Supreme Court tells Delhi Police to create fear among goons to prevent crimes against women
The Supreme Court has made it clear that the Delhi Police must take decisive action to safeguard women from crime. In its directives, the court called for heightened monitoring and foot patrols in areas known for vulnerability, such as parks and schools. The court also insisted on the importance of overseeing CCTV footage and reacting quickly to anything suspicious. As festivals approach, police were cautioned about potential crime spikes.
Admiral Paparo meets top Indian military leadership at U.S. Envoys dinner in New Delhi
The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is in India to advance U.S.-India major defence partnership and deepen military-to-military cooperation
Govt may offer jobs to ex-Agniveers without exams, physical tests
At many pumps, no PUCC, no fuel enforcement plagued by weak links
Traffic cops blame Google Map for Barapullah-III mess, tells commuters to take other routes
Jamia Violence: HC Rejects Plea for SIT Probe Into Police Action
Rejecting the allegations made on social media that female protesters were subjected to physical assault during the recent demonstrations in Jantar Mantar , the Delhi Police said that they were handled by female personnel and treated with dignity in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Scribes covering protests should carry ID, maintain distance: Delhi Police advisory
Congress campaign against vote chori to help re-enroll voters whose names were deleted in SIR
Congress to invite DMK, AAP to INDIA bloc rally on November 1; Vote bachao, desh bachao campaign to start at block level from October 10 to 20, culminate in Delhi Chalo marches, rally in the capital on November 26
Excise dept starts process to cut UK whisky prices
Crackers in Ravan effigy go off, bring down 2 walls in Ghaziabad community centre, leave 5 injured
Verma slap: HC declines urgent hearing
JNUSU to hold screening of Palestine 36 at protest site today
SIR protest: Four FIRs filed, 17 arrested
Govt moves to regulate PGs; LG seeks verification, Sood holds consultations
Customs arrests passenger for smuggling precious stones worth Rs 2 crore
Rohini lawyers call off strike after talks with senior police officers
DPS Dwarka parents again flag fee arrears, seek action
Begumpur drug bust uncovers interstate heroin syndicate; 4 held
CGHS beneficiaries lose access to fresh treatment at 99 hospitals, clinics
Vote Theft: Oppn To March To EC Office Today
I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs will march to the Election Commission office in New Delhi over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and vote theft claims.
Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre appointed acting chief justice of Delhi High Court
The News Mill
Gangster in waiting room: Patient tries extorting 25L from doc
CAQM deploys flying squads in 34 Punjab & Haryana districts to curb farm fires
They Fell Off City Map. This Is How TheyAre Faring While Trying To Get Back In
Tenants find themselves in no-mans land. With SIR verification work almost over, TOI visit to three residential pockets reveals gaps
BJPs Sambit Patra rebuts Rahul Gandhis Form 6 claims, says SC did not declare it illegal
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Monday hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his allegations concerning Form 6, the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing him of spreading misleading information about the Supreme Courts proceedings. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Patra said Gandhi had misrepresented the Supreme Courts observations and wrongly suggested that the court had established that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had illegally and unilaterally altered Form 6 to benefit the BJP. He said Gandhi had made the allegations in a post on X shortly after the Supreme Court hearing. According to Patra, Gandhi claimed that it had been established without any doubt that Kumar had illegally and unilaterally changed Form 6 and had misused his position to help the BJP. Gandhi also said that those responsible would have to be held accountable. The BJP leader strongly rejected the interpretation, saying the Supreme Court had neither declared Form 6 illegal nor rejected it. He said the court had only made it clear that it had not approved any modified Form 6 and wanted to examine the official record to determine who had made the changes. According to Patra, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed during the hearing that the court had not approved any changed Form 6 and that the record would have to be examined to establish who had made the modification. Patra said this observation could not be interpreted as a judicial finding that Form 6 itself was illegal. The BJP leader also referred to the Election Commissions September 26 press release, which stated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR exercise had been upheld by the Supreme Court. He said Gandhi was creating confusion by presenting the issue as though the entire Form 6 had been declared unlawful. Rahul Gandhi, in his post on X, alleged that the Supreme Court proceedings had established that the Chief Election Commissioner had changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. He described the alleged change as further evidence of the misuse of the CECs position to help the BJP. Gandhi said that the CEC and others allegedly involved in what he described as an attack on democracy would have to be held accountable. The BJP, however, argued that Gandhis interpretation went beyond what the Supreme Court had actually said during the hearing. Patra maintained that the court had not reached a final conclusion on who made the disputed changes or whether the changes were unlawful. Patra also cited the Supreme Courts May 27, 2026, judgment while explaining the Election Commissions position on documentation for the SIR exercise. The BJP spokesperson argued that the Supreme Court judgment did not support such an interpretation. Patra also disputed the allegation that the SIR decision had been taken unilaterally. He said the Bihar SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, was approved unanimously by all three Election Commissioners. According to Patra, the Election Commission itself had reiterated that position in its fact-check response. Patra said the decision was taken collectively by the Commission and pointed to the public record surrounding the announcement as evidence that all three Election Commissioners had participated in the process. He accused Gandhi of presenting the decision as the action of an individual when, according to the Election Commission's position cited by the BJP, it was a unanimous decision of the three-member Commission. Patra also brought up Gandhis earlier criticism of the Supreme Court in connection with the Rafale fighter-jet controversy. He alleged that Gandhi had previously made incorrect claims about what the Supreme Court had said in the Rafale case and subsequently had to clarify his remarks before the court. Patra argued that a similar pattern was emerging in the Form 6 controversy, with the Supreme Courts observations being interpreted politically before the complete legal record had been examined. He urged political leaders to study judgments and official documents carefully before making public allegations involving constitutional institutions. Another issue raised by Patra was a claim that the Election Commission had withdrawn its September 26 press release concerning Form 6 and SIR. Patra rejected the claim and said the press release had not been withdrawn. He said the Election Commission had issued a fact-check on the matter and that the September 26 communication remained part of the Commissions public record. According to Patra, reports suggesting that the press release had been withdrawn following the Supreme Court hearing were false. He accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to create confusion and instability by making allegations against constitutional institutions. He said political disagreements were legitimate but claimed that the Supreme Court and Election Commission should not be selectively cited or portrayed in ways that, according to the BJP, distorted their actual positions.
PM Modi gifts 3 award-winning Indian cheeses to Swiss President Guy Parmelin
During a significant meeting in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented three unique Indian cheeses to Swiss President Guy Parmelin. The selection featured Gulmarg, a French-style Brie, rich and creamy Konark Tomme, and Yeoor, reminiscent of Swiss Gruyre but with a twist of Indian flavor.
Accused of molestation, Delhi IPS officer gets additional charge
New Delhi: Within days of an independent woman journalist accusing him of molestation during a protest, Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat was given a temporary charge as Additional DCP on Monday, October 5. The 2018 batch officer is currently posted as SDPO, Connaught Place. The notification from the Government of National Capital Territory states that 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 .
Delhi Capitals Parts Ways With IPL Coaching Staff; Official Word On New Coaches To Come Soon
Indian Premier League: Delhi Capitals have officially parted ways with their existing coaching group ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, by making an announcement through their social media accounts. Under GMR, who were at the helm for the 2025 and 2026 seasons as per an operational agreement signed with co-owners JSW in 2024, DC had former India player Hemang Badani as their head coach, alongside director of cricket Venugopal Rao, bowling coach Munaf Patel, assistant coach Ian Bell and fielding coach John Mooney. A special coaching group, and some very special memories. Thanks for everything, Tigers, Delhi Capitals posted on 'X' and Instagram accounts on Monday. The announcement comes on the back of operational control now transitioning to JSW Sports for the 2027 and 2028 IPL cycles. Yes, the term of the Badani-led coaching group is over. In a day or two, the new Delhi Capitals coaches for the IPL 2027 season will be officially announced, said a source to IANS on Monday. As previously reported on September 14, Yuvraj Singh, Amit Mishra and Chaminda Vaas are expected to join the new-look DC coaching staff. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, currently serving as JSW's Director of Cricket, is expected to take over as head coach, though it remains to be seen if he will be hit by the Conflict-of-Interest clause as he also serves as President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). In 2019, when he was CAB President before crossing over to become BCCI President, Ganguly was the team advisor for DC in the IPL. At that time, Ganguly had stated that his position as CAB President was purely honorary and he couldnt influence anything in the IPL. Ganguly worked as head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 earlier this year, which marked his maiden foray as a coach, and was also involved with the DC side in the Womens Premier League (WPL). Yuvraj, whos won World Cups for India in ODIs and T20Is, is set to step into his maiden formal cricket coaching role as DCs batting coach. Yuvraj has been a hands-on mentor to Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh, as well as worked with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson intermittently. Vaas, the Sri Lankan fast bowling legend, and Mishra, the former India leg-spinner who was a prolific wicket-taker in the IPL, are slated to join the franchise as fast and spin bowling coaches. Vaas has worked in a coaching capacity with the Sri Lanka mens team many times and with the SLC academy. He also worked with New Zealand and Ireland teams in a consulting capacity, as well as held coaching roles in various franchise leagues. For Mishra, it will be his first coaching stint after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket last year. Ganguly, Yuvraj and Mishra were present at DCs trials and off-season camp at the Just Cricket Ground in Bengaluru in August. In September, Yuvraj, Mishra and Vaas were present at another camp and trials held at a ground in Aerocity, New Delhi. Vaas, the Sri Lankan fast bowling legend, and Mishra, the former India leg-spinner who was a prolific wicket-taker in the IPL, are slated to join the franchise as fast and spin bowling coaches. Vaas has worked in a coaching capacity with the Sri Lanka mens team many times and with the SLC academy. He also worked with New Zealand and Ireland teams in a consulting capacity, as well as held coaching roles in various franchise leagues. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Delhi Speaker asks Kamla Nehru College students to actively participate in democracy
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said on Monday that women must come forward to become active participants in democracy and contribute meaningfully to the making of Viksit Bharat. Interacting with students of Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi, who visited the Assembly under the Youth Outreach Programme, Gupta said the strength of our democracy lies in the active participation of every section of society, and young women have a particularly important role in shaping the India of 2047. Gupta emphasised that the participation of women in democracy should not remain limited to being voters but must extend to public leadership, policy-making, legislative debates and decision-making. He said that Indias journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047 requires the equal participation, talent and leadership of its young women. The visit provided the students an opportunity to experience the functioning of a democratic institution beyond the classroom and to develop a closer understanding of the Constitution, legislative processes and the role of elected representatives, said an official statement. The students explored the historic Assembly complex and were introduced to its rich democratic and parliamentary legacy. During their interaction with the Speaker, the students engaged in an open and insightful discussion on democracy, constitutional values, legislative functioning, womens participation in public life and the role of youth in nation-building. The students enthusiastically participated in the interaction and raised questions on various aspects of democratic governance and the functioning of the House, the statement said. The Speaker encouraged the students to remain curious about public affairs and understand both their constitutional rights and civic responsibilities. He said that young people must actively engage with democratic institutions and develop the ability to understand issues through dialogue, reasoned debate and constitutional values. As part of the visit, the students explored the historic heritage of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, gaining insights into the buildings association with Indias parliamentary history and the important personalities and events connected with its legacy. They were also introduced to the Assemblys heritage initiatives and the Coffee Table Book Ek Shatabdi Yatra, which documents its rich historical journey. The students visited the main Assembly Chamber, giving them a first-hand opportunity to see the setting in which legislative debates and proceedings take place. Through the guided visit and documentaries, they gained a broader perspective on the Assemblys historical significance, democratic traditions and contemporary functioning. Students of DPS School, Chattarpur, MP also visited the Delhi Assembly under this programme. The Youth Outreach Programme continues to provide young citizens with opportunities to interact directly with democratic institutions and understand the functioning of the legislature. The visit by the students of Kamla Nehru College further strengthened this dialogue between the younger generation and the institutions of democracy, encouraging them to see themselves not merely as observers but as active stakeholders in Indias democratic journey.
