Month: January 2026

As polling got underway on Thursday in 29 municipal corporations of Maharashtra, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation Election. After casting his vote, he emphasised the importance of elections in a democratic system and urged voters to choose a suitable candidate with a balanced approach and public welfare in mind. Alongwith the importance of voting, he also mentioned the demerits of NOTA in an election through giving a reference on Mahabharata.

Speaking to the media, he described voting as his first responsibility of the day. “In a Democratic System, elections play a very important part; it’s also the responsibility of the citizens. So, through balanced thinking and consideration of the public welfare. It is proper to vote for a candidate; it’s our responsibility. It’s the first responsibility of the day; therefore, I came and cast my vote first,” he said.

In response to a question about NOTA, he acknowledged its importance and described it as a way for people to express their distress with the candidate selection. Citing Bhishma, a Mahabharata character, he said that NOTA can be a form of anarchy, as not voting for anyone can indirectly transfer votes to someone who may not be preferred. He urged the public to vote for any candidate rather than abstain.

“It’s correct that NOTA is a way to express people’s agitation. But casting no vote means the vote will be indirectly transferred to a candidate who doesn’t deserve it. In the Mahabharata, Bhishm has prohibited anarchy. Better than having no one, it is better to give the vote to the candidate who is liked most. The vote should be against a candidate rather than no one; It would be for the better,” he said.

Twenty-nine municipal corporations across Maharashtra have begun polling as a high-voltage campaign comes to an end, setting the stage for a decisive political contest in key urban centres including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are contesting the civic elections as allies under the Mahayuti banner, except in Pune. However, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, both NCP factions have come together under a joint manifesto.

The main political battle remains centred in Mumbai where the BJP-led Mahayuti faces the united Thackeray camp, after Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray joined hands on the issue of Marathi Manus in a high-stakes fight for control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body. The last BMC elections were held in 2017.

In Pune, in a major political realignment, both factions of the NCP came together just before the PMC civic polls, following a split in 2023. Ajit Pawar joined hands with Sharad Pawar again and contested against the NDA partner BJP in Pune, whereas Shivsena, led by Eknath Shidne opted to go solo in PMC after failing to set up an acceptable seat-sharing formula with BJP.

According to the State Election Commission, a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations. A total of 39092 Polling centre has been set up across the state.

Polling has begun today and will run from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, with vote counting scheduled to begin on Friday, January 16.

The State Election Commission announced the election programme for the general elections of 29 municipal corporations on December 15, 2025. Accordingly, voting is being held for the municipal corporations of Brihanmumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kolhapur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Latur, Parbhani, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Panvel, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahilyanagar, Ichalkaranji and Jalna.

According to the State Election Commission, adequate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been arranged for the municipal corporation elections. This includes 43,958 control units and 87,916 ballot units. For the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation alone, 11,349 control units and 22,698 ballot units have been arranged. (ANI)

The promotions for ‘Border 2’ have been going on in full swing.

After grand launches of ‘Ghar Kab Aaoge’ and ‘Jaate Hue Lamhon’ in Jaisalmer and Mumbai, respectively, the team visited Goa, where they honoured the Indian Navy at Karwar Naval Base with INS Vikrant – the Indian warship.

On Wednesday evening, Sunny Deol, one of the leads of the film, took to Instagram and shared a special picture with sailors of the Indian Navy.

“Hindustan Meri Jaan Meri Aa Meri Shaan Hindustan…Pride. Honour. Bravery! #INSVikrant #IndianNavy #Border2,” he captioned the post.

Border 2, which also stars Ahan Shetty, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh, will open in theatres from January 23.

Recently, at an event in Jaisalmer, Sunny Deol remembered his father Dharmendra’s war film ‘Haqeeqat’, saying that it had a “strong impact” on him as a child, which motivated him to make ‘Border’.

“I did ‘Border’ because when I watched my father’s (Dharmendra) film ‘Haqeeqat’, I loved it deeply. I was a child then. So, when I became an actor, I decided to make a film similar to my father’s movie. I spoke to J P Dutta, and we decided to make a film on the Longewala subject, which is extremely close to our hearts and lives in the hearts of all of you,” said Sunny Deol.

Sunny Deol reflected on the film Border’s impact on youth, saying he never imagined it would inspire young people to join the armed forces.

