Several Opposition MPs on Wednesday protested in Parliament premises over the National Herald case. The Congress MPs hold posters bearing the slogan "Satyamev Jayate; Truth prevails!". Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also took part in a protest against the goverment doing vendetta Politics in the National Herald. Earlier today, Karnataka Congress leaders also staged protests near the Gandhi statue at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi against the Central government over the National Herald case and the decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as VB-G Ram G. During the protest, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the National Herald was closely linked to India's freedom movement. "The National Herald is the pride of the country, established by Jawaharlal Nehru during the freedom movement," he said, questioning the actions of central agencies in the case. "Justice has prevailed. BJP should stop this vindictive politics," Shivakumar added. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the National Herald case was being pursued with "political vendetta" by the ruling government, asserting that the matter was aimed solely at harassing the Gandhi family. Addressing the media on the issue, Kharge said there was no basis to the allegations and claimed that no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered in the case. "They are doing this for a political vendetta. This case is only to trouble the Gandhi family. There is no FIR in this case...Our slogan is 'Satyamev Jayate', and we welcome the judgment in the case," Kharge said. On Tuesday, the Delhi court declined to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's prosecution complaint in the National Herald money-laundering case, holding that proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) are not maintainable in the absence of an FIR for the scheduled (predicate) offence. 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 07:08 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | ANITaking a serious note of the severe air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday issued a slew of directions and asked the NHAI and the MCD to consider either temporarily closing or relocating the nine toll plazas at borders of the national capital, news agency PTI reported. The step has been proposed to ease usual massive traffic congestion. Describing the pollution crisis as an "annual feature", the apex court called for pragmatic solutions to tackle the menace. The Supreme Court, however, refused to interfere with the Delhi Government's decision to close schools for students from nursery to Class 5, holding that no further tinkering was required as the winter break was already approaching, PTI reported. In an effort to ease vehicular congestion at Delhi's borders, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to consider shifting or temporarily closing nine toll plazas located at entry points to the capital. Furthermore, the civic corporation was specifically directed to take a decision within one week on whether these toll plazas could be shut temporarily to facilitate smoother traffic flow and reduce vehicular emissions, PTI reported. The bench underscored the need for effective implementation of existing measures rather than merely framing protocols that are not complied with. During arguments, the Chief Justice asserted, "Let us think of pragmatic and practical solutions to the menace." The CJI further noted that while preventive mechanisms exist, their enforcement has been consistently weak. Taking note of the impact of pollution-related restrictions on livelihood, the bench directed the Delhi Government to urgently verify construction workers rendered idle due to curbs and ensure that financial assistance is directly transferred to their bank accounts. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi Government, informed the bench that around 7000 workers have so far been verified out of nearly 2.5 lakh registered construction workers and assured that money would be transferred to their accounts directly. However, the bench cautioned against any leakages in the process, while stating that "it should not be that money transferred to workers' accounts disappears or travels to another account". The apex court has also asked the Delhi Government to consider providing alternative work to construction workers who are unable to earn due to restrictions imposed to curb pollution. Moreover, the Supreme Court of India has directed CAQM and NCR governments to examine critical issues such as urban mobility, traffic management, and incentivising farmers to prevent stubble burning, stressing that piecemeal approaches would not resolve the crisis. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2025 06:42 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentRailways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while speaking on the floor of the House during the Parliament Winter Session on Wednesday, informed the Lok Sabha that passengers need to pay charges for carrying luggage beyond the prescribed free allowance limits while travelling by train, news agency PTI reported. He was responding to questions raised by MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, who sought to know whether Railways would implement baggage regulations for train passengers on the lines of practice being followed at airports. Vaishnaw, while filing a written reply at the lower house, stated, "At present, a class-wise maximum limit has been prescribed for the carriage of luggage by the passenger along with him/her inside the compartments." The Union Railways Minister also presented a class-wise free allowance and maximum limits in a tabular format. Class-wise luggage norms explained According to the information shared by Vaishnaw, here's a breakdown of how much luggage a passenger can carry on different classes. While submitting a written reply, the minister asserted that passengers can carry a certain amount of weight without paying any extra sum. He also put a cap on the maximum weight of the luggage permissable onboard. Class Maximum luggage weight without paying