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Wed, 04 December 2024
NCP-SP leader, 88 villagers booked for re-poll bid
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23:52 Woman, boy faint at premier show of Allu Arjun's 'Pushpa 2' in Hyderabad
A woman and a boy fainted when a large number of fans gathered at a movie theater here on Wednesday for the premier show of the much-awaited Pushpa 2: The Rule of actor Allu Arjun.
Police personnel conducted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on the duo and sent them to a hospital, a police official said.
A heavy crowd rushed ahead to have a glimpse of the actors at the theatre and the two fell unconscious during jostling, the police said.
The police official pointed out that as the theater was small, it could not accommodate such a massive crowd.
Asked about reports that police resorted to mild lathi-charge, the official said to control the situation they used mild force to disperse the surging crowd. -- PTI
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23:49 NCP-SP leader, 88 villagers booked for re-poll bid using ballot papers
The police registered case against NCP-SP leader Uttam Jankar and 88 others a day after a section of villagers in Markadwadi village of Solapur district and nearby areas attempted to conduct a "re-election" using ballot papers, an official said on Wednesday.
A day earlier, a case was registered against 200 villagers for allegedly defying prohibitory orders.
Jankar, who had won the Malshiras assembly seat in the recent elections, and others were charged with unlawful assembly and disobeying orders issued by a public servant, among other sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita.
The police said around 250 to 300 people had gathered to conduct a "repoll" by wilfully defying prohibitory orders and encouraging others to participate in the unauthorised polling process, the official said.
The idea of conducting re-election with ballot papers was floated after villagers raised doubts about the number of votes counted through EVMs from a polling booth in Markadwadi in the recently-held state polls.
However, they relented and gave up their plan after the police's intervention. Jankar had defeated BJP's Ram Satpute by 13,147 votes.
Though Jankar won the seat, Markadwadi residents claimed the quantum of votes polled by the NCP-SP leader was less compared with Satpute, expressing doubt about the EVMs.
The Solapur district administration had denied permission to villagers to conduct the re-poll on the ballot paper and imposed prohibitory orders banning unlawful assembly.
The villagers, however, made arrangements for re-polling on Tuesday morning and placed the polling material. -- PTI
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23:33 Two cars catch fire after collision on Dwarka Expressway, one dead
A person was charred to death after his car caught fire following a collision with an SUV on a flyover in Dwarka Sector 21 on Wednesday, the police said.
According to the police, the SUV also caught fire but its occupants managed to escape in time.
A call regarding the fire was received at 12:20 am, and two fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, a Delhi Fire Services official said.
"By the time the fire tenders arrived, both vehicles were engulfed in flames," the official said.
A police officer said that the Sector 23 Dwarka police station received information about the accident around 12.15 am following which a team reached the Yashobhoomi flyover.
They suspect that the two vehicles collided head-on.
"The occupants of the Creta car managed to get out in time but the person inside the Eeco car got trapped and died. His body was recovered after the fire was extinguished," the officer added.
A crime team inspected the scene, and the body was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital mortuary.
The driver was identified as Arvind Kumar (36), a resident of Farrukhnagar in Gurugram, the police said.
Police sources said that the Creta driver was driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the road at a high speed.
"There is a turn near Yashobhoomi. Both the vehicles were on the same path and due to the turn, they collided with each other. Due to the impact, Arvind got stuck inside the vehicle that was in flames," the police said. -- PTI
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23:15 Vande Bharat Express halts for over two hours due to technical glitch in Kerala
The Vande Bharat Express running from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram was delayed near Shornur railway station on Wednesday evening following a technical issue, according to the railway police.
The train came to a halt at around 5.30 pm near the Shornur railway bridge and remained stationary until close to 8 pm, after which operations resumed.
Engineers were dispatched to inspect and address the problem, an officer from the Shornur railway station said.
"The train has since been pulled into the Shornur railway station," the officer added.
An official assured that all passengers onboard were safe, and no untoward incidents occurred during the delay.
He also mentioned that a few trains were delayed as a result of the disruption. -- PTI
Former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura in police custody/ANI Photo
23:01 Badal shooter spotted at Golden Temple on Tuesday
The police were keeping an eye on former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura who had visited the Golden Temple on Tuesday too, a day before his failed attempt on the life of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, a senior official said.
Chaura on Wednesday opened fire from a close range at Badal, who was performing the duty of 'sewadar' at the main gate of the Sikh shrine as a religious penance, but missed as he was overpowered by plainclothes policemen.
Amritsar police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar on Wednesday lauded the police personnel, saying their alertness had foiled the murder bid.
He said the police seized a 9 mm pistol from Chaura.
Bhullar said the police would investigate all angles in the case, including if any organisation was behind the incident or it was carried out to "gain sympathy".
Additional deputy commissioner of police Harpal Singh said the police were keeping an eye on the accused.
"We had covered Sukhbir Ji,' he said, adding that the cops had been alert. "Narain Singh Chaura was roaming around here yesterday (Tuesday) as well', he said.
Senior SAD leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia questioned why police did not take action against Chaura who faced multiple cases, many of them serious ones.
"I have shared a video that the accused was in the area since yesterday," Majithia told reporters in Amritsar. "He was dressed in a cream-coloured sweater yesterday. If the police were so alert, why did they not arrest him? Police were giving him VIP treatment and probably waiting for the bullet to be fired," Majithia said. -- PTI
Abhinandan Lodha, chairman of HoABL Infraworld/ANI Photo
22:55 Abhinandan Lodha's firm buys American Center in Mumbai for Rs 56 cr
Realty firm HoABL Infraworld Pvt Ltd on Wednesday said it has acquired the iconic American Center building in Mumbai for Rs 56 crore.
The company has acquired the American Center building in South Mumbai, a Ground + 7 storey structure spanning 1,337.81 square meters.
This project will have a development potential of around 60,000 square feet, the company said in a statement.
The property, which was part of the US Consulate General in Mumbai, has been purchased by HoABL Infraworld from the secretary of state of the United States of America (Representing the Government of The United States of America) for Rs 55.98 crore.
"Built in 1968, the American Center in Mumbai long served as a cornerstone of US-India relations. Over the years, the property housed key institutions including the American Library, the US-India Educational Foundation, the US Foreign Commercial Service, and the press and cultural affairs offices."
"For generations, the American Center played a vital role in fostering US-India people-to-people connections and advancing US-India commercial and cultural ties," said Consulate spokesperson Greg Pardo.
Abhinandan Lodha, chairman of HoABL Infraworld, said: "The Indian real estate market is at a pivotal juncture, fuelled by rising demand, favourable policies, and evolving lifestyles."
"We entered this deal during the peak of the pandemic in 2021, purchasing the property with the understanding that the final agreement would follow post government approvals. Now that these approvals are in place, we are grateful to see the transaction successfully concluded," he said.
Abhinandan Lodha had formed Lodha Ventures into 2015. -- PTI
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and PM Narendra Modi/File image
22:36 Bhutan King to pay 2-day visit to India from tomorrow
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will pay a two-day visit to India beginning Thursday with an aim to further expand the already close ties between the two countries.
The ministry of external affairs said the King will be accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and senior officials of the Bhutan government.
"During the visit, His Majesty, the King of Bhutan, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar," the MEA said.
India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation which are characterised by mutual understanding and trust, it said.
"The visit shall provide both sides an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the exemplary bilateral partnership across diverse sectors," the MEA said in a statement. -- PTI
22:06 India beats Pak 5-3 in men's junior Asia Cup final
Just In: Indian hockey team beats Pakistan 5-3 in final to win hat-trick of titles in men's junior Asia Cup in Muscat.
