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This is the first public response from the CJI Bhushan R Gavai’s mother since the attack.
CJI’s mother condemns shoe attack, calls it assault on Constitution
Kamaltai Gavai, 84, mother of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai, has condemned the shoe-hurling incident inside the Supreme Court on Monday, calling it an “assault on the Constitution” and an attempt to create “anarchy in the country”.
This is the first public response from the CJI’s mother since the attack. The incident occurred during case mentions before a bench headed by Chief Justice Gavai when an advocate hurled an object towards the dais. Security personnel immediately intervened and escorted the man out.
The accused was later identified as advocate Rakesh Kishore. As he was being removed from the courtroom, Kishore shouted, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (“We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan”), apparently referring to remarks made during the hearing of the Khajuraho Vishnu idol restoration case.
Speaking to reporters in Amravati on Tuesday, Kamaltai said, “Such acts amount to spreading anarchy. Every citizen has the right to express disagreement, but no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. We must protect the dignity of our democratic institutions.”
Calling for restraint and mutual respect, she added, “This is not just a personal attack but part of a poisonous ideology that must be checked before it spreads. Such incidents insult our Constitution and disgrace our nation. Anyone acting against the Constitution must face strict punishment.”
Reaffirming her faith in Dr BR Ambedkar’s vision, Kamaltai said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us an inclusive Constitution based on the principle of ‘live and let live’. No one has the right to create disorder. I urge people to resolve their issues peacefully and through constitutional means.”
The remarks come just days after Kamaltai declined an invitation to attend the RSS centenary celebrations in Amravati following backlash from Dalit groups.
Meanwhile, the Amravati District Lawyers Association on Tuesday staged a protest condemning the Supreme Court incident. Hundreds of advocates gathered at the district collector’s office, demanding strict action against the accused. Association president Adv Sunil Deshmukh, secretary Adv Amol Mural, and senior lawyers including Adv Prashant Deshpande termed the act “an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law”.
Former IAS officer EZ Khobragade, representing the Sanvidhan Foundation, described the attack as a “planned conspiracy beyond caste lines”. “This was an attack on the judiciary itself,” he said. “The assailant must be punished without delay. If the government fails to act decisively, such incidents may embolden others.”
Sundar Pichai congratulated physicists Michel Devoret, John Martinis, and John Clarke after the trio was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Sundar Pichai said he is ‘feeling lucky’ after Google’s Quantum AI scientist wins Nobel Prize. (AFP)
Google CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated physicists Michel Devoret, John Martinis, and John Clarke after the trio was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering contributions to quantum mechanics. In a post on X, Pichai wrote, “Congrats to Michel Devoret, John Martinis, and John Clarke on the Nobel Prize in Physics. Michel is chief scientist of hardware at our Quantum AI lab and John Martinis led the hardware team for many years.”
Pichai went on to praise their decades-long contributions to the field, noting that their research laid the foundation for breakthroughs now happening in Google’s quantum computing projects. “Their pioneering work in quantum mechanics in the 1980s made recent breakthroughs possible, and paved the way for error-corrected quantum computers to come,” he wrote.
Congrats to Michel Devoret, John Martinis, and John Clarke on the Nobel Prize in Physics. 🔬🥼 Michel is chief scientist of hardware at our Quantum AI lab and John Martinis led the hardware team for many years.
Their pioneering work in quantum mechanics in the 1980s made recent…
The Google chief also said that he recently visited the company’s Quantum AI lab in Santa Barbara, where Devoret is currently the chief scientist of hardware. “I was just at our quantum lab in Santa Barbara yesterday seeing the incredible progress, hope they are celebrating today. Feeling lucky this morning to work at a company that has had 5 Nobel Laureates among our ranks — 3 prizes in 2 years!” Pichai added.
Notably, Devoret, who is also a professor at Yale University, continues to play a key role in Google’s efforts to build scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computers.
John Martinis, on the other hand, is a former Google researcher who led the team that achieved “quantum supremacy” in 2019. Martinis left Google in 2020 and later co-founded Qolab, a quantum computing startup, in 2022.
Sources said the RJD has agreed to give the Congress approximately 54 seats. The Congress, however, is demanding 10 more.
Election dates for Bihar have been announced but seat sharing talks in the Opposition Grand Alliance are at a standstill, as the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD thrash out the issue. The dispute is not only about the number of seats but also claims to strong seats. Following a meeting held on Monday night, sources said the RJD has agreed to give the Congress approximately 54 seats. The Congress, however, is demanding 10 more.
Efforts are being made to find a middle ground. Leaders of both parties will meet again on Tuesday night.
The CPI-ML, meanwhile, has rejected the RJD’s proposal for 19 seats and has demanded approximately 30. The party has had the best strike rate in the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections and is now pushing for more seats.
The RJD can offer 10 seats to the Left block, sources have indicated. The Left was offered 10 seats the last time as well.
Earlier today, Tejashwi Yadav held a meeting with the Left parties at his official residence. Another meeting was held with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
Sources said the RJD has offered Mukesh Sahni’s VIP 12 seats, but the party is demanding more than 20 seats and the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
The JMM, RLJP of Pashupati Paras, and IP Gupta’s Inclusive Party will be accommodated by the RJD and Congress from their respective quotas, sources said.
It is believed that the RJD wants to contest approximately 140 seats on its own. If the party agrees to scale back slightly – even by 10 – the seat sharing process will be smoother. Else friendly contests between allies could be a distinct possibility on some seats.
The bus, which was carrying around 30 passengers, was on its way from Haryana’s Rohtak to Ghumarwin, near Bilaspur, when it met with the accident
At least 15 people were killed, and three rescued, after a private bus was buried under the debris of a massive landslide triggered in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district late Tuesday evening.
The bus, carrying around 30 to 35 passengers, was on its way from Haryana’s Rohtak to Ghumarwin, near Bilaspur, when, due to heavy rain, the entire hill came crashing onto the bus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund to the families of those who died and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
“Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” a PMO statement said.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also expressed grief over the accident and directed the officials to carry out the rescue operations.
“In this massive landslide, tragic news has come of 10 people losing their lives after a private bus was caught in it, and there is apprehension that several others may be trapped under the debris,” Sukhu wrote in a post on X.
बिलासपुर ज़िला के झंडूता विधानसभा क्षेत्र के बालूघाट (भल्लू पुल) के पास हुए भीषण भूस्खलन की ख़बर ने मन को भीतर तक झकझोर दिया है।
इस भारी भूस्खलन में एक प्राइवेट बस के चपेट में आने से 10 लोगों के निधन का दु:खद समाचार मिला है और कई अन्य के मलबे में दबे होने की आशंका है। रेस्क्यू… pic.twitter.com/GBZslb36CP
“Rescue operations are ongoing on a war footing. Instructions have been given to the authorities to deploy their full machinery,” he said, adding that he’s closely coordinating with the local administration to receive updates on the incident.
A video from the site showed a JCB machine clearing debris, while several people attempted to rescue those who were trapped in the wreckage.
The whole mountain came crashing down on the bus, and chances of survival of passengers are bleak, news agency PTI quoted a police official as saying.
The accident took place near the Bhallu Bridge in the Bhalughat area in the Jhandutta assembly segment.
Jeet Ram Katwal, the MLA from Jhandutta, visited the site to assess the ongoing rescue operations. According to reports, three children were rescued and taken to a hospital in Berthin near Bilaspur for medical treatment.
Expressing grief over the accident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are carrying out the rescue efforts.
“I am deeply saddened by the bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. NDRF teams have reached the incident site and are engaged in rescue operations. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Shah wrote in a post on X.
Sixty-two-year-old Chaitanyananda was arrested last month after shocking allegations that he sexually assaulted students of the institute came to the fore
Chaitanyananda Saraswati has been arrested on charges of sexually harassing at least 17 women
As the investigation deepens into the sexual assault allegations against self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati, NDTV has accessed call recordings that point to how Chaitanyananda’s women accomplices summoned targets and asked them to visit hotel rooms.
In some of the recorded conversations, women are heard saying they can’t meet the Baba because their “periods are on”, but they are told not to make “excuses”.
Sixty-two-year-old Chaitanyananda, who was heading the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj, was arrested last month after shocking allegations of him sexually assaulting students of the institute emerged. Three of his women aides, including Sweta Sharma, the institute’s former associate dean, have also been arrested. Sweta Sharma is accused of forcing women students to visit Chaitanyananda in hotel rooms.
The women have also alleged threats that their academic documents and degrees would be withheld if they did not respond to the self-styled godman’s advances.
Chaitanyananda, it is learnt, would put up in five-star hotels and his aides would identify and persuade his targets to go to him. The woman would be told that the Baba has booked a fabulous room for her and that she would need to spend the night with him there. Those who refused would be told their “turn has come”. This would happen during trips on which the students were forced to accompany Chaitanyananda. So the target would be told that if she said no, her hotel booking would be cancelled and she would have to book a hotel at her own cost. Most of the Baba’s victims were from underprivileged families, and such threats would put them under immense pressure.
A call recording accessed by NDTV proceeds like this. One voice, it is alleged, belongs to Sweta Sharma. The other is a woman, she is prepping for a tryst with the Baba.
Sweta: Tomorrow, when both of you leave the office, I will send you the hotel’s name. You have to go there. Swamiji has come. You have to meet him for dinner. He has booked a room for you. You will stay the night and go to the office from there.
Woman: Ok, Ma’am
Sweta: So, when you leave for the office tomorrow, take your clothes.
In another audio recording that NDTV has accessed, Sweta Sharma asks a woman not to “make excuses” when she says she is on her periods.
Sweta: This is an excuse, useless!
Woman: No, ma’am, this is not an excuse. I am actually on my periods.
Sweta: This is an excuse. You want to avoid the meeting because you fear Swamiji will scold you and deduct your marks. You can make your own staying arrangements.
Woman: Ma’am, I am actually on periods. Why would we lie? What can I do? I will send a photograph of my pad. What else can I do?
The call recordings capture the harrowing experience students of the institute went through and the role of the women staff in coercing the Baba’s targets.
White To Saffron, And Frequent Name-Change
Partha Sarathi Rudra to Br Parthasarathy to Swami Parthsarathy to Chaitanyananda Saraswati – this self-styled godman changed his name multiple times. His old photos show him in white robes, while his more recent ones show him in saffron. The probe has also found that he was removed from Ramakrishna Mission for alleged financial irregularities.
A bottle of Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder is seen in a photo illustration taken in New York, February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights
A Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, finding the company liable in the latest trial alleging its talc products cause cancer.
The family of Mae Moore, a California resident who died at age 88 in 2021, sued the company the same year, claiming J&J’s talc baby powder products contained asbestos fibers that caused her rare cancer. The jury late on Monday ordered J&J to pay $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages, according to court filings.
The verdict could be reduced on appeal as the U.S. Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages.
Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide vice president of litigation, said in a statement that the company plans to immediately appeal, calling the verdict “egregious and unconstitutional.”
“The plaintiff lawyers in this Moore case based their arguments on ‘junk science’ that never should have been presented to the jury,” Haas said.
The company has said its products are safe, do not contain asbestos, and do not cause cancer. J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product. Mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure.
Trey Branham, one of the attorneys representing Moore’s family, said after the verdict that his team is “hopeful that Johnson & Johnson will finally accept responsibility for these senseless deaths.”
J&J is facing lawsuits from more than 67,000 plaintiffs who say they were diagnosed with cancer after using baby powder and other talc products, according to court filings. The number of lawsuits alleging talc caused mesothelioma is a small subset of these cases, with the vast majority involving ovarian cancer claims.
J&J has sought to resolve the litigation through bankruptcy, a proposal that has been rejected three times by federal courts.
Lawsuits alleging talc caused mesothelioma were not part of the last bankruptcy proposal. The company has previously settled some of those claims but has not struck a nationwide settlement, so many lawsuits over mesothelioma have proceeded to trial in state courts in recent months.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said that Pakistan conducts “systematic genocide”.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, called out Pakistan.
India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan at the UN Security Council (UNSC), saying it is a country that “bombs its own people”. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, while speaking during the Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, said that Pakistan conducts “systematic genocide” and can only attempt to “distract the world with misdirection and hyperbole”.
He further called out Pakistan for its “delusional tirade” against India, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian envoy’s remarks came shortly after a Pakistani official at the UNSC alleged that the Kashmiri women have “endured sexual violence for decades”.
“Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to the delusional tirade of Pakistan against my country, especially on Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian territory they covet. Our pioneering record on Women, Peace and Security agenda is unblemished and unscathed,” Harish said, adding, “A country that bombs its own people, conducts systematic genocide, can only attempt to distract the world with misdirection and hyperbole.”
The Indian envoy further stated that Pakistan that conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army. “The world sees through Pakistan’s propaganda,” he added.
India’s response came following the remarks of Counsellor Saima Saleem, part of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, who said that Kashmiri women have been “for decades of occupation have endured sexual violence deployed as a weapon of war.”
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, assailed the detention while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, opposed the petition.
Leh, Sonam Wangchuk
The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government on Habeas Corpus petition filed by Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Ladakh-based environmentalist, activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk, challenging his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
23 in-house applications using multi-sensor and multi-data AI models were deployed concurrently during Operation Sindoor.
A floral collage spelling out ‘Operation Sindoor’, adorned with red sindoor motifs, formed part of the decorations during the Independence Day celebrations earlier this year (PTI File Photo)
The Indian Army’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence was on full display during Operation Sindoor, where 23 indigenously developed AI applications were deployed simultaneously. In a response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping military actions on May 10 following Islamabad’s request.
The Indian Army has already begun integrating AI into its core functions, and its effectiveness was displayed during Operation Sindoor, Director General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers Lt Gen Rajeev Kumar Sahni said during a briefing on Monday.
23 in-house applications, using multi-sensor and multi-data AI models, were deployed concurrently during Operation Sindoor. The applications include, Anuman 2.0 for real-time weather assessment and Trinetra for real-time feeds, he said.
“We successfully used our in-house AI models. In partnership with the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), we have developed “Anuman 2.0″, a real-time weather forecast. This made it possible to forecast the weather with precision within a 200-kilometre radius along the border,” Lt Gen Rajeev Kumar Sahni said, as quoted by ANI.
“The Army is also working with IMD and the Ministry of Earth Sciences to develop its own military climatology system for strategic planning and operations,” he said.
Responding to a question, Lt Gen Sahni stated that AI-enabled remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs) delivered real-time feeds with no delay during Operation Sindoor. “We were getting the feed without any delays. We carried out a number of successful operations with Trinetra’s assistance,” he said. The Army is constantly adjusting to new technologies, incorporating AI into management and decision-making processes in addition to operational uses.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda reassured fans after escaping unhurt after a car accident near Telangana’s Jogulamba Gadwala district. Police confirmed no injuries occurred during the incident.
Vijay Deverakonda reassures fans after car accident.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda updated his fans about his condition after his car met with an accident on Monday. He eased any concerns they might have had about his well-being with a light-hearted post on X.
The ‘Arjun Reddy’ actor wrote, “All is well. Car took a hit, but we are all fine. Went and did a strength workout as well and just got back home. My head hurts but nothing a biryani and sleep will not fix. So biggest hugs and my love to all of you. Don’t let the news stress you (sic).”
The actor was involved in a car accident on Monday while travelling in Telangana. The accident happened near Undavalli in Jogulamba Gadwala district as he was reportedly on his way from Puttaparthi to Hyderabad. The incident occurred when another vehicle suddenly turned and collided with the actor’s car, but thankfully, no one was hurt.
The police provided more details about the crash, stating, “Actor Vijay Deverakonda was travelling from Puttaparthi to Hyderabad around 3 pm when a Bolero vehicle ahead suddenly turned right, causing his car to collide with its left side. Vijay and two others were in the car. Thankfully, no one was injured. He immediately switched to another vehicle, and his team filed a complaint with the police for insurance purposes.”
Sources confirm that Deverakonda was inside the car at the time of the accident but walked away without any injuries. There was only minor damage to the vehicle, and all passengers are reported safe.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Deverakonda kept a positive attitude. He mentioned he even managed to complete a strength workout after reaching home.
In a shocking case of neglect, more than 200 starving and sick animals along with a 95-year-old woman were rescued this week from what authorities described as a ‘house of horrors’ in Northport, Long Island.
New York Couple Arrested After More Than 200 Animals & 95-Year-Old Woman Found Living In Filthy Conditions At Their Home | X @TrueCrimeUpdat
In a shocking case of neglect, more than 200 starving and sick animals along with a 95-year-old woman were rescued this week from what authorities described as a ‘house of horrors’ in Northport, Long Island.
Police raided the home of Samantha Boyd, 57, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and her boyfriend Neal Weschler, 61, on Wednesday, after receiving complaints about inhumane conditions. Inside, officers found dozens of cats, dogs, parrots, squirrels, and other animals confined to rusty cages, covered in their own waste, and left without clean food or water.
WATCH VISUALS:
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains graphic descriptions of animal cruelty & elder abuse.
Over 200 sick & starving animals have been rescued from a Long Island “house of horrors,” where a 95-year-old woman was also found “literally trapped” in filth—and the homeowner is a licensed… pic.twitter.com/5VmQJtrbQN
The scene extended beyond animal cruelty. Authorities discovered a 95-year-old woman upstairs, reportedly ‘literally trapped’ by piles of garbage so dense she could hardly move.
Legal Action:
Boyd has been charged with endangering a vulnerable elderly person and multiple counts of animal cruelty, while Weschler faces related charges. Both were taken into custody.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney condemned the situation, calling it ‘deeply distressing’ and promising a full investigation into how Boyd, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, was allowed to operate in such conditions.
Netizens Reactions:
One user wrote, “Christ. I’m glad they were found. This is so disheartening.” While one wrote, “Hoarding is a mental situation rather than crime.” Another user commented, “Fortunately, there are no places where animals are kept in unsanitary conditions for profit. But who would make an arrest there?”
The lawsuit filed by a coalition of unions, employers and religious groups, seeks to block Trump’s order imposing a visa fee of $100,000 on H-1B applications.
Trump’s order imposes a one-time visa fee of $100,000 on H-1B applications(REUTERS)
United States President Donald Trump-led administration’s new H-1B visa plan was challenged in a federal court in San Francisco on Friday. The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of unions, employers and religious groups, and seeks to block Trump’s order imposing a one-time visa fee of $100,000 on H-1B applications, Reuters reported.
This is the first lawsuit to challenge the proclamation issued by Trump on the hiked visa fee, even as the US President moves to restrict immigration to the country.
The H-1B visa program allows employers in the US to hire foreign workers in specialty fields, with the technology companies relying heavily on workers who receive these visas.
These employers who sponsor H-1B used to typically pay between $2,000 and $5,000 in fees, but Trump’s order bars new visa recipients from entering US unless the employer sponsoring their visa makes a payment of $100,000.
What does the lawsuit say about Trump’s order?
The plaintiffs have argued that Trump’s move is unlawful and that he has changed the H-1B program. They say that the changes force employers to either “pay to play” or seek a “national interest” exemption, which further “opens the door to selective enforcement and corruption”, Bloomberg reported.
In the lawsuit, the groups said that the US President “has no authority” to impose fees, taxes or other mechanisms unilaterally to generate revenue for America. They further added that he could not “dictate how those funds are spent.”
The lawsuit said that Trump had “disregarded” limitations and “asserted power he does not have” while issuing the proclamation. “The Constitution assigns the ‘power of the purse’ to Congress, as one of its most fundamental premises,” the suit says, according to Bloomberg.
It adds that Trump “displaced a complex, Congressionally specified system for evaluating petitions and granting H-1B visas.”
The plaintiffs in the case are the United Auto Workers union, the American Association of University Professors, the Justice Action Center and the Democracy Forward Foundation on behalf the Global Nurse Force, and several religious organisations.
The authorities have asked the devotees to plan their travel to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine only after getting updates from official channels.
A deserted view of the Banganga entrance gate as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended for the sixth consecutive day due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall, at Katra in Reasi on Sunday.(ANI Video Grab)
The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been suspended from Sunday, October 5, due to apprehensions about the weather near the cave shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district
The authorities have cited an inclement weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the suspension of the yatra. The suspension will run until Tuesday, October 7.
The Vaishno Devi Yatra is scheduled to begin again on Wednesday, October 8, depending on weather conditions. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) posted the information on the social media platform X.
“Yatra Update. In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, Vaishno Devi Yatra shall remain suspended from 5th to 7th October 2025 & will resume on 08/10/2025. Devotees may stay updated through official channels. @OfficeOfLGJandK,” the post by the board read.
⚠️ Yatra Update
In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, Vaishno Devi Yatra shall remain suspended from 5th to 7th October 2025 & will resume on 08/10/2025.
Devotees may stay updated through official channels.@OfficeOfLGJandK
— Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (@OfficialSMVDSB) October 3, 2025
The authorities have asked the devotees to plan their travel only after getting updates from official channels. The Shrine Board has taken the step as a precautionary measure in view of the threat perception of landslides, flooding, and cloudbursts due to heavy rain.
Earlier suspensions of the yatra
The Yatra has been suspended many times this year due to rain, flash floods, and landslides. It recently resumed on September 17 after a 22-day hiatus due to a landslide near Ardhkuwari that claimed 34 lives and injured 20 others in the August 26 tragedy. The decision to resume the yatra at that time came two days after a group of pilgrims staged a protest at Katra base camp in support of their demand for the resumption of the pilgrimage.
Several companies make consumers pay an extra charge if they opt for the cash-on-delivery option rather than pre-paying for the order online.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said platforms violating consumer rights will face action.
Cracking down on ‘dark patterns’ employed by e-commerce companies, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has said firms that charge extra for cash-on-delivery will now face action.
Several companies make consumers pay an extra fee if they opt for the cash-on-delivery option rather than pre-paying for the order online.
Railing against such practices, an X user had, on Wednesday, posted about an experience he had with an e-commerce firm in which he was charged Rs 226 in the name of ‘offer handling fee, payment handling fee and protect promise fee’.
“Forget Rain Fee by Zomato/Swiggy/Zepto. See the masterstroke by Flipkart: Offer Handling Fee (for giving me the discount you advertised??); Payment Handling Fee (for letting me pay you??) and Protect Promise Fee (protecting me from what… satisfaction?),” he wrote
“Next up: “Scrolling App Fee”,” he joked.
Responding to the post on Friday, Joshi said such practices will be scrutinised and platforms violating consumer rights will face action.
“The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against e-commerce platforms charging extra for Cash-on-Delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers,” the minister wrote.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against e-commerce platforms charging extra for Cash-on-Delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers.
A detailed investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to… https://t.co/gEf5WClXJX
“A detailed investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to scrutinise these platforms closely. Strict action will be taken against those violating consumer rights to ensure transparency and uphold fair practices in India’s growing e-commerce sector,” he added.
Dark patterns are tactics used by companies to extract money or data from consumers without them realising
These practices include platforms showing there are only one or two pieces of an item left to speed up a buyer’s purchase decision when, in reality, there are several more in stock, or setting a fake time limit – like ‘offer expires in 10 minutes’ – to achieve the same end.
On Thursday Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said attempts to illegally occupy more of India, i.e., its half of Sir Creek, will be met with a response that will change “history and geography”.
A map of the Sir Creek border dispute.
Military tension between India and Pakistan – never far from the surface and explosive when it does break cover, as Operation Sindoor showed in May – may have expanded to a new theatre this week after Islamabad was warned against territorial aggression in Gujarat’s Sir Creek.
On Thursday Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said attempts to illegally occupy more of India, i.e., its half of Sir Creek, will be met with a response that will change “history and geography”.
Singh said India remains open to a peaceful resolution of the border dispute in Gujarat (and other areas) but “Pakistan’s intentions are flawed and unclear”. The recent expansion of military infrastructure -bunkers and radars, as well as forward bases capable of launching attack drones or infantry operations – in adjacent areas reveal that country’s intentions, he said.
Increased Pak military footprint anywhere on the border raises eyebrows but, after Op Sindoor and the first India-Pak armed conflict since 1971, it is a matter of some concern and urgency.
So what is Sir Creek?
It is a narrow strip of water, less than 100km long, in the tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan. Control is disputed over interpretations of maritime boundary lines.
The creek is the official westernmost border between India and Pakistan.
The origin of the dispute dates back decades to pre-independence India (as do so many of the India-Pak conflicts) when the region was ruled by the Maharaja of Kutch and there were conflicting territorial claims from differing interpretations of colonial-era maps and agreements.
Today the dispute is this – India claims half of Sir Creek and, therefore, the marshlands that border Pakistan’s Keti Bunder Wildlife Sanctuary, while Pak cites one of those colonial-era deals and insists the boundary lies east of the creek, giving it access to the heartland of Gujarat.
The document Pak cites is the 1914 resolution signed by the Rao of Kutch and the Sindh government, which says the eastern bank of the creek is the boundary line.
India, however, relies on a 1925 map that points to the mid-channel of the creek. India has also pointed to the internationally-accepted Thalweg principal that says the border between two nations that share a navigable waterway is the line of the deepest part of the main channel.
