HIGHLIGHTS AT 1745 HOURS

Following are the top stories at 1745 hours:

LGD57 DL-COURT-CHIDAMBARAM-RESERVE Delhi court reserves order on CBI's plea for Chidambaram's custodial interrogation

New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday reserved its order on the CBI plea seeking 5-day custodial interrogation of Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was arrested in the INX Media corruption case.

DEL29 CBI-INX INX Media: The case that led to Chidambaram's downfall

New Delhi: The INX Media case, in which former Union finance minister P Chidambaram has been arrested by the CBI, pertains to allegations of bribery by the company's promoters -- Peter and Indrani Mukerjea -- both in jail for allegedly killing Indrani's daughter from an earlier marriage, to get foreign investment clearances.

DEL24 CHIDAMBARAM-INDRANI-HELP P Chidambaram asked us to help Karti's business, make overseas payments: Indrani

New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram asked for "helping" his son Karti's business and make overseas remittances in lieu of granting FIPB approval to INX Media, Indrani Mukerjea had told investigators probing the money laundering and corruption case related to the media firm.

DEL18 CHIDAMBARAM-LD CONG Govt using CBI, ED as "personal revenge-seeking departments" :Cong

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday lashed out at the government over the arrest of former finance minister P Chidambaram, accusing it of using the CBI and ED as a personal "revenge-seeking departments" and termed it as a broad daylight "murder" of democracy.

Nation

DEL34 BIZ-EPFO-PENSION EPFO approves changes in Employees' Pension Scheme to restore commutation of pension

New Delhi: Providing relief to 6.3 lakh pensioners, retirement fund body EPFO has approved a proposal to restore commutation, or advance part-withdrawal, under the Employees' Pension Scheme.

DEL33 OPPOSITION-2NDLD PROTEST Opposition parties stage stir, demand release of leaders detained in J&K

New Delhi: Opposition parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the DMK, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here on Thursday, demanding release of the political leaders under detention in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of normalcy there.

BOM6 MH-LD RAJ-CHIDAMBARAM-SENA Uddhav Thackeray, family are behind Raj: Sanjay Raut

Mumbai: The entire Thackeray family is supporting MNS chief Raj Thackeray who has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said here on Thursday.

MDS9 KA-CABINET-YEDIYURAPPA BSY to meet BJP central leadership to finalise portfolios of Ministers

Bengaluru: Faced with discontent in a section of the BJP over cabinet expansion, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday decided to meet the party's central leadership to discuss the issue of allocation of portfolios to the newly appointed ministers.

Legal

LGD12 DL-HC-UNNAO HC seeks CBI reply on UP constable's plea in murder case of Unnao rape survivor's father

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday sought CBI's response on a plea by an Uttar Pradesh Police constable challenging framing of charges against him for the alleged murder of the Unnao rape survivor's father and having framed him for possession of illegal arms.

LGD5 DL-COURT-CHOPPER Ratul Puri moves Delhi court to surrender in AgustaWestland money laundering case

New Delhi: Businessman Ratul Puri, who was arrested in a bank fraud case, moved an application before a Delhi court Thursday saying he wants to surrender in the money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland chopper scam.

Foreign

FGN17 UK-2NDLD NIRAVMODI Nirav Modi's remand extended till Sept 19, UK extradition trial expected in May 2020

London: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, wanted in India in connection with the nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, appeared before a UK court on Thursday via videolink from his London prison and was further remanded in judicial custody till September 19.

FGN25 UAE-INDIAN-3RDLD ARREST Kerala politician arrested in UAE in cheque default case; gets bail

Dubai/Thiruvananthapuram: Thushar Vellapally, President of a coalition partner of the BJP-led NDA in Kerala, was arrested in the UAE in connection with a Rs 19 crore cheque default case, according to media reports on Thursday.

Business

DCM16 BIZ-TRADE POLICY Commerce min to soon come out with new foreign trade policy

New Delhi: The commerce ministry will soon come out with a new foreign trade policy, which provides guideline and incentives for increasing exports, for the next five financial years 2020-25, an official said.

DCM14 BIZ-NITI-GROWTH NITI Aayog for extraordinary steps to deal with economic slowdown

New Delhi: Government think tank Niti Aayog on Thursday made a case for extraordinary steps to deal with the unprecedented stress in the financial sector which has resulted in an economic slowdown in the country.

Sports

SPF 9 SPO-KOHLI-RICHARDS It's better to get hit early and hard: Kohli on bouncers

North Sound: India skipper Virat Kohli doesn't mind getting hit and that too hard immediately after he takes guard as he feels it fires him up to have a go at the bowler.