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Tue, 31 December 2024

4 workers killed in fire at steel plant in Surat

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23:23 4 workers killed in fire at steel plant in Surat

Four workers were killed and another one was injured in a fire at a steel plant in Hazira industrial area in Gujarat's Surat on Tuesday evening, officials said.

The incident occurred at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India's (AM/NS India's), Surat Commissioner of Police Anupam Singh Gehlot said.

"We have learnt that the fire spread in one section of the plant after burning coal suddenly spilled over. The resultant blaze killed four laborers, who were on a lift at that time in the plant," he said.

Further probe into the incident will be carried out by the police as well as the factory inspector, he said.

An official of the Hazira police station said no accidental death report has been filed so far.

Of the four persons who lost their lives, the bodies of three victims have been brought to the civil hospital for post-mortem, an official said.

In a statement, a spokesperson of the company said the incident took place at the Corex plant due to equipment failure.

"We are sorry to report an accident at COREX plant due to an equipment failure at AMNS Hazira Operations. The accident occurred around 6.00 pm today during the restart of the unit after shutdown. Four contractual workers of a private company performing maintenance on a lift (elevator) nearby were embroiled in the impact and could not survive," the spokesperson said in a statement.

One worker suffered a minor injury and was immediately shifted to a hospital on the premises of the plant and is recovering, it added.

"We are extending all support to the families of the affected personnel. All emergency protocols were activated immediately and the area has been cordoned off. We are working closely with relevant authorities on ground and initiated an internal investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident," the statement added. -- PTI

A 19-year-old disabled woman was allegedly kidnapped from her home and sold off to a man who repeatedly raped her before she was rescued by the police, officials said on Tuesday.

According to police, the woman, living with her uncle, had been missing since December 21.

On December 30, her uncle got to know about her whereabouts in Khera Khalilpur village and he informed the police.

Following this, a police team along with the survivor's family reached the spot and rescued her, police said.

The survivor narrated her ordeal to the police and said that she was kidnapped by a woman named Dhanpati, a resident of Rampur.

She then sold her off to a man and a woman -- Dharmi and Shakuntala -- who took her to Rewari and then brought her to Khera Khalilpur village.

During this period, she was raped several times, the woman told the police.

Based on her complaint, an FIR was registered against Dhanpti, Dharmi and Shakuntala under sections 140 (1) (kidnapping), 143(2) (trafficking) 3(5) (common intention) and 64(1) (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Sohna City police station, police said.

"The survivor was safely handed over to her family and a probe is underway. We are conducting raids to nab the accused," said Inspector Praveen Malik, SHO of Sohna city police station. -- PTI

The Income-Tax department on Tuesday extended the last date for filing belated or revised return for the 2023-24 fiscal to January 15.

The last date for filing revised return for Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25 (2023-24 fiscal) was earlier December 31.

'CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) extends the last date for furnishing belated/revised return of income for AY 2024-25 in the case of resident individuals from December 31, 2024, to January 15, 2025,' the Income-Tax department said in a post on X.

Vivek Jalan, a partner in Tax Connect Advisory Services LLP, said that for the 2023-24 fiscal, the due date to make the rectifications by resident taxpayers was December 31, which was the last date to file belated or revised ITRs (Income Tax Returns).

This has now been extended to January 15, giving some relaxation to these taxpayers to match with their books first and then file their belated/revised ITRs accordingly, Jalan said. -- PTI

22:33 Sambhal DM refutes Owaisi's claim on Waqf land

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday alleged that the police outpost near the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal was being built on Waqf land, a charge denied by the district magistrate.

The land belongs to the municipality, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya said.

Owaisi said in a post on X, 'The police chowki (outpost) being built near Sambhal's Jama Masjid is on Waqf land, according to records.'

'Moreover, construction near protected monuments is prohibited under the Ancient Monuments Act. Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath are responsible for creating a dangerous environment in Sambhal,' he said in the post in Hindi.

The Lok Sabha MP was referring to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, which prohibits any construction activity or alteration to the protected area around ancient monuments without approval of the National Monuments Authority.

A ceremonial 'bhumi pujan' was performed on December 28 for the police outpost near the Mughal-era mosque in the Kot Purvi neighbourhood, which witnessed deadly violence in November.

Pensiya later told reporters that no certified and legal party had come forward with relevant documents. The documents that were presented were examined and found to be unregistered, he said.

An investigation is underway. If anyone brings any documents, action will be taken according to rules, he added.

The district magistrate further said, "No person who owned this land has come to us. The documents that are being shown to us are unregistered."

Pensiya also said the land was registered as property of the nagar palika.

The outpost will function under the Sambhal police station and was planned in wake of the November 24 violence.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shrish Chandra had told reporters, "The 'bhumi pujan' for the new police outpost near the Shahi Jama Masjid was completed. This outpost is being established from a security perspective. Sufficient police personnel are already deployed here, and there was a long-standing demand from locals for a permanent outpost."

The area around the Shahi Jama Masjid has witnessed tensions, with a violent clash erupting on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque.

The clash resulted in the deaths of four locals. -- PTI

Walmik Karad

22:19 Sambhajiraje wants Karad booked under MCOCA

Former Rajya Sabha member Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati demanded on Tuesday that Walmik Karad, a close aide of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, be booked for the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and MCOCA invoked against him.

He claimed Karad turned himself in a day after Fadnavis and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde met.

Karad, named in an extortion case allegedly linked to Deshmukh's murder, surrendered himself before CID in Pune earlier in the day.

"Walmik Karad is the kingpin of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder. He should be booked for murder. Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has announced that murderers of Deshmukh will be booked under MCOCA. We demand that this stringent law be invoked against Karad," he told reporters.

Notably, it is difficult to secure bail under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOC) Act.

The former Rajya Sabha alleged that Karad 'roamed' across Maharashtra for 22 days after Deshmukh was killed on December 9.

Karad went to a shrine in Akkalkot. He also got himself admitted to a private hospital in Pune, Sambhajiraje added.

He claimed Karad turned himself in a day after Fadnavis and Dhananjay Munde met, wondering what transpired between the two leaders in the meeting.

"This is a flawed investigation (by CID in the murder case)," he alleged.

The former MP demanded that Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar come clean on protecting Dhananjay Munde. -- PTI

Grappling with the air pollution problem, the Mumbai civic body on Tuesday decided against granting fresh permissions for the digging of roads in the city.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani clarified that the road work to repair water supply pipelines has been exempted, the civic body stated in a release.

"The road digging work has been identified as a key factor in exacerbating air pollution," the BMC said.

Civic officials said the construction projects found violating regulations are issued show cause notices and work stop orders.

