Month: February 2025

Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal visited the United Kingdom to engage with the UK counterparts and explore opportunities for collaboration in next-generation telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and space technology, further strengthening Indo-UK ties in these critical areas.

The Secretary met with Chris Johnson, the National Scientific Adviser, and Dave Smith, the National Technology Adviser of the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT).

The discussions centred on emerging technologies and their applications in 5G, 6G, digital infrastructure security.

The telecom secretary also met with Geoff Huggins, Director of the Digital Directorate at the Government of Scotland, to discuss collaborative efforts in digital transformation through telecom, telecom security, and emerging telecom technologies.

The telecom secretary also visited one of the six Federated Telecom Hubs (FTH) in the UK, which specializes in Cloud and Distributed Computing (CHEDDAR).

This hub leads cutting-edge research in 6G distributed cloud, AI for 6G, green 6G, and advanced sensing technologies.

Furthermore, the Secretary met with Jean Innes, CEO of the Alan Turing Institute, to discuss potential collaborations in digital twins, AI for telecom security, ethical AI, and fostering an AI innovation and startup ecosystem.

Additionally, the Secretary visited Scotland’s 5G Centre at the University of Strathclyde and the 6G Research Centre at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering.

“These visits facilitated discussions on collaboration in 6G innovation, future sensing technologies, the exchange of technology such as the 5G stack, and student exchange programs to foster academic and industrial partnerships,” India’s Ministry of Communications said in a statement.

Building on the strong foundation of the UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), where telecom remains a key priority, a roundtable discussion was convened with key UK stakeholders from DSIT, leading business entities such as BT and Ericsson, and innovation hubs and centres, including SONIC Labs, UK Telecom Labs, TITAN, among others, joined.

Representatives from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Innovate UK, and the UK Technology Innovation Network (UKTIN) also participated, exploring avenues for mutual cooperation.

The roundtable was organized by the High Commission of India (HCI) in partnership with UKTIN.

Telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal highlighted India’s leadership in the telecom sector and its rapid advancements in next-generation network technologies.

Following the roundtable, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SONIC Labs and the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT). The agreement focuses on Open RAN-related policy and technical matters, including 5G Open RAN and Artificial Intelligence in 4G/5G.

Other key areas of collaboration have been identified during the deliberations with various stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem of the UK:

Establishment of a Joint Centres of Excellence focusing on telecom cybersecurity, AI in telecom, and digital twins.

Collaborative initiatives with British telcos to leverage mobile phone data for infrastructure planning, building upon India’s success in using such data for metro route planning.

Joint contributions to ITU for the development of 6G standards (IMT 2030).

Mutual recognition of testing labs and the establishment of new testing facilities.

Collaboration on Digital Twins, including standardization frameworks, privacy-enhancing technologies, and cross-sectoral data applications.

Advancing quantum communication solutions and submarine sea cable security.

Promoting the Indigenous 4G/5G telecom stack developed by CDOT.

Collaboration on space technology communication (TN-NTN) between the UK and India’s Bharat 6G Alliance.

“This visit underscored the shared commitment of India and the UK to drive innovation in telecom and digital infrastructure, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in next-generation connectivity solutions. It also reflects India’s proactive approach to shaping global telecom policies, fostering AI-driven innovations, and strengthening international partnerships for a digitally inclusive future,” the Ministry of Communications statement said. (ANI)

Odisha Minister Sampad Chandra Swain on Friday said the state government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the recent incident at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). He added that the KIIT founder and other concerned individuals have been summoned.

“The government is proactive, and the KIIT founder, along with others concerned, has been summoned. A high-level committee has been formed, and the committee is doing the investigation; necessary action will be taken after the report of the investigation comes out,” Swain told ANI.

Earlier in the day, KIIT Additional Registrar Shyam Sundar Behura said that Nepali students have started returning and the university is connected to the parents. He said that the university has been interacting with parents and they are all convinced that they will be sending their children to the university.

“They (Nepali students) have started returning. We had a very dedicated control room set up through which we are connected to the parents and they have already started coming from the 18th evening and they’ve all reached both boys and girls have also arrived. Along with that, I think all action has been taken, and what has been taken has already been intimated. And from yesterday also we are having video conferencing with the parents of the students, which directly our Vice Chancellor is doing.”

