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Bhojshala Row Heads to SC? Digvijaya Says Top Court Must Decide Worship Rights After HC Verdict

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Bhojshala Row Heads to SC? Digvijaya Says Top Court Must Decide Worship Rights After HC Verdict 2

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh on Friday said the Supreme Court would now have to decide whether prayers and worship can be permitted at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar, following the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s ruling declaring the structure a temple of Goddess Saraswati.

The Indore bench of the High Court, in its judgment delivered on Friday, also quashed the Archaeological Survey of India’s April 7, 2003 order that had allowed Muslims to offer prayers at the premises every Friday.

The remarks come as the Muslim side has already announced plans to challenge the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, a Hindu petitioner has filed a caveat in the apex court, requesting that no order be passed without hearing its side in any appeal related to the case.

“Bhojshala is an ASI-protected monument. We will study the High Court’s decision in the Bhojshala matter,” Singh told reporters.

He said the question of whether worship or prayers can be conducted within an ASI-protected monument should ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister reiterated his long-standing view that the idol of Goddess Saraswati, currently housed in the British Museum in London, should be brought back to India.

“However, I have never stated where the idol should be installed after it returns,” Singh clarified.

Notably, in its 242-page order, the High Court observed that the central government “may consider” representations made by some petitioners seeking the return of the Saraswati idol from London and its reinstallation within the Bhojshala complex.

Singh claimed that former President Shankar Dayal Sharma had also made efforts in the past to bring the idol back to India.

He also pointed out that the ASI’s scientific survey report on the Bhojshala complex did not mention the idol.

The Congress leader urged that legal procedures and established rules be followed in matters involving disputed religious sites. He referred to ongoing Supreme Court cases related to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, and the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute in Mathura.

Stating that the country is facing economic and social challenges, Singh said it was not an appropriate time to raise Hindu-Muslim issues.

He also termed the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination a “massive scam” and said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, which he chairs, had submitted detailed recommendations in its 2024 report to prevent such lapses.

Calling for accountability, Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek the resignation of the Union Education Minister and dismiss the National Testing Agency (NTA) chairman immediately.

Thane Court Awards Life Term to Man for Hammering Wife to Death Before Children

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Thane Court Awards Life Term to Man for Hammering Wife to Death Before Children 4

A court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for brutally murdering his wife with a hammer in front of their children, relying heavily on the testimony of his 13-year-old daughter, who witnessed the crime.

Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal convicted the accused, Vijay Mishra alias Samir Shaikh, under Sections 302 (murder) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a concurrent three-year jail term. It also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the murder conviction and an additional Rs 10,000 for injuring his minor daughter and mother-in-law, both of whom had attempted to stop the attack.

Additional Public Prosecutor Rashmi Kshirsagar informed the court that 11 prosecution witnesses, including the couple’s daughter, testified during the trial.

According to the prosecution, the victim, Zarin Israr Ansari, had been living separately with her mother, daughter and six-year-old son for the past two years due to prolonged domestic disputes and alleged abuse.

The accused, who had converted to Islam and married Zarin nearly 14 years ago, reportedly resented her decision to live separately and harboured suspicions about her character.

On September 28, 2023, the accused allegedly arrived at his mother-in-law’s residence in Mumbra carrying a hammer concealed in a bag. Prosecutors said he cornered his wife on the mezzanine floor, dragged her downstairs, locked the main entrance and repeatedly attacked her.

The court upheld the testimony of the victim’s daughter, who was an eyewitness and suffered injuries during the incident, noting that minor inconsistencies in a child’s statement do not diminish its credibility.

The court observed that complete photographic recollection cannot be expected from a child witness and found her account of the incident to be trustworthy and free from reasonable doubt.

The prosecution also alleged that the accused locked family members inside the house and threatened neighbours by displaying a “bomb-like object”, warning that he would blow up the building if anyone intervened.

The victim’s brother eventually broke open the door, overpowered the accused and restrained him until police arrived at the spot.

