MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Tuesday heard a petition filed by Vijay Mallya, founder of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines, challenging the validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018. Adjourning the matter to Feb 11, it directed Mallya to make a statement or file an affidavit by then about when he intends to return to India.The order was based on an understanding in law that a plea challenging the validity of the FEO Act, 2018, should not be heard in the absence of the petitioner having submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad said.Bombay high court, after hearing senior counsel Amit Desai for Mallya and solicitor general Tushar Mehta for ED, directed him to say when he would return to India. The ED sought the dismissal of Mallya’s challenge, saying an offender cannot be permitted to question the FEO by refusing to submit to judicial process in India.The HC also asked Mallya to decide which of his petitions he wishes to pursue: an appeal he filed in 2019 against a trial court order or the petition in the HC, also filed in 2019, to challenge the validity of certain provisions of the FEO Act. Both cannot exist, it said.Mehta, along with additional solicitor generals S V Raju and Anil Singh, opposed Desai’s plea to hear Mallya’s petition. Desai said even under the special FEO Act, Mallya has a statutory right to be represented in India when he is abroad, as he has challenged the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Act. “Mallya is allowed by the law to litigate in India, even when he is abroad,’’ Desai contended. The CJ said, “The vires (constitutional validity) of the Act he cannot challenge, this is our opinion (unless present).’’ Desai argued, “All rights, including constitutional rights, are available even if not in court.’’Section 14 of the Act is meant to ensure that FEOs do not abuse the process by simply filing petitions through lawyers, the ED said. Desai cited an order of the Supreme Court, and Mehta shot back saying it was not meant to be precedent-setting.Mehta, who joined the hearing virtually from Delhi, remarked that Mallya was partying in the UK. “There are many fugitives, and they are celebrating their birthdays. While nobody can legally object to celebrations, they are mocking our nation. This is unacceptable,” he said.Mehta also said there was an extradition proceeding at an advanced stage, and Mallya cannot use the pendency of his petition in Mumbai to thwart proceedings there.The ED, through advocate Prashant Mishra, submitted its reply to Mallya’s petition and said the facts were “glaring’’ and a huge economic harm to the nation was caused by Mallya with an outstanding of nearly Rs 15,000 crore. Desai said the liability is alleged to be Rs 6,200 crore “but now shown as Rs 15,000 crore. We have a lot to argue in the matter’’.Mallya’s petition claimed there was a violation of his fundamental right to property as the seizure of his assets was unfounded.The ED said he had several opportunities to appear before the trial court and pointed to a provision of the FEO Act to argue it provides for confiscation of property when offences involve over Rs 100 crore and have a bearing on the national economy.

SHIMLA: A senior resident doctor of the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla, was suspended after he assaulted a patient lying on a bed on Monday, triggering a protest by attendants and relatives after a video of the incident went viral.Police registered an FIR against the doctor.

The video, shot by an attendant, purportedly shows 31-year-old Dr Raghav Narula, a senior resident with the pulmonary medicine department of the IGMC, repeatedly and aggressively punching 36-year-old Arjun Panwar, even as another doctor tries to hold him by the legs. The patient can also be seen defending himself and trying to hit the doctor with his legs while lying on the bed. The assault left Panwar with a bloodied nose. As the video went viral, relatives and friends of Panwar, who hails from Mashaud village of Kupvi subdivision of Shimla district, reached the IGMC and staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused doctor. A three-member inquiry committee was formed by the IGMC administration to probe the incident, following directions from chief minister Sukhvinder Sukhu. “After we submitted the committee findings, the state govt ordered to suspend the accused doctor till further notice. A high-powered committee will soon be formed to further investigate the matter,” said IGMC medical superintendent Dr Rahul Rao.Panwar had come to the hospital on Monday morning for a bronchoscopy test after complaining of shortness of breath. “After the test, I lay down on an empty bed in the pulmonary ward as the doctors advised me to rest for a while. As I was resting, Dr Raghav came and started questioning me about what I was doing there and where my medical test reports were. He spoke to me very rudely, and when I told him, ‘Is this the way you talk to your family members?’ the doctor got enraged and started beating me,” said Panwar.According to Himachal health minister Dhani Ram Shandil, exemplary action would be taken against the doctor based on the findings of the committee. “Dr Raghav is a contractual employee and has been with the IGMC since Aug,” said Shandil. “Directions will also be issued so that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” said Shandil. When asked about the second doctor, Shandil said, “An inquiry is being conducted to find out the involvement of the medical staff present in that ward at the time of the incident.”