21:51 Mumbai sees hottest December day in 16 years
Mumbai on Wednesday recorded a maximum temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius, its hottest day in December in the last 16 years, the India meteorological department (IMD) said.
The Santacruz observatory, which monitors temperature for the suburbs, recorded 37.3 degree Celsius, while the Colaba weather station for the island city logged 35 degrees Celsius.
On December 5, 2008, the Kalina observatory had recorded 37.7 degrees Celsius, Sushma Nair, scientist with IMD Mumbai, said.
It was just last week -- on November 29 -- that Mumbai recorded a minimum temperature of 16.5 degrees Celsius, the lowest in November in the last eight years.
On Wednesday morning, Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra witnessed light rains, with the city clocking a minimum temperature of over 25 degrees Celsius. The skies over the city have been cloudy since Tuesday.
The Colaba observatory in south Mumbai recorded a minimum temperature of 25.8 degrees Celsius, while the one in Santacruz in the western suburbs logged 25.5 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.
Some parts of the city recorded light rains.
"Moisture incursion due to cyclone Fengal brought the rains," the IMD said.
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21:16 Off-duty Army jawan shot at by terrorists in J-K
An off-duty Army jawan was injured after being shot by terrorists in the Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday, officials said.
Delhair Mushtaq, a resident of Aripal area in Tral, sustained two bullet injuries on the legs.
The incident occurred near his house at Sofigund, they said.
Mushtaq was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable, they said.
The soldier was on leave and had come home to spend time with his family.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the assailants, the officials said. -- PTI
Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rahman Barq/Courtesy X
21:03 Sambhal violence accused SP MP booked for 'mowing down' man
A probe has been ordered into allegations that a vehicle driven by Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rahman Barq, who had been booked in the wake of recent violence in Sambhal, hit and killed a man, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the police, the 30-year-old victim's father, Samar Pal, claimed that the vehicle that hit Gaurav on June 24 had 'Samajwadi Party MP' written on it and was being driven by Barq.
He further accused the police of "not investigating the incident properly". Speaking on the matter, superintendent of police of Sambhal Krishan Kumar Bishnoi said, "In the complaint, it has been mentioned that it was a black Scorpio car. The investigation has been given to ASP, who has been asked to submit a report within three days."
As per the FIR lodged regarding the incident, it occurred on Hasanpur Road at around 11 pm. Gaurav was seriously injured and was admitted to the District Joint Hospital.
He died during treatment. -- PTI
AAP MLA Naresh Balyan (second from left) being produced before a court in New Delhi, on Sunday/ANI Photo
20:36 AAP MLA Naresh Balyan held in MCOCA case; gets bail in extortion case
The Delhi police on Wednesday arrested AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in a case related to an alleged organised crime, while he was granted bail by a court here in a separate case related to alleged extortion.
Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Paras Dalal granted relief to the accused on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of like amount.
The judge clarified that Balyan was arrested on Wednesday in the second case while he was in police custody.
Earlier in the day, the police moved an application before the court seeking its permission to arrest Balyan in the case lodged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
The judge, however, dismissed the application, calling it "not maintainable" and said, "whichever agency wants can arrest him (Balyan) as per the law".
In the extortion case, the police told the court that the accused was not required for further custodial interrogation and sought his 14-day judicial custody. -- PTI
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20:19 730 CAPF, NSG and AR personnel committed suicide in last five years: Govt
Over 700 personnel of Central Armed Police Forces, National Security Guards and Assam Rifles have committed suicide in the last five years, while 55,555 have resigned or taken voluntary retirement during the period, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
In a written response to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said 144 suicides were reported in CAPF, NSG and AR in 2020, 157 in 2021, 138 in 2022, 157 in 2023 and 134 in 2024, accounting for 730 cases in five years.
The data cited by him showed that 47,891 personnel in CAPF, NSG and AR have taken voluntary retirement and 7,664 have resigned in the last five years.
The minister said, generally, the working hours in the Central Armed Police Forces are eight hourly shifts.
"This, however, varies depending on operational exigencies. Necessary leave/training reserve is built in the structure of Battalions so that the personnel get rest and leave," he said.
The minister said measures have been taken to implement a transparent, rational and fair leave policy and to regulate duty hours to ensure adequate rest and leave.
"Improvement in working conditions/amenities and welfare of CAPFs, NSG & AR is a constant endeavour of the Government," he said. -- PTI
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde
19:43 Eknath Shinde to take oath as deputy CM tomorrow
Just In: Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde will take oath on Thursday as Maharashtra's deputy chief minister along with NCP's Ajit Pawar, in the new government, said Shiv Sena sources on Wednesday.
More details soon. -- ANI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma/File image
19:24 Beef banned in hotels, public places: Himanta
The Assam government has decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday.
A decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet to amend the existing law on beef consumption to incorporate the new provisions.
"We have decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotel and public places," Sarma told a press conference in New Delhi. -- PTI
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19:00 Navy helicopter makes emergency landing in Odisha paddy field
An Indian Navy helicopter made an emergency landing at a paddy field in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday, the police said.
The helicopter landed in Armada village in Rasgovindpur police station area, taking farmers working in the field by surprise, they said.
After landing, the pilot came out of the helicopter and examined it.
The helicopter left the place after about 30-40 minutes, the police said.
Superintendent of police Varun Guntupalli said the helicopter had landed there because of minor technical issues and it was repaired by the pilot himself. -- PTI
18:48 Murder case accused with '50 paise' bounty on head held in MP's Indore
The police in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Wednesday arrested a criminal, on whose head they had announced a reward of 50 paise for threatening a witness in a murder case, an official said.
The city police have launched a unique campaign to announce token rewards against absconding criminals.
Talking to reporters, deputy commissioner of police Vinod Kumar Meena said that accused Saurabh Gaur alias Bittu (24) was arrested from the city's Gandhi Nagar area.
Gaur, who is a prime accused in a murder case, had fled after threatening a witness in the case in Malharganj area to change his statement in court, he said.
A reward of 50 paise was announced for Gaur's arrest as per his "status" in the eyes of the police, he added.
"We are announcing token rewards of nominal amounts on absconding criminals. The purpose of this is to send a message to criminals that no matter how big a goon they think they are, the police will arrest them and take strict action," Meena said.
After an advertisement announcing a reward of 50 paisa for Gaur's arrest was circulated on social media, he closed his Instagram account for a few days to avoid "embarrassment", he said.
According to Meena, 11 criminal cases are registered against Gaur at different police stations in the city. -- PTI
Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar
18:23 Ajit can take oath morning and evening: Shinde
Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over two and half years of Mahayuti government in Maharashtra ahead of the scheduled oath taking of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister of the State tomorrow.
"I am very happy with the completion of two and a half years. The work done by our government, the Mahayuti government, the three of us and our team in the last 2.5 years is remarkable. It will be written in golden letters in history. We are happy that we took such big decisions..."
Shinde was flanked by Fadnavis and NCP chief Ajit Pawar at a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Addressing media persons, Pawar emphasised that they will leave no stone unturned to run the government.
"...We will give our best to run the government in the state. Activities related to the party will be handled by (BJP chief) Chandrashekhar Bawankule and NCP's Sunil Tatkare...," he said.
Fadnavis is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister after being unanimously chosen as Leader of Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party earlier on Wednesday.
Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar called on Governor CP Radhakrishnan to stake claim to form the Mahayuti government. -- ANI
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17:50 HC grants bail to third accused in IIT-BHU student's gang rape case
The Allahabad high court has granted bail to the third person accused in the gang rape of an IIT student from the Banaras Hindu University in 2023, officials said on Wednesday.
Government counsel Manoj Kumar Gupta said the high court granted bail to Saksham Patel on Monday.
