On Thursday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the U.P. Police had not only established a new identity within the country but also played a crucial role in reshaping the state’s image over the past seven years.

“Adherence to the rule of law has made the police a symbol of respect and trust, ushering in an era of development and employment in the state by opening up new possibilities for investment and business,” said Yogi Adityanath.

He made these remarks while flagging off the upgraded Police Response Vehicles (PRVs) in the second phase of UP-112, the state integrated emergency response centre, from his official residence in Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also distributed air-conditioned helmets to a team from the Kanpur Police Commissionerate, led by Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar.

“With the establishment of the rule of law in the state, U.P. has risen to become the second-largest economy in the country and is now rapidly positioning itself to become the nation’s largest economy,” Yogi Adityanath added.

“The state bears the responsibility for maintaining security, and our police force excels in this duty,” Yogi Adityanath said. “The rule of law is fundamental to good governance, and ensuring a secure and safe environment in the state is very important,” he added.

He also mentioned that the demand for modernizing the police force to meet contemporary needs had been longstanding.

Efforts have been made to reduce the response time of UP-112 and increase the number of PRV-112 vehicles over the past seven years, he said. Two-wheelers have been added alongside four-wheelers, enabling PRVs to reach streets and localities to better serve the public, he added.

The government has initiated an ambitious three-year program to add 6,278 new four-wheelers and two-wheelers to the fleet. This year alone, 1,778 vehicles will be integrated into the fleet, he said.

“During the Covid-19 lockdown, UP Police’s PRV 112 garnered significant attention. People witnessed the dedication of the police force, with two-wheelers accessing areas where four-wheelers couldn’t reach,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier outlined a new vision for the directors general of police across the country, emphasizing changes in the law and the concept of smart policing, the chief minister said. He noted that the PM advocated being strict yet sensitive, modern and mobile, alert and accountable, reliable and responsive, techno-savvy and trend-oriented.

The UP Police have endeavored to fully implement these principles, he said.

The chief minister stated that neglecting modernization efforts, especially considering societal needs, would cause the police force to lag. “The most severe consequence of this would be jeopardizing the safety of the common man,” he remarked.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) clarified that the proceedings initiated against edtech company Byju’s under the companies law are “still ongoing,” and a final conclusion cannot be drawn at this stage.

This statement followed media reports suggesting that a year-long probe by the ministry found no evidence of financial misconduct, such as fund diversion or financial manipulation, at Byju’s.

“There have been recent reports claiming that Byju’s has been cleared of financial fraud in an ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA),” the statement read, adding that the investigation is still ongoing, and definitive statements on the matter are premature.

The reports indicated that the investigation did reveal governance shortcomings that contributed to the startup’s increasing losses.

“It is categorically clarified that such reports are factually incorrect and misleading. The proceedings initiated by MCA under the Companies Act, 2013, are still ongoing, and no final conclusion should be drawn in this matter at this stage,” the MCA added.

Last year, the ministry began inspecting Byju’s books due to various concerns, including delays in finalizing financial statements and the resignation of an auditor.

Byju’s, once a celebrated edtech startup, reached great heights before encountering several challenges. The return of students to physical classrooms after the pandemic and the acquisition of Aakash strained Byju’s finances. Over the past year, the company faced additional setbacks: its auditor resigned, lenders initiated bankruptcy proceedings against a holding company, and a US lawsuit contested loan terms and repayment conditions.

Raveendran Byju, founder of Think & Learn, the company behind the Byju’s brand, attributed delays in the company’s revival to certain foreign investors. These delays included restructuring the board, postponing financial results, and resolving a liquidity crisis, reportedly hindered by opposition to a USD 200 million rights issue.

Pune Porsche Car Accident: Bombay High Court Orders Release of 17-Year-Old

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of a 17-year-old boy from an observation home. The teen was involved in a recent Porsche car accident in Pune, where he was accused of driving the car illegally and in an inebriated state, resulting in a collision with a two-wheeler that killed two techies from Madhya Pradesh.

Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande of the Bombay High Court quashed the Juvenile Justice Board’s (JJB) orders that had remanded the minor to the observation home.

“We allow the petition and order his release. The Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) shall be in the care and custody of the petitioner (paternal aunt),” stated the court.

The bench noted that the JJB’s remand orders were illegal and lacked jurisdiction. The court remarked that in the immediate reaction to the accident, the minor’s age was overlooked amid the public outcry and kneejerk reactions.

“The CCL is under 18 years old. His age needs to be considered,” the bench emphasized.

The court underscored that it was bound by the law and the aims of the Juvenile Justice Act, which mandates treating minors in conflict with the law differently from adults, regardless of the crime’s severity.

The order came in response to a plea from the 17-year-old’s paternal aunt, who argued that he was illegally detained due to public and political pressure, which led the police to deviate from proper investigative procedures, undermining the Juvenile Justice Act’s purpose.

Prashant Patil, the lawyer for the minor, said, “Today we challenged the three remands of the Juvenile Justice Board before the high court… We argued for his immediate release. Today, the court has directed his release. Custody has to be granted to the paternal aunt…”

The teenager, accused of driving drunk and causing a fatal collision on May 19, had been placed in an observation home in Pune. Initially granted bail on flimsy grounds after the accident, he was remanded to the observation home by the JJB on May 22, following a police request to amend the bail order. The boy’s family claimed the investigation was unduly influenced.