Category: INDIA

A Maruti Suzuki vehicle, heavily camouflaged and likely a facelifted version of the Grand Vitara, has been spotted undergoing road tests. The vehicle’s size and proportions suggest it is an updated iteration of the Grand Vitara, which has been available since September 2022. With the model nearing its two-year mark, a mid-life facelift is expected. Early glimpses of the test mule indicate subtle changes to the front fascia, including the retained split-LED headlight design with DRLs on top and main headlights lower down. The design appears to draw inspiration from the recently revealed Suzuki E-Vitara, suggesting a more modern look for the Grand Vitara facelift.

The test mule of the facelifted Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, though heavily camouflaged, hints at several design changes. The front fascia retains the split-LED headlight layout with DRLs on top and the main headlights positioned lower on the bumper. The overall styling appears to align with the recently unveiled Suzuki E-Vitara, suggesting a modernized look. The alloy wheels are expected to feature a new design, while the rear may adopt connected taillights. The brake lights remain positioned at the outer edges, keeping the current model’s look but likely updated for a more dynamic appearance.

The cabin of the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara facelift shows some notable updates. It features a larger, free-standing infotainment screen, along with redesigned split AC vents and manual controls beneath it. While official details are still scarce, the facelifted Grand Vitara is expected to launch in 2025. It will likely compete with rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The facelift will likely focus on cosmetic changes, interior updates, and improved tech, while the engine options are expected to remain the same.

How many of us feel like catching up on sleep under the blankets in winter? All of us! But with the way our lives are, it is tough to get relaxed sleep on these cold days. But there are ways to get sleep in the most tranquil manner ever.

Why Sleep Right?

The season brings in its own share of weather changes. Shorter nights mean a boost in the production of Melatonin. The cool weather increases your metabolism which results in increase in food and sleep. Diet changes in winters means exercise pattern changes which can make you sleepy. A right way to sleep means you will feel fresh when increased.

Tips to follow

Just follow the suggestions and your sleepy life is sorted.

Nightly digital detox

This is the most essential thing to do to sleep relaxed. Keep all your devices away a few hours before and see your brain get wired better to sleep.

Bed and room set-up

Before you hit the sack, ensure your bed has all the necessary things like blankets, sweaters and socks. Keep the windows closed and the lights low or shut.

No afternoon nap

Many are tempted to take a small nap in the afternoon. Avoid doing this to ensure you fall asleep at night without any issue.

Exercise

It is a great way to relax your muscles. At sleep time, your relaxed muscles will help you fall asleep. Even a small walk is of help.

F&B control

Eat healthy and suitable for winter. Your last meal must be three hours before sleep. Hydrate yourself with water rather than alcohol.

Self-love

When nearing bedtime, relax and indulge in something like listening to music or reading. You will fall asleep easily in this fashion.

Patanjali’s Ayurvedic Sleep Mode

While doing what you can to sleep well in winter, Patanjali Ayurved’s offerings are full of natural well-being and are great for ensuring sleep is good in winter. You can pick Patanjali’s Nutrela Melatonin+ Ashwagandha Gummies – Mix Berry Flavour (90 Gm) created to help you find a peaceful nap. Ashwagandha’s calming benefits are mixed with Melatonin for good sleep. Along with its relaxing qualities, the gummies are also great for complete health.

A good winter sleep is convenient when you know the right method.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said the National Investigation Agency could investigate other accused who might have also committed certain crimes connected with the scheduled offences.

A bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said once there was such a connection between a scheduled offence and a non-scheduled offence, for all practical purposes, the non-scheduled offence would come within the connection of a scheduled offence.

“Therefore, it is held that the accused who may have committed a non-scheduled offence having a connection with a scheduled offence can be investigated by the NIA in respect of a non-scheduled offence,” held the bench.

The top court’s verdict came while dismissing a plea filed by Ankush Vipan Kapoor alleged to be one of the main accused persons operating an organised syndicate engaged in cross-border smuggling of drugs and narcotics substances allegedly making their way into India through Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries.

“It is reiterated that, while investigating the accused regarding scheduled offences, if the NIA submits a report about some other accused who may have also committed certain offences connected with the scheduled offences under investigation then the Central government on a consideration of such a report may exercise suo motu powers and direct the NIA to also investigate the other accused also provided the offences alleged against the other accused are offences, having a connection with the scheduled offence already under investigation,” it said.