“Wherever I go, I never knew that we would give so much confidence to so many young people that they would choose to join the armed forces. Whenever I meet them, they tell me that after watching my film, they decided to join the army,” said Sunny. (ANI)

The US State Department is set to pause visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Russia and Iran, as part of a crackdown on those immigrants deemed likely to become a “public charge,” Fox News reported.

Public charge is a US immigration standard used to assess whether a non-citizen is likely to become mainly dependent on government support, which can affect entry or green card eligibility. It typically focuses on cash assistance and long-term government-funded institutional care, and generally does not count many non-cash benefits.

According to Fox News, a State Department memo directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.

The list of affected countries includes Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand and Yemen, among others, Fox News reported.

The pause will begin on January 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely until the State Department completes a reassessment of visa processing, the report said.

Somalia has reportedly come under particular scrutiny following a large-scale fraud scandal in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered alleged abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes, with several of those involved identified as Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.

Fox News reported that in November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts worldwide instructed consular officers to implement expanded screening rules under the “public charge” provision of immigration law.

The guidance instructs officers to deny visas to applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits, taking into account multiple factors such as health, age, English proficiency, finances, and potential need for long-term medical care.

Fox News reported that older or overweight applicants could face denial, along with individuals who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalisation.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” the statement said.

While the public charge provision has existed for decades, Fox News reported that enforcement has differed across administrations, with consular officers historically exercising broad discretion in applying the standard.

Under the new pause, exceptions will be “very limited” and would be permitted only after an applicant clears public charge considerations.

Fox News reported that a 2022 version of the public charge rule under the Biden administration limited the scope of benefits considered mainly to cash assistance and long-term institutional care, excluding programmes such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.

The Immigration and Nationality Act has long allowed consular officers to deem applicants inadmissible on public charge grounds, but US President Donald Trump expanded the definition in 2019 to include a wider set of public benefits. The expansion was challenged in court, with parts blocked before being rescinded by the Biden administration. (ANI)

Maharashtra is set for massive civic polls across 29 municipal corporations, including the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with stakes high for the Thackeray brothers as also BJP-Shiv Sena after the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s stupendous victory in the assembly polls last year.

The voting for these corporations will be held on Thursday and the votes will be counted on Friday.

In the capital city, Mumbai, voting will take place in 227 wards, with approximately 1,700 candidates in the fray. A total of 1,03,44,315 citizens are eligible to vote in the BMC polls. Of these, 55,16,707 are male voters, 48,26,509 are female voters, and the number of other voters is 1,099.

The undivided Shiv Sena was a strong force in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It won 84 seats contesting in alliance with the BJP, which won 82 seats. However, the tables have turned this time following Shiv Sena’s split in 2022.

For the Thackeray brothers, Raj and Uddhav, these local body polls are a fight for regaining lost prestige. It will also test if the Thackeray surname still carries as much weight as it once did in the city and the state.

In its first electoral outing, Raj Thackeray’s MNS had won 19 seats in the 2009 BMC elections. However, since then the MNS has not had much to show in the state assembly polls.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by Uddhav Thackeray, was badly damaged by the split prior to the Assembly polls and clocked just 20 wins in the 288-member house in the assembly polls held last year.

The coming together of the two cousins is seen as the final throw of the dice of the Thackeray legacy.

The Thackeray scions have pitched this battle as one of the ‘Marathi Manus’ against the alleged corporate nexus of the BJP-Sena combine.

“During the assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party engaged in negative campaigning. With the slogan ‘If we divide, we will be cut,’ an attempt was made to sow discord among the Marathi people. Now, if a mistake has been made, its consequences will be serious. If division happens again, we will be finished. Therefore, the Marathi people should not break, should not divide,” said Uddhav Thackeray on the day the two cousins came together.

Raj followed suit with a more stringent pitch, telling his constituents that this was the last election for the Marathi manoos.

“This is the last election for the Marathi man… If you miss this opportunity today, you will be finished. Unite for Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai was obtained through the sacrifices of so many people… What will we tell them?… The BLA (Booth Level Agents) appointed at 6 AM should be ready on election day… Be alert, be vigilant, don’t be careless… If anyone comes to vote again, throw them out,” said Raj at a campaign rally

Uddhav then made a direct attack on the BJP asking voters to bury the ‘curse of division’ and also sought to evoke Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy.

