Month: February 2026

Former Pakistan prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of their sentences in the Toshakhana-2 (Bulgari jewellery) case, Dawn reported.

The petition, filed by Advocate Salman Akram Raja, along with Barristers Salman Safdar, Gohar Ali Khan, and Qausain Faisal Mufti, under Section 426 read with Section 561-A of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, seeks their release on bail pending the final decision on their criminal appeal.

On December 20, 2025, the Special Court Central-I convicted the couple and imposed a 10-year simple imprisonment term under Section 409 of the PPC (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), along with a fine of PKR 16.425 million. They were also sentenced to seven years’ simple imprisonment under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The petition argued that such a dual conviction for the same alleged act is wholly beyond the mandate of law, as the petitioner could, at best, have been convicted under either of the two provisions, but not under both. It contended that this violated the principle of double jeopardy under Section 26 of the General Clauses Act, 1897.

Medical concerns featured prominently in the plea. Dawn reported that the petition referenced a Supreme Court proceeding on February 10, 2025, where a medical report from Muhammad Arif of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences indicated severe damage to Imran Khan’s right eye, with a blood clot leaving only 15 per cent vision, and treatment not feasible within jail premises.

The petitioners challenged the trial court’s classification of Imran Khan as a “public servant” under Section 21 PPC, citing PLD 2024 SC 102 to argue that elected officeholders do not qualify for Section 409 PPC applicability.

They maintained that the gifts from the Toshakhana were properly deposited and retained after paying 50 per cent of the value above the basic exemption of PKR 30,000, in line with the Toshakhana Policy 2018.

The plea objected to treating prosecution witness Sohaib Abbasi as an approver without following the mandatory procedure under Section 337 CrPC. It further argued that witness Syed Inamullah Shah, as a material participant in the alleged transaction, should have been arrayed as an accused rather than examined as a routine prosecution witness, reflecting a “selective approach manifestly demonstrative of mala fide intent”.

The petitioners noted that they remained on bail throughout the trial and complied with all conditions set by the trial court.

The accompanying criminal appeal raises substantial questions of law and fact, with no immediate hearing likely, making sentence suspension essential to avoid “manifest miscarriage of justice”.

Separately, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi filed petitions for an early hearing of the 190 million pound corruption case. The registrar’s office is expected to place the matter before a bench next week. (ANI)

Bhojpuri actress Akshara Singh has expressed deep concern and solidarity with actor Rajpal Yadav, days after he surrendered at the Tihar Jail for a series of cheque dishonour cases against him.

Speaking to the media, Akshara urged people to come forward and support Rajpal Yadav.

“Every artist is very saddened by this. His fans are also very saddened. I want those who are capable and can help at their level to provide help,” she said.

Akshara Singh also reacted to the financial assistance provided by National President of Janshakti Janta Dal, Tej Pratap Yadav and added, “Thank you very much to Tej Pratap Yadav, who helped them. They are very good people.”

Earlier this month, Tej Pratap Yadav announced financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh to the family of Rajpal Yadav, further expressing solidarity on the behalf of his party.

In a post on X, Tej Pratap Yadav wrote, “I just received information about the pain of the family of the honorable Rajpal Yadav ji through the post of my elder brother Rao Inderjeet Yadav ji. In this extremely difficult time, I and my entire JJD (Jan Shakti Janata Dal) family stand in complete empathy and solidarity with their grieving family. With a spirit of human compassion and support, on behalf of the JJD family, I am providing financial assistance of ₹11,00,000 (eleven lakh rupees) to their family.”

Many celebrities have also come forward to share financial help for the actor, including the likes of Sonu Sood, Mika Singh, Guru Randhawa, and Gurmeet Choudhary, among others.

The financial support comes after the Delhi High Court rejected Bollywood actor Rajpal Naurang Yadav’s final attempt to avoid imprisonment in a series of cheque-dishonour cases and directed that he must surrender to the jail authorities before any further hearing could be held.

The order came after Yadav failed to comply with the surrender deadline fixed by the Court, following repeated violations of undertakings regarding payment of settlement amounts to the complainant company. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagdambika Pal on Saturday criticised the Opposition for obstructing proceedings in Parliament, stating that the discussion on the President’s address could not take place due to their disruptions.

Speaking to reporters, Pal specifically condemned the statements and allegations made by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi against the Centre, calling them “low-level and baseless.”

“The discussion on the President’s address could not take place…Rahul Gandhi made baseless and low-level allegations in the Parliament and created obstruction during the motion of thanks. Several opposition parties also wanted the discussion to take place, but it did not. The way they obstructed the House, the kind of statements they make in democracy, the kind of allegations they level, they should think about it…,” he said.

The first part of the Budget session concluded on Friday, which was marked by heated political debates over the India-US interim trade deal and the memoir of former Army Chief MM Naravane, whose publication had sparked controversy even outside the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha will reconvene on March 9 after a three-week recess. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned and is scheduled to meet again on March 9 after a three-week recess.