Two other accused in the case -- Kunal Pandey and Abhishek Chauhan -- were granted bail earlier.
Gupta also claimed the gang rape survivor told him after Patel was granted bail that she was leaving Varanasi for another other city.
The victim earlier requested the court to allow her to attend hearings virtually, citing academic disruptions caused by frequent court appearances and the emotional strain of facing her alleged attackers in person.
Gupta said the court is yet to pass orders on the victim's plea.
The hearing in the case is not moving at a fast pace, forcing the victim to appear in the court again and again, Gupta claimed.
The case dates back to November 1, 2023, when the IIT student, along with her friend, was allegedly accosted by three men on a motorbike while walking outside their hostel.
The men allegedly restrained her, forced her to remove her clothes at gunpoint, filmed the incident and then proceeded to rape her.
The shocking incident sparked protests by students who took to the streets, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators and better safety measures on campus. -- PTI
17:30 HC exempts Hemant Soren from personal appearance in court
The Jharkhand high court on Wednesday exempted Chief Minister Hemant Soren from personal appearance before the MP/MLA court in Ranchi in a case related to disobeying summonses by the Enforcement Directorate.
The court gave a week's time to the Enforcement Directorate to file a reply in the case.
The case will be heard again on December 16 and till then Soren was exempted from personally appearing before the MP/MLA court.
ED had filed a complaint against Soren before the court of the judicial magistrate for his non-appearance though he has been summoned several times by the central agency in connection with a case of alleged money laundering linked to a land scam.
The court ordered Soren to appear before the MP/MLA Court in Ranchi in person on December 4.
The chief minister challenged the order of the judicial magistrate before the high court, saying he was unable to appear personally due to official commitments and engagements.
Opposing his plea, the ED submitted before the court that the petitioner was issued seven summonses, but he did not appear and was not cooperating with the investigation. -- PTI
17:14 Bank stocks gain ahead of RBI policy
Benchmark Sensex advanced 110 points in a choppy trade on Wednesday, extending its gains to the fourth day in a row helped by buying in HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and fresh foreign fund inflows.
The 30-share barometer rose by 110.58 points or 0.14 per cent to settle at 80,956.33 with 14 of its constituents ending with gains and 16 stocks with losses. During the day, it jumped 399.64 points or 0.49 per cent to 81,245.39 and dipped to a low of 80,630.53.
The NSE Nifty rose marginally by 10.30 points or 0.04 per cent to 24,467.45 as gains in IT, realty and banking shares were offset by profit-taking in auto and FMCG shares.
From the 30-share Sensex pack, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finserv, NTPC, Titan, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Finance and ICICI Bank were the biggest gainers. Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, Adani Ports, Power Grid, Maruti, ITC, Reliance Industries and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards. -- PTI
16:56 Meet the man who saved Sukbhir Badal's life today
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police, Jasbir Singh, recounted the assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, describing how the police acted swiftly to thwart the attack.
Singh explained that despite instructions not to frisk or stop anyone, he identified the alleged attacker, Narain Singh Chaura, and took immediate action. The Punjab Police managed to neutralise the threat, seize the weapon, and arrest the suspect promptly.
"When he (Narain Singh Chaura) came there, I was standing alert. Looking at him, everything became clear. He was rounded up, his pistol taken away, and he was arrested," Singh said in a video released by the Aam Aadmi Party PRO.
Jasbir Singh was reportedly one of the officers who overpowered the alleged attacker, successfully foiling the assassination attempt.
"Officers had already briefed us that nothing untoward should happen here. So, we were on full alert, upholding the decorum of Darbar Sahib," ASI Singh added.
According to Punjab Police, the attacker has a criminal background with over 21 cases registered against him.
"This person has been arrested, and he has a previous criminal record. There are more than 21 cases registered against him. Police are interrogating him, and as we uncover more facts, we will share them with you," said Punjab Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla. -- ANI
16:37 Main toh lenewala hoon: Ajit Pawar on taking oath
Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar stake claim to form the government in the state. Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as CM of Maharashtra tomorrow, 5th December.
NCP chief Ajit Pawar says, "...We will give our best to run the government in the state. Activities related to the party will be handled by (BJP chief) Chandrashekhar Bawankule and NCP's Sunil Tatkare."
Eknath Shinde fobbed off the question about taking oath with a 'will see tomorrow evening', but Ajit Pawar quipped, 'He will need till evening to decide, but I'm taking oath. Shaam tak unko samaj mein aayega. Main toh leneala hoon."
Everyone at the presser erupts in laughter. Lighthearted moments among the three factions of the Mahayuti after the stress of keeping the faction together.
16:16 Shinde: Dada has taken oath morning, evening
Maharashtra CM-designate Devendra Fadnavis says, "The posts of CM and DCM are just technical posts. We all will work together for Maharashtra. Other ministers will be decided in upcoming meetings. We have met the Governor and handed over the letter of support to stake claim to form the government in the state. Our alliance partners Shiv Sena and NCP have requested the Governor that I should be sworn in as Mahayuti CM.
"Eknath Shinde in his capacity as President of Shiv Sena and head of Shiv Sena's Legislature Party, has given a letter recommending my name for the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Along with this, Nationalist Congress Party President and Legislature Party leader Ajit Dada Pawar have also given a similar letter... Independent MLAs who are with us, all have submitted a letter to the Governor.
"Governor accepted all the requests and invited us for the oath ceremony tomorrow at 5.30 pm."
Lots of light moments at the presser.
Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde says, "I am very happy with the completion of two and a half years. The work done by our government, the Mahayuti government, the three of us and our team in the last 2.5 years is remarkable. It will be written in golden letters in history. We are happy that we took such big decisions."
When asked if he and NCP chief Ajit Pawar will also take oath as Deputy CMs tomorrow, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde says, "Wait till evening..." Replying to Shinde, NCP chief Ajit Pawar laughs and says, "Sham tak unko samaj aayega, I will take it (oath), I will not wait."
Replying to NCP chief Pawar, Shinde says, "Dada (Ajit Pawar) has experience of taking (oath) both in the morning and evening."
Broad smiles on all the three chiefs of the Maharashtra Mahayuti.
Reason to celebrate for the BJP in Maharashtra
15:40 Teacher recalls Fadnavis: Back-bencher but...
Devendra Fadnavis, who is set to become the chief minister of Maharashtra for a third time, was a sensitive, polite and helpful student who never boasted about his family's political background, recalls one of his school teachers.
He used to sit on the back row benches in the school as he was one of the taller students, says Savitri Subramanium, who was Fadnavis' teacher in Saraswati Vidyalaya in Nagpur from Class 8 to 10. Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected as the Maharashtra BJP legislature party leader, paving the way for his swearing in as the chief minister for a third time.
His first stint as the CM was for a full five-year term between 2014 to 2019, while the second one lasted just around 80 hours in November 2019.
A six-time MLA who served as the youngest mayor of Nagpur, Fadnavis completed his school education in Nagpur - the second capital of Maharashtra.
Recalling his nature, Subramanium said, "Fadnavis was average and unextraordinary in studies, but studied well. He was a very polite, cheerful and sensitive student."
As he was one of the taller students, he used to sit on the back row benches in the classroom along with other taller students, she said. His entire class batch was very understanding.
Fadnavis was very sensitive and used help other students in need, she added. "There was one polio-affected student in their class, who needed help to move around. The entire class, including Fadnavis always helped him. In fact, the entire class did not move to the upper floors so that the particular student does not face problems," Subramanium said.
She said she never thought that Fadnavis would become a good orator as he never came on stage or performed on stage during the school days.
"He may have inculcated these qualities during his participation in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) as a student activist," she added. Subramanium recalls the BJP leader as a very polite and simple student, who never boasted about his family's political background even as his father Gangadharrao Fadnavis was an MLC at that time.
