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A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday rejected absconding diamond merchant Mehul Choksi's application seeking to intervene in an application filed by the ICICI Bank for the release of certain mortgaged properties worth Rs 636 crore. Mehul Choksi, an accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, is currently living in Antigua in Barbados. The ICICI Bank has sought release of certain properties mortgaged with it. His intervention application took objection to the release of his flats in south Mumbai and a bungalow in Alibaug, attached by the Enforcement Directorate during its probe, in the bank's favour. But special judge for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases SM Menjoge said the bank had not sought these properties. The properties which the ICICI Bank was seeking were not owned by Choksi personally but by different companies, hence, he had no right to intervene, the court said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorat...

On Wednesday morning, Datta Dalvi, the ex-Mayor of Mumbai and leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), was apprehended on charges of employing offensive language and making inappropriate comments directed at CM Eknath Shinde during a public gathering on Monday. Law enforcement confirmed Dalvi's arrest on Wednesday and subsequently presented him before the local court, where he was remanded to judicial custody until December 12. According to the complaint, Dalvi allegedly used foul language against CM Shinde at a gathering of Sena’s (UBT) Konkan office-bearers.

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest Litigation seeking a ban on the use of loudspeakers for 'azaan' or the Islamic call to prayer at mosques, terming the plea as "wholly misconceived." A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P Mayee also asked, during the hearing, if it was the petitioner's case that the noise of bells and gongs during 'aarti' at a temple is not heard outside. The petition, filed by Bajrang Dal leader Shaktisinh Zala, claimed that "noise pollution" caused by 'azaan' when played through loudspeakers affects people's, especially children's health and causes inconvenience otherwise. However, the High Court noted that the claims in the petition had no scientific foundation. Azaan is conducted for a maximum of ten minutes at a time at different hours of the day, the court pointed out. "We fail to understand how the human voice making azan through loudspeak...

A 23-year-old animal keeper was mauled to death by a Himalayan black bear in the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (Vizag Zoo) on Monday. B Nagesh Babu was attacked by Jihwan, the bear, estimated to be around 15 years old, an official said. "Nagesh had left all the doors open in the animal night house and gone inside to clean, following which the animal came into the night house and attacked the keeper," said Vizag Zoo curator Nandani Salaria in a release. According to the Zoo, Mr Babu was found lying in an unconscious state with serious injuries on his head, left arm, and chest by the animal night house. Following the attack, the zoo officials managed to lure the beast back into its enclosure using honey. The Forest Department declared a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Babu's family.  (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Two drones were found near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts on Sunday, a BSF official said. Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted one of the drones near Agwan village in Gurdaspur in the intervening night of November 25 and 26. Subsequently, a joint search operation with the Punjab Police was launched and the China-made quadcopter was found from a field on Sunday. Meanwhile, acting on specific information, the BSF personnel conducted a search operation on the outskirts of CB Chand village in Tarn Taran on Sunday evening and found another quadcopter, the official said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Every party tries to get in touch with Independent candidates with a high probability of winning elections, Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said, adding that communications will be established with them in case of a neck-to-neck fight in the upcoming elections. Speaking to news agency ANI, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said, "Every party will try to get in touch with Independent MLAs who have a high probability of winning seats. BJP will also try this. Those who want to transform their shops into a showroom and then into a government will definitely try to establish contacts. Ashok Gehlot, BJP everyone will try it. If there is a neck-to-neck situation, definitely contact will be established." "If any Independent candidate has done good work, he will definitely win. I have no problem with Independent candidates," he added. Mr Khachariyawas exuded confidence that Congress will sweep victory from the Civil Lines Assembly constituency and form the governme...

