Month: August 2025

A case has been filed against Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raj Kundra, and another person for allegedly cheating a businessman of over Rs 60 crore.

The complaint, filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, claims the incident took place between 2015 and 2023. Kothari alleged that the couple took the money under the pretext of expanding their business but used it for personal expenses instead.

According to Kothari, in 2015, Shetty and Kundra approached him through a mediator seeking a Rs 75 crore loan for their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, which promoted lifestyle products and ran an online shopping platform. The proposed interest rate was 12 per cent.

Later, they reportedly asked him to provide the funds as an “investment” instead of a loan, assuring him of monthly returns and repayment of principal.

Kothari claimed he transferred Rs 31.95 crore in April 2015 under a share subscription agreement, and another Rs 28.53 crore in September 2015 under a supplementary agreement. The total amount was credited to Best Deal TV’s bank accounts.

Repeated attempts to recover the funds allegedly failed, and Kothari accused the couple of “dishonestly using” the money for personal benefit.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is currently conducting a detailed investigation into the financial transactions, agreements, and the alleged misappropriation of funds. (ANI)

The much-awaited Rajinikanth starrer ‘Coolie’ hit theatres on Thursday, and fans across India are celebrating the release like a festival.

In Chennai’s Egmore, huge crowds gathered outside theatres for the first-day, first-show. The area was filled with posters, banners, and giant cutouts of the superstar.

Fans in Madurai danced to drumbeats, showered flower petals, and celebrated with joy outside cinemas to watch the film.

In Tiruchirappalli, women were seen carrying flowers while men danced to drumbeats to celebrate the release of ‘Thalaiva’s’ much-awaited film.

The excitement was not just limited to Tamil Nadu. In Mumbai, similar scenes were seen as fans gathered outside theatres wearing Coolie-themed t-shirts, dancing, and cheering for the film. Children also joined in the celebrations.

Fans in Hyderabad thronged outside a theatre on Thursday morning, placed posters of their favourites, Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna.

The film has officially received an A (Adults Only) certificate from the censor board. This marks the superstar’s first A-rated film in many years, hinting that the film will be packed with intense and unfiltered action. One major highlight of the much-awaited film is the reunion of Thalaiva and actor Aamir Khan after nearly three decades. The two last worked together in the 1995 film Aatank Hi Aatank. In Coolie, Aamir Khan will be seen as Dahaa. A poster showcasing Aamir’s rugged new look was recently shared by the makers.

Coolie is produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner. The film is clashing today at the box office with another big release, War 2, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR. (ANI)

Observing Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid a tribute to the people who endured the “upheaval and pain” of the Partition of India.

Sharing an X post, PM Modi called the Partition a “tragic chapter” of Indian history.

“India observes #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay, remembering the upheaval and pain endured by countless people during that tragic chapter of our history. It is also a day to honour their grit…their ability to face unimaginable loss and still find the strength to start afresh,” PM Modi wrote.

Giving a message on unity, he urged the public to strengthen the harmony in the country.

The Prime Minister wrote, “Many of those affected went on to rebuild their lives and achieve remarkable milestones. This day is also a reminder of our enduring responsibility to strengthen the bonds of harmony that hold our country together.”

Earlier today, Union Health Minister and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda called for national unity and “give a befitting reply to anti-national forces.”

Paying tribute to millions who while “enduring agony of displacement”, sacrificed their lives, the senior BJP leader said in a post on X, “The dark day of 1947 reminds us of that cruel event when the citizens of the nation suffered the merciless pain of migration and, enduring inhuman torture, lost their homes, property, and lives.”

He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tradition of observing this day to “keep the memory of the nation’s partition alive is an important step toward nation-building.”

“Come, on this day, let us all citizens unite to pledge to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation and give a befitting reply to anti-national forces,” the post added, calling for national unity.

On August 14, India observes ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and were displaced during the country’s partition in 1947.

India attained its freedom from British rule on 15th August, 1947. Independence Day, which is celebrated on 15th August every year, is a joyous and proud occasion for any nation; however, with the sweetness of freedom came also the trauma of partition. The birth of the newly independent Indian nation was accompanied by violent pangs of partition that left permanent scars on millions of Indians.

The partition caused amongst the largest migrations in human history affecting about 20 million people. Millions of families had to abandon their ancestral villages/towns/cities and were forced to find a new life as refugees.