On the aforesaid basis, the court said the NIA would be enabled to also carry out an investigation of any other accused who have committed an offence connected with the scheduled offence under investigation.

“This would be in the realm of a joint investigation into scheduled offences, which may have occurred in different parts of the country but having a connection with other offences also,” the top court said.

The apex court said the expression “accused” would have to be given an expansive and enlarged meaning in the above context having regard to the object and purpose of Section 8 of the NIA Act and the context in which provision had to be interpreted.

Nagpur: There is widespread dismay and discontent among MLAs and senior leaders  of all three constituents of the Mahayuti for being excluded from the cabinet that finally got some shape on Sunday after much delay. As the winter session of the state assembly commenced here on Monday, senior leaders, including former deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal, former finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and ex-health minister Tanaji Sawant, have openly expressed their ire.

“They have not picked me or dumped me, it’s the same,” said Bhujbal as he interacted with media in the Vidhan Bhavan premises before packing off to Nashik, skipping the legislative proceedings. “They cannot finish Bhujbal,’’ he added seething with anger. A known fighter and the topmost OBC leader of the state, he was the first to defect from Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena during another winter session in Nagpur two decades ago.

“I have been rewarded for taking on Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarane Patil.  Now I will go back to Yeola (his constituency) and consult my supporters and the Phule Samata Parishad for further course of action,” the Mali leader said.

Bhujbal was one of the seniormost leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party from the day Sharad Pawar founded the party in 1999, and held prominent posts in Congress-NCP governments. After the NCP split, he went with the Ajit Pawar faction. All through the agitation by Jarange Patil, Bhujbal stood solidly opposing any move to share the OBC reservation pie with Marathas. Bhujbal claims that he was offered membership of the Rajya Sabha about a week ago. “But I am no longer interested in that. I can not desert my voters who elected me from Yeola with a good margin,’ said Bhujbal.

A senior BJP leader representing the Ballarpur assembly constituency in the Chandrapur district of Vidarbha, Mungantiwar has been one of the strongest voices in the state legislature for over a decade. In Fadnavis’ earlier government in 2014-19, he had held the coveted post of finance minister and presented the state budgets. “Till Saturday I was told by state party president, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, that my name is in list of ministers, but on Sunday it was missing,” said Mungantiwar who did not attend the Vidhan Sabha on the opening day and instead spent time consulting his mentor and Union roads and transport minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence. Sources say that Mungantiwar incurred the wrath of the BJP central leadership for vehemently opposing the induction of Kishor Jorgewar, the then sitting independent MLA from Chandrapur, into BJP as their official candidate for the 2024 elections.

Former minister Tanaji Sawant of Shiv Sena also left Nagpur in a huff for his Pune home, barely concealing his anger for not being included in the new cabinet in which 33 ministers were inducted by governor Gopalkrishnan at Raj Bhavan. A fuming Vijay Shivtare, a fourth term Sena MLA from Purandar blamed caste politics for being kept out of the new ministry. “I am my party’s only MLA from Pune district, yet I was ignored,” he erupted. Ravi Rana, an independent MLA from Badnera who supports the Mahayuti, said his ministerial hopes were dashed as he returned to his constituency.

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The sudden demise of the 73-year-old tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain has left Bhopalites, especially the artistes community, shocked and dismayed. The legend’s association with Bhopal is said to be very long.

He had performed in the city on numerous occasions and had many friends in the city.  He had visited Bhopal around five or six times and performed at various places including Bharat Bhavan, Ravindra Bhawan, MANIT and Barkatullah University. His first solo performance was held at the open-air stage at Ravindra Bhavan in 1979-80 under ‘Bhopal Utsav’. 

He had performed with flute maestro Hari Prasad Chaurasia at MANIT in 1984-85 and solo at Bharat Bhavan in 1991-92. He had inaugurated Dhrupad Sansthan, Bhopal in 2009 and at the time his solo performance was held at Vigyan Bhavan in Barkatullah University. His last performance was at Bahirang, the open-air-stage of Bharat Bhavan, on March 2, 2019 in a concert ‘Mahima’. 

Madhya Pradesh government feted him with ‘Kalidas Shashtriya Sangeet Samman’ in 2005. His father tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha was also felicitated with the same award in 1995.  He was very fond of food. He used to love poha-jalebi and Shahi-tukda and sweets of Bhopal. 

