<p>The Enforcement Directorate alleged on Monday that K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), conspired with top leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to pay ₹1&nbsp;billion&nbsp;($12 million).&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to an ED statement, "Kavitha along with others "conspired with the top leaders of AAP including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for getting favours in the Delhi excise policy-formulation and implementation."</p>

<p>"In exchange of these favours, she was involved in paying&nbsp;₹100 crore to the leaders of AAP," the agency added.</p>

<p>Last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who remains in the agency's custody until March 23. According to the ED, "corruption and conspiracy" in the development and execution of Delhi's excise policy resulted in "a consistent flow of illicit funds in the guise of kickbacks from wholesalers" to the AAP.</p>

<p>The Enforcement Directorate claimed that the 45-year-old BRS leader and her associates were intended to retrieve the pre-paid proceeds of illegal activity given to the AAP and to subsequently generate profits or proceeds of crime through this comprehensive scheme.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-ji-twisting-shakti-remark-rahul-gandhi-clears-stance-on-pm-modis-jaan-ki-baazi-attack-701555">Also read |&nbsp;'Modi ji twisting 'Shakti' remark': Rahul Gandhi clears stance on PM Modi's 'jaan ki baazi' attack</a></p>

<h2><strong>‘Kavitha a key conspirator,’ says&nbsp;ED</strong></h2>

<p>During the request for remand of the BRS MLC, the ED informed the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Kavitha was identified as "one of the masterminds, a pivotal conspirator, and a beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scandal."</p>

<p>Kavitha had previously stated that she had not engaged in any wrongdoing and accused the Centre of utilising the ED due to the BJP's failure to gain entry into Telangana indirectly. The AAP has accused the BJP of employing the ED and CBI as their "enforcers" to eliminate political adversaries.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;CAA rules notified: all you need to know about Citizenships Amendment Act</strong></p>

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<p>The agency reported conducting searches at 245 locations nationwide since the case's filing in 2022, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals, including former Delhi deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and several liquor businessmen.</p>

<p>So far, the agency has submitted a total of six charge sheets in this matter and has seized assets valued at more than ₹128 crore (around $15 million).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Enforcement Directorate alleged on Monday that K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), conspired with top leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to pay ₹1 billion ($12 million).

The Enforcement Directorate alleged on Monday that K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), conspired with top leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to pay ₹1 billion ($12 million). According to an ED statement, "Kavitha along with others "conspired with the top leaders of AAP including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for getting favours in the Delhi excise policy-formulation and implementation." "In exchange of these favours, she was involved in paying ₹100 crore to the leaders of AAP," the agency added. Last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who remains in the agency's custody until March 23. According to the ED, "corruption and conspiracy" in the development and execution of Delhi's excise policy resulted in "a consistent flow of illicit funds in the guise of kickbacks from wholesalers" to the AAP. The Enforcement Directorate claimed that the 45-year-old BRS leader and her associates were intended to retrieve the pre-paid proceeds of illegal activity given to the AAP and to subsequently generate profits or proceeds of crime through this comprehensive scheme. Also read | 'Modi ji twisting 'Shakti' remark': Rahul Gandhi clears stance on PM Modi's 'jaan ki baazi' attack ‘Kavitha a key conspirator,’ says ED During the request for remand of the BRS MLC, the ED informed the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Kavitha was identified as "one of the masterminds, a pivotal conspirator, and a beneficiary of the Delhi excise policy scandal." Kavitha had previously stated that she had not engaged in any wrongdoing and accused the Centre of utilising the ED due to the BJP's failure to gain entry into Telangana indirectly. The AAP has accused the BJP of employing the ED and CBI as their "enforcers" to eliminate political adversaries. Also watch | CAA rules notified: all you need to know about Citizenships Amendment Act The agency reported conducting searches at 245 locations nationwide since the case's filing in 2022, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals, including former Delhi deputy CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and several liquor businessmen. So far, the agency has submitted a total of six charge sheets in this matter and has seized assets valued at more than ₹128 crore (around $15 million). (With inputs from agencies)

‘K Kavitha paid ₹1 billion ($12 mn) to AAP leaders,’ Enforcement Directorate says

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<p>In Bengaluru, a shopkeeper was attacked by a group of men as he was playing a bhajan dedicated to Lord Hanuman during the Islamic call to prayer, known as azaan. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred in the city's Siddanna Layout area on Sunday (Mar 17).</p>

