A Delhi court on Friday issued notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the National Herald case. Special judge Vishal Gogne said their "right to be heard" was available at the time of cognisance of the charge sheet. "Right to be heard at any stage breaths life into fair trial," the judge said, posting the matter on May 8. The ED, which filed its charge sheet in the National Herald case recently, began its probe in 2021 after a magistrate court took cognisance of a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on June 26, 2014. The complaint, the ED said, highlighted a "criminal conspiracy" by several prominent political figures, including the first family of the Congress party led by Sonia, her MP son Rahul, late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes aside from Dubey, Pitroda and a private company Young Indian for their alleged involvement in money laundering in relation to the fraudulent takeover of properties valued over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL). Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul are majority shareholders of Young Indian with 38 per cent shares held by each one of them. They were questioned for hours by the ED in this case a few years ago. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
02 May,2025 05:14 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Central government's recent decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census has sparked political controversy, with the Congress party accusing the BJP of using the move as a diversionary tactic rather than a step towards social justice, reported news agency PTI. Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, slammed the Modi government, alleging that the decision lacked both genuine intent and long-term vision. “This move has not come from a sincere commitment to social justice or the desire to introduce any new provisions,” Ramesh said. “It is merely a response to mounting public and political pressure.” On Friday, the Centre announced that caste details would be collected in the next national population census — a historic shift, marking the first time since Independence that caste data will be formally recorded at the national level. The announcement follows pressure from opposition parties and the public, particularly after states such as Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka independently conducted caste-based surveys. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, defended the decision, stating that while the census is under the Centre’s jurisdiction, several states had carried out such surveys “non-transparently,” which had created confusion and mistrust in society, reported PTI. Reacting sharply, Ramesh accused the BJP of following a familiar pattern — opposing progressive policies when introduced by others and later co-opting them for political advantage. “The BJP has made this decision out of compulsion, not conviction,” he said. “Their goal is to distract the public from real national concerns, such as the demand for decisive action after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.” Ramesh highlighted several past instances where the BJP allegedly followed this strategy. He cited the Aadhaar project, which the BJP had once criticized as a privacy risk and political tool, only to later adopt it as the backbone of its welfare schemes. Similarly, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme — both launched under Congress leadership — were initially opposed by the BJP but later implemented with minimal changes and rebranded as flagship reforms. He also recalled Prime Minister Modi’s earlier criticism of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), calling it a “monument of failure.” However, during the COVID-19 crisis, the government expanded the program significantly to support rural workers and claimed credit for its success. Ramesh further mentioned the Congress’ Yuva Nyay apprenticeship proposal, which was dismissed by the BJP during the election season. Yet, a similar scheme was later announced in the Union Budget. “Sadly, till today, that too remains just an announcement,” he said. A comparable situation, he added, occurred with cash assistance schemes for women — initially rejected by the BJP, but later implemented under different branding. “These examples reflect a consistent pattern of defaming progressive ideas, only to adopt them later for political mileage,” Ramesh said. “This government has no original vision and no genuine intent to address the country's urgent needs.” Concluding his remarks, Ramesh questioned the timing and seriousness of the caste census announcement. “Where is the deadline?” he asked, accusing Prime Minister Modi of being a “master of giving a headline without a deadline.” He warned that such announcements are often used to divert public attention from more pressing and sensitive national issues. (With inputs from PTI)
