Chaos and Clashes in Bihar as Pappu Yadav Leads State-Wide Protest Over BPSC Exam Irregularities

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January 12, 2025

bpsc, bpsc exam, pappu yadav, bihar protest, bihar — Chaos and Clashes in Bihar as Pappu Yadav Leads State-Wide Protest Over BPSC Exam Irregularities 2

Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, called for a state-wide ‘Bihar Bandh’ on Sunday, demanding the cancellation and re-conduct of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination. The protest was fueled by allegations of question paper leaks and administrative mishandling of the exam, which had sparked outrage among aspirants. The bandh led to significant disruptions across the state, with major areas paralyzed.

Violent Clashes in Patna

The protest turned violent in Patna’s JP Golambar area, where Yadav’s supporters clashed with the police. Demonstrators breached police barricades and attempted to march forward, prompting a tense standoff. The police struggled to contain the crowd as the situation quickly escalated into violent confrontations.

Supporters of Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party, including its youth wing, Chhatra Yuva Shakti, rampaged through various parts of the state. Protesters damaged vehicles, including trucks used for metro construction, smashing them with sticks. BJP banners were torn down, and tyres were set on fire, filling the air with thick black smoke. Key locations in Patna, such as Ashok Rajpath, NIT More, and Dak Bungalow Chauraha, were completely blocked, leading to massive traffic jams and disrupting daily life.

Pappu Yadav Leads Protest March

Pappu Yadav personally led a large procession from Income Tax Chauraha to Dak Bungalow Chauraha in Patna. Standing atop an open vehicle emblazoned with a banner reading ‘Ram Naam Satya,’ Yadav rallied his supporters to protest against the state government. His followers marched alongside him, chanting slogans demanding justice for BPSC candidates and condemning alleged corruption in the examination process.

The bandh, which began early in the morning, saw protesters burning tyres and forcing shops to shut. Several districts reported road blockages, and public transport services were severely affected. Major markets in Patna and surrounding cities were closed, leaving commuters stranded and creating widespread inconvenience.

Protests Over BPSC Exam Irregularities

The protests had been simmering since December 2024, when BPSC aspirants first raised concerns over the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, which was held on December 13. The candidates alleged that the exam had been marred by question paper leaks, leading to a call for its cancellation.

On Saturday, Pappu Yadav announced he was teaming up with Azad Party founder Chandrashekhar Azad and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi to push for justice in the BPSC case. They pledged to disrupt the functioning of the Bihar Legislative Assembly starting March 21 if their demands were not met.

Legal Developments

The protests come amid ongoing legal battles over the exam. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition alleging widespread malpractices in the BPSC exam. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna directed the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court with their grievances.

The counsel for the petitioners, Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, highlighted the brutal actions of Bihar police against peaceful protesters demanding the cancellation of the exam, further fueling tensions across the state.

Sanjay Raut’s Bold Stand: Shiv Sena (UBT) to Contest Local Body Polls Solo

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January 11, 2025

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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut announced on Saturday that his party will independently contest the upcoming local body elections, distancing itself from alliances like the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Speaking to reporters, Raut clarified that these alliances were formed for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, not for local polls.

Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, emphasized that alliances often hinder the growth of individual parties and their workers. “We will fight elections to municipal corporations in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, and other local bodies, including zilla parishads and panchayats, on our own strength,” he said, adding that party chief Uddhav Thackeray had signaled this move.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also hit out at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for blaming the MVA for its state assembly defeat. “Those who cannot embrace consensus and compromise have no place in an alliance,” Raut asserted.

Taking a dig at the INDIA bloc, Raut revealed that no meetings were held after the Lok Sabha elections. He criticized the Congress, as the largest alliance party, for failing to convene even a single meeting or appoint a convenor for the bloc.

Raut also targeted Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for sidestepping the BJP’s poll promises, including farm loan waivers and financial aid for “Laadki Bahin” beneficiaries. “These promises are in the BJP’s manifesto. As finance minister in their government, he must deliver,” Raut insisted.

When questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s podcast comment that he is human and capable of mistakes, Raut offered a sharp retort. “Modi is god, not human. If he claims to be human after being declared a god, something is wrong. There’s a ‘chemical locha’ (imbalance),” he quipped, in a statement laced with sarcasm.

Raut’s remarks underscore the growing divisions within political alliances and set the stage for a fierce battle in Maharashtra’s local body elections.

IMD Warns of Heavy Rains Amid Intensifying Cold Wave in Delhi-NCR

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January 11, 2025

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Delhi-NCR woke up to dense fog once again, but slight relief from foggy conditions is anticipated as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall for the weekend. The downpour, accompanied by icy winds, is expected to intensify the ongoing cold wave gripping the region.

Rain to Lash Northern States

The IMD predicts rain with thunderstorms in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on January 11. The rain activity is expected to spread to Uttarakhand on January 11 and 12.

In Rajasthan, the Jaipur Meteorological Centre has forecast light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms across parts of the Bikaner, Jaipur, and Bharatpur divisions. Certain areas may also witness hailstorms on January 11.

