An arrest warrant has been issued against MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi for allegedly ignoring the summons sent by Rangareddy court in connection with illegal assets case. Although Nirmal court gave bail to Akbaruddin Owaisi in the same case, not to forget that several cases were booked against Akbaruddin Owaisi in different courts across the country including the Rangareddy court.

It was reported that Akbaruddin Owaisi ignored the summons sent by RR district court. And therefore the court has served summons to him. This warrant is reportedly a non-bailable one. The sources said that Cyberabad police are making arrangements to take Akbaruddin into the custody to produce him before the court.

(AW Phani)

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has reportedly left for New Delhi today early in the morning. It is learnt that Kiran Kumar Reddy will meet with newly appointed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, and State Congress affairs incharge minister Gulamnabi Azad to and convene a meeting. His talks with Nabi today would be preparatory exercise for the meeting with Rahul tomorrow.

It is learnt that Kiran Kumar Reddy will talk about the Telangana Congress MPs in the state during the meeting. He will seek the opinion of the high command on the pending petitions with the speaker against the MLAs after being in a dilemma whether or not to disqualify them. The petitions are filed apropos to the MLAs going against the party's orders not to support the no-confidence motion in the Assembly a few days ago.

Botsa is also reportedly leaving for Delhi to meet with Rahul tomorrow on April 18th but it is not clear when he would start yet.

Yesterday he spoke at Tekkali Srikakulam while warning employees that all the errant government officials who miss meetings and fail to meet deadlines will be taken to task. He said that dereliction of duties was unpardonable.

(AW- Anil)

CPI (Maoists) fled after their secret meeting was intercepted by the joint police forces of Andhra Pradesh and Chattishgarh to Tuesday in Bijapur district, only 18 kms from Andhra Pradesh border. In the encounter ther were at least nine Maoists, all of who belonged to the Khammam-Karimnagar-Warangal (KKW) divisional committee. This has been commended as a major achievement since most of the KKW committee has been eliminated now.

After the Khammam police received a tip off from a source that the Maoists convened a meeting at Chintalnar South Blaster area at the Puvarthi forest area on Monday evening. The Chattishgarh police and the Andhra Pradesh police formed a joint foce with Greyhounds, CRPF and the Chattishgarh police forming a strong force of almost 500 men. After reaching the spot at 6 am on Tuesday, they confronted the Maoists asking them to surrender but the Maoists open fired after they heard the police.

The open spray of bullets lasted for 2 hrs between the parties after which a large group of people managed to escape. Over 9 members of the committee were killed. Among them was the notorious Marri Ravi aka Sudhakar, the North Telangana state zonal committee member and secretary of the KKW divisional committee. Four SLRs, two .303 rifles, two Insas, one carbine, one tapancha, one 9 mm pistol, one muzzle rifle and one 8mm rifle were recovered from the site.

Identification of the bodies is not yet complete. Until now it is learnt that Marri Ravi (37), a native of Ghanpur, Warangal; G Laxmi (28) of Warangal district, KKW divisional committee member; Etti Narsakka alias Sabitha, area committee secretary; Jangoan Raju (29) of Warangal, area committee member; A Venkati (36) from Manthini, Karimnagar district, area committee member; Ajay (36) alias Bheema of Warangal, dalam member; and Seetha of Warangal, dalam member are all confirmed dead after the exchange of fire.

(AW- Anil)

Princie, an Indian diamond, deriving its name from a 14 year old prince of Baroda, has created history for being the costliest auction for any jewel until date after being sold for a cost of $40 million. The price is almost equal to Rs 200 crores.

The intense pink diamond, 34.65 carats, originally belonged to the Nizam of Hyderabad was auctioned by auction house Christie's. Never before in America did a jewel sell for such high price. Hitherto, the record remained with the Wittelsbach Diamond sale which raked up $24.3 million in December, 2008.

The identity of the author is not yet known. The exact price Princie fetched was $39,323,750 translating to $1,135,000 per carat. The diamond originally belonged to the Royal family of Hyderabad, on of the wealthiest Mughal Empire rulers. It later was bequeathed to Nizam-ul-Mulk, the First Nizam.

(AW- Anil)

Telangana Congress members had been mounting more pressure on the Center seeking an early decision on the seperate state while demanding for a positive reply depsite warnings from the high command that they shouldn't cross the lines.

