21 Killed in Massive South Delhi Hotel Fire; Several Foreign Nationals Among Victims 2
At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast establishment in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, officials said.
Among the victims are several foreign nationals, primarily from Central Asian and African countries, according to preliminary information provided by authorities.
The fire initially was reported to have started at Lemon Green Restaurant around 8.45 am. However, Delhi Police later clarified that the blaze had actually erupted at Flourish Stay B&B, located in the densely populated Hauz Rani locality of Malviya Nagar.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and launched a large-scale rescue operation. More than 40 people were evacuated from the building and taken to nearby hospitals. Doctors declared 21 victims brought dead upon arrival.
Officials fear the death toll could increase further as several injured persons remain in critical condition and are undergoing treatment.
Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing the situation under control. Authorities are now conducting a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
The incident has triggered concerns over fire safety compliance in guest houses and commercial establishments operating in congested urban areas of the national capital.
Further details regarding the identities of the victims and the circumstances leading to the tragedy are awaited.
CBSE Gets New Leadership: Senior IAS Officer Prashant Lokhande Appointed Chairperson Amid OSM Controversy 4
The Central Government on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), replacing Rahul Singh amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
Sitaram, a 2001-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the AGMUT cadre, is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to a Personnel Ministry order, outgoing CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
In another significant administrative change, CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, a 2012-batch IAS officer, has been repatriated to his parent cadre in the Ministry of Home Affairs on “administrative grounds.” The order stated that Gupta would be eligible for central deputation again only after December 12, 2030, under the extended cooling-off provision.
The government has also appointed Varun Bhardwaj, a 2008-batch Indian Information Service officer, as the new CBSE Secretary. Bhardwaj is currently serving as Director in the Ministry of Education.
The leadership overhaul comes amid growing criticism of CBSE’s digital evaluation process for Class 12 board examinations. The board has faced scrutiny after several students alleged that the scanned copies of answer sheets made available through the verification process did not match their handwriting, raising concerns over possible answer-sheet mismatches in the OSM system.
The controversy triggered widespread concern among students and parents, with many questioning the transparency and reliability of the digital evaluation mechanism.
In recent weeks, CBSE has also come under fire for technical glitches, delays in verification and re-evaluation procedures, and payment-related issues on its online portals. These developments have led to demands for greater accountability and reforms in the board’s examination and evaluation processes.
The appointment of new leadership is expected to bring stability to the national education board as it works to address concerns surrounding the OSM system and restore confidence among students, parents, and educators.
IIT Graduate-Turned 'Guru' Arrested in Mathura for Alleged Drugging, Rape and Blackmail of Women 6
A self-styled spiritual guru who claimed to offer religious guidance and personal mentorship has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district for allegedly drugging, sexually exploiting and blackmailing women, police said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Abhishek Mishra alias Adikarta Narayan Das, 29, was arrested from his ashram-like residence in Radha Kund on Monday. During the operation, police also rescued two young women and a man from the premises and handed them over to their families.
The case came to light after a 22-year-old BSc Nursing student from Chhattisgarh filed a complaint at the Govardhan police station on May 25.
According to the complaint, the woman had travelled to Mathura to visit her elder sister, who was undergoing training with a public sector oil company and was associated with Mishra’s religious group. The complainant alleged that the accused offered her milk, claiming it was “prasad”, which allegedly contained an intoxicating substance.
She told police that after consuming the drink, she lost consciousness and was subsequently sexually assaulted. The accused allegedly recorded obscene photographs and videos of her during the incident.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Singh said the accused later threatened the victim and allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh, warning that the videos would be circulated if she failed to pay.
Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation.
During searches, investigators reportedly recovered more than a dozen obscene photographs of different men and women from the accused’s mobile phone. Preliminary findings suggest that Mishra used YouTube and other social media platforms to deliver online spiritual discourses and attract followers.
Police suspect he specifically targeted educated women, including engineers, students and professionals working in major companies, before allegedly exploiting and blackmailing them.
During interrogation, Mishra reportedly claimed that he graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee around five years ago and had worked at a private company with an annual salary package of ₹20 lakh before moving to Mathura. He allegedly began conducting spiritual activities from rented premises before purchasing a house in Radha Kund.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat said the accused has been sent to judicial custody and further legal proceedings are underway.
