Vinod Verma

In Buxar, jewellery merchants express deep concern following Prime Minister Modi's suggestion to curtail gold purchases. They argue that such measures could jeopardize jobs and threaten the livelihood of small enterprises. Gold, they insist, holds immense cultural value and provides financial security for many rural and middle-class households.

In a swift move ahead of the assembly elections, Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday raided the residences of political advisor of Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Vinod Verma, two officers on special duties and a Bhilai-based businessman, reportedly in connection with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases being probed by the central agencies.

The Congress on Saturday said that necessary steps have to be taken to ensure safety and security of senior journalist Vinod Verma, who was arrested by Chhattisgarh police in connection with the extortion and blackmailing case.

PCC chief, who spoke to Verma for about an hour, however, refused to divulge the nature of his talks with the journalist.

Senior Journalist Vinod Verma, who is in judicial custody ever since his arrest in the sleaze CD case of Chhattisgarh, has been granted bail on Thursday by a lower court in the state capital.

CBI in Chhattisgarh had sought 14 days custody of the journalist but the court granted custody till January 3. He is in judicial remand ever since his arrest by the state police in connection with the sex CD row.

The appointment of Vinod Verma as the vice-chancellor (V-C) of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Science (LUVAS) Hisar has come under the Punjab and Haryana high court lens.

A CBI special court in Chhattisgarh has discharged former CM Bhupesh Baghel from all charges in the sleaze CD case. Baghel, his former adviser Vinod Verma, and Kailash Murarka appeared in court, which found no basis for prosecution. The case was linked to an alleged sex CD involving ex-minister Rajesh Munat.

A team of doctors at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) successfully removed a tumour weighing 17kg from the left thigh of a patient in a major surgery done two days ago.

Rentals for commercial property in Indore, a leading business centre of the state, have fallen by around 15 per cent as compared to pre-Covid-19 time due to a plunge in demand and shrinking requirement of office spaces in pandemic.

CBI had been probing the sex CD case for almost a one year in which Chhattisgarh state Congress president Bhupesh Baghel was accused of circulating a fake sex CD of BJP minister Rajesh Munat. The special CBI court remanded Baghel to judicial custody for 14 days. Baghel has denied engaging any lawyer, saying that he does not need one because he is innocent.

Journalist Vinod Verma, who is in judicial custody following his arrest in the sex CD and extortion case, was denied bail by a sessions court in Raipur on Wednesday.

An FIR has been registered against BJP MLA Salona Kushwaha, one Sarita Yadav, clerk Mohammed Danish and another employee working in the block office for allegedly falsifying public records and criminal conspiracy against former MLA Roshanlal Verma’s family.

"We could not even imagine that the Congress will play such cheap politics for power. We are also in politics and consider this a medium to serve the people. Our party can never think of committing immoral acts for political gains," Raman Singh said.

Having charge-sheeted by the CBI in connection with the sex CD case, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) president Bhupesh Baghel will not apply for bail, senior party sources said.

He linked their actions to a "dacoity," alleging that they seized his gold possessions despite him presenting relevant bills as proof of ownership.