Archives for March 2025

Mumbai: A bus hit Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s luxury car in Mumbai’s Juhu suburb on Wednesday, an official said, adding nobody was injured in the accident.

A video showing the high-end car, with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking’s ubiquitous red bus behind it, went viral on social media.

Sources said Aishwarya was not in the car, which was hit by the bus from behind.

The video shows the car, which apparently did not suffer any major damage due to the bump from the bus, speeding off a while later.

After the accident, a bouncer (a type of security guard) from a bungalow near megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s residence on Juhu Tara Road came out and slapped the bus driver, a BEST official said.

According to the official, the bus left the Juhu Depot and as its reached near Amitabh Bachchan’s residence, it hit the high-end car.

“The bus driver got down to see the damage suffered by the car. At this point, a bouncer from a nearby bungalow came out and slapped the driver,” he said.

After that, the driver called the police control room and a team arrived at the spot, according to the official of the civic undertaking.

“When the police arrived, supervisory staff from the bungalow apologized to the bus driver. The driver ended the matter at this point and steered the bus towards Santacruz suburban station. No complaint or FIR was registered,” the official added.

BJP leader and former MP Arjun Singh

Kolkata: Unidentified miscreants hurled bombs and opened fire outside the residence of BJP leader and former MP Arjun Singh in West Bengal’s Bhatpara, police said on Thursday.

A youth suffered injuries in the attack that took place late on Wednesday, they said.

Singh and his close associates reportedly chased the assailants, forcing them to flee the spot.

“The situation is now under control. Those involved will not be spared… legal action will be taken against the culprits,” Barrackpore Police Commissioner Ajay Thakur said.

Singh alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Sunita Singh’s son, Namit Singh, was behind the attack.

“He opened fire in front of the police. There was indiscriminate firing and bombing,” the former MP claimed.

According to police sources, the violence erupted following a dispute between two groups of workers at Meghna Jute Mill in the area.

Meanwhile, TMC’s Jagaddal MLA Somnath Shyam accused Singh and his supporters of instigating violence.

“Arjun Singh and his men attacked workers in the Meghna Jute Mill and fired bullets. The youth was shot by Singh, and three to four more people were injured in his group’s attack. We demand Singh’s immediate arrest, or we will launch a larger protest,” he said.

Namit Singh reportedly arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the unrest.

Soon after, the situation escalated, leading to gunfire and bombing, police said.

Describing the sequence of events, Singh said, “Around 10:30 pm, I suddenly heard two rounds of gunshots. I was in Majdoor Bhavan with my close associates. I rushed outside and headed towards Meghna Mor. As soon as we reached the spot, miscreants opened fire at us.”

Singh claimed that at least five to seven rounds were fired.

Following the attack, he and his associates chased the assailants, during which one of them fell into a drain and suffered injuries.

A large police contingent, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, was deployed in the area to control the situation.

Several empty cartridges and live bombs have been recovered from the spot, officials said.

The injured youth was initially taken to Bhatpara State General Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata, police said.

Patrolling has been intensified in Bhatpara to prevent any further escalation, the officials added.

Nasheman news

Fabian is a music teacher at St. Joseph’s European High School

In this EXCLUSIVE interview with Nasheman News a Bangalore -based; acclaimed musician and singer says “Music is for people of all religions and a perfect solution to de- stress in tough times (Excerpts from the interview)

Nasheman News At what age you fell in love with music?

Fabian: I really don’t know. But I had a feeling in my childhood that music can calm people.

Nasheman News : But you play so many instruments. Where did you learn?

Fabian: Well. let me say, if you have a passion for anything, you don’t need a school. God schedules everything. Everyone has a God- given talent. Music or anything else. We need to respect and nurture it.

Nasheman News : You are on many public shows in Bangalore. Does it make you proud?

Fabian: No. Pride is a downfall. I don’t consider myself great. God uses us in the way He wants. God called me to be Faithful not successful. I use my talents to give glory to God my Maker

Nasheman News: But there’s so much competition. How do you survive?

Fabian: God has given me my daily bread and a good family. I am grateful to the Jesuits who gave me a job and honoured my talents. I am not so worried about competition.

Nasheman News : Apart from being a music teacher, what are your plans?

Fabian: I take one day at a time being grateful for what God has blessed me with. I wish I could lead people in prayer and worship and address the painful concerns people go through everyday. I want to be an instrument of God

Nasheman News : You said you want to be an instrument of God. Are you trying to proclaim the Christian Faith?

