Category: India

Mumbai Rains Today: Mumbai, Thane, Palghar schools and colleges shut Monday as IMD issues red alert for heavy rain; University of Mumbai postpones July 6 exams, fresh dates awaited

Mumbai’s monsoon fury turned deadlier on Monday as at least 10 people died in rain-related incidents, while a landslide near Lohagad Fort trapped a family and forced the complete shutdown of both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old highway. IMD’s ‘red warning’, shut schools and a rail landslide compounded the crisis.

From a tree crushing a roadside shop in Kurla to a man drowning after falling into a floodwater-hidden manhole in Saki Naka, the fatalities paint a grim picture of a city battling relentless downpours.

An 11-year-old was killed when a tree fell on a school bus in Chembur, while two youths died after venturing into the off-limits Pandavkada Waterfall in Kharghar. In Mira Road-Bhayandar, a falling coconut tree claimed another life.

Adding to the chaos, a landslide at Patan village near Lohagad Fort has reportedly trapped a family, with rescue operations underway, while both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old Mumbai-Pune Highway have been shut in both directions after a concrete pillar collapse and flooding on alternate routes through Maval and Tamini Ghat.

The IMD’s 4 AM nowcast has escalated the alert to Red for Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad and Thane, warning of intense rain spells with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph, even as the city already reels from shut schools, cancelled exams and a landslide-hit railway line.

How Many People Have Died In Mumbai’s Rain Fury So Far?

At least 10 people have died in rain-related incidents across Mumbai and its adjoining areas, with causes ranging from falling trees to drowning in open manholes.

What Exactly Happened In Kurla, Saki Naka And Chembur?

A 63-year-old man was killed in Kurla after a tree collapsed onto a roadside shop. In Saki Naka, a man drowned after falling into a manhole concealed by floodwater, while in Chembur, an 11-year-old schoolchild died when a tree fell on their school bus.

Why Did Two Young Men Die At Pandavkada Waterfall?

Two youths lost their lives in Kharghar’s Navi Mumbai area after entering the Pandavkada Waterfall, a spot officially declared out of bounds due to its dangerous currents during monsoon.

What Happened In Mira Road-Bhayandar?

A man on a motorcycle died after a coconut tree came crashing down on him amid the heavy winds and rain.

Has IMD Issued A Fresh Warning For Mumbai?

Yes — IMD Mumbai issued a Red Warning nowcast at 4 AM on July 6, valid for three hours, forecasting intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph at isolated places across Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad and Thane.

Why Are Schools And Colleges Shut Across MMR?

The alert has forced authorities to shut schools and colleges across Mumbai, Thane and Palghar as a precautionary measure on Monday.

What About University Exams Scheduled For Today?

The University of Mumbai has postponed all examinations set for July 6 in view of the alert, with fresh dates to be announced later.

Has Rain Disrupted Railway Services Too?

Yes — a landslide struck the South East Ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala, between Thakurvadi and Monkey Hill Loop Cabin on the Up Main Line, affecting Central Railway’s Mumbai Division services.

Which Trains Have Been Affected By Mumbai-Pune Landslide?

Several long-distance trains have been cancelled, diverted or short-terminated due to the disruption. Among those short-terminated: the Santragachi-Pune Humsafar Express at Panvel, the Solapur-CSMT Siddheshwar Express at Pune, the Hyderabad-CSMT Hussain Sagar Express at Lonavala, the Visakhapatnam-LTT Express at Lonavala, the Hosapete-CSMT Express at Talegaon, the Sainagar Shirdi-Dadar Express at Pune, the Hubballi-Dadar Express at Pune, the Kolhapur-CSMT Mahalaxmi Express at Pune, the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Pune Special at Karjat, and the Dadar-Satara Express at Karjat.

What Is Central Railway Doing To Restore Services?

Restoration work began immediately after the landslide, with railway teams deployed to clear debris and ensure passenger safety.

Central Railway has advised commuters to check the latest train status before starting their journey, as further changes may be announced depending on weather conditions, and has urged travellers to avoid non-essential trips along the Mumbai-Pune corridor until normal operations resume.

Why Has Pune-Mumbai Expressway Been Shut Down?

Adding to the corridor’s woes, traffic in both directions on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway has also been stopped after a concrete pillar fell between the connecting and missing link, while the old Mumbai-Pune Highway has been closed due to overflowing water at several points.

A landslide near the Tunnel 2 exit on the Pune-to-Mumbai lane of the Connecting Link Road has further forced authorities to divert traffic since 4 AM, with the Highway Traffic Police closely monitoring the situation.

Commuters have been strongly advised to avoid travel altogether amid the extremely heavy ongoing rainfall.

Are Alternate Routes Between Pune And Mumbai Also Affected?

Yes — flood-like conditions have been reported in the Maval and Tamini Ghat areas, which serve as alternate routes, effectively cutting off road connectivity between the two cities.

How Are Mumbai’s Suburban Train Services Holding Up?

Central Railway said suburban services are running across all four corridors on Monday, with only minor delays despite the heavy rainfall. Main Line trains are running 6-8 minutes behind schedule, while Harbour Line services are delayed by around 4 minutes. The Transharbour Line and Uran-Belapur Line are operating on schedule.

What Happened At Lohagad Fort Near Patan Village?

A landslide has been reported at Patan village near Lohagad Fort, with a family said to be caught in the impact area. Rescue operations have been initiated, according to IGP Kolhapur Range Ranjan Kumar Sharma.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/mumbai-news/mumbai-rains-update-10-dead-schools-shut-landslide-hits-central-railway-line-10192098.html

Police said the autopsy would determine the exact cause of death and whether she had been sexually assaulted.

A day after an 11-year-old girl went missing, police recovered her body in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Sunday. The incident triggered widespread protests and the lynching of a man on rape-murder charges.

According to police, the minor’s body was found stuffed inside a sack in the Surjyapur Haat area of Baruipur. The child’s death sparked outrage among locals who blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burnt tyres and vandalised police vehicles while demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.

Four Arrested, Raids Underway

Inspector General of Police (Presidency Range) Kankarprasad Barui said an enraged mob beat a man to death on suspicion of his involvement in the girl’s death, PTI reported. Police have so far arrested four people in connection with the case.

The protest ended after Barui assured demonstrators that all those involved would be arrested and brought to justice.

“Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called me up to take action against all the culprits, and they would be punished,” the officer told the protesters, while addressing them using a megaphone.

Barui also said he would meet the victim’s family on Tuesday and promised all possible assistance. “No one will be spared,” he added, while confirming that raids were underway to apprehend the remaining accused.

Teen’s Family Alleges Abduction

Further, the girl’s body was sent to Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Police said the autopsy would determine the exact cause of death and whether she had been sexually assaulted.

Investigators said the girl had left her home on Saturday afternoon to buy a birthday gift for a friend. Meanwhile, her family has alleged that four people forcibly abducted her.

TMC Targets BJP Over Probe

Further, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee criticised the BJP government in West Bengal, alleging that political connections were influencing the investigation.

“BJP came to Bengal promising women’s safety and security. Instead, every such incident raises fresh questions about its hollow promises,” he wrote on X.

“When justice becomes selective and outrage becomes political, it is not only the victim who suffers, it is society that pays the price,” he added.

The Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan entered its 16th day on Sunday, with multiple hunger strikes continuing. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has lost around 6kg during his fast, though doctors report stable vitals. Protesters allege exam irregularities and NEET paper leak issues, while SKM and AISA have extended support.

The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities, entered its 16th day on Sunday. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also completed eight days of his indefinite hunger strike at the protest site.

According to a medical bulletin, Wangchuk has lost around 6kg since beginning the fast. Doctors said his blood pressure was 112/70 mm Hg while lying down, his heart rate was 72 beats per minute and his blood sugar level was 67 mg/dL. The bulletin added that his hydration remained fair, he was mentally alert and his weight had dropped to 60.95kg.

Wangchuk’s health stable despite 6kg weight loss

The CJP has continued to press for Pradhan’s resignation, alleging that repeated examination irregularities and paper leaks have severely affected students and their families.

Acharya Balkrishnaji, the co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved, mentions why you suffer from high temperature and subsequent ill health.

Every time you get a high fever, what follows is fatigue and a baggage of other health troubles. The harsher the medicines, the more adverse the effects. However, Ayurveda offers medicines and home remedies to treat without harm. Acharya Balkrishnaji, the co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved, speaks about the reasons behind the high fever, simple home remedies to treat it, and Patanjali products to help treat it.

Reasons Behind High Fever

Ayurveda refers to high fever as ‘jwara’ and calls it the body’s natural defence to remove any collected toxins and restore the body’s balance. Among adults and older children, 104°F is considered high. For newborns and infants between three and six months, it is 100° F and 102°F. It is around 103°F for infants and kids above six months.

The reasons include viral infections like cold, flu and dengue, bacterial infections like pneumonia, UTIs and bloodstream infections, inflammatory diseases like autoimmune diseases, heat-related diseases like heatstroke, medicines and vaccines, and even malignant tumours. The signs include high temperature, chill, sweat, tiredness, slight dehydration, feeling light-headed, and no interest in eating.

Seek help if you notice high temperature and signs like extreme tiredness, fainting spells, breathing issues, and a stomach ache. Trust Ayurvedic remedies and Patanjali medicines to treat high fever and related issues. Find them below.

4 Ayurvedic Home Remedies to Treat High Fever

Lauki or Bottle Gourd: Acharya Balkrishnaji reveals, “Experiment with using lauki while taking medicine. Cut the lauki into round slices. Rub these slices on the soles of the feet or keep them there for a while. This provides with relief, and it definitely reduces the fever.”

Black Pepper and Tulsi Decoction: Tulsi has fever-reducing and antimicrobial properties. It lowers fever by combating any infections and provides immunity. Black pepper also works on similar grounds if used with other ingredients. Take seven to ten tulsi leaves and around five to six crushed black peppercorns. Brew them in two cups of water till condensed by half. Drink it warm for immunity and lower signs of fever. Use high-quality Patanjali Black Pepper Whole (5 Gms and 100 Gms) for its natural goodness.

Honey With Ginger or Garlic: Ginger treats mild fever, and its anti-inflammatory properties fight infections. It also helps you sweat and cool your body. Garlic has fever-reducing properties and compounds to increase immunity and fight infection. With honey’s antibacterial properties, they treat high fever. Blend one crushed teaspoon of ginger juice, one teaspoon of honey and a pinch of black pepper. It lowers inflammation and makes you sweat. Mix two to three cloves of crushed garlic and a teaspoon of honey to fight the primary reasons for fever. Use Patanjali’s Aastha Honey (50 Gms and 100 Gms). It is a blend of honeydew honey and blossom honey. Find all the natural sugars and minerals in it.

Fenugreek Seed Water: Fenugreek seeds’ anti-inflammatory properties help you sweat to break the fever and minimise body aches. Either boil the seeds in a cup of water, steep and strain the potion, and have it with drops of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey or soak one tablespoon of the seeds overnight in half a cup of water. Drink the strained water the next morning. It lowers the fever and treats weakness. Patanjali Fenugreek Whole (100 Gms) is a great option, as it retains all the health qualities to fight the fever.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/ayurvedic-home-remedies-to-treat-high-fever-naturally

For C Joseph Vijay, opposing the BJP seemingly does not mean opposing the Centre. Even as he has positioned the BJP as his principal ideological enemy, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is pursuing a pragmatic working relationship with the Modi government, separating political battles from administrative priorities.

When C Joseph Vijay entered politics, he drew a clear ideological battle line against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Throughout the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief repeatedly accused the BJP of centralising power, imposing Hindi and the National Education Policy (NEP), and undermining Tamil Nadu’s rights. His speeches left little doubt that the BJP would remain his principal political adversary. Yet, upon taking office as Tamil Nadu’s CM, Vijay has crafted a governing style that sharply contrasts with his campaign rhetoric.

While continuing to oppose the BJP on ideological and policy issues, Vijay has also maintained a consistent channel of engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government. Rather than allowing political rivalry to dictate administrative relations, Tamil Nadu’s new CM has seemingly sought to separate politics from governance, a balancing act rarely seen in recent Centre-State relations.

The approach signals what could become a new template for opposition politics: oppose where necessary, cooperate where beneficial — a model that has been largely absent from opposition-ruled states for nearly a decade.

A DEPARTURE FROM THE POLITICS OF CONFRONTATION

Over the past decade, relations between the Narendra Modi government and several opposition-ruled states have often been marked by public confrontation.

Tamil Nadu under the DMK frequently accused the Centre of withholding funds and attempting to impose policies contrary to the state’s interests. Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, repeatedly alleged financial discrimination by the Centre and skipped several meetings convened by the Prime Minister. Arvind Kejriwal, while in power in Delhi, often accused the BJP-led Union government of obstructing his administration through constitutional and administrative mechanisms.

The political messaging of these governments largely revolved around resistance to the Centre. But Vijay appears to be pursuing a different path.

His government has not diluted its ideological opposition to the BJP. It continues to reject the three-language policy, opposes linking education funding to the NEP, and has maintained Tamil Nadu’s traditional positions on federalism and state autonomy.

What has changed is the method of engagement with the Modi government. Instead of reducing interactions with New Delhi, Vijay has chosen to increase them.

VIJAY’S OLIVE BRANCH AFTER SHARP CAMPAIGN AGAINST BJP

The first indication of an olive branch came immediately after Vijay’s swearing-in on May 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the newly elected chief minister through a public message and reportedly over a phone call as well. Vijay responded by thanking the Prime Minister and expressing hope that the Union government would extend its full cooperation for Tamil Nadu’s development.

For a leader who had spent months attacking the BJP, the tone was notably measured. It suggested that while electoral politics had ended, governance had begun, and CM Vijay started his New Delhi outreach.

On May 27, Vijay travelled to New Delhi for his first official visit as chief minister. The meeting with Prime Minister Modi lasted around half an hour, but its significance extended beyond its duration. Rather than treating it as a courtesy call, Vijay arrived with a comprehensive memorandum covering virtually every major issue pending between Tamil Nadu and the Union government.

Vijay sought central intervention in the Mekedatu dam dispute with Karnataka to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery water rights. He requested the release of pending education funds, highlighted the issue of Tamil fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, pressed for defence manufacturing projects in Tamil Nadu, and sought support for highways, railways, ports and industrial corridors.

Vijay’s New Delhi visit was not limited to a meeting with PM Modi. He also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to press on the state’s financial requirements. This visit reflected Vijay’s government’s determination to engage with the Centre despite political differences.

VIJAY’S ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT COMPROMISE

The clearest illustration of Vijay’s approach towards the Modi government and the BJP came during the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting in June.

While several opposition leaders have in the past boycotted or criticised such meetings, Vijay attended and used the platform to directly present Tamil Nadu’s demands before the Prime Minister and Union ministers.

Vijay strongly opposed the Centre’s decision to link the release of Samagra Shiksha funds with the implementation of the National Education Policy and the three-language formula, demanding the immediate release of Rs 3,284 crore due to the state.

At the same time, he appealed for greater central assistance for infrastructure projects, rural housing and other development initiatives.

The message was carefully calibrated by Vijay that Tamil Nadu would not compromise on its core policy positions. Neither would it disengage from the Centre.

CM VIJAY USING DIALOGUE WITH CENTRE AS A GOVERNING STRATEGY

The engagement between Vijay and the Centre did not stop with meetings. Vijay has maintained regular communication with the Prime Minister through detailed letters on issues affecting Tamil Nadu.

On July 1, Vijay urged the Centre to reconsider the funding structure of the proposed Viksit Bharat-G RAM G rural employment programme, arguing that the 60:40 cost-sharing formula would place an additional burden of over Rs 5,000 crore on the state. Instead of rejecting the scheme outright, he proposed alternative funding arrangements that would protect Tamil Nadu’s finances.

He has also written on reducing cotton import duties to support the state’s textile industry, opposed the proposed disinvestment in Neyveli Lignite Corporation, raised concerns over fishermen’s safety, and continued to press for action on the Mekedatu dispute. Each intervention has followed the same pattern, “disagreement accompanied by engagement”.

GOVERNANCE MOVES HAVE NOT IMPACTED VIJAY-LED TVK’S STANCE ON THE BJP

The emerging relationship between Vijay and the Modi government is not one of political convergence. TVK continues to define itself in opposition to the BJP’s ideology, particularly on language, education and federalism. But Vijay appears unwilling to let ideological rivalry impede administrative cooperation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-pm-narendra-modi-state-central-government-relationship-meeting-2938892-2026-07-06

Indian government sources strongly countered Khawaja Asif after he questioned the Seychelles honour conferred on PM Narendra Modi, adding that the Pakistan minister’s alleged mental instability was a “known fact.”

India launched a scathing attack on Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif after he questioned the honour conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Seychelles. Government sources described the Pakistani minister as “mentally unstable” and accused him of making “silly comments” on issues he barely understands.

The sources said that Asif’s alleged mental instability was a “known fact”, adding that his appointment as Defence Minister reflected poorly on the country’s leadership.

“That he could be entrusted with his current responsibility says much about today’s Pakistan. Clearly, he has no day job and passes time by making silly comments on matters of which he has little knowledge. Envy is always a bad motivation, particularly so from someone steeped in hate speech,” the sources said.

The attack came after Asif questioned the legitimacy of the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” Presidential Distinction conferred on Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Seychelles late last month.

The Prime Minister received the newly-instituted honour in recognition of his commitment to environmental conservation and his support for the aspirations of Small Island Developing States.

The distinction made him the first recipient of the award following the Seychelles government’s revamp of its national honours system.

Accepting the honour, the Prime Minister thanked the people and government of Seychelles and dedicated the award to nations confronting the growing challenges posed by climate change.

The Indian government’s criticism also recalled a similar episode from November 2025, when Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration had publicly rebuked Asif over his reported threat to launch attacks against Afghanistan.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/narendra-modi-seychelles-honour-india-slams-pakistan-defence-minister-khawaja-asif-over-remarks-2941329-2026-07-06

Police raided a luxury resort in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar and uncovered an alleged organised sex racket. The case has intensified scrutiny of tourist properties in Uttarakhand amid fears of similar illegal operations.

A massive police crackdown on a luxury resort in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar, the gateway to the world-famous Corbett National Park, has exposed an alleged sex racket, triggering fresh concerns over illegal activities operating under the guise of tourism.

In a joint operation, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), Special Operations Group (SOG) and Ramnagar Police raided the resort, arresting 52 people and rescuing 10 women, including a minor. The resort has been sealed, and a detailed investigation is underway.

According to police, the raid was conducted following a tip-off that the resort was being used to run an organised prostitution racket involving women allegedly brought from different states and abroad. Investigators said a liquor party was underway when the team arrived, with women allegedly being made to perform obscene dances while guests showered them with cash. Police also seized objectionable material and other evidence from the premises.

During questioning, the alleged organiser was identified as Umendra Kumar, a businessman from Meerut. Police said he admitted to booking the resort for July 4 and 5 at a cost of around Rs 2.20 lakh to host an entertainment event for people associated with his pesticide manufacturing business. Investigators alleged that around Rs 10,000 had been fixed as payment for each woman.

The probe also revealed an alleged attempt to destroy evidence. According to police, the resort’s general manager instructed staff not to record the names of guests or women attending the event in the visitor register. Treating it as a serious attempt to conceal evidence, police sealed the property.

A case has been registered against the accused under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Excise Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttarakhand/story/ramnagar-resort-sex-racket-raid-52-arrested-10-women-rescued-minor-uttarakhand-meerut-jim-corbett-2941322-2026-07-06

Delhi court denies bail to student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

A Delhi court has rejected the bail applications of student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been accused of orchestrating communal riots in Delhi in 2020.

Both Khalid and Imam have been in detention for more than five years without a full trial or conviction.

They sought bail on the ground that their continued incarceration without the commencement of trial violates their fundamental right to personal liberty.

Imam and Khalid moved the sessions court for bail after a Supreme Court bench recently questioned the denial of bail to the duo in January this year by another bench of the apex court.

The court in January had said that the “prolonged incarceration” of Khalid and Imam was not sufficient justification to grant them bail and that the pair had played a “central role in the conspiracy.”

Their application highlighted that, despite more than 6 months having passed since the Supreme Court’s judgment denying them bail, there has been no meaningful progress in the trial proceedings, with arguments on the charge still incomplete, India’s legal news portal Bar and Bench reported.

Khalid and Imam, were detained after the 2020 sectarian riots in Delhi when 53 people were killed, most of them Muslims but also several Hindus. They have made several similar failed attempts to secure bail but are still awaiting a full trial or conviction.

The latest report ranks passports not only on the ease of international travel but also on the benefits they offer for living, working and investing.

The Indian passport ranked 125th in the fifth annual edition of the Global Passport Index (GPI), published by residency and citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), slipping one position from its overall ranking in 2025 and moving up by just two places over the past five years.

Namibia ranked just above India at the 124th spot, while Azerbaijan ranked one spot below India at the 126th spot.

Unlike many passport rankings that mainly measure visa-free travel, the Global Passport Index assesses the overall strength of a passport by considering factors such as global mobility, investment potential and quality of life.

India ranks 125th in Global Passport Index

According to the fifth edition of the Global Passport Index, India was ranked 125th among 197 countries. The country slipped from 124th place in 2025 but improved from 127th in 2021. Its composite score also reached a five-year high of 45.1.

The report says that the Indian passport offers visa-free access to 26 countries.

Indian passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in destinations including Bhutan, Jamaica, Macau, Nepal, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados.

However, Indian citizens still need a visa to visit around 88 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Andorra and the United Arab Emirates.

Rather than ranking passports only by travel freedom, the Global Passport Index measures them across three key categories: Enhanced Mobility (50 per cent), Investment (25 per cent) and Quality of Living (25 per cent). These are based on 14 separate indicators.

Police confirmed they recovered the messages from Goyal’s earlier mobile phone, and they have been recorded as evidence in the case.

An alleged Snapchat conversation shows Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the Ketan Agarwal murder case, purportedly referring to a wedding “that would never happen.”

Police confirmed they recovered the messages from Goyal’s earlier mobile phone, and they have been recorded as evidence in the case.

Police said the conversation, based on viral online screenshots, took place between Goyal and her female friend before the murder.

In one purported message, Goyal allegedly asked her friend to send images of both sides of an Aadhaar card to facilitate booking wedding tickets.

She then allegedly remarked that the booking was for a wedding “that would never happen.”

The Delhi government has notified a new EV policy. According to the Rekha Gupta government, the main objective of the policy is to achieve a minimum 30% electrification of Delhi’s vehicle fleet by March 31, 2030, when the policy rolls out.

Delhi has a new electric vehicle (EV) policy, and this time it comes with a hard deadline for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles.

The new EV policy was notified on July 1, 2026. From April 1, 2028, Delhi residents will no longer be able to register new petrol-powered two-wheelers. Only electric autorickshaws and N1 category goods carriers will be eligible for registration from January 1, 2027.

According to the Delhi government, the main objective of the policy is to achieve a minimum 30% electrification of Delhi’s vehicle fleet by March 31, 2030, when the policy rolls out.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta sat down for a wide-ranging conversation on implementation, funding, enforcement and what she wants her legacy to be. Excerpts from the interview:

Q: The EV policy has been well received by environmentalists and experts. The real question now is implementation. That depends on three things, charging infrastructure, availability of EVs, and pricing. Starting with infrastructure, what is your execution plan?

