The First Information Report was registered on a complaint filed by the actor's father, Jugjeet Singh Bhavnani, against the user @sujataindia1st, an official said.   

Deepfake videos are videos that have been altered, in a convincing way, to misrepresent someone as doing or saying something that was not actually done or said. 

Recently, city police had registered an FIR against an unidentified person in connection with a similar deepfake video of  actor Aamir Khan where he was purportedly seen promoting a political party. 

Ranveer Singh gave an interview to the media while he was in Varanasi to promote a fashion show and praised  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as per his father's complaint. -- PTI

State BJP president Manmohan Samal welcomed her to the party. 

The BJD on Monday named Dhenkanal MP Mahesh Sahoo as its candidate for the Hindol assembly seat. 

"I worked for the BJD for around 10 years, but my efforts were weighed against money. I have no money, no mines, and no industry. Therefore, I was not given a ticket by the BJD," alleged Nayak, a two-term MLA. 

She joined a long list of BJD leaders who have quit the party ahead of the twin elections, to the assembly and the Lok Sabha. 

They are Jaydev MLA Arabinda Dhali, Telkoi's MLA Premanda Nayak, Athamallick legislator Ramesh Chandra Sai and Soro MLA Parsuram Dhada. -- PTI

Ramesh also said a person who never respected the mangalsutra is now saying that the Congress will snatch women's mangalsutra. 

"Vishwa Guru" refers to a world leader. "Vish" means poison. 

"The prime minister is speaking in a different language regarding our manifesto. And it is clear that he is nervous, in trouble, and has adopted the path of polarisation. His language is divisive and for polarisation," the Congress general secretary said at a press conference. 

"The prime minister of the country can never use such language. But he is doing it. He considers himself a 'Vishwa Guru' but the language he has used in the last few days suggests that he is not a 'Vishwa Guru' but a 'Vish Guru'," he added. 

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, Modi alleged the Congress planned to give people's hard-earned money and valuables to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children", referring to the grand old party's 'Nyay Patra' (manifesto). 

"This thinking of urban Naxals ... My mothers and sisters, they will not even leave your mangalsutra. They will go this far," he had said. -- PTI

Rajeev Kumar, a 2000-batch Indian Ordnance Factories Service officer, has been appointed as joint secretary, ministry of home affairs, a personnel ministry order said.

Vrunda Manohar Desai, a 2003-batch officer Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax), has been named as joint secretary in the ministry of Information & Broadcasting, upto April 12, 2027, it said.                  

Abhishek Bhagotia, a 2007-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will be joint secretary, Lokpal, the order said.

Central Secretariat Service officer Rahul Kashyap has been named as secretary, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis.

Muthukrishnan Sankaranarayanan will be joint secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy, Shobhit Gupta has been named joint secretary in the ministry of civil aviation, Vimal Anand will be joint secretary, department of commerce and Monalisa Dash has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of development of North Eastern Region, the order said.

Fire tenders were pressed into service and it took them around three hours to douse the flames, they said.

Meera (7) and her five-year-old sister Radha died in the incident, police said.

The fire broke out in a hut where someone was cooking food but because of strong winds, the flames spread to other shanties, they said.

The injured were rushed to hospital where the two girls were declared dead, the police said.

Local MLA Jagroop Singh Gill reached the spot to take stock of the situation and promised all possible help to the affected families. -- PTI

No casualties were reported so far in the incidents but sophisticated firearms were being used in the gun-battles by both sides, a police officer said. 

Heavy exchanges of fire were reported in Awang Sekmai and neighbouring Luwangsangol villages when a group of village volunteers descended in the area from the hills of Kangpokpi district and opened indiscriminate fire on positions of the rival groups, prompting retaliation, he said. 

Panic-striken villagers fled to safer places and took shelter in local community halls, the police officer said. 

Sporadic firing continued till this report was being filed and additional security forces were being rushed to the area to bring the situation under control, he added. -- PTI

The defence ministry said the user launch has proven the operational capability of the missile with new technologies.

The test firing was conducted under the aegis of the strategic forces command.

"A successful launch of the new variant of a medium-range ballistic missile was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command on April 23," the ministry said.

"The user launch has proven the operational capability of the Command and validated new technologies," it said in a brief statement.

It is learnt that the missile is not from the 'Agni' family of weapons systems. -- PTI

A vacation bench of Justices VG Arun and S Manu was of the opinion that since Chandrasekhar's nomination has been accepted, "no purpose will be served" by directing the returning officer to pass an order on the complaints. 

The court also agreed with the contention of the Election Commission that even with regard to an allegation of improper acceptance of a nomination, the remedy was to file an election petition. 

"The writ petition is hence dismissed with the above observation," the bench said. 

The petition had been jointly filed by Madhya Pradesh native Avani Bansal and Karnataka resident Renjith Thomas who had made separate complaints to the RO alleging that Chandrasekhar's nomination and the accompanying affidavit were in violation of the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. -- PTI

Vistara said two of its flights from Pune and Ranchi that were to land at the airport were diverted. In a post on X, IndiGo said that due to unfavourable weather conditions in the national capital, customers are requested to check their flight timings before heading to the airport. 

