March 10: Top news at 2 pm

Scrapped notes worth ₹1.60 crore seized in Mumbai, two held

Demonetised currency notes worth ₹1.60 crore were seized by police from accused Sayar Lakhaji Mali (41) and Jaimin Vhora (34), who have been arrested from Tardeo area here, an official said. "Based on specific information that the duo was coming in a vehicle to exchange the scrapped notes, a trap had been laid yesterday at Lala Lajpatrai Road near Haji Ali Beat Chowki," he said. Mali, a small-time businessman from Malad and his friend Vhora, a real estate agent from Borivali, were arrested by the team before money could be exchanged, the officer said. Further investigation is on.

Another ATM in Delhi dispenses fake ₹2,000 note

In yet another case in a month, an ATM in south Delhi's Amar Colony area dispensed a fake ₹2,000 currency note with ‘Children Bank of India' printed on it, police said today. "The complainant, Chandan reported the matter through a PCR call. The fake ₹2,000 note bore prints of 'Children Bank of India' and 'Manoranjan Bank' on it," said DCP(south east) Romil Baaniya. A case has been registered under Sections 489 B (using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency or bank-notes), 489 E (Making or using documents resembling currency or bank- notes) of IPC at Amar Colony police station. A senior Delhi Police officer said that the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for in-depth probe in view of recovery of fake notes from south-east Delhi in the past.

Parrikar refuses to make comment on jawan’s death in Deolali

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today refused to make any comment on the death of a jawan in Maharashtra recently, but said the Army has been told to work on how to appropriately address the grievances of soldiers. Parrikar told the Lok Sabha that it would be a "prejudice" to make any comment on the death of Roy Mathew at Deolali cantonment, as police has registered a case and was conducting an investigation into the incident. "It was an isolated incident. An independent police probe is going on. I don't want to make any comment on it as it would be a prejudice to say anything at this stage," he said during Question Hour. Mathew was found dead under mysterious circumstances in an abandoned barrack in Deolali Cantonment on March 3. The jawan was figured in a sting operation by a news website where he criticised the 'sahayak' (orderly) system in which a jawan is expected to serve a commissioned officer.

Some AIADMK MPs seek CBI probe into Jayalalithaa's death

Proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned briefly when some AIADMK members raised slogans demanding a CBI probe into the death of the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa. As soon as the House met for the day, six AIADMK members rushed to the Well raising slogans seeking the CBI probe. They were holding placards with the picture of Jayalalithaa lying in state. Amid slogan shouting, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 10 minutes at 11.10 am when the Question Hour was in progress. Soon after the House re-assembled, the AIADMK members raised slogans and then announced a walk-out after their demand for an adjournment motion to discuss the issue was turned down by the Chair.

Gujarat government distances itself from minister's remarks on note ban

Gujarat Minister Rohit Patel faced embarrassment when Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel disowned his comments made today in the Assembly about note ban, following which the Speaker expunged his comments from the records. Rohit Patel, who is the Minister of State (MoS) for Finance and Industry in the BJP government, expressed his views about demonetisation while answering BJP MLA Zankhana Patel's query about VAT income. Rohit Patel said he is in favour of further restrictions on high value notes. He also made some more comments on the issue, which were later removed from the records. Sensing the gravity of his minister's comments, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani asked him to stick to the point and give specific answer the question instead of elaborating on the note ban decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November last year.

Taking a jibe at BJP government over the goof-up, Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela asked Nitin Patel to make sure that his junior minister comes inside the House after doing some "homework", so that the government can save itself from making clarifications later.