Highlights: PM's principal secy chairs meet to analyse plans for tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR

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11:52 PM

Badlapur case accused gunned down: Self defence by cops, says govt; Oppn seeks probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said police shot dead Badlapur school sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde in self-defence.
 

Akshay Shinde, accused of sexually abusing two minor girls in the school where he worked as an attendant, was being taken to Badlapur from Taloja jail for investigation when he snatched a policeman's gun and fired at an assistant inspector when the police vehicle reached Mumbra bypass.
 

He was killed in retaliatory firing by a police officer who was part of the escort team.

8:39 PM

Karnataka HC's verdict on CM's plea challenging Guv's order to be pronounced tomorrow

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday will pronounce its order on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the legality of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's approval for investigation against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case.

 

6:58 PM

Jagan must allow law to decide its course in Tirupati laddu adulteration case: Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said there is no need for former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to defend himself over the Tirupati laddu adulteration controversy and allow the system (law) to take its own course in punishing the culprits.

6:26 PM

Israeli military to expand strikes against Hezbollah weapons sites in Lebanon

The Israeli military says it is widening an aerial offensive against what it says are Hezbollah weapons sites in southern and eastern Lebanon. The military said Monday that it was expanding its airstrikes to include areas of the Bekaa Valley, along Lebanon's eastern border, after targeting more than 300 sites in southern Lebanon.

5:00 PM

UPSC aspirants' deaths: Court grants interim bail to CEO, coordinator of RAU's IAS Study Circle

A Delhi court on Monday granted till December 7 interim bail to Rau's IAS Study Circle CEO Abhishek Gupta and its coordinator Deshpal Singh in a case related to the death of three civil services aspirants in July in the centre's flooded basement. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna granted relief to the accused persons on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh each with two sureties of the like amount.

4:58 PM

Left, Congress in Kerala slam Nirmala Sitharaman over statement on EY employee death

 The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in Kerala on Monday lashed out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her statement on the recent death of a young CA professional employed with audit major EY, and demanded her apology. Anna Sebastian Perayil, who cracked the tough Chartered Accountant exam in 2023 and worked at Ernst and Young, Pune office for four months, died in July. According to a letter her mother wrote to the EY India Chairman, Perayil was overworked with a "backbreaking" load as a new employee that affected her "physically, emotionally, and mentally". In an event held at Chennai on Saturday, Sitharaman had in an apparent reference to the incident, said families should teach the children to handle pressure through divinity.

4:43 PM

Delhi HC closes Pocso case against 19-year-old in romantic relationship with minor girl

The Delhi High Court has closed the criminal proceedings in a POCSO case emanating from a romantic relationship between a 19-year-old man and a minor girl, saying if the FIR is not quashed, the lives of three individuals -- the duo as well as their newborn -- will be destroyed. The court said it was passing the order on "humanitarian grounds" in view of the "exceptional circumstances", as it noted that the petitioner man and the 17-year-old prosecutrix in the case were neighbours and got married in August 2023 out of their own free will.

4:41 PM

Grave insult to Constitution, CM post: BJP, Congress on Atishi leaving Kejriwal's chair vacant

The BJP and the Congress on Monday attacked Delhi's new chief minister Atishi, over her decision not to sit on the chair used by her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, saying her gesture was a "grave insult" to the constitutional rules and the post of chief minister. Atishi, who took charge as the eighth chief minister of Delhi on Monday, said she would serve as Delhi's chief minister for four months like Ramayana's Bharat who ruled Ayodhya in the absence of his elder brother Lord Ram by placing his 'khadaun' (wooden slippers) on the throne.

4:36 PM

'Not a western concept': SC stresses importance of sex education in India

The Supreme Court noted that sex education is not a western concept incompatible with traditional Indian values. The perception that it is, the Court said, has resulted in opposition from several state governments, leading to bans on sex education in schools in certain states. Read here for more details.

