Category: India

  • Delhi Police Steps Up Security for Holi and Ramzan Celebrations

    Delhi Police Steps Up Security for Holi and Ramzan Celebrations

    As Holi approaches this year, it falls on the same day as Friday prayers for Ramzan, leading the Delhi Police to step up safety measures. Over 25,000 police officers, with the help of paramilitary forces, will be on duty across the city to keep everyone safe and ensure there are no problems.

    Keeping an Eye on Sensitive Areas

    Authorities have identified over 300 spots in Delhi that need special attention. A police officer explained, “We checked calls made to the police during Holi over the past two years and found out when most problems happen—between 12 PM and 8 PM. We will increase patrols during that time.” The police will use drones and CCTV cameras to monitor these areas closely. In the South district alone, there will be 1,500 officers on duty.

    Working Together for Peaceful Celebrations

    To make sure everyone gets along, the Delhi Police are meeting with community leaders, including imams and local groups. “We are talking with community groups in each district since Holi and Ramzan falls on the same day. Everyone is working together,” the officer said. These discussions will keep going until the celebration day to avoid confusion and keep things peaceful.

    Increased Patrols and Traffic Control

    Police will be more visible in mixed neighborhoods and areas with many homes. Patrols will increase around 1:30 PM when Ramzan prayers start. The traffic police are joining in too, setting up checkpoints at busy intersections to catch people who break traffic rules, like drunk driving and speeding.

    “Teams will be watching carefully for anyone breaking the law during Holi celebrations,” an officer stated. They will use radar to measure how fast cars are going and will punish those who ride motorcycles recklessly.

    Urging Safe Celebrations

    Police are reminding everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly. “Drinking and driving can put lives at risk,” warned an officer. Mobile and motorcycle patrols will watch the city throughout the day, with drones also focusing on areas in Northeast Delhi, ensuring everything stays safe and secure.

    With these strategies in place and support from the community, Delhi hopes everyone has a joyful and peaceful Holi and Ramzan.

  • Delhi Metro Adjusts Schedule for Holi: Key Changes You Need to Know!

    Delhi Metro Adjusts Schedule for Holi: Key Changes You Need to Know!

    The Delhi Metro will change its schedule for Holi! Trains will start running from 2:30 PM today on all lines, as announced by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Normally, the Metro runs from 5 AM to 11:30 PM on weekdays, while the Airport Express train operates from 4:40 AM to 11:40 PM.

    This year, even the Airport Express will begin at 2:30 PM for Holi. You can find the full schedule on the DMRC website. The DMRC encourages everyone to plan their trips keeping these new times in mind. If you have any questions, you can reach out to DMRC or follow their social media for quick updates.

    The DMRC also requests that passengers avoid carrying colors, water guns, or balloons, as these might upset other travelers.

    In addition to Metro travel, the Delhi Traffic Police have shared advice about road congestion due to Holi celebrations and ongoing construction projects like the Airport Drain extension. Police teams will be out in full force to help keep everything safe, especially as there will be about 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel on duty. They will check for drunk driving and monitor traffic to ensure everyone can enjoy the festival safely.

  • Delhi Ministers Sisodia and Jain Investigated for Corruption and Money Laundering

    Delhi Ministers Sisodia and Jain Investigated for Corruption and Money Laundering

    On Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu gave the green light to Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. They are being probed for problems with how the Delhi government built classrooms and school buildings. Manish Sisodia was in charge of education, while Satyendar Jain handled public works.

    This permission comes under a law called Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which was changed by the government in July 2018. This law says that police or other agencies must ask for approval before they can start any investigation into corruption cases.

    A report from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), dated February 17, 2020, pointed out major issues with how over 2,400 classrooms were built in Delhi schools by the Public Works Department (PWD). Last year, the Delhi government’s vigilance team suggested looking into this suspected scam and sent their findings to the chief secretary.

    Earlier this Year: Sanction to Prosecute Satyendar Jain

    On February 18, the President also allowed actions against Satyendar Jain in a money-laundering case. The Home Ministry asked for this permission based on evidence discovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED found that Jain, who used to be the health minister, might have made illegal money with the help of companies he controlled. The CBI reported that Jain had assets worth ₹1.47 crore, much more than what he should have earned from his known jobs between 2015 and 2017. The ED also revealed that during 2015-2016, Jain, as a public servant, got money transferred through illegal means from fake companies.

