Month: June 2025

A Mahila Court here on Monday awarded the life sentence for a minimum period of 30 years without remission and a fine of Rs 90,000 to the accused Gnanasekaran, who has been convicted for sexually harassing a student on the Anna University campus in December last year.

Mahila Court judge M Rajalakshmi, who convicted Gnanasekaran on May 28, awarded sentences in respect of each of the 11 charges proved by the prosecution against him.

Public Prosecutor Marry Jayanthi said, “As far as the Gnanasekaran case is concerned, we have got the verdict today. 30 years without remission have been provided. SIT inquired into the incident, they filed a charge sheet at the Mahila court. April 30 for the first time, affected women took the stage. All evidence was provided, as it was satisfactory for the court, today this judgement has come. The highest punishment is a life sentence for this case, and it has been provided.”

A second-year student of Anna University was sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus in December. After an investigation, the Chennai Police had arrested Gananesekaran in connection with the case.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday hailed the state police, investigating officers and government lawyers for the expeditious verdict in the Anna University sexual assault case.

In a post on X, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that the state’s police swiftly pursued the case and justice was delivered in just five months.

Stalin said he had told the police to prevent crime, and if any incident occurs, no criminal should escape. The criminals, he said, should be investigated expeditiously and punished.

He also slammed the opposition parties who had made allegations against the ruling DMK over the incident and said attempts were made to play “cheap politics”.

He said the government has shattered the “slander” being spread. “We will always ensure justice and the safety of women,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswamy welcomed the verdict, alleging that the DMK had tried to protect the accused, “Chennai Mahila Court sentenced to life Ganasekaran, accused in Anna University, who is also a DMK sympathiser. DMK played many games to protect the accused Ganasekaran in this case. AIADMK ensured the accused got punishment with constant protests from people and on social media. We have been fulfilling our words, we will be the voice of the victim.” (ANI)

An 81-year-old retired school principal, Nandini Chiplunkar, has been duped of Rs 1.02 crores through a digital arrest scam. The scam involved fraudsters claiming to be from Mumbai’s Colaba Police and CBI, alleging that Chiplunkar was involved in financial dealings with Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways and money laundering.

According to Additional DCP of Crime Branch, Rajesh Dandotiya, on April 27, Chiplunkar received a call stating that her SIM would be deactivated. The fraudsters claimed that there were 267 FIRs against her and kept her under digital arrest for two days. They convinced her to deposit Rs 1 crore in a fake account in exchange for closing the case.

While speaking to ANI on Monday, DCP Dandotiya said, “On April 27th, Nandini, who retired as principal of Central School, received a call saying that her SIM was going to get deactivated…they said there was legal action being taken against her and there are 267 an FIRs against her…throughout the night she was kept on digital arrest…”

However, when Chiplunkar went to the bank to break her fixed deposit of Rs 50 lakhs, the bank manager suspected something was amiss and informed the Crime Branch. The officials intervened, and Chiplunkar was able to save her fixed deposit money.

“Next day they managed to convince her and she went to break her fixed deposit of Rs 50 lakhs… The bank manager realised that there is some trouble by looking at her face, he said that the server is down and asked her to come back next day and then the Bank Manager immediately informed me…later, I spoke to her and convinced that it was a fake call, and she was convinced…She switched off her phone. But, after two days, she started receiving calls again. We met her and explained to her that such digital arrest calls are fake…she lost Rs 1.02 crores, but because the bank was alert, she didn’t lose her fixed deposit money…”, DCP Dandotiya added.

The Crime Branch has taken Chiplunkar’s complaint and is investigating the matter. No case has been filed yet, and the authorities are working to identify the accused. (ANI)

Shreyas Iyer rose to the occasion with a captain’s knock that will be etched in Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) history, as his unbeaten 87 off 41 deliveries powered the franchise into their second Indian Premier League (IPL) final, and first in eleven years, with a five-wicket win over the five time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the second qualifier in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Chasing a stiff target of 204, Punjab showed both aggression and composure to overhaul the total with an over to spare, thanks largely to Iyer’s clean striking and calculated leadership in the middle.

