Friday, December 26, 2025

J&K Police book actor Shreyas Talpade in financial fraud case

By
Tehelka Bureau
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Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a financial fraud case against 15 individuals, including Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade, for allegedly deceiving people through a chit fund scheme.

According to reports, the accused were associated with The Loni Urban Multistate Credit and Thrift Cooperative Society Limited, which promised villagers high returns on their investments. Agents of the company allegedly convinced hundreds of people to invest, claiming their money would double in a short period. However, after collecting crores of rupees, the company reportedly ceased operations and disappeared. The scheme had been running in Mahoba for a decade before coming under legal scrutiny.

Authorities have filed a case at Srinagar police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the fraud. Legal action will follow based on the findings.

This is not the first time Shreyas Talpade has faced allegations of financial misconduct. Last month, an FIR was lodged against him and actor Alok Nath in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly defrauding investors of over ₹9 crores. They were also implicated in a similar case in Sonipat, Haryana, linked to a multi-level marketing scheme. Reports suggest that both actors endorsed the cooperative society’s investment plans, adding credibility to the operation.

Meanwhile, Talpade’s team has denied the allegations, dismissing them as “false and baseless.”

Official Statement from Shreyas Talpade’s Team:

“It is deeply unfortunate that in today’s world, a person’s hard-earned reputation appears to be vulnerable to undue tarnishment by unfounded rumours. Recent reports alleging Mr. Shreyas Talpade’s involvement in fraud or misconduct are completely false, baseless, and devoid of any merit whatsoever. As a public figure, Mr. Talpade, like many other celebrities, is frequently invited to various corporate and annual events, which he attends as and when possible.”

The statement further clarified that Talpade had no direct involvement with the company in question.

“Needless to say, Mr. Talpade has no nexus whatsoever with any fraudulent or unlawful acts as are being alleged and/or circulated. We urge everyone to verify facts before spreading misinformation and request that Mr. Talpade’s name be kept away from these baseless rumors. Mr. Talpade is a law-abiding citizen who remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and professionalism in all of his endeavors,” the statement added.

Gujarat HC extends Asaram’s temporary bail by 3 months for medical treatment

By
Tehelka Bureau
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The Gujarat High Court has extended self-styled godman Asaram Bapu’s temporary bail by three months, citing the need for continued medical treatment.

The 86-year-old, who is serving a life sentence in Jodhpur Central Jail for rape, had earlier been granted interim bail due to heart-related ailments and other age-related health complications.

The Supreme Court had initially granted Asaram temporary bail until March 31, 2025, on medical grounds.

With the latest decision from the Gujarat High Court, his temporary release has now been extended further.

Asaram, once a revered spiritual leader with millions of followers, has faced multiple legal battles over the past decade.

He was first arrested in 2013 after a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur accused him of sexual assault at his Jodhpur ashram.

In 2018, Asaram was convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2023, a Gandhinagar court handed Asaram another life sentence for raping a woman at his Gujarat ashram between 2001 and 2006.

His repeated bail pleas had been denied by various courts, including the Gujarat High Court in August 2024, before the Supreme Court granted him interim relief strictly for medical reasons.

While allowing his release, the Supreme Court had explicitly barred Asaram from meeting his followers. This restriction remains in place to prevent any misuse of his bail period.

Despite his convictions, Asaram has secured temporary release multiple times over the years.

In 2018, he was granted a seven-day parole, which was later extended by five days.

Recently, in December 2024, he received a 17-day parole before being granted interim bail in January 2025.

Given the high-profile nature of the case and the threats faced by witnesses, security around the rape survivor’s family was intensified following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant Asaram bail.

Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.

India offers all possible assistance after 7.7 Magnitude Quake hits Myanmar, Thailand

By
Tehelka Bureau
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand and assured India’s readiness to provide all possible assistance to the affected regions.

A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, followed by an aftershock of 6.4 magnitude just 12 minutes later. Another aftershock measuring 4.9 magnitude was recorded nearly an hour later. Tremors were also felt in Thailand, parts of northeast India, and China.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone.”

“India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. In this regard, asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touch with the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand,” he added.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicentre was 16 km northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at a depth of 10 km. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) also confirmed the depth, placing the epicentre near Mandalay.