A: The success of this policy depends largely on charging infrastructure, and we have planned for it completely. All stakeholders are involved. People mostly charge private vehicles at home, but we still need infrastructure in public places. We have brought in OEMs, DTL, and other government agencies to build infrastructure for societies. We have created a single-window system so people setting up their own EV infrastructure do not face hurdles. Right now, we have 9,000 charging points. Our target is 32,000, and DTL has been made the nodal agency for this. We are also involving OEMs so they build charging infrastructure for their own customers. I want to assure the people of Delhi they will not face problems with charging.

Q: The policy says 32,000 charging points will be built by March. But in Delhi, land ownership is complicated; sometimes it is with MCD, sometimes DDA, sometimes another authority. Are you confident that the number will be reached?

A: Today we have a double engine government, the central government, the state government, and MCD are all working on a common platform. When we set up Arogya Mandir, we used land from other agencies too, including DDA and MCD. We have already identified land for charging infrastructure at the lowest possible cost. This policy has been a year in the making, with discussions across every stakeholder from start to finish. We are also planning for battery disposal and e-waste infrastructure, and that work has already begun.

Q: The policy waives close to seven thousand crore rupees, and with long-term costs, it adds up to about Rs 15,000 crore. How will you make EVs affordable enough that people actually switch, since petrol and diesel vehicles are still cheaper upfront?

A: Adoption depends on how easily the subsidy reaches the customer. We have built in both a subsidy and a scrapping incentive. The amount will reach people through DBT in a time-bound manner; they need to apply within 30 to 60 days of getting their RC. For a two-wheeler, the subsidy is Rs 30,000, which does not exist anywhere else in the country. On top of that, we are giving Rs 10,000 for scrapping the old vehicle. Add the waived road tax and registration fee, and I believe this makes the case for adoption very strong. This policy has both mandate and motivation built into it.

Delhi Gymkhana Club members and staff have challenged the Centre’s eviction notice in the Delhi High Court. The case pits a defence infrastructure claim against allegations of vague reasoning and denial of due process.

Delhi Gymkhana Club members and staff have moved the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s show-cause notice seeking their eviction from the club’s premises on Safdarjung Road. The applications seek a stay on the operation of the notice and are listed for hearing before Justice Avneesh Jhingan on July 6.

The fresh applications are part of a pending lawsuit filed after the Land and Development Office’s May 22 order directed the colonial-era club to return its land by June 5 on the ground of “strengthening and securing defence infrastructure”. The court challenge has been brought by club member Vijay Khurana and the Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association.

On June 29, the Land and Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry issued a show-cause notice to the club, asking why an eviction order should not be passed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. The notice, issued by Estate Officer Bipin Kumar Singh, directed the club and all persons concerned occupying the premises to submit their response by July 7 and appear for a personal hearing on the same day at 2.30 pm.

The latest move came more than a month after the Centre told the Delhi High Court on May 26 that it would not take forceful possession of the 27.3-acre premises by June 5, though it said the land was required for “strengthening and securing defence infrastructure”.

In his lawsuit, Khurana said the “vague and generalised reasons” of defence infrastructure and security given by the Centre were a “sham”. He alleged that the move was an “attempt to effect forced eviction” instead of following the due process of law. The petition is stated to be supported by more than 500 members of the club.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-gymkhana-club-eviction-notice-challenged-in-delhi-high-court-over-safdarjung-road-land-ptag-2940698-2026-07-05

A tiger in Satna was electrocuted by a live wire trap allegedly set to catch pigs and later buried in the forest. The case has raised fresh questions over accountability inside Madhya Pradesh’s forest protection system.

A tiger was killed after it came in contact with a live wire trap allegedly laid to hunt pigs by a member of the forest department’s watchman team in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, an official said on Saturday. The carcass was then allegedly buried inside the forest by the watchman and a few others, who feared they would get into trouble.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Satna Mayank Chandiwal said the incident took place in May in the Majhgavan area, and the burial site was found on July 2. Samples from the highly decomposed body are now being examined by a forensic team, he said.

“We got information four-five days back that a tiger had been hunted somewhere and its carcass buried. We deployed informants for confirmation. The site was discovered but a search there by the dog squad and staffers was unsuccessful,” Chandiwal told PTI.

An informant later identified several names, including that of a security committee employee of the forest department, the officer said. “When questioned, the employee revealed the location where the tiger was buried. He then revealed that a electric wire fence had been installed to hunt pigs. The tiger died after getting trapped in it, and out of fear, the staff buried it near the site,” Chandiwal said.

The official said five to seven persons have been identified in connection with the case and two of them have been arrested. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said the killing and burial of the tiger in Sarbhanga forest was highly condemnable. “This makes 40 tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, home to the largest population of the big cat. The lack of intelligence and accountability results in the low conviction rate of poachers, which clearly reflects that the entire system is compromised,” he alleged.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/satna-tiger-death-forest-watchman-live-wire-trap-burial-ptag-2940669-2026-07-04

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended wishes to US President Donald Trump and the people of the United States on the country’s 250th Independence anniversary, calling India-US ties a force for global good. He expressed optimism for deeper partnership based on democracy, rule of law and shared values, as celebrations continue in Washington DC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended wishes to US President Donald Trump and the people of the United States as the country marks its 250th anniversary of Independence.

He expressed optimism for ties between India and the US to grow in the future, underlining how the friendship between New Delhi and Washington is a “force for global good”.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my warmest congratulations to President Trump and the people of the United States on the historic 250th anniversary of your Independence.”

On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my warmest congratulations to President Trump and the people of the United States on the historic 250th anniversary of your Independence.

India and the United States share more than a strategic partnership. Our shared belief in…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 4, 2026

He highlighted how India and the United States share more than a strategic partnership and said that the shared belief in democracy, rule of law and the limitless potential of the peoples of the two countries makes the friendship a force for global good.

“May the next 250 years bring even greater prosperity, peace and progress for America and take the India-US partnership to new heights,” PM Modi said.

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, in a post on X, thanked PM Modi for the wishes.

Thank you PM @narendramodi! 🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳 https://t.co/eZpqQPVv8x

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) July 4, 2026

On July 4, America is celebrating 250 years of independence.

The White House on its official website noted that under President Trump, the United States is executing a full year of festivities, which began on Memorial Day, 2025, and will continue through the end of 2026.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/may-next-250-years-take-india-us-partnership-to-heights-pm-modi-extends-4th-of-july-wishes-to-americans

India has allowed four Chinese-linked companies with manufacturing units in the country to participate in government tenders for critical power projects, according to a government order issued by the Finance Ministry. The exemption applies to TBEA Energy, Nanjing Electric India, New Northeast Electric India and Taikai Electric (India) and is valid for two years under specific conditions.

India has allowed four Chinese-linked power equipment manufacturers with factories in the country to participate in government tenders for critical power projects, according to a government order reviewed by Reuters.

The companies allowed to bid are TBEA Energy, Nanjing Electric India, New Northeast Electric India and Taikai Electric (India). The order, issued by the Finance Ministry on June 24, grants these firms an exemption to participate in tenders for critical power infrastructure projects.

A measured policy shift

The move follows a request made by the Power Ministry in January seeking an exemption for companies with manufacturing units in India that are involved in critical power projects. The exemption applies only to these entities and is aimed at supporting work in the country’s power sector.

Reuters had reported in January that the government was examining broader relaxations for Chinese bidders seeking government contracts as tensions along the India-China border have eased. The latest order appears to reflect a limited easing of restrictions while retaining safeguards.

Exemption comes with limits

Following the 2020 border clash, the Government of India made it mandatory for Chinese bidders to register with a government panel and obtain political and security clearances before competing for any state contract.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-allows-four-chinese-linked-power-firms-to-bid-for-key-government-projects

Mamata Banerjee said the Trinamool’s symbol would remain with the bloc loyal to her, indicating that the rebels might face a protracted legal battle.

Despite absorbing blow after blow following Trinamool Congress’s debacle in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee remains defiant. After most of the party’s 80 MLAs formed a faction under Ritabrata Banerjee and its Lok Sabha MPs created a third bloc, kicking off the who’s-the-real-Trinamool Congress jostling, she has dared her political opponents, saying they would have to “kill” her to “stop” her.

The former West Bengal chief minister called the rebels “traitors” and insisted that the Trinamool’s symbol would remain with her and those loyal to her, indicating that the rebels might face a protracted legal battle. “The party symbol won’t go anywhere. If you want to stop me, you need to kill me,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress chief was dealt a fresh jolt on Saturday when Chandrima Bhattacharya, the party’s Bengal chief and one of the few bigwigs still loyal to her, resigned. The MLA was later seen with the faction spearheaded by Ritabrata Banerjee, the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, whose supporters wrested control of the party’s office in Kolkata on Friday.

“Chandrima Bhattacharya has resigned today. She had already informed me of the actual situation – that she would resign – because her son had previously joined hands with an anti-Trinamool faction,” Mamata Banerjee said.

The former chief minister, however, vowed she would never join the rebels, rejecting the latter’s offer of an advisory role.

“That is something she (Chandrima Banerjee) is free to do, but I will not join hands with them,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress chief claimed that the rebels had parted ways because of pressure. “But I will not bow down before the BJP, and my party will not bow down before any pressure,” she added.

Banerjee also addressed the issue of rebels taking control of the Trinamool office.

“To those who went to the Trinamool Congress office yesterday and locked it, I say this: we had rented that office. It was leased to us until October 2027. An individual may leave the party, but the institution itself does not cease to exist. It is the party’s property. I cannot simply take it over. No one can forcibly seize the property of ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’,” she said.

The former chief minister — who uprooted the Left from power after over three decades in 2011, effectively creating a political vacuum in the Opposition, later utilised by the BJP — said her party’s ideology is firmly against the ruling party.

“The symbol was given by me. I was the signatory for your nominations in the 2026 elections. How did you turn traitor within two months of the election? It should have some limit. You are with the BJP right now, which can’t go on like this, as the Trinamool’s ideology is anti-BJP,” she said.

Banerjee said that after Chandrima Banerjee’s exit, she has taken charge of the party on both the national and state levels.

She also announced that the party office at her house would serve as the main Trinamool office.

Trinamool Exodus

The exodus in the Trinamool Congress began after the party and Banerjee’s loss in the Bengal polls. The dissenting MLAs questioned her leadership style but indicated that their exit was more a referendum on her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee’s role in the party.

Over 60 MLAs and 20 Lok Sabha MPs have announced their separation from the Banerjee-led outfit.

Bhattcharya announced her resignation barely weeks after she was appointed the chief of the party’s Bengal unit.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-calls-trinamool-congress-rebels-traitors-says-kill-me-to-stop-me-11726834?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Rekha Gupta government had in May mandated two days of work from home for staff as part of a nationwide push to conserve fuel

With tensions easing in the Middle East after Iran and the US agreed to a ceasefire, the Delhi government has withdrawn its ‘work from home’ order for government staff.

The Rekha Gupta government had mandated two days of work from home for staff as part of a nationwide push to conserve fuel. The move came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call in May to save fuel amid the Middle East conflict.

The aim was to reduce petrol and diesel consumption in the national capital. Along with this, office working hours were also changed. In addition, a 20% cut in fuel allocation for government vehicles was implemented, and several ministers reduced the size of their vehicle convoys.

The Delhi government had designated Wednesdays and Saturdays as work-from-home days for its staff. With the order now revoked, the exemption from coming to office has ended. The government has reinstated earlier office timings – 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

Meanwhile, timings for the MCD – Municipal Corporation of Delhi – will remain unchanged at 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, while announcing the measure in May had said that the 90-day initiative will focus on reducing fuel use, promoting public transport and encouraging adoption of Made-in-India products amid energy uncertainty linked to the conflict in Middle East.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-withdraws-hybrid-work-mode-order-as-tensions-ease-in-middle-east-11725210?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The police along with some workers broke a layer of plaster on the bathroom floor to recover the body

A woman has been arrested for allegedly killing her husband and burying his body in the bathroom of their house in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra. The police said they are investigating whether more people were involved in the murder and cover-up.

The police along with some workers broke a layer of plaster on the bathroom floor to recover the body, they said. The police had been on the case for the last 45 days, ever since the husband had been reported missing.

During the investigation, the woman, who has been identified as Ruby, pretended to help the police by joining in the search for her husband, Surendra Sharma. The police got a breakthrough in the case after the murdered man’s brother raised suspicion on Ruby.

She used to cry in front of neighbours to show she had been heartbroken ever since her husband went missing. However, Surendra’s family found many inconsistencies in her version of the circumstances surrounding her husband’s disappearance.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/agra-news/agra-woman-kills-husband-buries-body-in-bathroom-tells-people-hes-missing-11723934?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The 4,000 year old timber circle on the Norfolk coast, was built during a period of extreme cold as part of rituals intended to end harsh winters and bring back summer.

New research suggests that Seahenge, the mysterious timber circle uncovered on a Norfolk beach, was built as part of ancient rituals to fight off a period of severe cold weather.

Dr David Nance of the University of Aberdeen has published his findings in the journal GeoJournal, focusing on Holme I, commonly known as Seahenge, and a neighbouring site called Holme II. Both were built around 2049 BC and were revealed on Holme-next-the-Sea beach in 1998 after centuries of shifting sand.

Seahenge is made up of an upturned tree stump surrounded by 55 tightly packed oak posts. It was originally built on a saltmarsh, sheltered from the sea by dunes and mud flats, and was later preserved beneath a layer of peat.

Earlier theories suggested the site marked a death or was used for “sky burials”, where bodies were left for birds to consume. Dr Nance instead argues that the timbers were felled in spring and aligned with sunrise on the summer solstice, at a time when Britain was suffering from falling temperatures and severe winters.

He believes Seahenge was designed to copy a folk tale about trapping an unfledged cuckoo, a bird linked to fertility, in order to stop it flying away and taking summer with it.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/mystery-of-seahenge-solved-bronze-age-circle-built-to-end-endless-winter-11725110?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

The couple’s Z+ security cover was significantly scaled down following a review by the state government earlier. The decision had triggered a fierce political controversy.

The Bihar government has accorded Z category security to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, roughly a month after downgrading their security cover.

They have also been provided with bulletproof cars. The couple’s Z+ security cover was significantly scaled down following a review by the state government earlier. The decision had triggered a fierce political controversy.

To lodge a symbolic protest, they had returned the remaining government security personnel who were allotted to their respective security details.

The RJD had alleged that the security reduction was aimed at targeting opposition leaders. The party claimed the NDA government in Bihar wanted to diminish the stature of key opposition figures by reducing the size of their security covers.

The Bihar government had later said that the changes were part of a routine review conducted on the basis of threat perception assessments.

Lalu Yadav’s younger son, ex-Deputy CM and current Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, had also returned his government-provided security in protest of the move. However, it was clarified by officials that there was no change in his security arrangement.

The Bihar government’s decision to accord Z category security to Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi coincides with the couple shifting to a privately-owned accommodation.

On Thursday, Rabri Devi shifted to her own house, giving up 10, Circular Road, the government bungalow in Patna that had been her residence, as well as the camp office of the RJD, for nearly two decades.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bihar-govt-accords-z-category-security-cover-to-lalu-yadav-rabri-devi-2940286-2026-07-04

The Centre issued a gazette notification, stating that the individuals named as terrorists were associated with terror outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba

Continuing its crackdown against cross-border terrorism, the Central Government has designated 23 individuals as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The designations have been made under Section 35 of the UAPA, 1967.

Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification, stating that the individuals named as terrorists were associated with terror outfits including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and based in Pakistan.

According to the government, the said individuals were involved in terror-related activities including recruitment, training, funding, arms supply, and facilitating terror attacks.

Who Are The Individuals?

1. Masood Ilyas Kashmiri (JeM) – According to the Union Home Ministry, Kashmiri was involved in the 2022 Sunjwan Army camp attack. He was among Pakistan-based JeM handlers named in the NIA’s chargesheet for the Sunjwan conspiracy, which alleged the attack was planned to disrupt the Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu.
2. Mohammad Mussadiq (JeM) – Also linked by the Gazette to the 2022 Sunjwan attack. NIA investigations describe Pakistan-based JeM handlers as coordinating infiltration through a cross-border tunnel and directing the operation from Pakistan.
3. Mufti Muhammad Asghar Khan – According to NIA investigations, he was in regular contact with Kashmiri operatives who facilitated the 2016 Nagrota Army camp attack. He is described as a Pakistan-based JeM launching commander involved in directing infiltration into Jammu.
4. Hafiz Abdul Shakoor – NIA investigations identify “Qari Zarar” as another Pakistan-based JeM launching commander who allegedly communicated with local facilitators before the 2016 Nagrota attack.
5. Abdullah Jehadi – He facilitated JeM terrorists involved in the 2016 Nagrota attack and managed multiple JeM camps.
6. Firdous Ahmad Bhat (LeT) – He has been publicly described as a Lashkar-e-Taiba launching commander involved in infiltration and logistics.
7. Bilal Ahmad Mir (LeT/TRF) – Linked to both Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front (TRF), he conspired to direct cross-border terrorist activities and arrange arms supplies into India.

The UAPA is an anti-terror law aimed at curbing unlawful activities associations in India. In August 2019, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act was passed, which expanded the Central Government’s powers to designate individuals as terrorists.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/centre-cracks-down-on-terror-networks-declares-23-jem-let-associates-as-terrorists-under-uapa-ws-l-10189649.html

The issue came up before Judicial Magistrate First Class AM Vibhute, where lawyers representing the accused opposed the police plea seeking a polygraph examination.

A court on Friday sent Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary, the two accused in the alleged murder of realtor Ketan Agarwal, to 14 days of judicial custody after refusing the police request to conduct a polygraph test without their consent.

The duo had declined to undergo the lie detector examination, and the court observed that such a test cannot be carried out unless the accused voluntarily agrees to it. Following the hearing, both were shifted to Yerawada Central Prison.

Court Declines Police Request

The issue came up before Judicial Magistrate First Class AM Vibhute, where lawyers representing the accused opposed the police plea seeking a polygraph examination.

Taking note of their refusal, the court ruled that the test could not be carried out against their wishes.

Police Claim New Digital Evidence

During the hearing, the Lonavla Rural Police informed the court that deleted data had been recovered from the mobile phones of both accused.

Investigators claimed the recovered data included conversations in coded language, which they believe could point to the involvement of a third person in the alleged conspiracy.

Police also told the court that they had recovered a second mobile phone allegedly hidden by Siya. The device is expected to be sent for forensic examination.

Investigation Still In Progress

According to the police, the analysis of the recovered digital evidence is still underway. Investigators said decoding the alleged coded conversations could help establish whether someone else assisted Siya and Chetan in planning or carrying out the crime.

Assistant Police Inspector Manoj Pawar, the investigating officer, informed the court that police had verified the sequence of events narrated by Chetan and seized the trousers he was allegedly wearing during the incident.

Police also conducted a panchnama at the location where Siya allegedly disposed of her passport and seized the clothes she was allegedly wearing at the time of the crime. Another panchnama was carried out at the spot where the accused allegedly rehearsed the murder plan.

Defence Opposes Custody Plea

Assistant Public Prosecutor Rajshree Virkud argued that significant progress had been made during police custody and maintained that decoding the alleged coded conversations could reveal whether a third person was involved.

However, Siya’s counsel Vipul Dushing opposed any further police custody, arguing that both mobile phones had already been seized. He submitted that investigators should rely on their own expertise to interpret the recovered data rather than seek further custody of the accused.

Advocate Ram Shahane, appearing for Chetan Chaudhary, also opposed the police request, saying the demand for a face-to-face interrogation of the accused was vague.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/big-twist-in-ketan-agarwal-murder-case-siya-goyal-chetan-chaudhary-refuse-lie-detector-test-sent-to-jail-ws-l-10189722.html

Congress has signalled a tougher stance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying it will ally with the Samajwadi Party only on equal terms instead of as a junior partner. The party is identifying around 170 constituencies to strengthen its bargaining position, setting the stage for difficult INDIA bloc seat-sharing talks and a contest over opposition leadership in the state.

The Congress has fired the first shot in what could become a bruising battle for political space within the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, making it clear that it is no longer willing to play the role of the “chhota bhai” in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP).

The message came from newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, who said the party would seek an alliance with the SP only on “equal terms” for the 2027 Assembly elections.

The statement marks a significant shift in the Congress’ approach in Uttar Pradesh. Since the decline of its political fortunes in the state, the party has largely accepted a secondary role in alliances, including in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where it contested just 17 of the state’s 80 parliamentary seats under a seat-sharing arrangement with the SP.

Now, emboldened by the Lok Sabha results and a modest revival in its organisational confidence, the Congress is attempting to rewrite the terms of engagement.

Party sources said the Congress has already begun identifying around 170 Assembly constituencies where it believes it can make a credible claim during alliance negotiations. The exercise is being carried out with the help of a professional agency that is conducting ground assessments and analysing voting patterns.

A senior Congress strategist said the party’s realistic target is to contest between 120 and 130 seats, but the larger list has been prepared to ensure that it enters negotiations from a position of strength.

“The Congress does not want to walk into the talks as a junior partner. The idea is to negotiate from a position of parity and demonstrate that the party has a footprint beyond a handful of seats,” the leader said.

The move is likely to make the SP uneasy.

Despite the Congress’ improved performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SP remains the principal opposition force in Uttar Pradesh and is understood to be unwilling to concede more than 60 to 80 seats to its ally. Congress’ aggressive positioning, therefore, sets the stage for a difficult round of seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc.

The new posture also reflects a deeper strategic recalibration within the Congress.

The party believes the Lok Sabha elections showed that it still has the ability to attract sections of Dalit, Muslim and upper-caste voters when aligned with a larger anti-BJP platform. The leadership now wants to convert that momentum into a more substantial presence in the Assembly.

The appointment of Rajendra Pal Gautam, a Dalit leader from western Uttar Pradesh, is being viewed as part of that strategy. The Congress is also relying on leaders such as Pramod Tiwari and Aradhana Misra to appeal to Brahmin voters, while Imran Masood and Imran Pratapgarhi remain key faces for minority outreach.

The Congress has also deliberately kept the door open for a wider opposition alliance that includes the BSP. Gautam’s remarks that all parties believing in the Constitution should get “appropriate representation” are being seen as a message not only to the BSP but also to the SP.

Political analysts say the Congress is trying to alter the psychology of alliance politics in Uttar Pradesh.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2027-congress-rejects-junior-partner-role-seeks-equal-terms-with-samajwadi-party

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of over 4,809 Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp, who later reached Kashmir Valley and received a warm welcome from authorities and locals.

The annual Amarnath Yatra began early on Friday, with the first batches of pilgrims leaving the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. The shrine houses a naturally formed ice lingam.

The pilgrimage started early in the morning along the two routes to the shrine — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam track and the 14-km Baltal track — amid intermittent rain. The 57-day yatra will continue till August 28, with stringent security arrangements in place for its smooth conduct.

Officials said batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and the Baltal base camp in the Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district at first light.

The chants of ‘bum bum bole’ filled the air as the batches were flagged off from the base camps by the respective deputy commissioners and SSPs, they said.

On Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of over 4,809 pilgrims from the yatra base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu. The pilgrims reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and received a rousing welcome from the administration and locals.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amarnath-yatra-begins-from-baltal-and-nunwan-base-camps-under-tight-security-ptag-2939516-2026-07-03

Hisar Police seized 53.24 kg of poppy husk from a car after a tip-off. The recovery underlines Haryana’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking as three suspects remain absconding.