A post-mortem examination later revealed that the victim suffered 22 severe injuries and died due to extensive head trauma.

Mumbai Water Cut: BMC Warns of Criminal Action Against Illegal Pump Users Amid Supply Crisis

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Mumbai Water Cut: BMC Warns of Criminal Action Against Illegal Pump Users Amid Supply Crisis 6

As Mumbai faces a precautionary 10 per cent water cut due to declining reservoir levels, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued a stern warning against the illegal use of electric pumps to siphon water from pipelines, stating that violators could face criminal action.

The civic body implemented the water cut from Friday amid falling water reserves and forecasts of below-normal monsoon conditions linked to El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) patterns.

According to BMC data, the total usable water stock across the seven reservoirs supplying Mumbai stood at 340,399 million litres as of May 11, amounting to only 23.52 per cent of the annual required stock of 14,47,363 million litres.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar directed officials to intensify enforcement measures and warned that repeat offenders may also face disconnection of water supply.

During inspections, civic officials reportedly found several residents using electric pumps connected directly to water pipelines and tap systems to draw excess water. Authorities said such practices reduce water pressure in surrounding areas and create an uneven supply distribution.

Officials also warned that illegal pumping can put additional strain on the water distribution network and increase the risk of contamination entering pipelines.

The BMC has instructed officials to seize unauthorised pumps, impose penalties and initiate criminal cases against those violating the rules.

Bangar also directed engineers to undertake ward-wise micro-planning to maintain regular water supply and ensure adequate pressure during the ongoing rationing period.

Authorities have been asked to identify vulnerable locations, including elevated and tail-end areas, and formulate action plans to minimise inconvenience to residents.

Field engineers have also been instructed to remain on-site, interact with citizens and public representatives, and ensure swift redressal of water-related complaints.

Mumbai receives its primary water supply from seven reservoirs — Tulsi, Vihar, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna — spread across Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts.

NEET Overhaul Announced: Re-Exam on June 21, Shift to CBT Mode From Next Year

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NEET Overhaul Announced: Re-Exam on June 21, Shift to CBT Mode From Next Year 8

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-examination will be conducted on June 21 and confirmed that from next year, the medical entrance exam will shift to a computer-based test (CBT) format as part of major reforms following allegations of irregularities and paper leaks.

Addressing a press conference, Pradhan said safeguarding students’ future remains the government’s “topmost priority” and assured strict action against those responsible for any malpractice in the examination process.

“Our topmost priority is the future of students. We will not allow malpractice to happen this time. The government stands with you,” he said.

The NEET-UG examination, originally held on May 3, was cancelled after allegations surfaced regarding irregularities in the conduct of the test.

Pradhan said concerns first emerged through the grievance system of the National Testing Agency regarding alleged overlaps between examination questions and so-called “guess papers”, prompting authorities to initiate an inquiry.

“The process began on May 8 and continued over several days. Once we got clarity and confirmation that questions had been leaked, we took the decision on May 12 keeping students’ interests in mind,” he said.

The minister said immediate discussions followed, with the NTA, the government and the Higher Education Department launching a preliminary inquiry before the matter was handed over to central agencies.

Pradhan said the investigation has now been transferred to the CBI and asserted that no individual involved would be spared.

“The CBI has clearly stated that no one will be spared. Whether someone is inside the NTA or outside, action will be taken against all responsible persons,” he said.

Explaining the shift to the CBT format, Pradhan said computer-based examinations offer better safeguards compared to traditional OMR-based systems.

“CBT mode is comparatively better and more secure. Cybercrime is a major challenge today, but we also need to trust our country’s systems,” he added.

The announcement came after a high-level review meeting was held late Thursday at the minister’s residence to assess preparations for conducting the examination afresh.

