Highlights: PM Modi lays foundation of 800 MW thermal power unit in Chhotu Ram power plant

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11:32 PM

Air India downgrades passenger, crew 'caught sleeping' in business class

A recent Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi has reignited criticism of the airline’s service, following allegations from a passenger who claimed she was moved from business class under false pretenses — only to later see crew members occupying those very seats to sleep.

 

Read our full report here

10:39 PM

Insurers stare at weak Q4 on growth and margin pressure

Profitability of life insurance companies is likely to remain flat in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2024–25 (FY25), weighed down by a lower contribution from low-margin unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips), slow growth in the credit protection segment, and continued investments in distribution channels. Meanwhile, profitability of general insurers is expected to be hit by changes in accounting norms and a higher claims ratio, analysts said.

10:23 PM

TJSB Coop Bank considering two more UCB acquisitions

TJSB Sahakari Bank, a mid-sized Urban Cooperative Bank, is looking at the acquisition of two Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) for expanding its presence and business. It has already completed three and is in the process of completing the fourth acquisition of a Konkan-based UCB. As part of its expansion plan, TJSB is also entering Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for growing the footprint in Central and North India. Besides, it is also looking for expansion in Northern Maharashtra where the bank has minimal presence.

9:52 PM

PM Modi hails DMDK founder 'Captain' Vijayakanth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed DMDK founder 'Captain' Vijayakanth and said people across generations remembered him for the good he did for society. Modi's remarks came after Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant claimed the prime minister was like an elder brother to her and that he always saw her husband and party founder 'Captain' Vijayakanth as more than a political colleague.

9:44 PM

Lodha brothers resolve trademark row, other disputes via mediation

Abhishek Lodha’s Macrotech Developers and his younger brother Abhinandan Lodha’s House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) have amicably resolved all outstanding disputes through mediation, both parties said in a joint statement on Monday.

9:13 PM

Rustomjee unveils 35,000 sft labour housing for 500 workers

Mumbai-based Rustomjee Group has introduced a 35,000-square-foot Labour Housing facility at the construction site of Rustomjee Urbania in Thane. 

8:10 PM

BJP govts at Centre, in state weakening constitutional institutions: Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Monday that the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre are working to hollow out the constitutional institutions, which different governments nourished over the last 70 years.

6:27 PM

Tata Sons to utilise hefty TCS dividend to invest in new biz

Tata Sons is set to receive its highest-ever dividend of ~32,722 crore in FY25 from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and plans to deploy the funds for its emerging ventures like semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and aviation.

5:02 PM

SSC sends list of 'tainted', 'untainted' candidates to Bengal education department

Amidst ongoing protests by sacked teachers of secondary and higher secondary schools, the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has sent a list of ‘tainted' and ‘untainted' candidates to the state education department for cross-verification, a senior official said on Monday. The list, dispatched on April 13, reportedly segregates candidates affected by the Supreme Court's April 3 order. According to the official, the list categorises tainted candidates as those with discrepancies in their OMR sheets or those who allegedly secured jobs by jumping ranks through fraudulent means.

4:56 PM

6 from Rajasthan held for attacking Jain monks in MP's Neemuch

Six persons, including a minor boy, were held for allegedly attacking three Jain monks with sticks and sharp weapons in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday after being refused money in Madhya Pradesh's Singoli town, a police official said. Accused Ganpat Nayak, Gopal Bhoe, Kanhaiya Lal, Raju Bhoe, Babu Sharma and the minor hail from Rajasthan's Chittorgarh, which is close to Neemuch, he said.

4:29 PM

News update: 5 IEDs planted by Naxalites recovered in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, says Police

3:59 PM

Senior Kannada comedy actor 'Bank' Janardhan no more

Senior Kannada comedy actor 'Bank' Janardhan passed away at a private hospital here during the early hours on Monday, his family sources said. The 76-year-old actor died at around 2.30 AM, they said. Janardhan, who is basically from Holalkere in Chitradurga district, is survived by a son and three daughters. According to his son Guru, he has not been keeping well for the last twenty days and was hospitalised. He had recovered in between and had come home, but had to be hospitalised again on Friday as he complained of breathing issues.

3:43 PM

BJP bows to Ambedkar out of compulsion, AAP follows his path: Kejriwal

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the BJP bows before B R Ambedkar "out of compulsion" but fails to uphold his ideals, particularly in the field of education. There was no immediate response from the BJP to the former chief minister's remarks. Speaking at the AAP headquarters, Kejriwal said, "We try to follow Babasaheb's path while running our party and government. Today, many parties and leaders commemorate him merely for show, they don't follow his ideals. For instance, no other party prioritises education, which was one of his core principles."

3:20 PM

25 from same family stung by wasps in Himachal Pradesh; 5 critical

In an unusual incident, 25 members of a family engaged in wedding festivities were injured on Monday morning in a wasp attack in Rakkad village of Hamirpur district when they had gone to a temple. The incident took place when groom Naveen Singh and his family members, as part of the wedding rituals, went to Guga temple to offer prayers and were suddenly attacked and stung by wasps near the temple premises after they performed puja.