Stop work notices were served on 33 construction projects in the Byculla area and 45 projects in Borivali (East) till Tuesday evening, a day after the BMC ordered the suspension of work at projects of builders or government agencies in these areas in view of the poor air quality and AQI of 200.

In a bid to reduce pollution caused by construction projects, BMC has issued guidelines comprising 28 points.

Additionally, project developers, building contractors, and architectural project (mechanical and electrical) contractors are now mandated to prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

As per the directives of the BMC commissioner, the Environment and Climate Change Department has inspected 877 construction projects from November 2024 until now, assessing adherence to the guidelines and EMP compliance. -- PTI

Police have launched an investigations over allegations that a young Dalit woman, a college student, committed suicide due to mental distress and harassment she faced over unpaid fee in the institution where she studied.

The 22-year-old woman's family has alleged that she was distressed due to pressure to pay her pending fee and also harassed.

She was a BA final year student at a private women's college in Bhiwani district.

She committed suicide on the night of December 24, police said.

Her father Jagdish told the media that his daughter was to appear in her fifth-semester exams this month but was not allowed to do so by the college authorities over a pending fee.

He said he was unable to pay her fee on time due to some financial constraints.

He also alleged that she was 'harassed and tortured' by the college principal and some others.

"I want justice for my daughter," he said.

Loharu police station in-charge Inspector Jitender said on Tuesday 'during investigations many angles have come up. FIR has been lodged and investigations are on'.

When asked about the allegations that the student was harassed, he said, "We are conducting investigations...No suicide note was found. The postmortem report is also pending."

However, on complaint of her family, an abetment of suicide case has been registered under BNS Section 108 and further investigations were on.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said it is sad that in Haryana, a Dalit girl has to commit suicide due to not being able to pay the examination fees.

'This incident is not only sad but also extremely shameful. The victim's family should get justice and this case should be thoroughly investigated,' Surjewala posted on X on Tuesday.

Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Krishan Kumar Bedi Tuesday said that action is being taken against those responsible for the girl's death.

An FIR has been filed, and the police are working diligently to apprehend the culprits, he said.

Bedi said that the government stands with the victim's family.

Action will be taken against the culprits, Bedi said, asking Congress not to politicise the matter. -- PTI

A 79-year-old ailing man from Mumbai lost Rs 6.25 lakh after unidentified persons allegedly hacked his credit card, making him the latest victim of the cyber fraud, police said on Tuesday.

The complainant received messages about the deduction of money from his credit card-lined bank account in July even though he didn't commit any transaction, an official said.

The victim immediately contacted the bank's customer care number and later lodged a complaint with the Cyber department.

Though he immediately blocked his credit card, the bank asked the victim to clear his dues.

After he lodged an FIR at Bandra police station, a police official told the victim that someone hacked his credit card.

Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and launched investigations.

No arrest has been made so far, the police official added. -- PTI

A special fast-track court in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday sentenced a tuition teacher to 111 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.05 lakh for raping a plus-one student after luring her five years ago.

If the fine remains unpaid, the convict, Manoj, 44, will face an additional year of imprisonment.

Manoj's wife took her own life upon learning of her husband's abuse of the minor girl.

In the ruling, Judge R Rekha stated that Manoj, who was also supposed to be the child's guardian, had committed a crime that warranted no mercy.

The incident occurred on July 2, 2019.

According to the prosecution, the accused, a government employee, conducted tuition classes at his residence. He summoned the child for a special class and subsequently abused her, also taking photos of the abuse on his mobile phone.

Following the incident, the child became fearful and stopped attending tuition classes. The accused then disseminated photos of the incident.

Learning about the incident, the child's family lodged a complaint at the Fort Police Station.

Upon the accused's arrest, his phone was seized and sent for forensic examination, revealing photos of the child being abused.

Manoj claimed to have been at the office on the day of the incident, producing registered leave records with signatures.

However, call records from the accused's phone, presented by the prosecution, revealed that Manoj was near the tuition centre on the day of the incident.

Special Public Prosecutor R S Vijay Mohan and R V Akhilesh appeared for the prosecution. -- PTI

A Dalit youth was beaten to death and his cousin seriously by some men after a dispute in Paldi village in Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday, police said.

Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarayan Prajapat said that some people have been detained in connection with the murder of 20-year-old Sunny.

Sunny was returning to his village from Khatauli along with his cousin Shilu on a motorcycle.

A quarrel broke out between Sunny and the village head's son who was travelling in a car, the police said.

The argument escalated and the two brothers were attacked with lathis by the accused in which Sunny died and Shilu got injured, they said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the village and extra police force have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Efforts are on to nab the accused, police said. -- PTI

19:05 Manager punished 22 years after Guj bank fraud

More than 22 years after a nationalised bank in Ahmedabad was defrauded of Rs 38.75 lakh, a special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Tuesday sentenced its former branch manager and 18 others to rigorous imprisonment ranging from three to five years.

The court also imposed a collective fine of Rs 15.35 lakh on the convicted persons.

The court sentenced Becharbhai Zala, the then branch manager of the State Bank of Saurashtra's Naroda Road branch in Ahmedabad, and 18 others in a case dated July 18, 2002.

As per the prosecution, Zala conspired with others to cheat the bank in a public housing scheme by misusing his official position.

The CBI stated in a release that Zala had obtained a pecuniary advantage of Rs 38.75 lakh for himself and others by causing the loss to the bank where he was employed.

Altogether, 12 separate charge sheets were filed on various dates, the CBI stated, adding that the court pronounced a judgment in five cases on Tuesday.

The CBI, however, didn't mention the quantum of sentence of Zala.

The accused persons were tried on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating, using forged documents as genuine and criminal misconduct by the public servant, the federal investigation agency stated.

More than 60 prosecution witnesses were examined during the trial.

The prosecution relied on more than 142 documents/ exhibits against the accused persons, it said. -- PTI

Manipur, which has been witnessing prolonged ethnic violence between majority Meitei and tribal Kuki communities, accounted for about 77 per cent of the total violence in the entire northeastern region in 2023, according to the latest annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In 2023, Manipur witnessed an increase in violent incidents owing to the prevailing ethnic strife and the resultant increase in the casualties of civilians and security forces personnel as compared to 2022.

The state accounted for about 77 per cent of the total violent incidents in Northeastern region in 2023, according to the MHA annual report.

Among the total 243 violent incidents occurred in the Northeast, 187 took place in Manipur.

The counter-insurgency operations in Manipur resulted in killing of 33 insurgents and arrest of 184 insurgents besides recovery of 49 weapons.

Further, 80 cadres of insurgent outfits surrendered with 31 arms.

Large-scale ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023.

The violence resulted in numerous casualties, injuries, andincidents of arson.

Though the issue of violence primarily relates to maintenance of public order, which is a state subject, the central government has been consistently extending its support, as required by the state government.