Sambit Patra targets Punjab govt over crime, cites HC-ordered CBI probe
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging corruption and a deteriorating law-and-order situation following a Punjab and Haryana High Court direction for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into corruption allegations against the Chief Ministers OSD and others. Addressing a press conference at the BJPs central office in New Delhi, Patra alleged that law and order has collapsed, and corruption has reached its peak in Punjab. He referred to the High Courts direction for a CBI investigation into allegations of corruption against Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns OSD, Ranbir Singh Ghuman, and others. Patra claimed that allegations had been made that Ghuman and certain other officials facilitated the delivery of government benefits in exchange for bribes or commissions. He said the court had directed the CBI to carry the inquiry forward, complete the investigation within two months and submit its report. The BJP MP from Odishas Puri Lok Sabha constituency also referred to what he described as four murders and attacks on police personnel in Punjab in the past 48 hours and sought answers from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP regarding corruption and the law-and-order situation. Briefing the media, Patra cited an incident on Sunday evening in Amritsar in which social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu was murdered. He also referred to three murders in Ludhiana within a span of 48 hours, including that of a former sarpanch. According to Patra, Sarpanch Navtej Singh of Malewal village was murdered on Saturday evening, while 29-year-old Laddi Khan of Mullanpur Dakha village was shot dead. He further stated that another murder took place in Anant Vihar Colony, Sahnewal, Ludhiana, where 35-year-old Dinesh Kumar was allegedly stabbed to death. Accusing Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP of double standards, Patra claimed that if a similar situation had occurred in a BJP-ruled state, the party would have organised rallies, held press conferences and demanded dismissal of the government. He further alleged that even police personnel were not safe in Punjab. When police officers themselves are being killed, who will take responsibility for the safety of ordinary citizens? Patra asked. Patra cited several incidents involving attacks on police personnel. He said that on February 22 this year, ASI Gurnam Singh was shot dead at the Aandhiyan Police Post in Gurdaspur district and Home Guard Ashok Kumar was also killed on the same day. He further stated that on May 24, in Hamza village under Fatehgarh Churian on the Majitha Road in Amritsar district, ASI Joga Singh was allegedly killed while on duty by assailants on a scooter. Patra also claimed that ASI Harjit Singh was killed on September 18. He added that five days later, an attempt was made on the life of ASI Jaswant Singh, who narrowly escaped. According to Patra, ASI Sukhchain Singh also came under gunfire on Sunday but survived. We have highlighted the number of police personnel who have been killed, Patra said, while also referring to incidents of firing at police stations.
MP govt preparing to stop farmers from entering Bhopal: Congress
Digital Desk | Bhopal, Oct 5 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Monday alleged that the state government was preparing to prevent farmers from entering Bhopal by deploying barricades and other security measures at 16 major entry and exit points instead of addressing their concerns. Patwari claimed that the government had studied arrangements used during the farmers agitation in Delhi and was preparing to deploy concrete blocks, containers, barbed wire, temporary barricades and containment zones at key points in the state capital. He said farmers were facing problems due to deficient rainfall, inadequate irrigation, power shortages and the lack of remunerative prices for their produce. Instead of putting up barricades at 16 entry points, the government should establish 16 divisional-level farmer solution centres, Patwari said. He added that when farmers come to the capital with their problems, the government should listen to them rather than prepare a strategy to stop them. The Congress leader said the state received 908.4 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30 against the normal 949.5 mm. Western Madhya Pradesh recorded around 11 per cent less rainfall than normal, while the Indore division received 639.70 mm against its normal average of 952.20 mm, a deficit of nearly 33 per cent. He said the rainfall deficit had affected crops and that the Agriculture Department was preparing a contingency plan. Patwari also raised concerns over irrigation infrastructure, claiming that the nearly 40-year-old unlined canals of the Sanjay Sarovar Project were damaged. He said the deadline for supplying water to the tail-end areas of the Pench Diversion Project was November 2027. Farmers need water today, but the government is giving them a date in 2027. This is the height of insensitivity towards farmers, he said. Patwari also demanded special crop-loss surveys in 30 districts and compensation for affected farmers. He sought effective implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a publicly announced schedule for releasing water for rabi crops, and replacement of damaged transformers within 48 hours. He further demanded 10 to 12 hours of three-phase electricity for agricultural feeders and withdrawal of the proposed barricading and containment plan. Patwari said the Congress would stand with farmers and raise their issues from the streets to the Assembly if the government tried to prevent their democratic protests.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra reviews Chhath, Durga Puja arrangements
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Delhi Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday chaired meetings to review arrangements for the upcoming Chhath Puja and Durga Puja celebrations, promising to further improve the level of festivities this year. Mishra said, Last year, Chhath Puja was organised very successfully under the vision of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. This year too, efforts are being made to make the celebrations even better than last year. He said Chhath Puja is an important festival of faith and devotion, and the Government is committed to providing better facilities to devotees while ensuring that the celebrations are organised in a more systematic manner. Mishra said, This year, more cultural programmes will be organised during Chhath Puja so that devotees can have a richer cultural experience along with better facilities. Like last year, the Single Clearance Window System will also be implemented this year to facilitate the smooth processing of permissions and arrangements involving various departments. Mishra said that the Single Clearance Window process will begin from October 15 so that preparations for Chhath Puja can be completed promptly. He issued clear directions that no anti-social activity would be tolerated during Chhath Puja and that strict action would be ensured against those found involved in such activities. After chairing a meeting of the Special Committee constituted for Durga Puja celebrations, Mishra said arrangements for the convenience and safety of devotees should be ensured at pandals and cultural event venues. He also instructed all District Magistrates to conduct regular monitoring of these arrangements. Mishra directed that the process of obtaining necessary NOCs and permissions through the Single Window System be completed within the stipulated timeline. He called for making this years Durga Puja and cultural celebrations more grand, well-organised and devotee-centric. Mishra said that adequate arrangements for CCTV cameras and scanners should be made at pandals. He also said that arrangements should be made for signage to facilitate access to pandals and event venues, health teams, sanitation, mobile toilets, water supply, adequate electricity, traffic management and crowd control at pandals. The Cabinet Minister said that cleanliness at immersion sites should be maintained and the immersion of idols should be carried out in a dignified manner through proper coordination among all concerned departments. He directed the Irrigation & Flood Control Department to pay special attention to the preparation of immersion pits and arrangements for water.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar has lost public trust and must be removed, say former bureaucrats, activists
Former Home Secretary, Delhi L-T among delegation which sought to serve CEC with a public impeachment notice; heavy police barricading prevented the group from reaching the ECI office
FSSAI directs States, UTs to intensify food safety checks during festive season
New Delhi [India], October 5 : The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed food safety authorities across States and Union Territories to intensify surveillance, inspections and sampling during the upcoming Navratri and Diwali festive season to prevent the circulation of adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe food products. In a directive dated September 29, FSSAI said the demand for sweets, savouries, beverages, edible oil, milk and milk products such as ghee, khoa and paneer is expected to increase significantly during the festive period, requiring heightened surveillance and enforcement. FSSAI underscores the need for heightened surveillance and enforcement actions to prevent the circulation of adulterated, counterfeited and unsafe food products namely Milk and Milk products, Sweets, Snacks and Savouries including Namkeen, papad/fryuma, Edible Oil, Beverages and Ghee etc. Further, these commodities may vary and can be decided depending upon the eating patterns & prevalence in the respective regions (eg, use of kuttu atta, singhada atta in northern and western parts), the directive stated. FSSAI said the matter should be treated as most important. FSSAI has asked Commissioners of all States and UTs to direct Designated Officers, Food Safety Officers and Central Food Safety Officers to conduct inspections and sampling in their respective areas during the festive period, particularly at identified hotspots and sensitive locations. The food safety regulator has also directed that Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs), wherever available, be strategically deployed at prominent marketplaces or based on specific intelligence inputs to facilitate on-the-spot testing, strengthen vigilance and create awareness among consumers. Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs), wherever available, may be strategically deployed in prominent marketplaces and/or based on specific intelligence inputs to facilitate on-the-spot testing, strengthen vigilance, create awareness and to boost consumer trust by assuring them of safe and quality food products during the festive season, it said. The directive further stated that data on inspections, sampling and their outcomes must be updated and recorded on FoSCOS/FoSCORIS (Food Safety Compliance System/Food Safety Compliance through Regulatory Inspection and Sampling) on a real-time basis. (ANI)
New Delhi: Delhi Police has registered four FIRs in connection with alleged violence during NSUIs protest in the Parliament Street area on Monday, October 5, including cases related to the purported stabbing of a CISF personnel, rioting, defacement and obstruction of public servants, officials said. As many as 18 people were arrested in connection with 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 .
