Self-styled 'godman' and numerologist Ashok Kharat has been arrested in Nashik on charges of sexual assault and black magic, setting off a political storm. How did he manage to operate undetected for so long?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Jangipur, West Bengal, promising to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and addressing concerns about infiltration and demographic changes in the state.
Gangster Suresh Pujari and 11 others have been acquitted in a 2016 builder extortion bid case by a MCOCA court in Thane, India. The court cited the prosecution's failure to present sufficient evidence and carry out a comprehensive investigation. The accused were charged with attempted murder, extortion, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses. The court ruled that the trial against two absconding accused, Ravindra Ghare and Iqlakh Shaikh, would be discontinued due to the acquittal of the other individuals.
Former NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede has denied demanding or accepting a bribe from Shah Rukh Khan to exonerate his son Aryan Khan in the 2021 cruise ship drugs case. His counsel argued before the Bombay High Court that the CBI lacks evidence to support the bribery allegations.
A man who had been absconding for nearly nine years in connection with a 2017 murder case was arrested by Mangaluru crime branch police in Bengaluru.
Delhi Police have arrested six individuals linked to interstate cybercrime syndicates involved in digital arrest, fake IPO, and trading scams, recovering millions of rupees.
Police in Rajkot, Gujarat, have arrested three individuals in connection with the abduction and murder of a 32-year-old Dalit man, Bhavesh Vanvi. The arrests follow protests by the Scheduled Caste community demanding justice for Vanvi's death.
A man was injured and vehicles damaged after a shooting at a luxury used-car showroom in Gurugram. Police are investigating potential links to the Himanshu Bhau gang.
The CBI has registered separate cases related to digital arrest fraud targeting a former professor and a retired gynaecologist from Gujarat, who were defrauded of a total of Rs 30 crore.
A Mumbai court acquitted five Haryana police personnel and two others in the alleged fake encounter of gangster Sandeep Gadoli in 2016, citing the prosecution's failure to prove murder and other charges.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations against astrologer Ashok Kharat has questioned a temple priest and watchman, while further investigations reveal potential property fraud and misuse of water resources.
A Hindu man was lynched in Bangladesh over alleged extortion, days after another man from the minority religion was lynched in the country. The incident took place in Rajbari town's Pangsha upazila. The deceased, identified as Amrit Mondal, had allegedly formed a criminal gang and was involved in extortion and other criminal activities.
Political leaders in Haryana and Punjab are demanding a CBI investigation into the suicide of a Punjab government officer, who allegedly accused a minister of harassment. The minister has resigned, but opposition parties are calling for his arrest and a thorough investigation.
A Delhi court has requested clarification from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the extradition status of a former managing director of Bush Foods Overseas Pvt Ltd and his wife, who are residing in London, in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged Rs 750-crore bank loan fraud.
A 64-year-old man from Thane was allegedly defrauded of 1.56 crore by cybercriminals using a 'digital arrest' scam, involving forged documents and constant surveillance.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has alleged that leaders of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were involved in a "conspiracy" against his cabinet colleague Jaykumar Gore in a case involving a woman. Fadnavis said there was proof of communication between NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar, and one of the accused in the case where three persons, including the woman, have been arrested for trying to extort money from Gore. He also pointed to Gore's acquittal more than five years ago in a case involving the woman's allegations of harassment. Fadnavis emphasized that opposition and ruling parties are political opponents and not enemies. The CM also criticized the behavior of some opposition members in the state assembly, accusing them of insulting the House and pressuring ministers.
Opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar due to her alleged connections with a self-proclaimed numerologist, Ashok Kharat, who has been arrested for rape and exploitation.
'These gangsters want to once again spread terror across the film industry, just as they had done in 1999-2000.'
Opposition parties in Punjab have announced a joint protest at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence, demanding the arrest of former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar following the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official. The move follows allegations of harassment and demands for a CBI investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
We cannot simply have a 60-65 per cent import dependency in LPG, the bulk of which comes from just one volatile region -- West Asia, points out R Jagannathan.