“All this Adani-isation is going on… Isn’t this their ploy to turn Mumbai back into Bombay?… Ask the people what the Shiv Sena did in 25 years and how they have ruined Mumbai in three years… Mumbai was acquired with bloodshed. It is our duty to fight alongside soldiers like you to push back this attack… Balasaheb Thackeray taught us that if someone lays a hand on you, tear off their hand. Bury the curse of division today,” said Uddhav Thackeray.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting the BMC elections in alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. With a coordinated campaign and the BJP’s mammoth election backroom machinery behind the Mahayuti the election is also being perceived as a vote for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ mega development pitch.

The city of Mumbai has seen big projects take off under the Yuti with the new Mumbai Metro line and the Coastal Road being the centrepieces of this development pitch.

Fadnavis says that the Yuti campaign has remained firmly centred on development, despite attempts by the opposition to shift the narrative.

“We didn’t just hold rallies; we also did talk shows and roadshows. In every city, we consistently talked about development. Our opponents tried very hard to divert the election from the development agenda, especially in Mumbai, but we did not get sidetracked,” he said, adding that “80-90 per cent of our campaign was focused solely on development.”

The Maharashtra CM is also not shying of taking on the Thackeray cousins on the issue of the betterment of the Marathi manoos.

Speaking about the alleged attempts to polarise voters on linguistic lines, the Chief Minister said, “Marathi is my language. There must be development for the Marathi language.” However, he questioned the opposition’s definition of “development for the Marathi man,” asking whether it meant pushing Marathi-speaking people out of Mumbai or resorting to violence against workers.

“We brought the Marathi man back to Mumbai by creating jobs through infrastructure projects and built homes for the people,” he said, adding that voters are aware of these efforts.

His ally and deputy Eknath Shinde echoed Fadnavis, asserting that Marathi pride has never been endangered and expressing confidence that the Mahayuti alliance will come to power in the civic body polls.

“Some people made emotional speeches in this election that this is the last election for saving the existence of ‘Marathi Manoos’. I want to tell everyone that Marathi people’s existence was never in threat and will never be in threat in Mumbai. Mahayuti will come to power in BMC and this is a saffron line drawn on a black stone,” he said.

In Mumbai, the NCP and the Congress are also in the fray, although they may not make too much of an impact and the real fight is said to be between Yuti and the Thackeray brothers. NCP(SP) has joined hands with the Thackerays.

Strangely, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar has also shaken hands with the NCP led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and are contesting local body polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together. A favourable result will undoubtedly put stress on the State Alliance with the BJP-Shiv Sena.

Fadnavis has already accused Ajit Pawar of not upholding a commitment about not resorting to “personal attacks”.

“I am someone who stands by the word I give. That is why, when it was decided that in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, we would not contest elections in alliance with the NCP. We also said that this would be a friendly contest and that we would not make any personal attacks on each other. We upheld that commitment till the very end, but Ajit Pawar did not. Why he did that, I do not know,” Fadnavis had said.

Apart from Mumbai, the prominent civic bodies going to polls on Thursday include Thane, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Nashik, Malegaon, Ahilyanagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded-Waghala, Parbhani, Jalna, Latur, Amravati, Akola, Nagpur, and Chandrapur.

For a state that now has an alphabet soup of political parties in the ring, these elections would have an impact on the future of alliances. Will the Thackerays split from the Aghadi partners like the Congress and will the BJP-Sena-Ajit Pawar be glued together once the results of the civic bodies come out. The answers will be locked in the ballot box on Thursday. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday again pushed for control of Greenland, calling it necessary for “national security” and arguing it would also bolster NATO’s strength.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that “anything less” than US control of Greenland is “unacceptable,” adding, “NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES.”

He said that “NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” and “if we don’t, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen!”

Trump also repeated his claim that acquiring Greenland is essential for US national security and “vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,” referring to the missile defence system being developed by the Pentagon.

Emphasising the strategic and military dimension of the issue, Trump further asserted that NATO leaders should actively support the move, writing, “NATO should be leading the way for us to get it. IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Militarily, without the vast power of the United States, much of which I built during my first term, and am now bringing to a new and even higher level, NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent – not even close! They know that, and so do I”.

