- 7/1/2025
On News Today, the focus is on the political battle in Karnataka, the abuse of power in Odisha and Himachal Pradesh, and a recent case of custodial death in Tamil Nadu. The Congress party claims there will be no leadership change in Karnataka, with BK Shivkumar aiming to bring Congress back to power in 2028. In Odisha, a BJP corporator and his supporters assaulted the Additional Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, while in Himachal Pradesh, a National Highways Authority of India official was assaulted in the presence of a state minister. Arrests have been made in both cases, raising questions about impunity. In Tamil Nadu, a 27-year-old man named Ajit Kumar allegedly died after being tortured by police, sparking political controversy. The autopsy confirmed wounds, and five police personnel have been arrested. The Tamil Nadu government has asked the CBI to investigate, and the Madras High Court has ordered a judicial probe, calling it a 'brutal act'. The segment also highlights similar cases of custodial deaths across India and discusses potential police reforms.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your primetime destination.
00:07News, newsmakers, talking points. Our big talking point tonight is the political battle in Karnataka.
00:14Will there be a leadership change? The Congress party says no. But will the ceasefire between
00:20the two big guns? Lars B.K. Shivkumar will be among my special guests tonight. Also,
00:26Neta's assaulting bureaucrats in Odisha and Himachal. Netagiri of Gundagirgari. Who's
00:34going to stop it? Also, the Tamil Nadu judicial custody case that is creating a stir. When
00:41will the police give up third degree? There's plenty, as always, on the show tonight. This
00:46is your primetime destination. Let's get cracking with the headlines.
00:50No leadership change in the Karnataka. Chief Minister's post claims the Congress party.
01:01D.K. Shivkumar falls in line, says don't want Chief Minister's chair. My eyes on bringing
01:07Congress back to power in 2028. But will Siddha last the term? Or is this only a temporary ceasefire?
01:14T.N. Tamil Nadu's chief minister's talent transfers custodial death probe to CBI, apologizes to
01:25victim's kin. Madras High Court orders a judicial investigation, slams T.N. police for being
01:31drunk on power.
01:32Two VVIP arrogant shockers in 48 hours. Senior officer dragged from office, beaten up in
01:41Bhubaneshwar, forced to apologize to a local BJP leader. In Himachal Pradesh, Congress Minister
01:47Anirudh Rana booked for assaulting, allegedly assaulting a National Highways Association of
01:52India officer to his men.
01:54Another Bengal minister called Kolkata student rape a small incident amidst the growing outrage.
02:02Statement even as another survivor from the law, college claims Maine accused Monojeet
02:07Mandal had assaulted her earlier.
02:10U.K. families of Air India 171 crash victims may sue Air India and Boeing over compensation.
02:1852 passengers on board ill-fated flight were from the United Kingdom.
02:26India-U.S. trade deal talks deadlocked as government stands firm on red line over agriculture demand.
02:32Centre refuses to budge on dairy sector employing 80 million Indians.
02:39Amidst the growing delay in appointing a BJP president nationally, the party appoints new state
02:44chiefs in Andhra, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Andaman. Maratha leader, Ex-Minister Ravindra Chawan
02:50made party's Maharashtra unit chief.
02:52Royal challengers Bengaluru created nuisance. Cops not magicians or gods says tribunal on Bengaluru's
03:01stampede slams Karnataka government over mechanical IPS officer. Suspensions ask for restoration.
03:07It's being called the big billionaire breakup. Elon Musk threatens to pack up over subsidy
03:16showdown. Donald Trump says we'll look into deportation. Says we'll set DOG on him.
03:21But our top story tonight. You and I, citizens of this country, hopefully tax paying citizens
03:37of this country, find increasingly the abuse of power by those who are supposed to serve us,
03:44not rule us. But what happens when even bureaucrats are targeted by netas? Abuse of power. Two incidents,
03:54one in Odisha, the other in Himachal Pradesh over the last 48 hours have exposed what can only be
04:00described as sheer gundaism by netas. In BJP ruled Odisha, the additional commissioner of
04:06Bhubaneshwar municipal corporation was assaulted by a BJP cooperator and his supporters allegedly acting
04:12on the behalf of a local BJP leader. The police have arrested three people now, including the
04:18cooperator. In Himachal Pradesh, a National Highways Authority of India official was assaulted in the
04:24presence of the state minister, Anirudh Singh. On Monday, NHAI officer Achal Jindal and his associate
04:31had gone to inspect a building that collapsed. The minister was present there. The two had an
04:35argument. Next thing you know is Anirudh Singh and his associates took the officer into a secluded
04:41room and assaulted him. In both cases, officers are demanding justice. Arrests have been made.
04:48FIRs have been filed. But will this stop the impunity? That's right. That's the question I want to raise.
04:54Who's going to stop the impunity of those in power? Remember in Odisha, these hooligans,
04:59call them hooligans, not even political workers, ran riot at the Bhubaneshwar municipal corporation,
05:05assaulting and brutally bashing of a kind one is unimaginable in his office, a BJP cooperator,
05:12his supporters acting reportedly on behest of a local BJP leader. The incident caught on camera
05:18showed the officer being punched, punched, kicked and dragged out of the building. Three people have
05:23been arrested in connection with the incident. But many believe the main person who fought on a BJP
05:31ticket from Bhubaneshwar last year has still not been taken into custody. The question is,
05:37what will it take to stop this abuse of power? That's my top focus. Take a look at the story first.