 

2:56 PM

3 killed as pick-up truck falls into gorge in Uttarkashi

Three persons were killed on Monday after a pick-up truck fell into a 500-metre deep gorge in Uttarkashi district. The pick-up truck was carrying grocery items from Vikasnagar to Naugaon in the district when the accident occurred near Chami Bernigad, the district disaster management office said. Three persons on board the vehicle were killed on the spot, it said. Police and SDRF personnel pulled the bodies out of the ditch.

2:32 PM

'The Golconda Blue': Iconic Indian royal diamond to go under the hammer for first time

 A rare piece of India's royal heritage, 'The Golconda Blue' -- a historic diamond once owned by the Maharajas of Indore and Baroda -- is set to make its auction debut at the Christie's "Magnificent Jewels" sale in Geneva on May 14. The 23.24-carat vivid blue diamond, mounted in a striking modern ring by celebrated Parisian designer JAR, is expected to fetch an estimated value between USD 35 and USD 50 million (Rs 300 – Rs 430 crore).

2:16 PM

Situation in Jharkhand village peaceful day after religious procession 'pelted with stones'

The situation in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district remained peaceful on Monday, a day after tension gripped a village following an alleged stone-pelting incident during a religious procession, a senior police officer said. Barhi subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Ajit Kumar Bimal told PTI that the situation in Jhurjhuri village was brought under control within a few hours of the incident on Sunday evening. "All shops, markets and business establishments remained open and traffic was normal," he said.

2:04 PM

PM Modi lays foundation stone of compressed biogas plant in Haryana

PM Modi stated in Yamunanagar that Haryana is seeing double speed of double-engine government.

1:52 PM

News update: PM Modi lays foundation of 800 MW thermal power unit in Chhotu Ram power plant

1:44 PM

Telangana first state to implement SC categorisation, issues orders

Telangana on Monday issued a government order on the implementation of Scheduled Castes (SC) categorisation, making it the first state in the country to do so officially, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Telangana government had earlier appointed a commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther on SC categorisation, which made recommendations that the 59 Scheduled Caste (SC) communities be divided into three groups viz I, II, and III for the total reservations of 15 per cent in government jobs and education.

1:43 PM

Nagpur factory blast: Safety lapses found; 3 booked

Safety lapses have been found at an aluminium products manufacturing factory in Nagpur where a blast last week claimed five lives, following which a case has been registered against three of its officials, police said on Monday. The blast occurred on April 11 at MMP Aluminium Industries in Umred MIDC in Maharashtra's Nagpur district. The five deceased workers, all in the age group of 20 to 25 years, were residents of Nagpur district.

1:27 PM

Ex-HP minister Virendra Kanwar gets ransom call, death threat; case registered

BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Minister Virendra Kanwar Monday claimed he had received a ransom call demanding Rs 20-25 lakh and the unknown caller threatened to kidnap and kill him if the demand was not met. Police said that after receiving a complaint from Kanwar in the matter, a case was registered and investigations initiated.

1:19 PM

Will speak on caste report after cabinet discussion on Apr 17, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he would speak on the caste census report only after a discussion on it in the special cabinet meeting convened on April 17. He said he would not comment on anything related to it till then. "We have convened a cabinet meeting on April 17 to discuss this lone subject. There we will discuss. After the discussion, I will speak (on the topic)," Siddaramaiah said.

12:52 PM

Modi govt only pays lip service to Ambedkar, BJP-RSS his enemies: Congress chief Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the Modi government of paying only "lip service" to B R Ambedkar's legacy but doing nothing to fulfil his wishes, and claimed the BJP-RSS were "enemies" of the architect of the Constitution. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his criticism of the Congress' treatment of Ambedkar, Kharge cited a letter by Ambedkar in which he blamed S A Dange and V D Savarkar for his defeat in the elections of 1952.

12:30 PM

News update: Fire breaks out in Jal Aqua Company premises in Bharuch, Gujarat

12:23 PM

Diary found in Kalyan rape-murder accused's cell, claims he was depressed: Police

Authorities have found a diary in the Taloja prison cell of a man, accused of raping and murdering a minor girl, wherein he purportedly mentioned he was depressed and did not blame anyone for his suicide, officials said on Monday. Vishal Gawli (35) was accused of raping and murdering a minor girl in Kalyan town of Maharashtra's Thane district in December last year.

11:50 AM

Message on Mumbai police helpline threatens actor Salman Khan; case lodged

Former Supreme Court Justice (retd) Dinesh Maheshwari is likely to head the Law Commission, sources said. A formal notification announcing his appointment as the chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission is expected to be issued this week. The 23rd law panel was set up on September 2, 2024, for a period of three years.

11:48 AM

Message on Mumbai police helpline threatens actor Salman Khan; case lodged

The Mumbai traffic police have got a message threatening Bollywood actor Salman Khan and registered a case in this connection, officials said on Monday. In the message, received on the traffic police's WhatsApp helpline on Sunday, the sender threatened to blow up the actor's car and also thrash him by entering his residence, a police official said.

11:15 AM

News update: Stop fear mongering on Waqf Act, says PM Modi

Congress changed Waqf rules for its own benefit, says PM Modi

11:12 AM

Congress put Waqf above Constitution in 2013, alleges PM Modi

Congress changed Waqf rules for vote bank politics, PM Modi claimed in Hisar today.