3:59 PM

Subramanian Swamy moves SC seeking court-monitored probe in Tirupati laddu row

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged use of animal fat in making Tirupati laddus. The BJP leader requested the court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to file a detailed report on the source and sampling of the ghee used for making the laddus. Swamy also urged the court to issue an interim direction to obtain a detailed forensic report from the authorities concerned.

3:58 PM

Delhi court extends AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's judicial custody till Oct 7

A Delhi court on Monday extended till October 7 the judicial custody of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case. Special Judge Rakesh Syal passed the order after the accused was produced before the court on the expiry of his judicial custody granted earlier. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had arrested Khan on September 2, told the court that if he is released, he might influence the witnesses and hamper the investigation.

3:42 PM

Mpox patient discharged from Delhi's LNJP Hospital, say officials

An Mpox patient admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital here earlier this month has been discharged, the hospital officials confirmed.The 26-year-old patient, who had been admitted to the disaster ward dedicated to Mpox cases for almost 12 days, was discharged on Saturday.

An official from the hospital confirmed "the only Mpox patient was discharged on September 21." The 26-year-old patient from Hisar, Haryana, was admitted to the hospital on September 8, with doctors confirming the diagnosis on September 9.

3:36 PM

UP: Three labourers killed, one injured in road accident in Banda

Three labourers were killed and one was injured when the bike they were travelling on was hit by a truck here on Monday, police said. The victims were identified as Vijay Bahadur (29), Manoj alias Baua (24), Prabhudayal (20) and Rambabu (22), they said. The incident took place near Kartal turn in the Naraini police station area here. The victims were travelling on a bike when they were hit by a truck, Additional SP, Shivraj said.

2:52 PM

We are together at home: Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar

Former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said that he and nephew Ajit Pawar are together as a family, but made it clear that the latter was heading a different political party. “Gharat tari ekatrach ahet (we are together at home least),” the veteran politician said at a press conference at Chiplun in coastal Konkan region. He was responding to a query about the demand from “various quarters in the state” that the uncle-nephew duo should come together once again. In July last year, Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle to join the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state as deputy chief minister. 

2:51 PM

Bengaluru woman murder: Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara vows to catch culprits soon

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday vowed to apprehend those responsible for the gruesome murder of a 29-year-old woman here, as soon as possible. According to police, Mahalakshmi's body was found chopped into over 50 pieces and stuffed into a refrigerator in a flat at Vyalikaval in the city.

"Aready some information has been collected, which I cannot reveal now, but we will soon nab those involved in it," Parameshwara told reporters here.

2:23 PM

Sri Lanka has arrested 37 fishermen, TN CM tells Jaishankar; urges steps for their release

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday apprised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of the arrest of 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and seizure of three boats, and sought measures for their release. Writing to Jaishankar, Stalin said the fishermen were arrested on September 21, 2024 and as he has been pointing out, such instances of arrests of TN fishermen, "while fishing in their traditional fishing waters have been on the rise. "

2:12 PM

'Laapataa Ladies' makes the cut as India's Oscars 2025 entry

Kiran Rao’s critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies has been selected as India’s official entry for the 2025. The Aamir Khan-produced film enthralled audiences with its poignant narrative and social message. Read here for more details.

1:47 PM

UP International trade show: Noida Police issues traffic advisory. Details

The Noida Traffic Police has released a traffic advisory for the Greater Noida area keeping in mind the UP International Trade Show to be held from September 25-29. Read here for more details.

1:32 PM

Hope people will bring back Kejriwal in Feb polls: Delhi CM Atishi

AAP leader Atishi, who took charge as the eighth chief minister of Delhi on Monday, has retained the 13 portfolios she held in the Kejriwal government, including those of education, revenue, finance, power and PWD. The Delhi Assembly's session will be held on September 26 and 27.

"I will work for four months as the chief minister of Delhi like Bharat did by keeping Lord Ram's Khadaun on the throne. Arvind Kejriwal has set an example of dignity in politics by stepping down. The BJP left no stone unturned to tarnish his image," she said after taking charge.