Punjab’s chase began on a shaky note as Prabhsimran Singh fell early to Trent Boult for just 6, leaving PBKS at 13/1 in 2.1 overs. Priyansh Arya provided a quick spark with a brisk 20 off 10 balls before being dismissed by Ashwani Kumar, with the score at 55/2 in 5.1 overs.

Australian Josh Inglis then took charge alongside Iyer, stroking a confident 38 off 21 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes. However, MI skipper Hardik Pandya removed him at a crucial juncture, momentarily halting Punjab’s momentum.

With pressure building, Nehal Wadhera partnered with Iyer to put together a critical 84-run stand, maintaining the required rate and keeping Punjab in the hunt. Wadhera missed out on a half-century, falling for 48 to Ashwani Kumar, but by then, the platform had been set.

Even as wickets fell around him, including a run-out of Shashank Singh for 2, Iyer remained unflustered. Punjab crossed 100 in 10.3 overs and brought up 150 in 15.1, keeping the scoreboard ticking efficiently.

The chase was sealed in 19 overs, with Iyer finishing things off in emphatic style, taking his team to the final with a towering six. This win not only marked Punjab Kings’ first IPL final appearance since 2014 but also added a new chapter to Iyer’s captaincy legacy.

Having already led Delhi Capitals (DC) (2020) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) (2024) to the summit clash, lifting the title with KKR, Iyer now becomes the first captain to reach three IPL finals with three different franchises. With this, he also has a shot at becoming a two-time IPL-winning captain, a feat very few have achieved. This was Punjab’s first playoffs after eleven years.

With momentum on their side and Iyer in sublime form, Punjab Kings will now set their sights on a historic first IPL trophy. For a franchise that has long lived in the shadows of more successful teams, 2025 might just be their year, and with Shreyas Iyer at the helm, they’ll believe anything is possible.

Mumbai’s bowlers were not up to the mark, and Jasprit Bumrah was off-colour, as he gave away 40 runs in his four overs. Ashwani Kumar picked up 2/55, and Boult and Pandya picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, an Exceptional batting performance from the Mumbai Indians powered them to a solid total of 203/6 in their 20 overs during Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Right-hand batters Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow came out to open the innings for the Mumbai-based franchise in the game.

The side didn’t have the start that they wanted, as the Hardik Pandya-led side lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma at the score of 19. The right-hand batter went back to the pavilion after scoring just eight runs.

Following Rohit’s dismissal, left-hand batter Tilak Varma was promoted up the order. The Mumbai side touched the 50-run mark in the fifth over of the innings.

On the last ball of the seventh over, the Mumbai team lost their second wicket as Bairstow was dismissed by right-arm seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak. The right-hand batter went back to the dressing room after scoring 38 runs off 24 balls, which came with the help of three fours and two sixes in his innings.

After Bairstow’s departure, right-hand batter Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat. In the 10th over of the innings, the MI side completed their 100-run mark.

The Mumbai Indians team lost their third and fourth wicket at the score of 142. The batters to get dismissed at 142 were Suryakumar Yadav (44 runs off 26 balls) and Tilak Varma (44 runs from 29 balls).In the end, right-hand batter Naman Dhir came out to bat and scored a crucial 37 runs in just 18 balls, which was laced by seven boundaries at a strike rate of 205.56.

For the Shreyas Iyer-led side, two wickets were snapped by Azmatullah Omarzai (2/43 in 4 overs) and one wicket each was grabbed by Kyle Jamieson (1/30 in 4 overs), Marcus Stoinis (1/14 in 1 over), Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/30 in 3 overs), and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/39 in 4 overs) in their respective spells.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 203/6 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 44, Tilak Varma 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 2/43) vs Punjab Kings 207/5 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 87, Nehal Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2/55). (ANI)

World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh pulled off a stunning victory against former World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament, turning the game around from a losing position on Sunday.

This marked Gukesh’s first-ever classical win over the Norwegian grandmaster. The 19-year-old also became the second Indian player to beat Carlsen in the history of the competition after Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.

Carlsen had an upper hand over Gukesh for most of the time in the match, but in the end, he couldn’t control his nerves, and the teenager turned the tables around and went on to win the match.

With this win, D Gukesh jumped to third spot in the Norway Chess 2025 points table with 8.5 points, and now he is just one point behind Carlsen and American Fabiano Caruana.

