Get all the latest India news and top breaking news live from all cities of India only on Readselective.com. Read latest India news, current affairs and news headlines online today.
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that the accused has been identified as Rahul Kumar alias Gaju, a resident of Chamrang Road in Amritsar. He works as an assistant in a salon in Amritsar.
Pak-ISI Backed Terror Plot Foiled; 1 Held With RDX-Based IED |
Punjab police on Tuesday claimed to have foiled a Pakistan’s ISI-backed terror plot with the arrest of one accused person and recovered an RDX-based Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from his possession in Amritsar area.
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that the accused has been identified as Rahul Kumar alias Gaju, a resident of Chamrang Road in Amritsar. He works as an assistant in a salon in Amritsar.
In an intelligence-led operation, State Special Operations Cell (#SSOC), Amritsar foils a #Pak ISI–backed terror plot with the recovery of an #RDX-based Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and arrests one accused from #Amritsar.
DGP Yadav said that preliminary investigation indicated that the accused was in contact with a foreign-based handler acting under the instructions of Pakistan-based handlers. Probe has also revealed that accused Rahul retrieved the consignment from a designated location on the outskirts of the city following the instructions of his foreign-based handler, he said, while adding that the device was concealed in a PVC pipe casing, likely to evade detection.
The DGP said that further probe regarding the ultimate disposal/destination of the IED is being conducted.
After assuming office, the BJP government moved courts seeking early hearings to withdraw multiple cases related to key administrative and policy issues, which were a bone of contention between the former AAP dispensation and the Centre, the L-G’s office, as well as bureaucrats of the Delhi government.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Credit: PTI Photo
The Delhi government, led by the BJP, has withdrawn all cases filed by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration against the Union government, the Lieutenant Governor, and several senior bureaucrats, officials said on Monday.
After assuming office, the BJP government moved courts seeking early hearings to withdraw multiple cases related to key administrative and policy issues, which were a bone of contention between the former AAP dispensation and the Centre, the L-G’s office, as well as bureaucrats of the Delhi government.
These cases filed by the former AAP government over a period of time included the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman, control over service-related matters, implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, funding for the Delhi Jal Board, appointment of lawyers in the Delhi riot cases, and the constitution of a high-level committee on Yamuna river pollution.
According to the officials, the law department of the Delhi government began the withdrawal process for these cases shortly after the BJP assumed power following the Assembly elections in February 2025.
Continuing with these cases posed legal challenges, as it would have been difficult for the BJP, which governs Delhi, to pursue cases against its own government at the Centre and its appointed L-G. Additionally, persisting with the cases would have wasted government resources without producing any benefits, an officer stated.
In May 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Delhi government to withdraw seven cases filed against the L-G. During the same month, the Delhi High Court also permitted the government to withdraw its petition challenging the L-G’s decision to appoint lawyers to argue cases related to the farmers’ protest and the 2020 Delhi riots.
An internal proposal moved by the law department stated that such litigation caused “hardship” to the bureaucracy and resulted in “administrative paralysis,” delaying policy decisions and execution of projects.
The withdrawn cases also included one concerning the 2023 ordinance promulgated by the president, which amended the GNCTD Act of 1991, the interpretation of Section 45D of the Act, appointments to the DERC, cessation of funding, and issues related to the alderman case pending before the Supreme Court.
The Court was responding to objections raised by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha against the West Bengal CM’s court appearance.
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down the objections raised by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha to the personal appearance of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the case concerning special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria said that it is not new and shows trust and faith in Constitution and its institutions.
“What is unheard in it? This shows trust and faith in the constitution. Don’t politicise this issue,” the Court told the counsel for Hindu Mahasabha.
“What is unheard in it? This shows trust and faith in the constitution. Don’t politicise this issue.
Mamata Banerjee had appeared and argued before the Supreme Court on February 4 in the case filed by her against SIR in West Bengal.
Addressing the Court herself, Banerjee questioned the manner in which the revision exercise was being carried out. The CM was in full form, at one point referring to the Election Commission as a “WhatsApp Commission”, alleging that directions were being issued by the poll body informally through WhatsApp. She told the Bench that the process appeared to focus on deletion of names rather than inclusion and said that genuine voters were being removed from the rolls.
Banerjee flagged concerns relating to poor voters and women. She cited instances where women were allegedly deleted from the rolls because of surname changes after marriage. She also raised objections to the deployment of micro observers from outside West Bengal, alleging that they were overriding local booth level officers (BLOs).
Last year, the ECI had held SIR in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls there. Multiple petitions, including those filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Federation for Indian Women (NFIW), challenged the legality of the process. However, the ECI proceeded with the SIR since the top court did not impose any stay on the same.
Subsequently, the ECI extended the SIR to other States and Union Territories, including West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This led to multiple petitions challenging the same. The Court reserved its decision on them on January 29.
Banerjee subsequently moved the Court challenging the ECI’s decision to hold a SIR in the State and sought a direction that the polls be conducted on the basis of the existing rolls prepared last year. She has also sought an urgent direction to halt deletion of voters – particularly those under the “Logical Discrepancy” category, from the electoral rolls.
The hearing in the suo motu case concerning digital arrest scams on Monday saw the Supreme Court express concerns that neglect or connivance by bank officials have often led to such fraudulent transactions.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi has also issued various directions to ensure proper coordination between various agencies when it comes to tackling digital arrest scams and recover lost money, where possible.
“We have seen bank officials are completely hand in gloves with the accused in these cases of digital arrest,” CJI Kant remarked today while hearing a connected matter.
He went on to add that banks must do well to remember that they are custodians of the money entrusted to them.
“These banks are becoming a liability. Banks should know that they are a trustee of the money and they should not get over excited with it. That trust should not be broken. Problem is these banks give loans to these fraudsters and then NCLT, NCLAT (comes into the picture when the fraudulent companies become embroiled in insolvency disputes) etc,” he said.
CJI Surya Kant, Justices Bagchi and Anjaria
“These banks are becoming a liability. Banks should know that they are a trustee of the money and they should not get over excited with it.
The remark was made after Attorney General for India (AG) R Venkataramani told the Court that while implementing measures put in place by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), mule bank accounts were detected.
The Court was hearing suo motu case initiated by it in October last year to address the growing menace of digital arrest scams across the country. In December 2025, the Court ordered a pan-India CBI probe into such scams.
The suo motu case was registered after a senior-citizen couple wrote to the Supreme Court stating that they were defrauded of ₹1.5 crore between September 1 and 16 by scammers impersonating as officials of the CBI, the Intelligence Bureau and the judiciary.
During today’s hearing of the matter, the Court was apprised that an inter-departmental committee has been set up by the Central government to coordinate action against such fraudsters.
Further, the Court was told that the CBI has identified ₹10 crores as the amount amassed in digital arrest scams. On the preventive side, banks are now using artificial intelligence (AI) assistance to detect such fraudulent transactions, it was submitted.
The Court reiterated today that all concerned authorities must work with each other to identify and tackle digital arrest scams.
“We direct CBI to identify the digital arrest cases, RBI to take steps at the end of the issuing bank and take appropriate steps. MeiTy is directed to follow up with intermediaries for time bound compliance,” it said.
Notably, the Court was told that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a standard operating protocol (SOP) have also been drawn up as part of measures on how to deal with such digital arrest cases.
Maithili Thakur had questioned the Health Minister on the dilapidated condition of the government hospital in her constituency. Then, unsatisfied with the minister’s response, she posed a sharp question.
The dilapidated condition of government hospitals once again came into focus in the Bihar Legislative Assembly during the budget session on Monday. This time, Maithili Thakur, known for her outspoken questions, had brought the issue under the scanner. Thakur had questioned Health Minister Mangal Pandey on the dilapidated condition of the government hospital in her constituency. Then, unsatisfied with the minister’s response, she posed a sharp question.
A video of this entire exchange — a new MLA putting her own party’s minister on the spot — was widely circulated on social media. Maithili Thakur, a celebrated folk singer from Mithilanchal, had won her maiden election in November from Alinagar after joining the BJP. She said she had joined politics after being inspired by the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the Question Hour on Monday, Maithili Thakur had raised the condition of the hospital building in her constituency, declaring that it was so dilapidated that a major accident appeared imminent.
अपने विधानसभा क्षेत्र अंतर्गत तारडीह प्रखंड के कुरसों नदीयामी स्थित अतिरिक्त स्वास्थ्य केंद्र की गंभीर समस्याओं पर सदन में सरकार का ध्यान आकृष्ट कराया। जनस्वास्थ्य से कोई समझौता स्वीकार्य नहीं।क्षेत्र की जनता को बेहतर, सुलभ एवं गुणवत्तापूर्ण स्वास्थ्य सुविधाएँ दिलाना हमारी… pic.twitter.com/HhMRzDEF7S
Describing the situation, she said plaster keeps falling from the ceiling, the walls bear deep cracks, and water leaks into the wards during the rainy season. Even so, patients are still being treated in the building, pregnant women are admitted, and children are kept, which is a direct threat to people’s lives, she said.
“I am not completely satisfied with the answer… Because it is written that the building is not in a bad condition. It just needs to be repaired,” she said.
“But I want the minister to explain once again. Because I myself have seen that the building is in a bad condition. There is a health system running in a small room. There is no MBBS doctor. In the past, there were two MBBS doctors there. But not now,” she continued, listing her reservations in detail.
Thakur questioned why hospital buildings are in such a state when the government is increasing the health budget every year. While a shortage of doctors and medicines is a problem, an even bigger threat is dilapidated buildings that could collapse at any time, she said.
The MLA asked the House whether the government was waiting for a major accident to occur before new buildings would be constructed.
“I am not questioning the minister. I am just making a request to him. Because I was very young. And since then, I have been seeing the health minister as a minister. I have been seeing him working on health. So I want him to solve this in the interest of the public,” she added.
In his response, the Health Minister said the state government is serious about the condition of hospital buildings. New buildings have been approved for several hospitals, and construction is in progress in some locations. He also said hospitals with extremely dilapidated buildings have been identified and will be repaired or renovated in a phased manner.
The minister’s response, however, did not satisfy Maithili Thakur. She immediately intervened, saying the hospital in her area has been on the list for years, but till date, neither repairs nor construction on a new building has started.
Raising the question again, she said every year there is only talk of planning and approval, but the ground reality remains the same. She also said that patients and their families are forced to seek treatment in fear.
After Maithili Thakur’s repeated questions, the atmosphere in the House became heated for a while. Opposition MLAs thumped the table in support, while some members of the ruling party appeared uneasy.
The Speaker had to intervene to help the discussion move forward.
As soon as the video of the debate surfaced on social media, it was widely circulated.
Pakhi, 12, Prachi, 14, and Nishika, 16, had jumped to their deaths from the ninth floor of their flat in Bharat City, a residential township in Ghaziabad, last Wednesday, allegedly after their parents objected to their gaming addiction and took away their phones.
Pakhi, 12, Prachi, 14, and Nishika, 16, died by suicide by jumping off 9th floor of their Ghaziabad flat
Multiple marriages, five children crammed in a single room, a mysterious 2018 death, and financial ruin – the triple suicide of three sisters in Ghaziabad reeks of buried horrors.
Pakhi, 12, Prachi, 14, and Nishika, 16, had jumped to their deaths from the ninth floor of their flat in Bharat City, a residential township in Ghaziabad, last Wednesday, allegedly after their parents objected to their gaming addiction and took away their phones.
While the initial narrative centered on a “gaming addiction,” the investigation into their father, Chetan Kumar, has exposed a crumbling timeline of serial weddings and suspicious inconsistencies.
Police sources reveal that Kumar’s testimony regarding his marriages fails the test of basic logic. He claimed his second marriage was a necessity born of his first wife’s inability to conceive, yet the ages of his children suggest otherwise.
“Kumar (the girls’ father) has been changing statements. He tried to hide his marriage to Tina initially,” a senior police officer said.
Post-mortem reports confirm the minors died from head injuries. Atul Kumar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Shalimar Garden, told NDTV that there were no signs of sexual assault on the girls.
The phones of the minors, one of which was sold off just 15 days before the incident, have been traced and sent, along with others, for forensic analysis to determine what transpired in the final hours.
Consent, Cover-Up And Serial Marriages
Chetan Kumar, his three wives – Sujata, Hina, and Tina – and their five children slept in one room of a three-bedroom flat in Ghaziabad’s Bharat City Society. Probe shows he fathered a daughter and a mentally challenged son with first wife Sujata.
“He said that he married Hina because Sujata couldn’t conceive”, ACP Singh said. As per Kumar’s testimony to police, he married Sujata in 2010, her sister Hina in 2013 and Tina, who had converted to Hinduism from Islam, in 2023. However, Kumar’s timeline and reasons for marrying Hina don’t add up as Sujata’s daughter at the time of her death is believed to be 16.
Asked how he managed to marry three women without divorcing any of the previous wives, the ACP said, “The women had apparently consented to the marriages. No one complained.”
With Hina, he had two daughters (14 and 12), both died by ‘suicide’ along with Sujata’s elder daughter, allegedly jumping off from the ninth floor of the building. Tina, the youngest of the wives, 22, has a three-year-old daughter with him. “She had worked with Kumar in the past. So far it has emerged that the other wives consented to this marriage too,” the ACP said.
As per the police, so far, Kumar, during interrogation, has maintained that his daughters were addicted to task-based Korean games and that he had taken away their phones.
Police have also recovered a 30-page diary where the girls had reportedly mentioned that they were frustrated after their access to Korean drama and K-Pop music was cut off.
Another detail that has emerged is the death of Sujata and Hina’s sister in 2018, who had fallen off the balcony of the house while visiting them. The case was treated as an accidental death, and the family never filed any police complaint.
BJP accused a TMC councillor from Taki Ward 12 of molesting a former BSF jawan’s wife and criticised police inaction, intensifying political tensions in Bengal ahead of elections.
The TMC councillor is accused of molesting an ex-BSF jawan’s wife. (Image: Canva/Representative)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal after allegations surfaced against a TMC councillor from Taki municipality in North 24 Parganas district.
According to West Bengal BJP Spokesperson Debjit Sarkar, a TMC councillor from Ward 12 in Taki allegedly molested the wife of a former Border Security Force (BSF) jawan. Sarkar claimed that the incident occurred in “retaliation” after the woman’s husband was earlier assaulted and allegedly denied police assistance due to the councillor’s political influence.
Reacting to the matter, the BJP leader wrote on social media platform X, “Shame on TMC. A TMC councillor from Taki (Ward 12) is accused of m0lesting the wife of a former BSF jawan in retaliation after her husband was assaulted and denied police help due to political influence. Power used to silence citizens and target women is an attack on democracy(sic).”
The BJP’s West Bengal unit also issued a statement on X, calling the situation an example of “Mahajungle Raj” in the state.
“A TMC councillor in Taki (Ward 12) is accused of outraging the modesty of a former BSF jawan’s wife after police allegedly refused action in an earlier assault case due to political pressure. When power shields criminals and women are targeted, it becomes clearer how much Bengali society is under threat from TMC,” the party stated.
Bombay High Court granted bail to Akashdeep Singh, an accused in the murder of former minister Baba Siddique, observing that prosecution material did not prima facie link him to the alleged organised crime conspiracy under MCOCA.
Bombay High Court grants bail to an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case, citing lack of prima facie evidence linking him to an organised crime conspiracy | File Photo
The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to Akashdeep Karaj Singh, one of the accused in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, observing that the prosecution material at this stage did not prima facie link him to the alleged organised crime conspiracy.
Court finds prosecution case weak at bail stage
“The entire case of the prosecution… hinges on the two calls made by him,” Justice Neela Gokhale noted, adding that “merely putting through a call… prima facie does not connect the Applicant (Singh) with the organised crime syndicate.” The judge emphasised that any such connection would have to be established during trial.
Singh, 22, becomes the first accused to secure bail in the high-profile case. Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12, 2024, by three assailants outside the Bandra (East) office of his son, former MLA Zeeshan Siddique.
Background of the case
The police have arrested 26 persons and invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), alleging a conspiracy orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. A chargesheet filed earlier this year names Anmol as a wanted accused.
Singh, a resident of Punjab’s Fazilka district, was arrested in November 2024. His earlier bail plea was rejected by a sessions court. Opposing his release, the prosecution argued that Singh was an active member of an organised crime syndicate.
Court rejects key allegations
However, the court found that the prosecution primarily relied on allegations that Singh used another person’s phone hotspot to make two calls to a co-accused. The court said there was no material at this stage to show that Singh knew of, or participated in, organised criminal activity.
Addressing claims of international calls allegedly linked to syndicate supporters, the court observed that “a bare allegation unsupported by any material… does not indicate his complicity in the offence.”
The judge also noted that Singh’s name did not figure in the confessional statements of key co-accused, remarking: “The Applicant’s name is eloquently absent.”
Stringent bail conditions imposed
While acknowledging the seriousness of the alleged offences and the invocation of MCOCA, the court held that it could not conclude that the accusations against Singh were prima facie true. It also considered his young age and absence of criminal antecedents in finding that he was unlikely to commit offences if released.
It began with a promise of marriage. Taken from home in the dark, betrayed by trust and gang-raped across cities, before it all ended with one of the harshest punishments under law.
Love trap, abduction, repeated rape: Two sentenced to life till death for assault on minor
A 14-year-old girl was lured out of her home on the promise of marriage, taken to another city and repeatedly gang-raped before being rescued, a crime that has now led to one of the harshest punishments under law.
A POCSO court in Rajasthan’s Alwar district has sentenced two men to life imprisonment till death in the case of gang rape of the minor. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the convicts.
GIRL VANISHES OVERNIGHT
The incident came to light on November 6, 2024, when the girl went missing from her home while her family was asleep. In her complaint, the girl’s mother said the family woke up in the morning to find the 14-year-old absent from her room.
The family immediately grew suspicious of Mohit, a youth who had visited the house earlier to meet the girl. When relatives reached his residence, they discovered that Mohit too had been missing since the previous night.
Police were alerted and an FIR was registered.
ACCUSED TRACKED TO BHIWADI
During the investigation, police traced Mohit’s mobile phone location to Bhiwadi. A police team, accompanied by the girl’s family, reached the town and arrested Mohit along with his associate Ankit.
Investigators found that Mohit had first drawn the minor into a relationship and convinced her to run away with him. On the way, he picked up his friend Ankit, after which the two took the girl to Bhiwadi.
REPEATED SEXUAL ASSAULT CONFIRMED
Police said both accused were employed at a company during the day and stayed together at night. During this period, the girl was repeatedly subjected to gang rape by the two men.
The victim was medically examined after her rescue, and the medical report confirmed sexual assault. Both accused were arrested and produced before the court, following which they were sent to judicial custody.
In an official statement, Penguin Random House India said it holds the sole publishing rights to the memoir but has not released the book in print or digital form.
The publisher issued the clarification amid soaring controversy over Four Stars of Destiny. (Photo: X)
Penguin Random House India has said that former Chief of Army Staff Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir has not been published in any form, hours after the Delhi Police registered a case over the alleged circulation of an unauthorised copy of the book on social media and online platforms.
The publisher issued the clarification amid soaring controversy over Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny, which is yet to receive official clearance from authorities.
PUBLISHER DENIES ANY RELEASE
In an official statement, Penguin Random House India said it holds the sole publishing rights to the memoir but has not released the book in print or digital form.
“We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book – in print or digital form – have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India,” the statement added.
It warned that any version of the book currently in circulation, whether in print, PDF or digital format, amounts to copyright infringement and must be stopped immediately.
The publisher added that it would pursue legal action against those involved in the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the material, and said the statement was issued to place its position on record.
POLICE PROBE INTO ALLEGED LEAK
The clarification comes after the Delhi Police registered a FIR over the alleged circulation of an unpublished copy of the book.
In an official statement, police said they had taken cognisance of reports on social media and online forums claiming that a pre-print version of the memoir was being shared without mandatory clearance from competent authorities.
According to investigators, a PDF of a typeset book, apparently prepared by the publisher, was found on certain websites. Some online platforms were also seen displaying the book cover as if it were available for purchase.
The police said they registered a case with the Special Cell to carry out a thorough investigation into the purported leak or breach of a yet-to-be-approved publication, and the investigation is being taken up.
CONTROVERSY IN PARLIAMENT
The issue spilt after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen holding what appeared to be a copy of the book in the Parliament complex.
The matter triggered sharp exchanges in the Lok Sabha, leading to repeated disruptions and the suspension of eight MPs for the remainder of the Budget session.
This comes as the first definitive comment from the Ministry of External Affairs on the much-discussed energy sourcing issue.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri
India’s energy sourcing will be guided by national interest, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday, just days after the framework of an interim trade agreement was released by India and the United States, with the latter claiming that New Delhi has committed to cutting back direct as well as indirect import of Russian oil.
This comes as the first definitive comment from the Ministry of External Affairs on the much-discussed energy sourcing issue. Just a couple of days back, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, when asked whether India would indeed stop purchasing Russian oil (as claimed by the US), had referred the matter to the MEA.
When asked about the import of Russian oil during a press briefing, Misri emphasised that “the more diversified we are, the more secure we are”. However, he didn’t directly say if India will stop importing Russian oil or continue procuring it — in the wake of US President Donald Trump passing an executive order lifting the 25 percent penalty tariff on India, while warning of punitive action in case Russian oil is purchased.
“India is a net importer in the oil and gas sector. We are a developing economy; we have to be conscious about our resource availability. Naturally, when you are dependent to the extent of 80-85% on an imported resource, you have to have concerns about the possibility of inflation driven by energy costs,” the Foreign Secretary said.
“Our foremost priority is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers insofar as energy is concerned— to really ensure that they receive adequate energy at the right price and through reliable and secure supplies,” Misri said.
Trump’s executive order said India has “committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil”, that “it will purchase United States energy products… and has recently committed to a framework with the United States to expand defense cooperation over the next 10 years”.
The 25 per cent penalty tariff stands withdrawn from 12.01 am EST February 7 (10.31 am IST). The order said that the Trump administration has put in place a mechanism to “monitor whether India resumes (buying oil from Russia) directly or indirectly” and that a punitive penalty could be imposed by the US in future.
“In recent years, the global economy has faced significant uncertainties which have had a major impact on the stability of global energy markets,” Misri said, adding, “India is not just one of the largest consumers of energy, but it also plays an important role as a stabilizing factor in global energy markets.”
“That’s one reason why we import energy from multiple sources… the key drivers of our energy policy are adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply. So, we import crude oil from dozens of countries,” said Misri, adding that “India is neither dependent on any single source for this, nor do we intend to be.”
It is natural for the mix of sources to vary from time to time, depending on objective market conditions, the Foreign Secretary said, adding, “Our approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply and diversify them as appropriate to ensure stability. Therefore, I would say that the more diversified we are in this area, the more secure we are.”
However, Misri added that the actual sourcing is done by oil companies. “Oil companies in the public sector, oil companies in the private sector… they make decisions based on market conditions,” he said.
“So, there is a rather complex matrix of issues that these companies have to take into account, which—not to disregard it—also includes very, very important financial and logistical aspects,” he added.
The Foreign Secretary summed up saying: “I can firmly and confidently say that whether it is the government or indeed our business, at the end of the day, national interests will be the guiding factor for us in our choices.”
Public feedback and comments have been invited before finalising the rules, which will be notified by the first week of March, said CBDT chairman Ravi Agrawal.
Explaining the idea behind the new simplified rules and forms, CBDT chairman said, “The intent is how to cut down on redundant forms… and essentially, the focus is more on capturing the right information.” (HT Photo)
The simplified income tax rules that will come into effect from April 1 could enable a salaried person with no additional income to verify data through a pre-filled return and submit it directly, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Ravi Agrawal said on Monday.
Referring to the recently enacted Income-Tax Act, 2025, he said the government has also drafted rules and forms in simple language for ease of taxpayers. Public feedback and comments have been invited before finalising the rules, which will be notified by the first week of March, he said.
Explaining the idea behind the new simplified rules and forms, he said: “The intent is how to cut down on redundant forms… and essentially, the focus is more on capturing the right information.” He said the exercise would not only help the Income-Tax department in analysing data, but also enhance ease of compliance. It will assist taxpayers in filing their income tax returns and ultimately help in widening and deepening of the tax base.
According to an expert, the earlier version of pre-filling (introduced around 2019-20) required taxpayers to still navigate complex ITR forms, make manual entries, and cross-verify multiple sections. This person hoped the new pre-filled forms to be simpler with the use of advance technology..
After the President gave assent to the Income-Tax Act, 2025 in August, the CBDT drafted corresponding income tax rules and forms after broad-based consultation and now it has sought feedback from stakeholders, which will be compiled and considered before finalising the notification, he said. New rules will replace the Income-Tax Rules, 1962.
Presenting the Budget for 2026-27 in Parliament on February 1, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “In July 2024, I announced a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This was completed in a record time and the Income-Tax Act, 2025 will come into effect from April 1, 2026.”
Temporary relief for commuters but state-Centre tussle on who controls prices goes on
MP Tejasvi Surya with commuters at RV Road Metro Station on Sunday. Credit: DH PHOTO/PUSHKAR V
The 5% hike in Namma Metro fares, slated to come into effect from Monday, has been put on hold following directions from the Union government.
The pause will last “until further orders” and is subject to review by the BMRCL board, the public transporter said on Sunday.
The volte-face came after days of intense public backlash and political bickering over who controls the fares of Bengaluru’s popular metro network: Karnataka or Centre?
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had announced the hike — by Rs 1-5 across all 10 fare zones — under annual automatic revision recommended by the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), whose report is binding on it. The minimum was to be Rs 11 and the maximum Rs 95.
The hike was timed exactly a year after the fares had been increased by an average of 51.55% before discounts and 46.39% after discounts, making the Bengaluru metro one of the most expensive in the country.
As public discontent grew and Opposition BJP leaders slammed the hike, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to reconsider the fare levels and explore mechanisms to moderate or rationalise them.
He maintained that the fares were determined by an independent FFC constituted solely by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Neither the state nor BMRCL has the legal authority to override or disregard these recommendations, he had noted.
Bangalore South MP, L S Tejasvi Surya, and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, subsequently announced that the Centre had put the hike on hold.
Wearing a T-shirt printed with excerpts from the FFC report, Surya visited the RV Road metro station on Sunday and stated that the hike had been deferred.
The BMRCL, however, maintained it had not received official communication and that the hike would go ahead as announced. As suspense lingered, the BMRCL received directions from the ministry on Sunday evening, asking to defer the hike.
Well-placed sources said the ministry’s directive could support the state’s claim that it has no role on the fares and that the Centre has the final say.
Surya, however, disagreed.
