Haryana’s State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested four people in connection with the Rs 590 crore fraud involving IDFC First Bank, officials said on Wednesday. Those arrested include two former bank employees and two private individuals who operate a partnership firm. The arrests were made late Tuesday as the investigation gathered pace.This follows the bank’s payment of 100% of the principal and interest to the concerned Haryana government departments, amounting to a net Rs 583 crore. The issue came to light on Sunday, when the bank revealed that a Rs 590-crore fraud had been detected involving its employees and others in accounts linked to the Haryana government. The Anti-Corruption Bureau had earlier registered an FIR in the matter, while the Haryana government set up a committee to examine the suspected fraud. What the bank saidThe bank said that employees at its Chandigarh branch carried out unauthorised transactions in accounts connected to the Haryana government, leading to a deposit mismatch of around Rs 590 crore, an amount higher than the bank’s third-quarter net profit of Rs 503 crore.An initial internal review suggested the irregularities were limited to a specific set of Haryana government-related accounts at the branch. The bank then lodged a police complaint, informed its statutory auditors and appointed KPMG to conduct an independent forensic investigation.Managing Director and CEO V Vaidyanathan said that the lapse was limited and linked it to internal collusion rather than any wider structural problem.“The bank has necessary controls in place, including maker, checker and authoriser for clearing cheques or debit instructions from the department,” Vaidyanathan told ET. “We have been in operation for over 10 years and have rolled out over 1,000 branches and have had no such incident before.”He added, “Prima facie third-party entities are involved in this compromise… The issue is specific to one branch and one client group and is thus an isolated instance. There is no system-level issue.”Sharp market reactionThe development wiped out more than Rs 14,000 crore in investor wealth. On Monday, shares of IDFC First Bank hit the lower circuit after the alleged misappropriation was found to be larger than the bank’s quarterly earnings.The stock had touched a 52-week high of Rs 87 in the first week of January and remained near that level in the following weeks. However, sentiment weakened on Monday when the share price fell to Rs 70 from the previous close, putting it nearly 20% below its 52-week peak. On Wednesday, the stock continued to trade in the red, down 0.54 points or 0.46% at Rs 70.43.Oversight measures and state responseThe Board’s Special Committee for Monitoring Fraud Cases met on February 20, followed by meetings of the full Audit Committee and the Board on February 21.In an early morning regulatory filing, the bank said it had informed the banking regulator and filed a police complaint. It has also issued recall notices to beneficiary banks, seeking lien marking of funds in accounts flagged as suspicious to help limit the financial impact.The fallout has also reached the state government level. The Haryana government has removed IDFC First Bank from its empanelled list along with AU Small Finance Bank and directed state departments to close their accounts with both banks.

During the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis participated in a selection challenge to identify the premier opening batter in T20 history. Tasked with comparing a legendary list of names, Du Plessis went through a systematic ‘winner stays on’ process to find the ultimate candidate. His selections covered a wide range of eras, from the pioneers of the 2000s to the modern-day ‘pocket dynamos.’ Despite his own deep ties to several of the candidates, including long-standing teammates and rivals, he eventually settled on one individual whose record in the shortest format remains statistically unmatchable across global leagues.

The selection process: From Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli to the modern power-hitters

Du Plessis’s selection process was a masterclass in evaluating T20 archetypes, beginning with a snub of his countryman Aiden Markram in favour of Martin Guptill, before backing himself over names like Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul. The real drama began when Du Plessis conceded his spot to Travis Head, who was then replaced by the legendary Virender Sehwag due to the latter’s career-long consistency.

However, the Indian legends faced their own internal competition; Du Plessis prioritized Rohit Sharma over Sehwag and Quinton de Kock, only to see Jos Buttler momentarily take the lead. The climax of the Indian contingent saw Virat Kohli edge out Buttler, only for the RCB legend to be snubbed in favour of the fierce Shane Watson. The Australian battle culminated in David Warner overcoming Watson, as Du Plessis acknowledged the ‘pocket dynamite’s’ unrivaled heroics in global T20 leagues.

Also READ: What does Jofra Archer’s ‘C’ celebration mean? England pacer sparks buzz after Saim Ayub’s wicket in T20 World Cup 2026

Faf du Plessis reveals greatest T20 opener ever

Despite the legendary status of Warner, Kohli, and Rohit, Du Plessis did not hesitate when the final card was revealed. He immediately crowned Chris Gayle as the greatest T20 opener of all time, noting that he had been waiting to pick this name from the very start. Gayle’s records, including over 14,000 T20 runs and the most centuries in the format, made him an undisputed choice that neutralized all previous selections. For Du Plessis, while players like Head and Warner represent the modern era’s ferocity, Gayle’s ability to dominate every league in the world for nearly two decades makes him the ultimate benchmark for any opening batter. The ‘Universe Boss’ remains the gold standard for power and impact at the top of the order.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Rinku Singh returns home due to family emergency; Sanju Samson unleashes power at Chepauk nets

India cricketers during a practice session. (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: The real World Cup has begun for India, and suddenly, nothing is in their control anymore. A crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad has pushed the hosts and defending champions into a virtual knockout phase, starting with their must-win Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The heavy loss, combined with West Indies’ massive 107-run win over Zimbabwe, has severely dented India’s semi-final hopes. More worrying than the defeat itself is the net run rate (NRR) damage. India’s NRR has plummeted to -3.800, leaving them far behind West Indies (+5.350) and South Africa (+3.800) in Group 1.With only two matches remaining, Suryakumar Yadav’s side not only need to win but win big — and hope other results go their way.

