Three people were found dead in a car on the Peeragarhi flyover in the national capital on Sunday, police said. All three victims have been identified and one of them is also the vehicle's owner. A PCR call was received at approximately 15:50 hrs reporting that three individuals inside a car near the service lane of the flyover were unresponsive. According to the Delhi police, "Three bodies, of two men and one woman, were found earlier today at the Peeragarhi flyover in outer Delhi. Preliminary investigation suggests it is a case of suicide." Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer District) Sachin Sharma told ANI that the investigation is underway. "We recieved a call around 4 pm about a car with three bodies, none of whom were responding. It doesn't seem that something forceful happened. We are still investigating," Sharma told ANI. Police said there are no visible signs of injury on the bodies, and preliminary investigation suggests it is a case of suicide. More details are awaited. 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.
09 February,2026 12:28 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIAt least six people were injured on February 8, Sunday, after a speeding Lamborghini, allegedly driven by the son of a prominent tobacco trader, rammed into pedestrians and two-wheelers on VIP Road in Kanpur’s upscale Gwaltoli area, news agency PTI reported, quoting the police. “The accident occurred around 3.15 pm near Rev-3 Mall when the luxury car, reportedly driven by Shivam Mishra, the son of businessman K K Mishra, went out of control and ploughed into people standing along the roadside and several vehicles, triggering panic in the area,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Atul Kumar Srivastava said. Eyewitnesses said the car first hit an autorickshaw and then crashed into a parked Royal Enfield motorcycle. The impact of the crash was such that the rider was thrown nearly 10 feet into the air, PTI reported. The car mounted the motorcycle’s front wheel and dragged it for some distance before hitting an electric pole and coming to a halt. One of the injured, Taufiq, a resident of Yamunaganj, was thrown several metres and suffered serious leg injuries, the police said. Others sustained fractures and bruises, PTI reported. Angry locals gathered at the spot and surrounded the car, forcing the driver to remain inside. Witnesses alleged that private bouncers accompanying the accused tried to push back the crowd and behaved aggressively, escalating tensions. Kanpur Lamborghini accident: Police going soft due to family's influence, claim locals The police rushed to the scene, rescued the driver, and shifted him along with the injured to a private hospital. The damaged Lamborghini was seized and taken to the police station, officers said. A chaotic situation later unfolded at the police station as the injured and locals alleged misbehaviour by the accused’s associates and claimed that the police were going soft due to the family’s influence. Some protesters also alleged that pressure was being exerted for a compromise and that there was a delay in registering a case. One of the injured, Sonu Tripathi, told mediapersons that he and his cousin were standing near their parked motorcycle when the car hit them. “My cousin was thrown off the bike, and two others were flung onto the footpath. We have filed a complaint,” said Tripathi. DCP Srivastava said the vehicle has been seized and further action would be taken based on the complaint. “The injured were provided primary treatment. An FIR will be registered, and further legal action will follow,” he added. KK Mishra runs Banshidhar Exports Pvt Ltd, a firm engaged in supplying tobacco to gutkha manufacturers in the region. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 11:44 AM IST | Kanpur | mid-day online correspondentUS President Donald Trump has said that India and the US have agreed on a trade deal under which Washington will bring down reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent. The announcement is important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods entering American markets from August 27, 2025. India-US trade deal: Key points to know about the announcement Tariff definitionThese are customs or import duties which a country imposes on goods bought from other nations. An importer has to pay this duty to the government. Normally, companies pass on these taxes to end users or consumers. Import duty makes goods expensive in the importing country. Besides, a few other factors also play a role in this. For example, duty on India's competitor nations such as Bangladesh (20 pc), Vietnam (20 pc) and Thailand (19 pc); and quality and standards of items. USA'S tariffs on India:In August 2025, the US announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff plus another 25 per cent punitive duty for buying Russia's crude oil and military equipment. These duties are imposed over and above the existing tariffs that the Indian goods are facing in the US. The US has reduced the duty to 18 per cent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he was delighted that "made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent". Why is US imposing tariffs:The US has alleged that it faces a significant trade deficit with India, blaming New Delhi for imposing high tariffs on American goods, which it says restricts US exports to the Indian market. Trump's announcement:"It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi, of India...We spoke about many things, including Trade...He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela. This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25 percent to 18 percent. "They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO. The Prime Minister also committed to "BUY AMERICAN," at a much higher level, in addition to over 500 billion dollars of US Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products," Trump has said in a social media post. Details of the deal:No details are available so far. An executive order from the US may provide clarity on the tariff issues, the trade deal document is expected to outline the sectors covered under the agreement. Both are awaited. Gains for India: Labour-intensive sectors such as garments, leather and non-leather footwear, gems and jewellery, carpets and handicrafts may get a boost as high tariffs were hurting exports of these goods to the US. Bilateral trade:During 2021-25, the US was India's largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in bilateral trade. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade touched USD 186 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports). With America, India had a trade surplus (the difference between imports and exports) of USD 41 billion in 2024-25. It was USD 35.32 billion in 2023-24 and USD 27.7 billion in 2022-23. In services, India exported an estimated USD 28.7 billion and imported USD 25.5 billion, adding a USD 3.2 billion surplus.Altogether, India ran a total trade surplus of about USD 44.4 billion with the US. Major products traded between the two:In 2024, India's main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), vehicle and auto components (USD 2.8 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made garments of cotton, including accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and products of iron and steel (USD 2.7 billion). Imports included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal, coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion). Services trade:As per estimates, USA's services imports from India amounted to USD 40.6 billion in calendar year 2024, with computer/information services imports at USD 16.7 billion and business management/consulting at USD 7.5 billion. High tariffs in US:As per reports, the US imposes high duties on items like dairy products (188 per cent), fruits and vegetables (132 per cent), coffee, tea, cocoa and spices (53 per cent), Cereals and food preparations (193 per cent), Oilseeds, fats and oils (164 per cent), beverages and tobacco (150 per cent), Minerals and metals (187 per cent), and Chemicals (56 per cent). Comments of experts on India-US trade deal:EPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council) Chairman A Sakthivel: This development is expected to give a boost to apparel exports, attract fresh investments across the value chain, and reinforce India's position as a reliable global sourcing hub. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan: It is expected to lead to an immediate and substantial release of orders that were earlier put on hold, particularly in labour-intensive sectors such as apparel, textiles, leather and footwear. 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.
09 February,2026 11:14 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Monday extended birthday greetings to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde, lauding his tireless efforts towards the state’s development. PM Modi took to social media platform X to convey his wishes and recalled Shinde’s association with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and late leader Anand Dighe. “Birthday wishes to Shri Eknath Shinde Ji. He is working tirelessly towards furthering Maharashtra’s development and realising the dreams of Pujya Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharamveer Anand Dighe. Praying for his long life and good health,” PM Modi posted. Birthday wishes to Shri Eknath Shinde Ji. He is working tirelessly towards furthering Maharashtra’s development and realising the dreams of Pujya Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharamveer Anand Dighe. Praying for his long life and good health.@mieknathshinde — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2026 Several senior leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, also greeted Shinde on his birthday. Shah in his message highlighted Shinde’s contribution to public welfare and the development of Maharashtra. “Heartiest birthday wishes to Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde. You are continuously doing commendable work towards the development of the state and public welfare. May Ganpati Bappa grant you good health and long life,” stated the Union Home Minister. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh CM, describing Shinde as a popular leader, wrote, “Happy Birthday to the popular politician, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde ji. I pray to Lord Siddhivinayak ji for your good health, long and glorious life,” he said. Shinde was born on February 9, 1964, in Dare village of Maharashtra’s Satara district, into a Maratha family. His family later moved to Thane, on the outskirts of Mumbai, where he was brought up. He studied up to Class 11 at Mangala High School and Junior College in Thane and reportedly left school early to support his family financially. Before entering politics, Shinde worked as an auto-rickshaw driver. He resumed his studies in 2014 and, in 2020, completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University. Shinde’s political journey began in the early 1980s after he was introduced to politics by Anand Dighe, then Shiv Sena president in Thane. In his early years, he led several Shiv Sena agitations in the Wagle Estate area and emerged as a prominent labour leader. In 1984, he was appointed Sakha Pramukh in Thane, a key organisational position in the party. His influence in local politics grew steadily, leading to his entry into municipal politics. In 1997, he was elected as a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation, and in 2001, he became the Leader of the House in the civic body. Following Anand Dighe’s death in 2001, Shinde emerged as his political