NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said that India’s oil sourcing strategy will be guided by national interest and it will not depend on any single country for its needs, while highlighting that actual purchases are done by petroleum companies, with decisions dependent on market conditions, availability, pricing and risk assessment. The comments by foreign secretary Vikram Misri came three days after US President Donald Trump’s executive order lifting the 25% penal tariff on India said the country had committed to stop purchasing Russian oil, either directly or indirectly. Amid the suspense over India’s position on already-declining Russian oil imports, Misri said oil companies, public or private, will continue to make business choices driven by the considerations he outlined – a complex matrix of issues, including the important financial and logistical aspects.

His response followed repeated remarks by commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal that only the foreign ministry could comment on whether India gave any such commitment to the US while arriving at the framework for an interim trade agreement, and accusations by opposition that govt was evading the question.Indian cos assess oil availability, risks and costs, says MisriMisri said, “What I can firmly and confidently say is that whether it is govt or indeed our business, at the end of the day, national interests will be the guiding factor for us in our choices.” He was replying to a question on the issue at a media briefing on the visit of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie.In Dec, India’s crude imports from Russia fell to a 10-month low of $2.7 billion, down 15% from Dec 2024, while Saudi Arabia (60% rise to $1.8 billion) and the US (31% increase to $569 million) were the big gainers. Russia, however, remained the largest source, accounting for 31% of imports during April-Dec 2025, as against a little under 37.5% a year ago, commerce department data showed. During this period, the US’s share has jumped from 4.5% to 7.8%.“They (oil companies) assess availability at any given point in time, and they assess risks, costs in this process. And obviously, all of these companies also have their own internal accountability-related processes to look at and certain fiduciary responsibilities in the market,” said Misri. He added that govt’s foremost priority is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers and ensure they receive adequate energy at the right price and through reliable and secure supplies.Misri also said India seeks to maintain multiple sources of supply and diversify them as appropriate to ensure stability. “I would say that the more diversified we are in this area, the more secure we are,” said Misri. India and many other countries share a common interest in ensuring stable prices and secure supplies at a time when global uncertainties are impacting the stability of energy markets, he said.He noted India was not just one of the largest consumers of energy but also helped stabilise global energy markets. “That’s one reason we import energy from multiple sources… the key drivers of our energy policy are adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply. We import crude oil from dozens of nations. We are neither dependent on any single source for this, nor do we intend to be.”

NEW DELHI: Complying with the Supreme Court’s directive, Enforcement Directorate has set up a special investigation team to probe money laundering cases allegedly involving Rs 40,000 crore against Anil Ambani and companies of Reliance Group. The move comes amid ED stepping up its probe against the industrialist. The agency was set to question his wife, Tina Ambani, on Monday at its HQ here but she did not appear and may be summoned again. The purpose of the planned questioning is to establish the money trail in a case related to purchase of an apartment worth Rs 70 crore in Manhattan, New York, for which senior Reliance executive and Ambani confidant Punit Garg was arrested last week.

On SC directive, CBI and ED may file multiple cases against Anil

Tina Ambani did not appear and may be summoned again.Tina Ambani’s name came up during the custodial interrogation of Garg. With Supreme Court on Feb 4 asking for registration of separate cases in each case of the alleged diversion of bank loans by Anil Ambani’s companies, both CBI and ED are looking to file multiple cases against him. CBI, in particular, will be required to file many more since the allegations of fund diversion concern more than a score of loans he took from different financial institutions.The Manhattan apartment, sources suspect, had been purchased using alleged proceeds of crime siphoned off from the bank loans that Reliance Communication had received from an SBI-led consortium. ED has come across a network of shell entities involved in money laundering, including the one that received the sale proceeds ($8.3 million) of the Manhattan apartment “remitted from the US under the guise of a sham investment arrangement with a Dubai-based entity controlled by a Pakistan-linked individual”.So far, during its probe against Anil Ambani and his entities, ED has searched 46 premises and attached 204 properties valued at over Rs 12,000 crore. ED has registered three enforcement case investigation reports, equivalent to police FIRs, under PMLA against Ambani and his entities so far.One is against Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd (RCFL) and Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) in the Yes Bank money laundering case. The agency has told SC that RHFL had borrowed public funds from 33 banks/financial institutions and committed a default of over Rs 5,400 crore which constitutes proceeds of crime. The 33 lenders were able to recover only Rs 2,116.9 crore. “As regards the default committed by RCFL, 21 banks/financial institutions faced defaults of Rs 6,281 crore. Out of Rs 8,226 crore, only a sum of Rs 1,945 crore has been paid,” ED told the court. In second ECIR against Reliance Communications Ltd, ED has said total outstanding amount was Rs 40,185 crore that constitutes proceeds of crime. Third case is against Reliance Power Ltd in which allegedly forged bank guarantees were submitted. Three accused were helld in the case.“Having gone through ED’s counter affidavit, it appears to us that the aforesaid agency ought to look into every possible financial transaction which might have led to siphoning of funds and must determine the estimated value of the proceeds of crime. ED is well advised to constitute an SIT,” SC had said in its Feb 4 order. SC posted the matter for hearing on March 10.