SC Cancels Relief to Kuldeep Sengar, Orders Fresh Hearing on Life Sentence in Unnao Rape Case

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SC Cancels Relief to Kuldeep Sengar, Orders Fresh Hearing on Life Sentence in Unnao Rape Case 10

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a Delhi High Court order that had suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and directed the High Court to hear the matter afresh.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also instructed the High Court to make efforts to decide Sengar’s main appeal against his conviction and life imprisonment within two months.

The apex court further observed that if the High Court is unable to dispose of the main appeal within the stipulated period, it should decide Sengar’s plea seeking suspension of sentence before the commencement of the court’s summer vacation.

The bench clarified that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and said the High Court was free to hear and decide the matter independently.

The Chief Justice also asked the High Court to examine legal questions, including whether an elected MLA can be treated as a public servant under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had stayed the Delhi High Court’s order granting relief to Sengar following widespread public criticism and protests. On December 29 last year, the top court had ordered that he should remain in custody and not be released.

In its December 23, 2025 order, the Delhi High Court had observed that Sengar was convicted under Section 5(C) of the POCSO Act, which deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant. However, it had questioned whether an elected representative falls within the legal definition of a “public servant” under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

The High Court had suspended Sengar’s life sentence during the pendency of his appeal, noting that he had already spent over seven years in prison.

The order had triggered widespread criticism from activists, members of the victim’s family and several sections of society, leading to legal challenges and renewed public debate over the case.

Opposition Mounts Pressure on Dharmendra Pradhan After NEET-UG Cancellation

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Opposition Mounts Pressure on Dharmendra Pradhan After NEET-UG Cancellation 12

The opposition parties in Odisha, including the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress, on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination.

The parties alleged that the cancellation of one of the country’s most important medical entrance examinations exposed serious lapses in the conduct and management of competitive exams under the Centre’s watch.

BJD leaders accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to ensure transparency and credibility in the examination process, claiming that lakhs of students and their families were left anxious and uncertain due to the controversy surrounding NEET-UG.

Congress leaders also launched a sharp attack on the Centre, alleging that repeated irregularities in national-level examinations had shattered the confidence of students and parents across the country.

The opposition parties said accountability must be fixed for the alleged lapses and demanded that Dharmendra Pradhan step down, taking moral responsibility for the cancellation of the examination.

The NEET-UG exam was cancelled amid allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, triggering nationwide outrage among students and political parties. The controversy has intensified the political battle between the opposition and the BJP, especially in Odisha, where Pradhan remains one of the BJP’s most prominent faces.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders defended the Union government, stating that corrective steps were being taken to ensure fairness and transparency in future examinations.

Vijay-Led TVK Govt Wins Trust Vote in Tamil Nadu as DMK Walks Out, AIADMK Split Widens

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Vijay-Led TVK Govt Wins Trust Vote in Tamil Nadu as DMK Walks Out, AIADMK Split Widens 14

The four-day-old Tamil Nadu government led by C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday comfortably won the trust vote in the Assembly by a margin of 144:22, overcoming questions over its stability amid a walkout by the principal opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and visible divisions within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

In the 234-member House, the simple majority mark stands at 118.

While AIADMK MLAs loyal to party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami voted against the government, a rebel faction led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam backed the TVK administration.

The BJP’s lone MLA remained neutral, while NDA ally PMK, which has four MLAs, abstained from voting.

The trust vote victory comes as a major boost for the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government, which had faced scrutiny over its numbers in the Assembly. The win is expected to provide political stability to the new administration, even as portfolios are yet to be allocated to ministers, including the chief minister.

As per Assembly norms, another floor test is unlikely to be held within the next six months.

The Vijay-led government secured support from the Congress, VCK, Left parties, AMMK and the rebel AIADMK faction. Soon after the House convened at 9.30 am, Vijay moved the confidence motion, following which members from various parties participated in the discussion.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar later announced the results after division-wise voting, stating that 144 MLAs voted in favour of the motion, while 22 opposed it and five maintained a neutral stand.

The DMK, which has 59 MLAs in the Assembly, staged a walkout before the voting process began.