05:43Dragged, punched, kicked. The man being assaulted is the additional commissioner of the Bhubaneshwar
06:02municipal corporation. Ratnakasahu was conducting a grievance redressal meeting on Monday when he
06:11was attacked by a group of people that included BJP cooperator Jeevan Raut. The bureaucrats said
06:18the goons were trying to abduct him.
06:39Sahu claimed the assailants accused him of insulting BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan,
06:44a charge he denied. Pradhan, on the other hand, accused the bureaucrat of mistreating a
06:50sanitation worker for taking part in BJP events.
06:53D
07:13So, let's do this.
07:23Dorish Shah, Administrative Services Association, rallied behind the officer and threatened to
07:29go on strike but withdrew the call after Chief Minister Mohan Charanmaji, a short, stern
07:35action against accused.
07:37Bhuvaneshwar Municipal Corporation officials however held protest on Tuesday.
07:43Three people have been arrested so far, we have spoken with the senior police officials
07:51and respected DG sir, CS sir and we warned that stern action shall be initiated against
08:04the culprit and all our officials they are demanding that.
08:10So, we are quite sure that the action will be initiated.
08:17The arrested suspects include the BGP corporator Jeevan Raut.
08:22Under fire over the BGP members role in the assault, state ministers offered apologies.
08:27Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock at the incident and called for exemplary
08:39action against those behind the attack.
08:47former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock at the incident and called for exemplary
08:52action against those behind the attack.
08:56Bhuvaneshwar in Bhuvaneshwar in Bhuvaneshwar.
09:05Abuse of power by political leaders is nothing new.
09:09The incident in Bhuvaneshwar is only the latest in a series of such incidents and probably
09:15not the last.
09:16But if a high-ranking bureaucrat is not safe from goonnetas, what about ordinary citizens?
09:23Bureau report, India today.
09:35And joining me now is a very special guest, Vibhuti Bhushan Jainah is Transport Minister
09:39Odisha.
09:40It is a very special guest of the Minister in Bhuvaneshwar.
09:56We have to give you a big officer.
09:59We have to give you a very special guest.
10:03foreign
10:13foreign
10:17foreign
10:25foreign
10:31candidate who was in the past. He was a man who was a corporate
10:38of BJP. He didn't arrest him who was behind him. Why didn't he touch him?
10:46Why didn't he touch him?
10:49We didn't tell him that he was behind him.
10:54He was behind him.
11:01He was behind him.
11:05But he was behind him.
11:07He was behind him.
11:10He was behind him.
11:11He was behind him.
11:13He was behind him.
11:14But the G1 Rout, the corporation who was behind him,
11:18he said that the officer had to insult him to BJP.
11:23What about him?
11:27He was behind him.
11:29He's behind him.
11:33How do you do this?
11:37He's behind him.
11:40He's behind him.
11:44foreign
11:50foreign
11:58foreign
12:12is going on. If this is right, then we will be arrested. Sir, tell me, where is the
12:19government's power from? They think that no one can touch them. They understand that
12:27they are above the law. It is above the law. It is above the law. No, it is above the
12:33law. It is above the law. It is above the law. It is above the law. It is above the law.
12:39Sir, I am asking this because the government has made a statement of the law. I have never
12:46seen anything in my life. This is the biggest thing in the world. What are you saying
12:52about it? I was reading the statement of Naveen Baba. I was telling you that this is
12:59the hand of the government. He was telling me that the government has requested this
13:04and it is the office of the law. But it is running. The government has given
13:09the court, in the law. It is beyond the law that is a part of either the law law.
13:14sir but what is your reason?
13:17You are in the ragnitian people,
13:20who are you so much to understand
13:23that if you are with a commissioners
13:25that what will happen to you?
13:30No, no, our
13:32our own, our own, our own, our own,
13:35which is also the officer.
13:37On the other hand,
13:39on the other hand,
13:41foreign
13:48foreign
13:55foreign
14:04foreign
14:09Okay, let's turn now from there to some breaking news coming in.
14:30No leadership change in Karnataka for now.
14:33That's the big political story of the day.
14:35Sidhara Maya will remain the Karnataka chief minister for now.
14:39Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivkumar has made a big statement.
14:43I don't want the chief minister's post.
14:45My focus is on bringing the Congress back to power in 2028.
14:49This comes on a day when the Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala was in Bengaluru
14:53and consulted all the MLA's, spoke to all of them.
14:56And at the end of the day, you had images of D.K. Shivkumar and Sidhara Maya together
15:01suggesting all is well, but is already well?
15:04Joining me now is the man who's at the center of it all.
15:07Our newsmaker tonight is D.K. Shivkumar, Karnataka's deputy chief minister.
15:11Appreciate you joining us, Mr. Shivkumar.
15:14Are we now to understand that Mr. Sidhara Maya will be chief minister till 2028, till the next election,
15:21or is this a temporary truce between you and him?
15:24See, we have been working together.
15:31The people of Karnataka has given us opportunity to serve them.
15:36We have implemented whatever we have promised.
15:39We are entire countries looking at.
15:42The confidence restored by the people of this state is very much important.
15:47So, the party has decided who has to be the chief minister and the party team will take a call.
15:52That is what we are working together.
15:55Sidhara Maya is our leader. He is my chief minister. I am his deputy. We all are working together.
16:00You are saying party?
16:01Now, Mr. Sudhjiwal has come to see the organization.
16:04Yes.
16:05See, I am telling you, Mr. Sudhjiwal has come to make, see, now, Mr. Malikajin Karge had announced that this year will be the year of organization.