02 May,2025 03:12 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIA couple and their toddler son were killed and another was injured after a speeding car crashed into their motorcycle in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, the police said on Friday, reported the PTI. The accident occurred on Thursday evening near Bishunpur village under Sitapur police station limits when the victims were on their way to a hospital, a police official said. The deceased were identified as Sunil Lakra (35), his wife Asmati Bai (30) and their two-month-old son Babu, he said, as per the PTI. The trio, residents of Petla village, was on their way to Ambikapur, the district headquarters, for treatment when their motorcycle and a speeding car got involved in an accident. While the woman and the child died on the spot, Sunil succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, the official said, the news agency reported. After the incident, the car crashed into the divider, leaving its driver, Santosh Paikra, injured. Paikra has been hospitalised, the official said. A case has been registered and a probe is underway, he added. Mumbai: 58-year-old security guard crushed to death in Goregaon A 58-year-old security guard, on way to his work was crushed to death on the Western Express Highway in Goregaon East on Wednesday, the police said. According to the police, the deceased was identified as Ashok Dange, a resident of Subhadra Niwas in Meghwadi area of Jogeshwari East in Mumbai. He was on his way to Malad for work on his motorcycle when a dumper truck rammed into his bike, causing him to fall and later got crushed under the rear wheels of vehicle. The police sources said that Dange worked as a night security guard for a company in Jogeshwari East and ran a small business during the day. He would regularly purchase goods from a mall and bring them home, police said. On Wednesday, he left home around 11:30 am and at approximately 1:30 pm, the police contacted his 21-year-old son, Siddhesh, informing him of the accident and that his father had been taken to Jogeshwari Trauma Care Centre. Siddhesh and other family members rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared Dange dead before admission. "A preliminary investigation revealed that the dumper hit his motorcycle, causing him to fall on the road and get run over," an official said. Based on Siddhesh’s complaint, Aarey Police registered an FIR under relevant Sections 106(1) and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the official said. The dumper truck driver was identified as 29-year-old Sheshrao Chauhan, a resident of Naigaon. He has been issued a notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS, confirmed Senior Inspector Ravindra Patil of Aarey Police Station said. Further investigations were underway, he said. (with PTI inputs)
02 May,2025 03:03 PM IST | Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) | mid-day online correspondentTwo men have been arrested for allegedly robbing their 65-year-old grandmother and strangling her in a village in Maharashtra's Jalna district, the police said on Friday, reported the PTI. The accused, Pradeep Dhakne (22) and his cousin Sandip Dhakne (26), were apprehended near the Madhya Pradesh border on Thursday, an official said. He said the victim, Kesharbhai Dhakne, was found dead at her house in Chandai Eko village in Bhokardan tehsil on April 29. The official said the woman was strangled, and one of her ears had been severed, presumably to steal the gold ornaments she was wearing. "During the investigation, the police noticed that Pradeep and Sandip had gone missing since the incident and had not even attended their grandmother's funeral, which raised suspicion," inspector Sanjay Ahire of Hasnabad police station said. He said the stolen ornaments were recovered from the accused. Man kills father-in-law Meanwhile, in an another incident, a 52-year-old man was allegedly bludgeoned to death by his son-in-law over a domestic dispute in Ulhasnagar town of the district, police said on Thursday, as per the PTI. Accused Bolasingh Jagdishsingh Bhawar (35), a resident of Jalgaon, was absconding, and a manhunt has been launched to trace him, said an official. The deceased was identified as Sushilsingh Gound Sardar. The incident took place on Wednesday when Bhawar arrived at his in-laws' residence to take his wife and children back home to Jalgaon, the official said. The couple were apparently living apart due to domestic quarrels. "When the victim refused to let his daughter and grandchildren leave with the accused, a heated argument broke out between the two men," the police officer said. "Bhawar allegedly picked up a wooden log and repeatedly struck Sardar," he added, according to the PTI. The latter died on the spot. As Sardar's wife attempted to intervene, Bhawar allegedly assaulted her too, before fleeing. A case was registered against him under sections 103(1) (murder), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," said the official, the news agency reported. According to preliminary investigation, the couple had been living apart due to domestic disagreements. (with PTI inputs)