"Fadnavis was always very clear in his principles and used to speak with clarity due to his parents' 'sanskars'," she said. Subramanium remembers that after Fadnavis became the mayor of Nagpur at a very young age (of 27), he was felicitated at the school. She also recalls Fadnavis coming to school with his family during a reunion of his batch.
Expressing happiness over Fadnavis set to become the chief minister of Maharashtra again, Subramanium said she was very proud of his achievement, and advised him to take all the sections of the society along and unite the people of Maharashtra to make the state big again. PTI
15:11 4000 cops on duty for Maha CM's oath ceremony
More than 4,000 police personnel have been deployed for security during the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra's new chief minister scheduled here on Thursday evening, officials said.
The oath ceremony will be held at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Devendra Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected as Maharashtra BJP legislature party's leader, paving the way for his swearing-in as the chief minister for a third time.
A large number of supporters of the Mahayuti allies -- BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP -- are expected to gather at the venue to witness the ceremony. Special arrangements have been made to accommodate 40,000 Bharatiya Janata Party supporters and a separate seating arrangement made for 2,000 VVIPs, including leaders from various religions, a BJP leader earlier said. At least 3,500 police personnel and 520 officers have been deployed for security arrangements, an official said.
A platoon of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), and Quick Response Team (QRT), Riots Control Team, Delta, Combat teams and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad have also been deployed, he said. Senior police officers will monitor security at the event, he said.
Security arrangements have also been made considering the traffic congestion on roads leading to the Azad Maidan.
More than 280 personnel of the traffic wing, including senior police officials, will ensure smooth vehicular movement, he said. Traffic has also been diverted on some routes in view of the event, the official said. As there is no parking facility at the Azad Maidan, traffic police have requested people to use public transport, specially local trains, he said. PTI
15:07 In Odisha, dogs attacked 777 people daily in 22 months: Govt data
Odisha recorded over 5.20 lakh dog bite cases between January 2023 and October 2024, according to data provided by the state government in the Assembly on Wednesday. This means stray canines or domesticated ones have targeted an average of 777 individuals every day during that period.
In a written reply to a question from Rayagada MLA Kadraka Appala Swamy of the Congress, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said that a total of 5,20,237 dog bite cases were reported in Odisha during those 22 months.
While 2,59,107 dog bite cases were reported during 2023, 2,43,565 such cases were recorded from January to October of 2024. The maximum number of such cases at 33,547, 32,561 and 29,801 were reported during January, February and March of 2024, respectively -- PTI
15:03 Doily on a car? Indian artist wins prestigious Turner Prize
Glasgow-born artist of Indian heritage Jasleen Kaur, whose works are inspired by her life growing up in Scotland's Sikh community, has won Britain's prestigious Turner Prize 2024 for her considered weaving together of the "personal, political and spiritual.
Kaur collected the GBP 25,000 (Rs 26.84 lakh approximately) prize at a ceremony at the Tate Britain in London on Tuesday night for her solo exhibition Alter Altar', which included sculptures from gathered and remade objects, each of which are animated through an immersive sound and musical composition interspersed with the artist's own renditions.
The Turner Prize jury said they chose Kaur for her reflections upon everyday objects, animating them through sound and music to summon community and cultural inheritance.
The jury noted the considered way in which Kaur weaves together the personal, political and spiritual in her exhibition Alter Altar', choreographing a visual and aural experience that suggests both solidarity and joy, Turner Prize said in a statement.
They praised her ability to gather different voices through unexpected and playful combinations of material, from Irn-Bru to family photographs and a vintage Ford Escort, locating moments of resilience and possibility, they said. Objects including family photos, an Axminster carpet, a vintage Ford Escort covered in a giant doily (ornamental mat), Irn-Bru (Scottish drink) and kinetic hand bells have been orchestrated to convey the London-based artist's upbringing in Scotland.
"I have had so many messages today from people from the local Sikh community and from folk that I grew up with. Something like this that is so visible means a lot to a lot of different people. It means something to different groups and I'm up for representing all of them," said Kaur, on winning the honour.
The artist, in her 30s, studied jewellery making and then applied art, which got her interested in making objects in combinations around the stories that they can tell. Her exhibition, along with the three other shortlisted artists who each win GBP 10,000, is on display at Tate Britain Museum by the river Thames until mid-February 2025. -- PTI
14:45 Maha polls proved 'ek hain, safe hai': Fadnavis
Elected to lead the Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party, Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday termed the Assembly polls as "historic", reiterated the "Ek Hain to Safe Hain" rhetoric of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaigning and added "Modi Hai to Mumkin hai".
An official invitation card of swearing-in ceremony sourced from Fadnavis' office states that he is set to take oath as chief minister of the State at Azad Maidan in Mumbai at 5:30 pm in December 5 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the meeting of the BJP legislative party, the chief minister-elect extended his gratitude towards all leaders and MLAs present in the meeting for unanimously choosing him as the Leader of Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party.
He further expressed gratitude to caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NDA leader Ramdas Athawle.
"I thank everyone from the legislative party that you all chose me unanimously. And i thank our central observers Rupani ji and Nirmala ji also. As you all know that these were historic elections and these elections have proved that 'Ek Hain to Safe Hain' and 'Modi Hai to Mumkin hai'. We have restarted our series of victories with Haryana and now Maharashtra, has given such a thumping mandate that I completely bow down before the Maharashtra voters. I also thank CM Eknath Shinde ji and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar along with Athawle ji and our other allies. Our constitution has given us the electoral process which was written by Baba Saheb Ambedkar is completing 75 years of age now."
Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani were present in today's legislative party meeting as central observers.
Expressing pride that not even a single MLA has left the BJP since 2019, Fadnavis said that they all stayed together and formed government in 2022 and now, they have attained a historic mandate in the recently concluded elections.
"We are proud that not a single MLA left us after 2019 and all stayed together and we formed government in 2022. And today also Mahayuti has got historic mandate. PM Modi has become PM for three consecutive terms. I started as a ward level leader and now I have also become CM for third term. Though, I got a short term in technical way. PM Modi and Amit Shah both have given a huge support and boosted it during Maharashtra elections," the BJP leader stated. -- PTI
Devendra Fadnavis is back in the driver's seat
14:16 Only Maha CM, 2 deputy CMs to take oath tomorrow
Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on Wednesday said only the chief minister and two deputy chief ministers will take oath during the swearing-in ceremony to be held on December 5 at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
The decision on the modalities of the cabinet and portfolios will be taken later, he said. Samant said it is the desire of Shiv Sena workers, MLAs and MPs that caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should be the deputy chief minister, giving an indication that the latter may not be eager to take up the post.
Fadnavis was on Wednesday unanimously elected as Maharashtra BJP legislature party's leader, paving the way for his swearing in as the chief minister for a third time. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Thursday in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of NDA chief ministers.
"The information I have now is that the CM and two deputy CMs will take oath. The next decision (of cabinet formation and portfolio allocation) will be taken by the three leaders (Fadnavis, Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar)," Samant told reporters.
"The three leaders will meet before going to the governor (to stake claim for forming the government in the state). They will talk to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and then take a decision," he said.
"More than Eknath Shinde's wish, we -- around 60-61 MLAs -- want him (Shinde) to lead us in the government. This is our firm stand. There are no ifs and buts on this. Shinde should become deputy CM and this is the desire of Shiv Sainiks, MLAs and MPs," he added.
