Hindu Mahasabha leader arrested for businessman's murder, sent to jail
Aligarh (PTI): All India Hindu Mahasabha national general secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey has been arrested in connection with the murder of local businessman Abhishek Gupta, police said on Saturday.
She was produced in court and sent to jail on Saturday.
Pandey was arrested near Lodha bypass on Agra-Jaipur highway in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district late on Friday night, police said.
This is the fourth arrest made in the case.
Earlier, police had arrested Pooja's husband Ashok Pandey and sharp shooters Mohammad Fazal and Asif, who carried out the killing on the couple's instructions.
Gupta was shot dead on September 26, while boarding a bus along with his father and a relative at the main Khereshwar Mandir crossing on the outskirts of Aligarh city. He was rushed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
According to investigators, the murder was a contract killing, allegedly ordered by the Pandey couple following a monetary dispute with Gupta. The couple is said to have been harassing the businessman for a long time.
Police said both the hired shooters were familiar with the Pandey couple and had been regular visitors at their residence.
Confirming the arrest, Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar said all the key accused in the case have been held now and a detailed charge sheet will be filed soon.
Pooja Pandey carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on her arrest, he added.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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