“Sangeet ki duniya ka ek buland sitara ast ho gaya hai. Sab or andhera hai… (A bright star of the music world has set. There is darkness all around),” said Bharatnatyam danseuse Lata Munshi, adding that “everyone has to leave this world one day. But he left us so early, so suddenly. I am shocked”.

Zakir Sahab was not only a peerless artist, but also as a dazzling performer and a humble man. And he had a terrific sense of humour,” Lata said.

Tabla player Ustad Salim Allahwale said that Zakir Bhai and his father Ustad Alla Rakha transformed tabla from an instrument that was only used in ‘sangat’ to one that could be played solo. He recalls that during a performance in 2019 at Bharat Bhavan, when the Ustad found that a large number of people were standing outside the auditorium, he asked that all doors be opened and everyone let in. “I have come to perform for them. How can they remain outside,” he said.  

Dhrupad singer Umakant Gundecha said that Ustad Zakir Hussain loved the Bahirang Auditorium of Bharat Bhavan. “It has taal (lake) and taal (beat or rhythm) both,” he used to say. Gundecha said that the late percussionist knew the art of involving the audience, of interacting with them. “His concerts were not one-way traffic,” Gundecha said, adding that the Ustad liked sweets especially Rasogulla, which were fetched by my friend Manohar Bhai who is owner of Manohar Dairy, Bhopal.

Chief administrative officer of Bharat Bhavan, Prem Shankar Shukla remembered Zakir Hussain as an artist who had immense love for India and her culture.

He said that they invited Zakir Hussain Sahab to perform at the Foundation Day event of the institution in 2019 but he could not come for some reason. In the same year, he performed at the Bhavan in a concert ‘Mahima’ which was a memorable last performance in Bhopal, Shukla said.

Was to perform at Tansen Samaroh on Dec 18

Ustad Zakir Hussain was to perform on December 18 in Gwalior under Tansen Samaroh 2024, organised by the Culture Department to mark the centenary year of Tansen. But owing to sudden deterioration in his health, his concert was cancelled.

Several Kashmiri students on Saturday evening were reportedly subject to brutal physical violence by the Rajasthan police while peacefully protesting at Mewar University in Chittorgarh.

The reports suggested that over 40 to 50 Kashmiri students primarily enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (BSc) at Mewar University faced severe repercussions after protesting the varsity’s failure to secure necessary approvals from the Rajasthan Nursing Council (RNC) and the Indian Nursing Council (INC).

Students grievance

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (J&KSA) Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, he was contacted by the students and informed about the situation. The group of students stated to him, “They (students) have been protesting peacefully for months, demanding recognition and certification for their nursing program. However, instead of a resolution, they have faced intimidation, violence, and negligence”

“Three months ago, the university registrar even issued a written assurance, promising a resolution within a short period. However, despite these commitments, no significant progress has been made. Instead, the university has now asked for yet another month to resolve the issue, forcing students to continue their protests,” Khuehami said as reported by Greater Kashmir.

Khuehami also added students had waited until December 4, as the university claimed the matter was being heard in the Rajasthan High Court. However, despite waiting patiently, no action, or follow-up has been made on it.

Threats

In a statement, Khuehami alleged that amid the protests the varsity authorities have been demanding that students withdraw their protests, with threats by the authorities to suspend the students and refund their fees to the Jammu and Kashmir Student Scholarship Scheme (JKSSS).

“It is totally unfair that these students be sent back after three years of hard work and investment of money into their studies. They are deprived and deserve justice”, he stated asserted.

Students assaulted

Khuehami further added that the students were being subjected to intimidation and physical violence by local police during their protests. They were forced to spend nights outdoors in cold conditions due to the actions of the university authorities.

While flagging a concern about the plight of the students, he stated that the absence of these approvals has jeopardized the students’ academic futures, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.

JKSA demands intervention

The JKSA condemned these actions, calling them a violation of the student’s rights to protest for their academic welfare. The student’s organisation has called upon Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to intervene urgently.

The National President of the Association, Ummar Jamal, also called upon both the Chief Ministers to take necessary actions. “The demands of the students are straightforward. Either enrol them on a recognized institution or else, promptly seek accreditation for their course of study. The government must ensure that these students should resume their academics as soon as possible and they should also be safe,” he said.

Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh): A case of food poisoning was reported from Madhya Pradesh’s Madwasa village under the Indar police station jurisdiction, in which six members of the same family had to be admitted after they had ‘pakora. At their home’

According to information, the incident occurred on Monday, when the entire family had the fritters together and fell seriously sick immediately. It is yet to be discovered what caused the food poisoning even after the snacks were made at home. 

The family members who fell sick include the father, mother, son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and grandson. All the members began suffering from vomiting and diarrhea as soon as they consumed it .

Father remains most critical 

All those who fell sick were identified as Brij Bhan Singh and his wife Kiran Bai. Son Rajpal Singh and his daughter-in-law Seema Bai. Also, granddaughter Khushi and grandson Shahil.

Upon hearing about their condition, neighbors immediately rushed them to the nearby health center in Isagarh in a tractor trolley. Before reaching the hospital, the father Brij Bhansinh, and his wife Kiran Bai, fell unconscious. 

After receiving first aid at the health center, the family was referred to the district hospital in Ashok Nagar for further treatment.

At present, all six family members are hospitalized. Brij Bhansinh’s condition is reported to be the most critical. 

Music maestro Ilaiyaraaja recently visited the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple in Tamil Nadu on Sunday evening, ahead of the release of his composition Divya Pasuram. However, it was reported that the temple authorities asked him to step out of the temple’s sacred chamber. Ilaiyaraaja has now reacted to the Tamil Nadu controversy, denying such rumours.

Taking to his X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Some people are spreading false rumours by making me the centre of attention. I am not someone who will ever compromise on my self-respect, nor will I ever do so. They are spreading stories that never happened as if they did. Fans and people should not believe these rumours.”

Check out Ilaiyaraaja’s tweet:

According to a report by News 18, Ilaiyaraaja was stopped from entering the temple, with some netizens alleging that he was a victim of caste-based discrimination because he is a Dalit.

While a social media user stated that the music composter entered the sanctum of the Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, the priests and devotees informed him that he was violating the rules of the temple.

Ilaiyaraaja was accompanied by Sri Satakopa Ramanuja Jeeyar and Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami of the Sri Andal Jeeyar Mutt.

Meanwhile, recently, Ilayaraja’s biopic, Ilaiyaraaja—The King of Music, starring Dhanush in the lead, directed by Arun Matheshwaran, announced by Kamal Haasan.

Ilaiyaraaja—The King of Musicwill be based on the life and times of Ilaiyaraaja, who has composed over 7,000 songs for more than 1,000 films and performed over 20,000 concerts across the globe.

The music for Ilaiyaraaja’s biopic will be scored by the legend himself

The victim received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number.

New Delhi: The demon of “Digital arrest” cases seems to be only growing stronger despite nationwide awareness campaigns as in the latest case reported from Bengaluru, a 68-year-old senior citizen fell prey to the scam and lost Rs 1.94 crore from his fixed deposit.

The incident occurred on November 30 when the victim received a WhatsApp video call from an unknown number. As he received the call, the caller introduced himself as an officer from the Mumbai crime branch. Also, his surroundings resembled a police station and he himself was donning a uniform that created a false sense of a legitimate call. Then, he allegedly accused the victim of involvement in a high-profile money laundering case involving Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways, reports Deccan Herald.

Also the caller’s tone was sounding professional. This was enough to intimidate the victim and he fell into the trap.

The caller claimed that the investigation had uncovered 247 confiscated ATM cards, one of which supposedly belonged to the victim. He then accused him of receiving a cut from Naresh Goyal and linked him directly to the alleged crime.

The caller overwhelmed the senior citizen and created fear and confusion. He ordered the man to report to the crime branch for interrogation. After taking full control of the situation, the caller suggested an alternative to the victim which included a “digital arrest,” which required him to remain at home while they conducted their so-called investigation.

As part of their fake investigation, the caller compelled the victim into providing his bank details. Over a period of seven days, they coerced him into transferring Rs 1.94 crore in multiple installments. They instructed him to remain silent and not discuss the matter with anyone.

However, the scam was busted when the victim shared his ordeal with his daughter, who realized he had been duped. She immediately took him to the police to file a complaint after which a case was initially registered at a police station in Bengaluru.