Team India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill is set to play for Punjab in the remainder of the 2025-26 domestic season. After missing out on the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Gill has been included in the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is also expected to feature for his state side in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

With no immediate T20I commitments, Gill will focus on longer formats at the state level. Several players, such as Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, and Harpreet Brar, are included in Punjab’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

However, Punjab are yet to confirm who will lead the team in the tournament. The delay in announcing the captain has caught the attention of fans, especially with Gill being one of the senior figures in the squad.

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Shubman Gill Set to Play Two Vijay Hazare Trophy Matches

According to a Times of India report, Shubman Gill will play two List A matches for Punjab in January. He is expected to play against Sikkim and Goa in Jaipur.

After completing his domestic commitments, Gill will return to international cricket. He is scheduled to join the Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against New Zealand, which begins in Vadodara and ends in Indore later in January.

“Shubman will be playing the two games in January – on 3rd and 6th – before joining the team for the ODI series versus New Zealand. He also wants to play the remaining rounds of Ranji Trophy for Punjab,” A PCA official told TimesofIndia.com.

Shubman Gill Set to Return to Red-Ball Domestic Cricket After New Zealand ODIs

Shubman Gill is expected to return to red-ball domestic cricket after India’s ODI series against New Zealand. Punjab will play two Ranji Trophy matches later in January, and Gill has already informed the state association that he is available and keen to play.

Punjab will face Saurashtra in Rajkot, followed by a home game against Karnataka in Mullanpur. The team is currently in sixth position with 11 points from five games, with only one win so far, but the remaining matches still offer a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.

If Punjab manage to make the knockout stage, Gill could continue playing Ranji Trophy cricket into February. His involvement would be important as the team looks to revive its campaign and push for a spot in the later stages of the tournament.

Shubman Gill Left Out of India’s 15-Member Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Shubman Gill has been left out of India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, following a run of inconsistent performances in the shortest format.

Gill made his T20I debut in 2023 against Sri Lanka and returned to the setup during the Asia Cup 2025. However, he struggled to make a strong case after his comeback. In the Asia Cup, he scored 127 runs from 7 matches at an average of 21.16 and a strike rate of 151.19.

Gill managed 132 runs in the five-match T20I series against Australia at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 136.08. In the most recent T20I series against South Africa, he scored only 32 runs from 3 matches at an average of 10.66 and a strike rate of 103.22.

Also read: “I have a bulletproof car”: Rashid Khan reveals harsh reality of life in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

BENGALURU: In a shocking incident that had its roots in prolonged marital discord, a 40-year-old software professional allegedly shot his estranged wife dead on a busy road in West Bengaluru during the evening rush hour on Tuesday, before walking into a police station with the pistol and surrendering.The victim was identified as Bhuvaneshwari, 39, an assistant manager at Union Bank of India’s Basaveshwaranagar branch. The accused, Balamurugan, 40, worked at a private IT firm. Both are natives of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. Police said the shooting occurred around 6.30 pm on 1st Main Road in the Rajajinagar Industrial Area. Preliminary investigations revealed that Balamurugan fired four rounds at close range. Two bullets struck Bhuvaneshwari on the head, while the remaining two hit her left hand, causing fatal injuries. The gunshots triggered panic among hundreds of commuters and pedestrians in the area, who ran for cover. Passers-by found Bhuvaneshwari lying in a pool of blood and alerted the police. She was rushed to a private hospital but was declared brought dead. Bhuvaneshwari had been living with the couple’s two children – a 12-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter – in a rented house in Rajajinagar. Balamurugan was residing separately and working in Whitefield. The couple, married in 2011, had been living apart for about 1.5 years following frequent quarrels. Police said the accused suspected his wife of having an affair, though this claim has not been substantiated.According to investigators, Bhuvaneshwari had sought legal separation, which Balamurugan was unwilling to accept. Six months ago, she was transferred from the Whitefield branch of the bank and moved to a new rented residence with her children without informing her husband. About four months ago, after tracing her new address, Balamurugan allegedly quit his IT job and shifted to Cholurpalya in Kempapura Agrahara to stay closer to her.Police said matters escalated further about a week ago when Balamurugan received a divorce notice from Bhuvaneshwari. Enraged, he allegedly decided to kill her. On Tuesday evening, while Bhuvaneshwari was returning home from work, he spotted her near Basaveshwaranagar police station and shot her on the road. After the incident, Balamurugan walked into a police station and surrendered along with the pistol. DCP (West) S Girish said the weapon had been seized and police were verifying whether it was licensed. While the accused claimed to have fired five rounds, police recovered only four empty cartridges from the scene.Bhuvaneshwari’s parents in Tamil Nadu have been informed.