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark.

Earlier, Trump on Tuesday dismissed remarks made by Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who said at a news conference in Copenhagen, “Greenland does not want to be owned by the USA. Greenland does not want to be governed by the USA. Greenland will not be part of the USA. We choose the Greenland we know today, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

Responding to Nielsen’s comments, Trump said, “That’s their problem. I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him, but that’s going to be a big problem for him.”

Amid the renewed attention on Trump’s remarks, European leaders have also pushed back against his calls for control over Greenland, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning on Wednesday that any attempt by Washington to seize the territory from Denmark would have “unprecedented” consequences.

Macron, speaking through his government’s spokesperson, said, “We do not underestimate the statements regarding Greenland. If the sovereignty of a European and allied country were to be affected, the knock-on consequences would be unprecedented.”

Macron added that France is monitoring developments closely and “will conduct its actions in full solidarity with Denmark and its sovereignty.”

Earlier on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that Greenland belongs to its people and that the issue must be decided by Denmark and Greenland.

“For me, it is important Greenlanders know … that we respect (their) wishes and they, they can count on us,” she added.

Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported that Danish military reinforcements were sent to Greenland in preparation for a potential larger deployment. The Danish Defence Command in Copenhagen did not comment directly on the report but said that it has “increased (its) level of activity in the Arctic over the past year.”

“The Danish Defence, among other things, continuously train the deployment of capabilities in the Arctic and maintain a presence as part of routine task execution as well as in preparation for upcoming activities,” said Louise Hedegaard from the Danish Defence Command. (ANI)

Hollywood’s Zoe Saldana has become the highest-grossing actor of all time, beating ‘Black Widow’ star Scarlett Johansson, reported Variety.

The Academy Award-winning actor received the feat for her latest release, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’.

Saldana has featured in the three highest-grossing films of all time, including 2009’s ‘Avatar’ and its 2022 sequel ‘The Way of Water’, which hold the No 1 and 3 spots respectively. It is followed by 2019’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’, which has been holding the No 2 position.

With the addition of the 2018 Marvel film ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, Zoe Saldana has become the first actress to feature in four films that have collected over USD 2 billion globally. In addition to ‘Avatar’ and her other MCU appearances as Gamora, Saldana’s ‘Star Trek’ trilogy also generated over USD 1 billion worldwide.

Coming to ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, which was nominated for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 2026 Golden Globes, has reached USD 1.23 billion at the worldwide box office, as per E! News, thus bringing the gross total of films starring Saldana to USD 16.8 billion.

Scarlett Johansson previously held the record with USD 16.4 billion. Others in the top five were Samuel L Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.

On Tuesday, the actor expressed her gratitude on Instagram via a video message.

“I just want to express my sincerest gratitude for the extraordinary journey that has led me to become the highest-grossing film actor of all time today. An achievement made possibly entirely entirely by the incredible franchises and the collaborators that I have been fortunate to be a part of. To every director who placed their trust in me, thank you. JJ Abrams (Star Trek), Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers), James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), and most importantly, thank you, James Cameron (Avatar), for believing in my potential for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself and for challenging me to always rise to the occasion. Your faith, your guidance, and your vision – they shape not only these films but me as an artist and to the fans around the world, thank you. Your unwavering support, passion, and loyalty are the true foundation of this milestone,” Saldana said in the video.

In ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, Zoe Saldana reprised her character as Na’vi warrior Neytiri, whose relationship with human soldier-turned-Na’vi leader Jake Sully remains the focus of the sequel.

She is now expected to return for the fourth and fifth instalments of ‘Avatar’. (ANI)

Jan Shakti Janata Dal (JJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav on Wednesday announced that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will merge with the JJD.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said, “On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, we have invited all people. Everyone has come. Some people might be on the way…”

“The RJD will merge with the JJD,” Yadav added.

This comes after the “Dahi Chuda” program organised by Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav. In the program, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav reunited with his estranged son, Tej Pratap Yadav, at his residence in Patna.

Both were joined by several other prominent leaders, including Bihar governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, RLJP chief Pashupati Kumar Paras, Bihar Ministers, including Vijay Chaudhary, Sanjay Jha and others.

Speaking to the reporters, Tej Pratap said that a grand event related to “Dahi Chuda” was organised, and he received the blessings of his father.

