A realtor from Bengaluru Rural was kidnapped and murdered, his body discovered in Tamil Nadu

BENGALURU: A realtor from Anekal in Bengaluru Rural district was allegedly kidnapped Sunday evening and later murdered, with his body found dumped near Denkanikottai in Tamil Nadu Monday morning.The victim, identified as Gopal, was travelling in his car with his friend Satish when a gang of car-borne miscreants intercepted them near Karpur on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border between 6.30pm and 7pm. According to police, the assailants rammed their vehicle into Gopal’s car, forcing it to stop.The gang then allegedly sprayed a chemical on Satish. As he struggled to see and ran for cover, the attackers dragged Gopal out of the car, bundled him into their vehicle and sped away.Satish alerted police, prompting a search operation. Officers were informed that the kidnappers had driven towards Tamil Nadu through the Denkanikottai route.Seven special teams were formed to trace the victim and track down the offenders. Police initially suspected that the kidnappers might have moved towards Shivamogga or Mangaluru, and two teams were sent to those regions while others combed areas on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. Monday morning, Denkanikottai police informed their Anekal counterparts about a body found by the roadside in their jurisdiction. The description matched that of the missing realtor, and officers later confirmed the identity.Police suspect the kidnappers transported him in a car and later murdered him using sharp weapons. Investigators suspect the involvement of Gopal’s former associate, Mohan Babu. According to police sources, the two had previously worked together but fell out several years ago following financial disputes.Sources said Mohan allegedly harboured resentment after Gopal started his own real estate business and began earning significantly more.Gopal’s wife, Swati, alleged that Mohan had assaulted her husband in the past. “Two years ago, Mohan Babu took my husband to his farmhouse and assaulted him. They are relatives and used to work together earlier. Their business dispute led to this incident. I suspect Mohan is behind the kidnapping,” she said.Efforts are on to trace Mohan and other suspects.

Airline stocks had previously come under heavy pressure as geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices sharply higher. (AI image)

Oil prices plunge, bring cheer to aviation stocks! Shares of airline operators IndiGo and SpiceJet surged by as much as 8 per cent on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump indicated that the conflict with Iran could soon come to an end. His remarks helped cool the sharp rally in crude oil prices and raised expectations of easing tensions in the oil-rich Middle East following several days of heightened hostilities.IndiGo’s stock climbed about 6 per cent to reach an intraday high of Rs 4,475 on the BSE, while SpiceJet rose nearly 8 per cent to touch a day’s high of Rs 14.1 per share. Airline stocks had previously come under heavy pressure as geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices sharply higher, with crude surging around 30 per cent on Monday.The rally in crude had taken prices past the crucial $100-per-barrel level for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, amid fears that the Strait of Hormuz could remain shut for an extended period.Speaking to CBS News on Monday, Trump said he believed the war with Iran “is very complete” and that the United States was “very far ahead” of the four- to five-week timeframe he had earlier projected. He also told reporters that his administration planned to lift sanctions on certain countries as part of efforts aimed at stabilising global oil markets.“So we have sanctions on some countries. We’re going to take those sanctions off until the Strait is up,” he said, without elaborating further. “It’s going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they’ll be hit even harder,” he added.

US may consider easing oil sanctions on Russia

US President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of relaxing oil sanctions on Russia and releasing crude from emergency stockpiles as part of a broader set of measures aimed at containing the surge in global oil prices linked to the conflict with Iran, according to people familiar with the matter. Trump has also said that he had a “very good call” with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine.Following Trump’s remarks, oil prices dropped sharply on Tuesday after climbing to their highest level in more than three years in the previous session. Brent crude futures declined nearly 10 per cent to $89.32 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped more than 9 per cent to $86.07 per barrel.Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of India’s largest airline IndiGo, had fallen over 3 per cent on Monday and are down more than 14 per cent over the past month. The decline during the previous session came despite Kotak Institutional Equities upgrading the stock to a ‘Buy’ rating with a target price of Rs 5,500 per share, which implies an upside potential of more than 29 per cent from the previous closing level of Rs 4,251.2.Kotak noted that airlines’ significant exposure to fluctuations in crude oil prices and jet fuel spreads makes it difficult to accurately estimate cost structures or assess the price elasticity of near-term demand. However, the brokerage said investors should pay closer attention to the mounting losses among IndiGo’s competitors. It added that airline stocks should be viewed less as proxies for oil prices and more as a reflection of consumer spending trends.Shares of SpiceJet also faced heavy selling pressure, falling about 7 per cent on Monday and nearly 41 per cent over the past month.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