Independent MLA S Kamaraj, who was expelled from the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK, also voted in favour of the government.

Replying to the debate on the confidence motion, Vijay said his government would remain secular and continue welfare schemes introduced by previous governments.

“Our government functions with horse-speed, but it does not engage in horse-trading,” the chief minister remarked during his speech.

The floor test was conducted in line with directions issued by Governor R V Arlekar, who had asked the government to prove its majority on or before May 13.

The ruling TVK effectively had a strength of 107 MLAs, including the Speaker who did not vote. In addition, the party’s Tirupattur MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathy was barred from participating in the trust vote following a High Court order linked to a recount plea filed by a defeated DMK candidate.

The Congress’ five MLAs had already extended support to the government, while CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML — with two MLAs each — had also announced outside support earlier.

The backing of nearly 30 rebel AIADMK MLAs further strengthened the government’s position, despite warnings from the Palaniswami camp that anti-defection laws could be invoked against those voting against the party line.

Prateek Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Son and Akhilesh’s Stepbrother, Dies at 38

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Prateek Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Son and Akhilesh's Stepbrother, Dies at 38 16

Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav, died in Lucknow on Wednesday after suddenly falling ill, sources said. He was 38.

According to sources, Prateek was rushed to a civil hospital in the early hours after his health deteriorated suddenly. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most influential political families, Prateek had largely stayed away from active politics and was known more as a fitness enthusiast and businessman. He was also recognised for his love for animals and support for animal shelters.

His wife, Aparna Bisht Yadav, joined the BJP and currently serves as vice chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission.

The Samajwadi Party expressed grief over his demise in a post on X, stating, “The demise of Shri Prateek Yadav Ji is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute.”

Prateek was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife, Sadhna Gupta.

Speaking briefly to PTI, Prateek’s brother-in-law Aman Bisht said, “I am at the hospital right now. This is not the time.”

People present at the hospital said Prateek was brought there around 5.10 am and was officially declared dead around 6 am. A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted by a panel of doctors.

Earlier this year, Prateek had made headlines after publicly accusing Aparna Yadav of damaging his family ties and announcing plans to seek a divorce. In a lengthy Instagram post on January 19, he described her as “self-centred” and “driven by fame and influence”.

However, the couple later reconciled. On January 28, Prateek posted a video on Instagram confirming that the dispute had been resolved mutually after discussions. He later shared another video featuring Aparna Yadav.

AIADMK Faces Split as Rebel MLAs Back Vijay’s TVK Ahead of Trust Vote

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AIADMK Faces Split as Rebel MLAs Back Vijay's TVK Ahead of Trust Vote 18

The opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam appeared headed for a major split on Tuesday after a group of rebel MLAs revolted against party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and announced support for the Vijay-led government ahead of the crucial floor test scheduled for Wednesday.

Around 30 MLAs, led by senior AIADMK leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, are believed to be part of the rebel camp questioning Palaniswami’s leadership following the party’s poor performance in the April 23 Assembly elections, where it won only 47 of the 164 seats it contested.

Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said the rebel MLAs would meet C Joseph Vijay and hand over a letter extending support to the TVK government. He alleged that Palaniswami was attempting to form a government with the support of archrival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Shanmugam said the AIADMK was founded to oppose and “uproot” the DMK, and claimed that party members strongly opposed any proposal to seek support from the M K Stalin-led party.

“The party needs a new life now. Amma rule should return, and therefore we should support TVK,” he said, invoking the legacy of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The AIADMK leadership, however, dismissed the allegations as rumours and accused the dissident leaders of spreading falsehoods after failing to deliver victories in their own districts.

In a post on X, the party alleged that Velumani, Shanmugam and former minister C Vijayabaskar were themselves lobbying for ministerial positions in the TVK government. It also asserted that alliance decisions could not be taken by a small group of MLAs and maintained that party cadre continued to stand firmly behind Palaniswami.