Speaking to DH, he pinned the blame on the state.
“The scheme of fare fixation is clear. It is the state that requests the constitution of the FFC. The committee considers submissions from the state and BMRCL, and then decides the fare,” he stated.
“They were the ones who asked for such a high increase, citing weak finances and the inability to continue the Shadow Cash Support (SCS) that earlier governments were providing. Because of this, the fares increased, and the recommendation is binding. That is how this problem started.
“What the minister (Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar) has done now is to exercise ministerial oversight and ask for the hike to be put on hold temporarily until a solution is found.”
The BJP MP said the chief minister had last year asked for a reduction in fares. “If today they say fares are controlled only by the union government, then what authority did the CM exercise earlier?”
He demanded that the CM write to the Centre seeking reconstitution of the FFC.
“We are not opposing reasonable fare hikes. Operational costs have gone up, and nobody is saying fares should remain at 2010 or 2015 levels. But public transport must remain affordable. Fare revision should be done in a scientific manner by the FFC, in consultation with commuters and experts,” Surya added.
Independent mobility expert Satya Arikutharam, who has researched the issue, said the BMRCL acted in “bad faith” throughout.
“It made implementation errors and moved to an altogether different system while correcting them. Fares are now based on stations travelled as opposed to the earlier distance travelled,” he noted.
The two sides also agreed on posting security and law enforcement liaison officers in each other’s national capital.
PM Narendra Modi with Canadian PM Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Credit: PTI File Photo
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to host his counterpart, Mark Carney, in New Delhi next month, India and Canada have agreed on a shared work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security, moving on from the acrimony over the murder of a Khalistani Sikh extremist in the North American country.
The two sides also agreed on posting security and law enforcement liaison officers in each other’s national capital.
With Modi and Carney likely to hold a meeting in New Delhi in the first week of next month, the National Security Advisors of the two prime ministers, Ajit Doval and Nathalie Drouin, recently met in Ottawa. The two sides acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens. They agreed to a shared work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities, according to a readout issued by the Government of India in New Delhi.
Doval and Drouin agreed that each country would establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers and that their respective agencies would build on working relationships. This important step will help streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing on issues of mutual concern to Canada and India, such as the illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors, and transnational organised criminal networks, added the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday.
They also committed to formalising cooperation on cybersecurity policy and information sharing on cybersecurity issues, as well as continuing discussions on cooperation related to fraud and immigration enforcement, consistent with domestic laws and international obligations, according to the press release issued by the MEA in New Delhi.
The relations between New Delhi and Ottawa had hit a new low on September 18, 2023, when then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of having a role in the killing of Khalistani Sikh terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Ottawa in October 2024 had gone on to accuse New Delhi’s then envoy to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and his five colleagues of having a role in the June 18, 2023, killing.
New Delhi had withdrawn Verma and its other diplomats from the North American country after denying Ottawa’s request to waive their diplomatic immunity and to make them available for questioning by the police investigators in connection with the murder of Nijjar. India had also expelled six diplomats of Canada.
The relations between the two nations returned to track after Carney replaced Trudeau as the prime minister.
Trudeau’s successor, Carney, and Modi had met on the sidelines of the G7 summit at Kananaskis, Alberta, in Canada on June 18 last year. They had agreed to take “calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship”, beginning with the early return of Indian and Canadian High Commissioners to Ottawa and New Delhi, respectively.
New Delhi then appointed Dinesh K Patnaik as India’s new High Commissioner to Canada. Ottawa, on the other hand, appointed Christopher Cooter as the new High Commissioner of Canada in India.
Congress’ KC Venugopal said this is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content, but as “poison being spread from the very top”.
The now-deleted video included a photo of Himanta Sarma with text saying, “Identity, land and roots come first; Why did you go to Pakistan; No forgiveness for Bangladeshis”. (File Photo/ANI)
The Opposition on Sunday strongly criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam over a now-deleted social media post featuring an AI-generated video of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that the clip shows the “targeted point-blank murder of minorities”.
The video, posted on Saturday on the X handle of BJP’s Assam unit with the caption “point blank shot”, showed Sarma taking aim with a rifle and firing a shot at a photo of two individuals, both wearing a skull cap.
The video also included a photo of Sarma with text saying, “Identity, land and roots come first; Why did you go to Pakistan; No forgiveness for Bangladeshis”.
Slamming the video, the Congress, in a post on X, said: “The BJP’s official Assam Pradesh handle posted a video that appears to glorify the targeted, ‘point-blank’ murder of minorities. It is deeply abhorrent and disturbing and cannot be dismissed as random troll content. This amounts to a call to mass violence and genocide.”
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, meanwhile, said this is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content, but as “poison being spread from the very top”, and there must be consequences for this.
“This is nothing but a call to genocide – a dream this fascist regime has harboured for decades,” the Congress leader said on X.
The CPI(M) also criticised the post, saying the video “amounts to an open call for ethnic cleansing and genocide”. “The Chief Minister must be put behind bars before a catastrophe unfolds in Assam. The Supreme Court should immediately take strict action against him and his coterie for vitiating communal harmony, creating enmity between communities, and publicly calling for violence,” the party said on X.
The Civil Aviation Ministry is reviewing 400 uncontrolled airstrips for uniform standards after the Baramati crash that killed Ajit Pawar.
The Baramati crash has renewed focus on safety at non-ATC airfields. (PTI/File)
The Civil Aviation Ministry has launched a nationwide review of about 400 uncontrolled airstrips, aiming to create a uniform set of operating standards and a shared oversight system involving both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and state governments, according to officials.
The exercise will assess shortcomings in basic infrastructure, availability of communication systems, firefighting preparedness, and the level of coordination with district and local agencies. Most of these airstrips are owned by state governments and fall outside the DGCA’s regular surveillance framework, resulting in limited regulatory supervision, Hindustan Times reported.
The move to inspect these facilities and draft uniform guidelines comes in the wake of the January 28 aircraft crash in Baramati, which claimed the lives of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, bringing renewed attention to safety risks at non-ATC airfields.
DGCA teams have begun reviewing safety practices at Category A airports—uncontrolled facilities with no air traffic control services—managed by states, private operators or flight training organisations. India has at least 400 such airstrips, many of which are used by charter operators, political flights and flying schools but lack standardised procedures for runway upkeep, rescue services and aircraft movement coordination.
HT cited a senior official as saying that existing guidelines for these airstrips do not come under DGCA jurisdiction, and a new system is being developed with states to ensure visibility of their operational status and safety standards. Another official confirmed that inspection teams include officers from the flight safety, airworthiness and operations directorates.
Categories Of Airports In India
According to DGCA officials, Indian airports are grouped into four categories. Category A airports operate without air traffic control (ATC) services. Category B airports have limited control, offering partial ATC or AFIS facilities, such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Jalgaon. Category C airports function under procedural ATC, where aircraft separation is maintained without radar, as seen at Pune. Category D airports are fully controlled, radar-equipped hubs, including Mumbai and Delhi.
Among the prominent uncontrolled but operational airstrips are Baramati, Karad and Chandrapur in Maharashtra; Ujjain and Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh; Bhagalpur and Begusarai in Bihar; Alwar in Rajasthan; Sultanpur and Saifai in Uttar Pradesh; and Hassan in Karnataka.
The Ukhrul District Magistrate has requisitioned the services of the central armed forces to maintain law and order in the Litan area following tension between Naga and Kuki-Zo villagers over an assault case
Representative image | Photo Credit: ANI
Administration of Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Sunday (February 8, 2026) imposed prohibitory orders in Litan area of the district “until further notice”, following tension between Naga and Kuki-Zo villagers over an assault case.
District Magistrate Asish Das said the restrictions, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, were imposed on apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the area. The restrictions came into force from 7 p.m. on Sunday (February 8, 2026).
The district administration also requisitioned the services of the Army and paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, as a preventive measure.
According to reports, a Kuki-Zo group allegedly assaulted a Tangkhul Naga man at Litan on Saturday (February 7, 2026) night. The situation turned tense on Sunday (February 8, 2026) afternoon when Naga villagers approached the chief of a Kuki village and asked him to produce the culprits before them.
The district authorities stepped in after people in several Naga villages called for action against those who thrashed the Naga man.
Earlier, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) issued a statement saying that the “incident originated from a minor altercation involving a few intoxicated individuals from both villages”. It also said that the matter was being addressed peacefully and customarily through the established authority of the Litan Sareikhong village “in consultation with the family of the injured person”.
The Katho Katamnao Long (KKL), a Tangkhul students’ organisation, asked the KSO to retract the statement as “no such step had been taken to rectify the situation”.
West Bengal government employees staged a rally in Kolkata on Sunday, demanding immediate compliance with the Supreme Court’s order on Dearness Allowance. The apex court had directed the state to release 25% of pending DA by March 31. Protesters accused the government of delaying implementation.
West Bengal Govt Employees Protest Over DA, Demand Compliance With Supreme Court Order |
The protesting West Bengal government employees on Sunday had hit the streets demanding immediate compliance with the Supreme Court’s order on Dearness Allowance (DA) issue.
The protestors started their rally from Central Kolkata’s Subodh Mullick Square to Rani Rashmoni Road and highlighted the state government’s delay to comply with the apex court’s ruling.
Notably, two days back, the Supreme Court had ordered immediate release of 25 per cent of the pending DA by March 31.
Bhaskar Ghosh, convener of the joint forum said that the release of the money will give a boost to the economy.
Kolkata, West Bengal: The Sangrami Joutha Mancha once again took to the streets, demanding the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s order regarding Dearness Allowance (DA), with BJP MP Saumitra Khan also joining their protest. pic.twitter.com/5zVu7HqqwN
“The value of the laborers has been eroded due to less DA given by the Bengal government. If the money is released then it will not only boost the morale of the employees but will boost the economy as it will get circulated in the market,” mentioned Ghosh.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Saumitra Khan also joined the rally.
While addressing a public meeting at Chelpur in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district ahead of the February 11 municipal elections, the CM dubbed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) the ‘Blackmail Rajakeeya (Political) Samiti’.
He also alleged that BRS used phone tapping to collect electoral bonds worth Rs 1,500 crore. (Photo: X/@revanth_anumula)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday alleged that the previous BRS regime blackmailed businessmen and extorted hundreds of crores of rupees through phone-tapping.
While addressing a public meeting at Chelpur in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district ahead of the February 11 municipal elections, the CM dubbed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) the “Blackmail Rajakeeya (Political) Samiti”.
“They engaged in telephone tapping and did not spare opposition leaders, high court judges, or even journalists. They eavesdropped on private conversations between husbands and wives, listened in on film stars, and even blackmailed businessmen. Is there anything more atrocious on earth? Is there a greater sinner than them?” Reddy alleged.
He noted that Telangana BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy had alleged his phone was tapped.
The CM quoted MP saying that phones were tapped, land buyers were blackmailed, and crores of rupees were collected through electoral bonds.
“I want to say officially that the BRS, which extorted crores of rupees through telephone tapping, should be called the Blackmail Rajakeeya Samiti,” he claimed.
The Telangana CM also claimed that the BRS used phone tapping to collect Rs 1,500 crore in electoral bonds.
“Whose money is this? Is it not true that thousands of crores in assets and hundreds of acres of land were bought cheaply and taken by threatening businessmen?” Reddy asked.
He also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy had not put them behind bars.
He said the sins committed would not go unpunished and that the BRS would be “buried under the weight of these sins”.
Reddy further claimed that the BRS facilitated the BJP’s victory in eight Lok Sabha seats in 2024 only to evade these cases.
“Now the BRS is doing the same to ensure the BJP’s victory in the municipal elections,” he said, adding, “The BJP and BRS are two sides of the same coin. They are directly and indirectly trying to defeat the Congress, and Congress workers should be wary of this.”
Earlier, speaking at Nizamabad on February 7, he described the BRS and BJP as “conjoined twins, like Veena and Vani.”
Veena and Vani are well-known in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and several past attempts to separate them surgically were unsuccessful.
The phone-tapping case involves allegations of widespread unauthorised and illegal phone surveillance and interception affecting politicians, businessmen, journalists, members of the judiciary, and other prominent individuals during the previous BRS government.
BRS President and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was recently questioned by the Telangana Police SIT in connection with the alleged phone-tapping case.
Reddy strongly objected to what he called the “false propaganda” by the BRS regarding the reorganisation of districts, including claims that Bhupalpally district would be abolished.
He clarified that the government is not considering abolishing any district or creating a new one.
He added that if any such proposal arises in the future, it will be thoroughly discussed in the Assembly before a decision is taken.
The CM also attacked the Central government for not ordering a CBI probe into alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram project and the Formula-E race case.
He criticised the Centre for registering ED cases against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
“Who is stopping the Centre from ordering a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram scam? Is Kishan Reddy not protecting K T Rama Rao in the Formula-E race case?” he asked, alleging that Kishan Reddy is shielding BRS leaders KCR, K T Rama Rao, and Harish Rao through a strong personal bond.
“Kishan Reddy rechristened himself as Kishan Rao and became the adopted son of KCR,” he claimed.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in Ottawa. The two sides “acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens.”
File photo of NSA Ajit Doval with his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin. (PTI photo)
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met senior Canadian officials in Ottawa on February 6 and 7, with both sides agreeing on steps to deepen security cooperation, streamline information sharing and rebuild institutional links after nearly two years of diplomatic strain.
Doval met Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Adviser to the Canadian Prime Minister, on February 7 as part of a “regular bilateral security dialogue”, according to an official readout.
He also held talks with Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister for Public Safety, a day earlier.
SHARED WORK PLAN, LIAISON OFFICERS
The two sides “acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens” and agreed to a “shared workplan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities,” the statement said.
In a key step, India and Canada decided that each country would establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers. Their agencies will build on existing working relationships to “streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing” on issues of mutual concern.
These include the illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors, and transnational organised criminal networks.
CYBER, FRAUD, IMMIGRATION ON AGENDA
Both governments also committed to formalising cooperation on cybersecurity policy and stepping up information sharing in the domain.
They agreed to continue discussions related to fraud and immigration enforcement, while remaining consistent with domestic laws and international obligations.
INDIA-CANADA TIE RESET
The visit comes amid visible attempts by both capitals to stabilise ties following the rupture triggered in 2023 after the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
The then Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government had alleged potential Indian links to the killing, charges New Delhi rejected as “absurd”. The episode led to expulsions of diplomats, suspension of trade talks and a sharp slowdown in political engagement.
Since then, both sides have moved cautiously toward re-engagement. The appointment of high commissioners last year restored full diplomatic representation, while ministers have resumed travel.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, with discussions likely across energy, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, emerging technologies, education and culture.
ENERGY TO ANCHOR ENGAGEMENT
In a recent interview with India Today TV, Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson described the partnership in expansive terms.
“Canada sees not just an opportunity, but a strategic imperative, to partner with India in shaping a secure, resilient, and mutually beneficial energy future,” he said.
The loan recovery agent had been reported missing by his family. His body was later recovered from a house in a residential society in Dhanbad.
The accused was apprehended after a missing complaint was lodged by the victim’s family. (Representative image)
A loan recovery agent was allegedly murdered, and his body recovered from a residential flat in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, police said on Sunday. The victim, identified as Amit Kumar Agarwal, was reported missing by his family. His body was found inside a flat belonging to a man named Vikas Khandelwal at Surya Highland Society in Dhanbad’s Sadar area.
Police said that Vikas Khandelwal was arrested and confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Acting on technical surveillance and mobile phone location data, the police detained Khandelwal and questioned him, following which the body was recovered based on the information provided by the accused.
After recovery, the body was taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination to Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Memorial Medical College Hospital, police confirmed.
DSP (Law and Order) Naushad Alam said the murder was linked to a financial dispute.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that there was an ongoing dispute between the accused and the deceased over a loan settlement amounting to nearly Rs 1 crore. This dispute appears to be the motive behind the killing,” he said.
The case came to light after the family of Amit Agarwal lodged a missing person complaint.
According to the complaint, ransom calls demanding Rs 15 lakh were being made using Amit’s mobile phone after he went missing.
Based on technical evidence and call details, the police traced the mobile phone location, which led them to the accused.
The special operation will run from Monday to Wednesday and will be closely monitored by senior officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters.
The 72-hour operation will be closely monitored by senior officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters. (representative image)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Sunday launched a 72-hour statewide special operation, Operation Prahaar-2, aimed at arresting wanted criminals and gangsters, further intensifying its flagship anti-crime drive “Gangstran Te Vaar (War against gangsters)”.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav announced the operation after a high-level review meeting with Commissioners of Police (CPs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and range-level IGPs and DIGs.
The special operation will run from Monday to Wednesday and will be closely monitored by senior officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters.
The move follows the recent completion of Operation Prahaar-1, during which the police arrested 3,256 individuals and recovered 69 illegal weapons within 72 hours.
Citing the broader impact of the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, DGP Yadav said police teams have arrested 5,290 criminals, including gang members and their associates, over the last 20 days.
During this period, 128 weapons were recovered and 17,603 raids were conducted across the state.
Police also arrested 344 proclaimed offenders, took preventive action against 2,973 individuals and verified 5,413 persons who were later released after questioning.
“The campaign is completely lawful and targeted. Only those wanted in criminal cases are being arrested,” the DGP said, countering allegations of indiscriminate action.
To ensure strict supervision and accountability, Special DGPs, ADGPs, IGPs and DIG-rank officers have been assigned specific police districts to personally oversee operations on the ground.
Any negligence or lapse will invite strict action, the DGP warned. Senior police officers have been directed to maintain visible police presence, personally visit major crime scenes and conduct field inspections in high-footfall and identified hotspot areas.
Punjab Police has also issued fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) to strengthen crime response.
These include round-the-clock high-tech nakas, immediate sealing plans after crime incidents, intensive checking of vehicles—particularly two-wheelers without number plates—and strict action against suspicious vehicles.
Officers have been instructed to maximise the use of wireless communication for faster response.
Highlighting gains under the state’s anti-drug campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh, launched on March 1, 2025, DGP Yadav said police have registered over 34,000 FIRs and arrested more than 48,000 drug smugglers.
Inspector Jagdish Prasad earned a reputation for discipline and commitment to public safety. His service was formally recognised when he was awarded the Police Medal by the Haryana governor in 2019–20.
Inspector Jagdish Prasad who died during the Surajkund joyride accident. (Photo: Screengrab)
Inspector Jagdish Prasad, a 58-year-old officer of the Haryana Police, lost his life while trying to save people after a joyride collapsed at the Surajkund International Crafts Festival in Faridabad on Saturday evening. Prasad, who was due to retire next month, is being remembered by colleagues and seniors as a courageous and dedicated policeman who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Inspector Jagdish Prasad was cremated with full state honours in his native Dengar village in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Inspector Prasad joined the Haryana Armed Police in 1989 and served in the force for nearly 36 years.
A senior police officer said that over the course of his career, he earned a reputation for discipline and commitment to public safety. His service was formally recognised when he was awarded the Police Medal by the Haryana governor in 2019–20.
His impending retirement had been a frequent topic of conversation among his colleagues and family, who were preparing for a new phase of life after decades of service.
Prasad is survived by his wife Sudha, two daughters—Nidhi and Deepti—and a son, Gaurav, all of whom are students.
The family resides in government accommodation at the Sonipat Police Lines. His brother Pradeep said the family received news of the tragedy around 8 pm on Saturday, describing it as an unimaginable loss just weeks before Prasad was to hang up his uniform for the last time.
The fatal incident occurred at around 6.15 pm at the Surajkund fairgrounds when a giant swing, popularly known as the ‘tsunami’ joyride, malfunctioned.
According to officials, the ride tilted dangerously before snapping midair and crashing to the ground. Inspector Prasad noticed the instability and rushed towards the ride, attempting to help people escape as panic broke out.
While pulling people to safety, a portion of the collapsing swing struck him on the head and face, causing critical injuries.
He was rushed to a private hospital in Faridabad, where he later succumbed to his injuries. In total, 19 people were injured in the accident, including two women police constables and several visitors. Most of the injured are reported to be out of danger.
Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha confirmed that the injured were immediately taken to hospital and that the inspector who tried to rescue people was declared dead during treatment. Senior police officers described Prasad’s death as an irreparable loss to the force.
In the aftermath, Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal announced compensation of Rs 1 crore for Prasad’s family and a government job for one family member. He also stated that Prasad would be accorded martyr status for his sacrifice.
The accused, 23-year-old Anjali, met 25-year-old Sanjay at a function where he was working as a waiter. While they exchanged words and he gave her his number, Anjali did not own a mobile phone at the time, and the two lost touch.
The woman killed her husband with her lover’s help on January 30.
What began as a chance meeting seven years ago ended in a brutal crime on January 30, when a newlywed woman allegedly orchestrated the murder of her husband in Rajasthan, just three months after their wedding day.
The case, which is now being called ‘Rajasthan’s honeymoon murder’, traces back to a wedding in 2018. The accused, 23-year-old Anjali, met 25-year-old Sanjay at a function where he was working as a waiter. While they exchanged words and he gave her his number, Anjali did not own a mobile phone at the time, and the two lost touch.
In 2024, after Anjali finally purchased a phone, she reconnected with Sanjay. Gradually, their interactions increased, and they entered a relationship.
However, her family had other plans. Despite her involvement with Sanjay, her parents arranged a match for her.
On October 30, 2025, Anjali’s family married her to Ashish Kumar, an MCom graduate from Rawla.
Anjali herself was a BCom graduate. After the wedding, she moved to Rawla, but she was unhappy.
The 225-kilometre distance between her marital home in Rawla and her hometown in Sadulshahar was not just geographical for her; it became an emotional burden. She continued to stay in touch with Sanjay.
About 16 days before the murder, Anjali visited her parents’ home. According to police, it was during this time that she and Sanjay planned to kill Ashish Kumar.
Although they did not meet in person after the wedding, they frequently spoke on WhatsApp calls. On the day of the murder, both spoke 5 to 7 times.
On the night of January 30, after dinner, Anjali – as part of the plan -asked her husband to go for a walk with her. She then informed Sanjay of their location over the phone.
Sanjay, along with his two associates, Rohit alias Rocky and Badal alias Siddharth, waited in the bushes along the road.
As soon as Anjali arrived at the location with her husband, she allegedly gave the signal to the men. The group ambushed Ashish, striking him repeatedly with sticks. While he lay on the ground, still breathing, they used a muffler to strangle him.
A Staged Robbery Plan
To make the incident appear like a robbery or accident, Anjali handed over her earrings and Ashish’s mobile phone to the attackers. She then lay on the road pretending to be unconscious.
After receiving information from passersby, police reached the spot and took both to a hospital, where Ashish was pronounced dead on arrival.
This is the third time that Chief Minister Mann has failed to secure political clearance for a foreign visit. In January, he was also denied political clearance for a visit to the UK and Israel.
The repeated denial of political clearance has once again brought Centre and State relations into focus
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands has been cancelled after the Central government held his political clearance request in abeyance, leaving no response to his scheduled visit.
This is the third time that Chief Minister Mann has failed to secure political clearance for a foreign visit. In January, he was also denied political clearance for a visit to the UK and Israel.
The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had denied political clearance to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a proposed official visit to the United Kingdom and Israel. Before that, his request to visit France was also denied during the Paris Olympics.
The repeated denial of political clearance has once again brought Centre and State relations into focus, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the Union government of targeting opposition-ruled states.
Party leaders argue that such restrictions hamper Punjab’s ability to engage internationally on issues like investment, education and diaspora outreach, especially when chief ministers from other states have undertaken overseas visits in the past.
The Punjab Chief Minister was to lead the delegation to the two European countries to seek investment for the state, ahead of the Investors Summit scheduled for next month.
Under established protocol, chief ministers require political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs for any official foreign travel. While the MEA does not publicly disclose reasons for granting or withholding clearance, the issue has increasingly become politically contentious.
Faridabad police commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta told HT that Prasad died while trying to rescue those trapped.
Faridabad: Police personnel at the spot after a swing fell down at Surajkund fair, in Faridabad, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. A police officer was killed and 13 other suffered injuries. (PTI)
A police inspector involved in rescue operations died and 12 others –- including two women constables –- were injured when a 360-degree pendulum swing ride collapsed at the ongoing 39th Surajkund International Atmanirbhar Craft Festival in Faridabad on Saturday evening, officials said.
The incident took place around 6.15pm, with at least 26 people were partaking in the ride, officials said. They identified the victim as Jagdish Prasad, 59.
Faridabad police commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta told HT that Prasad died while trying to rescue those trapped.
File photo of inspector Jagdesh Prasad. A wild swing collapsed during a ride at the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Fair near gate number-2,
“All the injured persons are undergoing treatment at two hospitals and their condition was reported to be stable,” he said.
An FIR has been registered against the vendor operating the swing and an inquiry committee has also been set up.
A video of the incident, capturing the exact moment of the collapse, also went online. This was also the second mishap of the day at the fair. Before the collapse, a visitor was injured when a designer gate collapsed at Entrance No. 2.
Havinder Yadav, the nodal officer for the event, said three suffered minor injuries, while three others suffered head injuries and were rushed for medical tests. “No such swing or ride will be allowed to operate at the venue until thorough inspection is carried out, followed by clearance from experts. Other activities will be permitted as per normal routine,” he said.
From a closed 2015 suicide case to three daughters’ deaths, police are now piecing together a troubling timeline that may reveal what went wrong behind closed doors.
Three minor sisters in Ghaziabad committed suicide, with police confirming their father’s earlier connection to a 2015 suicide case involving his live-in partner.
Days after three minor sisters jumped to their deaths in Ghaziabad, police on Saturday confirmed that their father, Chetan Kumar, had earlier been linked to another suicide case in 2015, involving his live-in partner, adding a new dimension to the ongoing probe.
Senior police officials said the background is being taken into account as investigators examine the family’s circumstances and the mental state of the children.
2015 CASE WAS CLOSED AS SUICIDE: DCP
DCP (Trans Hindon) Nimish Patil told PTI that Kumar’s live-in partner had died after falling from the roof of a flat in Rajendra Nagar Colony under the Sahibabad police station area in 2015.
“The death was initially treated as suspicious, but later it was declared a suicide after investigation,” Patil said.
He added that there was no evidence at present to link the earlier case with the deaths of the three sisters.
THREE WIVES, COMPLEX FAMILY STRUCTURE: POLICE SOURCES
PTI learnt from police sources after questioning family members that Kumar currently has three wives — Sujata, Heena and Tina — who are biological sisters.
According to the sources, Sujata is the mother of Nishika, while Heena is the mother of Prachi and Pakhi.