  • CBI Investigates Actress in Major Gold Smuggling Case

    CBI Investigates Actress in Major Gold Smuggling Case

    New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking into gold smuggling from Dubai after a complaint from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Recently, the DRI arrested actress Ranya Rao at Bengaluru’s Kempe Gowda International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle over 14 kg of gold from Dubai. They also caught two foreigners at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport trying to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold worth ₹18.92 crore into India.

    The DRI’s report showed that these two foreigners had come to Mumbai several times before, raising suspicions about a possible gold smuggling group operating out of Dubai. When DRI searched Ranya Rao’s home, they found gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore. Ranya has made many trips to Dubai, which officials say is concerning. The DRI thinks that some public servants might be involved and asked the CBI to investigate further. In response, the CBI has filed a case against unknown public workers and private individuals.

    The Enforcement Directorate is also looking into the money laundering aspect involving Ranya and has conducted searches as part of this investigation.

  • Supreme Court to Decide on Debarring Candidates with Criminal Charges

    Supreme Court to Decide on Debarring Candidates with Criminal Charges

    The Supreme Court will hear an important case on March 18 about whether candidates with serious criminal charges should be allowed to run in elections. A group of judges, Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, will look into this issue.

    Last September, the Supreme Court asked the government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to respond to a request from lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. This request wants to stop candidates who have serious criminal charges against them from participating in elections.

    The lawyer’s plea claims that despite past recommendations from the Law Commission of India and previous court orders, the government and ECI have not taken any action. The plea highlights that out of 539 people who won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, about 233, which is 43%, have declared they are facing criminal cases.

    According to a report from the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) with serious criminal cases has increased by 109% since 2009. In fact, one MP has declared 204 criminal cases against himself, including serious charges like homicide and robbery.

    The plea argues that political parties are competing to choose candidates with criminal records to stay in power. This criminalization of politics harms the public, yet parties continue to nominate candidates with serious criminal backgrounds.

  • High Court Questions FIR Status in Police Custody Death Case

    High Court Questions FIR Status in Police Custody Death Case

    Mumbai: The Bombay High Court is asking why a police report (FIR) wasn’t filed after finding that five police officers were responsible for the death of a man involved in a Badlapur sexual assault case. The Maharashtra government stated they are already looking into the incident as an accidental death.

    A group of judges, Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale, held a meeting on Thursday to discuss if an FIR should be filed after a report from a magistrate blamed the five officers for the man’s death while he was in custody.

    The man, Akshay Shinde, was accused of sexually assaulting two young girls in a school where he worked. He was arrested in August 2024 and died during what police called a shootout. This happened on September 23, 2024, while he was being taken from Taloja prison for questioning.

    Police say he grabbed an officer’s gun and shot at them, which led to them firing back. A legal inquiry was conducted because of Shinde’s death in police custody. The magistrate’s report suggested that Shinde’s father’s claims of a fake encounter might be true, putting doubt on the officers’ self-defense claims.

    Senior lawyer Amit Desai, representing the state, explained that they have already opened an accidental death report and the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is looking into Shinde’s death.

    The judges questioned if an investigation can only be based on an accidental death report. They argued that if it becomes clear that the death was not accidental but was caused by someone, an FIR should be filed.

    Desai responded that after the CID finishes its work, they will submit a final report that might either close the case or push for charges against someone.

    Another lawyer appointed by the court emphasized that since the magistrate said it was an unnatural death, an FIR should be registered.

    The police claim that Shinde took a gun during transport and opened fire, leading to him being shot by senior inspector Sanjay Shinde along with other officers present. He was being questioned in connection with a case his wife filed against him.

  • Starlink’s Surprising Partnerships: Political Alliances or Business Moves

    Starlink’s Surprising Partnerships: Political Alliances or Business Moves

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised concerns about the recent partnerships between Elon Musk’s Starlink and India’s major telecom firms, Jio and Airtel. He claimed that these deals were arranged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to maintain a good relationship with former US President Donald Trump during ongoing global trade disputes.

    Ramesh questioned how Jio and Airtel could suddenly support Starlink after previously opposing its entry into India. He pointed out that just 12 hours after announcing the partnership, these companies embraced a business they had once fought against.

    In an interview, Ramesh said, “These companies opposed Starlink because it wanted special radio waves (spectrum) to operate, which goes against the Indian government’s auction policies since 2014.”

