Category: India

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati responded to Rahul Gandhi’s criticisms about her party’s current strategy. In a message on X, Mayawati mentioned that many people believe the Congress party acted like a “B team” for the BJP during the recent Delhi Assembly elections, which helped the BJP win. She pointed out that Congress performed poorly, with many of its candidates losing their deposits.

Mayawati advised Rahul Gandhi to reflect on his own party’s issues before criticizing others, especially her party. Gandhi, while speaking to Dalit students in Raebareli, expressed disappointment that Mayawati did not join forces with him to fight against the BJP, suggesting that their unity could have led to a different election outcome.

In several posts, Mayawati highlighted that in regions where Congress is strong, there is a hostility towards the BSP and its supporters. She accused Congress of being inconsistent by talking about an alliance with the BSP only when it suits them.

After Gandhi’s comments, BSP members protested in Raebareli by putting up posters accusing him of being two-faced, claiming he pretends to help Dalits while also trying to undermine Mayawati, who has been a long-time supporter of the Dalit community.

Maharashtra’s Minister Dhananjay Munde shared some surprising news on Thursday. He revealed that he has Bell’s palsy, a condition that has made it hard for him to talk and attend important meetings. He also mentioned that he recently had surgery on both of his eyes two weeks ago.

Munde wrote on X that he had eye surgery under the care of renowned doctor Padma Shri Dr. T.P. Lahane. After the surgery, Dr. Lahane advised him to keep his eyes safe from bright light, dust, and the sun for 10 days.

While healing from his eye surgery, he discovered he had Bell’s palsy. He is currently being treated by Dr. Arun Shah at Reliance Hospital. Because of Bell’s palsy, he finds it very difficult to speak clearly for even a short time. This issue has stopped him from attending a couple of cabinet meetings and public events, known as Janata Darbar programs.

Munde has told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his party leader, Ajit Pawar, about his health problems. He is hopeful that he will be able to return to public duties once he recovers.

What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a health issue that suddenly causes weakness or paralysis in the muscles of the face. It usually gets worse within 48 hours. Luckily, most people recover in two weeks to six months. Although doctors don’t know exactly what causes it, it might be related to conditions like diabetes, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), high blood pressure, or Lyme disease. Bell’s palsy can cause difficulties like not being able to close one eye and having trouble with facial expressions like smiling or blinking.

On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India searched the home of Simran Preet Panesar in Mohali. He is a major suspect in Canada’s biggest gold theft, which happened last year. This raid comes just two days after the ED opened a money laundering investigation linked to the crime that took place outside India.

An ED official said, “Our team is looking into Panesar’s home as part of our investigation. He will also be questioned.”

A report revealed that the ED started this investigation following a section of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This law allows them to handle cases that cross international borders, like crimes committed by Indians in other countries.

The agency filed a report about a theft worth 22.5 million Canadian dollars (CAD) that took place at Toronto Pearson International Airport in April 2023. Officers are checking if any of the stolen gold or money came to India.

Here’s what happened: On April 17, 2023, a cargo container filled with gold bars was stolen using fake documents from a secure storage area. The stolen goods included 6,600 gold bars, weighing a total of 400 kg, and cash worth 2.5 million CAD. The gold bars were brought from Switzerland and were supposed to go to a bank in Toronto.

After the airplane landed, the cargo was taken to a different spot at the airport, and soon after, it was reported missing. The Peel Regional Police (PRP) in Canada called this the largest gold heist in the country’s history. They charged Panesar and eight others in April 2024 and issued an arrest warrant for him. Panesar and another suspect, Parampal Sidhu, worked at the airport’s warehouse.

The PRP said that after the heist, Panesar even showed police officers around the warehouse! While Sidhu was arrested in May 2024, Panesar disappeared. Canadian authorities are still trying to find the stolen gold, and so far, they have recovered only 90,000 CAD out of the total stolen.

