Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty plunged over 2% on Friday, snapping a two-day rally, as global weakness and rising geopolitical tensions dented investor sentiment.The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 1,690.23 points, or 2.25%, to close at 73,583.22. During the session, it fell as much as 1,739.04 points, or 2.31%, to 73,534.41. The NSE Nifty declined 486.85 points, or 2.09%, to settle at 22,819.60.Market breadth remained weak, with 3,544 stocks declining, 822 advancing and 135 remaining unchanged on the BSE. In the holiday-shortened week, the Sensex lost 949.74 points, or 1.27%, while the Nifty slipped 294.9 points, also down 1.27%.Analysts attributed the sell-off to a mix of global and domestic headwinds, including elevated crude oil prices, a sharp fall in the rupee and continued foreign fund outflows.

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“Investor sentiment remained fragile due to a lack of clarity surrounding geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which once again pushed crude oil prices above the USD 100 mark. In addition, persistent FII outflows and sharp weakness in the rupee further weighed on risk appetite,” Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said, PTI quoted.Broader markets also came under pressure, with the BSE MidCap Select index falling 2.12% and the SmallCap Select index declining 1.77%.All sectoral indices closed lower. PSU Bank index dropped 3.88%, realty fell 3.10%, services 2.86%, auto 2.79%, Bankex 2.70%, financial services 2.69%, consumer discretionary 2.52% and consumer durables 2.50%.Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 1.72% to USD 109.9 per barrel, adding to inflation concerns and dampening market sentiment.The rupee weakened sharply, tumbling 86 paise to settle at a fresh all-time low of 94.82 (provisional) against the US dollar.Global cues remained negative. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended lower, while Shanghai’s SSE Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed in positive territory. European markets were trading in the red, and US markets had ended sharply lower on Thursday.“Profit booking set in after the recent two-session rally as the rupee fell to an all-time low amid sustained FII selling, while escalating tensions in the Middle East heightened caution among investors ahead of the weekend,” Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said, PTI quoted.Markets were closed on Thursday on account of Ram Navami.Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 1,805.37 crore on Wednesday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 5,429.78 crore, according to exchange data.“Indian markets witnessed a sharp and uneasy session, with heavyweight energy stocks leading the decline amid a complex mix of policy changes, rising crude prices, and persistent geopolitical uncertainty.“Adding to the pressure, the Indian rupee weakened further to record lows against the US dollar, underscoring the macro stress building beneath the surface,” Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, said.In the previous session on Wednesday, the Sensex had surged 1,205 points, or 1.63%, to close at 75,273.45, while the Nifty gained 394.05 points, or 1.72%, to end at 23,306.45.

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Parliament on Friday approved the Finance Bill 2026, with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha by a voice vote, completing the budgetary process for the financial year beginning April 1.The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on March 25 along with 32 amendments. The Rajya Sabha cleared it after a brief discussion and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s reply to queries raised by members.The Union Budget 2026-27 has pegged total expenditure at Rs 53.47 lakh crore, marking a 7.7% increase over the current fiscal ending March 31. Capital expenditure for the next financial year has been proposed at Rs 12.2 lakh crore.The government has estimated gross tax revenue at Rs 44.04 lakh crore and gross borrowing at Rs 17.2 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit for FY27 is projected at 4.3% of GDP, lower than 4.4% in the ongoing fiscal.A Finance Bill provides legal backing to tax and fiscal proposals announced in the Budget and, once enacted, will bring into force changes in income tax rates, duties and other levies, directly impacting individuals and businesses.Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, “Finance Bill 2026-27 rests on five clear principles; trust- based tax administration is being improved; members mocking ease of living for common citizens and ease of doing business, we should continue on that process.”Referring to the West Asia crisis, she said the government would remain vigilant and manage its fiscal stance carefully.Among key proposals, the government did not announce any changes in the income tax system. The due date for filing income tax returns for non-audit businesses has been proposed to be extended by one month to August 31.In capital markets, the government proposed an increase in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures to 0.05% from 0.02%, and on options premium to 0.15% from 0.10%. No changes were announced in short-term or long-term capital gains taxes.On infrastructure, the Budget proposed seven high-speed corridors — Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri — along with one dedicated freight corridor. A new freight corridor has also been proposed in Dankuni, West Bengal.The government also announced deduction of TDS on the sale of immovable property by NRIs and introduced a foreign investment disclosure scheme, alongside allowing investments in equity instruments of listed Indian companies through the Portfolio Investment Scheme.In industrial policy, Rs 40,000 crore each has been earmarked for electronics manufacturing and semiconductor development under ISM 2.0, along with Rs 10,000 crore for the bio-pharma sector.For MSMEs, a Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund has been proposed, along with a Rs 2,000 crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India Fund to improve access to credit and scale up enterprises.The defence sector has been allocated about Rs 5.95 lakh crore to boost military capabilities and domestic manufacturing. Healthcare spending is pegged at around Rs 1.05 lakh crore, with duty relief announced on critical medicines and pharma inputs.Under energy transition initiatives, the government has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for carbon reduction programmes and support for clean energy supply chains and renewable energy.Additionally, the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme aims to double modal share by 2047, as part of efforts to strengthen logistics efficiency.

