News for 'Central News Agency'

West Bengal Reinstates CBI General Consent For Central Employee Probes

West Bengal Reinstates CBI General Consent For Central Employee Probes

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

The West Bengal government has restored general consent for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases involving central government employees and public sector undertakings within the state. This decision reverses a 2018 move by the previous Trinamool Congress government to withdraw such consent, allowing the CBI to operate more freely in these specific matters.

Will show my scholarship letter if PM shows his degree: Dipke

Will show my scholarship letter if PM shows his degree: Dipke

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has publicly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to disclose his educational degree. Dipke stated he is ready to make his US scholarship and loan documents public if PM Modi reveals his degree, amidst ongoing demands for verification of the Prime Minister's academic qualifications. Dipke also criticised the current political climate, citing concerns about party defections and the use of central agencies.

AAP Accuses Centre Of Misusing Agencies In Punjab

AAP Accuses Centre Of Misusing Agencies In Punjab

Rediff.com10 May 2026

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held protests across Punjab against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action against state minister Sanjeev Arora, accusing the central government of misusing agencies against its leaders. The BJP criticised the AAP workers' behaviour during the protests.

Why Akali Leader Quit, Alleging 'Agencies' Collusion

Why Akali Leader Quit, Alleging 'Agencies' Collusion

Rediff.com4 Apr 2026

Rebel Akali leader Barjinder Singh Makhan Brar resigns from Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), accusing party leaders of misleading the Sikh community and colluding with external agencies to weaken the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Suvendu aide murder: CBI arrests two brothers, probes rival party link

Suvendu aide murder: CBI arrests two brothers, probes rival party link

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two key suspects in the plot to murder West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, uncovering potential links to the functionary of a rival political party in the state, officials said on Friday.

Coaching owner paid Rs 5 lakh to NTA panel member for NEET questions: CBI

Coaching owner paid Rs 5 lakh to NTA panel member for NEET questions: CBI

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

The CBI has revealed that Shivraj Raghunath Motegaonkar, a coaching centre owner arrested in the NEET paper leak case, allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh to an NTA panel member, P V Kulkarni, for leaked chemistry questions. The agency recovered handwritten notes matching NTA's master question sets from Motegaonkar's phone, taken days before the exam.

Fitch affirms India's 'BBB-' rating, flags debt and youth unemployment

Fitch affirms India's 'BBB-' rating, flags debt and youth unemployment

Rediff.com1 days ago

Fitch Ratings has affirmed India's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, acknowledging robust growth prospects and strong external finances. However, the agency highlighted concerns over elevated government debt, lagging structural metrics, and potential fiscal spending pressures due to rising youth unemployment.

Uttarakhand: 6 dead, 2 trapped as water, debris enter tunnel in Chamoli

Uttarakhand: 6 dead, 2 trapped as water, debris enter tunnel in Chamoli

Rediff.com8 hours ago

A tunnel under construction at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, collapsed after water and debris entered it, killing six workers and injuring 14. Twenty-two workers were initially trapped, with rescue operations ongoing for the remaining two. Multiple agencies, including NDRF and SDRF, are involved in the extensive rescue efforts.

Mamata Banerjee Claims Central Forces Searched Her Car, Questions BJP Leaders' Exemption

Mamata Banerjee Claims Central Forces Searched Her Car, Questions BJP Leaders' Exemption

Rediff.com15 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused central forces of searching her car and criticised the BJP for alleged election misconduct during a rally in Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur district.

NEET paper leak: Court raps media for publishing names of witnesses

NEET paper leak: Court raps media for publishing names of witnesses

Rediff.com1 days ago

A Delhi court has taken cognisance of the CBI's chargesheet in the NEET paper leak case, involving 13 accused. The court also expressed strong displeasure over media publishing names of witnesses, some potentially minors, from the chargesheet.

WhatsApp, Telegram, PDFs: How accused circulated NEET papers

WhatsApp, Telegram, PDFs: How accused circulated NEET papers

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak was orchestrated through an extensive digital network, with confidential question papers circulated via WhatsApp, Telegram, and electronic files among conspirators days before the examination.

HC quashes FCRA orders against two NGOs over funding Vizhinjam protests

HC quashes FCRA orders against two NGOs over funding Vizhinjam protests

Rediff.com1 days ago

The Kerala high court has set aside the Centre's decision not to renew the FCRA certificate of two NGOs, accused by central agencies of funding agitations against the Vizhinjam sea port, saying that financial support to a protest cannot be seen as diversion of foreign funds.

Bengal Police bust Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting ministers

Bengal Police bust Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting ministers

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

West Bengal police have unearthed a sophisticated Pakistan-linked honeytrap network targeting state ministers, their families, and other high-profile individuals, leading to the arrest of a third suspect, Aditya Singh, an alleged associate of Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim Mondal.