Pak, though, says the doctrine doesn’t apply as Sir Creek is not navigable.
Why is Sir Creek important?
Control of the Sir Creek not only influences (and effectively settles) the India-Pak maritime boundary issue, but also gives the side in charge a significant strategic boost.
India maintaining a military presence on its side, for example, acts as a deterrent as it offers direct maritime access to the Karachi Port, a trading hub and No 1 target in a war. Singh made that point when he said ‘Pak should remember, one route to Karachi passes through Sir Creek’.
For Pakistan, increased access to the Sir Creek region allows, theoretically, a pincer movement on India; i.e., in the event of another armed conflict, simultaneous attacks in Pak-occupied Kashmir or the Rajasthan and Punjab border and in Sir Creek could stretch Indian forces.
Control also supports the Pak Navy in positioning its warships along the coastline, thereby enhancing its security and influence over maritime routes near the Gujarat coast.
Prize isn’t just military
Sir Creek is one of Asia’s largest fishing grounds and supports the livelihoods of thousands of people. The border dispute frequently segues into the arrest of fishermen and women, from both nations, who stray across the border. It also impacts access to potential undersea oil and gas reserves, important in the light of Pak’s deal with the US to develop “massive” oil resources.
Exploration of these reserves have stalled due to the border dispute.
The potential economic benefit, however, is immense, particularly as Indian balances the cost-effective import of Russian oil against the fury of the US for ‘fuelling the war in Ukraine’.
Families of the victims have alleged that the staff fled soon after the blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, erupted on the second floor of the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur.
Jaipur hospital fire
At least seven patients were killed after a fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit of the trauma centre at Jaipur’s state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital. Families have alleged that the staff fled soon after the blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, erupted on the second floor of the building.
The blaze erupted on Sunday night, with smoke rapidly spreading throughout the floor and causing panic among patients and their families. Various documents, ICU equipment, blood sample tubes, and other items stored in the area were gutted by the fire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the loss of lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
Hospital staff and patient attendants evacuated patients, even transporting them to their beds outside the building. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately two hours.
“Programme organisers, including the leader of the political party, absconded from the venue, abandoning their own cadres, followers, and fans,” the Court observed.
Madras High Court, TVK flag, Vijay
The Madras High Court on Friday harshly criticised the leadership of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), including its founder, actor-turned-politician Vijay, for ‘fleeing’ the site of the Karur stampede, which took place at a TVK rally held on September 27 and led to the loss of 41 lives [PH Dinesh v. Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu].
Justice N Senthilkumar observed that ideally, TVK should have taken immediate rescue and assistance efforts to tackle the stampede-like situation.
“…it is really sad that Mr.Vijay, the leader and the members of his political party which organised the meeting fled the scene of occurrence…This Court strongly condemns the conduct of Mr.Vijay, the organisers of the event and the members of the political party for fleeing from the scene of occurrence immediately after mishaps.”
The Court added that TVK’s failure to release any “expression of responsibility” to show regret about the incident reflected a disregard for human life and public accountability.
It may be noted that Vijay had uploaded a video statement on X on September 30, in which he expressed that he was pained by the incident and urged the State not to take out any ‘vengeance’ on TVK cadres.
In the order passed yesterday, however, Justice Kumar took critical note that the TVK’s leadership and members, who organised the Karur rally, were seen leaving the stampede site as the tragedy unfolded.
“Shockingly, the programme organisers, including the leader of the political party, absconded from the venue, abandoning their own cadres, followers, and fans. There is neither remorse, nor responsibility, nor even an expression of regret.”
It also questioned why the State had not yet registered criminal cases in respect of two accidents that took place at the stampede site, which allegedly involved collisions with the bus that was carrying Vijay.
“In footage (video footage circulated on social media), it is visibly evident that two motorcycles were involved in the accident, and that the driver of the bus, having seen the accident, fled from the scene…In both instances, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the respondent police for the offences of hit and run…This Court expresses its deep anguish and concern over the failure of the authorities to take action. Even in the absence of a formal complaint from the aggrieved parties, it is the duty of the State to register a suo motu FIR and ensure that the accused face trial in accordance with law,” the Court said.
Justice Senthilkumar went on to express that the State’s investigation in the matter was not up to mark.
“This Court is not satisfied with the progress or independence of the said (State) investigation,” he said.
The Court, therefore, ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the stampede, even though it was not one of the directions sought by the litigant before the Court.
The litigant, PH Dinesh, had sought directions to put in place a safety protocol to be followed during road shows.
“Though the prayer in the present writ petition is limited, the scope of the writ petition has been widened due to the extraordinary circumstances, which warrant extraordinary measures. This Court cannot close its eyes, remain a mute spectator, and shrink from its constitutional responsibilities,” the Court opined.
The SIT is to be headed by Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police (North Zone). The other members of the team are Vimala (IPS), Superintendent of Police, Namakkal and Shyamaladevi, Superintendent of Police, CSCID. The Court added that additional members may be inducted into the team, as required, by Garg.
A hostile immigration environment is prompting some Indians in the US to think of returning home
US President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to hike H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has prompted policymakers in Delhi to woo skilled Indians back home.
A bureaucrat, who works closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently said that the government was actively encouraging overseas Indians to return and contribute to nation-building. Yet, another member of the PM’s economic advisory council told a media conclave that H-1B visas have always served the interests of the host nation, and so the hike in fee boded well for India’s ability to attract global talent.
The crux of these arguments is that the time is ripe for India to engineer a reverse brain drain and lure some of the world’s most talented professionals in technology, medicine and other innovative industries, who’d left the country in the past 30 years, back to the homeland.
There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that an increasingly hostile immigration environment in the US is prompting a few Indians to think along these lines. But getting hundreds of thousands of people to ditch Bellevue for Bengaluru will be easier said than done, several experts told the BBC.
Nithin Hassan is among the few Indians who had settled in the US for the last 20 years but took a leap of faith and decided to move back to Bengaluru – often called India’s Silicon Valley – last year.
It wasn’t an easy call. He quit a million-dollar job at Meta to plunge into the uncertain world of start-ups.
“I’ve always wanted to start something of my own, but my immigration status in the US limited that freedom,” Mr Hassan told the BBC.
Since his return, Mr Hassan has launched two start-ups, including a platform called B2I (Back to India) that helps other Indians settled in the US “navigate the emotional, financial and professional challenges of returning home”.
He told the BBC that the US’s immigration policy shifts in recent months had led to a sharp spike in enquiries from people looking to relocate, and the H-1B fracas could accelerate this trend.
“Many professionals now accept that a green card may never come, and queries to B2I have surged – nearly tripling since Trump’s second term began. In just the last six months, more than 200 NRIs [non-resident Indians] have reached out to explore return options,” said Mr Hassan.
Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa shock: Why US may lose more than India
Other headhunters who scout for Indian talent from US universities corroborate this change in sentiment.
“The number of Indian students from Ivy League universities looking to come back to India after their studies has risen by 30% this season,” Shivani Desai, CEO of BDO Executive Search, told the BBC.
She added that the uncertainty is also making senior Indian executives “think harder about their long-term careers in the US”.
“While many are still anchored there, we see a noticeable uptick in CXO and senior tech leaders exploring India as a serious option,” Ms Desai said.
Such change in attitudes could also be aided by a massive boom in Global Capability Centres (GCCs) – or remote offices of multinational companies in India in recent years – that have thrown up viable work opportunities for returning Indians.
These offshore operations could be where those from the tech industry relocate to if the US closes its doors to them, making GCCs “increasingly attractive to talent, especially as onsite opportunities decline”, according to asset management firm Franklin Templeton.
But driving reverse migration at scale will require a concerted and serious effort by the government, and that’s currently missing, says Sanjaya Baru, former media adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and author of Secession of the Successful: The Flight out of New India – a book on India’s brain drain.
“The government will have to go out and actually identify individuals – including top-of-the-line scientists, professionals and entrepreneurs – it wants back. That requires effort, and it needs to come straight from the top,” Mr Baru told the BBC.
He said this was what Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, did back in the day to get top minds in areas like space and nuclear technology back home and build institutions like the premier Indian Institute of Science.
“They were driven by a strong sense of purpose and nationalism. Where is the incentive to come back now?” said Mr Baru.
On the contrary, there are both pull and push factors that have led to highly qualified professionals consistently leaving the country, Mr Baru said, and India has celebrated this trend, rather than arresting it.
The pull factors include a growing number of countries offering golden visas and citizenship or residency by immigration programmes.
In fact, even as the US tightened its H-1B visa regime, countries such as Germany immediately laid out the red carpet for Indian skilled migrants, with its ambassador pushing the country’s credentials as a “predictable and rewarding destination”.
Cuttack authorities deployed 60 police platoons and eight paramilitary companies, imposed a curfew under Section 163 BNSS, and said only essential services would remain open for the day. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced a 12-hour bandh on Monday.
Heavy police force deployed after a clash erupts during Durga Puja immersion, in Cuttack.
The Odisha government on Sunday night imposed prohibitory orders in 13 police-station areas and suspended internet services in Cuttack, where 25 people were injured in fresh violence following a Durga idol immersion procession, officials said.
Additional Police Commissioner Narasingha Bhola said a prohibitory order under Section 163 BNSS, commonly known as a curfew, has been passed by the magistrate.
“This order will be in effect from 10 pm Sunday until 10 am Monday (October 7). We will assess the situation further and take a decision accordingly. As of today, only emergency services are open. Government offices, schools, and colleges are operating, while hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, and petrol pumps remain open. All other commercial establishments are closed,” he said.
He added that the situation was currently peaceful, with residents cooperating with authorities. “We have 60 platoons of state police forces already deployed, and today eight companies of paramilitary forces have arrived. Units such as the Rapid Action Force, BSF, CRPF, and Odisha Swift Action Force are deployed at key locations and junctions and are closely monitoring activities. We are identifying those responsible for the violence and will take action against them for damage caused to public and private property,” Bhola said.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has announced a 12-hour bandh on Monday, accusing the administration of “complete failure” in maintaining law and order.
CLASHES DURING IDOL IMMERSION
Police said the clash erupted between 1.30 am and 2 am near Haathi Pokhari in Dargah Bazaar when locals objected to high-decibel music being played during the procession.
“Arguments soon escalated into a confrontation when a mob started throwing stones and glass bottles from rooftops on the procession, injuring several revellers, including Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo,” an official said.
Police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Several vehicles and roadside stalls were damaged, and immersion activities were halted for nearly three hours before resuming under tight security, with all idols immersed by 9.30 am.
BIKE RALLY CLASH ADDS TO TENSION
Police said fresh tension flared after a group requested permission to hold a bike rally in the city. The request was denied over fears it could trigger further unrest. “When police enforced the order, clashes broke out, and eight policemen were injured in stone-throwing. The mob was later dispersed using force,” said Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Dr Suresh Debadutta Singh.
Authorities also addressed rumours regarding injuries in an earlier immersion-related incident. “All four individuals had minor injuries; three were discharged the same day, and one continues to receive treatment. Those spreading misinformation will be arrested,” Dr Singh added.
Dr Singh confirmed that a curfew will be imposed in certain areas of Cuttack to maintain peace and prevent any further escalation.
PROTEST AND POLITICAL BLAME GAME
Members of Puja committees staged demonstrations demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack. The VHP, blaming the district administration for the unrest, demanded the transfer of both the DCP and district collector.
“The authorities failed to ensure peaceful immersion despite repeated requests,” said a VHP spokesperson, announcing a dawn-to-dusk bandh in the city on October 6.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) condemned the violence, blaming “anti-social elements” for attempting to disrupt communal harmony. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured strict action against those responsible and directed officials to provide free medical care to the injured.
BJD MP Sulata Deo said, “Cuttack is a city of brotherhood where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians have always lived in harmony. What happened is extremely unfortunate. This government can neither handle law and order nor protect women. Since the BJP government came to power, the crime rate has increased.”
CM APPEALS FOR PEACE
In a statement, the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had expressed deep sorrow over the violence and appealed for calm.
“Cuttack city is a unique example of brotherhood. However, for the last few days, due to some troublemakers, peace has been disturbed in the city and the life of the common people is being disrupted,” the CM said. “The government is keeping an eye on such elements, and strict action will be taken as per law.”
Majhi also directed officials to ensure free medical treatment for the injured and continuous monitoring of sensitive areas.
FIRE INCIDENTS AND POLICE DEPLOYMENT
Assistant Fire Officer Sanjeeb Kumar Behera confirmed that rioters set fires at several locations near Gouri Shankar Park. “We received information that rioters had set fire at 8-10 places. We have extinguished the fire, but they are throwing stones at us. Police have been deployed to control the situation,” he said.
Additional forces have been stationed across key zones, with senior police officers monitoring the situation closely to prevent further escalation.
INTERNET BLACKOUT AND PROHIBITORY ORDERS
In a major preventive measure, the Odisha Home Department suspended all internet and data services across Cuttack city, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, and other platforms, from 7 pm on October 5 to 7 pm on October 6.
The situation has thrown life out of gear in several areas, also leading to eight major rivers crossing the danger mark in eastern Nepal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Nepal’s interim PM Sushila Karki (Reuters photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Nepal after landslides and floods triggered by torrential rainfall across the country left at least 52 dead.
Taking to X, the Prime Minister extended his condolences and reaffirmed India’s role as a close neighbour and reliable partner.
He said, “The loss of lives and property due to heavy rains in Nepal is heartbreaking. We stand with the Nepali people and the Government of Nepal during this difficult time. As a friendly neighbor and first responder, India is committed to providing any kind of assistance that may be needed.”
Nepal has been witnessing continuous rain since Friday. The situation has thrown life out of gear in several areas, also leading to eight major rivers crossing the danger mark in eastern Nepal.
नेपालमा भारी वर्षाका कारण भएको जनधनको क्षति पीडादायी छ। हामी यस कठिन समयमा नेपाली जनता र नेपाल सरकारको साथमा छौं। एक मित्रवत् छिमेकी र पहिलो रेस्पोन्डरको रूपमा भारत आवश्यक पर्ने कुनै पनि खाले सहयोग गर्न प्रतिबद्ध छ।
Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were deployed for carrying out rescue operations in different areas.
In response to the disaster, the Nepali government announced Nepali rupees (NRs) 2,00,000 as immediate relief to the kin of those who lost their lives in rain-related disasters on Sunday.
Besides the compensation for the deceased, the injured will be provided with free treatment, according to statement by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA).
According to the Armed Police Force Headquarters, Ilam has been the worst hit, with landslides and floods claiming 37 lives. In other districts across the province, 12 more people have lost their lives. One person is still missing in Koshi, and at least 17 have been reported dead.
In Nepal’s southern plains, three people were reported dead and another was injured in Rautahat after being struck by lightning. In Bara, rescue teams are still searching for one person who has gone missing.
India set a record at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, winning 22 medals. Simran Sharma and Preeti Pal were double medallists, with six athletes clinching gold.
India made history at World Para Athletics Championships 2025 with 22 medals (Instagram)
India recorded their best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships, held in New Delhi. Competing on home soil at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from September 27 to October 5, 2025, the Indian team delivered a historic showing, securing a total of 22 medals – six gold, nine silver and seven bronze – finishing 10th on the medals table.
Among the standout performers were Simran Sharma (women’s 100m T12), Nishad Kumar (men’s high jump T47), Sumit Antil (men’s javelin throw F64), Sandip Sanjay Sargar (men’s javelin throw F44), Rinku Hooda (men’s javelin throw F46), and Shailesh Kumar (men’s high jump T63), all of whom clinched gold medals in their respective events.
Both Simran Sharma and Preeti Pal emerged as double medallists for India — Simran winning medals in the women’s 100m T12 and 200m T12 events, and Preeti securing podium finishes in the women’s 100m T35 and 200m T35 categories.
India’s Medal Winners At World Para Athletics Championships 2025
The Russian S-400 system ensured that Pak Air Force did not fly east of Indus on May 10 during Operation Sindoor.
PM Modi showcases S-400 air defence system at Adampur air base post Op Sindoor(Sourced/HT photo)
Top defence ministry officials will meet their Russian counterparts this week to consider either joint manufacture or outright purchase of five more S-400 air defence systems from Moscow with an objective of enhancing India’s long range defensive capabilities.
The deal is expected to be given a green signal before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India on December 5 for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While two of the five S-400 systems, part of the October 5, 2018, $5.43 billion deal, will be delivered by 2026-end, India and Russia are talking about the purchase of another five systems to protect any attack across the country’s 7000-km-plus coastline and to plug the air defence gap in the northern command area.
HT learns that the two sides have already agreed on the cost of the additional five systems with annual escalation from the 2018 price. The modalities are not final yet and there’s talk that three of the five systems will be purchased outright and the remaining will be built by Indian private sector companies under transfer of technology route.
The deal will be government to government with maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities set up in collaboration with the Indian private sector, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. They added that reports of India buying the S-500 system are incorrect as such a system is still on the drawing board in Russia.
India is also looking for a RVV-BD, a more than 200 km range air to air missile, from Russia to make its Su-30 MKI fleet more potent as even Pakistan is operating Chinese built 200 km range PL 15 air to air missile and used it against India during Operation Sindoor. The Russian R-37 missile or RVV-BD will have to be integrated into Su-30 MKI with upgradation of the on-board radar of the Russian developed fighter.
Although IAF’s chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh talked about his force considering the possibility of acquiring the Su-57 Russian fifth generation fighter, the government is still to take any view on that as well as on the US F-35 fighter.
Anand Mahindra said he had downloaded the app ‘with pride’, leading to a heartwarming interaction with Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu.
Anand Mahindra and Sridhar Vembu’s conversation on social media has gone viral.
Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, has come out in support of Zoho’s Arattai — the instant messaging app being touted as a Made-in-India alternative to WhatsApp. Taking to social media, the billionaire industrialist said he had downloaded the app ‘with pride’, leading to a heartwarming interaction with Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu.
“Downloaded Arattai today… With pride,” wrote Mahindra on X (formerly Twitter) as Vembu, the brains behind the ‘Swadeshi’ app, responded with a gracious message.
“I was in a meeting in our Tenkasi office with our Arattai engineers, working out refinements to the app and a team member showed this tweet. Thank you, Anand Mahindra this gives us even more determination,” wrote Vembu.
In what turned into a heartwarming conversation, Mahindra quoted Vembu’s post saying: “We’re cheering for you, @svembu”.
I was in a meeting in our Tenkasi office with our Arattai engineers, working out refinements to the app and a team member showed this tweet.
For years, WhatsApp has held an unshakable monopoly in the messaging space, with over half a billion active users in India. Amid the new wave of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign, Arattai has emerged as a tough competitor, seeking to take on the global behemoth.
In recent days, Arattai has witnessed a massive surge in usage. According to Vembu, the app recorded a 100x increase in traffic within just three days, with new sign-ups rising dramatically from 3,000 per day to 350,000 per day.
Last month, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged users to switch to Arattai, describing it as “free, easy-to-use, secure, safe, and made in India.”
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also clarified that recent media reports on poisoning stem from an accused’s claim rather than official police findings.
Sarma also urged the Assamese community to press for the swift return of key suspects, currently in Singapore, to avoid further delays in the probe. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday provided an update on the investigation into the alleged poisoning of late singer Zubeen Garg, stating that the viscera examination report is expected by October 10.
The CM added that while the viscera report is expected by Friday next week, full details are expected to emerge by the next day – October 11.
He highlighted that police are recording all witness statements in the case diary, regardless of their nature. Sarma also clarified that recent media reports on poisoning stem from an accused’s claim rather than official police findings.
In a statement, Sarma said, “The police’s duty is to record everything in the case diary as stated by witnesses. Some will say positive things, and others will say negative things, and the police will continue to document it all. However, these are not police statements; they are only witness statements.”
While clarifying the news surrounding poisoning, he said that this is a witness’s statement and not a police statement. He said that this is a statement of the accused. “Whether he gave this statement to protect himself or to blame someone else will be revealed during the investigation,” he added.
Urged return of key suspects
Sarma also urged the Assamese community to press for the swift return of key suspects, currently in Singapore, to avoid further delays in the probe. Stating that if the people did not return, the investigation would not be complete, he said, “Today, we are more concerned about whether the Assamese people currently in Singapore will return to cooperate with the investigation.” These are the people involved in Zubeen Garg’s yacht travel.
He also named some people who are already in custody, including Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Shekhar, and Amritprava, saying that they will uncover the truth. “If they do not, we will face another cycle of complications,” he said further.
As per the official document, the late singer’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami alleged that the singer was “poisoned” in Singapore, and his manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta had “deliberately chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy.”
Only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan, Danish Kaneria featured in 61 Tests and 18 ODIs, taking 276 wickets in a career that stretched for over a decade.
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has reacted to the rumours that he was seeking Indian citizenship. In a lengthy post on X, Kaneria said that while he received love from the Pakistani people, he also faced religious discrimination and “attempts of forced conversion” during his playing days. Only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan, after wicketkeeper Anil Dalpat, the 44-year-old featured in 61 Tests and 18 ODIs, taking 276 wickets in a career that stretched for over a decade.
“Lately, I have seen many people questioning me, asking why I do not speak about Pakistan, why I comment on Bharat’s internal matters, and some even alleging that I do all this for Bharatiya citizenship. I feel it is important to set the record straight. From Pakistan and its people, I have received much, above all, the love of the awam. But alongside that love, I also faced deep discrimination from Pakistani authorities and the PCB, including attempts of forced conversion,” Kaneria wrote.
Lately, I have seen many people questioning me, asking why I do not speak about Pakistan, why I comment on Bharat’s internal matters, and some even alleging that I do all this for Bharatiya citizenship. I feel it is important to set the record straight.
Lately, I have seen many people questioning me, asking why I do not speak about Pakistan, why I comment on Bharat’s internal matters, and some even alleging that I do all this for Bharatiya citizenship. I feel it is important to set the record straight.
Hulu will no longer exist as a standalone app by 2026, with all of its content fully merging into Disney+. The shift will begin on October 8 when Hulu will replace the Star brand internationally and deeper integration starts in the US.
After nearly 20 years as one of the top streaming services, Hulu is set to disappear as a separate app. (Picture credit: AP)
After nearly 20 years as one of the top streaming services, Hulu is set to disappear as a separate app. Disney has confirmed that by 2026, Hulu will be fully merged into Disney+.
The company says the goal is to simplify its streaming options and build one stronger platform. What Changes Will Start In October
The transition will begin on October 8 this year. Outside the US, Hulu will replace the Star brand in the Disney+ app and serve as the new home for adult-oriented programming.
In the United States, Disney+ users will start noticing more Hulu content built directly into the Disney+ app. Disney described this as “an ongoing and iterative slate of product updates on the homepage and beyond.”
Even though the Hulu app will disappear over time, the name “Hulu on Disney+” will remain. Disney believes this brand has stronger global recognition compared to “Star,” especially for fans of Hulu originals. Hulu’s Journey So Far
Hulu launched in 2007, becoming popular for offering next-day access to network TV shows alongside original series. It grew into a major player in streaming, with award-winning shows like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Disney took full control of Hulu this summer after completing a deal with Comcast. Industry experts said the shutdown of the standalone app was expected, since Disney wanted to streamline its services. Subscription Prices Going Up
This change also comes with higher prices across Disney’s streaming services. Starting October 21, Disney+ with ads will rise from $9.99 to $11.99 per month.
Disney+ Premium (no ads) will increase from $16 to $19 per month. Hulu with ads will cost $11.99, while ad-free stays at $18.99. Hulu + Live TV with ads will climb by $7 to $90 per month.
ESPN Select (previously ESPN+) will go up by $1 to $12.99.
Disney says these hikes reflect the larger library customers will get under the new combined platform and the company’s continued investment in original programming. What It Means For US Customers
Right now, US customers can still subscribe to Hulu and Disney+ separately. But by 2026, Hulu will no longer exist as an app. Its content will be fully integrated into Disney+.
This means users will have just one streaming service to manage, but also likely face higher costs if they want the full package.
The Court was dealing with the bail application of a former CRPF personnel who is accused of beating his wife to death as she “could not provide a meal to him as per his immediate demand.”
Mental Health
The Bombay High Court has directed that people accused of crimes who are also suspected to be addicted to liquor or drugs must be provided psychiatric treatment to ensure their recovery from the mental illness [Pramod Wamanrao Dhule v The State of Maharashtra and Another].
Justice Sanjay A Deshmukh noted that if a person is addicted to hooch (illicit liquor) or prohibited drugs, it is considered a mental illness under Section 2(1)(s) of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
“Therefore, as per the procedure outlined in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, police or investigating officers who arrest such persons and produce them for remand, police, magistrate custody, or trial, as well as jail authorities and trial courts, are expected to ensure a medical examination and treatment for such addicted persons,” the Court said.
However, it noted that medical examinations of such arrested accused persons are often conducted in a routine manner, merely to comply with formalities.
