Mumbai: In a recent development, Aurangabad man held for digital arrest claims to be victim himself

Battle for prestige: Kutumba set for three-cornered fight in assembly poll

Kutumba constituency in Aurangabad is a prestige battleground for Congress, with state president Rajesh Kumar aiming for a hat-trick. He faces a strong challenge from Lalan Ram of HAM(S), a former winner, and Jan Suraaj's Shyam Bali Ram. The NDA's backing of Lalan Ram intensifies the three-cornered fight for this key seat.

Man held for impersonating IPS officer in Aurangabad

Aurangabad police have arrested a man impersonating an IPS officer to defraud citizens. The suspect, identified as Ashish Kumar, was apprehended at a college after posing as a trainee officer and using abusive language. Investigations revealed he had previously impersonated an Air Chief Marshal and served jail time for a similar offense.

Three buses gutted in Aurangabad, none injured

Three buses were engulfed in flames late Tuesday night at a Daudnagar petrol pump in Aurangabad. Swift intervention by locals and firefighters prevented the fire from reaching nearby fuel tanks, averting a major disaster. While two buses were completely destroyed and one extensively damaged, no injuries were reported.

Aurangabad Railway Station renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Railway Station

The move comes three years after Aurangabad city was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Homecoming Vote: Migrant workers returning for Chhath puja could decide Bihar polls

NEW DELHI: With nearly 70 lakh Bihari migrant workers returning home for the Chhath festival on October 2728, just a week before the first phase of Bihar Assembly polls, political experts expect a surge in voter turnout across the state's 243 constituencies. The Assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting and results scheduled for November 14. According to estimates, around 2.5 to 3.1 crore Biharis work outside the state, including 8090 lakh who migrate annually for work as labourers, masons, mechanics, and other trades. The migrant workers coming home, mostly labourers and employees working in factories, construction sites, and offices across India, are being considered a decisive voter bloc. Many of them are likely to stay back and vote, especially in districts that recorded low polling in 2020. Both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan (opposition grand alliance) are urging migrant workers to stay back and vote, portraying it as a duty to ensure a better future for Bihar. The majority of those who come (for the festival) belong to Scheduled Castes and marginalised communities whose families benefit from government welfare schemes. Their womenfolk will certainly think of the NDA, not the RJD, claimed a BJP leader. However, RJD leaders disagreed, claiming that the migrant workers facing hardship in other BJP-ruled states would not vote for the NDA in Bihar. Those who face hardship outside Bihar due to unemployment and poor development under NDA rule will never vote for the NDA, said a senior RJD functionary. Those who feel humiliated or exploited in other states are less likely to vote for parties aligned with those governments, admitted a senior NDA leader, requesting anonymity. The NDA leader, however hoped that rust in Modi and the work done by Nitish Kumar may convince the migrant workers to back the JDU-led alliance. While the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan has made joblessness a central campaign issue, the ruling NDA has highlighted job creation and social welfare to counter the attack. Both camps are actively reaching out to returning migrants through local networks, community meetings, and WhatsApp groups. Districts such as Purnia, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Saharsa, Sitamarhi, Gaya, Jehanabad, Saran, Motihari, Jamui, Nawada, and Aurangabad all major hubs of outmigration are expected to see higher participation this time. Poll analysts believe the Kosi region, plagued by recurrent floods and high migration, could witness a sharp rise in voting, with nearly half of the returnees expected to stay through election day. Similar trends are anticipated in the Tirhut and Purnia divisions, depending on migrants ability to sustain themselves economically after Chhath. Waqf Act will be thrown into dustbin if INDIA bloc voted to power in Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav JD(U) expels 11 leaders for anti-party activities in poll-bound Bihar

Bihar polls fight between Vikaas and Vinaash: Nadda

AURANGABAD (Bihar), Oct 23: BJP chief J P Nadda on Thursday said that the assembly elections in Bihar will be a fight between Vikaas (development) of the NDA and Vinaash (destruction) of the INDIA bloc. Addressing a rally in Aurangabad district, Nadda lashed out at the Congress, accusing it of being a parasitic party that finishes off its junior alliance partners. The senior BJP leader attacked the RJD, saying the Lalu Prasad-led party stands for Rangdari (extortion), Jungle raj (anarchy) [] The post Bihar polls fight between Vikaas and Vinaash: Nadda appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Bihar elections will be a fight between `Vikas` and `Vinaash`, says Nadda

BJP chief JP Nadda, during a rally in Bihars Aurangabad, said the upcoming assembly elections will be a battle between NDAs Vikas and INDIA blocs Vinaash. Nadda attacked Congress and RJD, accusing them of corruption and chaos, while hailing NDAs focus on development and stability

Ticket shake-up alters political scene in Aurangabad

Aurangabad district is a political flashpoint for the 2025 assembly elections as both RJD and NDA have replaced several familiar faces with new contenders. The RJD dropped three sitting MLAs, signaling a generational change, while the NDA also made sweeping changes across constituencies. These significant shifts have set the stage for an unpredictable electoral contest.

Main accused, suspended policeman among three arrested in Ranchi restaurant owner murder case

RANCHI: Jharkhand Police arrested three persons, including the main accused and a suspended policeman, in connection with the murder of a restaurant owner in Ranchi , an officer said on Monday. One accused, identified as Prashant Kumar Singh, was arrested on Sunday, and based on inputs provided by him, the main accused and the suspended policeman were nabbed after an encounter with the police . Acting on a tip-off that the main accused, Abhishek Singh, was attempting to flee from Ranchi with his family, police set up checkpoints at several locations. During the operation, police spotted him and the suspended policeman and surrounded them near the ITBP camp in Kanke police station area on Sunday night, the officer said. Abhishek Singh sustained two gunshot wounds in both his legs during an exchange of fire with police. He is currently being treated at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Superintendent of Police (Rural), Praveen Pushkar said. He said that they also arrested suspended policeman Harendra Singh, who had supplied firearms to Abhishek. We nabbed both after a gun-battle around 10.30 pm on Sunday night in Kanke police station area. They opened fire on the police, and we returned fire, in which Abhishek Singh sustained injuries to his legs, the SP added. The SP said that Harendra Singh had previously been a sepoy in the Jharkhand Police. He has been under suspension for the last five years. Abhishek confessed that Harendra Singh had provided him with a weapon. Harendra has criminal antecedents, and there are three pending cases against him at Argora, Gonda, and Patan in Palamu. The SP said that Abhishek Singh is a resident of Bihar's Aurangabad and also has criminal antecedents. He said that the police have lodged FIRs at Kanke and Pithoria police stations against four accused, of whom three have been arrested and a manhunt has been launched for the fourth person, identified as Amit Thakur. We seized four pistols, 31 cartridges, and a rifle, Rs 2 lakh in cash, two four-wheelers, and four mobile phones from their possession. Our investigation is underway into the case, he said. A restaurant owner, identified as Vijay Kumar Nag (47), was shot dead after a vegetarian customer was allegedly served non-veg biryani in Ranchi on Saturday night.

Air India announces 174 weekly flights as part of Northern Winter Schedule

NEW DELHI: Air India has announced the addition of 174 weekly flights on key domestic and short-haul international routes, operated by its single-aisle aircraft, as part of the Northern Winter Schedule.The domestic additions are effective from October 26. This expansion enhances connectivity to major cities in India and Southeast Asia which are in high demand. An official release listed additions to these international routes:Delhi-Kuala Lumpur:Increasing from seven to 10 weekly flights (from November 15) andDelhi-Denpasar (Bali):Increasing from seven to 10 weekly flights (from December 1). These are the additions to domestic routes, all of which are effective from October 26: Flights to Rajasthan: Delhi-Jaipur (new route):three daily flights;Delhi-Jaisalmer (new route):two daily flights;Delhi-Udaipur:Increasing from two to three daily flights;Mumbai-Jaipur:Increasing from three to four daily flights;Mumbai-Udaipur:Increasing from three to four daily flights;Mumbai-Jodhpur:Increasing from one to two daily flights. Flights toMadhya Pradesh: Delhi-Indore:Increasing from three to four daily flights;Delhi-Bhopal:Increasing from two to three daily flights; andMumbai-Indore:Increasing from one to two daily flights. Flights to Gujarat:Mumbai-Bhuj:Increasing from one to two daily flights andDelhi to Rajkot:Increasing from one to two daily flights. Other frequency additions, effective from the same date: Delhi-Varanasi:Increasing from two to threedaily flights;Delhi-Raipur:Increasing from two to three daily flights;Delhi-Port Blair:Increasing from one to two daily flights;Delhi-Aurangabad:Increasing from one to two daily flights;Delhi-Guwahati:Increasing from one to two daily flights;Delhi-Nagpur:Increasing from one to two daily flights;Mumbai-Dehradun:Increasing from one to two daily flights;Mumbai-Patna:Increasing from one to two daily flights andMumbai-Amritsar:Increasing from one to two daily flights.

Aurangabad Railway Station Renamed As Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

The notification was issued on October 15. Interestingly, the renaming process was originally set in motion by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government: A senior government official

Aurangabad Railway Station Renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Maharashtra government issues gazette notification nearly three years after citys renaming

Blood Plasma Loot Gang Busted, 6 Arrested In Bhopal

Police investigation suggested that the gang has so far stolen 1,150 units of FFP from the blood bank of AIIMS, Bhopal, and sold them to two labs in Nashik and Aurangabad in Maharashtra at the rate of Rs 5,800 per unit.