NAVI MUMBAI: In a daylight heist, three unidentified men disguised in burqas with their faces covered robbed Sangam Gold jewellery store located in Neelkanth Pride society in Sector 42A, Seawoods-Nerul on Monday around 10.45 am. While one of the robbers threatened the jeweller with a pistol, two others collected all the gold ornaments on display and decamped with the booty. Coincidentally, the robbers dared to target the jewellery store located in a building in the vicinity of a police chowkie.

The robbery was captured by the CCTV surveillance at the store. The three robbers escaped with the huge booty in a car in which their aide was waiting outside the store and keeping watch.ACP (Zone-2) Mayur Bhujbal informed that an FIR was registered at NRI Coastal Police Station where the four unidentified accused were booked under relevant sections of BNS for the offence of robbery, and robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt, along with the Indian Arms Act.ACP Bhujbal said, “As many as four police teams of the detection branch and one team each of all four crime branch units have been formed to trace the robbers. The CCTV footage on the streets is being scanned to track the car in which the robbers escaped. From the CCTV footage, the car’s registration number has been obtained, but it is possible that the robbers might have used a fake number plate, which is being ascertained. As the robber who pointed the pistol at the jeweller did not fire any round in the air while escaping, it is possible that the pistol was also fake, which will be confirmed once the robbers are arrested and the robbed gold ornaments and pistol are recovered from them. The jeweller Sunil Sharma (42) has claimed that the robbers decamped with around 250 grams of gold ornaments estimated to cost around Rs 25 lakhs. Hence, he has been told to submit a precise list of all the robbed ornaments mentioning their type, weight, purity, and any unique features or identification marks along with the original purchase bills, valuation certificates, etc.”The jeweller Sunil Sharma told media representatives that when three persons attired in burqas entered his store, he thought they were women customers. But actually, they were men and were speaking in Hindi. As their faces were covered in burqas, they could not be identified. One of them pointed a pistol at him and threatened to kill him if he raised an alarm. Two other robbers collected all the gold ornaments on display and even took Rs 35,000 cash at the counter. He said that he begged them not to harm him. They asked him if there was more gold in stock at the store, to which he replied that all gold ornaments were kept on display. The three robbers then told him to enter the room behind the counter and threatened him not to come out until they left the store. As the robbers exited the store, he rushed outside and shouted for help. The three robbers were seen escaping in a car driven by their aide.

On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, several major cricket news stories took the internet by storm, and in this article, we will have a look at some of the top stories and updates of the day.

From Australia announcing their squad for the fourth Ashes Test to the venue for Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match being shifted – a lot happened on the day, but some other major news stories also kept the fans talking about the game.

Ravindra Jadeja’s Vijay Hazare Trophy participation confirmed

The veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has made it very clear to the BCCI selection committee that he wants to feature in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

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Hence, to make his case strong for the selection and prove that he is fully dedicated, Ravindra Jadeja is all set to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Saurashtra.

According to a report in Times of India, the spin-bowling all-rounder is likely to feature in two fixtures on January 6 and January 8 against Services and Gujarat, respectively, in Alur.