To address the situation, the Court issued the following direction,
“When allegations in a report lodged or a charge sheet filed against such an accused indicate that they are prima facie addicted to liquor or drugs, the police, court, or jail authorities must direct a medical examination through a psychiatrist for their addiction to liquor or drugs and, If found mentally ill as defined under Section 2(1)(s) of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, they shall be directed to a rehabilitation center for treatment based on the psychiatrist’s report. The help of a counselor or psychologist to change their mindset must be simultaneously taken.”
The Court also called for a sympathetic approach in such cases.
“Though they (those suffering from liquor or drug addiction) suffer from mental illness, they are often harshly condemned due to a lack of awareness about mental illness instead of being considered sympathetically, as other illnesses are treated,” it noted.
The Court was hearing the bail application of a former CRPF personnel who is accused of beating his wife to death as she “could not provide a meal to him as per his immediate demand.” During the hearing of the bail plea, the Court found that the reason for the quarrel was his addiction to liquor.
In the order passed on September 25, the Court opined that the accused appeared to suffer from a mental illness due to his addiction to liquor. The Court noted that under India’s mental healthcare law, the abuse of alcohol or drugs warrants psychiatric treatment and psychological counseling for curing such addiction.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) also opines that persons addicted to prohibited liquor or drugs are mentally ill. Due to such illness, an irresistible impulse is created in the minds of such individuals, causing them to become violent and commit crimes, generally assault, for money, resulting in serious injury or death to innocents,” the Court added.
Commenting on the larger issue of addiction, the Court observed that illicit hooch and drugs are sold illegally by bootleggers and peddlers to young individuals, which often leads to intoxication and an increased propensity to commit criminal and civil mischief.
The Court further highlighted the consequences of such addiction on families, particularly the children and women.
“Such addicts often harass their family members, friends, and others, demanding money to satisfy their vices. They frequently assault and beat their spouses, children, parents, and other family members or friends. When arrested for crimes, they are found assaulting police and jail staff while being handled. They create constant fear in society. Children and women commonly suffer from their serious overt acts. They also cause vehicular accidents by rash and negligent driving under the influence of liquor and drugs. They are found committing offences like murder, rape, outraging the modesty of women, extortion, robbery, theft, etc., to satisfy their desires and often under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to obtain money needed to purchase these substances.”
However, the Court also viewed the issue sympathetically.
“Most of these persons are uneducated, poor, and belong to the lower economic strata of society. Because of their irrational or arrogant behavior due to the effect of mental illness, they do not respond to requests from family members and others for de-addiction treatment, claiming that they are not mentally ill and will not drink liquor or consume drugs henceforth,” it added.
The Court said that if such persons are released on bail without treatment, they will continue to pose a danger to society and their family members.
“There is a strong legal and factual grounds for not releasing them on bail, as they are likely to commit crimes in the future, due to their mental illness, as provided under Sections 480 rw 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), and the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and various High Courts in judicial pronouncements,” the Bench said.
Thus, it stressed that instead of releasing such persons on bail without proper treatment and rehabilitation, it would be beneficial to treat them for their mental illness in the interest of the safety of society at large.
“If this course is followed by all concerned, police, jail authorities, and courts, it will reduce the number of crimes, and society will be relieved from the legal mischief of such persons, fulfilling the objective of the reformative theory of punishment as per criminology and penology,” the Court said.
In the present case, the Court directed that the accused be sent for a medical examination by a psychiatrist. It added that if he is found to be mentally ill due to liquor addiction, he should be treated in a rehabilitation center until he fully recovers from mental illness in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
The Court also issued the following general directions:
1. In all such cases, the remand and trial courts are expected to review the report (FIR) or charge sheet. If it is prima facie found that the accused are addicted, the court shall direct their medical examination through a psychiatrist and call for medical reports to ensure compliance by the police and jail authorities. Outpatient treatment shall not serve the purpose. Further, private rehabilitative treatment is costly. Hence, a government rehabilitation center is the proper course of treatment.
2. The police officer investigating the crime, the court seized of the matter, and the jail authorities having judicial custody of such persons addicted to liquor or drugs are directed to conduct a medical examination of such accused persons by a psychiatrist. If, based on the report, it is found that they are prima facie addicted to liquor or drugs and suffering from mental illness, appropriate treatment must be provided in a government rehabilitation center, along with counseling by a psychologist or trained counselor in this regard.
The Court further directed the Secretary, Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), to arrange awareness programs on drug and liquor addiction rehabilitation pathways through all District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and Taluka Legal Services Authorities (TLSAs).
This, the Court said, will be aimed to ensure that there will be a change in the mindset of society, particularly the general public and law enforcers, that instead of hating such addicted persons, they shall be treated with sympathy and empathy, like other illnesses.
The Indian Army has initiated the procurement process for six AK-630 air defence guns to enhance protection of population centres and religious sites near the Pakistan border. This acquisition is part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.
The AK-630 air defence gun system will have a range of up to 4 km with a cyclic rate of fire of up to 3,000 rounds per minute.
Taking lessons from Operation Sindoor in May, the Indian Army will bolster the air shield by procuring six AK-630 30mm guns under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. The air defence guns will be deployed near the Pakistan border where several cities and religious places were targeted by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
The Army has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of six AK-630 air defence guns by Advanced Weapon and Equipment India Ltd (AWEIL). The system, which will be on the lines of Israel’s Iron Dome, is a 30mm multi-barrel mobile air defence gun system with a high rate of fire.
AK-630 will be utilised to thwart the threat from URAM (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) and for the protection of cities and religious places near the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC). The gun system will be mounted on a trailer and towed by a high mobility vehicle.
The system will have a range of up to 4 km with a cyclic rate of fire of up to 3,000 rounds per minute. The detection will be achieved through an all-weather electro-optical fire control system.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra to provide a comprehensive air shield to the nation during his Independence Day speech on August 15. The system will be a multi-layered shield and be ready by 2035. The Sudarshan Chakra will be integrating surveillance, cybersecurity and air defence systems to protect key installations from various enemy attacks.
India’s security establishment warns Field Marshal Asim Munir against adventurism.
Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi has warned that this time India won’t be as restrained as it was during Operation Sindoor 1.0. (File photo: PTI)
In just 24 hours, three leading members of India’s national security establishment have warned Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir against adventurism. The unsubtle warnings delivered by defence minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh could be seen as deterrent signalling — against Pulwama-type massacre targeting Indian civilians or a territorial grab.
Another Pulwama could see an Operation Sindoor 2.0 where Pakistan would lose not just its military infrastructure, but territory.
These warnings come in the light of Field Marshal Asim Munir’s blitzkrieg of global visits. Pakistan has not fixed all of its destroyed runways, radars and command posts shattered by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor. But in the five months since the 88-hour conflict, Munir has anointed himself Field Marshal and now heads a hybrid civil-military government.
He has rebuilt Pakistan’s geopolitical alliances, met President Donald Trump twice and hocked his country’s rare earths and ports, offered an umbrella of nuclear weapons for Saudi Arabia and reminded Beijing of their commitments to its smaller ‘Iron Brother’. It is an astonishing turnaround of fortunes when you look at how, even a year ago, Islamabad seemed globally isolated, a debt-ridden terrorist sponsoring pariah, living a hand-to-handout existence.
Munir geopolitical somersaults come even at the risk of being drawn into West Asia as a mercenary force and being forced into deploying the Pakistan Army as a peacekeeping force in Gaza as part of a Trump-supervised peace plan for the region.
But as history shows, when the military sits in the driver’s seat and Pakistan develops stronger ties with its partners, the military becomes emboldened and adventurous. What follows is a predictable pattern of escalation with India. This has been a familiar pattern over the past few decades.
From Field Marshal Ayub Khan with his land grabs in Kutch and Jammu & Kashmir in 1965, General Zia, who fomented terrorism in Punjab and General Pervez Musharraf, who unleashed his state-sponsored terrorists against India’s Parliament in 2001, Mumbai’s trains in 2006 and two five-star hotels, a Jewish centre and a railway station during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
“If Pakistan dares to act in Sir Creek, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at a meeting in the Rann of Kutch on October 2, adding how the Indian Army reached Lahore in 1965, and warning of a land offensive against Karachi.
A day later, on October 3, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi repeated the ‘history and geography’ warning. Speaking at the military station in Bikaner, Rajasthan, he said India was fully prepared this time around and wouldn’t be as restrained as it was during ‘Operation Sindoor 1.0’.
An Indian student from Hyderabad, who went to the US for his higher studies, was shot dead by miscreants in Texas. The incident reportedly occurred at a gas station where the victim worked on a part-time basis.
Hyderabad student Chandrashekar Pole was reportedly killed at a gas station in Texas where he worked part-time. (LinkedIn)
An Indian student from Hyderabad, who went to the US for his higher studies, was shot dead by miscreants in Texas, former Telangana minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao said on Saturday. The victim, Chandrashekar Pole, was reportedly working part-time at a gas station in Denton, Texas, when the incident occurred.
The victim had completed his Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery (BDS) before moving to Dallas for further studies, said Harish Rao, the nephew of BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Harish Rao said he and other party leaders visited the family of the victim at his house in Hyderabad to express their condolences.
“It is tragic that Chandrashekar Pole, a Dalit student from LB Nagar who completed BDS and went to America (Dallas) for higher studies, died in a shooting carried out by miscreants early morning,” he wrote on X.
He urged the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government to bring back the victim’s body for the last rites.
Expressing grief over the demise of the student, Chief Minister Reddy conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family. Assuring support to the victim’s family, he said his government would extend all cooperation to bring back the body.
In a tweet, the Consulate General of India, Houston, condoled the death of Chandrasekhar, and said the mission was in touch with the family and extending all possible assistance.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ruled out any tie-up with the Congress for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. Talking to media persons after inaugurating a party office in Mayem, 16 km from here, the AAP leader said the people of Goa have been let down and deceived the most by the Congress.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal | X – @ArvindKejriwal
Panaji, Oct 4: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ruled out any tie-up with the Congress for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.
“There will be no alliance with the Congress under any circumstances,” said Kejriwal, denying claims that some of the party’s Goa workers were open to joining hands with the grand old party ahead of the Assembly elections.
Building Goa’s future together. Volunteer’s Meeting in South Goa | LIVE https://t.co/ZyCFtMRoRo
Talking to media persons after inaugurating a party office in Mayem, 16 km from here, the AAP leader said the people of Goa have been let down and deceived the most by the Congress.
“The Congress has become a wholesale supplier of MLAs to the BJP over the years. Can the Congress give an assurance to Goa voters that no party legislator will switch to the BJP in future,” he said.
Inaugurated the AAP Maem Office in Goa today. This office will be a hub to strengthen the party in the region and deepen our connect with the local community. AAP volunteers here will always be ready to support and serve the people of Goa. pic.twitter.com/EHobmduxzn
The former Delhi Chief Minister said, “At least 13 Congress MLAs switched to the BJP between 2017 and 2019. In 2022, 10 Congress legislators switched flanks and joined the BJP.”
In a statement, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the BJP government is acting unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav Credit: Reuters File Photo
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday accused the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of “murdering democracy” and said that police stopping a party delegation from travelling to Bareilly at its behest is condemnable.
In a statement, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the BJP government is acting unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“The BJP government is resorting to dictatorship to hide its failures. The government is attacking the basic spirit of the Constitution with its dictatorial attitude,” he said.
On Saturday, police stopped a delegation of Samajwadi Party leaders from travelling to Bareilly.
In the morning, Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey, was stopped by police personnel stationed outside his Lucknow residence when he moved towards his private vehicle to travel to the violence-hit city.
In a statement, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said that police placed all members of the party delegation under house arrest. This included Mata Prasad Pandey; Lok Sabha MPs Harendra Malik, Iqra Hasan Choudhary, Ziaur Rahman Barq, Mohibullah Nadvi and Neeraj Maurya; former MPs Virpal Singh Yadav, Praveen Singh Aron and Shivcharan Kashyap; MLAs Ataur Rahman and Shahzil Islam Ansari; former minister Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar, and party leaders Shamim Khan Sultani and Shubhalesh Yadav.
This is condemnable and shameful, Akhilesh Yadav said.
“Just recently, a delegation led by senior Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman was stopped,” he said.
U.S. Border Patrol personnel shot an armed woman in Chicago on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said, as scores of protesters faced off against federal immigration agents on the city’s southwest side.
No law enforcement officers were seriously injured in the incident in which a group that included the woman rammed cars into vehicles used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. The woman, a U.S. citizen who was not identified, drove herself to the hospital, according to the statement.
No additional information was immediately available about the woman’s condition.ICE agents fired pepper spray and loaded rubber bullets as part of heated exchanges with protesters on Saturday.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a post on X that she was sending additional “special operations” to control the scene in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The woman was armed with a semi-automatic gun, assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said on Saturday that he was given an ultimatum by Republican President Donald Trump to deploy the state’s National Guard.
Tear gas rises during a standoff with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal officers in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, U.S., October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Purchase Licensing Rights
“It is absolutely outrageous and unAmerican to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Trump authorized 300 National Guard troops to protect federal officers and assets, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Reuters in a statement.
People in the Chicago area have staged repeated protests condemning the stepped-up federal presence. On Friday, police scuffled with hundreds of protesters outside an ICE facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview.
On multiple occasions, demonstrators sitting on the ground attempting to block ICE vehicles from carrying detainees into the facility have been repelled by heavily armed ICE agents using physical force, chemical munitions, and rubber bullets, evoking combat scenes.
Protesters have decried what they call similar heavy-handed policing in other Democratic-run cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon. A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.
As people turn to AI to help them write dating messages, some are seeing positive results. However, experts warn that recipients may feel deceived and question the authenticity.
REUTERS illustration/John Devolle
Dmitry, a 35-year-old from Miami, stared at the profile of a woman he matched with on a dating app, unsure how to initiate a conversation. So for help, he opened Rizz, an AI-powered app that bills itself as a pocket dating assistant.
After sending screenshots of his match’s profile — which mentions her love of ski slopes, summer concerts and a great bottle of wine — Dmitry (who asked to be referred to by his first name only to protect his privacy) prompted Rizz to generate a smooth opening line. The results were immediate. “I’m into all of those activities,” he messaged, at Rizz’s suggestion. “Now the hard part is to figure out which one would be the perfect first date.”
“Rizz gives me some quirky, funny responses,” Dmitry says of the app, which he credits with helping him progress out of the talking stage and into in-person dates. “It helps me spark a conversation with something a little bit interesting that will get their attention.”
A new crop of AI-powered tools is emerging as an on-demand wingman for people trying to navigate online dating — helping users craft replies, optimize profiles, or even decide when to move on. Although this emerging trend is a game-changer for some, dating and relationship experts warn it risks replacing authenticity with automation.
Rizz, a colloquial term that is short for charisma, currently has 15 million users globally on its mobile and web apps, the company says, with monthly subscriptions costing $19.99. The company declined to provide information on the number of paid subscribers. “I want Rizz to make conversation more natural, more human, right?” Roman Khaves, the app’s founder, says. “I want it to help you get off the apps faster and get to where dating actually happens.”
More people may be on the receiving end of AI-generated messages than they realize. Just over a quarter of U.S. adults — including nearly half of Gen Z — are using AI to filter matches and write messages, according to a recent survey by the Kinsey Institute and Match Group (which owns Tinder, Hinge, and several other online dating platforms).
Another app that hopeful daters turn to is YourMove AI, which offers AI dating assistants that help users craft dating profiles, respond to matches, and even enhance their photos for $12.99 per month.
Dmitri Mirakyan, the founder of YourMove AI, says he created the platform in 2022 for people who are shy, feel socially awkward, or struggle to navigate what he calls the weird dynamics on dating apps. “It feels so transactional … the rates of rejection, people just don’t reply, people are ghosting,” he says. “It still feels mentally painful.”
While such apps have helped users like Dmitry progress to in-person dates, they also raise a paradox: Can something artificial really foster authenticity? For some, the answer becomes clear the moment the conversation starts to seem just a little too polished.
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast until Sunday.
Cyclone Shakhti is the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season in the Arabian Sea(Hindustan Times)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a ‘yellow alert’ for heavy rain and thunderstorms over several districts of Maharashtra ahead of Cyclone Shakhti.
Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough along and off the Gujarat-North Maharashtra coast until Sunday.
Check Maharashtra districts under ‘yellow alert’?
The weather agency has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and rainfall for Saturday, October 4, over the following districts:
Sindhudurg
Ahilyanagar
Ghats of Kolhapur
Kolhapur
Sangli
Sholapur
Parbhani
Beed
Hingoli
Nanded
Latur
Dharashiv
Bhandara
Nagpur
Yavatmal
Wind speeds of 30-40 kilometres per hour are expected over these districts.
For Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Gondia, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for two days – Saturday and Sunday.
Impact Expected:
According to the Met Department, the thunderstorm warning in the aforementioned districts may have the following impact:
Possibility of cloud-to-ground lightning at isolated places.
Fall of weak trees or weak structures due to gusty winds.
Localised and short-term disruption of power.
Damage to crops due to unseasonal rainfall.
Strong wind/hail may damage the plantation, horticulture, and standing crops.
Minor damage to kutcha houses/walls and huts.
The IMD advises against working in open areas and fields during thunderstorms and recommends not taking shelter under tall trees or structures. It is also recommended to unplug all electronic appliances and keep them away from objects that conduct electricity.
The weather office has warned fishermen not to venture into the northwest Arabian Sea, the adjoining areas of the northeast Arabian Sea, the central Arabian Sea, and along and off the Gujarat-north Maharashtra coasts until Tuesday.
Workers alleged that their PF deposits have not been made since 2014 and that salaries have not been paid for several months. Many said they devoted their entire careers to the group, only to face financial hardship in their retirement years.
File Pic (Representative Image)
Employees of the Sahara Group staged a protest in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar-based “Sahara City” on Tuesday, demanding clearance of long-pending salaries and provident fund (PF) contributions. Hundreds of employees gathered at the premises, raising slogans against management and halting work.
Workers alleged that their PF deposits have not been made since 2014 and that salaries have not been paid for several months. Many said they devoted their entire careers to the group, only to face financial hardship in their retirement years.
“Our future has turned dark. We gave our lives to Sahara, but now our lifetime earnings are stuck. First give us our money, then close the company or do what you want,” said one senior employee during the protest.
The employees warned that if their demands are not met soon, they would escalate the agitation and resort to legal action. No senior Sahara Group officials were present at the site during the protest, nor has any official statement been issued so far, further angering the staff. The protesting employees urged the state government and the labour department to intervene immediately, stressing that they will not withdraw until their salary and PF dues are cleared.
The Bombay High Court has reserved its order on Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Akhil Chitre’s plea to quash an FIR related to an assault on a lawyer.
The Bombay High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) member Akhil Chitre, seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him in 2020 for allegedly assaulting a lawyer on court premises.
During the hearing, the bench made strong observations, stating, “You had no business to enter the court premises to assault advocates.”
The case dates back to a period when MNS was engaged in a standoff with Amazon for allegedly not including Marathi as a language option on its platform in Maharashtra.
According to the prosecution, in October 2020, Amazon Transportation Services was allegedly threatened by Chitre and other MNS members. In response, Amazon filed a civil suit before the Dindoshi City Civil Court seeking to restrain Chitre and his associates from entering its premises. The suit, filed by advocates Sushant Joshi and Akshay Purkar, resulted in an ex parte order in Amazon’s favour.
On December 4, 2020, Joshi was unwell, and advocate Durgesh Gupta appeared on behalf of Amazon. After the hearing was adjourned and Gupta exited the courtroom, he was reportedly approached by unidentified individuals. One of them asked his name and then questioned, “You brought this stay, have you sent this notice to Raj Thackeray Saheb?” before two individuals allegedly began assaulting and threatening him.
As other lawyers gathered at the scene, the attackers fled. Around the same time, Chitre was seen near the court, attempting to move his parked car. He was stopped by the lawyers, and the individual who initially questioned Gupta was also seen nearby.
A case was subsequently registered at Dindoshi police station under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention).
Additional Public Prosecutor Anil Chate told the court on Friday that the investigation was complete, with two assailants identified and CCTV footage showing Chitre’s presence at the scene. He added that the chargesheet is ready to be filed.
Appearing for Chitre, advocate Tapan Thatte pointed out that the court had earlier directed the prosecution not to file a chargesheet against his client. He argued that Chitre was not named as one of the assailants and was merely in his car at the time.
The organiser says that he is being made a scapegoat after the singer’s death in Singapore and faces over 50 FIRs across the North East.
Zubeen Gargfacebook
Northeast Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta has approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest after multiple first information reports (FIRs) were lodged against him in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore.
Mahanta, who has been organising the Northeast Festival since 2013, said that he has been falsely implicated after Garg’s sudden death on September 19, 2025, while holidaying with family and friends on a yacht in Singapore.
He pointed out that the singer was scheduled to perform at his festival on September 20 but the incident had nothing to do with the event, and that Singaporean authorities who probed the matter have not found any foul play.
The plea states that more than 54 FIRs have been filed against Mahanta across Assam and other states. These cases accuse him of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide merely because he was the festival organiser.
The petition stresses that he was at the event venue with dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Indian High Commission officials when the mishap occurred, and only learnt about it through a phone call from Garg’s manager.
Mahanta has alleged that the criminal process is being misused to turn public outrage into a witch-hunt. He said that the Assam government formed a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe his role, while senior state executives, including the Chief Minister, made public remarks declaring that no festivals linked to him would be permitted in Assam. According to the plea, such comments have prejudiced the investigation and destroyed any chance of a fair probe.
The petition also raises concerns of a trial by media, citing television debates, hashtags such as #JusticeForZubeen and morphed videos that portrayed him as guilty. Mahanta has flagged that the All Assam Lawyers’ Association even passed a resolution asking its members not to represent the accused in the case, a move that he argues strikes at the foundation of the right to legal representation.
The organiser further said that he has been subjected to direct threats, including messages warning him that he would be killed if he returned to Assam. He added that instead of granting him protection, the Assam CID has issued a Look-Out Circular against him, effectively barring him from returning home.
Calling the accusations baseless, Mahanta has urged the Supreme Court to consolidate all FIRs and transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA), under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge. He has also asked for protection against arrest and coercive measures, suspension of the Look-Out Circular and directions to media outlets to refrain from unverified reporting until the investigation is complete.
Mahanta was reportedly arrested shortly after filing the plea. His legal team says that the plea will be amended to that effect.
It is not clear when the petition would be heard since the apex court is on vacation this week for Dussehra.
Sonam Wangchuk and Supreme CourtFacebook
Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of activist, environmentalist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk, has approached the Supreme Court challenging his detention under the National Security Act.
The plea filed through advocate Sarvam Ritam Khare was filed on October 2.
It is not clear when the petition would be heard since the apex court is on vacation this week for Dussehra.
Justice N Senthilkumar passed the order while hearing a petition which questioned why Vijay was not named in the criminal case registered in the wake of the stampede.
Madras High Court, TVK flag and Actor Vijay
The Madras High Court on Friday ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the September 27 stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur, where 41 persons died after crowds swelled to see actor-turned-politician and TVK founder Vijay speak.
Justice N Senthilkumar passed the order while hearing a petition that sought the introduction of a standard operating protocol (SOP) to be followed during road shows.
The Court expressed concern that the State’s investigation so far has been inadequate. This was after it noted that the State was yet to register any criminal case in respect of two accidents that allegedly involved collisions with Vijay’s bus amid the stampede. Notably, Vijay has not been named in any FIR registered after the stampede.
“This Court expresses its deep anguish and concern over the failure of the authorities to take action. Even in the absence of a formal complaint from the aggrieved parties, it is the duty of the State to register a suo motu FIR and ensure that the accused face trial in accordance with law,” Justice Senthilkumar said.
He proceeded to order a SIT probe into the matter, and ordered the State to transfer all case-related to materials to this SIT.
“This Court cannot close its eyes, remain a mute spectator, and shrink from its constitutional responsibilities,” the judge said.
The SIT is to be headed by Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police (North Zone). The other members of the team are Vimala (IPS), Superintendent of Police, Namakkal and Shyamaladevi, Superintendent of Police, CSCID. The Court added that additional members may be inducted into the team, as required, by Garg.
The Court also cricitised the TVK leadership for how it has handled the matter.
Interestingly, a Division Bench of the High Court’s seat at Madurai had earlier today refused to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the matter, after noting that the State’s investigation into the case was at a nascent stage.
On September 27, a stampede unfolded at a rally organised by the TVK party in Veluswamypuram, Karur district, when Vijay was campaigning.
In June 2025, SBI tagged the loan accounts of Reliance Communications (RCom) and its promoter Anil Ambani as fraudulent.
Anil Ambani and Bombay High CourtAnil Ambani ( Twitter)
The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by industrialist Anil Ambani against State Bank of India’s (SBI) decision declaring his loan accounts as “fraud.” [Anil D Ambani v. State Bank of India]
A Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale rejected Ambani’s arguments of procedural unfairness and upheld SBI’s action.
A copy of the judgment is awaited.