1:16 PM

UP STF guns down one more accused in Sultanpur robbery case in encounter

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday said it has gunned down a second accused in the Sultanpur jewellery store robbery case in a pre-dawn encounter in Unnao district. The gunfight between the accused, Anuj Pratap Singh, and the Lucknow unit of the Special Task Force (STF) occurred around 4 am on Monday in the Achalganj area, officials said. On August 28, jewellery worth approximately Rs 1.5 crore was stolen from a store in the Thatheri market area of Sultanpur city.

1:00 PM

'Laapataa Ladies' chosen as India's entry for Oscars

Kiran Rao's "Laapataa Ladies" has been picked as India's official entry for Oscars 2025, the Film Federation of India announced here on Monday. The Hindi film, a light-hearted satire on patriarchy, was chosen from a list of 29 films, including Bollywood hit "Animal", Malayalam National Award winner "Aattam" and Cannes winner "All We Imagine As Light".

12:59 PM

SC to hear pleas against laws granting immunity to husbands in marital rape cases

The Supreme Court has said it listed for Tuesday pleas on the vexed legal question of whether a husband should enjoy immunity from prosecution for the offence of rape if he forces his wife, who is not a minor, to have sex. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala said the pleas were already "listed tomorrow" and they would be taken up after some part-heard cases. The pleas for early listing were mentioned by senior advocate Karuna Nundy, appearing for a litigant in the case.

12:44 PM

Evacuate any buildings where Hezbollah is storing arms: Israeli military calls to Lebanon

Israeli military calls on Lebanese to 'immediately' evacuate any buildings where Hezbollah is storing arms, according to a report by AP.

12:30 PM

AAP leader Atishi takes charge as eighth chief minister of Delhi

"I will work as CM of Delhi for four months like Bharat did by placing Lord Ram's 'khadaun' on throne", Atishi stated today.

12:16 PM

UPSC aspirant's decomposed body found in Delhi

The decomposed body of a civil services aspirant was found hanging from a tree in a forest area in northwest Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar area, police said on Monday. The body of Deepak Kumar Meena, who hailed from Rajasthan's Dausa, was recovered from the forest area near a coaching institute library on September 20. He had been missing for several days, they said. A senior police officer said it was suspected that Meena committed suicide. "CCTV cameras have been checked and it is suspected to be a case of suicide. A probe is underway," he said.

11:57 AM

Co-develop, co-design & co-produce in India for world: PM to US tech CEOs

PM Modi met with CEOs of US-based technology-oriented corporations and multinationals in New York on the second day of his 3-day US tour, the MEA said. He asked them to take advantage of India’s growth story for collaboration and innovation. Read here for more details.

11:54 AM

Iron rods found on rail tracks in Punjab's Bathinda

Nine iron rods were found on the tracks in Punjab's Bathinda district, disrupting railway traffic for a brief period, officials said on Monday.The rods were found on Sunday near Bangi Nagar on the Delhi-Bathinda route.A Government Railway Police (GRP) official said a goods train loco pilot spotted the rods. "We recovered nine iron rods from the spot," said the official.

 

11:51 AM

Watching, storing child pornography offence under Pocso Act: Supreme Court

The top court today stated that storing or viewing child pornography on digital devices can be an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, if there is an intention to gain or benefit from it. Read here for more details.

11:42 AM

Two medicos drown in Maredumilli stream in Andhra, search is on for another student

Two medical students drowned in a swollen stream in this district and a search is on for another student, police said on Monday. Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district superintendent of police Amit Bardar said five medicos were swept away initially around 4 pm on Sunday at Jalatharangini waterfalls in Maredumilli, out of whom two were rescued immediately by the police and forest officials, but three others could not be.

11:40 AM

Sri Lanka's new President Dissanayake pledges do everything to clean public life

Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday vowed to preserve democracy and do everything to clean public life. In his inaugural address to the nation, Dissanayake thanked his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe for respecting the people's mandate and facilitating a peaceful transfer of power.

“I assure you that I will do my best to preserve democracy and work towards restoring the honour of politicians as people have misgivings about their conduct," Dissanayake said.