Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

19 Nov

Supreme Court Invalidates Key Sections of Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down certain provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, declaring them unconstitutional for undermining judicial independence and flouting its prior rulings. The court observed that the legislation attempted to legislatively overrule binding judgments without correcting any defects. A Bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran held that provisions regarding the appointment and tenure of tribunal members violated the separation of powers and could not be upheld. “The Act amounts to a legislative overwrite of binding judgments without curing any defects,” the court said. The verdict directs the…

19 Nov

Smog Engulfs Delhi as AQI Breaches ‘Severe’ Mark at Multiple Stations

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality plunged further on Wednesday morning, with a dense layer of smog settling over the city and pushing pollution indicators deep into the ‘severe’ zone. Several key monitoring points recorded AQI readings above 400, signalling extremely unhealthy conditions for residents. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed exceptionally high levels of particulate matter at 8 a.m.: Anand Vihar: 419 Bawana: 445 Rohini: 431 Punjabi Bagh: 425 The National Capital Region mirrored the grim trend. Greater Noida touched 450, one of the day’s highest values, while Noida registered 410 and Ghaziabad 435. Faridabad and Gurugram,…

19 Nov

Al-Falah Group Head Arrested, Sent to 13-Day ED Custody in Ongoing Money Laundering Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAl-Falah Group

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Enforcement Directorate has secured 13 days of custodial interrogation of Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, the chairman of the Al-Falah group, in connection with its investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the Al Falah Charitable Trust. Siddiqui was detained late Tuesday evening under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and brought before a Delhi court shortly afterward. Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan approved the ED’s request for extended custody in an order passed just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials say the arrest came after investigators analysed material unearthed during extensive searches…

19 Nov

Hornsby Crash Claims Life of Expectant Mother; Teen Motorist Faces Serious Charges

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsSydney

Sydney (Rajeev Sharma): A late-evening walk turned tragic in Sydney’s north last week when an eight-month-pregnant Indian woman was fatally struck after a high-impact collision pushed a vehicle into her path. The victim, Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, had been strolling along George Street in Hornsby with her husband and their three-year-old son last Friday when the incident unfolded. Police say a Kia Carnival had paused near the entrance of a car park to allow the family to cross. Within seconds, a BMW reportedly travelling at excessive speed smashed into the rear of the Kia, sending it lurching forward. The sudden movement…

18 Nov

Abbotsford Home Targeted by Gunfire in Early-Morning Incident Linked to Ongoing Extortion Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAbbotsford, Extortion Case, Gunfire

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): The Abbotsford Police Department is investigating an early-morning shooting that has been confirmed as part of an ongoing extortion case affecting several families in the region.Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 2500-block of Janzen Street at approximately 3:30 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered two unoccupied vehicles in a driveway with multiple bullet holes. According to Sgt. Paul Walker, all residents inside the home were asleep at the time and fortunately unharmed.Sgt. Paul Walker, a spokesperson for the Abbotsford police, stated in a news release that the occupants inside the home who were asleep at…

18 Nov

Gangster Anmol Bishnoi Deported from US, Set to Arrive in India Within Hours

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PunjabAnmol Bishnoi deported, Lawrence Bishnoi brother, Sidhu Moosewala murder case

New Delhi/Chandigarh, November 18, 2025 — Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been deported from the United States and is currently being brought back to India under the custody of Indian security officials.Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of Siddhiqui, confirmed to multiple media outlets, including NDTV, that he received an email from the US Department of Homeland Security informing him that Anmol was expelled from the country on November 18. The communication stated that US authorities had completed the deportation process and handed him over to Indian agencies.Senior security officials, speaking anonymously, said that the teams escorting Anmol…

18 Nov

Jaishankar Calls for Zero-Tolerance on Terror at SCO Meet, Reaffirms India’s Right to Defend Its Citizens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia terrorism stance, S Jaishankar, SCO meeting Moscow, zero tolerance terror

Moscow, November 18, 2025 — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a forceful message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting on Tuesday, asserting that terrorism cannot be justified, ignored or whitewashed in any form. He stressed that India retains the sovereign right to protect its citizens from such threats.Speaking in Moscow, Jaishankar reminded member states that the SCO was created to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism, and said these challenges have grown more severe over time. He urged nations to adopt an uncompromising stance against terror networks and their supporters.He said the global community…

18 Nov

Delhi Airport Customs Seize 1.2 kg Gold Hidden in Machine Parts; Passenger Arrested

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiacustoms arrest Delhi, IGI Airport gold seizure, machine parts smuggling

New Delhi, November 18, 2025 — Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport intercepted and seized 1.2 kilograms of gold concealed within machine spare parts. A passenger arriving from Singapore on November 15 was arrested in connection with the discovery.During questioning, the suspect revealed that he is the CEO of a firm dealing with industrial machine parts and had come to pick up a 10.8 kg consignment at the airport’s courier terminal. He told officials that the cargo contained gold hidden inside the spare parts.Scanners had flagged suspicious images during the inspection of the package, prompting a detailed examination. Upon…

18 Nov

Delhi Shrouded in ‘Very Poor’ Air, Four Areas Hit ‘Severe’ Pollution

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Delhi woke up to another day of unhealthy air on Tuesday, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 344, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Among the 37 monitoring stations, Bawana (426), Jahangirpuri (418), Wazirpur (412), and Vivek Vihar (402) reported ‘severe’ pollution levels, indicating dangerous concentrations of particulate matter in the atmosphere. Residents in these areas are at heightened risk of respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Weather and pollution forecasts suggest that the capital will continue to experience poor air quality over the…

18 Nov

Election Commission Turns to AI in Bengal to Strengthen Voter Roll Scrutiny

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingElection Commission

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Election Commission (EC) is introducing artificial intelligence tools to bolster its verification efforts during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, senior officials said on Tuesday. The move is aimed at detecting duplicate, fake, or deceased voters more effectively at a time when complaints over misuse of voter photographs are on the rise. According to officials, the AI system will scan and compare voter images across the statewide database, flagging instances where the same photograph appears under multiple entries. Complaints involving the photographs of migrant workers—often used without consent—have prompted…