Won't gang up against China in Indo-Pacific: India
Beijing, July 13 : India on Friday told China that it is for free and open Indo-Pacific region and does not believe in ganging up against Beijing in the area as the two countries held their second maritime affairs dialogue.
The revival of so-called quad -- an idea of anti-China bloc containing the US, Japan, India, and Australia in the Indo-Pacific -- has worried China, which has become increasingly assertive in the international waters.
However, India sought to allay China's anxiety at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore where Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi "does not see the Indo-Pacific Region as a strategy or as a club of limited members".
He also talked about "freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law".
At the maritime dialogue in Beijing, India gave the same message to China.
"The Indian side also elaborated on its vision for the Indo-Pacific region as articulated in Modi's keynote address at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore," a statement from the Indian Embassy in Beijing said.
Even though India has never openly admitted being a part of the grouping, it has held talks with the other three, much to China's discomfort.
"The two sides exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest, including perspectives on maritime security and cooperation, blue economy and further strengthening of practical cooperation," it added.
The two sides also stressed the need to further strengthen maritime cooperation as an important area of bilateral relations.
They believed that maritime cooperation would enhance political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries.
The Indian delegation was led by Pankaj Sharma, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was represented by Wu Jianghao, Director General at the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
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BMW hit-and-run case: HC refuses to release accused Mihir Shah on ground of 'illegal' arrest
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to release Mihir Shah, the main accused in a BMW hit-and-run case, on the ground of "illegal" arrest.
Shah, the 24-year-old son of a former Shiv Sena leader, and his driver Rajrishi Bidawat had filed petitions in the HC claiming they have been illegally detained and sought immediate release.
Shah was arrested on July 9, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler in Mumbai's Worli area, killing 45-year-old woman Kaveri Nakhwa and leaving her husband Pradeep injured.
His driver Bidawat, who was also present in the car at the time of the accident, was arrested on the day of the incident.
As per their pleas, the police had not informed them the grounds of their arrest at the time, which they claimed was in violation of the law.
A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande on Monday dismissed the petitions.
"Both the petitions are dismissed," the court said.
The duo sought their release, claiming any further detention would be in utter violation of the constitutional mandate and a failure to comply with Section 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Under this section, the police, while arresting a person, have to communicate to him/her full particulars of the offence for which he/she is being arrested or other grounds for such arrest.
Both Shah and Bidawat are presently in judicial custody.
In their habeas corpus (produce the person) petitions filed in the HC in August, Shah and Bidawat claimed their detention was illegal and sought that they be released immediately.
Shah, in the plea, sought quashing of the orders passed by a local court remanding him first in police custody and then judicial custody.
He also sought for his arrest to be declared as illegal.
Shah is accused of speeding off towards the Bandra Worli Sea Link after the accident, even as the woman remained on the bonnet of the car and then got entangled in its wheels, for a distance of more than 1.5 kilometres.
As per police, Shah, who fled from the scene, was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Mihir Shah's father and former Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah had also been arrested in the case, but was later granted bail.
