Five must-read stories—February 3

Cancel AAP’s party status for filing false audits, I-T dept tells poll panel

The Income Tax department asked the Election Commission on Thursday to cancel the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) status as a political party for allegedly filing “false and fabricated” audit reports on donations amounting to ₹27 crore, highly-placed sources told Hindustan Times.

Vasundhara Raje wants plane more powerful than Prime Minister's

The Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan had floated a tender late last year for leasing an executive jet. Specifications sought make this jet more powerful than anything available with the union government and used for domestic travel, says The Economic Times. The PM uses Indian Air Force-maintained Embraer jets.

Din ends, silent voter holds key in Punjab

Polling for the 117 Assembly constituencies in Punjab on February 4 will decide the fate of 1,145 candidates in the fray. There is a stiff triangular contest among the SAD-BJP, Congress and AAP candidates in a majority of constituencies, reports The Tribune.

Opposition moves 651 changes to motion of thanks to embarrass Government

The Modi government is likely to face an embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when the motion of thanks to the President’s address is passed. Indication to this was available on Thursday, after Opposition MPs moved 651 amendments to the motion of thanks, reports The Economic Times.

Andhra Pradesh working on system to DNA-tag convicts

The Andhra Pradesh government plans to bring in legislation that will allow the state police and investigating agencies to collect and store DNA samples in a centralised database. The Centre had first prepared a draft bill on the issue in 2012, but the legislation ran into severe opposition from activists on the ground that it violated privacy. It has since been on hold, reports The Hindu.