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court said Monday it would under no circumstance allow stalling of special intensive revision (SIR) of voter rolls in 12 states but said it was open to suggestions to ensure genuine voters are not left out, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra. The CJI-led bench extended by a week the Feb 7 deadline for submission of documents by voters issued notice by EC, including 1.36 crore voters categorised under ‘logical discrepancy’. It also sought a personal affidavit from the Bengal DGP on EC’s charge of TMC functionaries making attempts to derail SIR. “We hope the state remembers the laws of the land,” it said.We are not going to regulate internal mechanism of EC: SCThe bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria, which had heard West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee passionately argue for discontinuing SIR, frowned upon the state govt for not providing the names of 8,500 group B cadre officials to EC for assisting electoral revision officers (EROs) and assistant EROs in the massive document verification work. The displeasure had a dramatic effect as the West Bengal govt provided the list within minutes to EC in the court and said it would verify the suitability of the officials.The court also dismissed the fear expressed by Banerjee’s counsel Shyam Divan who told the bench that the process adopted by EC would lead to mass exclusion of voters given the fact that 50% of the cases of voters facing “logical discrepancy” scrutiny are misspelling of names, which happened due to translation errors.“This is a speculative apprehension,” the bench said, and allayed it by saying suitable officials, inducted by EC from among the 8,500 officers provided by the state govt, would assist the EROs and AEROs about the cases where notices have been issued merely because of spelling errors in names and facilitate their inclusion in voter lists.Though the Bengal govt, represented by a battery of senior advocates, vehemently argued against engagement of micro-observers drawn from central PSUs and the Union govt, the bench said the micro-observers along with the additional hands provided by the state govt would help the EROS and AEROs even though the the final decision on inclusion or deletion of voters from the final list would be taken by the EROs only.Since the Feb 7 deadline for document submission, its scrutiny and hearing period is extended by one week, the scheduled publication of the final voter list on Feb 14 is likely to be extended by one more week, that is to Feb 21.Advocate Kalyan Banerjee alleged that thousands of anonymous complaints against inclusion of names in voter lists have been filed and have been entertained by EC even as the rules and regulations mandate that person filing complaint must remain present during the hearing.The bench said, “We are not going to regulate the internal mechanism of EC in dealing with such issues.” Senior advocate V Giri, appearing for Sanatani Sangsad, alleged that there is widespread violence and open threats being given to EC officials to derail the SIR work.“Thousands of objections to names in voter lists were burnt,” Giri said and requested the bench to allow filing of fresh objections during the extended period for filing documents.For West Bengal, Menaka Guruswamy told the bench that the organisation is managing temples and wondered how a temple management organisation would have locus standi to file such an application.

