Rs.250 crore riding on Sanjay Dutt's projects.....

With Sanjay Dutt having to undergo a jail term of three-and-a-half-years following a Supreme Court order today, Bollywood trade analysts estimate that around Rs.250 crores are at stake involving his big budget film projects.

The apex court today upheld Dutt's conviction for illegal possession of arms in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

"As per the back-of-the-envelope calculations, around Rs.250 crore are riding on Sanjay, involved in various projects. These projects include big ticket upcoming movies Peekay, Policegiri, Zanjeer, Ungli among others," sources said.

Among the upcoming projects involving the 53-year-old actor isUngli, produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, also starring Emraan Hashmi and Neha Dhupia.

When contacted, a top source at Dharma Productions said, "Bollywood is distraught over the SC judgement today.

Sanjay Dutt, Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani on the set of P.K.

The shooting of Ungli concerning Sanjay Dutt's part is complete and only some portion of it is remaining to be completed."

He, however, refused to share the amount of money at stake on Sanjay in the project.

Among other projects having Sanjay on board is "Zanjeer, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. Sanjay is reprising the role of Sher Khan, epitomised by veteran actor Pran in the original movie.

According to sources, aroundRs.50-60 crore are at stake inZanjeer, while Rs.25 crore onPolicegiri, which is the remake of a South movie. Sanjay is starring opposite Prachi Desai in the film.

"We have completed shooting forZanjeer. The verdict is shocking and I feel shattered. I am not worried about his (Sanjay's) presence for post-production and other formalities... My concern is that he fights back," Producer Amit Mehra told PTI.

Another big-ticket movie is Rajkumar Hirani's P.K. starring Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma.

The shooting for the film began last week.

Producer of Policegiri, P P Agrawal said, "maximum of the shoot is over. For the remaining portion, we will see if we can shoot with Sanjay. Even if not it's okay...We may consider approaching court to allow him to shoot".

Read more at:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/what-will-happen-to-sanjay-dutts-movies/1/258835.html 

Sridevi tweets about her child appearance.....

Sridevi keeps reinventing herself and this time it's social networking that has caught her attention. 

At her daughter Jhanvi's request she joined social networking site and the actor seems to be really enjoying it!

Read more at:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sridevi-tweets-about-her-child-appearance/1/258847.html

Record Breaking Dogs....

• World's largest dog The worlds heaviest and longest dog was an Old English Mastiff called Zorba. He won the crownin In 1989, at that time he was 343 lbs and was 8 feet 3 inches long.
  
• World's tallest dog The tallest dog dog till date is Shamgret Danzas. his height was 42 inches and his weight was 238 lbs.
  
  
• World's smallest dog The smallest dog ever on record was a Yorkie from Blackburn, England. Even when he was fully grown, he was as tiny as 2.5 inches.!His body weight was only 4 ounces! He was so small that he could be comfortably placed in palm of one's hand, just like a lemon tart.
  
• World's oldest dog The oldest dog ever on records was an Australian cattle-dog. He was famous all over the world by the name of Bluey. He left this world only after crossing the age of 29.
  
• Worlds Best Drug Sniffing Dogs "Rocky" and "Barco" are the super dogs who were famous because of their extra sensory noses that coulod sniff drugs even at a distance of miles. These champs patrolled the Texas and Mexico border, and busted so many rackets that the drug dealers put a price of $30,000 dollars on their heads.
  Check superior heart rate monitor for iphone connection on beetsblu. 

Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever has a gentle yet outgoing nature. This breed of dog is very amiable and becomes attached to her owners very quickly. They eat a lot of food and initially it might look to you that they appetite can never be satiated. Since, they are big, they need a lot of exercises to stray fit.

2. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is an all in one dog. They are hunters, family pets, show dogs and companions for blinds. Be prepared to take pains grooming them, since they shed a lot of hair. They are really friendly dogs and can be seen wagging their tales even at strangers.