"Flight UK998 from Pune to Delhi (PNQ-DEL) has been diverted to Amritsar due to bad weather at Delhi airport...," Vistara said in a post on X. 

In another post, the airline said flight UK754 from Ranchi to Delhi has been diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather. 

According to the India meteorological department, the weather in Delhi experienced a sudden change in the evening, with the maximum temperature settling a notch below normal at 36.8 degrees Celsius. -- PTI

Russia has already supplied three units of the long-range missile systems to India under a $5.5 billion deal. 

India is also expected to take delivery of warship Tushil, the first of the two Russian-built frigates, in September, the sources said. 

The second warship Tamal will be supplied by Russia in January, they said. According to the original timeline, the ships were to be delivered by 2022, they said, attributing the delays in the delivery to Russia's war in Ukraine. 

Russia is supplying the stealth frigates under a four-frigates deal firmed up in 2018. The remaining two ships are being made in India. 

On S-400 missile systems, the sources said the deliveries will be completed by next year. 

India is procuring the missile systems as part of efforts to bolster its air power capabilities primarily to deal with security challenges emanating from China. -- PTI

These include eight candidates from Betul seat of Madhya Pradesh, where the election was to be held in the second phase but was postponed to the third following the death of the BSP candidate, the EC said in a statement. 

BJP candidate from Surat seat in Gujarat Mukesh Dalal has been elected unopposed. 

The last date for the withdrawal of candidature for all 12 states and union territories was April 22. 

A total of 2,963 nominations were filed for 95 seats, including Betul. 

After the scrutiny of all nominations, 1,563 were found to be valid. 

In the third phase, Gujarat had the maximum of 658 nomination forms from 26 parliamentary constituencies, followed by Maharashtra with 519 nominations from 11 seats, according to the EC. -- PTI

Robin Sampla, believed to be a close confidant of Vijay Sampla, was the vice president of Punjab BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha. 

Mann welcomed Robin into the party fold. On this occasion, Jalandhar central MLA Raman Arora was also present. 

After joining AAP, Robin said it is a party which stands by its workers and volunteers. 

"AAP is the party of the common people, poor and Dalits," he said. "We have seen that the Mann government has been working for every section in the state," he said. 

Former MP Vijay Sampla was said to be upset over denial of the BJP ticket from the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat. 

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday reached out to Sampla, who had removed the 'Modi Ka Parivaar' tagline from his social media profile. -- PTI

The entire snow clearance operations were executed by Project Deepak in Himachal Pradesh and Project Himank in Ladakh working simultaneously and the road was opened for the Army vehicles on Sunday, a statement issued here today said. 

The 427-km-long highway connecting Ladakh with the rest of India via Manali is strategic for the movement of the armed forces and their supplies and wares to forward areas in Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan. 

The highway is an alternate axis to the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway. Project Deepak undertook the operation from Manali to Sarchu (border of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh) and Project Himank cleared the highway from Leh to Sarchu. 

The teams of both units worked in extremely challenging conditions in snow storms and high-altitude areas to clear the highway. 

The teams had to negotiate four important and high altitude passes, including the Baralacha La (16040 ft), Nakee La (15547 ft), Lachulung La (16616 ft) and Tanglang La (17482 ft). -- PTI

During investigations, it was found that the shopkeeper had bought 1000 plates from a factory and only four of them had a picture of Lord Ram printed on them, a police officer said. 

"He told us that he was not aware about the Lord Ram's pic on the plates, which was also verified by the factory owners," the officer said. 

The matter came to the fore when the Delhi police received a call from Jahangirpuri about the selling of biryani on plates with a picture of Lord Ram on Saturday afternoon. 

"When a team reached the spot, a few persons were found protesting outside the shop. They were pacified after the assurance of a proper investigation into the matter," a police officer said. 

The shopkeeper was detained was detained under IPC sections 107/151 (preventive detention) and later allowed to go, he said adding the plates were also seized. -- PTI

According to an affidavit filed with the election authorities, the actor-politician has liabilities to the tune of Rs 65.77 crore.

The ministry has reportedly reached out to authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong, seeking detailed information regarding the banned spices and the reasons behind their rejection.  

Technical specifications, analytical reports, and specifics regarding exporters, whose shipments have been turned away, are among the details requested.  

This inquiry extends to the embassies in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as the Singapore Food Agency and the Centre for Food Safety and Food & Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong.  

Additionally, the ministry has enlisted the cooperation of the companies mentioned in media reports surrounding the issue.  

The focus of the investigation is to ascertain the root causes of these rejections and to work with the exporters involved to implement necessary corrective measures.  

In a move to address broader concerns within the industry, the ministry has also called for a meeting to discuss the mandatory testing of Ethylene Oxide in spice consignments destined for Singapore and Hong Kong. -- ANI

With this, the toll in the blast that took place in the factory near Indore on April 16 has risen to three, the official said. 

Three workers who were making 'rassi' bombs were injured in the explosion at a shed-like structure at the factory, situated about five km from Amba Chandan village. 

Talking to PTI, Choithram Hospital's deputy director (Health Services), Dr Amit Bhatt, said Arjun Rathore (27), who suffered 80 per cent burn injuries in the explosion, died during treatment. 