02 May,2025 02:25 PM IST | Jalna (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Friday asked authorities to not take coercive action such as deportation to Pakistan against six members of a family, who allegedly overstayed their visa, till an order on verification of their identity documents. The family members are residents of Kashmir and their son works in Bengaluru. They are facing deportation to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives. Observing that the issue involves a human angle, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh gave the family the liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir high court in case they are aggrieved by the document verification order. The top court was hearing a plea by Ahmed Tarek Butt and his five family members who claimed they were detained and taken to the Wagah border for deportation to Pakistan despite having valid Indian documents. The bench noted that following the Pahalgam attack, the Centre in a notification dated April 25 has revoked the visa of Pakistani nationals except for those provided in the order itself and gave a specific timeline for their deportation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 01:55 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn a significant boost to conservation efforts, four new Great Indian Bustard chicks have been successfully hatched under the Project Great Indian Bustard (Project GIB) at the national conservation breeding centres in Jaisalmer over the past two weeks. The eggs, laid by four different females after artificial insemination, hatched on April 19, April 23, April 27, and May 1. With these additions, the total number of chicks bred in the 2025 season has reached 15, raising fresh hopes for the future rewilding of this critically endangered species. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), studies conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India estimate that only around 150 Great Indian Bustards remain in the wild. Of these, approximately 128 are found in Rajasthan, with fewer than 10 individuals each in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. MoEF&CC has undertaken a dedicated conservation breeding initiative in collaboration with the Forest Departments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, with technical support from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. In 2022, the ministry, with financial backing from the National Authority for Compensatory Afforestation Funds, approved an outlay of Rs 33.85 crore over five years for a comprehensive programme titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of the Great Indian Bustard – An Integrated Approach’. The primary goal of the programme is to establish a stable captive population of Great Indian Bustards and facilitate the release of chicks into the wild to help rebuild the species' numbers. It also aims to strengthen in-situ conservation efforts to protect and restore natural habitats for the birds.
02 May,2025 01:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Odisha government is set to announce the Class 10 results on Friday evening. Srikant Tarai, President of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), confirmed that the results for the matriculation examination, along with the State Open School Certificate Examination (for school dropouts) and the Madhyama Examination (for Sanskrit students), will be released simultaneously at 4 PM, reported news agency PTI. The results, for examinations conducted from February 21 to March 6, will be announced on the official website bseodisha.ac.in, as per the state government. Around 5.5 lakh students appeared for the matriculation examination in the state earlier this year. According to President Tarai, the results for Class 10th students will be available online starting from 6 PM. To access their results, students will need their roll number and date of birth. In addition to the official website, results can also be accessed through DigiLocker. Steps to Check Results: Visit the official website: orissaresults.nic.in Click on the “Annual Examination Result 2025” link. Enter your roll number and date of birth in the format (dd/mm/yyyy). After submitting the details, your result will appear. Verify and download the mark sheet once all details are confirmed. It is crucial for students to cross-check all the information on the mark sheet. In case of any discrepancies, they should immediately contact the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) Odisha. In addition, the BSE has announced that students residing in remote areas without internet access will receive their results via SMS. The SMS format is: OR10 <Roll Number>, which should be sent to 5676750. To continue their education, students must meet the qualifying criteria set by the board. Those who do not meet the required standards will need to appear for the supplementary examination. It is important for students to adhere to the deadlines specified by the Board of Secondary Education to proceed with their academic journey.
