The police arrested a self-styled godman and seven of his associates in Pune for allegedly sexually assaulting, physically torturing and financially exploiting a woman over several years under the guise of possessing divine powers, officials said on Thursday.
Mr Pradhan is not an especially charismatic leader or a brilliant orator, but his understanding of realpolitik and organisational dynamics makes him the ultimate party man, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Ten days after the expansion of the BJP government's cabinet in West Bengal, key portfolios have been allocated, with senior leader Tapas Roy taking charge of industries and journalist-turned-politician Swapan Dasgupta appointed finance minister.
Maharashtra Cyber police have registered a case against stand-up comedian Pranit More, web developer Himanshu Jangra, and Dr Sejal Pawar for allegedly disseminating 'obscene and objectionable' content on social media, stemming from remarks made during a comedy show that trivialised consent and disrespected deceased persons.
Three people with suspected Pakistan-terror links were arrested for allegedly hurling "petrol bombs" at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office in Ranchi, and one of them suffered bullet injuries in a gunfight while trying to escape from police custody on Thursday afternoon, an officer said.
A Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Sangeeta Rajak, died in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, after her licensed firearm accidentally discharged, hitting her in the abdomen. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred while she was reportedly attempting to hand the weapon to family members during a dispute outside her home.
A 40-year-old inmate from Mandoli jail, Malkeet Singh, died after being admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in an unconscious state. Police have initiated an inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) into the death.
A local BJP leader in Thrissur, Kerala, A R Sreekumar, has been booked for attempted culpable homicide based on his wife's complaint of brutal assault. His wife alleges he attacked her for returning home late and that party workers are harassing her on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared jhalmuri with NDA leaders at the Bharat Mandapam conclave, bringing the popular Bengali snack back into the political spotlight. This act revived memories of his West Bengal election campaign where a jhalmuri break became a political talking point and a subtle jab at the Trinamool Congress.
Dinesh Trivedi's experience as a businessperson and his fluency in Bengali are expected to be crucial in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations, particularly in attracting Indian investments to Dhaka.
In an apparent reference to the buzz of six rebel Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MPs switching sides, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said this is just a trailer and the movie is yet to come, indicating more defections could be in offing in the rival faction.
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and gang-raped in Davangere, Karnataka, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals. The incident came to light after videos of the victim in an intoxicated state, recorded by the accused, went viral on WhatsApp. Police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act, with investigations ongoing.
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and gang-raped in Davangere, Karnataka, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals. The incident came to light after videos of the victim in an intoxicated state, recorded by the accused, went viral on WhatsApp. Police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act, with investigations ongoing.
Police in Dahod, Gujarat, have arrested seven members of an interstate gang who were planning to commit dacoity. The suspects, with 73 criminal cases across four states, were apprehended with sharp weapons and tools.
Bareilly police have busted an alleged hawala racket, arresting two individuals and seizing Rs 35 lakh in cash along with fake Aadhaar cards. The investigation has uncovered a Dubai link and potential national security implications, with efforts underway to trace other involved parties.
A local BJP functionary, Vinod, was allegedly beaten to death in Dehradun's Bairagiwala village following an irrigation dispute, leaving three family members critically injured. Authorities have razed "illegal" structures belonging to the accused, and police have registered a case against 12 named suspects and others, deploying forces to maintain law and order.
A political controversy has erupted in Navi Mumbai after Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's name was omitted from official invitation cards for a civic event, leading to protests by Shiv Sena workers. The incident has also exposed infighting within the BJP, with an MLA accusing a minister of sabotaging her projects and falsely claiming credit.
Ideology is dead; long live the numbers game that is being played with the sole intention of securing a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha for the NDA, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
A pub in northwest Delhi's Azadpur area was vandalised by a group of unidentified miscreants using sticks and scythes. Police have registered an FIR, identified some suspects through CCTV footage, and are investigating the motive behind the attack.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has alleged that the BJP's "real and ultimate target" in seeking a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha is to amend the Constitution to end reservation, rather than genuinely implement women's reservation.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata residence was raided by police and central forces for over four hours in connection with a financial fraud case, targeting his close aide Sumit Roy, whose mobile phone was last traced to the property.
