both M P Birla and his wife Priyambada signed in 1982.

Reprieve for Amitabh

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to order an investigation into the alleged controversy involving actor Amitabh Bachchan in the Barabanki land deal case in Uttar Pradesh, reports DHNS from New Delhi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan dismissed the petition filed by UP government challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order restraining it from initiating any criminal, civil or revenue proceedings against Bachchan in the case.

Sex row: Orissa Speaker resigns

Orissa Speaker Maheswar Mohanty, who is facing a police investigation on the sexual harassment charge filed by a lady employee of the assembly, resigned from his post on Monday, DHNS reports from Bhubaneshwar.

The opposition parties in the state as well as several women organisations have been demanding Mohanty’s resignation since the lady marshal of the Orissa house, Gayatri Panda, came out with allegations last Wednesday.

IIM-K hikes fee for PG course

The Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) on Monday increased the fees for its two-year post-graduate programme from Rs 3,85,000 to Rs 6,00,000, IANS reports from New Delhi.IIM-K director Krishna Kumar said the revised fee would come into effect from the next academic session.
New UK visa system

Professionals and highly-skilled persons willing to migrate to Britain will have to apply for visa under the new points-based system which comes into force from Tuesday, PTI reports from New Delhi.
The point-based system-Tier 1 (PBS-TO) covers highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs, investors, and graduate students, replaces the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, the Entrepreneur and Investor schemes and the International Graduates. The initial visa will be granted for three years as against two years under the previous systems.

Romesh Sharma gets 2-yr-jail term

Romesh Sharma, an alleged frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was on Monday sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment by a court here for evading income tax and not paying dues amounting to Rs 50 crore in a 12-year-old case, reports PTI from New Delhi.

“I sentence Romesh Sharma to two years RI for evading taxes,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kanwaljeet Arora said, slapping a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on him.

After the sentence, Sharma’s counsel Harish Singh said that “he would appeal in a higher court against his client’s sentence.”

Hizbul ‘commander’ held

Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday arrested a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen along with a huge cache of arms and explosives here, reports PTI from Srinagar.

Rayees Ahmad Dar alias Rayees Kachroo, involved in more than 40 killings, including a number of security personnel, was arrested in a joint operation by police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the early hours of the day, said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) S M Sahai.

Seven SIMI activists held

Seven activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) have been arrested on charges of providing assistance to their former chief Safdar Nagori and 12 other top leaders nabbed last week, reports PTI from Bhopal.

Five activists were apprehended early Monday morning from Unhel town near Ujjain, which, police said, was a major centre for SIMI activists to carryout their anti-national plans. Two SIMI activists were arrested on Sunday night from Indore, Superintendent of Police, Anshuman Singh Yadav said.