heir in Thane and gradually consolidated his base. His rise in local politics paved the way for his entry into the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Shinde was first elected as an MLA in 2004 and was appointed Shiv Sena’s Thane district head the following year. He was re-elected to the assembly in 2009, 2014, and 2019. During his legislative career, Shinde held several key ministerial portfolios. From 2014 to 2019, he served as Maharashtra's Minister for Public Works (Public Undertakings) and was also the Thane Guardian Minister. In 2018, he was appointed Leader of the Shiv Sena in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. In 2019, he took charge as Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare and later held additional portfolios, including Urban Development and Public Works. He also served briefly as the acting Minister of Home Affairs. During this period, particularly during Devendra Fadnavis’ first term as chief minister, Shinde is believed to have developed closer ties with the BJP leadership. In 2022, Shinde led a revolt within the Shiv Sena, resulting in a split in the party. He pushed for the breakup of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and the re-alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing ideological differences and dissatisfaction over the Congress and NCP’s treatment of the Shiv Sena. Surat move, Sena split and consolidation of power His views were reportedly shared by a majority within the party, and he secured the support of more than two-thirds of the Shiv Sena MLAs. In June 2022, Shinde and several MLAs moved to Surat in Gujarat, triggering a major political crisis in Maharashtra that culminated in the resignation of then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Soon thereafter, Shinde formed a government with the BJP and was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra in June 2022, with Devendra Fadnavis taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Following his assumption of office, Shinde staked claim to the Shiv Sena party name and symbol, leading to a prolonged legal battle with the Uddhav Thackeray faction. Subsequently, the Election Commission of India recognised Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena. The Election Commission also criticised amendments made to the party constitution under Uddhav Thackeray in 2018, terming them undemocratic and excessively centralised. Under Shinde’s leadership, the Shiv Sena won seven seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In 2024, Shinde took oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government. (With IANS inputs)
09 February,2026 11:06 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 16-year-old girl from Geeta Colony in Delhi has died after allegedly consuming acid. According to her father, Nand Kishore, the incident occurred on October 29, 2025, and she died while being taken to the hospital for treatment. He claimed that a relative, his cousin's brother-in-law, who lives on the floor below, had given the acid to her. "My daughter was made to drink acid on 29 October. My cousin's brother-in-law had given it to her. He lives on the floor below mine. She would have turned 16 on 8 March. The police say they are investigating. She died while I was taking her to the hospital," he told ANI. However, the Shahdara police clarified that a medico-legal case was filed at Maulana Azad Hospital on 29 October 2025, where the record only mentioned "acid ingestion", and no history of assault was reported. "At that time, the girl and her mother stated that she had ingested the acid voluntarily following an argument with her husband, Bhura alias Subhash, a resident of Thiryasalahpur village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh." Police said that later, on January 29, the victim's mother lodged a complaint at Geeta Colony Police Station, alleging that her daughter had been sexually assaulted by Bhura and forced to consume acid on 29 October 2025. Based on this complaint, a case was registered under Sections 65 and 351(2) of the BNS and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. "The victim reportedly gave contradictory statements before the magistrate regarding the acid ingestion," police said. Following the incident, the girl was not admitted to any hospital and stayed at her parents' home. On 7 February 2026, her father brought her to the emergency department of LNJP Hospital, where she was declared dead. An autopsy was conducted the following day, on February 8, police said. Further details are awaited. 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
09 February,2026 10:26 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIAn earthquake of magnitude 3.3 struck Bangladesh in the early hours of Monday, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). Sharing the details in a post on X, the NCS said that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 45 kilometres at 04:50 IST. "EQ of M: 3.3, On: 09/02/2026 04:50:03 IST, Lat: 25.08 N, Long: 92.03 E, Depth: 45 Km, Location: Bangladesh." Earlier, on February 1, an earthquake of magnitude 3.0 had struck Bangladesh. Bangladesh faces a high risk of major earthquakes due to its location along three active tectonic plate faults, experts warned recently following major tremors on December 4, 2025, stressing that preparedness, public awareness, and modern technology are crucial to reducing casualties and damage, 'The Daily Star' reported following an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 at Dhaka. Bangladesh sits at a highly active junction of three tectonic plates: the Indian, Eurasian, and Burma plates. The Indian plate moves northeast at about 6 cm per year, while the Eurasian plate moves northward at around 2 cm per year over it. EQ of M: 3.3, On: 09/02/2026 04:50:03 IST, Lat: 25.08 N, Long: 92.03 E, Depth: 45 Km, Location: Bangladesh. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/OeOFhlaUd5 — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) February 8, 2026 The country lies near several major fault lines, including the Bogura fault, Tripura fault, Shillong Plateau, Dauki fault, and Assam fault, placing it within 13 earthquake-prone zones. Areas such as Chattogram, the Chattogram Hill Tracts and Jaintiapur in Sylhet fall in the highest-risk category. Dhaka, with more than 30,000 people per square kilometre, is one of the densest cities in the world and has been identified as one of the 20 most earthquake-vulnerable cities globally, according to The Daily Star. 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