Investigators are examining whether the family structure and domestic environment had any bearing on the mental health of the children, the sources said.
SISTERS ADDRESSED FATHER IN SUICIDE NOTE: OFFICIALS
Senior officials said that the suicide note recovered from the room of the girls showed that they were more emotionally attached to their father than their mothers.
“The girls addressed their father in the note and did not mention their mothers,” an officer said.
A nine-page pocket diary was also seized from the room and is being examined as part of the investigation.
PHONES TAKEN AWAY, DISTRESS DEEPENED: POLICE
Police officials reiterated that the sisters had been distressed after their father confiscated their mobile phones.
According to investigators, Kumar took away the phones after noticing their excessive use of Korean apps, online games and foreign friends. He later sold the devices.
On the night of the incident, the girls took their mother’s phone but could not access the Korean applications.
“Forensic examination found no trace of the Korean app on that device,” Patil said.
CYBER, FORENSIC TEAMS WORKING ON EVIDENCE
Cyber crime teams are tracing the buyers of the sold phones through IMEI numbers to retrieve possible digital data, officials said.
Fingerprints, the suicide note and handwritten material have been sent to the forensic science laboratory, and reports are awaited.
“We are probing the case from all possible angles and verifying all claims,” Patil said.
WOMEN’S PANEL FLAGS NEGLIGENCE
Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women Chairperson Dr Babita Singh, who visited the family on Saturday, said preliminary findings pointed to excessive academic pressure and parental negligence.
“The mental state of the children was not understood at the right time,” she said.
She added that the commission has sought a detailed report from the district administration and police.
Thousands gathered in Islamabad to mourn the 32 victims of Friday’s attack
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a suicide bombing that killed more than 30 people on Friday, Pakistan’s interior minister has said.
Mohsin Naqvi said an Afghan national who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack was among those detained. One counter-terrorism officer was killed and three more were wounded in the raids to arrest the suspects, he added.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that targeted Friday prayers at the Shia mosque in the Tarlai area, when it was packed with worshippers.
More than 160 people were injured in the blast, which was the deadliest in the capital for more than a decade.
Huge crowds were seen in the city on Saturday, as thousands of mourners gathered for the funerals of the bombing’s 32 victims.
Funeral prayers took place amid tightened security, with soldiers standing guard and police checkpoints set up in key areas.
Ashiq Hussain, who lost his 21-year-old nephew Mujtaba Ali in the attack, told the Reuters news agency his family was “broken”.
Condemning the attack on Friday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep grief”. The country’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, said “targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity”.
Eyewitnesses and survivors of the blast have told the BBC how the attack unfolded, with one saying he “lost his senses” in the moments after the explosion and another saying he saw bodies “lying everywhere”.
Announcing the arrests on Saturday, Naqvi accused India of funding those behind the attack and giving them targets. The Indian foreign ministry has condemned the bombing, and rejected accusations of its involvement as “baseless”.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday suggested Afghanistan had been involved in the attack. The Afghan Taliban government described Asif’s comments as “regrettable”, saying he alleged its involvement “without presenting any credible evidence”.
India’s gems and jewellery industry welcomed the interim India–US trade agreement, which removes tariffs on Indian gems and diamonds, granting exporters wider access to the US market. Industry leaders said the zero-duty move will boost competitiveness, benefit SMEs, raise exports and jobs, and strengthen India’s global presence, even as finished jewellery remains under an 18% tariff.
India’s jewellery and diamond industry has welcomed the unveiling of the interim trade agreement between India and the United States on Saturday, which will reduce tariffs on many Indian exports, including levies on gems and diamonds that have been reduced to zero. | File Pic
India’s jewellery and diamond industry has welcomed the unveiling of the interim trade agreement between India and the United States on Saturday, which will reduce tariffs on many Indian exports, including levies on gems and diamonds that have been reduced to zero. The industry, with Mumbai as one of its main hubs, said that the deal will give Indian exporters unprecedented access to the US market.
Unprecedented US Market Access
Rajesh Rokde, chairman of the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), said they were grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for securing this landmark agreement.
“This breakthrough strengthens our global competitiveness, boosts margins, and ensures our artisans’ creations reach international audiences at fair prices. While jewellery continues under an 18% tariff, the gains in gems and diamonds are a powerful step forward, positioning Indian craftsmanship as a global symbol of excellence,” said Rokde.
Avinash Gupta, vice chairman of GJC, called the deal a historic zero-duty milestone. Gupta said that the removal of tariffs on gems and diamonds is a game-changer, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that form the backbone of our sector.
Beyond migration, Dendias reflected on the historical and cultural links between Greece and India, referencing Alexander the Great’s expedition to the region.
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias | File Image
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias on Saturday said India and the wider Indian subcontinent could become among Europe’s most viable partners for legal migration, as the continent grapples with an ageing population and shrinking workforce.
Speaking at the India-EU Forum 2026 in New Delhi, Dendias described migration as a long-standing global reality and stressed the need for Europe to design structured and balanced migration pathways to address its demographic challenges.
“Migration is a global phenomenon. It existed in the past and will continue in the future,” he said, adding that Europe’s population growth is “almost negative,” creating an urgent demand for younger workers.
Against this backdrop, he noted that the Indian subcontinent’s demographic profile makes it a strong candidate for legal migration partnerships.
“With its current population structure, the subcontinent could be one of the best choices for legal migration,” Dendias said, while noting that such frameworks must be carefully designed to ensure mutual benefits for both countries of origin and destination.
The Greek minister also flagged concerns over illegal migration, calling it a destabilising challenge fuelled by organised human smuggling networks.
He urged stronger international cooperation to counter what he described as a large-scale, profit-driven criminal activity.
Beyond migration, Dendias reflected on the historical and cultural links between Greece and India, referencing Alexander the Great’s expedition to the region.
He described India as an enduring presence in Greek mythology and suggested that contemporary cooperation offers an opportunity to renew and deepen bilateral ties.
Kunwar Vijay Shah faced intense criticism last year for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, which prompted the Supreme Court to call for action against him.
BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah’s remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi sparked backlash last year. (PTI/X)
Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has offered another apology for his objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi amid a Supreme Court-mandated deadline for his prosecution, saying he did not intend to insult a woman officer.
In May last year, Shah sparked a political row for his remarks against Col Qureshi, who became one of the most prominent faces of media briefings when India launched Operation Sindoor against terror hideouts in Pakistan. In a viral video, Shah was seen referring to the woman army officer as a “sister of terrorists”.
His remarks were widely criticised by political leaders, and an FIR was filed against him. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Shah said he had never intended to insult a woman officer, the armed forces or any section of society.
“I have said this many times earlier, and I am reiterating it today that I did not intend to insult any woman officer, the Indian Army or any section of society,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV, adding that his remarks were made in a “moment of patriotic excitement”.
“It is extremely painful for me that such a controversy arose due to a small error on my part. I believe my feelings will be seen in the right context. I have always had immense respect for the Indian Army and will continue to do so,” he added.
Shah said maintaining “decorum and sensitivity of words” was extremely important in the public and vowed to exercise control over his speech in the future. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had ordered the police to file an FIR against him last year for the controversial remarks.
Supreme Court Raps MP Govt For Delay
On January 19, the Supreme Court pulled up the Madhya Pradesh government to he delay in granting permission to prosecute Shah for his remarks. The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the state government to take a call on the grant of sanction to prosecute Shah.
Navjot Kaur Sidhu attacked Rahul Gandhi on X, calling him disconnected from ground realities after quitting Congress, prompting reactions from party leaders and BJP figures amid political fallout in Punjab.
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu with his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu. (PTI Photo/Shiva Sharma)
Former Punjab MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Friday launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of being disconnected from ground realities and unresponsive to party workers.
In a series of posts on X, Sidhu said Gandhi had no time to listen to issues raised from the grassroots, adding that this lack of engagement had earned him the nickname “Pappu.” She said repeated attempts to reach out to the Congress leadership had gone unanswered.
Sidhu also referred to her past association with the BJP, saying the party had recognised her talent by giving her a ticket in 2012 and appointing her Chief Parliamentary Secretary. She, however, clarified that she was not currently in touch with the BJP.
Sidhu quit the Congress earlier this month after being suspended by the party following her controversial remarks suggesting that a person with a suitcase of Rs 500 crore could become chief minister in Punjab. She had also openly criticised Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, calling him incompetent.
Continuing her attack, Sidhu said Rahul Gandhi had little understanding of ground-level politics and responded to urgent calls only after several months. “If Rahul Gandhi doesn’t have time for party workers, then they also don’t have time for him,” she said in one of her posts.
She also challenged Gandhi to ask Punjab Congress leaders to speak openly against the current government in the state.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel said Sidhu was first suspended from the party and later removed, following her remarks. Sidhu’s attack on Rahul Gandhi came shortly after Baghel’s statement.
Reacting to Sidhu’s comments, Punjab Congress MLA Pargat Singh defended Gandhi, saying he was fighting against authoritarianism. “Rahul Gandhi is our leader, and people across the country are looking up to him. Such statements should be avoided,” Singh said.
Rallies swept Manipur’s hill districts as protesters opposed three Kuki-Zo MLAs’ participation in the government, burned effigies, called for Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen’s resignation, and drew assurances from authorities that security was in place.
Protests erupt across Manipur hill districts over Kuki-Zo MLAs joining government
Thousands of protesters on Friday held rallies across Manipur’s hill districts opposing the participation of three Kuki-Zo MLAs in the state government, with demonstrators burning effigies of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and two other legislators – LM Khaute and N Sanate.
In Churachandpur district, a large rally was jointly organised by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and the women’s wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF). The march began at Koite Playground and ended at the Wall of Remembrance after covering nearly three kilometres.
Protesters raised slogans demanding Kipgen’s resignation and reiterated calls for a Separate Administration. Slogans such as “We don’t want a popular government” and “Don’t play with our blood” were heard during the rally.
Effigies of Kipgen, LM Khaute and N Sanate, all BJP MLAs, were set on fire as a mark of protest. A 24-hour total shutdown imposed in Kuki-dominated areas was temporarily relaxed to allow the rally to take place.
One protester alleged that the MLAs had “betrayed the expectations of the people” by joining the Manipur government, with particular criticism directed at Kipgen’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister.
Similar protests were held at Saikul in Kangpokpi district and in Moreh town of Tengnoupal district, where protesters again burnt effigies of the three MLAs and demanded Kipgen’s resignation.
Security was tightened in and around the residences of the three legislators in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl districts, officials said.
Meanwhile, Manipur Minister Govindas Konthoujam said the situation in Churachandpur was under control despite some disturbances. Speaking to reporters in Imphal, he said. “As of now, some disturbances are there in Churachandpur and it cannot be said to be normal. However, things are under control.”
Parliament was told that 17 Indian students died in violent attacks in Canada between 2018 and 2025, prompting the government to outline safety measures, consular support and evacuation efforts abroad.
Seventeen Indian students studying in Canada died in “violent attacks” between 2018 and 2025. (Representative image)
Seventeen Indian students studying in Canada died in “violent attacks” between 2018 and 2025, the government told Parliament on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, said Canada recorded the highest number of such deaths during the period under review.
Sharing country-wise data, Singh said 17 Indian students died in violent incidents in Canada, followed by nine in the United States, three in Australia and one each in the United Kingdom, China, Denmark, Germany and Grenada. Two such deaths were reported from Kyrgyzstan.
Owaisi had asked whether the government was aware of what he described as rising incidents of violence against Indian students abroad and whether timely investigations had been conducted.
“The Government accords high priority to the safety and security of Indian students abroad and monitors incidents of violence against them,” Singh said. “Violent and untoward incidents are immediately taken up by the Indian Missions and Posts with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that they are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished.”
He said Indian missions remain in regular contact with students and conduct pre-departure and post-arrival orientation sessions to brief them on “potential challenges, risks and precautions,” along with issuing advisories when required.
To ensure timely support, students are encouraged to register with Indian missions and use platforms such as the MEA’s MADAD portal, dedicated WhatsApp groups, consular camps, open houses and emergency helplines, the minister said.
Responding to questions on diplomatic measures in high-risk countries, Singh said Indian missions “remain vigilant, particularly in countries affected by political instability or economic crises,” and that any incident involving Indian students is promptly raised with host governments.
Consular assistance, including emergency medical help and temporary accommodation, is extended when required, with support also provided through the Indian Community Welfare Fund, he said.
Singh noted that India has carried out large-scale evacuation operations during emergencies to protect its nationals abroad, including students, citing Operation Devi Shakti in Afghanistan, Operation Ganga in Ukraine, Operation Kaveri in Sudan, and Operations Ajay (Israel) and Sindhu (Israel and Iran) linked to West Asia.
“These efforts demonstrate the government of India’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian students abroad and towards protecting them from miscreants and an unsafe security situation,” he said.
In response to a separate query, Singh said the government of India is aware that “some Indian nationals, including students, in Canada and other countries, such as the USA and the Gulf, are facing deportation proceedings for alleged violations of visa norms, non-compliance with the regulations of host countries and submission of fraudulent letters of admission to academic institutions”.
London Court rejected Nirav Modi’s plea to delay his Bank of India trial, ruling his health and prison constraints caused no disadvantage, and set an eight-day hearing from March 23.
Nirav Modi
The High Court in London on Friday rejected fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s plea to delay his trial in the Bank of India unpaid loan case because he is suffering from severe vision loss, clinical depression and prison constraints.
The 54-year-old, fighting extradition to India in the estimated USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, appeared via videolink from HMP Pentonville prison in north London for a pre-trial review in the unrelated USD 8-million Bank of India case.
Judge Simon Tinkler concluded that the prisoner faced no “substantial disadvantage” and would have “equality of opportunity in an adversarial process” for the eight-day trial to proceed, starting March 23.
“Unfortunately, I regard the application that is made as part of a repeated pattern of delay, non-compliance and general muddying of the case by Mr Modi,” Justice Tinkler ruled.
“I appreciate that Mr Modi is in a difficult circumstance, given the constraints imposed on him in prison. This is, however, a situation in which many litigants find themselves… It seems to me that the threshold for adjournment of a trial which is imminent and for which the claimant (Bank of India) has been waiting for many years in order to receive what it says it is entitled to from Mr Modi is not something that should be subject to further delay,” he said.
Barrister James Kinman, who appeared on behalf of Modi for the adjournment application, raised the issue of “prejudice” faced by his client as he continued to struggle with access to court documents since his shift from HMP Thameside prison in south London last October.
He went on to detail that Modi was suffering from “severe vision loss” of 60 per cent of his sight, clinical depression, which prevented him from “concentrating for sustained periods” and until quite recently was forced to share a prison cell with an inmate who slept until noon.
It also emerged in the course of the online hearing that Modi is housed in the education wing of the prison, where he is preoccupied with the preparation for his latest extradition appeal, also expected to be heard in March.
Bank of India barrister Tom Beasley objected to the “ambush application” made at the very last minute before Friday’s hearing, which did not fundamentally alter Modi’s ability to defend himself.
The judge agreed that proper notice had not been given and cautioned that any further applications without material changes of circumstance would “potentially be abuses of the court process”. He also declared the actions of the Prison Service as “wholly unsatisfactory” since the defendant’s move between the two London prisons, which had caused several “knock-on” consequences of paperwork delays in the case.
However, he dismissed attempts by Modi to include a late claim challenging that he ever signed a “personal guarantee” in connection with the Bank of India loan.
The bank has been pursuing this personal guarantee related to a loan to Dubai-incorporated Firestar Diamond FZE.
Modi has chosen to represent himself as a “Litigant in Person” for the trial and is the “only witness of fact” in the case, besides two Indian law experts who will be providing expert evidence on certain technical aspects of the claim.
Modi remains behind bars in London on an extradition warrant executed in March 2019 and has since lost several appeals and attempts at bail.
In December last year, the High Court in London considered his application to reopen the extradition case on the grounds that he faced a risk of torture in India. That hearing was adjourned after the Indian authorities submitted “chunky assurances” to counter the claim.
Kamal Dhyani died after his bike fell into a pit in Delhi’s Janakpuri. Family blames Delhi Jal Board and police for negligence while a committee has been formed for probe.
Delhi biker dies after falling into pit in Janakpuri (Photos/Social Media)
Family members and friends of 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani have accused authorities of negligence and delay after he died when his motorcycle allegedly plunged into a 17-ft-deep pit dug for construction work in West Delhi’s Janakpuri area.
While the police and the Delhi Jal Board say investigations are underway, relatives insist crucial hours were lost during the night when they were desperately searching for him.
DELHI BIKER FALLS INTO PIT: HIS LAST CALL TO FAMILY
According to the family, Kamal was returning home late Thursday from his workplace in Rohini when he spoke to them for the last time.
One of his friends said, “We spoke to him at 11.53 pm. He said he had reached the DC Centre and that it would take him 15 minutes to reach home.”
When he did not arrive, concern quickly turned into panic.
“After 30 minutes, we called him 10 times, but he didn’t answer. We became worried and went out to search for him, but couldn’t find him,” the brother said.
Relatives claimed they went to multiple police stations through the night, seeking help to trace his phone.
“When we went to the Janakpuri Police Station to file a complaint, they said it could only be registered after 24 hours. We requested the police to trace his phone while it was still ringing. They found the location and sent it to us, but then deleted it. When we went back, they said they couldn’t give us the location again as it is confidential,” the brother alleged.
Delhi: In West Delhi’s Janakpuri area, a 25-year-old bike rider, Kamal Dhyani, died after falling into a pothole while returning home late at night from his job in Rohini.
The brother of the deceased says, “…Last night at 11:30, we spoke to him. He said he had reached the DC… pic.twitter.com/zotmxKg2ty
Kamal’s brother echoed the friend and said, “We had looked into the pit at nearly 1.30 pm, he was not there,” he said.
#WATCH | Janakpuri, Delhi | The deceased’s brother says, “… When I last talked to him, he said he would reach home in 10 minutes. When I called him again at 12:30 am, he didn’t pick up. We got worried. We started looking for him. I first went to his office in Rohini then to the… https://t.co/pdXyhZZaLdpic.twitter.com/Ep6FxkZSBx
Friends who joined the overnight search echoed the family’s frustration.
One said police initially asked them to look within a 200-metre radius based on the tracking data, but did not share an exact point.
“Seven people were searching for him from midnight to 7 am, but we could not find him,” he said, adding that they had even checked the pit once during the night but did not see anything at the time.
FATHER SAYS THERE WAS NO PIT UNTIL 2 DAYS BACK, FAMILY ALLEGES NEGLIGENCE
Reacting to the incident, Kamal’s father, Naresh Chand, blamed the Delhi authorities and alleged there was no pit on the spot until two to three days back and that it was freshly dug.
“It is the Delhi Jal Board’s and the administration’s mistake,” he said.
“There was no pit at the spot until a few days ago. My son did not know that a pit had been dug, and he fell into it, lost his life,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi biker, Kamal Dhyani, falls into a pit and dies in Janakpuri
His father, Naresh Chand, says,” It is the Delhi Jal Board’s and the Administration’s mistake. Until a few days ago, there was no pit at the spot.” pic.twitter.com/pQLRHIF5mE
Another of Kamal’s friends went further, accusing the authorities of apathy.
“Why could his phone not be traced by the police at night? We suspect he was killed. What must his parents be going through? We still haven’t informed his mother. He was 25 years old and worked at the HDFC Bank call centre in Rohini Sector 10,” he said.
Relatives said they only learnt of Kamal’s death in the morning when police answered a call made to his phone.
“Had the police got into action on time, my brother would have been alive,” the brother claimed.
They have also accused the Delhi Jal Board of failing to secure the site properly and raised suspicions that the body may have been dumped in the pit.
Police, however, have said all such allegations were being examined.
WHAT DELHI POLICE SAY AND HOW WERE THE SEARCH EFFORTS
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Bhaskar said a pit had been dug for work related to the Delhi Jal Board, and Kamal’s bike fell into it late at night.
“The deceased’s brother came to the Janakpuri Police Station at nearly 2.45 am and informed that his brother had not reached home. The police tracked his mobile phone, which was indicating Janakpuri District Park,” he said.
“Head Constable Ramkesh searched for the man with the family members for nearly two-and-a-half hours, but they couldn’t find him,” he said.
According to Bhaskar, the breakthrough came around 8 am when a woman called the police to say a body was spotted in a 15-foot-deep pit.
“This is when everything came to light,” he added, assuring that complaints about inadequate help during the night would also be looked into.
Hours after the incident unfolded, the Delhi man’s two-wheeler was lifted out of the pit.
Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood visited the site and said a formal probe had been ordered.
In a post on X, he said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the entire government stood with the bereaved family and promised strict punishment for anyone found guilty.
WHAT THE DELHI JAL BOARD SAID, COMMITTEE FORMED
Meanwhile, the Delhi Jal Board said it had constituted a high-level inquiry committee to conduct an immediate inspection of the site, review barricading, signage, traffic management and safety arrangements, and fix responsibility if lapses were found.
In its X post, the Board expressed sorrow over the death and said “strict action will be taken if negligence is found at any level,” urging citizens to report unsafe worksites.
A serious view has been taken of the tragic accident at the Janakpuri Line Rehabilitation Project site.
Delhi Jal Board has constituted a high-level Inquiry Committee to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident.
The Committee has been directed to:
• Inspect the…
BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri demanded accountability, saying officials responsible must face strict action to send a message that such negligence would not be tolerated in the capital.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, Delhi unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party, shared the pictures of the accident on his official X handle.
India successfully test-fired Agni-3 from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, validating its 3,000 to 3,500 km strike range and strategic deterrence capability.
File pic (Image: DRDO)
India on February 6 successfully test-fired the intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-3 from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha, validating all operational and technical parameters, officials said.
The launch was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, which oversees the country’s strategic nuclear assets.
Agni-3 is a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile with a strike range of approximately 3,000 to 3,500 kilometres, enabling India to cover strategic targets deep inside adversary territory. Defence officials said the successful test reaffirmed the reliability and readiness of the missile system.
Although other missiles from the Agni series, including upgraded variants, have been test-fired in recent times, Agni-3 continues to hold strategic importance as a proven pillar of India’s deterrence capability.
Sunil Motilal Sadarangani (59), the owner of the iconic Multani Bakery, jumped from the 17th floor of Panash Apartments on Vijaypur Road.
A video that has since gone viral on social media captured the final moments.
An entrepreneur and owner of a well-known bakery died by suicide by jumping from the 17th floor of a building in Maharashtra’s Solapur. Sunil Motilal Sadarangani (59), the owner of the iconic Multani Bakery, jumped from the 17th floor of Panash Apartments on Vijaypur Road.
A video that has since gone viral on social media captured the final moments, showing Sadarangani standing on the rooftop with folded hands in prayer before leaping to his death.
According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary police reports, Sadarangani arrived at Panash Apartments in the afternoon. He reportedly chose to climb the stairs rather than use the elevator and proceeded directly to the 17th floor. Residents spotted him on the rooftop in a visibly distressed state, hands folded as if in prayer, prompting them to alert the building’s security guard.
The guard rushed to the scene and managed to persuade and bring Sadarangani down from the ledge, seemingly calming him. However, Sadarangani then told the guard that he had left his keys upstairs. Pretending to retrieve them, he returned to the 17th floor and jumped.
He died on the spot upon impact.
A police team from the nearby station quickly arrived at the scene following the alert. The body was recovered and sent for post-mortem examination at a government hospital. Authorities have registered the case and launched a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to this extreme step.
High drama unfolded at Pappu Yadav’s house in Mandiri locality when a police team arrived to execute a warrant issued by an MP/MLA court in the case registered under section 467 (forgery of documents) of the Indian Penal Code
Police and security personnel arrive to arrest MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in connection with an old case, at his residence, in Patna, on February 6, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI
Six-time MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who won the last Lok Sabha poll in 2024 as an Independent candidate from Purnea constituency, was arrested late on Friday (February 6, 2026) night in a 31-year old case of his repeated absence from hearings in the court.
Mr. Yadav, of late, has been protesting in favour of the alleged rape and death case of a girl medical aspirant residing in a hostel in Patna. The girl was from the adjoining Jehanabad district. The incident has triggered widespread protests across the State. The state government recently handed over the case to the investigating agency CBI.
The Patna police reached Mr. Yadav’s residence in Patna after midnight and arrested him in the old case related to a dispute registered at Gardanibagh police station in 1995.
Mr. Yadav had arrived in Patna on Friday (February 6, 2026) late evening after attending Parliament. It was due to the regular non-appearance of the accused in the case that the MP/MLA court had issued an arrest warrant against Pappu Yadav under Section 467 (forgery of documents) of the Indian Penal Code.
“A warrant of arrest has been issued against the MP by the MP/ MLA court in connection with a 1995 case lodged under section 467 of the IPC. The police team had gone to his house to produce him before the court on Saturday”, senior superintendent of Patna police, Karrtikeya Sharma told media persons.
A large number of supporters of Pappu Yadav had reached his residence after the police reached his residence to arrest him, where Mr. Yadav had initially refused to be arrested, and a drama unfolded claiming that the police was carrying a warrant for the attachment of property but not for his arrest.
He, however, was later taken into custody and would be produced before a competent court on February 7.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Yadav posted on social media mocking the Bihar police. “Well done, Bihar police. I was fighting for justice to the NEET student, and the Bihar police had an ache in stomach which had come to arrest me at my residence in Patna, but Pappu Yadav would neither bow down nor keep mum and keep exposing the misdeeds of wrongdoers. Sent me to jail or hang me, Pappu will not stop”. Said Mr. Yadav in his post on X.
In the last parliamentary elections in 2024, Pappu Yadav won elections from the Purnea constituency of northeast Bihar for the sixth time as an Independent candidate. Earlier, he had won Lok Sabha polls in 1991, 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2014, representing different constituencies, sometimes on tickets of political parties like Samajwadi Party, Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and sometime as an Independent candidate.
Later, Mr. Yadav, while speaking to a media person, said that he had already planned to appear before the court on Saturday (February 7, 2026), “in fact, this was the reason, I came to Patna on Friday (February 6, 2026) late evening”.
“This has always been happening with me, as whenever I expose the misdeeds of government in the state, the police tried to hound me out. It happened to me during covid pandemic, too. Of late, I have been highlighting the ineptitude of the government in handling incidents like the recent death of a NEET (medical) aspirant, which had brought to light the insecurity faced by girl students living in hostels in Patna”, charged Mr. Yadav.
Earlier, he even released videos on social media claiming that he had been receiving phone calls from girl students alleging that their hostel inmates were being pushed into flesh trade.