Rohit Parmanand (20) and Umesh Chauhan (29) succumbed to their injuries last week, he said. 

An initial probe by the administration revealed that the factory had permission to store only 15 kg of gunpowder at a time, but a larger quantity was stored. 

Mohammad Shakir Khan, owner of the factory, who absconded after the blast, was arrested from Indore city on April 17, the police said. -- PTI

These meal counters are operational at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters across Indian Railways, and the facility will be expanded further. 

Indian Railways along with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation is stepping up to serve passengers, particularly those in unreserved coaches, with a new initiative offering hygienic meals and snacks at affordable prices, the railway official said. 

He added, We anticipate a surge in passenger traffic during the summer months and recognise the challenges faced by those travelling in unreserved compartments (general class coaches), who may not always have access to convenient and budget-friendly meal options. 

According to Railways, to ensure easy access, these meal counters are conveniently placed near general second class coaches on platforms. -- PTI

"...Jis Congress se Delhi ka bharosa tak uth gaya ho, uspar Chhattisgarh bharosa kaise kar sakta hai?... There is a fight going on within the INDI Alliance. Two days ago, there was a rally of INDI alliance in Jharkhand, where heads were broken and clothes were torn in public. When INDI alliance had their first rally, there were so many people holding each other's hands on the stage. And now in their last rally, it could be seen that almost half of the people have left them.

"In Delhi, where the royal family of Congress lives, the vote of the royal family will not go to Congress and they ask you to vote for them. Because where the royal family lives, there is no Congress candidate...

"When you gave me chance to serve you, the first thing I did was to stop loot by Congress. I promise you that I will uproot Maoism and Naxalism. Congress encouraged violence to hide its corruption. Whenever Congress was in power, it derailed development.

"My every moment is for you, for the country," he tells the crowds

 The statement by Vijayan comes amidst an intense fight between the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF -- both INDIA bloc partners -- in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the state on April 26. 

 He said, during a press meet in Kannur, that during the LS polls, alliances were being formed in various states as part of the platform and its result was that the BJP was being largely isolated. 

 "There is also a strong public sentiment against the BJP in the country," he added. A final decision would be taken regarding the bloc's next step only after the polls after analysing the prevailing situation, the Marxist veteran said in response to a query as to whether the partners in the INDIA bloc were moving towards the goal for which the front was created. 

 On being asked whether Rahul Gandhi was the Prime Ministerial candidate of the bloc, Vijayan said that the Congress has not made any decision about it yet. He said that in the last LS polls in 2019, the Congress had sought votes by projecting Gandhi as the PM candidate. 

 "Since people in Kerala have had the experience of that, I do not think they will do that again this time," he said. Vijayan said as far as the Left front was concerned, after all the parties against the BJP win in the polls, at that time a decision would be taken on who would be the leader of the INDIA bloc. PTI

 In an open letter to the VC, the union accused her of "conveniently" ignoring the "lavish perks enjoyed by certain politically favoured groups on campus" and said she was a "freeloader", and not the students. "Who's the real freeloader here? Is it the students and faculty striving for academic excellence, or perhaps it is you who is occupying the VC's office, earning a salary from the taxpayers' dime while failing to fulfil your responsibilities to the university community?" the open letter released Monday late night read.

 Pandit in an interview with PTI had said the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has a problem of "freeloaders" -- both overstaying students and illegal guests -- and the administration is now tightening the noose on them. The vice-chancellor had also said that with the appearance of rival political outfits, the Left dispensation in the Jawaharlal Nehru University has weakened and is forced to join hands since it struggles to win elections independently. 

 The JNUSU urged the VC to introspect and reconsider her statement on the characterisation of students as "freeloaders". The union also accused Pandit of favouritism and allowing RSS-backed events on campus. "It is concerning that while you accuse students of being freeloaders, RSS-affiliated events enjoy unrestricted access to campus facilities, including classrooms, auditoriums, convention centre, lawns without so much as a penny exchanged. This double standard is glaring, especially when students have to protest merely to access basic resources, only to get issued proctorial notices," the letter read. 

 "Our VC proudly claims to be an alumni of JNU, and she finds no shame in speaking to the media about certain 'freeloaders' in the campus who are wasting taxpayer's money. She conveniently ignores the lavish perks enjoyed by certain politically favoured groups on campus," the union retorted. 

 "The taxpayers' money should indeed be utilised for education and research, not for propagating ideological agendas under the guise of academic activities," it added. The JNUSU further accused Pandit of recruiting substandard faculty and asserted, "We are not freeloaders. You are wasting taxpayers' money by recruiting substandard faculty and not ensuring a conducive environment for us (students) to study."

 It also criticised Pandit for being "silent" on defamatory films targeting JNU students such as 'Bastar' and 'Jahangir National University' which allegedly show the varsity in negative light.

 "It is shameful that you, being an alumni of this university yourself, have allowed the screening of Bastar on campus; a film that openly calls for killing JNU students in full public sight. These films not only misrepresent our community but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and prejudices. As the custodian of our university's reputation, you have failed to address such slanderous narratives," the students' body said in the letter.