Kerala is gearing up for the “Invest Kerala Global Summit” (IGIS) and state industries minister P Rajeev shared exciting updates. The summit is different this year because it follows 50 events where discussions were held with investors across all districts. They listened to what investors wanted and made necessary changes to the rules to encourage businesses to come to Kerala.

This year, Kerala’s motto is “nature, people, industry,” emphasizing responsible investments in 22 important sectors. They held special events focusing on technology like AI, robotics, and smart farming, and traveled to cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and even Dubai to promote Kerala as an investment destination.

Unlike previous years, where investment promises were often unrealistic, this time they aim for more realistic goals with clearer plans. Rajeev highlighted that Kerala has improved its position in the ease of doing business, now ranking number one, a significant shift from 28th place before.

Regarding the Vizhinjam port, which is a key project, Rajeev believes it will attract many investors. The port is located close to major international shipping routes and does not require much digging, making it an attractive option for shipping companies.

He also mentioned other developments like the Palakkad industrial smart city, which is part of a major project to connect Kochi and Bengaluru. The government is welcoming investments in tech sectors instead of traditional manufacturing which can harm the environment.

Rajeev recently attended the World Economic Forum in Davos to meet potential investors and showcase Kerala’s projects, including the Green Hydrogen Valley.

Despite political differences, the opposition parties are also planning to attend the summit, showing a united front for the state’s growth. Rajeev believes Kerala is evolving and will soon stand out as a top destination for industries focused on technology and sustainability.

New Delhi – On Thursday, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal talked about how we can fix social problems by building a caring society. He spoke at the opening of the KK Luthra and Nirmal Luthra Centre for Comparative Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Studies at OP Jindal Global University. Meghwal shared a story about a famous lawyer named Chittaranjan (CR) Das, who helped defend Sri Aurobindo Ghose in the Alipore Bomb case even though he wasn’t paid to do it.

Meghwal explained that Das moved from working in criminal law to helping with social justice through his charity work. When a British judge asked if Ghose had hired Das, Das replied that he was there to make sure justice was served, not to earn money. This showed how he went from focusing on crime to helping society.

The event, which introduced the Centre as a worldwide place for studying and talking about criminal law and justice, was attended by important legal figures, including Supreme Court judge Sanjay Karol and former attorney general KK Venugopal.

The Centre will be supported by a special fund from the Nirmal Luthra Foundation and the Luthra family, which includes Supreme Court lawyers Sidharth Luthra, Ketaki Goswami, Geeta Luthra, and Dr. Meera Luthra.

Justice Sanjay Karol, who spoke at the event, expressed worry about the growing gap between rich and poor people. He said that studying different criminal laws could help make justice fair for everyone, especially for those who are often left out. “Even though India is growing economically, the truth is that the gap between the rich and poor is getting bigger. Many groups still face discrimination, and wealth is too concentrated in the hands of a small number of people,” he said.

Justice Karol added that comparing legal systems from around the world can help scholars find better ways to bring fairness and justice. “Looking at how different countries handle laws can show us where things are unfair and allow us to share ideas for a better criminal justice system,” he said.

Shares of Religare Enterprises Limited (REL) are grabbing attention after the Burman family took control of the company. They now own 25.16% of REL, which means they have a big say in its operations.

On February 17, 2025, the Burman family completed their open offer to buy shares, adding 231,025 shares, which is a tiny portion of the total. Before that, on January 31, 2024, they bought 13.2 million shares, which was about 4% of REL’s total shares. This means they are serious about becoming key players in the company.

The Burman family, famous for creating Dabur India, got the green light from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December to buy more shares in Religare. Their goal is to make the company stronger, improve its management, and keep it growing sustainably.

After this news, the company’s shares dropped by 2%, ending the day at Rs 223.

Bengaluru: Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has accused the Congress government of targeting him through a recent survey of his farmland near Bidadi, Kethaganahalli. He believes the survey was politically motivated. Kumaraswamy spoke to reporters at his home and criticized how the state government is investigating him.

This survey happened after some activists claimed he had taken 14 acres of government land. The Karnataka High Court instructed the revenue department to check on the matter, which led to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) being formed. Revenue officials looked at over 110 acres of land owned by Kumaraswamy and his family, including his sister, who is related to a BJP Member of Parliament.