Congress releases first list of candidates for Bihar assembly polls

The Congress released its first official list of 48 candidates for the Bihar Assembly polls on Thursday. The party's Bihar unit president Rajesh Ram has been fielded from the SC-reserved seat of Kutumba. The party had, a day before, started releasing the names of some candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar on the official handle of its Bihar unit. Congress had also posted photos of the candidates receiving their nomination certificates. This comes even as the seat-sharing arrangement between the Mahagathbandhan allies has not been officially finalized yet. In its first list, the party has fielded Bijendra Chaudhary from Muzaffarpur, Om Prakash Garg from Gopalganj, Amita Bhushan from Begusarai, Dr. Shashi Shekhar Singh from Wazirganj. Meanwhile, Kaushelendra Kumar will contest from Nalanda, and Anand Shankar Singh from Aurangabad. Anil Kumar will contest from Bikram, Lalan Kumar from Sultanganj, Amaresh Kumar from Lakhisarai, BK Ravi from Rosda, Shashibhushan Rai alias Gappu Rai from Govindganj, Jitendra Singh from Amarpur, and Shiv Prakash Garib Das from Bachhwara Assembly constituency. Trishuldhari Singh has been fielded from the Barbigha seat. pic.twitter.com/io0WmcA5sG Congress (@INCIndia) October 16, 2025

Cosmo Foundation and Border Security Force (BSF) Join Hands in Expanding Delhi's Green Cover with a 15,000 - Miywaki & Fruit Bearing Forestry

Cosmo Foundation , the community outreach arm of Cosmo First Ltd., in a significant display of its commitment to climate action, has launched a large-scale Miyawaki & Fruit Bearing Forestry plantation drive in collaboration with the 25 Battalion Border Security Force (BSF) at its Chhawla campus in New Delhi. The initiative marks yet another major milestone in creating an extensive green cover within the BSF campus, strengthening Cosmo Foundations continued dedication to environmental sustainability. Cosmo Foundation, 25 Bn BSF plant 15,000 trees Inaugurated by Honble Shri Daljit Singh Chawdhary, IPS, Director General, Border Security Force, through this initiative, Cosmo Foundation aims to plant 15,000 native trees across the campus. To support this, the BSF will be providing the necessary land, water, and resources to ensure the long-term maintenance and growth of the plantation, with Prayas Youth Foundation as the implementation partner. During his address, Mr. Chaudhary highlighted how BSF has grown over the years, and also remembering the contribution of Late Shri Ashwini Kumar, Padma Bhushan, former DG of BSF. Last year, Cosmo Foundation had planted 7,500 saplings of Miyawaki at the same campus and in order to cater to the water requirements, Cosmo had supported with laying of a borewell with piping & sprinkler system. The Border Security Force is deeply committed to the well-being of our nation, and that commitment extends to protecting our environment, said Shri Daljit Singh Chawdhary, IPS, Director General, BSF , speaking on the occasion. We are proud to partner with Cosmo Foundation in this meaningful effort. Planting 15,000 trees here at the Chhawala Campus is not just about adding greeneryits a vital step toward climate resilience and a powerful example of the synergy between national service and corporate social responsibility. We are immensely thankful to Cosmo Foundation for their continued contribution and in making our campus much greener. The event was graced by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Chairman, Board of Trustees Cosmo Foundation and Chairman & Managing Director Cosmo First Ltd., and Mrs. Yamini Jaipuria, Managing Trustee Cosmo Foundation and Whole-time Director Cosmo First Ltd. Senior BSF officials, senior team from Cosmo First Ltd, and Cosmo Foundation, students from BSF School and Jamia Hamdard University, Invitees and the implementation team were also present, contributing to the plantation drive. In their joint statement, Mr. & Mrs. Jaipuria reaffirmed, At Cosmo First, we believe that true industrial progress is measured not only by innovation and productivity but also by the positive footprint we leave on the environment. Our continuous investments in cleaner technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable operations reflect our long-term vision of growth that respects both people and the planet. This plantation drive strengthens that purposeturning intent into action for a greener, more responsible future. This Miyawaki and Fruit Bearing Forestry drive is a part of Cosmo Foundations ongoing environmental mission, which has already resulted in the planting of over 1.6 lakh (1,60,000) trees across 179 acres in Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Notable successes include the creation of a Biodiversity Hub in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), where 40,000 trees have been planted, with plans for an additional 35,000 by FY 2025-26, establishing it as one of Maharashtras largest biodiversity zones. Alongside this, Cosmo Foundations comprehensive environmental work includes maintaining urban green spaces, creating rainwater harvest systems, and conducting plantation drives with schools, BSF, Indian Army, and farmers. All of these are conducted while focusing on native tree plantation, Miyawaki, and agroforestry to improve air quality, support the environment and generate livelihood for farmers. Cosmo Foundation is also actively involved in education, and empowerment related activities contributing to the 3E mission, while also making strides in health, and sanitation initiatives. Over the years, these community led initiatives have demonstrated Cosmo Foundations holistic approach to development and sustainable living while adapting a People First approach. About Cosmo Foundation Established in 2008, Cosmo Foundation is the community outreach initiative of Cosmo First Ltd., working to uplift underdeveloped communities near its operational locations in Karjan (Vadodara District) and Gangapur (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District), as well as in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and the tribal district of Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh). The Foundations programs focus on Education, Environment, and Empowerment, impacting more than 7.5 lakh (750,000) beneficiaries through various initiatives. About Cosmo First Ltd. Established in 1981 and founded by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Cosmo First is a global leader in Specialty films for Packaging, Labelling, Lamination, Industrial & Synthetic Paper (BOPP, BOPET and CPP), Cosmo Speciality Chemicals (Masterbatches, Adhesives, & Coating), Cosmo Plastech (Rigids - IML Containers and Specialty Sheets of PP / PET and HIPS) and Cosmo Sunshield (Window, Privacy and Security Films), along with a digital-first Omni channel Pet care business under the brand name Zigly. Cosmo First is into D2C, B2B2C and B2B businesses and has operations in India, Japan, Korea, Europe and Americas. Visit www.cosmofirst.com for more details.

JD(U) names 44 candidates in second list; completes 101 quota ahead of Bihar elections

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) released its second list of 44 candidates on Thursday, a day after announcing 57 names for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections scheduled from November 6 to 11, completing JD(U)s full list of 101 candidates. The names of the 44 candidates were announced by Chandan Kumar Singh, state general secretary and in-charge of the party headquarters. The second list includes Vibha Devi, wife of Nawada strongman Rajballabh Prasad Yadav, who will contest from the Nawada seat. Another notable candidate is Chetan Anand, son of strongman Anand Mohan, fielded from Nabinagar in Aurangabad district. He had previously won from the Sheohar seat on the ticket of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the 2020 Assembly election and has been rewarded for supporting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the vote of confidence in the Assembly in February last year. Nine women candidates have been fielded, including Shalini Mishra from Kesaria, Meena Kamath from Babubarhi, Sweta Gupta from Sheohar, Sheela Mandal from Phulparas, Lesi Singh from Dhamdaha, Manorama Devi from Belaganj, Sonam Rani Sardar from Triveniganj, and Shagufta Azim from Araria. Bihar elections: Congress begins allotting party symbols, BJP completes list of its 101 candidates Four candidates from the minority community have also been given tickets, including Zaman Khan from Chainpur. Other notable candidates include Mahabali Singh from Karakat, Sumit Kumar Singh from Chakai, Damodar Raut from Jhajha, Nagendra Chandrawanshi from Nokha, Manoj Yadav from Belhar, Shubhanand Mukesh from Kahalgaon, Bulo Mandal from Gopalpur, Dularchand Goswami from Kadwa, Lesi Singh from Dhamdaha, Vijay Singh Nishad from Barari, Dr. Lalit Narain Mandal from Sultanganj, Shambhu Suman from Manihari, Jayant Raj from Amarpur, Manish Kumar from Dhoraiya, Vashishtha Singh from Kargahar, Rituraj Kumar from Ghosi, and Pramod Kumar Singh from Rafiganj. As per the seat-sharing deal, BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, LJP (RV) 29, and HAM and RLM six seats each.

Bihar elections: Congress begins allotting party symbols, BJP completes list of its 101 candidates

PATNA: With barely two days left for filing nomination papers for the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections , political activities have intensified in the state. Congress, a major ally of the Opposition INDIA bloc, has started allotting party symbols to its candidates even as a seat-sharing deal is yet to be formally announced. Congress released its list of 17 candidates , posting the announcement on its official X handle even as seat-sharing arrangements within INDIA bloc remained unresolved. The party has fielded Anand Shanker Singh from Aurangabad, Pratima Das from Rajapakar, Shiv Prakash Garib Das from Bachhawara and Kaushalendra Kumar (Chhote Mukhiya) from Nalanda. Similarly, Om Prakash Garg will contest election from Gopalganj, Jitendra Singh from Amarpur, Amita Bhushan from Begusarai, Lalan Kumar from Sultanganj, Rajesh Kumar from Kutumba, Shashi Sekhar from Warsaliganj, Trishuldhari Singh from Barbigha, Vijendra Choudhary from Muzaffarpur. In addition, Shashi Bhushan Rai has been fielded from Govindganj, Anil Kumar from Bikram, and B K Ravi from Rosera assembly seats. Sources said that more names would be cleared after consultation with leaders of the INDIA bloc. The Congress Central Election Committee (CCEC) had approved candidates for 43 seats. The sub-committee, headed by Ajay Makan, is said to have cleared the names of eight more candidates on Wednesday. BJP releases first list of 71 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections In the ruling NDA camp, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released names of all 101 candidates. The third list of 18 candidates were released late on Wednesday. According to the list, Bina Devi will contest from Kochadhaman, Sangita Kumari from Mohania, Sanjay Pandey from Narkatiaganj, Satish Kumar Yadav from Raghopur and Bharat Bind from Bhabua. Murari Paswan will join the fray from Pirpainti and Ashok Kumar Singh from Ramgarh. Earlier the party has released second list of 12 candidates, including folk singer Maithili Thakur from Alinagar and former IPS officer Anand Mishra from Buxar. With this, the BJP has announced candidates for all 101 seats. NDAs ally--Janata Dal (United) has released its first list of 57 candidates. Senior leaders like Umesh Kushwaha and Vijendra Prasad Yadav have already filed their nominations from the Mahnar and Supaul seats. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary is expected to file his nomination papers from Sarairanjan on Thursday. Under the seat-sharing pact within NDA, BJP and JD(U) will contest 101 seats each, LJP(RV) 29, HAM and RLM six seats each. Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes will take place on November 14. The total number of voters stands at 7.42 crore, down from 7.89 crore in June this year. BJP conspiring to impose President's rule in Bihar after assembly elections, claims RJD leader Tejashwi