Shefali Shah has generally kept her personal life away from the public eye, but the actor has now reflected on her first marriage and divorce in her memoir-in-essays, The Audacity of Being. In a recent interaction, she spoke about her decision to write about the experience and explained that the book does not focus on specific individuals or details of what led to the separation. Speaking to The Indian Express, Shefali clarified that she was not interested in revealing private details about her former relationship. Im not naming anyone in the book. Im not even getting into what happened or didnt happen. Im just talking about what happens on a general scale when people get married and nobodys prepared for a divorce, she said. The actor also discussed how people often enter marriage with certain expectations about their future together. According to her, couples may approach marriage with the idea of a happily-ever-after, but things can change when a relationship begins to fall apart. Shefali said her writing focuses on the emotional and practical reality of dealing with the end of a marriage rather than placing blame on either person. Addressing why she chose to write about her first marriage and divorce, she said she did not feel there was anything that needed to be hidden. There was nothing to really hide about. I think Ive written about it very respectfully. Im just talking about any marriage falling off the brink. Theres an entire thing about when you realise your marriage is falling apart. So its, I think, about the failure of a relationship. Shefali was married to actor Harsh Chhaya. The two got married in 1997 and divorced in 2001. She has largely refrained from discussing the relationship publicly. She later married filmmaker and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, with whom she has two sons, Aryaman and Maurya. On the professional front, Shefali has appeared in films including Waqt: The Race Against Time, Dil Dhadakne Do, Jalsa and Darlings. She also received international recognition for playing DCP Vartika Chaturvedi in the Netflix series Delhi Crime, which won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Also Read : EXCLUSIVE: Shefali Shah reveals wrong communication led to her exit from Ram Gopal Varmas Rangeela; says, I didnt perceive it the way he was telling me
Traveling from Gurugram to Amritsar now takes about 4.5 hours over 405 km via high-speed corridors, bypassing Delhi's traffic. The new routes, including Dwarka and KMP Expressways, facilitate quicker journeys, benefiting commuters and travelers alike by avoiding congested urban areas.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launches cashless medical facility for Delhi Jal Board pensioners
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launches cashless medical facility for Delhi Jal Board pensioners
Gyanesh Kumar row: Supreme Court says changes to Form 6 not made by court, issues notice to ECI, Centre.
AIPEF urges HERC not to rush parallel power distribution licence for Gurugram, Nuh
AIPEF urges HERC not to rush parallel power distribution licence for Gurugram, Nuh
Pluralism in Geneva, containers in Islamabad: Pakistan's double-faced reality exposed once again
Digital Desk | Islamabad, Oct 5 (IANS) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, stood before the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva on July 29, 2025 and warned his colleagues against populism, ultra-nationalism and arrow interpretations of nationalism, before closing with the line -- It is time to promote pluralism. It's time to accept diversity. Fourteen months later, on September 25, 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the podium at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and told the world that Pakistan had chosen dialogue over confrontation, that it would give Kashmiris full diplomatic, political, and moral support, and that the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur was proof of Islamophobia in India. Both speeches were written for audiences outside Pakistan, and both said very little about the country they came from. However, the most revealing line in Sharif's address was one he probably did not mean as a confession, when he thanked Field Marshal Asim Munir for helping to create space for diplomacy. An elected Prime Minister crediting his Army Chief from the UN podium says more about where power sits in Pakistan than anything he said about Palestine or the Indus. Pakistans domestic challenges and its rhetoric in Geneva are very different. While similar diplomatic displays occur in our region, the extent to which they reflect reality is a matter for deeper introspection. This also highlights the need to consider the structure of the Pakistani state and the record of the past 18 months. The reality on the ground is different from the rhetoric and requires attention. Pakistan's own parliament has been told that of the 1,817 Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras in the country only 37 remain operational, a figure placed before its Minority Caucus in late 2025, with the Hindu legislator Ramesh Kumar Vankwani blaming the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the body meant to protect these sites and long accused of being more interested in the land they stand on. Decay by neglect is slower than demolition, but the map it leaves behind is much the same. For the Ahmadis, the state does not wait for neglect. The communitys own records indicate 21 mosques desecrated, 381 graves destroyed and 250 Ahmadis booked in religious cases in 2025 alone. These figures are broadly consistent with the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms documentation including the demolition of three Ahmadiyya mosques in Punjab within 10 days in February and the lynching of Laeeq Cheema by a mob of over 400 in Karachi in April. In January 2025, police and municipal staff razed a pre-Partition mosque in Daska, built under the direction of Pakistan's first Foreign Minister Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, after months of pressure from the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, even though the community had complied with the official notice. In effect, the police are doing the work the mob demands. The smaller communities sit further down the same ladder. The Dawoodi Bohras of Karachi were bombed in 2012 and again in 2015, and while they do not face the legal exclusion the Ahmadis do, their experience shows that the hierarchy of belonging now runs inside Islam as well as outside it. Pakistan's roughly 14,500 Baha'is, named in the Constitutions definition of non-Muslims, face exclusion rather than mass violence. This is the reality for the Bah community in Pakistan. Pakistan still has civil society organisations, some of them among the bravest in South Asia, but it no longer has a civil society in any working sense, a space where citizens can organise and criticise without being treated as enemies of the state. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recorded 273 new enforced disappearances in 2025, and at the launch of its report in May 2026 Hina Jilani said the state had surrendered to the security apparatus and Pakistan had become a security state. The tools are legal, which is what makes them durable. On January 2, 2026 an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad handed journalists including Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan two life sentences each, in absentia, for May 9 digital terrorism, and three weeks later the human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to 17 years each under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for their tweets, a sentence the Supreme Court suspended only in September. The clearest evidence, however, came from Pakistanis themselves. When the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party took to the streets of Delhi over the NEET paper leaks in July 2026 and the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, Pakistani content creators watched with something close to envy. Muhammad Waleed said Pakistan never had a democracy to begin with, Mahwash Ajaz pointed out that Indian protesters sing 'Vande Mataram' while Pakistani protesters are labelled separatists, and the former Dawn Editor Cyril Almeida called Jantar Mantar a warning to Pindi. The Indian state was hardly gentle with the protesters, but the creators were not praising Indian policing, they were noticing that protests in India could still produce a result, and that the same channel had been closed at home. The most striking contrast is in Kashmir. Sharif mentioned to the General Assembly that Kashmiris have been waiting for eight decades for a plebiscite, which is just two months after Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) held its own legislative election, all while being cut off from the internet. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, a coalition of traders, transporters, lawyers and students that began in 2023 with protests over wheat and electricity prices, had moved on to demanding the abolition of the 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees living elsewhere in Pakistan, seats widely seen as the route through which Islamabad's parties manufacture majorities in Muzaffarabad. The local government banned the committee under anti-terrorism law on June 5, and by July 28 Amnesty International counted at least 40 dead, 34 of them protesters. In effect, a state that has not let the Kashmiris it already governs decide who sits in their own assembly is asking the world to hold a plebiscite for the Kashmiris it does not. At the same time, the capital was telling its own version of the story. In the weeks around the UNGA address, Islamabad was walled off with shipping containers, at least 2,000 of them according to BBC Urdu, stacked two storeys high with spikes welded on top, to stop the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from marching for Imran Khan's release, and the city earned the name 'Containeristan'. The New York Times quoted an Islamabad urban economist who observed that containers, normally a symbol of trade, had become symbols of chaos and restriction, while truckers in Karachi refused to drive north for fear of having their vehicles seized. Talks between the government and the opposition broke down in the early hours of October 4 over whether PTI leaders could even meet Khan and his doctors, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Sohail Afridi set the march off from Lakki Marwat the same afternoon. India's right of reply, which called Sharif's administration a Form 47 government, and the side events at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, where the Kashmiri radio jockey Harleen Kour spoke of strikes and shutdowns giving way to entrepreneurship on the Indian side, were predictable and should be read as such. What is harder to dismiss is that the critique India voiced had already been made by the HRCP, by Pakistani lawyers and by Pakistani content creators in their own words. The contradiction persists because it is inherent in the structure. The Pakistani state derives its international standing through strategic usefulness as a frontline ally, a mediator between Washington and Tehran or a partner in the Mecca defence pact. The greater its reliance on these roles the less it requires to earn legitimacy from its citizens through transparent elections or open courts. However, as the role of the Army has shifted from being a tacit power broker or the kingmaker, if one has to use the major political lexicon in South Asia to an overt power-sharer demanding its rightful share in the making of the Pakistani story. But the Pakistan story is a troubled road where all of the Generals have seen their legitimacy eroded, Munir will be next in line. At the same Geneva conference where Sadiq spoke of pluralism, the Swedish Speaker described how democratic backsliding usually unfolds, with attacks on free expression and the media first, then manipulation of the electoral system, then attacks on civil society. Pakistan has gone through all three, and its leaders continue to speak abroad as though it has not. The march now moving towards Islamabad will show whether the system still has any room to absorb dissent, or whether the removal of its safety valves has left coercion as the only instrument it is willing to use. If the past is a prologue, then the report in the New York Times on how Islamabad is becoming Containeristan and how state authorities, at times take containers and use them to stop democratic marches from coming to the city, serve as a glimpse on what level the state moves when any democratic pressure applies.