Must-win situation with NRR pressureIndia’s path is straightforward on paper but complicated in reality. They must beat both Zimbabwe and West Indies to reach four points. However, even two wins may not guarantee qualification if net run rate becomes the deciding factor in a three-way tie.If South Africa defeat West Indies and Zimbabwe, both South Africa and India will qualify. But if South Africa lose one match, and three teams finish level on four points, NRR will determine the semifinalists — an area where India currently trail badly.This makes India’s margin of victory crucial. A narrow win over Zimbabwe will not be enough; they need emphatic victories to repair the damage.

What India must do nowThe immediate focus will be on Zimbabwe in Chennai. A dominant win — potentially by 80-100 runs or more — could significantly improve India’s NRR and revive their chances.Their final Super 8 clash against West Indies in Kolkata on March 1 could then become a virtual quarterfinal.However, India’s fate will also depend on the South Africa-West Indies result. While those permutations remain out of their hands, India’s task is clear.For the defending champions, survival now depends not just on winning — but on winning big.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot last September, calling him a martyr for his beliefs during the State of the Union address. The president invited Kirk’s widow, Erika, as his special guest, prompting chants of “Charlie” from the crowd as he honored her late husband.“So last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred for his beliefs. His wonderful wife Erika is with us tonight. Erika. Please stand. Thank you,” Trump said during his speech, as Erika Kirk wiped tears from her face. “You’ve been through a lot,” as reported by USA Today. Trump also highlighted a surge in religious participation among young people, crediting Charlie Kirk’s influence. “I’m very proud to say that during my time in office, both the first four years, and in particular this last year, there has been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity and belief in God. Tremendous renewal. This is especially true among young people. And a big part of that had to do with my great friend Charlie Kirk,” he said.He further called for national unity in Kirk’s memory: “In Charlie’s memory, we must all come together to reaffirm that we are one nation under God, and we must totally reject political violence of any kind.”Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, in September 2025. His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, is facing a death penalty case in connection with his death. Following the tragedy, Kirk was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday.Erika Kirk, who was elected CEO and chair of the board of Turning Point USA after her husband’s death, attended the address as one of President Trump’s special guests. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed her attendance in a post on X, sharing that the invitation was part of the administration’s support for the Kirk family, according to Fox news. Erika Kirk, who married Charlie in 2021, is a former NCAA Women’s Basketball athlete, a Juris Master’s graduate in American Legal Studies and was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. The couple had two children together: a daughter born in August 2022 and a son born in May 2024.

Dalilah Coleman and Donald Trump

In his longest-ever State of the Union address, President Donald Trump pressed Congress to pass “Dalilah’s Law,” a proposed measure that would bar states from issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, aligning with his administration’s hardline immigration policies.Trump said the legislation was named after Dalilah Coleman, a first-grade student who was severely injured in a car crash involving an undocumented Indian-origin truck driver who allegedly failed to stop his speeding vehicle.The president also slammed his predecessor Joe Biden over illegal immigrants footfall in the United States.“Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs…That’s why tonight, I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’—barring any state from granting Commercial Drivers Licenses to illegal aliens,” said Donald Trump.The US president also called for broader criminal justice reforms to ensure that “violent and dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars, and importantly, stay there.”According to the department of homeland security, Partap Singh was driving an 18-wheeler through a construction zone when he failed to stop, causing a devastating crash that left then five-year-old Dalilah critically injured.Singh allegedly entered the United States illegally through the southern border in October 2022 and was later released under the Biden administration. He was re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025 and is currently facing deportation proceedings.Dalilah spent three weeks in a coma and underwent six months of hospital treatment, including a craniectomy, before her family was able to bring her home. For four months, she lived without half her skull, according to the department of homeland security, citing her family.The New York Post reported that the crash left Dalilah unable to eat orally. She suffered a broken femur and multiple skull fractures and has since been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay, conditions that will require lifelong therapy.Now 7-years-old, Dalilah attended Trump’s State of the Union address, where he announced the proposal named in her honour. According to the New York Post, she is relearning how to walk following the traumatic 2024 accident that struck her family’s vehicle.