Behura further added, “We had it yesterday. We had it today also, which is going on for one and half to two hours with the parents directly interacting and at least they are all convinced that they’ll be sending their wards over here and because it’s a continuous process, they are coming. We are taking all care of them, how they’ll come, how they’ll get settled. The classes have started. They all resumed the classes for now and everything is normal.”

His remarks come as a third-year B Tech student was found dead in her hostel room on February 16, following which, Nepali students staged a protest claiming that she was harassed by a fellow student and the college did not act despite multiple complaints.

An accused student, identified by police as Advik Srivastava, was arrested on February 17 and sent to judicial custody on the same day, as per a press statement by Police Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack. (ANI)

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday responded to the CAG report and Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “The difference between the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports tabled during our (Congress) government and the current government should also be seen. The CAG report should also be tabled in Parliament, not only in states where it suits them (BJP).”

He further added that despite the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, there has been no noticeable difference, the situation remains unchanged. He said that in comparision the Chiranjeevi scheem started by former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in the state was far better.

Notably, the CAG report revealed a significant revenue loss of Rs 2,026 crore due to irregularities in the Delhi government’s excise policy. The report’s findings stated that there were deviations from the objectives of the policy, a lack of transparency in pricing, and violations in issuing licenses that were not penalised.

Of the losses amounting to Rs 2,026 crore to the state exchequer, Rs 890 crore resulted from the government’s failure to re-tender the surrendered licenses before the policy period concluded, according to the report. Additionally, the exemptions granted to the zonal licenses led to a loss of Rs 941 crore.

Delhi’s new chief minister, Rekha Gupta, announced the tabling of CAG reports, which had not been tabled by the AAP government.

“In the first Cabinet meeting, we discussed and passed two agendas – to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi with Rs 5 lakhs top up and tabling of 14 CAG reports in the first seating of the Assembly. We will fulfil all the commitments that we have made to the people.” Rekha Gupta said.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vijender Gupta, BJP’s nominee for the post of Delhi Assembly Speaker, on Friday, said that the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will be tabled on February 25 during the three-day session of the Legislative Assembly. (ANI)

Following Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s assurance, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday reiterated DMK’s stand and said that the state will never accept the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the three-language policy.

“We are asking for our financial rights, which are to be given to the people of Tamil Nadu. We are asking for educational funds for Tamil Nadu students. They were giving funds of rupees 2,150 crores for these many years but now they are saying we should accept NEP, three language policy,” Stalin said.

“Tamil Nadu has always been against the three language policy. We have said clearly that we will never accept that,” he asserted.

The Deputy CM also pointed out that people have given their lives for language in a state like Tamil Nadu.

“What is there to do politics in this? I don’t understand. Tamil Nadu is the state in which, for language rights, many have given their life. You can understand who is doing politics,” Udhayanidhi said.

Ahead of the 2026 elections, the tussle between DMK and BJP is getting fierce with debate over the language policy and allocating funds to Tamil Nadu.

Earlier today, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan strongly criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of raising “imaginary concerns” driven by political motivations.

Addressing a press conference, Pradhan emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not imposing any language on a state.

“One point I want to re-emphasize is that the NEP is not recommending imposition of any language on the respective students of a state. That means, in no way the NEP is recommending imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu,” Dharmendra Pradhan asserted.

He emphasized that the primary essence of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is to bring global standards to education, and simultaneously, it has to be rooted in India.

“It has to promote linguistic and cultural heritage from states like Tamil Nadu. The Government of India is conducting all the entrance examinations in all major 13 languages and one among them is Tamil also,” he said.

“PM Modi announced India’s first Thiruvallur cultural centre in Singapore to promote Tamil thoughts globally. This is our commitment. Since 1968, successive governments have implemented a language formula in the education sector. By not implementing NEP 2020, we are depriving students, teachers and parents of the global opportunity. Education should not be politicized. Even many non-BJP states are implementing the NEP. They are taking all the cooperation from the Centre,” Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the release of ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds for the state.