In June 2025, SBI tagged the loan accounts of Reliance Communications (RCom) and its promoter Anil Ambani as fraudulent, citing diversion of funds, breach of covenants and related-party transactions. The Bank subsequently informed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and initiated steps to approach the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Ambani challenged the decision, contending that he was only a non-executive director and had been selectively singled out. He also argued that adequate opportunity to present his defence was not provided.
The High Court, however, found that SBI had followed the RBI’s July 2024 Master Directions on fraud classification and dismissed the plea.
Notably, the same bench had earlier stayed a similar order issued by Canara Bank against Ambani, citing non-compliance with the RBI’s Master Circular. This Circular requires banks to hear the borrower before classifying their account as fraudulent. However, in July 2025, the matter came to be disposed after Canara Bank informed the Court that it had withdrawn the fraud classification.
Explosive details have emerged in the investigation into the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg, with the remand note exclusively accessed by CNN-News18 revealing a bandmate’s startling testimony alleging a conspiracy to murder and cover up the act.
Zubeen Garg passed away on September 19. File image/Instagram
The key witness, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami (a band member), has accused two individuals, Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta, of poisoning Zubeen Garg. Goswami claims the choice of a foreign venue, specifically the incident at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore, was an attempt to conceal the murder and frame the death as an accident.
Zubeen Garg, who was in Singapore for the 60th year of the India-Singapore Diplomatic Relations and to celebrate India ASEAN Year of Tourism, passed away on September 19. His autopsy report revealed that he died due to drowning while swimming off a Singapore island.
Key Allegations from Witness Statement
Suspicious Activity & Intentional Endangerment: Goswami stated he saw Siddharth Sharma acting suspiciously in Singapore and alleges Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht, intentionally endangering the passengers.
Preventing Aid: During Zubeen’s distress—when the singer was reportedly frothing at the mouth and nose—Sharma was allegedly heard shouting, “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go).
Negligence and Cover-Up: Goswami accuses Sharma of dismissing the critical signs, such as frothing, as mere “acid reflux” instead of seeking urgent medical help. Witnesses believe this negligence drastically hastened Zubeen’s death.
Evidence of Pre-Planning: The witness claims Sharma had instructed Tanmoy Phukan not to arrange drinks, stating he alone would provide them. Sharma was also allegedly unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the liquor and women arranged for Zubeen before the singer fell ill.
Expert Swimmer Claim: Goswami insisted Zubeen Garg was an “expert swimmer” and could not have drowned naturally, reinforcing the belief that his death was not accidental.
Suppression of Evidence: Sharma allegedly instructed Goswami not to share any video footage of the yacht incident with anyone.
India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons of the S-400 missile system, a state-of-the-art air defence platform capable of engaging multiple aerial threats at long ranges. Three squadrons have already been delivered.
India likely to procure additional batches of S-400 weapon system (File Image)
India may procure additional batches of the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system, which proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor, reported PTI citing people familiar with the matter.
India is looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, the report stated, adding that the proposed procurement may figure in talks between New Delhi and Moscow when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India in December.
The people cited above said India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile system as well.
Moscow and New Delhi are negotiating increased deliveries of S-400 missile systems, TASS news agency reported last month citing a senior Russian defence export official. “India already has our S-400 system,” TASS quoted Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, as saying.
“There is potential to expand our cooperation in this area as well. That means new deliveries. For now, we are in the negotiation stage.”
When asked if India is looking at buying additional systems of the S-400 weapon system, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh did not give a direct reply. “Obviously, that has done good. So, there’s a requirement to have more such (systems); there is no limit to numbers that you can buy. Again, I’m keeping quiet on what the plan (is) whether we want to buy more, how much etc,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“It has proved to be a good weapon system. We have our own system also being developed. So we will take a call on that,” he said. The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor.
India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia in 2018 for five squadrons of the S-400 missile system, a state-of-the-art air defence platform capable of engaging multiple aerial threats at long ranges. Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The authorities have asked the devotees to plan their travel to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine only after getting updates from official channels.
A deserted view of the Banganga entrance gate as the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended for the sixth consecutive day due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall, at Katra in Reasi on Sunday.(ANI Video Grab)
The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been suspended from Sunday, October 5, due to apprehensions about the weather near the cave shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district
The authorities have cited an inclement weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the suspension of the yatra. The suspension will run until Tuesday, October 7.
The Vaishno Devi Yatra is scheduled to begin again on Wednesday, October 8, depending on weather conditions. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) posted the information on the social media platform X.
“Yatra Update. In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, Vaishno Devi Yatra shall remain suspended from 5th to 7th October 2025 & will resume on 08/10/2025. Devotees may stay updated through official channels. @OfficeOfLGJandK,” the post by the board read.
⚠️ Yatra Update
In view of the inclement weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, Vaishno Devi Yatra shall remain suspended from 5th to 7th October 2025 & will resume on 08/10/2025.
Devotees may stay updated through official channels.@OfficeOfLGJandK
— Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (@OfficialSMVDSB) October 3, 2025
The authorities have asked the devotees to plan their travel only after getting updates from official channels. The Shrine Board has taken the step as a precautionary measure in view of the threat perception of landslides, flooding, and cloudbursts due to heavy rain.
Earlier suspensions of the yatra
The Yatra has been suspended many times this year due to rain, flash floods, and landslides. It recently resumed on September 17 after a 22-day hiatus due to a landslide near Ardhkuwari that claimed 34 lives and injured 20 others in the August 26 tragedy. The decision to resume the yatra at that time came two days after a group of pilgrims staged a protest at Katra base camp in support of their demand for the resumption of the pilgrimage. Source: hindustantimes.com/india-news/vaishno-devi-yatra-suspended-from-october-5-to-7-amid-bad-weather-forecast-101759512069618.html
On Thursday Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said attempts to illegally occupy more of India, i.e., its half of Sir Creek, will be met with a response that will change “history and geography”.
A map of the Sir Creek border dispute.
Military tension between India and Pakistan – never far from the surface and explosive when it does break cover, as Operation Sindoor showed in May – may have expanded to a new theatre this week after Islamabad was warned against territorial aggression in Gujarat’s Sir Creek.
On Thursday Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said attempts to illegally occupy more of India, i.e., its half of Sir Creek, will be met with a response that will change “history and geography”.
Singh said India remains open to a peaceful resolution of the border dispute in Gujarat (and other areas) but “Pakistan’s intentions are flawed and unclear”. The recent expansion of military infrastructure -bunkers and radars, as well as forward bases capable of launching attack drones or infantry operations – in adjacent areas reveal that country’s intentions, he said.
Increased Pak military footprint anywhere on the border raises eyebrows but, after Op Sindoor and the first India-Pak armed conflict since 1971, it is a matter of some concern and urgency.
So what is Sir Creek?
It is a narrow strip of water, less than 100km long, in the tidal estuary between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan. Control is disputed over interpretations of maritime boundary lines.
The creek is the official westernmost border between India and Pakistan.
The origin of the dispute dates back decades to pre-independence India (as do so many of the India-Pak conflicts) when the region was ruled by the Maharaja of Kutch and there were conflicting territorial claims from differing interpretations of colonial-era maps and agreements.
Today the dispute is this – India claims half of Sir Creek and, therefore, the marshlands that border Pakistan’s Keti Bunder Wildlife Sanctuary, while Pak cites one of those colonial-era deals and insists the boundary lies east of the creek, giving it access to the heartland of Gujarat.
The document Pak cites is the 1914 resolution signed by the Rao of Kutch and the Sindh government, which says the eastern bank of the creek is the boundary line.
India, however, relies on a 1925 map that points to the mid-channel of the creek. India has also pointed to the internationally-accepted Thalweg principal that says the border between two nations that share a navigable waterway is the line of the deepest part of the main channel.
Pak, though, says the doctrine doesn’t apply as Sir Creek is not navigable.
Why is Sir Creek important?
Control of the Sir Creek not only influences (and effectively settles) the India-Pak maritime boundary issue, but also gives the side in charge a significant strategic boost.
India maintaining a military presence on its side, for example, acts as a deterrent as it offers direct maritime access to the Karachi Port, a trading hub and No 1 target in a war. Singh made that point when he said ‘Pak should remember, one route to Karachi passes through Sir Creek’.
For Pakistan, increased access to the Sir Creek region allows, theoretically, a pincer movement on India; i.e., in the event of another armed conflict, simultaneous attacks in Pak-occupied Kashmir or the Rajasthan and Punjab border and in Sir Creek could stretch Indian forces.
Control also supports the Pak Navy in positioning its warships along the coastline, thereby enhancing its security and influence over maritime routes near the Gujarat coast.
Prize isn’t just military
Sir Creek is one of Asia’s largest fishing grounds and supports the livelihoods of thousands of people. The border dispute frequently segues into the arrest of fishermen and women, from both nations, who stray across the border. It also impacts access to potential undersea oil and gas reserves, important in the light of Pak’s deal with the US to develop “massive” oil resources.
Exploration of these reserves have stalled due to the border dispute.
The potential economic benefit, however, is immense, particularly as Indian balances the cost-effective import of Russian oil against the fury of the US for ‘fuelling the war in Ukraine’.
The terrorism red flag
India’s concerns for Sir Creek aren’t just related to the Pak military.
In September 2019 abandoned boats were found in the area after intel about Pak special forces soldiers trying to infiltrate the country and carry out a terror attack in Gujarat.
Several companies make consumers pay an extra charge if they opt for the cash-on-delivery option rather than pre-paying for the order online.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said platforms violating consumer rights will face action.
Cracking down on ‘dark patterns’ employed by e-commerce companies, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has said firms that charge extra for cash-on-delivery will now face action.
Several companies make consumers pay an extra fee if they opt for the cash-on-delivery option rather than pre-paying for the order online.
Railing against such practices, an X user had, on Wednesday, posted about an experience he had with an e-commerce firm in which he was charged Rs 226 in the name of ‘offer handling fee, payment handling fee and protect promise fee’.
“Forget Rain Fee by Zomato/Swiggy/Zepto. See the masterstroke by Flipkart: Offer Handling Fee (for giving me the discount you advertised??); Payment Handling Fee (for letting me pay you??) and Protect Promise Fee (protecting me from what… satisfaction?),” he wrote
“Next up: “Scrolling App Fee”,” he joked.
Responding to the post on Friday, Joshi said such practices will be scrutinised and platforms violating consumer rights will face action.
“The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against e-commerce platforms charging extra for Cash-on-Delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers,” the minister wrote.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has received complaints against e-commerce platforms charging extra for Cash-on-Delivery, a practice classified as a dark pattern that misleads and exploits consumers.
A detailed investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to… https://t.co/gEf5WClXJX
“A detailed investigation has been initiated and steps are being taken to scrutinise these platforms closely. Strict action will be taken against those violating consumer rights to ensure transparency and uphold fair practices in India’s growing e-commerce sector,” he added.
Dark patterns are tactics used by companies to extract money or data from consumers without them realising
These practices include platforms showing there are only one or two pieces of an item left to speed up a buyer’s purchase decision when, in reality, there are several more in stock, or setting a fake time limit – like ‘offer expires in 10 minutes’ – to achieve the same end.
PM Modi, earlier this week, had backed Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised US President Donald Trump’s “efforts” in brokering peace in Gaza, hours after Hamas accepted parts of Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised US President Donald Trump for his peace efforts in Gaza, hours after Hamas accepted parts of Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
“We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward.
India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace.@realDonaldTrump@POTUS
PM Modi, earlier this week, had backed Trump’s Gaza peace plan, saying it provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace for both Palestinian and Israeli people.
“We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security, and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace,” he wrote on X.
The PM’s endorsement was later reshared by Trump on his Truth Social platform, without adding any words of his own.
Hamas on Friday night accepted certain parts of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, including ending the war, Israel’s withdrawal, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives, aid and recovery efforts, and opposition to Palestinian expulsion from the territory – hours after the Republican leader had issued an ultimatum to the Palestinian group to accept his peace plan by Sunday, 6 pm (US time) or face “all hell”.
Trump’s response
Trump called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” and said he believes Hamas is ready for a “lasting peace”.
“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on the details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He also posted a video message thanking all the countries that helped broker the ‘peace’ in the Middle East.
“I want to thank the countries for helping me put this together – Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and so many others. So many people fought so hard. This is a big day. We’ll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down and concrete. Very importantly, I look forward to having the hostages come home to their parents. Some of the hostages – unfortunately, you know the condition they’re in – come home likewise to their parents because their parents wanted them just as much as though that young man or young woman were alive,” he said.
The situation in the district began getting back on track when authorities relaxed the curfew for seven hours on September 30 and gradually increased the duration on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sonam Wangchuk speaking during his 35-day fast over the demand for Ladakh’s inclusion under the Constitution’s sixth schedule and statehood, in Leh. (File Photo) Photo : PTI
A digitally altered video of ADC Leh Ghulam Muhammad is circulating on social media, falsely suggesting that activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit has clarified that the video is fake and that ADC Leh has made no such statement. PIB has also shared the original, unedited video on Facebook to counter the misinformation. Authorities have cautioned citizens against sharing such AI-manipulated videos, which are being spread to mislead the public and cause panic.’
⚠️ FAKE AI VIDEO ALERT! ⚠️
A digitally altered video of ADC Leh Ghulam Muhammad is circulating on social media, in which he is making claims that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.#PIBFactCheck
Normalcy is gradually returning to Leh following the September 24 violence that left four people dead and scores injured.
The curfew was imposed on the evening of September 24 and relaxation periods were gradually extended over the days as the situation in the town has remained by and large peaceful.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the September 24 violence and the officials have been asked to conclude the inquiry within four weeks. The inquiry was ordered by the Leh deputy commissioner, who appointed Sub Divisional Magistrate Nubra Mukul Beniwal as inquiry officer.
Beniwal, in a public notice, said the inquiry committee is charged with ascertaining facts and circumstances that led to the serious law and order situation, police action, and death of four people.
A wave of bomb threats targeted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s residence in Chennai, the BJP office and actor Trisha’s house.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (Photo: PTI)
A wave of bomb threats targeted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s residence in Chennai, along with the state BJP headquarters and the house of South actress Trisha. Police have launched an investigation.
A bomb threat was reported at Trisha’s residence in Chennai’s Teynampet locality, prompting a police search with sniffer dogs. Similar threats were also allegedly made to the Tamil Nadu Governor’s residence, according to multiple reports.
This incident occurred over a month after Stalin reportedly received a bomb threat ahead of a flag hoisting ceremony on August 15. The threat created a stir in the administration and caused panic within the police department as well. The caller, identified as Ganesh, was taken into custody.
In July, Stalin’s Chennai residence received a similar bomb threat. A bomb threat call was received by the control room of the Old Commissioner’s office, The Hindu reported, adding that the caller identified as Vinothkumar said a bomb had been placed in the CM’s house. It turned out to be a hoax.
This adds to a long list of bomb threats linked to Stalin. In 2024, a bomb threat email targeting the flight Stalin was to board to San Francisco triggered panic at Chennai airport. That threat was later declared a hoax after a thorough investigation.
A young man was arrested for issuing a bomb threat at Stalin’s residence in August 2023. As per several reports, the man claimed he had planted a bomb in the Chief Minister’s residence and disconnected the call.
According to the ministry’s statement, technical-level talks between aviation officials from both sides had been on since earlier this year.
India and China have agreed to resume direct air services by the end of this month, following sustained discussions between the civil aviation authorities. The agreement was announced today by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, marking a major development after the recent ice-breaker meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
According to the ministry’s statement, technical-level talks between aviation officials from both sides had been on since earlier this year.
The discussions focused on restoring direct connectivity and finalising a revised Air Services Agreement.
Under the new arrangement, designated carriers from India and China will be permitted to operate direct flights between agreed points, starting with the winter season schedule, provided all operational and commercial requirements are met.
Following the diplomatic initiative, IndiGo announced the resumption of its services to mainland China, connecting Kolkata to Guangzhou with daily, non-stop flights starting 26 October 2025.
Subject to regulatory approvals, IndiGo will also introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly.
IndiGo said it will use its Airbus A320neo aircraft to operate these flights that will re-establish avenues for cross-border trade and strategic business partnerships and promote tourism between the two nations
The move is expected to boost people-to-people exchanges that had been severely curtailed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent tensions along the India-China border. Officials emphasised that resumption of air links would “contribute towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
Direct flights between the two Asian neighbours had been suspended for more than four years, disrupting business, tourism, and academic exchanges.
The announcement signals a cautious yet notable thaw in ties, which remained strained despite continued diplomatic engagement.
Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta were with the singer at the yacht party during which he died.
The Assam Police SIT investigating the death of singer Zubeen Garg has arrested his bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, taking the total arrests in the case to four, sources told NDTV on Thursday.
Both Goswami and Mahanta were with Garg at the yacht party during the North East India Festival on September 19. The 52-year-old went for a swim and was found floating face down in the water.
Sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) said Goswami was seen, in videos, swimming very close to Garg while Mahanta recorded the entire incident on her cellphone. Both of them were questioned over the past six days.
Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma and North East India Festival manager Shyamkanu Mahanta were arrested on Wednesday, and they are likely to be questioned along with Goswami and Mahanta.
Earlier on Thursday, Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta were charged with murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence in connection with Garg’s death.
“The investigation is going on and I cannot share details at this time but we have added charges under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” Munna Gupta, the Special Director General of Police of Assam’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who is heading the SIT, said.
The singer’s wife, Garima Garg, said she has full faith in the justice system and everyone wants to know who is guilty of what crime.
When a married couple acquires a property jointly in their name, there is a legal presumption that they have jointly contributed towards it, the Court said.
Divorce
The Delhi High Court recently held that a husband cannot claim exclusive ownership over a joint property held with his wife merely on the ground that he provided the purchase money or paid equated monthly instalments (EMIs).
A Division Bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidynathan Shankar said such a plea would violate Section 4 of the the Benami Act, which imposes an absolute bar against the enforcement of rights in respect of property held benami.
“The provision clearly stipulates that no person claiming to be the real owner of a property standing in another’s name can either institute proceedings or raise a defence asserting such ownership. Thus, the combined effect of the presumption of equal ownership between spouses and the statutory prohibition under Section 4 is that the Appellant [husband] is prevented from contending that the amount from the sale of the joint property belongs to him alone,” the Court said.
Therefore, the wife would be entitled to a 50 percent share in the proceeds of the property held jointly by the parties, the Court added.
The High Court rendered these findings while dealing with a matrimonial dispute.
The couple, married in 1999, had been living separately since 2006. The husband initially sought divorce in 2006 on grounds of cruelty. He later expanded his petition to include desertion. The wife, in turn, sought interim maintenance and claimed her rights in joint property.
The property in question, a Mumbai flat purchased jointly, had been sold by the bank, resulting in proceeds of ₹1.09 crore deposited in a joint bank account.
A family court ordered the release of the money in favour of the husband, prompting the wife to challenge the order before the High Court.
The two sides also challenged a host of other orders passed by the family court.
After considering the case, the High Court held that when a married couple acquires a property jointly in their name, there is a legal presumption that they have jointly contributed towards it irrespective of the fact that one person is not earning.
“Normally, when a husband and wife acquire property during the subsistence of marriage, the presumption in law is that such acquisition is made from common family funds and that both spouses have contributed equally, irrespective of whether one of them is earning or not,” the Court stated.
Bhosle approached the Court against several defendants, including Mayk Inc, an AI company allegedly offering cloned versions of her voice
Asha Bhosle and Bombay High CourtFacebook
The Bombay High Court has granted renowned playback singer Asha Bhosle ad-interim protection of her personality and moral rights, restraining artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, online marketplaces, and sellers from unauthorizedly cloning her voice or commercially exploiting her image, likeness, and other attributes [Asha Bhosle Vs Mayak Inc].
Justice Arif S Doctor held that prima facie, the unauthorized use of a celebrity’s personality traits, including their name, voice, photographs, caricatures, or likeness, constitutes a violation of their publicity and personality rights.
“Making AI tools available to enable the conversion of any voice into that of a celebrity without his/ her permission would constitute a violation of the celebrity’s personality rights. Such tools facilitate the unauthorized appropriation and manipulation of a celebrity’s voice, which is a key component of their personal identity and public persona,” the Court added.
Bhosle had approached the Court against several defendants, including Mayk Inc, an AI company allegedly offering cloned versions of her voice; Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd and Flipkart Internet Pvt Ltd, for displaying and selling posters and merchandise using her likeness without consent; an independent artist selling apparel with her image; and Google LLC, as the operator of YouTube, where AI-generated videos imitating her voice had been uploaded.
Her petition emphasized that such misuse undermines her reputation and goodwill built over a career spanning 82 years, during which she has recorded songs across genres and won multiple national and international awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Vibhushan, and two Grammy nominations.
The Court granted her ad-interim relief, observing that the balance of convenience lay entirely in Bhosle’s favour.
Justice Doctor issued the strongest directions against AI platforms and sellers (defendants 1, 2, and 5 in Bhosle’s plaint).
The Court has restrained them from using, exploiting or misappropriating Bhosle’s name, voice, vocal style, technique, manner of singing, photograph, image, likeness, signature, persona or any other attributes of her personality, for any commercial or personal gain. This includes, but is not limited to, through the use of AI voice models, generative artificial intelligence, machine learning, or face morphing, without her written consent.
The Court also ordered these defendants to remove all infringing material identified in Bhosle’s plaint, including cloned voice recordings, merchandise, and digital content, and to deliver up copies of such material, whether in physical or digital form, for destruction.
The Court further directed Amazon and Flipkart (defendants 3 and 4) to remove all infringing listings identified in the plaint within one week and to ensure that similar unauthorised listings using Bhosle’s image or likeness are taken down when notified.
Google/ YouTube (defendant 6) was ordered to take down the specific infringing URLs annexed to the plaint and to remove similar AI-generated content from YouTube when reported.
All platforms were also directed to provide Bhosle with basic subscriber or seller information of infringing parties — including names, contact details, IP logs, and payment details — to enable her to pursue further legal remedies.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has invited ALPA India for talks on aviation safety and the AI 171 crash probe in Delhi. The meeting comes as families of victims pursue a US lawsuit against Boeing and Honeywell.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has invited ALPA India for talks on aviation safety and the AI 171 crash probe in Delhi.
The Directorate General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has formally invited the Airlines Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) to join a discussion on aviation safety and the ongoing AI 171 crash probe.
The meeting will take place at the AAIB headquarters in Delhi at 4 PM tomorrow. According to officials, the AAIB-ALPA India meet is likely to deliberate upon the role of Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) in accident investigations.
ALPA expressed hope that the discussion would yield constructive results. “ALPA hoping the meeting will have positive outcomes specifically in regards to participation into the AI 171 crash probe,” the association said.
At least 270 people were killed and dozens injured after a London-bound Air India flight carrying 242 people crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad in the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade. Flight AI171 came down on a government hospital hostel on the outskirts of the airport, leaving a field of debris and scenes of devastation.
Recently, the families of four victims who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in June, have launched a legal battle in the US’s Delaware Superior Court against aircraft manufacturer Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell. This lawsuit, seeks justice for the lives lost in one of India’s deadliest air disasters, even as it raises questions about the circumstances of the crash as investigations continue to determine its cause.
The three women admitted that they acted on the directions of Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati and pressured women students on the pretext of discipline and punctuality, sources said.
Self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati being escorted by police personnel after his arrest in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)
Delhi Police have arrested three close associates of self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, also known as Parthasarathy, in connection with the sexual harassment case involving women students of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research in Delhi.
During interrogation, the women admitted that they acted on the directions of Parthasarathy and pressured students on the pretext of discipline and punctuality, sources said.
According to sources, the three women — Shweta Sharma (Associate Dean), Bhawna Kapil (Executive Director) and Kajal (senior faculty) — were taken into custody for allegedly abetting the crime, threatening complainants, and destroying evidence.
Investigators also confirmed that a team had visited a guest house in Almora, Uttarakhand, where Parthasarathy had allegedly stayed with women students. Locals corroborated the account, sources added.
Police said digital evidence has surfaced from the accused’s phone, including inappropriate comments made by him on pictures of women students shared in a yoga WhatsApp group. Despite the mounting evidence, Parthasarathy has shown no guilt or remorse, sources said.
Swami Chaitanyananda, 62, was arrested in Agra last week after evading authorities for several days. He is accused of sexually harassing more than 17 women students enrolled in management courses under the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) scholarship scheme. Complaints against him include allegations of obscene messages, unwanted physical contact, and intimidation.
Prime minister Narendra Modi will land at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on October 8 with the majestic ‘India One’ aircraft to inaugurate the airport. The VVIP aircraft also made a quick visit to NMIA on Wednesday to perform an operational drill, becoming the first widebody aircraft landing on the upcoming airport.
Photo Credit: Instagram/@del_spotter_
Prime minister Narendra Modi will land at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on October 8 with the majestic ‘India One’ aircraft to inaugurate the airport. The VVIP aircraft also made a quick visit to NMIA on Wednesday to perform an operational drill, becoming the first widebody aircraft landing on the upcoming airport.