16:18So, we are changing all the organization structure. The DCC, the blocks who have been there for a very long time and a new setup, they want to give more power to the DCCs.
16:28That process is going on. So, he is taking suggestions from all the legislators who has to be, who is to lead, whether the DCCs should fight the election or work for the party.
16:39All these things have been discussed and we are just planning for 100 Congress party, Congress officers. In that, currently, he is just discussing.
16:48Sir, the reason, sir, the reason I am asking you this is because there were reports ever since, in fact, you all won the election two years ago that you and Mr. Sidhara Maya will share the term.
16:58Two and a half years, Sidhara Maya, two and a half years, DK Shiv Kumar. The two and a half years ends in November and there has been speculation that you will take over from him.
17:06Now, is this, therefore, that's why I asked you, is it a temporary truce or has a decision been taken that Sidhara Maya will continue for the entire time?
17:15I don't want to discuss anything as that. Yesterday, my president, the DCC president, Mr. Balikaj in Karge has commented on the issue.
17:28When he has commented, I am no one to comment on that issue. Whatever the party take a stand, we stand by it.
17:35Whether it is one year, two year, three year, five year or next five years, I have been going by the party high command.
17:42I am a disciplined soldier of the party. I will go by my party high command, whatever they tell.
17:47My job is to bring 2028 back to power in Karnatka.
17:52You are saying your job is to bring the Congress back to power in 2028.
17:57But one of your close associates, Mr. Hussain, an MLA today from Ramnagara said that more than 100 MLAs will support DK Shiv Kumar.
18:05Shiv Kumar ji should be made chief minister now. You have sent a disciplinary notice to him.
18:09I mean, am I to understand that you have been told that you should not encourage your supporters to ask for leadership change?
18:19No, I don't want anyone to ask this one. It is not the MLA battle or they may like, they may dislike.
18:27It is not anyone's choice. The decision has been already left to the high command.
18:32High command will take a decision whenever they want, if it is needed. Otherwise, we will all work together.
18:38There is no, I am not in a hurry for anything now.
18:41But why are so many ministers speaking out? We had B.R. Patel, one of your MLA speakers.
18:46So many MLA's ministers are speaking out against your government.
18:49It seems as if the Congress in Karnataka is a house divided, two camps, Shiv Kumar camp, Sidhara Maya camp,
18:56and some say possibly in the future, even a Malik Arjun Gharge camp.
19:01It is all media speculation. There are no camps. There is no Shukumar camp or Sidhara Maya camp or any camp.
19:10There is only one camp. That is the Congress camp.
19:12You are saying there is no Congress camp, but then do you agree, then why are so many people speaking out of turn?
19:20There are people who are questioning the way the government is being run.
19:23They are directly targeting Mr. Sidhara Maya's style of functioning.
19:27Who, I mean, it seems as if you are the party president also.
19:31You are not just deputy chief minister. There is no discipline in your party.
19:34Everyone is targeting the other side.
19:37No, no. That is why discipline is very important.
19:43That is why Mr. Swarjiwala is also working out to keep everyone,
19:47and not to speak anything in public.
19:50If they want anything, let they hear their grievances before the party.
19:53I come back. And I am there. Mr. CM is there.
19:56We will sort out their issues.
19:59Sir, you all cameâŠ
20:01The party number, we will sort it out.
20:03You all came to power with a lot of expectations, sir, two years ago.
20:07And you were party president at the time.
20:10Now, would you agree that all theseâŠ
20:13That these kind of statements which are being made do affect your image?
20:18Do you concede that the Karnataka government's image has been affected, Mr. Shiv Kumar?
20:23No, I don't think thatâŠ
20:28Some small desires and dissatisfaction some may have.
20:32But it is a very big party with a big history.
20:35Sometime they speak, but Ayurthic is under control.
20:39Sir, you are both party president and deputy chief minister.
20:42And there has been talk that you may have to give up one of the two posts.
20:45Is that also true?
20:46Or are you leaving that decision also to the high command?
20:49Whatever the party tells, I will go by that.
20:54It is notâŠ
20:56The day one, we brought the party to power.
20:58From the day one, I am ready.
21:00Whatever they take the decision, I will go by it.
21:02I believe in my party high command.
21:04Who is the highâŠ
21:05When you say high command, is it the Gandhi family?
21:07Is it Malik Arjun Gharge?
21:08He is the party president.
21:10He is also from Karnataka.
21:11Is Malik Arjun Gharge the high command or is Sonia and Rahul Gandhi?
21:15Sonia Gandhi claims that she is not involved in day-to-day politics.
21:18So, who is it?
21:19Rahul Gandhi?
21:20Who is this high command?
21:21My party high command is my party.
21:28All India Congress committee president, my general secretaries, my former ICC presidents,
21:34all of them will sit and unitedly they will work and take a decision.
21:37It is not an individual decision that no one takes in my party.
21:41They all collectively sits.
21:43Our general secretary, administration, all of them sit.
21:46They are about a dozen of the leaders are there.
21:49They will take a call.
21:51How do you respond, sir, to the BJP which says that this government in Karnataka is living
21:57on day-to-day, month-to-month oxygen.
21:59This government in Karnataka will not last because of the infighting and factionalism.
22:03What will you say?
22:04The BJP is very gleeful.
22:06They are saying this has become a corrupt government and this corruption will eventually
22:11bring the downfall of this government.
22:14The BJP has given us more oxygen.