“It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills,” the Ministry of External Affairs said
Pakistani paramilitary soldiers control a crowd close to the site of a bomb explosion at a Shiite mosque, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 6, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP
India on Friday (February 7, 2026) categorically rejected Pakistan’s allegations of an Indian link to the bombing at a mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 people.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), describing the attack as “condemnable”, said it was “unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan chose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills.”
At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured when a bomber blew himself up at a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in Islamabad. The powerful explosion took place at Khadijah al-Kubra mosque-cum-imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, police said in a statement.
“The bombing at an Islamabad mosque earlier today is condemnable and India condoles the loss of life it has caused,” the MEA said.
“It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills,” it said.
“India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless,” it added.
Close to 65 per cent of frauds involve amounts less than Rs 50,000, and customers will be eligible to get pay-outs in fraud cases even if they have shared a one-time password (OTP).
A customer will be able to avail this benefit once in a lifetime for the loss of money due to such frauds.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to compensate up to Rs 25,000 per case for losses arising from small-value fraudulent transactions.
Close to 65 per cent of frauds involve amounts less than Rs 50,000, and customers will be eligible to get pay-outs in fraud cases even if they have shared a one-time password (OTP).
“It is proposed to introduce a framework to compensate customers up to Rs 25,000 for loss incurred in small-value fraudulent transactions,” RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said. “As long as they are defrauded, whether on their own accord or anyone’s accord, no questions asked, and Rs 25,000 or 85 per cent (of the loss amount)…we will compensate them as long as it is unintended and they lost that money,” he said.
Benefit only once in lifetime
A customer will be able to avail this benefit once in a lifetime for the loss of money due to such frauds. Further, they can avail of the compensation even where they have shared a one-time password. The RBI will issue a paper on this for public consultation, the Governor said.
According to him, a customer will also be eligible to get a pay-out in fraud cases, Malhotra said the RBI will compensate 70 per cent of the loss amount and the balance 30 per cent would be shared between the customer and the bank.
RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J said the pay-out will be made from surplus income accrued on the Deposit Education and Awareness Fund. “We have a Deposit Education and Awareness Fund, which also includes unclaimed deposits. So, we have adequate income surplus (on the fund) that has accrued over a period of time. We may use that,” he said.
Mis-selling, loan recovery procedures, customer liability in focus
As part of customer-centric measures, the RBI Friday announced that it will issue three separate draft guidelines for public consultation. The first will address mis-selling of financial products, seeking to ensure greater transparency and accountability on the part of banks and financial institutions. The second set will focus on loan recovery practices, including the conduct and engagement of recovery agents, to prevent harassment and unfair treatment of borrowers. The third will deal with limiting customer liability in cases of unauthorised electronic banking transactions, the RBI said.
Police allege that the councillor’s son plotted and carried out the fatal stabbing of his stepmother, driven by resentment over his father’s third marriage.
The main suspect in the case, according to the investigators, is Sahil, who had a grudge against his father due to his third marriage (AI Generated Image)
Rubina, the third wife of BJP-supported Mandsaur municipal councillor Shahid Meo, died on-spot after getting stabbed by assailants on Thursday (February 5) evening in Madhya Pradesh, in what police initially treated as a targeted attack by unidentified. However, the investigation, as per reports, took a total U-turn after officials figured out that the attack was a planned murder, orchestrated by Meo’s own son from his first marriage.
The main suspect in the case, according to the investigators, is Sahil, who had a grudge against his father due to his third marriage, as per a report by NDTV, and had been harboring a grudge against the victim, Rubina, for the past several months. Not able to accept the marriage between his father and stepmother, Sahil planned a conspiracy with an accomplice to kill her.
Married seven months ago, Rubina had two young children from a previous marriage, while her husband Shahid Meo had five from earlier marriages.
Attack Near Rented House
The attack took place around 5:30 pm on Thursday in Abhinandan Nagar, near Rubina’s rented house when she had just returned from her parents’ home in Madarpura and was getting down from an auto-rickshaw.
Suddenly, two people on an Apache motorcycle approached and one of them allegedly stabbed her repeatedly in the stomach, chest and head. Locals rushed to help, while assailants fled the scene. Shahid Meo immediately took his wife to the district hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
In his initial statement, the councillor said he had no idea who could be behind the attack. “I was in the market when I got a call that my wife had been stabbed. I have no enmity with anyone,” he told police.
Family Discord – a Motive
While, investigators faced an early setback as nearby CCTV cameras were nearly non-functional due to power outage in the area at the time of the attack, footage from surrounding areas and other technical evidence led police to Sahil. During questioning, his alleged anger over his father’s remarriage emerged as the key motive.
India has reduced funding for the Chabahar port in its latest Union Budget. Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali highlighted the port’s strategic significance for regional connectivity, particularly for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
India is reportedly working on transferring funds committed to the project while exploring new structures to support its development. (Image: AI-generated)
As India slashed the allocation for the Chabahar port in its Union Budget, Iran said that it remains open to working with New Delhi and expanding relations on the issue. While addressing a media briefing at the Iranian embassy ahead of the 47th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution on Friday, Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali stressed on the vital location of the port and called it a key part of Iran’s capacity for boosting regional connectivity. In 2024-25, the budget disbursed Rs 400 crore to the External Affairs Ministry for Chabahar Port, and the funds were transferred to Iran. New Delhi has made no comments on its future plans regarding the port following the US sanctions.
“You know that the port of Chabahar is vital and it can play a good role for accessing Afghanistan and Central Asia. We have good relations with some countries, particularly India, and believe that we should expand our relations on this issue,” Fathali said.
“Up to now, we have no comment from the Indian side,” he added.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the deep-water port’s location on the Gulf of Oman, he stated, “We believe that Chabahar is Chabahar, the location won’t change and some countries use this geographical location for access to Central Asia and Afghanistan.”
“We believe that in future, the Indian government wants to manage the situation,” he said, without giving details.
India skips Chabahar Port allocation in budget
India made no budgetary allocation for the Chabahar port project in the Union Budget for 2026–27, marking a departure from recent years. In previous budgets, India had earmarked about Rs 100 crore annually for the strategic connectivity project located in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province on the country’s southern coast.
The decision followed sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran. In September last year, Washington announced stringent economic measures against Tehran but granted India a six-month exemption for the Chabahar port project. That waiver is set to expire on April 26.
Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that the case is unique and raises an important legal issue since the crime has been attributed to an inanimate object.
Justice M Nagaprasanna
The interim order was passed while hearing a petition filed by NewSpace , a Bengaluru-based aerospace and defence research company that manufactures drones for the Indian armed forces.
According to the plea, the company holds licences from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for research and development operations.
Appearing for the company, advocate Angad Kamath submitted that NewSpace operates from a leased premises of around 19 acres in Doddaballapura, which falls within a “Green Zone” under the Drone Rules, 2021, and has been used for research and development testing for over four to five years.
He told the Court that on January 29, during routine testing, a lightweight thermocol research drone weighing about six kilograms suffered a battery malfunction. As a result, the drone glided beyond the boundary of the leased premises and landed smoothly on a neighbouring property.
Kamath said that there was no complaint from any landowner or member of the public, or any allegation of injury, damage or danger to life. There was also no human entry onto any private property.
Despite this, the police registered an FIR suo motu, alleging criminal trespass on the premise that “someone had gone and placed the drone” on private land.
Kamath argued that if someone had actually entered private property to place the drone, the incident would have raised a genuine security concern – something that did not arise in this case.
He further submitted that under Rule 42 of the Drone Rules, 2021, research and development operations conducted in a green zone and within leased premises fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the DGCA.
“Once I am operating under an R&D licence in a green zone and within my own premises, no authority other than the DGCA has jurisdiction to question the operation,” he argued.
Kamath also alleged coercive conduct by the police inspector.
According to Kamath, company officials who went to the police station with licences and authorisations were made to sit there for over six hours. Despite repeated requests, the inspector allegedly refused to furnish a copy of the FIR and insisted that notices would be issued only if the Managing Director personally appeared.
It was further alleged that the inspector questioned the company officials about the firm’s turnover, size and number of employees despite these being wholly unrelated to the alleged offence.
Kamath contended that it was only after the intervention of the State Public Prosecutor that a copy of the FIR was eventually furnished.
During the hearing, the State sought to justify the police action by referring to the local context in which the drone was recovered.
The State pointed out that a rally by a Hindu organisation was taking place in the area at the relevant time and that the locality where the drone landed was predominantly inhabited by members of the Muslim community.
According to the State, the recovery of a drone in such circumstances had triggered apprehensions, prompting the police to act.
However, the petitioner countered this submission by pointing out that none of these facts find any mention in the FIR and that the FIR itself does not record any communal angle, threat perception or public complaint.
After hearing the rival submissions, the Court noted that the case raised an unusual legal issue.
The Court also recorded the submission that the petitioner is a company supplying drones to the Indian Armed Forces and holds valid licences to conduct research and development operations in the area concerned.
The Bench took note of the admitted position that no copy of the FIR had initially been furnished to the petitioner and that FIRs ought to be uploaded online, particularly when the offences alleged are bailable.
The Greater Noida Police arrested the director after an FIR was registered over the death of a 27-year-old software engineer.
Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday ordered the immediate release of Abhay Kumar, director of MZ Wiztown Planners, after finding that his arrest in connection with the Noida techie death case was carried out without following mandatory procedures. [Abhay Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr]
A Bench of Justices Siddhartha and Jai Krishna Upadhyay observed that the police had failed to follow procedure under Clause 13 of the arrest memo, which requires informing the accused of the reasons for their arrest and providing them with a copy of the memo before taking them into custody.
The High Court quashed the judicial remand orders issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar on January 20 and 21.
Kumar was arrested by the Greater Noida Police following the registration of a first information report (FIR) in connection with the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta.
Mehta drowned when his car fell into a water-filled trench at an undeveloped site in Sector 150, Noida on January 16.
The trench had developed due to inadequate stormwater management and the site had remained undeveloped under Wiztown Planners’ control for years.
According to reports, the police had booked Kumar under sections including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
According to the minister, a joint statement would pave the way for reduction of US tariff on Indian goods to 18% from the current 50%.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: India and the United States are likely to issue a joint statement regarding the trade deal in the next four-five days and the first tranche of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) would be signed by mid-March, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.
“The first tranche of BTA is almost ready. In the next four to five days a joint statement is expected to be signed between us,” the minister said. “Simultaneously a formal agreement is being drafted which may take a month to a month-and-a-half,” he added.
According to the minister, a joint statement would pave the way for reduction of US tariff on Indian goods to 18% from the current 50%.
Goyal’s statement comes days after US President Donald Trump announced that India and the US have reached a trade deal. The announcement came after months of uncertainty and strained relations following the imposition of a steep 50% tariff by the Trump administration on Indian goods, effective from August 2025.
According to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the US can lower its tariff on Indian goods through an executive order. In a social media post earlier this week, Trump announced to cut the tariff on Indian imports to 18%. The executive order in this regard can be issued after the release of the joint statement.
However, India would reduce its tariffs on the American goods only after the formal signing of the agreement.
“Their (US) tariffs are executive tariffs. Our tariffs are MFN tariffs. So (our) MFN tariffs reduction only can take place after the legal agreement has been signed,” Agrawal told reporters, referring to the non-discriminatory Most-Favoured Nation tariffs charged on imports.
A bilateral trade agreement between the two countries was proposed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025. The two countries have also agreed to more than double two-way trade to $500 billion by 2030.
Goyal said India has signed eight trade agreements since Prime Minister Modi came into power in 2014. The first tranche of the BTA with the US will soon become the ninth, he added.
Quote – The first tranche of BTA is almost ready. In the next four to five days a joint statement is expected to be signed between us. Simultaneously a formal agreement is being drafted which may take a month to a month-and-a-half Piyush Goyal Commerce Minister.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday shot down Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav’s final effort to avoid prison in a cheque bounce case, prompting him to state that he will surrender before Tihar jail today.
Yadav was present in court today. Senior Advocate Abhijat appeared for him and stated that they would pay a ₹25 lakh amount today itself and that a repayment schedule for the balance amount has also been tentatively agreed to between the two sides.
However, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that Yadav had to surrender yesterday (Wednesday) and, therefore, he would be heard only after he hands himself over to the jail authorities.
After this, Abhijat said that Yadav will surrender today at Tihar Jail.
The Court said that once the actor surrenders, he can file an application.
In its order, the Bench observed that those who do not respect and honour the law should not expect any favour from it and that the law rewards its compliance, not contempt.
“Extending continuous leniency to a person who has been disregarding the directions of the law would rather also send a message to the community that the law and Court’s directions can be disregarded repeatedly without being punished for it. This Court, cannot, allow this message to be conveyed, by now recalling its order when the conduct of the petitioner before it does not merit it,” Justice Sharma said.
The Court added that it cannot create any special circumstances for any person merely because they belong to a particular background or industry.
The High Court had on February 2 directed Yadav to surrender in two days before a jail superintendent for failing to make payments to a complainant in a cheque bounce case.
However, on February 4, he made a plea for an extension of time. This plea was rejected by the Court.
The Court had stated that the order for surrender was passed only after Yadav failed to comply with any of the assurances made to the Court.
In May 2024, a sessions court had convicted and sentenced Yadav to six months’ jail in a cheque bounce case.
However, the High Court later suspended his sentence on the assurance of his counsel that he was willing to amicably settle the issue with the production company he was indebted to. He failed to do so.
On February 2, the Court rejected Yadav’s explanation that the payment could not be made due to an inadvertent error in the demand draft, noting that he did not take any steps to rectify the error.
Within the GCC, the UAE and Saudi Arabia has India’s largest trading partners.
Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal in a group photo during the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) with the GCC (6 Arab States- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia & UAE), in New Delhi. (@PiyushGoyal X)
Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday announced that India will be restarting talks for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This announcement from Piyush Goyal comes just as India sealed two major trade deals – one with the European Union and one with the United States.
GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region which includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. The negotiations with India also come months after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia renewed their strategic partnership.
GCC FTA to boost trade and investments
As per the union commerce minister, the FTA will strengthen the relation between India and the GCC, which “have been trading amongst each other for over 5,000 years”.
The BJP leader also stated that there are about 10 million Indians living and working in the GCC region, who in turn help power the economies of these nations.
“It is most appropriate that we now enter into a much stronger and robust trading arrangement which will enable a greater free flow of goods, services, bring predictability and stability to policy, help encourage a greater degree of investments,” Goyal added further.
Within the GCC, the UAE and Saudi Arabia has India’s largest trading partners.
Pak’s pact with Saudi in focus
The restarting of negotiations between GCC and India comes months after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan inked their defence pact.
In September 2025, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA), which revitalises an old strategic cooperative arrangement between Islamabad and Riyadh. The signing of this pact also came months after a military stand-off between India and Pakistan under ‘Operation Sindoor’.
From May 7 to 10, India and Pakistan were locked in a cross-border stand-off after New Delhi launched a tri-services strike on Pakistan as part of its response to the Pahalgam attack.
On April 22, 2025, 26 tourists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Of the 26 killed, 25 were Indians, and one was a Nepali tourist. India accused Pakistan-based LeT off-shoot The Resistance Front for the attack.
Pak-UAE ties on the fence?
Shortly after UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India, the United Arab Emirates scrapped a major deal with Pakistan.
As per a report by Express Tribune, the UAE shelved the deal with Pakistan for the management of Islamabad International Airport after it failed to identify a local partner to whom the operations could be outsourced.
“The Pakistani side had sought a clear response from the UAE by sending a final call letter. In response, the UAE conveyed that it was still unable to confirm any nominated entity,” sources told the Pakistani daily.
Soon after the deaths, the father told police and several media organisations that the girls’ actions were linked to online gaming platforms.
Uttar Pradesh Police investigate the death of three sisters who allegedly jumped from a window in Ghaziabad. (Photo by Sakib Ali / Hindustan Times)
A day after three minor half-sisters jumped to their deaths from their apartment in Ghaziabad, their father alleged that in the hours before the incident, the girls had demanded that he take them to South Korea and told him that if they were not sent there, they “would die”.
Ghaziabad police, meanwhile, said they are questioning family members and verifying a series of claims made by the family to media outlets in the immediate aftermath of the incident, particularly allegations linking the deaths to so-called “online task-based games”.
The three sisters, aged 11, 14 and 16, allegedly jumped from their ninth-floor flat around 2am on Wednesday.
Soon after the deaths, the father told police and several media organisations that the girls’ actions were linked to online gaming platforms. Some police officials also initially echoed this claim. However, investigators said no such evidence has emerged so far.
“As per the investigation till now, there is no involvement of task-based games behind the incident… The claims made by the father will be verified, and he will be questioned in detail. We will also seek evidence to support these claims once the family is in a position to cooperate,” said Nimish Patil, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Trans-Hindon Zone.
Patil said the mobile phone recovered from the room from which the girls allegedly jumped belonged to their mother. “There were no suspicious messages or calls made before the incident. The mobile did not contain any evidence of task-based gaming,” he said.
Their father, meanwhile, described his last interaction with the girls on the night of the incident.
“I spoke to them around 10pm. I asked if they had eaten dinner and told them to sleep. They again insisted that I take them to Korea. I refused. I had taken their mobile phone around 7pm, but they got it back from their mother around 10pm and used it till midnight. After that, they got out of bed and went to the puja room. Some time later, we found them dead on the ground floor,” he said.
The father further alleged that the girls were addicted to videos featuring Korean music and dance. “The three girls used their own photos as profile pictures, and if I removed them, they would stop eating at times,” he said.
Police said that, based on the investigation so far, the girls were deeply immersed in Korean popular culture and spent long hours watching K-dramas, K-pop videos and related online content.
“At present, the case is being investigated as a suicide. If the family provides any evidence related to task-based gaming, we will examine that angle. During the last six to seven months, the father had sold two mobile phones that were previously used by the girls. We are trying to trace those devices as part of the investigation,” Patil said.
Actor Celina Jaitley has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention for the release of her brother, former Special Forces officer Major Vikrant Jaitley, detained in the UAE since September 2024.
Actor Celina Jaitley has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to secure the release of her brother, Major Vikrant Jaitley, a former Indian Army Special Forces officer who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates since September 2024.
In an interview with India Today TV’s Gaurav Sawant, Celina Jaitley broke down while recounting her brother’s detention and the lack of information surrounding his arrest. The matter reached the Delhi High Court, which has now directed the Ministry of External Affairs to appoint a legal firm to represent Major Jaitley in the UAE. Following the court’s order, UAE-based law firm Khalid Almarie Partners and Advocates has stepped in to provide legal assistance.
Major Vikrant Jaitley, a retired Special Forces commando, has been in custody in the UAE for over 16 months. Celina Jaitley told the court that her brother was “illegally taken and detained” without any formal information about his legal status, welfare, or charges for months. She said that only in June 2025 did she learn that he had been moved to Al-Wathba Detention Centre in Abu Dhabi.
According to Celina Jaitley, her brother was picked up from the Mall of the Emirates parking area by unidentified individuals who asked for his Emirates ID and took him away in a black car. She said there was no official arrest record for nearly nine months.
“He was taken without any explanation. There was no record of arrest, no access to legal counsel, no communication. I didn’t even know where my brother was,” she said.
Major Jaitley was working with Matiti Group International, a company founded by his wife in 2016, with operations in human resources, risk management, and information technology. Celina Jaitley said the only information she has received so far is a prosecution number and a vague reference to “national security,” without any clarity on the allegations.
“I only know one term — national security. That’s it. Nothing else. No charges, no prosecution details,” she said.
Celina Jaitley said she repeatedly contacted the Indian mission in the UAE and the MEA in New Delhi but received no response until she filed a grievance on the MADAD portal in November 2024. Even then, she said the responses were “templatised” and did not provide concrete details.
“I was only hearing from a portal, not from people. For a sister looking for her brother, that is devastating,” she said.
After approaching the Delhi High Court in October 2025, Celina Jaitley said the court’s intervention brought some movement. The High Court also directed that efforts be made to facilitate a phone call between the siblings, which she said has not yet happened.
The court’s latest order directing the MEA to appoint a legal firm has led to Khalid Almarie Partners and Advocates agreeing to represent Major Jaitley pro bono. Celina Jaitley said multiple law firms had earlier demanded “millions of dirhams,” which she could not afford due to ongoing personal and financial difficulties.
“They said they want to do this for our soldier. They believe in justice beyond borders and dignity,” she said.
Addressing concerns raised in court about differing views within the family on legal representation, Celina Jaitley said no firm had been appointed for over 16 months despite multiple options being shared.
“A soldier of our country is in a foreign jail without prosecution. Why should we delay legal aid any further?” she said.
Celina Jaitley appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the interview, citing his support for the armed forces.
“My request to Modiji is to please bring this soldier back. He has given his entire youth to the nation. If he had done something wrong, there would have been a prosecution by now,” she said.
The Mumbai Police informed the court that conversations related to the January 31 firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s house were conducted through the Signal app and later deleted, prompting efforts to retrieve the data as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police said Lonkar wanted in Rohit Shetty’s house firing is believed to be a close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Investigators probing the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai residence have found that the accused used the encrypted messaging platform Signal to coordinate the attack, a magistrate court was told on Thursday while extending their police custody till February 11.
The Mumbai Police informed the court that conversations related to the January 31 firing were conducted through the Signal app and later deleted, prompting efforts to retrieve the data as part of the ongoing investigation.
Earlier in the day, police arrested another accused, Asaram Fasle alias Babu, who is alleged to have supplied arms for the attack. He was produced in court along with Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19), Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (20), Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (18) and Swapnil Bandu Sakat (23), all residents of Pune. According to investigators, the group provided logistical support to the shooter, who remains absconding.
Investigating Officer Kadam told the court that a cache of illegal weapons, including a pistol, three magazines and an airgun was seized from Sakat. He said the firing appeared to be a planned act, with a vehicle purchased and weapons procured shortly before the incident.
Police also told the court that the alleged mastermind, Shubham Lonkar, is wanted in both the Rohit Shetty firing case and the murder of former MLA Baba Siddique. The accused were allegedly acting on his instructions and coordinated through Signal before deleting the app to destroy evidence.
The prosecution sought further custody for interrogation, arguing that the accused needed to be confronted with one another and questioned jointly. Defence counsel opposed the plea, claiming the accused were young, not caught at the spot and arrested merely on suspicion, and had no links to Lonkar or knowledge of how the motorcycle connected to them would be used.
Magistrate V R Patil, however, observed that the case involved serious offences and a suspected criminal conspiracy that needed to be unravelled. Citing progress in the investigation and the need for detailed questioning, particularly after Fasle’s fresh arrest, the court remanded all accused to police custody till February 11.
The drill will test the Indian Air Force’s combat readiness through large-scale simulated war scenarios, integrating fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters, drones and layered air defence systems under real-time command control.
File photo of IAF’s Vayu Shakti in Pokhran (Photo: India Today)
The Indian Air Force will conduct a major air combat exercise near the Pakistan border on February 27, showcasing its full spectrum of offensive and defensive capabilities in a simulated war environment.
The exercise, named Vayu Shakti 2026, will be held near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and is expected to be the IAF’s largest air combat drill of the year. It comes weeks after the force demonstrated its operational readiness during Operation Sindoor.
According to defence officials, airbases and assets of the IAF’s Western and South Western Air Commands will participate in the exercise. All units have been fully activated, with more than 100 aircraft expected to take part.
Almost all frontline fighter aircraft and air defence systems that were part of Operation Sindoor will be deployed during the exercise. These include Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Tejas, MiG-29, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 and Hawk aircraft, which will be seen engaging ground and aerial targets with precision. The MiG-21, now retired from IAF service, will not feature in the exercise for the first time. The indigenous Prachand attack helicopter will also participate, firing rockets during live drills.
The exercise will be conducted in a simulated wartime scenario and monitored through the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which enables real-time tracking and coordination of air operations. Inputs from long-range, medium-range and short-range radars will be integrated to generate a comprehensive air picture for both offensive and defensive missions.
In addition to fighter jets, fixed-wing transport aircraft such as the C-130J and C-295 will take part, along with helicopter units including Prachand, Chinook, Mi-17 and Advanced Light Helicopter platforms. Drones and loitering munitions used during Operation Sindoor will also be deployed.
For the first time, the C-295 transport aircraft will carry out a night assault landing drill during the Vayu Shakti exercise. The C-130J Super Hercules will be seen landing on a short runway, deploying Garud commandos in a simulated war zone and taking off again within minutes, while attack helicopters secure the area.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says air and Yamuna pollution are legacy issues, defends long-term reforms on transport, waste and sewage, and argues that structural changes, not quick fixes, will deliver lasting results.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta (File Photo: ITG)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has described air pollution and the pollution of the Yamuna river as “legacy problems” rooted in years of neglect and short-term policymaking by previous governments. She said her administration is now focused on long-term, structural solutions.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Gupta pushed back against criticism that measures such as GRAP, Odd-Even restrictions, artificial rain and anti-smog guns have failed. She said these were never intended to be permanent fixes.
“Pollution is a legacy problem resulting from the negligence of previous governments. If we look at pollution only from the perspective that the air should be clean, we will not get results,” Gupta said. “You have to work on dust, air and water together, with a holistic vision.”
Taking aim at the Aam Aadmi Party, Gupta said earlier administrations relied on short-term measures and publicity, while deeper reforms were ignored.
“Sprinklers, anti-smog guns and mist can give only short-term relief. The real work should have been done on dust mitigation, public transport and long-term planning,” she said.
Gupta identified vehicular emissions, road dust and waste mismanagement as the main drivers of Delhi’s air pollution, which often stays in the ‘severe’ category during winter. While vehicle emissions are widely cited as a key cause, she said public transport was never expanded to the scale required.
Laying out her government’s plan, Gupta said Delhi’s public transport system is being gradually shifted towards zero emissions. “When we came, we planned that public transport should be 100 per cent electric and on clean fuel,” she said. Delhi currently has about 3,600 buses. “We added 1,700 buses after coming to power, and by December 2026, this will reach 7,700. Our requirement is 11,000 buses, which we will complete by 2028.”
She said funds have been sanctioned for Metro expansion, improved last-mile connectivity through EV autos, e-bikes and cycles near Metro stations, and stricter action against unfit and polluting vehicles.
“The government has to make a 360-degree movement. Work has to be done on every single aspect,” Gupta said.
On dust pollution, she pointed to changes in road construction and maintenance practices. “Earlier, one department would build a road, and another would dig it again. This was the work culture of Delhi,” she said. “We are changing that by enforcing ducting and accountability.” Engineers from the PWD and MCD, she added, have been brought together to standardise procedures.
Gupta also linked Delhi’s garbage mountains directly to air pollution, saying visible reductions at landfill sites are the result of policy-driven, time-bound action.