The letter mentioned Stalin’s concerns regarding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s statement where he mentioned that Tamil Nadu’s ‘Samagra Shiksha’ funds will not be released until the state implements the ‘three language’ policy mentioned in NEP 2020. (ANI)

Maharashtra Cyber Cell has sent summons to actor Rakhi Sawant, who appeared in a couple of episodes of ‘India’s Got Latent’ to record her statement on February 27.

Along with her, YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani, who were a part of the controversial episode of the show that triggered a row, have also been asked to record their statements.

Yashasvi Yadav, IG, Maharashtra Cyber Cell, told ANI that a summons has been sent to Rakhi and she has been asked to appear before the officials on February 27 to record her statement.

On February 24, Ashish Chanchlani and Ranveer Allahbadia were summoned to record their statements. Samay Raina has asked for time till March 17, which Maharashtra Cyber refused to give, according to Yashasvi Yadav, IG, Maharashtra Cyber.

On February 20, the Maharashtra Cyber Department confirmed that a second summons will be issued to YouTuber Samay Raina in connection with remarks made on ‘India’s Got Latent’ .

Raina had failed to appear for a scheduled statement recording session on February 18. The Maharashtra Cyber Department issued a statement confirming that the summons will be sent to Raina in order to ensure his presence for the recording of his statement.

In a previous appeal, Raina requested the Maharashtra Cyber Cell to allow him to record his statement via videoconferencing, citing that he is currently in the United States and won’t be able to return to India before March 17 due to prior commitments.

However, the department rejected his request, insisting that his statement must be recorded in person.

‘India’s Got Latent’ became embroiled in controversy following a guest appearance by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia.

Allahbadia made an inappropriate comment to a contestant, asking, “Would you rather watch your parents… or join in once and stop it forever?”

The comments sparked widespread outrage, leading to a formal complaint being filed against Allahbadia, Raina, comedian Apoorva Makhija, and the organizers of the show.

In response, Raina posted a message on his Instagram Story, expressing his regret and asserting that his only aim was to entertain.

“Everything that has been happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all India’s Got Latent videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are concluded fairly,” he wrote.

Following the backlash, multiple FIRs were filed against the involved parties across various states, including Maharashtra and Assam.

The controversy intensified after Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, confirmed that the Guwahati Police had registered an FIR against several individuals, including Allahbadia and Raina, for promoting obscenity and engaging in inappropriate content.

On February 18, the Supreme Court weighed in on the matter, strongly condemning Allahbadia’s remarks. Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh described the comments as “dirty and perverted,” adding that such behaviour must be unequivocally condemned.

They emphasized that the words used by Allahbadia were deeply shameful, particularly in relation to families and society. The Court also issued a strong warning, stating that Allahbadia should not take society for granted simply because of his popularity.

In the wake of multiple FIRs, Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court, seeking to club the charges against him. His plea for an urgent hearing was acknowledged by the bench, which also granted him interim protection from arrest, provided he cooperates with ongoing investigations.

However, the Court also issued stringent conditions, including requiring his passport to be surrendered and prohibiting him from leaving the country without permission.

Additionally, the Supreme Court raised concerns about the prevalence of inappropriate content on platforms like YouTube and urged the government to take action.

Justice Kant said, “We would like you (government) to do something. Otherwise, we are not going to leave this vacuum and barren area the way it is being misused.”

The Maharashtra Women’s Commission has lauded the Supreme Court’s intervention, particularly for ordering the stoppage of the controversial shows.

Chairperson Rupali Chakankar expressed approval of the Court’s decision, calling the reprimand appropriate and necessary.

The Commission had earlier sent a letter to the Mumbai Commissioner requesting an inquiry into the incident. (ANI)

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has called School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) a “brainchild” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a testament to PM Modi’s unwavering commitment to nurturing leaders and empowering them to serve India.

In his address at the SOUL Leadership Conclave in Delhi on Friday, Tobgay referred to PM Modi as his “mentor and elder brother” and said that he is inspired to work even harder as a public servant when he meets him.

Tshering Tobgay said, “Prime Minister, my elder brother, every time I have the opportunity of meeting you, I am overcome with joy. Your Excellency, Prime Minister, my mentor, every time I meet you, I am inspired to work even harder as a public servant. Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, friends, I bring to you warm greetings of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. Today is an important day in Bhutan as it is the birth anniversary of His Majesty the King. I am delighted that I am celebrating this auspicious occasion in India among friends led by the Honourable Prime Minister and including all the distinguished guests here.”