Congress starts announcing Bihar poll candidates amid seat-sharing deadlock

The Congress party late Wednesday night unilaterally began announcing its candidates for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, even as negotiations with its key Mahagathbandhan ally, the RJD, remain unresolved. The party's Bihar unit began revealing its nominees via its official X handle, bypassing a traditional official list and instead posting photos of candidates receiving their nomination certificates. The initial list announced on social media includes several prominent and key constituency candidates: Rajesh Ram, the Bihar Congress state president, has been fielded from the Kutumba assembly constituency. Shashi Shekhar Singh is set to contest from the Wazirganj seat. Kaushlendra Kumar, alias Chhote Mukhiya, was named the INDIA bloc candidate for Nalanda. The party fielded Trishuldhari Singh from Barbeegha and Pratima Das from Rajapakad. Bihar Youth Congress state president Prakash Garib Das will contest from Bachhwada. Other notable candidates include Vijendra Chaudhary (Muzaffarpur), Om Parkash Garg (Gopalganj), Amita Bhushan (Begusarai), and Anand Shekhar Singh (Aurangabad). The Congress leadership is currently locked in talks with the RJD-led alliance partners, having previously insisted on a higher number of seats (reportedly aiming for over 60) than the RJD has been willing to allocate. The development comes as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination from Raghopur assembly seat on Wednesday. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase of polls is October 17, while that for the second phase is October 20. State Congress President Rajesh Ram, after receiving his certificate, publicly thanked the party leadership for fielding him from Kutumba. , , pic.twitter.com/KudMFQLnhv Rajesh Ram (@rajeshkrinc) October 15, 2025

Congress starts announcing candidates for Bihar polls before finalising seat-sharing deal

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday night started announcing its candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections even before finalising the seat-sharing arrangement with its Mahagathbandhan allies. According to the announcement being made by the X handle of the party's Bihar unit, its state president Rajesh Ram is contesting from the Kutumba assembly constituency. The party started announcing the names of candidates on X without releasing an official list of nominees. Along with the announcements, it posted photos of nominees being handed over party nomination certificates. The Congress leadership is in talks with its alliance partners, including the RJD, but the seat-sharing arrangement has neither been finalised nor announced. The development comes as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav filed his nomination from Raghopur assembly seat on Wednesday. The last date for filing nominations for the first phase of polls is October 17, while that for the second phase is October 20. Rajesh Ram thanked the Congress leadership for fielding him from the Kutumba seat. The Bihar Congress congratulated Ram and others for their nomination. - INDIA B. K. Ravi ! INDIA pic.twitter.com/PUq2msnIL2 Bihar Congress (@INCBihar) October 15, 2025 According to the announcements, Shashi Shekhar Singh will contest the election from the Wazjirganj seat. Kaushlendra Kumar, alias Chhote Mukhiya, will be the INDIA bloc candidate from the Nalanda seat. From the Barbeegha seat, the party fielded Trishuldhari Singh and Pratima Das from the Rajapakad seat. Shashi Bhushan Rai, alias Gappu Rai, has been fielded by the Congress from the Govindganj seat, while Vijendra Chaudhary will contest the Muzaffarpur seat. Om Parkash Garg will contest the Gopalganj seat, and Jitendra Singh from the Amarpur assembly seat. Amita Bhushan has been fielded by the Congress from the Begusarai seat, while Lallan Kumar will contest the Sultanganj seat. In the Rosda assembly constituency, the Congress has fielded B K Ravi as INDIA block candidate. Bihar Youth Congress state president Prakash Garib Das will contest the Bachhwada seat, while Anand Shekhar Singh will be the Congress candidate from the Aurangabad assembly seat. Bihar assembly polls are slated in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes will take place on November 14.

HAM announces six candidates for Bihar polls as part of NDA seat deal

PATNA: Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on Tuesday released the list of its candidates for the six assembly seats that have been allotted to the party as part of a seat-sharing deal within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the Bihar assembly elections. According to the list, Deepa Kumari will contest from Imamganj (Reserved) seat while Anil Kumar has been fielded from Tekari. Similarly, Jyoti Devi will be the partys official candidate from Barachatti (Reserved) constituency. In addition, Romit Kumar has been nominated as a candidate for Atari assembly seat. Three of these constituencies, Imamganj, Tekari, and Barachatti, fall under the limits of Gaya district. Prafulla Kumar Manjhi has been fielded from Sikandara in Jamui district. Lalan Ram will contest from Kutumba assembly constituency in Aurangabad district. BJP releases first list of 71 candidates for Bihar Assembly elections

Navi Mumbai Airport To Be Renamed After DB Patil, Says Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Fadnavis also announced that the process of renaming airports in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) is underway

Taj Mahal draws 69 lakh visitors in 202425, remains Indias most visited monument

NEW DELHI: The Taj Mahal, Indias iconic white marble marvel in Agra, has once again emerged as the countrys most visited monument, attracting 69 lakh visitors, including six lakh foreign tourists, in 202425. The footfall at the Mughal-era tomb accounted for nearly 12 per cent of all tourist entries at the 145 ticketed monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The 17th-century mausoleum of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal has been the top revenue-generating and most visited monument for more than a decade, according to the Ministry of Tourism. According to the latest India Tourism Data Compendium released by the Ministry of Tourism, other popular sites for domestic visitors include the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark (35.7 lakh) and the 12th13th-century red sandstone tower in Delhi, Qutub Minar (32 lakh). With 2.2 lakh visitors, the Agra Fort, another Mughal-era structure, stands at second place on the list of historical buildings receiving 2.24 lakh visitors. It is followed by Qutub Minar (2.20 lakh). Delhis Red Fort (28.84 lakh), the Tomb of Rabia Durrani (Bibi Ka Maqbara) in Aurangabad (20.04 lakh), the Ellora Caves in Aurangabad (17.39 lakh), Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad (15.63 lakh), Agra Fort (15.45 lakh), Upper Fort Aguada in Goa (13.58 lakh) and Charminar, which is also in Hyderabad (13.43 lakh), had the highest number of domestic visitors in 202425. Humayuns Tomb in Delhi (1.58 lakh), Baori at Abhaneri in Rajasthan (1.16 lakh), Fatehpur Sikri (97,000), Itimad-ud-Daulah in Agra (90,367), the Nalanda Excavation Site (88,151), the Red Fort in Delhi (79,311) and the noted ancient Buddhist site Shravasti of Uttar Pradesh, Sahet-Mahet (73,312), are among the top sites frequented by foreign tourists. The footfall at other ticketed monuments in the year was 2.93 crore, including 6.21 lakh visitors from foreign countries. In total, the ASIs protected sites received 5.66 crore visitors, of which 24.15 lakh were from abroad. The statistics on the number of visitors to monuments are maintained by the office of the Director General, ASI, based on the records of the number of tickets sold at the monuments to both Indian and foreign nationals. There are 3,697 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains under the ASI located in various states and union territories. For administrative purposes, to ensure better conservation and upkeep of monuments, the states and UTs have been divided into 34 ASI Circles and three mini Circles, each under the jurisdiction of a Superintending Archaeologist.

Karnatakas Shivamogga Tiger and Lion Safari to get new animals from Indore, Aurangabad zoos

In return, Shivamogga zoo will be sending two Asiatic lions, sloth bears, and golden jackals each to the Aurangabad zoo on September 25

Bombay High Court refuses to interfere in ward formation, says elections cannot be derailed

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court dismisses petitions challenging Zilla Parishad elections, citing Constitutional bar on interference and urgency of polls

Three J&K Fencers qualify for Asian Games 2026 Core Group trials

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 15: Out of 13 fencers from Jammu and Kashmir who participated in the Core Group Selection trials for the Asian Games 2026, only three have secured their place in the initial core group. The successful fencers are Shreya Gupta, Vishal Thapar and Ajay Kumar. The trials were held at SAI NCOE Patiala (Epee), Army Sports Institute Pune (Sabre) and SAI NCOE Aurangabad (Foil), featuring top athletes from across India. Shreya Gupta displayed remarkable resilience, securing [] The post Three J&K Fencers qualify for Asian Games 2026 Core Group trials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

OBC, other groups turn up heat over Maratha quota GR; Fadnavis cautions against politics of extreme

MUMBAI: The political landscape in Maharashtra is heating up as OBCs, SC and ST groups have expressed concerns over a GR on Hyderabad gazette for Maratha quota, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to caution against the politics of extreme. As the row over the Government Resolution (GR), issued earlier this month, threatened to turn into a conflict between Maratha and OBC communities, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday accused the Mahayuti government of weakening the social fabric and trying to widen the divide in society. Acknowledging a growing chasm over the sensitive issue of the Maratha reservation, CM Fadnavis on Sunday appealed to leaders from both communities to present facts about the issue before the people. Politics of extremes is taking place on the issue and an atmosphere is being created that OBC reservation is finished. This is affecting the psyche of OBC students, he said. Weeks after the state government issued the GR to quell protests led by activist Manoj Jarange seeking quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes category, several OBC, Adivasi and Banjara outfits have warned of protests demanding that the government withdraw the order. Various caste groups have contended that the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette to allow members of the Maratha community to get OBC Kunbi caste certificates would greatly impact the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. We were classified as a Scheduled Tribe and had reservation in Hyderabad state. We want the same rights restored, said Sandesh Chavan, president of Banjara outfit Gor Sena. After Marathas brought under OBC quota, Banjaras now demand inclusion in ST category Chavan also claimed a 32-year-old Banjara graduate from Dharashiv died by suicide on Saturday, leaving behind a note pressing for ST reservation. Since September 11, Banjara community members have been on an indefinite hunger strike outside the Jalna collectors office, while senior leader Haribhau Rathod has announced morchas in Jalna and Beed on Monday. However, Adivasi outfits have opposed this demand of the Banjara community, claiming the latter already enjoys benefits from a 3 per cent quota under the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) segment. OBC activists Navnath Waghmare and Satusung Mundhe have warned that expanding the quota would threaten the rights of 374 castes already listed under the Other Backward Classes category. The OBC leaders have resolved to hold a massive morcha in Nagpur on October 10. Historically, the Marathwada region was under the Nizam of Hyderabad, whose administration documented castes and occupations in the gazette. In 1918, Marathas were granted reservations in education and jobs, a precedent that is now being used to support their OBC claim. At that time, the Nizam ruled 17 districts, five of which, namely Aurangabad, Beed, Nanded, Parbhani and Osmanabad, later became part of Maharashtra. CM Fadnavis has said the Maratha quota GR will not affect the rights of the Other Backward Classes and asserted that bogus persons would not be allowed to avail benefits meant for the segment. Will launch protest if Maharashtra government dithers on implementing Hyderabad gazette: Jarange Responding to Opposition allegations on the GR, Fadnavis said all decisions related to OBC welfare since 2014 were taken by his government. Let there be a debate on the work done for OBCs under the BJP-led government and the work done under previous governments. They (Opposition) only resort to politics but we are committed to the welfare of the OBCs. At the same time, we are also committed to the welfare of the Maratha and all other communities, he said. On the widening rift between the Marathas and OBCs, the CM said it would not reduce until leaders from both communities tell people facts about the issue. I would like to say that only those who have records of being Kunbi will be given certificates. No one will get certificates without such records. So the OBCs need not be worried. Politics of extremes is taking place on the issue and an atmosphere is being created that OBC reservation is finished. This is affecting the psyche of OBC students, he said. Such politics is not good for any community, Fadnavis asserted. Joining the debate, Sharad Pawar said it looks like the government doesnt want to resolve issues. It is attempting to weaken the social fabric. We must counter it and ensure it doesnt happen, even if one has to pay a political price. There should be no compromise on social harmony and unity, Pawar said. The veteran politician rejected allegations of a link between him and Jarange or his agitation for the Maratha quota. Though anyone can say anything, we do not have even a slight connection with the Maratha reservation agitation by Manoj Jarange. These allegations are not based on truth, and therefore, there is no need to say anything about it, Pawar said. Reacting to Pawars allegation that the social fabric of the state was being weakened, Fadnavis said, Everyone knows what Pawar saheb is famous for. When he says 'X', consider it as 'Y', and he is famous for it. He is a big leader, what more can I say about him?