Haryana Police have seized 53.24 kg of poppy husk and confiscated a car allegedly used to transport the contraband in Hisar district, officials said. The action was taken by the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Hisar Police as part of the state’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking.

Police said three young men were allegedly carrying the poppy husk in a white car, but fled into nearby fields after spotting the police team. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and raids are underway to arrest the suspects.

Superintendent of Police Siddhant Jain said the Anti-Narcotics Cell was on patrol near the Raipur railway bridge on National Highway-9A when it received a tip-off about the movement of a large quantity of poppy husk in a white car. Acting on the information, police set up a checkpoint near Raipur Chowk.

During the checking, police found the car parked on the roadside. Its three occupants abandoned the vehicle and ran into the nearby fields on seeing the police team, Jain said. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of three plastic sacks containing 53.24 kg of poppy husk. The contraband and the car were seized.

Preliminary investigation found that the vehicle was registered in Rajasthan’s Karauli district. Police said the case has been registered at Urban Estate police station under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, and efforts are on to trace and arrest the absconding accused.

Director General of Police Ajay Singhal said the Haryana government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hisar-police-seize-53-24-kg-poppy-husk-three-accused-flee-ptag-2939476-2026-07-03

Police arrested nine Bangladeshi nationals from Bhagabangola railway station in Murshidabad after a tip-off. Investigators are examining their route into India and possible links to a wider trafficking network.

Nine Bangladeshi nationals were arrested from the premises of Bhagabangola railway station in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district during a police operation against illegal infiltration, officials said.

According to police, the arrests were made following a tip-off that several suspected Bangladeshi nationals were moving around the station area.

Acting on the information, a team led by Bhagabangola Police Station conducted a raid at the railway station and detained the suspects for questioning. During interrogation, the individuals were identified as Bangladeshi nationals and were subsequently arrested, police said.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the detainees had been working in different parts of India and were allegedly planning to return to Bangladesh clandestinely. Police suspect they were attempting to leave the country before they could be apprehended.

Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the arrested individuals and launched a detailed investigation into the case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nine-bangladeshi-nationals-arrested-from-bengals-bhagabangola-railway-station-premises-2939498-2026-07-03

The Defence Ministry is likely to clear major procurement proposals worth thousands of crores, including Hammer precision-guided munitions, Verba air defence systems, indigenous MP-ATGMs and high-altitude pseudo satellites.

The Defence Ministry is expected to clear a series of major procurement proposals, including Hammer precision-guided munitions, Verba air defence systems, indigenous anti-tank missiles and high-altitude pseudo satellites, at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) scheduled for July 3, defence sources said.

The meeting assumes significance as it will be the first DAC session attended by the new military leadership, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

Among the key proposals slated for consideration is the induction of the indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MP-ATGM), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.

Under the proposal, the Army is expected to procure 100 launchers, 2,300 missiles and five simulators. The system will be manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), with the project estimated to cost over Rs 2,600 crore.

The Defence Ministry is also expected to explore additional production partners from the private sector to scale up manufacturing of the indigenously designed and developed missile system.

In another major proposal aimed at enhancing precision-strike capabilities, the DAC is likely to consider the acquisition of 600 Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) air-to-ground precision-guided munitions. The weapons, originally developed by France’s Safran, are proposed to be manufactured in India by Bharat Electronics Limited under the Make in India initiative.

The Hammer munitions were first inducted under emergency procurement powers following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with China. The Indian Air Force is expected to equip its Rafale and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fleets with the missiles, while the Indian Navy plans to deploy them on its Rafale Marine fighter aircraft. The proposed deal is estimated to be worth around Rs 2,400 crore.

The DAC is also expected to consider a proposal to procure a large number of Russian-origin Verba Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS) for the Army Air Defence Corps. The systems are planned to be manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace. The Verba missile is regarded as a more advanced successor to the Igla systems currently in service with the Indian Army.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/defence-ministry-july-3-dac-hammer-verba-mp-atgm-proposals-high-altitude-pseudo-satellites-weapons-indian-army-2939442-2026-07-02

The barely 15-second clip begins with Siya answering a call and saying “Kaun” (who’s this)? She covers one ear with her hand, trying to listen to the caller amid loud background music.

An old video of Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the murder of her fiance Ketan Agarwal, has surfaced online and is now making headlines. The video, purportedly recorded in December 2025, shows Siya at a nightclub, holding what appears to be a beer bottle while speaking aggressively on the phone.

The barely 15-second clip begins with Siya answering a call and saying “Kaun” (who’s this)? She covers one ear with her hand, trying to listen to the caller amid loud background music.

During the conversation, she is heard using abusive language and saying, “Pehle isko cheat karta hai. Uske baad merko phone karta hai (First he cheats on me, then he calls me).”

Siya Goyal and her lover, Chetan Chaudhary, are accused of pushing Ketan Agarwal off a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune on June 18.

Siya (20) and Ketan (26) got engaged in February and were set to be married later in November this year. The families had booked a palace in Jaipur for Rs 17 crore and arranged two private planes to fly guests to the wedding.

The video has added fresh dimensions to the investigation. The police are likely to probe who was Siya speaking with and who she claimed to be cheating.

Last week, several media houses reported that Siya asked for beer while in police custody. She did not demand liquor again after her request was denied once, the reports stated, quoting police sources. It was also reported that she was addicted to alcohol. Strongly criticising reports of Siya’s drinking and partying habits, her mother, Pooja Goyal, called them “false”.

“Even the police told us that she never asked for a beer in the police station. It was only a rumour spread by the media,” Pooja had said.

Investigation Into Ketan Agarwal Murder

Siya and Chetan allegedly rehearsed how to push Ketan off a cliff on a hill in Pune’s Lulla Nagar. The investigators on Thursday took Siya to a hilltop location used for practice, where she identified the place.

“The investigation has revealed that Siya and Chetan had rehearsed at an open space near a club in Lulla Nagar how to push Ketan off the cliff at Lohagad Fort. Today, Siya was taken to the spot, where she identified the place where they had allegedly carried out the rehearsal,” a Pune Rural police official told the news agency PTI.

Siya on Thursday gave her consent to the Lonavala Rural police to undergo a lie detection or polygraph test as part of the investigation.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pune-fort-murder-ketan-agarwal-murder-first-he-cheats-then-calls-me-siya-goyals-video-from-pub-surfaces-chetan-chaudhary-lohagad-11720562?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

While many thought it was a sign of PM Modi venting his emotions, something that he rarely does, the real reason lay in a restricted conversation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today surprised everyone at a press interaction after the 16th India-Japan annual summit when he referred to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as “little sister.”

While many thought it was a sign of PM Modi venting his emotions, something that he rarely does, the real reason lay in the restricted conversation that took place between PM Modi and PM Takaichi at Hyderabad House.

According to officials privy to conversations, PM Takaichi told her Indian counterpart that late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was like her elder brother and she looked up to him. Apparently PM Takaichi said that since Abe San had a lot of affection and respect for PM Modi, she now looked towards him as her elder brother too.

PM Modi had close personal relations with PM Abe, who was assassinated on July 8, 2022 by a radical in Nara, the constituency of PM Sanae Takaichi. The India-Japan ties took off to a new level under the leadership of Abe San, who was the longest serving prime minister in Japanese history. PM Modi specially flew to Tokyo on September 27, 2022 to attend the state funeral accorded to Shinzo Abe and held a condolence meeting with the late leader’s wife Akie Abe.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-pm-modi-referred-to-japanese-pm-takaichi-as-little-sister-101783041718839.html

Viral videos showed a number of people filming themselves approaching e-rickshaws and switching them off mid-journey using a mobile app.

A prank that surfaced in a handful of viral videos this week has spread rapidly across Indian social media, with a growing number of people filming themselves approaching e-rickshaws and switching them off mid-journey using a smartphone app — stranding people in traffic and racking up millions of views on Instagram, YouTube, Reddit and X.

The apps involved, BAT-BMS and Lossigy, exploit a gap common to unsecured lithium-ion battery packs sold in India: Battery Management Systems that connect over Bluetooth with no password protection, turning any nearby smartphone into a kill switch of sorts.

In a test conducted with a driver’s permission, HT downloaded Lossigy from the Google Play Store, located a nearby e-rickshaw, and disabled it with a single tap — a switch that could only be reversed through the app itself, not the vehicle’s own key.

Drivers said the vulnerability has been exploited on-and-off for months but the problem has surged in recent days, coinciding with the surge in viral reels.

Experts say the episode is a stark reminder of how budget equipment can turn into a larger technological threat.

Sunil Kumar, who ferries students near Jamia Millia Islamia, said his e-rickshaw jerked to a stop a few metres from a metro station for the first time roughly six months ago, mid-route with passengers aboard. He initially assumed the battery had run flat; his passengers paid him half fare. It was only when he took the battery in to recharge that he learned it had never actually discharged.

People flag concerns

Charu Rajak, who drives in Okhla, said the same issue has hit his vehicle for five months — but on Thursday, it had surged to over a dozen times in a single day. “I worry that someone will crash into my vehicle from behind mid-traffic,” he said.

Rajak owns his vehicle, has a smartphone and — after his dealer told him about a workaround app — now knows how to restart it remotely when it happens. He said many drivers rent their e-rickshaws for ₹450 a day and have neither a phone nor the knowledge to get moving again when they’re targeted.

Balvinder Singh Sahni, a Uttar Pradesh-based manufacturer with more than 15,000 e-rickshaws operating in Delhi, said the battery systems were never built with passwords because no one anticipated the lack of security would cause disruption at this scale. “They were designed to be accessed by service engineers for maintenance and diagnostics, which is why password protection was not built in,” he said.

The problem, however, seemed to not be universal. E-rickshaws still running on older lead-acid batteries, which have no Bluetooth capability, are unaffected, and even some lithium-powered vehicles use proprietary battery management software that is incompatible with third-party apps such as BAT-BMS and Lossigy — meaning the vulnerability depends heavily on which battery pack and BMS chipset a given vehicle happens to run.

Delhi transport minister Pankaj Singh said his department has been directed to verify the apps and examine the claims. “I am yet to get written complaint but people flagged me this issue in my office. So I have asked to get the correct information on the issue,” he said.

Govt looking into matter

A person aware of the matter said the Union ministry of electronics and IT (Meity) is looking into the matter. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

A senior Delhi government official, who asked not to be named, said the apps allow real-time monitoring of battery status — voltage, temperature, current — a legitimate function now “being used mischievously.” The official said many e-rickshaws use Chinese-manufactured battery systems with minimal security, comparable to open Bluetooth settings, making it easy to connect without authentication and cut power.

BAT-BMS, developed by Shenzhen Grenergy Technology Co., appears to have been removed from Apple’s App Store, though it remained available on Google Play at the time of going to print.

A second person aware of the matter said Apple had not pulled the app itself, and that its removal may have followed a wave of user reports.

Grenergy did not respond to HT emails seeking comment. Lossigy remains available on both app stores. Its developer is listed as Shenzhen Ruicheng Technology Co., Ltd, a name HT could not independently verify against Chinese company registries; searches under this and an alternate rendering of the name returned no matching business record.

Cybersecurity experts said the episode reflects a broader failure to secure connected consumer hardware entering India.

“Connectivity features can be exploited if authentication is not implemented correctly,” said Sandeep K. Shukla, director of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad. “Legal and regulatory vacuum and a lack of guardrails vis-à-vis cybersecurity and consumer protection is a problem,” he said, adding: “It’s not only a Chinese import problem. Any consumer device coming into the country, if not regulated for security, could have such issues.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/chennai-fitness-coach-with-18-years-of-experience-shares-how-to-manage-hunger-while-on-a-calorie-deficit-for-weight-loss-101782994665488.html

Prafull Billore, who is famously known as “MBA Chaiwala” on social media, shared an Instagram post asking trolls to stop spreading rumours of his death.

Prafull Billore, popular as ‘MBA Chaiwala,’ took to social media to share a post slamming those spreading fake news about his death. He asked the trolls to stop, adding how the rumours are not just offensive but hurtful too.

“That’s ridiculous, offensive and hurtful. Please stop spreading fake news. I am alive. Bhos**walo,” he wrote on Instagram while sharing a screenshot of a Google search.

The search term reads, “Prafull Billore death”. The first result that appears shows a part of an article published on a site called “Finaltrobune”.

It reads, “Prafull Billore Death Rumors Circulate Online; No Official Confirmation Released -Reports claiming that Prafull Billore, the founder and CEO of MBA Chai Wala, has passed away have been circulating across various social media platforms, prompting concern among supporters, customers, and members of the entrepreneurial…”

Earlier, fake tweets about his death started circulating on X, with many sharing their tributes, believing he had passed away.

Social media reacts:

Prafull Billore’s post countering fake news about him has prompted a range of responses on social media.

An individual wrote, “Be strong, bhai, this is the new world. Extreme hate is normal hate.” Another commented, “It’s not a joke.” Billore responded, “True bhai.”

A third expressed, “Those who are jealous of you have spread the news.” A fourth posted, “WTH. Hatemongers to the core.”

Who is Prafull Billore?

Born in Madhya Pradesh, Billore was an MBA student when he realised that it wasn’t the field he was passionate about. Hence, he challenged himself to start a tea stall with just 8,000 rupees to forge his own path and dropped out of the MBA.

He didn’t just build a nationwide chain of stores; he also became a social media sensation thanks to his impressive marketing skills and unique branding.

In his own words, he is an “MBA dropout who fought all the odds to become a CHAI-PRENEUR who created one of the most influential Chai-Franchises in the world.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/mba-chaiwala-prafull-billore-calls-out-trolls-spreading-fake-news-of-his-death-i-am-alive-101783041913800.html

Addressing concerns over higher ethanol blends, Puri said there could be a slight reduction in mileage, though he cautioned that it may not necessarily be due to ethanol.

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday defended the government’s ethanol blending programme, saying the biofuel is used in racing cars and helps improve acceleration.

“Somebody is saying that fuel mileage is going to drop. It is now well established that ethanol is even used in racing cars,” Puri said.

Addressing concerns over higher ethanol blends, Puri said there could be a slight reduction in mileage, though he cautioned that it may not necessarily be due to ethanol.

Acceleration improves. What is that called? Knocking? Knocking also improves. Mileage? Yes, it may drop a little. But it may drop slightly due to various factors. Secondly, after consulting all stakeholders, including SIAM and ARAI, we have reached this stage. Then someone says, ‘Your insurance will no longer cover this’. Insurance companies have already clarified that there is no such issue. But who benefits from spreading this false narrative? I am not going to make any accusations, but one thing should be very clear,” the minister said.

The minister added that India would consider moving beyond the current E20 fuel blend only “after enough number of tests have been conducted.”

“There is enough space in India’s growing consumer market for all technologies to coexist. There is room for electric vehicles, biofuel blended vehicles, and we are currently only at 20 per cent ethanol blending. If we move from 20 per cent to 25 per cent, it will happen only after all the necessary tests have been completed. There is also enough space for hybrid vehicles and CNG vehicles,” he added.

His remarks came as state-owned oil marketing companies continue to face losses after global crude oil prices surged following the Middle East conflict.

According to Puri, oil companies incurred losses of Rs 74,781 crore on the sale of petrol, diesel and LPG below cost for the period up to June 30. Total under-recoveries on petrol, diesel and LPG stood at Rs 1,88,871 crore during the April-June 2026 period.

He said international crude oil prices have since eased, but companies are still selling fuel refined from crude purchased at higher prices during the peak of the crisis.

“We are using the crude petroleum stock today that we had bought two months ago (at a price that existed two months ago),” the minister said.

Asked whether retail fuel prices could be reduced if crude prices remain lower, Puri said it was too early to take a call.

“If this (decline) continues for 2-3 months, we will see. But it is a hypothetical situation,” he said.

Ethanol Blending Is Safe: Ministry

Earlier, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had reiterated that India’s ethanol blending programme is safe and dismissed claims that using E20 fuel could invalidate vehicle insurance policies.

The ministry said ethanol blending is a globally accepted practice adopted in countries including the United States, Brazil and Japan. It added that the programme has helped India save more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports while supporting farmers through sustained demand for ethanol feedstocks.

“Ethanol blending plays an important role in enhancing India’s energy security, reducing carbon emissions and advancing the country’s transition towards cleaner mobility,” the ministry said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/ethanol-is-used-in-racing-cars-oil-minister-defends-govts-biofuel-blending-programme-ws-l-10187625.html

A WhatsApp spokesperson said the really high-profile names — public figures, government entities and celebrities — have been withheld so they can be claimed by legitimate owners.

WhatsApp, ordered by the Centre not to roll out its username feature without clarifying the matter, said today that it has put in place multiple layers of defence to address the very concerns the government has. In an exclusive interview with NDTV Profit a WhatsApp spokesperson said the really high-profile names — public figures, government entities and celebrities — have been withheld so they can be claimed by legitimate owners. Lookalike derivatives of known names have been withheld as well.

Meta has said that the username feature — which allows users to pick a username and connect without sharing their phone numbers — is “designed” to keep phone numbers private. The feature will be rolled out in stages and currently, users have only been asked to choose names.

Users will still require a phone number to use WhatsApp, the spokesperson said.

Among the multiple layers of defence are systems that would show common impersonation, abuse patterns and block them.

The system will also limit how many new people an account can contact and block attempts to guess someone’s username, the spokesperson said.

Users need to know the exact username to message anyone. Also, when a user is pinged via username, information on whether they are a new account, a contact, common groups, or country of origin will be displayed.

Earlier today, the government had issued a notice to WhatsApp, asking it to provide a detailed explanation on the “usernames” feature within three days. Until consultation on the matter is over, the feature cannot be rolled out, the notice said.

Sources told NDTV that officials are checking whether the new feature can be misused to impersonate government departments, banks and other trusted institutions. The feature is also being reviewed in terms of user safety, accountability and compliance with India’s digital regulations.

Meta has been asked to explain the safeguards built into the system and how it plans to prevent impersonation and misuse.

In its notice today, the government said, “It is felt that the feature may materially increase the incidence of online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks, by enabling bad actors to solicit and message victims”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/high-profile-names-withheld-whatsapp-to-ndtv-on-impersonation-concern-11714442?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The letter primarily calls for peace and dialogue, with signatories stressing that sustained engagement between the two countries can create conditions for greater prosperity in the region.

A group of 117 eminent personalities from India and Pakistan have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging both countries to restart dialogue and reopen diplomatic channels.

Speaking to NDTV, OP Shah, who heads the New Delhi-based Centre for Peace and Progress and is among those associated with the initiative, said the current situation between the two neighbours is “far from comfortable” and affects the lives of ordinary people across the subcontinent.

According to Shah, peace, stability and normal relations between India and Pakistan are essential for the economic well-being of people in both countries. He said any situation that brings the two nations closer to conflict impacts livelihoods and development.

The letter primarily calls for peace and dialogue, with signatories stressing that sustained engagement between the two countries can create conditions for greater prosperity in the region.

Asked about repeated terror attacks linked to Pakistan, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Pulwama and Pahalgam, Shah said he has faith in dialogue and discussion. He maintained that talks should continue and that all issues, including terrorism and security concerns, should be discussed through diplomatic engagement.

Shah said there should be no interruption in communication between the two countries and called for continuous dialogue at multiple levels. According to him, regular engagement will help both sides better understand each other’s concerns and limitations.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/117-eminent-personalities-write-to-pm-modi-shehbaz-sharif-urge-dialogue-11714645?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Sources said the Joint Parliamentary Committee is likely to retain the provision that would remove the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and ministers after 30 consecutive days in custody in serious cases.

A parliamentary panel is set to back one of the most controversial constitutional proposals by retaining a provision that would allow the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and ministers to be removed from office if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days in serious criminal cases, sources said.

The recommendation is expected to be part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) report on the proposed 130th Constitution Amendment Bill, which is likely to be submitted on July 17. However, the proposal is not yet law and will still have to be debated and passed by Parliament with the required constitutional majority before it can take effect.

According to sources, the committee is likely to retain the bill’s most debated provision while recommending safeguards to prevent its misuse for political vendetta. The panel is expected to suggest limiting the provision to specified serious offences and incorporating checks to ensure it cannot be invoked through arbitrary or politically motivated arrests.

The Bill, introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August last year, proposes that if the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister or any Union or state minister is accused of an offence punishable with imprisonment of five years or more and remains in custody for 30 consecutive days, they would automatically cease to hold office on the 31st day. In the case of the Prime Minister and Union ministers, the President would formalise the removal, while Governors would do so for Chief Ministers and state ministers.

If enacted, the amendment would mark a significant departure from the existing constitutional framework. At present, ministers leave office through resignation, dismissal by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, or disqualification following conviction under existing laws. The proposed amendment introduces prolonged custody, rather than conviction, as a ground for vacating public office.

The government has defended the proposal, arguing that a person who remains in custody for 30 consecutive days would ordinarily have had multiple opportunities to seek bail. It maintains that the provision is intended to protect the integrity of public office and ensure that individuals facing serious criminal proceedings do not continue in executive positions for extended periods.

Opposition parties, however, have strongly opposed the proposal, describing it as unconstitutional, anti-federal and contrary to the principle of natural justice. They argue that it effectively penalises elected representatives before they are found guilty by a court and could be misused by governments to target political opponents through motivated arrests.

The 31-member JPC, headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, was constituted after the Bill was introduced. Most members of the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, boycotted the committee’s proceedings, alleging that the ruling alliance was unwilling to consider their recommendations.

Sources said Opposition members on the panel, including AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, are expected to submit dissent notes when the report is finalised.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-cms-removal-clause-jpc-may-retain-30-day-custody-rule-constitution-bill-2938673-2026-07-01

India and Pakistan exchanged fresh lists of civil prisoners and fishermen held in each other’s custody and New Delhi pressed for faster repatriation, consular access and prisoner welfare.

India has urged Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have completed their sentences, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday. The statement came as India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad, lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody.

Under the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, the two countries exchange these lists every year on January 1 and July 1. The government said India has shared lists of 386 civil prisoners and 53 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or believed to be Pakistani, while Pakistan has shared lists of 52 civil prisoners and 198 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believed to be Indian.

In its statement, the ministry said, “India and Pakistan today exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civil prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody.” It added that the exchange was in line with the provisions of the bilateral agreement signed in 2008.

The ministry also said, “As a result of sustained efforts by the government of India, 2,661 Indian fishermen and 78 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. These include 500 Indian fishermen and 20 Indian civil prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.”

The MEA said the government of India has consistently called for the early release and repatriation of civil prisoners, fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.

“Pakistan has been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 188 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners, who have completed their sentences. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 13 civil prisoners in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far,” it said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-asks-pakistan-to-release-188-indian-fishermen-and-civil-prisoners-ptag-2938540-2026-07-01

Ketan Agarwal murder case: How is lie detector test done? Is it legal? Are polygraph test results admissible in court? Can it be done if Siya Goyal says no? News18 explains

The Pune Rural Police are seeking court approval to conduct a polygraph or lie detector test on Siya Goyal, the prime accused in the murder of her 25-year-old realtor fiancé, Ketan Agarwal.

DIGITAL EVIDENCE DESTROYED: WHY POLICE NEED LIE DETECTOR TEST

Ketan Agarwal was allegedly pushed to his death from nearly 400-metre-deep gorge at Lohagad Fort near Pune. Police claim that Goyal and her alleged lover, Chetan Chaudhary, meticulously planned the murder to avoid her upcoming wedding.

