Mumbai: Ruling that consent given by a person of unsound mind is invalid, a sessions court convicted and sentenced a 37-year-old labourer to 10 years rigorous imprisonment, for abducting and repeatedly raping of a mentally challenged woman in 2016. The victim, suffers from moderate mental retardation and possesses the functional age of a child between six and ten years.The accused Dayanand Puran Chaudhary had argued that the relationship was consensual, claiming a love affair existed between the two. However, the judge dismissed these claims, citing Section 90 of the Indian Penal Code, which invalidates consent given by a person of unsound mind. Additional Sessions Judge Ashwini D Lokhande, said, “In the present case, though the consent given by the victim to the accused, it would not amounts to consent as victim was mentally retard person, was not knowing the consequences of her consent.”The judge noted the gravity of the crime, stating, “The incident has caused the adverse impact on the body and soul of victim girl who was mentally retard and was carrying age of 6 to 10 years.” The judge further observed that the accused took advantage of the victim’s inability to understand his intentions, noting, “He is very well knows that victim would not resist his act due to her mental capacity.”The woman’s mother told the court that she lived with her husband, a security guard and daughter. The victim made imitation jewelry. The mother said that on Nov 3, 2016, the victim disappeared after leaving her home to purchase materials for imitation jewellery. She returned five days later, narrating an ordeal of being forcibly taken in an autorickshaw to a confined location where she was sexually assaulted multiple times.The victim’s deposition, recorded in question-and-answer format, revealed she never attended school and lacks an understanding of dates. Her mother confirmed that the victim suffers from mental health issues and frequent memory loss. The victim deposed that while going to the market, the accused—a neighbour she recognized—grabbed her hand and took her by auto-rickshaw to a house. She stated he held her captive for four to five days, during which he raped her multiple times. After escaping, she informed her mother, who reported the incident to the police. The victim denied consenting to sexual relations. During her deposition via video conference, she identified the accused and her own clothing.During the trial, the judge relied on the deposition of the victim and medical experts. A critical component of the conviction was the testimony of Dr Alka Anand Subramanium, a psychiatric expert from Nair Hospital, who confirmed the victim’s intellectual disability. The judge noted that because of her mental state, the victim was incapable of giving legal consent.Chaudhary was sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for the charges of rape and kidnapping, along with a fine Rs 30,000. The court also ordered that a portion of the fine be paid to the victim as compensation. Having been in custody since his arrest on Nov 12, 2016, Chaudhary will receive a set-off for the period already served behind bars.

Domestic cricket in India is set for an electric spark as icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy this Wednesday. For Kohli, this marks a homecoming to the 50-over domestic format after a staggering 15-year hiatus, while Rohit returns to represent Mumbai for the first time since 2018. Their participation, alongside stars like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, has turned this edition into a high-stakes dress rehearsal for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. However, despite the massive star power, millions of fans across the country are facing a significant blackout as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) navigates a complex logistical and broadcasting landscape.

The real reason behind no telecast of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 matches

As per NDTV Sports report, The primary reason fans will not see Kohli and Rohit on their screens is a simple matter of infrastructure. On the opening day of the tournament, all 38 teams are in action simultaneously across 19 different matches. The BCCI traditionally only provides full broadcasting and streaming setups for a select few games due to the immense cost and technical requirements of multi-camera coverage. For the 2025–26 season, high-definition broadcast facilities have only been established at two primary hubs: the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

Since Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai is playing in Jaipur and Kohli’s Delhi has been moved to a facility in Bengaluru that lacks broadcasting infrastructure, neither match falls within the current televised window. While some reports initially suggested Star Sports and JioHotstar would carry the tournament, they will only be showing the matches held at the two designated broadcast venues.