“Yes, he has confirmed to play these two games on January 6 and January 8. This is the plan for now,” a senior SCA official told TOI.

England Cricket Team U19 World Cup Squad Announced

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the England Lions squad for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Somerset Wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew has been named captain of the side, while Farhan Ahmed will be his deputy.

Squad: Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan.

Sunil Gavaskar Secures Personality Rights Protection

India National Cricket Team batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has become the first Indian sportsperson to secure personality rights protection. He has received court-backed protection for his personality and publicity rights.

Senior Advocate Gopal Jain appeared for the batting legend, briefed by Krida Legal, comprising Managing Partner Vidushpat Singhania and his team.

The Delhi High Court has issued a strict order to everyone using Sunil Gavaskar’s name and image to remove all such posts, videos, and related content from social media and e-commerce platforms within 72 hours.

If the individuals don’t follow the order of the court, the platforms themselves will be required to take down the infringing content. Also, the court took notice of the misleading content shared online and stated that sharing posts that can’t harm an individual’s public image can’t be permitted.

Sanjay Manjrekar Launches Attack On Shubman Gill

Former India National Cricket Team batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has launched an attack on the star batter Shubman Gill after his axing from the Indian T20I team.

Shubman Gill was recently dropped from India’s T20I squad despite being the vice-captain, and Axar Patel was named as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Gill’s axing came on the back of his horrible run in T20I cricket since his return to the format. Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar took an indirect dig at Gill in a social media post discussing his exclusion. He stated:

“He hasn’t got a single 50 in 20 innings. A stat often cited to suggest loss of form. T20s are & will always be about strike rates. The last thing you want is an out-of-form batter playing cautiously when he comes close to 50. This will lose you the game.”

He hasn’t got a single 50 in 20 inngs. A stat often cited to suggest loss of form. T20s is & will always be about strike rates.
The last thing you want is an out of form batter playing cautiously when he comes close to 50. This will lose you the game.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 23, 2025

Also Read: Shubman Gill’s domestic cricket grind begins after T20 World Cup snub; next move revealed

Bangladeshi journalists say they are facing death threats, targeted surveillance, and intimidation in the run-up to Feb 2026 national elections — a crisis that deepened after mobs attacked and set fire to offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star on Dec 19, trapping more than two dozen media personnel inside. No journalists were killed, but those present said they were left with little doubt about what the attackers intended.Staffers described how they were forced onto the rooftop as smoke from the arson filled the buildings. Phone signals were weak, and help took hours to arrive. “We weren’t sure we would survive the night,” said a senior journalist at The Daily Star, speaking to TOI from Dhaka. “And since then, it hasn’t felt like we got out of it. The fire was just the beginning.”A total of 28 people, mostly journalists and staffers, were eventually rescued by firefighters and army personnel. Press freedom organisations later said the mob appeared intent on burning the journalists alive, and in some cases, actively blocked emergency responders. While those statements describe the level of threat, no deaths have been confirmed.What followed the attack has been quieter, but no less insidious. Reporters from both national and international publications told TOI that they are now being tracked online, receiving anonymous warnings, and in some cases, being surveilled in person. Some have gone off social media altogether. “They watch our posts to see whose side we’re on,” said a journalist from Sylhet. “Especially if you’re a minority or write with any liberal perspective, you’re marked. These next two months will be dangerous.”The attacks were sparked by protests over death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi but quickly spiralled into a broader assault on the press. Offices were ransacked. Computers and equipment were looted or destroyed. In The Daily Star’s newsroom, editors and reporters said they had minutes to evacuate before flames reached their desks. “We could hear them breaking things downstairs,” said one editor. “We left without shutting down our systems. We didn’t look back.”No arrests have been made. No formal investigation has reached those responsible. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Access Now, have condemned the incident, warning that it signals a deeper erosion of civic space in Bangladesh. Their joint statement also criticised the state’s failure to act on rising hate speech and online harassment directed at journalists.Chief advisor Muhammed Yunus has condemned the arson and promised to ensure safety for media professionals. But journalists on ground say the promises feel detached from reality. “It wasn’t just vandalism,” said one reporter at Prothom Alo. “It was theatre. And the State was part of the audience.”In Dhaka, the newsrooms that were torched are operating from makeshift setups. Reporters are still filing stories, but fewer are signing bylines. “We do this job knowing there are costs,” said a Daily Star journalist. “But we were never meant to do it without protection — not from the State, not from the law, not even from the public.”In Nepal, too, media offices have come under fire this year. During anti-govt demonstrations in Sept, protesters vandalised and set fire to the headquarters of Kantipur Media Group. A senior editor there told TOI that the trend is unmistakable: “It starts with undermining reporters, then moves to surveillance, and finally turns violent. This is not isolated. This is coordinated tolerance for impunity.”