Earlier on May 27, the marquee clash of Round One at Norway Chess 2025 lived up to expectations as Magnus Carlsen launched a classic king hunt to defeat reigning World Champion D Gukesh in a thrilling encounter. This was their first classical match since Gukesh won the world title, and it also marked Carlsen’s return to individual classical chess after nearly a year.

Reacting to the upset victory, Gukesh’s coach, Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna, praised the teenager’s resilience and fighting spirit.

“We have to give a lot of credit to Gukesh for his stubbornness and for his resourcefulness because I think he was aware that he was dead lost for so long, yet he kept kicking, he kept kicking, and the time went lower, the more chances he had to actually do something with the position. I don’t think his intention was to win that, but yeah, I’m sure he is happy,” Vishnu Prasanna said.

The win has added further excitement to the tournament, with the race for the top spot tightening as it enters its final rounds. (ANI)

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a 24-hour strike in West Bengal’s Siliguri on Monday to protest against the alleged attacks on Hindus and business establishments in Matigara area, as well as the arrest of workers from Hindu organisations.

The unrest began on Friday following a dispute over the alleged illegal transportation of meat in a vehicle in Siliguri’s Matigara locality. The vehicle was reportedly set on fire, sparking tension between two groups and leading to subsequent police action.

VHP’s North Bengal region president, Laxman Bansal, said, “VHP North Bengal has called for a 24-hour strike in Siliguri. There has been prevailing chaos in West Bengal for many years…Our Hindu women and children are being traumatised, and their businesses attacked.”

He alleged that on May 30, Bajrang Dal workers intercepted a vehicle in the Matigara block allegedly transporting meat. “There were four people in the vehicle, reportedly carrying weapons. An FIR was lodged,” Bansal claimed.

“When they were stopped, members of the Hindu community gathered at the spot, and they were outraged and set the vehicle on fire. However, the police did not apprehend the accused and instead arrested our Bajrang Dal workers, slapping 14-15 IPC sections on them,” he said.

“Tomorrow, the entire city of Siliguri will observe a shutdown. I urge everyone to join the protest to protect Sanatan Dharma,” he added.

Bansal further alleged, “We will never hurt anyone, but if any government supports anti-social elements, the VHP will not remain silent. When the state leadership indulges in appeasement politics for the vote bank, what can you expect from the police? Whenever there is any Hindu festival, the police resort to barricading and water cannons as if there is a conflict. Meanwhile, culprits are given protection.”

He demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and urged the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to arrest those responsible. “If not, we will be forced to march to the streets,” he said. (ANI)

A new study suggested that obesity and anxiety may be connected through interactions between the gut and the brain.

The study links diet-induced obesity with anxiety-like symptoms, alterations in brain signalling and differences in gut microbes that may contribute to impaired brain functioning.

“Several studies have pointed to a link between obesity and anxiety, though it is still unclear whether obesity directly causes anxiety or if the association is influenced by societal pressures,” said Desiree Wanders, PhD, associate professor and chair of nutrition at Georgia State University. “Our findings suggest that obesity can lead to anxiety-like behaviour, possibly due to changes in both brain function and gut health.”

While it is well established that obesity can lead to conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, the potential impacts on brain health are less clear. To probe the connections between obesity, cognitive function and anxiety, the researchers designed a series of experiments using a mouse model that develops many of the same obesity-related issues seen in humans.

The study included 32 male mice. From 6 to 21 weeks of age–a period equivalent to adolescence into early adulthood in humans–half of the mice were fed a low-fat diet and half were fed a high-fat diet. By the end of this period, mice on a high-fat diet weighed significantly more and had significantly more body fat than those fed a low-fat diet.

In behavioral tests, the researchers found that the obese mice displayed more anxiety-like behaviors, such as freezing (a defensive behavior mice exhibit in response to a perceived threat), compared with lean mice. These mice also showed different signaling patterns in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain involved in regulating metabolism, which could contribute to cognitive impairments.

In addition, the researchers observed distinct differences in the makeup of gut bacteria in obese mice compared with lean mice. These findings align with a growing body of evidence pointing to the role of the gut microbiome in regulating behavior.

While recognizing that research in mice does not always translate directly to humans, Wanders said that the results provide new insights that underscore the importance of targeting multiple systems in understanding and potentially treating obesity-related cognitive impairments.

