Sanjay Raut says his book on prison experiences has chapter on ex-VP Dhankhar
Mumbai (PTI): The English translation of his book about experiences in prison has a chapter on the sudden resignation of former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Saturday.
Dhankhar, a former BJP leader, resigned as vice president citing health reasons in July 2025, taking the country by surprise.
Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2022 in an alleged money laundering case. After his release on bail, he wrote a book in Marathi on his experiences in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, titled "Narkatla Swarg" (Heaven in Hell), which was published last year.
"The revised (English) edition has a chapter on Dhankhar. There are five-six more examples (of those arrested by central agencies)," Raut told PTI without providing more details.
The English version "Unlikely Paradise" will be released in New Delhi on March 23.
The book will be released by Rajya Sabha MPs Kapil Sibal, Sanjay Singh, Derek O'Brien and Jaya Bachchan. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch the book.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