Aerodrome License Secured
Preparations are in full swing at NMIA as it nears the inauguration date, after battling multiple delays and postponement. The only pending formality before the airport can be inaugurated, was completed on Tuesday as the airport operator, Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (NMIAL), obtained the aerodrome license by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
PM’s Two-Day Visit
Along with India’s first ‘second city-airport’, the PM is also expected to inaugurate multiple development projects and a fintech event during his two-day visit to Mumbai. According to sources, he is likely to arrive straight at NMIA on the inauguration day with the ‘India One’ aircraft. The multi-billion aircraft, with the call sign ‘Air India One’, is one of the two custom-made VVIP Boeing-777 aircraft to transport the Indian PM, president and the vice president.
Operational Drill Completed
The preparations for the PM’s arrival with ‘India One’ have been initiated and a test drill was also conducted on Wednesday when the air operations division executed a successful landing of the aircraft at NMIA. This became the first instance of a widebody aircraft arriving at NMIA, after IndiGo’s test flight in December with a narrowbody Airbus A320. The VVIP aircraft, operated by Air Force officials, landed at around 10.30am and departed for Delhi again at around 2pm, amid which the officials ensured all landing and take-off requirements were met.
NMIA Capable of Handling Widebody Aircraft
“NMIA is equipped to handle Code E aircraft with wingspan from 52 mtr to 65 mtr, which includes Boeing-777. The PM’s aircraft can be easily landed here and therefore he does not need to fly in by chopper,” said a source, on condition of anonymity.
PM Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, highlighting his ideals of peace, simplicity, and service as guiding principles for building a Viksit Bharat.
PM Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Thursday. (Image: ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 156th birth anniversary, remembering the Father of the Nation as a global icon of peace, simplicity, and moral strength.
Taking to social media, the Prime Minister shared a heartfelt message, highlighting Gandhi’s enduring relevance in shaping a better, developed India.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history.”
Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history. He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change. He believed in the power of service and compassion as… pic.twitter.com/LjvtFauWIr
In his message, the Prime Minister underlined how Gandhi’s values are foundational to India’s journey toward becoming a Viksit Bharat—a developed, self-reliant nation that uplifts every citizen.
“He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change. He believed in the power of service and compassion as essential means of empowering people. We will keep following his path in our quest to build a Viksit Bharat,” he further wrote.
Later, the PM also visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He was accompanied by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Gandhi Jayanti And International Day Of Non-Violence: A Message For India And The World
Every year on October 2, the world remembers the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest leaders in history. In India, this day is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti, while around the world it is marked as the International Day of Non-Violence. This global observance was established in 2007 by the United Nations, with support from over 140 countries.
This special day carries a unique meaning — it is deeply connected to India’s history, but also sends a universal message that speaks to people everywhere.
At the United Nations, the day is marked with speeches and events that link Gandhi’s teachings to the problems of today. In recent years, these messages have focused on the many conflicts happening around the world and have reminded us that Gandhi’s belief in truth and non-violence is stronger than any weapon.
Uddhav Thackeray Vs Eknath Shinde: The Dussehra rallies will be crucial with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls in the next few months
Uddhav Thackeray (left) and Eknath Shinde. (PTI)
Amid the rain, the political atmosphere in Mumbai is heating up as both Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will hold rallies on the occasion of Dussehra on Thursday.
The rallies will be crucial with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls in the next few months.
Shinde will hold the rally at the NESCO Centre in Goregaon although it was earlier scheduled to take place at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Thackeray will hold the rally at its traditional venue – Shivaji Park in Dadar area of central Mumbai.
Thackeray, in a press conference on Wednesday, criticised the Maharashtra government, accusing it of being indifferent to the suffering of farmers affected by recent excess rainfall and crop damage.
“The government is enjoying itself while farmers are in deep trouble. Crops that grew in front of their eyes are now worth nothing. Instead of helping, the state is ignoring the crisis. We demanded loan waivers, but the government has ignored it. Are farmers now waiting to join the BJP just to get loan relief,” Thackeray asked, adding, “Our state is facing a serious crisis, but all attention seems to be on Bihar due to elections. This is blatant injustice to Maharashtra.”
Shinde on Tuesday urged workers from flood-hit areas to not come for the rally in Mumbai. He said they could instead help flood victims in the area, and only workers from Mumbai, Thane and suburbs should come. “The gathering will be dedicated to farmers. Our purpose will be collect relief funds for farmers and victims,” he said.
— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 1, 2025
The arrangements in Mumbai
The Mumbai police have deployed more than 16,500 constables and nearly 2,900 officers along with the personnel of various special units across the city in view of the Dussehra rallies of political parties and processions for immersion of goddess Durga idols on October 2, officials told PTI.
“In view of these political rallies and the Durga idol immersion processions, the police have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident,” an official said on Wednesday. “Seven Additional Commissioners of Police, 26 Deputy Commissioners, 52 Assistant Commissioners, 2,890 officers and 16,552 constables have been deployed,” he said.
Retired Justice TR Ramachandran Nair was appointed as an observer to monitor the Melsanthi selection to ensure fairness in the process and to submit a report to the Court before the final draw of lots.
Justice TR Ramachandran Nair and Sabarimala Temple
The Kerala High Court recently appointed retired High Court judge, Justice TR Ramachandran Nair as an observer to monitor the upcoming selection of Melsanthis (chief priests) at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha temple and the Malikappuram temple in Sabarimala [Suo Motu v State of Kerala].
A Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar, issued the direction in a suo motu case concerning transparency in the chief priest selection process.
“We appoint Mr. Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair, a former Judge of this Court, as the ‘Observer’ and request him to oversee the proceedings for selection of Melsanthies of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple, for the year 1201 ME (2025-2026) at the Travancore Devaswom Board Head Office, Thiruvananthapuram. We also request him to be there in Sabarimala at the time of the draw of lots. We direct the Travancore Devaswom Board to arrange necessary conveyance and accommodation for the Observer,” the September 29 ruling said.
The suo motu case was initiated based on the Sabarimala Special Commissioner’s report which dealt with the steps required to ensure transparency and strict adherence to guidelines already laid down in selecting chief priests.
The Bench acknowledged that courts should be slow to intervene in religious matters unless there are constitutional violations.
However, it emphasised that judicial oversight was necessary in certain aspects to maintain the sanctity of the priest selection process and to preserve the faith of devotees.
The selection process for the appointment of Melsanthis at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha and Malikappuram temples, which fall under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), include the steps of shortlisting candidates after interviews and a final selection process by a draw of lots in front of the sanctum sanctorum.
This process has been contested in the past and orders have been passed by the Supreme Court and the High Court, laying down guidelines to ensure fairness including guidelines on the constitution of the Selection Committee, allocation of marks, and interview procedures.
The High Court, noted that this year, 119 applications were received out of which 53 candidates who sought to become priests at the main Sabarimala temple and 36 who applied to join the Malikappuram temple were cleared for interview.
To ensure the compliance of guidelines already laid down for the selection process, the Court appointed former Justice TR Ramachandran Nair as an observer to monitor both the interviews and the draw of lots at Sabarimala.
The Court also recounted that in 2019, another Observer had highlighted disparities in marks awarded by different Thanthries during interviews.
To minimise such differences, the Court has now directed that marks must be entered only with ballpoint pens, that they be countersigned by the Observer and then kept under the custody of the Devaswom Commissioner.
The Court added all these proceedings must be video-graphed and that the CDs, marksheets and shortlist of candidates must be produced before the Court along with a report from the observer, in a sealed cover by October 13, 2025.
Only after the Court reviews these materials, would the draw of lots be held, the Bench said.
“(In 2019, it was suggested by the then-Observer that) it would be better if the Observer is directed to file a report before the lots are taken, so that the mark list can be verified by this Court, in order to ensure that the interview was conducted in a fair manner. That suggestion is made with a bona fide intention to ensure that an upper hand is not actually given to any particular candidate by anyone by granting excessive marks,” the Court explained.
The exploitation of one’s personality rights puts at risk not only their economic interests, but also their right to live with dignity, the High Court observed.
Nagarjuna Facebook
The Delhi High Court recently passed an order protecting the personality rights of Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna [Akkineni Nagarjuna v Www.BFXXX.Org & Ors].
In an order passed on September 25, Justice Tejas Karia said that Nagarjuna’s name, image, likeness and persona have acquired a unique distinctiveness and any third party found using any elements of his persona is bound to cause confusion and deception amongst the general public regarding affiliation with/sponsorship.
“The exploitation of one’s personality rights puts at risk not only their economic interests but also their right to live with dignity, potentially causing immeasurable harm to their reputation and goodwill as the adoption of the attributes such as name, image, likeness unauthorizedly will inevitably cause confusion in the minds of the members of the public regarding association with / endorsement by the Plaintiff,” the Court observed.
The Court restrained the defendants (including unknown persons or John Doe) from using Nagarjuna’s name, image, likeness or any other attributes of his persona which are exclusively identifiable with him.
Further, the Court also ordered the blocking of the URLs infringing on Nagarjuna’s personality rights.
The Court passed the order on a plea filed by the Telugu film star raising concerns that his personality rights were being violated through the unauthorised use of his image in content uploaded on social media, as well as in merchandise.
Nagarjuna’s counsel had emphasised that the actor has a considerable reputation which is now at risk because of unauthorised content misusing the actor’s image, including AI-generated content that uses morphed images of him, which are uploaded on YouTube and other such platforms.
The Delhi High Court recently restrained an Indian man from using the Barbie or any other similar trademark in his business activities after Mattel filed a suit for trademark infringement [Mattel, Inc v Padum Borah and Ors].
The US government shutdown would snap funding to the US department of labour, key to the processing of H-1B visas and green cards.
Among the hardest hit will be the processing of H-1B visas and green cards, crucial for thousands of Indian professionals.(REUTERS)
The ongoing US government shutdown is set to disrupt several services with some agencies stopping work, some people put on unpaid leaves and some asked to work without a pay until government opens up. Among the hardest hit will be the processing of H-1B visas and green cards, crucial for thousands of Indian professionals.
According to what some immigration lawyers told HT, the shutdown would snap funding to the US department of labour, key to the processing of H-1B visas and green cards.
Before a company can sponsor an H-1B visa, a Labour Condition Application (LCA) has to be filed with the US Department of Labour. Approval of this application is a important for moving the case forward to immigration authorities.
The Labour Department is also responsible for issuing the PERM certification, which allows individuals to seek an employment-based green card.
Now that funding to the labour department is paused as part of the shutdown, those who didn’t get their LCAs approved before October 1 will be affected. “That means, nobody can get a new H-1B, transfer employers, or change status to H-1B unless they already got the LCA signed before today. H-1Bs will be unavailable until the DOL resumes operations,” says Henry Lindpere, an immigration lawyer from Manifest Law.
Big impact on Indians?
According to a lawmaker, possible stalling of the H-1B visas and green cards stand to hit Indian professionals. Over 71% Indians currently benefit from the H-1B visa allocation system, making them the biggest beneficiaries.
Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley-based immigration lawyer, said that the “biggest immediate impact” for the Indian diaspora would be from the labour department. She believes that applications already under process may continue unaffected, but new applicants will be hit hardest.
“The shutdown creates a mixed bag of consequences, hitting new applications the hardest while largely sparing those already in process. For the Indian diaspora, who represent a huge portion of H-1B and employment-based green card applicants, the biggest immediate impact comes from the department of labour,” Alcorn said.
There is hope for H-1B and green card applicants who have their certifications approved as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also handles such applications and can continue their processing given visa fees funds them during the government shutdown.
The latest roadblock to H-1B visa processing comes amid tensions over the Trump administration’s big plans to change the existing system, a move that would largely impact Indians.
Earlier, the US government announced a steep $100,000 fee hike in H-1B visas for new applicants, and later announced an overhaul of the existing lottery system to prioritise higher wage workers.
When will the US government shutdown end?
The US government entered a shutdown starting 12:01 am on October 1 (local time) and there is no end date announced for it yet. The last shutdown in the country was also during US President Donald Trump’s presidency and lasted 35 days.
It began on December 22, 2018 and ended on January 25, 2019, becoming the longest government shutdown in over four decades.
The inspection has uncovered irregularities in slum improvement and execution of the beautification project, record-keeping and alleged financial mismanagement.
A-Ward covers areas such as Colaba, Cuffe Parade, P’DMello Road, Marine Drive and parts of Ballard Estate. (HT_PRINT)
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) vigilance department has issued a reminder notice to A-Ward to submit documents related to alleged corruption in beautification and slum improvement work carried out between 2023-2025 amounting to ₹103 crores. A-Ward covers areas such as Colaba, Cuffe Parade, P’DMello Road, Marine Drive and parts of Ballard Estate.
The vigilance department had issued the first notice to the ward on August 14. The second notice was issued on September 22, subsequent to a preliminary site inspection initiated by the department, acting on a complaint by an RTI activist Santosh Daundkar.
The inspection has uncovered significant irregularities in slum improvement and the execution of the beautification project, record-keeping and alleged financial mismanagement; add to that, missing key documents, dubious work orders and alleged needless constructions.
HT is in possession of a copy of the letter issued by the vigilance department to the ward. The ward was directed to submit a comprehensive, year-wise summary of development works undertaken. Original work order files and all supporting documents were also to be handed for review. The department also cited multiple directives issued by the additional commissioner (July 24, 2025) and the chief engineer (August 14, 2025).
“Although the A-Ward had assured in a letter dated September 1, 2025, that the requested documents would be submitted following the Anant Chaturdashi festival, no such submission has been made to date,” the letter states. Jaydeep More, acting assistant commissioner, A-Ward, however told HT on Wednesday, “I have submitted the documents asked by the vigilance department on September 29.”
22 batches of the syrup, manufactured for the Rajasthan government by a company called Kayson Pharma, have been banned.
The children who died were aged two and five.
A generic cough syrup manufactured by a pharmaceutical company for the Rajasthan government has led to the deaths of two children and at least 10 others falling ill in the state over the past two weeks, officials said. A doctor who took a dose of the syrup to demonstrate that it was safe was also knocked unconscious and was found in his car eight hours later.
The dangers of some batches of the cough syrup, which contains the compound dextromethorphan hydrobromide and is manufactured by a company called Kayson Pharma, came to light on Monday when a five-year-old boy died hours after being given the drug.
Nitish, 5, from Sikar district in Rajasthan, developed a cough and cold and was taken by his parents to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Chirana on Sunday. The doctor prescribed the cough syrup, which was given from the Centre, and Nitish’s mother gave it to him around 11.30 that night.
Nitish woke up once at 3 am and hiccuped, after which his mother gave him some water and he went back to sleep. He never awoke after that.
The five-year-old was taken to the government hospital by his panicked parents on Monday morning, but was declared brought dead.
“Nitish was alright that day and had also gone for the Navratri programme in the evening. When he began coughing again at night, he was given the medicine that we had got from the Chirana CHC. In the morning, we realised he was not waking up and took him to the CHC, where the compounder asked us to take him to the government hospital in Sikar. He was given the prescribed dose and was okay before taking the medicine,” the boy’s uncle, Priyakant Sharma, told NDTV.
Earlier Tragedy
When the news about Nitish broke this week, the parents of a 2-year-old who died after consuming the cough syrup on September 22 also realised what had caused his death.
An NDTV team visited Malha village on the outskirts of Bharatpur to meet the family of the boy. They said 2-year-old Samrat Jatav, his sister Sakshi and cousin Virat all came down with a cough and cold earlier this month. His mother, Jyoti, went to the local public health centre on September 22 and was given the same cough syrup made by Kayson Pharma.
Jyoti gave Samrat, Sakshi and Viraat the syrup at 1.30 pm and the family got very worried when none of the three children woke up even five hours later. They managed to shake Sakshi and Viraat awake, and both of them vomited immediately, but Samrat remained unconscious.
The two-year-old was rushed to a hospital in Bharatpur and then referred to the JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur, where he died on September 22.
“Three of my grandchildren took the syrup and we did not know that it could be deadly. Two of them finally woke up hours later, but I lost 2-year-old Samrat… We did not know the syrup was the cause until we heard about the boy from Sikar district and about others falling ill because of it,” said Samrat’s grandmother Nehni Jatav.
Doctor Falls Ill
In neighbouring Bayana, 3-year-old Gagan Kumar took ill after being given the cough syrup on September 24, and his mother went to the community health centre in-charge, Dr Tarachand Yogi, who had prescribed the syrup, to complain.
A confident Dr Yogi then took a dose of the syrup himself and also gave it to an ambulance driver, Rajendra, to prove that it was safe.
The doctor then left for Bharatpur in his car, but felt drowsy, parked on the side of a road and fell unconscious. After they did not hear from him for a long time, his family tracked down his mobile location and found him knocked out in the car eight hours later.
The ambulance driver also reported similar symptoms three hours after being given the syrup and has recovered after treatment.
Over the past week, eight children – aged between one and five – have also fallen ill in Banswara district in south Rajasthan after consuming the medicine.
Government Action
After the reports of the two children dying and others falling ill emerged, the Rajasthan government banned 22 batches of the syrup and put a freeze on their distribution. Officials from the medical department said 1.33 lakh bottles of the syrup have been given to patients in Rajasthan since July this year.
Over 8,200 bottles of the syrup are also in stock at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, but officials have been told to ensure they are not given to anyone.
Speaking to NDTV, Dr Pradyuman Jain, paediatrician at the Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Banswara, said, “The drug suspected to have led to some children having trouble breathing or feeling drowsy has been banned. The reactions could be a result of overdosing as well. In Banswara, most children have recovered after undergoing treatment. A 6-year-old’s condition was serious, but he has also recovered.”
Israel orders Palestinians to leave Gaza City, saying those who stay will be considered militants
Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza carrying their belongings along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.(AP)
A much-touted peace plan being brokered by the US is on the table, but Israel continues its offensive in the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza, warning Palestinians to leave Gaza City — “their last opportunity” — and that anyone who stayed would be “considered terrorists” and face “full force”. Israel’s defence minister issued the orders on Wednesday.
At least 16 Palestinians were killed across the territory, according to local hospitals.
Hamas, meanwhile, weighed the proposal from US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war and returning the remaining captives taken in Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, which claimed 1,200 lives and triggered the latest Israeli offensive that has killed over 66,000 Palestinians.
Around 400,000 Palestinians have fled the famine-stricken Gaza City since Israel launched a “final assault” in September aimed at occupying it.
Hundreds of thousands remain, many because they cannot afford to leave or are too weak to make the journey to tent camps in the south.
“This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south and leave Hamas terrorists isolated in Gaza City,” Defence minister Israel Katz wrote on X, “Those who remain in Gaza will be (considered) terrorists and terror supporters.”
Shleters continued to be hit. At least seven people, including paramedics, were killed when two Israeli strikes minutes apart hit a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, according to Al-Ahli Hospital, where the casualties were taken.
Five Palestinians were killed later in a strike on people gathered around a drinking water tank elsewhere in Gaza City, the hospital said. Shifa Hospital said a man was killed in a strike on his apartment. Strikes in central Gaza killed another three people, according to Al-Awda Hospital.
Israel continues to state it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying its militants are embedded in populated areas.
Around 90 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced in the war, often multiple times, and finding food is a daily struggle for many.
What about Trump’s peace proposal?
On Wednesday, Egypt’s foreign minister Bader Abdelatty said Trump’s proposal requires more negotiations on certain elements, echoing remarks made by Qatar a day earlier.
Hamas said it would study the plan, and it was not clear when it would respond.
Trump had said on Tuesday that Hamas would have three or four days to respond or it will face “all hell”.
Now the comments by Qatar and Egypt, two key mediators, appeared to reflect Arab countries’ discontent over the text of the 20-point plan.
It was put out after Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced they had agreed on it on Monday.
The plan has received wide international support. It requires Hamas to release hostages, leave power in Gaza and disarm in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners and an end to fighting. It promises reconstruction in Gaza, placing it and its more than 2 million Palestinians under an international governance structure.
Investigators said the forged photographs indicated attempts by the accused to build a false image of influence and proximity to world leaders.
Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati (left) and his morphed photo with former US President Barack Obama.
Delhi Police on Wednesday intensified its probe into the molestation case involving self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati, recovering objectionable material during a search of the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management (SRISIIM) campus in Delhi, where he was the director. The search was carried out in the presence of the accused, also known as Swamy Parthasarathy.
According to police officials, the team recovered a sex toy, five CDs purportedly containing pornographic content, and three forged photographs.
The forged photos were purportedly morphed to show Saraswati with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former US President Barack Obama, and former UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Investigators said the forged photographs indicated attempts by the accused to build a false image of influence and proximity to world leaders.
Delhi Police have also recovered a BMW car with a VIP number plate linked to Swami Chaitanyanand Saraswati.
The FIR alleged he used the luxury vehicle to lure young women, inviting them for rides before molesting them inside.
The police also traced locations where the accused had stayed while absconding, including Bageshwar and Almora in Uttarakhand, to corroborate details of his movements during that period.
The investigation is still ongoing, and police sources said more revelations are expected as evidence is examined.
The recovery of forged photographs and pornographic material has strengthened suspicions that Chaitanyanand may have used fake identities and fabricated images to deceive followers and associates.
Officials said forensic examination of the CDs and digital devices is underway to determine their content and origin.
The investigation will also look into whether these items were used to blackmail or manipulate victims.
The latest recovery adds to the disturbing details emerging in the case.
Earlier, India Today accessed sleazy chat messages between Chaitanyanand and women students, which exposed his pattern of harassment.
In these messages, he allegedly made sexual demands, used explicit language, and even referred to foreign contacts, including a Dubai-based sheikh.
The chats suggested potential links to trafficking, raising further alarm over the extent of his activities.
The sexual harassment case first came to light after 17 female students of SRISIIM accused Chaitanyanand of inappropriate behaviour.
Complaints included sending obscene messages, unwelcome physical advances, and persistent harassment.
The allegations triggered a wider investigation, leading to his arrest from a hotel in Agra after he evaded arrest for several days.
Following his detention, Delhi Police sought his custodial interrogation to probe not only the allegations of harassment but also suspected financial irregularities and misuse of the institute’s premises.
The incident took place on Tuesday aboard flight AI-837. Rakesh Pratap Singh, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Gauriganj who was expelled in June for anti-party activities, objected to passenger Samad Ali allegedly using foul language while talking on the phone.
Cabin crew had to intervene as the confrontation escalated.
A Delhi-Lucknow Air India flight witnessed a mid-air fight after an MLA from Uttar Pradesh and a passenger got into a heated clash over the latter using foul language while speaking on the phone. The altercation escalated despite repeated objections from fellow travellers, forcing cabin crew to step in and separate the two men.
The incident took place on Tuesday aboard flight AI-837. Rakesh Pratap Singh, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Gauriganj who was expelled in June for anti-party activities, objected to Samad Ali allegedly using foul language while talking on the phone.
As the altercation escalated, cabin crew had to intervene to separate the two, according to a source.
“The man continued with derogatory words which are unacceptable in any civil society. When I tried to stop him firmly, he misbehaved with me as well,” PTI news agency quoted the legislator as saying to reporters in Lucknow.
One of the most striking exchanges shows Chaitanyananda trying to arrange what he described as a meeting with a “Dubai Sheikh.”
The arrest of self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati has led to the discovery of WhatsApp chats that shed light on his alleged exploitation of young women students.
One of the most striking exchanges shows Chaitanyananda trying to arrange what he described as a meeting with a “Dubai Sheikh.” In a conversation with an alleged student, the 62-year-old wrote:
Delhi Baba: “One Dubai Sheikh wants to [have] a sex partner, do you have any nice friend?” Victim: “Koi nahi hai” (There is no one). Delhi Baba: “How it’s possible?” Victim: “I don’t know.” Delhi Baba: “Your any classmate? Junior?”
In other chats, Chaitanyananda repeatedly addresses a victim (unclear if this is the same woman as above) in infantilising terms, such as “Sweetie Baby Daughter Doll,” and sends obsessive messages across the day and late into the night:
“Babyyyyy” (7:49 PM)
“Baby where are you?” (11:59 PM)
“Good Morning Baby” (12:40 PM)
“Why are you angry with me?” (12:41 PM)
On another occasion, he wrote:
“Good Evening my most beloved baby daughter doll.”
Victim: “Here afternoon sir, happy afternoon. Did you have something sir?”
In another exchange, he joked about “doing some disco dance” and asked if the victim wanted to join him. “Wow sir osm,” she replied, seemingly out of politeness.
In one conversation, he asks a student, “You’ll not sleep with me?”
The Arrest In Agra
Chaitanyananda, accused of harassing at least 17 women students, was arrested around 3:30 am on Sunday from a hotel in Agra’s Taj Ganj area. Police said he had been evading capture for nearly two months, moving between Vrindavan, Mathura, and Agra, often staying in small hotels and using taxis to avoid detection.
According to police, he checked into the Agra hotel on September 27 under the alias “Partha Sarathi” and stayed in Room 101. Staff said he remained in his room until his arrest.