MUMBAI: Amid shifting global capital flows driven by geopolitical turbulence, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis used the IGF Mumbai 2026 Leaders Dinner to make a strong pitch for the city’s future, saying Mumbai is in the midst of a transformation with its most significant changes still to come.Speaking at the IGF Mumbai 2026 Leaders Dinner hosted by Hero FinCorp, the chief minister outlined an ambitious seven-year transformation roadmap for India’s financial capital and positioned Maharashtra as a key destination for global investment in an increasingly fragmented world.“What you see in Mumbai today is just a trailer; the picture is yet to come,” the chief minister told senior figures from India’s financial and business community assembled at the dinner. “We are going to change the entire city in the next seven years — on how Mumbaikars commute, how they live, and how we can create new spaces. Redevelopment with sustainability is the real mantra.”Speaking in conversation with IGF Chairman Manoj Ladwa, the chief minister framed Maharashtra’s case squarely in the context of global dislocation: military tensions in West Asia, disruptions to energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening liquidity, and widening geopolitical fragmentation. Against that backdrop, he argued, India — and Maharashtra above all — offers investors something increasingly scarce: scale, stability, and policy clarity.“The world looks at India as one place where they can actually do their business, where they can innovate, where they can take it to scale,” said Chief Minister Fadnavis. “And when they look at India, they know that Maharashtra is the best place to do their business. In this geopolitical situation, and all the disruptions which are happening, India and particularly Maharashtra offer an immense opportunity.”Abhimanyu Munjal, Managing Director of Hero FinCorp, opened the dinner session by highlighting the firm’s growth alongside India’s broader economic expansion before formally welcoming the Chief Minister.IGF MUMBAI 2026 OPENS AT THE NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGEThe third edition of IGF Mumbai: Catalysing Capital began earlier in the day at the National Stock Exchange with a ceremonial bell ringing, followed by a fireside chat between IGF Chairman Manoj Ladwa and NSE MD & CEO Ashish Chauhan. The discussion focused on market development, regulatory priorities, and India’s expanding role in global capital allocation.Chauhan pointed to the scale of India’s retail investor revolution: “India now has 127 million retail investors. What once seemed unimaginable when the exchange was founded has become reality. Capital markets in India have moved from being an elite corner of the economy to a platform for mass participation.”A closed-door roundtable examined the structural implications of the domestic institutional buying that absorbed record FII selling in 2025, when foreign portfolio investors withdrew over INR 1.4 trillion from Indian equities while indices held near highs. Participants considered whether that resilience marks a permanent shift in India’s capital architecture — and what it means for the country’s ability to insulate itself from external shocks.The Forum continues on 10 March at the Quorum Club, with plenary sessions on venture capital, AI infrastructure, banking resilience, policy credibility, and India’s geopolitical leverage. The day culminates in the IGF Mumbai 2030 Capital Outlook — a forward assessment of the allocation priorities and structural shifts likely to define India’s position in global capital markets over the next five years.India Global Forum is the world’s leading convening platform for the India opportunity. Bringing together heads of government, global CEOs, institutional investors, and policymakers across London, New York, Dubai, and Mumbai, IGF connects the people and capital shaping India’s place in the global economy.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)(With inputs from ANI)

Source: Hyundai Official Brochure

Hyundai has launched the 2026 Verna in India with updates to both the exterior and interior. The car features a dual LED projector headlamp setup and a black chrome radiator grille at the front. At the rear, the bumper design has been modified, and an aerodynamic spoiler is present. Alloy wheels are R16 diamond-cut design. Interior updates include dual 10.25-inch integrated displays for the infotainment system and digital cluster.The 2026 Hyundai Verna provides a combination of engine options, transmissions, interior layouts, exterior updates, and safety and technology features. The specifications reflect the available choices across variants, engines, and transmissions without additional commentary or evaluation.Check out the complete specifications below, covering everything in detail from the engine to safety features.

Hyundai Verna Facelift: Exterior design, colour variants, and interior features

The car comes with dual LED projector headlamps and a black chrome radiator grille. The rear features a modified bumper design and an aerodynamic spoiler. R16 diamond-cut alloys are standard. LED tail lamps and connected LED positioning lamps are part of the package. Satin chrome is used for the window belt line and outside door handles. New colour options include Titan Grey Matte and Classy Blue. Inside, the Verna has leatherette seat upholstery. The steering wheel is a D-cut design. The gear knob is leatherette-wrapped. A sliding front centre armrest with storage is included.Turbo variants come with metal pedals. Smart key with push-button start is standard. The cabin has dual 10.25-inch integrated displays, one for infotainment and the other for the digital cluster.

Source: Hyundai Official Brochure

New 2026 Hyundai Verna: Engine and transmission options

The 2026 Verna offers two petrol engines.

Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, iVT, and a 7-speed DCT, depending on engine and variant. The model is available in six variants.

PC: Hyundai Official Brochure

Safety and driver protection features

Safety features include seven airbags and all four disc brakes. Electronic parking brake with auto hold is standard. Front park assist sensors and rain-sensing wipers are included. Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is provided in Highline variants. ISOFIX child seat mounts, hill-start assist control, headlamp escort function, seatbelt reminders for all seats, and emergency stop signal are included. Electronic stability control with vehicle stability management is part of the system.

Technology and driver assistance features

The Verna includes a three-year Bluelink subscription with over 70 connected features. Surround-view monitor (SVM) and blind-spot view monitor (BVM) are available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. The system supports multiple languages for both cluster and infotainment. Voice commands cover more than 350 functions. Ambient sounds of nature are also part of the features.The car has Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist for vehicles, pedestrians, cycles, and junction turns. Forward Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and more.