 "FirstUp: Ninth ED summons to Kejriwal and more... Big news today")
It’s an action-packed Thursday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued ninth summons to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to appear for questioning today in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The Supreme Court has directed SBI to provide comprehensive disclosure of all electoral bond details by Thursday.
Here’s what is expected today.
ED summons Kejriwal for the ninth time
The ED has issued ninth summons to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to appear for questioning today in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The summons were issued a day after a Delhi court granted bail to the AAP supremo on two complaints filed by the ED against him for skipping six of the previous eight summons in the case, as per Hindustan Times.
So far, the ED has arrested three prominent AAP leaders – Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, party communications in-charge Vijay Nair, and some liquor businessmen in the case.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Telangana CM KCR’s daughter K Kavitha was arrested last week.
SC deadline to SBI to disclose all electoral bonds
The Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India to provide comprehensive disclosure of all electoral bond details, including the unique bond numbers revealing connections between buyers and recipient political parties by Thursday, 21 March.
Impact Shorts
View AllThe Election Commission of India on 17 March uploaded the data received in digitised form from the registry of the apex court on its website.
Earlier on 15 March, the EC had released the first detailed data on electoral bonds, after sourcing it from SBI. The apex bank was asked by SC to submit data to EC.
Congress candidates likely to be declared
Goa Congress president Amit Patkar had earlier said that the party candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa are likely to be announced today.
He told The Times of India on Tuesday that the party’s Central Election Committee has cleared the list of candidates of the states that go to the polls in the earlier phases.
The next meeting will be held today in Delhi.
Last date for the elections for 13 Rajya Sabha seats in six states
Elections for 13 Rajya Sabha seats spread across six states will be held on 31 March.
The seats are unevenly spread across six states – five in Punjab, three in Kerala, two in Assam, and one each in Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Nagaland.
“The term of office of 13 members of the Rajya Sabha elected from six states is due to expire on their retirement in April 2022,” the official statement issued on 7 March.
The elections to the upper house are being held as several leaders, including Congress veterans Anand Sharma, AK Antony, and Partap Singh Bajwa, and Shiromani Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral are set to retire.
SC to hear Kerala government’s plea over state finances
The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear the Kerala government’s plea accusing the Centre of sparing only Rs 5,000 crore as a one-time measure to avert an immediate financial crisis in the state.
The amount offered by the Union government will not be enough to fulfil Kerala’s most basic financial commitments, including pensions and salaries, senior advocate Kapil Sibal and C.K. Sasi, representing the State, told a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan.
In an earlier hearing, Justice Kant had said that the suit was probably the first of its kind in the top court.
Delhi Health Minister, Secy to appear before Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi health minister and health secretary to appear personally before it on Thursday in a batch of pleas concerning the issue of unauthorised pathological labs and diagnostic centres in the National Capital.
Government’s deadline for public comments on guidelines
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has sought public comments on Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing, which is a misleading practice of making false environmental claims in ads to sell products.
Public comments, suggestions, feedback are solicited and may be provided to the Central Authority by 21 March.
1st Nuclear energy summit in Brussels
The first International Nuclear Energy Summit, jointly hosted by the IAEA and Belgium, will take place on 21 and 22 March in Brussels.
The summit will be co-chaired by IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi and Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo.
It will be a significant gathering which is solely dedicated to nuclear energy, a topic of increasing interest globally due to its potential to decrease fossil fuel consumption and the growing demand of low-carbon electricity.
A day to remember
World Down Syndrome Day
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
International forests and trees day
Birth anniversary of shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan
Birth anniversary of CM of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan
Birth anniversary of Indian religious leader, founded Sahaja Yoga Nirmala Srivastava
Birth anniversary of actress Rani Mukherjee
Birth anniversary of footballer Ronaldinho
Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied the knot in 1981
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