STATE’S

Chennai, June 7 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has forecast maximum temperatures of 38 degrees C to 39 degrees C and minimum temperatures around 28 degrees C for the city over the weekend.Officials also noted that skies would remain partly cloudy, and light showers may occur in some localities. Weather officials attribute the discomfort to the combination of high humidity and elevated ground temperatures, a common phenomenon in early June when the southwest monsoon begins to influence climatic patterns across southern India.Meanwhile, the city experienced sweltering heat as the day progressed, despite light drizzles and overcast skies in parts of Chennai early Saturday morning.The mercury climbed steadily, and by midday, the weather turned oppressive due to so...

Mumbai, June 7 (IANS) The Mumbai Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive search operations at 18 locations across Mumbai, Kochi and Thrissur in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The case pertains to the alleged Rs 65 crore ‘Mithi River desilting scam’.According to ED statement issued on Saturday, the searches targeted the office and residential premises linked to key individuals including BMC Engineer Prashant Ramgude, BMC contractor Bhupendra Purohit, M/s Matprop Technical Service Pvt Ltd, Jay Joshi (Director, M/s Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd), Ketan Kadam (Controller, M/s Woder India LLP), and close associates Santino Rocco Morea and actor Dino Morea.The ED initiated its probe b...

Bengaluru, June 7 (IANS) As the Supreme Court cancelled his bail in connection with 2016 murder case of BJP leader Yogesh Gowda, Karnataka Congress MLA and Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSB), Vinay Kulkarni on Saturday said that he will abide by the apex court's order to surrender.The top court cancelled MLA Kulkarni's bail on Friday citing witness tampering.Interacting with the media on the matter, Kulkarni stated: "I have met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and conveyed information about yesterday's development. We can't speak about the court's order. We have to bow down our heads, and I will abide by the order."When asked if this means more trouble for him, he said: "There is a role of many people... I can't say that is the problem. The court w...

Ludhiana, June 7 (IANS) BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday demanded that the Election Commission of India immediately ban election campaigning by AAP leaders who are facing criminal charges in Punjab’s bypoll. Taking strong exception to the campaigning being conducted by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, the BJP demanded that they be prohibited from entering the Ludhiana (East) Assembly constituency. Chugh said Kejriwal has been plotting a backdoor entry into the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, and his “dubious political games are a grave insult to the people of Punjab”.Demanding intervention by the ECI, Chugh reiterated that AAP leaders facing serious criminal allegations should be barred from campaigning in the constituency. Chugh also campaigned across various wards of th...

Patna, June 7 (IANS) Amid growing speculation about his return to Bihar politics, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Saturday dropped hints of contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, saying the final decision rests with the party’s Parliamentary Board.Chirag Paswan, who arrived in Patna to a warm reception by party workers, stated that contesting Bihar Assembly elections would be a strategic move aimed at strengthening his party’s position and boosting the strike rate of the NDA.“Discussions are ongoing about whether or not I will contest the Assembly elections. The final decision will be taken by the Parliamentary Board,” Chirag Paswan said without providing a direct answer but clearly signalling openness to the idea.Chirag Paswan had p...

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Sustainability is at the heart of our maritime policy, and we are committed to achieving net zero emissions at major ports by 2047, said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday.During an interaction with students of the Blue MBA Executive Programme at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Sonowal outlined India’s strategy to transform its maritime infrastructure through flagship initiatives like the Sagarmala Programme and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.“These efforts aim to build modern, multimodal logistics systems while prioritising clean energy, digital shipping and green port development,” the Minister added.He described India as a ‘compelling story of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable growth,’ and said that the countr...

Patna, June 7 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has once again accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of electoral malpractice, claiming that the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections "could be fixed, just like the Maharashtra polls last year".The Congress MP's statement has triggered a flurry of sharp reactions from leaders across the NDA, including the BJP and JD-U in Bihar.Reacting strongly to the allegation, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that Rahul Gandhi’s comments reflect his pre-emptive acceptance of defeat.“It is natural for a person who has consistently lost to make such statements. If someone does not trust the democratic system, he should resign and leave it,” Choudhary said, underscoring that elections in India are conducted under a rob...