Indias internet user base tops 1.09 billion in FY26, telecom sector logs strong growth: TRAI
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) India's telecom sector posted robust growth in FY26, with internet subscribers crossing the 1.09 billion mark, wireless data consumption surging nearly 25 per cent and average revenue per user rising, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) annual performance report on Monday. The report showed that the total number of internet subscribers increased to 1.09 billion as of March 31, 2026, from 969.1 million a year earlier, registering annual growth of 12.76 per cent. Broadband subscribers accounted for the bulk of the user base at 1.07 billion, as per the data. Broadband subscriptions rose 12.9 per cent during the year, reaching 1.066 billion users, while narrowband subscribers increased to 26.91 million. The telecom sector also witnessed growth in consumer spending. Average revenue per user (ARPU) for wireless services increased to Rs 180.73 per month in FY26 from Rs 174.46 in the previous financial year. India's appetite for mobile data continued to expand rapidly. Wireless data subscribers crossed the one-billion mark, rising to 1.027 billion at the end of FY26. Total wireless data usage jumped 24.74 per cent year-on-year to 2,85,376 petabytes. Average monthly wireless data consumption per subscriber climbed to 25.51 GB in FY26 from 21.53 GB a year earlier, marking an increase of 18.49 per cent. Revenue generated from wireless data services also grew 11.53 per cent to Rs 2.39 lakh crore during the year, according to the data. The report further showed that overall telephone subscriptions in the country rose 10.81 per cent to 1.33 billion by the end of March 2026. Overall tele-density improved to 93.26 per cent from 85.04 per cent a year ago. Urban markets remained the key growth driver, with telephone subscriptions in cities rising nearly 17 per cent to 778.79 million. Urban tele-density increased sharply to 151.47 per cent. Rural telephone subscriptions also registered growth, rising to 551.79 million, while rural tele-density improved to 60.46 per cent. Wireless services continued to dominate the telecom landscape. Total wireless subscribers, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA) users, increased by 118.58 million during the year to reach 1.28 billion.
flyadeal plans major India expansion, eyes Lucknow, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata
The proposed network would give flyadeal a wider presence across Indias major aviation markets, positioning the carrier to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding India-Saudi travel corridor.
The 57th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council has been rescheduled to October 8, starting at 11 am. The meeting's location is the Summit Room, Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. An Office Memorandum cited unavoidable circumstances for the date change without providing further details. Members of the Council have been notified about this alteration, and an apology has been expressed for any inconvenience caused.
Set up 24-hour monitoring cells to prevent sexual offences, Supreme Court tells Delhi Police
Court also asks police to strengthen patrolling, particularly around educational institutions and public spaces; says directives should not merely be on paper
Ashutosh Sharma Switches From Railways To Gujarat For 2026/27 Domestic Season
Gujarat Cricket Association: Ashutosh Sharma has switched allegiance from Railways to Gujarat for the 2026/27 domestic season, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) Secretary Anil Patel told IANS on Monday. It is understood that Ashutosh has been training with the Gujarat team and even featured in some of their practice games. Known for his explosive power-hitting in the death overs in the shortest format, Ashutosh is among three guest players signed by the GCA alongside India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who is currently in the squad for the T20I series against the West Indies, starting in Lucknow on Tuesday, and fast bowler Ashok Sharma, who moved on from Rajasthan but is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Yes, Ashutosh Sharma will be playing domestic cricket for Gujarat from this year. Hes definitely a great addition to our batting order, especially in the white-ball formats. We are waiting for good results now. Theres a need for us to get a big title, as last to last year (2024/25 season), we missed out after coming into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. With a new coach in Monty Desai, lets hope for the best, Patel told IANS on Monday. Ashutosh initially played domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh before moving to Railways. His reputation as a high-impact finisher in the shortest format earned him Indian Premier League (IPL) stints with Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Earlier this year, Ashutosh had a stint with Hampshire in the One-Day Cup, where he picked 14 scalps in seven games, including a five-wicket haul, though he made only 56 runs with the bat. Gujarat will open their 2026/27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Odisha at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The first round of the Ranji Trophy will also see senior opener KL Rahul turn out for Karnataka against Andhra in Vijayawada, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar will captain Rajasthan in their opening game against Tamil Nadu in Jaipur. Earlier this year, Ashutosh had a stint with Hampshire in the One-Day Cup, where he picked 14 scalps in seven games, including a five-wicket haul, though he made only 56 runs with the bat. Gujarat will open their 2026/27 Ranji Trophy campaign against Odisha at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Delhi Police slams misleading social media claims over assault on female protesters
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Monday cautioned the public against misleading claims made on social media handles that female protesters were subjected to physical assault in the city. In a clarification issued on X, the New Delhi district Deputy Commissioner of Police said, Some social media handles are claiming that female protesters were subjected to physical assault. These allegations are baseless and misleading. Female protesters are handled by female staff and are treated with dignity and due regard. Detentions and releases are carried out in accordance with the applicable law and prescribed procedures, said the DCP. Male protesters who were detained were released within the stipulated time period, following due process of law. Any claim suggesting otherwise is factually incorrect and does not reflect the actual sequence of events, said the DCP. Earlier, three women journalists filed complaints against Delhi Police personnel, alleging sexual misconduct while being detained during the protests at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, police said. The police, on Sunday, stated that the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry. Protests are being staged at the national capital's Jantar Mantar, despite the imposition of prohibitory orders, to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a post on X, Delhi Police said: On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law-and-order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. New Delhi District has received their complaints, and the same are transferred to the Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry, it added. Speaking to IANS, a senior police officer said: Despite Section 163 of BNSS being imposed in the New Delhi area, AISA and other parties held a protest on October 3 against SIR. The protesters were informed about the prohibitory orders and warned to leave the spot, and when they did not comply, they were detained. At around 6 pm, three women who identified themselves as journalists complained of manhandling by Delhi Police officers and staff during their detention. Their complaints were accepted, and they were medically examined, she said, reiterating that all the complaints have been transferred to the Crime Branch. The senior police officer appealed to anyone having video footage of the alleged incident to share the same with the Crime Branch.
Javed Akhtar says message attributed to him lashing out at Abhijeet Dipke are as fake as fake can be
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 5 (IANS) Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, has issued a clarification with regards to a recent fake message attributed to him. On Monday, the veteran writer took to his X, formerly Twitter, and penned a long note quashing the claims that he lashed out at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, and said that the message is fake. He wrote, I, Javed Akhtar want to tell every one that the fake message on the social media that I have criticised CJP and run down Abhijeet Dipke is as fake as fake can be. He further mentioned, I am surprised that those who are opposing Dipke and CJP need to borrow credibility from someone like me !! . Yeh Haalut hogayee hai ??? Sad. A fake message has circulated on social media, claiming that the veteran lyricist and screenwriter criticised Abhijeet Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The purported message described Dipke as a puppet of Arvind Kejriwal and accused the CJP of pursuing an anti-BJP agenda. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, has launched a fresh protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The agitation began in Mumbai on October 2, with hundreds of supporters gathering at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the demonstration. The CJP is protesting the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has alleged irregularities in the exercise. The Election Commission has said the revision is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters while retaining eligible voters. The CJP has announced that the campaign will expand to other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Dipke has also announced a return to Delhi, with a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if ECI does not resign. Delhi Police detained few protestors during a demonstration on October 4, 2026.
Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat has been promoted to the rank of additional deputy commissioner of police despite facing an allegation of sexual harassment by a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to
PM Modi gifts award-winning Indian cheeses, Kashmiri walnut panel to Swiss president
New Delhi, Oct 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gifted three special Indian cheeses Gulmarg, Konark and Yeoor and a hand-carved Kashmiri walnut wood wall panel to Swiss President Guy Parmelin, showcasing India's rich and growing traditions of cheese-making and handicrafts. Parmelin began his three-day visit to India on Monday. This is his first state visit to the country and his second visit this year, having previously attended the AI Impact Summit in February. Gulmarg, a French-style cheese, is a heart-shaped, soft and creamy Brie made from pasteurised cow's milk, with a snowy-white rind and earthy, mushroom-like notes. It received a Super Gold award at the 2026 Mundial do Queijo do Brasil, an international competition for cheese and dairy products. Konark is a French Tomme-style cheese with a rustic, natural rind, supple texture, earthy and savoury flavours and a lemony finish. It won gold at the 2023 World Cheese Awards in Norway and silver in Switzerland in 2025. Yeoor is a mountain-style cheese inspired by Swiss Gruyere, which is matured for around eight to nine months to develop nutty, sweet and herbaceous flavours. Its rose-petal and fennel-decorated rind gives it a distinctive Indian-Alpine character, while its excellent melting quality makes it suitable for fondue and grilled preparations. Switzerland is famous worldwide for its wide varieties of cheese, and the three Indian cheeses offered a glimpse of India's own rich and growing tradition of cheese-making. The walnut wood wall panel showcases Kashmir's centuries-old woodcarving heritage. Crafted from premium Himalayan walnut wood, it is intricately hand-carved in deep relief and depicts traditional landscapes, flora, human figures, horses, carriages and village life. The panel reflects Kashmir's distinctive artistic traditions shaped by indigenous and Central Asian influences and celebrates the skill and craftsmanship of Kashmiri artisans. Modi also gifted a Kutchi shawl placed in a Sadeli box to the Swiss presidents wife, Caroline Parmelin, showcasing Gujarat's rich traditions of weaving and decorative craftsmanship. The Sadeli box, from Surat, features intricate geometric patterns created by precisely assembling and layering contrasting materials, while the Kutchi shawl is a vibrant handwoven textile from Kutch, distinguished by geometric motifs and supplementary-weft weaving. Together, the shawl and the Sadeli box celebrate Gujarat's artistic heritage and the skill and ingenuity of its artisans. Earlier, Modi hosted Parmelin for wide-ranging talks to explore new opportunities in further strengthening India-Switzerland ties, especially in areas of trade and investment, mobility and critical technologies. Ahead of Parmelin's talks with Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Swiss leader and discussed various aspects of bilateral ties.
Delhi riots: HC flags political selectivity, rejects SIT probe
The Delhi High Court has dismissed petitions seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, stating no case was made out against politicians, including BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma, for alleged hate speeches. The court noted political selectivity in targeting certain individuals and found no exceptional circumstances to warrant further FIRs or a court-monitored investigation, emphasizing that the criminal justice process has significantly progressed.