K Keshava Rao, the former member of Rajya Sabha threatened that they would all go on an agitation and decide the future course of action achieve Telangana state. His statement insinuated that they all awaited the call from K Chandrasekhara Rao, the leader of TRS to join his party. MP from Peddapalli, G Vivek said that he was hoping that the party would take a quick decision with positive answers or else he would be forced to consider altenatives.

However, this statement was merely a threat that is on the Center to ensure an expedited process. He later announced that he would contest on behalf of Congress for the next elections.

PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana also made efforts to convince the T Congress MPs that they had reason to procrastinate the decision and that a decision would be made soon. Coaxing the MPs he tried to make sure that all of them remained with Congress.

It is also speculated that both the PCC chief and CM Kiran Kumar Reddy would have talked about the issue to the high command today in New Delhi.

Pressure Mounting Tactics or real threats?

Keshava Rao doesn't want to move to TRS despite the party Chief asking the former Rajya Sabha member to co-ordinate the T-Congress members for the movement. He also offered to take them into his party on April 27th the formation day of TRS party. Vivek has rubbished reports saying that he won't move already. Manda Jagannadham has been keen to move to TRS however. He originally moved to Congress from TDP and hence leaving Congress would be an easy job for him since it is not his original turf anyway.

Though Keshava Rao has not been interested in shifting sides, he strongly believed TRS is committed to the T Movement. He said, “It is a party wedded to the T movement. The Congress has forgotten about the demand for a separate state”.

(AW- Anil) 

Om Namo Venkateshaya

Good morning dear devotees of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy. Welcome to Tirumala Tirupati updats, your complete source to the rush at Tirumala and darshan timings. Today there's more than moderate rush at Tirumala. As many as 15 queue compartments at Vaikuntum queue complex were filled with devotees.

• For sarva darshanam (free darshan), its taking eight hours to seek blessings of Lord

• For pratyeka pravesha darshanam (special entry ticket), it's taking three hours to enter the sanctum sanctorum

• And those who take pedestrian path to Tirumala, it's taking less than two hours through special queue line

That's all for today friends. Catch you all tomorrow with more updates on Tirumala. For more news on Tirumala Tirupati, do keep on visiting Andhra Wishesh.

(AW Phani)

Chief minister Kiran Kumar and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, who are in Delhi, are most likely to meet AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi today. The sources said that the duo are going to elucidate the political situation in the state besides the plans of some MP s and ministers from Telangana region who were apparently gearing up for joining TRS. Earlier, Sonia Gandhi and AICC in charge of AP affairs Gulam Nabi Azad discussed elaborately on the same topic and now CM and PCC chief will explain the situation to Rahul Gandhi.

Observers said that Congress party is almost losing its image in Telangana region due to the sentiment here. And the responsibility should be shouldered by leaders from Telangana region, they added. However, if the same leaders who should shoulder the responsibility of Congress jump to some other party, it will undoubtedly weaken the prospects of Congress, opined observers. Anyway, what step Rahul Gandhi will take after listening to chief minister and PCC chief has become an interesting question now.

(AW Phani)

Today it's Sri Rama Navami, the day Lord Sri Rama was said to have married Goddess Seeta. Every year on this day, a large number of people take part in marriage ritual of Sri Rama and Seeta. Especially, pilgrimage centre Bhadhrachalam will be filled with devotees today. Taking part in Seetharama Kalyanam at Bahdhrachalam is considered as auspicious day.

On the eve of Sriramanavami, Bhadrachalam temple is being decorated with beautifully with flowers. A large number of devotees are thronging to the temple to take part in Seetharama Kalyanam. Thousands of devotees even reached the temple by walk. The reports indicated that temple authorities failed to make elaborate arrangements due to which devotees were facing inconvenience.

(AW Phani)

Karnataka former tourism minister and accused in Obulapuram Mining Case, Gali Janardhan Reddy has received a major shock today as the Supreme Court has ordered not to carry out mining activities by OMC company until the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is ascertained. It may be noted that Gali Janardhan Reddy owns Obulapuram Mining Company.

There have been allegations and charges from the Central Bureau of Investigation that Gali Janardhan Reddy's OMC allegedly tampered the borderline between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Gali was then arrested by the CBI and he had been in and out of jails. He was even an accused in cash for bail scam. It was in the same case that former IAS officer Sri Lakshmi was prosecuted.