While no casualties have been reported so far, reports indicate that some buildings in the Mandalay Region have collapsed, and several roads between Mandalay and Yangon have been severely damaged. In Bangkok, the tremors led to panic, with people rushing out of buildings onto the streets.

Footage from affected areas shows terrifying moments when strong tremors caused a towering skyscraper to crash to the ground, prompting workers and locals to flee for safety. In Vientiane, Laos, high-rise buildings swayed, leaving residents alarmed.

Authorities in Myanmar have launched large-scale rescue operations, with emergency teams working tirelessly to find survivors and assist those trapped in their homes.

Kejriwal booked for misusing funds for hoardings in 2019

By
Tehelka Bureau
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Photo: Naveen Bansal

Former chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has been booked for allegedly misusing public funds on large hoardings in 2019. The court has scheduled the hearing for April 8, allowing the police time to conduct further probe into the matter.

The FIR, approved by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal, also names former MLA Gulab Singh and former Dwarka councillor Nitika Sharma. The complaint, filed in 2019, accuses the trio of “deliberately misused public money by putting up large-sized hoardings.”

Earlier this month, the Rouse Avenue Court allowed a petition seeking an FIR against Kejriwal and others for these allegations.  While a metropolitan magistrate had dismissed the complaint in 2022, a sessions court later overturned the decision, directing the magistrate to reconsider the matter. Following this, the magistrate entertained a fresh plea for an FIR to be registered.

In January 2025, Special Judge Vishal Gogne pointed out that the earlier dismissal order failed to determine whether the alleged offence was cognisable.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the former AAP government of constructing a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ instead of helping slum-dwellers, as she announced an allocation of Rs 900 crore for basic amenities in slum clusters. She highlighted the former government’s corruption.

Gupta also jokingly proposed the inclusion of the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ as a tourist destination, stating, “We will include the ‘Sheesh Mahal’, too, as a tourist destination and show it to people through tickets.” 

Mayawati slams Samajwadi Party’s ‘dirty politics’ over controversial remarks on Rana Sanga

By
Tehelka Bureau
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In the the wake of controversial remarks made by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman about 16th-century Rajput king Rana Sanga, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati has condemned the SP for its “dirty politics” and added that it is wrong to insult any community for the sake of political gains.

In a post on Thursday on social media platform X, she wrote, “The dirty politics that SP is doing by putting forward its Dalit leaders for its political gains, that is, it is trying to harm them, is not right. Dalits should be cautious of all their tactics. The incident that happened in Agra is very worrying.”

“It is not right for SP to demean any community to serve its own interests. They create a negative image of one community while favouring another. This behaviour will disrupt the peace and harmony in society, which is not acceptable, ” she added on X.

Mayawati’s remarks came after Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman sparked controversy with his statement on Rana Sanga, a 16th-century Rajput king, calling him a “traitor” for allegedly bringing Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.

Following SP leader Suman’s statement, violence erupted at his residence in Agra on Wednesday as unidentified individuals resorted to stone-pelting, smashing window panes, and vandalising vehicles parked outside.

Agra Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sanjeev Tyagi said that the people resorted to pelting stones, breaking window panes and vandalising vehicles parked outside of the MP’s house, following Ramji Lal Suman’s statement.

“Some people belonging to Karni Sena got angry after a statement of Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman. They went to his residence, pelted stones and broke glasses. Several people have been taken into custody. The entire incident is being investigated. Some police officials were also injured in the incident, ” ACP Tyagi added.

Rana Sanga, also known as Sangram Singh I, was the ruler of Mewar from 1508 to 1528 and is revered for his bravery and sacrifices.

Suman’s statement has been widely criticised, with many calling for an apology and action against him.

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also in the district during the attack, gave consent for this attack.

Akhilesh Yadav said, “The incident with Ramji Lal Suman is sad and should be condemned. Ramji Lal Suman is a Dalit MP and has a lot of experience and his residence was attacked when the Chief Minister himself was in the district. This attack took place with the consent of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.”

Rajya Sabha Chairman dismisses Privilege Motion Notice of Congress against Amit Shah

By
Tehelka Bureau
-

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday rejected the notice of privilege motion given by Congress member Jairam Ramesh against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The motion was moved by the Congress MP on March 26 for “casting aspersions” on senior party leader Sonia Gandhi.

