Briefly Nation

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed the release of film Swaha,which allegedly has a character based on the life of spiritual leader Asaram Bapu.

HC stays film opposed by Asaram followers

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed the release of film Swaha,which allegedly has a character based on the life of spiritual leader Asaram Bapu. Asaram Mahila Utthan Ashram,a trust looking after the administration of various Asaram Bapu ashrams,filed an appeal in the High Court after a lower court dismissed its application. Vacation judge of the High Court,Justice Rajesh Ketkar,on Wednesday continued the interim stay imposed earlier,and adjourned the hearing till June 9. According to the trust,the leading character in the film,which is directed by Pravin Bharadwaj,resembles Asaram Bapu,and defames him.

Sukna: Lt Gen goes to Army Tribunal

NEW DELHI: Former Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash,who has been indicted by a Court of Inquiry COI in the Sukna land scam,approached the Armed Forces Tribunal on Wednesday to allow him to produce witnesses before the reconvened COI in the case. Prakash filed a plea seeking permission to produce as witness his realtor friend Dilip Agarwal,who is alleged to have benefitted by the No Objection Certificate issued by the Army for the construction of an educational institute on a piece of land adjacent to the Sukna Base in West Bengal.

Abdul Samad moves court for bail

MUMBAI: Abdul Samad Bhatkal,arrested in a 2009 arms seizure case and a suspect in the Pune blast case,has approached a sessions court for bail. Samad,who was sent to judicial custody on Tuesday in connection with the arms case,moved the sessions court after the metropolitan magistrate rejected his bail plea stating that investigation was still in progress. The bail plea will be heard on Thursday.

Two on census duty killed over enmity

Bhind MP: Two government employees were killed on Tuesday night over an old enmity in the Gormi town of Bhind district,police said on Wednesday. The deceased,identified as Raghuvir Shakya and Jeevaram Shakya,were returning to Doniapura after conducting census in the town when three persons attacked them with an axe and sticks. They were rushed to Gwalior for treatment where both succumbed to their wounds. The attackers have been identified as Ramnaresh Yadav,Ranveer and Ajay. A case has been lodged against them.

Sena activists ransack BJP office

AURANGABAD: Suspected Shiv Sena activists on Wednesday attacked the BJP city office in Osmanpura area. The incident took place after a rift between the two parties over the civic panel chief election in which a BJP candidate won with support pf Congress,defeating a Sena candidate. Sources said around eight masked Sena activists reached the BJP office at 4 pm on Wednesday and attacked the office with rods and sticks. BJP activist Apparao Chauhan received serious injuries. Notably,the two parties are alliance partners in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation AMC.