Mumbai: Directorate Revenue of Intelligence (DRI) arrested six persons and seized 186 high end iphones and cosmetics originating from Pakistan worth Rs 4 crore at the city airport late Tuesday. The accused admitted that they were acting as carriers in lieu of monetary consideration and were part of a syndicate.
File photo: PM Modi (Picture credit: ANI)
NEW DELHI: The progress of deregulation – simplification of rules – and reducing compliance burden to promote ease of business, and measures needed to develop human capital to align with India’s goal to become a developed nation will be on the agenda of a marathon three-day meeting that PM Narendra Modi will hold with chief secretaries – from Friday to Sunday – in Delhi.This is the fifth such summit at the national level during which top central govt officials and chief secretaries will stay at the venue for these three days. Their activities include yoga, meetings, discussions and teambuilding exercises.Officials said there will be five themes related to women and child welfare, school education, higher education, sports and skill development. Sources said cabinet secretary T V Somanathan, who is spearheading the govt’s deregulation drive for greater economic activities, will make a presentation on the progress and future roadmap. States will also make presentations on these themes.For example, while Kerala is likely to make a presentation on higher education, Tamil Nadu will give a detailed presentation on skilling and a future-ready workforce. Similarly, Rajasthan will make three presentations on the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, school education and iStart, the state’s flagship initiative intended to foster innovation, create jobs and facilitate investment. Telangana will make a presentation ‘a post-left wing extremism future’.TOI has learnt that the education ministry will have a detailed presentation on teacher recruitment and improvement in teacher and PhD quality while the sports ministry’s presentation will be on development of sports on mission mode from school to university level. Niti Aayog will share details of technology in governance and tourism will speak about the plan developing world-class tourism destinations.
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Isro after its ‘Bahubali’ rocket LVM-M6 successfully placed US’s new-generation BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite, weighing 6,100 kg, into orbit. It was the heaviest payload to be placed into the low earth orbit (LEO) in LVM3’s launch history — the previous heaviest was the LVM3-M5 communication satellite 03, weighing about 4,400 kg, that was placed into the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) on November 2.“A significant stride in India’s space sector. The successful LVM3-M6 launch, placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil, the spacecraft of USA, BlueBird Block-2, into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey,” PM Modi said in a post on X.The mission marks the 6th operational flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle. It also represents a significant leap in telecommunications technology, as the US payload is designed to provide high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity directly to smartphones.BlueBird Block-2 is the second important US satellite launch from India this year after the Indo-US joint mission’s NISAR, the world’s costliest (around $1.5 billion) and most advanced Earth-imaging satellite. As of late Dec 2025, Isro has launched at least 234 satellites for the US. Since 2015, when India launched the first commercial US satellites on board PSLV-C30, American satellites make up the largest portion of the total 434 foreign satellites launched by Isro, contributing significantly to the nearly $143 million in foreign exchange revenue generated by these launches.Space minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated Isro on the successful launch. “I think it is the moment of glory for the country. It has been possible because of the progress of the last 10 to 12 years (under the PM Narendra Modi-led government). Even though the American satellites were being launched from Sriharikota earlier as well, today’s launch has demonstrated to the world that we have the capacity to launch a satellite as heavy as 6,000 kgs,” he said. Placing a 6-tonne-class satellite into LEO is significant because payload mass has become a key indicator for constellation efficiency in the direct-to-device and hybrid satellite-terrestrial era. Heavier satellites enable higher payload consolidation, fewer orbital assets, simplified phasing, and lower per-user costs when serving mass-market connectivity. From an operator’s perspective, this reduces both capital intensity and operational complexity. India’s demonstrated ability to support such missions meaningfully alters how global satcom players model constellation architecture, insurance exposure, and launch diversification.Commenting on the broader significance, Subba Rao, president of Space Industry Association India, said: “This mission demonstrates that India is now part of the core commercial LEO deployment landscape. The importance lies not only in launch success, but in what it signals about India’s industrial readiness, reliability, and ability to support constellations at scale over time. That confidence is what global operators ultimately build programmes around.”Several industrial units from the Indian private industry have contributed significantly to LVM3 rocket success. Ananth Technologies Pvt Ltd (ATL), a long-standing partner of the Indian Space Programme, said, ‘It is proud to have contributed to this historic mission”. “ATL has been closely associated with the LVM3 programme and has delivered critical flight hardware, avionics systems, electronics, and precision subsystems that play a vital role in mission success,” a company statement said.
