Belgian Court Approves Extradition of Fugitive Diamantaire Mehul Choksi
An Antwerp court has approved India's request to extradite fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The court deemed his arrest in Belgium, based on India's request, as lawful. This marks a significant legal victory for Indian investigative agencies like the CBI and ED in their efforts to prosecute economic offenders who have fled the country. Choksi, who was arrested in April, still has the option to appeal the decision.
Over 200 Maoists, Including Senior Leaders, Surrender in Chhattisgarh
In a major development for India's internal security, 210 Maoists, including a central committee member and other senior commanders, surrendered to authorities in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. The cadres, from various high-level committees of the banned CPI (Maoist), also turned in 153 weapons, including AK-47s and INSAS rifles. This mass surrender is seen as a significant blow to the insurgency in the Bastar region and a major success for security forces' ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton Surrenders on Espionage Act Charges
John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser under former President Donald Trump, has surrendered to U.S. authorities on charges of mishandling classified information. He was indicted for allegedly sharing sensitive national defense information with relatives for a book he was writing, in violation of the Espionage Act. Bolton has denied wrongdoing, framing the prosecution as an abuse of power by the Trump administration. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each count if convicted.
India Post to Launch Guaranteed 24 and 48-Hour Delivery Services in January
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that India Post will roll out new guaranteed delivery services starting in January. The plan includes a 24-hour Speed Post service for mail delivery within a day and a 48-hour service, alongside a next-day parcel delivery option. This initiative aims to significantly improve efficiency and reliability, transforming India Post from a "cost centre" to a "profit centre" by 2029 and making it more competitive in the logistics market.
Sabarimala Gold Case: Prime Accused Arrested by Special Investigation Team
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of gold from Kerala's Sabarimala temple has arrested prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti. The case involves gold missing from the temple's Dwarapalaka idols and Sreekovil door frames, which were entrusted to Potti for restoration in 2019. The arrest follows a Kerala High Court order for an SIT probe into the matter, which has also implicated several officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board for violating temple procedures.
Delhi Student Sends Hoax Bomb Threat to School to Postpone Exam
A student at Vishal Bharati School in West Delhi was apprehended for sending a hoax bomb threat via email to his own school. The threat, which prompted a full evacuation and search by bomb disposal squads, was found to be a ploy by the student to avoid taking an exam he was unprepared for. After tracing the email, police questioned the student, who confessed to sending the message in the hope that the school would declare a holiday.
Trump Claims India Pledged to Halt Russian Oil Imports
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him that India will stop purchasing oil from Russia. The alleged pledge comes amid US pressure, including tariffs, to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine war. India, currently Russia's second-largest oil buyer, has not officially confirmed the claim. If true, this would mark a major pivot in India's foreign policy and energy strategy, with significant implications for its relationships with both Washington and Moscow.
Home Minister Proposes Special Jails for Fugitives to Meet International Standards
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has urged all states to create special prisons for fugitives that comply with international human rights standards. The proposal aims to counter arguments made by fugitives like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi in foreign courts that poor prison conditions in India would violate their rights, thereby stalling extradition. Shah also suggested automatically cancelling the passports of individuals against whom an Interpol red notice is issued to restrict their international travel and expedite their return to face justice.
Punjab Police DIG Arrested by CBI in Corruption Case; Rs 5 Crore Cash Seized
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in an alleged corruption case. The arrest followed a complaint from a scrap dealer who claimed Bhullar demanded bribes to settle an FIR. During searches at the DIG's residence, the CBI recovered approximately ₹5 crore in cash, 1.5 kg of gold, luxury watches, and property documents. Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer, was serving as the DIG of the Ropar Range.
Karnataka to Regulate RSS Activities in Public Spaces and Government Institutions
The Karnataka Cabinet has decided to issue an order regulating the activities of private organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on public properties. The move will restrict events and marches in government-run schools, colleges, parks, and other public venues without explicit permission. The decision follows a request from IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge to ban RSS activities on government premises to prevent ideological influence. The government stated the new rules aim for proper management of public properties and will be framed within constitutional bounds.
Air India Crash Probe Challenged as Pilot's Father Petitions Supreme Court
The father of the deceased pilot-in-command of the Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad in June has petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored judicial inquiry. The plea, also supported by the Federation of Indian Pilots, alleges the official probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is biased and technically unsound. It claims the preliminary report unfairly blamed the pilots while overlooking potential technical, software, or design failures in the Boeing aircraft, and calls for an independent committee to ensure a fair investigation.
Entire Gujarat Cabinet Resigns Ahead of Major Government Reshuffle
In a significant political development, all 16 ministers in Gujarat's Bhupendra Patel-led government submitted their resignations on Thursday, paving the way for a major cabinet expansion. The move clears the slate for Chief Minister Patel to form a new council of ministers, with a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Friday. Sources suggest the cabinet could be expanded to include several new faces, with nearly half of the current ministers potentially being replaced, signaling a strategic overhaul of the state's leadership by the BJP.
Execution of Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya Stayed in Yemen
The Supreme Court was informed that the execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen for the 2017 murder of a Yemeni national, has been stayed. Attorney General R Venkataramani told the court that a new mediator has entered negotiations and that "nothing adverse is happening" currently. Priya, from Kerala, was convicted of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi. The 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council' had petitioned the court seeking the Indian government's diplomatic intervention to save her.
Centre Launches Development Projects Worth Over ₹13,000 Crore in Andhra Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects in Andhra Pradesh worth ₹13,430 crore. The initiatives span multiple sectors including industry, power, transport, and defence. Key projects include strengthening the power transmission system at Kurnool, establishing new industrial hubs in Orvakal and Kopparthy expected to create one lakh jobs, and launching new road and railway lines to improve connectivity. A new Bharat Electronics Ltd. factory for advanced night vision products was also inaugurated, boosting domestic defence manufacturing.
140 Maoists Including Senior Leaders to Surrender in Chhattisgarh
In a major blow to the Naxal insurgency, 140 Maoists are set to surrender before Chhattisgarh authorities on Friday. The group includes high-ranking figures such as central committee member Rupesh and division secretary Ranitha. The cadres are reportedly bringing over 70 weapons to lay down in Jagdalpur. Rupesh's surrender is considered particularly significant as he was a key coordinator between the central committee and local divisions in the Bastar region, dealing a substantial blow to the outfit's operational strength.