Highlights: Bengaluru cafe blast case booked under UAPA, others by police

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Bengaluru Police have registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act in connection with the explosion at the city's popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday, officials said. A statement issued by the city Police Commissioner's office said 10 people were injured in the blast. The bomb exploded between 12.50 pm and 1 pm, and a total of 10 people including hotel staff and customers were injured in the blast. However, there was no loss of life, it added.

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India has warned parties of stern action against direct, indirect violation of the Model Code of Conduct, PTI reported. 

The finance ministry announced today that Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection has grown 12.5 per cent year-on-year to over Rs 1.68 trillion in February.

Sandeshkhali incident is a matter of shame, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at West Bengal's Arambagh, adding that the prime accused was not arrested for nearly 2 months. "Entire country is reeling with anger after seeing what TMC has done to the sisters of Sandeshkhali," PM Modi said. 

India is likely to experience above normal minimum temperatures in March, India's state-run weather office said on Friday, raising concerns about the country's critical wheat crop, the Reuters reported. In the first half of March, north-western parts of the country could receive above-normal rainfall, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department, told a virtual news conference. In the second half of March temperatures are likely to rise above normal, he said.

PM Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore from West Bengal's Arambagh.

Four people were injured in an explosion at a cafe in Bengaluru's Kundalahalli today, Cops on Friday said. Three of the injured people are employees of the cafe, the police said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Rs 8,900-crore fertiliser plant in Jharkhand's Sindri this afternoon.

Rape convict Asaram Bapu had approached the Supreme Court of India, citing rapidly deteriorating health conditions, asking it to stay his sentence.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took place at the party headquarters in Delhi on Thursday night. Potential candidates for the Lok Sabha polls were discussed at the meeting. BJP chief JP Nadda along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and representatives and chief ministers of 16 states governed by the saffron party were present. BJP is expected to announce over 100 names over the next few days. The first list is likely to have the names of top party leaders, including PM Modi and Shah, news agency ANI reported. The meeting saw the participation of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  met Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday and discussed artificial intelligence (AI) for public good, women-led development and innovation in agriculture and health. Gates said on X, "I is always inspiring to meet with @narendramodi and there was a lot to discuss. We talked about AI for public good; DPI; women-led development; innovation in agriculture, health, and climate adaptation; and how we can take lessons from India to the world."

At least 43 people and left 22 others were injured in a fire at a seven-storey building in the central part of the Bangladesh capital, authorities said on Friday. The blaze broke out around 9:50 pm on Thursday at a restaurant on the building's first floor and spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop. "Thirty-three people died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and 10 at (the nearby) Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery," Sen said.Sandeshkhali incident is a matter of shame, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at West Bengal's Arambagh rally, adding that the prime accused was not arrested for nearly 2 months. "Entire country is reeling with anger after seeing what TMC has done to the sisters of Sandeshkhali," PM Modi said. 

11:21 PM

There should be smart villages, like smart cities: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

There should not only be smart cities but also smart villages, Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. Gadkari made the remark after he laid the foundation stone of 19 projects worth Rs 10,000 crore at a function organised on the campus of BRP Inter College in Jaunpur district. "Farmers should not only be food providers but also energy providers. Today my car runs on ethanol which is produced by farmers. Also there should be not only smart cities but also smart villages," he said. The minister said farmers should be debt-free and get fair prices for their crops. He said that when Narendra Modi became the prime minister in 2014, the total length of national highways in Uttar Pradesh was 7,343 km. "In 2024 this length will become 13,000 km." In Mirzapur, Gadkari laid foundation stones of a 15 km-long bypass, a bridge crossing Ganga, and approach road to be built at a combined cost of Rs 1,708.62 crore.

10:17 PM

Defence news: In a first, 4 IAF units to receive President's Standard and Colours

In a historic first, four units of the Indian Air Force will receive prestigious 'President's Standard and Colours' from President Droupadi Murmu at the Hindan air base on March 8. Murmu will be awarding the President's Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron and the President's Colours to 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal unit, the defence ministry said. It will be the first time in history of the IAF that four units will be awarded President's Standard and Colours together, it said.

The award of the President's Standard and Colours is the highest military honour for any armed forces units. The four units selected for the coveted awards have stellar contributions in the IAF's history. The 221 squadron is known as the 'Valiants'. The history of the squadron dates back to 14 Feb 1963 when it was raised at Barrackpore, equipped with Vampire aircraft.

9:14 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast news: Case registered under UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, says police

The Karnataka Police said that they have registered a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 & Explosive Substances Act against the unidentified accused of the Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast case. 