🚨 No Live Telecast of Rohit & Virat in VHT 🚨

– No broadcast of Rohit Sharma’s match (Jaipur)
– No broadcast of Virat Kohli’s match (CoE)
– Only two Vijay Hazare Trophy games will be streamed
– Telecast available on Hotstar & Star Sports
– Venues being covered: NMS Ground &… pic.twitter.com/6IfTyvkCYM

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) December 23, 2025

VHT 2025-26 matches behind closed doors for Kohli

While Rohit Sharma fans in Jaipur still have the chance to watch their captain from the stands, the situation in Bengaluru has taken a far more restrictive turn for Virat Kohli. Just 24 hours before the opening match, the Karnataka government and local police denied permission for the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium to host Delhi’s fixtures. The match has been shifted to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the outskirts of the city, and in a crushing blow to local fans, it will be played behind closed doors

As per Times of India, The decision stems from a combination of factors:

• Security Concerns: Local police are stretched thin managing Christmas and year-end festivities in the Central Business District.
• Safety Legacy: Authorities remain cautious following a tragic stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s IPL celebrations earlier in June, which resulted in 11 deaths.
• Infrastructure Issues: The stadium has yet to fully implement safety recommendations from the Justice Cunha Commission report, which recently described the venue as “unsafe for large gatherings.”

However, there is still a glimmer of hope for a digital broadcast. Earlier this year, a Ranji Trophy match involving Delhi was not originally scheduled for streaming, but the BCCI reversed its decision at the eleventh hour following immense public demand to see Kohli in action. However, as it stands, the lack of fixed broadcast equipment at the CoE in Bengaluru and the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur remains the definitive hurdle. For now, Kohli and the Rohit will be performing their domestic duties largely out of the public eye.

Michael Jordan (Image via: Getty Images)

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players in NBA history. Beyond his unmatched achievements on the court, the legend has built extraordinary wealth. After retiring, Jordan turned several of his business ventures into huge financial successes. When it comes to net worth, the legend has earned massive fortunes that reflect his lasting impact on and off the game.Apart from his 15-year NBA career earnings, Jordan has earned huge amounts of money through his long-term partnership with top brands, including Nike, and his ownership in two professional sports teams. Jordan’s off-court impact is also huge, he is said to have donated $100 million in 2020 for various humanitarian causes like supporting racial equality, social justice, and education for all.

What is Michael Jordan’s net worth in 2025?

As of 2025, Michael Jordan’s net worth is said to be around $3.8 billion, per Forbes. He earned $90 million from his contracts in the big league over the 15 seasons he played in, and his off-court earnings are also said to have increased when he partnered with major brands like McDonald’s and Nike. In 2023, Jordan sold his majority share in the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion, becoming the first professional athlete to appear on Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans.

Michael Jordan’s investments, contracts, and more

Michael Jordan built much of his financial income through his team ownerships and business contracts. In 2010, he bought the majority of shares in the NBA Charlotte Hornets team for about $275 million. In August 2023, he sold that share for $3 billion, making it one of the biggest team trades in the history of sports. He still owns a small share of the team.Michael Jordan also co-owns the 23XI NASCAR Racing team, which he started in 2020 with Denny Hamlin. The team has grown very fast, with its funds increasing quickly over the years. Overall, Jordan’s success off the court has played a major role in making him one of the richest athletes ever.Also Read: “It’s just God disguised” – NBA legend shares rare insight he had while meeting Michael Jordan for the first time

US consumer confidence weakened in December, sliding to its lowest level since President Donald Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs earlier this year, as households grew more anxious about high prices, trade levies and job prospects, according to a survey by the Conference Board.The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell 3.8 points to 89.1 in December from an upwardly revised 92.9 in November, AP reported. The reading is close to the 85.7 level recorded in April, when the Trump administration introduced import taxes on key US trading partners, AP reported.