extra Second Class 35 kg Sleeper Class 40 kg AC-3 40 kg AC-2 50 kg AC-1 70 kg Vaishnaw, while highlighting the changes, also said that "the maximum limit includes free allowance", as cited by news agency PTI. Class Maximum luggage that a passenger can carry Second Class 70 kg Sleeper Class 80 kg AC-3 40 kg AC-2 100 kg AC-1 150 kg The Union Minister added, "Passengers are allowed to book and carry excess luggage beyond the free allowance with him/her in the compartment up to the maximum limit as per class as tabulated above on payment of charges at 1.5 times the luggage rate.” According to Vaishnaw, trunks, suitcases and boxes having outside measurements of 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm (length x breadth x height) are allowed to be carried in the passenger compartments as personal luggage. The minister further clarified, "If the trunks, suitcases and boxes whose outside measurement exceeds any one of the dimensions, such articles are required to be booked and carried in the brakevan (SLRs)/parcel vans and not in the passengers' compartments." He reiterated that the Railways' norms that excess luggage, over and above the prescribed limit, is carried in the brake van (SLRs) of the trains, subject to the maximum limit prescribed to be booked in brake vans as luggage. (With inputs from PTI)
17 December,2025 06:22 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA district court in Nashik issued an arrest warrant against Maharashtra Sports Minister and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday in connection with a cheating and forgery case dating back to 1995, reported the PTI. The warrant followed a day after the sessions court upheld the two-year prison sentence awarded to him by a magistrate’s court earlier this year. The arrest warrant was issued after Anjali Dighole-Rathod, daughter of the original complainant and former Maharashtra minister late T S Dighole, filed an application seeking Kokate’s arrest. Kokate was not present during the proceedings, according to the PTI. Nashik District and Sessions Court Judge P M Badar directed Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rupali Nadvadia to take action, following which the arrest warrant was issued. Nashik police are expected to initiate further proceedings, the news agency reported. Kokate moves Bombay High Court, hearing on Friday Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Kokate approached the Bombay High Court challenging his conviction and sentence. His counsel, Aniket Nikam, sought an urgent hearing before a single bench of Justice R N Laddha. While the plea was mentioned, the court scheduled the hearing for Friday and did not pass any interim order, as no immediate stay on the conviction was sought, as per the PTI. The High Court indicated it would consider Kokate’s plea seeking suspension of the conviction at the next hearing. Background of the case against Maharashtra minister The case relates to the alleged submission of forged documents by Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate to obtain flats under a state government housing quota meant for the Low Income Group (LIG). According to the prosecution, the brothers falsely claimed that they belonged to the economically weaker section and did not own any residential property in Nashik. The flats were allotted in 1994 under the chief minister’s 10 per cent discretionary quota in the College Road and Vise Mala areas of Nashik. Conviction On February 20 this year, a magistrate’s court convicted Kokate and his brother and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment, along with a fine of ₹50,000 each. While two other accused in the same case were acquitted, the Kokate brothers were found guilty of cheating and forgery. In March, a sessions court stayed the conviction and granted bail pending appeal. However, on Tuesday, the sessions court upheld the magistrate’s order, observing that Kokate had “dishonestly induced” the state government to allot him a flat meant for economically weaker sections, and noted that he was a “prosperous” farmer at the time. The sessions court upheld convictions under Indian Penal Code Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), and 471 (using forged documents), while granting partial acquittal under Sections 467 and 474. Political implications Asked about Kokate’s status as an MLA following the conviction, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said he had not yet received a certified copy of the court order. Kokate’s counsel told the High Court that the conviction could result in the loss of his ministerial position. (with PTI inputs)
17 December,2025 06:20 PM IST | Nashik (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentThe families of freedom fighters from Kerala who participated in the Goa Liberation Movement will be honoured at a special function to be held at Lok Bhavan here on Friday evening. The programme, scheduled for 4 pm on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, will be attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, a Lok Bhavan statement said on Wednesday. The event aims to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the state's freedom fighters to the national struggle, preserve and popularise the historical legacy of Goa's liberation among the public and younger generations, and reinforce the values of patriotism and national unity, it said. According to the statement, the Goa Liberation Movement marked a decisive chapter in India's post-Independence history. The movement culminated in 1961 with the end of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, following years of coordinated political, cultural and armed resistance, it said. Freedom fighters from across the country, including Kerala, played a significant role in strengthening the struggle. A large number of Malayalis actively participated in the movement, with activists from political organisations such as the Jana Sangh, the Praja Socialist Party and the Communist Party taking the lead. Many volunteers were subjected to severe repression and violence by Portuguese authorities, the statement said. The Central government has recognised participants in the Goa Liberation Movement as freedom fighters, it said, adding that the families of these fighters would be honoured at the ceremony. Among those who took part in the movement, K V Narayanan from Kasaragod is the only surviving participant. Several leaders who participated in the struggle later rose to prominence in public life. Shivarama Bharathi from Chittur in Palakkad district and Sathyan Kokkery, son of K Kelappan Nair, served as MLAs, while K A Sankara Menon became a member of the BJP National Council. The state also shares a unique connection with the liberation of Goa, as the military operation that ended Portuguese rule was led by a Malayali, J P Kandath, popularly known as the "Liberator of Goa". Lieutenant Colonel P K N Pillai, a Malayali who took part in 'Operation Vijay', will also be specially honoured at the event, the statement added. 