In 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 | IANSThe Goa Police have taken the Luthra brothers, Gaurav and Saurabh, accused in the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire tragedy that claimed 25 lives on December 6, for medical examination, news agency ANI reported. The Luthra brothers were formally arrested by the Goa Police at the New Delhi International Airport on Tuesday after they were deported from Thailand. A team from the Goa Police was present at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to take custody of the brothers. The Luthra brothers will be produced before the Patiala House court in the national capital, after which Goa Police will take them to the state, ANI reported. The siblings, owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, were detained by the Thai Police from a resort in Phuket after India moved to suspend their passports. The Indian authorities then further requested the Thai authorities to deport them. Also, an Indian law enforcement team coordinated formalities for the brothers' return. Extradition treaty between Thailand and India Considering that an extradition treaty between India and Thailand has been in force since 2015. Thai officials stressed that due process was followed as part of the cooperation between the two countries, leading to the prompt, lawful handover of the brothers. The Goa Police had filed a criminal case on December 7 at the Arpora Anjuna Police Station in North Goa against the duo under the relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. The FIR registered against the Luthra brothers stated that on December 6, Gaurav and Saurabh had organised a fire show at Birch by Romeo Lane without taking proper precautions and providing fire safety equipment and other safety measures. The fire show resulted in a blaze, due to which 25 people, including tourists and staff, succumbed to death, and many others were seriously injured. The Luthra brothers, despite knowing that the place lacks emergency exit doors on the ground or deck floors for evacuation in an emergency, organised the fire show, the FIR alleged. (With inputs from ANI)
16 December,2025 08:27 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will contest seats in 27 of the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, in the upcoming civic polls scheduled for January 15, party leader Imtiaz Jaleel said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. AIMIM Maharashtra president Imtiaz Jaleel said that the party has not yet finalised the number of seats it will contest but confirmed that the list of candidates will be announced by December 22 or 23. Speaking to a Marathi news channel in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the former Lok Sabha MP said that the party has expanded its organisational presence across the state. “We now have party units in almost every district. We will contest elections in 27 municipal corporations in Maharashtra,” Jaleel said, according to the PTI. Focus on strongholds Jaleel said the party will focus on regions where it has a strong base. He said Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will be a key focus, noting that AIMIM was the largest opposition party in the city during the previous civic term and had won more seats than the BJP. Apart from Sambhajinagar, the party plans to contest seats in Nanded, Mumbai, Solapur, and several other civic bodies. “We may not contest all seats in every corporation, but we will definitely contest in most of them,” he added. Open to MVA alliance Jaleel said AIMIM remains open to alliances with like-minded parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), provided it is a state-wide tie-up. He also claimed that one of the MVA constituents had approached AIMIM for a pre-poll alliance, though he did not name the party. The MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). “We are still open to an alliance, including with the MVA, but it must be across the state,” Jaleel said, as per the PTI. Over one crore voters in Mumbai to decide civic body's future Meanwhile, over one crore voters in Mumbai will decide who governs the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the next five years when elections to the country’s richest civic body are held next month. The BMC on Tuesday published the final electoral rolls on its official portal, showing a total of 1,03,44,315 voters spread across all 227 wards of Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) announced the election programme on Monday. High-stakes elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including cash-rich Mumbai civic body, will be held on January 15, with counting of votes scheduled for January 16. The upcoming polls will see a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for control of key urban centres in the state. In Mumbai, civic elections are being held almost nine years after the last polls in 2017. The five-year term of BMC corporators ended on March 7, 2022, following which the civic body has been run by an administrator appointed by the state government. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 08:02 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentLeader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday termed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or the VB-G RAM-G Bill, which seeks to replace Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), as an “insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi”, news agency ANI reported. Launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the flagship rural employment scheme, the Congress leader alleged that the Centre had first weakened MGNREGA and was now attempting to dismantle it altogether. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Modi ji has a deep hatred for two things – the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor. MGNREGA is a living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of village self-rule – it is a lifeline for millions of rural lives, which also proved to be their economic safety shield during the COVID era. However, Prime Minister Modi has always been irritated by this scheme, and for the past ten years, he has been trying to weaken it. Today, he is determined to wipe out MGNREGA completely.” Modi ji has a deep dislike for two things - the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor.MGNREGA is the living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj. It has been a lifeline for millions of rural Indians and proved to be a crucial economic safety net… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 16, 2025 The Congress lawmaker also criticised the proposed 60:40 funding pattern between the Union and state governments and the provision allowing suspension of work during peak agricultural seasons, ANI reported. Explaining his objections, he said, “The foundation of MGNREGA was based on three core ideas. One, the right to employment – whoever demands work will get it. Two, freedom for villages to decide their own development works. Three, the central government will bear the full cost of wages and 75 per cent of the material costs.” He alleged that the proposed changes would concentrate power with the Centre. Will oppose this anti-people bill from village lanes all the way to Parliament: Rahul Gandhi “Now, Prime Minister Modi wants to change this very MGNREGA to concentrate all power solely in his own hands. One, the Centre will decide the budget, schemes and rules. Two, states will be forced to bear 40 per cent of the expenses. Three, as soon as the budget is exhausted or during the crop harvest season, no one will get work for two months,” stated the former Congress president. Announcing his party’s stand, Rahul said the Bill would be opposed both inside and outside the Parliament. “This new bill is an insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. The Modi government has already destroyed the future of India’s youth through severe unemployment, and now this bill is a means to eliminate the secure livelihood of the rural poor as well. We will oppose this anti-people bill from the village lanes all the way to Parliament,” his social media post added. The Opposition has objected to the Bill for changing the scheme’s name and removing Mahatma Gandhi’s association with it. Congress Member of Parliament (MP) and Rahul’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other Opposition lawmakers, staged a protest on the Parliament premises earlier in the day, PTI reported. The Bill, introduced by the Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Lok Sabha, proposes to guarantee 125 days of wage employment per rural household, up from the existing 100 days, for adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work. As per Section 22 of the Bill, the cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and states will be 60:40, while for North Eastern states, Himalayan states and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, it will be 90:10. Section 6 of the Bill allows state governments to notify in advance a period aggregating to 60 days in a financial year, covering peak sowing and harvesting seasons, during which no work will be undertaken under the scheme. Earlier, Gandhi Vadra strongly opposed the Bill, asserting that it would “weaken” the original MGNREGA and undermine its assured 100 days of employment. Participating in the Lok Sabha debate, the Wayanad MP said legislation should not be rushed through Parliament without adequate consultation or discussion, alleging that the Bill was being pushed through due to “personal obsession” or “bias”. “The bill should not be rushed through without proper consultation with the House or any discussion. It ought to be withdrawn, and the government should introduce a new bill,” she stated. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi, she added, “Although Mahatma Gandhi was not personally related to me, he was like family. This is the emotion of the entire nation. This bill should be referred to the Standing Committee for detailed examination. No legislation should be pushed through merely due to personal obsession or bias.” (With inputs from ANI)
16 December,2025 07:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIndia recorded 1,13,440 dengue cases and 94 deaths between January and November 2025, the Union government informed Parliament on Tuesday, reported the IANS. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel shared state-wise data on the incidence and fatalities caused by the mosquito-borne disease during the year. According to the data, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of dengue cases at 20,866, followed by Maharashtra with 13,333 cases, and Kerala with 10,239 cases. Kerala also reported the highest number of dengue-related deaths at 49, followed by Maharashtra with 13 deaths, and Tamil Nadu with 12 deaths, the minister said. Dengue over the last five years Patel also shared figures of dengue cases reported nationwide over the past five years, based on data submitted by states and Union Territories to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), according to the IANS. India reported 44,585 dengue cases in 2020, which rose sharply to 1,93,245 cases in 2021 and further to 2,33,251 cases in 2023. In 2024, the country recorded 2,33,519 cases. The number of cases reported in 2025 is the lowest since 2021, the minister noted. Measures taken to control dengue The Centre has taken several steps to help states control the spread of dengue ahead of the next transmission cycle. Patel said the government regularly reviews the situation and preparedness of states at senior levels before the transmission season to ensure timely action, as per the IANS. Technical guidelines on integrated vector management, case management, prevention and control are provided to states and Union Territories for effective implementation. Awareness, training and free testing The government has been imparting training to entomologists on vector management, while ASHA workers are engaged in source-reduction and information, education and communication (IEC) activities to help communities prevent mosquito breeding and protect themselves from bites. Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBCs) are also involved in source-reduction activities, Patel said. She added that advisories and technical guidance are regularly issued to states and Union Territories to improve preparedness for any future outbreak. Free dengue diagnosis is provided to all patients, including the poor and vulnerable sections, the minister informed Parliament. (with IANS inputs)
16 December,2025 06:15 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOne of the suspects in the recent mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia has been identified as a native of Hyderabad, the Telangana Police said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. In a statement, the office of the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) said the that one of the suspect, Sajid Akram, migrated to Australia around 27 years ago and had only limited contact with his family in Hyderabad. The police clarified that the factors which may have led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, do not appear to have any connection with India or any local influence in Telangana, according to the PTI. According to the statement, Sajid Akram completed his Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree in Hyderabad before moving to Australia in November 1998 in search of employment. The Telangana Police said they are in touch with central agencies and are monitoring developments related to the investigation being carried out by Australian authorities. 15 people killed A mass shooting in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State,” Australia’s federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said on Tuesday, AP reported. The suspects, a father and son aged 50 and 24, were identified by authorities. The older man was shot dead, while his son was being treated in hospital on Tuesday. Tuesday’s news conference by political and law enforcement leaders was the first time officials publicly confirmed their assessment of the suspects’ ideologies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the remarks were based on evidence collected, including “the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized”. There are 25 people still receiving treatment in hospitals following Sunday’s massacre, including 10 in critical condition. Three of them are admitted to a children’s hospital. Among the injured is a man who was captured on video tackling and disarming one assailant, before pointing the man’s weapon at him and then setting it on the ground, news agency AP reported. Suspects had visited Philippines last month, say cops The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years and were attending a Hanukkah event at Australia’s most famous beach when gunshots rang out. Albanese, along with state leaders, has pledged to tighten Australia’s already strict gun laws, which would mark the most sweeping reforms since a shooter killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in 1996. Mass shootings in Australia have been rare since then. Officials released more details as public questions and anger grew on the third day after the attack, focusing on how the suspects planned and executed the attack, and whether Australian Jews had been adequately protected amid rising antisemitism. Albanese announced plans to further restrict access to firearms, noting that the older suspect had legally amassed a cache of six weapons. “The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or ableness of their victims,” Barrett said, adding, “It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally.” The suspects travelled to the Philippines last month, said Mal Lanyon, Police Commissioner for New South Wales. Their reasons for the trip and the locations visited in the Philippines will be investigated. Lanyon also confirmed that a vehicle removed from the scene, registered to the younger suspect, contained improvised explosive devices. “I also confirm that it contained two homemade ISIS flags,” Lanyon added. (With PTI and AP inputs)
16 December,2025 05:27 PM IST | Hyderabad | mid-day online correspondentAfter Kolkata’s air pollution level surged past that of Delhi for the past seven days in a row, environmentalists and experts have called for a wider network of automatic air quality monitoring stations, news agency IANS reported. Experts and environmentalists suggested monitoring stations should be functional in the densely populated and traffic-heavy areas to capture a more accurate picture of the city’s air quality. Green technologist and environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh said that Kolkata needed at least 20 automatic air quality monitoring stations across the metropolitan area to obtain reliable, real-time data. “The seven automatic air quality monitoring stations that we have here were not set up in proper places. We need such stations in densely populated areas and highly congested places such as Moulali and Shyambazar,” Ghosh emphasised. “In the absence of automatic stations, manual