MUMBAI: A Mumbai sessions court on Friday acquitted members of the Gurgaon Police and their civilian accomplices for the 2016 fake encounter of Haryana gangster Sandeep Gadoli in a Mumbai hotel. The court did not find evidence that the incident, originally reported by police as a retaliatory shootout in self-defence, was actually a premeditated contract killing orchestrated by a rival gang leader and carried out by rogue officers.The prosecution had argued that the “encounter” was a staged operation. On Feb 7, 2016, a police team led by Sub-Inspector Pradyumn Yadav entered Room 107 of the Airport Metro Hotel in Andheri. While the police claimed Gadoli opened fire first, the police cited forensic evidence and ballistic reports and alleged that Gadoli was unarmed and lying on his bed when he was shot. Investigators found that the police later planted a country-made pistol near the body and fired shots into the hotel walls to simulate a crossfire.The allegedly conspiracy involved a “honey trap” led by Divya Pahuja, who accompanied Gadoli on his trip to Mumbai. Divya allegedly provided constant location updates to her mother, Sonia Pahuja, who acted as a middleman. Phone transcripts revealed the use of medical code words to signal the hit team. Sonia allegedly instructed Divya to say “Main thik hu” (I am fine) to indicate Gadoli was alone, and “Main dawai leke aayi hu” (I have taken the medicine) to signal that he was with her and the team should move in.The motive behind the killing was allegedly rooted in a gang war for supremacy in Gurgaon. Binder Gujjar, a rival criminal, masterminded the hit from jail to eliminate Gadoli, whom he blamed for the death of his driver. Binder’s brother, Manoj Gujjar, served as the primary link between the incarcerated mastermind, the Pahuja family, and the police team. He was allegedly involved with Sonia in a romantic relationship. Call Detail Records (CDR) allegedly confirmed constant communication between the police and the Gujjar family leading up to the shooting.While Divya Pahuja was killed in early 2024 following her release on bail, the court acquitted the remaining accused—including PSI Pradyumn Yadav, several constables, and Sonia Pahuja.

One scene from Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ is stealing the spotlight. A young, eager Jaskirat Singh Rangi (Ranveer Singh) suits up sharply for a family photo with his parents and two sisters. It captures him before he evolves into the intense, long-haired Hamza Ali Mazari from the movie’s initial chapter. On-screen sister Hitika Bali opened up about filming alongside Singh.

Hitika Bali as Harleen Rangi in ‘Dhurandhar 2’

In ‘Dhurandhar 2’, Hitika steps into the role of Harleen Rangi, Jaskirat’s sister. The movie kicks off with gut-wrenching scenes showing why Ranveer’s character turns to violence for his family’s protection. “Since everybody is posting ‘Why Jaskirat Became Hamza?’ Phir mera bhi post krna banta hai (I decided I should post too),” wrote Hitika, dropping photos with Ranveer that exploded across social media. She raved about him, saying he was ‘amazing’ as Hamza but her top pick was the brother to Harleen and Jasleen—Jaskirat. “I genuinely can’t get over the little details and mannerisms you brought to the role and in this shot while u were constantly make me laugh with that tie-samosa joke,” she added.