Police are now conducting a detailed investigation into Mishra’s background, his activities, and the possibility of additional victims linked to the case.
Operation Checkmate: 30 Indian Truck Drivers Arrested in US Over Illegal Stay, Face Deportation 8
Around 30 Indian nationals living and working illegally in the United States have been arrested and are set to be deported following a major federal immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented commercial truck drivers.
According to a statement issued by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector in Arizona arrested 52 individuals during “Operation Checkmate” conducted between May 11 and May 15. The operation focused on identifying undocumented individuals operating commercial motor vehicles across the country.
Among those arrested were 36 individuals found driving semi-trucks. Of these, 30 were Indian nationals, while the remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador and Russia.
Authorities said the arrested individuals possessed commercial driver’s licences issued by states including California, New York, Washington and Virginia, while some did not have any valid driving licence. Most were carrying employment authorisation documents that had been issued during the administration of former President Joe Biden but were no longer valid.
US officials confirmed that all those detained have been processed under federal immigration laws and will be deported.
“Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety,” said Dustin Caudle, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the US Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector.
He added that federal agents remain actively engaged in identifying and apprehending undocumented drivers to prevent serious road accidents and ensure public safety across the United States.
The operation comes amid stricter immigration and transportation policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. The US Department of Transportation recently issued directives aimed at preventing unqualified foreign nationals from obtaining licences to operate commercial trucks and buses.
The crackdown follows several high-profile incidents in recent months involving Indian-origin truck drivers who were arrested and charged in connection with fatal road accidents while operating commercial vehicles in the US.
According to figures shared by the Indian government in Parliament earlier this year, more than 3,800 Indian nationals were deported from the United States in 2025. The data revealed that 3,414 Indians had been deported through Washington alone by mid-December.
The latest arrests highlight growing scrutiny of undocumented workers in the US transportation sector as authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration laws and road safety regulations.
TMC Rift Buzz Grows as Party Claims Majority of MLAs Remain Loyal to Mamata Banerjee 10
Amid mounting speculation of a split within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay on Tuesday asserted that the majority of the party’s MLAs remain firmly loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and that the party’s veteran leadership continues to hold control over the organisation.
The Ballygunge MLA alleged that efforts were being made by the ruling establishment to engineer defections and weaken the opposition, but maintained that the TMC remained united despite the political turbulence.
His remarks come against the backdrop of intense rumours that a section of TMC legislators may break away under the leadership of expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee. Political circles in West Bengal have been abuzz with reports of meetings involving dissident legislators at a Kolkata hotel and the MLA Hostel over the past few days.
While there has been no official confirmation regarding the alleged rebellion, speculation suggests that anywhere between 20 and 50 MLAs could be in touch with the rebel camp. The TMC secured 80 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly in the recent elections, though two MLAs were expelled from the party on Monday for alleged anti-party activities.
“Under intense pressure from the ruling government, some individuals are being compelled to make statements regarding forged signatures. There are attempts to lure leaders away from the TMC through money and pressure tactics. We are closely monitoring the situation,” Chattopadhyay told PTI.
The controversy revolves around the party’s nomination of Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition, a decision currently under scrutiny by the CID following allegations that signatures of certain TMC MLAs were forged.
“There may be a few who give in to pressure, but there is no possibility of a large-scale rebellion. The majority of MLAs will stay with Mamata Banerjee, and the old guard will continue to lead the Trinamool Congress. The ‘Jora Ghas Phool’ symbol will remain with Mamata Banerjee,” he said.
The statement follows a video message released by Mamata Banerjee a day earlier, in which she accused the BJP of attempting to split the TMC through inducements and coercive tactics.
Adding to the political intrigue, reports of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s likely visit to New Delhi further fuelled speculation about possible realignments within the state’s political landscape.
The unfolding developments have drawn comparisons with Maharashtra’s political upheavals, where splits within regional parties led to major shifts in power and prolonged legal battles over party control and election symbols.
Five New Supreme Court Judges Sworn In, Court Reaches Record Strength of 37 12
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reached a historic milestone as Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant administered the oath of office to five new judges, taking the apex court’s working strength to 37—the highest in its history.
The newly inducted judges are Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli and V. Mohana. The swearing-in ceremony was held on the premises of the Supreme Court.