3. German Shepherd

German Shepherd is a multi purpose dog and can be used as a guide dog, police dog, herder, and all around great family pet. They are good at following orders from their owners and make for great family dogs. They love to stay in large houses and open spaces.

4. Beagle

This is the same breed which is popularly known as Peanuts star Snoopy and is a great tracker and hunter. This dog needs to be monitored properly as its killer instinct can leed it to go out on risky ventures for himself as well as for others.

5. Yorkshire Terrier

This breed requires to be groomed properly. It is so small and round that it looks like a ball of cotton. This dog requires a lot of care and attention and can easily feel left out of the company if you don't call out his name every ten minutes.

6. Dachshund

A daschund has many points in its favour. Firstly, it is small in size and can be easily accommodated in a small house. They also eat very less food plus they are very peace loving and friendly. They are one of the most active and fastest species of dog.

7. Boxer

This breed is developed out of careful cross breeding of several dogs. Boxer is a very alert-looking animal and is very sharp of ears. It is friendly and amicable, even to young annoying children.

8.Poodle

The USP of this breed of dog is that it can be shaped according to the choice of the owner. So, they are a dog and a piece of art at the same time. But so metimes, they may look more of a show piece and less of a dog but again that depends on the taste of the owner. They are very civilized and friendly dogs.

9. Rottweiler

The word Rottweiler literally means "rotten and vile," . They are huge, powerful and energetic. They are an excellent hunter and protector. They are usually known as the lone hunter.

10. Chihuahua

This breed is developed out of careful cross breeding of several dogs. Boxer is a very alert-looking animal and is very sharp of ears. It is friendly and amicable, even to young annoying children.

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT DOGS.....

1. The #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and in the U.K. is the Labrador Retriever.

2. The first Hollywood dog star was Rin Tin Tin, and he signed all 22 of his contracts with a paw print.

3. The average city dog has been known to live 3 years longer than a country dog.

4. The fastest dogs on earth are Greyhounds, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.

5. Basset Hounds are unable to swim.

6. The #1 health problem among dogs is obesity.

7. Dogs aren’t color blind.  They’re able to see in color, just not as vividly as humans.

8. A dog’s nose print is as unique as a human’s finger print and can be used for identification purposes.

9. The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog breed.

10. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.

11. During WWII, the Russians trained dogs to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs.

12. Larger breeds mature slower than smaller breeds.

13. Dalmatians are born completely white, without spots.

14. Dogs are direct descendants of wolves.

15. Dogs are natural pack animals.

China's Xi in Russia on Friday, to ink defence and energy deals......

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping will embark on a visit to Russia on Friday, his first trip abroad after assuming charge, amidst expectation here of a major boost in bilateral defence ties, including Moscow's sale of its latest weapons to cash-rich Chinese military. 

Billed as the most significant visit by a Chinese leader to Moscow after the 1961 break of ties between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Communist Party of China headed by Mao Zedong. 

"The fact that I will visit Russia, our friendly neighbour, shortly after assuming Presidency is a testimony to the great importance China places on its relations with Russia and to the high level and special nature of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries," Xi told Editors of the BRICS nations here this week. 

Highlighting the importance of the new emerging relationship aimed at counter US Pivot to Asia-Pacific, 59-year-old Xi said relations are "booming" as the two countries have completely settled the boundary issue in 2004 placing their political ties on a solid foundation. 

Two-way trade between China and Russia surged by 14 times in 20 years and reached a record USD 88.2 billion last year. 

Cooperation on major strategic projects in energy, investment, aviation and space and other fields is booming, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges are dynamic, Xi said. 

US military may take over CIA drone operations: Report.....

Washington: The US is considering shifting lethal drone operations run by the CIA in countries like Pakistan over to the military for achieving "greater transparency" in who is being targeted, a media report said on Thursday. 

The proposal is under "serious consideration," a US official said. 

The official said no final decision has been made, and that there is no specific time frame in place, but that the change is being considered "due to a desire for greater transparency in who is being targeted." 

By law, the military is not able to act covertly the way the CIA can, and it must answer to Congress. 