Only 4 per cent of global clinical trials are conducted in India, despite a 20 per cent disease burden

NEW DELHI: India accounts for 17% of the worlds population and 20% of the global disease burden, yet fewer than four percent of international clinical trials are conducted in the country. This gap means Indian patients often wait years after global approvals to access breakthrough therapies. Now, a new initiative, aligning it with Central Drugs StandardControl Organisations (CDSCO) priorities to boost participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials, has trained nearly 400 professionals, including investigators, ethics committee members and support staff to meet the global Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Indias role in global clinical research and facilitating faster patient access to breakthrough therapies. Launched by Roche Pharma India, the company on Saturday announced the successful completion of its first phase of the Advanced Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance initiative in India, in which it partnered with 10 leading government hospitals from across the country. This milestone marks a significant step forward in strengthening Indias readiness to participate in global and local clinical trials, enabling faster patient access to breakthrough therapies and ensuring Indias diverse population is better represented in clinical research, said the company. Launched in 2023, the initiative focused on streamlining internal processes, building digital readiness for better data capture and monitoring and delivering tailored training programs to enhance operational efficiency. By equipping leading government hospitals with global-standard clinical trial capabilities, we are helping to bring innovations faster to India. This is a crucial step toward building equitable healthcare and shaping treatments that are relevant for India, said Dr Sivabalan Sivanesan, Country Medical Director, Roche Pharma India. Dr Amit Sehrawat, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology and Haematology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, said, This initiative is a strong example of how publicprivate partnerships can accelerate capacity-building and strengthen Indias clinical research ecosystem. India carries a significant burden of cancer, infectious and chronic diseases, yet has historically been underrepresented in global trials. By enabling government hospitals to participate in cutting-edge research, this program ensures Indian patients are part of the evidence generation process helping make treatments safer, more effective and relevant for our population. Dr Vyunkta Raju K N, Professor, Dept of Paediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said: The AIR Site Alliance program has been transformational. Our investigators and ethics committees are now better equipped to conduct research of global standards. This collaboration has given our institutions new opportunities to bring advanced research directly to our patients. The 10 hospitals, which are part of this initiative are: AIIMS, Rishikesh; Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; PGIMS, Rohtak; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Muzaffarpur; Balco Medical Centre, Raipur; Government Medical College, Aurangabad; Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru; Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati; Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital, Lucknow and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack. The project aligns closely with Indias national priorities, including the CDSCOs encouragement for greater participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials and the Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Policy (PRIP) initiative that explicitly encouraged industry-academia partnerships to strengthen R&D capabilities, build clinical trial infrastructure and enhance Indias global competitiveness in innovative research, the company said. This initiative supports the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 - creating a future-ready, world-class healthcare ecosystem where India emerges as a global hub for clinical research, accelerates access to breakthrough innovations, and delivers equitable health outcomes for every citizen, it added. The AIR Site Alliance is Roches flagship global initiative designed to expand access to clinical trials for underrepresented populations. Already implemented in the US, UK, Canada, and Africa, the AIR Site Alliance is now active in India, helping to close representation gaps, generate more robust scientific evidence and accelerate equitable healthcare outcomes worldwide, the company added.

Kumaraswamy Discusses Way Forward For HMT In Annual Performance Review Meet

HMT Limited, a central public sector enterprise, comes under the administrative control of the Heavy Industries Ministry. It has two manufacturing units -- a food processing machinery unit at Aurangabad and an auxiliary business division in Bengaluru

Bihar cabinet approves industrial investment promotion package with free land, major incentives

PATNA: The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package 2025 aimed at attracting industrial investment, particularly large private investments, in the state. The package includes provisions such as free land, financial incentives and other related concessions to create a conducive atmosphere for the states rapid industrial development. The package, which received cabinet approval at its meeting on Tuesday, is part of the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy 2016 and will remain in force until 31 March 2026 for investors. The decision regarding the promotion package is in line with the announcements made by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to grant concessions to industries. It also aligns with the governments commitment to create one crore employment opportunities in the state over the next five years, Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said. While giving details of the main features of the industrial promotion package at a post-cabinet meeting briefing, Chief Secretary Meena said that the state government has decided to transfer land free of cost to the investors willing to set up industries in Bihar. FREE LAND FOR INDUSTRIES Stating that the land will be transferred at a token amount of 1, Meena said that there are three types of schemes from which an investor can choose. If an investor makes an investment of 100 crore and creates 1,000 direct employment opportunities, the investor will get 10 acres of land from the government free of cost. Those willing to invest 1,000 crore will get 25 acres of land depending on the project, whereas if a Fortune 500 company invests in the state, it will get 10 acres of land, Meena said, while expressing confidence that the move will attract big-ticket investments to the state. Other investors, who do not opt for any of the above schemes, will also get land at a 50 per cent discount on BIADAs land rate for setting up industries in the state, said the Chief Secretary. He was accompanied by Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit, Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh and Cabinet Secretariat Department Additional Chief Secretary S Siddharth during the press conference. Stating that investors will have to choose from any of the three financial incentive schemes, Chief Secretary Meena said that as per Option I, an investor who gets a term loan from financial institutions will receive interest subvention of up to 40 crore plus SGST reimbursement of up to 100 per cent. Option II will give investors net SGST reimbursement of up to 300 per cent of the approved project cost for 14 years, whereas Option III will enable investors to avail themselves of a 30 per cent capital subsidy of the total approved project cost. It is completely up to the investors as to which option they want to choose from, the Chief Secretary said, adding that the export incentive has been doubled from 20 lakh to 40 lakh per year, and the time frame has also been increased to 14 years to boost exports from the state. Talking about the employment generation incentive, he said that the government will provide 5,000 per month per employee besides giving support of up to 300 per cent on account of ESI and EPF expenditure. For other units, the government will provide 2,000 per month per employee as an employment generation incentive, plus 100 per cent support on ESI and EPF, Meena said, and added that 20,000 per worker will be given as a skill development incentive. The package also includes 25 per cent reimbursement of up to 1 crore for environmental protection incentive. Additionally, 20 per cent or a maximum amount of 6 lakh will be given as a renewable energy usage incentive. ACQUISITION OF 14,600 ACRES OF LAND APPROVED IN PAST ONE YEAR The state government has already taken an in-principle decision to set up an industrial area or park in every district of the state, he said, while stating that the government has approved the acquisition of 14,600 acres of land for 32 industrial areas/parks in the past one year, whereas BIADA has acquired 8,000 acres of land since its inception. All the industrial areas/parks have either been developed or are being developed near expressway highways or high-speed corridors, Meena said, emphasising that all these industrial areas are well-connected, having both road and rail connectivity. For example, industrial areas in Rohtas and Aurangabad are close to the Varanasi-Kolkata expressway, while the industrial area in Darbhanga is located near the Amas-Darbhanga expressway. Similarly, the industrial area in Purnea is located near the Patna-Purnea expressway, he added. In yet another significant decision, a Fin Tech City will be developed adjacent to a plot of the Multi-Modal Logistic Park (MMLP) at Fatuha circle in Patna district, Chief Secretary said, adding that the Fin Tech City will be developed on the lines of GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The cabinet sanctioned 408.81 crore for the acquisition of 242 acres of land for the Fin Tech City. The Infrastructure Development Authority, Patna, will acquire the land. The development of Fin Tech City will help in bringing containerised cargo directly to Patna from ports, and from Patna, it will be further exported to other countries, Meena said. LAND ACQUISITION FOR EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIAL AREA In order to expand the industrial area in different districts, the Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA), Patna, will acquire a total of 1,927.5 acres of land worth 797.1 crore in six districts: Bhojpur, Sheikhpura, Rohtas, Sheohar, Darbhanga and Purnea. The district-wise break-up of land acquisition is as follows: 249.48 acres of land will be acquired at a cost of 52.62 crore in Bhojpur district; 250.06 acres of land at 42.16 crore in Sheikhpura; 492.85 acres of land at 154.07 crore in Rohtas; 270.01 acres of land at 105.27 crore in Sheohar; 385.45 acres of land at 376.07 crore in Darbhanga; and 279.65 acres of land at 66.91 crore in Purnea district. A total of 26 decisions, including the industrial investment promotion package, were taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Current govt formed through stolen votes: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the current government was formed through stolen votes and urged people to choose a dispensation that is truly yours, takes responsibility and is accountable to you. In a post on X, Gandhi shared a five-minute video of him conversing with the youth of Aurangabad in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Lucknow Diary | Akhilesh takes torch against EC forward