Fabian: Sorry. You got me wrong. I have no qualms of religion and don’t denounce any religion. I believe that Love is Religion. If you love, you are religious.

New Delhi: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday said a delegation of the organisation “inspected” the Humayun Tomb here and that the exercise was aimed at “studying the historical context” of Delhi.

The VHP delegation’s visit to the tomb of second Mughal ruler Humayun came against the backdrop of protests by some Hindu outfits seeking removal of the Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra, alleging that the 17th century Mughal emperor had unleashed atrocities on Hindus.

In a statement, the Delhi VHP said that a delegation comprising its functionaries will also visit Safdarjung Tomb soon to “inspect” the site.

The VHP delegation, which visited the Humayun Tomb, a UNESCO world heritage site, was led by the organisation’s Delhi unit secretary Surendra Gupta.

“Surendra Gupta clarified that no controversial meaning should be drawn from this inspection,” the Delhi VHP said in the statement.

The inspection of the site was carried with the aim of “studying the historical context” of Delhi prant (province),” it added.

“We are studying the historical context of Delhi prant. Our aim is to analyse the land allotted to the rulers of different periods and their contribution,” the statement quoted Gupta as saying after the visit.

“The study was being conducted to bring out historical facts,” Gupta added.

Mumbai: The Mumbai police on Monday registered an FIR against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a show, officials said.

The police also registered a case against nearly 40 Shiv Sena workers for allegedly vandalising the Habitat Studio in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra’s show with “gaddar” (traitor) jibe at Shinde was filmed, as well as a hotel in whose premises the studio is located, they said.

A large number of Shiv Sena workers on Sunday night gathered outside Hotel Unicontinental, where the studio is located. They allegedly ransacked the studio and the hotel premises, the police said.

Notably, the Habitat Studio, where Kamra’s show was held, is the same venue where the controversial ‘India’s Got Latent’ show had been filmed.

After a video went viral showing Kamra allegedly using defamatory words against Shinde, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel lodged a police complaint.

Based on the complaint, the MIDC police here registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the early hours of Monday against Kamra under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) actions, including 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation), an official said.

In the nearly 2-minute video, Kamra also mocked the ruling NCP and Shiv Sena, the MIDC police station official said, adding an investigation was underway.

Another FIR was registered by the Khar police against 19 Shiv Sena functionaries, who have been named, including Rahul Kanal (Yuva Sena), Vibhag Pramukh Kunal Sarmarkar and Akshay Panvelkar, and 15 to 20 unidentified persons for allegedly vandalising the Habitat Studio as well as ransacking the hotel properties, an official said.

Panvelkar, Sarmarkar and other Shiv Sainiks entered the hotel and studio and damaged them, Khar police sub-inspector Vijay Saed, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, alleged in his statement.

They were shouting slogans like “Shiv Sena Zindabad”. When the police intervened, they allegedly pushed the on-duty police personnel and also manhandled the hotel staffers. They were later brought to the police station for further probe, Saed said.

The case against the Shiv Sainiks was registered under various BNS sections, including for damaging private property and unlawful assembly, the official added.

The video of Kamra’s jibe at Shinde was also posted on X by rival Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut by saying “Kunal Ka Kamal”.

Kamra taunted Shinde using a modified version of a Hindi song from the film “Dil To Pagal Hai”, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Sunday warned Kamra that he would be chased by the party workers throughout the country. “You will be forced to flee India,” he said in a video message.

Calling Kamra a “contract comedian”, Mhaske said he should not have stepped on the “tail of a snake (apparently referring to Shinde)”.

“Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences,” he warned.

The MP from Thane also alleged that the comedian had accepted money from Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and was targeting Shinde.

Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel said he would show “Kamra his level” and asked him to apologise.

Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray, however, slammed the vandalism at the show venue, calling it a “cowardly” act.

In a post on X late Sunday night, Thackeray said, “Mindhe’s coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian @kunalkamra88 put out a song on eknath mindhe, which was 100 per cent true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone.”

“By the way, law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the CM and Home Minister by Eknath Mindhe,” he said.

Nagpur: Civic authorities are on Monday likely to demolish the illegal portions of a house of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence who has been booked for sedition, after he failed to remove the unauthorised structure.

Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), is among the over 100 persons arrested for the violence in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city on March 17.

A few days back, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Khan, citing various lapses and lack of the building plan approval (for his house), sources said.

The house, located at Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar area here, registered in the name of Khan’s wife, they said.