“These findings could have important implications for both public health and personal decisions,” said Wanders. “The study highlights the potential impact of obesity on mental health, particularly in terms of anxiety. By understanding the connections between diet, brain health and gut microbiota, this research may help guide public health initiatives that focus on obesity prevention and early intervention, particularly in children and adolescents.”

Wanders also noted that the carefully controlled conditions used in the study lend rigor and credibility to the results but added that the real world is much more complex.

“While our findings suggest that diet plays a significant role in both physical and mental health, it is important to remember that diet is just one piece of the puzzle,” said Wanders. “Environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle choices and socioeconomic status also contribute to the risk of obesity and its associated health outcomes. Therefore, while these results are important, they should be considered in the context of a broader, multifactorial approach to understanding and addressing obesity-related cognitive impairments and mental health issues.”

Next, the researchers hope to explore further the mechanisms by which diet-induced obesity affects the brain and behaviour by digging deeper into the changes in the gut microbiome and expanding their study to include female mice and different age groups. Wanders added that it would be useful to determine whether weight loss interventions could reverse the impacts. (ANI)

The Qualifier 2 between the five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been delayed due to rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The rain poured just after the toss, which the PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first.

After winning the toss, Shreyas said, “We are going to bowl first. Slightly overcast, and the wicket was under the covers yesterday. Based on these, we are going to bowl first. It’s a fresh day. We’ve recovered pretty well and rejuvenated, and our mindset is to go out there and win. Boys are in high spirits, and everyone’s thinking positively. The environment in the dressing room is top-notch at the moment, so I can’t complain much. Yuzi comes in.”

At the time of toss, MI skipper Hardik Pandya said,”We also would have bowled first. We need to bat well and assess the conditions. It has got flatter. If you bowl well, you’ll get some help. In a lot of areas, we could have got better. One day break, it’s tough, but we know what to execute. We came very early in the morning after the game, and most of the guys focused on recovery. We had to make one change. Topley comes in, Gleeson has a niggle.”

The winner of this game will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final of the 18th edition of the cash-rich league on Tuesday, June 3, at the same venue.

In their previous match, Punjab Kings suffered a 6-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Marcus Stoinis contributing 25 runs.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians advanced to this stage after beating the Gujarat Titans by 20 runs, courtesy of Rohit Sharma’s crucial knock of 81.

Punjab and Mumbai have played 32 IPL matches against each other so far. MI have won 17 and PBKS 15. In IPL 2025, these teams have won one match each.

Teams:

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley.

Mumbai Indians Impact Subs: Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Raghu Sharma, Robin Minz, Bevon Jacobs.

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlet, Harpreet Brar. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a fresh offensive against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of appeasement politics and favouritism through the Waqf Act.

In his address at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, Shah said, “Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act?… Mamata Banerjee may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM anymore…”

Addressing the BJP Workers Special Organisational Meeting here, Shah also referred to the recent violence in Murshidabad, calling it a deliberate failure of state law enforcement and accused Bengal ministers of actively supporting the rioters.

“…There was violence in Murshidabad. The Home Ministry insisted on calling the BSF, but they did not… Our party workers went to the HC, and after the court order, the BSF came and protected the Hindus,” he said.

“Mamata Banerjee’s minister abused the BSF, and your leaders were standing there and encouraging the rioters. The ministers of the Bengal government were involved in these riots. This was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus… Mamata Didi has crossed all limits of Muslim appeasement,” the union minister said.

Shah also accused the Mamata Banerjee’s regime in West Bengal of fostering lawlessness, corruption, and religious appeasement. Shah also alleged that the Chief Minister had turned the State into “a land of infiltration and atrocities on women”

Shah declared that the BJP will form the government in 2026. “For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan ‘Maa, Maati, Maanush’. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus…”

“Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM… Didi, listen to me, your time is over now. The BJP will form the government in 2026…”

“… We have to form the BJP government in West Bengal, have to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop Hindu exodus…” He alleged that the state government had denied land for fencing India’s international border with Bangladesh, accusing Banerjee of obstructing central efforts to curb infiltration.

