Mumbai: With rising cases of exploitation of women’s trust through promises of marriage to secure “friendly loans”, a civil court ordered a local businessman to deposit Rs 7.5 lakh as a condition to defend himself in a civil suit filed by the purported victim. The legal battle began when the woman moved the civil court against the man for the recovery of Rs 7.5 lakh with 18% interest. The court found the claim of cash repayment without documentary evidence to be weak. “So, this is a moonshine defence taken by the defendant, just to avoid payment of amount,” the Judge remarked. The court held that while the man should be allowed to defend himself, the defence was not strong enough to grant him unconditional leave to contest the suit.According to the woman, the duo met in 2012 and became friends. The man allegedly proposed marriage to her, stating he was awaiting a divorce from his wife. In 2017, citing a financial crisis in his business, the man allegedly sought urgent financial help. When he refused to return it and also failed to marry her, the woman filed a complaint with the police and also moved the civil court to recover the money.The woman allegedly advanced the amount after the man executed a written note on a Rs 100 stamp paper, promising to return the funds by the end of Dec 2017. However, the plaintiff alleged that the man repeatedly deferred the payment and eventually began avoiding her calls in 2019. The situation escalated to the point where the woman approached the Samta Nagar police station, prompting the man to seek anticipatory bail.The Judge noted, “If the defendant has not really taken the friendly loan of Rs 7.5 lakh, then why he approached for anticipatory bail. So this is fit case to draw adverse inference against the defendant.”The man contested the suit, claiming he repaid Rs 7 lakh in cash through various instalments in the presence of a witness. He further argued that he deposited an additional Rs 2 lakh before the Bombay High Court on humanitarian grounds because the woman was suffering from cancer. Consequently, he claimed that the woman actually owed him Rs 1.5 lakh. He argued that these conflicting facts created “triable issues” that required a full trial rather than a summary judgment.While acknowledging that the interest rate remained a triable issue, the court found the claim of cash repayment without documentary evidence to be weak. “So, this is a moonshine defence taken by the defendant, just to avoid payment of amount,” the Judge remarked. The court held that while the man should be allowed to defend himself, the defence was not strong enough to grant him unconditional leave to contest the suit.The man was ordered to deposit the principal amount of Rs 7.5 lakh in court within two months. The Judge clarified that “on depositing the aforesaid amount… the Registrar (Civil) is directed to invest the said amount in any nationalised bank for initial period of one year. “If the man fails to comply with the deposit order, the woman will be at liberty to seek a direct decree against him.”

Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The team will be led by experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza, who continues as captain as Zimbabwe aim to perform strongly on the world stage.The selectors have mostly backed the same group of players, showing faith in a settled core. The only new name in the squad is fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who has returned to full fitness. He was not part of the team that played the T20I triangular series in Pakistan in November, which also included Sri Lanka. His comeback is seen as a big boost for Zimbabwe’s bowling attack.

Muzarabani will lead the pace unit along with left-arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava. They will be supported by fast bowlers like Bradley Evans and Tinotenda Maposa. This mix allows Zimbabwe to adapt to different conditions they may face in India and Sri Lanka.In the spin department, Zimbabwe have gone with experience. Veteran spinner Graeme Cremer has been recalled to the squad and will partner Wellington Masakadza.Young batters Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani will be looking to catch eyes in their first T20 World Cup. Wicketkeeper-batter Brendan Taylor will also be there to add some much-needed experience to the roster.All-rounder Ryan Burl is also there. Tashinga Musekiwa, Clive Madande, Tony Munyonga, and Dion Myers complete a flexible and well-rounded squad.Zimbabwe are in Group B, where they will face Australia, Ireland, Oman, and co-hosts Sri Lanka. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the Super Eight stage.Zimbabwe will begin their campaign against Oman on February 9 in Colombo. They will then play Australia on February 13, Ireland on February 17 in Kandy, and finish their group matches against Sri Lanka on February 19 in Colombo.Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.