Consumers’ assessment of current economic conditions saw a sharper drop. The present situation index fell 9.5 points to 116.8, reflecting growing unease about inflation and employment conditions. Write-in responses to the survey showed that prices and inflation remained the biggest concern for consumers, alongside tariffs.Short-term expectations for income, business conditions and the labour market were little changed at 70.7, but remained well below 80 — a threshold that can signal a recession ahead. This was the 11th straight month that expectations stayed under that level.Perceptions of the job market also weakened. The share of consumers who said jobs were “plentiful” fell to 26.7% in December from 28.2% in November, while those who said jobs were “hard to get” rose to 20.8% from 20.1%.The softer sentiment follows recent labour market data showing mixed signals. Government figures released last week showed the US economy added 64,000 jobs in November after losing 105,000 jobs in October. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.6% last month, its highest level since 2021.Economists say the labour market is stuck in a “low hire, low fire” phase, as companies remain cautious amid uncertainty over tariffs and the lingering effects of high interest rates. Since March, average monthly job creation has slowed to about 35,000, down from 71,000 in the year ended March. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has said he suspects those figures could be revised even lower, AP reported.

Jemimah Rodrigues of India (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals have named Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues as their new captain ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League season. The announcement was made on Tuesday. Rodrigues comes into the role after an outstanding year with the Indian team.

She played a major part in India’s ICC Women’s World Cup win, producing one of the finest knocks of the tournament. In the semi-final against Australia, she scored a brilliant unbeaten 127 while chasing a record target of 339. The innings showcased her composure, confidence, and ability to perform on the biggest stage. Reacting to her appointment, Rodrigues expressed pride and gratitude. “It is an absolute honour to be named captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I am deeply grateful to the owners and the support staff for placing their faith in me to lead this team,” Rodrigues said in a release.“It has truly been a dream year for me and my family, winning the World Cup and now being entrusted with this wonderful opportunity at a franchise that has held a very special place in my heart since the very first season of the WPL,” she added. Rodrigues has been a key part of the Delhi Capitals setup since the league began. She was the franchise’s first pick at the inaugural WPL auction and has played 27 matches so far. In those games, she has scored 507 runs at a strike rate of 139.67. She has also featured in all three WPL finals. She takes over the captaincy from Meg Lanning, who was released by the franchise ahead of last month’s auction. Rodrigues said her time under Lanning’s leadership helped shape her growth as a player. “I have learned so much over the last three years and have shared some of my best moments with the Delhi Capitals. We have a strong group, and I can’t wait to get going as we look ahead to what we hope will be a very successful season, and finally cross that line that has eluded us in the last three years,” she remarked. At the international level, Rodrigues has played 113 T20Is, scoring 2,444 runs, and 59 ODIs, where she has made 1,749 runs. Delhi Capitals will begin their WPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on January 10 in Navi Mumbai.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), questioning the lack of concrete measures to protect workers at construction sites in the city who are “exposed to severe pollution and health threats”.Pointing out that the right to health is a fundamental right for construction site workers too, a bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad directed MPCB to return on Wednesday with an immediate solution to ensure minimum required compliance. “You don’t take care of workers…at least give them masks.” said the bench, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning worsening air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai.

