Month: February 2026

Actor Hrithik Roshan is all praise for Shahid Kapoor’s latest release ‘O’Romeo’, hailing the actor for his performance in the romantic drama.

Taking to his X handle, Hrithik penned a short note appreciating Shahid’s portrayal in the film and urged audiences to watch it in theatres.

“The quirkiness of #ORomeo eventually wins you over. I had fun. @shahidkapoor you do this genre BEST. Too good you are. Go watch it in the theatres guys. Also that running in circles action was brilliant,” he wrote.

Shahid was quick to respond to Hrithik’s praise, recalling how he was deeply inspired after watching Hrithik’s debut film during his college days.

“Brother saw you debut like a boss when I was still in college and you hit me like lightning. Been loving you since your first. This feels special. Big love so happy you enjoyed the film,” Shahid wrote on X.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and presented by Sajid Nadiadwala, O Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. The film was released during Valentine’s Week.

Apart from the lead pair, the film also features Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Farida Jalal, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Aruna Irani, Hussain Dalal, Resh Lamba, and Rahul Deshpande in pivotal roles.

A day before the film’s theatrical release, Bhardwaj shared an emotional note on Instagram expressing immense pride in the project. Referring to his heads of department as the “real heroes,” he thanked his team for their “vision, integrity, sweat, blood, and unconditional commitment.” (ANI)

The snow-covered hill resort of Kufri, located about 20 km from Shimla, is witnessing a steady influx of tourists this winter, bringing cheer to local tourism stakeholders despite a gradual reduction in snowfall in recent days.

Although snow-based adventure activities have slowed due to thinning snow cover, visitors continue to arrive and enjoy the scenic landscapes, viewpoints and orchard trails. Local tourism operators, including guides, taxi drivers, hoteliers and horse owners, said this year’s snowfall significantly boosted their income after a gap of several years.

According to tourism stakeholders, Kufri typically receives 3-5 lakh visitors during the peak snowfall season (December-February), with weekends and fresh snowfall spells drawing the highest footfall. The surge benefits nearly all sectors linked to the local tourism economy, from transport operators and hotels to eateries, equipment renters and around 1,000 horse owners who ferry tourists to upper snow points such as Mahasu Peak.

A group of nine young women visiting from Karnataka shared their excitement about witnessing snow for the first time.

“We are a group of nine girls from Karnataka. When we reached Kufri, we really enjoyed seeing the snow. We came up here on horseback, and there are many viewpoints at the top. Visiting the apple garden was fun. The people here are very good, the climate is pleasant, and the locals are humble. We work in the IT sector, and visiting such snow locations in Himachal really refreshes the mind,” a tourist from Karnataka told ANI.

Local horse operators said good snowfall earlier in the season helped them earn better revenue.

Sandeep Chandel, a local horse operator, said that this year, due to good snowfall, they had a good business.

“Business has been good this time due to heavy snowfall. Snow arrived a bit late, but after three to four years, we saw such a good accumulation of around three to four feet initially. Even now, there is about one to one-and-a-half feet of snow in the upper areas. Tourists are enjoying horse rides. Nearly 1,000 horses are engaged in the business here. We appeal to tourists to visit; about two to two-and-a-half kilometres uphill at Mahasu, visitors can still enjoy good snow even though the lower ground has less,” Chandel told ANI.

Some tourists expressed mild disappointment over reduced snow compared to promotional images, but said the overall experience remained enjoyable.

“It is good here, but the snowfall is moderate. The snow is not as much as shown in the photos by travel agents. Visitors should come with proper guidance from a good travel team because snow is slightly less these days,” a tourist from Mumbai said while speaking with ANI.

Despite fluctuating snow levels, Kufri continues to attract visitors seeking winter scenery and leisure activities. The steady tourist flow has helped sustain the local economy, providing seasonal employment and income to hundreds of families associated with transport, hospitality, guiding services and snow-related recreation.

Stakeholders are optimistic that further snowfall spells and weekend tourist traffic will continue to support business through the remainder of the winter season. (ANI)

A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district on Friday awarded a death sentence to two accused, Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati, for the various offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the above act.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Trial Court also ordered the government to award compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each victim. The Court further ordered to distribute the cash amount seized from the house of the accused persons among the victims in equal proportion, a press release issued by the CBI said.