'Operation Vijay' was the Indian Army's military operation that liberated Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961. 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 06:02 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | PTIAsserting that electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) remain completely banned under Indian law, the government on Wednesday informed Parliament that no case related to the seizure of e-cigarettes and vape devices with narcotic substances has been investigated by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes are prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (PECA) Act, 2019. The enforcement of the Act lies with the states and Union Territories through their law enforcement agencies. Replying to reports that vape devices seized in different states contained narcotic substances such as methamphetamine and ketamine, the minister said the NCB has not investigated any such case. On steps to strengthen screening at airports, ports and courier hubs, the government said agencies including the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Customs maintain constant vigil through intelligence-based operations, passenger profiling using the advance passenger information system (APIS), risk-based interdiction and non-intrusive inspection methods such as baggage and container scanning. Field formations are being regularly sensitised to newer methods of smuggling, while specialised K9 (canine) squads trained to detect narcotics have been deployed at airports to curb trafficking, Rai said, adding that action including arrest and prosecution is taken in accordance with law upon detection and seizure of narcotic drugs. The minister also said there is no proposal at present to amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in this regard. On measures to protect students and address substance abuse, the government cited the 24/7 National Narcotics Helpline 'MANAS' (1933), which provides a single platform for citizens to report and track drug-related issues. A separate toll-free de-addiction helpline (14446) has received more than 4.30 lakh calls so far. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is being implemented across districts, reaching over 24.9 crore people, including youth and women, alongside awareness programmes in schools and colleges. E-cigarettes have been in the news after BJP MP Anurag Thakur last week lodged a written complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking action against a Trinamool Congress lawmaker for allegedly smoking an e-cigarette inside the House. Thakur also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha without naming the MP. In his complaint, the Hamirpur MP said a TMC member was seen "openly using an electronic cigarette while seated in the House during the sittings", an act, he said, was clearly visible to several members and amounted to a violation of parliamentary decorum and a cognisable offence under the law. 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 05:57 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIRajasthan Police on Wednesday demolished an illegal MD drugs manufacturing unit operating from a poultry farm in Jhunjhunu district, two days after it was exposed in a joint operation by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Unit-1 of the Mira-Bhayandar–Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police in Maharashtra and local police, the IANS reported. During the raid, police seized 10 kg of MD drugs, along with foreign-made machinery and large quantities of hazardous chemicals. Officials said the total value of the seized material is estimated at Rs 100 crore. Following the seizure, the police used a bulldozer to demolish the storage rooms, machinery area, tin shed and boundary wall of the poultry farm, declaring the premises illegal under the NDPS Act. Jhunjhunu Superintendent of Police Brijesh Jyoti Upadhyay said that allowing premises to be used for narcotics-related activities is a punishable offence, as per the IANS. Drugs and raw material worth Rs 100 crore seized The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Unit-1 of the Mira-Bhayandar–Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police in Maharashtra had on Monday said that it had busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police and has seized drugs and raw materials worth Rs 100 crore. The operation began on October 4, 2025, when officers of ANC Unit-1 were on patrol duty. Acting on suspicion, they searched six individuals and recovered 509.6 grams of MD drugs worth Rs 1,00,32,000, six mobile phones worth Rs 1,88,000 and four motorcycles worth Rs 4,10,000. A case was registered at Kashigaon Police Station under the NDPS Act Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 29. Further investigation was taken over by ANC Unit-1. During the course of investigation, the police arrested four more accused connected to the drug racket. The following items were seized from them. It included two four-wheelers and one motorcycle worth Rs 20 lakh, and six mobile phones worth Rs 2.05 lakh, officials said. Massive Drug Haul Recovered From the factory premises, the police recovered and around 10 kilograms of MD drugs, precursor chemicals used to manufacture MD, drug-making equipment