09 February,2026 10:22 AM IST | Dhaka | ANIFormer Communist Party of India leader and ex-MLC Kedar Pandey's son, Pushkar Anand, joined the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday in Patna, in the presence of the party's state president, Umesh Kushwaha. Speaking to ANI, Anand praised the Chief Minister's education initiatives and emphasised the role of youth in supporting the government's vision. "The reforms the Chief Minister has implemented in the education sector are commendable. Young people need to come forward and further the Chief Minister's vision. My endeavour will be to utilise the position he has given me to advance his efforts in the best interest of the state," Pushkar Anand said. Umesh Kushwaha highlighted the enduring impact of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's leadership. "The work that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has done over the past 20 years is the reason why today everyone wants to join our party. In that same vein, Pushkar Anand has joined the party," he told ANI. Earlier on January 29, in a significant boost to women's empowerment, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Thursday that the state government has begun providing additional financial aid of up to Rs 2 lakh to eligible women entrepreneurs under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, aimed at fostering self-reliance among one woman per household. In a post on X, CM Nitish Kumar shared a comprehensive update on the flagship scheme. "All of you know that we have launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana' to empower and make the women of the state self-reliant. The main objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to the women of the state for self-employment, so that one woman from each family can establish herself as an entrepreneur," CM said. The launch of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana will feature a statewide program across multiple administrative levels in the State district, block, cluster, and village, with over 1 crore women witnessing the programme. 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
09 February,2026 10:14 AM IST | Patna | ANIAs board examinations draw closer, anxiety, pressure, and unrealistic expectations often grip not just students, but families as well. At this critical time, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pune, Manoj Patil offers reassurance rooted in lived experience rather than textbook advice. A senior IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, Patil is known for disciplined policing and administrative reforms. His views on education, failure, mental health, and life choices resonate deeply because his own academic journey was far from perfect. He recalled scoring just 55 per cent in his Std X SSC board exams. “That did not mean I was incapable,” he explained. “In Std XII, I worked hard and scored over 90 per cent in the science stream. I was eligible for both medical and engineering courses and was on the merit list.” Patil went on to study Computer Science Engineering at Walchand College of Engineering, graduating in 1992. “If I had judged myself only by my Std X results, I would never have reached where I am today,” he said. “Scoring fewer marks in one year does not end your life or career.” Ability, not self worth “Exams are not your entire life,” Patil said. He strongly criticised the growing trend of students slipping into depression after difficult exams. “It is completely wrong for students to lose hope or take extreme steps. Suicide is never the answer.” Parents and teachers, he added, play a crucial role. “They must repeatedly tell children that exams alone do not decide a career. A student may not excel academically but could be outstanding in other fields. That does not mean they should stop studying. It means marks are not the only measure of worth.” Myth of perfect marks Patil also speaks about unrealistic expectations. “Today, many parents insist on specific marks. Even a difference of two or four marks causes disappointment. Often, expectations are not realistic.” “Every child is unique,” he said. “Parents and teachers must understand that.” While marks may help secure a first job, Patil stresses that long-term success depends on behaviour, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. Mental health One of Patil’s biggest concerns is emotional isolation among students. “If a child is withdrawn or depressed, it is extremely important to talk to them and encourage them to open up.” He urged families not to ignore behavioural changes and to seek professional help when needed. Patil explained how anxiety often sabotages even well-prepared students. “Many students blank out while writing papers. After the exam, they say, ‘I knew this, but I didn’t write it.’” Exam writing, he believes, is a skill. “Read the question carefully. Understand what is being asked. Write answers according to the demand of the question. Writing without clarity only increases fear.” Patil also warned against reducing education to rote learning. “You may mug up answers and score marks, but understanding is what truly matters.”