India, Sweden focus on innovation in defence and operationalising strategic partnership
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) India and Sweden discussed innovation in defence and operationalising the Strategic Partnership at the 11th IndiaSweden Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary, Planning and Coordination, Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, Meera Mohanty, from the Indian side and Brigadier General Dennis Hedstrom, Ministry of Defence, from the Swedish side. The 11th IndiaSweden Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting concluded successfully in New Delhi, co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (P and C), DDP, MoD, Ms Meera Mohanty, from the Indian side and Brig General Dennis Hedstrm, Ministry of Defence, from the Swedish side. Discussions focused on innovation in defence, operationalising the Strategic Partnership and strengthening defence industrial cooperation between India and Sweden, DDP stated on X. The Swedish delegation also met the Additional Secretary (Defence Production), Shri Dinesh Mahur, providing an opportunity to further deliberate on avenues for enhanced defence technology, innovation and industrial collaboration, it added. Last week, Sweden's Ambassador to India, Petra Menander, said that the longstanding relationship between India and Sweden has deepened and taken to a different level in recent years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What I see is that the long-standing relationship we have has been deepened over the last few years under his tenure. It has been deepened and also taken to a different level, Menander told IANS while highlighting PM Modi's contribution to bilateral ties as he completes 25 years in public service. The diplomat identified technology, innovation and the green transition as the key drivers, including AI, connectivity, telecommunications, mining and life sciences - all areas where both countries are strong. On defence and security cooperation, the Ambassador said the action plan for the partnership agreement was very clear. It includes concrete measures on cybersecurity dialogue, looking at ways to strengthen defence innovation, for instance, and also elevating the political dialogue that we already have, she said.
HC asks Delhi Police to consider dedicated POCSO probe teams in every district
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has directed the Commissioner of Police to consider setting up dedicated investigation teams for cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in every police district of the national capital to ensure timely probe into such cases A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued the direction while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning delay in the investigation of crimes under the POCSO Act. During the hearing, the petitioner drew the High Courts attention to the statutory timelines prescribed under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The CJ Upadhyaya-led Bench was informed that Section 35 of the POCSO Act mandates that evidence of a child victim be recorded within 30 days of the Special Court taking cognisance of the offence, while the trial is required to be completed, as far as possible, within one year. The petitioner further referred to Section 193(2) of the BNSS, which mandates that investigation into specified offences under the POCSO Act be completed within two months from the date on which the FIR is registered by the officer in charge of the police station. It was submitted before the High Court that there have been numerous instances where investigations were not completed within the time stipulated by law. The petitioner, Zuber Ali, had sought the setting up of dedicated POCSO Investigation Teams in every police district of Delhi to ensure timely investigation of such cases. The petitioner had also submitted a representation dated September 5, before the Commissioner of Police, highlighting the issue and seeking appropriate measures. During the hearing, counsel appearing for the Delhi Police, on instructions, informed the High Court that the representation was being attended to and necessary consultation and other processes were underway. Taking note of the response, the bench said that Delhi Police was already cognizant of the grievances raised in the representation and directed the Commissioner of Police to take appropriate steps while taking into account the suggestions made by the petitioner. It directed that a decision be taken within three months and asked counsel for Delhi Police to communicate the order to the Commissioner of Police forthwith.
Rs 200 crore CSR racket: ED seizes Rs 21 lakh after searches at 8 locations in 4 states
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 5 (IANS) The ED seized Rs 21 lakh and digital evidence during searches at eight locations across Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi-NCR in money laundering cases linked to alleged bogus Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donations worth Rs 200 crore, an official said on Monday. The searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office-I, on October 1, 2026, have prima facie revealed a network of charitable trusts, trustees, CSR agents, middlemen and equipment suppliers involved in the diversion and recycling of CSR funds, the ED said in a statement. The searches were conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the case of Dharmendra Kumar Chandraveer Singh and others relating to an alleged bogus CSR donation racket, the statement said. During the searches, cash amounting to Rs 21 lakh was seized. Various incriminating documents and digital devices were also found and seized during the search proceedings, it said. The ED investigation was initiated under PMLA based on an FIR registered at Juhu Police Station against Dharmendra Kumar Chandraveer Singh for offences under the Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act, 1961, the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including offences corresponding to Sections 420, 467, 471 and 475 of the IPC, which are scheduled offences under the PMLA. Investigation revealed that Dharmendra Kumar Chandraveer Singh, despite not possessing any recognised medical qualification or registration with the Medical Council and having studied only up to Class XII, allegedly represented himself as a doctor and used the title Doctor for nearly three decades, the ED said. Capitalising on such representation and the credentials associated with the title of Doctor, he established and operated a network of charitable trusts and entities engaged seemingly in healthcare-focused CSR activities, through which substantial CSR funds were mobilised from PSUs and private corporates, the ED said. At least 40 PSUs and Public Sector Banks across the country have provided CSR donations to the trusts operated by the accused, the ED said. Several projects were only partially executed or not executed in proportion to the funds received, while vendor bills were inflated and excess funds routed through bogus or shell entities. Kickbacks and commissions were allegedly paid to intermediaries facilitating the CSR funding, the ED said. Investigation revealed that the trusts were projected as vehicles for funding the procurement of high-end medical machinery and equipment for hospitals and healthcare institutions, the ED said. When such institutions cited a lack of funds for procurement of the required equipment, they were connected with public representatives of the concerned area, who in turn issued recommendations for funding of such projects specifically through the trusts operated by Singh, the statement said. Enquiries have revealed that PSUs made CSR donations to these trusts primarily on the strength of such recommendations received from public representatives or their staff, it said. Investigation revealed that CSR contributions from private entities were returned substantially in cash to the contributors after deduction of a small commission, it said. Searches revealed a network of CSR agents and intermediaries who channelled CSR funds to the trusts, which were thereafter routed through shell entities controlled by market operators. Most of these entities have also been flagged in multiple GST fraud investigations, it said. The CSR mechanism was utilised as a conduit for conversion of accounted funds into unaccounted cash. CSR funds amounting to Rs 200 crore have been routed through the above mechanism, the ED said.
Journalist Who Alleged Sexual Assault By Delhi Cop Detained Over FIR Demand
Around 17 people, including one of the female journalists who has accused a police officer of sexual assault, were detained in Delhi after spending the night outside the Parliament Street police station.The protesters were demanding registration of an FIR and action over complaints filed by three female journalists, who alleged sexual assault and manhandling during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 3.Delhi Police said the complaints have been handed over to the Crime Branch. The statements of the three women were recorded, medical examinations were conducted, and CCTV footage is being examined.The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, has also backed the journalists and demanded action against the police personnel named in the complaints.
Political Tensions Rise Over Allegations Against Delhi Police Following Journalists Complaint
Tensions escalate in New Delhi as Congress leader Mumtaz Patel criticizes police inaction over a journalists harassment complaint. Political Tensions Rise Over Allegations Against Delhi Police Following Journalists Complaint
Delhi: Voter list verification underway in Patparganj; can add names and make corrections
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) After the controversy over SIR notices to prominent people in the national capital, a mega door-to-door campaign was launched to visit affected residents and help them register or make amendments to the electoral rolls. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting door-to-door visits to verify voter details, identify deceased voters, those who have permanently relocated, and duplicate entries, and help eligible voters add names or rectify errors. The deadline for filing claims and objections, initially set for September 30, has been extended to October 30. Voters whose names were previously left out can now register their names in the voter list using Form-6. In Delhis Patparganj area, individuals who have recently settled got a fresh chance to add their names by following the prescribed procedure. Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Brajesh Mathur told IANS that approximately 1.32 lakh people submitted forms in the first phase of the SIR, and about 46,000 notices were issued for incomplete or incorrect information. He stated that around 90,000 names were included in the deletion process based on first-phase data. Brajesh Mathur further said that claims and objections are in progress, and voters missed in the first phase can still add their names using Form-6. The AERO mentioned that during verification in Patparganj, a large number of voters were identified as deceased or permanently relocated. The AERO further noted that approximately 3,435 deceased voters were identified during the SIR, while around 49,000 voters had permanently shifted elsewhere. He explained that these cases were examined at the BLO and supervisor levels, and the electoral roll was updated where eligible. Duplicate names were also identified during the SIR. According to officials, about 1,525 voters were also registered in other locations, and records were updated after investigation and verification. During the door-to-door verification drive, BLOs are collecting voter information and documents. Brajesh Mathur stated that the response from the public has been largely positive, adding that the team visits the site, speaks with the concerned individual, and tries to resolve any complaint. Speaking to IANS, a couple of residents confirmed that BLO teams are visiting homes to gather electoral-roll information and help them verify details and rectify errors. Speaking to IANS, resident Shashi Sharma said officials are assisting the public. She explained that she had previously lived elsewhere but has since moved. After presenting the relevant documents, her name was added to the voter list for the new area. Gautam, a resident of Kalyanvas, said an issue regarding his daughter was resolved with officials help after he received a notice and visited the site to complete the procedure. He noted that the online process caused no major inconvenience.
Bihar: NDA rallies behind Neeraj Kumar at Patna Graduates MLC nomination
Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 5 (IANS) JD(U) candidate Neeraj Kumar filed his nomination papers on Monday for the Bihar Legislative Council's Patna Graduates constituency, with NDA leaders turning up in strength to signal their support for the party nominee. Health Minister Nishant Kumar was among the NDA leaders present during the nomination process. The show of support comes amid an intense contest for the Patna Graduates seat and ongoing political differences surrounding the constituency. After filing his nomination, Neeraj Kumar expressed confidence in his electoral prospects and took an indirect swipe at his opponents without naming them. He said a victory in the Patna Graduates constituency would not be merely an electoral success but would become a subject of discussion beyond Bihar. The impact of this victory would be felt from Patna to Delhi, Neeraj Kumar said. He added that political stature should not be measured merely by the position a person holds, but by the extent of support and goodwill enjoyed among different sections of society. Neeraj Kumar said he might not have financial strength comparable to some of his opponents, but claimed that the affection and trust of the people were his biggest assets. Taking another indirect dig at his rivals, he said he could become a target of jealousy or hostility but would never accept being an object of sympathy. His remarks come against the backdrop of the ongoing political contest over the Patna Graduates seat, especially after JD(U) MLA Anant Singh openly supported Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh. Neeraj Kumar also praised Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Health Minister Nishant Kumar, comparing the two leaders to Lord Ram and Lakshman. He said the NDA was moving forward in unity under their leadership and asserted that the alliances collective support for his candidature had strengthened his campaign. Neeraj Kumar claimed that he was receiving support from different sections of society and said his victory would carry a political message beyond the outcome of a single Legislative Council seat. Nishant Kumar, who attended the nomination event, pledged to campaign for Neeraj Kumar and called upon NDA leaders and workers to work together for his victory. He said Neeraj Kumar had remained committed to the JD(U) for a long time and pointed to his experience as a three-time member of the Bihar Legislative Council. Describing Neeraj Kumar as a leader committed to socialist ideology, Nishant Kumar said the NDA was united behind his candidature and expressed confidence that party workers and leaders would campaign collectively for him. The presence of NDA leaders at the nomination filing and the statements made by Neeraj Kumar have added momentum to the contest for the Patna Graduates constituency, where the campaign is expected to intensify in the coming days.
