Black flags waved at Kerala Governor: 20 SFI activists arrested by police
Kerala Police on Sunday arrested 20 SFI activists in connection with two separate instances of waving black flags at Governor Arif Mohammed Khan during the day.
The black flags were waved at the Governor near Vazhuthacaud in the state capital when Khan was on his way to an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, police said.
Eighteen activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) were arrested in connection with that incident, police said.
10:52 PM
Kota suicides: Help desk gets over 350 complaints, counselling offered
A help desk dedicated to coaching students received 373 complaints in two months since its launch here in September and those suffering from depression were provided professional counselling and medical help, officials said.
Several steps were taken by the Kota administration in September following a spurt in alleged suicides by Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) and NEET aspirants studying at the coaching centres here.
10:31 PM
Jharkhand: Four held for cybercrime with links to Pakistan
The police arrested four youths in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, who were part of a cybercrime syndicate with links to Pakistan, an officer said on Sunday.
The quartet allegedly cheated a person in Punjab of Rs 1.63 lakh and a phone number used in the crime led the investigators to reach Hazaribagh.
The police recovered 10 mobile phones, 36 SIM cards, 37 debit and credit cards, 12 passbooks and chequebooks, a two-wheeler, a four-wheeler and other articles from them, the police said.
9:44 PM
Eastern Zonal Council meet: Bihar Caste survey has issues that need to be resolved, says Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said there are some issues regarding the caste survey conducted by the Bihar government, which he hoped that the state will resolve.
Addressing the Eastern Zonal Council meeting here, Shah said the central government never had any intention of creating hurdles in the caste-based survey.
9:17 PM
TN top official inspects area affected by oil spill
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena on Sunday inspected north Chennai, where an oil spill over the Kosasthalaiyar river was noticed.
The top official interacted with residents of Sadayankuppam over the oil spill and ascertained information related to the matter.
The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal, constituted a high-level committee on December 9 and directed it to take necessary measures to prevent further spread of oil spill and 'recover the oil floating on the water surface.'
9:08 PM
Gujarat CM takes part in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra event, hails initiative
Government schemes have brought about social change in the lives of beneficiaries, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said at a 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' programme on Sunday.
Patel reached Saduthala village in Mehsana district on a surprise visit to participate in the programme, which aims to take Central and state government schemes to beneficiaries.
8:30 PM
7 wagons of goods train derail near Kasara; mail express traffic hit
Seven wagons of a goods train derailed between Kasara, on the outskirts of Mumbai, and TGR-3 station on the Down line on Sunday evening, railway officials said.
The derailment took place at 6.31 pm, they said.
While mail express traffic on Kasara to Igatpuri section on the Down line and middle line is affected, the incident did not disturb suburban services, they said.
7:35 PM
As number of devotees to Sabarimala increases, TDB raises darshan time by an hour
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Sunday decided to increase the 'darshan' timings at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala here by an hour following an increase in the number of devotees arriving for pilgrimage there.
The Board decided to modify the darshan timings in the second half of the day from 3 pm to 11 pm instead of from 4 pm to 11 pm, an official from the district administration said.
The official also said that water and biscuits were being provided to devotees waiting in the queues for darshan.
7:33 PM
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to visit India this week
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will pay a state visit to India on December 16 in his first trip to the country to explore avenues for future collaborations for regional stability and prosperity.
It will also be the first visit of a top leader from the Gulf region following the Israel-Hamas conflict that has triggered widespread global concerns.
"This first state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to India marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between India and the Sultanate of Oman," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday, announcing the trip.
7:30 PM
I-T raids: Jharkhand BJP stages protests demanding arrest of Congress MP
Activists of the BJP on Sunday staged protests at district headquarters across Jharkhand demanding the arrest of Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu over the seizure of a huge amount of cash allegedly linked to the lawmaker.
More than Rs 300 crore in cash has been seized during ongoing raids conducted by the Income Tax Department on premises linked with Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited.
At the BJP protest near Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, local MLA CP Singh alleged that it has been the "tradition of the Congress" to engage in loot, scam and corruption.
6:46 PM
Name of new MP CM likely to be announced by 7 pm tomorrow
The BJP's newly-elected MLAs in Madhya Pradesh will meet on Monday to elect the leader of the legislative party. The meeting is expected to begin at 4pm on Monday and the name of CM may be announced by 7pm, an MLA said, as reported by news agency PTI.
6:40 PM
Cash seizure in Odisha I-T raids goes past Rs 300 crore mark
The cash seizure in the income-tax department's searches against an Odisha-based distillery company has become the "highest-ever" such haul in a single action conducted by any probe agency in the country and gone past Rs 300 crore. The marathon raids against Boudh Distillery Private Limited, its promoters and others entered the fifth day on Sunday. The raids were launched on December 6 by the taxman on charges of tax evasion and "off-the-book" transactions.
6:32 PM
Son Dushyant, several MLAs reach Vasundhara Raje's residence as suspense over new Rajasthan CM continues
Amidst the ongoing uncertainty, Dushyant Singh, Jhalawar MP and son of former CM Vasundhara Raje, has reached her bungalow in Civil Lines, Jaipur. Notably, Vasundhara Raje is one of the top contenders to be the CM in the state. Apart from that, several other party MLAs and leaders, including Devi Singh Bhati with his grandson and MLA Anshuman Singh Bhati, have reached Raje's residence.
The list of MLAs who registered their presence at Raje's bungalow includes Ajay Singh Kilak, Babu Singh Rathore, Arjun Lal Garg, Sanjeev Beniwal, Kailash Verma, Bahadur Singh Koli, Jagat Singh, former MLA and state president Ashok Parnami, former MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, Prahlad Gunjal.
6:25 PM
Outgoing Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel congratulates Vishnu Deo Sai
Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday congratulated Vishnu Deo Sai on being elected as the leader of the BJP's legislative party in the state.
Baghel wrote on X in Hindi, "Congratulations and best wishes to Kunkuri MLA and senior BJP leader Shri Vishnu Deo Sai ji on being elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party. I wish that you take forward the journey of justice and progress of Chhattisgarh as the Chief Minister. @vishnudsai."
6:19 PM
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister-designate Vishnu Deo Sai reaches Raj Bhavan in Raipur to meet Governor
A delegation of BJP MLAs led by its Chief Minister-designate Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday evening reached the Raj Bhavan in Raipur to stake claim to form the next government in Chhattisgarh.
Evolving a "core positive agenda", seat sharing and a programme to hold joint rallies are among the main challenges before the opposition INDIA bloc that will be taken up at its next meeting in the national capital on December 19. The parties intend to move forward with the unity theme - "Main Nahin, Hum" (We, Not Me) - as a counter to PM Narendra Modi at the meeting, a senior leader of the Congress said.
Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal face of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh, will be state chief minister after he was elected as leader of BJP's legislative party during a meeting of 54 newly-elected MLAs here on Sunday.
Jharkhand Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey on Sunday said that a clarification has been sought from party MP Dheeraj Sahu in connection with the recovery of huge cash from premises linked to him. Pandey, however, clarified that is it a private matter of Dheeraj Sahu and the party has nothing to do with it. The seizure amount is expected to reach Rs 290 crore, making it the "highest-ever" cash haul by any agency in a single operation.
 "LIVE: INDIA bloc to meet on Dec 19, to work on 'Main Nahin, Hum' motto")