Stone pelting and a scuffle at a voting booth were reported in Sikar, Rajasthan during the assembly elections. Police clarified that there was no hindrance to voting and urged people to come out and vote. Heavy police deployment was made in the affected areas. Ramprasad, DSP Fatehpur, stated that strict action will be taken against those involved in the clashes. The incident took place away from the polling booth, ensuring no disruption to the voting process.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Saturday emphasised the necessity of deregulating unnecessary controls in the space sector to foster improved growth. He also attributed India's significant progress in the space industry to the opening up of the sector. Speaking to media here during the celebration of 60 years since India's first sounded rocket launch, Somanath highlighted that the involvement of the private sector in space science development has led to remarkable expansion in India's satellite-building capabilities. "Earlier, it was only ISRO for the development and production of satellites, launch vehicles, and related technologies. ISRO has only 17,000 people and a budget of Rs 13,000 crore. It remained so for all these years," S Somanath said. He said that India now has more than 130 startups in the space sector, with some companies boasting a workforce of 400 to 500 employees and a turnover ranging from Rs 500 to 1000 crores. "Some of them are paying be...

A retired officer of the Indian Army was allegedly duped of over Rs 3 lakh by a travel agent in Gurugram, police said on Friday. The travel agent made the booking for Mauritius after taking Rs 3,68,500 online from the retired officer, but later cancelled the booking and got the refund fraudulently, they said. Major (Retd) Naresh Kumar Mawa, a resident of Sector 23 in Gurugram, in his complaint, said that he had to go to meet his son, who is pursuing a medical course in Mauritius, and contacted a travel agent named Krishan Kant Sharma, a resident of Rajasthan's Jaipur, police said. "I had made a total payment of Rs 3,68,500 to the travel agent through UPI payments in parts, but the agent cancelled the tickets after booking them including total stay without informing me and made a fraud of this amount. He switched off his phone and is not reachable," Major (Retd) Mawa said in his complaint. An FIR was registered against the travel agent following the complaint under sec...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said for the first time in the 'Amritkaal' of India's independence, the country has come out of the mentality of slavery and is moving ahead with the feeling of pride for its heritage. He was addressing the 'Mirabai Janmotsav', organised here to celebrate the 525th birth anniversary of the poet and Lord Krishna devotee. "Today for the first time in the 'Amritkaal' of India's independence, the country has come out of the mentality of slavery, PM Modi said. "We have taken the pledge of 'Panch Pran' from the Red Fort. We are moving ahead with the feeling of pride for our heritage," he said. Mentioning Mirabai, he said, "Our country has always been the one that worships women power". PM Modi also released a commemorative stamp and coin in the honour of Mirabai and attend a cultural programme, in which Hema Malini performed. Before attending the event, the prime minister paid obeis...

US authorities have reportedly foiled a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, prompting a warning to India. An indictment has been filed against at least one alleged perpetrator in a New York court, but it remains sealed. US officials have said that they expect those responsible to be held accountable, while India has expressed surprise and concern over the allegations.

The Delhi Police has arrested a man who allegedly duped scores of people across the country by creating fake websites of e-commerce platforms and posting lucrative offers on groceries and other household items, officials said on Wednesday. The arrested accused, identified as Shahrukh Akhtar, was the kingpin of the entire network, police claimed in a statement. A complainant claimed that while he was surfing social media platforms, he came across an advertisement of lucrative offers. He clicked the link and followed the directions eventually losing Rs 98,000 from his credit card, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO, special cell) Hemant Tiwari said. Police said the money trail and digital footprints were investigated. It was found that the racket was spread across many states and operated in multiple tiers, he said. Financial analysis revealed that there are transactions worth more than Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and more than 15 people have been duped by the gang, police said. Two a...

The Karnataka government on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Rajneesh Goel as the next Chief Secretary, with incumbent Vandita Sharma due to retire at the end of November. Mr Goel, a 1986-batch IAS officer, is currently the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) in the Home Department of the Government of Karnataka. In May this year, after the Congress government came to power, he was given concurrent charge of the post of ACS to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "Dr Rajneesh Goel IAS, (KA:1986), Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department, Government of Karnataka is appointed as Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka" as the incumbent "Smt. Vandita Sharma IAS is retiring from service on superannuation on 30.11.2023," an official notification said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made another arrest in a case involving Pakistan-backed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The arrested individual, identified as Zakir Hussain, was involved in collecting and transporting weapons dropped by drones for terrorists in Kashmir. This is the eighth arrest in the case, with two suspects still on the run. The NIA is continuing its investigation to uncover the larger conspiracy of Pakistan-backed terrorist groups planning attacks in Kashmir and India.