As filmmaker Aditya Dhar continues to bask in the success of Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan, his wife Yami Gautam has spoken candidly about their deeply personal and intimate wedding. In a heartfelt conversation, the actor reflected on how their relationship unfolded organically, without grand gestures or cinematic moments.
Yami revealed that their bond grew quietly during the promotions of Uri: The Surgical Strike. “There was no ‘I am going to propose you’ kind of moment or anything filmy,” she told Humans of Bombay, adding that this simplicity was exactly what made it special. “We just knew that we really want to get married. Our families were extremely aligned and very happy for us.”
She shared that even without the pandemic, she would have chosen the same kind of wedding. “I would have loved to get married the same way… just a few family members, everybody’s blessings, and nature around us.”
Describing their hill wedding, Yami spoke about how meaningful tradition was to both of them. “We wanted to make it more about rituals than anything else. We love our traditions, our Hindu culture. Each and everything that is said at that time has a meaning.”She added that the setting felt like a blessing. “For me, to have the mighty deodars in the background, nature blessing us out there in the open… both of us had our hearts in those hills.”
One of the most emotional moments for Yami was choosing what to wear. “My mom’s saree was always there for me,” she said, explaining how she wanted to look exactly like her mother did on her wedding day.She also revealed that she kept things extremely simple. “I did my own makeup. I thought that’s too far-fetched, but it just worked out. Surilie did my hair,” she said, admitting she hadn’t imagined doing it herself but felt it was right in the moment.She also spoke about the traditional reeda dupatta and pahadi nath, both gifted by her nani and maternal family. “My nani had kept it ever since I was born… that’s exactly how I wanted to get married. There is nothing I would change about that moment.”
Reflecting on relationships, Yami said she strongly believes in instinct. “I think we women are very intuitive by nature. Your first instinct about anyone, if you go back to it, will always be correct,” she said.Calling Aditya a rarity, she added, “Here’s a man who is a rarity in today’s time. That was my first instinct.”
Yami recalled small gestures that made a big impact, including one moment during Article 370 promotions when she was pregnant. “He just wanted to make sure that I was comfortable. He got me a pillow,” she said, laughing about how the internet later crowned him a ‘green forest’.She also shared an anecdote told to her by her hair stylist from the Uri sets. “She said she was sitting on the floor eating, and he offered her his director’s chair. She said she has worked on so many films and nobody does that proactively.”
For Yami, family alignment was crucial. “It was very important that my parents felt the same amount of respect and security with Aditya,” she said, adding that the feeling was mutual. “It’s a marriage of families, not just two individuals.”She revealed that Aditya instantly fit in by simply being himself. “He wasn’t trying to be on his best behaviour. He was cooking, taking charge of what’s going to be made.”
Summing up their journey, Yami said there was no single defining moment. “There was no ‘that moment’ moment. Everything just fell in place. Everyone was loving and respectful towards one another.”She concluded with gratitude and calm certainty. “Maybe we were fortunate. Or maybe this is life rewarding us. Or it’s the kind of person he is and the kind of person I am.”Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on June 4, 2021, in Himachal Pradesh. The couple welcomed their son, Vedavid, in 2024.
The Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal has suffered a major setback after a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Jaipur rejected his request for anticipatory bail in a case involving allegations of sexual assault of a minor.
The decision of the POCSO Court has put Yash Dayal in serious trouble, as it found enough evidence and the seriousness of the allegations to let the investigation continue without granting the Indian bowler protection from arrest.
This order was passed by Judge Alka Bansal of Jaipur Metropolitan Court (POCSO Court-3). In a major setback, the court stated that Dayal has not been wrongly framed by the victim, considering the materials they have assessed.
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The court further noted that the investigation points towards the RCB bowler’s possible involvement, so the judge decided against providing anticipatory bail to him.
The POCSO Court’s decision has put Yash Dayal’s career in serious jeopardy. The fast bowler was retained by the RCB for the upcoming IPL 2026, and this Jaipur case is threatening his career. Now, the defending champions might consider looking for his replacement after his bail was rejected by the court.
However, Dayal’s legal team argued that he only met the girl in public places and claimed she is playing victim. The defense also said that a similar case filed in Ghaziabad is part of an alleged extortion plot, but the Jaipur court still refused to give Yash Dayal anticipatory bail.
Its impact can be huge, as Yash Dayal will not only lose his IPL contract with the RCB, but also the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), and the BCCI might ban the cricket if he proves guilty.
Earlier this year, a minor had registered an FIR against Dayal at the Sanganer Sadar police station in Jaipur. The minor alleged that the UP bowler emotionally blackmailed her and raped her multiple times over about two-and-a-half years, including at hotels in Jaipur and Kanpur.
Police have reportedly recovered chats, photos, videos, call records, and hotel booking details, and these items are being treated as crucial evidence under the POCSO Act.
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The POCSO Act, which was introduced in 2012, is a tough law designed to protect children below the age of 18 from sexual abuse, harassment, and exploitation.
The punishment under this law depends on how serious the offense is. In the most severe cases, including aggravated penetrative sexual assault, the accused can face at least 20 years in jail. In extreme cases, the accused can face life imprisonment and even the death penalty. Penetrative sexual assault carries a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison, which can also extend to life.
For aggravated sexual assault, the accused can be jailed for 5 to 7 years along with a fine. Sexual assault can lead to 3 to 5 years in prison, while sexual harassment is punishable with up to 3 years in jail and a fine. Importantly, POCSO cases cannot be settled or compromised by both parties.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed a woman to bring her 14-year-old boy from Delhi to Mumbai to meet his 90-year-old grandmother on Christmas and also laid down a monthly visitation schedule after the latter moved the court through a habeas corpus petition.The grandmother, Sangeeta Sadhwani’s son had passed away several years ago, following which relations between the grandmother and the child’s mother deteriorated. The habeas corpus petition said that despite repeated requests, she was completely deprived of any meeting or communication with her grandson, causing her severe emotional distress.
The petitioner was represented by M/s YNA Legal LLP, through advocates Anvee Mehta, Dr. Suruchi Deshpande Yusuf and Dr. Yusuf Iqbal Yusuf. During the hearing, the child’s mother informed the court that she and the child were presently residing in Delhi. A division bench of justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Shyam C. Chandak, said, “In these circumstances, since Dec 25 being a Christmas holiday, we direct the minor to be brought by her to Mumbai and to be dropped at the residence of the Petitioner between 11.00 am to 12.00 noon and the child shall be permitted to be in her company till 5.00 pm. Since the mother is traveling from Delhi, we also expect one more visit of the child to the grandmother before the boy’s mother leaves for Delhi.”The HC also directed that the child must meet his grandmother on either the second or fourth Sunday of every month without fail, with the mother either accompanying the child or ensuring his visit. The mother was also directed to furnish her Delhi address and contact details to the investigating officer. The grandmother had made the police a party in the HC petition. In view of these directions, the bench disposed of the petition, holding that the reliefs sought had been substantially achieved.
NEW DELHI: With the Indian cricket board (BCCI) planning to review the U-19 team’s performance in the recent U-19 Asia Cup, the focus is likely to fall on the Centre of Excellence’s (CoE) overall role in player development.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!TOI understands that concerns have been raised about the process of grooming players over the last four years. It is learnt that the board may have to work on getting the Indian team management, selectors and the CoE back in sync.
Sources said there seems to be a lack of clarity on the roles of the CoE coaching staff and the selectors. VVS Laxman has recently got a two-year extension as the head of cricket at the CoE and may have to rework his involvement in the process of coaching.“There is some confusion about role definition. Laxman is firmly in charge of making decisions about U-19 teams. He even has a major say in appointing captains. When Rahul Dravid was head of cricket, he was actively involved in the selection of India ‘A’ players because he was the one who was devising programmes for each player. At the moment, Laxman doesn’t have much say in the India ‘A’ process,” a BCCI source said.
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Besides the big loss to Pakistan in the U-19 Asia Cup, the India ‘A’ team failed to make the final of the Rising Stars Asia Cup last month. The major concern of team management is that the players who are coming through the ranks are not close to finished products ready for the international level. Very few players successfully graduate to senior cricket from the age-group level.With the CoE beginning operations this year, Laxman, it is understood, is currently consumed by administrative work. The coaching staff at the CoE is going through a major overhaul. Fast bowling coach Troy Cooley’s role has also been under the scanner, with very few pacers showing much improvement in skills. The board is set to relieve him of his duties on the premise that he is turning 60.Incidentally, Laxman, unlike Dravid, doesn’t travel much with the developmental teams. “Most of Laxman’s overseas assignments have been with second string Indian teams when the main team is away on Test assignments. It needs to be seen if he can travel more with the developmental teams,” the source said.Recently, Jitesh Sharma was sent for the Rising Stars Asia Cup as captain on the insistence of the senior selection committee. However, Jitesh had a major say in playing combinations and strategies in the tournament, which is not a norm with developmental sides. These calls are taken by the coaching staff in consultation with the selectors.