While dismissing the notice, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said that he had “carefully gone through” the matter and found that there was nothing wrong. He said that he had done his homework properly and cited records.

While dismissing the notice, Chairman Dhankhar said he was anguished at the rampant use of the sensitive parliamentary practice of breach of privilege.

“Breach of privilege is a serious matter. I have declined with a deep sense of anguish and pain that we rush to invoke a breach of privilege, we rush to the media …and give it traction and try to tarnish image… I have said on a number of occasions that this House will not be a platform to ruin the reputations of members… we have to protect …”

Congress member Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday gave a notice of question of privilege in terms of Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) against Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, for casting aspersions on Sonia Gandhi, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party.

In the notice, Ramesh had mentioned that during his reply on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024 on March 25, Amit Shah made unfounded allegations against Sonia Gandhi with a premeditated motive to malign her reputation.

In the notice, he said, “… even though the Home Minister didn’t take the name of Smt. Sonia Gandhi but he had categorically by implication referred to her and imputed motives to her vis-a-vis the functioning of the National Prime Minister’s Relief Fund (NPMRF).”

He said it was well established that it is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to cast reflections or make derogatory references to any member of the House. “In the instant case, the Home Minister had made unfounded allegations against Smt. Sonia Gandhi with a premeditated motive to malign her reputation. The Home Minister’s statement is blatantly false and is defamatory. This tantamounts to breach of privilege of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Hence, this matter constitutes a breach of privilege and the contempt of the House as well.”

On Tuesday, during the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the amendment to the Disaster Management Bill, HM Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress’ management of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund during the UPA era, accusing the opposition of lacking accountability and transparency.

“It has become a culture to make accusations and then run away. But this is Parliament, not a street. If you level allegations, you will have to listen to the response. Under the Congress regime, only one family had control over the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The Congress party president used to be a member of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund,” he said.

PM Modi to flag off train from Katra to Valley on April 19

By
Tehelka Bureau
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Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first train from Katra to the Valley on April 19 fulfilling the over 70-year-old dream of rail connectivity to Kashmir.

The train will chug off from Katra town in Reasi district and will cross the Pir Panjal mountain range to reach Srinagar and then its final destination at Baramulla in north Kashmir.

PM Modi will flag off the train from Katra in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

At present, the train operates from Sangaldan to Baramulla. The Prime Minister is scheduled to land at Udhampur Army airport from New Delhi on the morning of April 19 and then fly to the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab river in Reasi district.

PM Modi will be briefed about the construction of the bridge, which is considered to be an engineering marvel.

The Prime Minister will then reach the Mata Vaishno Devi base camp, Katra from where he will flag off the Vande Bharat train to the Valley.

PM Modi will address a public rally at Katra before returning to Delhi in the afternoon.

Railway officials said after completion of expansion work at Jammu Railway Station, including increase in the number of platforms, the train to the Valley will start operations from Jammu, expectedly by July-August this year.

“There will be no direct train from Delhi or any other part to Kashmir. The passengers will have to de-board at Katra and change the train. Later, the same process will shift to Jammu”, officials said.

Several trials of the train from Katra to Baramulla including that of Vande Bharat Express have been successful and the security issues have also been addressed.

Out of the total 272 kms of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209 kms was commissioned in phases with the first phase of the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund link in June 2013, 25 kms of the Udhampur-Katra stretch in July 2014 and the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan section in February, last year.

The work on the 46 km Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra which was also completed nearly three months ago, leading to the start of different trials of trains, including that of Vande Bharat.

The project involved an expenditure of Rs 41,000 crore.

On January 4, a successful trial run of an electric train was conducted on the Katra-Banihal section.

Series of trials over the past few months on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of the Anji Khad and Chenab bridges, have been conducted.

The Vande Bharat Express Train between Katra and Srinagar has been specially designed with anti-freezing features.

Manufactured by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), this new Vande Bharat train can operate smoothly in extremely cold conditions as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. To ensure comfort for passengers and drivers, the train is equipped with advanced heating systems.

The safety features of the train include CCTV cameras, and Emergency Talk Back Units.

The train has shatterproof windows and the windshield of the driver is equipped with a special anti-frost system that allows a clear field of vision.