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday held that a high court or sessions court can grant anticipatory bail for a limited period to a person apprehending arrest in connection with an FIR registered outside their territorial jurisdiction, saying it was necessary to protect a citizen's right to life, personal liberty and dignity. The top court in its order, having wide ramifications in criminal matters where accused apprehend arrests in cases lodged in other states, laid down several conditions for grant of such a relief. “We are of the view that considering the constitutional imperative of protecting a citizen's right to life, personal liberty and dignity, the High Court or the Court of Session could grant limited anticipatory bail in the form of an interim protection under Section 438 of CrPC in the interest of justice with respect to an FIR registered outside the territorial jurisdiction of the said court,” a bench comprising justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal ...

Anjali Damania, an anti-corruption activist, has given a deadline to Chhagan Bhujbal, the food and civil supplies minister, and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal, to settle the dues owed to a widow whose property they allegedly grabbed. Damania stated that if the dues are not paid, they will hold a peaceful vigil outside the building. Sameer Bhujbal had agreed to pay the family Rs 8.5 crores after the intervention of an NCP leader, but Damania insists that the entire sum should be paid upfront.

A 35-year-old tuskless elephant was found dead while patrolling at Anamalai Reserve Forest in Tamil Nadu's Nagamalai at around 3 pm. The patrolling team found the carcass of the elephant. The veterinary doctor has been informed and a post-mortem examination has been scheduled. The elephant was monitored with the help of its collar ID. It appeared that the elephant slipped down from a rocky cliff and died. Earlier on Friday, a male wild elephant was electrocuted and found dead in the Gudalur area of Nilgiris district. The carcass of the elephant was discovered by forest officials. As per reports from Rajesh Kumar, a veterinary assistant surgeon, the elephant died due to electrocution. According to Forest Range Officer, Gudalur Division, the elephant died after it came into contact with an electric board line installed in the area. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Hyderabad police have frozen a sum of Rs 8 crore that was transferred online from a bank account of Visaka Industries to a security service provider. The transaction was flagged due to its high value, in light of the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls. The police visited the bank's branch, enquired about the transaction, and froze the amount. Further investigation will be carried out to determine the legality of the transaction.

The Centre on Saturday removed stringent curbs, including a ban on construction work related to linear projects and the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi, following an improvement in air quality due to an increase in the wind speed and a change in the wind direction. These measures constitute the final stage, Stage IV, of the Centre's air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, asked Delhi and NCR states to revoke all emergency measures, under which only CNG, electric and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states are allowed to enter Delhi, with exemptions granted to those involved in essential services. All medium and heavy goods vehicles not engaged in essential services were also banned in the capital under Stage IV of GRAP, according to the latest CAQM orde...

A 16-year-old girl allegedly hanged herself in her house in Ghaziabad, police said on Friday. The police have booked a man for alleged abetment to suicide in the case, they added. Neha was found hanging from her room's ceiling fan at her house in the Sudama Puri area here on Thursday, they added. An FIR has been lodged in this connection by her father Kushamvir at Wave City police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Vivek Chandra Yadav said. Neha's father alleged that he was informed by his neighbour that a man named Lucky came to his house when his daughter was alone, Mr Yadav said. He also accused Lucky of allegedly abetting the suicide of his daughter, he added. The DCP said the girl had called the man in the absence of her family members. One of the neighbours informed Neha's father after he spotted her with Lucky around 11 am on Thursday. When Neha's father and brother reached home, they saw the man trying to escape from the terrace. They caught h...