9:04 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast: It was a low intensity blast, timer was fixed for it, says DK Shivakumar

It was a low intensity blast and timer was fixed for blast to happen after 1 hour, said Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar.

8:22 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast: Nine people injured in bomb blast at Rameshwaram Cafe, says Karnataka DGP

A bomb blast at a popular eatery in the city on Friday left nine persons injured and police have launched a probe from all angles after it emerged that an earlier suspected gas leak was not the cause of the explosion. Police suspect that a bag at the eatery with a possible improvised explosive device (IED) could have exploded, even as the NIA and the IB have been apprised of the matter. Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrived at the spot. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefiled, and added it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive" device. The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved. State police chief Alok Mohan described the explosion as a "bomb blast" and said nobody was seriously injured.

 

7:29 PM

Business news: FIU fines Paytm Payments Bank of Rs 5.49 cr under anti-money laundering law

Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has imposed a Rs 5.49 crore penalty on Paytm Payments Bank for violating anti-money laundering rules, the Finance Ministry said on Friday. FIU-IND initiated a review of Paytm Payments Bank on receipt of specific information from law enforcement agencies in respect of few entities and their network of businesses engaged in a number of illegal acts, including organising and facilitating online gambling, PTI reported. The money generated from these illegal operations, i.e. proceeds of crime were routed and channelled through bank accounts maintained by these entities with the Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, the ministry said.

7:28 PM

Lok Sabha elections: EC might be making strategy to stop Samajwadis in UP, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday suggested that the Election Commission might be strategising to defeat his party. The SP leader made the remark when asked by reporters to comment on the current visit of an Election Commission (EC) delegation to Lucknow to assess poll preparedness. "Ho sakta hai ki ranniti bana rahein ho ki Samajwadion ko kaise rokein (Maybe they are making a strategy on how to stop the Samajwadis)," he said. "The commission might be making this strategy, who knows," Yadav added. The SP chief also hit out at the BJP, saying it betrayed farmers and pushed the future of youngsters into darkness.

6:54 PM

Bengaluru cafe blast live: Investigations are on to ascertain cause, nature of explosion, says CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said investigations are on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on Friday, and added that it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive device". He said those involved will be found and strict action will be taken against them.

6:05 PM

Temples, mosques, gurdwaras or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda: EC advisory

In advisory ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission (EC) has asked parties, leaders not to make statements without factual basis, mislead voters. Also, the EC has asked parties, candidates, star campaigners not to make appeal on basis of caste, religion, language. It further stated that temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda or electioneering.

5:58 PM

Ahead of LS polls, EC warns parties of stern action against direct, indirect violation of Code of Conduct

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission warns parties of stern action against direct, indirect violation of Model Code of Conduct, PTI reported. 

5:50 PM

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya to hold talks with Kharge in Delhi, meets party rebels in Panchkula

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh met the state's six disqualified Congress MLAs in Haryana's Panchkula on his way to Delhi on Friday when he was also scheduled to hold talks with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, PTI reported. Talking to the media persons here, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Vikramaditya Singh informed him on Thursday that some of the Congress rebels had approached him and wished to come back. "I told Vikramaditya Singh to talk to these rebels MLAs and the Congress central leadership," the chief minister said, adding that the family members of these rebel MLAs were talking to them and they want to be in the Congress.

5:26 PM

Tripura finance minister tables 2024-25 Budget worth Rs 27,804 crore in state Assembly

Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Friday presented a Rs 27,804.67-crore budget for the 2024-25 fiscal, and asserted that the government is focused on infrastructure building to generate more job opportunities in the northeastern state. Roy said Rs 6,633.80 crore has been earmarked for capital expenditure, while Rs 1721.94 crore was allocated for the agriculture sector. "During 2022-23, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew at around 8.89 per cent against 7.20 per cent growth at the national level. The GSDP growth for 2024-25 is estimated to be 8.47 per cent," the minister said.

4:49 PM

News update: GST collection grows 12.5% to over Rs 1.68 trillion in February

The finance ministry announced today that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection has grown 12.5 per cent year-on-year to over Rs 1.68 trillion in February 2024.

4:26 PM

News update: BRS MP from Telangana's Zaheerabad BB Patil joins BJP

4:25 PM

TMC is angry as I am fighting against corrupt leaders: PM Modi

 "The poor are suffering because of Trinamool's politics; TMC is angry as I am fighting against corrupt leaders," PM Modi said at Arambagh rally. The central goverment is sending funds to West Bengal, but TMC govt is not utilising them and creating blockades, he added.