Noida Woman Tries Killing 21-Year-Old Friend for Refusing to Marry Her After Spiking Drink 2
A woman in Noida allegedly tried to kill a 21-year-old youth she befriended recently on social media for refusing to marry her, police said on Wednesday.
The man was being treated at a hospital after she allegedly spiked his drink and got two of her accomplices to kill him using a sharp weapon, they said.
Rabupura police station in-charge inspector Raghavendra Kumar Singh said that on Tuesday night, Hansraj, a resident of Ronija village, lodged a report that his son Dheeraj (21), a BCom student, received a call from Priya on the morning of December 24, asking him to meet her.
Hansraj said that about six months ago, Priya and his son became friends through social media, after which she came to Greater Noida.
The complainant alleged that his son was in a car with Priya when she spiked his fruit juice and made Dheeraj drink it. Later, she called two of her friends and tried to kill him by using a sharp weapon, he said.
Hansraj said that some people identified his son when they saw him unconscious in the car and informed the police.
The report said that Dheeraj was admitted to the Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida for treatment, where he is being treated.
The station in-charge said that based on the complaint, a case has been registered against Priya and her unknown friends under various sections, including an attempt to murder, and the investigation is going on.
BSP to Go All In: Aiming for All 70 Seats in Delhi Assembly Polls 4
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is gearing up to contest all 70 seats in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with its first list of candidates expected to be announced by mid-January. According to party officials, Delhi has been divided into five zones, and the process of finalizing candidates in each zone is in full swing.
A senior BSP official described the upcoming elections, scheduled for February, as both “interesting and challenging.” Coordinators have been assigned to oversee the candidate selection in each zone, ensuring recommendations are sent to BSP chief Mayawati for final approval. The list is anticipated to be finalized by January 15.
Historically, the BSP has contested all 70 seats in Delhi since 2008 but has struggled to gain significant traction. In the 2020 Assembly elections, the party secured a mere 0.71% vote share and failed to win any seats. Its highest performance came in 2008, with a 14.05% vote share and two seats. Despite recent setbacks, the party is optimistic about reclaiming ground in the capital.
On the ground, small-scale meetings are underway to identify key issues and agendas, with candidate selection informed by these discussions. The BSP plans to kick off its poll campaign on January 5, with Mayawati and her key leaders expected to hold rallies under the guidance of zonal coordinators.
The upcoming Delhi Assembly elections are expected to feature a fierce battle between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While AAP has already released its candidate list, featuring prominent names like Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi and Atishi in Kalkaji, the BSP is determined to make its presence felt, banking on its grassroots efforts and inclusive agenda.
Raj Thackeray Slams Voters: 'MNS Solves Your Problems, But You Ignore Us on Election Day' 6
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray expressed frustration on Wednesday, pointing out the public’s tendency to rely on his party to solve their issues but overlook it when it comes to voting.
In a New Year’s message on X, Thackeray urged his party workers to move past the disappointing election results and focus on the future. “Certain things have not changed… People remember Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the resolution of every problem but ignore it while voting,” he stated.
माझ्या तमाम महाराष्ट्र सैनिकांना सस्नेह जय महाराष्ट्र,
सर्व प्रथम सर्वांना इंग्रजी नवीन वर्षाच्या शुभेच्छा ! कालगणनेत या वर्षाला एक महत्व आहे , कारण या शतकातील, पाव शतक संपायला आलं. माणसाच्या आयुष्यातल्या जवळपास प्रत्येक क्षेत्रांत इतके प्रचंड बदल झालेत की २५ वर्षांपूर्वीच… pic.twitter.com/T7Wp8WTHra
The MNS had fielded candidates in 125 out of the 288 assembly seats in the November 20 Maharashtra elections but failed to secure a single win. Even Raj’s son, Amit Thackeray, faced defeat in Mahim, Mumbai.
Thackeray alleged that soon after the elections, instances of “oppression” against Marathi speakers began to surface. He claimed that the public once again turned to the MNS for intervention, which the party provided. “It has become evident that the ‘Marathi manoos’ (native Maharashtrian) is being used only for votes,” Thackeray remarked, highlighting the exploitation of Marathi identity for political gains.
Despite the setbacks, Thackeray assured his supporters that he would soon provide a roadmap for the party’s next steps, urging them to remain steadfast in their commitment to the cause.