<p>"I was playing Hanuman bhajan. Four to five people came and said it was time for&nbsp;<em>azaan</em>&nbsp;and threatened to beat me if I played music. They beat me and then threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," the shopkeeper told reporters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Bengaluru, Karnataka: "I was playing Hanuman bhajan. 4-5 people came and said it is time for Azaan and if you play it we will beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," says the shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of over five… <a href="https://t.co/0ONOXqm2Sw">https://t.co/0ONOXqm2Sw</a> <a href="https://t.co/QaS7joDqe8">pic.twitter.com/QaS7joDqe8</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1769659213553512824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>A video circulating on social media shows&nbsp;the sequence of events, wherein the men approach the shop individually. Subsequently, a dispute ensues, leading to one of the men grabbing the shopkeeper's collar, eliciting a retaliatory response from the latter.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-election-2024/lok-sabha-election-2024-delhi-mumbai-bengaluru-vote-dates-see-the-full-list-700887">Also read |&nbsp;Lok Sabha Election 2024: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru vote dates. See the full list</a></p>

<h2><strong>Altercation caught on CCTV&nbsp;</strong></h2>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Karnataka: An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during 'Azaan' time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting… <a href="https://t.co/L0f0rxlfSR">pic.twitter.com/L0f0rxlfSR</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1769622357860401377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another individual joined&nbsp;in assaulting the shopkeeper, prompting him to leave the premises. The altercation escalated&nbsp;as the men took&nbsp;turns attacking the shopkeeper, including throwing him to the ground and kicking him.</p>

<p>Once the assault ceased, the perpetrators scattered, leaving the shopkeeper injured.</p>

<p>Authorities filed an FIR against the suspects identified as Suleman, Shahnawaz, Rohith, Dyanish, and Taruna.</p>

<p>The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Bengaluru confirmed that three of the accused individuals have been arrested. Among them, two were of Muslim faith, while one was Hindu.</p>

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<p>"We are inquiring if Hanuman Chalisa was played. There's no mention of Hanuman Chalisa in the complaint. The group that assaulted the shopkeeper included both Hindus and Muslims," the DCP Central said.</p>

<p>The other three accused are absconding, according to the police.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In Bengaluru, a shopkeeper was attacked by a group of men as he was playing a bhajan dedicated to Lord Hanuman during the Islamic call to prayer, known as azaan.

In Bengaluru, a shopkeeper was attacked by a group of men as he was playing a bhajan dedicated to Lord Hanuman during the Islamic call to prayer, known as azaan. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred in the city's Siddanna Layout area on Sunday (Mar 17). "I was playing Hanuman bhajan. Four to five people came and said it was time for azaan and threatened to beat me if I played music. They beat me and then threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," the shopkeeper told reporters. #WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: "I was playing Hanuman bhajan. 4-5 people came and said it is time for Azaan and if you play it we will beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," says the shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of over five… https://t.co/0ONOXqm2Sw pic.twitter.com/QaS7joDqe8 — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024 × A video circulating on social media shows the sequence of events, wherein the men approach the shop individually. Subsequently, a dispute ensues, leading to one of the men grabbing the shopkeeper's collar, eliciting a retaliatory response from the latter. Also read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru vote dates. See the full list Altercation caught on CCTV #WATCH | Karnataka: An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during 'Azaan' time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting… pic.twitter.com/L0f0rxlfSR — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024 × Another individual joined in assaulting the shopkeeper, prompting him to leave the premises. The altercation escalated as the men took turns attacking the shopkeeper, including throwing him to the ground and kicking him. Once the assault ceased, the perpetrators scattered, leaving the shopkeeper injured. Authorities filed an FIR against the suspects identified as Suleman, Shahnawaz, Rohith, Dyanish, and Taruna. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Bengaluru confirmed that three of the accused individuals have been arrested. Among them, two were of Muslim faith, while one was Hindu. "We are inquiring if Hanuman Chalisa was played. There's no mention of Hanuman Chalisa in the complaint. The group that assaulted the shopkeeper included both Hindus and Muslims," the DCP Central said. The other three accused are absconding, according to the police. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH: India shopkeeper attacked in Bengaluru, alleges he was ‘asked to stop bhajan for azaan’

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