Daily wrap: CCD founder goes missing; 4 oppn MLAs resign in Maharashtra

CCD founder VG Siddhartha goes missing; shares tank 20%

Cafe chain Coffee Day Enterprises on Tuesday (July 30) confirmed that its Chairman and Managing Director VG Siddhartha has been missing since Monday (July 29) evening. “VG Siddhartha, Chairman and Managing Director of Coffee Day Enterprises Limited is not reachable since yesterday evening. We are taking the help of concerned authorities,” Coffee Day Enterprises said in a regulatory filing. “Company is professionally managed and led by competent leadership team, which will ensure continuity of business,” the filing added.

Karnataka government scraps Tipu Jayanti celebrations

The BJP government in Karnataka on Tuesday (July 30) cancelled the annual birth anniversary celebrations of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan, being organised since 2015. The new Yediyurappa government’s move through an order comes within three days after it came to power and a day after it won the confidence motion in the state Assembly.

Jolt to Oppn in Maharashtra as 3 NCP, one Cong MLAs resign to join BJP

Four opposition Congress-NCP legislators in Maharashtra resigned from the State Assembly on Tuesday (July 30), amid talk of their joining the ruling BJP. Also, Sanjay Sinh, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha from Assam, resigned from the Upper House of Parliament, sources said, adding that Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has accepted his resignation.

BCCI bans opener Prithvi Shaw for eight months for failing dope test

Talented India opener Prithvi Shaw was on Tuesday (July 30) slapped with an eight-month ban from all forms of competitive cricket for failing a dope test, the BCCI said. The 19-year-old Shaw, who has played two Test matches against the West Indies in 2018, was reportedly undergoing rehabilitation for a hip injury. He tested positive for terbutaline during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

RS passes triple talaq bill, PM calls it ‘victory for gender justice’

The Parliament on Tuesday (July 30) approved the bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha following non-aligned BJD extending support and NDA constituents JD-U and AIADMK walking out. Reacting to the passage of the bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that it was a “victory for gender justice.”

UP govt recommends CBI probe into accident involving Unnao rape survivor

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday (July 29) night recommended a CBI probe into a road accident in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer were critically injured and her two aunts killed. Principal secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said in a statement that a formal request for it has been sent to the Indian government.

I-T dept attaches ₹254 crore worth of benami equity of Kamal Nath’s nephew

The Income Tax Department has attached ₹254 crore worth of “benami” equity of Ratul Puri which he had allegedly received from a suspect in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case via shell companies, officials said on Tuesday (July 30). Puri is the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

Three kanwariyas crushed under truck, seven injured

Three kanwariyas were killed and seven injured after they came under a speeding truck at a village, about 20 km from here on Hisar-Chandigarh road, police said on Tuesday (July 30). A group of kanwariyas, who are Shiva devotees, were returning from Gangotri in Uttarakhand when the accident occurred at 1 am, they said.