The pain and violence of partition has remained deeply etched in the nation’s memory. While celebrating our Independence, a grateful nation also salutes those sons and daughters of our beloved motherland who had to sacrifice their lives in the frenzy of violence. (ANI)

On Wednesday, actor Bipasha Basu shared a cryptic message, seemingly responding to an old video of Mrunal Thakur in which she appears to mock the Ajnabee star over her “muscles”.

Taking to Instagram Story, Bipasha reposted a quote that read, “Strong women lift each other up.”

She went on to add more in the caption, which read, “Get those muscles beautiful ladies, we should be strong. Muscles help you attain, good physical and mental health forever! Bust the age old thought process that women should not look strong or be physically strong.”

However, Bipasha has not mentioned anyone’s name in her post.

Recently, a clip of Mrunal from an old interview on a TV show set resurfaced online. In the throwback video, Mrunal could be heard telling her co-star Arjit Taneja, “Do you want to marry a girl who is manly with muscles? Go marry Bipasha. Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, ok.”

Mrunal has not reacted to Bipasha’s post yet.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Mrunal was last seen opposite Ajay Devgn in ‘Son of Sardaar 2’. Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, the ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ also stars Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Mrunal Thakur, Neeru Bajwa, Chunky Panday, Kubbra Sait, Deepak Dobriyal, Vindu Dara Singh, Roshni Walia, Sharat Saxena, Sahil Mehta and the late Mukul Dev.

Bipasha, on the other hand, has been away from films for some time now. On November 12, 2022, she and her husband, Karan Singh Grover, welcomed their daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover. Bipasha has since focused on her new role as a mother, dedicating her time to raising Devi. (ANI)

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday shared a video of having tea with some “dead” voters from Bihar and thanked the Election Commission for this “unique” experience.

A group of voters met the Congress MP and shared how they were declared “dead” by the Election Commission and how their names were removed from the voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Sharing the 3-4 minutes long video, Gandhi captioned, “There have been many interesting experiences in life, but I never got the chance to have tea with ‘dead people.’ For this unique experience, thank you Election Commission!”

In the video clip posted, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP was seen meeting a group of several people who claimed that they have officially been marked “dead” in voter lists despite being alive. “I have heard that you guys are not alive. The Election Commission has killed you,” the LoP stated.

He further asked them how they got to know about it, to which one of them replied that they discovered it through the Election Commission’s voters list.

After this, Gandhi asked the number of such people, to which another man replied, “There are at least 50 such cases in a single panchayat.” They alleged that in the constituency of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Raghupur, many living voters were shown as “dead” in the list provided by the Election Commission.

One of the group members urged the Congress MP and Mahagathbandhan alliance to “save Bihar” to which the LoP affirmed that they are trying to stop the electoral malpractices.

This development came amid a row that erupted over Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations against the Election Commission and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar.

On August 7, the Congress MP at a press conference claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were “choreographed” by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared “immune to anti-incumbency.”

The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine.

He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress’s research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) of 100,250 votes.

Afterwards, the Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi “still has time” to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of “vote theft” or apologise to the country.

The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his “vote theft” allegations against the poll body. (ANI)

The Uttarkashi District Administration in Uttarakhand on Wednesday distributed cheques of immediate relief amount to 112 disaster-affected families of Dharali village.

As per the announcement of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, each family has been provided with Rs five lakh.

The District Administration carried out the distribution of relief cheques as part of the government’s efforts to provide support to those affected by the disaster.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of Union Bank of India met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Chief Minister’s residence. During this, Union Bank of India contributed an amount of Rs 1 crore for the relief work of the disaster in Dharali and Harshil areas of Uttarkashi district.

The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Union Bank of India for the cooperation given by them. The Chief Minister said that the cooperation being given by various organisations to help the disaster victims is commendable.

Earlier on Tuesday, authorities continued air operations to rescue the stranded people in the areas of Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, where flash floods hit on August 5, causing widespread destruction with loss of lives and properties.

People trapped in the Dharali-Harsil disaster are being rescued through helicopters and brought to Matli helipad, from where arrangements have also been made to ensure their safe arrival at their destination, said officials.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made continuously by the teams of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam and Irrigation Department to open the lake formed on the Bhagirathi river near the Harshil helipad in Uttarkashi district in a controlled manner, said an official release.

District Magistrate Prashant Arya has been in Dharali since August 5, continuously directing all arrangements to provide all possible help to the disaster victims.

The official release has stated that the District Magistrate is conducting continuous inspections of the area where the lake on the Bhagirathi river at the Harshil helipad is being manually opened.

About 1,278 people have been rescued in operations in Dharali, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said on Monday.

Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told ANI, “Following a disaster in Dharali, about 1,278 people, including those from other states, stranded at Gangotri Dham, were evacuated. The operation is now complete. Electricity and mobile networks have been restored.

He added that the Valley Bridge and road connectivity have been restored, and the district officials are monitoring the distribution of Rs 5 lakh assistance announced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

“The Valley Bridge has been restored, and road connectivity should be fully restored by evening. Essential supplies like food, warm clothing, and daily items have arrived for distribution. District officials monitor the situation as the distribution of Rs 5 lakh assistance, announced by the CM, begins,” he said.

The Commissioner added, “A three-member committee appointed by the CM has arrived to assess relief and rehabilitation packages. They will submit an initial report in a week and a final report within a month.” (ANI)

Former diplomat Vikas Swarup on Wednesday warned that the US is making a “strategic mistake” by strengthening ties with Pakistan, a country closely aligned with China, a strategic competitor of the US.

In an interview with ANI, Swarup, a former High Commissioner to Canada, said, “I think it’s a strategic mistake on the part of the US that you are getting into bed with Pakistan, which is in bed with China. China is the US’ strategic competitor.”

Swarup’s comments come after Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir made provocative remarks in Florida, suggesting Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to “take down India and half the world” in an existential crisis.

Earlier, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce maintained that Washington’s relationship with both Pakistan and India “remains unchanged” and that US diplomats remain “committed to both nations.”

Swarup also addressed ongoing trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington. He noted that India had resisted pressure from the US to open its agriculture and dairy markets, describing recent tariffs by President Donald Trump as part of a broader pressure tactic.

President Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty in July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, over India’s imports of Russian oil.

Swarup highlighted that President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods due to India’s BRICS membership and Operation Sindoor.

Trump views BRICS as an anti-US alliance aiming to create an alternative currency to the dollar and he claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but India doesn’t acknowledge his role.

“We have to understand why these tariffs have been imposed. I personally feel that there are three reasons. One, Trump is not happy with India because we are a member of BRICS and somehow, in his head, he has got this notion that BRICS is an anti-America alliance which is hell-bent on creating an alternative currency to the dollar. So, because of that, he feels that India should not be a member of the BRICS. Two, Operation Sindoor and his so-called role in bringing about the ceasefire,” Vikas Swarup said.

“We have been saying right from the beginning that Trump had no role because we do not accept external mediation. This ceasefire was mediated directly between the DGMOs of Pakistan and India at the request of the DGMO of Pakistan. Trump has now said almost 30 times that it was he who got the two countries to stop back from the brink, who stopped a nuclear conflagration in the subcontinent. So, obviously he is miffed that India has not acknowledged his role, whereas Pakistan has not only acknowledged his role but has even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize,” he added.

India had carried out Operation Sindoor in early May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. India had repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

The former diplomat also underscored that the US is pushing India to sign the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with favourable terms for the US, particularly in dairy, agriculture, and GM crops. Swarup further added that India has not caved in to US pressure, and the tariffs are part of Trump’s pressure tactics.

“…This is part of his pressure tactics to get India to sign on the dotted line on the maximalist demands that the US is making with regard to access to our dairy and agriculture and GM Crops. We have not caved in and it is also in a way a signal to Russia because he is also frustrated that he has not been able to get President Putin to agree to the ceasefire that Zelenskyy has agreed to,” he said.

Vikas Swarup referred to the summit meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska on August 15 over the Ukraine conflict. He predicted that if the talks yield positive results, Russia’s sanctions will likely be lifted, as Putin won’t accept a ceasefire with economic sanctions

“Now they are meeting in Alaska on 15th August. If there is a positive outcome of the Alaska talks then I am 100% sure that the Russia sanctions will be off the table because Putin is not going to accept a ceasefire and yet be saddled with economic sanctions,” he said. (ANI)

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday took a veiled dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy emerged victorious in the recently concluded Constitution Club of India (CCI) elections, saying that the “so-called Chanakya” was bound to lose when the polls were conducted through secret ballot.

Highlighting the “lesson” to learn from the CCI elections, Sibal posted on X, “When the election is by secret ballot, the so-called Chanakya will lose hands down. In Bihar, if the election is fair, Chanakya will again lose.”

Rudy retained his position as Secretary (Administration) of the Constitution Club of India, despite facing 25 years of anti-incumbency, and defeated his fellow party member, Sanjeev Balyan, who received only 290 votes.