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Thursday claimed that the BJP will be ousted from power in the assembly elections being held in five states. Of the states where polling will be held on Friday, the BJP is the ruling party only in Madhya Pradesh. "Wherever the BJP is in power, you will see a non-BJP chief minister after the elections," Sharad Pawar said, speaking to reporters at Solapur in Maharashtra. Besides Madhya Pradesh, assembly elections are being held in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Sharad Pawar also remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was campaigning with the wrong approach in these elections. "His party's confidence level has gone down and the people will not fall for their false promises any longer," the NCP chief added. On Amalner MLA Anil Patil's statement that Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will come together again after the coming winter session of the...

It was a dream come true for at least five Indians living in cities across the UAE when they either won weekly draws or lotteries, the latest one being a control room operator who won a whopping Rs 45 crore. Indians, most of them coming from the middle class or lower middle class, have been participating in large numbers in these lotteries, and a significant number of them have won big money over the last few years. The control room operator in the oil and gas industry was identified as Sreeju, who won the Dh 20,000,000 (approximately Rs 45 crore) Mahzooz Saturday Millions, according to the announcement of the 154th draw held on Wednesday. Hailing from Kerala, Sreeju, 39, has been living and working in Fujairah, about 120 kilometers east of Dubai, for the past 11 years. After the news of his incredible win reached him while he was at work, he said he was "speechless, shocked, and surprised" to know that he had won not just a prize but the top prize. "I was in my car a...

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the UK during his meetings with the country's top leaders, stressing that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech. Mr Jaishankar concluded his five-day visit to the UK on Wednesday, which he described as "timely" after a series of cross-party engagements amid "substantial progress" on the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations. During his meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Jaishankar conveyed best wishes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Rishi Sunak and Mr Jaishankar expressed satisfaction at positive momentum in enhancing the India-UK relationship as an important factor in addressing contemporary challenges. They also reviewed implementation of Roadmap 2030 and discussed ongoing negotiations for a India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a ...

Lahore is keeping an eye on elections in Rajasthan and Tonk, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, who recently courted controversy over his derogatory remarks in Parliament against BSP MP Danish Ali, said at a meeting of party workers. "We will have to see whether laddus will be distributed in the country or in Lahore after the elections on the 25th... The enemy sitting outside the country is keeping an eye on this election. It is a question of our identity," Mr Bidhuri said while addressing a youth workers' meeting organised by BJP candidate in Tonk Ajit Mehta on Tuesday night. A video purportedly of Mr Bidhuri's remarks at the meeting appeared on social media on Thursday. Sitting Congress MLA and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is contesting from Tonk, which has a sizeable population of Muslim voters. "The whole country is eagerly watching this election. Not just the country, Lahore is keeping an eye on elections in Rajasthan and Tonk. Who gives shelter to PFI p...

Three drones and a 500-gram packet of heroin were seized near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts, a BSF official said on Wednesday. Border Security Force (BSF) troops carrying out an area domination exercise ahead of the border fencing on Wednesday observed some suspicious items lying in a field near the Roranwala Khurd village in Amritsar. During a search operation, they seized a drone and a packet of heroin, weighing 500 grams, the official said. In another incident, a joint operation by the BSF and the Punjab Police on the outskirts of Kalash Havelian village in Tarn Taran led to the seizure of a China-made drone, the official said. In the third incident, BSF troops intercepted a drone on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in Tarn Taran. During the joint search operation with the police, the BSF troops recovered the damaged drone from a field in the district's Mianwali village, the official added. (Except for the headlin...

