The Congress on Wednesday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED's money laundering charge against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, reported news agency PTI. The opposition party also vowed to expose the "vendetta politics" against its leadership, asserting that the Congress cadre is agitated and is going to show its strength against the "misuse of agencies." "We will keep fighting them both inside and outside Parliament and teach them a lesson," party president Mallikarjun Kharge said at a press conference. In a relief to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and five others, a Delhi court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering charge against them in the National Herald case, holding that the agency's probe stemmed from a private complaint and not an FIR. "I want to say that after this judgement Modi and Shah should resign because it is like a slap on their face. They should give resignation as they should not harass people like this," Kharge said at the press conference, which he addressed with party leaders K C Venugopal, Abhishek Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera, reported PTI. "They should know that if they do such things people will not tolerate it," he said. Kharge said the Congress has been fighting the issue politically by taking out marches when the top leadership was summoned by the probe agencies. "We have been fighting on the streets, in Parliament, outside it, and will continue to do it and teach them a lesson," he said. Venugopal asserted that the Congress will expose the "vendetta politics" of the Modi government. The entire Congress cadre is agitated and will show its strength all over India against the "misuse of agencies." Singhvi said the law has spoken louder than noise, and termed the National Herald case a story of political vendetta and harassment, reported PTI. Delivering his order in a case that was marked by a political slugfest and legal battles for several years, Special Judge Vishal Gogne said the cognisance of the ED's prosecution complaint relating to the offence of money laundering was "impermissible in law." The ED complaint was based on an investigation into a complaint by a private person, Subramanian Swamy, and not on an FIR of a predicate offence, the judge said. The court said it has now become premature and imprudent for it to decide the submissions made by the ED as well as the proposed accused in relation to the merits of the allegations, especially so when cognisance is liable to be declined on a pure question of law. "Other arguments possibly live to fight another day," it said. ED may file appeal against the court's order ED officials said the probe agency may file an appeal against the court's order after taking opinions from law officers, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering. It has been alleged that they acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper. Reacting to the order, the Congress on Tuesday claimed that the "illegality" of the Narendra Modi government and its "politically motivated prosecution stands fully exposed." In a statement, the Congress said the ED's proceedings against Congress leadership -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi -- in the case were found to be "completely illegal and mala fide" by the court. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2025 02:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAccused in the Goa nightclub fire mishap, Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were brought back to Goa on Wednesday by the police. The owners of the North Goa nightclub 'Birch by Romeo Lane' were brought back a day after they were deported from Thailand. The development comes in connection with the tragic fire incident at their nightclub earlier this month that resulted in 25 fatalities. As reported by news agency IANS, the Luthra brothers had fled India shortly after the incident and were brought back to Delhi on Tuesday after being detained by Thai authorities. As per the reports, the Luthra siblings will face legal proceedings, and a thorough investigation will be conducted by the authorities in Goa. The officials said, “Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra boarded an IndiGo flight to Phuketjust hours after a massive fire engulfed Birch by Romeo Lane in the early hours of December 7,” as cited by news agency IANS. The blaze, which reportedly started during a dance performance involving electronic fireworks, led to a fire on the roof. The incident claimed 25 lives, including tourists and staff members, and left several others injured. As soon as the Luthra brothers got to know about the incident at their club in Goa, they went missing. However, they were later located and detained in Phuket on December 11 when they stepped out of their hotel for a meal. The Luthra brothers were subsequently taken to Bangkok, from where they were deported to India. An IndiGo flight carrying them landed in Delhi at around 2 pm on Tuesday. Upon arrival, they were placed under police custody and were produced before a local court in Delhi, where the Goa Police sought transit remand for Goa, reported IANS. Several charges imposed against the Luthra brothers A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with charges of negligence, has been registered against the accused. Investigators allege that the nightclub was functioning in violation of essential fire safety and building norms, which significantly worsened the impact of the fire. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice had earlier been issued against them after they left the country. Furthermore, a police investigation revealed that flammable materials, including bamboo, were extensively used in the construction of the club, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. Additionally, the establishment reportedly had a narrow entry and exit point, which made evacuation difficult and trapped many inside during the blaze. Earlier, on December 11, a Delhi court rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of the Luthra brothers. During the hearing, the Goa Police submitted documents contradicting the brothers’ claims of limited involvement in the business and pre-planned foreign travel. These included applications filed with the FSSAI and Pollution Control Board, as well as GST records naming the brothers as partners. Police also informed the court that the nightclub’s Panchayat licence had expired and was never renewed, and that the venue was operating without valid authorisation at the time of the incident. (With inputs from IANS)
17 December,2025 12:43 PM IST | Goa | mid-day online correspondentA woman from Baramati in Pune district has allegedly been raped by three men in Maharashtra's Beed district after being promised a job, police said. The alleged incident took place six months ago, they said, adding that a case was registered a few days back in this connection against four persons, including a woman. The accused woman lured the victim under the pretext of getting her a job at an arts centre at Ambajogai in Beed district. However, after the victim arrived here, the woman and two other persons assaulted her and forcibly took her to a lodge in the town where three men allegedly raped her, an official from Ambajogai police station said, quoting the victim's complaint. Attempts were also made to force her into prostitution, he said. The victim recently managed to contact her mother, who rushed to Ambajogai, rescued her daughter and took her back to Baramati. A case was subsequently registered at the Baramati police station and transferred to Ambajogai Rural police station on Tuesday for further investigation, the official said. Further probe was on into the case, the police 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.
