Vishal Kant works as an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He tracks developments in Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi government. Vishal has spent about a decade covering the city politics and governance, besides writing on Delhi’s civic issues, urban transport and infrastructure.
Articles by Vishal Kant
Jharkhand: Cong revokes suspension of 3 MLAs caught with cash in WB
Announcing the decision, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said the party has decided to revoke the suspension of Irfan Ansari, Naman Bixel Kongari and Rajesh Kacchap because “nothing came out in police investigation” and since the three legislators have “accepted their mistake and tendered apology”.
Updated on Jul 28, 2023 09:22 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand cabinet nod to launch probe against 5 BJP ex-ministers
The Jharkhand cabinet on Tuesday greenlit a proposal by the state’s anti-corruption bureau to kick off a preliminary probe into a case of alleged disproportionate assets of five cabinet members in former BJP chief minister Raghubar Das’s government.
Updated on Jul 26, 2023 12:57 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand: Guv returns Jain University bill to govt
Sources in the government, however, said they are still assessing why the Raj Bhawan has returned the Jain University Bill though it has cleared another private university Bill — Durga Soren University bill, 2023, brought earlier this year.
Updated on Jul 19, 2023 10:26 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
J’khand: JMM, RJD eye more seats in LS polls
The three parties in Jharkhand had contested both Lok Sabha and assembly elections in alliance in 2019 as well. As per the seat sharing agreement, while Congress led the alliance with maximum seats to contest in Lok Sabha elections, the JMM led the alliance in the assembly polls.
Updated on Jul 17, 2023 10:04 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
BJP picks ex-CM Marandi, its old tribal face, as new Jharkhand unit chief
Marandi, 65, who started his public life with the RSS and VHP, has the distinction of being the first chief minister of Jharkhand after it was carved out of Bihar in 2000.
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 09:45 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
No coercive action against Rahul Gandhi: Jharkhand HC on Modi surname case
The special court hearing MP, MLA cases in Ranchi rejected Gandhi’s petition for exemption from personal appearance in the case on May 3
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 08:16 PM IST
Jharkhand’s Budha Pahad soon to become soft release centre of Palamau Tiger Reserve
Budha Pahad, the mountainous terrain once dotted by land mines installed by the Maoists, was ‘freed’ from the clutches of the extremist group in 2022 after months-long special operation by the security forces
Updated on Jul 02, 2023 04:45 PM IST
Jharkhand: 10 convicted in Tabrez mob lynching case, sentencing on July 5
24-year-old Tabrez Anasri was beaten to death for allegedly attempting burglary at a house in Dhatkidih village in the intervening night of June 17-18, 2019.
Updated on Jun 27, 2023 10:09 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Have support base in seven LS seats in J’khand, but open to negotiations for seat sharing, says Raja
Raja was in the state to hold consultations with his state executive about the future prospects. A delegation of the party led by Raja also met chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday.
Updated on Jun 19, 2023 09:32 PM IST
‘Con man’ held for fleecing people in Jharkhand, Bihar
Khunti superintendent of police (SP) Aman Kumar said during the investigation it came to light that the accused committed similar crimes across several districts in Bihar and Jharkhand and conned different persons to the tune of around ₹25 lakh since November 2022.
Updated on Jun 15, 2023 10:07 PM IST
Demand to change ministers, state president grows in Jharkhand Congress
On the issue of changing the PCC chief, insiders said some within the party want to replace Rajesh Thakur, Bhumihar by caste, with someone from the backward community, preferably a tribal
Updated on Jun 13, 2023 09:48 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Defence land deal: ED arrests Kolkata bizman ‘linked to Soren’
Earlier, eight persons, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, have been arrested in the case, allegedly for hatching a conspiracy to registering the property in name of the company owned by the Kolkata businessman
Updated on Jun 08, 2023 10:04 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
‘Constitution can’t be at mercy of state govts’
Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan spoke to Vishal Kant about a series of issues, including his decision to return the reservation bill to the state government, his next move on the election commission’s opinion on mining lease case of chief minister Hemant Soren, and accusations by non-BJP-ruled states against the governors across the country
Updated on Jun 07, 2023 10:45 PM IST
‘Constitution can’t be at mercy of state govt’: Jharkhand governor Radhakrishnan
Governor says Jharkhand is a very resourceful state but there is a huge mismatch in terms of development
Updated on Jun 07, 2023 03:52 PM IST
Make rules to implement judicial orders: President Murmu
Murmu, who inaugurated the new building of the Jharkhand High Court in state capital Ranchi, was addressing a gathering which included chief justice of India DY Chandrachud, union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Governor CP Radhakrishnan, chief minister Hemant Soren, besides serving and former judges of Jharkhand high court.