Rebel MPs still in touch, scared of voters' wrath, says Raut

Rebel MPs still in touch, scared of voters' wrath, says Raut

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some dissident MPs are in contact with the party due to fear of public anger in their constituencies, with talks ongoing with at least two. He also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, who had made remarks about the Shiv Sena's legitimacy and the involvement of central investigative agencies. Raut asserted that there is only one Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray.

Why Messi's Kerala Visit Never Happened: Report Submitted To Govt

Why Messi's Kerala Visit Never Happened: Report Submitted To Govt

Rediff.com2 days ago

The Kerala Sports Department has submitted its confidential inquiry report regarding the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state during the previous government's tenure.

RBI extends loan recovery norms implementation to 2027, eases some rules

RBI extends loan recovery norms implementation to 2027, eases some rules

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the implementation date for its revised loan recovery and agent engagement directions to January 1, 2027, from the previously proposed October 1, 2026, following stakeholder feedback.

NEET-UG paper leak chargesheet cites accused's gate control app, digital trail

NEET-UG paper leak chargesheet cites accused's gate control app, digital trail

Rediff.com6 days ago

The CBI has filed a charge sheet in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, relying heavily on digital forensic evidence including an access control app and call data records. The investigation revealed that three NTA subject experts allegedly exploited procedural gaps to leak confidential questions for money, involving a beautician and a coaching centre owner in the distribution of the leaked material to aspirants.

Derek O'Brien questions ED action, asks why not freeze temple funds too?

Derek O'Brien questions ED action, asks why not freeze temple funds too?

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien questioned the Enforcement Directorate's decision to freeze three of the party's bank accounts, worth Rs 440 crore, under the anti-money laundering law. He controversially asked when the ED would freeze "temple funds," in an apparent reference to alleged financial irregularities at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, amidst opposition demands for a judicial probe into the matter.

Key Manipur Insurgent Commander Arrested In Delhi: Details

Key Manipur Insurgent Commander Arrested In Delhi: Details

Rediff.com28 May 2026

Security forces have arrested Haobijam Dilip Singh, a key commander of the banned Manipuri insurgent outfit Kangleipak Communist Party, in Delhi. The arrest led to the seizure of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives in Manipur's Kakching district.

India's fugitive hunt intensifies, 274 brought back from 36 nations in 7 yrs

India's fugitive hunt intensifies, 274 brought back from 36 nations in 7 yrs

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

As many as 274 fugitives have been repatriated from 36 countries in the last 7 years, an average of around 40 per year and a 10-fold jump from the 2004-13 period when around four fugitives were brought back every year, the government said on Tuesday.

Pak-Saudi-Turkiye defence pact could reduce US role in West Asia: Experts

Pak-Saudi-Turkiye defence pact could reduce US role in West Asia: Experts

Rediff.com5 days ago

Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia have signed a trilateral defence pact, agreeing to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. Analysts suggest this alliance could significantly diminish the United States' strategic influence in West Asia and elevate Pakistan's geopolitical standing, potentially acting as a deterrent in regional conflicts.

NEET paper leak row: NTA floats Rs 7.5cr tender for security

NEET paper leak row: NTA floats Rs 7.5cr tender for security

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

In response to the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, the NTA has initiated a significant security upgrade, floating a Rs 7.5 crore tender for comprehensive, round-the-clock security services to protect its critical infrastructure and confidential examination materials.

CBI chargesheet reveals how 3 NTA subject experts pulled off NEET leak

CBI chargesheet reveals how 3 NTA subject experts pulled off NEET leak

Rediff.com6 days ago

Three National Testing Agency (NTA) subject experts, P V Kulkarni for chemistry, Manisha Sanjay Havaldar for physics and Manisha Gurunath Mandhare for botany and zoology, were the primary sources of the NEET paper leak, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation's chargesheet.

Jharkhand student leader begins hunger strike as CJP lends support to protest

Jharkhand student leader begins hunger strike as CJP lends support to protest

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Students in Jharkhand are protesting alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations, including JPSC and JSSC. A student leader has launched an indefinite hunger strike, demanding a federal probe and cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The Cockroach Janta Party has extended support, and a march to the Assembly is planned for August 7.

China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin hits its eastern coast

China issues red alert as Typhoon Dolphin hits its eastern coast

Rediff.com4 days ago

China's national observatory issued a red alert -- the highest level in the country's typhoon warning system -- as Typhoon Dolphin hit Zhejiang province on the eastern coast on Sunday afternoon.

Jharkhand protestors seek probe by ex-judge from outside state into exam paper leaks

Jharkhand protestors seek probe by ex-judge from outside state into exam paper leaks

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Job aspirants in Jharkhand are protesting alleged paper leaks in PSC and other recruitment exams, demanding an independent inquiry by retired high court judges from outside the state. They have lost faith in the ongoing CID investigation, citing past failures, and threaten to intensify their agitation if their demands for a CBI or independent judicial probe are not met. The protests have garnered support from various organisations, with one leader on an indefinite hunger strike.