The military would operate and fly the drones, an administration official was quoted the CNN as saying, but targeting would still be done jointly by various agencies. 

The shift would happen over time. 

"It won't happen overnight," the US official said, adding that operations in some countries would transfer to US military control before other nations. 

"Yemen is an example of one of the first programmes that could shift," the official said, while shifting the responsibility for the programme that operates in Pakistan "would be much further out." 

CIA Director John Brennan has expressed a desire to move the intelligence agency back to traditional intelligence-collecting. 

"The CIA should not be doing traditional military activities and operations," Brennan said at his confirmation hearing. 

The transfer is being contemplated at a time when US drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere have been facing increasing scrutiny and questions from human rights groups who say that innocent lives are being lost because of such covert operations. 

Gaza militants 'welcome' Obama by firing at Israel.........

Jerusalem: On the second day of US President Barack Obama's visit to the region, Israel police officials informed that Gaza militants fired two rockets at the southern reaches of the country. 

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says one rocket exploded in the courtyard of a house in the border town of Sderot, causing damage but no injuries. The other landed in an open field. 

As a presidential candidate in 2008, Obama visited Sderot, which is frequently targeted by rocket attacks from the nearby Gaza Strip. The territory is ruled by the militant Palestinian Hamas group. 

No group immediately claimed responsibility for today's attack, which came as Obama was in Jerusalem. He is to visit the West Bank city of Ramallah later in the day. 

Govt had no role in CBI action against Stalin: PM....

New Delhi: As a political controversy broke out over CBI action against DMK leader M K Stalin, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday distanced the government from it, saying it had "no role" in the development and was "upset" over it. 

"We are all upset at these events. The government had no role in this that I am sure of. We will find out the details. This should not have...(happened). The timing of the raid is most unfortunate," Singh told reporters here. 

The Prime Minister's remarks came even as the searches carried out just two days after DMK pulled out of UPA, triggered a political controversy over its timing with even top central ministers strongly disapproving of the action. 

Congress ministers in UPA including P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Kamal Nath strongly disapproved of the CBI searches, as the Centre distanced itself from the action, saying it was not aware of it. 

DMK, which pulled out of UPA on Tuesday and withdrew its ministers yesterday, said the action was a "political vendetta" amid reports that the agency concluded its searches after the uproar broke out. 

Searches were carried out at 19 places across Tamil Nadu, including at Stalin's residence in Chennai, this morning in a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars. 

Stalin (60), considered a political heir to 88-year-old Karunanidhi, dubbed the CBI raid as a 'political vendetta' and said he would face the case legally. 

BJP said the CBI action is an example of "blatant" misuse of power by the UPA government for its survival and proves that it uses the probe agency to muffle allies who are walking out of the ruling coalition. 

The issue was also raised in Parliament with BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu alleging that the party which withdrew the support to the UPA Government was raided by CBI and said it meant the government "controlled" CBI. 

Jaya govt presents tax-free Budget......

Chennai: The Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday presented a tax-free Budget for 2013-14, proposing 'prudent fiscal management", amidst gloomy national economic scenario. 

Finance Minister O Panneerselvam presented the Budget amidst a walkout by opposition DMK and said that despite the pressures of vital expenditure and serious resource constraints, "no new tax will be imposed, nor will any existing tax rate be hiked in the budget." 

With the agriculture sector facing severe crisis in the wake of a drought situation, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa will soon announce a relief package to non-Cauvery delta districts, he said.

This will be on the lines of a relief package announced for the Cauvery delta districts last month following deficit monsoon and Cauvery crisis, Panneerselvam added. 

India as unsafe as any other country: Foreign visitors....

New Delhi: With renewed attention on crimes against women in India after the gang-rape of a Swiss woman in Madhya Pradesh, foreign nationals living visiting or living India feel the country is as unsafe as any other, sexual abuse is a global phenomenon with many saying they have never felt unsafe here. 