Delhi-NCR to Witness Mercury Dip

Delhi’s Meteorological Centre predicts that the maximum temperature will range between 6°C and 20°C, with a significant drop in the coming days.

In Noida, temperatures are expected to peak at 18°C, with a minimum of 8°C. Ghaziabad may see a maximum of 20°C and a minimum of 5°C, while Gurugram could reach a high of 19°C, with lows around 8°C.

Residents of Delhi-NCR and surrounding states are advised to brace for harsher cold conditions and take necessary precautions as the cold wave tightens its grip.

SAD’s Working Committee Accepts Sukhbir Badal’s Resignation as Party Chief

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PTI

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January 10, 2025

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The working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Friday accepted the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as party chief, party leaders said.

The move came over a month after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh asked the SAD to implement the December 2 edict at the earliest, while referring to the direction of accepting the resignation of Badal.

Badal’s resignation was accepted in the working committee meeting held at the party’s headquarters.

Speaking to reporters after his resignation was accepted, Badal thanked the party workers and leaders for their support.

Badal had tendered his resignation as the party chief on November 16 last year but the party’s working committee did not accept his resignation, appealing him to reconsider his resignation otherwise the entire committee would resign enmasse.

While pronouncing the religious punishment for Badal and other leaders for the “mistakes” committed by the SAD and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017 on December 2, the Akal Takht had also directed the SAD’s working committee to accept the resignation of Badal as party chief and other leaders.

Badal was declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, on August 30 last year. He had undergone religious punishment.

ED Raids RJD MLA Ashok Mehta, Others in Bihar Co-op Bank ‘Fraud’ PMLA Case

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PTI

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January 10, 2025

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The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in multiple states, including in Bihar, on premises linked to an RJD MLA Ashok Mehta as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged fund embezzlement at a state cooperative bank, official sources said.

About 18 premises in Bihar, West Bengal (Kolkata), Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi are being searched, they said.

These include premises linked to RJD MLA and former Bihar minister Alok Kumar Mehta (58), who is the promoter of the Bihar-based Vaishali Shahri Vikas (VSV) Cooperative Bank, apart from some other linked entities, the sources said.

The money laundering investigation stems from some state police FIRs filed against the bank and its office-bearers for alleged embezzlement of funds worth about Rs 85 crore, they said.

The RBI had carried out a verification of the bank and identified the alleged diversion of the bank funds, the sources said.

Mehta is an MLA from the Ujiarpur seat of Bihar and is a senior politician of the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD). He has earlier served as the minister for revenue and land reforms in the state.

No immediate reaction was available from him or the party.

Prostitution Racket Busted in Thane; Man Held, Four Women Rescued

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PTI

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January 10, 2025

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Police have exposed a prostitution business that was being run from a lodge in Maharashtra’s Thane city and rescued four women, an official said on Friday.

A garage operator, identified as Ranjit Vaishnav (42), has been arrested for forcing the women into the illicit business, while the lodge owner, Ashok Shetty, is on the run, he said.

The Kasarwadavali police on Wednesday raided the lodge, located under their jurisdiction, and rescued four women, aged between 26 and 30, from two rooms, the official said.

Vaishnav and Shetty have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 143 (trafficking of person) and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, he added.

Sharad Pawar Applauds RSS Dedication, Urges NCP to Build Equally Committed Cadre

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January 10, 2025

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Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar lauded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its unwavering dedication to ideology and called on his party to foster a similarly committed cadre base rooted in the progressive ideals of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Yashwantrao Chavan.

Speaking at a party workers’ meeting in South Mumbai on Thursday, Pawar emphasized the RSS’s ability to maintain ideological loyalty, urging the NCP-SP to emulate this dedication for advancing social progress.

Reflecting on the party’s poor performance in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections, Pawar said, “We became complacent after our success in the Lok Sabha polls, while the ruling alliance immediately worked to address their setbacks.” Despite winning eight out of ten Lok Sabha seats it contested, the NCP-SP secured only ten out of nearly 90 seats in the assembly elections.

Pawar acknowledged a failure to effectively communicate the party’s contributions to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), a crucial vote bank. He also stressed the urgency of addressing the caste divide in Marathwada, particularly following the custodial death of a Dalit man in Parbhani and the brutal murder of a village sarpanch in Beed.

Recalling his leadership during the Marathwada University renaming controversy as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Pawar emphasized the importance of direct engagement and social engineering to tackle current challenges.

In a bid to rejuvenate the party, Pawar announced that 50% of tickets for the upcoming local body elections will be given to new faces and hinted at a major organizational overhaul.

The NCP-SP, a crucial component of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), is now aiming to regroup and re-strategize for the battles ahead.

MahaRERA Suspends 1,950 Lapsed Real Estate Projects; Thousands More Face Uncertainty

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January 9, 2025

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The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has temporarily suspended the registration of 1,950 lapsed real estate projects across the state, a move aimed at protecting homebuyers. The regulatory body announced on January 9 that over 3,499 additional projects are likely to face similar action in the coming days.

