A Delhi court on Monday granted additional time to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file verification reports in the alleged land-for-job corruption case involving Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and other accused. Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts deferred the hearing on the framing of charges till December 19 after the probe agency sought more time to file verification reports of all accused persons. The court is examining whether charges are to be framed under Sections 120B, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. In an earlier hearing held on December 11, the court had deferred the matter and granted the CBI additional time to file verification reports. According to the CBI, “large-scale corruption” occurred between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad was the Union Railway Minister, with the agency alleging that parcels of land were acquired in the names of Lalu’s family members and a company linked to them, often at rates below market value and largely through cash transactions. In return, jobs in Group ‘D’ posts across various railway zones were allegedly provided to those who transferred the land. The Union Home Ministry has already granted sanction to the CBI to prosecute Lalu Prasad in the corruption case, while both the ED and the CBI continue to conduct parallel investigations into the alleged Rs 600-crore money-laundering trail linked to land transfers in Patna. In July, the Supreme Court refused to entertain Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea seeking a stay on trial proceedings in the land-for-job case. He had filed a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his request to halt the trial after the CBI filed multiple charge sheets under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Recently, the Principal District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act) had issued notices to the CBI on transfer pleas filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who sought that the corruption case be shifted out of the court of Special Judge Gogne. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 12:51 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSAmid the leadership crisis in the Karnataka Congress party, Deputy Chief Minister and the party's state President D.K. Shivakumar has said that he will be meeting the party's high command separately. While answering a question on whether he will seek separate meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, he stated on Monday in Delhi, “All these things will be there within the party.” When further asked whether this was important at this juncture, Shivakumar replied, “Don’t worry.” He further said, “I need to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal, and others. I have already met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi during lunch yesterday. I have met everyone.” He stated, “Mallikarjun Kharge ji and I need to go together to Karnataka to attend the funeral of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. We were supposed to leave Delhi by 8 a.m., but due to cloud cover, the travel has been postponed.” On responding to the notice issued by the Delhi Police in the National Herald case, Shivakumar said, “Since there is urgency (funeral of Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa), I have been asking them for time. I am seeking time to appear before them after the session. I will also release my reply to the media because they have not attached a copy of the FIR with the notice. We have already given our response to the Enforcement Directorate. I have not received the contents of the FIR and have only information through media reports.” “I will seek a copy of the FIR, and next week, after the winter Assembly session, I will come to Delhi,” he added. It can be recalled that the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has come to the forefront after party MLA from Ramanagara, Iqbal Hussain, a staunch supporter of Shivakumar, claimed that Shivakumar would assume the post of Chief Minister on January 6, 2026. The statement has caused ripples in state political circles and within the ruling Congress party. “The post of Chief Minister should be handed over to Deputy CM Shivakumar. He must be given an opportunity. The high command is responding positively to this demand. There are chances of Shivakumar becoming the Chief Minister on January 6. I am 99 per cent sure about this,” Hussain had stated. Responding to Hussain’s remarks, Shivakumar said that no one should believe his words. “First, legal action needs to be taken against him. Iqbal Hussain has a habit of talking too much. No one should believe him,” he said. However, reacting to this, Iqbal Hussain reiterated that he stood by his earlier statement. He said Shivakumar is the State Congress president for all 140 legislators. He also indirectly targeted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who had made a controversial statement claiming that the high command had turned down Shivakumar’s demand to become Chief Minister and that his father would continue as CM for the full five-year term. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in damage-control mode, has once again clarified that he will abide by the decision of the party high command. Fingers are crossed over the turn of events in the ruling Congress party. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 12:36 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday sought an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for their party workers' alleged threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life. At a hurriedly called press conference here, Rijiju alleged that at Sunday's Congress rally in the national capital, some party workers had threatened to dig the grave of the Prime Minister, which was the "most unfortunate and tragic" thing to happen in Indian democracy. "Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should tender an apology for the Congress workers' threat to the life of the Prime Minister. They should tender the apology on the floor of both Houses of Parliament. It is most unfortunate and tragic that Congress workers openly declared to dig the grave of Prime Minister Modi," he said. The parliamentary affairs minister said the workers and leaders of the Congress and the BJP are political rivals, not enemies. "We propagate different ideologies but work together for a developed India as dreamt by Prime Minister Modi," he said. Rijiju said the political leaders wish each other in public despite political fights, which are separate issues, and leaders criticise each other in different ways. "We oppose each other differently. We never think of killing each other, nor do we talk about that. What kind of mentality is this? What kind of practice is this where some people are threatening to kill political rivals openly?" he posed. Rijiju said Modi is the prime minister of 140 crore people, the prime minister of the largest democracy in the world. "The whole world respects PM Modi, the whole of India respects PM Modi. But if some people in the opposition threaten to kill the prime minister, it is most unfortunate and tragic. It will not end by just condemning the incident". "In Parliament, the Congress president (Kharge) and the Leader of Opposition (Rahul Gandhi) should tender an apology. They should tender an apology to the country on the floor of Parliament," he said. Rijiju said if there is any humanity left in the Congress and if they respect the people of the country, they should immediately tender an apology in both houses of Parliament. "Then only will we accept that they have admitted their mistake. Abusing a prime minister is not acceptable in a decent society. The prime minister has always said that we never consider the opposition as enemies but as political opponents. "We are all working for the country. But to openly declare taking the life of the honourable prime minister, to dig the grave of Modi ji, is the most unfortunate thing we have seen in the political history of India," he said. Stepping up the campaign on the issue of alleged election irregularities, top Congress leaders on Sunday attacked the BJP and the election commissioners at a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally in the national capital, alleging that "vote chori" is in the ruling party's DNA and its leaders were "gaddar" who were conspiring to take away voting rights of people and should be removed from power. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 12:05 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIA 21-year-old man was trampled to death by a herd of elephants in Jharkhand's Latehar district, a forest official said on Monday. The incident occurred at Bhaisadon village under Balumath Police Station limits on Sunday night when Aryan Lohra went outside his home to relieve himself, he said. "A herd of 10-12 elephants was passing through the area on Sunday night when he was out to relieve himself. The man could not see the approaching elephants due to the darkness and was trampled by them," Balumath forest ranger Nand Kumar Mehta said. He said the deceased's family was given an immediate relief of Rs 40,000, and the rest of the compensation will be provided after some official procedures. In Jharkhand, Rs 4 lakh compensation is provided in case of death due to an elephant attack. Mehta added that the body has been handed over to the Balumath Police Station for post-mortem examination. The villagers expressed anger over the incident. They demanded that the forest department drive the herds of elephants away from the village and find a permanent solution to prevent such incidents. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 11:53 AM IST | Latehar (Jharkhand) | PTIExternal Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Monday spoke to his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, and conveyed India's condolences over Sydney's Bondi Beach terror attack, in which 15 innocent people were killed. In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support." According to police, the Pakistani-origin father-son duo, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, opened fire at the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event, which was organised to celebrate the first day of the Jewish festival, on Sunday at Bondi Beach. The attack resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including the gunman Sajid. Police said the youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl who later died at a children's hospital, while the oldest victim was 87 years old. Sajid was fatally shot by police during the attack, while the second shooter, his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, was wounded and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. The attack is now being described as the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades, in a country known for its strict gun control laws. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the terror attack targeting the Jewish community and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He also expressed India's support in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism. "Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones," PM Modi posted on X. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief. India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 11:36 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSAs Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman on Monday, bolstering economic and trade ties is among the key agenda items of his visit. PM Modi's visit is expected to open far-reaching opportunities to enhance the country’s economic footprint across West Asia and Africa. Last week, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Oman, aimed at deepening trade and investment relations between the two countries. The approval also came after Oman's Shura Council approved the Gulf nation’s proposed FTA with India. The talks for the trade agreement, officially termed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), formally began in November 2023. India and Oman share a long-standing and multidimensional Strategic Partnership supported by strong trade ties, energy cooperation and cultural linkages. The economic and commercial relations between India and Oman are robust and buoyant. The bilateral trade between the two nations reached $8.947 billion during FY 2023-2024, and for FY 2024-25, it stood at $10.613 billion, according to an official statement. Bilateral investment flows have also been strong, as reflected in numerous joint ventures established both in India and Oman. Moreover, there are over 6,000 India-Oman joint ventures present in Oman, estimated to be adding $7.5 billion to Oman’s economy in the form of total capital investment over a long period. PM Modi will hold high-level talks with the Sultan of Oman in Muscat and discuss strengthening the Strategic Partnership as well as the strong commercial and economic relationship between the two nations. Notably, India is Jordan's third-largest partner, with bilateral trade at around $2.8 billion. Jordan is a key supplier of fertilisers to India, particularly phosphates and potash. Although the size of India-Ethiopia bilateral trade was around $550 million in FY25, India was the second largest trading partner for the African nation. India’s key exports include primary and semi-finished iron and steel products, drugs and pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and machinery, among others. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 11:34 AM IST | New Delhi [India] | IANSAsserting that India simply cannot afford to pollute its way to prosperity, the Congress on Monday said increased pollution need not and must not be the price the people are compelled to pay for faster growth, reported news agency PTI. The opposition party also stressed that the Graded Response Action Plans (GRAPs) cannot remain the dominant focus of clean-air action. In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said these plans are essentially reactive, with the emphasis being on crisis management and not crisis avoidance. "We need tough multi-sectoral actions with scale and speed round the year and not just in the winter October-December months," Ramesh said, reported PTI. On December 9, 2025, the Modi Government declared in the Rajya Sabha that "there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution", he said. "This is the second time that it has shown shocking insensitivity by denying that air pollution contributes to mortality or morbidity. It had previously made the same claim on 29th July 2024 also in the Rajya Sabha," Ramesh said, reported PTI. The most recent publicly available scientific evidence reveals that in early July 2024, a study published in the prestigious Lancet journal showed that 7.2 per cent of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution - about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities. The evidence also reveals that in August 2024, a study by the Mumbai-based International Institute of Population Sciences used government data from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS V) to show that in districts where air pollution exceeds National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAOS), there is a 13 per cent increase in premature mortality for adults and around 100 per cent increase in mortality for children, Ramesh said. "In December 2024, a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health estimated that long-term exposure to polluted air contributes to roughly 15 lakh additional deaths in India each year compared with a scenario in which the country met the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended safe-exposure limits," he said, reported PTI. In November 2025, a report prepared by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, USA found that about 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution-a 43 per cent jump since the year 2000, Ramesh said. About 70 per cent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths were on account of air pollution, he said. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were last promulgated in November 2009 after wide consultations, Ramesh said. "They were considered progressive then. But today it needs to be updated and, more importantly, ruthlessly enforced. The present standard for PM2.5 is 8 times the WHO guideline for annual exposure and 4 times the guideline for 24-hour exposure," he said, reported PTI. Despite the launch of the National Clear Air Programme (NCAP) in 2017, PM2.5 levels have continued to rise and every single Indian lives in areas where these levels far exceed the WHO guidelines, he said, adding that the NCAP itself needs an overhaul. GRAPs cannot remain the dominant focus of clean-air action: Jairam Ramesh "The Graded Response Action Plans (GRAPs) cannot remain the dominant focus of clean-air action. These plans are essentially reactive, with the emphasis being on crisis management and not crisis avoidance," Ramesh said. "We need tough multi-sectoral actions with scale and speed round the year and not just in the winter October-December months. The Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act, 1981 that was more than adequate for four decades now, may itself need to be revisited since a public health emergency was not the background to the enactment of that law," he said, reported PTI. The National Green Tribunal established in October 2010 by an Act of Parliament with the support of all political parties has, sadly, been emasculated over the past decade and needs a fresh and renewed lease of life, Ramesh claimed. He said emission norms that have been relaxed for power plants and other changes made in laws and regulations need to be rolled back. "India simply cannot afford to pollute its way to prosperity. Increased pollution need not and must not be the price the people of the country are compelled to pay for faster growth," Ramesh said, reported PTI. Delhi choked under a thick blanket of smog on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) settling at 498, which falls in the higher spectrum of 'severe' category. (With inputs from PTI)