The political turmoil has revived memories of the internal power struggles that rocked the AIADMK after the deaths of party founder M G Ramachandran in 1987 and Jayalalithaa in 2016.

The DMK also rejected claims of post-poll alliance discussions with the AIADMK. DMK organising secretary R S Bharati accused Shanmugam of attempting to engineer a split within his own party through baseless allegations.

Bharati said Stalin had already made it clear that the DMK would function as the opposition and dismissed reports of any understanding between the two Dravidian rivals as speculation.

Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leaders urged Palaniswami to convene a general council meeting to review the reasons behind the party’s electoral setback and chalk out a roadmap for revival.

The AIADMK’s official social media handle defended Palaniswami, stating that the over 1.34 crore votes received by the party reflected support for the AIADMK, its alliance, the “Two Leaves” symbol and “the people’s chief minister Edappadiar”.

Adding another twist to the unfolding political drama, Thol Thirumavalavan claimed that both the DMK and AIADMK had approached him to become chief minister as part of a possible alliance aimed at keeping TVK out of power.

“I received information that they had decided to make me chief minister. But after consulting senior party leaders, we rejected it,” Thirumavalavan told reporters.

Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Second Term as Assam CM Signals BJP’s Expanding Grip in Northeast

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Himanta Biswa Sarma's Second Term as Assam CM Signals BJP's Expanding Grip in Northeast 20

The swearing-in of Himanta Biswa Sarma as Assam chief minister for a second consecutive term marks not only continuity in leadership but also the BJP’s deepening political influence across the northeast.

Widely credited with expanding the BJP’s footprint in the region, Sarma played a central role in the party’s emphatic victory in Assam, where the BJP secured 82 seats in the 126-member Assembly despite sustained attacks from the Congress and controversies surrounding his tenure.

The 57-year-old leader vowed to accelerate Assam’s development journey, declaring that his first term was “just a trailer” and that “the movie will unfold in the second term”.

During his first tenure, Sarma focused heavily on infrastructure, welfare schemes and policies aimed at safeguarding the land rights of indigenous communities. However, his government also drew criticism over controversial measures targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims of Bangladeshi origin.

Eviction drives on alleged encroached land, action against child marriage, moves against polygamy, enforcement of the Cattle Protection Act and the closure of government-run madrasas triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties, which accused his administration of increasing social polarisation.

Despite repeated allegations of corruption and attacks over the business dealings of his wife by Congress leaders, Sarma remained politically resilient and continued to emerge as the BJP’s most influential face in the northeast.

A major controversy erupted after Congress leader Pawan Khera made allegations involving Sarma’s wife, triggering a bitter political exchange that even found mention in a Supreme Court order granting relief to Khera.

Political observers describe Sarma as one of the BJP’s most effective strategists in the northeast. As convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), he played a key role in bringing all eight northeastern states under the NDA’s influence either through BJP governments or alliance partners.

Sarma’s political journey began during the Assam Agitation of the 1980s, when he worked with leaders of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). After entering mainstream politics, he rose rapidly within the Congress under the mentorship of former chief ministers Hiteswar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi.

He became a minister in the Gogoi government in 2001 and earned a reputation for administrative efficiency and political management. However, differences with the Congress leadership, particularly with Gogoi’s son Gaurav Gogoi, led to his exit from the party in 2015.

The BJP quickly absorbed Sarma into its ranks and leveraged his influence to strengthen its position in Assam and across the northeast. Alongside Sarbananda Sonowal, he helped the BJP form its first government in Assam in 2016 before taking over as chief minister in 2021.

Born in Jorhat to noted Assamese poet and novelist Kailash Nath Sarma and literary activist Mrinalini Devi, Sarma holds a master’s degree and PhD in political science. He also earned an LL.B degree and practised law at the Gauhati High Court before entering electoral politics.

With a second consecutive term now secured, Sarma’s growing stature within the BJP appears set to shape not only Assam’s politics but also the party’s future strategy in the northeast.

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