This development follows MahaRERA’s issuance of show-cause notices in December 2024 to around 10,771 projects, predominantly located in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, for failing to comply with statutory obligations. Developers were given a 30-day deadline to provide mandatory disclosures and update project details on the MahaRERA website.

So far, 1,283 developers have responded, with their submissions under review. However, developers of 3,499 projects have failed to respond, prompting MahaRERA to consider extending the suspension orders.

“MahaRERA is aware of the significant number of non-compliant projects and has initiated action to safeguard the interests of homebuyers,” said Manoj Saunik, Chairman of MahaRERA.

Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, developers are required to regularly update the status of their projects on the MahaRERA portal, including submitting quarterly and annual progress reports. Non-compliance can result in penalties, de-registration, and restrictions on transactions related to the projects.

This large-scale crackdown signals MahaRERA’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the real estate sector, but it also raises concerns about the fate of thousands of homebuyers tied to these stalled projects.

Mumbai EOW Takes Charge of Torres Jewellery Multi-Crore Scam Investigation

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January 9, 2025

torres, torres jewellery, mumbai scam, investment scam — Mumbai EOW Takes Charge of Torres Jewellery Multi-Crore Scam Investigation 18

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has taken over the investigation into a multi-crore investment scam involving Torres jewellery, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

The scam centers around Platinum Hern Private Limited, which operates the Torres jewellery brand in Dadar, central Mumbai. The company and its directors are accused of defrauding investors of over ₹13.48 crore by promising high returns on investments, the official said.

Three top executives of the firm, including two foreign nationals, were arrested on Tuesday evening and remanded to police custody until January 13. The accused include Sarveh Ashok Surve (30), an Aadhaar card operator and director of Platinum Hern Private Limited, Uzbek national Tania alias Tazagul Karaxanovna Xasatova (52), the firm’s general manager, and Russian national Valentina Ganesh Kumar (44), the store in-charge.

“The scope of the investigation warranted the case’s transfer to the EOW,” the official explained. A team of EOW officers has collected documents from the Shivaji Park police station and will continue the investigation.

The scam came to light on Monday evening when over 300 investors gathered outside the Torres store in Dadar West’s Vastu Central building, protesting the firm’s failure to pay the promised returns.

Initial investigations revealed that 66 investors had collectively lost ₹13.48 crore to the scheme. The firm allegedly lured investors by offering a 6% weekly return on investments in Moissanite stones, a silicon carbide material used in jewellery and industrial applications. After encouraging customers to purchase these stones, the accused convinced them to reinvest in the brand, police said.

Authorities have issued a lookout circular (LOC) for two other suspects involved in the scam—Ukrainian national Victoria Covalenko and company CEO Taufiq Riyaz, alias John Carter—who are currently absconding.

The fraudulent scheme has affected hundreds of investors from Mumbai and surrounding suburbs, including Navi Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar, further amplifying the scam’s scale and impact.

Hollywood Inferno: Iconic Los Angeles Landmarks Under Siege as Wildfires Wreak Havoc

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January 9, 2025

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A fast-moving wildfire erupted in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night, threatening iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as Los Angeles grappled with a wildfire crisis that has already claimed five lives and forced 130,000 evacuations.

Dubbed the Sunset Fire, the blaze spread dangerously close to the entertainment district, clogging streets around Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds with panicked traffic. Sirens blared, helicopters raced to dump water on the flames, and hotel guests fled on foot, while some bystanders edged closer to record the chaos on their phones.

The fire erupted amid a larger wildfire catastrophe in Southern California, with three other blazes raging out of control. While winds eased slightly on Wednesday, conditions remained treacherous. Hurricane-force gusts from the previous day had fanned flames across vast areas, igniting block after block and overwhelming firefighting resources.

At least six schools sustained severe damage, including Palisades Charter High School, a filming location for Hollywood classics like Carrie and Teen Wolf. UCLA canceled classes for the week due to the pervasive danger.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned of “erratic winds” complicating firefighting efforts, although air operations resumed after being grounded Tuesday night. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin reported that the Eaton Fire had destroyed or damaged 200 to 500 structures. Intense winds carried embers miles ahead of the flames, creating a relentless challenge for firefighters.

In the Pacific Palisades, a historically destructive fire flattened entire neighborhoods, leveling over 1,000 structures, including grocery stores and banks. The celebrity-dotted hillside, once memorialized in the Beach Boys’ Surfin’ USA, now lies in ashes.

Scenes of devastation stretched for miles, with California Mission-style homes and bungalows reduced to charred rubble. Stone fireplaces, blackened arches, and melted sports cars littered the landscape. Residents like Jose Velasquez fought valiantly to save their homes, dousing roofs with water as embers rained down. While Velasquez succeeded, many neighbors were not so fortunate.

“The messages started coming in, asking if their houses were still standing,” Velasquez shared. “We had to tell them that it’s not.”

Meanwhile, across the city, residents worked in masks, battling toxic smoke that blanketed Los Angeles in a haunting reminder of the fires’ reach and destruction.