    He further accused the Prime Minister of using Starlink’s deals to curry favor with Trump and insisted that there must be some agreement involved, although details are unclear. He expressed concern that this move was all about gaining friendship with Trump through Musk.

    Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC responded to the accusations by calling out the Congress party for spreading conspiracy theories. She argued that Jio and Airtel made their own choices to partner with Starlink and emphasized that there’s no threat to India’s national security, urging Ramesh to stop promoting these ideas.

  • Explore Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Lavish Sea Mansion and Leadership Challenges

    Explore Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Lavish Sea Mansion and Leadership Challenges

    Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who leads the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), has captured attention online for his luxurious mansion by the sea in Visakhapatnam. The stunning property, located in Rushikonda, covers 10 acres and has four large buildings surrounded by beautiful gardens.

    A recent video from the news agency ANI showcased the inside of the mansion, while drone footage showed how big it is near the coastline. The landscaping around the house adds to its beauty.

    At a recent event celebrating the founding of YSRCP, Jagan Mohan Reddy spoke about the party’s mission to represent those who are not heard. He reminded everyone that the YSRCP was formed from struggles and has a history of fighting for fairness. Jagan also said that in the 15 years of YSRCP’s existence, the party spent 10 years in the opposition but always stood by the people.

    However, a former member of YSRCP, V Vijayasai Reddy, has raised concerns about Jagan’s leadership. He warned that Jagan’s future depends on breaking away from a small group of advisors who may be giving him misleading information. Vijayasai Reddy mentioned that only good news reaches Jagan, and if he does not change this, he may face challenges ahead.

    He further claimed that access to Jagan is very controlled, with some people even having to pay bribes to meet him.

  • ASI to Renovate Shahi Jama Masjid Following Court Order

    ASI to Renovate Shahi Jama Masjid Following Court Order

    On Thursday, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) visited the Shahi Jama Masjid to take measurements for upcoming renovation work. This decision comes after the Allahabad High Court instructed the ASI to finish whitewashing the mosque within a week.

    Zafar Ali, the head of the Jama Masjid committee, told reporters that the ASI team was assessing what needed to be done and preparing a cost estimate. He said, “We are fully cooperating with the team, and everything is going well. Once they finish taking measurements and get approval, the painting work will start soon.”

    Ali explained that if the approval comes on Thursday, painting might start right away. If not, since Holi is coming up, it will begin the day after the holiday. The mosque committee will supervise the painting under the ASI’s rules and guidance.

    Earlier, the Allahabad High Court asked the ASI’s lawyer to explain what problems whitewashing the mosque might cause. The mosque committee’s lawyer, SFA Naqvi, pointed out that the ASI had not denied the request for whitewashing or outdoor lighting. He even showed colored photos showing that the mosque clearly needs a paint job.

    Last November, riots broke out in Sambhal when locals protested a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. They claimed the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple destroyed during the Mughal era. The protest turned violent, leading to clashes with the police that resulted in four deaths and many injuries.

  • Holi Celebrated After 46 Years at Kartikeya Mahadev Temple

    Holi Celebrated After 46 Years at Kartikeya Mahadev Temple

    On Thursday, people in Khaggu Sarai celebrated Holi at the Kartikeya Mahadev Temple for the first time in 46 years. The event was joyful, with many social and Hindu groups taking part. The temple had been closed since 1978 due to riots but was reopened last December.

    Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shreesh Chandra reported that plenty of police officers were present to keep everyone safe. “Holi is being celebrated peacefully here at the temple. There’s no need to worry; people are enjoying the festival safely,” he said.

    The temple is near Shahi Jama Masjid, which has faced issues related to communal violence, including an incident in November 2024 that sadly resulted in four deaths. This violence started after a protest during a court-ordered survey of the mosque.

    Anand Agrawal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) district president, expressed his happiness about the celebration. “It’s amazing to celebrate Holi at the Kartikeya Mahadev Temple after so many years! People from different social groups are gathering here with flowers and colors,” he shared.

    Participants were excited about the celebration and thanked the police for keeping everyone safe. One attendee, Priyanshu Jain, said, “The police have done a great job making sure everything is secure, and everyone is fully enjoying the festival.”

    The temple, also known as Bhasma Shankar Temple, reopened on December 13 last year after the authorities discovered it during an anti-encroachment drive. The temple has an idol of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling