Representative image (AI-generated)

The Income Tax Department on Tuesday issued a press release clarifying why several taxpayers have received emails and SMS alerts seeking a review of their tax deduction and exemption claims.The department urged taxpayers to review their deduction and exemption claims for the current assessment year and take corrective steps before the revised deadline of December 31 to avoid penalties or further scrutiny.

Why are taxpayers getting intimations?

According to the release, advanced risk analytics under its risk management framework have flagged certain Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2025-26.These include cases where deductions or exemptions appear to be ineligible, such as claims related to bogus donations to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs).The department also observed errors in some returns, including incorrect or invalid PAN details of donees and discrepancies in the amount of deductions or exemptions claimed.Taxpayers are being contacted via SMS and email under the department’s NUDGE (Non-intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable) campaign. They are advised to review their returns and file revised ITRs, if required, by December 31, to avoid further enquiries.

What is the department asking taxpayers to do?

The Income Tax Department said the initiative reflects a “trust-first” approach, which gives taxpayers an opportunity to voluntarily correct mistakes instead of facing immediate enforcement action.Taxpayers are advised to verify their deduction and exemption claims using supporting documents and reconcile details with Form 16, Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and the Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). If errors are found, they should revise their returns within the prescribed timeline.Those whose claims are genuine and legally correct do not need to take any further action, the department clarified.The department added that taxpayers who miss the December 31 deadline may still file an updated return from January 1, 2026, as permitted under the law, though this would involve payment of additional tax.During FY 2025-26, more than 21 lakh taxpayers have already updated their ITRs for assessment years ranging from 2021-22 to 2024-25, paying over Rs 2,500 crore in taxes. For the current assessment year (AY 2025-26), over 15 lakh returns have already been revised.

Why are refunds being delayed for some?

Several salaried taxpayers, particularly those under the old tax regime, have reported receiving intimations stating that their refund processing has been temporarily put on hold due to discrepancies in deduction claims.Tax experts say many such cases involve deductions like Sections 80C, 80D or HRA that were claimed directly in the ITR but were not declared to employers during TDS calculations.Chartered accountants have clarified that this does not automatically make a taxpayer non-compliant, as the Income Tax Act allows eligible deductions to be claimed directly while filing returns, even if they were not considered by the employer.

What happens if the intimation is ignored

Experts warn that ignoring such communications can have consequences. If discrepancies are not addressed, the department may disallow the deductions, leading to additional tax demand, interest, penalties, delay or cancellation of refunds and even detailed scrutiny or assessment.Tax professionals advise taxpayers not to panic but to promptly review their returns and respond appropriately to avoid future complications.

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Brahmin MLAs hold meeting during UP Assembly session, focus on community upliftment

LUCKNOW: During the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly winter session, Brahmin community MLAs organised a meeting with about four dozen MLAs in attendance. MLA Ratnakar Mishra, who attended the meeting, said the purpose was to discuss the problems faced by the community. “The purpose of this meeting was just one topic: that today our community is fragmenting. Earlier, three generations used to live under one roof, but now, as our children are moving towards Western civilisation, our community is fragmenting,” he said.

“Our only one objective was to bring these children in one direction and how to unite everyone. Today, our parents are going to old age homes, which is a matter of concern for us. How to keep them under one roof? With this purpose, this meeting was held,” Mishra added.He further explained the role of Brahmins in society, saying, “Giving values/culture is the work of Brahmins, so if a meeting is being held by Brahmins to give values/culture, then what is wrong in it? Rather, every community should hold a meeting to bring everyone into the mainstream of Bharat Mata.”Political discussions were not the aim of the gathering, Mishra said.“Political brainstorming is not necessary for us because under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji’s government, there is no mafia rule, and all systems are better, so there was no need for political brainstorming,” he added.Mishra also clarified party participation.“About four dozen MLAs participated in this meeting, so which party’s MLAs were there, I do not have their information. I reached a little late, so I could not get an introduction with everyone,” he said.He noted that other communities had previously held similar meetings.“Earlier, Thakur community MLAs had also held their meeting, which was a very good thing. Kurmi community MLAs had also held their meeting, and I say that other communities should also hold their meetings so that the community can be connected to the mainstream,” Mishra said.Meanwhile, P N Pathak, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Kushinagar and organiser of the meeting, said, “Yesterday we held a big meeting of Brahmin MLAs. In this meeting, no MLA from any other party was present. This meeting had no political purpose.”He dismissed media reports, adding, “Various things are being circulated in the media that Brahmins are angry, but nothing like that is true. Brahmins are only talking for upliftment and social welfare.”He also mentioned other discussions during the gathering.“However, we also discussed SIR and issues related to the Legislative Assembly session, and a party feast was also organized in which we all participated together. There is nothing else in this, otherwise,” Pathak said.

MUMBAI: A 63-year-old retired banker lost Rs 1.35 crores in an online investment fraud involving fake IPOs, call options and mutual fund schemes promoted through YouTube and WhatsApp groups.The East Region Cyber police have have registered an offence against unknown fraudster and are carrying out money trail.Complainant, a former bank employee who retired in 2022 residing in Kanjurmarg (West), alleged that on November 10, she came across a YouTube advertisement related to share trading and IPO investments purportedly run by “Jainam Broking Limited.”After clicking the advertisement, her mobile number was added to a WhatsApp group titled “121 Community Hub Jainam.” The group administrators, identifying themselves as company representatives, promised weekly payouts of Rs 5,000–10,000 for voting support, 10 percent returns on call options, and even 10 percent daily returns on mutual fund investments.The complainant was later directed to download a mobile application named “JAINVEHNI” and transfer funds to bank accounts provided by the alleged customer support executive. Initially, she invested Rs 80,000, which showed fake profits on the app, prompting her to invest further amounts in IPOs, call options and mutual funds. On one occasion, she successfully withdrew Rs 2.01 lakh, reinforcing her trust.However, on December 11, 2025, the app reflected an inflated balance of Rs 3.5 crore, later showing over Rs 10 crore, allegedly due to a “loan” credited to her account. When she attempted to withdraw Rs 70 lakh, she was told to first repay a so-called loan amounting to Rs 1.5 crore, which was later raised to Rs 15 crore.Realising she had been deceived, she lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. Police are examining the role of WhatsApp group administrators, app handlers and beneficiary bank accounts in the alleged scam.

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh has shared a heartfelt note praising Ashutosh Rana for his humility and deep respect, over a video featuring the actor with his father and veteran singer Nitin Mukesh. Nitin had attended Ashutosh Rana’s stage play ‘Humare Ram,’ which features Rana in the powerful role of Raavana alongside Rahull R. Bhuchar.

In a deeply moving moment captured after the performance, Nitin joined Ashutosh on stage, where the actor bowed down to touch the veteran singer’s feet, a gesture of respect and reverence that left Neil deeply touched.Calling the moment “truly heart-touching,” Neil said the video moved him to tears as he wrote on his stories section on his account: “A must watch video. Such a beautiful video. @ashutosh_ramnarayan sir, your humility is truly heart-touching. Your love and respect for Papa are beyond words. I have always admired and respected you for your powerhouse performances, but today you truly won my heart.”Neil added: “@rahull_r_bhuchar ji, seeing you stand there holding my father’s hand as he sang brought tears to my eyes. Shree Ram, aapko mera naman.”Talking about Ashutosh, he appeared in the television serial Swabhimaan, which was followed by serials such as Farz, Sazish, Jax Kabhi, Waris. He anchored the TV show, Baazi Kiski. He has also hosted Sarkaar Ki Duniya. In 2010, he featured in the show Kaali- Ek Agnipariksha, where he played the negative role of Thakral.He gained massive recognition for his negative roles in Sangharsh and Dushman, where he played a cold blooded psychopathic killer.His latest release includes ‘One Two Cha Cha Chaa’, an action-adventure comedy film directed by Abhishek Raj and Rajneesh Thakur.Meanwhile, Neil made debut as a child artist in ‘Vijay’ in 1988 and ‘Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii’ in 1989. He made his full-fledged debut playing the title role in ‘Johnny Gaddaar’ in 2007.Since then, the actor has starred in ‘New York’, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, ‘Golmaal Again’, and ‘Saaho’. He made his Tamil film debut with Kaththi and Telugu film debut with Kavacham.On the work front, Neil’s latest release is the black comedy thriller titled ‘Ek Chatur Naar’ written by Himanshu Tripathi and directed by Umesh Shukla. It also stars Divya Khossla.The film is set against the backdrop of a quirky small-town Indian landscape, the story follows a seemingly charming woman with a naivety that masks her razor-sharp wit.Ambitious and cunning, she effortlessly outsmarts everyone around her. When a lucrative opportunity comes her way, she dives in headfirst but is tangled with unpredictable twists and darkly comedic turns that test her cunning at every step.

MUMBAI: After several rounds of talks, meetings, family gatherings and cultural exchanges, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS announced a formal alliance for the BMC and other Municipal Corporation polls including Nashik on Wednesday. The two Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj addressed a joint press conference to make the announcement in Worli. Both Uddhav and Raj struck an emotional chord. Uddhav said to the Marathi people that ‘If you get divided or make any mistake now, you will be completely finished.’ Uddhav said the two of them have come together as their duty towards Maharashtra. Raj said Maharashtra is bigger than any dispute or fight and that is why they have come together.

However no seat sharing formula was shared and Raj said that the list of candidates or seat sharing formula won’t be declared and candidates will directly be told to file their nominations. Raj said that there were gangs operating in Maharashtra that kidnap children and two new gangs are are kidnapping children of political parties. Raj said that the Mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi and he would be from the Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance. Before the announcements, both Uddhav and Raj, with their families, paid homage at the Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park. Aaditya Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, Amit Thackeray, and Sharmila Thackeray were also present. Before the announcement, Uddhav visited Raj’s Dadar home where the two cousins were given a symbolic blessing and Aarti by Raj’s mother Kunda Thackeray. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was present on the dais with Raj and Uddhav.“I am advising all Marathi people. If you make a mistake now, you will be finished. If you get divided now, you will be completely destroyed.. So don’t get divided, don’t split, don’t waste the Marathi pride. A Marathi person usually doesn’t follow anyone’s path. But if someone comes in his path, he doesn’t let him go back,” Uddhav said. “Whatever else I want to say, I will say in public meetings. However, I had said in an interview that Maharashtra is bigger than any dispute or fight and that is where we started coming together. We are announcing the alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, for which Maharashtra has been waiting for for a long time,” Raj said. Uddhav said, “We have come together as our duty to stay together. Marathi people sacrificed and brought Mumbai into Maharashtra. It is natural to remember this today. Both of our grandfathers, Prabodhankar (Thackeray) were one of the first five generals in the fight for united Maharashtra. My father Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj’s father Shrikant Thackeray, that is, the entire Thackeray family was fighting for Mumbai at that time.” He added, “I will not tell you the history after that. But when Maharashtra got Mumbai, outsiders started dancing on the shoulders of Mumbai’s Marathi people and Balasaheb Thackeray had to give birth to Shiv Sena for fair rights. The intervening years passed well. But today, once again, the intentions of the two in Delhi are to break Mumbai’s resilience. If we continue to fight now, it will be an insult to the martyrs’ memorial in Mumbai. Today, we have come together as our duty and to stay together. From now on, no one will try to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra with a crooked look or deceitful intrigues on Mumbai and Maharashtra. We have taken to the field by taking an oath that those who try to separate Mumbai will not be left without being eliminated in politics,”

According to Sena (UBT) functionaries, the proposed seat-sharing formula for the BMC allocates 145 to 150 seats to Sena (UBT), 65 to 70 seats to the MNS, while 10 to 12 seats are to be given to the NCP (SP). Sena (UBT) has also “left” 12 to 15 seats where it earlier had corporators for the MNS; in a majority of these wards, the former corporators have since joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.However, the alliance has triggered sharp reactions from rival Shiv Sena leaders. Expressing strong disapproval, Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare criticised the cousins’ visit to Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial and accused both leaders of betraying his legacy.Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare said, “Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are going to go to Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shivaji Park Smriti Sthal to pay homage to him. Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, our idol, will never forgive these two brothers because Raj Thackeray betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray and gave him a big scar. Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. Balasaheb Thackeray will never forgive them; the Marathi people will never forget this. No matter what they do now, it will not help them. When it comes to seat sharing, their party workers are very nervous and angry because they have been fighting against each other for almost the last two decades, and now they have to sacrifice their seats…”Congress, which has been an ally of the Sena (UBT) at the state level, has not joined the civic poll alliance but sees political significance in the reunion of the Thackeray cousins, claiming it signals cracks within the ruling Mahayuti.Congress leader Atul Londhe said, “Today’s news is that Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar are going to come together. Does this mean that the Mahayuti has suffered a split?”The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP—has dominated recent local body elections across 286 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, congratulating BJP workers, said the results were a “trailer” for the upcoming civic polls.

The return of Rohit Sharma to domestic cricket turned into a spectacle on Tuesday as fans in Jaipur welcomed the India star with thunderous chants. Rohit’s appearance at the Vijay Hazare Trophy marked his first outing in the tournament since 2018, instantly transforming Mumbai’s opening fixture into a fan-driven celebration.

Fans chant ‘Mumbai cha Raja’ for Rohit Sharma in Jaipur

The scenes unfolded at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, where Mumbai are taking on Sikkim on December 24. As Rohit arrived at the venue, hundreds of supporters gathered near the gates and practice areas. Soon, when he came near the boundary rope, supporters were heard chanting ‘Mumbai cha Raja’ for Rohit. Social media was soon flooded with clips capturing the frenzy, underlining Rohit’s unmatched popularity even at the domestic level.

Here’s the video:

“Mumbai cha Raja, Rohit Sharma” chants from the fans as Rohit came near the boundary line for fielding.🔥

The Raja of India Cricket @ImRo45 🐐 pic.twitter.com/TjIun24vVi

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) December 24, 2025

Notably, Rohit’s participation comes in the wake of a recent BCCI directive asking centrally contracted players to feature in domestic white-ball competitions. The move aims to strengthen the domestic structure while keeping senior players match-ready. For fans, it has delivered a rare opportunity to watch modern-day greats compete in India’s premier domestic tournaments.

Also READ: KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna bolster Karnataka squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy defense

Rohit’s limited appearances for Mumbai

The overwhelming turnout prompted authorities to open the East Stand for free public entry. However, crowd management became a challenge on the eve of the match when fans reportedly swarmed Rohit during a practice session, forcing security personnel to step in. Officials have since tightened arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the game.

While the excitement is palpable, Rohit’s stint in the tournament is expected to be brief. He is likely to play only Mumbai’s first two matches — against Sikkim on December 24 and Uttarakhand on December 26 — before shifting focus back to international commitments. Mumbai are being led by Shardul Thakur, with Rohit adding invaluable experience at the top of the order.

Also READ: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Schedule, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the bottling arm of Coca-Cola India, is set to lay off around 300 staffers as part of a plan to improve profitability and streamline operations.The company has approximately 5,000 employees and 15 manufacturing units, bottles and distributes brands such as Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Minute Maid juices and Kinley water.A company spokesperson told ET, “Staying in sync with evolving business needs requires us to re-evaluate capabilities, structures, and take corrective actions where necessary.” Terming the downsizing as “minor in scale and non-disruptive to operations,” the spokesperson added, “We periodically assess business operations to stay competitive, efficient and agile.”

The reduction affects roughly 4–6% of HCCB’s workforce across functions including sales, supply chain, distribution and bottling operations at its plants, as reported by the financial daily.Hemant Rupani, formerly with Mondelez International, recently took over as HCCB’s chief executive officer, succeeding Juan Pablo Rodriguez.HCCB reported a sharp 73% decline in net profit to Rs 756.64 crore in FY25, with revenue from operations falling 9% to Rs 12,751.29 crore, according to regulatory filings.The company attributed the decline partly to the higher base in FY24, when it sold bottling operations in Rajasthan, Bihar, the north-east and parts of West Bengal.These operations were transferred to three of its largest bottlers – Moon Beverages, Kandhari Global Beverages and SLMG Beverages.Under this model, Coca-Cola sells concentrate to its bottlers, who then produce and distribute the beverages.HCCB remains India’s largest beverage company with a leadership position in the soft drinks segment. Muted demand due to unseasonal and heavy rains between March and September also affected sales. April to June is usually the peak quarter in India’s nearly Rs 60,000-crore soft drinks market.