"I don't feel unsafe here even after the gang-rape incident of a Swiss lady. if that was the case, I would have never chosen India as home," Flora Saints Sans, a German national living in Delhi, told a news agency. 

She said foreigners living in India should get used to being stared at -- by men as well as women. 

"Thankfully, I have never been stalked," said Sans, who runs an intercultural exchange programme. 

India came into international focus after the 23-year-old physiotherapist trainee was brutally raped in a moving bus by six males Dec 16. The woman died 13 days later. 

Last week, a 39-year-old Swiss woman, on a cycling trip with her husband and camping out at night in the forested land in Datia district in Madhya Pradesh, was attacked by six men who gang-raped her, assaulted her husband and robbed them. All the accused have been arrested. 

Last year, a 23-year-old Chinese woman was raped in Delhi. In 2008, a 15-year-old British national was raped and killed in Goa. 

Louis, a French national, pursuing her undergraduate degree from St Stephen's College, says sexual abuses are a global phenomenon and women are vulnerable in every society. 

"There is something wrong in almost every society," Louis, who gave only her first name, told a news agency. 

Looking back at her two-year stay in India, she said the way people perceived a blonde or a white woman here was not good. 

"There have been times when some people have tried to touch me or get too close," she said. "My friend, who too is French, was almost raped by a group of men in Mumbai last year during a festival." 

For a first-time visitor to India, Jessica Toroda, a Briton who came to India with friends, never felt unsafe from the moment she landed. 

"My first trip was to Kerala; then I travelled to Goa and Jaipur and now reached Delhi. There hasn't been any major incident and I do not feel insecure or intimidated," she said. 

"People do stare here, but I think they are just curious. They ask a lot many questions but I feel they are just too inquisitive and not offensive," Toroda's friend Sarah Lagaraff said. 

"We are often told to take extra precautions while visiting places like India," Lagaraff, a Briton, said. 

Janet Philip from Australia said when she was coming to India, her friends listed out many do's and dont's. 

"As soon as I told I'm going to India and visiting Delhi, my colleagues and friends told me about the Dec 16 gang-rape. They asked me not to venture out alone. They also asked me not to be too adventurous. But so far it has been good," Philip, on a month-long trip to India, told a news agency.

Sophie Methurst from Britain, on her third trip to India, said: "I never had any experience here that involved anyone trying to feel me or passing any lewd comments or making vulgar gestures." 

"There are some places where you have to be extra cautious... I have been in Delhi for nine months and I'm always cautious," she said. 

"This (crime against women) is not true to India alone. Any big country will have such problems," she said. 

'No clear stand of Centre on Tamil issue at UNHRC'...

New Delhi: Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on Thursday accused the Centre of not taking a clear stand at the United Nations Human Rights Council when the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka was put to vote. 

In a statement, he said either India ought to have voted unconditionally with the US or it should have unconditionally opposed the resolution. 

"If it had done so, it would have got appreciation in the eyes of the world and it would have been better than falling between two stools," he said. 

He said the modified draft of the US was "eminently reasonable" and worthy of unconditional support. 

"In an oblique way, the US draft is a victory for Sri Lanka since no one has called the human rights violation as state-sponsored," he said. 

Terror module unearthed in Punjab.....

Hoshiarpur: A module of Sikh militant group Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) was unearthed here today with the arrest of its three members, including two women, police said. 

Acting on a tip-off, the members of the banned terror outfit were arrested in a joint operation conducted by the district and Jalandhar Police and several arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, Jalandhar (Zonal II) IG, Gurpreet Kaur Deo said. 

The arrested have been identified as Ranjit Singh Rana, Salinder Kaur and Kulwinder Kaur. 

The recoveries included a 7.65mm auto pistol, two .32 bore revolvers, three magazines and 89 live cartridges among the others. 

An FIR has been registered against the suspects under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, police said. 

This is the second major terrorist module unearthed within the span of a month. Earlier, on February 27, in a joint operation conducted by Amritsar and Mohali police, a Babbar Khalsa International module was neutralised with the arrest of top leader Narain Singh, alias Chaura, and his associate Dharam Singh, alias Karan Singh. 