22:15Their administration, their rule, their infighting is in the sky.
22:26At least we are on the ground.
22:27They are on the sky.
22:29Infighting going on in the BJP.
22:31I don't know how things are going on in the BJP better than being.
22:34Sir, but they are saying you call them a 40% sarkara.
22:37They are calling you a 60% sarkara.
22:39They are saying you attacked us, saying that a PCM attacked the BOMAI government.
22:44Now they are attacking you and saying your government is taking money.
22:47You all are the corrupt government.
22:49There is nothing there to prove.
22:54Politically, they are charging.
22:55We have proved there whatever they have done and the people have accepted whatever we have
23:00said in the state of Karnataka.
23:02In conclusion, I will ask you, sir.
23:04There is a belief that post-September things could start happening in Karnataka.
23:08As I said, two and a half years, two and a half years.
23:10Your supporters have been saying this, sir.
23:12Whether you like it or not, that D.K.
23:14Shiv Kumar after two and a half years should become the chief minister.
23:17That was a deal that was agreed to apparently in May of 2023.
23:21I want clarity once and for all.
23:24Was there such a deal and will there be an attempt in October, November to effect a leadership change?
23:33See, we are not bothered about whatever my followers are.
23:38I don't have any followers.
23:39The Congress party is one.
23:41I don't want anyone to support.
23:43The party will take a decision whenever the party seems fit for what toâŠ
23:48Because we want 28 to come to power.
23:51We are working.
23:52Siddharamai is my chief minister.
23:54Whenever, till ever, whenever he is there, I have to be work and we will work together.
23:59There is no question of any changes as of now.
24:02So, the hint that Mr. Karge had given yesterday, there could be a leadership change.
24:07You are saying that is all speculation.
24:09You are saying you and Siddharamai will work together?
24:12Of course, of course, whatever Karge has said also, with lot of experience, lot of, he knows the entire situation.
24:24He will, whatever direction he will give, we all will abide by it and we will work together.
24:29D.K. Shiv Kumar, I know you've had a very long day and yet you've come on the show in conclusion.
24:36D.K. Shiv Kumar, whenever I talk to you, somewhere, I mean as a long-standing congressman, you have an ambition to become chief minister.
24:43Don't deny, don't, you know, don't say that you don't want to be.
24:46You believe that you work just as hard as anyone else.
24:49True or not?
24:51Your smile is saying it all.
24:53Your smile is saying it all.
24:54We will discuss later.
24:56Anyway, let us see that we come back with a better number.
25:04That is it, 2028.
25:06We will come back with a better number.
25:082028.
25:09Okay, I'll leave it there.
25:10D.K. Shiv Kumar, I think the smile said it all.
25:12Who knows what tomorrow brings?
25:13There is a life.
25:14There is a life.
25:15There is a life.
25:16What will happen tomorrow?
25:17Who knows what tomorrow brings?
25:19In Panipat, I said on your TV that we are coming out with 1.36.
25:25I hope you remember.
25:26Yes, you are absolutely right in 2023.
25:29So that's why I asked you, will there be another chief minister in 2026?
25:33We will meet later.
25:39Bye.
25:40Okay, thank you very much.
25:41There you have D.K.
25:42Shiv Kumar clarifying and claiming that he is fully with Mr. Sidharamaya and the Congress
25:48leadership, whatever decision they take.
25:50This is where you get all these exclusive news breaks.
25:53The Congress party, at least for the moment, seems to have doused the fires in Karnataka.
25:59Let me now return to that story where I started off, which is the abuse of power.
26:03Two incidents, one in Odisha, the other in Himachal Pradesh, exposing the gundaism by netas towards bureaucrats.
26:09As I pointed out, Odisha's additional commissioner of Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation brutally assaulted by a BJP cooperator and his supporters.
26:18Arrests have been made in that case.
26:19And then today in Himachal Pradesh, an NHI official was assaulted in the presence of Congress State Minister, Anirudh Singh.
26:26Terrible both of those incidents.
26:28A real shame that happened in both these cases.
26:31Is this Netagiri or Gundagirdi?
26:34Has politics become a license for gundaism?
26:37Who will stop this abuse of power?
26:39Let's get a quick takeaway from Raghav Chandra, former chairman, NHI, former IS officer.
26:44T.R. Raghunandan is also former IS officer.
26:47I want to get these two IS officers to tell me how they view what has been happening.
26:51First to you, Raghav Chandra, because you saw that NHI official who was very badly beaten up, allegedly, by people close to the minister in Himachal.
26:59How do you respond as a former chairman of the NHI, sir?
27:03It's absolutely reprehensible, condemnable, quite inexplicable, totally unjustifiable.
27:12And I feel that it is absolutely, you know, not expected of a politician or anybody in authority to behave like that with a civil servant,
27:26with a public servant who's only doing his duty because this sets off the wrong, you know, creates distrust.
27:36It spoils the morale of not only that individual, but of everybody around.
27:43And most importantly, it should be treated as a criminal event rather than just an exercise of public duty by the political authority.
27:53So the law should take its turn.
27:56There are serious legal channels by which redress can be found by anybody who's aggrieved by an officer.
28:03In this case, there is no clear reason why the political minister should have been aggrieved by any action of this officer.
28:11He's just a young man with seven or eight years of service recruited to the Union Public Service Commission.
28:16As an All India Engineering Service Officer, he has high expectations of being able to do his duty diligently, honestly and fairly.
28:26And the National Highways is doing a lot of important work in Himachal Pradesh.