Updated on May 24, 2023 09:52 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
NCR belt emerges new cybercrime epicentre
The highest number of cybercrimes in the country over the last three years originated from Bharatpur district in Rajasthan
Updated on May 22, 2023 12:08 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Rahul Gandhi defamation case: J’khand HC reserves order on quashing petition
The complaint case was filed by Navin Jha with Ranchi court on April 28, 2018, against the statement Rahul Gandhi made at the plenary session of his party on March 18, 2018.
Updated on May 16, 2023 09:55 PM IST
Nitish meets CM Soren, says will work together for 2024 LS polls
The Janata Dal (United) leader, who leads a coalition government in Bihar, has been meeting leaders from various parties as part of his campaign for the last several months.
Updated on May 10, 2023 09:35 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
IAS Ranjan was principal conspirator in fraudulent sale of army land, ED tells Ranchi court
The directorate of enforcement (ED) on Friday told the special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court that IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan misused his office of Ranchi deputy commissioner and connived with land brokers, officials and other beneficiaries to facilitate fraudulent sale of atleast three land plots at premium locations in Jharkhand’s state capital, including one under possession of the Indian army since independence, by manipulation of official records in Ranchi and Kolkata
Updated on May 05, 2023 07:03 PM IST
ED arrests Jharkhand IAS officer in land deal case
ED on Thursday arrested Jharkhand IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, after around 11 hours of questioning in connection with its money laundering probe related to alleged illegal land deals.
Updated on May 05, 2023 12:00 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Ranchi court rejects Rahul’s plea for appearance exemption
The defamation case in Ranchi court was filed by an advocate, Pradip Modi, for Gandhi’s alleged remark that “all Modis are thieves” at an election rally in Ranchi in 2019.
Updated on May 03, 2023 09:57 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand: Congress cautious over minister’s viral video as BJP seeks action
BJP MP from Jharkhand’s Godda Nishikant Dubey on Sunday night had shared a video clip on social media purportedly showing Gupta engaging in an “obscene” phone conversation with a woman
Updated on Apr 25, 2023 01:18 PM IST
Jharkhand: Congress cautious over minister’s viral video, BJP seeks action
Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said the party was keeping a watch on the developments and party would take a call over the issue at opportune time.
Updated on Apr 24, 2023 10:12 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
J’khand guv again returns bill to increase reservation
A senior Raj Bhawan official said that the bill has been returned to the government based on legal opinion provided by the Attorney General of India.
Updated on Apr 20, 2023 12:26 AM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi
Jharkhand governor returns OBC reservation bill to Soren govt for review
A senior official in Raj Bhawan, however, said the bill has been returned back to the government based on the legal opinion provided by the Attorney General of India.
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 10:26 PM IST
Jharkhand governor returns quota increase bill for review
An official in the governor’s office said the bill was returned on the basis of the legal opinion from the attorney general of India
Updated on Apr 19, 2023 12:17 PM IST
Ranchi land scam case: ED summons IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan for questioning
The ED summon to IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan comes four days after the federal agency raided 21 locations across three states including the official and private residence of Ranjan and others on April 13
Updated on Apr 18, 2023 09:16 AM IST
Land scam case: ED arrests seven, sent to judicial custody; hearing on remand today
The ED crack down is related to money laundering probe in connection with fraudulent sale of around 4.5 acres land, in possession of the Indian army since independence, besides one acre land in Cheshire Home road in upscale Bariatu area in Ranchi.
Updated on Apr 14, 2023 10:01 PM IST
Jharkhand money laundering probe: ED raids multiple locations of IAS officer
The raids are in connection with a money laundering probe conducted by the federal agency at around two dozen locations of IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan over some land deals in Ranchi in the past few years
Updated on Apr 13, 2023 10:37 AM IST
Jharkhand: BJP workers clash with police during march to secretariat
The clash left around two dozen people, including at least two journalists and a policeman, injured. They were shifted to different hospitals and discharged after treatment.
Updated on Apr 11, 2023 10:07 PM IST
Vishal Kant, Ranchi