The train to Kashmir will give a boost to tourism, horticulture, agriculture, industries, education and to the average Kashmiri, who can now forget his fears about the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway getting closed due to rain and snowfall.

The train will provide an uninterrupted all-weather connectivity and the carriage of goods to and from the Valley will become much cheaper in the coming days.

Kashmir’s tulip garden opens to public, draws thousands on first day

By
Tehelka Bureau
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Srinagar: Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar was officially opened to visitors on Wednesday, with thousands flocking to witness the vibrant floral spectacle. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the garden, which showcases over 1.75 million tulips across 74 varieties, many already in full bloom.

Dressed in a traditional white Pheran, Abdullah toured the garden, clicked pictures, and interacted with visitors. Taking to social media platform X after his visit, he expressed his excitement: “After more than a decade, I was back at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar to officially throw it open to visitors. Over the next few weeks, thousands are expected to visit Asia’s largest tulip garden and enjoy the riot of color.”

Agriculture Minister Javaid Ahmad Dar, who accompanied the chief minister, was optimistic about the tourist season. “The beginning is promising, and we hope tourism flourishes just like these tulips,” he said.

The 4,500-kanal terraced garden, nestled at the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range overlooking Dal Lake, remains open for about four weeks each year. Visitors are treated to a breathtaking display of not just tulips but also daffodils, hyacinths, roses, ranunculi, muscaria, and iris, creating a stunning tapestry of colors.

Delhi Congress holds strategic meeting ahead of MCD elections

By
Tehelka Bureau
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In a crucial move ahead of the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-elections, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President,  Devender Yadav, held an important meeting today with key party observers. The meeting focused on fine-tuning strategies and strengthening the party’s preparations for the elections. Senior party leaders, including former Minister Dr. Haroon Yusuf and Communications and Media Chairman, Anil Bhardwaj, were present for the discussions.

The meeting underscored the Congress’s commitment to actively participate in the MCD elections and strengthen its position within the municipal corporation, particularly in light of the recent political developments in Delhi. With the MCD elections expected to play a crucial role in shaping the city’s local governance, Congress is keen on presenting a robust challenge to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Much like the role Congress played in the February assembly elections. The Congress’s strong groundwork could impact the AAP’s hopes of securing a major win in the MCD, with the party aiming to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction regarding local governance.

The AAP, already reeling from challenges at the state level, faces a tough contest in maintaining its hold over the MCD. The outcome of these elections could prove pivotal in shaping the political landscape.

The Congress party’s renewed focus on local elections in Delhi signals a strategic attempt to challenge AAP’s dominance, leveraging past experience to stir a significant voter base for the MCD battle.

Nobody has right to destroy public property: Rekha Gupta

By
Priyanka Tanwer
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Photo: Naveen Bansal

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday directed officials to remove all the posters and hoardings from the metro pillars during inspection.

She said, “Nobody has the right to destroy public property. If we need clean and beautiful Delhi, everyone’s support is required here.”

She further said that metro pillars are the beauty of Delhi and we should not put posters and hoardings on them. “No one should spoil government property,” she added.

The chief minister was seen removing posters from the pillars herself during the inspection.

Meanwhile she also directed officials to look for proper shelters for stray cows which sometimes get hurt during traffic and come out on the flyovers.

The direction came after Gupta’s convoy suddenly stopped and narrowly escaped an accident after a herd of cattle appeared on the Haiderpur Flyover.

CM inspected the situation after getting out of the car and directed officials to find out proper shelter for the stray animals. The traffic behind could be seen stopped due to this incident on the flyover.

Yesterday, The BJP government presented its first Budget. The five-day session began on Monday morning with a traditional “kheer” ceremony. This Budget, reflecting the BJP’s commitment to fulfilling its promises made during the run-up to the Delhi election in February, laid a key focus on healthcare, education and road repair.

Delhi government’s Budget for the upcoming financial year is Rs 1 lakh crore, nearly 31 per cent higher than AAP’s last budget in the capital.

A key focus of the BJP’s welfare promises during the election was healthcare. While AAP launched its Sanjeevani Yojana offering free medical care to citizens above the age of 60, the BJP focused on the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide affordable healthcare.

Additionally, the party made several promises in the education sector, as well as in providing benefits related to cooking gas cylinders.

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