The government on Friday announced a Rs 7,295-crore export support package aimed at improving exporters’ access to credit, comprising a Rs 5,181-crore interest subvention scheme and a Rs 2,114-crore collateral support measure, officials said.Both interventions will be implemented over a six-year period from 2025 to 2031 and form part of the Rs 25,060-crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) approved by the Cabinet in November 2025, PTI reported.Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry Ajay Bhadoo said the measures are designed to address trade finance challenges faced by exporters, especially at a time when global trade is under pressure.Under the interest subvention scheme, exporters will receive subsidy support on both pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit. The scheme will help exporters from identified sectors access rupee export credit at competitive rates.The government will provide interest subvention in the range of 2.75 per cent to eligible micro, small and medium exporters. The annual benefit under the scheme will be capped at Rs 50 lakh per firm, the commerce ministry said.The subvention rates will be reviewed twice a year, in March and September, based on domestic and global benchmarks. The Reserve Bank of India, in coordination with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), will be the implementing agency, and detailed guidelines will be issued separately.A pilot roll-out of the scheme will be undertaken initially, with scope for refinements based on implementation feedback.In addition, the government announced a Rs 2,114-crore collateral support scheme for export credit, under which credit guarantee cover will be provided to MSMEs for export-linked working capital loans.Under this support measure, collateral guarantee of up to Rs 10 crore per firm will be available. The guarantee coverage will be up to 85 per cent for micro and small exporters and up to 65 per cent for medium exporters.According to the DGFT, both the interest subvention and collateral support schemes will apply only to exports from a selected positive list of products. Defence and SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) items are covered, while restricted products, waste and scrap, and goods covered under the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes will be excluded.The package complements existing credit-guarantee mechanisms and is aimed at boosting bank lending to export-oriented MSMEs, the ministry said. Guidelines for the collateral support scheme will be notified by the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), followed by a pilot phase and integration into a broader overhaul of export-promotion frameworks.

Mumbai: Municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who is also the district election officer, on Friday warned officials that any negligence or violation of election laws during the BMC elections 2025–26 would not be tolerated, as he called for strict enforcement of rules at every stage of the poll process.Chairing a meeting of the election main coordination committee at the BMC headquarters that reviewed election preparedness, law and order arrangements, enforcement of the model code of conduct, the functioning of flying squads, and mechanisms to monitor suspicious and high-value financial transactions, Gagrani said the municipal polls were a crucial democratic exercise and must be conducted in a free, fair, transparent and disciplined manner. He stressed that during the model code of conduct period, every action must be accurately recorded and carried out strictly as per norms. “Discipline, peace and impartiality are the cornerstones of the election process. Any error, negligence or breach of rules will invite action,” he said, adding that strict compliance with election laws would help strengthen public confidence in the administration.Gagrani also issued instructions to various agencies to ensure close coordination and heightened vigilance.Briefing the committee, joint commissioner of police (law & order) Satyanarayan Choudhary said that adequate police personnel have been deployed for flying squads across civic wards. Security arrangements have been put in place at Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) storage locations and counting centres, while police protection will be provided during the transportation of EVMs. Mumbai Police have also prepared a tentative action plan for election-related duties.Chaudhary said arms seizure drives have begun, with notices issued to licensed arms holders across the city. Orders for seizure have been issued based on reports from local police stations, while preventive action and externment cases are being expedited. Social media platforms are also being monitored by the police cyber cell to prevent violations of the model code of conduct.The committee also directed agencies to keep a strict watch on the illegal movement of cash at airports and railway stations. Officials said details of suspicious or large-value transactions, including unusually large cash withdrawals and gift card transactions, must be immediately shared with the Income-Tax Department as per established procedures.

Mumbai: A total of 850 types of industries will now be largely exempt from routine environmental clearances after the state govt on Friday issued a new classification list adding 628 industries to the ‘White Category’.According to a press note issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the newly added industries are considered to have negligible environmental impact and will not be required to obtain consent to establish or operate under pollution control regulations. The activities include IT and software offices, data processing and back-office centres, garment stitching and tailoring units without dyeing, bakeries and confectionery units not using fuel-fired ovens, dry cleaning units using non-hazardous solvents, assembly of electronic and electrical goods, book binding and printing units without chemical processing, and light engineering or hand-tool assembly units.Sanjay Bhuskute, public relations officer MPCB, said the move was aimed at promoting ease of doing business. “Companies will now only have to submit a one-time, single-page application, after which they will receive an online response. There will be no continuous inspections and no need for regular reclassification. With this expansion, Maharashtra will be the state with the highest number of industries classified under the White Category,” he said.The classification of industries into different colours was introduced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2016 as part of a nationwide system of classifying industries based on pollution potential. Under this framework, Red Category industries include highly polluting activities such as chemical manufacturing and large power plants, which require strict clearances and regular monitoring, orange covers moderately polluting industries, while Green Category includes relatively low-polluting units that still require basic environmental permissions. In Feb 2025, the Centre had identified only 54 industries under the White Category. The MPCB subsequently expanded the list to 222 industries, and with the latest notification issued on Friday, the number has now risen sharply to 850, significantly reducing regulatory oversight for a wide range of activities.Bhagwan Keshbhat, founder and CEO of environmental organisation Waatavaran, said the expansion appeared to be based on a considered assessment. “The list seems carefully curated, with industries correctly identified as having very low emissions. It should help simplify processes for small-scale industries,” he said.However, environmental groups flagged concerns over implementation and enforcement. Nivit Yadav, programme director of the industrial pollution control unit at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said regulatory capacity remained a major challenge. “We need to talk about how these guidelines will be implemented and enforced. Officers need to understand an industry properly before laying down guidelines, but pollution control boards across the country are severely short-staffed. They are barely able to understand these industries, let alone enforce norms, and this appears to be an easy way out,” he said.Yadav also cautioned that waste management needed closer scrutiny. “Many of the industries that will now have very limited oversight will need to manage their waste responsibly. For several industries this may be inconsequential, but for others — such as CFL bulb manufacturing, which has been included in the new list — the waste generated can be toxic,” he said.