The case heavily relies on circumstantial and technical proof due to specific investigative hurdles:

• There are no direct eyewitnesses or CCTV cameras tracking the exact spot of the crime at the fort cliff.
• Investigators revealed that the accused individuals deleted their extensive call log and even items from their phones’ recycle bins before and after June 18 in an attempt to destroy evidence.
• Conflicting narratives from family members and the suspects regarding the wedding arrangements have complicated the investigation into the alleged motive.

FRESH LEADS, NEW MATERIAL: HOW A LIE DETECTOR TEST MAY HELP

Under the Indian law, polygraph test results are not directly admissible as substantive evidence in court. However, the Pune Police are pushing for the test to extract crucial verbal admissions. They plan to use psychological cues to develop new leads, verify existing evidence, identify inconsistencies, or locate material evidence that can be independently verified.

The polygraph itself cannot establish guilt, and any information obtained during the test must be corroborated through independent evidence.

HOW A LIE DETECTOR TEST IS DONE

A polygraph test does not directly read minds or detect lies. Instead, it measures physiological indicators of stress caused by the fear of deception.

The process involves specific equipment attached to the body to track biological changes:

Pneumograph Tubes: Placed around the subject’s chest and abdomen to record breathing rate and patterns.

Blood Pressure Cuff: Wrapped around the arm to measure changes in heart rate and blood pressure.

Galvanometric Electrodes: Attached to the fingertips to evaluate sweat gland activity via skin conductivity.

The examiner reviews the case, explains how the equipment works, and discusses all questions beforehand to minimise outside anxiety. The examiner creates three types of questions — irrelevant questions, control questions about generic past misdeeds, and relevant questions directly tied to the crime. The examiner reads the questions while the sensors record bodily spikes during answers.

The examiner compares physiological responses to different categories of questions to determine whether responses to relevant questions differ significantly from baseline or control responses.

IS IT LEGAL? WHAT THE LAW SAYS

A lie detector (polygraph) test is legal in India only if the subject gives voluntary consent, but its results cannot be used as direct evidence or a confession in a court of law.

In the landmark 2010 judgment in Selvi v. State of Karnataka, the Supreme Court held that involuntary administration of polygraph, narco-analysis and brain-mapping tests is unconstitutional because it violates an individual’s right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) and personal liberty under Article 21.

The legal framework governing polygraph tests is shaped by constitutional protections, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, and Supreme Court precedent.

• Article 20(3) (Right against Self-Incrimination): The Constitution provides that no person accused of an offence can be compelled to be a witness against themselves. Compelling a person to undergo a polygraph test violates this protection.
• Article 21 (Right to Privacy & Dignity): The Supreme Court observed that forcing these tests constitutes mental torture and violates personal liberty and individual privacy.

WHAT IF SIYA GOYAL SAYS NO?

For a lie detector test to be legally conducted in India, the investigating agency must follow strict rules. The test must be voluntary and cannot be compelled by the police. The subject’s consent must be recorded before a Judicial Magistrate. The subject must have access to legal counsel before giving consent. The examination must be conducted by an authorised forensic agency or government facility in accordance with prescribed procedures.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/pune-cops-want-siya-goyal-to-take-lie-detector-test-can-polygraph-help-solve-ketan-agarwal-murder-how-is-it-done-is-it-legal-ws-l-10184944.html

HT also learnt that six of the eight suspects were hired by a Varanasi-based security agency that provided manpower for the cash-counting process at Ram temple.

The investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh has moved from arrests to legal proceedings and asset and fund recovery.

Police arrested eight people in connection with the case last week after the UP police registered an FIR based on the complaint from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the temple. These eight men are: Anukalp Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Karunesh Pandey, Manish Yadav, Lavkush Mishra, Ramashankar Mishra, and Subhash Srivastava.

As police dig deeper into the roles of the eight suspects and the loopholes that led to the alleged embezzlement, they have already recovered ₹79.85 lakh in cash from seven of the eight suspects.

Authorities are also zeroing in on the assets of the eight jailed suspects as part of the investigation.

The controversy first came to light on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey alleged donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore were siphoned off from temple offerings.

Amid the probe, police have unearthed a major real estate purchase by one of the key suspects, Lavkush Mishra. The suspect allegedly acquired a land parcel worth over ₹23 lakh in the Sahadatganj area of the temple town recently, HT reported earlier.

Police have also found that six of the eight arrested suspects were employed by a security agency in Varanasi.

Let’s take a look at what police have found so far:

Ram Temple donations row | Probe so far

The two leaders spoke on the phone against the backdrop of concerns about the ceasefire in West Asia following fresh attacks by the US and Iran recently.

India emphasised the need for continued efforts to ensure peace and stability in West Asia and for safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce during a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

The two leaders spoke on the phone against the backdrop of concerns about the ceasefire in West Asia following fresh attacks by the US and Iran over the past few days. The conversation also came days after Pezeshkian invited Modi for the funeral programme of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei beginning this week.

“Welcomed the progress made in the negotiations and expressed hope that continued efforts will lead to lasting peace in the region. Reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait for India and the world,” Modi said in a social media post.

According to an Indian government readout on the phone call, Modi “reiterated the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, and for safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce”.

The PM also welcomed the understanding reached by Iran and the US and “reiterated India’s consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy”.

India grappled with shortages of oil, gas and fertilisers following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in recent months, and it has benefited from the passage of ships carrying these commodities in recent days after Tehran eased restrictions on the crucial waterway used to transport almost 50% of the country’s oil imports.

During the phone conversation, Pezeshkian briefed Modi on recent developments in West Asia and “the way forward”, the readout said without giving details.

While the Indian side has made no formal announcement on the level of its participation in the funeral programme for the late Iranian Supreme Leader, people familiar with the matter said minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita and the governor of Bihar, Lt Gen (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain, are expected to represent India at the event.

India likely to send delegation to Khamenei funeral

Last week, Pezeshkian invited Modi to the funeral programme, a six-day event spanning three Iranian cities. Margherita and Hasnain, one of the few members of the Shia community to currently hold a senior constitutional position, are expected to participate in the event to be held in Tehran on July 4, the people said on condition of anonymity.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-speaks-with-iran-president-pezeshkian-india-backs-lasting-peace-in-west-asia-101782835791463.html

When Sharran Srivatsaa moved to the United States, he was told he would never be hired because of his “thick Indian accent”.

When Sharran Srivatsaa moved to the United States as a teenager, he probably never imagined that he would one day lead a multi-million dollar company. He was, after all, told repeatedly that his thick Indian accent made him unemployable. To make ends meet as a young student, he worked as a janitor.

Srivatsaa, today the CEO of Acquisition.com, recounted how he overcame the challenge of a “thick accent” and found success in the United States.

“He had such a thick accent”

A video of Acquisition.com founder Alex Hormozi speaking with American motivational speaker Tony Robbins prompted Sharran Srivatsaa to recall his early days in the US.

During the course of the conversation, Hormozi revealed that the CEO of his company, Sharran Srivatsaa, worked as a janitor when he came to the US from India two decades ago. Srivatsaa improved his accent by listening to Tony Robbins’ tapes, Hormozi said.

“There was an Indian guy who came here to the US 20-something years ago and he was working as a janitor. And he had such a thick accent that they said, ‘you will never get employed anywhere, you have to learn how to speak.’

“And he tried to get ‘How to Get Rid of An Indian Accent’ tapes and those didn’t really exist,” said Hormozi. Instead, Srivatsaa was told he could check out Tony Robbins tapes.

“And so, he’s mopping the floors and he’s doing it. And that man then started a software company, scaled that, sold it, started another company, sold that for 3.4 billion. And I met him right around that time and he’s my partner at Acquisition.com,” said the founder of Acquisition.com.

“I came to the US with a thick Indian accent”

Sharran Srivatsaa himself vouched for the authenticity of this story as he responded to the video on X.

I’m the Indian guy Alex Hormozi and Tony Robbins are talking about.

I came to the US with a thick Indian accent and was told I’d never get employed anywhere if I couldn’t learn how to speak.

But here’s the thing:

I couldn’t afford a speaking coach. I was a janitor barely… pic.twitter.com/A6W6ynrmtG

— Sharran Srivatsaa (@sharran) June 30, 2026

“I’m the Indian guy Alex Hormozi and Tony Robbins are talking about. I came to the US with a thick Indian accent and was told I’d never get employed anywhere if I couldn’t learn how to speak,” he wrote.

In an earlier LinkedIn post, Srivatsaa had revealed that he came to the US in 1997 as a freshman and worked as a janitor to support himself.

“Freshman year of college I had just arrived from India with a super thick accent. I was working as a custodian, scrubbing floors and cleaning toilets to pay my way through school. The head custodian told me to get English tapes from the library to improve my accent. They didn’t have any. The librarian handed me Tony Robbins’ “Personal Power” instead,” he had recalled.

“I taught myself how to speak properly”

In his recent X post, the Indian-American CEO said he taught himself to speak properly by listening to the tapes, and called it a lesson in determination.

“I checked out Tony Robbins tapes from the public library and listened to them every night as I mopped floors,” Sharran Srivatsaa said as he advised his followers to never give up.

“This is why I live by the saying that not giving up is the most heroic thing you can do. I could’ve listened to the employers and stayed as a janitor. But your starting point is not your story… it’s just the first chapter of it,” he advised.

Sharran Srivatsaa’s rise and rise

Born in India, Srivatsaa moved to the United States as a teenager to pursue his education.

After completing his education, Srivatsaa built a career in finance. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Luther College and later completed an MBA with honours from Vanderbilt University.

He worked as a banker at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse before moving into entrepreneurship.

In 2011, Srivatsaa left Wall Street and took over as president of Teles Properties, a Beverly Hills-based luxury real estate company. When he joined, the company was already generating hundreds of millions of dollars in sales but was not growing as expected. Over five years, he helped scale the company significantly, growing its sales volume and eventually helping it reach a valuation of around $3.4 billion before it was acquired by Douglas Elliman.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/told-he-d-never-get-a-job-because-of-his-thick-indian-accent-he-is-today-a-successful-ceo-in-the-us-101782873297145.html

Rijiju said there has been no Chinese intrusion into Arunachal, while the Army too dismissed reports of PLA encroachment as “incorrect and without any basis.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has dismissed claims that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has intruded into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that there has been “no intrusion” on the Indian side even though transgressions by both countries occur because the border has not been clearly demarcated.

Speaking to The Times of India, Rijiju said, “There is no intrusion. Transgressions from both sides happen due to the absence of demarcation.”

His remarks came after a tribal body from Arunachal Pradesh alleged that the PLA had occupied parts of its ancestral grazing, hunting and farming land in the state’s Upper Subansiri district over the past six years, prompting demands for an official verification of the claims.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Tuesday also rejected media reports alleging that the Chinese military had recently encroached upon Indian territory and established camps in Arunachal Pradesh, calling such reports “incorrect and without any basis,” according to ANI.

Responding to the allegations, Rijiju maintained that while incidents of transgression do take place along the India-China border, they should not be mistaken for intrusion.

“There is no intrusion. Transgressions from both sides happen due to the absence of demarcation,” he told The Times of India.

The Arunachal West MP explained that the lack of a clearly demarcated boundary results in differing perceptions of the border by both countries, leading to occasional transgressions from either side.

The controversy gained attention after a tribal organisation representing a border community claimed that the People’s Liberation Army had gradually occupied portions of its traditional land in Upper Subansiri district over the last six years.

BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE NOW A PRIORITY: RIJIJU

Rijiju also spoke about infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh’s border areas, saying previous Central governments had not invested adequately in the frontier region.

He was quoted as saying that the Narendra Modi-led government had made border infrastructure a priority and significantly accelerated development works in the strategically important state, which is the largest in the Northeast by area.

Price of 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder cut by Rs 183 from July 1, easing costs for restaurants, hotels and other businesses across major cities

The price of the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been reduced by Rs 183, offering relief to restaurants, hotels and other businesses that rely on commercial cooking gas. The revised prices came into effect from July 1, with new rates applicable across major cities.

After the latest revision, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi has come down to Rs 2,930 from Rs 3,113.50.

However, there is no change in the price of the 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder.

Steep Rise In Prices In 2023

The latest reduction marks the first price cut in commercial LPG cylinders in 2026 after a series of steep hikes over the past few months. At the beginning of the year, the price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi stood at Rs 1,691.50. However, prices rose sharply in the following months.

In March, commercial LPG prices were increased twice. The cylinder became Rs 28 costlier on March 1, followed by another Rs 114.50 hike on March 7. The biggest jump came in May, when the price was increased by Rs 993, taking the cylinder price to Rs 3,071.50 in Delhi. This was followed by another Rs 42 increase on June 1, pushing the price to Rs 3,113.50.

With the latest Rs 183 reduction, the price has eased to Rs 2,930, offering some relief after months of continuous increases. Consumers can check the latest city-wise commercial LPG cylinder prices on the official websites of Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL).

Latest Rates Across Cities

Following today’s price cut, the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder in New Delhi now costs Rs 2,930. In Lucknow, the price has been reduced from Rs 3,236 to Rs 3,052.50, while in Kolkata, it has fallen from Rs 3,255.50 to Rs 3,081.50. In Patna, the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder will now be available for Rs 3,227.

Source : https://www.news18.com/business/economy/commercial-lpg-cylinder-gets-cheaper-19-kg-cylinder-price-reduced-by-rs-183-check-latest-rates-ws-l-10183239.html

The INDIA bloc expanded support for its move on electoral issues as 23 parties and an Independent MP jointly approached the Chief Justice over the EC’s SIR process.

Twenty-three Opposition parties along with one Independent MP have jointly written to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and other election-related issues, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday.

The move marks a show of unity within the INDIA bloc, with parties including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) joining the joint representation.

Announcing the development in a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said the decision to write to the Chief Justice was first taken during the INDIA Janbandhan meeting held on June 8.

“21 political parties plus one Independent attended the INDIA Janbandhan meeting on June 8, 2026, where a decision was taken to address a joint letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India on the SIR process of the Election Commission of India and other election-related issues,” Ramesh posted.

He further said, “Accordingly, a joint letter now signed by 23 political parties plus one Independent has been sent to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India today. The Opposition parties are firmly anchored in SURE, Solidarity, Unity and REsistance.”

21 political parties plus one Independent attended the INDIA janbandhan meeting on June 8, 2026 where a decision was taken to address a joint letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India on the SIR process of the Election Commission of India and other election-related issues.…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 30, 2026

According to ANI, the INDIA bloc managed to secure the signatures of both the Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK after extensive discussions behind the scenes.

The two parties had not attended the INDIA Janbandhan meeting on June 8, but later joined the collective initiative by signing the letter addressed to the Chief Justice.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien also confirmed the development on X, saying that both the Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK had signed the joint letter sent to the Chief Justice.

PTI reported that the joint letter has been signed by 23 political parties along with Independent MP Kapil Sibal.

Besides raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision process, the letter also addresses the role of the Election Commission and other election-related issues, sources told the news agency.

The Congress and several Opposition parties have been questioning the Election Commission over the SIR exercise for some time.

The June 8 INDIA Janbandhan meeting had focused on a range of political issues.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/23-opposition-parties-kapil-sibal-write-to-cji-over-ecs-sir-jairam-ramesh-says-committed-to-sure-ws-l-10181555.html

A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near Jispa in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district has blocked the highway, halting traffic and stranding commuters. Police, in coordination with Ladakh and Zanskar authorities, have suspended vehicle movement and urged people to avoid the area. Road clearance is underway as officials monitor the situation following the second flash flood in two days.

A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near Jispa in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district has completely blocked the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill and prompting authorities to suspend the movement of vehicles towards the affected area.

#WATCH | A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near Jispa in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district completely blocked the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill and prompting authorities to suspend the movement of vehicles towards the affected area

(Source: Police) pic.twitter.com/9YBLKXDkzU

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2026

Following the directions of Superintendent of Police, Lahaul-Spiti, Shivani Mehla, Lahaul-Spiti Police, in coordination with Ladakh and Zanskar Police, has halted all traffic heading towards the affected stretch until further notice to ensure public safety.

Authorities have urged tourists, local residents, and commuters not to travel towards Jispa until the road is fully cleared and normal traffic movement is restored. Travellers have been advised to remain at safe locations and strictly follow official advisories issued by the police and district administration.

Jispa, Himachal Pradesh: Road clearance work is underway in Jispa. Safe and smooth movement of traffic has resumed, and continuous monitoring is being carried out to ensure the safety of commuters: Lahaul & Spiti Police pic.twitter.com/hNzk3yMyn1

— IANS (@ians_india) July 1, 2026

“A cloudburst near Jispa this afternoon has completely blocked the road, resulting in a massive traffic congestion in the area. Keeping public safety as our top priority, Lahaul-Spiti Police, in coordination with Ladakh and Zanskar Police, has stopped all onward traffic until tomorrow morning,” SP Mehla said.

The cloudburst has been due to glacial snow melting, as there has been no rain in the region, and this is the second flash flood in two consecutive days.

The official said road clearance work is being carried out at Jispa. Safe and smooth movement of traffic has started, and Continuous monitoring is being maintained to ensure the safety of commuters.

Jispa, Himachal Pradesh: Road clearance work is underway in Jispa. Safe and smooth movement of traffic has resumed, and continuous monitoring is being carried out to ensure the safety of commuters: SP Lahaul Spiti pic.twitter.com/4tcTxV3Gzm

— IANS (@ians_india) July 1, 2026

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/himachal-pradesh-flash-flood-cloudburst-near-jispa-blocks-highway-traffic-halted-as-police-issue-travel-advisory-video 

Police are investigating allegations that a father raped his minor daughter in Desar taluka, Vadodara district. The case has triggered shock in the village.

Residents of a village in Gujarat’s Vadodara were taken aback after a woman alleged that her husband had gagged and raped their 13-year-old daughter when she was not at home. The child’s mother allegedly caught him during the assault. According to the police complaint, the accused had stuffed a piece of cloth in the girl’s mouth and raped her.

He fled the house after his wife returned and witnessed the incident. A case has been registered and police have launched an investigation.

The incident was reported from a village in Desar taluka of Vadodara. As per the complaint filed by the survivor’s mother, a quarrel broke out between the couple on the evening of June 28 over a domestic issue.

To avoid further escalation in tensions, the woman left home and went to stay for some time at the house of a female relative in a nearby area.

At the time, the couple’s 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son were at home. According to the complaint, the woman returned around midnight along with her sister and allegedly found her husband sexually assaulting their daughter inside the house.

The girl’s mouth had allegedly been stuffed with a cloth.

The complaint further said that the accused fled immediately after seeing his wife and her sister. The mother then removed the cloth from her daughter’s mouth, attended to her and tried to comfort her.

The child later allegedly narrated the incident to her mother and claimed that after her younger brother had fallen asleep, her father restrained her and sexually assaulted her against her will.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-minor-rape-father-sexually-assault-13-year-old-daughter-vadodara-desar-flees-spot-caught-by-wife-2937956-2026-07-01

Honeymoon murder case: Raja Raghuvanshi’s family will approach the Supreme Court against Sonam Raghuvanshi’s bail. The move follows the Meghalaya High Court’s finding that police violated arrest procedure safeguards.

A day after the Meghalaya High Court upheld the bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon last year, Raja’s family said on Tuesday that it will move the Supreme Court to seek cancellation of her bail.

The High Court on Monday dismissed the Meghalaya government’s petition against the lower court order of April 27 granting Sonam bail. Reacting to the verdict, Raja’s elder brother Vipin Raghuvanshi told PTI, “We will appeal to the Supreme Court for cancellation of Sonam’s bail and will soon initiate the process of filing the petition.”

Vipin also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the prosecution handled the case. He said the family would fight the legal battle for justice on its own and would hire a private lawyer. He also said he still could not understand how the Meghalaya Police had made a legal lapse by not informing Sonam of the grounds of arrest when she was taken into custody.

In its order on Monday, the Meghalaya High Court pointed to serious errors by the police in informing Sonam of the grounds of her arrest. The court said, “If this is the manner in which the intimation of the grounds of arrest is made, the same reflects a total non-application of judicious mind on the part of the arresting agency, which strikes at the root of the process of arrest of an accused person, leading this Court to come to the conclusion that the arrestee does have a strong case to contend that no such effective grounds have ever been intimated to her at the initial stage of her arrest.”

The court added that Article 22(1) of the Constitution, read with Section 47(1) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, had been violated. Article 22(1) gives an arrested person the right to be told the grounds of arrest and to consult a lawyer of their choice, while Section 47(1) requires the police to inform the accused of the charges and the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest.

Officials said Sonam was arrested on June 9 from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh on charges of conspiring to murder Raja Raghuvanshi. She remained in judicial custody in Shillong District Jail for more than 10 months before getting bail. Raja, whose family is in the transport business, married Sonam on May 11 last year in Indore.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/raja-raghuvanshi-murder-case-family-to-challenge-sonam-bail-in-supreme-court-ptag-2937809-2026-07-01

The CBI has arrested an IAS officer in the Haryana government funds scam. Investigators say the alleged fraud used fake fixed deposits and shell entities to siphon off public money.

The CBI has arrested a senior IAS officer and two former bank officers in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Rs 504 crore from Haryana government accounts maintained in IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh, officials said on Tuesday.

The agency said the alleged actions of IAS officer Pardeep Kumar, who was posted as Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, led to the misappropriation of funds and caused a net loss of about Rs 169 crore to the government.

Earlier, the agency had arrested former IDFC First Bank area head Shamim Dar and former AU Small Finance Bank branch manager Charanjeet Singh Randhawa in the case. The CBI has alleged that funds of eight Haryana government departments were siphoned off through forged and non-existent fixed deposits, debit notes and shell entities.

In a statement, the CBI said, “The investigation has revealed that the actions of Pardeep Kumar, as Member Secretary, had a direct nexus with the fraud. He himself handled the entire investment-related work at his level. Funds for fixed deposits were sent to IDFC First Bank far in excess of the prescribed limits.”

It said that for creating the fixed deposits, HSPCB funds were first transferred to an account opened at IDFC First Bank’s Sector 32 branch in Chandigarh.

The agency said the department could produce no record relating to the opening of this account. “The conspiracy was so deep that the account got opened without any approvals and funds were transferred into the account in the name of creating fixed deposits. The investigation conducted so far has revealed that no fixed deposits were created in this bank,” the statement said.

Instead, it alleged, fraudulent debit transactions were made from the account, resulting in the misappropriation of government funds and causing a net loss of around Rs 169 crore to the state government. The CBI said this was the single largest financial loss suffered by any of the affected Haryana government departments in the overall Rs 504 crore scam.

The agency said Kumar was not joining the investigation despite repeated efforts and was arrested after the CBI traced his whereabouts. On the two former bank officers, the CBI said they siphoned off money through irregular investment of surplus funds in fixed deposits and through fraudulent transactions routed through bank accounts opened for this purpose.

“Investigation revealed that both accused, in their respective capacities as bank officials, played incriminating roles in facilitating the opening of bank accounts and in facilitating fraudulent transactions through which public funds were diverted,” a spokesperson said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/haryana-rs-504-crore-scam-cbi-arrests-ias-officer-pardeep-kumar-ptag-2937790-2026-07-01

The Gujarat High Court held that a registered Hindu marriage is invalid without essential ceremonies such as saptapadi. The ruling reinforces that consent and customary rites remain central to a legally binding union.