He is now in five days of police custody and will likely be confronted with three female aides from the institute who allegedly helped him threaten students and delete incriminating messages.
During the arrest, police seized an iPad and three mobile phones, one of which had remote access to the institute’s CCTV cameras and hostel premises.
Fake visiting cards naming him as a “Permanent Ambassador” to the UN Economic and Social Council and a “Special Envoy” for BRICS were also recovered. Documents such as two passports, one under the name “Swami Parth Sarathi” and another as “Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati,” with contradictory details of birthplace and parentage, were found. Police have frozen assets worth Rs 8 crore.
In an official statement, the administration dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” asserting that actions taken by law enforcement agencies are based on credible inputs and documents.
The administration criticised Sonam Wangchuk’s conduct during the hunger strike.
Ladakh administration on Tuesday said that the allegations of victimisation of individuals, especially Sonam Wangchuk, are baseless as the action taken against him (Sonam Wangchuk) is based on credible inputs and documents.
In an official statement, the administration dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” asserting that actions taken by law enforcement agencies are based on credible inputs and documents.
“There is no question of witch-hunting or smoke screen,” the statement reads, urging that investigations be allowed to proceed impartially.
The administration highlighted ongoing investigations into financial irregularities and foreign currency violations by the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL).
It claimed that HIAL, despite not being a recognised university, has been issuing degrees, thereby jeopardising the future of students. Additionally, the institute allegedly failed to disclose foreign funds in its financial statements.
The statement also addressed the cancellation of SECMOL’s FCRA registration, citing multiple violations.
Authorities emphasised that legal avenues remain open for the organisation to appeal the decision.
Regarding Sonam Wangchuk’s recent hunger strike and public statements, the administration accused him of making provocative remarks, including references to Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and allegedly inciting youth against peaceful methods. It also cited a June 2025 video on his YouTube channel where Mr Wangchuk reportedly spoke of an “Arab Spring”-style revolution and suggested self-immolation as a form of protest.
The administration criticised Mr Wangchuk’s conduct during the hunger strike, stating that he failed to pacify the crowd and left the venue discreetly when tensions escalated.
It further noted that the government had announced a meeting date with Ladakh leaders and expressed flexibility. Yet, Mr Wangchuk continued his hunger strike, which the administration described as “irresponsible” and politically motivated.
The statement concluded by affirming that grounds for detention had been duly served to Mr Wangchuk and appealed for calm, emphasising the need to let the law take its course.
“We are confident that together we will bring back normalcy in the peace-loving Leh Township and continue with our dialogue process,” it said.
The accident occurred inside the premises of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), leaving one worker injured and under treatment.
Nine migrant workers from Assam were killed when an under-construction coal handling enclosure collapsed at the Ennore supercritical power station on the outskirts of Chennai. The accident occurred inside the premises of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), leaving one worker injured and under treatment.
Confirming the tragedy, Dr J Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director of TANGEDCO, told NDTV: “The grid fell on them from 45 feet high as they worked on a crane. It’s a coal handling shed and work was on to build a cover.”
The injured worker was rushed to Chennai’s Stanley government hospital, situated around 15 kilometres from the accident site.
When asked whether the workers were provided safety equipment, Dr Radhakrishnan said: “Yes, they had complied with safety gear.” He added that the injured worker is in stable condition and under treatment.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) officials were present at the site and authorities have started a probe into the cause of the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each of the families of the dead. Further, Rs 50,000 compensation was announced for those who sustained injuries.
Saddened by the mishap due to the collapse of a building in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families in this difficult hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next…
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. In a statement in Tamil, he said: “I was deeply pained to hear the news of nine workers from Assam losing their lives in the accident at the Ennore power plant construction site being executed by BHEL. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.”
MK Stalin also announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of the victims and directed officials to ensure the bodies are transported to Assam. He has instructed Power Minister Sivasankar and senior TANGEDCO officials to personally supervise relief and recovery operations.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma offered his condolences and shared details about the workers from his state.
9 migrant workers from Assam have reportedly succumbed to death after falling down at a construction site at Minjur, Thiruvallur district, today while carrying out construction works for extension of North Chennai Thermal Power Station.
“9 migrant workers from Assam have reportedly succumbed to death after falling down at a construction site at Minjur, Thiruvallur district, today while carrying out construction works for extension of North Chennai Thermal Power Station.
The Court quashed a case of cheating, extortion and obscenity against Anupam Mittal, the matchmaking platform’s founder and CEO.
Anupam Mittal & shaadi.com
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that matrimony match website Shaadi.com cannot be held responsible for the actions of its users [Anupam Mittal v State of UP and 2 Others].
The Division Bench of Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Madan Pal Singh said that since the marriage portal is only an intermediary governed by the Information Technology (IT) Act and the rules framed under the Act, it is exempt from the liabilities.
“This Court finds that the petitioner was only a facilitator of exchanging of information and, therefore, for what a “third party” does on the platform could not make the intermediary liable for his or her act,” the bench said.
The Court made the observations quashing a case of cheating, extortion and obscenity against Anupam Mittal, the matchmaking platform’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO).
The criminal case under various provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act was registered against Mittal in 2022 following a Shaadi.com user’s complaint that the platform was being used for promotion of obscenity by verified profiles.
In particular, the complainant alleged that a woman had gone to the extent of capturing his obscene videos and was blackmailing him and demanding extortion money. The complainant claimed that the platform’s customer care and Mittal had failed to address his grievances in this regard.
In the judgment passed on September 23, the Court said an intermediary definitely would not be responsible for the actions of candidates, whose profiles have been accepted by it.
“As and when complaints were received actions were definitely taken and we also definitely find that the intermediary i.e. the company of which the petitioner was a Chief Executive Officer had the protection of Section 79 (1) and (2) of the IT Act and there was definitely no abetment from the side of the company which was running the platform,” it added.
The Court also noted that investigation could not have proceeded against Mittal as the company was not made a party to the offence.
“The petitioner Anupam Mittal could not be alleged to have committed any offence in his personal capacity. Also, we find that the informant who was aggrieved by the acts of the participants on the platform was not harassed on his personal social media pages. Also, despite the harassment he had continued with the platform. He could have easily withdrawn from the platform,” it said.
Mohammad Raza was identified by the ATS as the leader of the gang that sought to establish Sharia rule in India. Four other members of the group, Akmal Raza, Safeel Salmani alias Ali Razvi, Mohammad Tausif and Qasim Ali, had already been arrested and sent to judicial custody.
The group was planning to target non-Muslim religious leaders.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested Mohammad Raza, the alleged mastermind of a group conspiring to form a “Mujahideen Army” to topple the Indian government through violent jihad and impose Sharia law, officials said on Tuesday.
Raza, originally from Andauli in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh and currently residing in Mallapuram, Kerala, was arrested on September 29 and brought to Lucknow on a transit remand.
He was identified by the ATS as the leader of the gang that sought to establish Sharia rule in India. Four other members of the group, Akmal Raza, Safeel Salmani alias Ali Razvi, Mohammad Tausif and Qasim Ali, had already been arrested and sent to judicial custody.
According to the ATS, the group was influenced by radical Pakistani organisations and was allegedly collecting funds to procure arms and carry out targeted killings of prominent non-Muslim religious leaders.
Officials said money was being credited into Raza’s account to finance these activities. The group was also holding meetings at different locations and using social media to spread extremist ideology.
In its statement, the ATS said it had received intelligence that “some individuals from various districts of Uttar Pradesh, influenced by radical Pakistani organisations, were planning to overthrow the democratically elected government in India through violent jihad and impose Sharia law by force”.
It described Mohammad Raza as the mastermind of the “entire criminal and anti-national conspiracy,” adding that he was being brought to Lucknow on transit remand and would be presented before the relevant Special Court as per procedure.
The Kerala High Court has mandated all district courts to use Adalat AI, a speech-to-text tool, from November. The move aims to reduce delays in recording witness depositions and modernise trial court proceedings.
Kerala High Court mandates Adalat AI speech-to-text tool in all district courts to record witness statements from November.
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Kerala High Court has directed all district courts in the state to adopt Adalat AI, an artificial intelligence-based speech-to-text tool, for recording witness statements and evidence. The system will become mandatory across all trial courts from November.
An office memorandum issued on September 27 said the initiative is aimed at reducing delays in recording evidence and modernising deposition procedures.
Joseph Rajesh KA, Director IT of the Kerala High Court, told India Today that the tool would help avoid adjournments caused by the time-consuming process of making readable copies of handwritten depositions. Until now, many judges had to write witness statements by hand due to a shortage of typists in district courts, leading to long delays.
“With this AI system, there is no human element, it will be the judge and the transcription tool. A screen will also be provided in the witness box so the witness can verify their statement before signing,” Rajesh said. The statements will then be uploaded to the cloud, enabling registered advocates to access them immediately.
The Kerala High Court is the first in the country to implement such a system across all district courts. Utkarsh Saxena, founder of Adalat AI, said the tool had already been tested for nine months across nine states. “This is probably the first time anywhere in the world that a state judiciary has mandated AI tools across its entire court system,” he said.
Bhagwant Mann met Amit Shah in Delhi and apprised him of the flood impact, requesting additional funds for disaster relief and restoration.
Bhagwant Mann, during meeting with Amit Shah, said that Rs 1,600 crore sanctioned for flood relief was insufficient.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and sanction a special relief package for the state, citing massive damage caused by the unprecedented floods during this year’s monsoon. Mann highlighted the widespread losses affecting millions, emphasising that the assistance announced so far was insufficient in view of the scale of devastation.
Bhagwant Mann met Amit Shah in Delhi and apprised him of the flood impact, requesting additional funds for disaster relief and restoration. A statement from the Union Home Ministry said Amit Shah assured the chief minister that the PM Modi-led government stands shoulder to shoulder with Punjab and is committed to providing all possible help to the affected people.
The ministry also noted that under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Punjab has sufficient funds of Rs 12,589.59 crore, which can be used for relief and immediate restoration according to government norms.
The central government has already provided assistance through various agencies for search, rescue, and initial restoration operations during the floods.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Punjab on September 9, 2025, to review the situation and assess the damages firsthand. Of the Rs 1,600 crore announced by the Prime Minister for flood relief, Rs 805 crore has already been released, including Rs 170 crore sanctioned by the National Highways Authority of India, while the remainder will be disbursed upon receipt of relevant information from the state.
An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) was constituted on September 1, 2025, and conducted on-the-spot assessments of affected areas from September 4 to 6. However, the state government is yet to submit a detailed memorandum, which will be considered by the Centre according to established norms.
Punjab can also prepare a comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan for restoring livelihoods and damaged infrastructure. The Home Ministry has issued guidelines for Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) funding under SDRF and NDRF since August 14, 2024, emphasising the need for a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in consultation with the State or National Disaster Management Authority.
During the meeting, Mann stressed that the Rs 1,600 crore relief package announced by the Centre was insufficient in light of the massive losses. According to the Punjab government, over 20 lakh people across 2,614 villages were affected, with 6.87 lakh displaced.
The poll body on Tuesday released the final voter list after SIR in Bihar. The revised list has been made available on the official website of the poll body.
Representational Image | File Pic
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has concluded and the Election Commission has released the final electoral list. The poll body on Tuesday released the final voter list after SIR in Bihar. The revised list has been made available on the official website of the poll body.
The Election Commission has released the final electoral roll on 30 September 2025 after a special intensive review in Bihar. Voters can check and verify their details online at https://t.co/A56VOaLb0k . pic.twitter.com/P8TUTH7HED
The state polls in Bihar will be held using this electoral roll. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar has stated that physical copies of the roll will be distributed to all District Election Officers who also serve as District Magistrates. The final roll will also be shared with all recognised national and state political parties.
The revison was done after a gap of 22 years. 65 lakh voters had been removed from the draft electoral rolls, including those who had died, permanently moved out of the state, or were registered as voters in multiple locations. The Supreme Court is also hearing petitions against the SIR exercise.
SC Hearing Petition
The Supreme Court while hearing a petition on September 8 had ordered the poll body to accept Aadhaar as proof of identity for addition to the voter list and include it in the list of 11 other documents for the purpose. It had clarified, however, that Aadhaar could not be used to establish citizenship. The final hearing on the SIR process is scheduled for October 7.
“I am also a human. When so many people were affected, how can I leave those people and come back? I didn’t go because I wanted to make sure no untoward incident occurs again,” he added.
TVK chief Vijay | @TVKVijayHQ
Days after 41 people were killed in a stampede at actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur, he has broken his silence. In his first video message following the Karur tragedy, Vijay said, “The truth will emerge soon.
“I have not faced a painful situation like this in my life. My heart aches. There is only pain in my heart. Public came to see me in the rally. I am always grateful to the love and affection people have given me. In order to ensure there should be no compromise on safety of people, I kept politics aside and chose a place that was safe for the people and requested the police department. But what should not have happened, happened,” he said in Tamil.
“I am also a human. When so many people were affected, how can I leave those people and come back? I didn’t go because I wanted to make sure no untoward incident occurs again,” he added.
He further said, “We did not do anything wrong.FIRs are being filed against party leaders.”
In a message to Chief Minister MK Stalin he said, “CM sir, if you have an intention to take revenge, do anything to me. Do not touch them. I’ll either be home, or in my office. Do anything you want to me,” he said.
“We campaigned in five districts, so why did this happen in Karur? How did this take place? People know the truth and they are watching everything,” he said hinting at a political conspiracy.
The case of a child’s death has been reported in Sikar, while two children fell ill in Bharatpur, and a two-year-old girl had to be admitted to the ICU of a private hospital in Jaipur after allegedly consuming the syrup.
5-Year-Old Dies, Several Children Fall Ill After Consuming Govt-Supplied Cough Syrup | Representation Image
A five-year-old child allegedly died in Sikar, while a few got ill after consuming a cough syrup supplied under the free medicines scheme of the Rajasthan government. The state government has stopped the supply of the concerned batch of the syrup.
The case of a child’s death has been reported in Sikar, while two children fell ill in Bharatpur, and a two-year-old girl had to be admitted to the ICU of a private hospital in Jaipur after allegedly consuming the syrup.
As per reports, the child, Nitish of Khori Brahmanan village in Sikar district, was down with a cold and cough for a few days. His mother brought him medicine, including this syrup supplied under the free medicines scheme from the community health center of Chirana. But after consuming the syrup, Nitish’s condition worsened, and he was declared brought dead at the local hospital. The family refused to conduct a postmortem and took the body after informing the police in writing.
ASI Rohitas Kumar Jangid said that Mukesh Sharma’s son, Nitish, was given cough medicine from Chirana CHC on Sunday evening. His condition worsened at night, and he died on Monday morning while being taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, following complaints of cough syrup causing vomiting, drowsiness, anxiety, dizziness, restlessness, and unconsciousness in Bharatpur and Sikar, the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation (RMSCL) has banned the distribution and use of a batch of syrup. Additionally, the Drug Controller General of Rajasthan has been directed to take statutory samples of the batches and conduct quality testing at the State Drug Testing Laboratory.
Prof NK Chakrabarti is the Vice-Chancellor of West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS). He has been a teacher of law for three decades and was previously the director at KIIT Law School.
Prof Chakrabarti is leading the law school through tumultuous times, as NUJS students call for his ouster before his impending retirement.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a faculty member on the ground of limitation. However, it directed that the allegations be permanently recorded in his resume. Prof Chakrabarti reveals that he plans to file a review petition against this verdict.
In this interview with Bar & Bench’s Hiranya Bhandarkar, he responds to the student protests against him, shares his perspective on mental health in law schools and more.
Hiranya Bhandarkar (HB): How has NUJS evolved academically and institutionally under your leadership?
ProfNirmal Kanti Chakrabarti (NKC): During the past 6 years, my vision was to make NUJS a multi-disciplinary law school…It was inter-disciplinary in one sense in the beginning with social sciences, but I made it with other disciplines also like forensic sciences, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) also being included in all undergraduate, postgraduate courses. We have started Technology Law as an LL.M. specialisation course. We also introduced a two-year LL.M. on Data Science and Data Protection Law. Just this year, we started Criminology and Criminal Justice Science.
HB: There is a perception that law schools overly rely on young, inexperienced faculty to cut costs. What’s your response to that?
NKC: I think it is not true for NUJS. If we take our present faculty structure, we now have 12 professors. The oldest started their career here in 2001. The attrition is very low. During my 6 years, only 3 teachers left, but we have inducted close to 15 or 20 teachers.
To keep faculty, there should be some policies. They are given the facilities, the freedom, the autonomy, so they are enjoying the institution, teaching the students and also other facilities we are giving. I think we are the first law university giving grants not only to our teachers, but externally also. To name the external law universities – Hindi University, IIT Kharagpur, IISER Kolkata which are technology universities with law programmes. They are coming here to learn for 2 to 3 years. Law schools should not be isolated, they should connect with IITs, IISER and Jadavpur University…Every year, few alumni leave the country, and we have to make them practice-ready so this way we have to definitely develop our pedagogy, curriculum and ecosystem where everyone can grow.
HB: Mental health among law students has become a growing concern. How is NUJS supporting student well-being?
NKC: When students leave schools and come to university, there is a change of atmosphere – their surroundings, their peer groups and they will face lot of problems. I think we have a tutor-mentor system here. Usually, I get mails from parents, wardens, or sometimes the students on being unable to cope with the standard of our university’s teaching or examination. This way, on two or three occasions, I have met the students, allowed them to express one-to-one or to a few teachers whom they have confidence in. This system of free access is very helpful, and problems are easily handled if we can give access.
We have a counsellor, coming from 5-6. Besides that, we have online online counselling that students can access from their hostel rooms. We create many avenues of extra-curricular activities – some are learning a foreign language, some are going to cultural programmes, some are going to the gym, some are writing. We have two student-run journals, and there is sports. There are 15 or 16 student bodies and then if we get more and more students to engage in these after-class activities, mentally I think growth and their recreation would be required in this age.
One may love films, our film club has a special facility of a mini auditorium. In the evening, they select a film from evening 6 or 7 to 9, 9:30. It is not that by 5 or 6, we will close their minds…we have the library open everyday until 2:00 AM; during examinations, it becomes 24×7.
If we keep the minds of the students busy, then I think it has minimum effects on their mental stress.
HB: You have faced some serious allegations during your tenure. How do you see these controversies impacting the reputation and academic standing of WBNUJS?
NKC: My response is that if there is a dispute, some students filed writ petitions, sometimes there is litigation on admission. Another thing I can inform you about a long pending case of iPleaders online cases, they have changed their name to LawSikho. Ultimately, we ourselves completed the course for all those who were admitted, without any help of the online partner, so that will settle that dispute.
In most cases, I can say that we have now disposed of all the cases against the University. If required, if it is possible mediation. Judges also in particularly educational institutions pay attention to how it can be resolved quickly. In my tenure, there was a case regarding an admission that was resolved this year. There are cases on income tax that were also resolved 2-3 years back. At present, I can tell you that all the cases are resolved.
The attitude should be how to resolve, not to linger.
HB: How do you respond to the students’ demand for your resignation in light of the sexual harassment allegations?
NKC: On September 20, there was a General Council meeting of (Supreme Court judge) Justice Dipankar Datta and other members. They raised an issue and it was clarified categorically that the Vice-Chancellor is submitting a review petition (against the Supreme Court order) which is yet to be decided so it is premature to do anything. That’s why they accepted that view and thereafter they left. I categorically told I will not resign because Supreme Court has not given me any opportunity and there is actually no trial or investigation. It is not a conviction, it is an observation which I am seeing as obiter dicta; I am not going by that. Full night, myself and some seven or eight teachers were there, so I told I will not resign or anything.
HB:How will you address other concerns that were raised, ranging from financial transparency to campus safety?
NKC: All the things have been approved by the Finance Committee and auditing is being done and that is approved by Executive Council. I think it is unnecessary instigation…there are no such financial irregularities…
Campus safety, what they are saying? Am I a danger to the campus? I have been here more than 6 years. Our whole administration is there. It is not that I am the person to guarantee campus safety.
HB:Students continue to protest by wearing black bands and standing silently in class.
NKC: Justice Datta was saying that he has come here many times over the last year, yet the student community never raised these issues. After the Supreme Court judgment, suddenly you are bringing this, why not bring notice to me earlier if it is there earlier also? Reply to that. Actually these are instigations and I have the proof of the instigation. When required, I will prove that how students instigated; that communication is with me. That in a proper place I will give it, who instigated, how instigated things are there.
HB: How do you plan to answer the students’ 47-point demand list?
NKC: Not 47, 65…It was decided that among the 65, there were few pending matters to be decided by the Accounts Registrar, few are with the Registrar. Hostels repairing etc is not the Vice-Chancellor’s function to do. We divide what are the things Registrar’s office has to do, what are the things campus officer has to do, what are the things with accounts officer pending. It is not that the Vice-Chancellor alone is doing all the things in the University. 3-4 (points) I already solved the problem, talked to them. Others, I will see how the things can be divided and how can action be taken delegating who is to do what.
HB: Any comment on that ultimatum to resign? What is the status of the Search Committee set up to find a new VC?
NKC: The Search Committee (for a new VC) was constituted in June and one meeting is already done…they will recommend to the Chief Justice the panel of three names for appointment…then accordingly it will come to the Executive Council, they will recommend. Maybe another one month or so, depending on how long the Chief Justice office will take. Maybe by November or next year. Then, definitely as per Act I have to hand over (since he has reached the maximum age of 70). I will not deviate from that. I will hand over to the next VC, no question on this.
HB: Is there going to be a convocation held at NUJS this year?
NKC: Yes yes, now I got the letter from the present CJI. He has not had the time to come. He has authorised Justice Surya Kant to conduct the convocation. I had a talk with Justice Surya Kant. He said that by September, he will give the date, so we are waiting for the date.
The Committee has recommended a phased opening of the Indian legal market, even as the market is open as of today.
BCI, Foreign Law Firms
The Committee formed by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to review the entry of foreign law firms, headed by Cyril Shroff, recently submitted its report.
Although a full copy of the report is yet to be made available, sources revealed some key highlights:
Phased-wise opening of the market: 3years – 2years – 2 years
The Committee has recommended a phased opening of the Indian legal market, even as the market is open as of today.
Phase one of three years – During this period, foreign law firms can’t advise on Indian law and also cannot hire Indian lawyers.
Phase two of two years – Foreign law firms can enter into joint ventures or alliances, with a maximum of 49% holding only.
Phase three of two years – The market is fully open. Foreign lawyers can advise on Indian law, except for litigation (in any of the phases). Foreign law firms can hire Indian lawyers.
Dilution of Fly In Fly Out (FIFO)
The report suggests that the rule of ‘fly in, fly out’ for foreign lawyers needs to become 60 days instead of 90 days, and the rules have to be amended in this regard.
Days spent on business development will not be counted as part of the FIFO period, the report says.
An entire group/law firm is covered in these 90 days. There will be no segregation between firms operating from different jurisdictions and those operating from a single jurisdiction – the entire firm/group will have a single limit of 90 days.
For FIFO, there is no requirement for reciprocity.
The disclosures have been simplified, and confidential information need not be disclosed.
Level playing field
Few of the main suggestions in this regard are:
1. Allow private equity investment in Indian law firms
2. Advertising Rules need to be relaxed
In May this year, the BCI notified amended rules allowing foreign lawyers and law firms to practice foreign law in India on a reciprocity basis. Later in June, the BCI had formed a Committee to address concerns that Indian lawyers may have regarding the above rules.
Justice Chandrachud had recently said that the very erection of the Babri Masjid was an act of desecration of a temple thereby, justifying the Supreme Court’s decision to award the dispute site to Hindu parties.
As Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s recent comments on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute continue to make waves, Professor G Mohan Gopal suggested that the comments may be enough to warrant filing a curative petition before the Supreme Court of India against its 2019 verdict in the matter.
In 2019, a five-judge Constitution Bench comprising then CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer ruled that the Muslim parties had failed to prove uninterrupted possession of the disputed site and on the basis of balance of probabilities, ruled in favour of the Hindu parties to hand over the disputed site to them.
The judgment did not indicate who among the five judges had authored it though it is widely believed that Justice Chandrachud was the author.
However, though it had given the site to the Hindu parties, the judgment recorded that there was no evidence that the Babri Masjid was constructed on the site of a temple.
But in a recent interview to journalist Sreenivasan Jain, Justice Chandrachud said that the very erection of the Babri Masjid was an act of desecration of a prior temple.
This statement drew sharp reactions since it was not in tune with what was said in the judgment.
Clips of the interaction have since been widely shared on social media, drawing criticism.
Prof. Gopal opined that the former CJI’s comments on the matter may be grounds enough to file a curative petition against the 2019 verdict.
“The ultimate responsibility of a court is to make decisions which are credible, in which people will have trust and confidence. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done and must be seen to be done especially by those who lose the case. In my personal opinuon, the Ayodhya judgment was wrongly decided. The question is now whether we should now file a curative petition in light of what Justice Chandrachud said. Maybe we should. Let us see what happens with that. I will be happy to work with you on that,” he explained.