(AW Phani)

RTC has arranged special buses to Badhrachalam in the wake of Sreeramanavami. Seetharama Kalyanam is scheduled to be celebrated with much pomp and geity. To ensure that devotees face no inconvenience in reaching Badhrachalam, RTC has inducted special buses into its regular fleet. These buses would leave for Badhrachalam from MGBS and JBS.

While the regular bus fare is Rs. 294 for luxury, it will be Rs. 440 (each ticket) in these three days as they are special services, said RTC officials. It has to be mentioned here that Sreerama Pattabhishekam would be conducted on Saturday and Seetarama Kalyanam on Friday.

Notably, Sreeramanavami will be celebrated with much pomp and geity in Shirdi and other major pilgrimage centres too.

(AW Phani)

YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy is facing corruption charges, we all are aware of it. Apart from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate is also looking into the case. If we look at the news what Enforcement Directorate argues about Jaganmohan Reddy-

• Jaganmohan Reddy's income was in lakhs in 2004 and by the time of his father's death in 2009, the assets value mounted to Rs. 43,000 crore

• In 2003-04, Jaganmohan Reddy showed his IT returns as 9.9 lakh but in an affidavit submitted to the election commission in 2009, he showed that his assets value was Rs. 77 crore

• Jagan had set up many companies to divert the ill gotten money. So far 36 companies were brought to light

The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the alleged ill gotten money of Jaganmohan Reddy, has said that Jagan was like Gajini who looted the country. It has mentioned that Jagan cleverly diverted the bribes of corporate companies in the form of investments in his companies.

These arguments of Enforcement Directorate have now become the talk of the town. The observers said that it would surely effect the future of YSRC!

(AW Phani)

TDP leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu has expressed his anguish over the series of fire accidents that were taking place at Tirumala hills. He has taken on TTD officials and said that it was unfortunate that TTD was not looking in to the safety measures even after repeated fire mishaps in Tirumala.  Also, he said it was heights of negligence by the government that staff was not put in place round the clock at free meals building that caters free meals to lakhs of people daily.

Further, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu has said that chief minister's interest in Tirumala was clearly visible by looking at the way he appointed a corrupted person as EO in Tirumala. He has even questioned as to why chief minister has not taken any action against the AEO even after complaining that corruption was reaching its peak in Tirumala.

(AW Phani)

Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana have met AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. The meeting went on up to one-and-half hour. The sources close to AICC have said that the duo discussed many matters pertaining to the state affairs including the implementation of developmental programmes and even the party activities in the state.

This meeting has gained momentum in the wake of Congress leaders from Telangana region showing interest to joining TRS. Earlier Sonia Gandhi too discussed on the same matter with AICC in charge of AP affairs, Gulam Nabi Azad. It looks like the duo told Rahul Gandhi that Congress leaders would not quit the party to join TRS. Our sources even said that Rahul Gandhi asked Botsa to talk to the leaders once again and appease them.

(AW Phani)

Today it's Sri Rama Navami, the day Lord Sri Rama was said to have married Goddess Seeta. Every year on this day, a large number of people take part in marriage ritual of Sri Rama and Seeta. Especially, pilgrimage centre Bhadhrachalam will be filled with devotees today. Taking part in Seetharama Kalyanam at Bahdhrachalam is considered as auspicious day.

On the eve of Sriramanavami, Bhadrachalam temple is being decorated with beautifully with flowers. A large number of devotees are thronging to the temple to take part in Seetharama Kalyanam. Thousands of devotees even reached the temple by walk. The reports indicated that temple authorities failed to make elaborate arrangements due to which devotees were facing inconvenience.

(AW Phani)

Karnataka former tourism minister and accused in Obulapuram Mining Case, Gali Janardhan Reddy has received a major shock today as the Supreme Court has ordered not to carry out mining activities by OMC company until the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka is ascertained. It may be noted that Gali Janardhan Reddy owns Obulapuram Mining Company.

There have been allegations and charges from the Central Bureau of Investigation that Gali Janardhan Reddy's OMC allegedly tampered the borderline between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Gali was then arrested by the CBI and he had been in and out of jails. He was even an accused in cash for bail scam. It was in the same case that former IAS officer Sri Lakshmi was prosecuted.