The Parliament budget session, which began on January 28 with the President’s address to a joint sitting of the two Houses, comprises 30 sittings over 65 days and is scheduled to conclude on April 2. The recess will allow Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments.

The first part of the session was devoted primarily to the Budget for 2026-27 and to a discussion of the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.

During the session, the INDIA bloc discussed proposals such as replacing MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, as well as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll before the start of the session.

During President Droupadi Murmu’s address to both Houses, opposition parties staged protests in a “dignified” manner against the scrapping of MGNREGA, highlighting their concerns over employment and rural livelihoods. (ANI)

Actor Vicky Kaushal is celebrating one year of his blockbuster period drama ‘Chhaava’.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Vicky shared a series of pictures including glimpses of his character as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. This was followed by a few behind-the-scenes imagery.

“#1YearOfChhaava. I bow my head in gratitude to the great Maratha legacy and to all of you for celebrating it with us. Your love has truly been very special!” Vicky wrote in the caption.

Directed by Laxman Utekar, ‘Chhaava’ emerged as the first blockbuster of 2025, shattering several box office records. The film revolved around the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, and his courage in defending his faith and country.

Besides Vicky Kaushal in the lead, the film also featured Akshaye Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna in prominent characters.

Others in the cast were Viineet Kumar Siingh, and Ashutosh Rana.

The film was released in cinemas on February 14 last year and quickly gained momentum at the box office. The film went on to become the actor’s most successful venture to date, surpassing his previous hits like ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, ‘Raazi’, ‘Sam Bahadur’, and ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke.’

Adding to its cultural impact, ‘Chhaava’ also received recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who mentioned the film during the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi.

Acknowledging Maharashtra’s cinematic contributions, he remarked, “Aur in dino toh, Chhaava ki dhoom machi hui hai.”

He also credited Marathi author Shivaji Sawant’s acclaimed novel Chhava for bringing Sambhaji Maharaj’s legacy into the spotlight.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Vicky Kaushal expressed his gratitude on Instagram, stating, “Honoured beyond words! Grateful to Hon. PM Narendra Modi Ji. #Chhaava.”

On the work front, Vicky Kaushal is set for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Love and War’, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. (ANI)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to retain power by relying on the votes of infiltrators, amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.

Responding to petitions filed by the Chief Minister alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise before the Supreme Court, Pradhan said the people of West Bengal will deliver a “befitting reply” to Mamata Banerjee in the forthcoming 2026 Assembly elections.

“Mamata Banerjee wants to return to power on the strength of infiltrators’ votes. The people of Bengal will give her a befitting reply this time. The youth of Bengal, the women of Bengal, and the common people of Bengal will bring change in Bengal,” Pradhan said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court heard a batch of pleas filed by various petitioners, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise carried out by the ECI in West Bengal. Banerjee has alleged that voters’ names were placed on the Logical Discrepancy list due to minor dialectal spelling differences and that objection notices were issued without reasons.

The state Chief Minister also appeared in person before the Court and submitted that the State was being selectively targeted by the ECI to delete voters rather than to include them or correct errors.

Following the hearing, the Supreme Court extended the deadline for the publication of the final electoral roll under the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal by one week.

Additionally, the Court issued a show-cause notice to the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) regarding allegations of violence during the revision process.

In response to these developments, the Union Minister stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must comply with the Supreme Court’s orders, asserting that the country must be governed by the rule of law.

“The state government here, Mamata ji, herself approached the Supreme Court. They should obey the Supreme Court’s orders. The country will run on the basis of law, not under anyone’s pressure,” added Pradhan.

Meanwhile, following a Supreme Court order, the ECI announced a revised schedule for the ongoing SIR process in the state on February 10. In its statement, the WB Chief Electoral Officer said the hearing of notices will be completed by February 14. The review of the documents and disposal of the claim will be completed by February 21.

The statement also said that the rationalisation of polling stations will be completed by February 25. The health parameter checks are to be conducted by February 27. The final electoral roll will be published on February 28. (ANI)

In a blistering attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that the party and the organisation are pushing India towards becoming a ‘theocratic nation’.

His remarks come after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued detailed guidelines for the national song Vande Mataram, stating that when both the National Song and the National Anthem are performed at an event, all six stanzas of Vande Mataram’s official version must be presented first.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Owaisi said, “This should not be made a test of loyalty…The way the BJP and RSS are taking forward the nation, it will become a theocratic nation.”

Owaisi said that the Constitution begins with “We the people,” not slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” and highlighted that Article 25 guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of religion, adding that citizens do not need any “certificate of loyalty.”

“…Our Constitution begins with ‘We the people’, not with ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’…Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of religion…Do they want to finish the national anthem?… What about my freedom of religion?… We don’t need any certificate of loyalty,” he said.

The MHA instructions on ‘Vande Mataram’ coincide with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the creation of the song.

Further, Owaisi criticised demands to award Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar, saying that the Justice Kapoor Commission had named Savarkar a conspirator in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.