Pune company’s Delhi-Mumbai express-way contract may be axed over delays
NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Wednesday slapped an “intention to termination notice” – the final procedure before termination – on Roadways Solutions India Infra Ltd (RSIL) for failing to meet the construction target of a 35-km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The physical and financial progress on this stretch in Gujarat was barely 4.9% and 4.6%, respectively, of the target.The progress on two other stretches – 27 km and 25 km – being constructed by the company in the state is at 23% and 36%. The dismal pace of construction may push the revised deadline of the project beyond March 2028, sources said.Pune-based RSIL is an engineering and construction company that operates mainly in the roads and highways sector. The company had bagged the packages of the expressway in Gujarat in 2021.Suprisingly, NHAI had terminated the contract of RSIL for two stretches in March 2023 and then re-awarded them to RSIL in Nov 2023 after it again put in the lowest bid. TOI on Feb 14 had first reported how the slow progress on these three stretches, with a total length of 87 km in Gujarat, was delaying the over Rs 1 lakh crore project.In a letter to RSIL, NHAI said the “intention to termination notice” has been issued on account of contractor’s “absolute and continued non-performance”. It said, “…despite the contractor having been granted repeated indulgences and more than adequate opportunities through the execution of three settlement agreements, the contractor has achieved a negligible financial progress of only 4.59% (after lapse of 16 months from the appointed date of Aug 31, 2024)”.The letter said that as per the originally envisaged timeline of 18 months commencing from Aug 31, 2024, the contractor ought to have achieved approximately 70% financial progress. Mentioning how little progress has been made even after 16 months conclusively establishes that completion of the Jujuwa-Gandeva section of the expressway by Nov 15, 2026 “is wholly impossible”, it said.The highways authority claimed that despite granting repeated opportunities and its extended assistance to the contractor, it “failed to demonstrate any improvement or to achieve the requisite progress”. It said that even after three settlement agreements, the contractor failed to meet targets. “In the settlement agreements, it was specified that if it fails to achieve agreed milestones, NHAI will terminate the contract without any cure period notice. So, we have served the notice,” said an official.Cure period notice is issued to a contractor to fix any breach in 60 days. NHAI said the communication may be treated as a “15-day notice”, as per the contract agreement, and after the expiry of this period, the authority “shall be entitled to terminate the contract agreement”. It has also said the incomplete three packages under RSIL are creating significant public inconvenience across multiple fronts. In the case of two other sections, NHAI is likely to give a cure period notice to RSIL.
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File photo: Kuldeep Singh Sengar
NEW DELHI: Kuldeep Singh Sengar, former UP MLA convicted of raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017, did not come under the definition of a public servant under the Pocso Act, Delhi high court held in its Dec 23 order suspending his sentence.In a curious move, high court has decided the applicability of a stringent Pocso Act section that carries a minimum jail term of 20 years, which can be extended up to life, while hearing Sengar’s plea for suspension of sentence, even as his appeal against the trial court ruling remains pending.A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish V Shankar faulted the trial court for treating Kuldeep Sengar as a public servant and handing him jail for the “remainder of life”, for the offence of “aggravated penetrative sexual assault” under section 5 of the Pocso Act.The bench concluded that the charge of “aggravated penetrative sexual assault” under the section was not applicable in the case of Sengar. Section 5 of the Pocso Act defines “penetrative sexual assault” against a minor as “aggravated penetrative sexual assault”, if committed by persons holding positions of authority – including a public servant or police officer within their jurisdiction, members of the armed or security forces, or staff of hospitals or prisons.high court noted that Pocso Act did not define a public servant and that the trial court wrongly relied upon Prevention of Corruption Act to borrow the definition.“In view of specific inclusion of IPC, CrPC, JJ Act and IT Act in Section 2 of the Pocso Act, this court cannot take aid of the definition of ‘public servant’ from any other Act other than IPC, CrPC, JJ Act, and IT Act. Notably, CrPC, JJ Act, and IT Act do not provide for the definition of a public servant,” high court observed, pointing out that MLA is not recognised as a public servant under any of these statutes. It held that “same reasoning applies for his conviction under section 376(2)(b) of IPC”.Counsel for the survivor, opposing the suspension of sentence, argued that even if Sengar does not under come under definition of a ‘public servant’ within purview of Section 5(c) of the Pocso Act, he can still be sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life.The bench, however, noted that since it was prima facie satisfied that “that offence under Section 5 of Pocso Act is not attracted in present case”, survivor’s contention “that the investigation was compromised cannot be a ground not to suspend the sentence of the appellant, more so looking at the period of incarceration already undergone”.