ECI debunks Rahul Gandhis claims on Bihar SIR, Form 6
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The ECI on Monday reiterated that the order for SIR in Bihar given on June 24, 2025, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission, dismissing claims made on social media by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. In a clarification issued along with Gandhis social media post, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said, The order for SIR in Bihar issued on 24 June 2025 was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. This order has been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 27 May 2026. The Commission also highlighted its September 26 Press Notes section which said, The declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court. For non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960) will be used. The ECIs clarification came close to Gandhis social media post, which said, It is now established beyond doubt that Gyanesh Kumar changed Form 6 illegally and unilaterally. This is just one more proof of him abusing his position to help the BJP. He and everyone else involved in this criminal assault on our democracy will be held accountable. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) also issued a Fact Check on Monday stating that the ECI has not pulled down the September 26 press note, through which it modified certain terms related to Form 6 for the non-SIR period, from its website. In a Fact Check and fake news alert, the PIB shared the ECI websites link to the September 26 press note, refuting claims made by the Cockroach Janta Partys Ashutosh Ranka on social media. The government advisory asked people, including those active on social media, to guard against rumours. Do not share unverified videos or claims. Check information against credible, independently verifiable sources before accepting or sharing it, said the PIB, the Centres nodal information dissemination agency controlled by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The September 26 note issued by the ECI had extended the SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra and countered allegations of friction within the Commission and revised the SIR notice-related procedure.
ECIs Sep 26 SIR press note never taken down from website: PIB Fact Check (Lead)
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Monday clarified that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not pulled down the September 26 press note, through which it modified certain terms related to Form 6 for SIR and tasked BLOs to collect notice-related additional documents from voters homes, from its website. In a Fact Check and fake news alert, the PIB shared the ECI websites link to the September 26 press note, refuting claims made by the Cockroach Janta Partys Ashutosh Ranka on social media. The government advisory asked people, including those active on social media, to guard against rumours. Do not share unverified videos or claims. Check information against credible, independently verifiable sources before accepting or sharing it, said the PIB, the Centres nodal information dissemination agency controlled by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The September 26 note issued by the ECI had extended the SIR deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, countered allegations of friction within the Commission and revised the SIR notice-related procedure. On Monday, an ECI source said: The September 26 press note is available on the ECI website. Was never taken down. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and the ECI on a plea challenging the manner in which the powers of the poll panel were being exercised. The apex court was hearing a petition which raised the question of whether CEC Gyanesh Kumar was empowered to individually exercise or represent powers vested in the multi-member poll body. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also sought responses from the three Election Commissioners after senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the credibility of the ECI had been undermined and that the CEC was acting contrary to the statutory framework governing the poll body. The CJI-led Bench said that the top court would first require authenticated information on the allegations, stating that it could annul any decision if it is subsequently found to be unlawful. Let's first have authenticated information on that (the allegations). We can always annul any decision, the Supreme Court said. Vikas Singh alternatively urged the apex court to direct that, until the next date of hearing, decisions of the ECI should be taken only unanimously. However, the bench said that the Commissioners were expected to take unanimous decisions and, in the absence of unanimity, the matter was required to be decided by majority.
Delhi HC dismisses pleas for fresh probe into 2019 Jamia violence
Set up 24-hour monitoring cells in vulnerable areas, SC tells Delhi Police
The top court was hearing a suo motu case concerning a spate of sexual assault incidents involving minors and women in the Delhi-National Capital Region
Delhi government introduces cashless healthcare for 50,000 DJB pensioners
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Delhi govt extends cashless healthcare facility to DJB pensioners and family: CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday launched a cashless healthcare facility for more tan 50,000 Delhi Jal Board (DJB) pensioners and family pensioners under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, providing them access to cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals.h The new facility will cover emergency, planned and non-emergency treatment, as well as medical tests, and is aimed at ending the burden of upfront payments and lengthy reimbursement procedures for beneficiaries. Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the facility addressed a long-standing issue faced by DJB pensioners, employees and officers. Today, amidst the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', which marks the Prime Minister's 25 years of dedicated service to the nation, we are addressing a long-standing issue: Thousands of pensioners, employees, and officers who served the Delhi Jal Board had not previously had access to cashless medical facilities at this stage of their lives, when they needed govt support the most, she...
Himachal Pradesh govt raises cash reward for women's Kabaddi Asian Games winners
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh government on Monday increased the cash reward for its women's Kabaddi winners at the recently concluded Asian Games, awarding three players Rs 1 crore each along with a government job. The three Himachali players of the Indian womens kabaddi team - Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhawna Thakur - would be awarded prize money of at least 1 crore by the Himachal Pradesh government for their performance in the Aichi-Nagoya Games, where both women's and men's Kabaddi teams won gold medals. Pushpa, Jyoti and Bhawna met the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and were presented with Himachali caps and shawls in honour. The three players will also be awarded government employment, the release from the Himachal Pradesh government added. The Chief Minister said that the three players would also be provided employment in government service. Those who do not wish to join the Police Department would be offered appointments in the Youth Services and Sports Department, enabling them to continue pursuing their sporting careers while contributing to the promotion and development of sports in the state, he added, the release said. Meanwhile, India fast bowler Renuka Thakur will also be awarded Rs 1 crore in recognition of her achievements, the release said. The women's Kabaddi players spoke about meeting with the state CM after they were left disappointed with the Kabaddi players being offered Rs 33 lakh each for their gold medal win. Look, we were very disappointed because according to the sports policy, we were not being given the amount that was due to us. So literally, anyone would be disappointed, India captain Pushpa Rana, who is from Himachal Pradesh, told IANS. Now, after meeting him, we received a very positive response from the Chief Minister. Considering how politely he handled us and listened to us attentively, I am hopeful that the Rs 1 crore announced or promised to us will definitely be given, she added. Jyoti also opened up about the meeting with the CM. First of all, I want to share that in the recent Asian Games in Japan, Team India won the Gold Medal, which is a proud moment for the whole nation and state. Today, we had a meeting with the Chief Minister. Our main points of discussion were regarding the cash awards and jobs. Initially, an award of Rs 33 lakh was announced, which was seen on social media. This had left us disappointed. So, we met the Chief Minister to present our side. He assured us that an incentive reward of Rs 1 crore will be presented to us at an official function, she said. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan also praised the state players for their performances at the Asiad. Today, three of our girls from Himachal Pradesh who represented Team India - including Pushpa Rana from Sirmaur, who served as captain of the Indian team, along with Bhavna Thakur and Jyoti Thakur - met the Chief Minister and me. It is a matter of great pride and happiness that the Indian team was represented by three players from Himachal, including Ritu Negi from the Shillai constituency. It is a proud moment for us that they led India to the gold medal, he said.
INDIA Bloc parties and Congress workers are protesting across several states. Kharge also condemned the alleged harassment of three female journalists during the anti-CEC protests in Delhi. Meanwhile, the Raj Thackeray-Uddhav Thackeray-led Opposition held the 'Garjana Morcha' in Mumbai, drawing criticism from the BJP and Shiv Sena.
Trump corrects himself after referring to Brazil's presidential election as India's
Washington, Oct 5: President Donald Trump on Monday corrected an earlier post on social media in which he referred to Brazil's presidential election as India's to claim that the electoral process in the US was corrupt. In a glaring factual error, Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, claimed that 125 million people voted in Indias Presidential elections and the results came out shortly after the vote closed. Trump then used the faster counting example to target Democratic-run cities and states such as Detroit, Philadelphia and California. In Detroit, Philadelphia, California, and numerous other US Cities and States, the results, with much smaller numbers, will often take weeks to Rig, I mean, calculate, Trump said. Voting in America is CORRUPT, Trump said, referring to the weeks taken for the counting of votes in elections in US cities and states. Later, he corrected himself to say that 25 Million People voted today in the first round of Brazils Presidential Election. The results came out shortly after the vote closed, on the SAME DAY! Brazil, not India, went to the polls on Sunday for the first round of its presidential election. The South American country recorded 125.27 million valid votes, according to its electoral authority, while results started coming in from 5 pm, when voting closed, and were updated as ballots were counted. Brazil, alphabetically the first part of the acronym BRICS, attended a summit of the grouping in New Delhi last month and the two nations met each other in a FIFA international friendly football match in Kolkata on Saturday -- though neither fact could reliably be cited to explain the mix-up by the US President who handed over the sport's biggest prize in New Jersey in July. India's citizens do not directly vote for their President, who is elected by an electoral college formed by members of Parliament and state assemblies. The incumbent Droupadi Murmu assumed office in 2022. Brazil's election on Sunday featured incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. With neither candidate securing a majority, the two will face each other in a run-off on October 25.