The CBI registered the case on October 31, 2020, against accused Rambhawan and other unknown persons on allegations of sexual abuse of children, using children for pornographic purposes, and creation and dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) over the internet.

“During the investigation of the case, it surfaced that the accused persons had committed various forms of perversity, which included aggravated penetrative sexual assaults against 33 young boys, some of them as young as three years of age,” the release read.

“Investigation also revealed that some of the victims had suffered injuries to their private parts during penetrative sexual assault. Some of them have remained admitted to the hospital. A few of the victims developed Squint Eye. Victims are still suffering from psychological trauma caused by the predators,” it further read.

The predators remained active in the general area of Banda and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh between 2010 and 2020. The accused Rambhawan was working as a Junior Engineer in the Department of Irrigation. The accused used to apply different forms of modus operandi on children, including access to online video games and giving money/gifts to allure them.

As per CBI, the investigation remained sensitive towards the minor victims while conducting their examinations and ensured their emotional well-being through counselling.

After the conclusion of the investigation, CBI filed a chargesheet on October 10, 021 against the accused. The CBI framed the charges on May 26th, 2023.

While awarding the severest punishment, the court found the criminal acts of the accused to be “rarest of rare” based on unparalleled depravity and systemic nature of their crimes, which involved the orchestrated sexual exploitation and abuse of 33 minor children.

According to CBI, the sheer scale of this victimisation across multiple districts, combined with the extreme moral turpitude of the convicts, marks this as a crime of such an exceptional and heinous nature that it leaves no room for reformation, necessitating the ultimate judicial deterrent to meet the ends of justice. (ANI)

Actor Rajkummar Rao extended heartfelt birthday wishes to his wife Patralekhaa, describing her as the “best partner.”

Taking to his Instagram handle, Rajkummar shared a series of pictures of Patralekhaa along with a few cherished moments of the two together. The actor penned an emotional note expressing his love and gratitude for his wife.

“Happy birthday my love. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the heart of our home. Parvati and I are so lucky to have you in our life. The best partner, the best mother and the best daughter. Here’s to your dreams, your strength and the most incredible woman you are. Happy birthday. God bless you @patralekhaa,” he wrote.

Soon after he shared the post, several members of the film fraternity took to the comments section to extend their wishes to Patralekhaa.

Tahira Kashyap, Aparshakti Khurana, Dia Mirza, Bhumi Pednekkar, Soha Ali Khan, and Katrina Kaif shared their greetings in the comment section.

Rajkummar and Patralekhaa tied the knot on November 15, 2021, in an intimate ceremony in Chandigarh attended by close friends and family members. The couple first shared screen space in the 2014 film ‘CityLights’, which marked Patralekhaa’s Bollywood debut.

The duo embraced parenthood last year with the birth of their baby girl, Parvati Paul Rao, in November. They announced the arrival of their daughter on their fourth wedding anniversary on November 15.

On the professional front, Rajkumar will next be seen in ‘Nikam’, a film based on the life of noted public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. ‘Stree’ actor wrapped up the shooting for the project in November last year.

Apart from acting, the actor is also busy working as a producer. A few months ago, Rajkummar and his wife Patralekhaa launched their own production house, KAMPA Film. (ANI)

The Tibetans in-exile held condolence prayers for Tenzin Choegyal, also known as Ngari Rinpoche, who passed away at the age of 80 in his residence in Dharamshala on February 17.

Choegyal was the youngest brother of the Dalai Lama and was cremated here yesterday.

Several thousand Tibetans gathered at the main Tibetan temple, Tsuglagkhang in Dharamshala to attend the prayer service on Friday. Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) organised the prayer service today.

Choegyal has worked a lot for the preservation of Tibetan religion and culture and also for the political aspirations of the Tibetan people. He was born in Lhasa in 1946 and after China’s invasion in Tibet in 1959, he accompanied the Dalai Lama into exile in India.