“Delhi generates about 11,000 metric tonnes of garbage daily. Earlier, it was never processed, and that is why mountains of garbage were formed,” she said, accusing the Opposition of merely shifting waste from one location to another. She said the government is confident of clearing legacy waste at the Okhla and Bhalswa landfill sites by 2026, though work at Ghazipur may take longer.
“These results are not without policy and dedication,” she said.
Turning to the Yamuna, Gupta said untreated sewage, cattle dung and industrial waste flowing directly into drains had severely polluted the river. “Friends, drains were falling straight into Yamuna ji. Sewage treatment plants were not upgraded. These conditions were spoiled over years,” she said.
She said her government has upgraded 37 old sewage treatment plants and launched large-scale de-silting of drains across the city. “As soon as we came, we started de-silting work. New machines from Finland are being used at places like Najafgarh, Barapullah and Sunheri Pullah,” she said.
Gupta also highlighted efforts to process cattle dung through biogas plants. “For so many years, did anyone think of setting up biogas plants? Thousands of tonnes of dung went into drains and then into Yamuna ji,” she said. “We have started the first plant to process 600 tonnes, with more plants in the pipeline.”
Government data showed that 377 of 754 aircraft audited since January last year had recurring defects, with Air India Group accounting for 191 flagged planes and IndiGo reporting 148 aircraft with repeat snags.
A total of 754 aircraft were analysed for recurring defects across six scheduled airlines.
Around half the aircraft examined for technical deficiencies across Indian carriers have shown recurring defects, with Air India Group and IndiGo accounting for the largest share, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The government said 754 aircraft from six scheduled airlines were analysed for repetitive snags since January last year. Of these, 377 were flagged for recurring defects.
IndiGo had the highest number of aircraft reviewed. As of February 3, 405 IndiGo planes were analysed, and 148 were identified as having repetitive defects, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the House in a written reply.
Air India Group recorded a far higher ratio. Of the 267 aircraft checked across Air India and Air India Express, 191 were found with recurring issues, nearly 72 per cent of the fleet audited. The data showed that 137 of 166 Air India aircraft had repetitive defects, while 54 of 101 Air India Express planes were similarly flagged.
Other carriers also featured on the list. Of 43 SpiceJet aircraft analysed, 16 were identified for recurring defects, while Akasa Air saw 14 aircraft flagged out of 32 reviewed.
Responding to the figures, an Air India spokesperson said the airline had conducted extensive checks across its fleet “out of an abundance of caution”, which pushed up the number of observations.
“We have, out of abundance caution, carried out checks across our fleet. Hence, numbers are higher,” news agency PTI quoted the spokesperson as saying.
A senior Air India executive said the findings largely relate to lower-priority equipment. Aircraft systems are classified into categories A to D based on urgency, with most Air India issues falling under category D.
“In case of Air India, most of the issues are with category D, which includes items like seats, tray tables, screens (on the back of seats) and so on. These are not related to the safety of the aircraft,” the executive said.
Alongside airline audits, aviation regulator DGCA ramped up surveillance activity last year. Mohol said the regulator carried out 3,890 surveillance inspections, 56 regulatory audits, 84 surveillance of foreign aircraft (SOFA) checks and 492 ramp inspections as part of planned monitoring.
At least 16 labourers were killed in a dynamite blast at a suspected illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, with several feared trapped. Rescue operations are ongoing, and an inquiry has been ordered. Rat-hole mining has been banned since 2014 due to safety and environmental concerns, with restrictions upheld by the Supreme Court.
A dynamite blast at a suspected “illegal” rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district claimed at least 16 lives on Thursday, with several others feared trapped inside the mine.
Police confirmed that the bodies of 16 labourers have been recovered so far, though the exact number of workers present during the tragic incident remains unclear. Director General of Police I Nongrang said more people are feared trapped as rescue operations continue.
A #coalmine blast in #Meghalaya on Thursday claimed the lives of at least 16 workers after major explosion in Tashkhai. The blast occurred inside a coal mine, leading to heavy casualties among labourers present at the site. All the victims were from Assam. pic.twitter.com/GeUUrhtDL8
Emergency responders rushed to the spot, and a search operation is underway. According to the DGP, the explosion occurred in the Thangsku area during morning coal mining activities believed to be illegal.
East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said one injured person was initially taken to the Sutnga Primary Health Centre and later shifted to a hospital in Shillong for advanced treatment. Asked whether the mine was operating illegally, Kumar said it appeared so, adding that the exact cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained and a detailed inquiry will be conducted.
Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy.
The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Accountability…
Reacting to the tragedy, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said in a post on X, “Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy.”
He added that the state government has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and assured that accountability will be fixed. “Those responsible will face strict legal action. There will be no compromise when it comes to the safety of lives,” Sangma said, asserting that the state stands in solidarity with all those affected.
The Income Tax Department told the Madras High Court that Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden bungalow ‘Veda Nilayam’ will be auctioned if her legal heirs fail to clear ₹13.69 crore in income and wealth tax arrears with interest. The property was attached during her lifetime.
Jayalalithaa | PTI Photo by R Senthil Kumar(PTI7_23_2016_000119A)
The Income Tax Department has informed the Madras High Court that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s imposing bungalow ‘Veda Nilayam’, in Poes Garden , Chennai, would be brought to auction if her legal heirs fail to clear income tax and wealth tax arrears of ₹13.69 crore with interest.
Senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department, Srinivasan said the property was attached during Jayalalithaa’s lifetime. Income Tax arrears were due for various assessment years from 1991–92 to 2006–07, while wealth tax dues pertained to assessment years from 1992–93 to 2015–16. The department was entitled to recover the arrears along with applicable interest.
Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016. Subsequently, the High Court, in May 2020, declared her niece J. Deepa and nephew J. Deepak as her legal heirs. Following this declaration, the Income Tax Department decided to recover the tax dues from them and issued intimations in July and August this year.
Deepa approached the High Court challenging the August communication by filing a writ petition. On his part, Deepak had written to the department through his authorised representative on August 11, 2025, seeking an extension of time to pay his share of ₹6.75 crore towards the arrears. He later sent another letter on October 14, 2025, requesting permission to pay the outstanding amount in instalments.
The Income Tax Department accepted his request and permitted him to pay ₹6.75 crore in six equal monthly instalments between October 2025 and March 2026. However,Deepak paid only ₹1.12 crore on October 15, 2025 and November 15, 2025. Of this amount, ₹62.50 lakh was paid by quoting his own PAN instead of Jayalalithaa’s PAN. Despite several reminders, the error in the challan had not been rectified, the standing counsel submitted.
Shock and gloom have shrouded two families, who knew each other well and had seen three marriages between their members, after a woman killed her husband with the help of her lover and his friends in Sri Ganganagar district – an incident that is now being called Rajasthan’s honeymoon murder.
Anjali, 23, from Sadulshahar in the district, married 27-year-old Ashish from 1-KLM village, just 30 km from the Pakistan border, three months ago, and the match seemed perfect on paper. Ashish had completed his M.Sc in Geology and was pursuing a B.Ed degree. Anjali was pursuing an M.Com degree, and the icing on the cake was the close ties between her and Ashish’s families.
As a child, Ashish was adopted by his uncle and aunt, who had no son of their own. They raised him lovingly and, a few months ago, his adoptive mother arranged his marriage with Anjali, who is her niece.
When NDTV spoke to them on Thursday, Ashish’s family members recalled that Anjali seemed to be settling in with them well. They were, thus, even more distraught and stunned by what happened on January 30.
Anjali and Ashish went out on a walk with Ashish’s cousin, Ankit, and his wife that evening. “We went towards the village for our usual walk. We normally don’t take the deserted route. But Ashish dropped me and my wife home, and then, at Anjali’s insistence, they took that route,” Ankit said.
The family was later told that Ashish and Anjali were found unconscious in what was thought of as a hit-and-run. Ashish was declared dead at the community health centre, while Anjali, who said her gold jewellery had been stolen after the accident, kept flitting in and out of consciousness.
Injuries on Ashish’s body, inconsistencies in Anjali’s story, and a thorough investigation by the police, however, revealed that the death was not an accident, but a murder planned by the newly married woman. Anjali, it turned out, had rekindled her romance with her former boyfriend, Sanju, who worked as a waiter at wedding functions.
Sanju and two of his friends were hiding in the bushes along the road and, when Anjali and Ashish got there, they attacked him, strangled him and tried to pass off the killing as a road accident. Anjali gave her earrings to Sanju, lay down and pretended to be unconscious when the police arrived.
‘Should Be Given Death Penalty’
At Ashish’s village, people still remember the pomp with which the wedding was celebrated and are both shocked and angry. Ashish’s father, Ramrakh, called for the death penalty for Anjali, while his mother was too inconsolable to speak.
“Anjali’s behaviour always seemed normal. She mixed well with the family. After the murder, she pretended to be unconscious and didn’t speak to us,” Ramrakh recalled.
Rage rising in his voice, he continued, “We want her to be given the death penalty. Even her family agrees with us.”
Anger And Shame
The atmosphere was not much better at Sadulshahar’s Chhajgariya Mohalla, where Anjali’s family has lived for about 40 years.
Anjali’s father died 13 years ago, and she lived with her mother, two brothers and their wives. After her wedding to Ashish, she had returned home for some time on the pretext of studying for her M.Com degree.
Neighbours said Anjali had met Sanju in Sri Ganganagar city, about 30 km away, and the family may have known about their relationship. The marriage with Ashish, they suggested, could have been her family’s way of making sure that she forgot about Sanju, but Anjali got in touch with him when she returned home after the wedding.
Anjali’s uncle, however, vehemently denied the suggestion.
“We are devastated. We have been connected to this family for 50 years. Our customs are such that we ensure our daughters are married only into families known to us. Two of my sisters are also a part of that family. We had no idea about this relationship. We are deeply ashamed. If we had known, we would have died rather than allow this marriage to happen,” he told NDTV.
“Anjali is my niece. Her father passed away about 13 years ago. We want Anjali and the three men to be given the death penalty. The way Ashish suffered and died… she should face the same punishment. She has destroyed us. We don’t know how to face people,” he rued.
Sarthak Mahapatra went missing near Mauritius while on duty. His family seeks urgent help from Odisha and central authorities for a transparent investigation.
Sarthak Mahapatra has been employed with a private shipping firm since July 2025. (Image: X/@rasmitasahoo76)
A merchant navy officer from Odisha’s Bhadrak district has reportedly gone missing while on duty aboard a ship near Mauritius on February 3, leading his family to appeal to both the central and state governments for immediate assistance, officials said.
The missing crew member has been identified as Sarthak Mahapatra, a resident of Kespur village in Bhadrak. He has been employed with a private shipping firm since July 2025.
Sarthak Last Spoke To Family On Monday
According to his mother, Rashmita Mahapatra, the vessel was on a return journey to China via Singapore after completing a voyage from China to West Africa. She said Sarthak last spoke with his family and friends on February 2, when the ship was close to Singapore, news agency PTI reported.
“When the ship was near Singapore on February 2, he spoke to me, other family members, and his friends,” she said.
The family is deeply distressed by his sudden disappearance and has urged authorities to step in urgently.
“We are devastated at his disappearance and request the central and state governments to intervene urgently. We have sent emails appealing to the Odisha government to rescue my son and bring him back home safely,” she told PTI.
I humbly request the authorities to kindly intervene and ensure all possible efforts for tracing and rescue, and seek detailed updates from the company. 🙏
She has also sought intervention from the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Odisha, the Director General of Shipping, and the Ministry of External Affairs by posting appeals on X.
In her message, she called for a clear and transparent inquiry into the incident, access to CCTV footage from the vessel, information regarding her son’s belongings, and regular updates from officials.
Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have recently visited PoK, delivering fiery speeches that have raised concerns over regional stability
Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir recently visited the area near the Line of Control and commended the officers and soldiers deployed in the area. (Image: News18)
Amid tensions in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Pakistani leadership has heightened its provocative narrative contributing to political and military friction surrounding the region.
Both Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have recently made high-profile appearances in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), delivering fiery speeches that have raised concerns over regional stability.
According to sources, during a visit to the Line of Control (LoC), Field Marshal Asim Munir was reported to be openly promoting jihad, vowing that “Kashmir will be liberated soon”. He commended the “combat readiness” and “professional excellence” of the officers and soldiers deployed in the area, while reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Top intelligence sources told News18 that Shehbaz Sharif echoed this hardline military stance, and addressed an assembly in the region stressing asserting that India has “no option” but to grant self-determination. He claimed that durable peace in South Asia is unattainable until India abandons what he termed “aggressive, expansionist designs and nefarious conspiracies”.
The sources said the impact of this rhetoric on the ground appears increasingly detrimental, as they often result in increased tension, infiltration, and violence for those living close to conflict zones. Local perspectives within PoK, however, reflect a growing sense of frustration and fear.
They said many residents believe that these aggressive stances are “political messaging” rather than a reflection of genuine concern for the population. Sections of civil society, including traders and youth groups, have expressed that such rhetoric has led to “economic disruption” and the loss of lives.
The officials said, “the operation concluded successfully however, the area remains under surveillance.”
Two terrorists killed in Basantgarh area of J-K’s Udhampur: Army— File Photo
Two terrorists were killed in a coordinated operation launched by joint teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF, successfully concluding Operation KIYA in the Jophar forest area of Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, Army officials said.
The officials said that the contact with terrorists was established yesterday and since then, terrorists were prevented from breaking contact. “Following a calibrated and coordinated response, two terrorists have been successfully neutralised. The operation highlighted seamless inter-agency coordination, tactical precision and high standards of professionalism,” they added.
The officials said the operation concluded successfully. However, the area remains under surveillance.
In a post on X, White Knight Corps wrote, “Operation KIYA. mBased on specific intelligence input provided by @jmukmrpolice, troops of CIF Delta, #WhiteKnightCorps planned and executed a focused joint counter-terror operation in the general area of Jophar Forest, Basantgarh (J&K) in coordination with #JKP and #CRPF reinforcing the cordon, ensuring effective area domination to prevent escape of terrorists.”
The union has called for immediate notification of minimum base fares and the prohibition on the use of private (non-commercial) vehicles for commercial app-based rides.
(Representative image)
Transport workers from Uber, Rapido and Ola, among others, across the country will observe an “All-India Breakdown” on February 7 to protest government inaction and fare exploitation by app-based aggregator platforms, the Telangana App-Based Drivers Forum (TADF) said on Tuesday, February 3.
TADF has said that despite the notification of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, aggregator companies continue to arbitrarily determine fares, which pushes drivers into income insecurity, debt, and unsustainable working conditions.
Commuters are also targeted by surge manipulation and a lack of effective regulatory oversight, it said.
The workers’ union has also flagged the central and state government’s failure to notify minimum base fares, saying that it allows platforms to slash driver earnings while increasing commissions. It said that the burden of rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, insurance and operational risks is being entirely shifted onto drivers, making dignified livelihoods impossible.
The union has called for immediate notification of minimum base fares and the prohibition on the use of private (non-commercial) vehicles for commercial app-based rides.
Earlier strike
Gig and platform workers went on strike on Christmas (December 25) and New Year’s Eve (December 31) last year, two of the busiest days of the year for delivery workers, to protest against worsening work conditions.
As many as 50,000 of the total 2 lakh gig workers in Hyderabad participated in the strike on December 31, Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) president Shaik Salauddin had claimed.
They were protesting for fair and better pay through transparent wage structures and incentives reflecting real working hours and costs. They also demanded that the arbitrary blocking of IDs and penalties without due process be stopped and they receive improved safety measures, including safety gear and accident insurance.
Police said preliminary inquiries indicated that the sisters had developed a growing dependence on an online task-based interactive game, and had been spending increasing amounts of time on it.
Handwritten note found at the residence of the three minor girls who jumped from the building and died.(Photo | ANI)
Three minor sisters died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of their ninth-floor apartment in Ghaziabad in the early hours of Wednesday, with the police suspecting that the incident followed a dispute at home over excessive online gaming.
The victims–Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12)–were found lying on the ground outside their residential tower in Bharat City township, under the Teela Mor police station limits, after local residents reported hearing a loud noise around 2–2.15 am, the police said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Shalimar Garden) Atul Kumar Singh said the police received information at 2:18 am and reached the spot immediately.
The girls had jumped from a height of 80 feet. The girls were rushed to a hospital in Loni, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
The family said they heard a noise and ran outside. “We saw the room was locked. Then we broke the door and found the girls were not there. We ran downstairs and saw the girls lying on the ground,” they said.
As per police sources, all the three girls locked the room from inside and jumped from the balcony.
ACP Singh said preliminary inquiries indicated that the sisters had developed a growing dependence on an online task-based interactive game, and had been spending increasing amounts of time on it.
“The parents had objected to their excessive gaming, which appears to have led to discussions and disagreements at home,” he said.
According to the police, the sisters had also begun skipping school frequently and spent most of their time together at home.
Investigators said the siblings had become accustomed to doing most activities together, including studying and playing online games.
Sources said the girls were so obsessed with the game, they thought of themselves as Korean princesses.
The eldest daughter, Nishika, was born to Chetan Kumar and his first wife. The younger daughters were born to Kumar and his second wife.
According to ACP Singh, the girls were with their mother till midnight. After around 12:30 am, the girls left their room saying they wanted to get water to drink. The girls then bolted the balcony door and jumped, allegedly after being forbidden from playing the game.
The night of the incident, Kumar had forbidden the girls from playing the game. Kumar and his wife were sleeping with their son while the three daughters were resting in their room.
Police sources found a diary in the sisters’ room containing an eight-page suicide note. The diary also contained details about their lifestyle and their obsession with the task-based game, said police officers.
The note read: “Mom-Dad, sorry… we cannot quit the game. Now you will realise how much we loved the game, which you wanted us to give up.”
“I’m really sorry. Sorry, Papa, we could not leave the game. The Korean game is our life, our world,” the note said.
In a new podcast, Nick Jonas highlighted the qualities of a good husband – reliability, trustworthiness, and being a good example for his daughter Malti.
Priyanka Chopra and Malti Marie Chopra Jonas with Nick Jonas.
Nick Jonas is answering the age-old question of ‘What does it take to be a good husband?’ The 33-year-old singer appeared on the Wednesday, February 4, episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, where he opened up about the qualities that make a good husband.
Nick, who married actor Priyanka Chopra in 2018, shared that being a reliable, trustworthy person is one of the most important qualities that make a man a good husband. He also stressed the importance of being a good partner for Priyanka as their daughter, Malti Marie, will grow up watching how he treats her mother.
Nick Jonas on what makes a good husband
During the episode, Jay Shetty asked Nick Jonas, “What makes a good husband? What are you aspiring to be when you’re trying to be a good husband?” To which the Jumanji actor replies, “Being a good husband, for me, means being reliable, trustworthy.”
Nick further elaborated, “Knowing that our daughter is watching and will one day, hopefully, find somebody who makes her incredibly happy. And the way in which I treat her mother is incredibly important to who she becomes. It is my responsibility to do all I can to make Priyanka happy, to make her feel safe, and to make her laugh.”
“To know that life is a mixed bag of emotions and experiences, and it can feel really disorienting and overwhelming sometimes. But it’s a lot easier to traverse all that with a partner whom you can rely on,” Nick added.
Nick Jonas on daughter Malti’s premature birth
During the podcast, Nick also recalled Malti’s “intense” birth. Nick and Priyanka welcomed their daughter via surrogate in January 2022. According to the singer, “We were expecting her to arrive in April of the year she was born, and we get a call that it’s going to be sooner. So basically, we went into action. We got to the hospital, and she came out. She was 1 pound, 11 ounces, and…purple.”
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central government to consider reviewing its decision to detain climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).
A Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale was hearing the plea moved by Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo against his preventive detention. The Court told Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre,
“Apart from submissions, counter submissions and law points, just give a thought to it, as an officer of the Court. The detention order is passed on 26.09.2025, nearly five months. Considering the health condition of the detainee…certainly not very good. The report which we saw earlier, it shows that his health is not that good. There are certain age-related, may be otherwise. Is there a possibility for the government to rethink, have a relook?”
ASG Nataraj said that he would put the suggestion to the authorities.
Wangchuk has been detained under the NSA following protests in Leh in September 2025 over demands of statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Angmo’s counsel last month contended that Wangchuk has a democratic right to criticise and protest against the government and that such sentiments do not threaten the security of the State to warrant his detention.
In response, the Union government and the Leh administration on Monday claimed that Wangchuk wanted the Union Territory to face an agitation and violence similar to what had transpired in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Wangchuk referred to the Central government as “them”, thus revealing secessionist tendencies, and instigated the GenZ (Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012) ) to indulge in a civil war, the government further alleged.
“He (Sonam Wangchuk) refers to the Central government as “them”. This “us” and “them” is enough for NSA detention. There is no us and them. We are all Indians,” it was submitted on Monday.
On Tuesday, the government said that all procedural safeguards were followed in passing the detention order against Wangchuk.
Arguments Today
Nataraj today argued that Wangchuk was responsible for last year’s violence in Leh.
“Four people died in the incident, 161 were injured also…ultimately, his provocative speech, provocation, instigation. The person need not actively participate, the propensity of person to influence a group of persons…that is more than sufficient [for preventive detention],” he said.
The ASG also argued that only the detention order had been challenged in the present case.
“The order of detention got approval by the state government on 3/10/2025. There is no challenge to the approval order or the confirmation order of the state government. The only challenge is to the detention,” Nataraj said.
He also submitted that an Advisory Board had given its report on Wangchuk’s detention.
“The advisory board travelled to Jodhpur, he (Wangchuk) had participated in the proceedings, he gave a representation, there was no denial of opportunities that could be extended to him. And after examining all the aspects, the advisory board has given a report.”
At this point, the Court asked whether detention cannot be challenged without assailing the confirmation order or the report of Advisory Board.
“Assuming that the [Sections] 3(4) and 12 [of NSA Act] orders are not challenged. But if the very detention order suffers from legal deficiencies, can it not be set aside? Suppose show case notice issued. Original order is passed by authority. That is challenged in appeal. If show cause notice is challenged on no jurisdiction, no application of mind, etc if the show cause notice goes, all the subsequent things go. The challenge to the detention order is with regard to non-application of mind,” it said.
The Court observed that the petitioner’s arguments were on the very foundation of the detention order.
Continuing with his submissions, ASG Nataraj said that the NSA was a special Act and that any detention under it cannot be construed as a penal law.
“It is only a preventive law. It is only to prevent somebody from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order or security of the state. The preventive detention is not punitive detention. It has to be necessarily left to the discretion of the executing authority. It is purely discretionary,” the senior counsel said.
However, the Court remarked that the discretion should be within the parameters of law.
“If somebody says I see him as a potential threat and therefore I detain him, by itself would not be sufficient,” it said.
Nataraj responded that there has to be an objective assessment. The Court said that the objective assessment has to be on the basis of subjective material.
The ASG said that based on various materials placed before him, the district magistrate was convinced and passed the detention order.
“A particular para may be good or may not be good. That will not vitiate the entire detention order. It comes under Section 5 which saves it under the principle of severalty,” Nataraj said.
The Court, however, said that if the grounds have a proximity link, then there will not be any severalty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Malaysia on February 7–8, 2026, to hold bilateral talks, engage the Indian diaspora, and review the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Malaysia from February 7 to 8, 2026. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Malaysia from February 7 to 8, 2026, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the government said.
The visit will be Modi’s third to Malaysia and his first since the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024.
During the visit, Modi and Anwar Ibrahim are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions covering the full spectrum of India-Malaysia relations. The Prime Minister will also interact with members of the Indian community in Malaysia, as well as representatives from industry and business. The 10th India-Malaysia CEO Forum is set to take place alongside the visit.
India and Malaysia share long-standing ties rooted in historical, civilisational and cultural links. The relationship is further reinforced by the presence of a 2.9 million-strong Indian diaspora in Malaysia, the third-largest Indian community overseas.
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Al Falah University chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui after two FIRs were filed on a UGC complaint. A court granted four days of police custody.
Al Falah University Director Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui (Photo-ITG)
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the chairman of Al Falah University, in connection with alleged irregularities, officials said on Wednesday.
The arrest comes days after action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and follows complaints filed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Acting on the UGC’s complaint, the Crime Branch had registered two separate FIRs against Siddiqui, accusing him of fraud and related offences.
Police said Siddiqui was taken into custody and produced before a Delhi court, which granted the Crime Branch four days of police custody for further investigation.
Officials said the case relates to alleged irregularities and falsification, though further details are expected to emerge during questioning.
The university had earlier drawn national attention after it emerged that Dr Umar Nabi, convicted in the Red Fort blast case that killed 13 people, was employed at the institution. Two of his associates, Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Shaheen Shahid, who investigators have linked to a “white-collar” terror network, were also found to have worked at the university.
Ishaan said that he is deeply sad and heartbroken, especially for the journalists who covered the global news and worked hard to report stories from different parts of the world.
Shashi Tharoor’s Son Ishaan Tharoor Laid Off From The Washington Post | X
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s son Ishaan Tharoor shared an emotional post on social media, claiming that he has been laid off from The Washington Post on Wednesday. He said that most of the newspaper’s international staff were also asked to leave. Ishaan said that he is deeply sad and heartbroken, especially for the journalists who covered the global news and worked hard to report stories from different parts of the world.
Emotional Post On Social Media
In his post, Ishaan Tharoor said that the newsroom is losing many talented journalists. He spoke warmly about his editors and reporters, calling them close friends and trusted colleagues. He said that he worked with them for almost 12 years and described his time at the newspaper as an honour.
I have been laid off today from the @washingtonpost, along with most of the International staff and so many other wonderful colleagues. I’m heartbroken for our newsroom and especially for the peerless journalists who served the Post internationally — editors and correspondents…
Ishaan Tharoor also talked about his popular WorldView column in his post. He said that he started the column in January 2017 and the aim of the column was to help readers understand world events and America’s role in global politics in a simple and clear way.
Thanks Readers and Subscribers
He thanked his readers for their support over the years. He said that the column had around 5 lakh loyal subscribers who read it several times a week. He expressed gratitude to everyone who followed and supported his work.
Job Cuts Hit Global Newsrooms
The layoff of Ishaan Tharoor is part of a larger job cuts at international media organisations. Many global newsrooms are reducing their staff strength reportedly due to financial pressure and changes in how people consume news.
A website launched by Assam Congress to question Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was allegedly hacked minutes after going live in Guwahati, triggering a fierce political clash. Sarma announced civil and criminal defamation cases against senior Congress leaders as the election battle intensifies.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma | Image: ANI
Minutes after the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) launched a website aimed at questioning the public image of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the portal was allegedly hacked, triggering a sharp political confrontation ahead of the Assembly elections.