“I invite all of you to join me in offering our prayers and birthday greetings to our beloved monarch, King Jigme. To the leadership, management, faculty of the School of Ultimate Leadership, I congratulate you on your combined vision and dedication in bringing this important institution to life. The School of Ultimate Leadership is the brainchild of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and it is yet another testament to the Prime Minister’s unwavering commitment to nurturing authentic leaders and empowering them to serve the great Republic of India,” he added.

Tshering Tobgay said that he has come here as a student and is excited to learn about leadership from PM Modi. Making some of his remarks in Hindi, Tobgay called it an “ideal opportunity” as he will be learning about leadership from PM Modi and called him the “greatest leader” of the world.

“I feel compelled to clarify right from the start that I do not have lessons to offer on leadership. I’m hardly qualified for that. Instead, I’m here as a student to learn. I am here today, myself, as a student and this student has been given the opportunity to learn this quality of leadership. This is an ideal opportunity because I will be learning about leadership from the greatest leader of the world, respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am very excited to learn about leadership. In you, PM Modi Ji, I see in you the image of an elder brother, who always guides and helps me,” he said.

He praised PM Modi for putting India on the path of progress in just 10 years by his wisdom, courage and compasssionate leadership. He stressed that leadership is not about titles or position, but its about vision.

Bhutan PM said, “Leadership is not about titles, it’s not about position. It is about vision. It is about courage. It is about the ability to inspire change. Leadership is about transformation. It is about taking society from where it stands today and guiding it towards a future that is more prosperous, more peaceful and happier for all. A leader sees what others do not yet see, believes in what others may doubt, and takes action where others hesitate. The greatest leaders in history have not merely led organizations or nations, they have led revolutions of thought, process and development. Honorable Prime Minister Ji, my dear brother, you have put India on the path of progress in just 10 years with your wisdom, courage and compassionate leadership.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the first edition of the School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) Leadership Conclave at Bharat Mandapam.

The two-day SOUL Leadership Conclave from February 21st to 22nd will serve as a premier platform where leaders from diverse domains like politics, sports, arts and media, the spiritual world, public policy, business and the social sector will share their inspiring life journeys and discuss aspects relating to leadership.

The conclave will foster an ecosystem of collaboration and thought leadership, facilitating learning from both failures and successes, to inspire young audiences. School of Ultimate Leadership is an upcoming leadership institution in Gujarat to enable authentic leaders to advance public good. (ANI)

Continuing her war of words with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday said that in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress acted like the “B team” for BJP which contributed to the BJP’s victory in the national capital.

On Thursday, the Congress leader had claimed that the BJP would not have won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if Mayawati had not stayed away from the INDIA bloc.

In a post on X today, Mayawati wrote, “It is a common discussion that this time Congress contested the Delhi Assembly elections as BJP’s B team, due to which BJP has come to power here. Otherwise, Congress’ condition would not have been so bad in this election that this party could not even save the deposit of most of its candidates.”

Taking a direct swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the BSP chief advised him to engage in introspection rather than pointing fingers at others. “It would be better if the supreme leader of this party, Mr Rahul Gandhi, looks into himself before pointing fingers at others and especially at the BSP chief in any matter. This is my advice to him,” she said.

The BSP supremo also cautioned the newly formed BJP government in Delhi to fulfil its electoral promises, warning that failure to do so could lead to a fate similar to that of Congress.

“The new BJP government formed in Delhi has the challenge of fulfilling all the promises made during the elections, especially those related to public welfare and development, on time, otherwise, the condition of this party may also become as bad as that of Congress in the future,” Mayawati’s post on X read.

Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi in a conversation with students in Raebareli, said “Why doesn’t Mayawati fight elections properly?”. “We wanted Behenji to fight elections along with us against the BJP.”

“However, for some reason, Mayawati Ji isn’t contesting, which disappoints us greatly. Because if all three parties come together, the BJP would never win,” the Congress MP said adding the doors of the INDIA Alliance are always open for her.

Mayawati, however, hit back at the Congress’ “double standards”. In a post in Hindi on X on Thursday the BSP chief said,” In the states where Congress is strong or where it has governments, there is animosity and casteist attitude towards BSP and its followers, but in a state like UP where Congress is weak, there is deceptive talk of alliance with BSP, if this is not the double standard of that party then what is it?.