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani will host a show for Akashvani celebrating the incredible tales of empowerment of women with the aid of initiatives of the Government, and their role in shaping the lives of women in India, government said in a release on Tuesday. As per the release, the stories celebrate the success of women in diverse fields including entrepreneurship, skill development, sports, health and finance. The weekly one-hour show 'Nai Soch Nai Kahani--A Radio Journey with Smriti Irani' will be broadcast on India's largest broadcaster Akashvani every Wednesday from 9 AM to 10 AM. The first show will be aired on November 15, Thursday, on Akashvani Gold 100.1 MHz in Delhi. It will also be aired by the Akashvani stations across the country. The show will be available on the NewsOnAIR app, on Akashvani website www.newsonair.gov.in, on the Akashvani YouTube channel @airnewsofficial and on its various social media platforms. The first show ...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on Tuesday evening, officials said. The roadshow is scheduled to begin from the Birsa Munda Airport soon after his arrival here around 8 pm and culminate at the Raj Bhavan around 9:30 pm, a distance of 10 km, they added. As per Ranchi police traffic advisory, movement of vehicles has been restricted from 8 pm to 10:30 pm from Birsa Munda Airport to Raj Bhavan via Hinoo Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Satellite Chowk, Argora Chowk and New Market Chowk on November 14 in view of the Prime Minister's visit. After an overnight stay at Raj Bhavan, the PM will head to Ulihatu, the birthplace of Birsa Munda around 9:30 am on November 15, the birthday of the tribal leader. The day is also celebrated as Jharkhand Statehood Day and Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. Prior to his journey to Ulihatu, about 65 km from here, the PM will visit the Birsa Munda Museum at Jail Chowk at 8:15 am, officials added. After Ulihatu, PM Modi wi...

The state employment exchange in Tamil Nadu is becoming increasingly irrelevant as government agencies rely more on competitive exams for recruitment. The number of people registered with the exchange has decreased from 81.3 lakh in March 2017 to 64 lakh. The exchange has been used for recruitment in posts not covered by the Tamil Nadu public service commission since 1971, but a court ruling in 2013 deemed the selection process through the exchange as invalid. With the rise of exclusive recruitment boards and career opportunities in the private sector, employment exchanges are losing their significance.

Tripura's 107 km-long boundary with Mizoram is a cause of concern for law enforcement agencies as most of the drugs from Myanmar enter the state through that border. Vigil has been stepped up along the border between the two northeastern neighbours to prevent drug trafficking, said Bhanupada Chakraborty, Superintendent of Police of North Tripura district, which shares the boundary with Mizoram. "Law enforcement agencies are working hard to curb drug trafficking but smuggling of drugs especially heroin continues along the inter-state border," Mr Chakraborty told PTI on Monday. Chief Minister Manik Saha has declared a war against increasing drug trafficking and law enforcement agencies have adopted a zero-tolerance policy to curb the drug menace. Till August 2023, a total of 746 people were booked in connection with 445 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases and contraband items including heroin amounting to Rs 91.84 crore was seized during the period, ...

A portion of an under-construction tunnel of the Char Dham all-weather highway project collapsed in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Around 40 laborers are feared trapped inside. Rescue teams are working to reach them and provide oxygen and food supply. The tunnel, part of the project to widen roads connecting four Himalayan shrines, is one of the longest tunnels and will reduce the distance between Uttarkashi and Yamunotri by 26km. The collapse occurred near the Silkayara side of the tunnel, but there is a safe space between the landslide area and the tunnel's dead-end.

The number of international outbound departures by Indian residents is expected to grow to over 50 million in 2030, which is more than double of what it was in 2022 - about 18 million, predicts Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India in their latest 'India Outbound Travel in FY2030' report. For the study and forecasts, CAPA India conducted in-depth research with 250 respondents, supported by 100 detailed, qualitative discussions, and rigorous analysis of tourism and traffic data. Indian Travelers: The Outward-Bound Surge The number of Indians taking on to travel overseas has been seeing year-on-year rise from 1995. According to the data from World Tourism Organisation, the numbers went from three lakhs in 1995 to 2.6 crore in 2019. The CAPA India report's projection of 50 million outbound Indian travellers by 2030 mirrors the nation's growing appetite for international travel and the economic clout of Indian tourists abroad. Inbound Tourism: The Global Fo...

