Acclaimed filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma was convicted and sentenced by a Mumbai court to three months in prison for a cheque bounce case. The court also ordered him to pay a compensation of Rs. 3.72 lakh within three months, failing which he will have to spend another three months behind bars. Varma, who was not present in court during the judgment, has clarified that the case is related to an ex-employee and his lawyers are handling the matter.
A massive fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Sunday evening, destroying 40 thatched huts and six tents. Despite the chaos and panic, there were no major casualties reported and the situation was brought under control by the swift action of fire brigade personnel, police, and the administrative team. Initial investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a gas leak while making tea in a kitchen at one of the camps. While one person was injured, their condition is stable and not life-threatening.
On Sunday evening, a massive fire broke out at the Maha Kumbh Mela, engulfing around 20 tents in Sector 19. The Prayagraj District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police quickly took control of the situation, suspecting a cylinder blast to be the cause. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took stock of the situation. Thankfully, there were no casualties reported.
A group of unidentified individuals threw a stone at the Tapti Ganga Express train carrying passengers to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj near Jalgaon railway station in Maharashtra. While no injuries were reported, a windowpane of coach B6 was shattered, causing panic among the passengers. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with passengers demanding strict action against the perpetrators. The Railway Police has registered a case and is currently investigating the matter.
A train carrying devotees to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh was attacked by anti-social elements in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district. The incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media, caused damage to a windowpane of one of the coaches. Passengers onboard the Tapti Ganga Express called for increased security measures and an investigation into the matter, as the Maha Kumbh commenced on Monday at Sangam in Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized the cultural and religious significance of the event.
The split between Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP has resulted in over 70 seats being flipped from their parent parties to the BJP in the Maharashtra Assembly election. This has dealt a major blow to the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which has only managed to secure 53 seats so far. Without these 70 seats, the opposition stands no chance against the dominant BJP, which is on course for its best ever score in the state. The BJP is expected to rely on these offshoots for a majority in the assembly, potentially leaving the Maha Vikas Aghadi out of reach.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success of the upcoming Maha Kumbh in 2025. With the goal of making it the biggest religious congregation in the world, Adityanath has reached out to Hindu organizations from the Northeast and South India. The event holds great significance for Adityanath, as it could boost his image within the BJP and consolidate his position as a staunch Hindutva leader. However, the political opposition has accused Adityanath of using the arrangements for his own political interests.
Amidst tremendous excitement and fervour, over 25 lakh devotees gathered at Shri Krishna Janmasthan, the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura to offer prayers on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. The celebrations began with the midnight "abhishek" and "Maha Aarti" at the Bhagwat Bhavan temple, with no untoward incidents reported according to officials. This year, devotees from all over India and from abroad have come to Brijbhumi to pay their obeisance to the deity, showcasing the wide-spread eminence of the festival.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on the eve of the monsoon session of the state legislature, assured that no injustice will be done to Other Backward Classes (OBC) while granting reservation to the Maratha community. The budget to be presented during the session will also focus on the development of farmers, youth, and women. However, the CM's government is facing opposition from both the Marathas and OBC leaders, as the former demands reservation in OBC category while the latter opposes sharing of reservation with the Marathas. In the face of criticism from the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, CM Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis vowed to continue the state's development and expose the opposition's false narratives.
In the upcoming 2024 Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena's Dr Raju Waghmare expresses confidence in the Mahayuti alliance's candidates, stating that they will win all 5 seats in the Vidarbha region with a huge margin. He also criticizes the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, claiming they have no clear leadership and are facing internal tensions.