Tsering Chomphel, the President of Tibetan Youth Congress told ANI, “It’s very unfortunate that we lost our beloved and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s youngest brother Tenzin Choegyal also known as Ngari Rinpoche, so we are holding this prayer service as on 17th of February he passed away at his residence in Dharamshala and his cremation was held yesterday. He was also the former president of Tibetan Youth Congress and former member of Tibetan parliament in-exile. We are holding this prayer to commemorate his work for the Tibetan community as he served the Tibetan community for a long time.”

One of his brothers, Taktser Rinpoche had already passed away in United States and the second oldest brother of the Dalai Lama, Gyalo Thondud had also passed away at the age of 97 in West Bengal in February 2025.

The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) has seven siblings and he is the fourth child in his family. Dalai Lama and his younger sister Jestun Pema are presently residing in Dharamshala. (ANI)

On the opening day of Ramazan, Rawalpindi descended into traffic mayhem and price shock, leaving citizens grappling with mismanagement and inflation, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, the city’s traffic system virtually collapsed during school rush hours in the morning and again in the crucial pre-iftar period between 4 pm and 6 pm. Key arteries, particularly Murree Road from Marir Chowk to Chandni Chowk, were clogged, with vehicles inching forward at a snail’s pace.

The congestion extended across major commercial and residential zones, including Raja Bazaar, Ganjmandi Road, Liaquat Road, City Saddar Road and several densely populated marketplaces. Areas packed with temporary iftar stalls selling food items became severe choke points, leaving barely enough room for vehicles to pass. Many families reportedly had to break their fast while stranded in traffic.

Frustrated commuters alleged that traffic wardens focused more on penalising motorcyclists than managing the flow of vehicles. Citizens claimed that even minor violations resulted in fines of Rs 2,000, with motorcycles briefly confiscated, actions they said worsened congestion instead of easing it. However, a Traffic Police spokesperson stated that officials had worked diligently to maintain order throughout the day, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, the economic burden added to public distress. The first iftar of Ramazan was marked by sharp price hikes in fruits and vegetables. Bananas were sold at Rs 300 per dozen, while kinnow and oranges fetched between Rs 350 and Rs 400 per dozen.

Apples ranged from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per kilogram, strawberries soared to Rs 1,000 per kilogram, and grapes and pomegranates were priced at Rs 700 and Rs 750 per kilogram, respectively. Residents described the sudden surge as an “inflation bomb,” saying that the holy month began under the shadow of administrative inefficiency and mounting financial strain, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court has granted regular bail to a man arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in a case arising out of a fatal road accident in the Chanakyapuri area of the national capital.

Justice Manoj Jain passed the order on February 19, 2026, allowing the bail plea of Aashish Bachchas in FIR registered at Police Station Chanakyapuri under Sections 20,21,22,25,29 of the NDPS Act, along with offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The case dates back to August 10, 2025, when an accident allegedly involving a Mahindra Thar vehicle led to the death of two persons.

The applicant was stated to be driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. When the police reached the spot, they allegedly recovered a laptop bag from the vehicle, which, upon checking, was found to contain 21.26 grams of ganja, 15.49 grams of tobacco, 0.30 grams of cocaine, 4.17 grams of charas, 23.47 grams of MD and 2.6 grams of LSD.

During interrogation, the applicant allegedly disclosed the names of persons from whom he had procured the contraband. His police custody remand was obtained, and, as per the prosecution, one such person has already been arrested in connection with the case.

Appearing for the applicant, Advocates Ujwal Ghai, Bhanu Malhotra and Rishabh Atri argued that there was no clarity as to whether the substance allegedly recovered as LSD was, in fact, LSD.

They pointed out that even the Trial Court, in its order dated December 26, 2025, had observed that there was no explanation from the investigating agency as to why the suspicious substance was not tested immediately and had held that there was no prima facie material at that stage to conclude that the substance was LSD.

The defence further submitted that the quantities of ganja, cocaine and charas fall within the category of small quantity, while MD is of intermediate quantity. It was also highlighted that the applicant is in his twenties, in the prime of his youth, and has no previous criminal antecedents.

Opposing the bail plea, the State contended that there was conscious recovery of multiple contraband substances and that since the Forensic Science Laboratory report is still awaited, it cannot be presumed at this stage that the recovered substance was not LSD. However, the prosecution did admit that the other substances fall within the category of small or intermediate quantities.