17 December,2025 11:45 AM IST | Beed (Maharashtra) | PTIThe national capital's air quality saw some improvement on Wednesday morning, with an AQI of 328 as against 377 a day ago, even as smog blanketed the city. The air quality in the city at 9 am was in the 'very poor' category. Out of the 40 air quality monitoring stations recorded, 30 were in the 'very poor' category, with Bawana registering the poorest air quality of 376, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer app. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Several parts of the city were seen covered in smog and fog during the early morning hours, leading to reduced visibility. Delhi's minimum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius on Monday is 2.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature is expected to hover at 24 degrees Celsius. The humidity was recorded at 100 per cent with IMD forecasting moderate fog for the day. Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced strict measures to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital. The minister stated that starting December 18, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be supplied fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi, according to an official release. Addressing the press conference, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "To control tailpipe emissions from vehicles, all petrol/diesel/CNG pump dealers have been instructed to provide fuel only upon presentation of a valid PUCC." He further added, "For the protection of Delhi's air, all vehicles registered outside Delhi and of a category lower than BS-VI will not be allowed to enter Delhi when GRAP-III and GRAP-IV are implemented. No polluting vehicle will be allowed to enter Delhi." He further stated that when GRAP-IV is in force, vehicles carrying any kind of construction material will also be barred from entering Delhi. The Minister said that PUCC and vehicle categories will be verified through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and ground-level checks. While announcing strict measures, he appealed to citizens to carry valid PUCC certificates to avoid inconvenience. Sirsa said the current government has implemented scientific, data-driven measures to control pollution. He said, "In 8 out of the 11 months, better air quality has been recorded compared to the previous year. Even in a critical month like November, the average AQI remained approximately 20 points lower than last year. This is a result of daily stringent actions and structural reforms." Addressing Delhi residents, Sirsa said pollution cannot be entirely eliminated in 9-10 months, but the direction and intent are clear, with daily efforts to reduce the AQI. He urged vehicle owners to obtain valid PUCC certificates and comply with the new rules, stating that the government remains committed to providing Delhi with clean air and a pollution-free future. (With inputs from Agencies)
17 December,2025 10:07 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndiGo on Tuesday night issued a travel advisory for a foggy Wednesday morning, with reduced visibility and slower flight movements expected as misty winter skies blanket North and East India. In a post shared on X, IndiGo said, "As the morning approaches under misty winter skies, fog is predicted across parts of North and East India, which may lead to reduced visibility and a slower pace of flight movements during the early hours. In the interest of safety, some flights may experience delays or adjustments." The airline is taking proactive measures to ensure safety, with some flights likely to be delayed or adjusted. "Our teams across airports are fully prepared and working in close coordination to manage schedules smoothly, assist customers, and maintain a steady flow of operations." Passengers are advised to plan ahead, allowing extra time to reach the airport, and check the latest flight status on IndiGo's website or app. The airline's teams are working tirelessly to manage schedules, assist customers, and maintain smooth operations. "Foggy conditions may also impact road traffic, with slower movement and longer travel times expected while commuting to the airport. Customers travelling early are advised to plan with additional buffer time and check the latest flight status on our website or app before leaving home http://t.co/EeFsEy9IJY," added IndiGo post. Road traffic may also be affected, with slower movement and longer travel times anticipated. IndiGo appreciates customers' patience and trust as they navigate the foggy conditions, expecting visibility to improve as the day progresses. "Thank you for your patience and continued trust as we work steadily through the early hours, with visibility expected to improve as the day progresses,"added IndiGo p;ost oin X. The advisory comes amid widespread fog conditions affecting flight operations in the national capital. Earlier on Tuesday morning, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport issued a fog advisory, warning passengers of possible disruptions to departures and arrivals due to reduced visibility. In a post shared around 6:06 am, Delhi Airport said flight operations were "steadily recovering", but cautioned that disruptions could persist for certain flights. The airport operator advised passengers to contact their respective airlines for accurate, timely schedule updates. Delhi Airport also assured travellers that ground staff and personnel had been deployed across terminals to provide necessary assistance. "We appreciate your cooperation and understanding," the airport said. The situation is further compounded by deteriorating air quality in the national capital. Delhi continued to experience hazardous pollution levels, with the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 378 around 8 am on Tuesday, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Dense fog combined with poor air quality has significantly reduced visibility in the early morning hours, disrupting air traffic and prompting airlines and airport authorities to issue repeated advisories urging passengers to remain vigilant and plan their travel accordingly. 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