Judges or Dynasty? Singhvi Applauds SC Collegium's Move to Curb Nepotism in Judiciary 8
Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi has hailed the Supreme Court collegium’s proposal to dissuade the appointment of judges’ close relatives in high courts. He emphasised that such reforms should be implemented swiftly to combat nepotism and enhance meritocracy in judicial appointments, which he described as “much murkier and more non-objective than originally conceived.”
Taking to X, Singhvi expressed his support for the move, calling it a bold and necessary step. “The reality of judicial appointments is much murkier and far more objective than originally conceived. Mutual backscratching, uncle judges, and family lineages demoralise others and tarnish the institution’s reputation,” he remarked.
Singhvi lamented the systemic resistance to change, noting that even straightforward reforms, such as banning lawyer relatives from practicing in the same high court as their judge relatives, have been difficult to implement. “Time and again, the system has proved stronger than desirable impulses for reform,” he added.
Recalling an idea he floated decades ago, Singhvi suggested that collegium judges disguise themselves and observe candidates—whether judges or lawyers—in action to gain an unfiltered understanding of their capabilities. “We would all be astonished (and scared) at the gap between CVs and reality, between paper appraisals and courtroom performance,” he wrote, endorsing the proposed interviews as a significant improvement, albeit not as effective as surprise inspections.
The Supreme Court collegium is reportedly deliberating on a proposal that could prevent high court collegiums from recommending candidates whose parents or close relatives are current or former judges of the Supreme Court or high courts. Sources suggest this reform could diversify the judiciary by creating more opportunities for first-generation lawyers and ensuring merit trumps lineage.
While the idea has garnered support, concerns have been raised about the potential exclusion of deserving candidates solely due to familial ties to the judiciary. A source remarked that such disqualification could lead to unintended injustice but acknowledged the potential benefits in fostering inclusivity and merit-based appointments.
The collegium, currently comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant, along with Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Abhay S. Oka for high court recommendations, has recently introduced personal interactions with candidates for elevation. This marks a departure from the traditional reliance on biodata, written evaluations, and intelligence reports, signalling a progressive shift towards transparency and accountability.
As the judiciary wrestles with these proposed reforms, Singhvi’s candid observations underscore the urgent need to overhaul a system often criticised for perpetuating privilege over performance. Whether the collegium’s radical ideas materialise into concrete changes remains to be seen, but the debate has undoubtedly reignited calls for judicial accountability and meritocracy.
Beed Murder Scandal: Minister Munde's Aide Walmik Karad Surrenders Amid Political Firestorm 10
Walmik Karad, a close associate of Maharashtra NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, surrendered in Pune on Tuesday in connection with an extortion case tied to the brutal murder of a sarpanch in Beed district. The court in Kej subsequently remanded him to 14-day police custody during a late-night hearing.
Karad arrived at the Crime Investigation Department (CID) office in Pune alongside his associates, where a preliminary inquiry was conducted before transferring him to the Beed CID team for further investigation. Before surrendering, Karad released a video on social media, alleging he was being framed as part of a political vendetta.
The case revolves around the abduction and murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, who was killed on December 9 after allegedly opposing an extortion attempt targeting a windmill company. While four arrests were made earlier, Karad was named as a wanted accused in the extortion case.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also handles the Home Department, faced mounting criticism over the delay in apprehending Karad. “There will be no goonda raj in Maharashtra. Everyone involved in this case will be brought to justice,” Fadnavis assured. However, opposition parties, including Congress and NCP, questioned the police’s inefficiency and demanded stronger action.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe criticized Fadnavis, calling for his resignation and demanding a judicial probe led by a sitting judge. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad demanded the immediate dismissal of Dhananjay Munde, arguing that his position could hinder an impartial investigation.
NCP working president Supriya Sule expressed shock over Karad’s ability to post a viral video while evading authorities for nearly three weeks. Meanwhile, Beed BJP MLA Suresh Dhas commended Fadnavis for Karad’s surrender but took a dig at Munde, alleging complicity.
The scandal has also sparked outrage among Maratha community leaders, including activist Manoj Jarange and former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati. Both demanded stringent action, with Sambhajiraje urging the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Karad, a move that would make securing bail exceedingly difficult.
The case has plunged the newly-formed Fadnavis-led government into a political quagmire, with allegations of caste dynamics, ministerial connections, and administrative lapses dominating the narrative. As the investigation unfolds, the demand for accountability continues to escalate.
Markets Bid Goodbye to 2024 With Impressive Gains; Investors' Wealth Soars by Rs 77.66 Lakh Crore 12
Stock market investors became richer by a whopping Rs 77.66 lakh crore in 2024, helped by an overall optimistic trend in equities, where the BSE Sensex surged over 8 per cent.