“The website is yet to be restored,” said Bedabrata Borah, chairman, Medica Department, APCC.
Portal allegedly hacked soon after launch
The website, whoishbs.com, was unveiled at a crowded press conference in Guwahati on Wednesday, barely two months before the polls. The Congress said the platform was meant to place before the people of Assam what it called the “real face” of the Chief Minister. However, party leaders claimed that unknown hackers disrupted the site shortly after it went live.
Senior Congress leaders attend press conference
The press conference was attended by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress election observer Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary in charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, and APCC president Gaurav Gogoi. A video titled “Who Is Himanta Biswa Sarma?” was also released on the occasion.
CM announces defamation action
Reacting strongly, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that he would initiate both civil and criminal defamation proceedings on February 9 against senior Congress leaders.
In a post on X, Sarma said he would file cases against Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel, Gaurav Gogoi and Debabrata Saikia for what he termed “false, malicious and defamatory statements” made at the press conference.
“The era of hit-and-run politics is over. If they have even an ounce of courage or evidence, let them prove every allegation in a court of law,” the Chief Minister wrote, adding that he would not be intimidated by “propaganda or political theatrics”.
APCC alleges sabotage attempt
The APCC, meanwhile, alleged that a “vested interest group” attempted to sabotage the website to prevent information from reaching the public. In a statement, the party said its technical team had taken steps to secure the portal and that it would soon be fully accessible.
According to the Congress, the website will allow citizens to upload information related to alleged corruption, land holdings and benami properties linked to the Chief Minister and his family. A phone number — 9133400200 — has also been released for the public to share such information.
Allegations over land and corruption
Addressing the media, APCC president Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the Chief Minister and his family had allegedly acquired large tracts of land across Assam and that the full extent was yet to be uncovered. He said the Congress, along with the public, would verify all information received before placing it in the public domain.
“This is the time for change. Only change can protect land, communities and the values of Assam’s politics,” Gogoi said, alleging that around 12,000 bighas of land had been acquired in violation of rules. He added that details of alleged irregular land conversions would be revealed in the coming days.
Opposition leaders step up attack
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched a scathing attack on Sarma, calling him a “master conman” and alleging that Assam was being “sold off” under his leadership. He also criticised the BJP-led government at the Centre, describing the present dispensation as a “trouble-engine government”.
AICC observer Jitendra Singh echoed the allegations, claiming that the Chief Minister and his family had floated multiple companies and facilitated large land deals with corporate houses. Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia said the Chief Minister had “lost the moral right” to continue in office and that more information would be made public soon.
Claims of misinformation campaigns
The Congress also alleged that misinformation campaigns were being run on social media against its leaders using fake logos of news organisations. Following the video release, the party launched QR-code-enabled templates to make its allegations more accessible to the public.
BJP’s Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, represent the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities; two more MLAs take oath as Ministers
Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla (left) congratulates BJP Manipur Legislature Party leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh (right) as the new Chief Minister of Manipur, at Lok Bhavan in Imphal on February 4, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI
The installation of a Bharatiya Janata Party‑led National Democratic Alliance government, with a Meitei leader at the helm, brought an end to nearly a year of President’s Rule in Manipur on Wednesday (February 4, 2026).
Around 6 p.m., Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office to former Assembly Speaker and martial artist Yumnam Khemchand Singh as the State’s second Chief Minister since the 2022 election. The first, Nongthombam Biren Singh, resigned on February 9, 2025, as a casualty of the ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that broke out on May 3, 2023.
VIDEO | Imphal: Y Khemchand Singh takes oath as the new Chief Minister of Manipur.
Mr. Khemchand Singh represents the BJP from the Singjamei constituency.
The BJP’s Kangpokpi MLA, Nemcha Kipgen, from the Kuki-Zo community, and Naga People’s Front MLA Losii Dikho, a Naga leader representing the Mao constituency, were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. The former took the oath virtually from the Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.
Two other Meitei MLAs — Govindas Konthoujam of the BJP (Bishnupur seat) and Khuraijam Loken Singh of the National People’s Party (Wangoi) — were sworn in as ministers at the Lok Bhavan in Manipur’s capital, Imphal.
VIDEO | Imphal: Kuki BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen takes oath as Manipur Deputy Chief Minister virtually, while Naga leader Losii Dikho is sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister at Lok Bhavan.
The swearing-in followed the revocation of President’s Rule, which was imposed on February 13, 2025.
Two Kuki-Zo MLAs of the BJP — former Director-General of Police L.M. Khaute (Churachandpur seat) and Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh) — were present during the swearing-in ceremony. They reached Imphal from New Delhi earlier in the day, along with the other Manipur BJP leaders and the party’s central observers, Sambit Patra and Tarun Chugh.
Focus on peace
Congratulating Mr. Khemchand Singh and his team, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I’m confident they will work diligently towards furthering development and prosperity for my sisters and brothers of Manipur.”
Speaking with journalists before heading for a Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said, “Manipur has 36 communities, and, naturally, we have two Deputy Chief Ministers representing two major communities.”
He said the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the BJP’s national president Nitin Nabin entrusted him with taking the State forward and ensuring lasting peace. “There will always be challenges. We will prioritise peace and work for the State’s development and growth,” he said.
Mr. Dikho said the new government would try to fulfil the responsibilities given by the Centre. “We will reach out to the people. We will ensure inclusivity and transparency,” he said.
Reacting to opposition to the government formation from certain quarters, he said it was expected. “It takes time to get things going,” he added.
Warning to MLAs
Ms. Kipgen’s swearing-in as one of the two Deputy Chief Ministers was significant, as the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), and other organisations had asked the Kuki-Zo MLAs not to be a part of the government. These organisations want a Union Territory-like separate administration as the condition for the Kuki-Zos to participate in governance.
The KZC warned that any Kuki-Zo MLA who chooses to disregard the “collective decision” by joining the government would do so in their individual capacity and would be “held responsible for any consequences”.
An Air India and an IndiGo aircraft collided on the ground at Mumbai airport on Tuesday while carrying passengers. The incident occurred as Air India flight AI 2732 was pushing back for departure and IndiGo flight 6E 791 was taxiing after landing. Both aircraft returned to the bay for inspection. All passengers are safe, DGCA said.
ANI
An Air India and an IndiGo aircraft collided on the ground at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday. Both aircraft were carrying passengers at the time of the incident. Fortunately, all passengers are safe.
Mumbai Airport | While Air India AI2732 was taxiing from C1 towards M4 for departure, and the IndiGo arrival flight was taxing joining B1, the right wing tips of both the aircraft touched each other. Both aircraft were taxiing at the time of the incident. Both aircraft returned… pic.twitter.com/hZXxlrrx9l
The collision took place between Air India flight AI 2732, which was pushing back for its departure to Coimbatore and IndiGo flight 6E 791, which was taxiing after arriving from Hyderabad. Subsequently, both aircraft returned to the bay for inspections, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
After the incident, both Air India and Indigo issued official statements. Air India said, “Flight AI2732 operating from Mumbai to Coimbatore on 3 February was delayed after the aircraft scheduled to operate the service came into contact with another airline’s aircraft while waiting on the taxiway prior to take-off.”
Flight AI2732 operating from Mumbai to Coimbatore on 3 February was delayed after the aircraft scheduled to operate the service came into contact with another airline’s aircraft while waiting on the taxiway prior to take-off. The wingtips of the two aircraft made contact,… https://t.co/V92dd2Pxrbpic.twitter.com/dMOxOmm7Bd
“The wingtips of the two aircraft made contact, resulting in damage to our aircraft’s wingtip. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft has been grounded for further technical checks. All passengers were safely disembarked, and our ground teams are making alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination at the earliest. The incident has been reported to the regulator,” the airlines added.
We confirm that the wingtip of one of our aircraft operating flight 6E 791 from Hyderabad to Mumbai on 3 February 2026 came in contact with an aircraft of another airline while taxiing, after landing. All passengers are safe and disembarked after parking. The aircraft is… pic.twitter.com/kd016GOowi
An avalanche near the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel has blocked the Manali–Keylong road, stranding several taxis but fortunately causing no casualties.
File Image. Photo : PTI
An avalanche occurred at three different locations near the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel, resulting in the blockage of the Manali–Keylong road. Several taxis were stranded on the route, causing significant inconvenience to passengers and drivers. Fortunately, as the avalanche struck, the drivers managed to abandon their vehicles and escape in time, and no loss of life was reported. Personnel from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are engaged in efforts to retrieve the vehicles buried under the snow.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a fresh bulletin, forecasting light snowfall in the districts of Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul–Spiti, and Kinnaur.
A Defence Research and Development Organisation unit on Monday had issued an orange alert for avalanches in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, warning of dangerous snow conditions in several districts, reports The Times of India.
The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment said “Danger Level 3” avalanche conditions prevail in areas above 3,000 meters in Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu and Kinnaur districts.
Level 3 indicates a considerable avalanche risk, with deep and unstable snow on many slopes and the possibility of large avalanches. The advisory said airborne avalanches are also likely and urged local authorities to suspend movement on snow-loaded slopes and evacuate unprotected settlements.
The warning follows an avalanche on Jan. 28 in the remote Bharmour region of Chamba district, where two vehicles and three shops were swept away after a rivulet overflowed.
Meanwhile, most roads in Lahaul-Spiti remained closed due to heavy snowfall.
Earlier, as many as 655 roads, including three national highways still remain blocked for traffic in Himachal Pradesh as a result of the recent spell of heavy snowfall, affecting road connectivity at hundreds of places in the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for compromising India’s interests in a newly announced trade deal with the United States. He accused the Prime Minister of yielding to pressure and undermining Indian farmers, claiming their hard work has been sold off through this agreement.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targets PM Modi over India-US trade deal.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched an all-stock lock-barrel attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-United States trade deal, saying he compromised and sold our nation. The Congress leader said that the Prime Minister buckled under the pressure to agree on a trade deal, selling off the hard work of our farmers through the agreement with the United States.
Rahul Gandhi targeted the Centre after India-US agreed on a trade deal on late Monday night, negotiations for which have been going on for months, ever since Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on almost every nation with whom America was trading.
The announcement on the India-US trade deal was first made by US President Donald Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform and informed about the breakthrough, while praising his friend PM Modi.
How Rahul Gandhi Targeted PM Modi on India-US Trade Deal
A day after the trade deal, Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex after he was not allowed to speak in Lok Sabha over former Army Chief MM Naravane’s memoir on Galwan, launched a scathing attack at the Prime Minister, saying, “PM Modi is compromised. PM is too afraid to let me speak in Parliament about Naravane, Epstein Files, and how he has surrendered on Tariffs.”
Gandhi said the issue is not Naravane’s statement, “that is a side show”, but the main thing is that “our prime minister has been compromised”.
“I want to say three things. They are not allowing me to speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is rattled. And the trade deal that had been stuck for the last four months, for some reason which Prime Minister Modi and I know, was sealed last evening,” he said.
Gandhi also claimed that Modi is under “enormous pressure”, and his “image balloon” that had been inflated with thousands of crores could burst.
“The issue is not Naravane’s statement, that is a side show, he (Modi) and I both know it. The main thing is that our prime minister has been compromised. Who has done it and how it has been done, the people of India have to think about it,” Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi Alleges Centre Sold Farmers Hard Work
The Leader of Opposition also said the farmers of India must understand that their hard work, as well as their blood and sweat, has been “sold off” by Prime Minister Modi through this deal.
“He has sold it because he is compromised. He has not just sold you off, but the whole country. That is why they are not allowing me to speak,” Gandhi said, claiming that the prime minister is “scared”.
Rahul Gandhi Brings Up PM’s Name Mention in Epstein Files
Asked what kind of pressure he was referring to, Gandhi said there is a case against industrialist Gautam Adani in the US and a lot more is to come in the Epstein files matter.
“There is a case on Adani in the US… That is not targeting Adani but Modi’s financial structure. The Epstein files have more matter,” Gandhi said.
The Epstein files refer to thousands of pages of documents related to two criminal investigations into sex trafficking by financier Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, including travel logs, recordings, and emails, which have been a topic of conversation since Epstein died in custody in 2019.
Gandhi also called the pressure of the Epstein files and the case against Adani the two “pressure points” for the government.
What is India-US Trade Deal?
India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington will bring down reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from current 25 per cent, US President Donald Trump said on Monday after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A viral post about being denied cutlery at Delhi’s iconic restaurant has sparked an online debate on food traditions versus personal comfort. While some praised the hand-eating custom as part of the experience, others argued diners should be free to choose how they eat.
‘Obama, Trump Ate By Hand Here’: Founder Gets Unexpected Reply From Delhi Restaurant After Asking For Spoon (Image Source – X)
A light-hearted moment at one of Delhi’s most celebrated restaurants has unexpectedly snowballed into a wider online debate about dining customs and personal choice.
The discussion began after Jasveer Singh, founder of Knot Dating, shared an anecdote on X about his visit to Bukhara. He recalled asking for cutlery during the meal, only to be told by the restaurant manager that spoons were the only option available. The manager then mentioned that former US presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump had all dined there using their hands.
“The rest is up to you,” Singh quoted the manager as saying, later adding with humour that the implied message felt like, “Tum kya America se aaye ho?” He also remarked that “reverse pressure works better.”
Singh summed up the exchange in his viral post: “Asked for cutlery at Bukhara. Manager said sir spoon is allowed here – Then casually added Clinton, Obama, Trump ate by hand here. Rest is up to you. In his head, tum kya America se aaye ho! Reverse pressure works better.”
Asked for cutlery at Bukhara. Manager said sir spoon is allowed here – Then casually added Clinton, Obama, Trump ate by hand here. Rest is up to you
The post quickly gained traction, prompting a flurry of reactions from users with sharply divided views.
Many sided with the restaurant, insisting that certain dishes are meant to be eaten by hand. “You can’t eat naan with a spoon, just like you can’t eat a burger with one. It’s just common sense,” one user commented.
Another person highlighted that the practice is part of the overall dining experience and is often embraced by international guests. “It is standard. They would like you to taste the food with hand. And a lot of visitors from abroad do that. It is an experience. At both Bukhara and Peshawri,” the comment read.
Not everyone agreed, though. Some users argued that diners should have the freedom to eat as they prefer. “It’s ok. I think restaurants don’t need to be so Nazi about imposing how diners eat. Imagine going to China, Korea or Japan and restaurants refusing Indians spoons and fork and imposing chopsticks,” one user wrote.
The Union Budget aims for Viksit Bharat by 2047, emphasizing stability in policies and ongoing reforms, particularly for MSMEs, benefiting the common man.
The finance minister said two committees formed on administrative reforms in the previous budget had submitted their inputs and that Niti Aayog was working on it. (Bloomberg file photo)
Union Budget 2026-27 sets the roadmap to Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by providing stability in taxation, policies, and reforms, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, adding that her government will continue to keep up the momentum on reforms with the idea of making things “constantly better”. In an interview where she discussed the Union Budget she presented on February 1, Sitharaman also welcomed the deal with the US announced on Monday night, which reduces the tariffs on Indian exports to 18% from 50%, and suggested that the deal could also boost capital flows into India as the China+1 strategy plays out — something that could also benefit the Indian currency, which, incidentally, registered its highest single-day gain since March 2020 on Tuesday.
What are your first thoughts on the US deal?
It is a reduction in tariffs, specifically, down to 18%, which is very good news; it means our exporters now stand at an advantage compared to many of our competitors. It is a very welcome move and will be a big relief to our exporters.
And it is all the more significant because it comes soon after the conclusion of the FTA talks with the EU…
That’s right. In fact, a sequence of FTAs that we’ve completed — UAE, Australia, EFTA, New Zealand, EU, Qatar…
When one looks at this budget in the context of all your post-pandemic budgets — because that is when you changed gears — there’s a sense of continuity; that there is a big picture in your mind. What is it and how close are we to reaching it? What is the next step?
The big picture, the destination is Viksit Bharat by 2047. But the picture clarity, or the prism through which you are looking at Viksit Bharat, is stability: providing stability to the taxpayer, providing stability in policy to manufacturers, providing stability as a government for Centre-state relations, providing stability for newer visionary work, and providing stability in carrying forward reforms, further and further. So stability it is — the government is in its third term, continuing with the same Prime Minister, that’s the assurance businesses get. And this government has anyway been very responsive to the wishlist of industry. So, that’s the prism through which I am looking (at the budgets): providing that stability, with the destination in mind.
Every budget raises expectations of reforms. But do you think that most of the big bang reforms have been done, and that only incremental measures remain?
But the momentum will continue. There are always things to be done. Whoever would have imagined that we still have some laws from the 19th century? We are unearthing these and saying, “Not relevant for today, remove it”. These are basic things that the country could have done decades ago. So it is that basic desire to clean up things, remove the undergrowth, and project India as a good investment destination, a good manufacturing location, and a place from where you can export to the entire world with cost competitiveness. There’s never going to be a yes-we’ve-done-it-all kind of approach; it’s going to be to make things constantly better.
On that note, over the years, one of the things you did in tax, was not just simplifying the law, but also making processes transparent, with faceless checks etc, which made things easy at the implementation level. What we are hearing about a lot of things you’ve done to make it easier to do business is that while the laws may have been simplified, downstream…
Implementation has to go down to the very last person. Other than the departments that are being regularly reviewed. which have to take it down to the district or village level, the PM himself, once in a month, has a video conference with the district administration, where the progress of projects at the district level is listed before him. He is directly communicating with the district administration to find out what is moving and what is not, and if something isn’t moving, why — to see if there’s anything that has to be done at his level. That is the level of focus on implementation — down to the last point.
Besides this, officers posted in Delhi are asked to go back to the state cadres they belong to , and to the place of their first posting, as assistant collector or deputy DM. They are asked to go to that place, where they were first posted 30 years ago perhaps, and asked to assess the change. And to see what could be done further? That is the extent to which the last mile connect needs to happen.
I think in your last budget you mentioned a committee that would look at administrative reforms…
It’s going fine. The two committees formed on reforms have given us their inputs. Niti Aayog is also working on it. Niti Aayog has done a complete mapping of this — where are the points where the intervention has to happen. At what level, at what stage, and where.
You’ve made the pivot to debt, and not the fiscal deficit, as the anchor of your fiscal policy. But everyone is concerned about the market borrowing of states. Do you think it is sustainable for the Union government to have debt as a guiding anchor, but not states?
We expect a certain desire from the states to emulate; I meet up with all state finance ministers, both from our own party and other parties. They all agree that the piling up of debt is a burden. I have suggested that some restructure their loans. Many picked up this idea readily. Some states, including those ruled by opposition parties, have benefited. Like Telangana, where the CM openly acknowledged that his state had benefited from this restructuring.
The Union government, under Article 293 of the Constitution, has the right to have oversight over states on their borrowings. As per the FRBM (Fiscal Regulatory and Budgetary Management Act), if they go beyond 3% of their respective GDP (in terms of debt), we can intervene. The CAG also highlights this. We are not going to ignore the fiscal deficit number (when debt becomes the anchor). We will keep it in mind. But we think many states will emulate using debt as a guiding anchor.
At least the BJP-ruled states
On debt, I am finding that everyone is equally concerned, to be fair
Your budget speech also mentioned this committee on banking , and for a long time we have been speaking of the need for something like…
The last was Narasimham (Committee), right?
Yes, Narasimham-1 and 2. This will be the equivalent of Narasimham-3. Will this be confined to commercial banks, or will it also look at developmental finance?
It will look at banking in total — banking in India. Completely
The reason I am asking is because the Economic Survey has a chunk on financing Viksit Bharat, and we know that the current sector cannot optimally fund Viksit Bharat
That’s right, but it is at its healthiest best, and therefore you are in a position to assert with confidence that if there is any recommendation coming from a learned set of people, we will be in a position to sit down with the banks and talk to them. We will have to decide on the terms of reference.
Your budget speech also spoke of reviving 200 legacy industries. Can you give us some details of this?
Reviving is the wrong word. But we are looking at MSMEs. For the last three budgets we have been doing several things for MSMEs. If you talk to them, they speak of issues with liquidity, more facilities, concerns that they will lose benefits if they grow too much, access to raw materials, ease of exports…
But one thing stands out. Those clusters formed ages ago, decades ago, are all bursting at the seams. We are looking at reviving these centres — looking at how we can expand, plus look at sectors that need funding for technology…
Even in manufacturing, the budget speech listed a very diverse set of industries…
When I looked at it in terms of growth, I looked at larger manufacturing — semiconductors, chip manufacturing , electronics and components. Those are the ones that can be scaled up.
But India’s economy depends on 40% from MSMEs . We can’t ignore them. What will be their role? How will they come into this? That is where we identified that we give them better credit, professional help, equity assistance.
And the fourth one — we said, we will do this for new ones, but what will we do for MSMEs in manufacturing that have been around for decades? Like the sports goods manufacturing cluster in Jalandhar; power tools in Ludhiana; textiles in Surat; hosiery in Coimbatore and Tiruppur. Like these, around the country, there are clusters of MSMEs. They need to be energised. So there is focus on the big (new) ones — semiconductors, chips, PLIs for them — but there is also focus on the legacy ones, MSME clusters.
The budget speech also spoke about a focus on high-value agriculture…
Areas which have been languishing for a long time… At least for grains, pulses, through procurement (MSP), there is some sort of support. But we are now reaching a stage where it looks like we may even have to import coconut oil. This is an area where we were once not only self-reliant, but also big exporters.
Trees were becoming older, productivity was declining, and in some regions, many were destroyed by cyclones. It is beyond farmers to replace all of them at once.
There is such a market overseas for cold pressed coconut oil; coconut flakes.
Cocoa — we import so much. And Karnataka has plantations for them. And we are importing cashews from Ecuador; there is so much cultivation in coastal areas — a rural industry, where there are a lot of women employed.
In your speech, you also spoke of mitigating AI’s impact on employment. But this will require the government to work with the private sector where there is going to be a significant impact of the adoption of AI. Have there been any discussions on this?
MeiTY is holding a lot of discussions on this — but if you are getting tools from AI that are benefitting the common man, like I said, for farmers, handicrafts, market outreach… But who is the cadre who is going to do this work? We need people to prompt AI, to use AI. I am creating a pool of people who will have to use AI to create and find markets, get intelligence from aerial surveys on agriculture…
A political question; the 16th finance commission’s recommendations have come out and the report says many states, including some ruled by the BJP, asked for an increase in share and that some even sought a constitutional review of items outside the divisible pool of taxes. Did your party discuss this issue?
Not at all
There’s a feeling that the budget doesn’t have anything that will benefit the common man immediately and directly.
In the budget, there is direct benefit to the common man as well as indirect benefit.
Consider the changes in customs through taxation. The guy who exports goods is also part of the common man. Imagine that I run a small MSME unit and export some products, for which I import raw materials. The raw material import is very troublesome, I have to fill in a lot of paperwork and the tax – customs duties – are very high; after this, when I export the goods in the foreign market, I am not able to save because the costs are high. In this budget, what did we do? We pushed the customs duties towards zero. We made it zero in some cases, and one or two percent in others. Because of this, the costs will reduce. Then, the paperwork and compliance were also reduced by showing trust in the exporter and reducing the paperwork as much as possible. Third, importing raw materials for export is usually duty free, but with a rider – that the export of the value-added goods has to happen within six months and the paperwork has to be submitted to the department. We have changed it from six months to one year. You can import duty free, value add, and export comfortably within a year. See, for one guy who runs a small business, we reduced duties, simplified the procedures, and expanded the export window to one year. In one budget, he has got three direct benefits.
Take a woman who is a part of a self-help group in a village. Coming from a small family, she collects ₹5-10 for her savings, locally sells the products to make her corpus, and takes a loan from a bank to run the business. From such groups of women, the last few budgets helped raise many Lakhpati Didis. Through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, women are taught how local products or handicrafts can be branded, and how small shops can be run. In this budget, we announced SHE (Self-Help Entrepreneur) mart. In a village, if a woman who is part of an SHG wants to become an entrepreneur, this is a mart for them. This mart can help her sell products and digitally link to the global markets, officials can help them take loans from banks at reasonable rates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi often talks about making quality products. This is what we’ll teach them.
Women in villages want to study science. How can I encourage them? Going to college, attending lectures, tutorials, coming back home late – this is connected to the security of women. Hence, every district will have women’s hostels that will help female students. Isn’t this for the common woman in villages?
When men and women look for jobs now, they aren’t preferred if they don’t have minimum knowledge of AI. Using central funding, we have ensured AI training in ITIs in every district, funding hardware, software, machine, seats, and facilities in rooms. We are using a hub-and-spoke model. Imagine there are five districts; in one district, we’ll make a hub or centre, get AI trainers there, and use machines to do training. This hub will be linked to 4-5 neighbouring districts that will be joined to the hub – in one district, AI will help agricultural, crop yield processes and procurement; in another nearby district, AI will help small businesses, machine tools or handicrafts. In three-four states, a pilot project is on and received tremendous response. We will scale it up.
This year’s Economic Survey painted a grim picture of the world; it spoke of the external environment being challenging…
… and of our macroeconomic doing well, but that the rupee’s weakness is largely because of the external environment which doesn’t appreciate the fundamentals of our economy being good
Have you been discussing how to manage the Rupee with RBI?
It’s a fairly complex issue. Everyone says our macroeconomic fundamentals are fine. Our growth rate is steadily increasing. Our foreign exchange reserves are high — three days ago they crossed $700 billion. Then why is the Rupee becoming weaker? Because our capital inflows are reducing. Why are capital inflows reducing? Some people have exited after booking profits, but why have they not come in? We have to convince large fund managers to come in — but this is a problem facing not just us, but others as well. But after last night’s conversation, I think things will change. You will see the China+1 strategy play out fully now.
Did the economic survey’s reading of the environment make your budget-making process difficult?
No. For the last three years, we have been dealing with an uncertain world, challenges, supply chain breakdowns, not merely disruptions… You remember the issue the automobile sector faced (with chip shortages). These are the kinds of issues we have been dealing with for three budgets. So I didn’t require the economic survey to tell me that
India-US trade deal: The deal aims to strengthen bilateral trade and support Indian exporters facing competition from lower-duty countries.
India-US trade deal: India may get zero duty exports to the US after the trade deal for goods worth about $10 billion, which America allows to almost all of its FTA partners. (PTI File Photo)
The India-US trade deal exempts Indian dairy and “sensitive” agriculture items from its ambit, provides for zero-duty access to over $40 billion worth of Indian goods, and reduces customs duties on labor-intensive Indian merchandise such as textiles, leather goods, marine products, chemicals, and certain agricultural items, including processed food, to 18% from day-one, people aware of the development said on Tuesday.