 Responding to Pandit's remark on weakening of Left politics on campus, the students' body, the union said, "Your role as VC should transcend partisan interests and prioritise the welfare of all students, regardless of their affiliations. However, you are quick to comment and make statements when your beloved ABVP faces electoral setbacks," the union said. The JNUSU is jointly held by Left groups and Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA).

"This has to be a first in India's history, and perhaps a first in a modern, democratic republic anywhere in the world," writes Sushant Singh.

Read the column here. 

Vials of insulin were stuck on the mace. 

 "Hanumanji has given insulin to his devotee Arvind Kejriwal. The court passed the order, the jail denied, but due to Hanumanji, Kejriwal got the insulin. We pray for his good health, long life, and may he soon be released," he told PTI Videos.

 Earlier in the day, Bharadwaj alleged that the officials were deliberately not giving insulin to Kejriwal. "Today it became clear that the chief minister was right. He needed insulin but the officials under the BJP-led Centre were deliberately not treating him. Tell me BJP people! If there was no need for insulin, why are they giving it now? Because the whole world is cursing them," he said in a post on X in Hindi. 

 Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal visited the temple to offer prayers on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. "May Hanuman Baba give wisdom and prosperity to all. May Hanuman Baba take away everyone's trouble and mine too. I will come back with sir (Kejriwal) soon," she told reporters.

 AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh echoed similar views and said it was due to the blessings of Lord Hanuman that the chief minister was given insulin after nearly 23 days of being lodged in jail. He alleged ill-treatment with the party's national convener. 

 "It is due to the blessings of Lord Hanuman that Kejriwal was given insulin after 23 days. We had been saying that he needs to be given insulin but he was given insulin only now. The people of Delhi were worried about him but their struggle bore fruit," Singh said. 

 Welcoming the development, Delhi Cabinet minister Atishi said in a post on X in Hindi, "Jai Bajrang Bali! Good news received on Hanuman Jayanti. Tihar administration finally gave insulin to Arvind Kejriwal ji.

 "Today, after taking a dip in the Shipra River, I took a vow that until the Shipra River is purified and the discharge of sewage into it is stopped, I will fight for Shipra Maa till my last breath. I request the people of Ujjain that this is a matter of honour and pride for Ujjain. Please come to the streets and fight for this cause," Parmar said.

A Delhi court today ruled that Arvind Kejriwal will remain in jail till May 7. 

 Addressing an election rally in Amroha, Adityanath said, "The Congress and its allies have betrayed the country and have once again come to you with their false manifesto. If you look at the Congress' manifesto, they say that if they form a government, we will implement the Sharia law." 

"You tell me, will this country be run by the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar or by Shariat?" he asked. 

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in his election rallies said the Congress has included redistribution of people's property in its manifesto. Congress people talk in their manifesto that they will implement 'vyaktigat kanoon' (personal laws). That means Sharia law will be implemented because Modi ji stopped the practice of triple talaq," Adityanath said. 

 "They say that we will again restore personal law. These people will implement Sharia law...," he added. 

 Escalating his attack, Adityanath alleged, "The Congress manifesto says that they will take people's property and distribute it. Do you want to allow the Congress and Samajwadi Party to loot your property?" 

 "Look at the condition of these shameless people. On one hand, they are eying on your property and on the other hand they are making the mafia and criminals their necklace and reciting Fatiha in their name," he added.

 Referring to a comment made by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in 2006, Adityanath said, "When Dr Manmohan Singh ji was the Prime Minister, he had said that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources..." "So where will our Dalits, backward classes, Kharagvanshis, Pals, poor and farmers go? Where will the mothers and sisters go, where will the youth go?" he asked. -- PTI

Addressing a public meeting in Tonk today, PM Modi said that his speech had created panic in the entire Congress and INDIA bloc.

"When I came to Rajasthan the day before yesterday, I had presented some truths before the country in my 90-second speech. This has created panic in the entire Congress and INDI alliance. I had put the truth before the country that Congress is hatching a deep conspiracy to snatch your property and distribute it to its special people. I exposed their vote bank and appeasement politics. After all, why is Congress so afraid of the truth?" the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also asked what would have happened if there was a Congress government at the centre after 2014.

"In 2014, you allowed Modi to serve in Delhi. Then the country made decisions that no one had even imagined. But think about what would have happened even after 2014 and even today if there was a Congress government in Delhi. Had Congress been there, stones would have been pelted at our forces in Jammu and Kashmir even today. Had Congress been there, the enemies would have come from across the border. Had Congress been there, neither One Rank One Pension would have been implemented for our soldiers nor would our ex-servicemen have received Rs 1 lakh crore," he said.

Further, sharpening his attacks, PM Modi said that the thinking of Congress has always been of appeasement and vote bank politics.

"As soon as the Congress government was formed at the Centre in 2004, its first task was to reduce the reservation for SC/ST in Andhra Pradesh and give reservation to Muslims. This was a pilot project, which Congress wanted to try in the entire country. Between 2004 and 2010, Congress tried to implement Muslim reservations in Andhra Pradesh four times. But due to legal hurdles and the awareness of the Supreme Court, it could not fulfil its plans," PM Modi said.