09 February,2026 10:12 AM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalThe Delhi Police has arrested two men in connection with a digital arrest scam linked to at least 190 cyber fraud complaints and suspected proceeds of over Rs 100 crore, police said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Anish Singh and Mani Singh, were arrested after a woman filed a complaint by a woman who paid them Rs 40 lakh. According to the police, the victim was kept under digital arrest between October 15 and December 12, last year. An investigation was taken up following which the police team reconstructed digital trail and traced several suspicious bank accounts and UPI IDs linked to shell entities operating across multiple states. Transaction analysis revealed layered fund movement, and data showed 190 complaints involving over Rs 100 crore linked to the account. 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
09 February,2026 10:07 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesUDF convenor Adoor Prakash on Sunday alleged that some officials in the SIT probing the Sabarimala gold loss case were leaking information to the media at the behest of the LDF government. The Congress MP was responding to reporters’ questions on his recent interrogation by the SIT over his alleged links with the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty in the case. The SIT is probing two cases related to the loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the doorframes of the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) at the hill shrine. 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
09 February,2026 09:17 AM IST | Kollam | AgenciesTwo Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were found in a car near an eatery in Maharashtra’s Solapur district on Saturday night, officials said on Sunday. The machines were later confirmed to be reserve devices that had not been used in the day’s voting, reported the PTI. The discovery came during elections for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra, including Solapur. The EVMs were discovered around midnight near Hotel Swarajya in Mohol town. The car had been hired for an official on election duty. The incident prompted allegations of possible tampering from several political parties, raising concerns about the transparency of the election process. Following the alert, the election returning officer, tehsildar and police personnel reached the spot. An inquiry revealed that the machines were “reserve” EVMs and had not been used for voting on Saturday. Both devices were found in sealed condition, as per the PTI. The official added that all EVMs used for voting were deposited in the strong room by 10.30 pm on Saturday. An NCP candidate demanded a detailed investigation into the incident, saying it raised questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. Three officials suspended after Sena MLA votes in minor son's presence Three officials deployed for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections were suspended on Sunday after Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre took his minor son inside an EVM booth in Paithan taluka, violating voting secrecy and election norms, according to the PTI. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Pachod polling booth, where the fingers of both Bhumre and his son were inked after voting. A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting district collector and returning officer Dilip Swami to order an inquiry. According to a release issued by the district administration, the presiding officer of booth number 58/7, Dilipa Narwade, booth officer Sangita Kedar, and home guard Renuka Bomble have been suspended until the inquiry report is submitted. Narwade and Kedar are school teachers who were drafted for election duty. MLA down plays incident Bhumre, the MLA from Paithan, dismissed concerns over the incident when questioned by reporters. He said his son only wanted ink on his finger while Bhumre was being marked after voting and claimed the child was too young to understand anything about EVMs. Collector Dilip Swami said the probe was ordered after the video surfaced and was reported by the media. The officer in charge of Paithan taluka has been asked to submit a detailed explanation of the sequence of events. The collector assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the violation. (with PTI inputs)
08 February,2026 11:20 PM IST | Solapur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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