Mumbai: A special MCOCA court on Wednesday rejected the discharge plea submitted by 52-year-old former waiter Vasant Naik, arrested as a key accused in an alleged organised crime syndicate that committed a robbery of Rs 72 lakh at Cafe Mysore owner Naresh Nayak’s Matunga residence last year. The court found that the evidence, particularly the accused’s direct link to the conspiracy and recovery of the illicit money, established clear grounds for trial under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Naik admitted to having previously worked at Cafe Mysore. The prosecution argued Naik was removed from his service and, fuelled by anger and motive, misused his intimate knowledge of the Nayak home and habit of keeping large amounts of cash. “At this prima facie stage, the chargesheet reflects that the applicant gave information to the co-accused on phone call about money possessed by complainant,” the judge said. A case was registered with Sion polic. On May 13 last year, the accused, posing as crime branch and poll officers, conducted a “search” at Nayak’s home, claiming they had information he stashed Rs 17 crore, and took Rs 72 lakh. Police invoked MCOCA against 9, including 2 cops—one of them retired. The investigation allegedly revealed that Naik provided the critical information about the complainant’s wealth to a co-accused, Sagar Redekar. This information was then routed through a chain of co-accused, including Hiren Waghela, Niraj Khandagale, and Ajit Aparaj, before reaching Premchand Jaiswal, the alleged gang leader, who orchestrated the crime with others.The judge found strong prima facie evidence of Naik’s involvement through direct material. The complainant’s statement reflected that Naik had “visiting terms” to his house and “having knowledge that he possessed cash amount inside his house and he used to remain alone in the house”. The recovery panchnama showed that Rs 50,000 of the looted amount was recovered “at the instance of present applicant (Naik) which was concealed by him in red coloured travelling bag kept inside the cupboard of his room”.The call detail records (CDR) showed that Naik made calls to co-accused Sagar Redekar and Hiren Wagela on May 12 and 13, 2024, immediately preceding and on the day of the incident.Addressing the defence claim that the money recovered was unconnected to the crime and the calls were merely social, the judge said, “At this prima facie stage, chargesheet reflect that the applicant gave information to the co-accused on phone call about money possessed by complainant. Therefore, he made phone calls to the co-accused on the day of incident and prior to one day of the incident. As earlier discussed the defence cannot be considered at this stage.“

Broken chairs strewn amid chaos during an event of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi as part of his ‘G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025’, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwari launched a scathing attack on the organisers and authorities after chaos marred Lionel Messi’s much-hyped appearance at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, saying a global icon like the Argentine superstar “deserved better”.“I am speechless of what happened today in my city! This is shambolic! Me, being an international sportsperson can feel how embarrassing it was for Messi today. We all love him and the craze was well anticipated! Organizer Satadru has already been arrested and I thank the police department for the prompt action. The way Satadru played with the hard-earned money and emotion of the football-loving people of Bengal today at the Salt Lake Stadium, deserves an alarming punishment... Another case of False promise and complete mismanagement by Satadru! Thankfully I was not present today… I always had doubt if he had the credibility of pulling off an event like this in Kolkata. A legend like Leo Messi deserved better. I am sure the Government will take strict action against Satadru and management.. Kolkata didn’t deserve this!” Tiwari wrote on X.

Messi’s much-anticipated visit lasted just 22 minutes, enough to turn what was billed as a historic celebration into a spectacle of mismanagement. More than 50,000 fans, many of whom paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000, and even higher in the black market, were left frustrated after failing to get a clear glimpse of the World Cup winner. The situation deteriorated rapidly as Messi was surrounded by politicians, VVIPs and security personnel, effectively blocking the view of the paying public. Despite repeated appeals from promoter Satadru Dutta over the public address system to clear the ground, the crowding worsened, forcing Messi’s early exit.Angry fans reacted by throwing bottles and chairs, vandalising canopies and damaging stadium property, prompting police intervention. The unrest lasted over an hour, though police largely showed restraint to prevent a stampede.Messi’s second visit to Kolkata, part of his India tour, was meant to inspire football lovers. Instead, it exposed glaring gaps in planning and crowd control, leaving behind disappointment, damage and serious questions about governance and accountability.