machines are used to get data from these areas. But we need automatic stations so that real-time data is received. This will give us the real picture of the city’s air quality,” he added. Kolkata's AQI in 'hazardous' category Kolkata recorded higher pollution levels than Delhi between December 6 and 11. On December 11, at 6.04 p.m., the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touched a hazardous 439, while Delhi’s highest AQI that day was 345 at midnight, reported IANS. During the 24-hour period from midnight on December 10 to midnight on December 11, Kolkata’s lowest AQI was recorded at 3.04 p.m. at 207, while Delhi logged its lowest AQI of the day at 4.04 p.m. at 169. Furthermore, after 11 pm on December 11, Kolkata’s AQI shot up sharply, reaching 558. The PM10 levels stood at 239 units against a permissible limit of 100 units, while PM2.5 levels were recorded at 188 units, well above the permissible limit of 60 units, IANS reported. In response to the worsening situation, Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha, also known as the West Bengal Science Forum, expressed concern and appealed to the State Pollution Control Board and the departments of Health, Labour, and Child Welfare to take immediate steps to curb pollution. The forum, while releasing a statement, highlighted, “We have observed that the level of air pollution in Kolkata has reached an alarming state, which is extremely harmful to health. In this situation, the West Bengal Science Forum demands that the State Pollution Control Board immediately issue necessary guidelines for the public." “The Pollution Control Board and Health Department should develop necessary joint measures regarding public health. The Labour Department should take necessary steps concerning working people who work outdoors. The government should give utmost importance to the health of children, adolescents, women, and the elderly,” the forum added. (With inputs from IANS)
16 December,2025 05:25 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while speaking in the Parliament Winter Session, highlighted that the global growth is 3.2 per cent and India is growing at 8.2 per cent. She Sitharaman further indicated that India is becoming the fastest-growing major economy, and every global institution is raising their growth outlook for the country in the current fiscal year (FY26), news agency IANS reported. Sitharaman also stressed that “no dead economy gets a credit rating upgrade”. She further stated that “India got rating upgrades from three major global agencies." "IMF's Chief Kristalina Georgieva said recently, 'I'm very big on India because of the boldness of their reforms… India has proven the naysayers wrong’,” the Union Finance Minister told the House. Despite Covid-19, a once-in-a-century pandemic, India has remained the fastest-growing major economy continuously for three to four years. The Union Finance Minister also said, “Is it not something that the people of India should be recognised for? India had to deal with high twin deficits – both the fiscal deficit, which was 4.9 per cent in FY13, and the current account deficit (CAD), which was 4.8 per cent in FY13. WPI inflation in food articles averaged 12.2 per cent annually in the five years ending 2013-14." India emerges as major exporter for electronics Sitharaman further stated that India has emerged as a net exporter in sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods and defence. While putting up the numbers, she also emphasised, “In 2014-15, the production of electronics goods was Rs 1.9 lakh crore. In 2024-25, it is Rs 11.3 lakh crore. In 2014-15, exports of electronics goods were Rs 38,000 crore. In 2024-25, it is Rs 3.27 lakh crore. In 2014-15, there were 2 mobile manufacturing units. In 2024-25, it has increased to 300." The Finance Minister also added, “Actual household consumption shows that the bottom 40 per cent (B40) of the population is acquiring wealth and assets at a significantly faster rate than the Top 20 per cent (T20).” Sitharaman, while asserting that growth over the last decade has been broad-based, also added, “Inequality in asset ownership has massively declined, particularly in urban areas where the disparity for key assets like motor vehicles and refrigerators has shrunk dramatically. The rural poor have experienced a significant growth in purchasing power." (With inputs from IANS)
16 December,2025 05:25 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA sub-inspector at Simbhavali police station in Hapur district is among the accused in an extortion case in Amroha, officials said on Tuesday. The sub-inspector, identified as Nitin Kumar Verma, and another accused, Naveen Verma, are absconding. Four other members of the gang have been arrested, the officials said. The arrested include Khalid (42) and Deepak (34), both history-sheeters, Lakhan (45), and a woman, Kaushar (30). Police seized Rs 20,000 in cash and a mobile phone used in the crime during the arrests. According to police, the gang extorted Rs 1.25 lakh from the complainant, Naim, from Sambhal district, by threatening to frame him in a false rape case. The victim was called on the pretext of buying a plot and intimidated before the money was taken from his family. A case has been registered at Gajraula police station under sections 308(5) and 308(7) (extortion), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 317(2) (stolen property) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said, adding that raids are underway to arrest the absconding accused. Meanwhile, Circle Officer of Garh Mukteswar, Stuti Singh, said sub-inspector Nitin Kumar Verma has been suspended. 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 04:49 PM IST | Amroha (UP) | PTIADVERTISEMENT