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has mounted a sharp challenge against the Election Commission of India (ECI). His move coincides with Congress MP Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, a 16-day, 1,300 km campaign through more than 20 districts. The SP has doubled down on its vote chori allegations, accusing the EC of hiding facts. When Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar denied receiving affidavits on voter fraud from Uttar Pradesh, Yadav demanded that the poll body itself submit an affidavit to back its claim. If the EC says it has not received our affidavits, what about the receipts we hold? he asked. Karikot carves a niche for itself in rural tourism Karikot, a village near the India-Nepal border in UPs Bahraich district, has become a beacon for rural tourism. Its recognition by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, India Foundation Award 2025, has placed it on the global map. To be conferred in New Delhi on Sept 13 at the BLTM Trade Show, the award honours community-driven models. The villagers, with the backing of the tourism department, have opened homestays and launched border tourism projects. Women and youth have gained livelihoods through showcasing cuisine, crafts, and folk traditions. The Tharu tribal communitys involvement has been crucial. SBSP set to be a key ally for BJP beyond UP A rally in Bihars Arwal district on August 24 by the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), led by O.P. Rajbhar, will have a prominent guest: Home Minister Amit Shah. The event may signal the BJP-SBSP alliances expansion into the state, which faces Assembly elections later this year. Rajbhar has identified nearly 29 constituenciesincluding Sasaram, West Champaran, Nawada, Nalanda, Gaya, Aurangabad, and Bettiahfor contest. We seek close coordination with the BJP and a fair number of seats, Rajbhar said, while confirming talks with the partys top leadershipthe move positions SBSP as a strategic ally for the BJP beyond Uttar Pradesh. Namita Bajpai Our correspondent in Uttar Pradesh namita.bajpai@newindianexpress.com

Rahul Gandhi says not afraid of CEC warning, carries on with Vote Adhikar Yatra

PATNA: A day after the Chief Election Commissioner asked him to either submit an affidavit on his vote theft allegation or apologise within a week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said neither he nor RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav nor Bihar is scared of any such threat. Speaking on the second day of his Vote Adhikar Yatra in Aurangabad-Gaya, Gandhi said, I am not scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or the Election Commission. I will keep revealing the truth of vote theft. He added, We will ensure that the voting rights of people, especially the poor, dont get harmed. What I commit, I do it at all costs. Gandhi met voters whose names were deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Sunil Oraon, a landless worker in Aurangabad, said officials asked for land ownership papers, which he did not have. I have no land in my name. How can I hand over papers of land? In that case, I will lose my right to vote, he said, adding that he had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Another daily wage worker said he could not provide land documents as he worked on others land. Yet another labourer alleged that names of only poor people were erased from the electoral rolls. Tejashwi Yadav, present with Gandhi, accused the Election Commission of asking poor people for documents they do not possess. Ranju Devi from Chasla village said six members of her family were removed from the electoral rolls despite voting multiple times in past elections. Gandhi later wrote on his WhatsApp channel: The SIR is a new weapon for vote theft. These people had cast their votes in 2024, but by the time of the Bihar assembly polls, their identity was erased from the democracy of India. The Vote Adhikar Yatra, launched from Sasaram on Sunday, will cover 25 districts and conclude on September 1 at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

Rahul warns CEC, ECs of stern action if INDIA bloc takes power, says nation will demand them for affidavit

Asserting that vote chori is an attack on 'Bharat Mata', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday warned the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners of stern action when the INDIA bloc forms government. Intensifying his attack on the Election Commission, Gandhi also said the whole country would ask the poll body for an affidavit and if given time, his party would bring out the vote chori in every assembly and Lok Sabha constituency. The fresh attack on the EC by the Congress leader came a day after CEC Gyanesh Kumar served a seven-day ultimatum on him to submit a signed affidavit to back his vote theft claims, else his allegations will be considered baseless. Gandhi said that just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about special package, the poll body also brought in a ew special package for Bihar, which is named SIR (Special Intensive Revision), a ew form of vote theft. His remarks came on the second day of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' which began in Sasaram on Sunday and then moved to Aurangabad before reaching Gaya Ji on Monday. With RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, CPI (ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insan Party's Mukesh Sahani in tow, Gandhi resumed the second day from Dev Road, Kutumba and then moved to Rafiganj before reaching Daboor in Gaya Ji. Addressing a gathering here, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said the Election Commission was asking him to file an affidavit even after the poll body's vote theft had been caught. I want to tell the EC that the whole country will ask you to give an affidavit. Give us some time, we will catch your theft in every assembly and Lok Sabha seat, and put it before the people, he said. What did they do? Like PM (Narendra) Modi ji talks of a special package, the EC has brought a new special package for Bihar named SIR, which means a new form of vote theft, Gandhi said as he wound up the second day of the yatra at Khalees Park Chowk, Gaya Ji along with his Mahagathbandhan allies. Rahul hits back at CEC, says Modi govt shielded poll body with 2023 law to aid BJP in vote chori The former Congress chief also launched a direct attack on CEC Kumar and election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Whatever I say, I do it. You have seen that I don't lie from the stage... these three election commissioners... I want to tell them that it is Modiji's government right now... Tejashwi (Yadav) ji said that you (election commissioners) have taken BJP membership and are working for them. But understand one thing, a day will come when there will be an INDIA bloc government in Bihar and Delhi; then we will take action against the three of you... You've stolen (vote) from the whole country, Gandhi said. Amid rain, Gandhi held up a copy of the Constitution and said the Constitution is of Bharat Mata and has been framed by the likes of B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru. It has the voice of the soul of India. When they steal votes, they attack the Constitution and Bharat Mata. Nobody can touch this Constitution, he asserted. Election commissioners must hear out that if they don't do their job, there will be strict action against them, Gandhi added. He said that after realising that vote chori had happened in Maharashtra and Haryana, the Congress investigated and found evidence of it after analysing the data of one assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka. I said clearly that one lakh votes were stolen in one assembly segment, and what does the Election Commission do? It does not say that the leader of the opposition has raised questions, and let us check it. Instead, they ask me to give an affidavit, Rahul said. Then they say 'why you did not complain earlier?' They say 'if you do not give an affidavit within a week, then this complaint has no meaning', Gandhi said, adding, They (EC) are responsible, their theft has been caught, and they are asking me to file an affidavit. SIR new weapon for 'vote chori', will protect 'one person, one vote': Rahul The Congress leader claimed that the poll authority got to know that their theft had been caught in Maharashtra and Haryana, which is why they have come up with a ew form of theft through SIR (of electoral rolls) in Bihar. Gandhi asserted that Prime Minister Modi and the EC will not succeed in carrying out 'vote chori' in Bihar. In his first press conference after Gandhi levelled allegations of 'vote chori' in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several opposition leaders flagged issues about the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, CEC Kumar asked the Congress leader to either apologise or back his claims with a signed affidavit as required under electoral rules. Give an affidavit or apologise to the nation. There is no third option. If an affidavit is not given within seven days, this means that all allegations are baseless, said Kumar on Sunday, flanked by Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi. Earlier in the day, Gandhi said the SIR of electoral rolls is a ew weapon for vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle. Gandhi made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had cast their votes in the previous Lok Sabha elections but their names were deleted from the draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in Bihar. He met the group at the launch of his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar's Sasaram on Sunday. Later, in Aurangabad, Gandhi met another set of people who had voted in earlier elections but their names were deleted from the draft voters' list. Sharing an over four-minute video of his interaction in Aurangabad, Gandhi said, The votes of people who voted in the last four-five elections were also stolen in Bihar. And, when asked for the reason, the only answer received was -- an order has come from above. This is a fight for the rights of the poor -- we will not stop. We will stop vote theft, he said.

EC seeks details after Rahul Gandhi flags voter deletions in Bihar

Patna: The Election Commission on Monday sought details of a group of people in Bihar who, during Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Vote Adhikar Yatra, claimed that their names were wrongfully deleted from the draft electoral rolls. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha shared a video of his interaction, in Aurangabad district, with the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

SIR new weapon for 'vote chori', will protect 'one person, one vote': Rahul

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a ew weapon for vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle by stopping vote theft. Gandhi made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had cast their votes in the previous Lok Sabha election but their names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in Bihar. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha met the group at the launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar's Sasaram on Sunday. In his post in Hindi along with a picture of the meeting, Gandhi said, The SIR is a new weapon for vote theft. Coincidentally, these people standing with me in this picture are a 'living' proof of this theft. All of them had cast their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election -- but by the time the Bihar Assembly polls came, their identity, their existence were erased from the democracy of India, he said. Do you know who they are? Raj Mohan Singh (70): Farmer and retired soldier; Umravati Devi (35): Dalit and labourer; Dhanjay Kumar Bind (30): Backward class and labourer; Sita Devi (45): Woman and former MGNREGA labourer; Raju Devi (55): Backward class and labourer; Mohmuddin Ansari (52): Minority and labourer, he said. The collusion of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) is punishing them for being Bahujan and poor -- even our soldiers were not spared -- Gandhi said. Neither will they have a vote nor identity or rights, he added. Due to social discrimination and economic conditions, they are unable to fight against the conspiracy of the system. We stand here with them to protect the most basic right of 'one person, one vote', the Congress leader asserted. This is a question of rights and of everyone's participation in a democracy, he said, adding that we will not let it end under any circumstances. Later, in Aurangabad, Gandhi met another set of people who had voted in earlier elections but their names were deleted from the new draft voter list. Sharing an over-four-minute video of his interaction in Aurangabad, Gandhi said, The votes of people who voted in the last four-five elections were also stolen in Bihar. And, when asked for the reason, the only answer received was -- an order has come from above. This is a fight for the rights of the poor -- we will not stop. We will stop vote theft, he said. In the video, Gandhi is seen interacting with people whose names have been deleted from the voters' list. He was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insan Party's Mukesh Sahani and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya. Gandhi told the group that the Narendra Modi government brought in a law in 2023 to ensure that no one can take action against those who run the EC and it was completely wrong. Meanwhile, Gandhi, Yadav and Sahani also prayed at the Devkund Surya Mandir in Aurangabad as their Voter Adhikar Yatra entered its second day. Travelling from Kutumba, the yatra reached Gayaji on Monday evening. Embarking on the 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, Gandhi accused the EC on Sunday of stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA opposition bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal the Bihar polls through the SIR exercise succeed. After 16 days, the yatra is scheduled to conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra is being undertaken in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicles, as was Gandhi's Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gayaji, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

SIR is new weapon of vote chori, will protect one person, one vote: Rahul Gandhi

Aurangabad (Bihar), Aug 18 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a new weapon of vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle. He made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had cast their vote in the previous Lok Sabha election but their name had been deleted in the SIR exercise in Bihar. Gandhi met the group at the launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra in Sasaram on Sunday. In his post in

SIR is new weapon of vote chori will protect one person one vote: Rahul Gandhi

Aurangabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a new weapon of vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle. He made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

LIVE: Rahul Gandhi addresses 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' rally in Aurangabad, Bihar

CJI Gavai launches Bombay HC's 4th bench in Kolhapur

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud inaugurated the Bombay High Court's new circuit bench in Kolhapur district on Sunday, with Maharashtra's Chief Minister and Deputy CM in attendance. This fourth bench aims to alleviate the burden on litigants and lawyers who previously had to travel to Mumbai for hearings. The High Court also has benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Goa.

CJI B.R. Gavai inaugurates Bombay High Court circuit Bench at Kolhapur

At present, apart from the principal bench in Mumbai, the HC has two more benches at Nagpur in Vidarbha region and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in Marathwada region. A third bench of the High Court sits in adjoining Goa

Rahul hits back at CEC, says Modi govt shielded poll body with 2023 law to aid BJP in vote chori

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) after its press conference , alleging the Modi government passed a 2023 law to prevent action against the poll body as it is helping the BJP and indulging in vote chori with them. Addressing a gathering at Aurangabad at the end of the first day of his Voter Adhikar Yatra , Gandhi also said while he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference exposing vote chori, no such demand was made from BJP leaders who made similar claims in their presser. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was a way to steal votes of the people of the state. EC EC EC , - EC CCTV pic.twitter.com/OjXy64cyPu Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 17, 2025 Today they (ECI) held a press conference. I want to ask them why did the government change the law on CCTV footage of election process. Do you know that no case can be initiated against the election commissioners. In no court in India can there be a case against them, Gandhi said. This law was made in 2023. Why was this law made? It was made because Narendra Modi and Amit Shah want to ensure that no one can take any action against the ECI as it is helping them and is indulging in voter chori along with them, Gandhi added. He said it is a fight to protect Ambedkar's Constitution and the principle of 'one person, one vote'. Earlier, addressing a press conference in Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gynaesh Kumar said the electoral roll revision is aimed at removing all shortcomings in voter lists and it is a matter of grave concern that some parties are spreading misinformation about it and firing from the ECI's shoulder. The CEC rejected as aseless the allegations of double voting and vote theft and asserted that all stakeholders are working to make SIR a success in a transparent manner. CEC says Rahuls 'vote chori' allegation to be deemed baseless if no sworn affidavit is filed in 7 days EC 'thorughly exposed', says Congress Meanwhile, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the ECI stood horoughly exposed not only for its incompetence but also for its latant partisanship, soon after the CEC defended the SIR in Bihar and rejected as aseless the opposition party's allegations of vote theft. The Congress also termed as laughable the claims made by the ECI that it makes no distinction between the ruling party and the Opposition. Responding to the CEC's remarks, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh asked whether the poll body will implement the Supreme Court's August 14 orders in letter and spirit. Today, a short while after Shri Rahul Gandhi launched the INDIA janbandhan's Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, the CEC and his two ECs began by saying they make no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition. This is laughable, to put it very mildly, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. Notably, the CEC answered none of the pointed questions raised by Shri Rahul Gandhi meaningfully, Ramesh said in a post on X. Claiming that what Gandhi has stated so far are based on the EC's own data, he said, The ECI stands thoroughly exposed not only for its incompetence but also for its blatant partisanship. All that matters now is simply this: will the ECI implement, in letter and spirit, the Supreme Court's orders of August 14th, 2025 on the Bihar SIR process? Ramesh said. It is constitutionally bound to do so. The nation is waiting and watching, the Congress leader asserted. Rahul Gandhi alleges large-scale electoral manipulation in Maharashtra and Karnataka; EC reacts On the EC's press conference, he said, This was the first time this 'new' ECI was speaking directly and not planting through sources. Yesterday, the ECI had released a 'Press Note', the purpose of which was to place the onus of voter list correction on political parties and individuals, Ramesh said, adding that: This Press Note had also been met with uniform criticism from the opposition parties and widespread criticism from the general public. Today's Press Conference also came three days after the Supreme Court had rejected every single one of the arguments made by the ECI to prevent the publication of the 65 lakh deleted voters during the Bihar SIR, he said. Despite the vehement and documented objections of the ECI, the Supreme Court directed the publication, in a searchable format, of these 65 lakh voters with all their details, Ramesh said. It had also allowed the use of AADHAR ID's to be proof of voter identity. The ECI had opposed every single one of these instructions of the Supreme Court, he said. Earlier, the CEC defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying some parties are spreading misinformation and firing from EC's shoulder. The CEC rejected as aseless the allegations of double voting and vote theft and asserted that all stakeholders are working to make SIR a success in a transparent manner, as the INDIA bloc parties launched 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in poll-bound Bihar against alleged vote-chori. 'Got a chance to have tea with dead voters': Rahul Gandhi takes shot at EC over Bihar SIR 'Father's name dfojgaidf; house no. 0': Inside Rahul Gandhi's 'atom bomb proof' of vote rigging in Karnataka

Whole country now knows EC 'stealing' elections in collusion with BJP: Rahul

SASARAM: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed the whole country now knows that the Election Commission is stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal Bihar Assembly polls succeed, as he embarked on his 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in the state. Gandhi alleged that assembly and Lok Sabha polls were being stolen across the country and there was a conspiracy in Bihar to do the same through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the gathering here at the launch event of the yatra covering over 20 districts in Bihar, Gandhi said while he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference exposing vote chori, no such demand was made from BJP leaders who made claims in their presser. In the whole country, assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being stolen and their latest conspiracy is to delete and add voters through SIR to steal the elections in Bihar, Gandhi charged. We have come here to tell you that we will not let them steal the election in Bihar. People of Bihar will not let them steal elections. The poor only have the power of vote and we will not let them steal polls, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. He said the whole country now knows what the EC is doing and the Congress showed how it is carrying out this heft. Wherever this theft is happening, be it Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, we will catch their theft and put it before the people, Gandhi said. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs the government along with billionaires. Your vote is stolen and then your money is handed over to 5-6 billionaires...the truth of SIR, the vote chori in Bihar, we will put it before the people, Gandhi said. He asserted that it is a fight to save the Constitution. Gandhi alleged that the RSS and the BJP are trying to erase the Constitution. In every election the BJP wins. In Maharashtra, all opinion polls said the INDIA bloc will win the assembly polls. In the Lok Sabha polls, our alliance won but after four months in the same Maharashtra, the BJP alliance swept the assembly polls as one crore voters were added through magic and wherever such additions happened, the BJP won, he claimed. Gandhi said the INDIA bloc parties complained to the EC and asked for video footage but the poll body refused. He said the Congress had shown that over one lakh votes were stolen in one assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka in 2024 and the BJP won that parliamentary seat. The Congress leader said the EC asked for an affidavit from him over his press conference but did not ask the BJP leaders to do so when they held their presser and made claims. They say submit an affidavit on the data I had put forward when it is their data that I cited, Gandhi said. The yatra launch event here was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahani, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M)'s Subhashini Ali and CPI's P Sandosh Kumar. With the Assembly polls barely three months away, Gandhi, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, launched the yatra from BIADA Ground, Sasaram. After 16 days, the yatra will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra will be in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicle, as was Gandhi's Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, party leaders said. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

CJI Gavai inaugurates Bombay HC's 4th bench in Kolhapur

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Sunday inaugurated the Bombay High Courts new circuit bench in Kolhapur. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde attended the event. This is the courts fourth bench after Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Goa, set up to reduce travel for litigants from western Maharashtra and Konkan.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' starts from Sasaram in Bihar on August 17

PATNA: With Bihar gearing up for assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is all set to launch Vote Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram in Rohtas district on Sunday, to highlight the championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through the special intensive revision (SIR) . After landing at Sasaram, Rahul will visit Suara Aerodrome Ground near Sasaram, where he will address a public meeting and meet people from Tribal community. Later in the day, he will hold a roadshow at Dehri-on-Sone and start his Pad Yatra. The 16-day Yatra, aimed at championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through special intensive revision (SIR), will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1. Leaders of INDIA bloc partners, including Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), are expected to join the yatra. The Yatra will cover districts, including Gaya, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Saran, Bhojpur and Patna. On September 1, a mega Voter Adhikar Rally is scheduled to be held at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, which will be attended by INDIA bloc leaders. Former Bihar Congress chief Alkhilesh Prasad Singh said that all necessary formalities like permission for landing of chopper and ground for public meeting have already been completed for the proposed Vote Adhikar Yatra. Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member, said that the Yatra will build a tempo in favour of Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of assembly elections in Bihar scheduled to be held in October-November. The Opposition alleged that SIR launched by Election Commission led to deletion of names of 65 lakh electors in state. EC's special intensive revision is a deliberate design to tamper with votes, disproportionately affecting backward, Muslim communities and migrant workers, said Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar. He further said that on August 18, Rahul will start pad yatra which will pass through Dev Road Amba in Kutumba assembly constituency, covering Aurangabad district. On Saturday, Rahul on X said, Sixteen days, 20-plus districts, 1,300-plus kilometres. We are coming among the people with voter rights yatra. This is the right to protect the most fundamental democratic right-one person, one vote. Join us to save the Constitution. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025

'Fight to protect one person, one vote': Rahul Gandhi to embark on 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Sasaram