“If Teju Bhaiya’s feast won’t be a super duper hit, then whose will be… A grand feast of dahi-chuda was organised… Our parents are God to us, so we’ll keep receiving their blessings… Everyone will come,” Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters.

On being asked about the attendance of his brother and Bihar LoP Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap said that he “wakes up late” but he has sent an invitation to him.

“I have sent an invitation to my younger brother as well. He wakes up a little late,” Tej Pratap told reporters.

Tej Pratap further mentioned that he received blessings from Lalu Yadav and the Bihar governor, following which he will start his yatra across Bihar.

“Lalu ji came, Governor Arif ji came and blessed us. We have to take blessings from the elderly and then start our Yatra across Bihar,” he said. (ANI)

Popular singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore in September last year, was “severely intoxicated” and had drowned in the waters off Lazarus Island after declining a life jacket, a Coroner’s court was told on Wednesday, according to a report by Lydia Lam in Channel NewsAsia (CNA).

Garg, 52, was with a yacht party on September 19, 2025 and initially wore a life jacket but removed it and later declined to put on a second one offered to him, the chief investigating officer told the court in the opening of the inquiry, according to the news report.

At the time of the incident, he was “heavily intoxicated”, and several witnesses saw him attempting to swim back to the yacht before he went limp and began floating face-down in the water, the report said.

He was quickly pulled back onto the yacht, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered, but he was pronounced dead later the same day.

The chief investigating officer told the court that Zubeen Garg was in Singapore for the North East India Festival in September 2025.

On September 19, 2025, he left his hotel and boarded a yacht at the Marina at Keppel Bay. There were about 20 people on the yacht, which included Garg’s friends and colleagues, the Channel NewsAsia report said.

According to the chief investigating officer, the party had some snacks, drinks and alcohol on the boat. Several witnesses said they saw Zubeen Garg drinking alcohol, with one witness saying he had consumed a few cups of liquor, gin and whisky, along with a few sips of Guinness Stout.

The group dropped anchor between Lazarus Island and St John’s Island.

A kayak was prepared for use and Zubeen Garg donned a life jacket, which was later described by a witness as too big for him and jumped into the sea to swim along with a few others.

During this first swim, he removed his life jacket and later went back on the yacht and was heard saying that he was tired. When he decided to resume swimming, Mr Garg was offered a second, smaller life jacket, but he declined to wear it, the Channel NewsAsia report said citing the chief investigating officer.

He entered the water without a life jacket and started swimming in the direction of Lazarus Island alone, the official told the court.

Members of the group on the yacht shouted at others to bring him back, as he was not wearing the safety equipment. The report, citing the official, said Zubeen Garg turned back when others shouted at him to return, but while he was swimming back to the yacht, he suddenly became motionless and floated face down in the water.

He was quickly rescued and taken back to the yacht, where CPR was administered. Within two minutes of receiving a distress call, the Police Coast Guard dispatched a patrol craft, which arrived within nine minutes of receipt of the call, the Channel NewsAsia report said.

According to the official, the police officers took over CPR and noted that Zubeen Garg did not have a pulse and was not breathing.

The yacht was guided to Marina South Pier, about three nautical miles or 6km away, and Zubeen Garg was taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 5.15pm, the new report said, adding that autopsy performed determined the cause of death to be drowning.

Some injuries were found on his body but they were found to have been sustained during CPR and rescue efforts, the Channel NewsAsia report said.

Medications for his hypertension and epilepsy were found in his blood, with no other drugs detected, it added.

The investigating officer said Zubeen Garg was swimming in the sea off St John’s Island without a life jacket despite repeated reminders from the captain to don one, and efforts made by other witnesses to ensure he wore one.

One of the witnesses, an employee of Garg and a family friend, told the court that he was concerned about the singer’s sleep cycle, noting that Garg had been sleeping less and mostly during the day. He said he was worried about Garg’s health, given his history of seizures, which he had reportedly been experiencing since 2017.

The court heard that a witness had attempted to visit Zubeen Garg at his hotel the day before the drowning at 1pm, but Mr Garg was asleep and left his room at only about 8pm that day, the report said.