His remarks give an indication that Shinde may not be eager to join the government. "It has been decided that there will be two deputy CMs. We have the right to put forth our point before our leader. Our insistence is for the betterment of Maharashtra," Samant said. According to him, Shinde said he will tour the state as the Shiv Sena chief. But the party wants him (Shinde) to be the deputy CM and part of the administration, the former minister added. -- PTI
13:50 Monkeying around
And another picture Shashi Tharoor shared with his friend, seated comfortably on a chair in the beautiful Delhi winter.
13:49 The adventures of Shashi Tharoor and the monkey
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shares this rather bemused picture of himself and a friend writing, "Had an extraordinary experience today. While i was sitting in the garden, reading my morning newspapers, a monkey wandered in, headed straight for me and parked himself on my lap. He hungrily ate a couple of bananas we offered him, hugged me and proceeded to rest his head on my chest and dozed off. I gently began to get up, he leapt off and loped away."
13:45 Punha yein: How Fadnavis returned to the throne
Devendra Fadnavis, the political stalwart who rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in Maharashtra politics, is set to become chief minister -- a position he has held twice before.
The 54-year-old leader, whose career has been marked by a blend of resilience and strategic manoeuvring, is positioned to lead the state for the third time following a decisive showing of the BJP in the November 20 assembly polls, and his election as leader of the state BJP legislature party on Wednesday.
Fadnavis' political journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From serving as an obscure corporator to becoming the youngest mayor of Nagpur, he has strengthened his status as a prominent leader within his party.
Notably, he is only the second Brahmin to serve as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, following the Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi.
His ascent began in earnest ahead of the 2014 assembly elections, where he garnered significant support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. Modi famously referred to him as "Nagpur's gift to the country" during a campaign rally, underscoring the confidence placed in Fadnavis.
Though Modi had launched a campaign blitzkrieg in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls, a portion of the credit also went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the party's unprecedented victories in the elections.
Son of Jan Sangh and later BJP leader late Gangadhar Fadnavis, whom his fellow Nagpur politician and former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari calls his "political guru", Devendra cut his teeth in politics at a young age when he joined Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students wing of RSS, in 1989. At 22, he became a corporator in the Nagpur civic body and its youngest Mayor in 1997 at the age of 27.
Fadnavis contested his first assembly election in 1999 and won. There was no looking back for him as he won three subsequent assembly elections. He retained his Nagpur South West seat comfortably in the last month's election.
Unlike many leaders across the political spectrum in Maharashtra, Fadnavis has remained untainted by accusations of corruption. Among the most articulate Maharashtra politicians, Fadnavis is also credited with pushing the previous Congress-NCP government into a corner over the alleged irrigation scam.
Fadnavis experienced a setback in the aftermath of the 2019 assembly elections as the then united Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray pulled out of the pre-poll alliance over sharing of CM's post, shattering the BJP leader's much-hyped mee punha yein (I will come back again) slogan.
Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister for the second time on November 23, 2019, and Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister. However, before a Supreme Court-ordered no confidence motion could take place, Fadnavis quit on November 26, three days after taking oath as the CM.
Uddhav Thackeray, propped up by Sharad Pawar-led NCP, later became the CM, but quit after senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde split the party in June 2022 and later became the CM. After Thackeray demitted office following the large-scale desertions in the Sena, many political observers thought that Fadnavis, who they knew was behind the episode, would become the CM. However, the BJP leadership had other plans and a reluctant Fadnavis was asked to occupy the deputy CM's post.
His tenure in the last two-and-a-half years as Deputy Chief Minister saw a marked resurgence, and the assembly elections results of November 23 came as the much-awaited cherry on the cake.
Though he hails from a politically active family, his father and aunt both served in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Fadnavis has crafted his own distinct political identity. Fadnavis' first tenure as the CM was characterised by a combination of good governance and effective political manoeuvring. He earned praise for his push to expedite infrastructure projects, gaining favour particularly among urban voters. -- PTI
Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple
12:52 Why was an ex-terrorist allowed near Badal?
Bullet fired at Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple: Punjab BJP vice president Fatehjung Singh Bajwa says, "I must say that this is a major security lapse.
"Narain Singh Chaura (attacker) is a dreaded terrorist. He hails from Dera Baba Nanak. He was very active during the era of terrorism. He was in jail for a long time.
"I don't understand one thing, police say that he was roaming here one day earlier as well. If police knew that Narain Singh Chaura was roaming around, how did they leave Sukhbir Singh Badal out in the open?
"It's a very big lapse. A man (attacker) who does such a thing on the premises of Harmandir Sahib can't be a Sikh. This could have been a huge incident had Sukhbir Singh Badal been shot or hurt.
"It is the job of the government to maintain police and law and order. Why was the so-called terrorist released from jail? He came out to kill people. It is the proxy of Pakistan. Such people belong in jail."
The audacious attack by the former terrorist was captured on cameras of mediapersons who had gathered outside the Sikh shrine to cover the second day of Badal's penance for "mistakes" committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
Television footage showed the shooter slowly walking towards Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulling out a gun from his pocket. A police official in plainclothes standing near Badal quickly intervened and grabbed the attacker's hands. In the melee, a bullet hit the wall behind Badal, who escaped unhurt.
12:40 Rahul: Ready to go alone to Sambhal but...
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who was stopped at the Ghazipur border here on Wednesday, said he was ready to go alone to Sambhal with police but was not allowed.
"As the leader of the opposition, it is my constitutional right. I should have been allowed," he said. The Congress' Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was accompanying Rahul Gandhi, said, "Rahul ji is on a constitutional post and has the constitutional right. He should be allowed to meet the victims' families."
With prohibitory orders in place in Sambhal, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was stopped at the Ghazipur border here on Wednesday on his way to the district.
"I am ready to go alone to Sambhal with police but I am not being allowed," Rahul Gandhi said in Ghaziabad. Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders reached the Ghazipur border in the morning where heavy police force was deployed and barricades put up to stop them from entering Sambhal. Curbs under Section 163 (power to issue an order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which were set to expire on Sunday, have now been extended till December 31 in Sambhal.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia on Tuesday wrote a letter to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the superintendents of police of Amroha and Bulandshahr districts, urging them to stop Rahul Gandhi at the borders of their districts.
"We will not permit Rahul Gandhi to Sambhal as prohibitory orders have been issued by the administration there. Police will stop Gandhi at UP gate," Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra told PTI.
He said ample police force has been deployed at the spot, he said. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19, when a Mughal-era mosque was surveyed on court orders following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.
12:22 Fadnavis supporters celebrate his 2nd term as CM
Celebrations outside the residence of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur. He has been unanimously elected as the Leader of Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party.
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, sources said. His name was finalised in the BJP's core committee meeting held in Mumbai today before its Maharashtra legislature party meet, they said.
Ashish Shelar to be the chief whip of Maharashtra BJP.
12:10 Much to smile about
Devendra Fadnavis unanimously elected Maharashtra BJP legislature party leader at meeting in Mumbai. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the BJP's observers for Maharashtra, were present at the BJP's core committee meet.
12:06 Sara Tendulkar's new job is...
Rumours continue to swirl around Sara Tendulkar, the daughter of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Is she making her Bollywood debut, is she not?
Sara has been spotted in Mumbai's Pali Hill area, entering a vanity van parked outside a studio, earlier this year.
Today, her dad staunched the Bollywood rumours with this post:
"Im overjoyed to share that my daughter Sara Tendulkar has joined the
@STF_India as Director.
"She holds a Masters degree in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition from University College London. As she embarks on this journey to empower India through sports, healthcare, and education, it serves as a reminder of how global learning can come full circle.
#SachinTendulkarFoundation #STF."
Or maybe, Sara will multitask and do a film yet.
Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn-in tomorrow
11:55 Maha BJP legislature party meet begins
Maharashtra BJP legislature party meeting begins in Mumbai's Vidhan Bhawan to elect new leader.