Thane: The Thane Crime Branch Unit 4, based in Ulhasnagar, arrested three men and solved 12 cases involving fraud and robbery targeting senior citizens across Thane and Mumbai. Police also arrested a jeweller who allegedly helped dispose of the stolen items.During the operation, officials recovered 130 grams of gold jewellery with an estimated market value of Rs 16.99 lakh. The police, however, did not reveal the total cost of the gold or ornaments siphoned.The arrested individuals were identified as Raju Prakash Chavan (48) from Wadala, Ramesh Vijaykumar Jaiswal (49) from Chembur, and Sanjay Dattaram Mangde (53) from Chembur. A fourth accused, Ramsingh Lalsingh Chauhan (45), a jeweller from Wadala who originally hailed from Rajasthan, was also arrested. Chauhan allegedly assisted the gang by receiving and disposing of the stolen ornaments.The gang specialised in robbing senior citizens through distraction and sleight of hand. They approached elderly individuals on public streets under the guise of friendly conversation. By using persuasive speech and deceptive tactics, they convinced their targets to remove their gold chains or rings, only to swap them or flee with the valuables once the victims were distracted.Following a series of such incidents registered between November 2025 and Jan 2026, the Thane Police Commissioner and senior crime branch officials initiated a special drive. The team utilised a combination of technical analysis, CCTV footage, and confidential informant networks to track the suspects.The solved cases spanned a wide geographical area, including 3 incidents in Badlapur, and multiple reports from Ulhasnagar, Mumbra, Naupada, Kalwa, Kopri, Kapurbawdi, and Goregaon in Mumbai.This successful operation was conducted under the leadership of DCP Amarsingh Jadhav and ACP Shekhar Bagade, with the field team headed by senior police inspector Yogesh Awhad. The accused are currently in custody as authorities continue to investigate whether they are linked to other similar crimes in the region.

Navi Mumbai: Police have arrested a quack after a 21-year-old woman, who was suffering from hormonal disorder, died allegedly after he administered injections at her Vashi residence on Feb 5.The accused, Sandesh Pashte (30), is a Mankhurd resident who works as a ward boy in a nursing home in Andheri, said senior inspector Shashikant Chandekar of Vashi police station.The deceased woman was identified as Prachiti Bhuvad, a resident of Giridhar Niwas building in Vashi Sector 11.Police registered an FIR against Pashte under relevant sections of BNS for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and cheating and arrested him after the woman’s father, Bhikuram Bhuvad, filed a complaint on Feb 6. On Monday, he was remanded to police custody till Feb 10.Vashi NMMC Hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Prashant Jawade said, “As it is a case of death due to medical negligence, after the woman’s post-mortem examination, the preliminary autopsy report mentions an opinion reserved for cause of death. The viscera sample has been preserved for histopathology and sent to Kalina FSL for confirmation of the cause of death.”Bhuvad told police that his daughter suffered from PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease), and his niece Priyanka Mahadik suggested Pashte for treatment, who had claimed in the locality that he was a physician and made home visits. Mahadik had, in the past, taken treatment from Pashte for similar ailment and had recovered. Convinced, Bhuvad made an appointment with Pashte for Prachiti’s treatment on Feb 5.Pashte, an HSC pass, administered Emeset and Dynapar injections intravenously. As Prachiti’s health deteriorated, her father, accompanied by Pashte, rushed her to a private PKC hospital in Vashi, where she was declared ‘brought dead on arrival’. Pashte reportedly charged Bhuvads Rs 15,000 for the ‘treatment’, which was paid online. Prachiti lived with her father, who works at the office of a chartered accountant in Prabhadevi, while her mother and brother live in their native place in Mhasala, Raigad district.On Monday, investigating officer API Yogesh Bhosale and a team visited Pashte’s Mankhurd residence and the Andheri nursing home to gather evidence to make it a “water-tight case”.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav waits for third umpire’s decision for his wicket during the fourth T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

NEW DELHI: The standoff is over. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a U-turn over their boycott of the February 15 game against India at the T20 World Cup. The Pakistan government on Monday has has cleared the national team to play India in the T20 World Cup, directing it to honour the scheduled match against India. “In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” Government of Pakistan wrote on X.The reversal came after the ICC flagged to the PCB the possible financial implications of invoking the Force Majeure clause to justify a last-minute pullout from the India match following government instructions. The clause, cited by the PCB, applies to unforeseeable circumstances that prevent a party from fulfilling its contractual obligations.“The Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif has been formally briefed by the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB),” read the statement from Government of Pakistan. “The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges.“The Government further noted the statement by BCB President, Mr. Amin ul Islam. The profound gratitude expressed by our brotherly nation is received with great warmth. Pakistan reaffirms that it stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh.“This evening, the Prime Minister held a telephone call with H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka. During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always stood shoulder to shoulder, especially during challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to accord serious consideration to amicably resolve the current impasse.“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. “Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations.“The Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan extend their best wishes to the “Men in Green.” We remain confident that our team will carry the spirit of sportsmanship and national pride onto the field as they compete for global glory.”