02 May,2025 12:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe portals of Himalayan temple Kedarnath were opened on Friday, with more than 12,000 pilgrims attending the ceremony. The gates of the temple located at a height of more than 11,000 ft were opened at 7 am, Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) officials told PTI. The Kedarnath temple was adorned with 108 quintals of flowers of 54 varieties, including roses and marigolds brought from different countries like Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Of the four Char Dham temples Kedarnath, which is also the 11th Jyotirlinga, pulls the largest crowd of devotees. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is the third temple in the Char Dham circuit to be opened after the winter break. Gangotri and Yamunotri temples were opened on April 30 and Badrinath will open on May 4. The process of opening the gates of Kedarnath began at 5 am, BKTC media in-charge Harish Gaur told PTI. Rawal (Chief Priest) Bhimashankar Ling, priest Bagesh Ling, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, Rudraprayag's District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, BKTC Chief Executive Officer Vijay Prasad Thapliyal, Tirtha priest Srinivas Posti, religious leaders and Vedpathis entered the temple from the east gate and participated in the worship of the gate of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple before the portals were opened. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the opening ceremony and was the first to perform a puja at the temple after the opening of its gates praying for the well-being and prosperity of all. The temple, which is visited every year by lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad, remains closed during the winter months. A new feature for the pilgrims in Kedarnath this time would be a grand "aarti" on the lines of Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, Haridwar and Rishikesh to be performed at the confluence of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers near the temple, BKTC CEO Vijay Thapliyal told PTI. All arrangements have been made for the aarti with ramps erected on three sides of the confluence for devotees to view the scene, he said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared in a post on X that the sacred procession from Gaurikund to Kedarnath was marked by "reverence, faith, and devotion." "Today, after the ritualistic worship at Gaurikund, the Panchmukhi idol of Baba Kedarnath reached the holy Shri Kedar Dham. When the Doli reached the temple premises, there was an atmosphere of devotion among the devotees, the entire Dham echoed with the chanting of 'Jai Baba Kedar'," CM Dhami posted on X. (With inputs from PTI)
02 May,2025 11:21 AM IST | Kedarnath | mid-day online correspondentWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Nifty surges 120 points, Sensex gains 520 points amid positive global cues Indian equity benchmarks opened with gains on Friday, with global cues remaining broadly positive, the uncertainty on the domestic front capped gains for Indian indices due to tensions on the India-Pakistan border. The Nifty 50 index surged to 24,395.90, marking a modest gain of 55.30 points or 0.2 per cent. On the other hand, the BSE Sensex saw an uptick, opening almost flat at 80,290.34 but gained 360 points to 80,607 at the time of filing this report. Mumbai: This 74-year-old woman has been assisting cops for free for over 30 years Anuradha Kulkarni, a 74-year-old resident of Santacruz, has been helping the Mumbai police manage traffic, solve cases, and assist accident victims for the past 30 years—all without any salary. Despite walking with a slight bend due to a back issue, she actively stops motorists from entering the wrong lanes and recently helped the Bandra police catch a thief by chasing him on her bike along with the victim. Read more. Hackers strike hard: Over one million cyber attacks on India since Pahalgam terror attack In the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India now faces a new threat in the form of cyber warfare. A recent report titled ‘Echoes of Pahalgam’, prepared by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, has revealed a sharp surge in cyber attacks targeting India, with nearly 10 lakh attempted breaches recorded since April 23. The report indicates that the education, defence, banking, and communication sectors are the primary targets. Read more. All gone for Rs 8.5L to Indian-origin bizman! Sydney-based businessman of Indian origin, Ram Chhabra won bids for all three Indian cricket related items that were auctioned for charity at The Chappell Foundation’s (TCF) eighth annual dinner in Sydney on Wednesday. Australian-born Chhabra, 48, bought India opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series bat (AUD 6000, approx Rs 3.25 lakh), a bat signed by members of the Indian team which participated in the same series for AUD 4500 (approx Rs 2.43 lakh) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s helmet for AUD 5000 (approx Rs 2.70 lakh). In all, he spent AUD 15,500 (approx Rs 8.5 lakh). Read more. Varun Dhawan and Kartik Aaryan to collaborate on Mujhse Shaadi Karogi 2: Report Varun Dhawan’s Bhediya 2 and Kartik Aaryan’s Naagzilla have been announced as Independence Day 2026 releases, thus paving the way for a box-office clash. While the two actors would be rivals over that weekend, buzz suggests they may soon be co-stars. We’ve heard that Dhawan and Aaryan are the top contenders to play the leads in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi 2, the sequel to the 2004 comedy that saw Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar’s characters in a game of one-upmanship as they wooed their ladylove, essayed by Priyanka Chopra. Read more.