11:54 DEVENDRA FADNAVIS will be Maharashtra CM
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, sources said. His name was finalised in the BJP's core committee meeting held in Mumbai today before its Maharashtra legislature party meet, they said.
Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Fadnavis were present in the BJP's core committee meet. The BJP has appointed Sitharaman and Rupani as central observers for its Maharashtra legislature party's meeting.
Ahead of the legislature party meet, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the Mahayuti partners will meet Governor C P Radhakrishnan at 3.30 pm on Wednesday to stake a claim to form a government in the state.
The BJP achieved remarkable success in the November 20 Maharashtra elections, securing 132 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state, marking its best performance in the state so far. Together with its allies -- the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's NCP, the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition has a commanding majority of 230 seats. PTI
The heavily fortified Ghazipur border
11:28 Rahul stopped at Ghazipur border on way to Sambhal
With prohibitory orders in place in Sambhal, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was stopped at the Ghazipur border here on Wednesday on his way to the district, a senior police officer said.
Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders reached the Ghazipur border in the morning where heavy police force was deployed and barricades put up to stop them from entering Sambhal.
Curbs under Section 163 (power to issue an order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which were set to expire on Sunday, have now been extended till December 31 in Sambhal.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia on Tuesday wrote a letter to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the superintendents of police of Amroha and Bulandshahr districts, urging them to stop Rahul Gandhi at the borders of their districts.
"We will not permit Rahul Gandhi to Sambhal as prohibitory orders have been issued by the administration there. Police will stop Gandhi at UP gate," Ghaziabad Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra told PTI.
He said ample police force has been deployed at the spot, he said. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19, when a Mughal-era mosque was surveyed on court orders following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.
Violence erupted during a second survey on November 24 as protesters gathered near Shahi Jama Masjid and clashed with security personnel. Four people were killed in the violence and many more were injured. -- PTI
11:21 104-yr-old man released from Bengal jail
A 104-year-old man released from West Bengal's Malda Correctional Home after languishing in jail for 36 years said he will spend time with his family members and do gardening.
Rasikt Mondal had been sentenced to judicial custody 36 years back in 1988 on the charge of murdering his brother in a land dispute case. He had been enlarged on bail for about one year in between but again went back to the prison once the bail period was over and the session and high court turned down his pleas for release on past occasions.
Mondal, a resident of Manikchak in Malda district, told reporters emerging out of the gate of Malda Correctional Home on Tuesday that he will now devote full time to gardening/nurturing plants and spending time with family members.
Asked how old was he Mondal mumbled 108 years but his son, accompanying him, corrected he was 104. Correctional home authorities said records showed he was 104.
"I don't remember how many years I had spent in jail. It seemed never-ending. I don't even recall when I was brought here," the elderly man, looking remarkably agile considering his age, said. However, he added "now I have come out I can do justice to my passion - attending plants in the small garden in my courtyard. I missed my family and grandchildren. Want to be with them."
Mondal's son said his father was released following an order of the Supreme Court. "After certain years, every prisoner is entitled to release from prison if he has not committed any improper act during incarceration. Happy the SC finally paved the way for his release," the son said. Correctional Home department officials said his was one of the very few cases of centurion inmates incarcerated in jails in the state. -- PTI
Amritsar Police Commissioner
11:05 Badal shooter has criminal record: Police
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar says, "Due to the alertness and deployment of our Police, this attack attempt was foiled. Our personnel Rishpal Singh, Jasbir and Parminder displayed alertness and foiled the attempts.
"Narayan Singh Chaura (attacker), who has a criminal record, has been arrested. Case has been registered. There were adequate arrangements for Sukhbir Singh Badal's security. There were foolproof security arrangements. Deployment for a protectee is made as per threat perception. So, there was heavy deployment. There are several cases registered against him (Chaura), arms were recovered from him in the past, we will have to check records."
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was shot at by a man while he was performing the duty of 'sewadar' outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday.
10:49 Badal assassination attempt: Wife arrives at temple
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal MP and wife of Sukhbir Singh Badal arrives at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Bullets were fired at the Golden Temple where SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was offering 'seva'.\
Read the report here.
10:44 Hyundai ties up with 3 IITs for...
Hyundai Motor group on Tuesday announced partnerships with three Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish a research system in the fields of batteries and electrification.
The institutes include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras.The Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE), which will be set up within IIT Delhi, will operate through sponsorships from Hyundai. The primary objective of the Hyundai CoE is to take the lead in driving advancements in batteries and electrification, specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of the Indian market.
The firm officials, along with IIT representatives, including Professor Rangan Banerjee, director at IIT Delhi, Dean Sachin C Patwardhan at IIT Bombay and Dean Manu Santhanam at IIT Madras, attended a ceremony at IIT Delhi where they signed an agreement for the joint establishment of the 'Hyundai Motor Group-IIT Hyundai CoE.
Hyundai Motor group plans to invest around $7 million over five years, from 2025 to 2029, to jointly conduct battery and electrification-related research with the three IIT universities.
"We are delighted to join forces with IITs, a group of leading engineering universities renowned for its exceptional education and research," said Naksup Sung, head of the Hyundai Motor Group Research and Development Planning & Coordination Center.
-- Business Standard/Reporter
10:38 HULs Vim may soon become Rs 3K cr brand
Hindustan Unilever (HUL)'s Vim brand, which leads the market in the dishwashing space, is expected to cross the Rs 3,000 crore mark soon in sales. The company has now entered the floor cleaning category with the same brand.
HUL currently has 19 brands with revenue of over Rs 1,000 crore. "Vim should cross Rs 3,000 crore anytime now,' Srinandan Sundaram, executive director of home care at HUL, told Business Standard.
"We are going with the brand'. with the superior product story, but we are very mindful and humble enough to accept that the competition is strong," Sundaram said. He added that competition has built this category and, therefore, the company is not expecting miracles.
"We will invest in building the category. Our approach to floors is that when you look at the penetration of floors over a long period of time, it remains where it is. It hasn't increased, which means the people who are still using phenyl or proxies, continue to use them," he explained.
On the category segment (homecare), which is the highest contributor to HUL's revenue, Sundaram said growth will be volume-led.
"We are not seeing much pricing, and as far as our portfolio is concerned, we will maintain our competitiveness in the subsequent quarter," he said.
"Now, a lot is going up and down, so will we sustain the same volume momentum? It is very difficult to predict but suffice to say that it will be volume-led, and we will be competitive like we were in the last quarter," Sundaram said.
Talking about the laundry segment in which HUL has strong brands like Surf Excel and Rin, he said consumers are upgrading in their usage preferences.
In urban areas, users accelerate from powder to liquid much faster, Sundaram explained. When a consumer moves from power to liquid, the price per wash also goes up as the dosage is higher than that of powder, which makes it easier to realise more money for the same tonnage sold.
"One part that is certainly benefiting us is all the market-making that we are doing by investing in trial generation and by making a Tier-II presence with Rin liquid, which we did the previous quarter. So, this is helping accelerate heavy powder users to move to liquid, and in total, they end up paying you more, so you realise more revenue, which is predominantly an urban phenomenon," Sundaram explained.
-- Sharleen D'Souza/Business Standard
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami
10:31 Sukhbir Badal to continue seva after murder attempt
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami says, "We will investigate this through our sources well. I think he (attacker) has been nabbed and taken away by the police. Guru Ram Das saved Sukhbir Singh Badal. We are looking into the security arrangements. This is the place of Wahe Guru, He protects us. 'Seva' will continue. We trust the Almighty."