BIHAR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will embark on a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' across Bihar from here on Sunday, with his party asserting it will fight for the one person, one vote principle and not accept the Election Commission becoming a compartment of the BJP's so-called double engine. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, will undertake the 16-day and 1,300 km-long yatra from Sasaram, which will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, 16 days, 20+ districts, 1,300+ km. We are coming among the people with the Voter Adhikar Yatra. This is a fight to protect the most basic democratic right - 'one person, one vote'. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025 Join us in Bihar to save the Constitution, he added. Addressing a press conference at the Indira Bhawan in New Delhi, Congress's media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said, Whenever Rahul Gandhi ji has set out for a yatra, the democracy of this country has turned a page. 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' will be a historic march. It will prove to be a milestone in the history of our democracy. We will not accept that the Election Commission becomes a compartment of this so-called 'double engine'. We are fighting against this and will continue to do so in the future, he added. The party has been protesting against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging the EC's exercise is aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections due later this year. The Congress urged the people of Bihar to join the 'yatra' for their rights and entitlements so that democracy can get a direction from Bihar. The yatra, starting in Bihar from August 17, is a journey to make people aware because the conspirators will not be deterred and they will try to steal votes, Khera said. The yatra will conclude with a huge rally in Patna on September 1, and the people of the INDIA bloc will participate in it, he added. He added that the 'yatra' has been planned to fight for the right of 'one person-one vote'. It is possible to breathe freely in independent India because we have the power to vote. Rahul Gandhi has started a struggle so that every citizen of the country can breathe freely, Khera said. The way the game of adding and deducting fake votes was going on, the BJP people have been caught red-handed, he claimed, adding that ow, even ordinary citizens are giving evidence of vote theft. When our INDIA bloc colleagues and social workers appealed together, the Supreme Court also had to intervene. Public has woken up: Rahul Gandhi shares new video highlighting 'vote theft' This conspiracy was not just to snatch votes. It was a conspiracy to snatch your and our identity. Today, the right to vote is being snatched from the Dalits, the deprived, the oppressed, the exploited, the minorities; tomorrow their participation will be snatched, Khera alleged. He claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to attack the poor, against which the people of the country have raised their voice. The 'yatra' will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra and Ara. At a press briefing in Patna, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that when the Election Commission announced the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, the leaders of the INDIA bloc went to meet poll panel officials, who had stated that 20 per cent of the voters in Bihar would lose their franchise. We demanded a discussion on this issue in the House, but the BJP government did not consider it necessary. When the new draft list came out after SIR in Bihar, many irregularities were revealed. When we are asking for answers on this, the BLO (block-level officer) has no answer, he claimed. In such a situation, we have decided that the Congress will start a 'Voter Awareness Campaign'. In this, we will go to all districts of Bihar and make people aware, so that they are not deprived of their rights, Singh said. He also said that Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the poor, deprived, women, farmers, and labourers of the country. We request the people of Bihar to take part in this journey and help us in foiling the plans of the Election Commission-BJP, Singh added. Gandhi on Thursday said, We are waging a direct fight against 'vote chori' from Bihar with the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra. He asserted that his party will ensure a clean voters' list across the country. 'Vote chori' is not just an election issue but a decisive battle to protect democracy, the Constitution and the principle of 'one man, one vote', he had said. The Congress on Tuesday claimed that vote chori was a do-or-die issue for it, and announced a roadmap to take its allegations to the people through various activities. 'Got a chance to have tea with dead voters': Rahul Gandhi takes shot at EC over Bihar SIR

India monsoon LIVE: IMD issues red alert in Mumbai as heavy downpour causes waterlogging

IMD Mumbai issued a warning of intense rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds (3040 kmph) in parts of north and central Maharashtra, including Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Aurangabad region, Beed, and Nanded.

Drone rumours trigger panic in UP village, 45-year-old Bhurey Singh serves as 'sky sentry'

LUCKNOW: In Puranpur, a rural tehsil in Pilibhit district, 45-year-old Bhurey Singh now stands on nightly vigil with a flashlight strapped to his bicycle and a thick wooden stick in hand. Hired two weeks ago by local residents, he serves as the village's sky sentry. They say thieves are using drones to plan robberies, Bhurey told PTI. Whether it's true or not, we can't take any chances. His nightly patrol reflects a wave of fear spreading across more than 300 villages in at least a dozen districts of western Uttar Pradesh -- from the forest edges of Pilibhit to the urban sprawl of Ghaziabad. Since mid-July, cries of Drone chor! have echoed through village lanes at night, replacing the usual silence of the countryside. Shadows dart across rooftops, wooden lathis are clutched tightly, and families stay awake long past midnight in fear of unseen threats from above. Villagers speak in hushed tones of mysterious drones flying after dark, allegedly scouting rooftops and identifying weak entry points. In many communities, drones have become ghosts in the sky. Sometimes real. Often imagined. Always feared. As the panic grew, so did state attention. Last week, the matter was reviewed in a high-level law and order meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He issued a stern warning against those spreading rumours or flying drones without authorisation. Those creating fear using drones -- or spreading misinformation -- will be charged under the Gangster Act, the chief minister directed. Provisions under the NSA may also be invoked if necessary, he said. To regulate drone usage, police have been instructed to maintain a dedicated drone register. DIG Kalanidhi Naithani of Meerut Range directed all police stations in his jurisdiction to list drone owners and take immediate action against individuals operating drones after dark. He cautioned citizens against using drones just for fun, warning of strict legal consequences for violations. Despite these measures, fear persists on the ground. Punjab launches anti-drone systems to tackle drugs & weapons smuggling from Pakistan According to police, the roots of this hysteria lie in Amroha, where bizarre rumours began circulating in early June about an underwear-clad, oil-smeared gang of thieves using drones to survey homes before burglaries. Though the story appeared implausible, it spread rapidly. Soon, villages in neighbouring districts such as Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Meerut, and Bijnor began reporting similar drone sightings. Many videos, some doctored or outdated, went viral on social media. Every flickering light or low-flying object sparked panic. On WhatsApp, paranoia quickly outpaced fact. Officials attribute the growing alarm to low digital literacy, widespread misinformation, and deep-seated anxieties around unfamiliar technologies. What began as whispers has now escalated into violence. In Modinagar, Ghaziabad, a man visiting his girlfriend from Hapur was mistaken for a drone operator and beaten by a mob earlier this month. He had no drone, only the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In Bareilly, a toy drone found on the roof of a government school caused alarm. Four brothers returning from Delhi were intercepted and assaulted by locals who assumed they were part of a drone theft gang. Police later confirmed the drone was a broken plastic toy incapable of flight. In Aurangabad, Bulandshahr, a blinking light in the sky triggered chaos. A man walking nearby -- allegedly drunk and unaware -- caught, stripped, and beaten. Drone vigil ensures safety at Bapatla beaches He had no connection to any drone activity. Police helplines in several districts have received hundreds of drone-related complaints in recent weeks. However, senior officers maintain that no thefts have been conclusively linked to drone surveillance. Drone sightings have been reported for over a month now, DIG Naithani told PTI. But not a single theft case has been proven to involve drones. This hysteria is driven entirely by rumours and fear. Over 40 people have been arrested in districts such as Meerut, Amroha, and Sambhal for inciting panic or spreading false information. Police in several areas have launched awareness drives, directing drone owners to register their devices or face fines. WhatsApp helplines have been issued to counter hoaxes. In Amroha, three YouTubers filming drone footage were detained for flying without police permission. They were released after verification, but the incident added to local suspicion. In Meerut, two content creators were held for allegedly spreading fake drone-related videos. Police in the affected districts have appealed to residents to approach authorities if they spot a drone, instead of spreading rumours on social media. Superintendent of Police (Rampur) Vidya Sagar Mishra told PTI, We have held meetings with influential community members at the village level and sought their support to counter the rumours. The officer said drone sightings were largely hearsay and had no proven links to any organised gang. Still, in many homes, fear continues to shape daily life. One or two people in every household now stay awake through the night, looking at the sky, said Ramapati Verma of Fatehganj in Bareilly. We can't let our guard down. What if the thieves come? What if they hurt someone? she asked.

81 AAI-run airports suffer Rs 10,853 crore loss in 10 years; 22 now non-operational

NEW DELHI: Eighty-one airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 10,852.9 crore in past 10 financial years. Today, 22 of these airports have become non-operational. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol presented the data in the Rajya Sabha on August 4 while replying to a query posed by Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisam. The MP wanted to know details of Indian airports operating at a loss and if there were any plans to shut those with negligible flight operations. She also wanted to know if any financial aid was being offered to underperforming airports. Data released for the years from 2015-2016 to 2024-2025 reveals the 81 airports across the country have cumulatively suffered a Rs 10,852.9-crore loss. Delhis Safdarjung airport has suffered the most, incurring a loss of Rs 673.91 crore. Agartala airport with a Rs 605.23-crore loss stands second, while Hyderabad, with Rs 564.97 crore, Dehradun with Rs 488.01 crore, and Vijayawada with Rs 483.69 crore in losses figure among the top five loss-making airport nationwide. Asked for a reason, a senior Aviation Ministry official said Safdarjung airport, though the main airport in the national capital, is now a thing of the past, as it is not actually operational for commercial flights presently. It serves to ferry VVIPS to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, he said. Among other major loss-making airports are Bhopal (Rs 480.43 crore), Aurangabad (Rs 447.83 crore), Tirupati (Rs 363.71 crore), Khajuraho (Rs 355.53 crore), Imphal (Rs 355.19 crore). Airports closed for operations The airports which have become non-operational are Donakonda, Daparizo, Jogbani, Muzaffarpur, Raxaul, Deesa, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, Khandwa, Panna, Shella, Aizawl, Thanjavur, Vellore, Nadirgul, Warangal, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Asansol, Balurghat and Malda. Mohol also said the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) was launched on October 21, 2016, to boost regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country. The scheme provides Viability Gap Funding to airlines to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues. The budget allocated for the RCS-UDAN for the financial year 2025-2026 is Rs 300 crore, the minister said. This provided financial incentives and concessions to the airlines from the Central and state governments, Union territories and airport operators to lower operational costs and thus promote their operations, he added. A total of 92 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes have been operationalised under the scheme, he pointed out.