The annual report said the central government took a series of immediate and sustained actions to handle the situation. Immediate action was initiated by engaging with top officials of Manipur, progressively deploying additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces, Army and Assam Rifles columns, deploying helicopters and drones, and implementing a unified command system.

During the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from May 29 to June 1, 2023, he had held more than 15 meetings with government officers, officers of security forces, political leaders and more than 100 members of civil society organisations.

Further, as per the directions of the home minister, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai monitored the situation by staying in Manipur from May 25 to June 17, 2023.

Intermittent violence continues to rock Manipur, where first bout of ethnic violence between the majority Meiteis and tribal Kukis witnessed in May 2023. So far, over 250 lost their lives in the violence in the state, officials said. -- PTI

Delhi Police has deported a Bangladeshi mother-son duo, of which the woman was staying in southwest Delhi since 2005, officials said on Tuesday.

The deported persons have been identified as Nazma Khan and her son Naim Khan (22), police said.

"The duo entered India illegally via the West Bengal border. While Nazma came around 20 years back, Naim arrived in 2020," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest), Surendra Choudhary, said.

The mother-son duo was staying in Katwaria Sarai, where Nazma worked as a domestic help, he said.

"During a routine patrol on December 29, police intercepted Naim near the Shastri Market following a tip-off. Naim's interrogation led to Nazma's detention the following day. Both were handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) from where they were deported to Bangladesh," the DCP said.

During questioning, Naim claimed that financial hardships forced his mother to migrate to India two decades ago, while he followed her in 2020.

In a related case, a Bangladeshi national named Mohammad Akhtar Sheikh has been arrested from Sarojini Nagar for staying in the country illegally, officials said.

"Sheikh, who was held in a drug-related case on November 28, was released on bail. However, subsequent address verification revealed his status as an illegal immigrant. Originally from Kochaghata in Bangladesh, Sheikh entered India via West Bengal in 2004," the DCP said.

Sheikh, who married an Indian national in 2012, worked at a construction site in Delhi, he said.

On December 30, he was found near the Sarojini Nagar railway station without any valid documents, following which a fresh case under the Foreigners Act has been registered against him, the officer said. -- PTI

17:37 What Sensex looked like in 2024

In the entire 2024, the Sensex jumped 5,898.75 points or 8.16 per cent, and the Nifty surged 1,913.4 points or 8.80 per cent. The BSE benchmark Sensex hit its record peak of 85,978.25 on September 27 this year, and the NSE Nifty also reached the lifetime high of 26,277.35 on the same day.

The sea glass bridge project connecting Vivekananda Rock Memorial with Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari was brought during the AIADMK regime, but could not be completed due to the pandemic and regime change, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed on Tuesday.

He claimed that it was due to his efforts as Chief Minister that the project was sanctioned and environment clearance was given. Chief Minister M K Stalin who inaugurated the glass bridge in Kanyakumari on Monday evening did not bring the project. It was brought during the AIADMK regime when I was the Chief Minister," Palaniswami told reporters.

He had announced this project after a meeting in Delhi in 2018 when Nitin Gadkari was the Union Shipping Minister. "Since Kanyakumari is a very popular tourist destination, I requested that a bridge be built to link Thiruvalluvar statue with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial," the former Chief Minister said. His request was accepted and the project was prepared under the Sagarmala project with fifty percent financial assistance each from the central and state governments. Later, he reiterated the demand when then Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited Chennai.

"We received a no-objection certificate from the Environment Ministry for the project. The work was stopped in 2020 due to Covid," Palaniswami said. Thereafter, tenders were floated after Stalin came to power. The 77-meter-long and 10-metre-wide glass bridge connecting the two monuments off the coast of Kanyakumari inaugurated by Stalin has become the latest attraction at the Land's End.

The glass bridge, said to be the first such one in the country, offers tourists an enchanting view of the monuments of the two savants and the expansive sea around. It provides a thrilling experience of walking above the sea.

The state accounted for about 77 per cent of the total violent incidents in Northeastern region in 2023, according to the MHA annual report. Among the total 243 violent incidents occurred in the Northeast, 187 took place in Manipur. The counter-insurgency operations in Manipur resulted in killing of 33 insurgents and arrest of 184 insurgents besides recovery of 49 weapons.

Further, 80 cadres of insurgent outfits surrendered with 31 arms. Large-scale ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The violence resulted in numerous casualties, injuries, and incidents of arson. -- PTI

After Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday apologised for the ethnic conflict in the state, the Congress asked why can't Prime Minister Narendra Modi go there and do the same even though he travels across the country and the world. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the people of Manipur cannot understand their neglect by the prime minister, whom he accused of deliberately avoiding a visit to Manipur.

"Why can't the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world," Ramesh said in his post.

"The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect," he said.

His comments came hours after Biren Singh apologised for the ethnic conflict in Manipur, which claimed over 250 lives and rendered thousands homeless since May 2023, appealing to all communities to forget and forgive past mistakes and live together in a "peaceful" and "prosperous" state.

"I want to say sorry for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones and many had to leave their homes. I regret and want to apologise. But after seeing relative peace in the last three-four months, I hope that normalcy will be restored in the coming year.

"Whatever happened has happened... I want to appeal to all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and start life afresh by living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur," Singh said in Imphal. The chief minister also claimed that firing incidents have declined in the state over the past 20 months since the ethnic conflict broke out in May 2023. PTI

17:04 Spotted! Leopard in Infosys Mysuru campus

The forest department has launched a combing operation after a leopard was spotted in Mysuru's Infosys campus on Tuesday early morning. The big cat was sighted in the underground car parking area of the campus at around 3.30 am by the security staff of the IT company and analysis of the CCTV footage has also confirmed the same, officials said.

A team of 50 personnel is involved in the operation, with cages and nets on standby to capture the animal. "A leopard was spotted inside the Infosys campus and our personnel are on the job. Combing operation has been launched and drones are also being used to spot the leopard," a senior forest officer said. -- PTI

16:44 Sensex flatlines on last day of 2024

The Indian benchmark equity indices, BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50, witnessed a recovery from intra-day lows but ended the last trading session of 2024 near flatline on Tuesday.

The losses in the market was led by declines in IT and select banking stocks.

The BSE Sensex dropped to a low of 77,561, reflecting global market weaknesses, but rebounded to a high of 78,248 before closing at 78,139, down 0.14 per cent or 109 points.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty 50 followed a similar trend, recovering from a low of 23,460 and surging to about 23,690, but ultimately settled at 23,644.80 virtually unchanged.