15 December,2025 11:13 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentFlight operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were disrupted on Monday morning as dense fog significantly reduced visibility, marking the season’s first major spell of winter fog in the national capital. Several departures were delayed as airlines adjusted their schedules to ensure safe operations amid challenging weather conditions, reported news agency IANS. Delhi International Airport Limited issued a passenger advisory, cautioning that dense fog could lead to disruptions in flight operations. The airport operator said it is working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience and advised passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates. "Due to dense fog, flight operations may experience disruptions. We are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to passengers. For the latest flight updates, passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused,” the airport advisory said, reported IANS. Airlines issue travel advisories IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, stating that reduced visibility around the airport was impacting flight movements and that some departures could take longer than usual. The airline assured passengers that its ground staff and operations teams were fully deployed to assist travellers and manage schedules efficiently during the disruption. Taking to the social media platform X, IndiGo said, "Low visibility and fog over Delhi will impact flight schedules. We're keeping a close watch on the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly. We request you to stay updated on your flight status via our website or app. Be assured, our teams are here to assist you at every step and ensure support." "Here's hoping clearer skies help us serve you better soon and thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time," IndiGo added. Air India also issued a travel advisory and said, "Poor visibility due to dense fog is impacting flight operations in Delhi and parts of Northern India. Please check your flight status at: http://airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html before heading to the airport." The advisory comes at a time when IndiGo flights have faced multiple operational challenges in recent weeks, including weather-related delays and air traffic congestion at major hubs. The airline has repeatedly urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport to avoid inconvenience. Delhi once again woke up to a thick layer of smog, as the air quality remained in the 'severe' category across the National Capital Region (NCR), raising serious health concerns for residents. At the same time, visibility dropped sharply in several parts of the region. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 457 as of 6 am, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi. Visuals from across the national capital showed a dense haze suspended in the air, making it difficult to see even a short distance ahead and affecting early morning movement. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a dense fog warning for the morning and forenoon hours, with such conditions reported from the Safdarjung observatory. The maximum temperature in the national capital city was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature settled at 8 degrees Celsius. Pollution levels remained alarming across multiple monitoring stations in Delhi. In the Akshardham area, the AQI was recorded at 493, which falls under the 'severe' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Similar conditions were observed in Dwarka Sector-14, where the AQI stood at 469. (With inputs from IANS)
15 December,2025 10:46 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi once again woke up to a thick layer of smog on Monday, as the air quality remained in the 'severe' category across the National Capital Region (NCR), raising serious health concerns for residents, reported news agency IANS. At the same time, visibility dropped sharply in several parts of the region. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 457 as of 6 am, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, reported IANS. Visuals from across the national capital showed a dense haze suspended in the air, making it difficult to see even a short distance ahead and affecting early morning movement. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a dense fog warning for the morning and forenoon hours, with such conditions reported from the Safdarjung observatory. The maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature settled at 8 degrees Celsius. Pollution levels remained alarming across multiple monitoring stations. In the Akshardham area, the AQI was recorded at 493, which falls under the 'severe' category as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Similar conditions were observed in Dwarka Sector-14, where the AQI stood at 469. At Wazirpur, Rohini and Ashok Vihar, the 24-hour average AQI touched 500, the maximum level recorded by monitoring instruments, underscoring the gravity of the pollution crisis gripping the city, reported IANS. According to the pollution board, air quality is categorised as 'moderate' when the AQI ranges between 101 and 200, 'poor' between 201 and 300, and 'very poor' between 301 and 400. When the AQI exceeds 400, air quality is classified as 'severe'. For mitigation measures, levels of 450 and above are termed 'severe plus', though CPCB values do not go beyond 500, a threshold already considered extremely hazardous by the agency. GRAP Stage-IV invoked in Delhi With Delhi's air quality plunging well beyond critical limits, the Commission for Air Quality Management activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan across the entire National Capital Region. The highest level of restrictions comes into force when the AQI crosses 450 and is aimed at preventing further deterioration while reducing public exposure to toxic air. Under GRAP Stage-IV, stringent measures are now in place, including a complete halt on construction and demolition activities across Delhi-NCR. Stone crushers, mining units and associated operations have also been ordered to shut down, as they significantly contribute to dust and fine particulate matter. Restrictions on vehicles have been further tightened, particularly targeting polluting four-wheelers on major urban roads, as authorities scramble to curb emissions amid the worsening air quality situation. (With inputs from IANS)
15 December,2025 09:19 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDelhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) Secretary Ashok Sharma said the police are taking strict measures to ensure security during Lionel Messi's visit, following the chaotic opening event in Kolkata. Messi is set to conclude his GOAT India Tour 2025 in New Delhi on Monday and will participate in multiple events at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Sharma further added that the decision has been made to restrict access to the main ground, allowing only those with permits to enter. This move aims to prevent a repeat of the Kolkata incident. Messi's Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour descended into chaos on Saturday as fans who paid high ticket prices at Salt Lake Stadium's event began throwing bottles and attempting to break the gates between the stands after the Argentine legend left early. Angry fans resorted to vandalism at the Kolkata stadium, alleging poor event management and criticising VIPs and politicians for hogging the football icon's attention and time to the extent that fans did not even get a glimpse of Messi. "The first event that took place in Bengal yesterday, keeping that in mind, we had a meeting with the DCP of our area yesterday. We have made a difficult decision: no one will be allowed on the main ground. Whoever has the permit, they will go. And the way there was a complaint and the way the whole atmosphere was ruined, so looking at that, the police are quite alert," Ashok Sharma, DDCA Secretary, told ANI. Sharma also clarified that the DDCA has rented out the Arun Jaitley Stadium to an event company and is providing the required facilities. He emphasised that the event company is responsible for managing the event and its logistics. "We have given up our ground on rent, and we are giving them what they want. But every responsibility is of the event company that has taken the ground. And as far as his arrival is concerned, Delhi welcomes everyone with open arms," Sharma added. However, Messi's visit to Hyderabad was a fun experience for everyone involved. He took part in a 7-on-7 exhibition football match featuring the state's Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, soaked up the love from a passionate, loud audience, and met the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Similarly, it was a memorable day for cricket and football fans alike present at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium as Lionel Messi graced the venue with his presence as a part of his 'GOAT India Tour' 2025 and met Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri and the country's 'Bharat Ratna', the cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 08:26 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIFour people have been arrested for allegedly posing as police and robbing a man of over Rs 1 lakh, officials said on Sunday. According to the police, the robbery had occurred at the Vidyaranyapura police station limits on December 7. "A person had filed a robbery case stating that when he was alone at home on December 7, three people came to his house and one of them was wearing a Police Sub Inspector uniform, while the other two claimed to be crime constables. They accused the person of indulging in illegal activities like selling ganja," Sajeeth VJ, DCP North East Division Bengaluru said. Speaking to reporters, he said, they threatened him, and took Rs 55,000 cash that was at home and Rs 87,000 through online transfer. The accused persons also searched the house and made a video recording, he said. A case was registered based on a complaint, and four persons have been arrested in this regard. Police have seized a car and a two-wheeler and Rs 45,000 cash from the accused. The accused have been identified as Mallikarjun S (27), Promod V (30), and Vinay H T (36), who posed as police, and Hruthvik P (24), who assisted them, police said. The robbery was allegedly planned based on a tip-off from Hrithvik, who had been observing the victim. According to the DCP, the main accused, Mallikarjun, who is from Ballari district, was a PSI aspirant and had also written the exam for the post in 2021-22, but did not succeed. Since then, he had been posing as a police officer, wearing a uniform, in his village near Siraguppa in Ballari. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 08:20 AM IST | Bengaluru | PTIADVERTISEMENT