ADCP Harpal Singh said, "There were proper security arrangements here...Sukhbir ji was properly covered (given cover)...Narayan Singh Chaura (assailant) was here yesterday as well. Today too, he first paid obeisance to the Guru." Singh said, "Security arrangements were proper. The person (shooter) tried to do some mischief but he could not succeed."
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was shot at by a man while he was performing the duty of 'sewadar' outside the Golden Temple here on Wednesday. Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair, escaped unhurt as the bullet hit a wall. The man, identified as Narain Singh, was overpowered by some people standing outside the Golden Temple.
10:12 Alert aides ensured Badal escaped unhurt
Another camera angle shows the assailant reaching into his pocket for the gun as Sukhbir Badal sits in his wheelchair. That was when the aides around Badal jumped at him and overpowered him.
10:04 Sukhbir Badal escapes killing, bullet hits wall
Update: Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was shot at by a man while he was performing the duty of 'sewadar' outside the Golden Temple here on Wednesday. Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair, escaped unhurt as the bullet hit a wall. The man, identified as Narain Singh, was overpowered by some people standing outside the Golden Temple.
Image: Sukhbir Badal sits on a wheelchair at the Golden Temple as the assailant approaches him.
09:59 What is Sukhbir Badal doing at Golden Temple?
The empty bullet shell at the Golden Temple premises.
To bring you up to speed, former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal is doing penance at the Golden Temple. Yesterday, he was seen wearing a plaque around his neck while sitting in a wheelchair because of a fractured leg. This comes after he was declared a 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) in August by Akal Takht, which announced religious punishment for him. Badal, who served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab from 2007 to 2017, will now take up 'sewadar' work - washing utensils, cleaning shoes and bathrooms - at the Golden Temple.
The Akal Takht issued the punishments for him citing the "mistakes" and "some decisions" taken by SAD and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
09:55 Assailant was in temple yesterday also
The name of the assailant is Narayan Singh Chaura who was at the Golden Temple premises yesterday as well.
Image: The assailant was nabbed.
09:50 Man opens fire at Sukhbir Badal in Golden temple
Breaking! A man fired at former Punjab Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal during his penance at the Golden Temple. Bullets were fired in the temple premises in Amritsar where SAD leaders, including party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, are offering 'seva' under the religious punishments pronounced for them by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, on 2nd December. Details awaited.
ADCP Harpal Singh says, "There were proper security arrangements here. Sukhbirji was properly covered (given cover). Narayan Singh Chaura (assailant) was here yesterday as well. Today too, he first paid obeisance to the Guru."
"No," he says when asked if anyone was hurt by the bullet.
Image: The man on the left in the black turban fires at Sukhbir Badal as another man pushes him away. You can see the smoke emanating from the gun.
09:41 Over 6K pollution complaints In Delhi so far
Delhi registered 6,170 complaints related to air pollution between October 15, 2021 and November 19, 2024, with 2,333 (38 per cent) of these remaining unresolved, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Interestingly, Rajasthan registered 77 air pollution complaints, but had a higher failure rate of addressing the cases than Delhi. Fifty-one complaints (66 per cent) remained pending in Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) data includes complaints from Bhiwadi and Alwar, the latter being the parliamentary constituency of Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav.
In Delhi, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were the worst performers in addressing air pollution complaints. DJB failed to resolve 64 per cent of the 188 complaints it received, while the MCD left 47 per cent of its 4,353 complaints unresolved. This highlights significant gaps in grievance redressal mechanisms for combating air pollution in the city.
The Sameer app was launched to empower citizens to report air pollution violations and encourage timely resolutions. However, the data underscores persistent inefficiencies in addressing these complaints, particularly in major pollution hotspots.
The Delhi Cantonment Board was the only authority to achieve a 100 per cent resolution rate, successfully addressing all 10 complaints it received.
From January 1 to November 20, there were 124 days when the air quality index (AQI) exceeded 201, compared to 118 days during the same period in 2023.
-- Nitin Kumar/Business Standard
09:33 Tremors felt in Maharashtra after earthquake hits Telangana
Tremors were experienced in Maharashtra's Nagpur and Gadchiroli districts after an earthquake struck Mulugu in neighbouring Telangana on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The earthquake of 5.3 magnitude was recorded in Mulugu at 7.27 am, according to the National Center for Seismology. Light tremors were felt in Nagpur, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sources and local residents.
Mild shocks were also experienced in Gadchiroli, which is located very close to Telangana, according to the district information office. Light tremors are generally felt 200 to 300 km from the epicentre of a quake, the IMD officials said. -- PTI
09:29 Coconuts cause 2 times more accidents than drunk driving
According to an accident index by Acko, a leading tech-first insurance provider, revealed that falling coconuts have caused 2.28 times more accidents than drunk driving in 2024. Stray animals remain a significant cause of road accidents, with stray dogs accounting for 62 per cent, followed by cows (29 per cent) and buffaloes (4 per cent).
The report also showed that Hyundai i10 topped the list as the car involved in the highest number of accidents, followed by the Maruti Suzuki Swift, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Hyundai i20, and Maruti Suzuki Dzire ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
Metro cities account for 78 per cent of all road accidents in India, with Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR emerging as the most accident-prone cities.
This is followed by Pune and Bengaluru accounting for 15.9 per cent and 14.2 per cent of accidents.
The report further highlights the most accident-prone areas within metro cities, with Bengaluru's Bommanahalli locality topping the list. This is followed by Noida, the Marunji area in Pune, and Mira Road in Mumbai.
An alarming number of accidents are caused by potholes, underscoring the impact of poor urban infrastructure. Bengaluru leads with 44.8 per cent of all pothole-related accidents, followed by Delhi (13.3 per cent) and Mumbai (12.3 per cent).Natural calamities also play a significant role in vehicle damage.
In Chennai, 22 per cent of all claims filed were due to floods caused by Cyclone Michaung, highlighting the necessity of comprehensive insurance to safeguard vehicles even during non-driving incidents.
-- Sunainaa Chadha/Business Standard
09:21 Corporation and personal income tax collections decline in October
October this year, as always, fell in the festival season but that did not manifest in high tax numbers, particularly direct taxes. For instance, corporation-tax was down 16 per cent at Rs 26,356 crore in the month year-on-year (Y-o-Y), while personal income tax fell 12 per cent at Rs 61,937 crore.
This resulted in a decline of 11.9 per cent at Rs 88,293 crore in direct taxes in the month. As such, corporation-tax collection rose by just 1.2 per cent till October this financial year while the Budget has projected this tax to rise almost 12 per cent during FY25.
Personal income tax was up 16.8 per cent during the first seven months of FY25, which is much higher than the 13.6 per cent projected by the Budget for the year, show figures released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
Direct taxes rose 11.1 per cent at slightly over Rs 11 trillion during April-October on a yearly basis while the Budget has projected them to rise 12.8 per cent.
In the previous year too, corporation-tax collection fell 13 per cent in October but then Diwali fell on November 13, which meant festivities were for a few more days. However, personal income tax rose almost 24 per cent in October in FY24.
Corporation tax was up 14.8 per cent till October last financial year, while personal income tax rose almost 24 per cent. Besides these two taxes, excise duty was down 12 per cent in October this financial year. This led to a rise of just 0.6 per cent of excise duty till October whereas the Budget has projected a rise of 4.5 per cent for the year.
-- Indivjal Dhasmana/Business Standard
09:05 5.3 magnitude earthquake hits Telangana, AP
An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude occurred at Mulugu in Telangana on Wednesday morning, the National Center for Seismology said.
The quake struck at 7.27 am.
The tremors were reported at several places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. -- PTI
08:58 Look What The IAF, Navy, Coast Guard Are Getting!
Bhaswar Kumar/Business Standard
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday accorded acceptance of necessity (AoN) for five capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 21,772 crore.