And while on Manmohan Singh, Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay shares this image alongside saying, "Signed the condolences book in memory of the late Dr. Manmohan Singh @Indiainbhutan. Profoundly grateful to Late PM for his unwavering support and personal friendship. Thanks to his support and cooperation, we were able to launch the 11th Five Year Plan swiftly and successfully."

16:34 The FT editor on Dr Manmohan Singh

"As India's finance minister, Manmohan Singh visited the FT's London offices in the early 1990s to discuss his reform programme with Martin Wolf and me. Martin asked why he hadn't made what seemed like a perfectly obvious policy change -- something to do with capital flows, I think.

"Yes, Martin," replied Singh quietly. "I understand the economics. But the difference between you and me is that if you make a mistake you can correct it in your next column. If I make a mistake, 20 million people die." For a moment, even Martin was lost for words. Singh was a very great man."

(Obituaries, December 30).

Richard Lambert Former FT Editor, London WC1, UK

250 people have died in the conflict

16:31 I'm sorry; forgive and forget: Manipur CM on unrest

Update: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday apologised for the ethnic conflict in the state which claimed over 250 lives and rendered thousands homeless, and appealed to all communities to forget and forgive past mistakes and live together in a peaceful and prosperous state.

Addressing reporters in Imphal, Singh said that there has been relative peace in the state in the last three-four months, which gives him hope that normalcy will be restored in the new year.

"Whatever happened has happened... I want to appeal to all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and start life afresh by living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur," he said.

Singh said firing incidents have declined in the state over the last 20 months since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023.

"From May to October, 2023, 408 firing incidents were reported. From November 2023 to April 2024, there were 345 firing incidents, whereas from May this year till now, 112 firing incidents were reported," he said.

He said that of all the looted weapons, 3,112 have been recovered and 2,511 explosives have been seized during the period. The chief minister further said that 625 people have been arrested and 12,047 FIRs registered so far. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. -- PTI

Pic: Umar Ganie

16:22 Watching the clock at Ghanta Ghar

On the last day of 2024, tourists and locals flock to the historic Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, to welcome 2025.

"I want to apologise for what happened in Manipur, many lost dear ones, many left their homes," CM Biren Singh says. "I appeal to all communities to forgive, forget past mistakes, start life afresh, live together in peaceful, prosperous Manipur."

The Chief Minister, however, said the year ends on an optimistic note and that he hoped that normalcy will return to the state in 2025.

"This entire year has been very unfortunate. I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what's happening till today since last May 3. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months progress towards the peace, I believe by 2025, the normalcy will be restored in the state," the Chief Minister said.

15:38 Rahul has gone for pre-planned event: Cong

Amid a row erupted over Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's visit to Vietnam, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday said that Rahul Gandhi has gone for a pre-planned event. He further stated that the crores of people saw the tears in Rahul Gandhi's eyes on the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Speaking to ANI, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "...Rahul Gandhi has gone for a pre-planned event. Crores of people saw the tears in his eyes on the demise of Dr Manmohan Singh..."

Earlier today, BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla slammed the Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his visit to Vietnam during a period of national mourning after the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, stating that for Gandhi the term LoP means "Leader of Partying." -- ANI

15:20 Mamata is India's poorest CM, richest is...

The story of Mamata Banerjee is "no ordinary story", Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said on Tuesday, after a report ranked her as the poorest chief minister in India.

"The life and times of Mamata Banerjee are not just exemplary by Indian or Asian benchmarks. Her record of selfless public service, nurtured with compassion from her simple home in a bylane in Kolkata, is what no public servant on the planet can match. Hers is no ordinary story -- once in 100 years," Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader O'Brien said in a statement.

The remarks came after a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) ranked Banerjee as the chief minister with the lowest assets at just a little over Rs 15 lakh.

As per the report, Andhra Pradesh's N Chandrababu Naidu is the richest chief minister with assets worth over Rs 931 crore, followed by Arunachal Pradesh's Pema Khandu at over Rs 332 crore, while Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is ranked third with assets worth more than Rs 51 crore.

With Rs 55 lakh worth assets, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is the second poorest in the list, while Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan is the third with Rs 1.18 crore. The report said the average asset per chief minister from state assemblies and Union Territories stood at Rs 52.59 crore.

While India's per capita net national income or NNI was approximately Rs 1,85,854 for 2023-2024, the average self-income of a chief minister is Rs 13,64,310, around 7.3 times the average per capita income of India. -- PTI

PM Narendra Modi shares his big events of 20224 in images. There are over 50 images in of the big events of the year gone by including meetings with Russia President Putin and the inauguration of the Ram Temple. Take a look here.

Thousands of miles away from his home in Georgia where he breathed his last, former US president Jimmy Carter will live on in the form of two new varieties of peanut butter dedicated to the champion of peanut farming from Unnao-based startup Nutty Village.

Carter, who was elected in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, died at his home in Plains, Georgia on Sunday at the age of 100.

Nutty Village has decided to honour Carter for his "commitment to agriculture", Aman Kumar, who started the company in 2020, told PTI. "As a tribute to the former president of the United States of America, considered a champion of peanut farming and rural development, we will be dedicating our upcoming range of coffee-flavoured peanut butter and barbeque-flavoured peanut butter in his honour," the 29-year-old entrepreneur said. The two new flavours -- coffee and barbeque -- are being added to the existing dark chocolate, jaggery and unsweetened varieties.

Carter was the third American president to visit India. A village in Gurugram district, Daulatabad Nasirpur, was named Carterpuri at the suggestion of the then Indian prime minister Morarji Desai.

According to The Carter Center, he was the only one with a personal connection to India as his mother, Lillian, had worked there as a health volunteer with the Peace Corps during the late 1960s.

Kumar said the Nutty Village's tribute acknowledges Carter's life-long commitment to agriculture and sustainable development. Nutty Village, co-founded with Sushant Berma, was inspired by small farmers around Ganga, who cultivate peanuts but struggle to receive fair prices due to dependence on intermediaries and lack of market linkages, he said.

"Observing this challenge, we designed a solution to empower these farmers by ensuring better price realisation through direct market access." "Nutty Village works with around 50 farmers and purchases groundnuts from 5-6 farmers for its peanut butter. It is working with the women self-help groups to do both the primary and secondary processing to make peanut butter, creating livelihood opportunities as well at the grassroots level," added Kumar, who has a Master's in Social Entrepreneurship from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

Peanut farmers also benefit from the almost triple purchase price Nutty Village offers them, he said. Fourteen-fifteen villages in Unnao district have around 10,000 farmers who grow peanuts, 2,000 of whom use organic farming techniques.

Manish Singh, a 36-year-old farmer from Unnao, said, "We first met Aman when he wanted to discuss how we could all work together for better profits. He brought us seeds and we worked on figuring out the best farming methods." -- PTI

14:47 The big events in 2024 around the world

From earthquakes, imprisonments, elections, music and war... the events that stood out in 2024.