Kumaraswamy insisted that he bought this land legally 40 years ago from his earnings as a film distributor. He said, “People have always had their eyes on this land.” He accused the Congress government of trying to scare him with these actions, saying they have investigated him since 2012 without finding anything wrong. He also said he has never stolen government land.

He recalled that in 1986, some individuals had written to the Prime Minister about his land ownership, mentioning that he had legally bought it. Kumaraswamy defended his ownership, stating he has all the right documents. He targeted social activist SR Hiremath, who raised the allegations, saying he hasn’t even received a notice from the court regarding these issues.

Kumaraswamy questioned why complaints against him are suddenly emerging after 40 years of no problems. He pointed out that the SIT was planning to carry out the survey without notifying him, but he insisted they do it properly. The JD(S) leader suggested using expert surveyors to check the land records, stating he’s never done anything illegal. He finished by saying he knows how some people misuse power and how some have taken government land inappropriately. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has not responded to these allegations.

The Karnataka Lokayukta—a special ombudsman—submitted a huge report with 11,000 pages to a court in Bengaluru regarding the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land case. This happened just a day after police cleared Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi of any wrongdoing. Police said there was not enough proof to charge them.

The police, led by Superintendent Udesh, shared 27 volumes of documents with a court that handles cases involving lawmakers. They assured the public that the investigation is ongoing and the documents are important for the inquiry.

Recently, it was reported that the Lokayukta was likely to absolve Siddaramaiah and Parvathi from all accusations. On Wednesday, Lokayukta Police closed the case, stating no evidence was found to support the allegations made against the chief minister, his wife, and two others.

The case began when an activist named Snehamayi Krishna raised concerns about land allocated by MUDA. The report noted that the accusations were either misunderstandings of the law or simply not proven enough to take further legal action. Krishna was informed that if he disagrees with the findings, he can challenge them in court.

The land in question was a three-acre plot that Siddaramaiah claimed was given to his wife in 1998. In 2014, MUDA acquired this land for development without proper permissions, and Parvathi later applied for compensation. She ended up getting 14 residential plots worth over ₹8 crore, making people suspicious that this somewhat unfairly benefited their family.

In September 2024, the Karnataka High Court allowed Lokayukta to investigate the land allotment. On November 5, the court directed the Lokayukta Police to present a status report on Krishna’s claims for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. However, on February 7, the court decided that the Lokayukta Police would continue the investigation.

Some skepticism arose from the opposition party, BJP, who questioned the fairness of the inquiry, suggesting it should be handed over to the CBI. Senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi stated they could not trust the investigation since the same police officers were appointed by Siddaramaiah.

On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar supported the Lokayukta’s report, saying that the allegations were politically motivated and Siddaramaiah was innocent. He emphasized that the Lokayukta is an independent body that operates without influence from the Chief Minister.

Delhi has a new chief minister, Rekha Gupta! She was officially sworn in on Thursday and her first task was very special. Along with her team, she performed a religious ceremony called ‘Yamuna aarti’ at Vasudev Ghat. This event is important because the BJP party, which she represents, promised to clean the Yamuna River during their election campaign.

Rekha Gupta, along with other leaders from the BJP, did a prayer for the river called ‘Maa Yamuna puja’ before performing the aarti. They played devotional songs and shouted slogans like “Jai Shree Ram” to celebrate the moment. Gupta mentioned that their goal is to clean the Yamuna, saying they will use resources to make it a priority.

Virendra Sachdeva, the president of Delhi BJP, also spoke about the importance of cleaning the Yamuna, promising the citizens that they would work hard to keep it clean.

Earlier in the day, Rekha Gupta took her oath as chief minister in a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan. She is a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh and defeated the former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the elections.

Many important people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top BJP leaders, attended the swearing-in ceremony. Afterward, Gupta visited the Delhi Secretariat to start her new job as chief minister, joined by some party leaders.