Maharashtra Forms Task Force For Drone Policy Implementation

Maharashtra Forms Task Force For Drone Policy Implementation

Rediff.com10 hours ago

The Maharashtra government is setting up a ministerial task force, led by Minister Ashish Shelar, to ensure the effective implementation of its drone policy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced this, emphasising the need for a "policy of policies" to integrate R&D, manufacturing, testing, and subsidies, and to strengthen the state's drone ecosystem, including developing a 'Drone City'.

Gangster Chhota Rajan gets 7-year jail in passport forgery case

Gangster Chhota Rajan gets 7-year jail in passport forgery case

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Gangster Chota Rajan has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a special CBI court in Chennai for obtaining a passport using forged documents. The conviction follows a 22-year legal battle, with Rajan having assumed the identity of Vijaya Kadam.

CBI charges 13 in NEET-UG paper leak case; names experts, coaching links

CBI charges 13 in NEET-UG paper leak case; names experts, coaching links

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against 13 accused in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case, including three paper experts, two associated with coaching centres, middlemen and a number of beneficiary candidates, officials said on Tuesday.

Bihar man posing as Ajit Doval's 'covert agent' arrested

Bihar man posing as Ajit Doval's 'covert agent' arrested

Rediff.com2 days ago

A man identified as Manish Gupta was arrested in Bihar's Khagaria district for allegedly impersonating an IAS officer and falsely claiming ties to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Police recovered a Tesla car, an SUV, imported liquor, and other luxury items from his residence, indicating extensive fraudulent operations. An investigation into his assets and alleged fraud is underway.

Assam floods toll goes up to 80, over 2.12 lakh affected

Assam floods toll goes up to 80, over 2.12 lakh affected

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

Assam's flood death toll has risen to 80, with two new fatalities reported from Sivasagar district, as eight districts and over 2.12 lakh people remain affected. The state government has announced a six-month moratorium on loan repayments for flood-affected individuals and is seeking a special support package from the Centre.

India's Growth Pace May Dip as Global Economy Slows, Warns Moody's Analytics

India's Growth Pace May Dip as Global Economy Slows, Warns Moody's Analytics

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Moody's Analytics predicts India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2026 and 2027, but its pace will moderate due to a global slowdown, geopolitical risks, and financial market volatility, despite the boost from AI demand.

NEET leak: Court allows CBI to collect more handwriting samples from accused

NEET leak: Court allows CBI to collect more handwriting samples from accused

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

A Delhi court has granted the CBI permission to obtain additional handwriting and signature samples from accused Manisha Sanjay Havaldar in the ongoing NEET paper leak case. This decision aims to facilitate a thorough comparison of evidence, given the bulkiness of the case record and allegations of question sharing.

ED auctions seized Hawker 800A biz jet for Rs 3 cr in Ponzi scheme case

ED auctions seized Hawker 800A biz jet for Rs 3 cr in Ponzi scheme case

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

The Enforcement Directorate has successfully auctioned a seized Hawker 800A aircraft for Rs 3 crore. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation into a Hyderabad-based company, Capital Protection Force Pvt. Ltd., accused of defrauding investors of Rs 792 crore through a Ponzi scheme. The proceeds from the auction will be used for restitution to genuine investors.

Kerala to conduct judicial probe against central agencies

Kerala to conduct judicial probe against central agencies

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

The Kerala government on Friday decided to recommend a judicial inquiry against central probe agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, which are investigating the gold and dollar smuggling cases.

BIS to scale up silver hallmarking, expand lab network amid rising demand

BIS to scale up silver hallmarking, expand lab network amid rising demand

Rediff.com4 days ago

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is preparing to significantly increase its silver jewellery testing capabilities and expand its national laboratory network, driven by a shift in consumer demand from gold to silver and a broader push for enhanced product certification and surveillance.

NIA arrests TMC ex-MLA, key suspect in Bhangar blast case

NIA arrests TMC ex-MLA, key suspect in Bhangar blast case

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

The National Investigation Agency on Friday night arrested former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla, the prime suspect in the Bhangar blast case, from West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, hours after declaring him as 'absconding'.

West Bengal Trader Files Complaint Against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

West Bengal Trader Files Complaint Against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

A trader in Siliguri, West Bengal, has lodged a police complaint against Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee for alleged provocative remarks made during the recent Assembly polls, targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Parliament Panel Pushes OTT Content Review

Parliament Panel Pushes OTT Content Review

Rediff.com5 days ago

The Parliamentary Standing Committee said the proposed comprehensive statutory framework for regulating OTT content should include robust technology-enabled age-verification mechanisms, effective parental controls and suitable penalties for non-compliance.

Surrender illegal arms in 15 days or face action, warns Manipur CM

Surrender illegal arms in 15 days or face action, warns Manipur CM

Rediff.com1 days ago

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh has issued a 15-day ultimatum for the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms, warning of strict legal action against non-compliance. The appeal comes as part of ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and peace in the state, which has been affected by ethnic violence since May 2023. Security forces have already seized a significant cache of weapons, and the government is also targeting extortionists and miscreants.