England’s Ben Stokes (AP/PTI)

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised questions over Ben Stokes’ method against spin bowling, pointing to what he believes are long-standing technical issues following the England captain’s dismissal in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide.Stokes was bowled by Australian spin great Nathan Lyon in the second innings as England chased a daunting target of 435. While England showed resolve in the chase, they eventually lost by 82 runs, a defeat that handed Australia the Ashes and marked England’s fourth straight series loss against their oldest rivals. With England beaten in three Tests inside 11 days, scrutiny has fallen on the entire side, but Ashwin suggested the captain must also look closely at his own game.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin analysed Stokes’ approach to spin, drawing on his own experience of bowling to the England all-rounder. Ashwin has dismissed Stokes 13 times in Test cricket.“Ben Stokes has been getting out to off-spinners for as long as I have bowled and watched,” Ashwin said. “Is this question being asked? He is a fabulous player with the right attitude, but you cannot play spin the same way you play fast bowling.”Ashwin explained that playing spin requires getting to the pitch of the ball rather than relying on bounce, something that works better against pace bowlers. He added that fast bowlers, who rely more on lateral movement, can be handled with adjustments, whereas spin presents different challenges such as the risk of being trapped lbw.“You have to watch the ball out of the hand,” Ashwin said. “The theory of playing spin is to get to the pitch of the ball. If you do not do that, you are always vulnerable.”Ashwin also pointed to what he sees as a growing trend among non-Asian batters to depend heavily on the sweep and reverse sweep against spin. He argued that this stems from flawed defensive technique.“I am seeing many western players like Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett and Aiden Markram sweeping or reverse sweeping because their defensive technique against spin is not right,” Ashwin said. “The moment you commit to the sweep, you are picking the line early and trying to defend it, instead of reading what the ball is doing and getting to it.”According to Ashwin, the core principle of playing spin is lost when batters retreat onto the back foot and look to score rather than meeting the ball. He added that this issue, in his view, is not being addressed enough at the highest level.Stokes’ dismissal in Adelaide proved pivotal in England’s failed chase and has now become a focal point in wider discussions about England’s approach to spin bowling, both in the Ashes and beyond.

An explosion at a nursing home in Pennsylvania left residents trapped as emergency crews rushed to rescue potential victims of the fire.The blast occurred on Tuesday around 2 pm (local time) at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol Township, around 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia. Authorities and first responders described the incident as a possible gas explosion.“We understand that there are people trapped inside,” said Ruth Miller, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, according to The Associated Press. Emergency crews responded immediately to the facility, working to evacuate residents and search for those who may have gone missing. Video footage on social media showed police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks with flashing lights at the scene, while flames and black smoke poured from the building. Windows were blown out, and part of the roof collapsed.The Upper Makefield Township police department called the explosion a “mass casualty incident” and urged residents to avoid the area due to the large emergency response, reports the Independent. Lieutenant Sean Cosgrove of Bristol Township police told Levittown Now that residents were evacuated by emergency crews, staff, and even bystanders. He added, “I do not know if everyone is accounted for or not yet. I’m not aware of any critical injuries but there definitely were injuries.”The nursing home’s last fire safety inspection took place in September 2024. According to Medicare.gov, the facility has a one-star rating with health inspections described as “much below average.”Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed on X that he has been briefed on the incident. “My Administration is in contact with local officials and first responders on the ground,” he said. The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, and authorities have not yet confirmed the number of injuries or fatalities.