His remarks came after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat suggested that awarding Savarkar the Bharat Ratna would enhance the award’s prestige.

“Justice Kapoor Commission was constituted after the murder of Mahatma Gandhi, and it said that Veer Savarkar is a conspirator in this murder…They can also give Bharat Ratna to Nathuram Godse if they want,” Owaisi said. (ANI)

Megastar Rajinikanth enjoys a massive fan following, and some admirers revere him almost like a god. Their devotion is so intense that a few have even built temples in honour of the ‘Sivaji: The Boss’ actor.

As Maha Shivaratri is on Sunday, Karthik, a fan of Rajinikanth from Madurai, performed a special pooja in a unique way by offering prayers at a temple he built inside his residence in honour of the superstar.

Speaking to ANI, Karthik said, “This was the third consecutive year that Shivaratri pooja was being performed. The image of Rajinikanth in Lord Shiva’s appearance from the film Uzhaippali was used for the rituals and adorned with a garland made of 500 vadais to honour the actor’s 50-year journey in cinema…”

Rajinikanth, affectionately known as “Thalaiva” (leader) by his legion of fans, remains one of the most revered and influential figures in Indian cinema.

With a career spanning over five decades, he has starred in numerous films across languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English. Some of his memorable movies include ‘Shivaji: The Boss’, Annaamalai, Thalapathi, Padaiyappa, Robot, Jailer, and others. (ANI)

On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, the makers of Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi-starrer ‘ Ek Din’ unveiled a cute poster of the film.

In the poster, Sai Pallavi is seen holding a muffin, seemingly to wish Junaid. The two share an adorable gaze filled with warmth and sweetness.

Set against a warm, romantic winter setting, the poster shows Junaid and Sai’s characters walking side-by-side on a snow-covered street, smiling softly. Both dressed in cosy winter clothes, the poster evokes the feeling of being lost in their own world.

‘Ek Din’ is set to arrive as Junaid Khan’s third major project in a leading role, while Sai Pallavi will make her Bollywood debut with the same.

Directed by Sunil Pandey, ‘Ek Din’ is written by Sneha Desai and Spandan Mishra. The film is produced by Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan, and Aparna Purohit under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions.

The music is composed by Ram Sampath, with lyrics from Irshad Kamil.’Ek Din’ will hit theatres on May 1, 2026. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the strategic importance of the newly established Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh, describing it as a “matter of immense pride”.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “It is a matter of immense pride that the Northeast gets an Emergency Landing Facility. From a strategic point of view and during times of natural disasters, this facility is of great importance.”

Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force conducted an air display at the ELF on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh, with its Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter jets taking off in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries watching the air display.

PM Modi witnessed an aerial display of fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters.

Earlier, PM Modi was welcomed on the stage by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in Dibrugarh.

The ELF is the first of its kind in Northeast India. It has been designed and constructed in coordination with the Indian Air Force to support the landing and takeoff of military and civilian aircraft during emergencies. It will serve as a critical asset for emergency response, enabling quick deployment of rescue and relief operations during natural disasters or strategic requirements in the Northeast.

Envisioned as dual-use infrastructure, the ELF is capable of handling fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes maximum take-off weight.

Later, PM Modi will also inaugurate and flag off development projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education and urban mobility in the North-Eastern Region.

At around 1 PM, the Prime Minister inspected the newly built Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the River Brahmaputra. Later, he will inaugurate and flag off development projects valued at over Rs 5,450 crore at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati.

Further, PM Modi inaugurated Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the River Brahmaputra, built at a cost of around Rs 3,030 crore. The 6-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first of its kind in Northeast India. It will cut travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to seven minutes.

Given the region’s high seismicity, the bridge incorporates base isolation using friction pendulum bearings. High-performance stay cables have been used to ensure durability and long-term structural performance.

A Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has also been incorporated to enable real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and improved safety and service life of the extradosed bridge.

According to the PMO, PM Modi will inaugurate the National Data Centre for the Northeastern region at Amingaon in Kamrup district of Assam.

The state-of-the-art Data Centre, with a total sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW, will host mission-critical applications for various government departments and serve as a Disaster Recovery centre for other National Data Centres.

This will enable governments in the Northeast to digitally deliver essential citizen-centric services. Aligned with the vision of Digital India, the National Data Centre for the northeastern region has been envisioned as a strategic initiative to strengthen the region’s ICT backbone and ensure robust, secure, and always-available digital infrastructure, according to the PMO’s statement.

The inauguration of the Indian Institute of Management is another highlight for the state, as the IIM Guwahati is set to provide a major boost to higher and management education in the North-Eastern Region.

Over 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in Guwahati (100), Nagpur (50), Bhavnagar (50), and Chandigarh (25) will also be flagged off. With the launch of e-bus operations under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in these four cities, more than 50 lakh citizens are expected to benefit from access to clean, affordable, and reliable public transport services, thereby improving urban mobility and enhancing quality of life. (ANI)