including flasks, mixers, dryer machines, weighing scales, gloves and filters and the total value of the seized material is estimated at Rs 100 crore. The operation was carried out under the guidance of Niket Kaushik, Police Commissioner, Dattatray Shinde, Additional Police Commissioner, Sandeep Doiphode, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Madan Ballal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Detection). "The action was executed by officers and staff of Anti-Narcotics Cell Unit-1 and Unit-2, along with support from the Cyber Police Station. Police said further investigation into the interstate drug network is ongoing. Accused identified The factory was allegedly operated by Anil Sihag (31) at a poultry farm owned by his uncle, Suresh Sihag, in Nand ka Bas village under the Dhanuri police station area, according to the IANS. Police said that Anil, a Class 12 pass engaged in farming, had been associated with the poultry business since 2016-17. Around 15 days ago, he and his associate Subhash Jat allegedly began manufacturing MD drugs at the site. From Poppy Husk smuggling to drug manufacturing Investigators said that the accused earlier smuggled poppy husk from Neemuch, supplying it to hotels and dhabas. Anil reportedly earned Rs 5,000 per trip before starting independent supply operations, the news agency reported. He was earlier caught once by the police during this phase. Later, he allegedly moved on to manufacturing MD drugs. Anil was arrested on December 14 in Sikar while allegedly carrying one kg of MDMA to deliver a consignment. He was nabbed by the Maharashtra ANC near a hotel close to the Collectorate. During questioning, he disclosed details of his associates. Another accused, Bijju, managed to flee during a police attempt to arrest him. Police said further arrests are likely as the investigation continues. (with IANS inputs)
17 December,2025 04:53 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentUnion Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnav on Wednesday informed Parliament that several projects are underway to enhance railway capacity in Mumbai, with a focus on safety and passenger convenience. As part of the plan, 238 new trains with automatic door closure systems are being procured. The Railways said this is a practical solution aimed at improving commuter safety, especially on Mumbai’s heavily crowded suburban network. Heavy rail traffic in Mumbai At present, Mumbai sees the operation of around 120 mail and express trains and over 3,200 suburban local trains every day. To manage this high volume of traffic, multiple infrastructure works are being carried out across the city and its suburbs. The Railways said that three pit lines at Bandra have already been completed and several other projects are currently in progress, including- - Expansion of the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) depot - Construction of six new platforms at Parel - Six platforms at Kalyan - Five platforms each at Panvel and Kalamboli - Extension of platforms at Mumbai Central to accommodate 24-coach trains - Two platforms at Jogeshwari - One additional platform at Dadar - Six platforms at Vasai Road - Work Progressing at Fast Pace The Railway Minister said that work on capacity enhancement in Mumbai, as well as in other major cities, is progressing at a fast pace to meet growing passenger demand and improve overall rail services. Aadhaar OTP for Tatkal ticket booking live in 322 trains; over 3 crore fake IDs deactivated: Ashwini Vaishnaw Meanwhile, last week, the Parliament was informed that Aadhaar-based OTP verification for online Tatkal ticket booking is now active in 322 trains, helping curb misuse and improve fairness in the system, the IANS has reported. According to the government, the introduction of the verification method has increased the availability window for confirmed Tatkal tickets by around 65 per cent in these trains. Aadhaar OTP verification for Tatkal bookings at reservation counters is also being implemented in phases and is currently operational in 211 trains as of 4 December. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that, because of this measure, confirmed Tatkal ticket availability time has risen in nearly 95 per cent of the 96 most popular trains, according to the IANS. The minister further said that strict revalidation and verification of user accounts had been carried out. Since January 2025, approximately 3.02 crore suspicious user IDs have been deactivated. Anti-bot solutions such as AKAMAI have been deployed to block non-genuine users and ensure smooth booking for legitimate passengers, the news agency reported. Complaints regarding suspiciously booked PNRs were being submitted to the National Cyber Crime Portal, he added. (with IANS inputs)
17 December,2025 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Modi government of creating a "monopoly or duopoly" in every sector and called for putting the reins of India's economy back into the hands of MSMEs. Gandhi said that during the Winter Session of Parliament, he met a delegation of small and medium ice cream manufacturers, and by listening to their problems, it became clear that the government is determined to destroy small businesses for the benefit of its favoured industrialists. "Monopoly or duopoly is a curse for India and the Modi government has been doing exactly this in every sector, every industry," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi on his WhatsApp channel. "During the Jan Sansad (People's Parliament), I met with a delegation of small and medium-sized ice cream manufacturers. Talking to them and listening to their problems made it clear that the government is determined to destroy small businesses for the benefit of its favoured industrialists," Gandhi said. The customers of these small ice cream manufacturers are the poor and lower middle-class people of India, he said. Gandhi pointed out that there are thousands of such small ice cream manufacturers across the country, providing employment to millions of people. "The GST is so complex for these small businesses that it becomes difficult for them to bear the burden. This is why a special 