Rahul pays his last respects to Dr Singh

14:15 Rahul thinks LoP means Leader of Partying: BJP

BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday slammed the Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his visit to Vietnam during a period of national mourning after the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, stating that for Gandhi the term LoP means "Leader of Partying."

Poonawalla accused Gandhi of prioritising a vacation while the country mourned, pointing out that the Congress leader's actions were disrespectful, especially given his public admiration for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, calling him a "father figure."

"The country is in mourning, and the LoP is partying. For him, LoP means Leader of Partying. Vacationing is more important for him... especially when he calls Dr Manmohan Singh a father figure," Ponnawalla said.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore had defended his party leader saying that these were just diversion tactics from the BJP. "When will the Sanghis stop this 'Take Diversion' politics? The way Modi denied Dr. Saheb a place for cremation on the Yamuna banks and how his ministers cornered Dr. Saheb's family is shameful. If Mr Gandhi travel privately, why does it bother you?," he said.

The Punjab government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast for over a month, has agreed for medical aid given the Centre accepted his proposal to hold talks.

A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia took note of a plea moved by Punjab government seeking an additional three days to comply with SC's December 20 order. "...As per the negotiators there is a proposal given by the farmers to the Central government that in case they get an invite for a talk, Dallewal is ready to take medical help as desired, Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh said, "therefore, the state government was seeking some more time and work positively towards compliance of the directions."

The bench said, "We will not comment on what's going on as far as negotiations or your law and order is concerned. If something happens, which is acceptable to both sides and all stakeholders concerned, we will be equally happy. At the moment, we are only concerned with the compliance of our orders. If you want more time, we in peculiar circumstances are inclined to grant you some time."

Singh agreed with the bench on the point that no comments should be made on the negotiations at this stage and sought some time. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and Haryana government, said he did not have any instructions on this issue.

13:12 Is this Arvind Kejriwal's gold plated commode?

BJP leader RP Singh exhibits some commodes allegedly brought from former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's official house. Delhi CM Atishi is occupying another house.

The BJP leader says, "This is a gold-plated toilet. The Chief Minister had installed 12 such toilets in his house. Toilets worth Rs 1.44 crore were installed in the 'Sheeshmahal' worth Rs 56 crores. We are telling people that they take your votes by giving you 'revdis' and then they do this. We have seen the condition of the toilets here. We are saying that when our government comes, we will build good toilets and bathrooms. Delhi is being looted in the name of 'revdis'."

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Saturday targeted Arvind Kejriwal over the alleged plans of carrying out a Rs 200 crore renovation of chief ministers official residence at 6, Flag Staff Road.

Addressing the press conference on Saturday, Gupta challenged Kejriwal to address the public and reveal the dark truth of the residence, which it has dubbed as Sheesh Mahal.

A seven-month-old foetus has been found dumped in a garbage bin in Mumbai, police said on Tuesday. A passer-by spotted the foetus on Monday afternoon in the garbage bin of the Ashtavinayak Society building in Charkop area.

After being alerted, police reached the spot and sent the foetus to a hospital for post-mortem, a Charkop police official said. "We are investigating if there is any evidence of concealing the death of a newborn baby and disposing of the body. We are collecting details of pregnant women in the locality as well as those who recently delivered babies," the official said. The post-mortem report is awaited, based on which a case will be registered, the police added.

Venezuela's Supreme Court has imposed a 10 million dollar fine on TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing platform of negligence about deadly viral challenges that allegedly led to the deaths of three adolescents due to chemical intoxication, according to a report by Voice of America.

The court, led by Judge Tania D'Amelio, argued that TikTok failed to take "necessary and adequate measures" to prevent the spread of dangerous content encouraging these challenges.

As part of the ruling, TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, was ordered to establish a local office in Venezuela and given eight days to pay the fine or face further consequences. The court also announced that the fine would fund the creation of a "TikTok victims fund" aimed at compensating individuals affected by harmful content, particularly children and teenagers.

According to the Voice of America, the case stems from reports that three adolescents died and over 200 others were poisoned in schools across Venezuela after engaging in viral challenges involving harmful chemicals.

These challenges, a common feature of TikTok's user-driven content, have drawn increasing criticism for their potential to endanger young users. TikTok's platform, which thrives on viral trends, has faced growing scrutiny over its role in spreading hazardous content. -- PTI

The Samruddhi Mahamarg

12:42 50 vehicles punctured in freak accident on highway

Over 50 vehicles were punctured late at night on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway when they passed over an iron board that had fallen on the road.

The incident occurred around 10 pm on December 29 between the Malegaon and Vanoja toll plaza in Washim district, impacting four-wheelers and cargo trucks, reports NDTV.

Consequently, there was a long traffic jam on the highway. Commuters were stranded on the highway overnight as no assistance arrived for a long time.

It is not know whether the board fell accidentally or was thrown intentionally.

In June, at least six people were killed and four injured in a collision between two cars on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. The highway is a partially functional six-lane and 701-km-long access-controlled expressway in Maharashtra that connects Mumbai with Nagpur. It was built at a cost of Rs 55,000 crore.

12:27 When the Carters met Sunil Dutt

Former Congress MP Priya Dutt shares this image of former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn with Sunil Dutt. She writes, "The world has lost another extraordinary soul with the passing of Jimmy Carter. A man who tirelessly worked for peace & humanity. Sharing a precious moment of my dad with him & his wife Roslyn that reminds me of the kindness & warmth he shared with the world. Rest In Peace."

Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday. He was 100.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gaurav Bhatia on Tuesday launched a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over a video showcasing children supporting AAP for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections posted on the social media platform X and called it a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and, the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.

He said that AAP has used children for dirty politics.

"If anyone has learnt to use the children of Delhi for dirty politics, then it is Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Atishi Marlena. Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi Marlena have pushed our innocent children into politics by uploading their videos. This is a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and secondly, the guidelines of the Election Commission of India state that there should be no statements of children, there should be no presence of them, and there should be no such activities... This 'X' post should be removed immediately but Arvind Kejriwal has still not removed this post..." said the BJP leader.

Notably, a video was posted by Chief Minister Atishi on X on December 29. The video showed children saying "Abki Baar Kejriwal," which was later reposted by former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party came out heavily against the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi by putting up posters outside the BJP Delhi office targeting the 10-year rule of AAP.

In their posters, the BJP called the AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain as "Bhrashtaachaar Ke Tees Maar Khaan" (Master of Corruption).

Representational image

11:12 Outrage after Pune pub sends condoms in party invite

A controversy has erupted in Pune after a local pub allegedly sent condoms and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets along with invitations to invitees for its New Year's Eve party.