Lok Sabha passes anti-rape bill, age of consent stays at 18.....

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill which provides for natural life term or even death for repeat offenders of rape and other stringent punishment for various offences like stalking, voyeurism and acid attacks. 

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill-2013, brought against the backdrop of the country-wide outrage over Delhi gang-rape, also makes it clear that the age of consent for sex would be 18 years, which was a sticking point with political parties. 

"I wish to state that we are enacting the strict law to act as a deterrent," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, replying to a nearly six-hour debate on the Bill. 

The Bill seeks to replace an Ordinance promulgated on February 3, which will expire on April 4. 

It seeks to amend the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Indian Evidence Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. 

The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by opposition and one by UPA constituent NCP for a life-term for perpetrators of acid attacks were defeated. 

"Time has come to send out a loud, clear and deterrent signal that the society will not tolerate such errant behaviour," Shinde said, underlining that the Bill was being brought to plug loopholes in the law. 

With an aim of providing a strong deterrent against rapes and gang-rapes, the Bill states that an offender can be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 20 years, but which may extend to life, meaning imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life and with a fine. 

It has provisions for handing out death sentence to offenders who may have been convicted earlier for such crimes. 

The Bill, for the first time, defines stalking and voyeurism as non-bailable offences if repeated for a second time. Perpetrators of acid attack will attract a 10-year jail term. 

Shinde said the Bill has provisions for allowing rape victims and witnesses to use the services of interpreters or special educators for recording of statement. 

He also agreed with suggestion of some members to post lady officers at every police station. He said efforts were being made to induct more women in the police force under the police modernisation programme. 

Moving the Bill for consideration, Shinde sought support of all parties, saying "let us honour the braveheart", referring to the 23-year-old victim of gang-rape by six persons in the national capital last year. 

The Bill, for the first time, defines acid attack as a crime and also grants a victim the right to self-defence. It also has provisions for awarding a minimum 10-year jail term for perpetrators of the act. 

B Mahtab (BJD) had moved an amendment to provide for life term for perpetrators of acid attacks. He pressed for division of votes, giving the government some anxious moments as Shinde, who is also Leader of the House, was seen reaching out to the Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, apparently to ask her about the BJP's stand. 

Later, the amendments were defeated 105-62. 

The government was again on tenterhooks when Tathagat Satpathy (BJD) pressed for division on a clause dealing with stalking, which he wanted to be made a cognisable offence. 

Swaraj supported him citing the case of former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, who is accused of abetting the suicide of an employee in his firm and her mother by stalking. 

Shinde said the decision to keep the offence non-bailable was taken by consensus at an all-party meeting. 

Confusion ensued as Sathpathy pressed for division. He was agitated as the Speaker moved on to the next clause and was about to stage a walkout but was prevented by Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Mahtab. 

Shinde said the new sections to prevent stalking and voyeurism were introduced following a strong demand from women's organisations. 

"For the first time we are making these a punishable offence...So, we have made it bailable for the first instance. We will not spare him if he repeats the offence," he said. 

On making the age of consent for sex 16 years, he said the demand was made by NGOs and a number of advocates. 

BJP, SP and some others demanded that the age of consent for sex be 18 years and not 16 as envisaged in the ordinance. They contended that since the age of marriage is 18 years, the age of consent should be the same. 

The amendments seek to define and prescribe punishment for the offences of stalking, voyeurism and sexual harassment. The Bill also seeks to widen the definition of rape, broaden the ambit of aggravated rape and enhance the punishment for such crimes. 

The Bill also provides that all hospitals shall immediately provide first aid and/or medical treatment free of cost to the victims of acid attack or rape, and failure to do so will attract punishment. 

It also has provisions for a minimum imprisonment of seven years which may extend to imprisonment for life and a fine for offender who is a police officer, a public servant, a member of the armed forces or management or the staff of a hospital. 