Analysts said the year witnessed a tug of war between the bulls and bears marked by volatility but, despite the uncertainties around the world, the Indian markets sustained the pressure and delivered impressive returns.
“The year 2024 has been a challenging yet rewarding one for the markets. The Nifty steadily climbed from January to September, reaching a historic high of 26,277.35, before giving up some gains to still close the year with an impressive rise. This marked Nifty’s ninth consecutive year of positive returns, despite FIIs selling shares,” Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 5,898.75 points or 8.16 per cent this year. The BSE benchmark index hit its all-time high of 85,978.25 on September 27.
Thanks to the overall optimistic trend in equities, the market capitalisation (mcap) of BSE-listed firms surged Rs 77,66,260.19 crore to Rs 4,41,95,106.44 crore (USD 5.16 trillion) in 2024.
The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies hit the coveted Rs 400-lakh crore mark for the first time on April 8 this year. The market cap of these firms had hit the Rs 300-lakh crore mark in July last year.
“Early in the year, a combination of anticipated inflation moderation, expected interest rate cuts, and optimism surrounding the BJP’s re-election fuelled a strong rally, pushing indices to record highs. However, the election results, while favouring the BJP, fell short of a complete landslide, leading to a brief market correction.
“Subsequently, the unwinding of the Yen carry trade in August, a global phenomenon where investors borrowed in low-yielding currencies like Yen to invest in higher-yielding assets, triggered another round of volatility. Despite these setbacks, the market staged a recovery, reaching new peaks in September,” Amnish Aggarwal, Director – Research, Institutional Equities, PL Capital – Prabhudas Lilladher, said.
The euphoria was short-lived, Aggarwal said, adding that a confluence of factors, including significant FII outflows in October, heightened global uncertainties following the US presidential election, and rising inflationary pressures, led to a sharp correction in the Nifty.
“While the Federal Reserve has begun cutting interest rates, recent commentary on slower and lesser cuts in 2025 has led to some disappointment,” he said.
Markets came under bear attack from October onwards amid worries over foreign investors fleeing the domestic market and stretched valuations of the equities.
In October alone, the BSE benchmark slumped 4,910.72 points or 5.82 per cent.
October saw an unprecedented foreign fund outflow of Rs 94,017 crore — the largest monthly withdrawal on record — amid increased allocations to China, muted corporate earnings, and high valuation of Indian stocks.
“While Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) engaged in profit-booking due to high valuations, Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) consistently supported the market,” Palka Arora Chopra, Director, Master Capital Services Ltd, said.
The Sensex made monthly gains in eight months this year. On a monthly basis, the Sensex gave negative returns in January, May, October and December.
Heavy retail investors’ participation played a significant role in the market’s positive trend this year.
Also, a number of mainboard Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and listing of shares imparted optimism in the equity markets.
Reliance Industries is the country’s most valued firm with a market valuation of Rs 16,44,792.26 crore, followed by Tata Consultancy Services (Rs 14,82,402.82 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 13,55,520.10 crore), ICICI Bank (Rs 9,04,975.61 crore) and Bharti Airtel (Rs 9,04,583.72 crore) in the top-five order.
In 2023, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies climbed sharply by Rs 81.90 lakh crore. Investors became richer by more than Rs 16.38 lakh crore in 2022.
China and Russia Ties Advancing to Higher Levels, Says President Xi in His New Year Message to Putin 14
China and Russia are moving forward hand in hand along the “right path” of non-alliance, non-confrontation and their relations have been advancing towards “higher levels,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday in his New Year message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Xi and Putin exchanged New Year greetings highlighting their burgeoning strategic ties in recent years.
“In the face of the accelerated transformation unseen in a century and a volatile international landscape, China and Russia always move forward hand in hand along the right path of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party,” Xi said in the message.
Putin in his message said both countries have advanced the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to new heights.
The mutually beneficial cooperation between China’s and Russia’s economy, trade, energy, transportation, science, and technology is progressing in an orderly manner, the Russian president according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
Both leaders exchanged greetings ahead of the January 20 swearing-in of President-elect Donald Trump who threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese exports to the US besides hardening American policy towards China and hinted at a strategic shift of warming up to Putin to end the Ukraine war.
Since taking power in 2012, Xi has elevated China’s ties with Russia to a higher level as part of Beijing’s efforts to build strategic alliances to ward off increasing adversity towards China in the US and EU countries.
China followed a guarded policy as it refused to condemn Moscow over Russia’s war in Ukraine even while maintaining ties with Kyiv.