Arijit Singh announces 9-city India Tour 2027 to mark 20 years in music
Arijit Singh has announced his biggest-ever India tour, which will take him across nine cities between January and May 2027. The tour will mark 20 years of his journey in the music industry and bring his music to audiences across some of the countrys large-scale venues. Titled Kotak Solitaire presents Arijit Singh India Tour 2027 powered by Visa, the tour will begin in Ahmedabad on January 9 and conclude in Hyderabad on May 15. The singer will also perform in Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Pune and Indore. Produced and promoted by Team Innovation, the tour will feature multiple stadium-scale presentations. Tickets will be available exclusively through thumpN. The performances are expected to feature songs from different phases of Arijit Singhs career, covering the music that has connected with listeners over the years. The production will include a multi-tiered stage with an extended runway, allowing the singer to perform closer to different sections of the audience. The shows will also feature 360-degree spatial audio, LED fixtures, panoramic screens, laser arrays and pyrotechnics. Speaking about the tour, Arijit Singh said, 20 years of music is a journey I feel very grateful for. The greatest part of it has always been the people - the listeners who have given these songs a life of their own. Im really looking forward to travelling across India and experiencing that love together, live on stage. There are so many songs, so many memories and so many people to meet. I cant wait. Mohit Bijlani, Founder, Team Innovation, said, We take immense pride in presenting a nationwide tour of this magnitude to audiences across the country. Bringing Indias most loved voice to so many cities is a deeply meaningful milestone for our team. It is a genuine tribute to an extraordinary musical legacy, and we are thrilled to create an unprecedented live event. Every single detail of this journey is being designed to world-class standards, offering fans a live experience at a scale never seen before in his home country. Varun Khare, CEO, thumpN, said, There are very few artists whose announcement can make an entire country stop and ask one question: When do the tickets go on sale? Arijit Singh is one of them. His music has an extraordinary ability to bring people together - and we expect these shows to be exactly that. Thousands of people singing the same words, at the same time, in the same place. For thumpN, being the ticketing platform for this tour is a privilege. Our job is to make sure that getting from I need to be there to actually being there in the moment is as seamless as possible. Were incredibly excited to bring this experience to fans across all 9 cities. Alaap Gosher, CEO & Co-Founder, TM Ventures, said, This tour has been an exciting opportunity to bring together the experience and expertise of the people weve worked with for over 13 years with a fresh team of creative minds and new perspectives. Theres something powerful about combining deep knowledge of the artist and his live journey with a new generation of creative thinking. With an artist like Arijit, the ambition has always been to keep evolving the live experience, and this time we wanted to challenge ourselves to look at the show through a completely fresh lens - bringing new ideas and approaches while staying rooted in what makes his connection with audiences so unique. Its been an incredible journey of combining experience with fresh thinking to build something that feels both familiar and completely new, and we cant wait for audiences across India to experience it. Gaurav Ramdev, Head Of Marketing, India And South Asia, Visa, said, Music has an incredible power to connect people, and Arijit Singh's journey over the past 20 years reflects that beautifully. At Visa, we believe in being present wherever our cardholders want to be, whether that's an everyday purchase or a once-in-a-lifetime moment. This tour represents millions of fans coming together to celebrate songs that have become the soundtrack to their lives, and we're proud to help make those moments possible. Because at Visa, we don't just enable transactions, we power the extraordinary moments that move people. The Kotak Solitaire Visa Credit Card pre-sale will begin on October 10, 2026, at 12 PM and continue until October 11 at 2 PM. The pre-sale for all Kotak Visa Credit Cards will run from October 11 at 12 PM to October 13 at 2 PM. The general sale will begin on October 13 at 2 PM onwards. Also Read : Arijit Singh voices Main Na Raha Mera title track featuring Adhyayan Suman and Divita Rai
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Top seeds in the mens and womens singles draws, Manish Sureshkumar and Vaidehee Chaudhari, kicked off their respective campaigns with comfortable straight-sets wins on the opening day of the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Monday. Sureshkumar, the defending champion, needed just 61 minutes to defeat Prasad Ingale 6-1, 6-2, while Chaudhari, a two-time former champion who missed last years edition due to injury, dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Riya Sachdeva in 56 minutes. It was a good start. I just tried to be solid because it was the first match, Sureshkumar said after his win. I tried to put as many balls on the court and get the rhythm. Today's match was more about being solid and trying to force the opponent to make an error. I think I was serving really well today. Hopefully, I can continue the momentum to the upcoming rounds. Gunning for his third Fenesta Open title, Sureshkumar is feeling confident playing at what he described as one of his favourite venues. I have won this tournament twice already. Last year was pretty good. I didn't start pretty well last year, but I was able to end it well. I have always liked playing on these courts in Delhi. This is one of my favourite venues. I feel confident playing here, and that's what I will be looking forward to, the 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu added. Chaudhari won the first 11 games of her first-round match before her opponent got on the scoreboard. I played really well; I was 6-0, 5-0 up. I wanted to finish in love and love, she told the media after the win. But Riya played a good game, and it was 6-0, 6-1. Now Im looking forward to my second-round match tomorrow. Like Sureshkumar, Chaudhari also has fond memories of the tournament and is hoping to create some more this year. This place is very special for me. I won my first title in 2022 and the second one in 2024. And whenever I come here, I always go back with the trophy. I feel really good, and hopefully I create some more good memories here this year, she added. Meanwhile, Soha Sadiq caused the first big upset of the tournament with a 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 6 seed Jennifer Luikham in 86 minutes. I feel really good, I feel really positive, Sadiq said after her win. Jennifer is not an easy player to play against. She is very persistent and is a very good player. I am happy I won. The 28-year-old had been training hard in preparation for the event and was happy to see her work pay off on court on Monday. I was training just for this tournament, and I just did everything (in the match) I practised for. This is one of the biggest tournaments in India, and this win is a good start for me, she said. Elsewhere in the mens singles draw, third seed Nitin Sinha, sixth seed Maan Kesharwani and eighth seed Rohan Mehra all advanced to the second round. However, No. 7 seed Madhwin Kamath was knocked out by Parth Aggarwal in three sets. In the womens singles draw, second seed Shruti Ahlawat reached the second round with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Chevika Sama, while third seed Akanksha Nitture battled past Lakshmi Gowda 7-6, 7-6. Suraj Prabodh, the top seed in the mens qualifying draw, was one of eight players to come through qualifying and earn a place in the main draw. Others included 35-year-old veteran Lakshit Sood and rising juniors Aditya Mor and Prakaash Sarran, who are both among the seeded players in the Boys Under-18 singles draw, which also commenced on Monday. In the Boys Under-18 singles draw, top seed Praneel Sharma was impressive as he defeated Ritvik Dutt 6-0, 6-0 in less than an hour. Fourth seed Om Ramesh Patel, seventh seed Parjanya Adury and No. 8 seed Kushagra Arora also won their first-round matches in straight sets. The Girls' Under-18 singles draw also got underway on Monday. The top 16 seeds received a bye into the second round. They were joined by first-round winners Riddhi Shinde, Paavani Bisht, Pooja Nagaraj and Sanidya Karantoth, among others. Results at the time of writing this report: Mens Singles First Round (Round of 32): Manish Sureshkumar [1] (TN) def. Prasad Ingale (MH) 6-1, 6-2; Nitin Sinha [3] (WB) def. K Suresh (TN) 6-2, 6-2; Maan Kesharwani [6] (UP) def. Vansh Bisht (DL) 6-4, 6-4; Parth Aggarwal (DL) def. Madhwin Kamath [7] (GJ) 7-5, 1-6, 6-2; Rohan Mehra [8] (DL) def. A Senthilkumar (TN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; Pranav Karthik (TN) def. Suhith Lanka (TG) 6-4, 6-4; Debasis Sahoo (OD) def. Irfan Husain (TN) 7-5, 7-6 Womens Singles First Round (Round of 32) Results Vaidehi Chaudhari [1] def. Riya Sachdeva 6-0, 6-1 Shruti Ahlawat [2] def. Chevika Sama 6-4, 6-0 Akanksha Nitture [3] def. Lakshmi Gowda 7-6, 7-6 Soha Sadiq def. Jennifer Luikham [6] 6-4, 6-1 Akansha Ghosh def. Divya Bhardwaj 6-4, 6-2 Saily Thakkar def. Pooja Ingale 6-3, 6-3 Yubrani Banerjee def. Hasini Davunaboina 6-1, 6-0 Boys U18 First Round (Round of 64) Results Praneel Sharma [1] def. Ritvik Dutt 6-0, 6-0 Om Ramesh Patel [4] def. Gyansh Manchanda 6-2, 6-0 Parjanya Adury [7] def. Gaurish Madaan 6-0, 6-4 Kushagra Arora [8] def. Aritra Sasmal 6-3, 6-0 Sharan Somasi [11] def. Chandra Kopparapu 6-1, 6-3 Veer Jiten Madam def. Yaj Malik [14] 6-1, 6-1 Yashwin Dahiya [15] def. Ryan Mehta 6-2, 6-0 Lakshya Chukka [16] def. Lakshay Drall 6-0, 6-2 C Yale def. Rehaan Theodore 6-4, 6-4 Sarthak Gaikwad def. Ahaan Khanna 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Tejas Ravi def. Nithik Sivakumar 6-3, 6-4 Anay Pandey def. Raunak Gilra 6-2, 7-5 Sangram Bhadury def. Harsh Nandal 6-2, 6-1 Mehul Jothish def. Ashwin Kabilan 7-5, 6-3 Aryaveer Sharma def. Gurrshan Mehta 6-1, 7-5 Rishi Yadav def. Arnav Bhuyan 6-3, 6-2 Srikar Doni def. Aksh Jood 6-1, 6-3 Girls U18 First Round (Round of 64) Results Riddhi Shinde def. Zoha Qureshi 6-2, 6-1 Paavani Bisht def. Ruhin Kaushal 6-2, 6-0 Pooja Nagaraj def. Vrandika Raput 6-1, 6-3 Sanidya Karantoth def. Mahi Raulji 6-0, 6-3 Mehul Malik def. Dyuti Jain 7-5, 6-1 Anjhalle Meka def. Aafreen Rahil 6-0, 6-4 Diya Chaudhary def. Vani Bansal 6-1, 6-0 Aniha Gavinolla def. Sanmitha Harini 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 Harsha Oruganti def. Sherry Sharma 6-1, 6-2 Tejaswi Manneni def. Chanchal Malik 6-1, 6-0 Iha Joshi def. Aarnavi Tomar 6-1, 6-0 Miraya Agrawal def. Mehr Muralidass 6-1, 6-0 Manvi Gupta def. Anarva Shyamraj 6-1, 6-0 Thatiparthy Hemaza def. Rathi Manvi 6-1, 6-3
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood holds follow-up meeting with PG owners over student safety
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood held a follow-up meeting with owners of paying guest (PG) accommodations in the national capital, days after his interaction with students staying in PG facilities. The meeting comes after the minister met students staying in PGs, focusing on concerns raised by those students, particularly those related to their safety and security, and discussions on improving the overall PG accommodation system in Delhi. The Minister stressed the need for better coordination among PG owners and other stakeholders to address students
MercedesBenz India posts best quarter with 6 pc annual sales surge
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) MercedesBenz India recorded its best quarter and retailed 5,422 units in Q3 2026, up 6 per cent from 5,119 units in Q3 2025 and up 17 per cent on a quarteronquarter basis, a report said on Monday. The company recorded its highestever JanuarySeptember sales of 15,190 units, with roughly 8 per cent growth over 14,132 units in the same period last year. The performance was driven by strength across its TopEnd luxury models, including the SClass, MercedesMaybach, EQS Maybach SUV, GClass, VClass and AMG range. Top end models grew over 13 per cent yearonyear and accounted for over 25 per cent of sales, with the MANUFAKTUR personalisation programme accounting for nearly 75 per cent of that segment. MercedesAMG deliveries rose over 18 per cent, and the AMG G 63 posted its highestever monthly sales, the company said. It noted upcoming deliveries of the New Electrified S-Class which will begin mid-October; the New GLC BEV makes its India debut on November 4, 2026. Mercedes-Benz continues its outstanding growth story in India, clocking best-ever quarter and highest January-September sales, driven by exceptional value led customer strategy, said Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. Our record sales in each quarter in CY 2026 is a result of our unwavering focus on high product substance, brand exclusivity and elevating customer experience. Our diverse product portfolio mix, new powertrain and elevated customer experience reflects the strong desirability of Mercedes-Benz among India's most discerning luxury consumers, Iyer said. While upcoming new products like the GLC BEV have already created high anticipation in the market, deliveries of the much-awaited electrified S-Class will begin this month, strengthening Mercedes-Benz's unmatched luxury positioning as the 'most desirable luxury brand' for discerning luxury dwellers, he added.