With the appointments, the court is now just one judge short of its revised sanctioned strength of 38, including the Chief Justice of India. The Centre had approved the appointments on Monday, following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 27.
The newly appointed judges include Justice Sheel Nagu, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, former Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; Justice Arun Palli, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court; and senior advocate V. Mohana.
Last month, the Union government promulgated an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the CJI. However, the court’s strength is expected to reduce slightly later this month, with Justices Pankaj Mithal and J.K. Maheshwari scheduled to retire on June 16 and June 28, respectively.
Justice V. Mohana’s elevation is particularly significant as she becomes only the second woman in India’s judicial history to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar, after Justice Indu Malhotra in 2018. She joins Justice B.V. Nagarathna as one of the two serving women judges in the apex court.
Justice Nagarathna is also in line to become India’s first woman Chief Justice of India and is expected to hold the office briefly in 2027.
Justice Sheel Nagu, born on January 1, 1965, enrolled as an advocate in 1987 and served as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court before becoming Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2024. He was also part of the Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee that examined allegations related to the discovery of burnt cash at the residence of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, born on May 25, 1965, began his legal career after graduating from Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre. He served as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court before becoming Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in September 2025. He was also a member of the committee constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to examine grounds for Justice Varma’s removal.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, born on December 26, 1964, practised law in Delhi before being elevated to the Delhi High Court in 2013. He later became Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2025.
Justice Arun Palli, born on September 18, 1964, was designated a senior advocate in 2007 and served as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court before being appointed Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in April 2025.
Justice V. Mohana, 59, graduated from Coimbatore Law College in 1988 and was designated a senior advocate by the Supreme Court in 2015. Her elevation marks another significant step toward greater representation of women in the higher judiciary.
The appointments strengthen the Supreme Court at a time when it continues to handle a growing caseload and significant constitutional matters.
Shashi Tharoor Questions Full Rendition of Vande Mataram at Official Events, Calls It 'Unnecessary' 14
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has questioned the practice of playing all five verses of Vande Mataram at the beginning and end of official functions, describing it as an “unnecessary and burdensome” requirement for audiences.
Speaking to reporters in Kerala on Monday amid the ongoing debate over the rendition of the national song at official events, Tharoor said there was no dispute over respecting Vande Mataram, but making the full version mandatory at every programme was difficult to justify.
“Vande Mataram is the national song and we stand up in respect when it is sung. The first verse, or the first couple of verses, is something most people know by heart,” he said.
The Congress Working Committee member noted that the traditional practice had been to sing Vande Mataram once at the beginning of an event, while the national anthem was often played separately at the conclusion.
“Now they want all five verses to be sung at the beginning of every event and again at the end. I think that is an unnecessary imposition,” Tharoor remarked.
Referring to the controversy in Kerala, he said the state government had maintained that singing the full version was optional, while Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar appeared to hold a different view.
“It may ultimately have to be adjudicated because there is no law passed by Parliament requiring this. It is more a matter of convention,” he said.
Tharoor emphasised that he had no objection to the national song itself and reiterated his respect for it.
“We all respect Vande Mataram. I can happily sing it for you,” he said.
Recalling a recent book launch event attended by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi, Tharoor said the complete rendition of the song was played both at the start and end of the programme.
“For the audience, standing through a relatively unfamiliar and lengthy song twice became an issue,” he observed.
According to Tharoor, the portion of Vande Mataram traditionally sung in public is roughly comparable in duration to the national anthem and has long enjoyed widespread acceptance.
Describing the controversy as “unfortunate”, he expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“I can understand singing it once during ceremonial occasions involving the President, Vice President or Prime Minister. But singing the entire song twice during a short programme is difficult to understand. I don’t see the rationale for it, and it is not particularly efficient either,” he said.
CBSE Activates Class 12 Re-Evaluation Portal After Technical Delays and Security Review 16
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday activated its portal for Class 12 students to apply for verification of marks and re-evaluation, following multiple delays caused by technical issues and cybersecurity concerns.
Announcing the development on social media platform X, the board confirmed that the portal is now operational and advised students to carefully follow the application guidelines before submitting their requests.
“Dearest Students, The verification and re-evaluation portal is now LIVE! Please watch the video carefully for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Verification of Marks and re-evaluation,” CBSE Headquarters posted.