The unusual invitation has sparked widespread outrage, prompting the police to intervene and record statements from the invitees.

Senior Police Inspector Nilkanth Jagtap at Mundhwa police station confirmed, "The pub head sent an advisory to the invitees ahead of the party. The advisory urged people to use helmets, keep hydrated, and avoid 'drink and drive'. This was for the safety precautions during New Year's Eve."

Along with this advisory, the pub management has also sent some helmets to its selected invitees and a goody bag which included a packet of condoms. This was sent to around 40 guests who are regular to the pub and were expected to attend the New Year party," Jagtap said.

The whole incident came to light after one of the guests took photos of this gift packet and posted it on Facebook which resulted in public outrage, the police inspector added.

"Subsequently, the pub decided to cancel the party. After receiving a complaint, we took the statements of some of the guests and the management to enquire about it. We issued notices and are further investigating the matter.

The police have launched an investigation into the matter after a complaint from Maharashtra Youth Congress General Secretary Akshay Jain who said that they are not against pub culture or nightlife but this kind of "cheap publicity."

"We are not against the pub culture or nightlife but we are against this kind of cheap publicity. We have made a complaint to the Pune Police Commissioner and hope this kind of cheap publicity stunt doesn't happen again in the city. In recent times, we saw the cases of drugs and other illegal activities has risen," Jain told ANI.

Jain said that such actions must be condemned and strict action should be taken against it. -- ANI

The Ambani wedding makes it to the list

10:54 Cricket to Qcom: What shaped Indias emotional, cultural landscape in 2024

It is not every year that a wedding crashes the hits of the year party. But 2024 was no ordinary year. And this was no ordinary wedding. The annual Hits of the Year survey by advertising agency Rediffusion, shared exclusively with Business Standard, paints a picture of the year ending Tuesday with strokes of the expected as well as unexpected, with a dash of resilience and a coat of somberness. Cricket comes out on top, as you would expect in a year that saw India win its second T20 World Cup in men's cricket.

And Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ever rising global stature puts him at number two.

The third place provides the proverbial twist in the tale: The Ambani wedding. With an estimated cost of $600 million, it spanned seven months, a week-long engagement party, an 800-person Mediterranean cruise, and a three-day wedding extravaganza.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, whose consecration took place on January 22, took the fourth place as 'a dream realised'.

It was followed in fifth place by an altogether contrasting topic: Quick commerce. Having started as a bold experiment, it has turned into an everyday convenience.

Ratan Tata, who died on October 9, adds the touch of somberness as the sixth entry.

Last year's survey showed 2023 as India's coming out party. Capturing people's imagination in 2023 were the successful Chandrayaan mission, the G20 event in New Delhi, India's medal haul at the Asian Games, the successful hosting of the ODIWorld Cup for men, and Modi's stature.

"2024 has been a year of many victories -- in cricket, in chess and at the Olympics. The hits also came from PM Modi, the Ambanis, Ratan Tata, CJ Chandrachud, singer Diljit Dosanjh, and cricketers Pant, Sky and Bumrah. Many of them find a place in the Hits of the Year 2024 because they made the nation proud,' said Sandeep Goyal, chairman, Rediffusion. A Hit can be an event, a personality, a trend, a technology, or just a popular word --anything that found fame and gained mass acceptance.

The survey is conducted by Red Lab, the consumer insights think tank at Rediffusion. This year, as in 2023, the Red Lab team sat down to list all the things that 'drove' or inspired India in 2024. The researchers scanned headlines and newsmakers through the year, creating a long list of 300 possible Hits.

This list was reviewed by an expert panel which distilled it down to 50. Finally, this shortlist was put to a popular poll among 2,317 respondents across India to arrive at the top 20. The respondents were in the 18 to 45 age group, 53 per cent of them male and the rest female.

Sporting Hits were not confined to cricket. Eighteen-year-old D Gukesh's victory in the World Chess Championship put him in seventh place. Almost inevitably, cricket occurred again, in the eighth place. This, though, was not just because of an event on the field: Rishabh Pant's return to the elite level of the game after a life-threatening accident turned out to be a compelling story.

D Y Chandrachud, who retired as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, came in ninth place as much for his landmark judgments as for his view that the top court should be a 'people's court'.

India's efforts to usher in a new era of transportation with electric vehicles completed the top 10. The Parliament elections came in at 16th place.

-- Business Standard

Nirmala Sitharaman at the pre-Budget meet

10:49 Experts push for duty cuts on cancer care

Health and education experts urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to address issues related to cancer care equipment, health and education spending, and increase focus on teachers' training under the National Education Policy 2020.

"A reduction in the customs duty of radiation machines, such as linear accelerators, is important, as these are imported as standard machines, that are currently not available in the country. This will help in providing cancer care to many," said Dr Kailash Sharma, director of the Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre.

This comes after several Indian medical device manufacturers have raised concerns over the import of pre-owned and second-hand high-end and high-value medical equipment.

"Among other subjects that were discussed was regarding the expansion of cancer care to far-off regional areas," said Abhijat Sheth, president of National Board of Examinations.

He denied any discussions taking place regarding medical education. Experts from the education sector asked the government to effectively expedite the implementation of the NEP 2020.

"There was a discussion on various aspects of implementation such as vocational education and teacher training, especially training teachers in the Anganwadis," said Raj Nehru, vice-chancellor, Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana. Apart from the discussion on furthering school education, experts discussed on how to leverage technology, AI and digital education in India.

"This included usage of tech-driven solutions to increase the gross enrollment ratio, and a need to raise the allocation for education," he said.

-- Sanket Koul/Business Standard

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reached a settlement in their divorce eight years after the Maria star filed to end their two-year marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, signed off on their divorce on Monday, Dec. 30, according to Jolie's lawyers.

"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family," Jolie's lawyer James Simon tells PEOPLE in a statement.

"This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."

A source close to Jolie adds, "She doesn't speak ill of [Pitt] publicly or privately. She's been trying hard to be light after a dark time."

A rep for Pitt declined to confirm or comment.

Jolie filed for dissolution of marriage on Sept. 19, 2016, days after a private plane flight on which she has claimed Pitt was abusive to her and their six children; he was not charged by authorities after investigations at the time and Jolie declined to press charges.

Four months later, the former couple released a joint statement indicating that they reached an agreement to handle their divorce in a private forum, and would keep future details of their divorce confidential by utilizing a private judge.

Sanjiv Puri, chairman, CII

10:42 This is what we want, industry tells Nirmalaji

Tax exemption for the middle class, reduction in excise duty on fuel, and continued push towards public capex were some of the key suggestions made to the finance ministry during pre-Budget discussions with industry representatives on Monday.

The fifth round of consultations on the upcoming Budget with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and top government officials focused on employment generation. It also talked of steps to spur consumption in the economy besides a push for factor market reforms to boost growth.