FARIDABAD: Abdul Rahman, a 20-year-old terror accused arrested for allegedly plotting an attack on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, was killed inside Faridabad district jail on Sunday night around 8pm after being attacked with a sharp object, officials said.Rahman was assaulted by another inmate, Arun Chaudhary, a Kashmiri youth lodged in the same jail. Jail authorities said Chaudhary struck Rahman on the head with a sharp-edged object, leaving him critically injured. Rahman was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.Rahman, a resident of Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad district, had been arrested on March 2, 2025, near Pali village in Faridabad during a joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Haryana Special Task Force (STF). Two hand grenades recovered from his possession were later defused by bomb disposal squads.Investigators had said Rahman was living in Faridabad under a fake identity and had blended into the local community by working as an autorickshaw driver and at a small eatery. He was staying in a secluded tubewell house on the outskirts of the city.Security agencies had flagged him as a key operative tasked with conducting reconnaissance of sensitive locations, including the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and administrative buildings in Uttar Pradesh. Digital devices seized during his arrest contained videos and material linked to the Ram Temple, along with instructions and details of the proposed attack.Officials had earlier said the grenades were sourced through handlers linked to Pakistan’s ISI via networks associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Though no specific date had been fixed, agencies assessed that the planned strike was imminent and could have triggered mass casualties and panic.Following his arrest, central and state intelligence agencies launched a coordinated probe to identify sleeper cells, local facilitators and logistical support linked to the plot. The case was being treated as a major national security threat.Police officials said security arrangements inside the prison are being reviewed in the wake of Rahman’s killing. “We are yet to ascertain the reason behind the killing,” a police officer said.Police are questioning inmates and staff to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the attack.

The T20 World Cup 2026 has brought the long-simmering frustration with Hindi commentary to a breaking point, as fans demand a reality check on the ‘entertainment’ being served. The primary grievance is that the broadcast has devolved into a series of scripted rhymes and loud catchphrases that ignore the match’s actual context. This tension peaked with the ‘300-run target’ narrative, which broadcasters pushed even during tight low-scoring games, leading to accusations of being completely ‘off-topic’ and sensationalist.

Before the India-USA match, the Hindi commentary panel faced heavy backlash for underestimating the American side, with pre-match graphics and chatter incessantly pushing the ‘300-run target’ narrative. This was widely viewed as off-topic sensationalism, given the tactical discipline of the USA bowlers. The reality was a humiliating wake-up call: India’s top order collapsed, and far from scoring 300, they struggled to reach a modest 161/9. Fans slammed the commentators for their overconfidence, noting that while the booth was busy predicting world records against ‘inexperienced’ opponents, the USA was busy reducing India to 46/4 in the powerplay. The disconnect made the broadcast feel like a delusional fantasy rather than an expert analysis of international cricket.

The ‘cringe’ culture and scripted entertainment

The ‘cringe’ factor reached new heights as viewers noted a complete absence of technical depth during India’s batting collapse. Instead of analyzing the uneven bounce or the USA’s clever use of pace, the Hindi feed remained cluttered with pre-written rhymes and forced banter. This ‘performative’ style has led to a growing trend of fans watching on mute, frustrated that the gravity of a World Cup game is being treated like a comedy circus. The criticism is that the art of storytelling has been replaced by a ‘content factory’ mindset, where every wicket or boundary is just an excuse for a commentator to launch into a scripted ‘Shayari’ or an irrelevant personal anecdote, stripping the game of its natural tension and sporting integrity.

Fans are exhausted by the relentless use of ‘Aakash-vani’ rhymes and forced puns that often ignore the gravity of the match. While English commentary focuses on seam position, batting technicalities and tactical shifts, the Hindi feed is frequently cluttered with pre-written couplets and “Shayari’   that feel disconnected from the live action. This performative style is seen among fans as a desperate attempt to create viral clips for Instagram and X, sacrificing the technical integrity of the sport for the sake of mass-market entertainment.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Watching world cup matches on mute is 100 times better than watching with Jio Hotstar’s hindi commentary panel!!

