Bengaluru Stampede: CID withholds custody request of RCB, DNA executives
Bengaluru (PTI): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday sought the custody of four accused arrested in the case related to the Bengaluru stampede, in which 11 people lost their lives outside the Chinnaswamy stadium, but later withheld its request awaiting verdict in a related case in Karnataka High Court.
The CID produced all the four accused -- Nikhil Sosale, Head of Marketing for RCB, along with Sunil Mathew (Director and Vice President), Kiran Kumar (Manager), and Shamanth SP (Ticketing Executive) of DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd -- before a magistrate court here.
The CID sought nine days of custody for detailed interrogation and further investigation.
However, the defense counsels objected to the plea for custody. Senior advocate Sandesh Chouta, appearing on behalf of Sosale, pointed out that a petition challenging the arrest was already being heard by the Karnataka High Court. "Why is there such urgency to seek custody immediately?" he questioned, urging the court not to hand the accused over to the CID until the HC delivered its verdict.
The magistrate echoed the concern, noting that the petition regarding the legality of the arrest was still under consideration. "What can really be achieved in just one day of custody? Why the rush?," the judge asked Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jagadeesh, who replied that the custody was crucial for the ongoing probe.
Following a brief recess and consultations with the Advocate General (AG), ASP Jagadeesh informed the court that the CID would withhold its request for custody until the HC proceedings concluded. The magistrate subsequently deferred the matter, and with no custody granted, the four accused were returned to Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
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Rupee falls 32 paise to all-time low of 95.20 against US dollar
Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI): The rupee depreciated 32 paise to an all-time low of 95.20 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, weighed down by elevated Brent crude oil prices, hovering around USD 122 per barrel, and strong American currency.
Forex traders said the USD/INR pair may see further downside, as rising crude oil prices are likely to sharply impact India's import costs, while concerns over potential wider conflict in West Asia are fuelling investor anxiety.
Meanwhile, the US dollar added to gains after the US FED Reserve kept rates unchanged. Safe-haven demand was also boosted by another diplomatic setback between Washington and Tehran.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.01 against the US dollar, then lost some ground and touched an all-time low of 95.20 against the US dollar in initial trade, registering a fall of 32 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee depreciated 20 paise to close at an all-time low of 94.88 against the US dollar.
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"The main effect on the rupee has been from the rising oil prices, which touched USD 120 per barrel and looked headed for further upside as the US continues with its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran does not allow any ship/tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.01 per cent higher at 98.96.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 3.16 per cent at USD 121.76 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex tumbled 821.79 points to 76,674.57 in early trade, while the Nifty dived 287.3 points to 23,890.35.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 2,468.42 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue with their sale of Indian Equities and debt (the yield touched 7 per cent on Wednesday) and are also dollar buyers consistently," Bhansali added.