BENGALURU: She clutched her hand, almost literally clinging on to dear life. “Please don’t go anywhere,” was all she managed to say, but those few words were enough to convey her ordeal midair on a Goa-New Delhi flight Saturday afternoon. Thereon, Dr Anjali Nimbalkar didn’t move an inch until the aircraft made a priority landing in Delhi and the severely ill passenger, an American, was evacuated to hospital.A gripping mid-air medical emergency ended in a life being saved – thanks to some quick intervention by this Bengaluru doctor-turned-politician who was on board. Around 1.15 pm, barely 10 minutes after the IndiGo flight took off from Goa, the 34-year-old woman, identified as Jenny from California, complained of uneasiness and shivers before collapsing. She was seated in the 16th row, along with her sister. The duo were travelling to Delhi to attend a wedding.However, even before a call for a doctor could be made over the passenger address system, Dr Nimbalkar – a medical professional and former Congress MLA from Khanapur assembly constituency in Karnataka’s Belagavi district – got off her seat and rushed to help.Upon examination, she found the passenger unconscious, pale and severely dehydrated, with clenched fists and symptoms suggestive of a seizure. The doctor quickly gathered the passenger’s medical history from her sister and initiated basic resuscitative measures, managing to revive her. Dr Nimbalkar then administered oral electrolyte solution that the passenger herself was carrying, as she had suffered a stomach infection the day before.With the situation apparently under control, Dr Nimbalkar returned to her seat. However, about 30 minutes later, the doctor was urgently summoned to attend to the same passenger, who had collapsed for a second time and looked critical.Meanwhile, the captain was informed by the cabin crew about the medical emergency on hand and a priority landing was arranged in New Delhi.

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to suicide.Young actor and State Award winner Akhil Vishwanath (30) was found dead at his home.Akhil was best known for his performance in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s film ‘Chola’, where he played the lead role of the lover. He had also acted in films including ‘Operation Java’. According to Manorama Online reports, Akhil was found hanging inside his house. His mother, Geetha, discovered him while she was getting ready to leave for work.Akhil was working as a mechanic at a mobile phone shop in Kottali, though he had reportedly stopped going to work for some time. His father, Vishwanathan of Chunkal Chencherivalappil, is currently undergoing treatment after sustaining serious injuries in a bike accident.

Journey from child artist to ‘Chola’

Akhil Vishwanath’s association with cinema began at a young age. While he was a student, he won the State Government Award for Best Child Artist for his performance in the telefilm ‘Mangandi’, in which he acted alongside his brother Arun. Both brothers received the award in the same year.He later gained wider attention through ‘Chola’, directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, which won the State Film Award in 2019.

Industry reacts with shock

The news of Akhil’s death was first shared by film worker Manoj Kumar, who wrote, “What have you done, Akhil?”Director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s condolence note read, “The news that Akhil has committed suicide is heartbreaking. He came into cinema from a life filled with severe hardships. Just one film like Chola was enough for him to firmly establish himself as an actor in Malayalam cinema. That did not happen. When that film was sidelined, the future hopes of many people who proved their talent through that film, including that young man, were pushed into darkness. I still cannot believe that Akhil committed suicide. I understand that he was recently preparing to act in an upcoming OTT film.”

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

The director further wrote, “I feel deeply sad, Akhil. I do not know what caused this untimely death. But those who turned the future of people like you, including yourself, into darkness also share responsibility for it. May your soul rest in peace. May your loving smile touch me again someday.”‘Chola’ actor Joju George expressed his grief, saying, “Rest In Peace Akhil .”DISCLAIMER:If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or mental illness, please seek professional help immediately from a doctor, mental health expert, or NGO. Helplines are also available.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is fueling anticipation, with expert cricket commentator Aakash Chopra offering his insights on the international players who are poised to attract the highest bids. Chopra’s predictions are based on the current landscape of T20 cricket, factoring in the crucial elements of supply, demand, and the specific gaps in franchise rosters. His bold forecasts highlight a market that is particularly hungry for elite all-rounders and match-winning specialists.

