Calcutta High Court Dismisses TMC's Petition on Political Data Protection
Calcutta High Court Ruling on Political Data
The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a petition from the Trinamool Congress that sought to safeguard confidential political information. This ruling followed the Enforcement Directorate's statement to the court, indicating that no documents were confiscated during their search of the political consultancy firm, I-PAC, on January 8.
The central agency further asserted that any documents or electronic devices taken from the site were removed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, not by the ED.
After the ED's search at I-PAC's Kolkata offices and the residence of its head, Pratik Jain, Banerjee alleged that officials from the central agency were 'removing' party documents in advance of the Assembly elections. The party subsequently challenged the legality of the searches in the High Court. Conversely, the ED also filed a complaint in court, claiming 'illegal interference' during their operations.
India Issues Travel Advisory for Iran Amid Protests
On Wednesday, India released a new travel advisory urging its citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran due to escalating anti-government protests. The Indian embassy in Tehran has also advised Indian nationals in Iran to depart as soon as possible.
Approximately 10,000 Indians, including many students, are currently in Iran. This advisory comes in light of significant unrest in the country over the past fortnight, with reports indicating that around 2,000 individuals, including security forces, have lost their lives during the protests.
Circumstances Surrounding Zubeen Garg's Drowning
The Singapore Police have revealed that Assamese singer Zubeen Garg was 'heavily intoxicated' and not wearing a life jacket when he drowned during a yacht excursion in September. Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim reported that Garg had declined to wear a life vest despite multiple reminders and swam away from the yacht before becoming unresponsive and floating face down.
Garg tragically passed away on September 19 during a yacht trip in Singapore, just a day prior to his scheduled performance at the North East India Festival. He was retrieved from the water and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation before being transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead. An autopsy revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 333 mg per 100 ml. Authorities stated there was no indication of suicide or coercion.
Muslim Woman Challenges Deportation to Bangladesh
A Muslim woman, who was forcibly sent across the border to Bangladesh in December, has approached the Supreme Court to contest a Gauhati High Court ruling that refused to hear her appeal against a foreigners’ tribunal's decision labeling her a foreigner. In September 2019, the tribunal concluded that Aheda Khatun could not prove her connection to her Indian parents and grandparents.
Khatun claims the tribunal disregarded various documents, including voter lists identifying her parents as electors, her school certificate, a permanent residency certificate from her village, and a registered land deed gifted by her father. On December 17, she was among 15 individuals expelled under the Immigrants Expulsion from Assam Act, 1950, and is currently in Bangladesh.