28:30I'm told they're doing something like 20 projects worth about 25,000 crores.
28:35And clearly this should not have happened.
28:37Happy to say that Gadkariji, the minister, has written a very comprehensive letter to the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.
28:47He has very clearly pointed out that if protection and support cannot be given to civil servants who are doing their duty,
28:56then the state will lose the support of the government of India to complete the projects in the state.
29:02And I think that should be how it should be.
29:04It should be dealt with as a criminal event on the one hand and seriously and strictly...
29:09So the minister should be criminally prosecuted, am I correct?
29:13Yes, absolutely.
29:15Okay, very, very strong words there.
29:17T.R. Raghunandan, you know, where are these politicians getting the impunity?
29:21It's generally their supporters doing it.
29:23We saw this in Odisha yesterday.
29:25We've seen it in Himachal Pradesh now.
29:27Is it the belief that because they are proximate to power, they can get away with anything else?
29:32Where do you think they get the impunity to target an additional commissioner and beat him up in this manner or indeed an NHI official?
29:39The impunity comes from the behaviour of higher level politicians.
29:44Unfortunately, over the past decade or so, we've seen higher level politicians dog whistling, indulging in unacceptable behaviour,
29:54saying some terribly provocative things and the media has highlighted it further.
30:00So what has happened is that there is a lot of voyeurism now.
30:03The people of India seem to be quite enjoying this kind of public display of violence.
30:10And it's become so much that, you know, everyday people look forward to the next violent event, which they can gloat over or, shall I say, enjoy on their TV screens.
30:25I mean, the way that our higher level politicians have encouraged troll armies, IT cells heaping abuse, rape threats, you know, lynching and things like that.
30:39And now what is happening is that this is spilt over and the administrationâŠ
30:43So you're saying something very important.
30:45You're saying there is a normalization that has taken place where people believe they can get away with it.
30:49Absolutely. And even to some extent, though I really, my heart goes out to this particular officer, who is sadly the helpless victim of this kind of a trend.
30:59But even the administration, some of the things that the administration have said and done are totally unacceptable in a civilised society.
31:05Things like bulldozer justice. I mean, have you ever heard of these terms a decade back? No, we never did.
31:11The point is that the rule of law has broken down completely. This kind of alpha male macho behaviour on behalf of many people.
31:21You see, it's not merely that an attack has happened. There are people actually recording this.
31:27And it's another thing that you got this to put it on TV. But I'm sure this has already been circulated on social media and people are counting the hits they are getting on their sites.
31:39Violence has become a paying business on social media.
31:43Absolutely. You're making very well. Both these officers, I hope everyone out there is listening.
31:49These are very strong points being made by two senior IS officers because this impunity must stop Raghav Chandra.
31:55You see, the worry, of course, is that at the end of the day, because the politicians control the system, the bureaucrat is beholden to the politician.
32:04And therefore, even if he tries to in some way raise his voice, he will have few options. At best, he'll get transferred instantly.
32:14Do you believe that, therefore, there's a complete asymmetry in power between the top politician and an NHAI official or indeed an additional commissioner of police, additional municipal commissioner?
32:28Even if there is an asymmetry of power, which there is, the rule of law does not permit assault or anything like this, where people abrogate and indulge in anything as criminal as assaulting.
32:43And so, therefore, this should be dealt with at the level of a criminal case.
32:50Action should be taken both politically. That is a separate matter for the political party to establish its credibility by saying that they abide by the rule of law.
33:00And therefore, they are taking action against their respective political people who have indulged in this.
33:05But purely from the police point of view, strict action should be taken because this is a criminal matter.
33:14And that is the only way that this asymmetry can be bridged and some amount of reasonableness and some amount of trust can be built in, which is very necessary for a civilized, ethical, progressive society where India is poised to take off in this century.
33:31If we are to achieve the economic goals that we have set ourselves for, we must not only be good, but appear to be good.
33:38I want to ask you, Mr. Raghunandan, therefore, in conclusion, why don't IAS officers associations come together, use the might of IAS officers present and past to speak out against politicians?
33:51These are the issues where you would expect your collective to speak out in a way that there is a red line that is drawn.
33:58Oh, I am sorry that that doesn't happen, Rajdeep. I have been the secretary of an IAS association in the past.
34:04And I find that what happens is that IAS officers very often, I mean, there are exceptions, of course, but very often they stop just short of outright condemnation of politicians.
34:15And that is because a lot of senior officers are within the zone of consideration for higher level posts.
34:22And so they do not want to say anything harsh about politicians unless they lose their career opportunities.
34:28I am very sorry to say this, but the IAS is very competitive, the IAS is very career minded and sometimes people play strategic games and they do not want to get on what they believe is the wrong side of politicians, particularly when they are in the zone of consideration for higher posts.
34:47And this is extremely sad. I myself have been part of, I mean, I've seen some of these things at close quarters in earlier instances, none of such a terrible nature, but in earlier instances where officers were subjected to injustice, there is often no consensus on the, on an outright condemnation.
35:08And there are always people who would like to soft peddle it. I am quite skeptical about IAS associations taking this up in a very big way. They should.
35:17Yeah, I haven't seen two officers engage in such plain speaking in a long time. Maybe when you retire, you have more, you have the space to speak out. I don't say that in any other way, but I really feel that a lot of what you have said should be heard by IAS officers as well as by those in power.