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that registration by itself cannot validate a Hindu marriage if the customary rites and ceremonies required under law, including ‘saptapadi’, have not been performed.

In an order dated June 23, a division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and RT Vachhani gave the ruling while hearing an appeal by a UK-based man who had challenged a family court decision refusing to declare an alleged marriage void.

Pausing the family court’s order passed in November last year, the High Court said the performance of essential ceremonies such as saptapadi is the foundation of a Hindu marriage. It noted that saptapadi, or the taking of seven steps jointly by the bridegroom and bride before the sacred fire, gives a marriage its spiritual, social and legal status as a sacrament and samskara.

The case relates to appellant Kaushal Sonar, who said he lives in the United Kingdom while the defendant lives in Ahmedabad. He told the court that he came to know of the alleged marriage only when the woman approached his parents and handed over a marriage certificate claiming to be his lawfully wedded wife.

Sonar said he never solemnised any marriage with her, never performed any Hindu rites and ceremonies, and never lived with her as husband. He also alleged that his signature on the marriage documents had been obtained fraudulently and without his free consent.

The High Court said the family court had erred in dismissing Sonar’s petition, especially when the defendant had clearly admitted before it that no marriage rites or ceremonies were performed between the parties and that the two never shared a husband-wife relationship.

Referring to Section 7 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the court said a Hindu marriage must be solemnised in accordance with customary rites and ceremonies, such as saptapadi, for it to become complete and binding. Since no such rites were performed in this case, the court said, the basic and essential requirement of a Hindu marriage was absent.

In its order, the court also underlined the place of marriage in Hindu law. It said, “In Hindu tradition, a wife is regarded as one-half of her husband (ardhangini), while at the same time being recognised as an individual with her own identity and as an equal partner in the marriage. Under Hindu Law, marriage is considered a sacrament or samskara. It forms the foundation of a new family.”

The bench added that marriage is “not merely an occasion for ‘song and dance’ or ‘wining and dining'” or a commercial transaction, but “a solemn and foundational event” for a man and a woman to enter into a relationship and build a family. It further said, “A marriage is sacred because it creates a lifelong, dignified, equal, consensual, and healthy union between two individuals.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/gujarat-high-court-hindu-marriage-registration-saptapadi-customary-rites-ptag-2937778-2026-06-30

Haryana, Goa, Assam, Chandigarh and Punjab have led the rollout of the new criminal laws. The progress points to faster case processing and deeper digital integration across the justice system.

Haryana, Goa, Assam, Chandigarh and Punjab have emerged as the five best-performing states and Union territories in implementing the three new criminal laws that came into force on July 1, 2024, officials said. Performance is assessed across four parameters: administrative reforms, operational efficiency, information and communication technology application, and integration.

The officials said the weightage of these parameters changes with regular revisions. They added that most states are above the national average, while West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have also reported progress in implementing the provisions of the new laws.

The three laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 – replaced the British-era criminal laws. Officials described their implementation as a watershed moment in the country’s criminal jurisprudence, and said the new framework aims to complete the process from FIR to a Supreme Court decision within three years.

The laws provide for a common platform, the Interoperable Criminal Justice System, or ICJS, which enables “seamless interoperability” among the five main pillars of criminal justice – police, courts, jails, forensics and prosecution – to support a faster system. Officials said 23 states and Union territories have fully integrated into the new version of ICJS 2.0.

According to Union Home Ministry data, 39.56 per cent of chargesheets were filed within the mandatory 90-day deadline under the new criminal laws in 2024, and this rose to 60.96 per cent in 2026.

The share of chargesheets filed within the mandatory 60-day deadline rose from 50.92 per cent in 2024 to 67.26 per cent in 2026. In sexual offence cases, 44 per cent of chargesheets were filed within the mandatory two-month period, and this increased to 75.16 per cent in 2025.

Officials also cited the Presidency prison, one of the oldest jails in the country, for using video conferencing facilities as required under the new criminal laws.

Over the past two years, 74.66 lakh FIRs have been registered under the BNS, along with 63,572 zero FIRs. Police across the country generated 46.50 lakh evidence IDs using the e-Sakshya application, and eight new Central Forensic Science Laboratories have been sanctioned, taking the total to 15.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-criminal-laws-rollout-haryana-goa-assam-chandigarh-punjab-top-performers-ptag-2937672-2026-06-30

The incident took place around 2:30 am last night when the bus was travelling from Rishikesh to Madhya Pradesh’s Indore at high speed.

Seven people were killed and 22 more injured after a sleeper bus they were travelling in collided with a trailer and then burst into flames on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway near Rajasthan’s Dausa.

The incident took place around 2:30 am last night when the bus was travelling from Rishikesh to Madhya Pradesh’s Indore at high speed. The vehicle first collided with a trailer (a large truck), and then both vehicles caught fire.

Visuals showed the vehicles in huge flames as passengers screamed for help. According to officials, passengers from the upper berths were thrown to the ground. While five passengers died from burn injuries, two died from head injuries, they said.

Eyewitnesses said most passengers who died were asleep at the time of the incident.

Firefighting officials have been engaged in putting out the fire and rescuing people.

All the injured people – which mostly included women and children – have been admitted to the Dausa district hospital for treatment.

While the exact cause of the accident is not yet known, the police suspect the bus driver may have dozed off. The bus’ high speed is also being considered as a possible factor.

Locals alleged that rescue and fire brigade officials arrived late at the accident site, causing more deaths. According to them, the passengers trapped in the bus were rescued nearly an hour after the fire erupted.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/7-dead-22-injured-as-rishikesh-indore-bus-crashes-catches-fire-on-delhi-mumbai-expressway-rajasthan-dausa-accident-11710354?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

From EPFO services to Aadhaar updates, several major financial and regulatory changes are set to be implemented in July 2026.

Several important financial and administrative changes have come into effect across the country from Wednesday, July 1, 2026, affecting Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) subscribers, Aadhaar holders, passport applicants and income taxpayers. The changes have been confirmed through notifications and announcements issued by the respective government authorities.

EPFO online services restored after system upgrade

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has resumed its online services after completing a scheduled system migration and database consolidation exercise conducted between June 26 and June 30. During the five-day maintenance period, the EPFO member portal, employer portal and several digital services remained unavailable. The organisation said the upgrade was undertaken to improve processing efficiency, security and service delivery. Services were scheduled to be restored from 00:00 hours on July 1.

Aadhaar email update made free for six months

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has waived the fee charged for updating the email address linked to an Aadhaar number through the Aadhaar mobile application. The waiver, announced through an official memorandum issued on June 19, will remain in force from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Earlier, users were required to pay a fee for this service.

Passport application fees revised

The Ministry of External Affairs has implemented a revision in passport application fees from July 1, marking the first major increase in passport charges since 2012. Under the revised structure, the fee for a standard 36-page passport booklet has increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, while the Tatkaal fee for the same booklet has risen to Rs 5,000. The charges for 60-page passports, minor passports and police clearance certificates have also been increased. The revised rates apply to passport services both within India and overseas.

ITR filing deadline approaches

Individual taxpayers filing Income Tax Returns under ITR-1 and ITR-2 have until July 31, 2026, to submit their returns without attracting penalties. ITR-1 is generally applicable to salaried individuals with limited additional income sources such as bank interest, while ITR-2 applies to taxpayers with capital gains, multiple house properties or annual income exceeding Rs 50 lakh. Tax experts have advised taxpayers to complete the filing process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute difficulties.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/epfo-services-resume-aadhaar-email-updates-go-free-and-passport-fees-rise-key-financial-changes-effective-from-july-1-11710377?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The Indian Coast Guard rescued all six crew members of a distressed fishing boat off Mangaluru after it developed hull damage and began taking on water in rough sea conditions, officials said.

The Indian Coast Guard on Monday rescued six fishermen after their fishing boat developed severe flooding and hull damage in rough seas off the coast of Karnataka’s Mangaluru, officials said.

According to the Coast Guard, the distress call was received at around 4 pm from the Indian fishing boat Manju Matha, which was located about 33 nautical miles off the Suratkal coast.

The crew reported that the vessel was taking on water due to hull damage caused by rough sea conditions, putting all six fishermen on board at risk.

The Coast Guard said the crew of ICGS Sachet, which was operating in the area, immediately altered course and reached the distressed vessel within about 90 minutes.

The rescue operation was carried out amid rough seas, strong winds, poor visibility and fading daylight. Coast Guard personnel used remote-operated lifebuoys to evacuate the stranded fishermen safely from the damaged boat.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-coast-guard-rescues-six-fishermen-after-boat-floods-off-mangaluru-coast-2937101-2026-06-30

R Rajagopal said his delayed passport renewal exposed uncertainty over the use of SIR data. Kerala leaders backed him as he sought clear rules on whether electoral roll data can affect passport verification.

Former The Telegraph editor R Rajagopal has said the controversy over the delay in renewing his passport is “far bigger” than his personal case, arguing that the issue exposes a lack of clarity over how data collected during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being used by government agencies.

Speaking to India Today TV, Rajagopal said the Election Commission had assured the Supreme Court that the SIR exercise was meant only for inclusion or deletion of names from electoral rolls.

“What it shows is how one policy, which the Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court is being implemented solely for the purpose of inclusion or deletion from the voter list, is now being used for purposes that were not intended at all,” he said.

“In my case, it’s a passport. I’ve heard of other cases where welfare measures are threatened because a person’s name has been removed from the SIR.”

‘WE NEED POLICY CLARITY’

Rajagopal said the core issue was not whether he eventually received his passport, but whether the government clearly defined how SIR data could be used.

“The solution is not to give me a passport or reject it. The point is there should be policy clarity. Either the judiciary, the executive or the legislature must clarify whether SIR data can be used for this purpose or not,” he said.

He warned that the absence of clear rules leaves citizens vulnerable.

“This policy is so uncertain that it can be twisted in any way by anyone implementing it, and the citizen is completely at its mercy.”

Rajagopal said he had repeatedly asked police to show him the government order or circular that required a person’s name to be restored to the electoral roll before passport verification could be completed.

“I asked the police, ‘Can you show me a government order or memo?’ This is where the stonewalling began. They simply refused to answer.”

WHY HE DIDN’T APPLY UNDER TATKAL

Responding to questions about why he did not apply for a Tatkal passport, Rajagopal said financial reasons played a role.

“I lost my job when I was 56 years old and since then I haven’t earned a single penny. Why should I spend double the money on a passport? I don’t understand that.”

He also clarified that although the delay coincided with his daughter’s wedding in California, he had never suggested there was a deliberate attempt to stop him from attending it.

“The wedding was just an important milestone during this process. It was a coincidence.”

‘I DON’T THINK I WAS SINGLED OUT’

Rajagopal said he had no evidence to suggest he had been personally targeted because of his editorial stance while heading The Telegraph.

“I don’t think I’ve been singled out because I don’t have any evidence. I think it’s a general problem, far bigger than me.”

He added that even if someone believed the issue stemmed from vendetta, the larger concern remained the lack of clarity affecting ordinary citizens.

“I was merely asking for my right as a common Indian. I was not asking as a former editor.”

Rajdeep Sardesai concluded the interview by saying, “If this can happen to a former senior editor of a leading national daily, think about the average citizen who will have to run from pillar to post for passport verification.”

KERALA LEADERS RALLY BEHIND RAJAGOPAL

The interview came a day after Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, urging him to intervene in Rajagopal’s passport renewal application.

In his letter, Satheesan said the passport renewal had reportedly been delayed because of an adverse police verification report linked to Rajagopal’s deletion from the electoral roll during the SIR exercise.

“I understand that the adverse report is based on the deletion of his name from the electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision. While the electoral issue is being addressed through the appropriate appeal process, I am informed that the police report has resulted in a delay in the renewal of his passport,” Satheesan wrote.

Calling Rajagopal “a renowned journalist”, the Kerala chief minister urged Adhikari to “look into the matter urgently”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/passport-row-rajagopal-seeks-policy-clarity-on-sir-after-renewal-delay-2936997-2026-06-29

The arrest of eight people — most of them employees of the Ayodhya Ram temple — for siphoning of funds from offerings has given a huge opening to the Opposition, which has sharpened its attack on the government. Today, it was the turn of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the BJP of having no “Sharam (shame)” or “dharam (religion)”. He questioned how the perpetrators and the investigators can belong to the same side and underscored the allegation that some of the offerings reached as far as Karnataka.

“The government itself has accepted this fact, that such an incident has occurred there,” Akhilesh Yadav told NDTV in an exclusive interview today.

“And after the SIT’s report, the things that are coming to the forefront – the SIT itself is accepting that by turning off the CCTV, the offerings that came in have been subjected to a scam on a massive scale,” he said.

“So, this tampering with faith, this play with our devotion, the people of India and Sanatani people can never accept this. I have even gone so far as to say that our religion, our society is such that if they turn off the CCTV, turn off the lights, and no one watches, then those who took away the offerings can place them back. At least open a way for them,” he added.

Asked if he considers the temple trust or the Chief Minister guilty, Yadav said, “I cannot say who is guilty. I am in the Opposition, so I won’t label someone guilty”.

But the biggest question, he said, was how the Chief Minister, is was trying to set a world record on visits to the site and talks regularly of law and order, “did not even have a system in place that can inform them of such a massive theft “.

There are more questions. If the “SIT is investigating the Trust, who did you submit the report to?” he said.

“The biggest question is also this – if you have conducted an investigation, who formed the SIT? Who formed the SIT and who was the investigation handed over to? Will there be an investigation into the SIT as well? What organisation will be there to investigate the SIT then?” he added.

The issue of siphoning of donations was flagged first by Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party after which the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had asked the government to order an investigation.

The government subsequently ordered an inquiry by a Special Information Team, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team submitted a preliminary report to the government on Tuesday.

Later last week, eight people were arrested and two temple office bearers — general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra — submitted their resignations, taking moral responsibility for the theft.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-has-no-sharam-or-dharam-akhilesh-yadav-on-ram-temple-theft-row-11704042?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The average price of the Indian basket of crude fell to $68.86 a barrel, down more than 56% from a peak of $157.04 on March 23 after the outbreak of the war.

India’s average import price for crude oil has fallen below $70 a barrel for the first time since the West Asia conflict began, but consumers are unlikely to see an immediate cut in petrol and diesel prices as refiners seek to recover previous losses and the government may recoup part of the fiscal cost of shielding consumers, people familiar with the matter said.

The average price of the Indian basket of crude fell to $68.86 a barrel on Friday, down more than 56% from a peak of $157.04 on March 23 after the outbreak of the conflict on February 28. The decline has eased pressure on state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) that were running huge losses. According to the people cited above, the three state-owned fuel retailers are now earning marketing margins of about ₹5-6 a litre on petrol, although they continue to lose around ₹8-10 a litre on diesel sales.

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and the petroleum ministry did not respond to emailed queries.

India imports more than 88% of the crude oil it processes. As global oil prices surged during the conflict, OMCs incurred losses because retail fuel prices remained largely unchanged. The government cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 a litre each on March 27 to partly offset those losses after losses climbed to ₹26 a litre on petrol and ₹81.90 a litre on diesel.

As the conflict intensified and the Strait of Hormuz — a key transit route for about a fifth of oil traded globally — closed, international crude prices climbed further. According to the people cited above, losses widened again despite the excise duty reduction, prompting OMCs to raise petrol and diesel prices by a cumulative ₹7.35 and ₹7.53 a litre, respectively, between May 15 and May 25.

Oil prices began easing after prospects emerged for a US-Iran peace agreement and a memorandum of understanding was signed in mid-June to chart a pathway towards ending the conflict. As energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumed, international crude prices softened, improving India’s energy supply situation, the people said.

The Indian basket, which stood at $71.17 a barrel on February 27, crossed $100 in early March and remained above that level until May. It slipped below $80 by mid-June before falling to $68.86 a barrel on June 26, according to the latest available data.

Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on X that the government had protected Indian consumers from the global energy shock despite severe supply disruptions.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-oil-import-cost-falls-below-70-dollars-a-barrel-first-since-us-iran-war-began-but-petrol-diesel-price-cut-unlikely-101782781325960.html

While addressing students at an engineering college near Hyderabad, Nitin Nabin remarked that India’s youth is not anti-establishment.

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Nabin took a dig at the satirical political outfit Cockroach Janta Party on Monday during his visit to Telangana and said “virus and cockroach people” are a gang that aims to “divide the country”.

He said that such people people want to make the country “hollow”.

“Parties like virus and cockroach are coming into the country. These are people who want to make the country hollow. There is a need to pay attention to these virus and cockroach people. The gang wants to divide the country,” Nabin said.

He made the remarks while addressing BJP’s booth presidents in Telangana.

‘India’s Gen Z not anti-establishment’

The BJP President also sought to define what Gen Z, a term which colloquially refers to the youth of a country, is and said that they are youth who don’t question the country’s constitution but contribute to its growth.

While addressing students at an engineering college near Hyderabad, Nabin remarked that India’s youth is not anti-establishment. He also referred to the recent protests in neighbouring countries led by their Gen Z and said that in India, the youth works for building the nation.

“There is a lot of debate about Gen Z. People told me that youth carried out agitations in some countries. They are described as Gen Z agitations. India’s youth is not anti-establishment. India’s youth works for building the country,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Nabin also highlighted who “real” Gen Z are pointed to some sportspeople and start-up founders in the audience who, he said, were building their own and the country’s future.

The BJP chief also took an ‘tukde tukde’ jibe indirectly at the protestors and said they can’t be India’s Gen Z as they challenge the country’s soul and constitution.

Rahul Gandhi ‘part time politician’

Nabin was in Telangana for BJP outreach in the state ahead of the next assembly elections in the state which currently has Revanth Reddy-led Congress government. He said that the BJP will form “double-engine government” in Telangana in next assembly polls and recalled how several BJP leaders, including Sushma Swaraj, fought hard for the formation of the state.

The BJP chief attacked the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi while addressing the BJP booth presidents said that he is a “part-time politician”.

He also hit out at Congress for “not respecting” former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who belongs from the region, and hailed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred him with Bharat Ratna.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nitin-nabin-attacks-cockroach-janta-party-cjp-abhijeet-dipke-sonam-wangchuk-says-tukde-tukde-gang-want-to-divide-country-101782784136016.html

Pakistan was removed from the FATF Grey List in October 2022 after satisfying the watchdog that it had implemented a 34-point action plan.

India is likely to urge the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan back on its “Grey List” at the global watchdog’s plenary meeting in October, citing evidence that points to Islamabad’s continued support for terrorist organisations, The Times Of India reported.

According to the report, New Delhi plans to present video footage and other material as evidence before the Paris-based anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) watchdog. The move is aimed at bringing Pakistan back under FATF’s enhanced monitoring mechanism.

Pakistan was removed from the FATF Grey List in October 2022 after satisfying the watchdog that it had implemented a 34-point action plan.

The measures included legislative and operational reforms related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, along with enhanced monitoring of suspicious transactions and politically exposed persons.

Countries placed on the Grey List are subject to increased FATF monitoring and periodic reviews “to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing”. Such countries can also face difficulties in accessing funds from global financial institutions.

According to The Times Of India, any move by India to push for Pakistan’s return to the FATF Grey List is likely to be closely watched, especially after Islamabad’s efforts to build closer ties with the Donald Trump administration and present itself as a peacemaker.

With Vivek Agarwal, Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, appointed as FATF vice-president, New Delhi appears keen to press the watchdog to hold Pakistan accountable over the alleged proliferation of non-state actors operating from its territory and the alleged use of its financial system for terror-related activities.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/india-likely-to-push-fatf-to-put-pakistan-back-on-grey-list-over-terror-financing-report-ws-l-10180895.html

The clarification came after reports citing a memorandum submitted by NWS alleged that the PLA had gradually expanded its presence in border areas of Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Indian Army on Monday dismissed media reports alleging that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had encroached into Arunachal Pradesh and established camps inside Indian territory, calling the claims “incorrect and without any basis.”

“We have seen some media reports alleging recent encroachment by the Chinese PLA and the setting up of camps in Arunachal Pradesh. These reports are incorrect and without any basis,” the Indian Army said in a statement.

The clarification came after several media outlets reported that a memorandum had been submitted by the Nah Welfare Society (NWS) to the Deputy Commissioner of Upper Subansiri district, alleging that the PLA had gradually expanded its presence in the border areas of Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh.

Nah Welfare Society Raise Issue Of Chinese Occupation

According to the memorandum, the NWS claimed that China had occupied large stretches of traditional grazing, hunting and agricultural land belonging to the Nah tribal community over the past six years.

NWS president Keru Chader alleged that areas once freely accessed by local residents had come under the control of the Chinese military, The Times Of India reported.

“Our ancestral lands, which were our hunting areas where we freely roamed and collected forest products few years back and our cattle grazing areas are now under the occupation of the Chinese PLA,” Chader said in the memorandum submitted to the Upper Subansiri Deputy Commissioner.

The organisation further alleged that China had steadily expanded its footprint by constructing roads, bridges and military camps in the border region.

Chinese Incursion In Five Areas In Last 10 To 15 Years: NWS

According to the memorandum, Chinese activities had intensified over the past 10 to 15 years with the objective of occupying additional territory along the international border.

The NWS also claimed that several areas traditionally under the community’s control until 2020 had since come under Chinese occupation. These included Oying (Asaphila area), Paniar (Chujarta area), Marpan (Marnafe), Potrang Lake and Tindingtang (TG), some of which are located close to Taksing headquarters and are considered important religious and pilgrimage sites.

PLA Built Roads, Military Camps: NWS

The welfare society further alleged that the PLA had built roads and military camps inside Indian territory.

While expressing confidence in the Indian Army, Chader said the community remained concerned about what it described as the pace of Chinese activities in the Taksing sector.

“We do not doubt our Army and always have faith in them. They have been guarding our land for many years, but their efforts are not enough. The intention and speed of the present activities of the Chinese PLA at Taksing area is very alarming and a matter of grave concern for us. We are losing our land inch by inch day by day to them,” the memorandum stated.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/incorrect-without-basis-indian-army-rebuts-reports-of-chinese-encroachment-in-arunachal-ws-l-10180760.html

The investigation into Ketan Agarwal’s death is revealing troubling details from the cab driver who took him, his fiancée Siya Goyal, and her brother Sahil to Mumbai Airport. The driver noted a tense atmosphere, with Siya initially reluctant to go on their Bali trip, leading to an argument with Sahil.

As the investigation into the death of Ketan Agarwal unfolds, the driver of the cab that took him and his fiancée, Siya Goyal, to Mumbai Airport for their Bali trip has provided critical details about their journey. The driver, who drove the couple and Goyal’s brother, Sahil, from Pune to the airport, reported a tense atmosphere inside the vehicle during their journey.

According to him, Siya initially expressed reluctance to board the cab, stating she did not want to go to Bali for their pre-wedding shoot. Sahil reportedly had to force her into the car.

“Siya did not want to go to Bali and was reluctant to even get into the car. Siya’s brother, Sahil, held her hand and made her sit inside the car,” the driver said, adding that during the journey between Pune and Ravet (Pimpri-Chinchwad), Siya and her brother Sahil had an argument inside the car.

The situation escalated during the ride, particularly after picking up Ketan and other family members in Kiwale Lodha. An argument erupted between Siya and Sahil, highlighting underlying tensions within the group.

