Chandrababu Naidu writes to ACB Court alleging security lapses in prison
Rajamahendravaram (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has written a letter to a special court alleging security lapses in the prison he is lodged in and appealed for foolproof security arrangements.
Naidu was arrested on September 9 for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation, which resulted in a purported loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.
He is currently lodged in the Rajamahendravaram central prison.
"It is requested to undertake foolproof security arrangements in and around the central prison, Rajamahendravaram commensurate with the Z plus category security cover provided to me," wrote Naidu in the letter to the Vijayawada ACB Court Judge B S V Hima Bindu, a copy of which was shared with PTI by the TDP on Friday.
Recounting several alleged lapses such as unauthorised capturing of video footage and photographs while entering the prison complex and drones hovering over the jail two times, Naidu said these untoward incidents are endangering his life despite being a Z plus category security protectee.
The former CM alleged that video footage and photographs were leaked by the police which were later widely circulated in various media, including social media to damage his reputation.
According to Naidu, one remand prisoner incarcerated in the jail in a narcotics case is roaming with a pen camera.
Also, Naidu claimed that East Godavari district superintendent of police and jail authorities received an anonymous letter from left-wing extremists threatening to assassinate him, adding that crore of rupees exchanged hands for this purpose.
Delving on drones, the former CM alleged that unidentified miscreants flew a drone to capture his movements in the jail at the instance of people in power.
He noted that the drone came near the open jail where some prisoners were lodged and observed that police did not initiate any action to find the truth behind this incident or the mastermind behind it.
Naidu said another drone was flown over the main gate of the prison on October 6 to capture the images of his family members who came to visit him, noting that these incidents expose the security risks to him and his family.
Considering these alleged lapses, Naidu requested the Judge to arrange foolproof security in and around the Rajamahendravaram central prison where he is lodged in.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