Elaborating upon the basic contours of the deal announced by President Donald Trump on Monday, the people cited above said the 25% punitive tariff imposed on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil will be removed in a couple of days. Besides, the 25% reciprocal tariff imposed on goods worth about $30 billion (labour-intensive items) will become 18% days after the deal is formalised through a joint statement, they added, requesting anonymity. They were citing bilateral trade data for the calendar year 2024.
“Indian exporters were struggling to survive in their biggest market against the cheaper labour-intensive products of competing countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and Thailand because of the huge duty differential. They paid around 19%-20% against Indian exporters being charged 50%. Now, after the deal, Indian exporters will have about 1-2 percentage point duty advantage,” one of them said.
Competing countries have higher import duties in the US market. For instance Vietnam is 20%, Malaysia 19%, Bangladesh 20%, Cambodia 19% and Thailand 19%.
Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said in New Delhi that the sensitive agriculture and dairy sectors were safeguarded in a deal that will boost labour-intensive and export-oriented sectors. “This is truly a deal that every Indian can be proud of,” he added.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in an interview that India had agreed to reduce tariffs on US exports and that India’s industrial goods tariffs will go to zero from 13.5%. “India is maintaining some protection around agricultural goods,” he told CNBC in the interview.
The developments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Indian goods will face a reduced US tariff of 18% after a phone conversation with Trump, who said the two sides had concluded a trade deal whereby New Delhi will cut its tariffs to zero and buy American goods, including energy, worth more than $500 billion.
The announcement concluded nearly 12 months of tense negotiations that saw bilateral ties nosedive.
India’s labour-intensive sectors were the worst hit by the US tariffs that were the highest (50%) among competing countries. The sectors mainly comprised textiles and apparels, leather and footwear, marine products, chemicals, plastic, rubber, home decor, carpets, machinery, certain agri items, and processed agriculture products, the people cited above said.
According to them, the governments of both sides are finalising a joint statement, which will formalise the contours of the deal. Subsequently, the two sides will seal the deal after legal scrubbing. “Most of the provisions of the deal will come into force after the joint statement. Some of them could have certain specific timelines,” a second person said adding that the deal has already been negotiated in a structured manner, so it will be implemented expeditiously.
Indian government officials declined to comment on specific details of the deal before the formal joint statement as there could be some last-minute adjustments. They said, requesting anonymity, that the joint statement will formalise the understanding arrived at after lengthy negotiations.
Both Goyal and Greer separately hinted that the final language of the deal was yet to be firmed up.
“We will be shortly issuing a joint statement by both countries, along with the details which we will be shortly inking between the United States of America and India. And as soon as the final understanding of the deal is inked and the joint statement is finalised, technical processes are completed, full details will be shared,” Goyal said in Delhi.
“But I can assure the people of India, I can assure 140 crore brothers and sisters, that this is a deal that will make every Indian proud, that will protect the interest of every Indian, and provide huge opportunities for all the people of India, and will protect the sensitive sectors, the interests of our agriculture and our dairy sectors in full respect, opening up huge opportunities for our labor-intensive sectors, export sectors in textiles, plastics, apparel, home decor, leather and footwear, gems and jewelry, organic chemicals, rubber goods, machineries, so many products, aircraft components,” he said.
Greer said the Trump administration was working on finalising the trade agreement.
“”We’ll finish papering it, but we know the specifics, we know the details,” he added.
Earlier in the day, US secretary of agriculture Brooke Rollins had said that Washington will export more farm products to India as part of the deal that will pump more cash into rural America.
”Thank you US President Donald Trump for ONCE AGAIN delivering for our American farmers. New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India’s massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America. In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit. America First victory on top of the dozens of deals for ag,” she said on X.
According to the people mentioned above, the $500 billion purchase commitment is spread over five years and involves items that are primarily and essentially imported by India. “For example, with its rapid economic growth, India needs airplanes worth over $100 billion, including parts. Similarly, it will involve imports of crude oil and gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG) worth billions of dollars every year. According to available data, in the month of November 2025 alone, India saw 47.6% annualised jump in import of crude oil from the US at over $1.9 billion. In volume terms, the jump was 31.4% to 5,385,271 tonnes.
The $500 billion purchase commitment will also involve import of precious metals and stones such as diamonds (except for gold, which will have some kind of tariff rate quota or TRQ), for value-addition in India, hi-tech products, equipment for data centres and global capability centres (GCC) and semiconductors. It will also involve collaboration in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. “All these technological items and sectors are important for India’s growth and to make it a developed country, thus it will help the Indian economy immensely,” the first person said.
India may get zero duty exports to the US after the trade deal for goods worth about $10 billion, which America allows to almost all of its FTA partners. This is as per the US’ Annexure III, which is Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (PTAAP). According to the US government websites, about 2,000 products are eligible for reduced or zero duties under PTAAP, covering sectors such as natural resources, coffee, tea, fruits such as bananas and oranges, tomatoes, and fruit juices. This is besides the $4 billion worth of Indian goods already exempted, such as certain agri products, papers, and minerals.
To be sure, the US does not levy any tariff on these items for anyone.
As pharmaceuticals and mobile phones were already exempted, they will remain under the exempt category even after the deal, people mentioned above said, adding that they are exempt because they are also part of the PTAAP.
Apart from that, there are items worth $12-13 billion on which the US has imposed safeguard duties, such as steel, aluminium, auto and auto components and copper. The matter is under the ambit of the World Trade Organization and these safeguard duties are levied on everybody, the people mentioned above said.
Rubio held one-on-one talks with Jaishankar at the state department ahead of the critical minerals ministerial meeting being hosted by the US on Wednesday.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio shakes hands with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the state department in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)
External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, where the two leaders “welcomed” the trade deal reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump and discussed steps to formalise bilateral cooperation on the exploration, mining and processing of critical minerals.
Rubio held one-on-one talks with Jaishankar at the state department ahead of the first critical minerals ministerial meeting being hosted by the US on Wednesday.
The two leaders held talks on “bilateral cooperation agenda” as well as regional and global issues, Jaishankar said.
In a post on X, EAM wrote, “A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues. Facets of the India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests.”
A summary of the meeting shared by state department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio and Jaishankar “welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.”
It also said that the two leaders discussed the importance of their democracies working together to “unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals”.
The two leaders also “expressed their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad” and “acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests”, according to Pigott.
India-US trade deal
Trump and PM Modi announced the India-US trade deal after a phone call on Monday. The breakthrough came after nearly 12 months of tense talks that strained bilateral ties and left India facing some of the highest US tariffs.
PM Modi said Indian goods will now be subject to a lower US tariff of 18% after his conversation with Trump. This replaces the earlier reciprocal rate of 25%.
Jairam Ramesh said Trump had announced the halt of Operation Sindoor from Washington DC, the updates on India’s oil purchases from Russia and Venezuela from Washington.
AI-generated image.
New Delhi: Congress on Monday night targeted the union government over the Indo-US trade deal announcement by President Donald Trump, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “capitulated finally” and insisting this “cannot be the father of all deals”.
Soon after Trump announced that the US is lowering tariffs from 25% to 18% and India reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero as part of the deal, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the US President “clearly seems to have some leverage” over the Prime Minister.
Ramesh said Trump had announced the halt of Operation Sindoor from Washington DC, the updates on India’s oil purchases from Russia and Venezuela from Washington. He has now announced an India-US Trade Deal from Washington, the full details of which are awaited, Ramesh said.
He announced the halt of Op Sindoor from Washington DC.
He announced the updates on India’s oil purchases from Russia and Venezuela from Washington.
He’s now announced an India-US Trade Deal from Washington, the full details of which are awaited,
Ramesh alleged that Modi is “now mortified of even being seen with him, let alone engage in the usual bout of hugs”.
“It appears Mr Modi has capitulated finally. Surely this cannot be the father of all deals. In Washington clearly ‘Mogambo Khush Hai’,” he said recalling the iconic dialogue in Hindi movie ‘Mr India’ in which the villain says about himself ‘Mogambo is happy’.
Earlier, Ramesh referred to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announcing that Trump spoke with Modi and one should “stay tuned” for updates and said it now seems to be a routine that India gets to know of its government’s actions only from Trump or his appointees.
It seems that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump spoke to each other today. This information has been provided not by the Indian side but by the US Ambassador to India.
This now seems to be the routine – India gets to know of its Govt’s actions only from President Trump or…
“This information has been provided not by the Indian side but by the US Ambassador to India. “This now seems to be the routine — India gets to know of its government’s actions only from President Trump or his appointees. Trump-nirbharta,” he said.
‘The Prime Minister, the defence minister and the home minister were all present. If the LoP raised an issue, he should have been allowed to ask,’ Akhilesh added.
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (R). Credit: X/@yadavakhilesh
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav supported Rahul Gandhi in the midst of a heated exchange between the Opposition and treasury benches, and said that the Leader of Opposition must be allowed to speak and question the government on crucial matters. He said that when matters of national security are at hand, conversations must be allowed.
“For this country, issues of border and national security are paramount. When it comes to China border, this becomes crucial. Time and again, Samajwadi leaders have told the government that China is more dangerous to us than Pakistan. They maintain a hawk’s eye on our borders, and have taken up large swathes of our land in the past. And so, if the Leader of Opposition is questioning the government on border issues, the government must answer,” Akhilesh told reporters outside Parliament.
Despite these border issues, our volume of trade with China surpasses our trade with any other country, he added. “Border security, national security and our trade – these three things are crucial,” he said.
Important matters should be allowed to be raised. “That is the reason we have been selected and sent to Parliament. We must be allowed to put forward our issues,” he said.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility, and four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police FIR says that the firing incident carried out by the Bishni gang was intended to kill Rohit Shetty.
Mumbai Police have registered an attempt to murder case after unidentified assailants opened fire outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu on Sunday. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility, and four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
India Today TV has exclusively accessed the FIR filed in connection with the shooting, which details how a gunman fired multiple rounds towards the building where Shetty lives.
The complaint was lodged by his bodyguard, Swapnil Salunkhe, 31, who was on duty at the time of the incident.
According to investigators, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested four people from Pune on Monday evening for allegedly assisting the shooter and arranging a two-wheeler used in the crime.
Police have identified one of the wanted accused as Shubham Lonkar, said to be linked to the Bishnoi gang, while the shooter remains unidentified.
In his statement to police, Salunkhe said he was monitoring CCTV footage in the lobby of Shetty Towers around 12.45 am on Sunday when he heard a sound resembling a firecracker.
On checking the surveillance feed, he allegedly saw an unknown man wearing a black jacket and white trousers standing near the compound wall along Road No. 10 and firing towards the building with what appeared to be a pistol.
The assailant allegedly fired five rounds before fleeing towards Pushpa Park. Another bodyguard, Waheed Malik, and a security guard stationed at the gate ran outside but could not apprehend the shooter.
A police bodyguard assigned to Shetty, Ashish Rane, was alerted immediately and informed local police, who reached the spot shortly after.
Punjab has recorded a 48 percent decline in road accident deaths since the launch of the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) in February 2025, according to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday praised the two-year completion of his government’s initiative, Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), for bringing down the deaths caused by road accidents in his state by 48 per cent.
Taking to X, Mann wrote, “The country’s first road safety force, set up to ensure the safety of the people of the state, has completed two years today. Owing to this unique initiative of the government, deaths caused by road accidents have declined by 48 per cent.”
“SSF teams are reaching accident sites within just 5 to 7 minutes and immediately shifting the injured to hospitals. Other states are also getting in touch with our government to adopt this effective initiative aimed at saving invaluable lives. Every citizen’s life in the state is precious to us, and we are succeeding in our efforts to protect it,” he added.
Punjab has recorded a 48 percent decline in road accident deaths since the launch of the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) in February 2025, according to Mann. State officials attribute this turnaround to the dedicated road safety unit’s intervention across vulnerable highways and improved emergency response mechanisms. Punjab was previously among the top three states for road accident fatalities.
The Chief Minister credited the reduction to a combination of quicker hospitalisation, improved trauma response, and focused patrolling on stretches identified as accident-prone. Mann pointed to the transformation of the Patiala–Sirhind road, previously known as a “killer road,” as an example of successful intervention. Upgraded road infrastructure, including 43,000 kilometres of improved roads, has also contributed to increased safety.
According to Mann, the SSF comprises 1,597 specially trained personnel and 144 modern vehicles. The force is deployed along 4,200 kilometres of highways considered vulnerable to accidents. In addition to rapid response, the SSF works to deter traffic violations and provides assistance to injured individuals, including safeguarding their belongings.
Mann reported growing interest from other states in adopting Punjab’s approach to road safety.
He added that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed road safety in his Mann Ki Baat programme, Punjab has demonstrated practical results through the SSF model. The Chief Minister stated, “The force has been deployed along 4,200 kilometres of highways that are prone to traffic accidents. Apart from patrolling their assigned areas. The SSF also acts as a strong deterrent against traffic violations,” he noted.
Mamata Banerjee targeted Gyanesh Kumar, comparing his conduct to that of former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee clashed with the Election Commission over electoral roll revisions, accusing CEC Gyanesh Kumar of disrespect. (File photo) (ANI)
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday held an acrimonious meeting with the Election Commission in Delhi over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the Trinamool Congress chief accusing chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of “insulting, disrespecting and humiliating” her.
Wearing black shawls as a mark of protest, Banerjee, accompanied by party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, MP Kalyan Banerjee, and eight people allegedly affected by SIR, walked out of the meeting about an hour after it began.
“We boycotted the CEC and walked out. We were insulted, disrespected and humiliated. I have never seen this kind of CEC. He is very arrogant. He behaved so badly with us. We meet him to get justice. We never got justice. You are doing injustice. He is a great liar. All are garbage of lies,” Banerjee told reporters after coming out of Nirvachan Sadan.
Banerjee targeted Kumar, comparing his conduct to that of former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. “Today you are acting on BJP’s orders. Dhankhar also acted in the same way. He was the Governor of our state who always used to oppose us. We used to respect him. But there is a ‘Laxman Rekha’. Your fate would be the same as Dhankhar. You are not including voters in the electoral roll. You are deleting their names,” she said.
“You can save your chair today. You won’t be able to save it tomorrow (in future). I have seen many CECs – SY Quraishi and TN Seshan. They were very strong. They never became a parrot for any political party,” she added.
The EC said the CEC told the delegation that the rule of law will prevail and that any intimidation, obstruction or interference in SIR work would be dealt with strictly.
The commission flagged alleged threats against election officials, incidents of vandalism at electoral registration officer’s premises, unauthorised transfers of electoral roll observers, failure to act against officials accused of data security violations, and delays in payment of booth-level officer honorariums with only ₹7,000 of the approved ₹18,000 released so far.
“A TMC delegation led by Banerjee, met the commission and raised certain issues relating to the ongoing SIR in WB… TMC MLAs are openly using abusive and threatening language against the Commission and especially against the CEC. Also threatening the election officials. There have been incidents of vandalisation of the ERO offices by TMC workers and MLAs. No pressure, obstruction, or interference of any kind by anyone should be exerted on officers engaged in SIR work,” the poll panel said in a statement.
The SIR began in Bengal in November last year and the draft rolls shed 5.82 million names, the deletion percentage of 7.6% being the lowest among states that go to the polls this summer. Among the 12 regions where the process is underway, the most protests and controversies have been recorded in Bengal, where the ruling TMC is staunchly opposed to SIR and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named infiltration as a key poll plank.
Banerjee has written five letters to the CEC, convened review meetings with district administrations, and instructed party workers to help affected voters file claims and objections, warning that technical glitches and procedural lapses could distort electoral rolls before polls. EC has denied the allegations.
The TMC took at least 100 families of booth-level officers and electors who died by suicide or suffered cardiac arrest allegedly due to SIR and also those declared dead despite being alive, to Delhi. Eight of these families were a part of the TMC delegation which met the CEC.
Asked whether the TMC will boycott the assembly elections, Banerjee said, “We will never boycott the election. I will never commit this blunder. We will fight it out. They have taken over the government at least six months before the assembly elections. They are not allowing the government to work. They are behaving as if President’s Rule has been imposed in the state. Bengal is being targeted,”
The Uttar Pradesh government has withheld the January salaries of over 68,000 state employees for failing to upload details of their movable and immovable properties on the Manav Sampada Portal. Employees were required to submit information by January 31, 2026, as part of mandatory online disclosure. The government has warned that non-compliance may also affect promotions.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath | ANI
The Uttar Pradesh government has withheld the salaries of more than 68,000 state government employees for not uploading details of their movable and immovable properties on the Manav Sampada Portal, officials said on Monday.
Mandatory Asset Disclosure
The move comes after the state government made online disclosure of assets mandatory for all its employees as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in public service. Uttar Pradesh has over eight lakh state government employees across various departments.
According to the government order, all employees were required to upload details of movable and immovable assets acquired up to December 31, 2025, on the Manav Sampada Portal by January 31, 2026. It was clearly stated that failure to comply with the deadline would result in the withholding of the January salary, to be paid in February.
Advance Notice
A senior government official said the instructions had been communicated well in advance. “Despite repeated reminders, more than 68,000 employees did not submit their property details within the stipulated time. As per the order, their salaries have been stopped,” the official said.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary had directed that all officers and employees must mandatorily submit details of assets acquired up to December 31, 2024, on the portal by January 31. “The facility for uploading asset details has been made available from January 1, and there is no justification for non-compliance,” the Chief Secretary had said while issuing the directive.
Strict Compliance
The order also asks all heads of departments to ensure strict compliance by officers and employees working under them. “Non-submission of property details within the prescribed time limit will be viewed adversely,” the order states.
Air India’s Boeing 787-8 flight AI-132 faced a critical fuel control switch malfunction, mirroring the deadly AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad last year. The aircraft landed safely, but aviation experts demand an independent probe, citing potential mechanical flaws. Authorities and Air India face calls for urgent transparency and fleet-wide inspections.
Air India London-bound Ai171 flight crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12 |
Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is under renewed scrutiny following a serious technical occurrence of the fuel cut-off switch on flight AI-132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, as it involves the exact same mechanical failure suspected in the catastrophic AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad last June.
Fuel Switch Malfunction Reported
The cockpit crew of the Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANX, reported that the left engine fuel control switch exhibited abnormal behavior during operation on Monday. According to internal sources, the fuel control switch – which regulates the flow of fuel to the engine – bypassed its mechanical lock to remain locked in the run position and moved toward the cutoff position without pilot intervention. The crew managed to stabilise the switch and prevented an uncommanded engine shutdown, continuing to a safe landing in Bengaluru at 11.58am.
Air India Grounds Aircraft
Air India acknowledged the incident and said that the aircraft has been grounded upon landing and is looking into the incident. “We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator,” said an airline spokesperson.
Echoes AI-171 Crash
This incident directly mimics the final seconds of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed on June 12 last year, killing all 260 people on board. According to the preliminary investigation report, the switches of the ill-fated AI-171 moved to the cutoff position just 32 seconds after takeoff, despite the ‘lift-and-throw’ safety guard designed to prevent accidental activation. The cockpit voice recorder captured a haunting exchange where one pilot asked, “Why did you cut-off?” to which the other replied, “I didn’t.”
FAA Had Flagged Risk
In 2018, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had identified the risk on a series of Boeing models, including the 787-8 and 787-9 models of the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. After the AI-171 crash, the DGCA had directed all the Indian airlines to carry out mandatory checks of the fuel control switches on its Boeing aircraft, following which Air India had also checked the switches and stated that it found no issues.
Experts Demand Independent Probe
Aviation experts have raised serious concerns over the AI-171 crash, which is reportedly moving towards deliberate pilot error, and have demanded for an independent probe as the new malfunction on AI-132 provides the first tangible evidence of a potential systemic mechanical flaw. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) and deceased Captain Sumit Sabharwal’s father have already filed petitions demanding an independent inquiry.
Calls for Transparent Disclosure
Following the AI-132 incident, New Delhi-based Safety Matters Foundation has called for an immediate and transparent disclosure by the DGCA and Air India of the findings from the inspection of VT-ANX, re-evaluation of the earlier precautionary checks and an urgent regulatory review by the DGCA to determine if this is an isolated incident or indicative of a fleet-wide issue requiring immediate airworthiness direction action.
Concerns Over Precautionary Checks
The organisation’s founder Capt. Amit Singh said, “What makes this event deeply troubling is not only that it happened but that it occurred after Air India publicly stated that it had conducted precautionary checks across its 787 fleet and found no issues. This discrepancy raises urgent questions: Were the checks thorough? Is this a new, recurring defect? Passengers and crew deserve unambiguous answers.”
The pilot defect report, accessed by The Free Press Journal, reads, “Left fuel control switch slips run to cutoff when pushed down slightly. It does not lock in its position.”
Whistleblower Report Raises Questions
A whistleblower report submitted to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on January 12 highlighted that VT-ANB, which crashed in Ahmedabad last year, had a long history of electrical and computing system faults, including a major electrical fire in 2022. Aviation experts from across the country have now raised concerns over the narrative about deliberate pilot error.
The son, Mihir, had recently returned to Ranchi from Kolkata. According to police, he died by suicide after hanging himself at the family’s residence.
The case is currently being investigated from all possible angles.
A young chartered accountant is dead, and his mother and teenage sister are in critical condition following an apparent coordinated suicide attempt at their home in the Ashok Nagar district of Ranchi.
The son, Mihir, had recently returned to Ranchi from Kolkata. According to police, he died by suicide after hanging himself at the family’s residence.
By the time neighbours and police reached the residence, Mihir had already died.
Police said Mihir’s mother, Sneha Akhouri, and his 14-year-old sister also attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance. Sneha Akhouri is a practising lawyer at the Jharkhand High Court.
Both were immediately rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Ranchi. Doctors have said that their condition remains critical.
According to initial information, Mihir had completed his Chartered Accountancy studies in Kolkata and had recently returned home. Reports suggest that he had also secured a job with a corporate company.
The sudden nature of the incident has raised questions, as there were no immediate indications of distress known to neighbours.
Police And Forensic Teams Begin Probe
After receiving information, the police team reached the spot and began an investigation. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was also called in to collect evidence from the house. Police have questioned nearby residents and neighbours as part of the investigation.
The absence of any official communication from PCB will mean that the ICC will have to wait before deciding its next course of action.
akistan will not send any formal email to the ICC regarding boycotting the T20 World Cup match against India
The drama around the India-Pakistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match in Colombo is not ending. A day after the Government of Pakistan tweeted that their men’s cricket team will boycott the Group A match against India in Colombo on February 15, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided not to send any formal mail to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding boycotting the match against India.
“Pakistan will not send any formal email to the ICC regarding boycotting the T20 World Cup match against India,” sources told NDTV.
If PCB will not formally inform the global cricket body about their government’s decision then the India-Pakistan match will remain active and the drama over boycott will go on for coming days as well.
According to the report, the ICC is waiting for an official communication from the PCB, and the absence of any official communication will mean that the ICC may also have to wait before deciding its next course of action.
India to travel Colombo despite Pakistan’s boycott
India will travel to Colombo for their T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan on February 15 and attend the pre-match press conference on the eve of the fixture. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav will have to walk out for the toss to get a walkover. Once Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha doesn’t appear for the toss, the referee will award a walkover and two points to India.
If India doesn’t go to Colombo, the referee will award one point each to both teams.
ICC to ban Pakistan?
ICC will punish Pakistan if they boycott match against India and they potentially face the risk of being barred from international cricket as well. There’s a possibility that ICC may take a strong stance and ban Pakistan from participating in the upcoming shortest-format mega event.
If Pakistan is thrown out of the T20 World Cup 2026, then they are likely to be replaced by Uganda.
‘Parents have no time to talk to the children.So what is the substitute? Money, ATM card,’ Justice Nagarathna.
Justice BV Nagarathna of the Supreme Court on Monday made strong oral observations on parental responsibility, while hearing bail pleas connected to the 2024 Pune Porsche accident in which two persons were killed.
After dictating an order granting bail to three accused alleged to have conspired to swap blood samples in the case, Justice Nagarathna squarely placed the spotlight on parents who hand over cars and money to their children without exercising control.
Noting the seriousness of the incident and the subsequent attempt to cover up, she remarked that the accused got bail only on the ground of liberty, as there was long incarceration. “We have much to say on this. Two innocent lives were lost and then all these machinations. But the only thing in your favour is that there is a long incarceration. So liberty versus all that, ultimately,” Justice Nagarathna said.
She clarified that the court was refraining from making detailed findings as it could prejudice the ongoing trial.
Father and mother are to be blamed for not having control over their children. If we say anything on that line we are only afraid that it may prejudice the trial against these appellants,” Justice Nagarathna said.
She criticised the idea of celebration linked with substance use and reckless driving. “Celebration is not on the basis of substance and then going in a top speed and resulting in killing of innocent people on the road or innocent people sleeping on the road,” she observed.
Justice Nagarathna further remarked that the court had noted such cases in the past as well. When Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the mother of the deceased woman, said that such cases followed a fixed pattern, Justice Nagarathna responded in agreement.
Sankaranarayanan then said, “Get some poor driver to take the rap saying we were not driving that person was driving, replace blood samples, say no alcohol, 3 years and go.
The law has to catch up on these people. Most importantly the parents are responsible for handing over the vehicle to the children and giving them sufficient funds to have a gala time,” she said.
Justice Nagarathna also opined that a social problem is reflected in such incidents. “This is the problem. Because parents have no time to talk to the children, have a dialogue with them and spend time with the children. So what is the substitute? Money, ATM card. So they go on their own under mobile phone,” she said.
The remarks were made during the hearing of bail pleas filed by Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad, who are accused of conspiring to swap blood samples of two minors seated in the back of the car after the accident.
Addressing reporters after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Ram Temple Construction Committee here, Mishra said that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Tata Consultancy, which are executing key works at the site, will exit the temple complex by April 30 once construction is over.
Directions have been issued to complete all paperwork.
All construction work related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya is expected to be completed by April 30, with the overall cost of the project estimated at around Rs 1,900 crore, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra said on Saturday.
Addressing reporters after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Ram Temple Construction Committee here, Mishra said that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Tata Consultancy, which are executing key works at the site, will exit the temple complex by April 30 once construction is over.
Mishra further informed that directions have been issued to complete all paperwork and bill payment procedures by the same date.
“L&T and Tata Consultancy have offered a three-year warranty for all the work carried out by them. For maintenance and upkeep, a small team from both organisations will remain deployed inside the temple complex,” he said.
