HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top PTI stories at 2215 hours:

TOP STORIES

DEL74 CONG-2NDLD PAYOFFS

Citing media report, Cong seeks probe into charges of pay-offs by Yeddyurappa to BJP leaders New Delhi: The Congress on Friday sought an investigation by the Lokpal into allegations that Rs 1,800 crore bribes were paid by former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to top BJP leadership.

DEL73 3RDLD PITRODA-MODI

Pitroda has kick-started Cong's celebration of Pak's national day: Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday used Congress leader Sam Pitroda's remarks questioning the government's aggressive action against Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack to tear into the Opposition, saying they reflect the Congress' unwillingness to respond to forces of terror.

DEL69 LDALL PITRODA

Pitroda kick-started Pak national day celeberations: Modi; Cong says PM playing politics New Delhi: An all-out political slugfest broke out on Friday after Congress leader Sam Pitroda questioned the government's aggressive action against Pakistan post-Pulwama terror strike, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lambasting the Opposition, saying the remarks only reflect that the Congress was unwilling to respond to forces of terror.

DEL68 JK-4THLD ENCOUNTER

Five militants, boy held hostage by ultras killed in separate encounters in J&K Srinagar, Mar 22 (PTI) Five militants, including two of Pakistani origin who killed a 12-year-old boy held hostage by them, were gunned down in separate encounters with security forces on Friday in Bandipora and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir, taking the number of ultras killed since Thursday to seven.

FGN51 UK-NIRAVMODI

Nirav Modi spends Holi in UK jail London: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi spent Holi behind bars in one of England's most overcrowded jails on Thursday, a day after a UK judge rejected his bail application and remanded him in custody until his next hearing scheduled for March 29. By Aditi Khanna

DEL70 INDOPAK-ENVOY

We hope long winter in Indo-Pak ties will come to an early end: Pak envoy New Delhi: Pakistan on Friday said a key take-away from recent developments was that a lack of engagement creates "dangerous vacuum and serious risks" for Indo-Pak ties, and hoped that the "long winter" in bilateral relations would come to an early end.

NATION

DEL60 UP-2NDLD MAYAWATI BJP can take do chowkidari after 'losing' LS polls, says Mayawati; Adityanath hits back

Lucknow/Gorakhpur (UP): BSP chief Mayawati Friday said the BJP could take up "chowkidari" after "losing" the Lok Sabha elections, prompting a sharp retort from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth who asserted that "thieves get uneasy when the watchman becomes alert".

DEL59 JKLF-2NDLD BAN Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front banned by Centre

New Delhi: The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned on Friday for a series of violent acts and being in the forefront of separatist activities in the militancy-hit state since 1988, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said.

DEL38 ED-LD NAIK AIDE ED arrests Zakir Naik's close aide; fresh chargesheet soon

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday arrested a "trusted" aide of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik from Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case against him and others, officials said.

MDS3 CONG-PAYOFFS LD YEDDYURAPPA Yeddyurappa dismisses bribe payment charge as 'malicious'

Bengaluru: The BJP's Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa on Friday rubbished as "atrocious and malicious" the allegation that he had paid Rs 1,800 crore as bribe to the party top brass, after the Congress demanded a Lokpal probe into the issue.

LEGAL

LGD6 SC-MULAYAM SC to hear plea in disproportionate assets case against ex-UP CMs Mulayam, Akhilesh

New Delhi: The Supreme Court would hear on Monday a plea seeking a direction to the CBI to place the investigation report in the disproportionate assets case against Samajwadi Party leaders and former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers -- Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

FOREIGN

FGN49 PAK-QURESHI-LD SAMJHAUTA

Pak weighing options after acquittal of all accused in Samjhauta blast case: Qureshi Islamabad: Pakistan is studying the verdict on the 2007 Samjhauta train blast case by an Indian court and the acquittal of all the four accused and weighing its options, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.

By Sajjad Hussain

BUSINESS

DEL72 BIZ-LD DISINVESTMENT Govt exceeds disinvestment target, proceeds touch Rs 85,000 cr in FY19

New Delhi: The government has exceeded its disinvestment target for the current fiscal by Rs 5,000 crore, taking the total proceeds to Rs 85,000 crore, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Friday.

PTI SRY