In his message to Putin, Xi recalled their meetings in the last three years in Beijing, Astana, and Kazan apart from their periodic communication through phone calls, exchanges of letters, and other means to reach broad consensus on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern.
“The political mutual trust and strategic coordination between the two sides have been advancing toward higher levels under the strategic guidance of the two leaders,” Xi said.
Putin in his message said looking ahead to 2025, he stands ready to maintain close communication with Xi to jointly promote the development of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, and further strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, the SCO and the G20.
Manipur CM Apologises for Ethnic Conflict, Urges All Communities to Forget, Forgive Past Mistakes 16
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday apologised for the ethnic conflict in the state, which claimed over 250 lives and rendered thousands homeless, and appealed to all communities to forget and forgive past mistakes and live together in a peaceful and prosperous state.’
Addressing reporters, Singh said that there has been relative peace in the state in the last three-four months, which gives him hope that normalcy will be restored in the new year.
“I want to say sorry for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones and many had to leave their homes. I regret and want to apologise. But after seeing relative peace in the last three-four months, I hope that normalcy will be restored in the coming year.
“Whatever happened has happened… I want to appeal to all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and start life afresh by living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur,” he said.
Singh said firing incidents have declined in the state over the last 20 months since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023.
“From May to October 2023, 408 firing incidents were reported. From November 2023 to April 2024, there were 345 firing incidents, whereas from May this year till now, 112 firing incidents were reported,” he said.
He said that of all the looted weapons, 3,112 have been recovered and 2,511 explosives have been seized during the period.
The chief minister further said that 625 people have been arrested and 12,047 FIRs registered so far.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.
'Mamata's Is No Ordinary Story', Says Derek O'Brien as ADR Report Ranks Her 'Poorest' CM 18
The story of Mamata Banerjee is “no ordinary story,” Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said on Tuesday, after a report ranked her as the poorest chief minister in India.
“The life and times of Mamata Banerjee are not just exemplary by Indian or Asian benchmarks. Her record of selfless public service, nurtured with compassion from her simple home in a bylane in Kolkata, is what no public servant on the planet can match. Hers is no ordinary story—once in 100 years,” Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader O’Brien said in a statement.
The remarks came after a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) ranked Banerjee as the chief minister with the lowest assets at just a little over Rs 15 lakh.
As per the report, Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu is the richest chief minister with assets worth over Rs 931 crore, followed by Arunachal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu at over Rs 332 crore, while Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is ranked third with assets worth more than Rs 51 crore.
With Rs 55 lakh worth of assets, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is the second poorest in the list, while Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan is the third with Rs 1.18 crore.
The report said the average asset per chief minister from state assemblies and Union Territories stood at Rs 52.59 crore.
While India’s per capita net national income, or NNI, was approximately Rs 1,85,854 for 2023-2024, the average self-income of a chief minister is Rs 13,64,310, around 7.3 times the average per capita income of India.
Won't Tolerate 'Gunda Raj', Nobody Will Be Spared: CM Fadnavis on Beed Sarpanch Murder Case 20
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday warned that ‘gunda raj’ will not be tolerated and nobody will be spared in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case in Beed.
Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said he had a telephonic conversation with Deshmukh’s brother and assured him that justice will prevail in the case.
Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted and brutally killed on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by some persons who had demanded money from a windmill company in Beed district.
“I spoke with the brother of late Santosh Deshmukh and told him that he should not be worried. Until the guilty are hanged to death, the police will continue to do their duty,” the chief minister said.
“All individuals involved in the Beed case will face prosecution. We will not tolerate ‘gunda raj’ (rule of criminals). Those trying to take law into their own hands or extort residents will be met with strict consequences. The police are currently pursuing the suspects who are at large. Nobody will be spared. We will find them,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde’s close aide, Walmik Karad, wanted in an extortion case linked to the murder of a sarpanch in Beed district, surrendered before the police in Pune. Four persons were earlier arrested in the murder case, while Karad was named as a wanted accused in the extortion case.
The CM said that rigorous action will be taken against all the culprits involved in the case.
“Come what may, all the culprits will be found out,” he said.
When asked about what charges have been invoked against Karad, Fadnavis said, “The police will provide updates on the charges and evidence against the suspects. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) is handling the case without any external pressure.”
When questioned about the Karad’s accusations regarding politically motivated actions against him, Fadnavis said, “If there is any evidence, nobody will be spared. However, I am not indulging in politics. The murderers of Santosh Deshmukh should be punished…That is most important to me.”