She said that whenever BSP contested elections in UP and other states in alliance with “casteist parties” like Congress, their base vote has been transferred to them but those parties have not been able to transfer their base vote to BSP. In such a situation, BSP has always had to face losses.

Notably, Congress and the Samajwadi Party had contested the 2024 parliamentary elections together as part of the INDIA alliance, while the BSP fought the elections independently. (ANI)

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble believes that Virat Kohli is trying too hard, which is making it more difficult for him to regain form during his lean patch, as per ESPNcricinfo.

Since the 2023 World Cup, Kohli has struggled in ODIs, managing just 137 runs in six innings with a solitary half-century. In India’s opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy against Bangladesh in Dubai, he scored 22 off 38 balls before falling to legspinner Rishad Hossain.

“Having been through a lean patch, so to speak, especially in white-ball cricket – he hasn’t had that kind of run for a long period of time – I feel he’s trying a bit too hard,” Kumble said, as per quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“You have that in players who have been there and done that before, and everyone sort of looks up to you saying he’s the guy who’s going to take the game away and he’s the one guy who is the important man in the team,” he said on ESPNcricinfo Match Day.

“When you have that kind of pressure and you have that kind of expectation, you suddenly start putting undue importance to all of that and then try hard to do well. When you do that, you’re not really relaxed. The best innings that I am sure he’s played, he’s not even thinking about all of that. The best bowling performances, you’re not even thinking about all of that,” he added.

“I think he’s trying a bit too hard. You can see that in the way he is going about his innings. He just needs to not worry about it. Rohit [Sharma] comes in there, has the freedom because there is plenty of batting and all of them are in great form. Similarly for Virat, he just needs to come in and not worry about anything else,” he noted.

Notably, Kohli’s last six dismissals have come against spin, with five of them against legspinners. Kumble attributes this to Kohli’s eagerness to score rather than focusing on rotating the strike effectively.

“To start off against spin, on surfaces like that, you need a lot of confidence. He’s certainly trying too hard to manoeuvre that,” Kumble said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“He’s a good player of spin when he’s in form, when he’s wanting to just knock singles off and keep rotating the strike. Now he’s trying too hard to score runs rather than just manoeuvre, and that’s been his game plan,” he added.

“All players go through tough moments in their career, but I get a feeling watching him bat, I think he is putting a lot more pressure on himself. He just needs to relax a little bit and not worry too much about the outcome of what happens on the field rather than just go out there and have the freedom to just go and play naturally, what he does really well,” he noted.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Kohli no longer possesses the explosive big-hitting ability and that his dip in form, which began during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has put him under pressure.

“He’s in a tight corner, Virat Kohli. His confidence is still down,” Manjrekar said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“He wants to still show that he’s up there for a fight, and I am starting to see maybe there’s a little bit of bravado as well, and why not? You can’t be revealing what’s inside you,” he said.

“Rohit Sharma still has the big game. He can step out and hit a guy over extra cover and play the short-arm pull and [is] willing to take chances. Virat Kohli doesn’t have the big game anymore. We’ve seen on occasion him playing the big shot, but he can’t hit at will hit like a Shubman Gill does,” he added.

“What happened is, after that hundred in Australia, had he just carried on that form… you know it’s a confidence thing as well – when you’re out of form and you don’t have confidence you suddenly don’t quite get that power and the courage to hit the big shots,” he said.

During that series, Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 in Perth’s second innings but managed only 90 runs across his other eight innings. Manjrekar also noted that spinners now approach Kohli with greater confidence, attacking him aggressively, knowing that he is less likely to punish them with big shots.

“That slip after Australia where he really struggled… I saw when he got a fifty against England in the one-day series, it was actually more of an insight into how Virat Kohli is batting,” Manjrekar said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“I thought he batted superbly in South Africa when India were there, in Australia that hundred came when already 300 runs were on the board. At this stage, I’m looking at him down on confidence,” he added.

“The batting mechanism is not staying with him. And you know what? There was somebody who said many years back to us that as you start ageing, your luck also starts running out. And look at Virat Kohli, you’ve got to feel for him,” he noted.