Approvals include ships for the Indian Navy, helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard, and an electronic warfare system for Indian Air Force jets, along with upgrades to tanks, vehicles, and aircraft engines.
The DAC granted AoN for the procurement of 31 new water jet fast attack crafts for the Indian Navy. According to the ministry of defence, these are designed to perform tasks, such as low-intensity maritime operations, surveillance, patrol, and search and rescue operations close to the coast. In addition, these vessels will play an effective role in anti-piracy missions, particularly in and around India's island territories.
The DAC also accorded AoN for the procurement of 120 fast interceptor crafts. These vessels are capable of performing multiple roles, including escorting high-value units such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, and submarines for coastal defence, added the MoD.
The Council also approved the procurement of an electronic warfare suite, comprising external airborne self-protection jammer pods, next-generation radar warning receivers, and associated equipment, for the IAF s Su-30 MKI aircraft.
This system will enhance the operational capabilities of the Su-30 MKI and protect it from enemy radars and related weapon systems while carrying out missions against enemy targets protected by air defence systems, said the MoD.
The approval for the procurement of six advanced light helicopter Mk-IIIs (maritime role) for the coast guard to strengthen coastal security and surveillance in coastal areas was also made.
Additionally, approval has been granted for the overhaul of the Indian Army s T-72 and T-90 tanks, BMP infantry fighting vehicles, and engines of Sukhoi fighter aircraft, which will enhance the service life of these assets.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
08:50 Flush With Funds, Qcoms Eye Expansion
Aryaman Gupta/Business Standard
Flush with funds and amid intensifying competition in the sector, quick commerce (qcom) companies like Swiggy Instamart, Zomato-owned Blinkit, and Zepto, have shifted into expansion mode.
While announcing its September-quarter results, management at Swiggy said its growth strategy for Instamart is based on hyperlocal expansion -- same store growth and densification in existing cities, and geographic expansion -- launching new cities.
'Instamart is rapidly growing its geographical footprint, and is now available in 54 cities (versus 27 cities in March 24) We plan to double our store count by March 25 (versus 523 in March 24), while increasing the average size of our stores by 30-35 per cent,' said the management at Swiggy in a letter to shareholders.
The company is replacing some of its older, small-format stores (2,500-2,800 sq ft) with larger ones (3,500-4,500 sq ft) that can house up to 20,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs). Additionally, Swiggy is rolling out megapods (8,000-10,000 sq ft) in top cities, which can house over 50,000 SKUs.
These megapods will serve consumers in 10 to 30 minutes with an extended selection of items beyond the top 20,000 SKUs.
'Overall, we expect to more than double our active dark store area to 4 million sq ft by March 25 (versus 1.5 million sq ft in March 24), through a combination of new store additions and larger-sized stores,' the management said.
The expanded dark store area with a larger selection is expected to lead to a higher share of user spends, and expansion of average order value (AOV).
According to Swiggy, its AOV has grown by 7.3 per cent in H1FY25, with expectations of double-digit growth annually for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, qcom major Zepto has also fast-tracked its expansion plans. "We are in expansion mode right now," Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha told Business Standard last week.
"Zepto is live in about 20 cities, having recently launched in Nashik, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat, among others. We are about to launch in Tier-2 cities like Vadodara, Kurukshetra, etc," he added.
The company, which, according to Palicha, currently operates over 600 dark stores, had initially planned to increase its store count to 700 by March 2025, which has reportedly been increased to 1,200.
Zepto recently closed a massive $350 million funding round from domestic investors ahead of its IPO. The firm has raised as much as $1.35 billion in 2024 alone, and is well capitalised to fuel its expansion spree.
Their Gurugram-based listed rival Zomato is also scaling its dark store footprint rapidly.
Last week, Zomato raised Rs 8,500 crore ($1 billion) through a qualified institutional placement (QIP), aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and fuelling its expansion plans. According to the company, as much as Rs 2,137 crore will be used to expand Blinkits network of dark stores and warehouses.
Blinkit had earlier announced plans to increase its dark store count to 2,000 by the end of 2026. As of Q2 FY25, the company operated 791 stores, up from 639 in the previous quarter.
08:27 South Korean Prez lifts martial law after huge outrage
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on early Wednesday announced the removal of emergency martial law, following a vote by the National Assembly calling for its termination.
In the wee hours on Wednesday, Yoon's cabinet approved a motion to end martial law enforcement, approximately six hours after Yoon had declared it in response to what he called "anti-state" activities by the opposition, which he claimed were "paralysing" the government.
The emergency declaration raised serious concerns both domestically and internationally.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed that troops deployed to enforce martial law had returned to their bases, signalling a return to normalcy.
President Yoon explained that the emergency martial law had been declared to protect the nation from anti-state forces attempting to disrupt its functioning and constitutional order. However, after the National Assembly demanded its repeal, he withdrew the troops.
"At 11 p.m. last night, I declared emergency martial law with my resolute intent to save the nation in the face of anti-state forces that attempt to paralyse the nation's essential function and the constitutional order of free democracy," he said as quoted by Yonhap News Agency.
"But there was a demand from the National Assembly for the lifting of martial law; (I) have withdrawn troops mobilised to execute martial law affairs," he added.
Despite the lifting of martial law, members of the opposition escalated their criticism of Yoon, with some threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president.
Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, condemned the military mobilisation and indicated his intention to push for an impeachment motion.
The martial law declaration shocked the nation and drew strong reactions from the international community, including the US, which expressed "grave concern" over the developments.
However, following the reversal of the martial law declaration, the White House said that it was "relieved" and emphasised that democracy is a cornerstone of the US-South Korea alliance.
00:25 Siddique murder: Anmol Bishnoi key conspirator, say cops
The Mumbai police on Tuesday told a special court that the name of Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has emerged as the main conspirator in the October 12 killing of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique.
The police made this claim while seeking the remand of eight accused in the case, citing provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Special MCOCA court judge, A M Patil, remanded the eight accused, including main shooter Shivkumar Gautam, in police custody till December 7.
Anmol, who was recently detained in the United States and lodged in a prison there, has been shown as a wanted accused in the case.
During the remand hearing, the Mumbai police told the court that Anmol's name has surfaced as the main conspirator in the case during their probe.
It said he was providing financial support to other accused and a probe was required to ascertain the source and utilisation of funds.
The police told the court that Anmol had contacted the co-accused via a communication app and they needed to gather information on this aspect, and hence the custody of the arrested accused was required.
The crime branch has until now arrested 26 accused, including alleged main shooter Shivkumar Gautam, in connection with the case.
All the accused had earlier been sent to judicial custody by a magistrate court. But on November 30, the police invoked the stringent provisions of the MCOCA against all the 26 accused.
Following this, all the accused were produced before the special court on Tuesday. However, before the court proceedings began, the judge asked journalists present in the courtroom to leave after the prosecution raised an objection, saying the remand application has sensitive information.
Police sought remand of the eight accused, including Gautam, for further in-depth investigation into the matter. Defence lawyers Roopesh Jaiswal, Ajinkya Mirgal and Dilip Shukla opposed the remand, saying the accused have already been in custody for over 40 days.
The lawyer contended that the provisions of MCOCA are not made out against the accused as they have no previous cases against them.
Moreover, there is nothing on record to show that these accused were part of the gang, which had two charge-sheets (an essential requirement to invoke MCOCA) against them, they said.
The court, after hearing both the sides, sent the eight accused to police custody till December 7.
The rest of the accused were sent to a 14-day jail custody by the special court.
Anmol Bishnoi and Shubham Lonkar are wanted accused in the case. Former Maharashtra minister Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12 by three assailants outside his son MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office building in Bandra East, Mumbai.
He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away. -- PTI
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