 Special judge for CBI and ED matters Kaveri Baweja extended their custody after they were produced before the court through video conference on expiry of their remand. 

 The judge also extended the judicial custody of Kavitha, a Telangana MLC and daughter of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, till May 7 in the related corruption case being probed by the CBI. PTI

 Shah, addressing a roadshow in the Malda South constituency, also slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. "Under the Trinamool Congress rule, infiltration is continuing unabated. Mamata didi is opposing the CAA and not allowing refugees to get citizenship. If you want to stop infiltration and corruption, vote for the BJP, he said. 

 The roadshow started around 1 pm in the Malda South constituency, from Head Post office More to the Rabindra statue. Shah, standing atop a decorated vehicle along with state BJP leaders, was seen waving at the crowd.

 BJP supporters shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, as hundreds of people gathered on both sides of the road. The constituency will go to polls in the third phase on May 7. PTI

Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said she had to leave India on April 19, the day the Lok Sabha elections started after the government objected to her reporting on the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

"Last week I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting 'crossed a line'," Dias said on X. 

"We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. We left on day one of voting in the national election in what Modi calls "the mother of democracy," said Dias, who had been working in India for the past two-and-a-half years. 

She said after intervention from the Australian government, her visa was extended for two months which was conveyed "less than 24 hours before my flight". 

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Dias was informed of the decision by an official from the ministry of external affairs, who said her most recent Foreign Correspondent episode "crossed a line". 

ABC said YouTube has also blocked access in India to an episode of its news series Foreign Correspondent on the Nijjar killing.

 The crime branch has recovered two pistols, three magazines and 13 bullets during the search that began on Monday, the official said. A team of 12 officials, including 'encounter specialist' senior police inspector Daya Nayak, is still at the spot. 

The search is underway with the help of scuba divers, he said. 

 The two arrested accused, Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), allegedly fired outside 58-year-old Khan's house at the Galaxy Apartment in the Bandra area of Mumbai on April 14 and then fled the spot on a motorbike.

 Based on the technical surveillance, they were apprehended on April 16 from the premises of a temple at Mata No Madh near Bhuj town in Gujarat by joint teams of the Mumbai and Kutch police.

 They were subsequently handed over to the Mumbai police for further investigation. 

 According to sources, the duo told the police during interrogation that they threw the weapon into the Tapi river from a railway bridge when they were fleeing to Bhuj in a train after reaching Surat by road from Mumbai following the firing incident. 

 Prima facie, the duo's main objective behind firing outside Khan's residence was to create "terror", police had said. The Mumbai police have declared jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi as "wanted accused" in connection with the incident.

 Vijayan said that such a conduct from the Congress leader was "completely immature" and therefore, Gandhi should not simply repeat what some of his party's leaders in the state tell him. 

 "That is why I said he should not go back to his old name," he said at a press meet held in Kannur. 

 Vijayan was responding to a reporter's query regarding the correctness of him making such a remark when in the past the CPI(M) had taken a stand against such personal attacks.

 Vijayan had referred to Gandhi's old name on April 19 a day after the Congress leader had wondered why the Marxist veteran was not jailed by the BJP government at the Centre, unlike two other Chief Ministers of opposition-ruled states. Vijayan was apparently referring to former CM V S Achuthanandan's remarks a decade ago against Gandhi calling him an "Amul Baby." 

 The Kerala CM, during his press meet on Tuesday, also justified the allegedly objectionable remarks made by LDF MLA P V Anvar against Gandhi. 

Vijayan said that the Congress leader should realise that when he says something, "he will receive it back in kind." 

 "He does not have such a stature that he will not get any response for his remarks," the communist party veteran said in response to a query on the issue by a reporter. Anvar recently had allegedly referred to Gandhi as a "fourth class citizen", someone who is not eligible to use the Gandhi suffix along with his name and that the Congress leader should "undergo a DNA test". PTI

 As soon as the Congress formed the government at the Centre in 2004, one of its first tasks was to reduce the SC/ST reservation in Andhra Pradesh and give reservation to Muslims, he said while addressing an election rally in Tonk. 

 "Modi is giving you a guarantee with an open heart that reservation for Dalits and backward tribals will neither end nor will it be allowed to be divided in the name of religion," he said.

 The prime minister asserted that he understands the Constitution. "Modi is dedicated to the Constitution. Modi is a person who worships Baba Saheb Ambedkar," he said. PTI

 A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked their counsel to place the apology published in newspapers on record within two days. 

 The counsel appearing for Ramdev and Balkrishna told the bench that additional advertisements shall be issued by them tendering unqualified apology for the lapses on their part. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the duo, said they have on Monday published the apology in 67 newspapers across the nation. 

 The bench has posted the matter for hearing on April 30. On April 16, the apex court had warned Ramdev and Balkrishna against any attempt to "degrade allopathy" and permitted them to tender a "public apology and show contrition" within a week in the contempt proceedings in the misleading advertisements case against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. 

 The court, however, had made it clear that it was not letting them "off the hook" yet. The apex court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. PTI

 Referring to the 'redistribution of wealth' remarks made by him at a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, the prime minister said it has angered the Congress and INDI Alliance so much that they have started "abusing" Modi everywhere.