Prof. Gopal added that it would be a good opportunity to educate the public about such matters as well.
“Let us find out what he (Justice Chandrachud) said and let us work on a curative petition and demand that whole matter be reheard. It is vitiated now. This is the kind of reaction through which we can mould public opinion. Let us turn Justice Chandrachud’s remarks into an opportunity to convince people of what really happened in that case and hopefully even approach the Court to get a rehearing of the whole case”, he said.
He also criticised the judgment for being un-reasoned, especially pointing to the unsigned addendum to the judgment.
“There was no reasoned justification. It was very contrived. The addendum to the judgment was pure theocracy. And the addendum was unsigned. The judgment was very suspect”, he said.
Prof. Gopal made this remark in response to a question posed to him by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Member of Parliament (MP) and lawyer Haris Beeran at the CH Mohammed Koya National Seminar at the University of Calicut, Kerala.
Beeran contended that Justice Chandrachud’s comments in the interview stating that there was archeological evidence of desecration of a Hindu structure, when the judgment explicitly stated there wasn’t, is akin to rubbing salt on the wounds of the Muslim community.
Beeran’s question also touched upon Justice Chandrachud’s remarks while on the Bench regarding the Places of Worship Act.
In 2022, during the hearing of another controversial case, the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath dispute, then CJI Chandrachud orally remarked that the Act, which seeks to protect the status of all religious structures as they stood on August 15, 1947, does not bar the ascertainment of the religious character of a place of worship. Beeran argued that this had led to hundreds of petitions being filed challenging existing structures and even to the violence at Sambhal which resulted in the deaths of several citizens.
To this, Prof. Gopal said that his advice to judges is to be open about their political ideology and to recuse themselves from cases that might be affected by it. He opined that Justice Chandrachud should have recused himself from the Ayodhya case.
“I would say to judges, please be transparent about your ideology when you are on the bench. We have judges with all kinds of ideology. That is inevitable. What we want from them is sincerity, honesty and transparency. If he (Justice Chandrachud) had said all this while he was on the bench, he could have then recused himself (from Ayodhya case) saying he could not make an objective decision on this as he believes that it was a desecration to build the Babri Masjid. Although there is absolutely no evidence that Babri Masjid was built on a broken temple, maybe there was something with centuries in between. We don’t know. But if he believed this, he should have recused himself. Because ultimately, what we are raising is a question of integrity”, he said.
He added that former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra saying that the Communist government in Kerala has acquired control of Hindu temples, could be grounds to file a curative petition against the 2020 judgment of the Supreme Court in the Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple case. The judgment delivered by her and Justice UU Lalit ruled that the Travancore royal family has rights to maintain and manage the temple.
The court rejected the plea to quash the FIR, which had been filed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The accused, a man and his family, claimed that there was a relationship between the man and the minor, and when the family became aware of it, a marriage was performed on June 2, 2024, as per Muslim rites. (File Photo)
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to quash an FIR against a 29-year-old labourer and his family, who are accused of marrying a minor girl who later gave birth in Maharashtra’s Akola district.
A division bench of Justices Urmila Joshi Phalke and Nandesh S Deshpande observed that the girl was a minor at the time of marriage as well as when she was subjected to a physical relationship.
The court rejected the plea to quash the FIR, which had been filed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The FIR was registered on July 1, 2025, by Police Head Constable Rahul Tayade of Telhara Police Station, after receiving information that a 17-year-old girl had delivered a baby boy on May 10, 2025.
The accused, a man and his family, claimed that there was a relationship between the man and the minor, and when the family became aware of it, a marriage was performed on June 2, 2024, as per Muslim rites. Since the girl was a minor at the time, they said the marriage was legally registered only after she turned 18.
Appearing for the accused, Advocate SV Sirpurkar submitted that the relationship was consensual and the couple is now living together peacefully. He argued that continuing the legal proceedings could harm the victim and disturb their family life, requesting the court to treat the case as an exceptional instance of adolescent relationship.
“If the proceedings are not quashed, it may lead to a rift in the relationship, ultimately causing harm to the victim herself. The statements made by the parents indicate that there was a love affair between the girl and the man, and upon learning of this, they arranged their marriage,” Sirpurkar said.
Advocate Yash Venkatraman, appearing for the girl, also supported the man’s plea and said the victim is now settled in life and the FIR should be quashed in view of her current circumstances.
Additional Public Prosecutor Sneha Dhote, opposing the plea, submitted that the accused was aware of the girl’s age and that the birth of the child confirms the offence. She said the girl’s consent is irrelevant under POCSO, as she was a minor.
Dhote noted, “even if the consent is there, it is not relevant, the marriage was performed by the applicants.”
The court referred to ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court on the question of adolescent relationships under POCSO and cited the Union Government’s stand that the age of consent must not be lowered, to safeguard minors from exploitation.
“A fact that cannot be overlooked is that the man is 29 years old and, at the time of the incident, or the alleged marriage, he was approximately 27. At the very least, he ought to have understood that he should wait until the girl attained the age of 18. Despite knowing she was a minor, he took her away from the lawful custody of her parents, and from that moment onward, he committed an offence,” observed the bench, adding that “the mere fact that the girl has now given birth to a child does not absolve the applicants of their actions. In our view, their conduct cannot simply be ignored.”
While granting relief, the court directed her to share her travel itinerary with the prosecuting agency, remain available for trial, and inform authorities upon return.
Lookout notice against Rhea Chakraborty was quashed by Bombay High Court earlier. (Photo: PTI)
The Bombay High Court has directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to return actor Rhea Chakraborty’s passport permanently, granting her plea to relax a bail condition imposed in the 2020 drugs case linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Chakraborty, who was arrested in September 2020 and granted bail the following month, had been required to deposit her passport with the NCB and seek the trial court’s permission every time she needed to travel abroad.
In her fresh application, filed through advocate Ayaz Khan, she argued that the condition caused delays and forced her to miss work assignments. Khan said Chakraborty had complied with all bail conditions and never violated court orders, stressing that her profession required frequent travel abroad for shoots, auditions and meetings.
The NCB, through advocate S K Halwasia, opposed the plea, arguing she should not receive special treatment because of her celebrity status and warning she could be a flight risk.
Justice Neela Gokhale, however, noted that similar relaxations had been granted to other accused in the case and observed that Chakraborty had cooperated with the trial, returned after each permitted foreign trip and never breached bail conditions. The court said there was “no reason to doubt” her availability for the trial’s conclusion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death of the BJP veteran, describing Malhotra as an “outstanding leader” who had a deep understanding of people’s issues. “He played a vital role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. He is also remembered for his Parliamentary interventions. Pained by his passing away,” the PM wrote.
PM Modi condoled Vijay Kumar Malhotra’s death
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former parliamentarian Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra passed away at the age of 94 on Tuesday morning. The Delhi BJP confirmed his demise, saying he had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS for the past few days.
“Senior BJP leader and the first president of the party’s Delhi unit, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra ji, passed away this morning. His life was a shining example of simplicity and dedication to public service,” Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said in a statement. He added that Malhotra’s contribution dated back to the Jan Sangh era, when he worked tirelessly to expand the Sangh’s ideology in the capital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death on X (formerly Twitter), describing Malhotra as an “outstanding leader” who had a deep understanding of people’s issues. “He played a vital role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. He is also remembered for his Parliamentary interventions. Pained by his passing away. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” the PM wrote.
Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra Ji distinguished himself as an outstanding leader, who had a very good understanding of people’s issues. He played a vital role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. He is also remembered for his Parliamentary interventions. Pained by his passing away.… pic.twitter.com/7hPLmBxZEI
A stalwart of Delhi politics, Malhotra was a five-time MP and two-time MLA, often seen as the BJP’s most recognisable face in the capital through the 1980s and 1990s. He also served as Delhi’s chief executive councillor, a position equivalent to today’s chief minister.
Incidentally, his death comes just a day after Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Delhi BJP’s first permanent state office on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, a milestone that party leaders noted Malhotra had long envisioned.
The party said his mortal remains will be brought to his official residence at 21, Gurdwara Rakabganj Road, around 8:45 am for party workers and admirers to pay their last respects.
Malhotra was one of the early stalwarts of the Delhi BJP, serving as the Leader of Opposition in the assembly and was also projected as the party’s chief ministerial face in 2008 in an election in which the Congress under Sheila Dikshit maintained its winning streak.
At a recent Harvard forum, Howard Gardner predicted that the traditional classroom model may become obsolete by 2050, thanks to AI. In India, where rigid exams still rule, this isn’t just a prediction, it’s a warning. The question is this: Will we evolve, or be left behind in this BIG education revolution?
With AI knocking at the classroom door, the global education conversation is shifting.
By 2050, your child’s classroom won’t exist. At least, not in the way you remember it. But here’s the thing, this revolution may not be as bad as you make it to be.
At a recent forum at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, cognitive scientist Howard Gardner made a stark prediction: “The need to have everybody in the class doing the same thing, being assessed in the same way, will seem totally old-fashioned.” Gardner argued that the future of learning won’t lie in classrooms packed with children memorising the same chapters and at the same pace. He predicts that schools will shrink their early years down to only learning the very “basics.”
Learning won’t end at age 18, he says, adding that neither will assessment be a final exam. According to him, by 2050, students won’t be marked on what they memorise but on what they can imagine and build. In Gardner’s words, it will be a “radical shift from uniformity to individual purpose.”
No, he’s not wrong.
If you’ve been in an average Indian school lately, you know that education here isn’t just old-fashioned, it’s broken. Children are drilled into submission, taught to memorise answers to questions they barely understand, and herded through an education system designed for a world that no longer exists.
However, with AI knocking at the classroom door, the global education conversation is shifting. Now, will India listen?
THE REVOLUTION IS ALREADY HERE
What the Harvard forum made clear is that education isn’t just undergoing a facelift but the fact that it’s already here and is only going to get bigger.
Gardner envisions a world where students spend only a few early years on “the basics” — reading, writing, math, maybe coding — and then pivot to projects, self-led discovery, and AI-assisted learning paths.
What happens then to the old model of one-size-fits-all classrooms, with standardised exams as gatekeepers? That is bound to fade away. In its place, there is a possibility of more personalised, exploratory, and mentor-guided learning.
Good news, right?
And it is not even futuristic. A 13-year-old boy in Noida is already learning Spanish from a YouTube creator, picks up AI art tools from Reddit, and writes better prompts than his tuition teacher. Meanwhile, his cousin in a village school in Uttar Pradesh is still learning subtraction on a broken blackboard.
This is where the India problem lies. That the education system isn’t behind or flawed, it’s bifurcated. While a few are leaping ahead, the rest are stuck in the 1980s.
INDIA’S SCHOOLING HAS REACHED ITS EXPIRY DATE
There’s no way to put it than to say it plainly: the Indian schooling system was not designed to produce creators, not critical thinkers, and definitely not innovators.
We inherited a colonial model and scaled it with bureaucratic precision, including standardised syllabi, rigid age-based grades, marks-as-destiny boards. The system eventually learnt to reward rote, punished any sort of deviation, and feared failure more than irrelevance.
And yet we’re shocked when students are unprepared for the real world, or when they flee to online “edtech” content for actual learning.
“The future of education is not content delivery,” says Anisha Dhawan, chairperson of a private university in Haryana. “It’s about curiosity, ethics, interdisciplinarity, all the things our school system suppresses.”
What Dhawan meant is that the AI isn’t just a tool here. It’s a mirror, reflecting how outdated our current system is.
HARVARD’S VISION IS A WAKE-UP CALL
At Harvard, international experts discussed how tomorrow’s students won’t “do the work” themselves — they’ll manage AI teams, direct creative projects, and make judgment calls where AI hits its limits.
Anthea Roberts, co-author of “Six Faces of Globalization”, put it beautifully: “You become the director of the actor, the coach of the athlete, and the editor of the writer.” In short: humans will shift from doers to orchestrators. Skills like ethical reasoning, creative synthesis, and decision-making will matter more than regurgitating textbook definitions.
Deepika Kulshreshtha , principal of a reputed private school in Delhi, quietly agrees. She draws a parallel for us: Imagine asking a 16-year-old in CBSE Class 11 to “ethically evaluate the role of AI in society.” Most can’t. That is because no one ever taught them how to think. They were too busy solving ten-year board papers in tuition classes.
“This is not a dig at students. It’s a damning indictment of the system we’ve imprisoned them in,” she argues.
WHAT WE MUST DO
If we want a fighting chance at reimagining education for a generation that will grow up alongside AI — not after it — we need radical shifts which don’t only entail policy tweaks and committee reports. But real transformation.
a) It all begins with how we train our teachers. The move towards such a revolution calls for retraining our teaching workforce to be “AI-Savvy Mentors”. A future-ready teacher won’t be a content dispenser but a curiosity coach, an ethics anchor, a project guide.
But this is not going to happen overnight. Training teachers will require investment, dignity, and serious upskilling.
b) We must ditch the current uniform exams for an assessment model. The one-size-fits-all boards are not helping students to grow the way we would want them to. Instead, pilot AI-powered formative assessments that track growth, not just scores.
c) Brings us to the most important: Fix the digital divide first. There can be no AI revolution if half our students can’t get stable Wi-Fi or device access. To make this less cumbersome, community learning hubs and offline-first tools must be the bedrock of inclusion.
d) Doing away with academic layers. Can we let our students chart their own learning journeys? Allowing them to “mix history with coding”, “climate science with literature”, “Sanskrit with robotics’… In sum, enable interdisciplinary credentials that employers trust.
e) Atmanirbharta is really key. We don’t need to replicate the West’s model, Indian education must draw on its own pluralistic, linguistic, and philosophical richness. AI should amplify our values, not just import that of others.
At the time of the attacks in 2008, the Congress veteran leader was the Union Home Minister. He revealed that the then US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice had visited India to meet him and the Prime Minister, asking them not to react to the situation.
Former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has revealed that the then UPA government decided not to retaliate against Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks due to intense international pressure, as well as the External Affairs Ministry’s stance. The veteran Congress leader admitted that “retribution crossed my mind” but the government decided against military action.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who called the admission “too little, too late”.
During an interview with a news channel, Chidambaram, who took over as the Union Home Minister just days after the coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people, said, “The whole world descended upon Delhi to tell us ‘don’t start a war’.”
“Condoleeza Rice, who was then US Secretary of State, flew in two or three days after I took over, to meet me and the Prime Minister. And to say, ‘please don’t react’. I said this is a decision that the government will take. Without disclosing any official secret, it did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution,” he acknowledged.
Chidambaram went on to say that he discussed a possible retaliation with the Prime Minister and “other people who mattered.”
“The Prime Minister had discussed this even when the attack was going on… And the conclusion was, largely influenced by the the Ministry of External Affairs, and the IFS, that we should not physically react to the situation,” he recalled.
On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba went on a rampage, carrying out attacks on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj train station; the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, the Leopold Cafe, the Cama Hospital, and the Nariman House. Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists who was caught by the Mumbai Police, was executed in 2012.
BJP REACTS
The veteran Congress leader’s remarks did not go down well among BJP leaders, who have criticised him for the admission.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the former Home Minister had admitted that the country already knew that the Mumbai attacks were “mishandled due to pressure from foreign powers.”
While reacting to the remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala alleged that Chidambaram was initially reluctant to take charge as Home Minister in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, wanted military action against Pakistan, but “others prevailed”.
He questioned whether senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi or then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had blocked the move, claiming that the UPA government appeared to act under the influence of Condoleezza Rice.
“Why was UPA taking orders from her? Why did Sonia Gandhi prevail over the Home Minister?” Poonawalla queried..
The SIR electoral roll revision in Bihar faces fierce Opposition criticism, Supreme Court scrutiny, and protests by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav ahead of the assembly polls.
There were 7.24 crore electors in the draft rolls. (Representational photo)
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar, conducted after a 22-year gap, has concluded. The final voter lists are set to be published today, with the Election Commission likely to follow it up with the announcement of the poll schedule of the state next week. There were 7.24 crore electors in the draft rolls.
The first phase of the elections is likely to be held soon after the Chhath festival in late October.
Revision After Two Decades: The SIR exercise, launched to update the voter rolls in Bihar, began with the release of draft rolls on August 1. It allowed voters and political parties to file “claims and objections” until September 1.
Intense Scrutiny and Opposition Pushback: The exercise has been marked by fierce criticism from Opposition parties, who accused the Election Commission of attempting large-scale voter exclusion. Several parties demanded the process be halted.
Matter Reaches Supreme Court: Concerns over potential disenfranchisement led to legal challenges. Petitioners approached the Supreme Court, warning that the revision process could strip voting rights from eligible citizens. The next hearing is scheduled for October 7.
SC Warns of Possible Scrapping: A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has said it will not hesitate to strike down the final voter list if irregularities are found. The court emphasized the need for inclusivity, ruling against any mass exclusion of voters.
Aadhaar Allowed as ID: The court overruled the poll body’s objections and permitted the use of Aadhaar as a valid identity document for voter registration, although it was not originally among the 11 accepted documents.
Opposition Alleges Bias: Several Opposition leaders claim the revision process disproportionately affects poor and minority communities, traditionally seen as part of their voter base. They accuse the ruling BJP of manipulating the process for electoral gain.
Rahul Gandhi Targets EC, BJP: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged a collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP. Citing data from various regions, he claimed the process was rigged to engineer a landslide win for the BJP in Bihar.
Poll Body Denies Charges: The Election Commission has dismissed the allegations and asked Gandhi to submit an affidavit supporting his claims. It insists that the revision was conducted fairly and that no eligible citizen will be left off the rolls.
‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ In Protest: In defiance of the Commission’s stance, Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ across Bihar to raise awareness and protest what they describe as “vote theft.”
Election Schedule Soon: The term of the current 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22. Sources say the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule after a visit to Patna on October 4–5, where it will review poll preparedness.
The accused had kept the complainant and his wife under digital arrest from 25 to 27 September, after which they allowed them to use phones and other devices.
On Friday, the 73-year-old received a call from a man posing as Sadanand Date, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief. (Representational Photo/PTI)
A 73-year-old city resident and former Managing Director (MD) of a multinational conglomerate, who is presently working as a mining industry advisor, was cheated to the tune of ₹70 lakhs last week. The RAK Marg police Monday registered a case based on the complaint filed by the 73-year-old resident of a luxury tower in Dadar East. The police said the accused approached the senior citizen posing as National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Sadanand Date. They told him he was found linked to a terror group during the Pahalgam terror attack investigations and placed him under digital arrest.
According to the police, the episode started last week. “He (the complainant) started getting calls on Thursday, from an unknown woman, who identified herself as IPS officer Vineeta Sharma from Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Control, New Delhi. She told the senior citizen they were investigating a sensitive case related to the Pahalgam terror attack. They had already raided several businessmen, politicians, and builders in the case, and the complainant’s details have cropped up for helping the terrorist,” said a police officer from RAK Marg police station.
Sharma told the complainant that the case was getting transferred to the National Investigating Agency. “Then the complainant began getting calls from a man, who posed as an NIA officer and identified himself as IPS officer Premkumar Gautam. In a video call, he saw the fraudster sitting in a police uniform, talking about raids where they found documents related to the complainant used for money laundering and terror funding. He even showed the complaint an arrest warrant and asked him to co-operate with the investigators,” said the police officer.
On Friday, the 73-year-old received a call from a man posing as Sadanand Date, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief. “He told the complainant that a money laundering case is about to be registered against him and asked about all his investments. The complainant gave him a complete list of his fixed deposits, savings bank accounts, stock markets, and foreign bank accounts. He was told that all his funds need to be legalised; for this, he must send them the funds. After verification, they would return it,” said the police officer. The complainant then sent ₹70 lakh to the bank accounts given by the accused.
“They then told the complainant to send more money to avoid action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The officer posing as Date even sent him an acknowledgement receipt for ₹70 lakh. However, due to repeated demands, the complainant felt something suspicious and approached the RAK Marg police station,” said the police officer.
“We want to know what happened to him, why it happened and how this negligence could be allowed to happen? We want answers,” Zubeen Garg’s wife said.
Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima Saikia Garg carries their pets to the tribute programme dedicated to him in Guwahati.(PTI)
Late singer Zubeen Garg’s wife demanded answers from the people accompanying him, saying that the family wants to know what happened during his final moments.
“We want to know what happened to him, why it happened and how this negligence could be allowed to happen? We want answers,” Zubeen’s wife Garima Saikia Garg said Monday, according to a PTI report.
Zubeen died in a swimming incident in Singapore on September 19. He was in the city to attend the North East India Festival. His mortal remains were flown back to Delhi and later transported to Guwahati, where mourning fans paid their last respects. He was cremated with full state honours in Kamarkuchi village, about 20 km from Guwahati.
After the conducting of the 11th day rituals for the singer, his wife said that those who were present in the yacht with him and at the event for which he was in Singapore “must answer” her questions.
Garima said that going by the singer’s last moments captured on video, it was evident that he was “very exhausted”, adding that she wanted a proper inquiry.
She further said that the people present at the yacht could have lifted him from the water easily. “Why did they not lift him from the water when they knew he was not in a condition to swim? They could have done so, as it was very easy to distract him,” PTI quoted Garima as saying.
Manager knew Zubeen could not go near fire or water due to risk of seizure, says wife Garima
Garima said that Zubeen’s manager Siddhartha Sharma was aware that the singer could not go anywhere near fire or water, adding that it could trigger his epileptic seizure.
She said that the organiser of North East India Festival, Shyamkanu Mahanta, who was a friend of Zubeen, “did nothing” for the late singer. While saying that she did not have anything to say on Mahanta, Garima added that he had a “responsibility”, questioning the non-availability of medical assistance, security or special arrangements for Zubeen.
Garima said that the medicine for epileptic seizure had been sent along with Zubeen when he had travelled to Singapore. “He has been taking only one medicine since August 2024 after he had a seizure attack,” she said.
The development came after Trump released a 20-point roadmap that he said could bring “an immediate end” to the Gaza war if both Israel and Hamas agree.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the Gaza war and said that it is a “viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people”. PM Modi further extended support to Trump’s effort to end the conflict and secure peace.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.”
We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We…
The development came after Trump released a 20-point roadmap that he said could bring “an immediate end” to the Gaza war if both Israel and Hamas agree. The plan was announced in Washington following Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump Announces Gaza Peace Deal
In a major breakthrough, US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that “Israel won’t occupy Gaza”, adding that he was “close” to clinching an agreement that could end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The US President also extended his “full backing” to Israel, if Hamas rejects the deal, saying that the “tyranny of terror has to end”.
The police said they got a call from Kumar’s friend, who told them that he had sent him a video on Sunday at 3.15 pm saying that he was going to die by suicide.
Ajay Kumar and Sweety Sharma worked at an IT company in Gurugram
A software engineer has allegedly strangled his wife after a fight and then died by suicide in Gurugram, police said on Monday.
The accused, Ajay Kumar (30), then sent a video message to his friend, saying that he was going to kill himself.
Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, and Sweety Sharma, 28, a resident of West Bengal’s Asansol, got married three years ago. Both worked at an IT company in Gurugram.
The police said they got a call from Kumar’s friend, who told them that he had sent him a video on Sunday at 3.15 pm saying that he was going to die by suicide.
The video appeared to suggest that an argument had broken out between the couple.
When the police reached their flat in a residential society in Sector 37, they found Sharma’s body lying on the floor with a scarf, which was used to strangle her to death.
Kumar was found hanging from a noose with a ceiling fan, the police said.
The police said that it appeared that Kumar had killed his wife. However, the cause behind both incidents is yet to be ascertained.
The previous socio-educational survey was conducted in 2015 by the H Kantharaj-led backward classes commission during Siddaramaiah’s first term as chief minister.
Tejasvi Surya. Credit: PTI Photo
Following the High Court’s order not to make the ongoing social and educational survey compulsory, BJP leaders have taken different stands, in the absence of an official stand by the party.
The previous socio-educational survey was conducted in 2015 by the H Kantharaj-led backward classes commission during Siddaramaiah’s first term as chief minister.
The ‘dominant’ Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities had called the survey ‘unscientific’ and claimed that their numbers were ‘undercounted’.
On Saturday, Bangalore South MP L S Tejasvi Surya had declared that he wouldn’t take part in the survey.
“This (survey) won’t help any caste or the poor. So, please, boycott this caste census or Siddaramaiah census. The HC has allowed us to do that,” Surya, a Brahmin, had said.
Questioning the intent and execution of the ongoing exercise, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra on Sunday said the party was yet to take a final decision on whether to boycott the survey.
However, he said all Hindu communities — Veerashaiva-Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Dalits, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) — should uniformly declare themselves as ‘Hindu’ in religion column.
Vijayendra told reporters here, “We haven’t taken any decision. All party leaders are discussing it. Last week, we held a two-day workshop of people’s representatives, where we took a clear stand that we should mention religion as Hindu”.
He stressed the importance of unity and consistency in religious identity among Hindu communities. “It is our collective responsibility,” the state BJP president said.