Aakash Chopra names the 5 most expensive overseas players in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction

The top-tier IPL 2026 mini-auction picks

In a video on his Instagram account, Aakash Chopra is unequivocal about the player who will headline the bidding war, placing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green at the top. Chopra is convinced Green is peerless in the auction, making a powerful statement on his potential value:

“Cameron Green will be number 1, there is nobody around him. Whatever the final price may be, he will only get the maximum cap of Rs 18 crore, but it could be a tremendous bidding war. KKR will be there and CSK will be there and there will be another team that will jump in before CSK, it could actually go up to Rs 25 to 28 crore for him.” Chopra said.

Following Green, Chopra predicts high demand for England’s Jonny Bairstow at number two, citing his recent form and versatility: “I have placed Jonny Bairstow at number 2. He has scored a lot of runs and also played a few matches for Mumbai Indians last season. Many teams can bid for him. KKR needs a wicketkeeper-batsman and DC needs an explosive batsman in the top order, so I think there will be a lot of interest in him.” Chopra added.

Also READ: Will Ricky Ponting miss the IPL 2026 auction? Here’s what we know about Punjab Kings’ head coach availability

High-value specialists and recency bias

For the third most expensive slot, Chopra selects the explosive English all-rounder, Liam Livingstone. His reasoning is purely market-driven, emphasizing the scarcity of high-impact finishers:

“Liam Livingstone has not performed well, his performance has not been up to the mark, be it for Punjab or RCB, but now everything depends on supply and demand, there is no explosive middle-order player in the auction, even Maxi (Maxwell) is not there now. So, I think Livingstone will make money this time too.”

In the lower half of his top five, Chopra places a collection of high-value specialists and all-rounders. At the fourth spot, he names the spin-bowling all-rounders Michael Bracewell (New Zealand) and Cooper Connolly (Australia), with a specific call-out to a franchise:

“There should be a lot of interest in Michael Bracewell, but unfortunately there isn’t. CSK, you need an offie (off-spinner), he bats well too. So CSK should consider him. Ricky Ponting now has an overseas slot vacant, so Connolly could be an option there.”

Finally, for the fifth position, Chopra lists three players, South Africa’s David Miller and Anrich Nortje, and Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, predicting a massive price increase for the South Africans due to immediate performance:

“The South Africa series is currently underway, so there will be some recency bias. I have placed Matheesha Pathirana, David Miller, and Anrich Norkhia at number 5. If Nortje  and Miller perform well against India, they will earn a lot of money.” Chopra concluded.

Also READ: After facing IPL 2026 auction ban, Harry Brook to receive a handsome contract fee from Sunrisers Leeds