'composition scheme' was created for small businesses, but the BJP government deliberately excluded ice cream from this scheme. At the same time, BJP-ruled states and municipal corporations have sharply increased fees," he said. Faced with this onslaught of high taxes, increasing paperwork, and rising fees, small ice cream manufacturers are collapsing, Gandhi said, adding that today, they are hardly visible even at tourist spots like India Gate. "This story is being repeated in every sector. Only the Prime Minister's favourite monopolists, who fund the BJP, survive and in return, they get a complete monopoly over the market," he alleged. "We must break this vicious cycle and put the strong reins of India's economy back into the hands of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), so that young people get jobs, the public gets affordable and quality options, and small businesses can become equal partners in the country's progress," Gandhi said. In the video posted on Gandhi's channel, he said the problems being faced by small ice cream manufacturers are the same as every small and medium businesses in India is facing. "If you want to create jobs for the people, small and medium businesses are the place where it is going to be done. What specifically Mr Narendra Modi does is to help monopolies crush these people," Gandhi alleged. "When you hand monopoly power to somebody, you basically destroy the market. The monopolist can do whatever he wants, and there is no control over the manufacturers," he said. Gandhi said he feels it is important to give preference to small and medium industries, and they are looked after because they have a space in the economy. "There is a reason why Mr Narendra Modi is ensuring that monopolies are built. It is because that is the easiest way for him to find the BJP these poor fellows, they don't have access to him, they don't have access to his offices, so they can't basically finance the BJP," he said. Gandhi alleged that the BJP is creating monopolies everywhere, and while the largest ones are Adani and Ambani, in every sector, they have done so. "This is dangerous for the country, it weakens the structure of the country, and it ensures a large number of Indian youngsters are unemployed," Gandhi said. 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 03:24 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAccused 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 03:16 PM IST | Goa | mid-day online correspondentThe Solapur Division of Central Railway successfully carried out a 13-hour and 30-minute special traffic block on December 14 to dismantle a 103-year-old Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Solapur Yard. Solapur Railways demonstrated meticulous planning, strong inter-agency coordination and a passenger-centric approach. As per the release, decommissioning of old structures tends to throw up surprises – as this ROB did. Still, the Division was able to conclude the work in 12 hrs 45 min and open the complete Solapur yard for normal operations. Overview of the special traffic block The 19.7-metre-long ROB, constructed in 1922, had become structurally vulnerable and was severely restricting railway operations. Despite unexpected challenges typically associated with dismantling century-old structures, the Division completed the work 12 hours and 45 minutes ahead of schedule, allowing full restoration of train operations at Solapur Yard. The dismantling work was carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in close coordination with Indian Railways, ensuring the protection of critical railway infrastructure throughout the operation. All key stakeholders, including the people's representatives, the municipal commissioner, the police commissioner and other state authorities, were briefed about this exercise through briefings and necessary arrangements. State government officials, appreciating the need for early dismantling of the ROB, extended their full cooperation to the Solapur Division. Need of dismantling the old ROB The ROB structure has reached the end of its life, and also it had put a 19.7 m noose on railway lines, severely impacting Solapur, which forced Solapur yard to not be able to handle speeds more than 15 kmph and necessitated the stoppage of all trains. Solapur serves the Mumbai-Chennai leg of Indian Railways’ golden quadrilateral – this ROB had adversely impacted the full utilisation of the capacity augmentation of IR’s GQ. The Solapur Division of the Central Railways also highlighted that the track could not be maintained to required standards, as the height between rails and ROB was limited. With petroleum loading set to double through IOCL siding at Pakni, near Solapur, this clearance started to affect confidence in moving inflammable cargo under this ROB. Furthermore, this ROB put limitations on economically carrying out Ro-Ro services from Bale towards the South Western Railway. Trains operated with minimal impact Train services were largely unaffected due to strategic planning. Key trains, including Vande Bharat Express, Karnataka Express, Siddheshwar Express and Mumbai–Chennai superfast services, operated with minimal disruption. Furthermore, help desks were set up at major stations, and alternative arrangements such as state transport buses and onboard catering were provided where required. To ensure transparency and passenger preparedness, the general public was well informed in advance about traffic disruptions, diversions, short terminations and originations, rescheduling and regulations through detailed press releases, social media platforms, official railway apps, route maps and SMS alerts. Execution of shadow blocks Additionally, the Division optimally utilised the block period to execute 21 shadow blocks across the Solapur–Wadi section, carrying out essential maintenance works and reducing the need for future traffic interruptions. The successful execution of this complex operation underscores Solapur Division’s commitment to infrastructure modernisation, safety and seamless passenger services.
17 December,2025 03:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1765971931174_d.png "Lok Bhavan. File Pic")