On the way, the group stopped at a food court for tea and snacks. The driver alleged that Siya returned to the car on the pretext of taking something and removed an item from the vehicle, keeping it in her pocket.

After dropping the group at the airport, Jadhav received a call from Ketan about the missing passport, leading to a frantic search that ultimately proved unsuccessful. The driver then realised that Siya had allegedly taken Ketan’s passport from the food court stop.

Fayyaz Premji’s mother and sister live in Iran and Iraq. Over the last 12 months, he visited the two nations 19 times.

Fayyaz Premji aimed to kill 15,000 people. And he displayed a chilling ingenuity in his quest to achieve this sinister goal.

He made thousands of poisonous capsules, targeted a Muharram procession in Mumbai and attempted to distribute them among people, claiming they were painkillers and immunity boosters.

Many of those who consumed these pills fell seriously ill. The police arrested Premji and recovered pills laced with Zinc Phosphide, a compound used in rat poison.

Salman Syed and Ali Abbas, two men who consumed the toxic pills, said they were told that the capsules were a vitamin supplement and an immunity booster. Immediately after eating the tablets, they started vomiting.

The accused couldn’t distribute all the pills alone. So he asked several volunteers to hand out the capsules at the religious procession. He had told the unsuspecting men and women that they were helping people by distributing the capsules.

Sources said at least 11 people had fallen ill after consuming the pills. They were rushed to a nearby hospital and are out of danger now.

Who Is Fayyaz Premji?

While his motivation behind the crime is unclear, several pieces of information linked to him have surfaced, including his frequent visits to Iran and Iraq.

Premji was arrested on June 27 near the Rahmatabad graveyard. He is a native of Pune’s Viman Nagar. He is divorced and runs a painting business in the city.

His mother and sister live in Iran. Between 2019 and 2025, he made several trips to the Middle Eastern countries.

Over the last 12 months, he visited the two nations 19 times.

Police are examining his financial transactions, mobile phone records, digital communications and contacts to determine whether he was alone in orchestrating the plot or whether a larger terrorist network or external handlers were involved.

Police investigations have revealed the massacre had been meticulously planned.

Fayaz rented a room in Mumbai’s Dongri area, using it as his base. The accused ordered 50 kg of zinc phosphide and 30,000 empty capsules online.

Fayyaz filled these empty capsules with poison, one by one, for several days. Each capsule contained approximately one gram of poison.

Police recovered a cache of poison and approximately 15,000 prepared capsules from his room in Dongri. His goal was to prepare a total of 30,000 capsules and distribute them during the procession.

According to the sources, the accused has allegedly confessed that he wanted to kill “15,000 people”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/who-is-fayyaz-premji-50-kg-poison-30-000-pills-iran-trips-mumbai-accuseds-15-000-deaths-plan-11699241?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed the attack.

India on Sunday rejected accusations by Pakistani authorities that a terrorist attack in Karachi was carried out by an “Indian proxy” and said Islamabad should take credible action against terror infrastructure on Pakistani soil.

Three Pakistani security personnel and three terrorists were killed in the attack on the provincial headquarters of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in Karachi on Saturday night.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed the attack. Pakistan’s military and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed the assault was carried out by an “Indian proxy” but provided no evidence to support the allegation.

Randhir Jaiswal on ‘baseless allegations’ by Pakistan

“We have seen Pakistani reports making baseless allegations against India regarding the recent incident in Karachi,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We categorically reject them. Instead of pointing fingers at others, Pakistan would do better to look inwards, take credible action against the terror infrastructure on its territory and rid itself of its proclivity to rely on terrorism as an instrument of state policy,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mea-slams-pakistans-claims-over-karachi-attack-baseless-allegations-101782644595864.html

The three accused who were arrested on Saturday were Patna residents Akash Kumar, 30, and Rajiv Shah, 45, and Dhiraj Kumar, 28, from Panipat in Haryana.

The Bhiwandi court on Sunday remanded the three men arrested in connection with the leak of the 2026 Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question paper to eight days in police custody.

During the hearing, the police informed the court that Bihar resident Bijender Gupta was the alleged kingpin of the paper leak racket and he had been involved in at least 20 paper leak incidents across several states. Both Gupta and Haryana resident Kapil Dahia, named as wanted accused in the case, were currently absconding, the police told the court.

The three accused who were arrested from the outskirts of Bhiwwandi on Saturday were Patna residents Akash Kumar, 30, and Rajiv Shah, 45, and Dhiraj Kumar, 28, from Panipat in Haryana. All three were presented before judge SM Sutar on Sunday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Thane police) Vijay Marathe represented the prosecution and sought 10 days of police custody for the accused, saying the police suspected they were part of a multi-state paper leak racket and investigation teams would need to visit multiple locations across the country. The judge however remanded the accused to eight days in police custody.

Advocate Satender Redhu, counsel for Dhiraj Kumar, requested the court to direct the police to provide his client with adequate medical care, as he had recently undergone bariatric surgery for weight reduction. The Thane police assured the court that Kumar would receive proper medical care while in custody.

Advocate Redhu also informed the court that his client had been falsely implicated in the case. Kumar was travelling from Delhi to Mumbai by train with his friends when he was arrested by the police, the lawyer said.

Ashok Dudhe, Additional Commissioner of Police, Thane Western Zone, said that the roles of the two absconding accused – alleged kingpin Bijender Gupta and co-accused Kapil Dahia – were being investigated, and they had been declared wanted.

“We are probing their involvement in the case. Our teams have also been sent to other states for further investigation,” Dudhe informed the court.

On Saturday, the three arrested accused were nabbed from Kongaon village, a rapidly developing area located around 5 km from Bhiwandi city. The police recovered four sets of the TET-2026 question paper from the accused, which officials from the education department confirmed were copies of the actual question paper meant for the examination scheduled on Sunday. The exam was subsequently postponed, leaving more than 600,000 candidates in disarray.

According to the police, the three accused were hoping to make ₹1.5 crore by selling the question papers to candidates.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/tet-paper-leak-three-arrested-accused-sent-to-police-custody-for-8-days-101782673598075.html

‘Desi consultancies’ connect Indian tech workers to American employers through a maze of recruiters, subcontractors, universities, and corporate clients.

For decades, the H-1B visa program has been the centerpiece of America’s high-skilled immigration system. To its defenders, it is a vital pipeline that brings talented workers from around the world to power the United States’ economy. But to its critics, it is a system rife with abuse—one that can undermine American workers while also trapping foreign workers in exploitative arrangements.

A new book, Wild Wild East: Exiled Americans, Enslaved Indians and the Systemic Abuse of the H-1B Visa Programme, takes readers inside one especially shadowy corner of this world: the universe of so-called “desi consultancies”. These companies—also known as H-1B “body shops”— connect Indian tech workers to American employers through a maze of recruiters, subcontractors, universities, and corporate clients.

The book’s author, Tanul Thakur, discussed his disturbing account of Indian H-1B seekers, displaced American tech workers, and the firms that profit from a deeply broken system on a recent episode of Grand Tamasha, a weekly podcast coproduced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Thakur is an award-winning journalist and film critic. In 2015, he won the National Film Award for Best Film Critic—the youngest critic ever to receive the honour.

What are Desi Consultancies?

“Desi consultancies often lie to tech workers in India that they have a job in the US,” Thakur explained, recounting his own firsthand experience with one such firm when he was looking for a job after finishing college in the US. “It is only when the workers arrive in the US that they find out they have been lied to—and were essentially trafficked from India to the US.”

Thakur described the world of desi consultancies as “really dark.” Such firms engage in “rampant wage theft and psychological devastation at a level that still makes me shudder,” he said. “Pay is often delayed. There are deportation threats and legal intimidation. Given that you are so beholden to your visa sponsor or employer…you often do not protest these working conditions. You start to live a double life. At the job, you have lied and said that you have seven years of experience. Then you come back home and have to talk to someone on Skype or Webex to get your job done.”

Thakur said the exploitation perpetrated by these firms is an open secret, but that US authorities have not sufficiently cracked down on them. “Corporate America benefits, and it wields a disproportionate amount of clout in keeping the H-1B program the way it is,” he explained. “This is closely followed by the laxity of the Department of Labor in detecting and penalising the bad apples. Even when firms are debarred from the H-1B program, which is rare, they often open companies under a false name and continue the same process.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/desi-consultancies-the-dark-side-of-h-1b-visa-and-the-american-dream-how-it-impacts-indians-101782695450304.html

All the victims were Saudi nationals. An investigation involving the relevant authorities has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

As many as 14 people were killed after a helicopter operated by Saudi Aramco crashed in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, according to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry.

“Crash of a helicopter affiliated with Saudi Aramco and the martyrdom of all its passengers, numbering (14),” the Saudi Energy Ministry wrote in a post on X.

وزارة الطاقة: سقوط طائرة مروحية تابعة لشركة أرامكو السعودية واستشهاد جميع ركابها وعددهم (14).https://t.co/GIfK4xYoZ3#واس

— واس العام (@SPAregions) June 28, 2026

Authorities confirmed there were no survivors and said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. The identity of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the accident have not yet been disclosed.

All Victims Were Saudi Nationals

Ketan Agarwal Murder: Ketan, the son of a wealthy businessman from Maharashtra, and Siya appeared to share a happy relationship in public.

As police are investigating the events leading to the murder of Ketan Agarwal, a trip to Udaipur in Rajasthan is now under scanner. Investigators believe the visit could provide crucial clues about the relationship between the two accused, Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary.

According to the investigation, Siya and Chetan travelled to Udaipur with a group shortly before Siya’s engagement to Ketan in February. Police believe the time they spent together during the trip could help explain the sequence of events that followed. Officers are studying travel details, digital evidence and other forensic material collected during the investigation.

Siya Never Wanted To Marry Ketan

Ketan, the son of a wealthy businessman from Maharashtra, and Siya appeared to share a happy relationship in public. Their social media accounts were filled with photographs, videos and reels showing them together. Police, however, allege that Siya had no intention of going ahead with the marriage. During interrogation, Siya allegedly told investigators that she never wanted to marry Ketan, according to a report by NDTV.

Siya Handed Rs 1 Crore To Chetan

The investigation further alleges that Siya obtained Rs 1 crore from Ketan by claiming it was needed for shopping and later handed the money to Chetan. According to police sources, Chetan wanted the funds to establish his business and career. The alleged plan was that after becoming financially stable over the next three years, he would approach Siya’s family with a marriage proposal.

Police claim the murder was carried out on June 18 at Lohagarh Fort in Pune district. Investigators alleged that Siya convinced Ketan to visit the fort, while Chetan travelled separately to avoid attracting attention. At an isolated location, Siya allegedly alerted Chetan, who then pushed Ketan into a deep gorge.

Chetan also took steps to avoid leaving evidence. He allegedly left his own mobile phone at his shop before leaving for the fort, used an employee’s phone for essential communication during the journey and wore a hooded jacket to conceal his identity.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/ketan-agarwal-murder-siya-and-chetan-went-to-udaipur-before-engagement-ws-l-10178864.html

PM Modi made history by becoming the first Indian PM to address Seychelles Parliament. During his address, he emphasised the strong ties between India and the island nation, highlighting Seychelles’ strategic role in India’s vision for the Indian Ocean.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the Parliament of Seychelles, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to speak in the country’s National Assembly. During his address, he reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the island nation and underscored its strategic importance in New Delhi’s vision for the Indian Ocean region.

Addressing the Parliament of Seychelles, PM Modi said, “It is a special honour to stand before you as the first Indian Prime Minister to address this National Assembly. I bring with me the warm greetings and best wishes of 1.4 billion people of India.”

“The first country in the Indian Ocean region that I visited as Prime Minister was Seychelles in 2015. I came here because I believe that Seychelles occupied a special place in India’s vision for the Indian Ocean. As I return here after a decade, that conviction is stronger than ever. I’m delighted to join you as you celebrate 50 years of your independence,” the Prime Minister added.

“The greatest strength of Seychelles is its people. Over generations, people from all parts of the world arrived here. They brought with them different languages, customs, beliefs, and traditions, and together they built a shared identity that is proudly Seychellois. The motto of the National Assembly is ‘Unity in Diversity’,” said PM Modi.

Talking about the connection between the cultures of Seychelles and India, the Prime Minister said the similarity is visible in everyday life. “It can be felt in the flavours of Kari Coco, samosas, and chutney. It can be found in the celebration of Deepavali, Thai Pongal, and the Garba dance during Navratri. This is the Creole spirit that gives us great confidence in the future of our friendship,” he added.

PM Modi Addresses 20th Parliament

The Seychelles Parliament was the 20th Parliament addressed by PM Modi. Notably, Prime Minister Modi after assuming office in 2014 has addressed the Parliaments of several countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, Australia and Fiji.
The following year, he addressed the National Assembly of Mauritius, the Parliaments of Sri Lanka, Mongolia, the United Kingdom and Afghanistan. The journey continued with PM Modi’s address to the United States Congress in 2016, followed by a second address in 2023 making him the first Indian Prime Minister to address a Joint Session of the US Congress twice.

Between these landmark engagements, he also addressed the Parliaments of Uganda in 2018, Maldives in 2019 and Guyana in 2024.

The momentum gathered further in 2025 when the Indian Prime Minister addressed the national Parliaments of Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago and Namibia during his visits in July, followed by the Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament in December, underscoring India’s deepening engagement with Africa and the Global South.

Earlier this year, in February, PM Modi created history by becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset, the Parliament of Israel, during his State Visit to Jerusalem.

PM Modi Conferred Seychelles’ Highest Environmental Honour

Prime Minister Modi was on Sunday conferred the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’, Seychelles’ highest honour for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development, during his three-day state visit to the island nation.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pm-modi-full-addresses-seychelles-parliament-indian-ocean-latest-news-article-154785453

All eight accused in the matter were remanded in judicial custody till June 29 by a court in Ayodhya. Police are expected to seek their custodial remand when they are produced before the court on Monday.

Police action in the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya began days before it officially surfaced. The investigators have recovered cash during a raid on the residence of one of the accused, Avinash Shukla, on June 5.

Notably, the case came to light only on June 7, and the raids indicate that initial inputs had already triggered a quiet probe on the ground.

A new CCTV footage has also emerged as a key piece of evidence in the probe. In the CCTV footage, accessed by Times Now, Avinash Shukla is being taken away by the police.

Earlier today, police teams, accompanied by local magistrates, carried out searches at the homes of the accused, including Lav Kush Mishra, Avinash Shukla and Ramashankar Yadav.

They collected documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and bank-related details from the residence of accused Manish Yadav after asking his family members to open the locked house, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

Searches were also carried out at the residences of other accused, including Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav. Yadav’s family members were questioned and documents were examined.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Modi government has transformed the lives of 70 crore poor people over the past 12 years through housing, electricity, tap water, toilets, LPG, free food grains and healthcare. Launching the PM Family Care Tracker in Gandhinagar, he described it as India’s most comprehensive poverty alleviation effort.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had transformed the lives of 70 crore poor people over the past 12 years by providing housing, electricity, sanitation, drinking water, cooking gas, food security, and healthcare, describing the effort as the country’s most comprehensive poverty alleviation programme.

Launches Welfare Monitoring Initiative

Addressing a gathering after launching the PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT) pilot project and Health Passports in Gandhinagar, HM Shah said improving the standard of living of the poor had been a central focus of the government since 2014.

ગાંધીનગરમાં ‘PM ફેમિલી કેર ટ્રેકર’ પાયલોટ પ્રોજેક્ટના શુભારંભથી લાઈવ…

गांधीनगर में ‘PM फैमिली केयर ट्रैकर’ के पायलट प्रोजेक्ट के शुभारंभ कार्यक्रम से लाइव… https://t.co/iK50l3kFPM

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 28, 2026

“Under the leadership of PM Modi, a comprehensive effort has been made to improve the standard of living of 70 crore poor people in this country,” he said.

Highlights Welfare Achievements

The BJP government is set to table the Uniform Civil Code Bill in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday. The debate is expected to test the government’s agenda and expose the TMC’s rival factions.

The BJP government’s proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill is set to trigger an unusual political contest in the West Bengal assembly on Monday – not just between the treasury benches and the opposition, but also between the two rival TMC factions seeking to outdo each other as the principal voice against the legislation.

Less than two months after ending the TMC’s 15-year rule in the state, the BJP government is expected to table one of its most ambitious and politically sensitive promises, setting the stage for what could become the first major ideological confrontation of the post-election period.

The debate is also likely to serve as the first significant parliamentary test for the TMC rival camps led by former chief minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, whose month-long tussle for control of the party is now expected to spill onto the Assembly floor.

While both factions have signalled opposition to the Bill, insiders in both camps told PTI they are preparing separate floor strategies, deploying different speakers and political narratives, effectively turning the discussion into a contest not only between the treasury and opposition benches but also between rival claimants to the TMC’s political legacy.

The proposed legislation seeks to create a common civil framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption irrespective of religion, replacing religion-specific personal laws with a uniform legal structure.

Assembly sources said the Bill is likely to be taken up during the latter half of Monday’s proceedings, with speaking slots earmarked for Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of opposition and several senior legislators.

Government sources said officials have spent the past several days studying UCC frameworks adopted in states such as Uttarakhand and examining proposals under consideration elsewhere, while preparing responses to anticipated objections from the opposition.

With a comfortable majority in the House, the BJP faces little difficulty in securing the Bill’s passage. Politically, however, Monday’s debate is expected to be far more consequential.

At a strategy meeting with legislators and senior leaders on Friday, Mamata Banerjee directed her Kalighat camp to mount a strong challenge to the legislation both inside and outside the Assembly, arguing that the issue raises questions relating to constitutional principles, social consensus and India’s plural character.

Leaders from her camp have accused the BJP of using the UCC as an instrument of political polarisation rather than legal reform.

Senior TMC leaders indicated that veteran legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay is likely to be among the principal speakers opposing the Bill, while Kunal Ghosh may also participate in the debate.

The Ritabrata Banerjee camp, meanwhile, has been preparing independently.

The leader of opposition has already questioned the government’s urgency in bringing the legislation.

“A matter like the UCC requires extensive discussion and consultation,” Banerjee said recently, maintaining that legislation affecting personal laws and family matters should not be rushed through without wider public engagement.

Leaders close to the dissident camp said they have closely examined debates surrounding UCC initiatives in other BJP-ruled states and identified issues they intend to raise in the Assembly, particularly those relating to consultation, constitutional safeguards and the concerns of minority communities.

If the BJP had hoped that the TMC split would dilute resistance inside the House, Monday’s proceedings could present a more complicated picture.

The division within the TMC has deepened steadily since the assembly election defeat.

The first major blow to the party leadership came when 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs backed expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee’s claim to the post of Leader of the Opposition, rejecting the party high command’s choice of veteran MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. The rebel camp now claims support from around 65 legislators.

The split subsequently spread beyond the legislature.

At the parliamentary level, 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs recently broke away, merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extended support to the BJP-led NDA. The party also witnessed resignations from the Rajya Sabha, including that of veteran leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.

Though both TMC factions oppose the Bill, neither appears willing to allow the other to dominate the opposition narrative.

For MLAs aligned with Mamata Banerjee’s camp, the debate offers an opportunity to demonstrate that, despite losing power, it remains the BJP’s principal ideological challenger in Bengal.

For the Ritabrata Banerjee camp, which has sought to establish itself as the state’s primary opposition force, the discussion provides its biggest platform yet to project itself as an effective parliamentary counterweight to the government.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uniform-civil-code-bill-west-bengal-assembly-bjp-tmc-factions-2936128-2026-06-28

Wangchuk added that peaceful protest remained the only option in a democracy when there was no accountability. He also praised the young protesters who were fasting despite the heat and appealed to people to make it a community hunger strike by observing at least a day-long fast.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday began a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest over alleged irregularities in examinations and its demand for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest, which began on June 20, drew hundreds of demonstrators, mostly youth and students, along with several farmer leaders and representatives of the Sarv Khap Panchayat.

Before starting his fast, Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke visited Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The gathering then observed a two-minute silence. The protest also became a platform for other student-related grievances, including a demand for justice by the family of a Jaipur schoolgirl who died after falling from the fourth floor of her school last year.

Explaining why he joined the agitation, Wangchuk said he had long been committed to education. “I have been forced to sit here, I am not doing this happily. I am sitting on a fast in support of both issues. Many people ask me, you were doing a movement in Ladakh, why are you with CJP now. Education, which is the issue here, has been close to my heart for the last 40 years, since I was a student,” he said. “I did engineering, but never took a job because I felt the key to all generations is in education. When some youth raise their voices on issues with the education system, how could I have remained silent? It was natural for me to support them,” Wangchuk added.

He said the focus should be on using education to “build children’s lives and give direction to the nation.” Referring to his work in Ladakh, he said protecting the Himalayas was everyone’s responsibility as billions of people depend on water originating in the region. “I wish the government had shown sensitivity, we would not have had to go through this and sit here in such heat,” he said.

Wangchuk added that peaceful protest remained the only option in a democracy when there was no accountability. “When there is no accountability, we are forced to take the only way possible in a democracy – peaceful protest, and we will do that,” he said. He also praised the young protesters who were fasting despite the heat and appealed to people to make it a community hunger strike by observing at least a day-long fast.

Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur prison in March 2026 after spending nearly six months in detention under the National Security Act for his involvement in the Ladakh statehood protest that had turned violent.

Earlier, Dipke had appealed to farmers, students and organisations to join the protest and back the demand for accountability. On Sunday morning, he said on X that several farmers’ leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab were being placed under house arrest to stop them from reaching Jantar Mantar. Khap representatives later alleged that around 500 farmer leaders and members of organisations had been stopped from coming to Delhi.

Representatives of the Sarv Khap Panchayat joined the protest and tied a pagdi on Dipke, with coordinator Omprakash Dhankar saying, “This pagdi is a responsibility. With this, we are handing over the responsibility to him.”

The family of Amaira, a Class 6 student who died last year after falling from the fourth floor of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur in an alleged suicide case, also joined the protest. Her parents alleged that no action had been taken against the school or teacher and that police had still not filed a chargesheet.

“We send our children to school with some trust. It was not negligence, it was murder by the school. She was very kind and spread goodness in the world. Today would have been her 10th birthday,” her mother said.

Dipke said the matter should remain in public memory and alleged that the police and school had tried to suppress it when it happened. He added that the issue was not limited to a single case and alleged that there were several such incidents involving students.

Farmer leader Akshay Kumar from Odisha, Pradhan’s home state, said the minister would face political consequences if he did not resign. “If Pradhan does not resign, he will be defeated in the next polls,” he said. Pradhan is a Lok Sabha MP from the Sambalpur constituency in Odisha.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonam-wangchuk-hunger-strike-jantar-mantar-exam-irregularities-cockroach-janata-party-protest-2936038-2026-06-28

A 28-year-old businessman in Faridabad died by suicide inside his shop after posting an Instagram video alleging mental harassment by his wife and her family, blaming them for his death and seeking legal action.

A 28-year-old businessman in Faridabad died by suicide inside his shop on Sunday after hanging himself. Before taking the extreme step, he posted a video on Instagram in which he accused his wife and her family of mentally harassing him.

Police have launched an investigation and are also examining the allegations made in the video.

In the Instagram video posted before his death, Rahul accused his wife Jyoti, his mother-in-law Veena, his father-in-law Bittu and his wife’s sister Neetu of mentally harassing him. He claimed that despite doing all household chores, including sweeping and washing utensils, he was assaulted, and false cases were filed against him. He said he had been living under constant mental stress.