Prominent industry associations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) have called for granting infrastructure status to the hotel and tourism sector.

This, they said, will help the hospitality sector attract foreign investment and reduce borrowing costs. This, in turn, would enhance employment opportunities across the country.

Speaking to reporters, Sanjiv Puri, chairman, CII, said the government should take steps to increase disposable income to drive higher consumer spending and stimulate economic growth.

Advocating for economic relief for the middle class, Puri said, "Industry has proposed tax exemptions for individuals earning up to Rs 20 lakh annually. Reduction in excise duties on petrol and diesel could alleviate the financial burden on consumers and businesses alike."

Puri stressed the need to increase the minimum wage rate under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from Rs 267/day in FY24 to Rs 375. This was suggested by the Expert Committee on Fixing National Minimum Wage. Industry representatives said that given the uncertainty due to persisting global headwinds, the government's thrust on public capex on physical, social and digital infrastructure will be crucial to maintain the growth momentum.

Ficci Vice Chairman Vijay Sankar said, "Quality of the fisc has improved over time with revenue expenditure being contained and productive capital expenditure being prioritised. We propose the government consider increasing capex in FY26 by 15 per cent over 2024-25."

The government, he said, must rationalise the multiple tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS) rates by converging them into a simple two or three-tier rate structure. This is to avoid classification disputes and prevent blockage of working capital in the industry.

Stop the practice of imposing TDS/TCS on transactions that are subject to goods and services tax (GST) since the relevant information is already available through GST filings, he said.

Besides tax reforms, Sankar called for an enabling policy framework that can target resources towards both green areas as well as transition areas in order to meet the goal of net zero by 2070. The industry has sought abolition of the securities transaction tax (STT), arguing that such a move would encourage investment in the capital markets.

Assocham President Sanjay Nayar proposed extending the scope of presumptive taxation to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and emerging sectors like data centres and Cloud computing.Presumptive taxation is a simplified tax system where small businesses pay tax based on a presumed percentage of their gross receipts instead of detailed accounting of actual income.

This move aims to simplify tax compliance, reduce disputes, and aid financial planning for businesses.

-- Monika Yadav, Ruchika Chitravanshi/Business Standard

10:27 Zepto's second top-level exit in a month...

Zepto's Vice-President of Central Operations Jitendra Bagga has resigned after a nine-month stint at the company, becoming the second top executive to exit the quick commerce giant in a month.

The company confirmed the news to Business Standard, while sharing there are no plans for replacements at this moment. Bagga was heading the warehousing division which included mother hubs (MH) and line haul (LH) projects.

Before joining Zepto in April 2024, Bagga spent three years at Raymond Limited and over 24 years at Reliance Retail. The development comes just weeks after Zepto's chief human resource officer, Martin Dinesh Gomez, put in his papers earlier this month. Gomez had quit after a 11-month tenure. Both executives resigned at a time when the company was in the process of shifting its headquarters and employees to Bengaluru from Mumbai.

As the competition between quick commerce players heats up, Zepto, which currently has a network of over 550 dark stores, aims to expand its footprint. In addition, Zepto also plans to go public in 2025. Other notable exits at Zepto this year include Viral Jhaveri, former chief business officer/chief growth officer, Ashish Shah, senior vice-president of finance, and Manik Oberoi, vice-president of growth and retention.

-- Udisha Srivastav/Business Standard

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar

10:17 Kerala nurse on death row in Yemen: MEA says...

India on Tuesday said it is extending all possible help to explore relevant options in the case of an Indian nurse facing death sentence in Yemen. Nimisha Priya, hailing from Kerala, has been reportedly handed capital punishment for allegedly murdering a Yemeni citizen.

"We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

"The government is extending all possible help in the matter," he added. Jaiswal was replying to a media query. --PTI

10:00 CEOs Who Will Exit Soon...

The financial sector could see new faces at the helm of banks and insurance companies with over half a dozen CEOs set to hang up their boots in 2025.

Two public sector banks -- Punjab National Bank and Indian Bank -- will see new faces at the beginning of the year with incumbents, Atul Kumar Goel and S L Jain, retiring on December 31.

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau recommended Ashok Chandra for the top post at PNB and Binod Kumar at Indian Bank.Among other PSBs, Central Bank of India's MD and CEO M V Rao will see his current term end in July, while Canara Bank's MD and CEO K S Raju's term will conclude in December.

Punjab and Sind Bank's MD and CEO Swarup Saha's current term is set to expire in June. However, with two years remaining before he turns 60, Saha is eligible for reappointment.

In the private sector, all eyes are on IndusInd Bank's MD and CEO Sumant Kathpalia, whose current term ends in March 2025. The bank's board has recommended a three-year extension for Kathpalia, who has held the position since March 24, 2020. In March 2023, the Reserve Bank of India had approved a two-year extension for Kathpalia, while the bank's board had approved his re-appointment for three years.

LIC is likely to see a change in leadership as its MD and CEO Siddhartha Mohanty is set to superannuate in June after reaching the age of 62. General insurer Oriental Insurance MD & CEO Rashmi Raman Singh's current term also ends in February.

-- Manojit Saha/Business Standard

Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits Sarangi

09:58 Surprised eye undamaged, says BJP MP in Rahul row

BJP Lok Sabha MP Pratap Sarangi on Monday spoke out about the December 19 scuffle with the Congress MPs at the Parliament's Makar Dwar gate, criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the incident in which Sarangi was injured.

The BJP MP from Odisha's Balasore returned to the state following his treatment and stated that the doctors who were attending him following the injury were surprised his eye remained undamaged after the incident.

Sarangi recounted that while BJP MPs were protesting peacefully that day against the Congress's alleged disrespect toward the architect of the Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar, Congress MPs, led by the Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, arrived at the scene.

According to Sarangi, no BJP MPs attempted to resist the Congress MPs, which led to the LoP pushing through the crowd, and during this altercation, Rahul Gandhi pushed BJP MP Mukesh Rajput, who was standing in front of Sarangi. As a result, Rajput fell onto Sarangi, causing his head to strike the corner of the wall next to the steps of the Parliament.

He further revealed that he had been under medical observation for 10 days following the scuffle.

"We were protesting peacefully (at the entrance of the Parliament)... During this protest, Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi reached there... Since no BJP MP was trying to resist him, he started pushing everyone himself... He suddenly came near me and pushed MP Mukesh Rajput, who was standing in front of me... He fell on me. My head hit the corner of the wall next to the step of the Parliament... Doctors were surprised how my eye was fine...I had been under doctors' observation for 10 days," the BJP MP said.