MDP city chief Khan is currently lodged in a jail.

The violence erupted on March 17, after rumours spread that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

The clashes resulted in widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of the city, leaving 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers, injured.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the cost of properties damaged during the violence will be recovered from rioters and the failure to pay up would lead to the seizure and selling of their properties to recover losses.

“My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly,” said Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry.

The CM said those who circulated inflammatory content would be charged as co-accused for their role in inciting violence.

Fadnavis also said it was too early to comment on a foreign or Bangladeshi link to the riots as the probe was underway.

“However, the Malegaon connection can be seen (in violence) as one of the accused belongs to a political party from Malegaon who could be seen helping rioters,” he said without taking the name of Fahim Khan, arrested for sedition.

Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria

Silchar: Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria an accused in singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case has been transferred to Silchar Central Jail from Punjab, officials said here on Monday.

Punjab Police brought the accused from Bhatinda Jail by a special flight and he was taken to the jail here on Sunday night where he is currently lodged.

He was transferred to the Assam jail following intelligence inputs and investigations that brought to the fore his alleged involvement in coordinating drug trafficking with others from inside the jail by using mobile phones, the official said.

He has been transferred to Silchar jail in a bid to break the network involved in drug trafficking, the official added.

Besides his alleged involvement in the killing of Moosewala in 2022, Singh has 128 cases registered against him since 2012 which include several high-profile murder cases, extortions, cases under the Arms Act and 12 cases under the NDPS Act.

He had allegedly established links with international operators in Canada, USA and Pakistan and his relocation to another jail was necessary to break the activities of the criminals in the jail.

Singh has been kept in a special cell and the security in and around the jail has been further strengthened, the official said.

Members of the Muslim community in Nagpur have condemned the violence in Vidarbha’s largest city earlier this week and sought an impartial probe into it, claiming that timely action by police could have prevented it.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, they said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should meet representatives of both communities in a bid to establish peace.

Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Nagpur on Monday evening after rumours began circulating about a ‘chadar’ with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.

“Efforts are being made to provoke the Muslim community through various means in the last two to three years. A minister has been continuously raising the topic of Aurangzeb. The Muslim community has no connection to Aurangzeb and has remained calm,” Dr Mohammad Awes Hasan said at the press conference.

He alleged that right-wing outfits burnt a ‘chadar’ with Islamic verses on it which prompted members of the Muslim community to approach the police demanding action against them. However, when police did not take any step, some of them became agitated, he said.

A few of those who spoke at the press conference appreciated the efforts made by the police to restore normalcy but alleged that some innocent persons had been arrested as part of the probe into the violence.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chief Pyare Khan held a meeting on Thursday, which was attended by the police commissioner and district collector, among others.

No action should be taken against innocent persons, he urged police.

He also asked the administration to relax curfew in Mominpura and nearby localities as Ramzan is underway and business was being affected.

Thirty-three police personnel, including three DCP rank officers, were injured in Monday’s violence.

Police have booked Fahim Khan, the key accused in the violence, and five others on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation on social media, as per police. Curfew was lifted or relaxed in parts of the city three days after the violence.

Sudhir Chaudhary

New Delhi: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is on the verge of finalising a Rs 15-crore per year deal with news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary for a one-hour show to be telecast on Doordarshan on weekday

A source familiar with the development stated that the deal is “certainly under consideration and will be signed soon,” adding that the broadcaster frequently hires anchors for new shows. He pointed out that Rs 15 crore a year does not exceed the rates approved by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC).

The new show, which is expected to occupy a prime-time slot on DD News, is slated to air from May. According to a memo discussed at a recent meeting held at Prasar Bharati, the broadcaster has approved a contract to “ESSPRIT Productions Pvt Ltd, represented by Chaudhary, to produce one-hour duration exclusive show from DD News (to air five days a week) at Rs 15 crore per annum plus GST, which will be subject to escalation at the rate of 10% every year,” IE added.

A negotiation committee formed by Prasar Bharati reportedly held five meetings with Chaudhary’s company to finalise the production costs. According to a source, the Rs 15-crore deal is within the range of Rs 28.6 crore for producing one-hour programmes of 260 shows annually as per the CBC rates.

This move is seen as part of Prasar Bharati’s strategy to revitalise DD News in the competitive news market. In addition to Chaudhary’s show, several other new programmes are planned, marking a shift toward a more multimedia-driven content approach for Doordarshan, sources familiar with the developments at Prasar Bharati said.