(AW Phani)

RTC has arranged special buses to Badhrachalam in the wake of Sreeramanavami. Seetharama Kalyanam is scheduled to be celebrated with much pomp and geity. To ensure that devotees face no inconvenience in reaching Badhrachalam, RTC has inducted special buses into its regular fleet. These buses would leave for Badhrachalam from MGBS and JBS.

While the regular bus fare is Rs. 294 for luxury, it will be Rs. 440 (each ticket) in these three days as they are special services, said RTC officials. It has to be mentioned here that Sreerama Pattabhishekam would be conducted on Saturday and Seetarama Kalyanam on Friday.

Notably, Sreeramanavami will be celebrated with much pomp and geity in Shirdi and other major pilgrimage centres too.

(AW Phani)

YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy is facing corruption charges, we all are aware of it. Apart from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate is also looking into the case. If we look at the news what Enforcement Directorate argues about Jaganmohan Reddy-

• Jaganmohan Reddy's income was in lakhs in 2004 and by the time of his father's death in 2009, the assets value mounted to Rs. 43,000 crore

• In 2003-04, Jaganmohan Reddy showed his IT returns as 9.9 lakh but in an affidavit submitted to the election commission in 2009, he showed that his assets value was Rs. 77 crore

• Jagan had set up many companies to divert the ill gotten money. So far 36 companies were brought to light

The Enforcement Directorate, which is also probing the alleged ill gotten money of Jaganmohan Reddy, has said that Jagan was like Gajini who looted the country. It has mentioned that Jagan cleverly diverted the bribes of corporate companies in the form of investments in his companies.

These arguments of Enforcement Directorate have now become the talk of the town. The observers said that it would surely effect the future of YSRC!

(AW Phani)

TDP leader Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu has expressed his anguish over the series of fire accidents that were taking place at Tirumala hills. He has taken on TTD officials and said that it was unfortunate that TTD was not looking in to the safety measures even after repeated fire mishaps in Tirumala.  Also, he said it was heights of negligence by the government that staff was not put in place round the clock at free meals building that caters free meals to lakhs of people daily.

Further, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu has said that chief minister's interest in Tirumala was clearly visible by looking at the way he appointed a corrupted person as EO in Tirumala. He has even questioned as to why chief minister has not taken any action against the AEO even after complaining that corruption was reaching its peak in Tirumala.

(AW Phani)

Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana have met AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. The meeting went on up to one-and-half hour. The sources close to AICC have said that the duo discussed many matters pertaining to the state affairs including the implementation of developmental programmes and even the party activities in the state.

This meeting has gained momentum in the wake of Congress leaders from Telangana region showing interest to joining TRS. Earlier Sonia Gandhi too discussed on the same matter with AICC in charge of AP affairs, Gulam Nabi Azad. It looks like the duo told Rahul Gandhi that Congress leaders would not quit the party to join TRS. Our sources even said that Rahul Gandhi asked Botsa to talk to the leaders once again and appease them.

(AW Phani)

Sri Rama Navami-the birthday and also the wedding anniversary-of legendary ancient personality and Lord Sri Ram falls on Navami after Ugadi. Today being that auspicious day, celebrations have touched peak across the country. At many famous temples in the country, the wedding of SitaRam would be conducted with much pomp and geity. And Badhrachalam temple (built by famous saint Bhakta Ramdas) at a place where Sri Rama and Sita Mata stayed during their vanavasam, the celebrations will touch sky.

After edurkolu ritual that took place at Badhrachalam temple yesterday, SitaRama kalyanam is being conducted. Since the time of last Qutub Shahi, Abul Hasan Tana Shah (the seventh and last emperor of Bahamani dynasty who jailed Ramadasu for constructing a temple at Badhrachalam and later released him after dreaming Lord Sri Rama), silk clothes have been presented to the deity at Badhrachalam by the ruling authority of Andhra Pradesh/Hyderabad/Badhrachalam.

This year, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has already left for Badhrachalam to submit silk clothes and thalambralu to SitaRamulu on behalf of the government. Kiran Kumar is going to submit the holy clothes at 11.30 am. In fact, several other VIPs have already reached Badhrachalam to witness SitaRama kalyanam.

(AW Phani)