New Delhi, Dec 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, on Monday as the two leaders jointly announced the successful conclusion of the historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

During the conversation, both leaders expressed confidence in doubling bilateral trade over the next five years as well as an investment of $20 billion in India from New Zealand over the next 15 years.

The negotiations began in March this year and the two leaders concluded the FTA in a record time of nine months, reflecting the shared ambition and political will to further deepen ties between the two countries, according to a statement from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“The FTA would significantly deepen bilateral economic engagement, enhance market access, promote investment flows, strengthen strategic cooperation between the two countries, and also open up new opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth of both countries across various sectors,” said the statement.

The leaders also welcomed the progress achieved in other areas of bilateral cooperation such as sports, education, and people-to-people ties, and reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening of the India-New Zealand partnership.

This historic FTA eliminates and reduces tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exports – among the highest of any Indian FTA – with almost 57 per cent being duty-free from day one, increasing to 82 per cent when fully implemented, with the remaining 13 per cent subject to sharp tariff cuts.

It puts New Zealand exporters on an equal or better footing to our competitors across a range of sectors and opens the door to India’s rapidly expanding middle class, according to an official statement from New Zealand.

“The Indian economy is forecast to grow to NZ$12 trillion by 2030. The India-NZ Free Trade Agreement unleashes huge potential for our world-class exporters to the world’s largest country and will significantly accelerate progress towards New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports over 10 years,” it added.

Mumbai: The CBI has identified two more persons allegedly involved in the case where agency officials arrested Nitesh Rai, branch manager of a private bank in Mumbai, last month for facilitating the opening of mule accounts. Investigation has revealed that the arrested official, in collusion with cybercriminals, accepted illegal gratification and, by abusing his official position, processed account opening forms, thereby creating channels for the movement and layering of cybercrime proceeds.

“During the investigation of the said case, from April 30, 2025 to May 4, 2025, it has been revealed that accused Nitesh Rai, while functioning as Branch Manager, Bandra Reclamation Branch, Mumbai, facilitated the opening of mule accounts and obtained illegal gratification from A.N. Pathan and P.B. Sahni for the improper performance of his official duties,” said a CBI official.

“Investigation has further revealed that on one occasion, a sum of Rs 10,000 was transferred into the Axis Bank account of Nitesh Rai on January 2, 2025, as illegal gratification in lieu of processing Account Opening Forms. The demand for illegal gratification and the work to be carried out thereafter were discussed by Nitesh Rai over WhatsApp chat with Sahni.”

“Pursuant to the demand, Sahni, through Pathan, arranged for the transfer of Rs 10,000 into the account of Nitesh Rai. The payment was facilitated through money exchange by Pathan. Upon receipt of the said illegal gratification, Nitesh Rai processed the Account Opening Forms.” “Pathan and Sahni thereby induced a public servant for improper performance of his official duties,” the official added.

Mumbai, Dec 22: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Monday alleged that the BJP-led Mahayuti won the elections to the nagar parishad and nagar panchayat in Maharashtra due to money and muscle power.

The party in its mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, said that if “these victories are to be bought with money, then the pride and honour of Maharashtra have been dragged through the dust. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Maharashtra appears to be crawling, helpless before the money. This picture is dangerous for the country.”

The Saamana editorial sharply criticised the State Election Commission (SEC) for its perceived “inaction”, describing the body as being in a state of “slumber” while instances of kidnapping, terror, and open money distribution took place across the state.

The editorial claimed that the BJP has started a sole business of winning every election through dishonesty. “After the British, the BJP and its allies have looted the country the most. Elections are fought and won using that very looted money. Furthermore, a significant amount of ‘drug money’ was also used in the election. This raises questions about what our democracy is doing and how the ‘Voter King’ actually votes.”

According to the latest figures from the State Election Commission (SEC), the BJP has emerged as the single largest party, winning over 100 municipal president posts. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP have each secured more than 40 seats. In contrast, the combined opposition, including the Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP), and Shiv Sena(UBT), managed to secure roughly 60 seats. This result mirrors the “pattern” seen in the recent Assembly elections, where the Mahayuti secured a similar landslide victory, said the editorial.

The Thackeray camp has characterised the elections as a “game of money power”, alleging that in several municipal areas, the “market rate” for a single vote ranged from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000. In more competitive zones, it is claimed that the BJP pushed the rate as high as Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per vote, leading to internal friction within the ruling alliance.

A specific incident was reported in Sindhudurg, where a public spat broke out between Shinde-faction MLA Nilesh Rane and BJP State President Ravindra Chavan over the distribution of funds.

“Reports of coercion and electoral malpractice and voter intimidation in particular have surfaced from multiple districts. In Dharmabad (Nanded), allegations emerged that BJP office-bearers detained nearly 1,500 voters, including women, in a marriage hall to force them to accept bribes ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000. Those who refused were reportedly threatened. In Ambernath, police investigations were launched into allegations of bogus voting involving over 200 women brought in from neighbouring areas. In Panvel, discrepancies in voter lists were flagged, including one instance where 268 voters were allegedly listed with the same father’s name,” said the editorial.

The Thackeray camp has cited the local body elections held in the neighbouring state of Telangana, where the State Election Commission did not use EVMs but conducted on a ballot paper, resulting in a crushing defeat for the BJP.

“In Telangana’s local bodies, the Congress made a strong surge and secured a major victory. Similarly, in Punjab’s local body elections, AAP surged ahead, leaving both the BJP and Congress behind. In both these states, despite the BJP playing a heavy game of money, the voters were not bought,” it said.

The editorial observed that the way the elections are conducted and fought in Maharashtra raises a serious question of the integrity of the democratic process.

As the state moves toward the next major electoral battle — the BMC elections in January 2026 — the questions regarding electoral transparency and the influence of wealth in Maharashtra’s politics will continue to intensify.