The evidence of several witnesses, provided via their statements to the court, stated that Zubeen Garg had no suicidal tendencies and that he was not pushed into the water but had jumped in himself for a swim, the report said, adding that the state counsel also played video footage showing Zubeen Garg in the water, including the first swim, when he removed his life jacket.

The forensic pathologist who conducted Zubeen Garg’s autopsy testified that it could not be determined whether or not he had suffered a seizure, saying there were no signs such as a bitten tongue, the report said.

The Singapore police do not suspect any foul play in his death, the report said

Before the inquiry opened on Wednesday, Zubeen Garg’s uncle read a statement he had prepared to the court, in which he raised several concerns the family had over the death.

He said that Garg had walked out of his hotel room “alive and full of promise” on September 19, 2025, but he was gone by the end of the day.

“Between those two moments lie a sequence of events the family doesn’t fully understand,” said Garg’s uncle, according to CNA.

He requested a full and chronological examination of events, seeking clarity on who planned the outing, who accompanied Garg, and his physical condition and health “at every stage”, Channel NewsAsia report said.

He said what troubled him most was why Garg entered the sea, and asked if he did so by his own free will or whether he was encouraged or “insisted” to do so by others.

Zubeen Garg’s uncle also asked whether there was any delay in the administration of medical assistance and said the family members in India “all want to know the truth”.

Zubeen Garg’s wife was unable to attend the inquiry but raised similar concerns, which included whether the police’s conclusion that there was no foul play included any omissions, failures to act or lapses.

At the outset, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said some of the facts sought were not relevant to the circumstances that led to the death.

He told Zubeen Garg’s uncle that he was seeking a level of detail that touched on issues irrelevant to establishing the facts surrounding the events immediately before or after Garg’s death.

The uncle was informed that he was free to question the various witnesses who would be taking the stand. A total of 35 witnesses are slated to testify in the inquiry, including those who were on the yacht, the boat captain, as well as police officers and paramedics, according to the report.

The captain of the yacht, which is called the Crazy Monkey, gave evidence that he saw two of Garg’s friends holding onto his arms as he boarded as he was unable to walk properly, according to CNA.

The captain, who listened to proceedings via a Mandarin interpreter, also noticed that some of the passengers were already drinking alcohol before even boarding the yacht.

He said he gave two safety briefings, one before they set sail and one while at sea, telling the passengers to wear their life jackets at all times, the report said.

He said he saw Garg taking off his life jacket while in the water for the first time, and quickly told his friends to get him out of the water.

“I told his friend that he is drunk, and if he wants to get into the water, he needs to wear a life jacket,” the boat captain said in his witness statement, according to the report.

He said most of the passengers, including Garg, were drinking shots.

He said he had to attend to those on the boat as they were “drinking a lot” and he needed to look out for their safety, according to CNA report.

When he glanced at the group in the water, he saw Garg face down and quickly shouted at them before swimming to him.

When he turned Zubeen Garg’s head away from the water, he saw a lot of foam coming out from his mouth and nose with a “terrible” smell, said the captain, according to Channel NewsAsia report.

He said he told his assistant to paddle towards Garg with a kayak and later performed CPR on Mr Garg on the yacht’s deck.

He said the situation on the boat became very chaotic, as some were crying and others were angry, with some passengers wanting to move away to seek help. However, an officer from either the police or the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore told the captain to stay put, according to CNA.

The inquiry is continuing, the Channel NewsAsia report said.

The seven alleged accused in connection with the late singer Zubeen Garg’s death case were produced virtually before the District & Sessions Court of Kamrup (Metro) district in Guwahati last month.

On December 16, all seven alleged accused in the case were produced virtually before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court of Kamrup (Metro) district in Guwahati.

The SIT of the Assam Police on December 12 filed a chargesheet in the Court of the CJM, Kamrup, Guwahati, against the alleged accused persons under various sections.

The main chargesheet in the caes is about 2,500 pages, and there are various documents, and it is around 12,000 pages.In connection with the case, the SIT/CID arrested seven persons, including main event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen Garg’s Manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, Zubeen’s cousin Sandipan Garg, two PSOs, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya.In the chargesheet, the SIT charged murder under Section 103 of BNS against four accused – Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta. (ANI)

BJP National Spokesperson Guru Prakash on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that “Rahul is a perfect textbook example and a case study of separatism in Indian politics”.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Guru Prakash accused the Congress and the opposition leadership of repeatedly indulging in regionalism, casteism and linguistic chauvinism for political gains, which he said posed a threat to national unity, peace and stability.