The Union Minister said, “Mamata Banerjee has opened the nation’s borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration… Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that. We have asked her for land to create the fence… She is not providing land at the borders, so that infiltration continues, and her vote bank keeps increasing, and your nephew becomes the CM after you. But this is not going to happen…”

In a blistering critique of violence during elections in the state, Shah challenged the Chief Minister directly. Shah said, “… If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has courage, she should try to contest elections without violence, her deposit would be seized. Mamata Banerjee has crossed all limits of appeasement for the votebank… Our people were killed in Pahalgam… Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. 100s of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi’s stomach… She gave a political speech and opposed Operation Sindoor.”

Giving an emotional turn to his speech, Shah said, “CM has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country… The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections…”

Shah also issued a stern warning and clarified that Operation Sindoor is “not yet over.”

“Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modi’s government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer,” said Amit Shah.

Amit Shah’s visit is also expected to focus on the BJP’s roadmap for West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. (ANI)

IndiGo on Sunday announced it has placed orders for another 30 Airbus A350, on top of the 30 orders already in place with the French aircraft manufacturer.

Announcing the orders, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the deliveries of the aircraft will start from 2027.

“It was last year that IndiGo signed a deal with Airbus for buying 30 Airbus 350 900s with 30 firm and 70 purchase rights, and today we’re confirming the intention to confirm 30 out of those 70 also into a firm order,” the CEO said at a press conference

“We’re going to sign an MoU for that and we’re going to sign that here, right here and now,” the CEO added as he signed the agreement with Airbus.

In April 2024, IndiGo had placed an order for 30 A350 aircraft, and kept an option to purchase another 70 such planes in the future.

IndiGo has a total of over 900 planes on order, scheduled to be delivered in the years to come.

In June 2023, IndiGo placed the largest ever single aircraft order by any airline for 500 aircraft with Airbus. With that, the outstanding orderbook of A320 Family aircraft stood at almost 1,000 aircraft, which are yet to be delivered well into the next decade.

These orders will bring the strategic relationship between IndiGo and Airbus to an unprecedented level in terms of depth, breadth, and size, the airline had earlier stated.

With IndiGo’s current fleet, the almost 1000 A320 Family aircraft yet to be delivered, and today’s order for aircraft, IndiGo is not only well positioned to expand and densify its unparalleled network but equally importantly, IndiGo will play its part to fulfill the Indian Government’s stated mission of becoming an aviation leadership. (ANI)

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), has introduced a Priority Frisking initiative at all metro stations to enhance the travel experience for special category passengers.

This initiative will benefit the specially-abled, pregnant women, women with infants, senior citizens, and people with injuries, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X.

The objective of this initiative is to provide a smooth and hassle-free travel experience for these passengers, ensuring they can move through security checks easily and conveniently.

In case of any doubt or dispute regarding eligibility for this facility, security personnel may request passengers to provide relevant documents to verify their status, the post further read.

DMRC is working in close coordination with CISF and security personnel to implement the priority frisking initiative and issue necessary guidelines to ensure a seamless experience for special category passengers.

DMRC said it has always prioritized accessibility for divganjans and senior citizens by providing end-to-end services across the metro system, including reserved seating. All DMRC premises are commuter-friendly, with facilities such as tactile paths, wheelchairs, and other support systems to ensure a seamless travel experience.

With this step, DMRC continues to set an example for public transportation systems across the country by reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility, the DMRC added.

Last month, DMRC, in collaboration with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), organised a first-of-its-kind and high-impact, three-day training program on “Advanced Metro Operations and Maintenance”, from May 19 to 21 at DMRC Academy, Shastri Park, Delhi.

The DMRC said this prestigious program brought together both internationally and nationally acclaimed trainers and thought leaders in public transport to share cutting-edge knowledge and best practices in metro operations. With a focus on transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, IoT, and Machine Learning, the program aimed to equip metro professionals with advanced tools and practical skills to foster innovation, safety, and efficiency in urban rail systems.

The training program was inaugurated by Dr. Vikas Kumar Managing Director/ DMRC, along with Mr. Manuj Singhal, Director Infrastructure and Ms Rupa Nandy Head of UITP, India.

During the inaugural session, DMRC’s Managing Director said, “Our collaboration with UITP reflects DMRC’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in metro rail operations. This training program will empower participants with the latest global insights, helping shape the future of sustainable and intelligent urban mobility.” (ANI)