GURGAON: Three cops and an SPO were suspended after a car driven by one of them – an ASI – crashed into a pilot vehicle escorting a VIP car near INOX Mall at Sector 4/7 intersection in the city on New Year’s Eve, police said.Those suspended include ASI Baljit, head constables Sanjay and Hansraj, and SPO Ajay Pal. The pilot vehicle was part of the convoy of city MLA Mukesh Sharma, who was travelling in a car behind it, police said. Sharma could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts by TOI.

According to the FIR registered at New Colony police station, the incident took place around 9.30pm on Dec 31. ASI Baljit, posted at the same police station, arrived at a checkpoint set up as part of New Year Eve security arrangements near INOX Mall in a white Hyundai Venue. The checkpoint was being supervised by SI Ramesh along with other personnel. The FIR also states that Baljit later left the mall with SPO Ajay Pal and asked head constables Sanjay and Hansraj, who were on duty at the checkpoint, to sit in his car, saying they were going out to eat. While driving at high speed, the ASI allegedly took a sharp U-turn at Sector 4/7 intersection towards New Colony and hit the VIP pilot vehicle, a Scorpio coming from the railway station side. An argument followed when the pilot vehicle got damaged in the crash at the spot. SI Ramesh, who witnessed the incident, reached the site and found that the ASI’s car did not have a number plate at the front. The FIR also states that Baljit appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. After receiving information about the crash, SI Naresh and other policemen reached the spot. On SI Ramesh’s complaint, police registered a case under BNS sections 281 (rash driving), 125 (rash or negligent acts endangering life), and 324(4) (mischief), and Section 185 (drunk driving) of the Motor Vehicles Act against the cops at New Colony police station. A senior police officer said Baljit was not on duty at the time. “We are checking whether he was under the influence of alcohol,” the officer said, adding that a disciplinary action was initiated against all 3 cops and SPO on charges of misconduct and violation of service rules.

India‘s rising bowling sensation, Vaishnavi Sharma, recently sat down for an insightful interview on the Eye India channel on December 7, 2025. During the conversation, she shared the personal inspirations and sporting icons that have shaped her rapid ascent into the national side.

Vaishnavi Sharma shares her favourite cricketers: Top 3 male and female choices revealed

In a candid moment during her appearance on the Eye India channel, Vaishnavi was asked to name the three male and three female cricketers who inspire her the most. Without hesitation, she displayed her deep respect for the legends of the game, stating, “Among male cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are my favorites.” Her admiration for the modern greats was balanced with a nod to the history of the sport, as she added, “Sachin sir is also a favorite, as he is the God of Cricket, of course.”

When the conversation shifted to the women’s game, the young spinner spoke with visible affection for her senior teammates and mentors. She highlighted the impact of India’s core leadership, naming Smriti Mandhana (Smriti didi), Sneh Rana (Rana didi) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (Harman didi). By referring to them as ‘didi’ (elder sister), Vaishnavi showcased the close-knit bond and the culture of mentorship within the current Indian dressing room.

Also READ: BCCI announces landmark match fee hike for India’s domestic Women cricketers

Vaishnavi’s impact for India on the global stage

Vaishnavi’s journey into the senior Indian team has been nothing short of a fairy tale, driven by her extraordinary performance at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025. During that tournament, she emerged as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets at an incredible average of just 4.35. Her crowning moment came against Malaysia, where she etched her name in history by taking a hat-trick and finishing with figures of 5/5. This domestic and junior dominance paved the way for her senior debut in the T20I series against Sri Lanka in December 2025.

Since donning the Blue jersey, Vaishnavi has proven that she belongs at the highest level, consistently providing breakthroughs with her slow left-arm orthodox spin. In her debut series, she maintained a miserly economy rate, often under 5.00, and delivered a match-winning spell of 2/24 in Thiruvananthapuram. Her ability to bowl accurately during the middle overs and her composure under pressure have made her a vital asset for captain Harmanpreet.

Also READ: Shafali Verma reveals Team India’s next big goal after their World Cup triumph

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

GUWAHATI: The family of celebrated singer Zubeen Garg on Friday announced that they would set up a trust in his name to work for the society in accordance with his vision.The singer’s wife Garima Garg and sister Palmee Borthakur made the announcement at a press conference in Guwahati.