Rivers in spate in Bihar after heavy rain, CM directs officials to remain alert

PATNA: The water levels in several rivers in Bihar have risen due to heavy rain in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed all officials concerned to remain alert. According to the latest district-wise rainfall bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department on Sunday, Light to moderate rain was recorded in many districts, including Patna, Banka, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gayaji, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Katihar, Khagaria, Munger, Nalanda and Vaishali since August 2. Several key roads and many low-lying areas in Patna were waterlogged following incessant rain in the state capital on Sunday. The Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for several districts, including Patna, Gayaji, Jamui, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Banka, Vaishali, Samastipur, Seikhpura, Lakhisarai, East Champaran, Arwal, West Champaran and Nawada for the next 48 hours. Officials of the state Water Resources Department (WRD) said that incessant rain in several districts has caused rivers and streams to overflow. The increased inflow also caused the water level in many dams to rise, they said. Besides, incessant rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal has also led to the rivers touching or flowing above the danger level in several places, they added. No causality has been reported so far, and in certain areas in East and West Champaran, Bhagalpur and Patna districts, villagers of low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places by the district administration. Owing to moderate to heavy rain in certain areas in the state, major rivers, including Ganga, Kosi, Sone, Bagmati, Gandak, Kamla, and Adahrwa, are maintaining a rising trend in their courses in the past couple of days, the latest report of the WRD said. Ganga is flowing above the danger level in Bhagalpur, and at Gandhi Ghat and Hathidah in Patna, Burhi Gandak in East Champaran, and Kosi in Supaul and Khagaria, it added. Almost all rivers are maintaining a rising trend throughout their courses, engulfing low-lying localities along their courses. However, all embankments are safe, a senior WRD official said. Meanwhile, the chief minister on Sunday inspected the State Emergency Operations Centre of the Disaster Management Department (DMD). According to a statement issued by the DMD, During the inspection, the CM reviewed the rainfall situation in the state, water levels of rivers, and the status of crop coverage. Bihar Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the DMD, Pratyaya Amrit, briefed the CM about the rainfall situation in the state. The CM directed all officials concerned to remain alert, it added. From June 1 to August 3 this year, the state recorded 409 mm of rainfall, which is 22 per cent less than normal. The ACS also mentioned that the state received good rainfall in the past 24 hours, with 25 mm or more rainfall recorded in 222 blocks across the state, the statement said. Regarding the current water levels of rivers in the state, the ACS said that the water levels in the Ganga, Kosi, and Burhi Gandak and some other rivers have risen, but the situation is currently under control. Providing details on crop coverage, he stated that as of August 3, paddy crop coverage in the state stands at 79.43 percent, whereas it was 67.38 percent during the same period last year. It is expected that 100 per cent coverage will be achieved by August 15 under normal circumstances, the statement added.

Ahmedabad Child Trafficking Racket With Links To Maharashtra Unearthed, Girl Rescued

A child trafficking racket was busted in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Police rescued a girl and arrested four suspects who planned to sell her in Aurangabad.

Cabinet approves six major projects, including 4 for strengthening rly link

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday decided to strengthen the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) with an additional outlay of Rs 2,000 crore and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) by infusing Rs 6,520 crore. Besides, Rs 11,168 crore has been sanctioned for four railway multi-tracking projects. The decisions were taken at meetings of the Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCA) chaired by PM Narendra Modi. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, An approval has been granted for a total infusion of Rs 6,520 crore with an additional allocation of Rs 1,920 crore for the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana. In an official release, the government said Rs 1,000 crore out of the total allocation will be used to support the set-up cost of 50 multi-product food irradiation units under the schemes Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure and 100 food testing labs. In another decision, the Union Cabinet approved aid of Rs 2,000 to the NCDC over four years in Rs 500 crore tranches, beginning from the 2025-26 fiscal year, Vaishnaw said. According to officials, the NCDC will now be able to raise Rs 20,000 crore from the open market over these four years, which will be placed for granting loans to cooperative societies to set up new projects or carry out expansion plans. The government aims to benefit 2.9 crore members of 13,288 cooperative societies in various sectors, the minister said, adding, the NCDC fund also aims to create income-generating capital assets, expected to boost employment opportunities across skill levels. Meanwhile, the CCEA has approved four railway multi-tracking projects covering 13 districts in Maharashtra, MP, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand, increasing the existing network by about 574 km at a cost Rs 11,168 crore. These projects include the Itarsi-Nagpur 4th Line, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) - Parbhani doubling, Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd and 4th Line, and Dangoaposi-Jaroli 3rd and 4th Line. All these projects will be completed by 2028-29, Vaishnaw said. Streamline Operations, Alleviate Congestion Four multi-tracking projects for railways get Cabinet nod Itarsi-Nagpur 4th line Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rd and 4th Lines Chhtrapati Sambhajinagar- Parbhani line doubling Dangoaposi-Jaroli 3rd and 4th lines Projects to generate direct employment for about 229 lakh man-days during construction Enhance connectivity to approximately 2,309 villages, with population of about 43.60 lakh

Cabinet approves four multi-tracking projects costing 11,169 crore

The projects include ItarsiNagpur 4thLine, Aurangabad-Parbhani Doubling, Aluabari Road-New Jalpaiguri 3rdand 4thLine as well as Dangoaposi-Jaroli 3rdand 4thLine; the project will enhance connectivity to about 2,309 villages, with population of about 43.60 lakh

Bombay High Court grants bail to three PFI accused, cites lack of prima facie evidence of terrorism

Bombay High Courts Aurangabad Bench rules that participation in karate camps, meetings does not prima facie amount to terrorist activity under UAPA

Counterfeit currency racket busted in Hyderabad; two held

Hyderabad: A counterfeit currency racket was busted in Hyderabads Mehdipatnam on Saturday, July 19. Two persons have been arrested, and counterfeit currency worth Rs 2 lakh was seized from them. The accused were identified as Ansari Aftab Azeemuddin,22, a native of Aurangabad, Maharashtra; Adil Hussain,22, a student and resident of Langar Houz, Hyderabad. The third Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Maharashtra clears proposal to rename Islampur as Ishwarpur

The renaming of Islampur to Ishwarpur is the latest in a series of name changes undertaken by the Maharashtra government; in recent years, the State has renamed Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv, with the Centres approval

19 killed in lightning strikes in Bihar

PATNA: At least 19 people were killed in lightning strikes in Bihar in the last 24 hours, the chief minister's office said on Thursday. The highest number of five fatalities was reported in Nalanda, followed by Vaishali (four), Banka and Patna (two each). Besides, Sheikhpura, Nawada, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Jamui and Samastipur districts accounted for one death each. Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and urged the people to take ample precautions during bad weather.

Bombay HC: Mother Is Minors Guardian After Father

Aurangabad bench cites mother as natural guardian after father under Hindu law

Railways launches Swarnim Bharat Yatra to commemorate Independence Day with 10-day heritage tour

NEW DELHI: The Railways has planned to operate a special Swarnim Bharat Yatra tourist train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme, commencing on 14 August from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station. The Swarnim Bharat Yatra train is aimed at commemorating Indias Independence Day with a 9-night, 10-day tour covering key historical and cultural sites associated with Indias freedom movement and heritage. The first destination of the Swarnim Bharat Yatra is Ahmedabads Sabarmati Ashram, one of the key centres of Mahatma Gandhis freedom movement. Following this, the train will visit the intricate 15th-century Adalaj Stepwell and continue with a day trip to Modhera, known for its ancient Sun Temple, and Patan home to the UNESCO-listed Rani Ki Vav. In Kevadia, Gujarat, travellers will witness the iconic Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, along with the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The journey then proceeds to Pune, where the Aga Khan Palace a landmark of the Quit India Movement and sacred sites such as the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga await. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), tourists will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, along with the Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga. The tour concludes with visits to Jhansi Fort and the historic temples and palaces of Orchha, before returning to Delhi. The Deluxe AC Tourist Train has a composition of First AC, Second AC, and Third AC classes, accommodating 150 tourists with modern amenities such as dining cars, shower cubicles, sensor-based washrooms, foot massagers, and CCTV-enabled security, with boarding facilities available at Delhi Safdarjung, Gurgaon, Rewari, Ringas, Phulera, and Ajmer. The Railways said that the IRCTC has fixed the tour prices at Rs 71,585 (3AC), Rs 81,675 (2AC), Rs 94,845 (1AC Cabin), and Rs 1,01,430 (1AC Coupe), which includes train travel, three-star hotel accommodation, vegetarian meals, transfers, sightseeing in an AC vehicle, insurance, and IRCTC tour manager services.

CA allegedly ran Rs 750 crore fake loan app scam using shell firms, Chinese links

DEHRADUN: In a significant breakthrough against inter-state cybercrime, Abhishek Agarwal, a Chartered Accountant and the alleged mastermind behind a massive fake loan app scam, was arrested by the cyber wing of Uttarakhand Police on Saturday at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Police sources revealed Agarwal was arrested under a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against him. His arrest has exposed a sprawling network that allegedly siphoned off over Rs 750 crore through illicit transactions. Investigations indicate Agarwal established a sophisticated web of approximately 35 to 40 shell companies to facilitate the fraud. Of these, 13 were registered in his own name, while 28 were in his wifes name. Several entities also listed Chinese nationals as co-directors, highlighting an international dimension to the racket. Suspicious transactions exceeding Rs 750 crore have been identified in accounts linked to these companies, which are now under detailed scrutiny. The syndicate allegedly operated by luring unsuspecting individuals with promises of quick and easy loans through more than 15 fraudulent mobile applications, including 'Insta Loan,' 'Maxi Loan,' 'KK Cash,' 'RupeeGo,' and 'Lendkar.' Once victims installed these apps, the fraudsters gained unauthorised access to their mobile devices, stealing sensitive personal data such as gallery photos, contacts, and other private information. Police claimed this stolen data was then used for blackmail and intimidation. Victims were subjected to threats of photo morphing and public shaming if they failed to pay exorbitant interest rates, penalties, and fines, leading to immense mental harassment and financial extortion. Authorities revealed the genesis of this expansive fraud network dates back to 201920, when Agarwal allegedly facilitated the entry of Chinese nationals into India to kickstart the operation. He himself travelled to Shanghai and Shenzhen in 2019, indicating deep international ties. This arrest follows previous significant actions in the same case. These include the apprehension of Ankur Dhingra, another alleged mastermind operating fake loan apps via Hector Lendkaro Pvt. Ltd., from Gurugram. In 2023, another resident of Gurugram was arrested, and a joint STF/Cyber team raided a call centre in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, recovering a Simbox and other crucial evidence. Upon his arrest, authorities recovered a mobile phone, a passport, Thai and Indian currency, a power bank, digital devices, rings, and an Apple Watch from Agarwal. He was wanted in connection with numerous cases across multiple states. Speaking to The New Indian Express , STFs Senior Superintendent of Police Navneet Singh said, This ongoing investigation, initiated in December 2022, targets organised national-level fraud through various fake loan apps, aiming to curb the harassment and illegal extortion faced by citizens across India. Uttarakhands Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth stated, Uttarakhand is committed to making the state crime-free and will strive to curb cybercrime incidents more rigorously in the coming times.

Aurangabad Bench directs FIR in Dalit law students custodial death case

Bombay High Court observes prima facie custodial torture; orders Parbhani police to register case within a week