35:35At the end of the day, our netas need to change. The lumpenization of politics has gone far enough. These two incidents in Orissa and Himachal Pradesh only highlight the extent of what was once described as a, what is really seen as a really serious crisis of our political class.
35:53I appreciate therefore both of you sirs joining me. Thank you so much for joining me on this. Who will stop the abuse of power? It must be the quality of the people in power.
36:05Thank you both very much for joining me here on the news today. I want to turn from there to the other big story that we are tracking today. A shocking case of custodial death in Tamil Nadu that is now become a major political controversy ahead of elections next year there.
36:20A 27-year-old man, Ajit Kumar, who was picked up by the police, was killed. The police claimed he died after suffering a seizure, but a shocking video shows he was a victim of police torture.
36:31While the Madras High Court has ordered a judicial probe, the Stalin government has asked the CBI to investigate the case. It's not the first such case in Tamil Nadu. More in our next report.
36:42Another young life, allegedly crushed by the very people who have sworn to protect us. 27-year-old Ajit Kumar, a temple security guard in Shiva Ganga, was picked up by a special police team over a complaint about missing gold jewelry.
37:07What followed is a horrifying tale of torture and cover-up. The police claimed Ajit died of an epileptic seizure, saying that he collapsed while trying to escape during a search at a cow shelter.
37:21But a video shot by a temple worker showed Ajit being mercilessly beaten with lattes. The autopsy confirmed wounds on the victim's hands, forehead, shoulders, dried blood and a swollen ankle.
37:36This doesn't look like a medical episode, but a killing in uniform. Five police personnel have been arrested. The SP transferred. The CBCID is now probing the case.
37:49Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, under fire over the custodial death, claims his government has taken action.
37:57But Stalin's claim has found no takers from the opposition.
38:10VJP has moved the Human Rights Commission, while AIA DMK's Palani Sami denounced the alleged police excesses, calling it murder by police under DMK.
38:22TVK chief Vijay also demanded a SIT probe, calling the police actions immoral and inhuman.
38:28But the most scathing remarks came from the Madras High Court, which has ordered a judicial inquiry into the horror.
38:36The High Court came down heavily on Tamil Nadu police, calling the incident a brutal act and stating bluntly that the state has killed its own citizen.
38:45Ajeet's death brings back haunting memories of Jayaraj and Benix in 2020, who were beaten with lattes, stripped and severely injured, leading to their death.
38:59The question remains, how many more Ajeet's before custodial violence ends in India?
39:05Bureau Report, India Today.
39:07Let's raise some big questions. When will police give up this third degree?
39:14Remember, the nature of third degree in this country is supposed to be illegal.
39:20So when will the police, who are supposed to be the lawmakers in this country, give up third degree?
39:25How do you sensitize a police force?
39:28This is not the first such instance that has taken place in Tamil Nadu or indeed in different parts of the country.
39:34And I really want to start with that because take a look at some of these figures that you are seeing on your screen today.
39:40And those figures will tell you what happens in police custody.
39:44Every Indian state, several of the Indian states, let's play that graphic again.
39:47States like Gujarat, states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh have all seen deaths in police custody.
39:59And this is extremely troubling because it is against the basic laws of the land.
40:05Now, this has happened in Tamil Nadu. It could happen tomorrow in any other part of the country.
40:10This has become a political battle because, of course, it's happening in an election year.
40:15But beyond the politics, how are you going to ensure that the police force in this country is sensitized?
40:20That's the question that must be asked. These custody deaths that seem to have become almost routine in some parts of the country.
40:2831 deaths in Tamil Nadu alone in five years. In 2021, there were four deaths.
40:35In 2022, there were 11 deaths. In 2023, there was one death.
40:39And then you had 10 deaths last year. And now you have another one this year.
40:45The nationwide figures are also troubling. Remember, again, I repeat, this is completely illegal.
40:51146 deaths was in 2017-18. And it's remained pretty consistent.
40:56Even in the COVID years, you had deaths in police custody.
40:59All of which leads you to that big question about whether there is any sensitization of our police.
41:08Okay. I'm joined at the moment on the phone line by A Sarwanan. He is spokesperson of the DMK.
41:15Mr. Sarwanan, you know, this is extremely troubling. And really, you have been a lawyer yourself.
41:22You will accept that this is a huge blot on Tamil Nadu. And I've been showing in those graphics.
41:27This is not the first time that this has happened.
41:31Yeah, I see. This is a gruesome crime. Nobody can escape that.
41:38But look at the swift action taken by the government.
41:43There are rotten apples in all the forces, black sheep, who besmatch the good name earned by their colleagues, by their predecessors, all of them.
41:52And the main reason for this is a social media post, which went viral, alleging that it is the person who was dead responsible for this jewelry theft.
42:05And that is the reason it started this hunt and nobody can justify. It is a gruesome crime and all of them have been arrested.
42:12And the chief minister had reached out to the family of the victims, assured them that they will definitely get justice.
42:17See, he had no offers, no words, no words can bring back their son who was dead. But what could be done? The reaction, the response to the crime is swift.
42:31No, no, but there seems to be, you know, you're saying that all that the government can do is the response to the crime.
42:38But the larger question, Mr. Sarwanan, is that, as I said earlier, this is not the first such case in Tamil Nadu or indeed the country.
42:46How does the police, you know, you've transferred the concerned officers. Is that enough in your view? You've been a lawyer. Do you believe something more needs to be done in terms of ensuring stronger deterrent?
