Nation Briefs

Karan shield

Mumbai, Feb. 20 (PTI): Bombay High Court today restrained city police from taking coercive action against Karan Johar in connection with the case registered against him and others over the AIB Roast show.

The cops have been asked not to take any action till the next date of hearing on March 16. The court had last week restrained Pune police from taking action against 14 persons, including Johar, actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, for allegedly using obscene language in the show.

Car crash

Ahmedabad (PTI): At least seven persons, including four women and two children, died when their car rammed into a tree, police said. According to a preliminary probe, the driver lost control of the car as he had dozed off.

McDonald's

Manila (PTI): An Indian has been shot at by two unidentified Filipinos following an argument inside a McDonald's in the Philippines. Cheten Saparaiya, 32, was at the outlet along with two friends when the Filipinos arrived and started making fun of him, triggering an argument. The duo then opened fire, injuring Saparaiya.

Godse bust

Chennai (PTI): The Tamil Nadu government has refused to grant permission to the Hindu Mahasabha to set up statues of Nathuram Godse, chief minister O. Panneerselvam informed the Assembly on Friday.

Adoption rule

New Delhi (PTI): Union minister Maneka Gandhi has criticised the "idleness and deliberate lying" of adoption agencies and set a deadline of four months to complete the process. The adoption rate of 800 to 1,000 per year in India, which has around 50,000 orphan children, is "shameful", Maneka said.

Bhushan plea

New Delhi (PTI): Delhi High Court has sought the Centre's response on a plea by lawyer Prashant Bhushan seeking renewal of his passport with a 10-year validity. Bhushan contended that his passport was renewed for only a year because of pending cases against him.