"I have put forth the truth before the country that Congress is hatching a deep conspiracy to snatch your wealth and distribute it among the 'select' people," he said at a rally in Tonk. 

 "Two-three days ago, I exposed this vote bank politics of Congress as appeasement politics; this has angered Congress and its INDI Alliance so much that they have started abusing Modi everywhere," he said while asking "why the Congress is scared of the truth and hiding its policies". 

 "It is written in their manifesto that they will survey the wealth. Their leader had said in a speech that X-ray of wealth will be done," he said, adding, "When Modi exposed the secret, your hidden agenda came out and you are trembling". 

 The prime minister also charged that it is difficult to follow one's faith under Congress rule. "Even listening to Hanuman Chalisa becomes crime under Congress rule," he said. His remarks come on a day when the country is celebrating Hanuman Jayanti. PTI

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Patanjali founders Ramdev and Balkrishna, said they have filed a fresh set of apologies before the court.

Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Balkrishna tell the court they have published apology in newspapers. SC asks them to to place on record apology published in newspapers within two days. 

 "I think the response is fantastic. People have decided to vote for the UDF. In Kerala, all people across community religion and across caste have decided to fully support the INDIA alliance and UDF will get 20 0ut 0f 20 seats here. BJP will not be able to open their account in kerala or in any other southern states," Pilot told ANI. 

 Kerala sees a straight face-off between the Congress and the Left in most of the 20 seats with the BJP hoping to dent the tradition by putting up a good show. 

 Earlier, Sachin Pilot held a roadshow in the Palakkad district of Kerala on Monday. 

 Sachin Pilot criticized the BJP's governance over the past decade, pointing out the party's failure to deliver on key promises. 

 "Ten years of BJP rule we have seen this country, none of the promises are being fulfilled, farmers, middle classes, young people and women all feel cheated. The promises of doubling the farmers' income, and giving 2 crore jobs every year have not been fulfilled," Pilot said.

 He also highlighted the BJP's tendency to focus on divisive issues, accusing the party of distracting from more pressing concerns. 

 "They (BJP) are talking about 2047, Hindu-Muslim, Masjid-Mandir. People want development, people want peace and harmony, and the gap between the rich and poor to go away. For us inflation and price rise issues are important. Our focus is on real issues, people's issues. The BJP is trying to divert the issues to emotional matters. The people are very smart," Pilot said. 

 Pilot's remarks came after Prime Minister Modi said that the Congress's manifesto talks about taking "the gold of mothers and sisters" and distributing that wealth.

 "Their Mangalsutra, the question is not of the cost of gold in it, it is linked to her dreams of her life. You are talking of snatching it in your manifesto...will distribute gold and redistribute. When it was their government, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country's wealth. Who will you distribute after collecting the wealth, distribute it to those who have more children, and distribute it to infiltrators. Will the money of your hard labour be given to infiltrators, is this acceptable to you? Congress manifesto is saying that they will calculate the gold of mothers, sisters and then redistribute the wealth to those whom the Manmohan Singh government had said that the first right to resources is of Muslims. Brothers, sisters, this thinking of urban Naxals, my mothers, sisters, they will not allow even your Mangalsutra to remain in your possession, they will go to this extent," PM Modi had said at a rally on April 21. -- ANI

 Four passengers were arrested after the seizure of more than 6.815 kg of gold valued at Rs 4.44 crore and diamonds of Rs 2.02 crore over the weekend, the Customs official said in a release issued late Monday night.

 An Indian national travelling from Mumbai to Bangkok was intercepted and found smuggling the diamonds concealed in packets of noodles inside his trolley bag. The passenger was later arrested, the official said.

 A foreign national travelling from Colombo to Mumbai was intercepted and found carrying gold bars and a cut piece, with a net weight of 321 grams, concealed inside her undergarments, he said. 

 Besides, 10 Indian nationals - two each travelling from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and one each from Bahrain, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, Bangkok and Singapore - were also intercepted and found carrying 6.199 kg gold, valued at Rs 4.04 crore, "concealed in the rectum, on body and inside the baggage," the release said without providing further details. Three of them were subsequently arrested, it said. PTI

 While speaking about the Aam Aadmi Party's claim that the Delhi Chief Minister is not being given insulin, he claims that he oversees 900-1000 inmates with diabetes, and dismisses these concerns, saying, "These are not issues, but if people raise it for political issues, I do not enter into that."

 "There is a fixed time for giving food and through a court order, he gets home food. If it takes 5 to 7 minutes till the time it reaches him after checking, it is bound to happen. Around 900-1000 inmates have diabetes...I am managing between 900-1000 patients every day out of the inmate population. For me, these are not issues but if people raise it for political issues, I do not enter into that," Tihar Jail Director General (Prisons), Sanjay Beniwal, told ANI. 

 He also revealed that each jail has a visiting judge to inspect and listen to inmates' grievances. "Every jail has a visiting judge who checks whether everyone has the health facilities they should have, whether there is medicine, whether the place where the inmates sleep is clean, whether the bathroom is clean, and whether they have access to legal redressal. Every jail has an appointed visiting judge who checks and gives his report based on which corrections also happen, and he (the visiting judge) also listens to the inmates' grievances. So if there is a grievance, there is a process to write it, and we will process it," he told ANI. 