The Court perused the nominal roll, which revealed that the applicant has no previous involvement in any other criminal case. It also noted that the charge sheet has already been filed and the matter is listed for consideration on the charge on April 8, 2026.

Keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances, particularly the young age of the applicant and his clean antecedents, the High Court directed that he be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond of ₹25,000 with one surety of the like amount, subject to the satisfaction of the Trial Court. (ANI)

Holding that managing a household and raising a child are real and valuable contributions, even if they do not generate taxable income, the Delhi High Court has ruled that a non-earning wife cannot be denied interim maintenance merely because she is educated or capable of working.

The Court observed that equating non-employment with “idleness” reflects a misunderstanding of domestic labour and ignores the realities of marital life.

In a detailed judgment delivered by Justice Dr. Swarana Kanta Sharma, the settled legal distinction between the capacity to earn and actual earning. It held that merely because a wife is educated or has undertaken a professional course does not disentitle her from maintenance in the absence of material showing that she is actually earning sufficient income to sustain herself.

The High Court found that the lower courts had erred in treating certain bank transactions, primarily transfers made by the husband towards “monthly expenses”, as evidence of the wife’s income. Such transfers, the Court noted, could not be construed as independent earnings.

It further observed that in many Indian households, women discontinue employment after marriage due to relocation, childcare responsibilities, or family expectations. Expecting a woman to immediately re-enter the workforce after a prolonged break ignores practical challenges such as outdated skills and reduced employability.

The case arose from matrimonial proceedings between a husband employed in Kuwait and a wife residing in India with their minor child. The husband had been working overseas since 2015 and returned abroad in August 2020, leaving the wife and child in India. Thereafter, proceedings were initiated under Section 125 Cr.P.C. and the PWDV Act seeking maintenance.

Under the PWDV Act proceedings, the Magistrate granted Rs. 10,000 per month towards the child but denied maintenance to the wife. The Appellate Court enhanced maintenance for the child to Rs. 50,000 per month (later Rs. 60,000), yet again declined maintenance to the wife, citing incomplete disclosure of bank statements.

In parallel proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C., the Family Court awarded Rs. 50,000 per month to the wife and Rs. 40,000 per month to the minor child.

Examining the husband’s financial records, the Court noted that he was earning between USD 5,000 and 6,400 per month in Kuwait, translating to approximately Rs.4-5.3 lakh per month during the relevant period. Bank records also reflected significant savings, including fixed deposits exceeding ₹1 crore.

Rejecting the argument that EMIs and voluntary financial commitments should reduce his maintenance liability, the Court held that only statutory deductions can be considered. Voluntary loans and investments cannot override the legal obligation to maintain a dependent spouse and minor child.

While acknowledging the higher cost of living abroad, the Court found that the husband had adequate financial capacity and had previously transferred substantial amounts towards family expenses.

The High Court set aside the denial of interim maintenance to the wife under the PWDV Act and harmonised the relief granted under both statutes. It directed that interim maintenance of Rs. 50,000 per month to the wife and Rs. 40,000 per month to the minor child shall be payable, with adjustment/set-off between proceedings to avoid duplication.

The enhancement of Rs. 60,000 per month granted to the child under the PWDV Act was reduced to Rs. 40,000 per month to ensure uniformity. The amounts were directed to be payable from the date of filing of the respective petitions, with arrears to be cleared within six months.

Clarifying that the observations were confined to interim maintenance, the Court also encouraged parties to consider mediation rather than prolong adversarial litigation, particularly where minor children are involved. (ANI)

The Delhi Police have intiated legal action against cadre of the Youth Congress who were protesting ‘shirtless’ at the Bharat Manadapam on Friday. Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla said the incident took place at around 12:30 pm and that the protestors had registered for the summit online.

He said the protestors were wearing sweaters and jackets over objectionable T-shirts. Near Hall Number 5, one of them removed his outer clothing and waved the T-shirt in protest. The official added that appropriate legal action is being taken and that those detained are being identified.

“The incident occurred around 12:30 PM. They registered online and entered through QR code scanning. They were wearing sweaters and jackets on top and a T-shirt underneath. Near Hall 5, they removed their sweaters and jackets. They protested while waving their T-shirts. We are taking appropriate legal action against them. We detained four of them and are identifying the rest.”, the additional CP told ANI.