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel on Friday met Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The meeting took place amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra over the demand for reservation by the Maratha community and the hearing before the Election Commission on the claim over the NCP. "Had a meaningful meeting with Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji in Delhi, extending warm Diwali wishes. Grateful for the opportunity to pay a courtesy call and share festive joy," NCP working president Patel said on 'X'. Mr Pawar was accompanied by Mr Patel and Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare for the meeting. In June, Mr Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra with support of more than 40 of the NCP's total 53 MLAs and leaving his uncle and founder of the regional outfit Sharad Pawar. Ajit Pawar has since staked his claim to the party's name and election symbol, a case which is being heard by the Ele...

The Earth experienced its hottest year-long period in recorded history with global temperatures setting a new 12-month record, exceeding 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from November 2022 through October 2023, according to a new analysis of international data released on Thursday. This is the hottest year-long period in recorded history due to human-caused climate change that influenced heat over the last 12 months in 175 countries and 920 cities. In India, 86 per cent of the population (1.2 billion) residents were exposed to at least 30 days of above-average temperatures made at least three times more likely by the influence of climate change, or level-three on Climate Central's Climate Shift Index (CSI). CSI, developed by Climate Central (an independent US-based group of scientists and communicators), is a tool that quantifies the contribution of climate change to daily temperatures. The Climate Central analysis released Thursday showed that average temperatur...

More than 2,000 farm fires were reported from Punjab on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court issued directions to ensure stopping of crop residue burning "forthwith". Sangrur district, the birthplace of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, recorded the maximum number of stubble burning incidents in the state on Wednesday. Many parts in Haryana saw air quality indices in the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories. The total number of farm fires jumped to 22,981 in Punjab with 2,003 fresh such cases being reported on Wednesday, according to Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data. Out of the 2,003 stubble burning incidents, Sangrur continued to top with 466 such cases, followed by 221 in Bathinda, 216 in Barnala, 150 in Faridkot, 131 in Mansa, 106 in Patiala, 103 in Ferozepur and 96 in Ludhiana, according to the data. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday asked the police officers to work in tandem with the civil administration to prevent stubble b...

Former Jammu and Kashmir minister Lal Singh was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate, shortly after an anti-corruption court rejected his request for anticipatory bail in a money laundering case. This case, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), pertains to an educational trust administered by his wife and former legislator, Kanta Andotra, according to officials. The Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP) chairman was arrested from Chawadi area of Sainik Colony, an official said.

Punjab reported over 1,500 stubble-burning incidents today while many parts of Haryana saw air quality indices in the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories. The total number of farm fires increased to 20,978 with 1,515 such cases being reported today, according to the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data. Of the 1,515 stubble-burning incidents, Sangrur continued to top with 397 such cases, followed by 147 in Barnala, 137 in Mansa, 129 in Bathinda, 97 in Ferozepur, 93 in Moga, and 86 in Ludhiana. On the same day in 2021 and 2022, the state saw 5,199 and 2,487 active fires, respectively. Out of the 20,978 farm fires recorded from September 15 till November 7, Sangrur is leading with maximum stubble burning cases of 3,604, followed by 2,073 in Ferozepur, 1,847 in Tarn Taran, 1,588 in Mansa, 1,444 in Amritsar, 1,418 in Patiala and 1,215 in Bathinda. Meanwhile, Haryana's Fatehabad recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 421, followed by Hisar at 403, Jind a...

A 26-year-old man, who has studied till class 10 and working as a tailor in a Surat-based textile unit, has been arrested for allegedly posing as an IPS officer, police said on Monday. As per the preliminary investigation, the impersonator Mohammad Sarmaj Alam, a native of Bihar, is fond of roaming in public places in police uniform to impress people, said DCP Bhagirath Gadhavi. Alam used to visit shops and loved to get clicked in the police uniform. He claimed to be inspired by some TV serials like Crime Patrol, he said. Based on a specific tip that a man posing as a police officer was asking vehicles to stop on a road in Udhna area of the city, police personnel rushed to the spot and nabbed Alam, who was wearing a khaki uniform and the shoulder badges worn by IPS officers, said Gadhavi. "Police found a toy walkie-talkie set, a pistol-shaped cigarette lighter, a badge of Andhra Pradesh Police and another police uniform from his bag. Alam is a native of Bihar and studied till ...