“We have decided to set up a trust in the name of Zubeen Garg after consultation with our family members, relatives, well-wishers, and people from different walks of life who were associated with him,” Garima said.Members of the ‘Zubeen Fan Club’ will also be working closely with the trust, she added.Garima said the family property in the Kharghuli area of the city will be donated to the trust, which will operate from there.“The trust will work on issues close to Zubeen’s heart, including nature conservation and promoting young talent. It will also take steps for scientific preservation of intellectual property rights of his creations, and have a dedicated research wing that will deal with his life and works,” she said.The trust will work closely with the ‘Kalaguru Artists Foundation’, founded by Garg, in the social and cultural fields, and with ‘Abhinaya: Jonkie Borthakur Performing Arts Academy’, named after the singer’s deceased sister, in undertaking initiatives for the new generation, the family said.They said that through this trust, they were aiming to safeguard his dreams, work, creative legacy, ideals and beliefs for future generations.The 52-year-old singer-composer-actor had died on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he had gone to attend the Northeast Festival.A Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, has charged festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and his two band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta with murder, and his cousin Sandipan Garg with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.The singer’s two personal security officers (PSOs), Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, have been charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust by misappropriating funds or property entrusted to them.

Shubman Gill and Erling Haaland

A photo of India men’s ODI and Test cricket team captain Shubman Gill with footballer Erling Haaland has gone viral on social media, which has become a point of excitement among fans of both sports. They exchanged jerseys and shoes in a never-seen-before crossover moment between cricket and football.

Shubman Gill and Erling Haaland are among the biggest names in world sport today. Both are still young but are already considered one of the best in their fields. Their popularity goes far beyond their countries.In videos and pictures shared online, Haaland can be seen signing a pair of football boots and handing them to Gill. Gill returned the gesture by giving Haaland a pair of shoes signed by him. The two later posed together for photos, standing arm in arm. The 26-year-old Indian batter was also seen holding a Norway jersey, which Haaland wears while playing international football.

Who is Erling Haaland?

Erling Haaland is a 25-year-old Norwegian professional footballer, having gradually established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. Currently playing for Manchester City in the Premier League and representing Norway at the international level, Haaland has broken several scoring records at a very young ageBefore joining Manchester City, Haaland became famous during his days with Borussia Dortmund. Wth City, he was pivotal during City’s historic treble-winning season. The tall marksman has also helped the club win the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.With the Scandinavian having already found the net 149 times from 170 appearances for the English side across all competitions, his tendency to score goals regularly against the best defenders has made him one of the most feared forwards.Haaland will represent Norway at the FIFA World Cup 2026 later this year. Norway have qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1998, with Haaland leading the charge for his country.

Tesla has lost its position as the world’s largest electric vehicle maker after deliveries fell for a second consecutive year in 2025, weighed down by intensifying competition and weakening demand in key markets, AP reported.The US electric carmaker said it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, a decline of 9 per cent from the previous year. Chinese rival BYD, which sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, has now overtaken Tesla as the world’s biggest EV manufacturer.Fourth-quarter deliveries stood at 418,227 vehicles, below the 440,000 units expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Sales in the quarter were also hit by the expiry of a $7,500 US federal tax credit that was phased out by the Trump administration at the end of September.Tesla shares were largely unchanged in early trade on Friday at $450.27, as investors continued to look beyond near-term sales pressures. The stock ended 2025 up about 11 per cent, reflecting optimism around the company’s longer-term strategy.Despite declining vehicle sales, investors are betting on chief executive Elon Musk’s push to reposition Tesla as a leader in autonomous mobility and robotics. Musk has repeatedly said that future growth will be driven by robotaxi services, energy storage and humanoid robots designed for use in homes and factories.The fourth quarter marked the first full period of sales for stripped-down, lower-priced versions of the Model Y and Model 3, unveiled in early October to revive demand. The new Model Y is priced just under $40,000, while the cheaper Model 3 starts below $37,000. These models are expected to help Tesla compete more aggressively with Chinese EV makers in Europe and Asia.Looking ahead, analysts expect pressure on financial performance to continue in the near term. For the fourth-quarter results due in late January, Tesla is forecast to report a 3 per cent drop in revenue and a nearly 40 per cent fall in earnings per share, according to FactSet. Analysts, however, expect sales and profits to stabilise and begin recovering as 2026 progresses.Musk has argued that falling car sales are less critical to Tesla’s long-term outlook, as the company pivots towards new technologies and business lines. Supporting that vision, shareholders approved a potentially large new pay package for Musk at the company’s annual meeting in November.Musk, already the world’s richest individual, also received a boost last month when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed an earlier ruling that had voided a $55 billion pay package awarded to him by Tesla in 2018.