“The people detained have been identified as Krishna Hari. He is the National Secretary, age 35, a resident of Bihar. The second one’s name is Kundan Yadav. He is also from Bihar. The third one’s name is Ajay Kumar and the fourth one’s name is Narasimha Yadav. He is the National Coordinator of the Indian Youth Congres,” he added.

Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib defended party workers who staged a protest at the shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit today, saying the demonstration reflected the anger of unemployed youth across the country.

Speaking to ANI, Chib said, “Today, Youth Congress members went to the AI Summit and raised slogans, ‘PM is compromised.’ This anger isn’t just from our Youth Congress members. It’s from every young person who is unemployed today, and every single one of them knows that our Prime Minister is compromised.”

He alleged that the trade deal with the United States would hurt farmers and citizens. “This trade deal with the US, we all know, will harm our farmers and people. Only America will benefit. It’s our duty to raise their voice. Our country has democracy. We can hold peaceful protests anywhere,” he said.

Reacting to the Delhi Police statement that legal steps were being taken, Chib said the party would not be deterred. “Our Youth Congress colleagues are Rahul Gandhi’s soldiers. They won’t be intimidated. When there wasn’t an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, the ED case dragged on for so many years. He was summoned for questioning so many times,” he said.

He accused the BJP of targeting opposition leaders and asserted that the Youth Congress would continue its protests. “The BJP can go to any lengths, but we are soldiers of the Constitution, soldiers of Rahul Gandhi. We won’t back down. We will raise our voice for the youth of the country,” Chib added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday lambasted the Congress party for its protest against the AI Impact Summit, branding it as “characterless, brainless, and emotionless,” even as Indian Youth Congress activists staged a dramatic shirtless demonstration at Bharat Mandapam, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the AI Summit.

Poonawalla accused the Congress of undermining national progress and said this was a protest against national achievements.

“Congress has once again proven that for them, AI isn’t Ambitious India, Artificial Intelligence, Aspirational India. For them, AI is anti-India. This isn’t the INC, this is the ANC, the anti-National Congress. The AI Summit is being praised worldwide. From President Macron to the United Nations Secretary General, to top tech company honchos, from Sam Altman to Sundar Pichai, everyone is praising it. Even Shashi Tharoor said the AI Summit was excellent. But at Rahul Gandhi’s behest, the Congress party is protesting; it is a characterless, brainless, emotionless protest. This isn’t a protest against the BJP, it’s not a protest against the PM, it’s a protest against India’s achievements,” Poonawalla added.

Earlier the Youth Congress cadres held a ‘shirtless’ protest outside the summit venue, raising slogans of “PM is compromised” and alleging that the government’s policies were harming national interests. Police later detained several protesters and said legal action was being initiated.

In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its members were protesting against what it termed a compromised leadership at the summit. (ANI)

A thin layer of fog engulfed Srinagar on Tuesday morning as the cold wave continued to tighten its grip on the Kashmir Valley, reducing visibility and intensifying the winter chill.

The iconic Dal Lake remained shrouded in mist, yet tourists braved the freezing temperatures to enjoy shikara rides and the serene winter landscape.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius on January 5, which was 2 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was minus 4 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees below normal.

The IMD on Tuesday forecast isolated light to moderate rainfall or snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Ground frost conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand.

In southern India, light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Tamil Nadu on January 8 and 9, while heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mahe on January 9 and 10.

The weather agency has also predicted a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C over Northwest India during the next four days, with no significant change thereafter for the next three days.

A similar fall of 2-3°C is likely over Central and East India during the next two days, followed by no significant change for the subsequent five days. No major change in minimum temperatures is expected over the remaining parts of the country.

Meanwhile, cold wave conditions are very likely at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, East Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Jharkhand and Punjab. Cold-day conditions are expected in isolated pockets across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Sikkim.

Dense fog is very likely at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh.

Dense to very dense fog is anticipated at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.

Over the seas, squally weather with wind speeds reaching 35-45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, is likely along and off the Sri Lanka coast, over most parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, many parts of the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin area.

Squally winds of 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, are likely along and off the Somalia coast and adjoining sea areas. (ANI)