Pune Police Evade The Law By Dodging Questions On Use Of Israeli Spyware On Indian Citizens
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Pune Police Evade The Law By Dodging Questions On Use Of Israeli Spyware On Indian Citizens

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in Article 14. Read here. A Pune police refusal to reply to right-to-information (RTI) queries about the use of Israeli spyware Pegasus raise several questions about whether the military-grade hacking weapon was deployed in implicating lawyers, activists, and academics in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad (BK-EP) case, which invokes India’s draconian counter-terrorism law,  the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,…

UP Govt Choked Development Work in Muslim Dominated Districts
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UP Govt Choked Development Work in Muslim Dominated Districts

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Taut [not live now]. Though a copy is irretrievable, you can read the crux of the story below. You can also view the video story here. Year by year, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government lowered its spending on developing minority-dominated districts in the state, until it finally…

Pegasus Snooping in 2019: Did Modi Government Investigate? Not Really, Say RTIs
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Pegasus Snooping in 2019: Did Modi Government Investigate? Not Really, Say RTIs

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Quint. Read here. “What happened to that?” As heated arguments on the Pegasus snooping issue flew back and forth in the Supreme Court on Monday, 13 September, senior advocate Kapil Sibal asked a pertinent question. He had been trying to establish to the judges how even the union government had acknowledged…

Death Count In 24 UP Districts 43 Times More Than Official Covid-19 Toll
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Death Count In 24 UP Districts 43 Times More Than Official Covid-19 Toll

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in Article 14. Read here. New Delhi: The number of people who died in 24 Uttar Pradesh (UP) districts over nine months to 31 March 2021 was, cumulatively, 43 times higher than the total official Covid-19 death toll reported from these districts over this period, according to mortality data for…

2 Modi Govt Advisers Warned New IT Rules Beyond Scope Of Law, Were Overruled
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2 Modi Govt Advisers Warned New IT Rules Beyond Scope Of Law, Were Overruled

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in Article 14. Read here. New Delhi: Act fairly to ensure the rule of law, ensure there is no failure of justice, and avoid future embarrassment. This was the advice two of its own legal advisers gave to the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out that new rules passed…

As India preps for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Centre says ‘no proposal’ to indemnify vaccine manufacturers
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As India preps for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Centre says ‘no proposal’ to indemnify vaccine manufacturers

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in Firstpost. Read here. Centre in response to an RTI filed said that it currently has no proposal to indemnify or exempt vaccine manufacturers from any liability in case of serious side-effects/adverse reactions due to inoculation of their vaccines. On 3 January, the Government of India gave its final approval for…

#Exclusive: Centre Cites ‘National Security’ To Deny Info On Migrant Crisis Preparedness
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#Exclusive: Centre Cites ‘National Security’ To Deny Info On Migrant Crisis Preparedness

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Logical Indian. Read here. Want to know how Modi govt prepared to handle immediate consequences of sudden national lockdown? You can’t. Centre cites “national security”, trust issues, to deny information on an RTI filed by Saurav Das on behalf of The Logical Indian. The sudden national lockdown announced by Prime…

EXCLUSIVE | Govt Ignores Its Own Vital Safeguards on Aarogya Setu 
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EXCLUSIVE | Govt Ignores Its Own Vital Safeguards on Aarogya Setu 

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Quint. Read here. It is now official what privacy activists have long been worried about. Responses to RTI queries reveal that the Government of India has failed to implement measures to safeguard and secure data of millions of Indians collected by the controversial COVID-19 tracing app, Aarogya Setu. Two days after…

After TLI Story, Union Health Minister Clarifies On Govt’s Dependence On Foreign Loans
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After TLI Story, Union Health Minister Clarifies On Govt’s Dependence On Foreign Loans

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Logical Indian. Read here. Dr. Harsh Vardhan’s half-hearted assurance that government is not dependent on foreign loans is hollow, since documents accessed by Saurav Das on behalf of The Logical Indian revealed loans were taken even for Rs 22 crores from a foreign bank in June. Harsh Vardhan failed to…

Exclusive: As PM-CARES Funds Accumulate, Modi Unwilling To Spend, Keener On Taking Loans, RTI Reveals
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Exclusive: As PM-CARES Funds Accumulate, Modi Unwilling To Spend, Keener On Taking Loans, RTI Reveals

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Logical Indian. Read here. RTI filed by Saurav Das on behalf of The Logical Indian reveals that Centre’s Rs 15,000 Crore COVID-19 Package announced in April 2020 was entirely financed through international loans, with experts calling it “absolutely unnecessary, a currency risk” and that it “significantly adds to repayment costs”….

#Exclusive: Despite 680 Crore in Coffer, RTI Reveals UP Govt Failed to Provide Food Allowance to All Children During Lockdown
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#Exclusive: Despite 680 Crore in Coffer, RTI Reveals UP Govt Failed to Provide Food Allowance to All Children During Lockdown

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Logical Indian. Read here. RTI filed by Saurav Das on behalf of The Logical Indian reveals that despite it being 6 months since the first national lockdown, UP CM Yogi Adityanath is yet to provide food under the Mid-Day Meal scheme to all the 1.8 crore eligible children of the…

Exclusive: Who is Protecting Fugitive Lalit Modi? RTI Reveals No Action On Request For CBI Probe Against Modi
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Exclusive: Who is Protecting Fugitive Lalit Modi? RTI Reveals No Action On Request For CBI Probe Against Modi

BySaurav Das

The article was originally published in The Logical Indian. Read here. Lalit Modi, currently residing in London is wanted by Indian investigative agencies on several charges of corruption and money laundering. RTI filed by Saurav Das on behalf of The Logical Indian reveals that a request for CBI probe against him is pending for 3 years with…