Opposition NDA legislators in Jharkhand have been moved to a hotel ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections for two seats. The BJP-backed independent candidate, Parimal Nathwani, faces a challenge as the NDA lacks the required numbers, necessitating potential cross-voting for victory.
A 26-year-old man was stabbed to death in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur area early Tuesday morning. Police have identified the victim as Lalit and have launched an investigation into the murder.
The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, a constituent of the Bhaatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, has staked claim to 32 seats for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the aim to wrest the Samajwadi Party's stronghold of Azamgarh.
In the first electoral battle since the new government under Chief Minister D K Shivakumar took charge in Karnataka, the ruling Congress on Thursday won five of the seven Legislative Council seats that went to polls, while the opposition Bhjaratiya Janata Party bagged two.
'As the Bihar government's focus is on development and infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores, Rishu Sinha created a network to pay a decent commission to government officials for securing tenders.'
BJP leader and former MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has claimed knowledge of alleged misuse and theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, stating he is not yet ready to reveal the truth due to powerful individuals involved. He also commented on the NEET paper leak controversy, defending the Union Education Minister.
Two individuals have been arrested in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, for allegedly creating a fake social media account in the name of the Palghar district collector and defrauding a local resident of Rs 50,000. Police successfully recovered the entire amount.
Police in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, have made another arrest in an alleged unlawful religious conversion case, recovering a 'nikahnama' from the accused. The case involves Ayush Malik, who his father claims was forcibly converted, but Ayush himself states his conversion to Islam was voluntary. Legal action has been initiated against nine people, and Hindu organisations are demanding strict measures.
Four individuals have been booked by Lucknow police for allegedly firing at a parked SUV in Gomti Nagar Extension. The incident, which occurred over a monetary dispute, saw multiple bullet marks on the vehicle, though no one was inside at the time. Police have registered a case and are investigating.
Two wanted criminals from Bihar were arrested in Rishikesh following a police encounter. The accused, identified as Aamir and Anwarul Haq, sustained bullet injuries and were wanted for a recent shooting in Rishikesh and a fatal robbery in Bihar. The arrests occurred during a vehicle checking drive for the Char Dham Yatra.
Two wanted criminals from Bihar were arrested in Rishikesh following a police encounter. The accused, identified as Aamir and Anwarul Haq, sustained bullet injuries and were wanted for a recent shooting in Rishikesh and a fatal robbery in Bihar. The arrests occurred during a vehicle checking drive for the Char Dham Yatra.
Amid cross-voting, National Democratic Alliance-supported Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani on Thursday won one of the two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand, defeating the Congress's Pranav Jha, an official said.
A group of seers, led by the Akhand Parshuram Akhada, has launched a campaign in Uttarakhand's Haridwar to ban the sale of food under the name "veg biryani".
A 57-year-old man from Thane district was defrauded of Rs 9.08 lakh by cyber criminals who used a malicious link disguised as a Mahanagar Gas bill payment update, gaining remote access to his device and siphoning funds.
Facing revolt by 6 Lok Sabha MPs of his party, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said he was ready to quit his post if the party didn't have faith in him, while his opponent and Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde hinted at more defections from the rival camp.
Two brothers were killed and another person injured in a fatal road accident on the Kalyan-Murbad road in Thane district. Their scooter crashed into a container truck while attempting to overtake, leading to the tragic deaths. Police are investigating the incident and have registered a case.
Delhi Police have apprehended a 17-year-old girl and three adults for their alleged involvement in an arson attack at a residential building in Govindpuri, southeast Delhi, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. The investigation revealed the fire was deliberately set due to a monetary and personal dispute.
Police in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a man and his father in connection with the alleged murder of the man's four-year-old stepdaughter. The child was reportedly beaten to death and her body secretly buried. The arrests followed a complaint by the child's mother, and the body is set to be exhumed for examination.
A man critically injured in an alleged attack in Mannan village, Hoshiarpur, has succumbed to his injuries, leading police to add a murder charge to the case. The deceased, Harpinder Singh, was reportedly attacked with sharp-edged weapons over a land dispute. Two accused have been arrested, while five others, including a key suspect, remain at large as police conduct raids.