17 December,2025 08:25 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIDismissing any uncertainty over leadership in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday reiterated that he will complete his "full term". "We will complete the full term and return to power in 2028...I'm the CM till the high command says," the Karnataka CM said. Speculation over whether DK Shivakumar would be appointed CM by the Congress high command persisted for a few days and was subsequently clarified by the party after the two leaders met for breakfast at each other's residences and held a joint press conference to demonstrate party unity. Earlier, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivkumar dismissed speculation about the nature of a dinner meeting that he had. Shivakumar said, "Who said? There was no dinner meeting or anything. I had gone for a dinner to my former DCC president to pay respect, they contributed a lot to Karnataka, Belgavi. So to honor them, I went along with my friends. There is no other politics." Earlier, the BJP in Karnataka mounted an all-out attack on the Siddaramaiah government in the state, terming the incumbent government as the most unpopular. BJP MLA and Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashoka said, "As compared to Siddaramaiah of 2013, Siddaramaiah of 2025 is the worst. This term is the worst in the history of Karnataka. Totally unpopular." BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that in the tussle between CM Siddaramiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar over the top post, the state's interests have been ignored. 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
17 December,2025 08:10 AM IST | Bengaluru | AgenciesThe West Bengal government on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to senior police officers, including the Directorate General of Police (DGP), over alleged mismanagement during the Lionel Messi event at the Salt Lake stadium last week. The state government also suspended Bidhannagar Deputy Police Commissioner Aneesh Sarkar, a statement from Chief Secretary Manoj Pant’s office said. The actions were taken following the recommendations of the probe panel constituted to investigate the alleged mismanagement during the December 13 event at the Salt Lake football stadium. Meanwhile, West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking relief from the charge of the sports department, amid mounting criticism over the mismanagement of the event. The event, featuring Argentine icon Lionel Messi, ended in chaos after spectators went on a rampage and clashed with police, causing damage to stadium property estimated at around Rs 2 crore. 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
17 December,2025 07:43 AM IST | Kolkata | AgenciesA bill that seeks to guarantee rural jobs for 125 days every year and replace the 20-year-old MNREGA was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan amid strong objections by the opposition to the “removal” of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from it. Chouhan, while introducing the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, said the government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles. Several opposition MPs protested in the Parliament House complex on Tuesday over the bill, as they accused the BJP-led NDA dispensation of “insulting” Mahatma Gandhi and demanded the withdrawal of the proposed legislation. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of attempting to finish off the rural employment guarantee law — Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 — that was implemented by the erstwhile UPA dispensation. “Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, awakened the soul of the country. He played the biggest role in our country’s freedom struggle... Today, the BJP doesn’t have anything new to do, and that is why they are changing the name,” Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the bill an insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, as he accused the Centre of seeking to eliminate the secure livelihood of the rural poor. Opposition members pressed for sending the bill to a parliamentary panel for greater scrutiny. 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
17 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesIn a major setback for Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a court in Nashik on Tuesday upheld the two-year prison sentence awarded to him in a cheating and forgery case dating back to 1995, reported the PTI. The case relates to the alleged submission of fake documents to obtain flats under the state government’s quota. A magistrate’s court had on February 20 convicted Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate, sentencing both to two years’ imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 each. On Tuesday, Nashik District and Sessions Court Judge P M Badar upheld the jail term awarded by the magistrate’s court. The judge observed that the flat obtained by Kokate was not as per prescribed norms and that the state government had been deceived in the process, according to the PTI. Earlier relief set aside by court Following their conviction, the Kokate brothers had filed an appeal. On March 5, a sessions court had stayed the conviction and granted them bail pending the hearing of the appeal. However, the latest order has reinstated the original sentence awarded by the magistrate’s court, as per the PTI. According to the prosecution, Manikrao Kokate and his brother were allotted two flats meant for the Low Income Group (LIG) at College Road in Yeolakar Mala area of Nashik under the Chief Minister’s 10 per cent discretionary quota. To become eligible, the brothers allegedly made false declarations, claiming they belonged to the LIG category and did not own any residential