Sarangi suffered a deep cut on his forehead, while Rajput fell unconscious due to elevated blood pressure during the confrontation. They were later admitted to the ICU in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of physical aggression, calling his actions "goonish." An FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi by Delhi police regarding the incident. -- ANI

A motorcyclist died after he was hit by an SUV and dragged under it for some distance here, police said on Monday. An FIR has been registered against the SUV driver.

The police action came after a purported video of the incident surfaced on social media on Monday.

In the video, the SUV is seen dragging the motorcycle under it, causing sparks on the road. A BJP sticker reading 'gram pradhan' is pasted on the rear windshield of the speeding SUV.

The victim was identified as Sukhveer (50), a resident of Shahjad Kheda village, police said.

According to a complaint lodged by a relative of the victim, Sukhveer was returning home from Hayatnagar on Sunday evening when a Bolero hit him on Moradabad road and the SUV driver dragged him under his vehicle for some distance.

Sukhveer was rushed to the Sambhal hospital, from where he was referred to Moradabad. He died during treatment on Monday, the complaint stated.

Station House Officer (SHO), Sambhal, Anuj Kumar Tomar said a case of culpable homicide has been registered against the SUV driver and the vehicle has been seized. The matter is being investigated. -- PTI

Representative image

09:01 New Year travel rush causes heavy traffic on Mumbai-Goa highway

The Mumbai-Goa highway has been facing traffic congestion due to the extra rush of vehicles ahead of the New Year celebrations coupled with the ongoing road construction work, a police official said.

With a large number of people heading to Goa and Alibaug in Maharashtra's Raigad district to celebrate the New Year, roads at Lonere, Mangaon and Indapur Poinad near Mumbai were hit by traffic jams on Monday, the official said.

Many roads have also been facing bottlenecks due to the ongoing construction work.

The highway and local police were putting extra efforts to clear the traffic snarls, the official added. -- PTI

A United States Appeals Court on Monday upheld the jury's verdict ordering President-elect Donald Trump to pay $5 million for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll in 1996 and denied a retrial.

Trump had challenged the verdict, alleging that the judge made errors, including allowing the testimony of two other women who had also accused Trump of assaulting them.

The appeals court ruled that, given the strength of Carroll's case, even if the trial judge made errors, Trump's rights were not affected to warrant a new trial, the CNN report stated.

Carroll had alleged that Trump 'raped' her in the Bergdorf Goodman department store in 1996. He later denied her claim, defamed her by saying she wasn't his type, and suggested she fabricated the story to boost sales of her book.

Trump denied all wrongdoing and does not face jail time as a result of the civil verdict.

"Both E Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today's decision. We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties' arguments," said Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's attorney.

Trump has also appealed the verdict of another jury that awarded Carroll USD 83.3 million after finding Trump defamed her by denying the sexual abuse.

A Bangladeshi man has been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment by an NIA court here for radicalising Muslim youths and raising funds for terror activities.

Jahidul Islam alias Kausar has also been fined Rs 57,000 in the cases connected with offences of dacoity, conspiracy and raising funds, as well as procurement of ammunition, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said in a statement on Monday.

With this, a total of 11 accused have been convicted in these cases, said the statement.

As per NIA investigations, Jahidul, the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh Amir of India, along with absconding JMB head Salauddin Salehin, had illegally crossed over into India in 2014 after escaping the custody of Bangladesh police in connection with the 2005 serial blasts in Bangladesh.

During the hiding, he and his associates were involved in the October 2014 Burdwan blast case, the NIA said.

Two persons were killed and another was injured in a bomb explosion at a house in the Khagragarh locality of Burdwan in West Bengal on October 2, 2014. -- PTI

BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi after being hurt in the Parliament scuffle/File image

01:15 Rahul Gandhi behaved like 'bouncer' and not as LoP: BJP MP Sarangi

Balasore Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Monday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he behaved like a "bouncer" rather than the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a position once held by esteemed personalities like Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Sarangi, who was injured and had to be admitted to a hospital following a scuffle in Parliament on December 19, told reporters, "I am comparatively better now and was discharged from the hospital on December 28. I still need to be cautious as the stitch on my head has not fully healed."

Recalling the incident, Sarangi said, "It happened when we (BJP MPs) were standing near an entry gate, peacefully protesting against the insult of Dr. Ambedkar, holding placards."

"Suddenly, Rahul Gandhi came along with some of his party colleagues and started pushing people to move ahead. He was behaving like a bouncer, not like the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, a post once occupied by great personalities like Vajpayee ji," Sarangi said.

Claiming that there was enough space beside the gate for Gandhi to pass through without causing disruption, Sarangi said, "He pushed MP Mukesh Rajput, who was standing in front of him. Rajput ji fell on me, and my head likely hit the corner of a stone-like object, causing the injury." -- PTI

File image

00:48 Work at sites in Mumbai's Byculla, Borivali to be stopped to improve AQI: BMC

Work at construction sites in Byculla and Borivali East in Mumbai will be stopped after 24-hour notices are issued since the Air Quality Index in these areas is constantly over 200, a civic official said.

Making the announcement, Brihanmumbai municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Monday said work will be stopped at private and government construction sites, including those being carried out by the civic body, till the time the AQI improves.

Gagrani, who is also chairperson of the Bombay high court-appointed air quality monitoring committee, said non-compliance to directives in this regard will attract action under section 52 of Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act and police complaints would also be lodged.

"Concerned developers and agencies won't be permitted to resume work unless the AQI is brought to a safe level. The BMC will not issue any permission for digging trenches unless Mumbai's air quality improves," Gagrani informed.

Avinash Dhakane, member secretary of the committee, said Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has issued notices to all ready mix concrete (RMC) plants in Mumbai and adjoining metropolitan region and asked them to erect sheds to cover 100 percent of the plant area in order to curb pollution. -- PTI

A motorcyclist died after he was hit by an SUV and dragged under it for some distance in Sambhal, the police said on Monday.

An FIR has been registered against the SUV driver.

The police action came after a purported video of the incident surfaced on social media on Monday.

In the video, the SUV is seen dragging the motorcycle under it, causing sparks on the road.

A BJP sticker reading 'gram pradhan' is pasted on the rear windshield of the speeding SUV.

The victim was identified as Sukhveer (50), a resident of Shahjad Kheda village, police said. According to a complaint lodged by a relative of the victim, Sukhveer was returning home from Hayatnagar on Sunday evening when a Bolero hit him on Moradabad road and the SUV driver dragged him under his vehicle for some distance.

Sukhveer was rushed to the Sambhal hospital, from where he was referred to Moradabad.

He died during treatment on Monday, the complaint stated.

Station house officer Sambhal, Anuj Kumar Tomar said a case of culpable homicide has been registered against the SUV driver and the vehicle has been seized.

The matter is being investigated. -- PTI

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