India

Jodhpur, Aug 26 (PTI) In a blow to godman Asaram Bapu, a divison bench of the Rajasthan High Court here on Monday turned down his plea for an early hearing against his conviction in a sexual assault case.

The godman was convicted in the case in March 2018 and was sentenced to life in jail.

Refusing to give him the relief, the bench of Justice Abhay Chaturvedi and Justice Sandeep said his appeal would taken up in "an appropriate order of priority as per the custodial period suffered by the accused".

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) The Congress on Monday announced dissolution of the Odisha unit and also of all state committees constituted for the recently held assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

"The Congress president has dissolved the PCC office bearers and all other committees constituted for recently held assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha with immediate effect," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said in a statement.

The president and working presidents of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee shall remain unchanged, he said .

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 (PTI): A 50-year-old teacher was arrested on Monday for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old autistic boy student, police said.

The accused Santosh Kumar used to teach mathematics to the child.

Kumar went absconding after the boy's parents lodged a complaint last month about the offence, the police said.

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) A special court on Monday sent former finance minister P Chidambaram to four more days of CBI custody till August 30 in the INX Media case after the probe agency said "certain evidence" had emerged and that the Congress leader's confrontation with a co-accused during interrogation was incomplete.

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) had sought extension of Chidambaram's custody by five days to confront him with certain e-mails and to unearth larger conspiracy in the corruption case in the INX Media scam.

Dehradun, Aug 26 (PTI) The Jammu-Kashmir Students' Association (JKSA) and the Khalsa Aid jointly distributed groceries and money among Kashmiri students in Dehradun.

With restrictions continuing in the Valley since August 5, a number of Kashmiri students here have been out of touch with their families and suffering from a shortage of money, JKSA spokesman Nasir Khuehami said in a statement.

Nagapattinam(TN), Aug 27 (PTI) Two key accused in the case relating to the vandalism of a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at Vedaranyam in the district, which led to a violent clash between people of two communities, were arrested on Tuesday, police said.

Police identified the arrested as Pandiarajan (33) of Vedaranyam and Lenin (25) of Kadinelvayal.

Lucknow, Aug 26 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Rae Bareli on Tuesday to express solidarity with the workers of a rail coach factory who are agitating against corporatisation of the unit.

In the one-day visit to her mother and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi's constituency, Priyanka Gandhi will visit the Modern Coach Factory in Aihar area of Lalganj, where the workers are agitating against the "privatisation" of the unit, party sources said.

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) The Indian Women's Press Corps on Monday condemned the Press Council of India's move to approach the Supreme Court supporting the Centre's decision to impose restrictions on communication in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 provisions, and asserted that it was a "unilateral action".

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) Industry body CII on Sunday said the multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional policy stimulus announced last week will have significant impact, imparting stability and underpinning a new growth impetus for India.

CII said the measures announced come at a time when the world economy is buffeted by global headwinds and trade slowdown.

Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) The rupee on Monday declined by 42 paise to 72.08 against the US currency in early trade, due to strong dollar demand from banks and importers amid unabated foreign fund outflows

Forex trader said the local unit came under pressure after the latest escalation of the US-China trade war

Meanwhile, on Monday, China's currency slid to its lowest point in over 11 years amid concerns over global recession and the US trade war

The onshore yuan fell to 7.1487 to the US dollar, its weakest point since early 2008, in Asian trading.