J&K govt announces annual Darbar Move; offices to close in Srinagar on Oct 30-31, reopen in Jammu on Nov 2

Puducherry, May 4 (IANS) The NDA alliance strengthened its position in the Puducherry Assembly election results on Monday, with key victories and early trends indicating a clear edge over the Congress-led front.

In a significant result, BJP candidate A. Namassivayam secured a decisive victory from the Mannadipet Assembly constituency, defeating his Congress rival TPR Selvame by a margin of 6,110 votes. The win marks a notable improvement for the BJP leader, who had won the seat by a much narrower margin of 2,750 votes in the 2021 elections.

The expanded margin this time reflects stronger consolidation of support in favour of the BJP in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy retained his stronghold of Thattanchavady, winning the seat by 4,441 votes. The victory reinforces Rangasamy’s continued political dominance in the constituency and bolsters the position of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), a key constituent of the NDA alliance in the union territory.

As counting progressed across Puducherry, the NDA alliance surged ahead with leads in 13 seats, indicating a comfortable advantage in the 30-member Assembly.

The AINRC emerged as the principal contributor within the alliance, accounting for the majority of these leads, while the BJP’s improved performance in select constituencies added to the coalition’s momentum.

In contrast, the Congress-led alliance struggled to keep pace, managing leads in just six seats in early trends.

Within the opposition bloc, the DMK was ahead in three constituencies, while the Congress led in two, reflecting a fragmented performance that has so far failed to challenge the NDA’s dominance.

Interestingly, candidates outside the major alliances also made their presence felt.

Independents were leading in three constituencies, while actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) opened its account in Puducherry by leading in one seat.

These “Others,” holding a total of four seats in early trends, could prove crucial in the event of tighter margins in the final rounds of counting.

With counting still underway, the trends suggest a clear advantage for the NDA alliance, even as the Congress-led front looks to regain ground in the remaining rounds.

–IANS

aal/dpb

New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that it may dismiss the bail plea filed by Punjab Police’s suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana adjourned the matter for four weeks after Bhullar’s counsel submitted that the complainant and a material witness had not yet been examined.

During the hearing, Bhullar’s counsel also urged the top court to permit the examination of two shadow witnesses.

The CJI-led Bench indicated that it would examine the bail plea after certain witnesses had been examined.

Adjourning the hearing, CJI Surya Kant remarked: “100 per cent case of dismissal! You want to dismiss it now or later?”

The matter has now been directed to be listed on October 27.

Bhullar has approached the apex court seeking regular bail in the corruption case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Supreme Court had earlier declined to grant him bail but granted him liberty to renew his plea before the Punjab and Haryana High Court if the trial did not commence within two months.

The High Court had subsequently dismissed Bhullar’s second successive bail petition on August 10, observing that there had been no “drastic or substantive change” in circumstances since the dismissal of his previous bail plea. It had recorded that the trial had commenced, though no witness had been examined at that stage.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Manish Batra had also rejected Bhullar’s contention that the CBI lacked jurisdiction to investigate the case, holding that the fact that he was posted in Punjab did not invalidate the CBI probe as he was an IPS officer working under the control of the Central government.

It also observed that the petitioner and co-accused were arrested in Chandigarh and that a substantial part of the cause of action had taken place there.

The case stems from a complaint submitted by businessman Akash Batta, alleging that Bhullar, then posted as DIG, Ropar Range, had demanded illegal gratification through co-accused Krishanu for taking no coercive steps against his business in a criminal case and for securing favourable treatment.

According to the prosecution, conversations between Bhullar and Krishanu were recorded during discreet verification of the complaint.

One such conversation allegedly revealed that Bhullar had instructed Krishanu to collect Rs 8 lakh from the complainant. A trap was laid at Chandigarh on October 16, 2025, during which Krishanu was allegedly apprehended while accepting Rs 5 lakh from the complainant as part of the gratification allegedly demanded by Bhullar. Bhullar was arrested on the same day.

While refusing bail, the High Court observed that the allegations, along with the recorded conversations, verification report and trap proceedings, “prima facie make out a case for demand of gratification, direction or collection of the part of the same through the co-accused Krishanu”.

It also held that the fact that no recovery had been effected from Bhullar was not of much substance since the co-accused had allegedly accepted Rs 5 lakh on his behalf.

The High Court further observed that material witnesses were yet to be examined and that the apprehension of Bhullar influencing or intimidating them could not be ignored, keeping in view the position he had held in the police hierarchy.

“There exists a reasonable apprehension that he may attempt to influence witnesses, tamper with witness or otherwise obstruct the course of proceedings,” the High Court had said, adding that it was not persuaded to exercise its discretion to grant bail. The High Court dismissed Bhullar’s second successive regular bail petition, even as he has remained in custody since October 16, 2025.

–IANS

pds/vd

Gandhinagar, Aug 7 (IANS) Over 53,000 Anganwadi sisters in Gujarat have handcrafted and sent more than 3.5 lakh Rakhis to soldiers guarding the country’s borders. These Rakhis, woven with devotion and patriotism, were sent as symbolic shields of protection for the brave men who stand watch far from their families.

In a ceremonial event held in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel handed over the ‘Rakshasutra Kalash’ a symbolic urn carrying the sacred threads to the representatives of India’s armed and paramilitary forces. Women and Child Welfare Minister Bhanu Babaria also graced the occasion, underscoring the collective spirit behind the initiative.

The campaign, led by the Department of Women and Child Development, has now entered the India Book of Records for the highest number of rakhis sent by Anganwadi workers to the Armed forces.

The certificate and medal of this recognition were presented to CM Patel during the event.

“These Rakhis are not just threads. They are the emotional ties that connect the hearts of Gujarat’s women to our soldiers,” said Minister Bhanu Babaria.

“Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the armed forces have safeguarded our honour through missions like Operation Sindoor. Today, our sisters have sent their gratitude wrapped in these threads.”

The rakhis will reach personnel from the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, and NDRF, especially those stationed at Gandhinagar. The symbolic handover was met with emotional acceptance by the jawans present.

Also attending the event were Chief Minister’s Secretary Dr. Vikrant Pandey, Women and Child Development Secretary Rakesh Shankar, Commissioner Dr. Ranjit Kumar Singh, senior officials, BSF and CRPF personnel, NDRF representatives, programme officers, and Anganwadi workers of Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.

As of 2025, Gujarat is home to approximately 53,000 Anganwadi centres, playing a vital role in delivering early childhood care, nutrition, and pre-school education across the state. These centres operate under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, a flagship initiative of the government of India aimed at improving the health and development of children under six years of age, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

The Anganwadis in Gujarat are managed by anganwadi workers and helpers, most of whom are women from local communities.

They serve as the first point of contact for families in rural and urban slum areas when it comes to maternal and child healthcare, immunisation support, and nutritional guidance.

In addition to regular health and nutrition services, many Anganwadis have now been integrated with Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), which focuses on tackling malnutrition through technology and community involvement.

–IANS

janvi/pgh