“We don’t want work or development to stop. They should comply…the lack of compliance is an outcome of simple negligence,” said the CJ orally.In similar directions to BMC, the HC asked it to “apply its mind” and return with suggestions to ensure proper compliance with its air pollution prevention guidelines.“Come back with your officers…come back with suggestions. We want a solution by tomorrow (Wednesday). Otherwise, we can’t get out of this,” the bench told senior counsel S U Kamdar representing the BMC commissioner and former advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni representing MPCB. The HC further observed that earlier directions issued and undertakings given by MPCB and BMC were “more in breach than in compliance”. Kumbhakoni gave an assurance that he would return with suggestions.BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani and MPCB member-secretary Devender Singh were present in court pursuant to the HC’s summons for their personal explanation of their officers’ inaction.The HC expressed displeasure over the “so-called” monitoring of air pollution at construction sites in the city and asked the BMC commissioner if had ever stepped out of office to conduct an inspection or surprise site visits. “Once things go out of hand, then nothing will remain in your control…we have seen it in 45 years of experience,” CJ Chandrashekhar said.“Every day, take your [BMC] commissioner around the city and tell us how many sites lack compliance,” the CJ said orally. “We do not travel much, but on my way to the airport, barring one building which shows full compliance with a 35ft-high metal barricade, most other under-construction buildings lack even the minimum compliance. We feel a lot more has to be done by the BMC and MPCB.”When asked what action was taken by the BMC, Kamdar said over 400 show-cause notices were issued to developers who didn’t comply with its 2023 and 2024 guidelines, and 148 stop-work notices were issued where violations were found.Senior counsel Darius Khambata, appointed as amicus curiae (friend of court to assist in the matter to find solutions), submitted a note based on the findings by the HC-appointed four-member panel comprising advocates Karan Bhosale, Namrata Vinod, and Anand Mallya, and forest conservator Anita Patil, tasked with on-ground compliance checks.Khambata made certain suggestions and also took the bench through earlier orders, including a December 11, 2023 HC order directing BMC and MPCB to jointly inspect and immediately ensure strict compliance with rules and norms at seven big project sites mentioned in the TOI report, ‘Pollution Check at 7 sites generates heat and dust’.Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas for NGO Vanshakti, which intervened, also made suggestions, including how a centralised collection of data from all sensors would ease the issue of fragmented information and also ensure the public has access to crucial AQI readings. Dwarkadas said there was “cosmetic, not effective monitoring” by the authorities and remarked, “Today data is the new oil. Gathering data is not something new…”Among the questions the HC asked BMC were, “When did you last review the situation on compliance with your guidelines issued in 2023? How many construction sites don’t have metal sheets of 35ft around their periphery? Give us the status starting from October. How many AQI sensors work?” When told only 895 were working but only 600 relayed data, the bench asked, “If you have data that a large number of monitors are not working, what steps did you take?”The hearing will continue on Wednesday.

Rahul Kumar (32) – murdered after he caught his wife Ruby and her lover Gaurav Kumar

MEERUT: In a case reminiscent of Meerut’s infamous “blue drum” murder, a Sambhal shoe trader was allegedly killed, chopped and dumped piece by piece by his wife and her lover, police said on Monday. Rahul Kumar, 32, was allegedly murdered after he caught his wife Ruby and her lover Gaurav Kumar, a neighbour, in a compromising position at their home in Chandausi on the night of November 17. Both accused were arrested following the gruesome crime.The brutality and execution mirrored the Meerut case, in which a woman named Muskan and her lover Sahil stabbed ex-merchant navy officer Saurabh Rajput to death on March 4, then dismembered his body, packed the remains in a drum sealed with cement, and went on a holiday.Sambhal superintendent of police Krishan Kant Bishnoi said, “On Nov 18, Ruby (30), a housewife, filed a missing complaint, citing that her husband, 32, had gone missing. On Dec 15, we found a torso. The hands and legs were missing. Later, we found a polythene packet containing a human head in a drain. While examining the body parts, we saw the name ‘Rahul’ inked on the chest.”Bishnoi added: “We called Ruby for identification of the body parts, but she refused and disappeared, raising suspicion. Called for questioning, she confessed.”“In the night Rahul caught me and Gaurav in a compromising position, he threatened that he would defame me and throw me out of the house. At that moment, I told Gaurav to finish him off, and he struck Rahul on the head with an iron rod, while I hit him with a metal shoe-hammer, killing him on the spot,” Ruby said.“On Nov 18, we brought a grinder tool and cut his body into parts and put these in bags. On the same day, we hired a vehicle and dumped one bag containing the severed head and legs, along with Rahul’s mobile phone, into the Ganga at Rajghat. Later that night, we threw the other bag in a drain and burnt Rahul’s lower garment, and the blood-stained clothes of Gaurav and mine. We then hid the grinder tool in the nearby bushes.”Police said the couple had been married for 12 years and have an 11-year-old son, who told cops that their parents used to fight over a man who frequently visited their house.An FIR has been lodged under BNS section 103 (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence, or giving false information), and 61 (criminal conspiracy).