The Bill also seeks to amend the Indian Evidence Act to allow a rape victim, if she is temporarily or permanently mentally or physically disabled, to record her statement before a Judicial Magistrate with the assistance of an interpreter or a special educator. It also has provisions to videograph the proceedings. 

Protests on Lankan Tamils issue continue in TN....

Chennai: Students across Tamil Nadu, including in Chennai, continued their protests on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue while some fishermen in Nagapattinam district observed a fast mid-sea. 

Around 500 students were arrested in two different incidents at Chennai when they tried to proceed towards the house of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to picket it, police said. 

Another group of students were arrested for trying to stage a protest near the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission. 

Various student bodies and political parties conducted a series of protests including demonstration, fast and rail and road blockade. An effigy of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was burnt by protestors here, police said. 
Twenty students, who tried to barge into the army office of the ATNK and K (Andhra Tamil Nadu Kerala and Karnataka) area here, were arrested, police said. 

At Coimbatore, about 1,000 women belonging to the MDMK women's wing went on a day's fast on the Tamils issue. 

The workers, led by State secretary, Kumari Vijayakumar, shouted slogans against the Lankan Government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa besides the Centre for its "failure" to safeguard innocent Tamils there. 

Some 150 lawyers also observed a day's fast in front of the District Court Complex and are boycotting court proceedings till tomorrow, police said. 

Meanwhile, some persons, belonging to Hanuman Sena and 'Gandhiya Narpani Manram', were taken into custody for attempting to stage picketing in front of Central Telegraph Office near the Coimbatore district collectorate, police said. 

Over 200 students were arrested for entering the BSNL premises at Erode and trying to lock it, police said. 

In Nagapattinam district, more than 200 fishermen of Chinnagudi near Porayar ventured into the sea in fibreboats and went on a mid-sea hunger strike, 100 metres from the shore, protesting the alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka while their relatives observed fast on the shore. 

In neighbouring Puducherry, traders and businessmen observed a bandh to express solidarity on the Tamils issue. 

Under pressure, CBI calls off raid at MK Stalin's house...

Chennai: In a bizarre turn of events, the CBI raid at DMK leader MK Stalin's residence here has been called off minutes after Finance Minister P Chidambaram strongly disapproved of the action. 

The raid was being carried out at Stalin’s residence in Chennai, and at 18 other places across Tamil Nadu, in connection with a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars. 

The raid, which is said to have begun at around 6 am, was stopped little after 10 am. 
Chidambaram said that he did not approve of CBI raids, which came just two days after the DMK pulled out of the UPA government. "In this case I have to say that I strongly disapprove of the action. This action will be misunderstood.” 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath also objected to the raids, while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government condemns the raids and the CBI would be asked to explain the same. 

Speaking to reporters, Stalin said that the raid was part of 'political vendetta' against the party. 

"We left the UPA that is why CBI raided us. We will deal with it in accordance with the law." 

The DMK had on Tuesday formally withdrawn support to the UPA government over the issue of US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lankan war crimes issue. 

Reports had suggested that Stalin had prevailed over his father in the decision to pull out from the UPA. 

As the news of CBI raids spread, senior DMK leaders and a large number of party supporters gathered at the residence of Stalin. 

An FIR was registered yesterday against one senior Intelligence Officer of Directorate of Revenue Murganandam and two others for allegedly abusing their official position by not taking any action when the import of foreign cars, including some limousines, was made. 

According to the FIR, the officials have allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with unknown people and caused a loss of Rs 20 crore to the exchequer. 

One of the imported cars is being used by Stalin's son, officials said, adding after further investigation names of beneficiaries of importing the car would be included in the FIR. 

The CBI said that the FIR was registered on the basis of a 'source information' as the agency had been probing the leads in the case for quite some time. 

Over 68 million Indians living in slums....

New Delhi: Approximately 68 million Indians are living in slums, according to a government census. 