“What kind of a surface is he going to get for the next two matches? Surfaces that you would hate batting on. Slow, turning pitches. So it’s not helping his cause either,” he added.

“When he comes into bat, the spinners come on. And once the spinners know that you’re not going to be hitting them for three sixes straight down the pitch or over midwicket – Rohit Sharma can still do it, KL Rahul can do it, Shubman Gill can do it – so the spinners also are bowling the kind of deliveries they’ll get wickets off because they don’t fear backlash from the batter,” he said.

“So he’s cornered in a way. What he needed in this tournament are flat pitches like the ones in Pakistan. But if he finds a way out of this and he finds another peak of Virat Kohli, that will tell you a lot more about the man and how he’s built,” he remarked. (ANI)

Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly opened up about his biopic and shared that Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao will portray him in the film.

While speaking to the media, he said, “From what I’ve heard, Rajkummar Rao will play the role (the titular role)…but there are issues of dates…so it will take more than a year to hit the screens.”

The former skipper played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs for India. The left-handed batsman scored 18,575 runs across all formats in his international career.The Prince of Kolkata later went on to become the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and later was appointed as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in October last year.

He had led India to 21 Test wins and the final of the 2003 World Cup. The southpaw also served in BCCI’s technical committee and was also a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee along with Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman.Ganguly called time on his international career in 2008 and he ended up with more than 18,000 international runs.

Talking about Rajkummar Rao’s work front, he will be seen in ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’, also starring Wamiqa Gabbi. The makers recently unveiled the teaser of the film.

The teaser begins with RajKummar and Wamiqa’s families fixing their wedding dates. Everything seems normal until the Haldi ceremony, where Rajkummar’s character gets smeared with turmeric. But the next day, he realizes it’s still the 29th, and the Haldi preparations are happening again. The day keeps repeating in a mysterious time loop, leading to confusion and laughter.

However, the highlight of the teaser was the use of the song ‘Chor Bazaari’ from Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan starrer ‘Love Aaj Kal’ (2009) in the background. Interestingly, Wamiqa Gabbi had a minor role in that film.

Directed by Karan Sharma, Bhool Chuk Maaf is presented by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films in association with Amazon MGM Studios.

Apart from ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ RajKummar Rao also has ‘Maalik’ in his kitty. The film is produced by Kumar Taurani under the Tips Films banner and Jay Shewakramani’s Northern Lights Films. It will be released theatrically on June 20, 2025. (ANI)

The Judicial report into the 2024 Hathras stampede incident that claimed the lives of about 121 people has been handed over to the state government and is likely to be presented in the legislative assembly in the current budget session.

This came after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved presenting the report before the Vidhan Sabha.

About 121 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a ‘Satsang’ organised by a self-styled godman, Bhole Baba, aka Suraj Pal, in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on July 2, 2024. The incident took place in the Fulari village in the district.

As per reports, the event drew in a crowd of over two lakh devotees, while permission was only granted to have around 80,000 attendees.

The Uttar Pradesh police prepared a 3200-page chargesheet against 11 people pertaining to the stampede incident in Hathras. The chargesheet, however, does not mention Suraj Pal, alias Bhole Baba, who held the ‘Satsang’ in Hathras, according to defence lawyer AP Singh.

On July 12, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a PIL seeking direction to appoint a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired top court judge to inquire into the Hathras stampede incident.

A bench of Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, observed that it is a disturbing incident, but it cannot entertain the petition as the High Court is robust to deal with this case.

It asked the petitioner to approach the High Court with his plea.

“Everything does not have to come to the Supreme Court under Article 32. You can approach the High Court. They are robust courts. Of course, this is a disturbing incident,” the bench said to advocate Vishal Tiwari, who filed the PIL.

The plea had sought direction to the committee to suggest and frame guidelines and safety measures to avoid such incidents at large public gatherings.

The petition had further sought the court’s direction to the State of Uttar Pradesh to submit a status report before the apex court in the Hathras stampede incident and initiate legal action against the persons, authorities and officials for their negligent conduct.

It had asked the top court to direct all state governments to issue directions and guidelines to prevent stampedes or other incidents for the safety of the public when organising any religious events or other events where a large number of people gather. (ANI)