 Speaking on Arvind Kejriwal writing to the Tihar Jail Superintendent, the Tihar Jail Director General said, "There are 20,000 people living here with me, everyone has some or the other problem, some real, some perceived, but if there are problems, then we have to arrange for their redressal."

 Earlier, Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had earlier levelled allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre, claiming that every morsel being consumed by her husband is being monitored and attempts are being made to "kill" him in jail by denying him insulin.

"The prime minister, while campaigning as the Star Pracharak made a speech on April 21 in Rajasthan that has disturbed the sentiments of millions of Constitution respecting citizens of India. The speech is dangerous and a direct attack on the Muslims of India," said a group in a petition to the poll panel. 

On Sunday, Modi said: "When the Congress-led government was in power, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country's assets. This means that they will distribute wealth to those who have more children and those who are infiltrators. Is this acceptable to you?"

The citizens group pointed out to the Election Commission that Modi's use of pejorative language against Muslims in a bid to seek votes "seriously undermines India's stature as the 'Mother of Democracy' in the world'.

"The Election Commission's failure to take any action against such hate speech will only undermine its credibility and autonomy that has been safeguarded and upheld by a series of exemplary officers before you,' the petition read.

 According to Karat, the Prime Minister's words violated Indian laws against inciting communal enmity and hate speech, yet the ECI has failed to take appropriate action. 

 "The Prime Minister is a citizen of India. The Prime Minister is not above the citizens of India. The Prime Minister is not above the law of India. The Prime Minister has to accept the laws of India. When the Prime Minister violates the laws of India which are against spreading enmity between communities, against spreading hatred between a community, he should be taken to task by the law," Karat said.

 "The Election Commission's role in this is completely shocking. What is the credibility of the Election Commission if they don't take action against the Prime Minister?" she added. 

 Karat described the Prime Minister's speech as "almost unbelievable" for a leader of a secular nation like India. "It is an absolutely shocking statement coming from the Prime Minister. It is almost unbelievable that the Prime Minister of a secular country like India should speak in words, quite frankly, he speaks as though a communal bigot speech. It is not befitting the Prime Minister of India. In the elections, to use such language, a) It is hate speech, extreme hate speech," Karat said. 

 She accused him of targeting a specific community and using hate speech to mobilize votes during election season. 

 Further the CPI(M) leader revealed that she had filed a police complaint against the Prime Minister, citing sections of the Indian Penal Code related to hate speech and communal violence. 

However, Karat expressed frustration that her complaint was initially refused at a local police station, forcing her to send it directly to the Police Commissioner of Delhi. -- ANI

 The 17-year-old Indian on Monday created history as he won the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024, becoming the youngest-ever challenger to the world title after an exciting final round in Toronto. Kasparov took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and congratulated Gukesh for winning the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 on Monday. 

He added that Gukesh will take on Ding Liren of China in the world championship final. 

 The 61-year-old concluded by saying that the "children" of Viswanathan Anand are on the "loose". "Congratulations! The Indian earthquake in Toronto is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in the chess world as the 17 year old Gukesh D will face the Chinese champion Ding Liren for the highest title. The "children" of Vishy Anand are on the loose," Kasparov wrote on X. 

 In Round 14 of the FIDE Candidates, Gukesh used black pieces to hold rival championship contender Hikaru Nakamura to a draw and secure his victory. Earlier, speaking to ANI Gukesh said he is now aiming to shine at the World Championships. 

 "My next goal is to make it big at the World Championship. I am just planning to do my absolute best and try to do the right things. And be in the ideal shape required to play good chess. And I hope things will go my way," Gukesh told ANI.

 Gukesh expressed that he wanted to challenge the current champion Ding, saying it has always been his aim to win the crown. "I haven't really thought about the preparations yet; I did not get much time to. I will soon start thinking about the match. I try to do as well as I can and give my absolute best everywhere possible. I am really eager to start preparing for the final. Going there and giving my best," he added.

 Gukesh became only the second Indian player to win the Candidates Tournament, after Viswanathan Anand. Five-time world champion Anand's victory came in 2014.

 Nadda tagged media reports showing the diplomat-turned-politician having a dig at the BJP, saying the only account the party can open in the state is bank accounts. Tharoor was apparently referring to the central government's signature programme to open bank accounts of the poor across the country to have a go at the BJP's drive to open its Lok Sabha account in Kerala where it has never won a seat. 

 The BJP president said on X, "We are proud that our Government opens Bank Accounts for the poor! Congress never bothered about it as they only cared about vote banks and bank accounts of one dynasty. Kerala will defeat such disconnected elements!"

 The BJP has fielded Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar against him from the high profile seat which has sent Tharoor to Lok Sabha for three consecutive times. PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Chevella Lok Sabha constituency K Vishweshwar Reddy has emerged as one of the wealthiest contestants in Telangana after he declared his family assets worth Rs 4,568 crore, according to an affidavit he filed with the election authorities.

Reddy filed his nomination on Monday for the Lok Sabha constituency and declared his movable and immovable assets along with liabilities.