The portal was initially scheduled to be launched on June 1 but its activation was postponed due to technical difficulties. The delay sparked anxiety among students and parents, particularly after reports emerged of glitches in the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
Several students had complained that they received scanned copies of answer sheets belonging to other candidates while accessing documents through the OnMark portal. CBSE later acknowledged the issue and provided the affected students with their correct answer scripts.
The board stated that all complaints related to alleged answer-sheet mismatches and other re-evaluation concerns were being addressed on a priority basis.
Earlier, CBSE had said that vulnerabilities detected in the OnMark portal, managed by its service provider, had been contained. The board added that efforts were underway to identify and eliminate any remaining security risks to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
To further strengthen the platform, CBSE has deployed a team of cybersecurity experts from various government agencies and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The experts are working to enhance the portal’s security infrastructure and safeguard the integrity of the evaluation and re-evaluation process.
The activation of the portal comes as a relief to thousands of Class 12 students awaiting an opportunity to verify their marks and seek re-evaluation of their answer sheets.
TMC Expels Two MLAs Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities Amid 'Fake Signature' Row 18
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday expelled its MLAs Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee from the party, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities and acting against the organisation’s interests.
The action came shortly after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated at a press conference at the state secretariat that the two legislators had filed complaints related to the alleged “fake signature” controversy in the state Assembly. The dispute pertains to the TMC’s endorsement of Shobandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition.
In separate communications issued to the two MLAs, the party alleged that despite being elected on TMC tickets, they had repeatedly failed to attend meetings convened by the party’s authorised leadership.
“It has been brought to the notice of the All India Trinamool Congress through its competent authority that, despite having been elected as candidates nominated by the AITC, you have repeatedly failed to attend meetings convened by the authorised leadership of the party and have made yourself involved in anti-party activities,” the letter stated.
The party further accused the legislators of making statements and engaging in actions that were detrimental to the interests of the Trinamool Congress.
“It has also been observed that you have engaged in activities and made statements that are prejudicial to the interests of AITC,” the communication added.
The expulsion letters, signed by TMC Vice-President Chandrima Bhattacharya, stated that after reviewing the matter, the party’s competent authority had decided to expel both leaders from the primary membership of the Trinamool Congress with immediate effect.
The move marks a fresh political development within the ruling party and comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Assembly’s opposition leadership issue.
SC Rejects Plea for NEET-UG Re-Test in CBT Mode, Says NTA Already Under Pressure 20
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea seeking the conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination in computer-based test (CBT) mode, observing that the National Testing Agency (NTA) is already dealing with significant challenges following the cancellation of the exam.
A bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Aravind Kumar posted the petition, filed by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and others, for hearing on July 27. However, the court made it clear that the June 21 re-test would not be conducted in CBT mode and would proceed as scheduled under the existing pen-and-paper format.
“There is no question of conducting the re-examination in CBT mode. They (the NTA) are already having too many problems. The examination was cancelled, and now it is being re-conducted. Either we dismiss this petition now or after the vacation,” the bench remarked during the hearing.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Satyam Singh Rajput informed the court that the only relief being pressed was the request to hold the re-test in CBT mode. The bench, however, noted that similar petitions had been dismissed earlier.
When Rajput reiterated concerns about conducting the examination physically, Justice Narasimha advised him to appreciate the pressure currently being faced by the NTA.
The NEET-UG 2026 examination, originally conducted on May 3, was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 following allegations of a question paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the matter, while a fresh examination has been scheduled for June 21.
During an earlier hearing on May 29, the Supreme Court observed that students should not be disappointed and stressed that the larger issue of examination irregularities would persist until genuine accountability is established.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the court that the government was taking the concerns of students seriously and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally monitoring the situation to ensure there were no lapses in the re-examination process. He also stated that additional safeguards and mechanisms had been introduced for the June 21 re-test.
The apex court is also hearing a batch of petitions seeking structural reforms in the examination system, including the replacement or restructuring of the NTA with a more robust and autonomous body.
In an affidavit submitted before the court, the NTA stated that it plans to conduct NEET-UG in CBT mode from next year onwards after consultations with the central government.
The controversy follows the alleged NEET paper leak of 2024, after which the Supreme Court had declined to cancel the examination but issued several directions aimed at preventing future paper leaks and strengthening the integrity of public examinations.