The BJP spokesperson further alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s political approach varied from state to state, depending on what he believed would yield electoral benefits. “Rahul Gandhi’s track record is such that when he goes to Bihar, he tries to spread frenzy in the name of caste, and when he goes to Tamil Nadu, he engages in negative politics in the name of Tamil identity,” Guru Prakash said.

He went on to assert, “Rahul Gandhi is a perfect textbook example and a case study of separatism in Indian politics. He needs to refrain from using such language.”

Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks on the BJP’s commitment to Tamil issues, Guru Prakash said, “Will Rahul Gandhi give us a certificate? You are not any certifying authority to issue a certificate to us on our commitment to Tamil issues, the eternal Tamil civilisational heritage.”

“Mr Rahul Gandhi, you have absolutely no right to claim that we suppress the Tamil voice,” he said, adding that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government had consistently upheld and promoted Tamil culture, language and identity as an integral part of India’s civilisational ethos.

“You are talking about politics. History bears witness that in the last 11 years, the sensitivity shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards the Tamil language, Tamil culture and Tamil civilisational heritage is unprecedented,” the BJP spokesperson said.

He added that the BJP-led government had consistently demonstrated respect for Tamil identity, not just within India but also on global platforms.

“For the first time in our history, such sensitivity towards the Tamil language, Tamil respect and Tamil identity has been shown not only within the borders of India but also on world platforms, be it the United Nations or the G20,” Guru Prakash said. He stressed that on every major global forum, Tamil heritage had been presented with equal importance and dignity.

Highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s outreach to linguistic diversity, Guru Prakash pointed out that the Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasised the importance of learning and respecting regional languages. “In Mann ki Baat, which is heard by crores of people, PM Modi emphasises that we need to learn the Tamil language. ‘One India, Great India’ is not just a slogan, it is a commitment,” he said.

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi again, the BJP leader added, “Today I am giving examples that Rahul Gandhi and all the leaders of the Opposition should remember, who time and again try to infiltrate such regionalism, casteism, linguistic chauvinism and all such tendencies, and constantly try to create obstacles in our peace and stability.”

His remarks come after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday came out in support of the Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan and attacked the Centre after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) put the film’s certification on hold, calling it an attack on Tamil culture. He said PM Modi would not succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.

In a post on X, the Congress leader wrote, “The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.”

This comes in the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections to be held in 2026. The politics in the state have heated up amid a triangular contest between the ruling DMK-Congress alliance, the BJP-AIADMK-led alliance and the debutant actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Khazhagam (TVK). (ANI)

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Wednesday, met with the family of Tripura student Angel Chakma, who was killed in Uttarakhand, at their residence and assured them of strict action against the accused individuals within the law.

While speaking to ANI, after the interaction with the deceased’s family members, the Chief Minister assured that he has been in constant communication with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, on the matter, and the accused persons will be punished accordingly within the boundaries of the law.

“I have spoken to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami several times. He has assured me that those involved in this matter will not be spared. 5 out of 6 people have also been arrested… It is a very painful incident… May his soul rest in peace…” Saha said.

Tarun Debbarma, father of Angel Chakma, said that the CM has assured that justice will be served to Chakma.

“The Chief Minister has assured that justice will be delivered… He said that he will talk to the Uttarakhand CM when he visits Delhi… My younger son is mentally disturbed right now; he doesn’t talk much. The CM has said that he will try to provide a job for him also…” he said.

All India Chakma Students Union President, Drishyamuni Chakma, said that the union has requested the Chief Minister for the trial to be held in the national capital to ensure impartial and fair judgement, outlining that the CM has assured assistance in every possible way throughout the investigation.

“We don’t have any feedback on the trial going on in Uttarakhand, so we have requested of the Tripura Chief Minister that the trial be conducted in Delhi to ensure fairness and impartiality with the CBI inquiry. We have also requested that Chakma’s father be given a post in the Border Security Force in Agartala, and his son Michael be given an opportunity in the state government as per his eligibility…” he said.

Chakma, an MBA student, was attacked by a group of miscreants with knives and other blunt objects in Dehradun on December 9 and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital. (ANI)