Praveen Khandelwal (ANI image)

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Wednesday wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah requesting that the national capital, Delhi, be renamed Indraprastha, following the Centre’s recent approval to rename Kerala as “Keralam.”In his letter, Khandelwal argued that the name Delhi reflects only a later historical phase, whereas Indraprastha connects the city to its ancient civilizational roots.

“As such, the name ‘Delhi’ reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city. Restoring the name Indraprastha would therefore reconnect the capital of modern India with its ancient civilizational foundation. It would symbolise that the seat of the world’s largest democracy stands upon the legacy of one of humanity’s oldest cultural traditions,” Khandelwal wrote.The MP highlighted historical and archaeological evidence linking modern Delhi to the Pandavas’ capital described in the Mahabharata. Excavations at Purana Qila have revealed settlement layers dating back to around 1000 BCE, along with artifacts associated with that era, supporting the city’s ancient heritage.Khandelwal also outlined specific proposals, including renaming Old Delhi Railway Station as “Indraprastha Junction” and Indira Gandhi International Airport as “Indraprastha Airport.” He suggested installing statues of the Pandavas at prominent locations to educate younger generations about the city’s historical and cultural significance.“Delhi holds a very special place among India’s oldest cultural heritages. It is not merely a metropolis, but has been the centre of Indian civilisation, embodying the traditions of religion, governance, and democracy,” Khandelwal wrote. “Renaming it would reconnect us with our roots and mark the beginning of a new chapter in cultural revival.”He cited examples of other cities that reclaimed their historical names, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Kashi, arguing that such steps restore historical justice and strengthen national pride.A day earlier, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’. The move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on June 24, 2024, urging the Centre to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to reflect the name ‘Keralam’. The assembly had earlier passed a similar resolution in August 2023, but the Ministry of Home Affairs suggested technical changes, prompting the state to adopt it again.The move to rename Kerala has sparked a political row, with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee questioning why a similar proposal for her state remains pending. The Trinamool Congress accused the Centre of “vindictive discrimination,” highlighting that West Bengal has repeatedly requested its renaming to “Bangla” since 2018.

CHATRA: The air ambulance crash in the Karmatand forest, under the jurisdiction of Simaria police station in Chatra district, has wiped out an entire family’s hope for survival. Among the seven killed were Sanjay Kumar, his wife Archana Devi, and their teenage nephew Dhruv Kumar, plunging their native village into mourning.Sanjay, a hotel operator in the Bakoria area of Latehar district, had suffered severe burn injuries barely a week ago after a fire broke out at his roadside line hotel. Doctors had advised that he be shifted to Delhi for advanced treatment. On Monday evening, he boarded a chartered air ambulance from Birsa Munda Airport along with his wife and nephew. Hours later, news came that the aircraft had crashed.

Family members who came to Chatra to collect the bodies after postmortem said the air ambulance was booked for around Rs. 8 lakh. To arrange the amount, the family had taken a loan of nearly Rs 2 lakh and pooled the rest from savings and relatives, hoping it would save Sanjay’s life.“We arranged the money somehow. We believed Delhi treatment would give him a second chance. Instead, we lost three lives,” a relative said.The fire incident occurred on February 16 while food was being prepared at the line hotel jointly run by Sanjay and his brother. Following the lockdown, the business had been struggling, and Sanjay frequently travelled between places to manage operations. On the day of the incident, he had reached the hotel and was helping with cooking when an LPG leak triggered a blaze, leaving him critically injured. He was initially admitted to a private hospital for treatment. As his condition remained serious, doctors advised shifting him to a higher centre in Delhi, prompting the family to arrange the costly air evacuation.Sanjay’s family hails from Rakhat village, under Chandwa police station in Latehar district. Tragedy had struck them earlier too. In 2004, his father, who also ran a hotel, was allegedly killed by Maoists. After that incident, the family relocated to Chandwa block headquarters. Sanjay gradually took over the responsibility of supporting the household, running the hotel through his hard work.Relatives said he had worked hard to stabilise the family after his father’s death. His elder brother, Vijay Saw, said, “Sanjay had rebuilt everything with great difficulty. Now my family is shattered again.”The crash has left Sanjay’s two minor children orphaned—13-year-old Shivam and 17-year-old Shubham, who lost both parents in a single night. His elderly grandfather, Baleshwar Sahu, and other family members broke down at Chatra Sadar Hospital when the bodies were brought for postmortem. Sanjay’s mother has reportedly been inconsolable since receiving the news.Baleshwar described the tragedy as a double blow—first the fire accident and then the fatal crash while seeking better treatment. He said his family had done everything for Sanjay’s recovery, even taking a large loan to book the aircraft to send him to Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, but he died along with his wife in the air ambulance crash. A relative added, “Rs. 6 lakh was deposited, but due to a shortfall of Rs. 2 lakh, the air ambulance service was delayed. We had no idea we were paying for a journey that would end in death.”