Weather Tomorrow: On Tuesday, October 6, various regions in the country are expected to experience unusual weather conditions. Delhi-NCR will remain mostly dry with gusty winds but limited rainfall is anticipated. In contrast, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar may see thunderstorms and lightning along with gusty winds. Odisha and Uttarakhand are also likely to experience isolated rains with possible thunderstorms.
Zubeen Garg death probe : SC to hear key accused's bail plea in November
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing on the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in the case concerning the death of Assams iconic singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore, and posted the matter for further hearing in the first week of November. Mahanta, who is currently lodged in Baksa jail along with five other accused, was arrested in October 2025, a month after Garg died in Singapore. During the hearing, the Assam government apprised the apex court of the progress of the trial and informed it that the examination of witnesses was underway. The state said that statements of 94 out of 394 witnesses had been recorded as of August 14. It also informed the apex court that several important witnesses based in Singapore were yet to be examined and their statements were expected to be recorded shortly. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the state authorities to ensure that the trial proceeds expeditiously and without unnecessary delay. The progress made in the trial has also been taken into consideration while hearing Mahantas plea for bail. Garg, one of Assams most popular musicians and cultural icons, died in Singapore in September 2025 after an incident at sea. His death triggered widespread grief across Assam and raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Assam government subsequently ordered a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading to his death. The investigation later resulted in the arrest of several people and criminal proceedings against them. Mahanta, who was associated with the organisation of the North East India Festival in Singapore, was among those arrested in connection with the case. Investigators have examined the circumstances surrounding Gargs presence in Singapore and the events preceding his death. A fast-track court in Assam has framed murder charges against four accused, including Mahanta, in the case. Besides Mahanta, six other individuals, including Gargs bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, have been arrested and are facing investigation and proceedings in connection with the case. Five other accused are currently lodged in Baksa jail, according to the states submission before the Supreme Court. With key witnesses from Singapore still to be examined, the prosecutions evidence remains under way. The apex court is now scheduled to consider Mahantas bail plea again in the first week of November.
Delhi education minister meets PG owners on student safety concerns
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British Airways flight to Chicago declares emergency over Ireland, descends to 9,000 feet
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) A British Airways flight operating from London to Chicago declared an emergency while flying over Ireland, prompting the aircraft to squawk the 7700 emergency code and descend to around 9,000 feet, according to flight-tracking data on Monday. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, flight BA295 triggered the emergency alert while en route across the Atlantic. The Boeing aircraft's descent and emergency signal attracted attention from aviation observers, although the exact nature of the incident was not immediately known. The 7700 transponder code is used by flight crews to indicate a general emergency requiring priority handling by air traffic control. While the code alerts controllers that urgent assistance may be needed, it does not specify the cause, which can range from a technical malfunction and medical emergency to other operational concerns. British Airways had not immediately disclosed the reason behind the emergency, and further details regarding the aircraft's condition and subsequent flight path were awaited. The incident comes days after another high-profile aviation emergency involving flydubai flight FZ1073, which was forced to divert after an alleged attack inside the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. That aircraft transmitted both the 7700 emergency code and the 7500 code, which is associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking situation. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 174 passengers and crew when the incident occurred on September 30. According to reports, the aircraft entered a rapid descent after the alleged cockpit altercation. Despite sustaining injuries, the captain was able to regain control of the situation with assistance from passengers and off-duty pilots travelling on the flight. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates later described the incident as a terrorist attack and launched an investigation. The co-pilot involved was subsequently transferred to UAE custody. The British Airways incident is understood to be entirely separate from the flydubai case, and there is currently no indication of any connection between the two events. Aviation authorities and the airline are expected to provide further information once the circumstances behind BA295's emergency declaration have been established.
Shammi Narangs Grandson Hears His Metro Voice
For years, Shammi Narangs voice has been a familiar sound for Delhi Metro commuters. But a recent journey turned into a memorable family moment when his young grandson heard that voice over the Metros announcement system for the first time.Narang, a former national news anchor with Doordarshan, recently took his grandson Rushaan on his first-ever ride on the Delhi Metro and shared a video of the experience on X.
Centre clears appointment of judicial officer Gurvinder Pal Singh as Delhi HC additional judge
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) The Centre has notified the appointment of judicial officer Gurvinder Pal Singh as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court, nearly a month after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his elevation along with seven other judicial officers. In a post on X, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the President, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India and after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was pleased to appoint Singh as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court. The appointment comes after the Supreme Court Collegium, at its meeting held on September 10, recommended eight judicial officers for appointment as judges of the Delhi High Court. The recommended judicial officers were Gurvinder Pal Singh, Nivedita Anil Sharma, Nisha Sahay Saxena, Sanjay Sharma-I, Bharat Parashar, Dr Aditi Choudhary, Dinesh Bhatt, and Arun Bhardwaj. The Centre had subsequently notified the appointments of seven of the eight judicial officers on September 19, including Nivedita Sharma and Saxena as judges and Sanjay Sharma, Parashar, Choudhary, Bhatt, and Bhardwaj as additional judges of the Delhi High Court. Singh was the only one among the eight recommended names whose appointment was not included in that notification. His appointment has now been cleared by the Centre. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on Monday also cleared the elevation of Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh as judges of the Supreme Court. The appointments followed the Collegium's recommendation made on September 28 for their elevation to the apex court.
Delhi Police mulls FIR against woman accusing ACP of molestation
New Delhi: Hours after detaining the woman journalist who had accused an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of molesting her, the Delhi Police on Monday, October 5, was allegedly preparing to register an FIR against her. This came amid the Delhi Police issuing a statement in the evening, denying charges of physical assault on women 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 .
Arijit Singh Set For Biggest Ever India Tour Across 9 Cities In 2027
Arijit Singhs 2027 tour will span nine cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Jaipur. Continue reading ...
Excise teams seize 123 liquor bottles from Goa, Delhi near Hyderabad airport
3 New Judges Appointed To Supreme Court, Working Strength Reaches 37
Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court; Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court; and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Chief Justice, Telangana High Court have been elevated as judges of the top court.
Cultural capital must be integral to economic policy: Culture minister
Development must not destroy the very heritage that gives identities to citizens and communities, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Monday, as he pitched for giving cultural capital its ightful place in the architecture of economic policy. In his keynote address at Kautilya Economic Conclave -- a gathering of financial policymakers and experts -- in Delhi, he further said, We must create a model in which development protects heritage, and heritage enriches development. He spoke at the session under the theme 'Culture as Capital: From Heritage to Horizons' and shared the dais with noted economist N K Singh and British-Indian peer Lord Karan Bilimoria. Shekhawat, also the Union tourism minister, underlined the value of India's rich cultural heritage in contributing as a growth engine for its economy and asserted that modernity must go hand in hand with civilisational confidence. At an economic forum like this, we must broaden our vocabulary of developmen
Delhi Keeps Shutting Metro Stations to Curb Protests, but Who Pays the Price?
The Supreme Court has long treated commuter inconvenience as a serious harm when protesters cause it.
7 kg drug worth Rs 50 crore recovered, 4 arrested: Delhi Police busts interstate heroin network
The Delhi Police has busted an interstate module involved in supplying and manufacturing drugs, recovering more than 7 kilograms of heroin worth Rs 50 crore in international market and arresting four persons, said officials on Monday.
New Delhi-Chandigarh Shatabdi Express was recently involved in a cattle run-over incident between Rathdhana and Sonipat in the Northern Railway zone when the loco pilot tried to stop the train using emergency brakes.
$100 Billion Investment, 10 Lakh Jobs: PM Modis Big Remarks After India-Switzerland Talks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Swiss President Guy Parmelin in New Delhi, with investment, jobs and mobility at the centre of discussions.PM Modi said the India-EFTA trade pact could help bring $100 billion in investment and create 10 lakh direct jobs in India over the next 15 years. India and Switzerland also agreed to deepen cooperation in defence production, military exchanges and nuclear energy.The talks also covered market access, Swiss investment, mobility opportunities for Indian students and professionals, the Ukraine war, West Asia and reforms in global institutions.