42:58Yeah, yeah, see, Rajdeep, this is not just, by transferring just the police officials alone, it's not going to be sufficient. The culprits have been arrested. The higher police official has been suspended, immediate superior has been suspended, and the other man has been shunted out to another post.
43:16Now the question is, it has to be, there has to be sensitization programs. There has to be several other things which has to make the police force humane.
43:25See, there is a disturbing trend that has been going on for some time in the state of, at least in the state of Tamil Nadu police. What had happened is that people who have been accused of small crimes, they came with their legs broken or hands broken.
43:39This was celebrated. This was celebrated. This was geared upon in the social media. All of them celebrated that the police had given the appropriate treatment for them.
43:50Right. This has been going on for some time. But now the Madras High Court has pulled up the police department and told them that these things should not happen.
44:00You know, you're saying, you're saying that, let me go for a moment to Sanjay Sahai, former IPS officer who joins us, because at the end of the day, this is an issue where more than the politicians, it's the police, Mr. Sahai, which is under the scanner.
44:14The police is supposed to be our law. They are supposed to ensure that the rule of law is maintained by every citizen. But when the law breaker enforcers turn law breakers, what happens? Look at this case. Look at that video. It is shocking beyond belief.
44:32Being a panelist on a discussion of this nature and being a police officer, I think I can hang my head in chain. That is all I can tell you. But getting back to the question which you have been talking about.
44:44So the political class and the police and the bureaucracy in between have been strange bedfellows since quite some time now. So delineating police completely out as an independent entity, I think that is literally taking out the fish out of the water.
45:02So what has finally happened is that the police leadership plays ball with the political class we see in variety of things, but there has to be a limit to which it can be done. And the 24 cases of custodial deaths, which has happened in time in order from 21 to 25, I think it gives something sort of a pattern.
45:22I presume that most of the deaths would have been accidental or incidental or natural death. But the indications show differently. If you see the nature of injuries, Ajit, I think the most criminal of the cases also and the worst of the criminals also would not be able to inflict the nature of injuries which has been inflicted on this victim.
45:44You see the culpability part of it. This is taken to places which is not covered by CCTV. Let me remind you, Rajdi, that in 1996 DK Basu case, the arrest formalities, how it should happen in the country that was given and that is the law of the land.
46:01But surely police officers know the law of the land. The question is, where do they get the belief that they can get away with this?
46:09If the police officers know law of the land and I presume that you are right and I am very happy to know that. But the point is, if they know the law of the land, from where does this audacity come from?
46:19You tell me. And if you know the law, if you know, if you know the law of the land and still you are ready to break it, but the flimsiest of the orders of powers that be, I think there is something seriously wrong.
46:30So, where do they get... That's my point. Where do they get the audacity from Mr. Sahai?
46:35From the political class.
46:37Okay, Mr. Sarbanan, you want to respond to what you are hearing? The police officer is saying the audacity comes from the political class that they can get away with it.
46:46See, see, see, that's what... See, first and foremost, Mr. Sahai was saying that there were 24 cases of custodial death in the state of Tamil Nadu. That is a wrong statistic.
46:58There are only four custodial deaths which amounted to murder. Other things were all in the judicial custody, all these things, deaths happened.
47:05See, custodial death, yes, but it happened due to natural causes. That was the magisterial report and four were murdered.
47:11I said it is incidental, natural or accidental. I would like to believe so.
47:17It is so, sir. It is so. You can believe us. It is so.
47:20And now you are giving the details, I am not debating on those positive factors.
47:25Wonderful. Because I have all the details of all these... Yeah, perfectly fine.
47:28Yeah, yeah. 24 cases. So, not only you, sir. It is being propagated all through the social media that this is the highest number of custodial deaths in any state in the last four years.
47:38In fact, we have brought down the number of custodial deaths in the last four years. Only four custodial deaths.
47:44Can I add one more thing?
47:46Please, sir. Please.
47:47Yeah, please add. Please add.
47:48Has police brutality gone down in the last 15-20 years? I am not talking of political dispensation. It can be any dispensation.
47:57Rajdeep also has seen the world, I think, through a very, very sharp lens and a discerning eye.
48:04Can anybody on the ground say that police brutality has gone down? Has third degree been eliminated?
48:11Okay. So, the crux of the matter is not 24 cases or 13 cases or whatever cases. The crux of the matter is whether police administration has the empathy to run this country in the manner it should be and completely in a legal manner and reacts and responds in the manner which a very sophisticated civilized police should do.
48:351996 D.K. Basu case directed. It is more as for breaking it. Breaking is the norm and following it is an exception.
48:462006 case, Prakast Singh versus the Union of India. None of these directed. It has been either delayed or defied.
48:55And there will be a number of contempt cases which have been followed by Prakast Singh himself. And worst of it all, 2020, where tech is involved, there is a Supreme Court judgment which mandates that there will be cameras at these, these, these places.
49:10For 18 months, the recording should be there. There should be an audit every single day. And if the video footage is not available, it will go against the police. I think you can do an audit.
49:21So you are saying, Mr. Sahai, if the police reforms were implemented in total, that would give the police also greater confidence in their own autonomy and thereby you believe that that could lead to the police also being more accountable?
49:36Is that what you are saying?
49:37Yeah. So there are primarily three things. So one is that there will be delineation from the political class to a substantial degree.
49:46Number two. Number two.
49:48So number two is both professionalism and accountability. Professionalism needs to come. Professionalism and accountability and the, and whosoever is authority. It can be a state security commission or the government. They will have the guts to take action wherever required.