Amid celebrations, BJP MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy credited his panel for his win, and said, “I may have won by more than 100 votes. And if that is multiplied by 1000 voters, the number goes up to 1 lakh. This is my panel’s victory. Everyone rose from their party and cast their vote. My panel had people from the Congress, SP, TMC and independent MPs. I got the result of my efforts in the last two decades.”

This comes as BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was hoping for a change in the secretary position, visibly rooting for Balyan to win the constitution club elections.

Nishikant Dubey told reporters earlier, “I think there will be a change and Dr Sanjeev Balyan will be the new secretary…Rajiv Pratap Rudy is my old friend.”

Among the 11-member body, the numbers indicate that the opposition appears to be dominating the Constitution Club elections, with most positions being taken over by the INDIA bloc members. In this election, prominent leaders from the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties were part of Rudy’s panel against Sanjeev Balyan.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Tiruchi Siva has been elected as cultural secretary unopposed, followed by Congress’s Rajeev Shukla as sports secretary, and Jithender Reddy of Congress has been elected unopposed as treasurer.

Moreover, Congress MP Deeinder Singh Hooda and Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akshay Yadav have also secured positions in the governing council of the Constitution Club, alongside BJP’s Naveen Jindal and Pradeep Gandhi.

It is to be noted that Rudy had the backing of Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran, who also emerged victorious in the elections.

The Constitution Club elections witnessed top leadership from both ruling and opposition parties cast their votes.

On one hand, Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Piyush Goyal cast their vote. On the other hand, Congress’s top leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, were also seen casting their vote.

However, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier termed the Constitution Club of India elections as non-political, stating that there is no place for “party-baazi” in the club. (ANI)

The cumulative 50 per cent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian goods will come into effect a fortnight from now, unless there is a breakthrough in terms of a trade deal between the two countries.

In addition to a 50 per cent flat tariff on Indian goods, additional most-favoured nation (MFN) duties will also apply to some merchandise goods.

For instance, apparel (knitted) will attract a 13.9 per cent additional MFN tariff on top of 50 per cent tariffs. Apparel (woven) will attract a total 60.3 per cent tariffs, including the 10.3 per cent MFN tariffs.

The exports of apparel, knitted and woven combined to the US were to the tune of about USD 5.5 billion in 2024-25, according to an analysis by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

GTRI analysis noted that other Indian merchandise goods that will attract tariffs in excess of 50 per cent are diamonds, gold, related products; machinery, mechanical appliances; steel, aluminium, copper; textiles; organic chemicals; carpets; furniture, bedding, mattresses. The effective tariffs on these goods will range between 51-59 per cent.

Smartphones, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products will have tariff exemptions. Petroleum products’ exports will, however, attract 6.9 per cent MFN tariffs.

Over the past few months, India and the US have been negotiating for an interim trade deal, but there are reservations from the Indian side on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors. Agriculture and dairy are critical for India as these two sectors provide livelihood opportunities to a large section of people.

Initially, President Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, over India’s imports of Russian oil.

India and the US initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March this year, aiming to complete the first stage of the Agreement by October-November 2025.

On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on various trade partners, imposing varied tariffs in the range of 10-50 per cent.

He subsequently kept the tariffs in abeyance for 90 days, while imposing a 10 per cent baseline tariff. The deadline was to end on July 9, and the US administration later pushed it to August 1.

During the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement in both Houses, affirming that the government is examining the impact of tariffs and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the national interest. (ANI)

The Delhi Police Special Cell on Wednesday arrested another accused in connection with the 2024 bomb attack outside singer-rapper Badshah’s nightclub in Chandigarh.

The accused, identified as Deepak, was arrested in Delhi. He is a resident of Punjab’s Faridkot and was allegedly in close contact with notorious gangster Goldy Brar, who had earlier claimed responsibility for the blasts.

On November 26 last year, two crude bombs went off outside two Chandigarh clubs, Seville Bar and Lounge, owned by Badshah, and De Orra Club. CCTV footage showed a man throwing a crude bomb at the clubs before fleeing the scene. The explosions shattered the clubs’ glass windows. No injuries were reported.

Hours later, Goldy Brar, linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility in an alleged Facebook post. An unverified post also claimed Brar and another gangster, Rohit Godara, were involved.

On November 29, two suspects were arrested after an encounter in Haryana’s Hisar district. The operation was carried out jointly by Chandigarh Police and the Haryana Special Task Force. Both accused were shot in the leg before being taken to a hospital for treatment. (ANI)