Rahul also said in the video that his wife and her family were responsible for his death and should be punished according to the law. He further said that after his death, his property should go to his mother, sister and brothers.

The victim, Rahul, had opened a garment shop around four months ago. According to police, Rahul met his mother at home on Sunday morning before leaving for his shop.

A short while later, he hanged himself inside the shop. Police reached the spot after receiving information, took custody of the body and sent it to hospital for post-mortem.

According to Rahul’s family, he had married a woman named Jyoti in a love marriage around two years ago. They alleged that after the marriage, his wife did not want him to live with his parents, following which he started living separately. They said Rahul had recently opened his new garment shop.

A family member, Amit, alleged that Rahul had been under severe mental stress due to harassment by his wife and her family. He claimed that Rahul’s wife had also filed a case against him, which added to his stress. The family further alleged that Rahul was not even allowed to meet his parents.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/haryana-faridabad-businessman-suicide-instagram-video-names-wifes-family-2936185-2026-06-28

Indian Army troops caught a Pakistani national after he crossed the LoC in Poonch on Sunday. The incident, the district’s third this month, came as a suspected drone sighting in Samba triggered searches.

A 31-year-old Pakistani national was caught by Indian Army troops after crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in the Balakote sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Sunday, marking the third such incident in the district this month, officials said.

The intruder has been identified as Rayees Khan (31), son of Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, a resident of Taroti village in Tetrinote tehsil of Haveli district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He was taken into custody shortly after crossing the LoC into the Indian side in the Balakote sector.

Officials said no incriminating material was recovered from Rayees Khan during the initial search. Security agencies are questioning him to ascertain the motive behind his cross-border movement and determine whether he had any intended contacts or objectives on the Indian side.

The latest apprehension marks the third such incident in Poonch district this month.

On Friday, another PoK resident, Mohammad Sajad (26), was arrested from the Gulpur area of the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch.

Earlier, on June 9, 14-year-old Javid Ali was detained after crossing into the Indian side. He was handed over to Pakistan a week later.

Meanwhile, a suspected Pakistani drone briefly entered the Indian side along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, prompting a search operation by Indian security forces.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jk-poonch-loc-crossing-pakistani-national-caught-samba-drone-sighting-2936212-2026-06-28

India took a significant step towards cleaner rail transport on Friday as the country’s first hydrogen-powered train successfully completed its final high-speed trial on the Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana. The train achieved a top speed of 120 kmph during the test, marking an important milestone in Indian Railways’ efforts to introduce hydrogen-powered trains and reduce carbon emissions.

India took a significant step towards cleaner rail transport on Friday as the country’s first hydrogen-powered train successfully completed its final high-speed trial on the Jind-Sonipat section in Haryana. The train achieved a top speed of 120 kmph during the test, marking an important milestone in Indian Railways’ efforts to introduce hydrogen-powered trains and reduce carbon emissions.

The trial, conducted on June 26, was monitored by railway officials, with visuals showing the train departing from Jind during the final phase of testing. The successful run is expected to pave the way for the train’s entry into passenger service once the remaining regulatory and operational formalities are completed.

Why Jind was chosen

The Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway was selected as the pilot route for the project because it offers suitable conditions to test hydrogen-powered technology under real operating conditions. To support the initiative, Indian Railways has also developed dedicated hydrogen production, storage and refuelling facilities at Jind, enabling the train to be operated and maintained safely.

The hydrogen-powered train has been equipped with multiple safety features, including hydrogen leak detectors, flame detection equipment and continuous monitoring technology. These systems are designed to quickly detect and respond to any potential safety concerns during operations, reflecting the emphasis on reliability before the train enters commercial service.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/indias-first-hydrogen-powered-train-completes-120-kmph-speed-trial-in-haryana-moves-closer-to-passenger-service

The family of Ketan Agrawal, a 26-year-old allegedly murdered by his fiancée Siya Goyal and her lover Chetan Chaudhary, participated in a candlelight vigil in Pune, demanding capital punishment for the accused.

The family of 26-year-old Ketan Agrawal, who was allegedly murdered by his fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, joined hundreds of people at a candlelight march in Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad, demanding capital punishment for the two accused.

Residents, friends and well-wishers gathered to pay tribute to Ketan, carrying candles and placards reading “Justice for Ketan Agrawal”. His grieving parents appealed for speedy justice, saying the accused should be awarded the death penalty.

“I want justice for my son. Siya has a mother, and I am a mother too, but I still want the death penalty for Siya and Chetan,” Ketan’s mother, Rakhi Agrawal, said during the march.

His father, Vishal Agrawal, said his son had done nothing to deserve such a fate and urged people to continue supporting the family until justice is delivered.

Mumbai police have discovered a potentially significant conspiracy aimed at harming participants in the Muharram procession.

Mumbai police have uncovered what investigators suspect could have been a major conspiracy to target people during the Muharram procession. According to preliminary information, the accused, identified as Faiyaz Nisar Hussain Premji, allegedly planned to distribute capsules laced with zinc phosphide, a highly toxic substance, by falsely claiming they were painkillers.

Police claim the capsules were being sold to people participating in the Muharram procession as medicines for pain relief. The alleged plan was foiled after the suspect was intercepted before the capsules could be distributed further.

During the operation, police recovered 14,900 capsules. Investigators have also found that an order had allegedly been placed for 30,000 capsules, raising fears that a much larger distribution was being planned.

Sources further claim that an order for 50 kilograms of zinc phosphide had also been placed, adding to the seriousness of the investigation.

Investigators are also probing the accused’s foreign travel after it emerged that he had reportedly visited Iran. Officials are examining whether the trip has any connection with the alleged conspiracy.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/mumbai/mass-poisoning-bid-at-mumbai-muharram-procession-poison-laced-painkiller-recovered-say-cops-article-154782502

Telangana student S Srinath Reddy, 25, found dead in UK under unclear circumstances, family seeks Centre and Telangana help to repatriate body, GoFundMe launched for expenses.

A 25-year-old student from Telangana’s Kamareddy district was found dead in the United Kingdom under circumstances that remain unclear, prompting his family to seek the Centre’s intervention for the early repatriation of his mortal remains.

The deceased, S Srinath Reddy, was pursuing a Master’s degree at De Montfort University in Leicester after moving to the UK around 14 months ago. While the cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, his family said they are yet to receive any clarity from the authorities.

Speaking to reporters, Srinath’s father, Madhusudan Reddy, appealed to both the Centre and the Telangana government to help bring his son’s body back to India as soon as possible.

“We still do not know what exactly happened. We request the Central and Telangana governments to help bring our son’s body back home at the earliest,” he said.

According to the family, Srinath had spoken to them on the night of June 22 and had shown no signs of distress. His father said the student had later attended a birthday gathering that evening.

A relative, whose son also lives in London, claimed that Srinath’s roommate found him dead the following morning, on June 23. The roommate later informed friends that Srinath had allegedly died by suicide, the relative said. The family added that they learnt about the incident only through friends and acquaintances.

The circumstances surrounding Srinath’s death have not been officially disclosed. UK authorities have not issued any public statement on the case, and the cause of death remains unconfirmed.

Source: https://www.news18.com/world/telangana-student-found-dead-in-london-family-seeks-centres-help-to-bring-body-home-ws-l-10177862.html

Four donkeys and mules rescued from a Dehradun construction site were found dehydrated, exhausted and injured after allegedly carrying heavy building material daily

A complaint about the treatment of working animals at a construction site in Dehradun led to the rescue of four donkeys and mules. The animals are now receiving medical care at an animal sanctuary after being found in poor condition.

The rescue was carried out by an animal welfare group with the help of local authorities. The animals will remain at the sanctuary as a legal case against their owner continues.

Animals Were Carrying Heavy Loads

People For Animals (PFA) trustee Gauri Maulekhi shared details of the rescue on Instagram. She said the organisation received a complaint on June 6, after which a rescue team visited the construction site along with police and veterinary officials.

Describing the situation, Maulekhi wrote, “In an under-construction building in Dehradun, four donkeys and mules were being forced to carry construction material up ten flights of stairs every day.”

Videos shared online showed the animals climbing long staircases with heavy construction material on their backs. The visuals raised concerns about the treatment of working animals and sparked calls for stricter action against cruelty.

Court Denies Owner’s Request

After the rescue, veterinarians examined the animals and found that they were in poor health. “All four were found in severe condition, dehydrated, exhausted, with damaged joints and deteriorated hooves.”

The animals were shifted to Happy Home Sanctuary, where they are receiving treatment, proper food and rest. The owner later approached the court, asking for custody of the animals.

However, the court refused the request and allowed the animals to remain with the welfare organisation while the case is still being heard.

Sharing the court’s decision, Maulekhi said, “The court ruled that animals subjected to cruelty cannot be handed back to the accused while the case is pending and must remain in the care of a recognised animal welfare organisation.”

She also said the sanctuary currently looks after more than 250 rescued animals. “These four are now safe. More than 250 rescued animals at Happy Home Sanctuary continue to depend on us every day-and their care never stops.”

People Thanked The Rescuers

Many people appreciated the rescue and praised the work of the animal welfare team.

A user wrote, “Donkey is one of the most innocent animal on the planet. Thank you for saving them from the cruelty.”

Another said, “Shouldn’t the owner be fined for such cruelty?? There should be heavy fines.” “Thankyou for all your efforts,” a person commented.

During special function at Seychelles Coast Guard Base, Modi handed over the fast patrol vessel Lespwar to Herminie as a gift for the government of Seychelles

India on Saturday handed over a patrol vessel and utility vehicles to the Seychelles Defence Force at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, with the equipment expected to contribute to efforts to strengthen collective security in the Indian Ocean region.

Modi arrived in the Indian Ocean archipelago on a three-day visit, during which he will participate as the guest of honour in celebrations marking the golden jubilee of the country’s independence on June 28. He will also hold talks with Herminie to review bilateral relations and explore ways to bolster cooperation in a range of areas.

During a special function at the Seychelles Coast Guard Base in the afternoon, Modi handed over the fast patrol vessel Lespwar (which means “hope” in Creole) to Herminie as a gift for the government of Seychelles. Ten utility vehicles, five laser radial boats and six ambulances were also handed over at the event to enhance Seychelles’ maritime security and defence capabilities, the external affairs ministry said.

The transfer of the patrol vessel to the Seychelles Coast Guard marked “another important milestone in the growing India-Seychelles partnership in defence and maritime security”, Modi said on social media.

“It is also the latest in a series of capability building initiatives that reflect India’s steadfast commitment to supporting the security priorities of Seychelles,” Modi said. India will stand “shoulder-to-shoulder with Seychelles as a trusted partner”, working together to deepen friendship and “strengthen our collective maritime capabilities”, he said.

An archipelago of 115 islands astride strategic sea lines of communication near the Mozambique Channel, Seychelles has limited surveillance capabilities and relies on India as a partner to counter piracy, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and other trans-national threats in the western Indian Ocean. The two sides have also signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation.

Over the years, India has provided two patrol boats, a fast interceptor boat, a fast patrol vessel and two Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Seychelles. It also gifted and installed six coastal surveillance radar systems in 2015 to enhance coastal security. The two sides have also held 11 editions of the biennial joint military exercise Lamitye, the latest in March this year.

On his arrival at the airport in Victoria, Modi was received by Herminie. Both leaders later participated in a tree-planting ceremony at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden. They also observed the giant Aldabra tortoise, which is endemic to Seychelles and is among the largest and longest-living tortoise species.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-hands-over-patrol-vessel-to-seychelles-during-modi-visit-101782609316633.html

If the forecast holds, rainfall activity is expected to pick up during the first week of July, allowing the monsoon to advance more rapidly.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further into parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next three to four days.

Even so, many parts of North India are yet to receive widespread rainfall, raising a common question: if the monsoon is advancing, why hasn’t it started raining?

The key reason is that the advance of the monsoon and widespread rainfall are not the same.

Latest INSAT-3DS satellite images show dense monsoon cloud cover over central India, the Bay of Bengal, the northeast and parts of southern India. In contrast, Delhi-NCR, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan continue to remain under largely clear skies.

This indicates that while the monsoon circulation is moving northward, the rain-bearing weather systems required to produce widespread showers have not yet formed over these regions.

The IMD says the official advance of the monsoon is based on changes in wind patterns, moisture levels and sustained rainfall across a broad region, rather than rainfall occurring simultaneously in every district.

As a result, the monsoon can officially enter a state while several cities continue to witness hot and dry conditions for a few more days.

According to the meteorologists, the current delay is mainly due to the absence of strong low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal. These systems drive the Indian monsoon by drawing moisture inland and spreading rainfall across central and northern India.

Without them, the moisture-laden southwesterly winds remain relatively weak, resulting in scattered rather than widespread rainfall.

There are, however, indications that conditions may improve soon.

Weather models suggest a large tropical weather system is developing north of the equator over the eastern Indian Ocean. It is expected to move into the Bay of Bengal over the next four to seven days, strengthening the monsoon flow.

Its movement could lead to the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and possibly a middle-tropospheric vortex over western India.

Both systems typically enhance moisture transport and can significantly boost rainfall across central, western and northern parts of the country.

If the forecast holds, rainfall activity is expected to pick up during the first week of July, allowing the monsoon to advance more rapidly across the remaining parts of northwest India, including Delhi-NCR.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/monsoon-has-advanced-but-rain-hasnt-heres-why-north-india-is-still-waiting-ws-kl-10176339.html

Apart from attending events linked to Seychelles’ National Day celebrations, PM Modi will visit the Seychelles Coast Guard Base.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Jonathan, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal, during his three day visit to Seychelles that will begin on Saturday.

Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be around 194 years old, lives at the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens and holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest living land animal. Although his exact age has not been verified, he has lived far longer than the average lifespan of his species.

The Prime Minister’s interaction with Jonathan is being seen as a reflection of the importance India and Seychelles attach to conservation, sustainability and the protection of natural heritage.

PM Modi is visiting the island nation as the Chief Guest for its National Day celebrations, which this year mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles.

After arriving in Seychelles, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the National Botanical Gardens, where he will also participate in a tree plantation programme aimed at highlighting shared commitments towards biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and climate resilience in the Indian Ocean region.

Apart from attending events linked to Seychelles’ National Day celebrations, PM Modi will visit the Seychelles Coast Guard Base. Maritime security and regional stability remain key areas of cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is expected to hold talks with Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie to review bilateral ties and discuss ways to expand cooperation in maritime security, the blue economy, climate action and defence.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-to-meet-worlds-oldest-living-land-animal-during-seychelles-visit-ws-l-10176284.html

Sanjeev, a resident of Chak Kodar village in Ambedkar Nagar district, was the alleged main shooter in murder of Singh in the PGI area on May 27, police said.

A suspected shooter carrying a ₹1 lakh reward on his arrest in the murder of Lucknow property dealer Sandeep Singh was killed in a police encounter in Lucknow on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) officials said.

According to police officers, Sanjay alias Sanjeev, a resident of Chak Kodar village in Ambedkar Nagar district, was the alleged main shooter in the murder of Singh in the PGI area on May 27.

Sanjay, whom police described as a “dreaded criminal”, was allegedly involved in several murder cases across Ambedkar Nagar, Basti and Ayodhya districts.

Investigators said he had links with the gangs of criminals Dilip Verma and Khan Mubarak and had participated in multiple heinous offences, including murders. The Lucknow police commissioner had announced a cash reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

Police said an encounter took place early on Saturday morning on Indira Canal Road during an operation led by Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Singh. The police team intercepted the accused, following which an exchange of fire ensued. During the encounter, Sanjay sustained bullet injuries.

Sanjay was taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Police said further legal formalities are underway. They are also examining his alleged role in other criminal cases registered in different districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The STF on June 15 arrested the first suspect, Gangaram Yadav, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar who was also carrying a ₹1 lakh reward, near the Alambagh bus station. Yadav allegedly facilitated the hiring of contract shooters involved in the murder.

STF officials said Yadav allegedly played a crucial role in linking the conspirators with the contract shooters suspected of carrying out the murder of property dealer Sandeep Singh.

During interrogation, Gangaram revealed that he had arranged the contract shooters on the instructions of property dealer Dinesh Kumar Yadav and his driver, Mukarrabin alias Mubeen, both of whom had been arrested earlier in connection with the case.

Investigators claim the murder stemmed from a prolonged land dispute between Sandeep Singh and Dinesh Yadav. During interrogation, Mubeen allegedly disclosed that a deal worth ₹5 lakh had been arranged through intermediaries to hire two contract shooters to carry out the killing.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/tamannaah-bhatia-poses-with-trisha-krishnan-in-a-gorgeous-ivory-silk-saree-at-friend-wedding-heres-how-much-it-costs-101782486769461.html

Police allege that Ketan Agarwal was pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18 by his fiance Siya Goyal, 20 and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, 22.

Sahil Goyal, the brother of Siya Goyal, one of the accused in the murder of 26-year-old Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, told police that the family would have called off the marriage if Siya had expressed any discomfort.

His statement came during a nearly 10-hour-long interrogation on Friday, officials said, marking a key development in the investigation.

Police said Sahil was summoned in the morning and allowed to return home late in the evening after prolonged questioning. He was asked about his sister’s relationship with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary and was cross-checked on several details.

“If Siya had said she didn’t like Ketan, we would have stopped the wedding,” Sahil told the cops.

“We had summoned him for questioning in the morning. He was allowed to go late in the evening,” an official from Lonavala rural police station said.

“Sahil knows Chetan, and we cross-checked certain things with him. He was questioned for nearly 10 hours,” the official added, news agency PTI reported.

Ketan Agarwal murder case: Battle of claims amid ongoing probe

Here’s a report on the latest details pic.twitter.com/Gr9elQ0mgl

— NDTV (@ndtv) June 27, 2026

Murder At Lohagad Fort

Police allege that Ketan Agarwal was pushed off a cliff at Lohagad Fort on June 18 by his fiance Siya Goyal, 20 and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary, 22. Investigators believe the two conspired to kill him as Siya no longer wanted to go ahead with the wedding scheduled for November.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lonavala division) Gajanan Tonpe said the roles of both accused have been established.

“So far, the roles of both Siya and Chetan have been established in the alleged murder of Ketan,” Tonpe said, adding that more relatives and friends will be summoned for questioning.

Police have questioned seven people so far, including an employee whose mobile phone was allegedly used by Chaudhary to communicate with Siya on the day of the incident.

Investigators also recreated the crime scene using a dummy body to establish the sequence of events.

Sources said several important details emerged during Sahil’s interrogation. His statement has also suggested that Siya may not have shared her concerns about the marriage with her family.

Father Rejects ‘Hair Wig’ Motive

Meanwhile, Ketan Agarwal’s father, Vishal Agarwal, rejected claims that his son’s use of a hair wig could have been a motive for the killing.

“Ketan had a small patch of hair loss due to medical reasons, but this was clearly communicated well before the marriage was finalised,” he said.

“If she had any issues, she could have just said no. It would have been very easy for Siya to simply call off the wedding if that was an issue for her,” he added.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ketan-agarwal-murder-pune-lohagad-fort-siya-goyal-chetan-chaudhary-if-she-didnt-like-ketan-wed-have-stopped-wedding-siya-brother-sahil-goyal-to-cops-11693592?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The BJP accused the Rajya Sabha MP of trying to misinform the people and mixing up foreign policy with vote bank.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has questioned the government’s “silence” on Gaza. In an Op-Ed piece, she has claimed that India is prioritising closer ties with Israel over its historical position on Palestinian rights, linking the country’s Gaza policy to the broader foreign policy concerns.

The BJP accused the Rajya Sabha MP of trying to misinform the people and putting vote bank ahead of foreign policy.

Gaza had been reduced to rubble over years of Israeli ground operations since a deadly 2023 attack by Hamas that left over a thousand dead in Israeli border towns.

‘Lone Voice Of Silence’

The newspaper article by Gandhi cited the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry’s report that concluded that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. She also highlighted the human cost of such a conflict: more than 20,000 children had died, and 44,000 were wounded.

She criticised global inaction and argued that despite mounting evidence and legal proceedings, the international community has failed to stop the conflict.

Criticising the central government, she alleged that it has largely been silent on Gaza and has not spoken out strongly against the civilian suffering. Claiming that India remains a “lone voice of silence”, she said the inaction is not just “morally reprehensible but also inexplicable from a national interest perspective.”

She also pointed out that India has historically been an ally of Palestine and claimed that moving away from this position risks damaging the country’s global standing. Stating that continued silence cannot be morally or rationally justified, she called on the government to speak out in favour of Palestinian rights.

‘Vote Bank On Foreign Policy’

Criticising Gandhi’s article, the BJP said the Congress does vote bank politics over foreign policy. Rather, India has articulated its position on the Gaza and Palestine issue multiple times and has given humanitarian aid, said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala.

India has shown its stand by voting at the United Nations on resolutions on ceasefire, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received Palestine’s highest civilian honour, he pointed out.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sonia-gandhis-india-silent-on-gaza-op-ed-bjps-vote-bank-retort-11693860?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Champat Rai has resigned from his post at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested eight individuals involved in the alleged embezzlement case.

General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai, has stepped down from his position amid the controversy surrounding the alleged donation theft in the Ayodhya Ram Temple, sources told Times Now. Rai is also the vice president of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Sources indicated that a VHP meeting took place in Ayodhya yesterday, prior to the registration of an FIR regarding the donation controversy. Key office-bearers attended the meeting, including Ram Mandir Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trustee Dr. Anil Mishra, and Construction In-charge Gopal Rao, alongside VHP General Secretary Bajrang Lal Bagra, Central Organizing Secretary Milind Parande, and Central Joint Organizing Secretary Vinayak Rao. Discussions focused on the donation dispute, the SIT investigation, and the resulting situation.

The VHP is deeply concerned about its reputation, sources said. Champat Rai is a central and an influential figure, so the controversy surrounding him is tarnishing the organisation’s image, they stated.

Other accused in the case are Tinnu Yadav, a close associate of Rai, while Lavkesh and Anukalp are close to trustee Mishra.

A group of Nihang Sikhs recently called off a planned protest march in Uttarakhand after negotiations with authorities regarding the release of arrested members involved in a violent dispute at Karnaprayag.

A group of Nihang Sikhs, who were demanding the release of fellow sect members and sought action against police officials, have called off their planned protest march in Uttarakhand related to a recent dispute that took place in Uttarakhand’s Karnaprayag market in Chamoli and a gurdwara in Nagrasu.

On June 16 in Karnaprayag, a minor dispute between residents and another set of Nihangs escalated into violence, injuring a few locals and a member of the Nihang sect. Following the clash, police registered a case and arrested four Nihangs.

However, a section of the Sikh sect saw this as “one-sided” action by the administration.

Therefore, seeking the release of arrested members, Nihangs had called for a protest march in Uttarakhand related to a dispute at the Karnaprayag market.

On Thursday night, a security situation erupted following which the authorities had turned into a fortress the Kulhal checkpoint in the Vikasnagar area on the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border.

The site was turned into a fortress during the standoff between a group of Nihangs and the administration at the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border as they wanted to march towards Uttarakhand.

However, the group returned to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh in the early hours of Friday following negotiations with authorities.

They returned back after talks with the administration. A representative of the group at the spot said that they wanted to undertake their pilgrimage peacefully. He said the group demands the withdrawal of the FIR registered against the four Nihangs, adding they do not wish for a conflict between the people of the two states and want to resolve the dispute with the locals through a compromise.

