CBI to probe police killing of Rajasthan gangster Anandpal Singh
Jaipur: The central government has given its nod for a CBI probe into the alleged encounter killing of notorious Rajasthan gangster Anandpal Singh in July, informed sources said.
The central government has informed the home department that the case is being handed over to the CBI, the sources said.
With the central government's nod for a CBI probe, the state government has breathed easy.
The BJP state government had requested a CBI probe in a letter sent on July 24. However, the CBI rejected the request on November 15, citing lack of evidence in the case for initiating a probe.
The state government again wrote to the central government on December 17 pleading that discontent among Rajputs was growing as their primary demand for a CBI investigation has not been accepted. The government warned in a letter that not ordering a CBI probe could worsen the law and order situation in the state.
Anandpal Singh was killed in a police encounter in Malasar village of Churu district on June 24. His family members questioned the credibility of the encounter and claimed he was killed even though he wanted to surrender.
The police officials in their defence said that he was asked to surrender several times, but he had opened fire on policemen.
Rajasthan's influential Rajput community had resorted to massive protests over the killing, blocking roads, and vandalised public property to press for an inquiry into what they alleged was a staged encounter.
One person was killed and 32 injured in clashes in Sanrad village.
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RBI lowers FY26 inflation projection to 4 pc
Mumbai (PTI): The Reserve Bank on Wednesday lowered the inflation projection for the current fiscal to 4 per cent from 4.2 per cent earlier, taking into account good agricultural output and falling crude prices.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) based headline retail inflation declined by a cumulative 1.6 percentage points during January-February 2025, from 5.2 per cent in December 2024 to a low of 3.6 per cent in February 2025.
On the back of a strong seasonal correction in vegetable prices this year, food inflation dropped to a 21-month low of 3.8 per cent in February.
Unveiling the first bi-monthly monetary policy of financial year 2025-25, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the outlook for food inflation has turned decisively positive.
There has been a substantial and broad-based seasonal correction in vegetable prices.
"On the inflation front, while the sharper-than-expected decline in food inflation has given us comfort and confidence, we remain vigilant to the possible risks from global uncertainties and weather disturbances," the governor said.
He further said the uncertainties on rabi crops have abated considerably and the second advance estimates point to a record wheat production and higher output of key pulses over the last year.
Along with robust kharif arrivals, this is expected to set the stage for a durable softening in food inflation, the governor said.
Sharp decline in inflation expectations for three months and one year ahead period would help anchor inflation expectations going ahead, the central bank said.
Furthermore, the fall in crude oil prices augurs well for the inflation outlook, said the Monetary Policy Statement, 2025-26 Resolution of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
On the other hand, there are concerns on lingering global market uncertainties and recurrence of adverse weather-related supply disruptions pose upside risks to the inflation trajectory.
Taking all these factors into consideration, and assuming a normal monsoon, Malhotra said CPI inflation for the financial year 2025-26 is projected at 4 per cent, with Q1 at 3.6 per cent; Q2 at 3.9 per cent; Q3 at 3.8 per cent; and Q4 at 4.4 per cent. The risks are evenly balanced.
The government will release the retail inflation numbers next week.
