Connect with us
Monday,25-August-2025
Breaking News

Politics

Allahabad High Court dismisses petition on Taj Mahal, sharply pulls up petitioner

Published

on

The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench on Thursday dismissed the petition seeking opening of 22 rooms in the Taj Mahal premises.

The two-judge bench ripped into the petitioner who sought opening of the 22 locked rooms, stating that the truth about the iconic monument needs to come out, and that he has filed multiple PILs for the same.

“Tomorrow you will ask for permission to see our chambers. Please, don’t make mockery of the PIL system,” the bench said during the hearing.

The writ petition, seeking to “find the truth” behind the 22 locked rooms in the Taj Mahal, was filed last week before the Lucknow bench by Rajneesh Singh, who is the media in-charge of the BJP’s Ayodhya unit.

The petition cited the claims of some historians and Hindu groups about the mausoleum actually being an old Shiva temple. The petition has sought the Archaeological Survey of India form a special committee to examine the locked rooms and release the report to the public.

Singh said that the demand is not to make the Taj Mahal a temple but to bring out the truth of the matter for the sake of social harmony. He said that the only way to end such controversy is by examining closed rooms.

Justices D.K. Upadhyay and Subhash Vidyarthi questioned the petitioner on what his plea is. Pointing out that the petitioner wants the court to issue a writ of mandamus, they stated it can only be issued in case of infringement of rights.

“What judgment do you want us to pronounce? Who built the Taj Mahal? Don’t go into historical facts… Mandamus can only be issued when rights have been infringed. What rights of yours have been infringed?” the bench asked.

The petitioner said he is asking for a fact-finding committee to be constituted to get to the bottom of the issue and reiterated his demand to be allowed access to the 22 rooms as the “truth” needs to emerge about the Taj Mahal. Citizens need to know why multiple rooms in the monument are said to be locked due to “security reasons”, he said.

The bench responded sharply, saying: “Who are you asking the information from? If you are not satisfied that the rooms have been closed for security reasons, use your remedies in law to challenge that. Do some research first — do MA, Ph.D, enroll yourself somewhere. Don’t make a mockery of this.”

Several right-wing organisations claim Taj Mahal to be Tejo Mahalaya, a Hindu temple.

National News

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Calls Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi A ‘Serial Liar’ While Rejecting Vote Theft Allegations

Published

on

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dubbed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as a “serial liar” while rejecting the latter’s allegations of “vote theft” against the BJP.

These “lies” of the opposition leaders are only meant to convince themselves, Fadnavis told reporters here

“I have said it earlier also that Rahul Gandhi is a serial liar. He has been spreading lies relentlessly. It pains me to see that even some leaders from Maharashtra have suddenly realised that Rahul Gandhi is speaking the truth,” he said.

Responding to Gandhi’s charge that votes were “stolen” by the BJP, CM Fadnavis said false information never has any foundation.

“A fort built on lies crashes. Unless they realise that to win the votes of people, one has to go to the people and earn their trust, their lies are only meant to convince themselves,” the senior BJP leader said.

Gandhi has alleged that votes were stolen in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana, and that attempts were being made to “steal” votes of the people in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls there, by the ruling BJP at the Centre in collusion with the Election Commission.

Some of the other opposition parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), have also raised the issue of “vote theft” and asked their party workers to check the electoral rolls to assess bogus voters.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has also said he had been talking about “vote theft” since 2016, and the Election Commission should have conducted a probe when both Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Anurag Thakur alleged voter list fraud.

CM Fadnavis on Sunday said leaders alleging vote theft were doing so to provide solace to their workers for their defeat in polls instead of introspecting about their loss.

Continue Reading

Crime

CBI dismantles transnational cybercrime network targeting US nationals, three arrested

Published

on

New Delhi, Aug 25: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under its ongoing Operation Chakra-IV, has dismantled a sophisticated cybercrime network that defrauded US nationals of nearly $40 million and arrested three key accused, an agency statement said.

The action was carried out in close coordination with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The arrested have been identified as Jigar Ahmed, Yash Khurana, and Inder Jeet Singh Bali.

According to the CBI, between 2023 and 2025, the accused gained unauthorised remote access to victims’ systems and bank accounts by posing as tech support providers.

They convinced US-based victims that their accounts were compromised and manipulated them into transferring money to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the gang, the statement said.

The CBI registered the case on August 18 and launched extensive searches across Amritsar and Delhi. A major breakthrough came when investigators raided an illegal call centre — Digikaps The Future of Digital — being run at Global Tower, opposite Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar. At the site, 34 people were caught red-handed while engaged in cyber fraud activities.

The searches led to the seizure of 85 hard disks, 16 laptops, 44 mobile phones, incriminating digital evidence, and Rs 54 lakh in cash. Documents and additional electronic devices linked to the fraud were also recovered.

CBI investigations revealed that the accused had been funnelling proceeds of crime through cryptocurrency transactions.

Further operations are underway to trace the money trail and identify other members of the transnational cyber-enabled financial crime network, the agency said.

The probe is also pursuing international leads in coordination with Interpol and other foreign law enforcement agencies, the statement added.

The CBI noted that Operation Chakra-IV has significantly disrupted and dismantled this organised cybercrime syndicate.

Investigation into the broader network and on international leads is ongoing.

Continue Reading

National News

Ameet Satam Appointed As Mumbai BJP President Ahead Of BMC Polls; CM Devendra Fadnavis, Ashish Shelar Extend Wishes

Published

on

Mumbai: In a key organisational reshuffle ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced the appointment of senior party legislator Ameet Satam as the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai unit. The decision comes just days after the civic body submitted its ward formation proposal to the Urban Development Department, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for control of Asia’s richest municipal corporation.

Who Is Ameet Satam?

Ameet Satam, 49, represents the Andheri West constituency and has been elected as MLA for three consecutive terms. Known for his aggressive stand on civic issues and his sharp criticism of the BMC’s functioning, Satam has emerged as one of the party’s prominent Mumbai voices. Before being elected to the Assembly, he had also served as a municipal corporator and has long been active in city politics. His persistent efforts led to the successful completion of Gokhale bridge reconstruction in Andheri.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar, who previously helmed the Mumbai unit, extended his congratulations on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shelar described Satam as a dedicated karyakarta connected to both Konkan roots and Mumbai’s pulse, adding that his appointment reflected the party’s recognition of his long-standing service.

Shelar also expressed gratitude to party leaders, colleagues, and Mumbaikars for supporting him during his nine-year tenure in various organisational responsibilities, noting that the period gave him energy to fight, a new identity, and direction in life.

CM Fadnavis Lauds Ashish Shelar, Extends Best Wishes To Ameet Satam

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised Shelar’s leadership, crediting him for strengthening the party in Mumbai during the 2017 BMC elections and subsequent political battles. “Ashish Shelar handled the Mumbai division responsibly, achieving significant success for the party. Under his leadership, BJP proved itself as the number one party in the city,” Fadnavis said.

Speaking about the new appointment, Fadnavis described Satam as a studious, aggressive and imaginative leader with deep knowledge of Mumbai’s politics. “He has been elected three times as MLA, has served as corporator, and has held organisational responsibilities with dedication. We are confident that under his leadership, BJP will continue to maintain momentum in Mumbai. With the support of senior leaders, he will lead the party to ensure the return of Mahayuti’s power in the city,” the Chief Minister added, extending his best wishes.

Continue Reading

Trending