He added that after April 30, all agreements with L&T, Tata Consultancy and the State Construction Corporation will be taken over by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The incident occurred on the evening of January 30, when Sayak visited Olypub with two friends and ordered a mutton steak.
“It was a genuine mistake with no harm intended,” said Olypub (File)
Popular Park Street bar-cum-restaurant Olypub has issued a formal apology after unintentionally serving beef instead of goat meat to YouTuber Sayak Chakraborty, prompting him to withdraw his police complaint against the waiter involved.
The incident occurred on the evening of January 30, when Sayak visited Olypub with two friends and ordered a mutton steak.
According to his complaint, they were mistakenly served beef, leading to an altercation with the waiter and manager. Sayak later shared a video of the exchange on social media, which quickly went viral.
In its official statement released Sunday, Olypub said, “On the evening of 30th January 2026, one of our waiters made a very serious but unintentional error while serving. It was a genuine mistake with no harm intended. We are truly sorry for his mistake and apologise profusely for inadvertently hurting our customer’s sentiments.”
The restaurant added, “Olypub is built on a foundation of respect for all – irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender. We are proud of our 80-year legacy and renew our commitment to treat all our patrons and staff with respect and dignity always. We are truly humbled by the immense support we have received from our well-wishers and thank every one of you for standing by us at this time. We assure you of our best, always.”
Following Sayak’s complaint, Park Street Police arrested the waiter, Sheikh Nasiruddin, under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. He was denied bail upon being produced in court.
However, the situation escalated further when Joyraj Bhattacharjee, a resident of Howrah, filed a counter-complaint against Sayak, accusing him of attempting to incite communal unrest through a conspiracy.
Amid mounting social media backlash over his handling of the incident, Sayak announced the withdrawal of his complaint.
PM Modi said Budget 2026-27 was “human-centric,” strengthened India’s foundation with “path-breaking reforms,” and boosted women, youth and sunrise sectors.
A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Union Budget 2026 is “human-centric and strengthens India’s foundation with path-breaking reforms.”
The Prime Minister also described it as historic and a catalyst for accelerating the country’s reform trajectory and long-term growth.
In remarks following the presentation of the Budget in Parliament, PM Modi said the proposals would energise the economy, empower citizens and give India’s youth fresh opportunities to scale new heights.
“This budget brings the dreams of the present to life and strengthens the foundation of India’s bright future. This budget is a strong foundation for our high-flying aspirations of a developed India by 2047,” he said.
Calling the government’s reform agenda a “Reform Express,” the Prime Minister added, “The reform express that India is riding today will gain new energy and new momentum from this budget.”
“The path-breaking reforms that have been undertaken give the bold, talented youth of an aspirational India the open skies to soar.”
Highlighting the country’s ambitions on the global stage, PM Modi said Indians were determined to climb further up the economic ladder.
“The 140 crore citizens of India are not satisfied with being the fastest-growing economy; we want to become the world’s third-largest economy as soon as possible,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister underlined what he described as the inclusive and people-focused nature of the Budget, noting that sunrise sectors, infrastructure and capital expenditure had received major encouragement.
He said young people would benefit the most from the new policy thrusts and trade initiatives outlined in the fiscal blueprint.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to the role of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented her ninth consecutive Budget in Parliament.
“Today’s budget is historic. It reflects the strong empowerment of the nation’s women. As a woman Finance Minister, Nirmala ji has created a new record by presenting the country’s budget for the ninth consecutive time,” he said.
“This budget is a highway of immense opportunities. It turns today’s aspirations into reality and strengthens the foundation of India’s bright future,” PM Modi said.
He added that the Budget struck a balance between fiscal discipline and growth ambitions.
“This is a unique budget that focuses on reducing the fiscal deficit and controlling inflation, while also emphasising high CAPEX and high growth. We aim to become the world’s third-largest economy soon,” the Prime Minister noted.
The remarks came as Sitharaman outlined three key “Kartavyas” in her speech, accelerating and sustaining economic growth, fulfilling people’s aspirations by building their capacities, and ensuring inclusive access to resources in line with the government’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’ vision.
She also said the Reform Express would maintain its momentum and proposed interventions in six areas, including manufacturing, MSMEs, infrastructure and city economic regions.
Police sources say the accused allegedly murdered his parents and sister who was pregnant out of wedlock
Police claim that driven by rage and believing the situation had brought “dishonour” to the family, Akshay allegedly planned and executed the murders.
A triple murder reported from Karnataka’s Vijayanagara district has taken a dramatic turn, with police now investigating the case with the angle that this could be a case of alleged honour killing planned to the last detail and the missing complaint was made only to mislead investigators.
Police sources say the accused, Akshay Kumar, is alleged to have murdered his father Bhimaraj, mother Jayalakshmi, and his 18-year-old sister Amrutha at their rented house in Kotturu town, where the family had been living for the past few years. The murders are believed to have taken place on January 27.
According to Thilaknagar police, Akshay was enraged after discovering that his sister was pregnant and that the pregnancy was out of wedlock. Investigators said the accused opposed the relationship as the man Amrutha was in love with belonged to a different caste.
Investigators said the family, including the parents, had refused to force Amrutha to abort the child, a decision that allegedly angered Akshay further, as he felt his objections carried no weight within the family and claimed his sister had “disgraced the family.”
Police claim that driven by rage and believing the situation had brought “dishonour” to the family, Akshay allegedly planned and executed the murders. The bodies were later buried inside the house to conceal the crime.
After committing the murders, Akshay allegedly travelled to Bengaluru on January 29 and attempted to divert suspicion by filing a missing persons complaint at the Tilak Nagar police station, claiming his parents and sister were untraceable.
Investigators said the accused went to great lengths to mislead the police, drawing inspiration from the Malayalam film Drishyam. He allegedly took photographs outside Jayadeva Hospital to create a false trail suggesting he had been in the city searching for his family. Police said he also collected bus tickets, switched mobile numbers, and shared misleading location details to confuse investigators.
During the probe, police initially focused on tracing Amrutha, given information that she was pregnant. Teams searched several hospitals in Bengaluru to check whether she had been admitted or harmed.
Bird flu has been confirmed in Naugachia subdivision of Bhagalpur district after over 150 crows were found dead. Authorities have launched sanitisation and surveillance drives to contain the outbreak and prevent spread to poultry farms.
A sanitisation drive has now been launched in a 10-kilometre radius around the affected zone.
Bird flu has been confirmed in Naugachia subdivision of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district after more than 150 crows were found dead, prompting an emergency response from the district administration.
Panic spread across the area when residents on a morning walk on January 11 spotted a large number of dead crows lying under a tree within the sub-divisional complex.
Several other birds were also seen in a distressed condition. The sudden deaths raised fears of a possible avian influenza outbreak among locals.
Following the incident, teams from the Forest Department reached the site and removed the dead birds safely. A joint team from the Forest and Animal Husbandry departments then collected samples for laboratory testing. The serum samples were sent to high-level laboratories in Patna and Bhopal for confirmation.
District Animal Husbandry Officer Anjali Kumari officially confirmed that the test reports from both labs detected the bird flu virus.
After the Bhopal report verified the infection, the district administration moved into full alert mode. A sanitisation drive has now been launched in a 10-kilometre radius around the affected zone.
Officials are also collecting samples from poultry farms in the surrounding area to prevent any possible spread to domestic birds. Surveillance and monitoring have been intensified across the subdivision.
The administration has stated that the situation remains under control but precautionary measures are being taken seriously.
A video featuring the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar has gained attention after his wife, Sunetra Pawar, became Maharashtra’s first female deputy chief minister following his death in a plane crash. The clip, shared by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, shows Ajit Pawar expressing his outrage over political opportunism soon after the death of BJP leader Girish Bapat.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28. (File Image) Photo : Twitter
A video of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar criticising the rush for political succession after a death has resurfaced on social media, just a day after his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister following his death in an air crash.
Ajit Pawar, in the video shared by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday, can be seen sharply criticising what he describes as the unseemly haste to discuss elections and political succession soon after the death of BJP leader Girish Bapat. He had expressed anger that political conversations had begun even before traditional mourning rituals were completed, and questions the urgency shown by political aspirants at a time when, he says, basic human sensitivity should have taken precedence.
“I was furious when I went to meet Girish Bapat’s family — even his ashes had not yet been immersed. I went on the third day. What is going on here? If elections don’t happen immediately, will someone die? Have some shame. Have we all forgotten humanity? If something happens in your house or mine, we stay silent for 13–14 days. If people keep quiet for even a month, what will go wrong? Again and again, there are discussions only about ambitions and people even putting up posters to become MP. What’s happening? What’s the hurry?,” he had said in Marathi in 2023.
Girish Bapat, a five-time MLA and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Pune, died in June 2023 following prolonged illness. A prominent BJP leader, he was credited with strengthening the party’s base in Pune and had a long association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His death triggered a bypoll in Kasba Peth assembly seat, which the BJP lost to the Congress.
The resurfacing of Ajit Pawar’s remarks comes in the wake of dramatic political developments following his death on January 28 in a plane crash in Baramati. Three days later, his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti government.
The US is enhancing its air and missile defences in the Middle East amid concerns of potential Iranian retaliation, while President Trump refrains from ordering military strikes. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group and advanced fighter jets have been deployed, but extensive airstrikes on Iran are not imminent.
This photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows a Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet landing on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean on Jan. 22, 2026. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel Kimmelman/U.S. Navy via AP)
The United States is moving additional air and missile defences into the Middle East as it prepares for the possibility of Iranian retaliation, even as President Donald Trump stops short of ordering military strikes, according to US officials, reports Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s promised “armada,” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, has arrived in the region, along with advanced fighter jets. However, officials say US airstrikes on Iran are not imminent as the Pentagon focuses on strengthening defences to protect Israel, Arab allies and American forces in the event of a broader conflict.
While the US could conduct limited airstrikes if ordered, officials say a decisive attack would likely provoke a strong Iranian response, requiring robust air defences across the region.
The Pentagon is deploying an additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and Patriot missile systems to bases where US troops are stationed, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to defense officials and satellite imagery cited by The Wall Street Journal. THAAD systems intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude, while Patriots target lower-altitude threats.
“The air defense question is key—the extent to which we have sufficient materiel to ensure that our troops and assets in the region are going to be protected from some kind of Iranian retaliation,” said Suzanne Maloney, a former State Department official on Iran policy.
Trump has said Iran appears to be negotiating seriously but warned of “big, powerful ships heading in that direction” if diplomacy fails. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded by saying, “The Americans should know if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”
The importance of air defences was highlighted during last June’s 12-day conflict, when U.S. forces helped defend Israel from Iranian missile barrages. The U.S. later carried out “Midnight Hammer,” striking Iranian nuclear sites. Iran retaliated by launching missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where Patriot systems intercepted most of the attack.
Jaiswal said instead of parroting frivolous claims, Pakistan would do better to focus on “addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region”
Bystanders walk past a burnt vehicle along a road on the outskirts of Quetta on February 1, 2026 a day after an attack by Baloch separatists. (AFP)
NEW DELHI: India on Sunday rejected allegations by Pakistan’s civilian and military authorities linking New Delhi to a series of attacks in Balochistan, and this was part of the usual tactics to deflect attention from Islamabad’s internal failings.
Following attacks at almost a dozen locations in Balochistan that were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi alleged that India was behind the coordinated assaults in the southwestern province. The Pakistani military’s media arm claimed the attacks were launched by “Indian sponsored Fitna al Hindustan,” a term the army uses for the BLA.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to the comments from the Pakistani side by saying: “We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, which are nothing but its usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings.
“Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, it would do better to focus on addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region,” he said, referring to demands from the people of Balochistan for greater autonomy and control over the exploitation of the province’s natural resources, including gas and minerals.
Pakistan’s “record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known”, Jaiswal said.
Pakistani authorities have said the coordinated attacks that targeted cities such as the provincial capital Quetta and the port city of Gwadar killed 18 civilians and 15 troops. Suicide bombers and BLA’s women fighters were involved in the attacks. Pakistan’s military has said it killed 133 militants in separate operations in Balochistan.
Nipah virus does not just infect the body, it disrupts immune defences at multiple levels, suppressing early antiviral responses and triggering harmful inflammation.
Nipah virus is among the deadliest zoonotic infections known to humans, with fatality rates ranging from 40 to 75 per cent in reported outbreaks. What makes the virus especially dangerous is not just its ability to infect vital organs like the brain and lungs, but the way it manipulates the body’s immune system, preventing an effective defence while simultaneously triggering damaging inflammation. Unlike many viral infections where a strong immune response leads to recovery, Nipah virus creates a paradox. The immune system responds aggressively, yet inefficiently. As a result, patients often deteriorate rapidly, even when they are young and previously healthy.
According to Dr. Dip Narayan Mukherjee, Consultant – Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI, Nipah virus is particularly lethal because it outpaces, suppresses and misdirects immune responses, leaving the body unable to clear the infection in time. Understanding this immune disruption is critical to explaining why Nipah causes severe encephalitis, multi-organ failure and high mortality, and why early detection and containment remain the most effective tools against it.
How Nipah Virus Disarms The Body’s First Line Of Defence
The immune system’s earliest response to viral infection comes from the innate immune system, which relies heavily on interferons, signalling proteins that warn neighbouring cells and activate antiviral mechanisms.
“The Nipah virus is particularly dangerous because it does not merely infect the body, it actively disrupts and overwhelms the immune system, making it difficult for the body to mount an effective defence,” explains Dr. Mukherjee.
“One of the earliest ways Nipah evades immunity is by interfering with the body’s innate immune response,” he adds. “Nipah virus suppresses this interferon response, allowing the virus to multiply rapidly before the immune system can react adequately.”
Studies published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and virology research institutions show that Nipah virus proteins block interferon signalling pathways, giving the virus a critical head start before immune defences are fully activated.
Blood Vessels, Inflammation And Immune Chaos
As the infection spreads, Nipah virus targets the endothelial cells lining blood vessels, a defining feature that distinguishes it from many respiratory viruses. “As the infection progresses, Nipah targets the lining of blood vessels, causing widespread inflammation. This vascular involvement not only facilitates the spread of the virus to multiple organs, including the brain, but also leads to immune dysregulation,” says Dr. Mukherjee.
This vascular damage triggers an exaggerated immune response. Instead of a focused antiviral attack, the body releases high levels of inflammatory molecules, leading to tissue injury, swelling and organ dysfunction. This phenomenon is similar to, but often more aggressive than, the cytokine storms seen in other viral illnesses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this widespread inflammation contributes to respiratory failure, neurological symptoms and circulatory collapse in severe cases.
Immune Exhaustion: When Defence Cells Burn Out
Another hallmark of Nipah infection is immune exhaustion. “While Nipah does not primarily infect white blood cells, the intense inflammatory environment it creates leads to immune exhaustion. Key immune cells become overactivated and then functionally impaired,” Dr. Mukherjee explains.
This overactivation followed by functional shutdown means immune cells lose their ability to control viral replication. As a result, the virus continues to spread unchecked, accelerating clinical decline.
Research from high-containment laboratory studies has shown that T-cells and other immune responders become ineffective during advanced Nipah infection, a key reason why supportive care alone often fails in late stages.
Why Antibodies Arrive Too Late
The adaptive immune system, which produces virus-specific antibodies and T-cells, also struggles to keep pace. “The adaptive immune response, which includes antibody production and virus-specific T-cell activity, also struggles to keep pace with the speed of Nipah infection,” says Dr. Mukherjee.
“By the time neutralising antibodies are generated, the virus may have already caused significant organ damage, particularly in the brain,” he adds. This delay explains why even individuals with no underlying health conditions can develop severe encephalitis. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), this rapid neurological involvement is a defining clinical feature of Nipah virus disease.
What Happens When Nipah Reaches The Brain
Once Nipah crosses the blood-brain barrier, the immune system faces another dilemma. “The brain’s immune defences are naturally restrained to prevent damage, but this allows the virus to persist,” Dr. Mukherjee explains. “At the same time, inflammation in the brain leads to swelling, seizures and encephalitis, further complicating immune control.”
This restricted immune response, combined with viral persistence, leads to severe neurological symptoms including altered consciousness, seizures and coma. Brain inflammation remains the leading cause of death in Nipah outbreaks.
Why Early Detection Is Crucial
“The body’s struggle against Nipah is therefore not due to a lack of immune effort, but rather to the virus’s ability to outpace, suppress and misdirect immune responses,” Dr. Mukherjee notes.
This understanding explains why early detection, rapid isolation and intensive supportive care remain the cornerstone of management. At present, there are no approved antivirals or vaccines for routine use, though experimental therapies are under investigation. Until targeted treatments become widely available, public health measures, surveillance, contact tracing and infection control, remain the most effective defences against Nipah virus.
The budget presentation this year is set to be unique among all budgets presented in the last 75 years, government sources told Hindustan Times.
A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Breaking from long-standing tradition, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to deliver a Union Budget speech on Sunday, February 1, that will place unprecedented emphasis on Part B of the Budget, government sources said. The Union Budget 2026 speech is expected to look markedly different from those delivered over the past 75 years, with the second part of the Budget speech taking centre stage.
Sitharaman will present her record ninth consecutive Union Budget, with expectations high around reforms and planned government expenditure. However, unlike previous years where the speech largely focused on Part A – which outlines planned initiatives and sectoral strategies – this year’s presentation is expected to devote significant time and detail to Part B.
Government sources said the finance minister is likely to speak at length in Part B, marking a clear departure from earlier budget speeches where the section consisted of only a few announcements.
“Part B of the Budget speech will place strong emphasis on both short-term and long-term goals,” sources said, adding that it would reflect India’s economic vision and priorities as the country moves deeper into the second quarter of the 21st century.
According to the sources, Part B will also offer a roadmap for showcasing India’s local strengths on the global stage, highlighting the country’s current capabilities as well as its future potential.
The second part of the Budget is expected to draw significant attention from economists and experts in India and around the world, given its broader implications for the economy and policy direction, the sources said.
Officials described this year’s budget presentation as a rare departure from convention, noting that earlier speeches typically contained extensive detail in Part A, while Part B remained relatively brief.
The presentation of the Budget for April 2026 to March 2027 fiscal will be on Sunday, a first in independent India’s history.
The Indian Navy is shifting its approach to naval diplomacy from high-profile visibility to empowering regional partners with essential security tools.
From Port Calls to Platforms: How India Is Rewriting Naval Diplomacy Photo : Times Now
For decades, the standard currency of naval diplomacy has been visibility. If a nation wanted to project influence, it sent a destroyer to a foreign port, hosted a fleet review, or conducted ahigh-profile ceremonial exchange. But lately, the Indian Navy is quietly pivoting away from the spectacle of “showing the flag” toward a more utilitarian objective: giving its partners the tools to secure their own backyards. This is a fundamental rereading of what influence looks like in the 21st century. Instead of seeking overseas bases or permanent deployments—which can often feel like an encroachment—India is supplying platforms, surveillance tech, and coordination infrastructure. Officials frame this as a move from “patronage” to genuine “partnership.” The logic is refreshingly simple: a neighbor who can police their own waters is harder to coerce and less reliant on external security guarantees.
The blueprint is unfolding most clearly in Southeast Asia. In July 2023, the Indian Navy transferred the missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam. This wasn’t just a routine handover–it was the first time that India had gifted a fully operational warship to a foreign nation. The choice of recipient was just as telling as the hardware. Vietnam is a frontline territory in the South China Sea, which is facing constant pressure in waters where the margin for error is razor-thin. Handing over the 1,450-tonneKhukri-class corvette was just not a diplomatic handshake, but it provided a tangible asset to strengthen Hanoi’s coastal defense. It was a clear signal that the ‘Act East’ policy has moved beyond conference rooms and into the realm of hard assets.
A similar, perhaps grittier, calculation is visible in the Western Indian Ocean. In November 2024, India delivered two Fast Interceptor Crafts to Mozambique. These aren’t blue-water behemoths designed foropen ocean warfare; they are agile, high-speed vessels built for the messy reality of littoral security. With the insurgency in Cabo Delgado spilling over into sea lanes and threatening offshore gas installations, Mozambique needed tools for a specific kind of fight—counter-smuggling, anti-piracy, and stopping militant movements. By supplying these specific boats, India acknowledged that local navies don’t always need destroyers; sometimes, they just need to move fast in shallow waters. It aligns perfectly with India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which prioritises shared responsibility over unilateral policing.
Closer to home, the strategy shifts from hardware to the ‘nervous system’ of maritime security. In June 2024, a new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) went live in Colombo. It was backed by a $6 million grant from India. This facility allows Sri Lanka to integrate coastal surveillance and manage maritime incidents in real time. The location matters immensely. Sri Lanka sits astride some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Crucially, the system includes a sub-center in Hambantota. Despite the geopolitical noise surrounding that port’s lease to China, India chose functional engagement over strategic avoidance. It was a pragmatic bet that information sharing is more valuable than political posturing.
A former MLA and minister, Dr Sidhu was initially elected on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket before joining the Congress along with her husband. In recent years, she has remained in the public eye for her outspoken views on internal party matters.
Senior Punjab leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of former Punjab Congress chief and ex-cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, has resigned from the Congress
Senior Punjab leader Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of former Punjab Congress chief and ex-cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, has resigned from the Congress, setting off fresh political churn in the state.
Dr Sidhu announced her decision in a post on social media platform X, launching a sharp attack on Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. She accused him of mismanaging the party and weakening its organisational strength for personal political gain.
A former MLA and minister, Dr Sidhu was initially elected on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket before joining the Congress along with her husband. In recent years, she has remained in the public eye for her outspoken views on internal party matters.
Earlier, Dr Sidhu had levelled serious allegations against senior Congress leaders in Punjab and had publicly stated that Navjot Singh Sidhu would return to active politics only if the party declared him its chief ministerial face in the state. Her remarks had triggered internal controversy within the Congress. There were also reports of a possible meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to resolve differences, but the meeting never materialised.
In her latest post, Dr Sidhu accused the Punjab Congress leadership of fuelling internal rivalries, sidelining loyal leaders, and selectively rewarding a few individuals with key organisational positions. She also alleged that deliberate attempts were made to damage her electoral prospects and questioned the party leadership’s silence over senior leaders who had openly challenged the organisation.
“I have enough proof, but I am not interested in destroying anyone. I have quit a party where no promising leader is heard,” she wrote, expressing disappointment over what she described as the erosion of discipline within the Congress.
An online educational guidance platform claimed that around 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were reportedly taken by candidates who paid fee in crores. The claim prompted misuse of the EWS reservation quota and gave a hint at a possible scam in NEET PG seats.
An education portal claimed that around 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were reportedly taken by candidates who paid fee in crores.
The recent NEET PG counselling outcomes have stirred widespread concern about possible misuse of the Economically Weaker Section quota.
Reports that some candidates listed under EWS later paid very high fees to secure postgraduate seats in private and deemed universities have put the reservation mechanism under scrutiny.
An online educational guidance platform had claimed that about 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were taken by candidates who paid fees running into crores, with one reported case of a candidate paying 4.23 crore for an MD seat.
The findings named several clinical specialities and private institutes where such admissions were recorded.
WHO QUALIFIES AS EWS
The Economically Weaker Section category was created to provide reservations to financially disadvantaged persons not covered by SC/ST/OBC quotas. The government has set both income and asset conditions for EWS eligibility.
To qualify as an EWS, the applicant’s family must satisfy all the following:
Annual family gross income from all sources should be less than Rs 8 lakh for the financial year preceding application.
The family does not own five acres or more of agricultural land.
The family does not own a residential flat of 1000 square feet or more.
The family does not own a residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities.
The family does not own a residential plot of 200 square yards or more in areas other than notified municipalities.
THE ALLEGATIONS AND COUNSELLING MECHANISM
The online educational guidance platform’s findings suggest an anomaly: students claiming EWS status later paid management or NRI fees in private or deemed institutions, often exceeding Rs 1 crore.
The discrepancy raises two questions: how such candidates obtained EWS certificates, and whether the certificates were used to gain preferential allotment during central or state counselling rounds.
The Medical Counselling Committee conducts central NEET PG counselling for AIQ, deemed and related seats, while the National Medical Commission oversees standards and regulatory compliance. Both bodies have roles in allocation and oversight.
The NMC has recently updated counselling schedules and notices for the academic session, underscoring the committee’s role in allocations.
THE BROADER CONCERN
For students genuinely eligible under EWS, the alleged misuse reduces opportunities and erodes trust in reservation schemes.
Many aspirants from modest backgrounds rely on the quota to access postgraduate medical education; misallocation of seats can derail careers and deny representation to the intended beneficiaries.
The Supreme Court has also been attentive to quota misuse issues in medical admissions, seeking reports and clarifications in recent matters.
REMEDIAL STEPS REQUIRED
Tighter vetting of income and asset certificates, cross-verification between issuing authorities and counselling databases, and prompt investigations into alleged misuse could help.
Transparency from colleges and prompt action by state and central agencies would help restore faith in reservation policies.
A waiter was arrested after actor and YouTuber Sayak Chakraborty alleged he was served beef instead of mutton at Kolkata’s Olypub restaurant. Chakraborty said he was not informed about the dish and consumed it unknowingly. The issue surfaced after a second plate was served, following which he filed a complaint with the police.
A waiter was arrested on Saturday after Bengali actor and YouTuber Sayak Chakraborty alleged that he was served beef instead of mutton at Kolkata’s Olypub bar and restaurant.
Reportedly, Chakraborty visited the restaurant on Friday night along with two friends. The group ordered a mutton steak but were allegedly served beef instead. He claimed that he was not informed that it was beef and that they ate it. Sayak has alleged that this was not accidental.
The matter came to light after a second dish was brought to the table. Sayak alleged that restaurant staff then indicated that the earlier dish had been beef, while the later dish was mutton. The YouTuber posted a video narrating the sequence of events, which has since gone viral on social media. The video also shows an exchange between Sayak and the restaurant waiter who served the dish.
A Hindu Food Vlogger & Influencer Sayak Chakraborty and his friends were intentionally served Beef steak instead of mutton steak at #Olypub, one of Kolkata’s renowned resto-bar situated at #ParkStreet Kolkata. He registered a complaint, but to his surprise the staff made fun of… pic.twitter.com/8su4zjw9mO
Chakraborty can be heard saying in Bengali, “Right now we are at a very big restaurant in Park Street. We had ordered mutton steak. But we were served beef steak. Naturally, they didn’t tell us what it was. They simply placed the order on the table and left. We thought it was mutton steak. We ate it,” he can be heard saying in the video.
“Then another one came and served us another dish. They said this is the mutton steak. They had given us two, one mutton and one beef. What we had been eating all this time was beef steak,” he added.
