-The Telegraph Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee today waved at a rally photographs and newspaper advertisements that she claimed established "links" between CPM leaders and the Saradha Group and other deposit-mobilising companies, but steered clear of commenting on Trinamul's alleged connections with such entities. Addressing her first public meeting since the Saradha crisis unfolded, the chief minister did not mention if she was planning action against Trinamul leaders whose names have cropped up in...

-The Hindu Kolkata: Emphasising the need for deploying Central paramilitary forces for conducting free and fair rural polls in the State, counsel for the State Election Commission told the Calcutta High Court here on Thursday that it was akin to handing over investigations of a sensitive case to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) to ensure an "impartial" probe. At the hearing, counsel for the Commission Samaraditya Pal, cited various instances where...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Giving in to pressure from the autorickshaw lobby, the Delhi government on Wednesday decided to raise auto and taxi fares by a significant 25%. The government defended the hike citing inflation and costlier CNG but remained silent on a deadline for installing GPS in 55,000-odd older autorickshaws, a move that could prevent unsuspecting passengers from being taken for a ride. The auto fare hike is substantial. From...

-The Times of India The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a legislation to protect the livelihood ofstreet vendors and provide them more legal vending space in urban areas. Once it becomes law, street vendors hoped it could shield them from unabated harassment and extortion by police and municipal officials. Anxious to regain confidence of aam aadmi ahead of 2014 general elections, the housing and urban poverty alleviation (HUPA) ministry has fixed...

-The Hindu Kolkata: Soni Sori, the tribal school teacher accused of acting as a courier between Essar Steel and the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), and Lingaram Kodopi, activist-journalist trained in Delhi, have been acquitted in one more crucial case by a Dantewada court. Fifteen others, including activists of various mainstream political parties, were also acquitted. Among them were Congress leader Vijay Sodi, CPI leader Lala Ram Kunjam and a panchayat...