Maharashtra Minister Pankaj Bhoyar reports a decline in dowry-related crimes over the past five years, attributing it to intensified government efforts through vigilance committees and special probe teams.
A court in Karnataka on Monday sentenced three people to death for sexually assaulting an Israeli tourist and murdering a youth in Koppal district last year.
Dhananjay Deshmukh, brother of slain Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, climbed a village water tank on Monday and threatened to jump alleging that information about the investigation was not shared with the family. He demanded that the accused in the extortion case linked to sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder be booked under murder charges. Family members of the slain sarpanch and Opposition leaders are demanding that state minister Dhananjay Munde's aide Walmik Karad, arrested in a related extortion case, be booked for murder. Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9. Preliminary investigation suggests that the sarpanch had tried to thwart an extortion bid on an energy firm operating a windmill project in the region. After climbing down the water tank, Dhananjay told reporters that he trusted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' assurance on the probe. He further said his agitation was not a drama but a serious yearning for justice for his brother.
'If this region destabilises, then we are not far away. This region should not destabilise.'
Afghans have deep self-respect and are the last people to put up with humiliation. Is it any surprise that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have touched an all-time low and the two countries are now at war? asks M R Narayan Swamy.
Trump also asserted that US forces had struck hundreds of targets across Iran, including facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and air defence systems.
The majority of these calls originate from foreign-based gangsters or their associates, using Voice Over Internet Protocol or international phone numbers, they said.
A Delhi court has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of a senior IPS officer from Mizoram, accused of conducting unauthorised raids, illegal detentions, and demanding money from a foreign national in Delhi.
During this Ramzan, another religious practice was turned into an offence: Breaking the fast, or iftar.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted bail to Saumya Chaurasia, a former deputy secretary in the CMO, in two cases related to the alleged liquor scam that occurred during the previous Congress government.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted bail to Saumya Chaurasia, a former deputy secretary in the CMO, in two cases related to the alleged liquor scam being investigated by the ED and EOW.
A special CBI court reversed a magisterial court order that had discharged former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from a case regarding the alleged circulation of a sleaze video purportedly depicting former minister Rajesh Munat in 2017. The reversal implies Baghel will have to face trial unless he gets relief from a higher court.
The crime branch had arrested Aditya Gayaki (19), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Samarth Pomaji (18), Swapnil Sakat (23) and Asaram Fasale, who had allegedly provided a scooter and other logistic support and weapons to the shooter, the official said.
Delhi Police have arrested a suspected gangster linked to the firing incident at comedian Kapil Sharma's restaurant in Canada. The accused is allegedly associated with a Canada-based gangster involved in extortion rackets.
The Supreme Court has directed the government to raise awareness, compensate, and protect vulnerable individuals who have lost money in cyber scams. The court's remarks came while granting bail to an accused in a cybercrime case, emphasizing the need for public education and cybersecurity awareness.
According to the police, the survivor, a resident of Mumbai's western suburbs, communicated in sign language during a video call with her friends and colleagues, who were part of a WhatsApp group, that the accused had drugged and raped her when she was a minor.
Heavy security was deployed outside the building and the forensic science team also reached the spot to collect evidence, the official said.
Tarique Rahman, after 17 years in self-exile, has led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a significant victory, becoming the country's Prime Minister. This marks a major turnaround for the BNP after years of being targeted by the Awami League government.
Six individuals, including a woman who accused Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli and singer Rocky Mittal of rape, have been booked for extortion and criminal intimidation. The Himachal Pradesh police filed a cancellation report in a court, stating no evidence supported the rape allegations. Mittal claims the woman and her associate threatened to implicate him and Badoli in a 'honey trap' case, demanding Rs 50 lakh for a compromise. He further stated that the accused lodged a false rape case after failing to extort money.
In O'Romeo, Shahid Kapoor plays dreaded gangster Hussain Ustara, whose life has been touched upon in S Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges' book Mafia Queens.