Reddy holds 17.77 lakh shares of Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd worth Rs 973.22 crore at Rs 6170 apiece while his wife Sangita Reddy has 24.32 lakh shares worth Rs 1500.85 crore.

Sangita Reddy is Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group founded by her father Dr C Prathap Reddy.

According to the affidavit, Reddy has assets worth Rs 1,250 crore while the wife has assets to the tune of 3,209.41 crore and the rest with their son. 

Vishweshwar Reddy began his political career with Bharat Rashtra Samiti (then Telangana Rashtra Samiti) and became MP from Chevella.

He quit the party and joined Congress and unsuccessfully contested the 2019 general elections.

Later, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He completed Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from University of Madras. And pursued MS in the US.  -- PTI

Two Indian students in the United States were killed in a traffic collision near Lake Pleasant in Arizona, police said.

The victims have been identified as 19-year-old Nivesh Mukka and 19-year-old Goutham Parsi, both from India.

They were enrolled as international students.

According to the Peoria Police, the fatal traffic collision occurred around 6.18 pm on April 20, when they responded to an injury collision on Castle Hot Springs Road, just north of State Route 74.

The collision involved two vehicles, a white 2024 Kia Forte and a red 2022 Ford F150.

Preliminary investigation shows that the driver of the red F150 was travelling southbound on Castle Hot Springs Road while the white Kia Forte was travelling northbound.

'The cause of this collision is still being investigated,' the police said in a statement.

The red F150 had one occupant at the time of the collision.

The occupant was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries but has since been released.

The white Kia Forte had three occupants inside the vehicle. The driver was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries but has since been released.

The two other occupants died from their injuries on the spot.

'They have been identified as 19-year-old Nivesh Mukka and 19-year-old Goutham Parsi, both from India,' the police said.

The Arizona State University said the International Students and Scholars Centre is working with the dean of students, counselling services and housing representatives to identify the student groups, friends and roommates of the victims, so that they can offer any needed support.   -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal given insulin on Monday evening on advice of All India Institue of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctors, Tihar officials said.

Earlier on Monday, a Delhi court had directed the AIIMS to constitute a medical board to examine Kejriwal to determine whether he needs insulin to control his blood sugar levels and said the home-cooked food that the politician was consuming was different from the diet chart prepared by his doctor.

More details awaited.  -- PTI

Following a firing incident last evening, security forces have been put on high alert in Rajouri.

A search and cordon operation is currently underway in Kunda village, located in the Shahdara Sharief area of Rajouri's Thanna Mandi tehsil.

A man was shot dead by unidentified persons on Monday evening, police said.

The firing incident took place in Kunda Top in J-K's Rajouri.

On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a joint operation with Special Operations Group (SOG), arrested a registered overground worker (OGW), who is also a school headmaster, with a foreign-made pistol and Chinese grenades from the Hari Budha area of Poonch district.

Further information is awaited.   -- ANI

According to officials, the victim, identified as Mohammad Raziq, son of Mohammad Akbar and resident of Kunda Top, Shahdara Sharif in J-K's Rajouri, has been critically injured following a "targeted firing" incident in his native village.  

Forces have cordoned off the area, and an investigation has been initiated to nab the attackers, they said.  

Further details are awaited. -- ANI                        

The accused was arrested in connection with a dowry death case and she was lodged in the women's barrack at Shikarpur police station in Bettiah, the district headquarters of West Champaran. 

The police suspect that she hanged herself from a ceiling fan using her sari, shortly before she was to be taken to a local court for production. 

"The incident took place when police women in the barrack had gone out to prepare documents for her production before the court. When they returned to the barrack, they found her hanging," sub-divisional police officer of Bettiah, Jaiprakash Singh, told reporters. 

The woman was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead, he said. -- PTI

Besides, the party has fielded Yamini Gomar from Hoshiarpur constituency. Sahoke is a former Moga Zila Parishad chairperson. 

She had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 Punjab assembly polls from Jagraon seat on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket. 

Sahoke's husband Bhupinder Sahoke had also unsuccessfully contested the 2022 state polls from Nihal Singh Wala constituency. 

Sahoke is pitted against the ruling AAP's candidate and Punjabi actor Karamjit Anmol, BJP's Hans Raj Hans and SAD's Rajwinder Singh. 

The Congress' Hoshiarpur candidate Yamini Gomar had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the same seat on an AAP ticket. 

She joined the Congress after quitting the AAP in 2016. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the incident as shameful and urged action on the case, it said. 

In its annual report of the State Department, which is mandated by the US Congress, it also mentions the raids by tax authorities on the office of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the conviction and sentencing to two years of prison to Rahul Gandhi by a court in Gujarat. 

Released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the report mentions some of the positive developments on the issue of human rights and freedom of expression and gathering in the year 2023, the duration of the report. 

In July, the government permitted a march in Srinagar, the main city of Kashmir, allowing Shia Muslims to mark the religious Muharram event. 

This procession represented the first government-sanctioned recognition of the event in Srinagar since it was banned in 1989. 

The government imposed some restrictions on the use of slogans or the display of logos of any banned organisations, it said. India has previously criticised the US for releasing reports on human rights and religious freedoms based on "misinformation and flawed understanding." -- PTI