Mumbai: It’s 1 pm at the Goethe-Institut in Mumbai, and students of the German language course begin filing into their classroom. In this small group of around 15, there is a doctor, a chef, a neuroscientist, a chemical engineer and an IT professional — all united by a single goal: to one day live, study or work in Germany.A Chef’s German DreamAmong them is Yogesh Naik, a chef who has worked in the Middle East and in Mumbai. He dreams of moving to the ‘global centre of continental cuisine’, as he terms it. His journey is being made possible by a new “Opportunity Card” visa introduced in 2024 under recent reforms to the German Skilled Immigration Act. It allows skilled workers to enter Germany and look for employment while simultaneously working up to 20 hours a week. “For me, this is a no-loss proposition as it comes with no large or consequential investment,” Naik says.The Long Road for DoctorsMayur Sonavane, his classmate, is an MBBS graduate who wants to specialise in diagnostic radiology. His road is longer and more demanding. Medicine is a regulated profession in Germany, which means his Indian MBBS degree is not automatically recognised. He must qualify at high-proficiency language levels — up to C2 — and pass a German medical-language examination along with further assessments before he can work with patients. “In many cases, especially for third-country degrees, the MBBS must pass a medical knowledge examination and sometimes a complete supervised practice before receiving full licence by a relevant professional authority, for example, the state medical board,” says Remco Rehberg, Managing Director at ProfOrg, a Germany-based global mobility service provider. According to data from the Federal Institute for Vocational and Educational Training, the occupation with the most applications for recognition is nursing, followed by doctors and then engineers.Why Students InvestFor Sonavane, however, the effort is worth it: “Another big reason I want to go is the cost-friendly, quality education. Any private medical college fee in India will cross Rs 1 crore, while in Germany, all postgraduate courses in state universities don’t have tuition fees. You only end up paying for room and board,” he says.There are others with similar dreams. A young man hopes to pursue a master’s in neuroscience with a focus on autoimmune diseases. And a young woman, fresh out of her 12th standard exams, wants to “flee the nest” and experience a university education in a new country, in a new culture. Together, they are investing a year and upwards of a lakh rupees to move from beginner-level German to advanced proficiency, all in the hope of unlocking life and opportunity in Europe’s largest economy.Germany’s foreign student numbers have jumped from about 2.1 lakh in 2013–14 to nearly 3.8 lakh in 2023–24, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Indians now form the largest cohort at 49,000 — roughly 13% of all international students — edging ahead of China at around 11%.Rehberg explains that from 2024, students from ‘third countries’ (including India) may work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days per calendar year; or up to 20 hours per week, year-round. On completion of their studies, they also get time to transition to a career. “Non-EU graduates of a German university can extend their residence permit for up to 18 months to look for a job related to their degree,” An added flexibility is offered, “During these 18 months, they may work in any job, not only in their field of study. Once they find a suitable qualified job, they can switch to a work-based residence title such as EU Blue Card or skilled worker residence permit,” Rehberg added.Language Barriers at the Starting LineIt is not always a smooth ride. Even before dealing with immigration forms or workplace rules, many Indians find that German language requirements block the first step.Nearly two years after Maharashtra signed an MoU with the state of Baden-Württemberg to send 10,000 skilled workers, not a single candidate has gone abroad. Despite ₹5 crore spent on publicity and 32,000 registrations, none cleared even the minimum A2 German test required for the programme.Germany follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to assess proficiency. The scale begins at A1 (absolute beginner) and A2 (basic user), progresses to B1 and B2 — the most common requirements for students and workers — and then to C1 and C2, which represent advanced mastery. B1 is typically needed for vocational training programmes (Ausbildung) and professions like electricians, bakers and other skilled trades. B2 is generally expected in the healthcare sector, where communication accuracy can directly affect patient care. C1/C2 levels are required where near-native fluency is necessary, such as academic or specialist professional roles. On paper, some sectors appear more flexible: many IT jobs and several English-medium university programmes do not mandate German at the entry stage.But daily life tells a different story — part-time jobs, internships, renting a home, even a routine bank or grocery visit all require moderate German. “We recommend students and workers aim for at least B2 so they can manage daily tasks and civic life,” says Mukta Gadkari, who heads the German language programme at Goethe-Institut Mumbai. Without that, she warns, integration becomes slow, stressful and isolating.Social Integration and ExperiencesConcerns about social integration also weigh heavy. A study by the German Institute of Labour Market and Occupational Research found that 2.6 million people — roughly a quarter of the country’s foreign-born population — cited racism as a reason for considering leaving Germany.What many Indians read as unfriendliness in Germany is often just cultural difference, says Mukta Gadkari. “We are ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and shower guests with attention, so Indians abroad may find locals cold. But Germans are simply more measured and avoid personal questions.” That distance, she adds, can leave newcomers feeling isolated, especially early on and before their language skills improve. Yet experiences vary widely. Chintan Joshi, another classmate who has already completed his master’s and is currently learning German as a professional requirement for his IT job, said: “I did my post-graduation from Technical University Dresden, the former which is notorious as the founding centre of the far-right AfD party, yet I faced absolutely no discrimination or problems there, while I was viciously verbally abused and insulted in Berlin, which is quite diverse.”Labour shortage driving immigration policyGermany’s push for skilled migrants is driven by severe and widening labour shortages, especially in healthcare and elder care as its population ages. “Germany has broad and persistent skill shortages,” says Rehberg, noting acute gaps in nursing, elderly care and key medical specialties. IT is similarly strained: by 2024, non-Germans made up about 15% of the ICT workforce ( nearly 1.65 lakh specialists), a figure that has more than tripled since 2014. Shortages also stretch across trades, logistics, hospitality and childcare, where some 1.25 lakh positions are vacant. “In all of these sectors, immigration is no longer ‘nice to have’; it is structurally necessary,” Rehberg states. Well, Indians are looking with interest at meeting some of this demand.

Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia criticised VIP culture at Lionel Messi‘s Kolkata event, where genuine fans were unable to see the football star due to unwanted VIP presence. The GOAT Tour’s Kolkata leg on Saturday turned chaotic at Salt Lake Stadium when fans who purchased expensive tickets began throwing bottles and trying to break gates after Messi departed early. Fans expressed anger through vandalism, blaming poor event management and VIPs for monopolising Messi’s time.

“I think it’s very unfortunate. I think the organisers did their best, but sometimes it gets out of control, especially VIP culture – it becomes very difficult even to the organisers to stop a lot of VIPs who are not supposed to be there as well, I think they entered and crowded. The genuine fans did not really get to see Messi. So, I think that was where the fans were very upset,” Bhaichung Bhutia told ANI.Bhutia emphasised Messi’s massive following in Kolkata and across India, suggesting the need to prevent unwanted VIP presence at such events.“Hopefully, I think these kinds of mistakes don’t happen…I heard 80,000 people came in to see Messi. Knowing that Messi is worshipped in Kolkata and in India, when they get disappointed paying such a high-price and coming from such faraway places, I think it’s very disappointing. I think the Govt has taken some steps and action…My only suggestion is that I think in future this has to be really well-organised and at the same time, lot of unwanted VIPs surrounding should be avoided,” Bhutia added.West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas announced a government investigation into the incident.Governor Ananda Bose confirmed the event organiser’s arrest, stating, “The organiser has been arrested, and an investigation has been done…”Additional Director General Law and Order Jawed Shamim assured that the situation was under control.“There is normalcy now. The second part is the investigation; the FIR has been lodged, and the chief organiser has been arrested… I’m telling you, they (organisers) are promising that they will return (ticket fee to fans). We will see how it can be done,” Jawed Shamim told reporters.

NEW DELHI: Air India has offered to explore operating 275 additional flights this month in wake of the government-ordered 10% capacity cut for IndiGo. The Tata Group airline has asked aviation ministry, which is likely to finalise the route curtailment over the weekend itself, for a long-term plan so that it acts accordingly, reports Saurabh Sinha. “There are about 1,900 IndiGo routes of which we are cutting at least 10%. A final decision will be taken by Sunday or Monday. Some of these routes will be given to Air India, AI Express and Akasa. We can’t allow people to suffer in peak travel season. Also, this is a way to check a single airline’s domination,” said a senior govt official. SpiceJet may also operate some extra flights.Sources said AI sought clarity from the government about how long the current situation would play out. “In the short term, we are exploring operating 275 extra fights this month on routes that bear the maximum brunt (of IndiGo cuts). Whenever possible, we operate our widebody Boeing 777 between Delhi and Mumbai. We want to know how long this (IndiGo cuts) will continue so that accordingly we can act. The short-term addition is coming from the spare capacity we had in our existing system,” said sources. Other airlines have seen a major jump in aircraft occupancy after the IndiGo fiasco.Meanwhile, IndiGo operated over 2,050 flights for the second day running Saturday “as per the revised, scaled down schedule.” An IndiGo statement said, “…We have informed all our airport partners to publish the new flight schedules of the adjusted network on terminal screens to avoid any confusion. With over 3.2 lakh customers choosing to fly with us daily, we are grateful for the confidence they continue to place in us.” Aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha has majorly upped the scale of Air Sewa, the government’s complaint redress forum, so that issues of affected IndiGo passengers can be addressed quickly.Officials probing the IndiGo fiasco said the airline had denied pilot shortage. “Probe is on. What we have observed so far is a mix of several things like not having a buffer in pilot numbers to meet any sudden increased requirement; a bravado by the airline that it can ‘manage’ the situation created by the new crew duty rules (which have now been put in abeyance for IndiGo A320 pilots till Feb 10) and a breakdown in management-pilot relations,” they said.