Releasing the first such census report on slum households prepared by the Registrar General of India, Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken today said that majority of them were located in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

Presenting the highlights of the report, Census Commissioner C Chandramouli said, "In all 1.73 crore census houses have been reported in houselisting blocks, categorised as slums in India, comprising 1.37 crore slum households." 

He also noted that in 19 cities with million-plus population, 25 per cent of households live in slums. 

"A majority-71 per cent- of these are located in six states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, west Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh," Chandramouli said. 

90 per cent of slum households use electricity, 70 per cent slum households have television, 72.7 per cent have telephone facility while 10.4 per cent households have computer or laptop in their house.
Maken said, "In 2001, there were 23.5 per cent of households in urban areas which were living in slums. It has now come down to 17.4 per cent. But there are still 17.35 million slum houses, 13.74 million slum households and we have 68 million people living in the slum areas as 2011 census." 

The slum household census report says that 74 per cent of these households use tap as the main source of drinking water followed by hand pump ortube which is used by 20.3 per cent.

66 per cent households have toilet facility within the premises, but 18.9 per cent slum households defecate in open and 15.1 per cent use public facilities, according to the report on 'Housing Stock, Amenities And Assets in Slums Based on House Listing And Housing Census'. 

Ten places in the country also claimed to be 'all-slum towns'. 

1993 Mumbai blasts: Yakub Memon gets death, 5-year jail term for Sanjay Dutt....

New Delhi: Delivering its verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act but commuted his jail sentence from six years to five. 

Dutt had been given six-year jail term by the TADA court. As he has already spent 18 months in jail, he will now have to spend another three and a half years in prison. The convicts who are on bail, including Sanjay Dutt, will have to surrender within four weeks. Meanwhile, as per reports, he has decided to file a review petition against the verdict. 

Delivering the verdict the SC said, “The circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation.” It also said that the evidence and materials perused by TADA court in arriving at the decision against the actor Dutt were correct. 

Dutt was convicted in November 2006 for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now defunct anti-terror TADA. 

Just after the verdict was announced, a visibly upset Priya Dutt, the actor’s sister, talking to reporters outside the court said, “I really don’t know what to say right now.” 

Talking to a news channel Dutt’s counsel Satish Maneshinde said, “Sanjay Dutt is strong enough to face any sentence awarded by the Supreme Court.” He also said that he had talked to Dutt after the verdict was announced. 

The lawyer quoted the actor as saying: “I have accepted the judgement of the court with all humility and I respect the sentence.” 

As per reports around Rs 300 to 350 crores is riding on Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming film projects. 

The SC also upheld the death sentence of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and described him as the biggest accused in the case. 

The SC said, "We have no doubt about Memon's role in the blasts. Memon and all absconding accused were ‘archers’ and rest of the accused were ‘arrows’ in their hands.” 

Yakub Memon is Tiger Memon's brother. Tiger along with Dawood Ibrahim is said to be the mastermind of the blasts. They fled India after the blasts. 

The apex court also came down heavily on Pakistan. The SC bench said that Pakistan's complicity in the heinous crime could not be denied. 

“The accused were trained in bomb making and to handle sophisticated weapons in Pakistan,” SC said adding, “Management and conspiracy of blasts were done by Dawood Ibrahim and others.” 

It also said that Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI was also involved in the Mumbai blasts. 

In another observation, the apex court said, “Police, customs and coastal guards are also to be blamed for 1993 blasts.” 

Meanwhile, the court reduced the death sentence of ten others to life term on the ground that the convicts were behind bars for 20 years and their economic condition was weak.” However, they will remain in jail till death. 

The apex court had heard appeals and cross-appeals filed by and against 100 people who were convicted by the special TADA court in 2006 in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. 

After a marathon 10-month-long hearing beginning November 1, 2011, the Supreme Court had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on appeals and cross-appeals in the 1993 Mumbai serial terror bombing case in which 257 people were killed and 713 were injured. 

During the hearing, the bench had for the first time used laptops in the court to peruse the voluminous documents and record of the case and the submissions of various counsel.