02 May,2025 10:16 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour people were killed on Friday morning when a house collapsed in the national capital following heavy rains and strong winds that affected flight operations and disrupted traffic due to waterlogging in many parts of the city. Three flights were diverted and over 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport as thunderstorms and gusty winds disrupted operations. Three children and a woman died after a house collapsed in Delhi, where a red alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). "We received a call regarding a house collapse in Kharkari Nahar village in Najafgarh at 5.25 am. We deployed multiple teams on the spot and four people were rescued from the rubble," a Delhi Fire Services official said, reported PTI. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead, he said. "We have informed police about the matter," he added, reported PTI. Visuals from several areas showed uprooted trees and people stuck in waterlogged roads. Videos surfaced on social media that showed a car half-submerged on Minto Road. Minto Road, Major Somnath Marg in RK Puram, and Khanpur were particularly affected by the rain. According to IMD data, in the last three hours, the Safdarjung weather station, the city's primary observatory, recorded 77mm of rainfall. Lodhi Road recorded 78 mm, Palam recorded 30 mm, Najafgarh 19.5 mm, and Pitampura 32 mm of rainfall. Trees were uprooted in many parts of Delhi that also saw a dust storm early morning. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the airport, in a post on X at 5.20 am, said some flights were affected owing to inclement weather conditions. In another post at 7.25 am, DIAL said the thunderstorm had passed but there was some impact on flight operations due to adverse weather conditions. An official said two flights that were to land at the Delhi airport were diverted to Jaipur and one to Ahmedabad. More than 100 flights were delayed, according to data from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com, reported PTI. The weather department, in its Delhi weather update, has issued a red alert for Delhi, urging people to remain extremely vigilant and take necessary precautions. The IMD has predicted moderate to heavy rain, along with moderate to severe thunderstorms and wind speeds reaching 70-80 kmph in parts of Delhi-NCR. Light rain is likely in some other areas of the region. The weather department, in its Delhi weather update, has warned of severe weather over Delhi-NCR during morning hours, with possible uprooting of trees and damage to power lines, standing crops, and vulnerable structures. Hail may also injure people or cattle in open areas, reported PTI. As a precaution, people are advised to stay indoors, avoid sheltering under trees, unplug electronic appliances, and stay away from water bodies and objects that conduct electricity. (With inputs from PTI)
02 May,2025 10:01 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe officials on Thursday said that the Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting retaliation from the Indian Army, reported news agency PTI. This is the eighth consecutive night of unprovoked firing along the LoC, amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed. Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers to make them habitable in case of escalation to shelling, reported PTI. "During the night of May 1-2, 2025, Pakistani Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire from posts across the LoC opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir," a defence spokesperson in Jammu told PTI. Indian Army troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner, the spokesperson added. Initially beginning with unprovoked small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in the Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, Pakistan swiftly expanded its ceasefire violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region. This was followed by small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of Rajouri district. Subsequently, the firing expanded to the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district. The renewed ceasefire violations come despite a recent hotline conversation between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, during which the Indian side is learnt to have cautioned Pakistan. Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, starting from the Kashmir Valley. On April 24, Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and warned that any attempt to divert water would be considered an "Act of War." The ceasefire along the borders was reaffirmed in February 2021, when both countries agreed to observe the 2003 agreement in letter and spirit. However, the current situation marks a significant departure from the relative calm maintained since then. India shares a total of 3,323 km of border with Pakistan, divided into three parts: the International Border (IB), approximately 2,400 km from Gujarat to the northern banks of the Chenab River in Akhnoor, Jammu; the Line of Control (LoC), 740 km long, running from parts of Jammu to parts of Leh; and the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), 110 km long, dividing the Siachen region from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the north. Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers to make them habitable in case of escalation to shelling. Civilians living along the LoC and IB started clearing their community and individual bunkers and are getting them cleaned so as to be make them habitable in case of escalation to shelling. The Union government sanctioned the construction of 14,460 individual and community bunkers in 2017. Officials said that over 8,600 community and individual bunkers have been built in five districts: Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri. While the harvesting of crops along R S Pura and Arnia sectors along the IB has been completed, it is still going on in Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts. "This is being done in view of the tensions along the borders," an official told PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
02 May,2025 09:35 AM IST | Jammu/Srinagar | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