50:06Okay. I want to ask you, therefore, Mr. SarvanandâŠ
50:08Today, the objectivity of action is also in question.
50:11Yeah. Speaking of action, Mr. Sarvanand, in conclusion, the Tamil Nadu chief minister has decided to transfer the case to CBI.
50:18SomewhereâŠ
50:19CBI, yes.
50:20That suggests that the Tamil Nadu police leadership may not be able to⊠does not enjoy the trust that they can solve the case against their own.
50:26No.
50:27No.
50:28No, no, no.
50:29Why then transfer it to CBI?
50:30No, no, no, no, no, no. It does not stem from any kind of lack of confidence in the Tamil Nadu force. See, we have arrested a DMK MP on a serious charge.
50:41He was inside the prison for three years, three months. Then the court granted him bail. See, in the state of Tamil Nadu, howsoever high you may be, the law is above you.
50:50That is the dictum the Tamil Nadu police is following. And there is⊠you cannot point out any case where extraneous considerations played a part. This is⊠I can assure youâŠ
51:00The courts have forced you in many cases to act against your own. No, no, no, no.
51:04You clearly in an election here want to pass the buck to the CBI so that no one accuses your police of protecting its own.
51:11No, no, no, Rajdeep. It's not that way. We want to avoid unnecessary politicization. We know the BJP is there. We know the ADMK is there.
51:19We don't want them to give fodder. We have done it. See, the second day, the culprits have been arrested.
51:25See, they are comparing this with what happened in Satankulam. Two⊠Benny and the other person was murdered there in the police station.
51:32There, there was inaction for 10 days. The cops were arrested after 10 days after the court intervened.
51:37But this is not the situation here. Of course, the courts are passing orders and we have been obeying them.
51:43If we are not happy with that, we are taking them an appeal and getting it straight. That is one aspect of that.
51:48Okay. But in the state of Tamil Nadu, law and order is not something which we can complain about.
51:54I am going to leave it there. I have heard you. I have heard Mr. Sahai.
51:59It is clear that the police needs to be accountable and the political class needs to ensure that those who are meant to be law enforcers are sent out a firm message whenever there is a brazen abuse of law in this manner where deaths take place in police custody.
52:15Simply unacceptable what happened. The young man's life won't be restored, sadly.
52:21But what must be is a sense that there is some kind of justice in this country where howsoever high you are, you cannot violate the law of this land.
52:31I appreciate Mr. Sahai and Mr. Sarwanan for joining me here on the news today.
52:37Welcome to our Get Real India story. Today we tell you the story of a hundred crore highway project in Bihar that has turned, guess what, into a highway hazard.
52:45Why? Because trees are literally growing in the middle of the highway. That's right. Trees are literally growing in the middle of the highway.
52:54Departments are passing the buck. The contractor went ahead and now lives are at stake.
52:59Airfires have been filed. Questions are being asked. Nothing seems to change.
53:03Take a look at tonight's Get Real India story from Bihar.
53:16This is National Highway 22 in Bihar.
53:19After a hundred crore rupee road widening project between Jahanabad and Gaya, the highway now looks like this.
53:28Four lanes wide with dozens of full grown trees standing tall in the middle.
53:34This is basically happening because of a deadlock between the road construction department and the forest department.
53:41Because the road construction department wrote a letter to the forest department asking it to cut these trees.
53:50But the forest department in return wanted equal area of land somewhere in Jahanabad.
54:01There is no land available here in Jahanabad to be given to the forest department and that is why there has been a deadlock.
54:09And the forest department also, till now, has not given a NOC for felling of these trees.
54:16Even as the government departments exchanged letters, the contractor went ahead and built the road.
54:23With the video of the highway going viral, the district authorities stepped in.
54:29In damage control mode, the district administration installed painted drums, sandbags and reflectors around the trees.
54:38Needless to say, these Jugaad style fixes are far from foolproof.
54:45The authorities have filed an FIR and ordered investigation against the contractor.
55:14With Rohit Kumar Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
55:21Bizarre beyond belief, a road gets widened without forest clearance.
55:25Next thing you know, trees are there in the middle of a highway.
55:29Let's turn from there though, to our good news today's story.
55:32And I want to end the show as always with some good news.
55:35In Saranpur, in Uttar Pradesh, a painter is using his art to change how people see the police.
55:41That's right, backed by the local municipality, his wall paintings show the more humane side of those in uniform.
55:48So we've had a story on a tragic police custody death in Tamil Nadu.
55:52And Tamil Nadu, I want to leave you with something more positive.
55:55Thanks for watching.
55:56The news without the noise.
55:58Take a look.
55:59Good night.
56:00Goodbye.
56:01Shubratri.
56:02Jaihin.
56:03Namaskar.
56:04Jaihin.
56:05And the police have been creating this painting,
56:06the prevalence of police, the population of the police and surveillance.
56:07The police often face an image problem.
56:12A painter in Saharanpur is now working to free citizens of their fear of police.
56:17In an initiative backed by the local municipality, Shahid Hussein is painting walls with pictures
56:23that bring out the humane side of the men and women in Khaki.
56:25of the men and women in Kharkiv.
56:47The police have welcomed the image makeover attempt.
56:55One place has shown them, and the other place has shown them the help of citizens.
57:00This is the positive result of the people who have come and the new recruits will be sent to them.
57:07Tackling crime sterly but treating citizens with sensitivity.
57:11That is the message behind the paintings in support of the police.
57:15With Rahul Kumar, Bureau Report, India Today.
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