property in the city, the news agency reported. Complaint filed in 1995 The case was registered in 1995 at Sarkarwada police station following a complaint by former minister T S Dighole, who has since passed away. Charges of cheating, forgery and other offences under the Indian Penal Code were filed against the Kokate brothers and two others, reported the PTI. While the magistrate’s court convicted the Kokate brothers, it acquitted the other two accused in the case. Political impact The court’s ruling is seen as a significant blow to the NCP leader, who currently serves as a minister in the Maharashtra government, and could have political and legal consequences in the days ahead, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 11:24 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentBihar Minority Affairs Minister Zama Khan, while defending Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, said that he had acted in a "fatherly" manner when he pulled the hijab off a young woman's face, news agency PTI reported. The incident, which happened on Monday at a function where AYUSH doctors were handed appointment letters, triggered a controversy across social media. "The CM is, perhaps, older than the father of the woman in question. I have a daughter, and I could sense the fatherly affection he had expressed," the Bihar Minister asserted. More than 1000 AYUSH doctors were handed appointment letters at the function, and 10 of them, including a woman Nusrat Parveen, who was wearing a hijab. All the doctors present at the ceremony received appointment letters from Nitish Kumar at the CM's Secretariat. The Bihar CM, who was standing on a raised platform, exclaimed upon seeing Nusrat Parveen, "What is this?" and pulled the veil down, exposing her face." The JDU chief, who is also the longest-serving CM of the state, has been facing flak from political opponents since then. Opposition party members have been alleging that the behaviour was proof that he was not mentally sound and is hence, unfit to govern the state. Khan, while hitting back at the opposition, pointed out, "Only recently has the NDA secured a landslide victory in assembly polls under his leadership. Those trying to create a scandal have a very twisted mindset." "The CM had simply tried to highlight the fact that girls of the minority community, too, are making progress in Bihar. But the mudslingers are causing embarrassment to the poor girl, too," Khan further emphasised. Nitish Kumar’s video went viral on social media The video of the incident went viral, leading to widespread criticism. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulled the veil of a woman while distributing appointment letters to Ayush practitioners. Even Deputy CM tried to stop him. He wouldn't have done this if he was in his sense. There are several such videos of him behaving awkwardly. pic.twitter.com/M3za0FkQFe — Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 15, 2025 The JD(U) leader's act has also attracted political reactions. The Congress described Kumar’s actions as “shameless” while accusing him of disrespecting women in a public setting. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questioned the CM's conduct and judgement. Some politicians also raised concerns over his behaviour at events. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 09:21 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court has directed BSES Rajdhani Power Limited to restore electricity supply to a tenant's premises without insisting on a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the landlords, holding that a pending landlord-tenant dispute cannot be used to deprive a person of a basic amenity. Allowing a writ petition filed by a tenant occupying the third floor of a property in west Delhi, a single-judge bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled that electricity is a basic necessity and an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. "Electricity is a basic necessity and an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," Justice Pushkarna observed, adding that as long as the petitioner is in lawful possession of the premises, he "cannot be deprived of the same". The Delhi High Court noted that although disputes between the petitioner and the landlords are pending before a civil court, "a pending landlord and tenant dispute cannot be the basis for depriving electricity, which is a basic amenity". The petitioner argued that he has been a tenant in the premises since 2016 under registered lease deeds and had been receiving electricity through a meter registered in the landlords’ names. He submitted that the power supply was disconnected on November 28 after temporary financial hardship led to non-payment of dues for September and October 2025, but the outstanding amount was cleared the same day. Despite the clearance of dues, BSES refused to restore the supply due to the absence of an NOC from the landlords, who allegedly declined to cooperate. The Delhi High Court observed that the petitioner’s possession cannot be termed unlawful till an eviction order is passed by a competent court. "No citizen can be expected to live a life devoid of basic necessities such as electricity," Justice Pushkarna said, referring to a catena of judgments protecting access to electricity under Article 21. In its order, the Delhi High Court directed BSES to restore electricity to the third floor from the existing meter without insisting on any NOC from the landlords. It also directed the landlords to cooperate in restoration and permitted the BSES to seek police assistance in case of resistance. Justice Pushkarna also clarified that the order would not be construed as recognising any possessory rights of the petitioner or conferring any special equity in his favour, and would not prejudice the rights and contentions of the parties in their pending disputes. 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
16 December,2025 09:16 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSADVERTISEMENT
