A highly placed source in the know of content of the draft report prepared by the three-member panel told PTI that the ministry team has secured evidence to establish the fact that illegal sand mining is happening in the Uttar Pradesh district.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday reluctantly admitted before the National Green Tribunal that illegal sand mining was going on in the state and not even a single environmental clearance had been granted for it in Gautam Budh Nagar district.
In an incident reminiscent of the murder of IPS officer Narendra Kumar, two members of a mining mafia on Wednesday allegedly tried to kill a police officer who was trying to stop a tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined sand.
A person was arrested on Sunday in connection with a case of firing on a police team, which had gone to Ajaygarh to probe illegal mining in the area, by the sand mafia, the police said.
Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party on Wednesday named former vice chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Krishna Singh, as its candidate for the bypoll to Tarari assembly seat in Bihar.
IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, whose suspension by UP Government has sparked a controversy amid allegations that she was targeted for taking on the powerful sand mafia, on Friday met the Secretary to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has not given up its resolve to form its own government in the state by accepting Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar as the chief minister.
Amid growing demand for revoking the suspension of Indian Administrative Service officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, the Centre on Wednesday said it is awaiting a report from the Uttar Pradesh government based on which it will decide the future course of action.
Suspended Indian Administrative Service officer Durga Shakti Nagpal submitted her reply to a charge sheet served by the Uttar Pradesh government over the demolition of the wall of an under-construction mosque in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The Centre has sought a report from Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government on suspension of Indian Adminstrative Service officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who had cracked down on sand mafia involved in rampant quarrying along the banks of Yamuna river.
The Allahabad high court on Friday had a word of praise for suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who took on the powerful sand mafia in Gautam Budh Nagar, saying she "bravely" exercised her jurisdiction.
The suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal, a young IAS officer, is likely to be withdrawn by the Uttar Pradesh government as the case has become extremely high-profile.
In the last five years, 37 bridges have collapsed in Uttarakhand. Another 27 bridges are on the brink of collapse. 'Our politicians don't view these bridge collapses as a setback.' 'Rather they see them as an opportunity to make more money.'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that his government is in touch with the Uttar Pradesh authorities on the controversy surrounding IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal and that laid down rules will be followed.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party tom-tomming about development of roads in states ruled by it, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said mere creation of infrastructure has no meaning until the needy have access to education and health-care.
'I am happy that Kosi Ma is alive and now she is looking after us.' 'I am proud of what I did.'
In an apparent bid to reach out to Dalit voters, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged people to remember Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar while voting in next month's assembly polls and said he "worships" the leader.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday defended the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, claiming that action was taken against her for demolishing the wall of a mosque without consulting seniors and not for preventing illegal sand mining.
A woman Indian Administrative Service officer, who had clamped down on illegal mining and resolutely taken head on the powerful sand mafia in Uttar Pradesh, has been suspended barely 10 months after she got her first posting in the state.
Maintaining that action was taken against Durga Shakti Nagpal to 'teach her a lesson' for acting against the sand mafia, an Indian Police Service body has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to ensure justice to the young Indian Administrative Service officer.
In order to stop the production and sale of illicit liquor, Maharashtra government is considering a proposal to amend the existing law.
The SC on Monday issued notice to the Centre and to the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea seeking a CBI probe into the alleged murder of a journalist Jagendra Singh.
The Centre on Monday gave its nod for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the mysterious death of IAS officer D K Ravi after Karnataka government fell in line and sent a fresh notification without any time limit.
In focus are the assembly polls in 2026. From a BJP perspective, their attack on the ruling DMK, using the 'Hindutva' card, and Annamalai's targeting of both Dravidian majors on corruption has not worked, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.
Aam Aadmi Party on Friday asked suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal to resign from the central services and contest election against Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayum Singh Yadav from his Mainpuri parliamentary constituency.
Gautam Adani's alleged proximity to Narendra Modi may dent the latter's self-styled image of incorruptibility, points out Kanika Datta.
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We have in UP today the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party representing the two extremes in a bid to capture power in this huge state that returns 80 members to Parliament, says Seema Mustafa.
Modi brought up the emotive issue of the gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib, a place sacred to Sikhs as Guru Nanak Dev spent the last years of his life there, and blamed the Congress for country's partition, saying they did it for sake of power.
As the 35-year-old IAS officer D K Ravi's death rocked the Assembly with public pressure also building up for a CBI probe, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Crime Investigation Department would probe the case to unravel the "truth" -- whether it was a suicide or murder or due to "some other" reasons.
Lalu's word is final in the RJD when even when he is serving a long jail sentence after being convicted in fodder scam cases.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the state education minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vinod Tawde, who is caught up in a row over his educational qualification.
The party also promised to end the mafia raj by creating corporations for the sale of liquor and sand mining.
While the rich are buying expensive luxury vehicles in Patna, the poor continue to suffer. The pandemic, discovers M I Khan, has cast new light on the stark economic divide in the capital city of Bihar, India's poorest state.
Voicing concern over the Muzaffarnagar violence, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and Union Minister Ajit Singh on Tuesday said it may spread to other states and become unmanageable" if not controlled by "strict action".
A deputy superintendent of police investigating illegal stone-mining was killed on Tuesday when a truck he signalled to stop in Haryana's Nuh district drove into him, officials said.
The Congress has alleged a Bharatiya Janata Party hand in the land deal controversy in Haryana involving Robert Vadra, alleging that IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who "exposed" the land deal with DLF, is playing into the opposition's hands.
Sidhu made the sharp retort amid speculation that the former cricketer is himself eyeing the top post if the Congress wins next month's assembly polls.
'Have ghee with rice, roti or dal, and remember to enjoy and cherish its impact on your life and the life of your child.'
Family members of Bhadu Sheikh, the TMC panchayat leader whose killing on Monday is suspected to have sparked off the attack with petrol bombs on some 10 houses in Bogtui village on the outskirts of Rampurhat town, claimed that Sheikh's sons were among those arrested.
IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal's suspension issue came up on Thursday in the Supreme Court which agreed to hear a PIL seeking quashing of all proceedings against her on Monday even as IPS officers joined their IAS colleagues in batting for her.