Explaining that participating in the survey was voluntary, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka charged that the survey was being falsely presented as a socio-educational initiative.
“This is not a socio-educational survey. This is Siddaramaiah’s caste survey. It’s a survey to label people. It’s not about data or development; it’s about budget cuts and vote bank politics,” he said.
He cautioned citizens against providing personal information, especially financial details, urging that people only answer questions they deem appropriate.
Accusing the Congress government of financial mismanagement, Ashoka said the caste survey was being used as a pretext to cancel ration cards and cut welfare schemes.
“There is no money in treasury. By collecting details about people’s income, they may remove some ration card holders from the list. For that, they need criteria. This caste survey is being done for that reason and to cut schemes. Preparation for the upcoming budget has become a headache for CM Siddaramaiah. They need to save money for that. This survey is being used as a tool to reduce government expenditure,” he said.
Ashoka added that the survey was politically motivated and not genuinely about data collection or development.
An aggressive flu virus has gripped northern India. Two-thirds of families in the region are affected. Who’s most at risk? And how can people protect themselves?
Symptoms of H3N2 are usually more severe and last longer than with regular flu or coldsImage: Maria Kraynova/Zoonar/picture alliance
Northern India, in particular the Delhi metropolitan region, is experiencing a significant spike in infections with the H3N2 strain of influenza this autumn. There are about 46 million people in the conurbation around the Indian capital, which extends across many neighboring towns and districts in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
According to a survey by the community-based social media platform LocalCircles, 69% of households in the area currently have at least one person with flu-like symptoms. Doctors say H3N2 is currently the predominant influenza variant in the region.
“The increasing numbers make it clear that the virus is circulating extensively,” Dr. Rituja Ugalmugle, a consultant at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central, told the newspaper Indian Express. Reports of growing numbers of cases are also coming in from other states.
Who’s at risk
H3N2 infections often start with a sudden high fever, shivering, a sore throat and a runny nose. Other symptoms may include a dry or productive cough, bad headaches, aching arms and legs, muscle pains, and severe fatigue and weakness. Some patients, particularly children, may lose their appetite, feel nauseous, or have gastro-intestinal problems.
Children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart issues tend to be hit hardest. In most cases, disease progression is that of a typical but nasty flu, and patients usually recover within a week.
Infection can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or a worsening of existing heart or lung conditions. Hospitals report that many people exhibit symptoms for an extended period or become so sick that they have to be admitted.
“Unlike the common cold or regular flu, H3N2, which is a subtype of Influenza A, is often more severe and tends to last longer,” Dr. Mayanka Lodha Seth of Redcliffe Labs told the Indian Express.
The infection becomes dangerous if the patient starts to have difficulty breathing or develops chest pains, their lips or nails turn blue, they become confused, or they are very dehydrated. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should get treatment immediately. They should also seek urgent medical assistance if they have a high fever after being treated for several days.
Necessary H3N2 precautions
As with the coronavirus, doctors recommend frequent hand-washing, masking, avoiding crowds, maintaining a balanced diet and getting the latest annual flu vaccine.
There is no specific therapy for H3N2. Doctors will usually treat the patient’s symptoms with bed rest, plenty of fluids, and medicine to lower the fever. Serious cases and high-risk patients may be given anti-viral medication.
“The current seasonal H3N2 emerged from the 1968 influenza pandemic. It developed by combining with an avian H3 virus,” said Dr. Martin Beer, vice president of the Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI), Germany’s Federal Institute for Animal Health. “So the adaptation processes took place a long time ago, and the ‘avian’ components, like H3, are from that time.”
Since then, numerous variants of the H3N2 subtype have circulated globally. They return periodically as waves of seasonal flu, often with regional genetic mutations. “Annual circulation and immune pressure result in the adaptation of seasonal flu viruses, and we respond to them with new vaccines. So these days, with the seasonal H3N2 virus, it’s no longer a case of adaptation from avian to human, but of continual optimization within the human host,” Beer told DW.
A study published in February 2024 examined changes in the receptor specificity of H3N2 influenza viruses from 1990 through 2000. It found that the binding behavior of the human H3N2 influenza virus to human receptors had changed over the last few decades, leading to an extension of the receptor-binding site. This extension makes it easier for the virus to adapt to new hosts or tissue, and can increase transmissibility. It also makes it easier for the virus to evade both immune defenses and treatments.
“Fifty years of evolution leave visible and comprehensible traces of adaptation,” Beer said. “The first, and most important, shift happened 50 years ago, and led to the pandemic at the time. Since then, H3N2 has returned in seasonal waves and at differing levels of intensity. In some years, in some regions, it’s very dominant compared to other influenza variants, which can lead to a correspondingly high number of cases.”
AAP on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led central government of failing to manage key domestic and international challenges from strained India-US ties to the Manipur crisis.
AAP alleged neither country’s borders, nor honour are safe in PM Modi’s hands.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being unable to effectively manage a range of domestic and international challenges.
A poster shared by the party on X listed issues including a tariff dispute with the United States, ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur, and alleged border incursions by China, carried the message, “Neither the country’s borders are safe in Modi’s hands, nor is the country’s honour,” asking, “Is this Modi’s guarantee?”
The graphic explicitly said that the Modi government was “unable to manage” situations involving America, China, Ladakh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Assam.
The AAP’s allegations stem from a series of recent events across the country and abroad. The party highlighted the strain on India-US relations, which have been impacted by President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods and punitive duties on oil trade with Russia.
Domestically, the AAP pointed to the unresolved situation in Manipur, where tensions persist more than two and a half years after deadly ethnic clashes began. The state continues to await the return of an elected government.
The party also referred to alleged Chinese settlements along the India-China border, and the Opposition’s claims of large-scale incursions. The poster also referenced recent violent clashes in Ladakh, where protesters demanding statehood for the Union Territory turned aggressive.
Additionally, the AAP’s criticism extended to other domestic issues, including massive anti-government protests in Uttarakhand over irregularities in recruitment examinations and recent violent unrest in Assam, where protests demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch-Rajbongshi community turned violent.
The situation worsened after a massive amount of water released from the Jayakwadi dam, the region’s largest reservoir, led to rising levels in the Godavari river.
Maharashtra’s Marathwada and Western regions face the heaviest rainfall in 50 years.
Heavy rains have triggered floods across Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, claiming two lives and forcing the evacuation of more than 11,500 residents, officials said on Sunday.
The situation worsened after a massive amount of water released from the Jayakwadi dam, the region’s largest reservoir, led to rising levels in the Godavari river.
Authorities said two people died in rain-related incidents in Dharashiv district on Saturday night. One victim drowned, while another died in a separate mishap linked to the downpour.
“Rain intensity has reduced since last night, so our focus now is on supplying aid to the affected families,” a senior Dharashiv district official said.
More than 3,600 people were moved to safer locations there, while the discharge of 75,500 cusecs from the Sina Kolegaon dam inundated parts of Paranda taluka.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, around 7,000 residents from villages including Vadali, Naygaon, Maygaon, and Apegaon were relocated after the Jayakwadi dam released 2.26 lakh cusecs of water.
The dam’s 27 gates have been opened, and its storage has reached 98 percent capacity.
Authorities fear further flooding as upstream Nashik continues to receive heavy showers under a “red alert” issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Nanded district also witnessed flooding, with nearly 1,000 people shifted after the Godavari swelled to 354 metres.
The administration is using traditional dawandi (drum announcements) in Beed to warn residents in vulnerable areas. The Indian Army and NDRF teams remain on standby in Gevrai.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation and directed officials to intensify ground-level relief measures. “All necessary steps must be taken to ensure timely rescue and rehabilitation,” he told officers during a press meet.
Marathwada, usually a drought-prone belt, has faced incessant rainfall since September 20.
Officials said excess rainfall was recorded in 189 of the region’s 483 revenue circles over the past 24 hours. Standing crops, homes, and roads have been extensively damaged.
The highest 24-hour rainfall was reported from Harsul circle in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 196 mm, followed by Shivur and Borsar circles in Vaijapur at 189 mm.
Flooding also disrupted traffic on the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Ahilyanagar highway after heavy downpour in the Waluj area.
ALL IS WELL IN MUMBAI, SAYS CIVIC BODY
While Marathwada reeled under floods, Mumbai managed to avoid major disruptions despite continuous downpour. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said no waterlogging or accidents were reported on Sunday even as the city recorded around 100 mm of rain in nine hours.
“Road and rail traffic are running smoothly, and all systems of the Municipal Corporation are working continuously and promptly,” the civic body said in a statement.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (left) and activist Sonam Wangchuk. (File photo)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the recent unrest in Ladakh in which four people died, saying that the Union Territory is under attack by the BJP and the RSS. Backing the UT’s statehood demand, the Congress MP called on the Centre to include Ladakh in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the recent unrest in Ladakh in which four people died, saying that the Union Territory is under attack by the BJP and the RSS. Backing the UT’s statehood demand, the Congress MP called on the Centre to include Ladakh in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.
Blaming Wangchuk and his “provocative” statements for the violence, the police arrested him under the National Security Act (NSA) and lodged him in the Jodhpur Central Jail.
“Ladakh’s amazing people, culture, and traditions are under attack by the BJP and RSS. Ladakhis asked for a voice. The BJP responded by killing 4 young men and jailing Sonam Wangchuk,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha tweeted.
Speaking at a press conference in Leh on Saturday, Ladakh DGP SD Singh Jamwal revealed that police had apprehended a Pakistan PIO (intelligence officer) who was allegedly in contact with Wangchuk.
The Ministry of Home Affairs alleged that Wangchuk’s references to the Arab Spring and Nepal Gen Z protests stirred mob fury that resulted in the local BJP office in Leh and a few government vehicles being torched.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government over its treatment of Wangchuk, the crackdown on protesters demanding statehood and the 6th Schedule for Ladakh. The Rae Bareily MP claimed that the government was intimidating the people of the UT, and should stop doing that.
“Stop the killing. Stop the violence. Stop the intimidation. Give Ladakh a voice. Give them the 6th Schedule,” he added in his tweet.
SONAM WANGCHUK’S PROTEST
Wangchuk, known for his activism in Ladakh, began an indefinite hunger strike on September 10 seeking constitutional guarantees, greater autonomy, statehood, and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
The government noted that parallel channels of dialogue had been ongoing with regional groups such as the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, through a High-Powered Committee (HPC), subcommittees, and informal meetings.
On Thursday, the government cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act licence of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an institute founded by Wangchuk, citing multiple violations of the Act in light of the violence.
In February, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for not delivering any of the promised 83 Tejas Mk 1A jets to the Indian Air Force
IAF light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ performs aerobatic manoeuvres during the Aero India 2025, at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force station in February. (Image: PTI/File)
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh’s conversation with top officials of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited went viral at Bengaluru’s Aero India Show in February.
Air Chief Marshal Singh criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for not delivering any of the promised 83 Tejas Mk 1A jets to the Indian Air Force. He questioned why it was not prioritising this project and rebuked the “chalta hai” attitude, expressing concerns over national security.
Even now, not a single Tejas Mk 1A jet has been delivered. Additionally, 36 MiG-21 fighter jets were retired last week in a decommissioning ceremony in Chandigarh, with the Chief of the Air Staff flying one.
This raises the question whether HAL will rise to the occasion and deliver on its commitments, as it is a matter of India’s security.
Last week, the IAF retired its MiG-21 squadrons, which have been the backbone of the air force since the 1960s but are now outdated and prone to accidents. Inducted in 1963, India used 874 MiG-21 jets over the decades, with HAL building over 60 percent of them.
From the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, and from the Balakot airstrike to ‘Operation Sindoor’, the MiG-21 turned out to be a solid weapon for India. But now, they are history.
The IAF’s sanctioned strength is 42 fighter squadrons, but it is currently operating with only 29 with 16 to 18 jets each. The phased retirement of the MiG-21 has widened this gap and replacements are not arriving on time.
Since 2021, HAL has had an order worth Rs 47,000 crore for 83 Tejas Mk 1A fighters, but no jets have been delivered so far even though deliveries were to begin in 2024 and complete in 2028. The air force wants them faster, but only the first two of these 83 jets might come this year.
A major issue for HAL is obtaining engines from GE Aerospace in the United States for these fighter jets. These supplies will determine how quickly it can deliver these.
So far, only three engines have been delivered to HAL with the first arriving in March. It has cited engine supply chain problems with GE as a major cause for the delay, stating that structures will be ready but deliveries can only happen once the engines arrive.
But, can the government keep waiting?
Last week, the government signed another mega contract with HAL, an even bigger order of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A worth Rs 66,500 crore. The defence public sector undertaking (PSU) now has the task of delivering 180 fighter jets to the IAF, including Tejas Mk 1A, on schedule and ramping up production lines.
This is crucial as India cannot afford to fall behind Pakistan, which has 25 fighter squadrons compared to India’s 29. Pakistan has also signed a deal with China to acquire 35 to 40 J-35 fifth-generation jets.
In the context of ‘Operation Sindoor’, where fighter jets played a major role, India understands the importance of maintaining air superiority over Pakistan. Facing challenges from both Pakistan and China, India cannot afford any capability void in air power.
This is why the government signed a contract with HAL for 97 LCA Mk1A, with deliveries commencing in 2027-2028 and completing over six years. The aircraft will have over 64 percent indigenous content and incorporate 67 additional items beyond the previous LCA Mk1A contract signed in January 2021.
Integrating advanced indigenously developed systems like the UTTAM Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach, and control surface actuators will further strengthen the atmanirbharta initiatives.
But the critical question remains — will the jets arrive on time?
With the MiG-21s retiring, the focus shifts to the Su-30MKI, now the backbone of the IAF fleet with nearly 270 aircraft in service. India also has two squadrons of French Rafale aircraft — 36 in total — providing a significant edge in the region.
As demonstrated during ‘Operation Sindoor’, Rafales can carry out long-range precision strikes without needing to cross the border. The Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar are also part of the arsenal.
Foreign purchases, however, take time. India recently approved buying 26 Rafale-M jets from France for carrier operations, but they won’t arrive before 2029.
Then there is the AMCA — a fifth-generation, multi-role, twin-engine stealth fighter being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO for the IAF. India aims to develop this aircraft via private industry partnerships instead of solely through the public sector, meaning HAL is not the default partner.
In August, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India will jointly manufacture advanced jet engines for the AMCA with French aerospace major Safran. But again, this will take time with the service induction of the AMCA possibly taking a decade.
All this further stresses the need for HAL to deliver promptly. Three engines have arrived, and GE is expected to deliver 12 more by March 2026 with a total of 99 engines by 2028.
Foreign companies cannot invoke fundamental right of free speech under Article 19 of the Constitution, the Karnataka High Court made it clear in its judgment dismissing X Corp’s petition challenging the Union government’s Sahyog blocking portal and related notifications [X Corp Vs Union of India].
Such rights are reserved exclusively for citizens of India and intermediaries like X Corp must comply with the regulatory framework if they wish to operate in the country, Justice M Nagaprasanna ruled.
“A company which is faceless in India, cannot on the basis of baseless allegations, come forward and challenge the laws of the nation. It is reciprocal, as it is unimaginable, that an entity which has no foothold in the United States, can challenge the laws of the United States in the Courts of the United States, except in certain circumstances. In the same manner, X Corp being faceless in the nation, operating as an intermediary, cannot challenge any of the statutes of the nation under the umbrage of Article 19. Its presence is not there. It cannot raise a challenge to the statutes regulating social media. If it wants to operate in the nation, it has to abide by the laws, as simple as that,” the Court said.
X Corp had moved the Court contending that the Sahyog portal enables blocking orders to be issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), thereby circumventing the due process mandated under Section 69A of the IT Act and the Shreya Singhal ruling.
The petition was filed following multiple takedown orders issued by the Ministry of Railways after posts about a recent stampede at New Delhi Railway Station.
X sought a declaration that Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act does not authorise content blocking.
The Court was unequivocal that Article 19 rights cannot be extended to foreigners.
“Article 19 is restricted only to citizens of this country and in the garb of projecting Articles 14 and 21, a foreigner cannot seek rights under Article 19,” Justice Nagaprasanna held.
While X Corp argued that statutory rights could be advanced under Article 14, the Court rejected the attempt, holding:
“Ventilating statutory rights or grievances concerning the statute, seeking to challenge the statutes of the nation, on the foundation of Article 19, cannot be countenanced.”
The judgment reaffirmed that freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) is subject to reasonable restrictions.
Referring to the first amendment to the Constitution, the Court emphasised that liberty and restraint must co-exist.
“The guarantees that secure liberty to the citizen are not absolute, they are accompanied by the tempering hand of reasonable restriction,” it said
The Bench observed that while the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India had read down Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and upheld Section 69A, the regulatory architecture still provides clear avenues for blocking orders consistent with constitutional limitations.
Justice Nagaprasanna also analysed regulatory regimes in India and abroad.
Tracing communication from postal riders to social media platforms, he underlined that no medium had ever been beyond the reach of law.
“From the press of the colonial era, to the digital platforms today, there has always existed a framework of law to temper liberty with responsibility, freedom with accountability,” the Court observed.
After examining American law, the Court noted that X Corp’s argument for untrammelled free speech was misplaced.
“The record… reveals a different story – that even in its home land the spread of information has never been free from the tempering hand of law,” it said
The Court rejected X Corp’s challenge to Rule 3(1)(d) of the Intermediary Guidelines, 2021, which authorises government departments and State police officers to issue takedown notices. While the company argued this went beyond the IT Act, the Court held that the rule formed part of the statutory framework and was not unconstitutional.
The Sahyog portal, through which such orders are communicated, was also upheld as a legitimate instrument to enforce statutory provisions.
“The Sahyog Portal, far from being a constitutional anathema, is in truth an instrument of public good. Conceived under the authority of Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act and Rule 3(1)(d) of the 2021 Rules, it stands as a beacon of cooperation between citizen and intermediary, a mechanism through which the State endeavours to combat the growing menace of cybercrime. To assail its validity is to misunderstand its purpose; hence, the challenge is without merit,” the Court stated.
Rejecting X Corp’s claims of being a neutral intermediary, Justice Nagaprasanna observed:
“The platform has everything to do with the information. Tons and tons of information is on the platform and just one particular information springs up to become popular or unpopular is by the algorithms that the platform deploys.”
This finding, the Court said, showed that X Corp could not escape responsibility by portraying itself as a passive channel for content.
Police have maintained that Vijay’s late arrival and lack of ample arrangements at the venue led to the chaos at TVK’s Karur rally.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin conducts the consultation meeting with Ministers, medical department officials and the medical team at the Karur Government Hospital, in Karur on Sunday. (@Udhaystalin)
The blame game in the Karur stampede has begun a day after at least 40 people died and over a hundred were injured at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu. The dead bodies of the stampede victims were handed over to their families on Sunday after post-mortem, while the injured are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Karur. Three of them are said to be critical.
The police have ruled out any intelligence failure and said that Vijay arrived at around late to the rally and people had been waiting almost the entire day for the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader.
The First Information Report, filed at Karur town police station, has charged TVK’s Karur (north) district secretary Madhiazhagan, general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar under sections 105 (culpable homicide), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 125 (endangering life of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
“Vijay also arrived three hours late to the venue in Karur after his rally in nearby Namakkal district,” Additional director general of police (law and order) Davidson Devasirvatham said.
About 500 police personnel were on the ground for TVK’s Saturday rally as higher turnout was expected, he said.
The police on ground had asked organisers to stop Vijay’s specially designed campaign bus at least 50 metres before the designated spot. “But, they insisted on parking where they had planned. And for 10 minutes, the leader (Vijay) didn’t come out of the vehicle which made the crowd go restless because they wanted to see him,” Devasirvatham said.
The TVK had reportedly sought permission for 10,000 people, but the the crowd swelled to around 25,000. Cops said that the party had not made ample arrangements such as drinking water and didn’t follow the conditions laid down by the police while giving permission.
The TVK counsel, S Arivazhagan, alleged a political conspiracy behind the incident and sought a court-monitored probe, or, an investigation by any “independent agency.”
Arivazhagan also accused the Tamil Nadu government and the state police and said that autopsies of the victims had been conducted in a rush, without identifying the bodies.
A petition was filed by N Senthilkannan, who suffered injuries at the rally and sought the TVK to be barred from holding further rallies and public meetings until all inquiries into the stampede were complete.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin met the kin of the Karur stampede victims on Sunday morning and said, “In the history of our state, never has such a large number of people lost their lives in a program organised by a political party, and such a tragedy should never happen in the future either.” He announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹10 lakh for the kin of deceased and ₹1 lakh each for the injured.
“Once the truth is revealed, strict action will definitely be taken,” Stalin said on chances of arresting Vijay.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and BJP MLC, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, called the Karur stampede unfortunate and a failure of both the state government and actor-politician Vijay.
“Vijay is new with no experience. On the other hand, the government also completely failed to control the crowd; therefore, it should have taken measures even before the event began,” he said.
On September 28, Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad were under a red alert, witnessing widespread heavy to very heavy rain that disrupted normal life. Roads in several parts of the city, particularly in the western suburbs and South Mumbai, were waterlogged, slowing down traffic. On Monday too, several pockets of the city reported accumulated water after morning showers.
Mumbai Weather Update: Heavy Rains Continue In City, Intense Showers Predicted As IMD Issues Orange Alert For MMR |
Mumbai and its surrounding districts woke up to heavy showers and gusty winds on Monday morning, with the downpour continuing from late Sunday night. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the city and nearby regions under an orange alert for September 29, warning of more intense spells through the day. Though the rainfall intensity is marginally lower compared to Sunday’s deluge, officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rain with gusty winds 30-40 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Marathwada.
— Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) September 28, 2025
Mumbai Lashed By Heavy Rains A Day Ago
On September 28, Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad were under a red alert, witnessing widespread heavy to very heavy rain that disrupted normal life. Roads in several parts of the city, particularly in the western suburbs and South Mumbai, were waterlogged, slowing down traffic. On Monday too, several pockets of the city reported accumulated water after morning showers. IMD has warned that rainfall could pick up pace again by afternoon, possibly affecting public transport and daily commutes.
In Thane and Navi Mumbai, the situation remained similar, with heavy showers since early morning. Residents were advised to stay indoors unless necessary, as waterlogging and traffic snarls continued across arterial routes.
Palghar district also witnessed consistent rainfall. In rural and coastal parts, overflowing streams and smaller rivers raised concerns of flooding. Local authorities reported that water had entered homes in some villages, forcing the relocation of residents to safer spots.
With the IMD’s orange alert in place, the district administration is on high alert, keeping rescue teams ready. In Vasai-Virar, intense rain led to waterlogging in some areas, causing severe inconvenience. Authorities have declared a holiday for schools in the Palghar district.
Heavy Rains Predicted In Konkan Region
Raigad district, which faced a red alert on Sunday, continued to be battered by heavy showers on Monday. The Ghats and coastal stretches reported incessant rainfall, with instances of landslides in hilly areas. Officials have urged residents in landslide-prone zones to remain vigilant and avoid unsafe travel routes.
AAP slammed Ladakh DGP Jamwal over Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest under NSA, questioning proof and calling it an attack on democracy. Arvind Kejriwal compared the government’s actions to dictatorship, warning such regimes end badly.
AAP slammed Ladakh DGP Jamwal over Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest under NSA.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday lashed out at Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP) Jamwal over the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), questioning the evidence against him.
In a video post on X, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “This is the central government’s DGP who has booked Sonam Wangchuk, a globally awarded personality, under sedition and NSA. When asked about the reason for NSA, just look at his expressions, listen to his words—it is as if someone is narrating gossip at a roadside shop. Is this the way an officer should speak?”
Bhardwaj further questioned, “What is the proof? YouTube videos of Sonam Wangchuk? A Pakistani agent reporting about him? An agent’s job is to report—how does that make him a traitor? He attended a newspaper event in Pakistan, so what? The visa was given by the central government itself. How does that amount to sedition? This reminds one of how the British falsely framed freedom fighters in fabricated cases just to jail them under any pretext.”
Alongside, AAP held a protest against Wangchuk’s arrest, calling it an assault on democracy and people’s rights.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also slammed the BJP-led central government. “Ravana’s end also came. Kansa’s end also came. Hitler’s and Mussolini’s end also came. And today, people hate all those individuals. Today in our country, dictatorship is at its peak. The end of those who practice dictatorship and arrogance is always very bad,” Kejriwal wrote on X in Hindi.
Wangchuk was arrested on Friday under the NSA and transferred to Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail, sources told India Today. The government has accused him of making “provocative statements” and claimed that “politically motivated” groups unhappy with talks between officials and Ladakhi representatives had incited the protests demanding statehood for the Union Territory.
The Ministry of Home Affairs alleged that Wangchuk’s references to the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen Z protests triggered mob violence, which resulted in the torching of the local BJP office in Leh and several government vehicles.
“Sonam Wangchuk has had a history of instigating. He has referred to the Arab Spring, Nepal and Bangladesh. The investigation into his funding is going on for FCRA violation,” DGP Jamwal said.