The group had said they would remain in Uttarakhand until those arrested in the Karnaprayag incident were released.

The development brought an end to the tension that prevailed at the Kulhal checkpoint in the Vikasnagar when a large group of the Sikh sect clashed with the police, pushed through security barricades in an attempt to go towards Hemkund Sahib, a revered Sikh pilgrimage, in Uttarakhand.

However, the Nihang group joined others from their sect at Paonta Sahib Gurdwara where discussions are still on with senior officials of Uttarakhand Police and administration.

After meeting police and district administration authorities, the group, which had gathered at the Race Course Gurdwara in Dehradun, left the premises around 3.30 am in two vehicles under police escort for their safe passage across the state border. The Paonta Sahib Gurdwara is only a few kilometres away.

Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Dobal said police personnel had been deployed throughout near the Kulhal border since the morning.

He thanked the members of the Sikh community who accepted the administration’s request and agreed to return to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh.

“A few people had crossed the area (the checkpoint), and one or two vehicles had proceeded along the route. We spoke to them at length, and they, too, agreed to return,” Dobal said, adding that he hoped peace, harmony, and mutual goodwill would continue.

Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan said the situation was resolved amicably.

“Our Nihang sahibans returned to Paonta Sahib. Around 150 Nihang Sikhs already present in Paonta Sahib extended their full cooperation, bringing the situation under control,” Chauhan added. The group had reportedly set out from Mohali in Punjab.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pankaj Gairola had earlier said that a section of the protesters breached the barricades and moved forward, prompting efforts to keep the law and order situation under control.

The district administration and police officials, including the local SDM and tehsildar, reached the spot to hold talks, though initial discussions failed to yield a resolution.

When intercepted at the border, a confrontation broke out. Dozens of Nihangs, dressed in traditional blue attire and carrying swords, rods, and sharp-edged weapons, used physical force to break the barriers.

The protesters had earlier declared they would not return to Punjab until four Nihang members arrested in connection with a clash with locals in Karnaprayag market were released.

Thirteen people, including 12 Indians, were killed in the explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is operated by QatarEnergy LNG.

The Indian embassy in Doha said that the bodies of eight Indian nationals who were killed in the industrial accident at Ras Laffan in Qatar have been repatriated.

The total number of mortal remains being flown back have reached 12 as bodies of four victims were repatriated a day earlier on Thursday.

“Mortal remains of 8 Indian nationals who unfortunately passed away in Ras Laffan accident have been repatriated to India on June 26. 4 out of 12 mortal remains had been repatriated on June 25,” the Indian Embassy in Doha posted on X on Friday night.

– Mortal remains of 8 Indian nationals who unfortunately passed away in Ras Laffan accident have been repatriated to India on June 26. 4 out of 12 mortal remains had been repatriated on June 25.

– Embassy of India, Doha thanks Qatari authorities, Indian community organisations… pic.twitter.com/t0cOEK9trX

— India in Qatar (@IndEmbDoha) June 26, 2026

Thirteen people, including 12 Indians, were killed in the explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is operated by QatarEnergy LNG.

The Indian mission expressed gratitude to the Qatari authorities, Indian community organisations and government agencies in India for their prompt assistance in facilitating the repatriation process and extending support to the bereaved families.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bodies-of-8-more-indians-killed-in-qatar-explosion-repatriated-4053991

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi, however, had dismissed the US claim and asserted that India had not agreed to hold any such talks with Pakistan.

New Delhi: Notwithstanding the continuing war of words between New Delhi and Islamabad, some eminent Indian and Pakistani personalities recently held ‘Track-II’ dialogues, just within days after Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s ideological mentor, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, suggested that the doors of dialogue between the two nations should be kept open.

The “Track II” dialogue was held without any official involvement of the governments of India and Pakistan, although both were aware of the talks.

A source in New Delhi said that the recent ‘Track II’ dialogue between some Indian and Pakistani eminent personalities in Colombo had followed similar talks in Bangkok.

There had been two rounds of similar dialogue over the past few months, too, the source said, adding that some strategic affairs analysts, former diplomats and retired military officials of the two nations had taken part in the unofficial process.

Soon after the four-day cross-border military flare-up between the two South Asian neighbours had ended with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had claimed that India and Pakistan, in addition to the truce, had agreed to hold talks on “a broad set of issues” at “a neutral venue”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi, however, had dismissed the US claim and asserted that India had not agreed to hold any such talks with Pakistan.

New Delhi had then also refuted US President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Bhagwat, the RSS sarsanghchalak, and the organisation’s general secretary, Dattatreya Hosabale, recently argued that India should keep open the doors of dialogue with Pakistan. The RSS leaders underlined the need for continuing people-to-people contact.

Another source in New Delhi, however, said that while the Track II dialogues might continue, they were unlikely to lead to any official talks between India and Pakistan in the near future.

The Track-II dialogues took place even as Pakistan, of late, raised the pitch of its campaign against India’s decision to keep the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance as a response to the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi and Islamabad also continued the war of words over Pakistan’s export of cross-border terrorism to India, and the situation in J&K. New Delhi also hit out at Islamabad for the atrocities on the protestors in J&K areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan.

The terrorists from Pakistan had killed 26 people – mostly tourists – at Baisaran Meadow near Pahalgam, J&K, in India on April 22, 2025. India had responded by launching Operation Sindoor and carrying out precision strikes on terrorist infrastructures in areas under the control of Pakistan in the wee hours of May 7, 2025. As the tension between the two neighbours had escalated, not only Washington, D.C., but Moscow and Beijing, too, had called for direct talks between India and Pakistan.

The BJP-led government, however, ruled out the possibility of the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi had once held regular dialogue with Islamabad on eight issues – peace and security, including Confidence Building Measures (CBMs); Jammu and Kashmir (J&K); Siachen; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; Terrorism and Drug Trafficking; and Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in various fields.

The process had been suspended after 10 Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terrorists from Pakistan had sneaked into India and carried out the November 26-28, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/war-of-words-in-public-goes-on-but-india-pakistan-hold-non-official-talks-in-third-countries-4052427#google_vignette

Until a comprehensive National Register of Citizens is officially enacted across India, proving citizenship requires presenting a robust combination of legacy documents

The Ministry of External Affairs’s assertion that an Indian passport is not a definitive document of citizenship has reignited a long-standing national debate. This position is supported by legal precedent; in 2003, the Bombay High Court ruled that a passport standalone does not constitute proof of citizenship. The government is currently citing this landmark ruling to demonstrate that the MEA’s stance reflects established legal consensus rather than a shift in policy.

This raises a fundamental question: What exactly has been the government’s policy for recognising a resident as an Indian citizen?

The Genesis of the National Register of Citizens

The challenge of defining and documenting Indian citizenship first arose immediately after Independence. In 1951, following the country’s first official census, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was compiled. This served as the first formal record of Indian citizens in a newly divided nation.

While the 1951 NRC gradually lost its operational relevance across the rest of India, it became a critical historical repository of “legacy data” for Assam. The massive refugee crisis accompanying the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 necessitated an official, legally binding mechanism to identify genuine Indian citizens in the region. Decades later, individuals who could trace their ancestral lineage directly back to the 1951 pan-India NRC were automatically registered in the Supreme Court-monitored Assam NRC published in 2018.

By the turn of the millennium, a wide array of documents—including PAN cards, Voter ID cards, Ration cards, school-leaving certificates, and local domicile certificates—were routinely used by residents to access state welfare benefits. However, rising concerns over illegal migration introduced a critical complication: did the possession of these everyday administrative documents automatically make a resident an Indian citizen?

The 2003 Push for a National Register

The next major attempt to establish a definitive, pan-India record of citizenship occurred under the Vajpayee administration in 2003. The government introduced sweeping amendments to the Citizenship Act of 1955. For the first time, these changes codified that children born within India to illegal immigrants would not be entitled to automatic Indian citizenship.

Furthermore, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2003 made it a statutory obligation for the central government to revise the 1951 framework and maintain an updated, nationwide National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

The Aadhaar System versus the National Population Register

During the UPA era, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) introduced Aadhaar as a biometric-based unique identity card for all residents. Although explicitly designed as an identity and residency marker based on submitted demographic and biometric data, Aadhaar rapidly became the foundational document in public perception. It became mandatory for banking transactions, welfare schemes, academic admissions, and mobile connections, leading many citizens to view it as definitive proof of nationality.

Simultaneously, then Home Minister P. Chidambaram proposed a comprehensive, door-to-door enumeration process to create a National Population Register (NPR), intended to serve as the baseline for an eventual nationwide NRC. Official guidelines made registration under the NPR compulsory for all residents under Section 14A of the amended Citizenship Act. The framework conceptualised the NPR as a comprehensive database of all residents, while the NRIC would exist as a verified subset containing only authenticated Indian citizens. Under this plan, a formal citizenship certificate issued after NRIC verification would have served as the ultimate proof of nationality.

Political Friction and the Current Status of Proof

The current administration’s efforts to amend the Citizenship Act and implement a synchronised nationwide NRC during its second term triggered widespread protests, leading to a temporary shelving of the pan-India register. Notably, the issue of illegal immigration continues to bring the NRC back to the centre of political and legal discourse.

According to a Ministry of Home Affairs clarification provided in the Lok Sabha on 4 February 2020, Indian citizenship can legally be acquired through four distinct routes: birth, descent, registration, or naturalisation. Consequently, a birth certificate stands out as the most significant individual document to establish citizenship. However, because descent remains a primary legal criterion, citizens may still need to produce the birth certificates or ancestral records of parents and grandparents to establish an uncompromised chain of lineage until a formal national register is finalised.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/if-passports-dont-prove-citizenship-what-does-the-long-road-to-indias-nrc-debate-10173415.html

He completed the journey of visiting every country on Earth in just 6 years, 6 months and 22 days.

Benny Prasad, a Bengaluru-born musician, has gone viral after showing off the travel record of a lifetime. He claimed that he has visited 245 countries and territories, with 16 Indian passports stuffed full of stamps and visas to prove it. In an Instagram video, he can be seen flipping through his collection of passports. Pages are yellowed with age and densely packed with entry stamps, visas, and seals from six continents, including Antarctica.

“I’m from India, and I’ve been to every country in the shortest time… 245 nations, including Antarctica, both sovereign and dependent, in six years, six months, and 22 days,” he says in the clip.

In the video, shared by MTP – Most Traveled People, Prasad opened up about the challenges of navigating visa requirements and other paperwork.

“Musician and world traveler Benny Prasad @bennyprasad became the fastest person to visit every country on Earth, completing the journey in just 6 years, 6 months and 22 days,” the caption of the video read.

“While performing around the globe he filled 16 passports with visas and stamps.”

“For many travelers, planning a trip means just booking a flight. For others it requires a lot more work. And Benny knows that better than anyone else.”

Social media reaction

The stack of 16 passports has caught attention online as users wonder how much paperwork, waiting, and border-hopping it must have taken for him to chase a record like this. “Gosh, I shudder to think of all the paperwork it would’ve taken!” one user wrote in the comment section.

“Finally, Travel Legend from India wow respect,” another user added.

“He’s absolutely awesome and even without visa restrictions, his achievement seems very difficult for me,’ a third user.

Who is Benny Prasad?

He is a guitarist and globetrotter. His official website mentions the difficulties and challenges he faced in his life. He was born on August 6, 1975, in Bengaluru, and his birth was celebrated with the highest hopes for his future as he was the first of his generation in the family.

“But his was not a promising start – He suffered from severe asthma, which required him to take cortisone steroids from which he developed rheumatoid arthritis, 60% lung damage and an immune system regularly failing him, which threatens his life even to this day,” the official website mentions.

His parents expected him to excel in his studies and tried to drill mathematics and science into him. But all the efforts went in vain. He became depressed and even tried to harm himself at the age of 16.

His life transformed when he eventually inclined towards music. “Today, through his music, Benny brings the Hope In God to thousands of people, travelling to 40 – 50 countries every year,” the website states.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/meet-benny-prasad-bengaluru-born-musician-who-visited-every-country-in-the-world-11687200?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Mahesh Dixit brings with him decades of experience in intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism operations and national security management.

The Centre has appointed senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Mahesh Dixit as the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), placing one of the country’s most experienced intelligence professionals at the helm of India’s premier internal security agency.

Dixit, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, will succeed outgoing IB Director Tapan Kumar Deka and will serve a two-year term from the date he assumes charge.

According to the appointment order approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), Dixit, who is currently serving as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau, has been granted an extension in service to take over the top post.

Dixit brings with him decades of experience in intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism operations and national security management. He is widely regarded within security circles as one of the key architects behind several sensitive intelligence operations undertaken by the government in recent years.

Among the most significant chapters of his career was his involvement in the lead-up to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. Sources familiar with the developments said Dixit played an important role in assessing the security implications of the historic move and helped formulate strategies to maintain law and order during the transition period.

Following the reorganisation of the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Dixit was entrusted with critical intelligence responsibilities in the region. Officials credit him with helping restore public confidence during a politically sensitive phase while ensuring that security challenges posed by terrorism and separatist elements were effectively addressed.

During his tenure overseeing key intelligence responsibilities in Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar successfully hosted the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in 2023, an event that drew significant international attention and participation. The smooth conduct of the summit was viewed as a major milestone in showcasing the region’s improving security environment. During the same period, several foreign diplomatic delegations visited Kashmir, reflecting growing international engagement with the region. Officials familiar with the developments said Dixit played an important role in providing accurate assessments of ground realities and evolving conditions, helping facilitate greater diplomatic outreach and confidence in the changing situation on the ground.

Beyond Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Dixit has been closely associated with efforts to counter misinformation and propaganda campaigns targeting India, both from domestic and foreign sources. Intelligence and security experts view his experience in handling emerging information warfare challenges as particularly relevant at a time when national security threats increasingly extend into the digital domain.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mahesh-dixit-1993-batch-telangana-officer-named-intelligence-bureau-chief-11688328?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Six of the eight accused are temple employees responsible for counting cash. All six were caught embezzling money on CCTV cameras.

Eight persons have been taken into custody and a police case lodged following allegations of theft of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram temple. The First Information Report mentions eight accused, six of whom are temple employees responsible for counting cash. All eight were caught embezzling money on CCTV cameras, sources said. The list includes Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Ramshankar Mishra, Ramashankar Yadav, Manish Yadav, Subhash Chandra Srivastava and Karunesh Pandey.

The First Information Report was lodged earlier this evening following a complaint filed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Reports say nearly Rs 7 to 7.5 crore is missing.

How The Issue Unfolded

The issue of siphoning of donations was flagged first by the Samajwadi Party. Among allegations from other leaders, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had claimed that crores of rupees from donations are going missing and demanded judicial intervention, pointing to the silence of the Trust and the government.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had initially asked the government to order an investigation to establish the facts and dispel what it described as rumours on social media “to tarnish the image of the Ram temple and hurt the faith of millions of devotees”.

The government subsequently ordered an inquiry by a Special Information Team, comprising Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team submitted a preliminary report to the government on Tuesday. Reports suggest that the document contains strong recommendations.

Nripendra Mishra, the retired IAS officer who heads the Temple Construction Committee, had said the allegations of theft of donation money had left Prime Minister Narendra Modi worried.

Leaders of the BJP had responded with concern and dismay.

Prominent leader of Ram Janmabhoomi movement and former BJP MP Vinay Katiyar had said the allegation of irregularities in the temple donation fund was very serious.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/case-filed-over-ram-temple-donation-theft-two-arrested-11687549?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Siya Goyal’s parents said that if their daughter is found guilty, then she should be pushed from the same place where Ketan was thrown from.

If she is found guilty, push her from the same spot from where Ketan Agarwal fell to death, Siya Goyal’s parents have said. Siya is accused of killing her fiance, Ketan Agarwal, along with her alleged lover Chetan Babulal Chaudhary in Pune.

Siya and Chetan pushed 26-year-old Ketan Agarwal from Lohagad Fort in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri range, causing him to fall to his death, the police said. The incident was initially reported as an accidental fall during a trek.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Pooja Goyal said that her daughter Siya never expressed any dissatisfaction regarding her marriage with Ketan. The two were set to get married in November at a palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Pooja said she is in more pain than Ketan’s family as his death has disrupted not just one family, but two. She further called for the harshest punishment for the accused, even if it is her daughter.

“If my daughter is found guilty, then she should be thrown from the same place where Ketan was thrown from,” said Pooja.

Siya’s father, Praveen Goyal, expressed similar views.

“From the fort where Ketan fell, the accused, even if it is my own daughter, should be pushed down,” Praveen Goyal said.

Ketan Was Our Son Too: Siya’s Father

Reacting to the “tragic” incident, Praveen Goyal said he is finding it “hard to believe,” adding that he had grown attached to Ketan and considered him a son.

“They’ve lost their son, and their son was ours, too. We loved him so much. I had grown so attached to him that it felt like he was our own son. We lost such a loving, promising, good boy today. We are deeply saddened by that,” said Praveen Goyal.

Parents Claim They Didn’t Know About Chetan

“We did not know anything about Chetan. Ever since the engagement, she only spoke to Ketan,” said Siya’s mother.

Calling Siya a “simple girl”, her father too claimed that he had no knowledge about his daughter’s love affair.

“Siya was a simple girl. She is 19 years old. Would a 19-year-old girl do such a thing? I don’t know anything about him. Where did Chetan come from? I’ve never seen his face, nor have I ever spoken to him in my life. He has never been to our house,” he said.

Siya Was Happy With Ketan: Parents

Talking about Siya and Ketan’s relationship, Pooja said the family had high hopes.

“There were so many expectations, so much affection. Ketan’s family also treated Siya with great affection and love. All the functions were going well. They had also organised many programs for her birthday celebration. If we felt that Siya was having some problem or could not talk to Ketan, then they would discuss it with us… Siya never expressed any displeasure about this marriage,” Pooja said.

Praveen Goyal opines that the Agarwals are “good, cultured people” and the two families have known each other for years. With Ketan’s death, he lost both a son and a cherished family connection.

“Ketan was such a good person. We had renovation work going on at home and Ketan would say, “Papa ji, if there is any work at home – whether it’s plumbing, marble work, or furniture – just let me know. If measurements need to be taken or materials are required, tell me, I’ll handle it.” He was never one to say no,” Praveen Goyal said.

Praveen claimed that his daughter was equally loved by Ketan’s parents.

Ketan Didn’t Want To Call Off The Wedding: What Siya Told Cops

The police on Wednesday questioned the two accused – Siya and Chetan – by making them sit together, facing each other.

According to the sources, Siya did not want to marry Ketan, and she allegedly conveyed her unwillingness to her fiance. But Ketan was not ready to call off the wedding, Siya claimed during interrogation.

In her confession, Siya claimed that Ketan told her that his family was influential and wealthy, and that she would not be able to escape the marriage even if she tried to run away.

Siya’s claims, however, remain subject to judicial scrutiny and the ongoing legal process.

Siya Tried To Kill Ketan In The Past

Siya had made several attempts to bring Ketan to Lohagad Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated about 3,300 feet above sea level. The couple first visited the fort on May 31. Four days later, on June 4, Siya pressed for another visit, but Ketan’s mother did not permit it. On June 14, she persuaded him to go again. During that visit, police say she allegedly tried to push him off a cliff.

Ketan managed to hold on to a bush. When he asked why she had pushed him, Siya claimed there had been a snake and that she had acted to protect him.

Ketan was killed on June 18.

Siya’s mother also claimed that her daughter did not want to go for a trek. It was Ketan’s idea and his mother convinced Siya to go for it.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/siya-goyal-ketan-agarwal-chetan-chaudhary-pune-fort-murder-push-her-from-same-fort-if-guilty-pune-murder-accused-siya-goyals-parents-11689198?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The ED has attached two Zurich International Life insurance policies linked to Shrikant Bhasi in the AOPL case. The move follows findings that the policies were funded through connected overseas entities and were being readied for surrender.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has provisionally attached two Investment Linked Life Insurance Policies maintained with Zurich International Life Ltd having an aggregate surrender value of Rs. 3.66 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The attachment is part of the agency’s ongoing investigation against M/s Advantage Overseas Pvt. Ltd. (AOPL) and its promoter, Shrikant Bhasi.

The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), BSFB, New Delhi, against M/s Advantage Overseas Pvt Ltd., its directors and unknown public servants for allegedly causing a wrongful loss of Rs. 1,266.63 crore to the State Bank of India through fraudulent merchanting trade transactions.

According to the ED, its investigation under the PMLA revealed that AOPL and its promoters fraudulently availed banking facilities by carrying out sham merchanting trade transactions, circular trading, fabrication of trade documents and diversion of bank funds to various domestic and overseas entities.

The agency said the Proceeds of Crime were layered through several companies controlled by Shrikant Bhasi and invested in various movable and immovable assets in India and abroad.

During the investigation, the ED identified two Investment Linked Life Insurance Policies maintained with Zurich International Life Ltd. in the name of Shrikant Bhasi. The investigation revealed that the policies were acquired and maintained during the period surrounding the commission of the scheduled offence and were funded through overseas accounts and entities connected with Bhasi.

The ED further found that in April 2026, Shrikant Bhasi sought to surrender both insurance policies and requested that the surrender proceeds be remitted to his bank account in India.

Considering the likelihood of dissipation of the Proceeds of Crime, the ED provisionally attached the two insurance policies having an aggregate surrender value of approximately Rs. 3.66 crore under Section 5(1) of the PMLA, 2002.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ed-attaches-zurich-life-policies-shrikant-bhasi-aopl-case-2934479-2026-06-25

The Delhi government has begun proceedings against Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, after an inquiry flagged patient care lapses and other alleged violations. The case has sharpened scrutiny of emergency treatment protocols, safety compliance and accountability at private hospitals.

The Delhi government will initiate action against Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh after a district administration inquiry found multiple alleged irregularities, including lapses in patient care, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The probe was ordered by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta after a complaint was received during a Jan Sunwai. The complaint alleged that the hospital demanded payment before starting treatment of a young man with stab injuries and that the delay in providing timely medical care led to his death.

According to the statement, an inspection team led by the Central District Magistrate, along with officials from the Health Department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Fire Service and other departments, inspected the hospital on Thursday. The team examined CCTV footage and records maintained by the emergency department.

The statement said the footage showed that the injured young man had walked into the emergency department on his own, suggesting that timely treatment could have saved his life. It also said the inspection found alleged violations of building by-laws, unauthorised construction, deficiencies in the fire safety system, misuse of the basement and serious lapses in following standard operating procedures related to medical protocols.

Fortis Hospital said it would fully cooperate in the matter. “Fortis remains committed to the highest standards of patient care, clinical excellence, and regulatory compliance. We will review the details once formally shared with us and extend our full cooperation to the authorities. Patient safety and well-being continue to be our foremost priority,” the hospital said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/fortis-hospital-shalimar-bagh-delhi-action-patient-care-lapses-irregularities-ptag-2934497-2026-06-26

The accident took place around midnight in Ramgarh district. According to police, the impact of the crash was so severe that the victims were killed on the spot.

Seven people were killed, and one person was seriously injured after a vehicle collided with a truck in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, police said on Friday.

The accident took place around midnight on the Ramgarh-Bokaro road.

According to police, the impact of the crash was so severe that the victims were killed on the spot.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jharkhand-ramgarh-vehicle-truck-collision-casualties-injured-2934547-2026-06-26