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) February 8, 2026

I think because of Aakash Chopra the standard of Hindi commentary has gone down. It does not match the vibe or level of the old era of Hindi commentators. older commentators had set a very high standard. These days as soon as I hear Aakash Chopra voice I switch to English…

— Shah (@Shahhoon1) February 7, 2026

Cricket Hindi Commentary just sounds like the out of touch uncles at a family gathering cracking the most offensive jokes & cackling hard amongst themselves while you side eye and cringe with your cousins!

— ANMOL JAMWAL (@jammypants4) February 9, 2026

Anyone who watches Hindi commentary on JioHotstar I feel really sorry for them. Everyone on that panel are absolute clowns of the highest order in particular Mohammad Kaif and Virender Sehwag.
No one is interested what you did in the past.
Commentate on the game that is…

— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) February 9, 2026

Anyone who watches the match in hindi commentary should definitely take up a stand and speak against the commentators like Harbhajan, Sehwag. What they did to chahal last night was shameful while their whole commentary is awful.

— Cricket🏏 Lover // ICT Fan Account (@CricCrazyV) February 8, 2026

Finally, someone spoke the truth. These broadcasters lack basic sense. They claim they want to take cricket global, yet they show zero respect to associate nations. This unnecessary “300+ score” hype needs to stop.pic.twitter.com/z1vCGBzlwq

— Nitin Kushwaha (@viratian160) February 9, 2026

The indian hindi commentators ignore other countries Players it’s like they don’t care about them whether play good or bad .. we know we love our indian Players but atlist be neutral while as commentators..@StarSportsIndia @JioHotstar @ICC

— Saddam Barbhuiya (@shbarbhuiya4S) February 9, 2026

People who watch cricket on hindi commentary, please stop watching it in hindi you are completely ruining your experience.
The detailing about associate players in Eng commentary is too good.
I got to know more about associate players and their growth.#Commentary #T20WorldCup

— CA Rohit Jaiswal (@Jaiswalrohit99) February 9, 2026

Let’s talk about JioHotstar

– Spreading slogans like “Abki baar 300 paar” is a very cheap act

– Broadcasting quality is very poor

– Hindi commentary has been completely ruined

– Less talk about cricket and more poetry and rhyming here pic.twitter.com/bTEjjEPLRa

— Gagan🇮🇳 (@1no_aalsi_) February 7, 2026

Hindi commentary is a joke since years on Star Sports, the mediocrity behind the mic is celebrated. Not every great cricketer can be a great orator. #T20WorldCup

— Gappebaaz (@BazzBalle) February 9, 2026

Also READ: 3 key conditions from Pakistan to lift boycott of India for T20 World Cup 2026

The tension reached its peak when a fan accused Aakash Chopra and Irfan Pathan of discussing their “Ireland vacations” while wickets fell. Chopra fired back, labeling the post ‘clickbait’  and mocking the user’s need for social media payouts, but the incident has only fueled the narrative that the JioHotstar panel is “on a vacation” rather than analyzing the game.

Fan wrote on X “Tf is happening in Hindi commentary? These two are discussing places to visit in Ireland while a wicket fell… JioHotstar hindi panel is a joke man.” Aakash Chopra’s sharp response, “Kuch aur clickbait content daal do bro… Kissi ka ghar toh chalna chahiye”, defended his professionalism but also highlighted the defensive stance of the commentary booth.

While Chopra claims these off-topic discussions never happened, the ‘reality’ for many fans is a broadcast filled with personal anecdotes and group-chat vibes that ignore the play-by-play. This divide suggests that the panel is more interested in protecting their brand than addressing the audience’s demand for serious, high-quality cricket journalism.

Tf is happening in Hindi commentary?

These two are discussing places to visit in Ireland with their wives while a wicket fell.

Another wicket fell but they kept discussing it. They hardly speak a straight minute about cricket

Jio Hotstar hindi panel is a joke man. They’re on a… pic.twitter.com/SmajGRwEEt

— ` (@RCB_HIvv3) February 8, 2026

Kuch aur clickbait content daal do bro. Irfan and I haven’t ever discussed places to visit in Ireland off-air also 🤣😂
Hope you get a good payout from X.
Kissi ka ghar toh chalna chahiye. 😍 https://t.co/WrxXUCsoyw

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 9, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Donald Trump sends morale-boosting message to Team USA after India defeat

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