The Gurugram administration has ordered suspension of classes from nursery to class five till further orders to protect school children from rising pollution in NCR. Faridabad's Deputy Commissioner Vikram Singh has also ordered closure of schools till October 12 for children from class one to five from Tuesday. The AQI in the district has been "extremely dangerous" for last one week. It reached 412 on Monday while the industrial district was ranked fifth among the most polluted cities in the country. Gurugram District Disaster Management Authority Chairman and DC Nishant Kumar Yadav issued the order in this regard on Monday. Schools have been ordered to continue online studies so that the education of students is not disrupted. The order will be applicable for all private and government educational institutions of the district from November 7 and will remain effective till further orders. Mr Yadav said that due to the continuous increase in the air quality index, the...

An Indian-origin Canadian woman has accused Air Canada of negligence that caused her 83-year-old father's death during a flight from Delhi to Montreal, according to a media report on Monday. Shanu Pande, a resident of Ontario, along with her father Harish Pant left Delhi for Canada in September on an Air Canada flight. Seven hours later, when the long-haul flight was over Europe, Pant developed severe medical symptoms: chest pain, back pain, vomiting, loss of bowel control and the inability to stand up, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported. Subsequently, Shanu Pande pleaded with the cabin crew of the flag carrier to divert the plane and land in order to get her father to a hospital. However, the flight stayed on course for nine more hours, travelling over Ireland, across the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Canada before landing in Montreal, where paramedics were waiting. But Pant died as they worked on him. The flight time from Delhi to Montreal is nearly 17 hours ...

A "simple touch" cannot be considered "manipulation" of a minor's body to cause penetration and attract the offence of penetrative sexual assault under the POCSO Act, the Delhi High Court said. Justice Amit Bansal said "touch" was a separate offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as he refused to uphold the conviction of a man for "aggravated penetrative sexual assault" for touching the private parts of a six-year-old girl his brother, a tuition teacher, taught The judge, however, refused to interfere with the conviction and five-year jail term awarded to the man for the offence of "aggravated sexual assault" under the law. "A perusal of Section 3(c) of the POCSO Act shows that for an act to be a penetrative sexual assault, the accused has to manipulate any part of the body of the child to cause penetration," said the court while dealing with the convict's appeal against a trial co...

In a fresh attack on Congress, its ally I.N.D.I.A. ally, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused it of being a "cunning" party, accused it of "betraying" him, and urged the people to not vote for its leaders in the upcoming elections. "Do not vote for the Congress. It is a very cunning party. It is now being supportive of the caste census for the sake of votes. If It has betrayed us, how come the public is significant for it," Akhilesh Yadav said at a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Jatara constituency. Akhilesh Yadav also said that by the time the general election of 2024 approaches, the BJP will also come in support of caste-based census because it's the demand of voters. While addressing the public rally, the SP chief also targeted the present government of Madhya Pradesh over poor infrastructure and women's safety. Responding to PM Modi's free ration scheme, Mr Yadav said, "If you are getting nothing as ration, then why w...

Every time Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga holds street corner meetings for his party the Mizo National Front (MNF), he brings up the ethnic unrest in neighbouring Manipur. Zoramthanga, 79, has been holding such meetings at village Sihphir on the outskirts of the state capital Aizawl. This area falls under his Aizawl East 1 constituency. The three-time Chief Minister has not only sheltered thousands of internally displaced Chin-Kuki tribes from Manipur, but has also taken a stand against the BJP government in Manipur led by his counterpart N Biren Singh. Though the MNF is an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Zoramthanga - citing kinship and familial ties with the Chin-Kuki tribes in Myanmar - has openly given shelter to at least 40,000 refugees who fled from the junta rule in the neighbouring nation. "We are not a partner with the BJP in the election. We are only a member of the NDA in the centre, not in the state. The government of India told me to push back ...

Judges must retire so the succeeding generations point out errors of the past and rejig legal principles for society to evolve, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on Saturday. Sharing his perspective on the retirement age of judges at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here, Justice Chandrachud said while the American constitution has no age of retirement for judges, in India, judges retire after a particular age. The CJI said it would be "too much of a responsibility" cast on human beings in terms of their own infallibility by postulating that they should not retire from office. "We have followed a model where judges retire. But as someone who has been in the system for 23 years as a judge, I have a different take. In a sense, it is important that judges must retire because it is too much of a responsibility to cast on a human being in terms of their own infallibility by postulating that they should not retire from their office," he said.  "Judges are h...

The Enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold, liquor and freebies worth over Rs 480 crore in Telangana till Saturday after the model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 9. A total of over Rs 170.7 crore in cash, 281.3 kg gold, 1,167 kg silver, and other valuables all worth over Rs 175.3 crore, besides liquor worth over Rs 55.7 crore, ganja valued at Rs 27.8 crore and other items/freebies worth Rs 50 crore were seized, according to a statement issued by the office of the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). From October 9 (when the schedule for the Telangana assembly elections was announced) till November 4, the total cumulative seizure by law enforcement agencies is valued at over Rs 480 crore, it said. The state goes to the polls on November 30. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Coming down heavily on the Centre over the ED summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning in connection with the liquor 'scam' case, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said the AAP convenor picked up the 'broom', which is the party's official symbol, to sweep the 'filth' from politics. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Punjab Chief Minister said, "Arvind Kejriwal picked up the broom to sweep the filth from politics. I understand that the BJP has received an intelligence report saying that Kejriwal will be arrested (by the ED). The BJP wants to put him away behind bars as wherever he goes, the mess that they have left behind is cleansed." "They (BJP-led Centre) want to stop us. They can arrest Kejriwal but can they stop lakhs of people who have made him their leader for 10 years? AAP is the only party which has prioritised the welfare and well-being of the common man," Mr Mann said. Meanwhile,...

The Congress party has approved the appointment of Lok Sabha Observers for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The elections will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed confidence that his party would come out victorious in the polls, stating that the public wants to vote for the Congress party. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, calling him a 'pre-paid CM' of Congress. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The BJP has released its third list of candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections, including nominees against CM Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot. The party has also announced candidates for the Telangana state polls, excluding two MPs who previously contested unsuccessfully. The BJP has fielded candidates for 182 of the 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan so far. In Telangana, the party has released 88 names for the 119-seat assembly.

Air India is being investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for using a Boeing 777 with insufficient emergency oxygen on a recent Delhi-US nonstop flight. The pilot refused to operate the aircraft due to the oversight, and the DGCA has requested information from the airline. Most aircraft have enough oxygen for 12-15 minutes per passenger, but planes flying over high mountains, such as the Hindu Kush range, need extra oxygen for 25-30 minutes.

Four people, including three women, were killed while seven suffered injuries when a pick-up van they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Wednesday evening, police said. The vehicle, travelling from Lagdhar to Kotli, had 11 occupants at the time of the accident, they said. Police said the driver lost control over the vehicle near Ghanyara in Kotli, about 26 km from Mandi, adding that the accident took place when they were returning after attending a marriage function. Three of the dead people were identified as Chinta Devi, Chandra Devi and Mast Ram while one woman is yet to be identified, police said, adding the injured have been referred to Mandi's Zonal Hospital. Mandi Assistant Superintendent of Police Sagar Chand said a case of negligent driving, causing hurt and death by negligence has been registered against the vehicle driver under sections 279, 337, 338 and 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigation into th...